* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:07] RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO ALEX STAPLETON IN RECOGNITION OF HER STELLAR CAREER AS A FILM DIRECTOR, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON PRO TIM. COLLEAGUES. HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE AND, AND OF COURSE WE IN WOMEN'S MONTH, UM, RECOGNIZE, UM, ALEX STAPLETON FOR HER AMAZING WORK, UM, IN FEM THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING, CAPTURING STORIES, UM, CAPTURING STORIES OF PEOPLE FROM HOUSTON, CAPTURING STORIES FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. AND SO, UM, THIS IS US RECOGNIZING HER FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE, SO YOU CAN COME ON UP. WHEREAS ON MARCH 24TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINS DISTRICT B IN CELEBRATING AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER IN HOUSTON, NATIVE ALEX STAPLETON, FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO FILM AND TELEVISION DURING WOMEN'S MONTH. WHEREAS ALEX HAS DEEP ROOTS IN THE REGION TRACING HER ANCESTRY TO AND ENSLAVED INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT TO GALVESTON TO TEXAS, MADE, BROUGHT TO GALVESTON, TEXAS SEVEN GENERATIONS AGO, SEEKING BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. HER FAMILY MOVED TO GALVESTON TO HOUSTON, MOVED TO GALVESTON, TO HOUSTON IN THE 1920S, AND SETTLED IN FIFTH WARD IN THE 1940S. HER GREAT-GRANDPARENTS BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES TO MOVE TO PLEASANTVILLE IN DISTRICT B, A MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN HOUSTON WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS COULD OWN THEIR OWN HOMES. GROWING UP, ALEX SPENT MUCH, MUCH OF HER TIME IN PLEASANTVILLE AND IN FIFTH WARD WITH HER GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AND EXTENDED FAMILY AND UPBRINGING THAT WOULD LATER DEEPLY INFLUENCE HER WORK. WHEREAS AS A CHILD, ALEX LIVED NEAR THE MEN COLLECTIONS IN MONTROSE AND ATTENDED ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX C CATHEDRAL SCHOOL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE THEN CONTINUED HER EDUCATION AT DEACONS ACADEMY, DUCHEN, DUCHEN, THANK YOU, OF THE SACRED HEART FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. WHEREAS ALEX PURSUED HIGHER EDUCATION AT PACE UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY. AFTER SPENDING TWO DECADES LIVING IN NEW YORK IN LOS ANGELES, SHE RETURNED TO HOUSTON WITH HER SON BEAUMONT. NOW BACK IN HER BELOVED HOMETOWN. ALEX TREASURES BEING CLOSE TO HER FAMILY AND CHERISH THE CITY WHOSE STORIES IMPACT IMPACT HER WORK, INSPIRE HER WORK. WHEREAS AS A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER, ALEX HAS HAD REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE FILMS THAT HIGHLIGHT HOUSTON AS ITS NOBLE RESIDENCE. IN 2024, SHE DIRECTED THE PRICE OF ALL PART OF THE TRILOGY SERIES. GOD SAVED TEXAS FOR HBO. THE THE FAM EXAMINED HOW OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES IMPACT THEIR FAMILY IN PLEASANTVILLE, WHILE ALSO EXPLORING ASPECTS OF BLACK HISTORY IN TEXANS, OFTEN ABSENT FROM TRADITIONAL HISTORY BOOKS. IN 2023, SHE DIRECTED A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MLBB, A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER HALL OF FAMER. REGGIE JACKSON CHRONICLING HIS MOVE TO HOUSTON TO WORK FOR JIM CRANE AND THE HOUSTON ASTROS. WHEREAS IN JANUARY, 2026, ALEX F THE BRITTANY GRINER STORY ON ESPN PREMIERED AT SUN SUNDANCE. THE DOCUMENTARY TRACED THE LIFE OF THE HOUSTON BORN WNBA STAR WHO ENDURED 10 MONTHS OF WRONGFUL DETENTION IN RUSSIA LAY. LATER THIS YEAR, ALEX WILL DEBUT, DE DEBUT HER FILM FOR THE NEXT NFL HALL OF FAMER, TERRENCE TERRELL OWENS, A CURRENT HOUSTON RESIDENT. SHE ALSO RECENTLY EXECUTIVELY PRODUCED SEAN COMBS RECORDING ALONGSIDE ANOTHER HOUSTONIAN 50 CENT. THE SERIES IS THE SECOND MOST WATCHED DOC DOCUMENTARY SERIES IN NETFLIX HISTORY, WHEREAS DURING THIS MONTH, CELEBRATING WOMEN AND THEIR OFTEN UNRECOGNIZED INCREDIBLE WORK, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONGSIDE DISTRICT B, IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR OWN OWN IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXCEPTIONAL STORYTELLING, ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY HONORS ALEX STAPLETON FOR HER DEDICATION TO SHARING HER STORY, HER FAMILY'S HISTORY, AND THE COUNTLESS STORIES OF HOUSTONIANS CELEBRATING THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF OUR BELOVED CITY OF HOUSTON. THEREFORE, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 24TH, 2026, [00:05:03] AS ALEX STAPLETON DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, TASHA JACKSON DOES SO MUCH MORE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND IS ALSO MY COUSIN. WE SHARE THE SAME HISTORY AND ANCESTORS, AND I KNOW THAT OUR ANCESTORS ARE LOOKING DOWN ON US RIGHT NOW. YEAH. AND, AND CRYING. YES. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MARY. THANK YOU. UH, I'M GONNA KEEP IT SHORT. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE REAL WORK TO DO, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, . OH, HOLD ON. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TE CERTAINLY I'M LOOKING AT YOU AND YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. YOU NEED TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I AM, UH, TERMED OUT. SO IF YOU NEED SOMEBODY , OKAY, I CAN EVEN DO IT PART-TIME NOW, BUT CERTAINLY I DO HAVE ASPIRATIONS, BUT THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL, YOU WATCH IT. DON'T HATE, DON'T HATE, APPRECIATE IT. AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THIRD WARD. YES. SAY NO MORE FROM NO, BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I KNOW YOU'RE FROM THE TRAY AND DISTRICT, WELL, LIVING IN THE TRAY AND DISTRICT D. AND SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, FOR HONORING YOUR NEIGHBOR. YES. AND CERTAINLY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, AND BEFORE WE GO, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE CONGRATULATIONS. UM, ALEX BROUGHT HER FAMILY WITH HER. WE HAVE PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY, UM, AS WELL AS HER MOM, HER DAD. I'M SO SORRY. YES. THIS IS MY WHOLE FAMILY. AND, AND THESE ARE ALL PLEASANTVILLE NATIVES TOO. AND THEY DO SO MUCH FOR THIS CITY, AND I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK THEM. GET A PICTURE TO COME UP. [2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM, IF I CAN HAVE RHONDA COME UP. UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, RHONDA. UM, RHONDA HAS BEEN A, A DEAR FRIEND, A DISTRICT GUY RESIDENT, UH, SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN SUPER INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, BUT ONE THING THAT I, UH, HOLD VERY DEAR IS, UH, THE, THE WORK THAT SHE DOES WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, UM, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SHE'S BEEN ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITIES, UM, NOT JUST IN THE EAST END, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, ACROSS THE DIOCESE. UM, AND, AND I WANTED TO BRING SOMEBODY TODAY THAT REPRESENTED COMMUNITY, SOMEBODY THAT HAS STRONG FAITH THAT ME AND MY TEAM LEAN INTO, UM, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, THROUGHOUT MY TERM SO FAR. AND SO, UM, WANNA WELCOME RHONDA, UH, TODAY TO OFFER A PRAYER FOR US. CAN YOU STEP IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICS? YES. EITHER ONE. THANK YOU, MARTHA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROTI, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBER, FRIENDS AND FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. LET US BEGIN WITH PRAYER. GRACIOUS CREATOR, TODAY, AS WE ENTER THE PEOPLE'S HALL, WE BRING YOUR HOLY PRESENCE WITH US. MAY WE SPEAK [00:10:01] AND REFLECT YOUR PEACE, YOUR LOVE, AND YOUR MERCY. IN THIS HONORED FORUM, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POWER OVER ALL THAT WILL BE SPOKEN, THOUGHT, DECIDED, AND DONE WITHIN THESE WALLS. LORD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFTS YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH. WE COMMIT TO USING THEM RESPONSIBLY IN YOUR HONOR, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CALL HOUSTON HOME, ANOINT OUR PROJECTS, OUR IDEAS, AND OUR ENERGY, SO THAT EVEN OUR SMALLEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS MAY BRING YOU GLORY. LORD, WHEN WE ARE CONFUSED, GUIDE US WHEN WE ARE BURNED OUT. INFUSE US WITH THE LIGHT OF THY SPIRIT. MAY THE WORK WE DO AND THE WAY THAT WE DO IT, BRING FAITH, JOY, AND SMILES TO ALL WE COME IN CONTACT WITH TODAY. LORD OUR GOD, YOU DESIRE GREAT THINGS FROM US. YOU CALL US OUT OF OURSELVES TO DO YOUR WORK AND SERVE YOUR PEOPLE. GRANT US THE GRACE OF A HUMBLE HEART, WHICH KNOWS HOW TO RESPOND WITH READINESS TO THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THIS DYNAMIC AND DIVERSE CITY. AND LET US NEVER FORGET THAT THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. WE PRAY. THIS IS IN ALL THINGS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 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. MR. [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] SECRETARY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, MAYOR WHITMEYER. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE. NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF MARCH 17TH AND 18TH TECH MOVE MARTINEZ. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES ANY [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? IF NOT, MR. SECRETARY? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, DO YOU HAVE A PROCEDURAL? YES, GO AHEAD. I'D LIKE TO MOVE, SPEND THE ROOM TO ADD MARY WHITE TO THE, UH, TWO MINUTE LIST. UM, SPEED NON AGENDA CONFERENCE. YES. TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA NON, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES ANY OTHER PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? IF NOT, MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. JOSEPH PANZA. JOSEPH PANZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACK BALINSKI. EITHER ONE. EITHER ONE. THIS ONE HAS THE LIGHT ON. GOOD AFTERNOON. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I HAVE SOME, UH, A WRITTEN OUT STATEMENT HERE, AND I'LL JUST READ IT AND I'LL BE OUTTA HERE SOON. MY NAME IS JOE ZAA AND I'M A LONGTIME DISTRICT C RESIDENT WHO CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MONTROSE. I WANNA START BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND TRANSPARENCY ON THIS ISSUE. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MONTROSE TOURS BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY THE WEST ALABAMA PROJECT. WE NEED THESE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. THAT'S NOT IN QUESTION, BUT THE CURRENT PLAN FOR WEST ALABAMA WIDENS CAR LANES IN A WAY THAT PUTS BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS AT RISK. I'M ASKING THE TOUR AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVISIT THE CURRENT PLAN AND ALIGN IT WITH THE ORIGINAL 2022 PLAN. FIX THE DRAINAGE, KEEP THE STREETS SAFE, AND PROTECT OUR TREES. WE CAN DO ALL THREE. I APPLAUD THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHIT MYER'S INVESTMENT HERE. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. LET'S MAKE THIS A BIGGER WIN. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOWARDS A DESIGN THAT MY ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN ENDORSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, JACK VALINSKY. JACK VALINSKY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALEXANDER SPIKE. HELLO, JACK. HELLO. COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AS ALWAYS. IT'S ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. IF THIS ROOM IS REALLY MAGIC, I WANNA ASK THAT. ITEM 32 BE PULLED AND SENT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THE CHURCH BUDGET FOR MONTROSE. WE HAVE BEEN AT THESE MEETINGS YEARS. IT'S 10 YEARS NOW. I KNOW WHEN THE BOARD WAS SET UP, HOW NERVOUS THEY WERE ABOUT SERVING THE COMMUNITY, BUT THIS NEW BOARD DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE EVERY PROJECT THAT GOES UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION GETS CHOPPED UP OR, OR USED WITH A, WITH A SHARPIE AND CHANGED. WE DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY INPUT ON CHANGING [00:15:01] THE PROJECT OR MAKING THE PROJECT IN THE WAY THAT MONTROSE WANTS IT. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR THAT ONE PERSON GETS TO MAKE ALL THESE DECISIONS. PLEASE SEND BACK ITEM 32 BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION UNTIL WE HAVE AN OPEN AND HONEST AND INPUT TO FOR THE PROJECTS. THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. JACK. UH, JACK, I WANNA THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS ON, UH, THE MONT TOURS BUDGET. UH, BUT YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF NEAR TOWN. YES. UH, SO AS, AS THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT REPRESENTING THAT AREA, UM, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE TO WHAT ENGAGEMENT HAS OR HAS NOT HAPPENED AT THE TURS AND WHAT IS IT SPECIFICALLY PERTAINING THE ISSUE TO WEST ALABAMA, WHICH I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNITY, UH, OUTCRY ABOUT, OR IS IT ALSO OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN THE BUDGET? SO I'VE PROBABLY BEEN TO THE MAJORITY OF THESE MEETINGS FORMERLY AS A CITY EMPLOYEE AND FOR, AND NOW AS A RESIDENT PRESIDENT OF NEAR TOWN, WE, NOW, THE WAY THE MEETINGS ARE SET UP, A PRESENTATION WILL BE GIVEN. AND THEN THERE'S JUST COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY INPUT. BUT IT'S NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. BUT WE USED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE PROJECTS PUT OUT AT A TABLE WHERE WE CAN WRITE UP LITTLE, OH, WE LIKE THIS, WE DON'T LIKE THIS. THAT'S NO LONGER THERE. WE DON'T HAVE AN INPUT ON THE ORIGINAL MONTROSE PROJECT, THE PREMIER PROJECT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WANTED AND WE WORKED ON. AND WE WAITED FOREVER TO GET IT. UH, IT IS, IT WAS CHANGED AND IT COST A MILLION DOLLARS MORE AND IT WAS DELAYED A YEAR ON ALL. AND EVERYWHERE YOU TURN TO MONTROSE, ROADS ARE BEING WORKED ON, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING REALLY WORKED ON. THEY'RE JUST BEING REPAVED THAT WILL ONLY LAST A COUPLE YEARS. WE ARE NOT GETTING THE REALLY PROJECTS OF GETTING THINGS REBUILT SO THAT THEY LAST 30 YEARS. THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM. IN FIVE YEARS, ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE GONNA BE, NEED TO BE REDONE, WHICH IS NOT VERY PRACTICAL. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS AND TRYING TO LIFT UP THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY. UM, ARE THERE PARTICULARS WITHIN THE WEST, AND IF YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT RIGHT NOW, BUT ARE THERE PARTICULARS WITH THE WEST ALABAMA CORRIDOR PROJECT? 'CAUSE THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN, UH, ITEM THAT HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR, LET ME ASK IT THIS WAY. WITH ALL THE FEEDBACK BEING PROVIDED TO THE MONTROSE TOURS, HAS THE TOURS IN TURN MADE ANY ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE DESIGN BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE? MY UNDERSTANDING IS, NO. MY UNDERSTANDING, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT FROM MY FEEDBACK FROM THEM IS THAT THEY'RE AT THE MERCY OF WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ASK FOR ANYTHING, CHANGE ANYTHING, MAKE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR. AND, YOU KNOW, US WHO LIVE IN MONTROSE ARE VERY VOCAL, I WOULD SAY. Y'ALL ARE VERY ENGAGED IN PAYING ATTENTION. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AL. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU JACK AND JOE AND ANYONE ELSE WHO'S COMING TO SPEAK ON IT. I DID ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON THIS BUDGET. UM, ONE ITEM IS AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EXPENSES. SO I ASKED ABOUT THAT AND THEY SAID, BECAUSE OF THESE PROJECTS, MONTROSE WEST ALABAMA, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, THEY'VE GOT A PR FIRM. MY HEART IS ON BOARD TO HELP WITH THE MESSAGING AND TO SUPPORT WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND SUPPORTING PRESS COMMUNICATIONS. THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS COMMUNICATIONS FOR MONTROSE BOULEVARD IN A PUBLIC MEETING ON WEST ALABAMA, INCLUDING EXHIBITS AND STAFF ATTENDANCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. UH, I ALSO ASKED ABOUT SPECIFICS ON THE WEST ALABAMA PROJECT AND UNDERSTAND IT IS STILL IN DESIGN AND THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS BEING INCORPORATED IN. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE STILL A WAY TO, TO COMMUNICATE WHAT YOU WANT ON WEST ALABAMA? I, I GUESS NOT ON MONTROSE. THAT'S KIND OF OKAY. WE COULD SPEND OH, ON MONTROSE, ON PHASE TWO, MONTROSE AND ON WEST ALABAMA. IS THERE A WAY TO GET YOUR, YOUR, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A WAY, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON COMMUNICATIONS FIRMS AND STUFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVED. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE THERE'S A WAY TO GET INVOLVED AND TO MAKE COMMENT AND TO ALL OF THAT. SO JUST WITH THAT, MY EXPERIENCE AS RUNNING THE PRIDE PARADE IN MONTROSE, I KNEW WHAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS. IT WAS BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. WE MAY BE ABLE TO TALK, BUT NONE OF THAT INFORMATION SEEMS TO GET TO THE ADMINISTRATION. NUMBER TWO, IT'S NOT JUST SPENDING MONEY, IT'S ACTUALLY LISTENING AND ENGAGING. WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THIS ENGAGEMENT ANYMORE. AND IT'S REALLY SAD. LIKE, I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION AT FAIRVIEW IN MONTROSE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFICE FOR RESPONDING. BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY NOTICE ON IT. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT CONSTRUCTION IN MONTROSE IS GONNA HAVE THEN WE REPLACED WITH THE TURS EVENTUAL DOING [00:20:01] OF MONTROSE. IS IT SHORTSIGHTED? I THINK IT IS. AND, AND, AND THE, THE CROSSING AT KATZ, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE, THE, THE, YEAH, I, I'VE SEEN THE ARTICLE AND ALL THAT. I, I GUESS, YES, I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, AND IF WE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON, ON PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THOSE FUNDS ARE, ARE, UM, ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. SO I'LL, I'LL, BUT IT'S LISTENING AND ENGAGING IS OUR CONCERN. GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER KAMER. THANK YOU. AND I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LOOKING AT THIS AS WELL. 'CAUSE I DO NEED, YOU KNOW, OUR SUPPORT FROM OUR AT LARGES, UM, MANTRA IS PHASE TWO. WE DID NOT GET NO, LIKE THAT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON COMMUNICATIONS AND NOTIFICATION. NO NOTICE WENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR OFFICE DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE UNTIL TWO DAYS AFTER CONSTRUCTION ON MONTROSE BOULEVARD. PHASE TWO STARTED. SO WE MAY BE SPENDING THE MONEY, BUT THE NOTICE IS, I WOULD SAY, TWO COUNCIL OFFICES. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY DISTRICT OFFICE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITH. WE ARE NOT BEING PRO ONE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION. BUT TWO MORE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT GETTING THAT INFORMATION. AND WHEN PROJECTS ARE BEING CHANGED FROM THE SCOPE AS PRESENTED, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOT ONLY NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE, BUT ALLOWED IN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT THAT IS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY INCORPORATED. AND WE CAN SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT ON DEMAND, HEAVY TRASH, NO COMMUNICATIONS, WHEN IT'S GONNA START. IF IT WILL START, WE DON'T KNOW. BUT TO THIS, AND SPECIFICALLY, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO BE IN ENGAGING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, BE ABLE TO HAVE A, A TWO-WAY TALK TO BE ABLE TO ASK FOR THINGS. AND UNDERSTANDABLY WE WON'T GET EVERYTHING, BUT IT JUST SEEMS IT'S, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY COMMUNICATE WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER ALEXANDER, SPIKE ALEXANDER, SPIKE WALTER VID. WALTER VIDAL. WALTER VIDAL, NEXT SPEAKER FAAS, AHMED FAYAZ AMED TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIAN WRIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO HEAR ME OUT. UH, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND I'M PROUD TO CALL THIS CITY, UH, MY HOME. UH, I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE ISLAMOPHOBIC AWARENESS DAY RESOLUTION. I BELIEVE THIS DAY WILL SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT, UH, REMINDER OF ADDRESSING AND COMBATING ISLAMOPHOBIA IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S A CALL TO ACTION TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE, AND INCLUSIVITY. UH, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON IS A VITAL PART OF OUR CITY'S FABRIC, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CULTURE, ECONOMY AND GROWTH. AND BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE 200,000 MUSLIMS THAT CALL THE CITY HOME. UH, ISLAMOPHOBIA DOESN'T AFFECT JUST INDIVIDUALS, BUT ENTIRE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, UH, CAN MANIFEST IN VARIOUS FORMS FROM HATE SPEECH TO DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES. AND BY RECOGNIZING THESE ISSUES, UH, WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THEM. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS OF ISLAMOPHOBIA IN HOUSTON RECENTLY, UH, UH, WITH, UH, MUSLIM STUDENTS HAVING THEIR HIJABS RIPPED OFF AT PAR VERE MIDDLE SCHOOL, QURANS BEING BURNED, UH, IN FRONT OF MUSLIM STUDENTS, PRAYING AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, VANDAL AT MUJI. UH, SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY IN SPRING BRANCH, ISD AND GENERAL ISLAMOPHOBIC FEAR MONGERING. UH, SO MOST TIMES WE'VE HAD TO BEAR THIS PAIN AND SHAME WITH, UH, NOT MUCH SUPPORT AT TIMES FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY. UM, I THINK TO STAND TOGETHER AND UNITE AGAINST THIS HATRED AND BIGOTRY AND PROMOTE A COMMUNITY, UH, WHERE EVERYONE CAN FEEL VALUED, RESPECTED, AND SAFE. AND WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH EDUCATION, DIALOGUE, AND EMPATHY, AND CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES AND WORK TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL. HOUSTONIANS. UH, URGE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE INCIDENTS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. PROMOTE EDUCATION AWARENESS ABOUT ISLAMOPHOBIA. I BELIEVE THIS ISLAMOPHOBIA AWARENESS AND RESOLUTION REVIEW, YES, TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANKS. THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UH, JUST A SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. OH, YES. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR MESSAGE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. OH, EVAN, NO PROCEDURAL MOTION. JUST PROCEDURAL MOTION. OKAY. CAN YOU WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT SPEAKER? SURE CAN. THANK YOU. HI. UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME. SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I WENT LAST NIGHT TO A MEETING AND IT WAS, UM, A COUNCIL, I MEAN A CIVICS CLUB MEETING. AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT ONE OF THE EX COUNCIL MEMBERS GOT [00:25:01] UP AND ACTUALLY ASKED EVERYONE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT THEY HADN'T EVEN READ WHEN I TURNED AROUND. AND I SAID, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHY YOU'RE FOSTERING SUPPORT OF THIS? WHAT DOES IT SAY? HAVE YOU READ IT? AND THEY HADN'T. BUT YET THEY'RE GOING AROUND ASKING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO AHEAD AND TO SUPPORT AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS WRITTEN BY MS. SALINAS. THIS IS ABOUT PROCESS. I'M NOT FOR OR AGAINST THE ORDINANCE 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, NEITHER HAS ANYONE ELSE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S IN LEGAL STILL, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT SAYS COMPLETELY. BUT YET, ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SAT HERE THAT'S NO LONGER HERE, TURNED AROUND AND WAS ASKING EVERYONE TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS. I'VE GOT THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT. THEY, UM, LISTED SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THEY'RE TARGETING. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY HORNE. I THINK IT'S REALLY SAD WHEN YOU'RE GONNA TURN AROUND AND TRY TO FOSTER SUPPORT AND TELL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CALL AND SUPPORT SOMETHING WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT'S BEING PRESENTED. I, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HIT THE FLOOR RUNNING AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, AND THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BAD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT ASKING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT SOMETHING. WHAT ABOUT THE PROCESS? WHAT ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS? YOU KNOW, LIKE, THAT'S NOT HOW THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. WE NEED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE NEED PEOPLE TO, TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT YOU DON'T ASK AND PUSH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TRY AND PIGEONHOLE 'EM TO GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GONNA SUPPORT SOMETHING UNTIL YOUR TIME HAS FIRE. UNTIL WE FLUSH IT OUT. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO COUNCIL. I THINK A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION ON THIS CAN ONLY BENEFIT US ALL. UM, YOU ARE INCORRECT THAT THE ORDINANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE. IF YOU GO TO MY CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE AND GO TO A LINK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, THE ORDINANCE IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO READ. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IT, I'M AVAILABLE FOR OFFICE HOURS TOMORROW FROM FOUR TO 7:00 PM PLEASE SIGN UP FOR A TIME. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE BILL. BUT IT IS FALSE THAT IT IS NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. IT'S BEEN PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON MY WEBSITE SINCE LAST WEEK. HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT AND HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT WITH ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UM, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, UHHUH, MS. WRIGHT, YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT DOES NOT CURRENTLY SIT ON THIS COUNCIL MM-HMM . THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT MEETINGS. THERE'S NOBODY ON THIS COUNCIL THAT HAS EITHER NOT READ IT OR IS HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON IT. YOU'RE TALKING, 'CAUSE AGAIN, JUST I WANNA MAKE SURE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S LISTENING, YOU'RE NOT REFERRING TO SOMEBODY ON THIS COUNCIL. YOU'RE REFERRING TO A PUBLIC MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE PRESENTING. IT'S NOT THAT I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS AND EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING OUT PUSHING AND PRESSURING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT SOMETHING WITHOUT THEM BEING ABLE TO EVEN DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO WELL, HANG. I KNOW, BUT YOU'RE REALLY, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, WELL, YOU WEREN'T AT THE MEETING RESPECT. I UNDERSTAND RESPECT. WE CAN'T, NO. WE, I JUST FOR THE RECORD, WANNA MAKE SURE YOU WERE NOT ADDRESSING OR REFERRING TO ANYONE ON COUNCIL THAT IS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED THOROUGHLY AT COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THAT'S CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. MM-HMM . MARION, THANK YOU FOR COMING. UH, YOUR COMMENTS HIT AT SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT MAYBE THE PUBLIC ISN'T WIDELY AWARE OF. BUT WE OPERATE UNDER PRETTY STRICT QUORUM RULES. SO IF ANY ONE OF US HAS A PROPOSAL WE WANNA PUT FORTH, WE CANNOT GO BEHIND THE SCENES AND ENGAGE WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THE WAY A STATE LEGISLATURE MIGHT DO OR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS BECAUSE WE'RE GUIDED BY THE OPEN, UH, MEETINGS, LAW OF THE STATE. ALL OUR DELIBERATIONS IN, IN A QUORUM HAVE TO BE OUT IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. MM-HMM . SO WE CAN'T, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO FORM A QUORUM OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM. OTHERWISE WE'LL BE IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. MM-HMM . THAT'S JUST, UH, PART OF THE, THE, UH, THE RULES. YES. SO IT WASN'T A COUNCIL WASN A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S CURRENTLY SITTING? NO. AND I SAID THAT I BELIEVE WHEN I CAME OUT, BUT WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS NO, IT WASN'T A COUNCIL MEMBER. UNDERSTOOD. CURRENTLY. UNDERSTOOD. SO THAT WASN'T DONE. BUT YOU, YOU, YOU MENTIONED, UH, ENGAGEMENT AND SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT ENGAGING WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ABOUT A MATTER THAT'S GONNA COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. AND SO OBVIOUSLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT. AND INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL [00:30:01] MEMBERS IN THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT INCLUDED WITH THAT EITHER, SO THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. THANK YOU. UH, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER YOU'RE REFERENCING? ABSOLUTELY. I'LL PASS IT OUT TO EVERYONE. DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM. LET ME, YOU HAVE TO, I'M SORRY. WRONG WAY. UH, THANK YOU MARIAN FOR BEING HERE AND ADDRESSING THIS. AND LET ME JUST SAY TO THE, FOR THE RECORD, I WAS AT THE MEETING AND, UM, THE SUBJECT MATTER CAME UP IN REGARDING TO IT. AND I BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING. AND I SAID TO THIS, THE EX COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IT WAS NOT THE BUSINESS OF US TO, UM, REVEAL OR SAY WHICH WAY WE ARE GOING TO GO. UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE QUORUMS AND SETTINGS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ACTION. IT IS NOT FOR US TO ANNOUNCE WHERE WE GOING TO GO AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND I TRIED MY BEST TO TRY TO CORRECT THE COUNCIL MEMBER AS YOU WELL WELL KNOW. AND I SAID TO THEM THAT YOU, YOU KNOW BETTER, UH, THAN THAT NO MATTER HOW YOU PROMOTE IT. AND OF COURSE, I REFUSE TO, UM, TO ENGAGE INTO THAT SCENARIO. AND I TRIED TO CLARIFY TO THEM, IT'S NOT PROPER TO CALL PEOPLE NAMES. YOU KNOW, IN THE LIST OF THAT I, I I, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE, THE EMOTIONS AND ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT. I'M NOT STATING TO YOU WHETHER I'M WITH FOR IT OR AGAINST IT, BUT TO, HE TRIED TO GET ME, WILL TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. AND LISTEN, THAT'S NOT FOR US TO DO. AND I REGRET THAT EXPERIENCE THAT HAPPENED. IT WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THAT. IT WASN'T TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO. IT'S TELL ME IF YOU ARE WITH THE MAYOR OR WITH THE COMMUNITY, IS HOW IT WAS PHRASED. YEAH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT? AGAIN, I THINK AS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THIS COUNCIL. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE THE RECORD CLEAR FOR THOSE OF US WHO DID PUT THE ORDINANCE FORWARD, WE ARE ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY TO HAVE A THOUGHTFUL AND ROBUST DISCUSSION. PERFECT. AND TO COME TO COUNCIL AND SHARE THE REVIEWS, WHICH I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IS A PART OF A GOOD DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. OKAY. UM, THAT IS THE MESSAGING COMING OUT. THANK YOU. MY OFFICE. THAT'S THE MESSAGING COMING OUT OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, BUT KNOW THAT THAT IS ALL WE ARE CONDONING IS A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS, ALWAYS IN A RESPECTFUL AND THOUGHTFUL WAY. IF YOU SAW OUR PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU SAW WE, THERE WAS NO NAME CALLING. THERE WAS NO CRITIC. THEY WAS JUST SHARING THE FACTS, SHARING OUR VIEWS ON WHAT THE POLICY SHOULD BE. AND WE HOPE ALL THIS DISCUSSION COMES FROM A PLACE OF POSITIVITY. WE MAY HAVE DISAGREEMENT ON POSITIONS, BUT ALWAYS RESPECT AND THOUGHTFULNESS. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. IT'S JUST CITY ENGAGEMENT. AND I'VE BEEN A ALL THE TEARS MEETING. WELL, THANK YOU MS. WRIGHT AS WELL. MS. WRIGHT. AND WHEN COMES TO THE TEARS MEETING, WHO IN THIS LETTER? I'M SORRY. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? THIS CAME FROM THE EX COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU'ALL. NEXT SPEAKER. OH, WE HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. . THANK YOU MAYOR FOR TIM. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JOVAN TYLER TO WHOEVER IS THE LAST, UH, SPEAKER AT THE TOP FOR THE THREE MINUTE, UM, NON AGENDA. WHEN I SAY THE LAST SPEAKER, THE LAST ONE THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IS WHAT I MEAN. SO TOP OF THE THREE NEXT SPEAKER. YES. TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. YES. IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. JOVAN TYLER JOVAN JOON TYLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN BROADWAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR PRO TIM. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SAID, THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. THIS COUNCIL IS GONNA HAVE THAT CHANCE. MY NAME IS JOE VAUGHN TYLER. I'M A HOUSTONIAN, BORN AND RAISED ON KAPLAN STREET IN CASHMERE GARDENS IN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD THAT TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS CITY AND WHAT IT MEANS AT ITS BEST. I'M HERE AS A NEIGHBOR, A FAMILY MEMBER, AND SOMEONE WHO CARRIES THIS ISSUE WITH HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY. I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN THIS CITY WHO LIVE IN FEAR, [00:35:01] NOT FEAR OF CRIME, BUT FEAR OF A SYSTEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEM. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM TONIGHT, A BREAK IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THEY WILL NOT BE CALLING 9 1 1. NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THE HELP, BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IF THAT CALL IS GONNA PROTECT THEM OR IF IT'S GONNA DESTROY THE LIFE THAT THEY'VE BUILT. WHEN A MOTHER IN MY OWN FAMILY CANNOT CALL FOR HELP BECAUSE SHE FEARS IT MAY BE A TRAP, THIS CITY HAS FAILED HER. MY FAMILY'S STORY IS THE STORY OF HOUSTON. IT IS A STORY OF BLACK IMMIGRANT FAMILIES FROM AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN WHO FACE A DOUBLE BURDEN OF BEING OVERPOLICED WHILE LACKING BASIC PROTECTIONS. IT'S THE STORY OF A LATINO NEIGHBOR WHO OFTEN IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR WORKPLACE, WHO IS FORCED TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS ON THE VERY STREETS THAT THEY BUILD. IT'S THE STORY OF OUR ASIAN COMMUNITIES IN ALE AND SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, WHERE LANGUISH BARRIERS AND THE FEAR OF DISCOVERY TURN INTO VICTIMS OF SILENCE. WHEN FEAR IS HIGH, CRIME REPORTING DROPS BY 44%. IN A CITY WHERE FOUR RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN, WE CANNOT AFFORD A SYSTEM WHERE A QUARTER OF OUR POPULATION IS TOO FRIGHTENED OF THE POLICE. THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMPASSION, IT'S ABOUT 78% OF HOUSTONIANS WHO WANT OUR LOCAL POLICE FORCE TO FOCUS ON LOCAL SAFETY, NOT FEDERAL PAPERWORK. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, FINALLY, THERE ARE CHILDREN. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY OWN FAMILY WHO CRY THEMSELVES TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, NOT BECAUSE OF NIGHTMARES, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THAT ICE IS COMING TO GET THEIR GRANDMOTHER. THESE ARE REAL HOUSTON CHILDREN, BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN BARGAINING WITH GOD AS THEY UNDERSTAND GOD TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER. DIVERSITY WITHOUT SAFETY, YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL CASTILLO JOVAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO WRAP UP YOUR STATEMENT? YES, I WOULD. DIVERSITY WITHOUT SAFETY IS NOT JUST A SLOGAN, IT'S AN ORDINANCE THAT MAKES IT REAL. DR. KING DIDN'T SAY THE TIME IS RIGHT WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT. HE SAID, THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO. RIGHT. WHEN THIS ORDINANCE COMES UP, I'M ASKING THIS COUNSEL TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. I I WAS JUST GONNA GIVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BENJAMIN BROADWAY. BENJAMIN BROADWAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ZLA . HELLO, MR. BROADWAY. HELLO, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR. UH, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN BROADWAY. I'M WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND TODAY I COME TO SPEAK ABOUT THE 2026 CITY OF HOUSTON BUDGET. MAY I ASK FOR Y'ALL TO LIFT THE HIRING FREEZE FOR PUBLIC WORKS? DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SWAT PROJECTS, LDP PROJECTS AND CIP PROJECTS THAT ARE DECADES BEHIND, WE NEED TO GO ON AHEAD AND LIFT THAT. IF WE CAN SIT UP HERE AND FIND MONEY FOR THE POLICE, FOR THE FIREMEN. AND FOR A $128 MILLION FACILITY FOR THE HOUSTON TEXANS, I'M QUITE SURE WE CAN FIND MONEY TO LIFT UP THE HIRING FREEZE FOR PUBLIC WORKS MAN, WE'RE HISTORICALLY BEHIND, WE'RE DECADES BEHIND IN CIP PROJECTS. WE NEED TO LIFT THAT AND GET THE MAYOR TO LIFT THE HIRING FREEZE BECAUSE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WHEN WE ELECTED HIM, HE SAID HE WAS GONNA WORK ON FLOOD VOICEMAIL. WHERE'S THE, WHERE'S THE WORK ON THE FLOOD AT ? IS IT THE, OH, HE TOOK 3,800 [00:40:02] MIN WELL, 38 MILLION OF FEDERAL DOLLARS TO DESTROY BUILDINGS? NO. WHEN DO WE PUT IT TOWARDS THE SIX EXCAVATORS THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO PURCHASE WHEN HE GOT INTO OFFICE? OR WHAT ABOUT COMING OUT TO COMMUNITIES AND WORKING ON THE OPENING DITCHES OR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE'VE REACHED OUT TO HIM TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO USE STATE REVOLVING FUNDS TO IMPROVE THE CITY. SO YEAH, IF WE COULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NICK. ZOE GODINEZ CO CAYMAN. I HAVE A PROCEDURAL MOTION. PROCEDURAL MOTION NOW GO FOR IT. YOU, UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JIM TUCKER TO FOLLOW MADE DEAN LEWIS. OKAY. MOTION MADE AND SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. OKAY. NEXT. ZOE EZ, MAYOR TRISTAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY LEE MERCER. I'LL BE INTERPRETING. HELLO COUNSEL. UM, I AM A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE WHO HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. ONE OF OUR FIRST DEMANDS IS OVER FLOODING. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST AND I'VE BEEN AFFECTED TERRIBLY, UH, BY HURRICANES LIKE HURRICANE HARVEY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN IT RAINS, WE ENTER INTO A STATE OF PANIC. THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE CLEAN THE STREETS, BUT WHEN WE CLEAN THE STREETS, WE NOTICE THAT THERE'S DITCHES THAT ARE DIRTY AND FULL OF TALL GRASS. THE DITCHES ARE PART OF THE CITY AND THEIR JOB IS TO MAINTAIN THEM CLEAN BECAUSE EVERY TIME IT RAINS, OUR DRAINAGE JUST DOESN'T WORK. RIGHT. UH, THE DITCHES LAST DAYS WITH WATER AND BAD ODORS, I'M ASKING YOU TO COMPLETE YOUR PROMISES TO US BECAUSE IN THE NORTHEAST WE NEED THOSE 45 MILLION TO FIX OUR DRAINAGE. YES, WE ASK YOU TO COMPLETE YOUR PROMISES 'CAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT NEED AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A VISION, VISION TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND WITHOUT SUFFERING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT LEE MERCER TO BE FOLLOWED BY MADINE LEWIS. [00:45:10] GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LEE MERCER AND I'M HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TO TALK TO, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER. UH, THE TOPIC IS MERCER FOR PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT PLATFORM, FRONT PORCH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. NOW SUBTOPICS ARE MERCY FOR PRESIDENT IS LEO MERCY JR. THAT'S ME. UH, UH, A BLACK CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028, COMING TO HOUSTON, TEXAS AND BRINGING A BLACK PRESIDENT TO CAMPAIGN TO HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND THIS IS A GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN, THAT'S WHY IT HAS THE BEFORE GOVERNMENT PLATFORM. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO A PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN. THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGNS ARE SUFFERING AND THE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNS APPROVED TO BE, UH, UH, INCOMPETENT. SO THEREFORE, WE'RE DOING A CAMPAIGN. THE GOVERNMENT'S GONNA DO A CAMPAIGN. UH, THE NEXT IS NUMBER TWO, GOVERNMENT PLATFORM. THIS IS A PLATFORM, SAYS PLATFORM IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT'S GONNA BE DOING. HAD LOOK IT UP IN THE BOOKS. THIS IS FROM A COLLEGE FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN MILITARY TERMS, ACADEMY, CAMPBELL VALLEY, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THIS IS A MASTER'S IN DOCTOR DEGREE IN GENERAL BUSINESS, AND A MASTER IN DOCTOR DEGREE IN THEOLOGY RELIGION. SO THIS YEAR IT'S GONNA TURN OUT TO BE A POLICE PREACHER. A THIRD THING I HAVE HERE IS, UH, IT SAYS GOVERNMENT PLATFORM, A NEW PATENT. SECOND GOVERNMENT. NOW WE'VE INVENTED AND I'VE INVENTED THE SECOND GOVERNMENT. THE SECOND GOVERNMENT IS A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. YOU NEED HELP. THE SECOND THING HERE IS THE FRONT PORCH CAMPAIGN. AND FRONT PORCH CAMPAIGN IS DEFINED AS BEING RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE US ARMY. I CAN'T LEAVE HOUSTON, TEXAS BECAUSE I DO ORGANIZED CRIME FIGHTING. I CAN'T LEAVE HOUSTON, TEXAS BECAUSE I HAD ASSASSINATIONS OF PRESIDENTS, POLITICAL OFFICIALS, AND PEOPLE DYING. SO THEREFORE IT HAS TO STAY HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FOR YOU. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND THIS IS AS I HAVE HERE, A P FRONT PORCH PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN INVENTED POLICE LAWYERS, CORRECTED AMERICA CRIME SOLVING COLLEGE PROJECTS. IT'S ALL GONNA BOIL DOWN TO CRIME SOLVING. AND WE'RE GONNA WORK PROBLEMS WITH CRIME SOLVING. SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU WALK OUTSIDE THERE, THERE YOU GET UPSET, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. YOU CAN SAY, WELL, A CRIME HAPPENED. MAYBE IT DID HAPPEN. MAYBE IT DID. MAYBE IT WAS A CALL OF NATURE. SO THIS SCHEMATIC TRACKER AND THIS, UH, INVENTION THAT I HAVE WILL FIND WHAT'S WRONG. IF, IF THE ERROR'S WRONG SOMETHING'S WRONG, YOU SEEK WHATEVER WE INVENTED THINGS TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE LIVE. SO IF YOU TURN, TURN THE PAGE OVER TO THE FRONT. THERE IT SAYS A US ARMY SAVE AMERICA PROGRAM. SAVE AMERICA PROGRAM. SO WE'RE SAVING AMERICA. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE INVENTED TO SAVE AMERICA. ALL THESE WARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ALL IT'S BEEN DE NOTATED ALL THOSE THINGS. THERE ARE REPRODUCTION AND COMPETENCE. THE NEXT THING, THANK YOU SIR. ALRIGHT SIR, THANK YOU. GO NEXT. MADINE LEWIS JIM TUCKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA BULL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. SIX YEARS AGO, NEXT MONTH, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED HOUSTON'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. THE SCORECARD FOR US IS ON PAGE 20 OF THAT PLAN. AND THE OUTCOME ENVELOPE STARTED AT 2014 OVER A DECADE AGO. WE NEED TO PUT SOME DATA ON THAT CHART TO SEE HOW WELL WE'RE PROGRESSING. I WATCHED THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS PRETTY CLOSELY, BUT IF PROGRESS NUMBERS HAVE BEEN PUBLICIZED AND I MISSED IT, I APOLOGIZE. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, IT WAS REPORTED LAST YEAR THAT HOUSTON PARKS WOULD BE MOWED LESS OFTEN FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR GRASS TURF HEALTH AS IT ALLOWS DEEPER ROOTS TO DEVELOP IMPROVING DRAINAGE AND WATER RETENTION. I HOPE WE KEEP IT UP. HOWEVER, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT ONE OF THE LEGACIES OF THIS COUNCIL WILL BE THE PHASE ONE OF THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDEVELOPMENT, TAKING A FLAWED PLAN AND MAKING IT NO BETTER. I HOPE WE TAKE THIS LESSON FAR MORE THOUGHTFUL AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS IN THE FUTURE. ON THE SUBJECT OF UTILITY RESILIENCE, BEFORE THE RECENT COAL SNAP, WE HEARD STATEMENTS FROM CENTERPOINT ABOUT ALL THE NEW UTILITY POLES AND TREE TRIMMING THEY HAD DONE. THIS POINTS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIRES ON POLES. THE PROBLEM IS WIRES [00:50:01] ON POLES UNTIL THE ELECTRIC SERVICE IS BURIED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN THE HIGH VOLTAGE SERVICE LINES AND LOCAL SUBSTATIONS AND OUT TO THE RESIDENCES, THESE OUTAGES AND PROBLEMS WILL PERSIST. MUCH OF THE ELECTRIC SERVICE WILL NEED TO BE UPGRADED ANYWAY, ONCE MANY CARS ARE CHARGED IN SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES. IF CENTER POINT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO OPERATE HERE, THEY NEED TO HAVE A PLAN TO GET WIRES OFF OF POLES. AND THE PLAN NEEDS TO HAVE MEASURABLE, NOT MILESTONES. IT MAY TAKE 20 OR 30 YEARS, BUT THE COMPELLING NEED IS OBVIOUS. THANK YOU AND EVER ONWARD FOR BETTER HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. WELCOME. UH, JIM, IT IS SO NICE TO SEE YOU AT COUNCIL. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND, UM, FOR, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE WHEN IT COMES TO RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY AND, UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD WITH DILIGENCE AND RIGOR. UH, I KNOW YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE YOU HAVE COME, UH, ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, THE RESILIENT HOUSTON PLAN, BUT ALSO AND JUST RUN OF THE MILL THINGS THAT AREN'T SO RUN OF THE MILL BUT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT. UM, WHAT I HEAR ONE OF YOUR ASKS BEING IS FOR AN UPDATE ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. IS THAT CORRECT? ESSENTIALLY HOW WE'RE DOING. OKAY. SO, UM, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY TAKE THAT ASK, UM, AND SEE IF WE CAN HAVE AN UPDATED A COMMITTEE. UH, BUT I DO WANNA, AGAIN, RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UH, CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY. REALLY THANK YOU. AND I A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WE NEED TO BURY AS MANY UTILITY LINES AS POSSIBLE. SOME PLACES IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, BUT WHEREVER WE CAN, WE MUST. UH, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOW'S JUNIOR? GOOD, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WEARING YOUR I VOTED STICKER. UH, WE APPRECIATE IT. THERE IS AN ELECTION GOING ON DISTRICT C HAS AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES. UH, ALL THE CANDIDATES, UH, ARE REALLY, UH, GONNA BE GOOD CONTRIBUTORS SOMEWHERE. THANK YOU NICK. JOSHUA BULL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAIM JACOB, UH, COUNSEL, WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING, UH, BY MEMORY TODAY. CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PUT IN THE MENU MINUTES THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT D DR. CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ IS HERE PRESENT AND READY TO WORK. SO LET'S BEGIN. UM, CREE GLOBAL MEDIA HAD A CONTRACT THAT CAME IN, UH, 9 24 OF 2024, WHICH WAS FOR $139,000. AND THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY HTV, PUT THAT CONTRACT UP. AND THE CONTRACT WAS A NO BID, NO COMPETITIVE CONTRACT. SO, AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS A PATTERN WOULD CREE GLOBAL MEDIA CONTRACTS OUT OF HTV IS THAT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CONTRACT. THERE'S NUMEROUS CONTRACTS WITH THEM EVEN DATING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. AND THERE ARE ALWAYS NO COMPETITION, NO BID, JUST THEY JUST WALK RIGHT IN. THE PROBLEM WITH USING A THIRD PARTY SYSTEM THAT CITIZENS ARE NOT USING IS IT COSTS US A FORTUNE. SO LIKE WE CAN SEE NOW THAT WE'RE LIVE STREAMING NOW ON HTV, WHO'S GONNA GO TO A THIRD PARTY APP TO WATCH THIS LIVE STREAM. THEY'RE JUST GONNA GO TO HTV AND WATCH IT. YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO THROUGH A THIRD PARTY APP TO WATCH YOUTUBE, YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO YOUTUBE. THE TOTAL COST IN BUYING BANDWIDTH IN UP TO FOUR CHANNELS, IT WAS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HTV WOULD NOT HAVE BID THIS CONTRACT OUT. I'VE TALKED WITH THREE OTHER WOMEN THAT OWN MEDIA COMPANIES HERE IN HOUSTON AND THEY'RE SHOCKED. THEY DIDN'T EVEN GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. THEY HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS. AND THERE'S ANOTHER CONTRACT WITH HTV CALLED CGM TV V APP, WHICH IS CREE GLOBAL MEDIA TV APP. THAT'S A, THAT'S ANOTHER A HUNDRED, $200,000 OUT THE DOOR. AND LET ME SAY THIS, COUNCIL MEMBER, DR. CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, LEMME TELL YOU WHAT'S REALLY CONCERNING IS THAT CREE GLOBAL MEDIA ONLY MAKES ONE POLITICAL [00:55:01] CONTRIBUTION TO ONLY ONE POLITICIAN. $5,000, $5,000 DOUBLE TRIPLE PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. AND THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD. AND IT'S COINCIDENTAL THAT ANYTIME I EVER COME TO CITY HALL, HE'S NEVER HERE. HE ALWAYS MAKES SURE HE'S ABSENT. NOW, TRE REED CREED GLOBAL MEDIA, IT'S NOT LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD AND AND HER ARE BEST FRIENDS OR THEY KNEW EACH OTHER IN THE PAST. THEY NEVER KNEW EACH OTHER BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT INTRODUCED THEM. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. SPEAKER. NEXT, NEXT JAIM JACOB OF MISSOURI SEATING TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSALYN BLAKE. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM JAIM JACOB AND MY CHURCH PASTOR, FATHER ABRAHAM HERE. CAN YOU JOIN IT HERE OR, OKAY. ABOUT, SEE, SEVEN MONTHS BACK WE CAME TO YOU WITH A REQUEST FOR A CRI OLEUM TO BE BUILT IN OUR PROPERTY FOR THE USE OF OUR PARISHIONERS AND PARISH COMMUNITY. AND AFTER THAT MEETING, UH, MR. SAMRA WAS VERY KIND TO CONTACT US AND INFORM, HE HAD TO COME UP WITH A NEW ORDINANCE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND HE TOOK THE INFORMATION, EVERYTHING. BUT AFTER THAT, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE STANDING ON THIS MATTER. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY AND SICK PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND MANY OF THEM CANNOT AFFORD A TRADITIONAL EXPENSIVE BURIAL. SO THIS THEIR ONLY HOPE TO HAVE A LESS EXPENSIVE SYSTEM. AND IT'S NOT, THIS PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANYBODY ANYWAY, NOT EVEN ENVIRONMENT. THIS A HUNDRED PERCENT CONCRETE CONCEAL, UH, STRUCTURE ABOVE GROUND. SO WE REQUEST YOU AGAIN, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS REQUEST AND HELP US ON THIS MATTER. MAYOR, UH, MAY APPROACH HIM. SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU CAN'T GET A PERMIT FOR THE CRIP MAUSOLEUM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE FOR YOU TO ERECT A MAUSOLEUM ON PRIVATE PROPERTY? THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TOLD, THAT THERE'S AN ORDINANCE. WE DON'T, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO APPLY FOR SUCH A SO YOU CAN'T GET THE PERMIT TO BUILD THE MAUSOLEUM. EXACTLY. UH, RANDY, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE FOR HIM? I KNOW THAT YOU WERE WORKING WITH THEM ON THIS. YEAH, WE SPOKE TO HIM. SO THIS IS A, IT WAS A CHANGE IN THE LAW A FEW YEARS AGO. UM, AND SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO, UH, WHEN THEY APPLY, UM, CITY COUNCIL HAS TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT EXPLAINS WHAT INFORMATION THE CITY WANTS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO APPLY. AND THEN ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TO THEN ALSO PASS AN ORDINANCE WHERE, UH, THEY DETERMINE THAT THE NEW CEMETERY OR MAUSOLEUM WILL NOT BE A HEALTH VIOLATION. SO WE HAVE FINALIZED THE ORDINANCE. I THINK WE FINALIZED, WE HAD A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH HEALTH BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. UM, AND UM, WE'RE GONNA KICK IT UP TO SEE IF WE CAN GET FINALIZATION FROM MY BOSS. SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF TIMELINE THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT AS THEIR ORGANIZATION IS, UM, PLANNING THEIR MOVES FORWARD? ? WELL, ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE THE, UH, ORDINANCE IN ITS FINAL VERSION, AND I HOPE THAT WE DO, UM, AS SOON AS IN THEORY WE COULD GET IT ON CITY COUNCIL, BUT, BUT THIS IS A BRAND NEW PROCESS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. SO COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE ESSENTIALLY, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT, THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED AND THEN LATER APPROVE IT A SECOND TIME. THE ACTUAL, DO YOU HAVE ANY RENDERINGS OF THE MAUSOLEUM? UM, NO, WE DON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE WE CONTACTED THE ARCHITECT AND THEY SAID WITHOUT THE CITY, UH, ANY PLAN OR ANYTHING WHY WE SHOULD WASTE THE MONEY. THAT WAS THE QUESTION. OKAY. OKAY. NO, WE CAN GIVE YOU ONE, UH, WE CAN GET IT AND I CAN SPEAK TO YOU AFTERWARDS. A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH. COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M SORRY. I CAN SPEAK TO YOU A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH AFTERWARDS AND EXPLAIN THE PROCESS BETTER. OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT. OKAY. I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A FRUSTRATING PROCESS, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE, UM, WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY LEG LEGAL TO SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, HELP YOU TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU MR. NEXT. ROSALYN BLAKE. BONNIE AUSTIN WHITLEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANITA GUAVA. GUEVARA. HI. CERTAINLY. UH, MY NAME IS BONNIE AUSTIN WHITLEY. IW LIVE AT 80 15 BURNT ORCHARD DRIVE. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FOOT FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. UH, WITH THAT FUNDING, UM, IT WILL [01:00:01] BE ABLE TO DIG DITCHES, NOT HAVING FLOODINGS, NOT HAVE WATER UP TO THE CEILINGS. AND, UH, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT IS HAPPENING AND I HOPE IT IS. BUT WHENEVER I DRIVE FROM WORK RE ROAD TO OVER WHERE I LIVE, I HAVE TO SIT ON THE FREEWAY OR SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SO THE WATER CAN GO DOWN SO I CAN GET TO WHERE I LIVE. UM, AS WELL AS THE TRASH THAT'S NOT BEING PICKED UP. I'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S, UH, CAMERAS, I'VE SEEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME WORK, BUT IT'S CONTINUOUS. AND UH, I ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE MONIES THAT WE LOST $51 MILLION. AND I'M THINKING THAT IF THAT MONEY COULD BE USED TO HIRE IN CITY EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN FIRED AND NOT BEEN HIRED, MAYBE IF WE COULD GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE, THE CAMERAS AND SEE THE LICENSE PLACE NUMBERS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROSECUTE AND MAYBE THAT'LL SLOW IT DOWN. TRASH, UH, UH, BUILDUP, PERIODICALLY CLEAN THOSE CARTRIDGES AND OR THE TREES, THEY'RE FALLING DOWN EVERYWHERE. THE LINES ARE FALLING DOWN EVERYWHERE. THERE'S DEAD, DEAD CARCASSES. SO, UH, THAT ALSO COULD BE A JOB THAT COULD BE FILLED. UM, I JUST KNOW THAT EACH ONE OF YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT HOUSTON, YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO BE PRIORITIZED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK THAT IF WE DON'T STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING, MY MAMA USED TO SAY, YOU GOTTA SAY SOMETHING. SO SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN. SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY FOR THE FLOODING FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT YEARS AGO I HAD TO FLOAT OUT ON A POOL, LITTLE BABY POOL AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, ANITA GUEVARA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALICE LOU. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANITA GUEVARA. I AM 85 YEARS OLD. I HAVE LIVED IN LAKE FOREST SUBDIVISION SINCE 1978, ZIP CODE 7 7 0 7 8. I'M HERE TO STRESS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. SPECIFICALLY THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM MUST BE FULLY FUNDED WITH $45 MILLION IN THE UPCOMING BUDGETS. WE HAVE FLOODED TWICE SINCE TROPICAL STORM ELLISON IN 2001 AND UH, IN 2017, UH, HURRICANE HARVEY, PEOPLE IN THE BACK OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE HAD IT WORSE. THEY HAVE FLOODED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER ELLISON. THE DRAINAGE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS STILL POOR. EVEN AFTER THE CITY HAS DONE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, THERE ARE STILL MANY STREETS THAT NEED BETTER DRAINAGE. EVEN AFTER A SMALL RAINFALL. THERE'S STANDING WATER ON THE STREETS FOR DAYS IF NOT WEEKS. THERE REMAIN STAGNANT WATER FOR DAYS AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE NEVER HAVE ANOTHER HARVEY TYPE HURRICANE BECAUSE I LOST MY SISTER, HER HUSBAND, AND FOUR OF THEIR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN IN HARVEY FLOOD WATERS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK YOU. YOU NEXT ALICE LOU. ALICE LOU TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRODY WASHINGTON. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ALICE LU. I'M HERE WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN HOUSTON FOR, UM, 10 YEARS NOW. JUST LAST SUMMER, TEXAS WAS IN NATIONAL HEADLINES FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODING THE LOSS [01:05:01] OF LIFE 135 DEATHS. AND THE EXTENT OF LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT NEGLECT WAS FOR MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, COMPLETELY SHOCKING. BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HOUSTON, WHO HAVE LIVED THROUGH ALLISON HARVEY WINTER STORM URI, AND JUST TWO YEARS AGO THAT DERACHO AND HURRICANE BERYL, IT UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT SHOCKING. IT WAS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THE STATE OF AFFAIRS, WHICH WE ARE FORCED TO LIVE THROUGH YEAR AFTER YEAR IN WHICH OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE BRED US TO INCREASING CLIMATE CHANGE, INCREASING RISK OF FLOODING, INCREASING ECONOMIC PRECARITY WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THINGS. SO THAT'S WHY I AM HERE ONCE AGAIN WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE TO SHARE TWO OF OUR DEMANDS FOR THE CITY BUDGET IN 2026. FIRST IT IS TO FULLY FUND THE REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM WITH $45 MILLION. WHY $45 MILLION? THIS IS A MEMBER THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS SAID IS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE STAFFING AND THE CONTRACTS TO DELIVER ON ITS ORIGINAL FIVE YEAR TIMELINE TO REESTABLISH ALL NECESSARY DITCHES IN HOUSTON, UM, SINCE THE CREATION OF THIS PROGRAM IN 2023. AND WHY DO WE CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATE FOR THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM? IT'S BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STEPS THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL INEQUITIES IN FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE WIN THAT THE MOVEMENT AND OUR CITY COUNCILOR, UH, IN DISTRICT B COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAS DELIVERED FOR THE PEOPLE OF NOT JUST DISTRICT B BUT DISTRICT J, DISTRICT H AND FOLKS IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY. AND WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, HEARING FROM OUR, THE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH, THAT THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY WORKING. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN CITY TRUCKS, CITY STAFF IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ON THEIR STREETS ACTUALLY CLEARING OUT THESE DECADES OR ACTUALLY CLEARING OUT THESE DITCHES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CLOCKED UP FOR DECADES. UM, BUT WE CAN'T STOP HERE. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. THE FUNDING IS TRANSLATING TO BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM IT IS, IT CONTINUES TO BE COMPLETELY FUNDED WITH $45 MILLION. WE ALSO WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE, UM, UNDERSTAFFING OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS, BUT WAS MADE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE WITH LAST YEAR'S EARLY RETIREMENT BUYOUTS. OVER 200 PUBLIC WORKS STAFF WERE LET GO IN THOSE BUYOUTS. AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR CONTACTS IN PUBLIC WORKS THAT THIS HAS RESULTED IN THEIR INABILITY TO SPEND EXISTING DRAINAGE FUNDING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT BRODY, WASHINGTON. RICHARD SCHWA. SCHWAGER SAMIA RISBY RIZVI TO BE FOLLOWED BY IMRAN NEY. CAN I GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. OKAY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR. MY NAME IS SAMMI RIZVI AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CARE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF THE ISLAMOPHOBIA AWARENESS DAY RESOLUTION THAT WAS JUST PRESENTED ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. ON MARCH 15TH, 2019, AN ANTI-MUSLIM TERRORIST ENTERED THE CHRIST MOSQUE, CHRISTCHURCH MOSQUE IN NEW ZEALAND AND MURDERED 51 MUSLIM WORSHIPERS. IN THE WAKE OF THAT TRAGEDY, THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARED MARCH 15TH, THE INTERNATIONAL DATE OF COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA, A RECOGNITION OF THE HATRED OF THOSE LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN AND TO ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO COMBAT ANTI-MUSLIM HATE. UNFORTUNATELY, YEARS LATER, THAT HATE HAS NOT FADED. IT HAS GROWN. ISLAMOPHOBIA TODAY IS NOT SUBTLE. IT IS LOUD, IT IS EMBOLDEN. IT SHOWS UP IN THE RESURGENCE OF ANTI SHARIA FEARMONGERING AMPLIFIED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MET BY SILENCE, BY THOSE WHO REFUSE TO CONDEMN IT. IT LIVES IN RHETORIC THAT PAINTS MUSLIMS AS DANGEROUS. IT IS EMBEDDED IN POLICIES AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE THAT TREAT OUR VERY EXISTENCE AS A THREAT. BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. IT SHOWS UP IN THOSE WHOSE VOICES ARE PUNISHED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MUSLIMS AND ALLIES ARE BEING TARGETED, HARASSED AND SILENCED SIMPLY FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE GENOCIDES IN PALESTINE AND SUDAN. SPEAKING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD NEVER COME WITH CONSEQUENCES, BUT FOR MANY OF US IT DOES. AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, THIS IS NOT POLITICAL, IT IS PAINFULLY PERSONAL. WE ARE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF PALESTINIAN LIVES AT THE HANDS OF US TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THE DESTRUCTIONS OF MOSQUES, HOMES, AND ENTIRE FAMILIES. YET EVEN IN OUR GRIEF, SOME ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK, PROTEST, OR [01:10:01] EVEN SAY THEIR LOVED ONES NAMES FOR FEAR OF BACKLASH, SURVEILLANCE, OR BEING KIDNAPPED AND ILLEGALLY DETAINED BY ICE. THAT IS A ISLAMOPHOBIA TODAY. THEREFORE, IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT PROTECTING NOT JUST THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, BUT ALL HOUSTONIANS FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HATE, THEN THIS IS THE MOMENT TO ACT. IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL HOUSTONIANS AND ENSURING THAT THOSE TARGETED ON THE BASIS OF RACE OR RELIGION CAN TURN TO THE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT FEAR OR RECRIMINATION AS THE RESOLUTION PROMISES, THEN YOUR SUPPORT MUST BE MORE THAN WORDS. IT MUST BE ACTION. SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION AND THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS IS HOW YOU DEMONSTRATE THAT COMMITMENT IS REAL. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WATCHING HISTORY WILL REMEMBER WHAT YOU CHOSE TO DO IN THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. NEXT, IM IMRAN GANI TO BE FOLLOWED BY PIA LATIF OF BEL AIR. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK GOD'S PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU ALL. UH, MY NAME IS IMRAN GANI. I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNCILOR ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS. UH, AND I WANTED TO APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SIGNED TODAY'S ANTI-ISLAM PHOBIA RESOLUTION DAY TO DAY AT CARE. WE GET CALLS EVERY DAY FROM MUSLIMS WHO FACE DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE, IN SCHOOLS, UH, WHILE TRAVELING AND ENCOUNTERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WHILE WE APPRECIATE THIS RESOLUTION, IT IS AN IMPORTANT SYMBOLIC GESTURE FOR THE CITY'S SOLIDARITY FOR MUSLIMS AND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY. BUT THE RESOLUTION LEAVES WITH A CLUE ON HOW TO ACT ON THIS SYMBOLIC GESTURE AND IT READS AS FOLLOWS. WE HEREBY RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A FUTURE FOR HOUSTON THAT PROTECTS CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, AND ENSURES THAT THOSE TARGETED ON THE BASIS OF RACE OR RELIGION CAN TURN TO GOVERNMENT WITHOUT FEAR OF RECRIMINATION. MY ASK TO YOU ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MR. MAYOR, IS THAT THIS ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, PLEASE VOTE YES. ON E DAY ON FRIDAY, A CRYING MOTHER CALLED ME FROM PAKISTAN STATING THAT ONE DAY THAT HER SON, WHO'S A STUDENT HERE, WAS PULLED OVER FOR A SPEEDING TICKET. AND THE NEXT DAY ICE AGENTS WERE AT HIS HOME, ARE ASKED TO YOU. AND THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE IS TO LIMIT ICE'S ABILITIES TO ACT WITHIN OUR CITIES AND TO LIMIT HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION WITH THIS ROGUE WANTON AGENCY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT PIA LATIF FROM BEL AIR TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANAYA RAHIM. HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING THIS SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOSTING THAT ISLAMOPHOBIA AWARENESS DAY TODAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND EARLIER. UM, IT'S SO MEANINGFUL AS A MUSLIM AMERICAN, UM, GREW UP IN CALIFORNIA, BUT LIVE IN TEXAS NOW TO SEE HOUSTON TAKE A STAND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE MUSLIM AMERICAN FAMILY EXPERIENCE. UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD A WHOLE SCRIPT PREPARED OVER HERE, BUT IN LIGHT OF WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING, I DID WANNA ASK IF YOU GUYS COULD TAKE THIS ORDINANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND ACTUALLY, UH, RECOGNIZE ISLAMIC HERITAGE MONTH, UH, UH, IN JANUARY. IT'S A BROADER NATIONAL EFFORT THAT'S BEING DONE AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. WHEN THEY SIT AND THEY SEE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THERE'S NOT A SPACE FOR THE MUSLIM AMERICAN EXPERIENCE TO BE SHOWCASED. UM, WE HAVE TO EITHER GO WITH SOUTH ASIAN CULTURE OR ARAB CULTURE, BUT AS YOU GUYS KNOW, ISLAM ISN'T JUST A RELIGION, IT'S A CULTURE, RIGHT? IT DICTATES WHAT WE EAT, IT DICTATES HOW WE DRESS, IT DICTATES HOW WE SPEAK. UM, AND IT WOULD BE WHEN WE APPROACH THE SCHOOLS TO ASK FOR THAT, THEY SAY, WELL, DOES THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZE THIS AS A CELEBRATION? IS IT A STATEWIDE CELEBRATION? IF NOT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS ORDINANCE GO INTO MOTION, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS GOES FURTHER AND, UM, WE CAN RECOGNIZE ISLAMIC HERITAGE MONTH IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT SANIA RAHIM ISLAMIC TO BE FOLLOWED BY AISHA. AMEN OF FRIENDSWOOD. THANK YOU ALL [01:15:01] SO MUCH FOR HEARING US TODAY. UM, I JUST WANTED TO READ YOU SOMETHING THAT SENATOR SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE, UM, FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA SAID RECENTLY. HE SAID THAT MUSLIMS ARE CULT AND THAT ISLAM, UH, IS THAT WE ARE REALLY THE ENEMIES AT THE GATES. RANDY FINE, A CONGRESSMAN SITTING CONGRESSMAN SAID THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ISLAMOPHOBIA. WE NEED MORE, WE NEED MORE ISLAMOPHOBIA, BECAUSE FEAR OF ISLAM IS RATIONAL. EVEN PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO REPRESENT CIVIL RIGHTS LIKE THE A DL, THE ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE, COMPARED STUDENT PROTESTORS TO ISIS AND SAID THAT THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR TO AL-QAEDA AND PROVE A REAL THREAT TO JEWS, UM, HERE AT HOME IN TEXAS. GOVERNOR ABBOT DESIGNATED CARE, OUR LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, UM, AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. AND WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? AS YOU KNOW, FEAR OF THE OTHER IS DISTRACTION USED TO DISTRACT FROM THE VERY REAL PROBLEMS THE TEXANS FACE. RECENTLY, THE CNBC RANKED TEXAS AS SECOND WORST QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, DUE TO LOW DUE TO POOR SCORES IN HEALTHCARE. I'M A PHYSICIAN, I CAN SEE THIS FIRSTHAND EVERY DAY, POOR SCORES IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, POOR SCORES IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND IN CRIME. BUT WHAT IS DAN PATRICK'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THIS UPCOMING SESSION? HE NAMED FOUR, ONE OF THEM IS, ONE OF THEM IS ACTUALLY BANNING SHARIA LAW. OKAY? NOTHING ADDRESSING ANY OF THE COST OF LIVING ISSUES, NOTHING. THE CLIMATE ISSUES THAT ALL TEXANS FACE. AND WE CAN'T ALLOW THESE DISTRACTIONS TO PERSIST. WE, INCLUDING ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, NEED TO STAND UP AND PROTECT, UH, MUSLIM AMERICANS AND ALL AMERICANS BY SAYING IN RESPONSE TO EVERY NEGATIVE STATEMENT, STATEMENTS FROM ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AFFIRMING THE RIGHTS AND THE PRESENCE AND THE, THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MUSLIM CITIZENS HERE IN TOWN. WHEN YOU HEAR THESE STATEMENTS, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ IS DOING, WHICH IS STANDING UP FOR ALL CONSTITUENTS. WE, WHICH WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE, AND I'M JUST GONNA RE-QUOTE , UM, YOU KNOW, MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS AS JUST RECENTLY RE QUOTED BY, UM, OUR COMPTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS. UM, IN THE END, WE'LL NOT REMEMBER THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS. IT'S DEEPLY IMPORTANT, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE JUST WORDS ARE JUST WORDS. WE NEED YOUR WORDS TO STAND UP FOR US TODAY. UM, AND WE ALSO NEED YOUR ACTIONS TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH. AND, UM, THE PRESENCE OF AMERICA, OF, OF US HERE. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ANTI BDS LAW, WHICH PREVENTS US FROM ADVOCATING IN FREE SPEECH, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER GROUP, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH CONGO, YOU CAN ADVOCATE TO YOUR CONSTITUENCIES TO NOT BUY THINGS FROM CONGO. IF YOU HAVE ISSUE WITH THE NETHERLANDS, YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR CONSTITUENCIES NOT TO BUY THINGS FROM THE NETHERLANDS. WE CAN'T, AS AN ORGANIZATION ADVOCATE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS NOT TO BUY THINGS FROM THE STATE OF ISRAEL, OTHERWISE WE CAN LOSE CITY AND STATE GRANTS. SO WE DEMAND TO HAVE OUR SAME FREEDOM OF SPEECH AS ANY OTHER CONSTITUENCY IN THE CITY AND THE STATE. AND WE HOPE THAT YOU REMOVE ANY, ANY PAPERWORK THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH ANTI BS LAWS FROM ANY GRANT PAPERWORK. THANK YOU, AISHA AMIN OF FRIENDSWOOD TO BE FOLLOWED BY IMRON KAMAR OR KATIE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO START WITH, UM, SAYING THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY FOR ALLOWING ME TO, UM, COME HERE TO THE UNITED STATES. I CAME HERE 25 YEARS AGO, AND THIS COUNTRY PROVIDED ME WITH A PLATFORM TO FLOURISH IN MY DEGREES, MY EDUCATION, MY WORK, MY UM, WEALTH, AND ALSO OF COURSE MY AGE AND WEIGHT. BUT SINCE, UM, LAST 25 YEARS HERE, I HAVE HAD TO REMIND, UM, MUL MULTIPLE TIMES, MANY PEOPLE, AND MORE SO NOW RE MORE RECENTLY THAT, UM, ISLAM IS A FAITH OF LOVE AND NOT HATE. IT TEACHES US TO EMBRACE ALL CREATION OF GOD, ALL THE BOOKS, ALL THE PROPHETS, AND, UM, BUT LIKE ALL RELIGIONS, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOT, ALL OF US ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE FAITH. AND, UM, WE HAVE, UM, UH, DIFFERENCES EVERYWHERE, WHEN EVERY DAY. AND I, I THANK GOD WITH MY PATIENTS WHEN THEY ARE BETTER. I CRY OUT TO GOD WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARE SICKER. AND I HOPE THAT ONE DAY ALL OF US HERE CAN ACCEPT THAT OUR, OUR INTERESTS IN THIS LIFE AND THE FUTURE LIFE IS ALL THE SAME. AND IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO TOWARDS THESE INTERESTS, WE WILL ACHIEVE A LOT MORE THAN WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY TODAY. THAT, UM, PLEASE, [01:20:01] I HOPE I CAN REMIND YOU AGAIN THAT WE ARE NOT ALL, UH, UH, FI UH, KILLERS. WE ARE NOT ALL TERRORISTS. ALL OF US HAVE, UM, UH, DIFFERENT, UM, PRIORITIES IN LIFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IMRAN KAMAR OF KATIE ALDA AHMADI NILA, FAR IZZY OF KATIE, NO, RASHAN EVANS, REGINA SOFAS. TAKE THIS HAIR OKAY. TO BE FOLLOWED BY ETHAN GANS. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS REGINA SOFAS AND I'M HERE IN REFERENCE TO CITIZEN RIGHTS. PULL THE, EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, PULL THE MIC A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. UM, I'M HERE FOR MY RIGHTS AS A CITIZEN. I HAVE VENTURE OUT TO CITIZENS OF TITLE, AND I WAS LAID OFF BECAUSE OF MY PAY. THEY WANTED TO DEDUCT MY PAY, AND I REFUSED IT, SO I WAS LAID OFF. SO NOW I, I'M DRAWING UNEMPLOYMENT AND IT'S LIKE THEY'RE PROLONGING IT. AND I HAVEN'T PAID MY RENT. AND I VENTURE OUT TO OTHER CONSUMERS OF MY LIGHTS, NAMS MY LIGHTS WAS STILL TURNED OFF THAT THEY UPLOADED MY DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T, THEY COULDN'T PAY IT. SO I VENTURE OUT TO OTHER CONSUMERS FOR MY RENT. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT IS ABOUT THE ZIP CODE. THE ZIP CODE WASN'T INCLUDED AT FIRST. SO I'VE BEEN A CNA NURSING ASSISTANCE FOR 17 YEARS, AND I WOULD LIKE US TO ADDRESS THE SENIORITY OF NURSING. WE'RE NOT BEING PAID LIKE WE SHOULD. THEY'RE NOT ABIDING BY THE SENIORITY OF A NURSING ASSISTANT, RELYING ENERGY. I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR 12 YEARS. THEY'RE NOT, UH, GIVING ME ANYTHING LIKE A PERCENTAGE. SO I JUST WANNA ADDRESS MY RIGHTS AS A CITIZENS. AND I HAVE A BONE DISEASE FROM THE HIPS DOWN. AND MY PHYSICIAN REFUSED ME BECAUSE I'M NOT A PART OF, PART OF PPO. SO HE PREFERRED ME TO BE A PART OF, UH, PPO INSTEAD OF HMO. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS MY CITIZEN'S RIGHTS. AND I HAVE VENTURE OUT TO MS. VONIA THOMPSON. I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING FROM HER. SHE'S MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE. I VENTURE OUT TO MY CITY. COUNCILMAN. SHE'S ACCURATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND RAIN ETHAN, SHE HAVE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY OF 2021. THAT'S THE LAST TIME I CAME HERE, AND SHE DID A DYNAMIC JOB WITH ME. I APPRECIATE HER. OKAY. AND AT THE END, I WOULD JUST LIKE SOMEONE TO ADDRESS CITIZENS OF TITLE TO PROCEED WITH ASSISTING THE HOUSTON CITIZENS OF BEING ACCOMMODATIVE OF WHAT THEY ARE PART OF HOUSING. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM HOUSING BRUSH YOU OFF. I WENT IN PERSON. THEY HAVEN'T ADDRESSED THE MATTER IN REFERENCE TO THE TOPIC. SO IT'S LIKE A LOT OF CITIZENS NOW, LIKE TO BRUSH YOU OFF. YOU KNOW, I'M, OH, SORRY. YOUR TIME, TIME HAS EXPIRED. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. ETHAN GANS PETRA SAVANTE TO BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA GALLIER. [01:25:24] UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M PETRA CES. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, AND I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHATWOOD, UH, IN NORTHEAST OF HOUSTON. UH, EVER SINCE THIS PRESIDENT CAME IN, UM, THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN WORSE, ESPECIALLY FOR IMMIGRANTS. MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE IMMIGRANTS AND THEY'RE RESPECTFUL AND HARDWORKING PEOPLE. UM, AND THAT'S WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF A, OF A POLICY, UH, A NEW POLICY THAT PREVENTS POLICE FROM DOING AN ARREST SOLELY ON THE LACK OF DOCUMENTATION AND INVEST OF, INSTEAD OF PUNISHING THEM. WE NEED TO GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BOOKED THE CITY. LOS. UM, THE CITY SHOULDN'T TAKE PART IN SEPARATING FAMILIES OR IN PUTTING, UM, CHILDREN IN CH IN CAGES. WITHOUT THEM, OUR, THE PRICE OF OUR FOOD HAS INCREASED BECAUSE A GA GREAT MAJORITY OF THEM ARE, ARE FARM FARMERS. A GREAT MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS ARE FARMERS ARE WORKING ON FIELDS, AND MANY OF FAMILIES ALREADY STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR, UH, BILLS. THE RENT, TAXES AND FEES THAT YOU ASK OF US EVERY YEAR. UM, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THE POOREST OF US, UH, DON'T HAVE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE MORE TO GIVE. UH, AND, AND YOU, INSTEAD OF PUTTING MORE TAXES ON US, THEY SHOULD BE PUT ON THE RICH. AND THE POLICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THOSE EXECUTIVES FROM CORPORATIONS FOR CONTAMINATING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE REST, THE REAL CRIMINALS. THE LAST YEAR YOU ASKED US FOR SEVERAL MILLIONS TO EMPLOY MORE POLICE, BUT I DON'T SEE THEM WATCHING HERE. 'CAUSE EVERY NIGHT I HEAR GUNSHOTS INSTEAD. OKAY? [01:30:11] AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING IMMIGRANTS TO DEPORT THEM, WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE, UM, WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE CRIME IS HAPPENING. AND IT'S BETTER USE OF THE MONEY TO EMPLOY MORE PEOPLE TO FIX THE SIDEWALKS. SO FOR PEOPLE ON IN WHEELCHAIRS TO FIX THE DRAINAGE AND THE STREETS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE ALSO NEED, YEAH, WE ALSO NEED PROTECTION AGAINST FLOODING. UH, THAT GETS WORSE YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND THEN YOU SHOULD IN INVEST MORE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ABSORBS WATER WHEN IT RAINS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I HOPE YOU ALL BELIEVE IN JUSTICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, LAURA GALLIER, DAVID ESPINOZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENNY FREEMAN. HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA. I JUST WANNA TAKE YOUR TIME TO, FOR GIVING US THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY. UM, I WANNA TRY TO DO TWO, TWO OR THREE THINGS AT ONCE. UM, MY, MY TIME. UM, BUT FIRST, UH, I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND, AND THE STAFF AT WEST STREET RECOVERY. AND WE'VE ALWAYS ADVOCAT FOR IMPROVED DRAINAGE ACROSS THE CITY, BUT MOSTLY FOR THE VULNERABLE AREAS LIKE THE ONES WITHIN DISTRICT B, WHICH INCLUDE NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND ACRE HOMES. AND WHEN WE SAVE VULNERABLE, IT MEANS THAT MANY OF US ARE UNDERINSURED. WE HAVE HOMES THAT HAVE NOW BEEN ADAPTED TO HIGH FLOOD WATERS. ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS, WHICH MEANS THAT IF THE HOME IS FLOODED, THEY HAVE TO FIND A NEW HOME DURING THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF A, UH, DURING THE CRISIS. AND THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE I CONSIDER WHEN WE THINK OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THESE AREN'T HYPOTHETICALS OR MADE UP SCENARIOS. I MET THESE PEOPLE, AND THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO, THE PEOPLE I WORKED WITH. SOME OF THEM ARE RIGHT HERE THAT WE'VE HELPED AND PEOPLE WE HAD TO HELP BECAUSE ALL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT, UM, HAVE FAILED TO DO SO IN AN ADEQUATE TIMEFRAME. AND THESE ARE ELDERLY VETERANS, MOTHERS AND FATHERS, UM, PEOPLE IN SCHOOL STILL GOING THROUGH SCHOOL, PEOPLE WHO ARE HANDICAPPED, PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLED TO DURING THESE TIMES TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RE REBUILDING THEIR LIVES. AND NONE OF US CAN MOVE BECAUSE NO ONE HA ELSE WILL LIVE IN A HOME WHO IS GONNA BUY A HOME THAT FLOODS EVERY, UH, YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE THE NECESSARY UPGRADES TO OUR HOMES WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME CITY HELP. SO WHAT I'M GONNA ASK OF YOU TODAY, WELL, MANY THINGS IS THE FULL, THE FULLY FUNDED DIGITAL ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM TO INVEST MORE IN PUBLIC WORKS. SO IF Y'ALL ARE GONNA PROMISE THE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES TO US, DO YOU HAVE TO PUT THE MONEY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO PUT THE MONEY BACK THAT WAS MOVED FROM THE VALOREM SETTLEMENT TO DO DEMOLITION, YOU KNOW, PAY THAT BACK AND PRIORIT PRIORITIZE DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN THOSE VULNERABLE AREAS. AND JUST TO TIE IN WHAT, UH, SALINA'S, UH, PRO PROPOSITION TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS. AND I, AND I DO AGREE WITH YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE ONE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE ARE IMMIGRANTS AND THEY'RE THE LEAST LIKELY TO GO SEEK FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT, COULD BE SETTING UP A TRAP, UH, FOR ICE TO DETAIN THEM TO SEPARATE FAMILIES. SO, SO IT TIES THEM TOGETHER AND IT GETS HARDER FOR US EVERY YEAR THAT WE HAVE TO COME FIGHT, COME SPEAK TO Y'ALL AND MAKE AND MAKE SENSE OF WHY Y'ALL AREN'T PRIORITIZING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT WE'LL BE BACK EVERY WEEK AFTER WEEK UNTIL THE BUDGET'S DECIDED TO MAKE Y'ALL SEE THIS, BECAUSE WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEANIE FREEMAN, MICHELLE EOR [01:35:04] TO BE FOLLOWED BY NILLA, FAR HAFEZI THIS WORK. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK TODAY. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE FBI DOES NOT HAVE INTERNAL POLICY TO ENFORCE ANY FEDERAL OR NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION AGAINST CIVILIANS. AND WHAT'S COMING OUT ABOUT THIS STRUCTURE IS NOT ONLY THE CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH INCLUSION AND SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER, INCLUDING ENTRIES WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY FILES, LIKE THE VIOLENT GANG TERRORIST ORGANIZATION FILE, AND THE ALERTS AND COORDINATING MEASURES THAT FOLLOW, BUT ALSO THE BEHAVIOR BY POLICE WITHIN THIS CLASSIFICATION AS A SUBSEQUENT TO THE OPERATION OF A CATEGORY WERE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY AND STATUTORY BASIS FOR IT REMAINS UNCLEAR ACTIONS THAT I HAD TO FORMALLY REPORT, WHICH ARE THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY SEEING HANDED OUT. MAYOR, THESE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR ME TO FORMALLY REPORT AND HAVE RAISED REAL CONCERNS FOR ME. AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR OFFICE TO REFER THIS MATTER OVER TO THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES, INCLUDING CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. YES. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DID YOU GUYS GET THE DOCUMENT SWORN AFFIDAVIT? AWESOME. NILLA, FAR HAFEZI FROM KATIE TO BE FOLLOWED BY FELIX KAPO. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UM, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, ON WILL COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NEIL FARI AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NONPROFIT. I'M G TEXAS, WHICH ADVOCATES IN CIVICALLY ENGAGED MUSLIM AMERICANS ACROSS TEXAS, INCLUDING IN GREATER HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO, UH, THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'VE SUPPORTED THE RESOLUTION FOR ISLAMOPHOBIA AWARENESS DAY, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME IN OUR POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, WHEN SEEMS THAT ATTACKING MUSLIM AMERICANS SIMPLY FOR BEING WHO WE ARE IS THE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IN POLITICS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT AND ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK, UH, ON BEHALF OF SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT STAYS IN TOUCH WITH THE GRASSROOTS. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO AT M GAGES, WE DO CHECK IN CALLS WITH, UH, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH OUR ORGANIZATION JUST TO SEE WHAT ISSUES ARE TOP OF MIND FOR THEM. AND THERE'S A LOT I COULD SAY HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW OF A REALLY SADDENING CONVERSATION I HAD JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. MUSLIM AMERICANS ACROSS TEXAS AND THE US ARE ALL FEELING THE RISE IN ISLAMOPHOBIA. THEY'RE ALL FEARING FOR THEIR SAFETY, THEIR FAMILIES. THEY FEEL THE TARGETING IN TEXAS OF, UH, ISLAMIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE, HAVE HAD TO BRING A LAWSUIT JUST TO BE TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER SCHOOL APPLYING FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM. THEY'RE FEELING THE RHETORIC AROUND HOW MUSLIMS ARE NOT WELCOME IN TEXAS AND HOW WE'RE CHARACTERIZED AS SOMEHOW BEING UN-AMERICAN AND PUSHING SHARIA LAW ONTO OTHERS, DESPITE THE FALSENESS OF THOSE ALLEGATIONS. FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE NEWER HERE, ESPECIALLY, THIS IS CONCERNING. BUT RECENTLY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR OVER 35 YEARS, AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS RESIGNED TO THIS, THAT HE HAS RESIGNED TO ISLAMOPHOBIA RISING AND FALLING. AS WARS HAPPEN ABROAD AND AS OTHER THINGS HAPPEN THAT MAKE IT POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT FOR MUSLIM AMERICANS TO BE TARGETED, HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH THIS. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO RESIGN THEMSELVES TO BEING TARGETED, ESPECIALLY BY POLITICAL LEADERS BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH AS A MATTER OF A COURSE. AND I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPEARHEADED THIS RESOLUTION AND STOOD UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE HOPE TO SEE ELECTED OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO DO SO. AND, UH, WE ALSO WANTED TO SAY, AS ONE OF THE LARGEST MUSLIM AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN THE US CAN BE FOUND IN TEXAS, THAT WE CAN BE MUSLIM AND AMERICAN AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT FELIX, FELIX KAUR TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEAGE. REAL QUICK. I HAD SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES, BUT ON THE LIST IT HAD ME AT ONE MINUTE. UM, COULD I GET THAT CHANGED? 'CAUSE I CALLED YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID, DO YOU WANT ONE, TWO, OR THREE? AND I DEFINITELY SET THREE, AND SHE SAID, OKAY. OKAY. OKAY, COOL. UM, I HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I WANTED TO PASS OUT TO COUNCIL. UM, OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FELIX KAUR. [01:40:01] I'M WITH THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE, UM, HERE TO PRESENT, UH, OUR DEMANDS AND TALK ABOUT OUR CITY'S CONTINUED NEED FOR FLOOD PROTECTION. UM, THE PICTURES THAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS FROM OUR ANNUAL CLEANUP DAY OF PEOPLE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY INSIDE OF DITCHES, CLEANING OUT THOSE DITCHES AS WELL AS TRASH THAT EXISTS WITHIN DITCHES. UM, THAT HAS NOT BEEN PICKED UP AS THAT WAS KIND OF BEYOND OUR CAPACITY. UM, LAST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH A SHADY BACKROOM DEAL, EVEN THROUGH A SHADY BACKROOM DEAL, WE THOUGHT THERE WAS PROGRESS ON THE AVALOR DRAINAGE TAX DIVERSION. WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE HISTORIC INVESTMENT INTO DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE CITY. HOWEVER, THIS WAS A SHAM. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PUSHED OUT OVER 400 EMPLOYEES FROM PUBLIC WORKS. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SPEND INCREASED FUNDS WHEN SO MUCH OF THE WORKFORCE IS GONE AND NOT REPLACED? IN ADDITION TO THIS NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SIT IN THIS ROOM WEEKLY VOTED TO REROUTE $30 MILLION OF DEDICATED DRAINAGE FUNDING TO TEAR DOWN ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN THE NAME OF DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE OF THOSE DEMOLITIONS WILL NOW GET A POLICE STATION AND FIRE STATION ON IT, WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW BUILDING CONCRETE STRUCTURE WILL HELP ALLEVIATE FLOODING IN THE AREA. WE APPRECIATE OFFICES LIKE DISTRICT J WHO HAVE PRIORITIZED, UM, FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING APPROPRIATELY USING THEIR OWN COUNCIL FUNDING TO PROTECT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND PROTECT THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I WANTED TO PRESENT OUR DEMANDS FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. ONE, WE WANNA FULLY FUND THE DITCH REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, UH, UP TO $45 MILLION. AND HOPEFULLY THAT IMPACTS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. BUT DEFINITELY DISTRICT B IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTED HOUSING, THE MOST DRAINAGE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE DITCH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. UM, TWO, WE WANT THE CITY TO HIRE WORKERS THAT WERE FIRED AND PUBLIC WORKS AND REPLACE THAT STAFF. THERE'S NO WAY THIS MONEY CAN GET SPENT UNLESS THERE'S STAFF TO DO IT. WE DISAGREE WITH THE AD VALOREM SETTLEMENT. WE WANT THE FULL TRANSFER TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR. RIGHT NOW THERE'S ONLY A PORTION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE TRANSFERRED AND WE WANT THE FULL TRANSFER TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, UH, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMING UP. AND THEN WE DON'T WANT ANY BUDGET CUTS AS WE'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. WE DON'T WANT ANY CUTS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS SOLID WASTE, UM, SUCH AS LIBRARIES SUCH AS PARKS. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANNA SEE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAN AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS YOU SEE THROUGH THE PHOTOS, AS YOU SEE THROUGH OUR CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT, UM, THAT HUD HAD PICKED UP AGAINST THE GLO. UH, ALSO WITH ADVOCATING HERE, UH, WITH THE VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY WANTING BETTER FLOOD PROTECTION FROM THE CITY. I'LL END THIS BY READING A DIRECT QUOTE FROM A HOUSTON CHRONICLE PIECE FROM DECEMBER 23 REGARDING JOHN WILT MEYER'S STANCE ON THE AVALOR DRAINAGE TAX. IT READS, THE CITY NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND USE THE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WERE INTENDED. WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY ON STREETS AND DRAINAGE. I CLOSE WITH A QUESTION TO YOU, MR. WHITMEYER. THE DIVERSION WAS CONTINUED, HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN IN BOTH THE YEARS OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE 30 MILLION DEDICATED TO ABANDONED STRUCTURE, UM, UH, DEMOLITION. SO WHEN IS THE TIME WE GET AN APOLOGY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR NOT STICKING TO THE PURPOSE OF THE FUNDS FOR WHICH THEY WERE INTENDED? AND HOW DO WE CORRECT THAT MISTAKE FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR? YEP. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER AND, UH, DISTRICT B, THANK YOU FOR THE HELP DURING THE CLEANUP DATE AND WELCOME BACK TAR JACOB CLEMENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH AMMA. GOD, WE ISN'T FINISHED YET. OKAY. I'VE GOTTEN THREE. UH, I I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION FROM THREE TO 60 CANDIDATES. THIS JOE, THIS PATRICK, AND THIS NICK HELLAR. I THINK I'M GONNA VOTE FOR NICK HELLAR BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE MOST ENDORSEMENTS. AND ANYWAY, UH, COME 14TH. I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A TUESDAY. IT'S BECAUSE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND I'M ONE YEAR OLDER THAN YOU. MARTHA . HAPPY BIRTHDAY. YEAH. AND NO, UM, UH, UH, YEAH. UM, I'M GOING TO SEE THIS, UM, POLITICIAN RUNNING FOR COMP CONTROLLER FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO I'M GOING TO BOTHER HIM WITH SOME QUESTIONS. NOW IS AGGIE JOKE TIME? D DO YOU KNOW WHY AGGIES PREFER TO WEAR GLASSES THEN PUT ON CONTACT LENSES? IT'S BECAUSE THEY GET THE EAR BETTER. HEY JACOB. THANK YOU JACOB. WE STAND ONE MORE. JOSEPH AMARI. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA POLITICAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, GLOBALLY, BUT WE'RE GONNA PRETEND IT'S THE SCENE FROM [01:45:01] THE TV SHOW SCANDAL. THOUGH ANY EMOTIONAL TRENDS BY THE POWER ADMINISTRATION ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO ANY OF THE GOVERNMENT OR UNITED STATES SOLDIERS, THAT IS TREASON IN GENERAL. ANY MOTION TO TRANSFER THE WEALTH OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO ANY GOVERNMENT NATION THAT IS TREASON. CONGRESSMAN, ANY MOTION TO TRANSPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF ANY ADMINISTRATION OF THE WEALTH OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO ANY OF THE GOVERNMENT OR NATION THAT IS TREASON. SENATOR, ANY MOTION TO TRANSPORT THE MANAGE ADMINISTRATION OF UNITED STATES SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAM TO ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT EARLY NATION THAT'S TREASON. CONGRESSMEN, ANY MOTION TO TRANSPORT THE, THE ECONOMIC POWER OF UNITED STATES MEMBERS TO ANY GOVERNMENT NATION, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, RELIGIOUS MANAGED GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THE GRANT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF PRESS, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, THE SEPARATION OF STATE TO STATE SEPARATION TO STATE TO STATE. AND GIVE US THE RIGHT TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT WITHOUT G EITHER DENY THIS RIGHT IS NOT ONLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, SENATOR, THAT'S THE TREASON MOTION. SUCH PREVENT THE POWER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FREE GOVERNMENT OR YOUR TIME HAS INSPIRED GOVERNMENT. ALL THE SUSPICION, CONGRESSMAN THAT IS TREATED. OF COURSE THAT NEVER HAPPENED. [RECESS] WE STAY IN RECESS NINE IN THE MORNING FOR THE FY 27 INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 34, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL FOR FFY 26 27 SOLID WASTE GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 416.93 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 4 9 2 ITEM 36 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 8.908 ACRES OF LAND TO NEWPORT MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. ITEM 37, ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 DASH 63 MUNICIPAL SETTING DESIGNATION ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE USE OF DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER BENEATH THE TRACT LAND CONTAINING 3.1271 ACRES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 65 0 5 FOSTER STREET AND ZERO FOSTER STREET. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPRO AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 18 ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPRO IN AUTHORIZING SANITARY RENEWAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF BEL AIR, TEXAS. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATION TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE OFF SYSTEM RAIL GRADE SEPARATION STATE FUND PROGRAM. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON FRIEDMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY AND CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOUSTON ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $7,345 AND $234,689 8 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. ITEM 43 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO AAA ACTION SEPTIC SERVICE LLC, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 44 ORDINANCE GRANTED TO JS SEPTIC SERVICES CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THIS IS THE SECOND READING ITEM 45 ORDINANCE GRANTING TO MASTERS ADVANCED REMEDIATION SERVICES, LLC, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND ALLOW SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SECOND READING ITEM 46, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO RED ZONE ROBOTICS, INC. THE WRIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. SECOND READING ITEM 47, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO REFRESH THREADS, CLEANERS, LLC, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. SECOND READING ITEM 48, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO S-E-S-C-O-L-L-C, THE W RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. SECOND READING ITEM 49, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAS MINT COMMERCIAL WASHINGTON, LLC, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT COAL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. SECOND READING ITEM 50, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 17, MEMORIAL CITY. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER [01:50:01] HUFFMAN AND WAS ITEM THREE ON THE AGENDA OF MARCH 18TH. ITEM 51, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE MEMORIAL CITY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND WAS ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA OF MARCH 18TH. ITEM 52, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE OFFICER OF THE GOVERNOR, TO THE GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FOR FY 27 NORTHEAST AND WEST SIDE HOUSTON VIOLENT GANG CRIME SUPPRESSION GRANT. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND WAS ITEM 30 ON THE AGENDA OF MARCH 18TH. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS OF THE AGENDA FOR MARCH 25TH, 2026. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A BLESSED AND HAPPY HUMP DAY COUNCIL. PLEASE [RECONVENE] COME TO ORDER. [Additional Item] YOU KNOW, I'M VERY, UH, SENSITIVE OF OUR TIME. I KNOW EVERYONE IS BUSY, AND SO IN THE PAST I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY DELIBERATE IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT BECAUSE EACH WEEK WE ALL KNOW WE COULD SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT OUR GREAT CITY AND OUR CHALLENGES. BUT TODAY, IF YOU'LL, UH, LET ME TELL YOU, UH, OUR ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BUT FIRST OF ALL, UM, WE'RE BECOMING RAPIDLY A NEW TERM VISITOR ECONOMY, SALLY, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT LAST WEEK, YOU LOOK AT THIS WEEK, UH, THE MONTH OF MARCH, WE USED MORE HOTEL ROOMS, REVENUE FROM RELATED, UH, VISITORS, UH, THAN EVER. BEST MONTH EVER, ACCORDING TO HOUSTON. FIRST, UH, STARTED OUT WITH 70,000 CHEERLEADERS THE FIRST WEEKEND. THEN WE WENT INTO THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC. WE HAD A COUPLE OF BUSINESS CONVENTIONS. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO SIERRA WEEK, YOU SHOULD. I WAS THERE YESTERDAY. IT IS IMPRESSIVE AND GROWING. UH, THE ORGANIZERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF GEORGE BROWN LOOKING AT FUTURE YEARS. BUT, UH, IT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED, UH, CREDENTIALS TO GET IN. BUT, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT AND, UH, OF COURSE, WORLD EVENTS ARE MAKING IT EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL THAT INDUSTRY COMES TOGETHER AND, UM, REINFORCES OUR ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD PERCEPTION. BUT, UM, ALSO SPRING BREAK. EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, YOUR DISTRICT GOT A LITTLE SPECIAL ATTENTION OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE THE SPRING BREAKERS, UH, YOU CONTACTED ME SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND WE'RE ON IT. UM, I THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED GETTING RECOGNIZED FOR ENFORCING CITY ORDINANCES IN, UH, AREAS THAT, UM, BECOME PART OF THE, UM, FUND. AND IT'S NOT JUST SPRING BREAKS, BUT I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I GOT THE COUNCIL, THE COUNCILMAN ALCO CAME, AND EVERY WEEK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR PEOPLE OPERATING WITHOUT PERMITS. IT'S NO LONGER ALLOWED. IN FACT, I GET CALLS ON SATURDAY NIGHT FROM ESTABLISHMENTS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ENFORCING THEIR PERMITTING. UH, SO WE'RE ON TOP OF THINGS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND HAVE, UM, EVENTS THAT ARE DRAWING LARGE NUMBERS. AND THE NICE WEATHER OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTES TO THAT. BUT EMANCIPATION, THE SOUND ORDINANCE IS BEING ENFORCED. HPD DOES A VERY, UH, REASONABLE JOB THERE. ALSO A REAL EXCITING, UH, NOTICE THIS WEEK WE HAD THE, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HUD WITH US LAST FRIDAY FOR A TOUR OF THE FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION SITE. IT'LL HOLD 220 PEOPLE. WE ALSO GOT APPROVAL FOR OUR RECOVERY FUNDING, 314 MILLION. UH, TIFFANY, UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. UH, A HUNDRED MILLION FOR HOME REPAIRS, 50 MILLION FOR SINGLE FAMILY, 50 MILLION FOR MULTIFAMILY, A HUNDRED MILLION FOR GENERATORS, AND 41 MILLION FOR EMANCIPATION, WHICH FUNDS IT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AND, UM, SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE NATION. UM, WE ALSO GOT [01:55:01] APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE 64 MILLION FOR FIFA SECURITY. SO I'M JUST HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT COLLABORATION AND, AND COMMUNICATION IS WORKING AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE GOT OUR FUNDING APPROVED FOR FLEET WEEK. FLEET WEEK IS APRIL 15TH TO THE 22ND. SO THINGS ARE NOT LETTING UP AFTER THIS BUSY WEEK, LEADING INTO FLEET WEEK. AND THEN WE GO RIGHT INTO FIFA. UM, THIS WEEK, UM, AS YOU WELL KNOW, SIERRA'S GOING ON AND THEN THURSDAY SWEET 16 STARTS. EVERYONE CERTAINLY US COUGARS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR U OF H TO BE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE AS ONE OF THE FINAL BEST TEAMS GOING INTO SWEET 16. AND I FULLY EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE GOING FORWARD. UM, ASTROS KICKOFF AT THREE O'CLOCK TOMORROW. ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF TEAM THAT THEY, UH, SUCCESSFULLY PUT TOGETHER. UH, TEXAS CHILDREN'S GOLF AT MEMORIAL PARK. SO FRIENDS, UH, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY. WE'RE STRONG CITY AND WE'RE GETTING STRONGER. UH, WE HAVE CHALLENGES. UH, CENTRAL HOUSTON WAS GOING TO PAVE 85 BLOCKS DOWNTOWN, WE HEARD LAST WEEK. CHRIS HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S 220. HE ASSURES US THAT IT'LL BE COMPLETED BY, UH, FIFA. SO WE'RE PREPARING FOR FIFA, BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WITH SECURITY AND, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE RAISE CANE AND I'M ON THE PHONE PRACTICALLY HOURLY WITH, UH, THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR. WHAT CAN WE DO? WE'RE AS SUPPORTIVE OF THE TRAVELERS AS POSSIBLE WITH WATER SAFETY, TRAFFIC CONTROL. BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY OUR LOCAL DELEGATION WILL SPEAK OUT AND, UM, OUR TWO US SENATORS TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE, UH, CONFLICTS IN WASHINGTON SO WE CAN GET BACK TO NORMAL, UH, AIRPORT OPERATIONS. BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR THE STAFF AT THE AIRPORT. THEY ARE WORKING LONG HOURS. ALSO, BEFORE I GET ONTO THE AGENDA, UH, SANDRA POLK IS WITH US, THAT'S ALVIN BY WIDOW THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS. AND SHE'S HERE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, TO SEE THAT ONE OF ALVIN'S DREAMS OF TUFFY PARK BE CHANGED IN NAME TO JAMES ROBERT HALL PARK. SO THANK YOU. AND, AND WE DO HONOR, UH, ALVIN FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND FOREVER WE'LL BE SEEING THE IMPACT THAT HE MADE ON HOUSTON, AND CERTAINLY A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE WITH THAT MEMBERS, UH, I DON'T THINK I'VE SKIPPED ANYTHING EXCEPT OUR, UH, PLANNING DIRECTOR VON TRAN IS BEING HONORED TONIGHT BY WOMAN MAGAZINE IS ONE OF 50 INFLUENTIAL HOUSTONIANS. SO THAT'S, UM, A NICE RECOGNITION FOR ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS WHO I THINK IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. SO WITH THAT, UH, LET'S CONTINUE OUR WORK AND, UH, START WITH THE, UH, OH, YOU HAVE FOLKS CONSENT, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING, UM, ALL OF OUR AIRPORT WORKERS. UH, I KNOW WE'RE ALL GETTING TEXTS AND COMMENTS ABOUT LINES AND INQUIRIES ABOUT WAIT TIMES AND JUST TO CONVEY HOW HARD OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM IS WORKING, UM, AND THE STAFF THERE. WHILE THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR THE AIRPORTS THEMSELVES CREATED, I'M SO GLAD YOU TALKED ABOUT SIERRA WEEK. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE YESTERDAY. UH, SIERRA WEEK IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE CONFERENCE THAT COMES TO HOUSTON BECAUSE IT BRINGS EVERYBODY FROM THE ENERGY SECTOR, FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD RIGHT HERE TO THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND THE, UH, THE MOMENTUM IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION, THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING PRESENTED, ALL OF THE INNOVATION THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE DURING S WEEK REALLY DESERVES THAT SPOTLIGHT. UH, WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON COMMENTED ON HOW WELL IT IS RUN, HOW INCREDIBLE THE HOTEL STAFF IS, UH, THAT IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE THAT ALL OF THESE EXECUTIVES HAVE EVER ATTENDED. AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO JUST THE CALIBER OF WHAT SIERRA WEEK IS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. [02:00:01] AND AT THE SAME TIME, WITH THE PGA, I JUST HAVE TO SPOTLIGHT WITH THE ASTROS FOUNDATION AND TEXAS CHILDREN'S. UM, THE COURSE LOOKS INCREDIBLE, THE INVESTMENT THAT WE AS A CITY MADE IN THE NEW DRIVING RANGE THAT WE HAD APPROVED, THAT'S GOING TO HELP GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR OUR PARKS. BUT THE COURSE LOOKS AMAZING. UH, THE STAFF IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. UH, BUT I WANNA THANK ALSO YOUR OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS FOR WORKING WITH US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU LIVE AROUND THERE AND IN YEARS PAST THERE'S BEEN CHALLENGES WITH PARKING. AND WE COME IN, UH, WITH MOSS AND WITH HPD AND DO AN ENTIRE PARKING PROGRAM NOW, UH, WITH PERMITTING. SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS, AS YOU ARE SEEKING TO COME TO MEMORIAL PARK, PLEASE USE THE DESIGNATED PARKING LOCATIONS IN THE SHUTTLE SERVICE OR RIDE SHARE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE AREA CLEAR. UH, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, THERE'S SO MANY EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. IT'S AN AMAZING TIME IN HOUSTON. UH, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON. BUT SARAH WEEK IS A HOME RUN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UH, WHEN I WAS HERE YESTERDAY, I COULDN'T KEEP FROM THINKING ABOUT UNITED HERE AND THE STRIKE IN THE FALL. AND THANK THE LORD THAT OUR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WORK AND THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY HAVE A GREAT MORALE AT THIS POINT. I MEANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BETTER CONDITIONS AND SOME OF THE ENTERTAINMENT, UH, VENUES. UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE MET LAST WEEK AND WE GOT SHOUT OUTS FROM STACY, UH, FAIRCHILD, WHO WAS ALWAYS, UH, MONITORING THINGS AND PROBABLY MONITORING WHEREVER SHE IS RIGHT NOW. AND THEN TOMORROW BELL TOO. SO WHEN YOU'VE GOT, UH, THAT BROAD BASE OF, UH, RECOGNITION THAT THINGS ARE WORKING, BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO IS SOMETHING TO APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, PARTICULARLY. I PROBABLY DIDN'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME ON THE GOLF AND TALKING ABOUT SIGNAGE WHEN I GOT HOME YESTERDAY. I THOUGHT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING, NEIGHBORHOOD. 'CAUSE IT HAS ONLY EMERGENCY PARKING. SO I THOUGHT I'D DONE SOMETHING WRONG. UH, OR THE PROTESTORS WERE BACK. I, I JUST DID NOT KNOW. BUT, UH, WE'RE GONNA ACCOMMODATE THE CROWD. UH, A LOT OF SHUTTLE SHUTTLE BUSES. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA, NO, MAYOR FOR TIM CAST. I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST SEEING IF YOU HAD ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY. , WHEN YOU CALL ME, WHEN YOU CALLED ME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, IT MEANS, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE ASAP, WELL, WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY I DID SEND OUT A, A SHOUT. PLEASE HELP. UH, BECAUSE I DID GET A, A VIDEO FROM A CONSTITUENT AND IT WAS ON AND POPPING OVER THERE ON E EMANCIPATION SPRING BREAK. AND CERTAINLY I REACHED OUT TO YOU HPD AND PRECINCT SEVEN. YEAH, WE WERE PREPARED. THEY AND I GOT RESPONSE FROM, FROM, FROM ALL OF YOU. AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN SPRING COMES, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANTS, EVERYBODY WANTS TO POP THAT FAN. AIN'T THAT RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS OVER THERE. OH GOODNESS. YOU POPPED IT. SHE POPPED IT OFF. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T MIND PEOPLE COMING TO THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AND POPPING THE FAN AND SHAKING IT FAST, BUT IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. AND SO I REALLY DO . GOD, IT WAS REALLY OUTTA CONTROL. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK GOD FOR YOUR QUICK RESPONSE, UH, FROM BOTH YOU, UH, CONSTABLE SMOKEY PHILLIPS AND COMMANDER WIN. SMOKEY WAS THERE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. MAYOR PRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME, UM, SHARON WITH THE LEVIT PAVILION TO, UH, HOUSTON. UH, JAY IS HERE AND NINA'S HERE. UM, AND IF Y'ALL ARE NOT AWARE, THE MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE HAPPENING AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE, UH, ON THIS WEEKEND, ON SATURDAY. AND SO EVERYONE IS INVITED TO COME OUT TO THE MUSIC FESTIVAL SATURDAY FROM 11 TO EIGHT. THERE WILL BE LOTS OF PROFESSIONAL BANDS THERE. UM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH OUR SCHOOL BANDS AND JUST A GREAT FAMILY EVENT. LOTS OF FUN. UM, BUT I HOPE THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT LEVITT PAVILION. UM, LEVIT IS A NATIONAL NETWORK OF OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUES ACROSS THE, UM, US. AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO HAVE ONE IN, UM, DISTRICT K IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS EXTRAORDINARY. UM, IT IS GOING TO BE A FUNDRAISING LIFT, UM, BUT WE ARE UP FOR THE TASK. AND, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE, UH, MUSIC AND HAVE FAMILIES COME OUT. AND IF YOU HAVE NOT [02:05:01] BEEN TO THE WILL OF WATER HOLE, LET THIS BE YOUR INVITATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THIS 200 ACRES OF DUAL USE DETENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT. YOU'LL BE BLOWN AWAY. YOU WON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU'RE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHEN YOU ARE ON THE PROPERTY THERE. BUT LOTS OF FUN AND FESTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND. UH, SHARON, WELCOME TO HOUSTON. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE ENTIRE TEAM. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT, AND THE LOCATION HAS UNLIMITED POTENTIAL. I THINK IF WE WOULD NETWORK BETTER WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, GET PARKS AND WILDLIFE, WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN, MR. HILDEBRAND IS A HOUSTONIAN, CERTAINLY THE KINDER FOUNDATION. IT IS JUST, IT IS NEAT AND, AND CURRENT BECAUSE OF ITS GREEN SPACE. IT'S REALLY BEEN PRETTY MUCH UNDISTURBED WITH EXCEPTION. NOW WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THE PAVILION, BUT, UH, THE ENTERTAINMENT, THE WATER, UH, ACTIVITIES COULD BE, UH, REALLY A DESTINATION PLACE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WITH THAT SAID, LET'S, [CONSENT AGENDA] UH, MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MR. SECRETARY, UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM TWO HAS BEEN REMOVED, SE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM ONE, CASTEX TATU, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THESE EXCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, MOVE I SECOND. MOTIONS MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. NEED A MOTION? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. ITEM SEVEN, NEEDS A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 23 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM EIGHT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 15, 16, 30, 31, 32, 39, AND 41. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 15, 16, 30, 31, 32, 39, AND 41. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME, MOTION PASSES, ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION CAST T MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I'M SORRY YOU ALREADY PASSED IT. NO, THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE. WE ALREADY PASSED IT. THIS WAS, UM, THIS IS THE RENAMING OF, UM, TUFFLEY PARK. UM, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, ALBURG, OUR CLOSE FRIEND, UM, COLLEAGUE, COMMUNITY LEADER, UM, WAS WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND SO, UM, FINALLY WE ARE HAPPY THAT IT'S FINALLY AT THE TABLE AND WE FINALLY PASSED IT. UM, HIS WIDOW IS IN THE OFFICE, IN, IN, IN THE, UM, AUDIENCE, UM, SANDRA. AND SO I WANNA TAKE A, UM, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO SEE IF YOU WANTED TO STATE SOMETHING. UM, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO READ ALVIN'S, UM, RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW, UM, WHY WE'RE CHANGING. WHY DON'T YOU, UH, PAUSE A MOMENT. TERRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP? YEP. LET US RECOGNIZE YOU PERSONALLY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. POLK. AND THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE PREPARED FOR REMARKS, MAYOR, YOUR MIC COMING UP. BUT, UH, THANK YOU. I SAID I DIDN'T REALLY PREPARE ANYTHING TO SAY OR ANYTHING BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA BE HERE, BUT RIGHT. AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT I ALWAYS STAYED IN THE BACKGROUND. EVERYTHING HE DID, I WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT HE WAS DOING, BUT I KIND OF JUST SUPPORTED HIM AND INSPIRED HIM. BUT I ALWAYS KIND OF STAYED IN THE BACKGROUND. SO TRUE. BUT THIS IS WOMEN'S MONTH, SO YES. YEAH. , WELCOME TO YOUR CITY HALL. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAD A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT HE HAD, UH, THE SUPPORT LETTER THAT HE DID, ONLY BECAUSE IT REACHED DEEPER BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY THERE. YOU KNOW, HE, THAT WAS ONE OF HIS TEACHERS. I MEAN, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA READ THE LETTER, THEN YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT CAN, IT TOUCHES A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT NO ONE ELSE WOULD'VE EVEN KNOWN ABOUT. BUT HE SAID THAT THIS WAS HIS LAST PROJECT AND, YOU KNOW, HE SUPPOSEDLY HAD RETIRED MM-HMM . BUT I KEPT HEARING THAT OVER AND OVER. AND HE TOLD ME ONE NIGHT, HE SAID, BABY, I'M GONNA REALLY CUT BACK. [02:10:01] I'M GONNA LET THINGS GO. I'M GOING TO, WE ARE GONNA TRAVEL, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS OR WHATEVER. AND HE SAT THERE ABOUT 10, 15 MINUTES LATER AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA STOP. RIGHT . AND I SAID, YEAH, I KNOW. AND I HAD TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY EYES. THAT WAS LIKE A WEEK BEFORE HE PASSED. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST CONSIDERING THIS AND JUST LETTING THIS DREAM THAT HE HAD COME TRUE. WELL, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES OF HIS LOVE, UH, FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND CERTAINLY IN THIS INSTANCE, HE DIDN'T WANT SOMETHING NAMED AFTER HIM. NO. HE WAS DOING IT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER YEAH. UH, ICONIC FIGURE. YES. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE HONOR HIM TODAY. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU. UM, AND THIS IS THE LETTER FROM ALVIN BERG. UM, THE POINT PRINCE SQUARE CIVIC ASSOCIATION IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE REMAINING OF NOW TUFFLEY PARK. TO JAMES HALL PARK. WE FULLY SUPPORT MS. JANET PAULIS, PRESIDENT OF FRENCHTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN ITS EFFORT TO HONOR MR. HALL. WHO, AS I RECALL, AS A YOUNG GROWING AS A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WAS A TEACHER, A MENTOR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A CONSTANT PRESENCE FOR US CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY US BOYS. OUR AREA OF HOUSTON ALREADY HAD NEGATIVE REPUTATION, AND MR. HALL TAUGHT US THAT WE CAN CHANGE THAT ONE YOUTH, WE CAN CHANGE ONE YOUTH AS AT A TIME. MY NAME IS MR. ALVIN BY PRESIDENT OF PRINCE SQUARE CIVIC ASSOCIATION THAT ADULTS UP TO FRENCHTOWN. MR. HALL WAS MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AT DOGAN ELEMENTARY IN 1964. HE WAS ALSO OUR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM COACH AT TUFFLEY PARK FROM 1964 UNTIL 1978, MR. HALL WAS AT EVERY PRACTICE, NEVER MISSED A GAME. HE WOULD COME STRAIGHT FROM DOGAN ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY FIVE BLOCKS FROM LEY TUFFLEY PARK, TAKE OFF HIS TIE AND BEGIN HIDDEN GROUND BALLS WITH US BOYS. JAMES HOWES WAS ALSO A FATHER FIGURE TO MOST OF THE BOYS WHO FATHERS WERE NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME. JAMES HALL KNEW HIS SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE HE GREW UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HE ATTENDED THE SCHOOLS IN FIFTH WARD, BRUCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EO SMITH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE GRADUATED THE ILLUSTRATE FROM THE, UM, PHYLLIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL. MR. HALL WENT TO PLAY BASEBALL AT PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE WAS SELECTED TEAM CAPTAIN AND WAS SELECTED ALL SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE PLAYER IN 1961. FROM 1961 TO 1964, JAMES HALL PLAYED FOR THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES FORM CLUB AS A HIGHLY REGARDED SWITCH HITTER DUE TO A, A LIFE-CHANGING KNEE INJURY SUSTAINED FROM SLIDING INTO SECOND BASE. JUST LIKE MR. HALL'S DREAM OF BECOMING A PRO BASEBALL PLAYER WAS OVER. BUT MR. HALL WENT BACK TO PRAIRIE VIEW UNIVERSITY, GRADUATED IN 1964 WITH HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND A MINOR IN EDU EDUCATION, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. HE ALSO FURTHERED HIS EDUCATION ABOUT GOING BACK TO PRAIRIE VIEW IN 1972 TO GET HIS MASTER'S IN COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE. MR. HALL ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO TEACH THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN BETWEEN BALLS AND STRIKES. DURING HIS TIME AT TUFFLEY PARK, MR. JAMES HAS MADE SURE THAT NO YOUNG MAN WHO WANTED TO PLAY BASEBALL OR FOOTBALL FOR THE TUFFLEY PARK COACH WOULD EVER HAVE TO PAY ANY MONEY FOR ANYTHING. BUT WHAT WE DID HAVE TO DO WAS COMMUNITY SERVICE. WE CUT THE GRASS, COMMUNITY CLEANUPS, TEAM FUNDRAISERS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FIELD TRIPS OUT OF TOWN, LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS, SOME SPONSORED BY THE MODEL CITY DIRECTORS, PALMER BRA JR. WHO HELPED THE COLS GET A KERMIT TEXAS TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT WHERE TUFFLEY PARK COS FINISHED IN SECOND PLACE, ENDING A SEASON OF 34 0. UNTIL THAT LOSS, MR. HALL INSTALLED PRIDE IN US, NOT JUST FOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES, BUT FOR COMMUNITY OVERALL. HE WENT DOOR TO DOOR SOLICITING AND DONATIONS FOR OUR TEAMS, RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS FOR PARK ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. HE WORKED ALONGSIDE OF ONE OF OUR MOST RESPECTFUL AND LOVED ADVOCATES FOR TOUGHLEY PARK. THAT'S MS. NELLY JOYCE PUNCH, WHO I'VE LOVED DEARLY MR. HALL, PROTECTED TUFFLEY PARK. HE LOVED TUFFLEY PARK AND D AND IN IN DOES IN THESE DAYS. WAIT A MINUTE, UM, IN DOES DAYS, OH, IN THOSE DAYS, PARKS WERE EVERYTHING. WE DID EVERYTHING AT OUR PARKS. NOW IT'S TIME TO REVITALIZE OUR PARKS IN OUR BRUCE IN OUR AREA, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE SEE WE ARE HEADED TO, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FROM WHAT WE DID WITH BRUCE THE PARK RECENTLY. FANTASTIC JOB. WE MUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARDS. IT'S A NEW DAY. IT'S A TIME FOR JAMES CHANGE. JAMES HALL PARK, ALVIN BUR, PRESIDENT OF PRINCE SQUARE CIVIC ASSOCIATION. [02:15:02] MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL LETTER. UH, COUNCILLOR, EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER DAY I GOT A, A, A MESSAGE FROM MS. SANDRA AND SHE SAID, YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ME. AND THEN SHE WENT ON, YOU KNOW, TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ALVIN AND, AND WHAT HE WANTED TO HAPPEN. BUT I TOLD GIRL, I REMEMBER YOU. MM-HMM. I KNOW YOU, SHE WAS THE LIGHT. YOU WERE THE LIGHT OF HIS LIFE. AND CERTAINLY IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A GREAT WOMAN BEHIND A GREAT MAN, A GREAT MAN. YEAH. AND I'M JUST AS A LITTLE SIDEBAR WHEN I GOT UP HERE TO COUNSEL AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ALVIN BIRD, I SAID, I REMEMBER YOU FROM BACK IN THE DAY. YOU KNOW, WE USED TO PARTY. HE AIN'T EVEN REMEMBER ME, . SO I FELT SOME KIND OF WAY. BUT CERTAINLY I AM SO VERY GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE AND CERTAINLY TO CARRY ON HIS GREAT LEGACY. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS IN STORE FOR YOU AS WELL, UH, PUBLICLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. AND SO I PRAY BLESSINGS ON YOU, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING HIM WITH US. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. ONE LAST THING. GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, WE HAVE KATHY BLUE FOR DANIEL AND JOE BALLARD, WHO WAS ALSO SUPPORTING THIS THANK, UH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU FOR FINISHING THIS WORK. UH, UH, AND MS. POPE, UM, FOR SHARING ALVIN WITH US. UM, MANY OF FOLKS AROUND HERE KNOW THAT I WAS A STAFFER FOR 10 YEARS, AND ALVIN WOULD ALWAYS COME UP TO THE FIRST FLOOR, UM, IN THE ANNEX. AND HE WAS, HE WAS REALLY, WOULD WALK THAT FLOOR AND JUST ALWAYS TRY TO FIND YOUNGER FOLKS TO MENTOR. UM, AND SO I, I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW ME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, UH, THAT THE WORK THAT ALVIN DID LIKE THIS. BUT THEN THE MORE THE, THE OTHER WORK, WHICH IS JUST SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO FOLKS, I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT WHEN I WAS GONNA START RUNNING. HE TOLD ME PROBABLY SECOND YEAR AS A STAFFER SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER. AND HE KEPT PUSHING ME AND PUSHING ME OF COURSE AS WELL. AND SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH US. UM, HIS LEGACY DEFINITELY LIVES ON EVEN TODAY, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE DOING THIS WORK THAT HE STARTED. UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT, UM, THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR HIM, WE HAVE IT FOR YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. OKAY. TO, UH, MS. POLK AND ALVIN AND MR. TUFFY, WE APPRECIATE YOU. VERY GOOD. VICE MAYOR FOR PROCEDURAL MOTION, VICE MAYOR PRO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO TAKE ITEMS 50 AND 51 OUT OF ORDER. HUFFMAN SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 50, ITEM 50 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TA MOVE SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE NO MOTION PASSES. AND LET'S DO 51 AS WELL. 51 PLEASE. ITEM 51 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. UH, THE BOARD ON THE REINVESTMENT. UH, ZONE NUMBER 17. MS. MARLON TRUJILLO IS PRESENT. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANNA STAND UP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE WORK IN SPRING BRANCH. AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THIS REDEVELOPMENT BOARD. AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM IS IN THE, IN THE QUEUE. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU MARLIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UM, DID YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU FOR THE APPOINTMENT. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, JUST THE MEMORIAL SPRING BRANCH AREA IS GROWING, SO I APPRECIATE, UM, BEING APPOINTED AND I WILL CERTAINLY SERVE. THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE NINA HERE FROM HAWS HILL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, I'M EXCITED FOR THIS NEW BOARD. UM, WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN TOUR 17 WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX AND DRAINAGE IN DISTRICT A AND OF COURSE THE BIG DRAINAGE PROJECT IN DISTRICT G AS WELL. SO I'M VERY EXCITED FOR ALL THIS WORK TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND YES, UH, WE DEFINITELY WANNA WELCOME THE, OUR, THE NEW MEMBERS TO THE TOURS, BUT I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT WERE ROLLING OFF. YOU KNOW, JOHN, RICK, BRAD FRILLS, DAVID DURHAM. UM, THEY'RE CONCLUDING THEIR SERVICE AND I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THEIR VISION, LEADERSHIP, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE TOURS. THEIR TENURE HAS BEEN MARKED BY TRANSFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME THROUGH THEIR FORESIGHT, DILIGENCE, AND A WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON COMPLEX CHALLENGES. THEY HAVE HELPED LAY A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE. [02:20:01] THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AREN'T JUST VISIBLE AND WHAT'S BEEN BUILT, BUT THE LASTING STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN SET IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I KNOW THAT THE MEMBERS THAT ARE BEING REAPPOINTED AND THE MEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD ARE GONNA CONTINUE THAT MISSION. AND SO, WELCOME TOTER 17. UM, WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU MS. SECRETARY. NEXT ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THE SUPPORT OF ITEM 30. UH, MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE, UH, WITNESSED THE EVENT THAT WE HELD LAST WEEK. UM, THE UNVEILING OF THE CHARLOTTE BALDWIN STATUE. UM, IT WAS A, A WONDERFUL PROJECT BY THE GREATER HOUSTON WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. UM, THE ARTIST LORI BETS. UM, SHE ALSO DID THE ALLEN BROTHERS STATUE. SHE WAS THE ARTIST THAT WAS COMMISSIONED FOR THE CHARLOTTE BALDWIN STATUE. UM, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WAS A GREAT TIME FOR US TO UNVEIL THIS STATUE. UM, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, UH, CHARLOTTE BALDWIN, UH, WAS A WIFE OF ONE OF THE ALLEN BROTHERS AND IT WAS HER $5,000 THAT WAS USED TO PURCHASE THE LAND, UM, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AND SO CHARLOTTE HAS A RIGHTFUL PLACE AT THE LIBRARY. UM, SHE, IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE STATUE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE, UM, LIBRARY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND YOU CAN SEE THE STATUE THAT WAS UNVEILED LAST WEEK. BUT THIS STATUE NOW IS A PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S ART COLLECTION. UM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE PEOPLE LEARNING ABOUT HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, IT WAS GREAT TO BE IN A ROOM FILLED WITH WOMEN FROM ACROSS ALL SECTORS, UM, CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. UM, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WOMEN GETTING ACCESS TO THEIR OWN CREDIT CARD IN 1975, AND WOMEN NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY PROPERTY BACK IN THE DAY, UM, AND TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, UM, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO FOR EQUAL PAY AND ACCESS FOR WOMEN, BUT, UM, WE'LL KEEP DOING THIS WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT, UM, WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR US ALL. BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO SUSAN DYSON AND EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS PROJECT TO GET IT DONE. MAYOR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS, UH, PROJECT WAS AMPLIFIED DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH SHEPHERDING AND REALLY FACILITATING THE PROCESS. IT WAS A FUN EVENT. UH, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I TOO WANTED TO THANK THE GREATER HOUSTON WOMEN'S CHAMBER, UM, FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO MAYOR PRO TEM CASS TATUM. UM, YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO SEE THIS THROUGH, UM, AND TO LIFT UP WOMEN IN LOCAL HISTORY. UH, YOU WERE THE RIGHT WOMAN FOR THAT JOB, AND I AM JUST GRATEFUL, UH, THAT WE NOW HAVE THIS, 'CAUSE YOU TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT THIS HISTORY, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND THROUGHOUT TEXAS, AND HOPEFULLY THE COUNTRY CAN LEARN ABOUT THIS PART OF OUR HISTORY THAT HOUSTON WAS CREATED BASED ON THE, THE POTENTIAL THAT WE SEE IS BECAUSE OF A WOMAN. UH, SO AGAIN, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR FACILITATING, BUT I REALLY WANNA GIVE YOU KUDOS, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, AND WE SEE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE IT. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FOR FACILITATING THIS, UM, FORMER DISTRICT AID COUNCIL MEMBER. TONY LAWRENCE HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS FOR PROBABLY OVER 10 YEARS NOW, AND YOU SAID, OH, NO, WE ARE GETTING THIS DONE. IT IS HAPPENING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND TO THE GREATER HOUSTON WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IT WAS A VERY EXCITING EVENT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY WELL. NEXT ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TO COMMENT, THIS ITEM, UH, PERTAINS TO THE MIDTOWN TURS AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, BUDGET. AND IT'S FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. UH, WE ARE MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 26. I UNDERSTAND THIS DELAY IS DUE TO THE PROBLEMS THAT, UH, MIDTOWN, [02:25:01] UH, TOURS HAS HAD, AND I KNOW, UH, CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE THERE. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT, MAYOR, AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THAT TOURIST PERFORMING AT, AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL. BUT I JUST, UH, WANNA PUT A PLUG IN FOR, UH, T TRANSPARENCY AS WELL. SOME OF THE TS HAVE WONDERFUL TRANSPARENCY AND OPERATE VERY EFFICIENTLY. OTHERS, UH, HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. AND I'VE SPOKEN TO DIRECTOR TILLSON ABOUT, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND ESTABLISHING STANDARDS ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WILL SERVE THE PUBLIC. THE PROBLEMS FROM MIDTOWN, UH, WERE BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY THE EFFORTS OF, UH, RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON, INCLUDING FOLKS LIKE ED PETIT, WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO HIM. UH, WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE PROGRESS THAT, THAT WE ARE IN, IN MIDTOWN. SO, UH, I WILL, I WILL SUPPORT THIS, UH, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN, WHEN ALL THE TOURISM OPERATE WITH GREATER TRANSPARENCY, AND WE GET THESE BUDGETS SOONER IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND, UH, WE CAN EXPECT GREAT THINGS. UH, ALAN DOUGLAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE, WE LIST THAT, UH, IS BEING ADDRESSED. YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE SAMPLE. THERE ARE, THERE'S 400 LOTS IN MIDTOWN THAT HAD BEEN ACCUMULATED, UH, WITH VERY LITTLE TRANSPARENCY OR MAINTENANCE. SO IN AN OFFICE BUILDING, USING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS FOR A FEW BEDS, WHICH IS PRIMARILY AN OFFICE BUILDING. SO GOOD NEWS IS CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. ACCOUNTABILITY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. AND, UH, IT'S GONNA BE, UM, IT'S GONNA BE A PROCESS, BUT IT'S GONNA BE FUN TO WATCH THE IMPROVEMENT IN WHAT THE CITY DOES WITH THOSE 400 LOTS. THANK YOU. NEXT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. 32. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY TAG THIS ITEM. UH, WE STILL HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM RESIDENTS ACTUALLY, TO REFER THIS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT I'D LIKE TO TRY AND WORK SOME OF THIS OUT SO WE DON'T DELAY IT FURTHER. UM, SO VERY WELL, WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOUR TEAM ON THIS. THANK YOU. YEAH, MARLENE'S AND VAUGHN AND RANDY HAVE SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS ON IT. AS YOU KNOW, IT INVOLVES THREE TURS, SO IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'VE TAKEN EVERYONE'S CONSIDER, UH, CONCERNS IN, IN CONSIDERATION. BUT ANYWAY, I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO TAG. UH, THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 39 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS ITEM I JUST WANNA SPOTLIGHT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC NATURE, UH, IS YOU ALL WILL RECALL. WE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED A STRATEGIC LAND EXCHANGE WITH THE CITY OF BEL AIR, UM, TAKING A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FLOOD PROTECTION, UH, AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT. US AS A CITY COMMITTED TO TREAT BEL AIR'S WASTEWATER, UM, FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS. SO THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT APPROVED THE CONVEYANCE OF BEL AIR'S, REFINO HILLS TRACKED IN EXCHANGE FOR ADDITIONAL TRACKS, UM, THAT ARE OWNED BY THE CITY, UH, AND APPROVAL FOR THE CITY TO TREAT. BEL AIR'S WASTEWATER IS A COMPONENT OF THAT. SO I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE PARTNERSHIP, UH, AND THE TRANSFORMATION THAT IS HAPPENING IN AN AREA THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST REPETITIVELY FLOODED AREAS, UH, NOT JUST IN THE CITY, BUT IN THE REGION. SO OUR APPRECIATION TO THE CITY OF BEL AIR FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS ITEM AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE COMING. WE'RE NOT ONLY TAKING BEL AIR'S WASTEWATER, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE IMPROVING OUR OWN FACILITIES AS WELL. OKAY, NEXT. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. FAVOR SAY YES MAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UH, LAST ONE. UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF HEADLINES AROUND THE BRICKS AND, UH, FOURTH WARD, FRIEDMANS TOWN, AND THE, UH, ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF THOSE HISTORIC BRICKS WHEN CONTRACTORS ARE COMING IN AND NOT FOLLOWING THE DESIGNATED AND LAID OUT PROCESS TO PROTECT THOSE BRICKS. AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS, OVER TIME, THOSE BRICKS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ACTUALLY BEEN STORING. SO WE HAVE AN ARCHEO ARCHEOLOGICAL EXPERT COME IN, TAG THEM. WE HAVE [02:30:01] RESIDENTS FROM THE AREA THAT ARE SUPERVISING THE STORAGE AND PLACEMENT OF THEM, AND THEY'RE ALL CATALOGED. BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE SITTING, UH, BASICALLY IN A PUBLIC WORKS KIND OF WAREHOUSE, LIKE A MAKESHIFT STORAGE FACILITY. AND WHAT THIS AGREEMENT DOES IS ALLOWS THE FREEDMAN SOUND CONSERVANCY AND THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM OF HOUSTON TO ACTUALLY TAKE CUSTODY OF THESE BRICKS TO CONTINUE TO SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT THEM. THAT'S THEIR RIGHTFUL HOME. AND I JUST WANNA SPOTLIGHT NOT ONLY THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO PROTECT, UH, THE BRICK STREETS IN FREEMANS TOWN, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO FOLLOWING THE PROCESS LAID OUT TO PROTECT THOSE STREETS. BUT FOR THE BRICKS THAT WE DO HAVE, NOW, WE HAVE THEM GOING TO THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE, WHICH IS WITH IN WITHIN THE CUSTODY OF THE FREEMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY, UM, WITH THE HELP OF THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, HOUSTON. SO THE WORK IS CONTINUING, BUT I DO WANNA LIFT UP THE COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT ON THIS. UM, AND THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CONSERVANCY TO STEP UP, TO PROTECT WHAT IS JUST THIS PRECIOUS, UH, HISTORY THAT IS STILL LIVING HISTORY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NEXT, NEXT, NEXT, PLEASE. ITEM 52 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE TAG. PAUL, WHO SAID THAT? COUNCIL THOMAS, UH, TAGGED BY COUNCILOR THOMAS. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. COUNCILOR [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS – COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FIRST] THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. UH, MY POPOFF IS PRETTY LENGTHY, BUT IT'S WORTH IT, FULL OF VALUE. UH, LAST WEEK I JOINED PILGRIM REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THEIR CHURCH ANNIVERSARY. I WANT TO THANK, UH, PASTOR DAMON WILKINS AND THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION FOR A VERY LIVELY SERVICE. I ALSO WANT TO, UH, MENTION THAT ON THE SAME MORNING I WAS AT GREATER MOUNT MISSIONARY BAPTIST GREATER MOUNT PILGRIMS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TO ADDRESS LONGSTANDING ISSUES AROUND, UH, INOPERABLE CARS, STRAY DOGS AT THE MECHANIC SHOPS. I WANNA SHOUT OUT PARK, HOUSTON AND A RA FOR THEIR DILIGENCE. WE HAVE SEEN MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA, AND I ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT SARAY ON MY TEAM FOR HER EXCELLENCE IN GETTING THIS TO THE FINISH LINE. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO OUR SPECIAL CALL COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, CO-CHAIRED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSING COMMITTEE FOR OUR APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE. I'M GONNA ASK ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US ON MONDAY, MARCH 30TH AT 2:00 PM HERE IN CHAMBERS, YOU CAN BE IN PERSON AND ALSO WATCH LIVE ON MY YOUTUBE PAGE. I WANT TO, UH, REMIND RESIDENTS, UH, TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY SAVE TWO DATES ON TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOSTING THEIR FIRST IN-PERSON SPRINT COMMUNITY MEETING. THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECEIVES $50 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DOLLARS TO ADDRESS HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. EVERYTHING FROM HOMELESSNESS, DOWN, PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, MULTIFAMILY, SINGLE FAMILY, YOU NAME IT. HOWEVER, WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK. BEFORE THIS ITEM AND APPLICATION COMES TO COUNCIL AND BEFORE IT IS SENT TO HUD, UM, THEY ARE COMING TO THE WEST SIDE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST AT 6:00 PM AT ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FOR THE IN-PERSON. AND THEN ONLINE APRIL 7TH FROM THREE TO 5:00 PM AND THEN IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS, THERE'S RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 8TH, 2026. SO THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM THE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY HOW WE DIRECT THOSE FUNDS. ALSO, ON EASTER WEEKEND, UM, ON THE WEST SIDE, WE ARE HOSTING A WEST SIDE MOBILE CARE DAY OF SHOWER SERVICES AND SUPPORT, FOLLOWING THE MOMENTUM FROM THE JANUARY FREEZE. IN RESPONSE TO VISITING THE 17 LOCA LO UH, 17 ENCAMPMENTS ON THE WEST SIDE, MY OFFICE HAS, UH, CREATED A HOMELESS STRIKE FORCE. SO WE'RE HOSTING OUR INAUGURAL WEST SIDE MOBILE CARE CENTER ON SATURDAY, APRIL 4TH, EASTER WEEKEND. SO WE ARE NOT JUST CELEBRATING RESURRECTION, UM, IN OUR FAITH, BUT WE'RE ALSO, UH, WORKING WITH THE UNHOUSED TO RESURRECT THEIR LIVES. WE'LL BE AT THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS AT ELDRIDGE FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM. UH, WE WILL HAVE A HEALTH RESOURCES ID, INFORMATION RECOVERY, SUPPORT, BENEFITS, SOCIAL SERVICES, JOB INFORMATION, HAIRCUTS, AND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL HAVE SHOWERS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THEM. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE STANDING UP THIS OPPORTUNITY, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE SHARED IN THE NEWSLETTER. CONTINUE TO SIGN UP AND FOLLOW US FOR MORE INFORMATION. LOOKING FORWARD TO A TRANSFORMATIONAL WEEKEND. SPEAKING OF THE HOMELESSNESS, UM, ISSUE, UH, UH, THE OLD WELLS FARGO, AND I MENTIONED THIS, UH, IN JANUARY, THE OLD WELLS FARGO ON HILLCROFT BETWEEN WESTHEIMER AND RICHMOND. IT'S, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S BEEN AN ENCAMPMENT. WE'VE IDENTIFIED 10 TO 15 INDIVIDUALS THERE. IN JANUARY, THERE WAS A HOMICIDE THAT TOOK PLACE AT THAT LOCATION. UM, A BC 13 COVERED THAT [02:35:01] STORY AND SEVERAL OTHER NEWS OUTLETS. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MOTHER. UM, THAT LOCATION, ALTHOUGH HAS BEEN SECURED, STILL HAS ABOUT 10 TO 15 INDIVIDUALS THERE. UM, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED, UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THE PUBLIC SIGN ON THE LOCATION STATES THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A GAS STATION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO ACTIVE PERMITS, UM, FOR ANY, UH, GAS STATION OR, UH, OR ANY, UM, ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DEMOLITION APPLICATION IN THE PROCESS. PUBLIC WORKS, HPD, WE ALL HAVE OUR HANDS ON THIS, ON, ON THIS PROPERTY. UM, IT ABUTS THE BRIAR MEADOW NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT THERE OFF OF, OF RICHMOND AND HILLCROFT. AND IT IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM, BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE WILLING TO, UM, PUT THEMSELVES IN A, A UNSOUND STRUCTURE ENVIRONMENT, A STRUCTURED FACILITY, UM, FOR HOUSING. SO IT SPEAKS TO THAT. BUT I WANT THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW, AND THIS WAS, UH, NOTATED IN THE NEWSLETTER THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS PROB UH, PROBLEM, THE FAMILY, UM, ARE IN CONTACT WITH, UM, HPD AND CRIME STOPPERS. WE'RE GONNA STAND WITH THEM TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS, UH, AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP THIS CASE ACTIVE AND THAT THEY SOLVE THE CASE AS WELL. LASTLY, I WANNA SHOUT OUT MY GIRL, BARBARA CUATRO. BARBARA CUATRO, UM, IS, IS STILL MAKING MOVES ON THE WEST SIDE IN, IN HER SPIRIT. AND TODAY THERE WILL BE A BARBARA CUATRO EXHIBIT, UM, HONORING HER AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU AS WE CONCLUDE, UH, WOMEN'S MONTH AND THEN CELEBRATE EARTH MONTH. AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BQ, SHE WAS THE TREE LADY, UM, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO WE HAVE SOME OF HER ITEMS AND ARTIFACTS DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. SO WE WANNA INVITE YOU TO JOIN US. WE'LL SEND INFORMATION OUT. UM, BUT THE EXHIBIT FEATURES, ITEMS LOAN FROM THE QUA QUATRO FAMILY, INCLUDING PERSONAL PHOTOS, MILESTONE DOCUMENTS, AND MORE HER, UH, CITY A PROCLAMATION. SO I ALSO WANNA THANK THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS. UM, THESE ARE ONE OF THE, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALKED TO BARBARA ABOUT BEFORE SHE TRANSITIONED. SO HAPPY TO HONOR HER. HAPPY TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO KNEW HER PERSONALLY, UM, AS THEY WORK WITH HER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, COULD HAVE AND ENJOY THE A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. UM, SEVERAL THINGS ARE HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE. FOLLOW US ON ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE AT DISTRICT F@HOUSTONTX.GOV. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, MEMBERS, ITEM EIGHT, ARRIVE. SO IF I CAN GET YOU TO JUSTIN PERMIT, BRING OF EIGHT. ITEM EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN ALCORN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M REALLY GLAD THIS CAME IN 'CAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. THIS IS THE AFTER HOURS FOR OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER. THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CUSTOMER PAID OVER TIME. GREAT JOB, MAYOR, GETTING THIS BACK. THIS IS TRAFFIC AND STORM AND WATER AND O OFTEN THE THINGS WE HEAR ABOUT THAT ARE BEING HELD UP IN PERMITTING. SO, GREAT JOB PERMITTING. I THINK THIS, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS. AND, ALL RIGHT, UM, A GREAT WAY TO STREAMLINE AND GET PERMITS OUT THE DOOR FASTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANNA SECOND THAT. UM, WE'VE HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND, AND JUST FROM REGULAR HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED WITH HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE IN HOUSTON. SO THIS IS A STEP FORWARD. SO I APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION FOR GETTING THIS DONE AND BRINGING IT FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. THANK YOU. I WANNA, UM, ADD MY NAME TO THE CELEBRATION OF THIS. REALLY EXCITED TO GET THIS THROUGH. UH, AS SOMEONE WHO'S, YOU KNOW, HIGHLY FOCUSED ON HOUSING, A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, UH, FEEDBACK WE RECEIVE IS THAT THEY WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH HOUSING, BUT SOME OF THE BARRIERS OFTEN IS PERMITTING AND DELAY. UM, AND SO, UM, ANY, UH, STEP TO, UH, ADVANCE, UM, SOME INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO, REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, MAYOR PROTO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COLLEAGUES, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. UM, VERY EXCITED ABOUT TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD IN DISTRICT K. UM, THE FIRST ONE IS THE NEW PROJECT ALERT AT BRAS BAYOU GREENWAY. UM, THE BRA BAYOU, UH, GREENWAY THROUGH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS BEGINNING THE NEW CONSTRUCTION ON A SEGMENT OF BRAS, BAYOU GREENWAY AND STELLA LINK AT SOUTH RICE AVENUE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA, RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, UM, WHERE THEY ENTER THE TRAIL AT THE SIX 10 FEEDER ROAD. UM, SO THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THAT SAFETY RISK. UM, WE ARE CREATING A DEDICATED TRAIL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SIX 10 WEST LOOP, UM, SO THAT WILL ALLOW USERS TO TRAVEL THERE SAFELY. UM, THIS PROJECT, UM, IS EXPECTED TO CONCLUDE IN LATE 2026. SO, UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS EXPRESSED THESE CONCERNS. THE, UM, [02:40:01] GREENWAY IS DEFINITELY HEARING YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO COMPLETING THIS PROJECT. UM, THE NEXT ONE IS ONE THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, OUR STREETS, WE NEED, WE NEED HELP WITH GETTING OUR STREETS PAVED. UM, SO OUR RESIDENTS IN BRI GATE AND RIDGE GATE COMMUNITY WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE STREET IMPROVEMENTS ON WEST FUKE WAY FROM BASIL BROOK DRIVE TO INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD. AND THAT STREET WILL, UM, RECEIVE AN ASPHALT OVERLAY, UH, AND THAT CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN, UH, THIS MONTH AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN MAY OF 2026. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. IMPROVED MOBILITY THROUGHOUT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEN REITERATING OUR MUSIC FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY FROM 11 TO EIGHT. DON'T MISS THE FUN. UH, WANT TO SEND A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. 40 NEW DELEGATES AND NEW OFFICERS. UM, MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, REVEREND WASHINGTON PASSED AWAY IN THAT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, WENT DORMANT, UM, FOR A WHILE. WE HAVE REVITALIZED IT. UM, IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM LAST NIGHT WITH LOTS OF, UH, NEW LEADERS STEPPING UP. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM AS THEY, UH, PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO RHONDA AND COCO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. AND THEN A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JUSTICE, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR SHEPHERDING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS OF REVITALIZING THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 IN DISTRICT K. UM, AND FINALLY, I WANT TO, UM, SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, JOE GADSON. TODAY'S HIS BIRTHDAY. IF YOU SEE HIM IN THE HALLWAY OR IN THE OFFICE, GIVE HIM A, UM, SPECIAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, AS WE CELEBRATE HIM AND APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT HE DOES IN OUR OFFICE AND CONTINUE, UM, BLESSINGS TO HIM AS, UM, WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, FOR MENTIONING THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING COLLEAGUES MARCH THE 30TH, MONDAY AT 2:00 PM WE'LL, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY. UM, Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. UH, VAST MAYOR PROTEIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, I WANT TO, UM, THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO OUR BATTLE OF THE BRANCH EVENT LAST WEEKEND. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. WE HAD SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COME, UM, HPD WON THIS YEAR, SO, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO THEIR TEAM. UM, IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET, UM, STUDENTS FROM SPRING SPIRIT, UM, OUR AFTER SCHOOL NONPROFIT TO PLAY SOFTBALL WITH HPD AND HFD. SO THAT WAS AN EXCITING EVENT. I WANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS AGAIN, THE SPRING BRANCH MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, MEMORIAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, SPRING BRANCH, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, SPRING BRANCH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND, UM, SPRING SPIRIT AS WELL. SO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO THAT. ALSO, THANK YOU TO ALAN ROMAN IN OUR OFFICE FOR NOT ONLY, UM, SETTING EVERYTHING UP AND PUTTING ON A GREAT EVENT, BUT ALSO SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE EVENT. SO THANK YOU, ALAN. UM, NEXT TONIGHT OUR, UM, DISTRICT A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AND CIVIC CLUB MEETING. UM, THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO START UP YOUR CIVIC CLUB MEETINGS AGAIN, OR START UP, UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS. AGAIN. WE HAVE A FEW THAT HAVEN'T MET IN A WHILE, SO WE'RE TRYING TO REVITALIZE THOSE. SO PLEASE JOIN US TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM UM, AT THE FAITH CENTER CHURCH, UM, 8 0 0 9 LONG POINT ROAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MARTIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THERE'S A, A FEW EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING TODAY. WE'RE HAVING THE HOBBY DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE. IT'S GONNA BE AT 82 0 1 BROADWAY, UM, FROM FOUR TO EIGHT. UH, THE HOBBY DISTRICT IS, UH, COVERS PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THE HOBBY AIRPORT ENCOMPASSES HOBBY, THE HOBBY AIRPORT AS WELL. UM, AND, UH, REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT, UH, LOCAL FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE HOBBY AREA. UH, THE OTHER ONE IS WE ARE HAVING A COFFEE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER THIS SATURDAY. UH, IT'S GONNA BE AT PITCH 25 AT 9:00 AM AND WE'RE TALKING ALL THINGS WORLD CUP AND FIFA. UH, UH, WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, FIFA FOLKS ON THE FIFA HOST COMMITTEE. UH, I KNOW RYAN WAS HERE EARLIER, SO I WANNA THANK HIM FOR HIS SUPPORT. BRIAN MASON. UH, WE'LL BE SHARING, UH, LATEST UPDATES, UM, ON WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR THIS SUMMER. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME OUT AS WELL, TO PLAN, UH, AROUND FAN FEST. UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW IT'S GONNA, IT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA BE IN EAST DOWNTOWN, NOTHING BUT FAN FEST. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE READY, UH, FOR WHAT'S TO COME. AVERAGING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 15,000 FOLKS A DAY FOR 39 DAYS. UH, THE LAST EVENT IS, UH, WE'RE HOSTING A EASTER EGG HUNT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CHAPTER OF SIGMA LAND BETA, WHICH IS MY FRATERNITY AS WELL, UH, THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 29TH FROM 11 TO THREE. AND WE'RE INVITING FAMILIES, UM, TO ALGO PARK, UH, FOR A FUN DAY IN THE PARK. UM, AND THEN, UH, LASTLY, UH, I WANNA SHARE SOMETHING A BIT MORE PERSONAL. UM, AS SOMEONE THAT IDENTIFIES AS A CHICANO, UH, FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW, UH, [02:45:01] THOSE, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN THE LATE, UH, EARLY SEVENTIES, LATE SIXTIES THAT, UM, WERE REALLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY THEIR, THEIR SPACE DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. A LOT OF IN, UH, FOLKS, EVEN IN THE, IN THE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOUTH TEXAS, YET RAA UNIDA PARTY THAT WAS CREATED, UH, LEANED INTO, UH, THOSE THAT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO IDENT FIGURE OUT WAYS WHERE WE CAN FIND SPACE. UM, AND ULTIMATELY, AS SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW, GREW UP IN THE EAST 10, I TRYING TO FIND MY IDENTITY AS WELL, IT DI IT IS DISHEARTENED TO HEAR SOME OF THE MORE RECENT NEWS ABOUT CESAR CHAVEZ. UM, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE AS A YOUNG CHICANO, YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE DO YOU BELONG, UM, AND DO YOU BELONG? AND WHEN YOU START FINDING FOLKS THAT YOU LEAN INTO AS LEADERS TO, TO REALLY, UM, FIND THAT CONFIDENCE, THAT SPACE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IT'S TOUGH TO HEAR WHEN THESE LEADERS ARE NOW. UM, YOU KNOW, HISTORY IS, IS IS REALLY BRINGING OUT A, A LOT OF MORE INFORMATION. AND SO I WANNA, AS A FATHER AND A, AND A, UM, AND A HUSBAND, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RE RECOGNIZE, UH, WOMEN, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, FOR THEIR STRENGTH, THEIR POWER FOR STANDING UP FOR THEIR VOICES, AND WANNA RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN MORE SO RECENTLY SHARING THEIR, THEIR STORY ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED WITH CESA CHAVEZ AND THAT DISAPPOINTMENT. UM, THE COMMUNITY, UH, ULTIMATELY IS NOW FIGHTING OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, IN A SPACE WHERE, UH, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? UM, AGAIN, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, THOSE THAT ARE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ABUSE, THAT WE LIFT UP THOSE VOICES FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND SO, UH, MAYOR, UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOUR TEAM AND I, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TALKING, UH, DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE. SOUTH DE CHAVEZ STREET IS IN DISTRICT I IN MAGNOLIA PARK. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES A NAME CHANGE LOOK LIKE. UM, THERE'S A PROCESS THAT DOES DEFINITELY, UH, TAKE, IT'S LENGTHY, IT'S CUMBERSOME, UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO SEE SOMETHING CHANGE, UH, SOONER THAN LATER. UM, WITH THAT, UH, UH, I, I DEFINITELY JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE SEXUAL ABUSE IS NOT GOOD IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. UH, WOMEN NEED TO BE HEARD, UM, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS RIGHT OUR WRONGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. UH, SO, UH, WITH THAT, MAYOR, I, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M READY AND WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO CONTINUE TO SEE, UH, SOMETHING POSITIVE. THANK YOU. COME FROM THIS. THANK YOU FOR BRING THAT UP. THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, UH, TRAN HAS ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BUT, UM, SHE IS EXPEDITING IT, AND YOU'LL SEE SOME RESULTS QUICKLY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THIS, UH, THE MOVEMENT, IT DEFINITELY IS LARGER THAN ONE PERSON. MM-HMM . UM, SURE. THE FARM WORKERS, THOSE YOU SPOKE ABOUT, UNITE HERE, UH, LABOR, THE LABOR MOVEMENT IS BIGGER THAN ONE PERSON. HAVE CONVERSATION WITH SEIU PRETTY REGULARLY AS WELL, DR. WILLIE. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THOSE MOVEMENTS MORE THAN ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL. AND THEY WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THE LEGISLATURE DURING MY TENURE. IN FACT, 78, UH, DEBORAH DANBURG REPRESENTED, IT WAS PRIMARILY DISTRICT C. THE MONTREAL AREA, UH, PASSED LEGISLATION THAT YOU COULD NOT HAVE A HOLE SHORTER THAN 32 INCHES. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS PASSING LEGISLATION BROUGHT TO ME BY THE FARM WORKERS, THIS IS IN 78 MM-HMM . UH, THAT YOU COULD NOT LET THE WORKERS IN THE FIELD UNTIL AFTER 24 HOURS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GROWERS WERE HAVING FARM WORKERS IN THE FIELD. UH, THEY GOT CHEMICALS ON THEIR CLOTHING, THEY GO HOME, HUG THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE CHILDREN SUFFERED FROM THE CHEMICALS. SO THEY HAVE A LONG, UH, DISTINGUISHED CAREER. UH, YOU'RE CORRECT. NO ONE PERSON, UH, SHOULD, SHOULD GET THE CREDIT. BUT THE MOVEMENT REALLY IS WHAT OVERTOOK THE, UH, STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE SEVENTIES. AND IT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL, UH, AS WAS, AS WAS BILINGUAL EDUCATION. YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WAS ONE OF THE KNOCKDOWN DRAG OUTS. UH, THE LEADERSHIP WAS CARLOS TRIAN OUT CORPUS. BUT BACK IN 76 WHEN WE PASSED IT, YOU WOULD'VE THOUGHT, UH, [02:50:01] THAT WE WERE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. AND WE, WE WERE HEAD, UH, NO, NO DIFFERENT THAN MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY BECOMING A STATE HOLIDAY. YOU CAN'T IMAGINE. I REPRESENTED, UH, OAK FOREST NORTHWEST HOUSTON, AND I GOT MY SHARE OF CALLS ABOUT, WE DIDN'T SEND YOU DOWN THERE FOR THAT TYPE OF LEGISLATION. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ALL SURVIVED. WE'RE WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND, UH, WE'LL BE STRONGER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I KNOW, UH, ALL OF US WANT TO RIGHT THE WRONG IN YOUR MENTIONING OF THE ABUSE OF, UH, WOMEN IS, UH, ZERO TOLERANCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. WITH THAT SAID, UH, COUNCILOR ALCORN, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, FOR THOSE WORDS, ESPECIALLY DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. UM, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT'S GONE ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND BEEN GONE UNRECOGNIZED, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS TODAY. UH, NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST AT 10, WE'LL HAVE BFA. WE'RE GONNA GET AN UPDATE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, UM, ALSO ON THE MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING PROGRAM. WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UM, MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING AT, AT VFA ON ON ON TUESDAY. AND COLLEAGUES, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN AN EMAIL FROM YOU YESTERDAY, KIND OF COMPILING ALL THE INFORMATION I'VE GOTTEN FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON FUND 43 0 5, THE PARKS DEDICATION FUND, THE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, AND KIND OF WHERE IT'S BEEN SPENT, UM, THROUGH THE YEARS ON FROM THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE. SO LOOK FOR THAT. THANK YOU, SALINAS. UH, I'D LIKE TO BE AN HONEST SOMBER NOTE. I COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, AND I'M SURE THE OTHER LATINO COUNCIL MEMBER AND ALL OF US, UH, SHARE THE SENSE OF CONFUSION AND PAIN, UM, WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENTS WE'VE HEARD. UM, I WAS INSPIRED BY SATCH CHAVEZ MANY YEARS AGO TO BEGIN MY WORK IN POLITICS AND ORGANIZING AROUND IMMIGRATION. AND I, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HEAR THAT YOU AND, AND THE MAYOR AND OTHERS ARE COMMITTED TO LISTENING TO COMMUNITY, TO ENGAGING COMMUNITY ON THIS ISSUE, TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO RENAME SA CHAVA STREET. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF US BEING A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. UM, AND TO LIFT UP THE VOICES OF THE WOMEN LEADERS IN THE MOVEMENT, DELORE HUTA AND OTHERS, UM, AND USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LIFT UP THOSE VOICES AS BEST AS WE CAN. UM, ON A, ON A MORE HOPEFUL AND, AND, AND POSITIVE NOTE, I WANNA CONTINUE OUR RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING WOMEN FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. AND TODAY I HAVE THE INCREDIBLE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING OFFICER SHERELL WOOD, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAND. UH, MANY OF YOU ALL MAY KNOW OFFICER WOOD. SHE IS THE ESTEEMED PRESIDENT OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS LEAGUE, REPRESENTING NEARLY A THOUSAND OFFICERS, AND WORKS TIRELESSLY, UH, TO LEAD EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OFFICERS STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, AND ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP, APOL HAS SECURED MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SAFETY INITIATIVES FOR HOUSTON COMMUNITIES. SHE ALSO SERVES AS A DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE TEAM IN SOUTH CENTRAL, ADDRESSING QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OUTSIDE OF HER INCREDIBLY BUSY WORK, UH, WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. SHE'S AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY AND THE WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. AND SHE'S ALSO PURSUING A DOCTORATE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING OFFICER SHERELL WOOD FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. VERY WELL DONE. EXACTLY. CONCLUDES YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU, OFFICER. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR, FOR EVERYTHING. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, I WAS GONNA, UH, PASS AND GIVE TIME TO MY NEIGHBOR OVER HERE, BUT I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. SORRY. UM, NO, UH, SO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, AFTER YOU, AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, STATUE, UM, FOR CHARLOTTE, A ALLEN BEING THE MOTHER OF HOUSTON, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE PAST WEEK AND THE EVENTS THAT I HAD BEEN ATTENDING, REALLY, THAT THE DAUGHTERS OF THE OF HOUSTON ARE LEADING. AND, UH, LAST WEEK, THAT TEJANO CENTER, OF COURSE, LED BY DR. ADRIANA TOMEZ, AND THEN GOT A, HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH, UH, DIRECTOR GOFF FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS AND, AND ALL THE UNIQUE WAYS THAT THEY'RE COMING UP WITH TO GET, YOU KNOW, TO GAIN MORE PARTICIPATION AND, UH, GROW THEIR NUMBERS OVER THERE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, UH, MONDAY WAS OVER AT HOUSTON CHILDREN'S CHARITY WITH LAURA WARD. THEY GAVE AWAY 98 ACCESSIBLE VANS FOR HANDICAP CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, IN WHEELCHAIRS AND WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. AND TO SEE THE WORK, UM, THAT THE, THE LEADERS IN THIS CITY ARE DOING. IT JUST, IT CONTINUES TO JUST BE HEARTWARMING TO KNOW THAT THERE'S SUCH STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND THE, AND THE POWER BEHIND THE WOMEN AROUND THE CITY THAT REALLY DO GOOD WORK. UM, YESTERDAY [02:55:01] AT THE STATE OF THE, UH, DISTRICT, UH, HISD FOUNDATION, DISTRICT LUNCHEON, UM, DR. JANICA GARCIA, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU JUST LOOK AT THESE INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S JUST, AGAIN, HEARTWARMING TO SEE THE WORK THAT'S BEHIND OUR CITY. AND THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE DOING SUCH GREAT THINGS. AND LASTLY, JUST PLEASE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER OUR TROOPS WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY AT HOME AND ABROAD, AND KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS AND CERTAINLY THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE SERVING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. COUNCILOR EVANS SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO, TO ME AND MY DISTRICT TO GET SUCH A QUICK RESPONSE. IT WAS REALLY OFF THE CHAIN, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE AS WELL AS HPD AND THE CHAIN. OH, OFF THE CHAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. . OH, OKAY. WELL, WE, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TELL Y'ALL ABOUT THAT LATER. ANYWAY. ANYWAY, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN AS WELL AS HPD AND PRECINCT, UH, SEVEN, WHO, WHO DID A VERY QUICK RESPONSE. I ALSO, UH, WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, PERDITA, UH, JUSTICE RHONDA AND CAMICO FOR HOSTING AN EXCELLENT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 40 MEETING. UH, WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN REACTIVATING THIS IMPORTANT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE MONTHS OF PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND DEDICATION, YOU ALL INVESTED WERE EVIDENT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF SUCH MEANINGFUL WORK. UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND, I HAD THE HONOR OF JOINING RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PARTNERS FOR THE ER AND ANN TAYLOR PARK, REOPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING IN DISTRICT D. THIS WAS A MEANINGFUL MOMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SPACES THAT SUPPORT HEALTH, CONNECTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. I WANT TO THANK, UH, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND PARTICULARLY RECOGNIZED DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER KELLY ECK FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. BEVERLY STEVENSON, UH, WHO IS THE WIFE OF THE DECEASED, UH, THE WIDOW OF, UH, MAJOR STEVENSON NOW. AND ALSO SHE'S THE SISTER-IN-LAW OF MOLLY STEVENSON. MOLLY ALSO, WELL, SHE'S MOLLY STEVENSON JR. WHICH I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY UNIQUE. HER MOM. AND, UM, AND SHE WERE, UH, ACTUALLY INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM OF HALL OF FAME. AND THEY CURRENTLY, SHE CURRENTLY HAS A COWBOY MUSEUM RIGHT THERE ON ALAMEDA, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO GO BY AND SEE IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY. AND HER HUSBAND, WHO IS DECEASED, MAJOR STEVENSON, ACTUALLY WAS A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER WITH THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. SO THEY ARE A GREAT AND AND RENOWNED FAMILY THAT I HAVE KNOWN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND CERTAINLY TO REDEDICATE REACTIVATE THAT PARK WAS, UH, SPEC ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR ME. AND I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK KRISTI RANELL OF THE WHITNEY WITNESS SERIES FOR HELPING HONOR THE LEGACY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SPACE ON, UH, TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE A ALT ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING HERE IN CHAMBERS AT 2:00 PM AND WE INVITE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ATTEND. AND ON SATURDAY, UH, WE WILL HAVE THE FIFTH ANNUAL THIRD WARD ON TAP FESTIVAL. NO, IT'S NOT BEER, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A COMMEMORATION OF THE TAP AND THE AND WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, AND WITH THE SIGNIFICANT WORK OF ED PETTED AND, UH, KEN ROGERS AND THOSE THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY MAINTAINING THAT WONDERFUL SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN RIDE THEIR BICYCLES AND ENJOY THEMSELVES, THAT, UH, FESTIVAL IS ON SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AND THEY, IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE TAP AND, AND HOLMAN STREET, UH, WELL, THEY SAY 36 15 SAWYER. BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE VENDORS THERE AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT ALL THESE BUSINESSES, THE CULTURE, AND THE VIBRANT SPIRIT OF THIRD WARD. AND, UH, WE ARE JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME IN DISTRICT D AND WE ARE GONNA KEEP IT ROLLING, AND WE ARE GONNA TRY TO GET IT AS CLEAN AS WE CAN. WE DO, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE MEETING THEM, AND WE ARE LIKE ON A WHEEL RUNNING AS FAST AS WE CAN. AND SO, CERTAINLY I APPRECIATE ALL THAT. UM, PUBLIC WORKS AND SOLID WASTE. DO DISTRICT D AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL . THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS WEEK, ITEM 24 ON THE AGENDA WE PASSED, UH, IS REPRO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD [03:00:01] HAS BEEN EAGERLY ANTICIPATING, UH, THIS COMING TO COUNCIL. AND, UH, I'M EXCITED TO REPORT THAT IT'S GONNA REVAMP THE INTERIOR OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER, INCLUDE HVAC IMPROVEMENTS, UH, PLUMBING, NEW RESTROOMS, INTERIOR, UH, RECONFIGURATION. THIS DOES MEAN, UH, THE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE CLOSING SCHEDULED, UH, APRIL THE 13TH. AND THERE WILL BE A SIXTH MONTH, UH, CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE WITH A ANTICIPATED REOPENING DATE OF OCTOBER THE 19TH OF THIS YEAR. UM, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UH, FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THAT. BUT IT, IT'S A SIGN OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, UH, 'CAUSE THIS IS A, A LONG ANTICIPATED PROJECT. UM, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT ON THE ITEM THIS PAST WEEKEND. UH, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HPD PUBLIC WORKS AND A RA WE HAD, UH, AT THE WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL, THEY HELD THEIR THREE DAY HEAVY METAL, UH, CONCERT FESTIVAL. HELL'S HEROES. THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT. UM, IT'S CAUSED A LOT OF ISSUES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM PARKING TO LOUD NOISE, UH, PARKING ON LOTS THAT ARE MINIMUM LOT SIZE PROTECTED, THAT ARE JUST POP UP PARKING SPOTS, YOU NAME IT. UM, BUT H-P-D-A-R-A AND PUBLIC WORKS WERE OUT THERE ALL WEEKEND RESPONDING TO THE CALLS, DOING THE PARK, UH, PARK HOUSTON CHECKS, AND ALSO CHECKING ON THE LOTS TO ENSURE THEY WEREN'T BEING USED INAPPROPRIATELY. UM, SO I, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. I KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD APPRECIATED IT. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. UH, AND THIS IS, THIS WAS A ONE OPPORTUNITY, ONE WE WANTED TO, TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE IMPACTS WERE, WERE MINIMIZED. UM, SO I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THAT. I WAS ALSO, UM, ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THIS PAST WEEKEND. HOG MIDDLE SCHOOL CELEBRATED ITS 100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. UM, I WENT DOWN THERE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION. THEY, THEY HAD A REALLY, REALLY GREAT, UH, CROWD. THEY ALSO HAD ALUMNI FROM A NUMBER OF DECADES THERE THAT, UH, SIGNED THIS BIG BANNER. THEY WERE GONNA HANG IN THE SCHOOL, AND THEY HAD FOLKS THERE FROM, FROM SOME OF THE 1940S, UH, GRADUATING. AND, UH, THEY WERE, THEY WERE THERE TO CELEBRATE THEIR ALMA MATER. UM, BUT I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE PRINCIPAL, THE PTA. UM, THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB ORGANIZING THEIR 100TH YEAR CELEBRATION. ALSO, THIS PAST SATURDAY, UH, FINAL SATURDAY OF THE RODEO, I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION, UH, REPRESENTING YOU MAYOR TO OUT AT THE RODEO. UH, THIS IS A EVENT. THIS IS THEIR 10TH YEAR, UM, THAT THEY'VE EXISTED. THEY DO THIS THE LAST SATURDAY OF THE RODEO. UM, THEY CREATED A INVITING, WELCOMING SPACE FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY TO GO AND ENJOY THE RODEO. UM, THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED, UH, TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE WORK THAT IT TOOK TO GET THIS FAR. UM, I KNOW THAT SOME, FOR SOME, UM, THEY MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE WELCOMED THERE, BUT THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE. AND THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS KNOWN AND THAT IS, UH, DEDICATED AND, AND CELEBRATED. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ON THEIR PROCLAMATION AND ALL THE HARD WORK IT TOOK THEM TO GET THERE. UM, LAST WEEK I WAS AT A CONFERENCE, UH, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK ON A PANEL ABOUT HOW CITY COUNCILS ARE GOVERNING AND WORKING WITH AI. AND ONE OF THE CLEAREST, UH, TAKEAWAYS FROM LARGE CITIES, SMALL CITIES, MID-SIZE CITIES, WAS THAT CITY COUNCILS REALLY NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN SETTING THE GUIDANCE AND THE POLICY FOR HOW THEIR CITIES ARE WORKING WITH AI. IT'S HERE, UH, PEOPLE ARE USING IT, WHETHER YOU THINK THEY ARE OR NOT, OR WHETHER YOU WANT THEM TO OR NOT. UM, AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT CREATING THE GUARDRAILS, OR CREATING AND SETTING THE POLICY FOR YOUR CITY, UH, YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOURSELF IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION WITH SECURITY RISKS, WITH INFORMATION BEING SHARED THAT YOU DON'T WANT SHARED. SO, UM, I WANT TO JUST REITERATE THAT HERE AND KEEP THAT TOP OF MIND AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, NEW TECHNOLOGIES COMING ON BOARD. NEW LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS. C CLAUDE IS NOW, UM, A THING THAT FOLKS ARE USING SO THAT WE DON'T FORGET TO, UH, LEAD THE WAY HERE FOR HOUSTON THIS COMING WEEKEND. UH, A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING ON. I'LL BE HOSTING MY FINAL IN-PERSON TOWN HALL. THIS ONE WILL BE AT HPD CENTRAL, THE NEW STATION, UH, 10:00 AM START TIME RUNNING TO 1130. COME ON OUT ALSO. ONE O'CLOCK ON SATURDAY AT NFAS, WE WILL BE UNVEILING, UH, THE FIFA MURAL THAT WILL BE, UH, AT THE WAREHOUSE RIGHT BEHIND NFAS. IT'S GONNA BE, UM, OVER AT, UH, THE, THE WAREHOUSE BEHIND NFAS. IT'S THE ONLY FIFA [03:05:01] LICENSED MURAL THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING IN THE CITY. UM, WE WILL BE KICKING OFF THE PROGRAMMING AT ONE O'CLOCK. UH, COME ON OUT. WE'LL HAVE A, A BIG CELEBRATION FOR THAT. ALSO, THE TRASH BASH IS GOING ON SATURDAY. THERE WILL BE AT MOODY PARK, THE 8:00 AM IF YOU WANT TO GET OUT AND HELP BEAUTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'LL BE MULTIPLE SITES THAT, THAT ONE'S BEING RUN BY. FRIENDS OF MOODY PARK, UM, WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO, TO GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE. AND THEN ON SUNDAY, SHEPHERD PARK PLAZA CIVIC CLUBS HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL BARBECUE COOKOFF. UM, I'M GONNA BE ONE OF THE JUDGES. I'M REALLY EXCITED. I'M GONNA SHOW UP HUNGRY. THAT'S AT 2:00 PM UH, 10 55 CANDLELIGHT IN THE CUL-DE-SAC. UH, IT, HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER'S GREAT, BUT EVERY YEAR THEY DO THIS. AND IT'S, IT'S A REALLY FUN FUNDRAISER FOR THE CIVIC CLUB IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT SHE PARK PLAZA, AND ENJOY SOME GREAT BARBECUE. UH, AND FINALLY, I DO WANT TO COMMENT ON THE CESAR CHAVEZ STREETS. UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS, THIS HAS IMPACTED A NUMBER OF US IN A, IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY. UM, AS WE IN SCHOOL LEARNED ABOUT, UH, THE EFFORTS OF CESAR CHAVEZ, DOLORES HUTA, WE WROTE PAPERS ON THEM, UH, AS WE STUDIED OUR HISTORY. AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO PROCESS, YOU KNOW, AND I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE BURDEN THAT DOLORES HUERTA CARRIED ALL OF THOSE YEARS, UH, KEEPING THAT INFORMATION SECRET FOR THE SAKE OF THE MOVEMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAKE OF, I'M GONNA HOLD THIS SO THAT THE WORK WE'VE DONE ISN'T IMPACTED. AND THAT'S, THAT'S VERY, VERY HEAVY. UM, AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER HOW MANY OTHER CASES LIKE THAT OUT THERE, UH, BECAUSE YOU THINK OF DOLORES HUERTA, SHE'S THIS ICON. UM, AND SHE DID THAT FOR, FOR THE MOVEMENT. WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE DOING THAT FOR THEIR OWN SMALLER MOVEMENTS? UM, SO I SUPPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THE STREET IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE REPRESENT ARE VERY SIMILAR, YOU KNOW, UM, AND THE ENGAGEMENT, I THINK, WITH THE COMMUNITY IS, IS GONNA BE KEY TO REALLY, UH, NOT JUST REACT, BUT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S MEANINGFUL AND INTENTIONAL, UH, AND APPROPRIATE. AND SO, UM, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS, UH, TO BE A PART OF THAT AND KNOW THAT I'M ALSO HERE TO, TO HELP AND SUPPORT HOWEVER I CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. COUNCILOR DAVIS PASS, UH, COUNCILMAN FLICKING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HPD OFFICER DONALD LIGHTNER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE WITH HPD. HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND EXEMPLARY PROFESSIONALISM HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE AND THE BEST WISHES FOR A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, ALSO, WE'LL BE HOSTING OUR BOPA, UH, AT CLEAR LAKE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH. STARTS AT NINE O'CLOCK AND GOES UNTIL ONE, OR UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FINISHED OR FULL. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, MYSELF AND MY STAFF WILL BE ATTENDING THE AVIATOR RUN DOWN AT ELLINGTON FIELD. WE ACTUALLY, IT'S ON THE RUNWAYS AT ELLINGTON AIR FORCE BASE, SO IT'S, UH, KIND OF A NEAT EVENT. IF, UH, Y'ALL GET A CHANCE, COME DOWN THERE AND, UH, HAVE A GOOD TIME, A CATCH FROM CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, A FEW QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. UH, IN ADDITION TO PJ HOUSTON OPEN, UH, IN DISTRICT C, WE ALSO HAVE RUN THE GROVE THIS WEEKEND. IT'S THE NINTH ANNUAL RUN, HOSTED BY THE TIMBER GROVE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UM, IT WILL START AND END AT LORRAINE CHERRY NATURE PRESERVE, UM, BUT WANNA MAKE SURE RESIDENTS ARE AWARE OF ROAD CLOSURES. SO YOU CAN GO TO TM NNA ONLINE.ORG FOR DETAIL AND APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES COMING TOGETHER FOR SUCH A SPECIAL EVENT. UH, AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL DISTRICT C RAIN BARREL SALE. UH, EACH YEAR WE PARTNER WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE SPONSOR RAIN BARRELS THAT NORMALLY COST A HUNDRED TO $150 RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT C ONLY PAY $10, AND WE TEAM UP WITH TREES FOR HOUSTON. RESIDENTS CAN ALSO GET A FREE TREE. UH, SO REGISTRATION IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. THERE'S JUST A FEW SPOTS LEFT, SO PLEASE SIGN UP. UH, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THAT. MAYOR, I WANNA THANK, UH, YOUR TEAM, BOTH PARKING AND PUBLIC WORKS. I RAISED, UH, SEVERAL ISSUES AT COUNCIL LAST WEEK. UH, WE HAVE, THEY HAVE JUMPED ON IT. THEY'VE ADDRESSED THOSE BOTH 21ST STREET IN BETWEEN DERHAM AND SHEPHERD, THE LOG JAM THAT WAS HAPPENING. SO WE THANK PARKING FOR GOING OUT WITH OUR TEAM, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, PUBLIC WORKS FOR COMMITTING [03:10:01] TO PUTTING BACK THAT BARRIER, UH, IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, NEAR THE MEDICAL CENTER TO, UH, PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, SO THINGS ARE MOVING THERE VERY QUICKLY, AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, AND REMIND FOLKS, SHE ALREADY SAID IT, BUT WE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE HAD LAUNCHED WITH GRANT FUNDING THAT WILL BE PRESENTED AT BFA NEXT WEEK, UH, AT 10:00 AM. SO PLEASE, PLEASE TUNE IN FOR THAT. AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, NEARLY HALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, UH, LIVE IN MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS, BUT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO RECYCLING SERVICES. AND THAT IS NOT ONLY A DISSERVICE TO THEM, IT IS ACTUALLY A BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS WHEN ALL OF THAT WASTE IS GOING TO OUR LANDFILLS. UH, SO THERE'S ALSO A FISCAL, UH, RESPONSIBILITY COMPONENT TO THIS AS WELL. UH, I WILL CLOSE, UH, ONE BY RECOGNIZING AND THANKING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, AGAIN, AS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GRAPPLING WITH, UH, THE NEWS, UH, THE RESPONSE IS SOMETHING THAT I WANNA LIFT UP, THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE PERSON I KNOW OF THAT HAS DEFENDED, UH, SUCH ATROCIOUS ACTIONS AND LIFTING UP THE VOICE OF THE SURVIVORS, THE STRENGTH OF LEADERS LIKE DOLORES HUERTA, UH, AND OTHER WOMEN. THAT IS THE TYPE OF STANDARD THAT WE SHOULD HOLD OURSELVES UP TO. AND BELIEVING IN WOMEN AND BELIEVING IN, UM, LOOKING AT THE IMPERFECTIONS AND GRAPPLING WITH THAT, UH, BY RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING, UM, THE IMPERFECTIONS OF PEOPLE AND HOLDING THAT ACCOUNTABLE AND TO A STANDARD, UH, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLDING PEOPLE TO. AND AGAIN, THAT WOMEN LIKE DOLORES HUERTA CAN BE LIFTED UP FOR THEIR STRENGTH, CAN BE FOCUSED ON, UM, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR SACRIFICES SACRIFICE THAT NO WOMAN SHOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE, AND I WANNA MAKE THAT VERY, VERY CLEAR. UM, BUT THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO REALLY LIFT UP WOMEN AND SURVIVORS. AND THE RESPONSE IN TERMS OF CONDEMNATION, UH, WE SHOULD BE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT ACTS OF ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. AND IT WAS NOT JUST CHAVEZ, AND IT WAS NOT JUST IN THAT ONE CIRCUMSTANCE WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE NATION, OTHER INSTANCES THAT WE KNOW OF, OF DESPICABLE ACTS, HORRIFIC ACTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. AND THAT SAME LEVEL ACCOUNT OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT TAKING PLACE. SO I WANNA LIFT UP ALL SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ABUSE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING EVERYONE TO THE SAME STANDARD, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IN HEALING, BUT ALSO IN ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILMAN HAMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU CLEANED UP THE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR AND HOW YOU ASSISTED WITH DISTRICT G, I MEAN, DISTRICT D, AND HOW, UM, THE NOISE ORDINANCE WAS BEING ENFORCED OUT THERE. BUT WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IN DISTRICT G. WE HAVE A CLUB ALONG WESTHEIMER NAMED CAMP THAT HAS BEEN WREAKING HAVOC ON THE NEIGHBORS, UM, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND WE NEED REINFORCEMENT. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE NEW COMMANDER OUT AT MIDWEST, AND HE'S AWARE OF THE SITUATION, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEKEND THEY HAD ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, HAD ONE BIG PARTY. IT'S JUST, IT'S A PARTY ALL THE TIME. AND SO IF WE COULD GET HELP WITH, YOU KNOW, SOUND CONTROL AND THINGS LIKE THAT AT THAT CLUB, THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE. ALSO, I WANNA MENTION THAT ON MARCH 30TH, DISTRICT G WILL BE HOLDING COFFEE WITH THE COMMUNITY AT TIM HORTON'S OFF OF HIGHWAY SIX. THAT'S GONNA BE FROM NINE 30 TO 11. ON MARCH 30TH, HPD WEST SIDE DIVISION WILL BE JOINING US. SO COME OUT AND HANG OUT. COUNCILMAN [03:15:01] RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN REGARDS TO THE NAME CHANGE, I WANNA LEND MY SUPPORT TO THAT EFFORT AND SAY THAT, UH, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE AND TO READ ABOUT ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS WHO WERE GROOMED AND, AND VICTIMIZED. AND, UM, THE ADULT WOMEN, INCLUDING, UH, MS. WETA IS TRULY HEARTBREAKING. AND, UH, THAT STREET SHOULD NOT BURY HIS NAME, AND I WILL, UH, SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO RENAME IT. UH, I ENCOURAGE AS MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT AS POSSIBLE, AND, UH, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT. UH, SECOND, THERE WILL BE A SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON AT TWO. THE PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON THE COASTAL WATER AUTHORITIES TRINITY RIVER WATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM, WHICH, UH, IS NOT NEARLY, DOES NOT SOUND NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS IT REALLY IS WITHOUT, UH, THE EFFORTS OF THE COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY AND WHAT THEY DO IN, IN THE CITY FUNDING IT. UH, WE WOULD NOT HAVE WATER, UH, QUITE, QUITE SIMPLY. SO HUGELY IMPORTANT, I ENCOURAGE, UH, EVERYONE TO COME AND, UH, OR WATCH THAT. AND FINALLY, MAYOR, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY THINGS, EXCITING THINGS ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY THIS TIME OF YEAR, UH, FROM THE SWEET 16 TOURNAMENT TO THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC, UH, AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON, UH, FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND, UM, EXCITING TIME AS WELL. I KNOW I WILL BE IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING TO OBSERVE PALM SUNDAY IF YOU'RE CHRISTIAN. THIS BEGINS WHAT WE CALL OUR HOLY WEEK AND CULMINATES IN EASTER SUNDAY, WHICH IS THE HOLIEST DAY OF OUR RELIGIOUS CALENDAR. UM, OTHER FAITHS, INCLUDING TWO MAJOR ABRAHAMIC FAITHS ARE, UH, CELEBRATING AT THIS TIME AS WELL. UM, UH, AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS ALL OF HOUSTON AND ALL COMMUNITIES, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A FEW IFTARS THIS YEAR. UM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT IS, UM, THE EVENING MEAL DURING RAMADAN, WHICH IS A MONTH LONG PERIOD OF FASTING. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUSLIMS FAST FOR A MONTH FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN, BUT SOMEHOW THEY MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND THE EVENING MEAL IS AN IFTAR, AND IT CULMINATES IN EID, WHICH IS A FESTIVAL AT THE END OF RAMADAN. I ATTENDED ONE ON FRIDAY, UH, WITH A PRAYER IN A FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY. UM, OUR JEWISH FRIENDS, UH, ARE ALSO, UH, OBSERVING THE PASSOVER AT THIS TIME, WHICH COMMEMORATES THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT AND THE BONDAGE IN, IN WHICH THE, UH, JEWISH FOLKS, UH, WERE UNDER. SO IT'S A VERY HOLY TIME. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A SEDER EARLIER THIS WEEK, WHICH IS A CEREMONY CEREMONIAL MEAL THAT COMMEMORATES JUST THAT. AND I THINK SADLY, TOO OFTEN WE FOCUS ON OUR DIFFERENCES WHEN THESE THREE, UH, GREAT ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. UH, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, A COUNTRY WHERE WE WERE FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. IT IS IN OUR FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TALKS ABOUT THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND HOW THAT IS AN UNALIENABLE, RIGHT? THAT'S GIVEN NOT BY GOVERNMENT, BUT BY GOD. AND, UH, THIS COUNTRY WORKS BECAUSE WE ALLOW OTHERS TO ENJOY THE SAME FREEDOMS THAT WE DO. AND IF WE DON'T, THEN UH, WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS. UH, AND SO I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT, UH, WHATEVER RELIGIOUS BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE AND YOUR RIGHT TO OBSERVE THAT WITHOUT BEING INTIMIDATED OR THREATENED OR ATTACKED. AND SO, I WISH EVERYONE AT THIS TIME, UM, UM, PEACE AND, AND HOPE THAT YOU GET TO ENJOY YOUR RELIGIOUS FAITHS AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. ANYONE ELSE? UH, WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.