[00:00:04]
THE CHAIR[PRESENTATIONS]
RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING HOUSTON SOCCER DAY TO CELEBRATE THE SPORTS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.IF I COULD HAVE ELVA REINO, BLANCA BELTRAN AND JIM WALKER COME UP.
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO, UH, FIRST, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, TO, TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE CHAMBERS, THAT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO TODAY, UH, WAS REALLY TO LIFT UP THE GAME OF SOCCER.
WE KNOW, AND SOME OF Y'ALL SEE THAT I HAVE NOT JUST THE REAL MADDA FROM A, FROM A GOOD FRIEND, BUT ALSO FIFA, UM, KNOWING THAT FIFA 2026, AND I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY DIVING INTO IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEVEN GAMES THAT ARE GONNA BE AT NRG, AND THEN WE HAVE 34 DAYS OF THE FAN FEST IN EAST DOWNTOWN.
AND SO WHAT TODAY HAS BEEN, UH, A CULMINATION OF IS WE'VE GATHERED A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE INVESTED IN SOCCER.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST STARTED THIS YEAR.
AND YOU'LL HAVE SOME STORIES THAT, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
AND SO, GENERATIONS OF SOCCER THAT HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON.
AND SO WE WANTED TO LIFT UP SOCCER TODAY AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ENSURE THAT, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING, BEING ON THE WORLD PLATFORM, UH, FOR FIFA AFTER FIFA, WHAT WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
AND SO, UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING US TO HONOR THESE, THESE GENTLEMEN, THESE, THESE, UH, WOMEN AS WELL, EVERYBODY THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE, TO THE GAME, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALS, BUT THIS IS ALSO THE LITTLE LEAGUES.
UM, AND I SHARED WITH FOLKS, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY, KNOWING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY ON A BASEBALL FIELD, THE SAME, SAME KIND OF, UH, REC, UH, IS RECEIVED AS WELL FOR YOUNG FOLKS AND FAMILIES THAT COME TOGETHER ON SOCCER DAYS.
SO WHEREAS HOUSTON IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST GLOBALLY CONNECTED CITIES IN THE WORLD, WHERE SPORTS SUCH AS SOCCER SERVE AS A POWERFUL FORCE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
AND WHEREAS THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES TO SUSTAIN PRO SOCCER PROGRAMS, SUP SUPPORT SOCCER RELATED BUSINESSES, AND ADVOCATE FOR THE SPORT, WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
AND WHEREAS IN FURTHER RECOGNITION, THE CITY OF HU HOUSTON PROUDLY DESIGNATES APRIL THE SEVENTH, 2026, AS A DAY TO CELEBRATE THE GAME OF SOCCER AND RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE IN CONTI AND CONTINUES TO PLAY.
IT CONTINUES TO PLAY IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND STRENGTHENING THE SPIRIT OF THE, OF THE CITY.
MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE SEE IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS REALLY, UH, HITTING THE, UM, NOT THE RESTART BUTTON.
'CAUSE WE, IF WE HIT THE RESTART BUTTON, WE'D GO BACK IN TIME.
AND I WOULD PUBLICLY CONFESS THAT WHEN I WAS IN HISD, WE DID NOT HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING EXPOSED TO SOCCER, GRADUATING FROM WALTER HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT IS SOMEWHAT A RECENT PHENOMENON BROUGHT TO US BY OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, CERTAINLY OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
BUT REALLY, ALL COMMUNITIES ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER BECAUSE OF SOCCER NOW.
IT'S BRINGING THE WORLD TOGETHER, AND LORD KNOWS WE NEED AN EVENT THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH TURMOIL IN THE WORLD.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PAUSE OUR BUSY SCHEDULE.
IT COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK AND DEDICATION BY OUR HOST COMMITTEE, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE SPONSORS THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO WHETHER IT'S YOUR GRANDSON PLAYING IT OR YOUR COLLEAGUES PLAYING IT, IT'S REALLY AN EXCITING TIME TO BE IN HOUSTON AND EXPERIENCE THE SOCCER EXPERIENCE.
FIFA TELLS US THAT WE'RE AHEAD OF ALL THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN PREPARATION.
THEY CALL US THE GROWNUP CITY BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY AN INTERNATIONAL CITY.
WE REGULARLY GET BRIEFINGS FROM ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, TO SEE ARE WE PREPARED? AND I CAN ASSURE EVERYONE THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR HOUSTON TO BE ON DISPLAY THOSE SEVEN DAYS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR FANS, AND IT'S GONNA BE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SUPPLY AND THE SUCCESS.
AND NOT TO MENTION OPENING UP THE PROUD EAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, THE FAN FEST.
[00:05:01]
COOLING CENTERS BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AND VISITORS NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR HEAT AND HUMIDITY, BUT THAT'S JUST GONNA BRING US TOGETHER TOO.SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HERE, I PROCLAIM APRIL 7TH, 2026 IS HOUSTON SOCCER DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS, OBVIOUSLY ELVA AND BLANCA AND ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE.
UM, UH, I WANNA MOVE IT IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
THE CULTURAL OWNERSHIP OF THIS GAME BELONGS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, THAT PLAY THE GAME EVERY DAY, THAT COACH, THAT MENTOR, THAT BUY TICKETS, UM, THAT ARE, ARE PHYSICIANS, UH, COLLEGE COACHES, YOUTH COACHES RUN, AMATEUR LEAGUES, ORGANIZERS, SUPPORTERS.
THIS GOES DEEP IN THIS TOWN, AND I'VE SEEN IT THROUGH MY LENS SINCE 1984.
UM, WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER HISTORY THAT GOES BACK TO THE SIXTIES WITH THE HOUSTON STARS IN THE ASTRODOME AND THE HOUSTON HURRICANE, THEN THE SUMMIT SOCCER THAT PLAYED IN THE SUMMIT, HOUSTON DYNAMOS, HOUSTON HOT SHOTS.
AND THAT HAS LED US TO THE CURRENT TEAM THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO STICK AROUND A LONG TIME.
AND THAT IS THE HOUSTON DYNAMO.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE HOUSTON DASH.
SO I, I THINK MY MESSAGE HERE TODAY IS, FIRST OF ALL, THE AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
THIS GENTLEMAN BEHIND ME, JIM WALKER WAS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HOUSTON DYNAMOS IN THE EIGHTIES.
ALSO, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE DURING THE TIMES OF PALLE.
HE'S GOT MORE STORIES THAN YOU WOULD EVER KNOW, BUT I REALLY WANNA REMIND THAT, THAT THE LEGACY'S ALREADY HERE.
WE'RE NOT CREATING A NEW LEGACY.
WE'RE GETTING A BUMP, WE'RE GETTING A BUMP, AND THE SPORT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO THRIVE WITH PARTICIPATION AND PEOPLE INVOLVED.
BUT, UM, I REALLY WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE UP HERE TODAY, MYSELF, JIM, AND EVERYBODY ON, ON BEHALF OF OUR AMAZING SOCCER COMMUNITY THAT REFLECTS CULTURES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING TODAY AND ALSO FROM YOU, MAYOR.
OH, YOU WANT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? SURE.
GLENN IS A GREAT SPOKESMAN FOR OUR GAME, SO I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT.
THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY BECAUSE I'VE SEEN AFTER, OVER THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH OUR GAME AND THE GROWTH OF OUR GAME.
AND WE'RE GONNA ALL SEE THAT IN A SHORT TIME.
WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW IMPORTANT OUR CITY IS TO THE GAME OF SOCCER.
NOT ONLY THAT, THE GAME OF SOCCER IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET EVERYONE.
[00:16:56]
THE[00:16:56]
CHAIR RECOGNIZES, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR A PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR HOSTING THE ANNUAL MARCH ON CRIME.MAYOR PRO TEM, OUR FRIENDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME THEM.
ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AREAS IN OUR CITY, AND I MUST SAY ONE OF THE MOST FUN GROUP IN OUR CITY.
SPENT THE DAY OUT THERE WITH 'EM YESTERDAY, STARTED WITH PICKLEBALL WITH MY FRIEND HERE.
BUT ANYWAY, JUST GREAT, GREAT WORK THEY DO AT SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
AND TODAY, UM, WE'RE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR THEIR MARCH ON CRIME, AN ANNUAL EVENT, A LUNCHEON WHERE THEY HONOR HPD, THEY SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EVENT JUST TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS AND, UM, THE SACRIFICES OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO WHEREAS THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHOSE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON, WITH THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL OPERATES TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, URBAN DESIGN, PUBLIC SAFETY, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
AND WHEREAS THE DISTRICT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, A PRIVATE SEC SECURITY COMPANY AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REDUCE CRIME IN ITS SERVICE AREA, RECOGNIZING THAT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SUPPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH FUNDING FOR POLICE TRAINING, EQUIPMENT, SEMINARS, AND RELATED INITIATIVES.
AND WHEREAS THE DISTRICT HOST THE ANNUAL MARCH ON CRIME HONORING FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING OFFICERS OF THE YEAR FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMANDS SERVING THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
AND WHEREAS THE MARCH ON CRIME HONORING FALLEN HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES RECOGNIZES ALL FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS THE HOUSTON AREA AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND THIS YEAR A BRAZORIA COUNTY DEPUTY WHO WAS KILLED WHILE SERVING ON A JOINT TASK FORCE IN HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS THE 17TH MARCH ON CRIME LUNCHEON TAKING PLACE ON HAVING TAKEN PLACE ON MARCH 26TH, 2026, CELEBRATES THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COURAGE OF THOSE WHO PROTECT THE DISTRICT.
AND THE BROADER COMM COMMUNITY.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR ITS ONGOING EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME AND INFORM RESIDENTS AND PROUDLY HONORS THE LUNCHEONS, HONOREES FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER
WE COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY, JIM, TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE THAT Y'ALL MAKE IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN THE MODEL FOR INTEGRITY, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND IT'S
[00:20:01]
GREAT THAT WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEM TO THE SEA AFTER THE MARCH 26TH SUCCESSFUL EVENT AT THE SHRINERS.IT WAS A CELEBRATION AND ALSO A DAY OF MEMORY OF THOSE THAT ARE FALLEN HEROES.
THANK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY
DON HOUSTON FIRST IS NEVER, NEVER BEEN IN BETTER SHAPE SINCE YOU WERE APPOINTED.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, THANK YOU'ALL.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 26TH, 2026, THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT MARCH ON CRIME DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ALRIGHT, SAY HELP YOURSELF WELL, OH, DON, I'M SORRY LADIES, LADIES, DON'T, WILL BE MY SPOKESPERSON.
AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN CARTER AND ALL THE CHAMBERS, OR THE COUNCIL MEMBER, AS WELL AS ALL THE GUESTS HERE TO COME HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US, TO RECEIVE THIS VERY SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
AND, UH, SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WE CELEBRATED OUR 25 YEARS ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS OUR 26 YEARS.
UM, AND, UM, UH, OUR FOCUS IS IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE ALSO FOCUS ON URBAN BEAUTIFICATION, UH, BUSINESS AND, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING MUCH ON CRIME.
THIS IS THE 17TH YEARS TO FOCUS ON RECOGNIZING, UH, ALL THE OUTSTANDING WORK AND SACRIFICE, UH, DONE BY OUR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND, UH, WITH TODAY'S SPECIAL RECOGNITION COMES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO IF I MAY QUOTE A MAYOR, ALWAYS SAY, LET'S GO BACK TO WORK.
WE GOT MORE WORK TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND IF I MAY INVITE OUR CHAIR OF THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, PETER ARA, HE HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB HOSTING THIS EVENTS FOR THE 17 YEARS IN A ROW OF PETER ARA.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL FOR THIS HONOR.
IT SHOWS THE DEDICATION OF NOT ONLY OUR BOARD, BUT ALL OF OUR, UH, STAFF AND THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO OUR BEST EFFORTS TO, UH, UH, UH, SUPPLEMENT ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS EVENT IS MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THEIR JOBS THE RIGHT WAY AND RECOGNIZING THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN ALL RECOGNIZING THE FAMILIES.
UH, AND THIS YEAR WAS UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE KIRK COUNTY TEXAS TASK FORCE AND, UH, THE EFFORTS OF THE KIRK, UH, TEXAS TASK FORCE AND HPD DIVE TEAM IN KIRK COUNTY.
IT'S BECOMING A VERY BIG EVENT.
WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN GUEST SPEAKERS, AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE, WE'RE ABLE TO THANKFULLY HAVE YOU DO THAT, MAYOR, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, WE TRY TO BE THE BIGGEST BEACON OF THE BEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IN THE CITY.
UH, AND SO TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE DONE, IF ANY OF THE OTHER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS WANNA SEE HOW IT'S DONE, WE WELCOME TO OUR DOORS.
[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
MEMBER ALCORN WITH THE INVOCATION.WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING OF OUR FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CITY.
TO GATHER AND SHARE OPENLY, TO DISCUSS MATTERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SAFETY.
WITH THE SPIRIT OF UNITY AND PEACE, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, COMPASSION, AND UNDERSTANDING.
MAY ALL OF US IN THIS CHAMBER BE ROOTED IN TRUTH AND INTEGRITY, DE DEDICATED TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
MAY THE DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS THIS WEEK BUILD HOUSTON TO BE A HOME FOR JUSTICE, WHERE WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO ACT WITH LOVE AND GOODNESS.
[00:25:01]
THE LORD'S NAME WE PRAY.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TWO REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION, THANK GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
ROAD CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WHITMEYER.COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO, TO DELAY.
OH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ IS HERE.
NEED A MOTION TO, TO DELAY THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
SALINAS? YES.I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD DERO RELEASE TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA.
ANYONE ELSE? NOT MS. SECRETARY CALLER.
FIRST SPEAKER RO ALU TO BE FOLLOWED BY PALOMA MEDINA.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
LAST WEEK I WAS HERE ALONGSIDE MANY OTHERS, RAISING OUR VOICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
TODAY I RETURN BECAUSE WHAT IS AT STAKE IS TOO IMPORTANT TO REMAIN SILENT.
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR, AND THAT FEAR IS THE RESULT OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND CLEAR LIMITS IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN LOCAL POLICE AND ICE.
THAT IS WHY THE PROPOSAL BY COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT ESTABLISHES SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST TODAY.
REAL TRANSPARENCY IN CLEAR LIMITS RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO CLEAR DATA AND NO PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND THAT CREATES THIS DISTRUST FOR THE FIRST TIME THE CITY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUBLICLY REPORT WHEN AND HOW POLICE INTERACT WITH US.
TURNING THIS INTO A TOOL THAT ENSURES RESPECT FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITY.
IT ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT A PERSON SHOULD NOT BE DETAINED LONGER THAN NECESSARY JUST TO WAIT FOR ICE.
BECAUSE THOSE MINUTES REPRESENT FEAR AND TRAUMA.
FOR A FAMILY FIANCE TODAY, THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT YET MADE A DECISION HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CONCRETE STEP TOWARD REBUILDING TRUST BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE.
FOR THAT REASON, ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE
[00:30:01]
IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.NEXT PALOMA MEDINA FROM NEW KANEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAXIMO CORTEZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PAOLO MEDINA AND I AM A MEMBER AND ORGANIZER WITH UNITE HERE, LOCAL 23.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED COMMITMENT TO CHAPTER 34.
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT ENOUGH AND MORE SHOULD BE DONE, THIS AMENDMENT IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AS AN ORGANIZER, INSIDE WORKSHOPS I'VE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE OF OUR MEMBERS AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY SAY THAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ENC REQUIRING EYES, AND SO HAVE LIMITED HOW OFTEN THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES, SOMETIMES JUST LEAVING FOR NECESSITIES LIKE WORK.
WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN A SAFE CITY AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE, THE COM WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CALL FOR HELP IF THEY'RE IN DANGER.
WITHOUT WEARING THAT EYES IS GOING TO COME FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT WOULD HELP PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY IF THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO CONSTANTLY LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDER AND WORRY ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY GET PULLED OVER FOR A MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
NEXT MAXIMO CORTEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY DEANNA PRE, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? UH, YES.
I'M, UH, MO CORTEZ AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON, ON NUMBER 28, UH, AND GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE KEY CARVE-OUTS THAT THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN DALLAS AND AUSTIN ARE, ARE MISSING FROM THIS.
AND I, I THINK LEGISLATORS AND AND AUSTIN HAVE LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR THE MAYOR ARE HESITANT TO CHANGE THINGS.
UM, I MEAN THIS, THE CITY ATTORNEY WASN'T, WASN'T VOTED IN, RIGHT? IT WAS APPOINTED.
AND WE NEED OTHERS WHO ACTUALLY SEE SEEING HELP, UH, LIKE THOSE IN AUSTIN AND DALLAS TO DO THAT.
SO I JUST ASKED IT TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE SHOULD BE HURRICANE HARVEY READY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? UH, I THINK WHEN IT'S IN CHICAGO, THEY'RE KICKING ICE OUT OF THE, I KNOW YOU, YOU CAN'T KICK ICE OUT OF HOUSTON, BUT YOU CAN TRY, LIKE, WHY DID YOU RUN FOR OFFICE? WHY DID YOU DO THIS JOB? AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, ALSO REMOVE ALPS BECAUSE THESE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE LIABILITY TO ALL OF US.
AND THE DATA FROM THOSE CAN BE MINED AND HACKED, AND THAT PUTS EVERY HOUSTONIAN AT RISK.
SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON PROP A AND EMULATE WHAT'S IN AUSTIN.
NEXT DIANA, PRE DON COOPER TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMBER FANNING.
IT WAS HOOPER AND THEY HAD IT WRONG ON THE, THE THING.
SO WITH AN H, UM, IN 2006, OFFICER RODNEY JOHNSON PULLED OVER A SPEEDING VEHICLE.
THE DRIVER, JUAN LEONARDO ERO, AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO, PREVIOUSLY REPORTED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A CHILD WAS HANDCUFFED AND PLACED IN THE BACK OF THE PATROL CAR.
QUINTERO MANAGED TO PULL A HIDDEN GUN AND SHOT RODNEY JOHNSON FOUR TIMES IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.
A FATHER OF FIVE OFFICER JOHNSON DIED THAT DAY BECAUSE A DEPORTED CRIMINAL WAS ALLOWED BACK ONTO OUR STREETS.
IN 2009, UNDERCOVER OFFICER HENRY CANALES WAS SHOT IN THE BACK DURING A STING OPERATION.
THE GUNMAN ROBERT PORTRAYS O CARILLO ANOTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO, KILLED HIM, WAS, UH, KILLED HIM BEFORE BEING SHOT BY FELLOW OFFICERS.
THIS WAS THE THIRD HPD OFFICER SHOT BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN JUST THREE YEARS.
IN 2011, KEVIN WILL WAS INVESTIGATING AN ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH LOOP WHEN JOHANN RODRIGUEZ, A TWICE DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT.
AN ADMITTED MS 13 MEMBER DROVE DRUNK AT NEARLY 90 MILES AN HOUR, THREW A POLICE BARRICADE, STRUCK HIM, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY.
RODRIGUEZ HAD COCAINE IN HIS POCKET AND BLOOD ALCOHOL THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT.
AND IN 2020, SERGEANT HAROLD PRESTON, A 41 YEAR VETERAN, RESPONDED TO A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE.
HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY ELMER ROLANDO MANZANO MARTINEZ, AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM EL SALVADOR WITH A LONG CRIMINAL HISTORY WHO WAS UNLAWFULLY IN OUR COUNTRY.
THESE OFFICERS, JOHNSON CANALES, WILL AND PRESTON WERE HUSBANDS, FATHERS AND HEROES.
THEIR DEATHS WERE PREVENTABLE.
[00:35:01]
WHEN OUR BORDERS ARE NOT SECURE AND OUR LAWS ARE NOT ENFORCED, AMERICAN LIVES ARE LOST, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WEAR THE BADGED TO KEEP US SAFE.AND EVERY OFFICER STILL SERVING TO DEMAND REAL BORDER SUB SECURITY, MANDATORY DEPEN DETENTION AND DEPORTATION OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND AN END TO POLICIES THAT PUT POLITICS ABOVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
MAY GOD BLESS THE FALLEN HEROES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I JUST WANT TO ADD, THESE ARE THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS KILLED.
THERE WAS A LOT OF SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES KILLED, CONSTABLES KILLED THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST.
NEXT AMBER FANNON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MELISSA POWELL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A RESEARCH ANALYST WITH UNITE HERE, LOCAL 23.
UM, AT UNITE HERE, LOCAL 23, WE REPRESENT HOSPITALITY WORKERS ACROSS THE CITY.
THAT MEANS HOUSEKEEPERS, COOKS, DISHWASHERS, BARISTAS, BARTENDERS.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP OUR SITTING, RUNNING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
MANY ARE IMMIGRANTS, SOME ARE PART OF MIXED STATUS.
FAMILIES AND ALL DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE IN THE CITY THEY CALL HOME RIGHT NOW.
FEAR IS SHOWING UP IN OUR WORKPLACES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WORKERS ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE TO WORK, AFRAID TO SPEAK UP, AFRAID TO CALL FOR HELP.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST IMMIGRANTS, THESE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS AS WELL.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNSURE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN, THEY STAY SILENT.
AND THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE.
THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT, THEY'RE ASKING FOR CLARITY.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE ABILITY TO CALL POLICE WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED.
AND WITHOUT WORRY, THIS ORDINANCE HELPS RESTORE THE SENSE OF SAFETY.
WE SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH YOU TO BUILD A SAFER HOUSTON BECAUSE WHEN WORKERS FEEL SAFE, HOUSTON IS SAFER.
JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO AND HI.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP.
THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
NEXT MELISSA POWELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAWN WOOTEN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WALTER BRAM, AND A NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER.
FIRST, I WANNA SAY THAT I TRULY WANT TO SEE THE CITY OF HOUSTON SUCCEED AS A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN.
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CITY'S FUTURE AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS BEING MADE TOWARD TRANSPARENCY AND IMPROVING OPERATIONS.
I WAS GLAD TO SEE A POST YOU MADE YESTERDAY THAT SAID CORRUPTION HAS NO PLACE IN CITY HALL.
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES AT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSTON WATER, WHO ARE DOING THEIR BEST EVERY DAY.
HOWEVER, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ALSO SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE SEEN REPORTS INVOLVING FRAUD, WASTE, CORRUPTION, PCARD MISUSE AND ABUSE, QUESTIONABLE CONTRACTS AND OVERSIGHT FAILURES WITHIN HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSTON WATER.
THESE ISSUES CREATE REAL CONCERNS FOR RATE PAYERS AND FOR REGIONAL PARTNERS WHO DEPEND ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER LOSS.
I RECENTLY HEARD A PRESENTATION AT THE HARRIS GALVESTON SUBSIDES DISTRICT GIVEN BY RANDY MOCHI REFERENCING APPROXIMATELY 1800 WATER LEAKS.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY PREVIOUSLY SOUGHT AND RECEIVED A WATER LOSS WAIVER IN CONNECTION WITH THE FUNDING FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
TOGETHER THESE RAISE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT SYSTEM RELIABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AS A HOUSTON RESIDENT AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH REGIONAL WATER ISSUES, I WANNA SEE CONTINUED PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT NUMBER OF LEAKS TODAY? WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO REDUCE WATER LOSS? WHAT OVERSIGHT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO PREVENT FUTURE ISSUES? AND HOW CAN THE PUBLIC AND REGIONAL PARTNERS REGAIN CONFIDENCE MOVING FORWARD? I ASK THESE QUESTIONS RESPECTFULLY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY BECAUSE WE ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL.
A STRONG, RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY
[00:40:01]
WATER SYSTEM AND CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON AND THE REGION.NEXT, DON WOOTEN, GEORGE LA BLANCHE, GENEVA, COLBERT, SOTTA HARDY DARRELL HARPER HARPER WILL HILL, MARIAN WRIGHT DY ORTEGA TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAESAR ESPINOSA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS LET ORTEGA, I'M A HOUSTONIAN AND ORGANIZER WITH ME.
FAMI AXION FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN ICE TERRORIZING COMMUNITIES OR KNOW OF NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITHOUT DUE PROCESS BY MASKED AGENTS AFTER BEING HANDED OVER BY HPD.
THE ORIGINAL IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS CAYMAN AND POLLARD WOULD HAVE NOT REQUIRED HPD TO CONTACT ICE OVER CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS.
ADMINISTRATIVE CIVIL WARRANTS ARE NOT SIGNED BY A JUDGE USING THEM LIKE CRIMINAL WARRANTS RISK VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE US CITIZENS.
THE CURRENT VERSION ENDS THE MAYOR'S 30 MINUTE WAIT POLICY AFFIRMS THAT PEOPLE CANNOT BE HELD BEYOND THE LAWFUL PURPOSE OF A STOP AND BRINGS OVERDUE TRANSPARENCY BY REQUIRING THE CITY TO REPORT ON WHEN AND HOW HPD IS ENGAGING WITH ICE.
THIS IS A STEP TOWARD REBUILDING TRUST IN CITY LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS BY REDUCING THE RISK OF UNLAWFUL DETENTION AND POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
OTHER CITIES LIKE AUSTIN AND DALLAS HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED POLICIES TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THIS WAY.
WE URGE YOU, AS ARE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
WE'LL CONTINUE ORGANIZING FOR STRONGER PROTECTIONS BEYOND PROP A AND INFORMING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEIR CITY IS DOING TO KEEP THEM SAFE FROM EYES.
CAESAR ESPOSA, MAX EMILIANO DIAZ, REGINA SOFAS, MICHELLE EOR FROM LEY
HOW YOU DOING TODAY? I MEAN, I'M NOT SIT HERE AND STAND IN FRONT OF THESE PEOPLE AND TELL THE PEOPLE THAT A LOT TO 'EM THAT THIS GOVERNMENT DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DEPORT YOU.
UH, JUST LIKE THEY, UH, REVOKE PEOPLE PAROLE AND PROBATION, THEY DO IT IN AMERICA IF YOU'RE AMERICAN COMPELLING.
BUT AFTER WE HAD LET THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENT, HE TOLD US, HE TOLD HIS OFFICE GONNA BE DOING, UH, THE ECONOMIC POLICY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
I'M THINKING ISN'T THE ECONOMIC POLICY DURING AFTER SLAVERY, WHY NOT FACULTY ROOSEVELT, THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT NEW DEAL ECONOMIC POLICY.
WELL HOW CAN I ENJOY? WE HAD JUST THE ECONOMY HAD JUST EL OUTED.
GEORGE JUNIOR HAD GAVE US STIMULUS CHECK TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY.
HOW CAN WE STIMULATE THE ECONOMY WITHOUT CREASING SOCIAL SECURITY? YOU CAN'T WITHOUT IT.
WE AFTER, AFTER SLAVERY, WE BLACK AMERICA.
DIDN'T KNOW NOBODY CAME FROM, DIDN'T KNOW WE CAME FROM GHANA, EGYPT, UH, SOMALIA, NIGERIA, KENYA, IMMIGRANTS TO THE LEAST THOUGH WHERE THEY CAME FROM TODAY, I'LL SAY TO YOU, WHATEVER YOU LIKE ABOUT AMERICA, YOU TAKE IT BACK HOME, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU WE RESPECT YOUR HARD WORK AND ETHICS.
WE PURPOSE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A PROSPEROUS LIFE IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY.
THE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE LIKE WE ALL DESERVE WOULD BE AMERICAS ONE OF UH, UH, A NATIONAL IMMIGRATION PARTY THAT WE RESPECT, ADMIRE AS WELL.
AND THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
[RECESS]
WOW, 4%[READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA]
HOUSING TAX CREDITS IN THE CITY'S EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.ITEM THREE, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR IT.
ASSESSMENT AND TRANSITION SERVICES AWARDED TO
[00:45:01]
ERNST AND YOUNG LLP.ITEM FOUR, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR BUSINESS OPTIMIZATION SERVICES AWARDED TO CIVIC INITIATIVES LLC.
ITEM FIVE APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION AWARDED TO TEXAS HIGHWAY PRODUCTS LIMITED.
ITEM SIX, RESOLUTION SUPPORTING REQUEST OF WAIVER OF LOCAL MATCH PARTICIPATION FOR FEDERAL OFF SYSTEM BRIDGE PROGRAM.
ITEM SEVEN, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCH DIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON.
ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE APPROV AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES.
ITEM NINE, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $287,000 FOR PLANNED STRUCTURING.
QUERY LANGUAGE, DISASTER RECOVERY, INFRASTRUCTURE MIGRATION, CLOUD REFRESH PROJECT ITEM 10, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING INCREASE TO AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOS HUSH BLACKWELL.
LLP ITEM TH ITEM 11 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,560,000 AND $2,003,000 FOR FIRE ALARM AND LIFE SAFETY MODERN MODERNIZATION AT CITY HALL AND CITY HALL ANNEX.
ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH ZONE INDUSTRIES LLC ITEM 13.
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 7 82 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH RBEX DOING BUSINESS AS APPLE TOWING COMPANY.
ITEM 14 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1100 BLOCKS OF WAVERLY STREET BETWEEN WEST 11TH STREET AND WEST 12TH STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10 MILLION APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $10,500 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $642,000 AND $8,930,000 FOR FY 26 PETROLEUM STORAGE TANK PROJECTS.
ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,050,000 $539,000 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH SPA GLASS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION.
ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FINAL SETTLEMENT RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOUTHERN BROTHERS CONCRETE AND JP SEWER MAIN REPAIR AND DRAIN SPECIALIST LLC ITEM 20.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $262,500 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $745,854 80 CENTS APPROVED APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH COBB FINDLEY AND ASSOCIATES INC.
ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING OR AGREEMENT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
OFF SYSTEM PROJECT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH OXY VINYLS LP ITEM 24, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 1 0 8 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH MC TWO CIVIL LLC ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $50,656,043 10 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT CONTRACT WITH DURO GREEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $20,497,353.
APPRO AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH VNS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,801,648 73 CENTS AND FIVE $5,731,432 69 CENTS AND $1,642,205 28 CENTS APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH THE VNS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC ITEM 28.
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS ADDING SECTION 34 DASH 41 RELATING TO IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES AND ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR INTERACTIONS WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR THE AGENDA OF APRIL 8TH, 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
[RECONVENE]
COUNCIL PLEASE COME TO ORDER.[00:50:01]
MADAM SEAT MS.[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
SECRETARY, LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR ONE APPLICANT FOR TWO APPLICANTS SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS, NO SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION CALL CALL Y MARK FROM HOUSING YOU, MARK, COME FORWARD PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HOUSING HAS ACTUALLY TWO ITEMS WILL BE FOR THREE PROPERTIES TOTAL.
UH, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, MARIPOSA AT ELLA BOULEVARD.
THE ADDRESS IS 1 6 3 5 4 ELLA BOULEVARD CONSTRUCTION TYPE IS REHAB.
TARGET POPULATION IS FOR SENIORS, T-D-H-C-A ADMINISTER STATE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FEDERAL TAX CREDITS TO SPUR DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR 4% TAX CREDIT, THE DEVELOPER MUST PRESENT A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FROM THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATED.
UH, THE HCD PERFORMED A THRESHOLD REVIEW, RECOMMENDS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION WITH THE PURPOSE OF TO PRESERVE UH, PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS RESOLUTION WAS HELD ON APRIL 8TH, 2026.
THIS ITEM WAS REVIEWED BY HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE ON MARCH 17TH, 2026.
UM, JUST THE OVERVIEW FOR MARIPOSA AT ELLA BOULEVARD.
THE TOTAL UNITS IS 180 2:00 AM I INCLUDED IS 30, 50 AND 60.
AND THE DEVELOPER IS BONNER CARRINGTON.
TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST IS ROUGHLY 38 MILLION.
THE NEXT TWO ITEMS, STERLINGS SHIRE APARTMENTS ADDRESS IS 9,002.
STERLING SHIRE STREET, DISTRICT B UH, CONSTRUCTION TYPE IS ALSO A REHAB TARGET.
AND THE LAST ONE IS MARIPOSA AT REED ROAD.
THE ADDRESS IS 2 8 8 9 REED ROAD COUNCIL.
DISTRICT D CONSTRUCTION TYPE IS REHAB AND TARGETED POPULATION IS SENIORS.
UH, STERLING SHIRE APARTMENTS.
TOTAL UNITS WOULD BE 200 AND MARIPOSA AT REED ROAD.
DEVELOPER NAME IS ALSO BONNER CARRINGTON.
TOTAL UNITS IS 180 UNITS AND THERE ARE NO FUNDING FROM THE CITIES.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
ANY QUESTIONS, MEMBERS? IF NOT, THANK YOU.
NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE A WITNESS? IF NOT, PUBLIC CLERK HEARING IS CLOSED.
CASTEX STATE A MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THAT WAS FOR ITEMS ONE AND TWO.
[MAYOR'S REPORT]
VERY GOOD.MEMBERS, UH, ON MAYOR'S REPORT.
I WISH I WAS ACTUALLY GIVEN THE STATE OF THE CITY THIS MORNING 'CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY EXCITING THINGS AND I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE THINGS TO SHARE.
BUT THE ART, UH, PARADE WILL BE AT 2:00 PM STARTING HERE AT BAGBY ON, UH, SATURDAY MATURITY.
HOUSTON APACHE, UH, SPONSOR WILL BE SUNDAY MORNING AND I COULD GO ON AND ON FLEET WEEKS NEXT WEEK.
WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR FIFA AND THE REASON IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS IS THAT LAST WEEK IT WAS WIDELY CIRCULATED THAT WE HAD THE FASTEST MAJOR METROPOLITAN ECONOMY, SECOND ONLY TO SEATTLE.
AND I'M TOLD BY SOURCES THAT WE'RE ONLY NUMBER TWO BECAUSE SEATTLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN DURING COVID AND DURING A REOPENING REBUILDING PROCESS.
BUT FOR OUR SIZE AND SCOPE, UH, IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
MARCH WAS THE BEST MONTH EVER FOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS AFTERNOON, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL THEIR THUNDER, BUT THE SPORTS STAR WOULD BE MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT AT TWO O'CLOCK, WHICH WILL TRANSFORM TOYOTA'S ARENA, $180 MILLION AT NO COST TO HOUSTON TAXPAYERS.
THE REST OF IT FROM THE FERTITA FAMILY,
[00:55:02]
IT WILL COMPLETELY TRANSFORM TOYOTA ARENA.UH, IT'LL COMPLIMENT THE EXPANSION OF THE GEORGE BROWN.
SO IT IS REALLY SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS MORNING.
OBVIOUSLY, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR GROWTH, OUR JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY AND INCLUSIVENESS ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY, WE HAVE ANOTHER IMPORTANT ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS.
ITEM 28, I WOULD ASK IN A MOMENT THAT IT BE CALLED OUT A ORDER.
SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED, WE'VE ALL HAD TO FACE HIS AGENDA.
I HAVE OVER A YEAR AGO SAID, I'M SORRY THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
IT BASICALLY IS NOT A CITY RESPONSIBILITY.
MY SYMPATHY, MY EMPATHY, MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, I KNOW THE ANXIETY.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK MOST CUSTODIANS EXPERIENCED THE ANXIETY AS WE WATCHED THE NATION AND THE DISRUPTION THAT OCCURRED IN MOST MAJOR CITIES.
I MADE A COMMITMENT THEN TO FOLLOW THE LAW, BE CONSISTENT, TRANSPARENT, AND THAT IS WHAT IS KEPT THE TURMOIL OUT OF HOUSTON.
I GET CALLS FROM MAJOR CITY OFFICIALS ACROSS THE NATION ACROSS TEXAS ASKING US HOW WERE WE ABLE AS A MAJOR CITY, AS DIVERSE AS WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO BE AS REASONABLE AND CONSISTENT AS WE'VE BEEN.
JUST FOR EXAMPLE, I GOT A REPORT RECENTLY THAT THERE WERE ONLY SEVEN I 70 70 ICE OFFICERS IN OUR REGION.
MINNEAPOLIS HAD 3,700 AT ONE TIME BECAUSE IT WAS POLITICIZED IN SO MANY OF OUR MAJOR CITIES.
SO WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT, UH, FOLLOWED THE LAW.
AND TODAY WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK THE, THE MEMBERS FOR ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS.
THE SPONSORS OF PROP A HAVE BEEN REASONABLE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN 50 YEARS OF SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT COULD NOT BE IMPROVED.
SO TODAY WE HAVE A REVISED VERSION OF PROP A, ITEM 28.
I THINK IT IS CONSISTENT WITH HPD PRACTICES.
HPD PRACTICES ARE TO FOLLOW RESPECT, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND THEN ALSO HPD WILL FURNISH ITS DATA TO ANYONE THAT ASKS FOR IT.
CERTAINLY ANYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE.
SO I THINK THE REVISED VERSION IS A RATIFICATION OF THE GOOD POLICIES THAT HPD IS CONDUCTING.
I'M SORRY THAT SOME OF OUR WITNESSES AND SPEAKERS HAVE TRIED TO POLITICIZE IT, BUT THAT'S ONE OF OUR SUCCESSES COMING OUTTA MY OFFICE IS WE'RE NOT GONNA POLITICIZE SOMETHING THAT'S SENSITIVE.
WE'VE TRAVELED ACROSS HOUSTON, CERTAINLY COFFEE WITH POLICE LAST WEEK IN THE EAST END, DENVER HARBOR CIVIC CLUB LAST NIGHT.
PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY APPRECIATE THE SERIOUSNESS THAT WE'VE HANDLED THIS MATTER.
AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT, UH, WE LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LAW STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND OUR ORDINANCE WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, UH, I'LL BE GLAD TO YIELD TO ANYONE, BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS FOR THE PROCESS THAT'S BEEN FOLLOWED AND, UH, I'M READY TO HAVE A HEALTHY DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE.
AS YOU KNOW, MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE URGED US TO TAKE THE ACTION THAT WE PUT FORTH ON THIS PROPE.
I WANNA THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER, POLLARD AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN FOR JOINING US IN THIS EFFORT.
AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT AND DEMANDED THAT WE ACT.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD.
THIS IS BUILDING ON THE STEP FORWARD THAT WAS TAKEN A FEW WEEKS BACK AND I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS FORWARD TO IMPROVE, UM, OUR, OUR POSITION AND REDUCING OUR COOPERATION WITH ICE TO THE BARE MINIMUM THAT'S REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW.
BUT THIS IS A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD.
IT WAS A STEP THAT WAS NEEDED.
COMMUNITY HAS DEMANDED IT AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE GONNA PASS IT TODAY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK LEADERSHIP.
I'M SUPPORTING IT 'CAUSE I THINK IT MAKES A STATEMENT THAT WE'VE LISTENED AND IT'S FOLLOWING THE CURRENT PRACTICES OF HVD, OF RESPECTING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND FURNISHING THE DATA TO ANY MEMBER OF THIS PANEL.
AND, UH, I WILL YIELD TO COUNCIL
[01:00:01]
MEMBER MARTINEZ.UM, FIRST I WANT TO JUST START BY SAYING THAT THOSE THAT CAME TO SPEAK AT, UH, IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, THAT I HEAR YOU, I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT BEHIND, UH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
AND I THINK WE ALL WANNA SEE SAFE COMMUNITIES.
UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA BE HONEST, AND THIS POLICY WILL NOT TAKE AWAY THE FEAR THAT SO MANY FAMILIES ARE LIVING WITH EVERY DAY.
I KNOW BECAUSE I TALK TO THEM, I KNOW THEIR STORIES AND THEIR CHALLENGES THAT THAT ARE, THAT THEY'RE BEING FACED WITH THE FEAR THAT COMES FROM LIVED EXPERIENCES, FROM WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THEIR WORKPLACES AT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
AND MORE RECENT CONVERSATIONS HAVE HELPED CREATE MORE FEAR.
AND NO MATTER WHAT OR HOW THIS POLICY IS ADJUSTED, THE FEAR JUST DOESN'T DISAPPEAR.
UH, FROM THE BEGINNING, I HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS, WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL WITH OUR WORDS AND OUR WORK.
SO IF IT'S, IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY, THEN WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE TRUST AS WELL.
BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID, THEY DON'T CALL THE POLICE, THEY DON'T REPORT CRIMES, AND THEY MAKE EVERY ONE OF US LESS SAFE.
UH, THE REAL WORK ISN'T JUST THE POLICY THAT IS BEING PASSED TODAY.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IT'S BRINGING HPD AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE SAME ROOM.
IT'S HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S LISTENING, BEING PRESENT, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS OVER TIME, NOT JUST IN THIS MOMENT LIKE THIS.
UM, THE WORK IT THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S WHAT I'LL SAY COMMITTED TO BECAUSE REAL SAFETY DOESN'T JUST COME FROM POLICY ALONE.
IT COMES FROM TRUST AND IT, AND THAT TRUST IS BUILT OVER TIME.
UM, THE WORK DONE IN COMMUNITY POLICING, IT'S BEEN DONE DECADES, DECADES AFTER THE MOODY MOODY PARK RIOTS.
AND A LOT OF THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING MORE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN ERODING THAT TRUST.
UH, WHAT I'LL BE DOING TODAY IS VOTING YES, BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, BUT THE REAL WORK IS AHEAD OF US AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING SHOWING UP IN COMMUNITY.
AND I CHALLENGE THOSE THAT CAME TO PUBLIC SESSION AS WELL TO HELP WITH THIS WORK.
AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE DOING GREAT WORK, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY, CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING.
WHETHER THIS ORDINANCE HAS PASSES OR NOT, UM, SHOWING UP IS MOST IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I'LL BE SUPPORTING, BUT I THINK THE REAL WORK REALLY IS GONNA BE BRINGING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IT'S NOT THE WORDS, IT'S THE ACTIONS.
AND I GO OUTTA MY WAY AS I KNOW EACH OF US DOES TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ALL HOUSTON RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO OUR FACILITIES, THE WARMING CENTERS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED WHEN YOU ARRIVE, DOMESTIC ABUSE CALL HPD, THEY DO NOT ASK OR CONCERN THEMSELF WITH YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
AFTER OUR CLUB'S CLOSING, I'VE BEEN THERE.
NO ONE, NO ONE IS ASKED ABOUT THEIR STATUS.
IT'S STRICTLY THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE ROLE YOU'VE PLAYED REAL LEADERSHIP.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A PROCESS WE'VE GOTTA CONTINUE.
IT'S EMPHASIZE WE CARE FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND DO NOT ASK 'EM THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND WE SHARE THEIR ANXIETY.
THE FEAR THAT IS FELT BY THE PUBLIC IF YOU ARE NOT HERE WITH LEGAL STATUS IS ABSOLUTELY REAL.
UH, THERE, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, BUT I'VE BEEN A LITTLE CONFUSED WITH THIS ENTIRE ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THESE CHAMBERS FILLED REGULARLY WITH INDIVIDUALS COMING HERE ASKING US TO CHANGE POLICY.
AND IN THE NEW YORK TIMES IN BOTH THE CHRONICLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, UH, NEITHER OF THOSE PUBLICATIONS SUPPORTIVE OF EN ENFORCEMENT ENFORCING IMMIGRATION POLICY, THEY GAVE THE FIGURES.
15,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEPORTED OUT OF THE AREA ICE OFFICE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
OF THOSE 15,002 THIRDS, ALMOST 10,000 ICE TOOK INTO CUSTODY FROM A JAIL OR PRISON.
CITY OF HOUSTON DOESN'T OPERATE JAILS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
[01:05:01]
WHAT THIS IS ADDRESSING IS THE APPROXIMATELY 70 CASES THAT INITIATED WITH AN HPD CALL WHERE HPD GOT A HIT ON A WARRANT 70 OUT OF 15,000.THIS ORDINANCE, WHILE I THINK PLACATING A NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO SPEAK, WILL NOT CHANGE WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I ASSUME THAT WE'LL HAVE THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS ONCE THEY REALIZE NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
YOU KNOW, AND A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT WANTING HPD TO FOCUS ON THE TASKS THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THE SAME THING.
I MEAN, WE'VE ADDRESSED A ROUNDING AIR AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THIS ADDRESSES.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE UPSET BY IT ARE GONNA BE ANY HAPPIER TWO, THREE MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THEY SEE THAT, THAT IT HASN'T CHANGED.
IN THAT REGION, AND THOSE NUMBERS COMES FROM SOUTHEAST TEXAS, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, CORPUS VICTORIA, AND THE WESTERN SIDE OF LOUISIANA.
IT WAS REALLY MISINFORMATION THAT ONLY INCREASES THE ANXIETY AND THE MIS IF, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THEY CALLED IT HOUSTON, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T.
WELL, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THERE'S DETENTION FACILITIES IN CONROE, BUT HOUSTON PROPER, AS YOU'VE REFLECTED, HAS BEEN A VERY SMALL NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HPD CONCERNS ITSELF WITH HPD ENFORCES, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUES, I CERTAINLY, UH, WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ORDINANCE.
AND, UM, LET ME BEGIN BY FIRST OF ALL, ELEVATING THE FACT THAT IN ALL RESPECT TO EVERYONE IN THE HEART, YOU AROUND THIS, UH, ISSUE.
UH, AND I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS IN IT.
UM, I CAN GO FROM A DIFFERENT, SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS REGARDING IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD TO SAY THAT MY GREATEST CONCERN WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE, AND THERE ARE SOME AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WHO RAN EQUALLY AND EVERYBODY WAS ASKED, WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CONCERN IN HOUSTON? IT WAS CRIME AND MAYOR, WHEN YOU TOOK OFFICE, YOU SAID ONE OF YOUR FIRST PRIORITY WAS CRIME.
I DON'T SEE THIS ISSUE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT BECAUSE IT IS A, A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
AND SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS HOW DO WE, AND I'M, AND I WANT TO PINPOINT THE FACT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, JOAQUIN, MY FRIEND, USE THE PROPER WORD TRUST.
NOW, I WOULD, I WOULD OPEN IT UP TO SAY, HOW MANY OF US ON THIS CHAMBER WOULD RAISE THEIR HAND TO SAY, YOU DON'T TRUST HPD.
WE PAID THESE MEN AND WOMEN EVERY DAY.
SOME HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE MORE TO HELP THEM WITH CRIME.
NOW, AM I SAYING THAT EVERY PERSON THEY STOP IS A CRIMINAL? NO.
BUT THEIR JOB IS WHAT WE PAY THEM TO DO.
AND IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
NOW, EVERYBODY THAT COME DOWN AND SPOKE, MANY PEOPLE THAT EXPRESSED THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT TO DO IT.
I AND I PROTECT THAT, RIGHT? I WANT A UNITED STATES ARMY UNIFORM TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE RIGHT TO PROTECT THE VOICE, WHICH IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
AND IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
BUT WHEN WE HEAR THINGS ABOUT AN EVENT, THIS IS A MOVEMENT.
I'M NEVER, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AT THIS COUNCIL, I'VE NEVER VOTED ON A MOVEMENT.
I THOUGHT WE WERE A BODY THAT VOTES BASED ON ORDINANCE, ON THINGS THAT IMPROVE THE CITY.
BUT THAT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE THEN IT SENDS A MESSAGE.
THIS SENDS A MESSAGE TO HPD, THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GET UP EVERY DAY AND DO WHAT MANY OF US DARE NOT DO.
SO, SO WITH THIS, UM, I TRUST HPDI TRUST THEM FOR, UH, THE JOB THAT THEY DO.
AND I WOULD HATE THAT THEY WOULD PROFILE ANYBODY BASED ON THEIR COLOR OR THEIR LANGUAGE.
OKAY? SO, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IF WE CAN'T TRUST THEM TO, TO ABIDE BY
[01:10:01]
WHAT THEIR DUTIES IS, THEN DON'T CALL 'EM WHEN YOU GET ROBBED.DON'T CALL 'EM WHEN YOU, UH, HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE.
WHERE DOES THE TRUST BEGIN AND WHERE DOES IT END? SO I, I THINK THAT WE, WE, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A GOOD CONSCIOUS THOUGHT ABOUT HOW AND WHAT MESSAGE DO WE SEND TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEY LIVES ON THE LINE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND I COMMEND THOSE WHO AGREED TO FOLLOW THE ORDINANCE.
HEY, I COULD BASICALLY ADDRESS THE FACT ABOUT HISPANIC LATINOS.
SO I GREW UP IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO LET'S SAY IT FOR THE RECORD, LET'S PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
SO ANYBODY DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ME AGAINST ANYBODY.
I WAS BORN IN THE MOVEMENT OF A CIVIL RIGHT MOVEMENT, BUT I DON'T SEE THIS ORDINANCE AS A MOVEMENT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN ALL OF US CAN INTRODUCE A MOVEMENT.
AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY.
I THINK HOUSTON IS IN A GOOD SPOT.
MARIN, I, I, I COMMEND THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE, AND THIS DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT MINNESOTA.
AND I AIN'T JUST SAYING IT VERBALIZING.
SO, BUT FOR THE RECORD, UM, I I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE THANK GOOD CONSIDERATION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A BANDAID ON A SHOTGUN WOUND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DOUBT, UH, CERTAINLY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN.
UH, WE'VE INCREASED AND GRADUATED OVER 800 CADETS SINCE YOU AND I TOOK OFFICE.
HPD HAS ALL TIME, LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICERS OVER 5,400.
AND I SEE THIS AS THIS PROPOSITION AS CODIFYING THEIR PRACTICES.
THE CHIEF'S DIRECTIVE WILL GOVERN AND HE'S HAD EXCELLENT RESULTS FROM THE MODEL THAT WE PROPOSED ALMOST A MONTH AGO.
IT'S, UH, RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS, ALLOWING OFFICERS TO DO THEIR JOB AND FOLLOWING THE LAW.
CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I, I TALKED ABOUT AN ORDINANCE, BUT I WANNA COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES, SALINAS CAYMAN AND HOLLERED FOR BEING ABOUT THE CHANGE.
AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE STOPS AND WHATEVER THEY ARE BASED ON RACIAL PROFILING, AND THAT IS WRONG.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE BLACK, BROWN, ASIAN, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THAT IS WRONG.
MAYOR, I'VE WATCHED YOU JUGGLE TO TRY TO KEEP THE CITY PROTECTED AND HAVING A CONSCIENCE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING, UM, TAKEN INTO ICE CUSTODY.
BUT, BUT WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THAT YOU ARE NOT COUNCIL MEMBER GONNA PIT US AGAINST HPD.
IT'S NEVER BEEN A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE TRUST HPD.
IT IS THE OUTCOME OF HPD TURNING INNOCENT CITIZENS OVER TO ICE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I CAN'T GET PAST.
SO I AM AGAIN, COMMENDING MY COLLEAGUES FOR MOVING FORWARD.
AND I, I JUST WANNA SAY, JUST TO BRING SOMETHING ELSE TO THE LIGHT THAT, THAT REALLY DISTURBED ME.
THE OTHER NIGHT, I WAS WATCHING THE FACTOR TO FIND OUT THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE DOING HONEST WORK FOR PEOPLE.
AND THEN AT THE END, WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET PAID, THEY ARE BEING TOLD THEY ARE NOT GONNA GET PAID.
OR THEY CALL ICE IS APPALLING.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, IF YOU ARE DOING THAT, IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A THIEF AND YOU HAVE NO MORAL FIBER.
SO I AM CERTAINLY GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.
IT'S VERY HARD TO LOOK IN THE FACE OF COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND NOT, UH, BUT CERTAINLY TO LOOK IN THE FACES OF ALL OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT TO JUST SIT HERE AND A HORSESHOE AND TALK ABOUT IT.
SO I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU ALL WERE ABOUT IT, AND I WILL CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.
[01:15:01]
MAYOR.AND, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DID THE WORK AROUND THIS ORDINANCE TO BRING IT FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS ADDRESSES IS TRANSPARENCY WITH THE, UH, QUARTERLY REPORTING.
AND THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE, AND LIKE A LOT OF ISSUES, MORE TRANSPARENCY IS A GOOD THING.
UM, MONDAY I WAS SPEAKING AT A CIVIC GROUP AND QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AROUND THIS RELATED TO MISINFORMATION.
YESTERDAY SPEAKING AT A CIVIC CLUB, SAME THING.
UH, THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING.
THERE'S STILL THINGS THAT ARE GOING AROUND AND SPREADING THAT AREN'T TRUE.
THIS HELPS PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WE ALL TALK ABOUT, UH, IN A NUMBER OF WAYS AS A GOOD THING.
AND SO I AM GONNA BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
I, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES FOR DOING THE WORK, UH, TO GET THIS HERE IN FRONT OF US, UH, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT WILL HELP ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO BUILDING MORE TRUST AND, UH, CALMING SOME OF THE FEARS.
AND THAT IS AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY AROUND A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.
[PROPOSITION A COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM]
RAMIREZ.I MOVE TO TAKE THE ITEM OUT OF ORDER AND TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SPONSORED THIS TO LAY IT OUT.
DID YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED OR ARE YOU I'LL HAVE REMARKS, BUT, BUT AFTER, AFTER IT'S BEEN LAID OUT, YOUR HONOR.
SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO LAYING OUT.
LET US CALL THE ITEM AND THEN WE'LL RECOGNIZE SALINE.
ITEM, ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE.
DO YOU WANNA BE RECOGNIZED NOW OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES? I'M HAPPY TO DO THE VOTE AND THEN SPEAK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.
AND YOU'LL GET THEY ALL THE TIME YOU'D LIKE.
I WAS TRYING TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M OTHERS WANNA SPEAK BEFOREHAND BY, BY ALL MEANS.
I, I THINK IT'S VERY VALUABLE TO HEAR FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES.
I I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT THE CONVERSATION IF OTHERS WANNA SPEAK.
YEAH, WE WERE, WE WERE GOING IN, WE WERE DOING IT RIGHT.
UM, I WANT TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING THAT IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.
UM, HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE MAYOR'S CURRENT POLICY REQUIRING HPD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES IS SOUND REASONABLE AND PROVIDES CLEAR DIRECTION WHILE BALANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND TAKING AWAY THIS GUIDANCE CREATES CONFUSION AND EXPOSES THE CITY OF USE IN TWO POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS MEASURE MAY CREATE UNINTENDED RISKS TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
PLACING A NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSTON COULD LEAD TO UNSAFE SITUATIONS FOR BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
FOR THESE REASONS, I'M VOTING AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY TOP PRIORITY.
IT HAS BEEN, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE.
I REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, UPHOLD THE LAW, AND ENSURE HOUSTON REMAINS A SAFE PLACE.
ONE, UH, PROPS TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS.
UM, I THINK IT WAS NECESSARY BASED ON, UH, THE RESPONSES WE WERE GETTING FROM THE PUBLIC, BY AND LARGE, NOT JUST THOSE THAT YOU HEAR THAT COME ON TUESDAYS.
UM, BUT THERE ARE 50 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SIGNED ON.
THE MANY PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT, UH, IN THE GULFTON SHARPSTOWN AREA WHO ARE HARDWORKING.
UM, SOME ARE UNDOCUMENTED, UH, BUT CONTRIBUTE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LISTEN TO THEM.
UH, OUR ONLY RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS HORSESHOE IS TO LISTEN, TO REPRESENT THE VOICES OF THOSE THAT WE REPRESENT.
UM, AND THIS IS THE, THE POWER OF PROPOSITION A BUT FOR THIS MEASURE THAT THE VOTERS PUT IN PLACE, UH, THIS ORDINANCE MAY NOT HAVE COME TO THIS BODY.
IT WAS NECESSARY THAT WHEN WE WERE SEEING NO REAL ACTION ON THIS ISSUE, UM, THAT WE HAD TO TAKE THE PROPOSITION A ROUTE, UH, TO GET SOME REAL MOVEMENT.
THE 30 MINUTE POLICY THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, UH, COULD BE VERY WELL SEEN AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
UM, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, WHICH SPEAKS TO UNLAWFUL SEARCH AND CAESARS, IT WILL BE HARD TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT PASSED A CERTAIN POINT OF THE REASON FOR THE STOP.
DO YOU HAVE JUSTIFICATION FOR HOLDING SOMEONE?
[01:20:02]
UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU THAT.OTHER LEGAL SCHOLARS WILL TELL YOU THAT.
AND SO WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY ADOPTED, UH, THAT COULD BE, UM, CHALLENGED.
AND THE WHOLE POINT OF A LAWFULNESS REVIEW IS TO GO FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THINGS ARE PROPER.
THEY DON'T VIOLATE OR CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES.
SO ANY, ANY OPPOSITION TO IT? UH, AFTER A LAWFULNESS REVIEW, I DON'T SEE, UM, HOW YOU CAN GET TO THAT POINT.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN AMERICA, WHERE 25% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN, AND WE HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS AN EXTREMELY WELCOMING CITY.
YOU HAVE TO PUT POLICIES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RESIDENTS WHO MAKE OUR CITY GREAT, UH, HAVE THE ABILITY TO THRIVE AND SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF STATUS.
I THINK THE, THE MAIN PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN WOULD BE THOSE WHO COMMIT HARM AND WHO DO DANGER IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT IF IT IS SEEN THAT A PERSON WHO MAY BE STOPPED FOR AN OFFENSE, AND THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT FOR THAT PERSON, AND THAT PERSON HAS NO REAL CRIMINAL HISTORY, HAS NO WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE, UH, FOR ANY CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, THEN IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE, THIS IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO IS IN OUR CITY, WHO MAY BE UNDOCUMENTED, THAT PROVIDE MORE BENEFIT THAN NOT TO OUR SOCIETY.
AND NONE OF US CAN BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS THAT CONTRIBUTE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
OUR CITY WOULD NOT BE WHO IT IS WITHOUT THEM.
THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON CRIMINALS.
WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON CRIMINALS.
WHETHER YOU'RE HERE LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY, THE FOCUS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THOSE COMMITTING DANGER AND HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE IN THAT REGARD.
BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IS TO CLEAR UP ANY UNCONSTITUTIONALITY THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, UH, TO GIVE, GIVE CLEAR GUIDELINES ON WHAT, UM, THE CITY IS TO DO IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE SOME TRANSPARENCY TO OUR BODY ON THOSE INTERACTIONS.
I THINK IT IS, UH, NECESSARY, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF LEADING THE CHARGE.
I SUPPORT THIS MEASURE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WILL MAKE US ALL SAFER.
EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRES THAT RESIDENTS TRUST THE POLICE ENOUGH TO REPORT CRIMES.
AS A HARRIS COUNTY PROSECUTOR FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, I PROSECUTED COUNTLESS MURDERS, CAPITAL MURDERS, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DEADLY WEAPON CASES WHERE IMMIGRANTS WERE OFTEN NECESSARY WITNESSES.
I KNEW MANY WERE HERE ILLEGALLY, BUT I NEEDED THEIR COOPERATION TO KEEP VIOLENT CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS.
MANY WERE RELUCTANT TO COME TO COURT FOR FEAR THEY WOULD BE PICKED UP.
I HAD TO CONVINCE THEM TO TRUST THAT NEITHER I NOR ANYONE IN COURT WOULD CALL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES TO COME GET THEM.
I SECURED MANY CONVICTIONS USING THEIR TESTIMONY.
NEVER ONCE DID I CALL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES TO TURN THEM IN.
EVERY OTHER PROSECUTOR I KNEW DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY TODAY ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 600,000 IN HARRIS COUNTY ALONE, DOES NOT FEEL THEY CAN CALL HPD SAFELY TO REPORT A CRIME WITHOUT BEING HELD FOR ICE AND DEPORTED.
AND WHEN CRIMES GO UNREPORTED, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK OUT FOR FEAR OF BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, CRIMINALS GO UNPUNISHED.
THE CURRENT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION DRAGNET AND OUR HPD POLICY PLACE, OUR HARDWORKING OFFICERS IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION FOLLOWING POLICY.
AN OFFICER CALLED ICE ON A BATTERED WOMAN WHO ASKED FOR PROTECTION, A WOMAN STRANDED WITH HER CHILD AT HOUSTON HOBBY AIRPORT, A WOMAN WHO FLAGGED DOWN AN OFFICER ON
[01:25:01]
WASHINGTON AVENUE TO REPORT A CRASH.A WOMAN WHOSE CAR HAD CAUGHT FIRE ON A FREEWAY AND A MAN PULLED OVER FOR A CRACKED WINDSHIELD.
WE WANT TO CONVINCE THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT HPD HAS THEIR BACK, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY'RE JUST A COMPUTER HIT AWAY FROM BEING DEPORTED.
AS A RESULT, IMMIGRANTS DON'T COOPERATE WITH.
POLICE VICTIMS SUFFER IN SILENCE.
CRIMES GO UNREPORTED, AND OUR CITY IS LEFT SAFE.
ACCORDING TO DA SEAN TIER, AS OF DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, NEARLY A DOZEN CRIMINAL CASES, INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS OF CHILDREN, WERE HARMED BECAUSE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES WERE EITHER DEPORTED OR REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS.
THE QUESTION FOR THIS COUNSEL IS DO WE WANT TO HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE POLICE FORCE POSSIBLE TO ENFORCE SERIOUS STATE CRIMES AND CITY ORDINANCES? ONE, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY TRUSTS, OR DO WE WANT A, A DEPORTATION FORCE THAT ENFORCES FEDERAL RULE VIOLATIONS? BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH.
LET ME ADDRESS SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION SURROUNDING THIS PROPOSAL.
IT DOES NOT REPEAT DOES NOT PROHIBIT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE.
IT DOES NOT CREATE A SANCTUARY CITY.
IT DOES NOT ALLOW CRIMINALS TO GO FREE.
IM IMMIGRANTS WHO COMMIT A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR OR ABOVE, OR WHO HAVE AN OUTSTANDING CRIMINAL WARRANT WILL STILL GO TO JAIL.
SOME BELIEVE THAT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE COMMITTING A CRIME JUST BY BEING HERE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE IN ARIZONA VERSUS UNITED STATES.
THE US SUPREME COURT SAID, AS A GENERAL RULE, IT IS NOT A CRIME FOR A REMOVABLE ALIEN TO REMAIN PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S WHY IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, ICE DUMPED MORE THAN 700,000 ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS INTO THE SYSTEM ALLEGING RULE VIOLATIONS NOT CRIMES.
ANYTIME ICE WANTS TO FILE AN ACTUAL CRIMINAL WARRANT ON AN ACTUAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINAL, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SWEAR OUT AN AFFIDAVIT STATING PROBABLE CAUSE FOR A FEDERAL CRIME.
TAKE IT TO A REAL JUDGE AND GET THEM TO SIGN IT.
THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE THAT.
THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOTHING MORE THAN TELL OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FOLLOW THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
THE OPERATIVE LANGUAGE IN THIS PROPOSAL WAS LIFTED ALMOST WORD FOR WORD, STRAIGHT OUT OF A US SUPREME COURT CASE.
THAT'S WHY OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID IT IS LAWFUL BECAUSE IT FOLLOWS THE CONSTITUTION.
TO THE EXTENT THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME ABOUT PARTISAN POLITICS, THAT IS REGRETTABLE, THESE ARE NON-PARTISAN POSITIONS WE HOLD.
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AS HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS.
THIS SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT POLITICS OR FAILED OR FIXING FAILED FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES.
IT'S ABOUT SOUND, LOCAL PUBLIC POLICY.
IF I THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE THAT IT WOULD MAKE US LESS SAFE, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT.
BUT OUR JOB IS TO GIVE THE HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF HPD THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO ENFORCE STATE LAWS AND CITY ORDINANCES.
COUNCILMAN KAMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ TOOK A LOT OF WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR HER LEADERSHIP FOR COMING IN, HITTING THE GROUND, RUNNING AND DOING HER DUE DILIGENCE, UM, IN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL WAY.
UH, AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, FOR JOINING AS WELL.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBERS, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, WHO HAVE HAD THE ENERGY AND INVOLVEMENT ON THIS ISSUE OF JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR TIME ON COUNCIL.
SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE JUST THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF ALL OF THIS.
UM, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE COUNTLESS HOUSTONIANS LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GROUPS AND UNIONS, USING THEIR VOICES TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND WHILE I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S DETERMINATION ON
[01:30:01]
A PORTION OF OUR PROPOSAL, SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO GIVING POLICE DISCRETION A DISCRETION THAT THEY USE EVERY SINGLE DAY, DESPITE THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE TAKE ACTION TODAY.AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS MORE THAT MUST BE DONE.
AS I HAVE SAID FROM DAY ONE, IF AN INDIVIDUAL POSES A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK, I TRUST LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I TRUST HPD TO ACT REGARDLESS OF SOMEONE'S IMMIGRATION STATUS.
OUR OFFICERS WORK HARD, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT ICE AGENT TRAINING PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE THOROUGH AND IN-DEPTH TRAINING AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE SEE IN OUR HPD OFFICERS.
ICE'S LACKLUSTER STANDARDS AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS WHAT IS CREATING CHAOS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND KNOW THIS IS NOT A ROUNDING ERROR.
THESE ARE PEOPLE'S CHILDREN, THEIR WIVES, THEIR MOTHERS, THEIR BROTHERS RAIDS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR CITY, NOT JUST THE REGION IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON, INCLUDING IN DISTRICT C, ARE THE BASIS OF LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE ONGOING RIGHT NOW, BROUGHT BY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT ICE CONTINUES TO DEMAND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP BY US CITIZENS.
THE MISTRUST IS CREATING AN EVEN GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY RISK, FORCING VICTIMS OF CRIME INTO THE SHADOWS, CREATING FEAR AND TRAUMA FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND HURTING OUR ECONOMY.
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE TIME TO STAND IN AND DO ICE'S JOB FOR THEM.
A POLICY WAS RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED THAT SAID HPD WILL ONLY WAIT 30 MINUTES FOR ICE.
SO ABOVE ALL ELSE, WHAT THIS ITEM IS ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS NOT OPTIONAL.
BE THAT ONE MINUTE, 30 MINUTES OR AN HOUR.
THERE IS NO TIMER ON WHEN THE FOURTH AMENDMENT GOES INTO EFFECT.
THIS ITEM IS ABOUT RESPECT FOR OUR LAWS, RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND RESPECT FOR EVERYDAY HOUSTONIANS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY AND OF OUR NATION.
AND I WANNA EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS AND LEGAL EXPERTS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THIS.
RESIDENTS WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT AT A TIME WHEN MANY IN OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY CANNOT SPEAK OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO BRING CRITICAL INFORMATION TO LIGHT AS WELL AS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIT IDLY BY AMIDST CRUEL, INHUMANE, AND ILLEGAL ACTIONS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AIMED AT OUR VIBRANT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUTION LAYS OUT THAT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURES.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH TRANSPARENCY AND THE VALUE OF KEEPING STATISTICS.
THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE FOR THIS ORDINANCE IS, UM, SOME OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITH IDENTIFYING WHICH OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, MAKE THESE DETENTIONS AND KEEPING TRACK OF THAT.
SOME OFFICERS JUST BASED SOLELY ON THE FACT OF WHAT DIVISION THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO WILL ENCOUNTER SITUATIONS MORE THAN OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, ASSIGNED TO A DIFFERENT DIVISION.
AND I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT HPD OFFICERS MAY BE AFRAID TO DO THEIR JOBS BASED ON, UM, YOU KNOW, TRACKING THAT INFORMATION OR IDENTIFYING THOSE OFFICERS.
SO WE KNOW HPD HAS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB.
WE DON'T WANNA MAKE IT ANY HARDER.
UM, THERE ARE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, AND THERE ARE, THERE ARE BAD THINGS ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, BUT I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT TODAY.
[01:35:02]
I JUST WANNA START BY THANKING ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE.UM, I KNOW IT'S TAKING TIME AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD AND THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO BRING THIS ISSUE FORWARD.
UM, BRIEFLY TO RESPOND TO, TO YOUR CONCERN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANY PUBLICLY REPORTED INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT ALREADY EXISTS.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A PATH PORTAL WHERE ANY HOUSTON RESIDENT CAN LOOK UP AN OFFICER BASED ON AN ANONYMIZED ID.
THIS ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE THAT SAME ANONYMIZED ID REPORTING.
SO THERE IS NO CONCERN ABOUT THE DISCLOSURE OF A PARTICULAR HPD OFFICIAL TO THE PUBLIC.
IT IS JUST THE SAME TRACKING WE USED THROUGH THE PATH PORTAL FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY TRACKED BY HPD.
UM, BUT I, I WANNA ALSO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S CONCERNS.
AND, AND I STRONGLY AGREE, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THIS ISSUE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT.
I AM COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE FIGHT AND WORKING WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS TO PUSH BACK ON THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OPINION, BUT TODAY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT I'M HEARING ACROSS THE, AROUND THE HORSESHOE.
AND I, I, I SAY, LET'S HAVE A VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX STATE? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR MINUTES CHAPTER.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THE VOTE, UM, AND FOR THE DISCUSSION.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO LAY OUT FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, PERTAINING TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS SAID ABOUT THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE AND MY DEEP CONCERNS AND OBJECTIONS TO CITY LEGAL'S FLAWED AND UNSOUND OPINION THAT RESTRICTS COUNCIL ACTION.
THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS PROHIBITED A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS ORDINANCE FROM MOVING FORWARD TODAY.
AND I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT WHAT WAS PASSED IS A STEP FORWARD AND NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
BUT THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS RESTRICTED WOULD GIVE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION WHEN CONTACTING ICE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS, WHICH ARE CIVIL NON-CRIMINAL REQUESTS.
THE DEBATE THAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE IS A RESULT OF SB FOUR, WHICH PASSED THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2017.
SO THIS IS NOT A NEW DEBATE, BUT AS PASSED, THE FOCUS WAS ON DETAINER REQUESTS AND ENSURING CITIES DO NOT PROHIBIT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM INQUIRING ABOUT SOMEONE'S IMMIGRATION STATUS.
AND THE LEGISLATIVE RECORD OF INTENT SAYS JUST THAT.
BUT THE TACTICS, THE BLATANT DISREGARD FOR CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR RESPECT OF SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS, THE RACIAL PROFILING AND IMPROPER TREATMENT OF AMERICANS, THE MASS DETENTION OF INDIVIDUALS, BOTH CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS ALIKE, WHICH IS BEGINNING TO RUN PARALLEL TO THE GRIM NUMBERS OF MASS DETENTIONS DURING JAPANESE INTERNMENT, COMPELS US TO ACT IN DEFENSE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.
WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO IN THE FACE OF THIS MATTERS.
THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WE PUT FORWARD DOES NOT CONFLICT, NOR DOES IT RUN AFOUL OF SB FOUR, WHICH TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE BOUND BY SB FOUR SAYS, A LOCALITY CANNOT PROHIBIT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM ADOPTING, ENFORCING, OR ENDORSING A POLICY THAT PROHIBITS OR DISCOURAGES THE ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS IN THE KEY KEYWORDS HERE ARE PROHIBIT AND DISCOURAGE DISCRETION IS SOMETHING OUR OFFICERS USE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
DISCRETION IS NOT PROHIBITION.
[01:40:01]
DISCRETION DOES NOT MATERIALLY LIMIT OR DISCOURAGE.THERE IS NOTHING IN THE PLAIN LANGUAGE THAT WE PUT FORWARD THAT CONFLICTS WITH SB FOUR.
AND THERE IS NO PLAUSIBLE INTERPRETATION THAT IT DOES.
FAR TOO MANY HOUSTONIANS LIVES ARE BEING DESTROYED RIGHT NOW.
FOR ME TO NOT POINT OUT HOW UNSOUND THE DEPARTMENT'S REASONING IS, ICE'S BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
THE DISREGARD OF FEDERAL COURT ORDERS AND DISREGARD FOR STANDARD BEST PRACTICES HAS PUT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A POSITION THAT MANY OF THEM DO NOT WANT TO BE IN, NOR SHOULD THEY BE IN IT.
NOT ONLY SO MS. FEAR AND MISTRUST AND FORCES VICTIMS INTO THE SHADOWS, IT STRAINS POLICE RESOURCES AND TIME.
OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT THE ENEMY.
THEY ARE HERE TO KEEP US SAFE.
AND THEY DO SO WITH LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING STRETCHED TOO THIN BECAUSE OF WHAT ICE HAS DONE IN CO-OPTING THE SYSTEMS THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RELIES ON.
AGAIN, WE ALL KNOW THIS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO STEP INTO THE ROLE OF FEDERAL CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT IS NOT THE JOB OF LOCAL POLICE.
THE FIFTH CIRCUIT ITSELF HAS SAID A CITY POLICY CANNOT VIOLATE SB FOUR IF IT'S AN IMMIGRATION NEUTRAL POLICY ABOUT RESOURCE ALLOCATION.
AND THE POLICY DOES NOT MATERIALLY LIMIT IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT IF IT PROHIBITS ACTIONS THAT THE LOCALITY ALREADY LACKS THE POWER TO LAWFULLY PERFORM.
AT THE TIME SB FOUR WAS PASSED, ICE HAD NOT DUMPED 700,000 ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS INTO THE N-C-I-C-T-C-I-C SYSTEM.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, NOT ABOUT ARE NOT HOLDS OR CRIMINAL WARRANTS THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE PERMITTED TO ACT UPON.
THESE ARE CIVIL BASED REQUESTS CREATED BY ICE AGENTS THEMSELVES, WITH NO CHECK ON WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HERE IN TEXAS, JUDGE BEERY IN JANUARY, ISSUED AN ORDER WHEN FIVE-YEAR-OLD LIAM LIAM RAMOS WAS SENT FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO DILLY RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.
HE SAID, QUOTE, ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS ISSUED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO ITSELF DO NOT PASS PROBABLE CAUSE MUSTER.
THAT IS CALLED THE FOX GUARDING THE HEN HOUSE.
THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL OFFICER.
SO I WANT TO CAUTION THIS BODY OF A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT IS BEING SET.
COUNSEL MUST NOT RELINQUISH ITS AUTHORITY ON THIS OR ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY ARISE IN THE FUTURE.
THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT'S OWN OPINION SAYS UNDER ARTICLE SIX, SECTION SEVEN, A COUNSEL SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PRESCRIBE BY ORDINANCE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF EACH DEPARTMENT.
BUT THE MAYOR MAY PRESCRIBE RULES SUCH AS GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, AS HE MAY DEEM NECESSARY OR EXPEDIENT FOR THE GENERAL CONDUCT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT, THE HEADS OF WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HIM.
AGAIN, COUNSEL SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
IT IS WHOLLY WITHIN THIS BODY'S AUTHORITY TO ENACT POLICIES SURROUNDING THIS MATTER.
AND IN FACT, ON THE VOTE WE JUST TOOK, WE DID JUST THAT.
AND WE HAVE BEFORE WHEN WE ELIMINATED TRAFFIC STOP QUOTAS.
I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY LEGAL'S DEPARTMENT AND THE HARDWORKING STAFF THAT SERVE THIS CITY.
BUT CITY LEGAL BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT.
IN THE SAME MEMO ATTEMPTING TO RESTRICT COUNSEL WITH OBSEQUIOUS LEGAL INTERPRETATIONS, IT SAYS, ALL CITY EMPLOYEES OPERATE PURSUANT TO THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL.
IT ALSO GOES ON TO SAY THE MAYOR HOLDS BROAD ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL AUTHORITY OVER ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, EMPLOYEES AND OPERATIONS.
SO AGAIN, THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS NOT INDEPENDENT, AND THE LEGAL OPINION IS NOT INDEPENDENT VOTERS APPROVED PROPOSITION, A ADDING NEW AUTHORITY GIVEN TO CITY COUNCIL.
BUT I WILL SAY, SINCE THE MAYOR DOES CONTROL DEPARTMENTS AND LEGAL SAYS HE HAS THE POWER TO TAKE ACTION,
[01:45:01]
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT FURTHER IMMEDIATE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS AND SAFEGUARD OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.KEN PAXTON, STEVEN MILLER AND DONALD TRUMP ARE NOT THE COMPASS THAT SHOULD GUIDE THIS BODY.
OUR CITY HAS BEEN PUT IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION, BUT THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.
AND COUNTLESS HOUSTONIANS CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS ALIKE IN THE MOST DIVERSE CITY, IN THE NATION ARE BEING TARGETED, FACING EGREGIOUS CIVIL RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS VIOLATIONS.
WE ARE TEXAS, WE SHOULD NEVER COWER OR HIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
THIS IS HOUSTON AND WE STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
WE RESPECT THE DIVERSITY THAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE AND WE RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIGHTS OF HOUSTONIANS, COME AND TAKE IT SHOULD BE A DEFIANT CHALLENGE, NOT AN INVITATION ELSE FROM SALINAS.
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR PASSING THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERY HOUSTONIAN THAT HAS USED THEIR VOICE OVER THE PAST YEAR TO SPEAK OUT ON THIS ISSUE.
TODAY'S VICTORY IS YOUR VICTORY.
AND I WANNA MAKE CLEAR IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS, THIS IS A VERY MEANINGFUL, TODAY WE HAVE ENDED THE 30 MINUTE POLICY THAT ALLOWED HPD TO WAIT FOR ICE FOR 30 MINUTES.
THAT IS NO LONGER THE LAW OF HOUSTON TODAY.
IF AN SOMEONE IS PULLED OVER AND THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT, THEY HAVE TO ISSUE THE TICKET.
AND ONCE THAT TICKET IS ISSUED, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE LET GO.
THEY CANNOT WAIT AROUND FOR 30 MINUTES FOR ICE TO ARRIVE.
THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN POLICY, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR PASSING IT.
THIS IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WE ARE ENDING THE OPAQUENESS THAT HAS EXISTED FOR OVER A YEAR AROUND HOW OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO SUPPORT ICE OPERATIONS.
WE ONLY LEARNED BECAUSE THE CHIEF OF POLICE HAPPENED TO MENTION IT IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT 17 INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN TURNED OVER TO ICE CUSTODY.
BUT FOR HIS DECISION TO MAKE THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, WE WOULD'VE NEVER KNOWN THAT FACT.
THAT WILL NO LONGER BE THE CASE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
NOW, THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW ON A QUARTERLY BASIS HOW OFTEN SOMEBODY IS PULLED OVER AND IS IS CONTACTED THE LENGTH OF THE STOP THE OFFICERS INVOLVED THE PURPOSE OF THE STOP.
AND IF THERE ARE ISSUES AND VIOLATIONS OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE.
BUT THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW, AND I STRONGLY DISAGREE THAT THIS IS NOT ADDRESSING THE FEAR IN COMMUNITY.
JUST LAST NIGHT, I WAS AT A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL TOLD ME THAT HER BROTHER WAS DETAINED AND IS CURRENTLY IN ICE CUSTODY AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP.
SHE THANKED US FOR PUSHING THE ORDINANCE.
AND SO MANY HOUSTONIANS ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ACTING.
MANY OF YOU ARE RIGHT, WE CANNOT CHANGE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY, BUT WE CAN CONTROL HOW HPD SUPPORTS THAT POLICY.
AND TODAY, WE TOOK A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO DO THE CLOSER TO THE BARE MINIMUM THAT'S REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT STATE LAW REQUIRES.
AND I AM COMMITTED TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO FIGHT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S WRONG DECISION ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS, WORK WITH LEGAL GROUPS.
AND I HOPE THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL BE OPEN TO RECONSIDERING HIS POSITION WHEN HE REALIZES THE ERROR IN THE ANALYSIS THAT WAS PROVIDED.
BUT THIS FIGHT CONTINUES, BUT THIS WIN BELONGS TO THE COMMUNITY.
I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR BEING BRAVE FOR STANDING UP.
IT IS NOT EASY, BUT YOU DID IT.
AND THIS IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A FEW QUESTIONS.
I TOO WANTED CLARIFICATION REGARDING, UH, THE FIRST PROVISION THAT, UH, WAS DEEMED UNLAWFUL.
UM, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO DISCRETION.
RIGHT NOW ON THE BOOKS UNDER STATE LAW, THERE ARE MANY, UH, TRAFFIC LAWS AND MOVING VIOLATIONS THAT OFFICERS COULD STOP AND ARREST FOR.
AND IN SOME INSTANCES, UH, THE OFFICER USES HIS OWN PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT, UH, TO HAVE DISCRETION OVER WHAT HAPPENS DURING THAT STOP.
AND SO, FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF US COULD GET PULLED OVER FOR, UH, A BROKEN TAILLIGHT IN THAT, IN THAT STOP, THE OFFICER DOES NOT HAVE TO GIVE OR IS NOT
[01:50:01]
MANDATED TO GIVE, UM, A CITATION.SOMETIMES THE OFFICER LOOKS AT THE TOTAL, UH, CIRCUMSTANCE OF THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION AND THEY LOOK AT A PERSON'S BACKGROUND.
THEY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY, THEY RESPONDED TO THE OFFICER.
THEY LOOK AT, UH, WHETHER THERE ARE ANY WARRANTS.
THEY LOOKED AT A A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS PROBABLY, AND THEY DECIDE, HEY, I MAY GIVE THIS PERSON A WARNING.
RIGHT? THEY HAVE THAT DISCRETION.
AND I BELIEVE AS A LAWYER, IT'S IMPORTANT AND IN LAW THAT WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY, THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN ABSOLUTES, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL DISCRETION.
AS BEFORE, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MENTIONED, UH, PUTS FORTH THAT THERE CAN BE NO POLICY OR LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS OR DISCOURAGES, UH, THE COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT FORWARD, UH, DOES NOT LIMIT THAT AT ALL, BUT IT DOES GIVE PROFESSIONAL DISCRETION AS IS ALREADY DEEMED IN EVERY OTHER INSTANCE WHERE HPD MAKES TRAFFIC STOPS.
SO THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE TO GET MORE CLARITY ON, UH, YOUR VIEWPOINT ON IT, UM, WHY WAS THIS DEEMED UNLAWFUL, UM, BASED ON DISCRETION WHEN HPD ALREADY HAS DISCRETION IN EVERY OTHER INSTANCE DURING TRAFFIC STOPS? WELL, WE ALL AGREE WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW, AND WE ALL AGREE THAT SB FOUR PROHIBITS MATERIALLY LIMITING COOPERATION WITH ICE.
I THINK THE LEGAL QUESTION IS WHEN AN OFFICER ACCESSES THE FBI SYSTEM AND GETS AN IMAGE THAT, UH, SAYS, PLEASE CALL ICE AT THIS NUMBER, IS THAT SIMPLE REQUEST GIVING AN OFFICER DISCRETION NOT TO COMPLY WITH IT MATERIALLY LIMITING COOPERATION WITH ICE? MY OPINION IS THAT IT IS MATERIALLY LIMITING IT.
IF THE ICE AGENT FOLLOWS UP WITH ANOTHER QUESTION, TRANSFER HIM TO CHAMBERS COUNTY TO A DETENTION CENTER THERE, OR HOLD THEM FOR SIX HOURS, THEN I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT A REASONABLE AND NECESSARY REQUEST, WHICH IS A STANDARD.
SO THAT'S WHAT MY OPINION IS BASED ON.
IF YOU HAD TO MAKE AN ADVERSE OPINION, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT, WHAT WOULD THAT ARGUMENT BE? ARTURO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEBATE OR GIVE HYPOTHETICALS.
IF YOU WERE TO MAKE A REVERSE, UH, ARGUMENT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT ARGUMENT BE? ALL CLASS.
I REALLY HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THAT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD BE.
I USE MY BEST JUDGMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE PROPER LEGAL ADVICE IS.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT AROUND ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN TALKED ABOUT VERY DERISIVELY.
WHEN SOMEONE ENTERS THE COUNTRY AND CLAIMS ASYLUM, THEY'RE GIVEN A COURT DATE FOR AN IMMIGRATION COURT.
IF THEY DO NOT SHOW UP, AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT IS ISSUED AS FINAL ORDERS FOR THEIR REMOVAL.
WITH 10 MILLION PEOPLE COMING DURING THE LAST ADMINISTRATION IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM CLAIMING ASYLUM, AND THE ASYLUM LAWS IN, IN THIS COUNTRY ARE VERY SPECIFIC.
ECONOMIC ASYLUM IS NOT A REASON FOR ASYLUM.
THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT'S A REASON TO GRANT ASYLUM.
AND THAT IS WHY THEY'VE HAD SO MANY CASES WHERE THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN UP IN COURT.
FINAL ORDERS OF DEPORTATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BASED UPON THE FACT THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN UP AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THEIR REMOVAL.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS NOT TO BE ENFORCED.
SO I NEED, I WANNA BETTER UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, I'M COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE DID TODAY, BUT WE, I'M NOT A LAWYER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWYERS AROUND HERE.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A DETAINER, THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT, THERE'S A CRIMINAL WARRANT.
I WANNA KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DOES HPD SEE? THEY SEE, DO THEY SEE, CALL THIS NUMBER ICE? IS THIS IS THE NUMBER TO ICE? DO THEY SEE, SAY, HPD ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT ARE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS?
[01:55:01]
BA UM, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER JUST DESCRIBED, I MEAN, UH, SOMEBODY THAT MISSED A HEARING, UM, IS A DETAINER A SEPARATE THING THAT THEY SEE? I'VE, I'VE BEEN, AND I'VE I'VE TALKED TO CHIEF HARDIN AND PEOPLE KIND OF TRYING TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IT.BUT CAN WE JUST CLARIFY WHAT OFFICERS SEE WHEN THEY PULL SOMEBODY UP, WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY SEE? OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LAWYERS ARE GONNA DISAGREE.
SO IF YOU GO AROUND THE HORSESHOE, AND OF COURSE I LISTENED TO CITY ATTORNEY, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT THAT PROCESS, I THINK IT SHOULD BE IN A COMMITTEE.
THE PROP A OR, YEAH, I'M FINE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, I ALMOST A WHILE AGO, IT ALMOST TURNED INTO A LAW CLASS
AND THAT'S NOT THE PROPER FUNCTION OF OUR COUNCIL THIS MORNING.
SO WE'VE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA CHANGE ANYONE'S MIND.
AS COUNCILMAN SALINA SAID, THIS IS NOT THE END OF IT.
UM, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS NOT YOUR LAST MEETING, BUT NO, CERTAINLY YOU WANTED TO LEAVE YOUR WORDS ON THE RECORD.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO RUSH US TO ANOTHER ITEM.
BUT I DO THINK THIS HAS BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT.
EVERYONE'S BEEN HEARD, AND I'M NOT GONNA CUT IT OFF, BUT I WISH WE'D ALSO RECOGNIZED IT'S A COUNCIL MEETING.
SO YOU HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY AFTER THIS TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE.
AND I'M CERTAINLY, THE LAWYERS WILL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU THEIR OPINION.
'CAUSE SOME OF 'EM GET PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR IT.
UH, COUNCILOR CAYMAN, THANK YOU.
OH, I'M HAPPY TO DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR MA MAYOR, GIVEN THE INCREDIBLE INTEREST OF OUR COLLEAGUES, UM, I'D ASK THAT YOU AG AGREE TO HOLD A HEARING ON THIS ISSUE WHERE COUNCIL CAN HEAR FROM NOT ONLY THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT LEGAL EXPERTS ON THE ISSUE HERE, THE MERITS, THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE ADDITIONAL PROVISION.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT HEARING, COUNSEL CAN TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER IT WANTS TO PROCEED WITHOUT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
CAN CAN, CAN YOU GET BACK TO US THIS WEEK ON WHETHER YOU'LL AGREE TO SUCH A HEARING? I'LL ADVISEMENT.
BUT MAYOR, I'M, I'M ASKING YOU, WILL YOU PLEASE GET BACK TO US THIS WEEK ON WHETHER YOU'LL AGREE? I'VE TOLD YOU MY ANSWER.
I'M GONNA TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT.
WELL, I, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE, WE HOLD THE HEARING.
THINK COUNCIL WOULD REQUEST STRONGLY AGREE.
UM, GIVEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE AGAIN, A, A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WARRANTS.
THE FACT THAT, UM, EVEN THOSE LEGALLY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES OF ASYLUM AND THEN BEING, SHOWING UP FOR COURT AND BEING ARRESTED LITERALLY AT THE COURTHOUSE HERE IN HOUSTON.
UM, THE OVERARCHING CONCERN THAT I HAVE RAISED, WHICH AGAIN, I THINK WILL GO FAR BEYOND AFTER I'M NO LONGER SITTING IN THIS CHAIR, IS WE HAVE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED THAT IF THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT DEEMED SOMETHING NOT LEGAL TO BE PROPPED FORWARD ON THE AGENDA, IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO COME FORWARD.
AND RESPECTFULLY, THOSE LEGAL OPINIONS ARE NOT INDEPENDENT LEGAL OPINIONS BY AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT.
SO WHAT THIS COUNCIL, WHETHER IT BE THIS ISSUE, WHICH I HOPE IT WILL BE TAKEN UP UNDER, OR ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE BOUND BY A NON-INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT'S LEGAL OPINION ON SOMETHING, OR WHETHER COUNSEL DEEMS THAT SOMETHING IS PERMISSIBLE TO BE BROUGHT TO AGENDA.
AND I WHOLLY AGREE THAT A, A RIGOROUS REVIEW OF ITEMS NEEDS TO GO, IT NEEDS TO BE PUT FORWARD IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO COME TO AGENDA VETTING MUST OCCUR.
THAT IS HOW A GOOD PROCESS WORKS.
BUT WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO BRING TO COUNCIL AND WHO THAT IS UP TO MUST BE DISCUSSED FURTHER.
BECAUSE AT PRESENT, WE ARE BEHOLDEN TO AND CONSTRAINED BY A DEPARTMENT THAT IS, DOES NOT ANSWER TO CITY COUNCIL AND IS NOT INDEPENDENT.
COUNCILMAN CARTER? WELL, WITH RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE HORSESHOE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SITTING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE LISTENING, WE ARE IN FACT THE ONES WHO ARE STILLING OR INSTILLING IN THE COMMUNITY, THE LACK OF TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
[02:00:01]
DEBATING WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES AND DOESN'T DO AND HOW THEY CAN HANDLE AND HOW THEY SHOULDN'T.WE WANT ATTORNEYS, WE WANNA TALK ABOUT IT.
BRING HPD IN, YOU KNOW, A A FEW WEEKS BACK WHEN THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD AND, AND CHIEF DIAZ COMMITTED TO THE OFFICERS AND THE 30 MINUTES AND THIS, THAT WAS ENOUGH.
THEY FELT THAT GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THEIR JOBS.
AND SO NOW WE CAME AND, YOU KNOW, WE VOTED AND YOU, YOU ALL MODIFIED IT.
HOW MUCH MORE MODIFICATION DO WE TAKE BEFORE WE TAKE HPDS WORD AND TRY TO UPHOLD OUR TRUST AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT? I MEAN, RIGHT HERE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, WE ARE PUTTING HPD OUT THERE AND THEN SAYING, WELL, WE DON'T TRUST WHAT THEY'RE DOING EITHER.
THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT 110%.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT A TALKING POINT FOR ME.
I SUPPORT HPD, THEIR TRAINED PROFESSIONALS ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR JOBS.
AND WE TALK ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
WE HAD A WHOLE ROOM FULL OF IMMIGRANTS YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN, IN JAY CITY, GO TALK TO THEM.
HOW MANY OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONS CAME FORTH AND SPOKE? YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY ONE OF THEM SAYS, WELL, ONE OF THE MEMBERS SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WHETHER THEY NEED TO, TO, TO CARRY THEIR PASSPORT.
WELL, THE FACT IS THEY HAVE A PASSPORT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WITH RESPECT, I LISTENED TO YOU AND IT MAY BE COMICAL WHAT I'M SAYING, AND I APPRECIATE THE HUMOR IN IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS THE OTHER SIDE TO IT.
AND I'M SORRY YOU DISAGREE, BUT WE ARE BREAKING DOWN COMMUNITY TRUST AS WE DEBATE HPDS AUTHORITY OR LACK THEREOF.
AND I'LL ADD ONE OTHER ASPECT OF ALL THE DISCUSSION IS THE LEGISLATURE'S WATCHING.
SO IF YOU DON'T THINK COUNCILMAN CAYMAN AND SALINAS AND ALL OF US, THERE'S A HOUSE AND A SENATE THAT ARE PREPARING LEGISLATION AS WE TALK.
SO ALL I CAN SAY IS BE PREPARED.
I DO WANT TO, I DO WANT TO CLARIFY BASED ON COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER'S STATEMENT, THAT AFTER THAT PRESS CONFERENCE FOR A 30 MINUTE NEW POLICY FOR HOW TO, UH, DETAIN OR, UH, GIVE ORDERS TO HPD WHEN THESE ISSUES ARISE, THAT COULD BE DEEMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
OUR LAW, OUR OUR, OUR JOB HERE IS LAW MAKERS.
WE'RE POLICY MAKERS, RIGHT? EVERY DEPARTMENT AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOLLOWS THE ORDINANCES THAT WE PUT FORTH.
SO PEOPLE ELECT US TO PUT IN THE PARAMETERS ON WHAT OTHERS ARE TO FOLLOW.
THAT 30 MINUTE POLICY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL SINCE IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, OR WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS, WE HAD TO BRING AN ORDINANCE FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT WE WEREN'T IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
AND WE DON'T WANT OUR OFFICERS TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT EITHER.
BUT WITH A 30 MINUTE POLICY, IT COULD BE DEEMED THAT THEY ARE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR FUNCTION HERE ENSURES THAT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE PROTECTED BASED ON THE ORDINANCES AND POLICIES THAT WE PUT FORTH FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY THOSE.
WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM FORWARD AND SET THEM UP FOR FAILURE BASED ON POLICY THAT VIOLATES THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
AND THAT'S WHY WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH A LEGAL REVIEW, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAME BACK AND SAID THAT THIS IS LAWFUL TO GO ABOUT IT THIS WAY AND, AND THAT IT COULD BE DEEMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL BASED ON WHAT WAS PUT FORTH BEFORE COUNCILMAN EVAN THAT I'M NOT, I'M NOT DONE.
SO TO CLARIFY, I WANT US TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS DONE TODAY.
TODAY WAS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS REAL GUIDELINES AND CLARITY OVER, UH, WHAT HPD IS AFFORDED TO DO.
AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, WHICH DOES THEN BUILD TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
AND IT FULFILLS OUR OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT WE PUT FORTH POLICIES THAT, UM, ARE NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
SO I THINK THIS WAS A, A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THE POWER OF PROPOSITION A, UH, WAS SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THIS REGARD.
[02:05:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHIVA.UM, I GUESS WHAT I AM STILL DISTURBED ABOUT IS THIS, THESE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW EVERYBODY THAT VOTED FOR DOES NOT TRUST H-P-D-I-I, I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE I CERTAINLY TRUST HPD.
NOBODY UP HERE WANTS CRIMINALS ON THE STREET, LEGAL OR ILLEGAL.
WHAT WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IS TO DEFINE HOW HPD IS TO ENGAGE.
I THINK THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
I, I I JUST CAN'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY WANNA DO ANYTHING THAT VIOLATES THE LAW EITHER.
BUT CERTAINLY, I, I, I JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA.
I THINK WE ALL DO, BUT THEY ARE NOT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND THEY DO HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATES THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO KEEP US SAFE.
SO I, I'M JUST GONNA BE CLEAR.
AND I THINK THAT I, I AM EXPRESSING THE SENTIMENTS OF, OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THAT VOTED.
WE DO TRUST HPD, BUT WE NEED THEM TO KNOW THE PARAMETERS SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE OPERATING WITHIN THE LAW.
COUNCIL INGER GOT A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, HPD OCCASIONALLY MAKES STOPS WHERE THEY SUSPECT THAT THERE'S DRUGS IN A VEHICLE.
IF THEY WAIT AND HAVE A DRUG DOG COME OUT AND IT TAKES HALF AN HOUR.
IS IS THAT LEGAL FOR THEM TO DO THAT? UH, IF THEY HAVE REASONABLE SUSPICION FOR THE STOP, THEY CAN CONTINUE UNTIL THEY FINISH THEIR INVESTIGATION.
I I, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER JUST PROVED MY POINT.
WHEN THERE IS A LAWFUL STOP BASED ON WHAT IS IN THE CON THE PARAMETERS OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY, THEY ARE ABLE TO LEGALLY MAKE THAT STOP.
ONCE THAT LEGAL STOP HAS CONCLUDED, THERE IS NO GROUNDS UNDER WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN CONTINUE TO DETAIN AN INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THE PROTECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO AGAIN, I THINK WE KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, IT'S NOT LAUGHABLE.
WHAT YOU SEE IS FRUSTRATION WHEN WE SAY, OH, WELL EVERYBODY HAS A PASSPORT OR EVERYBODY HAS AN ID WHEN I HAVE LITERALLY WORKED WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE US CITIZENS WHO DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO OBTAIN OF ID, BECAUSE THE LAWS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE SO RESTRICTIVE, THEY COULD NOT AFFORD THE COSTS.
THEY COULD NOT OBTAIN THE DOCUMENTS.
SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL PEOPLE IN REAL LIVES, NO, IT IS NOT JUST A HEADLINE OR A QUIP OR, OH, THIS IS JUST POLITICS AND POLITICAL POSTURING.
THESE ARE FAMILIES AND WE HAVE ALL SPOKEN WITH THEM AND WE HAVE ALSO NOT SPOKEN WITH MANY OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO AFRAID TO COME FORWARD.
AND WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE PAST HAS MADE CLEAR GUIDELINES, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS HOW WE STAND STRONG WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HERE IS WHAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO.
THAT PROVIDES CLARITY AND THAT BUILDS TRUST.
SO AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA KEEP REHASHING THIS.
I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL ROBUST DIALOGUE.
UM, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR NOT ONLY THEIR PERSPECTIVES, BUT HAVING MAYOR A VERY REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
UM, AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA TO GET TO, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST, UH, AGAIN, THE CONVERSATION'S GREAT THERE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO.
THE WORK IS STILL NEEDING TO BE DONE.
THIS IS NOT GONNA BE ERASE FEAR.
I'M GONNA BE JUST QUITE FRANK WITH EVERYBODY.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE AND MY QUESTION TO THEM, ONCE THIS PASSES, WILL IT ERASE FEAR? THE ANSWER IS NO.
THE WORK IS GOING AND TAKING HPD AND HAVING THESE
[02:10:01]
CONVERSATIONS, COMMUNITY POLICING SHOWING UP, DOING THAT WORK IS WHAT'S GONNA ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF FEAR.AND SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN BELABOR THIS FIGHT AND WHATNOT, NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE UNTIL WE AS LEADERS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE DO THAT WORK.
I JUST WANNA STRESS TO MY COLLEAGUES, THE MORE THAT YOU CAN HAVE THIS COFFEE WITH POLICE, THE MORE YOU CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, INVITE FOLKS TO THE PIT MEETINGS.
INVITE, YOU KNOW, WE CREATED A WHOLE, UH, CAFE FOR FOLKS THAT WERE NOT COMFORTABLE AT API MEETING.
'CAUSE IT WAS IN ENGLISH, NOW IT'S IN SPANISH.
EVERYTHING ELSE TO ME IS GONNA BE NOISE UNTIL YOU SHOW UP WITH COMMUNITY AND HPD AND SAY, HERE'S THE BRIDGE, LET'S TALK AND LET'S HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BELABOR THIS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP, THAT THAT IS GONNA BE THE DETRIMENT TO HOW HOUSTON BECOMES MORE AND MORE UNSAFE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
PLEASE GO TO THE CONSENT.A SECRETARY UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEMS THREE AND FIVE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A VOTE FOR ITEM FOUR? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM FOUR? CAST ATE A MOVE.
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY.
MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED EXCEPT ITEM 19.
IT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, AND 22.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 9, 10, 13, 15, AND 16.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAME.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.NEED A VOTE? NEED, NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE? COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS, UH, AS HPD HAS MOVED THEIR IT INTO HITS.
THIS IS PART OF THAT CONSOLIDATION.
UM, THEIR IT SERVICE DESK WAS BOSS DESK.
THEY'RE NOW MOVING TO SERVICENOW, WHICH IS, UM, IT STANDARD PLATFORM FOR THIS.
THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO CONSOLIDATE WITH THE REST OF THE CITY, ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
SO, UM, ELIMINATING SEPARATE SERVICES, SAVING DOLLARS, UM, BETTER CONSOLIDATION OF, OF TECHNOLOGIES AND ALSO GIVES, HITS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNOLOGY NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY BY BRINGING ALL OF THESE INTO ONE SERVICE, UH, PLATFORM.
AND SO IT WILL UPGRADE EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND, UH, ULTIMATELY HELP US DELIVER BETTER SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON.
ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
UH, THIS ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, USING AI TRAFFIC SENSORS, UM, FOR TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND SIGNAL TIMING.
WE'VE USED THEM ALREADY AT 10 INTERSECTIONS ALONG OLD SPANISH TRAIL.
THIS IS EXPANDING, UH, THE USAGE OF THIS.
SO IT ALLOWS FOR REAL TIME ADJUSTMENT OF THE SIGNAL TIMING, UM, BY MONITORING THE TRAFFIC FLOWS, NOT A FIXED SIGNAL TIME, UH, LIKE WE'RE USED TO.
ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE, UH, EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO HAVE PRIORITY, ET CETERA, UH, CLOUD-BASED SYSTEM.
UM, AND THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO END HERE.
IF IT WORKS WELL, WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM, UH, ACROSS THE CITY.
AND, AND I COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AS LEADERSHIP ON, ON USING AI AT THE CITY TO, TO DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SAVE MONEY, MAKE TRAFFIC FLOW BETTER.
I READ THE CHRONICLE ARTICLE TODAY.
UH, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.
[02:15:01]
TIME TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE DONE BY AI.AND I HOPE THIS WORKS OUT AND WE WE EXPAND IT.
UM, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
AND JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS THIS ITEM PERTAINS TO ADDING AN ADDITIONAL, UM, FUNDING FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL AS IT RELATES TO THE CHALLENGE THE CITY IS FACING FOR ITS, UM, TO THE MBE PORTION OF THE CITY'S MWBE PROGRAM.
I SUPPORT THE DEFENSE OF THE CITY IN CONTINUING SUCH A CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT, UH, PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESS.
THERE IS ALSO CURRENT LITIGATION RELATED TO THE DISMANTLING OF THE STATE'S HUB PROGRAM.
HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS PROGRAM.
DOES THAT LITIGATION IN ANY WAY IMPACT THIS CHALLENGE? AND DOES THE CITY IN ANY WAY IS THE CITY IN ANY WAY IMPACTED BY THE DISMANTLING OF THE HUB PROGRAM? SO MAYBE TAKE THOSE IN REVERSE ONE.
DOES THE CITY, IS THE CITY IMPACTED BY THE DISMANTLING OF THE STATE'S HUB PROGRAM? IT, IT IS NOT.
THE CITY'S PRO PROGRAMS IN THIS REGARD ARE STANDALONE.
AND TWO, IS THERE, UH, COULD THERE BE ANY IMPLICATIONS IN THAT LITIGATION AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR TRACK OF LITIGATION? UH, THAT MAY BE ARGUED, BUT I THINK THIS ALWAYS STANDS ON THE, THE EVIDENTIARY FRAMEWORK THAT EACH ENTITY HAS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A STRONG BASIS FOR OUR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
'CAUSE WHAT WE'RE HEARING, AGAIN, LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY BOTH, UM, PROGRAMS OR THE DISMANTLING THEREOF.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO, FOR ALL OF US TO STAY APPRISED OF THAT AND CONTINUE TO WORK.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO DATE.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE APPROVAL ON THIS ITEM.
FLOOD MITIGATION IN THE KINGWOOD AREA.
UM, THIS AREA DIDN'T EVEN FLOOD DURING HARVEY.
UH, THERE WAS A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT TOOK PLACE ACTUALLY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, UH, THAT AFFECTED THIS AREA.
AND, UH, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY GOT TOGETHER AND PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY BEFORE THE LAND ACTUALLY GOT DEVELOPED, ALTHOUGH AFTER IT WAS CLEARED.
AND, UH, THIS IS GONNA GO A LONG WAY AND, UH, ACTUALLY IMPROVING THE SITUATION OF THOSE PEOPLE.
THIS IS ALSO A THANK YOU AND A SHOUT OUT.
THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY IS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR CONSTRUCTING A TRAIL ON AN EXISTING FLOOD CONTROL EASEMENT ON RENWICK DRIVE, AND LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS DRAINAGE AND, UH, INCORPORATE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND MORE.
UH, OUR OFFICE HAD SUBMITTED THIS PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORGANIZATION, NEIGHBORHOODS TO TRAILS SOUTHWEST THROUGH PRECINCT FOUR'S.
UH, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR HER SUPPORT.
UH, PRECINCT FOUR WILL BE CONTRIBUTING 15,000 AND MANAGING THE STUDY.
OUR OFFICE HAS CONTRIBUTED 10,000, UM, AS THE LOCAL MATCH.
AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE PUBLIC WORKS MAYOR AGAIN.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS COMING TOGETHER FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, SO THANK THANKS TO THEM FOR THE SUPPORT DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES, AS OPPOSED NAY.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
[02:20:01]
CREATION OF A NEW PARK IN DISTRICT H, THE EAST SUNSET HEIGHTS PARK.UH, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
THE RESIDENTS MADE SURE I KNEW ABOUT IT AS SOON AS I, UH, TOOK OFFICE THAT THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS.
UM, AND THIS IS AN OLD METRO TRANSIT CENTER, UH, THAT IS BECOMING A PARK.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING A COMMUNITY AMENITY TO A NEW PART OF THE DISTRICT.
UM, A 270 DAY CONSTRUCTION WINDOW.
BUT THIS ITEM PASSING TODAY IS A KEY MILESTONE IN THIS PROCESS THAT'S BEEN, UH, YEARS IN THE MAKING.
AND SO I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO, UH, WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS PARKS, GSD, PUBLIC WORKS ON YOUR TEAM.
THEY'VE BEEN, UH, FANTASTIC IN PROVIDING THE UPDATES AND, AND PUSHING THIS FORWARD.
AND MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS UP TO DATE, UH, AS THIS, UH, PARK GETS CLOSER AND CLOSER TO CREATION.
THIS AS A, UH, ORDINANCE AS APPROPRIATING, UH, 200, A LITTLE BIT OVER, UH, A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE DEDICATED DRAINAGE STREET AND RENEWAL CAPITAL FUND.
UM, MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW WE TALK ABOUT, UH, TRAINS IN THE EAST END ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND I WANT TO LIFT UP COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR PARTNERING WITH US.
THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT, SO WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TOGETHER, UH, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, TOWARDS THE EAST END TRIANGLE RESILIENT AND ACCESS, UH, TO IMPROVE LOGISTICS AND SAFETY, UH, IN THAT AREA.
AND SO, UM, JUST WANT APPRECIATE Y'ALL, Y'ALL, UH, SUPPORT.
UM, WE'RE DOING GOOD WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT GREAT SEPARATION IN THE EAST END.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON THIS.
NEED A VOTE? JUST NEED A VOTE.
UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, THIS ALSO HAS TO DO WITH TRAINS AS WELL.
THIS IS, UH, ESSENTIALLY, UH, ADVANCING SOME, AN AGREEMENT THAT, UH, WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN TEXAS DOT AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THIS IS A MILBY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
UH, MANY OF Y'ALL REMEMBER THERE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT MILBY THAT WAS, UH, HIT BY A TRAIN.
UM, THIS CONSISTENTLY BECOMES, YOU KNOW, IT, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE IN THE EAST END.
AND SO FINDING THESE GREAT SEPARATIONS, WHETHER THEY'RE FOR VEHICULAR OR FOR PEDESTRIANS, IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AS WELL.
THOSE OPPOSED NAMED MOTION PASSES.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
MAYOR PRO PECK.UM, OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, APRIL 14TH AT 10:00 AM WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE, UM, FROM THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE, UM, AND LAB OPERATIONS.
ALSO, WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT SAFE WATCH, UM, HOUSTON FIREARM DASHBOARD, UM, PER COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S REQUEST.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT AFTER THE COMMITTEE MEETING, DR. STOUT WILL HAVE A VIRTUAL MOCK CRIME SCENE SET UP BEHIND CHAMBERS.
UM, FOR ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO WANT TO SEE IT, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO VIEW IT, UM, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUORUM ISSUES.
BUT, UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT ANOTHER TIME TOO, WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH HIM ON THAT.
UH, JUST WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC OUT TONIGHT.
WE WILL BE HAVING A NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION FORUM.
UH, THIS IS A TOWN HALL, UH, ORGANIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT WILL BE IN JAY CITY AT THE SOUTHWEST MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, WHICH IS AT 6,400 HIGH STAR.
UH, WE'LL HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MY OFFICE AS WELL AS HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, PARKING, UH, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND MORE.
UH, THIS GIVES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO COME OUT IN PERSON AND ASK THEIR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ISSUES AND CONCERNS, UH, IN JAY CITY, UH, THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO, UH, STAY IN FRONT OF.
UH, THERE'S ONLY BUT SO MUCH WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL OFFICE.
WE NEED, UH, CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALL BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS TOGETHER.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S GONNA BE AT THE SOUTHWEST MULTIPURPOSE CENTER FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.
EVAN SHABAZZ NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
UM, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.
UM, ON THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, DISTRICT D WAS FILLED WITH JOY, ENERGY, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT AS FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AT MULTIPLE EASTER EVENTS ACROSS OUR AREA, THERE WAS
[02:25:01]
AN ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT AT CLOVER LAND PARK AND AN ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT AT CRESTMONT PARK.AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR COMING, UH, TO THE ONE AT CRESTMONT PARK, UH, TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY THERE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE, OUR ORGANIZERS, PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THESE EVENTS POSSIBLE.
YOUR EFFORTS CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS WHAT, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION WHERE THE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP AND SUPPORTS ONE ANOTHER AND CELEBRATES TOGETHER, UH, UPCOMING EVENTS.
WE HAVE A ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, TODAY IN CHAMBERS AT 2:00 PM AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL COME OUT AND, AND, UH, ENGAGE IN THAT MEETING.
WE JUST HAD ONE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, BUT WE HAD MISSED A FEW, UH, FOR VARIOUS SUNDRY REASONS.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, UH, ON TOMORROW, THE EMANCIPATION AVENUE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
WE'LL BE AT 9:30 AM AT THE INNER, IN FRONT OF THE INNER ME STUDIOS 2206 EMANCIPATION AVENUE.
UM, I'M JUST VERY THANKFUL THAT WE ALL HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL WEEK, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
I WANT TO INVITE, UH, DISTRICT H RESIDENTS.
TOMORROW THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL MEETING WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS TO DISCUSS PA DRAINAGE AND PAVING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE AREA WITH THE NORTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL AREA PAVING AND DRAINING PROJECT.
THIS IS A $48 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO THE NEAR NORTH SIDE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR, UH, UPGRADES TO STREETS, PAVEMENT AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, SIDEWALKS, UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
THIS, UH, MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE 5:30 PM TOMORROW VIRTUALLY.
IF YOU'D LIKE INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN, REACH OUT TO HOUSTON, UH, DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
AND THEN LATER THIS MONTH, APRIL 15TH, THE DISTRICT H HORIZONS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
WE'LL OPEN, UH, APPLICATIONS FOR THE FIFTH COHORT.
UM, SO THIS IS THE SIX MONTH PAID OPPORTUNITY FOR A, A INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN THE DISTRICT H OFFICE STARTING JULY ONE, RUNNING THROUGH THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
AND IT'S FOR ANYONE THAT LIVES, WORKS OR STUDIES IN DISTRICT AGE CAN WORK A MINIMUM OF 20 HOURS A WEEK.
UM, I'LL ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, DISTRICT H WEBSITE, AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY, UH, MYSELF AND, AND THE TEAM WILL BE JOINING, UH, FIFA'S SUSTAINABILITY DAY OF ACTION, UH, FOR A PARK CLEANUP, IN PART IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KEEP HOUSTON.
WE WILL BE AT WOODLAND PARK IN THE MORNING, UM, VOLUNTEERING TO, TO HELP PICK UP TRASH ALONG WITH OTHERS.
UM, SO I WANT TO THANK THE HOST COMMITTEE, UH, FOR LEADING THE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT ON THIS, THE TOOL BANK FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP, PROVIDING THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME OUT AND JOIN US SATURDAY, UH, WE'LL BE AT WOODLAND PARK STARTING AT 9:00 AM THANK YOU.
UH, NOT THIS SATURDAY, BUT SATURDAY THE 18TH IS GOING TO BE OUR LAST MEDIAN MADNESS BEFORE THE SUMMER.
UH, WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE ANYBODY FALL OUT FROM HEAT STROKE, SO WE TYPICALLY PASS ON THE SUMMER MONTHS.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, TRAIL WOOD OR INWOOD VILLAGE IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR TRAILS ASSOCIATION.
UH, THEY'VE APPLIED FOR A COMMUNITY MANSION GRANT, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR PROJECT.
UM, AND THEN DOWN IN, UH, CLEAR LAKE, THIS SATURDAY FROM NINE TO THREE, OR UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL, WE'LL BE DOING RECYCLING.
THE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE AT ELLINGTON AIR FORCE BASE.
SO EVEN IF YOU'RE IN DISTRICT D DOWN IN THAT AREA, PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND, UH, WHATEVER ELECTRONIC RECYCLING YOU HAVE, BRING IT ON OUT.
THANK YOU, MEMBER, UH, JACKSON.
UM, WOULD LIKE TO INVITE JOB SEEKERS, EMPLOYERS OUT TO OUR FIRST DISTRICT B, BE SUCCESSFUL JOB FAIR OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS HAPPENING TOMORROW.
IT STARTS AT 10:00 AM AT THE ACRES HOME MULTI SERVICE CENTER, LOCATED AT 69 19 WEST MONTGOMERY ROAD.
WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTION OF GUS GULF COAST TO BRING TOGETHER DOZENS OF EMPLOYERS WHO ARE ACTIVELY HIRING RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 400, UM, JOB SEEKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JOB FAIR.
UM, SO WHETHER YOU'RE STARTING OUT OR LOOKING FOR FRESH OPPORTUNITIES OR REENTERING THE WORKFORCE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.
UM, AND SO COME OUT, UM, DRESS TO IMPRESS OR BRING YOUR RESUME IF YOU HAVE ONE.
UM, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A RESUME, WE HAVE FOLKS, UM, NAVIGATORS
[02:30:01]
THERE ARE READY TO HELP, HELP YOU, UM, CREATE YOUR RESUME AND HELP YOU, UM, WALK THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.AND SO THE GOAL OF THE BE SUCCESSFUL IS SIMPLY TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING MEANINGFUL JOBS WITH GOOD PAYING BENEFITS.
SO IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9 OR EMAIL US AT DISTRICT B@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
I HAVE A, UH, FULL, UH, REPORT FOR THE LISTENING PUBLIC, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS HELD IN THE COURSE ABOUT IMMIGRATION, ESPECIALLY ON THE HEELS OF EASTER.
MANY OF US CELEBRATED THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, WHO WE IDENTIFY FOR SO MANY OF US, UM, AS OUR SAVIOR.
AND IT'S ALSO VERY CLEAR THAT SOME OF US WOULD'VE NAILED HIM TO THE CROSS ON FRIDAY.
MOVING ON, UH, ON NEXT SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH, WE ARE RETURNING FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL DEED RESTRICTION WORKSHOP ON THE WEST SIDE AT TRACY G COMMUNITY CENTER.
I WANNA ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR CIVIC CLUBS AND HOA LEADERS TO BE THERE.
WE HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO RICE AND RICE LAW FIRM WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
CITY LEGAL, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TALKING ABOUT HOME REPAIR PUBLIC WORKS IN BLIGHT AND MORE, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT SO WE CAN PREPARE REFRESHMENTS AND RESOURCES FOR YOU.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND PROHIBITED YARD PARKING, ALL OF THE CHANGES RELATED TO THAT, UM, HOPE TO SEE YOU ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH.
I ALSO WANT TO RECAP OVER THIS PAST SATURDAY, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, OUR INAUGURAL MOBILE CARE DAY ON THE WEST SIDE.
AND SO, UH, I BELIEVE THAT MIRACLES ARE FOR EVERYONE.
AND ON LAST SATURDAY, THE WEATHER WAS HELD UP.
GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE MANY HOUSTONIANS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON THE WEST SIDE.
WHAT I KNOW TO BE TRUE IS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CANVAS, NONE OF THEM WERE IN HMIS.
WHAT, WHICH TELLS ME AND INFORMS ME THAT WE NEED, UH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR COORDINATED CARE SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THE NONPROFITS WHO HELP US DO THIS WORK CAN GET TO THE WEST SIDE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD 19 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ABLE TO REFRESH AND RESTART THEIR DAY BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SHOWER UNIT AND THE 30 PLUS INDIVIDUALS THAT I MENTIONED WHO WERE CANVASED TO HMI, WHICH ALSO GIVES ME A, A, A DEEPER FOCUS ON INQUIRING ON WHAT ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH MEANS TO THESE AGENCIES WHEN THEY COME BEFORE US REQUESTING FUNDS, I WANNA SHOUT OUT OUR PARTNERS.
AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP HEADS UP, HOUSTON CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS, ELDRIDGE HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, LIFE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES, WHAM, A LEAF ISD, ACCESS HEALTHCARE, AND A LIST OF VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS, AND OF COURSE, MY EXCEPTIONAL DISTRICT F STAFF, THE TEAM.
I WANNA APPRECIATE YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT FOR DOING VERY HEAVY AND HARD WORK.
UM, ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT AS MUCH AS THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION HAS, UH, DRIFTED AWAY FROM HOUSING FIRST AND MOVING TOWARDS TREATMENT ONLY, I WANNA TELL YOU THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ENGAGED WITH ON SATURDAY, UM, ALL COME TO HOMELESSNESS AT DIFFERENT PLACES FROM AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
SOME OF OUR US MILITARY VETS, UM, WHO FEEL BETRAYED BY THEIR OWN COUNTRY DEALING WITH HEALTHCARE ISSUES, FAMILIES TRYING TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOUSED, WHO JUST CAME TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR KIDS COULD HAVE A HAIRCUT SO THEY CAN BE NORMAL IN SCHOOL.
ALL OF THEM ARE COMING, UM, TO HOMELESSNESS DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO WE MUST APPROACH THEM WITH THAT TYPE OF CARE.
I WANNA CONTINUE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR NOT JUST HOUSING FIRST, BUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FIRST.
SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS, HOWEVER THEY MEET US THROUGH TREATMENT, THROUGH MEDICAL CARE, THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THROUGH A NATURAL DISASTER, WILL ALL OFF WILL FIND THEIR WAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR STABILITY.
EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT WE WE ENGAGE WITH ON THAT SATURDAY, ALL OF THEM LIT UP WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SIMPLY AN EXTENDED STAY AT A HOTEL.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF WITH WHAM WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THEM AN APARTMENT, AND THEY, THERE WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF GROWN MEN WERE CRYING AFTER A HAIRCUT.
WOMEN WERE RELIEVED AFTER A SHOWER BECAUSE THEY, THEY SAID THAT THEY SAW THEM AS HUMAN, AND THEY'RE NOT JUST HOMELESS.
SO I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL, DEEPLY TOUCHED.
UM, WE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON THE WEST SIDE.
SO FOR THE PARTNERS WHO ARE ABLE TO BE WITH US, KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE WORK FOR US TO DO TOGETHER.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE JUST HEARING ABOUT THIS EVENT, I WANNA INVITE YOU TO JOIN WITH US BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A NEW THING.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT ON, UH, A BILLBOARD YESTERDAY, THE BILLBOARD OFF OF WESTHEIMER AND ELRIDGE, I WANNA THANK, UM, WHAM, WEST
[02:35:01]
HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRY AND OF COURSE, CLEAR CHANNEL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.THIS IS ON WESTHEIMER AND ELDRIDGE ON THE WEST SIDE.
AND I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND AND HE SAID, WELL, THERE'S NO HOMELESS ACTIVITY ON THE WEST SIDE.
AND I SAID, I, I, I CHALLENGED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR 17 ENCAMPMENTS, LITERALLY PICKING THEM UP, MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
SO THIS WILL BE HERE FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH.
UH, IT IS SLATED TO HAVE 699,000 IMPRESSIONS.
AND I JUST HOPE AND DECREE THAT THE 699,000 IMPRESSIONS, UM, UM, TURN INTO AND YIELD NEW PARTNERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT HOW HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT TREATMENT, IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT A, A MENTAL ISSUE, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOUSING.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
AND I WOULD ALSO, I WANNA CLOSE WITH THIS.
UH, WHEN I WAS AT NERO SPEAKING AT THEIR LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, ONE OF THE, UH, PREVIOUS PANELISTS OFFERED THE QUESTION, AND SHE QUERIED THE AU AUDIENCE, HOW LONG COULD YOU STAY SOBER IN THESE CONDITIONS? AND IT REALLY GAVE ME PAUSE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES I THINK WE JUST, UH, MINIMIZE SOMEONE'S EXPERIENCE, UM, TO THEIR PRESENT CONDITIONS ON WHEN WE MEET THEM.
UM, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES SELVES THE SAME QUESTION, HOW LONG COULD WE STAND, UM, IN THOSE CONDITIONS, IN THE HEAT, IN THE RAIN, UM, POSSIBLY BE BEING VIOLATED? NO HOUSING, NO SUPPORT.
UM, SO HAPPY AND HONORED THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TRUSTED ME WITH THEIR TIME AND TRUSTED ME WITH THEIR DAY.
I ALSO, IN CLOSING, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF JANAEA KMUD.
SHE IS NO STRANGER TO CITY HALL.
UM, OF JANAEA WAS A CITY HALL STAFFORD FOR THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JARVIS JOHNSON IN DISTRICT B.
UM, HER LONGTIME PARTNER, DAMON WILLIAMS, WAS THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE LATE PETER BROWN.
UM, BUT I MET JANA ON THE CAMPUS OF SAM HOUSTON STATE AS A STUDENT.
UM, SHE WAS AN ACTIVE STUDENT LEADER.
UM, AND, AND THAT WORK CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SHE, UM, PASSED, UM, UM, UNEXPECTEDLY, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, COMPLICATIONS FROM PNEUMONIA AND WE'LL BE CELEBRATING HER LIFE, UM, ON THIS SATURDAY AT THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH WITH BISHOP DIXON AND HER LOVED ONES.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE WILLIAMS FAMILY, THE CARMO FAMILY, UM, AND EVERYONE WHO KNEW HER, UH, HER SORORITY SISTERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
I KNOW THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAD JUST WAS WITH HER THE WEEK PRIOR TO HER PASSING.
UM, SO, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, IF YOU SEE DAMON OR HER FRIENDS OR ANYONE WHO WAS AROUND CITY HALL AT THAT TIME, UM, PLEASE KEEP HER NAME AND HER MEMORY IN YOUR HEART.
UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING COUNCIL, UH, UH, OUR SORORITY SISTER JANA COMUS.
UM, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT.
UH, TOMORROW WE WILL HOST OUR PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER FROM SIX TO EIGHT.
WE'RE ASKING ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC CLUB, HOA PRESIDENTS TO JOIN US.
WE WILL, UM, HAVE PRESENTATIONS ON OUR RECENT ORDINANCE CHANGES.
UM, MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY BE STOPPING BY TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU IN DISTRICT A, UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR, UH, ATTENDANCE, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THE DISTRICT A OFFICE SINCE SUBMIT YOUR, UH, REGISTRATION VIA, UM, OUR DISTRICT A, UH, WEBSITE.
AND THEN, UH, WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT ON SATURDAY APRIL THE 25TH, UH, DISTRICT A IS PARTNERING WITH THE FIVE CORNERS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND PRECINCT ONE TO HOST A COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE AT BLUE RIDGE PARK.
AND THAT STARTS AT 10:00 AM AND THIS RIDE IS GOING TO OFFER RESIDENTS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE SIMS BAYOU TRAIL.
I THINK, UH, IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ALONG SIMS BAYOU, YOU'D BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT HOW WONDERFUL, UM, THAT RIDE CAN BE.
UM, THIS WILL GIVE YOU A, UH, FIRSTHAND LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ALONG OUR, OUR TRAILS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THERE WILL BE BIKE RENTALS AVAILABLE, UM, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BIKE.
AND THERE'LL ALSO BE SOME E-BIKES FOR THE FOLKS THAT JUST DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN MAKE THE, UH, IT'S A 15 MILE RIDE.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU WANT AN E-BIKE, WE'LL HAVE ONE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
AND THEN I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT OUR FAITH PARTNERS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO HELP US CELEBRATE, UM, UM, WITH A CLEANUP FOR KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL DAY ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 11TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM WE'LL START AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER.
BUT, UM, WANT TO THANK NEW FAITH CHURCH, INSPIRATION CHURCH, THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE CHURCH AND NEVA JERUSALEM CHURCH, UM, FOR JOINING US ON THIS ACTUAL KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL DAY.
THEY WILL BE CLEANING UP AROUND THEIR CHURCH AND MAKING SURE THAT THE AREAS LEADING TO THEIR LOCATIONS WILL, UM, BE AREAS WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF THEM WANTING TO SEND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR WESTBURY COMMUNITY.
THEY WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATING KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL DAY ON SATURDAY WITH THEIR, UM, CLEANUP OF THE 11-YEAR-OLD BUTTERFLY GARDEN.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS AND YOU WANT TO COME AND BE
[02:40:01]
A PART OF THAT, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE.UM, WANT TO LET RESIDENTS IN FORT BEND HOUSTON KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS HOSTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL THE 16TH ON THE SOUTH POST OAK COMMERCIAL RESERVE.
UM, THIS HEARING INCLUDES A PLAT APPLICATION FOR THE SOUTH POST OAK COMMERCIAL RESERVE, AND RESIDENTS CAN SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS BY EMAILING SPEAKER COMMENTS DOT PC@HOUSTONTX.GOV, AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE.
A REMINDER THAT OUR NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 15TH AT 2:00 PM Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE TODAY A GREAT DAY.