* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [PRESENTATIONS] [00:00:04] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM KAZA TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION HONORING THE 2026 CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM PECK, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO WELCOME THE CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM FOR THE 41ST ANNUAL TEXAS BIKE, MS ONE 50, IF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TEAM WOULD COME FORWARD. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS, UM, BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CYCLING TEAM. UH, WE LOVE THAT THEY ARE SO, UM, EXCITED TO RIDE. UH, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME CYCLISTS ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL. A COUPLE OF US HAVE ALL RIDDEN THE MS ONE 50. UM, SO EVERY YEAR WE LOVE TO, UH, CELEBRATE THE TEAM AND WISH THEM THE VERY BEST BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GO ON THE RIDE. AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS FROM APRIL 25TH THROUGH APRIL 26TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY CHEERS ON ITS CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM AS IT PARTICIPATES FOR THE 13TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN THE 41ST ANNUAL TEXAS BIKE MS ONE 50 FUNDRAISING RIDE TO SUPPORT MUL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RESEARCH IN THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SP SCLEROSIS SCLEROSIS SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS MS IS A CHRONIC NEUROLOGICAL ILLNESS THAT AFFECTS THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD IMPACTING NEARLY 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND NEARLY 3 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE AS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER, THE BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM MISTAKENLY ATTACKS HEALTHY TISSUE. WHEREAS TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING THE TREATMENT OF THIS ILLNESS, THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY CONDUCTS RESEARCH PROVIDES SERVICES TO THOSE AFFECTED, INCLUDE SPECIALIZED MS CLINICS, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, HOME AND VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, HOME CARE SUPPORT GROUPS AND FAMILY PROGRAMS, EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY AND CONFIDENTLY. WHEREAS IN SUPPORT OF THIS NOBLE MISSION, THE NATIONAL MS. SOCIETY LONE STAR CHAPTER ANNUALLY ORGANIZES THE TEXAS MS ONE 50, A TWO DAY FUNDRAISING CYCLING RIDE THAT BEGAN IN 1985. HISTORICALLY, THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA, THE RIDE ATTRACTS MORE THAN 13,000 CYCLISTS IS SUPPORTED BY OVER 3,500 VOLUNTEERS AND RAISES MORE THAN $20 MILLION EACH YEAR FOR MS RESEARCH. WHEREAS WITH VARIOUS STARTING POINTS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING HOUSTON'S ENERGY CORRIDOR, THIS YEAR'S TEXAS MS ONE 50 RIDE WILL CONCLUDE AT KYLE FIELD AND COLLEGE STATION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM IS HONORED TO PARTICIPATE ONCE AGAIN PROUDLY REPRESENTING THEIR CITY AND HAVING RAISED MORE THAN $300,000 TO DATE IN SUPPORT OF THE CAUSE. AND WHEREAS AS THE TEAM PREPARES FOR THE TEXAS MS ONE 50, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH ALL RESIDENTS HEARTEDLY COMMENCES EACH MEMBER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND SAFE RIDE TOWARDS FINDING A CURE FOR MS. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASICK TATUM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S TXS, MS ONE 50 TODAY FUNDRAISING, CYCLING, RIGHT? AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR TEAM, AND IT REPRESENTS ALL OF US AT CITY HALL, ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY. SO THANK YOU AND WE WISH YOU WELL AND BE SAFE. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 21ST, 2026 IS TEXAS MS ONE 50 CITY OF HOUSTON CYCLING TEAM IN THIS GREAT CITY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. I WANNA JUST HAVE A SHOUT OUT FOR THE TEAM. THANK YOU TO GREG AND SEAN. THEY DO ALL THE WORK. I I'VE BEEN TRYING TO RIDE FOR, UH, A FEW YEARS. I JUST HADN'T MADE IT YET. UH, I KEEP TELLING THEM THAT I'M, I'M GOING TO, UH, BUT, UH, LET ME, LET ME YIELD THE MIC SO THAT I CAN LET, UH, UH, THE LEADER, SEAN, I HAVE A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANNA SAY JUST A QUICK WORD OF THANK YOU, UH, FIRST OF ALL, TO OUR AMAZING WRITERS. WE ARE 35 STRONG THIS YEAR. UM, AND THESE AMAZING WRITERS THIS YEAR ALONE HAVE RAISED OVER $22,000 FOR THIS CALL. SO, AGAIN, ANOTHER HAND, HAND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT. UM, THANK YOU TO OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, OUR, OUR LEADING US AND EMPOWERING US TO, TO SPONSOR [00:05:01] THIS EVENT. THANK YOU TO CIGNA, UH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP. UH, THANK YOU, UM, PRO TIM CASTEX TATUM FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. UH, YOURS AS WELL. UH, MAYOR, WE COULDN'T DO THIS. IT'S A COLLATERAL EFFORT. IT SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND OUR, UM, ABILITY TO GIVE BACK WHEN WE PUT OUR MINDS TO IT. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. VERY NICE. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR PRO TEM, MAYOR PRO TEM. WE DO HAVE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE Q COUNCILOR CAYMAN. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. FIRST OFF, TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM, THANK YOU. RIDE SAFE. UM, FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE FRIENDS, UM, WITH MS, UH, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY FAMILIES. I ALSO, MAYOR, WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UH, STANDING AT THE VERY BACK IS OUR OWN COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, WHO WILL ALSO BE JOINING THE TEAM THIS YEAR. UH, COUN COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE CERTAINLY IN BETTER SHAPE THAN I AM, BUT TO ALL OF YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE RIDE SAFE AND THANK YOU FOR THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU'RE MAKING. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE, UM, DOING THIS. I'VE DONE IT BEFORE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. SO GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND STAY SAFE. WE ALL FIT IN. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO WILL RECOGNIZE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. THANK YOU. THAT'S MAYOR PRO TIM. TODAY IS NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IS ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE CITY SERVICES, STRETCHING ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY. MS. GA AND HER TEAM HAS TAKEN IT TO A TOTAL [00:10:01] NEW LEVEL. MS GA COMES OUTTA THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WHERE SHE WAS AN OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL IN OUR CITY. AND WHEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT WOULD MOTIVATE HOUSTONIANS, PARTICULARLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO USE OUR LIBRARIES, SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. AND SO NOT ONLY DOES SHE RUN THE LIBRARY, SHE HAS TO LEAD A GREAT TEAM, A TEAM TEAM, BUT ALSO SHE'S, SHE HOSTS US AT THE LIBRARY ACROSS THE STREET ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO CERTAINLY SHE'S PROFILED OUR LIBRARIES AND IT'S SO SPECIAL TO HAVE THIS RECOGNITION IN ALL OF HER LIBRARIAN AND EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I DO HEAR FROM THE, OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, AND SHE HAS PROVIDED LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE SKILLS AND THE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE OUR LIBRARIES ONE OF THE BEST. SO THANK YOU, MS. GAO, YOUR TEAM. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE APRIL 21ST, 2026 IS NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, MA'AM. HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU. UM, THE HONORS OURS, UH, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, WE HAVE, UM, THESE WONDERFUL WORKERS HERE TODAY. I KNOW NOT EVERYONE COULD COME BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE ON DUTY. SO, UH, BUT A LOT OF 'EM ARE WATCHING THROUGH HTV. SO WE SPAN ACROSS 600 SQUARE MILES, 44 LOCATIONS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES, REGIONAL LIBRARIES TO TECH LINKS, OFFERING SERVICES FROM THE LITTLE ONES TO THE YOUTH TO ADULTS, ALL THE WAY TO SENIOR CITIZEN MAKING IMPACT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND SO WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, MAYOR SUPPORT, AND MOST OF ALL, THE GREAT WORKERS WHO BRING LIFE AND SPIRIT INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SYSTEM, THEY DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ON DEMAND REQUEST SOMETIMES. AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROGRAMMING THEY DO AND ALL THE SERVICES THAT THEY, UM, THAT THEY WORK ON. AND WHAT MAY SEEM LIKE, UM, LITTLE SMALL MOMENTS, WE DON'T KNOW THE RIPPLE EFFECT THAT THEY HAVE. SOMETIMES THEY KNOW IT IMMEDIATELY, SOMETIMES THEY WILL NEVER KNOW. BUT THESE SPECIAL MOMENTS AND THESE LASTING IMPACT, THE LASTING IMPACT THAT THEY, THAT THEY PROVIDE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND MOST OF ALL, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL TEAM AND FOR EMBRACING ME. SEPTEMBER 6TH WILL BE TWO YEARS. AND, AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL HOUSTON, WE WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING TODAY AS NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKER DAY. THANK YOU, TEAM MAYOR. WE DO HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. SURE. THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION. UH, DIRECTOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE IN THE LEADERSHIP. UH, A LOT OF TIMES AT THE HORSESHOE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR LIBRARIES, UH, FROM A FACILITIES PERSPECTIVE. BUT REGARDLESS OF THE CHALLENGES, YOU ALL SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH EDUCATING ADULTS, UH, AND PARENTS. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS IS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BARBARA BUSH LITERACY FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT WE PROVIDE FOR PARENTS AND FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE THE STORY OF MY GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS A, WHOSE PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS AND COULD NOT READ OR WRITE. HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS WOULD WALK WITH, YOU KNOW, HOLES IN THEIR SHOES. THEY'D PUT CARDBOARD IN IT. AND ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THEY COULD GET AIR CONDITIONING AT THE TIME HERE IN HOUSTON WAS AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. AND IT WAS THROUGH THE LIBRARIES THAT THEY WERE EDUCATED AND BECAME THEIR OWN SUCCESSES. AND FOR EACH GENERATION, YOU ALL CONTINUED TO INSPIRE, TO LIFT UP AND TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES IN SO MANY WAYS. SO REALLY, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE IN HOUSTON. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU. WE LOVE THE [00:15:01] HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. I, OF COURSE, I AM BIASED. I HAVE JUDSON ROBINSON IN WEST CHASE AND THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, CENTER. ALL RIGHT. UM, THE PROGRAMMING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND MENTIONED IS TRUE. Y'ALL ARE REALLY, UH, GATEKEEPERS AND DOOR OPENERS TO CURIOSITY. UH, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE THERE. THE PROGRAMMING FROM CULTURAL HERITAGE ALL THE WAY TO ESL COURSES, ALL THE WAY TO LITERACY. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AUTHORS, YOU NAME IT. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. UM, AND DIRECTOR, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. UH, PEOPLE MAY NEVER KNOW YOUR NAMES, BUT THEY DEFINITELY WILL FEEL YOUR IMPACT. UH, GENERATIONS FROM NOW, SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUE, WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE STORY, UM, OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY INTERACTED WITH YOU. SO YOU ARE THE HEARTBEAT DIRECTOR. YOUR JOB IS REALLY EASY 'CAUSE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM. UH, BUT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TREMENDOUS, UH, SUPPORT AT THE HORSESHOE FOR THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING ADVOCATES AND AMBASSADORS ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY MAYOR PRO TEM SATAN. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEEK, UH, DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR. WE LOVE TALKING ABOUT OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES. THE PROGRAMMING IS IMPECCABLE. UM, I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE SHANNON WALKER LIBRARY IN DISTRICT A. WE ARE JUST ECSTATIC ABOUT THE USE, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IS JUST, UM, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE PROGRAMMING. UH, THE TECH LINK THAT'S COMING, UH, TO VINCENT BRANCH LIBRARY IS EXCITING. UH, WHEN I WAS THERE VISITING, UM, AND TALKING TO THE STAFF THERE, THEY WERE OVER THE MOON ABOUT THAT BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST TECH LINK FOOTPRINTS IN OUR, UM, HPL SYSTEM. UH, WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE GRAND OPENING. UM, WE KNOW WE'VE GOT MORE GREAT THINGS COMING TO OUR FORT BEND LIBRARY. UM, SO IT IS ONE OF THE HAPPY SPACES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND, UH, FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS CAN ALL EXPERIENCE SOMETHING INCREDIBLE AT OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES. AND THAT IS DUE TO THE INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT WORKS IN THE LIBRARY THAT'S EXTREMELY WELCOMING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE NEED IS ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE. SO WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE, UM, INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS AT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PRO TE. AND I JUST WANNA JUMP IN AS WELL WITH ALL THE ACCOLADES TO THE TE TO THE TEAM, THE LIBRARY TEAM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO DAY IN, DAY OUT, THE OUTREACH I'VE HAD, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOU OUT TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS, UH, AND JUST SHOWCASING A LOT OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE. NOT JUST THE LIBRARY WITH BOOKS, RIGHT? BUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT Y'ALL, THAT COMES WITH IT AS WELL. I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT YOUR LEADERSHIP THOUGH, UH, DIRECTOR. UM, PRIOR TO TAKING OFFICE, THERE WAS A DISCONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ON, ON THE, UH, HISPANIC RESEARCH CENTER. AND YOU'VE REALLY TAKEN A HOLD OF THAT AND HAVE, HAVE SHOWN UP AS WELL AT THESE MEETINGS. AND HONESTLY, UH, BUT FOR YOU, WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE NOW AND THE COMMUNITY LOOKING AT WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, WITH THE HISPANIC RESEARCH CENTER. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM, BUT DEFINITELY STARTS AT, STARTS AT THE TOP. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. UM, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE SAID. IT, UH, OUR LIBRARIES ARE SO IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR TEAM, [00:20:50] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAG PIES AND PEACOCKS FOR 15 YEARS OF WORK IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, IF I COULD HAVE SIR JANE AND ASHIA COME UP AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MAG PIES AND PEACOCK TODAY FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE 15 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND IMPACT ROOTED IN THE EAST END. UH, THE COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, CREATIVE REUSE, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT HAS NOT ONLY POSITIONED THEM AS A NATIONAL LEADER, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, IN THE CIRCULAR FASHION, BUT ALSO CREATED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT. THEY HAVE CREATED EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS, PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA AND UNDERSERVED, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WHILE SERVING HUNDREDS OF HU HOUSTON AREA PARTNERS, IT'S AN HONOR TO CELEBRATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND PRESENT THEM WITH CITY OF HOUSTON PROCLAMATION FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. UM, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND KICK IT OFF. WHEREAS ON MARCH THE 11TH, 2026 MAC PIPE, MAC PIPES AND PEACOCK CELEBRATES A CRYSTAL ANNIVERSARY MARKING 15 YEARS AS NATIONAL PIONEER IN SUSTAINABLE FASHION, TEXTILE DIVERSION AND COMMUNITY CENTER DESIGNED, DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTION AND REUSE OF POST-CONSUMER TEXTILES, DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILLS TO REDUCE WASTE IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. AND WHEREAS AS IT CELEBRATES THE MILESTONE MAC PIE'S, AS PEACOCKS LOOKS AHEAD TO THE CONTINUED INNOVATION AND COLLABORATIONS, INCLUDING WORK WITH FIFA FANFEST ON TEXTILE RECLA RECLA RECLAIMING, UH, RECLAMATION FOLLOWING THE 2026 WORLD CUP IN HOUSTON. AND WHEREAS ON APRIL 21ST, 2026 AS MAG PIES AND PEACOCK IS LAUDED AT, AT THE HOUSTON, AT HOUSTON CITY HALL, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEREBY CONGRATULATES AND RECOGNIZES THE DECISION, THE DESIGN HOUSE, ALONG WITH ITS STAFF AND PATRONS FOR THEIR 15 YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION TO ADVANCING CIRCULAR FASHION WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF . YOU WANNA QUIETLY GO ABOUT YOUR JOB MAKING A DIFFERENCE. IT'S REALLY JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT MAKES HOUSTON A GREAT CITY. Y'ALL DO IT QUIETLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND HAVE DONE SO FOR 15 YEARS. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 21ST, 2026 IS MAG PAS AND PEACOCK DAYS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. FOR 15 YEARS. THEY ASKED US, WHY HOUSTON? WHY NOT NEW YORK CITY? WHY NOT LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, CITIES WE LOVE, BUT THIS IS OUR HOME? AND WE SAID, IF WE CAN DO IT IN HOUSTON, WE CAN DO IT ANYWHERE. SO, UM, WHILE NEITHER ONE OF US WERE BORN IN TEXAS, WE'RE TEXANS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOUSTONIANS AND WE'VE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD INTERNATIONALLY, VOGUE, BRITISH VOGUE, W-D-B-O-F, BUT WE BRING IT BACK TO HOUSTON BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE CITY CAN DO, WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON CAN DO. SO WE'RE PROUD TO CALL THIS HOME. AS MAYOR WHITMEYER JUST SAID, WE DO IT QUIET AND AND STEAL 375 TONS. OUR SMALL NONPROFIT, THAT'S JUST US DIVERTED, BUT WE LOVE FAN FEST. CAN YOU RECLAIM PGA JUST CALLED PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WASTE DOES TO OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE'RE ALSO MAKING LIVELIHOODS FOR PEOPLE. GARMENT WORKERS TYPICALLY MAKE $3 A DAY FEMALE. WE'RE HERE TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JOBS IN THE CITIES, JOBS AROUND, AND WE ARE DOING IT RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON. WE WORKED WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, EXXON MOBIL PER, BUT OUR SHOP IS 10 MINUTES FROM HERE EAST AND PROUD. WE MAKE EVERYTHING HERE AND WE LETTING THE WORLD KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS THE PLACE TO BE. [00:25:01] AND MASSIVE THANKS TO COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. HE CAME TO ONE EVENT AND PROBABLY WAS LIKE, I'M NEVER COMING BACK. THANK YOU TO MAYOR WHITMEYER. AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF WHO WILL BE COMING UP WITHOUT THEM, WE COULDN'T DO IT. AND TO THIS YOUNG LADY HERE, OUR FOUNDING PRESIDENT, SARAH JANE SMITH, WHO CAME ACROSS THE POND 20 PLUS YEARS AGO AND SAID, HEY, EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS. LET'S DO THIS BIG . THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. I'M STILL WORKING ON THE TEXAN ACCENT BY THE WAY, , BUT SO APPRECIATIVE. HONESTLY, YOU DUNNO HOW HARD IT'S BEEN TO GET HERE, BUT, UM, PUSHING A SQUARE WHEEL UP A HILL IS WHAT WE DO THE BEST. SO WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION AND THE SUPPORT THAT THIS MAY BRING. SO MUCH APPRECIATED TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. BEFORE WE DO PHOTOS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS JOAQUIN, FOR BRINGING THIS. I LOVE CLOTHES. I, I I FEEL LIKE I, THIS IS THIS PROCLAMATION. ISS GONNA, UH, MAKE ME SPEND SOME MONEY. UH, I'VE BEEN ON YOUR WEBSITE, GREAT STUFF. I MEAN, THIS IS SO EXCITING THAT YOU'RE, THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE'RE ALL JUST GETTING RID OF CLOTHES. AND WHAT, WHAT A GREAT THING YOU'RE WHAT, WHAT A GREAT THING YOU'RE DOING. THANKS FOR THIS. HOW'D YOU GET THE NAME? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO? I REALLY WANNA GO THERE. . OKAY. WELL, A MAGPIE BLACK AND WHITE BIRD COLLECTS SHINY OBJECTS, ANY OBJECTS, THEY SEE BEAUTY IN EVERYTHING AND LINE THEIR NESTS WITH ALL KINDS OF TRASH. THAT JUST LOOKS PRETTY. SO THAT WAS A GOOD INSPIRATION FOR THE THRIFTY COLLECTOR IN ALL OF US. AND THE MAGPIE BECAUSE IT'S THE, THE PEACOCK 'CAUSE IT'S SHOWY AND BEAUTIFUL AND GOT IT. THAT'S KIND OF THE MODE RING WHEN WE TRANSFORM THINGS. BEAUTIFUL. YEAH. GREAT. THANKS . VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. AIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, WHO WILL RECOGNIZE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, UM, CRIME STOPPERS. COME ON UP. WHAT AN HONOR TO BRING THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY. UM, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TELL ANYONE IF, IF YOU WANNA REALLY LEARN SOMETHING, GO AND TALK TO A FEW FAMILY, UH, MEMBERS OF THOSE VICTIMS OF CRIME. AND CRIME STOPPERS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE, UH, OUR MOST TREASURED ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO OVER THERE IS JUST INCREDIBLE. BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT PARTNERS. AS WE ALL SAY, COLLABORATION IS KEY. AND, UH, TODAY WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, 2026 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IN HOUSTON. AND WE'VE GOT TOGETHER 18 DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT THAT WORK TOGETHER WITH CRIME STOPPERS TO HELP THESE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF CRIME. AND SO YOU WANNA CALL 'EM ALL UP LAS AS I READ, I GUESS YOU GUYS CAN GATHER 'CAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE AUDIENCE FULL. SO TODAY, UH, WE RECOGNIZE TODAY 2026 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IN HOUSTON. WHEREAS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IS OBSERVED EACH YEAR AS A TIME WHEN COMMUNITIES COME ACROSS THE NATION FROM ACROSS THE NATION, HONOR THE STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND RESILIENCE OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME AND RECOMMIT TO SUPPORTING THEIR RIGHTS, HEALING AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE. AND WHEREAS CRIME AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN PROFOUND AND LASTING WAYS, AND ENSURING THAT VICTIMS ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, FAIRNESS AND RESPECT IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING A JUST AND CA COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, [00:30:01] ADVOCATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORK TIRELESSLY TO OFFER SAFETY RESOURCES AND HOPE TO THOSE IMPACTED BY CRIME. AND WHEREAS THE THEME FOR NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK LISTEN, ACT, ADVOCATE CALL ON COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SERVICES, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENSURE THAT EVERY VICTIM IS SEEN, HEARD, AND SUPPORTED. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE CRIME, SUPPORTING VI CRIME, PREVENTING CRIME, SUPPORTING VICTIMS, AND BUILDING A SAFER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR ALL WHO CALL HOUSTON HOME AND PROUDLY RECOGNIZES LOCAL PARTNERS THAT MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE. THOSE INCLUDE ABDA AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON, DAYA, DEMAND DISRUPTION, ELIJAH RISING, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNSEL, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FIVE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HOMICIDE DIVISION, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, CRIME SERVICES UNIT, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOMICIDE DIVISION NTZ, NO TRAFFICKING ZONE, PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, HOUSTON CHAPTER, MONTROSE CENTER, TEXAS DE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, AND TEXAS CRIME VICTIMS UNITED. AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF THIS IMPORTANCE OF OB OBSERVANCE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN HONORING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME TO RECOGNIZE THIS, THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE THEM. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND ANDY, THANKS FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. THIS IS A TRUE PICTURE OF COLLABORATION STARTS, UH, WITH PREVENTION SERVICES, AND THEN ACCOUNTABILITY AS CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. FOR 30 YEARS I'VE WORKED WITH EACH OF THESE GROUPS AS VOLUNTEERS TRYING TO MAKE HOUSTON AND OUR REGION A SAFER PLACE. AND WITHOUT THEM, HPD COULD NOT BE NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE. NOT ONLY HPD, BUT THE SHERIFFS, THE CONSTABLES, AND FOR OUR WHOLE REGION. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RECOGNITION FORWARD. I WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO KEEP ON CONTINUING YOUR SERVICE. UH, AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE APRIL 19TH THROUGH APRIL 25TH, 2026, IS THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A SAYING THAT CRIME VICTIMS ARE THE ONLY UNWILLING PARTICIPANTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. EVERYONE ELSE CHOSE THEIR ROLE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, AND OF COURSE THOSE WHO COMMIT THE CRIMES AGAINST OUR CITIZENS. AND IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO, AND PARTICULARLY IN GOVERNMENT, IS TO LOOK OUT FOR VICTIMS' RIGHTS, THEIR DUE PROCESS AND THEIR WELLBEING. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU LOOK BACK HERE AT ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE PARTNER WITH, THE CITY, EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER NEEDS TO GET TO KNOW THEM. I ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE EVENTS. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE, I'M NOT GONNA CALL NAMES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND WHAT WE DO AT CRIME STOPPERS, WHETHER IT'S THE NATIONAL DAIRY REMEMBRANCE, WHETHER IT'S THE HOLIDAY MEMORIAL TREE CEREMONY, WHETHER IT'S OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS OF PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, AND SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF HOMICIDE. ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HELPING VICTIMS REBUILD THEIR LIVES, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR DUE PROCESS ARE LOOKED AT. THEY ARE THE FORGOTTEN ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NOBODY WHO WAS A VICTIM ASKED TO BE PART OF IT. SO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT'S AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR HOMICIDE SURVIVORS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ABUSE, ASSAULTS, YOU NAME IT, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION HERE FOR YOU. AND ALL OF US ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ONCE AGAIN SPONSORING THIS COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO FOR YEARS IN THE SENATE HAS LED SO MANY DIFFERENT CHANGES TO ENHANCE VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. AND FOR THAT WE APPLAUD YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. [00:35:01] COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, WE WE'RE GONNA GO. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER BEFORE THE PHOTO, WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, ANDY, FOR YOUR WORDS. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN TERMS OF GETTING TO KNOW ALL THESE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS. UH, OUR PARTNERS AT ABDA, UM, HAWK, OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, THE LIST GOES ON. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN, UH, SIDE BY SIDE STANDING IN, UM, THE SPACE AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY. AND, UH, FOR THAT, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THAT SPACE. UH, 'CAUSE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ARE STANDING ON THE FRONT LINES AND IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US TO ADDRESS AND STEM THE TIDE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER ANNIE, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE HERE FOR ALWAYS FOCUSING ON THE VICTIMS OF CRIME. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING, UH, THIS WEEK ANDY AND CRIME CRIME STOPPERS AND ALL REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE HERE. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO RAISE AWARENESS, TO ADVOCATE, TO SUPPORT AND, AND TO BRING LIGHT TO THESE ISSUES AND ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR, FOR CRIME VICTIMS. AND, UH, THANK YOU. I'M GONNA BRIEFLY JUST SAY LAST NIGHT I HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH ASHANTI ALLEN'S FAMILY. THAT'S THE YOUNG LADY WHO WAS MURDERED EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FAMILY. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALSO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR FAMILIES LIKE THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. YOU WANNA GO IN THE BACK? YEAH, SHE SAID I'LL SEE YOU AT THE GAME. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. [00:40:02] THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PRO TIM. AND THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AT THIS TIME TO, UM, BRING FORTH A PROCLAMATION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE NATIONAL ARAB HERITAGE MONTH HERE IN HOUSTON AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS IS IN, BRING THEM UP. ABSOLUTELY. UM, FORWARD. WE HAVE WITH US A NUMBER OF, UH, LEADERS IN THE ARAB AMERICAN COMMUNITY, MAYOR, BUSINESS LEADERS, DOCTORS, ENGINEERS, UM, MEDIA PROFESSIONALS, AND AND SO MANY OTHERS. AND WE DO THIS IN RECOGNITION OF THE GREAT CON CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE TO HOUSTON. UH, MAYOR. FOR OVER A CENTURY, ARAB AMERICANS HAVE MADE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE. SINCE MIGRATING TO AMERICA, MEN AND WOMEN OF ARAB DESCENT HAVE SHARED THEIR RICH CULTURE AND TRADITIONS WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, WHILE ALSO SERVING AS EXEMPLARY CITIZENS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. THEY EXEMPLIFY WONDERFUL FAMILY VALUES OF STRONG WORK, WORK ETHIC, DEDICATION TO EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY, AND FAITH IN CREED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE, MAYOR, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES, HARMFUL STEREOTYPING AND BULLYING, AND JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN THE DESIRE FOR A PEACEFUL AND DIVERSE SOCIETY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS TREATED EQUALLY AND FEEL SAFE. AND, UM, WE ALL KNOW WHAT A WONDERFUL MELTING POT HOUSTON IS. AND, UH, OUR ARABIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY PLAYS A GREAT ROLE IN CONTRIBUTING TO THAT. AND THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SUCH A GREAT CITY, A GREAT INTERNATIONAL CITY. YOU KNOW, WE WRAPPED UP FLEET WEEK THIS WEEK AND WE EMPHASIZE TO THE MARINES AND THE SAILORS GET OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, CRISSCROSSED THIS GREAT CITY, AND SEE THE MIXTURE OF CULTURES AND PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY. THANK YOU. WE WOULD NOT, AS I MENTIONED, BE THE GREAT CITY. WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRONG MEDICAL CENTER THAT WE HAVE. I KNOW WHO THE DOCTORS AND PROFESSORS ARE AT OUR, AT OUR SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIC FACILITIES. SO THANK YOU. YOUR ENGINEERS HAVE HELPED CONSTRUCT THIS GREAT CITY AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. I KNOW WE ALL SHARE YOUR SENTIMENTS, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2026, NATIONAL ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK Y'ALL. AND MAYOR, IF I COULD, UH, INTRODUCE TWO SPECIFICALLY, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE AND ASKED HIM TO COME UP, UH, BUSINESSMAN MR. AHMED ING AND WA GABBER, PRESIDENT OF THE AMER ARAB AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER. WELL, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR RAMIREZ FOR THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION. WE ARE PROUD, UH, CITIZENS OF THIS WONDERFUL, DIVERSE CITY, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED. AND, UH, WE, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, CONTRIBUTE ON ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THIS CITY. AND WE HAVE MORE TO OFFER. WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE MORE. WE'RE VERY PROUD TO MAKE THIS CITY, OUR CITY AND OUR CHILDREN'S, OUR AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN'S CITY. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND WITH THE CITY COUNCIL IN MAKING THIS THE GREAT CITY THAT IT IS AND MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MY FRIEND JULIAN. AND THANK YOU ALL CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE ARAB COMMUNITY HERE. IT'S BEEN HERE OVER 100 YEARS. SOME OF YOU ALL PERHAPS KNOW THAT SOME YOU ALL NOT KNOW THAT. FRED, I'M SORRY I MISSED YOUR THING, BUT, SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ALL OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL TO GET INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY THIS MONTH HERE, THE HERITAGE MONTH FOR THE ARAB COMMUNITY TO COME AND TAKE THE, OFFER THEM, VISIT OUR CENTER AND SEE OUR ACTIVITIES THERE WHERE WE DO. AND YOU WILL BE OUR GUEST, I PROMISE. YOU'LL JUST MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE A COMMUNITY CENTER AND COME IN, THE MAYOR BEING THERE, JULIAN, BE THERE. MANY OF YOU ARE BEEN THERE. SO I LIKE TO INVITE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO COME IN AND MEET AND SEE OUR COMMUNITY, SEE HOW ACTIVE WE ARE BECAUSE, UH, HOUSTON, AS YOU KNOW, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST [00:45:01] DIVERSIFIED CITIES IN HOUSTON. AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS PARTICIPATED FROM, AS THE MEYER SAID, FROM MEDICAL TO EDUCATION TO EVERYTHING. BUT I LIKE YOU ALL TO COME IN SO YOU CAN GET TO KNOW OUR COMMUNITY. YOU CAN GET TO SEE OUR ACTIVITIES. DON'T BE SHY AWAY NOT TO COME TO US. WE ARE PART OF THE CITY AND THIS COMMUNITY IN HERE, SALLY WILL TESTIFY TO THAT AS WELL. SO PLEASE, UH, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND I ASK EACH AND EVERYONE, PLEASE REACH TO US AND IF WE REACH TO YOU, PLEASE ANSWER US BACK BECAUSE WE ARE PART, WE ARE PART OF THIS SUCCESSFUL, BEAUTIFUL CITY. I PERSONALLY BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS, MY KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS ALL HERE. IF I AM HAPPY, IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS CITY, AND I WANNA BE BACK THIS CITY AS WELL. BUT I WANT YOU ALSO TO COME AND KNOW OUR COMMUNITY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. WE DO HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND MAYOR FOR PRESENTING, UH, THE PROCLAMATION TO CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE ARAB HERITAGE MONTH. UH, THE ARAB CULTURAL CENTER IS IN DISTRICT F ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE OF HOUSTON. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE OF THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND THE RICHNESS, UM, YOUR COMMUNITY GIVES HOUSTON ITS FLAIR. UH, DURING HURRICANE BARRELL, WE WORKED WITH MANY OF THE MOSQUE ON THE WEST SIDE TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT RESOURCES WERE SHARED. AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH US AND VOLUNTEER. UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE SO MANY HOUSTONIANS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP AND THE TRUST THAT THEY HAVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, ALSO, AND I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES, MO AMER, UM, THE FIRST ARAB AMERICAN TO HAVE A NETFLIX SPECIAL, UM, THAT WAS FILMED IN OUR BELOVED CITY, HIGHLIGHTING YOUR HERITAGE, YOUR CULTURE, UM, WHICH I THINK OPENED UP, UH, THE WORLD TO HOW DIVERSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS. SO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT, UH, PROCLAMATION AND THANK YOU FOR AMPLIFYING THE VOICES AND, AND I WANNA JOIN YOU IN INVITING MY COLLEAGUES TO THE WEST SIDE. SO LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN. UM, AND IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN, UH, TO THE CENTER, IT IS HIGH ENERGY. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING THERE. YOU CAN BRING YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, IT IS, IT IS A SITE TO SEE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND FOR WHAT YOU DO. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THE COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT F SAID THAT A CC WAS IN HER DISTRICT. UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LINES. I THINK IT MAY BE, I THINK IT MAY BE IN JAY CITY. SO WE GONNA, WE GONNA, WE GONNA LOOK AT THE, WE GONNA LOOK AT THE LINES ON THAT. BUT NO, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'VE BEEN TO THE, THE CENTER MANY TIMES FOR MANY PROGRAMS. WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING CURRENTLY ON BRINGING SOME AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, UH, TO THE CENTER AS WELL. AND SO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR OFFICE, UH, IN TOUCH WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE COLLABORATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, UH, FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE TODAY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [00:52:06] COUNCIL, [2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] I GET EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. COUNCILMAN CARTER FOR THE INVOCATION. WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME? DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY THANKING YOU FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS. OUR, OUR GRATEFULNESS FOR THE FLEET WEEK AND THE SUCCESS, AND BRINGING ALL OF OUR, OUR MILITARY TO HOUSTON, AND THE GENEROSITY AND SPIRIT OF, OF HOUSTONIANS WAS PRESENT. EVERY DAY WE COME SEEKING PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. LORD, PLANT WISDOM, HUMILITY, AND A QUIET PRIDE IN OUR HEARTS. CALM OUR WORDS AND SOFTEN OUR SPIRITS AND LET OUR SP TRUTH BE SPOKEN WITH GRACE AND OUR DECISIONS BE MADE WITH COURAGE. LORD, WE LIFT UP THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY MOST ESPECIALLY ABROAD. KEEP THEM SAFE FROM HARM. AND LET THE FAMILIES WHO LEARN, LEARN WHO SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM. LET THEM KNOW YOUR LOVE AND GIVE THEM THE HOPE AND THE STRENGTH TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH WHEN THEIR LOVED ONES ARE AWAY. LORD, WE THANK YOU EVERY DAY FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS, FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY AND FOR THE GRACE YOU'VE BESTOWED ON US TO LEAD. IT'S IN YOUR SOUL. AND HOLY SON'S NAME I PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG PROCEDURAL CALL [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] THE ROW, PLEASE. MAYOR, WOULD I PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER PICK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS PRESENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF APRIL 14TH AND 15TH. CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MARK DOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. YES. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADD SINIA MCQUEEN, SYLVIA, OLIVIA, AND ROBIN MINOR TO THE END OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED ANY MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD HERNON CASTANO TO THE BOTTOM OF [00:55:01] THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND AND ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MOTION CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JACO JEED HENLEY TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. TOP OF THREE. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JOSE SOTO TO FOLLOW ROBIN MINOR ON THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JASON EVANS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE AGENDA LIST. SECOND. AND MAID. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU. UH, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULE TO MOVE TO MAR REBEL TO THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST UNDER GEORGE GIBSON. SECOND MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? MEMBERS, GUESTS. WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF HOLD ON POINT, MR. MAYOR SPEAKERS TODAY I'LL GET RIGHT BACK TO YOU. GO AHEAD. COUNCILMAN SHABBAT. THANK YOU MAYOR SHEBA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M SO SORRY. UM, I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD BISHOP JAMES DIXON TO THE LIST. UH, THE TOP WELL BEHIND I THINK TAMARA BELL. THE THREE MINUTES, UH, AGENDA. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE RASH MUHAMMAD, UH, TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, SINCE WE JUST RECEIVED A COPY OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO VOTE ON TOMORROW, AND MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THAT VERY ITEM, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC AND PRINT OUT COPIES OF THE ORDINANCE SO THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE THEM SO THEY CAN GUIDE THEIR COMMENT? WE'LL SHARE THAT COPY WITH ANYONE. THANK YOU MEMBERS. [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] WE HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS. THE RULES REQUIRE US TO GIVE ONLY ONE MINUTE TO EACH OF OUR SPEAKERS. EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR MORE MAYOR, ARE WILL, WILL YOU PROVIDE THE EXPLANATION TO THE PUBLIC? YES MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. SECRETARY, YOU WANNA CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER? DANNY. DANNY HERNANDEZ IS KEVIN JOAQUIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALLANAN. UM, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE I BEGIN. UM, WE REGISTERED SOMEONE TO SPEAK YESTERDAY BEFORE THREE. UH, HER NAME IS YARELI GOMEZ. I DON'T KNOW, SHE, I THINK SHE WAS TAKING OFF OF THE, THE LIST. I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, THERE'S ANYTHING ANYONE CAN DO. SHE'S IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, WITH US RIGHT NOW, BUT WE, WE CALLED. WOULD THAT BE? OKAY? WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN, WE'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HEAR FROM HER. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, SO MY NAME IS KEVIN HUEN. I AM PART OF WORKERS DEFENSE ACTION FUND. I LIVE IN DISTRICT J. UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS IN SPANISH FOR COMMUNITY, UH, WITH US. UM, AND IT'S OKAY IF IT'S NOT TRANSLATED. UH, ACTION FUND. I'M SORRY. OKAY. OKAY. I THINK IT'S OKAY. [01:00:29] A RULES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NICK KAMAN. MAYOR, I, I JUST HAD A PROCEDURAL QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING GREAT TRANSLATION HERE. UM, AND I DUNNO IF EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE CAN HEAR WHAT'S BEING SAID AS WELL. DO WE HAVE SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY? THEY CAN USE THE QR CODE. OKAY. AND GET THE TRANSLATION. CAN I ANNOUNCE? OKAY. FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT FOR TRANSLATION PURPOSES, YOU CAN USE THE QR CODE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN TO PULL UP TRANSLATION SERVICES. THANK YOU, NICK. ONE SECOND. RANDALL CALLANAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHERYL ABRAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON. RANDALL CALLANAN WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON COALITION FOR JUSTICE AND A, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER. MY CLIENT'S LOVED ONE. VICTOR DIAZ DIED IN ICE CUSTODY IN EL PASO AFTER BEING PICKED UP ON AN IMMIGRATION WARRANT. HE HAD NOT COMMITTED ANY CRIME, BUT IT WAS JUST TRYING TO FEED HIS FAMILY. THAT'S WHAT THESE IMMIGRATION WARRANTS DO. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A LI YOU DON'T, YOU JUST DON'T GET A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITHOUT HAVING YOUR FREEDOM. YOU CAN DIE. THESE DETENTION CENTERS ARE HORRIBLE. THE ONES IN EL PASO, THEY DON'T HAVE MEDICAL CARE. THE PEOPLE ARE DYING OF EXCESSIVE FORCE THERE. SO THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS MATTER. THE SUPREME COURT IN RODRIGUEZ VERSUS THE UNITED STATES HAS ALREADY DECIDED THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. NO ORDINANCE, NO POLICY, NO LAW CAN MAKE IT CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT OF UNITED STATES IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COMMIT LESS CRIMES THAN OTHERS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. EXCUSE ME, SIR. MR. CALLANAN? YES. SO, UM, ONE OF THE REVISIONS WE JUST RECEIVED TO THE LANGUAGE REMOVES THE LIMITER OF ONLY ON HOW LONG A STOP CAN OCCUR WITHOUT THE WORD ONLY. DO YOU BELIEVE THE ORDINANCE WOULD STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION? WELL, THE, UH, THE CONSTITUTION, THE UNITED STATES, THE SUPREME COURT HAS DECIDED YOU CANNOT KEEP ANYBODY FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. THERE IS NO REASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME AFTER, AFTER THE, THE REASON FOR THE STOP IS DISTINGUISHED. AND ALSO, IF IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE AND LETS THE POLICE ARREST PEOPLE, IF THEY THINK THEY CAN, UH, HOLD PEOPLE, UH, WELL THEN IT COULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL IF IT CONFUSES THE POLICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT CHERYL ABRAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW. MATTHEW BANZA. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE MAY NOT THINK THAT HOUSTON CAN AFFORD TO LOSE $110 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT WE CAN MUCH LESS AFFORD THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF DRACONIAN IMMIGRATION POLICIES. IMMIGRANTS ARE THE BACKBONE OF HOUSTON'S ECONOMY. THEY MAKE UP ONE THIRD OF OUR WORKFORCE, CONTRIBUTE OVER $20 BILLION IN TAXES ANNUALLY. AND STAFF ESSENTIAL FIELDS LIKE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING. WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF HARSH ENFORCEMENT POLICIES WITH ONE IN FIVE TEXAS BUSINESSES NOW REPORTING CHALLENGES, HIRING AND RETAINING WORKERS. RICE'S BAKER INSTITUTE ESTIMATES THAT DEPORTING ALL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN TEXAS WOULD SHRINK THE STATE'S ECONOMY BY 10% WHILE INCREASING CONSUMER PRICES. HOUSTON SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE SEEN AS A CITY THAT NEGLECTS THE CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF OUR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINA. OH, SORRY. WAS THAT FROM BEFORE? YEAH. OKAY. NEXT. MATTHEW BANER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JASON CARPENTER. UH, THANK YOU. MATTHEW BANZO, DISTRICT CI WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY POINTING OUT, IT IS VERY IRONIC THAT GREG ABBOTT IS ONE OF THE ONLY GOVERNORS IN THIS, UH, COUNTRY THAT IS FOCUSING ON DEFUNDING THE POLICE. [01:05:01] I'M ONE OF THE MANY PEOPLE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THIS ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT VIOLATE SB FOUR, AND IT DOES NOTHING TO PREVENT OR LIMIT POLICE FOR HOLDING ANYONE THAT IS SUSPECTED OF A CRIME. IMMIGRATION IS CIVIL AND WHAT'S FRUSTRATING IS BEFORE GREG'S ABBOTT'S DEFUNDING THREATS. MOST OF Y'ALL AGREED WITH THAT. THERE'S PLENTY OF ARGUMENTS FOR THE ORDINANCE THAT I CAN MAKE, BUT TO BE HONEST, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE MUCH MORE QUALIFIED MAKING THAT ARGUMENT FOR ME LATER. AND TO BE FAIR, I'M SURE SOME FOR THE ORDINANCE, BUT IF I COULD SPEAK ON THE SERVICE LEVEL OF THIS DEBACLE, THIS WHOLE THING HAS MADE THE STATE LOOK VERY, VERY WEAK. YOU GUYS ARE TREATING FOLDING UNDER POLITICAL PRESSURE AS HEROIC AND MATURE AND IT'S NOT. AND FOR MR. WHITMEYER, I THINK YOU ARE REALLY BANKING ON THE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR YOU FROM THIS. HOWEVER, I SHOULD ALSO BE POINTING OUT THAT IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY YOUR TEAM HAD TO DELETE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST BECAUSE YOU CALLED THE EASTER SUNDAY A SPRING HOLIDAY. THAT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT IS GOING TO VANISH WHEN SOMEONE TO THE RIGHT OF YOU GOES AHEAD. THANK YOU. NEXT JASON CARPENTER, LISA HUNT TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH ORTIZ. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO DEHUMANIZE IMMIGRANTS KNOW NO GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDS. THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL OVERREACH THAT IS EXTENDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS IS NOW THREATENING OUR CITY AND ITS MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. YOU AS OUR ELECTED LEADERS, HAVE ACTED RESPONSIBLY TO CHALLENGE THIS EROSION OF CIVIL RIGHTS. GOVERNOR GREG ABBA IS ATTEMPTING TO USE SER AUTHORITY THROUGH EXTORTION AND ECONOMIC TERROR IN THE FACE OF TERRORISM. RONALD REAGAN FAMOUSLY SAID, AMERICA WILL NEVER MAKE CONCESSIONS TO TERRORISTS TO DO SO, BUT ONLY INVITE MORE TERRORISM. NOR WILL WE ASK OR PRESSURE ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT TO DO SO. ONCE WE HEAD DOWN THAT PATH, THERE WOULD BE NO END TO IT. NO END TO THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE BY ADOPTING THE PROPOSITION A ORDINANCE, YOU SIGNAL THAT YOU WOULD NOT SUCCUMB TO THREATS AT THE COST OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I URGE YOU TO STAND FIRM AND RESIST. GOVERNOR ABBOTT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED RIGHT NOW. YOU'LL ONLY INVITE MORE TERROR IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. NEXT ELIZABETH ORTIZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY WALTER MALLARD. OKAY, ON 7TH OF OCTOBER, THEY, UH, THE POLICE, UM, PULLED OVER. THE POLICE ARRESTED MY HUSBAND LUIS, OUTSIDE OF, UH, OUR APARTMENT. AS HE WAS HANGING WITH THIS FRIEND'S, UH, HE WAS ARRESTED BY THE SHERIFF AND HE WAS BEATEN. THREE OF HIS RIBS WERE BROKEN AND SO WAS HIS NOSE. THEY SHOT HIM WITH A TASER AND IT CAUSED HIM TO BLEED THROUGH THE MOUTH AND THE NOSE. HE IS STILL IN DETENTION AND HAS BEEN SO FOR SIX MONTHS. UH, AND, BUT HE HAS A CLEAN RECORD. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT A JOB. I LOST MY CAR AND I HAD TO CHANGE APARTMENTS. AND I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE BY SELLING FOOD. I HARDLY EVEN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TALK TO LOU LUIS ONCE A WEEK TO FIND AN ATTORNEY. FOR HIM, IT COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, LUIS'S BROTHER DIED WHILE HE WAS IN DETENTION. LUIS IS SOMEONE WHO WOULD TAKE FOOD AWAY FROM HIS OWN PLATE TO GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE SO THAT THEY COULD EAT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. [01:10:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WALTER MALLET TO BE FOLLOWED BY NORA DAYTON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S WALTER MALLETT. I'M SPEAKING ON PROPOSITION A AND UNFAIR FACTS AND THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE AND UNFAIR POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED YOUR MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT THAT'S COMING IN JUNE. WE NEED OUR PEOPLE TO STAY IN PLACE. THEY SHOULDN'T BE SCARED TO GO OUT TO DO WORK OR TO PLAY. THESE ARE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND EVERYTHING. THEY WORK HARD. THEY BELONG HERE. THEY DON'T BELONG ACROSS THE STREET. THEY DESERVE TO BE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUGHT AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO BE HERE AS CITIZENS AND EQUAL RIGHTS PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. HELLO. I AM NORA DAYTON. AS A UROS BORN CITIZEN AND WHITE TRANSGENDER WOMAN, EXERCISING MY RIGHTS TO ACTIVISM. THIS ISSUE DEEPLY THREATENS MY SAFETY. I ANXIOUSLY FIND MYSELF THINKING THROUGH WHAT TO DO IF I WERE STOPPED MISIDENTIFIED OR INAPPROPRIATELY DETAINED. BEING DETAINED BY ICE CAUSES LIFELONG TRAUMA FOR EVERYONE IMPACTED. AND FOR TRANSGENDER WOMEN, THAT CRUELTY IS ESPECIALLY SEVERE. IT CAN MEAN FEAR, HUMILIATION, LASTING HARM TO MENTAL HEALTH, AND A DEEP LOSS OF TRUST. AND WHETHER MY CITY WILL KEEP ME SAFE. SO WHEN HOUSTON DECIDES HOW MUCH IT WILL COOPERATE WITH ICE, THAT DECISION REACHES FAR BEYOND THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. IT AFFECTS WHETHER PEOPLE LIKE ME FEEL SAFE MOVING THROUGH MY CITY, SPEAKING UP, AND PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC LIFE. PLEASE CHOOSE THE SIDE OF SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND RESTRAINT. DO NOT MAKE HOUSTON A PLACE WHERE MORE PEOPLE HAVE REASON TO FEAR THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEM. THANK YOU NORA. NORA, IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. OKAY. NEXT. NO, NORA, I JUST, YOU, YOU OFTEN DON'T COME TO CITY HALL. UM, BUT IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME? YOU ARE IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, ADVOCATING FOR OTHERS, AND I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT 'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME HERE, BUT YOU HAVE USED YOUR VOICE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU MARLON. CTO TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARLENE DELEON. OKAY. MY NAME IS MARNI AND I LIVE, I LIVE IN DISTRICT A AND I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS' DEFENSE. OH. RIGHT NOW, THE POLICE WILL PULL YOU OVER FOR ANY SMALL VIOLATION. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE VIOLATING THE LAW DEPENDING ON WHICH POLICE, UH, STOPS YOU. SOME ARE AGGRESSIVE AND RACIST JUST BECAUSE THEY SEE YOU AS A, A, A LATINO PERSON. THEY KNOW RIGHT NOW THEY WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT NOW. AND, AND THEY KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR IMMIGRANTS TO REGISTER THEIR VEHICLES. I KNOW OF, UH, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS TAKEN OUT OF [01:15:01] HIS APARTMENT BY THE POLICE AND HE WAS BEATEN. UM, AND HE HAS SINCE BEEN DEPORTED. WE DON'T WANT ANY VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY. BUT WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT PROVIDING US ON BASED OF TRUST? CAN WE ASK FOR HELP FROM THE POLICE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WITHOUT ABUSES TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS THAT PROTECTS FAMILIES. THANK YOU. DARLENE DELEON. OH. TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARK DOW. MY NAME IS DARLING. I AM A MEMBER OF WORKER DEFENSE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT J. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPENDS ON CLEAR ROLES. ACCOUNTABLE ENFORCEMENT, THE PROP. A ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT PREVENTING POLICE FROM DOING THEIR JOB. NO ONE IS ASKING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STEP BACK FROM PROTECTING THE CITY OR RESPONDING TO CRIME. WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS CLARITY, MAKING SURE LOCAL POLICE ARE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY. WHILE FEDERAL AGENCIES HANDLE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AS INTENDED UNDER LAW. WHEN THOSE ROLES ARE BLURRED, IT LEADS TO CONFUSION AND EFFICIENCY AND DIVERTS INTENTION AND RESOURCES AWAY FROM SERIOUS CRIMES THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY. MY CONCERN IS PUBLIC SAFETY FOR MOST VULNERABLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF EXPLOITATION TRAFFICKING. THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES THAT DEMAND FOCUS, COORDINATION AND RESOURCES. AS HOUSTON PREPARES FOR MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS LIKE THE WORLD CUP, WE CANNOT AFFORD GAPS IN CLARITY OR ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES. WE NEED SYSTEMS THAT ARE PREPARED, STRUCTURED, AND FOCUSED ON REAL THREATS. I URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THE ORDINANCE AND STAND FIRM ON CLEAR BOUNDARIES AND ENFORCEMENT. PUBLIC SAFETY IS STRONGEST WHEN EVERY AGENCY KNOWS ITS ROLE IN IT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. HELD TO IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MARK. MARK DOW TO BE FOLLOWED BY AARON ERICKSON. MY NAME IS MARK DOW. I WAS BORN IN HOUSTON 20 YEARS AGO. I PUBLISHED A BOOK ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION DETENTION SYSTEM. HPD ICE COLLABORATION HAS TO BE SEEN WITHIN THE LARGER PICTURE. A YEAR AGO I WITNESSED THE ABDUCTION OF TWO OF OUR NEIGHBORS FROM THE SOUTH GESNER IMMIGRATION COURT. THE CUBAN AND VENEZUELAN MEN WERE HERE LEGALLY. THEY WERE HERE LEGALLY, LIKE OVER 70% OF IMMIGRATION DETAINEES. THEY HAD NO CRIMINAL RECORD, BUT LIKE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, THEY WERE SEPARATED FROM FAMILIES, LOVED ONES JOBS AND THEIR POSSESSIONS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS THREATENED WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT REFUSES TO RELEASE DETAINEES WHO HAVE BEEN ORDERED, RELEASED BY FEDERAL JUDGES WHEN THEY ILLEGALLY BREAK INTO HOMES. AND YES, WHEN THEY SHOOT AND KILL US CITIZENS WHO FEEL THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS, THIS IS NOT POLITICIZING WHAT IS HAPPENING, MAYOR WHITMEYER. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS NOT ABOUT CRIME, IT IS ABOUT GETTING RID OF NON-CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY NON-WHITE, NON-CITIZENS, WHICH IS WHY ICE RECRUITMENT ADS TARGET WHITE SUPREMACISTS. PLEASE ASK YOUR GARDENER OR HOUSEKEEPER YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. FEEL SAFE. THANK YOU. NON-CITIZENS ARE THE PUBLIC TOO. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR KAMAN. OH, SIR. SURE, MARK. SURE. UM, MARK, I THINK THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME AT COUNCIL, UH, BUT YES, I KNOW YOU FOR YOUR PROLIFIC INVESTIGATIVE WRITING, UH, AND JOURNALISM THAT YOU DO SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ISSUE. AND I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR 'CAUSE I, AGAIN, WE HAVE PROTESTERS OUTSIDE. IT IS HARD TO HEAR. YES. SO I'M ENCOURAGING ANYONE TO SPEAK TO. PLEASE SPEAK LOUDLY SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. YOU MENTIONED THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN HERE IN HOUSTON. YES. CAN YOU SAY AGAIN WHAT YOU SAW PERSONALLY GIVEN YOUR EXPERTISE IN THIS FIELD? WELL, YEAH. I WROTE A BOOK 20 YEARS AGO ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION DETENTION SYSTEM. AND WHAT I KNOW FROM EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS RECENTLY IS THAT THE SCALE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVEN LONGTIME ADVOCATES, UH, SOMETIMES CAN'T GRASP IT. SO IT'S, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE IF YOU CANNOT, WHAT I SAW WAS DOWN ON SOUTH GESSNER, I SAW PLAIN CLOSE AGENTS WHO I ASSUME WERE ICE AGENTS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE ICE AGENTS. THEY WERE VIOLATING THE LAW BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND THEY TOOK AWAY A CUBAN MAN AND A VENEZUELAN MAN, UH, WHO WERE BOTH HERE LEGALLY REPORTING FOR THEIR, UH, COURT PROCEEDINGS. UH, BOTH OF THOSE MEN HAVE SINCE BEEN DEPORTED. UH, I BELIEVE THE CUBAN MAN WAS SENT TO A COUNTRY, UH, THAT HE WAS NOT FROM, WHICH IS [01:20:01] ALSO QUITE COMMON NOW. AND I KNOW YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE COURTS. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. NEXT AARON ERICKSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAXIMO CORTEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. MY NAME IS AARON ERICKSON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT C I'M HERE TODAY URGING THAT YOU PROTECT HOUSTONIANS AND FIGHT AGAINST THE STATE TRYING TO BULLY US INTO REPEALING THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE. LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT WHO IS MAKING THIS A PROBLEM. IT IS OUR GOVERNOR, NOT THE ORDINANCE AND NOT THIS BODY WHO OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR THIS ORDINANCE ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO. THE GOVERNOR. AND AS IT HAS BEEN RELAYED TO US, THESE ARE HIS DISCRETIONARY MONIES. BUT IF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS LYING, IS RELYING ON SITTING UP AND FLYING RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THIS IS A COERCIVE MOVE BY THE GOVERNOR TO WIN A POINT FOR HIS CULTURE WAR OR BECAUSE THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR OR TO APPEASE TRUMP. WHATEVER THE MOTIVE IS, THIS IS NOT GOOD LEADERSHIP AND IT IS AN ABUSE OF POWER. WILL WE LIVE UNDER THE THREAT OF BEING DEFUNDED OF NEEDED SERVICES EVERY TIME THIS BODY MAKES A DECISION HE DOESN'T LIKE? PLEASE BE THE LEADERS WE NEED IN THIS MOMENT AND TO FIGHT TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER IN THE LAWSUIT. TAKE THIS TO COURT. AND I WANNA ASK, HAS THE CITY COUNCIL BEEN GIVEN AN ITEMIZED LIST TO EXACTLY WHICH FUNDS WILL BE FROZEN OR REVOKED? AND HOW WILL THAT IMPACT CITY SERVICES? NOT A VAGUE NOTION OF WHAT WILL BE IMPACTED, BUT ACTUAL LINE ITEMS AND HOW IT IMPACTS CITY WORKERS AND HOUSTONIANS. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. UM, I'VE BEEN POSING IT MYSELF TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WELL OVER A WEEK. MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET AN ITEMIZED LIST OF THE GRANTS? NOT AT THIS TIME AND THE CERTIFICATIONS. SO DO YOU PLAN TO GIVE US THAT LIST BEFORE TOMORROW'S VOTE? WE'LL FURNISH YOU ONE BEFORE TOMORROW'S VOTE. I'LL FURNISH YOU ONE. SO WE WILL HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE GRANTS. YOU SAID. I WILL FURNISH YOU ONE AS SOON AS I HAVE THE ACCESS, GIVE THE LIST. BUT RIGHT NOW THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE A FULL LIST. WE CIRCULATED ONE LAST WEEK. NO, MAYOR. RESPECTFULLY, THE LIST YOU CIRCULATED. JUST BE CLEAR. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT WERE CURRENTLY BEING FUNDED BY THE GRANT? NO, MA'AM. MY, MY REQUEST TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION WAS COPIES OF ALL THE GRANTS THAT YOU CONTEND ARE AT ISSUE COPIES OF ALL I THAT FOR YOU. EXCUSE ME. MAY, MAY I FINISH? MARY FINISHED. WE SENT IT OUT IN THE PACKAGE THAT WE SENT LAST FRIDAY. MAY I LET YOU FINISH? MAY I FINISH MY QUESTION? SURE. OKAY. WE HAVE ASKED FOR COPIES OF ALL THE GRANT APPLICATIONS, COPIES OF ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS LIST OF ALL THE FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID OUT, FUNDS THAT REMAIN TO BE PAID OUT. AND THEY, WHETHER THEY'RE, WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION HAS LOOKED INTO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE STATE CAN PULL BACK FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE JUST PASSED, PASSED THROUGH. WE HAVE ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION FOR WELL OVER A WEEK. WILL YOU COMMIT TO PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION IN ADVANCE OF THOSE? I'M GONNA DO MY VERY BEST. DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? YES, SIR. WE'RE GONNA GET, THAT IS A LONG DRAWN OUT DOCUMENT AND I WILL GET ACCESS TO IT FOR YOU. DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION YET, SIR? WE'RE WORKING ON IT. OKAY. SO WE STILL DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THIS TOMORROW. WE'RE WORKING ON IT. IT'S IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND I'LL DO MY VERY BEST TO GET IT FOR YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN ADVANCE OF TOMORROW'S VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. MAXIMO CORTEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACQUELINE LUCCI SMITH. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL. UM, YES. UH, PLEASE PROTECT IMMIGRANTS BY UPHOLDING PROP A. IF PROP A IS NOT UPHELD, IT'LL BRING, IT'LL BRING US INTO THE LAND OF UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCES. UH, 20 YEARS IN THE FUTURE. UH, 20 YEARS IN THE FUTURE. WILL YOU BE SAYING, I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB. I WAS JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS. THEY'LL ASK, WHY DIDN'T YOU DO ANYTHING TO STOP THEM? HOUSTON IS A GLOBAL CITY. WE NEED TO ACT LIKE ONE AND BE ACCEPTING. WE ARE ALL WE HAVE WHEN THE HURRICANES HIT. WE ARE ALL WE HAVE WHEN ELECTRICITY GOES OUT. INVEST OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURES. AND THEN FINALLY A QUESTION. DO ANY HPD OFFICERS OR THE DEPARTMENT GET MONEY FOR HANDING OVER IMMIGRANTS TO ICE. UH, AND PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, UPHELD, UH, PROP A PLEASE. NEXT, JACQUELINE LUCCI SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED BY GLORIA RUBECK. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME'S JACQUELINE LUCCI SMITH. I'M A 30 PLUS YEAR ATTORNEY. I'M A 30 PLUS YEAR ATTORNEY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING [01:25:01] LAW AS AN ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, AS A CIVIL COURT JUDGE, AND AS LEGAL COUNSEL TO PAUL BETTEN COURT, BOTH IN THE SENATE AND THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR OATHS AND OUR OBLIGATION ARE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE CONTINUED SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS WITH PROP A IS THE RELIANCE ON RODRIGUEZ THAT WAS DISCUSSED BY OUR FIRST SPEAKER WAS ABSOLUTELY MISPLACED. RODRIGUEZ IS NOT A CASE THAT SAYS THAT ANYBODY STOPPED, CANNOT BE HELD LONGER THAN THE TRAFFIC STOP. THAT IS CATEGORICALLY FALSE. AND ANYONE WHO HAS READ THAT CASE KNOWS THAT THAT CASE WAS VERY SPECIFIC BECAUSE THE OFFICER IDENTIFIED THAT HE HAD NO REASONABLE SUSPICION. AND THAT IS THE STANDARD THAT IS USED FOR A TRAFFIC STOP ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. REASONABLE SUSPICION BY TAKING AWAY AN OFFICER'S ACTUAL DISCRETION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO BE HELD FOR ICE TO COME PICK THEM UP WHEN THERE IS AN ACTUAL WARRANT. THAT'S A PROBLEM. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. DID, UH, DID YOU FINISH? YOU CAN USE MY TIME TO FINISH. SO THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE WE ARE CONCENTRATING ON THE WRONG ISSUE. WE'RE BASICALLY PROP A STARTS A NEW CATCH AND RELEASE PROGRAM, WHICH IS HOW WE GOT IN THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH TENS OF MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDER. UNVETTED BOO. YES, I'M IN THE LION'S DEN, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE HAVE HAD AN IMMIGRATION CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE ARE NOW HAVING TO DEAL WITH. THESE ARE HUMAN BEING POINT OF POINT OF ORDER, POINT OF ORDER. I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH WHAT SOMEBODY IS SAYING, BUT IF WE COULD PLEASE RESPECT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT IN THE CHAMBERS. THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS IS NOT GONNA BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO IT AS A COMMUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS WITH PROP A, THAT GIVING THOSE POLICE OFFICERS THE DISCRETION TO CONTACT ICE AND REMOVE THE TRULY, UM, DIFFICULT CRIMINALS THAT DO NEED TO BE REMOVED IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU MA'AM. SORRY. THERE YOU'RE, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE GIVE US THEIR OPINIONS ON VIOLATIONS OF FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT. I, I'VE, I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, SO I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS AS TO HOW IT WOULD NOT BE REASONABLE CAUSE IF THEY FOUND A WARRANT IN THE SYSTEM. CAN YOU GIVE US ELABORATE ON THAT? SO ACTUALLY, UM, THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE DOJ HAS ACTUALLY STATED THAT THE 700,000 WARRANTS THAT FLOODED THE SYSTEM ARE ALL BASED ON PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE, HAVE HAD THEIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND HAVE A DEPORTATION ORDER. SO IF THERE IS A WARRANT IN THE SYSTEM, THAT ITSELF IS REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT THEY ARE HERE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DEPORTED, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL CRIME THAN JUST CROSSING THE BOARD ILLEGALLY. IT PUTS THEM IN A DIFFERENT CLASS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOW VIOLATED A COURT ORDER OF DEPORTATION. THAT BEING SAID, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS PROTECTED BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD THEIR DUE PROCESS AND THEY ARE OPERATING AND BE PRESENT ILLEGALLY AFTER A DEPORTATION ORDER. THAT'S WHY REN ITSELF DUE PROCESS FOR IMMIGRANT WAS REMOVED IN 1996. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. SO IN 1960, THE USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS WAS UPHELD BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. AND AGAIN, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT IF THERE IS THAT ORDER, PROBABLE CAUSE, REASONABLE SUSPICION FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED FOR THOSE IMMIGRANTS. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST SEC POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, SORRY. UM, YOUR COMMENTS EARLIER, WERE SPEAKING TOWARDS DISCRETION. UM, ARE YOU UNDER THE BELIEF THAT HPDA OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE DISCRETION WHEN DECIDING ON WHICH INDIVIDUALS THEY BELIEVE, UM, SHOULD BE DETAINED FURTHER OR SHOW NO, UM, HARM OR CRIMINAL THREAT? I THINK THEY HAVE TO DO THAT WITH EVERY TRAFFIC STOP THEY MAKE. THEY HAVE TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME. IF WE PUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN A SEPARATE CATEGORY, WE ARE NOW PUTTING POLICE OFFICERS IN A VERY UNTENABLE POSITION. EVERY TIME I'M STOPPED, EVERY SINGLE TIME I'M STOPPED, I HAVE TO DECIDE HOW I'M GONNA TREAT THAT OFFICER AND IF I WANNA CAUSE AND ESCALATE A SITUATION OR NOT. OKAY. AND THAT'S THE SAME WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT'S THE SAME WITH ANYBODY STOPPED. YEAH. UH, WE AGREE WITH YOU. IN OUR ORIGINAL [01:30:01] PROPOSAL, WE WANTED TO GIVE HPD THE DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT IN ORDER TO DO SO, BUT THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN AS UNLAWFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TOO, THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BRAY HUNT TESTIFIED THAT THERE WERE 75 OF THESE CASES WHERE ICE WAS CALLED BECAUSE OF THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS. ONLY ON IN 38 OF THOSE ICE SAID WE'RE OKAY, LET 'EM GO. THERE WAS ONLY 33 OF THOSE THAT WERE ACTUALLY RESULTED IN FURTHER DETENTION BECAUSE THOSE WERE PEOPLE THAT ICE HAD FLAGGED AS DANGEROUS. SO BY NOT ALLOWING ICE THE TIME TO COME PICK THOSE UP, WE ARE NOW RELEASING THEM BACK INTO SOCIETY, INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN WE'RE FORCING ICE TO GO INTO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO PICK THEM UP. I THINK OVERALL WE'RE AGREEING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT ICE, OUR HPD OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE DISCRETION AS WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. COUNCILOR SALINA. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU Y'ALL VERY MUCH. SO ONE, UM, UH, MY OFFICE IS DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF THE NEW PROPOSED ORDINANCE SO THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE CAN READ IT. UM, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE TO HOLD SOMEONE AS LONG AS IT TAKES FOR ICE TO ARRIVE? IF IT TAKES THEM AN HOUR, IS THAT CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE? IT IS NOT THE AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THE SUPREME COURT IS ACTUALLY SAID, IT'S NOT THE AMOUNT OF TIME. IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A REASONABLE SUSPICION. SO THE TIME IS NOT THE ISSUE. BUT I'M ASK, I'M ASKING MY QUESTION TO YOU IS YES, ABSOLUTELY. THE SUPREME COURT'S TOLD ME THAT, THAT IT'S NOT TIME IS NOT THE ISSUE. AND WHAT SUPREME COURT CASE SAID THAT AN IMMIGRATION ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT WAS SUFFICIENT, CAUSED FOR A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INDIVIDUAL TO HOLD SOMEONE FOR A LONGER TIME. CAN YOU GIVE ME THE PRECISE CASE NAME? SO IT IS ALL BASED ON THE PRODIGY FROM, UM, ABEL VERSUS THE UNITED STATES. AND IN THAT CASE, A, UM, FBI AND ICE WERE WORKING TOGETHER. FBI FLAGGED SOMEBODY AS THEY THOUGHT WAS ILLEGAL AND HAD USED A BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO FAKE AN IDENTITY AS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN. IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENED WAS ICE FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT ILLEGAL, UM, BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, AND THEY ARRESTED HIM AND DETAINED HIM TO DEPORT HIM. WHEN ICE WENT IN, WHEN THE FBI WENT IN LATER, AFTER HE WAS CHECKED OUT OF HIS HOTEL ROOM AFTER BEING DETAINED, THEY FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS S FINE. HE, HE WAS ACTUALLY, UM, CHARGED AND CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL ESPIONAGE ALL BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SEIZED AFTER THEY ARRESTED HIM FOR DEPORTATION, HE WAS IN PROSECUTED. AND THE RULE THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S A GOOD ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. IT WAS A CIVIL WARRANT FOR DEPORTATION. HE WAS THEN DETAINED AND ANY EVIDENCE GATHERED WAS USABLE IN THAT COURT TO, FOR HIS CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. THAT, THAT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION, BUT I APPRECIATE CASE, THE CASE. THAT IS THE ENTIRE, THAT IS THE CASE. IT SAYS ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS ARE ABSOLUTELY LEGAL. THEY ARE FOURTH AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS. THEY ARE CIVIL WARRANTS AND THEY CAN LEAD TO PRIM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT ABUSED IN A WAY THAT THEY ARE USED SPECIFICALLY TO GET CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS. AND THIS IS NOT THAT CASE WITH A TRAFFIC STOP. THAT IS THE CASE. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, GLORIA. GLORIA, GLORIA RUBECK TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS JUAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE LIVE IN A GREAT CITY, RIGHT? AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES IT GREAT IS THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THEY CONTRIBUTE TO EDUCATION, TO HEALTHCARE, TO FOOD, TO MUSIC. AND WHERE WOULD THE ASTROS BE WITHOUT JOSE ALTUVE OR, UH, OR DON ALVAREZ OR IS PERES? WHAT IF WE COULDN'T GRAB A POSA OR A BAN ME OR A FALAFEL SANDWICH? BUT SERIOUSLY, THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED CAN PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST FAMILIES. IT CAN PREVENT KIDS BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS. MAYOR, I, I REMEMBER YOUR ATTITUDE WHEN YOU WERE HEAD OF THE TEXAS SENATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE. I HOPE THAT DISDAIN THAT YOU HAD FOR PRISONERS DOES NOT EXTEND TO IMMIGRANTS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. ABOLISH ICE ICE OUT OF HOUSTON. THEY'RE TERRORISTS. NICHOLAS JUAN [01:35:02] TO BE FOLLOWED BY JASMINE AKBARI. GOOD MORNING MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NICHOLAS JUAN. I'M A CANDIDATE FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT EIGHT, PLACE TWO. WE'RE BEING TOLD BY THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SURRENDER OUR LOCAL POLICY TO AVOID LOSING 110 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY A CHOICE. WE FIGHT IN COURT INSTEAD OF REPEALING OUR ORDINANCE UNDER THREAT. WHY IS THE CITY NOT SEEKING A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO HALT THE STATE'S RETALIATION? WHILE THE LEGALITY OF THIS ORDINANCE IS LITIGATED IN COURT, A TRO WOULD ALLOW US TO PROTECT THE, UH, OUR SAFETY BUDGET IMMEDIATELY. AND WHILE PROVIDING THE JUDICIARY NECESSARY TIME TO WEIGH THE MERITS OF THE CASE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE OF A DEADLINE, USING THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO DEFEND OUR CITIES THE WAY WE STAND UP TO THIS ATTACK ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BEYOND THE PROCEDURAL REMEDY, WE MUST ADDRESS CONSTITUTIONAL REALITY UNDER RODRIGUEZ VERSUS UNITED STATES. THE TRAFFIC STOP INCLUDES THE MOMENT ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IS RESOLVED. ORDERING HPD TO PROLONG STOPS TO WAIT FOR ICE IS AN INVITATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUITS THAT WILL COST OUR TAXPAYERS FAR MORE THAN THE FUNDING WE ARE RISKING TODAY. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT TRADING OUR LEGAL INTEGRITY FOR A STATE CHECK AND WE WILL PAY FOR THAT TRADE WITH LEGAL RIGHTS, WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND TRUST OF OUR RESIDENTS. I URGE THIS COUNSEL TO VOTE AGAINST THIS REPEAL FIGHT FOR OUR CITY AND THE COURTS RATHER THAN SURRENDERING IN THIS CHAMBER. TOMORROW YOUR TIME. PHYSICAL EXTORTION BE YOUR LEGACY. THANK YOU. NEXT, JASMINE AKBARI TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARISSA BOSLEY. THE NATION IS WATCHING US. TEXAS HAS LONG BEEN A TRAINING GROUND FOR DONALD TRUMP'S FASCIST AGENDA, AND AUSTIN AND DALLAS ARE WATCHING TO SEE NOT JUST WHAT WE DO, BUT WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT. IF YOU REPEAL THIS ORDINANCE TOMORROW, YOU WILL SIGNAL TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL FASCISTS THAT YOUR CITY, YOUR JOBS AS LEGISLATORS AND HOUSTON SOVEREIGNTY CAN BE BOUGHT. REPEALING. THIS ORDINANCE WILL HAVE A PRICE. THE COST WON'T BE $114 MILLION OR THE COST OF LEGAL FEES. THE REAL COST, THE COST THAT TRULY MATTERS IS US, IS PEOPLE. THE COST IS THE MAN WHO WAS DETAINED FOR OVER AN HOUR IN THE BACK OF A PATROL CAR AND EVENTUALLY DEPORTED. HE TOLD ME NOW MY 10-YEAR-OLD CITIZEN'S SON WILL HAVE TO GROW UP WITHOUT ME. I WASN'T A CRIMINAL, I WAS JUST A HARDWORKING PERSON WHO PROVIDED FOR HIS MOTHER AND HIS SON. THESE ARE THE HOUSTONIANS WHOSE LIVES LIE IN THE BALANCE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND I LIKE HOW COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ PUT IT. SO I'LL REPEAT IT HERE. THEY GAVE YOU THANK YOU. A DIFFERENT MANDATE. DO NOT VOTE TO REPEAL. DO NOT VOTE TO AMEND, VOTE TO PROTECT THE ORDINANCE AND THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU MARISSA BOSLEY AND STEVEN AVILES TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEFF REESE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S STEVEN. AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PUT A HOUSTON SAFETY AND COMMUNITY AHEAD OF POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM GREG ABBOTT AND KEN PAXTON. WE'VE HEARD THEIR WARNINGS. BACK IN OCTOBER, GOVERNOR ABBOTT ORDERED THE REMOVAL OF A PRIDE CROSSWALK CITING CITIES FAILING TO COMPLY FACE LOSING TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. SOUNDS FAMILIAR. A TREE CAN FALL ON A PERSON AND GR ABBOTT WOLF CLAIM THAT IT'S ILLEGAL. LET'S CALL THIS WHAT IT IS. IT'S ALL POLITICAL PRESSURE DRESSED UP AS PUBLIC SAFETY. REPEAT THREATS OF PUNISHMENT. LAWSUITS, DEFUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE MEANT TO FORCE COMPLIANCE AND THEY SHOULD NOT DICTATE HOW CITY THE CITY PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS. THE CITIES WHO FOLLOW THAT PRESSURE OFTEN END UP WORSE AT POLICING. LEADERSHIP MEANS MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS. NOT REACTING TO PRESSURE. I'M ASKING YOU TO STAND FIRM OR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. POLICIES DRIVEN BY INTIMIDATION. THANK YOU. AND CONTINUE PRIORITIZING STRATEGIES THAT HELP HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU JEFF REESE, ADRIANA EZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN KOTTER. [01:40:03] GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ADRIANA AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE, OF THE ORDINANCE. AND I URGE YOU NOT TO REPEAL OR AMEND IT. OKAY? OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ADRIANA AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND I URGE YOU TO NOT REPEAL OR AMEND IT BECAUSE THIS RIGHT HERE IS A JOKE. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE. THE STATE IS THREATENING THE CITY OVER A HUNDRED MILLION. APPARENTLY THERE'S NOT EVEN A LIST OF WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING, UM, UH, CUT AND CALLING THIS ORDINANCE A VIOLATION OF THAT AGREEMENT. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES AND IT DOES NOT STOP CORROBORATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES. IT'S, UH, THE REAL QUESTION HERE IS HOUSTON IS BEING ASKED TO GIVE UP CONS, CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS TO KEEP FUNDING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME. WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THE 1930S. THE SAME COMMUNITIES WERE BLAMED FOR AN ECONOMIC DISASTER THEY DID NOT CREATE. AND IT DIDN'T WORK THEN. AND IT WILL NOT WORK. NOW. THIS WILL DESTABILIZE OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKE THIS CITY WEAK. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU MA'AM. ARE YOU WILLING, MAYOR, TO LET OUTSIDE PRESSURE DICTATE HOW THIS CITY GOVERNS ITSELF. THANK YOU. NEXT, JOHN KOTTER. KELLY SADLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY FRANK KAKOWSKI. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. UM, I TEACH GOVERNMENT AT SANTO COLLEGE, WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY ON THE EAST SIDE. UH, THREE OF MY STUDENTS ARE IN ICE CUSTODY. THEY HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD. THREE COLLEGE STUDENTS STUCK IN A CAGE. TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHO PROFITS FROM THAT CORE, CIVIC AND GEO GROUP HOLD ICE CONTRACTS WORTH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE PRIVATE PRISON INDUSTRY IS PROFITING FROM LOCKING UP OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, INCLUDING OUR STUDENTS. THIS ISN'T PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING. CORE CIVIC WHO OPERATES THREE FACILITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. UH, THEY MAKE $160 A DAY PER DETAINEE PER BED. $160 PER PERSON. THAT MEANS CORE CIVIC IS MAKING ABOUT $500 OFF OF MY THREE STUDENTS WHO HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD. COR AND GEO GROUP ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE FREELY WITH IMPUNITY. THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM MAYOR WHITMEYER WHO HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. GOING BACK TO THE TIME WHEN HE WAS IN THE STATE HOUSE. NO ONE SHOULD PROFIT YOUR TIME IS INSPIRING. NO ONE SHOULD PROFIT FROM PUTTING PEOPLE IN CAGES. THANK YOU MA'AM. HOLD ON MA'AM. OKAY. POINT OF MAYOR. I'M GETTING A FEW MESSAGES FROM DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT THE LIVE FEED TO THE PUBLIC ISN'T WORKING. IT'S SAYING THAT THERE'S NO MEETING IN SESSION. IS THERE A WAY TO GET AN UPDATE FROM IT AS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT? I DON'T WANNA STOP PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY, BUT IF THEY CAN UPDATE US, MARK MARTY WILL CHECK ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT FRANKOWSKI TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUAN RUBIO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS AFTERNOON. THE MIC RIGHT THERE ON YOUR LEFT. THE OTHER DIRECTION. THERE YOU GO. DID YOU SEE THE SK? I KIDDING. UM, I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FIRST TIME ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL AND YOU MR. MAYOR. I NORMALLY DO NOT COME OUT. I'M BEHIND THE SCENES MOST OF THE TIME HELPING THE POLITICAL PARTIES. I AM A PRECINCT CHAIR. I AM IN COUNCIL C AREA. THIS IS HARD 'CAUSE I COME FROM A FAMILY OF IMMIGRANTS. OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. MY FAMILY CAME HERE TO THE FIRST WARD. WHERE WOULD WE BE NOW, IF THIS POLICY WAS IN PLACE, THEN HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD BE HERE? I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. NOT TOMORROW. IS VAL VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT TO US ALL? THANK YOU. NEXT. OH SIR. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. NO. NEXT JUAN RUBIO TO BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS SUTHERLAND. [01:45:02] GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JUAN RUBIO. I'M THE POLICY COORDINATOR AT WORKERS' OFFENSE ACTION FUND RIGHT HERE. OKAY. WE SHOULD BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS POLICY DOES. IT MAKES CLEAR THAT OUR POLICE SHOULD NOT PROLONG, STOPS OR DETAIN PEOPLE BASED SOLELY ON CIVIL IMMIGRATION WARRANTS DOCUMENTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE STANDARD OF CRIMINAL LAW. IN HIS 1963 LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING ARGUES THAT THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IS NOT THE ACTIONS OF THE UNJUST, BUT THE SILENCE AND RETREAT OF THOSE WHO KNOW BETTER. HE WARNED US ABOUT THE TENDENCY TO RETREAT FROM JUSTICE WHEN IT CREATES TENSION. WITH THOSE IN POWER COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE STATE IS ATTEMPTING TO COERCE YOU INTO A RETREAT FROM JUSTICE, A RETREAT FROM A POLICY THAT DRAWS A SIMPLE LAWFUL BOUNDARY THAT PROTECTS IMMIGRANT HOUSTONIANS. AND A RETREAT FROM THE IDEA THAT PUBLIC SAFETY DEPENDS ON TRUST. WHEN LOCAL POLICE ARE EXPECTED TO HOLD PEOPLE LONGER OR ACT ON CIVIL IMMIGRATION WARRANTS, EVERY INTERACTION CAN ESCALATE. PEOPLE HESITATE THEY THINK TWICE BEFORE CALLING 9 1 1. WORKERS WEIGH THE RISK BEFORE REPORTING THE ABUSE THEY SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF THEIR EMPLOYERS. PLEASE STAND FIRM. PLEASE STAND WITH THE CITY THAT I'VE GROWN UP ADMIRING. PLEASE STAND WITH IMMIGRANT HOUSTONIANS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS MAYOR. IN LINE WITH THAT COMMENT AND WE'VE DISTRIBUTED COPIES OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER YOU INTEND FOR THE 30 MINUTE RULE YOU HAD IN PLACE BEFORE THE ORDINANCE PASSED TO GO BACK INTO EFFECT FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE UNDER CONSIDERATION? WELL, YOU NO, MAYOR, I'M, I'M ASKING, YOU'RE ASKING US TO VOTE. DO YOU INTEND FOR THE 30 MINUTE POLICY TO GO BACK INTO EFFECT FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE? I'LL TAKE IT UNDER CONSIDERATION. MAYOR, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHAT DID YOU INTEND WITH YOUR ORDINANCE? THOMAS SUTHER NEXT THOMAS SUTHERLAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY JASON EVANS. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. THIS FASCIST ANTI-DEMOCRATIC STATE GOVERNMENT THAT WE LIVE UNDER HAS ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO THIS CITY. ABBOTT AND PAXTON ISSUED THIS CHALLENGE BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED, THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE GROWING POWER AND ORGANIZATION OF OUR WORKING CLASS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE SCARED OF A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT LISTENS TO AND RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES. YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS BEFORE YOU, YOU CAN BOW YOUR HEAD CAPITULATE TO THE WILL OF THE STATE. PASS THIS AMENDMENT, ABANDON THE WORKING CLASS IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO WILL SO DESPERATELY NEED ACTION IN THIS TIME AND FORFEIT THEIR TRUST. OR YOU CAN FIGHT. YOU CAN ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE. STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND USE EVERY LEGAL AVENUE TO DEFEND OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND REAFFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. WE WILL REMEMBER WHETHER OR NOT YOU GROW A PAIR. AIR DIRECT JASON EVANS. OH, YOU SAY SENECA, TO BE FOLLOWED BY SENECA MCQUEEN. ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE CITY COUNCIL. MAYOR, I'M HERE STANDING TODAY AS A PRESIDENT OF HOPE LOCAL. 1, 2, 3. UM, THE STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF APPEALING THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE. FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE THAT HAS SHARED ANY CONCERNS WITH THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON BEING REGARDED IN THE ROLE OF ICE. THOSE CONCERNS ARE REAL AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN OUR INITIAL DECISION TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. OUR INTENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATE FOR THE POLICIES THAT REFLECT BOTH FAIRNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. HOWEVER, WITH RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, SERIOUS, UNAVOIDABLE CONSEQUENCES MUST BE CONSIDERED THE WITHDRAWAL OF STATE FUNDING AS CREDIBLE THREAT TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING LESS PRACTICES BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. MUNICIPAL WORKERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY. THERE ARE ASSURED THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND UPHOLD THE QUALITY THAT EVERY HOUSTON IN DEPENDS ON YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU CAYMAN. NO, MAYOR. I WANTED TO GIVE, UM, OUR UNION LEADER A MOMENT TO SPEAK, TO FINISH HIS REMARKS. VERY AWARE, BUT I HAD A QUESTION TO FOLLOW THAT. THANK YOU FOR THOSE [01:50:01] REASONS. ASK ME LOCAL. 1, 2, 3. HOPE RESPECTFULLY CAUSE FOR THE APPEAL OF THIS CURRENT ORDINANCE, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A PATH FORWARD FOR BOTH TO BE ADDRESSED FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR CONCERNS TO PROTECT OUR WORKFORCE THAT KEEPS OUR CITY RUNNING. WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH A COLLABORATIVE WITH THE CITY LEADERS, COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND POLICY MAKERS TO DEVELOP A BALANCED SOLUTION THAT UPHOLDS OUR SHARED VALUES WITHOUT RISK OF THE LIVES OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC SERVANTS. COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I, I REALLY WANNA RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, HOPE'S VOICE. UH, BUT YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE RISK TO CITY EMPLOYEES. YES MA'AM. WHAT, AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT RISK TO CITY EMPLOYEES? FOR MYSELF, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE BUDGET CUTS. AND WHEN I SAY BUDGET CUTS, I MEAN FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THE STATE IS GONNA WITHDRAW THE 110, 114 MILLION, THAT MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. IF THE STATE DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT FUNDING, IT HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. THAT MEANS THERE'S PROBABLY GOING POTENTIAL LAYOFFS. OKAY. SO SORRY. 'CAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TYPES OF GRANTS MM-HMM . A HUNDRED OF THE 114 ARE FEDERAL GRANTS. OF THAT A HUNDRED, THERE'S ABOUT 65 MILLION FOR FIFA. THERE'S GRANTS FOR VERY CRITICAL BODY ARMOR VEHICLES. SO WHAT COMMUNICATION DID YOU RECEIVE, OR WHAT MESSAGE DID YOU RECEIVE THAT INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE PERSONNEL CUTS BASED ON, BASED ON HISTORY THAT IN THIS CITY, SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT WE'RE ALREADY STRAPPED FOR FUNDING. YES. SO THEREFORE IF WE'RE GETTING FUNDING FROM THE STATE MM-HMM . THAT MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THINGS AFLOAT. UNDERSTOOD. I THINK WHEN WE GET INTO THE BUDGET, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THOUGH, WE ARE ALREADY OVER 50 MILLION ABOVE IN OVERTIME THAN WHAT WAS BUDGETED FOR. AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN PERSONNEL CUTS. SO AGAIN, I HEAR, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HOPE KNOWS WE'RE, WE'RE LISTENING AND I'M LISTENING WITH OPEN EARS RIGHT NOW. BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A COMMUNICATION THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO, UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE PERSONNEL AND STAFFING CUTS AS A RESULT OF THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY ADDITIONAL BUDGETARY ISSUES GOING ON ISSUES AND THERE HASN'T BEEN THAT RISK. WELL I JUST KNOW THAT WE STILL CONTINUE TO COMPOUND NOT HAVING THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING. WHERE IS IT GONNA COME FROM? AND THE REASON WHY I SAY IT IS A CONCERN OF MINE FOR OUR MUNICIPAL WORKERS, BECAUSE AGAIN, HISTORY HAS SHOWN HERE IT IS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LAY OFF. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING WITH POLICE. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING WITH FIRE. TYPICALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS THE MUNICIPAL WORKERS THAT GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICE IS HEARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MUNICIPAL WORKERS AREN'T THE SCAPEGOATS OF THIS SITUATION DUE TO A POLITICAL PLOY AND, AND UNDERSTOOD. AND I DON'T THINK EMPLOYEES SHOULD EVER, ONE, I DON'T THINK THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS AND I HATE THAT THAT WORD HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND SO MUCH. I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW AND I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE CITY'S AUTHORITY AND AUTONOMY AND RESPECT FOR THE LAW. AT THE SAME TIME, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO CITY EMPLOYEES, UH, AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY. YES MA'AM. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SENECA MCQUEEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA OLIVA. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SENECA MCQUEEN AND I'M A LONG TERM MEMBER OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING WITH FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY POLICING, PROBATION, AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING. SAFE COMMUNITIES WHERE FAMILIES CAN LIVE, WORK AND MOVE WITHOUT FEAR. BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS NOT SAFETY. IT'S A SYSTEM WHERE ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOPS ARE TURNING INTO LIFE ALTERING CONSEQUENCES. DATA SHOWS HVD CONTACTS WITH ICE HAVE INCREASED BY 1000% IN JUST ONE YEAR, OFTEN DURING TRAFFIC STOPS. THAT MEANS SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BROKEN TAILLIGHT CAN LEAD TO THE DETENTION, DEPORTATION AND FAMILIES BEING TORN APART. NOW THE STATE IS THREATENING FUNDING AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SUING HOUSTON. BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT CONTROL. PROPOSITION A IS A STEP TOWARD RESTORING TRUST. IT ENSURES THE HOUSTON POLICE FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. HOUSTON SHOULD NOT GO BACKWARDS. I'M ASKING YOU TODAY, DO NOT REPEAL PROPOSITION [01:55:01] A STAND FIRM. DEFEND THIS ORDINANCE IN COURT. PROTECT THE HOUSTON FAMILIES, NOT POLITICAL PRESSURE. THANK HOUSTON. STAND YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WITH THIS PEOPLE AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SYLVIA OLIVA TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBIN MINOR. HELLO, AL MEYER, A MEMBERS AL MUNICIPAL. SYLVIA OLIVA. SO IN AL, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF, UH, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SYLVIA OLIVA. I'M AN IMMIGRANT MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN AND A PROUD MEMBER OF TOP. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT, UH, VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE THAT LIMITS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HPD AND I. THAT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, TODAY I'M HERE BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO APPEAL THIS DECISION AND I WANT TO EXPRESS, UH, EXPRESS MY, UH, OPPOSING POSITION. WHEN I DRIVE DOWN 59, I CONSTANTLY SEE HPD, UH, STOP WORK TRUCKS, PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING TO MAKE A LIVING. AND ONCE AND ONCE AND ONCE AGAIN AFTER THAT DETENTION, I SHOWS UP. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S ABOUT FEAR AND ABOUT RACIAL PROFILING. UH, DETAINS, DETES ARE NOT CRIMINALS. THEY'RE WORKERS, MOTHERS AND PA AND FATHERS THAT ARE ONLY TRYING TO GET YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. ROBIN. ROBIN MINOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSE SOTO. HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, ONE OR THE OTHER. ALL RIGHT. HI. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ROBIN AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN ONE CORE VALUE. WE ALL SHARE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILT ON TRUST. WHEN PEOPLE TRUST THEIR CITY, THEY CALL FOR HELP, REPORT CRIME AND ENGAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WHEN THEY DON'T, EVERYONE BECOMES LESS SAFE. RIGHT NOW, THAT TRUST IS BEING WEAKENED. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED ITS CONTACT WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENTS FROM JUST A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN PAST YEARS TO OVER A HUNDRED TIMES IN 2025 ALONE. MANY DURING ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOPS. BUT THESE ARE NOT CRIMINAL WARRANTS. THERE ARE CIVIL IMMIGRATION WARRANTS AND, UM, LOCAL POLICE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THEM. BUT THESE ARE YET PEOPLE ARE BEING DETAINED, LONGER CONTACTED, AND IN SOME CASES TRANSFERRED TO ICE CUSTODY. THIS JUST, THIS GOES BEYOND PUBLIC SAFETY. IT CREATES FEAR. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. AND WHEN THE FAMILIES ARE AFRAID, THEY STOP PARTICIPATING IN DAILY LIFE. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT HO JOSE SOTO TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOMORROW. BELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS QUI SOTO. MY NAME PLUS MY SKIN COLOR MAKES ME A TARGET FOR ICE. IF THEY BEGIN TO PATROL IN MASS IN OUR CITY, YOU CAN SAY I HAVE SOME SKIN IN THIS GAME BASED ON SOME PROPUBLICA ACCOUNTS, 170 US CITIZENS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN WRONGFULLY DETAINED BY ICE AND THAT'S JUST [02:00:01] ONE TOO MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS. BUT TODAY I'M HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE, HOPE ASME LOCAL 1, 2 3 WORKERS UNION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE SOLE EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING AGENT FOR OVER 11,000 MUNICIPAL WORKERS AND CLOSE TO 4,000 UNION MEMBERS. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE VOTE ON THIS ORDINANCE WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR VOTED FOR WHO VOTED FOR THIS. BUT NOW THE REALITY FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IS HITTING THE ECONOMICS OF THE CITY. AND THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES ARE AT STATE HOPE MEMBERS BELIEVE WE NEED TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE PERIOD. WHY? IT BREAKS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND LET'S FACE IT, IF WE DON'T GET THIS MONEY AND OTHER GRANTS ARE HIT, WE COULD LOSE UP TO 2000 CITY EMPLOYEES TO LAYOFFS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO REMIND EACH OF YOU THAT THE MOMENT WHEN THE 2.39 MILLION RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON WAKE UP, THEY RELY ON MUNICIPAL WORKERS TO PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCILOR SALINAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO COUNCIL. YOU MENTIONED A STAT THAT WE COULD LOSE UP TO 2000 CITY WORKERS. WHAT IS THAT BASED ON? JUST THE, UM, PAST, UH, PAST BUDGETS, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WHAT IF WE DON'T FUND THIS MUCH MONEY, HOW WE THINK. THAT'S AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT COULD BE ASKED TO, UH, MAKE UP THE FUNDING TO GIVE BACK TO HPD AND OTHER GRANTS. DID SOMEBODY GIVE YOU THAT ESTIMATE? NO. WE'VE JUST BEEN WORKING ON THIS OURSELVES. OKAY. AND WHAT PARTICULAR GRANTS DO YOU THINK ADD UP TO THE 2000? DO YOU HAVE A LIST SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ONE, I DO NOT HAVE A LIST. NOT NOT, I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE YET FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. OTHER THAN I KNOW THAT MANY DEPARTMENTS RELY ON FUNDING FROM THE STATE UHHUH . AND WHEN WE SIGN FOR A GRANT, WE HAVE TO SIGN THAT WE WILL ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. THANK YOU COUNCILOR THOMAS. UH, THANKS FOR COMING TO SPEAK. THESE DOLLARS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GENERAL FUND. THESE ARE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH UNDERWRITES, WHICH PAYS FOR MUNICIPAL WORKERS SALARIES. Y'ALL COME, Y'ALL ARE COMING SOON THROUGH THE BUDGET. SO I DON'T WANT THE NARRATIVE TO GO OUT THAT CITY SERVICES WILL BE DISRUPTED. WE'RE TALKING FIFA, WE'RE TALKING RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING FIFA. WE'RE TALKING THIRD PARTY MONEY. FOR US TO WORK WITH NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE VICTIM SERVICES. THIS IS NOT GOING TO DISRUPT, UM, PERSONNEL. AND SO I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO FEEL PRESSURED, UM, OR THE NARRATIVE TO SHAPE THAT. IF WE DON'T, UM, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH AMENDING THE ITEM THAT IT'S GONNA DISRUPT THE CITY. I BELIEVE HOUSTONIANS ARE WORTH MORE THAN $110 MILLION. RIGHT? SO, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME TYPE, TAKE SOME TYPE OF POSITION. BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO BE VERY CLEAR AND ACCURATE ABOUT WHAT IS AND, AND, AND SOLID WASTE WORKERS ARE NOT IN JEOPARDY. UH, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIVE WORK, UH, LIBRARY WORKERS ARE NOT IN JEOPARDY. THESE DOLLARS ARE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, HPD IS THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS IN OUR, IN OUR AGENCY. SO WE HAVE TO DISRUPT THAT AND STOP THAT NARRATIVE TODAY. AND AS PRESIDENT SEVEN STATED, WE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD AND AND SHOW THAT WE ARE WATCHING AND HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU TO FIND A SOLUTION IN THE FUTURE ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. HAS ANYONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION TOLD YOU THAT 2000 EMPLOYEES WERE GONNA BE FIRED? NO SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NICK. TOMORROW BELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES DIXON ABOUT DAMN TIME. GOOD LORD. I DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL WERE GONNA BE HONORING THE WHOLE CITY. SPEAKING TO MIKE ON ANOTHER DAY. UH, LISTEN. FIRST OFF, AS A FORMER STATE ACCOUNTANT, UH, FOR OVER 15 YEARS, YES, PASS THROUGH, PASS THROUGH GRANTS CAN'T BE SNATCHED BACK BY THE GOVERNOR. FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE, TO CITIES AND TO UNIVERSITIES ALL DAY LONG. THAT ABSOLUTELY CAN OCCUR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE ENTIRE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND THE ONE WHO BROUGHT PUBLIC SAFETY AS A SUBCOMMITTEE BECAUSE EVERY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. YOU'LL SEE YOU ALL MAY BE YOUNG, YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER, BUT THEY BOMBED ATLANTA WHEN THEY HAD THE OLYMPICS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL COMING HERE. OUR NATION RIGHT NOW GOT MORE ENEMIES THAN WE HAD SINCE WORLD WAR II. AND I MEAN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT. WE NEED THAT MONEY AND WE NEED IT TO BE HERE. YOU THINK MY BLACK ASS AIN'T BEEN PULLED OVER BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING WHILE BLACK. THINK A DAMN AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER WITH MY BABIES IN THE BACK CAR FOR NOTHING. SO YES, I KNOW THOSE THINGS OCCUR, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 35 PEOPLE, A 2.6 MILLION CITY POPULATION THAT WE SHOULD RISK LOSING THIS MONEY. HELL NO. WE SHOULDN'T RISK IT. SO DON'T CLAP FOR ME 'CAUSE YOU AIN'T GONNA LIKE WHAT I GOT. GOTTA SAY I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. I'M TELLING Y'ALL WE NEED TO GET THE MONEY, BUT YOU NEED TO WORK OUT THIS SITUATION. WE ARE NOT IMMIGRATION LAWYERS. YOUR TIME. WE CAN'T DO IT. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. MS. BELL JUST WANTED TO SAY I ENJOYED WATCHING LAST SUNDAY. THANK YOU DARLING. COUNCILOR DAVIS TOMORROW. HELLO? YES. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASK YOU [02:05:01] A QUESTION. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT, WE'VE HEARD THE WORD PROFILING YES. QUITE A BIT. YES. UM, FOR THOSE, AND I'M OLDER THAN YOU AND AND I'VE SAID BEFORE, I KNOW WHAT IT IS. YES. BUT WE DON'T, WE EITHER DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GONNA LIVE YESTERDAY OR TODAY. ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE PEOPLE COMING HERE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE INDIGNATION OF THE 33 PEOPLE THAT WERE TURNED OVER BY HPD HELD THOUSANDS. I TURNED OVER AT HARRIS COUNTY UNDER EDGE GONZALEZ, Y'ALL DON'T SAY S**T. I MEAN Y'ALL DON'T SAY NOTHING. Y'ALL DON'T SAY NOTHING. BUT Y'ALL COMING DOWN HERE ABOUT THE 33 A THOUSANDS DAILY ISIS IN THE JAIL. THEY'RE IN THERE. AND YOU COULD BE IN THERE 'CAUSE YOU HAD A TAIL LIGHT BUSTED. YOU DIDN'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THAT AND ISIS RIGHT THERE. BUT Y'ALL COMING HERE B******G AT THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE 30 SOMETHING PEOPLE. Y'ALL NEED TO GET THIS TOGETHER. FIFA IS IN SIX DAMN WEEKS. WE AIN'T READY. SO THE DAMN SPRING BREAK WAS A DAMN SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA SHOW. IT WAS. WE ARE NOT READY. WE GOT DAMN PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE BAYOU. WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL THEY GOT THERE. WE AIN'T READY. THE PUBLIC AIN'T SAFE. DO NOT RETURN THIS DAMN MONEY. NOW, TOMORROW. LET ME LAST ONE AND I'LL BE DONE. AND WE, WE KNOW WHERE WE LIVE IN DISTRICT DEED. NOW MY POINT IS THERE WAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE RODEO. YES. DURING, UH, OTHER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE. YES. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. ABSOLUTELY. AND IT AFFECTS ALL, TRUST ME, WE GET IT. SO I JUST WANNA KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THE COUNTY. YES. AND I'VE SAID THAT TO PEOPLE BEFORE. SO ARE YOU AWARE THAT THIS HAS WENT TO THE COUNTY? IS THERE, IF THIS ISSUE GONE TO THE COUNTY, I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS WINTER. THE COUNTY. I THINK IT MUST HAVE CAME UP BECAUSE, UH, I WON'T SAY HIS NAME 'CAUSE I CAN'T STAND HIS ASS. HE WAS GONNA BRING IT UP THEN THURSDAY, THEN HE REPEALED IT. SO I GUESS IT DID COME UP THERE. BUT I'M TELLING YOU ALL THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT YOU SPRING BREAK WAS A DISASTER. IT WAS, WE WERE NOT READY. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE TO COMMIT CRIMES BECAUSE THE WORLD CUP IS HERE. WE NEED EVERY SURVEILLANCE, DRONE, WHATEVER. YOU GOT PEOPLE WHO BRINGING BABIES IN FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE NEED TO PROTECT THEM. DON'T PULL ME. I'LL GIVE A S**T. OKAY, Y'ALL AM I DONE? OKAY. THANK HEY, JAMES DIXON. NO, I'M NOT. ABSOLUTELY NOT. LADIES. GENTLEMEN, LET US, LET US PRAY. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT IS A A DIFFICULT DAY FOR ALL OF US HERE AT HOUSTON AND RIGHTFULLY SO BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE. AND I CAME TODAY OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTING THE HOUSTON N-A-A-C-P CLERGY CONCERNED CITIZENS. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY I TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB. I DON'T THINK ANY PERSON IN THIS AUDIENCE WOULD WANT TO TRADE PLACES WITH YOU IF THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD HOW TOUGH YOUR JOB ACTUALLY IS. [02:10:01] YOUR JOBS ARE THE NACP VOTED UNANIMOUSLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO SUPPORT YOUR POSITION, MAYOR, THE POSITION OF 12 COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION A. AND WE VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THAT BECAUSE WE TOO BELIEVE, AS ALL OF YOU BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, IN CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE CONSTITUTION AND DIGNIFYING EVERY HUMAN BEING OR RECOGNIZING EVERYONE'S SACRED HUMANITY, BE THERE AN IMMIGRANT OR NOT. YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM MY TIME. OF COURSE. GO RIGHT AHEAD JAMES. PASTOR AND I'LL BE EXTREMELY CONCISE. WE BELIEVE IN THOSE VALUES AND WE BELIEVE, WE BELIEVE IN FOLLOWING CONSTITUTIONAL LAW. IT IS QUITE EVIDENT THAT THIS ISSUE HAS GROWN TO A POINT WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS ARE INVOLVED BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY IMMIGRANTS AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR NOT TREATED THE SAME IN OUR CITY, IN OUR STATE, IN OUR NATION. WE'VE OBSERVED ACTORS OF ICE IN OTHER PLACES AND HERE THAT NONE OF US APPROVE OF. BUT I WANNA SAY THAT DOES NOT MAKE US ANTI LAW ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE A TRACK RECORD WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS CITY THAT GOES BACK YEARS. I HAVE STOOD WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS CITY ACROSS THE STATE. I'VE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS NATIONALLY SUPPORTING POLICE. SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER WE SUPPORT POLICE OR DON'T AGREE WITH POLICE. WE SUPPORT POLICE AND WE SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY. WE WANT ALL THE MONEY TO STAY IN HOUSTON. WE NEED IT, BUT WE JUST DON'T WANT IT AT THE WRONG COST. AND I THINK COUNSELING CAYMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? DO DO YOU HAVE MOVE TO EXTEND I'LL BUT COUNCILMAN POLLARD? THANK YOU MAYOR BISHOP, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, UH, LOOKED AT THIS ORDINANCE VERY THOUGHTFULLY AS WELL AS THE NAACP. THE NAACP IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY OF THOSE OF, UH, PEOPLE OF COLOR. WE'VE HAD TO USE THE COURT SYSTEM TO DO IT. WE'VE HAD TO USE PEACEFUL PROTESTS TO DO IT. MM-HMM . WE'VE HAD TO USE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO DO IT. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, IT IS NOT A QUESTION OVER SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THESE PARTICULAR DOLLARS, BUT MORE SO A THREAT OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND TO BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT ARGUMENT. AND BUT FOR THOSE OUTSIDE PROTESTING, THOSE IN HERE, MAKING TESTIMONY US APPEAR ON THIS BODY MANY TIMES IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, BUT FOR THE ACTIONS OF THOSE WITHIN THE NAACP AND NAACP AND OTHERS, WE WOULD NEVER HAVE CERTAIN ADVANCEMENT OR CERTAIN RIGHTS PROTECTED. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD IN THIS ARENA AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF THE BOARD OF THE NAACP IS HEARD. AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR US AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. EVAN SHABAZZ. EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU BISHOP. THIS HAS NOT COME UP, BUT WE ARE OF COURSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD CUP AND THE WORLD CUP MONEY. HAS ANYBODY CONSIDERED HOW THE PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES MAY FEEL HOW SAFE THEY FEEL COMING TO A CITY WHERE ICE IS ALLOWED TO RUN RAMPANT? THAT IS MY QUESTION COUNCILWOMAN. THAT IS A RELEVANT QUESTION WE HAVE THAT'S SO MUCH AT STAKE HERE. LOCAL CITIZENS, OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE COMING FROM AFAR HAVE A RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK, [02:15:01] AND I'LL TRY TO JUST PINPOINT THIS, CIVIL DISCOURSE IS THE ONLY WAY TO COME TO AMICABLE SOLUTIONS THAT MEET THE THRESHOLD OF JUSTICE AND THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL PEOPLE. AND I'M ASKING URGENTLY TODAY, WE ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF EITHER DISASTER OR WE'RE GONNA PROVE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND NOT BE MOTIVATED BY WHAT I WOULD CALL TOXIC TRIBALISM AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE REALLY ONE CITY AND IT'S GONNA TAKE THIS COUNCIL, THIS BODY TO THINK THROUGH EVERY WORD IN THIS AGREEMENT, IN THIS ORDINANCE AND BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES. IF IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE, MAKE SURE IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE. AND I'LL SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 40 PLUS YEARS. I'M GETTING OLDER. WE KNOW WHAT SELF SMELLS LIKE AND WE NEED TO BE DETERMINED TO GET THIS RIGHT. ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND NOT FIGHT IN PUBLIC WHEN WE'VE NOT DEVELOPED CONVERSATIONS IN PRIVATE. VERY GOOD. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, BISHOP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS AND FOR BRINGING PEACE AND INTENTIONALITY TO THE CONVERSATION. UH, BUT ALSO FOR THE NAACP OF WHICH MY COLLEAGUE SERVES YOU ARE A LEADER. THERE'S MANY OTHERS THAT PARTNER, I KNOW WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE THAT ARE HERE TODAY AS WELL. UM, BUT FOR YOUR STAND FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GIVES ME CONCERN ABOUT THE CHANGES BEING PUT FORWARD AGAIN, WE ARE JUST NOW GETTING THEM. SO THERE'S A TIME ISSUE HERE. 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK Y'ALL HAVE HAD TIME, BUT DO YOU, AFTER REVIEW, DOES THE NAACP PLAN TO COME BACK TO PROVIDE, LIKE AGAIN, YOU SUPPORTED THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. ARE Y'ALL PLANNING TO COME BACK OR DO YOU WANT US TO, LIKE IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION TODAY? I WAS ABOUT TO SAY OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE GET A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE, TO HAVE SOME INPUT, TO HAVE SOME DIALOGUE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A DECISION OF YOUR CONVICTIONS. WE'VE HAD A CH HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT. AND I THINK IT DESERVES IT. I THINK IT MERITS IT, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN BE THE MODEL FOR THE STATE AND A MODEL FOR THE NATION TO SAY WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH, MATURE LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WE DO THAT HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. ALRIGHT, GABRIEL. GABRIEL FULLER. FELIPE WOODS. ARE YOU PHILIPPE TO BE FOLLOWED BY EMILY HAYNES. I WILL MAKE THIS, I WILL KEEP THIS BRIEF. I OPPOSE ITEM 11 THAT WOULD AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS'S ORDINANCE, UM, THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY FOUND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. ARE WE GONNA MAKE OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENCE LESS SAFE? ESPECIALLY AFTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER HIDING WHAT THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT WOULD EDIT. UNTIL NOW. ARE YOU TRYING TO TAKE US LIKE A BUNCH OF FOOLS? WE'RE NOT STUPID. WE OPPOSE, WE WE'RE NOT STUPID BY, BY THE ACTIONS YOU ALL JUST TOOK. SO WE OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE AND I HOPE Y'ALL OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE AND WE HOPE Y'ALL OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE THAT STAND UP FOR HOUSTONIANS EVERYWHERE AND STAND UP TO UP TO THE BULLIES IN AUSTIN. EMILY HAYNES. HE DID THE ONE SPEAKING. I THOUGHT THAT WAS HER. JESS S SPILLER. REUBEN GARZA. THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS REUBEN GARZA. UH, I'M NORMALLY REPRESENTING [02:20:01] A COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS, BUT HERE I'M ON MY OWN ACCORD. UH, I HAD SOME STUFF PREVIOUSLY PREPARED, BUT THEN I SAW THE AMENDED ORDINANCE AND I, I'M JUST GONNA BRIEFLY SAY, UH, OH. OH, AND BY THE WAY, I AM AN ATTORNEY, BUT I'M NOT OFFERING LEGAL ADVICE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. UM, JUST TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THE AMENDED LANGUAGE HERE. THIS IS NOT UP TO CONSTITUTIONAL SNUFF AND WE'RE RUNNING INTO A BUZZ SAW THIS GETS PASSED. UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FURTHER DELAY AND CONSIDER DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, UH, THAT COMPLIES WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES, UH, PARTICULARLY THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. AND LASTLY, I DO WANNA SAY THAT THIS ENTIRE DEBATE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, UH, EXPOSES HOUSTON'S FRAGILITY. WE'VE LOST OUR AUTONOMY. WE'RE FRAGILE. WE'RE A BROKE CITY, AND WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE ON PROMOTING ECONOMICALLY RESILIENT COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN OUR STREETS SAFE WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR OR THE PRESIDENT'S MEDDLING. SO LIKE YOU SAY, MR. MAYOR, LET'S GET TO WORK ON MAKING HOUSTON STRONGER. THANK YOU. HEY, RAIN EATON TO BE FOLLOWED BY CONNOR VIKE OF THE PORT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. FIRST I WANNA OPENLY SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO YOUR JOB. MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I TRY TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS EVERY TIME WE SPEAK BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE NO REAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE IN YOUR LEADERSHIP POSITION. BUT I SAY WHAT I SAY AND I OFFER MY CRITIQUES BECAUSE SIMPLY PUT, AT THIS POINT, HOUSTONIANS, WHETHER CITIZENS OR NOT ARE SCARED ME PERSONALLY, I'M SCARED FOR MY FRIENDS, MY STUDENTS THAT I TEACH, AND ALL HOUSTONIANS THAT MAKE THE CITY GREAT. PERCEIVED SAFETY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PUBLIC SAFETY. AND NONE OF US FEEL SAFE IF OUR LEADER DOESN'T STAND WITH US AND WITH THE LEADERS THAT WE VOTED FOR. YOU VOTED WITH THE MAJORITY LAST WEEK, MEANING YOU DID YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT THE LAW THAT YOU WERE VOTING ON WAS LEGAL. SO DOING AN ABOUT FACE SO QUICKLY AND SO RAPIDLY DOES NOT VOTE CONFIDENCE FOR ANY OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE IN A VERY STICKY AND HORRIBLE PREDICAMENT, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR HOUSTONIANS, BUT IN ORDER TO WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR HOUSTONIANS, YOU WANT OUR SAFETY. YOU WANT US TO BE SAFE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. YOU WANT US TO BE HERE AND OUR ABILITY TO BE HERE IS PREDICATED ON YOU MAKING LAWS THAT ALLOW US TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE DO NOT REPEAL THIS. PLEASE DO NOT AMEND THIS LAW. THANK YOU. THIS IS GOING TO BE A BETTERMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY IF WE KEEP THE LAW AS IS AND MAKE RESIDENTS SAFER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK CONNOR VIKE OF THE PORT TO BE FOLLOWED BY TIMOTHY TAFT. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. I'M GLAD TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL DAY TODAY ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT IS EXISTENTIALLY IMPORTANT VALUES. WHAT ARE YOUR CORE VALUES? WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS BEHIND EVERY DECISION YOU YOU MAKE, WHETHER THEY'RE BIG OR SMALL? I WANT US ALL TO THINK ABOUT THIS DURING MY TIME AND AFTER IT. THE VALUE OF COURAGE STANDS OUT BECAUSE IT MAKES OR BREAKS ALL OTHERS. IT IS THE BULWARK AGAINST OUR WORST TENDENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE CLAIM TO VALUE JUSTICE, BUT WE COUNTER OUT, BUT WE COWER OUT OF FEAR OF RETALIATION. WHEN WE SEE INJUSTICE, IN WHAT SENSE DID WE VALUE JUSTICE IN THE FIRST PLACE? LIVING BY OUR VALUES MEANS TO CONSTANTLY INVITE THE DISCOMFORT OF HAVING THEM CHALLENGED. BUT IF WE ARE COURAGEOUS, WE CAN LEARN TO LIVE IN THAT DISCOMFORT AND EMERGE ON THE ON THE OTHER SIDE BETTER FOR IT. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE ARE NOT COURAGEOUS, WE LET CHALLENGES TO OUR VALUES, SHRINK THEM INTO THEY ARE ALL BUT NON-EXISTENT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TIMOTHY TAFT TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER JENKINS TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TIMOTHY TAFT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT F AND HAVE RESIDED IN HOUSTON SINCE 1968, EXCEPT FOR TWO YEARS IN THE ARMY, INCLUDING A TOUR IN VIETNAM. I SERVED AS A HARRIS COUNTY PROSECUTOR FOR 16 YEARS AND A JUSTICE ON THE FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HERE IN HOUSTON FOR 14 AND A HALF YEARS. I ALSO SERVED SEVEN YEARS IN THE TEXAS AIRBORNE NATIONAL GUARD AND 16 YEARS AS DEACON AND TREASURE OF PINE VALLEY BIBLE CHURCH. MY WIFE, WHO IS A NATIVE HOUSTON. AND I CONTINUE OUR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS CITIZENS ON PATROL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF REPEALING THE ANTI-ICE ORDINANCE. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE BY DEFINITION LAW BREAKERS. THE ORDINANCE ELEVATED THE CONCERNS OF LAW BREAKERS OVER LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT PUT POLICE [02:25:01] OFFICERS IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION OF SHIELDING LAW BREAKERS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO I URGED THIS BODY TO REPEAL THE ANTI ANTI ORDINANCE AND RETURNED TO THE MAYOR'S REASONABLE POSSIBILITY. YOUR 30 DAY ATTENTION FOR THE ICE WARRANT. THANK YOU. MAY I SUBMIT COPIES TO THE CLERK CHRISTOPHER JENKINS TO BE FOLLOWED BY? HI BOWIE AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL MAYOR. HELLO SALINAS. HOW YOU DOING? MS. SALINAS? COUNCILWOMAN, UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON, UH, THE ICE ISSUE. UM, BASICALLY, UH, HOOD ORGANIZATION CAMPAIGN SUSTAINABILITY. ECONOMICALLY, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OTHER ORDINANCE BECAUSE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN LETTING US DOWN FOR TOO LONG. EVERY TIME THE STATE SEE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO RISE, TO TRY TO KNOCK US DOWN. THIS HAS LED US TO HUMANITARIAN TO HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. IN THE PAST YEARS WITH HPD POLICIES HAS INCRIMINATED THE, UH, RESIDENTS ADDED, UH, MORE TO THE HOMELESSNESS AND INCREASED THE JAIL POPULATION. OVERCROWDED JAIL FROM NO-KNOCK WARRANTS TO BO RAIDS TO, UH, CRIME LAB TAMPERED CASES, DEFECTIVE FIREARMS, ABUSIVE AUTHORITY, ET CETERA, UH, NON TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, CATCH AND RELEASE. IN THE PAST, I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT WEAPONIZED SYSTEMS AGAINST THE CITIZENS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. UH, THE HPD UNION FOPI DO IS BEG FOR MONEY. THEY DON'T HAVE A STANDARD UP FOR THEIR WORKERS AND CLIENTS. DISTRICT BY STAYED IN HARRISON HARASSMENT TO CITIZENS DISTRICT J ENABLING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. DISTRICT D PUBLIC SAFETY. WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS GOVERNOR. THANK YOU. HI, BOWIE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NIKKI UE, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BUIE, I'M THE FOUNDER. WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZE. I'M HERE TO ASK ONE QUESTION, ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. DOES HPD HAVE A 2 87 G AGREEMENT? IF HPDD WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE ICE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, THERE SHOULD BE A SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT. SO WHERE IS IT? HAS THIS CITY COUNCIL SEEN IT? HAS THE MEDIA SEEN IT? AND IF THERE'S NO AGREEMENT THAT HOUSTON DESERVES ANSWERS, WILL OFFICERS USED WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY? DID THEY HAVE THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE? DID THEY RECEIVE THE REQUIRED ICE TRAINING? AND WHY WAS MONEY ACCEPTED IF THE LEGAL FOUNDATION WAS MISSING? THIS IS NOT JUST PAPERWORK, THIS IS ACCOUNTABILITY. NO AGREEMENT, NO EXCUSES, NO MORE GAMES SHOW HOUSTON. THE 2 87 G PAPERWORK OR ADMITTED WAS NEVER THERE. THANK YOU. NEXT, NIKKI LUN. SHE DON'T LOOK LIKE I CHAIN RON CARR TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRAN TREVINO, HONORABLE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. TOMORROW'S IMPORTANT VOTE IS WHAT I'M CONVEYING A MESSAGE ABOUT. AND BY NOT ALLOWING OUR HPD OFFICERS TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND COOPERATING WITH ICE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE BY DEFAULT, THE CAUSE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON LOSING $110 MILLION OF STATE FEDERAL FUNDING. NUMBER ONE, LOSING THE WORLD CUP SECURITY FUNDING. NUMBER TWO, LOSING VALUABLE POLICE RESOURCES. NUMBER THREE, LOSING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. NUMBER FOUR, LOSING $10 MILLION OF HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT. NUMBER FIVE, LOSING $440,000 OF HPD BODY ARMOR NUMBER SIX, LOSING 379,000 HPD INTERNET TASK FORCE FUNDING. NUMBER SEVEN, LOSING THOUSAND FAMILY VIOLENCE FUND. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, DO THE RIGHT THING. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, EXCUSE SIR. VOTING TO FOLLOW TEXAS DPS LEAD AND FULLY COOPERATING WITH ICE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. SIR. SIR, SIR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT UH, THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT FORTH THAT WE VOTED ON LAST WEEK, UH, WENT THROUGH A RIGOROUS, [02:30:01] UH, VETTING OF OUR CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT. AND THERE WAS A FINDING FROM OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW AND THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT WE PUT FORTH DID NOT VIOLATE SB FOUR AND WE SPECIFICALLY TAILORED IT AND CONSTRUCTED IT SO THAT, UH, THERE WOULD BE NO VIOLATION. AND SO I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT UPFRONT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, THE R TREVINO TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUBREY CONTRERAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S ANDINO. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, CONCERNS THAT I HAVE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, HOUSTON IS IN CRISIS AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, BUT THE THING IS THAT OUR CURRENT IMMIGRATION SITUATION IS MAKING THINGS WORSE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING DEPORTED ARE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, FOR PAYING THE BILLS. AND A LOT OF FAMILIES RIGHT NOW ARE IN CRISIS BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE LOSING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING THEM UPHOLD THOSE COMMUNITIES. AND SO IF WE WERE ALREADY HAVING CLOSE TO 50% FOOD INSECURITY, THAT NUMBER IS GOING UP. I'M TELLING YOU THAT NUMBER IS GOING UP AND THE RECESSION IS HITTING HERE FIRST MORE FOR BEFORE ANYWHERE ELSE IN AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE COMMENT THAT WE HEARD EARLIER, UM, ASKING PEOPLE FOR THEIR PAPERS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE ILLEGAL. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF COMMENTS I'VE HEARD FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SHOW MY PAPERS MANY TIMES, AND I'M A US CITIZEN, SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF YOU ARE HERE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE'RE STILL VICTIMS AND WE'RE STILL TO THIS HARASSMENT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE LOOK. AND IT IS NOT OKAY. COUNCILMAN KAMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND I, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN HARD FOR YOU. UH, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING ELSE. AND AGAIN, I KNOW I THINK YOU'RE HERE WITH YOUR LITTLE ONE, AND I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO DO AS WELL. SO IF YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, JUST TWO MORE THINGS THAT I WANNA MENTION IS IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY MATTER WHERE WE COME FROM BECAUSE MY ANCESTORS ARE FROM THIS LAND. LIKE, YES, I'M A NATURALIZED CITIZEN, BUT MY MY ANCESTORS ARE FROM NORTH MEXICO AND SOUTH TEXAS. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. MY MY BABY IS PART CATO IN COMANCHE. HE'S BEEN, HIS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SO IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY MATTER WHERE WE COME FROM. AND IT'S UNFAIR FOR US TO HAVE TO KEEP DEFENDING OUR RIGHT TO BE HERE WHEN WE'RE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THIS CITY AND OF THIS STATE. I WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE MY COMMUNITY BETTER ALL THE TIME. AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT I KNOW THAT THE, I HEARD THAT THE MAYOR DOESN'T THINK THAT THIS IS A, A FIGHT WORTH HAVING WITH THE GOVERNOR, BUT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON DESERVE A FIGHT. THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON DESERVE THE EFFORT. WE, WE ARE WORTH THAT EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK SO MUCH. NEXT AUBREY CONTRERAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAROLINA BUSTOS. FIND, HOLD ON TO . AND HELLO, MY NAME IS AUBREY CONTRERAS. I'M PART OF THE S COLLABORATIVE. I'M TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MANY OF US ARE WORRIED ABOUT AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BE, ESPECIALLY NOT KIDS MY AGE. I'M ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, BUT MANY KIDS MY AGE AND YOUNGER ARE SCARED AND STRESSED OVER ICE ACTIVITY IN OUR CITY AT SCHOOL. I HAVE TO LISTEN TO PEERS AND TEACHERS MAKE HURTFUL COMMENTS SUCH AS GO BACK TO MEXICO, OR IMAGINE CREATING A CITY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS AND HEARING THE CLASS LAUGH. LAUGH IN DECEMBER, LAUGH IN DECEMBER, A TEACHER ASKED ME IF I WAS BEING DEPORTED BECAUSE I, I SAID I HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN TO MEXICO. I HEARD ABOUT HOW HOUSTON IS RECEIVING THREATS FROM ABBOTT SAYING HE'LL TAKE THE BENEFITS AWAY FROM US. AND THEY'RE SAYING IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S MONEY. BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. THOSE FUNDS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY COME FROM PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLARS. FROM RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTE, FROM PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING. WHY DO, WHY DO THEY SUDDENLY BELONG TO THE GOVERNOR? TO, TO DO AS HE WISHES? DO WE REMEMBER NO TAX TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. TAXPAYER, TAXPAYERS DID NOT GIVE TAXES TO THE GOVERNOR. THEY PAY IT WITH TRUST. THAT, THAT IT WOULD HELP SERVE THE PEOPLE NOT AS A GIFT FOR THE SPECIAL INTEREST OF THOSE VOTED INTO OFFICE. THANK YOU. THE PEOPLE DESERVE CLARITY AROUND WHY AND HOW OUR TAX PAYERS DOLLARS ARE BEING PAID VERY GOOD. WE DESERVE TO BE REPRESENTED AND INCLUDED. THIS IS OUR RIGHT. UNLESS THAT'S JUST A LIE THAT WE ARE TOLD SCHOOL TO KEEP US HAPPY UNTIL WE REALIZE. THANK YOU COUNCIL, IS IT HAPPENING? HAPPENING? THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MA'AM. [02:35:08] YOU, YOU SAID YOU WERE 12? YES. I'M 12 YEARS OLD. I WISH, UH, I COULD HAVE SPOKEN THE WAY THAT YOU JUST SPOKE AT 12. AND VERY GOOD. I KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF, I'M SURE YOUR FRIENDS THAT CAN'T SPEAK RIGHT NOW. UM, SO ARE YOUR, ARE EITHER YOUR PARENTS IN THE AUDIENCE? YES. UM, MY MOM. MOM. UH, WELL DONE. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MITCH CAROLINA. CAROLINA BUSTOS. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. MY NAME IS CAROLINA BUSTOS MONEY IN JULY, 2025, THE STARTING SALARY FOR HOUSTON FOR A HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER WAS 81,600 LAST YEAR, CITY COUNCIL VOTED THAT OFFICERS WOULD RECEIVE A TOTAL PAY BUMP OF NEARLY 37%. AND NOW WE HAVE HPD OVERTIME SPENDING AT AN ALL TIME HIGH $74 MILLION SURPASSING THE 20, THE 45 MILLION BUDGET BY 29 BY ROUGHLY $29 MILLION. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME POLICE OFFICERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FUNDING, BUT THE CITY HAS ALREADY START, HAS ALREADY SACRIFICED A LOT TO PAY THEM WELL, AND, AND COMPETITIVELY WE'VE LOST FUNDING FOR OTHER SERVICES. ONE SENIOR OFFICER MATTHEW DAVIS, ANNUAL SALARY WAS 90,000. DAVIS RECEIVED 170,000 IN JUST OVERTIME ALONE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, AN ANTHONY HUBBARD. ANTHONY HUBBARD, DAVIS DEMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAX MAX EMILIANO DIAZ. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR FLIP MEYER. UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING THE ORDINANCE AS IS. YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THAT. SO TODAY I WANNA DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. I WANNA SPEND THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME ON A LITTLE COMMUNITY ART PROJECT. IT'S SOMETHING I'M WORKING ON CALLED, CALLED PORTRAITS OF COURAGE AND COWARDICE. SO I'M JUST GONNA GO AROUND AND GET PICTURES OF EACH OF YOU. UH, MR. DAVIS SMILE AND WAVE COUNCILOR DAVIS. YEP. WELL, IT'S, IT'S CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY MAYOR. COURAGE. I'M LOOKING AT COURAGE. I'M LOOKING AT COURAGE. COURAGE. COWARDICE. GO AHEAD. NEXT, MAX. EMILIANO DIAZ, MAX EMILIANO SWEAR. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE HEARD THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS ILLEGAL. THERE IS ONLY SYMBOLIC THERE RISK FUNDING THAT DRAWS ATTENTION TO HOUSTON AND THAT WE SHOULD TRUST OFFICER DISCRETION INSTEAD OF ADOPTING CLEAR RULES, AS YOU JUST SAW, THAT'S OFFICER DISCRETION. BUT THE ORDINANCE DOES ONE THING. IT MAKES CLEAR THAT A STOP CANNOT BE PROLONGED BEYOND ITS LAWFUL PURPOSE. AND A CIVIL IMMIGRATION WARRANT STANDING ALONE IS NOT PROBABLE CAUSE FOR ARREST OR CONTINUED DETENTION. THAT IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE STATE LAW OR ANY GRANT AGREEMENT. THAT IS SIMPLY A COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IN THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT, THE PHRASE, AND FOR OTHER LEGITIMATE PURPOSES DISCOVERED DURING THE DETENTION EXISTS. THAT IS THE EXACT VAGUENESS THAT INVITES UNCONSTITUTIONAL PROLONGATION OF STOPS AND OPENS THIS CITY UP TO CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUITS. IF YOU ADOPT LANGUAGE LIKE THAT, THE LIBRARY FROM FOR AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS WILL MAKE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. LOOK SMALL. THANK YOU. NEXT MARGO FEND TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEREMY PEELE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY [02:40:01] NAME IS MARGO FRICK. I'M A DI UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO KEEP THE ORDINANCE LIMITING HPDS COOPERATION WITH ICE AND TO CHALLENGE THE STATE'S ATTEMPT TO COERCE HOUSTON INTO REPEALING IT. COUNSEL PASSED THIS OR ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND BECAUSE THE LAW SUPPORTS IT, THIS POLICY IS NOT RADICAL. IT REFLECTS THE FOURTH AMENDMENT THAT ONCE A STOP IS COMPLETE, A PERSON CANNOT BE DETAINED WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY. WE'RE BEING TOLD THERE'S ONLY TWO CHOICES. REPEAL THE ORDINANCE OR LOSE FUNDING. BUT THAT IS A FALSE CHOICE. THE STATE'S THREAT TO WITHHOLD PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING IS UNLAWFUL COERCION. LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT THE CITY HAS A STRONG CASE. AND WHEN YOU FIGHT, YOU OFTEN WIN. HOUSTON SHOULD DEFEND THIS POLICY AND STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF ITS RESIDENTS. I URGE YOU TO KEEP THE ORDINANCE AND TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION TO D DEFEND IT. DON'T SURRENDER OUR RIGHTS TO A BULLY. THANK YOU. JEREMY PEEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHE DAWSON. IMAGINE PASSING BEFORE I SPEAK. I'M REFERRING TO IT. ALL RIGHT, IT'S GOING AROUND. SO I'LL START. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS JEREMY PEELE AND I'M AN ATTORNEY LIVING IN DISTRICT C. A WEEK AGO DURING PUBLIC SESSION, THE MAYOR SAID, QUOTE, IT'S TIME TO QUIT HAVING OUTSIDE SOURCES COME IN AND GIVE THEIR LEGAL OPINIONS. WELL, MAYOR THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OPINION OF YOUR VERY OWN LEGAL DEPARTMENT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS THE MEMO FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ADDRESSING THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH I OBTAINED THROUGH A TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUEST. IF YOU TURN TO THE HIGHLIGHTED TEXT ON PAGES THREE AND FOUR, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS MEMO CITING BOTH US SUPREME COURT AND TEXAS CASE LAW, MAKES CLEAR THAT PROLONGING A TRAFFIC STOP EVEN BRIEFLY WITHOUT REASONABLE SUSPICION OF A CRIME RAISES SERIOUS FOURTH AMENDMENT CONCERNS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN ST. GEORGE V STATE, ONE OF THE TEXAS CASES CITED, THE COURT HELD THAT AFTER THE PURPOSE OF A TRAFFIC STOP HAS BEEN COMPLETED, CONTINUED DETENTION IS UNLAWFUL WITHOUT REASONABLE SUSPICION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. AND WE'VE ALREADY STATED, AN ICE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT IS CIVIL, NOT CRIMINAL, AND DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT JUSTIFICATION. SO THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS NOT POLITICAL. IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL. THE CASE LAW IS CLEAR AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY OUR HEALTH IS CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. EACH OF YOU SITTING IN THE HORSESHOE TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION. THANK YOU. NOT SELECTIVELY, NOT WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, BUT ALWAYS THANK YOU. AND IF THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT LITIGATING THIS IN A TEXAS COURT, THIS IS A FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE. COUNSEL, THE CASE BROUGHT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN BE REMOVED TO A FEDERAL COURT WHERE JUDGES ARE LESS INFLUENCED BY STATE OFFICIALS. SO I URGE YOU, FOLLOW THE LAW, FOLLOW YOUR OATH. DO NOT AMEND OR APPEAL THIS ORDINANCE AND ALLOW THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DEFEND IT. THANK YOU CHERYL DAWSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRACY GIBSON. HELLO, COUNCIL MAYOR. QUESTION, CAN YOU STEP OVER IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICS? EITHER ONE RIGHT HERE. PERFECT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES MA'AM. HELLO COUNCIL. MAYOR, MY QUESTION IS, WHY IS THIS ISSUE SUCH A PRIORITY? ALL THE ISSUES WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WATER PROBLEMS, THE CONSTITU FUNDS DISTRICT DEAL ARE NOT BEING USED FOR OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED. WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? THESE PEOPLE BROKE STATE AND FEDERAL LAW BY COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW A LAW WHEN DRIVING WHILE BLACK. WHERE'S THE ORDINANCE FOR US? WE NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE HISPANICS WHO VOTED HIGHLY FOR TRUMP? WHAT ABOUT THEM IN BRIANA'S DISTRICT? ADRIAN GARCIA? DO THEY AGREE WITH THIS ORDINANCE? NO. EVERYBODY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF AMERICAN CITIZEN. IT WAS NOT FOR ILLEGALS AND SALINAS. I MET WITH YOU AT YOUR OFFICE AND I TOLD YOU, DO NOT PUSH YOUR AGENDA. AND WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU AIN'T BEEN IN THAT SEAT SIX MONTHS AND YOU ON HERE PUSHING THE AGENDA. WE GOT MORE SERIOUS ISSUES TO DEAL WITH IN THIS COUNTRY AND THIS CITY THAN FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. FALL STATE LAW, BECOME LEGAL CITIZENS THE RIGHT WAY. GO HOME AND COME BACK. THEY DON'T LIE THAT IN MEXICO, THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW THIS IN CHINA AND THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW THIS IN JAPAN. IT'S NOT RIGHT. YOU, YOU HAVE TIME. DON'T PUT MY TIME UP NOW. NOW THEY COULD BE DISRESPECTFUL AND I BE MY FOR MY TIME, BUT TELL ME ANYTHING I SAID AIN'T TRUE. GET THEY CITIZENSHIP THE RIGHT WAY, MA'AM. THEY DON'T BREAK STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. MA'AM, MA'AM, WE HAVE A BORDER FOR A REASON. PLEASE TALK TO US AND YIELD TO COUNCIL MCKEN. OKAY, SALINAS. I MA'AM MA'AM, MA'AM, I'M GONNA REQUEST [02:45:01] THAT YOU NOT PERSONALLY ATTACK MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL. I DIDN'T ATTACK HER. I SAID I SPOKE WITH HER AT HER. IT'S MY AND HER CAMPAIGN. IT'S HEADQUARTERS'S. MY, I DID NOT TALK ATTACK HER. MA'AM, DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH, MA'AM. BE RESPECTFUL. MA'AM. I WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTENING AND THERE ARE CHILDREN LISTENING. THERE ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES BEING ILLEGALLY DETAINED BY ICE AT THE MOMENT. IT DO I HAVE THEIR PAPERWORK? YES. AND MA'AM, NO, THERE IS PAPERWORK. THERE IS NO, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR US PAPERWORK. WHERE IS THE PAPERWORK MA'AM? THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A US CITIZEN TO SHOW PAPERS TO ANYONE. SO WHILE WE HAVE MA'AM ICE AND DHS THE PATRIOT ACT, I'M GONNA KEEP TALKING BECAUSE THIS, WHY DO WE HAVE THAT IS I'M GONNA KEEP TALKING BECAUSE THIS IS MY TIME. WE HAVE HAD AN 18 RULE. 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO BE A CITY, STATE AND MAYOR FOLLOW THE LAWS AND THE RULES OF ORDERS. THANK YOU. POINT OF YOUR HONOR, EVERY COUNTRY HAS THIS, EVERY CONTINENT HAS THIS HONOR. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS SALINAS MAYOR. WHY IS THIS THE MAYOR POINT OF ORDER? IT IS MY TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH MY STATEMENT. WELL, CERTAINLY THEN I GO TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER. DON'T I? YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE EITHER ONE OF Y'ALL MIND. I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE ANYBODY'S MIND. NOT CAN I HAVE, UH, LINA TO ANSWER MY QUESTION? I WAS SPEAKING TO HER. NO MAAM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HER. MA'AM, YOU, YOU DON'T ASK THE QUESTIONS. WE ASKED THE QUESTIONS UP HERE. WELL, I COUNCILMAN CAMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER COME UP AND SAY WHAT I NEED TO SAY, UH, SO THAT THIS WOMAN CAN STEP DOWN GIVEN HER TIME IS UP. WELL, TELL ME I SAID ANYTHING WAS FALSE, MA'AM, IT IS FALSE HONOR. COUNCILMAN SALINAS, WHERE YOUR PAPERWORK OKAY, THIS RESPECT, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO COUNCIL. I DON'T BELIEVE I MISREPRESENTED ANYTHING TO YOU, BUT MY TEAM IS HERE. PLEASE MEET WITH THEM. BRYCE RANDALL OR CHRIS CHU. WE'D BE HAPPY TO SCHEDULE A MEETING AND SIT DOWN, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE. BUT I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU AT YOUR CONVENIENCE AND TALK THIS THROUGH. SO IT WAS A PART, THIS ISSUE AT ALL THE ISSUES YOU HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS WAS THE PRIORITY. THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES BEFORE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS YOU KNOW. AND IF YOU LOOK AT MY POLICY PAGE, WE ARE FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF THEM. THIS HAPPENS TO BE THE FIRST PROPOSITION A THAT A NUMBER OF US PUT FORWARD. BUT I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING ON SEVERAL ISSUES, INCLUDING ILLEGAL DUMPING WORKER SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SO MANY MORE. BUT AS YOU KNOW, I JUST GOT TO COUNSEL, TALK ABOUT, SPOKE ABOUT IT. YES MA'AM. BUT I REMAIN WHOLLY COMMITTED TO WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES, HOPEFULLY TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE CITY. BUT PLEASE KNOW, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF IGNORING THAT PROMISE TO YOU. OKAY. VERY WELL. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT AN 18-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WHO HAD LEGAL STATUS WAS DEPORTED. I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE CITIZENS THAT HAVE HAD, EXCUSE ME, NOT CITIZENS, LEGAL ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THIS CITY, IN THIS REGION, IN THIS STATE THAT HAVE HAD THEIR STATUS, YOU KNOW, LATERALLY WITHDRAWN IN COURT WITH ICE WAITING RIGHT THERE FOR THEM. SO THE NARRATIVE AND THE DIALOGUE, AS BISHOP DIXON SAID, WE CAN DO THIS CIVILLY AND WE CAN ENGAGE IN WHAT IS COUNSEL'S LAWFUL AUTHORITY TO DEBATE AND TO DISCUSS ON CRITICAL ISSUES, BUT FACTS OR FACTS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. AND THE LAW IS THE LAW. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, TRACY GIBSON TO BE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA SEGER. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. 12 TO FIVE. THAT'S THE VOTE THAT PASSED PROP A, BUT IT'S ALSO THE TWO THIRD VOTE NEEDED LAST FRIDAY TO REPEAL IT AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AMENDMENT, BECAUSE THAT ONLY TAKES NINE VOTES. IT'S INFURIATING TO WATCH PERFORMATIVE POLITICS PLAY OUT IN REAL TIME. MY NAME IS TRACY GIBSON AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BUT I AM ALSO AN ATTORNEY. AND IF ANY LEGAL ISSUE WITH THIS ORDINANCE, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED LEGAL AND IT WOULD'VE NEVER MADE IT TO THIS FLOOR FOR A VOTE. IT WAS SPONSORED BY THREE ATTORNEYS. IT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AND IT WAS PASSED BY 12 OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR IT, INCLUDING YOU MAYOR, WHO ARE ALSO AN ATTORNEY. IF KEN PAXTON HAD ANY GOOD CASE, HE WOULD'VE FILED HIS LAWSUIT RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY INSTEAD OF IN FORT BEND. HIS CASE IS WEAK AND THEREFORE HOUSTON MUST FIGHT IT. THIS ORDINANCE SAYS HPD CAN'T HOLD US WITHOUT LEGAL CALLS. THAT'S THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND IS ALL OF OUR RIGHTS. AND TO SURRENDER TO ANY EXTORTION ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNOR IS TO SAY THAT OUR RIGHTS ARE NEGOTIABLE TODAY. IT'S THIS ORDINANCE TOMORROW, IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. YOU TOOK AN OATH TO US. HOUSTONIANS. EVERY VOTE CAST IN THIS CHAMBER TOMORROW WILL BE REMEMBERED WHEN WE CAST OUR VOTE IN 2027. COUNCIL [02:50:01] SALINAS MADAME CHAIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. UM, I ASSUME YOU'RE IN DISCUSSION WITH OUR TEXAS DEMOCRATS AROUND THE STATE. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S THREATS? YES. SO AUSTIN AND DALLAS ARE BOTH HOLDING FIRM. AUSTIN HAS BEEN THREATENED TO LOSE OVER $2 MILLION. DALLAS HAS BEEN THREATENED TO LOSE OVER $87 MILLION AND DALLAS IS SAYING THEY WILL RESPOND TO GREG ABBOTT'S LITTLE LETTER, BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE REPEALING ANYTHING. AND SO HOUSTON, THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, NEEDS TO DO THE SAME AND HOLD STRONG AND TAKE THIS FIGHT TO COURTS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AND NOT CAPITULATING. THANK YOU NICK. SOPHIA SAGER. HUGO AVARIO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JK WASHINGTON. THIS WORK? YEP. OKAY. UM, HI, HOW'S IT GOING GUYS? UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE BETWEEN, UH, ICE AND HPD REGARDING THE COOPERATION THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS. UH, THIS JOURNEY FOR ME STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN I REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DISCUSS WHAT THEN WAS TITLED THE COMMUNITY TRUST AND SAFETY ORDINANCE. UM, IN RELATION TO THAT, I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO REPEAL OR AMEND THIS CURRENT, UH, ORDINANCE. BUT IN FACT, I THINK IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS CURRENTLY DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. UH, I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING HERE IS PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS. I THINK THAT THE POSTURING ON YOUR PART MAYOR TO VOTE YES AND THEN QUICKLY FLIP IS COWARDLY. IT DOESN'T REFLECT WELL ON OUR CITY. AND I BELIEVE THAT FOR THAT REASON, YOU'LL SEE 2027 WON'T BE AS FORGIVING AS YOUR TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, AS BEEN ASKED FOR YOU, AND I THINK THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE OUTTA YOUR SEAT. THANK YOU. NEXT JK WASHINGTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLES DILNER OF CYPRUS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M KEN WASHINGTON AND DISTRICT E I'M HERE DUE TO CONCERN FROM OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT CITY COUNCIL'S PROPOSALS TO INHIBIT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM WORKING WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, SPECIFICALLY ICE IN 24 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE, CITY, AND NOW THE COUNTY. I'VE NEVER SEEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CREATE OBSTACLES LIKE NOW TO PREVENT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM DOING THEIR JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WOULD MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE. WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, WHETHER IT WAS DHS ICE, THE MARSHAL SERVICE, FBI, ET CETERA, ESPECIALLY IF WE CAME INTO CONTACT OR KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUAL BEING WANTED. THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS I'VE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL HAVE CREATED HYSTERIA DISTRUST INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. THE CITY COUNCIL SERVES AS A PRIMARY LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSING LOCAL LAWS, ORDINANCES, ADOPTING ANNUAL BUDGET AND PROVEN EXPENDITURES, NOTHING THERE ABOUT ENFOR, UH, ENFORCING LAWS, MAKING ARRESTS, INVESTIGATING CRIMINAL CASES, WORKING WITH YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. LEAVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION TO THOSE LEADERS ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO THOSE ROLES. LET THE LAWS, POLICIES AND CONSTITUTION DICTATE THEIR JOBS, NOT YOUR IDEA OF WHAT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. SIR, THANK YOU FOR COMING. FOR YOU SAID YOU ARE A TEXAS PEACE OFFICER. CORRECT? ALRIGHT. UNDER THE, UM, SUPREME COURT, IT WAS HELD THAT TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS MAY CONDUCT WARRANT CHECKS DURING TRAFFIC STOPS, BUT SUCH CHECKS CANNOT BE USED TO EXTEND THE DETENTION ONCE THE REASONABLE SUSPICION FORMING THE BASIS FOR THE STOP HAS BEEN DISPELLED. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? SO SIR, I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE RESU ASSUMING A PROBABLE CAUSE ON A STOP. NO, I'M JUST ASKING YOU ABOUT THAT. I'M, I'M, NO, MY QUESTION TO YOU, I'M JUST, I'M CLARIFYING WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. NO, NO, NO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CLARIFY. I'M ASKING FOR A YES SIR OR NO. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT THAT THAT IS THE, THE LAW OF THE LAND, THAT THEY CAN STOP AND DETAIN TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS MAY CONDUCT WARRANT CHECKS DURING TRAFFIC STOPS, BUT SUCH CHECKS CANNOT BE USED TO EXTEND THE DETENTION ONCE THE REASONABLE SUSPICION FORMING THE BASIS, FORMING THE BASIS FOR THE STOP HAS BEEN DISPELLED. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? THAT'S PARTIALLY TRUE. PARTIAL, PARTIALLY TRUE. BELIEVE WHAT? YOU'RE LEAVING SOMETHING OUT. YOU ARE LEAVING SOMETHING OUT. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMAN [02:55:01] DAVIS? THANK YOU FOR COMING. OFFICER WATCH, UH, YOU CAN FINISH YOUR EXPLANATION IN REGARDS TO THAT. UH, THE QUESTION I WANT TO GIVE YOU TIME TO EXPLAIN IT. SO, IN MY LIFETIME IN WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS SPEAKING WITH MY PEERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AN INDIVIDUAL'S NOT GONNA BE DETAINED IF HE DON'T HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE. IF IT EXISTS, YOU CAN'T DETAIN HIM UNTIL, IN THIS CASE, WHICH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ICE, HE CAN CONTACT THE AGENCY TO RESPOND TO HIM AND PICK UP INDIVIDUALS BEING PROPERLY DETAINED. FROM THE TIME THAT I STARTED MY CAREER IN 24 YEARS TO NOW, THAT RESPONSE TIME HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED. SO THE 30 MINUTES, IT DEPENDS ON THE CITY, WHETHER YOU'RE SOMEWHERE LIKE CITY OF HOUSTON OR WHERE YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF WEST TEXAS, WOULD THERE BE APPLICABLE TIME IF THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN THEM? IT DEPENDS ON SITUATION AND SCENARIO. NOW, I DO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A REASONABLE HAVE. SO ALL DAY, IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET SOMEONE TO PICK HIM UP, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. BUT WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN PROPERLY DETAINED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SUSPICION WHERE HE'S INVOLVED IN OTHER CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED, YOU DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PROPER AUTHORITIES ARE THERE OR TAKE 'EM OVER TO THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND DROP 'EM OFF SO HE CAN BE RELEASED TO THAT AUTHORITY THERE. ARE YOU THROUGH SIR? SIR? YES SIR. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M READING SPECIFIC CASE LAW THAT SPEAKS TO THE TENSION OF THE REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT'S FORMING THE BASIS OF THE STOP. SO YOU HAVE REASONABLE SUSPICION BASED ON BROKEN TAIL LIGHT SPEEDING, NO SEATBELT, CORRECT? THAT IS THE BASIS OF THE STOP BASED ON CASE LAW. ONCE THE BASIS OF THAT STOP HAS BEEN COMPLETE, THEN YOU WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT FOR EXTENDING THAT DETENTION BEYOND THE BASIS OF THE ORIGINAL STOP. UH, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? CORRECT? YES, SIR. I'M JUST ASKING A YES OR NO. THAT'S CORRECT. BUT YOU'RE STILL LEAVING OUT THE OTHER PART THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SEEM TO BE SKATING OVER. THANK YOU, SIR. THE PART THAT YOU'RE SKATING OVER. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, GO, GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR COMMENT. WELL, THE, WHAT HE'S LEAVING OUT IS THAT YEAH, BASED OFF OF THE INITIAL TRAFFIC STOP OR JUST THE TAIL LIGHT OR SPEEDING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE THAT CAUSED AN INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, THAT WOULD BE THE INITIAL PART STOP. BUT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WOULD EXIST WHEN YOU FIND THE INDIVIDUAL'S IN POSSESSION OF SOMETHING. HE'S THE SUSPECT IN A CRIME. WHETHER THAT INDIVIDUAL IS HERE, UM, AND HE HAS A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST ELSEWHERE. THIS IS NOT SIR COUNCILMAN CAME UP. YEAH. MAYOR, I, AND SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UM, I I DON'T WANT TO LITIGATE AT THE HORSESHOE WITH INDIVIDUALS THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AND THEIR RIGHT TO, TO COMMENT AND OPINE ON THE LAW AND THEIR SERVICE. SO I I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ARE CONFUSING AND MUDDYING WHEN YOU HAVE DISCOVERED SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRAFFIC STOP VERSUS DETAINING SOMEBODY LONGER THAN THAT LAWFUL TRAFFIC STOP. CORRECT. AND THE CRIMINAL PURPOSE ATTACHED THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, EARLIER CASE LAW WAS STATED CITING RODRIGUEZ AND RODRIGUEZ, THEY LITER, THE SUPREME COURT SAID EVEN AN EIGHT MINUTE STOP DOG SNIFF BEYOND THE ISSUANCE OF THAT TICKET WAS IMPERMISSIBLE THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY FOUND IN A CRIMINAL ACT. NOW I WANT THE BAD GUYS OFF THE STREETS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND I TRUST LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE THAT A CRIME IS ONGOING. BUT WHEN IT'S A CIVIL, LET'S SAY TRAFFIC STOP, THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY TO DETAIN BEYOND THAT. SO I JUST, I WANT US TO BE CLEAR 'CAUSE WE'RE THROWING OUT A LOT OF LEGALESE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THERE ARE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PROBABLE CAUSE, CRIMINALITY, EVIDENCE TAKEN DURING THAT STOP VERSUS BEYOND THAT STOP, ET CETERA. SO AGAIN, I I APPRECIATE THAT AND I JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE THAT WE'RE EACH THROWING EVERYTHING OUT WITHOUT A NUANCE TEASED OUT APPROACH TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CAM, MAY I RESPOND? SURE. SO I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS THAT. AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A TIMEFRAME IN REGARDS TO HOW WE CAN AND WHEN WE CAN'T DETAIN AN INDIVIDUAL. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE LAWS IN THE BOOK ALREADY CURRENTLY AS WELL AS POLICY. AND MY POLICY FOR MY AGENCY MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM HP AS WHEREVER IT MAY BE, BUT ALLOW THOSE AGENTS TO DO THEIR JOB WITHOUT ADDING OTHER HINDRANCES TO 'EM, BEING ABLE TO, AND THROWING INTO THE MIX SAYING, WELL, THEY HAVE A TIMEFRAME WHERE THEY CAN'T CONTACT ICE OR WHATEVER. RIGHT NOW THERE'S CHAOS GOING ON IN CITIES. THERE'S BEEN OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA. I'VE ASKED MY COLLEAGUES THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING WITH JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR BASIC DAY-TO-DAY JOB 'CAUSE OF ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE INCLUDED. LET THEM DO THEIR JOB. IF YOU FIND A REASON OR FIND AN ISSUE WITH IT. I A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH THAT. YEAH. AND NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE [03:00:01] PROHIBITS OR LIMITS HPDS ABILITY TO CONTACT ICE. SO I BUT THE QUESTION COMES, WHY ARE YOU AT AN ORDINANCE WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE LAWS IN PLACE BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ILLEGAL AND IMPROPER POLICY THAT WAS PUT FORWARD THAT PUT A TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES. AND THERE, AS YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR EXTENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, THERE IS NO TIME DELAY ON CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS. PERIOD. SIR, UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WE AUTHORED THAT HPD OFFICERS WOULD BE GIVEN DISCRETION SO THAT THEY COULD USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND EXPERIENCE, UH, TO MAKE A CALL ON WHETHER OR NOT TO DETAIN THAT PERSON. YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON ISN'T CAUSING A, A HARM OR A THREAT. WE COULD LET THAT PERSON GO. DO YOU, IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE, UM, A BENEFIT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAVING THAT DISCRETION? WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT DISCRETION. THAT'S WHAT I EXPLAINED TO YOU. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT DISCRETION. SOME POLICIES HAVE CUR, I'M SORRY, SOME AGENCIES HAVE CURTAILED THAT POLICY DUE TO MANPOWER OR AGENTS OF THE, OR WHATEVER THE AREA IS. AND MY QUESTION, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING WHEN YOU MADE THAT STATEMENT, WHY ARE YOU ADDING TO SOMETHING THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DO? BECAUSE WE HAD NO ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK THAT SPOKE TO THAT SPECIFICALLY. AND THEY HAD DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE AREA AND IN THE REGION THAT ALL HAD DIFFERENT POLICIES. CORRECT IT. CORRECT. I I AGREE WITH YOU. BUT THAT'S UP TO THE AGENCY. THAT AGENCY HAS THEIR POLICY FOR A REASON TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS OR ISSUES YOU ARE ADDING TO AND ADDING ADHERENCE TO BEING ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB. WHEN IN THIS CASE, THE POLICE CHIEF WOULD ANSWER TO THE, UM, TO THE MARAN CITY COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO ANY COMPLICATIONS OR ISSUES THAT POLICY, HOW IT'S BEEN AFFECTED ON THE STREET TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AGAIN, I DON'T WORK FOR HPD, BUT I'VE WORKED FOR OTHER AGENCIES IN OUR AGENCIES. EVERYONE I'VE WORKED FOR HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VARIABLE, BUT TIMEFRAME MAY VARY BASED OFF THE AREA ITSELF, BUT PUTTING A TIME RESTRICTION OF 30 MINUTES IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. YOU, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 29 MINUTES AND 31 MINUTES THAT GO AHEAD. IT, IT'S, IT'S ARBITRARY. SO TO TO SAY MAYBE A REASONABLE AMOUNT, IT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN 30 MINUTES, BUT TO PUT A 30 MINUTE TIME CLOCK ON SOMEONE'S RIGHTS, UH, IS IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. THAT THAT IS, THAT IS CLEAR. IF, IF THE OTHER FACTORS DON'T PLAY INTO THAT. I GOT THAT. I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT. OKAY. AS I SAY, AND THAT WAS WHAT I EXPLAINED TO YOU. IF THE OTHER FACTORS EXIST, THAT'S ALL WE'RE TALKING WITHOUT, WITHOUT ALL THESE OTHER HYPOTHETICALS JUST ON ITS FACE. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. NEXT, CHARLES DIOR OF CYPRUS TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN JOHNSON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND YOUR TEAM. UH, MY TALK IS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES. I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD, UH, GRANT ME THAT TIME TO GET THROUGH IT ALL. EX DE I LOVE HOUSTON BECAUSE OF THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITY, BUT SAFETY IS MY NUMBER ONE POLICY. I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WHO COULD NOT BE HERE. I'M AFRAID TO LIVE IN THIS CITY, STATE, AND COUNTRY, ALL BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME UNSAFE CAUSED BY ALL POLITICIANS UPHEAVAL OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR THE AMERICAN CITIZEN, WHICH OCCURRED THROUGH THE AUTHORS OF PROPOSITION EIGHT IN COUNTY 4 28. MY WIFE IS AN IMMIGRANT. SHE CAME IN ILLEGALLY. WE WENT THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS. LEGALLY, SHE'S A US CITIZEN. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS AND FOLLOWING THE LAWS. I LEFT MY DUTIES TO EXPRESS MY UTTER DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE RISK OF HOUSTON LOSING 110 MILLION PUBLIC SAFETY. YOUR HAS EXPIRED PUTTING US CITIZENS AT RISK DUE TO THE RECENTLY PUSHED IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, SIR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE REPEAL THIS. I'D APPRECIATE IT. NEXT, PLEASE STEVEN JOHNSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHARLENE JONES. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WANTING IMMIGRANTS TO COME THE RIGHT WAY, BUT DID THE UNITED STATES ACT IN THE RIGHT WAY WHEN THEY OVERTHREW DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENTS WHEN THEY FOMENTED CIVIL WARS, WHEN THEY, IN MANY WAYS CAUSED THE CONDITIONS THAT DRIVE FORCED [03:05:01] MIGRATION, THAT FORCED PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMELANDS? IF WE WANNA TALK ABOUT LAW AND ORDER AND, AND CONFORMING TO THE LAW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ICE. THE CITY SHOULD NOT BEND OVER BACKWARD TO COOPERATE IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY BEYOND WHAT STATE LAW REQUIRES. WITH TRUMP'S ROGUE BAND OF LAWLESS, ARMED THUDS WHO ARE TERRORIZING HOUSTON'S IMMIGRANT POPULATION, BREAKING UP FAMILIES, DESTROYING LIVELIHOODS, AND DEPORTING MANY INTO THE SAME LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS THAT THEY TOOK DESPERATE STEPS TO ESCAPE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. IT IS TIME FOR HOUSTON CITY LEADERS TO STOP WAFFLING AND WAFFLING OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO PROTECT THE MOST TIME HAS INSPIRED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT, CHARLENE JONES SHELTON MODEL. ELIZABETH MENDOZA, WILLIAM BROOKER. OH, OH, IS THIS ME? OKAY? YEAH. UH, YOU'RE ELIZABETH. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LIZZIE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT I AND I'M HERE TO ASK CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO NOT REPEAL THE SALINAS ORDINANCE. OUR COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT I HAS BEEN HIT WITH RAIDS AND ICE HAS BEEN DETAINING SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THEY'RE NOT JUST NUMBERS. AND IT'S SO FRUSTRATING THAT THIS CITY BENEFITS SO MUCH FROM THE CULTURE OF IMMIGRANTS AND YET IS HESITANT TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM. SO MANY FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR AND THIS ORDINANCE WAS A SMALL HOPE THAT HOUSTON CARED ENOUGH TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THEM. I'M AN IMMIGRATION PARALEGAL AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I'VE HAD SO MANY CLIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER AND DETAINED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A DRIVER LICENSE. WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT LIMITS PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO OBTAIN A WORK PERMIT DEPENDING ON WHICH APPLICATION THEY HAVE PENDING. WE LIVE IN A STATE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FAMILIES TO OBTAIN DRIVER LICENSE. AND WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT HAS A POOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM LEAVING PEOPLE WITH NO OTHER OPTION. THESE FAMILIES CANNOT WIN AGAINST TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. WHEN THEY'RE WORKING AGAINST THEM, YOU ALL CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE POWER AND THE RESOURCES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST GREG ABBOTT'S THREATS. AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO PUT IN PLACE THE SALINAS ORDINANCE AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST GREG ABBOTT IN COURT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL CASTILLO. HMM. COUNCIL CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE TERRY CHEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST TO FOLLOW RAYMOND BRACKENS MAID AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAMED MOTION PASSES. HI, MY NAME IS WILLIAM BROOKER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THIS AMENDMENT THAT APPARENTLY ALLOWS, REMOVES ANY OF THE MILD LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DIVERT FROM FIGHTING VIOLENT CRIME TO INSTEAD HELP ICE AS THEY HUNT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE SEVERAL DANGERS OF THIS REPEAL THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS. THE FIRST IS, IS THAT EVERY MINUTE THAT A HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER IS HELPING ICE IS A MINUTE THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THE JOB THAT WE HIRED THEM TO DO. AND THAT'S GONNA LEAD TO MORE OVERTIME, AND THAT'S GONNA LEAD TO MORE PAYMENTS THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD. THE SECOND THING THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IS THAT ICE HAS THIS PROGRAM CALLED 2 87, WHICH MAY AUTHORIZE PAYMENTS, INDIVIDUAL PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS OF COLLABORATING AGENCIES. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CASE, BUT IT COULD BE THE CASE THAT SOME OF OUR OFFICERS MAY BE INCENTIVIZED TO GO ON STOPS IN CASES WHERE IT MIGHT TURN UP ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS ON IMMIGRANTS. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO JUST SAY VOTE NO, THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT SARAH SAEED TO BE FOLLOWED BY VI FAM. MY NAME IS SARA. I SERVE AS THE POLICY MANAGER AT WOODY JUNTOS. THIS AMENDMENT TO THIS ORDINANCE IS INSUFFICIENT. IT'S THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE. I WANNA ADDRESS THE LITTLE POINT RAISED EARLIER BY JACQUELINE SMITH REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS IN ABLE V UNITED STATES. THE SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZED THE CONCEPT OF ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS YES, IN THE IMMIGRATION CONTEXT, BUT IT DID NOT ELEVATE THEM TO THE SAME CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS AS JUDICIAL WARRANTS, [03:10:01] NOR DID IT GRANT THEM UNLIMITED ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS, AND IT'S PART OF WHY CITIES ACROSS TEXAS AND THE COUNTRY ARE CAREFULLY DEFINING HOW THEIR RESOURCES ARE USED AND ENSURING THAT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS SIMPLY REMAIN SAFE. I URGE YOU TO STAND FIRM AND PUSH BACK AGAINST OVERREACH BY STATE LEADERS LIKE GREG ABBOTT AND KEN PAXTON. PLEASE HONOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND PLEASE HONOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON NEXT. YEAH, THAT'S GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY NAME IS V FAM AND I'M THE ORGANIZING AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT WOODY JUNTOS. GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS WORKING OVERTIME TO TURN OUR LOCAL POLICE INTO ICE AGENTS BY THREATENING TO WITHDRAW FUNDING FROM CITIES THAT PROTECT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. HE'S ENGAGING IN STRAIGHT UP BULLYING. I URGE THIS COUNCIL, DO NOT GIVE IN TO STATE INTIMIDATION. TAKE THIS FIGHT TO THE COURTS WHERE IT BELONGS. GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS NOT ABOVE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. IF WE ALLOW STATE THREATS TO DICTATE HOUSTON'S LAWS, WHAT KIND OF PRECEDENT ARE WE SETTING? I AM URGING THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, FIGHT FOR THE HOUSTON WE DESERVE AND DO NOT BOW DOWN. WE ARE STRONGER WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER. WE MUST NOT LET THEM DIVIDE US. YOU CANNOT BOAST ABOUT BEING THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN AMERICA AND THEN THROW WHAT MAKES THIS CITY DIVERSE UNDER THE BUS. I ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON ANY REPEALS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES ORDINANCE TOMORROW. STAND FIRM. PROTECT EVERYONE IN HOUSTON AND TAKE THIS FIGHT TO THE COURTS. THANK YOU. SBI RAZA. SABI RAZA, ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ MENEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAROLINA MARTINEZ. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. UM, I ALFRED DOMINGUEZ, UH, POLICY, UH, ORGANIZER PERSON AT PEOPLE'S COUNCIL. UM, I'M HERE TODAY. I USUALLY COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, BUT TODAY I REALLY WANTED TO COME AND TALK ABOUT JUST THE ONE I I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS SAID TODAY, WHICH WERE FRUSTRATING AND INFURIATING OR, OR DIFFERENT FORMS OF, OF, OF SETTING. BUT ONE THING THAT'S KIND OF STUCK OUT TO ME IS THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE PUTTING IMMIGRANT ISSUES OVER, ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS CONTINUALLY TALKED ABOUT NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS. AND I'VE BEEN HERE TO TESTIFY ABOUT A MYRIAD OF ISSUES NOT HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION SPECIFICALLY. AND TO ME IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING THAT, THAT WE'RE GETTING TAKEN TO THIS CHARGE AS IF THIS ISSUE IS BEING THE ONLY ONE. WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE CITY WHEN THIS IS LIKE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED IN OUR CITY BY THIS ISSUE. AND I THINK THAT TO ME IT'S NOT EVEN NECESSARILY ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. WE HAVE A REALLY BIG QUESTION IN FRONT OF US, WHICH IS, WHO RUNS THE CITY OF HOUSTON? IS IT THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION? IS IT GOVERNOR ABBOTT OR IS IT THE DULY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY, CITY BE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOW, WHAT IS STOPPING, LET'S SAY WE DO BACK DOWN ON THIS, HOW, WHAT IS STOPPING ABBOTT FROM ANY POLICY HE DOESN'T LIKE? WHETHER THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHETHER THAT'S INVESTING IN MATERNAL HEALTHCARE, WHETHER THAT'S ANY OF THE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION DON'T LIKE, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. WHAT IS STOPPING THEM FROM PULLING FUNDING THEN? THANK YOU CAROL CAROLINA MARTINEZ, KIRSTEN BUDIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE PADILLA FROM TOMBALL GREETINGS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KIRSTEN BUDIN. I'M A POLICY ATTORNEY WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, AND WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO, UM, JUST REVIEW THE AMENDED ORDINANCE. BUT AT FIRST GLANCE, WE FIRST WANNA SAY WE APPRECIATE MAINTAINING THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN THE OR IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT OTHERWISE THIS IS A REPEAL UNDER THE GUISE OF AN AMENDMENT. THE CHANGE TO SECTION C SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS FOR OTHER LEGITIMATE PURPOSES TO BE A REASON. A TRAFFIC, A TRAFFIC STOP GOES BEYOND WHAT IS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE LEGITIMATE PURPOSE OF THE INITIAL STOP. THIS CREATES CONFUSION. AND EXP EXPLICITLY GIVES HPD DISCRETION TO GO BEYOND WHAT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT ALLOWS AT TCRP AS TCR P'S LEGAL DIRECTOR POINTED OUT LAST WEEK, THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN NOT ONLY FIXES HPDS UNCONSTITUTIONAL DIRECTIVE, BUT DESPITE WHAT THE AG IS CLAIMING, IT PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY. CITY LEADERSHIP OWES IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED THEM TO FLEX ITS MUSCLE AS A HOME ROW CITY AND STAND FOR THIS LAWFUL COMMON SENSE ORDINANCE THAT SIMPLY CLARIFIES CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS AND PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU STEPHANIE PIRILLO TO BE FOLLOWED BY NORMA GONZALEZ. HELLO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS STEFFI AND I'M WITH IYT. WE ARE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT, UM, BASICALLY IS THE VOICE OF OUR [03:15:01] YOUTH HERE IN HOUSTON. THEY'RE ASKING US TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE AND FOR HPD INTO AN EXACT POLICY, THEY JUST DEFUNDED ABBOTT NEEDS HPD TO COOPERATE WITH ICE, BUT HE'S TRYING TO STRIP THE FUNDING THAT PAYS FOR IT. WE ARE ASKING OFFICERS TO INFORM A POLICY THAT THE STATE WON'T FUND THAT'S HYPOCRISY. AT MY EVENT SUNDAY HERE AT CITY HALL, WE HAD MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN WE DID COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT'S EXCESSIVE AND WASTEFUL. WE'RE SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE ON ENFORCEMENT, WE DON'T NEED MAYOR, LET'S STOP BENDING TO ULTIMATUMS. LOOK AT THIS FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT. AUDIT OUR BUDGET. FIND THE WASTE. LET'S RESTRUCTURE OVERSPENDING IS BEING HAPPENING IN OUR ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THERE'S WAY TO, THERE'S WAYS TO SOLVE THIS WITHOUT SACRIFICING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR VALUES. WE JUST HAVE TO GET CREATIVE ENOUGH TO FIND THEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND FOR OUR CITY. BECAUSE I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT YOU ARE WRONG. THE ONLY OPINION THAT SHOULD MATTER IS OUR HOUSTONIANS WHO YOU SERVE. THANK YOU. NEXT NOR NORMA GONZALEZ. AND BEFORE I LEAVE, I ASKED YOU TO REACH OUT TO ME REGARDING ALL OF THE WALKOUTS THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN AND YOU NEVER DID. AND WHAT DID WE SEE? WE SAW KIDS BEING EXPOSED. SO AGAIN, I'LL URGE YOU TO PLEASE THANK MA'AM SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU. IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. NEXT NORMA GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAMARIS GONZALEZ. HER NAME IS DAMARI. MY NAME IS NORMA GONZALEZ. I AM THE LATINA COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR AT URI JUNTOS. I HAVE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. COMING HERE TODAY, I AM GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS VERY SIMPLY, SINCE LIKE WE HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON SENSE ORDINANCE, YET WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GASLIT INTO HAVING TO OVEREXPLAIN TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. WHAT IS HAPPENING? A TRAFFIC STOP SHOULD BE JUST THAT, A TRAFFIC STOP. INSTEAD NOW, POLICE ARE CONTACTING ICE. OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT DO THIS. WHY SHOULD THEY? HERE IN HOUSTON, SINCE 2025, OUR HOUSTON POLICE HAS PLAYED SIDEKICK WITH ICE OVER A HUNDRED TIMES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND OUR COMMUNITY CAN FEEL IT. WE ARE AFRAID TO LIVE, TO DRIVE, AND TO CALL FOR HELP. WE ARE BEING SILENCED. JUST LIKE TODAY, YOU LIMITED OUR TIME IN SPEAKING AFTER CHANGING AND RESCHEDULING AND CONFUSING US ALL JUST TO BE BUCKLING UNDER GREG ABBOTT. THIS ISN'T LEADERSHIP. THIS IS A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP. AND HOUSTON DESERVES BETTER VOTE. NO THANK YOU NICK. DON MAIZ GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAYMOND BRACKENS. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMARI GONZALEZ AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND THOSE WHO VOTED TO PASS PROPOSITION A. THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND BRINGS NEEDED RELIEF TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN OUR CITY. I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONFIRM AND REJECT ANY APPEAL OF THIS ORDINANCE. WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM GOVERNOR IS INTIMIDATION THAT CONTINUES TO HARM OUR COMMUNITIES. TEXAS ALREADY LEADS IN DEPORTATIONS AND THESE ACTIONS ONLY MADE THINGS WORSE. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. WE HAVE RIGHTS. WE DESERVE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES. WE THOUGHT FEAR HP SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT DOING THE WORK OF ICE BY TARGETING PEOPLE WHO ARE SIMPLY DRIVING TO WORK OR MOTHERS TAKING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. IF THIS IS OVERTURNED, WE CHOOSING FEAR AND DIVISION OF ALL VALUES THAT IS NOT THE HOUSTON STRONG THAT WE NEED. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY STATED THAT THESE ARGUMENTS IS LAUGHABLE. AND IF OUR COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO BE TARGETED, YOUR TIME TO DEFEND THIS IN COURT, PLEASE CONFIRM AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YOUR RAYMOND BRACKENS TO BE FOLLOWED BY HERNAN CASTANO. THANKS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RAY BRACKENS, LONGTIME HOUSTON RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT HERE IN THE THIRD WARD AREA. I'M HERE BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESSURE TO WEAKEN HOUSTON'S IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES, ORDINANCE AND EXPAND LOCAL COOPERATION WITH ICE. THIS IS BOTH A PUBLIC SAFETY AND A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE. UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, ANY DETENTION MUST BE REASONABLE IN PURPOSE AND DURATION. ACCORDING TO RODRIGUEZ VERSUS UNITED STATES, THE SUPREME COURT MADE CLEAR THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT EXTEND A STOP WITHOUT INDEPENDENT LEGAL AUTHORITY. AN ICE DETAINER IS NOT A JUDICIAL WARRANT, AN ICE [03:20:01] DETAINER. IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY PROLONGED DETENTION ON ITS OWN. SO THE STANDARD IS NOT UNTIL ICE ARRIVES. THE STANDARD IS WHETHER OFFICERS CURRENTLY HAVE LAWFUL AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE HOLDING SOMEONE. AND WHEN PEOPLE FEAR THAT ROUTINE ENCOUNTERS CAN TURN INTO AN EXTENDED DETENTION BASED ON IMMIGRATION STATUSES, THEY STOP TRUSTING PUBLIC SYSTEMS, PUBLIC POLICE, HOSPITALS, CITY SERVICES. THANK YOU. THAT MAKES HOUSTON LESS SAFE, NOT MORE SO. I URGE YOU TO STAND FIRM, UH, ON THE ORDINANCE YOU PASSED. IT'S LEGALLY SOUND AND GROUNDED AND DUE PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HERNAN CASTANO TO BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY CHEN. THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PASTOR HERNAND CASTANO. I DO SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AREA PASTORS COUNCIL. I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON AREA PASTORS COUNCIL TODAY. I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT I DO REPRESENT A LOT OF THE LATINO CHURCHES. THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS IS A REAL CRISIS. IT'S A DIVIDED NATION, AND WE HAVE DIVIDED CITIES. I SAY PASTOR, I'M SPEAKING OUT FOR MY OWN HEART AS I SEE THE ATION IN MANY FAMILIES. I'VE JUST WRITTEN MY NEW BOOK GUIDE OF IMMIGRANTS AND I'M VERY CONCERNED. AND LET ME JUST REMIND YOU OF ONE SIMPLE THING. 2000 YEARS AGO, AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CAME TO SAVE THIS WORLD NAMED JESUS. HE WAS FEELING LIKE A CRIMINAL. AND FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER, THE TRUTH WAS SOLVED. MY REFERENCE TO THAT IS I'M ASKING YOU MAKE THE WISE DECISION, MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION, BUT NONE, THEY'RE NOT UNDER PRESSURE FOR MONEY OR 30 PIECES OF SILVER. YOU, I TRUST THAT THE HOUSTON CITY POLICE CAN DO A GOOD JOB AS WELL AS YOU. AND I'M SPEAKING AS A PASTOR, LIVE THE TRUTH, STAY AS THE TRUTH AND LET IT NOT BE PRESSURED FOR THE EXCHANGE OF MONEY. THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES BEING AFFECTED BY THIS AND A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS. AND THEREFORE, AS A PASTOR, I'M SPEAKING OUT OF MY HEART TODAY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL THOMAS. THANK YOU PASTOR CASTANO. THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SHOW UP TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER YES, UM, FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SHARED CONSTITUENCY, THAT THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF. AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SO MANY FAMILIES. UM, THEY'RE COMING TO YOUR CHURCH AS A FRONT DOOR, AS A SAFE HAVEN. YES, THEY'RE SERVING GOD COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE WORKING FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THEY'RE DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN. UM, SO I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP AS A MAN OF FAITH. AND I I KNOW THAT, UM, YOUR WORDS ARE RESONATING WITH ME, UM, AND THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, UH, ON THE PAGE WITH THAT. AND I HOPE THAT YOUR WORDS RESONATE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. NAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU MY FRIEND BROTHER. GOOD TO SEE YOU MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER. WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WORKED QUITE A BIT ON THE MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD. THIS SUBJECT HAS COME UP IN OUR MEETING YES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AND WE'VE ADDRESSED IT IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THE MINISTERS ACROSS OUR DENOMINATION OF FAITH. WE HAVE MULTIPLE DENOMINATIONS, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT YOU AND I ALSO AGREE THAT IN TERMS OF OUR TRUST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE LAW AND THE LAW, AND WE BROUGHT THAT SUBJECT UP ON MANY OCCASIONS. BUT I'M GLAD AND THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND EXPRESSING, UH, YOUR STILL HEART IN THIS MATTER. ALRIGHT. MAY, I'M JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. SURE. AND, AND I, I WISH THAT PASTORS AND YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT AND THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR AND ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. BUT I WISH THAT I, OUR, THE PASTORS DO GET A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THE DISORDERS IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S VERY HARD WHEN WE HAVE NOT READ IT AND WE HAVE NOT UNDERSTAND IT COMPLETELY. SO THEREFORE, I'M SPEAKING AS A PASTOR TODAY OUT OF A HEART THAT UNDERSTANDS LAW AND ORDER AND JUSTICE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FORGIVENESS AND MERCY AND TO DO WHAT'S MORALLY RIGHT AND HOLD UP THE TRUTH WITHOUT THE EXCHANGE OF PRESSURE FOR MONEY. ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE IDEA OF IT IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN, WAS NOT INTRODUCED TO MANY PEOPLE. CIVIC ASSOCIATION, HOAS, AND PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT THAT EVEN TO SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO IT'S BEEN ON BOTH SIDES. WE TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT, THE UNDERSTANDING OF IT. AND THEN OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR MEETINGS, WE BRING PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE MINISTER OF ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR. WE BRING EVERYBODY TO THE MEETING THAT WE MEET ONCE A MONTH AND AS A VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT GROUP. AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE GET, YES. MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT TO OTHERS AS WELL, OTHER THAN JUST HERE IN THIS CHAMBER IN WHICH THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. BUT, SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR YES. ABOUT THE INFORMATION BEING TRANSPARENT. NO, DEFINITELY. I, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL LEAVE MY BOOKS HERE JUST IN CASE YOU WANT MORE COPY OF THEM. I JUST SPEAK OUT OF THE HEART ON THIS TERRY CHIN. [03:25:01] TERRY CHEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARYL HARPER. I AM TERRY CHEN AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH WOODY JUNTO SERVING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. WE ARE HERE TODAY ASKING Y'ALL TO STAND STRONG. DO NOT BACK DOWN TO THREATS FROM THE STATE WHO'S TRYING TO RESTRICT OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHEN THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT ARE ATTACKING US. OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS Y'ALL MAYOR WHO IS NOT HERE. UH, YOU ARE NOT AN INSTRUMENT OF THE STATE. Y'ALL ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND UPHOLD ALL OF OUR RIGHTS. THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL EXPERTS. WE KNOW IT IS SOUND. AND IF Y'ALL BACK DOWN NOW, THE STATE WILL KNOW THAT THEY CAN WIELD THEIR POWER AT ANY OTHER WHIMS OVER OUR LOCAL ELECTED GOVERNMENT. SO PLEASE HOLD STRONG AND SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE WITHOUT ANY AMENDMENTS. JESUS WOULD JESUS. MM-HMM . DARRYL HARPER. JESUS WOULD CHERYL BACH, CRYSTAL PIPER AGO GLADYS HOUSE, A TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH ED HENLEY. EVERYONE CORRECT? MIKE? OKAY. UM, I'M JUST HERE TO REQUEST THAT WILEY PARK IN HISTORIC FRIEDMANS TOWN BE PLACED ON THAT LIST OF 11 CITY PARKS TO, UH, RECEIVE THE $4 MILLION IN RENOVATION. ALL OF YOU DON'T, DO NOT HAVE THE PICTURES, BUT, UM, SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLE, ABBY HAS IT, THE MAYOR AND JULIAN RAMIREZ. SO IF I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE UP MUCH TIME, BUT IF YOU ALL WOULD PLEASE CONSIDER WALLY PARK SO THAT WE CAN STOP BEING OVERLOOKED AND BE GIVEN JUSTICE. 'CAUSE WE PAY TAXES TOO. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN CAME. UH, THANK YOU GLADYS. I'M SORRY I RAN BACK IN. 'CAUSE UH, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PARK IN THE HEART OF FREEDMAN'S TOWN. UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE ON THIS. WE HAD, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO DONE A COMMUNITY TOUR AND WE BROUGHT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OUT TO LOOK AT ALL THE ISSUES AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE FUNDING ADDED INTO THE CIP FOR THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. BUT IT KEEPS GETTING PUSHED BACK. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE BEING HERE TODAY. OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP SEEING IT PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED. NOW THERE ARE NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PLANNED, THIS HAS BEEN FOUGHT FOR. AND THIS IS A COMMUNITY PARK THAT, UH, HAS SO MUCH MEANING THAN JUST A PARK. AND I DON'T WANNA DIMINISH, YOU KNOW, PARKS IN GENERAL, BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARK IN PARTICULAR. YEAH. 'CAUSE I KNOW JULIAN, OR COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, HE HAD PUSHED FOR SKIDDING, UH, WALLY PARK, UH, REPAIRED, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IT'S BEEN, AND UH, HE WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN BY THE END OF THAT YEAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. YEAH. SO WE NEED TO GET SOME CORRECTIVE ACTION REAL QUICK. NO, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. YO ED HENLEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY RASHEEM MUHAMMAD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME SPEAKING TO ONE OF THE MICS. EITHER ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UH, I'VE BEEN HERE, UH, INITIALLY IN, UH, 2021 INFORMING, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I'M NOT FROM HERE. AND I WAS LED HERE BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO PROTEST AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AT THE 3,300 BLOCK OF MONTROSE. BECAUSE THERE IS AN OIL WELL LOCATED THERE, THERE IS AN OIL WELL, IT IS IN ABUNDANCE, COMMERCIAL QUANTITY. AND WHAT THE LORD IS INFORMING US WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED. I'M NOT FROM HERE. I WAS LED HERE AND MADE KNOWN THAT THE OIL WELL IS THERE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MR. AND ONE, ONE LAST THING. UH, HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE WILL BE AN OIL EMBARGO [03:30:01] AND THAT IS WHY HE MADE KNOWN TO US THAT OIL WHALE LOCATED AT 3,300 BLOCK MONTROSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT RASHEEM MUHAMMAD GEORGE GIBSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL BAKER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BRIAR GROVE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, UH, TO TALK ABOUT A NOISE ORDINANCE ISSUE REGARDING THE CAMP NIGHTCLUB ON WESTHEIMER AND SPECIFICALLY, UM, I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THAT. WE'VE BEEN TOLD, UM, MANY TIMES THAT WHEN OUR PEOPLE, IT'S A REAL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN IS AWARE OF THIS AND WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED TO HER OFFICE ABOUT THIS, UM, THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE CALLS AND REPORT IT ON THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE. I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE DOWN ON THE LIST AND THERE NEVER IS A RESPONSE. WE HAVE OFF-DUTY HPD OFFICERS WHO PATROL OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE PEACE OFFICERS. THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE TICKETS AND TO MAKE ARRESTS IT TO ENFORCE THE LAW. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE, UH, THEY, THEY HAVE THE PROPER HPD EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE THE SOUND TO WRITE A TICKET. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT DO THAT. AND THE REASON WHY IS THEY SAID THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ADVISED THAT THEY IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING OFF DUTY. THAT'S WHIP. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD AND FINISH. AND THAT CERTAINLY HAS THE ATTENTION OF HPD. OKAY. OR ACTIVELY WORKING THAT LOCATION THANKS TO COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT. HUFFMAN'S IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING MR. GIBSON. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND I'VE DISCUSSED IT, YOU KNOW, EXTENSIVELY WITH THE MAYOR. UM, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CAPTAIN OUT AT MIDWEST WHO, UM, IS REALLY TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND IT'S GONNA IMPROVE. AND, AND IF I MAY, CAPTAIN SALINAS SPOKE WITH US AT OUR MEETING A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HE SEEMED FRUSTRATED THAT HE FELT LIKE HIS HANDS WERE TIED AND IF WE COULD, UH, GET THE, THIS ISSUE, I I I JUST FAILED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. UM, GEORGE, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW IT TAKES TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY. UH, AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU ALSO ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ON MANY, MANY ISSUES. SO I, OUR DISTRICT AND DISTRICT C HAS GRAPPLED WITH, UH, SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR. I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS FIGHTING HARD, UH, BUT I JUST, I WANTED TO LIFT UP THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS AROUND THE CITY THAT ARE FACED WITH THIS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. UH, AND AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES, UH, WE NEED MORE TIME FOCUSED ON THOSE ISSUES TOO. RIGHT. THANK YOU. IT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND SIR, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. YES, SIR. UH, CAMP NIGHTCLUB IS IN DISTRICT J JAY CITY AND, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THE OTHER OFFICERS AS WELL. MAYOR, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE DISTRICT J PATROL WOULD ADDRESS. WE WERE PROVIDING OVERTIME DOLLARS TO HPD OFFICERS TO DO SPECIFIC QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES AND VIOLATIONS. SO THEY WOULDN'T GET PULLED OFF THEIR ORIGINAL BEAT, THEY WOULDN'T BE WORKING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY WOULD BE OVERTIME DOLLARS PAID FOR FROM MY OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO CITE, TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE, TO BE ABLE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH THE SOUND MONITORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUT FORTH THOSE DOLLARS FOR THE ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR. UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS NOT ACCEPTED THOSE DOLLARS. UM, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN RUN FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND THINGS WERE PRETTY SMOOTH, BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND SO THAT'S WHY I'VE CONTINUED TO ASK FOR THE DISTRICT J PATROL DOLLARS TO BE ACCEPTED AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU ALL DO DESERVE TO HAVE MORE ENFORCEMENT AND PATROL IN THE AREA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. S MICHAEL BAKER, FERDINAND DESO OF MISSOURI CITY. WALTER RIVERA SUMMER. SUMMER BERNHARDT OF BAYTOWN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC COLE. FLAT. [03:35:06] GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR. AND, UH, COMM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUMMER BERNHARDT. I AM A REGIONAL LEADER IN HOUSTON FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED HWPL. IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT STANDS FOR HEAVENLY CULTURE, WORLD PEACE AND RESTORATION OF LIGHT. AND BEING A WITNESS TO THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WE NEED MORE OF THAT. UM, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE LAWMAKERS AND POLICY MAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN THE HOUSTON AREA. AND WE HAVE A SYSTEMATIC, PROVEN, PEER REVIEWED, UM, APPROACH TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A CREATIVE SOLUTION THAT YOUR, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ASKING FOR. UM, TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, UH, HWPL PRINCIPLES UH, ENDED A WAR ACTUALLY IN PHILIPPINE IN THE PHILIPPINES. MINDANAO. UM, THE PRINCIPALS, UH, CONVINCED BOTH SIDES TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS AND PEACE HAS BEEN, HAS BEGUN TO EVOLVE IN THAT AREA. AND I BELIEVE THAT IF HWPL PRINCIPLES CAN END A WAR, IT CAN ALSO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN OUR HOUSTON CITY. UM, ONE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT, UH, HWPL IS IT HONORS THE DIVERSITY. IT, I, IT HONORS THE, UM, INFLUENCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. EVERYONE HAS, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT PART OF HOUSTON. AND, UH, WE JUST NEED A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO LISTEN TO BELIEVE IN THIS, TO PARTNER WITH US SO THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT. THANK YOU. INTO OUR CITY. YES. THANK YOU, NICK. OH, HOLD ON. YES, MR. CARTER, COUNCILMAN CARTER, I AM HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS DANELLE RIGHT HERE. UH, CAN GET YOUR TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE AND WE'LL CONNECT. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE DO NEED PEACE. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOURS ALL SET. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME. ERIC COLE FLAT TO BE FOLLOWED BY DELFIN DIA SPARKS. GOOD EVENING. UH, REALLY BRIEFLY, UH, I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT MYLON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND, UM, I NOTICED IN THE BUS LANE, ONE OF THE BUSES HAD A, UH, THIS POLITICAL, I DON'T KNOW, STATEMENT ON IT HAS A CUBA FLAG WITH AN UPSIDE DOWN AMERICAN FLAG IN ON THE BUS. I, I KNOW IT WAS A ONE OF THE FREELANCE BUSES, BUT I JUST, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND I THOUGHT I'D JUST BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THAT'S, THAT'S IT. I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS REGARDING POLITICAL STATEMENTS ON 10-YEAR-OLD BUSES, UH, BUSES FOR 10 YEAR OLDS, BUT, UM, IT JUST, I, I TOOK IT TO THE HIT WEST OFFICE AND THEY'RE ALL VETERANS AND THEY WERE APPALLED AND, UM, I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. NEXT IGNIA SPARKS. JULIE, TOBY. TOBY, PHOEBE TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRIAN BAKER. BRIAN BAKER BROUGHT THESE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S JULIE TOBY AND, UM, THEY SAY A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. I LIVE IN THE OLD SIX WARD AND I PROVIDED YOU WITH PHOTOS AS TO WHY THE KUDOS GAS STATION AT 1909 WASHINGTON AVENUE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE A GAS STATION PERMIT. I LIVE AT 19 DE DECATUR STREET, LITERALLY BEHIND THE HOME OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTY. THIS WAS DESIGNATED BY CITY COUNCIL JULY 23RD, 1997 AS A HOUSTON LANDMARK. AS SUCH, THE CITY SHOULD PROTECT IT AND OTHER HISTORIC GNOMES NEXT TO IT FROM THE GAS STATION TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON A SMALL LOT ADJACENT TO THEIRS. THE FEATURES OF THESE HISTORIC HOMES MAKE THEM EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO FIRE AND NOISE. MOST OLD SIX WARD HOUSES WERE BUILT IN THE 1880S. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY AN NIMBY OPPOSITION. OLD SIX WARD NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND COUNCIL MEMBER JAIN'S OFFICES IN AN EFFORT TO PUT FORTH AN ORDINANCE TO RESTRICT SUCH NEW PROJECTS WITHIN A PRESCRIBED DISTANCE, SUCH AS IN SAN ANTONIO. THERE ARE REAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED ISSUES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT CITY COUNCIL COULD USE PROP, A MEASURE TO QUICKLY AMEND THE FIRE CODE OR THE HAZARDOUS ENTERPRISE ORDINANCE, OR THAT THE MAYOR OR FIRE MARSHAL WOULD HAVE A DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO REFUSE TO PERMIT PLACING FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE. SO CLOSE TO VULNERABLE RESIDENCES. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT WOULD BE LITERALLY THREE FEET FROM OUR, MY BACK FENCE, MY NEIGHBOR'S BACK FENCE WHERE THEY HAVE A FIVE, 4-YEAR-OLD AND A 9-YEAR-OLD. COUNCIL MEMBER. CHRIST COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. JULIE, DO YOU WANT TO WRAP UP YOUR, YOUR STATEMENT QUICKLY. WELL, I, I JUST, I UNDERSTAND THAT [03:40:02] WE DID A POLL LAST SUMMER. MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDENTS OR AGAINST THIS, UH, I, HERE'S CURRENTLY SIGNED UP FOR THIS YESTERDAY BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PERMIT FOR THE BUILDING WAS APPROVED, ALTHOUGH THE GAS STATION PERMIT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED, AND WE THINK THAT'S WITH THE TCEQ. UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST BEEN GOING AHEAD AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING IT FOR EVER SINCE WE HEARD ABOUT IT A YEAR AGO. UM, THESE PICTURES SHOW YOU, IT'S NOT JUST LIKE A GAS STATION NEAR US. IT IS. RIGHT. SOME OF THOSE PICTURES I TRIED TO SHOW THE CONJUNCTION OF THE FENCE BEHIND THE HOUSE NEXT TO ME ON THE LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE. I'M WHERE THE TREES ARE. THAT ONE TREE IN THE LOT'S GOING, UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S TOO SMALL A LOT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THEN THE HAZARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NOISE WILL HAVE LIGHT, WILL HAVE SUCH AN IMPOSITION. I DO. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I SHARE A LOT OF Y'ALL'S CONCERNS AND I KNOW A NUMBER OF FOLKS ARE ALSO HERE TO SPEAK, SO I'LL BE ADDRESSING, UH, Y'ALL AFTER THE LAST PERSON SPEAKS. OKAY. ONE OTHER PERSON IS, IS ABLE TO MAKE IT. BRIAN WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU. NEXT BRIAN BAKER. NO, JOE BAILEY JUNIOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALI KAHN. EVENING. EVENING COUNSEL. UH, MY NAME IS JOE BAILEY JUNIOR. I LIVE IN THE OLD SIXTH WARD, UH, A DOCUMENTARY FILM I DIRECTED. INCENDIARY HAS BEEN USED IN FIRE INVESTIGATOR TRAINING WORLDWIDE FOR OVER A DECADE. UH, A GAS STATION WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE IS BEING PERMITTED. FIVE FEET FROM THREE OCCUPIED 18 HUNDREDS ERA HOMES, OPEN CRAWL SPACES, NO FIRE STOPS, BALLOON FRAME CONSTRUCTION, HISTORIC UNDERGROUND CISTERNS WHERE VAPORS AND RUNOFF WILL COLLECT. 76% OF NEARBY HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDE CHILDREN, ELDERLY, DISABLED, OR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I'M ONE OF THEM A SURVIVOR OF AORTIC DISSECTION, STROKE, AND MULTIPLE OPEN HEART SURGERIES. HOUSTON ADOPTED A FIRE CODE WRITTEN FOR CITIES WITH ZONING THE SETBACK FROM A TANK VENT OR FUEL DISPENSER. THE PROPERTY LINE IS THE SAME, WHETHER THE NEIGHBOR IS A PARKING LOT OR A FAMILY'S HOME. SAN ANTONIO REQUIRES A HUNDRED FEET. HOUSTON REQUIRES NOTHING. WE HAVE A MODEL FIRE CODE AMENDMENT READY BACKED BY FEDERAL FIRE SAFETY RESEARCH AND HOUSTON'S OVER AN ADOPTED CODE. WE ASKED THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER, TO PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. UM, I DO KNOW THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS VERY VALID CONCERNS WITH THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. I SHARE A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH Y'ALL ON A NUMBER OF OF THOSE QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME FROM THIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR AN ORDINANCE TO HELP PUT SOME BUFFER IN BETWEEN HOW CLOSE THESE CAN BE TO HOMES TO SENSITIVE, UH, STRUCTURES. THAT PROPOSAL HAS RECEIVED SOME, UM, MOVEMENT. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GATHERING DATA, UH, AROUND BENZENE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE ISSUES MAY BE, WHAT, UH, ANY APPROPRIATE, UH, REGULATIONS COULD COME FROM THAT. BUT THAT IS THE NEXT STEP WHERE THINGS ARE TODAY. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL KNOW THAT ALSO, UH, TCEQ WAS MENTIONED, THE NEXT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING FOR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 22. UH, THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS. ONE OF THE STATE REPS IS GONNA BE THERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WHAT THEY ARE PURSUING AT THE STATE LEVEL, UH, WITH THE TEXAS, UH, COMMISSION ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, WHICH DOES PLAY A ROLE IN THIS AS WELL. UM, SO KNOW THAT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IS HAVING AN IMPACT, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS PARTICULAR LOT. MY OFFICE IS GONNA CONTINUE TO MONITOR, UH, TO SHARE THE CONCERNS THAT Y'ALL HAVE REGARDING FIRE CODES AS WELL WITH THE OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL AND, UH, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. HOWEVER I CAN. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN ALCORN. HI JOE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND I'VE BEEN TALKING, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WITH, WITH JOE BAILEY AS WELL. AND, AND I THINK A LOT OF US AROUND THIS HORSESHOE HAVE, HAVE DEALT WITH, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY GAS STATIONS AND TOO MANY CORNERS AND, AND I HOPE WE CAN DO SOMETHING. I I'VE GOTTEN THE SAME INFORMATION THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS REVIEWING EVERYTHING, COLLECTING DATA, BUT MUCH LIKE, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM AFTER THE WATSON EXPLOSION, UM, WHEN WE REALLY DID PUT IN SOME RESTRICTIONS ON HOW FAR AWAY, UM, SOME OF THESE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CAN BE, IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY GO DOWN THAT ROAD. UM, WE DO, WE DO DISTANCE RESTRICTIONS ON A LOT OF, ON A LOT OF THINGS IN, IN HOUSTON. AND THIS COULD, COULD, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY BE ADDED TO THE LIST. [03:45:01] IT'S A BIG PROBLEM ACROSS OUR CITY. UM, THE PICTURES ARE GREAT. THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, THE, THIS IS AN HISTORIC WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD AND, AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UM, JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AND WE DON'T WANNA SET IT BACK. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. OH, THANK YOU. THANKS SIR. COUNCILMAN KATE. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE ANNA STONE UP. THERE'S ONLY TWO SPEAKERS AHEAD OF HER, BUT SHE HAS TWO LITTLE ONES THAT ARE GETTING PRETTY TIRED. MOTION MADE AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES ANNA STONE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALI KAHN. I, I AM DEEPLY DISCUSSED BY THE MAYOR'S DECISION TO REPEAL AND THEN AMEND THIS ORDINANCE DUE TO A THREAT OF FUNDING CUTS. THAT'S NOT WHAT SOMEONE DOES WHEN THEY ARE PROTECTING PEOPLE. THEY STAND UP IN SPITE OF THREATS. JUST LAST WEEK ON APRIL 14TH, THE MAYOR RECOGNIZED HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY. OH, THE IRONY OF SAYING NEVER AGAIN WHEN WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SAME PREDICAMENT NOW. AND INSTEAD OF STANDING UP AND PROTECTING FAMILIES AND PEOPLE FROM THESE ATROCITIES, THE MAYOR IS LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEW HOLOCAUST BY COOPERATING WITH ICE. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE STOOD UP IN SPITE OF THREATS. LIKE DURING SLAVERY. WHEN PEOPLE WERE THREATENED UP TO DEATH, THEY STILL STOOD UP AND HELPED SLAVES ESCAPE. FUNDING CUTS WERE THREATENED DURING INTER INTEGRATION, YET CITIES STILL STOOD UP. INTEGRATED SCHOOLS. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE HOLOCAUST AS WELL, YET PEOPLE STOOD UP AND HID JEWS THAT HELPED THEM ESCAPE. WE SHOULD BE STANDING UP FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T, NOT SENDING THEM TO THE PORTABLE CONDITIONS. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAND UP NOW, WHEN CAN PEOPLE EVER EXPECT YOU TO STAND UP? THE MAYOR KEEPS MENTIONING LAWS WE NEED TO FOLLOW. YET SLAVERY USED TO BE THE LAW OF THIS LAND. AND HE'S PROVING THAT THE CITY HASN'T MOVED MUCH PAST 1865. THIS MAYOR SHOULD BE STANDING UP AND SAYING, I WILL NOT BE BULLIED. INSTEAD, HE ROLL OVER BECAUSE OF FUNDING. THE MAYOR KEEPS SAYING TO KEEP POLITIC OUT, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU NICK. ALI KAHN. ALI KAHAN, STEVE WILLIAMS. NEIL AQUINO. ALRIGHT, NEIL TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIAN WRIGHT. HI. IF, IF YOU'RE IN PUBLIC, SOMEONE MAY TAKE YOUR PICTURE. IF SOMEONE'S GOING TO BE REMOVED FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITY, THEN THE REASON SHOULD BE CITED. I TOOK PART IN A PROTEST EARLIER TODAY AS I DO EACH TUESDAY. MY PICTURE AND I HAVE BEEN FILMED TODAY. THAT'S THE WAY IT ROLLS. YOU'RE IN PUBLIC. IS THERE ANY ATTACK FROM AUTHORITARIAN WHITE SUPREMACIST STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL RESPOND TO WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN A RUSH TO COMPLIANCE? WILL WE BE GOVERNED BY A MAYOR WHO COLLARS A POLICE UNION THAT BULLIES AND A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW CITY ORDINANCES? WE TALK ABOUT TRUST IN HPD. IT IS THE POLICE UNION THAT HAS DONE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUST IN HPD OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. WILL THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON HAVE ANY CAPACITY TO COME TO CITY HALL AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO BE GOVERNED BY THE WORST PEOPLE WITH NO HOPE OF PUSHING BACK. THE MAYOR, HPD AND THE POLICE UNION BY HOW THEY HAVE RESPONDED TO THE ORDINANCE, HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT WHEN HABEAS CORPUS IS SUSPENDED, HAS HAS BEEN THREATENED. WHEN ABBOTT INTERFERES AS PROMISED IN HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS, OR I I SHOOT SOMEONE DEAD ON THE STREETS YOUR TIME MUSIC FIRE, IT'LL BE EACH OF US TO LEAD THE FIGHT. THE NEXT ACTION IS WHEN YOU ORGANIZE IT. THANK YOU. THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS YOUR PERMIT. THE ONLY CREDENTIAL NEEDED IS YOUR PRESENCE. THE WORK AHEAD IS OURS. THANK YOU. NEXT ARIAN WRIGHT TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALYSSA QUAR. HI, QUICK QUESTION. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT TRUMPS ANY CITY LAW. CORRECT? FIRST AMENDMENT, SECOND AMENDMENT, THIRD AMENDMENT, FOURTH AMENDMENT. THE CONSTITUTION TRUMPS ANYTHING. IF ANYONE'S FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OR VIOLATED, DOES THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT? DOES IT GIVE ANYONE ANY RIGHTS DIFFERENT THAN THAT? NO. IF THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS, IS IT, IS IT CHANGING ANYTHING? IS IT, WHY ARE WE GONNA CHANCE LOSING SOMETHING FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY TEETH? THERE'S NOTHING TO THIS ORDINANCE. IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN PEOPLE VIRTUE SIGNALING SAYING, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE DOING SOMETHING. LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING. WHATCHA Y'ALL DOING? WHAT DOES THIS AMENDMENT FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS, IF THERE ARE VIOLATED, EVERYBODY'S STILL HAS THE SAME REPLIC, THE SAME THING THEY CAN DO TO FIGHT IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU NICK. THANK YOU ELISSA QUAR TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN NICKS, JESUS CHRIST. [03:50:04] THE GRANT FUNDS ARE NOT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. UM, THAT'S SOMETHING I, I HAVE MY PERSONAL IDEAS ABOUT THAT, THAT IN THE FUTURE I THINK WE SHOULD ADD SOME TRANSPARENCY AROUND THAT IN THE BUDGET. UM, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT GET THE MOST FEDERAL GRANTS FOR THEIR OPERATIONAL BUDGETS ARE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. LEMME JUST STATE THE OBVIOUS THAT SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL GRANTS WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE PROGRAMS WE OPERATE, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON WE SERVE AND OUR EMPLOYEES. OKAY. UM, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE DRASTIC AND IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR THE CITY. AND UM, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IT DOES NOT COME TO THAT IF THIS IS A CRISIS SITUATION. IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SET IT UP THAT WAY. YOU MADE A BET ON A BAD FRIENDSHIP AND THIS IS THE RESULT. AND WHEN YOU ACT LIKE YOU WERE THE ADULT IN THE ROOM AND YOU ARE CLEANING UP THEIR MESS, THAT IS PLAYING POLITICS TO HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FRESHLY GRADUATED ONES, THE NEW ONES I SAY TO YOU, CONSIDER THAT THE SYSTEM AS IT IS, IS HARMFUL TO YOU AS WELL. WHEN MAYBE THE MONEY IS GOOD, BUT THE JOB IS TOUGH BECAUSE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NICKS JOHN NICKS PRESENT. HMM. YEP. TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH PANZA. HOWDY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOHN NICKS AND ICKS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SPRING BRANCH AND AMY PECK'S DISTRICT. I'M URGING LIKE MOST EVERYONE HERE AS A NO VOTE. WE NEED TO TELL THE SCHOOLYARD BULLY AKA, UH, GREG ABBOTT AND DONALD TRUMP. NO, YOU CANNOT HAVE HOUSTON. WE NEED THIS ORDINANCE. WE NEED HPD TO ENFORCE THIS ORDINANCE AND LET THE PEOPLE BE A SANCTUARY CITY. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT EVEN WE HAVE TO EVEN THINK TO BOW DOWN TO THE SCHOOLYARD BULLY ABBOT ON THIS STUFF. I SH I AS A NATIVE TEXAN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH ME OR MY PASSPORT THAT SHOWS THAT I AM A NATIVE TEXAN AND LAWFULLY ALLOWED TO BE HERE. IT'S RIDICULOUS. IT'S LIKE IT. NO ONE IS EVEN TALKING HOW THIS IS H HURTING PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS LIKE AUTISM OR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS. WHAT IF THEY DEPORT SOMEONE THAT'S AUTISTIC AND THEN BECOMES NONVERBAL OR YOUR EXPIRED IS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND THEY CAN'T MOVE OUT? THANK YOU. THAT'S MY CONCERNS. AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO AND JUST FIGHT BACK. FIGHT BACK EVERYTHING YOU CAN. OF COURSE. I'M ROUND TIME. I HAD MORE TO SAY. THANK YOU. NEXT JOSEPH ELLA TO BE FOLLOWED BY DALE STORY. HOWDY. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I SUPPOSE, UM, THERE ARE FIVE WORDS ON THAT WALL THAT I WANT TO REMIND CITY COUNCIL OF TODAY. THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE IN THIS HORSESHOE HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON HOUSTONIANS LIVES. YOU WERE ELECTED TO FIGHT FOR US, ESPECIALLY WHEN BULLIES TRY TO UNDERMINE OUR VOICE AND RUN OUR CITY FROM AFAR. I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE PUT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBERS SALINAS CAYMAN POLLARD. I THINK THAT HPDS TIME SHOULD BE SPENT SERVING HOUSTONIANS, NOT PUSHING POLITICAL AGENDAS. I BELIEVE THAT THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION SHOULD NURTURE ITS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THAT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, OUR LEADERSHIP SHOULD STAND STRONG FOR HOUSTONIANS IN OPPOSITION TOWARDS BIGOTRY, HATE, AND POLITICAL OVERREACH BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT DALE STORY. OH, ISAIAH LOPEZ, LADY ORTEGA TO BE FOLLOWED BY TEODORO ALU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LET ORTEGA AND I'M A HOUSTONIAN AND ORGANIZER WITH ME. FAMI. AXION. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WATCHING WHAT YOU DO NEXT. FAMILIES ARE ALREADY AFRAID TO GO TO WORK, TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL OR CALL FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT A ROUTINE STOP TO TURN INTO AN ICE ENCOUNTER. AND WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER HURRICANE SEASON. WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS IN HOUSTON. IT MEANS FAMILIES NEED TO BE ABLE TO CALL FOR HELP, EVACUATE SAFELY AND TRUST THAT THE SYSTEM'S MEANT TO PROTECT THEM WILL ACTUALLY DO SO. REPEALING THIS ORDINANCE BUT DEEPEN FEAR AT THE EXACT MOMENT, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE MOST VULNERABLE. YOU ALL ALREADY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. YOU PASSED THIS ORDINANCE TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM BEING HELD TO END PROLONGED STOPS AND TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO HP D'S ACTIONS THAT IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL [03:55:01] RIGHTS AND SAFETY. WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS POLITICAL PRESSURE. IF YOU REPEAL THIS ORDINANCE, YOU ARE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT HOUSTON WILL BACK DOWN WHEN OUR COMMUNITY'S RIGHTS ARE ON THE LINE. AND I WANNA BE CLEAR, VOTERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WATCHING HOW YOU VOTE. AND WE WILL REMEMBER. WE WILL ORGANIZE AND WE WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. STAND FIRM DEFEND THIS ORDINANCE. DO NOT BACK DOWN. THANK YOU TEODORO ALU TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARK WADEL. WE WANNA START THIS. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. THE ORDINANCE THAT REGULATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ICE AND THE POLICE IN HOUSTON BROUGHT RELIEF TO MANY FAMILIES. BUT TODAY IT IS UNDER PRESSURE DUE TO THREATS FROM THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY TO TELL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE COMMITMENT YOU HAVE SHOWN TO OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY WE FACE A SERIOUS THREAT. GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS ATTEMPTING TO PUNISH OUR CITY BY TAKING FUNDS AWAY THAT BELONG TO HOUSTON. THAT IS WHY WE COME BEFORE YOU RESPECTFULLY BUT FIRMLY TO ASK. DO NOT GIVE UP. THANK YOU. ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ARE READY TO STAND WITH YOU. WE ARE PREPARED TO WALK ALONGSIDE YOU IN THIS PROCESS. RAISE OUR VOICES AND DEFEND HOUSTON TOGETHER. WE ASK YOU TO USE ALL AVAILABLE LEGAL TOOLS TO REMAIN STRONG AND NOT GIVE INTO INTIMIDATION. LET US DEFEND HOUSTON. LET US DEFEND OUR PEOPLE. THANK YOU. NEXT, MARK WA TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH BALLARD OF HUMBLE. UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, MY NAME IS MARK. I'M FROM, UH, DISTRICT A. WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING IS THREAT. THREATENING TO WITHHOLD OUR FUNDS IS NOT LEADERSHIP. IT'S COERCION. IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE YOU TO ABANDON YOUR VOTE AND ABANDON YOUR VALUES. AND I'M SURE YOU WANT TO SAY, I'M SURE YOU WANT TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO, BUT WE KNEW THE KINDS OF CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD HAPPEN. PUTTING OUR SAFETY AT RISK BECAUSE WE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS IS VIOLENCE. AND WE'RE USED TO VIOLENCE. EVERY TIME WE CALL FOR PEACE, THE STATE CALLS FOR VIOLENCE. EVERY TIME WE TAKE A SINGLE INCH OF PROGRESS, WE SEE VIOLENCE. SO YOU MUST STAND UP AND YOU MUST FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE. AND LET US BE CLEAR ABOUT THE STAKES. WHEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT CALLING THE POLICE COULD LEAD TO THEIR FAMILY BEING PUT AT RISK, THEY DON'T CALL VICTIMS STAY SILENT. WITNESSES DISAPPEAR. TRUST COLLAPSES. AND WHEN TRUST COLLAPSES, PUBLIC SAFETY COLLAPSES WITH IT. SO THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL IS NOT SAFETY FROM THE FOREIGNER. THEY ARE TRYING TO DIVIDE STRONG WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES. THAT IS NOT POLITICS, THAT IS REALITY. THE POLICIES YOU SUPPORT ARE NOT EXTREME. THANK YOU. THEY'RE BARE MINIMUM TO UPHOLD CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. SO THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT DEFINES LEADERSHIP. NOT WHEN IT'S EASY, BUT WHEN NOT WHEN THERE'S NO PRESSURE, BUT RIGHT NOW WHEN STANDING FIRM ACTUALLY COSTS SOMETHING. THANK YOU. OOPS. NEXT. THANK YOU JOSEPH BALL. JOSEPH BALL. I DON'T SEE JOSEPH AMARI. HOW YOU DOING TODAY? UH, YOU KNOW, WE, BLACK AMERICANS AS A SLAVES MADE PLENTY [04:00:01] OF MONEY ONCE THEY PAID US FOR OUR LABOR CREATED CONTRIBUTION TO SAUDI MARCUS GARVEY EVEN RAISED MONEY BY SELLING STOCK TO BUY A SHIP AS A PART OF THE BACK AFRICA MOVEMENT. WHEN IT COMES TO ART AND CULTURE, DON'T ABANDON YOUR COUNTRY CULTURAL IDENTITY. I KNOW YOU MAY HAVE SEEN MY MY COMPANY BUY ANY, ANY HIP HOP DESIGN FASHION CONCEPT ON THE STREET, BUT I GOT A MID GIRLFRIEND. YOU REALLY LOOK HOT, YOU HAVE PLAIN JANE SPEND THAT. BUT YOU EVEN LOOK HOTTER WITH MY FLAVOR AND MY BRAND NAME OR WEAR ANY BRAND NAME. THE BANK OF AMERICA NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTS ARTS AND FASHION ENTERTAINMENT FINANCIAL ADS REPORT. BUT ONE MEANS TWO ONE TO $3 MILLION COPPER, JUST CASH COMPANY AND SOLD YOUR C SOME CRACK. A $10 PIECE. IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, IF YOU DON'T WANT THINK IT WORK, DON'T USE IT. YOU JUST LEAVE IT ON THE TABLE. WHAT NEW WHITE PRIVILEGE AND BLACK PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND ABOUT OLDER WHITE AND OLDER BLACK COPPER MIRACLE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GIVE YOU THAT PRODUCT DESIGN INVENTION THAT HAS, THAT COULD POSSIBLY EARN MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE FOR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THEY DON'T WANT THAT MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT. THANK YOU. THEY DON'T WANT THAT MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT MILLION DOLLAR TRUNK CARD AND THEY'RE GONNA WANT THAT MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT RATHER, NO MATTER WHAT ESPECIALLY TO HAVE UH, THANK YOU MILLION DOLLAR HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR ATHLETIC POTENTIAL. THANK YOU. [RECESS] WE RECESS TILL NINE IN THE MORNING. THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STATE OF OUR CITY. WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHERE I DESCRIBE THE CITY AS STRONG AND GETTING STRONGER. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. IN FACT SINCE THEN WE'VE GOTTEN STRONGER. WE ARE GETTING GREAT REVIEWS. AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY FROM ADMIRALS AND GENERALS THAT CONDUCTED AND PARTNERED WITH US ON FLEET WEEK. THEY SAID THEY'D NEVER BEEN TO A CITY THAT WAS MORE FRIENDLY AND RESOURCEFUL. BUT IT'S NOT JUST YESTERDAY WITH THE ADMIRALS AND GENERALS BUT NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS ARE PRINTING OUT THAT WE'RE LEADING THE NATION IN MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT WERE SECOND ONLY TO SEATTLE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND ALSO MENTIONING THAT SEATTLE COMPLETELY CLOSED DOWN DURING COVID SO THEY'RE BUILDING BACK. SO I COULD GO ON THE RECOGNITION WE'RE GETTING CERTAINLY HOUSTONIANS FEEL OUR ENERGY AND THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING AND REALLY WANT US TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT CITY BUSINESS. BUT ON THE GREATNESS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE MAKING, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT COLLABORATION? IT'S THE KEY. IT'S HOW WE PLAY CATCH UP. IT'S HOW WE ADDRESS NEGLECT. ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT WHEN CITIZENS COME BEFORE US. THE POINT IS I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT COLLABORATION WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. IT'S NEVER BEEN STRONGER BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE SHARED RESOURCES TAKEN OVER MANAGEMENT OF SOME CITY PARKS HELPING US WITH THE HOMELESS ROAD REPAIRS. THE COUNTY COLLABORATING ON US IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT THEY COME WITH CONDITIONS. I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH WHAT THEIR REQUESTS ARE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I COULDN'T AGREE HOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT WOULD COLLABORATE IN SHERIFF'S SOCCER FIELDS WITH HIS RECREATIONAL DEPARTMENT AND THEY INSIST AND THEY'RE STRONG LEADERS IF WE'RE GONNA PARTNER AND COLLABORATE, THIS IS WHAT I EXPECT AS COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND I HAVE AGREED ON WHAT THE SIGNAGE WOULD LOOK LIKE. SOMETHING THAT INSIGNIFICANT QUITE FRANKLY. BUT WHAT TYPE CROSSWALK WILL WE HAVE IN AREAS WHERE WE BOTH REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE? THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY FOR THE COLLABORATION. I UNDERSTAND THE COMPROMISES THAT GO WITH COLLABORATION AND THE SHARING OF FUNDS. WE WOULD NOT BEAT THE GREAT CITY WE ARE IN MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT FUNDING FROM HARRIS COUNTY. [04:05:02] THE STATE, THE STATE REQUIRES THAT YOU FOLLOW THEIR RIDERS IN THEIR GRANT LANGUAGE. HAVING SAT ON CITY STATE FINANCE FOR YEARS, VERY LITTLE BUDGET ITEMS GO FORWARD WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED CONDITIONS AND SIGNED AGREEMENTS. I CAN GIVE YOU EXAMPLES WHERE THEY ALSO IN THE PAST WITHHELD MONEY FROM HOUSTON HARVEY RECOVERY FUNDING BECAUSE LAND COMMISSIONER BUSH INSISTED ON CERTAIN PROVISIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOLLOW UP. THEY WITHDREW THE HARVEY RECOVERY FUNDING. JUST LAST SESSION, THE STATE FUNDED WITH SPECIAL ITEMS $267 MILLION. LEMME SAY THAT AGAIN IN THE BUDGET. SPECIAL ITEMS FOR HOUSTON WAS 267,000,215 MILLION FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT REPAIRS. 17 MILLION FROM PARTS INFRASTRUCTURE ROADS, 20 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY, 15 MILLION. SOME LARGE ITEMS LIKE THE WATER TREATMENT WAS A HUNDRED MILLION. THEN THE LAST WEEK OF THE SESSION I GOT A HOLD OF THE CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE FROM HOUSTON, CHAIR HUSMAN AND SAID, JOAN, WE GOTTA HAVE SOME POLICE CARS. IT IS UNHEARD OF FOR AUSTIN TO FUND MUNICIPAL POLICE CARS. SO SHE PUT 10 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR 200 POLICE CARS WITH DIRECTIONS AND GUARANTEES THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WILL BE USED FOR. WE WOULD NOT BE THE STRONG CITY GOING FORWARD WITHOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH STRINGS ATTACHED FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE UNDERSECRETARY OF HUD WAS IN MY OFFICE YESTERDAY. THEY WANT TO HELP US WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY WANT TO HELP US WITH THE HOMELESS. WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO GO FOR GRANT MONEY IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND THAT WILL OCCUR WITH STRINGS ATTACHED. AND WE ARGUE ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA USE THE MONEY BUT THEY CONTROL THE FUNDING. AND I CANNOT THINK MY TEAM ENOUGH AND MEMBERS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE FIXING HOUSTON. THE POLLS SHOW THAT PEOPLE ARE PLEASED. AND I DON'T GOVERN BY POLLS, BUT PEOPLE FEEL IT. THEY SEE IT. THE PAVEMENT OF A THOUSAND MILES OF CITY STREETS THIS YEAR, PARTLY WITH STATE AND COUNTY FUNDING, PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR FIRE AND POLICE CADET CLASSES HAVE NEVER BEEN LARGER. WE'VE SWORN IN 800 POLICE CADETS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. LARGE NUMBERS OF HOUSTON FIRE TOTAL OF 2,400 POLICE OFFICERS NOW LARGEST EVER. 5,400 POLICE OFFICERS, LARGEST EVER. AND IT'S REQUIRED TO HAVE A SAFE CITY OVERTIME POP UP. PROTESTS HAVE TO BE SECURED. SYNAGOGUE SCHOOL THIS MORNING GOT A CREDIBLE, CREDIBLE GUN SCARE. IT INVOLVES HPD HAVING THE NUMBERS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. HOME REPAIRS, RECOVERY FUNDING FOR GENERATORS. I COULD GO ON AND ON. THAT'S THE SYSTEM WHICH EXISTS WHERE NO LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT DOES THINGS ALONE. OUR PARK FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS, ORGANIZED LABORS NEVER UNDERSTOOD OR APPRECIATED THE JOBS THAT WE'RE CREATING AS MUCH AS THEY DO NOW FROM THE STATE. WE GOT $2 BILLION FOR THE GEORGE BROWN EXPANSION. 2 BILLION PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR CONVENTIONS FOR YEARS TO COME. LAST WEEK WE GOT A HUNDRED MILLION FROM THE STATE TO COMPLETELY REDO TOYOTA STADIUM. ALL HAVE CONDITIONS, ALL ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. [04:10:02] SO TODAY WE HAVE TO DECIDE DO WE WANNA REMAIN STRONG OR NOT? AND I'M HERE TO SUBMIT TO THE PUBLIC, MY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GONNA GO. WE'RE GONNA REMAIN STRONG AND DEAL WITH A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. ONE THAT I SAID OVER A YEAR AGO THAT I WAS SORRY THAT WE EVEN HAD TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT. WE FOLLOWED THE LAW, WE PROTECTED HU RESIDENTS FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND WE PROTECTED THE CITY FUNDING. I WAS TOLD BY SOME OF THE PROPONENTS THAT IT, THAT THE STATE JUST WON'T CHALLENGE YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINAS, I BEGGED YOU IN MY OFFICE TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, WHICH IS BEFORE US TODAY. IN ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU SAID THE GOVERNOR WON'T DO THAT. AND I'VE REFERENCED HISD. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAID BEFORE THE STATE MOVED IN ON HISD. I KNOW ABBOTT. I VOTED AGAINST HIM MORE THAN ANY LIVING PERSON. AND QUITE FRANKLY, Y'ALL PLAYED RIGHT INTO HIS HANDS. YOU VOTED FOR IT. SO I UNDERSTAND AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY I DID. IT'S AGAIN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. YOU VOTED THE FIRST. THE FIRST PROPOSED A WAS ABSOLUTELY ON ITS FACE IN VIOLATION OF SENATE BILL FOUR, WHICH I VOTED AGAINST. THE REVISION WAS MUCH BETTER. AND THAT'S THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING I WANTED IN THE REVISION AND IT CERTAINLY GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE AUTHORITIES IN AUSTIN, PARTICULARLY WHEN SOME OF THE PROPONENTS LEAVE OUTTA HERE AND SAY IT'S TICKET AND RELEASE THAT TRIGGERED WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND THAT WAS NEVER THE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. AND IT WAS NEVER IN CONSIDERATION AS WE DID A REVISED VERSION. BUT IT GOT THEIR ATTENTION. I WAS TOLD, WELL AUSTIN AND DALLAS ARE BEING LEFT ALONE. NO MORE THANKS TO OUR DISCUSSION. THEY'RE IN DISCUSSION TODAY WITH AUSTIN AND YOU'LL BE SEEING THEM ADOPT THE LANGUAGE THAT I'M PROPOSING TODAY THAT FOLLOWS THE LAW, REINFORCES THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND PROTECTS OUR CITY FUNDING. IT'S AN INTERESTING COMPARISON. WE HAVE IN JEOPARDY, IN FACT, NOT JEOPARDY, WE LOST IT LAST WEDNESDAY. 114 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AUSTIN HAS THE POTENTIAL OF LOSING 2.5 MILLION, WHICH AGAIN POINTS TO THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THIS ADMINISTRATION IN HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. THANK GOD THAT WE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SAY, LET'S KEEP TALKING BECAUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE MODEL IN HOUSTON AND AUSTIN FOR YEARS. LET'S KEEP TALKING. WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO KEEP TALKING TO PRESERVE HOUSTON'S FINANCES. WE'VE ALREADY SPENT SOME OF THE MONEY GETTING PREPARED FOR FIFA AND FOR POLICE OVERTIME AND THE POLICE CARS. AUSTIN IS ASKING FOR THE RETURN OF THOSE FUNDS AND WE'LL GET NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT. SOME WOULD SAY, LET'S GO TO COURT. ANY OBJECTIVE LAWYER KNOWS THAT IF YOU GOT A FAVORABLE RULING IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE STATE SUPREME COURT WOULD OVERRULE IT THE SAME DAY. THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO A RESTRAINING ORDER ON THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS OR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT IF YOU FOLLOW THEIR RULINGS. SO THAT'S NOT AN ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE TIME IS COSTING US DOLLARS. IT'S COSTING US PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S COSTING US OUR REPUTATION ACROSS THIS STATE AND THIS NATION. I'M STILL GETTING CALLS FROM MAJOR CITY MAYORS. WHITMEYER, HOW'D YOU DO IT? HOW'D YOU MAINTAIN THE CALM? WHEN OUR NATIONAL NEWS WAS SHOWING THE TRAGEDIES OF MINNEAPOLIS, LA, CHICAGO, NEW ORLEANS, MEMPHIS. [04:15:01] OF COURSE THAT CREATED FRIGHT ANXIETY IN ALL OF US. I DID IT AS I EXPLAINED TO LARGE CITY MAYORS BY NOT POLITICIZING IT, STAYING OFF THE ADMINISTRATION'S RADAR. WE HAVE HAD A SUCCESS. AND I UNDERSTAND THE HEARTACHE. I HAVE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS. I'M IN THE COMMUNITY. I LISTEN TO THE WITNESSES AND IT'S PAINFUL FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND HAVE TO SPEND THREE HOURS BEING MISREPRESENTED BECAUSE I HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HAVING SPENT 50 YEARS IN AUSTIN AND WATCH THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES OF OUR STATE. YES, THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL DISCUSSION, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 74 WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN STATE REP. AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE. THINK ABOUT IT, 74. IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD. BILINGUAL EDUCATION. WE TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED NOW THAT WERE EMOTIONAL BATTLEFIELDS THAN THE FARM WORKERS. MOST OF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW. I SPENT FIVE YEARS IN MY CHILDHOOD, 30 MILES FROM WACO IN A VERY RURAL SETTING, CAME BACK TO HOUSTON TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL. I UNDERSTAND THE HARDSHIPS OF FARM WORKERS. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE SPRAYING THE FIELDS IN THE VALLEY WITH CHEMICALS, PESTICIDES. AND THE FARM WORKERS WOULD GO IN THERE IMMEDIATELY AND TAKE THE CHEMICALS AND POISONS BACK HOME AND THEY'D PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN. HI JOHN WHITMEYER STOPPED THAT. LOOK AT THE PRISON REFORMS IN THE EIGHTIES. LOOK AT 'EM IN THE NINETIES WHEN I BECAME THE CHAIR. I DID MY VERY, VERY BEST TO ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED PRISONERS FOR LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT OFFENSES TO GO BACK TO MEXICO AND THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. TO THIS DAY, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT I COULD NOT PASS THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING USED LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT, UNDOCUMENTED PRISONERS WERE BEING USED TO RUN THE PRISONS. COULDN'T EVER PROVE IT. BUT EXPERIENCE AND COMMON SENSE CAN LEAD THE WAY. WE STILL HAVE WAY TOO MANY UNDOCUMENTED LOCKED UP RUNNING OVER A HUNDRED PRISONS. 'CAUSE THERE'S SOME OF THE BEST WORKERS, JUST LIKE IN THE FREE WORLD. DIDN'T THE DREAM ACT YOU THINK THAT WASN'T CONTROVERSIAL? TO LET UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE GET IN-STATE TUITION? I NOT ONLY VOTED FOR IT, I PROTECTED IT. RICK NORIEGA, A LOCAL STATE REP, CAME UP WITH THAT CONCEPT AND IDEA, VOTED AGAINST SENATE BILL FOR LONG BEFORE I EVER THOUGHT WE'D BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. SO I HAD THE CREDENTIALS TO UNDERSTAND, REPRESENT, AND DEFEND THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY. THE KEY WAS NOT POLITICIZING IT. OH, YOU CAN CALL ICE THE F WORD OR WHATEVER YOU WANT. THEY JUST SEND MORE RESOURCES HERE. WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DEFENDING FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON BECAUSE I SAID VERY LIMITED RESOURCES HERE. WE SAW SOME VIOLATIONS BY SOME OFFICERS WE'RE NOT PERFECT. SO THE CHIEF AND I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ROLL OUT A MORE ACCOUNTABLE SYSTEM. A SERGEANT HAS TO BE THERE. YOU WON'T TRANSPORT ANYBODY. IT WAS WORKING IN THE MONTH OF MARCH 22. PEOPLE WERE HAD WARRANTS THAT HPD SAW ON THEIR SCREENS REQUIRED BY LAW TO CALL ICE. JUST LIKE THEY'D BE REQUIRED TO CALL MONTGOMERY COUNTY OR TRAVIS COUNTY OR ANY JURISDICTION OF THE 22 THAT HAD A WARRANT. ICE WANTED ONLY TWO. SOME WOULD ARGUE TWO TOO MANY. I UNDERSTAND THAT POSITION ONE WAS A VERY VIOLENT INDIVIDUAL. THE OTHER HAD BEEN DEPORTED FOUR TIMES. FOLKS, WE ENFORCED CITY AND STATE LAWS. WE HAD A WORKING SYSTEM UNTIL ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WITH A SPECIAL [04:20:01] ELECTION. THEN IT BECAME A HIGH PROFILE ISSUE. AND I RESPECT EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO BRING THEIR POSITION AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. BUT I'M GONNA CLOSE 'CAUSE WE NEED TO GO TO WORK AND LET EVERYONE CAN HEAR MY VOICE. WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE FOR HOUSTON TO SURVIVE. PREPARE FOR FIFA PATROL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, DEAL WITH SOUND ORDINANCES, EMANCIPATION, ALAMEDA, WASHINGTON, DURHAM, ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY. WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE TODAY A RESTORATION OF THE 114 MILLION AND THEN GET READY FOR THE NEXT SESSION. NOT ONLY FOR RESOURCES AND MONEY, BUT WE NEED TO GET READY TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. BECAUSE I MENTIONED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AUSTIN IS LISTENING, AUSTIN IS WATCHING. SO LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER, RESPECT EACH OTHER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE DISCUSSION HAS TO GET SO PERSONAL. IT'S NOT IN MY WORLD. WE GET MORE TO GET DONE TOGETHER THAN WE DO INDIVIDUALLY. WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE ITEM NUMBER 11 OUT OF ORDER. CASTEX STATE A MOVE TO PULL ITEM 11, UH, FOR THE FIRST AGENDA. ITEM SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, USUALLY DURING YOUR MAYOR'S REPORT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO SPEAK AHEAD OF AN ITEM. SO I WENT INTO Q BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY AS WELL. UM, SO I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT AND THEN I'LL MOVE ON TO THIS ITEM. BUT THE, I WAS EXTREMELY DISTURBED TO SEE REMARKS MADE BY AN OFFICER LESS THAN 48 HOURS AGO THAT DO NOT REPRESENT THE VALUES OF HPD OR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WANNA THANK THE UNIONS FOR GIVING OUT, PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT. BUT I WAS EXTREMELY DISMAYED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS HPD NOR THE CITY ISSUED AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. AND IN TERMS OF TIMING OF ALL OF THIS, I THINK WE CAN ALL CONDEMN UNEQUIVOCALLY HOW DISTURBING AND DISGUSTING AND UNACCEPTABLE THOSE REMARKS WERE. BUT WE COULDN'T ISSUE A STATEMENT WITHIN 24 HOURS, WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. THOUGH WE RECEIVE LANGUAGE ON THIS AMENDMENT AND ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON SOMETHING TODAY THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO REVIEW, THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO REVIEW. AND YOU TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION, YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS ISN'T PERSONAL TO YOU, BUT YOU ALSO SAY VEILED REMARKS ABOUT BLAMING ONE COUNCIL MEMBER OR ANOTHER. WHEN AS A BODY WE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING WHICH WAS WITHIN OUR LEGAL RIGHT TO DO. YOU TALK ABOUT COLLABORATION, BUT THERE IS ALSO A PATTERN AT THE STATE OF NOT COLLABORATING. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT ABBOTT AND PAXTON HAVE TRIED TO BULLY OUR CITIES AND YOU REFERENCE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT I'LL EVEN GO BACK FARTHER. HARVEY. IN 2017, THE GOVERNOR REFUSED TO PROVIDE $50 MILLION OF THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUNDING FOR HOUSTON. NONE OF US WERE AT THIS HORSESHOE YET, BUT CITY LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME FOUGHT HARD AND WON FOR THAT MONEY ENSURING THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A TEMPORARY PROPERTY TA TAX HIKE THAT WE WOULD'VE HAD TO IMPLEMENT TO FILL THAT GAP. IF WE DIDN'T GET THOSE DOLLARS, THE CITY FOUGHT FOR IT AND WON. AND THEN WE FAST FORWARD TO OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR AND THE GOVERNOR ISSUES AN ILLEGITIMATE ORDER FOR CITIES TO REMOVE PAINT FROM CROSSWALKS IN CITY RIGHTS OF WAYS, OR WE'D LOSE FUNDING. WE ROLLED OVER WITHOUT EVEN PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO SHOW THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THEM. AND I ASKED THEN IF WE ROLL OVER NOW TO A BULLY, WHAT WILL HE COME FOR NEXT? AND NOW WE [04:25:01] HAVE THE ABBOTT AMENDMENT, WHICH IS A POINT BLANK REPEAL OF THE ORDINANCE WE PASSED LAST WEEK. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO BULLY OUR CITY INTO SUBMISSION WITHHOLDING PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING THAT HE DID. HE DID THAT, NOT US. WHAT WE PASSED WAS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF SB FOUR, WAS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS AND UPHOLDS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. AND INSTEAD OF QUESTIONING THE GROUNDS FOR IT, WE'RE GETTING MISLEADING INFORMATION. WE'RE GETTING THREATS ABOUT OVERTIME BEING CUT. WE HAVE A LAYOUT THAT YOU PROVIDED US OF OTHER STATE FUNDING PARKS, WATER RAIL CROSSINGS ARE ARE YOU SAYING THAT THOSE ARE AT ISSUE NOW? BECAUSE WE HAVE ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE'VE RECEIVED A LIST OF THE GENERAL GRANTS, UM, THAT WERE ON THE LIST TO BE WITHHELD. THAT INCLUDED MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE LIMITED INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IS FOR ABOUT $114 MILLION. A HUNDRED MILLION OF THAT IS FEDERAL GRANTS. FEDERAL GRANTS THAT PROVIDE AN AVENUE OF RECOURSE IN CHALLENGING THAT THEIR LOCAL, THEIR PA STATE PASS THROUGHS. OUT OF THAT 165 MILLION ARE FOR FIFA. THE REMAINING 10 TO 14 INCLUDE THINGS LIKE EQUIPMENT AND FLEET VEHICLES. BUT WE HAVE ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE CONTRACTUAL PARAMETERS OF THOSE GRANTS AND WE GET NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON WHAT GRANTS WOULD LEAVE TO OVERTIME CUTS. WE'VE ALREADY SPENT $50 MILLION OVER OUR BUDGET IN PUBLIC SAFETY OVERTIME THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT OVERTIME WASN'T CUT THEN WE HAVE AN OVER $120 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT. AND YET WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT OUR FIDUCIARY DO FIDUCIARY DUTY TO DEFEND THE CITY IN COURT. WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO DEFEND THE CITY IN COURT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF SCARE TACTICS HAPPENING AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FACTS BEING PRESENTED. WE WERE GIVEN SOMETHING LESS THAN A DAY BEFORE COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF PUBLIC SESSION WHEN THE PUBLIC DID NOT GET TO REVIEW OR COMMENT ON IT EITHER. I BELIEVE, UH, THAT THERE IS A TAG ORDER OF REF A NO TAG ORDER. IS THAT CORRECT, MAYOR? YES, MA'AM. UH, CITY ATTORNEY. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THERE IS A NO TAG ORDER ON THIS ITEM? BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR GAVE UNTIL TODAY ONLY TO, UM, TO, UH, FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF RESUMING FUNDING IF THE ORDINANCE WERE AMENDED. AND SO IF THAT DEADLINE COMES AND GOES, IT WILL BE RENDERED MOOT, WHICH IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE TAG RULE. SO I'M OPEN TO, I'M, I'M GOING TO BE ISSUING A TAG AND WE CAN HAVE A DEBATE ON THAT. UM, I'M HAPPY TO RELEASE THAT TAG AT THE MOMENT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND I DEFER TO THE CHAIR AS TO HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED ON THAT. YOU CAN OFFER IT UP AND I'LL BE GLAD TO RULE. I'M, I WILL BE OFFERING UP A TAG. ARE YOU GOING TO OR YOU'RE DOING IT? I'M DOING A TAG. OKAY. I RULE IT OUT. ORDER PURSUANT TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER SECTION 24. I MOVE TO APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR AND I NEED A SECOND, A SECOND MOTION BEEN MADE AND SECOND OR RULE TO REQUIRES TWO. BEG YOUR PARDON. REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS VOTE. SURE. YOUR VOTES. WHO'S THE SECOND COUNCILOR? LINAS. AND I WOULD LIKE DISCUSSION. DO YOU WANT TABLE IT OR JUST STRAIGHT UP. UP AND SHE'D LIKE DISCUSSION ON HER MOTION. YOU RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? THANK YOU. THE REASON WHY THIS ITEM IS NOT TAGABLE, SHE'S, EXCUSE ME, IS IS BEING PRESENTED AS NOT TAGABLE IS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE RENDERED MOOT. HOWEVER, CITY ATTORNEY IS THIS ITEM AN ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE US. IS IT IS COMPARED TO A GRANT WITH AN OFFICIAL DEADLINE ON IT. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE. AND DOES THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE ITSELF IMPOSE ANY DEADLINES OR COULD IT BE DONE AT ANY TIME? [04:30:01] THE ORDINANCE IS NOT IMPOSED DEADLINES. SO WE ARE SELF IMPOSING A DEADLINE. THIS IS ABOUT ORDINANCE LANGUAGE. IT IS NOT A CONTRACTUAL GRANT WHERE IF WE PASS IT, WE CAN'T THEN APPLY FOR IT. WHAT WE HAVE IS A SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO APPEASE A THE GOVERNOR BASED ON A LETTER. THE GOVERNOR HAS MOVED THE DEADLINE AND MOVED THE DEADLINE AND MOVED THE DEADLINE. BUT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT DEADLINE THAT THE GOVERNOR SEEKS TO IMPOSE STANDS, THIS IS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US SPECIFICALLY. AND BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE PERMITTED TO TAG THIS ITEM. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE LANGUAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT WOULD RENDER IT MOOT IF WE VOTED ON IT NEXT WEEK. YEAH. THE MOTION'S BEFORE US SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. I DON'T NEED TO SPEAK ON THE TIME, BUT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK AFTER THE VOTE ON THE TIME NOW OR LATER AFTER CLA QUESTION. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF VOTE RULING THE CHAIR ON WHETHER THIS IS TAGABLE. I'VE RULED THAT IT'S NOT TAGABLE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN HAS, UH, MOVED TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR. CLERK CALL. SECRETARY CALL'S A REQUEST FOR A ROLL CALL. YEAH. COUNCILMAN POLL WOULD LIKE A ROLL CALL? ROLL CALL. VOTE. SO YOU NEED TO VOTE NO ON THE MOTION TO OVERRULE CORRECT. MAYOR WHITMEYER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER INGER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? NO. 13. 13 FOUR. IT FAILS. SORRY. FOUR TO 13. IT FAILS IT BEING FOUR YESS AND 13 NOS. THE MOTION FAILS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, YOU MADE A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS ABOUT ME AND THIS FACTS, THE SITUATION THAT ARE INCORRECT. I CORRECTED SOME OF THOSE STATEMENTS PUBLICLY BEFORE. I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT HERE, BUT I DO THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO CORRECT. THE FIRST IS, IN MY DISCUSSION WITH YOU, I ALWAYS FRAME THAT DISCUSSION ON A CHALLENGE TO ANY UNLAWFUL OVERREACH BY THE STATE. AND IF WE HAD REACHED THAT POINT AND THE COURT RULED AGAINST US, THEN I AGREE WITH YOU, WE'D BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU ARE UNWILLING TO TAKE THIS FIGHT TO COURT, BUT THAT IS THE SITUATION WE'RE IN. THE SECOND STATEMENT YOU MADE IS THAT AUSTIN HAS ALREADY AGREED TO ADOPT THIS LANGUAGE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO PEOPLE IN THE AUSTIN CITY ADMINISTRATION AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME. THEY SAID, NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. SO THAT IS INACCURATE TO SAY THAT AUSTIN HAS ALREADY ADOPTED THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING. BUT RATHER THAN TO GET INTO A BACK AND FORTH OR DISCUSS OUR CREDENTIALS OR HISTORY OF COMMITMENT TO THE ISSUE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA VOTE ON. AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT, OR EXCUSE ME, ABBOTT'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT ACTUALLY DOES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR EITHER YOU OR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ANSWER SOME VERY BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOUR PROPOSED ORDINANCE DOES, WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCE IS, MAYOR. BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS, DOES THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALLOW HPD TO DETAIN PEOPLE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT IN COURT AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED TO DEPOSE ME TODAY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF US THAT REINFORCES THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND PROTECTS THE CITY FUNDING. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION HERE. I RESPECT YOU, BUT THAT'S MY POSITION. OKAY. SO SINCE YOU'RE UNWILLING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, CITY ATTORNEY, DOES THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALLOW HPD TO HOLD PEOPLE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT? [04:35:03] POINT OF ORDER? THE CITY ATTORNEY UNDER CITY RULES HAS A DUTY TO RESPOND TO THE MAYOR AND TO CITY COUNCIL ON LEGAL QUESTIONS OF MATTER. MAYBE HE'S THINKING THAT I, I JUST, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS LAID OUT. I HAVE TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR. I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY LIKE COUNCILMAN TRURO. YOU CAN GIVE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGREED LANGUAGE. OKAY. THE, UM, THE AMENDMENT REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. THE FOURTH AMENDMENT REQUIRES THAT A STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL DETAIN A PERSON ONLY FOR SO LONG AS NEEDED FOR PURPOSES OF A STATE LAW VIOLATION INQUIRY AND ANY PROCESSING OF A CITATION OR ARREST. THAT DOES NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION. IT'S VERY SIMPLE, YES OR NO. IT'S THE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE TO PERMIT HPD TO HOLD SOMEBODY SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. NO. SO UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, HPD IS NOT PERMITTED TO EXTEND THE STOP SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT? THAT IS CORRECT. SO WHAT DOES THIS CHANGE DO IF NOT THAT IT MORE PRECISELY DEFINES ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOME WARRANTS IT MAY NOT BE MANY, HAVE A UNDERLYING CRIMINAL ORDERS OR WARRANTS. IT ALSO AMENDS THE LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S IN THE REPORT TO PROHIBIT THE RELEASE OF INFORMATION THAT IS CONFIDENTIAL UNDER LAW. IT, UH, DELETES THE WORD ONLY, WHICH IS NOT REALLY NECESSARY. THE SENTENCE WITHOUT IT, YOU KNOW, STANDS ALONE AND, UH, ADDS LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE FIFTH CIRCUIT IN INTERPRETING AS FOUR THAT IT DOES NOT MATERIALLY, UH, PROHIBIT OR LIMIT COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES. SO BY WHAT YOU HAVE JUST REPRESENTED, HPD CANNOT REINSTATE THE 30 MINUTE POLICY FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. DOES, HOW DOES HPD INTEND TO CHANGE THE ADOPTION OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE FOLLOWING THIS POLICY? UM, FOR PURPOSES OF HPD, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE QUITE SIMILAR. NOW, A SERGEANT MAY, UH, HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE, WITH ICE IN TERMS OF IS THERE AN UNDERLYING CRIMINAL WARRANT OR NOT. BUT OTHERWISE IT SHOULD BE MORE OR LESS THE SAME. I I JUST, I DON'T MEAN TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT WHEN YOU SAY MORE OR LESS, I THINK WE ALL DESERVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGE, IF ANY, DO YOU UNDERSTAND TO BE MADE UNDER THIS NEW LANGUAGE? WELL, IT'S JU IT'S WHAT I JUST RECITED A MOMENT AGO. BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL POLICY, WHAT OFFICERS WILL BE DOING ON THE GROUND, WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND TO BE A CHANGE, IF ANY, FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THIS NEW ORDINANCE? UH, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY CHANGE. OKAY. SO THE ORDINANCE WE ARE VOTING ON WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGE. OH, THAT'S NOT TRUE ON HPD FOLLOW POLICY FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE PRIOR ORDINANCE? NO. IT DOES WEIGH WITH THE 30 MINUTES AND MAKES IT NOW A REASONABLE CONSIDERATION. AND I THOUGHT THE GENTLEMAN YESTERDAY, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF WHAT AN OFFICER ON THE STREET. AND IN THIS INSTANCE, A SUPERVISOR HAS TO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY, THE INFORMATION THAT THE WARRANT DESCRIBES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, WE HAD A 30 MINUTE RULE THAT WAS WORKING REAL WELL AND Y'ALL DID A PROP A AGAINST IT THAT YOU VOTED FOR. SO, SO I UNDERSTOOD. YES, IT DID. AND IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE WHY I DID TRYING, IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE FIRST, HOW'S THAT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS? AND, UH, SO NOW THIS IS THE AGREEMENT THAT COMPLIES WITH SENATE BILL FOUR AND THE FUNDING MECHANISM MAYOR AND I, AND I JUST WANT US TO BE CLEAR. SO THE CITY ATTORNEY IS SAYING THIS ORDINANCE HAS NO EFFECTIVE CHANGE ON HOW HBD EXCEPT IT, UH, IT REALIZED IN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. MAYBE THAT'S WHERE OUR PERSUASION IN THE COMPROMISE LANGUAGE WITH THE STATE, THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS REINFORCES THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND PROTECTS OUR FUNDING. BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AGREEMENT WILL ACTUALLY CHANGE THE POLICY ON THE GROUND FROM THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE? [04:40:01] THAT IS WHAT HPD, THE CHIEF, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE INPUT IN THAT ULTIMATE POLICY. AND, UM, I WOULD WELCOME YOU TO THE TABLE. THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE POLICY ON THE GROUND SO THAT AGAIN, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON. MAYOR, DOES IT CHANGE THE POLICY ON THE GROUND OR DOES IT NOT? IT ALLOWS THE SUPERVISOR AND THE 23-YEAR-OLD PATROL OFFICER TO CONSIDER THE TOTALITY AND REMOVE THE 30 MINUTES. SO I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE YOU. I'M NOT, I'M NOT YOUR CLIENT. I'M, I'M NOT, YOU'RE NOT MY OPPOSING COUNSEL. SO IT'S VERY SELF-EXPLANATORY. I I I PERHAPS I'M NOT AS SOPHISTICATED AS YOU MAYOR. I DON'T THINK IT'S SELF-EXPLANATORY. MY READING OF THE ORDINANCE WAS, WE WERE IN FACT PERMITTING HPD OFFICERS TO HOLD PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WE ARE NOT PERMITTING HPD TO HOLD PEOPLE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. IT'S THE TOTALITY. NO, NO, MAYOR, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID. WELL, SO I, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON. AND IF IT'S NOT, IF IT'S THE TOTALITY, ARE YOU SAYING, MAYOR, THAT HPD CAN HOLD SOMEONE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT? THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID. AND YOU'RE DOING GREAT LAWYERING, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA CONTINUE MUCH LONGER BECAUSE YOU'RE OPPOSED TO IT. I THINK THIS IS THE ULTIMATE COMPROMISE AND IT'S VERY SELF-EXPLANATORY. FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT. THAT'S A HUGE STEP FORWARD. AND, UH, I JUST RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. AND FOR THE REASONS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR ANSWER NOW BASED ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAID? OR DOES YOUR ANSWER REMAIN THE SAME THAT HPD CANNOT HOLD SOMEONE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT? IT'S THE SAME. I BELIEVE IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. OKAY. SO JUST TO CONFIRM, WE ARE ALL VOTING ON AN ORDINANCE THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT HOLD SOMEONE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. IS MY UNDERSTANDING INCORRECT MR. CITY ATTORNEY? THAT'S NOT OUR INTERPRETATION. SO WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION, MARY? I JUST GAVE IT TO YOU. THAT IS THE TOTALITY. WHAT YOU LEARN FROM, YOU HEAR FROM THE SOURCE, WHETHER IT'S MONTGOMERY COUNTY OR TRAVIS COUNTY OR ICE, THAT'S THE REASON THE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO CONTACT THEM. THEN THEY'RE GONNA START TELLING YOU THAT THERE MAY BE A WARRANT OUT OF HONDURAS. YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALITY, YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN OF THE OFFICER AND THE PUBLIC. SO IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE TO. CERTAINLY AS IT RELATES TO AUSTIN AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I I HONESTLY HAVE NO, I I I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHERE YOU TWO STAND BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY KEEPS SAYING, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE LIMITED. I KNOW. SO IF, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S UNDERSTANDING IS COR IS CORRECT, WE'RE CONSISTENT. WE'RE CONSISTENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED? NO, I'M, I'M NOT DONE. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO NOTE IS, AS WE SIT HERE IN THIS MEETING, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE COPIES OF ALL THE GRANTS AND ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT WE ALLEGEDLY SIGNED. BUT WHAT WE DID LEARN FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION LAST NIGHT IS AT LEAST TWO OF THE GRAMS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ALLEGED TO BE AT ISSUE ARE NOT IN FACT AT ISSUE BECAUSE THEY PREDATED A CERTIFICATION WE SIGNED IN 2026. AND SO AS WE VOTE TODAY, WE STILL DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION. AND CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID, I HAVE PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE COPIES OF THAT CLARIFIES THAT ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS ARE IN FACT CIVIL AS A CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID, THEY ARE MEANS BY WHICH ICE CAN CONDUCT ARREST AND ADDING THE WORD ONLY BACK IN TO ENSURE THAT OFFICERS ARE LIMITED TO THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID AND WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS REPEATEDLY SAID PUBLICLY, INCLUDING THAT HPD MUST RELEASE INDIVIDUALS ONCE THE REASON FOR THE TRAFFIC STOP HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. HE HAS SAID PUBLICLY TO THE PRESS THAT OFFICERS SHOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM DETAINING PEOPLE SOLELY DUE TO CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS AND THAT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT PROHIBITION REQUIRED THAT APPROACH. SO THESE AMENDMENTS ARE SIMPLY INTENDED TO CODIFY WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE BODY VOTE ON IT. [04:45:04] YES, MAYOR POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY. MAYOR, YOU, YOU, IN YOUR MAYOR'S REPORT, YOU SPOKE ABOUT HAVING GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE AND YOUR LONG EXPERIENCE IN AUSTIN. AND THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WERE SO STRONG THAT RIGHT AFTER YOU VOTED FOR THE ORDINANCE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SUED US. AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT PARTNERSHIP LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR WORLD, BUT MY PARTNERS DON'T SUE ME. UM, THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN ABOUT CONTROL. AS THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST MENTIONED, THE LANGUAGE THAT IS BEFORE YOU DOESN'T MAKE REALLY ANY TRUE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON. THE INTENT OF WHAT WE ALREADY PASSED IS STILL THE INTENT OF THIS PARTICULAR CHANGE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS INSTEAD OF US CRAFTING THE LANGUAGE, THE GOVERNOR CRAFTED THE LANGUAGE, WHICH I THINK IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL OF US AS LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR HOUSTON. THAT IT HAS GOTTEN SO PETTY THAT THE STATE WANTS TO ENSURE THAT IT PUTS THIS THUMBPRINT ON THE THINGS THAT WE DO. BY SAYING NO, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO ANYTHING, IT'S GONNA BE THE LANGUAGE I PUT FORWARD, EVEN IF IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT FORWARD. THE MAYOR SPEAKS ABOUT HOW HE WARNED US ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT THEN HE VOTES FOR IT. NOT ONLY DOES HE VOTE FOR IT, HE SAYS IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, WHICH I AGREE WITH HIM. THE ISSUE IS LEADERSHIP REQUIRES CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND DIRECTION. AND ON THIS TOPIC WE'VE HAD POOR LEADERSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING THE VIEW OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. ON APRIL 8TH, 2026 WHEN WE PASSED THIS, THE MAYOR SAID, THIS IS A RATIFICATION OF THE GOOD POLICIES THAT HPD IS CONDUCTING. A WEEK LATER, APRIL 14TH, HE SAYS, THERE'S ONLY ONE OPINION THAT MATTERS. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE GOVERNORS ON THE SAME DAY, APRIL 14TH IN THE MORNING, AS REPORTED BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA. THE MAYOR SAYS IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AS REPORTED BY THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, HE SAYS, WE HAVE TO CORRECT THAT POLICY IN THE SAME INTERVIEW. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SUIT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL APRIL 17TH, AS REPORTED BY KHOU 11, THE MAYOR SAYS, WE'VE GOT A CITY ATTORNEY THAT WILL ADDRESS THAT IN THE SAME EXACT INTERVIEW. HE STATES, WE WILL LOSE THAT COURT. IT'S A DIVERSION, IT'S A DELAY. ON APRIL 8TH, WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE 12 TO FIVE WHEN QUESTIONED ON APRIL 17TH ABOUT WHY HE DECIDED TO VOTE FOR IT AS REPORTED BY KHOU 11, THE MAYOR SAYS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE. THE GOVERNOR DISAGREED LATER. HE SAYS, I THOUGHT IT COMPLIED WITH STATE LAW, BUT THE GOVERNOR AND HIS LEGAL STAFF DISAGREED. SO AT THE MOMENT WHEN WE PASSED IT, MAYOR, YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AS DID I. AND MANY OF US WHO DID VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE DID SO BASED ON THE VETTING OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE ONLY WAY THAT IT COULD GET TO THIS BODY WAS BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY DEEMING IT LAWFUL AND NOT IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW. SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE PUT FORWARD THAT CHANGED THAT. NOW WE HAVE LANGUAGE BEFORE US THAT MAKES SOME MINOR TWEAKS, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID IT DOESN'T REALLY SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE ANYTHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT FORWARD. SO WHY ARE WE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? BECAUSE WE HAVE POOR LEADERSHIP WITH POOR COMMUNICATION THAT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF HIS OWN [04:50:01] POSITION WHEN THE GOVERNOR OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM AUSTIN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST IT. AND SO I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU EVEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF EMOTION ON A REAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS REAL PEOPLE AND REAL COMMUNITIES BASED ON THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE MAYOR'S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY. NOW, I'M GLAD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS WAS ABLE TO ASK VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OVER THE INTENT AND PRACTICALITY OF THIS CHANGE IN LANGUAGE BECAUSE WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE WE'RE VOTING ON. AND EVEN BASED ON THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT WAS CRAFTED BY THE GOVERNOR, IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE MUCH. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M GLAD THAT SHE ALSO BROUGHT FORTH A AMENDMENT JUST TO MAKE SOME CLARIFICATIONS TO SOME VERY MINUTE DETAILS AS WELL SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. HPD OFFICERS HAVE A CLEAR EXPECTATION AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT. ONE, THEY CANNOT BE HELD FOR A 30 MINUTE POLICY. THEY HAVE TO BE, UM, LET GO AFTER THE PURPOSE OF THE STOP IS, IS COMPLETE. AND THAT WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS FOR CRIMINAL, THIS IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT OR FOR CRIMINAL, UH, FOR, FOR NON-CRIMINAL OFFENSES. AND THAT IF THERE IS ANY INVESTIGATION, IT MUST BE FOR A LEGITIMATE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSE. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED AS WELL. AND SO THAT LANGUAGE IS BEFORE YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AND AGAIN, I'M SORRY TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'VE ALL HAD TO WITNESS A TWO WEEK CIRCUS BASED ON LANGUAGE THAT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING BUT KEPT THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED, WHICH ALREADY COMPLIED WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THIS AMENDED LANGUAGE BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE REFINED, IT HAD TO BE THOUGHTFUL, AND IT HAD TO SATISFY THE GOVERNOR. SO WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT THIS FUNDING COMES TO HOUSTON. CHANGING THE PROPOSED AMENDED LANGUAGE NOW IS PLAYING WITH FIRE. WE NEED THIS FUNDING. WE NEED THESE PARTNERSHIPS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ALONE, RIGHT? WE NEED THE COUNTY, WE NEED THE STATE. WE NEED, WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET. AND I WOULD URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT. VOTE FOR US MEMBERS IS THE SALINAS AMENDMENT. COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN CAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. AND I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO WE HAVE NOT HAD, COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN AFFORDED THE APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY TIME TO VOTE ON WHAT'S BEFORE US. UH, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE ATTEMPT FOR CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR. UH, FOR ME, THE, THE ABBOTT AMENDMENT IS PUT FORWARD, INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT SAYS AS LONG AS REASONABLY NECESSARY, OFFICERS MAY TEMPORARILY DETAIN AN INDIVIDUAL AS LONG AS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE LEGITIMATE PURPOSE OF THE INITIAL STOP. THAT WAS WHAT WAS IN OUR ORDINANCE PREVIOUSLY AND FOR OTHER LEGITIMATE PURPOSES DISCOVERED DURING THE DETENTION. AND THE DEFINITION OF WHAT A LEGITIMATE PURPOSE IS, IS WHAT CONCERNS ME. THERE ARE LEGITIMATE PURPOSES DEFINED UNDER LAW, CRIMINAL WARRANTS, ADMINISTRATIVE HOLDS. THOSE THINGS WERE IN THE ORIGINAL ITEM, BUT THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT LEGITIMATE PURPOSE IS, IS SO VAGUE, IS THE LEGITIMATE PURPOSE DEFINED THROUGH MAYOR'S POLICY AND WHAT HPD DOES WITHOUT COUNCIL OVERSIGHT, WE DON'T KNOW. AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT WE ALSO PREVIOUSLY HAD A POLICY WHICH STARTED ALL OF THIS THAT SAID THERE WAS A STOPWATCH [04:55:01] OF 30 MINUTES ON WHEN CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS WENT INTO EFFECT. SO AS THE LANGUAGE IS, IT IS SO VAGUE, THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH ROOM FOR MISINTERPRETATION OF WHAT I HOPE WOULD BE A GOOD FAITH INTENTION, BUT DOES NOT DEFINE WHAT LEGITIMATE PURPOSE IS. AND WE DO NOT HAVE THAT CLARITY AS IT STANDS. SO I APPRECIATE COUNCILS MEMBER SALINAS'S AMENDMENT BECAUSE AGAIN, AS THE LANGUAGE STANDS, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT IS FAR TOO VAGUE AND DOES NOT CLEARLY DEFINE THE SCOPE AND ROLE OF WHAT HP DUTIES, HP'S D'S DUTIES ARE IN TERMS OF ENFORCING THE LAW AND UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS OF EVERY SINGLE HOUSTONIAN. OBJECTION. MAYOR FLICKERS HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MYSELF AND THE OTHER MEMBERS HERE WHO ARE ON THE MORE CONSERVATIVE SIDE ARE CERTAINLY IN THE MINORITY IN THIS COUNCIL. UH, THERE'S OFTEN ITEMS THAT COME UP THAT WE STRONGLY OPPOSE, YET THE MAJORITY STRONGLY SUPPORTS. AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON A NUMBER OF THOSE ITEMS BETWEEN US. AND MOST OF THE TIME WE KIND OF END UP WITH THE IDEA THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES, WE'RE NOT GONNA CONVINCE THE OTHER SIDE. AND IT'S NOT IN OUR LONG-TERM INTEREST TO RAISE A RUCKUS AND GET EVERYBODY UPSET. THE CITY'S POSITION IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT AT THE STATE. WE ARE IN A MINORITY AT THE STATE. THE MAYOR, HAVING SPENT DECADES DEALING WITH THE STATE, OFFERED VERY SIMILAR COUNSEL IN DIFFERENT WORDS WHEN HE WOULD TALK ABOUT THEIR WATCHING. YET WE STILL WENT FORWARD INTO THIS BOX CANYON. NOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS $110 MILLION. THE 110 MILLION IS AN ANTE. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET A HALF BILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT SESSION WHEN WE TRY TO GET THAT MONEY AGAIN? WE ARE JUST SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN NEGOTIATIONS. THE GOVERNOR IS HAPPY WITH THIS LANGUAGE. I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE IT. I TRUST, TRUST ME, I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN WE'RE ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK YET. THAT IS THE POSITION WE'RE IN. I STRONGLY URGE EVERYBODY TO GET OUT OF THIS AND TO MOVE FORWARD. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WANNA SPEAK ON COUNCIL MEMBER SALINA'S AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 11. I'M OPPOSED TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINA'S AMENDMENT. 'CAUSE I THINK IT GOES BEYOND WHAT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT REQUIRES. UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, PEOPLE MUST BE FREE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. IT DOESN'T SAY CRIMINAL SEARCHES AND SEIZURES OR UNREASONABLE CRIMINAL SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. AND THAT LEAVES OPEN THE, UM, POSSIBILITY THAT THERE ARE OTHER REASONABLE, UH, UH, JUSTIFICATIONS FOR DETAINING SOMEONE. AND YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'M NOT A FAN OF USING LOCAL POLICE RESOURCES TO TRY TO FIX NATIONAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, UM, IT DOESN'T VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT WHEN, UM, AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT IS DETAINED PURSUANT TO A FINAL ORDER OF DEPORTATION BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE. AND, UM, I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT THAT IF A JUDGE WERE PRESENTED WITH A SITUATION WHERE AN IMMIGRANT WAS DETAINED FOR 30 MINUTES FOR ICE TO GET THERE AND EXECUTE A WARRANT BASED ON A FINAL ORDER OF DEPORTATION, THAT A JUDGE WOULD FIND THAT REASONABLE UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. SO I'M OPPOSED TO THIS AMENDMENT. I THINK IT GOES TOO FAR AND IT GOES BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED BY THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. COUNCILLOR SALINAS, RESPECTFULLY, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ IN US VIRO RODRIGUEZ, WHICH WE BOTH KNOW WAS THE CASE, THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WE ADOPTED. IN THE MAJORITY OPINION, THE COURT [05:00:01] FRAMES ITS DISCUSSION AROUND REASONABLE SUSPICION OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT. IT DOES NOT FRAME IT AS REASONABLE SUSPICION OF CIVIL VIOLATION. AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT IS CIVIL. THE DHS WEBSITE REPEATEDLY ACKNOWLEDGES IT. THE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT FORMS THAT WE ALL ARE AWARE OF REPEATEDLY ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THESE FORMS ARE SIGNED BY AN ICE OFFICIAL. THERE IS NO SIGNATURE LINE FOR AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE. IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT SOME ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS HAVE THE BACKING OF AN ORDER OF REMOVAL FROM AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE, BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS THAT HPD WILL BE EXPECTED TO ENFORCE HAVE THE BACKING OF AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE'S ORDER OF REMOVAL. BUT GOING TO THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT WE'VE PROPOSED IN THE AMENDMENT, THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT WAS NOT IN AND OF ITSELF A BASIS TO EXTEND A STOP. 12 OF US VOTED FOR THAT. THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST CONFIRMED THAT THAT WILL REMAIN THE LAW. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE STRIKING THAT LANGUAGE OUT OF THE ORDINANCE. BUT TO COMMIT TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER POINT, I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE ABOUT THINGS I DON'T LIKE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS PROPOSAL THAT I DISAGREE WITH, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN TO SELECTIVELY PROPOSE LIMITED AMENDMENTS TO, IN THE BARE MINIMUM, ENSURE WE ARE NOT TAKING HOUSTONIANS FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AT ISSUE OR CON OR PUTTING THEM AT JEOPARDY. LIKE I SAID, I WAS VERY RELIEVED TO HEAR WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEYS SAID. THESE WE ARE ADDING TH FIVE WORDS. FIVE WORDS TO THE GOVERNOR'S LANGUAGE. WE ARE CLARIFYING THAT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS A LIMITER. IT IS NOT A SUGGESTION OF WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE. WE ARE CLARIFYING AS A SUPREME COURT HAS SAID, WHEN LOOKING AT REASONABLE SUSPICION, REASONABLE SUSPICION OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT, HPD, THERE IS NO LAW THAT SAYS HPD IS EMPOWERED TO ARREST PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. ICE CAN, THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT ICE CAN, BUT THERE IS NO LAW AND CERTAINLY NO CASE THAT HAS DEFINITIVELY HELD. HPD IS NOW EMPOWERED TO ASSERT ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS. AND A LOT OF FOLKS WANNA TALK ABOUT SB FOUR. AT THE TIME SB FOUR WAS PASSED, THERE WERE NO ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS IN THE SYSTEM. NO TEXAS REPUBLICAN WAS CONTEMPLATING THAT SB FOUR WOULD BE USED TO ENFORCE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS. NOW, THE TRUMP AND THE ABBOTT ADMINISTRATION WANTED CHANGE THAT, CHANGE THE DEFINITION. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY PASSED. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE AGREED TO FOLLOW. AND AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I WOULD WANNA CHANGE IN THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT. BUT THESE CHANGES, HONEST TO GOD AND COLLEAGUES, IS REALLY JUST INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT WE COMPLY WITH WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID. OUR CITY ATTORNEY JUST AFFIRMED LANGUAGE THAT WAS STRUCK OUT. FINE. THESE FIVE WORDS WILL ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT INTENT TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS PROTECTED. I I ASSUME THE THE CITY ATTORNEY IS SAYING THAT 'CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT US TO GET SUED, WE HAVE TO HONOR THAT WE CAN'T HAVE A VAGUE TOTALITY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT ALLOWS HPD TO CONSIDER OR NOT. BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SPOKEN, WE CANNOT HOLD PEOPLE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. THESE FIVE WORDS JUST CONFIRM THAT. AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE'D MOVE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. YOU WANT TO CUT OFF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES FROM SPEAKING? YES, UNLESS I'D JUST LIKE TO DISCUSS. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. ALL THE QUESTION. I THINK MARTA TOOK A REST. . COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS IS IN ACCUSED QUESTION. SELS WANTS TO EVERYONE. MOTHERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. I DON'T WANNA STOP YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. UM, IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO, UM, THE ATTORNEYS AROUND THE HORSESHOE, WHICH I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT IN A LOT OF LEGAL DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD OVER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THIS MATTER. SO NOW WE ARE AMENDING THE AMENDMENT. MY DEEPEST CONCERN ABOUT THIS, AND AGAIN, ALL DUE RESPECT TO COUNCILMAN SALINAS AND TO COUNCILMAN [05:05:01] POLLARD AND COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, THE FACT IS THAT WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE ISSUE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. NOW, IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT IT TOOK US TWO YEARS IF THE POLICE, IF HPDS PROCESS OF HANDLING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS, AND THERE WERE NO ONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT PRESENTED A PROPOSAL FOR TWO YEARS. AND NOW WE ARE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY FROM FIFA. EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE AMENDMENT AS BEFORE THE, UH, THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WHICH I ALL AGREE, BUT I THINK THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC EXPECTS FOR US TO DO SEVERAL THINGS. ONE IS TO PROTECT THEM. THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF ALL HOUSTON, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT THIS CITY MOVE FORWARD. NOW, LAST YEAR DURING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, THAT WAS SEVERAL COLLEAGUES AROUND THIS, AREN'T YOU QUESTIONED THE CUTS THAT WE WERE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? I I, I HEARD THEM ASK EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD TO COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ABOUT THE CONCERN OF CUTS THAT WERE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE EVEN HAVE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL WHO LITERALLY WENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO GIVE US DOLLARS. THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN A POSITION TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO GET DOLLARS. AS COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKER JUST SAID. SO WHERE ARE WE? WHAT MY CONCERN? WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO? WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WE EITHER FURTHER THE PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY AND PERSONALLY, WHETHER PEOPLE AGREE WITH ME OR NOT, WHICH IS I DONE GOT TOO OLD TO BE BOTHERED BY THAT, TO BE HONEST. AND I, I I BELIEVE IN SERVICE. THAT'S WHY I, FOR ONE, I DON'T BRAG ABOUT IT, BUT I GAVE SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY TO, IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THING IN DECENCY, IN ORDER EVEN, WHICH IS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? ARE WE REALLY TAKING THE CITY AS A WHOLE IN THE INTO, WE HEAR ALL OF THIS GOING ON AND ON AND ON. AND I THINK IT'S JUST TIME FOR US TO PUT THIS ASIDE AND LET'S VOTE ON WHAT IS BEFORE US AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY. WE A LOT OF DIVISION IN THIS CHAMBER DISRESPECT. AND THEN WHEN YOU QUESTION THE FACT OF DISRESPECT, THEN YOU GET DISRESPECTED. SO I, I JUST THINK WE JUST, IT'S TIME FOR US TO PUT IT AT REST. LET'S MOVE ON. THANK YOU. AND, UH, COUNSEL, WHEN IS SHAMAN BROUGHT UP? IT'S THE EMERGENCY CENTER. YOU MENTIONED FIFA, BUT I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED OR MY HIGHEST PRIORITY IS HOUSTONIANS SAFETY. AND WE ARE ENTERING THE HURRICANE SEASON AND THE EMERGENCY CENTER DEFINITELY DEPENDS ON STATE RESOURCES. NOT TO MENTION WE'RE IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER. SO, YOU KNOW, SAD NEWS IS, UH, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE ABBOTT OR PAXTON OR ANY OF THE OTHER PLAYERS, BUT THE AMENDMENT WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE MONIES AWAY AND DESTROY ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR RECOVERY OF THE FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN AWAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, YEAH, AND, AND I FIND MYSELF, YOU KNOW, A BIT, A BIT UPSET ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT HAS GONE BEFORE US. UM, I WANNA MAKE SOME CLARIFYING STATEMENTS AS WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILLOR SALINAS SAYS NOTHING'S HAPPENING, BUT NOW ADDING A AMENDMENT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE NOTHING THAT IS HAPPENING. I, I'M CONFUSED WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, WE'RE, SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, THE CONVERSATIONS OF A GENERAL ORDER, YOU KNOW, DIRECTIVES CHANGING, HAVE BEEN MY CONVERSATION, MY PATHWAY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. AND I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCILLOR SALINAS AS SHE CAME IN. AND I EXPLAINED TO HER WHY, UH, SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS THAT I WAS A PART OF THAT THE MAYOR WAS A PART OF ARE TRUE. RIGHT? LET'S, LET'S WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS. A PROP A WAS, THAT'S IT, THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO. SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE SOME, SOME ISSUES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND NOW WE'RE HERE IN THAT INITIAL [05:10:01] PROP A I ACTUALLY ADVISED, I SAID, HEY, PUT IN A REVERSAL CLAUSE. AND HER RESPONSE WAS, NO, BUT IF IT HAPPENS, WE WILL DO, WE WILL DEAL WITH IT. AT THAT POINT, NEVER WAS WE GONNA TAKE THE LEGAL ROUTE. AND SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO CONTINUE TO CREATE THIS CIRCUS AS COUNCILLOR POLLARDS MENTIONED, BUT IT'S NOT ONE SIDED. AND WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE NOW, HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR PARTNERSHIP, LEVERAGING RESOURCES WITH THE TAX RATE THAT WE HAVE. WE SEE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR OVER, OVER, UH, 12 YEARS ALREADY. AND SO IS THE POINT NOW TO PUT YOUR THUMBPRINT BACK ON THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAD THEN I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, MOVE FORWARD ON THE INITIAL AMENDMENT AND GO AHEAD AND START, UH, EITHER A VOTE UP AND DOWN ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT. POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MY COLLEAGUES, ALL OF US HERE TO ACTUALLY WALK THROUGH WHAT THE AMENDMENT BROUGHT FOR BY COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS ACTUALLY PUTS FORTH IN THE, IN THE LANGUAGE, UM, AS SHE MENTIONED, THERE'S ONLY LIKE FIVE WORDS THAT THAT IS BEING ADDED. AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL CLARIFYING WORDS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO AT LEAST LEAST LOOK AT THAT. AND THEN YOU ALL CAN AGREE OR DISAGREE IF YOU MAY, BUT WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITIONS OF THE ICE ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT, ALL, ALL WE'RE ADDING IN IS THE WORD CIVIL IN FRONT OF ADMINISTRATIVE. SO IT'S A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT, WHICH IS A FACT. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY ISSUE WITH ADDING THAT. AND THAT THE ARREST OF AN INDIVIDUAL IS BY AN ICE OFFICER, WHICH IS ALSO A FACT. THERE'S, THERE SHOULD BE NO DISAGREEMENT WITH THOSE TWO CHANGES. AND SO TO ADD THOSE IN, OR JUST CLARIFYING WHAT IS A FACT THAT NEEDS TO BE STATED WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE? SO TAKING THOSE OUT, I I, I DON'T SEE THE PURPOSE IN THAT OR WHAT IT'S TRYING TO CONVEY, BUT I DO THINK IT'S NECESSARY FOR THEM TO BE IN. UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE SECOND PROVISION THAT IS PROVISION C THAT SPEAKS OF THE ACTIONS OF AN OFFICER DURING AN ENCOUNTER. THE ABBOTT AMENDMENT STRIKES OUT THE WORD ONLY FOR IT TO READ. OFFICERS MAY TEMPORARILY DETAIN AN INDIVIDUAL AS LONG AS REASONABLY NECESSARY. THE WORD ONLY IS IMPORTANT TO BE IN. THERE ONLY IS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO CLARIFY THAT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN DO IT. ONLY REASONABLY NECESSARY. THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. AND THE INITIAL STOP OR INVESTIGATION FOR OTHER LEGITIMATE PURPOSES. IF YOU DON'T CLARIFY WHAT THOSE LEGITIMATE PURPOSES IS, IT IT BECOMES KIND OF VAGUE AND AMBIGUOUS. AND OUR OFFICERS ARE, ARE LEFT IN A GRAY SPACE. AND SO WE ARE JUST ADDING IN OTHER LEGITIMATE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES. THAT'S IT. ALL OF THOSE ARE, ALL OF THOSE ARE FACTS THAT CAN'T REALLY BE DISPUTED. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT CLARIFYING LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT TO BE THERE. SO THIS ISN'T A TOTAL REDO OF THE A AMENDMENT. THIS ISN'T A, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AN ATTEMPT TO, TO CHANGE EVERYTHING. 'CAUSE IT WAS ALREADY STATED PREVIOUSLY BY THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THE ABBOTT AMENDMENT DOES NOT CHANGE MUCH ABOUT THE PROPOSITION A THAT ALREADY PASSED THIS CHAMBER. BUT THESE CLARIFYING WORDS ARE IMPORTANT AS FACTUAL THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE LANGUAGE OF OUR FORMAL ORDINANCE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO THE ABBOTT AMENDMENT. THANK YOU COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. UH, WE TALK ABOUT CHANGING THAT LANGUAGE FROM, YOU KNOW, TO LIMIT IT TO CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES INSTEAD OF OTHER LEGITIMATE PURPOSES. BUT THERE ARE OTHER SITUATIONS OUT THERE WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, SITUATIONS WILL ARISE. [05:15:01] SO TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, UM, GIRL SAYS SHE IS GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE. SHE TAKES OFF IN HER CAR. PARENTS CALL THE POLICE, GIVE, YOU KNOW, HER LICENSE PLATE, THAT LICENSE PLATE'S ENTERED INTO T-C-I-C-N-C-I-C, SHE'S PULLED OVER AND A CIVIL MENTAL HEALTH WARRANT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE TO DETAIN HER. YOU KNOW, THAT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NOT A CRIMINAL PURPOSE, BUT OTHER LEGITIMATE PURPOSES. SO THERE ARE OTHER SITUATIONS OUT HERE, AND BECAUSE THIS ORDINANCE ORIGINALLY I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT ORIGINALLY, BUT NOW IT'S HERE. AND SO IF IT IS HERE AND WE'RE NOT GONNA REPEAL IT, THEN WE HAVE TO AMEND IT. AND SO THERE ARE OTHER SITUATIONS OUT THERE, BUT WE DIDN'T CONTEMPLATE ANY OF THAT BECAUSE IT NEVER WENT TO A COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A PERFECT ORDINANCE TO GO IN FRONT OF A COMMITTEE SO WE COULD WORK THESE THINGS OUT, BUT IT NEVER WENT TO A COMMITTEE. SO NOW WE NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WE NEED TO AMEND IT. AND I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. IF WE PASS THE PROPOSED AMENDED LANGUAGE AS IT WAS PROPOSED, IS THERE ANYTHING PREVENTING COUNSEL, LIKE ANY OTHER ORDINANCE, IS THERE ANYTHING PREVENTING COUNSEL FROM LATER AMENDING THIS ORDINANCE IN THE FUTURE? NO, THANK YOU. OH, CASTEX TATUM. SORRY. MAYOR PROTO. MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, ATTORNEY MICHELLE. UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD GIVE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS TO GET US TO THE AMENDMENT THAT THE MAYOR HAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL. THAT, UH, AMENDMENT WAS CRAFTED THROUGH, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION AND THIS TEAM AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH, UM, ON EACH SIDE THAT WAS GIVE AND TAKE TO GET TO THIS AMENDMENT. CAN YOU GIVE SOME INSIGHT ONTO HOW WE GOT TO THE AMENDMENT THAT THE MAYOR HAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL? UM, IT, IT WAS THE, THE MAYOR'S STAFF THAT WAS NEGOTIATING WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE OF, OF, OF THE GOVERNOR. UH, THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH. UM, YOU KNOW, ONE EXAMPLE IS, YOU KNOW, THE WORD ONLY. AND HERE I TAKE ISSUE WITH SOME OF THE LAWYERS ON HERE, BUT ONLY IS A, FROM A GRAMMAR PERSPECTIVE, IT'S SUPERFLUOUS IN HERE. IT MEANS THE SAME WITHOUT IT. AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT. THEY THOUGHT IT, IT COULD MEAN MORE BY TAKING IT OUT. IT, IT SHOULD PERMIT FUNDING TO BE RESUMED. SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION. SO THIS WEEKEND THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH, THERE WAS CONVERSATIONS AND THEN ARE YOU STATING THAT THE AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE THAT WAS PRESENTED BY, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, IF THIS BODY PASSES THAT AMENDMENT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL RETAIN ITS FUNDING AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO, UM, ASK HPD FOR THE UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THEIR PROTOCOL AND BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT PROTECTING HOUSTONIANS. BUT IF WE VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS ALSO AGREED TO RELEASE THE FUNDING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FROZEN. THAT'S WHAT IT HAS REPRESENTED. YES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I'M GENUINELY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A POINT THAT THIS ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WE PASSED PROTECTED PEOPLE AND THE AMENDMENT STILL PROTECTS PEOPLE. THERE IS NO TIMELINE. AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS THREATENED THAT I BET NOT SUPPORT, UH, HPD, I DO TRUST THAT THEY WILL IMPLEMENT THIS, THIS POLICY FAIRLY AND LEGITIMATELY. AND SO, UH, I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS CALL FOR THE QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PUT THIS TO REST BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE GOVERNOR FOR LANGUAGE THAT HE HAS APPROVED THAT ESSENTIALLY HAS DONE NO MATERIAL CHANGE TO WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PASSED. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO CALL FOR THE QUESTION AGAIN, , UH, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PUT THIS ARREST SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OTHER CITY BUSINESS. SHE JUST WAITING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CASTILLO. QUESTION STILL IN THE QUEUE? SO IS SHE CALLING? WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, CASTILLO. [05:20:02] THANK YOU MAYOR. MY QUESTIONS ON THE WRITTEN AMENDMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED ARE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO EARLIER AT THE TOP OF THE MEETING YOU STATED, UM, THE 30 MINUTE RULE WOULD NOT REVERT WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE, THE, UH, ORIGINAL AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TODAY. IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THAT PROVISION TO HOLD? AND THE WRITTEN AMENDMENT THAT IS BEFORE US, UH, THE ORIGINAL PROP A IS INCONSISTENT WITH A 30 MINUTE REQUIREMENT AND THIS DOESN'T AFFECT THAT. AND THEN YOU ALSO SAID CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS WOULD NOT BE A REASON FOR HPD TO HOLD SOMEBODY AGAIN WITH THIS WRITTEN AMENDMENT BEFORE US. UM, IS THAT, IS THIS LANGUAGE NECESSARY FOR THAT TO HOLD TRUE? I THINK THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR, UH, COVERS THAT WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF THIS, OF, OF THIS AMENDMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND JUST TO RESPOND TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS EARLIER COMMENTS. THERE IS ANOTHER SUPREME COURT CASE. IT'S US VERSUS ABLE THAT ALLOWS A FEDERAL AGENT TO USE AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT TO ARREST AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT. AND THEN THERE'S A FEDERAL STATUTE, WHICH IS EIGHT US CODE SECTION 1357 THAT ALLOWS LOCAL OFFICERS TO COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES IN THE IDENTIFICATION, APPREHENSION, DETENTION, OR REMOVAL OF ALIENS NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT. UM, SO THAT IS SPEAKING TO YOUR AMENDMENT, UH, REQUIRING, UH, OR INSERTING THE LANGUAGE. CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AGAIN, I'M NOT, NOT A FAN OF LOCAL POLICE BEING INVOLVED IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF PERHAPS ANOTHER LEGITIMATE, UM, PURPOSE AS, AS, UH, PUT FORTH IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S AMENDMENT IN, UH, ITEM 11. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST A CLARIFICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. UM, WHEN SPEAKING OF THE WORD ONLY, UH, YOU USED THE WORD, UH, SUPERFLUOUS, WERE YOU USING THAT WORD TO MENTION OR, OR TO CONVEY THAT REGARDLESS OF IF THE WORD ONLY IS IN THERE OR NOT, IS NOT GONNA MATERIALLY CHANGE OR AFFECT THAT PROVISION? YES. I THINK THE SENTENCE REMOVING ONLY THE SENTENCE REMAINS THE SAME. I DON'T THINK IT AFFECTS IT. THANK YOU COUNCILOR AND CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I AGREE, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN VOTE ON THIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, UH, IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU A RIDE ALONG WITH HPD, SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS ON, ON THE GROUND WITH THEM AND, AND REALLY SEE WHEN THEY HAVE TO USE DISCRETION AND HOW YOU MAY FURTHER BE ABLE TO LEARN HOW THAT REALLY WORKS. AND I, I'M, I'M SURE YOU'VE SPENT MUCH TIME ON THE STREETS WITH THEM RIDING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR JOB, UH, THEIR JOBS ARE, ARE PRETTY HEAVY LIFT. UM, I HOPE THAT WITH THE, YOU KNOW, GETTING IN A, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR'S LANGUAGE, WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH, UM, THAT WE CAN, CAN MOVE FORWARD AND PERHAPS THE REFERENCE NUMBERS THAT HPD HAS HAD ACTUAL ICE INTERVENTION CAN GO DOWN TO, TO ZERO FROM THAT 74 TO 33. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEIR JOB IS A HEAVY LIFT AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. AND I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY TO KEEP REHASHING THE LANGUAGE AND ALSO RISK, UH, THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY PUTTING HPD AT RISK, BUT ALSO PUTTING OUR, OUR, UH, COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. IF I MAY BRIEFLY RESPOND TO HER COMMENT NEXT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WAS IN. OH, SHE YOU NEXT JACKSON. SHE'S ALREADY SPOKEN. JACKSON, MIKE. OKAY, MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE A LONG HISTORY AND I WANNA START BY SAYING I RESPECT YOU. UM, I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT THE CITY IN TRYING TO STRONG ARM US, UM, INTO SUBMISSION BY THREATENING TO DEFUND THE POLICE, WHICH IS IRONIC. UM, I'VE HEARD FROM MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS, UM, ON THE ISSUE AND THEY CLEARLY ARE SPLIT. UM, AND IT, I HATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE PUTTING [05:25:01] NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR. UM, THERE ARE PARTS OF THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE THAT I SUPPORT, UM, REQUIRING SUPER SUPERVI SUPERVISORS BEFORE CONTACTING IMMIGRATION AS OVERSIGHT. UM, BUT AS I'M HEARING, UH, THIS DISCUSSION, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION, UM, THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT WE ORIGINALLY PASSED IS NO DIFFERENT FROM NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE, UM, FROM THE AMENDED ORDINANCE. UM, I'VE THOUGHT HARD ABOUT THIS DECISION. I'VE ASKED MYSELF WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO? UM, BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT ARE STILL UNDOCUMENTED. AND OF COURSE THERE'S NO TRUE PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP, UM, FOR A LOT OF THESE FOLKS. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THOSE TYPE OF DISCUSSIONS, BUT I KNOW IT'S A FEDERAL, UM, ISSUE. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING OURSELVES. UM, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO WE PASSED THE ORDINANCE. I SUPPORTED IT. UM, AND AGAIN, JUST FROM DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING, THESE ORDINANCE ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT. UM, AND OF COURSE WE NEED THE DOLLARS THAT'S, UM, FROM THE STATE. AND SO, UM, MY CONSCIENCE IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS AMENDMENT, UM, THAT THE MAYOR PUT FORWARD. UM, BUT OF COURSE, UM, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE AND THAT IS A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR A LOT OF OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO WITH THAT, UM, I WILL SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. I APPRECIATE IT AND I I'LL JOIN YOU IN THAT EFFORT. WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. ELECTIONS MATTER. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN BEING CONDUCTED AS WE TALK AND US SENATE RACES ELECTIONS MATTER. SO I'LL FOLLOW AND BE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU. LINAS, UH, COUNCILOR LINA. COUNCILMAN RIC CARTER, I JUST WANNA RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION. UM, ACTUALLY BEFORE I RAN FOR COUNCIL, I DID IN FACT DO A POLICE RIDE ALONG AND I WAS TOLD I WAS ONE OF THE FEW CANDIDATES THEY HAD EVER SEEN DO A RIDE ALONG. SO I HAVE WORKED VERY EXTENSIVELY TO ENSURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE OF OFFICERS AND THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH HPD OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT. AND THE OVERWHELMING SENTIMENT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT THEY WANT TO BE EMPOWERED TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND NOT WASTE OUR LIMITED TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. SO I APPRECIATE THE OFFER, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT I'VE ALREADY DONE IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I I WILL JUST SAY AGAIN, THE SENTIMENT THAT THIS NEW ORDINANCE DOESN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING. AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BATTLE AMONG COUNCIL. THIS IS A BATTLE BETWEEN US AND THE GOVERNOR. IT IS SO UNFORTUNATE THAT THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS WA ARE WASTING ALL OF THIS TIME AND RESOURCES FORCING US TO HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT AN ORDINANCE THAT WE ALL SEEM TO AGREE DOESN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING. THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, ACCUSATIONS OF FOLKS PLAYING POLITICS. I THINK IT IS CLEAR THE ONLY PEOPLE DOING THAT ARE THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE IN THIS POSITION. EVAN SHABAZZ, THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I JUST WANNA SAY IN REGARDS TO THE AMENDMENT, I I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DEFINED LEGITIMATE, UH, AS LONG AS WE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT RELATED TO A CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT. BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN WHEN POLICE OFFICERS STOP THAT. I MEAN, WE CAN'T DEFINE WHAT'S LEGITIMATE AS LONG AS IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE A OF A CRIMINAL ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CLEARLY DEFINE THAT BECAUSE WE'VE CLEARLY DEFINED THAT THEY ARE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, IN TERMS OF TAKING PEOPLE INTO CUSTODY FOR, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS. SO I, I DON'T WANNA BEAT THIS TO DEATH. UH, I AM AGAIN GOING TO SAY THAT I AM GLAD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. MM, I I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE IN QUEUE ONE. OKAY, WELL I JUMPED IN 'CAUSE WE GOING TO KEEP TALKING. YOU KNOW ME. READY VOTE. THANK YOU. WELL, I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ON THE MOTION BEFORE US, WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS PRESENTED RELATED TO THE AMENDMENT OR IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAIN ITEM. SO THE AMENDMENT, THE SALINAS AMENDMENT. OKAY, GREAT. I, I WANT YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK YET. YOU'RE THE LAST OKAY. ALL GO. WE READY TO VOTE? OKAY. I, THE LA THE, THE ONLY THING I WANNA THAT'S FINE. VOTE. OKAY. MEMBERS THE VOTE ON THE SALINAS AMENDMENT, WE HAVE A ROLL CALL REQUEST, WHICH WOULD I THINK CLEARLY UNDO OUR AGREEMENT AND THE FUNDING THAT WE'D, SO, EXCUSE ME, I'M WILLING TO DROP SINCE WE'VE RECEIVED [05:30:01] REPEATED REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, THAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGE THIS VOTE. THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE I'M WILLING TO DROP, PLEASE. I'M WILLING TO DROP THE AMENDMENT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING A VOTE. MAYOR, I'M DROPPING THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE I'M DROPPING IT BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY WITHDRAWING IT BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE'S NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE AMENDMENT. YES MA'AM. I'VE BEEN WAITING TO TALK ON THE MAIN, MAIN ITEM. SO I'M GONNA TALK, I'LL START BY SAYING THAT I HATE WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND THE TREATMENT OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. I'VE WATCHED THE NEWS ACCOUNTS, I'VE READ THE REPORTS OF THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AND DETENTION CAMPS. IMMIGRANTS COME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR MANY REASONS. MANY ARE HERE TO ESCAPE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THEIR OWN HOME COUNTRIES. WHO IS TO SAY ANY OF US WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THE SAME THING, MADE THE SAME SACRIFICES TO PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES. MANY IMPACTED PEOPLE HAVE LIVED AND WORKED AMONG US IN HOUSTON FOR DECADES. HOUSTON IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE DISAPPEARED OR SHIPPED OFF WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, SEPARATING FAMILIES, CAUSING IRREPARABLE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HARDSHIP. IT'S ALL HEARTBREAKING AND I DO NOT SUPPORT IT. IT GOES AGAINST MY VALUES AND MY FAITH. I DID NOT VOTE FOR THIS HEAVY HAND ADVICE. AND I AM CONFOUNDED THAT SOME OF OUR LEADERS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL SEE THIS AS A ZERO SUM GAME. WHAT WE NEED IS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM TO GIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING AND CONTRIBUTING HERE DIGNITY AND A CLEAR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP. THAT MEANS COMPROMISE. WE NEED OUR FEDERAL LEADERS TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MATTER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THESE ARE FEDERAL ISSUES, BUT THEY HAVE NOW CREPT INTO OUR CITY PURVIEW. I SUPPORTED THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AS DEEMED LEGAL BY OUR OWN CITY ATTORNEY AND WHICH ARE, WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO. BUT AS THE MAYOR WARNED, WHEN I FIRST BROACHED THE SUBJECT OF HPD AND ICE WITH HIM, THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS IF WE FURTHER INTERFERED WITH HPD POLICY IN GENERAL ORDERS THAT'S NOW HAPPENING. AND THE FISCAL FUTURE OF OUR CITY DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DO TODAY. I RAN IN 2019 IN LARGE PART TO HELP PUT THE CITY ON A STRONGER FINANCIAL FOOTING. THE COLD HARD FACT IS THAT IT TAKES MONEY TO, TO RUN A CITY AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT. WE HAVE MADE HUGE STRIDES IN PENSION REFORM, OPEC REFORM, SETTING MORE FUNDS ASIDE FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, CUTTING EXPENSES. NOW THE EY WORK, I HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE REVENUE TO MEET THE CITY'S NEEDS. I VOTED AGAINST KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME BECAUSE IT DUG US $53 MILLION MORE INTO THE HOLE. NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A HOLE OF $114 MILLION AS YOUR BUDGET CHAIR COLLEAGUES, THIS, THE LOSS OF THESE FUNDS IS UNTENABLE. I SPOKE TO MELISSA DEBOWSKI. THIS WILL IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND OTHER THAN THE $10 MILLION IN POLICE CARS AND THE 440,000 THAT COULD BE DEBT FINANCED IN BODY ARMOR. THE REST OF THIS MONEY DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE GENERAL FUND, PRIMARILY ADDITIONAL OVERTIME FOR FIFA. YOU SAW HOPE HERE YESTERDAY, JUSTIFIABLY, BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE HAVE TO GO TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR MONEY, WE DON'T, WE DON'T CUT PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, WE CUT OTHER SERVICES. I WAS HERE IN 2011 WHEN MAYOR PARKER FACED A $75 MILLION DEFICIT, DID NOT HAVE THE SAME KIND OF RESERVES WE HAD AND HAD TO LAY OFF 700 EMPLOYEES. AND THOSE WERE PARK'S EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WERE LIBRARIES EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WERE NOT PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES. SO THIS DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT. FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF $114 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING IS NOT SOMETHING THE CITY CAN ABSORB WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES. THERE ARE, THESE ARE NOT PERIPHERAL DOLLARS. THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS CORE FUNCTIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS, VICTIM SERVICES, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. IF THIS FUNDING IS WITHDRAWN, THE CITY PHASES TWO OPTION REDUCE SERVICES OR BACKFILL WITH FUND BALANCE. AND IF WE CHOOSE TO BACKFILL WITH FUND BALANCE, WE COME WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF OUR, OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES, OUR 7.5%. AND IF WE GET THAT CLOSE, THAT AFFECTS OUR CREDIT RATING, THAT AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO BORROW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL A APPROVES OUR BORROWING TOO SO THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THAT TO CONSIDER. I SAY ALL OF THIS JUST TO SAY WE'RE ALREADY MANAGING STRUCTURAL BUDGET, YOU KNOW, DEFICITS. WE HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET SEASON. BUT, UH, TO, TO LOOK AT THIS, I HATE LOOKING AT, I HATE THAT WHAT HAS SEEMED LIKE A CHOICE BETWEEN MONEY AND PEOPLE, IT'S DISGUSTING, IT'S HORRIBLE. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT WHAT, WHAT ANY OF US WANNA BE DOING. AND I HATE BEING PUT IN THIS POSITION, [05:35:01] BUT OVERALL, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID OR THE, THE, THE, THE ONLY AMENDMENT THAT STANDS. 'CAUSE WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID IS, IS IT IS PROTECTING PEOPLE'S FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHILE ALSO PROTECTING OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. MARTINEZ COUNCILOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO WE'RE LIVING IN A, WE'RE LIVING THROUGH REAL MOMENTS OF TENSION IN THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. FEAR IS HIGH, TRUST IS FRAGILE, AND THE EXPECTATION OF PLACE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE HEAVIER THAN EVER. THAT REALITY IS SOMETHING WE, WE JUST CAN'T IGNORE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUES SAYING OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS CLEAR, REPRESENT THE, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON DELIVER ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES AND HELP MAINTAIN SAFE AND STABLE CITY. THE WORK IS ALREADY DIFFICULT AT OUR CURRENT TAX RATE. WHY IS IT? WHICH IS WHY THE CITY OFTEN RELIES ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR CRITICAL PROGRAMS. I RAISED CONCERNS, CONSISTENT CONCERNS ABOUT HOW PROP A WOULD FUNCTION IN PRACTICE SINCE OCTOBER OF 2025 WHEN THIS CONVERSATION REALLY STARTED TO GET HEATED, I PUSHED EARLY FOR REVISIONS TO A GENERAL ORDER LIKE OTHER TEXAS CITY NOT TO WEAKEN THE INTENT, BUT TO ENSURE IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND WITHSTAND LEGAL SCRUTINY, BUT ALSO NOT TO BRING UNNECESSARY ATTENTION TO OUR CITY. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE EFFORTS WERE NOT FULLY INCORPORATED AND THE PROCESS FO MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT FULLY ADDRESSING OPERATIONAL REALITIES. THIS IS HOW WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE NOT CONFRONTING. I ALSO PROPOSE A REVERSAL CLAUSE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO ENSURE THAT IF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR LEGAL CONFLICTS EMERGE, WE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO COURSE CORRECT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED. BUT IF VERBAL AGREEMENT WAS MADE AND IT WAS NEVER IMPENDING A LEGAL DISCUSSION, I WAS IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE NOW FIND OURSELVES NOT HOLDING TRUE TO THOSE WORDS FROM THE BEGINNING. MY FOCUS HAS BEEN SIMPLE, PROTECTING COMMUNITIES, BUILDING BACK TRUST WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AVOIDING EXPOSING THE CITY TO UNNECESSARY LEGAL AND OPERATIONAL RISKS. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT POLITICS FOR ME. IT IS ABOUT GETTING POLICY RIGHT, ENSURING THE WORK WORKS, THAT IT WORKS IN PRACTICE, BUT QUITE FRANKLY DO THE WORK BRINGING OF BRINGING LAW, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER. THIS IS THE WORK DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT IN FRONT OF CAMERAS. SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT TO THIS PROP. A DOES NOT MEAN TURNING OUR BACKS ON IMMIGRANTS. IT MEANS ENSURING HOUSTON CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION, DELIVER SERVICES AND KEEP HU, KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WITHOUT PUTTING CRITICAL FUNDING AT RISK. IT ALSO REFLECTS THE REALITY THAT WE MUST COMPLY WITH STATE LAW WHILE STILL RESPECTING CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. THE STAKES ARE SIGNIFICANT. FUNDING SUPPORT THAT SUPPORTS CORE PUBLIC SAFETY WORK, INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN, INVESTIGATIONS, PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, REGIONAL PREPAREDNESS, TRUANCY PREVENTION, SAFER SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES AND BODY-WORN CAMERAS THAT STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY. LOSING THAT FUNDING WOULD DIRECTLY WEAKENS SERVICES THAT PEOPLE RELY ON EVERY DAY. THAT IS WHY THIS VOTE IS NOT ABOUT THE HEADLINES OR POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE. AT THE SAME TIME, IMMIGRANTS ARE HOUSTONIANS I'LL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT BUILD TRUST BETWEEN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AND PUSH FOR POLICIES GROUNDED IN FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY AND DIGNITY. I ALSO EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM HPD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD HOLDING OFFICERS TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN IN HOW THESE POLICIES ARE CARRIED OUT. I'VE LISTENED, ENGAGED, AND ADVOCATED WITH FOR STRENGTHENING TRUST BETWEEN HPD AND THE COMMUNITY. AND I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FOCUS ON STABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING. WE MUST BE HONEST, ESCALATION WITHOUT A VIABLE PATH, FORWARD RISK, COSTLY LITIGATION AND INSTABILITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS. A MEASURED APPROACH IS NOT WEAKNESS, IT'S A RESPONSIBLE, IT'S RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE. THE WORK NOW IS CLEAR REBUILD TRUST BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND HPD, STRENGTHEN TRANSPARENCY AND CLARIFY ROLE SO RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL AND WILL NOT DO BECAUSE WHEN TRUST BREAKS DOWN, WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE STOP REPORTING CRIMES, VICTIMS STOP COMING FORWARD AND PUBLIC SAFETY SUFFERS. WE CAN PROTECT SAFETY AND STAND WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AT THE SAME TIME. IN FACT, WE HAVE TO, WE MUST. THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO MEET FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND FOR THAT I'M READY TO AGAIN VOTE ON THIS IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES FOR THE, THE DISCUSSION TODAY AROUND, UH, A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE CITY. WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH ICE IS FRANKLY IT'S, IT'S DISGUSTING AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE FAMILIES IN DISTRICT [05:40:01] H THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY IT. UH, IT HAS REINFORCED MY COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR MY CONSTITUENTS, ALL CONSTITUENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND DON'T HAVE THE, THE FEAR AND ANXIETY AROUND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS TASKED TO KEEPING THEM SAFE. THE ORDINANCE THAT WE CONSIDERED A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. UM, IT REINFORCED THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, WHICH IS NOT A RADICAL IDEA. UM, IT IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND IT ADDED TRANSPARENCY TO SOMETHING THAT WE FRANKLY TALK ABOUT QUITE A BIT AROUND THE HORSESHOE. UH, WE WANT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT, WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY. IT BROUGHT THAT AND IT BROUGHT IT TO AN ISSUE WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY AND FEAR ACROSS COMMUNITIES AND WE SEE THAT FROM PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO TESTIFY AS A WITNESS. WE SEE THAT FROM FOLKS NOT WANTING TO REPORT, UH, CRIMES OR GO TO PIP MEETINGS IN PERSON. AND THE AMENDMENTS WE HAVE HEARD TODAY REPEATEDLY THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED DON'T UNDERMINE THE ORDINANCE WE PASSED. UH, THERE'S NOT MATERIAL CHANGE TO WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO. CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS WON'T BE USED TO HOLD FOLKS. THE 30 MINUTE RULE DOES NOT COME BACK INTO PLACE AND THE WORK DOESN'T STOP WITH WHAT PASSES TODAY. UH, THERE IS STILL ENGAGEMENT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE STILL RELATIONSHIPS THAT NEED TO BE BUILT AND COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE PROTECTED. AND THAT'S ALL PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO. UH, BUT WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED BEFORE US TODAY? WE HAVE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN. UM, DOES NOT MATERIALLY CHANGE WHAT WE INTENDED TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN WE PASSED THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. UH, I'M GONNA COMMIT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY DISTRICT, UH, ON BUILDING TRUST AND ENSURING THAT COMMUNITIES ARE HEARD. UM, AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE US TODAY. MR. VA MAYOR PRO. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I FIRST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE WHO'S COME TO TALK ABOUT THIS AT PUBLIC SESSION. I KNOW IT'S A DEEPLY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND SO MANY FAMILIES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS ISSUE. UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRAFTING PUBLIC POLICY. YOU CAN BE AGAINST THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE BUT STILL RECOGNIZE THAT HPD DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME OR RESOURCES TO DO ICE FUNCTIONS. YOU CAN BE IN FAVOR OF THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT, UH, THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, BUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE LIVE IN A CITY AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AREAS HERE, A LOT OF EMOTIONS HERE. AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'RE RIGHT. AND I GET IT, I THINK I'M RIGHT TOO, BUT MAYBE WHAT'S ACTUALLY RIGHT FOR HOUSTONIANS IS THAT WE FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND COMPROMISE AND WORK TOGETHER SO WE CAN GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS REALLY TRYING TO DO. PEOPLE CAME TO US ASKING FOR A CHANGE BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED. BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO HERE AT THIS TABLE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT AWAY. HPD CONFIRMED THAT CALLS FOR SERVICE HAVE NOT GONE UP SINCE THIS ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SCARED BEFORE ARE STILL SCARED TODAY AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO HERE TO CHANGE THAT. BUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE ARE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR HPD TO DO THEIR JOBS, TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE REALLY ARGUING ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES. IT'S TIME WE GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY BECAUSE WE CAN'T SAY THAT WE ARE DOING ALL OF THIS FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND THEN NOT HAVE THE SAME URGENCY TO FIX THE STREETS SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO WORK OR TO FIX THE FLOODING SO THEIR HOMES DON'T FLOOD OR TO FIX THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ISSUES THAT ARE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES OR TO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN THEIR AREAS WHERE THEY LIVE. THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. THEY AFFECT THE ISSUES OF HOUSTONIANS DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF EVERYONE'S DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. AND IT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE ELECTED US TO FIX. SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY. MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, COLLEAGUES, I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN, AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE. IT'S A SENSITIVE TOPIC AND UH, QUITE FRANKLY, TWO WEEKS AGO, UM, I THINK HOUSTONIANS AND EVERYONE SAW THE HEART OF OUR COUNCIL WITH THAT 12 TO FIVE VOTE. I THINK PEOPLE SAW THAT. UM, WHEN WE SUPPORTED THIS PROP A MEASURE, UM, IT WAS BECAUSE WE SUPPORT HOUSTONIANS AND UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I AGREE [05:45:01] WITH YOU. I HATE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS. UM, WE'VE LISTENED TO HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS. MANY HAVE SAID WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS. WE'VE GOT TO HOLD THE LINE. COUNCIL MEMBERS HOLD THE LINE, BE CREATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BE CREATIVE, STAND FIRM COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE REALLY ARE SITTING IN TWO TRUTHS AT THE SAME TIME. AND YOU CAN HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS HERE AND YOU CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT RESPONSIBLY PUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT RISK IN A FIGHT THAT WE ARE NOT POSITIONED, IN MY OPINION, TO WIN RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT TOOK CREATIVITY TO GET TO THIS AMENDMENT AND I DO WANT TO THANK VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID TO INITIATE A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. UM, IT TOOK CREATIVITY TO HOPEFULLY FIND A BALANCE OR THAT SWEET SPOT WHERE WE AS A CITY CAN FEEL LIKE WE ARE PROTECTING HOUSTONIANS, PROTECTING THEIR FOURTH AMENDMENT, RIGHT? MM-HMM . CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR HPD AND NOT PUTTING OUR ALREADY FRAGILE FINANCES AT FURTHER RISK. LET ME BE CLEAR, I VOTED FOR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS IN 2024. I VOTED FOR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE I BELIEVED HER WHEN SHE WARNED US THAT TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION AGENDA WOULD NOT STOP AT THE BORDER. SHE WARNED US THAT IT WOULD REACH INTO CITIES. AND WHEN SHE SAID IT WOULD REACH INTO CITIES, I HEARD HER BECAUSE AS A CITY LEADER, I KNEW THAT THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THESE DECISIONS. MM-HMM SHE WARNED US THAT HIS IMMIGRATION AGENDA WOULD PULL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENTS INTO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND PUT DUE PROCESS AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS UNDER REAL PRESSURE. AND WE ARE SEEING THAT PLAY OUT RIGHT NOW. THESE CONCERNS ARE REAL. THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS ARE REAL. THE CONFUSION IS REAL THAT THIS CREATES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO NOW UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO GOVERN IN THIS REAL WORLD. THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE VERY CLEAR. WHILE PEOPLE MAY NOT WANT US TO FIGHT IN A WAY PEOPLE WANT US TO FIGHT IN A WAY THAT THEY FEEL IS BOLD, IN MY OPINION, OPINION, WHAT REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BOLD WAS TO ELECT A PRESIDENT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE ADDED 700,000 ADMINISTRATIVE IMMIGRATION WARRANTS TO THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DATABASE. WE WERE WARNED OF THIS BEFORE MAYOR WHITMEYER WARNED US. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK A LEGAL BATTLE, THE ONLY WINNERS WILL BE THE ATTORNEYS WHO GET PAID TO SIFT THROUGH EVERYONE'S OPINION. AT THIS POINT, OUR ISSUES ARE TOO BIG FOR EITHER OR. AS A CITY WE CANNOT DIG OUR HEELS IN OUR PROBLEMS ARE TOO BIG, OUR EXPENSES ARE TOO LARGE. AND I KNOW FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS MAY FEEL LIKE SURRENDER, BUT IT'S NOT. THIS IS REAL STEWARDSHIP. IF THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN THE FUNDING AND NOT JEOPARDIZE FUTURE FUNDING AND WE CAN STILL WATCH IMPLEMENTATION CLOSELY, WE MUST INSIST ON CLARITY FOR OUR OFFICERS AND CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP WHEN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE AT RISK. I WILL ALWAYS STAND UP FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I VOTED THE WAY I DID IN 2024. I WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT I BELIEVE HOUSTONIANS WANT US TO DO. THIS IS MY NINTH TIME GOING INTO A BUDGET CYCLE. I HAVE FOUGHT FOR MY RESIDENTS PROJECTS. I HAVE FOUGHT NINE YEARS FOR ALAMEDA PLAZA AND EVERY YEAR THAT PROJECT PRICE TAG GOES UP. WE'RE OVER $30 MILLION FOR THAT ONE PROJECT. EVERY PROJECT IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANY OF OUR FUNDING IN THIS MOMENT. IN THIS MOMENT I BELIEVE THAT RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP WILL REQUIRE US TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS AND ALSO PROTECT THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THIS CITY. SO MAYOR, I'M READY TO CALL THE QUESTION IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. WE HAVE A CALL THE QUESTION MEMBERS, UH, WE HAVE THE CALL THE QUESTION ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. POINT OF ORDER. THEIR MEMBERS IN QUEUE THAT HAVE NOT SPOKEN ON THE MAIN ITEM CALL, CALL HIM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, POLLARD. [05:50:02] POINT OF ORDER. WHEN A QUESTION IS CALLED WHEN THERE ARE MEMBERS IN QUEUE, THOSE MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK PRIOR TO THE QUESTION BEING CALLED WE'RE THERE? YEAH. WHAT'S THE ISSUE HE CALLED? APOLOGIZE. APOLOGIZE. I THOUGHT YOU WERE ROLE CALLING. I APOLOGIZE. I WAS JUST SEEING IF YOU WERE LISTENING. GO AHEAD. COUNCILMAN POLL. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT WAS NECESSARY AND PURPOSEFUL FOR US TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. THIS THIS IS A BIG ISSUE THAT IMPACTS MANY PEOPLE, IMPACTS MANY COMMUNITIES. WE ARE THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN AMERICA. ONE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE FOREIGN BORN. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED BY THIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. AND SO IT'S, IT'S NECESSARY TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. WE WERE ELECTED TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND THEY SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME. THEY SHOULD TAKE SOME THOUGHT. SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T RUSH THROUGH OR NOT APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE IMPORTANT MATTERS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THROUGH THIS, WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND SEE THAT THE PROP, A PROPOSAL THAT WE BROUGHT FORTH A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT PASSED 12 FIVE DID NOT VIOLATE STATE LAW, DID NOT VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW. THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY AND THE STATEMENTS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REINFORCE THAT. AND SO THIS REALLY COMES DOWN TO CONTROL. WHO GETS TO SEEM AS IF THEY ARE THE ONE THAT'S PUTTING FORTH ALMOST THE SAME LANGUAGE. WE TALK ABOUT THE 114 MILLION. AS MUCH AS I DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON MANY THINGS, THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH I THINK THAT HE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO PUNISH TEXANS TO THAT DEGREE. THE THE MONEY WOULD IS FROZEN FOR THE MOMENT FOR THIS POLITICAL THEATER, THIS IS THEATRICS, THIS IS POLITICS. THERE'S NO WAY THAT SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT TEXANS AS MUCH AS THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE CARES ABOUT TEXANS AND PRIORITIZES PUBLIC SAFETY AS MUCH AS THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE PRIORITIZES PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN TAKES OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AWAY FROM EFFORTS THAT GO TOWARDS THAT. I DON'T WANT US TO BE THAT NAIVE. WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO TAKE PLACE HAS TAKEN PLACE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT FORTH HIS OWN LANGUAGE THAT DOES ALMOST THE EXACT SAME THING OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE PUT FORTH A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT YOU VOTED ON. SO WHEN YOU VOTE TODAY, REGARDLESS IF YOU VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT, YOU ARE VOTING FOR OUR PROPOSITION A AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I WILL BE VOTING NO BECAUSE IT'S PRINCIPLE THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT OVERREACH FROM THE STATE LEVEL. WE SHOULD HAVE LOCAL CONTROL OVER THE ORDINANCES AND THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT HOUSTONIANS. AND SO I'M GLAD WE GOT CLARIFICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY TODAY THAT THE ABBOTT AMENDMENT DOES NOT MATERIALLY CHANGE ANYTHING THAT WE PUT FORTH IN OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSITION. A, THAT WE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK TO SOME 30 MINUTE POLICY. THAT IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS OR CIVIL IN NATURE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN ONLY BE DETAINED REASONABLY FOR A REASONABLY NECESSARY PERIOD OF TIME BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE STOP. SO I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT WENT THROUGH WITH THIS CIRCUS, BUT I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ABBOTT AMENDMENT BASED ON PRINCIPLE ALONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. TWO WEEKS AGO I VOTED FOR THE MEASURE SO THAT POLICE COULD FOCUS ON ENFORCING STATE LAW AND CITY ORDINANCE. THAT'S THEIR MISSION. THEY COULD ALSO KEEP THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN THREATENED WITH A LOSS OF $114 MILLION THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. I SUPPORT ITEM 11 BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO KEEP FUNDING THAT IT DESPERATELY NEEDS. WE ARE FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $170 MILLION TO THOSE WHO HAVE URGED US, URGED US TO FIGHT STATE GOVERNMENT [05:55:01] IN COURT. I WOULD SAY THE PRACTICAL REALITIES HAVE TO ENTER IN HAVING EVALUATED CASES FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. THERE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE ASKED BEFORE YOU FILE A LAWSUIT. QUESTIONS LIKE, AM I LIKELY TO WIN? HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? WHAT ARE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? THE ANSWERS TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE NOT IN OUR FAVOR. THE LOSS OF THIS FUNDING AS WELL AS THE REPAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS AND THE ADDED STRAIN ON OUR ALREADY CONSTRAINED CITY BUDGET SIMPLY CANNOT BE IGNORED. NOT ONLY ARE WE LIKELY TO LOSE, BUT WILL FURTHER DAMAGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE LEADERS AND LEGISLATORS. A CITY WITH THE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT WE FACE CANNOT AFFORD THAT COST. THIS VOTE AS WELL IS ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT. IT ISN'T ABOUT WHETHER THE RED TEAM WINS OR THE BLUE TEAM WINS. IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE HOUSTON DOESN'T LOSE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND AGAIN, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE'RE HEARING PEOPLE SAY THIS IS BEING USED FOR POLITICS. THIS IS POLITICAL FOR ME. UH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT POLITICAL. THIS IS ABOUT AS AN ATTORNEY, THE CHILDREN THAT I SAW IN A DETENTION CENTER UNDER CHILD SEPARATION, WORKING TO GET THOSE CHILDREN OUT. I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE HUMAN COST WHEN DUE PROCESS PROTECTIONS ARE CAST OUT THE WINDOW. THIS IS ABOUT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE TOO AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE IN HOUSTON. VICTIMS AND WITNESSES THAT ARE TOO AFRAID TO COME FORWARD. A WIFE THAT WAS IN TEARS BEFORE US YESTERDAY BECAUSE HER HUSBAND WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD HAS BEEN DETAINED FOR HALF A YEAR NOW, A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR HERE IN HOUSTON WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD, WHO SHOULD BE GRADUATING WITH HIS FRIENDS IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT INSTEAD WAS HELD FOR TWO MONTHS AND THEN DEPORTED THE ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIER SERVING FOR 27 YEARS, INCLUDING IN AFGHANISTAN, WHO SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY HIS WIFE IS BEING DETAINED. AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, THIS IS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS GUARANTEED TO ALL PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THE RULE OF LAW AND THE LAW IS UNEQUIVOCAL. THIS BODY HAS THE RIGHT AND AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE LAWS AND ORDINANCES. NOW, WHY THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT TAKE AN ACTION IS A LEGITIMATE DEBATE. AND I RESPECT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THESE PERSPECTIVES. BUT WHAT IS NOT A LEGITIMATE DEBATE IS THE RULE OF LAW AND OUR RIGHT UNDER THE LAW TO ACT. AND ANY TIME WE AS A CITIZENRY GIVE UP OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND FOR THE RULE OF LAW, WE SACRIFICE THAT WHICH IS MOST PRECIOUS, WHICH IS OUR DEMOCRACY. AND THE VALID ACTION WE TOOK IS ROOTED IN LAW. THE VALID ACTION WE TOOK WAS IN RESPONSE TO A POLICY THE CITY PUT OUT THAT RAISED SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. IT NOT ONLY WASTED LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME AND RESOURCES, BUT OPENED THE CITY UP TO LIABILITY FOR VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF HOUSTONIANS. WHAT WE PASSED WAS NARROWLY TAILORED TO ADHERE TO STATE AND FEDERAL LAW AND SAFEGUARD PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES WHICH ARE ALREADY STRETCHED FAR TOO THIN. THE CITY HAS A RIGHT TO ADDRESS RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES, COMES TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WE DO NOT WANT OFFICERS SIDELINED WAITING AROUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE RESOURCES FOR THAT. AND WE PASS AN ORDINANCE WHICH IS WITHIN OUR RIGHT TO DO SO. TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF HOUSTONIANS AND PROTECT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES. THE ORDINANCE STATED VERY CLEARLY AND APPROPRIATELY, THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS ARE PRESERVED WHEN THE LAWFUL PURPOSE OF A STOP HAS ENDED, IT'S ENDED. THAT IS IT. IF THERE'S A BASIS UNDER CRIMINAL OR STATUTORY LAW TO DISTAIN DISTAIN SOMEONE FURTHER, THEY CAN STILL DO THAT. AND THERE WAS ALSO NO PROHIBITION AGAINST CONTACTING ICE. THE LAW IS CLEAR THAT POLICE CANNOT DETAIN SOMEONE BEYOND THAT BECAUSE OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. AND YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LANGUAGE, BUT NOT THE FULL CLAUSE. THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO BE SECURE IN THEIR PERSONS HOUSES. PAPERS AND EFFECTS AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES [06:00:01] SHALL NOT BE VIOLATED AND NO WARRANTS SHALL ISSUE, BUT UPON PROBABLE CAUSE, SUPPORTED BY OATH OR AFFIRMATION. THAT'S WHY THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND WE ARE NOT DEBATING IMMIGRATION POLICY. THAT IS FOR CONGRESS TO DECIDE AND THEY MUST FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM THAT IS HARMING TOO MANY PEOPLE. BUT WHAT WE MADE CERTAIN IS THAT WE REMAIN WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE RULES OF OUR CONSTITUTION. A CONSTITUTION THAT PRESERVES OUR FREEDOMS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, IMMIGRATION STATUS, OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALLOW OUR CITY TO BE BULLIED. WE CANNOT BEND A KNEE OR THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WE CANNOT FORSAKE THE BILL OF RIGHTS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US IS CLEAR ENOUGH FOR ME. IT IS TOO VAGUE AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THE SUFFICIENT TIME TO REVIEW IT IN DEPTH AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS NECESSARY AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC, THE OPPORTUNITY. BISHOP DIXON IS IN THE AUDIENCE. I ASKED THE NAACP WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE. THEY ASKED FOR MORE TIME. WE DO NOT. WE ARE NOT BEING GIVEN THAT TIME. AND JUST LAST WEEK, WE HEARD FROM LEADERS WHO REMINDED US WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE ALLOW OTHERS TO CHIP AWAY AT OUR LAWS. AND I'M QUOTING NOW. DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE. HITLER AND MUSSOLINI ROSE THROUGH LEGAL MEANS AND THEN DISMANTLED THE SYSTEMS THAT EMPOWERED THEM. DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS MUST BE PROTECTED. THEY BECOME VULNERABLE WHEN CITIZENS GROW, FEARFUL, DISENGAGED, AND ARE EAGER TO BLAME THE OTHER. FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND PLURALISM. DEMAND VIGILANCE. TWO DECISIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. IN DOING NOTHING IS A DECISION. EACH OF US HAS AGENCY. EVERY CHOICE MATTERS. SPEAK OR STAY SILENT, INTERVENE OR WALK AWAY. UPHOLD JUSTICE OR TOLERATE INJUSTICE. ETHICAL COURAGE IS A MUSCLE WE STRENGTHEN THROUGH PRACTICE THAT UNCHECKED HATE LEADS TO VIOLENCE. WHAT WE STUDY IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS DID NOT BEGIN WITH MURDER, BUT WITH WORDS, WITH SLURS, STEREOTYPES AND PROPAGANDA IN TODAY'S WORLD IS OUTRAGE SPREADS FASTER THAN TRUTH. AND I HAVE SEEN THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ATTACKING MY COLLEAGUES WITH RACIAL SLURS. RESISTING PROPAGANDA AND DISTORTION IS MORE URGENT THAN EVER WHEN A GROUP IS CATEGORICALLY SCAPEGOATED AND WHERE DENIAL SPREADS, TRUTH COLLAPSES. THESE WERE THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM OF HOUSTON THAT STOOD BEFORE US JUST LAST WEEK. AND IT IS NOT HYPERBOLIC TO COMPARE THOSE LESSONS TO WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING WITH THE SYSTEMIC EFFORTS TO DISMANTLE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. THESE ARE THE LESSONS OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE STAY SILENT AND WE KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN, AND WE HOPE WE DON'T ROCK THE BOAT TOO MUCH. WE ARE CALLED UPON TO STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE STRANGER, THE IMMIGRANT, THE ASYLUM SEEKER IN EVERY GENERATION. WE MUST INSIST ON OUR INHERENT DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON, AND TO CRY OUT WHEN POWER IS WIELDED WITH CRUELTY. DO NOT WRONG OR OPPRESS THE STRANGER FOR WE TOO. WE'RE STRANGERS. OTHER CITIES ARE DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF THEIR RESIDENTS, AND THE LAWFUL ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN ARE EXACTLY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DID. AND WE MUST PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON ARE NOT FOR SALE, AND I RESPECTFULLY CANNOT SUPPORT ATTEMPTS TO HOLD OUR CITY HOSTAGE. I CANNOT SUPPORT LANGUAGE THAT RAISES FOR ME SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS WITHOUT TIMELY OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND FOR RESIDENTS TO REVIEW. MY DISTRICT, RESIDENTS THAT WERE BEFORE US YESTERDAY HAVE ASKED ME TO VOTE NO. AND THAT IS WHAT I INTEND TO DO. THANKS, MR. SALINAS. I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS ISSUE. UH, IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME AND TO FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, I I WANT TO CLARIFY. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE SAID THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT FORTH THIS PROPOSITION, CAUSED THIS ISSUE. [06:05:01] WE DID NOT CAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO PUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS INTO THE SYSTEM. WE DID NOT CAUSE HPD OFFICERS TO WAIT FOR UP TO TWO HOURS FOR ICE TO ARRIVE. IT WAS THOSE ACTIONS THAT FORCED US TO ACT TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF HOUSTONIANS. I BELIEVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS SHOULD BE EXPLICIT. ALL GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S AMENDMENT DOES IS TELL US TO MAKE THOSE RIGHTS IMPLICIT RIGHTS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AGREES STILL APPLY. BUT HE'S ASKING US TO SAY, JUST TRUST ME. WE'RE GONNA KEEP FOLLOWING THOSE RULES, BUT WE JUST DON'T NEED TO SAY THEM OUT LOUD BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO UPSET THE GOVERNOR. I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PLAY GAMES WITH HOUSTONIAN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. AND IF WE SET IT EXPLICITLY ONCE BY TAKING IT OUT, WE ARE CREATING A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY. BUT I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ASSURANCES WILL BE PROVEN TRUE. AND I KNOW THE NATION WILL BE WATCHING AND WATCHING THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP FROM OUR PROPOSITION A TO SEE IF WE DO IN FACT COMPLY. BUT I WILL BE VOTING NO. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE GOVERNOR IS PLAYING GAMES WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE OTHER CITIES, BUT WE CAN NEVER STOP STANDING UP TO DEFEND HOUSTONIAN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. WE ALL TOOK AN OATH TO DO SO. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT TO WHERE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT WE FINALLY GETTING TO WHERE WE AGREE ON WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND CERTAINLY I, FOR ONE, UM, DON'T WANNA SEE ANYONE'S, UH, POSITION TO BE ERADICATED BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND WHAT LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK. I, FOR ONE, BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT SOME OF US HAVE HAD A WAKE UP CALL BECAUSE THERE WERE STATEMENTS THROWN OUT THAT EVEN WHEN OUR OPINIONS WERE THOSE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT, THAT IT WENT PARTISAN. PEOPLE WERE QUOTING THE FACT. IT NEVER STARTED WITH A PARTISAN, UH, OPINION ABOUT WHAT POLITICAL PART OF YOU ARE AFFILIATED WITH UNTIL PEOPLE BROUGHT IT IN. NOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE, UH, NETWORK OF THE RULE OF LAW. WELL, SOME WAS EVEN ASKED, DID YOU READ THE LAW? SB FOUR HAS BEEN SB FOUR. AND IF SOME PEOPLE WOULD'VE READ THE LAW IN INITIAL REALITY, THEN WE WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN FARTHER ALONG WITH WHERE WE ARE. BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT MOVES THIS CITY FORWARD. AND FOR ONE, AS I'VE SAID MANY, MANY TIMES, I GREW UP IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. OUR ROLE IN THIS CITY COUNCIL IS NOT TO VOTE ON MOVEMENTS, BUT TO VOTE ON POLICIES AND ORDINANCE THAT MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. SO I THINK IF WE ALL TOOK THAT ATTITUDE ABOUT IT, WE COULD INITIATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS. AND, BUT ALSO FOR ONE, I DON'T, I DON'T, I I SUPPORT OTHERS, BUT I THINK THAT MANY TIMES PEOPLE TAKE THE ROLE THAT, THAT THEY CAN CHEERLEADER FOR OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH SOMETIMES EXPERIENCES MATTER. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS EASY TO SAY WHAT YOU SUPPORT AND HOW YOU GET BEHIND CERTAIN THINGS, BUT YOU'VE NEVER LIVED THE EXPERIENCE. AND SO OFTENTIMES, AND, AND THAT'S OKAY. BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY WE COULD GET PAST THIS. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, UH, THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN CARRY ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR ALL OF HOUSTONIANS, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN FLICKING HERE. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO ALL THE CALLS FOR MORE TIME. IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY DIDN'T THIS GO TO THE PROP? A COMMITTEE WHERE WE COULD SPEND PLENTY OF TIME ON IT, DISCUSSING IT, MAKING IT BETTER. I ALSO THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE FACT THAT IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO. WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COMING IN HERE DURING PUBLIC SESSION COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, AND THEY WERE TOLD IT DIDN'T EXIST. IN FACT, I BELIEVE THE EXACT WORD WAS, IT WAS MISINFORMATION. AND THEY WERE ASKED IN HELPING TO CORRECT THE MISINFORMATION. SO I THINK WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND NEED TO GET THIS PASSED US. NO OTHER SPEAKERS JUST NEED A VOTE. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL PLEASE. ON ITEM 11, MAYOR WHITMEYER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. [06:10:01] YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS? NO. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? YES. 13 FOUR PASSES. 13 TO FOUR. MOTION, UH, PASSES. 13 TO FOUR. THANK YOU MEMBERS. AND IF YOU'LL SIGN REAL QUICK, PLEASE. THANK YOU, SIR. MS. SECRETARY UNUM. YOU READY, SIR? CONSENT AGENDA. OBJECT TO THE CON CONSENT. [CONSENT AGENDA] WE STILL HAVE OBJECT. AND SINCE YOUR UH, LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, UH, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED UNDER THE EXCEPT WORK CATEGORY. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE? CAST STATE A, MOVE. SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE POST NAY MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASE AND TABULATION OF BIDS. CATEGORY ITEM SIX HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM FOUR IS IN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS FIVE, SEVEN, AND EIGHT CAST TAX. TA MOVE. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE POST NAY MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEMS 10 THROUGH 16, 23, 29, AND 30 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, I'M SORRY, NOT MINUS. 11, 23, 29 AND 30. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES, [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE MOVE SECOND. COUNCIL MARTINEZ, YOU WANNA SPEAK? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEFORE, UM, YOU RECOGNIZE, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. UM, THIS IS IN THE EAST END AT GUS WORTHHAM. UH, OUR HISTORIC GOLF COURSE. UH, THERE'S SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, UH, OVER THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS OF MORE GOLF BALLS COMING ONTO THE STREET. AS MINUTE AS IT MIGHT SOUND, WE'VE HAD, UH, A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES BECAUSE FOLKS THAT ARE DRIVING HAVE BEEN HIT BY THESE GOLF, UH, GET HIT BY THESE GOLF BALL. UH, THANKFULLY, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO HELP PUT UP THESE NETS. UH, ILE I WAS AT ILE WITH CIVIC CLUB LAST NIGHT AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO HEAR THIS. UH, SEVERAL OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LIVE AROUND THAT GUS, UH, GOLF COURSE, WHICH IS MAGNOLIA PARK, PECAN PARK, EAST LAWNDALE, UH, COUNTRY CLUB. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE OF NUMBER OF, OF, UH, OF, OF FOLKS GOING OUT TO PLAY, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A, AN INCREASE IN GOLF BALLS BEING, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, ACTUALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION OUT ON, OFF OF WAYSIDE. SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT ON THIS. THANK YOU. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 10 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILOR CAYMAN. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR OVER A YEAR, UM, PROVIDING REVISIONS, UH, TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED FINANCIAL POLICIES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND ONE SEGMENT IN PARTICULAR. UH, CHAIR ALCORN, YOU AND I HAVE HAD AT LENGTH DISCUSSIONS. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THE AMENDED LANGUAGE THAT I PUT FORWARD, UH, DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET RELATED TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FORM, UH, FUND, ALSO KNOWN AS THE RAID DAY FUND. I WORKED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI, CHIEF WILSON FOR WORKING WITH ME TO COME UP WITH LANGUAGE THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, AS WELL AS INCREASE OUR PREPAREDNESS. SO WHAT THIS ITEM DOES, IT INCREASES THE AMOUNT FROM 20 TO 25 MILLION. I WANNA REITERATE, WE NEED MORE IN HERE. AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS OF THE CITY. SO WE ARE INCREASING IT TO 25 MILLION. [06:15:01] PREVIOUSLY, WHEN WE HAD TO EXPEND DOWN ON A NATURAL DISASTER, WE WERE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE MONEY OUT OF REPLENISHMENT FOR UP TO TWO YEARS. AND THAT WAS DONE AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE NOT SEEING MULTIPLE EVENTS A YEAR. SO WHAT I SAID IS, HEY, WE NEED A WAY TO PUT THE MONEY BACK IN FASTER. SO WHAT THIS DOES IS ALLOWS, THIS REQUIRES THE CITY TO PUT THE MONEY BACK IN WITHIN 365 DAYS IF IT'S USED, UNLESS THERE IS A QUALIFIED REIMBURSEMENT. SO IF THE MONEY QUALIFIES FOR FEDERAL OR STATE REIMBURSEMENT, THAT CAN TAKE MORE TIME. SO WE'RE KEEPING THAT LANGUAGE AND THAT CIRCUMSTANCE FOR UP TO TWO YEARS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT MONEY WILL BE COMING BACK IN. BUT IF THERE IS NO REIMBURSEMENT, WE MUST DO THE RIGHT THING AND PUT THE MONEY BACK AND BE READY TO GO AND PREPAREDNESS. SO THIS IS ONE STEP IN TERMS OF PREPAREDNESS. I WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WORKING WITH US TO COME UP WITH THIS LANGUAGE. UH, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD, BUT WANNA ENCOURAGE COUNSEL THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS AND BUILD, BECAUSE 25 MILLION DOES NOT EVEN COVER THE DEBRIS PICKUP OF ONE INCIDENT, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED. SO I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS. AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON OUR, BUT OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES, I'M VERY CONCERNED, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS, UH, THE TIMING OF OUR BUDGET THAT WE BRING FORWARD OVER THE SUMMER YEARS WHEN WE, SUMMER MONTHS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, I THINK DOES US A GREAT DISSERVICE IN A, IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO PREDICT AND KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY BUDGET ACCURATELY. AND IT WILL TAKE TIME TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE. BUT WE'VE, WE'VE GOT TO START LOOKING AT BUDGETING IN THE FALL RATHER THAN THE SUMMER WHEN WE HAVE THOSE ACTUARIES AND WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. SO WITH THAT, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THAT THE IMPROVEMENT TO THE RAINY DAY FUND ARE IN FACT INCLUDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 10 PASSES. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES. I JUST WANT TO BRING BACK TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, UH, THE $314 MILLION C-D-B-G-D-R ALLOCATION WE APPROVED, UM, TO RESPOND TO DERECHO AND BARREL IN THAT ALLOCATION. WE HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS HOUSING WHAT'S BEFORE US. WE ARE APPROVING THE MULTIFAMILY GUIDELINES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HERE. I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY TO GET THIS TO COUNCIL. AND THEN JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SPECIFICALLY OF INTEREST, UM, NOT ONLY DOES THIS ALLOW FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, REHAB AND PRESERVATION, BUT ALSO STRATEGIC LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH IS IMPORTANT AS LAND IS OFTEN THE, UM, HIGHEST COST OF US MOVING FORWARD WITH HOUSING. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK FOR THE GUIDELINES, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS RFP ON THE STREET SO WE CAN MAKE SURE, UM, THAT WE KEEP HOUSTON AFFORDABLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. VOTE ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE BEFORE OR AFTER, AFTER VOTE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA SO, SO TEMPTING TO WANNA SAY SOMETHING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE GENERATORS ARE AND HOW WE WERE ABLE TO BUDGET FOR IT AND HOW WE LEARNED OUT. WE DON'T HAVE GENERATORS. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM. WHEN OFFICIALS CAME TO ME AND SAID, POWERS OUT AT FIRE STATION WITH NO GENERATOR. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST REVEALING THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE GENERATORS AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS AND STRATEGIC SERVICES. SO, UM, NO LONGER. AND THANK YOU ANGELA BLANCHARD FOR HEADING UP THE TEAM TO, UH, IDENTIFIES THOSE SOURCES AND LOCATIONS AND THE FUNDING. THANK YOU TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THANK YOU CHIEF SATTERWHITE. MIKE, WE'LL GET TO YOU IN A MINUTE. . THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 14 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. YES. MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, THIS IS OUR CDBG ALLOCATION. OUR $50 MILLION. AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. UM, THEY HOSTED THEIR SPRING COMMUNITY MEETING, WHICH IS CITYWIDE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS HOSTED ON THE WEST SIDE. WE HAD A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATION OF HOUSTONIANS TO HELP US PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING FROM HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, MULTI-FAMILY, UH, DEVELOPMENT, AND [06:20:01] MORE. UM, THERE WAS ALSO A VIRTUAL MEETING AND JUST WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR GETTING THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THEY PARTICIPATED ONLINE AS WELL. UM, ESSENTIALLY THE $50 MILLION BEFORE US ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY DO OUTSIDE OF DISASTERS. SO EXCITED TO GET THIS ACROSS THE LINE AND APPROVED BY HOOD. AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALSO OBSTRUCTION OR COMPROMISE THAT I CAN, COMPROMISE DOES SO MUCH FOR SO MANY. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME, MOTION PASSES. ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME MOTION PASSES. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED. NAME. MOTION PASSES. MEMBERS, UH, I GOT TO DO SHOUT OUTS FOR MIKE NICHOLS AND TER WHITE AND SO MANY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE MEMBERS AROUND THE HORSESHOE. THIS IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT PEOPLE CALL TO TALK TO ME. HOW'D YOU DO IT? UH, EVEN THE HUD OFFICIALS YESTERDAY, AS THEY LOOK AT THE HOMELESS ISSUE ACROSS THE NATION AND OUR PROPOSAL AFTER THEY VISIT EMANCIPATION, UH, THEY LIKE OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPHASIS. WE'LL HAVE A, UH, A PIECE OF HBD, THE HOT TEAM AND THE SERGEANT STATION THERE. SO WE'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I'LL ALSO SUGGEST THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL MORE THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU WITH A GOAL OF GETTING THE HOMELESS OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OFF THE STREETS OF HOUSTON. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT TO BE PROUD OF. NEXT. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MARTINEZ. NO. OH, NO, IT'S FINE. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO THESE ARE UPGRADES TO MASON PARK. UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT SINCE COMING INTO OFFICE HAS BEEN A PRIORITY AND I'VE BEEN VERY, UH, HAPPY TO COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BOTH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, SENATOR ALVARADO, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL TO SEE, UH, CONTINUOUS UPGRADES HERE AT MASON PARK. WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, COME TO FRUITION. UH, THIS IS OUR REGIONAL PARK IN THE IN DISTRICT. I ESSENTIALLY, AND SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THESE UPGRADES COME, COME TO FRUITION AS WELL. JUST NEW THANK YOU. AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION, CERTAINLY FROM OUR LEGISLATORS AND, UH, AND, UH, THE COMMISSIONER AS WELL. SO, THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR. SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST THINK OF VOTE. THIS IS CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. THIS ITEM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREATER NORTH SIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG AIRLINE DRIVE AT TWO INTERSECTIONS. AIRLINE DRIVE IS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THESE TWO PARTICULAR POINTS DO HAVE A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY. ONE IS NEAR THE, THE FARMER'S MARKET. AND SO, UM, THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA HELP, UH, SAFETY. AND I, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, IN DISTRICT H. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL MAYOR, CAST COUNCIL. MAYOR CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES FOR THE SUPPORT ON ITEM 30. IT'S, UH, A CONNECTOR TO TWO BUFFALO BAYOU, UH, GREENWAYS ONE'S THAT ONE THAT ENDS AT AUSTIN STREET AND THE OTHER, UM, RENTALS. AND SO THIS IS A SHARED USE PATH THAT WILL CONNECT BOTH, UH, AND ADD CONNECTIVITY TO OUR BAYOU GREENWAY. AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE WORK OF, UM, THE, THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THEIR EXTENSION OF THEIR PROJECTS, UH, FURTHER EAST ALONG THE BAYOU AND INTO DISTRICT H. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA MEMBERS. UH, MAYOR PROIN, WILL YOU PRESIDE VIA ATTEND, UM, LUNCHEON. THANK YOU. WE'RE STARTING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTO. UH, I WANNA FIRST JUST START OFF BY THANKING, UH, AND GIVING APPRECIATION TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR TRURO, MICHELLE. UM, HE AND HIS ENTIRE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE [06:25:01] PROPOSITION A ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY. I THINK HIS, HIS OFFICE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF VETTING THE ORDINANCE, UM, COMING WITH THEIR LEGAL OPINION, WHICH WE ALL RELIED UPON AND I THINK STOOD UP EVEN TODAY. UM, THERE WAS NOTHING PUT FORTH IN OUR PROPOSITION A THAT CONFLICTED WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. HIS LEGAL OPINION WAS, WAS VERY SOUND AND CLEAR ON THAT FACT. AND SO I, I WANT TO THANK HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THE GOVERNOR OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COULD PUT FORTH TO KIND OF CHANGE THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF OUR LANGUAGE AND THE OPINION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM AND HIS STAFF FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, SALINAS AND CAYMAN PUBLICLY FOR THEIR WORK ON THE ITEM. IT WAS NECESSARY WORK. UM, IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT AND IT GOT THE ATTENTION OF NOT ONLY THE STATE, BUT IT BECAME A FEDERAL TOPIC. I SAW THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITE ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE IN HOUSTON AND THAT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT PAST TODAY, UH, HAS SOME SLIGHT CHANGES, BUT MATERIALLY SUBSTANTIVELY WAS THE SAME. SO IT JUST SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS THE SAME MESSAGE, BUT A DIFFERENT MESSENGER AND DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE INFLUENCED BY, UH, DICTATED YOUR THOUGHTS OR PERSPECTIVE ON THE TOPIC. BUT IT WAS THE SAME MESSAGE, BUT JUST A DIFFERENT MESSENGER. UM, WHAT PASSED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AND I THINK THAT'S BASED ON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AND THE OPINION OF OUR, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK AND THE EFFORT. UM, WE HAVE SOME REALLY STRONG LAWYERS THAT ARE IN OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THERE'S SOME REALLY STRONG LAWYERS THAT ARE UP HERE ON THIS COUNCIL. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WAS VERY MUCH IMPRESSED WITH THE LEGAL MIND OF COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE GONNA MISS COUNCIL MEMBER ABEY CAYMAN AND HER, HER, HER LEGAL, NOT ONLY PERSPECTIVE, UH, BUT HER JUST UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND BEING ABLE TO, UM, COMMUNICATE. SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING IN THIS. I THINK ULTIMATELY THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE WANTED TO PUT FORWARD FOR HOUSTONIANS ARE STILL THERE. UM, AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NOTHING PUT FORWARD TODAY THAT MATERIALLY CHANGES ANYTHING THAT WE FOUGHT REALLY HARD FOR BEFORE. IT'S JUST THE MESSENGER CHANGED. THE MESSAGE IS STILL THE SAME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, COUNCIL [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. AND, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. IN YOUR ABSENCE AND MY COLLEAGUES, I WANNA START OUT BY THANKING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS POLLARD AND CAYMAN FOR BRINGING FORTH THE PROP. A THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES VOTED ON TODAY, INDICATED THAT WE DID THE RIGHT THING IN PASSING THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE IN REGARDS TO IT BEING LEGAL, CERTAINLY, UH, THE PROTECTION OF, UH, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE TOOK AN OATH THAT WE WOULD PROTECT AND SERVE IN REGARDS TO THE CONSTITUTION. AND I THINK THAT ORIGINAL ORDINANCE AS WELL AS WHAT WAS PASSED TODAY, SINCE THERE WERE NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES AND THAT THE FACT THAT IT DOES NOT VIOLATE SB FOUR INDICATES THAT WE WERE AND ARE STILL ON THE RIGHT PATH. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THEM. UH, AND I WANT TO GO FORWARD NOW AND, AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. AND RECENT, RECENTLY, WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALONG LIVE OAK, WHERE WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING ONGOING PROJECTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS DURING THE PROJECT, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, ANDT SEVEN AND, UH, ALAMEDA, UH, CORRIDOR, UH, REDEVELOPMENT, WHO HAVE COME FORTH TO MAKE SOME WONDERFUL CHANGES ON THE LIVE OAK, UH, STREET, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS OF THAT AREA. AND, UH, I'M, I'M THANKFUL THAT THE PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR THE ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. I ALSO WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROJECT STAYS ON TIME AND CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY. [06:30:01] THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT EXECUTION IS WHAT ULTIMATELY BUILDS TRUST. UPCOMING EVENTS, LET'S CLEAN H TOWN SOUTH UNION VOLUNTEER CLEANUP. THAT WILL BE, UM, MY OFFICE ALONG WITH THE SOUTH UNION PROUD CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. WE'LL HAVE A COMMUNITY CLEANUP ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 25TH AT 9:00 AM AT Z SCALES PARK, 35 0 1 COURT, CARTER STREET, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE 267 MILLION TOTAL IN APPROPRIATIONS, UM, CLEANER COMMUNITIES, ILLEGAL DUMPING CLEANUP, UH, WITH HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COUNCIL, UH, MY OFFICE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ILLEGAL DUMPING CLEANUP INITIATIVE. WE WANNA GET CLEAN LIKE DISTRICT K MM-HMM . SATURDAY, APRIL THE 25TH AS WELL AT 11:00 AM AT 56 89 ALLISON ROAD. AND THEN PROUDLY, UH, THE TSU AVIATION HANGAR RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WILL BE, UM, ALONG WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN AND THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. WE'LL HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR TSU AVIATION HANGAR ON SATURDAY AT 4:00 PM AT ELLINGTON FIELD 1775 HUTCHINSON ROAD. CERTAINLY THAT'S WAY OUTTA DISTRICT D, BUT TSU IS ALL OVER AND CERTAINLY, UH, VERY PROUD THAT THEY ARE IN DISTRICT D. UH, DISTRICT D CONTINUES TO LEAD THROUGH ENGAGEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DELIVERY. AND, UH, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, WE ARE, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH, AND I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT IF YOU'RE AT A CITY PARK AND YOU'RE WITH YOUR DOG, THEY NEED TO BE LEASHED. THAT IS CITY ORDINANCE. UM, A LOT OF FOLKS USE OUR PARKS AND PEOPLE THAT, UM, EXPERIENCE AUTISM. AN UNLEASHED DOG CAN CAUSE A VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR THEM, EVEN A FRIENDLY UNLEASHED DOG. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR PARKS ARE SAFE FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR SENIORS, OUR WALKING GROUPS, UH, FAMILIES. AND SO, AS A REMINDER, UH, WHILE WE ARE IN AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH, IF YOU'RE AT A CITY PARK WITH YOUR ANIMAL, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING A LEASH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA START OUT BY SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HAYES. HUFFMAN MY YOUNGEST, HE'S TURNING NINE TODAY. TODAY IS ALSO EARTH DAY, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT HAYES, WITH YOU ON THIS EARTH, IT MAKES IT SO ENJOYABLE EVERY DAY. UM, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAD SOME RESIDENTS, THE STREET WAS FLOODING WITH ALL THIS RAIN THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING. CARS WERE CARS, WERE FLOODING, AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS WAS OUT THERE. IMMEDIATELY WE ENDED UP LEARNING THAT A PIPE HAD COLLAPSED THAT FEEDS INTO RUMBLE CREEK, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY. BUT THANK YOU PUBLIC WORKS FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE, ALWAYS BEING ON TOP OF IT. THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT G REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, FIRST, LET ME SAY I AM TRULY IMPRESSED BY MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THE ATTORNEYS ON COUNCIL. UH, LISTENING TO THE DEBATE AND THE DIALOGUE, UM, WAS VERY IMPORTANT. AND FOR ME, ALTHOUGH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE DR. SCOTT VERSUS SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT SAID THAT BLACK AMERICANS HAD NO RIGHTS TO CITIZENSHIP AND COULD BE A SLAVE EVEN IN A FREE STATE. UNTIL THE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATE CANDIDATE FROM ILLINOIS LINCOLN AT THE 1858 REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION SAID THAT AMERICA COULD NOT PERMANENTLY BE HALF FREE, HALF SLAVE. AND I THINK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION, WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN THE SAME STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS. AND SO AS WE WALK OUT OF THE CHAMBER THINKING ABOUT OUR VOTE AND THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES THE SAME QUESTION. MOVING ON, I WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE 45 EXPANSION PROJECT. REMEMBER IN THE MOU THAT WAS SIGNED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A $30 MILLION ALLOCATION RELATED TO HOUSING. NOW THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF HOUSING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE CONCERNED AROUND DISPLACEMENT, UM, TRANSITION OF THOSE PROPERTIES. AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A SERIES OF DATES. THERE'S ONE HAPPENING TODAY AT THE THIRD WARD MULTIPURPOSE CENTER ON APRIL 23RD AND NEAR NORTHSIDE, APRIL 29TH IN FIFTH WARD, AND ON APRIL 30TH AT INDEPENDENCE [06:35:01] HEIGHTS. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. UH, WE NEED YOU TO CONTINUE TO STAY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. I WANNA SHOUT OUT MY WONDERFUL STAFF AGAIN FOR HOSTING THE THIRD ANNUAL DEED RESTRICTION WORKSHOP IN DISTRICT F. ALTHOUGH IT WAS HOSTED ON THE WEST SIDE, WE HAD RESIDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE AREA JOIN US. AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE THEIR ATTENTION AND SHARING TIME WITH US FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AT THE TRACY G COMMUNITY CENTER, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PARTNERS, RICE AND RIGHTS LAW FIRM, THE C THE CITY DEPARTMENTS FROM HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC WORKS. WE EVEN HAD COUNTY PARTNERS FROM THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE, WHICH GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT IS ULTIMATELY OFTEN TIED TO THE COVENANTS. AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATING, INFORMING OUR, UH, RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN BE EMPOWERED TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE CAN LIMIT OVER EXTENSION OF CITY DEPARTMENTS. UH, LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT AND CELEBRATE KAREN S. CARTER, WHO ON JULY ONE WILL OFFICIALLY BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN, CEO OF DOW, UM, IN ITS 126 HISTORY. SHE IS ALSO A, A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON, TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE LINKS. AND SO I WANNA SHOUT OUT MY LINK. SISTER, CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THAT YOU WILL DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VICE MAYOR PRO TEPIC PASS. UH, I DO HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, FROM HOUSTON HURRICANE WORKSHOP REIMAGINED WITH READY 365. UH, THERE WILL BE A READY 365 FREE UPDATED VERSION OF THE CITY'S TRADITIONAL HURRICANE WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 25TH AT GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER PLAZA FROM NOON TO FIVE. THIS IS DESIGNED AS A FUN, FAMILY FRIENDLY OUTDOOR EVENT. SO EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED, UM, TO PARTICIPATE. IT'S PRESENTED BY CENTERPOINT ENERGY FOUNDATION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WITH THE SUPPORT OF HOUSTON FIRST, HEB, METRO H-P-D-H-F-D, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY. Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.