* 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.
          [00:00:01]
          REPORTER, 
          [PRESENTATIONS]
I AM GOING TO ASK THE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM PECK TO PLEASE PRESIDE. 
          THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE EVIE TI FOR HER WORK WITH CHECKMATE FOR GIRLS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO EVIE TODAY. 
          SHE'S MAKING HUGE STRIDES IN THE CHESS WORLD FOR CHILDREN AND GIRLS. 
          AND ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW EVIE IS RANKED NUMBER 17 IN THE NATION FOR GIRLS AGE 17. 
          AND SO I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS POPULATION TO YOU AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK. 
          WHEREAS EVIE LAS GARRIS IS A STUDENT AT ST. 
          JOHN'S SCHOOL, FOUNDER OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CHECKMATE FOR KIDS AND A DEDICATED CHESS PLAYER. 
          AND WHEREAS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020, EVIE THEN 11 YEARS OLD AND UNABLE TO COMPETE IN CHESS TOURNAMENTS IN PERSON TURNED A CHALLENGE INTO AN OPPORTUNITY BY SHARING HER PASSION FOR CHESS WITH CHILDREN IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION AND LATER THROUGH ENGAGING IN IN-PERSON PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS THROUGH CHECKMATE FOR KIDS, EVIE HAS PROVIDED FREE CHESS EDUCATION TO CHILDREN ACROSS HOUSTON BY LEADING WORKSHOPS, CAMPS, AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE CONFIDENCE, CRITICAL THINKING, ACADEMIC RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP, WHILE ALSO MENTORING STUDENTS TO BECOME CHESS TEACHERS AND COACHES AND ENCOURAGING GREATER PARTICIPATION AMONG GIRLS IN THE GAME. 
          AND WHEREAS AS THE ONLY GIRL ACTIVELY COMPETING IN CHESS TOURNAMENTS AT HER SCHOOL, EVIE'S BECOME A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR GENDER EQUITY AND CHESS, HELPING CREATE GREATER ENCOURAGEMENT, COMMUNITY AND COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS IN A TRADITIONALLY MALE DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT AND ORGANIZING THE GIRLS CHECKMATE TOURNAMENT IN HOUSTON. 
          AND WHEREAS EVIE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHESS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE US CHESS FEDERATION, LOCAL HOUSTON RADIO STATIONS AND REGIONAL PUBLICATIONS REFLECTING HER LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AND COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE GAME. 
          AND WHERE ON MAY 23RD, 2026, AS THE SCHOOL YEAR CONCLUDES AND SUMMER CHESS PROGRAMS BEGIN, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZES EVIE FOR HER DEDICATION TO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, GENDER EQUITY, AND COMMENDS HER EFFORTS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER YOUNG GIRLS IN COMPETITIVE CHESS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I'M IN AWE OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF CHESS AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE MASTERED IT AND NOW YOU'RE SHARING IT WITH OTHERS. 
          I'VE GOT TWO GRANDSONS, 10 AND 12. 
          I'LL EXPOSE THEM TO YOUR TEACHINGS, BUT YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. 
          , , UH, GROWING UP I WAS NOT EXPOSED TO CHESS, WENT TO HISD SCHOOLS. 
          FAMILY DID NOT INTRODUCE ME TO IT, SO I STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING YOUR CAREER. 
          SO THEREFORE, I JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED MAY 23RD, 2026 IS EVIE RIS CHECKMATE FOR GIRLS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK, UH, WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS. 
          ABBY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN AND MAYOR, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, UH, FOR SPOTLIGHTING THIS. 
          AND I SEE, I THINK YOU HAVE SOME VERY PROUD FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE, SO, UH, REALLY WANNA RECOGNIZE JUST, I'M SURE YOU HAVE A WHOLE VILLAGE AROUND YOU, BUT THAT YOU ARE STANDING OUT ON YOUR OWN AS A LEADER AND COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          HUFFMAN, YOUR STAFF WAS JUST SHARING. 
          I THINK YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING PRETTY COOL THIS SUMMER. 
          UH, WHERE YOU GOING ON THAT, YOUR OPPORTUNITY? SUMMER. 
          YEP. 
          UM, SO I DECIDED TO APPLY TO VARIOUS SUMMER PROGRAMS AND IN JULY I'LL BE DOING ASTRONOMY RESEARCH AT YALE UNIVERSITY. 
          SO SHE'LL BE AT YALE WORKING WITH ASTROPHYSICISTS, UM, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. 
          AND MAYOR, I KNOW YOU AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO GROW UP WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION IN CHESS, BUT ONE OF MY 
          [00:05:01]
FAVORITE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON NOW DOES WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT IS WITH SOME OF OUR PARKS EMPLOYEES. 
          THEY ACTUALLY TEACH CHESS IN THESE FREE PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL TO CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND, UH, I'M TEACHING MY SON WHO'S FIVE, BUT I HAVE A HUNCH THAT YOU COULD TAKE ON PRETTY MUCH ANYONE IN THE CITY AT THIS POINT. 
          SO CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. 
          NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE HICK FAMILY FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          WELL DONE. 
          HI, ARE YOU YOUR BROTHER? GOOD JOB. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 
          UH, TODAY I HAVE THE SPECIAL HONOR OF RECOGNIZING A FAMILY THAT HAS MADE A LASTING IMPRINT ON OUR CITY, UH, THE PEK FAMILY. 
          AND TODAY WE HAVE ABE AND JACK WITH US. 
          UH, THROUGH THEIR WORK IN THE CONSTRUCTION REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIES, THEY HAVE QUITE LITERALLY HELPED BUILD HOUSTON'S FUTURE, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL. 
          THEY'VE DONE SO WITH INTEGRITY AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CITY. 
          THEY HAVE SHOWN A DEDICATION TO EXPANDING PATHWAYS FOR WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, OPENING DOORS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN CLOSED AND PAVING THE WAY, OF COURSE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. 
          THEIR SUPPORT FOR NONPROFIT AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN EQUALLY HANDS-ON SHARING RESOURCES, VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND LENDING THEIR EXPERTISE. 
          OF COURSE, ABE, YOU ARE NO STRANGER TO CITY HALL. 
          YOU SERVE ON, YOU HAVE SERVED ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OBO ADVISORY BOARD AND IS VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF GREATER HOUSTON. 
          AND JACK HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE HOUSTON JEWISH FEDERATION AND IS A LIFETIME AMBASSADOR FOR TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. 
          AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY, INCLUDING THEIR WIVES. 
          KAREN AND FAYE, UM, HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE SAME UNWAVERING DEDICATION. 
          UH, THEY DON'T JUST SUPPORT THE HOUSTON JEWISH, NOT ONLY JEWISH COMMUNITY, BUT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY. 
          AND IN ADDITION TO THEIR SUPPORT, UM, WHAT'S INCREDIBLE ABOUT THE HICK FAMILY IS YOU ARE THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, WHEN YOU GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU LIVE IN, YOU BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND THAT REALLY IS SYMBOLIC OF WHAT HOUSTON IS. 
          SO, UH, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE HICK FAMILY HAS HAULED CALLED HOUSTON HOME FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. 
          WITH FOUR GENERATIONS NOW ROOTED IN THE CITY AND ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO ITS GROWTH AND VITALITY, THEY HAVE HELPED BUILD A STRONGER HOUSTON THROUGH DECADES OF WORK, SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY HOUSING, STRENGTHENING THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE REGION. 
          THE FAMILY HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SHAPING OUR CITY'S ENVIRONMENT BY PROMOTING INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE, ADVANCING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY, AND BEYOND THEIR ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS. 
          THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON CIVIC LIFE THROUGH THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE, PHILANTHROPY, AND LEADERSHIP, SUPPORTING CAUSES RANGING FROM EDUCATION AND YOUTH MENTORSHIP TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 
          AS LONGSTANDING MEMBERS OF HOUSTON'S JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE PEK FAMILY HAS ACTIVELY SUPPORTED OUR LOCAL SYNAGOGUE SCHOOLS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING RESIDENTS OF ALL FAITHS AND BACKGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. 
          GUIDED BY THE VALUES OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND SERVICE, THE PEK FAMILY CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK GENEROUSLY TO THE CITY THEY PROUDLY CALL HOME. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILOR CAYMAN. 
          AND, UH, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A FAMILY THAT HELPS MAKE HOUSTON A GREAT CITY. 
          OUR INCLUSION, OUR DIVERSITY. 
          I MET YOU AS CONTRACTORS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          YOU WERE ACTUALLY WORKING WHEN I CAME INTO THE BUILDING. 
          SO WE MET AND YOU GAVE ME THE HISTORY OF THE HARVEY RECOVERY AND THE IMPACT IT HAD ON THE CITY, UH, 
          [00:10:01]
FACILITIES. 
          BUT THROUGH THAT INTRODUCTION, WE BECAME FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND YOUR INCLUSION OF ME AND MY FAMILY INTO YOUR FAITH AND YOUR COMMUNITY HAS MEANT SO MUCH AND GIVES ME STRENGTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SAY THANK YOU. 
          UH, YOU'RE CERTAINLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND I KNOW THE BEST IS YET TO COME. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          STAY ACTIVE, SPREAD YOUR INFLUENCE ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY. 
          THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 13TH, 2026 IS A HICK FAMILY DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          AND, UH, PLEASE RELAY, I KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT PLEASE RELAY OUR GRATITUDE AS WELL TO AARON AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. 
          UM, AND THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, UH, FOR THE CITY. 
          UM, I THINK YOU DON'T HEAR THE WORDS. 
          THANK YOU ENOUGH. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE THAT GOES ON SOMETIMES IN THIS ROOM, BUT THANK YOU, UH, IS PROBABLY THE MOST APPROPRIATE. 
          WE, UH, WE APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY THE RELATIONSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE BROUGHT SOMETHING, UH, THAT WE'D LIKE TO LEAVE WITH YOU, UH, IN RETURN. 
          SO THIS IS A, UH, PUZZLE. 
          THIS IS A PUZZLE THAT, UH, OUR TEAM HAS, UH, BUILT WHEN THEY'RE NOT BUILDING, UH, STRUCTURES. 
          IT'S THE, UH, THE, UH, MAYOR'S, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WE BUILT, UH, DOWN IN THE BASEMENT. 
          AND I'LL JUST READ THE CAPTION. 
          IT SAYS, UH, 1000 PIECES, ONE PURPOSE, ONE HOUSTON HURRICANE HARVEY CITY HALL, UH, RESTORATION PROJECT WITH GRATITUDE, DENTAL CONSTRUCTION, HOUSTON STRONG. 
          ALRIGHT, DO ONE RIGHT HERE. 
          READY? 3, 2, 1. 
          ONE MORE OVER HERE. 
          GOT ONE MORE SECOND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO. 
          NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WHERE'S RANDY? RANDY, YOU KNOW, UH, AS Y'ALL HAVE OBSERVED, I'M PRETTY STINGY ON THE PROCLAMATIONS I DO BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY GREAT INFLUENCES IN OUR CITY. 
          IN FACT, RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL, EACH OF YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR THE FINANCE TEAM, THE PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FIRING POLICE. 
          BUT TODAY, IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS WORKERS AND DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK RANDY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. 
          YOU'RE A CAN-DO DIRECTOR, THE MORALE IS GREAT, BUT IT REALLY STARTS RIGHT HERE ON THE GROUND WITH PUBLIC WORKS. 
          I'VE BEEN THERE DURING THE STORMS AND WHEN I SAID PUBLIC FIRST, WHEN I SAID FIRST RESPONDERS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY Y'ALL ARE FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          IN FACT, I GUESS WE COULD SAY EVERYONE THAT KEEPS THIS CITY TOGETHER DURING OUR CHALLENGES, OUR STORMS ARE FREEZES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. 
          I'VE SEEN YOU COME IN TO YOUR WORKPLACE WITH A SLEEPING BAG WHEN YOU'RE HOLDING HOUSTON TOGETHER. 
          YOU HAVE FAMILIES AT HOME TOO. 
          YOU HAVE PROPERTY AT THE STORM STANDS TO REACH OUT, BARREL THE FREEZES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, THE 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS THEY NEED TO KNOW, YES, WE HAVE OUR FIRE AND POLICE THAT WE SUPPORT, BUT I KNOW WHO KEEPS 
          [00:15:01]
THE LIGHTS ON. 
          I KNOW WHO KEEPS US ON OUR FEET. 
          AND SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT RECOGNIZ, THE NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN HOUSTON. 
          THANK YOU, RANDY. 
          THANK Y'ALL. 
          WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          THANK Y'ALL. 
          MORE INFRASTRUCTURE'S BEING COMPLETED. 
          THOUSAND MILES THIS YEAR OF ROAD IMPROVEMENT, 500 MILLION PLUS FOR WATER, DRAINAGE WATER. 
          SO HOUSTONIANS KNOW WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I WON'T HESITATE TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES. 
          RANDY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          I HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS WHAT I JUST SAID. 
          WE COULDN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT Y'ALL. 
          SO THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2026 AS 2026 NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. 
          THANK YOU RANDY FOR MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, ON BEHALF OF THE 4,000 DEDICATED ARMY OF PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE LARGEST ACCREDITED PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO STAND WITH THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THEY DO. 
          YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST THE BIGGEST IN TERMS OF SIZE OR IN EVEN IN TERMS OF BUDGET, BUT WE DO THE MOST IN TERMS OF WORK, IN TERMS OF THE DISCIPLINES THAT WE ATTACK. 
          AND IT'S OUR TRUE TESTAMENT TO THE EXPERIENCE, THE EXPERTISE, THE DEDICATION, THE COMMITMENT TO OUR TEAM, OF WHICH THIS IS JUST SUCH A SMALL REPRESENTATION FOR ALL THEY DO. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, I WANNA MAKE SURE I ACKNOWLEDGE NOT JUST THEIR SACRIFICES, BUT THE SACRIFICES OF THEIR FAMILIES. 
          AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WHILE THEY'RE IN OUR PLANTS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR, THEIR FAMILIES ARE AT HOME OR ELSEWHERE. 
          THEY LEAVE BEHIND A LOT OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN DELIVER SERVICE FOR HOUSTONIANS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          AND THAT'S NOT JUST DURING THE STORMS, THAT'S DURING BLUE SKY DAYS. 
          JUST LIKE NOW, WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, YOU'VE GOTTA GO AND RESCUE A NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE A WATER MAINE HAS BROKEN AND IT IS FLOODING THOSE STREETS. 
          THEY ARE THERE ALL THE TIME, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT 'EM. 
          AND SO I THANK ALL OF YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE, AND I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JOINING WITH US THIS, THIS, UH, YEAR ARE FOLKS FROM THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT TEAM AS WELL. 
          AND WE'RE GRATEFUL AND EXCITED TO WELCOME THEM INTO THE DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THEY DO AS WELL. 
          SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          I THINK THERE'S, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, DIRECTOR MKA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN PUBLIC WORKS, I CANNOT SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. 
          UM, WE'VE RECENTLY WENT OUT WITH SOME MEMBERS OF PUBLIC WORKS TO LOOK AT, UM, A DITCH SITUATION AND WE HAD TO WALK THROUGH SOME, UM, KIND OF OVERGROWN AREAS TO GET TO THE DITCH AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
          UM, MEMBERS SAID, WATCH OUT FOR THE POISON IVY. 
          AND WE WERE LIKE, OH, NO POISON IVY. 
          AND THEY WERE LIKE, OH, THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WE NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO DEAL WITH. 
          AND SO JUST THE WORKING CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME AND THEY JUST HAD A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND WERE SO PROFESSIONAL AND SO WONDERFUL AND JUST CANNOT SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH TO EVERYONE IN PUBLIC WORKS. 
          THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UH, TO IN OUR ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL OFFICE THAT GETS THE MOST 3 1 1 CALLS TO PUBLIC WORKS AS DISTRICT C. 
          UH, WE JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE DIRECTOR. 
          YOU'RE ON CALL 24 7. 
          YOUR TEAM IS ON CALL 24 7. 
          UH, AS THE MAYOR PUT IT, UH, WHEN IT'S A DISASTER, THE THE FIRST FEDERAL OR STATE REIMBURSEMENT WE APPLY FOR IS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITHOUT IT, WE DON'T HAVE A CITY THAT RUNS AND OPERATES. 
          UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. 
          SO TRULY THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT ESPECIALLY ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT C, UH, 'CAUSE WE USE Y'ALL A LOT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR VICE, UH, PROTE MAYOR. 
          PROTE MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND CERTAINLY IN YOUR CHOICE TO PICK RANDY BECAUSE EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, IT HAS BEEN AN AWESOME, AS AN AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HELP THE DISTRICTS, BUT AS AN AT LARGE EVERY TOWN HALL MEETING, YOU WERE THERE, UH, TO SPEAK TO THE, TO THE CITY, TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND WE'VE DONE JUST OUT OF MY OFFICE, WE'VE DONE NOW 10 TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND YOU'VE BEEN AT ALL 
          [00:20:01]
OF THEM, OR YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN AT ALL OF THEM. 
          AND THEN I RECALL WHEN I FIRST GOT TO COUNCIL, ONE OF THE THINGS I EXPRESSED TO, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER WAS THE FACT THAT I SAW PUBLIC WORKS IN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. 
          AND SINCE THEN HE CHANGED IT. 
          AND OF COURSE WE DO KNOW THE MAYOR DID SOME THINGS TO RECOMMEND, UH, YOU IN YOUR POSITION TO BE WHERE YOU ARE. 
          AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON THE BETTER FOR IT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH MY FRIEND. 
          I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FROM ME AT LARGE TWO, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN, IN, IN THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS. 
          'CAUSE YOU ALL ARE REALLY HEROES AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN OUR CITY. 
          THANK YOU FRIEND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAYOR PRO TIM, UM, MAYOR, DIRECTOR, JUST, UH, DEFINITELY WANT TO LIFT YOU ALL UP AS WELL BECAUSE, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT HIGH AS WELL. 
          UH, BUT MORE SO I THINK TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE'RE DOING NOW COMPARED TO HISTORICALLY IN THE CITY, UH, FROM THE EAST WATER PLANT, YOU KNOW, TO MILL OVERLAYS, PAVEMENT CONDITIONS TO DRAINAGE PROJECTS. 
          IT'S, IT'S JUST, I THINK EVERYWHERE WE GO PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE. 
          BUT QUITE FRANKLY, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CONSTRUCTION PLANNING IS REAL, BUT QUITE FRANKLY IT WAS NEEDED. 
          DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR DECADES. 
          AND SO, UH, TO ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, EMPLOYEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR DEDICATION, AND THOSE THAT ARE INSIDE OF WASTE AS WELL. 
          UH, Y'ALL ARE IN GOOD HANDS, MAN. 
          UM, WE'RE GONNA BE CONTINUING TO DO GOOD WORK WITH YOU ALL, SO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK DAY IN, DAY OUT BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE DEFINITELY THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT ANSWER TO COMMUNITY. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MARY, THANK YOU DIRECTOR, AND YOU ALL, UM, APPRECIATE YOU ALL AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, WHERE WE GOING FOR THE FOOD STAMP? OKAY. 
          COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          I GUESS YOU'RE ALWAYS READY TO PRAY, HUH? YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET READY. 
          YOU STAY READY. 
          THEY SAY YOU GOTTA STAY PRAYED UP. 
          MAYOR, I'M, I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. 
          CHAIR 
          [2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN DAVIS FOR THE INVOCATION. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES. 
          I AM CERTAINLY HONORED TODAY TO PRESENT TO LEAD OUR US IN PRAYER. 
          A GREAT FRIEND, UH, KNOWN FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, UH, WHO HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RECOGNITION, NOT ONLY IN HOUSTON, 
          [00:25:01]
UH, NOT ONLY IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT ALSO IN BRAZORIA AND ACROSS THIS NATION. 
          DR. 
          RICK SCARBOROUGH, FOUNDER PRESIDENT OF RECOVER AMERICA, PASTOR, AUTHOR AND NATIONAL CHRISTIAN LEADER WITH DECADES OF INFLUENCE ACROSS CHURCHES, EDUCATION, MEDIA, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. 
          HE'S FOUNDER OF THE VISION AMERICA AND RECOVER AMERICA. 
          EQUIPPING PASTORS TO ENGAGE CULTURAL AND CIVIC ISSUES FROM A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW PERSONALLY. 
          ADDRESS 25,000 PLUS PASTORS AND FATE LEADERS NATIONWIDE, ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE SALT AND LIGHT IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE. 
          HE GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION IN THE EARLY 1990 AFTER EXPOSING EXPLICIT SEX EDUCATION CONTEND IN TEXAS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SPARKING INCREASE CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE, ENCOURAGED BELIEVERS TO PURSUE PUBLIC SERVICE, RESULTED IN SERVICE ON SCHOOL BOARDS, CITY COUNCILS, AND IN CONGRESS. 
          STRONG ADVOCATE OF BIBLICALLY GROUNDED SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY IN HOUSTON AREA AS IDS, AUTHOR OF ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, MIXING CHURCH AND STATE GOD'S WAY ONLY KILL LIBERALISM, KILLS KIDS AND AMERICA IN THE BALANCE HOST OF THE DAILY ONE MINUTE RADIO COMMENTARY. 
          THAT'S MY TAKE AIRING ON 300 PLUS RADIO STATIONS NATIONWIDE, FEATURING IN MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDING LARRY KING LIVE, FOX NEWS, CNN GOD'S WARRIORS AND HBO'S. 
          FRIENDS OF GOD, FORMER SENIOR PASTOR, THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PEARL ANN TEXAS, WHERE HE BAPTIZED 2000 PEOPLE, DEVELOPED A 27 ACRE CAMPUS AND LAUNCHED A CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AND RETIREMENT CENTER, LED BIBLE STUDIES FOR LEADERS IN CONGRESS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE PENTAGON DURING HIS TIME IN WASHINGTON DC AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE DR. 
          SCARBOROUGH TO COME AND JOIN WITH US AND LEAD US IN PRAYER. 
          NOW, HE TOLD ME I COULD PRAY FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. 
          , LET'S PRAY, SHALL WE? FATHER, IT IS A JOY TO BE HERE. 
          IT'S A JOY IN LORD TO, TO SEE THOSE WHO'VE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE WI WITNESSING RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR WHITMEYER. 
          AND WE PRAY A SPECIAL ANOINTING AND BLESSING UPON HIM IN HIS LEADERSHIP. 
          FATHER, I COULD, COULDN'T SAY IN THE BRIEF TIME, I HAVE ENOUGH THANKS FOR KNOWING WILLIE DAVIS AND WATCHING HIS LIFE. 
          FATHER, WE KNOW THAT ALL AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN TO JESUS. 
          AND HE ON THE EVE OF HIS CRUCIFIXION, HE TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES AND SAID, ALL AUTHORITY IS GIVEN UNTO ME. 
          AND THEN HE SAID, I GIVE YOU THAT AUTHORITY. 
          SO OUR AUTHORITY THAT WE EXERCISE IS A DELEGATED AUTHORITY. 
          FILTERS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THESE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT ULTIMATELY WE WILL ANSWER TO GOD FOR HOW WE USE THAT DELEGATED AUTHORITY. 
          AND LORD, I BLESS YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. 
          I PRAISE YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE. 
          I PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS IN OUR CITY. 
          I PRAY YOUR WISDOM BE GIVEN TO THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I PRAY THAT RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS WOULD BE THE OUTCOME. 
          THANK YOU LORD, FOR WHAT I WITNESSED EVEN A FEW MOMENTS AGO, THE POLICE OFFICER DOWNSTAIRS WHO PROTECTS US, THE, THE THESE WORKERS WHO, UH, DELIVER SERVICES NIGHT AND DAY, REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITIONS, WE PRAY THAT YOUR BLESSINGS ON THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. 
          FATHER, WE PRAY THAT TODAY'S MEETING WOULD BE A MEETING THAT WOULD ADVANCE YOUR KINGDOM VALUES IN OUR CITY. 
          IN JESUS' NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE. 
          AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          PLEASE RISE FOR THEM. 
          UNITED REPUBLIC NATION UNDER GOD, PLEASE 
          [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
CALL THE ROLL MAYOR WHITMEYER PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, CO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER. 
          HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS WILL BE ABSENT. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBER AIRBORN HERE. 
          NITA, MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF 
          [00:30:01]
MAY 5TH AND SIXTH. 
          CASTEX SAY TO MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES, 
          [PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
UH, PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. 
          I DON'T HAVE ANY HEARING NONE. 
          PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, DARRYL HARPER, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALFREDO ALFREDO BLANCO. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UH, BECAUSE YOU ALL, ALL, UH, HAVE MY, UH, STATEMENT BEFORE YOU AT THIS TIME. 
          I WILL YIELD MY REMAINING TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. 
          SIR, SIR, SIR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER HAS THE COMMENT OF QUESTION. 
          YES, MR. HARPER, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND I, I READ YOUR STATEMENT, UH, AS I SAT DOWN AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. 
          THAT PLACE IS A HUGE NUISANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I'VE SPENT SOME TIME OUT THERE, UH, WORKED WITH AIR ALLIANCE TO GET THE AIR MONITOR. 
          UH, WE GOT THAT PLACE AND I, I DO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PRETTY OFTEN TO CHECK THE AIR QUALITY. 
          BUT I, I ATTENDED, THERE WAS A, A HEARING THAT WAS SET LAST YEAR, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, WE, I JOINED THEM TO ATTEND A HEARING AND OF COURSE, THE RESPONDENT WAS A NO SHOW. 
          AND THEY'RE, I THINK THEY'VE HAD, THEY'VE BEEN ISSUED SEVERAL BENCH WARRANTS AND THEY JUST PAY FINES AND KEEP MOVING. 
          SO I'M HAPPY TO TRY TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET Y'ALL SOME HELP OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. 
          GOLD STAR MEDAL IS, IS A PROBLEM IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          AND, AND, UH, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT, WHAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ENDURE. 
          SO I'LL, I'LL, UH, STEP OUT AND TALK TO YOU A SECOND. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH MA'AM. 
          NEXT, ALFREDO BLANCO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE NUNLEY. 
          I MAYOR, ADMIRE, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR SEND US OUR HOMELAND SECURITY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, APPARENTLY WE SOLVED THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE THERE. 
          BUT TODAY I COME OVER HERE ALSO TO REMIND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE POLICE, UH, DO YOUR WORK. 
          WE NEED TO GO BACK TO, TO THE CIP MEETINGS ONCE A YEAR SO THE COMMUNITY CAN EXPRESS WHAT THEY NEEDS. 
          BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING, YOU DO SOMETHING PRIVATELY. 
          LIKE IN THE LAST TIME YOU OPEN A, A STOREFRONT AND HARRISBURG, ONLY 10 PEOPLE IN BUSINESS, PEOPLE, UH, ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT ATTEND TO. 
          TODAY. 
          I'LL COME TAKING THIS STREET. 
          THIS IS LOCKWOOD 1 0 9. 
          ATTEND DISTRICT. 
          MARIO CASTILLO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER IS IS THE DISTRICT. 
          THE SIDEWALK IS SO BAD AND, UH, YOU GONNA PASS THE FLYER THERE, JUST GIVE IT TO THE LARGE OR WHOEVER, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS, THIS TERRIBLE, THIS IS THE LOCKWOOD 1 0 9 LOCKWOOD IN FRONT, ONE OF THE BURIED NICE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE NEED TO FIX THAT. 
          THE SECONDLY, THIS IS THE OTHER ONE RIGHT THERE IN WOODRIDGE. 
          THE PEOPLE WHEN YOU DRIVE, YOU HARDLY SEE ON THE FLOOR. 
          SO YOU NEED TO PUT SIGNS UNDER THE SAND WHERE THEY SAY THESE TWO LINES, YOU CAN TURN LEFT, LEFT, THE ONE IS STRAIGHT SO THE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT EVERY TIME YOU WALK OUT OF THE HEV GOING TURN RIGHT ON THE WOODRIDGE, LIKE GOING TO THE FREEWAY. 
          IT'S VERY, VERY, UH, TIGHT. 
          LOT OF PEOPLE, LOT OF TRAFFIC NOWADAYS. 
          AND THE MEDIANS OVER HERE IS ABOUT 10 FEET. 
          YOU NEED TO REDUCE THAT AND PUT SOMETHING SMALL IN THE MIDDLE, CAN DIVIDE IT LIKE THE ONE YOU HIT, DIVIDED YOU HAVE ON THE FREEWAY. 
          THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          IT THEN, APPARENTLY EVERYTHING HAP BAD THINGS HAPPEN. 
          THEY SEND IT TO EAST END. 
          A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE AND KNOW LOT OF PEOPLE. 
          A LOT OF MY COMMUNITY PEOPLE LOOK LIKE ME BECAUSE WE LOOK HISPANIC OR MEXICANS OR WHATEVER. 
          AND A LOT OF THESE HOMELESS, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ID WITH THEM. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          FREDDY COUNCILOR. 
          JUST A SECOND. 
          COUNCILMAN CARTER. 
          WHERE'D CARTER GO? WHERE'D GO? UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, FREDDY, DO YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND FINISH UP YOUR COMMENTS? NO, I SAY, WELL, I MEAN, I, I I SEE I DO LIVE WITH SECOND, UH, ALL OVER THE CITY AND A LOT OF THE HISPANICS BEING TARGETED, A LOT OF THE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY COLOR OR THE WAY THEY LOOK LIKE, THEY DON'T EVEN TALK TO THEM. 
          AND I CAN'T GUARANTEE A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT EVEN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHICH YOU CAN 
          [00:35:01]
HOMELESS CAN BE ALSO PICK THEM UP, SEND IT TO VENEZUELA LIKE YOU DO WITH THE LATINOS. 
          NOW YOU PARTICULARLY, BUT HOMELESS, WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THESE THING, WE NEED A RESPECT, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST END. 
          I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE SINCE ALMOST 50 YEARS IN THE EAST END, IT'S REALLY, REALLY BAD. 
          ALL THE HOMELESS. 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE, AND ONE OF OUR MEETING SOME GUY FROM HOMELAND SECURITY, WHEN IS PICK FROM THE, YOU LIKE A BIG BUILDING ON EMANCIPATION, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MOVE THE GREYHOUNDS OUT OF THERE. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU GONNA START TO DO THAT TOO. 
          UM, SO THANK FIRST OF ALL FREDDY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          UH, FIRST ONE, I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS ONE. 
          OKAY. 
          THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          YEAH. 
          SO THIS ONE, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL START WORKING WITH TDO. 
          SO IT'S GONNA BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH TDOT ON TO MAKE SURE SIGNAGE IS ALSO, WE'LL, WHATEVER IT IS THAT HAS TO DO WITH THEIR RIGHT OF WAY, BUT ALSO WITH PUBLIC WORKS. 
          SO MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL ADDRESS THIS. 
          SO WE'LL KEEP YOU IN, IN THE LOOP. 
          UM, ON THE HOMELESS SIDE, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THE AMERICAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH, THEY SHOULD BE OPEN OPERATING. 
          UH, THERE ARE, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING WHERE COMMUNITY CAN PROBABLY GO AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AS WELL. 
          I'VE TALKED TO, UH, SATTERWHITE AND ALSO TERRY WHO WORKS WITH, UH, CHIEF SATTERWHITE. 
          UM, ONCE FOUR 19 IS OPEN, THEN WE'D BE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THAT HAVE BEEN MOVING OVER TO THE EAST END ON THE GREYHOUND. 
          AND I'VE SAID THIS PLENTY OF TIMES, UM, THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE. 
          IT'S A, IT'S A PRIVATE TRANSACTION. 
          IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY. 
          THEY'RE LEASING THE, THAT, THAT FACILITY. 
          I WILL SHARE THAT. 
          I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM ACTUALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, COINCIDENTALLY, UH, MY TEAM IS MEETING WITH WITH THEM RIGHT NOW, UH, FOLLOW UP MEETING. 
          THE CONVERSATION IS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE WANTING TO MOVE, BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A PATHWAY FOR THAT. 
          UM, AND SO AS WE CAN START, UH, WORKING ON, ON IDENTIFYING, UH, REAL, UH, MOVEMENT, UH, WITH GREYHOUND, THEN WE WILL BE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SHARING. 
          BUT, UH, WE CAN'T JUST PICK 'EM UP AND MOVE, UH, MOVE THEM. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO ZONING. 
          AND, UM, AND AGAIN, QUITE FRANKLY, UM, THAT THAT TRANSACTION IS DONE ON THE, ON THE PRIVATE SIDE. 
          SO WHO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND FLEX, UH, FLEX IS, IS WHO, UH, ARE, ARE WORKING, YOU KNOW, WHERE GREYHOUND IS AT RIGHT NOW. 
          SO IN THE MEANTIME, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, THE STOREFRONT THAT METRO, METRO, UH, PD PUT OUT THERE, IT'S A PATHWAY TO, YOU KNOW, START WORKING ON ENFORCEMENT. 
          YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING QUITE FRANKLY, THAT WE WERE ALL CAUGHT OFF GUARD. 
          I WASN'T IN OFFICE YET AND NOTHING WAS BEING DONE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO ONCE I CAME INTO OFFICE, BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE START INCREASING, I'VE GIVEN OVERTIME FOR HPD. 
          UH, SO RIGHT NOW ENFORCEMENT IS ONE OF 'EM, BUT ALSO ANOTHER PATHWAY'S GONNA BE WITH FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION. 
          SO, UM, AS, AS FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION OPENS UP, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE SHARING WITH YOU ALL, UH, MORE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE INTENTIONALLY OUT ON HARRISBURG, UH, AT THE GREYHOUND SPECIFICALLY. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING WORKING, BUT, UH, THE HOMELESS POPUL POPULATION IS VERY BAD. 
          AND OUR COMMIT, THEY NOT USED TO BE LIKE THIS. 
          NOW THEY ALSO SET UP IN THE TRACK BETWEEN THE GOLF COURSE THERE, THEY'RE LEAVING THERE AND NOBODY, THEY, THOSE PEOPLE COME OUT AT NIGHT AND DO DAMAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE STORE, THE YO, WHENEVER YOU SEND THE HOMELESS SECURITY TO HELP MR. JOHN, UH, UH, APPARENTLY WE GET RID OF THOSE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE. 
          THIS IS, THEY CALL IT THE, THE PORTALES UHHUH DESK CLOUD. 
          THEY'VE BEEN TEAR 'EM UP. 
          WE NEED, WE NEED HELP WITH THOSE PEOPLE. 
          YEAH, WE ALREADY REMOVE IT, THOSE FIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE SELLING DRUGS TO OUR KIDS AND THEY DON'T ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO WALK INTO THE STORE AND BUY THINGS. 
          I MEAN, EVERYTHING HAPPENED TO THESE STAND SEND SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. 
          I MEAN THIS THIS BAD, THIS IS BAD. 
          COUNCIL MAYOR CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR AND FREDDY, THANK YOU FOR, UH, BRINGING LIGHT TO THE SIDEWALK ISSUE HERE ON LOCKWOOD. 
          THAT'S IN DISTRICT H. 
          DISTRICT H OH HAS A 1 1 0 9. 
          YEAH, I GOT, I GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN. 
          UM, I LOOKED AT IT ON THE MAP, SAW IT, UH, RIGHT THERE ON GOOGLE MAPS. 
          DISTRICT H HAS A SAFE PATHWAYS INITIATIVE THAT WORKS TO ADDRESS THINGS JUST LIKE THIS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ADVOCACY, UH, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. 
          AND SOMEONE FROM MY TEAM'S GONNA BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU, UM, ON THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BYE. 
          THANK YOU FREDDY. 
          NEXT MOTION. 
          COUNCILOR CUSTODIO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD JUAN GALLEGOS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. 
          SAY YES, THOSE OPPOSED NAME MOTION PASSES. 
          THANK YOU CHRISTINE NUNLEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROSANNA RAMIREZ. 
          BOBBITT, GOOD 
          [00:40:01]
AFTERNOON ALL. 
          YES, YES. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 
          I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY CONCERN ABOUT THE $5 FEE THAT I SAW ON THE INTERNET FOR THE PROPOSED AMOUNT FOR THE TRUCKS, FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR SERVICES. 
          WE RECENTLY HAD A 7.87% ON THE WATER AND WATER WASTE SERVICE. 
          AND I AM, UH, ASKING THAT YOU CANCEL THIS PROPOSED $5 FEE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO HAVE DUE TO THE 7.87% GREENWOOD PARK ON THE EAST SIDE. 
          SINCE COVID-19, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY LIFEGUARD. 
          SO THE PARK, THE POOL HASN'T BEEN OPEN. 
          UH, A NIECE PARK BACK IN HER TIME WHEN SHE WAS MAYOR TO START A RECYCLING BIN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU WOULD GET A CARD THAT DISPERSE, UH, MONIES ON IT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. 
          SO I'M GONNA ASK THE BOARD AND EVERYONE TO CONSIDER THESE MONIES SAVED OVER THE YEARS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU WANNA INCREASE THIS $5 FEE. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, ANA RAMIREZ BOBBITT TO BE FOLLOWED BY YVONNE MINZ OF ROHAR. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER ARNOLD. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 
          MY NAME IS ROSANNA RAMIREZ BOBBITT. 
          I AM, I AM THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF A MAN WHO GAVE EVERYTHING HE HAD TO HIS COUNTRY, TO HIS COMMUNITY, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. 
          I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK THAT HOUSTON HONOR ONE OF ITS OWN MASTER SERGEANT JOE CHACO RAMIREZ. 
          MY FATHER WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HOUSTON, IN THE HEART OF MAGNOLIA PARK. 
          HE WALKED THESE STREETS, ATTENDED SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND IN JANUARY OF 1950, HE ANSWERED THE CALL. 
          HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 
          I KNOW YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD ALL ABOUT MY FATHER'S MILITARY, MILITARY CAREER, BUT WHEN HE WAS REPATRIATED IN 1953 AND RETURNED HOME TO HOUSTON, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DID WAS VISIT THE MOTHER OF A FELLOW SOLDIER. 
          A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD DIED IN MY FATHER'S ARMS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. 
          NO ONE ORDERED HIM TO DO THAT, BUT THAT WAS WHO HE WAS. 
          WHEN HE FINALLY RETIRED AND CAME HOME TO HOUSTON, HE NEVER STOPPED SERVING. 
          HE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MAKING SURE THAT VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES WERE RECEIVING EVERY BENEFIT THEY HAD EARNED AND WERE ENTITLED TO. 
          HE SHOWED UP FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE A SYSTEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. 
          HE MADE SURE IT DID. 
          EVERY CHRISTMAS HE DRAGGED SANTA CLAUS AROUND THE COMMUNITY, VISITING VETERANS AND NEIGHBORS, DISTRIBUTING GIFTS AND FOOD TO ANYONE WHO NEEDED THEM. 
          EVEN A WASHING MACHINE TO SOMEONE IN NEED THAT WAS NOT EXTRAORDINARY TO HIM, THAT WAS JUST THE MAN HE WAS. 
          EVERY CHILD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNEW HIM AS POPO, AND THEY NEVER HESITATED TO RING THAT DOORBELL BECAUSE POPO ALWAYS HAD A COKE, A PIECE OF CANDY, A COOKIE, OR WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEEDED. 
          NOBODY LEFT EMPTY HANDED. 
          AND ON FIGHT NIGHTS, FIGHT NIGHTS WERE SOMETHING SPECIAL. 
          WHEN A BIG BOXING MATCH CAME ON TELEVISION, MY FATHER WOULD DRAG HIS ENORMOUS TV RIGHT OUT INTO THE FRONT YARD AND SET IT UP FOR THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          NO TICKETS, NO COVER CHARGE, NO INVITATION REQUIRED. 
          ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR. 
          CARS WOULD SLOW DOWN ON THE STREET. 
          DRIVERS ROLLING DOWN THEIR WINDOWS ASKING HOW MUCH TO WATCH THE FIGHT. 
          AND MY FATHER'S ANSWER WAS ALWAYS THE SAME, NO CHARGE. 
          BEFORE HE PASSED. 
          IN AUGUST OF 2020, HE MADE GENEROUS DONATIONS TO THE AMERICAN LEGION. 
          POST 4 72, THE AMERICAN LEGION COLOR GUARD, THE AMERICAN LEGION LADIES AUXILIARY GIVING BACK TO HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HIS ARMS UNTIL THE VERY END. 
          THAT IS WHO JOE CHACO RAMIREZ WAS A PRISONER OF WAR WHO KEPT SERVING A SOLDIER WHO COMFORTED THE GRIEVING A VETERAN'S ADVOCATE, A COMMUNITY SERVANT, A MAN WHO LOVED HOUSTON AS DEEPLY AS HOUSTON, WHO SHOULD LOVE HIM BACK. 
          NAMING A STREET AFTER MY FATHER IS NOT SIMPLY AN HONOR FOR OUR FAMILY. 
          IT IS A STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT HOUSTON VALUES THAT WE REMEMBER OUR HEROES, NOT JUST FOR WHAT THEY ENDURED BUT FOR HOW THEY LIVED. 
          THAT SACRIFICE HAS A NAME, THAT GENEROSITY HAS A NAME. 
          THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY HAS A NAME. 
          AND THAT NAME IS JOE CHACO RAMIREZ. 
          I HUMBLY ASK THE CITY TO GIVE MY FATHER THE RECOGNITION HE SO DESERVES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, YVONNE, YVONNE MINZ OF ROHER TO BE FOLLOWED BY DIANA REED. 
          E HELLO MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          MY NAME IS YVONNE MINZ. 
          I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE JUDGE RUBIN GUERRERO AND MARY GUERRERO. 
          I DROVE HERE FROM MY HOME IN BRAZORIA COUNTY FOR MY WORK IN BRAZORIA COUNTY, ACTUALLY, UM, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY WELLOW. 
          THE RAMIREZ FAMILY KNEW ME FIRST AS RUBINA 'CAUSE I LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE MY FATHER WHEN I WAS A BABY MASTER SERGEANT JOE RAMIREZ SR WAS MY WELLO. 
          MY PARENTS BOTH WORKED WHEN I WAS YOUNG. 
          SO FROM THE TIME I WAS AN INFANT, MY WELLO WAS MY BABYSITTER. 
          I WAS PRACTICALLY RAISED IN THEIR HOME 
          [00:45:01]
ON AVENUE O AND WELLO AND WELLA WERE MY THE BIGGEST AND BEST SUPPORT MY PARENTS COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR. 
          HALF THE TIME I CRIED SO HARD WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO HOME WITH MY TIRED, OVERWORKED PARENTS THAT WE ENDED UP STAYING FOR DINNER OR BEYOND. 
          I WAS AS WELCOME IN THAT HOME AS I WAS IN MY OWN. 
          SANNA TOLD YOU A LOT ABOUT MY WELLO AND HIS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY. 
          YOU SEE, HE WAS A HERO LONG BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD HE WAS A HERO TO ME. 
          MY HERO, LONG BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD HE WAS AN HONEST TO GOD HERO TO HIS COUNTRY AND TO HIS COMMUNITY. 
          I GREW UP WATCHING HIM LIVE A LIFE OF SERVICE, ESPECIALLY TO HIS EAST END COMMUNITY. 
          I REMEMBER MEALS, FUNDRAISERS, AUCTIONS, MEETINGS, LOTS OF MEETINGS, BUT LOTS OF FUN TOO AT THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL JUST AROUND THE CORNER. 
          THAT WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME AND ON MY PARENTS, WHO THEMSELVES LIVED LIFE OF, LIVED LIVES OF SERVICE. 
          MY FATHER IS A STATE JUDGE AND AN ADVOCATE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THROUGH BEING THE LULAC PRESIDENT FOR SEVERAL TERMS, A UNION SUPPORTER AND SO MUCH MORE. 
          AND MY MOTHER AS A COMMUNITY LIAISON IN THE EAST END FOR COMMISSIONER JIM FINO AT THE TIME, AND EVENTUALLY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER MORMON, WHO SUCCEEDED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. 
          MY PARENTS CALLED ON MY WILLOW FOR GUIDANCE. 
          I REMEMBER MY MOM SEEKING HIS COUNSEL. 
          UH, WHEN THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE WAS BUILDING THE EAST END SERVICE CENTER. 
          MY MOM HELPED DESIGN THE STAFFED AND RAN THAT CENTER DURING HER TIME IN THAT POSITION. 
          AND MY WELLO LENT HIS CREDIBILITY TO THE PROJECT. 
          AND THOUGH THE DAY THAT THEY CUT THE RIBBON ON IT, HE WAS THERE AND BROUGHT A LOT OF HIS FRIENDS ALONG WITH HIM. 
          THIS MAN WAS BELOVED WHEN MYO WAS ON HIS DEATHBED. 
          I WENT TO SEE HIM AND I WAS AMAZED BY THE SHEER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO SAY THEIR GOODBYES. 
          I LAUGHED THAT IT WAS LIKE A PARADE OF PEOPLE HE HAD WALKING THROUGH HIS HOME. 
          AND LITTLE DID I KNOW, THEY LITERALLY THREW A PARADE IN HIS HONOR, A LITERAL PARADE. 
          NOT LONG AFTER THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR THIS CHANGE THROUGH A VOTE, UH, AT THE, UH, AMERICAN LEGION HALL THAT I WENT TO A MILLION TIMES AS A KID. 
          AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF IT. 
          I CAN'T THINK OF ANY MORE FITTING PERSON TO HAVE THIS HONOR BESTOWED UPON THEM. 
          AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT ALSO FOR MY PARENTS WHO I KNOW WITH EVERYTHING IN ME WOULD BE HERE IF THEY COULD TO LOUDLY VOICE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE RENAMING OF CESAR CHAVEZ. 
          FOR MY WELLOW. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. 
          MA'AM? YES. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          ONE SECOND. 
          COUNCILWOMAN DAVIS. 
          I APOLOGIZE. 
          YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I JUST DID YOU FINISH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD YEAH, PRETTY MUCH . 
          GOOD. 
          I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THE SERVICE OF MS. JAVEZ. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WELL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO AN OUT OF TOWNER TO SPEAK. 
          YEAH. 
          APPRECIATE. 
          I GREW UP IN HOUSTON. 
          I STILL FEEL LIKE IT'S MY HEALTH. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          AM MAYORS MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. 
          YES. 
          AND UH, THE PERSONAL TOUCH REALLY MEANS A LOT TO THANK US. 
          THANK, UM, I HAPPEN TO KNOW YOUR DAD. 
          OH, THANK YOU. 
          WHEN HE WAS A JUDGE AND HAD MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND I NEVER KNEW THE CONNECTION, BUT MM-HMM . 
          IT'S GREAT THAT YOU FILLED IN THAT, THAT MISSING PIECE. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SHARING THAT. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          YOU MARLO WAS THEIR, THEY WERE, THEIR FAMILY'S A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE STILL TODAY. 
          COUNCILMAN ALCORN, THANKS FOR COMING. 
          AND I ALSO, I, BACK WHEN I WORKED IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, YOUR DAD WAS THERE FOR A WHILE. 
          OH YES. 
          UHHUH . 
          AND HE WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO MY OFFICE. 
          AND WHAT A GREAT GUY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO THANKS FOR COMING. 
          IT BRINGS ME A LOT OF JOY TO HEAR THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, DIANA REED. 
          OKAY, SO I'M FOLLOWING UP. 
          UM, SAME THING. 
          UM, MY HUSBAND, ROBERT REED, PLAYED FOR THE ROCKETS, UM, BEFORE HE PASSED. 
          AND HE WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          HE WAS A, UM, RETIRED, YOU KNOW, OR MILITARY FAMILY. 
          WE'RE BOTH MILITARY FAMILY. 
          UM, WE WERE INTRODUCED TO THE FAMILY THROUGH OUR NOW ADOPTED SISTER DOLORES GARZA. 
          UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE DID WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION, WITH MARIO GALLEGOS AND GOLF TOURNAMENTS AND EVERYTHING IN THAT COMMUNITY, IT SPOKE TO US. 
          AND TIO CHACO, WHICH HE BECAME OUR TIO CHACO WAS SO MUCH OF THAT COMMUNITY AND I FELT COMPELLED TO COME FOR A LOT OF REASONS, MOSTLY BECAUSE ROBERT WOULD BE UP HERE TALKING FOR 10 MINUTES ABOUT WHAT A GREAT GUY HE WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE FROM THAT COMMUNITY THAT DID THINGS IN THAT COMMUNITY TO BE HONORED. 
          NOT SOMEBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY IS VERY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ACTIVISTS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT SOMEBODY THAT 
          [00:50:01]
REALLY WAS PART OF THAT COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO I'M SPEAKING HERE AND THEN I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT, UH, EVERYBODY THINKS THIS IS A MAN THING, , AND THAT ALL THE MEN ARE GETTING BEHIND TIO CHACO. 
          BUT THESE WOMEN IN THIS ROOM AND EVERY WOMAN BEHIND THOSE MEN ARE HERE TO ALSO SAY WE SUPPORT HIM. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ONE SECOND. 
          COUNCILMAN HOR. 
          I THINK SHE'S FROM LAST TIME. 
          NO, THAT, THAT COMPLETES IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT MAYOR MARTINEZ. 
          I AM ALSO A FOLLOW UP TO TALK ABOUT JOEY RAMIREZ. 
          UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME IS MARY MARTINEZ AND MY PURPOSE OF BEING HERE IS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY GREAT UNCLE, JOEY RAMIREZ. 
          IN CONSIDERATION OF RENAMING CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD. 
          I AM THE GRAND NIECE OF JOEY RAMIREZ AS WE OR UNCLE CHACO AS WE CALLED HIM. 
          I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, AS WAS MY MOTHER AND HER SIBLINGS. 
          JOE E. RAMIREZ WAS THE UNCLE OF MY MOTHER, AND BOTH OF THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES GREW UP IN MAGNOLIA PARK. 
          UH, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, UH, MY UNCLE CHACO WAS A KOREAN WAR POW. 
          HE WENT MISSING FOR 33 MONTHS AND HIS FAMILY NOT ONLY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS, BUT WHAT HIS STATUS WAS, IT WAS A TREMENDOUS TOLL ON HIS ENTIRE FAMILY. 
          WHEN HE RETURNED HOME, THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS GO TO IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD. 
          HIS CATHOLIC FAITH WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM, AND HE WAS A LIFELONG PRACTICING CATHOLIC. 
          DURING HIS TIME AS A POW, HE BEFRIENDED A CATHOLIC PRIEST, FATHER EMIL KAAN FROM THE STATE OF KANSAS. 
          FATHER KAAN WAS AN ARMY CHAPLAIN WHO WAS ALSO IN THE POW CAMP. 
          MY UNCLE NEVER CEASED BEING DEVOTED TO THIS PRIEST AND HIS CAUSE TOWARDS SAINT HOOD, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR HIM SPEAK SO GLO ABOUT THIS PRIEST. 
          ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AFTER THE WAR, MY UNCLE RE-LISTED IN THE ARMY, MET AND MARRIED HIS WIFE LUPE, AND STARTED HIS FAMILY. 
          MY UNCLE WAS SUCH A FAMILY MAN, AND TRUST ME WHEN I SAY HE WAS IN LOVE WITH HIS FAMILY. 
          ALL, ALL OF THEM FIRST CAME JOE JUNIOR, WHO WAS A TEXAS A AND M GRADUATE, BECAME A BRIGADIER GENERAL, THEN COMMANDANT OF THE AGGIE CORPS CADETS, FOLLOWED BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIR. 
          HE WAS ABSOLUTELY HIS PRIDE AND JOY. 
          HIS OTHER SON, FRANK RAMIREZ, ALSO SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MILITARY. 
          IN ADDITION, HE WAS EQUALLY PROUD OF HIS DAUGHTERS, ROSANNA AND ROCHELLE. 
          ROSANNA WORKED HER ENTIRE CAREER AS A COURT REPORTER DAUGHTER ROCHELLE GRADUATED FROM TEXAS A AND M WITH A DEGREE IN PETROLEUM ENGINEERING, WHO LATER WENT ON TO STUDY NURSING AND BECOME AN OPERATING ROOM NURSE. 
          OVER THE YEARS I WOULD SEE MY UNCLE AT FAMILY GATHERINGS. 
          HE NEVER HESITATED TO LET ME KNOW ALL THE THINGS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIS FAMILY WAS DOING. 
          HE WAS A VERY MILD MANNER AND A HUMBLE MAN, BUT WAS PROUD OF HIS FAMILY. 
          I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO TALK ON BEHALF OF MY UNCLE JOEY RAMIREZ. 
          AND MOST YOUR TIME HAS TIME. 
          GO AHEAD, FINISH MA'AM. 
          AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER RENAMING CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD TO JOE E. RAMIREZ BOULEVARD. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          UHHUH , COUNCILOR C THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE MR. KHAN K*M KHAN UP, UM, AFTER DENISE RIOS HUFFMAN, SECOND MAID. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          NEXT GERALDINE SANCHEZ  TO BE FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL JIMENEZ. 
          OH YES, 
          [00:55:01]
PLEASE. 
          THIS. 
          OKAY. 
          THIS ONE. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          MY NAME IS GERALDINE SANCHEZ AND I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE MAGNOLIA, IN MAGNOLIA, UH, PARK. 
          I'M HERE TO, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF JOE CHACO RAMIREZ. 
          HE IS AN AMERICAN HERO. 
          HE WAS ALSO A FATHER. 
          SO WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO READ SOME WORDS OF HIS DAUGHTER, ROCHELLE RAMIREZ. 
          SO SHE STARTS OUT BY SAYING, HOW DO I PUT INTO WORDS THE LIFE OF A MAN WHO HAS BEEN SO MANY THINGS TO SO MANY PEOPLE? JOE CHACO RAMIREZ WAS NOT ONLY A MILITARY HERO, BUT A MAN WHO ENDURED HARDSHIPS MOST PEOPLE COULD NEVER IMAGINE. 
          YET HE CARRIED HIMSELF WITH DIGNITY, STRENGTH, AND COURAGE. 
          LONG AFTER THE BA BATTLE ENDED, HE HAS, HE HAS SHOWN ALL OF US TRUE BRAVERY. 
          NOT ONLY FOUND IN SURVIVAL, BUT IN THE ABILITY TO COME HOME AND STILL CHOOSE KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. 
          MY FATHER WAS A DEVOTED SON, BROTHER, FATHER, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THE MEANING OF LOYALTY AND FAMILY. 
          THESE VALUES CARRIED INTO EVERY PART OF HIS LIFE. 
          AS A FATHER, HE WAS A PROTECTOR, A PROVIDER TEACHER, A TRUE LEADER. 
          HE STOOD FOR, HE STOOD FIRM WHEN LIFE DEMANDED STRENGTH. 
          AND HE SOFTENED WHEN NEEDED, WHEN COMFORT WAS NEEDED, HE KNEW WHEN TO BE STERN, WHEN TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE, AND WHEN TO SIMPLY REMIND US WE WERE LOVED. 
          MY FATHER TAUGHT US CORE VALUES THAT BECAME THE FOUNDATION OF OUR LIVES. 
          INTEGRITY, RESPECT, HUMILITY, HARD WORK, SACRIFICE AND COMPASSION. 
          BUT THE GREATEST LESSON WAS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING US, UH, UH, ENCOURAGING US TO BE TRUE TO OURSELVES. 
          HE NEVER IMPOSED UPON US TO BECOME A COPY OF HIM, BUT GAVE US THE CONFIDENCE TO BECOME THE PEOPLE WE WERE MEANT TO BE WHILE KNOWING WE WERE ALWAYS, WE ALWAYS HAD HIS SUPPORT. 
          MY FATHER WAS MORE THAN A FATHER. 
          HE WAS THE EMOTIONAL ANCHOR OF OUR FAMILY. 
          THE STEADY PRESENCE WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON IN MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY. 
          UNCERTAINTY, HE GAVE US WISDOM THAT GROUNDED US IN MOMENTS OF PAIN. 
          HE LOVED US IN MOMENTS OF SUCCESS. 
          HIS PRIDE LIFTED US EVEN HIGHER. 
          HIS HEART FOR SERVING OTHERS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND OUR FAMILY. 
          HE EX HE INVESTED HIMSELF FULLY INTO HIS COMMUNITY, HELPING OTHERS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE HAD TO, BUT BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS. 
          A TRUE HUMAN, HUMANITARIAN, MENTOR AND FRIEND WHO GAVE HIS TIME, KNOWLEDGE, AND HIS COMPASSION FREELY. 
          HE MADE OTHERS FEEL UN HE MADE OTHERS FEEL SEEN, VALUED, AND PROTECTED. 
          THE LEGACY HE LEFT IS NOT YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          OKAY, GO AHEAD AND FINISH, MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THE LEGACY HE LEFT IS NOT MEASURED ONLY BY HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT BY THE LIVES HE TOUCHED. 
          THE CHARACTER HE MOLDED AND THE LOVE HE POURED INTO EVERYONE, EVERYONE'S PERSON THAT KNEW HIM. 
          NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED HIS LESSONS, HIS VOICE AND HIS LOVE CONTINUED TO GUIDE US. 
          WE, HIS CHILDREN CARRY PIECES OF HIM IN EVERYTHING WE DO. 
          HIS STRENGTH, HIS, HIS STRENGTH AND LIVES WITHIN US, HIS VALUES SHAPE US AND LOVE SURROUND US, SURROUNDS US STILL. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          MA'AM. 
          MA'AM? YES. 
          ONE SECOND. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          YES, SIR. 
          UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER TWO ARE STREET NAME CHANGES FOR OR AGAINST. 
          THIS IS THE LAST ONE THAT SAYS CHAVEZ. 
          SO, UH, THE OTHER ONES ARE AS WELL. 
          I JUST WANNA FIRST, UH, GERALDINE AS A DISTRICT EYE RESIDENT, WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR SHARING. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, UH, MORE OF THE HISTORY OF CHARCOAL. 
          UM, AND I'VE SHARED THIS LAST WEEK. 
          WE HAD FOLKS SHOW UP LAST WEEK. 
          FOLKS SHOW UP THE WEEK BEFORE. 
          AND I KNOW WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THE COMMON PERIOD IS ALREADY OVER WITH, BUT WE'RE, THAT INFORMATION IS BEING GATHERED. 
          UH, SO EVERYBODY THAT'S COMING TODAY, AGAIN, IT'S ALSO, IT'S HELPFUL IN ORDER TO REALLY, UH, HAVE MY, MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, UM, HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. 
          RIGHT? AND SO JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU GERALDINE, FOR VOICING, YOU KNOW, UH, YOUR, YOUR, UH, ADVOCACY FOR, FOR JOE CHACO RAMIREZ AS WELL. 
          UM, AND IF THE OTHER TWO ARE ALSO A PART OF IT, JUST WANNA SAY TO THE ENTIRE, UH, TO, I GUESS IT'S ALL, ALL WOMEN. 
          UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR SHOWING UP AS WELL, UM, EXPRESSING YOUR, YOUR VIEWS, UM, TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          MAY I SAY ONE MORE THING? SURE. 
          LIKE 
          [01:00:01]
I STATED EARLIER, I GREW UP IN MAGNOLIA PARK. 
          UM, MY FAMILY IS FOUR GENERATIONS DEEP IN MAGNOLIA PARK, THE ROOTS OF MAGNOLIA PARK, THAT'S TREE. 
          AND I WEAR MY MAGNOLIA FLOWER. 
          IT'S, IT'S EVERYTHING TO ME. 
          THAT'S MY HEART. 
          UM, MY GRANDMOTHER, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MOTHERS OF MAGNOLIA PARK. 
          THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE MAGNOLIA MOTHERS CLUB. 
          WHEN, UH, CHACO CAME BACK FROM, UH, BEING A PRISONER, ALL THESE MOTHERS OF THE MAGNOLIA MOTHERS CLUB TOOK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WITH THEM TO THE AIRPORT TO MEET HIM, TO OPEN THEIR ARMS UP AND RECEIVE THEIR SON BACK. 
          HE WAS A SON TO ALL OF THE MOTHERS THERE IN MANOLA PARK. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER MOST ABOUT. 
          YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR FAMILY. 
          THAT'S OUR HOME. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT, GERALDINE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT CHRIS CRYSTAL JIMENEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY DENISE RIOS OF PEARLAND COUNSEL. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          AND MY AGENDA TODAY IS ABOUT ADDRESSING RENAMING OF CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD. 
          HOW CAN WE LET THAT MEXICAN GIRL WIN? THAT WAS TOLD FIRSTHAND AND IT WAS WHAT ECHOED IN HER TIME AND THAT IN HER LIFE. 
          IT WAS THE SENTIMENT THAT ECHOED. 
          THE SO I'M TALKING ABOUT IS MARIA JIMENEZ. 
          MY FAMILY CALLS HER HELA, AND THAT'S HOW I KNOW HER BY HE'S LEGACY WAS HER LOVE LETTER TO MEXICAN AMERICAN IDENTITY AND CULTURAL PRIDE. 
          SHE UNDERSTOOD IF YOU KNEW YOUR CULTURE, YOU KNOW ONESELF. 
          AND SHE HELPED EMBOLDEN ME. 
          AND THAT'S THE POINT. 
          SINCE ITS INCEPTION, SHE FOUGHT FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT HELP THEMSELVES HERE IN A NATIONAL PLATFORM. 
          SHE ACTUALLY CARRIED THE TORCH FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND DIGNITY AND NEVER LET UP. 
          BUT ALSO WISELY LAID THAT BLUEPRINT, SORRY, THAT BLUEPRINT PASSING ON THAT TORCH BY MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION INCLUDING, AND THAT HER TWO GRAND BABIES, WHO DESPITE NOT MEETING HER, WILL BE SCOLDED ON HER LASTING IMPACT. 
          IT IS WHAT IMMENSE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE MY LATE ANNA'S LIFE'S WORK AND BEING INCLUDED IN THE WEIGHT OF THE DECISION WITH THE RENAMING EFFORTS. 
          I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. 
          WHEN THE CESAR CHAVEZ SIGNAGE FIRST HAPPENED, IT SYMBOLIZED AND RECOGNIZED US. 
          AND HERA AND HELA EMBODIES JUST THAT HOW FITTING THAT SHE'S NOMINATED FOR THE FIRST LATINA NAMED STREET. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, DENISE RIOS OF PEARLAND TO BE FOLLOWED BY KASIM KHAN. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS DENISE RIOS AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF RENAMING CAESAR CHAVEZ STREET TO MASTER SERGEANT JOE E CHACO RAMIREZ. 
          BRAVERY SELF-SACRIFICE, TRUE SERVANT, INSPIRATIONAL AND INFLUENTIAL ARE ONLY A FEW CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN CROSS ONE'S MIND. 
          WHEN THE PEOPLE OF EASTON MAGNOLIA SEE IS NAMED DISPLAYED ON A STREET SIGN, CHILDREN WILL ASK, WHO IS MASTER SERGEANT JOE E CHACO RAMIREZ. 
          ONCE THEY'RE TOLD HIS STORY, IT MAY HELP INSTILL IN THEM THE VALUES OF LOVING THEIR COUNTRY, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, BEING INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND LOVING AND CARING FOR OTHERS. 
          HE DID NOT WEAR A RED CAPE, BUT HE WAS SO PROUD TO WEAR ALL HIS ARMY HATS. 
          AND YET HE WAS SO HUMBLE. 
          HIS FAMILY WHOM HE LOVED AND ADORED IS HIS EVIDENCE OF BEING A GREAT MAN. 
          WITH ALL THESE QUALITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS, HOW CAN YOU NOT HONOR HIS LEGACY WITH A STREET SIGN? IT IS OUR TURN TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING HE ENDURED. 
          IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT LULAC COUNCIL NUMBER 60 IS CONSIDERING ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR NAMING ALIYA RAMIREZ. 
          JOE E CHACO RAMIREZ'S FATHER WAS A CO-FOUNDER OF LULAC COUNCIL NUMBER 60 IN 1934. 
          ANOTHER RAMIREZ ROLE MODEL WHO WAS ACTIVE IN EARLY MEXICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS. 
          I'M DEFINITELY SURE THAT IF HE WERE STILL ALIVE, HE WOULD BE HONORED TO SEE HIS SON'S NAME ON A STREET SIGN WHERE THEY LIVED AND WERE SO PROUD OF. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. 
          THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          NEXT, KASIM KAHAN 
          [01:05:02]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHAZA BRANCH, MS. MILA GREETINGS OF PEACE, RESPECTED MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU KNOW WHO I AM. 
          IAM K*M, THE SON OF ALI KAHN. 
          YOU ALSO KNOW OF THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN OF MATA TAHI THROUGH WHICH I HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FREE GROCERIES, CLOTHING, FURNITURE, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, PREPARED MEALS AND DISASTER ITEMS FOR THOUSANDS OF HOUSTON FAMILIES AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. 
          BUT MOST OF ALL, I HAVE LED THE CHARGE TO PROVIDE HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS BY CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATING LOVE AND COMPASSION TO EVERYONE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH, REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, OR ETHNICITY. 
          MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, YOU ALSO KNOW THAT I'M OBVIOUSLY MUSLIM AND THAT MY RELIGION IS ISLAM. 
          HOWEVER, I WILL EXTEND TO YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BY ASSUMING THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAW THAT INSPIRES ME, THE LAW THAT GOVERNS MY DISPOSITION, THE VERY LAW THAT DEMANDS, THAT I RESPECT, DEFEND, AND ASSIST ALL OF HUMANITY IS A SHAAH. 
          THE REASON I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS IS BECAUSE IN SPITE OF YOUR CLEAR KNOWLEDGE OF MY DEDICATION TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND IN SPITE OF MY THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED AND RECORDED PUBLIC DISPLAY OF ADVOCATING PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE THROUGHOUT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, YOUR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING MUST BE THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN QUIETLY ALLOWING GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT AND SENATOR TED CRUZ TO PUBLICLY VILIFY ME, THREATEN TO HAVE ME ARRESTED AND SLANDER ME WITHOUT ONE WORD FROM YOU. 
          IN ADDITION, THESE TWO PUBLIC FIGURES, ALONG WITH THEIR SUPPORTERS STUBBORNLY SEEK TO NOT ONLY OUTLAW THE SHARIA, WHICH IS THE LAW THAT ACTUALLY GOVERNS MY BENEFICIAL PROACTIVITY, BUT THEY STUBBORNLY SEEK TO CRIMINALIZE VIABLE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, NAMELY COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS CARE, WHICH I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN WORKING WITH FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. 
          I DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF YOU TODAY A FLAG OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH I PROUDLY FLY AT THE ENTRANCE TO MASTER THE TAL HEED AS A BOLD STATEMENT SERVING NOTICE OF THE WORLD THAT THIS IS MY CITY AND I PLAN TO TAKE TO MY GRAVE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE IT. 
          IF YOU TRULY ACKNOWLEDGE MY EFFORTS, I'M SORRY. 
          IF YOU TRULY AGREE WITH MY EFFORTS, IF YOU TRULY SUPPORT MY EFFORTS, AND IF YOU SINCERELY RESPECT MY EFFORTS OF GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BEAUTIFUL CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY, THEN I CANNOT UNDERSTAND, WHILE YOU WILL NOT AT LEAST SPEAK UP AGAINST THE INJUSTICE THAT IS RAISED AGAINST ME, AGAINST MY RELIGION, AND AGAINST THE VERY LAW, THE SHARIA THAT YOU ALSO ENJOY. 
          WHETHER YOU UNDERSTAND IT OR NOT, I DON'T THINK THIS IS TOO MUCH TO ASK. 
          I VOTED FOR YOU FOR GOODNESS SAKES. 
          WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT DEFENDING ME AS YOUR CONSTITUENT? WE MAY NOT ALWAYS, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON POLITICAL ISSUES, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS, ALWAYS DEFENDED YOU ON PRINCIPLE. 
          BROTHER, YOUR COMPLICITY IS NOT AN OPTION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, MAYOR. 
          AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND WHILE I, I HAVEN'T HEARD, UM, THE MAYOR IN ANY WAY CONDONE, UH, WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, MYSELF, OTHERS, UM, HAVE BEEN STANDING VERY FIRMLY AND STRONGLY. 
          AND I SAY THIS AS A WOMAN OF JEWISH FAITH, THAT, UH, AN ATTACK AGAINST ANY ONE OF OUR VIBRANT FAITH COMMUNITIES HERE IN TEXAS IS AN ATTACK AGAINST US ALL EXACTLY IN THE DISCRIMINATORY WAY IN WHICH, UM, THE STATE IS TARGETING OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IS NOT OKAY. 
          SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UM, SPEAKING OUT AGAINST WHAT'S HAPPENING. 
          THANK YOU, UH, BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, I CAN SPEAK TO THE VERY DANGEROUS, UH, RISE OF ANTISEMITISM AND WE ALWAYS ASK PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT AND STAND WITH US AND THE SAME MUST BE DONE IN OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE PAIN THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW FOR MANY TEXANS. 
          I APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR, LORD BLESS YOU, COUNCILOR. 
          JUST A SECOND, SIR. 
          COUNCILOR JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR AND BROTHER KAHN. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SHARING, YOU KNOW, YOUR CONCERNS. 
          AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I STAND WITH YOU. 
          UM, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN DISTRICT B, UM, CREATING JOBS AND FEEDING FOLKS. 
          AND YOU, YOUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN, I THINK 24 HOURS A DAY. 
          YOU ARE, YOU'RE OUT DOING, WORKING 
          [01:10:01]
IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, UM, YOU, YOUR FAMILY. 
          UM, AND SO ANYTHING THAT MY OFFICE CAN DO TO, TO, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU, YOU KNOW, WE HERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN P*****K. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. 
          I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, THE EFFORT AND THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND YOUR SACRIFICES AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION ARE NOTED AND WE VALUE IT AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF IT. 
          THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AROUND OUR STATE, AROUND OUR NATION THAT MAY THINK DIFFERENTLY AND MAY SAY OR DO THINGS THAT ARE DIVISIVE. 
          UM, I DON'T WANT THAT TO DETER YOU. 
          I DON'T WANT THAT TO DETER US, BUT I WANT YOU TO BE ENCOURAGED AND TO UNDERSTAND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU DO HAVE FROM NOT ONLY THIS BODY, BUT THOSE WHO YOU SERVE AND THOSE THAT YOU SERVE ARE THE ONES THAT I THINK NEED TO TRULY BE THE ONES THAT WE FOCUS ON AND NOT THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DIVIDE US. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS, UH, AND IT'S VERY WELL, VERY MUCH, UH, NOTED AND VALUED. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          MEL, I BLESS YOU AND I SEE YOU AS A TRUE, UH, EXAMPLE OF A TRUE LEADER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE. 
          BROTHER KAHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 
          AND I WILL TELL YOU YOUR WORDS. 
          WERE VERY HEARTFELT. 
          IT'S VERY DISHEARTENING WHEN, UM, WE HEAR HARMFUL OR HURTFUL COMMENTS FROM FOLKS AB ABOUT, UM, PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW HAVE BEEN VALUE ADDED TO US AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A CITY. 
          AND YOU DEFINITELY ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. 
          WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO EVERYTHING FOR THE PEOPLE. 
          AND WE NEED PROBLEM SOLVERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO, UM, DO THINGS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER. 
          AND WHEN WE LIST OUT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, YOU DEFINITELY ARE ON THAT LIST. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND SO I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. 
          UM, THE PEOPLE WHO YOU SERVE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU, MAN. 
          LORD BLESS YOU AS WELL. 
          WE, BY THE WAY, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER OPEN GATE GROCERY GIVEAWAY THIS COMING SATURDAY, . 
          YEAH. 
          AND, AND BEFORE I LEAVE THIS STATE, I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THIS SENATOR, MR. THE FORMER MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, WHEN HE SAID THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE THIS CITY IN BETTER CONDITION. 
          IT WAS WHEN WE ARRIVED, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SEAN'S A BRANCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY DORIS BROWN. 
          HELLO, EVERYONE. 
          MY NAME IS SHAZA BRANCH. 
          AS A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON AND IN THE CONTEXT OF DEMANDS AND DISCUSSIONS OVER THE BUDGET, OVER CLIMATE DISASTER AND OVER FLOODING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE, UH, ALARMING PROBLEM OF TRANSPARENCY AND CAPACITY THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS TOYING WITH THE CUTS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THE REMOVAL OF CITY WORKERS PRESENTS A FUNDAMENTAL OBSTACLE TO ADDRESSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS OF THE CITY. 
          THE DEMANDS FOR DITCH REESTABLISHMENT AND DRAIN FOR DRAINAGE FUNDING AND FOR STORM WATER FUNDING ARE ALL CRITICAL, AND YET NONE OF THEM CAN BE TRULY MET WITHOUT THE ESSENTIAL CITY WORKERS THAT MAKE UP THE BASIC CAPACITY FOR IMPROVING THE CITY. 
          FURTHERMORE, OTHER, OTHER, THE OTHER LAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE WITNESSED A STARK CONTRADICTION REGARDING THE CAPACITY OF THE CITY TO TEND TO INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUE EXIT RESIDENTS IN THE FINANCIAL CENTER OF THE CITY SWEEPING RENOVATIONS HAVE BEEN PREPARED. 
          THE PREPARING THE OFTEN TREACHEROUS STREETS OF HOUSTON, OF THE WORLD CUP RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ABSENT FOR YEARS AND CONTINUE TO BE BOTH CRITICAL AND ABSENT IN THE PERIES OF THE CITY. 
          THIS RAISES THE QUESTIONS. 
          WHO DOES THE CITY GOVERN GOVERN FOR? WHO VOTES FOR THE MAYOR, FOR THE CITY COUNCIL? THE LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY WHO SEE CAPACITY, BE MOBILIZED FOR INVESTORS AND NOT FOR US, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. 
          INVESTING IN PUBLIC WORKS AND PROTECTING CITY WORKS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO ENSURING THAT WE ARE 
          [01:15:01]
ALL ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          NEXT, DORIS BROWN, DANA JONES TO BE FOLLOWED BY RODNEY THOMAS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. 
          UM, MY NAME IS DANA JONES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT H. 
          I DID RECEIVE HELP WITH REBUILDING MY HOME AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE CITY FOR THAT, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE, LITTLE PEACE OF MIND. 
          UM, IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE SURROUNDING IT DOES NOT PROTECT THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY MADE, I AM DEEPLY FRUSTRATED AS TO HOW I'M LIVING. 
          MY MESSAGE TODAY CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED. 
          FLOOD MITIGATION ISN'T, IT'S NOT A POLICY, IT'S A MATTER OF BASIC SURVI SURVIVAL. 
          VOTERS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED BOND MONEY TO FUND THE NECESSARY WORK FOR, TO HELP US TO PREVENT US FROM FLOODING. 
          BUT EVIDENTLY, THE CITY AND YOU MAYOR DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT BOND MONEY IS. 
          BUT IT'S A SOCIAL CONTRACT BETWEEN GOV BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHEN THE PROJECTS SIT IDLE. 
          WHILE FUNDS ARE REDIRECTED ELSEWHERE. 
          IT AROSE THE PUBLIC TRUST FOR A NECESS PUBLIC TRUST, FOR A NECESSARY FOR A CITY TO FUNCTION. 
          REDIRECTING $30 MILLION FROM DRAINAGE TO DANGEROUS BUILDING REMOVAL CREATES A DIFFICULT TRADE OFF. 
          BOTH ISSUES IMPACT THE SAME VULNERABLE POPULATION, SENIORS, THE DISABLED, AND THE WORKING POOR. 
          WE THE PEOPLE WAS NOT WRITTEN FOR ME AT THE TIME THE US CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN, BUT I AM ASKING THE MAYOR AND I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO INCLUDE US IN MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE 2027 TAX, UM, UM, BUDGET. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT RODNEY THOMAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JIM TUCKER. 
          HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN. 
          I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK. 
          I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET BEING CUT AS FAR AS THE SEWER MAIN. 
          I AM ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S BEEN CALLING SINCE 2007. 
          I HAVE A COPY OF, UH, THE, UH, CALLS THAT I'VE BEEN MAKING. 
          I ALSO HAVE PICTURES THAT I'D LIKE TO HAND OUT TO YOU GUYS SO YOU GUYS CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SINCE 2007. 
          UH, 17, I'M SORRY. 
          WHEN I PURCHASED THE HOME AND REMODELED IT, WE REDID THE SEWER MAIN AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ABOUT IT WAS THE SEWER MAIN, CONSTANTLY CALLING. 
          HERE'S A COPY OF ALL THE EMAILS THAT I'VE RECEIVED IN THE, FROM THE CITY ON IT. 
          THESE ARE ALSO THE CLAIMS THAT I'VE PUT IN THE 3 1 1 CALLS THAT CONSTANTLY WENT IN ONE TIME. 
          I'VE EVEN HAD TO CALL THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY TO GET ANY ACTION, JUST TO GET MY SEWER MAN UNCLOGGED. 
          SO I'M HERE ADVOCATING THAT THE MONEY GOES BACK INTO THE SEWER MAIN FOR ME. 
          ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES THAT I HAVE HERE, ENCLOSED, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS BE CALLED SO MUCH THAT THE CITY HAD TO COME OUT AND PUT A CLEAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY HOME. 
          THAT PARTICULAR HOME HAS THAT CLEAN OUT. 
          EVERY TIME IT RAINS, IT KNOCKS THAT CLEAN OUT. 
          IT OVERFLOWS WATER'S CONSED THERE. 
          I ALSO HAVE ENCLOSED IN THESE DOCUMENTS WHERE I'VE HAD TO COME WHERE THE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME OUT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. 
          AND, UH, WHEN THEY CAME OUT FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT TIMES, THEY WROTE AND SAID THAT I HAD CALLED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ABOUT THE WATER THAT HITTING MY DITCHES. 
          THAT KNOCKS IT OUT. 
          AS FOR THE DITCHES THAT GOES THERE, EVERY TIME IT FLOODS, THE WATER COME OUT THE DITCH INTO THE SEWER MAIN AND IT KNOCKS THE SEWER OUT. 
          ON MAY THE FIRST, WE ONLY HAD TWO TO THREE INCHES THAT CAME IN MY AREA. 
          YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES THAT IT, IT CLEARED IT, THE WATER CLEARLY WENT OVER THE, THE CITY SEWER, UH, CLEAN OUT THAT THEY PUT IN FRONT OF MY YARD. 
          THOSE THINGS LIKE THAT CONTINUOUSLY CAUSES DAMAGE 
          [01:20:01]
TO MY AREA AND MY COMMUNITY. 
          IT ALSO HAS A BUNCH OF PROBLEM, BUT THE BACKUP, BACKUP AND FLOOR OF THE TRAFFIC ERODING THE SAW IN THAT AREA. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ALSO GIMME ANY KINDA HELP THAT THEY CAN. 
          I'VE HAD TWO DIFFERENT PLUMBERS TO COME OUT. 
          THE FIRST PLUMBER THAT CAME OUT AND PLUMB MY HOME IN 2017. 
          PRIOR TO THAT, HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A CONSTANT THING THAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY HAS WHAT THEY CALL A COMMUNITY SERVICE LINE. 
          THIS LINE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING DONE TO IT OVER THE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THERE IN 2017. 
          I'VE ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO THAT AND TRY TO HELP US TO REVAMP OUR SEWER. 
          MAY YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          UH, JACKSON. 
          COUNCILMAN JACKSON. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND, UM, SHARING THE, UM, THE ISSUE THAT'S HAPPENING AT YOUR HOUSE. 
          ARE YOU AT THE LEVI KING WELL STREET? YES. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I'LL HAVE MARY, MY CHIEF OF STAFF REACH OUT AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, TRY TO LOOK INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER IN YOUR AREA. 
          I'M LOOKING AT THE DITCHES. 
          IT IT, YEAH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          SO WE, I ALSO HAVE PICTURES AND OKAY. 
          WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT JIM TUCKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JERRY TONY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT EARTH MONTH IN APRIL. 
          IT WAS GRATIFYING TO HEAR LAST WEEK THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING A SOLID WASTE FEE FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS THE PAST FEW YEARS. 
          MY AMATEUR COMPARISON OF TOP LINE NUMBERS INDICATED THAT WE HAVE BEEN PAYING 17 TO $20 PER MONTH PER CUSTOMER FROM WITHIN GENERAL FUNDS. 
          SO THIS IS OVERDUE TO FREE UP FUNDS FOR OTHER NEEDED SERVICES. 
          HOWEVER, WE SHOULD NOT MERELY DO MORE OF THE SAME PRACTICES THAT GOT US WHERE WE ARE TODAY. 
          LET US TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER AND DESIGN SYSTEMS FOR THIS CENTURY USING AVAILABLE LEARNINGS FROM THE PAST. 
          SINCE THE REPORTED DIVERSIONS FROM THE SINGLE STREAM GREEN BIN SERVICE HAVE NOT CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS, THEY RUN 2020 1%. 
          UH, BY VOLUME. 
          WE HAVE GOTTEN MOST OF THE WASTE REDUCTION WE CAN OUT OF THIS EXISTING APPROACH. 
          WE NEED TO ADD PAY AS YOU THROW TO THE GRAY BIN, ORDINARY WASTE COLLECTION WITH 32 AND 48 GALLON BINS AS RATHER THAN OPTIONS FOR OUR CURRENT 96 GALLON SIDE LIFT TRUCK COLLECTION BINS, IMPROVEMENTS IN LANDSCAPING, DEBRIS, UH, COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT. 
          COMPOSTING AND TOXICS COLLECTION WILL HAVE QUALITATIVE AND ECONOMIC SAFETY BENEFITS. 
          BUT IF WASTE REDUCTION EFFORTS ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, RESIDENTS NEED TO SEE ECONOMIC BENEFITS. 
          A QUARTERLY VARYING BASIC CHARGE REFLECTING OUR SUCCESSES IN SAFE WASTE REDUCTION SHOULD INCENTIVIZE RESIDENTS TO REDUCE WASTE BY REGULARLY REPORTING HOW WELL WE ARE PERFORMING. 
          AGAIN, LET'S TAKE A CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER AND DESIGN A SYSTEM FOR OUR PRESENT AND FOR OUR FUTURE WASTE MANAGEMENT WITH A SIGNIFICANT CARBON CONTRIBUTOR IN HOUSTON'S 2020 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. 
          EVEN THOUGH OUR LANDFILL WASTE IS DEPOSITED OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON PROPER, WE STILL NEED TO REPORT ON HOW WELL WE ARE DOING ON OUR CAP TARGETS. 
          ON AN ENCOURAGING NOTE, I HOPE THAT THE REDUCED PARK AND PUBLIC AIR MOWING SCHEDULE REPORTED LAST YEAR WILL CONTINUE AS THAT IS HEALTHIER FOR OUR GRASS TURF, IMPROVING DRAINAGE AND WATER RETENTION REFRESHINGLY, THE CITY OF SHORE JUST SOUTHWEST OF HOUSTON RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THEY'LL START USING GRAY WATER TO IRRIGATE PUBLIC AREAS. 
          SO PROGRESS OCCURRING ALL OVER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND EVER ONWARD FOR A BETTER HOUSTON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, JIM. 
          IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE. 
          UM, YOU BRING SUCH INSIGHT AND EXPERTISE, UH, TO A REALM THAT YOU ARE EXTREMELY PASSIONATE BUT ALSO KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT. 
          UM, WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I'VE CAPTURED IT ALL, UM, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN REPORTING, UM, AND TARGETS THAT ARE SHARED PUBLICLY, UM, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE GARBAGE FEE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED. 
          [01:25:01]
UM, REWORKING THE SYSTEM SO THAT IT'S PAY AS YOU THROW, RIGHT? UH, SO YOU'RE INCREASING THE COST FOR MORE WASTE THAT YOU'RE CREATING AS WELL AS EXPANDING, UM, THE TYPE OF RECYCLING SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING INSTEAD. 
          IS THAT CORRECT OR NO? WELL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I GOT IT AND, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS AND, AND SETTING EFFECTIVENESS. 
          AND I MEAN, WE, WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT PRIDE ON THE WAY OVER HERE. 
          I DROPPED OFF AN OLD RADIO AT THE WEST PARK, UH, DROP OFF. 
          IT TOOK ABOUT 30 SECONDS. 
          AND, UH, SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER AT AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. 
          GREAT. 
          AND I ALSO THANK YOU AND I ALSO HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT BIN SIZE OPTIONS FOR WASTE SO THAT IT'S NOT EVERYBODY PAYING FOR THE LARGEST BIN IF THEY DON'T NEED THAT NECESSARILY. 
          YES. 
          I I THINK BECAUSE I IMAGINE WHEN WE PAY TO TAKE IT TO THE LANDFILL, IT'S PROBABLY VOLUME BASED AND SO VOLUME FOR THE ORDINARY WASTE FOR THE GRAY BIN STUFF IS, UH, WHAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY. 
          DID I MISS ANYTHING ELSE? UH, NO. 
          AND I'LL, UH, SEND A COPY OF MY COMMENTS TO YOUR OFFICE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU JIM. 
          AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. 
          SEND THEM, SEND THEM AROUND TO EVERYBODY. 
          I THINK EVERYBODY WILL BE INTERESTED. 
          UM, NEXT MONDAY, TUESDAY, NEXT MONDAY THE 18TH AT ONE 30 WE'LL BE HAVING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, UM, FOR SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
          IT'LL KIND OF BE IN ONE BLOCK SINCE IT'S MOVING INTO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION. 
          AND WE'LL BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT, A LOT ABOUT SPECIFICS OF OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND THINGS. 
          SO I INVITE YOU IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE TIME TO COME OR, OR AT LEAST TUNE INTO THAT. 
          UM, 'CAUSE WE'LL BE ASKING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. 
          I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WANNA SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT CHANGES ARE GOING TO COME. 
          I KNOW SOME CHANGES HAVE ALREADY BEEN. 
          I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE KIND OF A GRADUAL, YOU KNOW, IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE. 
          YOU MENTIONED COMPOSTING. 
          I TALK ABOUT COMPOSTING. 
          I DO PERSONAL COMPOSTING AT HOME. 
          IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU RECYCLE AND COMPOST, YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE TRASH. 
          ONE THING I HAVE HEARD ABOUT PAY AS YOU THROW, UM, A NEGATIVE ON IT IS THAT HUMAN NATURE SOMETIMES HA HAS PEOPLE ASK FOR THE SMALLER BIN, BUT THEN THEY PUT, YOU KNOW, STUFF IN IT THAT'S NOT, UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT I'VE HEARD THAT FROM OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE PAGER THROW. 
          SOMETIMES IT'S A BIG CONTAMINATED MESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE JUST WANT THE CHEAPER BIN AND THEN THEY DON'T USE IT PROPERLY. 
          BUT I'M, I'M WILLING TO EXPLORE THAT. 
          AND, AND A LOT OF THINGS I WOULD INVITE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BURNS OF MCDONALD REPORT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. 
          IT'S ONLINE. 
          IT IS THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL KIND OF WHAT BACKS UP THE, THE COST OF THE FEE, THE FEE ANALYSIS, AND, UM, I CAN SEND YOU A LINK. 
          IT'S ON THE CITY'S, UH, THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PAGE AND IT'S CALLED THE BURNS AND MCDONALD REPORT. 
          AND, AND I'VE READ THROUGH THAT. 
          IT'S, IT'S GOT A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS IN IT. 
          UM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO LOOK AT AT THIS TRASH ISSUE. 
          BUT, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT ON THIS. 
          AND I, I THINK WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO, UM, TO A BETTER SYSTEM OVERALL AT ONE 30 MONDAY HERE, ONE 30 MONDAY RIGHT HERE. 
          OKAY, WELL THANK YOU. 
          AND IT'LL BE ONLINE TOO. 
          OKAY. 
          AND YOU CAN CALL IN FROM ONLINE TOO, SO THAT'S GOOD. 
          WE HAVE A CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER OPPORTUNITY. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GREAT SEC. 
          ONE SECOND. 
          COUNCILLOR RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS ON THIS ISSUE. 
          DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON REDUCING THE HIGH CONTAMINATION RATES FOR RECYCLING? FCC TELLS US THAT THE CONTAMINATION RATES ARE NORTH OF 40%. 
          AND SO CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON GETTING THAT DOWN. 
          I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE. 
          I WAS OUT THERE RIGHT AFTER THEY, UH, TOOK ON THE, UH, UH, THE SERVICE FOR THE CITY A FEW YEARS AGO AFTER QUITE A, A BIT OF ROUND AND ROUND. 
          UM, I THINK WE'RE ALL DEPENDENT ON OUR NEIGHBORS AS, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN JUST SAID. 
          AND THAT'S WHERE PERHAPS A QUARTERLY MODIFIED FEE WOULD LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW WELL WE ARE ALL DOING. 
          AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYBE OCCASIONAL WALK AROUND POLICING OF PEOPLE'S BINS, CON CONTENTS AND, AND JUST A LITTLE STICK ON REMINDER OR SOMETHING WOULD BE EFFECTIVE. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, UH, AND CERTAINLY OTHER AREAS FOR A LONG TIME. 
          AND, UH, THINGS WE DON'T MEASURE, WE CAN'T ANALYZE. 
          I'M A SCIENCE GUY, SO, UH, BUT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND, AND WE'RE 
          [01:30:01]
DROWNING IN WASTE THAT WE ARE. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT JERRY TONY TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRANDON REEVES. 
          HI Y'ALL. 
          LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME JERRY. 
          YOU KNOW, UM, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE. 
          I'M NOT FROM HERE, BUT I LIVE HERE. 
          I'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS. 
          AND THE PROBLEM I SEE RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S THE SYSTEM. 
          IT'S MESSED UP. 
          IT'S REALLY A, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT THERE. 
          THEY GOT PEOPLE AIN'T GOT NO JOB AND THEY CAN'T GET NO JOB AND THEY CAN'T GET A HOUSE AND STUFF LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM GOT IT WHERE YOUR CREDIT GET BAD. 
          YOU CAN'T GET NO HOUSE. 
          YOU'VE BEEN INCARCERATED, YOU CAN'T GET NO HOUSE OR WHAT YOU WANT 'EM TO DO. 
          YOU CAN'T DO NOTHING BUT STAY OUT THERE IN THE STREETS. 
          SO IF YOU DON'T FIX IT HERE IN THE SYSTEM AND CORRECT IT, THIS IS WHAT IT WON BE LIKE. 
          WHICH THANK GOD, UH, MY LIFE IS BETTER THAN THE WAY IT WAS AND I GOT MYSELF TOGETHER. 
          BUT IT START RIGHT HERE IN THIS SYSTEM RIGHT HERE. 
          IF YOU ALL DON'T FIX IT HERE. 
          'CAUSE WE ALL MAKE MISTAKE. 
          AIN'T NOBODY SITTING UP HERE THAT MADE A MISTAKE IN LIFE. 
          WE ALL MAKE MISTAKE. 
          AND IF YOU CAN'T GET A HOUSE, 'CAUSE YOU CREDIT BAD, YOU CAN'T GET A JOB 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN INCARCERATED. 
          WELL, WHAT Y'ALL WANT US TO DO, DO WHAT WE DID DOING. 
          THAT'S WHY WE HAD A LOT OF ROBBERY, MURDERS KILLING OUT THERE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. 
          ALL THE FOR TO STOP IT. 
          YOU GOT TO GET A MAN A SECOND CHAIN. 
          EVEN WHEN YOU'RE INCARCERATED. 
          WHAT THEY DOING? NOTHING. 
          THEY NOT TRYING TO HELP 'EM REHABILITATE 'EM OR NOTHING. 
          THEY JUST SITTING THERE GOT TO START WITH Y'ALL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. 
          AND I'M HERE TO TELL Y'ALL, Y'ALL AIN'T NO BETTER THAN US. 
          YOU KNOW, WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, YOU KNOW, COME ON NOW, WE, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION. 
          THIS IS THE SOLUTION. 
          YOU KNOW, YOU GO FILL AN APPLICATION OR YOU'VE BEEN INCARCERATED OR YOUR CREDIT BAG. 
          SO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO? I GOT TO SURVIVE. 
          YOU KNOW? SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TODAY, TAKE AND SOBER OF YOURSELF. 
          SEE THE MISTAKE YOU MADE, COME BACK WITH IT. 
          YOU KNOW, THIS IT, EVAN, THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED. 
          THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, THANK YOU MR. TONY FOR COMING. 
          OKAY. 
          I ALSO WANT SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRASH TOO. 
          YOU KNOW, WE PAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE HOH AND OKAY, HOME ASSOCIATION AIN'T ONE PAY, BUT WHERE, WHO WANT PAY THE LOW CLASS PEOPLE. 
          THERE YOU GO. 
          TAKING MONEY OUTTA OUR POCKET AGAIN. 
          YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY STRUGGLING. 
          NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO FIX YOUR BUGGY OFF OF US. 
          THANK, THANK YOU MR. TONY. 
          AND DON'T, DON'T REFER TO YOURSELF AS A LOW CLASS PERSON. 
          NO. 
          OKAY. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          YOU, UH, POWER LIFE AND DEATH LIVES IN THE TONGUE. 
          YOU ARE NOT A LOW CLASS PERSON. 
          YES. 
          OH, I'M NOT. 
          I'M NOT. 
          NO SIR, YOU ARE NOT. 
          YOU'RE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE, I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE TO MYSELF. 
          THAT AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT YOU'RE COMING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF NOT JUST YOURSELF, BUT OTHERS. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          AND YOU KNOW, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE AT A HIGHER GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL. 
          THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE CITY, BUT CERTAINLY, I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN SECOND, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, CHANCES IF NEED BE. 
          UH, AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WORK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          AND SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING. 
          UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE DO FROM TIME TO TIME HAVE JOB FAIRS AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO AND YOU CAN HAVE A RECORD FOR SOME OF THESE POSITIONS. 
          SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT CERTAINLY IF WE ARE GONNA BECOME BETTER, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THOSE PROBLEMS AND HELP THEM TO COME UP AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME MAN. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE A NICE EVENING. 
          NEXT. 
          BRANDON REEVES, BENNY FREEMAN. 
          CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM, DALE TOLIVER. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          MY NAME IS DALE TOLIVER AND, UH, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M A VICTIM OF GUN VIOLENCE. 
          UH, LAST YEAR, ON JULY 25TH, A BULLET CAME THROUGH MY APARTMENT. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS THERE OR NOT, BUT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT TILL THE NEXT DAY. 
          IT CAME TO MY FRONT WINDOW, IT LANDED IN MY TELEVISION SCREEN. 
          [01:35:01]
I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HPD, THE OFFICER CAME OUT, DID A REPORT. 
          I WENT DOWNSTAIRS, JUST TALKED TO MANAGEMENT. 
          THE MANAGER DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO COME UP INTO MY LOOK AT MY APARTMENT. 
          I WAS HYSTERICAL BECAUSE I HAD THE GUNSHOT THAT CAME IN. 
          IT WAS SPLATTERED, I GUESS THE PELLETS FROM THE, UH, THE BULLET, THE SPLATTERED OVER MY FURNITURE. 
          AND, UH, I CONTACTED EVERYONE I COULD THINK OF THROUGH EMAIL. 
          I EVEN SENT YOU, MAYOR, I SENT YOU AN EMAIL. 
          HOUSTON HOUSING. 
          THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AT THIS TIME IS, UH, COLUMBIA RESIDENTIAL. 
          TO THIS DAY, THEY NEVER GOT BACK TO ME. 
          THEY MADE PROMISES THROUGH EMAIL AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK AND LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS THAT SOMETHING WOULD PROBABLY COME AVAILABLE. 
          THANKS TO HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          THEY DID REACH OUT. 
          THEY OFFERED ME, UH, TRANSFERRED REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. 
          AND BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITY, THEY ALSO OFFERED ME A, ME A, UH, MEDICAL NECESSARY LIVING AID. 
          I AM NOT SAFE IN THAT APARTMENT AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE. 
          AND I'VE VOICED THAT SEVERAL TIMES. 
          SO LATER ON THIS YEAR, HOUSTON ISLANDS APPROVED THE LIVING AID OF NOVEMBER. 
          WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OPENS IN THE 2100 MEMORIAL TILL THE END OF DECEMBER. 
          I'M GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THAT FRONT OFFICE CHECKING AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GONNA CHECK ON ME. 
          NO ONE'S CHECKED ON ME. 
          AND THAT'S MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AFFECTED ME. 
          THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY STATED THAT THEY'RE GONNA CALL ME MY LIVING AID, WHICH IS MY DAUGHTER CONTACTED THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHICH IS RHONDA BROWN. 
          WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, SHE PROMISED SHE WAS GONNA CONTACT HER AND LET HER KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          MY MANAGER, MS. BERTRAND, STARTED MY PACKET. 
          I GOT A DRAFT PACKET AND WE STARTED ON JANUARY 7TH. 
          HE'S TAKEN HER FOUR SEPARATE PACKETS TO GET THIS PAPERWORK DONE. 
          NOW WE HAVE A TIMELINE AND IT'S JUNE 2ND. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          GO AHEAD MA'AM. 
          FINISH UP. 
          IT'S JUNE 2ND. 
          SO I WAS CALLED, CONTACTED, UH, ABOUT THE 21ST OF APRIL FROM THE MANAGER AND SAID, HEY, WE GOT AN INSPECTION DATE AND IF THE INSPECTION PASSED, MS. TOR, YOU CAN MOVE IN. 
          TWO DAYS LATER, I'M TOLD TO COME TO THE FRONT OFFICE. 
          'CAUSE NOW COMPLIANCE WANTS TO TALK TO ME ABOUT MY LIVING AID AND MY DISCRIM. 
          UH, ABOUT MY, UH, DISABILITY. 
          I PROVIDED FOUR DOCTOR'S LETTERS, FOUR VERIFICATION LETTERS FROM MY DOCTOR. 
          AND THIS IS WHAT THEY REQUIRED. 
          I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY'RE STILL QUESTIONING. 
          SO AT THIS POINT I'VE MADE A EXECUTIVE DECISION. 
          I DON'T EVEN WANNA STAY THERE ANYMORE 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR ME. 
          THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN ANY COMPASSION. 
          AND STILL TO THIS DAY, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY FROM COLUMBIA RESIDENTIAL SINCE SEPTEMBER. 
          SO ONLY THING I NEED, I WANT TO ASK FROM YOU GUYS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN MOVE ON TO MY NEW APARTMENT. 
          ALL I NEED IS THEM TO SIGN THAT CONTINUATION, UH, FORM FOR ME TO MOVE ON AND LET HOUSING CONTINUE MAKING THE PAYMENT TILL I GET TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW, UH, COMPLEX. 
          COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND DALE. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE, UM, SHARING YOUR STORY. 
          CAN SEE HOW IT HAS IMPACTED YOU. 
          I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW, UM, I'M GONNA HAVE SOMEONE ON MY TEAM COME AND, AND VISIT WITH YOU. 
          WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO COLUMBIA ON YOUR BEHALF, UM, SO WE CAN PUSH FORWARD TO GET SOME, SOME RESOLUTION HERE AS WELL AS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY NOW. 
          UM, HOUSING ALLIANCE, HTX. 
          BUT, UM, WE WILL BE DOING THAT WITH YOU, OKAY. 
          UH, TO SUPPORT YOU IN THIS AND, AND GET SOME RESOLUTION. 
          AND ALSO WANNA LET YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN TWO OTHER INCIDENTS SINCE THEN AND THEY'RE AWARE OF IT, OF ONE OF THEM. 
          AND SO THEY TOLD THE LADY SHE COULD MOVE OUT AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OLD, WE'RE OLDER. 
          WE DON'T HAVE LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES. 
          WE CAN'T JUST UP AND GET UP AND MOVE EVERY DAY. 
          WE, WHEN I MOVE THERE, I PLAN TO STAY THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE. 
          NOW THERE'S ANOTHER SENIOR, SHE'S 75. 
          SHE DOESN'T EVEN WANNA COME OUT. 
          SHE DON'T EVEN WANNA TALK ABOUT IT. 
          THAT BULLET IS 
          [01:40:01]
STILL LODGING HER APARTMENT TODAY. 
          TODAY THAT BULLET IS STILL THERE. 
          WELL, WITH, UH, WITH YOUR HELP, WE'LL ALSO REACH OUT TO HER AS WELL. 
          OKAY? THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT DEBORAH, DEBORAH STEVENS TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRANDY HARRIS. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          BEAR WITH ME. 
          I HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS. 
          MY NAME IS DEBORAH STEVEN AND I'M A RESIDENT AT 2100 MEMORIAL. 
          I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY APARTMENT COMMUNITY. 
          IN MAY, 2025, MY CAR ALONE WITH FOUR VEHICLES WAS BROKEN INTO THE INSIDE ALL GATED GARAGE. 
          I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE GATE HAD BEEN WORKING PROPERLY AND IF OUR REGULAR SECURITY GUARD HAD BEEN ON SITE. 
          WHEN I REPORTED THE INCIDENT, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD TO FILE A CLAIM WITH MY PERSONAL INSURANCE. 
          I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME AND THAT PUT ME IN A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN THREE GUN RELATED INCIDENT AT 21 MORE AND NO RESIDENT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT ANY OF THESE GUNSHOTS. 
          SO WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT OURSELF. 
          IN ADDITION, I EXPERIENCED UNUSED HIGH WATER BILL, ALTHOUGH MAINTENANCE LATER REPAIR THE PROBLEM MONITORING DID NOT PROPERLY ADDRESS MY CONCERN DUE TO THE CRIME THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT 21 MEMORIAL. 
          I WANT TO BE RELEASED FROM MY LEASE BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE OR COMFORTABLE IN MY HOME. 
          I'M DEPRESSED AND I HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS AND I PRAY THAT I WON'T BE RETALIATE FOR COMING DOWN HERE. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL AND CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND DEBORAH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR RAISING THESE CONCERNS. 
          IT'S HARD TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN HOME. 
          'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ALL WANT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN OUR OWN HOMES. 
          UM, BUT THIS IS THE SAME PROPERTY THAT, UH, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WAS ALSO TALKING ABOUT. 
          SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU, REACHING OUT TO THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, REACHING OUT TO HTX HOUSING ALLIANCE, AND, UH, PUSHING FORWARD TO GET SOME, UH, ANSWERS AND SOME RESOLUTIONS TO YOUR CONCERNS AND TO THE SECURITY ISSUES THAT YOU'VE RAISED. 
          SO SOMEBODY WILL BE SPEAKING WITH YOU SHORTLY HERE. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          YES SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          JUST A SECOND. 
          MA'AM. 
          MA'AM, MA'AM. 
          COUNCILOR DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU MS. STEVE WAS COMING. 
          UM, QUESTION, UM, YOU SAID YOUR GATES ARE NOT OPEN. 
          THE GATES ARE OPEN, THEY'RE CLOSED NOW, BUT THAT THESE USED TO HAVE SECURITY GUARDS THERE AND AT THE TIME WHEN MY CAR WAS BROKEN IN WITH OTHER F WITH OTHER FURTHER CARS THERE, THE GATES WAS OPEN AND THE SECURITY GUARD WASN'T THERE THAT DAY AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. 
          AND THEY DON'T HAVE SECURITY GUARDS. 
          STRANGE PEOPLE BE THERE AT NIGHT. 
          WHEN I COME IN FROM TAKING CARE OF MY MOM. 
          IT'S HOMELESS PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE THERE. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND IT'S VERY SCARY. 
          AND I BE SCARED OF GOING ON THE ELEVATOR AND I'M TERRIFIED. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, UH, YOU SAID THE GATES ARE CLOSED NOW? IT'S CLOSED NOW. 
          THEY ARE CLOSED NOW. 
          SO HAS IT BEEN, HOW RECENT WERE THEY CLOSED? WELL, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IT'S BEEN CLOSED. 
          OKAY, OKAY, GOOD. 
          ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL WE'LL KEEP IN TOUCH ALONG WITH COUNCIL. 
          YES SIR. 
          YES MA'AM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR MA'AM. 
          MA'AM, ONE MORE. 
          COUNCILOR FLICKINGER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS FOR COMING DOWN HERE. 
          UM, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME, WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE VICTIM'S STORY. 
          YES, SIR. 
          UH, AND HOW MUCH IT IMPACTS PEOPLE. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING ON A FIXED INCOME, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE KIND OF SETBACK THAT YOU HAVE FINANCIALLY BEING THE VICTIM OF A CRIME. 
          NO. 
          AND I HAD TO PAY FOR MY CAR WHEN TO BE FIXED. 
          AND ALSO RENT WAS AT THE SAME TIME. 
          YEAH. 
          SO, NO, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND I, I JUST APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND TELLING US YOUR STORY, REMINDING US OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ON THE VICTIM END OF IT. 
          YEAH. 
          YES SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT BRANDY HARRIS 
          [01:45:04]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY RODERICK DURHAM. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M BRAND HARRIS. 
          HE IS PREPARING TO HOST FIFA FOR 21 DAYS WITH SEVEN MATCHES, BRINGING 60,000 TO 70,000 PEOPLE PER GAME TO THE NRG AREA. 
          THAT'S NEARLY HALF A MILLION VISITORS MOVING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          AND WE WELCOME FFA WITH OPEN ARMS. WE'RE PROUD THAT HOUSTON IS ON THIS STAGE, BUT WHILE THE CITY FOCUSES ON PROTECTING NRG AND THE VISITORS, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE AROUND THE NRG CONTINUE DEALING WITH THE DAILY CRIME, NEGLECTED STREETS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS. 
          HPDS OWN REPORTS SHOW THAT WESTRIDGE NRG CORRIDOR FACES AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WEAPONS CALLS, DRUG DRUG ACTIVITY DISTURBANCES, AND APARTMENT RELATED CRIME ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          IT'S BAD. 
          UM, I FEEL FOR THOSE LADIES WHO WERE JUST SPEAKING HERE, I MYSELF HAVE HIT MY FLOOR SO MANY TIMES, JUMPED OUTTA MY BED. 
          WE CALLED THE APARTMENTS NEXT TO MINE, BABY IRAQ. 
          UM, I'M START SCREAMING AND I SAY I'M MY SPOUSE WHO'S SITTING BACK HERE. 
          HE WENT TO THE CORNER STORE ONE DAY TO GET PACK OF CIGARETTES AND HE HAD TO PUSH THE ELDERLY MAN DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS A DRIVE BY AND HE GOT HIT IN THE ARM AND HE'S CALLING ME FROM THE STORE, BABY. 
          I'M IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCE. 
          I GOT HIT. 
          YOU KNOW. 
          AND SO EVERY, EVERY EVENING AT IT'S ONE PARTICULAR APARTMENTS, I THINK A BANK HAS TAKEN THEM OVER. 
          THEY'RE HALF OF THEM ARE BOARDED UP AND THE ADDRESS FOR THAT IS 24 0 0 1 WESTRIDGE STREET. 
          IT'S THE ALLEGRA APARTMENTS. 
          THEY ALSO OWN 2,400 SOUTH LOOP WEST. 
          THEY'RE FULL OF SQUATTERS, CONSTANT FOOT TRA TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. 
          I MEAN, THE POLICE ARE AMBULANCE ARE THERE EVERY DAY. 
          AND IT AFFECTS F FFA BECAUSE WHEN THEY HAVE THE TRAFFIC BLOCKED OFF ON KIRBY AND MAINE, PEOPLE THAT CAN'T PARK IN THOSE PARKING, THEY COME THROUGH OUR STREETS. 
          THEY COME THROUGH LANTERN POINT, THEY COME THROUGH HER STREET AND BARTEL AND THEY COME THROUGH AND THERE'S NOBODY IN THOSE BLOCKS TO DIRECT THE TRAFFIC. 
          WE CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF OUR HOMES. 
          UM, IF YOU ASK ME, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT LANTERN BECAUSE IT'S JUST THAT BAD THERE. 
          ESPECIALLY, I MEAN, WESTRIDGE GETS, WE GET THE NOISE FROM NRG, WE GET ALL THE BACK END OF NRG, BUT WE DON'T GET ANY OF THE PRIVILEGES OF BEING NEAR NRG. 
          YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE DON'T GET TO HEAR THE FREE CONCERTS OR ANYTHING. 
          WE JUST GET THE TRASH AND THE FIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING DOWN THE ROAD. 
          AND WE'RE TIRED OF BEING OVERLOOKED. 
          UM, MY APARTMENT COMPLEX NOW HAS NEW MANAGERS. 
          I LIVE AT ANO. 
          I ACTUALLY MOVED THERE BECAUSE, UM, HAWK MOVED ME THERE. 
          I WAS DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I THOUGHT I WAS MOVING INTO A SAFE AIR AREA AND LO AND BEHOLD WAS NOT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND ONE SECOND. 
          COUNCILMAN CA STATE? YES, MS. HARRIS, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          I'M VERY SORRY THAT THAT'S HAPPENING IN YES MA'AM. 
          THAT NRG CORRIDOR, UM, THAT AREA IS VERY DENSE AND WE HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA. 
          I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF A POSSIBLE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AT LANTERN. 
          UM, I WILL SUBMIT THAT TO PUBLIC WORK SO THAT THEY CAN COME OUT AND DO A TRAFFIC STUDY BECAUSE IF IT WARRANTS A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THEN WE CAN WORK ON TRYING TO GET A TRAFFIC LIGHT THERE. 
          I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, THE POLICE STATION ON NATA, UM, THERE ARE SOME OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THAT WESTRIDGE AREA TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT, UM, STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING. 
          UM, BUT I WILL SUBMIT A, AN ALERT SLIP TO THEM AGAIN TO TELL THEM THAT YOU CAME HERE TODAY AND, UM, TO, TO LET'S TAKE A VISIT, UM, TO THE ALLEGRA APARTMENTS. 
          UM, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT HAS A LOT OF VACANT UNITS THAT ARE BOARDED UP. 
          AND THEN WE GET THE SQUATTERS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT COME WITH, UM, THOSE VACANT UNITS. 
          SO LET ME SEND THAT OVER TO, UH, THE NATA STATION AND ASK THE OFFICERS IF THEY CAN HELP WITH THAT AREA. 
          UM, AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, THING YOU MENTIONED ABOUT FIFA, I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH THE, UH, FIFA TEAM ABOUT THE LOGISTICS AROUND, UM, FIFA. 
          UM, I KNOW THAT KIRBY STREET WILL BE, UM, BLOCKED OFF ON GAME DAYS. 
          DO YOU GET OUR NEWSLETTER? WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER THAT'S COMING OUT TOMORROW THAT HAS THE INFORMATION ABOUT FIFA AND IT, 
          [01:50:01]
IT LISTS THE DAYS THAT THE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED, UM, AT NRG STADIUM. 
          UM, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHEN KIRBY WILL BE CLOSED. 
          I WAS TOLD THAT THE STREETS WILL BE CLOSED SIX HOURS BEFORE THE GAMES. 
          UM, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, SOMEBODY DIRECTING TRAFFIC ON THOSE OTHER STREETS. 
          UM, SO THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          UM, LOOK TO, UH, I DO WANNA GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. 
          YES. 
          SO WE CAN PUT YOU ON OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST SO YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION AROUND FIFA. 
          BUT I WANT TO ALSO, UM, FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT HPD SAYS ABOUT THE ALLEGRA APARTMENTS AND THEN THE REQUEST FOR THE STREETLIGHT ON LANTERN. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO RESPOND TO YOU ABOUT THE ALLEGRA APARTMENTS. 
          I MEAN, WE HAVE DRUG DEALERS OVER THERE THAT HAVE THE WINDOWS, THEIR DOORS OPEN WITH SHEETS HANGING IN THE WINDOWS AND IT'S CONSTANT TRAFFIC AND JUST, I MEAN, IT'S RIGHT THERE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. 
          THEY SHOOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT THERE. 
          AND THIS IS WHY IT ALSO AFFECTS THE EVENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GUYS THAT PEDAL YOU ON THE CARTS, THEY CUT THROUGH THERE MM-HMM . 
          BECAUSE PEOPLE PARK UP, I GUESS SOMEWHERE UP BY THE FREEWAY OR SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT AND THEY WHEEL 'EM RIGHT THROUGH THESE APARTMENTS. 
          RIGHT. 
          'CAUSE THEY GO FROM, THEY SPAN FROM THE HIGHWAY TO WEST RIDGE. 
          SO THEY CUT THROUGH ALL DAY LONG WITH THE BIKES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WITH PEOPLE RIGHT THROUGH THERE. 
          AND ME PERSONALLY, MY SUGGESTION IS PUT BLOCKADES UP ON, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE HIGHWAY SO THEY CAN'T ACCESS IT THERE. 
          MM-HMM . 
          ONLY PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH MAKE IT FOOT TRAFFIC ONLY FOR THE EVENT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ALREADY BEEN CHAOS WITH THE RODEO. 
          THE RODEO TOTALLY LET THE AREA DOWN. 
          IT TOTALLY DID. 
          IT WAS CHAOTIC. 
          IT WAS, IT WASN'T GOOD AT ALL. 
          WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          WE DEFINITELY WILL TAKE ALL OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND ADVISEMENT. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILOR DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, I ALSO WANTED TO UPLIFT THE POINT ABOUT, UH, THE OTHER THING THAT'S THE CONCERN IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA IS THE SIDEWALKS, MANY OF THE SIDEWALKS. 
          UM, WE MAY NEED TO ALSO ADDRESS THAT WITH PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE PEOPLE WALKING UP AND DOWN THOSE SIDEWALKS IN THE AREA ARE PRETTY DEPLORABLE, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH HOLDING WATER AND A LOT OF SIDEWALKS ARE BROKEN UP. 
          YES. 
          AND WE MIGHT NEED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AS WELL AS IT RELATES ALSO TO LIGHTS. 
          WE WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION YES. 
          OF PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL. 
          SIR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. 
          YES SIR. 
          I DO. 
          THE RESTRICTION OF MANY THE SIDEWALKS AROUND NRG, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, THAT THEY CAN'T BE MOBILE. 
          SO IF CURB IS GONNA BE BLOCKED OFF, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO LIFT UP AS WELL. 
          IT IS ESPECIALLY RIGHT. 
          ACTUALLY IN FRONT OF, UM, VILLA SOLANO TO THE ALLEGRA RIGHT THERE, IT'S ALL CRUMBLED. 
          I MEAN, IT GOES IN LIKE THIS. 
          SO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE BUS. 
          'CAUSE I GO TO HOUSTON CITY COLLEGE EVERY MORNING. 
          I NEED TO LOOK AT THAT SCHEDULE. 
           YEAH. 
          TO SEE IF, 'CAUSE I JUST GET ON THE BUS RIGHT THERE AND TAKE THE TRAIN RIGHT INTO THE SCHOOL. 
          SO I NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. 
          THANK YOU . 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT SPEAKER. 
          RODERICK DURHAM. 
          RODERICK DURHAM UP COMING UP. 
          HOW YOU GUYS DOING TODAY? CITY COUNCIL? UH, I WAS UNPREPARED AT ACCIDENT OVER MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND, SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET PREPARED. 
          BUT THIS IS STRICTLY ABOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS. 
          I'M IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A DUPLEX AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DUPLEX I GOT, I HAD SOMEONE CALL IN ON ME AND SAID, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BUILD A DUPLEX IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          I GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          SO WHAT THAT DID WAS I HAD TO DO, I HAD A LEGAL HOLD. 
          I HAVE A LEGAL HOLD. 
          SO FIRST I TRANSFORMED IT BACK INTO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, UH, THAT CONSISTS OF ONE ADDRESS, ONE WATER METER, ONE LIGHT METER. 
          I DID THAT. 
          SO THEN I WENT BACK TO THE CITY'S ATTORNEYS. 
          THEY SAY, OH, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. 
          WHAT DETERMINES A SINGLE FAMILY HOME? WHAT MAKES IT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME? I'M LOSING MONEY. 
          I'M NOT A BIG INVESTOR. 
          I'M A SMALL TIME. 
          I'M LOSING MONEY. 
          SO, UH, WHERE I'M AT WITH THIS IS THE DEED RESTRICTIONS IS TOO MUCH RED TAPE IN ORDER TO GET THINGS DONE. 
          I KNOW BIGGER INVESTORS 
          [01:55:01]
THAT DO NOT WANT TO COME IN THE CITY DUE TO THE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THE RED TAPE BEHIND IT. 
          SO WHAT I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO DO IS JUST LOOK AT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE IN THE CITY. 
          LIKE I SAID, I'M UNPREPARED TODAY. 
          I HAD AN ACCIDENT. 
          I HAVE NOTHING WRITTEN DOWN. 
          I'M GOING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
          BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, I'M LOSING MONEY. 
          I GOT $200,000 TIED UP INTO THIS DEAL. 
          I GOT $60,000 IN LUMBER SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN HOUSE FRAMED UP. 
          I CANNOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. 
          SO IF IT WOULD'VE BEEN TOLD TO ME FROM THE BEGINNING THAT, HEY, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS. 
          NOBODY ADVISED ME OF THAT. 
          NOBODY. 
          SO NOW I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND I'M JUST A DUCK SITTING IN WATER. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M JUST  YOU GO. 
          MR. MR. DURHAM, WHEN YOU APPLIED FOR THE PERMIT FOR BUILDING THE DUPLEX, DID YOU FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR THE PERMIT? I HAD A, UH, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM DIFFERENT LAWYERS IS LITERATURE INSIDE OF THAT THAT I MIGHT HAVE MISSED. 
          HONESTLY, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED, I HAD MY ARCHITECT DO A LOT OF THAT FOOTWORK FOR ME. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I'M QUITE SURE HE MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT. 
          IT'S BEEN MISSED SOMEWHERE, BUT, SO THERE'S A FORM THAT YOU FILL OUT WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A PERMIT. 
          AND ON THAT FORM, IT, UM, ASKS YOU TO FILL OUT AN AFFIDAVIT THAT SAYS, HAVE YOU READ THE DEED RESTRICTIONS PRIOR TO SUBMITTING FOR THE PERMIT? I DID DO THAT. 
          YOU DID? OR YOU DID? I DID READ THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS DOESN'T SAY THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS THE RIGHT TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN IT. 
          I UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          IN 1965, THE CITY OF HOUSTON DO, BECAUSE WE HAVE ZONING LAWS, WE HAVE NO ZONING LAWS. 
          TAKE THAT BACK. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          WE HAVE NO ZONING LAWS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON RELIES ON DEED RESTRICTIONS TO HELP OUT IN THAT AREA. 
          SO MY DEED RESTRICTIONS CLEARLY STATE THAT MY FIGHT IS NOT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          IT DOESN'T SAY IT LIKE THAT, BUT MY FIGHT IS WITH THE OVERSEERS OF MY DEED RESTRICTION, WHICH THERE'S NOBODY, WE HAVE NOBODY, WE HAVE NO COMMITTEE SET UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. 
          YOUR CIVIC CLUB? IT'S NO CIVIC CLUB. 
          WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? UH, SOUTH GLEN SECTION FIVE. 
          OKAY. 
          BUT WE CALL IT MEREDITH MANOR. 
          OKAY. 
          THEY HAVE A CIVIC CLUB WHO'S OVER IT? THERE IS A, UM, I'LL LOOK AT OUR LIST IN OUR DISTRICT K OFFICE. 
          THEY HAVE A CIVIC CLUB. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, NOW, AND THEY HAVE A, UM, OH MY GOODNESS, I CANNOT THINK OF THE LATEST NAME, BUT THEY DO HAVE A CIVIC CLUB. 
          AND THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS WE FIGHT VERY HARD FOR CIVIC CLUBS TO HAVE THE RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THE D RESTRICTIONS ARE THE, BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ZONING. 
          MM-HMM . 
          THE D RESTRICTIONS ARE WHAT PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          BUT, UM, AND SO I, I WANNA TRY TO HELP MM-HMM . 
          UM, BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU, YOU INITIALLY STARTED WITH A DUPLEX AND THEN YOU AGREED TO DO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. 
          AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THOSE DEED RESTRICTIONS SAY SINGLE, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, SO I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, RANDY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU, WHERE Y'ALL ARE WITH THE, WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS. 
          WE, I SUPPOSED TO KNOW SOMETHING TOMORROW. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW SOMETHING TOMORROW. 
          I'VE BEEN BATTLING WITH THIS. 
          IS THAT FROM THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT OR FROM, THAT IS FROM THE LEGAL FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
          THE LEGAL LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, WE IS, WE HAVE YOUR, YOUR PHONE NUMBER HERE. 
          UM, WE CAN CHECK WITH RANDY FROM CITY LEGAL TO KIND OF SEE WHERE THAT IS AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED SO WE CAN KIND OF GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND IF THAT ACTUALLY MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. 
          HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. 
          I STUDIED LIKE I'M, I'M COMPLETELY OFF. 
          I HAD AN ACCIDENT. 
          OKAY. 
          I'M COMPLETELY OFF MY BEARINGS TODAY WITH THIS. 
          OKAY. 
          'CAUSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SAT DOWN AND WENT OVER THIS THOROUGHLY BEFORE I CAME UP HERE, BUT I DIDN'T. 
          BUT SOME THINGS YOU SAID I GOT THE ANSWERS FOR 'EM ALREADY. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, I TRANSFORMED IT 
          [02:00:01]
TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. 
          THEY SAID IT WASN'T SUFFICIENT. 
          WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME HOW I WANT TO DESIGN MY SINGLE FAMILY HOME IF IT HAS ONE ADDRESS, RIGHT. 
          ONE ADDRESS, ONE LIGHT METER, ONE WATER METER. 
          MM-HMM . 
          ONE GAS METER THAT DEEMS IT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. 
          RIGHT. 
          SO NOW THEY TELLING ME, OH NO, YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 
          CAN WE ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SEE IF HE HAS ANY INFORMATION ON IT NOW AND THEN WE CAN TRY. 
          IF HE DOESN'T THEN WE CAN SET UP A, A TIME TO, BECAUSE I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M IN AND DEEP. 
          NO, WE WANT, WE WANNA TRY TO RESOLVE IT FOR YOU. 
          HELP COUNCIL MEMBER, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT HPW IS REVIEWING THE CHANGES. 
          UM, AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE GETS BACK TO HIM BY TOMORROW. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, BUT I HAVE MY ANSWER TOMORROW FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, REGARDLESS, HE IS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
          OH, WHAT DEPARTMENT? THE RESTRICTIONS. 
          'CAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
          I'M NOT OVER DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT I WILL GET THEM, GET WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY GET YOU AN ANSWER BY TOMORROW FOR LACK. 
          I'M GETTING  AND WE'LL LOOK AT, WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT YOU SUBMITTED AND WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO FIND THE, THE SOLUTION FOR YOU BECAUSE IT'S NOTHING. 
          THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON OVER THERE GIVING ME THE BLUES. 
          ONE PERSON OVER THE WHAT? I'M SORRY. 
          ONE PERSON IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP OVER, I KNOW THE UHHUH . 
          EVERYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FROM BEGINNING TO END. 
          MM-HMM . 
          THERE'S ONLY ONE GENTLEMAN GIVING ME THE BLUES. 
          THAT'S ALL BECAUSE MY GRASS WENT OVER THERE ON HIS GRASS WHEN I CUT THE GRASS. 
          BOY, THAT IS IT. 
          AND I'M, I'M, I'M LOOK CURIOUS, BUT WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT WHAT YOU SUBMITTED AND WE'LL LOOK AT YOUR DE RESTRICTIONS AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD A LONG TIME AND WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO INVEST. 
          I DON'T USE THAT ANYMORE. 
          THAT'S JUST WHAT NO, I KNOW. 
          WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE WANT IT TO BE IN ALLIANCE WITH WHAT THE DE RESTRICTIONS SAY. 
          WE'LL, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP YOU, SIR. 
          SO WE, WE HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER HERE AND WE'LL GET WITH LEGAL AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED BY TOMORROW. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU GUYS. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          NEXT, WENDELL JOHNSON, GENEVA COLBERT, ANDREW PATTERSON TO BE FOLLOWED TO BE FOLLOWED BY WALTER MILLBURN OF SUGARLAND. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT, UH, AN ISSUE WHICH I'M NOT CLEAR ABOUT AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GIMME AN ANSWER TO IT. 
          NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO STEPPED THEIR, HIS FOOT INTO HOUSTON POLITICS AND PORT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT WHAT HE DEEMED FOR ICE. 
          THEN HE TOUCHED HPD AS TO WHAT HE WANTED THEM TO DO ABOUT ICE. 
          YET I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S ISSUE WAS THAT WE HAD WITH HOUSTON. 
          THAT HE HAD TO PUT HIS FOOT INTO IT AND TELL THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHAT TO DO. 
          AND IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT, HOLD BACK $110 MILLION IN GRANTS. 
          WHICH IN MY OPINION, HE TURNED AROUND AND QUITE FRANKLY SAID THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GIVE THE GRANTS, IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT THE THING HAPPENED, BUT IT'S GONNA BE YOUR FAULT. 
          THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          IT'S GONNA BE HPDS FAULT. 
          SO MAYOR, I'D LIKE A VERY CONDENSED VERSION, SHORT VERSION OF THE RESPONSE, WHAT YOU SAW, WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKING, WHAT THE CITY WASN'T DOING THAT, THE COMPLIANCE WITH IT. 
          THE SAME THING FOR HPD, WHAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BE COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE, THE, UM, GOVERNOR HAD VERY GOOD TALK TO. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          UH, YOUR MICROPHONE. 
          YEAH. 
          TALK TO MS. WILSON. 
          SHE'LL BRING YOU UP TO SPEED. 
          SHE HAS THE ANSWERS. 
          SHE'S CHIEF OF STAFF. 
          YES. 
          OKAY. 
          'CAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS IT IN MY, NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSE IS. 
          SHE'LL GET YOU THE, UH, STATEMENT. 
          EXCUSE ME, PLEASE. 
          SHE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND GET YOU THE DIRECTIVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THE NEXT THING I HAVE HERE IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THIS RIGHT NOW, IT'S A NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE DIRECTORY, WHICH I'VE MADE OUT AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU. 
          IF YOU HAVE ONE OF YOUR STAFF HERE PASSED AROUND, WHICH SIMPLY STATES PUTTING YOUR ZIP CODE WILL TELL YOU THE GROUPS ARE OUT THERE THAT DOING FREE SERVICE, LEGAL SERVICE FOR IMMIGRANTS. 
          IT DOESN'T TO BE HISPANIC, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INDIAN, CHINESE OR WHATEVER IT IS, JUST A LEGAL SERVICE 
          [02:05:01]
UNDERNEATH THAT. 
          IT HAS A, A DETENTION FACILITIES WHERE THEY'RE BEING LOCATED IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE CAUGHT AND SENT SOMEPLACE ELSE. 
          AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, POPPY MET, UH, DROPBOX DOWN A, LOOKING AT THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE KEEPING PEOPLE IN THERE. 
          I WOULDN'T TRUST THE DOG TO BE IN IT. 
          I MEAN, IT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. 
          IT'S NOT THE BLOODY 10,000 SQUARE FOOT THEY'RE BUILDING RIGHT THERE TO KEEP THE DETENTION CENTER. 
          SO ANYWAY, IT'LL TELL YOU LIKE IF ANYBODY SAYS, HEY, MY HUSBAND, MY UNCLE, SOMEBODY HAS BEEN DETAINED, AND A DROP DOWN, IT'LL LOOK TELL YOU THE LOCATION AND THE ADDRESS TOO. 
          MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU SIR. 
          OH, THANK YOU. 
          MAY I JUST SAY ONE THING? PLEASE BEG YOUR PARDON? MAY I SAY ONE THING PLEASE? SURE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CITY SECRETARY, THE PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING OVER THERE. 
          LAST WEEK, A WEEK BEFORE THAT I HAD CALLED EARLY ENOUGH AND LAST WEEK I WASN'T EVEN ON THE LIST. 
          I WAS PUT ON THE LIST AT THE BACK OF IT AND I TOLD THE YOUNG LADY THERE, GET ME OFF OF IT. 
          I'M NOT GONNA STAY HERE ALL NIGHT TO SPEAK THIS TIME. 
          I CALLED WEDNESDAY, GAVE THE INFORMATION, ASKED TO BE PUT ON THE LIST. 
          HERE I AM TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST. 
          PEOPLE WHO BEFORE ME HAD CALLED ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK, YET I WAS ONE OF THE PERSONS TO CALL IN. 
          AND I DON'T KNOW THE PROCEDURE THAT THE CITY HAS TO ALLOW ME OR ANYBODY ELSE TO SPEAK AND GET PRIORITIZED. 
          I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA CALL THE COUNCIL MEMBER, SAY, CAN YOU PUSH ME UP? I CAN DO THAT, BUT I DON'T. 
          WE'LL CHECK ON IT. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          WELL, I ALSO FILED A POINT TO, AND HE NEVER GOT WITH ME ON THAT COMPLAINT TO THE CITY OF SECRETARY, SHERIFF, MS. WILSON. 
          ALRIGHT, YOU WANT THESE OR NOT? I'LL TAKE THANK YOU, SIR. 
          NEXT, WALTER MULBAR OF SUGARLAND REGINA SOFAS COMPLAIN AGAINST MICHELLE IGEN, EOR OF HOCKLEY, STEVE WILLIAMS, EDUARDO DURAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUAN GALLEGOS. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I, UH, CAME ACROSS SOME RECENT, SOME RECENT NEWS THAT WAS THINK WOULD BE TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. 
          UH, JOY TO MY HEART TO SEE THE COVID HOUSE OF CARDS. 
          FINALLY STARTING TO CRASH DOWN. 
          WE HAVE A FORMER SENIOR ADVISOR TO DR. ANTHONY FAUCI. 
          DR. DAVID MORE INDICTED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE COVID-19 COVERUP. 
          HOPEFULLY HE WILL THROW FAUCI UNDER THE BUS. 
          NOW, THIS GUY AND HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS LITERALLY FALSIFIED REPORTS TO TRY TO SUPPRESS THE FACT THAT THIS VIRUS CAME OUT OF THE LAB. 
          HE USED HIS PERSONAL GMAIL ACCOUNT INSTEAD OF HIS OFFICIAL EMAIL TO AVOID FOIA. 
          HOPEFULLY FAUCI WILL BE NEXT. 
          AND, UH, FOLKS, THIS IS SO HUGE. 
          I, I MEAN, IT'S SO HUGE. 
          HOPEFULLY IT'S THE FIRST DOMINO OF MANY, UH, REPRESENTATIVE JAMES COMER ON THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SAYS, I APPLAUD THE TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR TAKING ACTION TO HOLD THIS PUBLIC OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIDING INFORMATION FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
          SO HOPEFULLY ACCOUNTABILITY IS HERE. 
          WE NEED A WHOLE LOT MORE. 
          NOW, MORINS WAS ACTUALLY BRAGGING ABOUT HE AND FAUCI WERE ABLE TO BYPASS FOIA USING GMAIL AND DELETING THEIR EMAILS BEFORE THE OFFICIALS SEARCHES STARTED. 
          YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE SOME OF THESE THAT WE GOT A HOLD OF. 
          UH, HE SAYS, FAUCI IS TOO SMART TO LET PEOPLE GET THESE DOCUMENTS THROUGH FOIA. 
          HE SAYS, THE FOIA LADY MAR MOORE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO AVOID FOIA. 
          AND OF COURSE HE HATES FOIA. 
          THIS IS RIDICULOUS, FOLKS. 
          NOW, SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY OF LOUISIANA SAYS, MORE INDICTMENTS ARE COMING. 
          CHECK IT OUT. 
          WELL, I REMEMBER WHEN THESE ALLEGATIONS FIRST SURFACED ABOUT DR. 
          FAUCI AND, AND, AND THE OTHER, UM, THE, THE OTHER MINIONS, LORENS AND DAISY. 
          UH, AND WE WERE ALL TOLD THAT IT'S THAT IT'S A CONSPIRACY THEORY AND WE'RE ALL A BUNCH OF NUTS. 
          UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, WE NOW KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET SOME NEW CONSPIRACY. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED THEORIES BECAUSE ALL THE OLD ONES TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE. 
          . 
          YEAH. 
          WHOOPS. 
          THEY ALL TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          TIME'S EXPIRED. 
          YOUR TIME EXPIRED. 
          CONSIDERING, UH, MOST OF WHAT'S OCCURRING RIGHT NOW, IF NOT ALL OF IT, A LOT OF IT, AND THE SEEMING PROGRESSION OF THE NARRATIVE THAT ARE BEING, YOU KNOW, FORCED, ASSERTED, ENFORCED, PROPAGATED, WHATEVER. 
          EVERYTHING THAT'S OCCURRING RIGHT NOW ISN'T AN EFFORT TO WRAP UP THE FACT THAT THERE IS, UH, THIS CONTINUOUS, CONTINUOUS, THIS 
          [02:10:01]
CONTINUATION OF THIS MAJOR WAR, A MAJOR CRIME ETHIC THAT IS BOTH ENCROACHING ON US. 
          BOTH ON THE, THE, THE SIDE OF THE PHARMA, PHARMACEUTICAL, INDUSTRIAL SIDE. 
          YES. 
          AND ALSO FROM THE POLITICAL WARFARE PARADIGM. 
          ALL THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          SO MAIN BAUCHI IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE NEED TO BE KIND OF TAKING A LOOK AT HERE. 
          ALRIGHT, HAVE A GOOD DAY. 
          NEXT. 
          JUAN GALLEGOS. 
          I HAVE SOMEONE THAT, UM, STEPPED OUT FOR A SECOND. 
          UM, HER NAME'S REGINA. 
          OKAY, WE'LL GET BACK TO HIM IN A MOMENT. 
          NEXT, JUAN GALLEGOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY REGINA SOFAS. 
          I'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF THESE FOR YOU. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          GIVE 'EM THAT GENTLEMAN. 
          PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. 
          YES, SIR. 
          MAKE MAKE A PRINTOUT PASS TO WHOEVER CONCERN. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. 
          UH, MY NAME IS S I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H. 
          UM, I HAD NO INTENTIONS TO BE ON THE MIC TODAY, BUT, UM, UM, I'M HERE. 
          UH, I CAN SPEAK FOR DAYS, BUT SOMEHOW I'M HAVING TROUBLES TALKING. 
          BUT, UM, I, I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK, UH, MEMBERS OF DISTRICT H FOR SUPPORTING ME IN EFFORTS OF MAKING MONTE BEACH PARK, UH, SAFE SPACE FOR ALL. 
          AS A FATHER OF A 5-YEAR-OLD, UH, NONVERBAL AUTISTIC CHILD, I'M HYPER AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGS. 
          AND AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE I'M FIGHTING THE WORLD, UM, FROM THE FUNNY LOOKS, RIGHT AND HAVING TO EDUCATE, UM, INDIVIDUALS ABOUT AUTISM TO HISD LEADERSHIP, CALLING MY CHILD A LIABILITY AND STATING THAT IN MY FA STATING IN MY FACE THAT UNDER THE LAW, BECAUSE OF HIS CONDITION THAT HE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE IN SCHOOL. 
          AND I HAVE ALL THIS DOCUMENT THAT I HAVE AUDIOS AND I'M GONNA SAVE ALL THE NEGATIVITY FOR THURSDAY. 
          'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A-H-I-S-D BEATING. 
          BUT IT'S EXHAUSTING AND IT DOES MY HEART WELL TO KNOW THAT I HAVE PEOPLE ON MY SIDE. 
          SO YOUR SUPPORT LIKE MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. 
          SO MANY FAMILIES HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE ON THEIR BEHALF. 
          SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO TY. 
          I FEEL HE'S LIKE, HE, HE'S A POWERHOUSE. 
          RUSSELL MARIO CASTILLO, ESPECIALLY FOR HIS POSTS DURING AUTISM AWARENESS, H PART FOR HIS CONTI, H-P-A-R-D FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT. 
          MAYOR, FOR THANKING, THANK YOU FOR SELECTING OUR PARK ON BEACH FOR RENOVATION. 
          AND MY GREATEST THANK YOU TO, UH, SERGEANT GRAHAM, WHICH IS NOT HERE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE TEAM AND SOME OF HIS MEMBERS, OFFICER AYALA, OFFICER BEAN, AND OFFICER KANG. 
          LIKE, I FEEL LIKE HE DID LIKE MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED. 
          HE WENT FAR BEYOND. 
          SO ME PERSONALLY, I'VE, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN LIKE, UH, WHEN I RUN INTO AN OFFICER, I THANK HIM AND I CHANGED MY MIND A LOT. 
          SO THANKS TO ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT HERE AND EVERY, AND EVERYONE'S FROM THE DEPARTMENT. 
          SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT MARIO, MY ADVOCACY IS JUST STARTING. 
          MY ORGANIZING IS JUST STARTING, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT DISTRICT AGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY ALLY AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR, NEXT APRIL, WHICH IS AUTISM AWARENESS. 
          YOU CAN RECRUIT SOME OF THE REST OF THE MEMBERS AND HELP ME SPREAD AWARENESS. 
          SO, AS Y'ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF BAD STUFF GOING ON WITH HISD. 
          YOU KNOW, I COULD SPEAK ABOUT THAT FOR DAYS. 
          I COULD SHARE AUDIOS, BUT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT I'M VERY GRATEFUL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILOR MC CASTILLO. 
          SIR, SIR, ONE SECOND. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND JUAN, THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING DOWN HERE. 
          I KNOW YOU WEREN'T, UH, PLANNING ON SPEAKING, BUT HERE YOU ARE. 
          I WANT TO JUST CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. 
          UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE SAFETY, WITH RESPECT TO THE PARK, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE AUTISM AWARENESS, UM, COMPONENT. 
          YOU KNOW, THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON ME AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND JUST BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, BETTER HOW DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THESE RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES, IMPACT, UH, EVERYONE AND WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE OUR PARKS MORE WELCOMING FOR ALL. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UH, BEEN IMPACTFUL TO ME. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND IT JUST 
          [02:15:01]
SPEAKS TO WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, GET INVOLVED, UM, BE ACTIVE IN THEIR PARKS AND IN THEIR CIVIC GROUPS, AND WANT TO JUST MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 
          UH, WE NEED IT. 
          AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK AND SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS, UH, IN THE MONTE BEACH AREA. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          NEXT, JOE BAILEY, JR. 
          JOSEPH BALLARD. 
          JOSEPH AMARI. 
          GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. 
          CITY COUNCIL. 
          I, I KNOW MANY OF MY BLACK AMERICANS AND MINORITY, BUT THE DEMOCRATS MAY HAVE WENT TO JESSE JACKSON, UH, SCHOOL OF POLITICS, BUT I DIDN'T. 
          I WENT TO MICHAEL JACKSON SCHOOL OF, UH, ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND MUSIC. 
          AND WHO MADE THE MOST MONEY? MICHAEL JACKSON OR JESSE JACKSON. 
          MICHAEL JACKSON. 
          OR BOTH JACKSON. 
          MICHAEL JACKSON OR MICHAEL JORDAN, OR MICHAEL JACKSON AND BARACK OBAMA. 
          SOONER OR LATER, IT WOULD BE ABOUT THE MONEY IN ECONOMY. 
          I DIDN'T COME TO HOUSTON, TEXAS TO GET STUCK POLITIC WITH CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM. 
          I CAME TO HOUSTON TO CREATE A ARTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY,  COMPANY, THE PRODUCT DEVELOP DIVISION. 
          THE BEST THING I LEARNED IS POWER TO FINANCE DEAL. 
          THOSE STILL THE ARTISTS WORK BECAUSE THEY, THAT'S THE THING TO DO. 
          THEY WON. 
          GET, THEY GONNA GET REAL MAD, ANGRY. 
          THEY WANT SUE YOU. 
          THEY GOING TO HURT YOU. 
          THEY SOME WE GONNA KILL YOU. 
          PUT YOU IN PRISON. 
          ESPECIALLY IF YOU AIN'T GETTING REAL MONEY. 
          I'M UNLIKE ERICA . 
          I'M VERY S ABOUT MY WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN I GET PAID FOR IT. 
          UH, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT, BUT YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED, KILL YOU BY IT. 
          AND Y'ALL WANT TO INTEGRATE OR COLLABORATE, INTEGRATE OR COLLABORATE MY WORK UNTIL I'LL MAKE THAT CROSSOVER. 
          MOVE UNTIL WE GET A CONTRACT AND PLACE A DEAL, THEN WE DO IT. 
          AND THAT'S WAY WE'LL AVOID HAVING ANY LAWSUITS. 
          THANK YOU, REGINA. 
          SOFAS? UH, HELLO. 
          I'M, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. 
          UH, I'M REGINA SOFAS. 
          I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY RIGHTS. 
          OKAY? I HAVE NO HEALTHCARE IF YOU ALL CAN ASSIST ME. 
          IT'S JUST BASIC INFORMATION, BUT IT'S MY RIGHTS. 
          NO HEALTHCARE. 
          I HAVE A LETTER OF WRITING THAT I'M IN NEED OF FROM MY LAST EMPLOYER. 
          THEY LAID ME OFF BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO DEDUCT MY SALARY STATING I MAKE TOO MUCH. 
          I'M A PART OF THE NURSING CAREER, OKAY? AND I HAD TO CANCEL ALL MY APPOINTMENTS. 
          I DO HAVE A, UH, BONE DISEASE THAT'S MODERATE FROM THE HIPS DOWN. 
          ALSO, I RECEIVE COMMUNITY THREATS. 
          MY LANDLORD HAVE FILED EVICTION. 
          I'M WITH THE 55 PLUS WITH THE SENIORS, AND I PAY 1500 A MONTH. 
          AND I CHECKED INTO THE SUBSIDE. 
          I SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING 500 AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, I'M SORRY, SUPPOSED TO PAY THE THOUSAND, BUT SO CLAIM THE, THE LIST IS CLOSED. 
          THE WAITING LIST IS CLOSED. 
          IT'S BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2020. 
          SO IF YOU ALL CAN ASSIST ME IN THAT AREA, I APPRECIATE IT. 
          SO SHE'S FILED HER EVICTION. 
          SHE'S TRYING TO PUT ME OUT. 
          UH, THEY HAVE STOPPED 18 JOBS. 
          I'VE BEEN TRYING TO VENTURE OUT FOR JOBS, AND THEY'RE STOPPING BECAUSE THEY WANT ME OUT. 
          THAT APARTMENT. 
          I CAN'T KEEP MOVING. 
          I CAN'T AFFORD TO. 
          SO YOU HAVE NO INCOME. 
          THAT MEANS THEY WANT, THEY WANT YOU OUT. 
          AND I HAVE A STATE CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS MY NURSING, AND I'M A PART OF THE COMPANY OF LL CORPORATE LARGE. 
          I HAVEN'T BEEN PAID BEHIND THE JUDGMENT OF THEM USING THIS APARTMENT. 
          AND MY CAR WAS VANDALIZED UNDER CARPORT, WHICH I PAID, AND I HAD TO OBSERVE ALL THAT WITH PLAYING POSSUM. 
          I HAVEN'T RECEIVED NONE OF MY MONEY. 
          SO IT'S ALL ABOUT MY RIGHTS. 
          AND MY NURSING HAVE BEEN, UH, SUBMITTED TO 2028. 
          SO I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THREATS, WHICH IS FINE. 
          AND THIS IS THE CORPORAL LODGE AND THE LETTER OF WRITING THAT I NEED FROM THIS EMPLOYER, THEY KEEP DODGING ME. 
          I JUST NEED A LETTER THAT'S JUST A SMALL THING, JUST A LETTER OF WRITING SAYING WHY I WAS LAID OFF TO RENEW MY HEALTHCARE. 
          SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE 
          [02:20:01]
NOT RENEWING IT AT ALL. 
          SO MY DOCTOR IS NO LONGER, HE NO LONGER WANNA BE A PART OF HMO. 
          HE WANNA BE A PART OF PPO. 
          THEY'RE NOT PAYING HIM. 
          HE HAVE NO PAYMENTS FROM MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. 
          OKAY? THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU MA'AM. 
          UHHUH, WE 
          [RECESS ]
STAND AND RECESS CHAPTER 20 
          [READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA]
OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS. 
          ITEM 12 ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS RELATED TO THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING SURFACE SITE WITHIN EISENHOWER PARK FOR PIPELINE ASSESSMENT PURPOSES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS FROM PIPELINE OPERATORS. 
          ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5 MILLION TO DERIV DERIVATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH CHAMBERLAIN, DALLAS, LLC AND D SEVEN ROOFING AND METAL, LLC. 
          ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,364,399 TO CONTRACT WITH DI FUKU AIRPORT AMERICA CORPORATION. 
          ITEM 15, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $758,750 FOR NORTHWEST TRANSFER STATION PROJECT. 
          ITEM 16, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $850,000 FOR PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS. 
          ITEM 17, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $493,000 FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT HAGAR PARK. 
          ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $887,000 TO RENOVATE THE EXISTING FRIENDSHIP PAVILION. 
          ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,333,000 FOR RENOVATIONS TO THE BINET MAINTENANCE FACILITY. 
          ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,379,000 FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT AT THE MARION RECREATION CENTER. 
          ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH MR. SWEEPER LP. 
          ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO PROVIDE ELECTION SERVICES FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 16TH, 2026. 
          ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,402,296 89 CENTS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY. 
          ITEM 24 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO, TO THE ADDITION OF 2.6035 ACRES OF LAND TO BRIDGESTONE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT. 
          ITEM 25 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 9.032 ACRES TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 3 93 ITEM 26 ORDINANCE. 
          FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF A 10 FOOT WIDE SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT, SITUATED IN THE SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS ABSTRACT NUMBER 87 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, ABANDONING THE EASEMENT TO MICHELLE A EMANS, NOW KNOWN AS MICHELLE A EMANS MADRID AND JASON MADRID, THE ABUTTING OWNERS ITEM 27 ORDINANCE. 
          FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC, PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF TEMPLE DRIVE FROM WEST WALKER AVENUE TO TAV STREET, WHICH INCLUDE TWO 10 FOOT WILD UTILITY EASEMENT, A 20 FOOT WIDE SEWER EASEMENT, AND FOUR TRACKS OF FEE OWNED LAND ALL OUT OF THE JOHN AUSTIN TO THE GRANT ABSTRACT NUMBER ONE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS ABANDONING SAID PORTIONS TO RLW CAPITAL HOLDINGS, LLC, THE ABUTTING OWNER. 
          ITEM 28 ORDINANCE, FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE PAVING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN ALEY FOREST SOUTH AREA. 
          SUB-PROJECT ONE ITEM 29 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE FROM CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY OF EASEMENT BEING PLUS MINUS 0.058 ACRE TRACK BEING THE NORTH 11 FOOT OF A CITY FEE OWNED TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING PLUS MINUS 1.4514 ACRES, AND BEING OUT OF LOT 73 IN THE MORE ACRES SUBDIVISION SITUATED IN THE E WILLIAMS SURVEY, ABSTRACT NUMBER 8 34, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. 
          ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH RELIANCE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LP ITEM 31 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 
          ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $210,000 AS A SECOND ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CIVIL TECH ENGINEERING LLC ITEM 32. 
          A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE ON THE PROPOSAL TO USE 0.1692 ACRE OF CHIMNEY ROCK PARK FOR A 20 FOOT WIDE UTILITY CORRIDOR FOR SANITARY SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          UH, HEARING 
          [02:25:01]
DATE 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH, 2026. 
          ITEM 34, ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 18 DASH 37 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, RELATING TO THE LIMITATION ON REPAYMENT OF PERSONAL LOANS FROM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. 
          THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF MAY 13TH, 2026. 
          STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION TO THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL'S SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A BLESSED AND HAPPY UPDATE COUNCIL, 
          [RECONVENE]
PLEASE COME TO ORDER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAYOR'S 
          [MAYOR'S REPORT]
REPORT IS ONE OF EXCITEMENT. 
          I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR COLLABORATING ON THE NEAR NORTH SIDE. 
          YESTERDAY WE HAD A GROUNDBREAKING ON EQUIPMENT IN FRONT OF THE NORTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THANK YOU, RANDY PUBLIC WORKS. 
          AGAIN, YOU'RE IMPROVING NEIGHBORHOODS, $48 MILLION DRAINAGE STREET MOBILITY PROJECT. 
          THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM PUBLIC WORKS. 
          THESE THINGS HAPPEN REGULARLY, DON'T GET REPORTED, BUT AS EXCITED AS I AM TODAY, CERTAINLY DURING PUBLIC WORKS NATIONAL RECOGNITION WEEK, OUR TEAM IS GETTING THE JOB DONE. 
          ANOTHER THING BEFORE WE HEAR FROM OUR FRIENDS WITH SUCH EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THE WORLD CUP AND ITS GREAT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO NOT GET THE RECOGNITION THAT IT DESERVES. 
          I'VE ASKED FOR A HANDOUT TODAY TO DISCLOSE THE CONTRACT THAT WAS AGREED TO YESTERDAY BY OUR FRIENDS AT SEIU THANK OF MICHAEL HECKMAN. 
          THANK YOU TO ELSA FLORES. 
          WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE THAT. 
          OUR LOWEST PAID PUBLIC SERVANTS BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR SO MANY YEARS, GOT AN IMMEDIATELY $5 INCREASE GOING FROM $15 TO $20. 
          THAT'S A 46% HISTORIC RAISE. 
          THEY ALSO GOT BACK PAY OF ONE YEAR. 
          THESE INDIVIDUALS MOST HAVE NEVER HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS AT ONE TIME. 
          THEY'RE REJOICING. 
          YOU VISIT WITH THEM, THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO WITH IT, PLAY CATCH UP ON HOME REPAIRS, TRANSPORTATION, KIDS' CLOTHING. 
          IT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR. 
          AND I WANTED TO BRING IT OUT BEFORE WE HEAR THE THE SUBJECT THAT'S GONNA GET SO MUCH ATTENTION FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. 
          BUT THANK YOU TO ELSA AND SEIU. 
          THANK YOU MICHAEL HECKMAN. 
          CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WORKERS. 
          OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, THEIR PAY WILL REACH $22 AN HOUR, AND THAT'S OUTSTANDING MOVING FORWARD. 
          I CAN RECALL THE CELEBRATION WHEN HOUSTON WAS ANNOUNCED AS A RECIPIENT OF THE WORLD CUP GAMES. 
          I WASN'T IN CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT BY OUR HOST COMMITTEE CHAIR BY JOHN ARNOLD. 
          BUT I HAVE THIS VISUAL OF A ROOM FULL OF HOUSTON LEADERS. 
          THE PREVIOUS MAYOR LEADING THE CHARGE DID A GREAT JOB. 
          LAURA, MARIA. 
          IT WAS PE EVERYBODY WANTED TO TAKE CREDIT FOR IT. 
          OKAY, , WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT OWNERSHIP IN, BUT WE HAVE MET REGULARLY. 
          YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY AND QUOTE FIFA THAT WE'RE MORE PREPARED THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA. 
          THEY CALL THIS A GROWNUP CITY. 
          WE HAVE DONE SUCH PREPARATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, SOME OF WHICH I CAN'T EVEN DISCUSS PUBLICLY. 
          HIGH TECH DRONES, COLLABORATION WITH ALL THE AGENCIES INVOLVED. 
          WE KNOW THE BENEFITS THAT ARE COMING TO HOUSTON, NOT A FINANCIAL DRAIN OR HARDSHIP, BUT MORE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, MORE SALES TAX, MORE JOBS, MORE STATE ASSISTANCE. 
          SO ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS, I JUST HAVE 
          [02:30:01]
A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IT EXCEPT TO IGNORE IT. 
          TRAFFIC, YES, IT'LL BE EQUIVALENT TO A BIG RODEO NIGHT. 
          THE GAMES ARE AT NOON . 
          SO IT'S JUST THE, I GUESS, A POLITICAL MEDIA ENVIRONMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELF IN, BUT IT'S JUST SO UNFAIR IN MISINFORMATION. 
          SO HOW DO WE CELEBRATE GOING FORWARD? YOU GET THE EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR FIFA THAT WE'RE NOT DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE LEGACY SOCCER FIELDS THAT'LL BE LEFT BEHIND THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC CONCERNS. 
          AND CERTAINLY OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM HAS BEEN INVOLVED TO SEE THAT NO ONE'S APARTMENTS, CONDOS AROUND ENERGY ARE GONNA BE BLOCKED. 
          WE HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAJOR FACILITY ACROSS THE STREET. 
          WE'RE ACTUALLY PREPARING FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES TO BE, HAVE, HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR OFFICES. 
          SO I COULD GO ON AND ON. 
          I'VE BEEN INVOLVED. 
          I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE A BETTER TEAM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAN THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S BEEN EXHIBITED. 
          NOW, ARE WE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED? YES. 
          THEY PLAY OUT THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL. 
          SO WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR MY EXCITEMENT, ENTHUSIASM ANY LONGER. 
          CHRIS, JUAN, MR. WASH, WHAT ORDER Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS SUCCESSFUL STORY. 
          AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. 
          ONE, HEADING TO SPORTS AUTHORITY WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS I'VE DONE. 
          YOU'RE NOT ONLY A LEADER TODAY, BUT WE'RE EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM YOU GOING FORWARD, BEING THE FIRST HISPANIC ON THE RODEO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND THE RESPECT ACROSS THE HOUSTON COMMUNITIES AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MAYOR PROTE, AFTER THE PRESENTATION, JUAN, YOU RECOGNIZE AND TAKE YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, HOUSTON, WE'RE READY. 
          WE ARE READY TO HOST THE WORLD CUP HERE. 
          AND, AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, BUT UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          UH, WE WE COULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU. 
          AND, AND YOU SAY, WE ARE THE MOST PREPARED CITY IN AMERICA. 
          WE ARE THE MOST PREPARED IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, OF ALL MEXICO, CANADA, UNITED STATES. 
          THERE IS NO ONE CLOSER TO BEING PREPARED THAN WE ARE HERE IN HOUSTON. 
          AND, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR ASSISTANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT. 
          ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE HAD EARLY ON IN THIS PROCESS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE TRANSPARENT, THAT WE WERE ACCOUNTABLE, AND THAT OUR TEAMS WERE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUR TEAMS. AND, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT. 
          WE'VE GONE IN THERE AND LISTENED TO YOU, YOUR STAFF, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE BEING, UH, INFORMED AND READY FOR THIS WORLD CUP. 
          AND WE ARE READY. 
          UH, I I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR, THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF, IS WE'RE NOT JUST READY FOR THE WORLD CUP. 
          WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE MORE THAN READY. 
          BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THE WORLD CUP FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON? WHAT THE WORLD CUP IS PREPARING US HERE FOR IS FOR YEARS TO COME FOR A DYNAMIC CHANGE TO OUR YOUTH HERE IN HOUSTON THAT WE WILL IMPACT FOR DECADES BASED ON THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU'VE HELPED ESTABLISH HERE, MAYOR. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. 
          AND I, AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS, UH, PODIUM WITHOUT SAYING IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TWO GENTLEMEN THAT, THAT I HAVE STANDING BEHIND HERE, RYAN WALSH AND CHRIS CONNET. 
          THEY'VE ESTABLISHED TEAMS, UNBELIEVABLE TEAMS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED IN EVERYTHING, IN EVERY ASPECT OF THIS WORLD CUP. 
          AND SO, UH, WITH THAT, I HAVE THE HUGE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF PRESENTING OUR CEO, OUR LEADER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. 
          MR. WEIN WALSH. 
          RYAN, THANK YOU, JUAN. 
          I, CAN YOU INTRODUCE ME LIKE THAT? EVERY, THAT WAS, THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THAT, BUT, UH, CERTAINLY IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE. 
          MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING. 
          AND OVERALL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 
          UM, TO JUAN'S POINT, WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF YOU ALL IN, IN THIS ROOM TODAY, AND CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. 
          AND JUAN'S RIGHT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TODAY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MATCHES THAT ARE GONNA HAPPEN IN JUNE AND JULY, IT'S ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER. 
          IT'S 
          [02:35:01]
ABOUT THE LEGACY PROGRAMS THAT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION WILL BE HAVING FOR YEARS TO COME THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT THE YOUTH OF OUR, OF OUR CITY. 
          IT'S ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THESE MATCHES ARE GONNA HAVE LONG BEYOND THE LAST MATCH IN THE LAST WHISTLE, IN THAT THE EVENTS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AND SHOWCASE WHY HOUSTON REALLY IS A GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR SPORTS. 
          WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS, AND WE REALLY DO HAVE THE BEST TEAM IN THE PLANET THAT'S RUNNING THIS. 
          UH, AND NOBODY BETTER THAN CHRIS CNET TO HEAD UP OUR HOST COMMITTEE. 
          THE, THE, THE EFFORTS FOR THE WORLD CUP HERE IN TOWN, AND CERTAINLY THE TEAM THAT HE'S PUT TOGETHER IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS EFFORT IS GONNA BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND THE SAFEST EVENT THAT CITY'S EVER SEEN. 
          IT IS THE LARGEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD, AND IT'S CERTAINLY THE LARGEST THAT CITY'S EVER SEEN. 
          BUT IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S JUST THE START. 
          I THINK TRULY THE BEST IS YET TO COME. 
          SO I APPRECIATE YOU, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHRIS TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE PLANNING. 
          AND, AND AS CHRIS WILL TELL YOU, WE'VE GONE FROM PLANNING NOW TO EXECUTION. 
          AND I THINK CHRIS AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT. 
          HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN PLANNING IT FOR SO LONG NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE, YOU'VE CAUGHT THE CAR. 
          NOW WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? SO IT'S TIME TO, TO, TO BRING THE GAMES ON AND MAKE 'EM HAPPEN. 
          SO CHRIS, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, RYAN. 
          I THANK YOU JUAN, AND GOOD MORNING COUNSEL. 
          UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY, AS RYAN SAID, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR, UH, EIGHT YEARS NOW, AND IT FELT LIKE THE PLANNING WAS, WAS WAS GONNA GO ON FOREVER. 
          AND, UH, HERE WE ARE. 
          IF WE CAN GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE. 
          WE'LL, WE GOT A LITTLE SLIDE PRESENTATION FOR YOU HERE. 
          IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE 29 DAYS AWAY FROM THE START OF THE WORLD CUP WHEN THE FIRST MATCH WILL BE PLAYED IN MEXICO CITY. 
          AND THAT WILL COINCIDE WITH THE OPENING OF OUR FAN FESTIVAL, UH, DOWN IN EAST DOWNTOWN IN IDO. 
          SO FOUR WEEKS FROM TOMORROW, UH, THE FESTIVITIES, UM, WILL KICK OFF AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS. 
          BUT AS JUAN AND RYAN BOTH SAID, WE ARE READY. 
          UM, AND ALSO, AS THE MAYOR REFERENCED EARLIER, FOUR WEEKS AGO, WE HAD TWO OF THE TOP OFFICIALS FROM FIFA COME TO HOUSTON, UH, FOR THEIR FINAL BRIEFING. 
          AND THEY, THEY LEFT THAT, THAT, UM, BRIEFING SAYING THAT HOUSTON IS THE MOST PREPARED HOST CITY AND IT MADE GREAT HEADLINES ACROSS, UH, ACROSS, UH, NORTH AMERICA. 
          SO 29 DAYS TILL THE EVENT BEGINS, AND 32 DAYS UNTIL THE FIRST MATCH IS PLAYED ON, UH, SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH, UH, AT, UH, NRG STADIUM RELIANCE STADIUM. 
          NOW, UH, WHEN, UH, GERMANY WILL TAKE ON CAROUSEL, SO WE CAN GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE HERE. 
          I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A, A QUICK UPDATE. 
          SOME, SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE A REFRESHER, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          UM, SO WE GOT A GREAT DRAW. 
          UH, THIS IS A RANDOM DRAW, UH, FOR COMPETITIVE PURPOSES. 
          AND, UH, HOUSTON LANDED UP WITH ONE OF THE BEST, UM, DRAWS OUT OF ALL THE HOST CITIES. 
          WE HAVE THREE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE WORLD COMING TO HOUSTON AND PORTUGAL, THE NETHERLANDS AND GERMANY, ALL RANKED IN THE TOP 10 IN THE WORLD. 
          AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE PORTUGAL PLAYING HERE ON TWO OCCASIONS. 
          AND THEN THE EXCITEMENT ALSO BUILDS AROUND THREE TEAMS THAT WILL BE MAKING THEIR WORLD CUP DEBUT AND CAPE VERDE AU AND UZBEKISTAN, WHO WILL PLAY HERE. 
          UH, AND THEN THE ROUNDING OUT THE FIELD ARE THE, IS THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, SAUDI ARABIA, AND SWEDEN. 
          SO ALL OF THOSE TEAMS WILL BE PLAYING MATCHES HERE. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          UH, THERE'S THE GROUP STAGE SCHEDULE. 
          UM, IT'S A 20, IT'S THIS, THESE ARE ALL TAKING PLACE BETWEEN JUNE 14TH AND JUNE 26TH. 
          UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERY THREE DAYS THERE WILL BE A MATCH. 
          AND ALL OF THESE MATCHES KICK OFF AT NOON, EXCEPT FOR THE FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH MATCH, WHICH IS 7:00 PM YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND THEN, OF COURSE, TWO OF THE BIGGEST MATCHES WE HAVE HERE WILL BE THE ROUND OF 32 AND THE ROUND OF 16 KNOCKOUT MATCHES. 
          WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S PLAYING IN THOSE GAMES YET. 
          UH, HOWEVER, IF THE SEATINGS HOLD, WHICH SOMETIMES THEY DO, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, UH, THE FIRST GAME WOULD END UP BEING BRAZIL VERSUS JAPAN, WHICH WOULD BE AB ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOR OUR CITY. 
          SO, UH, LOOK OUT FOR THE ROUND OF 32 AND 16 GAMES COMING THROUGH. 
          YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO LEMME TELL YOU SOME POINTS OF INTEREST, SOME THINGS TO LOOK OUT. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AS WELL. 
          UM, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, I'M GUESSING MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHO THIS IS. 
          UH, PORTUGAL HAS, UH, FEATURES ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME AND ONE OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALLERS OF ALL TIME. 
          AND CHRISTIANA RONALDO, HE'S MADE, HE HAS 668 MILLION INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS. 
          I, I, I BELIEVE HE'S THE MOST POPULAR PERSON ON THE PLANET. 
          AND I SAY THAT WITH ALL SERIOUSNESS. 
          UH, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT PORTUGAL'S PLAYING HERE ON TWO OCCASIONS. 
          SO WITH PORTUGAL, UH, COMES THE CIRCUS THAT COMES WITH CHRISTIANO RONALDO, HE'S 40 YEARS OLD. 
          HE'S ALMOST SCORED A THOUSAND, UH, GOALS IN HIS CAREER. 
          UH, AND THIS IS HIS FINAL WORLD CUP. 
          SO WILL THERE BE A FAIRYTALE ENDING TO HIS CAREER WITH A WORLD CUP TROPHY? UH, WE ALL WAIT TO SEE NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO I, WE MAY HAVE THE EVENTUAL CHAMPION PASSING THROUGH HOUSTON AS WELL. 
          THAT'S KIND OF A NEAT THING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR. 
          PORTUGAL'S ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD, BUT HAS NEVER WON IT AGAIN. 
          MAYBE THIS IS THEIR TURN WITH RONALDO. 
          UH, THE NETHERLANDS IS ALSO ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD SEEKING THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP. 
          THEY'VE LOST THREE TIMES IN THE FINAL. 
          AND THEN GERMANY, WHO WILL DEBUT HERE, UH, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, HAS FOUR WORLD CUPS, SECOND, MOST, ALL TIME BEHIND BRAZIL. 
          SO SOME REALLY GREAT TEAMS COMING HERE. 
          AND YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND WITH GREAT TEAMS, THE, THESE, THESE TEAMS HAVE VERY, VERY ORGANIZED, PASSIONATE, BIG FAN BASES. 
          SO THOSE FANS WILL BE 
          [02:40:01]
TRAVELING FROM ABROAD, AND EVEN THEY HAVE A LOT OF DOMESTIC FANS. 
          UM, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS, UH, WHAT'S CALLED THE ORANGE MARCH TO THE MATCH. 
          THIS IS A BIG TRADITION THAT IS, UH, VERY, VERY WELL KNOWN WORLDWIDE BY THE DUTCH. 
          THEY WILL BE DOING THIS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 2ND, MARCHING, UH, FROM SOMEWHERE AROUND RICE UNIVERSITY ON DOWN TO THE STADIUM, UH, THAT MORNING. 
          UH, THE EXPECTATION IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FIVE TO 10,000 FANS DRESSED IN ORANGE, UH, MAKING THAT COORDINATED MARCH DOWN. 
          THAT BUS YOU SEE THERE, AGAIN, IS VERY HISTORIC. 
          IT ARRIVED AT THE PORT OF GALVESTON A COUPLE DAYS AGO. 
          WE GOT A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA WORLDWIDE ON ITS ARRIVAL, UH, AND IT WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT PARADE. 
          BUT THESE THREE FAN BASES WILL, WILL HELP TRAVEL, UH, LARGE NUMBERS OF FANS, UH, INTO THE MARKET. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO I WANNA SHOW SOME OF THE QUICK PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE HERE. 
          UH, THIS IS DOWN AT THE STADIUM. 
          UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OR AS I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO INSTALL A GRASS FIELD THERE. 
          IT'S A CONCRETE FLOOR. 
          UH, THIS WORK BEGAN ON MAY ONE AND, UM, REALLY, REALLY COMPLEX. 
          VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE HIGH TECH INNOVATIVE PROCESS TO BUILD THIS GRASS FIELD IN THE STADIUM AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CAN REMAIN, UH, TOP QUALITY AND ALIVE OVER THE COURSE OF, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS. 
          SO THIS IS UNDERWAY. 
          UH, THE GRASS WILL BE INSTALLED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND, UH, BY THE TIME THE FIRST MATCH IS PLAYED, IT WILL LOOK LIKE WE'VE HAD A PERMANENT GRASS FIELD INSIDE, UH, THE STADIUM FOREVER. 
          SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          UH, THIS IS DOWN IN IDO RIGHT NOW. 
          THIS IS, AGAIN, THE SITE OF THE FAN FESTIVAL. 
          AND IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THERE'S SO MUCH WORK GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S GONNA BE IN, IN GREAT SHAPE HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. 
          UH, WE'VE TAKEN OVER THESE SEVERAL BLOCKS SOUTH OF, UH, SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, UH, WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO BUILD OUT, UH, THE FAN FESTIVAL. 
          IT'S A MASSIVE PROJECT RIGHT NOW WITH A LOT OF COORDINATION. 
          UH, WE WILL HAVE A SOFT OPENING OF THE FAN FESTIVAL ON, UH, TUESDAY, JUNE 9TH, TWO DAYS BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY OPENS ON THE 11TH. 
          AND WE WOULD WELCOME EVERYBODY TO COME ON DOWN AND COME THROUGH, UH, AND SEE THE, THE, WHAT'S GONNA BE JUST AN AMAZING SETUP AND, AND A GREAT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          YOU CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO AS IT PERTAINS TO FAN FESTIVAL, REAL QUICKLY HERE, WE'RE GONNA SHOW SOME IMAGES AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF, OF THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW, BUT WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE. 
          WE'VE CREATED AND BRANDED AND ANNOUNCED THIS THING CALLED FOOTBALL FIESTA. 
          UH, FOOTBALL FIESTA IS THE, IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          IT'S THE BRAND DESTINATION THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE WANT TO INVITE HOUSTONIANS AND PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO COME DOWN TO FOOTBALL FIESTA. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, KIND OF FLIP THROUGH IT. 
          OH, BY THE WAY, THAT'S WHAT A, THAT'S WHAT A FAN FEST LOOKS LIKE, IN CASE SOME OF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE. 
          UM, THIS WAS IN RUSSIA IN 2018. 
          THIS IS WHAT'S COMING TO IDO. 
          UM, SO YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          UH, THE FAN FESTIVAL'S GONNA BE OPEN FOR 34 OF THE 39 DAY TOURNAMENT. 
          THE ONLY REASON WHY IT'S NOT OPEN FOR, FOR FIVE DAYS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MATCHES BEING PLAYED ON THOSE DAYS. 
          THERE'S A REST PERIOD. 
          UH, SO WE WILL BE VIEWING ALL 104 MATCHES BETWEEN JUNE 11 AND JULY 19. 
          IT'S TOTALLY FREE TO THE PUBLIC. 
          SO AGAIN, WE, WE WANNA INVITE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO COME DOWN TO FOOTBALL FIESTA, ENJOY THE BARS AND THE RESTAURANTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE ATTENDING THE OFFICIAL FIFA FAN FESTIVAL. 
          WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, OVER 500,000 ATTENDEES TO THE FAN FESTIVAL OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME. 
          YOU COULD FLIP THROUGH, UH, REAL QUICKLY HERE. 
          THERE'S THE FOOTPRINT, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU JUST, UM, MIGHT NEED A VISUAL OF THAT. 
          AGAIN, SEVERAL BLOCKS SOUTH OF, UH, SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, TAKING OVER THE PROMENADE SPACE. 
          THERE ARE PARKING LOTS, UM, AND WAREHOUSES AND, AND STREETS, UH, TO MAKE UP THE FOOTPRINT OF THE VENUE, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. 
          THIS IS, UH, THERE'S A BIG STAGE AND BIG SCREENS, UH, UNDERNEATH A BIG, UM, TENT THAT WE'RE CALLING A MAGIC SKY, UH, THAT'S DESIGNED TO HELP KEEP KEPT, KEEP PEOPLE COOL AND SAFE, UH, FROM THE HEAT. 
          BUT THAT'S KIND OF AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE. 
          YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT, ANOTHER ONE, AND YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT ANOTHER VIEW WITH THE, WITH THE CITY SKYLINE IN THE BACKGROUND. 
          WE WILL HAVE THESE TWO VIP TENTS, UH, THAT YOU CAN SEE, UH, IN THIS PICTURE. 
          NEXT, NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER, ANOTHER LOOK OF THE SAME THING. 
          YOU CAN KEEP FLIPPING. 
          UH, THAT'S A BIG GIANT SOCCER BALL THERE. 
          THAT'S THE MATCH BALL CALLED TRIANDA THAT FIFA IS USING THIS YEAR. 
          AND WE'RE BRANDING THIS EXPERIENCE AS FARA. 
          UM, FANS WILL BE ABLE TO GO INSIDE THERE. 
          IT'S AIR CONDITIONED AND COOLED, AND THERE WILL BE, UH, AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AROUND SPACE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THERE POWERED BY SPACE CENTER HOUSTON. 
          SO THAT'LL BE A COOL FEATURE. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT. 
          AND OF COURSE, HEAT MITIGATION. 
          AND, UH, CONCERN FOR, FOR HEAT SAFETY IS A BIG THING. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE MISTING STATIONS AND COOLING STATIONS SET UP AROUND THE FOOTPRINT WHERE PEOPLE CAN ONLY GET COOL, BUT THEY CAN GET WATER AND, UH, TOWELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO STAY COOL AND STAY SAFE. 
          UH, SO AGAIN, FOOTBALL FIESTA IS THE BRAND DESTINATION WITH THE BARS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE OFFICIAL FAN FEST IN THE MIDDLE. 
          YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT THREE SIDES REAL QUICKLY, JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT, THE VARIOUS DESTINATIONS THAT PROBABLY EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH. 
          UH, AND THEN LASTLY, 
          [02:45:01]
AS IT PERTAINS TO FAN FESTIVAL, THESE ARE THE ROAD CLOSURES THAT I KNOW IS EVERYBODY'S VERY INTERESTED IN. 
          WHAT'S IN RED RIGHT NOW IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. 
          THEY CLOSED, UH, BACK ON MAY ONE. 
          WHAT'S IN PURPLE WILL EVENTUALLY CLOSE, UH, IN THE COMING WEEKS, HOLLY, OR DAYS JUNE 6TH. 
          UH, AND THEN WHAT'S IN BLUE WILL BE TEMPORARY CLOSURES ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT. 
          AND THAT ALL THE BLUE IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE. 
          YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, THERE'LL BE A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC, UM, IN, IN THAT AREA. 
          SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED. 
          SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PLANNED, UH, STREET CLOSURE FOR THE AREA. 
          UH, AND THEN ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY, I'LL DO MY BEST TO COVER THIS. 
          WE DO HAVE OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY EXPERT HERE, AND CHIEF SAFETY SECURITY OFFICER, TOMMY COLLABRO, IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS FOR HIM AFTERWARDS. 
          BUT THE EMPHASIS IS ON PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, PROTECTION, AND RAPID RESPONSE. 
          SO THAT'S WHAT THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON IN THE PLANNING. 
          UH, AND THAT'S BASED AROUND THE WORLD CUP, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING OUR CORE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. 
          UH, OUR SAFETY EFFORTS ARE BEING LED BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE HOUSTON OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. 
          BEEN AN AWESOME, UH, IT'S BEEN AWESOME TO, TO SIT AND WATCH THE GREAT WORK LED BY THE PEOPLE OF THESE DEPARTMENTS AND THE INCREDIBLE COLLABORATION. 
          AND WHILE THEY'RE TAKING THE LEAD, THERE'S SUPPORT COMING FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE FBI, AND MANY, MANY OTHER REGIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS WHO'VE ALL COME TOGETHER TO BUILD THIS SAFETY PLAN. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO WE DO HAVE, LIKE I SAID, A VERY COMPREHENSIVE TEAM OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. 
          UM, THEY INCLUDE, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, THE FIRE MARSHALS, UH, AND MEDICAL, THE HOST COMMITTEE AND THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. 
          UH, THEY LEAD THE FIVE, UH, PLANNING, MAIN PLANNING COMMITTEES. 
          AND THEN THERE'S 24 DIFFERENT SUBCOMMITTEES UNDER THESE FIVE COMMITTEES, UH, THAT HAS CREATED A LARGE NETWORK OF AGENCIES AND EXPERTS, UH, WHO ARE, WHO ARE CREATING THIS PLAN AND EXECUTING THIS PLAN. 
          YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          NEARLY $80 MILLION WILL BE INVESTED ON OUR PLAN TO PROTECT OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS. 
          UH, THIS FUNDING CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND FEMA IN COORDINATION WITH THE WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE ON THE WORLD CUP. 
          SO THIS FUNDING, UH, IS COMING FROM THOSE SOURCES, AND IT'S GONNA SUPPORT PERSONNEL RESPONSE OPERATIONS, OPERATIONAL READINESS, TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY, TARGET HARDENING, AND THEN COUNTER DRONE MITIGATION, UH, CAPABILITIES. 
          SO, UM, WE GOT 65 MILLION, UM, FOR JUST GENERAL SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND ABOUT 15 MILLION, UH, FOR THE COUNTER DRONE TECHNOLOGY. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND WHILE WE HAVE A LOT TO DO AND A LOT TO FOCUS ON, UM, THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE HIGHLY VISIBLE AND HAVE A PRESENCE ACROSS ALL AREAS. 
          AND I WANTED TO SHOW THE FOCUSED AREAS, UH, WHICH INCLUDE THE AIRPORTS, UH, METRO, THE HOTELS, UH, THE FAN FEST, THE TEAM TRAINING SITES, UH, WHICH IS, UH, SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, THE BASE CAMP, WHICH IS SABERCATS STADIUM, AND OF COURSE, UH, RELIANCE STADIUM, AND THEN ALL THE FAN MAR TROOPS. 
          SO WHILE WE HAVE MORE, MORE, UH, PRESENCE IN OTHER PLACES, THOSE ARE THE FOCAL POINTS, UH, WHERE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PLANNING, UH, WILL BE. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND THEN, UH, AGAIN, WE'RE, WHILE, WHILE THAT'S THE PLAN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE DEDICATED SUPPORT UNITS POSITIONED, UH, FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT, SWAT, BOMB SQUAD, INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSE, AGAIN, COUNTER DRONE AND TRAFFIC MOBILITY, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, THE FIRE AND EMS OPERATIONS WILL BE EMBEDDED INTO THIS AS WELL. 
          SO THAT'S AGAIN, MY, UH, BEST EFFORT TO SUMMARIZE THE, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN. 
          TOMMY'S HERE AT THE END IF, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, BUT WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND THIS IS SORT OF MY LAST PIECE HERE. 
          UM, WHILE THE HOST COMMITTEE AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION HAVE, UH, PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE ENTIRE EVENT, UH, WE'VE SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT THIRD PARTIES ACROSS HOUSTON STEPPING UP ON THEIR OWN, UH, TO HELP HOUSTON SHINE TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD WITH ROADS BEING REPAIRED, WITH TREES BEING PLANTED, WITH THINGS BEING PAINTED. 
          UM, YOU CAN FLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          UH, ON AND ON FROM IAH TO METRO TO CENTER POINT, YOU KNOW, AGENCY AFTER AGENCY IN COORDINATION WITH US, UH, HAVE STEPPED UP TO REALLY HELP BEAUTIFY THE CITY AND PUT US, UM, IN, IN POSITION TO SHINE HERE WITH, UH, 500,000 ESTIMATED VISITORS, UM, PLANNING TO AR UH, SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN HOUSTON IN THE COMING WEEKS. 
          AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, WITH THIS, UH, WHAT, WHAT THE MAYOR WANTED ME TO READ HERE THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS AN UPDATE WE GOT FROM OUR PR TEAM THIS MORNING. 
          OVER THE LAST FIVE DAYS, UH, HOUSTON, THE HOST COMMITTEE AND OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS HAVE RACKED UP MILLIONS OF IMPRESSIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOLLOWING OUR MEDIA EVENTS WITH MAJOR NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTING ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF HOUSTON, EVERYWHERE FROM PERU, LUXEMBOURG TO MEXICO. 
          UH, SO THAT WAS AN INTERESTING THING JUST OVER THE LAST FIVE DAYS, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF IMPRESSIONS COMING FROM OUR CITY AS 
          [02:50:01]
A RESULT OF HOSTING THIS EVENT. 
          SO, UH, THE LAST SLIDE IS JUST A QUESTION SLIDE, SO I THINK WE CAN ALL COME UP AND HANDLE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS CAYMAN FIRST, LET ME SAY REAL QUICK, YEAH, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE WE'VE MENTIONED THAT THE FANTASTIC TEAM WE'VE ASSEMBLED, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THOSE HERE THIS MORNING. 
          HOLLY ALVA, TOMMY COLLABRO, AND CERTAINLY THE BEST BOARD CHAIR EVER, JUAN, UH, AND THEN DIANA AND JEN AS WELL. 
          SO, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE RECOGNIZED. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL, NOT ONLY FOR THE PRESENTATION, BUT TO THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTRAORDINARY WORK. 
          UH, CHRIS, TO YOUR POINT, HOW MANY YEARS, RIGHT, THAT, UH, THAT IS NOW COMING TO FRUITION? SO JUST A HEARTFELT THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON, UH, IN TERMS OF OUR MESSAGING AND WHAT WE WANNA BE COMMUNICATING TO HOUSTONIANS AS WE GEAR UP FOR THIS. 
          UM, WE'VE SEEN SOME REALLY IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE MESSAGING FROM EVEN HGAC, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BEING TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, TRAFFIC AWARE, BUT THIS IS HOUSTON, WE CAN DO THIS. 
          ARE THERE OTHER THINGS AS HOUSTONIANS THAT WE CAN BE DOING, UM, OUR PART WITH IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY MESSAGING, BUT DAY TO DAY THROUGHOUT THIS SPECTACULAR EVENT? YEAH, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONVEY IS WHAT IS, THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY COORDINATED EFFORT ACROSS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. 
          LIKE I SAID, THE AIRPORTS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. 
          THEY'VE, THEY'VE GOT THEIR PLAN METRO, UH, FIRE, SAFETY, SECURITY, EVERYBODY'S STEPPING UP TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE VISITORS TO HOUSTON, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING OUR CORE LEVEL OF SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT EXIST. 
          AND THAT'S ACROSS ALL, ALL METRICS. 
          SO, UM, THE PLAN IS THERE, WE'RE READY TO GO AND, UM, YOU KNOW, READY TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON REALLY STAND OUT HERE IN THE COMING WEEKS. 
          AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. 
          UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          UM, THE PRESENTATION WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE. 
          IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE VERY MUCH WELL PREPARED, AND AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR REMARKS, EIGHT YEARS IS A LONG TIME, UH, TO BE WORKING ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UH, THE ANTICIPATION WE SHOULD FEEL FROM LIKE, HOTEL BOOKINGS, TICKET SALES, UM, EVENT VENUES THAT ARE, UM, MAYBE BEING, UM, PURSUED BY OUTSIDE VENDORS, UH, FOR EVENTS? HAVE WE BEEN SEEING, UM, RECORD NUMBERS OF HOTEL BOOKINGS, OR WHAT ARE THE TICKET SALES LOOKING LIKE? SO I KNOW WE'RE WELL PREPARED, BUT WHAT CAN WE EXPECT ON THAT FRONT? SO, UH, WE'RE EXPECTING ALL THE START WITH THE TICKET SALES. 
          WE'RE EXPECTING ALL SEVEN MATCHES TO BE SOLD OUT. 
          THERE STILL ARE SOME TICKETS REMAINING, AND FANS CAN GO AND, AND GET THOSE TICKETS IF THEY WANT. 
          STILL. 
          UH, OUR PROJECTIONS ARE FOR 500,000 VISITORS TO COME TO HOUSTON AND A $1.5 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE REGION. 
          THERE'S NO REASON FOR US AT THIS POINT TO BE BACKING OFF OF THOSE PROJECTIONS. 
          UH, WE SEE TICKET DATA FROM FIFA EVERY NOW AND THEN. 
          AND THE, UH, SOME OF THE LATEST TICKET DATA WE, WE SAW WAS THAT 74% OF THE TICKET BUYERS FOR, FOR MATCHES IN HOUSTON ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON. 
          SO THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD FOLLOW, UH, THE DATA THAT SAYS THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING HERE, UM, AT THE, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE INACCURATE NUMBERS, BUT THESE NUMBERS ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON HOUSTON FIRST WEBSITE. 
          BUT THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT 'EM, UM, THE, THE HOTEL BOOKINGS FOR THE REGION WERE UP 11%. 
          THAT'S, IT'S A BIG AREA. 
          UM, SO 11% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR FOR, FOR JUNE AND THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY, WHICH IS THE PERIOD OF THE WORLD CUP, UM, DOWNTOWN HOME HOTEL BOOKINGS WERE UP SUBSTANTIALLY AGAIN, ALTHOUGH I, I DON'T REMEMBER THIS, THE, THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT WAS HIGH. 
          UM, AND SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE UP VERY, VERY HIGH. 
          SO ALL THE DATA SHOWS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE HERE IN HOUSTON. 
          UM, EVEN JUST SORT OF THE, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR. 
          I WAS UP WITH JIM AT THE AIRPORTS ON FRIDAY, SNIA, AND, UM, HIS TEAM REPORTED TO ME THAT THERE ARE 2,900 PEOPLE FROM CUR, FROM  COMING IN ON CHARTER JETS THAT THEY'VE GOT SCHEDULED, UM, FOR THE FIRST MATCH. 
          SO YOU HEAR A LOT OF THOSE, THOSE, UH, KIND OF STORIES AS WELL TO BACK THE DATA. 
          THANK YOU ALL. 
          YEP. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND, UH, CHRIS AND RYAN AND THE WHOLE TEAM. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS, UM, KEEPING OUR DISTRICT A TEAM UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING. 
          WE'VE HAD, UM, RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED, YOU KNOW, THE NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. 
          AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSURE THEM THAT YOUR TEAM HAS WORKED, 
          [02:55:01]
UM, DILIGENTLY ON LOGISTICS AROUND NRG. 
          UM, ESPECIALLY ON GAME DAY. 
          UM, WE KNOW THERE WILL BE SOME STREET CLOSURES, SO WE WANNA GET THAT INFORMATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN PLAN FOR THESE GAMES THAT WILL BE HERE IN HOUSTON. 
          WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF, UM, HAVING THESE GAMES. 
          I MEAN, HOUSTON SHOULD BE VERY PROUD. 
          THE EXPOSURE THAT WE WILL GAIN AS A CITY WITH HOUSTON BEING ON THIS WORLD STAGE IS TREMENDOUS. 
          UM, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE FOLKS THAT LIVE AROUND, UM, NRG HAVE THE MOST INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL IN THESE LAST 30 DAYS. 
          UM, SO WE ARE DEFINITELY WANTING TO SHARE THE PRESENTATION, THE LANE CLOSURES. 
          UM, ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE THAT WE CAN PUT IN OUR FIFA EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER, UM, WE WANT TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION AND SHARE IT WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. 
          AND THEN I WANNA JUST SAY THAT, UM, THE FLAGS OF ALL OF THE TEAMS THAT ARE FLYING DOWNTOWN IS AMAZING. 
          UH, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE DOWNTOWN LAST WEEK FOR, UM, SOME VISITORS THAT WERE HERE. 
          AND I THINK THAT THAT WELCOME ALONE IS SO SPECIAL BECAUSE EVERY TEAM WILL SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN OUR, IN OUR DOWNTOWN. 
          AND WE ARE, ARE DEFINITELY, UM, ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET FOR THE MILLIONS OF VISITORS THAT WILL STEP FOOT, UM, IN OUR GREAT CITY. 
          AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO, UM, GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS MAYOR TO, UM, JANICE BURKE, BECAUSE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE COURTING OF FIFA, SHE WAS THERE. 
          SHE WAS RECRUITING ALL OF US TO BE OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF THE GEORGE R. BROWN WHEN THE FIFA FOLKS CAME TO, UM, GARNER THIS BIG EVENT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          I KNOW SHE'S MOVED ON, UM, BUT DID NOT WANT HER TO THINK THAT HER WORKS WERE IN VAIN BECAUSE WE REMEMBER HOW SHE ADVOCATED, UM, FOR FIFA TO COME TO HOUSTON. 
          AND THEN THIS TEAM JUST TOOK THE, THE REIGNS BY THE HELM AND HAVE CARRIED US THUS FAR. 
          UM, I'M SENDING BEST WISHES, UH, TO EACH OF YOU AS WE GET CLOSER. 
          UM, WE KNOW THE ANTICIPATION IS RISING AND HOUSTONIANS, UH, MAY FEEL A LITTLE ANXIOUS. 
          SO I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION THIS MORNING SO WE CAN LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WE ARE READY, WE ARE PREPARED, AND WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING, UH, ON THE WORLD STAGE WITH EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED THIS, THIS THUS FAR TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THAT OUR VISITORS ALSO HAVE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IN OUR CITY. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR DEDICATED EFFORTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, IN RESPONSE TO A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS, UH, OUR WEBSITE, FWC, UH, 26 HOUSTON.COM WILL POST ALL OF THE, THE ROAD CLOSURES. 
          UH, SO THAT'S WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN GO TO GET THAT FWC 26 HOUSTON.COM. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, WE'LL BE CIRCULATING ALL THAT DATA TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE SOON SO THAT YOU CAN SEND THAT OFF, UM, THROUGH YOUR MEASURES AS WELL. 
          UH, THE FLAGS DOWNTOWN WERE THE WORK OF SENT, UH, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS, UH, TWO'S DONE JUST AN AMAZING JOB IN THEIR IMPACT ON THIS. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T GO UNRECOGNIZED AS WELL. 
          MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO DEFINITELY SHARE MY, UH, MY HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU ALL AS WELL, CHRIS, RYAN AND JUAN, AND THE REST OF THE TEAM. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THE FEST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE GAMES AT, AT, UH, RELIANT, BUT THE FAN FEST IS GONNA BE VERY CRITICAL. 
          UM, AND I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY TO, TO JUST JUST SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THESE CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION GOING BACK AND FORTH KNOWING THAT THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF WORK GOING ON. 
          AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, HGAC TEARING UP, YOU KNOW, WITH DOWNTOWN PLUS NOW OVER 120 OR ABOUT 120 STREETS. 
          UM, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE, UH, THAT THOSE WERE NOT CITY DOLLARS, RIGHT? TAX DOLLARS, THOSE COMING FROM THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL. 
          UM, BUT THEN ALSO, UH, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM FOR ENSURING THAT PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS A PRIORITY. 
          'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS TOP OF MIND. 
          AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HERE, UH, ENSURE THAT, UH, NOT JUST VISITORS, BUT SPECIFICALLY HOUSTONIANS ARE, ARE KEPT IN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          UM, AND, AND FOR ME, THE CORE SERVICES, RIGHT? MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT IN EAST DOWNTOWN WE STILL HAVE TRASH PICKUP. 
          UH, WE STILL HAVE, UH, LIGHTS THAT SOMETIMES GO OUT OR WATER LEAK, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE STILL CAN ADDRESS HOUSTONIAN CONCERNS DURING THAT TIME. 
          UH, I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE NEEDED. 
          UM, SPEAKING TO STREET CLOSURES AND ROAD CLOSURES, UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S ALREADY BEEN, UH, DISCUSSED. 
          I'VE SHARED THAT A LOT WITH, UH, FOLKS IN EAST DOWNTOWN SPECIFICALLY, AND THEN IN THE EAST END, EASTWOOD THE CLOSEST NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEN, QUITE FRANKLY, EVERYBODY EAST OF EASTWOOD AS WELL. 
          UM, THE ANTICIPATION OF HAVING THESE ROAD 
          [03:00:01]
CLOSURES AND WHAT IT'LL DO, UM, TO JUST DAILY, DAILY, UH, LIFE FOR AT LEAST 34 DAYS. 
          RIGHT? UM, I, I WANNA, UH, MAKE SURE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT AS WELL, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, FOLKS KNOW THAT TECH STOP WILL PAUSE CONSTRUCTION DURING THAT TIME. 
          UM, WE'LL HAVE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION ALONG, UM, EMANCIPATION DONE, THE SIDEWALKS, THE, THE, THE MEAL OVERLAYS, UH, THE ONES THAT ARE IN DOWNTOWN THAT ARE ALREADY WRAPPING UP AS WELL. 
          SO HOPEFULLY IT GIVES SOME FOLKS A LITTLE BIT OF A EASE. 
          UM, THE ONE PROJECT THAT WILL CONTINUE IS THE GEORGIA RUN EXPANSION. 
          UM, AND IT'S A SMALL FOOTPRINT, SO IT SHOULDN'T BE AS IMPACTFUL AS FOLKS MIGHT THINK. 
          UH, SO TO THAT, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANK Y'ALL, UH, TOMMY, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE SECURITY SIDE, UH, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE THE, THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. 
          UH, BUT THEN HOW DO FOLKS GET, UH, TO AND FROM WORK ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, BUT THEN TO AND FROM THE FAN FEST, UH, YOUR TEAM HAS, HAS DEFINITELY STEPPED UP. 
          AND, AND I'LL, I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, UH, IN LIGHT OF WHAT THE MAYOR SHARED EARLIER, UH, THE GEORGE R. BROWN, UH, WORKERS THAT ARE GONNA SEE AN IMPACT IN THEIR PAY RAISES WHEN EVENTS LIKE THIS COME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          MM-HMM . 
          UM, THIS KIND OF, UM, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE AT THE END OF THE DAY. 
          AND THIS TYPE OF EVENT, UH, EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL THAT IMPACT AS WELL IN THEIR POCKETS. 
          AND SO, I'M EXCITED. 
          I WANT, I KNOW WE SEE TRACY HERE WITH HOUSTON FIRST, BUT, UH, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO HOUSTON FIRST, OF COURSE, THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM, AND A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ELSA AND ISHA, UH, WITH SEIU BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN EVENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN AND THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, THEN HOUSTON SUCCESSFUL AS WELL. 
          SO JUST AGAIN, JUST HUGE KUDOS TO EVERYONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          LET, LET ME FOLLOW YOU BY RESPOND TO CORE SERVICES AND CITY ACTIVITIES THAT WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. 
          I WANT EVERYONE TO ENVISION JULY 4TH, CELEBRATING OUR COUNTRY'S 250TH BIRTHDAY. 
          THERE IS A SOCCER GAME AT NOON, OR RICARDO AND HIS TEAM HAVE ANTICIPATED THE INCREASE PARTICIPATION FOR FREEDOM OVER TEXAS THAT EVENING. 
          THEY ACTUALLY GOING TO ERECT A LARGE, A LARGE SCREEN TV FOR THE FOUR O'CLOCK SOCCER GAME IN PHILADELPHIA. 
          SO IF YOU JUST WANT TO IMAGINE THE FAN FEST FREEDOM OVER TEXAS, WHICH STARTS AROUND THREE O'CLOCK WITH FIREWORKS THAT NIGHT, PEOPLE LEAVING OUR SOCCER EVENT AT NOON TO COME DOWNTOWN, THINK OF THE WELCOME THEY'RE GONNA GET OUR, OUR VISITORS TO FREEDOM OVER TEXAS. 
          IT WILL BE A AMAZING DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          AND SO THANK YOU TO RICARDO. 
          AND JUST THANK ALSO OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PREPARATION OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE EVENTS THAT EVENTUALLY JOIN UP. 
          IT'S NOT THAT FAR A, UH, VISIT FROM FAN FEST TO ALLEN PARKWAY AND THE CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE GONNA TAKE PLACE. 
          SO IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. 
          AND WE COULDN'T HAVE, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR WORKERS AT SCIU. 
          MM-HMM . 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANNA SALUTE YOU GUYS, UH, FOR DOING A GREAT JOB. 
          ORGAN ORGANIZING AND PLANNING. 
          UH, THE THREE OF YOU HAVE BEEN THE FACE OF THIS, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES WHO, WHO HAVEN'T BEEN VISIBLE. 
          AND ONE OF THEM IS, IS TOMMY COLLABRO, WHO'S LOCAL AND BEEN IN CHARGE OF OUR SAFETY AND SECURITIES. 
          HPD, FORMER HPD SWAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HIM ALMOST A YEAR AGO. 
          AND, UH, I, I WANNA TELL HOUSTONIANS, THE PREPARATION ON THE, ON THE SECURITY SIDE HAS BEEN ROBUST AND EXTENSIVE AND, UH, APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WHAT WE'RE GONNA EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. 
          BUT JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL EVAN SHABA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT, UM, DISTRICT D WILL BE PARTYING ON STEROIDS, , SO WE GOTTA BE READY, WE GOTTA BE READY, MAYOR. 
          UH, BUT, UH, I WANNA ASK A QUESTION. 
          UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL REPORT. 
          WE ARE ALSO EXCITED, BUT ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR CUL FOR THE CULTURAL ECONOMY SUCH AS PUBLIC ART? I'M THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, AND I GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR MY PEEPS, , SO I NEED TO KNOW. 
          UH, SO REALLY, SO, UH, TO HELP SUM IT UP, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT THE STADIUM IS CONTROLLED BY FIFA. 
          IT'S GONNA BE VERY, VERY CONSISTENT WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STADIUM IN HOUSTON AS, AS ATLANTA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE. 
          BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DISPLAY CULTURE AND TO PROMOTE HOUSTON IS AT THE FAN FESTIVAL THAT IS 100% CONTROLLED BY US AT THE HOST AS THE HOST COMMITTEE. 
          AND YOU'LL SEE A FULL DISPLAY OF HOUSTON CULTURE FROM THE FOOD SIDE, FROM THE ARTS SIDE, UH, AT THE HOUSTON FAN FESTIVAL WHEN, WHEN YOU ATTEND THAT. 
          UM, SO AGAIN, THE GOAL IS TO, TO HAVE THESE VISITORS COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN AND, AND, UH, LEARN ABOUT HOUSTON AND SHARE IN 
          [03:05:01]
OUR CULTURE. 
          UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IS, UM, ASIDE FROM THE MATCHES THAT ARE BEING SHOWN, UH, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL HOURS, HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE STAGE. 
          AND WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS TO CONDUCT AN OPEN TALENT SEARCH FOR LOCAL HOUSTONIANS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO PERFORM ON THE STAGE. 
          SO ALL OF THE TALENT, UM, ABOUT HALF OF IT'S MUSICAL, THE OTHER HALF IS DIFFERENT VARIETY OF ACTS, DANCING THINGS WILL ALL BE HOUSTON TALENT, UM, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ON THE BIG STAGE AND TO SHOWCASE THEMSELVES. 
          OKAY, LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE AUDITIONS, RIGHT? YOU YOU GONNA TRY OUT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY, COUNCILMAN THOMAS . 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. 
          UH, VERY IMPRESSIVE REPORT, UH, AND PRESENTATION. 
          I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE, AND I THINK I SHARED THIS WITH RYAN THIS MORNING, THAT WHEN FIFA COMES, I WAS GETTING OUT OF TOWN 'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY. 
          UH, BUT DEFINITELY YOU HAVE PRESENTED A REASON TO STAY AND REALLY TO EXPERIENCE HOW OUR CITY IS GOING TO TRANSFORM. 
          UM, I AM, UH, DEFINITELY WATCHING HOW YOU TRANSFORM THE EAST END WITH PARTICULAR INTERESTS. 
          'CAUSE I REPRESENT THE WEST SIDE AND I THINK THE, UM, CITY OF HOUSTON IS A, IS A A, A SMALL EXAMPLE OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY. 
          AND THERE'S SO MANY HOUSTONIANS THAT HAVE A LOVE CULTURALLY, UM, FOR THE SPORT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT, UH, SO MANY REGIONS THROUGHOUT OUR GLOBE. 
          AND SO IF THERE'S EVER ANY OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN LEADING UP TO THE GAMES TO, TO DEMONSTRATE ANY OF, UH, THE GAMES OR THE ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. 
          UM, AND I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE LASTING IMPACT OF FIFA IN, IN OUR CITY, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. 
          AND WE'RE PARTNERING ON JUNE 6TH FOR AN ACTIVATION. 
          UM, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOUSTON, THAT THE ENERGY CONTINUES THROUGHOUT. 
          SO HAPPY TO, UM, SEE HOW YOU TRANSFORM THE EAST SIDE. 
          HAPPY THAT THE LEGACY PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ONCE FIFA ENDS. 
          AND I REALLY THINK THIS IS GONNA BE AN EXCITING TIME. 
          AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHO AL, WHAT'S HIS NAME? RONALDO, CHRISTIANA. 
          RONALDO, WHAT'S HIS NAME? ALDO. 
          HE HAS MORE FANS THAN BEYONCE ON INSTAGRAM. 
          UNBELIEVABLE MIND BLOWING. 
          SO NOW I KNOW HE'S THE TRUTH. 
          SO I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIM ON INSTAGRAM JUST BECAUSE OF THAT. 
          HE BEAT BEYONCE, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF. 
          SO NOW I KNOW HE'S LEGIT. 
          BUT, UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOW, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT 4TH OF JULY WAS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. 
          I MEAN, I THINK HOUSTON'S REALLY GONNA BE PUT ON A, A NATIONAL MAIN STAGE. 
          AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT WELL OVERDUE. 
          CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, VERY QUICKLY, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING JANICE FOR ALL OF HER WORK. 
          'CAUSE AGAIN, YEARS IN THE MAKING AND WE'RE BUILDING ON THAT PROGRESS. 
          I ALSO JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE KENNY FRIEDMAN, WHO IS INSTRUMENTAL, UH, AS WELL IN THAT EFFORT. 
          UH, THE, YOU TOUCHED ON IT AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA GO INTO DETAILS ON SENSITIVE INFORMATION REGARDING ALL THE WORK FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, UH, THE HIGHLY, HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT THE CITY IS TAKING. 
          BUT I DO WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND THE PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THIS. 
          THE OTHER FACTOR OF SAFETY THAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH FAN SAFETY, YOU MENTIONED AT FAN FEST, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SHADED STRUCTURES. 
          UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE PEAK HOUSTON HEAT. 
          UH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS COMING INTO TOWN, ESPECIALLY THAT MAY NOT BE, IS USED TO THAT HEAT. 
          DO WE HAVE FREE WATER AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE OUTDOORS AND NOT INSIDE SOME OF THE STADIUMS. THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO CALL HOLLY UP AND TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE HEAT MITIGATION STRATEGY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE FAN FESTIVAL. 
          GOOD MORNING. 
          HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT. 
          SO HEAT MITIGATION HAS BEEN A, A CRUCIAL PORT PART OF OUR PLANNING. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO THAT. 
          THE FEW THAT YOU REFERENCED, OF COURSE, SHADE STRUCTURE, I THINK CHRIS MENTIONED IN ONE OF HIS PHOTOS. 
          UH, THE MAGIC SKY, WHICH IS A HUGE STRUCTURE THAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA GO OVER THE MAIN VIEWING AREA TO ALLOW FOR SHADE FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMING OUT FOR SOCCER. 
          WATCHING SPECIFICALLY, THERE ARE ALSO, UH, THREE OTHER MISTING STATIONS. 
          SO LARGE, 30 BY 30 STRUCTURES THAT WILL HAVE FANS, MISTING UNITS ON IT FOR, FOR HEAT RELIEF. 
          UM, THERE IS FREE WATER STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS, UM, AS WELL AS ENGAGED WITH OUR MEDICAL PLANNING TEAM IN OUR, IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IN REGARDS TO ICE COOLING, TOWELS, ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS THAT ARE JUST ADDITIVE PIECES. 
          AND THEN OF COURSE, THE OTHER PART WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF FOOTBALL FIESTA AND A FREE EVENT IS WE'RE REALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE COME OUT AND WATCH SOME GAMES AND THEN GO INTO THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND THE OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE AREA COOL DOWN AND COME BACK. 
          IT IS FREE, IT IS FREE FLOWING. 
          AND SO WE HAVE ALL THOSE PIECES ADDING TOGETHER. 
          SO, SO TAKE IT, UH, FULL ADVANTAGE OF HOUSTON'S, UH, INCREDIBLE AIR CONDITIONING. 
          THAT'S EXACTLY THROUGH ALL OF OUR, OUR ESTABLISHMENTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILOR DAVIS? NO, COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UH, GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I AM EX EXTREMELY 
          [03:10:01]
EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND PUTTING THIS IN, EVEN THE PLANNING PRIOR TO THE EXCITEMENT OF WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN IN HOUSTON. 
          UH, I, FOR 1:00 AM OVERLY EXCITED. 
          HOUSTON FIRST THE HOST COMMITTEE, THE WHOLE PLAN OF THE SAFETY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IN TWO, IN 2009, I WOULD HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN CHICAGO AND ALL OF THE MONEY AND THE PLANNING THAT WENT INTO THAT TO HOST THE OLYMPIC AND 2009 WAS, WAS KICKED OUT. 
          CHICAGO LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND WITH EVEN SOME HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE, UH, PUTTING IN THEIR EFFORTS AND DOLLARS AND WHATEVER. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, THE REASON WING WAS WHILE I WAS THERE, IT WAS DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE VIOLENCE. 
          AND WE, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR MAYOR AS WELL AS THE HOLD COMMITTEE AS WELL AS OUR LAW ENFORCERS, BECAUSE HOUSTON IS GOING TO BE FORECAST. 
          YOU'VE ALREADY STATED SOME OF THE, THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS AND AROUND IT. 
          AND I HOPE THAT WE AS HOUSTONIANS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN THIS CITY. 
          AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. 
          UH, OF COURSE I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN IT BECAUSE I'VE GOT A SOCCER PERSON IN MY HOUSE AND, AND, UH, IF WE ALREADY PLANNING TO DO IT AND TO GET INVOLVED, BUT I JUST THINK HOUSTON OUGHT TO REALLY BE APPRECIATIVE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN IN THIS CITY LIKE NEVER BEFORE. 
          SO, THANK YOU MAYOR, TO THE WHOLE COMMITTEE GUYS. 
          UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB. 
          GOD BLESS Y'ALL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CHRIS. 
          BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE AFFORDABILITY, UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S WRITTEN ABOUT AND DISCUSSED AMONG US HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO GET INTO THE GAME. 
          THAT'S THE PURPOSE IN THE FAN FEST AND THE OTHER VENUES. 
          BUT WOULD YOU EMPHASIZE THAT FIFA DOES CONTROL THE ADMISSION AND THE, UH, TERMS OF OPERATING THE GAME? YEAH, NO, I THINK IT'S A BUT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN IN TERMS OF METRO DID NOT RAISE RATES AS OTHER CITIES HAVE. 
          AND, UH, THE FAN FEST IS FREE. 
          SO WE'RE CON WE'RE VERY SENSITIVE. 
          Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING IT AS AFFORDABLE, UH, AS POSSIBLE AND GIVING ALTERNATIVES TO THE GAMES SO YOU CAN WATCH IT IN REAL TIME, UH, WITH PRE-ADMISSION. 
          YEAH. 
          AND THEN THANK YOU TO METRO, THANK YOU TO THE AIRPORT. 
          NO ONE IS RAISING LOCAL RATES. 
          YEAH, NO, UNFORTUNATELY TICKET PRICES ARE GOING UP WITH ALL THESE MAJOR EVENTS. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND FIFA IS AMONG THEM. 
          UH, BUT TO YOUR POINT, THOSE TICKET PRICES ARE 100% CONTROLLED BY THEM. 
          AND WE AS A HOST COMMITTEE, OR AS A CITY, HAVE, UH, HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT THE, WHAT THE TICKET PRICES ARE. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL, HOWEVER, BE AS A HOST COMMITTEE, UH, BE MAKING TICKET DONATIONS TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND ALLOWING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT TO MATCHES. 
          SO WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO BE TAKING SOME OF THE TICKET INVENTORY WE HAVE AND MAKING SURE THAT AS SOME YOUNG KIDS CAN COME OUT FREE OF CHARGE. 
          SO HOW DO THOSE, WHAT, WHAT'S THE BEST MEANS FOR CONTACTING, FOR THOSE YOUTH THAT, UH, UH, I MEAN, IF THEY COULD HAVE TO, THEY CAN JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST GO TO OUR INFO LINE. 
          YEAH. 
          SO THAT'S THE BEST INSTRUCTIONS THERE. 
          YEAH. 
          SO GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THERE'S AN INFO THING, AND THEY COULD REQUEST THROUGH THAT. 
          THAT'D BE THE BEST. 
          WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, LET ME IN HOUSTONIANS, LET ME THANK Y'ALL. 
          UH, IT'S EXCITING AND YOU'VE NOT LEFT ANYTHING UNPLANNED, AND SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. 
          JUAN RYAN, YOUR TEAM. 
          EXCELLENT WORK. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU'ALL. 
          UH, NEXT, UH, THE CONSENT COUNCILMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I, UM, AM REQUESTING A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE TWO FOLKS FROM THE AUDIENCE. 
          SURE. 
          UM, COLLEAGUES, TODAY WE HAVE WITH US, UH, THE FOUNDERS OF, AS WE FAMOUSLY KNOW THEM, OF SPACE CITY WEATHER, ERIC BERGER AND MATT LANZA. 
          AND IF Y'ALL WILL PLEASE JUST STAND FOR A SECOND, TRACY. 
          THEY'RE RIGHT BY YOU. 
          . 
          UM, MATT IS, UH, LEAVING US TO MOVE CLOSER TO FAMILY THIS SUMMER. 
          UH, THE TIMING, I WAS ASSURED, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON, UH, BUT WHILE HE'LL STILL BE VERY INVOLVED WITH SPACE CITY WEATHER, I DID WANNA TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO RECOGNIZE WHAT AN INCREDIBLE INSTITUTION, SPACE CITY WEATHER HAS BECOME, THANKS TO YOU BOTH. 
          UM, WE HAVE RELIED EVER SINCE, MATT, I THINK WE CONNECTED EVEN BEFORE 
          [03:15:01]
I CAME INTO OFFICE, THROUGH HURRICANE HARVEY AND COMING INTO OFFICE, EVERYONE RELIES ON SPACE CITY WEATHER AS THE NO HYPE REPORTING AND FORECASTING. 
          AND THROUGHOUT HOUSTON, PEOPLE LEAN ON Y'ALL, AND THE ACCURACY IS EXTRAORDINARY. 
          BUT EVEN WHEN THERE ARE MISSTEPS OR MIS FORECASTING, THE TRANSPARENCY WITH THAT, THE EXPLANATIONS OF WHY THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PREDICT THAT ACCURATELY HAS BUILT SO MUCH TRUST IN HOUSTON. 
          AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE THINK OF METEOROLOGISTS AS, YOU KNOW, JUST FORECASTING THE WEATHER, BUT THEY ARE LEADERS IN SCIENCE. 
          AND YOU HAVE SOUNDED THE ALARM ON THE CUTS TO FUNDING THE, UH, SHORTAGE OF TOOLS, INCLUDING WEATHER, BALLOONS, TO PREDICT WHAT MAY BE COMING, AND THE NEXUS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          AND YOU HAVE BROUGHT TOGETHER THESE NETWORK OF SCIENTISTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND YOU HAVE STARTED TO BRING US INTO THE FOLD AS WELL. 
          SO I REALLY WANTED TO THANK YOU AND RECOGNIZE YOU, UM, BECAUSE THAT LEVEL OF TRUST IS NOT EASILY EARNED. 
          AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU, ALTHOUGH YOU'RE NOT GOING FAR, AND I KNOW YOU'LL STILL BE INVOLVED. 
          AND ERIC, YOU ARE SO NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE, UH, , WE GOTTA KEEP YOU. 
          I ALSO JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FAMILIES, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A LABOR OF LOVE. 
          Y'ALL DON'T MAKE A LOT OF PROFIT OFF OF THIS. 
          UH, MATT, I KNOW YOU'VE HELD DOWN OTHER JOBS, ERIC AS WELL. 
          UM, BUT MATT, YOUR WIFE DENISE, AND YOUR CHILDREN, AND ERIC, YOUR WIFE, AMANDA, AND YOUR CHILDREN. 
          SO PLEASE ALSO THANK THEM AS WELL FOR JUST THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          AND Y'ALL HAVE GONE NATIONAL NOW, WHICH IS ALSO WITH, IT'S THE EYEWALL, RIGHT? WHERE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE NOW WATCHING AND USING THE RESOURCES THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT. 
          SO WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING IS WORKING. 
          IT'S SAVING LIVES, LIVES, AND WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
NEXT JUDGE. 
          YEAH, GO FOR IT. 
          UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY, ITEM THREE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE AND TWO TO MOVE SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PROPERTY CATEGORY. 
          ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION CAST A TO MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NO. 
          MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS. 
          CATEGORY ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN. 
          CAST A MOVE. 
          MOTION MADE AND SAYING, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED. 
          AND EIGHT MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. 
          SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. 
          ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 25, AND 28. 
          AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 25, AND 28. 
          ALSO, ITEM 31 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 
          NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          I GET ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 
          ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION. 
          YES. 
          NEXT, A MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. 
          OKAY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT FOR US TO, TO THINK ABOUT AND REFLECT ON THIS ITEM. 
          UH, THIS, I BELIEVE, IS A SECOND SET OF AI CAMERAS THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON TO INSTALL. 
          AND WHILE THEY DO POSE POTENTIALLY GREAT BENEFIT TO SOMETHING LIKE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, THEY ALSO POSE A GREAT RISK OF MASS SURVEILLANCE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE, UH, ENGAGING TO INSTALL THE CAMERAS SURVEILLANCE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT MAY BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE DATA AND SURVEILLANCE BY THOSE THAT THE DATA MAY BE SOLD TO. 
          NOW, I HOPE AND TRUST, UH, THAT THE CONTRACT WE ULTIMATELY SIGN WILL ENSURE THAT THE DATA IS MAINTAINED LOCALLY AND WILL ENSURE THAT IT WILL NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. 
          BUT I DO THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON US, ON COUNCIL TO BE MINDFUL AND VIGILANT OF THIS, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS THE NEXT FRONTIER OF SURVEILLANCE. 
          AND IF WE'RE NOT MAKING SMART DECISIONS NOW TO ENSURE THAT HOUSTONIAN CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE 
          [03:20:01]
PROTECTED, IT MAY BE TOO LATE DOWN THE ROAD. 
          UM, BUT I TRUST MAYOR, THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND WE'RE GONNA SIGN A THOUGHTFUL CONTRACT THAT PROTECTS HOUSTONIANS, BUT I WANTED TO FLAG IT. 
          MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS AS FUTURE AI. 
          UH, CAMERAS COME BEFORE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS. 
          NEED A MOTION? CASTEX. 
          TA MOVE. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM NINE NEEDS A MOTION. 
          CASTEX. 
          TA MOVE. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          . 
          COUNCILMAN PECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, THIS ITEM IS APPROPRIATING THE DEMOLITION COSTS RELATED TO THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NORTHWEST TRANSFER STATION AT THE SUMMER MEYER DEPOSITORY. 
          AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. 
          IT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED. 
          UM, BUT THE DEPOSITORY WILL BE CLOSED FOR TWO YEARS WHILE IT'S UNDERGOING THIS, UM, THIS RENOVATION. 
          AND SO I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO DIRECTOR HASSAN, BUT MAYOR, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATE LOCATION FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR, UM, THEIR, THEY'RE TRASH. 
          DURING THIS TIME, I'M WORRIED ABOUT, UM, A LEGAL DUMPING HAPPENING IN DISTRICT A WHILE THIS DEPOSITORY IS CLOSED. 
          SO HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE DIRECTOR ON MOVING FORWARD ON THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THIS ITEM I WANT TO RECOGNIZE. 
          UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLY, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. 
          THIS IS IMPROVEMENTS TO TWO PARKS IN THE DISTRICT, MELROSE PARK DISTRICT, OR DENVER HARBOR PARK. 
          AND WE'RE TALKING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, DRAINAGE, LIGHTING, UH, AND THEY HELPED SECURE AND SHEPHERD THROUGH SOME FUNDING, UH, THAT ARE MAKING THESE PROJECTS POSSIBLE. 
          AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM BOTH, UH, AS THESE ARE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN DISTRICT H. 
          THANK YOU. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          I. 
          OPPOSED. 
          NAME. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          MAYOR . 
          MAYOR PRO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANNA SEND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS. 
          UM, HE HAS HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS, UM, NEAR HAGGAR PARK FOR YEARS ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED AT THIS PARK. 
          OUR RE OUR RESIDENTS IN THE WESTBURY AREA ARE ECSTATIC ABOUT THIS APPROPRIATION. 
          UM, WE KNOW WE HAVEN'T ENGAGED THE DESIGN TEAM YET, BUT FOR THE RENDERING, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, GETTING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT HAGER PARK IS ONE THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ALL BE PROUD OF AND REALLY ENJOY. 
          SO, UM, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT ITEM, ITEM 20 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED. 
          NAME. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          MAYOR PRO, TIM. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR PARKS IN OUR CITY. 
          WE'VE GOT LOTS OF GOOD PARK ITEMS. UM, MARION, UH, PARK, THE RECREATION CENTER. 
          WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH, UH, ROOF LEAKS, AND THE ROOF HAS BEEN NEEDING AN UPDATE FOR YEARS. 
          UM, VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATION HERE FOR THE ROOF REPLACEMENT AT MARION PARK, UM, FOR THAT CENTER. 
          I HOPE THAT ANGEL RYAN IS LISTENING. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND I HOPE THAT THE MEMBERS IN OUR BRAYS OAKS, UH, MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ARE ALSO LISTENING. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD ADVOCATES FOR THE RECREATION CENTER AT MARION PARK. 
          AND WE WILL DEFINITELY CELEBRATE WHEN THE ROOF HAS BEEN REPLACED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE LEAKS IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, MEMBER COUNCIL, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THIS IS THE JOINT PARTICIPATION IN HER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR CAMPBELL ROAD FROM CLAY TO HEMPSTEAD. 
          I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          MAYOR, YOU KNOW HOW BAD THIS STREET IS, AND IT HAS BEEN BAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. 
          IT'S OFTEN ON THE LIST. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN DIFFERENT MEDIA SOURCES DO THE WORST OF THE WORST STREETS IN HOUSTON, THIS ONE IS ALWAYS ON THAT LIST. 
          SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR, UM, GETTING THIS PROJECT MOVING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 25 IS, IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          MOTION APPROVED. 
          ITEM 28 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, SAY THOMAS, AFTER, 
          [03:25:01]
AFTER THE VOTE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED NAY. 
          ITEM PASSES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU COLLEAGUES AND MAYOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND FOR, UH, RESIDENTS THAT ARE WATCHING. 
          COUNCIL, WE HAVE A SERIES OF ACTIONS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT. 
          UM, THIS IS THE, UM, ACQUISITION OF LAND AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO, UH, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ALE SOUTH FOR CIP PROJECT. 
          AND THEN THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE THE ACQUISITION OF THE OLD A LEAF LIBRARY. 
          SO STAY TUNED AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE WEST SIDE. 
          NEXT VOTE. 
          WE ALREADY VOTED. 
          OKAY, WE VOTED. 
          [NON-CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM 33 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. 
          CASTEX TATUM MOVED TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE AT 9:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE THE 10TH, 2026. 
          SECOND. 
          MOTION MADE. 
          AND SECOND. 
          ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. 
          THOSE OPPOSED. 
          NAME, MOTION PASSES. 
          ITEM 
          [PROPOSITION A COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM]
34 IS AN ORDINANCE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          COUNCILOR P*****K. 
          COUNCILOR P*****K. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND COLLEAGUES. 
          UM, AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, IN 2022, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT PUTTING CAPS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE LOAN REPAYMENTS WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
          UH, IT VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT AS IT RELATED TO FREE SPEECH. 
          UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN OUTDATED LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT IS IN CONFLICT WITH THAT RULING. 
          AND SO THIS PROP A REPEALS THAT ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE IS NO LONGER IN CONFLICT WITH STATE, WITH FEDERAL LAW. 
          AS FOR YOUR ALL SUPPORT, COUNCILMAN CARTER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS AND CERTAINLY THE, UH, LIMITATIONS WERE PUT IN PLACE IN 2016 UNDER THE TURNER ADMINISTRATION. 
          AND, UM, WHILE I'M NOT OPPOSED TO LIMITATIONS, I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, STATE LEVEL. 
          UM, AND, UH, I THINK CERTAINLY, UM, I'D LIKE TO REFER IT TO THE, UH, ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND LET US TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE REASON THAT IT WAS THE CAPS WERE PLACED IN 2016 ALIGNS WITH WHAT IT IS WE REALLY WANNA DO FOR THE LONG, FOR THE LONG HAUL. 
          I MEAN, I, I, I CERTAINLY AM AM AM WILLING TO, TO REFER IT BACK AND TO, TO, UH, THE COMMITTEE AND LET US TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND WORK WITH YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DECISIONS MADE ARE FOR THE, FOR THE BODY AS A WHOLE. 
          VICE MAYOR PECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT A GOING TO COMMITTEE, UM, BEFORE WE GO FURTHER WITH THIS ORDINANCE, UM, JUST TO HAVE A MORE THOUGHTFUL SOLUTION HERE. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT ELIMINATING ALL THE REIMBURSEMENT CAPS ALONE IS THE BEST ANSWER HERE. 
          MY CONCERN IS THAT WE, IF WE REMOVE EVERY SINGLE GUARDRAIL, WE RISK A SYSTEM. 
          WE'RE ONLY WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS CAN AFFORD TO RUN FOR OFFICE. 
          UM, ONE OF THE STRENGTHS THAT WE SEE HERE ON CITY COUNCIL IS, UM, HAVING DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT REALLY REFLECTS THE CITY THAT WE SERVE. 
          UM, HOUSTON MAY BE ONE OF THE FEW MAJOR MUNICIPALITIES WITHOUT THE, OR WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT CAPS, BUT IT HAS REMAINED IN, UM, IT, IT HAS CAUSED US TO REMAIN IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN RUN FOR OFFICE AND WIN, UM, WHERE REGULAR PEOPLE CAN, CAN RUN FOR OFFICE AND WIN. 
          UM, THIS CONCERN IS NOT NEW. 
          IN THE 1990S, THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, REVIEWED THEIR REIMBURSEMENT CAPS FOR STATEWIDE OFFICES AND LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED WHETHER THOSE LIMITS SHOULD BE EXPANDED OR CHANGED. 
          ULTIMATELY, THEY DID NOT MAKE A CHANGE BECAUSE OF, IN PART, CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO, UM, PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY. 
          SO I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE LEGAL CONCERNS RAISED BY THE SUPREME COURT CASE WITHOUT COMPLETELY ABANDONING THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND OUR ORDINANCE. 
          UM, RATHER THAN REMOVING ALL THE LIMITS ENTIRELY, WE SHOULD EXPLORE APPROACHES THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO WITHSTAND LEGAL SCRUTINY WHILE STILL PROTECTING ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICE FOR EVERYDAY HOUSTONIANS. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD RE, WE COULD, UM, CONSIDER REASONABLE TIMEFRAMES FOR POST-ELECTION FUNDRAISING TO REPAY LOANS, STRONGER DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS, IDENTIFYING CONTRIBUTIONS USED FOR LOAN REPAYMENT AND OTHER TRANSPARENCY MEASURES THAT ADDRESS CORRUPTION CONCERNS WHILE PRESERVING THE FAIRNESS OF OUR ELECTIONS. 
          SO I WOULD AGREE TO SEND IT TO COMMITTEE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS. 
          COUNCILMAN P*****K, COUNCILMAN P*****K . 
          YOU GUYS ARE FUNNY. 
          UM, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, MICHELLE, YOU WROTE A LEGAL BRIEFING ON THIS, UM, ISSUE. 
          UM, SOME OF THE MEMBERS MAY HAVE SEEN THAT LEGAL BRIEFING. 
          CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT IN 2022? UM, THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN REFERENCE TO, UH, THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN 
          [03:30:01]
VIOLATING FREE SPEECH AS IT RELATES ALSO TO OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE, AND HOW, UH, THE LANGUAGE COULD BE DEEMED IN CONFLICT WITH THAT AND HOW THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE SEEN BY A JUDGE THROUGH A COURT OF LAW IF SOMEONE WAS TO CHALLENGE IT. 
          WELL, THE LANGUAGE OF OUR ORDINANCE IS SIMILAR TO THE, UH, FEDERAL REGULATION THAT SENATOR CRUZ CHALLENGED UNDER FEDERAL LAW. 
          AND, UH, THE MEMO I HAD WRITTEN UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO IN THE LAWFULNESS MEMO, ADDRESSES A CONCERN THAT OUR ORDINANCE MAY NOT BE LEGALLY SUPPORTABLE. 
          SAY THAT AGAIN. 
          THE, UM, THE OPINION, UH, LETTER THAT I'VE DONE AND ALSO THE LAWFULNESS MEMO CALL INTO QUESTION WHETHER OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE IS LEGALLY SUPPORTABLE. 
          SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT, THAT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LOAN REPAYMENTS ARE DEEMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND VIOLATE FREE SPEECH. 
          NOW, THIS BODY JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WANTED TO HAVE A WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY LOCAL ORDINANCES THAT ARE IN CONFLICT WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. 
          . 
          NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHERE IT IS A TRUE RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT THAT'S ON ITS FACE, SAYS THAT IT VIOLATES FIRST AMENDMENT FREE SPEAKS PROTECTIONS. 
          AND NOW WE WANT TO REFER TO A COMMITTEE AND HAVE ALL THESE OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT THAT WHEN I SENT THIS OUT TO YOU ALL MONTHS AGO, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, UM, NO ONE EVER BROUGHT UP ANY OF THESE ISSUES AND CONCERNS. 
          WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. 
          WE NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO ME ABOUT REFERRING IT TO A COMMITTEE. 
          AND SO THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO BRING THIS UP NOW WHEN THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY PUT OUT A LEGAL MEMO STATING THAT OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE AS, AS PUT FORTH ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW, IS IN CONFLICT WITH THAT RULING. 
          SO YOU ALL SEEM TO BE CONTRADICTING YOURSELVES TODAY AS OPPOSED TO THE ARGUMENTS YOU WERE MAKING JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ON THE ICE ISSUE. 
          ON THE ICE ISSUE. 
          ON THE ICE ISSUE, THE BIGGEST QUESTION WAS, WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE, HAVE ANY LANGUAGE IN VIOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. 
          NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF, OF FEDERAL LAW, AND NOW, NOW WE WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT REFERRING IT AND GETTING ALL THESE OTHER PROTECTIONS OR ALL THESE OTHER DISCUSSIONS, WHICH, WHICH IS FINE IF YOU ALL WANT TO DO THAT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS AS IF THINGS ARE NOT CONSISTENT. 
          AND WHEN YOU HAVE A RULING, I MEAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE NO ON IT. 
          IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE NO. 
          BUT IF THERE'S A RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT ON THIS EXACT ISSUE SHOWING THAT OUR, UM, LANGUAGE IS IN CONFLICT, THEN WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CHALLENGE THAT? THAT, THAT JUST SEEMS ODD TO ME. 
          COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE PROP A FOR, UH, ICE, THERE WERE STILL SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH. 
          UH, IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH A PROP, A COMMITTEE OR, UH, ANY OTHER COMMITTEE, BUT WE STILL WORKED THROUGH THAT, AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. 
          SO YEAH, THERE WERE SOME CONFLICTS WITH THE STATE, BUT, AND SIMILAR TO THIS, THERE'S CONFLICTS, RIGHT, WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH SOME, SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. 
          AND I, I JUST TAKE, UM, YOU KNOW, AS MY, MY COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT, UH, MENTIONED IF, IF SOMEONE COULD LOAN THEMSELVES HOWEVER MUCH MONEY AT A LOCAL LEVEL, IT, IT JUST TO ME THAT THERE'S SOME, SOME CHALLENGES THERE PERSONALLY, UH, THAT COULD DEFINITELY WIN RACES RIGHT OFF THE BAT. 
          AND SO I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A MORE OPEN DIALOGUE ABOUT IT. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'S IN CONFLICT, IT'S IN CONFLICT, BUT IS THERE ANOTHER WAY WHERE WE'RE NOT ENSURING THAT MILLIONAIRES CAN WIN RACES? SO I I, I'M GOOD WITH REFERRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE AS WELL. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AS THE CHAIR OF THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, CAN YOU ASSURE US THAT YOU'LL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE HEARING AND GIVE COMMON CAUSE AND OTHER, UH, ETHICS GROUP THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY, PERHAPS EVEN ORGANIZED LABOR THAT OFTEN DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO MATCH SOMEONE'S INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION? UH, THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON THE SENATOR CRUZ 
          [03:35:01]
OPPORTUNITY TO REIMBURSE HIMSELF. 
          UH, THEY DID RULE, BUT WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR ELECTION LIMITS OR REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES AND STATES DO. 
          UH, AUSTIN ONLY ALLOWS A $400 CONTRIBUTION, A LIMIT ON INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION. 
          I SAW WHERE LA IS 1700. 
          UH, WOULD YOU LOOK AND SEE WHY? AND, AND YOU CAN PULL RECORDS OF WHY THIS LIMIT WAS IN PLACE OR SOME VERSION OF THIS LIMIT TO MAKE CERTAIN IT'S A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. 
          I GOT ELECTED THE FIRST TIME KNOCKING DOORS, LITERALLY. 
          WELL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LIMIT FOR MILLIONAIRES TO COME IN AND ESSENTIALLY BUY THE ELECTION, IT'S NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. 
          IT'S NOT IN THE GOOD GOVERNMENT BECAUSE FURTHERMORE, HOW DOES THAT INDIVIDUAL REPAY THEMSELF? IT WAS PLACED IN LAW AND RULES TO KEEP SPECIAL INTEREST. 
          THERE'S TWO, TWO PRONGS HERE. 
          ONE, YOU DON'T WANT JUST THE WEALTHY ABLE TO RUN AND WIN, AND THEN ALSO YOU DON'T WANT SPECIAL INTEREST TO REPAY THAT PERSON LOAN. 
          SO I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW OUR ETHICS REQUIREMENTS. 
          FINANCIAL REPORTING. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOT READY TO RUN FOR OFFICE, I HAD TO DO . 
          IT WAS REQUIRED TO DO AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST. 
          IF YOU WANNA SEE, I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR Y'ALL'S OCCUPATION SO I COULD GET TO KNOW YOU. 
          I HAD TO DO AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST. 
          SO THERE'S A LOT OF ETHICS REFORM THAT WE COULD USE THIS PROP AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT. 
          YEAH, I'M DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO IT, MAYOR, AND OF COURSE MY VICE CHAIR IS AS WELL. 
          UM, AND SHE'S RAISED SOME CONCERNS. 
          UM, AND, AND WE'VE STARTED TACKLING, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS KNOW THIS, UM, BUT PRIOR TO ME BEING THE ETHICS CHAIR MAYOR, THERE WAS REALLY NO ETHICS COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR AT LEAST A DECADE. 
          UH, SO WE HAVE BEEN TACKLING CHAPTER 18, UH, UH, AMENDMENTS. 
          UM, AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE'D LOVE TO ALSO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT. 
          UH, SO AGAIN, UH, DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING, UH, OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN THIS, UH, PROP A, UH, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY LABOR AS WELL. 
          UM, SO DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO IT ALONG WITH MY VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD'S, UM, MEASURE RAISES SOME REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND ENFORCEMENT. 
          UH, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THE CITY DOESN'T ENFORCE ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE OR REPORTING. 
          SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THE ORDINANCE THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE REPEALED IS A DEAD LETTER. 
          'CAUSE WE JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING IN THIS SPHERE, WHICH, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. 
          UM, WE HAD AN ETHICS COMMITTEE MEETING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WHERE I PUT FORTH A PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE THAT WHEN PEOPLE MAKE THEIR CAMPAIGN, UH, FINANCE FILINGS, THEY INCLUDE DOCUMENTATION ON WHERE THEIR MONEY CAME FROM AND WHAT IT WAS SPENT ON. 
          AND, UH, GOT NOTHING BUT PUSHBACK, REALLY. 
          SO THESE QUESTIONS DESERVE TO BE HASHED OUT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, YOU ARE CORRECT IN, IN, UH, CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE'S, UH, ASSESSMENT THAT IN, IN IT'S LIKELY OUR ORDINANCE CONFLICTS WITH, WITH, UH, POLITICAL SPEECH FREEDOM UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION. 
          MY MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE JUST REPEAL THIS WITHOUT DOING MORE TO REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT WE PUT ON THESE FINANCE FORMS, AND IT, IT OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY THAT, THAT A CORRUPT CANDIDATE COULD ESSENTIALLY LAUNDER PAYMENTS, LAUNDER MONEY THROUGH THEIR CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT. 
          NOW, I'M NOT IN ANY WAY SUGGESTING THAT THAT, UH, OF ANY, ANY INDIVIDUAL, UH, HAS, HAS DONE ANYTHING OR IS CONTEMPLATING DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, I COULD, I COULD REPORT THAT I GOT A A 50,000 THAT I LOANED MYSELF $50,000, UM, AND THEN TAKE THE $50,000 FROM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO REPAY MYSELF. 
          OH, WITHOUT ANY, I SEE ANY PROOF OF THAT. 
          I SEE. 
          AND, AND THAT'S DANGEROUS IN MY VIEW. 
          AND SO, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLER DOESN'T WANT THIS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK THIS GENERAL AREA, UH, NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. 
          AND, AND THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS, I POINTED OUT THAT THE 
          [03:40:01]
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS HAD ISSUED AN OPINION IN, IN MY VIEW, OPENING UP ENFORCEMENT BY, BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REQUIREMENTS AND, AND, AND SO FORTH. 
          SO, SO I WOULD WELCOME A ROBUST DISCUSSION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REQUIREMENTS IN COMMITTEE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WAS NOT PLANNING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. 
          UM, BUT TO SAY THAT SOMETHING WAS DONE DIFFERENTLY FROM THE ICE CONVERSATION WHEN SOMETHING WAS JUST THROWN UP WITHOUT TIME FOR COUNSEL TO VET IT IS COMPLETELY FALSE. 
          AND I GOTTA SAY THAT ON THE RECORD. 
          BACK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR BRINGING AND ELEVATING THE ISSUE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND CAMPAIGN, WHAT I HOPE WILL BE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, UH, TO THE HORSESHOE BECAUSE IT IS LONG OVERDUE. 
          IN ADDITION TO THE FAILURE OF THE CITY TO ENFORCE IN TERMS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE, WE DO NOT ENFORCE OTHER RULES ON THE BOOKS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS. 
          SO THERE IS A LOT THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE AND ADDRESS BECAUSE THERE ARE CANDIDATES THAT FILE THAT DO NOT MEET THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS. 
          THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE PAST THAT HAVE SERVED THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY MEET RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS. 
          AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS IN-DEPTH, THOROUGH, NOT JUST CONVERSATION, BUT LAYOUT OF PROPOSALS AND ACTION THAT PROVIDE ACCESS FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO RUN. 
          UH, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PAID ON A PART-TIME SALARY, AND MANY HOUSTONIANS DON'T REALIZE THAT. 
          BUT EVEN THAT LIMITS ACCESS TO RUNNING ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE A PRIVILEGE OR A FAMILY THAT'S WILLING TO SACRIFICE MORE THAN THEY SHOULD TO SERVE PUBLICLY WHEN THERE ARE, OR WORK MULTIPLE JOBS. 
          THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT HAVE TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS WHILE SERVING EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. 
          AND I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR EVERYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT HAS TO DO THAT. 
          BUT IT ALSO LIMITS PERSPECTIVES AND IT LIFE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE THAT COULD OTHERWISE BRING SOMETHING VALUABLE, BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO. 
          MM-HMM . 
          SO, I, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THIS BODY, BUT ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, FOR ELEVATING THIS, UH, BECAUSE IT HAS, WELL, WE HAVE ALL QUIETLY TALKED ABOUT IT. 
          IT HAS NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT PUBLICLY AT THIS HORSESHOE ENOUGH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I THINK YOU MADE A GREAT ARGUMENT FOR GOING TO A ETHICS COMMITTEE, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN POLLARD FOR GIVING US THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THAT ROBUST DISCUSSION. 
          AND, AND YOU'RE BRINGING UP NEW ITEMS AS WE TALK. 
          SO IT IS PAST TIME FOR US TO REVIEW CITY CAMPAIGN FINANCE, LOOK AT EXAMPLES OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS. 
          SO THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DISCUSSION. 
          THAT IS LONG, LONG OVERDUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT LEGISLATE INTEGRITY AND YOU KNOW, HOW WE COULD BEAT THIS TO DEATH, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I WANNA KNOW, I, I'M NOT ONE THAT THAT ACTUALLY TAKES IN A LOT OF CAMPAIGN FINANCING 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT MY, MY FORTE, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN I PUT MY MILLION DOLLARS IN THAT I'M GONNA GIVE MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO DO IT OTHER THAN THAT. 
          AND SO IT, IT IS THE PROBLEM TO ME THAT NOW WE WANNA GO TO A COMMITTEE WHEN WE HAVE CLEARLY STATED THAT WE DON'T WANNA VIOLATE FEDERAL, UH, HEARINGS. 
          AND SO, UH, I MEAN, WE CAN TAKE IT TO COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT RESIDENCY AND, AND, AND REGULATING THAT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE RUN AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT THERE, WHICH MEANS THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LET THEM KNOW. 
          BUT THEN THERE ARE THOSE THAT WILLINGLY RUN FOR OFFICE AND KNOW THAT THEY DON'T LIVE WHERE THEY NEED TO LIVE. 
          I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE OFF THE MUSCLE YOU HAVE BEEN DISHONEST. 
          AND SO THOSE DISCUSSIONS NEED TO ALSO BE INCLUDED, UH, SINCE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO END 
          [03:45:01]
UP IN A COMMITTEE, ALTHOUGH I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. 
          'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF CUT AND DRY, AND THEN WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. 
          BUT CERTAINLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER CAME, AND YOU ARE RIGHT ON WITH THAT, UH, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IRRITATING TO ME TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE NOT, AND JUST WANT TO GET IN WHERE THEY FIT IN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MOST OF US JOIN YOU IN NOT HAVING A MILLION DOLLARS TO PUT IN A CAMPAIGN. 
          SO PUT US, PUT US ON YOUR TEAM IF, IF IN FACT SOMEONE DOES THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US IS SAYING THAT WE WANT TO VIOLATE THE LAW IN THIS INSTANCE. 
          I CERTAINLY AM NOT SAYING THAT. 
          WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS THE BEST OR ONLY WAY TO AVOID BEING IN CONFLICT WITH THIS SUPREME COURT CASE. 
          I THINK THAT THERE'S OTHER WAYS OF ACCOMPLISHING IT. 
          AND WHILE WE MIGHT END UP DOING THIS, I THINK THAT WE NEED THE ADDED PIECES THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT, UM, ABOUT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE PAID BACK AND WHO IS DONATING MONEY IN ORDER TO PAY PEOPLE BACK FOR THESE CAMPAIGNS SO THAT THERE'S NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST. 
          SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT FURTHER. 
          AND IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING THAT, ALL THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE RAISED RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND CARTER AND I SUBMITTED A PROPOSITION A ORDINANCE RELATED TO ETHICS, UM, AND WORKING WITH THE MAYOR, WE SENT IT TO THE COMMITTEE INSTEAD. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, THAT PIECE OF IT AND ALL THE PIECES THAT EVERYONE HAS TALKED ABOUT TODAY, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO ALL OF THESE CONCERNS SO THAT WE PUT FORTH ORDINANCES THAT REALLY, UM, TACKLE THESE ISSUES, BUT ALSO, UM, WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU. 
          AND CERTAINLY, I, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER P*****K, WITH RESPECT TO, TO YOUR PROP A, UM, IT'S NOT THAT I AM OPPOSED, I THINK WE, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS AROUND IN 2016 UNDER THE TURNER ADMINISTRATION WHEN THE LIMITS WERE PUT IN PLACE, BUT THERE WAS LIKELY A REASON, RIGHT? I DON'T THINK THEY JUST DECIDED ONE DAY WE'RE GONNA LIMIT, WE'RE GONNA CAP IT AT THIS. 
          AND SO I THINK PERHAPS WE, WE LOOK AT THAT AND, AND, AND TALK ABOUT IT AND COME UP WITH WHAT BEST FITS THE BODY AS A WHOLE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I, WHAT I FEEL WE SHOULD DO. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, IF I'VE GOT A MILLION DOLLARS TO THROW IN AND, YOU KNOW, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW PAYS ME BACK AND I GET TO REPAY MYSELF, THAT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ETHICS VIOLATION. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING OFF OUR NOSE TO SPITE OUR FACE. 
          COUNCIL MARTINEZ, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND JUST, JUST FOR SOME CLARIFICATION. 
          SO AGAIN, THERE NO ETHICS COMMITTEE FOR OVER A DECADE. 
          NONE. 
          AND SO THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE KICKED OFF IN 24, AND WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN OR SO, THEY'VE REALLY BEEN EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL FOR EVEN OUR COLLEAGUES. 
          I REMEMBER THE FIRST ONE THAT WE HAD, UM, AS, UH, WE HAD SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY LEGAL CAME IN OR JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO AS A ELECTED OFFICIAL AND THEN ALSO WHAT STAFF MEMBERS CAN AND CANNOT DO. 
          AND IT WAS EYE-OPENING TO EVEN MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE. 
          AGAIN, A LOT OF THE, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING OUTTA THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WAS REALLY LAYING A FOUNDATION OF WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF. 
          UM, WE BROUGHT OIG, WE BROUGHT LEGAL, AND THERE ARE, THERE ARE STEPS TO WORK INTO IT. 
          AND I KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE COME IN AND SAID, HEY, CAN WE PUT THIS ON? IT WAS REALLY VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. 
          BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE IS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE EVEN FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN FORMER STAFFERS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE FOR A LONG TIME. 
          AND SO THE WORK IS CONTINUING AS MY COLLEAGUE TO THE RIGHT HAD MENTIONED, THERE'S A PROP A THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. 
          WE'RE LOOKING AT OIG AS WELL. 
          WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ HAS SUBMITTED SOME, SOME STUFF AS WELL. 
          BUT AGAIN, MY PRIORITY AS A CHAIR FOR ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE HAS BEEN TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD OF WHAT IS GOING ON. 
          BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME, FOLKS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON OR HAD ANY, ANY UNDERSTANDING OF IT. 
          UH, NOW THAT WE, UH, AGAIN HAVE, UH, COUNCILOR POLLARD'S, PROP A, THERE'S SOME WORK WITH COUNCILOR RAMIREZ AS WELL. 
          SOME WORK WITH, OF COURSE, COUNCILOR PECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CARTER. 
          THERE IS A INTENTIONAL DEEP DIVE IN CHAPTER 18 ORDINANCE. 
          AND THAT IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ETHICS, 
          [03:50:01]
UH, UH, AMENDMENTS CAN COME IN. 
          SO, AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THIS ON. 
          UH, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, YOU KNOW, LEANING INTO ME MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SEE THIS THROUGH AS WELL. 
          UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD WITH FOLKS COMING TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE. 
          UM, I'VE HOSTED, AGAIN, ABOUT HALF A DOZEN, AND I WOULD WANT, BECAUSE MY, MY COMMITTEE IS A COMMITTEE OF ALL, AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE MORE THAN FIVE OR SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE THE WORK HAPPENS. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILOR EVAN SHABA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I GUESS WHAT, WHAT, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE LIMITS TO THE DONATIONS, THAT WON'T CHANGE, NOR WILL THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
          SO I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE FEELING THAT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE HAS TO GO TO A, UH, COMMITTEE WHEN WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES. 
          SO, BUT NO LIMITS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO REPORT IF, IF, IF, UH, IF SOMEBODY WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND ACTIVITY OR WHATEVER IS GONNA, WHATEVER, GIVE YOU TO YOUR CAMPAIGN, YOU'RE GONNA STILL HAVE TO PUT IT OUT THERE, PUT IT OUT THERE. 
          AND SO, UM, I I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING. 
          AND THERE'S A LIMIT TO THE DONATIONS. 
          THEY'RE NOT JUST GONNA COME IN AND GIVE YOU, I WISH, UH, A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, JUST BECAUSE YOU LOAN YOURSELF THAT MONEY, UH, YOU'RE JUST HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY. 
          AGAIN, I DON'T RAISE A LOT OF MONEY. 
          I MEAN, THAT CAN BE CORRECTED AT ANY POINT, BUT, UH, . 
          BUT CERTAINLY I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT IF I HAVE TO GO INTO MY PERSONAL FINANCES, THAT, UH, BECAUSE, AND IT'S GOING INTO MY PERSONAL FINANCES BECAUSE IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND THEN WAIT, BECAUSE IT'S A WAITING GAME. 
          YOU MAY NOT EVER GET ENOUGH MONEY DONATED TO YOU TO PAY YOUR SELF BACK, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT. 
          AND NEITHER DID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN KAMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          'CAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, THE ISSUE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCES REFORM IS CRITICAL AND IMPERATIVE. 
          SO I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION. 
          SO COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU AND A QUESTION FOR CITY ATTORNEY ONE, DOES THIS ITEM RELATE TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN PERSONAL LOANS FROM ONESELF? THIS ISN'T TALKING ABOUT CAMPAIGN TRUNKS, REGIONS FROM ANYONE ELSE. 
          IS THIS ABOUT ALL OF THAT, OR IS THIS ABOUT PERSONAL LOANS FROM A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE TO ONESELF? THIS IS VERY SPECIFICALLY TAILORED ONLY TO PERSONAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LOANS. 
          OKAY. 
          AND CITY ATTORNEY MICHELLE, UM, THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON, I BELIEVE, A PARTICULAR MATTER PERTAINING TO FEDERAL CAMPAIGNS FI CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? YES. 
          DOES THAT DECISION, 'CAUSE I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH IT, UM, ALSO OPIN OR PERTAIN TO STATE AND LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS? OR IS THAT A, UM, DID THEY ADDRESS ALL LIMITATIONS OR WERE THEY ONLY SPEAKING TO FEDERAL? UH, ONLY THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS. 
          I MEAN, THE CONCERN WITH LOCAL IS THE, UM, THE LOGIC USED BY THE COURT THAT IT COULD BE CHALLENGED BY EXTENSION, YES. 
          BUT THERE WAS NO CLEAR DIRECTIVE FROM THE SUPREME COURT. 
          CAN, CAN WE GET HIM TO REPEAT THAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT THE LAW? THE, THE CASE APPLIED TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS. 
          IT APPLIED ONLY TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS. 
          IT DID NOT APPLY TO STATE OR LOCAL LAWS. 
          BUT THE CONCERN IS THE LOGIC THAT THE SUPREME COURT USED, THAT THIS TYPE OF LIMITATION COULD IMPINGE ON, UH, POLITICAL FREEDOM FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. 
          UNDERSTOOD. 
          SO IT COULD BY EXTENSION BE INTERPRETED, BUT THERE WAS NOT A DIRECT RULING ON THAT AT THE MOMENT. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          CORRECT. 
          COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION OR TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE MOTION. 
          WE CAN GET SECOND. 
          WHAT WAS THE FIRST MOTION? GO AHEAD AND HAVE GETTING CLOSE. 
          YEAH. 
          MOTION. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          JUST A SECOND. 
          LET, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD CLOSE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          A FEW POINTS I WANNA MAKE ONE, UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH OVER HALF OF YOU ALL ON THIS ITEM PERSONALLY. 
          GET YOUR THOUGHTS, GET YOUR IDEAS, YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS. 
          UM, MOST OF YOU ALL SAID THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD IT. 
          YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE, YOU WERE STRAIGHTFORWARD, NO ISSUES AT ALL. 
          IT'S ONLY UNTIL IN THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW THAT I'M HEARING DISCUSSION ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES, SENDING IT TO COMMITTEE, NEEDING TO DIVE DEEPER. 
          [03:55:01]
THIS IS A VERY SPECIFICALLY TAILORED PROP A THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD BASED ON A LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT'S IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT RULING. 
          ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT RULING SPOKE TO FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE, PERSONAL LOAN REPAYMENTS, THAT SAME ARGUMENT WILL BE APPLIED BY ANY JURISDICTION THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UM, CHALLENGE THAT. 
          I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE IN HOUSTON, AUSTIN, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 
          IT'S THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DEEMED THAT PERSONAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LOAN CAPS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
          THEY VIOLATE FREE SPEECH WITHIN, WITHIN THE LEGAL OPINION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE ALWAYS SEEM TO, TO TAKE. 
          HE'S ALSO PUT FORWARD THAT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ARTURO, THAT IF ANYBODY WAS TO CHALLENGE THIS ORDINANCE LOCALLY, THAT IT IS VERY HIGHLY LIKELY THAT A COURT IS GONNA RULE THAT OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE IS IN VIOLATION WITH FREE SPEECH IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? YES. 
          SO OUR OWN CITY ATTORNEY IS SAYING THAT IF ANYBODY CHALLENGES OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE, AS IT IS STATED TODAY, IT IS GONNA GET STRUCK DOWN BECAUSE IT'S IN VIOLATION WITH WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY, ALREADY HEARD. 
          THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY HEARD THIS CASE, THESE SAME ARGUMENTS. 
          NOW YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER ANCILLARY VARIABLES TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING AND OVERALL FINANCE REPORTING AND REQUIREMENTS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ONE SINGLE ISSUE. 
          THIS ONE SINGLE ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN RULED ON. 
          SO IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF COORDINATED EFFORT TO EITHER PROLONG OR SABOTAGE THIS PROP A FOR, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ELSE'S BENEFIT OR AGENDA OR MOTIVE. 
          I DON'T KNOW. 
          BUT NO ONE BROUGHT THESE ISSUES UP BEFORE. 
          AND I ACTUALLY EMAILED THIS OVER TO THE ETHICS CHAIR AND MEMBERS EARLY ON A MONTH OR TWO AGO AND SAID, HEY, YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE. 
          LOOK AT THIS ISSUE WAY BEFORE, WAS THE PROP A SUBMITTAL? RIGHT? AND SO IT'S ALL GOOD. 
          WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S ALREADY BEFORE US, THE LEGAL MEMO HAS ALREADY COME OUT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          NOT ONLY DID THEY DO A LAWFULNESS MEMO FOR THE PROPOSITION A, THEY DID A WHOLE LEGAL MEMO ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BEFORE IT WAS A PROP A. 
          SO THIS IS VERY CLEAR CUT IN MY OPINION. 
          AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT CONVOLUTED AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO OVERANALYZE IT WHEN, WHEN I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. 
          WHEN THE SUPREME COURT IS ALREADY RULED ON THIS ISSUE. 
          IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK OR TO ME THIS, OR WE NEED TO ADD IN THAT. 
          OR IT COULD BE A ETHICS VIOLATION FOR SOMETHING. 
          THE SUPREME COURT IS ALREADY RULED ON IT. 
          AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE, WHATEVER IS THERE, BINDS DOWN TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BELOW IT. 
          SO, ARTURO, ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, IF ANYONE WAS TO, IF ANYONE WAS TO CHALLENGE OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE ON PERSONAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LOAN, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL? LIKELY. 
          SO, THANK YOU. 
          MOTION IS TO REFER PROP A, ITEM 34 TO THE ETHICS. 
          OH, WE NEED TO HAVE A VOTE COMMITTEE, UH, ROLL CALL. 
          VOTE PLEASE. 
          ON THE MOTION. 
          THIS IS THE REFER TO THE ETHICS COMMITTEE. 
          REFER TO ETHICS COMMITTEE. 
          ROLL CALL. 
          THE MOTION ROLL CALL PLEASE. 
          MAYOR WHITMEYER? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PECK? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. 
          NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER INGER? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS? NO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. 
          YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD? 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. 
          FIVE. 
          [04:00:02]
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON. 
          BEING 12 YESS. 
          FIVE NOS. 
          THE MOTION PASSES. 
          NEXT, THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. 
          HAVE NO. 
          YES. 
          [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
COUNCILMAN CARTER? I'M GONNA PASS AND GIVE YOU MY TIME 'CAUSE YOU'RE IN A COURT. 
          COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ . 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          YEAH, I'M LEAVING ON A DEAD PLANE. 
          ANYWAY, UM, I WANT TO BEGIN BY RECAPPING A FEW MEANINGFUL EVENTS THAT CONTINUE TO REFLECT THE STRENGTH LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF DISTRICT D. 
          THIS PAST SATURDAY, I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING THE 62ND FOUNDER'S DAY SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON, HOSTED BY THE HOUSTON LEAGUE OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN INCORPORATED AT THE SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. 
          THIS ANNUAL LUNCHEON CONTINUES A PROUD LEGACY OF SERVICE, SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP AND INVESTMENT IN FUTURE GENERATIONS. 
          I WANNA COMMEND THE HOUSTON LEAGUE OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO UPLIFTING STUDENTS, RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE AND SUPPORTING THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          UH, LAST NIGHT I HAD A GREAT TIME, UM, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FLICKINGER AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UH, THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING AS A PANELIST. 
          OH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. 
          AND, AND THANK YOU FOR TELLING THEM TO ASK US ALL THOSE QUESTIONS AS YOU WALKED OUT. 
          ANYWAY, OUR CITY  OUR VOICE, UH, TOWN HALL WAS A EXTRAORDINARY EVENT IN THE CITY HALL LEGACY ROOM. 
          THIS YOUTH LED CONVERSATION CREATED AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DISCUSS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. 
          I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL, YOUTH AMBASSADORS, YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AS A RETIRED NO SUCH THING EDUCATOR. 
          I KNOW HOW POWERFUL IT IS WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GIVEN SPACE TO LEAD, ASK QUESTIONS, AND SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. 
          THEIR VOICES MATTER, AND WE MUST CONTINUE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BE HEARD. 
          UPCOMING EVENT, UM, WHICH I'M GOING TO MISS, THE CARPENTER FOR FAMILY SCHOLARS GRAND OPENING AND COMMUNITY ART UNVEILING, UH, WHO ENSURE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND INVITED GUESTS. 
          THE GRAND OPENING AND COMMUNITY ART UNVEILING OF THE CARPENTER FOR FAMILY SCHOLARS, WHICH WAS TODAY AT 10:00 AM UH, 37 0 7 HOLMAN STREET. 
          AND THIS EVENT WILL HONOR PASTOR MANSON JOHNSON, UH, CELEBRATING A MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT D. 
          I PERSONALLY MISS, UM, PASTOR MANSON JOHNSON. 
          HE WAS SUCH A FORCE AND, AND HE LOVED THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND SO, UH, DISTRICT D CONTINUES TO LEAD THROUGH EDUCATION, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND OPPORTUNITY. 
          THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN . 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANT TO START BY HIGHLIGHTING THE GROUNDBREAKING THAT TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY FOR THE NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL AREA DRAINAGE AND PAVING PROJECT. 
          IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRECINCT TWO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE $48 MILLION INVESTMENT IN DRAINAGE STREET RECONSTRUCTION, SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION, UH, IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE COMMUNITY. 
          THIS IS ONE OF, OF MANY PROJECTS TAKING PLACE IN THE AREA, ALONG WITH THE EQUIPMENT STREET RECONSTRUCTION, ALONG WITH SIDEWALK INSTALLATION AROUND THE WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          UH, IT'S BUILDING OUT A, A NETWORK OF DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, SIDEWALK ENHANCEMENTS, AND SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO A HISTORIC DISTRICT H COMMUNITY. 
          UM, SO I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP. 
          MAYOR, YOU WERE PRESENT THERE AND YOUR TEAM WITH PUBLIC WORKS. 
          UH, IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, ENTITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMING TOGETHER TO BRING DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GONNA KEEP THEM SAFE FROM FLOODING, IMPROVE DRAINAGE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE TO ALLOW THEM TO ACCESS OUR PARKS, SCHOOLS, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, ET CETERA. 
          SO, UM, THAT KICKED OFF YESTERDAY. 
          THIS COMING SATURDAY IN THE EAST END AT FINCAS ROBLES, THERE WILL BE THE SALSA DE MAYO FESTIVAL FROM THREE TO 8:00 PM IT IS, UH, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE EAST END, UH, CULTURE. 
          THERE WILL BE FOOD GAMES, MUSIC, UH, SALSA COMPETITION AS WELL. 
          UH, I'M EXCITED TO BE ONE OF THE, THE JUDGES FOR THAT. 
          UH, BUT I DO WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME ON OUT AND CELEBRATE THIS 
          [04:05:01]
SATURDAY, THREE TO 8:00 PM AT THE FINCA THRUST ROBLES, UH, IN SECOND WARD. 
          AND THEN THIS COMING SATURDAY, UH, WILL BE THE IN-PERSON BUDGET, TOWN HALL 10:00 AM AT THE FONDE RECREATION CENTER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND, UM, SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTED. 
          BUT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT, LEARN ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK. 
          UH, 10:00 AM AT THE FONDE REC CENTER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN DAVIS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          FIRST, I WANT TO WELCOME MS. SHIRLEY KING BACK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          SHE HAS BEEN JOINED BY WITH OUR OFFICE TO ASSIST WITH OUR GROWING NUMBER OF ITEMS, ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES THAT MY OFFICE HAS TAKEN ON. 
          AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, ON TOP OF, UH, QUARTERLY TOWN HALL MEETING, MY OFFICE THIS YEAR IS WORKING ON ROLLING OUT THE, UH, POLICE PASTOR AND PEOPLE INITIATIVE. 
          UM, THE SECOND ANNUAL CITY OF HOUSTON FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM WILL BE COMING UP THIS OCTOBER, UH, IN THIS FALL UPCOMING PROMPT ITEM THAT ADDRESSED PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WELL AS CONTINUING MONTHLY MEETINGS OF MINISTER ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR. 
          I WANT TO THANK SHIRLEY FOR A WILLINGNESS TO COME AND SERVE WITH US. 
          AND FINALLY, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE AGAIN OF OUR TOWN HALL MEETING, TAKING PLACE NEXT MONDAY, MAY 18TH AT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER, 9,800 TOWN PARK DRIVE, STARTING AT 5:45 PM UM, WE'LL HAVE OUR RESOURCE TABLES FROM NEW, FROM NEARLY EVERY CITY OF HOUSTON DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS METRO, TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, CRIME STOPPERS, UNITED WAY, A A RP, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, CIGNA AND MORE. 
          UH, OUR SPONSOR IS THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, IS PROVIDING FOOD AND DRINK FOR ALL OF THE ATTENDEES. 
          I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH MY OFFICE. 
          THE BOARD AND STAFF HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL TO MY OFFICE SINCE DAY ONE, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. 
          AT THE EVENT ALSO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE Q AND A WITH CITY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, DEPUTY DIRECTORS, WHERE RESIDENTS CAN HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ADDRESSED. 
          UH, 'CAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, IT ALLOWS THEM TO ENGAGE AND BE INVOLVED. 
          AND WE HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM. 
          UH, QUESTIONS TO BE, UH, CHIEF DIAZ, CHIEF SATTERWHITE, SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR, UH, MR. HANSEN, HOUSING DIRECTOR, MR. NICHOLS, AND MORE, THE EVENT TAKES PLACE MONDAY, STARTING AT 5:45 PM AT THE CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER. 
          AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THAT PARTICIPATE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THAT LARGE TOO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLICKING. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO WISH ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS, YARI RAMIREZ, A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 
          UH, YARI DOES A GREAT JOB AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER. 
          SO, AND THANKS FOR GIVING HER UP. 
          UM, ALSO, UH, I DID ATTEND THE YOUTH COUNCIL ALONG WITH, UH, SHABAZZ AND, UM, COUNCILMAN JOAQUIN AND COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, MAYOR, UH, IN FACT, I HAD A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT IT YESTERDAY AS WELL. 
          THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS STILL IN EXISTENCE AND THEY EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST IN IT. 
          UH, WAS ALSO ABLE TO, UH, DO A, UH, PROCLAMATION OUT AT, UH, KING KINGWOOD PARK HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE TINY HOMES. 
          UM, THE STUDENTS AT FOUR SCHOOLS IN HUMBLE, ISD BUILD TINY HOMES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN TO HOMELESS VETERANS. 
          UH, THERE IS, UH, A DEVELOPMENT, UH, BIT OUTSIDE OF TOWN WHERE THEY ACTUALLY PUT ALL THESE AND, UH, REALLY THINK THAT MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TRY AND ENCOURAGE SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DO. 
          I MEAN, BESIDES THE, THE, UH, STUDENTS GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL SKILLS, UH, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH, UH, ELIMINATING HOMELESSNESS, I THINK IS A GREAT THING. 
          AND, UH, CERTAINLY IT'S A, IT'S A LOW COST ITEM. 
          SO THAT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD DO SOME MORE WITH THAT. 
          UM, ALSO, UH, WE'RE HAVING, UH, POP UP, UH, FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, MAY 13TH, UH, FROM THREE TO FIVE O'CLOCK AT JP WHITE PARK. 
          SO PLEASE COME OUT TO THAT. 
          UH, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE A SURVEY, GIVE YOUR INPUT ON FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK. 
          UH, ATTENDEES CAN ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE. 
          UH, AND, UH, LASTLY, UH, WE'LL HAVE, UH, KONA ICE AND TACOS FOR THE ATTENDEES. 
          SO PLEASE COME OUT TO JP WHITE PARK, MAY 13TH, THREE TO FIVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          A FEW QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          UM, 
          [04:10:01]
FIRST I WANNA THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          WE HAVE ROLLED OUT OUR NEW, UM, PILOT PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          UH, SINCE THE LAUNCH OF SAFE WASH HOUSTON, THE FIRST NATION'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE FIREARM INJURY DASHBOARD, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT DATA IN A VERY NEW WAY. 
          AND AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO REDUCING UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM INJURIES, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN, UH, WE ARE DISTRIBUTING FOR THE FIRST TIME FREE GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES IN AREAS WITH HIGH INCIDENTS OF UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          SO WE'RE STARTING WITH THREE HEALTH CLINICS, UH, NORTHSIDE HEALTH CLINIC, SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, AND SHARPSTOWN HEALTH CLINIC. 
          UM, EACH FACILITY WILL RECEIVE A HUNDRED, UH, GUN SAFES AND LOCKS TO START FUNDED BY DISTRICT C. 
          AND THEN, UM, THERE WILL BE ABLE, THE NAVIGATORS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT FAMILIES IN PROVIDING THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND EDUCATION. 
          UM, SO THANK YOU TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TRAN AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, DR. MCKAY, UM, AND HPD AS WELL, UH, FOR BEING OUR SPONSORING DEPARTMENT. 
          UH, A FEW CONSTRUCTION UPDATES, UM, AFTER A LONG STRETCH OF ADVOCACY WITH NEIGHBORS NEW FOUR-WAY STOP SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON NICHOLSON AT EIGHTH, NINTH, AND 10TH STREET. 
          UH, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL, UH, WANT TO THANK OUR CIVIC LEADERS HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION, TALE OF TWO BRIDGES AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. 
          UH, ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT, MAYOR. 
          YESTERDAY WE DID THE, UM, GROUNDBREAKING TO BEGIN, UH, WHAT HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING THE MASSIVE, UH, INTERJURISDICTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BEL AIR, UH, FOR THE DETENTION. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD WAS THERE, CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, UH, REPRESENTATIVE ANN JOHNSON WAS THERE. 
          BUT OF COURSE, MAYOR PAPPAS AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE CITY OF BEL AIR, UM, ARE JUST OUTSTANDING PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          THIS IS GOING TO BRING, UH, MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION TO THE AREA, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET THIS DEAL, UM, OVER THE EDGE, MAYOR, INCLUDING, UH, OTHERS ON YOUR TEAM. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I'M LOOKING BACK, UH, OVER THE PAST SIX AND A HALF YEARS, WE STARTED WITH FLOOD MITIGATION. 
          WE'RE CONTINUING WITH FLOOD MITIGATION. 
          AND THIS IS GOING IS ALREADY SO WELL RECEIVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S IN MEYERLAND OR GULFTON. 
          UH, FLOOD WATERS DON'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BOUNDARIES. 
          THEY DON'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR THE CITY OF BEL AIR OR WEST U. 
          UH, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE UP TO GET SHOVELS IN THE GROUND. 
          BUT YESTERDAY WAS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP. 
          AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST LISTED OUT, UH, ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY DISTRICT C STAFF. 
          AND I'M GONNA TRY TO NOT GET EMOTIONAL. 
          UM, IT'S MY SECOND TO LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND I'M GONNA RESERVE A LOT OF MY REMARKS, UH, FOR NEXT WEEK, UH, TO RECOGNIZE CONSTITUENTS AND OUR DISTRICT. 
          BUT I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, IF Y'ALL CAN STAND, UH, PLEASE. 
          DISTRICT, DISTRICT C IS, UH, VERY SPECIAL AND THAT WE HAVE THE MOST ENGAGED CONSTITUENCY IN THE CITY. 
          AND WHETHER IT'S 10 TO 20 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF CALLS, THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF EMAILS THAT WE GET EVERY SINGLE DAY, OR THE COMPREHENSIVE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL HAVE WORKED ON, UM, ANNA COLE, JACOB CRUZ, AND KATE. 
          YOU DON'T JUST SHOW UP TO WORK. 
          THE WORK YOU DO IS AN EXPRESSION OF WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          UH, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW LATE AT NIGHT YOU'RE WORKING OR THE WEEKENDS YOU'VE GIVEN UP, UH, THE NEVER ENDING ON CALL WAY OF BEING THAT YOU ARE IN SERVICE. 
          AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EACH OF YOU BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS WE HIGHLIGHT AND SPOTLIGHT. 
          NONE OF THAT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE STAFF THAT STANDS WITH US EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          SO I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. 
          YOU GUYS DESERVE SO MUCH OF THE CREDIT AND KUDOS THAT WE GET AS A DISTRICT. 
          WHEN I GO AROUND OUR DISTRICT, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES IT'S, I LOVE KATE, I LOVE CRUZ, I LOVE JACOB, I LOVE COLE. 
          I LOVE ANNA AND I LOVE YOU ALL TOO. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [04:15:01]
YOU KNOW, LATELY WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF RAIN AND WE HAD WON AT LEAST ONE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ISSUE IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF A COLLAPSED OUTFALL. 
          AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR ALWAYS BEING SO RESPONSIVE, FOR COMING OUT, TAKING CARE OF THE RESIDENTS. 
          THEY'RE SO GRATEFUL THE KIDS WEREN'T ABLE TO BIKE HOME BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING OR EVEN WALK HOME, UH, FROM SCHOOL. 
          SO JUST THANK YOU PUBLIC WORKS FOR ALWAYS BEING SO RESPONSIVE. 
          WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. 
          AND THEN JUST A REMINDER THAT NEXT WEEK STARTS EARLY VOTING IN THE PRIMARY RUNOFF. 
          SO EARLY VOTING WILL BE FROM MAY 18TH TO 22ND, WITH ELECTION DAY BEING ON MAY 26TH. 
          THIS WILL BE VOTERS LAST CHANCE TO HELP DECIDE WHO'S GONNA BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. 
          AND JUST A REMINDER THAT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE IN THE MARCH PRIMARIES, YOU CAN STILL VOTE IN THESE RUNOFF ELECTIONS. 
          THANKS, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I WANNA NOTE THAT THIS IS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. 
          THIS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1962 BY PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY AND IN HOUSTON, UH, WE START BY HAVING A POLICE MEMORIAL SERVICE EVERY YEAR. 
          THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PUTS ON A POLICE MEMORIAL SERVICE. 
          THIS YEAR, IT WAS FRIDAY EVENING AT THE FONDE REC CENTER BECAUSE OF, OF THE WEATHER. 
          BUT DURING THAT, UM, CEREMONY, WE HONORED AND REMEMBERED THE, THE MEMORY OF 123 MEN AND WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE IN TRYING TO KEEP THE CITY, UH, SAFE. 
          AND IT'S A SOBERING REMINDER THAT, UH, THAT'S DANGEROUS WORK. 
          AND, UM, I THINK IT'S ALSO APPROPRIATE THAT WE HONOR THE 5,000 PLUS MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONTINUE TO PUT THE DARK BLUE UNIFORM ON EVERY DAY. 
          AND THEY'RE BULLETPROOF VESTS AND AN EFFORT TO KEEP US SAFE. 
          THE NUMBERS UP TO 123 SINCE LAST YEAR. 
          TWO MORE WERE ADDED TO THE LIST. 
          SO, UM, I HOPE WE, UH, HONOR THEIR MEMORY THIS WEEK AS, UH, WE, UH, OBSERVED NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. 
          ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT SATURDAY MORNING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN HARRISBURG HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, UH, CLEAN UP. 
          A LOT OF TRASH WAS PICKED UP. 
          HEAVY, HEAVY TRASH WAS PUT TO THE SIDE. 
          THIS WAS AN EFFORT, UH, SPONSORED BY, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. 
          UH, THAT TRAIL IS IN THAT PRECINCT AND I WAS HAPPY TO JOIN EAST END RESIDENCE FOR A FEW HOURS SATURDAY MORNING IN PICKING UP A LOT OF LOT OF TRASH. 
          UH, I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THAT AREA IS PRONE TO PRONE TO FLOODING, AND I WAS DISMAYED TO SEE THAT MANY OF THE DRAINS WERE ALREADY HALF FULL WITH, WITH DEBRIS AND, AND VEGETATION. 
          UM, I SPOKE TO DIRECTOR MACKAY WHO TELLS ME THAT THAT PARTICULAR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. 
          SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE DRAINS ALONG OUR HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ARE, ARE KEPT CLEAR UH, TO AVOID FLOODING. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN THOMAS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I AM NOT PASSING THIS WEEK. 
          UM, SO I JUST HAVE TWO REMINDERS FOR THE LISTENING PUBLIC. 
          ON MAY 18TH, WHICH IS NEXT MONDAY, UM, TCEQ WILL BE IN TOWN FOR A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDED THE OLD DOTTIE LANDFILL, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SUGAR HILL GOLF COURSE. 
          IT'S 145 ACRES AND THERE'S A PERMIT, A WASTEWATER PERMIT. 
          AND SO I KNOW RESIDENTS HAVE REACHED OUT, UH, TO ME ABOUT THIS. 
          I WILL BE THERE ON RECORD, UM, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PERMIT. 
          UM, AND THIS JUST SPEAKS TO OUR OBLIGATION TO CLEAN UP AREAS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON SO WE CAN ACTIVATE THAT LAND FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USE TO MEET OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS. 
          AND SO I WANNA ASK YOU TO JOIN ME ON MAY 18TH AT 7:00 PM AT THE MARRIOTT WEST CHASE AT 2,900 BRIAR PARK. 
          THIS INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE IN OUR NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT ON WEDNESDAY. 
          I WANNA BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE AGAIN, THE 45 PROJECT. 
          WE KNOW FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROTEST AGAINST THE, UH, EXPANSION OF 45, BUT I WANNA REMIND YOU IN 2022 AND MOU WAS ESTABLISHED AND AGREED TO, AND THERE IS A $30 MILLION ALLOCATION AROUND HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO TO MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT, TAC, THE TEXAS STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION. 
          THEY ARE MANAGING THAT FUND AND THEY ARE, UM, UM, OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE USE OF THOSE DOLLARS. 
          AND WRITTEN COMMENT IS DUE MAY 22ND BY 5:00 PM 
          [04:20:01]
UH, THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY IMPACTS NEIGHBORHOODS GREATER FIFTH WARD, THIRD WARD, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, AND NEAR NORTH, NORTH SIDE. 
          THERE'S ALSO A GROUP THAT CONCLUDED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS IN EACH OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. 
          IT CONCLUDED AT THE END OF APRIL. 
          I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, UM, IF YOU WERE PROTESTING AND, AND OPINING ABOUT THE PROJECT, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO STAY ENGAGED IN THE NEXT PHASE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOLLARS GET TO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE CLOSELY IMPACTED. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT ANOTHER HOUSTON LEGEND, SYLVIA K BROOKS. 
          SHE WILL RECEIVE HONORARY ALUMNI STATUS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GRADUATE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK ON FRIDAY. 
          I WAS HONORED TO MEET MRS. BROOKS IN MY TIME AS AN URBAN LEAGUER. 
          UM, SHE IS, UH, ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING CEOS OF THE URBAN LEAGUE PRIOR TO JUDSON ROBINSON, AND SHE MADE HISTORY AS THEIR FIRST FEMALE CEO. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ON FRIDAY. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
          UH, WANT TO REMIND THE RESIDENTS THAT THE SOUTH GESNER PIP MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MAY THE 20TH AT 6:30 PM AT THE SOUTH GESNER POLICE STATION AT 86 0 5 WEST PLACE DRIVE. 
          THIS MONTH, THEY WILL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HHPD AIR SUPPORT FOX TEAM AS THE GUEST SPEAKER. 
          SO RESIDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT. 
          UM, PLEASE ATTEND THAT MEETING. 
          UH, THEN WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING. 
          UH, SO THIS IS A REMINDER FOR THURSDAY, MAY THE 21ST FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM UH, THAT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, HOSTED BY SOUTH POST OAK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE FIVE CORNERS DISTRICT, THE HARM CLARK FORT BEING REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. 
          THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COME TOGETHER, SHARE THEIR IDEAS, AND STAY INFORMED ON DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE SHAPING, UM, THE COMMUNITY IN AND AROUND DISTRICT K. 
          AND ANOTHER EVENT WE HAVE COMING UP, UH, COLLEAGUES LIKE TO INVITE, UM, OUR AT LARGE MEMBERS TO ATTEND AS WELL. 
          WE'RE HAVING A PIZZA AND PARTNERSHIPS AT THE DROP OF THE CREATOR ON CHIMNEY ROCK ON JUNE THE 11TH AT SIX TO 8:00 PM THIS WILL BE A EVENING OF NETWORKING, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. 
          WE ARE CONNECTING OUR CIVIC CLUB MEMBERS, OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, AND ENJOYING SOME FREE FOOD AND DRINKS. 
          SO WE ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO CARPOOL 'CAUSE UH, PARKING IS LIMITED. 
          WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY BUSINESS DROP OF THE CREATOR, AND THEN ALSO, UM, ALLOWING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER, UM, TO BUILD THESE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS. 
          WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP. 
          WANT TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON, UH, PLAT APPLICATION AT WILDCAT INDUSTRIAL. 
          THIS IS A SUBDIVISION PLAT APPLICATION, UH, AND THEY ARE, UM, LOOKING FOR VARIANCE REQUESTS. 
          AND THIS IS LOCATED AT 2 2 2 HOLMES ROAD BETWEEN HARM CLARK ROAD AND BUFFALO SPEEDWAY. 
          SO THE SITE IS DESCRIBED AS UNDEVELOPED. 
          UM, WANT TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAT TO ATTEND THE HEARING ON THURSDAY, MAY 28TH AT 2:30 PM AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL ANNEX, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VICE MAYOR PRO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS HOSTING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING AT SCHWARTZ PARK TO DISCUSS THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. 
          IT WILL BE ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT 9:00 AM AT SCHWARTZ PARK. 
          8 2 0 3 VOGUE LANE, 7 7 0 5 5. 
          PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS IMPORTANT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. 
          UM, THERE'LL BE COMMUNITY VENDORS AND KONA ICE TRUCK. 
          SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT THAT MEETING ON, UM, MAY 30TH. 
          AND FINALLY, I WANT TO WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DISTRICT, A CHIEF OF STAFF, LIZ MIRANDA. 
          UM, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO WORK WITH LIZ FOR, SINCE WE STARTED AT THE CITY 12 AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND JUST SO THANKFUL, UM, THAT SHE'S STILL HERE WORKING FOR DISTRICT A 'CAUSE SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB. 
          SO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIZ. 
          COUNCILMAN POLLARD. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. 
          CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE? UM, THERE'S A HIERARCHY OF LAWS GENERALLY, UH, FEDERAL LAW WILL RULE OVER, STATE LAW WILL RULE OVER, UM, A, A STATUTE AND OVER OUR ORDINANCES WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE IN CONFLICT. 
          SO AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PROPOSITION, A PROPOSAL THAT WE HAD TODAY, UH, WITH THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE COME INTO EFFECT IN THAT INSTANCE, IN YOUR OPINION? I THINK THE LOGIC OF IT WOULD, UH, I I DON'T THINK THE, OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE IS UNENFORCEABLE BECAUSE OF THE CREW'S, UH, OPINION. 
          SO YOU JUST STATED THAT YOU BELIEVE OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE IS UNENFORCEABLE. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? YES. 
          SO THAT, THAT WOULD MAKE THAT 
          [04:25:01]
CURRENT ORDINANCE MOOT IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD TODAY MOOT. 
          CORRECT, YES. 
          I I WOULD REFER TO IT AS UNENFORCEABLE, BUT YES, I THINK EFFECTIVELY THE SAME. 
          THANK YOU, ALCORN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, TODAY ON ITEM 18 WAS A, A BUNCH OF IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKS, UM, OUT OF THE PARK DEDICATION FUND, WHICH IS THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE, WHICH I KEEP TALKING ON AND ON ABOUT, BUT WE'RE DISCUSSING IT TOMORROW AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. 
          UM, WE'LL BE, UH, DISCUSSING REALLOCATING 30% OF THOSE FUNDS ACROSS THE SECTORS SO ALL THE FUNDS DON'T STAY IN THE SECTORS WHERE SOME SECTORS ARE GETTING ALL OF THE MONEY FOR THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. 
          UM, AND WE'RE ALSO ALIGNING THINGS WITH STATE LAW. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET, GET THAT BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BEFORE COUNCIL. 
          AND THEN I WANNA KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE FEE, UM, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH BUDGET AND ONCE WE'VE HAD STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, I WANNA KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE FEE, UM, AND GETTING MORE, MORE FUNDS INTO THAT, INTO THAT FEE. 
          SO THAT'LL BE TOMORROW AT TWO 30 WHEN WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT TODAY AT ONE 30, WE WILL START, UH, BUDGET WORKSHOPS. 
          WE HAVE PLANNING HOUSING AND AIRPORTS, AND WE, THEY EACH HAVE AN HOUR BLOCK, BUT IF WE RUN A LITTLE EARLY ON, 'EM, WE JUST ROLL INTO THE NEXT ONE AFTER ABOUT A FIVE OR 10 MINUTE BREAK. 
          SO YOU MIGHT NOT BE THERE THAT WHOLE TIME. 
          SO WE WILL, UM, SEE YOU GUYS THIS AFTERNOON AND, UH, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN SALINA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UH, JUST A FEW ITEMS I WANNA SPOTLIGHT THAT WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION ON THE FIRST. 
          I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT THE GRANTS LIAISON, UH, UH, POSITION IS NOW LIVE. 
          UM, WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH YOUR OFFICE, UH, TO, TO WORK TOGETHER ON COLLABORATING ON IDENTIFYING THE JOB DESCRIPTION. 
          BUT BASICALLY, THIS IS GONNA BE SOMEBODY AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          IT'S GOING TO COORDINATE ALL GRANT APPLICATIONS, ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING OVERLAPPING APPLICATIONS, AND JUST ENSURE A WHOLE BUNCH OF EFFICIENCY MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO WE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION ON THIS AND EXCITED TO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT APPLICANTS COME FORTH TO HELP THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN ITS GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. 
          THE SECOND ITEM I WANNA SPOTLIGHT THAT AGAIN, WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOUR TEAM ON, WAS FILING A NOTICE OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UNION PACIFIC MERGER. 
          UM, AS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S A MERGER THAT'S BEING PROPOSED BY UNION PACIFIC IN ANOTHER MAJOR RAILROAD. 
          IT'S GONNA HAVE IMMENSE IMPACTS ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          AND THE BEST WAY FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS BY FILING THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE. 
          SO I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION DO SO AS GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH YOUR TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOT DONE. 
          UM, AND REALLY EXCITED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUSHED AS AGGRESSIVELY AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AS MANY CONCESSIONS AS POSSIBLE FROM THE CORPORATIONS BEFORE THIS MERGER GOES INTO EFFECT TO ENSURE THAT HOUSTONIANS ARE PROTECTED FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO FROM THE IMPACT THAT THE INCREASED TRAFFIC, UM, AND POLLUTION IS GONNA HAVE ON THE CITY. 
          UM, AND LASTLY, UM, MAYOR, AS, AS YOU KNOW, I SENT A LETTER LAST WEEK AND I WOULD HOPE ALL OF US CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON, UH, THIS INCREASE IN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR GARBAGE. 
          UM, IT'S CERTAINLY A, A NECESSARY STEP TO HELP ADDRESS THE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE. 
          UM, WE HAVE MADE A PUBLIC COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL RAISE THAT FEE TO $25. 
          UM, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE ALSO MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL IMPOSE DISCOUNTS FOR COMMUNITIES THAT NEEDED MOST. 
          UM, I THINK THAT'LL GIVE HOUSTONIANS A LOT OF COMFORT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST MAKING A PROMISE OF INCREASED FEES, BUT WE'RE ALSO MAKING A PROMISE OF ENSURING THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE ACCOUNT FOR THOSE THAT ARE THE LEAST AMONG US AND DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY THE FEE. 
          UM, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE'LL REACH A, A, A, A GOOD SOLUTION ON THIS. 
          BUT, BUT ONCE AGAIN, WANNA ENCOURAGE US ALL TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC COMMITMENT NOW THAT WE WILL IN FACT IMPOSE DISCOUNTS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERANS, AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CAYMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I NEGLECTED TO RECOGNIZE I, MANY OF US, ESPECIALLY ON BUDGET SEASON, UM, INCREDIBLE RESIDENTS OUT TO COMMENT TO PARTICIPATE. 
          AND ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UH, THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE. 
          AND, UH, I SAW ONLINE RECENTLY AND JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE BENJAMIN BROADWAY, UH, WHO TIME AND TIME AGAIN GAVE HIS TIME, HIS VOICE, UH, PASSED AWAY. 
          AND, UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ONE, THE LOSS. 
          I, I THINK THEY, UH, LOVINGLY CALL HIM BIG BEN. 
          YEAH. 
          AND THAT HE WAS SUCH A GIANT, UH, NOT JUST IN STATURE, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF HIS VOICE, HIS PASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A BIG LOSS, NOT ONLY FOR THAT ORGANIZATION, BUT FOR HOUSTON. 
          SO I REALLY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UH, BENJAMIN'S LEGACY AND, UH, HOPEFULLY MAYOR, WE CAN ADJOURN IN HONOR OF HIM TODAY.
* 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.