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IF I CAN HAVE Y'ALL TO COME IN, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, GRAB A COUPLE OF SEATS THAT WE'VE, UH, PAID FOR.
I KNOW IT'S COOL OVER THERE, BUT WE'LL BE HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES.
UM, WELCOME TO COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.
COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1856 AND IT WASN'T KNOWN AS THE TRAIL WAS CALLED THE SUGAR ROAD.
UM, I WOULDN'T, WILL NOT GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE MISS NAOMI, OUR HISTORIAN.
SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I USED TO DRIVE, I'M FROM THE NORTH SIDE AND I USED TO DRIVE OVER HERE AND LOOK AT THAT RAILROAD TRACK.
I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? AND THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, UH, MISS NAOMI HAS SCHOOLED ME AND MANY, MANY OTHERS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HOW THIS TRAIL WAS BUILT THROUGH ENSLAVED HANDS AND BRINGING SUGAR THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW OUR HISTORY, UH, SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND NOW TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE IT AND MAKE IT BETTER.
SO AGAIN, I JUST SAID THIS, THIS IS NOT JUST A PATH, IT'S A VITAL CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT CONNECTS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITY.
AND TONIGHT IT'S A SYMBOL OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE PAST.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE ENVISIONED A TRANSFER TRANSFORM TRAIL, A SAFER TRAIL, MORE ACCESSIBLE TRAIL, AND MORE WELCOMING TO EVERYONE WHO USES IT.
THAT VISION STARTS TONIGHT WITH PHASE ONE OF THE 7.5 MILLION COMPREHENSIVE IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE.
NOW THAT'S WHEN WE START CLAPPING 7.5 MILLION.
WE'RE INSTALLING OVER 300 SOLAR POWERED LIGHTS ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE FOUR ALONG THE ENTIRE FOUR MILE CORRIDOR.
50 OF THOSE LIGHTS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY AHEAD OF THE WORLD CUP THIS SUMMER, AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.
AND AS WE PUT THE LIGHTS, WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR OST TOURS 'CAUSE THEY WILL BE PUTTING CAMERAS ON THE, ON THE TRAIL.
WE APPRECIATE THE THANK YOU, SIR.
THIS PROJECT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT, UH, FROM MS. SHABAZZ, I THINK WHAT THE DISTRICT OF, UH, DESTINATION.
AND WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
NOW THIS TRAIL BELONGS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT IT'S GOVERNED BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND IT'S ALSO, I THINK, UH, MANAGED CUT MODE BY OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR ALLEN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WANNA THANK, DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE EAST, EAST, UH, DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HERE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE GREATER SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT? DO WE HAVE ANY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S WITH THOSE TWO MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO PROVIDE THIS FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SO BEFORE WE DIVE IN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMIT, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE TRAIL, TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO HOUSTON.
SO I WANNA SAY PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE HEARD THIS, THIS MAN SPEAK ABOUT.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIM WHEN I WAS A CITY COUNCILOR FROM DISTRICT B, AND HE WAS OUR STATE SENATOR OVER IN THE A ACRES HOMES AREA.
AND WE, WE PREACHED PUBLIC SAFETY, HELPING OUR FAMILIES, BRIDGING THE GAP.
AND THE MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHO RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CORRIDOR AND WORKED WITH US TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS A REALITY AGAIN, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ WHO CHAMPIONED THIS PROJECT AND BROUGHT THIS NEED TO THE MAYOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO.
SHE CALLED US IN, COREY CALLED US, SAID, HEY, JERRY, NIKKI, WHERE'S NICK KNIGHT WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT? HOW YOU, THANK YOU NIKKI FOR YOUR WORK.
BROUGHT JIM IN, UH, JOSH SANDERS WITH THE OFFICE AND MANY OTHERS, AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
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AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND SHE SAID, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS SAFE? AND THEN WE PUT FORTH THAT EFFORT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY WAS THERE FOR THE HOUSTON AREA COUNCIL AND WE TO, TO PUT FORTH THAT GRANT.AND THEN ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WHO'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE.
'CAUSE IT GOES NOT JUST FROM DISTRICT D, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE DOWN EAST DOWNTOWN.
I WANNA THANK JESSICA O'NEAL, PRESIDENT OF THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS FOR THE HOUSTON DYNAMO AND DASH AND BOARD MEMBER OF THE EAST END, EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
SO AFTER WE HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS, GO AHEAD AND CLAP
SO I WANNA BRING UP OUR MAYOR TO GIVE FREE WORDS.
WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MINUTES FOR YOU.
NO, I'LL, I'LL BE RIGHT TO THE POINT.
THIS IS WHAT SEPARATES HOUSTON FROM OTHER MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
OTHER MAJOR CITIES ARE IN TURMOIL.
LOOK WHERE WE ARE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON, TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRESS.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, EVAN SHABA, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, CERTAINLY MY ADMINISTRATION, WE DON'T HAVE PATIENCE ANYMORE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO GIVE PEOPLE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY DESERVE.
WE'RE UNITED HERE TODAY WITH STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE FAITH COMMUNITY, FROM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND JERRY'S RIGHT, IT STARTS WITH BEING SAFE.
WE'LL NEVER REALIZE THE POTENTIAL TO COLUMBIA TRAIL WITHOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
LOOK AT THE DIVERSE BIKERS REPRESENTING HPD.
YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME THIS MORNING AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I WANT TO THANK THE ROCKETS, JESSICA, THE EAST SIDE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SOUTHEAST.
THIS IS JUST REALLY A DAY THAT WE NEED TO CELEBRATE BECAUSE HOUSTON'S HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SOMEBODY WAS IN COUNCIL LAST WEEK COMPLAINING ABOUT WHERE'S THE STOP SIGNS ON THE CROSSINGS.
HPD HEARD THAT WE HAVE STOP SIGNS AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
OTHER MAYORS ARE CALLING US SAYING, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING IT DOWN THERE WITHOUT RAISING PROPERTY TAXES? BECAUSE WE'RE BEING SMART, EFFICIENT, WORKING TOGETHER, REDUCING WASTE, DUPLICATION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
I'M LEAVING A BETTER MAYOR THAN THE ONE THAT GOT HERE BECAUSE I'M WITNESSING FIRSTHAND THAT HOUSTON'S HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND WE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE CALLED OUT.
I CAN'T NAME EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT THIS IS WHY, THIS IS WHY YOU RUN FOR OFFICE.
THIS IS WHY YOU'RE A PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND EVERY ONE OF US HERE, EVERYONE CAN HEAR MY VOICE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT, SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA BE JUDGED.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE? I'M READY FOR THAT ROAD CALL.
SO BEHIND US, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A GREAT TABERNACLE OVER THERE.
WE WANNA ALSO SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO DR.
PASTOR PUNCH FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE HERE AS WELL.
UH, HE'S NOT HERE, BUT WE DO HAVE MINISTERS THAT HAVE, UH, THAT ARE SAYING HELLO.
AND ALSO I THINK WE HAVE ONE MEMBER FROM THE FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP I DID MENTION, UM, THEY'RE THE OH, OH ED.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU, ED.
UH, AGAIN, ED, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ED, UH, HE SENDS TEXT MESSAGES, EMAILS, AND, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU, ED, BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING UP AND DOWN AND I SAW THAT EVERYBODY HAD TO STOP ON THE TRAIL.
AND SO YOUR COMMENTS AND EVERYONE COMING OUT SPEAKING ON LIKE THE MAYOR CILLO STOP SIGNS ALLOW THAT PASSAGE OF SAFETY.
NEXT COMING UP IS GOING TO BE THE ILLUSTRIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, DR. CAROLYN EVANS, SHABAZZ
AND I'M JUST GONNA START OUT, HE SAID HE CAME OVER ON THIS SIDE TO SEE A RAILROAD TRACK RIGHT FROM THE NORTH SIDE.
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RAILROAD TRACKS OVER THERE THAN HAR HARRIET TUBMAN.SO DON'T YOU EVEN TRY TALKING ABOUT.
ANYWAY, CERTAINLY I'M SO VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I'M COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND CERTAINLY I LIVE IN THE BLOCK OF COLUMBIA TAP.
SO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE.
JUST ON A PERSONAL NOTE, YOU KNOW, MY DAD HAD A HEARING DEFICIT AND I WOULD BE TERRIFIED WHEN THE TRAIN WOULD COME BECAUSE THERE WERE NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING TO SIGNAL THAT THE TRAIN WAS COMING.
SO I WAS ELATED WHEN THEY TURNED IT INTO THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.
AND SO, UH, I WANT, AGAIN, THANK PASTOR L DAVID PUNCH AND GREATER ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND CERTAINLY THE ASSOCIATE MINISTER LEONARD WIGGINS.
HE TOLD ME YOU WERE GONNA BE HERE TODAY.
AND I'M SO VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO USE YOUR SPACE.
BUT HE WAS ALSO VERY HAPPY TO FIND OUT THAT THEY ARE, WERE LIGHTS.
AND SO I'M GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, LET THERE BE LIGHT.
RIGHT? UH, YOU KNOW WHAT 'EM LIGHTS AT, RIGHT? THIS IS JY I'M JY FOR LIFE.
I GOTTA THROW THAT IN INTERRUPT JOHN.
THIS MOMENT DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
AND THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING FOR YEARS.
OUR OFFICE HAS HEARD FROM RESIDENTS, TRAIL USERS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR LIGHTING.
YOU KNOW, AT ONE TIME, OUR ONLY SAFETY MEASURES WERE THESE GENTLEMEN HERE.
THEY WOULD RIDE DOWN ON HORSES AND BIKES.
AND THAT WAS OUR ONLY MEANS OF SAFETY.
WE, WE WERE TRYING TO GET SOME CALL BOXES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE BECAUSE AT ONE POINT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE GETTING, UM, ASSAULTED AND WHAT DO PEOPLE TAKE? THEY TAKE YOUR PHONE, RIGHT? AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A WAY FOR THEM TO CALL FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.
AND SO MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO, WE BEGAN BRINGING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THIS CORRIDOR RECEIVED THE ATTENTION IT DESERVED.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE HER COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
SHE WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE BEGINNING WITH THE EARLY MEETINGS FOR TWO YEARS.
AND SHE AND UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRIDOR.
AND I WANNA THANK HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR RANDY MACHI AND HIS TEAM ALSO.
AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW COREY, COREY IS VERY, VERY VERBOSE ON PAPER.
HE DOESN'T SAY MUCH IN, IN PERSON, BUT I'M NOT GETTING READY TO READ ALL OF THIS THAT COREY HAS SAID, ALTHOUGH IT'S SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I WANNA GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO JOSH SANDERS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND AT THAT FIRST MEETING, WE LAID OUT THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CARTER THAT MATTERED.
BECAUSE TODAY, THAT COMMITMENT IS NO LONGER JUST A CONVERSATION.
TODAY, THAT PATH IS BEING LIT THANKS TO JIM WEBB AND GOODMAN CORPORATION, GREATER SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT, NICKI KNIGHT.
AND I'M GOING TO EVEN THANK, UH, JERRY DAVIS.
YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY, I LOVE JERRY.
YOU KNOW, HE, HE WORKED WITH ME ON COUNCIL AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD A FEW WORDS AT THE BEGINNING BEFORE I EVEN GOT ELECTED.
BUT WE VEST RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE KNOWS MY HEART AND I KNOW HIS.
AND WE ARE WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK THE EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, OUR PARTNERS AT HGAC, CERTAINLY MY COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE EAST SIDE, WAKI MARTINEZ,
EVERYBODY MAY KNOW THIS STORY.
ME AND THE MAYOR, WE KIND OF GOT SIDEWAYS FROM THE BEGINNING.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU IN ALL HONESTY FROM MY HEART, AFTER THAT, HE HAS ANSWERED EVERY CALL FOR THIS DISTRICT.
YOU PUT ALL OF THAT ASIDE, AND CERTAINLY NOW HE'LL EVEN OFFER TO GIMME A RIDE SOMEWHERE IF I NEED TO GET THERE.
AND SO, AND DURING OUR FIRST BUDGET PROCESS, MAYOR WHITMEYER ON THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL WOULD BE A PRIORITY.
AND TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE SEEING THAT COMMITMENT BECOME REAL.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT GOV WHEN GOVERNMENT LISTENS AND DELIVERS.
AND SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION AND LIGHTING MAY BE SIMPLE, BUT FOR RESIDENTS, LIGHTING MEANS SAFETY.
AND LIGHTING MEANS CONFIDENCE.
IT MEANS THAT A STUDENT CAN WALK FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TO THEIR HOME.
YOU KNOW, CLASSES GET OUT SOMETIMES AFTER DARK.
AND TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET HOME SAFELY MEANS A GREAT DEAL.
AND SO THAT IS WHY 7.5 MILLION
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INVESTMENT MATTERS.AND THEN I HAVE TO SAY, MY FRIEND ED PETTED, ED CALLS ME THE ROSE AND I CALL HIM THE THORN.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, ED PETIT.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATES AND SOMETIMES THINGS FALL OFF.
BUT AS PEOPLE SUCH AS YOU THAT KEEP US FOCUS AND ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE FOR US BEING HERE TODAY AND THE FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA TAP.
AND SO CERTAINLY WE HAVE A HISTORIAN HERE, UM, DR.
CARRIER, AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE IF, IF YOU COULD REALLY SIT AT HER FEET, YOU WOULD LEARN A WHOLE LOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS CITY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO WRAP THIS UP AND YES, WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY.
AND JUST AS, UH, JERRY SAID, UH, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE ARE ALSO GONNA GET CAMERAS.
SO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE OUT HERE NOT TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, GET READY TO SMILE FOR THE CAMERA AND WE'LL HAVE A LIGHT SO WE CAN REALLY, REALLY SEE YOU.
AND SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE SAY THE WORLD CUP IS COMING.
OH, THEY'RE JUST DOING THIS FOR THE WORLD CUP.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS.
AND THIS IS FOR WORLD CLASS PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE WORLD CUP.
IT'S FOR THOSE THAT ARE GONNA BE HERE LONG AFTER THE WORLD CUP IS GONE SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE SAFELY.
AND SO I AM CERTAINLY THANKFUL TO BE HERE AND BE THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF THIS DISTRICT.
I CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, HE SHOWS UP AS WELL.
I SEE A LOT OF LEADERS OUT HERE.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IT'S YOU ALL THAT MAKE IT WORK.
WE ARE AT THE, YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE IN THE JUDGMENT SEAT AS THEY SAY, 'CAUSE WE, WE VOTE.
BUT IF I TELL YOU, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE YOU BEHIND US, AND THEN YOU SEE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE RIGHT HERE, THESE YOUNG GUYS ON THIS BIKE, THESE ARE OUR LEADERS OF TOMORROW, AND THEY'RE GONNA RIDE DOWN THIS TRAIL AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUMMER COMING.
AND SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I'M COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT DD, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH EACH ONE OF YOU FOR COMING AND FOR YOUR TIME AND INVESTMENT IN THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COMMUNITY CHANGING EVENT.
AND I ALSO ACKNOW, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BOARD CHAIR OF THE GREATER SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT.
UM, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT I, AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY IS WHEN I'M AROUND MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, WE'RE THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION IN DISTRICT I, UM, Y'ALL CAN LAUGH AT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
SHE, SHE, SHE HEARS IT ALL THE TIME.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO, IT'S ALSO GREAT HERE TO BE HERE WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES THE MAYOR, THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE OF COLUMBIA.
TAP TRAIL AT THE HEART OF THIS PROJECT IS A COMMITMENT TO MAKING A TRAIL SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND MORE WELCOMING TO EVERYONE WHO DEPENDS ON IT.
I REMEMBER WHEN MANY OF THESE PROJECTS IN, WERE IN THE WORKS IN, IN THE EAST DOWNTOWN AREA AS A STAFFER.
UM, AND I WANNA DEFINITELY LIFT UP AT THIS POINT, UH, THE EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THE EAST DOWNTOWN TOURS.
I ATTENDED ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS RELIGIOUSLY AS A STAFFER.
UH, BUT NOW IT'S GREAT TO SEE THIS WORK CROSS THROUGH DISTRICT I INTO DISTRICT D COME TO FRUITION.
AND IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED SOONER.
COMMUNITY SAFETY MEANS CREATING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE.
YOU HAVE FOLKS, UH, STUDENTS RIDING BIKES, FOLKS COMMUTING TO WORK, PEOPLE ENJOYING THEIR OUTDOOR RIDES.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, FOR MANY OF YOU THAT THAT DON'T KNOW, I LIVE IN THE HOBBY AREA AND YOU CAN JUMP ON SIMS BAYOU, COME DOWN BROADWAY, EVENTUALLY MAKE IT DOWN.
SI UH, BRACE BAYOU AND INTO THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.
AND I'VE DONE THAT PLENTY OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.
AND AS I'VE RID, AS I'VE RIDDEN MY BIKE ALONG THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT LIGHTING SAFETY, CALL BOXES, SIGNAL AND CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS ARE, ARE NOW HERE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UH, RECREATIONAL RIDE AS WELL, UH, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS TRAIL IS INVITING TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS WHAT A REAL IMPACT PROJECT LOOKS LIKE.
THEY LEAVE BEHIND SOMETHING PERMANENT, SAFER FOR NEIGHBORHOODS ACCESS, ACCESSIBILITY, HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO CALL COMMUNITY HOME.
SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PARTNERS AS WELL.
AND I WANNA PARTICULARLY THANK THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL.
UM, I'M A CITY REPRESENTATIVE.
THAT'S WHERE THE $7.5 MILLION ARE COMING FROM.
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AS AN ALTERNATE TO, UH, MY C UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER EVELYN HERBA, WE SIT ON THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL.I'M HER ALTERNATE AND IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE AS A CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO HELP DELIVER SOME OF THESE DOLLARS.
UM, SHE GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, WHO WAS ALSO ON THE HGAC BOARD.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THESE ARE INTERTWINED AND HOW WE MAKE REALLY THE CITY WORK.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE SOUTHEAST, UM, AND EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR YOUR WORK.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS SEE THE FRUITION OF THE, OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DEDICATE.
AND THESE ARE VOLUNTEER HOURS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND I WANNA THANK, UH, ALSO THE COMMITMENT OF THOSE THAT ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THE SAFER AND MORE CONNECTED HOUSTON.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER, WE WANT TO THANK MS. JESSICA NEIL FOR COMING HERE.
UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND GIVE WORDS? YES, YES MA'AM.
I WILL BE BRIEF, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS FOR THE HOUSTON DASH, THE HOUSTON DYNAMO, AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD.
SO I'M HERE ON BOTH SEATS TODAY.
I WANNA THANK OUR CITY LEADERS.
WE HAVE A MAYOR WHO TALKED ABOUT WHAT GREAT CITIES DO.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABAZZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, WHO HAVE CLEARLY, UH, BEEN LEADING THIS EFFORT FOR YEARS, RIGHT? UM, FOR US, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SHELL ENERGY STADIUM, I JUST WANNA BRING THIS HOME A LITTLE BIT.
GREAT CITIES HAVE GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND GREAT FACILITIES.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT ENTERTAINMENT IS POSSIBLE IS IF PEOPLE CAN GET THERE SAFELY.
PARKING WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FRICTION POINT IN AND AROUND A BUSY DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S THE CASE IN ANY MAJOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SETTING.
THE MORE PLACES THAT WE CAN HAVE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESSIBLY AND SAFELY GET TO OUR FACILITIES, TO OUR DOWNTOWN, TO OUR BUSINESSES AND BACK AND TO THE UNIVERSITY AND, AND TO THEIR PLACES OF WORK.
AND, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS INTRODUCES AN OPTION THAT HASN'T BEEN AVAILABLE IN A SAFE MANNER BEFORE THIS INVESTMENT.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF AN ENTITY THAT BENEFITS FROM INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING LIKE THIS, WHEN WE CAN DELIVER SAFE METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION, WE CAN LITERALLY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AT OUR STADIUMS. YOU KNOW, NOT BECAUSE OF THE WORLD CUP, BUT THE HOUSTON DASH INTIMA WILL BE HERE.
THEY WERE HERE LONG BEFORE THE WORLD CUP.
WE WILL BE GATHERING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AT OUR STADIUM AS ON A WEEKLY BASIS LONG AFTER THIS TOURNAMENT IS GONE.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED ON BEHALF OF THE EAST EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, LIZ WHITTEN AND JIM WEBB AND THE, AND THE GOODMAN TEAM.
THEY DRIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN AND AROUND EAST DOWNTOWN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE TO FEEL SAFE OR THEY WON'T VISIT.
SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO SEE YOU ALL AT SHE SHELL ENERGY STADIUM SOON.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING IS AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE WANTED TO ENSURE THERE'S NO BARRIER FOR SOMEONE TO EXPERIENCING LIVE SOCCER WITH THEIR FAMILY.
WE HAVE INVITED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR MATCHES FOR FREE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO 'CAUSE THAT'S WHO WE ARE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS MOMENTUM OCCASION.
AND UM, I HOPE TO SEE EVERYBODY RIDING THEIR BIKE FROM SHELL ENERGY STADIUM TO ENERGY STADIUM IN AN IN AND AROUND THE TIME.
MAYBE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, BUT WE'LL SEE YOU ALL SOON ON THE, ON THE PATH.
IT'S CLEAR OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, I ENGINEERS, UH, WE'RE OUR ENGINEERS THAT ARE HERE.
AGILITY, YOU NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING?
OUR ENGINEERS ARE GONNA BE HERE HELPING US PRODUCE AND CONTINUE TO PUT IN THESE LIGHTS, UM, AFTER FIFA, BEFORE OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, FOUNDATION OF THIS INTERSECTION, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, ENERGY, EMERGENCY CALL BOXES, WAY FINDING SIGNAGE AND ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.
I WANNA THANK THE MEDIA AS WELL FOR HELPING US TELL THE STORY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, UH, FOR LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE.
WE CARE ABOUT OUR, OUR HOUSTONIANS SAFETY AND SECURITY.
UM, SO WITH THAT, OUR TEAM IS HERE TO HELP WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND WE LIKE TO GET A PHOTO UP FRONT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO A LIGHT DEMONSTRATION.
SO IF I GET ALL OF OUR ELECTED AND BOARD MEMBERS TO THE RIGHT ON THE TRAIL, PLEASE.