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GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I AM PROUD TO BE JOINED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER, LEE VELA WITH CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATION, HPD CHIEF, NO DIAZ, HAIDA, DIRECTOR MIKE MCDANIEL, HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, CEO, RYAN WALSH, HOUSTON AIRPORTS DIRECTOR JIM SNYK, NO TRAFFICKING ZONE N-T-Z-C-E-O.
JACQUELINE ALITO, SURVIVOR VOICE.
COURTNEY LIFT, LITVAC, ANDY KHAN OF CRIME STOPPERS HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CHIEF JOHN NANNY.
WE GATHER HERE TODAY FOR A PURPOSE GREATER THAN POLICY, GREATER THAN POLITICS, AND GREATER THAN ANY ONE ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND AND TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.
HOUSTON WILL NOT BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
HOUSTON WILL BE A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOT A DISTANT PROBLEM.
IT IS NOT HAPPENING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SOMEONE ELSE.
IT IS HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR HOTELS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR SCHOOLS, AND INCREASINGLY ONLINE.
IT TARGETS THE VULNERABLE EXPLOITS, THE INNOCENT AND PROFITS FROM HUMAN SUFFERING.
HOUSTON'S STRENGTH IS A GLOBAL CITY.
OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, OUR INTERNATIONAL CON CONNECTIONS AND OUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY HAS UNFORTUNATELY ALSO MADE US A TARGET FOR TRAFFICKERS WHO VIEW HUMAN BEINGS AS COMMODITIES INSTEAD OF PEOPLE.
BUT TODAY WE STAND UNITED TO TELL THEM THEIR BUSINESS IS NOT WELCOME HERE.
EVERY VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING HAS A NAME.
THEY HAVE DREAMS THAT WERE INTERRUPTED BY EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE.
BEHIND EVERY STATISTIC IS A CHILD WHO DESERVED PROTECTION, A YOUNG PERSON WHO DESERVED OPPORTUNITY, AND A SURVIVOR WHO DESERVES HEALING AND JUSTICE.
A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN.
A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE OURSELVES, OUR RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS.
A COMMITMENT TO TRAIN FRONTLINE WORKERS, BUSINESSES, HOTELS, TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO IDENTIFY AND REPORT TRAFFICKING.
A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVICE PROVIDERS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.
AS A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS, NOT JUST IN ESCAPING TRAFFICKING, BUT IN REBUILDING THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY, SAFETY, AND HOPE.
THIS INITIATIVE RECOGNIZES THAT NO ONE SINGLE AGENCY CAN SOLVE THIS CRISIS ALONE.
IT REQUIRES ALL OF US GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS, BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOODS, PARENTS, NEWS, MEDIA EDUCATORS, FAITH LEADERS.
EVERY HOUSTONIAN HAS A ROLE TO PLAY.
THE TRAFFICKERS DEPEND ON SILENCE.
THEY DEPEND ON PEOPLE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY, AND THEY DEPEND ON COMMUNITIES NOT EVEN KNOWING WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
TODAY WE CHOOSE AWARENESS OVER IGNORANCE.
WE CHOOSE ACTION OVER INDIFFERENCE, AND WE CHOOSE COURAGE OVER SILENCE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LET US REMEMBER THAT SUCCESS WILL NOT BE MEASURED BY THE SIGNS WE POST OR THE PROCLAMATIONS WE ISSUE.
SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED BY THE LIVES WE PROTECT, THE VICTIMS WE IDENTIFY, THE TRAFFICKERS WE PROSECUTE, AND THE SURVIVORS WHO FIND FREEDOM AND HEALING.
HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY THAT RISES TO MEET CHALLENGES.
WE ARE RESILIENT, WE ARE COMPASSIONATE, AND WE ARE STRONGEST WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER.
SO TODAY, LET US MAKE OUR MESSAGE UNMISTAKABLY CLEAR TO TRAFFICKERS.
HOUSTON IS CLOSED FOR BUSINESS TO SURVIVORS.
HOUSTON BELIEVES YOU, AND HOUSTON STANDS WITH YOU AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD A CITY WHERE EXPLOITATION HAS NO PLACE, WHERE VICTIMS ARE SUPPORTED, AND WHERE EVERY PERSON IS TRAINED AND TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE.
TOGETHER TODAY WE DECLARE HOUSTON A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT LIST OF SUPPORTERS TODAY.
AND FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SOMEONE, AS WE ALL KNOW, WHO HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SIDE FOR MANY YEARS, FROM 50 YEARS IN THE SENATE, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR PASSION.
AND WHAT WE'RE WITNESSING TODAY IS I THINK YOUR CALL OUT FOR COLLABORATION.
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PROFESSIONAL, UH, CRIME FIGHTERS AND PEOPLE COMMITTED TO ZERO HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED, WE'VE PASSED STATUTES IN AUSTIN TO ENHANCE PENALTIES.WE HAVE DESIGNATED JUVENILE SCHOOL SITES, THE FAITH COMMUNITY.
WE'VE KIND OF DONE IT WHERE WE THOUGHT IT WAS MOST INTENSE AND MOST IMPORTANT.
BUT NOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER EXPRESS, IT'S HOUSTON, IT'S OUR REGION.
IT'S ZERO HUMAN TRAFFICKING ZONE.
I JUST LEFT THE FAN FEST FOOTPRINT AND THAT WAS PART OF THE PLANNING, HOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SAFE FAN FEST FIFA EXPERIENCE.
AND WE ARE DECLARING WE ARE GOING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BAD ACTORS, THOSE THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THAT JUST WANT TO ATTEND A SOCCER EVENT.
SO THIS IS TIMING'S GOOD, BUT REALLY IT'S NOT ABOUT FIFA, IT'S ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, OUR SCHOOLS, LOCATIONS OF, OF HIGHER LEARNING.
I'VE WORKED WITH MISS ALITO FOR YEARS, AND I COULD NAME OTHERS, BUT LOOK AT THE LAYERS OF SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
BUT OUR REAL GOAL IS PREVENTION AND PREVENTION.
AND THANK YOU TO CRIME STOPPERS THAT PEOPLE KNOW THEY WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND INCENTIVIZE AND GIVE REWARDS FOR TURNING IN PIMPS AND HUMAN TRAFFICK OPERATORS.
THANK YOU VELA, FOR SPREADING THE WORD THAT THIS IS REALLY A CITY THAT'S FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND CERTAINLY STOPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THANK YOU TO THE VICE MAYOR PROTE PAC WHO CHAIRS CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR BEING HERE.
LOOK, THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, WHICH PLAYS SUCH A CRITICAL ROLE, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CRIME STOPPERS, BUT REALLY IT'S THE PUBLIC.
WE NEED YOU TO SUPERVISE YOUR CHILDREN.
I GOT SO EXCITED THE OTHER DAY AND CONCERNED ABOUT, WE HAD A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAM AND IT WAS SHOWN BY THE EXPERTS THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF A YOUNG PERSON IS BEING GROOMED AS EIGHT YEARS OLD.
I'VE GOT 10 AND 12-YEAR-OLD GRANDSONS.
THE 12-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN ALLOWED A PHONE.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DEBATE THAT ALL DAY LONG,
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE.
BUT IT DID NOT KEEP ME FROM ALLOWING WHITNEY TO KNOW THE INFORMATION I'D GAINED THAT DAY.
AND I BRING IT UP TODAY TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THE SILENCE AND SOMEONE, YOUNG PERSON WITH A PHONE, THEY COULD BE BEING GROOMED.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE RESULTS.
SO THIS IS ABOUT PREVENTION, IS ABOUT COLLABORATION, AND THANK YOU.
LET'S KEEP ON WORKING AND MOVE HOUSTON FORWARD.
UM, ONE OF THE BEST PARTNERS IN THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, HANDS DOWN FOR ME AND FOR MANY OTHERS HAS BEEN CLEAR CHANNEL AND LEELA, UH, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SO MUCH.
ON BEHALF OF CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, UH, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE FOR YEARS BEEN, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WITH, UH, FOR, TO, UH, FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UH, FROM A 21 TO BOB'S RANCH HAND RESCUE, TO SO MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE, WE HAVE DONATED SPACE TO BECAUSE THIS HAS TO BE PURGED FROM OUR CITY AND OUR STATE AND NATIONALLY AS WELL.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, UM, NEGOTIATIONS TO DO A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH UNION PACIFIC AND RE, RAQUEL ESPINOZA'S HERE REPRESENTING UNION PACIFIC.
AND THAT WILL BE, UH, LAUNCHED LATER IN JULY.
UH, BUT FOR NOW, THIS CAMPAIGN THAT, THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IS GOING TO BE OUT THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA, NOT JUST INSIDE HOUSTON, BUT THE SURROUNDING AREA AS WELL, UH, ON OUR ON, NOT ONLY IN HOUSTON, BUT IN DALLAS AND IN SAN ANTONIO AS WELL.
UH, YOU'LL SEE BILLBOARDS ON, ON TRADITIONAL BILLBOARDS THAT ARE PRINTED BILLBOARDS INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE OUR DIGITAL BILLBOARDS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE SUBURBAN AREAS AND, UH, IN DALLAS AND IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, UH, KIND OF UNVEIL, IF YOU WILL, WHAT THESE BILLBOARDS ARE GONNA LOOK LIKE.
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THIS WILL CREATE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF MARKET IMPRESSIONS THROUGH THOSE THREE CITIES IN TEXAS.AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS, TO STAND UP.
IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO STAND UP, NOT JUST THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST, UH, LEADERSHIP OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE HAVE TO ALL STAND UP AND SEE IF WE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S IN FRONT OF US EVERY DAY.
AND SO WE HOPE THAT THIS IS A REMINDER TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, TO LOOK OUT FOR YOUR, YOUR NEIGHBOR, FOR SOMEONE, YOU KNOW.
AND I'VE HEARD THOSE STATISTICS ABOUT THE KIDS THAT ARE BEING GROOMED AND IT'S JUST HORRIFIC.
SO WE HAVE TO FIND OUT NOW WITH SCHOOL, UH, OUT, UH, THEN WE HAVE TO BE EVEN MORE DILIGENT TO WATCH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND SO WE CALL UPON PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO WATCH THEIR CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS AND SO FORTH.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR US BEING A PART OF THAT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING US TO IT.
AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HPD, SOME OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
AND TODAY WE HAVE CHIEF NO DI HERE TO PROVIDE REMARKS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, CHIEF.
THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU FIRST TO OUR PARTNERS WITH THE MEDIA FOR ACTUALLY SHOWING UP TODAY AND, AND HIGHLIGHTING SOMETHING SO SERIOUS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THESE THINGS ACT HA ACTUALLY HAPPENED ON A DAILY BASIS FOR OUR TEAM.
UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER MENTIONED THAT WE DO HAVE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
SO I KNOW THIS IS GEARED TOWARDS FIFA, BUT EVERY DAY IS FIFA FOR US, RIGHT? WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TOPIC, IT'S SERIOUS TO US.
WE ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISN'T OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, IN OUR JUNIOR HIGHS.
SOMETIMES, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, EIGHT YEARS OLD IN ELEMENTARY.
SO IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING IT.
SO IF YOU'RE TRAVELING TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR FIFA, MR. VELA MENTIONED SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, THE OTHER BIG CITIES AUSTIN.
DON'T COME TO HOUSTON WITH IT 'CAUSE WE HAVE A PLAN.
DON'T CATCH YOURSELF SITTING AT A RESTAURANT TRYING TO ENGAGE IN SOME ILLICIT ACTIVITY.
'CAUSE THAT MAY BE AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON IT ON A SINGLE, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BE CAREFUL WHO YOU'RE COMMUNICATING IF YOU CHOOSE THOSE KINDS OF ILLICIT BEHAVIORS.
PERSONALLY, YOU MIGHT BE COMMUNICATING WITH SOMEONE AT ICAC FOR US.
AND WE'RE DRIVEN TO MAKE SURE THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES ARE PRETTY SERIOUS.
YOU WILL NOT GET OUT ANYTIME SOON IF YOU'RE CONVICTED OF A CRIME LIKE THIS.
HOUSTON IS A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE AS PART OF THE HOUSTON TRAFFICKING RESCUE ALLIANCE DURING THE WORLD CUP, HPD WILL BE PARTNERING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE STATE POLICE, AS WELL AS THE HSI, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT, THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DA'S OFFICE ON A COORDINATED PLAN TO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
HPD IS DEDICATING OFFICERS ON ALL SHIFTS 24 7 TO FOCUS ON STOPPING AND PREVENTING THIS CRIME AND IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH FIFA AS AN GREAT PARTNER TO PREVENT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN THE PROCEEDING WEEKS, HPD VICE OFFICERS, ALONG WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, HAVE BEEN ARRESTING KNOWN TRAFFICKERS WITH WARRANTS.
YOU'LL SEE IN FRONT OF ME, YOU'LL SEE IT ON THE SCREEN.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVE.
SO PLEASE CALL IN CRIME STOPPERS.
THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE AFFECTING, IT AFFECTS EVERY SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST ONE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE PREPARATIONS DON'T STOP.
HPD WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS, SPECIFICALLY TARGETING TRAFFICKERS AND PROSTITUTION BUYERS.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, THE YMCA UNBOUND.
NOW THE LANDING BCFS COMMON THREAD TO IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE ADULT AND JUVENILE VICTIM SERVICES TO ASSIST THEM.
DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN ARE THE PHOTOS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST WANTED HERE IN OUR AREA.
NOW, THE HOUSTON TRAFFIC, THE HOUSTON TRAFFICKING RESCUE ALLIANCE IS A YEAR ROUND COLLABORATION THAT WE PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES IN.
MAYOR WHITMEYER IS ABREAST OF IT.
SO WE'RE CHALLENGED TO DO OUR VERY BEST BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF IT, PERIOD.
SO I WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS, UH, WITH CLEAR CHANNEL FOR ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT STUFF.
OUR PARTNERS AT THE AIRPORT, OUR PARTNERS HERE, MIKE, WITH HAIDA.
UH, THIS IS NOT JUST HERE, IT'S A FEDERAL THING.
AND WE SPEND A LOT OF RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE.
IF WE SAVE ONE CHILD TODAY, WE'VE DONE OUR JOB, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
AND I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT DO THIS JOB ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEY SEE UGLY THINGS AND NOT JUST THAT, IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS JOB FOR THEM TO DO, TO WORK IN THAT COVERT CAPACITY.
IF YOU SHOW ONE THING TODAY, MAKE SURE YOU SHOW THIS
WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE NEIGHBORS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITIES AMONG US.
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UM, DIRECTOR FOR HAIDA, MIKE MCDANIEL.UH, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY BECAUSE CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT YOUR FOCUS IS, IS, UH, YOU'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THIS TOPIC.
AND SO WE'RE WE, WELCOME YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, HIGH A STANDS FOR THE HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA.
AND IF YOU DON'T TAKE ANYTHING AWAY, I SAY TODAY, REST ASSURED THAT BY DECLARING HOUSTON A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE, HOW IMPORTANT THAT'S GONNA BE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS AREA, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL, ARE IN ONE, ONE HAND WORKING TOGETHER, BRINGING ALL THE AGENCY RESOURCES TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM.
THE THE HAIDA HAS AN EXECUTIVE BOARD.
CHIEF DIAZ, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
HE'S OUR CURRENT EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIR.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 22 STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL, EQUAL STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HEADS THAT GET IN ONE ROOM AND DECIDE HOW WE'RE GONNA ATTACK THE THREATS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT HOUSTON UNIQUELY IS A VERY COHESIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP.
BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
AND WE HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIPS LIKE WITH NO TRAFFICKING ZONE WITH JACQUELINE.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM HER IN A MINUTE.
AND, AND WHEN WE ALL PUT OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA TACKLE THIS PROBLEM.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT SOME OF THE FENTANYL OVERDOSES HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY DECLINING.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE A LOT OF STATES, INCLUDING THE STATE OF TEXAS, HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE PENALTIES FOR FENTANYL TRAFFICKING.
AND AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS ACTUALLY MAKING INCREASING THE PEN PENALTIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IT'S GONNA FOLLOW THE SAME, UH, TRAJECTORY.
AND, UH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CARTELS MADE MORE MONEY IN 23 AND 24 ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAN THEY DID DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND THAT'S REALLY HARD TO FATHOM.
BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR PARTNERS, UH, WE, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT EACH OTHER.
AND, AND WE'RE IN ONE SYNC TO REALLY ATTACK THIS PROBLEM.
AND THANK YOU FOR DEC DECLARING THIS DAY.
NO TRAFFICKING ZONE IN HOUSTON.
YOU KNOW, HOUSTON HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIVE VOICES IN OUR CITY WITH OUR SPORTS TEAMS. WE'VE GOT THE TEXANS, WE'VE GOT THE ROCKETS, WE'VE GOT THE ASTROS AND THE DYNAMO, AND, UH, THE HOUSTON, THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY IS ESSENTIAL, AN ESSENTIAL VOICE FOR ALL OF US, AND WE'RE HONORED TODAY TO HAVE TO HAVE, UH, RYAN, UH, WALSH, THE CEO OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR GATHERING SUCH A GROUP OF IMPACTFUL PEOPLE.
AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL AND, AND YOU KNOW, YOUR STORY ABOUT YOUR GRANDKIDS.
I'M, I'M A DAD OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS, SO THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND SOMETHING THAT WEIGHS ON MY MIND A LOT.
AND SO I AM, IT'S A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO BE A SMALL COG IN THE WHEEL OF, OF HELPING TO ERADICATE THIS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YOU KNOW, FROM THE SPORTS AUTHORITIES PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE SOCCER MATCH COMING UP IN ABOUT A WEEK.
AND, UH, THE THING THAT I TELL PEOPLE IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST, UH, ONE GROUP'S EVENT.
AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EVENT IS A SUCCESS FOR EVERYONE IN HOUSTON.
I THINK IT'S THE SAME FOR THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
IT TAKES SO MANY PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, THIS ISSUE IS HIGHLIGHTED AND TOP OF MIND FOR EVERYONE.
YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME THE GREAT GROUP THAT ARE, THAT ARE GATHERED TO HELP FIGHT THIS.
BUT, UH, I, IT'S ANOTHER SENSE OF PRIDE FOR ME WHEN I WAS, UH, PART OF THE NRG PARK COMPLEX AND WORKING WITH JACQUELINE SO MANY YEARS AGO, IS TO DESIGNATE NRG STADIUM, THE VERY FIRST NFL STADIUM IN THE COUNTRY TO BE A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
SO WORKING ALONGSIDE THAT, UH, AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON BEING A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO WORLD CUP, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, CERTAINLY FIFA'S THREE CORE PILLARS OF, OF THEIR EVENT ARE GROWING THE GAME, SUSTAINABILITY AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND CERTAINLY UNDERNEATH THAT HUMAN RIGHTS IS, UH, ERADICATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, WORKING VERY HARD.
WE'VE DEVELOPED WORLD, WORLD CUP SPECIFIC TRAININGS, UH, IN SEVERAL FORMATS THAT CAN BE EMBEDDED IN TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND IT GOES A LITTLE FURTHER.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE STATE OF TEXAS, ALREADY REGULATE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING, BUT OURS IS CERTAINLY EVENT SPECIFIC AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMEBODY DOES APPROACH HER? IF YOU IDENTIFY, UH, AN AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS THAT ATTENTION? AND THESE TRAININGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A BROAD USE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND A GLOBAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION, UH, CREATED THEM.
THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC AND THEY'RE VERY TIMELY FOR US AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS, AND CERTAINLY, UH, FROM THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND THE HOST COMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE READY TO HELP BE A PART OF THE, THE,
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THE FIGHT.AND, UH, CERTAINLY THE FIRST POINT OF ENTRY A LOT OF TIMES IS OUR AIRPORT.
SO, UM, HONORED TODAY TO HAVE, UH, HOUSTON AIRPORT'S DIRECTOR JIM SNYK HERE WITH US TO OFFER HIS COMMENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM.
YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM TAKES THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THAT TRAFFICKING THROUGH THE AIRPORT IS A, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A, IS A THING.
AND SO WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MITIGATE THAT.
AND WHAT WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS IS ALL BADGED EMPLOYEES AT THE AIRPORT ARE TRAINED SPECIFICALLY INTO TRAFFICKING AND THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT YOU SEE IN THE AIRPORT.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EYES IN THE AIRPORT THAT'S HERE TO, TO PROTECT FOLKS FOR THE VICTIMS. WE'VE GOT SIGNAGE IN OUR RESTROOMS THAT HELP YOU TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU CONTACT INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO GET OUTTA THAT SITUATION.
OR YOU CAN JUST REACH OUT TO ANY EMPLOYEE AT THE AIRPORT.
AGAIN, THEY'VE ALL BEEN TRAINED ON HOW TO KIND OF ASSIST YOU WITH THAT.
FOR THE TRAFFICKERS, I WOULD TELL YOU THIS IS A BAD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.
UM, I'VE GOT A VERY POWERFUL PARTNER OVER HERE IN HPD, THE MAYOR, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT PARTNERSHIP AND, AND TEAMWORK.
AND THE TEAM AT THE AIRPORT IS READY.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, TEAMED UP WITH HOUSTON, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE TRANSFERRING INTERNATIONAL, UH, THROUGH, UH, UH, BORDERS, UH, ENTER EITHER INTERNATIONALLY OR ACROSS, UH, STATES, UM, WE'VE GOT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS THAT ARE, ARE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO ARREST YOU.
UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE TELLING YOU THAT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM IS NOT A PLACE TO DO TRAFFICKING.
WE'VE GOT THE TEAM IN PLACE, WE'VE GOT THE TRAINING IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO STOP THIS, AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT READY TO BE ABLE TO SNAG YOU.
AND I'VE GOT PLENTY OF CAMERAS TO BE ABLE TO CATCH YOU OUT, UH, DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO I JUST DID A WARNING FOR YOU.
AGAIN, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM IS NOT A PLACE WHERE THIS IS TOLERATED.
SO, UH, ABOUT IN JANUARY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET JACQUELINE OTO WITH NO TRAFFICKING ZONE, NTZ OVER AT NRG.
UM, BUT, UH, AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT, OKAY, IF WE'VE GOT NRG AS A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE, WE, WE, WE CERTAINLY NEED THE REST OF OUR, OUR SPORTS FACILITIES, BUT ALSO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO NONE, NONE LIKE JACQUELINE PUSHING YOU ALONG TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO WELCOME JACQUELINE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCILMAN CARTER SPORTS AUTHORITY RYAN WALSH, THE AIRPORT LEADERSHIP, ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS STANDING HERE ON THE FRONT LINES TO REALLY FIGHT AND COMBAT THIS HORRIFIC CRIME.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WHO WE ARE SO BLESSED TO WORK ALONGSIDE DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WHICH IS HPD, THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HA A AND MANY OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE REALLY WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT AND COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
NO TRAFFICKING ZONE BEGAN AS AN INITIATIVE UNDER ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, BUT IT QUICKLY GREW IN ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT.
AND WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD TO MAKE AN ORGANIZATION ON OUR OWN.
IN 2020, ENERGY PARK BECAME THE FIRST ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS VENUE IN THE WORLD.
WE THOUGHT THAT THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD STOP.
UM, BUT WE'VE DONE SO MUCH MORE SINCE THEN.
IT WAS A LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY THAT REALLY MADE THIS HAPPEN.
SEE, I THINK WHAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL TO REALIZE IS WITHOUT INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP ALL STANDING BESIDE ME WORKING TOGETHER, YOU CAN'T REALLY COMBAT AND PREVENT CRIME SUCH AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED CRIME.
IT REALLY WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND FINANCIAL CRIMES, AND IT PREYS ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
SO I REALLY WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY THANK ALL OF THESE LEADERS FOR BEING THE FIRST IN OUR NATION AND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING AFTER TO TODAY.
THE GAME OVER INITIATIVE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN CITIES AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
NTZ NOW HAS OPERATED IN FIVE FIFA WORLD CUP HOST CITIES.
OUR SIGNAGE, OUR CAMPAIGNS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IT'S A PENALTY.
UBER, AIRBNB AND THE NEW JERSEY HUMAN TRAFFICKING COALITION IS NOW DISPLAYED THIS WEEK THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK, AND IT'S LAUNCHED THIS PAST WEEKEND.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES INTO NEW JERSEY'S LEADERSHIP FOR FOLLOWING TEXAS'S LEAD AND SURVIVOR LEADER JUNIOR CARVALLO.
WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH PARTNERS IN ATLANTA WHERE THEY HAVE NOW DEVELOPED THE NO TRA THE NODE DRONE ZONE INITIATIVE, WHICH WILL HELP KEEP THEIR STADIUM SAFE.
WE'VE BEEN INVITED BY THE WHITE HOUSE TO PRESENT THIS MODEL AS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
I SHARE ALL OF THIS BECAUSE HERE IT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
IT STARTED BECAUSE THESE LEADERS BELIEVED IN US.
IN 2021, THE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE ACT WENT INTO EFFECT MAKING ALL SCHOOLS NO TRAFFICKING ZONES
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ON ANY GIVEN DAY.79,800 YOUTH ARE TRAFFICKED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
55% OF THOSE TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS TOOK A SURVEY SAYING THAT IT WAS CONNECTED TO THEIR SCHOOLS.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING AND THIS COULD NO LONGER BE A CRIME WHERE IT WAS A LOW RISK, HIGH REWARD PENALTY.
IT BECAME 25 TO 99 YEARS TO PREVENT AND COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SCHOOLS.
IN 2023, WE SAT WITH A SENATOR CALLED SENATOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND EXPRESSED TO HIM THAT WE NEEDED TO PASS HB 3 50 53 AND 3 5 54, EXPRESSING TO HIM HOW CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, FACILITIES, DAYCARE CENTERS, COLLEGES, AND THAT NO TRAFFICKING ZONES HAD TO EXPAND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL A HIGH REWARD, LOW RISK CRIME, AND WE NEEDED THE CRIME TO MATCH THE PENALTY.
MAYOR WHITMEYER JUMPED IN AND TOOK THE LEAD AND HELPED US EXPEND NO TRAFFICKING ZONES.
SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE STANDING WITH HIM TODAY THAT HIS LEADERSHIP STILL CONTINUES TO BE PASSIONATE TO PREVENT AND COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
IN 2025, A MOTHER CALLED ME WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED.
HER NAME WAS MARY WELLS, AND SHE SAID TO ME, IT'S TIME FOR US TO MAKE ALL OF TEXAS A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
WE CANNOT HAVE ANY AREA WHERE IT'S NOT A FIRST DEGREE FELONY.
25 TO 99 YEARS, NONE OF US CAN SIT BY AND WATCH, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT.
AND THE THE CHIEF EIGHT YEAR OLDS BEING PREYED UPON.
THEY CANNOT GET SLAPPED ON THE WRIST, THEY CANNOT GET PROBATION, THEY CANNOT GET DEFERRED, AND THEY CANNOT PLEA OUT OF JAIL.
WE NEED HARSH PENALTIES BECAUSE A PENALTY OF 25 TO 99 YEARS THAT WILL DETER CARTELS, GANGS, PIMPS, AND TRAFFICKERS, AND WE NEED THIS DETERRENT.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GOVERNOR AND EVERYBODY FOR COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WHOLE STATE A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
I SIT HERE IN BELIEF WITH COURTNEY LITVAC, A SURVIVOR, THAT WHAT A CELEBRATION IT IS THAT HOUSTON IS DECLARED A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE AND THAT ALL THESE LEADERS CAME TOGETHER, THEY PUT POLITICS ASIDE, THEY TOOK, THEY PUT THEIR BIPARTISAN ASIDE, AND THEY PUT PEOPLE FIRST AND THEY PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP WHERE EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER AND COMES TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF OUR PUBLIC AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR MOST INNOCENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU.
CLEAR, CLEAR CHANNEL FOR DOING THIS CAMPAIGN WITH US.
AND SO THE REASON THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY OBVIOUSLY IS FOR THE VICTIMS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE SURVIVORS.
UM, COURTNEY LIPEK, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MANY THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS COURTNEY LITVAC AND I'M THE PROUD DIRECTOR OF SURVIVOR LEADER INITIATIVES FOR THE INCREDIBLE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING OUR CITY AND EVERYBODY IN IT.
THANK YOU AS WELL TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS, FEDERAL AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCATES, ALL SURVIVORS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR FOR STANDING WITH US IN THIS UNIFIED EFFORT.
AS A SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATE, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS WHEN LEADERS CHOOSE ACTION OVER AWARENESS ALONE.
SO I ALSO WANNA THANK PERSONALLY TO YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HELPING US PASS OUR NEW TRAFFICKING ZONE LEGISLATION IN TEXAS AND FOR HELPING MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD.
EVERY BILL PASSED AN INITIATIVE CHAMPION REPRESENTS LIVES BEING PROTECTED AND COMMUNITIES MADE SAFER.
WE ARE NOT JUST SIMPLY UNVEILING BILLBOARDS, WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE HERE, COMING HERE, BUT ESPECIALLY TO HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.
AS HOUSTON PREPARES TO WELCOME HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT A MILLION PLUS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD DURING 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE VERY BEST OF OUR CITY, OUR HOSPITALITY, OUR DIVERSITY, OUR RESILIENCE, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.
BUT WITH THAT OPPORTUNITY ALSO COMES RESPONSIBILITY.
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, OF COURSE BRING EXCITEMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, GROWTH AND GLOBAL ATTENTION.
YET THEY CAN ALSO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE TRAFFICKERS SEEK TO EXPLOIT THE INCREASED ACTIVITY, SPENDING LARGE CROWDS AND VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS FOR PROFIT.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE STANDING HERE TODAY TO MAKE SOMETHING UNMISTAKEN CLEAR.
HOUSTON IS A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
THE MISSION IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME AS A SURVIVOR OF SEX TRAFFICKING, I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW TRAFFICKERS EXPLOIT LARGE GATHERINGS AND MAJOR EVENTS.
AS I HIGHLIGHTED DURING MY TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOMELAND SECURITY SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE AND DECEMBER DURING THE 2017 SUPER BOWL,
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I WAS BEING TRAFFICKED AT AND AROUND NRG PARK.I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT AMONG THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND YET REMAIN UNSEEN AND UNHEARD.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR EVENTS, WE'RE NOT JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THEORIES, NOR SHOULD WE BE SENSATIONALIZING THIS ISSUE AT THE EXPENSE OF ACCURACY.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT REALITIES THAT SURVIVORS LIKE MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND.
BUT TODAY, I DO NOT STAND BEFORE YOU AS A VICTIM OF THAT STORY.
I STAND BEFORE YOU AS PROOF THAT OVERCOMING IS POSSIBLE, HEALING IS POSSIBLE, AND THAT WHEN COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER, LIVES CAN BE AND ARE CHANGED.
THAT IS WHY THESE NO TRAFFICKING ZONE INITIATIVES ARE SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS FAR FROM A VICTIMLESS CRIME.
IT IS THE EXPLOITATION OF HUMAN BEINGS FOR GREED, POWER AND CONTROL.
IT STEALS FREEDOM AND DIGNITY.
IT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE, RACE, GENDER, AND BACKGROUND.
THEREFORE, IT DEMANDS OUR UNIFIED RESPONSE.
THE BILLBOARDS WE UNVEIL TODAY ARE MORE THAN SIGNS ALONG OUR ROADWAYS.
THEY ARE PUBLIC DECLARATION THAT HOUSTON REFUSES TO TURN A BLIND EYE.
THEY ARE A REMINDER THAT AWARENESS SAVES LIVES AND THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN IDENTIFYING AND STOPPING TRAFFICKING.
GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.
AND NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERY ORGANIZATION AND ADVOCATE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY AND FOR YOUR COLLABORATION AND ACTION OVER SILENCE.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO NO TRAFFICKING ZONE AND TO JACQUELINE AND TO CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR FOR HELPING TO AMPLIFY THIS MESSAGE ACROSS OUR CITY AS THE EYES OF THE WORLD TURN TO HOUSTON IN 2026.
LET THEM SEE MORE THAN JUST A HOST CITY.
LET THEM SEE A CITY THAT VALUES HUMAN LIFE.
LET THEM SEE A CITY THAT PROTECTS THE VULNERABLE.
LET THEM SEE OUR CITY WHERE SURVIVORS ARE NOT ONLY HEARD, BUT EMPOWERED TO LEAD THE WAY THAT GOD AND ALL OF YOU HAVE HELPED ENSURE THAT I HAVE A PLATFORM TO SHARE MY VOICE SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS.
THAT IS THE POWER OF AWARENESS AND PARTNERSHIP, AND THAT IS THE POWER OF A COMMUNITY THAT REFUSES TO ACCEPT EXPLOITATION IS INEVITABLE TOGETHER.
WE DECLARE TODAY AND EVERY DAY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE WORLD CUP THAT HOUSTON IS A NO TRAFFICKING ZONE.
I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO STAND WITHIN NTZ AND ALL OF OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS HERE TODAY, BUT ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO JESUS FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS VOICE AND PLATFORM SO WE CAN REMEMBER WHY WE ARE DOING THIS WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION TO HELP OTHERS.
UH, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UH, CRIME STOPPERS.
WE'RE SO PROUD IN OUR CITY TO HAVE CRIME STOPPERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU, UH, HAVE A TIP, CALL 2 2 2 TIPS.
I'M ANDY KAHN, DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES FOR CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON AND FOR OUR INCOMING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS.
I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT CRIME STOPPERS IN HOUSTON IS THE LARGEST CRIME STOPPERS IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE SOLVE MORE CRIMES THAN ANY OTHER CRIME STOPPERS IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO PRACTICE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS, CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS COMMITTED A CRIME, THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN.
AND WE'RE ASKING THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS OUR BEST EYES AND EARS OUT THERE.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS COMMITTED A CRIME, YOU CAN REACH US 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 7 1 3 2 2 2 TIPS.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE A MOBILE APP AVAILABLE IN OVER 20 LANGUAGES FOR YOU TO REPORT TIPS.
AND ALL TIPSTER ARE ANONYMOUS.
AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER STATED, POLICE CHIEF MAYOR WHITMEYER THE PUBLIC IS OUR BEST EYES AND EARS OUT THERE.
SO TAKE A GOOD LOOK RIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMEONE OUT THERE KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE AND WE'RE ASKING THEM TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND I'M GIVING YOU UP TO 5,000 GOOD REASONS TO DO THAT.
SO ENJOY OUR CITY AND PLEASE BE SAFE.
UH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
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SUPPORT.MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHEN, WHEN, UH, YOU WERE ELECTED MAYOR, YOU, YOU STATED CLEARLY YOU WERE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING FOCUSED ON ALL ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHETHER IT'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS, WHETHER IT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN LEADING OUR CITY OUT OF SOME DARK SPACES.
GOD BLESS HOUSTON AND GOD BLESS TEXAS.