[00:00:02]
PLEASE COME TO[PRESENTATIONS]
ORDER.I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR PROTE TO PRESIDE, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, ARE YOU READY? YES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER IN CELEBRATION OF VENEZUELAN AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PROTE.
UM, AND BEFORE I READ THIS PROCLAMATION, I JUST WANNA SAY, MAYOR, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY TODAY BECAUSE TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY, FIRST TIME EVER, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HONORING VENEZUELA.
AND SO WHAT AN IMPORTANT TIME TO HONOR THIS COUNTRY AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE HORRIFIC EVENTS THAT OCCURRED AND HONOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY MADE.
SO I WILL START BY READING THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS ON JULY 7TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY WELCOMES THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY REPRESENTED BY THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER TO CITY HALL, WHERE THEY ARE RECOGNIZED BEFORE ALL OF HOUSTON.
WHEREAS A PART OF THE RICH, LAYERED AND DIVERSE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, VENEZUELAN AMERICANS BRING TRADITION, VALUES, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, MUSIC, GASTRONOMY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND RESILIENCE THAT FURTHER ENRICH THE MULTIFACETED IDENTITY OF HOUSTON.
WHEREAS ATHLETES, SCIENTISTS, ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND NEW GENERATIONS OF VENEZUELAN AMERICANS HELP FOSTER COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S REPUTATION AS A VIBRANT, WELCOMING, AND THRIVING CITY.
WHEREAS VENEZUELAN AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE HISTORY AND ROOTS OF VENEZUELAN AMERICANS AND REFLECTS THE SHARED VALUES OF FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, OPPORTUNITY, RESILIENCE, AND PROGRESS THAT SYMBOLIZE OUR DIVERSE, MULTICULTURAL AND BELOVED CITY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, FOR THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT A APPROPRIATE TIME WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT VENEZUELA IS FACING OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND ALSO YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSTON'S GREATNESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH SO MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, UH, IN THE ENERGY CORRIDOR, CERTAINLY IN OUR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, MY GRANDSONS PLAY VENEZUELAN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM THAT, THAT, THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE KATY COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, I GET TO WATCH THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR COACHES AND THEY'VE GOT SOME REALLY FINE YOUNG BALL PLAYERS COMING UP, NOT TO MENTION THEIR DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR SKILLS AS ASTROS.
AND THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY, 2026 IS VENEZUELAN AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, YIELD TO YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR THIS AMAZING AND IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE.
ON BEHALF OF THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER AND THE ENTIRE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS MY GREAT HONOR TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
FOR ISN, THE FIRST EVER RECORD PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN EDITOR WEEK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS HISTORIC PROCLAMATION REPRESENT MUCH MORE THAN OFFICIAL DECLARATION.
IT REFLECTS HOUSTON ENDURING COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND RESPECT FOR THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT HISPANIC COMMUNITIES BRING TO THE GREAT CITY.
IT'S A POWERFUL AFFIRMATION THAT OUR HISTORY, OUR CONTRIBUTION, AND OUR SERVICE, OUR VALUE, AND THAT TOGETHER WE CONTINUE TO MAKE HOUSTON STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT, AND MORE UNITE.
TODAY, OUR COMMUNITY FEELS SIN WELCOME AND HONOR FOR THAT.
WE EXTEND OUR SINCE APPRECIATION TO EACH MEMBER OF THIS, THE COUNCIL, AND TO OUR MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STATUS COMMITMENT TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT PROUDLY CALL HOUSTON HOME MAYOR.
WE ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE IN A SPECIAL WAY, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING, LEADERSHIP, YOUR DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND YOUR OVERWEIGHT COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A CITY WHERE EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE.
[00:05:01]
MY GRANTED A PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER HONOR DISTINCTION.PLEASE ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION AS A SYMBOL OF OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE, ADMIRATION, AND APPRECIATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING HISTORY WITH US TODAY AND STANDING WITH THE VENEZUELAN COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON.
AND I ACCEPT ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, YOU.
SO WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL, UH, UH, RECOGNITION FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU ALL, ALL OF YOU FOR THAT RECOGNITION.
FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THAT PROCLAMATION REFLECTS FAR MORE THAN WORDS READING IN A DOCUMENT.
IT REPRESENTS RECOGNITION, IT REPRESENTS INCLUSION.
IT REPRESENTED ENDURING BELIEF THAT THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARE NOW INTEGRAL.
PART OF THE STORY OF THIS GREAT CITY.
SUCH MOMENTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC SERVANT WHO BELIEVE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY DE DESERVE TO BE SEEN, HEARD, AND CELEBRATE.
LEADERS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE IS ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY AND CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY RESIDENT TO BELONG.
IT IS THEREFORE A SPECIAL FITTING THAT THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE 2026 OF THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER HONORARY DECISION IS SOMEONE WHOSE LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED TO MAKE THIS HISTORIC DAY POSSIBLE.
THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER HONORARY DISTINCTION IS THE CENTER OF THE HIGHEST INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION.
ON BEHALF OF THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER AND THE VENEZUELAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS OUR DECENT HONOR TO PRESENT THE 2026 VENEZUELAN AMERICAN CENTER HONORARY DISTINCTION TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ALEJANDRA SALINAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THANK YOU.
NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEPEC FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE FIBROID INSTITUTE IN RECOGNITION OF UTERINE FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH.
AND MAYOR, UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO, UM, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
WHEREAS THE UTERINE FIBROIDS ARE THE MOST COMMON BENIGN TUMORS THAT OCCUR IN WOMEN OF ALL AGES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITHIN THEIR CHILDBEARING YEARS, AND ARE ESTIMATED TO EFFECT UP TO 80% OF ALL WOMEN BY THE AGE OF 50, INCLUDING MORE THAN 320,000 WOMEN IN HU IN HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS THE INCIDENCES OF UTERINE FIBROIDS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS WOMEN OF COLOR OCCURRING AT RATES APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES HIGHER AMONG BLACK
[00:10:01]
WOMEN, AND TWO TIMES HIGHER AMONG HISPANIC WOMEN THAN AMONG CAUCASIAN WOMEN.THE DISPARITIES IN INCIDENT RATES AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CONDITION MAY BE INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENCES IN ACCESS TO AND UTILIZATION OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS UTERINE FIBROIDS CAN CAUSE SEVERE PELVIC PAIN, HEAVY UTERINE BLEEDING, INFERTILITY, MISCARRIAGE, PRETERM LABOR, INCREASED URINARY FREQUENCY AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY SPECIFIC SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKING EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT, OR IN SOME CASES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
AND WHEREAS UTERINE FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH OBSERVED ANNUALLY IN JULY ACROSS THE GLOBE, IS DEDICATED TO INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF UTERINE FIBROIDS ON WOMEN'S HEALTH AND PROMOTING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS.
ALTHOUGH UTERINE FIBROIDS AFFECT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WOMEN, UNDERSTANDING REMAINS LIMITED AND SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, RESULTING IN DELAYED DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.
AND WHEREAS DURING THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CALLS UPON ALL RESIDENTS WHO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING UTERINE FIBROIDS, HIGHLIGHTING THEIR SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, AND ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO SEEK TIMELY MEDICAL CARE AND PRIORITIZE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK FOR EDUCATING US ON A SERIOUS MATTER.
AND TO OUR GUESTS, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE, HOUSTONIANS.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JULY, 2026 IS UTERINE FIBER ROAD AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I AM THE, UH, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT FIBER INSTITUTE HOUSTON.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I'M JOINED TODAY BY SEVERAL OTHER PROVIDERS, UH, DR.
FAITH UBA, UH, U OF H, UH, MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND, UH, TY JONES, WHO RUNS HER WOMB WELLNESS, UH, A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT, UH, EMPHASIZES, UH, AWARENESS ABOUT FIBROIDS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, OUR MARKETING DIRECTOR, UH, MELISSA RILEY, WHO MADE A LOT OF THIS POSSIBLE TODAY.
SO, UM, I'VE BEEN TREATING FIBROIDS FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN HOUSTON.
I'VE BEEN, UH, PRACTICING IN HOUSTON FOR OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
UM, AND I DECIDED, UH, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO TO LEAVE MY PRACTICE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AND TO DEDICATE MY ENTIRE, UH, BEING AND PRACTICE AND MEDICAL PRACTICE TO THE TREATMENT OF FIBROIDS.
UH, AS STATED IN THE PROCLAMATION, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY WOMEN THAT SUFFER FROM FIBROIDS, UH, AND THEY SUFFER IN SILENCE.
UM, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK WITH THESE, UH, FINE LADIES AND MANY OTHER LOCAL PROVIDERS IN HELPING TO TREAT WOMEN WHO SUFFER.
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 70 OR 80% OF ALL WOMEN WILL, WILL HAVE FIBROIDS IN ABOUT 25% OF THEM SUFFER FROM SIGNIFICANT SYMPTOMS, OFTENTIMES, LIKE I SAID, IN SILENCE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE OPTIONS THAT THEY'RE GIVEN.
SO FOR ME, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT EDUCATION, ABOUT MAKING WOMEN AND EMPOWERING WOMEN SO THAT THEY HAVE THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MORE INFORMED CHOICES REGARDING THEIR HEALTH, UH, UH, UH, CARE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO FURTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, PRESS THIS ISSUE AND, AND INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS.
UH, THIS FOLLOWS, UH, A 2021, UH, HOUSE BILL 1 66 FOR THE STATE, UH, LEGISLATURE WHERE THEY RECOGNIZED, UH, JULY AS UTERINE FIBER AND AWARENESS MONTH.
AND WE'VE, UH, DONE OUR PART LOCALLY TO TRY AND CARRY THAT TORCH ON HERE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I THINK DR.
UBA MAY WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR WHITMORE AND ALSO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FAITH UBAH, PRACTICING OBGYN AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR FIBROID AWARENESS MONTH TO BE PROCLAIMED, UM, AND TO SHOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PHYSICIANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE OVER AN ISSUE THAT HAS A LOT OF SILENCE AND SHAME AROUND IT.
AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BRING AWARENESS TO FIBROID HEALTH ALSO BRINGS AWARENESS TO UTERINE HEALTH, WHICH WILL ALSO BRING FURTHER AWARENESS TO THE MATERNAL HEALTH ISSUE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN HOUSTON.
UM, THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE, UM, TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR FIBROIDS.
I, I DID SUFFER FROM FIBROIDS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, 90% OF, WELL, ONE OF THE 90% OF WOMEN WHO DO, YOU KNOW, HAD SUFFER, SUFFER FROM FIBROIDS.
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UM, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR HELP, BECAUSE A LOT OF WOMEN ARE JUST STUCK AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, IT'S A BLESSING BECAUSE ON MY JOURNEY, I DIDN'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT.
SO THAT'S WHY I CREATED WHETHER A PERSON IS LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OR A PERSON IS LOOKING FOR, UM, A SURGICAL PROCEDURE.
THAT'S WHERE HER WOUND WELLNESS COMES IN.
[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE INVOCATION.TODAY I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME BACK CORIN PINTO CORIN.
IF YOU'LL COME TO, UH, THE FRONT HERE SHE IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PHILLY CONNECT.
UH, WHEN CORINNE JOINED US LAST OCTOBER, WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HIGHLIGHTING PHILLY CONNECT'S INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A VITAL SPACE WHERE YOUNG ADULTS FIND CLARITY, BELONGING, SPIRITUAL HEALING, AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.
OVER THE PAST DECADE, HER VISION HAS TRANSFORMED COUNTLESS LIVES, AND THIS YEAR MARKS A MAJOR MILESTONE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 12TH AT 6:00 PM PHILLY CONNECT WILL CELEBRATE 11 YEARS OF DEEP COMMUNITY IMPACT AT ITS ANNUAL GALA, PLUS ONE ONE MORE ON ONE ON PURPOSE.
HOSTED AT THE HISTORIC JULIA IEN BUILDING.
CORIN, YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS MISSION IS INSPIRING.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK HERE AT CITY HALL, UM, TO PRAY FOR US TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND ESPECIALLY FOR JOINING US.
AGAIN, WE'RE READY TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PROTI, FOR THE WARM INTRODUCTION.
AND, UM, TO ALL OF YOU, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MAYOR PROTI, AND EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, IT, AS SOMEONE WHO PERSONALLY KNOWS THE POWER OF PRAYER, UM, IT IS HARD EVER TO TURN DOWN AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH AND AGREE.
SO I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING ON YOUR HEARTS, WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
AND, UM, WHEN WE COME TO GOD, GOD DOES ANSWER AND MAKE THINGS CLEAR.
SO I WANNA READ JEREMIAH 33, 9 BEFORE I GO INTO PRAYER.
IT SAYS, THEN THIS CITY WILL BRING ME RENOWNED JOY, PRAISE, AND HONOR BEFORE ALL NATIONS ON EARTH THAT HEAR OF ALL THE GOOD THINGS I DO FOR IT.
AND THEY WILL BE IN AWE AND WILL TREMBLE AT THE ABUNDANT PROSPERITY AND PEACE I PROVIDE FOR IT.
THAT IS MY PRAYER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND EVERY DISTRICT THAT IS REPRESENTED HERE.
DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU, UM, FOR THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR A NEW MONTH THAT YOU HAVE KEPT US, THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT US THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE THAT THIS YEAR HAS SHOWN US.
UM, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PEACE.
WE THANK YOU FOR PROSPERITY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DIRECTION THAT IS LEADING AND GUIDING EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE TODAY.
LORD, I PRAY FOR A GREATER SENSE OF WISDOM IN DECISION MAKING, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM TO COVER EACH AND EVERY LEADER, FATHER GOD, UM, THAT WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS, THAT WE SHOW UP, AND THAT YOU GOD, ARE THE GOD OF INNOVATION.
THAT YOU ARE OPENING UP NEW WAYS OF THINKING, UM, MINDSETS, LORD, TO TAKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN EVERY DISTRICT TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.
FATHER GOD, I PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT, UM, TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO DISCERN WHAT IS NOT RIGHT, LORD.
UM, EVEN IN PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING AND COMING ALONGSIDE THE MISSIONS THAT YOU HAVE SET BEFORE EACH PERSON HERE.
LORD, I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE GIVING THEM DISCERNMENT TO SEE THINGS, UM, AS YOU SEE THEM, LORD, THAT YOU WILL DIRECT THEM, GUIDE THEM, AND CONTINUE, LORD, TO GIVE THEM GRACE TO LEAD.
FATHER GOD, I PRAY THAT THEY DON'T CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THEIR DISTRICTS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, BUT TRULY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEM, LORD.
SO ANYWHERE THAT WE FALL SHORT, LORD, THAT YOU ARE CARRYING AND PICKING UP THE WEIGHT WITH US.
SO, GOD, WE THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE CITY, ALL THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE, GOD, AND THAT YOU ARE ESTABLISHING THE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US.
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YOU AND WE THANK YOU IN JESUS NAME.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
MS. SECRETARY, MAYOR, I MEYER PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, COUNCIL MEMBER PENZA HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HERE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JUNE 23RD AND 24TH.
MEMBERS, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 150 MINUTES OF SPEAKERS.
THE RULES REQUIRE US TO ONLY GIVE EACH OF YOU, EACH OF OUR GUESTS ONE MINUTE AND, UH, EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR MORE.
BUT THAT, UH, ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
APOLOGIES TO ADD CARRIE ANN MORRISON, UH, TO THE SPEAKER LIST DIRECTLY AFTER JACK VALINSKI SECOND.
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ADD BRANDON DAVIS TO THE TOP OF THE, WHAT WAS THE THREE MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST? SECOND.
AND SECOND AND ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF NOT MS. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER.BRANDON DAVIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY KIM EVANS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUST FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SUPPLIER SERVICES FOR THE HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
I'M HERE QUICKLY TO PROMOTE OUR CONSTRUCTION CATALYST EVENT THAT IS COMING UP ON JULY 29TH, UM, AS A STRONG PARTNER OF THE CITY WORKING DIRECTLY FOR OUR SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
IN RESPONSE TO OUR DISPARITY STUDY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHICH IS THE ELI LILLY PROJECT AND ALSO THE HARRIS HEALTH PROJECT WITH THE BEN TODD.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING PROJECT EXECUTIVES, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND INVITING EVERY COUNCILMAN TO PUSH OUT TO THEIR DISTRICTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND AS FAR AS THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE, I DO HAVE SOME FLYERS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO EACH AND EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMAN, IF THAT'S OKAY.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VALUE PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THIS TIME.
JUST WANTED TO, UM, TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND DO YOU, DO YOU WORK WITH INGRID ROBINSON? YES.
UH, I GUESS I, I'M REALLY THE ONE THAT'S OUT ON THE STREETS PUSHING ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THE OPPORTUNITIES, SO I'M REALLY FIGHTING FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BUSINESSES OUT HERE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO.
WE ALL ALWAYS SAY THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY AND WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS TO AMPLIFY THEIR SUCCESS.
NEXT KIM EVANS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARILYN PERIA.
HI, I'M HERE TO ADDRESS PUBLIC ACCESS MEDIA.
BACK IN THE 1980S WHEN THERE WAS A DIFFERENT WHITMEYER IN THE MAYOR'S CHAIR, I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THE MUNICIPAL CHANNEL.
THE PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL WAS ALSO VERY ACTIVE, AND NOW YOU'VE PULLED THE PLUG ON IT.
THERE'S A VERY ACTIVE TELEVISION PRODUCTION
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COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON, AND WE NEED ACCESS TO THE EQUIPMENT.WE HAD A WHOLE STUDIO OVER AT 6 0 1 SAWYER.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT? IT'S GONE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EQUIPMENT? IT MIGHT BE OLD, BUT IF YOU PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, IT'D PROBABLY WORK.
YOU CAN'T BE SHORTSIGHTED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE GIVEN A CHANCE, THIS CAN BECOME A MONEY MAKING OPERATION THAT WILL MAKE EVERYBODY IN HOUSTON PROUD.
THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL BUILDING OVER THERE ON NAVIGATION.
IT COULD BE EASILY BUILT OUT INTO A PERFECT TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDIO.
IF YOU ONLY GIVE IT A CHANCE, GIVE IT A CHANCE TO MAKE MONEY.
NEXT, MARILYN, MARILYN PERILLO.
SHE COMES, OH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY RANDALL CALLANAN.
UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE.
I WAS HERE BACK IN MAY WHEN WE SPOKE TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DID SAY THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO REVERSING DECISION OR FINDING FUNDING FOR US.
AND I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN A CHA THERE'S NOT BEEN A CHANGE IN THAT, UM, THAT, THAT HMS HAS CURRENTLY LOST ITS FUNDING.
UM, I WILL SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT IT'S A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GROW THEIR PORTFOLIO AND GAIN EXPOSURE.
AND INDUSTRY THAT'S HARD TO BREAK IN, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THE COST OF COLLEGE DOUBLED SINCE 1990.
AND THAT'S A FIGURE BASED ON 2018 IN AN ARTICLE THAT I READ.
BUT WE ALSO, I MEAN, THERE'S NOT MANY RESOURCES LIKE THIS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ANYMORE.
UM, TAKING AWAY COMMUNITY RESOURCES FROM OUR CITY, UH, DOES FACTOR IN, UH, TO OUR CRIME RATES.
THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE STUDIES AND THERE'S MULTIPLE ARTICLES THAT CITE THIS.
UM, IN THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE, THEY PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE THAT THEY HAVE CAUSAL EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT HAVING MORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES DOES REDUCE CRIME.
I CAN GO INTO THE FIGURES IN THAT, BUT YOU CAN ALSO LOOK INTO THAT ON YOUR, ON YOUR OWN.
NEXT, RANDALL CALLANAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARK RODRIGUEZ.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM RANDALL CALLANAN AND I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, AND I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER WITH AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON, UH, AS WELL AS THE GREATER HOUSTON COALITION FOR JUSTICE.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HUGE TIRE FIRE THAT WE HAD IN THE EAST END, WHICH BY THE WAY, IS CLOSE TO MY OFFICE AND, UH, WHERE I LIVE.
AND ALSO CLOSE TO, UH, MILBY HIGH SCHOOL, UH, HARRIS ELEMENTARY.
UM, YES, PREP, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, UH, ALL OF THOSE, UH, SCHOOLS.
AND THIS FIRE IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF INDUSTRY THERE, BUT NOT VERY MUCH.
AND IT WAS ONLY BY, YOU KNOW, SHEER LUCK THAT AT LEAST THE SMOKE WAS TRAVELING IN A LESS POPULATED DIRECTION.
BUT THERE WERE RESIDENCES ALL OVER.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS THE POWER, UH, THROUGH THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO ISSUE CITATIONS RELATED TO FIRE DANGERS AND SHUT DOWN NONCOMPLIANT TIRE STORAGE.
PLACES THAT USE THE WORD RECYCLING TO CHARGE MORE MONEY, BUT THEY DON'T RECYCLE.
UH, THANK YOU RANDALL FOR BEING HERE.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON MAMMOTH AS WELL.
AND JUST WANNA, UM, WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION'S BEEN ON IT, UH, ON THE PHONE WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE HELD DIRECTOR.
UM, TCEQ IS CURRENTLY ON SITE, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS AS WELL, THEY'RE INVESTIGATING.
SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WITHIN THE CITY OF PURVIEW WE CAN DO.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN THROUGHOUT, THROUGH THAT PURVIEW.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME MEETINGS WITH STATE REP, STATE CENTERED AS WELL.
I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL THAT ALSO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIND WAYS WHERE WE CAN, UH, SUPPORT TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS ON TCEQ, OR AT LEAST MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WHEN SOME OF THESE PERMITS ARE BEING PULLED, UM, THEN, THEN THEY'RE BEING LOOKED INTO AND INVESTIGATED.
UM, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT AIR MONITORING AS WELL.
UM, AGAIN, I I'M IN CONVERSATION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO, UH, TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN PLACE MORE HELP, UH, MORE AIR MONITORS IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA.
UM, AND IT IS CLOSER TO PECAN PARK.
I WAS TALKING TO COUNCILMAN ALCORN MASON PARK SPECIFICALLY, AND, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THERE WITH THIS, WHICH IS EAST LAWNDALE.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY FROM MANCHESTER AND THOSE OTHER SCHOOLS YOU MENTIONED, UH, BUT JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, WE'RE STILL, UH, WAITING ON INVESTIGATION TO HAPPEN.
UH, BUT, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, AND I'M HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR AS REGULARLY AS POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS WE GET UPDATES, UH, TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING
[00:30:01]
HERE.AND AGAIN, I KNOW OTHER FOLKS ARE GONNA BE SPEAKING ON IT, UH, BUT, UH, THE CITY'S CITY OF HOUSTON'S DOING, UH, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.
ALL RIGHT? AND I WANT TO THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE THERE, UP TO ABOUT 200 FIREFIGHTERS ENDED UP SHOWING UP TO THAT FIRE.
UM, AND I WAS JUST THERE NOT TOO LONG AGO, OVER THE WEEKEND VISITING A FRIEND THAT LIVES ON A A NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE.
UH, SO AGAIN, UH, JUST AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.
NEXT MARK RODRIGUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMY COLE MINERO.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS AS RANDALL OR A FRIEND OF MINE WAS BRINGING UP, THREE SCHOOLS ARE RIGHT THERE.
A FEW MONTHS BACK, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAME TO MY CAR LOT AND THEY SAID, MARK, YOU HAVE FOUR TIRES THAT AREN'T COVERED.
EITHER YOU GET RID OF 'EM OR COVER 'EM, OR WE'RE GONNA CITE YOU.
AND I THINK OVER FOUR TIRES, THEY WERE CRYING ABOUT MOSQUITOES THAT COULD BE IN THEM.
BUT HERE YOU GOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TIRES THAT WEREN'T COVERED.
AND I REALLY, AND I DON'T EXPECT THE MAYOR, YOUR STAFF TO GO OUT THERE AND PATROL THESE TIRES, BUT YOU GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDER YOU THAT SHOULD BE DOING THEIR JOB.
UM, I'M NO CHEMIST, RIGHT? BUT I JUST GOOGLED THE TOXIC THINGS THAT COME OUT OF BURN TIRES, AND I GAVE Y'ALL A LIST.
AND I'M NOT ONE OF THEM FIREMEN, THE 200 FIREMEN THAT HAD TO BREATHE THAT STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE FIREMEN AND I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE DIED OF CANCER THAT ARE FIREMEN.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
NOT BE SELFISH TOWARDS THE BUSINESS OWNER, BUT THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY HAVE TO BREATHE IT.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHAT THEY DO.
AND AT THE END, GO AHEAD, FINISH FOR THAT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OUR CIVIC GROUP, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE, MAYBE Y'ALL COULD GET ONE OF YOUR STAFF OR SOMEBODY TO REACH OUT TO TRY TO COME HEAR OUR CONCERNS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND, UM, WHAT WE NEED.
AND NOT TO, I DON'T HAVE TO BOMBARD OUR COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO OR JOAQUIN, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
NEXT AMY COLE MINERO TO BE FO FOLLOWED BY CAROLINA HERNANDEZ.
HELLO, I AM HERE REPRESENTING TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY SERVICES.
ON JUNE 22ND, A LARGE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 700 KELLOGG STREET PRODUCING THICK BLACK PLUMES OF SMOKE THAT SPREAD INTO NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE THREE MILES FROM THE FIRE AND COULD SEE THE SMOKE AND SMELL STRONG ODORS FROM OUR FRONT DOORS.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SMOKE AND OFFENSIVE ODORS WAS FILED WITH 3 1 1.
WE ARE CURRENTLY STILL AWAITING UPDATES ON THE INVESTIGATION.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMPLAINED OF PERSISTENT ODORS AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, AS WELL AS BLACKENED AIR FILTERS.
ADDITIONALLY, ONE FAMILY SHARED THAT THEIR TWO CHILDREN HAD A SEVERE DRY COUGH FOR DAYS AFTERWARD, REPEAT OFFENDERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE HARMING OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT IS COMMON FOR FACILITIES TO STORE TIRES AS DISPOSAL CAN BE COSTLY, BUT RESPONSIBLE OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT STORE TIRES CAN SUB CONTINUOUSLY COMBUST SPONTANEOUSLY.
BURNING TIRES POSE A LIABILITY FOR THE CITY.
BECAUSE SUCH FIRES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH.
WE URGE YOU TO PAUSE OPERATIONS AT THIS FACILITY UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE AND A DECISION IS MADE REGARDING THE PERMIT WE CALL ON CITY LEADERSHIP TO RELEASE FULL PUBLIC REPORTS.
UM, REPEAT OFFENDERS SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO POISON AND HARM OUR COMMUNITIES.
MA'AM, Y'ALL, COUNCILOR SALINAS HAS A, HAS A FLOOR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO COUNCIL.
UM, I KNOW AIR ALLIANCE HAS SENT US QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE PASSED ALONG TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO PASS THOSE ALONG AND WE'LL PUBLICLY POST ANY INFORMATION WE RECEIVE.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE A RESOURCE TO YOU, BUT KNOW THAT WE ARE AS WELL.
YES, WE DO HAVE A THREE
CAROLINA HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY LINDSEY WILLIAMS. LINDSEY WILLIAMS. DO THIS ONE.
UM, I LIVE RIGHT BEHIND WHERE THE FIRE WAS.
LITERALLY THIS FIRE WAS MY BACKYARD ONLY SEPARATED BY A RAVINE.
UM, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO DID THE HARD WORK AND WERE PUTTING IT OUT FROM MY BACKYARD WITH THE HOSE AND EVERYTHING.
BUT, UM, SOMETHING THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD MENTIONED YET IS THE RUNOFF FROM ALL OF THAT, UH, FIRE AND BURNING.
UH, YES, THE SMOKE IS A CONCERN AND WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE, UH, COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHERE, UH, THE LEVELS WE'RE AT DURING THIS TIME.
[00:35:01]
BUT THERE IS STILL A SMELL COMING FROM THIS RAVINE, THIS LIKE, 'CAUSE THERE'S STILL WATER THERE THAT'S POOLED FROM THIS FIRE.AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND LOOKED INTO AS WELL.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS ADDRESSED.
NEXT LINDSAY WILLIAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY DR.
HI EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS LINDSAY.
I LINDSEY WILLIAMS. I'M PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 64 AND 88, WHICH IS GREATER EASTWOOD, LAWNDALE AND WAYSIDE.
ON JUNE 22ND, A TIRE FIRE AT MAMMOTH RECY METAL RECYCLING SENDS AN ENORMOUS PLUME OVER THE EAST END.
OFFICIAL MESSAGING SAID THAT EVERYONE WAS SAFE, BUT RESIDENTS IN MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR MASON PARK TOLD ME IT HURT TO BREATHE.
THEY MOVED THEIR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS OUTTA THEIR HOMES AND INTO A HOTEL.
THE OPERATORS WERE BAD ACTORS, UN PERMITTED, UNINSURED, CITED REPEATEDLY THEIR PLAYBOOK, RACK UP VIOLATIONS, DECLARED BANKRUPTCY, REOPENED UNDER A NEW NAME IS A FAMILIAR ONE.
AND WORKING WITH OUR, I'M WORKING WITH OUR STATE LEADERS AS WELL.
BUT FOR Y'ALL, I'M ASKING FOR THREE THINGS.
FIRST, AN ORDINANCE WITH TEETH THAT CAN TARGET REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO DISSOLVE AND REFORM TO DODGE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SECOND GEO-FENCED, OEM ALERTS, A TARGETED SHELTER IN PLACE.
MESSAGE FOR THOSE DOWNWIND, NOT JUST A BLANKET ALL CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THIRD, MORE AIR MONITORS IN THE EAST END SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE BREATHING IN PLACES SUCH AS THE MAGNOLIA MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, BAKER RIPLEY, OR EVEN MASON PARK.
OUR NEIGHBORS SHOWED UP FOR EACH OTHER THAT DAY, AND I'M ASKING THE CITY TO MEET THE SAME STANDARD OF CARE.
YIN YANG, EWW TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIANA HERNANDEZ.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND POLICY AT AIRLINES HOUSTON.
I'M HERE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED AT MAMMOTH METAL RECYCLERS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT'S PART OF A CONCERNING AND GROWING PATTERN.
SINCE JANUARY, TEXAS HAS SEEN RECYCLING FACILITIES FIRES IN POLK COUNTY, LIBERTY COUNTY, ALVIN HOUSTON, GULF, HOUSTON'S GULF CREST AREA.
AND NOW, UM, HERE WITH THE MAMMOTH FIRE, MONTH AFTER MONTH, THESE FACILITY HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES, PLACING WORKERS FIRST RESPONDENTS AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES AT RISK.
TODAY I HAVE TWO CLEAR TASKS, TWO CLEAR TASKS.
FIRST, WE NEED STATE LEGISLATION REQUIRING RECYCLING FACILITIES TO INSTALL FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS AND HEAT SENSORS.
AND TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT AND VOLUME OF UNPROCESSED TIRES, CAR PARTS, PLASTICS, AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
WE NEED TO BUILD PREVENTION INTO THE LAW, NOT LEAVE IT TO CHANCE.
SECOND, THE CITY SHOULD PURSUE RECOVERY OF A CLEAN OF CLEANUP AND REMEDIATION COSTS FROM MAMMOTH METAL RECYCLERS.
TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT PAYING FOR PREVENTABLE HARM CAUSED BY BY THE UNITED.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED SAFEGUARDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
NEXT, JULIANA HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESS FEELER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
MY NAME IS JULIANA HERNANDEZ AND I'M A COORDINATOR FOR AIRLINES HOUSTON.
ON THE DAY OF THE MAMMOTH FIRE, I GOT TWO PHONE CALLS FROM RESIDENTS THAT I HAD BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH FROM THE MANCHESTER AREA.
UM, ONE OF THE RESIDENTS SHARED THAT SHE COULD NOT, SHE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SLEEPING IN HER HOME THAT NIGHT, AND SO SHE HAD TO RELOCATE.
AND ANOTHER RESIDENT SHARED HOW SHE WAS TIRED OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH SO MANY DISRUPTORS TO HER WELLNESS AND HEALTH.
I SHARE THIS BECAUSE MAYBE THESE RESIDENTS COULDN'T SHOW UP TODAY, MAYBE THEY COULDN'T CALL FOR WORK, OR MAYBE THEY'RE SCARED TO PICK UP THE PHONE TO CALL THE CITY DUE TO THEIR EXPERIENCES AS, AS IMMIGRANTS.
BUT I WANT TO BE HERE TO SHARE THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES AND, UM, ASK FOR THE CITY TO WORK THAT TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ'S ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
YOU WERE THERE FOR OUR PRESS CON.
WELL, YOU HAD A REPRESENTATIVE THERE FOR OUR PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND, UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE Y'ALL THERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE PRESS MAY HAVE HAD.
UM, BUT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY RELEASE ALL INSPECTION AND COMPLAINT RECORDS.
COULD I, YOUR TIME HAS MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, I'LL JUST FINISH THIS, INVESTIGATE WHETHER THIS FACILITY HAD PROPER PERMITS, STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION REGARDING INCREASING TCQ AIR MONITORS AROUND TEXAS DURING THE 90TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
NEXT, JESS SPEER TO BE FOLLOWED BY NADIA HAKEEM.
UM, I HAVE A VISUAL OF WHAT THE FIRE LOOKED LIKE FROM MY WINDOW, UM, THAT DAY.
I AM A CONSTITUENT OF THIS DISTRICT.
I, UM, AND I'M HERE TO, AS A PART OF THE GROUP TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, FOR MAMMOTH METAL RECYCLING, UH, FOR THE TIRE FIRE THAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 22ND.
[00:40:01]
UM, I CALLED 3 1 1 THAT DAY AND SPOKE WITH A HEALTH DEPARTMENT TWICE THAT DAY, AGAIN, THE NEXT DAY, AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY.I WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THERE WERE NO UPDATES, THAT THERE WAS, UM, NO DANGER, UH, THAT WAS FOUND IN THE AIR MONITORING QUALITY.
DESPITE THE FACT IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT TIRE FIRES RELEASE LEAD IN MERCURY ONCE THEY ARE BURNING.
AND AS YOU CAN TELL FROM MY VIDEO, THE SIZE OF THIS FIRE WAS CONSIDERABLY LARGE.
UM, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF I WANTED MORE UPDATES, I SHOULD JUST LOOK TO HOUSTON AIR ALLIANCE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE ANSWER COMING FROM THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, THERE'S STILL BEEN NO UPDATES OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN INHALING THAT DAY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO MY WORK CIRCUMSTANCES, I WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE MY HOME.
BUT AT LEAST I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INSIDE BECAUSE OTHER MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY STILL HAD TO REPORT YOUR AS WELL DUE TO THE CITY'S NEGLIGENCE IN REPORTING.
UM, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT CHEMICALS WE INHALE THAT WEEK SO WE CAN PREPARE FOR THE INEVITABLE HEALTH EFFECTS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS WELL AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
AND JUST AS A POINT OF ORDER REGARDING YOUR SCHEDULE, UM, YOU COULD GIVE EVERY CONSTITUENT HERE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK INSTEAD OF ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK, AND IT WOULD STILL BE LESS THAN 150 MINUTES.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND I, UM, AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TRANSPARENCY ON THIS REPORT.
NEXT NADIA HAKIM TO BE FOLLOWED BY JACK VALINSKI.
I'M HERE AS AN EAST END RESIDENT AND I'M ALSO HERE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF SMALL PLACES DOING BUSINESS AS FINCA THREATS.
ROBLES, IT'S A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON NURTURING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD AND CONNECTION.
UH, SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN THERE, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, PLEASE COME AND HANG OUT WITH US FOR A LITTLE BIT, SEE WHAT WE DO.
UM, BUT MY HOME IS LESS THAN A MILE FROM WHERE THE FIRE HAPPENS.
FINCA IS LESS THAN FOUR MILES.
WE SAW THE FIRE FROM THE FIELDS BEFORE THE NEWS STATIONS BROKE THE STORY.
WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER FOR DAYS IN EAST END.
WE HAVE TO RELY ON OUR OWN SENSES.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO CONCERNING READINGS WHILE OUR BODIES TOLD US SOMETHING ELSE, WE WERE FED TALKING POINTS.
SO THIS COMPANY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ACTIVE PERMIT TO OPERATE.
THEY HAD TWO ILLEGAL BURNING CITATIONS BEFORE THIS FIRE.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE ARE PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES WITH OUR HEALTH AND OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
SO ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH MAPS THAT TRACK CANCER CASES WITHIN THE COUNTY, MY HOME AND WORKPLACE ARE SURROUNDED BY AREAS WHERE LUNG CANCER IS HIGHER THAN USUAL.
EAST END IS FILLED WITH PLACES LABELED AS MOST VULNERABLE CENSUS TRACKS, WHICH IS BRIEFLY DEFINED AS A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FACES A HIGHER RISK OF STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, ADAPT OR RECOVER, RECOVER FROM EXTERNAL STRESSES SUCH AS NATURAL DISASTERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES.
THIS IS WHO YOU ARE ASKING TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE NEGLIGENCE OF COMPANIES LIKE MAMMOTH.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO RECOVER CLEANUP COSTS FROM THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES FOR THIS DISASTER.
AND I'M ASKING Y'ALL FOR TRUE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREVENTION.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC.
UM, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THESE QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED.
YES, THE FIRE IS OUT, AND WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WERE ABLE TO, TO HANDLE THE EMERGENCY, BUT THESE ARE NOW THE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO BE GETTING THE ANSWERS TO.
UM, IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
AS SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THIS IS OF GREAT INTEREST TO ME BECAUSE OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE SO CLOSE TO THE FACILITY AND THE IMPACTS FROM THE AIR, FROM THE RUNOFF, ET CETERA.
UM, I WILL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ KNOW, YOU KNOW, HE HAS MY FULL SUPPORT, UH, FOR THIS, ANY EFFORTS AT THE LEGISLATURE NEXT SESSION.
UM, I WILL, UH, STAND WITH Y'ALL IN THAT AND THE TRANSPARENCY ASKS THAT Y'ALL ARE MAKING TODAY, UM, WORK TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT AS WELL.
I'VE PREVIOUSLY FUNDED AIR MONITORS IN MY DISTRICT WITH, UH, CDSF.
I'LL BE LOOKING INTO THAT AGAIN AS PARTS OF MY DISTRICT DO, UH, GET CLOSE TO WHERE THIS WAS.
BUT I AGAIN, WANT TO JUST THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS, UH, ADVOCACY TODAY BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS HAPPENS, UH, AND CONTINUES TO AFTER THE FACT.
UH, AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING AS WELL.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN RANDALL, UH, CAME IN TO SPEAK, UM, WE, THE CITY IS, UH, CURRENTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION WITH TCEQ.
SO ONCE WE GET THAT INFORMATION, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT'S OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR QUESTION IS WHY IS THE CITY DOING THIS? I AGREE WITH YOU.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE GETTING CLEANED UP, OF COURSE.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT IT TO LINGER AND CAUSE ANY OTHER CHALLENGES HEALTH WISE.
AND SO, AS MUCH AS, UH, I PREFER US NOT PAYING FOR THIS, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO, YOU KNOW, RECTIFY THE, THE ISSUES THAT ARE AT HAND.
UM, WITH THAT, JUST KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MY TEAM IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND
[00:45:01]
ALSO, UH, WITH THE FIRE CHIEF HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO, UH, ENSURE THAT WE SHARE INFORMATION ONCE WE GET IT.UM, UH, AND SO CONTINUE TO, UH, SHOW UP OR IF YOU, YOU WANT, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS CONTACT MY OFFICE DIRECTLY, UM, FOR MORE, UH, UPDATES.
AND WHEN WE GET 'EM, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SHARING THEM AS WELL.
MAYOR COUNCIL, MAYBE YOU WANNA GIVE ME AN EXTRA MINUTE BECAUSE I HAVE NICE THINGS TO SAY.
I KNOW IT'S UNUSUAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN 1969, I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, THE MOON LANDING WOODSTOCK, I WAS 50 MILES AWAY FROM IT.
I HAD NO IDEA UNTIL YEARS LATER THAT STONEWALL HAPPENED.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU WERE IN THE FIRST PARADE IN THIS CITY MUST HAVE TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE BECAUSE IN THE EIGHTIES, NOT A SINGLE MAYOR WAS IN OUR PARADE AT THAT TIME.
AND THAT ONE MAYOR WOULD NOT SHOW UP UNTIL 10 30 AFTER THE CAMERAS WERE AWAY.
MOVING THE BANNER DISTRICT FORWARD MAKES A LOT OF, UH, OF HAPPINESS TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE LOST RAINBOW CROSSING.
BEING ABLE TO HAVE BANNERS THERE ALONG THE 82 BUS ROUTE, WHICH IS THE BUSIEST IN THE CITY, IS GONNA SHOW THAT WE HAVE SOME SAY IN THE CITY THAT WE HAVE SOME SYMBOLS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF RAGS ON UTILITY POLES, BUT IT ACTUALLY MEANS A LOT TO US.
ALTHOUGH IT TOOK SINCE OCTOBER, AND THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE CITY, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, I CAYMAN'S, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE OUR OFFICE STAFF HELPED US GET THROUGH IT.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HELPED US GET PAST THIS MILESTONE.
SO ONCE WE GET THE SIGNED SIGNATURE, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE TO CENTER POINT AND GET THEIR APPROVAL, AND THEN WE'LL PUT THEM UP THERE AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE UP FOR THE PARADE.
THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN AUGUST.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND IT WAS A TOUGH HAUL, BUT THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE HISTORY LESSON.
UH, IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A LONG PATH, UH, MADE A LOT OF HEADWAY.
MANY PEOPLE WE COULD THANK THAT WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
UH, ANISE PARKER AND I COULD GO THROUGH A, A REALLY HONOR LIST OF, UH, COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.
YOUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA, HAS BEEN SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IN THIS EFFORT.
AND CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN LED THE WAY.
WE ARE JUST GLAD THAT WE COULD PLAY A ROLE, BUT IT REALLY GETS BACK TO YOUR PASSION AND THE PASSION OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'S I'M, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT HOUSTON, UH, IS A COMMUNITY OF INCLUSION AND UNITY, AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE WORLD CUP EXPERIENCE, HOW IT BROUGHT THE WORLD TOGETHER, RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON'S, UH, FRONT YARD.
AND COUNCILMAN PANZA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, FOR THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR SIGNING OFF ON THIS AND, AND PUSHING IT FORWARD.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO JACK AND PRIDE 365 FOR PUTTING IN THE EFFORT, UH, ON THE SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS FLOURISH IN DISTRICT C.
YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I'D LOVE TO GET SOMEBODY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE FIRST PARADE.
SOMEBODY WHO CAN WRITE BETTER THAN I COULD, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE HAVE GREAT PARADES NOW.
BUT THE ONE DOWN MONTROSE IN, UH, WESTHEIMER, UH, WAS REALLY A SPECIAL EVENT AS THEY ALL ARE.
BUT THAT ONE WAS VERY MUCH A NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCE.
AND AFTER THE PARADE, YOU NEVER LEFT THE COMMUNITY.
YOU JUST WENT INTO RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND CELEBRATED, UH, EQUALITY.
IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THE NEIGHBORS SEEING THE FLOATS BEING BUILT AND HAVING THEIR KIDS WATCH IT.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT BECAME A NIGHT PARADE TO SEE THE FLOATS LIGHT UP BEFORE THEY GOT IN THE, IN THE LINE.
BUT, UH, WE HAVE A A GREAT HISTORY HERE.
AND I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT THE INCLUSION FROM THE FIRST PARADE.
YOU KNOW, FIRST PARADE, HPD STILL WERE DISQUALIFYING PEOPLE OVER SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
NOW HPD HAS FLOATS IN THE PARADE, SO AS WELL AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO EACH YEAR WE ADDED SOMEBODY ELSE, CHEVRON, SHELL, CHASE, BANK.
IT ORIGINALLY STARTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD LED LARGELY
[00:50:01]
BY THE CAUCUS AND OTHERS, BUT IT GREW AND GREW AND NOW IT'S A CITYWIDE PARADE DOWNTOWN.AND THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN, IT CAME FROM A LOT OF EFFORT FROM MANY PEOPLE.
UH, MANY HAVE GONE AHEAD OF US, BUT, UM, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO RECOGNIZE OUR DIVERSITY AND, UH, WORK TOWARDS TOTAL EQUALITY.
SOMEDAY WE'LL HAVE A NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.
I'LL BE GLAD TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU.
NEXT, CARRIE MORRISON TO BE FOLLOWED BY GERALD BROWN.
I'M CARRIE ANN MORRISON, THE PRESIDENT OF PRIDE HOUSTON.
I WANNA ON BEHALF OF PRIDE HOUSTON AND THE COMMUNITY, GIVE A GREAT DEEP THANK YOU AND GRATITUDE, UM, AND EXTEND THIS TO YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR APPROVING THE REINSTALLATION OF THE FLAG THROUGHOUT THE MONTROSE BANNER DISTRICT.
THESE FLAGS ARE POWERFUL SYMBOLS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
ITS HISTORY, ITS RESILIENCE AND PRIDE.
THEY REPRESENT VISIBILITY, ACCEPTANCE, AND A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT OUR L-G-B-T-Q-I-A COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THEY'RE SEEN, THEY'RE HEARD, AND THAT THEY'RE CELEBRATED.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED.
MONTROSE IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE FOUND CONNECTION, THEY'VE FOUND, FOUND SUPPORT, AND THEY FIND A SENSE OF BELONGING, ESPECIALLY BEING AN IMMIGRANT AND BEING NEW TO HOUSTON, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO FIND MY COMMUNITY, AND MONTROSE WAS WHERE I WENT TO FIND MY CHOSEN FAMILY.
SO THAT IS MUCH GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, THE RECOGNITION HONORS THAT LEGACY, AND IT HONORS THAT, UM, REFLECTION THAT HOUSTON CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO EMBRACING THE DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS THEIR HOME.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MOMENT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO RAISING THE FLAG, YOUR TIME, AND TO CELEBRATING AND TO CONTINUE SHOWING THAT WE ARE PROUD AND THAT WE'RE SEEING, AND THAT WE'RE VISIBLE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE PARTIES THAT WERE INVOLVED, UH, IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN WITH, UH, MAYOR, YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
UH, ALSO THE FUNDING THAT YOU, UH, ALLOCATED TOWARDS THIS YOURSELF.
PRIDE 365, UH, FOR STEPPING UP TO BE, UH, A KEY PART OF THIS.
AND, AND ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM JACK AND MANY OTHERS.
WHEN THE CROSSWALKS CAME UP, THE COMMUNITY WAS DEMORALIZED.
AND NOT ONLY IS THIS A WAY TO CONTINUE TO SHOW, UH, THAT MONTROSE IS THAT SAFE, WELCOMING SPACE THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FOR EVERY HOUSTONIAN, UH, BUT IT'S A WAY TO REAFFIRM THE SUPPORT FOR FOLKS OUT THERE WHO STILL TO THIS DAY DON'T HAVE THAT SAFE SPACE OR AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, THEIR JOURNEY AS THEY'RE, UH, WORKING THROUGH THEIR, UM, IDENTITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE THAT WOULD, WOULD RATHER NOT BE THEMSELVES OR, YOU KNOW, DO HARM TO THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT SAFE SPACE.
UH, AND THESE BANNERS AND PROJECTS LIKE THIS HELP, UH, HELP MITIGATE THAT DIRECTLY.
AND SO IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET HERE.
AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO, WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.
WELL CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT.
AND YOU'RE VERY MUCH CORRECT WHEN YOU SAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE THEM TRUE SELVES AND END UP, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING HERE WITH US.
SO KNOWING THAT THE CITY RECOGNIZES THIS AND IS PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FEEL HOME, OR THEY CAN GO AND FIND THEIR CHOSEN FAMILY, OR TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE THEM TO RELATE TO, IT REALLY MEANS A LOT.
LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND THERE'S MANY INDIVIDUALS, COUNCIL MEMBER I COULD NAME, BUT I WOULD BE NOT WANTING TO LEAVE THIS RECOGNITION OF THE, UH, TOPIC WITHOUT MENTIONING RAY HILL.
RAY HILL WAS A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT WAS NOT EASY TO BE A LEADER.
SO RAY HAS PASSED ON, BUT, UH, HE'LL LIVED THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY.
AND WE WELCOME GOING BACK TO MONTROSE.
JOHN SEGOVIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA COLE.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOHN PAUL SEGOVIA, OWNER OF SEGOVIA STUDIOS IN THE EAST END, AND ALSO FOUNDER
[00:55:01]
OF THE SEGOVIA FOUNDATION.I HAVE DEDICATED MY BUSINESS TO MENTORING TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM UNDESERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, KIDS WHO AREN'T COLLEGE BOUND, BUT WHO POSSESS IMMENSE POTENTIAL.
WE GIVE THEM FREE HANDS-ON TRAINING AND WEBSITE DESIGN, MARKETING, VIDEOGRAPHY, AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
WE GIVE THEM A PATH TO A CAREER BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.
WITHOUT A DIME OF COLLEGE DEBT, WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE IS OUR LIFELINE.
THEY PROVIDE THE VITAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES THESE FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS NEED TO BUILD THEIR DREAMS TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S AT STAKE.
ONE OF OUR STARK PUPILS LOST BOTH OF HIS PARENTS AND CURRENTLY SLEEPS ON HIS GRANDMOTHER'S COUCH.
DESPITE EVERYTHING AGAINST HIM, HE EXCELS.
IF HE DEFUND HMS PROGRAMS LIKE MINE LOSE OUR FOUNDATION.
AND KIDS LIKE HIM LOSE THEIR FUTURE.
WE CANNOT LOCK THESE YOUTH OUT OF OPPORTUNITY OR URGE YOU TO SAVE HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE AND INVEST NEXT GENERATION.
NEXT, CYNTHIA COLE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES PIERRE.
MAYOR PROTI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THE HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE MATTERS.
WHY? BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS DEMOCRATIC MEDIA INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE IS NOT SIMPLY A PEG STATION, IT IS A HISTORIC CIVIC SPEECH INFRASTRUCTURE.
I AM NOT GONNA TAKE UP A LOT OF YOUR TIME, I HAVE A HANDOUT.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU IS THIS, PLEASE OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO READDRESS THERE BEING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HTV AND HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE.
IT IS MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE TO BE SOMETHING AMICABLE, THAT YOU CAN COME TOGETHER WITH A PLAN THAT SATISFIES EVERYONE AND STILL PROVIDES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND SPEECH THROUGH MEDIA.
NEXT JAMES PIERRE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAFI KA LUCIAN.
PEACE AND JOY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COURT.
COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS.
AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, JUST KIND OF SPEAKING FREELY, EXPRESSING MY HEART, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO IT'S PRETTY COOL.
UM, BUT YEAH, PARTNERED WITH HMS TV V, ALSO WITH A FEW LOCAL CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UM, I'M A RETIRED TEACHER, ALRIGHT? YEP.
I'M A LITTLE YOUNG, BUT I COULDN'T TAKE IT NO MORE.
UM, SO STEPPED INTO THE COMMUNITY IN 2020 AND REALLY BOOTS ON THE GROUND, STARTED TO SEE WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT AS A SOCIETY.
SO GIVING YOU YOUR HONOR AND RESPECT FOR WHERE YOU SIT AND HOW YOU DO IT.
UM, BUT JUST SPEAKING FOR THE HEARTS OF THE STREETS, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE HEARTBEAT OF HOUSTON IS IN A CRITICAL CONDITION.
UH, IF I MUST SAY I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
UM, WHERE'S THE SPACE FOR US TO REALLY TALK THROUGH THIS SO OUR KIDS CAN SEE THE WORK THAT WE DO AND THE TYPE OF EFFORT AND ENERGY THAT WE PUT INTO THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND, UM, YEAH, THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.
I'LL BE HERE TO SPEAK MORE FREELY SOON.
I'M NOT HARD TO FIND, SO I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
NEXT, RAFFI LUCIAN ALMA FIEROS TO BE FOLLOWED BY DIANE BARKIN.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE MY ENGLISH I THINK IS PERFECT, BUT I WANNA TRY WITH MY OWN WORDS BECAUSE, UM, I WANTED TO EXPLAIN HOW I FEEL IT ABOUT PROBLEM.
SO MY PROBLEM IS IN THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE MANY PROBLEM IS MY COMMUNITY.
I HAVE PROBLEM AS ABOUT THE TRASH, SO THE HEAVY TRASH, AND I HAVE PROBLEM TO THE DITCH.
SO I HAVE ONE HOME HERE 20 YEARS AGO, AND I SAW THIS COMMUNITY NE NEVER COME TO CLEAN THE DITCH NE THE TRASH, HEAVY TRASH.
MOST OF THE TIME THEY NEVER PASS.
ALSO, I CONCERN ABOUT THE CRIMINALS IN MY COMMUNITY IS THE HOME.
IT IS NOT AS EXPENSIVE COMMUNITY.
BUT, UH, I VERY SCARY BECAUSE IN MY COMMUNITY I HAVE CRIMINALS, I HAVE PROSTITUTE, I HAVE DEALERS DRUG, I HAVE FACTORY DRUG, AND I CALL THE POLICE MANY TIMES AND THE POLICE NEVER, NEVER COMING.
[01:00:01]
SO, AND THEY NOT LISTEN US.AND I WANTED TO SAY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND I WANTED TO BRING TO THE MAYOR THIS LETTER AND PICTURES AND THE LEADERS IN MY COMMUNITY SPRING BRANCH, I INVITE TO THEM TO COME IN AND SEE THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR EYES BECAUSE IT'S THE PROBLEM IS EXTRA BAD.
MY MOTHER IS 88 YEARS OLD WITH MY SON.
HE HAD ONE, UH, GROWED TWO MONTHS.
AND I MOVING INTO THIS HOUSE TWO MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I HAVE PROBLEMS. ECONOMIC, OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, VAST MAYOR, PROTEIN PECK HAS, THANK YOU MAYOR AND ALMA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU SPOKE WITH MY STAFF LAST WEEK AND INVITED ME TO COME OUT TO CARDALE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
I'VE BEEN OUT IN CARDALE MANY, MANY TIMES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO OUT WITH YOU, UM, TO SEE THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
THERE ARE STILL A LOT IN CARDALE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE ADDRESSED MANY OF THE DITCHES, BUT NOT ALL OF THE DITCHES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO THERE.
WE DID NOTIFY, UM, THE SALT WASTE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THAT.
AND A SUPERVISOR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GETTING COLLECTED IN CARVER DALE.
UM, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO HPD, UM, WE WILL WORK WITH THE CAPTAIN FOR THE NORTHWEST DIVISION TO CONTACT YOU TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN, ON YOUR STREET SO WE CAN GET THAT ADDRESSED AS WELL.
SO MY OFFICE WILL CONTACT YOU TO SET UP A TIME FOR ME TO COME OUT WITH YOU.
AND I APPRECIATE IT AND I INVITE YOU TO COME IN AND WALK IN MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE I CAN EXPLAIN, YOU NEED TO SEE WITH YOUR EYES.
AND I SENT IT TO YOU ONE LETTER IN THE PICTURE.
YES, I'VE BEEN TO THE GIVE IT TO THE GENTLEMAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTEN ME.
DIANE BARKIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAMUEL MAYORS.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL AND MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I'M FROM DISTRICT G BRIAR HOLLOW AREA AND I'VE LIVED THERE 16 YEARS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING DOWN, I'M VERY SORRY TO SAY, UH, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH GETTING THE SEWERS CLEANED OUT, THE ROAD PAVED.
I'M TRYING TO GET FIBER WHICH BYPASSES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVEN THOUGH NEW, UH, CONSTRUCTION OCCURS, OUR SIDEWALKS, I'VE HAD A REQUEST IN FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS FOR SIDEWALKS.
AND I'M ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE DRUMS PUT UNDER THE SIX 10 OVERPASS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T TRIP AND BREAK THEIR ANKLE WALKING THERE.
BUT MY, THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY, I'M COMPELLED TO COME HERE TODAY, IS THAT I'M NOT GETTING ANY HELP FROM MY DISTRICT G REPRESENTATIVE OR THEIR STAFF ON GETTING THE FINGER.
EPCO BRIAR HOLLOW LLC PROPERTY CLEANED OUT BEHIND MY HOUSE IN 20 PRIOR TO HAR HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH YOU KNOW, IS IN 2017.
THE FIRST FLOOR WAS BELOW GRADE AND EVERYBODY IN THAT AREA FLOODED YOUR TIME.
I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROPERTY GETTING CLEANED OUT.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST NINE YEARS THAT IT'S OVERGROWN.
WE NOW HAVE HOMELESS, WE HAVE GARBAGE, WE HAVE RODENTS ALL IN THERE RIGHT NOW.
WE EVEN FOUND AN INCENDIARY DEVICE BACK THERE LAST WEEK.
SO WE NEED SOMEBODY TO GET THESE PEOPLE TO CLEAN UP THEIR PROPERTY.
I'M GONNA GET YOU, I HAVE A COUNCILMAN CARTER THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, AND THEN I WANT YOU TO GIVE YOUR CONTACT TO THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE AT THE TABLE.
I WAS JUST GONNA, UH, CONNECT WITH YOU AND, UH, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S.
NOT HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW IF THE MAYOR WELL IF YOU'LL TALK TO, TO HIM AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN.
GIVE THAT GENTLEMAN YOUR, UH, CONTACT AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL GET IT.
WHO'S YOUR YOUNG ASSISTANT WITH YOU?
NICK SAMUEL MAYERS TO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICK SHADE.
MY NAME IS SAMUEL MAREZ AND I'M HERE ABOUT SPEAKING
[01:05:02]
I'M HERE ABOUT A, UH, UH, I WAS JUST ISSUED ABATEMENT WARRANT A POLICE OFFICER, UH, HANDCUFFED ME AND PUT ME IN HIS POLICE CAR.AND THEN I WAS AT A FUNERAL THAT CAME AND, UH, I, I CALLED THE COPS TO MEET ME AT MY PROPERTY AND THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD TAKING EVERYTHING WITHOUT A WARRANT, ANY SIGN OF NO TICKET, NO WARRANT, NO NOTHING.
AND, UH, THEN I FIND OUT, UH, THAT THE NEXT DAY THAT THEY DID IT TO ANOTHER HOUSE.
AND, UH, I WENT TO FIND OUT, UH, THAT IS THAT THE LAW, IF I GET A SPEEDING TICKET, I SIGN IT.
I KNOW WHEN I GO TO COURT AND WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
I DIDN'T GET NO WARNING, DIDN'T GET NOTHING UNTIL I SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE.
AND, UH, THERE'S A TRACTOR AND, UH, ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD GUYS.
AND, UH, IT JUST FEEL IT WASN'T RIGHT, UH, FOR HIM TO COME AND TAKE EVERYTHING WITH MY LIFE, SAVINGS OF WORK AND TOOLS AND ALL MY LUNGS TO WORK ON MY OTHER HOUSES, THEY CAME AND TOOK EVERYTHING.
AND, UH, I WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY TOLD ME THEY AIN'T GONNA TAKE NOTHING.
MY TRAILERS, MY DOLLY'S, THEY TOOK, UH, UH, THEY LIFTED A HOUSE AND DIRT.
THEY TOOK EVERYTHING OFF THE PROPERTY, AND THEN THEY DID IT TO ANOTHER HOUSE'S RIGHT DOWN THE BLOCK.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH FIRST, AND, UH, LOOK INTO YOUR, YOUR MESSAGE.
NEXT NICK SHADE TO BE FOLLOWED BY TI KOPECKI.
I LIVE IN THE OAK FOREST COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT C.
I'M HERE REGARDING THE SEVERE ACTIVE FLOODING CAUSED BY THE BRICKYARD INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AT 50 20 ACORN STREET, CHAPTER NINE.
IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN MANUAL, THE IDM STRICTLY PROHIBITS DEVELOPERS FROM FORCING SHEET FLOW STORM WATER ONTO ADJACENT PROPERTIES DURING CONSTRUCTION.
YET DURING RECENT STORMS, THIS CONSTRUCTION SITE FLASH FLOODED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE SITE'S SEDIMENT BERM HAD COMPLETELY BREACHED.
UH, A QUOTE FROM THE EMAIL RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DURING OUR LAST INSPECTION, THE CONTRACTOR STATED THAT THE, DURING THE STORM WHERE FLOODING HAD OCCURRED, THE BERM OF THE SEDIMENTATION POND WAS BREACHED.
AS SOON AS THE CONTRACTOR DISCOVERED THE BREACH, A WORKER WITH A BULLDOZER WAS SENT TO REPAIR THE BREACH.
A BULLDOZER PUSHING MUD BACK INTO A FAILED BERM IS A TEMPORARY FIX ON AN ENGINEERING FAILURE.
IT GUARANTEES IT WILL FAIL AGAIN.
THE DEVELOPER DISMISSES THIS AS A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION ISSUE.
THE CIVIL BLUEPRINTS THAT I VIEWED, I WAS ABLE TO VIEW VIA FOIA REQUEST REVEAL LONG-TERM THREATS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.
FIRST, THERE'S AN INTEGRAL HIGH RISK, HIGH GROUND RISK.
THE WAREHOUSE, THE WAREHOUSE IS FOUNDATION ON THAT PROPERTY, OR ELEVATED TO 80, 80 14, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE RETENTION PONDS ARE AT 74 FEET, 10 FEET LOWER, WHICH WHEN THE RETENTION PONDS FAIL AS THEY DID, THAT'S THE WATER OUT ACROSS THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, NICK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.
I JUST WANNA SAY WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOLLOWING UP ON THIS.
THEY HAVE SENT IN A REQUEST TO SCHEDULE A SITE VISIT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
THERE'S NO, UH, DEFINITIVE, UH, NEXT STEPS ON THAT, BUT I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT.
IF I COULD, THE MOST IMMEDIATE CONCERN, YEAH.
UM, IS THERE, THE SOUTHEAST DETENTION POND, UH, WHICH IS ENGINEERED TO HOLD 5.5 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, IS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SILT AND CONSTRUCTION MUD.
SO THERE, THERE ESSENTIALLY IS NO DETENTION POND THERE.
NOW, THAT'S WHY IT OVERFLOWED AND FAILED.
I, I WOULD ASK THAT THEY WOULD FORCE THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO DIG THAT MUD OUT TO THE PREVIOUSLY ENGINEERED CAPACITY TO HOLD THE STORM WATER.
I SAY, AS YOU COULD HEAR THE THUNDER OUTSIDE, IT'S RAINED THE PAST TWO DAYS.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO RAIN TODAY, AND THERE'S RAIN ON THE FORECAST FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS.
UH, I'VE GOT A COPY OF MY ORIGINAL SPEECH, IF THAT WAS SHORTENED, IF I COULD HAND IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT TROTWOOD PROPERTY, UH, UH, IN OUR CITY.
I, I SPOKE ABOUT THIS PROPERTY BEFORE, UH, UH, ABOUT RETALIATION IN MARCH OF 2025.
MY CAR WAS DAMAGED BY THEIR MALFUNCTIONING GA GATE.
[01:10:01]
I REQUESTED COMPENSATION.I ASKED FOR THEIR INSURANCE INFORMATION AT NO AVAIL.
THIS EVENT PUT HUGE UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL STRAIN ON ME.
I HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR AND TOTAL THE WANT THAT WAS DAMAGED IN MAY OF 2025, JUST A WEEK BEFORE MY LEASE EXPIRES, I WANT TO TALK TO THE OFFICE ABOUT MY LATE PAYMENT FOR MAY DUE TO A CAR DAMAGE ISSUES.
NEW ASSISTANT MANAGER STARTED YELLING AT ME, UH, AND REMINDING ME ABOUT MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS.
AND NEXT DAY I FOUND NEW PLACE TO LIVE AND WENT TO THE MANAGER TO LET HER KNOW MY INTENT TO NOT RENEW THE LEASE.
SHE TOLD ME TO SEND HER A VOLUNTEER WITHDRAWAL FROM LEASE, AND I'LL BE GOOD.
TO MY BIG SURPRISE, I WAS HIT WITH HETIC COLLECTION BY PRO COLLECT, UH, FOR 5,600.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED $8, UH, FOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION, WHICH ENDED A, A WEEK LATER AFTER I MOVED.
UM, SO CAR, CAR DAMAGE LEFT ME WITH, UH, WAS, UH, ASSESSED, UH, AT $1,700.
UH, IF I WOULD'VE SOLD UP MY CAR, UH, UH, BEFORE IT GOT HIT, IT WAS WORTH $1,700.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, AND THAT PROPERTY HAS GOTTEN SOME VIOLATIONS FROM THE CITY, UH, LIKE HEALTH VIOLATIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE, AND I, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER REMEDIES HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
AND I'M PART OF HEARING, BY THE WAY.
IF YOU COULD LIKE, TALK TO THIS LADY RIGHT HERE BY THE DOOR.
NEXT, LAURA KAI TO BE FOLLOWED BY INGRID ROBINSON.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I HOPE I GET MY POINTS ACROSS.
I HAVE THREE CONCERNS I'D LIKE TO BRING UP.
UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND TREES.
WHAT MEASURES CAN BE PUT IN PLACE TO STRENGTHEN TREE PROTECTION AND INCENTIVIZE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS TO MAKE DWELLINGS THAT WILL BE MORE DIRECTLY AFFECTING AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING? I HAVE AN EXAMPLE ON MY STREET.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT C NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE.
UM, AFFORDABLE BUNGALOW IS ABOUT TO BE DESTROYED.
THERE ARE PROTECTED TREES ON THE PROPERTY, AND A DEVELOPER'S NOT GONNA WANNA BUILD ANOTHER AFFORDABLE BUNGALOW BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING PRETTY PENNY FOR THE DIRT.
SO THEY WANNA MAKE AS MUCH PROFIT AS THEY CAN, UM, WITH LESS COST, WHICH MEANS BASICALLY A CHEAP PRODUCT.
SO I'VE CALLED THE URBAN FORESTRY.
I'VE TALKED TO THEM OVER THE YEARS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE STRETCHED.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, FIND THESE PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE.
SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THESE TREES ON THE PROPERTY.
I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S GONNA RAISE LIKE I LIKE WHERE I LIVE, AND IT'S GONNA RAISE THE PROPERTY TAXES.
YOUR, FOR ME, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
SO, YEAH, I THINK I'M, YEAH, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT, YEAH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS THAT, I MEAN, AFFECTING REGULAR CITIZENS.
LIKE WHERE ARE WE GONNA LIVE? AND IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GO OVER A LITTLE BIT.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? KINDA SUBJECT CHANGE? YES, MA'AM.
UH, WHAT IT IS I NEED TO TALK TO AND GET THE DEMOCRATS TO UNDERSTAND.
IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ANY WAY WITH THIS SOCIALIST COMMUNIST MOVEMENT, YOUR CAREERS WILL BE OVER.
SO THIS TIME, EVERYBODY SEPARATE AND ALL THESE AMERICANS WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS, GO AHEAD AND ASK VENEZUELA PEOPLE HOW GREAT THEY HAD IT.
THEY HAVE TO COME HERE AND THEY'RE GONNA COME HERE FOR THE SAME DAMN THING.
[01:15:02]
I MEAN, THERE'S JAIL TIME BEHIND ALL THIS, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN THIS MESS.AND THE NATION'S COMING AROUND, JUST LIKE I SAID, AROUND THE WORLD.
THEY'RE EVEN FIGHTING FOR ONCE THEY ACTUALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT FREEDOM WAS.
WHILE WE ARE OVER HERE FIGHTING IN THE US OVER SOCIAL SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST, WHEN WE KNOW THAT'S BAD BLOOD, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
KATHY GUNTER, WENDY GAINES TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRMA WORTHHAM.
UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WENDY GAINES.
I LIVE IN THE EAST MONTROSE AREA.
I'M ASKING FOR THREE CONCRETE CHANGES.
FIRST, ADOPT A CITYWIDE SERVICE STANDARD FOR RESIDENT COMMUNICATION.
NON-RESPONSE FROM MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
UH, NON-RESPONSE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, IN FACT.
SECOND, CREATE REAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE TOURS.
COMMUNICATION MUST BE PROACTIVE AND PROJECT RATIONALE MUST MATCH STATED OBJECTIVES.
THIRD, ADDRESS UNEQUAL TREATMENT ACROSS OUR CITY.
THE CITY CONTINUES TO GIFT CITY OWNED STREET PARKING TO DEVELOPERS.
NEW CONSTRUCTION WITH MULTIPLE DOUBLE DRIVEWAYS HAS SWALLOWED ENTIRE BLOCKS OF STREET PARKING.
I ASK THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS BE APPROVED ONLY WITH EITHER ONE SHARED DOUBLE DRIVEWAY OR TWO SINGLE DRIVEWAYS.
SO OTHER RESIDENTS ARE NOT DISADVANTAGED.
THESE ARE REASONABLE, PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS.
START WITH THE BASIC RESPECT THAT COMES FROM TIMELY NOTICE, CONSISTENT REASONING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THESE CHANGES.
I, I APPRECIATE, UH, USING YOUR VOICE AND, AND, AND BRINGING THESE FORWARD TO US.
WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP 'EM IN CONSIDERATION.
AND, AND I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY TO HELP ME WITH AN ISSUE.
SO FROM THE TOURS THROUGH MUL, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PEOPLE, AND I KEEP EITHER GETTING SWATTED AWAY OR IGNORED COMPLETELY.
I SENT EMAIL TO THE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON MAY 25TH, AND I'VE YET TO RECEIVE A, A SINGLE RESPONSE, WHICH IS KIND OF DISAPPOINTING.
NEXT IRMA WORTHHAM TO BE FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA HAN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
UH, ONE MINUTE I TURNED MY PAPERWORK IN.
I WALKED IT IN WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTS.
I, ANYWAY, UH, WALKED THEM IN AGAIN.
UH, AND NOW AT THE POINT OF THE, THE, UH, ASSESSOR COMING OUT AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT, UH, THAT LAYOFFS AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE SLOWER AND SLOWER AND SLOWER.
AND SO I WAS JUST REALLY CONCERNED TO SEE WHAT'S SAY THERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE LAYOFFS AND I'VE BEING ABLE TO GET THE PAPERWORK IN, I MEAN THE, YOU KNOW, ASSESSORS AND GETTING THINGS MOVING FORWARD.
SO I'M IN THE ASSISTANT, UH, THE, THE SINGLE ASSISTANT, UH, HOUSING PROGRAM REPAIR, UM, THE WINTER STORM.
AND SO I WAS JUST CONCERNED AND WANTED TO SEE, UH, HOW THINGS WERE MOVING.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU TURNED IN YOUR PAPERWORK FOR THE HOME REPAIR? YEAH.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UM, GET YOUR INFORMATION, LOU, IF YOU'LL GET HER INFORMATION AND GIVE IT TO MY STAFF, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR, ON YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'LL SEE IF THE, WHERE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS WITH YOUR APPLICATION.
OKAY? 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN CALLING, CALLING, CALLING.
SO THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO COME DOWN, UH, SIX.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME.
UM, BUT IF YOU'VE TURNED ALL OF YOUR PAPERWORK IN, WE'LL WE'LL GET AN UPDATE STATUS FOR YOU.
[01:20:01]
WHERE, AND I WANNA, I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE OUR, OUR OFFICE NUMBER.I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MY, MY DISTRICT K NUMBER.
SO YOU CAN GET THE, EVERYBODY'S CALL THE STAFF TO GET AN UPDATE.
AND THEN THAT WAY YOU WOULD, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME DOWN.
I, THAT'S, I DO IS CALL AND I'D SOMETIMES COME UP AND SHOW UP AND, YOU KNOW, SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WAITING, WAITING, WAITING.
WE'LL GET YOU AN LIKE, ONE IN THE BLOCK HOLES EVERYWHERE.
UH, AND IT JUST CONTINUE TO BE, SO I GOT DROPPED FROM THE VA PROGRAM AND NOW I'M IN THE NEW ONE.
OH, AND MY DAUGHTER'S GONNA SAY PREACHY PRAYER.
AND THEN WE'RE ON THE WAY OUT.
NOW MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU BEING GRACIOUS TO YOU, LIFTING UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU, AND GIVE YOU HIS PEACE.
AND THEY SHALL PUT MY NAME UPON THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND WE SHALL BLESS HIM.
SHALL, SHALL, WHICH MEANS PERFECT PEACE, NOTHING MISSING, NOTHING BROKEN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
SOPHIA HONG TO BE FOLLOWED BY SEBEL WARTY.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SOPHIA HAHN AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT THE AUDI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.
SINCE SEVENTH GRADE, I HAVE VOLUNTEERED WITH THE LOVE AND CARE PROGRAM, AND I HAVE FOUND THAT WORKING WITH THESE FAMILIES, UM, MANY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OFTEN RECEIVE MUCH LESS SUPPORT COMPARED TO THEIR CHILDREN.
CARING FOR A NEURO DIVERSION CHILD REQUIRES TIME, PATIENCE, AND EMOTIONAL ENERGY.
MANY PARENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND CAREGIVERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR CHILDREN'S COMMUNICATION STYLES, SENSORY NEEDS AND ROUTINES, LEAVING THEM WITH VERY FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYDAY RESPONSIBILITIES.
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THESE CHALLENGES, I SURVEYED 16 PARENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY DESCRIBED THE NEED FOR TRUSTED RESPITE CARE, PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, AND EASIER ACCESS TO LOCAL RESOURCES.
THUS, I RESPECTFULLY ASKED THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CONSIDER CREATING A SMALL NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY RESPITE AND RESOURCE PILOT PROGRAM.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY SERVING THESE FAMILIES, THIS PILOT COULD PROVIDE LIMITED, FREE OR SUBSIDIZED RESPITE CARE HOURS, OFFER REGULAR PARENT SUPPORT MEETINGS, AND CREATE A SIMPLE RESOURCE GUIDE THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES WITH EXISTING SERVICES.
STARTING SMALL IN ONE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE COUNCIL DISTRICT WOULD ALLOW YOUR TIME, HAS EXPIRED THE CITY TO EVALUATE PARTICIPATION AND GATHER FEEDBACK FOR CONSIDERING EXPANSION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONSIDERATION.
COUNCILOR MAY APPROACH, VICE, MAY APPROACH IMPACT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND, UM, YOU ARE MY CONSTITUENT.
WE'LL REACH OUT TO YOU TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
NEXT SIB WARTY TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAA NAIMA.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? SO, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS SLA EVA OR KNOW WHO'S SPEAKING ON THE MIC.
BUT, UM, I SERVE AS THE SENIOR COORDINATOR FOR THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY, CHURCH OF GOD, AND OUR CHURCH AND OUR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, ZA AND ZA AS WELL, WHICH MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH, HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON SINCE 2007.
WE'VE DONE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS, BLOOD DRIVES, DISASTER RELIEF, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS, AND JUST COUNTLESS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS FOR THOUSANDS OF HOURS.
AND, UM, WE'RE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE'RE DEDICATED TO SERVE THIS CITY AND WE CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THIS SUNDAY, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE HAVING AN A HISTORIC EVENT.
WE'LL BE HAVING FOUR SIMULTANEOUS CLEANUPS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'LL BE IN DISTRICT I, DISTRICT C, DISTRICT F, AND DISTRICT B.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, TARSA JACKSON, UM, JOE PANZA, PANZA, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN JOIN US, SUPPORTING US, RECOGNIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HOT, BUT THAT DOESN'T DETER OUR UNIVERSITY STUDENT VOLUNTEERS AND OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS.
SO WE'RE JUST HOPING THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU WILL RECOGNIZE OUR VOLUNTEERS IN OUR ORGANIZATION, HOPEFULLY MEET WITH US.
WE'VE REQUESTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
WE WANNA WORK WITH THE CITY, NOT JUST IN THE CITY.
SO WE HOPE THAT RESPECTFULLY YOU CAN MEET OUR REQUESTS.
AND ALSO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SOME HPD PRESENCE.
WE REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE SAFE.
A LOT OF THESE AREAS WE'RE CLEANING UP OUR BUSY CITY STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS.
SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING THE CITY ARE ALSO BEING KEPT SAFE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
[01:25:01]
UM, I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH YOUR GROUP BEFORE MM-HMMBUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE.
WE, WE DO ONE SERVICE PROJECT A MONTH IN DISTRICT H AND WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND YOUR, UH, YOUR CHURCH ON THAT.
I'M GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY FROM MY STAFF COME AND GET INFORMATION TO CONNECT WITH YOU SO WE CAN, UH, TALK MORE.
WE'RE NOT ONLY A LOCAL ORGANIZATION, WE'RE AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
WE CAN UTILIZE THOUSANDS OF RESOURCES AND WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR DIRECTION FROM OUR CITY TO FIND OUT WHERE THE NEEDS ARE.
OF COURSE, WE WANNA BE ACTIVE AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE ENGAGED, BUT WE NEED DIRECTION.
AND THAT COMES FROM CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND ULTIMATELY CITY STAFF THAT CAN HELP US WITH THAT.
SO WE REALLY DO NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
YOU'VE, I'VE BEEN IN DISTRICT GUYS SEVERAL TIMES, UH, EVEN DURING, UH, REMEMBER DURING HARVEY AS WELL.
UM, I KNOW YOU USUALLY SPEAK WITH, UH, ROMAN AGUILAR, WHO'S THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT OTHER SUPPORT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU TO, UH, FIND WAYS WHERE WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE CREATING THAT FOUNDATION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING YEAH.
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TOWARDS, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD, I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY IN COMMUNICATION WITH MY OFFICE ABOUT MM-HMM.
A COUPLE SUPPORT, UH, SOME SUPPORT FOR THIS SUNDAY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A RESPONSE FOR YOU SOON, AND THEN HOPEFULLY SEEING YOU ON SUNDAY AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT OF COURSE WHEN WE DO OUR CLEANUPS, THEY MAY NOT BE CONVENIENT IT FOR YOUR SCHEDULES AND THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
BUT IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO OUR VOLUNTEERS WHEN THEY HEAR EVEN A MESSAGE, WHEN WE GET A LETTER, WHEN WE GET RECOGNITION.
SO WHEN THEY SEE THAT, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS SEE THEIR EFFORTS, THEY WANNA KEEP DOING IT.
YOU KNOW, GETTING COLLEGE STUDENTS TO DO SOME WORK IN THE SUMMER, UH, IS NOT AN EASY FEAT.
BUT
THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF REMARKABLE.
WE DON'T HAVE BOUNDARIES OR JURISDICTIONS.
WE JUST WANNA HELP WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
AND YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE THE HELP IS NEEDED.
NEXT KAVIA, NAAMA TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD COLLINS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW HOUSTONIANS.
MY NAME IS KAVIA NAAMA, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT G AND A RECENT GRADUATE FROM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF HINDU SWAM UNG OR HSS, A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING HOUSTON AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA WITH OVER 267 BRANCHES NATIONWIDE.
AND MORE THAN 84 HINDU YUBA CHAPTERS THAT SERVE COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
UNG IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP AND SELFLESS COMMUNITY SERVICE.
ONE OF OUR PROUDEST PROGRAMS, GUANA BEGAN RIGHT HERE IN THE HEARTS OF HOUSTON IN 2008, WHERE WE CELEBRATE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS AND HAVE SINCE EXPANDED TO NEARLY A HUNDRED CITIES ACROSS THE NATION.
THROUGH RHA ABUNDANT, WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO POLICE OFFICERS, FIRST RESPONDENTS AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
IN JUNE LAST MONTH, HINDU SWUNG VOLUNTEERS PROUDLY HELPED ORGANIZE THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA AT ACROSS 32 LOCATIONS IN GREATER HOUSTON, UNDER THE THEME, YOGA FOR ONE EARTH AND ONE HEALTH.
THESE FREE SESSIONS WELCOME PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE AND EVERY BACKGROUND, WHILE PROMOTING HEALTHIER INDIVIDUALS, STRONGER FAMILIES, AND A MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOUR TIME HAS INSPIRED AND MAYORS FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT.
AND TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A GREATER DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
ARE YOU RICHARD NEIL LAO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN NICKS.
UM, THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON FOR PROVIDING THIS FORUM.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SIGNIFICANT PROPOSITION, A ENHANCEMENTS TO PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY FOR COUNSEL, MR. CASTILLO'S EVENING SESSIONS, AND MS. SALINAS'S ONLINE.
A THIRD PROP, A MEASURE WOULD BE ONCE YOU GO OVER THE 150 MINUTES, THAT PEOPLE GET TWO MINUTES AT LEAST RATHER THAN THREE.
IT JUST TOOK A COUPLE PEOPLE TO GET YOU UNDER THE ONE 50.
IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION FROM THREE MINUTES TO ONE MINUTE.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE, YOU KNOW, IS MY, WHAT I COST TO PARK.
IS THAT GOING TO BE REDUCED BY TWO THIRDS? IT'S THUNDERING OUTSIDE.
THE HEAT, IN THE RAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM CITY HALL, IT'S A MORE SUBSTANTIAL TAX.
IN ESSENCE, ON COMING DOWN HERE.
IT TAKES TIME TO PREPARE THREE MINUTES OF TESTIMONY.
IT SEEMS LIKE EITHER A THOUGHTLESS OR CYNICAL APPLICATION OF THE RULES TO BE SO BARELY OVER AND TO CUT PEOPLE'S TIME SO SUBSTANTIALLY SO IT ASKS SOMEONE.
[01:30:01]
THERE WAS MORE FOLKS SPEAKING, YOU STILL COULD REDUCE IT TO TWO MINUTES AND IT STILL WOULD BE A, A TIME THAT Y'ALL COULD MANAGE.I I, I ASSURE YOU, THE COMMUTE DOWN HERE FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE FURTHER YOU ARE, IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING HERE.
SO WILL SOMEBODY, YOUR TIMING HAS EXPIRED, DO A PROPOSITION A TO DU TO MAKE IT TWO MINUTES.
AND THAT WILL BUILD ON THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE TO PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY OF COUNSEL.
NEXT JOHN NICKS TO BE FOLLOWED BY YOLANDA BBS.
HOWDY, HOWDY, MAYOR NATE, MAYOR MEYER AND FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M IN AMY P CITY CA AND DISTRICT A IN SPRING BRANCH.
I WANNA SEE THE CITY PARTNER WITH METRO TO HAVE A SPRING BRANCH CURB TO CURB FOR THE AREA.
IT'S MORE OF A TRANSIT DISTRICT AND VERY HARD TO GET AROUND UNLESS YOU'RE ON LONG POINT OR NER TO WHERE THE BUS RUN 15 MINUTES.
OTHER AREAS ARE LIKE 30 MINUTES.
BUT DESPERATELY WE NEED A CURB TO CURB MICROT TRANSIT FOR SPRING BRANCH, OTHER AREAS THAT'S GOING ON.
WE DESPERATELY NEED A HERO 2.0 FOR HOUSTON.
I AM DEALING WITH THE SLUMLORD ISSUE AND EVEN HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE TWC HOUSING CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND ON THE FORM IT SAYS, OH, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO YOU TO 120 DAYS.
I BELIEVE IF WE HAD A CIVIL RIGHT, HAD A HERO 2.0, WE'D BE ABLE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED A LOT MORE SOONER.
AND IT JUST HURTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING, WITH, BEING DISCRIMINATED WITH THE PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.
AND I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT MY TIME'S UP.
AND, UH, THANKS SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
WHAT WAS THAT MORE TIME? YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME IF YOU, IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK MORE, YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME.
ANOTHER ISSUE IS REAL, REAL QUICK.
WE NEED AN OVERHAUL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS AWFUL.
I'VE HAD TWO EMERGENCIES OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS FOR EMS HAS HAD TO COME TO MY HOUSE.
BOTH TIMES THEY'VE SENT TWO EMSS.
THEY DON'T EVEN, THEY REFUSE TO EVEN TAKE ME TO A BETTER HOSPITAL.
THEY TAKE ME TO THE DUMP OF MEMORIAL CITY HOSPITAL AND THAT'S WHERE I COULD THREE HOUR WAIT PLUS I'D RATHER GO TO BAYLOR ST.
LUKE'S IN THE MED CENTER OR A VINTAGE.
AND IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A ST.
LUKE, YOU KNOW, MY CITY WORK TO HAVE A, WITH THE EXECUTIVES IN THE ST.
LUKE'S IN SPRING BRANCH TO MAKE IT MORE EASIER FOR ME.
SPRING BRANCH WORK'S PERFECT WITH MY HEALTHCARE PLAN.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT THAT'S ALL.
AND HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GO TEAM WHERE EVERY TEAM YOU'RE ROOT FOR NOW.
NICK, YOLANDA BBS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THEODORE CARRERO.
MY NAME IS YOLANDA BBS AND I SHOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT I AM, I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH GETTING MY, WITH GETTING MY METRO LIFT RENEWED.
UM, I CAME BEFORE YOU DECEMBER THE 10TH, AND I TOLD YOU WHAT FORMER SYLVESTER TURNER NOW DECEASED HIS HPD CHIEF VEDA, ALONG WITH FOUR POLICE OFFICERS HAD DONE TO ME TODAY.
I SMELL INTERFERENCE BY THE FBI IN GETTING MY METRO LIFT RENEWED.
I GAVE TO JOE QUINN MARTINEZ EVIDENCE AND TO YOU MAYOR WITH MY EVIDENCE OF MY, UH, IN THE EVIDENCE.
ONE FROM MY FORMER DOCTOR AND ONE FROM MY CURRENT DOCTOR, UH, FOR ME TO GET METRO LIFT.
BUT WHEN I GOT A DENIAL LETTER, THE, UM, I APPEALED IT AND I TOOK THIS BLUE FOLDER TO METRO LIFT WINDOW 11.
AND WHEN I WENT TO MY APPEAL, THIS LETTER NEVER MADE IT.
THIS, THIS FOLDER NEVER MADE IT WITH MY EVIDENCE.
AND SO THE APPEAL HEARING OFFICER, SHE ASKED, SHE SAID, MA'AM, THIS IS ALL THE EVIDENCE I HAVE.
JUST A FEW SHEETS SHE HAD IN FRONT OF HER.
I SAID, MA'AM, I TURNED IN THE BLUE FOLDER WITH MY EVIDENCE AND SHE SAID, THIS IS ALL I HAVE.
SO I NEED A MEETING SET UP WITH THE METRO LIFT WITH TONYA BROOKS, THE SUPERVISOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
'CAUSE I SMELLED THE INTERFERENCE BY THE FBI AND THEY DON'T OVERRIDE MY DOCTORS.
[01:35:01]
BOB, UH, THANK YOU.MS. BOBS, I'LL HAVE MY, MY TEAM REACH OUT TO YOU TO SEE WHO FROM METRO, UH, WE CAN CONNECT YOU WITH.
NEXT THEODORE CARRERO, VERA STEPTOE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ART SMITH.
MY NAME IS RA STEPTO AND I AM TRYING TO OPEN UP A PROGRAM, A REENTRY PROGRAM.
BEEN LIVING WITH HIV FOR 35 YEARS.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH IT.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING FROM YOU ALL IS SUPPORT FOR SPACE WHERE WE CAN DO A REENTRY.
I WORK IN THE PRISON SYSTEM RIGHT NOW WHERE IT'S VERY POOR.
AND THOSE, THAT'S COMING BACK TO THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY.
WE JUST HAD A CLIENT, HE WAS MY CLIENT THAT JUST LEFT AND TWO WEEKS AGO AND HE ALREADY ON RELAPSE.
SO I WORKED FOR THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY IN SPRINGFIELD.
I'M GONNA SAY, UH, INRO, SHARON, MTC.
I'M JUST ASKING THEM TO GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY OF A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME SPACE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE THAT'S COMING OUT THAT'S REINTEGRATING BACK INTO SOCIETY.
'CAUSE WHAT IT IS TO ME IS THAT I STAYED OUT THERE A LONG TIME FOR 35 YEARS I WAS IN AND OUT THAT PRISON.
OKAY? BUT WHAT IT IS, IT TAKES US AS A COMMUNITY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO START THINKING DIFFERENT AND KNOW THOSE THAT'S LIVING WITH HIV.
THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN LIVE LONGER.
ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
I AM A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER.
I CAN TEST FOR HIV SYPHILIS AND ALL THAT.
I YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED YOUR, UH, INTERN.
AND I JUST WANT OPPORTUNITY OF A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO ASK YOU ALL FOR SPACE TO, TO, UH, START.
I'M ASK YOU TO SPEAK TO REBECCA WILLIAMS. WE HAVE A REENTRY PROGRAM.
UH, WE'LL DEFINITELY CONNECT YOU TO THE PERSONNEL THERE.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THE DIRECTOR'S NAME.
NOT AS BIG AS WE'D LIKE, BUT THANK YOU.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENNY FREEMAN.
MY, MY JEANS ARE A LITTLE TOO BIG FOR ME.
BUT I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME AND LETTING ME COME UP TO SPEED.
UH, IT'S VERY BRIEF AS I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I'M DILIGENTLY SEEKING SUPPORT AND PROTECTION FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN HOPES TO ESCAPE.
UNIDENTIFIED, BRUTAL CLANS OF PEOPLE ARE SEEKING TO BURN ME ALIVE.
YET EVEN IN MY FACE, NO ONE DESERVES TO DIE.
I FEEL THIS REALLY AM IN NEED OF MY OWN HOME.
A PLACE WHERE I CAN COMFORTABLY USE, UTILIZE ALL OF MY SKILLS, WRITING, JOURNALING, BEING IN TOUCH WITH NASA, ARBITRARY.
PLEASE REMEMBER ME WITH SPOKEN EXPRESSIONS OF UNISON AS YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ME.
SEARCH YOUR HEARTS FOR ANSWERS PERTAINING TO MY LIFE, WHICH IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADOLESCENTS, AND MY ELDERS.
FOR I SUFFER WITH SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER, I NEED TO LIKE A A DOMINO.
YOU LINE 'EM UP, PUSH ONE, THEY ALL FALL DOWN.
WE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF LIKE SUPER SUPERVISION OR MAYBE ANOTHER PLACE I CAN GO, UH, RIGHT NOW WITH A LADY NAMED IS
[01:40:01]
I'M, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO TALK TO MARIAH.MARIAH IF YOU CAN HELP HER WITH SOME, SOME SERVICES.
Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED STAY EVERYBODY.
NEXT SPEAKER C ANTHONY HAYWOOD.
NEXT SPEAKER TERRY OLE OLE TERRY OLE.
HELLO MS. BATES TO BE FOLLOWED BY CARRIE RICE OF CYPRUS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 16 IN FRONT OF ME OR NOT, BUT I BROUGHT 16 PAPERS.
I AM APOSTLE LORETTA SAMPSON BATES.
UM, I AM CALLED TO CHANGE HOMELESSNESS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AS I STATED BEFORE, WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY AND I HAVE SPENT THREE YEARS OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, ON THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS TALKING TO THE HOMELESS.
THEY GOT LIFE SITUATIONS, CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HARD TRIALS.
SOME OF 'EM CAUSED THEM AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T.
BUT WE AS CALLED BY GOD, WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO TRY TO HELP THEM.
30 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I GAVE IT TO A LEAF SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY SERVICE.
I LIVED THERE FOR 40 PLUS YEARS.
NOW I'M IN A NEW DISTRICT AND I DON'T SEE MY DISTRICT LEADER.
AND I'VE BEEN CALLING HER FOR SIX MONTHS AND NO RESPONSE.
GUN SHOOTERS HAVE LEFT THROUGH PRAYER.
AND IF WE CAN'T GET THE LEADERS TO TALK TO US, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? SHE NOT HERE.
EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE, I DON'T SEE THE MAYOR.
BUT IT MUST BE A REASON THAT HE HAD TO LEAVE OR WHATEVER.
IT EXPLAINS WHAT IT IS THAT I'M DOING AND WHY I CAME TO THE CITY.
AND GUESS WHAT, I'LL BE BACK AGAIN.
Y'ALL AIN'T GONNA GET RID OF ME.
SO MS. MS. BATES, I DO WANNA TELL YOU, I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE DOES HAVE A STAFF MEMBER HERE.
UM, AND SO I KNOW YOU CAN TALK TO INGRAM FROM YOUR COUNCIL OFFICE.
UH, SHE'LL BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS IS ALSO IN THE QUEUE, WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU.
SO CAN YOU, MAYBE I MISSED IT.
IN YOUR INTRO, CAN YOU SPECIFY, UM, PARTICULARLY WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO AS RELATES TO HOMELESSNESS? WHAT WAS THAT? I SAID MAYBE I MISSED IT WHEN YOU WERE IN YOUR INTRO, BUT CAN YOU SPECIFICALLY SPECIFY WHAT PARTICULAR AREA OR CONCERN REGARDING HOMELESSNESS? I'M GONNA OPEN UP, I GAVE YOU A PAPER.
IT'S ALL EXPLAINS IT ON THE PAPER.
I SEE THAT I'M GONNA OPEN UP A LOT.
IT'S GONNA BE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
AND I HAVE SPENT TIME OUT THERE FOR THREE YEARS ON THE STREET TALKING TO SOME HOMELESS.
AND I HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT CAME OFF THE STREETS AND THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE YEARS CLEAN.
OKAY? AND UNLESS WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES, WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN OUR CITY.
I COME TO CHANGE HOUSTON, TEXAS HOMELESS SITUATION.
OKAY, WELL WE, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED TO ME THE LAST TIME I DID AND I INVITED YOU TO AN EVENT.
'CAUSE ALL OF Y'ALL DISTRICTS GOT TROUBLE.
JUST WRITE CITY CAST ON IT AND YOU GONNA GET ON INTO THE MUSICAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER JACK, THAT'S FINE.
BACK I HURT MY FOOT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE HOMELESS, UM, COMMUNITY.
UM, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN OUT TALKING TO PEOPLE.
I KNOW YOU TALK TO A LOT OF FOLKS THAT POSSIBLY NEED A JOB.
AND SO I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO A DISTRICT B JOB FAIR THAT'S HAPPENING ON THURSDAY AT HCC.
IT'S FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AND HCC IS LOCATED
[01:45:01]
OFF OF LID YORK.WE GOT JOBS 44 OVER 40 PLUS EMPLOYEES.
BERNADETTE KIKI TO BE FOLLOWED BY GENESIS GRANADOS.
CAN YOU SHARE PLEASE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BLESSED MAYOR, BLESSED COUNCIL MEMBERS IS MAMA KIKI AGAIN FROM THE MINISTRY OF REPENTANCE AND HOLINESS.
AND I, I AM HERE AGAIN TO ANNOUNCE TO THE WHOLE HOUSTONIANS, ALL OF TEXAS, ALL OF AMERICA, THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH IS COMING.
AND HE HAS SENT HIS ONLY PROPHET OF THE LORD UPON THE EARTH RIGHT NOW INSTRUCTING THE EARTH SINCE 22 YEARS.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED.
AMERICA IS A SUPERPOWER THAT HAVE THE MOST RESOURCES ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
NOT HEARING WHAT THE MEGA ASIAN PROPHET IS SAYING.
AND I PUT HERE, HOW MANY EARTHQUAKES WOULD THE PROPHET STRIKE THE EARTH WITH AND STRIKE THE NATIONS WITH BEFORE WE FRAIL? HUMANITY WILL KNOW THAT THE MESSIAH IS COMING.
MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.
THREE, SEVEN, BECAUSE YOU ARE CHRISTIAN.
IT SAYS, SURELY THE LORD GOD DOES NOTHING WITHOUT REVEALING HIS PLANS TO HIS SERVANTS, THE PROPHET.
AND HE HAS REVEALED THAT THE MESSIAH IS COMING.
THE EARTHQUAKE IN VENEZUELA IS BECAUSE OF US NOT LISTENING AS WE SPEAK.
70,000 PLUS ARE BEING DUG UP IN VENEZUELA.
WHY? WHY BY PRECIOUS PEOPLE ARE WE SAYING THAT? OH, IT HAPPENED IN VENEZUELA.
IT CANNOT HAPPEN IN HOUSTON OR CANNOT HAPPEN TO AMERICA.
IT SAYS HERE, THE FAMILIES AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ARE BEING DUG UP FROM ROBLES, EXCUSE ME.
WHO WILL HELP HISTONIA MAYOR WHEN THEY ALL ENTER THE LAKE OF FIRE.
MAYOR, IT'S ONLY IF YOU DO SOMETHING.
I DON'T SHUT YOU OFF ON LIGHTNING.
YOU UNDERSTAND, SIR? I SAY IT'S LIGHTENING OUTSIDE.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP.
SO MY POINT IS, BELOVED MAYOR, IS THAT THERE IS A REASON WHY GOD HAS YOU SITTING IN THAT CHAIR TODAY.
YOU HAVE GONE TO THE SIT, UH, TO THE STATE HOUSE, YOU WALKED OVER THERE YOU HAVE FROM YOUNG, YOU BEGIN BECAME A POLITICIAN.
EVERY TIME YOU PRAYED GOD INSIDE YOUR PRAYER, HE HAS YOU HERE FOR A TIME LIKE THIS FOR A PURPOSE.
MY PAPERWORK IS WITH ALL OF YOU.
I'M PLEADING WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
NEXT GENESIS GRANADOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. HI EVERYONE.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR WITH MEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M GONNA BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE MA METAL RECYCLING FIRE.
I CAN'T REALLY FOLLOW THAT UP, SO I'LL JUST STICK TO THE MAIN POINTS, WHICH IS THAT, UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TREAT THIS METAL RECYCLING FIRE NOT AS AN ISOLATED INSTANT, UM, NOT AS AN ISOLATED INSTANCE, BUT AS A REFLECTION OF FAILURE AND PREVENTION, OVERSIGHT
[01:50:01]
ENFORCEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.RESIDENTS DESERVE PROTECTION BEFORE DISASTERS HAPPEN, NOT JUST CLEAN UP AFTERWARD.
ANOTHER CONCERN REGARDING THE INCIDENT IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PAYING FOR THE CLEANUP.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP BECAUSE THIS WAS A PREVENTABLE, PREVENTABLE INDUSTRIAL FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE LACK OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND PREPAREDNESS BY MAID METAL RECYCLER.
THE COMPANY AND PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HARM THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECOVER CLEANUP COSTS FROM THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
IF THE CITY CAN RECOVER THE CLEANUP COSTS, THEN EVALUATE PURCHASING THE LAND AND REDIRECTING ITS USAGE FOR THE THE COMMUNITY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT, STEVE WILLIAMS, MELINDA LEGHORN TO BE FOLLOWED BY CEDRIC PATTERSON.
I I HAVE A HANDOUT BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE PERSON WENT.
MARIAH, OR AS MANY AS THERE ARE NAME MARIAH.
THIS HAS BEEN A HOUSTON EXPERIENCE TODAY.
UM, JUST AS A REFRESHER, I'M HERE ABOUT, UM, THE 38 ACRE GREEN SPACE THAT WAS RAISED 10 FEET TO FORM A 38 ACRE CONCRETE PLATEAU IN OAK FOREST, UH, OR OAK FOREST ADJACENT.
ACTUALLY, UM, I IN A MINUTE CAN ONLY COVER ONE SMALL OUTSTANDING ASPECT OF THE PROJECT.
SO I CREATED A, A VISUAL AID TO HELP WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHO THINK THAT THIS PROJECT WITH THE DITCHES AROUND THE PROPERTY IS COMPLETE.
SO I INCLUDED A VISUAL AID WHERE YOU CAN SEE APPROXIMATELY 30 POINTS AT WHICH THE DRAINAGE IS EITHER COMPLETELY CLOSED, UM, AND HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS.
ONE HAS BEEN HAD CONCRETE POURED OVER IT.
THIS IS WHAT THE CITY IS TELLING THE MAYOR.
AND THEN HIS OFFICE IS TELLING US THAT THIS JOB IS COMPLETE.
SO I'VE ALSO INCLUDED ANOTHER VISUAL AID FOR PUBLIC WORKS IN CASE THEY'RE HERE THAT CAN HELP IDENTIFY WHAT A DITCH LOOKS LIKE THAT'S CLOGGED.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE SEEN A DRAINAGE PIPE COVERED IN CONCRETE.
THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
SO THE LITTLE ARROWS CAN HELP THEM WHEN THEY COME TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM YOUR TIME IS FLOODING AGAIN.
I DO WANNA SAY ONE THING, JUST ONE SENTENCE REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HEAR THE THUNDER OUT HERE AND I KNOW THAT, THAT MAYOR YOUR OFFICE IS GETTING ONE STORY.
I HAVE A TEXT MESSAGE FROM, UH, THE DEVELOPER FROM LAST WEEK IN WHICH HE SAYS HIS SOLUTION WAS TO ASK US TO CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE MORE RAIN BEFORE THEY GET IT DONE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THEY'RE COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT.
YOU GOT THESE GUYS HAVE TWO IN, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMING.
YEAH, I BELIEVE IN A STRICT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RESOLVED.
NEXT SHERICK PATTERSON RUBEN GARZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDUARDO DURAN.
I KNOW I HAVE A MINUTE AND I THINK YOU GUYS ALREADY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A BRIEF UPDATE ON SOME PARKING REFORM RELATED EFFORTS.
UH, THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT RECENTLY JUST PASSED A BILL THAT ELIMINATED PARKING MANDATES, UH, FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL USES.
AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA JUST ON MONDAY, PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE PARKING MANDATES FOR ALL USES AND ALL BUT ABOUT HANDFUL OF COASTAL COUNTIES.
SO THIS ISN'T A FRINGE MOVEMENT, THIS ISN'T A WACKY IDEA.
THIS HAS BEEN IN, UH, URBAN PLANNING STUDIES FOR THE PAST, I WANNA SAY 20, 30 YEARS NOW.
UH, IF HOUSTON REALLY WANTS TO TAKE ON THE MANTLE OF BEING A WORLD CLASS GLOBAL, UH, INVITING CITY LIKE WE HAVE FOR THE WORLD CUP, THEN WE NEED TO START ACCOMMODATING, UH, SPACES FOR BUSINESSES.
I KNOW PEOPLE DO CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND HOUSING.
WE CAN GET TO THAT BY GETTING RID OF PARKING MANDATES FOR ALL OF OUR USES.
I JUST SAW RECENTLY THAT DAYCARES HAVE TO PROVIDE LIKE ONE SPACE FOR EVERY TEACHER BASED ON THE BUSIEST TIME, WHICH IS A LITTLE WEIRD.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ADD ON MORE SPACES FOR EVERY FIVE KIDS AT THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY.
AGAIN, THIS IS DURING THE PERMITTING PHASE, WHICH IS REALLY WEIRD.
'CAUSE HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO CALCULATE ANY OF THAT? UH, YEAH.
SO LET'S GET RID OF THE PARKING MANDATE.
[01:55:01]
DURAN.YOU WHAT? UHUH? I'VE BEEN A BAD BOY.
I HAD TO GO TO THE RESTROOM FOR YOU.
WHAT'S THE NEW JACOB THAT'S HERE FOR FIFA? IT'S PARTIALLY OVER IN THE GAMES HERE IN, UH, HOUSTON AREA.
WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT, THAT IN THE, JUST IN CASE OF MARTHA AND CASTING HAM, UH, IT'S PARTIALLY IN FORT BEND COUNTY, WHO PAYS TO VOTER TAXES TO MAYOR MEYER? IS IT THE FORT BEND, UH, CONSTITUENTS OR THE, UH, HARRIS COUNTY CONSTITUENT? YES.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, PASTOR WILL DAVIDS, WHO CONTROLS THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ACORN.
AND, AND YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UH, I MEAN, UH, UM, UH, PAULA CARTER AND, UM, UH, VERY GOOD.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF REPRESENTATION.
DO YOU KNOW HIS NAME? WHO, WHO DO I KNOW IT? NO.
WELL, MR. MEYER, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I DEFINITELY DO BELIEVE IN COUNCILS OF JUSTICE.
I KNOW THAT THEY DO EXIST IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, CIVIL, JUSTICE, CRIMINAL, AND EVEN CITY AND PEOPLE.
AND AGAIN, I JUST APPROACH YOU TO SAY, I STILL NEED YOUR HELP WITH THAT ISSUE ON THAT BIGOT SHERIFF.
AND TO BASICALLY, UH, GIVE WITH MR. UH, BEN CRUMP THE BEST THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN IDENTIFY HIM IN A LOCATION AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND UH, GET ME THERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THIS COUNCIL OF JUSTICE HAPPENED.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M BACK FOR TODAY.
THE, THE OTHER INFORMATION AND STUFF IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS BOGUS AND SOMETHING THAT, UH, I FORGET THE WORD FRAUD OR FAKE OR SOMETHING THAT THE SHERIFF WOULD SET UP.
WHICHEVER WAY IT MAY HAVE HARVEY MIGHT HAVE CA WAY HAVE IT CAME TO ME IS HOW HE WANTED IT TO COME WITH ALL THE OTHER TARGETING.
SABOTAGING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, STILL SEEKING YOUR HELP ON THAT.
MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I, I TRUST YOU, YOU ARE THE JUSTICE OF THIS COUNCIL, BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOUR, YOUR JUSTICE TO IDENTIFY IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP TO YOUR, YOUR PEOPLE.
BUT I'M ASKING YOU THANK, THANK YOU, SIR.
WHEN YOU GET THE HELP
TRUE JUSTICE, CIVIL, CRIMINAL.
AND RIGHT HERE SAYS JUSTICE UP THERE.
HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND I'M HERE TO JUST SPEAK, UH, A LITTLE BIT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE.
I WAS BORN AT HOME NEXT BLOCK FROM THE FORMER BUILDING THERE AT THE YWCA.
I ALSO WAS RAISED THERE FROM 1966 THROUGH 1979 AS A CHILD AND ALL MY TEENAGE LIFE AS WELL.
AND I WORKED THERE AS A TEENAGER IN THE SEVENTIES.
AND, UH, I'M STILL THERE IN, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WORKED THERE NINE YEARS FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND DID WELL WORK FOR HIM
[02:00:01]
THERE.AND, AND THEN WHEN HE, UH, SOLD THE BUILDING TO HOUSTON METER SOURCE, I WENT ALONG WITH THE WORK, DOING THE SAME WORK THERE, THE SAME ACTIVITIES.
AND I WAS PROUD THAT SOMEONE CAME IN AND TOOK THE BUILDING AND BOUGHT IT AND, AND, AND OPENED IT UP FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR A FEW YEARS.
I SAW THE BUILDING BY ITSELF, NOT OPERATING, AND IN MY HEART I'M LIKE, IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOMEONE WILL OPEN UP THIS BUILDING.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED UP UNTIL THE PREVIOUS OWNER CAME AND OPENED UP.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, THAT WOULD VERY GOOD COUNSELOR CONCERN, YOU KNOW, CONCERN FOR HOUSTON MEDIA SOURCE.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL COUNCILOR MARTINEZ.
UH, ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAKING ON THIS, UH, ITEM AS WELL.
UM, WERE YOU DONE? DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANY MORE TO YOUR COMMENTS? UH, NO.
I KNOW IT'S GOTTA BE SHORT, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT BUILDING, YOU KNOW, AND THE OPERATION OF IT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
[RECESS]
ELSE? WE STAY IN RECESS TILL NINE IN THE MORNING.