[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, AND TIFFANY THOMPSON
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 MM-HMM
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.
OKAY, SIR, 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.
SO, BUT THAT'S MY STORY AND I WANNA THANK YOU.
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.
DEALERS HAVE LEFT, 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.
I HAVE INVITED ALL OF Y'ALL '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.
AND IT'S LIGHTNING OUTSIDE, SIR.
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.
ALSO ON TIFFANY THOMAS'S
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.
JACOB, 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.
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.
YES, 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.FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER, I WILL
[READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA]
NOW READ THE CAPTIONS FOR THE AGENDA OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 8TH, 2026.ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR APPLICANT SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
ITEM TWO IS PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 42, DIVISION SEVEN PARKS AND PRIVATE PARTS.
ITEM THREE IS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY THE PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF FLY LAND HOLDINGS LLC.
ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
ITEM FIVE, RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZED FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH DL GLOVER INC.
ITEM SIX, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZED FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH GRAVA LLC.
ITEM SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZED FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH GRAVA LLC.
ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZED FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACT WITH R CONSTRUCTION CIVIL LLC ITEM NINE ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2004 DASH 2 99 AMENDING AND RESTATING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2009 DASH 1118 IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH THREE 50 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF CITY OF HOUSTON COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM COMMERCIAL PAPER NOTES SERIES B IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,500 MILLION.
ITEM 10, ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2004 DASH 2 99 SUPPLEMENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2009 DASH 1118 AUTHORIZING ISSUERS OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS COMBINED UTILITY UTILITY SYSTEM COMMERCIAL PAPER NOTES SERIES B AS AMENDED AND RESTATED APPRO AND AUTHORIZED AND CERTAIN AUTHORIZED OFFICIALS AND DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY IN THE SELLING AND DELIVERY OF SUCH NOTES AND THE ISSUANCE OF COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM FIRST LIEN REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS TO REFUND THE SAME EACH WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS AND PROCEDURES SPECIFIED HEREIN.
THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF ITEM NINE.
ITEM 11, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF ONE OR MORE SERIES OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS TAX AND REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES SERIES 2026 TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027.
ITEM 12, ORDINANCE APPROVING A SUPPLEMENTAL BORROW BORROWING EVIDENCED BY CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS TAX AND REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES SERIES 2026 A TO PROVIDE FOR FOR PAYMENT OF CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE CITY FOR A PORTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027.
ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCCALL PARKHURST AND HORTON LLP FOR DISCLOSURE COUNCIL SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
ITEM 14, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREENBURG TRO LLP ITEM 15, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 DASH 98 TO ADD THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTORS FOR AWARDEE AS AWARDEES DSW HOMES
[02:05:01]
LLC GALVESTON PILING LLC STONEWATER INC.ITEM 16 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $300 MILLION FOR A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH UNITED AIRLINES INC.
ITEM 17 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER EIGHT AND GULF GATE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
ITEM 18 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 11 AND GREATER GREENSPOINT REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DOING BUSINESS AS NORTH HOUSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 21 AND NEAR NORTHSIDE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 23 AND HARRISBURG REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING.
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL SECURITY DISTRICT ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR FY 27 RIFLE RESISTANT BODY ARMOR GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR FY 27 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT PROGRAM ITEM 24 ORDINANCE ALTERING MAXIMUM PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN SCHOOL ZONES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED AND TRIPARTY AGREEMENT AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON BAYBROOK MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER ONE AND CITY OF LEAGUE CITY TEXAS.
ITEM 26 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 0.6062 ACRES OF LAND TO CYPRUS WOOD UTILITY DISTRICT.
ITEM 27 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 23.33 ACRES OF LAND TO FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 1 42 ITEM 28 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 4 97 POINT 16 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 1 48 ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT FOR TERMINATION OF WATER SUPPLY AND GROUNDWATER REDUCTION PLAN.
WHOLESALE AGREEMENT WITH NORTH FOREST MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDED AND RESTATED FINANCING OWNERSHIP OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 55 ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND JUAN RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ.
ITEM 32 ORDINANCE FINDING IN DETERMINING THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY NO LONGER REQUIRE THE CONTINUED USE OF A 10 FOOT WIDE 4,726 SQUARE FOOT WATERLINE EASEMENT AND 200 SQUARE FOOT WATER METER EASEMENT BOTH OUT OF PW ROAD SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER 6 45 HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS VACATING AND ABANDONING THE CITY EASEMENTS TO METHODIST HOSPITAL.
ITEM 33 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 700 BLOCK OF MERRILL STREET BETWEEN WATSON STREET AND REAGAN STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $93,771,329 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CDM SMITH INC.
ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $11,077,521 1 CENTS AND $1,494,942 59 CENTS APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH TOTAL CONTRACTING LIMITED ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED AND $10,500 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY.
ITEM 37, MOTION TO RECEIVE NOMINATION FOR THE APPOINTMENTS TO POSITIONS 10 AND 11 OF THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $8,525,000, $2,501,000 AND $20,000 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD LGC INC.
ITEM 30 THIS I'M SORRY, THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM AND WAS ITEM 20 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 17TH.
ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $26,437,655 APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH KIWI WATER FACILITY SOUTH COMPANY.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM AND WAS ITEM
[02:10:01]
29 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 17TH.ITEM 40 ORDINANCE ADOPTING 2024 DERECHO AND HURRICANE BARREL SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM GUIDELINES.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND WAS ITEM EIGHT ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 24TH.
ITEM 41 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND PROVEN USE OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS INCLUDING TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT, DEED OF TRUST AND PROMISSORY NOTE ASSOCIATED WITH 2024 DERECHO AND HURRICANE BERYL SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
THIS ITEM SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 40.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
ITEM ANN WAS ITEM NINE ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 24TH.
ITEM 42, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER SIX 12.
THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND WAS ITEM 29 ON THE AGENDA OF JUNE 24TH.
THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS OF THE AGENDA OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 8TH, 2026.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TWO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY.
THANK YOU MY NUMBER ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
SAY THAT IN THE MIC AND ON THE RECORD.
[RECONVENE]
PUBLIC HEARING ON[HEARINGS - 9:00 A.M.]
THE WINDSOR APARTMENTS 4% TAX CREDIT.CALL ITEM NUMBER ONE, CITY SECRETARY PLEASE CALL ITEM ONE.
ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
WE HAVE STAFF ANALYST PAUL YIG, MARK WITH HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HERE TO PRESENT.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR RE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR AN APPLICANT SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR THEIR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT.
NAME IS WIN SHIRE APARTMENTS DEVELOPMENT ADDRESS IS 4 4 1 5 SHAVER STREET COUNCIL.
DISTRICT E CONSTRUCTION TYPE IS REHAB TARGET POPULATION IS FAMILY T-D-H-C-A ADMINISTER STATE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FEDERAL TAX CREDIT TO SPUR THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR 4% TAX.
CREDITS TO DEVELOPMENT MUST PRESENT A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FROM THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH DEVELOPMENT IS LO UH, LOCATED.
HCD PERFORMED A THRESHOLD REVIEW AND RECOMMENDS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS RESOLUTION IS HELD TODAY, JULY 8TH, 2026 AND HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON JUNE 16TH, 2026.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION VERY WELL.
UM, ANYONE PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IF THERE ARE NONE.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX SAYM, MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
THOSE OPPOSED TO NAY A VOTE ON THE ITEM ONE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, DIRECTOR TRAN IN, WOULD YOU PLEASE PRESENT ITEM NUMBER TWO? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THE CHAPTER 42 PARKS AND PRIVATE PARKS, ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES.
AMENDMENTS TO ALIGN WITH THE CHANGES IN STATE LAW TO ADDRESS A FEE IN LIEU FOR MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS IMPLEMENTATION.
CHALLENGES ON THE FEE STATE LAW DRIVEN CHANGES FOR MULTIFAMILY ARE DESIGNATING AREAS OF THE CITY AS SUBURBAN, URBAN, OR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT TO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SETTING FEE, ADOPTING A FEE NOT GREATER THAN 2% OF THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, REQUIRING A FEE ONLY AND NO DEDICATION OF LAND, COLLECTING FEES AT ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE
[02:15:01]
OF OCCUPANCY, AND ADDING AN APPEAL PROCESS.STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE FEE IN LIEU, WHICH ARE ALLOWING 30% OF THE FEES COLLECTED TO BE USED ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CITY, EXTENDING THE TIME FOR FUNDS TO BE OBLIGATED FROM THREE YEARS TO FIVE YEARS.
AND DESIGNATING PARKS DIRECTOR ASKED THE AUTHORITY TO MANAGE AND EXPEND FUNDS BFA AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AMENDMENTS.
BETWEEN FEBRUARY THE THIRD AND JUNE THE SECOND TOTALING SIX MEETINGS, WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF SIX 16 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC OF WHICH 12 ARE FROM ORGANIZATIONS BOTH BFA AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS TO CITY COUNCIL.
MAYOR, WE ARE READY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL? THANK YOU.
I, I WANT TO JUST, UH, REITERATE, ARE WE SAYING THAT 30% OF THE FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED WILL BE ABLE TO BE USED ANYWHERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? I WANT TO REITERATE THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW, WHAT, WHAT'S THE, WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY ANYWHERE IN THE CITY FOR THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS? SO CURRENTLY THE FUNDS CAN BE USED ONLY IN THE PARK SECTOR THAT IT IS COLLECTED.
SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE TOWARDS SOME PARK EQUITY.
SO UTILIZING 30% OF THE FUNDS COLLECTED, WE CAN DETERMINE WHERE WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? YES.
DO WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC WITNESSES? MIKE? UH, BERGER, UH, THANK YOU.
I AM OWNER OF SANDCASTLE HOMES.
I BUILD EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HALF FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
I'M ALSO REPRESENTING THE GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.
SO WE'VE BEEN BANTING THIS ABOUT, UM, I, I BILL MOSTLY IN DISTRICT C, AND SO I'M A PAYER OF THESE FEES.
AND, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS MONEY SHOULD BE, SOME OF IT SHOULD BE MOVED AROUND THE REST OF THE CITY TO OTHER AREAS THAT NEED PARKS.
DISTRICT C DOES HAVE A LOT OF PARKS.
I AND THIS THE WAY THIS NOW WITH THESE 21, 23 PARK DISTRICTS, IT SEEMS CRAZY.
WHY DON'T THEY HAVE JUST ONE? BUT THAT'S HOW YOU GUYS DID IT.
SO WE ARE FOUR, UH, THE 30%, UM, THE, THE FEES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
THE ONLY THING WE'D ASK IS, I THINK PART OF THE ORDINANCE IS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON WHERE THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT, AND JUST TELL ME WHERE SOME OF THE PARKS ARE BEING BUILT OR IF YOU BUILT A SEWING SET OR SOMETHING.
THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE DID HAVE THAT IN THERE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
WELL, THANK YOU MIKE, AND THANK YOU.
WHAT YOU DO IN PRIMARY DISTRICT C, BUT CERTAINLY YOUR PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE CITY, UH, AS YOU WELL KNOW, BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AND COMMITTEE HEARINGS, AND CERTAINLY CHAIR ALCORN HAS LED.
AND YOU'RE FOLLOWING A LOT OF HER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HER PASSION FOR PARKS.
UH, KENNETH ALLEN WOULD BE HERE DAYS OUT ON PERSONAL BUSINESS, BUT, UM, HE SUPPORTS THIS AND HAS REALLY EMPHASIZED THE NEED, CERTAINLY AS THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IN TERMS OF EQUITY, THERE IS SOME NEGLECTED AREAS, UH, THAT NEED THESE FUNDS, UH, ATTACHED TO THEM.
SO IT'S REALLY A WIN-WIN FOR THE CITY AND FOR, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN WHICH SUPPORTS YOUR INDUSTRY AND YOUR PERSONAL, UH, BUSINESS.
SO IT'S ALL ABOUT, UH, DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND DIRECTOR, UH, TRAN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PLANNING.
I, I'D CERTAINLY APPLAUD THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE TRANSPARENCY AND, UH, INCLUSION OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT KENNETH ALLEN CONSTANTLY BRINGS AND DEMONSTRATES SOME PARKS THAT HAVE JUST BEEN NEGLECTED.
AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, BUT THIS IS, UH, THIS IS DOING THE CITY'S BUSINESS IN
[02:20:01]
THE RIGHT WAY.WE, WE NEED MORE PARKS IN HOUSTON.
I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, SO I JUST WANNA SEE PARKS EVERYWHERE WE CAN.
AND THIS WILL HELP GET US THERE.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, DID YOU TAKE TO THE MICROPHONE? THIS ONE? YOU, YOU COULDN'T HEAR ME.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT PARKS, WHICH ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I'M JUSTIN SCHULTZ, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS HAS BEEN ABOUT EXPANDING, IMPROVING AND PROTECTING PARKS AND GREEN SPACE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS, AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE.
UM, Y'ALL DO A LOT OF WORK ALL THE TIME, AND I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR ME LIVING IN DISTRICT F OR LIVING IN DISTRICT G PARKS ARE SUCH A TANGIBLE WAY TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE.
IT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE, IT IMPROVES OUR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
IT REDUCES THE HEAT IN OUR CITY AND IT HELPS TO ABSORB STORM WATER WHEN IT RAINS HEAVILY LIKE IT DID UNEXPECTEDLY LAST NIGHT.
UM, THROUGH THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE AND THE FEES COLLECTED OVER THE LAST 15 TO 20 YEARS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, HAS BEEN ABLE TO INVEST APPROXIMATELY $80 MILLION IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WITH Y'ALL'S SUPPORT.
SO ABOUT $20 MILLION OF OPEN SPACE FEE HAS COME IN.
THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD HAS BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT AND BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $60 MILLION FROM CORPORATE AND PHILANTHROPIC ENTITIES.
WHAT HAS THAT DONE? THAT HAS IMPROVED 48 OF THE 180 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AROUND THIS CITY.
THOSE ARE MULTIPLE PARKS IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
AND THESE ARE THE PARKS THAT ARE THE MOST IN NEED.
PARKS, PARKS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED ANY SORT OF INVESTMENT THAT'S UPGRADED LIGHTING THAT IS SAFE PLAYGROUNDS, THAT IS ENSURING THAT THE SIDEWALKS AND THE WALKING PATHS ARE CLEAN AND CLEAR.
THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE MADE TO LOCAL PARKS THAT, AGAIN, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE INVESTMENT OTHERWISE.
SO I WANNA THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALCORN, YOU HAVE BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE AND WE JUST ARE SO INDEBTED TO THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I WOULD URGE THE CITY IN THE FUTURE TO LOOK AT INCREASING THE FEE.
IT HASN'T BEEN INCREASED IN A LONG TIME, AND THAT DOES PUT US AT A DISADVANTAGE FROM AN ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS STANDPOINT.
I, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, MIKE AND THE HOME BUILDERS, FOR THEM IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CITY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE TO A CITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY.
IT'S PART OF THE REASON I MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON AFTER BEING GONE FOR 20 YEARS.
'CAUSE HOUSTON IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE HOUSTON THE BEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND YOUR CERTAINLY PARK COURT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.
AND THANK YOU JUSTIN FOR COMING IN FOR THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE ALL COME, UH, I, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, BUT I DO WANNA SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES, THIS IS PART ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IN TO THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE.
VERY IMPORTANT CHANGES, CHANGES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT PARK SECTORS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT, SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEY IN THOSE, THOSE PARK SECTORS.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT AREAS OF TOWN THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF AS MUCH DEVELOPMENT WITH A LOT FEWER RESOURCES TO GO TOWARDS THE PARK.
SO THE 30% MOVE, KINDA LIKE WE DO IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GREAT, GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD THAT MONEY AROUND TO PARKS.
I I ALSO, UH, YOU BROUGHT UP THE ANNUAL REPORT, OR MIKE, YOU BROUGHT UP THE ANNUAL REPORT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE SINCE 2009 AND IT'S PART OF THE ORDINANCE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW TAXPAYERS KNOW DEVELOPERS, KNOW RESIDENTS KNOW HOW THAT MONEY'S BEING SPENT.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE A REAL THING THAT'S BEING WORKED ON RIGHT NOW.
SO I EXPECT FOR AN ANNUAL REPORT TO BE MADE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BY THE END OF THE SUMMER OR SEPTEMBER.
AND I WILL EXPECT AN INCREASE TO THIS FEE THAT HAS BEEN $700 A DOOR SINCE 2009.
PEOPLE WANNA LIVE NEAR A NICE PARK.
I MEAN, SURE THEY WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY DON'T WANT AN APARTMENT RIGHT NEXT TO THE CRUMMIEST PARK IN TOWN.
[02:25:01]
THEY WANT A NICE PARK NEXT TO THAT, THEIR, THEIR, UH, APARTMENT.SO I WILL, IF WE HAD DONE THE ANNUAL REPORTS THE WAY WE WERE SUPPOSED TO, EVERY YEAR YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING THE APPRAISED VALUE, THE VALUES OF LAND.
IT'S A PARK FEE IN LIEU OF THAT DEVELOPERS PAY.
SO THAT'S BASED ON WHAT THE PARK LAND IS WORTH.
SO YEAR AFTER YEAR, IF WE WOULD'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT, THAT $700 FEE WOULD NOW BE $1,470.
WE NEVER CAME ONCE WITH A FEE INCREASE OR A, AN A OR AN ANNUAL REPORT SINCE WHEN, SINCE 2009.
NOW THE STATE, AS THEY LOVE TO DO, HAS INSERTED ITSELF INTO THIS, UH, SITUATION.
AND THEY HAVE LIMITED, WE CAN'T EVEN COLLECT THE $1,470.
THE HIGHEST WE CAN COLLECT IS $1,296 AND 28 CENTS.
EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE HAS A HIGHER FEE IN LIEU OF, IF WE JUST ADJUST TO CPI, IT'S $1,113.
YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING MORE MONEY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THESE PARKS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY SOURCES OF PART OF MONEY FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OTHER THAN OUR BOND FUNDS, WHICH WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO ANY BONDS RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE WE CAN'T PAY 'EM BACK.
AND SO THIS IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF FUNDING.
AND LIKE JUSTIN SAID, HAS SAID, THIS IS WHAT LEVERAGES THE CORPORATE FUNDING.
THIS LEVERAGES OTHER MONEY TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN THESE PARKS.
SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, AND I WON'T, WON'T QUIT SAYING IT.
THIS IS PART ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT'LL BE COMING TO THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE JUSTIN FOR PARKS, THE PARKS BOARD, JUST INCREDIBLE WORK, SPREADING MONEY ALL OVER THE CITY.
WE HAVE HAD A GREEN RENAISSANCE IN THIS TOWN, BUT IT HASN'T HIT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
SO, UH, I JUST USED YOUR STANDING THERE TO PONTIFICATE.
SO
I LOVE THE APARTMENT PEOPLE, BUT I ALSO LOVE THE RESIDENTS.
AND THE RESIDENTS WANT NICE PARKS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THIS FEE IS DUE TO INCREASE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN RECAPTURE EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME.
YOU AND I'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, WE'LL BUILD A CONSENSUS AROUND COUNCIL, WHAT'S REASONABLE TO GET TO WHERE YOUR GOALS ARE.
I WOULD ADD THOUGH, UH, WE'RE GETTING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND I COULD DO SHOUT OUTS TO ARMANDO WILEY AND HONOR ANDAND US AND REALLY OUR DELEGATION THAT HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP AND BROUGHT, UH, STATE FUNDS INTO THE CITY.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO APPROPRIATE TO MENTION, UH, COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ARE COLLABORATING WITH US MORE THAN EVER IN, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
HELPING IMPROVE THE COURT, THE STATE AND COUNTY FUNDING IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.
AND OUT OF THE 13 MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY, WE RANK AT THE VERY BOTTOM PER CAPITA IN WHAT WE SPEND ON PARKS AT THE VERY BOTTOM.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA BE.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHY WE RAN FOR OFFICE TO IMPROVE THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION.
THANK YOU JUSTIN, FOR YOUR WORK.
AND, UH, WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
MAYOR COUNCIL, THANKS FOR HAVING US UP HERE.
I AM SOMEBODY THAT ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERS A LOT WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
I'VE MET MANY OF YOU OUT AT PARKS.
WE'VE BEEN AT HAVELAND PARK, WHICH WAS IN AN AREA.
BUILDERS ARE NOT OVER THERE BUILDING IN THAT PARK.
WE WALKED IT, YOU SAW WHAT IT WAS.
AND THIS 30% TO SPREAD ACROSS THE CITY WILL MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE AREAS OF THIS CITY WHERE THE BUILDERS ARE NOT BUILDING.
YOU'VE GOT OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
BUILDERS AREN'T GOING IN THERE UNLESS THEY'RE BUYING OUT THE PROPERTIES.
AND THOSE RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE NICE PARKS ALSO.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THIS CITY AND I'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE PARKS THAT ARE EMBARRASSING.
AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE PARKS THAT YOU'VE GOT A SET, I BELIEVE IT'S 25 THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO HAVE DONE.
I'VE BEEN ON MANY OF THOSE GETTING INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT WILL BE USING THOSE PARKS.
[02:30:01]
AND I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO BRING THE CITY INTO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.WE HAVE A LAST MAYOR PRO PICK.
UM, RON, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND ALL OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT YOU DO ALSO IN DISTRICT A THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, SIR, FOR MENTIONING THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT WE'RE MAKING A PRIORITY, THE 25 THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND KENNETH CAME UP WITH.
LET'S PLAY HOUSTON TO, TO IDENTIFY 'EM.
SO, UH, WE'RE CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
AS I, AS I LISTENED EARLIER AND AS I LOOKED AT WHAT I WROTE DOWN, I MAY SOUND A LITTLE REDUNDANT, BUT AS A PREACHER, I DARE NOT WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T, I'D BE HERE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
SO, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PASTOR CHARLES E. JONES, AND I'M HONORED TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF ONE CHURCH AT BETHELS FAMILY, LOCATED IN THE FOND SOUTHWEST AREA OF HOUSTON, WHERE WALTER AUGUST, JR.
AND IN COLLABORATION WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, OUR CHURCH HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THIS COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT K SINCE 1994, PARTNERING WITH COUNTLESS FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE LIFE OF, OF OUR MANY NEIGHBORS.
ONE OF THE GREATEST ASSETS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS HAVELAND PARK PARKS ARE MORE THAN JUST GREEN SPACES.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE CHILDREN LEARN, FAMILIES GATHER RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT, AND COMMUNITIES GROW STRONGER.
AND WE WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT WE'RE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO HAVELAND PARK ARE BEING MADE THROUGH THE LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE, A MAYORAL EFFORT TO IMPROVE 25 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS INVESTMENT, WE BELIEVE, DEMONSTRATES WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN THE CITY PRIORITIZES NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY RESIDENT TO ENJOY SAFE, WELCOMING, AND PUBLIC SPACES.
AND THAT ONE CHURCH, WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR FAMILIES AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH OUR MANY ON-CAMPUS MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES, AND THROUGH WHAT WE CALL BETHELS UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS OUR OUTREACH YOUTH MINISTRY THAT CURRENTLY OFFERS TRACK BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, AND BOXING WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WE UTILIZE HAVELAND PARK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES TOGETHER SO SAFE AND WELL MAINTAINED.
PARKS LIKE HAVILAND PARK ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PROVIDING HEALTHY, POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT KEEP OUR YOUTH ACTIVE, ENGAGED, AND CONNECTED TO CARING ADULTS.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE EVERY WEEK.
AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER FAR INTO THE FUTURE AND ALSO WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS AND THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE MAYOR AND THIS CITY COUNCIL FOR MAKING THESE IMPROVEMENTS POSSIBLE.
YOUR INVESTMENT IS ALREADY MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES LIKE FRAN SOUTHWEST.
SO TODAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT WOULD DISTRIBUTE A PORTION OF OPEN SPACE FUNDS MORE EQUITABLY ACROSS ALL PARTS, SECTORS.
EVERY FAMILY IN HOUSTON DESERVES ACCESS TO SAFE, ATTRACTIVE, AND FUNCTIONAL PARTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODES.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU PASTOR FOR BEING HERE.
I, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE, UM, PASTOR IS REPRESENTING, UH, BETHEL'S FAMILY IN DISTRICT A AND THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH CONGREGATION, WHEN THEY HAVE, UM, THEIR MEMBERS GO TO HAVILAND PARK, THEY HAVE THE MEN AT THE CHURCH GO TO STAND AROUND MM-HMM
WHILE THEY HAVE PRACTICE BECAUSE THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THEIR STUDENTS ARE SAFE AT THE PARK.
UM, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR PARKS, WE HAVE TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY IN THE PARK.
HAVILAND PARK IS IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST AREAS OF FONDANT SOUTHWEST.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T LIKE
[02:35:01]
TO SEE HAPPENING AT THAT PARK THAT HAPPENED AT THAT PARK.ALL MEANS, UM, THERE'S A BIG, UM, WALL AROUND, LIKE, AROUND THE PARK THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE CUT, KNOCKED DOWN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PARK UNDER THE BASKETBALL GOAL.
UM, SO PASTOR, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE SEE YOU.
UM, WE SEE THE MEN AT YOUR CHURCH WHO ARE MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE PRACTICING FOOTBALL AND PRACTICING TRACK TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER AND HAVE THE ACCESS TO PARK SPACES.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL 18 ACRE SPACE THAT COULD BE SUCH A VALUE ADDED ASSET, UM, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING TO ENSURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO PARK PLAY IS INCREDIBLE.
UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY ARE SAFE.
MAYOR RULES TO, UM, UH, TO SPIN THE ORDER TO MOVE RUBEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.
HE'S JUST A LITTLE LATE SECOND.
WELL, WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET BACK TO IT.
UH, KARINA BLESSED MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, SAM MARTINEZ.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AT LARGE, UH, RAMIREZ.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I'M HERE TO ECHO THE SUPPORT FOR THE 70 30 SPLIT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT Y'ALL WILL PASS THIS BECAUSE IT WILL CHANGE THE LIVES OF SO MANY HOUSTONIANS.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE HAVE A HOUSTON ARROW THAT GOES FROM MEMORIAL PARK ALL THE WAY INTO MIDTOWN, AND IT MAKES AN ARROW SHAPE THERE.
THAT IS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES, WELL KNOWN, UH, TO SHOW SUCH DEGREE OF DISPARITY.
SO EQUITY AND PARKS IS WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO US.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE WILL GREATLY INCREASE.
AND ALTHOUGH BROOKLINE PARK, FONDER PARK, AND GREG PARK ARE NOT INCLUDED, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL FACILITY AT GREG PARK WHERE EACH PARK'S HEADQUARTER IS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE 25 PARKS THAT WILL BENEFIT.
I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, JUST LIKE I STARTED FRIENDS OF FONDA PARK AT THE CALL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVISTS, UH, PAULETTE WAGNER, WHOM I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR SO MANY YEARS AGO, SHE STARTED FRIENDS OF MCGREGOR PARK.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES HAVE A VOICE IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR PARKS, IN THE TYPE OF FACILITIES THAT THEY NEED, SUCH AS COVERED SPACE BECAUSE OF SHADE IN HOUSTON, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE A VERY HOT CITY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PARK HAS A SHADED STRUCTURE.
SO I WANT TO, IN ADDITION OF ASKING FOR YOUR, UH, SUPPORT OF THE 70 30 TO ASK FOR YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY TO H PARKS AND TO THE HOUSTON PARK SPORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY THAT IS BEING SPENT IS BEING SPENT WELL, AND THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH ALL OF THESE FRIENDS OF PARKS ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN PUT GRANTS WITH THE EQUIPMENT, UH, MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE THESE GRANTS ARE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE OUT THERE FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE THAT ARE IN THE 95 PERCENTILE VULNERABILITY INDEX.
AND THAT SO DESPERATELY NEED A PLACE TO GATHER AND ACCESS TO NON-MEDICAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH IN RECREATION.
I WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY OF CORINNE FONDE FOR HER LEGACY AND ADVOCATING FOR RECREATION AS A MEANS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND, WHICH ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE CIVICALLY IN MAKING OUR CITY BETTER.
UH, CARINA, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RIBBON CUTTING, UH, STUDENT AT FONDE PARK, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT THERE AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, ONE THING THAT I WANNA KIND OF LIFT UP, YOU KNOW, AS CORINA MENTIONED, THERE'S FRIENDS OF FONDE PARK.
WE HAVE FRIENDS OF, UH, MASON PARK.
THERE IS A MOVEMENT, UH, FOR COMMUNITY TO BE MORE ENGAGED BECAUSE AGAIN, WE SEE THE, THE BENEFITS OF, UH, WHAT THE GREEN SPACES, UH, PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M GONNA USE THIS THIS TIME RIGHT NOW SINCE REUBEN'S NOT HERE TO KIND OF, UH, GET ON MY SOAPBOX.
UH, SIMILAR TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UH, DEFINITELY WANNA FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK, UH, THE PLANT DEPARTMENT, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR COMING TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THIS, THIS, UH, THIS GREEN SPACE E ESSENTIALLY IT'S AN EQUITY, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, POLICY.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN SEE, UH, A, A, A VER A MORE, UM, TRANSPARENT WAY OF HOW WE'RE, WE'RE SPENDING THESE DOLLARS DISTRICT I HAS 60 PARKS, UM, FROM REGIONAL PARKS TO POCKET PARKS.
[02:40:01]
DIRECTOR ALLEN AND HIS EXECUTIVE TEAM LAST WEEK, UH, WHAT WE'VE NOTICED TOO IS THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO SEE GREEN SPACES THRIVE, THEN WE REALLY NEED TO, UH, GET, GO BACK TO FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN RIGHT SIZE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.UM, FOR TWO YEARS I WAS TALKING ABOUT SOLID WASTE.
UM, I'M, I'M GONNA COMMIT TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF, UH, IN, IN, IN OFFICE BECAUSE THE FEE SCHEDULE, UH, JUST IN GENERAL HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE MID NINETIES.
UH, WHEN WE START LOOKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT DOES IT COST TO, UH, UH, MAINTAIN AND MOW, UM, THE NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME, IT WAS ABOUT $6 MILLION FOR ALL THE MEDIANS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, THE MEDIANS ARE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, AND FOR PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ON THAT, IT, IT, IT KIND OF, IT, IT BOTHERS ME A BIT BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS COULD GO BACK TO MAINTAINING, UH, CITY FACILITIES.
AND, AND JUST OFF THE OFF OF, UH, UM, THE MEETING THAT WE HAD, QUITE FRANKLY, DISTRICT, I COULD USE ABOUT $1.2 MILLION IN HVAC FOR IN GROUND PARK, UM, DAYS OF OLIVE PARK, CLINTON PARK, HARTMAN PARK, GARDEN VILLAS, UM, CHARLESTON PARK, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON.
UH, BUT THERE'S A, A NUM AN AN ITEMIZED LIST OF WHAT ELSE COULD BE IMPROVED.
UM, AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT WHAT THESE EFFICIENCIES LOOK LIKE, WE ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS ABOUT 30 LIBRARIES, 14 MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS.
UM, AND THOSE ARE ALL DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING PULLED FROM GREEN SPACE FUNDING.
UH, BACK TO YOUR POINT, CORINA WAR, WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IF WE, WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL, THEN WE SHOULD BE INCREASING THESE, THIS TYPE OF FUNDING.
UM, THE 30%, WHICH I'VE TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT IS, WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THE FIVE TO 10% DESIGN COSTS.
USUALLY THAT COMES INTO A LOT OF THE, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'RE HAVING.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THOSE, THOSE PRICES ARE ESCALATING AS WELL.
UM, AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH GREEN SPACE.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, THE RIGHT PATHWAY, UH, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT NEEDS.
UH, ONE OF MY BUDGET AMENDMENTS WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONING WHY WE'RE INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR, UH, FOR TENNIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS ABLE TO, UH, SEE ONE OF THE TENNIS, UH, FACILITIES ON MY WAY TO A PARK OUT IN, IN MAYOR PRO TEMS, UH, CA ADAMS DISTRICT, WHERE, UM, IT, I, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY WHEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOWING DE LITTERING AND MAINTAINING THE PARKS.
AND SEVERAL OF DISTRICT I PARKS ARE, ARE NOT BEING MAINTAINED.
UH, ONE THAT COMES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW IS WALTER JONES PARK, AND I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH, UH, WITH, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN AND HIS TEAM.
UH, WE, WE REALLY WANNA SEE, UM, THESE PARKS, UM, ACCESSIBLE, CLEAN, SO THAT WAY FAMILIES WOULD WANT TO GO TO THOSE, THOSE FACILITIES.
UM, AND SO, UH, IN SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK, CARINA, UH, NOT JUST FOR THE DIS FOR DISTRICT I, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY HOW WE RIGHT SIZE, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, FAMILIES HAVE A SAFE, UH, A, A CLEAN, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, POCKET PARK, REGIONAL PARK, UM, THAT ULTIMATELY ADDRESSES A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER, UH, UH, CHALLENGES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH INEQUITY, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, UH, COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, UM, AND, AND OF COURSE WITH YOU AND YOUR, YOUR TEAM THERE AS WELL.
UM, AND YOU REALLY WANNA PUSH ON PARTNERSHIPS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, I, I SAY THIS A LOT, AS SOMEONE THAT USED TO MANAGE, UH, YOUTH PROGRAMS, I'M, I'M IN FAVOR FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
UH, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN DO THAT WORK.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY HAVING SOME OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS A LOT, A LOT MORE INTENTIONAL AS WELL.
UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, I I, AT SOME POINT, GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL.
RIGHT? AND, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT OUT THERE, UH, WITH NONPROFITS, NGOS THAT WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE OUR YOUNG FOLKS, UH, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING, UH, YEAR ROUND.
AGAIN, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, KARINA.
UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RIBBON CUTTING AGAIN, AND YES, 21ST, FIVE 30, YOU'RE ALL INVITED.
COME, COME TO FOND PARK AND COME SEE WHAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER.
AND IT, THERE WAS A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS, IT WAS A REALLY GREAT FOUR EXPERIENCE.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, MR. GARZA HAS NOT ARRIVED.
WE CAN LEAVE THIS PENDING TO GET TO ITEM THREE.
UH, IF HE ARRIVES AFTER THREE, WE, UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO ALLOW HIM TO TESTIFY.
[02:45:01]
DEEP BREATH.YEAH, WE WAITED FOR, UH, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT WHOEVER DESIGNS THE ROUTES ON THE WAY MOS NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO CITY HALL A LITTLE BETTER.
I'M A LOCAL CONVERSATION LEADER FOR STRONG TOWNS HOUSTON.
AND AS I'M RUNNING OUT BREATH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT, UH, WE SUPPORT THE UPDATED OPEN SPACE ORDINANCES, BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN FLAGGED EARLIER THAT THIS IS JUST PHASE ONE.
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT CAN BE DONE HERE, INCLUDING A DRAFT AMENDMENT THAT WE SUBMITTED THAT HOPEFULLY GETS, UH, INCLUDED INTO THE LATER AMENDMENTS.
SPECIFICALLY, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HAVE A GRAY SPACE FOR GREEN SPACE TRADE OFF, WHERE ESSENTIALLY AS THERE'S MORE DEDICATED SPACE, UH, FOR PARKS, THAT THAT OFFERS THE DEVELOPERS A REDUCTION IN THEIR PARKING BURDEN UNDER CHAPTER 26.
AS WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PARKING MANDATES UNDER 26 DASH 4 92 ARE VERY BURDENSOME, PARTICULARLY FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS.
AND IT'S HARDER FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS TO, UH, DEDICATE SPACE FOR GREEN, DEDICATE GREEN SPACE BECAUSE OF THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
SO THEY OPT FOR THE IN LIE FEE, WHICH I DO AGREE DOES NEED TO BE RAISED AND SCALED BASED ON DENSITY.
AND WE DO HAVE THAT IN OUR PROPOSAL.
BUT I WANTED TO STRESS MORE SO THE TRADE OFF FOR, UH, GREEN SPACE HERE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE DO COMMIT OURSELVES TO PARK SPACE AND FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, NOT JUST SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT WE CAN RELIEVE SOME OF THE BURDENS ON DEVELOPERS AND FOR HOMEOWNERS ALIKE BY, UM, BY REDUCING THEIR OVERALL PARKING BURDEN.
UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH THE CITY ON, UH, THESE AMENDMENTS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE 'EM IN THE NEXT ROUND OF, UH, AMENDMENTS AS THEY GO FORWARD.
THANK YOU RUBEN, FOR COMING IN.
AND WE HAVE, UH, MADE SURE THAT PLANNING HAS ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
THANK, YOU KNOW, IN THE LEGISLATURE, UM, THEY DID SOMETHING THAT RUN REQUIRED PER APARTMENT.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT BILL? SOMEBODY TOLD ME ABOUT, THERE WAS A BILL IN THE LAST LEGISLATURE ABOUT, THERE MUST BE ONE PARKING PLACE PER APARTMENT, CORRECT? CORRECT.
UH, SB EIGHT 40, WHICH PASSED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DOES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SPECIFIC CRITERIA ARE, BUT THERE IS BASICALLY SOME SORT OF TIE BETWEEN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.
BASICALLY APARTMENT COMPLEX IS LIMITING.
UH, THERE'S A CAP ON THE PARKING REQUIREMENT TO BE ONE PER UNIT, WHICH, I MEAN, IF YOU ASKED ME TO PICK THE LEAST BAD PARKING MANDATE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE IT.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S OUR CURRENT CHAPTER 26 ON APARTMENTS? WELL, UH, FOR MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, WE ARE CAPPED BECAUSE SB EIGHT 40 IS THE STATEWIDE PREEMPTION LAW.
I DON'T HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT ONE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
I KNOW, UH, THE, UH, LIVABLE PLACES INITIATIVE BACK IN 23 DID REDUCE A LOT OF THE PARKING BURDEN, UH, TO CLOSELY TO ONE PER UNIT.
BUT I STILL THINK IN SOME CASES THAT CAN BE TOO HIGH, DEPENDING ON WHERE, UH, DEPENDING ON WHERE THESE BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED AS, UM, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, THEIR PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT, ET CETERA.
INSTEAD, WE WOULD ADVOCATE FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE MARKET BASED APPROACH.
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING SOMETHING TO US, AND I KNOW THEY'RE REVIEWING IT.
HAPPY TO WORK ON THAT AS A, AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWS IT AS LEGAL REVIEWS IT AS WE GO FORWARD.
AND THANK YOU RUBEN, FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PARK FEE AND POTENTIALLY RAISING THAT, UM, FOR DEVELOPERS HERE, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT TEXAS GENERALLY HAVE A HIGHER, UH, PARK FEE FOR DEVELOPERS.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT PARKING REFORM, TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPERS TO KIND OF ALLOW FOR, UH, HIGHER, UH, PARK FEE WITHOUT PASSING COSTS ONTO TO, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS? SO IF I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY, YOU'RE ASKING FOR HOW DO YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISE A FEE WHILE ALSO REDUCING A PARKING REQUIREMENT? YEAH, UH, I MEAN, IT CAN BE DONE FOR SURE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER CASE STUDIES.
IN FACT, I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE, WE TALKED WITH THE NATIONAL PARKING REFORM NETWORK ABOUT, UM, THE PARK SPACE FOR GREEN OR THE PARKING FOR PARK SPACE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEY QUITE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ELSE.
SO AT LEAST THAT'S FROM A PRELIMINARY SKIM.
SO WE WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH TAKING A PRE, A PRETTY BOLD INITIATIVE IF WE ADOPTED THAT ORDINANCES GOING FORWARD.
I THINK AS FAR AS THE FEE IS CONCERNED, AND I, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, IT'S STILL $700.
UM, UH, IT'S INCREDIBLY LOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, A LOT OF DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA, MY UNDERSTANDING IS A LOT OF DEVELOPERS AND HOME BUILDERS ARE CONSTRAINED BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
SO THEN THEY JUST KIND OF OFF FOR THE, IN LIE FEE.
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE WORKED OUT IS, AGAIN, KIND OF SCALING THAT, UH, FEE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE IT IS A LITTLE MORE COSTLY, UH, TO BUILD, KIND OF HELPING, HELPING
[02:50:01]
THEM, UH, WORK THAT OUT.I'M, I'M A, TO BE FULLY FRANK, I'M A LITTLE MORE DEDICATED TO THE PARKING FOR PARK SPACE TRADE OFF, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY TO FLUSH OUT THE, UM, THE DENSITY SCALING FOR THE FEE A LITTLE, UH, FURTHER AS THE AMENDMENTS GET DISCUSSED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MAYOR, APPROACH.
THIS IS, UM, I WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO ADD SOMEONE TO THE SPEAKER'S LIST.
UH, TAYLOR VALLEY IS HERE, RUBEN, AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO, RUBEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LOVE TO HEAR THAT YOU WROTE IN A WAYMO.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M TAYLOR VALLEY PRESLEY, THE PARKS EQUITY ANALYST AND ADVOCATE FOR THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND RESILIENCE.
WE HAVE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, AND I'VE PREVIOUSLY GONE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND AT PLANNING COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT HERE AT COUNCILS TODAY.
UM, I ASK THAT THE ACTUAL FEE AMOUNT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THAT THESE AMENDMENTS REMAIN ONLY THE FIRST STEP.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HAS BEEN STAUNCHLY SUPPORTING THIS, AND I THANK HER FOR THAT AND STRONGLY SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.
THE $700 DEVELOPMENT FEE HAS BEEN THE SAME SINCE 2007, WHICH WE'VE PREVIOUSLY HEARD, UM, WHICH IS NOW NEARLY 20 YEARS OLD.
AND IF ADJUSTED TO, IN TODAY'S INFLATION WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE OVER $1,100, WHICH IS STILL UNDER THE THRESHOLD FOR THE LOW FEE OPTION, WHICH IS ON THE TABLE, THIS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE RAISED IN CONSIDERATION OF OUR PARKS, WHICH HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH AS THE ACTUAL HOMES DO THESE AMENDMENTS.
PLUS THE FEE RAISE WILL BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TOWARDS SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, WHICH IMPACT THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON BY CREATING MORE EQUITABLE, SAFE SPACES TO EXERCISE, MEET, PLAY, AND CONGREGATE.
IN ADDITION TO DOING OUR ENVIRONMENT A FAVOR THROUGH PROVIDING SHADE SUPPORT, SUPPORTING NATIVE PLANTS AND WATER ABSORPTION IN TIMES OF INCLEMENT WEATHER EVENTS, WE HOPE THAT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING TO AN UPWARD TREND, TO THE ATTENTION TOWARDS OUR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND THE OVERALL IMPORTANCE OF PARKS TO OUR SOCIETY.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS MATTER AND LET'S KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM.
ANYONE ELSE PRESENT? WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TAYLOR, MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
THOSE OPPOSED NAY HEARINGS CLOSED.
UM, NUMBER THREE, ITEM NUMBER THREE, MR. SECRETARY, YOU PLEASE CALL IT.
ITEM THREE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF BOND BY THE BONDS, BY THE PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF FILING HOLDINGS.
WE DON'T, WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WITNESSES.
I KNOW IT'S ALL, I DON'T MIND EVERYBODY KNOWING I WANT COFFEE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND GARCIA.
COME ON THE 96TH TO THE RED LINE AND WALKED OVER HERE.
YOU NEED TO DRIVE THE RED LINE TO MOODY PARK AND SEE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN, UH, ADRIAN GARCIA, COMMISSIONER ONE AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE, UH, PRINCE OF MOODY PARK.
I THINK MELROSE IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE SAME WAY.
'CAUSE THAT WAS A COUNTY PARK AT ONE TIME BEFORE IT CITY TO CLUB WITH THIS.
OKAY? DURING THE, WHEN YOU CAME IN MAYOR AND STARTED WITH METRO NEXT, YOU SAID, WE NEED TO DO TWO THINGS.
WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE GUESTS TO COME TO THE CITY, BUT ALSO PREPARE THE CITY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE HERE ALL THE TIME.
THE IDEA OF AN OUTPATIENT FACILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DRUG ABUSE, I THINK IS A WONDERFUL IDEA.
HOWEVER, THE WAY THIS IS PRESENTED IS A BLANK CHECK.
IF YOU NOTICE, IT'S NO PAPERWORK, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PAPERWORK INVOLVED WITH THIS BEFORE THE COUNCIL LETS THIS BOND OUT.
FOR INSTANCE, LIKE YESTERDAY, THEY WERE TALKING,
[02:55:01]
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WANTS TO PUT A FACILITY ON JENSEN DRIVE.WELL, I CAME UP AND SAID, IT'S WONDERFUL, BUT HAVE YOU CHECKED TO SEE IF METRO GOES BY THAT PLACE? YES, IT DOES.
THE SIX BURNS EVERY 30, 30 MINUTES.
ARE THE SIDEWALKS GOOD TO GET TO GET TO THE PLACE? THIS IS A BLACK TICKET.
THERE'S NO INDICATION WHERE THIS IS GONNA BE.
IS THERE GONNA BE ANY COOPERATION WITH, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PLACE THE PLACE HARRIS HEALTH? UM, I KNOW THE DRUG SITUATION.
PEOPLE ARE HOOKED ON THIS STUFF, AND IT'S AFFECTING THE HOMELESSNESS.
I KNOW IT'S AFFECTING THE RIOTERS ON METRO, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BUT WE CAN'T BE GIVING OUT BLANK CHECKS.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES BEFORE THIS HORSESHOE? BASICALLY, YOU HAVE A PLAN, YOU KNOW, UH, WITH THIS BOND IS GONNA BE SET FOR THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.
SO MY SUGGESTION ON THIS IS FOR COUNCIL TO, I THINK Y'ALL CALL IT TAGGING OR TABLING THE MATTER.
UH, GO TO THIS GROUP AND SAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE MONEY, BUT WE NEED A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE AND HOW ARE YOU GONNA SPEND THIS BOND MONEY.
UH, OTHERWISE IT'S A BLANK CHECK.
AND MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO, AND SALLY AND MARIO, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO CONTROL HOW WE'RE SPENDING MONEY SO WE DON'T GO BROKE.
AND BY STATE CONSTITUTION, WE CANNOT HAVE DEFICIT SPENDING.
BUT ANYTHING WE DO FROM HERE ON OUT HAS TO BE, UH, WELL DEFINED IN WAY WE SPEND OUR MONEY AND COME BACK TO SEE IF, IF THESE GOALS ARE BEING MET.
SO WITH THAT, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.
I'M SENDING IT BACK TO COUNSEL.
ANYONE ELSE PRESENT LIKE TO TESTIFY ON ITEM THREE? YES, MA'AM.
WHY DON'T YOU STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.
I'M HERE FROM CHAPMAN AND CUTLER, AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF BOND COUNCIL FOR FLY LAND REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR THE PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY.
JUST WANTED TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED FROM THE PRIOR SPEAKER.
SO IN REGARDS TO THE FACILITY THAT IS HOPING TO BE FINANCED WITH TAX EXEMPT BOND PROCEEDS, THE OPERATIONS AT THE FACILITY WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY CHANGES TO THE FACILITY IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICES THAT IT'S CURRENTLY PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS TO ALLOW FOR THE CURRENT FACILITY THAT IS BEING OPERATED ON A FOR-PROFIT BASIS TO BE TRANSITIONED TO A NOT-FOR-PROFIT FACILITY, ALLOWING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE BETTER SUPPORTED WITH A MISSION DRIVEN FACILITY.
UM, SO THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY CHANGES IN REGARDING TO THE, UM, TYPES OF SERVICES THAT YOU CAN OBTAIN THERE.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY PAPERWORK NEEDED OR LICENSE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE THE FACILITY WILL BE OPERATING THE SAME AS IT CURRENTLY IS.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO REITERATE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE NOT IN ANY WAY LIABLE FOR THE PAYMENT ON THE BONDS THAT ARE BEING USED TO FINANCE THIS ACQUISITION.
UM, IT WILL BE PAID SOLELY BY FLY LAND HOLDINGS, WHICH IS THE BORROWER FOR THESE BONDS, UM, UNDER THE TAX CODE, NOT-FOR-PROFITS, HAVE TO ISSUE BONDS THROUGH A, UH, GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WHERE THE FACILITIES ARE LOCATED AND THAT ARE GONNA BE FINANCED WITH THE BOND PROCEEDS.
WE HAVE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING IN THAT JURISDICTION.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY REALLY JUST TO MEET THE TAX CODE REQUIREMENT OF HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING, PROVIDING NOTICE TO, TO THE CITIZENS OF THE AREA THAT THIS FACILITY, UM, IS GOING TO BE FINANCED WITH TAX EXEMPT BOND PROCEEDS.
BUT AGAIN, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL NOT BE LIABLE IN ANY WAY, UM, FOR THE PAYMENT ON THE BONDS.
ANYONE ELSE? PRESENT? LOCKE HAS FOUND ADAM THREE.
IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE? CASTEX TATUM? MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION MADE TO SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM THREE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MS. SECRETARY, YOU READY BEFORE THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY? ITEM FOUR NEEDS A MOTION CAST.MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY.
ITEMS FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM EIGHT, CASTEX TA MOVE.
[03:00:01]
SECOND.MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEMS 16, 18, 19, 20, 34 AND 36 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATIONS.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 16, 18, 19, 20, 34, AND 36.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM FIVE NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
ITEM SIX NEEDS A MOTION CAST SIX, TATUM, MOVE SECOND.
ITEM SEVEN NEEDS A MOTION CAST.
UH, THESE, UH, THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THE, THE HARRIS, UH, WITH HARRIS COUNTY IS, UH, THESE ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, THIS IS FOR TURS 23, WHICH IS IN THE EAST END.
WE LOOKED AT, UH, GULF GATE TURS AS WELL, WHICH IS IN MOSTLY HOBBY AREA.
AND JUST WANTED TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT, UH, THIS, THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO NOW START, UH, ADDING TOWARDS, UH, THE, THE PROJECT SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, UH, HOMELESS, HOMELESS, UH, HOUSING PROGRAMS, UH, BUT ALSO JUST IN GENERAL WITH, UH, WITH, WITH THE INCREASED INCREMENT.
NOW WE CAN SEE MORE PROJECTS HAPPENING WITHIN THOSE DISTRICTS.
I WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, YOUR, YOUR TEAM AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, MAYOR, AND OF COURSE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE PARTNERING WITH US, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE WITHIN THOSE AREAS CAN BE, UH, REINVESTED, UM, INTO, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND WHATEVER OTHER, UH, UH, UH, PROJECTS ARE NEEDED IN THE AREA.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS, UH, FOR COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING AS WELL.
NEXT, ITEM 36 IS AN ORDINANCE.
[NON-CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM 37 IS A MOTION TO RECEIVE NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO POSITIONS 10 AND 11 OF THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES.AND WE HAVE THE FIRST NOMINEES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, MAYOR PROTE, CASTEX TATUM.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE JOHN GILMORE.
UH, THE FOURTH FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO POSITION 10 FOR A THREE YEAR TERM FOR HOUSTON MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PENSION SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES SECOND.
AND THEN THE OTHER NOMINEE WE HAVE FOR POSITION 11, YOUR HONOR.
'CAUSE WE'LL CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND VOTE ON.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOMINATE DENISE CASTILLO.
RHODES FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO POSITION 11 OF THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL PENSION SYSTEM BOARD.
IF NO OTHERS, THEN WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE.
CAN SIX TATUM MOVE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? NEXT SECOND.
WELL MATTERS HELD MADAMS HELD.
MR. SECRETARY, HANG ON, HANG ON.
[03:05:02]
TAG MARTINEZ.30 EIGHT'S TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.
THAT'S SO WE CAN HAVE THE, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN HERE NEXT.
I LIKE TO, I LIKE TO, OH, HOLD ON.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO DELAY FOR ONE WEEK ON ITEM 39.
WE NEED A SECOND TO THAT, PLEASE.
AS OPPOSED, ANY MOTION PASSES.
I TAGGED THIS LAST WEEK AS WELL AS THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS RELATED, UM, IN THE HOPES OF, UH, USING THE $50 MILLION FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOME REPAIR IN A WAY THAT WILL HELP MORE FAMILIES.
UM, IT CAME OUT IN COMMITTEE THAT, UH, THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT AS FEW AS 168, UH, HOMES WOULD BE RECONSTRUCTED USING THE $50 MILLION.
IT'S PART OF THE, UH, DR 24 FUNDING.
AND, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD BE GETTING MORE FOR OUR MONEY, QUITE FRANKLY, AND TRYING TO HELP MORE FAMILIES.
UH, THIS IS A PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE, I THINK WITH, UH, HOUSING LEADERSHIP.
I, I HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, UH, WE WILL STRUCTURE IT IN A WAY THAT MORE MONEY GOES TO HOMES THAT NEARLY, UH, UH, NEED TO BE REHABILITATED, WHICH ALLOWS UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND PER HOUSE VERSUS RECONSTRUCTED, WHICH ALLOWS UP TO 300,000 PER HOUSE.
UM, WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS MONTHS AGO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS OFFERED, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO, TO ALLOW MORE MONEY TO BE SPENT ON HOUSING.
I SUPPORTED THAT AMENDMENT, VOTED FOR IT, AND I STILL DO.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE MORE, MORE FAMILIES HELPED IN THE FUTURE.
AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THAT.
YOU HONOR TO YOU RECOGNIZE BEFORE WE VOTE? UH, I, I DO, MAYOR.
UH, THIS IS REGARDING WATER RATES FOR, UH, WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT FOR ONE OF OUR MUDS.
AND IT WAS REALLY TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, HOW WATER RATES ARE SET, NOT JUST FOR CITY RESIDENTS, BUT FOR, UH, CUSTOMERS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY.
UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT KNOW.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE 2.3 MILLION RESIDENTS IN HOUSTON, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE WATER TO MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE.
SO MORE THAN TWICE THE NUMBER OF HOUSTONIANS, UH, ARE SERVED BY OUR WATER SYSTEM.
AND SO, HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH, WITH SOME FOLKS FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS, UH, LAST WEEK AND LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND, UM, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS, IS THE, AS WATER RATES INCREASE FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS, THEY ALSO INCREASE FOR CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE CITY.
SO THEY'RE BEARING, UH, THE SAME COST, UM, THAT, THAT HOUSTON RESIDENTS ARE.
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE.
THE STAIR STEP INCREASES THAT HOUSTONIANS HAVE FACED EACH OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, UM, WAS, UH, VOTED ON BY A PREVIOUS COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, UM, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER RATE STUDY GOING ON BECAUSE RATE STUDIES HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT REVEALS.
WE SHOULD GET IT EARLY NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND THAT MAY ENTAIL SOME ADJUSTMENT TO RATES AS WELL.
BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE, THE CITY WHO, UH, RECEIVE WATER FROM THE CITY, ARE ALSO SHARING IN THESE COST INCREASES.
SO GIVEN THAT INFORMATION, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]
COUNCILOR RAMIREZ, ARE YOU READY? DO YOU NEED A MINUTE? I, I, I'LL GO FOR IT, MAYOR.AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BIG NEWS STORY YESTERDAY WAS A SHOOTING ON THE EAST SIDE
[03:10:01]
OF, UM, AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT BY ICE AGENTS.AND, UM, MANY ARE CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND WONDERING WHAT HP D'S ROLE IN THAT IS? UM, I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE FROM WORKING AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HOW THESE SHOOTING INVESTIGATIONS WORK WHEN A FEDERAL AGENT IS INVOLVED.
UM, BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THE SUPERB SUPREMACY CLAUSE IN THE US CONSTITUTION, FEDERAL LAW AND FEDERAL AGENT POLICIES, THEY CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION, THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATION, LEAD INVESTIGATION, WHEN AN AGENT, FEDERAL AGENT SHOOTS SOMEONE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR ANYWHERE IN THE US FOR THAT MATTER.
AND, UH, BASED ON THE WAY THEY TYPICALLY HANDLE THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, ARE ESSENTIALLY CUT OUT OF THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATION.
FEDERAL AGENCIES WILL CONTROL THE SCENE.
THEY'LL CONTROL THE EVIDENCE, THEY'LL TAKE WITNESS STATEMENTS, THEY'LL COLLECT THE EVIDENCE, AND, UH, WE'LL SHARE WHAT THEY WANNA SHARE WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
AND SO IT BECOMES QUITE DIFFICULT, UH, FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CONDUCT A DECENT INVESTIGATION.
THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE OVER SEVERAL DECADES.
IT DIDN'T JUST START YESTERDAY.
AND, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LOCAL DEPARTMENTS WORK UNDER.
UM, AND SO, UH, I I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALTHOUGH THEY'RE CALLING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO, TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, UH, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, THAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT, UM, I KNOW WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW, ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, UH, THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO'D BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO'D BEEN A HOUSTON RESIDENT FOR 35 YEARS AND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK, IS NOW, IS NOW DEAD.
WE ALL WANT ANSWERS AND HOPEFULLY, UM, THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION WILL BE TRANSPARENT ENOUGH TO WHERE WE'LL GET THE ANSWERS THAT WE WANT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, JOIN MY NAME WITH THE, UH, HEART AND PA, UH, HEARTACHE AND PAIN, MANY RESIDENTS AND THE FEAR MANY RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING AS THIS VIBRATES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS A HEATED, A DEBATED TOPIC IN THE HORSESHOE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND I THINK AS WE TALK ABOUT HIM AND MENTION HIS NAME, WE JUST, WE NEED TO, UH, LEAD WITH THAT.
HE WAS A FATHER OF THREE LEAD WITH HIS HUMANITY AND NOT A LABEL OF DESIGNATION ON IMMIGRANT STATUS.
I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE STORIES.
AND SO DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, HOW THIS CASE PROCEEDS, UM, AND THEN HOW WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HOUSTONIANS WITH THAT.
SO DEFINITELY, UH, A SAD MOMENT.
UM, ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, I WANNA WISH ELLA JEFFERSON, MY 10TH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER, A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, AND MY, UH, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, SHE'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I GRADUATED.
UM, I HAVE NOT CALLED HER 'CAUSE SHE'S ASKING ME ABOUT HER $230,000 SIDEWALK THAT I HAVE NOT YET FIXED, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M WORKING ON IT.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY I CAN DELIVER ON YOUR BIRTHDAY GIFT.
UM, SOME GOOD NEWS FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
WE HAVE COMPLETED $145,000 SIDEWALK, UH, INSTALLATION, UH, ON ELDRIDGE AND ASFORD POINT.
UH, LOTS OF AGGRESSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAPPENING THERE.
SO YOU WOULD SEE THAT WE ALSO COMPLETED AN ASPHALT REHAB AT BEL AIR AND SENATE ALL THE WAY TO A LEAF CLOTHING IN WEST PARK TOLLWAY, WHICH HAS BEEN IN, IN, IN THE QUEUE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THAT IS DONE AND IT LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
AND YOU'LL SEE MORE UPDATES IN OUR, UH, NEWSLETTER.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT ON THIS UPCOMING SATURDAY, JULY 11TH, THAT AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.
MY TEAM AND SEVERAL OF THE PARTNERS WE ARE HOSTING, UH, ANOTHER MOBILE DAY OF CARE SERVING OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION ON THE WEST SIDE.
AND IT'LL BE A LITTLE SMALLER.
WE'LL BE INSIDE AND WE'LL HAVE THE MOBILE SHOWER THERE.
UM, AS WE GET READY TO KIND OF ADDRESS THIS HEAT, UH, WE LISTEN TO THE PARTICIPANTS LAST YEAR AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.
SO WE ARE DELIVERING THAT ON SATURDAY.
UH, WE'RE, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA HAVE WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES THERE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ADDED TO HMIS.
UH, WE'LL HAVE AGAPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, WE'LL HAVE HAIRCUTS, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT IMMUNIZATIONS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.
UM, SO, UH, DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, REPORTING OUT OUR IMPACT WHEN WE RETURN TO COUNCIL.
UM, AND THIS IS MY ANNUAL SUMMER OF SAFETY.
AND SO, UM, ON JULY 30TH, I BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING, UM, WE'RE HAVING A, A GUN LOCK DISTRIBUTION OCTOBER OF 2021.
[03:15:01]
HOSTED THE LARGEST GUN DISTRIBUTION GUN COLLECTION, UM, UM, EVENT IN THE NATION AT THE TIME.WE COLLECTED OVER 1500 GUNS, UH, AT THE WEST CHASE PARKING RIDE, UM, UH, TO, IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE, UH, GUN ACCESS.
AND SO THIS SUMMER WE ARE PROVIDING GUN LOCKS.
WE'VE HAD A SERIES, AN INCREASE OF, UH, GUN RELATED VIOLENCE, UH, PARTICULARLY AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO THANK YOU TO, UM, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SEAN TIER, AND OUR INTERIM, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY, UM, FOR THE GRACIOUS DONATION FOR THESE ITEMS. AND SO WE'RE GONNA ASK RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP ONE PER HOUSEHOLD.
WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE OVER THE SUMMER, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
UH, AND THEN SOME SOLEMN SOMBER, SOMBER NEWS.
THE OLD ALE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY IS IN PROCESS OF DEMOLITION.
UH, WE HAVE RESERVED A HUNDRED BRICKS IN HONOR OF THE BUILDING.
UM, THANK YOU TO GSD FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO, UM, SECURE THAT THE LIST HAS BEEN COMPLETELY FILLED.
SO WE DO HAVE A WAIT LIST, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SHARED YOUR MEMORIES ABOUT THE ALE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, WHERE YOU RECEIVED YOUR LIBRARY CARD, WHERE YOU WENT AFTER SCHOOL WHEN YOUR PARENTS WERE WORKING, AND YOU HAD TO STAY THERE UNTIL THEY WERE OFF.
WE ARE EXCITED, UM, TO REPORT THAT WE ARE TURNING THAT PUBLIC SPACE FOR PUBLIC GOOD.
UM, THAT WILL BE A SITE OF ADDED DETENTION AS WE, UM, PROTECT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ADDED FLOOD PROTECTION.
UH, THIS WAS A CIP PROJECT, AND THEN WE HAD, UH, UM, SOME SUPPORT FROM HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR AND THE HOUSTON, THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT TO DO THAT, UM, A PROJECT.
SO, NO, IT WON'T BE A GAS STATION, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED, IT WILL NOT BE A GAS STATION.
UM, UH, UH, SO STAY TUNED TO OUR, OUR NEWSLETTER FOR DETAILS ON HOW AND WHEN TO PICK UP YOUR BRICK.
I WANNA CLOSE WITH JUST AN UPDATE ABOUT THE OLD WELLS FARGO OFF, OFF OF HILLCROFT IN RICHMOND.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BUILDING IS DEMOLISHED.
I WANNA JUST THANK HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE CONSISTENTLY WORKED WITH OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP THIS A PRIORITY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A HOMICIDE AT THAT LOCATION AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR, WHICH WE REALLY, UM, PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION THERE.
WE HAD CLOSE TO 15 TO 20, UM, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THAT BUILDING.
THAT WAS THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE WITH THE DEMOLITION, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS A A, A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT ALSO CREATED AN INCREASE OF VISIBLE HOMELESSNESS AT OUR INTERSECTIONS, UM, WHERE WE'RE WITNESSING, UM, OPEN DRUG USE, UM, RIGHT THERE AT THE BUS STOP RIGHT THERE OFF OF METRO BUS STOP.
AND SO, UH, MIDWEST, HPD, THEY'RE HANDLING BUSINESS.
THEY'VE ADDED THAT LOCATION IN THOSE SUBSEQUENT SITES TO THEIR FIFA TASK FORCE, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN MONITORING PARTICULAR LOCATIONS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN CLEARING THAT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH METRO PD, THE SUBDIVISION BRA METAL.
THEY ALSO HAVE PRIVATE SECURITY WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
SO WE'RE ALL COLLABORATING AROUND THAT.
AND SO OUR, UH, TEAM IS CANVASSING THAT AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO HAVE SOME RESOURCES.
BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT ONCE WE DECOMMISSION, UM, BLIGHTED BUILDINGS AND ENCAMPMENTS, THERE HAS TO BE A PLACE TO GO.
UM, AND, UH, UH, FOUR 19 IS PROBABLY ALMOST FULLY SUBSCRIBED AT THIS POINT.
AND SO, UH, WE NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION THERE.
I JUST WANNA RAISE ON THE RECORD TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THIS SITE WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS.
AND SO TO STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DOCUMENT THIS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, SENDING EMAILS IS A GREAT COURTESY.
WE APPRECIATE TO THE OFFICE, BUT WHEN WE PULL THE RECORD AND THERE ARE NO CALLS FOR SERVICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T DO, DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, AND WE CAN'T ACTIVATE ON THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES DEPLOYED.
SO MORE INFORMATION WILL COME OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER ON FRIDAY.
UM, PLEASE STAY TUNED AND FEEL FREE TO CALL THE OFFICE FOR ANY QUICK UPDATES.
UM, WANTED TO, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PARKS TODAY.
UM, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO GIVE THE UPDATE ON CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE PARK, UH, RAMBLEWOOD PARK UPDATE.
UM, COLLEAGUES YOU MAY HAVE REMEMBERED, WE VOTED TO, UM, TURN PART OF THAT PARK AS A DUAL USE PARK FOR DETENTION, AS WELL AS PLAY WELL.
THAT PROJECT IS ALMOST COMPLETE.
UM, THE CONTRACTORS ARE CONTINUING THE EXCAVATION, UM, WORK.
THE WALKWAYS ARE NEARLY COMPLETE.
THERE'S THE INSTALLATION OF THE PARK AMENITIES AND THE PAVILION IS COMING SOON.
UM, IT IS EXCITING TO SEE IT ACTUALLY COMING TO FRUITION.
UM, THIS IS A PARK THAT, UM, MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR SINCE I WAS A YOUNG GIRL AND LIVED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IT, IT MEANS A LOT TO SEE THAT THIS PARK IS ACTUALLY GETTING SO MANY UPDATES AND WILL BE ONE OF OUR, UM, PREMIER
[03:20:01]
COMMUNITY PARKS IN DISTRICT K.UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING FOR HILLCROFT BUSINESS PARK PLAT 20 26 0 9 1 6, UM, WILL TAKE PLACE, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THURSDAY, JULY 23RD AT 2:30 PM UH, THAT APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO EXCEED INTERSECTION SPACING ALONG HILLCROFT AVENUE.
SO IF RESIDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN THAT PROJECT, UM, THEY CAN ATTEND IN PERSON HERE AT 900 BAGBY STREET OR SUBMIT COMMENTS, SENDING AN EMAIL TO SPEAKER COMMENTS DOT PC@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
AND THEN WANT TO REMIND OUR RESIDENTS THAT OUR, OUR NEXT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL 40 MEETING IS, UM, SCHEDULED TO BE ON MONDAY, AUGUST THE 17TH AT 6:00 PM AT THE HARM CLARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
AND WE HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THAT NEXT MEETING.
AND THEN, MAYOR, UM, I WANTED TO AMPLIFY, UM, THE DRAINAGE AND STREET PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DISTRICT A, UM, OVER THE HOLIDAY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RIDE AROUND THE, THE DISTRICT.
AND, UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND OUR THOROUGHFARES.
UM, AND IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE SO MANY PROJECTS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
UM, SO I KNOW FOR A LOT OF RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, WE GET THE CALLS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE STREET AND THIS, AND, UM, BUT WHEN IT'S HAPPENING, IT'S EXCITING.
AND, UM, I KNOW IT CAN BE INCONVENIENT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE A DETOUR.
BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT EIGHT, WHEN I SEE THE TRUCKS OUT THERE AND THE SIGNS AND THE DETOUR SIGNS, THAT'S EXCITEMENT BECAUSE PROGRESS IS HAPPENING.
UM, WILLOW BEND IS BEING REPAVED WEST AIRPORT STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECT STARTS THIS MONTH.
THE WESTBURY DRAINAGE PROJECT WILL START, UM, THIS MONTH.
UM, SO ALL OF THAT ACTIVITY IN THAT, THAT, UM, IN AREA OF DISTRICT K IS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND I, I THINK IT'S, UM, WORTH NOTING THAT, UH, WE ARE MOVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS FORWARD.
UM, AND, AND IT'S EXCITING FOR RESIDENTS TO SEE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND A SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS AND TO COUNCIL.
WE'RE SPENDING AN ALL TIME RECORD ON DRAINAGE AND STREETS.
WE NOTICED THE THOROUGHFARES AND GET POSITIVE COMMENTS, BUT NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WITH A PRIORITY LIST.
SO EVERYONE MAKES CERTAIN THAT YOU'RE REVIEWING AND STAYING IN CONTACT WITH PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE, UH, 500 MILLION THIS YEAR, WE'LL GO TO 750 MILLION NEXT YEAR WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF THE JONES WATSON LAWSUIT.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY, UH, MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND PLAYING CATCH UP FROM YEARS OF NEGLECT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR PROTE PECK.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT HOPE CITY IS HOSTING A FOOD AND SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION THIS SATURDAY AT 9:00 AM AT SPRING SPIRIT.
UM, THIS IS PART OF THEIR DAYS OF HOPE INITIATIVE, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THEM TO BE IN OUR DISTRICT.
MONDAY, JULY 13TH, THE CARDALE CIVIC CLUB IS HOSTING A MEETING TO DISCUSS AN UPDATE ABOUT THE HAWTHORNE PARK LANDFILL.
UM, HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY ABBY CAYMAN WILL BE THERE WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND AN UPDATE.
IT'LL BE AT 7:00 PM AT THE CARDALE COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS, MAYOR, AS YOU ARE AWARE, UM, AIR QUALITY CONCERNS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER CONCERNS.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT UPDATE ON MONDAY.
AND FINALLY, TUESDAY, JULY 14TH, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL MEET AT 10:00 AM WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
UM, THE FIRST WILL BE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT, UM, ABOUT THE EMERGENCY TELEHEALTH AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM, THAT ETHAN PROJECT.
SO THEY'LL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.
UM, AT THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, SO I HOPE EVERYONE COMES TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN HFD WILL ALSO PRESENT, UM, ABOUT THE HIGH WATER RESCUE VEHICLE OPERATIONS IN OUR CITY.
UM, SO I FIRST WANNA START OFF WITH, UH, WITH, UH, PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
UH, TODAY, THERE IS A, UH, FATHER AND A HUSBAND THAT WILL NOT BE COMING HOME IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK.
AND I ALSO WANNA LIFT UP THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL, UH, PRAYERS TO THE COMMUNITY WHO'S BEEN, UH, OUT THERE SINCE, UH, THIS, THIS, UH, TRAGIC SHOOTING.
UM, I CONTINUE TO STAY IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, UM, SO WE CAN GET AS UPDATED, UH, QUICK INFORMATION, UM, FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
UM, AS COUNCILOR RAMIREZ MENTIONED, UH, I WANNA REASSURE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT CONFLATING THE TWO, UH, AS I'VE BEEN SHARING WITH FOLKS, UH, FOR OVER A YEAR, IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
[03:25:01]
CONTINUES TO BE, UH, TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE WHEN WE CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN THAT TRUST AND FOLKS CONTINUE TO BE IN MORE FEAR, UM, NOT CALLING.AND, AND SO, UM, AS, AS THE DAY HAS GONE ON, YOU KNOW, IT DOES BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT, UM, TO TO HEAR, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST SOME OF THE, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE COMING FROM THIS.
BUT I, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO, UH, REMIND FOLKS THAT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION, UH, WHERE, WHERE IT'S HAPPENING, THAT, UH, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LIFTING UP THE FAMILY FIRST AND FOREMOST.
UM, MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO, UH, STAY IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, WHO'S HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE CURRENTLY.
UH, THERE'S TWO, UH, COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING TODAY IN THE MAGNOLIA PARK AREA.
UM, AND JUST, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS YOU GO AND ATTEND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S SAFETY AS WELL.
WHILE YOU'RE OUT THERE, I PLAN ON BEING OUT THERE.
IF, IF AT ANY POINT THE TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS CAN PLAN TO CO-HOST AN EVENT RATHER THAN AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MESSAGE IS WE NEED TO EN ENSURE THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL, SPECIFICALLY IN THIS SCENARIO, ICE.
THE PAIN IS REAL, AND WE NEED TO, UH, ENSURE THAT AS HOUSTONIANS, UM, AND AS A HOUSTONIAN THAT HAS LEFT US YESTERDAY, THAT WE FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THAT, THAT THAT IS OUR PRIMAR PRIMARY, UH, UM, CONCERN.
AND SO, UM, AGAIN, UH, PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY, UH, TO THE THREE SONS AND, AND, AND, UH, THE, THE WIFE OF THE DECEASED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS.
AND THE CITY JOINS YOU IN ISSUING, UH, CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
WE'RE MONITORING IT VERY CAREFULLY.
WE'RE IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH OUR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, INSISTING THAT THERE'S A TRANSPARENT, UH, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
AND IF I LEARN, UH, OF ANY NEW INFORMATION, UH, I'LL CERTAINLY SHARE IT WITH COUNSEL.
WE'RE IN TOUCH WITH LAC AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
UH, BUT AS TRU, TRULY A TRAGEDY, AS I'VE SAID TWO YEARS AGO, I WISH IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
BUT I DO, UH, RECOGNIZE THE GOOD TRAINING OF HPD AND THE POLICIES OF CHIEF DIAZ, THAT THERE WAS NO INVOLVEMENT OF HPD.
AND IN FACT, TWO DAYS BEFORE, THERE WAS A CHASE THAT, UH, ICE WAS INVOLVED IN, AND HPD, UH, WAS NOT INVOLVED.
SO, UH, IT'S A VERY TRAGIC, COMPLEX ISSUE THAT IS BROUGHT TO US BY OUR FEDERAL OFFICIALS.
SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONTACT WITH OUR ELECTED CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT HERE.
AND OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TWO US SENATORS, BUT OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT FEELS THE PAIN AND ANXIETY, CERTAINLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT, UH, AND STUDENTS THAT JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND, EXCEPT I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY'RE AFRAID.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS.
I THINK COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, UH, WITH HIS DISTRICT ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE DESCRIBE THE PROCESS THAT, UH, THERE CANNOT BE TOO ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS, CERTAINLY WHEN THERE'S NOT JURISDICTION BY ONE OF THEM.
SO LET'S, UM, CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT VERY CAREFULLY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
REALLY, THERE'S, THERE'S MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, UH, ARE TAKING CALLS.
WE'RE MONITORING IT VERY CAREFULLY OUTTA MY OFFICE.
UH, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME WOULD POLITICIZE IT.
I THINK THE MEDIA NEEDS TO BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE, UH, AND NOT INFLAME THINGS, UH, AS SOME WOULD ATTEMPT TO DO.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY, THE COMMUNITY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, ALL HOUSTONIANS UNDERSTAND THE PAIN AND SEND OUR CONDOLENCES.
UM, I WANNA FIRST START OFF BY, UM, FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU ON A LETTER THAT I WROTE EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, FOR
[03:30:01]
YOU TO CONSIDER A 90 DAY MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF ANY NEW APPLICANTS FOR GAS STATION CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY.UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS ZONING, UM, BUT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, UH, WHO HAVE REAL CONCERNS REGARDING HEALTH EFFECTS OF HAVING A CONCENTRATION OF MANY GAS STATIONS AND, UM, A CLOSE AREA THAT IS NEAR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I BROUGHT UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO.
UM, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE, UM, JUST AN ABUNDANCE OF, UH, GAS STATIONS AND, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND, UH, THAT HAS SOME BENEFIT FOR SURE, BECAUSE, UH, THAT BUSINESS IS ESSENTIAL AND CRITICAL TO OUR DAY, TO OUR DAILY ROUTINE.
HOWEVER, UH, I DO THINK THERE'S SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THERE AS WELL FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT, FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, A QUALITY OF LIFE STANDPOINT THAT I DO THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO LOOK AT.
AND SO THIS MORATORIUM WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, UH, AND SEE IF THERE IS A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS.
SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HEARING BACK FROM YOU OR SOMEONE ON YOUR TEAM, UH, REGARDING, UH, THAT LETTER.
UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE INCIDENT ON YESTERDAY, UH, TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS, UH, REGARDING, UM, FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS AND THEIR JURISDICTION, BUT THIS IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.
I WOULD CALL AND ASK THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO GET ANSWERS, UH, FOR TRUE TRANSPARENCY.
WE HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR, UH, VIDEO FOOTAGE IN THE AREA, FROM ANY BUSINESS OWNER, FROM, UH, ANY CAMERA, UH, THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO US, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, UM, GET WITNESS STATEMENTS, TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE EVERYTHING UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SIT BACK AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE TRANSPARENT REGARDING THEIR OWN AGENCY AND THEIR OWN ACTIONS.
I THINK IT IS VERY MUCH APPROPRIATE THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN AND SHOW HOUSTONIANS THAT WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO BRING ANSWERS TO THEM IN A, IN A TIME OF GRIEF, IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY.
UH, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD CALL ON, UH, YOUR OFFICE TO DO ALL IT CAN WITH HPD AND OTHERS, UH, TO GET THOSE ANSWERS IN THE QUIET THAT, UH, THAT CONCERN THAT IS THERE.
UM, AS WE FOLLOW THIS STORY, I KNOW I CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR UPDATES, AND THERE JUST ISN'T MUCH THERE.
WE'RE NOT GETTING A LOT OF ANSWERS.
AND IF WE'RE NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS, THEN I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING ANSWERS, AND WE CAN'T GIVE THEM TRUE COMMUNICATION ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY TRANSPIRING.
AND SO, UH, A INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION ON OUR BEHALF FOR AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO, I THINK IS THE MINIMUM.
AND, UH, I HOPE THAT, UH, YOU WILL TAKE THAT CONSIDERATION SERIOUSLY AND, AND PUT IT FORTH.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY UPDATES THAT YOU CAN GIVE US NOW, UM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE PROPERLY WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.
I'LL JUST BRIEFLY ADD MY, UM, SENTIMENTS ABOUT YESTERDAY, TOO.
UM, OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL VERY SAD THAT THIS VIOLENCE HAS TAKEN PLACE.
I WISH, I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
I REALLY WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THE PAST.
AND, UM, CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY IN ALL AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY.
AND I'LL JUST ADD MY CONDOLENCES TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, DEATH IS NEVER EASY, NO MATTER HOW, UH, HOW IT HAPPENS OR REGARDING THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO MY CONDOLENCES TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UH, OF COURSE, I WANNA ADD MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL.
UH, A LOSS OF LIFE IS ALWAYS A TRAGEDY, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECAP TWO IMPORTANT COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE RECENTLY.
FIRST, THE MCGREGOR PARK LUNCH AND LEARN WAS HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 1ST, UH, AT THE HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED, LOCATED AT 53 30 GRIGGS ROAD.
[03:35:01]
LUNCH AND LEARN FOCUSED ON THE, ON THE MCGREGOR PARK PROJECT, AND PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO RECEIVE UPDATES, ASKED QUESTIONS, AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WORK TAKING PLACE.I WANNA THANK LINDA HARPER FOR LEADING THE PRESENTATION.
CAMILLA FOR SUPPORTING THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TABLE AND JOHN BRANDT FOR PRESENTING THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THE PROJECT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, INCLUDING JUSTIN, CHANTELLE, AND LISA FOR ALL THEY DO TO SUPPORT OUR PARKS, GREEN SPACES, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
THEIR WORK CONTINUES TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE.
DISTRICT DI ALSO WANNA RECAP THE HARRIS COUNTY MUD THREE 90 ANNUAL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 30TH AT 6:00 PM TO SEVEN 30 AT HILL DAY PUBLIC RELATIONS, UH, 38 0 1 KIRBY DRIVE.
UM, THIS MEETING BROUGHT TOGETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, LEADERSHIP, NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY MUD THREE 90 BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO REVIEW ACTION ITEMS, EVALUATE PROGRESS, DISCUSS EMERGING SAFETY CONCERNS, AND IDENTIFY NEXT STEPS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY WELLBEING.
I WANT TO THANK HPD HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SEVEN CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, AND DEIDRE RASHID FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BRINGING PARTNERS TOGETHER AROUND SAFETY, SECURITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES PARTNERSHIP.
IT TAKES COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MAKING SURE RESIDENTS FEEL HEARD, SUPPORTED, AND PROJECTED IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND BOTH OF THESE EVENTS REFLECT WHAT STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE, RESIDENTS, PARTNERS, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE INFORMATION, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND MOVE OUT, MOVE OUR COMMUNITIES FORWARD.
UPCOMING EVENT TODAY HERE IN CHAMBERS, THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, CERTAINLY WILL BE CONVEYING TODAY.
UH, I AM THE CHAIR AND CERTAINLY MY VICE CHAIR, MARIO CASTILLO, UM, WILL GATHER TOGETHER WITH THE, THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, TO, UH, MAKE PRESENTATIONS AND TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THAT WILL BE TODAY AT 2:00 PM AGAIN, HERE IN CHAMBERS.
AND THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL ALSO RE BE BROADCAST ON HTV.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, UH, LAST NIGHT I WAS COMING BACK 'CAUSE I WAS DETERMINED.
I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO MISS COUNCIL.
AND MY, MY FLIGHT GOT DIVERTED TO SAN ANTONIO, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS, HMM.
AND THEY SAID THEY WERE LOW ON FUEL.
AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT HAVE TO GET A CAR, UH, AND DRIVE MYSELF HOME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DIDN'T OFFER US ANY MARGARITAS AND ANY MEXICAN FOOD.
BUT AT ANY RATE, I DID MAKE IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS NEEDS TO BE A POP, BUT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO MEET JUST ONE TIME IN JULY.
SO CAN I GET AN AMEN? WE HAVE SO MANY CONFERENCES GOING ON, AND LIKE ME AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE LIKE ME, WE DON'T LIKE TO MISS COUNCIL MEETING.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA BE A POP A OR WHAT, MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE IN THE MONTH OF JULY, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
BUT CERTAINLY, UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE, I MEAN, YOU PUT IT OUT THERE, RIGHT? AND THE WHO'S GONNA OBJECT, UH, YOU ED POLL, BUT THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
COUNCIL MEETING COUNCIL, SHE MAY, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY REITERATING MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE GRIEVING RIGHT NOW.
THE LOSS OF A FATHER, A FAMILY MEMBER, A FRIEND, A COWORKER.
THE COMMUNITY DESERVES A THOROUGH AND TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTING OF THE FACTS AND A INVESTIGATION THAT IS IMPARTIAL AND GUIDED BY EVIDENCE.
UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA WHERE THIS TRAGEDY OCCURRED, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS MADE PUBLIC AND ACCESSIBLE, AND THAT EVERY AVENUE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IS PURSUED.
JUST WANTED TO, UM, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, HILLS DAY AND TEXDOT.
I WAS PARTICIPATING IN THEIR, UH, WORKSHOP ON YESTERDAY WITH N-A-H-I-P, UH, ALONG WITH TDOT IN DISASTER PREPARATION AT FINNY PARK, WHICH WENT, UH, VERY WELL IN TERMS OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE RESIDENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO HOW THEY ALL PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING
[03:40:01]
HURRICANES AND DISASTERS.UM, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY WELL, UH, DONE IN A NECESSITY BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THE STATE PARTICIPATION REPRESENTED WAS THERE, UH, AND A FEW OTHERS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY VITAL.
UH, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN THESE DISASTERS COME, I, I REEMPHASIZE TO MANY OF THEM, CONTACT YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOUR, UM, CONDITIONS AND PREPARATIONS, YOU KNOW, TO GET INFORMATION.
ALSO TO EMPHASIZE THE SENIOR CITIZENS.
MANY OF OUR SENIORS ARE THE BIGGEST PRIORITY FOR US WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL, UH, TO PARTICIPATE INTO THE WORKSHOP, AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR HILLS DAY, DOING A GREAT JOB IN PUTTING THAT WORKSHOP TOGETHER.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ONLY BRIEFLY, UM, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WITHIN THE NEXT, UH, WEEKS GOING INTO AUGUST TO HAVE OUR 11TH, UM, TOWN HALL MEETING.
AS YOU KNOW, AS THE STAFF OFFICE OF AT LARGE TWO, WE PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON OUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
WE HOPE TO HAVE A ROBUST LIST OF PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING INTO THE HURRICANE, OR ENDED PRETTY MUCH THE HURRICANE SEASON, AND WE'VE GOTTA GET ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, UM, STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, CIVIC ASSOCIATION, HOAS, AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING THAT INFORMATION AS WAS OF YESTERDAY.
ALONG WITH THAT, WE INTEND TO HAVE PRESENCE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WE ARE GOING TO HOLD THIS IN THE DISTRICT D AREA, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE INFORMED ABOUT, UH, WHAT, UH, WE, WE ARE DOING.
AND THEN JUST LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, AGAIN, OUR CITY JUST EXPERIENCED, UH, TREMENDOUS NATIONAL PRESENCE, UM, IN ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND, UH, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THEM DID A PHENOMENAL JOB, AN EXCELLENT JOB, UH, IN CONTROLLING OUR CITY.
UH, AND THEN I GUESS PROBABLY THE ONLY THING THAT WE SAW, I SAW THAT IS A CONCERN IS OF COURSE, OUR EXPRESSWAYS, WHICH IS NOTHING NEW.
UH, SEVERAL BIG MAJOR ACCIDENTS THAT ARE, UH, ON, ON OUR EXPRESSWAYS, AND IT CREATED SUCH A BACKUP IN OUR CITY MOBILITY.
SO I DO HAVE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST TO CHIEF DIAZ, UH, FROM MYSELF, MAYOR, THAT WE REALLY CONSIDER THAT.
UH, WE'RE HAVING A RECYCLING VENT IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR DISTRICT DOWN IN, UH, THE CLEAR LAKE AREA IS BE IT, UH, ELLINGTON FIELD STARTING THIS SATURDAY FROM NINE O'CLOCK UNTIL THREE, OR UNTIL THE TRUCKS ARE FULL.
SO IF THE RESIDENTS CAN MAKE SURE THEY GET OUT THERE AND, UH, GET IT BEFORE THEY, THEY ARE FULL.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE WORLD CUP.
I MEAN, I THINK, UH, IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN ON THE SALES TAX AND THE HOTEL AND ALL THAT, BUT I, I THINK IT WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL WAS ALL OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSTON, BUT ABOUT THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.
UH, THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WERE, WERE OVER THE TOP.
UH, I, I WASN'T TERRIBLY SURPRISED.
I'VE SPENT SOME TIME IN EUROPE AND MY WIFE'S RELATIVES HAVE COME AND VISITED US, AND A LOT OF THE COMMENTS BEING MADE WITH THE SAME THING THAT THEY'VE SAID BEFORE, ALTHOUGH I ADMIT, UH, I'VE NEVER TAKEN ANY OF THEM TO GOLDEN CORRAL, BUT, UH, THAT SEEMED TO BE A HIT WITH SOME OF THE VISITORS AS WELL.
AND WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS YOU JUXTAPOSE IT WITH ONE OF THE EDITORIALS IN OUR PAPER OF RECORD THAT REALLY KIND OF DENIGRATED THE CITY AND ASKING PEOPLE TO GO OUT 2 25 AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND TAKE A BIG WHIFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, I REALIZE THAT ISN'T THE MOST AESTHETIC PART OF THE CITY, BUT YET IT'S A VITAL INDUSTRY THAT PROVIDES, UH, THE INGREDIENTS FROM EVERYTHING FROM OUR FOOD TO OUR PHARMACEUTICALS, TO OUR CLOTHES.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, AND, AND EVEN WITH THAT, I REMEMBER GROWING UP AND GOING TO PASADENA AND 50, 55 YEARS AGO, AND THE JOKE WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SEE THE AIR YOU BREATHE.
UH, IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO, AND I'M SURE 50 YEARS FROM NOW IT'LL BE SO MUCH BETTER STILL AS WE, UH, INNOVATE AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.
UH, AND IT'S JUST A, JUST A SHAME THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I GUESS SOMETHING OWNED BY THE HEARST CORPORATION REALLY ISN'T CONCERNED ABOUT REFLECTING OUR CITY IN THE, IN THE BEST MANNER.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE THOSE CONSTANT
[03:45:01]
CRITICS WHEN WE ALL KNOW THE ACCOLADES WE WERE RECEIVING, NOT ONLY FROM OUR GUESTS, BUT FROM HOUSTONIANS.AND, UH, WE'LL DO A SHOW AND TELL UNDER A FINAL REPORT IN A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER IT'S OVER.
BUT, UH,
THE SHELL DYNAMO OVERFLOW STADIUM WAS AT CAPACITY.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE SAW THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY AS HAD BEEN PROJECTED, BUT CERTAINLY HOUSTONIANS FILLED ANY SHORTAGE OF, UH, OF PARTICIPANTS, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL HAVE THEM HERE TO GIVE THEIR FINAL NUMBERS.
BUT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THE HOST COMMITTEE, CHRIS CNET, UH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS SATURDAY IS TO HAVE A WORLD CUP GAME FAN FEST FULL FOR THE FOUR O'CLOCK GAME IN PHILADELPHIA, THE ASTROS, AND THEN AN ALL TIME, ALL TIME SIZE OVER CAPACITY AT FREEDOM OVER TEXAS.
SO A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, HOUSTONIANS THAT, UH, JULY 4TH EVENTS ALL OVER THE CITY.
YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY GREAT.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THOSE FINAL NUMBERS, BUT, UH, IT WAS CERTAINLY, AND LET ME JUST CLOSE WITH THIS COMMENT FROM NUMEROUS DELEGATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, THAT THE TEAMS THEMSELVES, BECAUSE OF OUR DIVERSITY IN OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES THAT RESIDE HERE, ALL THE VISITING TEAMS FELT LIKE THEY WERE A HOME TEAM.
LET THAT SINK IN A MINUTE, BECAUSE WE'RE AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND OUR IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE MOVED HERE AND WORK IN THE MED CENTER, IN THE CHEMICAL OIL ENERGY INDUSTRY, UH, THE VISITING TEAMS ALL FELT LIKE THEY WERE A HOME TEAM.
SO THAT'S A REAL OUTSTANDING COMMENTARY.
BUT, UH, YES, IT WAS WELL DONE.
AND, AND, UH, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN THE NATIONAL LOOK AT, WELL, I HATE TO HIT SISTER CITIES, BUT I'VE GOT A SOCIAL MEDIA SHOT OF ATLANTA'S FAN FEST.
MOST OF THE CITIES DIVIDED THEIR FAN FEST INTO SMALLER, SMALLER VENUES.
BUT WE DID IT BIG SAFE, AND THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS THAT THAT HELPED, UH, MANAGE ALL OF OUR SITES.
I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE HELD IT AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THE TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED YESTERDAY.
LORENZO ALDO RAJO WAS KILLED DURING AN ICE OPERATION IN OUR CITY.
THE CONTINUED ESCALATION OF ICE'S ENFORCEMENT TAXES THROUGHOUT THE NATION SHOULD CONCERN EVERY HOUSTONIAN.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT A SYSTEM WHERE THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE BECOMES ROUTINE.
I JOINED WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA IN CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SITUATION.
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY, AND I STAND WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND WITH EVERY FAMILY LIVING IN FEAR OF INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE IMMIGRANT ENFORCEMENT.
AS WE JUST SAID, HOUSTON IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS.
IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, AND WE MUST STAND BY THAT COMMUNITY.
I ENCOURAGE OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME AT THE VIGIL THIS EVENING TO HONOR THE LIFE OF LORENZO SALGADO RAJO.
I'LL BE THERE AT 7:30 PM TONIGHT AT THE CORNER OF WAYSIDE DRIVE AND MARCARIO GARCIA ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, DISTRICT C UH, WE, UH, HAVE SOME NEW MEMBERS OF OUR DISTRICT C TEAM, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THEM.
THEY'RE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
SO AS I SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE STAND UP AND, AND, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK LITTLE WAVE.
UM, WE HAVE VON ALBRIGHT HERE.
OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR SEVERAL BATTLEGROUND CAMPAIGNS FROM NEW YORK TO GEORGIA TO HERE IN HOUSTON.
UH, SHE MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED ON THIS ADMINISTRATION'S CAMPAIGN.
UM, SHE ALSO SERVED IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE.
SHE NOW SERVES OUR OFFICE AND THE WONDERFUL RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT C TO ASSIST THEM WHEN NEEDS ARISE, AS WELL AS TO HELP BUILD PROGRAMS AND USE TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE EFFICIENT OPERATIONS.
VAUGHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
BRANDON CLEMENTS, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, FORMERLY A WRITER FOR THE CHRONICLE.
WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN VIDEO PRODUCTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MARKETING, BRANDON'S EXP EXPERTISE IS INVALUABLE AS WE STRIVE TO MEET RESIDENTS WHERE THEY'RE AT MORE INCREASINGLY ONLINE, UH, PUSHING FOR MORE TRANSPARENT DISTRICT C AND CITY HALL.
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BEING HERE.GLORIA ALVAREZ, OUR SCHEDULED FOR THIS SUMMER.
HAVING SERVED THE CITY SINCE 2017, GLORIA HAS TAKEN A
UH, SHE HAS TAKEN A BRIEF REPRIEVE FROM RETIREMENT TO HELP US GET OUR OFFICE OFF THE GROUND.
SHE HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL AND FROM THE REACTION I'M SEEING HERE, SHE'S HELPED A LOT OF OTHER OFFICES IN THE PAST.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE ANNA SMITH, OUR NEW CHIEF OF STAFF.
ANNA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
A FORMER CAMPAIGN STAFFER AS WELL.
UH, ANNA SERVED UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN SINCE EARLY 2024, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO HAVE HER EXPERIENCE IN OUR OFFICE AS OUR NEW CHIEF OF STAFF.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CRUZ, UM, VARGAS AND COLE WILBER, WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED OUT OF THE OFFICE.
THEY WERE SUPER HELPFUL IN MY FIRST MONTH HERE, AND, AND WE'RE, AND WE'RE GONNA MISS THEM, FRANKLY.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING ON A FEW MORE FOLKS LATER ON THIS SUMMER.
BUT OUR OFFICE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING TO SERVE DISTRICT C IN A MEANINGFUL WELL.
AND NIKKI, ALL FOR BEING HERE.
AND, UM, I TOO, I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES, UM, IN SENDING MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING WHEN WE LOSE, UM, A RESIDENT AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS TYPE OF WAY.
AND SO, UM, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY AND, AND STAYING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE FAMILY ON THIS SITUATION.
UM, COLLEAGUES ON LAX LAST WEEK I JOINED THE MAYOR, UM, AND THE SECRETARY OF HUD AT THE ACRES HOME MULTI SERVICE CENTER TO ANNOUNCE $101 MILLION FOR GENERATORS.
AND SO WE NOW HAVE GENERATORS IN ALL OF THE AC ACRES, ALL OF THE MULTI SERVICE CENTERS IN DISTRICT B.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, UM, YOUR TEAM, THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT B FOR THEIR ADVOCACY.
UM, AND SO WHENEVER WE GET A STORM AND THE LIKES GO OUT, WE HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR ADVOCACY ON THAT.
AND THEN ALSO I WANNA POINT OUT, UM, READ IN THE PAPER THAT THE CITY CRITIC RATING HAS IMPROVED.
UM, SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL.
'CAUSE WE ALL, I MEAN, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN LIKE A STRESSFUL, UM, TIME, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT OUR, UM, DECISIONS THAT WE MADE, UM, IS, IS MAKING THE CITY BETTER.
UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANNA INVITE FOLKS OUT TO OUR DISTRICT D JOB FAIR.
UM, BE SUCCESSFUL JOB FAIR ON TOMORROW AT THE ACRES HOME? NO, AT HCC.
UM, LOCATED ON LITTLE YORK, THAT'S HCC NORTH FOREST CAMPUS.
IT'S GONNA BE BETWEEN 10 AND ONE, UM, PM WE HAVE OVER 50 EMPLOYERS, UM, THAT WOULD BE THERE.
HIRING ON, NOT, NOT EVERYONE IS HIRING ON THE SPOT, BUT WE DO HAVE EMPLOYERS HIRING ON THE SPOT.
SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A JOB, CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 9.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, WE STAND ADJOURNED.