* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. READY [00:00:04] COUNCIL, PLEASE COME [PRESENTATIONS] TO ORDER. I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR PROTE TO PRESIDE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING BLACK NURSES WEEK TRANSLATION. COME ON. OKAY. HOW ARE YOU LADIES? HI, NICE TO MEET YOU. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US IN THE CHAMBERS AND FOR EVERYONE WATCHING US ONLINE, I'M PROUD AND HONORED TO PRESENT, UH, OUR DISTINGUISHED GUEST TODAY. AND JUST SOME BACKGROUND CONTEXT. UM, ALTHOUGH WE ARE CELEBRATING BLACK NURSES WEEK IN HOUSTON, WE ALSO HAVE INSTITUTIONS IN OUR CITY THAT HAS SUPPORTED THE MATRICULATION OF, UH, PROVIDERS OF CARE FROM THE PRAIRIE VIEW COLLEGE OF NURSING, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE MEDICAL CENTER TO THE HISTORIC RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL, JEFFERSON DAVIS, OUR VA, UM, SERVING IN OUR US MILITARY, OUR FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS, OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES FROM LVN TO BSN, TO PHDS, UM, AND IN HOUSTON WE GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT. AND SO WHEREAS BLACK NURSES HAVE SERVED COMMUNITIES FOR CENTURIES WITH SKILL, COMPASSION, AND RESILIENCE, YET THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE OFTEN GONE UNRECOGNIZED AND EVEN AS THEY HAVE ADVANCED HEALTH EQUITY AND HELP REDUCE DISPARITIES IN CARE. WHEREAS BLACK NURSES WEEK WAS FOUNDED BY TEQUILA MANNING IN 2022 TO HELP ADDRESS THIS LONGSTANDING OVERSIGHT OBSERVED ANNUALLY FROM JULY 26TH TO AUGUST 1ST THE WEEK CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE OF BLACK NURSES AND HIGHLIGHTS THEIR INVALUABLE SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR NATION. AND WHEREAS THE FIRST DOCUMENTED PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED BLACK NURSE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS MARY ELIZA MAHONEY, WHO GRADUATED FROM THE NEW ENGLAND HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN BOSTON ON AUGUST 1ST, 1879, AS ONE OF THE ONLY ONE OF FOUR STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THE RIGOROUS NURSING PROGRAM FROM AN ORIGINAL CLASS OF 42. AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES, THE NURSING OF 2023, BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN NURSES REPRESENT ONLY 7.8% OF THE NATION'S NURSING WORKFORCE. YET THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY SERVE COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY HEALTH INEQUITIES AND LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, SUCH AS CHRONIC ILLNESS AND MATERNAL HEALTH DISPARITIES. AND WHEREAS IN HOUSTON, BLACK NURSES STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM BY SERVING IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY SETTINGS, INCLUDING WITHIN THE WORLD RENOWNED TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND THE CITY'S DISTINGUISHED NURSING PROGRAMS AND HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS. AND WHEREAS BLACK NURSES WEEK IS OBSERVED THIS YEAR, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZED THE ENDURING SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND SACRIFICES OF BLACK NURSES. WE EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THEIR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND OPPORTUNITY IN HEALTHCARE. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND BLACK NURSES WILL NO LONGER GO UNRECOGNIZED BECAUSE YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU BRING BEFORE US TODAY TO THANK THESE BLACK NURSES FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSTON'S HEALTHCARE. WE HAVE THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU TO PRAIRIE VIEW UNIVERSITY FOR PROVIDING SO MANY OUTSTANDING BLACK NURSES. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON, UH, THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE, MY MOTHER WAS AN LVNI KNOW HOW YOU NOT ONLY PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, BUT YOU BECOME FAMILY WITH YOUR PATIENTS. SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BLACK NURSES INVOLVED IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REASSURES SO MANY OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS THEIR CHALLENGES. SO THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I THEREFORE JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 26TH THROUGH AUGUST 1ST, 2026 IS BLACK NURSES WEEK IN THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS. [00:05:02] I GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS HONOR ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER BLACK NURSES THAT ACCOMPANIED ME, UM, IT IS VERY TRUE THAT OUR HARD WORK SOMETIMES GOES UNNOTICED AND IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE AND MY HONOR TO MAKE SURE MOVING FORWARD ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND EFFORT THAT WE PUT FORTH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND HEALTHY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR MARK IN HEALTHCARE HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. VERY WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND WELCOMING THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HAPPY TO GO INSIDE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW YOU DOING BROTHER? WELL MEET YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME AND RECOGNIZE THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SPENT OVER FOUR DECADES DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S A NONPROFIT CIVIC ORGANIZATION AND THEIR MISSION IS VERY SIMPLE TO ENCOURAGE, PROMOTE, AND ASSIST IN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. THIS YEAR, THEY WILL HOST THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION RIGHT HERE IN OUR GREAT CITY FROM JULY 15TH THROUGH JULY 18TH AT THE ROYAL ESTA. SO IN RECOGNIZING OF THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUTH AND THEIR ENDURING IMPACT ON THE SPIRIT OF OUR CITY, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THE GREATER HU HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB AND IT READS, WHEREAS THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB IS A CHAPTER OF FRONTIER INTERNATIONAL AND ORGANIZATION, FOUNDED IN 1936 BY NIMROD B ALLEN, A RESPECTED LEADER IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS. WHEREAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1985, THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB HAS CONTINUED THE LEGACY OF ITS PARENT ORGANIZATION. IT HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNDERSERVED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. IT HAS ENRICHED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, TOYS FOR KIDS, WREATHS CROSS AMERICA AND FAMILY STEM DAY, AND HAS PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB HAS MADE A LASTING AND POSITIVE IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON REGION, EMPOWERING COUNTLESS YOUNG TEXANS TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL ACADEMIC POTENTIAL THROUGH ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. AND WHEREAS ON JULY 14TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY WELCOMES THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB AND ITS VISITING DELEGATION TO CITY HALL AND EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S COLLECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ENDURING SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. MAYOR, THANK YOU MAYOR CAST SIX TATUM, AND THANK YOU TO OUR GUEST IN THE FRONTIER CIVIC LEADERS. I COULD SPEND THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT YOUR ACADEMIC INVOLVEMENT. UH, WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND SOMETIME WE HAVE TO HAVE MOMENTS LIKE HIS TO PAUSE AND DEMONSTRATE WHY WE'RE SUCH A GREAT CITY BECAUSE GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. WE'RE SURE TRYING, BUT WE ALSO DEPEND ON OUR CIVIC LEADERS IN OUR FRONTIER CLUB DAY VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I KNOW EVEN THE BEST DAYS ARE STILL IN FRONT OF YOU. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 14TH, 2026, IS GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIER TODAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER HOUSTON FRONTIERS CLUB IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IMPACTING MORE LIVES AND CONTINUING OUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. VERY WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK WE'LL WE'LL GO INSIDE. GO INSIDE. [00:10:01] OKAY, YOU MA'AM? OKAY. MORE. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN FOR PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING WORLD REFUGEE DAY, LAST ONE. MM-HMM . HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? WELCOME. ARE YOU MA'AM? WELCOME. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, THIS LAST PROCLAMATION, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE WORLD REFUGEE DAY IN HOUSTON, AND I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE ORGANIZERS WE HAVE HERE TODAY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH SOME OF THEM. THEY'RE DOING EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE REALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF THE IMMIGRANTS IN OUR CITY. UH, SO I WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF READING THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS WORLD REFUGEE DAY IS AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED NATIONS IN 2001 TO HONOR THE COURAGE, RESILIENCE, AND CONTRIBUTION OF REFUGEES AND TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THEIR RIGHTS NEEDS AND ASPIRATION. WHEREAS HOME TO NEARLY 70,000 MEMBERS OF A VIBRANT REFUGEE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES, HOUSTON CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF ITS RESIDENTS AND RECOGNIZES THAT REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND OTHER NEWCOMERS STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S CULTURAL, CIVIC AND ECONOMIC LIFE. WHEREAS ON THIS OBSERVANCE OF WORLD REFUGEE DAY, HOUSTONIANS COME TOGETHER TO UPHOLD THE CITY'S LEGACY OF DIGNITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND SHARED HUMANITY BY ENSURING THAT NEWCOMERS ARE MET WITH RESPECT, COMPASSION, AND PATHWAYS TO SAFETY AND BELONGING, AFFIRMING HOUSTON'S COMMITMENT TO REMAINING A WELCOMING CITY FOR ALL. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN [00:15:01] SALINAS, UH, FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON AND THOSE THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN YOU WROTE YOUR PROCLAMATION, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN 70,000. IF IT'S, IF IT'S AT LEAST A DAY OR TWO OLDER, THERE'S MORE THAN 70,000 AND CERTAINLY MORE LANGUAGES. AND THIS GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK THOSE THAT SUPPORT THE REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. Y'ALL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER THAN MOST, BUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I'VE HAD SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEY LEAVE. TELL ME, SENATOR, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO TEACH THE BASICS BECAUSE WE'RE SERVING THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY LANGUAGE SKILLS, JUST CULTURE EXCHANGES. SO EITHER IT'S THE FAITH-BASED BAKER RIPLEY, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, I COULD GO ON ON AND I'M CERTAIN YOU COULD GIVE US A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE THAT ASSIST A REFUGEE. COUNCILMAN SALINAS NOW IS CERTAINLY INCLUDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH OUR OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS. BUT TODAY ALLOWS US TO PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE HOW STRONG WE ARE AS A CITY BECAUSE OF OUR REFUGEE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMAR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIMED JUNE 20TH, 2026, IS ROYAL REFUGEE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THIS WORLD REFUGEE DAY PROCLAMATION IS MORE THAN A RECOGNITION. IT IS APPROVED FOR THAT. HOUSTON GREATEST STRENGTH IS NOT IN THE SKYLINE, BUT ITS PEOPLE TODAY. EVERY REFUGEE STORY HAS BEEN SEEN, EVERY JOURNEY WAS HONORED AND EVERY VOICE MATTER. MY DEEP DIRECTED TO THE MAYOR, THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, SELENA ALEJANDRO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL EDWARD, EDWARD, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY AND EVERYBODY ENGAGED IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL. YES, CO UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, WE DO HAVE A COLLEAGUE IN THE QUEUE. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO. TIM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS. UH, THANK YOU ALL. I JUST WANT TO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE CELEBRATING YOU TODAY. BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, YOU ALL ARE HERE, UH, TALKING TO US ABOUT ISSUES AND CONCERNS, WAYS TO COLLABORATE, DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS, DIFFERENT OFFERINGS THAT WE HAVE ALL AROUND THE CITY. SO I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUE TO LEAN ON YOU AND ANYTHING THAT, UH, I CAN DO TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. YOU READY? [2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PROAM PECK FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, PASTOR LUCAS, [00:20:01] IF YOU COULD COME ON UP. UM, PASTOR KEVIN LUCAS SERVES AS PASTOR AT HOPE CITY CHURCH IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. PASTOR LUCAS, UH, LOCAL HOUSTONIAN SERVES ON THE EXECUTIVE TEAM OF HOPE CITY, OVERSEEING ALL TEAMS HELPING AND REACHING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. HOPE CITY CHURCH AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY HAS HELPED FAMILIES RECEIVE 1.4 MILLION MEALS AND MOBILIZE OVER 5,000 VOLUNTEERS SERVING MORE THAN 17,000 HOURS DURING THE MONTH OF JULY. HOPE CITY HOLDS AN EVENT CALLED DAYS OF HOPE, WHERE THEY LEAD HUNDREDS OF SERVICE PROJECTS WITH VOLUNTEERS TO SPREAD HOPE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE WERE SO THANKFUL THAT THEY WERE IN DISTRICT A LAST WEEKEND AT SPRING SPIRIT FOR A FOOD AND SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION, AND THIS SATURDAY THEY WILL BE IN DISTRICT A AGAIN AT THE CARDALE COMMUNITY CENTER TO OFFER SUPPLIES AND FOOD AS WELL. SO THANK YOU PASTOR FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. ABSOLUTELY. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND, UH, THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF IT WITH EVERYBODY. ON BEHALF OF OUR SENIOR PASTORS, DANIEL AND JACKIE GROVES, UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INITIATIVE THAT WE CALL DAYS OF HOPE, THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JULY. AND AS SHE SAID, A LOT OF THOSE STATS, A COUPLE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING. OVER THE COURSE OF JULY, WE'LL HAVE OVER A HUNDRED SERVICE PROJECTS ALL THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS LAST WEEK, MOBILIZED ALL THROUGH THE CITY AND JUST TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO BE A BLESSING TO THIS CITY AND PARTNER. WELL, THIS WEEKEND WE'LL BE BACK AT CARDALE AND WE EXPECT TO SERVE UPWARDS OF A THOUSAND FAMILIES, UH, WITH SUPPLIES AND BE ABLE TO HELP MEET FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS. SO, VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF ALL THAT WE GET TO DO, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE CITY. SO THANKS FOR HAVING US TODAY AND, UH, LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TODAY IN SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM TO GOD. EVERY DISCUSSION, EVERY DECISION, AND EVERY ACTION TAKEN IN THIS CHAMBER. TODAY, WE PRAY THAT YOU GRANT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCERNMENT, INTEGRITY, AND HUMILITY AS THEY SEEK THE GOOD OF ALL CITIZENS IN THE CITY. HELP THEM TO LISTEN WITH RESPECT, SPEAK WITH GRACE, AND LEAD WITH COURAGE. MAY THEY PURSUE JUSTICE, VALUED TRUTH, AND WORK TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF UNITY, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ANY DISAGREEMENTS. WE PRAY TODAY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON AND THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BE PLACES OF PEACE, SAFETY, AND OPPORTUNITY WHERE FAMILIES CAN FLOURISH AND NEIGHBORS CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER IN A POWERFUL WAY. WE TELL, WE PRAY TODAY THAT YOU BLESS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND ALL WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. WE PRAY THAT YOU PROTECT THEM AND YOU STRENGTHEN THEM IN THEIR LINE OF WORK. WE PRAY THAT TODAY, EVERYTHING DONE HERE CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELLBEING OF HOUSTON AND BRING HONOR TO THE RESPONSIBILITY AND TRUSTED TO THESE INCREDIBLE CITY LEADERS. WE THANK YOU THAT YOU GO BEFORE US AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE IN EVERY ASPECT OF TODAY'S MEETING. WE TRUST YOU AND WE HONOR YOU. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE UNITED STATES. AND FOR [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] MR. SECRETARY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROAD MAYOR WHITMEYER. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PENZA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCOR HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT A MINUTES OF JULY 7TH AND EIGHTH. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE I SECOND. MOTION MADE. SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAME. MOTION PASSES. DO THIS BEFORE THAT. PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. NO. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD NORMA GARZA TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TWO MINUTE SPEAKERS. LIST NON AGENDA. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ANYONE ELSE? MEMBERS, UH, BEFORE WE GET TO OUR SPEAKERS, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S PRESENT TODAY. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FAIL THE CHAMBERS TODAY WITH SPEAKERS THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR CALL FOR A TRANSPARENT AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. IT'S BEEN ONE WEEK TODAY OF THE TRAGEDY OF MR. ROOL. THE PAIN IS NOT SUBSIDED. [00:25:02] IT CERTAINLY HAS UNITED THIS COUNCIL. IT'S UNITED OUR CITY. AND AS MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK HOUSTONIANS FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE THAT HAVE SHOWED THEIR COMPASSION, THAT HAVE BROUGHT IT, BROUGHT THE SUBJECT AND THE TRAGEDY UP IN THEIR PULPITS. IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE TO SUPPORT THIS FAMILY AND RESPECT THEM, RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY, AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT WE ALSO PRACTICE TODAY. THERE ARE MANY DEVELOPMENTS THE CITY HAS FURNISHED THE AUTHORITIES, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AUDIO OF THE NINE ONE ONE CALL METRO VIDEO. ALL THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SEAN TIERS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND DIFFICULT CHALLENGE. HE AND CHIEF DIAZ ARE MEETING WITH THE FBI AS WE TALK. THE CITY IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PARTICIPATE AND ASSIST IN AN INVESTIGATION. WE'RE TOLD TODAY THAT THE STAFF, THEY'RE MEETING THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE FBI DOES NOT HAVE THE EVIDENCE. IT'S IN THE HANDS OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN WASHINGTON. NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO KEEP THE SALGADO FAMILY IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, BUT CERTAINLY THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS SHOT AND KILLED YESTERDAY IN MAINE. THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT OUR NATION AS WELL. BUT TOGETHER DEMONSTRATING OUR UNITY, OUR INCLUSION, WE'LL GET THROUGH IT, BUT THERE'S GONNA BE CHALLENGING DAYS AHEAD OF US. WE ASK EVERYONE FOR THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY AS WELL AS THIS GREAT CITY. THIS CITY COMES TOGETHER WHEN WE FACE CHALLENGES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING AS WE GATHER TODAY. I WOULD ASK EVERYONE BEFORE WE CALL OUR FIRST WITNESS, OUR FIRST SPEAKER, TO JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I ASK YOU TO GO TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL FAITH. I ASK YOU TO DO THAT, RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITY AND KEEP THE FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF AN OUT OF CONTROL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. AND ALSO LET OUR SPEAKERS KNOW YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I'VE SEEN ON THE NEWS WHERE ICE IS PAUSING THEIR TRAFFIC STOPS. IT'S A SHAME THAT IT HAS TO COME AFTER A LOSS OF LIFE. BUT THE COMMUNITY'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE. AND WE WILL CONTINUE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND RESPECT AND PRAY FOR LORENZO SALGADO, ARRU HO'S FAMILY. AMEN. AMEN. DUE [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] TO THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS, THE RULES REQUIRES TO ONLY GIVE ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER. AS LONG AS WE'RE BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE FAMILY AND MAKING PROGRESS, WHICH I KNOW WE WILL, I'M GONNA BE VERY GENEROUS WITH OUR TIME TODAY. THIS ONE MINUTE RULE WAS HERE WHEN I GOT HERE, OR HAVING CHAIRED [00:30:01] HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN AUSTIN. WHEN SOMEONE IS SINCERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, I'M NOT GONNA SHUT 'EM DOWN, BUT DO BE MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED SPEAKERS. BUT LET'S GO TO WORK SPEAKER, MR. KRUEGER. DAN KRUEGER. GINA MCALLEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ESMERALDA LEDESMA, UH, GINA MAGA. I AM HERE TODAY TO IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDER OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO BY MURDER BY ICE. IT HAS BEEN STATED BY THE MAYOR IN THE PAST THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION TO DO SO. BUT IT CAN BE DONE AND IT MUST BE DONE FOR THE SAKE OF HOUSTON'S CHILDREN. IT MUST. I AM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER IN A TITLE ONE SCHOOL IN HOUSTON, ISD. THE LAST MONTH OF THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR TWO OF MY FIFTH GRADE BOYS GOT INTO A PHYSICAL FIGHT. I PULLED THEM ASIDE AND I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING OUT OUR ISSUES, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, RESPECTING EACH OTHER, GETTING A TRUSTED ADULT INVOLVED IN THEIR PROBLEMS. AND MY FIFTH GRADE STUDENT LOOKS ME IN THE EYES AND SAYS, THAT'S NOT REAL LIFE. MISS ICE WOULDN'T DO THAT TO ME. POLICE DON'T DO THAT. THEY FIGHT. THEY'D HURT US. WHAT COULD I SAY TO HIM? WHAT WILL I SAY? IN AUGUST AFTER A MAN, A FATHER WAS MURDERED IN OUR STREETS, WE ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO EXPECT VIOLENCE TOWARDS THEM. SO PLEASE, FOR MY STUDENTS, FOR OUR CHILDREN, JUSTICE FOR LORENZO SALGADO ARJO, THIS IS ON ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ESMERALDA LAMA TO BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM BROOKER. OKAY. UM, WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK TO LORENZO RA, WHO WAS UNBELIEVABLE. ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WAS RIPPED FROM US, A FATHER, A HUSBAND, A HOUSTONIAN. OUR CITY COUNCIL TALKS FREQUENTLY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT WHO IS THIS SAFETY FOR? ONE IN FOUR HOUSTONIANS ARE FOREIGN BORN. WHAT ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY? THIS CITY MUST DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO END OR LIMIT ICE ENFORCEMENT IN OUR CITY AND MAKE THESE STREETS SAFER FOR US ALL. ICE HAS NO PLACE HERE. WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION FROM THE CITY OF WHAT HAPPENED. WE NEED THE AGENTS AND THIS AGENCY TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND WE NEED ICE OUT OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT COUNCIL COUNCILOR SALINAS? YES. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD YVONNE TYLER TO THE END OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. WILLIAM BROOKER. AYE. MY NAME IS BILL BROOKER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT C BEAR WHITMEYER. I BELIEVE YOU WORK WITH YOUR ICE SUPPORTING REPUBLICAN PALS GREG ABBOTT AND HBOU TO SABOTAGE EVEN MILD LIMITS ON ICE ACTIONS IN HOUSTON. NOW ICE IS APPARENTLY HUNTING RANDOM BROWN PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF SALGADO'S KILLERS OR HUNTING IMMIGRANTS IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW. NOW YOU SAY YOU WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ICE. I'M SKEPTICAL. PROVE ME WRONG MR. MAYOR. YOU HAVE LEVERAGE. USE IT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN ANNOUNCE THAT THE CITY WILL SUSPEND SUPPORT OF THE 2028 GOB CONVENTION UNTIL THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FULLY COOPERATES. MR. MAYOR, WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER TAXPAYER FUNDED SPORTS EVENT OR ANOTHER TAXPAYER FUNDED CONVENTION PAYDAY FOR INSIDERS. THEY CAN WAIT. WE NEED JUSTICE FOR LORENZO. THANK YOU. NEXT MAUREEN O'CONNELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAKE KUSHNER. [00:35:08] GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SISTER MAUREEN O'CONNELL. I'M A DOMINICAN SISTER AND A MEMBER OF THE MIGRATION WITH DIGNITY COALITION AND A CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION AND ANGER AT THE WEAPONIZATION OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE TERROR THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS ARE FEELING. MANY YEARS AGO I WAS A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER FOR 13 YEARS AND I'M APPALLED AT THE UNPROFESSIONAL AND IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR THAT WE ARE SEEING FROM ICE AND HOMELAND SECURITY. THESE PEOPLE CLEARLY LACK TRAINING. THEY UN LACK THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING IN THEIR ROLE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. THE MURDER OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO LAST WEEK DEMANDS THAT WE AS CITIZENS STAND FOR WHAT, NOT ONLY FOR THE ARAJO FAMILY, BUT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILY, AND DEPEND ACCOUNTABILITY AND END TO THE LACK OF HUMANITY AND CARE THAT WE'RE EXPRESSING AT THE HANDS OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT JAKE KUSHNER. PAIGE RICHARDSON. DANNY HERNANDEZ, NICHOLAS GREEN. NO, I'M CHECKING. I'M CHECKING. BRIAN LISKO OF SUGARLAND. CAMILA AMADOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER HERRERO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER BO. MY NAME IS CAMILA GALIN, THE 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF TWO IMMIGRANTS, AND SOMEBODY WHO HOLDS FEAR FOR THE FUTURE OF MY GENERATION IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY. I SWEAR FOR HOUSTON, WHERE ITS GOVERNMENT VALUES, ACCOUNTABILITY, JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY OVER COMPLACENCY. AND MY ASK IS SIMPLE. IT'S FOR MEASURABLE ACTION FROM Y'ALL AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. Y'ALL SAY IT'S DIFFICULT, IT'S A DIFFICULT CASE TO NAVIGATE, BUT I ASK THAT Y'ALL DO THE FOLLOWING WITH THE CITY'S FUNDING. SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL DO HAVE CONTROL OVER. PLEASE PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO CALL HOUSTON HOME FIGHT TO STOP THE HALT OF THE COUNTY LEVEL TAXPAYER FUNDED DEFENSE PROGRAM. SO WITNESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAVE ACCESS TO IMMEDIATE LEGAL SUPPORT AND LAUNCH A MULTILINGUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMPAIGN SO RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ALL FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS IN A CITY WHERE THE POLICY IS EVER SO CHANGING. UM, PLEASE DO NOT LET STATE MANDATES PREVENT YOU FROM PROTECTING THE PEOPLE WHO YOU SERVE. BRING TRANSPARENCY, SAFETY AND PROMISE INTO MY GENERATION'S FUTURE. THANK YOU. ONE MORE TIME. UH, JUST A SECOND MA'AM. COUNCILMAN PANZA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU CAMILA FOR BEING HERE. UM, AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO SEE SO MANY DISTRICTS SEE RESIDENTS HERE TODAY SPEAKING OUT ON WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN HOUSTON RECENTLY. AND I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK AFTER EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE TODAY, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY I, I SHARE YOUR SENTIMENTS AND, AND I FEEL EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE FEELING. UM, WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT LORENZO SALGADO RAJO WAS KILLED BY ICE AGENTS. UM, BUT HE WAS NOT THE TARGET THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. CORRECT. THEY ATTACKED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS BROWN AND BECAUSE HE LOOKED LIKE EVERY OTHER IMMIGRANT THAT LIVES HERE IN HOUSTON YESTERDAY, ICE KILLED AGAIN IN MAINE THIS TIME. AND WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME. EVERYONE HERE TODAY USING YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOICE DOES MATTER AND IT IS WORKING. AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN CHANGES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL FROM ICE. AND AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE SPEAKING, TO CONTINUE TO BE LOUD. UH, AND THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO REALLY END THIS AND IT'S TO ABOLISH ICE. AND, AND I STAND BY THAT AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE THIS OUT. THANK YOU. I WILL REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING THAT FROM YOU AND I HOPE THAT'S REFLECTED ACROSS THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT CHRISTOPHER COLON HERRERA TO BE FOLLOW FOLLOWED BY MAORI BIRD LUCAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND SAY WE DON'T WANT ICE, WE WANT JUSTICE. THE MURDER OF LORENZO RAJO WAS A SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE. AND THE ONES THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. [00:40:01] WE CANNOT RELAY ON THE INVESTIGATION OF AN ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN A LIE AFTER A LIE. THEY HAVE SHOWN US THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT JUSTICE NOR ABOUT TRUTH. WE CONDEMN THEIR ACT, THEIR ABUSIVE TACTICS AND THEIR ILLEGAL BEHAVIORS. I'M ASKING YOU TO JOIN US PUBLICLY AMPLIFY OUR VOICE AND ECHO THEM. WE DON'T WANT VIOLENCE RUIN OUR STREETS. WE DON'T WANT CORRUPTION INFLUENCING OUR PEOPLE. WE DON'T WANT MASS BIGOTS ABUSING THEIR POWER. WE DON'T WANT ICE. WE WANT JUSTICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT MAORI BIRD LUCAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAMERON WATERSON OF SPRING. HI. UH, JUST GOT HERE. SO, UM, GOOD TIMING. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME. MY NAME IS MARI BIRD LUCAS, I AM A, UM, RESIDENT CITIZEN HERE IN HOUSTON. AND, UM, I'M CALLING ON YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL TO REQUEST A, AN OFFICIAL, UM, INVESTIGATION INTO, UH, THE MURDER OF LORENZO THE OTHER DAY IN HOUSTON. UM, THOSE OF YOU, UM, I ESPECIALLY THINK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PONZA, UM, SALINAS, UM, SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE REST OF MY NOTES QUITE READY. UM, THOSE OF YOU WHO INITIALLY SPOKE UP AND HAVE SPOKE UP, UM, COMMISSIONER POLLARD, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE OF YOU WHO REMAIN SILENT AND ON THE SIDELINES, I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT YOU CAN CONDONE THE, UM, THE TORTURE, THE, UM, PULLING UP OF CITIZENS OFF OF OUR STREETS. UM, IT'S, IT'S DESPICABLE AND YOUR SILENCE MEANS THAT YOU CONDONE IT AND IT'S NOT. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT CAMERON WATERSON WILL SPRING TO BE FOLLOWED BY FRIDA HALE. WE FIRST WARNED THAT IF OUR TAX DOLLARS FUND COMPANIES LIKE HALLIBURTON, MAERSK, AND FLOCK HOUSTON RISK, THE SAME TOOLS OF OPPRESSION WE BANKROLL ABROAD, LIKE MASS SURVEILLANCE, MILITARIZED POLICING, LAND THEFT, AND NOW MURDER TO BE NORMALIZED HERE. AND WE WERE IGNORED FOR PROFIT, WE WARNED. AND NOW EVEN A HARRIS COUNTY DA SAYS, WHEN HOUSTON COLLABORATES WITH ICE, IT BREAKS THE FOUNDATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND COMMUNITIES. VICTIMS ARE AFRAID TO REPORT CRIMES AND WITNESSES WILL STAY SILENT BECAUSE NEIGHBORS FEAR A CALL FOR HELP COULD MEAN DETENTION OR DEATH. YET WE WERE IGNORED. WE WARN THAT A FATHER WHO DIES IN A A BREADLINE GAZA IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY IMMIGRANT WHO LEAVES FOR WORK IN THE MORNING AND IS KILLED OR KIDNAPPED BY ICE FOR BOTH DO NOT GET TO RETURN HOME OR TO THEIR FAMILIES. HOUSTON'S REVOKING OF THE CITY ORDINANCE WITH ICE IS VIOLENCE. HOUSTON'S CAPITULATION AND ALLOWANCE FOR FLOCK TO PUT A CAMERA ON EVERY CORNER OF OUR STREETS IS VIOLENCE. OUR MAYOR'S INABILITY TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE TO VIOLENCE IS VIOLENCE ITSELF AGAINST OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AS WELL ALONG WITH THEM. SO AGAIN, I SAY YOU'VE MADE US OUR CITY A MARTYR. JUST LIKE THE ONES YOU WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE ABROAD, YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE SAME MURDER TO THE INNOCENT HERE, WHICH CANNOT BE IGNORED. RIP LORENZO DEMAND ALL EVIDENCE BE SHARED FOR PRIVATE INVESTIGATION IN THE NAMING OF THE OFFICER. AND TO HOUSTONIANS. WE CANNOT CHANGE WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IS NOT ABOUT A FATHER BEING KILLED IN HOUSTON. IT IS ABOUT WHAT HOUSTON DOES WHEN A FATHER IS KILLED IN OUR CITY. SO ORGANIZE FOR IF THERE ARE NO IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS, THERE ARE NO RIGHTS FOR THERE CAN BE NO FREEDOM UNLESS WE ARE ALL FREE. CIA LORENZO NICK FRIDA HALE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MONICA HATCHER. HELLO, MY NAME'S FRIDA HALE AND I'M HERE WITH MIGRATION WITH DIGNITY COALITION. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE NECESSITY AND CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRAGIC SHOOTING OF THE DEATH OF LORENZO WITHOUT THE FACTS AND WITHOUT THE TRUTH FROM OUR LOCAL TRUSTED AUTHORITIES. HOW CAN WE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? WHEN ESTABLISHED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE CHASED BY UNMARKED VEHICLES AND MEN THAT ARE UNIDENTIFIED, ARMED AND MASKED, THAT KIND OF FEAR PERMEATES OUR ENTIRE CITY. HOUSTON IS MAKING STRIDES AND BECOMING A VERY SAFE CITY AND FEELING SAFE IMPACTS EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. HERE I'M ASKING YOU TO RESIST ANY PRESSURE THAT DETERS YOU FROM CONTINUING THIS LOCAL INVESTIGATION. UNTIL THE FACTS ARE ESTABLISHED, THE TRUTH IS REVEALED AND EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN FEEL SAFE. [00:45:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. NEXT, MONICA HAT TO BE FOLLOWED BY OU ALI MASI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MONICA HATCHER. I LIVE IN SPRING BRANCH, UM, IN COUNCIL MEMBER PECKS DISTRICT. UM, I'M HERE TODAY WITH THE MIGRATION WITH DIGNITY COALITION, ALSO TO URGE YOU TO PLEASE USE YOUR INFLUENCE AND YOUR VOICES TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS HERE AS HOUSTONIANS ICE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY. I WORK IN A CONVENT IN THE EAST END THAT'S RIGHT ON SOUTH WAYSIDE DRIVE. I I DRIVE THAT ROAD EVERY DAY, EVERY MORNING. I'M NOT SAFE AND NOBODY IS SAFE WHEN THERE ARE ROGUE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AND UNMARKED CARS SHOOTING THEIR GUNS AT RANDOM PEOPLE WHO THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW. IT'S BARBARIC, IT'S UNCIVILIZED, IT'S UN-AMERICAN, AND IT'S SO UNWORTHY OF US AS HOUSTONIANS. SO I HOPE THAT I SEE ALL OF YOU SPEAKING VERY LOUDLY TO OUR FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR LORENZO AND FOR HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ALII TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANNY. DANNY HATCHER. I'M SORRY, DANNY. HER DANNY HERNANDEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON ONCE AGAIN. MY NAME IS LENE MAIMA WITH CWS AND I'M PROUD OF UNION. TODAY WE GATHER WITH DEEP GRIEF IN OUR HEART. WE REMEMBER LORENZO, OUR FATHER, OUR BROTHER, AND WE HOLD CLOSE EVERY FAMILY IN OUR COMMUNITY CARRYING PAIN OF LOSS. THIS SOUL IS REAL FOR MANY OF US. THIS IS PERSONAL, LEAVING HOME, COMING TO FIND PEACE, BUT BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR LOVED ONE. WE HONOR THE DIGNITY, THE COURAGE, THE RESILIENCE OF A NEW AMERICAN AND THE NEW COMMUNITY WHO CONTINUE TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND STRENGTHEN OUR CITY EVEN WHILE CARRYING WOUND THAT MANY CANNOT SEE. I SINCERELY URGE YOU TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT IS GRIEVING. REMEMBER ALL, UH, ALL, ALL, ALL ARE CRYING. PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THOSE WITHOUT WORTH. MAY OUR GRIEVE MOVE US TOWARD JUSTICE AND MAY OUR HOPE KEEP US TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT DANNY HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY MATT KENARD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DON HERNANDEZ AND I AM ON THE OKAY . I HOPE MY TIME STARTS OVER. MY NAME IS DANNY HERNANDEZ. I'M ON THE HISC ELECTED BOARD. I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF EAST LAWNDALE, UH, AND THAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NEXT TO MAGNOLIA PARK. IT'S DEEPLY UPSETTING THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS NOT TAKEN A STRONGER STANCE AGAINST ICE. THE REMAIN QUIET APPROACH IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, BUT OUR RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL SAFE. AND NOW WE HAVE A HOUSTONIAN THAT WAS MURDERED. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES, MANY TIMES THAT THE EAST END HAS CALLED ON CITY COUNCIL FOR HELP AND SUPPORT, BUT NO ONE IS LISTENING. I'M HERE AGAIN AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, UH, AND A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF THE EAST END. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WORKED IN THE PREVIOUS RESOLUTION TO LIMIT, UH, HPD COORDINATION WITH ICE, BUT THE EVENTUAL GUTTING OF THE RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO BEND THE NEED TO ABBOTT ONLY SERVED TO LEGITIMIZE ICE OPERATIONS IN OUR CITY. I, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF ICE FOR THE MOR MURDER OF LORENZO SALGADO BEFORE BECAME POLITICALLY CONVENIENT. I ALSO WANNA, UM, POINT OUT THAT THERE IS ALSO SOMEBODY WHO OUR DISTRICT I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY WHO REPRESENTS THE EAST END. WE NEED TO STOP, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE EAST END, UH, DOESN'T GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK ANYMORE. . THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. HERNANDEZ. UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, UM, IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT HIS STAFF IS HERE. ONE PABLO IS OVER THERE BY THE DOOR AND HE JUST WANTED ME TO LET YOU AND ANY OF HIS CONSTITUENTS KNOW, UM, TO PLEASE CONTACT HIS OFFICE IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. WE CAN CONTACT HIS OFFICE, BUT HIS PRESENCE IS OBVIOUSLY NEEDED RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. COUNCIL ONE SEC. COUNCIL. COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. OKAY. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AND FOR EVERYONE WHO IS HERE. UH, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, I WON'T SPEAK AFTER EVERY SINGLE SPEAKER, BUT I DO [00:50:01] THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, TO LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW I'M FEELING ABOUT, UH, THIS SITUATION AS WELL. UH, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT A CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION THAT'S VERY VAGUE, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE EXTREMELY DIRECT. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE COMING FROM THE CITY. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE NATION WITH RESOURCES IN ABUNDANCE. UM, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE FULLY CAPABLE AND QUALIFIED TO DO A TASK TO BRING FORTH CLARITY, UH, ANSWERS, UM, INSIGHT. UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS A HOUSTONIAN THAT WAS KILLED. AND HOUSTONIANS HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT INVESTIGATION. I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO WAIT FOR, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE AGENCIES TO GET INVOLVED WHEN WE CAN TAKE THE LEAD OURSELVES. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY, UM, GET AWAY FROM JUST THE AMBIGUOUS TERM OF, UH, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND PUT IT ON OURSELVES TO TAKE THE LEAD. AND I THINK HOUSTON IS LOOKING FOR US TO LEAD, AND HOUSTON DESERVES FOR US TO LEAD. AND SO, UH, THAT'S MY CALL AND MY HOPE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, NICK. OKAY. THANK YOU. MATT. MATT KENARD. MATT KENARD. FRITO IDA. ME TO BE FOLLOWED BY KATIE THITO. HELLO, MY NAME IS FRIDA. I AM AN, I AM AN IMMIGRANT RECITING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ON JANUARY 27TH, I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM DEMANDING ICE OUT OF HOUSTON. I ASK THIS COUNCIL MUST TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS HERE IN HOUSTON. MUST ONE OF YOUR OWN DIE BEFORE YOU ACT? YOU DID NOTHING. NOW A HOUSTONIAN IS DEAD. LORENZO TO WORK, EXPECTING TO COME BACK TO HIS WIFE. HE NEVER MADE IT BACK. HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A NICE AGENT WITH NO BODY. CAM. MAY I ADD YOU FILLED THAT COMMUNITY. HOW MANY MORE? HOW MANY MORE MUST DIE BEFORE YOU FINALLY GROW A BACKBONE AND DO SOMETHING? WE'RE BEING HUNTED LIKE DOGS. WE ARE GETTING KILLED AND NO ONE DOING COULD BE NEXT. I'M BROWN. I'M AN IMMIGRANT. WHO IS IT GONNA BE? NEXT? ENOUGH THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS? ENOUGH STATEMENTS. WE NEED ACTION. NO ACTION. IT'S COMPLICITY. IT'S TIME TO ACT. PROTECT EVERYONE WHO CALLS HOME REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR. OUR IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE DO NOT ICE OUTTA HOUSTON. AND JUSTICE LORENZO. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY, VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE. ONE THAT CERTAINLY I AM APPALLED AS WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED. I AM GLAD THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION. BUT WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT ARE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT YOU GOING TO THE POLLS AND LETTING YOUR VOICES BE HEARD TO CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP THAT CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO DON'T JUST PUT IT ALL ON US BECAUSE IF WE HAD THE POWER TO DO IT, YOU COULD BEST BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE DONE. BUT WITHOUT YOU GOING AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHANGING THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS MORE SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE, BLACK AND BROWN AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL, THE SENSITIVITY, THERE'S VERY LITTLE WE CAN DO. SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO COME NOVEMBER AND IN THE FUTURE FOR ANY TIME [00:55:01] THAT WE ARE VOTING. BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS APPALLED, BUT IT'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO IF WE DON'T HAVE YOU DOING MORE THAN COMING AND TALKING AND PROTESTING. WE NEED YOU AT THE POLL. WE NEED JUSTICE. THANK YOU. AND JUSTICE, JUSTICE IS ONLY GONNA COME WHEN YOU CHANGE THE LEADERSHIP AND THAT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THIS BODY WOULD DO IT ALL IF WE COULD, BUT WE CANNOT. SO WE CAN. WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE A SHOUTING MATCH BECAUSE EVERYBODY SITTING HERE I THINK WAS APPALLED AND VERY, VERY UPSET WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. BUT YOU CAN'T JUST SIT THERE AND SAY DO THIS, DO THAT, AND YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AT THE POLLS. SO THANK YOU MAYOR. ALRIGHT, PLEA VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'D LIKE SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE A PROCEDURAL MOTION TO ADD ANDREW PATTERSON TO THE END OF THE, UH, THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST. OKAY, MOTION NON AGENDA LIST. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. YES, SIR. NEXT, KATIE THIBO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CESAR ESPOSA. HELLO FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. I AM A-H-I-S-D HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. SPEAK ON THE HUFF OF MURDERERS IN OUR CITY. I DO NOT BELONG HERE. THEY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. PAPERS ARE NOT, WE NEED TO STAND FOR THEM. THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS. WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE KILLING HUMAN BEINGS. ARE WE? ARE WE THOUGH? 'CAUSE LIKE AM I THE ONLY ONE HERE THAT FEELS LIKE THIS IS CRAZY? ARE WE, AM I THE ONLY ONE HERE? NO. NO. Y'ALL ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO HAVE THE JOBS TO HELP US. WE CANNOT GET A EIGHT, UH, DEGREE, EIGHT YEAR DEGREE JUST TO DO THIS. Y'ALL NEED TO HELP US TOO. WE'RE NOT DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WITHOUT Y'ALL. I, I'M JUST A 17-YEAR-OLD. BUT Y'ALL NEED TO STAND UP FOR HOUSTON BECAUSE WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING BUT GO TO COLLEGE AND GET AN EIGHT YEAR DEGREE AND WAIT FOR 20 MORE YEARS TO WHERE Y'ALL AT RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO STAND FOR HOUSTON. THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT. WE NEED TO STAND FOR HOUSTON. HOW WE LEARNED NOTHING IN OUR TEXTBOOKS AT ALL. I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER WE TOOK LAND FROM NATIVE AMERICANS, WE HURT ENSLAVED PEOPLE. AND NOW THIS, THIS GOTTA STOP. NICK CAESAR ESPINOSA TO BE FOLLOWED BY GIAN THOMAS. BEFORE I GET STARTED, IF YOU BELIEVE IN JUSTICE FOR LORENZO, STAND UP RIGHT NOW. I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS COUNCIL AND I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS MAYOR. AND TODAY I BROUGHT WITH ME ENOUGH COPIES OF THREE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS LAUNCHED AGAINST FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE ONE. SO FOR THOSE TO SAY THAT IT CANNOT BE DONE HERE IS PROOF, INDEPENDENT PROOF THAT IT CAN BE DONE. I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO THE CITY SECRETARY BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF THE LYING. I'M TIRED OF THE DECEIVING OF THE, OF, OF THIS ADMINISTRATION ON A VARIETY OF LEVELS TRYING TO LOOK FOR THE, FOR THE EASY WAY OUT. NOT TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY. NO STUPID. WE, WE MUST NOT MAKE EXCUSES. AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT VOTING IS THE ONLY ANSWER, I REMIND YOU THERE IS A MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, 350,000 LPRS AND 600,000 UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE. A MILLION PEOPLE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO VOTE. BUT WE EXIST AND WE HAVE A VOICE. LISTEN TO US. AND ON BEHALF OF THE SAL FAMILY, I JUST TALKED TO LORENZO, HE DOES SAY THANK YOU FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE STREET AND ALLOWING HIS MOM TO GRIEVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT HE IS ALSO ENCOURAGING YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND LAUNCH AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND WIN FOR LORENZO SALGADO ARCO AND HIS FAMILY COUNCIL. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. SAYS HAD FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH FI. [01:00:01] IT'S AN AMAZING AND IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON. I JUST WANNA RE REITERATE AGAIN THAT HOUSTON IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE. AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR LORENZO. AND IT STARTS WITH AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. AND, AND WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT THROUGH. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE NEED IT IMMEDIATELY ASAP. IT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE AND I HOPE THAT WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR TO, TO DO JUST THAT. AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUTSIDE THAT COULDN'T COME INSIDE. I WANT US TO HEAR THEM 'CAUSE THIS IS HOUSTON CALLING FOR JUSTICE MAYOR NICK G GIAN THOMAS. HELEN TAYLOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY DENISE WILBORN. WILBORN. HI, MY NAME IS ELLA TAYLOR. I LIVE IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT C WHEN IT COMES TO ICE, HOUSTON CAN'T RELY ON THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT TO ASSURE ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THEY WON'T. OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE TO WHEN IT COMES TO, SORRY, SORRY. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU DO EVERYTHING WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE LORENZO SALGADO'S DEATH, NOT ONLY FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT FOR EVERYONE IN OUR CITY. FIRST, HIS FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE. BUT IF WE DON'T INVESTIGATE THIS, IT ALSO SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT ICE CAN OPERATE IN HOUSTON AND KILL PEOPLE WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. ALL HOUSTONIANS DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY EXIST IN OUR CITY. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEAR ICE DRIVING AROUND HOUSTON IN UNMARKED CARS, STOPPING ANYONE THEY SUSPECT OF BEING AN IMMIGRANT WITH THE ABILITY TO KILL PEOPLE WITHOUT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. PLEASE USE EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS MURDER, JUSTICE FOR THIS FAMILY, AND TO PROTECT ALL HOUSTONIANS OF THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. ALSO, UM, YOU ASK PEOPLE TO VOTE. I ALREADY VOTE. I'M PRETTY SURE MOST PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN VOTE, VOTE. AND I, UM, I KNOW THAT MOST OF US VOTE AND WE VOTE AND WE VOTED FOR OUR REPS HERE SO THAT THEY CAN ACT IN OUR INTEREST. NEXT, DENISE WILBORN. BRANDON THA NICOLE NAVARRO TO BE FOLLOWED BY MELISSA YARBOROUGH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NICOLE NAVARRO AND I'M A RECENT HEALTH GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. MY TIME IN MY CAREER HAS BEEN SPENT ENSURING THE HOUSTONIANS ARE SAFE, EDUCATED, AND HEALTHY. AND THAT COMMITMENT IS WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY. IN RECENT MONTHS, INCREASED AND AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS FROM ICE HAVE PLACED HOUSTONIANS IN A STATE OF CONSTANT FEAR. THERE. OFFICERS OF TERRORISTS OR COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RIPPED APART AS UNMARKED FANS, HAUL FATHERS AND MOTHERS TO DETENTION CENTERS, LEAVING THEIR RELATIVES WONDERING WHERE THEY ARE, IF THEY'RE SAFE. IF THEY'RE ALIVE, THESE ATTACKS CANNOT CONTINUE. I CALL THE MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU IN OFFICE. I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING. NUMBER ONE, STRICTER ORDINANCES THAT LIMIT COLLABORATION BETWEEN ICE AND HPD. AND NUMBER TWO, IN ORDER TO FUNCTION IN OUR CITY, ICE MUST BE HELD TO THESE STANDARDS. A TOTAL BAN ON GEAR APPAREL DESIGNED TO MASK THEIR IDENTITY, THE MANDATORY USE OF ACTIVE RECORDING BODY CAMERAS AT ALL TIMES AND PROHIBITING THE USE OF UNMARKED VEHICLES THAT ALLOW AGENTS TO STALK OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. IN SEC IN SECRET. MAYOR, ADMIRE IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO ACT LIKE THE MAYOR YOU PROMISED TO BE. AND STAND UP FOR CUSTODIANS. STAND UP FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE AFRAID. STAND UP FOR ALL THOSE WHO CALL THE CITY HOME. THANK YOU NICK. COUNCILOR AND CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD LUPE MENDEZ TO THE TWO MINUTE NON AGENDA. LIST THE BOTTOM SECOND. Y ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED AYE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. MELISSA YARBOROUGH. YOU GOT IT. KRISTEN CONTRERAS. YES. EXCUSE ME. TO BE FOLLOWED BY BIANCA SANTORINI. [01:05:06] HELLO EVERYONE. OKAY, UM, FIRST I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THIS CITY REMEMBERS, UM, YOUR VOICE MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER, OBVIOUSLY. AND, UH, I WON'T BE TALKING ABOUT THE AGENDA TODAY BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PRESSING ISSUES AT HAND. ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN CONTRERAS. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON. AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF MY PARENTS, I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A CERTIFIED TEACHER OF TEXAS, AND I USE THAT, UH, I USE THAT EDUCATION TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. I TAKE PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT I DO, BUT I MUST RECOGNIZE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE HAD MY PARENTS NOT COME AND LAID THEIR ROOTS IN THIS AMAZING CITY WE CALL HOUSTON. THIS IS THE REALITY OF A LOT OF CHILDREN OF AMER OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS. MOST OF US HAVE GROWN UP HEARING ABOUT COLLEGE SINCE WE WERE KIDS BECAUSE OUR PARENTS WANT US TO LIVE A LIFE BETTER THAN THE ONES THEY LIVE. ONE FILLED WITH HIGHER EDUCATION, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND A CHANCE AT LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM. I SAY ALL THIS TO HUMANIZE THE WORD IMMIGRANT BECAUSE I FEEL AS THOUGH LATELY A LARGE POPULATION HAS MADE THE WORDS SYNONYMOUS TO CRIMINAL. IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE FOR ME AS A US CITIZEN TO NOT SPEAK UP FOR MY COMMUNITY. TODAY MARKS A FULL WEEK SINCE ICE AGENTS NOT ONLY MURDERED, BUT CHASED DOWN AN INNOCENT HARDWORKING MAN, A FATHER LORENZO SALGADO ARJO. THERE ARE NO ANSWERS YET. ICE HAS ALREADY CLAIMED ANOTHER LIFE UP IN MAINE. SO I NEED TO ASK, WHEN DID POLITICIANS STOP FIGHTING FOR US? WHEN DID THEY LET ARMED MEN, UH, RUN THROUGH OUR CITIES WITH GUNS AND TERRORIZE OUR HARDWORKING RESIDENTS? WHY ARE ICE AGENTS TAKING IMMIGRANT PARENTS FROM SCHOOLS? WHY ARE WE, WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PUTTING THEM INTO OVERCROWDED FACILITIES AND SOMETIMES EVEN CAGES? WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU ALL FOR? IF NOT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE? THE MISTREATMENT OF LATIN AMERICANS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. AND I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS WARNING. EVERY YEAR A BUNCH OF CHILDREN TO IMMIGRANT PARENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE IT VERY EASY FOR THEM TO SEE ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THEY WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR POLITICIANS THAT ALLOWED MODERN DAY NAZIS TO PUBLICLY EXECUTE OUR PEOPLE AND PUT THEM INTO MODERN DAY CONCENTRATION CAMPS LIKE THEY DID THE JAPANESE AMERICANS IN 1942. LET US NOT REPEAT AMERICA'S UGLY HISTORY AND LET US CONTINUE THE DIVERSITY THAT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BIANCA SANTORINI TO BE FOLLOWED BY DUSTIN RHODES OF MISSOURI CITY. YES MA'AM. ALRIGHT, SO MY NAME IS BIANCA SANTORINI. I'M A ATTORNEY HERE IN HOUSTON. I PRACTICE CRIMINAL AND IMMIGRATION LAW. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME ACTION, UM, ON BEHALF OF CITY LEADERSHIP, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW MAYOR, HOW HARD IT IS TO MAYBE HAVE ONE IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON. AND THEN IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU MET WITH THE FAMILY, YOU REALIZED HOW BAD THE TACTICS USED BY THIS AGENCY REALLY ARE. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THE DA HAS ISSUED SUBPOENAS. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THIS, THIS IS A START. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE. THE SUBPOENAS, THE LABELING, HIS DEATH AS A HOMICIDE, ALL THOSE THINGS MATTER. AND I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR THOSE ACTIONS. NOW, AS AN ATTORNEY, I'VE BEEN TRAINED TO TRY TO ROOT MY ARGUMENTS IN FACTS AND NOT EMOTION. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL SITUATION, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT WE ARE HERE. SO I, MY OFFICE IS IN DISTRICT J WHERE I PRACTICE MOST OF MY CAREER. LATE OCTOBER OF 2025, I ACCOMPANIED ONE OF MY CLIENTS TO AN ICE CHECK-IN HERE AT 1 26 NORTH POINT. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT INTERVIEW WITH THE ICE OFFICER, WHEN I WAS WALKING OUT AND SPEAKING TO A SUPERVISOR, HE MADE A, UH, COMMENT TO THE EFFECT OF, IT WAS ABOUT TO BE HALLOWEEN WEEKEND. AND HE MADE A COMMENT TO THE EFFECT OF, WELL, I THINK WE'LL BE HAND HANDING OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE TRICKS THAN TREATS. AND I SAY THAT, AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE CULTURE GOING ON IN THIS INSTITUTION RIGHT NOW. SO WHEN HE SAID THAT, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? SOMETHING'S GONNA GO ON THIS FRIDAY. SOMETHING'S GONNA GO ON THIS WEEKEND. AND THEY ALWAYS HIT A CERTAIN AREA IN DISTRICT J AND THEY DID, THEY HIT CLUB CREEK. AND SO WHAT I DID, WHICH MY MOM WAS NOT VERY EXCITED ABOUT, I GOT UP AND I WENT TO WORK AT ABOUT FIVE 15 IN THE MORNING, FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING. IT WAS ME, MY CELL PHONE, AND GOD . AND WHAT I WITNESSED OUT THERE RESONATED WHERE WITH THE MAYOR WHEN HE CHANGES HIS POSITION, AS SOME WILL SAY, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A CHANGE OF POSITION, IT'S WHEN YOU'RE PRESENTED WITH FACTS THAT MAKE YOU SAY, WHOA, WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST SEE? AND SO I UNDERSTAND [01:10:01] IT, AND I THANK YOU FOR MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON CLUB CREEK. I WAS PRESENT AND I SAW THE SAME THINGS. I SAW WHAT WE SEE ON TV. I SAW WINDOWS BEING BUSTED OPEN. I SAW PEOPLE BEING DRAGGED OUT OF VEHICLES. SO I WENT LIVE ON FACEBOOK. I WENT LIVE BECAUSE I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD NOT GET A CHANCE MARIE TO POST THE VIDEO IF I DIDN'T GO LIVE. AND EVERYTHING THAT I CAUGHT WAS SUCH A PROVISION TO WHAT WE KNOW AS DUE PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES. BECAUSE THE WAY THAT A CIVILIZED SOCIETY CARRIES OUT LAWS IS THROUGH ARREST, THROUGH COURT PROCEEDINGS AND DUE PROCESS. AND I'M GONNA WRAP THIS UP. LET ME JUST TELL YOU, WHEN I LEFT THAT SCENE AND I HAD A LOT OF RECORDINGS AND I HAD A LOT OF INTERACTIONS WHEN I LEFT ON THE WAY TO MY OFFICE, I WENT, RAN UP ON A SCENE WHERE AN ICE OFFICER HAD DONE EXACTLY WHAT HE DID TO LORENZO. HE STOPPED, HE PIT MANEUVERED A VAN THAT WAS DRIVEN BY A 72-YEAR-OLD BLACK MAN WHO WAS VOLUNTEERING FOR A CHURCH, DRIVING A VAN FULL OF MENTALLY INCAPACITATED ADULTS WHO WERE GOING TO AN ADULT DAYCARE FOR THE DAY BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HAD GOT A BIG HIT. UM, THIS WAS ALL CAUGHT ON VIDEO. AND SO THE REASON I CAME TODAY IS BECAUSE WE SAY THAT WE WANNA MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. WELL, I HAVE WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE CALL RECEIPTS AND I HAVE HERE ENOUGH COPIES FOR EVERYBODY. AND WHAT I HAVE IS AFTER I WITNESSED THIS, I HAVE THIS ALL ON VIDEO. AFTER I WITNESSED THIS, I WAS CONTACTED BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO'S A US CITIZEN. THAT SAME DAY ON THAT SAME OPERATION, HE WAS PIT MANEUVERED AGAIN, IT'S ALL ON VIDEO. AND HE WAS MAZE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF HIS VEHICLE BY MASS MEN. GUESS WHAT HE DID? THANK, THANK YOU. I HAVE THE COPIES HERE. WE'LL, WE'LL HAND 'EM OUT. COUNCILMAN ELLA? THANK YOU MAYOR. HE CALLED 9 1 1. THERE'S A 9 1 1 RECORD. COME ON MA'AM. WE'VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE. UH, EXCUSE ME, I WANT TO JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. YEP. I KNOW I SAID I WOULDN'T COMMENT AFTER EVERYONE, BUT IT, UH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT ANECDOTE BECAUSE WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING LATELY IS THAT ICE IS AN UNTRAINED AND UNQUALIFIED AND FRANKLY A DANGEROUS ORGANIZATION. AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE, UM, MY SENTIMENTS THAT ICE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED. AND AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING THAT CONTEXT BECAUSE AGAIN, HOUSTON IS AN IMMIGRANT CITY AND THE ACTIONS WITH WHICH THEY ACT ARE ARE VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. AND AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. PROCEDURAL MOTION. I'M MOVE TO SUSPENDER. THANK YOU MA'AM. WE'LL HAND THAT OUT FOR YOU. PROCEDURAL MOTION. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I CAN CONTINUE. NO, I'M OFF. PROCEDURAL MOTION. WE'RE THROUGH. OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. WE AMPLE TIME, UH, PROCEDURAL MOTION TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS AS THE NEXT SPEAKER. SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED DATE. SO DONE. GALLS GALLEGOS, ROBERT GALLEGOS. THANK YOU. I'M ROBERT GALLEGOS, FORMER DISTRICT EYE COUNCIL MEMBER. AND I'M ALSO THE PROUD SON OF IMMIGRANTS. AND I'M APPALLED THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT I IS NOT HERE TODAY. IT HAS BEEN A WEEK SINCE LORENZO SALGADO ROJO WAS GUNNED DOWN AND MURDERED BY ICE AGENTS DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING. DHS HAS STATED HE WAS NOT THE TARGETED PERSON. IT WAS HIS CASE, A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. SO IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS RACIALLY PROFILED AND GUNNED DOWN BY ICE FOR BEING BROWN. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US. HISPANICS MAKE UP 46% OF HOUSTON'S POPULATION. WE ARE THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND IN TEXAS. GOVERNOR ABBOTT WAS QUICK TO THREATEN, THREATEN $114 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY FOR HOUSTON IN SUPPORT OF ICE IF CITY COUNCIL DIDN'T REVERSE THE APPROVED ICE ORDINANCE. AND UNFORTUNATELY THE MAYOR AND MOST OF CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO DO SO. NOW WE HAVE AN ICE MURDER ON HOUSTON STREETS. IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE THE MURDER OF LORENZO. GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND OTHER STATE GOP LEADERS HAVE NOT MENTIONED THE SHOOTING HAVE NOT EXTENDED THEIR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. THIS IS SHOCKING, BUT NOT SURPRISING. I ASK THAT WE TAKE OUR ANGER TO THE POST COME NOVEMBER AND WE VOTE THEM OUT. BUT WHAT IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING [01:15:01] AND CONCERNING IS THAT THE G THAT THE UH, SIX GOP COUNCIL MEMBERS AROUND THIS WHOLE SHOE HAVE FAILED US TO FOR NOT PUBLICLY DEMANDING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND YOUR LACK OF COMPASSION TO PUBLICLY OFFER YOUR CONDOLENCES TO THE WIFE AND SONS OF LORENZO SALGADO ARJO. SHAME ON Y'ALL. MS. ROBERT NEXT, DUSTIN RHODES OF MISSOURI CITY TO BE FOLLOWED BY OLIVIA SMITH. HELLO, MY NAME IS DUSTIN RHODES AND I'M A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN HOUSTON. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, AM HERE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ICE IS NOT WELCOME IN THIS CITY AND THAT KILLING OF LORENZO SALGADO CANNOT BE TREATED WITH DISREGARD. WE ARE TOLD THAT ICE IS HERE BECAUSE OUR STREETS ARE FLOODED WITH DANGEROUS CRIMINALS THAT THEY WERE SENT AT THE WORD OF A FELON. THEY CLAIM TO BE HERE TO DETAIN THE WORST OF THE WORST. YET A BELOVED FATHER IS DEAD. WE HAVE EYES, WE HAD EARS, AND WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION. YOU USE YOUR EARS RIGHT NOW. YOU'LL HEAR THE CHANCE AT THE STEPS OF THIS BUILDING. THERE IS NO POINT TO PRETENDING THAT ICE IS HERE TO PROTECT US. AND ANY ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE THAT LIE WILL ONLY SHOW THAT OUR SAFETY IS NOT YOUR CONCERN. ICE HAS FAILED TO SUPPORT THEIR VERSION OF THE KILLING IN ANY WAY. AND AFTER WE HAVE WATCHED THEM PLAINLY EXECUTE THREE AMERICANS, I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. THIS CITY, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION FOR ITS PEOPLE AND FOR ITS DECENCY TO INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE THE KILLING, TO REJECT FLOCK SECURITY AND TO STAND UP AND FIGHT THE PRESENCE OF ICE IN HOUSTON. YOU CAN BE DAMN SURE THAT I'LL BE VOTING NEXT YEAR, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M IN THE BENCHES. YOU ARE ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. SO NO MATTER WHAT KIND WORDS YOU ALL USE HERE TODAY, INACTION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO THE ACTIONS OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. NICK, THAT IS ALL OLIVIA SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE PADILLA. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S HERE RIGHT NOW. OUR COMMUNITY IS GRIEVING. WE GRIEVE THE LOSS OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO, A FATHER, A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR, A HOUSTONIAN. YOUR POSITION AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THE COMMUNITY IS HERE DEMANDING PROPER USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO BRING CHARGES UPON THE FEDERALLY SANCTIONED MASKED CRIMINALS TERRORIZING OUR CITIZENS. WE DEMAND THAT THE AGENT OR AGENTS BE IDENTIFIED IMMEDIATELY AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR HORRENDOUS CRIMES. THEY ACTED ILLEGALLY AND MURDERED AN INNOCENT MAN SIMPLY FOR BEING BROWN. WHERE IS THE LAW AND ORDER IN THAT? IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT LAW AND ORDER. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT PRESERVING THE DEEPLY INGRAINED CULTURE OF WHITE SUPREMACY. WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH PURSUIT OF PROFIT. HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT MEANS THIS IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS. THEY RUN YOUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT, THEY COOK YOUR FOOD, THEY LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILDREN, AND LIKE LORENZO, THEY BUILD YOUR HOUSES. THEY BREAK THEIR BACKS IN THE NAME OF GIVING THEIR FAMILIES A BETTER LIFE. AND THEY DESERVE TO BE HONORED FOR THAT. DOCUMENTED OR NOT. NOBODY EVER DESERVES TO BE GUNNED DOWN IN THE STREET OVER A PIECE OF PAPER. IT IS THE CIVIC DUTY, BUT ALSO THE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS COUNCIL, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DA, TO HOLD THOSE RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS UNACCEPTABLE VIOLENCE. I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK TO THOSE OF US THIS IN THIS ROOM AND BEYOND, WHO ARE AFRAID PEOPLE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT OR TAKE ACTION FOR FEAR OF SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES. I ASK YOU, WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS ARE BEING GUNNED DOWN IN THE STREETS, WHAT MORE DO WE HAVE TO LOSE AFTER THE LOSS OF ONE HUMAN LIFE, LET ALONE THE MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MURDERED BY ICE THIS YEAR ALONE, TWO INNOCENT FATHERS IN JUST ONE WEEK. THEY WANT TO SILENCE US. THEY WANT US TO BE AFRAID. THOSE OF US WHO ARE ABLE HAVE A DUTY TO STAND UP AND SAY, NOT ONE MORE ABOLISH ICE. NICK STEPHANIE PADILLA, TO BE FOLLOWED BY NORMA GARZA. WELL, I, I, I WANNA CLARIFY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. THERE'S BEEN A THIRD DEATH, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY'S IN THE LOOP RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE IS A THIRD DEATH THAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING IN MIAMI BECAUSE THE MAN WAS FLEEING FROM ICE AND GOT STRUCK BY A VEHICLE. SO LET'S SETTLE ON THAT. THAT'S THREE AND SEVEN DAYS, NOT INCLUDING OUR OWN. UM, I'M NOT GONNA COME HERE AND SPEAK TO YOU AND BERE WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, BECAUSE I DON'T, I I DON'T BELIEVE YOU EVEN CARE TO LISTEN. UM, SHE HAS PROVEN IT THE ENTIRE TIME YOU'VE BEEN ON YOUR PHONE BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO [01:20:01] THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY REQUESTING US TO VOTE, BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN GIVE US YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION FOR A FEW MINUTES, RIGHT? YAY, THAT MUCH. I'M HERE FOR ONE PURPOSE. WELCOME. I AM IYTI AM IMMIGRATING IN TEXAS, AND I AM HERE NOT JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT FOR ALL OF HOUSTON. SO I'M GOING TO INVITE EVERY SINGLE PERSON SITTING HERE TODAY TO COME OUT ON SUNDAY WITHOUT A POLITICAL AGENDA TO PROTEST FOR THE JUSTICE THAT WE ARE REQUESTING FOR MR. LORENZO'S FAMILY. I KNOW YOU GUYS PROBABLY HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A PROTEST, OR IF YOU HAVE, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A CAMERA THERE, BUT LEADERSHIP ISN'T ABOUT SHOWING UP. I HAVE COME TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND SPOKEN WITH YOU ABOUT COLLABORATING AND WORKING TOGETHER, AND I QUITE LITERALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO TAKE. OH, YOU DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THE KIDS CAME OUT? THANK YOU, MA'AM. IN MARCH. OH, NOW YOU DON'T WANNA TALK. GOT IT. NEXT. NORMA GARZA, LUPE MENDEZ. OH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUPE MENDEZ. MY NAME'S NORMA MOTU GARZA. FOR THE RECORD. NORMA MOTU. I GO BY NORMA MOTU. THERE'S A SCENE IN THE MOVIE SET IT OFF THAT ASKS A SIMPLE QUESTION, WHAT IS A PROTOCOL WHEN SOMEONE HAS A GUN POINTED TO YOUR HEAD? THE TRUTH IS, FEAR DOESN'T FOLLOW A PROCEDURE. I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE HAD A GUN POINTED AT MY HEAD. AND IN THAT MOMENT, MOMENT, YOUR HEART RACES, YOUR BODY GOES INTO SURVIVAL MODE. YOU DON'T CALL ME ANALYZE EVERY DETAIL. YOU DON'T ASK YOURSELF WHETHER IF THAT PERSON APPROACHING IS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SOMEONE INTENDING TO HARM YOU, YOU REACT BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. LORENZO SALGADO ARGO IN THE MORNING HOURS WAS BEING FOLLOWED BY UNMARKED VEHICLES. I CANNOT TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND, BUT I DO KNOW WHAT FEAR FEELS LIKE. WHEN YOUR BODY BELIEVES YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. IT DOESN'T STOP TO THINK ABOUT PROCEDURES. IT DOESN'T CALM ME ANALYZE WHO IS BEHIND YOU AND WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE. YOU GO INTO SURVIVAL MODE AGAIN, MY NAME IS NORMA MOTU, AND I COME TO YOU AS A GRANDDAUGHTER OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND A FATHER OF A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT AND AN EDUCATOR TEACHING CHILDREN OF HOUSTON, INCLUDING IN THE EAST END, A BUSINESS OWNER AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. I'M NOT HERE TO DEBATE IMMIGRATION POLICIES BECAUSE I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. I'VE GONE TO SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW AND I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT PROCEDURES. BUT DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, I WAS A CONTACT TRACER AND THEN BECAME A COVID ADMINISTRATOR. DURING THAT TIME, WE WATCHED FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE MATTER, WE EDUCATED COMMUNITIES, SHARED INFORMATION, WE ADAPTED. WHY SHOULD THIS BE ANY DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY? IF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT MUST TAKE PLACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEN LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY FEAR, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, ENCOURAGE DEESCALATION AT ALL TIMES, AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY THEY SWORE TO SERVE. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN DIGNITY SHOULD NEVER BE OPPOSITES. AS AN EDUCATOR, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE DO. OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME VALUES AS OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT. FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES LIVE WITH FEAR EVERY DAY AND FEEL JUDGED OR TREATED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR BECAUSE PERCEIVED TO BE IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER WE ARE BORN HERE OR NOT, THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN SHOULD NOT DETERMINE HOW SAFE THEY FEEL IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. FEAR IS REAL. FEAR. FEAR CHANGES HOW PEOPLE RESPOND. TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION FOR LORENZO SALAL RUGO. SO FACTS CAN BE FULLY EXAMINED. NO FAMILY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AND ENDURE THIS KIND OF LOSS WITHOUT CLEAR ANSWERS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. IF I NEED TO, I CAN HELP WITH EDUCATING ICE AGENTS, JUST LIKE I CREATED A COVID EDUCATION THAT ACTUALLY WANT, AT THE CDC ATLANTA, WE PUT TOGETHER COVID EDUCATION. WE CAN PUT TOGETHER AN ICE CO, AN ICE COALITION TRAINING IF I NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT. OKAY, I WILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD PRESENTATION. AGAIN. THANK YOU MARIO CASTILLO FOR LETTING ME TALK, AND THANK YOU, UM, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ FOR AT LEAST CALLING YOU FROM WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE SO THAT WE CAN BE HERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD KENDRICK SAMPSON, UM, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE THREE MINUTE NONE AGENDA LIST. OKAY, GOOD. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. [01:25:01] ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. NEXT LUPE MENDEZ. YEAH. TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS GREEN. GREETINGS. MY NAME IS WA MENENDEZ, TEXAS POET LORD EMERITUS, AND I COME HERE WITH YOU TO DEMAND THAT YOU PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AS BEST YOU CAN. YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO THE DEATH OF LORENZO SALGADO VO. CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BUT I ALSO ASK THAT YOU THINK AND STRATEGIZE GOING FORWARD, NOT REACTIVELY ON WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO TO ASSIST FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE INEXCUSABLE ACTIONS OF AGENTS FROM ICE. SO MANY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS LAWLESSNESS VOS, AND SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO GOFUNDME PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THEM. WHEN LOVED ONES ARE DISAPPEARED OR WORSE KILLED, SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DESIGN PLANS FOR THEIR UN FOR THEIR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES SAFE. YES, TO MY SCREEN, NOT GIVING OUT, UM, YES TO AN INVESTIGATION, BUT ALSO YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR OUR FAMILIES. WHAT WILL YOU DECIDE TO DO NEXT? THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW CALLING FOR CHANGE, AND THE NEXT MOVE IS YOURS, MAYOR ICE OUT OF HOUSTON ZO SALGADO. THANK YOU. NEXT BULLETS FRAGMENT ON IMPACT. LORENZO SALVADO. ARAJO WAS MURDERED ON TUESDAY, JULY 7TH BY AN ICE AGENT WITH A FATAL BULLET TO HIS STOMACH. NOT ONLY DID THAT BULLET TAKE A LOVING MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT ALSO FRAGMENTED AND IMPACTED EACH ONE OF US BY ESTABLISHING THE PRECEDENCE THAT AN ICE AGENT CAN MURDER WHOEVER THEY WANT, WHENEVER THEY WANT. IN THE HOUSTON OF CITY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHEN ONE HOUSTONIAN RIGHTS ARE TARNISHED, EVERY HOUSTONIAN RIGHTS ARE TARNISHED. IT'S BY THEIR VERY NATURE THAT RIGHTS ARE COLLECTIVE AND COMMUNAL. WE CANNOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO THIS EVENT SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WERE NOT SHOT OR WE DID NOT LOSE A FAMILY MEMBER. BUT WE CAN RESIST EYES. ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OPEN INTO HIS DEBT. IT'S BEING FRAMED THAT ALL WE CAN DO IS REGISTER TO VOTE AND CROSS OUR FINGERS THAT ICE AGENTS DON'T MOW DOWN ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS IF OUR CITY IS HELPLESS AND POWERLESS, BUT WE ARE NOT. IF YOU RESIST AND CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION, IT WILL ALSO CERTAINLY FRAGMENT AND BENEFIT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS CITY BY DEFENDING THEM FROM ICE. I HOPE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE BULLETS FRAGMENT ON IMPACT, BUT SO DOES RESISTANCE. NEXT, FREDERICK, FREDERICK WAGONER. ANNA BIRTHA. VERA WILL HILL. OH WAIT, ARE YOU MS. VERO? MOVE OVER TO THE MIC, MA'AM. DAMN. I [01:33:22] WILL HILL DR. MYRON HOPES OR CONROE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MEL MELVIN WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME. I'M NOT THE AUTHORITY FOR VETERANS, BUT AS A DISABLED VETERAN, I AM HERE, UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL THE DISABLED VETERANS WHO, WHO USE THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. UH, DISABLED VETERANS ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY PARKING. AND WHILE IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO ENJOY THIS PARKING, IT SHOULD NOT BE MET WITH SUCH HARSH RESTRICTIONS. MY PETITION TO THIS MAYOR, TO THIS COUNCIL, TO THIS CITY IS THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER, UH, REMOVING OR MAKING AN EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING, UH, THAT IS GRANTED TO VETERANS, TO DISABLE VETERANS. FOR BULLET NUMBER FOUR, I HAD, UH, MADE SOME COPIES, UH, BECAUSE IT, IT TALKS ABOUT HOW DO YOU QUALIFY? AND REAL QUICKLY, THIS FOURTH POINT, THE FIRST THREE ARE GOOD. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DAYS, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TIME. BUT THIS FOURTH POINT SAYS, YOU MUST PROVIDE CURRENT ORIGINAL UNEXPIRED DMV VEHICLE REGISTRATION, RENEWAL PAPER RECEIPT. THERE ARE VETERANS WHO ARE DISABLED, VETERANS WHO ARE DRIVING IN VEHICLES THAT DISPLAY THE DISABLED VETERAN LICENSE PLATE, WHO MAY NOT BE ON THE REGISTRATION FOR THAT VEHICLE. AND I JUST BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL RECEIVE [01:35:01] THAT COMPLIMENTARY PARKING. AND ALL I'M ASKING YOU ALL IS THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER REMOVING THAT FORT BULLET THAT SAYS, AS A DISABLED VETERAN, YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE REGISTRATION. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GONNA GIVE THE COMPLIMENTARY PARKING, GIVE IT. BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA RESTRICT IT, REMOVE IT. MY ARGUMENT IS SIMPLE. I THINK THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY, THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, SHOULD CONSIDER REMOVING THAT FOURTH BULLET AND LET THE VETERANS ENJOY THE COMPLIMENTARY POCKET THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, MELVIN WILLIAMS. MELVIN WILLIAMS, GRISELDA HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRENDA SAMUEL. MAYOR WHITMEYER. MAYOR WHITMEYER, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? AND I WANT YOU TO, I, I LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M ASKING YOU THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I SEE YOU GLAZING OFF. OKAY? DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS OR DO YOU HAVE ANY GRANDKIDS? PLEASE TESTIFY, MA'AM. NO, I'M ASKING YOU A QUESTION. YOU, YOU WORK FOR ME, JUDGE, I'M ASKING YOU. I PAY YOUR CHECK. DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS? FINE. NO. I'M ASKING YOU. WELL, NOT BECAUSE LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING. THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE. I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING. OKAY? WOULD YOU, AND YOU LOOK AT ME WHILE I'M TALKING TO YOU. DO YOU WANT, MA'AM, ANY OF YOUR KIDS BEING HUNTED DOWN LIKE ANIMALS AS WHAT THEY DID TO OUR NATIVE OUR NATIVE, UH, BROTHER? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? YOU WOULDN'T LIKE THAT, WOULD YOU? EXACTLY. 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. THINK ABOUT IT. ONE OF YOUR RELATIVES HELPLESS, WHILE SEVEN MEN ARE, ARE SEVEN MEN. ONE, HELP THIS MAN. BY WHAT? BY SEVEN MEN GETTING BEATEN DOWN. YOU WOULDN'T WANT THAT. AND I'M PRETTY SURE ANY ONE OF YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THIS STAFF WOULD WANT IT JUST AS FOR LORENZO. AND BY ALL OF YOU. WE, WE PAY, WE PAY YOUR PAYCHECK. BUT YOU ARE HERE IS BECAUSE OF OUR VOTE. WE PAY FOR ALL OF YOU WITHOUT US. YOU ARE NOTHING, MAN. YOU SOLD US OUT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID? THE FLOCK CLIMBERS THAT YOU HAVE INVESTED WITHOUT US CONSENT. YOU WASTED THAT MONEY INSTEAD OF BUILDING, INSTEAD OF FIXING OUR POT HOSE, OUR SEWER, OUR TRASH BINS NOW LOOK LIKE CRAP. BUT YOU WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF. YOU CAN COUGH ALL YOU WANT TO, BUT IT'S THE FACTS. AND YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? BECAUSE OF MY SKIN COLOR, BECAUSE I'M BROWN. IT'S ALL THIS ABOUT ETHNIC CLEANSING. BRENDA SAMUEL, UH, SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY. SHE HAD A FAMILY MATTER. OKAY. DORIS WESLEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNA BROOKS. HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS DORIS WESLEY, AND I'M 64. I'LL BE 65. MICROPHONE. SAY WHAT? THE MIC OVER HERE. OH, THAT'S READY. OKAY. HELLO EVERYBODY. I'M 64. I'LL BE 65. SEPTEMBER THE THIRD. UH, I'M HERE BECAUSE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, LET ME PUT MY EYES ON HERE. UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER, DEPARTMENT HOME REPAIR PROGRAM BUILT A HOUSE FOR MY HUSBAND AND I, WHICH HE PASSED AWAY A YEAR AFTER THE FACT. AND BRENDA SAMUEL WAS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT HER HOUSE ALSO. UM, I WANT YOU ALL TO SEE THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY HOUSE. THE OUTSIDE IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. OKAY? UNDER THE HOUSE, THEY BUILT THE HOUSE ON TOP OF ALL THE RUBBISH OF THE OLD HOUSE, OKAY? [01:40:02] UM, THIS IS MORE PICTURES OF RUBBAGE. UH, I HAD THE INSPECTORS TO COME OUT. THEY SAID, OH, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE IS POPPING, FLOORS COMING APART. I SHOWED 'EM THAT I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S ARTISTIC, JUST ME AND HER NOW IN MY HUSBAND PASS. THIS IS MY, UH, KITCHEN FLOOR WHERE IT IS A BIG HOLE THAT'S COMING IN HERE, UH, RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF MY KITCHEN CABINET. I CAN'T WASH MY DISHES BECAUSE IT'S A HOLE. OKAY? HERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE OF HOW THE FLOOR COMING TO LOOSE IN MY WASHROOM IN FRONT OF MY WASHING MACHINE. BIG HOLE. THE FLOOR IS COMING LOOSE. THIS IS HOW THEY DID. THE CORKING IS AROUND THE, UH, WASHER. IT'S MOWED, UH, RIGHT HERE. UH, MOW THE MILDEW IN THE WASHER ROOM WHERE THEY GOT WATER RUNNING INTO THE PIPES. THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT ONLY SIX YEARS AGO. THEY HAVE MY ID ON MY HOUSE FOR 10 YEARS. ALL THE PLUGS ARE COMING. A LOOSE, BREAKING APART. OKAY? HERE IT IS, THE LIGHT SWITCHES. OKAY, MA'AM, LEFT SIDE. THIS IS IN THE BATHROOM. MOLD AND MEAL DUE AROUND THE TOILET BATHROOM FLOOR, MA'AM? MAYOR PRO DRYER, UH, HOT WATER TANK IS MS. MS. WESLEY UHHUH. , UM, S IS HERE. UM, YOUR, WAS YOUR HOME REPAIRED THROUGH THE GLO, THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE OR FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT? THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. BUT WHAT, WHAT CITY OF HOUSTON? THE HOME REPAIR. IT'S WHERE I OWN MY OWN HOUSE. THEY ASKED MY HUSBAND DUE TO HIM BEING A CITIZEN, UH, SENIOR CITIZEN, IT WAS GOING TO REPAIR, UH, BUILD A HOUSE, GROWN UP. THEY TORE DOWN OUR OLD HOUSE. RIGHT? WHICH MY OLD HOUSE, THE ONLY THING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE ROOF WAS LEAKING. NO, I DIDN'T. BUT WE HAD A TA POLICE. SO I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO TALK TO REBECCA WILLIAMS, UM, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, OKAY? UM, AND WE CAN CHECK AND SEE IF THE GLOS WARRANTY PROGRAM CAN ASSIST YOU WITH THOSE HOME REPAIRS, BUT SHE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP NAVIGATE YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS. OKAY? BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH ARUN JONES AT THE CITY. HE SAID, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. NO, I WANT TO SPEAK TO REBECCA AND, UH, I WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. OKAY? TALK TO REBECCA. SHE'LL HELP YOU NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS, OKAY? AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S MO MILL DEAL AND HAN CITY, UH, OSHAN LUMBER CAME OUT AND THEY THE ONE THAT LET ME KNOW THAT THE HOUSE IS HEAVILY, I MEAN, IT'S, HE SAID IT'S GONNA CAUSE ME BAD HEALTH PROBLEMS LATER IN THE YEARS. OKAY? WE'LL TRY TO HELP YOU, MA. THANK, GOOD LUCK IS REBECCA. OKAY, LEMME GET MY NEXT ANNA BROOKS, RITA PIER, ANGELA FREEMAN, NOEL FREEMAN, EXCUSE ME, TO BE FOLLOWED BY RISTE TRIP. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. UH, IMAGINE YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR RUNNING A LEAF BLOWER 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THAT IS THE SITUATION AT MY HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE HVAC SYSTEM AT 1002 WEST 11TH STREET, WHICH IS SOON GOING TO BE CALLED ANGIE'S PIZZA. NOW, THIS DEVELOPER, THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY, HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BAD FAITH. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE TENANT, ANGIE'S PIZZA, WHO'S TAKEN A NICER APPROACH. UM, BUT THEY HAVE DONE, UP TO THIS POINT, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO CONSTRUCTIVELY SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR EVEN REDUCE THE PROBLEM. AND THEIR HVAC SYSTEM IS RUNNING BETWEEN 90 AND 94 DECIBELS AT MY PROPERTY LINE. AND MY GARAGE APARTMENT IS SIX FEET BEYOND THAT PROPERTY LINE. IT'S RUNNING 71 DECIBELS INSIDE THE HOUSTON NOISE ORDINANCE LIMITS HVAC SYSTEMS TO 65 DECIBELS OR LESS AT THE RECEIVING PROPERTY LINE. HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS APPROVED THE CREATION OF THIS NUISANCE. THEY DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THIS MASSIVE HVAC SYSTEM WOULD CREATE NOISE. THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT IT'S 14 FEET FROM A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING AND ADDING INSULT TO INJURY. THE DEVELOPER HAS, OR THE TENANT HAS APPLIED FOR, OR WILL APPLY FOR AN AMPLIFIED SOUND PERMIT. SO I'VE GOT HVAC BLASTING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND MUSIC BLASTING FROM THE OTHER. I'VE HAD THREE ASKS, AND IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, I WILL TELL YOU, NUMBER ONE, I WOULD LIKE MAYOR WHITMEYER TO COMPEL PUBLIC WORKS TO FORCE A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE RESTAURANT OPENED FRIDAY NIGHT, SO THEY HAVE NO MORE INCENTIVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. [01:45:01] THE SECOND THING IS TO DENY THE AMPLIFIED SOUND PERMIT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FINALLY, FOR THIS COUNCIL TO AMEND THE AMPLIFIED SOUND PERMIT ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THAT WRITTEN NOTICE BE SENT TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN 250 FEET OF THE APPLICANT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NO, UH, COUNCILOR PANAL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, NOELLE. UM, I'M BEING CUT UP TO SPEED ON THIS. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT OUR OFFICE IS FOLLOWING UP ON IT AND WE'LL BE IN CONTACT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS, . HI, NOLL. GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, AS YOU KNOW, I WORKED ON THE NOISE ORDINANCE A LOT AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP, UM, WITH THAT. CERTAINLY IF THEY'RE ALREADY ABOVE THE APPROVED DECIBEL LEVELS THAT THEY CAN'T, I CAN HEAR IT INSIDE MY HOUSE, RIGHT? WITH MY AIR FILTERS RUNNING. YEAH. NO, IF THEY, THEY'RE AND MY AC UNIT RUNNING, IF THEY'RE ALREADY OVER, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. SO SEND, SEND IT TO ME AS WELL, AND I'M HAPPY TO BACK UP. UM, I, I SENT A VIDEO TO YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA OF THE SOUND INSIDE MY GARAGE APARTMENT. OKAY. I SENT PUBLIC WORKS AND A RA BOTH VIDEO FROM OUTSIDE SHOWING IT AT 94 DECIBELS AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. OKAY. I'M HAPPY TO FORWARD THAT TO BOTH OF YOUR OFFICES. NO, NO, NO. I MEAN, WE, I'M SURE WE HAVE IT AND I'M SURE JORDAN'S ALREADY SENT IT ON, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON IT FOR SURE. AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND A RA, JUST FOR THE RECORD, HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY NON-RESPONSIVE. ALL THE TIMES I'VE CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS CONTACTED ME. OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET A RESPONSE THE CUSTOMER HAS. WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET A RESPONSE. THANK YOU. TI TRIP ING TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARCUS TRO. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TI TI, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT F AND A VOLUNTEER OF HINDU SW. IT IS AN HONOR TO JOIN YOU IN THE CELEBRATING OF AMERICA'S TWO 50TH ANNIVERSARY. AS HINDU AMERICANS WHO PROUDLY CALL HOUSTON HOME, WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE FREEDOMS AND THE OPPORTUNITY THIS NATION HAS GIVEN US. HOUSTON'S DIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST STRENGTH. OUR COMMUNITY IS PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGH VOLUNTEERING SERVICES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CHARITABLE ACTIVITY, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR CITY STRONGER. THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF OUR TRADITION WAS DEBA. THE WORLD IS ONE FAMILY. THE TIMELESS VALUE INSPIRES US TO SERVE OTHERS, BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS COMMUNITIES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMON GOOD. TO MARK THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE. MOREOVER THAN 40 HINDU TEMPLES ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON AREA, DISPLAYED AMERICA'S TWO 50TH ANNIVERSARY BANNERS EXPRESSING A GRATITUDE AND THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES THAT UNITE US ALL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NATION'S 250 YEARS OF FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT MARCUS TROOP TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE LEBLANC. HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, HOW YOU DOING MAYOR CITY COUNCILMAN? I'M A, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT B MISS ASHA JACKSON. ON MAY 14TH, UH, SOME OF Y'ALL CITY WORKERS CAME IN MY YARD AND DUG A 15 FOOT BY FOUR FOOT BY FOUR FOOT DEEP HOLE IN MY YARD, REPLACED THE PIPE AND, UH, REPLACED THE HYBRID. I WAS WAITING ON, UH, THE REPLACEMENT OF A SAW AND GRASS. NO ONE EVER CAME AND, UH, FIXED MY YARD. AND I'VE BEEN WAITING AND CALLING MY, UH, CITY COUNCILMAN IN 3 1 1. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND, UH, I NEED SOME RESULTS. WILL YOU TALK, REBECCA? WE'LL GET SOME ACTION ON THAT REAL QUICK. TALK TO MS. WILLIAMS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WAS IT PUBLIC WORKS? PROBABLY. YEAH. PUBLIC WORKS. THEY CAME AND REPLACED THE FIRE HYDRANT. UH, YEAH. YES SIR. TALK TO MS. WILLIAMS. WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME HELP. OH, COUNCILMAN SALINAS? UH, I HAD A PROCEDURAL MOTION. OH, OH, UH, YOU RECOGNIZE? YES. UM, I'D LIKE TO, UH, SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE UP HANNAH ROME MEADOW TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE PRESENT MOTION PASSES. HANNAH ROMERO. OH, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS, UH, REVEREND HANNAH E. ATKINS ROMERO, AND I SERVE AS RECTOR OF TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN MIDTOWN HOUSTON. I'M A CO-FOUNDER OF THE MIGRATION [01:50:01] WITH DIGNITY COALITION OF FAITH-BASED ECUMENICAL LOCAL GROUP THAT RECENTLY ADVOCATED FOR THE END OF NON-TRAFFIC SAFETY STOPS, UM, AND AN END TO HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION WITH ICE. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS RECEIVED RECOGNITION FROM YOU ALL AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION FOR WORLD REFUGEE DAY. I COME AS A PASTOR, A HOUSTONIAN, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT YEARS WALKING ALONGSIDE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. I'M HERE BECAUSE THE DEATH OF LORENZO SALGADO. RAJO HAS SHAKEN OUR CITY. I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL VIGILS OVER THE RECENT WEEK WHERE THE FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN UP SEEKING SUPPORT AND ANSWERS. WE ARE TOLD THAT HE WAS NOT THE INTENDED TARGET. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OFFICERS WERE REPORTEDLY OPERATING IN UNMARKED VEHICLES AND WITHOUT BODY CAMERAS. FOX NEWS 26 AND OTHERS QUOTED DHS THAT ICE AGENTS WERE ACTING ON A TIP FROM THEIR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS IN HOUSTON. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THAT WAS HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHETHER EVERY DETAIL IS ULTIMATELY CONFIRMED THROUGH INVESTIGATION, THOSE FACTS ALONE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. IF ARMED OFFICERS CAN PERUSE, PURSUE SOMEONE IN UNMARKED VEHICLES WITHOUT BODY CAMERAS AND AN INNOCENT FATHER CAN LOSE HIS LIFE, THEN EVERY HOUSTONIAN SHOULD BE ASKING WHAT SAFEGUARDS EXIST TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. WE ESPECIALLY CALL FOR THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES OF THE THREE BRAVE WITNESSES, PRESUMABLY UNDOCUMENTED AS THEY WERE TAKEN INTO DETENTION CENTERS THAT HOUSTON, THAT YOU ALL MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE, THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED, THAT THEY ARE NOT DEPAR DEPORTED, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO TELL THE TRUTH WITHOUT FEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. I ASK THIS COUNSEL TO INSIST ON FULL TRANSPARENCY AND TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF EVERYONE WHO CALLS HOUSTON HOME, WHETHER THEY HAVE A SLIP OF PAPER, A CERTAIN NUMBER OR NOT, AND TO NOT LET GOVERNOR ABBOTT REVERSE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE AS A CITY COUNCIL. JUSTICE IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. JUSTICE IS ABOUT TRUTH, AND TRUTH IS THE BEGINNING OF HEALING. SCRIPTURE TEACHES US THAT EVERY HUMAN LIFE BEARS THE IMAGE OF GOD. JESUS TELLS US IN MATTHEW 25, I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD. I WAS THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK. I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU WELCOMED ME. AND IN LEVI, LEVITICUS, WE HEAR GOD'S COMMAND. WHEN A STRANGER RESIDES IN YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL NOT OPPRESS THE STRANGER. THE STRANGER WHO RESIDES WITH YOU SHALL BE TO YOU AS A CITIZEN AMONG YOU. YOU SHALL LOVE THE STRANGER AS YOURSELF, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT. THESE ARE NOT SIMPLY RELIGIOUS IDEALS. THEY ARE CALLED TO RECOGNIZE THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON OF EVERY HOUSTONIAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GEORGE LEBLANC, GENEVA CORBERT OF AIR, BOW TIE, BUGSY, ARMAGHAN CHA CHA CONNIE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I KNOW I HAVE A DIFFICULT LAST NAME. MY NAME IS ARM. I AM A POLITICAL AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST FROM AFGHANISTAN. I COME FROM A COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY ERASED FROM PUBLIC LIFE. FOR FIVE LONG YEARS, GIRLS AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN DENIED THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO EDUCATION AND EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOL, UNIVERSITIES, AND MANY ASPECTS OF SOCIETY. TODAY I STAND HERE AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING WORLD REFUGEE DAY AND FOR HONORING THE [01:55:01] STRENGTH RESIDENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF REFUGEES. I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. WE ARE KINDLY AND RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU TO WORK ON POLICY THAT EASE THE FEAR AND CHAOS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MINK JANDOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHARIFA HUSSEIN. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'LL START BY SAYING, UH, WALL PEACE STARTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. I AM PROFESSOR JOWAN. I'M A PROUD IAN, UH, AND A FORMER CANDIDATE FOR TEXAS HEALTH DISTRICT ONE 40, THE NINE IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN KATIE AREA. WE ARE HERE TODAY, UH, BECAUSE WE ARE RECOGNIZED AS A REFUGEE IN THIS WORLD REFUGEE DAY. BUT, UH, AS A FORMER REFUGEE, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND ALL THE REST OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, HONORABLE SALINAS FOR INVITING US HERE. UH, WE ARE HERE TODAY ALSO, BUT WE CANNOT IGNORE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HERE BECAUSE OF THE LINGERING FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY, DUE TO THE CURRENT, UH, IMMIGRATION POLICY CHANGE. UH, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES SAY, WE ARE KINDLY, RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR POLICY TO BE EASED. AND SO THE FEAR CAN GO AWAY. IN OUR COMMUNITY, IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE CONFIDENT HAS BEEN TESTED AS A, AS A PROFESSOR IN COLLEGE. I SEE THIS IN REAL TIME AFTER EVERY CLASS THAT I TEACH THAT STUDENT COME BACK IN MY CLASS AND TELL ME THAT MY PARENTS CANNOT LEAVE THE HOUSE THREE OR FOUR DAYS NOW BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY WILL FOLLOW THEM HOME. AND IF WE DON'T WORK ON POLICIES THAT CAN EASE THIS FEAR AND CHAOS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE GONNA KEEP HAVING PROBLEM, LIKE, UH, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH LORENZO. SO WE JUST KINDLY, RESPECTFULLY, SOMETIMES PEOPLE SPEAK OUT OF PASSION. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ALL THE SKILLS FROM PEOPLE THAT COME HERE. BUT THAT'S OUR LIFE IS WHEN SOMEBODY LIFE GO AWAY. YOU CAN'T COME BACK. SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THAT. AND WE SHOULD WORK ON POLICY THAT CAN CHANGE THINGS AROUND BASED ON WHAT'S GOING ON. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND THANK THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE FAMILY. AND PLEASE, LET'S KEEP THEIR FAMILY IN OUR HEART. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS SHARIFA SHAKIRA. I AM ROHINGYA WOMAN FROM MYANMAR, OR KNOWN AS BURMA, AND THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROHINGYA WOMEN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK. IT'S AN, UM, 5 0 1 C HERE. I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY AS A FORMER REFUGEE, BUT ALSO A PROUD HISTORIAN AND A PROUD US CITIZEN WHO DEEPLY VALUES THE OPPORTUNITIES, THE FREEDOMS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THIS COUNTRY AND THE CITY HAS GIVEN TO ME. THE ROHINGYA PEOPLE ARE ONE OF THE WORLD MORE SOPHISTICATED MINORITIES. MANY OF US FLAG GENOCIDE, VIOLENCE, AND PERSECUTION IN SAFE, IN SEARCH OF SAFETY, HOUSTON HAS BECOME HOME TO MANY REFUGEES. FAMILIES. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD OUR LIVES HERE. BUT REBUILDING A LIFE REQUIRES MORE THAN SAFETY. IT REQUIRES OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUSION, AND MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION. WE NEED GREATER SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES. INTEGRATION THROUGH EDUCATION, ENGLISH LEARNING, UH, UH, LANGUAGE LEARNING, WORKFORCE TRAINING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP AND SERVICE ENGAGEMENT. WE ALSO NEED GUIDANCE AND ACCESS TO RESOURCE THAT HELP FAMILIES BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY. WHEN REFUGEES ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, WORK, PARTICIPATE, THEY BECOME ENTREPRENEURS, SKILLS WORKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, TAXPAYERS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE STRAIGHTEN OUR COMMUNITY WHO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY AND ENRICH A CULTURE FABRIC OF HOUSTON. OKAY. I ALSO ENCOURAGE GREATER CIVIC AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AMONG REFUGEES WHEN PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD HOW LAW, HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. OKAY. THEY BECAME MORE CONNECTED, MORE RESPONSIBLE, AND MORE INVESTED IN THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. [02:00:01] NOW THEY CALL HOME. VERY GOOD. I ASK YOU TO SEE REFUGEE AS A I I SEE, UM, I ASK YOU TO SEE REFUGEE NOT AS BURDEN, BUT AS A PEOPLE WITH EXTRAORDINARY RESILIENCE, UN UNSTOPPABLE POTENTIAL. EVERY REFUGEE REPRESENTS HUMAN POTENTIAL. WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU MA'AM. WHEN WE INVESTIGATE, UH, INVESTED IN EDUCATION, SKILL, LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRATION, WE ARE NOT SIMPLY HELPING REFUGEES. WE ARE INVESTING IN HOUSTON FUTURE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. ROGER HURD ALEXANDER. HE'S HERE. OH, HE'S HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDY VITO. HOW YOU DOING? UM, MY NAME IS ROGER HURT ALEXANDER. UM, ALRIGHT. UM, I WAS HERE A YEAR AGO. UM, I HAD DID 24 YEARS IN PRISON. AND UM, WHEN I GOT OUT, THEY HAD, THEY HAD FOUND ME. I DID IT OVER MY TIME. AND, UM, WHEN I CAME HOME, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. UM, I FILED ALL MY PAPERWORK AND STILL YET, IT IS ANOTHER YEAR BY NOW. UM, I JUST GOT THE HOSPITAL. I HAVE WHAT THEY CALL IN CARDITIS. AND, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE NO INSURANCE. THEY, UM, THEY PUT ME OUT. THEY SAID I NEED SIX, SIX WEEKS WORTH OF IVS. UM, I'M HOMELESS. UM, AND IT IS JUST LIKE EVERYTHING I'M TRYING TO DO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I'M HITTING, HITTING THE BRICK WALL. YOU KNOW, THIS THING I'M HEARING ABOUT. I HAVEN'T WATCHED TV. I NEVER KNEW, I NEVER EVEN KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ABOUT THE ICE AND THINGS. YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE STREETS TRYING TO JUST SURVIVE MY BODY. MY BODY HURTS. I CAN'T GET MY MEDICATION. MY, UM, MY MEDICATION I THINK IS 2 70, 200 $70. UM, AND I SAY I NEED A, I IN TRI IV. WHERE, UP WHERE, WHERE DO YOU RESIDE? UM, I RESIDE, I'M, I'M IN THE THIRD WARD AREA NOW, BUT I'M HOMELESS, SO I HAVE NOWHERE. THEY JUST PUT ME AT THE HOSPITAL, UH, THE WHOLE PAST YEAR. I JUST BEEN IN THE STREETS SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME. YOU STILL, ARE YOU STILL ON PAROLE? NO. DISCHARGED. THEY FOUND OUT, UM, I HAD TO DO A 2254 TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THEM TO RE TO RELEASE ME. 'CAUSE THEY HAD ME WAY PAST THE TIME I POSTED THE YEAR. OKAY. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER. EVER SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MR. HEARD ALEXANDER, UM, IF YOU WOULD DO THE LADY RIGHT THERE, UH, INGRAM MITCHELL, AND SHE CAN MAYBE TALK TO YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A DISTRICT D WELL THAT'S THE ADDRESS YOU GAVE, WHICH IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THE JACK GATES HIGH SCHOOL. ALRIGHT? YES MA'AM. JAY, AND I'M JY FOR LIFE. BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER, THEN MAYBE WE COULD HELP TO NAVIGATE YOU, UH, TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GET, UH, HEALTHCARE. NOW, HEALTHCARE IN THIS COUNTRY SUCKS. BUT WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN ASSIST YOU. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SHE'S RIGHT THERE BEHIND, RIGHT THERE IN THE JACKET. IN THE, IN THE RIGHT THERE IN THE DOOR. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. NEXT. SANDY BENTO. I THOUGHT IT WAS HER. MM-HMM. MR. Q ANNIE MANAS OF KATIE TO BE FOLLOWED BY PAUL MANAS OF KATIE. HELLO. UM, MS. MAYOR WHITMEYER, I, UH, THIS IS MY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING. I HEARD YOU SPEAKING AND I HEARD YOU SPEAKING IN THE BEGINNING WITH SENSITIVITY AND INTELLIGENCE ABOUT ICE ACCOUNTABILITY. I WAS GLAD I WAS, I GUESS SURPRISED. BUT YOU SPOKE WITH SENSITIVITY, YOU SPOKE WITH WHAT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE COMMITMENT. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I HEARD YOU AND I'M LISTENING AND I'M, I'M WANTING YOU TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. FOR BEING, SEEING HERE. YES, SIR. OKAY. I'M, I'M, NEXT UP. I'M PAUL MONAS. HER ANNIE IS MY WIFE. SO I WAS NEXT UP TO SPEAK, [02:05:01] IF YOU WILL. CAN I GO NOW? YEAH. OKAY. SO, UM, I GREW UP IN INDIA AND I SPENT MY EARLY LIFE THERE. AND SO I CAME TO AMERICA EVEN THOUGH I HAD AMERICAN PARENTS AS A SORT OF IMMIGRANT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I RESPECT MOST ABOUT LIVING HERE IN THE US AND ABOUT HOUSTON IS THE RULE OF LAW. AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET ICE TO FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW. I ALSO WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOR MY EDUCATION. AND UP THERE, THE PUBLIC TRIED TO BRING IN ICE BY FOLLOWING ICE AROUND AND DOCUMENTING IT. AND AS YOU KNOW, ALEX PRETY AND RENEE GOODE WERE SHOT TRYING TO JUST FILM WHAT ICE WAS DOING. TO HAVE A RECORD, AN IDEA I HAD TO PRESENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS MAYBE YOU COULD ASSIGN A POLICE OFFICER WITH A BODY CAM TO FOLLOW THE ICE OFFICERS AROUND, AT LEAST UNTIL THEY CHANGED THEIR BEHAVIOR. AND AT LEAST THAT WOULD'VE WARNED LORENZO THAT THERE WAS AN ICE EVENT HAPPENING. 'CAUSE HE HAD NO WAY TO KNOW. SO THAT'S JUST AN INTERVENTION THAT COULD BE DONE LIKE THE PUBLIC DID IN MINNESOTA. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT AND I SUPPORT YOUR GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY, NEXT. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION. COUNCILOR JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GOING TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO, UM, HAVE KENDRICK SAMPSON AS THE NEXT SPEAKER. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES. KENDRICK SAMPSON. UH, HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? UM, I AM, UM, SO PROUD OF HOUSTON AND THEM STANDING UP RIGHT NOW. UM, MY MY QUESTION HONESTLY IS WHY IS HOUSTON NOT PROTECTING ITS PEOPLE? UM, THAT'S, THAT'S MY DIRECT QUESTION. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE? LIKE WHAT, WHAT LINE DO WE HAVE TO DRAW? CUT TIES WITH ICE, PERIOD. THERE'S A RISE IN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND SPECIFICALLY IN HOUSTON. AND THE RISE IN VIOLENCE IS COMING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, FROM COPS TO ICE. THERE'S A SHOOTOUT. I MEAN, THE, THE, THE, THE ANNIVERSARY OF SANDRA BLAND'S MURDER WAS YESTERDAY. YESTERDAY WAS THE ANNIVERSARY OF SANDRA BLAND'S MURDER. AND IN 2026, OVER A DECADE LATER, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS HAVING SHOOTOUTS WITH UNARMED CITIZENS. AND NOW Y'ALL HAVE INVITED ICE LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO COME IN HERE AND MURDER OUR CITIZENS, OUR PEOPLE MURDERING A CITIZEN LIKE LORENZO SALGADO RAJO. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICE CORRUPTION HERE AND NOW Y'ALL ARE INVITING AND COLLABORATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY TO ABUSE AND MURDER OUR PEOPLE. WHY AREN'T Y'ALL PROTECTING US? THAT'S THE QUESTION. WHERE DO Y'ALL DRAW THE LINE? IT SHOULD ONLY TAKE ONE. IT SHOULD BE NOT ONE MORE, NOT ONE MORE MURDER, NOT MORE. ONE MORE ABUSE CASE. NOT ANYTHING. NOT WAITING UNTIL IT GETS TO OUR FRONT DOOR. IF WE'RE, IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA PROTECT US, WE SHOULD NOT PROTECT Y'ALL. WE SHOULDN'T PROTECT Y'ALL SEATS WE SHOULDN'T PROTECT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I, I'M DEAD COLLABORATING WITH ICE. COLLABORATING WITH ICE IS COLLABORATING WITH JIM CROW. THANK YOU. IT, IT'S COLLABORATING WITH THE DELUSION OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND WITH A HUGE POPULATION OF BLACK AND BROWN MIGRANTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY. THE CALL TO ABOLISH ICE AND DISCONNECT EVERYTHING FROM ICE SHOULD BE LOUDEST FROM HOUSTON. OKAY. AND FROM OUR LEADERSHIP ALONE, WE SHOULD BE THE LOUDEST ON THE WORLD STAGE SAYING THANK YOU, ABOLISHED ICE CUT, TIES WITH ICE, AND WE CAN GET THEM THE F**K OUTTA HOUSTON. ANDREW PATTERSON. ADRIANA EZ. YES, HE'S HERE. OKAY. TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADRIANA ES HELLO, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. SO I WANNA THANK, THANK YOU MR. POLLARD FOR PUTTING MY NAME ON THE LIST. UH, TODAY SEEMS TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR EVERYBODY. BUT THE, TO MAKE IT LONG AND SHORT, THE MAYOR STOOD OUT YESTERDAY AND SAID THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT CAN BE DONE WITH REGARDS TO DOING ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION. AND HE'S RIGHT. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS HANDLING HIM. BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN GET THE HPD AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, [02:10:01] GET THE BEST PERSONNEL THAT DO INVESTIGATIONS, AND GET THEM DEPUTIZED BY ICE SO THEY CAN DO THE INVESTIGATION AND THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT ALL EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE PROPERLY. AND IT'S NOT GONNA DISAPPEAR. IT'S SURPRISING TO LEARN TO HOW MANY DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE US AS A RESULT OF MY INTERVENTION AND DOING THINGS. SUPPOSEDLY, THEY KNOW 4,000 VIOLATIONS THAT OCCUR. I DOUBT THOSE GUYS EVEN KNOW ONE OR TWO AND ACTUALLY HOW TO HANDLE THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SOUGHT. IT'S RATHER UNFORTUNATE. THE RESULTS ARE THAT PEOPLE ARE KILLED. UM, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS ACTUALLY. JUST ONE THING, PLEASE. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ICE WAS CREATED BY A PRESIDENT WHO RECENTLY STATED THAT THE COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT ARE FIGHTING AMERICA, AND HE POINTED OUT SPECIFICALLY THE REPUBLIC, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF JAPAN. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. NEXT. ALSO, S WEDNESDAY IS ANOTHER TERM THAT'S USED IN SPANISH TO DESCRIBE THE A, UH, ICE. S THANK YOU. NEXT ADRIANA? UM, YEAH. YEAH. OH, OKAY. TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIA CERVANTES. WE, YOU CAN PULL THAT DOWN. YEAH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE STOOD, OR AT LEAST I STOOD IN THIS CHAMBER MONTHS AGO AND WARNED YOU THIS VERY THING WOULD HAPPEN AND, UH, TOLD YOU WHERE THIS ROAD WOULD LEAD. BUT WHEN THE PRESSURE CAME, MANY OF YOU ABANDONED YOUR PROMISES YOU MADE TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. TODAY, LORENZO ALCO IS DEAD. AND I HAVE TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS, DIAZ AND MARTINEZ, AND EVERY HISPANIC COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING HERE TODAY, WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO STAND WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS INSTEAD OF SIDING WITH VERY LITTLE POLITICAL PRESSURE? WILL IT MATTER WHEN IT IS YOUR FATHER, YOUR BROTHER, YOUR SON, OR SOMEONE ELSE YOU LOVE? HELP THIS FAMILY. BRING LORENZO HOME AND DEMAND A FULL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND PUBLICLY COMMIT THAT HPD WILL NOT COLLABORATE WITH ICE. AND REMEMBER THAT BEING UNDOCUMENTED SHOULD NOT EVER BE A DEATH SENTENCE. I AM NOT GONNA SMALL TALK. I'M GONNA SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU, SIR. FOR THE PERSON THAT SAID WE NEED TO VOTE, WE DO VOTE. THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT CAN VOTE, SADLY, IN THIS HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, I ASK YOU, SIR, AM I, AM I NEXT? AM I GONNA WALK OUT OF HERE AND GET A BULLET IN MY HEAD? MY HEART, WHAT HAPPENED TO LORENZO SHOULDN'T EVEN HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE A FATHER, BUT IT IS VERY TRAGIC TO LOSE A PARENT. VERY TRAGIC. NOW, WHEN YOU LOSE IT, THE WEIGHT, LORENZO'S CHILDREN LOST HIM. YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? LOOK AT ME. I'M SHAKING. AM I GONNA DIE FROM MY UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OR AM I GONNA LIE FROM A BULLET? YOU KNOW, ICE HUNTS US WORSE THAN ANIMALS BECAUSE WHEN WE CALL ANIMAL CONTROL, DO THEY JUST SHOOT THE ANIMAL? NO, THEY PICK 'EM UP RIGHT? ALIVE. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT IF THEY KILL THEM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROOF AND WE ATE THOSE PEOPLE, RIGHT? IMMEDIATELY WE SAY, OH LOOK, THIS PERSON, THEY KILLED THE DOG. BUT HERE, WHAT MORE PROOF DO WE NEED TO MAKE A PROPER INVESTIGATION? THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE POOR PEOPLE THAT KEEP DYING ALL OVER THE NATION, NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY. YEAH, BUT SIR, WE PLEAD TO YOU, WE [02:15:01] PUT YOU IN THIS PLACE. I'M AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND I GREW UP IN EAST END, SPECIFICALLY MAGNOLIA PARK. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE INCIDENT OF JOE CAMPOS, UH, BELOVED MARINE. THANK YOU. IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIM, HE WAS A BELOVED MEXICAN AMERICAN OF THE COMMUNITY. 23 YEARS OLD, SHOT AND KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOW, I DON'T EVEN CONSIDER ICE LAW ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT? THEY'RE JUST LIKE HUNTING DOGS THAT ARE KILLING US LEFT AND RIGHT. THEY DON'T EVEN ASK QUESTIONS. THEY SHOOT AND ASK LATER. IS THAT TRUE OR NOT? THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU KNOW, AND NO, MY TIME, MY MINUTE IS NOT UP. WE'LL, NOT ALLOWED ANOTHER MURDER TO HAPPEN, THANK YOU. IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTY. I COME HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO GET ICE OUT OF THE STREETS OF HOUSTON. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT BECAUSE OUR PREVIOUS, UH, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, DID IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN CHIEF ACEVEDO LAUNCHED THE INVESTIGATION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE KILLED, WHEN MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER WAS HERE, HE WAS ABLE TO DO A VERY THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. SO I ASK YOU, SIR, THANK YOU. NOT WITH BAD WORDS, NOT WITH YOU KNOW, ANY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M, I'M SO TIRED OF SITTING HERE BECAUSE MY BODY IS VERY SICK. I UNDERSTAND. I HAVE WRITTEN TO MISS MARTHA IN THE PAST BEFORE MARIA ANTE, AND SHE'S A VERY NICE LADY. YEP. BUT YOU, SIR, I DON'T WANNA THINK THAT YOU ARE AN ANIMAL. THEY CANNOT EVEN ANIMALS HAVE FEELINGS. YOU KNOW, THEY CAN FEEL OTHER PEOPLE'S, YOU KNOW, UH, VERY GOOD FEELINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT DOCTOR, DR. KAINO FERNANDEZ SANCHEZ. OH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAYLEE GUDO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HIN FERNANDEZ SANCHEZ. I AM A NURSE SCIENTIST AND RESEARCHER AT THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. AND MY RESEARCH FOCUSES ON HIV, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND IMMIGRANT HEALTH. AND TODAY I'M HERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ENFORCED, UM, ICE IN THE CITY. I AM TIRED OF WATCHING OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES BEING TARGETED, STIGMATIZED AND WEAPONIZED BECAUSE OF OUR COLOR OF OUR SKIN, OUR IMMIGRATION STATUS. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I DON'T WITNESS IT. FEAR LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, THAT FEAR HAS DRIVEN PEOPLE AWAY FROM MEDICAL CARE, INCREASING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. PEOPLE ARE DELAYING MEDICAL CARE, MISSING APPOINTMENTS AND AVOIDING HOSPITALS BECAUSE FEAR OF, OF DETENTION, FAMILY SEPARATION, AND NOW KILLING FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV INTERRUPTIONS AND TREATMENT CAN HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCING OVERWHELMING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND THEY WORRY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. I ALSO WORRY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE FEAR, ALSO MAKE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING LESS LIKELY TO SEEK HEALTHCARE REPORT ABUSE OR WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT STRENGTHENS THE POWER OF TRAFFICKERS AND WEAKENS COMMUNITY SAFETY. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN IMMIGRANT ISSUE, IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. IT'S A HUMAN DIGNITY ISSUE. AS ELECTED LEADERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELLBEING OF HOUSTONIANS, I I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES THAT CARRY OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES. I'M HERE TO ALSO REQUEST JUSTICE FOR LORENZO SALGADO. ARJO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KAYLEE GARGARO. HELLO MAYOR. UH, CITY COUNCIL. I AM A DISTRICT, A CONSTITUENT, AND A UH ALUM. I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING THAT I THINK HOUSTON IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CITY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF HOUSTON, I DON'T THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE SKYLINE. I, THE FIRST THING I THINK ABOUT IS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. WHEN I SEE MY FELLOW HOUSTONIANS AND ALL THEIR COLORS AND SHAPES AND CULTURES, OUR COMMUNITY IS WHERE HOUSTON'S BEAUTY LIVES. RECENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE AND MORE ATTACKS FROM OUR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON OUR COMMUNITY IN ATTEMPTS TO STRIP US OF WHAT MAKES US BEAUTIFUL. ICE HAS FORCEFULLY INFILTRATED OUR COMMUNITY AND IS TAKING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALIVE OR DEAD. [02:20:01] THESE ATTACKS SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED. AND I CALL ON YOU WHITMEYER AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAND UP TO ABBOTT AND TRUMP AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION AND FIGHT WITH US. PEOPLE ARE DYING AND FAMILIES ARE GETTING TORN APART. PEOPLE ARE BEING TORTURED IN DETENTION CENTERS. THERE IS NO SPACE FOR COMPLACENCY. IT IS TIME TO BE BRAVE. I AM ASKING THE CITY TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OTHER MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE NATION AND FOCUS ON PASSING POLICIES THAT PLACE LIMITS ON THE TACTICS THAT ICE USES. WE NEED TO SEE HARSHER ORDINANCES THAT FURTHER RESTRICT ICE IN HPD COLLABORATION. WE NEED TO, IN ORDER FOR ICE TO OPERATE WITHIN CITY LIMITS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITY, HAVE BODY CAMERAS ON AND RECORDING, AND ARE NOT CONCEALING THE VEHICLES SO THAT THEY CAN INFILTRATE OUR COMMUNITIES AND HIDE AMONGST OUR OWN WHITMEYER. AND HONESTLY, THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL HERE, Y'ALL HAVE CAMPAIGNED TO KEEP US SAFE. AND QUOTE FROM WHITMEYER CAMPAIGN VIOLENT, KEEPING VIOLENT CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS. WELL, THERE ARE VIOLENT CRIMINALS IN OUR STREETS DESTROYING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING. WHAT ARE Y'ALL GOING TO DO TO KEEP THAT PROMISE? THANK YOU. JUST A SECOND. UH, MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU KAYLEE FOR BEING HERE. UM, UH, OUR DISTRICT K CONSTITUENT AND FORMER DISTRICT K INTERN. YES. UH, THANK YOU FOR LIFTING YOUR VOICE. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT. UM, AND WE HEAR YOU. THANK YOU, MARTHA. THANK YOU. NEXT DOWN THERE ABOUT SOME MORE PEOPLE DOWN THERE, PROBABLY HUNDRED PEOPLE. KEGAN KING TO BE FO FOLLOWED BY CAROLINA BUSO. GOOD AFTERNOON, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER. I AM THE REVEREND KEATON KING, ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF ST. PHILIP PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE GALLERIA. AS CLERGY. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR A FULL, FAIR, TRANSPARENT, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLING OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO. THIS HOMICIDE ERODES NECESSARY PUBLIC TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE PUBLIC DESERVES THE TRUTH. THE FAMILY DESERVES ANSWERS. IF THE ICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF LORENZO LAWFULLY DISCHARGED THEIR DUTIES, THEN SURELY THEY WON'T MIND AN INDEPENDENT, THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. WHILE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ORDERED ICE TO CEASE MOST NOT ALL VEHICLE STOPS, HOUSTON STILL NEEDS GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ICE AGENTS. ICE IS THE HIGHEST FUNDED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THIS COUNTRY. WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT BODY CAMERAS ARE DELAYED BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS. ICE CAN AFFORD TO APPROPRIATELY EQUIP OFFICERS TO DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. IF THEY ARE NOT OUTFITTED WITH NECESSARY EQUIPMENT LIKE BODY CAMERAS, THEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON DUTY. HPD OFFICERS SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY IN UNIFORM, COMPLETE WITH THEIR NAMES, BADGE NUMBERS, BODY CAMERAS, WITHOUT MASKS IN PROPERLY MARKED VEHICLES. WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY CAN SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN HOLDING ICE TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS HPD. WE NEED YOU TO JOIN US IN DEMANDING THAT ICE AGENTS BE EQUIPPED WITH BODY CAMERAS AND PROPER IDENTIFICATION OF ALL OFFICERS AND VEHICLES. THIS IS A MORAL TEST FOR THIS CITY. WE CANNOT LOOK AWAY. WHILE THE RIGHT TO DO PROCESS IS VIOLATED BY ICE. YEP. LORENZO'S RIGHTS WERE TAKEN FROM HIM. WHEN UNNECESSARY LETHAL FORCE WAS USED AS A FIRST RESORT, A SIMPLE REVIEW OF HIS ID WOULD HAVE REVEALED THAT LORENZO WAS NOT EVEN THE TARGET THAT I SOUGHT. HOUSTON CANNOT ABIDE THE ICE APPROACH OF SHOOT FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER. HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, I IMPLORE YOU TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO ENSURE THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE DEATH OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO AND TO ESTABLISH HIGHER STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ICE AGENTS. BODY CAMS ON MASKS OFF IDENTIFICATION PRESENTED. GUNS HOLSTERED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU MA'AM. COUNCILOR SALINAS. REVEREND KING, UH, WHEN I SAW YOU ON THE LIST, I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO SPEAK AFTER YOU. SINCE YOU ARE MY PASTOR, [02:25:01] I, I CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS THE THE FEAR AND GRIEF THAT THIS CITY IS FEELING RIGHT NOW. AND I WANT YOU AND ALL OF HOUSTON TO KNOW THAT MANY OF US ON THIS COUNCIL STAND WITH YOU AND NOT JUST FOLLOWING THE SHOOTING. MANY OF US HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO LIMIT THE COOPERATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE. MANY OF US HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO TRY TO KEEP ICE OUT OF HOUSTON AND KNOW THAT WE ARE GONNA KEEP FIGHTING WITH YOU. WE ARE GONNA BE OUT THERE PROTESTING WITH YOU, AND WE ARE GONNA DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE HPD DOES EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO MAKE SURE NO STONE IS UNTURNED AND WE GET JUSTICE FOR LOREN ENZO. BUT YOU HAVE MY PROMISE. YOU HAVE THE COMMITMENT OF SO MANY OF US UP OUT HERE ON THIS HORSESHOE. BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME AND SO MANY OTHERS. FAITH MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST PRAYERS AND WORDS. IT MEANS TAKING ACTION. AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE ARE GONNA TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, WE HAVE YOUR BACK. PLEASE KEEP FIGHTING CAROLINA BUSTOS TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUBREY CONTRERAS. HI. GOOD. A HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CAROLINA BUSTOS, A FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICAN. WHEN MY FAMILY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, WE LANDED IN EL BARRIO DE MAGNOLIA. I DON'T THINK ICE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED THE UPROAR MAGNOLIA WOULD MAKE. I AM HERE BECAUSE IT IS MY DUTY TO SPEAK UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT GREATER RISK. ONE IN EVERY THREE ADULTS IN HARRIS COUNTY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ OR WRITE. ARE HOUSTONIANS NOT SHOWING UP TO VOTE? OR ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS SELLING OUT AFTER THEIR POCKETS ARE LINED WITH MONEY? WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO DO WHAT YOU SAY? YOU WILL, THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY ARE POSTED ON THE WALL. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN OR STAND FOR? WHEN HOUSTONIANS SPEAK UP AND WE VOICE OUR CONCERNS, WHAT COMES FROM THAT? SO FAR, NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE HERE TO DEMAND A TRANSPARENT, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MURDER OF SAL. WE MUST NOT STOP THERE. WE'LL, NOT BACK DOWN UNTIL ICE IS ABOLISHED. MAYOR WHITMEYER AND OTHER LEADERSHIP MUST STAY STRONG ON THIS. EVEN IF THE GOVERNOR OR PRESIDENT DISAGREE, THEY'RE NOT HOUSTON. WE ARE YOU REPRESENT US, NOT THEM. POWER TO THE PEOPLE. AUB AUBREY CONTRERAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY HECTOR MAGNO. UM, BEFORE I START, MAY I ASK IF MY LITTLE SISTER CAN ALSO SPEAK 'CAUSE SHE'S BEEN REALLY WANTING TO. ALRIGHT. UM, HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RES ICE HAS KILLED THREE PEOPLE IN THE LAST WEEK. FIRST WAS LORENZO ALDA AND BURIAL MAGNOLIA DOWN THE STREET WHERE I FIRST WENT TO SCHOOL. THE SECOND WAS JOHN SE JUAN SEBASTIAN, WHO WAS KILLED IN FRONT OF HIS TODDLER DAUGHTER. HE, WHILE HE WAS GOING TO WORK, ONE KILLING THAT EVEN HAPPENED THIS MORNING. I AM SCARED TO EVEN GO OUTSIDE WITH MY FAMILY. AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, HAPPENING. I I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S NOT OKAY RIGHT NOW TO ICE IN GENERAL. AND YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS. IS IT BECAUSE OF MY SKIN COLOR? BECAUSE, BECAUSE I DON'T LOOK LIKE MOST OF Y'ALL RIGHT NOW. AND YOU KNOW HOW UPSETTING IT IS TO HEAR PEOPLE CALL ME. NAMES A MONSTER. YOU KNOW HOW MAYBE MY SISTER HAS TO HEAR THAT IN SCHOOL, THAT WE'RE MONSTERS. WE ARE NOT MONSTERS, WE ARE HUMANS. WE ARE NOT ALIENS. WE DID NOT COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES. WE'RE FROM EARTH. WE'RE FROM ALL THE SAME PLACES. WE BLEED THE SAME BLOOD. BLOOD RIGHT HERE. I, I CUT MYSELF AND I BLEED. I I WONDER WHAT COLOR Y'ALL BLEED. WHAT COLOR DO Y'ALL BLEED? RED. OH. AND WHENEVER I STAND UP FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND WE GET TO THE PART AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, NOT ALL OF US HAVE JUSTICE. LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING. ICE. I'M WHAT IF I GET DEPORTED? WHAT DID MY SISTER DOES? WHAT DID MY GRANDMA DOES? OH, YOU SEE ALL THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE? THEY'RE TRYING TO, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE ICE DOESN'T STAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. DO YOU WANNA SPEAK? HELLO [02:30:01] CITY CAN. ALRIGHT. HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JULIA BUSA. THIS IS A VERY SAD TOPIC FOR ME AND MY FAMILY BECAUSE I HAS THE POWER TO HURT. RIP MANY FAMILIES LIKE MINE. PLEASE TO BE STOP EYES. THAT'S A LITTLE GIRL. THANK YOU. THAT'S A LITTLE GIRL. HELP HELP HER, HELP HER GENERATION. THANK YOU. MAGNO. TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEREMY PEELE. HI. HI, MY NAME IS ECTOR MANU GONZALEZ MAGNO. I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE IN HOUSTON. I WORK FOR THE YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND I PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M ASKING THIS CITY TO SEEK THE TRUTH BEHIND THE KILLING OF LORENZO SALGADO BY ICE AGENTS. AND I ASKED BEFORE YOU, HOW MANY MORE HOUSTONIANS MUST BE KILLED AT THE HANDS OF ICE BEFORE THE CITY TAKES ACTION. MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THE CITY CANNOT GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THIS IS A FEDERAL MATTER. AND TWO INVESTIGATIONS CANNOT BE ONGOING AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, LOCAL AUTHORITIES DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE DEATHS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION. DURING THE FIRST FOUR DAYS OF LORENZO'S UH, DEATH, WE NEEDED LEADERS TO STAND UP FOR US AND TO DEMAND THE TRUTH. NOT LEADERS WHO FIND THEIR VOICE AFTER THE HARM HAS BEEN DONE. IT WAS THE COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO, UH, WHO STARTED DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND, AND THEY WANTED TO FIND THE TRUTH EVERY DAY THAT PASSES BY WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY, SEND A DANGEROUS MESSAGE THAT SOME LIVES CAN DISAPPEAR INTO UNANSWERED REPORTS, INCOMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS AND POLITICAL CONVENIENCE. THIS CITY HAS SHOWN IT CAN MOVE QUICKLY. SO ACT NOW. WE CANNOT ACCEPT FEDERAL AGENTS DRIVING AROUND THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND UNMARKED VEHICLES OR BODY CAMS ARE NOT BEING USED. UM, THE AUTHORITY HERE IS THAT HU HOUSTON, US TAXPAYERS, WE DO NOT WANT OUR TAXES GOING TO ICE OPERATIONS NOR ASSISTANCE. SO PLEASE STOP THAT WITH THAT COLLABORATION WITH THEM. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. JEREMY PEEL. CAROLYN PATTERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRMA. LINDA REESE. HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT A AND I'M A TEACHER WITH 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TEACHING IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. IN THOSE YEARS, I HAVE TAUGHT A NUMBER OF, UH, NOVELS TO STUDENTS THAT DISCUSS THE AMERICAN DREAM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MY IMMIGRANT STUDENTS ARE LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM EVERY DAY. IT ALSO SEEMS TO ME THAT LORENZO SALGADO LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM. HE RAISED A FAMILY IN HOUSTON. HE BUILT OUR CITY AND HE PROVIDED INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIS CHILDREN. THE PART OF THE DREAM THAT WAS DENIED ON THE DAY THAT HE DIED WAS DUE PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THIS SHOOTING DID NOT IDENTIFY HIM CORRECTLY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT DUE PROCESS APPLIES TO ANY PERSON ON US SOIL, NOT JUST AMERICAN CITIZENS, BECAUSE LORENZO SALANO WAS ONE OF US. HE DESERVED DUE PROCESS. ICE THINKS THEY ARE JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER. AND IT IS YOUR JOB AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT. THANK YOU OR MELINDA REESE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY HUBBARD. ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO THE [02:35:01] MAYOR. UM, I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN. I AM FROM DISTRICT I, MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. AND IF I'M GONNA BE HONEST, I'M TIRED. I'M REALLY, REALLY TIRED OF THIS. THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING AS BASIC AS HUMAN DECENCY FOR AN INTERNAL TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION IS INSANE. I AM A TEACHER. THERE HAVE BEEN EDUCATORS IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE SAID WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR STUDENTS NOT FEELING SAFE. WE, AS TEACHERS HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH TRAINING, TRAINING THAT IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH, WE IMMEDIATELY ARE RAKED OVER THE COALS FOR YOU GUYS NEED TO HAVE SOME FORM OF TRANSPARENCY WITH ICE. AT THE VERY LEAST. GET RID OF THEM. GET RID OF THEM COMPLETELY. BREAK TIES WITH THEM. THIS ENTIRE CITY IS DIVERSE. THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN UNMARKED VANS, KILLING PEOPLE IS INSANE. YOU ARE THE MAYOR. WHEN ONE OF US GETS KILLED, YOU SHOULDN'T WAIT AN ENTIRE WEEK TO BASICALLY SAY, HEY, WE ARE GONNA HAVE A POTENTIAL INVESTIGATION. YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS. THE SAME WAY ALL OF US EDUCATORS HAVE TO DO IT WHEN OUR KIDS OR WE SUSPECT OUR KIDS ARE BEING ABUSED, NEGLECTED. WE HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF I DON'T DO THAT, I GET PUT INTO AN INVESTIGATION POOL. I LOSE MY JOB. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY FOR YOU GUYS? WHERE'S THE TRANSPARENCY FOR ICE? THIS NEEDS TO STOP. I NEED TO GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR CITY. AND YOU NEED TO DO IT NOW BEFORE THE NEXT ONE HAPPENS. AND LET'S BE HONEST, LET US BE ABSOLUTELY TRANSPARENT. WE'VE ALREADY HAD THREE DEATHS. Y'ALL SAY Y'ALL ARE GONNA TRY TO DO SOMETHING, BUT LET'S ALL BE HONEST. THE MOMENT THAT THIS HITS NATIONAL NEWS OR SOME OTHER DEATH STARTS COMING INTO PLAY, EVERYBODY'S GONNA FORGET ABOUT IT. YEP. EVERYBODY IS GONNA FORGET ABOUT IT. AND JUST REMIND PEOPLE WE'RE IN JULY. I GO BACK TO WORK IN AUGUST. I'VE GOT STUDENTS THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. YEAH. I'VE HAD MY SCHOOL TELL US WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IF I SHOWS UP. THERE NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENCY. AN ANTHONY HUBBARD TO BE FOLLOWED BY NORMA GONZALEZ. MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU TALKED ABOUT UNITY. THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE DIRECT ACTION AND COURAGE FROM YOU. YOU TOLD US THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP WOULD STOP WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND MANY OTHER CITIES FROM HAPPENING HERE IN HOUSTON. WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND IT WAS NOT THE CASE. AND WE NEED YOU TO BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP TO ABBOTT AND JOIN THE FIGHT AND FOR WHAT WE CAN DO. ALL OF US ARE GONNA VOTE IN NOVEMBER TO VOTE ABBOTT OUT, BUT HOW MANY MONTHS IS THAT? SHOULD WE HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE MAY BE SHOT AND MURDER IN THE STREET FROM NOTHING ELSE BESIDES THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN FOR MONTHS? I CAN VOTE WITH NOVEMBER. I AM PROUDLY GOING TO VOTE WITH NOVEMBER. BUT WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO AND TO SAY, COUNSEL CANNOT DO ANYTHING. ARE YOU ALL, ARE YOU ALL GOING TO TELL ME THAT A MAN CAN BE EXECUTED IN THE STREET AND HBD CAN DO NOTHING? HBD CAN DO NOTHING WHILE A MAN IS MURDERED AND COLD BLOODED IN THE STREET. ALL OF YOU ELSE WILL TAKE ACTION. MY NAME IS NORMA GONZALEZ. I AM WITH URI JUNTOS AND THE HOUSTON LEADS COALITION. I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, FOR CITY HALL AND FOR JOHN WHITMEYER BECAUSE OF OUR CITY'S REFUSAL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO BE TRANSPARENT AND IN ITS COLLABORATION WITH ICE, OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO GRIEVE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. [02:40:01] WE ARE WATCHING OUR OWN NEIGHBORS BE HUNTED. WE WATCHED IT HAPPEN HERE IN HOUSTON WITH LORENZO RAJO DAYS LATER AND THIS MORNING AGAIN, WE'RE SLOWLY WATCHING THIS BECOME THE NORM AS YOU JUST SIT THERE, ANOTHER TRAGEDY, ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE, AND THEN WE MOVE ON. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS AS NORMAL AND NEITHER AND SO SHOULD YOU. NOT TOO MANY DAYS AGO, ON THE 4TH OF JULY, MANY CELEBRATED FREEDOM. THIS IS NOT WHAT FREEDOM LOOKS LIKE. WHAT HAPPENED TO LORENZO WAS NOT INEVITABLE. POLICIES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. RHETORIC HAS CONSEQUENCES. DECISIONS MADE IN THIS VERY BUILDING HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND WE NEED LEADERS IN HOUSTON WHO ARE WILLING TO PROTECT EVERY PERSON WHO CALLS HOUSTON THEIR HOME. THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER ANOTHER FAMILY WILL BE STANDING, WHETHER FAMILY IS STANDING TODAY. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO STOP IT. JOHN WHITMEYER, WE HAVE BEEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING FOR MONTHS. WE'VE ASKED YOU TO END HOUSTON'S COLLABORATION WITH ICE. WE WARNED YOU THAT THESE POLICIES PUT OUR COMMUNITIES IN DANGER. WE HAVE REACHED THE TIPPING POINTS. WE DEMAND THAT YOU CONDUCT A FULL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLING OF LORENZO SALGADO ALCO WITH COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE EVERY OFFICER WHO VIOLATED THE LAW OR ANYONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL OR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND HOUSTON'S COLLABORATION WITH ICE, INCLUDING THE USE OF CITY RESOURCES AND VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS THAT SUPPORT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND TO END THE USE OF MAT SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING PLUG LICENSE PLATE READERS THAT TARGET OUR COMMUNITIES. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ICE OUTTA HOUSTON IRA TO OF HUMBLE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ASIF CHILD. HURRY. MY NAME IS RA AND I STAND HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE TO SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN SEVEN DAYS SINCE THE MURDER OF LORENZO SEVEN DAYS IS AN UN UNIDENTIFIED MURDERERS RUN FREE. THEY SHOT AN INNOCENT MAN WITHOUT THINKING TWICE, AND I ASKED, WHY DO THEY HAVE THIS JU JURISDICTION? I ASKED YOU ALL WHO VOTED TO GIVE POLICE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO PROTECT US. WHEN WILL YOU HOLD THESE ICE AGES ACCOUNTABLE AND IDENTIFY THEM TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC? WHEN WILL YOU HOLD A CITY INVESTIGATION? YOU CUT MILLIONS IN OUR SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE AN $820 MILLION REWARD FOR HPD. SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHERE IS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT YOU HAVE PROMISED US? HOW CAN WE TRUST WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT PROVIDING US PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN YOU CAN'T KEEP US SAFE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL AGENTS WHO ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE WELLBEING OF ALL IMMIGRANTS WHO CALL HOUSTON THEIR HOME? THIS DEATH IS ON YOUR HANDS AS YOU CAVED INTO FASCISM AND SET FORWARD AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWED HPD TO FULLY COLLABORATE WITH ICE. THE SAME FASCIST ORGANIZATION THAT DRIVE IN UNMARKED VEHICLES REFUSE TO IDENTIFY THE PERSON TURN OFF THEIR BODY CAMS AND HAS THE ABILITY TO KILL OUR MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. WHILE WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT WE DEMAND YOU SUPPORT TO ABOLISH ICE, WE DEMAND YOU PUSH TO PROSECUTE THEM. AND WE DEMAND JUSTIN FOR LORENZO'S FAMILY BECAUSE YOUR CONTINUATION OF SUPPORT FOR THEM WILL SHOW WHO YOU TRULY WORK FOR. OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT LIVE IN FEAR OF LEAVING TO GO INTO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE POSSIBILITY THEY COULD BE THE NEXT VIS VICTIM DUE TO RACIAL PROFILING. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR MEYER AND MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS CHORI. UM, YOU KNOW, UM, MATTER OF FACT, I THINK I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS TODAY A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. UH, NOT LIKE A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT UM, UNIVERSITY OF HISTORY GRADUATE COLLEGE OF CHURCH OF WORK, OR NOR WHEN WE APPROACH, UH, APPROACH OUR EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE [02:45:02] WE KNOW HOW GREG ABBOT AND, UM, THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF CHARLIE GO'S VOTE NOW. UM, I WANNA WELCOME THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER. WELCOME TO THIS MADNESS NOW, MAYOR MEYER. SIR, HOW ARE YOU? YES SIR. SIR, HOW ARE YOU? I HOPE, UM, YOU HAD A PEACEFUL WEEKEND, GOT TO SHARE MEAL WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND I'M ASSUMING IN PEACE AND MANY OF THE MEMBERS IN THIS COUNCIL AS WELL AND BUSINESSES AS USUAL FOR YOU GUYS. AND WHEN YOU SHARE THAT SENTIMENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY OFFENSIVE. IT'S VERY OFFENSIVE TO ME. I'M SURE IT'S VERY OFFENSIVE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BEHIND ME. IT'S NOT NORMAL WHAT'S GOING ON. AND FOR YOU GUYS NOT TO ACT ON IT, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING AND GUYS SHOULD BE ASHAMED. AND WE REALLY DON'T WANNA SAY EYES WITH A BODY CAMERA. WE DON'T WANNA SAY EYES IN HOUSTON. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE NOT UP FOR ELECTION UNTIL 2028, BUT IF YOU GUYS GONNA ACT PROPERLY, MAYBE THIS SAYS RESIGN. THANK YOU LINA VIREO. I AM HERE TO DEMAND THREE THINGS RELATED TO ICE IN HOUSTON. THE FIRST IS TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO LORENZO SALGADO RAJO . THE SECOND IS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE DECISION ABOUT HPD. HOUSTON POLICE SHOULD NOT BE COLLABORATING WITH ICE. AND THE THIRD IS FOR MAYOR WHITMER TO TAKE ACTIONS TOWARD MAKING HOUSTON A SANCTUARY CITY. ICE SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE CITY. I LIVED JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHERE MR. SALGADO ARJO WAS KILLED BY ICE AGENTS. WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS, I WAS TOO SCARED TO LEAVE MY HOME. TODAY I STILL FEAR BEING ON HOUSTON STREETS BECAUSE ICE HAS PROVEN TO MAKE MISTAKES AND THAT ARE FATAL OR DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. MR. SALGADO WAS NOT THE TARGET OF ISIS OPERATION, YET HE WAS STILL MURDERED. HIS INNOCENCE DID NOT MATTER TO ICE BECAUSE THEY MISTOOK HIS IDENTITY. EVEN ICE TARGETED OPERATIONS ARE XENOPHOBIC BECAUSE THEY ISOLATE. AND AS HUMANS WERE TREATED AS LESSER THAN WE NOW KNOW THAT ICE KILLED MORE HUMANS. ONE IN MAINE AND ANOTHER IN MIAMI. THE VIOLENCE WILL NOT STOP IF WE DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WE MUST STOP ICE. YOU ALL MUST TAKE ACTION TO GET ICE OUT OF HOUSTON. AS POLICYMAKERS, YOU HAVE THE POWER AND DUTY TO PROTECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON. NEXT SPEAKER, SUSIE SMITH. SUSIE SMITH TO BE FOLLOWED TO BE FOLLOWED BY NOAH MELENDRES. HELLO, MS. SMITH. UM, I WANTED TO ADDRESS MAYOR WHITMEYER. IS IS THERE A WAY HE, HE'LL BE BACK. OKAY. UM, I WAS BORN AND AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, SO I LOVE THIS CITY WITH ALL MY HEART. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C AND I TOOK THE AFTERNOON OFF FROM WORK TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM HORRIFIED OVER THE MURDER OF LORENZO SALGADO ARJO AT THE HANDS OF ICE AGENTS IN OUR CITY. AND TWO DAYS AFTER THIS MURDER, MR. MAYOR, WHO I, YOU KNOW, I'D BE SPEAKING TO HIM DIRECTLY IF HE WAS HERE. UH, YOU STATED THAT HOUSTON POLICE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE ADDING. AND I QUOTE, THIS IS A TIME FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OVERSEE THEIR EMPLOYEES AS IF YOU BELIEVE THEY DID SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THAT. WHEN ICE MURDERED TWO PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS THEN LEGAL EXPERTS AT THE SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW DISAGREED WITH YOUR INITIAL POSITION, MR. MAYOR. AND ON FRIDAY, JULY 10TH, YOU FLIP FLOPPED AND CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. AND I FIND IT DISGUSTING THAT YOU TAKE THE WEAK AND IMPOTENT FASCIST ENABLER POSITION UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED OUT FOR IT. AFTER THE ICE MURDERS IN MINNEAPOLIS, HOUSTONIANS MARCHED DOWN HERE AND DEMANDED A REAL PLAN FOR PROTECTION FOR WHEN THESE DEPUTIZED NEO-NAZIS BRING THEIR TERROR TO OUR CITY. AND APPARENTLY THE ONLY PLAN Y'ALL HAD IN PLACE WAS TO, UH, VOTE DOWN THAT ORDINANCE. UM, KEN PAXTON SUED THE CITY OVER THAT ORDINANCE. Y'ALL COULD HAVE FOUGHT BACK IN COURT. YOU CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT. YOU CHOSE [02:50:01] NOT TO STAND UP TO THESE FASCISTS WHO LOVE TO REPEAT THE OLD DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS SLOGAN OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THEIR MOUTHS AND THEN OUT OF THE OTHER THREATEN US. IF WE PROTEST THEIR GESTAPO WHO ARE NOT JUST MIXING WITH TEXANS, NOW THEY'RE KILLING THEM. I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS SALINAS THOMAS AND EDWARD POLLARD FOR STANDING UP TO FASCISM FROM THE JUMP. MR. PANZA, I TRUST YOU WOULD'VE VOTED THE SAME AS MS. CAYMAN DID. THE REST OF YOU ARE FASCIST COLLABORATORS, AND IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO BE YOUR LEGACY, THEN CONSULT THE CITY ATTORNEYS ON YOUR PAYROLL PAID FOR OUR BY OUR TAX DOLLARS AND FIGURE OUT A PLAN TO FIGHT BACK WITH SPECIFICS. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN, I'M LEFT TO ASSUME THAT THE 13 OF HERE, UH, PEOPLE UP HERE SITTING UP HERE WHO DIDN'T FIGHT BACK, ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY CORE CIVIC. THANK YOU. TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SOCIETY. IN THE COURSE OF ATTENDING SEVERAL PROTESTS AROUND THE MURDER OF MR. SALGADO, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO MANY POLICE OFFICERS THERE. THESE ARE HARDWORKING PEOPLE IN A DIFFICULT JOB AND THEY DESERVE TO BE ABOVE SUSPICION. UNFORTUNATELY, IN REVERSING COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS'S ORDINANCE LAST APRIL, CITY COUNCIL HAS RAISED FEARS AND DISTRUST ACROSS HOUSTON TOWARDS HPD. THE TRAINED OFFICERS OF HPD DO NOT DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR PER PROFESSIONS BESMIRCHED BY BEING FORCED TO ASSOCIATE WITH A GANG OF THUGS RECRUITED BY CRIMINAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TERRORIZE AND HARASS OUR COMMUNITIES WITH HARDLY ANY TRAINING. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE JOINING ICE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET INTO THE POLICE ACADEMY. SO WHY DO WE WANT OUR OFFICERS WORKING NOT JUST WITH THEM, BUT FOR THEM? SO FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE INTEGRITY OF THE HPD, I ASK THAT CITY COUNCIL RESOLVE TO MAKE EVERY LEGAL EFFORT TO REMOVE ICE FROM HOUSTON AND TO REFUSE COLLABORATION WITH THEM. CONGRESS, UH, SORRY. COUNCILMAN PENZA. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY AND I HOPE YOU REVERSE YOUR POSITION AND JOIN COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS'S EFFORTS AND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. YOU ALSO VOTED TO, UH, REPEAL, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS'S ORDINANCE, SO I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU LET US WORRY ABOUT OUR VOTING SINCE WE ALSO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MARIA MARIA GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER DELO. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WAS HERE TWO ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TELLING YOU MY STUDENTS WERE SCARED. THEY'RE STILL SCARED. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SITTING HERE AND LISTENING TO THE ANGER AND THE FRUSTRATION. I NEED YOU ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND I'M WITH BILL BOOKER. LET'S START PLAYING HARDBALL WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I NEED OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO START FIGURING OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THIS. AND YES, LET'S START SUING ICE. LET'S START. THIS CITY CAN DO MORE ON SATURDAY. I HAVE TO GO BEFORE MAGNOLIA PARK STUDENTS AGAIN. THESE STUDENTS ARE SCARED. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM THAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PROTECT THEM RIGHT NOW. TWO MONTHS AGO YOU DIDN'T, LET'S TRY TO FIX THAT. THANK YOU JENNIFER DELATE TO BE FOLLOWED BY AMIKA WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR HEARING ME. APPRECIATE IT. I WOKE UP LAST TUESDAY MORNING TO HEAR ANOTHER PERSON WAS EXTRA JUDICIALLY EXECUTED BY ICE. THIS TIME IT WAS MY NEIGHBOR LORENZO. I BOUGHT MY HOUSE IN THE EAST END BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE LORENZO, HARDWORKING LAW ABIDING FAMILIES LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS WHY I FEEL COMPELLED TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY HOME, IN THE CITY I'VE LIVED IN FOR 46 YEARS AND MY HUSBAND WAS BORN IN JULY 7TH, AROUND 7:00 AM AN ARMED ARMED MASKED MEN WEARING NO COHESIVE UNIFORMS WHO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES IN TWO GENERIC BLACK SUVS WITH NO LIGHTS OR SIRENS. CHASED LORENZO DOWN CANAL, RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD, SHOT HIM AND THEN MOCKED HIM AS HE BLED OUT IN THE STREET SCREAMING. [02:55:02] THIS HAPPENED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY AROUND 7:00 AM AS CHILDREN WERE GOING TO SCHOOL, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR ENDANGERING INNOCENT PEOPLE LIKE THAT. THIS WAS AN ACT OF RECKLESS, EGREGIOUS VIOLENCE. IF THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AND ACT LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOW ARE WE EVEN SUPPOSED TO KNOW THEY AREN'T ROBBERS OR HAVING A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT OR ANYTHING ELSE? HOW WAS LORENZO SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE MASS MEN WEARING NO UNIFORMS IN UNMARKED VEHICLES BEHAVING ERRATICALLY AND ATTEMPTING TO RUN HIM OFF THE ROAD WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT. HE'D COMMITTED NO CRIME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M NOT DONE. MAYOR WHITMEYER, I'VE VOTED FOR YOU. I'VE NEVER ASKED YOU FOR ANYTHING. HELL, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M A PRIVATE PERSON WHO JUST WANTS TO LIVE IN PEACE, BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE THERE IS NO PEACE HERE. NOW MY HAND WAS FORCED, WHICH IS WHAT YOUR ASSISTANT TOLD ME ON THE PHONE. SHE SAID THAT YOUR HAND WAS FORCED. SHE SAID, YOU SAID IT WAS A FEDERAL MATTER AND THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO TO HELP US. YES, TWICE, SIR. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT'S A LOAD OF HOGWASH. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO NOTHING TO KEEP US SAFE, WHAT'S THE POINT OF YOUR OFFICE IF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE AFRAID FOR OUR LIVES, FOR LEGITIMATE REASONS AND YOU'RE THROWING YOUR HANDS UP AND SAYING YOU CAN'T HELP US, WHY SHOULD WE VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN? CAN I GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? COUNCILOR CASTILLOS IN THE QUEUE. HEAR YOU GO. THANK YOU MAYOR. THAT WAS A DIRECT QUESTION. JENNIFER, AM I NOT ALLOWED TO GET ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS? AS A DISTRICT H RESIDENT, I WANTED TO ADDRESS YOU AND ALSO THE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME HERE TODAY. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF FOLKS FROM DISTRICT H AND PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL TO SPEAK, BUT YOU KNOW, THE CALLS FOR JUSTICE TRANSPARENCY, THE SUPPORT FOR THE LORENZO SALGADO AOS FAMILY. UM, IT'S, I'M GLAD THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE WE NEED IT. UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL AND YES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO VOTE, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT DIRECTLY. AND Y'ALL ASKING FOR, DEMANDING FOR THE TRANSPARENCY, THE ACCOUNTABILITY, PUSHING US TO DO MORE IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. UM, I HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO STAND FOR A TRANSPARENT AND OPEN INVESTIGATION THAT WILL BRING JUSTICE, UH, TO LORENZO AND AND TO HIS KIDS AND WIFE. AND WANT TO AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I HOPE SO. THANK YOU. NEXT AMIKA WILLIAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIA GNI. HEY Y'ALL, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS AMIKA. I'M A PROUD HOUSTONIAN WHO WAS RAISED BY SOUTH ASIAN IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. I RECENTLY WAS LIVING IN DISTRICT C. NOW I LIVE IN DISTRICT D. SO JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A FIRST GENERATION PERSON IN YOUR DISTRICT AS WELL AS MY WIFE, WHO IS AN IMMIGRANT WHO ALSO LIVES IN YOUR DISTRICT. IMMIGRANTS MAKE HOUSTON. HOUSTON. TO BE ANTI-IMMIGRANT IS TO BE AGAINST THIS VERY CITY. LOVE FOR COUNTRY MEANS LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE VALUES THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. THOSE VALUES ARE LIBERTY, FREEDOM, AND DEMOCRACY. AND I THIS IS NOT TO YOU. THIS IS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS ICE TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES. MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ANYBODY WHO VOTED FOR THIS, WHAT YOU DID IS NOT PATRIOTISM. MY IMMIGRANT FAMILY LOVES THIS COUNTRY MORE THAN YOU EVER WILL. LIBERTY MEANS DUE PROCESS, NON UNMARKED CARS AND UNIDENTIFIED AGENTS. DEMOCRACY MEANS A GOVERNMENT THAT ACTUALLY SERVES ITS PEOPLE, NOT ONE THAT TEARS FAMILIES APART. FREEDOM MEANS WALKING OUR STREETS WITHOUT FEAR. YET MY FAMILY AND I FEEL THIS FEAR EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M GONNA WRAP THIS UP REAL FAST. I'M DONE. ALMOST DONE. TO OUR COUNCIL. LOVE AND SERVICE OF COUNTRY MEANS UPHOLDING ITS VALUES AND PROTECTING ITS PEOPLE. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON TO CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU ARE ACTUAL PEOPLE, GOD, WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO LEAVE THIS WORLD, WILL YOU BE KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO PROTECTED THE PEOPLE AGAINST FORCES OF EVIL OR SOMEONE WHO LET THE FORCES OF EVIL WREAK HA ON THE VERY PEOPLE YOU SWORN TO PROTECT. OKAY, BE A PATRIOT MAYOR. I KNOW YOU CAN PROTECT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO DEFINE THIS CITY AND MAKE IT GREAT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK [03:00:01] HELLO. WHAT? OH MY GOD. HI, MY NAME IS JULIA GNI AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT C AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE KILLING OF LORENZO SALGADO RAJO, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS WHOLE AFTERNOON. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT UNLESS YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT HAS LIVED IN FEAR OF ICE, YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL. THE KILLING OF LORENZO WAS UNJUST. WE KNOW THIS. THE WITNESSES OF THE KILLING SAFETY ARE THREATENED BY THE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN THEIR ARROGANCE TO THE LAW AND HUMAN DECENCY BEFORE ICE IS NOT WELCOME. HERE THEY HAVE MADE HOUSTON UNSAFE. THE ONLY DANGEROUS CRIMINALS I'VE SEEN ON OUR STREETS ARE THE ONES THAT SHOT LORENZO LAST WEEK AND HAVE TERRORIZED KERNER COMMUNITIES. MAYOR WHITMEYER, I KNOW THIS COUNSEL TOLD YOU TO LEAVE THE INVESTIGATION TO THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. JUST YESTERDAY, CRITICAL EVIDENCE WAS RELEASED FROM MINNESOTA OVER THE SHOOTINGS OF RENEE GOODE, ALEX PRETI, JULIO SOSO SEE THIS IN THE, TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. IT CAN BE DONE, JUSTICE CAN BE SERVED. I SUPPORT THAT DECISION TO PUSH FOR AN INDEPENDENT LOCAL INVESTIGATION. 'CAUSE DESPITE PREVIOUS CLAIMS BY THIS COUNCIL, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND WE CAN TAKE THE LEAD. I WAS WITH THE PROTESTORS LAST WEDNESDAY AT MAGNOLIA PARK AND I MARCHED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS DESERVE A THE FAIR, A FAIR AND JUST INVESTIGATION. I APPRECIATE THE PUSH FOR A LOCAL INVESTIGATION NOW, BUT WE NEED TO FIGHT THE PRESENCE OF ICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENSURE THAT THIS INVESTIGATION HAPPENS FAIRLY AND WE PREVENT ICE IN THE FUTURE. ACTION IS NEEDED MORE SO THAN THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NANCY ANO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CALIS CALISTA. BERT, I TIME THIS MULTIPLE TIMES AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THREE MINUTES, SO DON'T TELL ME TO STOP. HELLO, MY NAME IS NESSIE OV. I'M 18 YEARS OLD AND I'M THE CHILD OF TWO IMMIGRANTS FROM BELARUS NAZER BY JEAN RESPECTIVELY. A MAN HAS DIED IN YOUR CITY AND HIS NAME WAS LORENZO SALGADO RAJO. YOU ARE ADULTS LIKE ME AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT DECORUM BECAUSE DECORUM IS JUST MEANT TO QUELL THE REVOLUTIONARY SPIRITS. AND I WILL NOT HOLD BACK. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE BECAUSE I DO RECOGNIZE THAT. BUT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT YOUR CITIZENS. AND MAYOR WHITMEYER, IT IS BEYOND ME HOW MUCH YOU LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEP ALL OVER YOU IN REGARDS TO THE INVESTIGATION. ALL I'M HEARING IS, OH, WE'RE, THERE'S MUCH WE CAN DO. IT'S IN OUR HANDS. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO PUSH PRESSURE MORE FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OR EVEN THE BARE MINIMUM TO GET ICE OUT OF OUR G*****N CITY. AND DON'T SAY THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE COLORADO AND MANY OTHER STATES LIKE UTAH HAVE ENACTED MANY REGULATIONS. AS SUCH, ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OR ARE ALSO CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS HAVE EXPRESSED FEAR OF RISE SINCE THE INCREASED PRESENCE BEGAN IN HOUSTON WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND AS A WHITE FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN, I RECOGNIZE MY PRIVILEGE AND I SPEAK FOR THEM. NO ONE SHOULD FEEL THIS SCARED TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT ON IMMIGRANTS. I'M SO GOD DAMN SICK OF TEEN FAMILIES GET RIPPED APART DUE TO ICE. THE POWER TRIPS AND INHUMANE ACTS BEING DONE TO MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND YOU SHOULD LIE SLEEPLESS AT NIGHT KNOWING YOU ARE LETTING THIS PRESENCE RUN RAMPANT IN YOUR CITY. THE KEY WITNESSES OF LORENZO SGAS MURDER ARE BEING PRESSURE INTO DEPORTATION. AND HIS FAMILY LAST I CHECKED, HASN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO CLAIM HIS BODY ICE KILLED ANOTHER MAN YESTERDAY IN FRONT OF HIS 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD. IF ANY OF YOU ON THIS COUNCIL EVEN KNEW THAT, DOES IT SOUND LIKE JUSTICE TO YOU? IF ANYTHING THAT ANYONE IS SAYING GETTING THROUGH TO YOU, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY CAN'T PROTECT MY COMMUNITY IF YOU GUYS DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THEM. I'M JEWISH AND SEEING ICE, A AMIGA GUSTAPO KILLED PEOPLE AND COLD BLOOD IN THE STREETS IS HOW SOME OF MY ANCESTORS EVENTUALLY DIED TO THE NAZIS. AND I'LL NOT BE SILENT WATCHING. I HYPOTHETICALLY TRY AND DO THE SAME ANYWHERE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN MY CITY. FINALLY, AMY PECK, YOU ONCE SAID IN AN EMAIL QUOTE, THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO STICK IT TO THE ANTIFA TYPE THAN TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC LIFE. END QUOTE. WELL, THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO STICK IT TO A FASCIST BOOT LIQUOR JUST TO THROW THEM THAT YOU CAN'T STOP THE PEOPLE FROM MAKING EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL FEEL THE CLUTCHING WEIGHT OF THEIR SINS AND ALL THE SCREAMS OF THE CITIZENS THERE ARE LETTING DOWN AND HAVING DIED IN THE STREETS OF ICE. I KNOW KNOW YOU HEAR THEM OUT THERE. I KNOW YOU DO. TO THE AHO FAMILY, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE AND ADMIRATION FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN. I'M SORRY. ABOLISH ICES FREE PALESTINE. THE PROLETARIANS HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE WITH THEIR CHAINS. THANK YOU MA'AM. JUST A SECOND PASS. MAYOR PER THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT QUOTE IS, BUT I NEVER SAID THAT, SO DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT CALLISTA HERBERT CASSANDRA CASADOS, RACHEL DAMON TO BE FOLLOWED BY SASHA MONTE RUSO. MONTE RUSO, A MAN WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD BY ICE IN OUR CITY, NOT IN LOS ANGELES, NOT IN CHICAGO, NOT IN MINNEAPOLIS. RIGHT [03:05:01] HERE IN THE STREETS OF HOUSTON. SO WHAT ARE YOU AS CITY COUNCIL GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WHO ARE THESE ICE AGENTS WHO KILLED OUR BROTHER LORENZO? AND WHERE ARE THEY? IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE HE WAS MURDERED. WHY DOES NOBODY SEEM TO KNOW THE NAMES OF THESE STATE SPONSORED KILLERS WHO ARE WREAKING HAVOC IN OUR CITY? THIS ISN'T SIMPLY THE FAULT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL HAS LORENZO'S BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO HAS REFUSED TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST ICE OPERATING FREELY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF OUR CITY, HAS LORENZO'S BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO CAPITULATED TO GREG ABBOTT IN ALLOWING ICE IN POLICE COLLABORATION HAS LORENZO'S BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS. ICE MAY HAVE PULLED THE TRIGGER, BUT YOU HANDED THEM THE GUNS. HOUSTON IS HOME TO 1.6 MILLION IMMIGRANTS. NEARLY 25% OF OUR POPULATION, IMMIGRANTS MAKE HOUSTON RUN. YET HARRIS COUNTY IS LEADING THE NATION IN ICE ATTAINMENTS HARRIS COUNTY JAIL HOLDS THE MOST ICE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. THESE AREN'T JUST STATISTICS, THEY'RE REAL PEOPLE, FAMILIES, CHILDREN. WE SHOULD BE DEEPLY ASHAMED. SO AGAIN, I ASK WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT? THANK YOU. WE'LL NOT ALLOW ICE TO LIE ABOUT THE DETAILS AS IS PART OF THEIR PLAYBOOK TO BLAME LORENZO FOR HIS OWN MURDER. AND WE WON'T ALLOW YOU TO BLAME US FOR HIS MURDER EITHER. THANK YOU MA'AM. WE NEED MORE THEN HOLLOW STATEMENTS. WE NEED ANSWERS TO GET UP THERE AND SAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO IS AN INSULT TO ALL OF US WHO, WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL CHANNELS THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO US. THANK YOU. WE DEMAND AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY. WE CANNOT ALLOW THESE ARMED THUGS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS TO INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES. WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HPD AND ICE. THAT IS THE PRIMARY THING, MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES UNSAFE. WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE HAL TO THE DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS OF THE WITNESSES OF LORENZO'S MURDER. YOU WON'T YOU REPRESENT US. THE PEOPLE IN THE VAST MAJORITY OPPOSE THIS RACIST DEPORTATION MACHINE. SO AGAIN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER CITY COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW HOUSTONIANS. MY NAME IS SASHA ROSO AND I AM A DAUGHTER OF AN IMMIGRANT. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY CARRYING NOT ONLY MY OWN VOICE, BUT THE VOICE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE SILENCE AND THE FACE OF TRAGEDY. LORENZO SALGADO WAS NOT JUST ANOTHER NAME IN THE NEWS HEADLINES. HE WAS A HUMAN BEING. HE HAD A FAMILY WHO LOVED HIM, DREAMS OF HIS FUTURE, AND PEOPLE WHO EXPECTED HIM TO COME HOME THAT NIGHT. INSTEAD, THEY'RE LEFT PLANNING A FUNERAL WHILE STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. LESS THAN 24 HOURS OF LORENZO'S DEATH. HIS FAMILY WAS TOLD THAT OUR OWN CITY WOULD NOT CONDONE AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE THEY HAD TIME TO GRIEVE. THEY WERE MET WITH CLOSED DOORS. THIS IS NOT COMPASSION, THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP AND THIS IS NOT JUSTICE AT ALL. JUSTICE CANNOT DEPEND ON WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER. ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT DISAPPEAR BECAUSE A FEDERAL BADGE WAS INVOLVED. WHEN A LIFE IS TAKEN, EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT HAS A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SEEK THE TRUTH. IF WE CANNOT EVEN ASK THE QUESTIONS, HOW CAN PEOPLE EVER GET THE ANSWERS TO THE TRUTH? TODAY WE'RE ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT BECAUSE IT IS POLITICALLY CONVENIENT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS MORALLY CORRECT AND AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION IS NOT AN ATTACK ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS A COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE PRINCIPLE THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE SCRUTINY. MAYOR WHITMEYER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL HISTORY WILL REMEMBER THE CHOICES YOU DECIDE THAT YOU DECIDE TO MAKE. IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS, YOU FROM NOW, PEOPLE WILL NOT REMEMBER THE TALKING POINTS OR THE EXCUSES. THEY WILL REMEMBER WHETHER YOU STOOD WITH A GRIEVING FAMILY OR TURNED AWAY FROM THEM. THEY'LL REMEMBER WHETHER HOUSTON CHOSE COURAGE OR COMFORT TO LORENZO'S FAMILY. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO FIGHT ALONE AND NEITHER SHOULD ANYBODY, YOUR COMMUNITY IS STANDING BESIDE YOU BECAUSE YOUR PAIN MATTERS. YOUR LOVED ONES MATTER AND THE TRUTH MATTERS. AND TO EVERYBODY LISTENING HERE TODAY, THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE FAMILY. THIS IS THE KIND OF A CITY WE CHOOSE TO BE IN. A CITY THAT LOOKS AWAY WHEN DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ARISE, OR A CITY THAT BELIEVES IN EVERY, EVERY LIFE DESERVES DIGNITY, EVERY FAMILY DESERVES ANSWERS, [03:10:01] AND EVERY ABUSE OF POWER DESERVES ACCOUNTABILITY. AS A GREAT LABOR LEADER AND CIVIL RIGHT ACTIVIST, THE LETTER HUTA ONCE SAID, EVERY MOMENT IS AN ORGANIZING OPPORTUNITY. EVERY PERSON. THANK YOU MA'AM. A POTENTIAL ACTIVIST EVERY MINUTE, A CHANCE TO CHANGE THE WORLD. TODAY. OUR SERVICE IS NOT MEASURED BY WORDS, BUT BY OUR WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP FOR JUSTICE WHEN IT IS HARDEST TO DO SO. IF WE REMAIN SILENT FOR ONE FAMILY, HOW CAN WE EXPECT YOU TO PROCEED SILENT. I'M NOT FINISHED YET. OH, I AM NOT DONE. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. I'M NOT FINISHED. THANK YOU. WE SEND A MESSAGE TO ANY FAMILY THAT CAN BE NEXT. IF WE STAND TOGETHER WITH COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND CONVICTION, WE CAN BUILD A HOUSTON WHERE TRUTH IS NEVER BURIED, WHERE ACCOUNTABILITY IS NEVER OPTIONAL. AND WHERE EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE, IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE. TODAY I ASK YOU TO CHOOSE JUSTICE AND TO CHOOSE TRANSPARENCY. CHOOSE THE PEOPLE YOU ARE ELECTED TO SERVE. BECAUSE IF JUSTIN NEEDS ANYTHING AT ALL, WE ALL DESERVE TO HAVE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT. SEAN SPINNER. NEVER GOTTEN DOWN TO THE POLITICAL JESSICA CAMPOS. UHUH. THAT AIN'T GONNA WORK. ONE AT A TIME, PLEASE. ONE AT A TIME. WE'RE NOT NO, NO. ONE, ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM HERE. OH, THEY'RE HERE. THEY ARE HERE. OKAY. I KNOW Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INCIDENT, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET YOUR WAY. I'M GONNA ASK YOU, I'M GONNA ASK YOU RESPECTFULLY TO FOLLOW THE RULES THAT ONE PERSON WE'RE NOT SPEAKING, SHE IS. COME ON. ONE PERSON. PERSON AT ONE PERSON AT THE PODIUM. I'M SO GLAD THAT ONE OF YOU MENTIONED, UH, VOTERS AND THAT THE PARENTS SHOULD BE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN. LET 'EM GET I GET CALLED ON A DAILY BASIS ALL DAY LONG. I'M UP UNTIL THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TALKING TO PEOPLE. I HAVE GROCERIES IN MY CAR RIGHT NOW TO DELIVER TO A, TO AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON. THANK YOU. WHY ARE WE DOING YOUR JOB? IT'S UPSETTING TO COME UP HERE AND, AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING AT ME. OKAY. YOU'VE GOT 30 SECONDS TO FINISH AND I'M GONNA RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO FOLLOW THE RULE. A CITY WITHOUT LEADERSHIP BECOMES A CITY RULED BY FEAR. A CITY RULED BY FEAR CREATES COMMUNITIES THAT LEARN TO SURVIVE WITHOUT THEIR LEADERS. IF WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING YOUR JOB, YOU WERE THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO, THEN EVENTUALLY THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK, WHY DO WE EVEN NEED LEADERS AT ALL? RA DEMOCRACY, RA ALU. THEY CAME HERE TO SEE YOU GUYS ACTING LIKE LEADERS AND YOU ARE NOT LEADING. THANK THANK YOU RA ALU, CHRISTINE VO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JULIE MCHA. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE FO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A. IT'S ASTONISHING TO ME THAT EVEN AFTER A YEAR OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ORGANIZERS AND FAMILIES COMING TO CITY HALL TO DEMAND YOU TO DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING TO PROTECT US FROM ICE. YOU HAVE DONE THE EXACT OPPOSITE. AND NOW WE'VE LOST A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO ICE COUNCIL MEMBER. DON'T SAY THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT WE CAN DO. AT THE BARE MINIMUM, YOU SHOULD BE JOINING US IN THE STREETS PASSING POLICIES TO END ICE OPERATIONS IN THE CITY AND STANDING UP TO THE FULL RIGHT STATE GOVERNMENT AND TRUMP CALLING TO ABOLISH ICE. WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO ALLOW ICE TO OPERATE IN HOUSTON, YOU'RE SENDING A MESSAGE TO ALL OF US WHOSE LIVES ARE OF VALUE AND WHOSE ARE DISPOSABLE. HOUSTON IS HOME TO 1.6 MILLION IMMIGRANTS. HOW MANY MORE IMMIGRANT FATHERS NEED TO BE KILLED BEFORE THIS COUNSELOR DECIDES TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING? HOW MANY MORE FAMILIES NEED TO LOSE A PARENT BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO STAND UP TO TRUMP? AND ABBOTT, LORENZO DESERVED TO COME HOME TO HIS [03:15:01] FAMILY. THANK YOU. LIKE ALL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL, GET TO THANK YOU. HE DESERVES TO GROW OLD WITH HIS FAMILY AND NOT BECAUSE YOU FAILED HIM AND HE FAILED THIS CITY. CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND GET ICE OFF OUR STREETS. JUSTICE FOR LORENZO. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT JUST CLARIFY THAT I DO HAVE THREE MINUTES, CORRECT? ONE. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE MY TIME TO START NOW. I AM PROFESSOR JULY MCSHAY. I TEACH AT AN HSI. SO THIS IS CRITICAL TO ME BECAUSE MY STUDENTS ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING TARGETED. GROWING UP, MY FAVORITE SONG WAS, I BELIEVE THE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE, THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL BY WHITNEY HOUSTON. AND TODAY I HAVE SEEN THAT THE CHILDREN REALLY ARE THE FUTURE BECAUSE THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE COME UP HERE TODAY AND THEY HAVE READ Y'ALL FOR FILTH. THEY HAVE TOLD YOU HOW THEY FEEL AND THEY HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED THE POWER THAT IS IN THEM, THAT THEY WILL BE VOTING. AND SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY MORE POLITICAL FUTURES BECAUSE THE CHILDREN HAVE SPOKEN. AND THE BIBLE SAYS FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES, YOU HAVE HEARD IT FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES. TODAY, I'M ONLY THE TEACHER. I MODEL MYSELF AFTER MY CREATOR, AFTER MY SAVIOR. AND SO I TEACH THE CHILDREN. BUT LET ME JUST SAY TO YOU, AS A BODY THAT IS INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO SET POLITICS TO THE SIDE AND STAND UP FOR YOUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS, IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK UP AND STAND BY YOUR FELLOW HOUSTONIANS, WHETHER THEY HAVE, UM, CITIZENSHIP OR NOT. THREE HOURS AGO, EXACTLY AT 1 54, WE HEARD YOU PRESENT. UM, GLOBAL REFUGEE DAY. REFUGEE DAY, RIGHT HERE IN THIS VERY CHAMBER. A LOT OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY CAME AS REFUGEES, WHETHER OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL. SO IT IS INCUMBENT UPON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO STAND UP FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT IN MATTHEW CHAPTER SIX, I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY AT MY CHURCH. SO IF YOU HEAR ME CUSS, IT'S BECAUSE I'M PETER. BUT IF YOU HEAR ME SPEAK UP AND USE THE WORD OF GOD, IT'S BECAUSE I LIVE BY IT. BUT I'M ALSO ON Y'ALL BEHINDS. AS A POLITICAL I EXPECT ACTION. I EXPECT YOU TO DEMAND ACTION. CALL ON THE TEXAS RANGERS, STAND WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, SEAN TIER, AND STAND UP FOR HOUSTONIANS. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANOTHER FATHER, BUSINESS OWNER, HUSBAND, NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, UNCLE, BUSINESS OWNER. THANK YOU. WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. A MAN WAS KILLED TODAY IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. THE MIAMI HERALD REPORTED IT. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS IN HOUSTON. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. MAYOR WHITMEYER. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HISTORIC MAYOR BY STANDING UP AND CREATING POLICY AND MAKING DEMANDS AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR NATION WHERE PEOPLE, CITIZENS, AND RESIDENTS OF THESE UNITED STATES ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES. THEIR 14TH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO DO PROCESS IS BEING SNATCHED AWAY FROM THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU MAR UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP, MA'AM. PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR MCSHAY JULY. MA'AM, PROFESSOR MC SHAA. I I WANTED TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. UM, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR WORDS BECAUSE WE HEAR YOU. UM, WE WATCH YOU, WE SEE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. UM, YOUR CIVICS AND CAMPAIGN SCHOOL HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SHORT TIME THAT YOU HAVE STARTED THAT. BUT YOU HAVE TAKEN ON THE MANTLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY KNOW THE PROCESS AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR POWERS ARE AND THEY KNOW HOW THEY CAN AFFECT CHANGE. AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS LIFTING YOUR VOICE AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO LIFT THEIR VOICES. AND I DID WANT NOT WANT YOU TO LEAVE TODAY WITHOUT TELLING YOU THAT WE SEE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. RAHI GARCIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY SELMA GARCIA. MY NAME IS SARA SARA GARCIA. LET'S GET IT RIGHT. UM, I'M, I, I WAS HERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, UH, BECAUSE THE YOUTH HAS BEEN ORGANIZING AROUND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. UM, I HOLD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR BENDING THE NEEDS ABBOT AND TO TRUMP FOR NOT NOT HAVING ANY MORAL BACKBONE OR FORTITUDE. YOU KNOW, Y'ALL WERE OKAY WITH ICE COMING AND KIDNAPPING OUR NEIGHBORS, TAKING 'EM TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS, KNOWING [03:20:01] WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. THEY ARE F*****G CONCENTRATION CAMPS. THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING FED. THEY ARE NOT. THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE WATER. LITTLE GIRLS ARE ARE FALLING PREGNANT. HOW THE HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN? AND Y'ALL WERE OKAY WITH ICE COMING INTO OUR CITY. I'M MAGNOLIA GROWN. I LIVED THERE. THAT'S MY COMMUNITY. I WENT TO SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE MR. LORENZO WAS SHOT AND MURDERED BY STATE SANCTIONED F*****G THUGS. AND Y'ALL ARE ALL HERE, OKAY, WITH THIS. NOT DOING ANYTHING, NOT SHOWING ANY KIND OF MORAL CHARACTER, FORTITUDE. Y'ALL WEAK, EMPATHETIC. WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP DO YOU SHOW? MAYOR? YOU DON'T YOU F*****G BEND THE KNEE TO THOSE F*****G TYRANTS UP IN WASHINGTON AND OVER THERE IN THE STATE CAPITOL. WHAT? I MEAN, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT YOU DEMONSTRATED THAT TO US VERY CLEARLY, THAT YOU DON'T GIVE A S**T ABOUT US. WHEN THAT DAY, WHEN THEY HAD THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU WEREN'T THERE. EVERY F*****G POLITICIAN WAS THERE, BUT YOUR FACE WAS MISSING NOTICEABLY ABSENT. WHY COULD YOU DON'T GIVE A S**T ABOUT US? THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR LETTING ME, UH, SPEAK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. SHE WANTS TO MAYOR DIRECTLY THAT NO, NO ONE IS ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND. DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY'RE KILLING US? DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY'RE HUNTING US? BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE LIGHT. I DON'T HAVE WHITE SKIN. I'M RIGHT HERE WITH MY BROWN SKIN, MY IN MY BLOOD WITH RUNS. I HAVE COURAGE. I AM BOLD. I SPEAK FOR MY PEOPLE. THANK YOU. AND NO, YOU WILL NOT SUCK HER. YOU KNOW WHAT? THANK YOU OUTTA. AND YOU NEED TO GET UP OUTTA THE CITY. IT'S YOUR JOB, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. DON'T F*****G THANK YOU. CARRIE RICE OF CYPRUS. YVONNE TYLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY RUBEN GARZA. MY NAME IS JOVONNE TYLER. I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT D. LISTEN, SILENCE EQUALS DEATH. THIS STATEMENT ISN'T MEANT TO BE SENSATIONAL. HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MAY NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ICE, BUT EACH OF YOU CERTAINLY HAS A VOICE. THOSE WHO'VE BEEN SILENT. I CHALLENGE YOU TO USE YOUR VOICE TO DEMAND TRANSPARENT JUSTICE FOR THE FAMILY OF LORENZO SALGADO, WHO IS A LAW ABIDING LABORER WHO OWNED HIS OWN BUSINESS. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A LABORER WHO OWNED HIS OWN BUSINESS. SO FOR ME, THIS IS VERY PERSONAL. YOUR CITY IS LOOKING TO YOUR LEADERSHIP TO CALM THE FEAR, THE TERROR, THE ANGER THAT'S ON OUR STREETS. YOU'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT ALL HOUSTONIANS, NO MATTER THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, THEIR SEXUAL IDENTITY, OR ANY OTHER PERCEIVED DIFFERENCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO EACH OF YOU DOING YOUR PART TO ENSURE THAT ICE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR CITY, WHICH IS BUILT ON THE SHOULDERS AND THE BACKS OF IMMIGRANTS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THIS COUNCIL PUT FORTH AN INTENTIONAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMPAIGN. THERE IS A HEARTBREAKING MEMORIAL IN REMEMBRANCE OF LORENZO ON CANAL STREET. IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN THERE, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO. THERE'S A LACK BY SOME ON THIS COUNCIL TO HAVE COMPASSION. WHEN YOU GO TO THAT [03:25:01] MEMORIAL. THERE'S A CONTINUOUS CROWD OF HOUSTONIANS WHO WERE THERE. AND THERE ARE REOCCURRING MESSAGES THAT THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE EAST END ARE NOT CARED FOR BY THIS COUNCIL. NO HOUSTONIAN SHOULD FEEL THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CARE. THIS ISN'T TRUE. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO STEP INTO HISTORY AND GO INTO THE STREETS WHERE DARKNESS ABOUNDS OUR STREETS. THIS HOT BLOODY SUMMER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RUBEN GARZA. I'M GONNA BE VERY HONEST. I CAN'T FOLLOW ANY OF WHAT THE PREVIOUS CROWD HAS TALKED ABOUT. SO I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE BRAVE HOUSTONIANS WHO'VE COME UP, WHO'VE COME UP AND GIVEN THEIR TIME. UH, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A BIT OF A LEGAL CONFUSION WITH THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE. UH, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PROSECUTE FEDERAL, UH, OFFICERS, UH, FOR STATE CRIMES LIKE MURDER. SO LIKE AS THIS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES WITH DA TIER, UM, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROSECUTE. UM, NOW THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE. WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS A FEDERAL HOUSING ACT THAT JUST PASSED OVER THE WEEKEND WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE. UM, ESSENTIALLY THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STUFF THERE. BUT SOMETHING I DO WANNA POINT OUT IS FEDERAL GUIDELINES ON, UH, INFILL HOUSING PROGRAMS, SINGLE STAIR REFORM, AS WELL AS, UH, THE INNOVATION GRANT, WHICH IS UNDER SECTION 2 0 8 OF THE ROAD TO HOUSING ACT, WHICH AGAIN, JUST PASSED ON JULY 11TH. UH, IN SHORT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CAN COMPETE FOR COMPETITIVE HUD GRANTS UP TO $200 MILLION FOR IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN, UH, HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY POLICY REFORMS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SHOCKINGLY ELIMINATING OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS. SO, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ALREADY DONE SO. IN 2023, CITYWIDE DALLAS HAS TAKEN A A GOOD WHACK AT SOME OF THEIR PARKING, UH, REQUIREMENTS. SO THEY ALREADY STAND TO, THEY ALREADY HAVE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AGAINST US. AND IF WE WANT TO, UH, BE MORE SECURE IN, UH, GETTING THESE FEDERAL HOUSING GRANTS, WE CAN AND SHOULD ELIMINATE OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS OTHER, UH, HOUSING RELATED REFORMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT LINDSEY WILLIAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID ESPINOZA. HI Y'ALL. MY NAME IS LINDSEY WILLIAMS AND I'M HERE AS A DISTRICT. I RESIDENT NOT AS MY, NOT AS A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT. CAPACITY. LORENZO SALGADO RAJO BUILT HOMES, HOUSTON HOMES FOR 35 YEARS. HE WAS A FATHER AND A HUSBAND, AND HE WASN'T EVEN THE TARGET. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED HIS DEATH OF HOMICIDE AND THE AGENTS WORE NO BODY CAMERAS EVEN THOUGH CONGRESS FUNDED THEM. IN APRIL, MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOR TELL ME THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HUNTED LIKE ANIMALS AND THIS, THAT THIS COULD BE THEM, THIS COULD BE THEIR FAMILIES. AND THIS HURTS. FORMER SHERIFF AND CURRENT COUNTY COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA SAID IT PLAINLY, HARRIS COUNTY IS LESS SAFE BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING. AND HE REMINDED US BODY CAMERAS PROTECT OFFICERS TOO. THEY PROVE NOT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THAT OFFICERS DID THEIR DAR DID THEIR DIFFICULT WORK THE RIGHT WAY. I ENCOURAGE HIS COUNSEL TO SUPPORT THE LORENZO SALGADO RAJO ACT. BODY CAMERAS CLEAR IDENTIFICATION, INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT. LEGISLATION LIKE THIS MAKES EVERYONE SAFER. OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE AGENTS THEMSELVES. I'M A SIXTH GENERATION TEXAN, A THIRD GENERATION HOUSTONIAN, BORN AND RAISED. I DON'T RECOGNIZE MY HOME RIGHT NOW, AND I BELIEVE HOUSTON CAN LEAD HERE. SOMOS ANGELO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID ESPINOZA. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION COLLECTIVE AND CO-DIRECTOR OF LANGUAGE JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AT WEST STREET RECOVERY. NOW, AS PART OF MY JOB, I DO MEET WITH A COHORT OF SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON TO DISCUSS TOPICS LIKE THESE. AND RIGHT NOW, WELL, EVER SINCE ICE MADE THEIR PRESENCE SNOW IN HOUSTON, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SCARED TO GO TO WORK, TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO GET GROCERIES, EVEN COME TO THIS VERY CHAMBER WHILE YOU, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU AND THE COUNTY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A BULWARK AGAINST AN INCREASINGLY FASCIST FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT. AND ONLY WHEN THE ICE ORDINANCE WAS, UH, DEBATED IN APRIL, ONLY FOUR OF YOU CAME IN. THOMAS POLLARD AND SALINAS STOOD UP FOR THE LA LATINO COMMUNITY. AND I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, MAYBE POTENTIALLY A LOT OF DEMOCRAT ALIGNED OR LIBERAL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TRYING TO STAY FACED RIGHT NOW. AND SOME OF THE GOP ARE PROBABLY CELEBRATING THIS MURDER. SO NOW WE'RE A YEAR OUT FROM ELECTION AND RIGHT NOW, LIKE I'M SUPPORTING, IF Y'ALL WANNA CHANGE YOUR MIND ON THAT, THANK YOU. CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND DO, AND DO SO BECAUSE WE, WE NEED Y'ALL TO STAND UP FOR US AGAINST THE FASCISTS THAT ARE COMING TO TAKE OVER. THANK, THANK YOU. [03:30:01] I JUST WANNA SHAME ONE MORE GROUP BECAUSE ONE PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T SHOW UP HERE TO SPEAK AS HPD, BECAUSE I REMEMBER LAST YEAR BEING IN THIS CHAMBER, DURING THE BUDGET SEASON, THEY WERE HERE, PLAIN CLOTHES DEMANDING THAT THEY GET THEIR RAISES. BUT WHERE ARE THEY HERE, WHERE THE, WHERE ARE PROTESTING THE LIGHT, THE ABUSE AGAINST CITIZENS AGAINST EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JAKE. JACOB CLEMENT TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDUARDO DURANT, THE FANFEST COURSE, UH, WELCOME WALLS WELCOME, UH, SERIES WAS HELD A PARALYMPIC OLYMPIC AND GOT TOGETHER TO SHOW OFF THE SPORTS. YET I WASN'T INFORMED OF IT OR INVITED TO IT. I I DON'T KNOW WHY, BECAUSE I, I WAS FREE THAT DAY. BUT, UM, UM, THEY, THEY DIDN'T INFORM ME OR, UM, INVITED ME TO IT. AND SO, UH, I'M, I FEEL LIKE VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE LOVED TO HAVE GONE TO THERE THE FANFEST. BUT, UM, WELL, UM, ALL I CAN SAY IS, UH, UH, AH, OH, BYE. THANK YOU JACOB. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. MM-HMM . THANKS FOR WAITING. COUNCILOR EVAN SHABAZZ COUNCILLOR. EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE ARNETTE A MURRAY, SHE'S THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FROM IOWA COLONY, AND SHE COMES TO A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORTS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. WELCOME MA'AM. THANK YOU. NEXT, EDUARDO DURAN. OH, THAT DUDE. SO I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK. UH, I HAVE TWO CLIPS. SO, UM, SINCE UH, IT'S BUSY TODAY, THEN I, I GUESS I ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE. SO I'LL PLAY THE FIRST ONE AND LET IT PLAY. AND THEN I'LL PLAY FOR THE, THE SECOND ONE. LET IT JUST PLAY. AND THEN, UH, UH, NO COMMENTS OR ANYTHING. THANK YOU. BC CENTRALIZED LOCAL ISSUE. SO OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT CALLED THE AI DATA CENTER MAP. I'LL JUST BRING IT UP ON SCREEN HERE. AI DATA CENTER MAP.ORG. AND SO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA? WE'LL ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA. SO IF YOU LIVE IN DENVER, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU WANNA SEE THE IMPACT OF LOCAL DATA CENTERS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CLICK ON THE MAP AND THERE YOU GO. THIS IS A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY, HOW MUCH POWER AND WATER THESE DATA CENTERS ARE USING. AND THAT COMBINED WITH THE REPORT, IF DEREK, YOU COULD BRING THAT UP ON SCREEN. WHAT THIS, UH, THIS REPORT WE PUBLISHED, WHICH WILL BE PROMPTED TO DOWNLOAD. OKAY, SO THAT'S, THAT'S DEREK BRO. AND, UH, FROM, UM, CONSCIOUS RESISTANCE. AND, UH, THAT WAS THE FIRST CLIP. AND THEN I HAVE A SECOND ONE FOR YOU RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. VERY QUICKLY. UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU, UM, IS TALKING ABOUT A, A DIGITAL, DIGITAL, UH, BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH, UH, WAS JUST, UH, PRESENTED TO THREE, THREE STATES ARE ARE CONSIDERING IT BY, BY, UH, UH, PATRICK WOOD AND COURTNEY TURNER. THEY WENT AHEAD AND CREATED THIS MODEL FOR A DIGITAL BILL OF RIGHTS. AND SO FAR WE HAVE, UH, THREE STATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING AND LOOKING AT IT. THANK YOU. HERE'S THE REPORT OF IT. UH, IF YOU GIMME 30 SECONDS OR AN EXTENSION, I'M THE LAST PERSON. UH, I WILL BE OUTTA YOUR HAIR VERY QUICKLY. I HAVE LAUNCHED A BRAND NEW DIGITAL DOLLAR CALLED OPEN USD. SO AGAIN, IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER. NOW THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL TOPIC. OKAY. A DIGITAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR STATES. YOUR TIME DONE, SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [RECESS] WE STAY IN RECESS IN THE MORNING. WELL, THIS IS OUR DRIVE. THIS ITEM [READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA] SHALL ONLY BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 16. ITEM 18, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 46 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH TARA NOVA CONSULTING, INC. ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $588,240 AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH THE GONZALEZ GROUP, LP ITEM 20 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE IN $1,118,539 45 CENTS [03:35:01] AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH GAD BERRY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS WITH MORRIS MOVING AND STORAGE, LLC RUBICON, LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS TEXAS RUBICON TRANSPORT AND SAMSON POWER MOVERS LLC FOR MOVING IN STORAGE SERVICES. ITEM 22, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO IMPLEMENT EARLY WARNING SYSTEM AND SYSTEM OF CARE. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE OF MOVING AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER TWO, THE MIDTOWN ZONE AND MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY RELATING TO HARRIS COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE MIDTOWN ZONE. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER SEVEN, OLD SPANISH TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDOR ZONE AND OLD SPANISH TRAIL, ALAMEDA CORRIDORS AUTHORITY ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 26 SUNNYSIDE ZONE AND SUNNYSIDE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 26 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 4,900 TO 5,000 BLOCK OF LIN BERRY STREET, NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES BETWEEN COFFEE STREET AND CHAIN STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED IN NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 4,900 TO 5,000 BLOCK OF MAYFLOWER STREET BETWEEN COFFEE STREET AND CHAIN STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 28 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED IN NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 4,800 BLOCK OF MAYFLOWER STREET BETWEEN CALHOUN ROAD AND COFFEY STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE CONSENTING TO THE ADDITION OF 0.153 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 4 7 7 ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATION FOR FUNDING TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WATER SUPPLY AND INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM. ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,133,787 11 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH SES HORIZON CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $3,150,000 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH TRILOGY ENGINEERING SERVICES LLC ITEM 33. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 127,400 $400 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO CONTRACT WITH LLOYD SMITHER AND ASSOCIATES LLC ITEM 34. MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, HOUSTON YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM, STANDARDS OF CARE. ITEM 35 MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NRG GREENS BIO SIX LLC ITEM 36, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE $93,771,329 APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CDM SMITH INC. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND WAS ITEM 34 ON THE AGENDA OF JULY 8TH. ITEM 37 37, 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. THIS ITEM WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND WAS ITEM 38 ON THE AGENDA OF JULY 8TH. ITEM 38, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE IN $26,437,655 APPRO AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH KIEWIT WATER FACILITY SOUTH COMPANY. THIS ITEM WAS DELAYED BY MOTION. 2026 DASH 3 87 AND WITH ITEM 39 ON THE AGENDA OF JULY A, THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR THE AGENDA OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 15TH. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY WEDNESDAY. [RECONVENE] COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER [MAYOR'S REPORT] MEMBERS TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT'S ON MY MIND THIS MORNING. [03:40:01] AND I BEGIN WITH A HEAVY HEART FOR MR. SOTO'S FAMILY. BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO MENTION THIS MORNING AS WE KEEP THEM IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR SITTING THROUGH A LONG SESSION YESTERDAY THAT I KNOW FROM BODY LANGUAGE AND OUR PERSONAL VISITS WAS TOUGH ON ALL OF US. I WAS VERY TOLERANT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE ANGER, THE SADNESS, I, AND I'M ALSO GONNA SEEK YOUR SUPPORT IN HAVING MORE DECORUM. I MENTIONED YESTERDAY AT THE BEGINNING HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELF IS IMPORTANT TO THE FAMILY. THERE'S SUFFERING FRAME. I'VE BEEN AT THE MEMORIAL SITE, I'VE VISITED WITH FAMILY, THEY WANT THEIR PRIVACY. AND YESTERDAY OFTEN SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS DID NOT RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY. AND QUITE FRANKLY, MISBEHAVED WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TERM. SO WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT, WE'LL USE GOOD JUDGMENT. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO STOP A NICE LITTLE OLD LADY AFTER ONE MINUTE. BUT THOUGH THOSE THAT ARE USING THIS TRAGEDY FOR EITHER POLITICAL PURPOSES TO BUILD THEIR ORGANIZATION TO INCITE FOLKS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE VENUE. AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU AND HOUSTONIANS THE DISPLAY OUTSIDE THAT WAS INTENDED TO DISRUPT US PROTECTED BY FIRST AMENDMENT. I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE VOICES FROM BEING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE LAST FRIDAY. I'M STILL GETTING PROTESTS ON FRIDAYS AT NINE O'CLOCK, WHICH I THINK IS WRONG, CERTAINLY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I'LL TAKE IT AND I'LL TAKE THEM BEING OUT ON THE STEPS DISRUPTING US. THAT'S THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAW YESTERDAY WITH THE F WORD. TAKING THE LARGE NAME IN VAIN, WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW THAT AGAIN. BUT I NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND ADVICE AND COUNSEL CERTAINLY THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS LONGER THAN SOME OF US, UH, WE HAD A GOOD, WE HAD A GOOD SESSION YESTERDAY AND I UNDERSTAND ANGER, PASSION, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND BAD BEHAVIOR. AND I'VE PROBABLY CHAIRED MORE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND AUSTIN THAN ANYONE. VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUES, SOME POLICE ISSUES. AND I GIVE PEOPLE SUCH LATITUDE, BUT I WOULD'VE NOT CONDUCTED A LEGISLATIVE HEARING IN THE MANNER THAT WE WITNESSED YESTERDAY. IT'S JUST WRONG. IT'S WRONG TO HOUSTONIANS. IT'S WRONG FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THAT. BUT THAT'S WHAT'S ON MY MIND THIS MORNING BECAUSE IT DOES IN MY JUDGMENT, AFTER VISITING WITH THE FAMILY, THEY WON'T RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS. THEY WON'T RESPECT. SO WE CAN HAVE OUR INVESTIGATIONS AND WE, WE DEAL WITH THIS INFORMATION ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT TO BE ATTACKING EACH OF US, Y'ALL SAYING WE HADN'T CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION. WE KNOW THIS WRONG. WE ALL HAVE. WE DID IT LAST WEDNESDAY AS WE LEARNED ABOUT THE TRAGEDY. SO ANYWAY, THIS IS A CHALLENGING WEEK [03:45:01] THAT HOUSTON MEETS ITS CHALLENGES. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP THE RAHO FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS PUBLIC VIEWING. IT'S SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY FROM FIVE TO 9:00 PM IT'S GREAT CHAPEL AT FOREST PARK LAWNDALE, 6,900 LAWNDALE FAMILY'S ASKING EVERYONE TO LEAVE THEIR PHONES IN THE CAR AND THEN THEY WILL FOLLOW SATURDAY WITH A PRIVATE FUNERAL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO, TO LEAD. I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. I SAID THAT OVER TWO YEARS AGO. THERE'S NO REAL TRAINING FOR THIS EXPERIENCE DOES MATTER. BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR REMAINING HERE YESTERDAY. I THINK IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT I SAY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ WAS REPRESENTING US AT A CONFERENCE, ALEJO CONFERENCE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO HIS COMMUNITY AND THIS CITY. SO THE POLITICS OF ATTACKING HIM FOR DOING HIS JOB AT A DIFFERENT VENUE WAS WRONG. 'CAUSE HE HAS BEEN A TRUE COMMUNITY LEADER FROM THE MOMENT OF THE TRAGEDY TO THIS VERY MOMENT. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. MAYOR, I AGREE WITH YOU, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO DECORUM AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. UM, AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD STAND WITH YOU AND, AND, AND WANTING TO SEE THAT. I DO UNDERSTAND THOUGH, THAT THE, THE PUBLIC IS, IS ANGERED. THEY'RE EMOTIONAL, THEY'RE PASSIONATE. UM, AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE COMMUNICATE, UM, IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, UM, A VERY DIFFICULT TIME. UM, FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE WANT ANSWERS. PEOPLE WANT SOME TYPE OF CLARITY. UH, AND PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH, UM, SOME OF THE ACTIONS OF, OF THE CITY. UM, AT FIRST WE PUT OUT OR YOUR OFFICE PUT OUT STATEMENTS THAT WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND WE WON'T DO ANYTHING. AND I THINK THAT ANGERED PEOPLE. THEN WE PUT OUT A REQUEST OR YOUR OFFICE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR, UM, THE TEXAS RANGERS TO INVESTIGATE. I THINK PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED WITH THAT. NEWS CAME BACK TODAY THAT THEY HAVE DECLINED TO INVESTIGATE. UM, BUT WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, ONE OF THE MOST CAPABLE WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO THE DEATH OF A HOUSTONIAN. AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT SEEMS AS IF WE ARE TRYING TO ASK EVERYONE ELSE TO DO WHAT HOUSTON CAN DO FOR HOUSTON. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S SOME TACTICAL OR LOGISTICAL OR POLITICAL REASONS WHY, BUT IT JUST BAFFLES ME THAT IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY THAT WE ARE LEANING ON THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS HOUSTONIANS WHEN WE SHOULD BE TAKING THE LEAD OURSELVES. AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS THERE A PLAN FOR US TO DO OUR OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION SO THAT WE CAN BE IN CONTROL OF THE DYNAMICS OF TRYING TO GET ANSWERS FOR HOUSTONIANS WHO DON'T HAVE FAITH IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY HOUSTON AND TRUST THAT THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ABLE TO STEP FORWARD AND DO ALL WE CAN AS A CITY TO LOOK INTO A TRAGIC DEATH OF A HOUSTONIAN? AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? AND WHERE DOES HOUSTON GO FROM HERE KNOWING THAT THE, THE TROOPERS HAVE DECLINED AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LOCKING US OUT FROM INFORMATION. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE BEEN ADVISED TO IGNORE YOUR MISINFORMATION, [03:50:01] BUT IT'S TOO SENSITIVE TO IGNORE HBD AND THE DA AND THE FBI ARE EXECUTING A SEARCH WARRANT AT 10 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING ON THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN REGARDS TO AN INVESTIGATION BY HPD. THAT IS POSSIBLE. WE MET WITH THE FBI, THE DPS, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY YESTERDAY AT TWO O'CLOCK. HOUSTONIANS UNDERSTAND POLITICS WHEN THEY SEE IT, BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT WAS ON CNN THIS MORNING AT SEVEN 30 WHERE I WAS REPRESENTING THIS GREAT CITY OF THE LONG LIST OF THINGS WE'VE DONE. WE ASKED FOR THE RANGERS BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST INVESTIGATIVE BODY IN THE WORLD. ICE ACTUALLY CALLED HIM INTO A SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INCIDENT BECAUSE ICE ADMITTED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE CAPABILITIES FROM THE MOMENT, THE VERY MOMENT OF THE TRAGEDY, HP D'S BEEN INVOLVED, NO INTERACTION WITH ICE, THE COMMITMENT THAT WE'VE MADE IN PRACTICE, NO INTERACTION. HOUSTON FIRE RESPONDED. WE'VE FURNISHED THE 9 1 1 TAPE TO ALL THE PARTIES. I'VE HEARD IT. IT PAINS ME THAT THE SDO FAMILY WILL HAVE TO HEAR IT. IT'S NOT, I'M LOOKING FOR COMPASSION FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FROM, FROM ALL CITIZENS. AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE, YOU HEAR THE 9 1 1 TAPE THAT HPD SHARED WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO DID NOT HAVE IT. IT'S INTERESTING THAT, UH, BUT I'M NOT GONNA DEBATE YOU. THAT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME OR PRODUCTIVE. WE FURNISHED CH TEAR THE 9 1 1 TAPE. WE FURNISHED CHANTE THE METRO BUST VIDEO. SO IT'S SO UNFORTUNATE, AND I THINK I SPOKE TO IT IN MY OPENING REMARKS. WORDS MATTER. MESSAGING MATTERS. HPD IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE, HOMELAND SECURITY, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT. HOMELAND SECURITY. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR. EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE GOT THE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR THAT HPD IS DOING AN INVESTIGATION. COUNSEL, I HAVE THE FLOOR. HPD WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE IN SECURITY. FBI WAS THERE GATHERING EVIDENCE OF THE ACTUAL ACTION AT THE SCENE. BUT HOMELAND SECURITY CONTROLS THE INVESTIGATION. WE CANNOT EVEN HAVE THE RANGERS DO THE JOB WE'RE REQUESTING UNLESS WE HAVE A COOPERATION OF HOMELAND SECURITY. OUR POLICE CHIEF HAPPENS TO BE A FORMER TEXAS RANGER. SO WE'RE USING EVERY CONTACT WE KNOW POSSIBLE. THE FAMILY UNDERSTANDS IT. THE FAMILY WOULDN'T EVEN DARE THINK THE CONTENT OF YOUR WORDS. WE'VE VISITED WITH THEM. THEY KNOW TO THE POINT. IN FACT, SEAN TIER KNOWS TO THE POINT THEY'RE GONNA BE SEARCHING THE VAN AT 10 O'CLOCK. SO WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR. I CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION WEDNESDAY, THEN THURSDAY NIGHT VISITING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, WHO MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE WITNESSES THAT WERE IN THE VAN. WE HAD MORE INFORMATION FRIDAY MORNING, SO WE WENT PUBLIC WITH IT. SO I, I PROBABLY OUGHT TO LISTEN [03:55:01] TO MY ADVISORS AND IGNORE YOUR REGULAR MISINFORMATION. BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS IS, THIS IS SENSITIVE REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICS, YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, YOUR POSITION ON IMMIGRATION, THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND WE'RE DOING THAT. YESTERDAY WAS A TOUGH DAY. I UNDERSTAND THE PASSION, THE PAIN, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY'RE ONLY HEARING SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT WAS MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO. SO LET'S, LET'S BE TRANSPARENT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS AND THE TRUTH, BECAUSE IT WILL SET YOU FREE. SO TO RECLAIM MY SO THANK YOU TO RECLAIM MY TIME, I WANNA, I'M, I NOT, I'M, I WANNA THANK LET AND I'LL FINISH IN IN YOU. I WANT TO THANK HPD NO IS A LEADER NO IS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. I WANT TO THANK SYLVIA GARCIA, CONGRESSMAN MENEFEE, CHANTE CHANTE WILL TELL ANYONE WE'RE FURNISHING HIM. MOST OF HIS INFORMATION. THAT'S AN INVESTIGATION, BUT WE CAN'T GET TO HOMELAND SECURITY EVIDENCE UNLESS THEY YIELD IT AND WE'RE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION. I APPRECIATE HOMELAND SECURITY PAUSING TRAFFIC STOPS. ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT THIS MORNING TRIED TO OVERRULE THAT ON CNNI CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON ICE ENFORCEMENTS. THEIR SYSTEM IS BROKEN. IT IS A BROKEN NATIONAL POLICY WITH THE LOSS IN MAINE WITH THE LOSS YESTERDAY IN SAN AUGUSTINE WITH OUR LOSS, IT'S IRREFUTABLE. THEY NEED TO PAUSE, HAVE A MORATORIUM TO CALL IN THEIR OFFICERS AND RETRAIN THEM. THEY'VE GOT TO BE TRAINED IN THE DEESCALATION MUNICIPALS. POLICE ARREST PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS WITHOUT THE OUTCOME BEING SO TRAGIC. HOMELAND SECURITY HAS TO TRAIN THEIR OFFICERS TO DEESCALATE WHEN THEY HAVE SOMEONE CORNERED OR THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THE PERSON DEESCALATE. WE DO IT ON A DAILY BASIS HERE. THANK YOU CHIEF DIAZ FOR SETTING THE POLICY. AND AS I SAID THIS MORNING TO THE NATION, IF WE DON'T, IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ONE THING I SAY, BODY CAMERAS. I WAS CHAIRING CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHEN SENATOR WEST REQUIRED STATE POLICE TO WEAR BODY CAMERAS. VERY CONTROVERSIAL, VERY OPPOSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE DID IT. IT'S AN HONEST, HARDWORKING, COP BEST FRIEND. PLEASE DO A MORATORIUM FIT EVERYONE WITH BODY CAMERAS. WE WOULDN'T BE SPECULATING AND DEALING WITH MISINFORMATION IF WE HAD A BODY CAMERA. SO I'VE CALLED ON CONGRESS, PUT YOUR BI, PUT YOUR PARTISANSHIP ASIDE, COME TOGETHER AND PURCHASED BODY CAMERAS. IT OUGHT TO BE A REQUIREMENT. I'VE WATCHED POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT DID NOT HAVE THEM AND THEN HAD 'EM. IT CHANGES BEHAVIOR. PEOPLE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. PEOPLE ARE PROSECUTED, PEOPLE ARE SET, FREE OFFICERS HAVING FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THEM. IT'S THEIR BEST FRIEND. SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AT HPD TO INVESTIGATE THIS TRAGIC [04:00:02] DEATH. AND ANYONE THAT SAYS DIFFERENT IS JUST WRONG. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I THINK HOUSTONIANS APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE MAYOR. PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO YOU UP UNTIL NOW THAT THAT'S THE MOST THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN OUT ON THIS ISSUE SINCE IT HAPPENED. WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED, YOU SAID, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING. WE WON'T DO ANYTHING. NOW YOU'RE NOW YOU'RE ADVISING US AND LETTING US KNOW THAT HPD IS DOING AN INVESTIGATION AND WHOEVER IS ADVISING YOU NOT TO SPEAK OR TO, UM, RESPOND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS' INQUIRIES, UM, THAT'S SHOCKING AS WELL. PEOPLE HAVE TO GET INFORMATION FROM THEIR LEADERSHIP. IF YOU DON'T GIVE THE INFORMATION, IF YOU DON'T DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION, THAT'S HOW MISINFORMATION GETS OUT THERE. SO, UM, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION RIGHT NOW, BUT ULTIMATELY, UH, I WANT HOUSTONIANS TO KNOW THAT WHEN MATTERS OCCUR IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD. WE CANNOT WAIT ON STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO DO THE WORK. AND I DO APPRECIATE DA TIER AND OTHERS WHO ARE TAKING THE LEAD AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY USE EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO THEM TO FIND ANSWERS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M NOT, MY COMMENTS, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROCESS OF IMMIGRATION, BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS, TAKE THE MOMENT TO ADDRESS THE FACT, MAYOR, TO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THE, THE ISSUE OF DECORUM. UM, WE HAVE MYSELF SIT HERE FOR NOW, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND WATCHED MUCH OF WHAT HAS GONE ON INSIDE OF THE COUNCIL. AND I THINK IT'S TOTALLY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE LEAST UNGODLY MANY PEOPLE, THOSE OF US WHO KNOW THAT I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT PEOPLE WOULD, THOSE OF US WHO WOULD TAKE THE ADVANTAGE OF THE, OF A LIFE LOST AND USE IT AS POLITICAL, UM, GRANDSTANDING GATHERING PEOPLE UP TO COME DOWN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE, I DIDN'T RUN FOR OFFICE FOR PEOPLE TO LOVE OR LIKE ME, BUT AT LEAST YOU OUGHT TO RESPECT PEOPLE. EVERYBODY'S DUE RESPECT. WHETHER YOU DISAGREE OR AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SHABAZZ YESTERDAY, UM, HER STATEMENT, SHE DIDN'T PERSONALIZE ANYONE. SHE SPOKE AS A COUNCIL PERSON. UM, BUT THEN IT TURNED INTO PERSONAL ATTACKS. AND I THINK IT'S, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE, AND I'LL SAY THIS, AND I HAVEN'T MENTIONED IT BEFORE, BUT EVEN A COUNCIL PERSON AROUND THIS HORSESHOE DISRESPECTED, UH, ME, AND I DIDN'T TELL, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GO AFTER THAT PERSON OR RETALIATE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT JUST IDENTIFIES THE KIND OF NATURE AND CHARACTER. SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT I THINK IT'S, IT'S EVERYBODY HAVE A RIGHT TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I SERVE THE UNITED STATES AS A, AS A MILITARY ARMED FORCE PERSON TO GIVE EVERYBODY THAT, RIGHT? I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. BUT, BUT WE DON'T, PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK PEOPLE DISRESPECTFULLY. AND I THINK I'M THINKING THE ISSUE OF DECORUM MAYOR, I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND ADDRESS BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF CONTROL. THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE SAY THEY'RE DEMANDING EMOTIONALLY AND COMPASSION, I GET IT. BUT SOME, ALL OF THAT WAS PLANNED, ORCHESTRATED IN ORDER TO COME HERE AND ATTACK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL. AND I THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BY, BY EVERY ESTIMATION, OUGHT TO LEAST RESPECT THIS COUNCIL AND THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. AND WITHOUT USING FOUL LANGUAGE AS SOME OF US HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST. AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SETS, IT SETS A PRECEDENT THAT I THINK IS JUST WAY OUTTA CONTROL. [04:05:02] SO, MAYOR, I'M, I'M, I'M JUST, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, FOR THIS PROCESS BECAUSE AS I SAID YESTERDAY, I WAS, I WAS IN 2024, I SIT IN THE FUNERAL OF JOCELYN RE I WAS AT THE, I WAS AT THE SERVICE. I DIDN'T SEE NO PROTESTORS WHEN THIS CHILD WAS KILLED. I DIDN'T SEE NO OUTRAGE WHEN HER LIFE WAS TAKEN. AND I DIDN'T SEE THIS COUNCIL USE IT AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL. SO I, I JUST PRAY THAT HOUSTON, THOSE WHO WANT US TO BE OTHER CITIES, I DON'T WANT TO BE, NO, I DON'T WANNA BE IN THE OTHER CITY, BUT HOUSTON, SO RESPECTFULLY, UM, I, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS GET RESOLVED. AND, UM, BUT I JUST THINK ESTONIA OUGHT AT LEAST GIVE THE RESPECT TO THIS MUNICIPALITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I REALLY WANT TO, UM, SAY TO THE PUBLIC THAT HOW GOVERNING IS PERCEIVED AND HOW GOVERNING IS ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED, I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW. UM, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WAS, UH, MAYOR AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT YOU HELD IN THE PROCLAMATION, IN THE, UH, ROOM UPSTAIRS OUTSIDE OF YOUR OFFICE, UH, ONE OF THE REPORTERS ASKED YOU A QUESTION AND SAID, WHY ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS NOW? AND YOU AND CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA SAID, THE FACTS HAVE CHANGED. AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FACTS HAD CHANGED, UM, FOR A MI FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE MORNING THAT WE FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, WE HAD DIFFERENT FACTS. AND YOU MADE YOUR COMMENTS WITH THE FACTS THAT WE HAD. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOVERNING, WITHOUT TRYING TO BE FIRST, WE ARE IN, WE, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE'S TRYING TO BE FIRST WITH BREAKING THE NEWS. EVERYONE'S TRYING TO BE A VIRAL SENSATION. EVERYONE'S TRYING TO REPORT IT FIRST. BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE WEIGHT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT. AND IT WEIGHS ON PEOPLE. AND AT A TIME LIKE THIS, IN OUR CITY, WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURTING, WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HURTING, WHEN A FAMILY HAS LOST A LOVED ONE, WE NEED TO ALL GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE. WE NEED TO ALL SHOW COMPASSION. UM, I THINK THE DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE MOVED IN AS A CITY IS A GOOD DIRECTION. WE HAVE TALKED WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA HAS BEEN A, A CHAMPION ON THIS ISSUE. SHE IS THE CONGRESSWOMAN WHERE THIS HAPPENED. SHE KNOWS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SHE KNOWS THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA. UM, AND SHE KNOWS MAYOR WHITMEYER. AND I SAT IN THE ROOM WHERE OUR HISPANIC DELEGATION, UM, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, CITY DELEGATION, THE DA, THE POLICE CHIEF, AND EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE FACTS AND WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION. AND I THINK WE AS A CITY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE PATIENT AND MAKE THE DECISIONS AS WE GAIN THE FACTS. AND I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY EXPECT THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE LEADERSHIP TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS RIGHT AWAY. AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY JUST NOT REALISTIC. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SAY WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A CITY. WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS. WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE AND TO KEEP THIS CITY SAFE. BUT WE ALSO NEED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE. NO ONE PERSON HAS ALL THE ANSWERS. YESTERDAY, I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MEMBERS THAT CAME, THE HOUSTONIANS THAT CAME TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC SESSION, UM, WE KNEW THAT PEOPLE WERE HURTING. WE KNEW THAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE PASSIONATE, AND THAT WAS PUBLIC SESSION. AND PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO COME AND EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS. BUT I DO [04:10:01] AGREE, UM, USING THE FOUL LANGUAGE CAN BE A BIT MUCH, ESPECIALLY WE HAD YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. WE HAD YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, TO SPEAK AT THE PODIUM. AND I WAS QUITE FRANKLY, VERY PROUD OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE ADVOCATING, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR CITY TOO. THIS IS THEIR HOUSTON AS WELL. BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE DO HAVE TO ASK OUR CITIZENS FOR DECORUM IN THE COUNCIL. AND USING, UM, EXTREMELY FOUL LANGUAGE, UM, TOWARDS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS, IT'S TOUGH. IT'S DIFFICULT. AND I, AND, AND WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT LAST NIGHT WAS I WENT TO AN EVENT AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO VALERIE JARRET. AND, UH, SOMEONE ASKED HER A QUESTION THAT SAID, HOW, HOW DOES THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH THE DAILY CRITICISM AND CYNICISM AND THE FOUL LANGUAGE AND ALL OF THOSE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS? AND SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT I KEEP IN MIND EVERY TIME, UM, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH TOUGH SITUATIONS. SHE SAID, YOU AS A, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THAT PAIN AND NEVER LET IT CRIPPLE YOUR SERVICE. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD ADVICE, BECAUSE YESTERDAY WHAT WE SAW WAS A COMMUNITY THAT WAS HURTING. WE SAW PEOPLE THAT WERE IN PAIN, AND WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT HURT PEOPLE WANNA HURT PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT WAS ON DISPLAY YESTERDAY. AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE ALL GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE AND THAT WE NOT FIGHT AMONGST EACH OTHER, BUT THAT WE FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. THE CITY IS COLLABORATING WITH THE DA'S OFFICE. THE CITY IS COLLABORATING WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. WE SAW IT WITH CHRISTIAN, UH, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MENIFEE. WE SAW IT WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA. WE SAW IT WITH DA CH TEAR. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF MEETINGS THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBER IN ORDER TO GOVERN THIS CITY. AND SO IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU SEE HERE, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU SEE ONLINE. THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN GOVERNMENT. SO I WOULD ASK, UM, AS PEOPLE COME TO SPEAK, THAT THEY WOULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES THE BEST THEY CAN. AND WE ARE LISTENING. WE HEAR YOU, WE SEE YOU. WE ALSO FEEL EMOTIONS. WE ALL WANT MR. LORENZO TO BE HERE AND FOR HIM TO HAVE GONE TO WORK THIS MORNING. AND SO IT DOES NO GOOD FOR ANY OF US TO FIGHT AMONGST OURSELVES, BUT FOR US TO FIGHT TOGETHER, TO TRY TO CHANGE THE POLICY SO THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND ON IMMIGRATION POLICY, NO ONE SHOULD LOSE THEIR LIFE IN OUR CITIES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ALCORN. MAYOR PROAM. VERY WELL SAID. VERY WELL SAID. YOU KNOW, WE ALL HATED YESTERDAY. WE ALL HATE WHAT'S HAPPENING. I'VE SAID BEFORE, ISIS'S ACTIONS ARE ATROCIOUS. THEY GO AGAINST MY VALUES AND MY FAITH. WE'RE ALL MAD ABOUT IT. AND THERE'S A LOT WE COULD ALL SAY ABOUT WHAT'S TRANSPIRED. BUT ON YOUR INITIAL, UH, STATEMENT, MAYOR, YOU ASKED FOR COUNCIL'S HELP IN AND ENFORCING THE COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS, UH, A YEAR AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY JULY 16TH, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND I SENT A MEMO TO YOUR OFFICE. IT WAS RIGHT WHEN WE WERE INSTITUTING THE, THE EVENING PUBLIC SESSION. AND WE SENT A MEMO ABOUT ENFORCING. I MEAN, EVERY MAYOR I'VE SEEN A LOT OF MAYORS, EVERY MAYOR HAS OUR OWN STYLE ON HOW THEY, THEY GO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SESSION. BILL WHITE USED TO GO THROUGH HIS WORK AND HE'D WORKED THROUGH THE ENTIRE THING. UH, MAYOR TURNER CERTAINLY SHUT DOWN ANY DECORUM SITUATION. UM, YOU HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY PATIENT, MORE THAN ANY MAYOR I'VE SEEN PARKER. YOU HAVE YOU, IT, IT STARTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF YOUR SERVICE. YOU HAVE LET PEOPLE SPEAK THEIR MIND. YOU HAVE NOT, YOU HAVE STAYED VERY CALM IN VALERIE JARRETT'S WORDS. YOU HAVE NOT LET IT AFFECT YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. YOU LISTEN AND YOU GIVE THEM THE RESPECT. BUT WE DO HAVE RULES ON THE BOOKS. AND I'M KIND OF A LITTLE OLD LADY RULE FOLLOWER. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CLAP, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO YELL, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE SIGN, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO ALL THIS STUFF. SO YEAH, LET'S ENFORCE IT. AND SOME OF THE MEMO ALSO TALKED ABOUT LIKE STREAMLINING SOME OF IT, BRINGING, UM, LIKE SPEAKERS DOWN THE LIST, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TWO ROWS, SO THAT THERE'S NOT SO MUCH LIKE CLIMBING OVER EVERYBODY. I MEAN, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF LITTLE PRACTICAL, PRACTICAL THINGS WE CAN DO AT PUBLIC SESSION. UM, WE GET IT. IT'S YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT? WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU. [04:15:01] WE ARE ABSOLUTELY LISTENING. THIS IS A HIGHLY CHARGED, HIGHLY EMOTIONALLY CHARGED ISSUE. I'M MAD I GO HOME AND SCREAM ABOUT IT. UH, WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU. BUT THIS IS A CHAMBER TO BE RESPECTED. WE ALL ARE, UH, WE ALL ARE HERE DOING THE VERY BEST WE CAN. NONE OF US WOULD GO THROUGH CAMPAIGNS AND SIT THROUGH THIS IF WE DIDN'T REALLY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT SERVING THE PUBLIC. WE'RE NOT GONNA AGREE ON EVERY LITTLE THING. BUT, UH, WE'RE HERE TO SERVE. THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY, AND WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU. BUT I'M ALL IN FOR ENFORCING THE COUN COUNCIL RULES. THANK YOU. AND I DO RECALL THAT LETTER. AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE CHAIRED HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS. THERE WAS A POLICE SHOOTING AT FORT WORTH THAT A DELEGATION CAME DEMANDING ACTION, UH, DOCUMENTATION FOR WHEN DEPARTMENTS USE VIOLENT TO USE THEIR WEAPONS. VERY EMOTIONAL. IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, AND IT WAS PROBABLY NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. SO WE HAD THE HEARING AT NINE. WE HAD TO BE ON THE SENATE FLOOR AT 11. THERE WERE 50 PEOPLE STANDING UP THERE REALLY, REALLY CHARGED. SO WE HAD WITNESSES, BUT WE COULDN'T FINISH. SO TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTION, I EXPLAINED, WE'VE GOTTA GET TO THE SENATE FLOOR, BUT WE'RE GONNA VOTE THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, AND WE CAN COME BACK AND HAVE TESTIMONY LATER. SO I TRY TO USE GOOD JUDGMENT. I THINK YESTERDAY I WAS VERY TOLERANT. I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION, BUT AS I SAID, WHEN I STARTED, I ALSO RECOGNIZED THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. I THINK YESTERDAY, ONE OF THE MORE EMOTIONAL CONFRONTATION WAS SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T, EVEN ON OUR LISTINGS, NOT A HOUSTONIAN. I GOOGLED HER DURING THE HEARING. SHE GOES FROM ONE ISSUE TO THE OTHER, AND THAT'S HER, RIGHT? BUT I THINK I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. MY KINDNESS WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I THINK IT WAS DISRESPECTFUL. I CAN, I CAN TAKE DISRESPECT, OKAY? I GET PROBABLY ALREADY GOT LITTLE THIS MORNING. BUT ANYWAY, UH, I WENT HOME LAST NIGHT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BODY. WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE DIFFERENT? I THINK I EVEN REFERENCED TO ONE OF 'EM YESTERDAY WHEN THERE WAS FIVE OR SIX AT THE PODIUM, YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE 'EM REMOVED. THEY WERE READY. SOME WANT AN INCIDENT AND I REFUSE TO GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY WANTED. BUT I THINK WITH Y'ALL SUPPORT, WE START OUT, WE START OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR PUBLIC SESSIONS AND JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW FOUL LANGUAGE AND DISRUPTIONS WON'T BE ALLOWED. AND I WILL TAKE THE POLITICAL MISINFORMATION THAT I REMOVED SOMEBODY FROM THE CHAMBER. AND I'M CERTAIN THERE'LL BE POLITICAL ENEMIES THAT'LL CONTINUE THE THE COUNCIL SESSIONS IN ANOTHER ROOM. BUT I THINK ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS AND CERTAINLY YOUR ADVICE AND COUNSEL, AND WHEN I HEAR MARTHA SPEAK, I KNOW WHY SHE'S THE MAYOR. PRO TEM, PROBABLY THE BEST SELECTION, BEST APPOINTMENT I'VE MADE. IT WAS MY FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER, CASTEX TATUM IS IN ALL MY MEETINGS REPRESENTING HOUSTONIANS WISE EXPERIENCE. SO I THANK ALL OF Y'ALL. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BUSINESS TEND TO, BUT I JUST HAD THIS ON MY HEART AND MINE BECAUSE I RESPECT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. I RESPECT DIFFERING VIEWS. AND WE CAN BE, WE CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE, BUT WE, WE ARE HERE FOR A REASON. AND [04:20:01] IT'S TO BE TRUTHFUL. LISTEN TO HOUSTONIANS MAKE OUR BEST DECISIONS. SO I THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GONNA GET TO PARKS IN A MINUTE, AND YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A LEADER IN THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK. COUNCIL MAYOR PRO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, COLLEAGUES PUT YOU IN . YES. UM, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR, THAT WE DO NEED TO START FOLLOWING, UM, THE RULES OF THE CHAMBER. IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT OUR TIME. IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING DOWN HERE, SOMETIMES HAVING TO WAIT HOURS AND HOURS TO SPEAK BECAUSE WE'RE LETTING PEOPLE GO ON AND ON. AND WE DO WANNA HEAR FROM PEOPLE, BUT IT, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE'S TIMES, TIME WHEN THEY'RE COMING DOWN HERE AND THEY HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK OR PICK UP KIDS OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO I COMPLETELY SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE RULES OF THE CHAMBER. UM, MAYOR, AS FAR AS, UM, THE HPD INVESTIGATION IS CONCERNED, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FOR MANY HOUSTONIANS, AND THE FAMILY DESERVES ANSWERS. HOUSTONIANS DESERVE ANSWERS AS WELL, REGARDLESS OF ANYONE'S STANCE ON IMMIGRATION. ANYTIME SOMEONE IS SHOT BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN OUR CITY, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INVESTIGATION. UM, AND I SUPPORT HPD DOING AN INVESTIGATION. I'M SURE THAT THEY'LL DO IT AS, AS BEST AS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO FROM WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWING THEM TO INVESTIGATE. BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING FOR HPD TO DO THIS INVESTIGATION ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO A FEW MONTHS AGO SAID THAT THEY DON'T TRUST HPD. SO TO GIVE THEM SOME PEACE OF MIND AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, HOW CLOSELY IS THE HPD GOING TO WORK WITH OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THE DA'S OFFICE AND MAYBE EVEN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SO THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE KIND OF THE PEACE OF MIND THAT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST HPD, THIS IS A LOCAL, UM, WE'RE LOCALLY, YOU KNOW, HANDLING THIS INVESTIGATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THE FBI IS EXECUTING THE SEARCH WARRANT AT 10 O'CLOCK. BUT THROUGH OUR EFFORTS AND COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION, UH, I MADE CERTAIN THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS INCLUDED. SO HE WILL BE THERE AND CERTAINLY THE POLICE CHIEF WILL BE THERE. BUT THE EXECUTION OF THE WARRANT IS A FEDERAL WARRANT, FEDERAL JURISDICTION. BUT BECAUSE WE'RE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, UM, SEAN TIER AND HPD WILL BE THERE. UH, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. AND THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIPS OF HPD, THE CHIEF, MYSELF, THE OTHER AGENCIES ARE VERY COOPERATIVE. BUT ULTIMATELY WE NEED HOMELAND SECURITY, WHO HAS THE EVIDENCE TO BECOME MORE COOPERATIVE AND INCLUSIVE. BUT HPD HAS BEEN ON THIS AROUND THE CLOCK, USING ALL THEIR RESOURCES, EXPERIENCE, CONTACTS. I'LL REPEAT THAT. IT WAS THE POLICE CHIEF AND I THAT GOT SEAN TIER, THE METRO VIDEO, AND I GAVE HIM THROUGH CHIEF MUNOZ COOPERATION, THE FIRE, THE 9 1 1 CALL. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS. I CARRIED THE SANDRA BLAND LEGISLATION. CAN I REPEAT THAT? I CARRIED THE SANDRA BLAND LEGISLATION, HORRIBLE SITUATION, BUT I WISH THE FAMILY WOULD NEVER LISTEN TO THE 9 1 1 TAPE. MR. SALGADO HAD BEEN SHOT AND THE CALL WAS MADE BY ICE. AND, YOU KNOW, THE GRAVITY OF THINGS AND THE PAIN, ANYONE ONE THAT LOVES HUMAN BEINGS IN LIFE CAN HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON. SO IT'S NOT A TIME TO BE POLITICAL OR MISINFORMATION OR TO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW [04:25:01] TO RAISE HELL. I KNOW HOW TO CURSE. MM-HMM . THAT'S, THAT'S JUST NOT APPROPRIATE. BUT THE MAIN THING IS, AND I'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, THIS IS TIME FOR US TO ALL COME TOGETHER. YOU CAN GRADE SOMEBODY'S PAPER DOWN THE ROAD. I LOOK FORWARD TO CAMPAIGNING. YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M READY TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, BUT NOW'S NOT THE TIME. THAT'S 10 TO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. COUNCILMAN PANZA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA START BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS YESTERDAY AND YOUR COMMENTS THIS MORNING. UM, IT, IT MEANS A LOT TO HEAR YOU, UM, SAY THOSE, THOSE KIND THINGS TO THE FAMILY OF, UH, MR. SALGADO RAJO. UM, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION TODAY ABOUT DECORUM AND THE CALL FOR DECORUM, BUT I DON'T THINK I'M HEARING ENOUGH CRITICISM ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION ICE THAT IS ACTUALLY DOING THE CRIME THAT THEY ARE MURDERING AMERICAN CITIZEN OR NOT ACROSS THE NATION. AND WHILE, AGAIN, I WENT HOME YESTERDAY AS WELL WITH A HEAVY HEART OF THE HUNDREDS OF HOUSTONIANS THAT CAME TO SPEAK OUT WITH THE ANGER AGAINST ICE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REAFFIRM WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND WHAT THEY'RE FEELING, WHICH IS THAT ICE IS A DANGEROUS, UNQUALIFIED AND UNTRAINED ORGANIZATION THAT CONTINUES TO MURDER AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AND SO, I WANNA ECHO YOUR CALL FOR BODY CAMERAS ON ICE AGENTS, UM, EXTRA TRAINING TO PRIORITIZE DEESCALATION. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE MORATORIUM ON ENFORCEMENT OF AGENTS IN THE CITY. I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. AND FRANKLY, THE BARE MINIMUM, THE IDEA THAT HPD HAS BODY CAMERAS, BUT ICE DOES NOT, IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND WHY WE CONTINUE TO SEE DEATHS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. UM, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK EVERY SPEAKER THAT CAME YESTERDAY. IT WAS A DIFFICULT DAY. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR US AS WELL. UM, AND THE REASON WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS IS BECAUSE OF ICE. AND FRANKLY, UH, UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE MAJOR, MAJOR REFORM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THERE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I'VE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW YOU. THANK YOU MEMBERS. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, UH, KENNETH, YOU WANNA COME AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S REPORT, YOU WANT TO GIVE US A, UH, STATUS REPORT OF, UH, THANK YOU. LET'S PLAY HOUSTON. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS. I'M PROUD OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. UH, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, WHO LEADS US IN OUR PARK DISCUSSION, UNDERSTANDS AND KINDA PLANTED THE IDEA WITH ME. WE'RE DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR ICONIC PARKS, , WE NEED TO GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND, UH, WORKING WITH YOU AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, ARE VERY PLEASED. THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE IS A MAJOR ISSUE. AND, UH, I DON'T WANNA STEAL WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY, BUT I KNOW JOSH SANDERS HAS WALKED AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE. WE HAD THE BEST LEGISLATIVE SESSION EVER FOR HOUSTON PARKS. I THINK SOME $8 MILLION YES, SIR, FROM AUSTIN GOING TO THE PARK SYSTEM. THE PARK BOARD'S BEEN TREMENDOUS. AND, UH, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US WHAT WILL BE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA? ITEM 37, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I, UH, AM MOST PROUD OF THE DIRECTORS, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD. Y'ALL DO THE DAILY WORK, AND, UH, I'LL YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TOUGH SITUATION TO FOLLOW, UH, IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, HURTING, STRESSED, ANGRY, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? FROM A QUALITY, QUALITY OF LIFE STANDPOINT TO HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THIS. YOU KNOW, IT'S PROVEN IN STUDIES THAT QUALITY PARKS, IT'S PROVEN IN STUDIES THAT QUALITY PARKS ARE BENEFICIAL TO CITIZENS, TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, [04:30:01] UM, TO MAKING PEOPLE FEEL WHOLE, UM, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. SO IT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY TO PRESENT THIS UPDATE ON THE LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE. THAT MAYOR WHITMEYER YOUR LUNCH TWO YEARS AGO, UM, IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. NOW THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE 15 ACRES AND UNDER, SO YOU'RE GONNA FIND THEM IN PLACES THAT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT'S THERE UNLESS YOU WALK TO 'EM OR DRIVE TO 'EM. SO THEY'RE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE OVER 186 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY. AND WITH THIS LESS PLAY INITIATIVE, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TOUCH 25 IN THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS. IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK. AND I HAVE TO MENTION, UH, JUSTIN SCHULTZ AND, UH, THOMAS SIMPSON AND ROBIN KAVANAUGH FROM HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. UM, THAT'S TAKEN THE LEAD REALLY ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT. UM, WITHOUT THEM, THIS WORK SIMPLY WOULD NOT HAPPEN AS FAST, UH, AND AS, AND AS EFFICIENT AS IT IS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS COMMITTING 26 MILLION, 26 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO THIS PROJECT. NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF COLLABORATION AS, AS WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AS YOU TOLD US TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH. UM, NOT JUST EXTERNAL, INTERNAL. OUR DIRECTORS ARE WONDERFUL. I MEAN, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH, IN THIS PROJECT, UM, DIRECTOR CJ MESSIAH, ALONG WITH LISA JOHNSON. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH DIRECTOR VON TRAN. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH JOSH SANDERS IN, IN OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL OFFICE, AND YOU'RE RIGHT ON CAPITOL HILL TO HAVE $8 MILLION CONTRIBUTED TO PARKS. SIMPLY AMAZING. SIMPLY AMAZING. AND I AM SO EXCITED MOVING FORWARD, UH, WITH THIS PROJECT BECAUSE I KNOW THE BENEFIT THAT IT'S GONNA HAVE ON CITIZENS. UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 25 PARKS, WHEN WE SELECTED THESE PARKS WITH PARKS BOARD, VERY STRATEGICALLY, NUMBER ONE, UH, BASED ON NEED AND CONDITION, UH, NUMBER TWO, BASED ON LOCATION, THE FIRST 11 PARKS THAT WE'RE COMPLETING OR WORKING ON, WE HAVE ONE IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT. NOW, I KNOW WE HAVE MORE PARKS IN SOME COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAN OTHERS, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO REACH EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT FROM A GEOGRAPHIC STANDPOINT. UM, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK INTO SELECTING. WE MET WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER. WE DECIDED ON THE FIRST 11 PARKS, UM, WHICH WILL START IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION THIS FALL. HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, UM, IN TERMS OF GATHERING EVERYBODY TOGETHER A ALONG WITH US, UM, TO CREATE DIFFERENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I MENTIONED PARKS BOARD WITH 26 MILLION, UH, CONTRIBUTING FROM A CITY STANDPOINT, YOUR CITY MAYOR. WE'VE CONTRIBUTED $11 MILLION, PRIMARILY COMING FROM THE PARK DEDICATION FUND TO IMPROVE THESE PARKS. AND A WONDERFUL THING IS WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE FUNDING FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES TO MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT. WHEN WE'RE ALL, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, YOU'LL SEE $45.5 MILLION ACROSS 25 PARKS. UM, AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR CITIZENS SO THEY CAN DE-STRESS, SO THEY CAN HAVE BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, WAS SIMPLY AMAZING HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. ALL THE DESIGN FOR THE FIRST 11, UH, AND PERMITTING IS JUST ABOUT DONE. UM, AND AGAIN, WE'LL BREAK GROUND AND WE'LL START, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UM, IN THE FALL. BUT IN TANDEM WITH THAT, THERE'S WORK AND ENGAGEMENT, GETTING READY TO START RIGHT NOW ON THE NEXT 14 PARKS, UM, WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. SO I'M, I'M EXCITED, UM, FROM ALL THE COORDINATION, ALL THE COLLABORATION, ALL THE MEETINGS THAT'S TRANSPIRED TO GET TO THIS POINT. UM, AND I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S AT A TIME WHEN IT'S NEEDED MOST, UM, WHERE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A REFUGE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE THEIR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ENJOY AND GET THEIR MINDS [04:35:01] OFF OF THE EVERY DAY, UM, PARKS IS SIMPLY AN EQUALIZER. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS KNOW THE BENEFIT. YOU'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE IN THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. UH, THAT'S WHY I WANNA STRESS HOW IMPORTANT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK LET'S PLAY INITIATIVE IS NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR OUR, OUR KIDS AND OUR KIDS' KIDS. UM, THE COMBINED CITY AND STATE CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS INITIATIVE, MAYOR, $19 MILLION TOTAL. YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING TO CLAP ABOUT, I THINK. SO THE FIRST ROUND OF PARKS YOU'LL SEE HAYDEN PARK, TRINITY GARDENS, LAWRENCE PARK, BRICKER PARK, UH, GREENWOOD PARK, WEST CHASE, GREEN SPACE, PUMPKIN PARK, MONEY BEACH, ANDOVER PARK, LEL, CRANE PARK, AND HAVILAND PARK. UM, ONE IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT THAT I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE MOVING FORWARD, A EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AS, AS WE ANNOUNCE THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I ENCOURAGE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAP INTO YOUR DATABASE, GET THE COMMUNITY OUT, UM, TO THE LISTENING SESSIONS. UH, I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK JUSTIN AGAIN FROM PARKS BOARD FOR HIS, FOR HIS WORK, UM, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH HIS TEAM. AND I'LL BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK MY TEAM. TODAY I HAVE WITH ME TINA ORTIZ, MARTHA ESCALANTE, AND I ALSO WANT TO MENTION MICHAEL EVANS, WHO WERE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART IN WORKING WITH ALL PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. UM, THERE'S A MAP THAT WILL TELL YOU, UM, WHERE THE 25 PARTS ARE IN THE, IN THE, UH, ON THE SLIDES, THE BLUE AREA. THOSE ARE THE PARTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW. THE GREEN DOTS ARE THE PARTS THAT WE WILL WORK ON AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH COMMUTING ENGAGEMENT AND, UM, PERMITTING AND DESIGN. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. UM, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M, I'M HERE. THANK YOU. AND YOUR, YOUR TEAM AND THE COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT, AGAIN, TO THE PARKS BOARD, TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE, UH, WORK WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN, UH, MANAGING SOME OF THE, UH, CITY PARKS INSIDE THEIR PRECINCT. THAT'S KIND OF UNHEARD OF, UH, IN RECENT HISTORY. ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOUR WORK. UH, I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAD THE 50 50 PARKS INITIATIVE. DO WE EVER COMPLETE THAT OR IS THIS IN A CONTINUATION? I KNOW WE'RE FOCUSING ON NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND GETTING OUTSIDE DOLLARS AS WELL TO, UM, PARTNER WITH THE, THE CITY DOLLARS TO IMPROVE THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. MM-HMM . CAN YOU EXPAND UPON THAT ON, WERE WE ABLE EVER ABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE 50, OR ARE SOME OF THOSE NOW TRANSITIONED INTO LET'S PLAY HOUSTON? HOW DOES IT ALL WORK TOGETHER? YEAH, THIS, THIS WHOLE FOOTPRINT AND COMMENT AND, UM, FORMAT, IT IS A CONTINUATION, BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE HELP THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM LEGISLATIVE, UM, SESSIONS. AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR JOHN WHITMAR FOR HIS INFLUENCE AND US ABLE TO HAVE THAT STREAM OF FUNDING ATTACHED. UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO, UH, MORE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN TERMS OF NOT JUST ON SITE, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU THINK ABOUT SURVEYS, INTERVIEWS, AND EVEN STOPS AT, AT HOUSES. SO, UH, SIMILAR, UH, ARE WE STILL GETTING THOSE? ARE WE STILL GETTING THOSE CORPORATE COMMITMENTS? WELL, LET, LET ME FINISH. SIMILAR, BUT, UH, MORE STRATEGIC AND FROM THE CORPORATIONS OR, OR THE PRIVATE COMPANIES, YES. PARKS BOARD IS DOING, THEY'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB AT RECRUITING, UM, AT PRESENTATIONS. SOME WILL WE'LL EVEN DO TOGETHER. UM, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY COMPANY THAT'S INTERESTED IN PROVEN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, UM, WE HAVE THE FORMAT, WE HAVE THE PRESENTATIONS, UH, WE WOULD LOVE TO SIT BEFORE THEM. COUNCIL PANZA, THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU DIRECTOR, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE PUT IN. UM, AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, FOR PUTTING THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD AND, AND REALLY BRINGING IT TO CONCLUSION. UM, WHAT'S AWESOME TO SEE ARE THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT Y'ALL ARE PULLING IN FOR THIS. UM, I LOVE TO SEE THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE. AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ALL GOING TO PARKS, WHICH ARE JUST SUCH AN AMAZING THING FOR [04:40:01] OUR CITY AND FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, IS REALLY COOL TO SEE. UM, I WANNA SHOUT OUT IN DISTRICT C LAWRENCE PARK, THAT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST. LET'S PLAY HOUSTON PARK, UM, GOING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. I THINK THAT'S GONNA START HOPEFULLY THIS FALL. GROUNDBREAKING. YES. UM, WHICH IS REALLY COOL TO SEE. ANOTHER HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. UH, JUSTIN SCHULTZ, LISA HERNANDEZ AND THEIR TEAM, BUT ALSO FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE PARK, UH, JORDAN CHISHOLM AND BRIT VORA HAVE BEEN, I THINK, REALLY AWESOME COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND I THINK THEY'RE WORKING WITH YOU ALSO. UM, JUST WANNA EXTEND A BIG THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILOR AL. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, TINA, MARTHA, EVERYBODY DO AT PARKS. UM, GREAT SEGUE WHEN YOU SAID THIS IS ALL ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE. WHAT, WHAT TANGIBLE THINGS CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE? THIS IS A REAL LIFE THING. AND, UH, MAYOR, CONGRATS AND JOSH ON GETTING ALL THE MONEY FROM THE STATE. KEEP IT COMING, KEEP IT COMING 'CAUSE WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF NEEDS. AND, AND, UM, LET ME JUST GO THROUGH THOSE A LITTLE BIT. UM, JUST IN DEFERRED, AND THESE ARE NUMBERS FROM PARKS, JUST IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, IMMEDIATE NEEDS, THINGS LIKE HVAC VEHICLES, LIGHTING, ELECTRIC SYSTEM SERVICE REPAIRS, BUILDING ROOFS, $35 MILLION. UM, AND THEN, UM, PLAYGROUNDS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AQUATIC FACILITIES, BASKETBALL, PAVILIONS, OVERALL PARK REFRESH, $585 MILLION. THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS. AND SO I'M GONNA WORK LIKE CRAZY TO GET YOU SOME MORE MONEY. WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT MORE ON, ON ITEM 13. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING. AND THIS, THIS PARK DEDICATION MONEY, THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN ITEM 13 TODAY, IT'S USED TO LEVERAGE THESE STATE AND COUNTY DOLLARS. SO MORE MONEY IN THAT BUCKET'S GONNA MEAN MORE MONEY TO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE. SO THANKS FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO. LOVE, LOVE THESE. I LOVE GOING TO THE RIBBON CUTTINGS OF THESE THINGS. THEY'RE SO GREAT. THESE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, THESE ARE THE PARKS THAT PEOPLE WALK TO. PARKS BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK IN, IN CONTRIBUTING TO THESE EFFORTS. UM, WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. AND, AND JUST THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. I THINK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASSEY. MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, DIRECTOR ALLEN, THIS IS GREAT NEWS. UM, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT PARKS AND DISTRICT A AND I KNOW, UM, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, CLAMORING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THESE PARKS FOR YEARS. AND WE ARE, UM, SEEING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. I DO WANNA SHOUT OUT, HAVE ALAND PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PARKS IN MOST NEED OF THIS TYPE OF, UM, FUNDING MECHANISM. WE HAD A GREAT COMMUNITY SESSION. WE DID A WALKING TOUR OF THE PARK AND THE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY WERE ABLE TO SHARE, UM, WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE PARK. UM, AND THEN IN THE, IN PHASE TWO, UM, COLLEAGUES IN ALAMEDA PLAZA, BEAH MAXI PARK, UM, THIS IS A PARK THAT WE HAVE HAD BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATIONS WHERE, UM, IT'S SO DANGEROUS THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANTED TO CLOSE THE PARK DOWN, UM, IN A TIME WHEN EVEN METHODIST. UM, I KNOW DR. JACKSON, UM, HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE CENTER FOR HEALTH AND NATURE, THE ADVISORY BOARD, HOW EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PARKS AND BEING ABLE TO ENJOY NATURE AND HOW WE NEED THAT IN OUR, OUR DAILY LIVES. WHEN YOU HEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO CLOSE DOWN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, IT'S, IT'S GUT WRENCHING BECAUSE, UM, OF SECURITY AND, UM, THE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE THERE IN, IN THE PARKS AND DOING THINGS THAT WE, WE DON'T WANT HAPPENING IN OUR PARKS. I WANT TO JUST LIFT THIS UP BECAUSE I HOPE THAT AS WE ARE GARNERING MORE FUNDING, THAT WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH MORE, UM, PARK RANGERS AND, UM, WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS TO HELP US GET THESE PARKS CLEARED OUT OF THOSE, UM, BAD ELEMENTS THAT KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE PARK. IF I WAS A A, A MOM OF YOUNG KIDS, I WOULDN'T LET MY KIDS PLAY IN SOME OF THOSE PARKS. UNDERSTOOD. AND SO, WHILE WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE PARKS, I ALSO WANT US TO, UM, LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN PARTNER, UM, TO KEEP THESE PARKS SAFE AND KEEP THOSE BAD ELEMENTS OUT OF OUR PARKS AS WELL, BECAUSE WE NEED 'EM, RIGHT? UM, WE NEED THESE SPACES AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A PARK THAT THEY CAN WALK TO AND ENJOY. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR HOUSTONIANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL THOMAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. UM, I, UM, JOINED WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, OUR RESIDENT PARK LADY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, WHO'S BEEN CHAMPIONING, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SHE AND I WERE HAVING A TEXT CONVERSATION LAST WEEK AND I, I TOLD HER, [04:45:01] I SAID, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH I'M THE HOUSING LADY MM-HMM . UH, I REALLY BELIEVE, UH, THAT IF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAD ALL OF THE FUNDING AND PROGRAMMING AND PEOPLE NEEDED, IT WOULD ACTIVATE OUR CITY IN A PARTICULAR WAY. UM, BECAUSE ON THE WEST SIDE, WE HAVE EIGHT AMAZING PARKS, UH, FROM OUR 50 50 HARWIN PARK, TANGLE, WILD BROWN MEADOW, A LEAF HAG, BERRY BOONE, OUR THREE 80 AGREEMENT WITH CAMDEN AND WOODCHASE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ALL OVER THAT. AND, UM, I JUST APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S INTENTION ABOUT OUR PARKS. THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE WE'RE NOT IN DEFICIT, RIGHT? ON THE WEST SIDE, THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE WE GET TO, UM, ENJOY THE PERKS OF, UH, THE OUTDOORS. AND SO I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THIS AND YOUR TEAM AND THE PARKS FOUNDATION FOR, UH, 66 40 WILCREST. IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY DADDY'S HOUSE. MM-HMM . SO HOPEFULLY HE'LL GET HIS STEPS IN THERE. WE'VE DONE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK, WE'VE DONE ALL OF THAT. UM, THE LAY, BARBARA QUATRO WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, OF THAT SPOT AND THAT LOCATION. AND SO THIS IS A, ANOTHER ENHANCEMENT ON THE WEST SIDE AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE CITY. AND I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WHAT IT DOES TO, UM, OUR CONTINENT AS A COMMUNITY WHEN WE HAVE GREEN SPACES AND ACCESS TO, TO DO THIS. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALQUAN SAID LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO ACCESS A GOOD PARK NEXT TO THE HOUSING AS WELL. SO THIS IS A PART OF THAT SCENARIO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES TAKE A TEAM, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGING THOSE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS AND, UM, WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE HERE IS INCREDIBLE. I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUMPKIN PARK THAT'S ON THIS LIST THAT COMMUNITIES REALLY COME TOGETHER TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HELP MAKE THAT SPACE BETTER. BUT I REALLY WANNA TELL YOU, DIRECTOR ALLEN, AND TO YOUR TEAM, TINA AND MARTHA, WE KNOW HOW HARD YOU'RE WORKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US, FOR OUR PARKS TO MAKE HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL, THE WHOLE PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU. I, I WILL ADD WITH PUMPKIN PARK, THAT WAS A, THAT WAS DONE WITH ALL PRIVATE FUNDS, SO NO CITY FUNDS WERE USED FOR THAT, BUT IT'S PART OF A LESS PLAY BECAUSE OF THE COLLABORATION. SO THANK YOU. GREAT. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. I REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE CITY IN RE IN REGARDS TO PARKS, WHICH IS SUCH AN ESSENTIAL, UH, ASPECT. AND, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU MAYOR, UH, WITH DIRECTOR ALLEN ABOUT THE INITIATIVE THAT WE INSTITUTING ABOUT THE, UH, POLICE PASTORING PEOPLE AS A REDUCED AND REDUCTION OF CRIME, PARTICULARLY AMONG OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND TEENAGERS. AND I'VE ASKED DIRECTOR ALLEN, UH, THE PARTNER BECAUSE WE ADDING PARKS, SO NOW TO BE POLICE PASTOR PEOPLE IN PARKS. SO, UM, WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK IN, IN THE COLLABORATION THAT WE GOING TO DO BECAUSE PARKS ARE VERY ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THEY IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES AND IT WOULD BE A, A GREAT, YOU KNOW, PUSH TO DO THAT. AND, UH, ALSO I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, UM, THE, THE, THE WORKERS WHO HELP KEEP THESE PARKS TOGETHER. BROTHER DAMON SLATER, WHO I SUPPORT, AND I HAD A MEETING WITH ALL OF THE FACILITIES WHERE THE WORKERS WORK OUT OF, BECAUSE MY, WHAT I'VE DONE AT, AT LARGE TWO, WE'VE DONATED A PALLET OF WATER. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2024. AND, UH, THAT, THAT HAS INCREASED THAT I DO NOW TWO PALLETS OF WATER TO HELP THESE, BECAUSE IT'S HOT IN HOUSTON, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT. THESE MEN AND WOMEN WORK DILIGENTLY. UM, AND, AND SO THEY WORK WITH THE LIMITATIONS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, VERY LITTLE OVERTIME THEY WORK, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY, HOPEFULLY CAN FUND YOU FOR AND HELP YOU ASSIST IT. WE ALL WANT BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND WE ALL WANT CLEAN PARKS AND AVAILABLE PARKS, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THESE PARKS ARE, ARE ESSENTIAL TO WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. AND I LIKE TO SEE MANY OF US DONATE ELISE WATER TO THESE DIFFERENT PARKS BY EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THAT. BUT, UH, I HAD TO MEETING WITH THE OTHER FACILITIES AND THEY WERE THERE TOO. SO NOW I GOT TO HELP TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, TO HELP DAMON, HE BEEN DIVIDED IT UP. SO, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST KINDA WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE CONVERSATION DIRECTOR YOU AND I WERE HAVING BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED TODAY. YEAH. [04:50:01] UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT SOME LARGE DOLLAR FIGURES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, $50 MILLION FOR POLICE FOR $50 MILLION FOR FIRE WOULD BE ONE THING. $50 MILLION FOR PARK IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER. I MEAN, THIS IS A HUGE DEAL. UH, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, UH, HAVING GREENWOOD PARK ON THIS AREA AS WELL. UH, THAT'S OUT NORTH SHORE. I THINK IT'S BEEN LONG, NEGLECTED AND, UH, WE'LL CERTAINLY BE WELCOME OUT IN THAT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MAYOR CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR, DIRECTOR ALLEN. YOU KNOW, SINCE 2012 WHEN WE SAT AROUND THE TABLE EVERY TWO WEEKS WITH BACK THEN, UH, DIRECTOR TURNER AND WORKED ON PARKS, I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THIS DONE. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE LEVEL. AND TINA, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE TRINITY GARDENS, UH, ON THE LIST. UH, BACK, UH, AFTER BARRELL CAME THROUGH, UH, ONE SATURDAY MORNING, I FOUND MYSELF AT TRINITY GARDEN. AND LO AND BEHOLD, TINA AND I WERE THE ONLY TWO VOLUNTEERS THERE AND WE CLEANED AND CLEANED AND PICKED UP DEBRIS. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IF WE COULD ONLY GET A LITTLE FUNDING FOR THIS PARK, HOW BEAUTIFUL IT COULD BE. AND SO TO SEE THIS COME TO LIFE AND THANKS TO THE PARKS BOARD FOR YOUR WORK, I KNOW THAT IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE CITY AND I KNOW THERE'S MORE TO COME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. UH, GREAT JOB. AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. YES, . THANK YOU. MEMBERS. [MATTERS HELD (Part 1 of 2)] I'D LIKE A MOTION TO TAKE ITEM 37 OUT OF ORDER. CAN I MOVE? NEXT SECOND. MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND, TAKE ITEM 37 OUT OF ORDER. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. MS. SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL UP THE ITEM? ITEM 37 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. SHOULDA HAD A ROLL CALL. GO. [CONSENT AGENDA] MR. SECRETARY, LET'S PROCEED TO THE CONSENT. UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEM TWO HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS THREE THROUGH SEVEN AND NINE, MOVE SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY. ITEM 10 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. I FORGOT. 11. ITEM 11 IS A RESOLUTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR ON ITEM 11. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 11 PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 18 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS REMOVED [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 31, AND 33. AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 1315 THROUGH 17, 21 THROUGH 23, 31, AND 33. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEMS PASSED. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION. HECK MOVE OFTEN. SECONDS. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM ONE PASSES. HE'S NOT, HE'S NOT HERE. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION PEC MOVE HUFFMAN. SECOND ITEM TWO HAS BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM TWO PASSES. ITEM ITEM EIGHT NEEDS A MOTION. PECK, MOVE COUNCILMAN SECONDS. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM EIGHT PASSES. ITEM 13 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN. THANK [04:55:01] YOU MAYOR POTE. AND I'M NOT GONNA BELABOR THIS. YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT ALL THE CHANGES TO 30% NOW BEING USED ACROSS THE SEGMENTS. THE, THE MEASURES THAT WE'RE TAKING TO, UH, BRING OUR OR OUR CHAPTER 42 IN LINE WITH STATE CODE NOW. AND UM, BUT I AM OFFERING AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT THAT YOU HAVE AT, AT YOUR TABLE. UM, WE ARE THIS, THIS ORDINANCE IN SECTION 42 DASH 2 55, UH, REQUIRED THAT THE INDIRECT COSTS FOR THIS PART DEIDENTIFICATION FEE. AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE FEE IN LIEU OF THAT DEVELOPERS PAY FOR PARKS, UM, SHALL BE LIMITED TO, TO NOT, UH, MORE THAN 5%. I'M CHANGING THAT TO 10%. DIRECTOR ALLEN HAS INDICATED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DESIGN. SOMETIMES THE BIGGER PROJECTS NEED, NEED DESIGN OR ALWAYS THE BIGGER PROJECTS NEED DESIGN AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY. WE WERE, THEY WERE LIMITED IN THIS THE WAY THE ORDINANCE WAS FIRST WRITTEN AND WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THAT. UM, THAT DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND I'D ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UM, TO INCREASE THAT FROM FIVE TO 10 TO 10%. JUST OFFERING THAT AS A TABLE AMENDMENT TO WHAT WE'RE PASSING TODAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? NOT, UH, WE WILL VOTE ON THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. WE NEED TO VOTE. NO, LET'S VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. UH, ALL IN FAVOR FOR THE AMENDMENT? ANY OPPOSED? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S AMENDMENT PASSES. THEN WE'LL GO TO THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 13 PASSES. MM-HMM . ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 15 PASSES. ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 16 PASSES. ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 17? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 17 PASSES. ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 21? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 21 PASSES. ITEM 22 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 22 PASSES. ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ELLA. COUNCIL MEMBER ZARE ON ITEM 23. THANK YOU MAYOR TIM. UM, JUST WANNA QUICKLY, UH, TOUCH ON THIS ONE. THIS ITEM IS APPROVING THE PARTICIPATION OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S PRECINCT INTO THE MIDTOWN TOURS. IN ADDITION TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, ONE THIRD OF THE COUNTY'S INCREMENT WILL SPECIFICALLY BE SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE TOURS BOUNDARIES. UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK ISSUE FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY. TOTS, EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING THEIR PART TO INVEST IN AND DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S OFFICE, THE MIDTOWN TOURS BOARD, AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR MAKING THIS ALL POSSIBLE. SO REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS ONE. JUST NEED A VOTE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 23 PASSES. NEXT TO ITEM, ITEM ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE IS 31. I'M SORRY. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. OKAY. ALL IN ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 31? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 31 PASSES. ITEM 33 IS IN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 33? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 33 PASSES. ITEM 34 [NON-CONSENT AGENDA] IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S. HOUSTON YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM. STANDARDS OF CARE. I MOVE. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 34 PASSES. HE'S BACK. ITEM 35. ITEM 35 IS A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NRG GREENS. BIO SIX LLC CAST A MOVE TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE 12TH. 2026. I SECOND. MOTION MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. [05:00:05] ITEM [MATTERS HELD (Part 2 of 2)] 36 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. PASSES. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. UH, AT THIS [ADMINISTRATION REPORT] TIME WE'LL HAVE OUR FINANCIAL REPORT. GOOD MORNING MAYOR, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR MAY 20, 26. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WELCOME THE CONTROLLER'S, OFFICE'S, INTERNS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY. THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR SUMMER LEARNING HOW CITY GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY WORKS, THE BUDGET, HOW OUR DEPARTMENT OPERATES, AND WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT RESIDENTS EXPECT AND DESERVE. I'M PROUD TO HAVE THEM HERE AND PROUDER STILL THAT HOUSTON'S FUTURE PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE STARTING THEIR LEADERSHIP EDUCATION EARLY. I WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM BY NAME AND SO IF THEY'LL STAND WHEN I CALL 'EM, UH, ABNER CASTILLO, WHO'S JOINING US FROM SAN JACINTO COLLEGE. NORTH . OH GREAT. CONNOR KEN HAHN, UH, FROM STRIKE JESUIT. DANIEL RODDA JOINING US FROM RICE UNIVERSITY. JOYCE, UH, JOSEPH, UH, MU JOINING US FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. I TO THIS DAY DON'T KNOW HOW AN ALABAMA STUDENT GOT THROUGH OUR VETTING PROCESS, BUT UH, WE GIVE JOSEPH CREDIT FOR THAT AND WE WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE. NAME HERE. ASSAN JOINING US FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. MATTHEW WHITEHEAD FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. RANDALL TUCKER FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE. SONNY MAI FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND TONY DADDA FROM THE VILLAGE SCHOOL HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, ALL OF OUR INTERNS WORK IS IMMERSING THEM IN REAL VALUE ADD PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FURTHERING THE GOALS OF OUR OFFICE AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF ALL OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY. SO THANK YOU ALL. NOW FOR OUR REPORT. THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROJECTING AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $276.5 MILLION OR 10.4% OF EXPENDITURES, LESS DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. THIS IS 23 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS LOWER THAN THE PROJECTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, DUE TO A LOWER REVENUE PROJECTION THAN FINANCE BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS, THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $77.3 MILLION ABOVE THE CITY'S TARGET OF HOLDING 7.5% OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES, EXCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO IN RESERVE. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO OUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS FROM THE MAY, 2026 REPORT. NOW OVER TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR THE CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATING FUND. OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS DUE TO HIGHER PARKING REVENUE GENERATED BY THE AVENUE NORTH AND AVENUE SOUTH GARAGES AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. NON-OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, DRIVEN BY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COLLECTIONS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND OPERATING TRANSFERS INCREASED BY $6.9 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER TRANSFERS TO HOUSTON. FIRST, WE'RE PROJECTING NO CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S AMOUNTS, UH, IN THE REMAINING FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDE AVIATION TO COMBINE UTILITY SYSTEM, STORM WATER, AND OUR D-D-S-R-F FUNDS FOR OUR COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BONDS. THE CITY'S PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN NO MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF DEBT IN A VARIABLE RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH RATING AGENCY GUIDANCE OF 25%. AS OF MAY, 2026. THE RATIO OF UNHEDGED VARIABLE RATE DEBT FOR EACH TYPE OF OUTSTANDING DEBT REMAIN WELL BELOW THE 20% THRESHOLD. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, THIS MONDAY OUR OFFICE HELPED TO BRING HOUSTONIANS TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE 7 1 3 DAY. WE GATHERED OFF THE RECORD HERE DOWNTOWN FOR A NIGHT OF CONVERSATION, MUSIC, BOARD GAMES, COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND FRANKLY, JUST A REALLY GOOD TIME. IT WAS A REMINDER THAT ENGAGING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN HERE AT CITY HALL. SOMETIMES IT STARTS WITH A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE SINGING A SONG THAT THEY LOVE, UH, ABOUT A CITY THAT THEY LOVE EVEN MORE. HOUSTON IS WORTH CELEBRATING. IT'S WORTH INVESTING IN, AND IT'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR WHEN WE DON'T GET IT RIGHT, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT PEOPLE. IT'S ABOUT MAKING THIS CITY SAFER, STRONGER, AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE [05:05:01] FOR THE 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CALL HOUSTON HOME. THAT BRINGS ME, BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT ITEM. LORENZO SALGADO OR ROJO SHOULD STILL BE ALIVE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE HIS FAMILY. NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE WHAT THEY'VE ENDURED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, GRIEVING PUBLICLY, WHILE STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS REMAIN WITH THEM. I WANNA RECOGNIZE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SEAN TIER, AND HIS OFFICE FOR STEPPING FORWARD TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SHOOTING. HOUSTON DESERVES A FULL AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING OF WHAT HAPPENED. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MEN FEE AND CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, UH, FOR BEING OUTSPOKEN ON THIS AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BRING JUSTICE AND TO BRING LIGHT TO THIS SITUATION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO SUPPORT THAT INVESTIGATION. I'VE HEARD THE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, BUT I DO WANNA REITERATE THAT THAT INCLUDES HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING ACTIVE IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND UNCOVERING FACTS ITSELF. UNDER PRIOR MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION'S, HPD HAS INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATED THE ACTIONS OF FEDERAL AGENTS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN SERIOUS INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS CASE SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, YOUR WORDS WERE REMARKABLE THIS MORNING, AND I WANNA EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THAT. I DO WANNA SAY RESPECTFULLY, THOUGH, THAT IN THIS SITUATION, THE FACTS NEVER CHANGED. THE FACTS WERE THE FACTS FROM THE BEGINNING. WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE FACTS CAME TO LIGHT, AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE KNEW FROM MOMENT ONE THAT ICE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD THIS YEAR AND HAS TRIED TO COVER UP THE FACTS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND OPERATES IN BAD FAITH THROUGHOUT THIS NATION, KILLED A HOUSTONIAN. THAT WAS WHAT WE KNEW FROM MOMENT ONE, AND THAT FACT NEVER CHANGED, AND THAT'S WHY THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION WITH NO HESITATION FROM MOMENT ONE. THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT ICE CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO INVESTIGATE ITSELF, NOR CAN FEDERAL AGENCIES LED BY DONALD TRUMP, NOR CAN STATE AGENCIES LED BY GREG ABBOTT. NONE OF THESE ACTORS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR DETERMINING WHAT HAPPENS HERE. THAT'S WHY LOCAL LEADERSHIP MATTERS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WORK FOR ICE, WE DON'T WORK FOR TRUMP, WE DON'T WORK FOR ABBOTT. WE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. AND IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, BURYING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND DOESN'T GET IT DONE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. DOESN'T GETTING DONE SAYING OUR HANDS ARE TIED, DOESN'T GET IT DONE, AND HOPING THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO THE JOB FOR US, DOESN'T GET IT DONE. WE WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT HOUSTONIANS. WE WERE ELECTED TO KEEP HOUSTONIANS SAFE, AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE WERE ELECTED TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS. THAT OBLIGATION EXTENDS TO EVERY HOUSTONIAN, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WERE BORN, REGARDLESS OF WHAT LANGUAGE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE SPEAKING, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS. WHEN A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY LOSES THEIR LIFE DURING A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION IN OUR CITY, WE DON'T GET TO SHRUG OUR SHOULDERS AND MOVE ON. WE DON'T GET TO SAY THAT OUR HANDS ARE TIED. WE DON'T GET TO OUTSOURCE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO WASHINGTON OR TO AUSTIN. OUR JOB IS TO STAND UP FOR HOUSTON AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THE CITY HOME. THAT IS WHAT LEADERSHIP REQUIRES, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS MOMENT DEMANDS. UH, ALSO AS A RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THIS MORNING, UM, I WASN'T HERE PRESENT PHYSICALLY WITH YOU YESTERDAY. I WAS WATCHING FROM UPSTAIRS. UM, I DO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE CALLED OUT YOUR NAME. I DO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE CURSED AT. I DO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE ATTACKED. UM, AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR. AND IT SOMETIMES IS UNFORTUNATE. IT SOMETIMES IS, IS UNCOMFORTABLE. UM, BUT GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF THIS SITUATION, THE FACT THAT A MAJORITY OF THE COMMENTARY THIS MORNING WAS ADMONISHING HOUSTONIANS AND WHAT SEEMED LIKE STEPPING TOWARDS A LIMITATION ON THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, UM, DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH ME. I THINK THERE'S A TIME TO, TO TALK ABOUT DECORUM. UM, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE THE RULES OF THIS BODY IN THIS ROOM. UM, BUT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT JUSTICE FOR THIS FAMILY. WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT CONTINUING TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE WITHOUT TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS, LORENZO WON'T BE THE LAST PERSON WHO SUFFERS THIS FATE. UM, AND SO [05:10:01] I JUST FELT LED TO SAY THAT PUBLIC TRUST ALSO DOES NOT STOP AT THE DOORS OF CITY HALL. NEARLY A MONTH AGO, MY OFFICE OPENED A FORMAL INQUIRY INTO CHRIS BROWN, MY PREDECESSOR AT CITY CONTROLLER, AND THE MAYOR'S HANDPICKED SENIOR ADVISOR FOR, FOR, FOR FINANCIAL INTEGRITY, A TAXPAYER FUNDED POSITION THAT PAYS MORE THAN $127,000 A YEAR. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE REQUESTED BASIC INFORMATION AND RECORDS REGARDING MR. BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AND WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. LET ME BE CLEAR, THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE REASON TO WITHHOLD THIS INFORMATION. AS CITY CONTROLLER, IT'S MY JOB TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE SPENT APPROPRIATELY AND THAT PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE BEING USED PROPERLY, LOOKING INTO WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE. AND THE PROPER USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT IS ONE OF THE CORE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MY OFFICE, AND THAT'S NOT MY OPINION. A FORMAL LEGAL OPINION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STATES THAT, AND I'M QUOTING THE CONTROLLER, MAY EXAMINE AN EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF FISCAL OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINE WHETHER THE TAXPAYER FUNDS TIED TO THE POSITION WERE PROPERLY AUTHORIZED, APPROPRIATED AND SPENT. WHETHER THE CITY RECEIVED VALUE OR WORK IN THAT EXCHANGE, AND WHETHER INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER THE POSITION FUNCTIONED, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO. NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS. THE CITY'S OWN LAWYERS HAVE TOLD US THAT WE HAVE BOTH THE AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS. YET THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR US TO PERFORM OUR LEGALLY MANDATED DUTIES. BUT EVEN IF I WEREN'T THE CITY CONTROLLER, I'M AN INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THIS CITY. AND JUST LIKE YOU ALL, JUST LIKE EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, WE ARE ENTITLED TO INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCES AND THE OPERATIONS OF THIS CITY. AND IT SHOULD NOT BE HIDDEN FROM ANY ONE OF US. BUT EVEN IF NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS WERE TRUE, THE BULK OF WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS MATTER IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. IN FACT, MUCH OF IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE THROUGH A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST. THOSE PUBLIC RECORDS ARE WHAT PROMPTED THIS INQUIRY IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO WE SHOULDN'T PRETEND THAT THIS IS SOME COMPLICATED ISSUE. IT'S NOT. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS WITHHOLDING BASIC INFORMATION THAT TAXPAYERS ARE ENTITLED TO, AND THE ONLY CONCEIVABLE REASON TO DO THAT IS TO PREVENT THE PUBLIC FROM LEARNING THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRIS BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PERSONALITIES. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT WHETHER TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE PROPERLY SPENT, WHETHER THE CITY RECEIVED THE WORK THAT IT PAID FOR, AND WHETHER OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS FUNCTIONED AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE MAYOR DOES NOT GET TO DECIDE WHICH OF MY OFFICES' INQUIRIES HIS OFFICE WILL COOPERATE WITH. HE DOESN'T GET TO SHIELD POLITICAL ALLIES FROM OVERSIGHT, AND HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T GET TO PREVENT INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THIS CITY FROM DOING THEIR JOBS. FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED THEM TO DO THAT JOB, EVERY DAY THAT THE MAYOR REFUSES TO PROVIDE THESE RECORDS IS ANOTHER DAY THAT IT CHOOSES SECRECY OVER TRANSPARENCY AND LOYALTY OVER ACCOUNTABILITY. THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON DESERVE ANSWERS ON THIS MATTER AND SEVERAL OTHERS, AND THIS OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEM. THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE 11 PLUS ONE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MAY 31ST, 2026. FISCAL YEAR 26 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON 11 MONTHS OF ACTUAL RESULTS AND ONE MONTH OF PROJECTIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND. OUR REVENUE PROJECTION IS $12.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH. UH, JUST TO TOUCH ON SALES TAX RECEIPTS, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, SALES TAX RECEIPTS WERE $3.7 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, WHICH IS ABOUT A 5%, UH, INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR FOR THE MONTH OF MAY. UH, WE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. AND AGAIN, THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY WERE ALSO TRENDING ABOVE THE PRIOR YEAR. SO, UH, WE FEEL THAT OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE OF 900, UM, UM, 900 MILLION IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S CONSERVATIVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR UNTIL THE, TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO YOU'LL MOST LIKELY SEE A CHANGE IN OUR PROJECTION IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. MO FAR ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE PROJECTION IS 117.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH. UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROJECTING ENDING, UH, THE ENDING FUND BALANCE TO BE $300 MILLION, WHICH IS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR MONTH AND REPRESENTS 11.3% OF EXPENDITURES, NOT INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND PAY AS YOU GO. UH, WE'RE JUST PROJECTING A SMALL CHANGE IN, [05:15:01] UM, SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS THAT THE CONTROLLER MENTIONED IN THE CONVENTION. ENTERTAINMENT, UH, WITH OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED BY 537,000 DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED GARAGE PARKING REVENUE. UM, A LITTLE BIT LARGER ON THE NON-OPERATING REVENUE SIDE, $4.5 MILLION HIGHER DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. AND AS A RESULT, THE OPERATING TRANSFERS WILL INCREASE BY 6.9 MILLION. UH, SMALL ADJUSTMENT ON THE ASSET FORFEITURE FUND WHERE REVENUES INCREASED BY ABOUT 700,000 DUE TO HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, UH, CONFISCATIONS HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT ESTIMATE. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT ON THE NUMBERS, BUT I DID WANNA TOUCH ON, UM, SOME GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, UM, COMING OUT OF ONE OF OUR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES, S AND P. UM, SO OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR RATING AGENCIES ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT. UM, IT WAS TIME FOR S AND P'S ANNUAL REVIEW OF OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT, UH, WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO EXAMINE OUR, UM, BUDGET, OUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS, UM, THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S, UM, AUDIT, AND TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, UH, PART OF THE ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS, UH, REVIEWING THE, WHAT THEY CALL THE CREDIT OUTLOOK. SO THERE'S A RATING AND THEN THERE'S AN OUTLOOK. SO OUR OUTLOOK BY S AND P WAS A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE GENERAL OBLIGATION CREDIT, UM, BASED ON S AND P'S REVIEW IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND ALL THE INFORMATION, UM, WITH OUR FY 27 BUDGET, THAT WAS RECENTLY ADOPTED, S AND P UH, COMMITTEE DECIDED TO REVISE THE OUTLOOK FROM NEGATIVE BACK TO A STABLE OUTLOOK. UM, S AND P IS A RATING AGENCY THAT WE WORK WITH, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY EXAMINING THE CITY'S CREDIT WORTHINESS. AND THEIR CHANGE IN OUTLOOK, OR THEIR REVISION IN THE OUTLOOK, UM, SHOWS THAT THAT THIRD PARTY ENTITY HAS A GREATER CONFIDENCE IN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL DIRECTION, UH, GOING FORWARD. UM, WE KNOW THAT THE FY 27 BUDGET TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AROUND THIS HORSESHOE FOR MANY YEARS, UM, AT LEAST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN AT THE CITY. UM, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR RESIDENTS IS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS STRONGER FINANCIAL OUTLOOK MEANS THAT FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, THE CITY IS BETTER POSITIONED TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT, THAT THEY DESERVE. THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPED BY LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE LONG TERM OBJECTIVES, NOT JUST AT THE IMMEDIATE FISCAL YEAR IN ORDER TO HELP BRING DOWN WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE FIVE YEAR GAP, UM, HOW OUR PROJECTION LOOKS LIKE IN THE OUT YEARS. SO REALLY KIND OF REBASING OUR FINANCIALS, UM, GOING FORWARD INTO THE OUT YEARS. UM, REALLY THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR US. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT. UM, WANTED TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, FOR THEIR VOTE ON THE BUDGET AND MOVING IT FORWARD AND MOVING THE CITY FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON FIRMER FINANCIAL FOOTING. UM, AND IT REALLY STANDS IN CONTRAST TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE NEWS WITH A LOT OF OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY FACING EXTREMELY LARGE BUDGETARY GAPS. SOMETIMES IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, SOMETIMES IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS RANGE WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, CHICAGO AND NEW YORK. THOSE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE FACED WITH DEFERRING PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS, UM, INCREASING TAX RATES, IMPLEMENTING FURLOUGHS AND SERVICE CUTS. UM, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BUDGET WITHOUT LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE REALLY LARGE AND, AND, UM, IMPACTFUL ITEMS. SO, UM, JUST TO CLOSE, I WANNA READ A FEW SENTENCES FROM THE S AND P REPORT. UM, THEY MENTIONED THAT THEIR OUTLOOK REFLECTS S AND P'S EXPECTATIONS THAT THE CITY BY MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES WILL MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TO ADDRESS THE BUDGETARY GAP FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. HOUSTON'S DEBT AND LIABILITY BURDEN IS MODERATE WITH ELEVATED FIXED COSTS, BUT HAS BEEN REDUCED CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST DECADE FOLLOWING THE MAJOR PENSION REFORM INITIATIVE. SO AGAIN, REALLY BUILDING UPON WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE PENSION REFORM TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THESE STRUCTURAL BUDGET CHANGES, UM, REALLY PUTS US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SALINAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, MR. CONTROLLER, GOING BACK TO THE INVESTIGATION YOU'RE CONDUCTING, CAN YOU PLEASE ELABORATE ON SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS, TYPES OF DOCUMENTS YOU'VE REQUESTED AND THE REASON YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE HANDED OVER OR HAVE NOT BEEN HANDED OVER YET? UH, YEAH, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THE FULL EXCHANGE, UH, WITH YOU. UH, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CHRONICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED, UM, AND WHAT THEY REPORTED ON. SO BADGE SWIPES INTO AND OUT OF, UH, CITY FACILITIES, UH, THAT EXTENDS TO, YOU KNOW, BADGE SWIPES GOING INTO PARKING FACILITIES AS WELL. UH, ACTIV AROUND EMAIL, UH, THE, THE WORK HOURS THAT WERE REPORTED, UH, ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF, [05:20:01] UH, ACCESSING CITY DOCUMENTS, RIGHT? SO YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT SOMEONE WOULD OPEN MICROSOFT WORD, RIGHT? AND POWERPOINT AND EXCEL. UH, AND SO INFORMATION SURROUNDING, UH, THAT SORT OF ACTIVITY, UH, ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS, INCLUDING AN OUTLOOK CALENDAR, UM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AN OUTLOOK CALENDAR WAS STILL AS OF TODAY, ALSO BEING WITHHELD FROM THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. UM, BUT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED A LICK OF IT. UM, THE RESPONSE AS TO WHY WE WERE NOT GIVEN THAT INFORMATION, UM, FRANKLY WAS A LOT OF SEMANTIC BS. UM, FIRST THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO INVESTIGATE AT ALL. UM, THEN THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS FORMALLY AN AUDIT. UM, BUT AS I READ TO YOU, THERE WAS ALSO A CONCESSION THAT THE EXACT INFORMATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE IT FALLS DIRECTLY INTO THE WORK OF THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE WITHOUT ARGUMENT OR DEBATE OR DISCUSSION. UM, AGAIN, WE LAUNCHED THIS NEARLY A MONTH AGO. UM, WE SENT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORMALLY SHORTLY THEREAFTER. UH, THE DEADLINE PROVIDED TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION WAS JULY 10TH, WHICH WAS THIS PREVIOUS FRIDAY. UM, AND SO IT WASN'T LIKE GET IT TO US TOMORROW. WE GAVE THEM SEVERAL WEEKS. UM, WE'VE GOTTEN NOTHING EXCEPT PUSHBACK. UM, GOING BACK TO THE DEADLINE ITSELF, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT A SUBSTANTIAL CHUNK OF THIS INFORMATION WAS ALREADY GIVEN TO HOUSTON CHRONICLE, SO IT'S SITTING RIGHT THERE AND COULD JUST BE FORWARDED TO US. UM, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN ZERO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE OPERATING FROM AS OF THIS MOMENT IN TERMS OF INFORMATION IS STILL JUST WHAT'S BEING REPORTED, UH, IN THE CHRONICLE, RIGHT, WHICH, UM, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT I REMEMBER IS ROUGHLY 12 TO 13 BATCH WIPES OVER THE COURSE OF TWO AND A HALF YEARS. UH, IN THIS YEAR, THIS CALENDAR YEAR, 2026, UH, ZERO EMAILS BEING SENT TO SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS OR ON ANY TOPIC RELATED TO, UH, THE FINANCIAL ISSUES BASING THE CITY. UM, THAT IS THE STUFF THAT WE KNOW FROM THE CHRONICLES REPORTING, AGAIN, FROM PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THEM BECAUSE IT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT AS OF THIS MOMENT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY NONE OF IT BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED NONE OF IT SPECIFICALLY, UH, BECAUSE THE MAYOR REFUSES TO PROVIDE IT. AND MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IS THERE A LEGAL BASIS THAT THE CITY IS CONTENDING FOR WITHHOLDING THE INFORMATION? AND IF NOT, CAN YOU GIVE THE PUBLIC AN UPDATE ON WHEN THE INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE? WELL, I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE FACTS. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN COOPERATING. THE REQUESTS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN THE CHRONICLES. WE'RE GATHERING THE INFORMATION AND WE'RE FULLY GOING TO COOPERATE. DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHEN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION THEY'VE REQUESTED? UH, NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I'D HAVE TO ASK AND, UH, GET BACK TO YOU. IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF INFORMATION THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE HAS REQUESTED THAT THE CITY DOES NOT INTEND TO PROVIDE? WELL, THERE ARE VARIOUS EXCEPTIONS ALONG, ALONG THE WAY. FOR EXAMPLE, AN OUTLOOK CALENDAR, UH, IF IT'S PRIVATE INFORMATION, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT THAT CAN BE WITHHELD. SO THERE'S VARIOUS ASPECTS THAT ARE INVOLVED, BUT I THINK THE BULK OF WHAT HE SEEKS HE'LL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN. SO APART FROM PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS, IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE CITY INTENDS TO WITHHOLD IN RESPONSE TO THE CONTROLLER'S REQUEST? UH, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, SINCE YOU TOUCHED ON THAT, THERE WERE TWO THINGS IN OUR INITIAL REQUESTS THAT WE WERE VERY CLEAR ABOUT, INCLUDING. NUMBER ONE WAS, IF YOU THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T PROVIDE TO US, JUST TELL US THAT AND EXPLAIN TO US WHY WE'VE GOTTEN ZERO EXPLANATION. BESIDES THE BROAD BRUSH, YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO INVESTIGATE THIS LETTER, WHICH AGAIN, I'LL FORWARD THIS TO YOU. NUMBER TWO, WE SAID IF SOME, IF YOU'RE GONNA PROVIDE SOMETHING, BUT IT'S GONNA GO PAST THE JULY 10TH DEADLINE. NUMBER ONE, LET US KNOW THAT. NUMBER TWO, WE'RE HAPPY TO ACCEPT THIS INFORMATION PIECEMEAL. SO WHATEVER IS READY BY THAT DEADLINE, GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE IT TO US. UH, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CALENDAR, IT IS BEYOND JULY 10TH. TODAY, WE'VE RECEIVED NOTHING. WE'VE RECEIVED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHEN ANY OF THIS STUFF IS COMING OR IF IT IS COMING, EXCEPT A STRONG IN, IN INCLINATION, UH, THAT NONE OF IT WAS COMING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE. [05:25:01] AGAIN, I'LL SHARE THAT INFORMATION, UH, WITH YOUR OFFICE AS A COURTESY. I'LL SHARE IT WITH THE REST OF COUNSEL AS WELL, SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT. UH, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE STAND. WELL, I'M PLEASED TO HEAR IT, TO HEAR, YES, IT'S THE ATTORNEY SAY THEY WILL BE BE PROVIDING THE INFORMATION, AND I HOPE YOU'LL KEEP US UPDATED NEXT MONTH ON WHETHER THAT INFORMATION'S BEEN PROVIDED. IF NOT, I'M SURE MANY OF US WILL CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU'RE REQUESTING IS PROVIDED. CERTAINLY, UM, BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET TO WORK, I THINK WE'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO YOU WELL BEFORE NEXT MONTH'S REPORT. BUT AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR INQUIRY, UH, ON THIS MATTER AND, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR REPORT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, I THINK THEY'RE APPROPRIATE. I WANNA NOTE THAT, UH, THE CONTROLLER IS PUTTING FORTH INQUIRIES IN A FORMAL FASHION AND GETTING NO RESPONSE, AND I DO THE SAME AND WAS MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY THAT THE MAYOR IS ADVISED TO IGNORE ME, SO HE MAY BE ADVISED TO IGNORE YOU AS WELL, BUT I SAY KEEP PRESSING, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT REPORT, UM, BASED ON WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID TODAY AS WELL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, THANK YOU, OFFICER ALCO. I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT DATED MAY 31ST, 2026, MOTION MADE, AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU [MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] PAPA MEMBERS, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANNA EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF HOUSTON. RESIDENT LORENZO SALGADO ARJO. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HE WAS A GOOD HUSBAND, FATHER, AND A LONG TIME PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK. HE HAD COMMITTED NO CRIME, AND HE WAS NOT WANTED BY ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. HE DESERVED A FAR BETTER FATE. HIS KILLING HAS SHAKEN OUR CITY. IT IS GRIEVING, IT IS ANGRY, IT IS DEMANDING ANSWERS IN ASSURANCES THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I APPLAUD OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR LAUNCHING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLING, BUT GIVEN THE LACK OF COOPERATION AND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF CRUCIAL EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES, IT WILL NOT BE AN EASY TASK. I APPLAUD MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR DIRECTING HPD TO ASSIST IN THAT INVESTIGATION AND IN ASKING THE TEXAS RANGERS TO INVESTIGATE AS WELL. IN A PERFECT WORLD, BOTH HPD AND THE DA'S OFFICE WOULD'VE BEEN NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHOOTING AND INVITED TO PARTICIPATE. IN A PERFECT WORLD ICE AGENTS INVOLVED WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WHISKED AWAY FROM THE SCENE AND GIVEN 72 HOURS TO MAKE A STATEMENT. DETAILS ABOUT THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE WOULD'VE BEEN SHARED WITH HPD AND WITNESSES WOULD'VE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL INVESTIGATORS. NONE OF THIS OCCURRED. FEDERAL AGENCY POLICIES, IT SEEMS, ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE AGENCY AND ITS AGENTS AT THE EXPENSE OF INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL STATE LAW VIOLATIONS. HAVING SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND HAVING WORKED WITH HPD, IT IS APPARENT TO ME AND APPARENT TO MANY THAT ICE HAS ENGAGED IN RECKLESS TRAFFIC STOPS ON OUR NATION STREETS, AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN DEADLY. AS WE HAVE SEEN AGENTS IN PLAIN CLOTHES USING UNMARKED VEHICLES WITHOUT LIGHTS OR SIRENS, ENGAGING IN HIGH SPEED CHASES ON BUSY STREETS, APPROACHING MOVING VEHICLES ON FOOT, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, POSITIONING THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF VEHICLES, CREATE SITUATIONS THAT ALLOW AGENTS TO SHOOT INTO VEHICLES AND CLAIM SELF-DEFENSE. MOST OF THESE TACTICS THAT I MENTIONED ARE PROHIBITED OR STRONGLY DISCOURAGED BY HPD POLICY. THE DANGER OF THESE TACTICS WAS OBVIOUS AFTER THE KILLING OF RENEE GOODE IN MINNEAPOLIS LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, NEWS REPORTS SAY THAT ICE HAS SHOT AND KILLED 11 PEOPLE SINCE THE STEP STEPPED UP. APPREHENSION STARTED. THE TEMPORARY PAUSE OF SOME ICE TRAFFIC STOPS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY. DOES NOT GIVE ME CONFIDENCE THAT ANYTHING WILL CHANGE. THE BORDER CZAR WAS QUOTED IN A NEWS REPORT AS SAYING THE PAUSE WAS JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT HIS AGENTS WERE WELL-TRAINED IN VEHICLE STOPS. I GUESS HE DOESN'T WATCH [05:30:01] THE SAME NEWS REPORTS THAT I DO. SINCE WE CAN'T BRING MR. SALGADO ARAJO BACK, THE CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US IS TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS DEATH WILL NOT BE IN VAIN. BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES MUST DEMAND THAT ICE DRASTICALLY REFORM THEIR VEHICLE OPERATIONS, OR ABANDON THEM ALTOGETHER TO PREVENT NEEDLESS DEATHS ON OUR STREETS. REFORM SHOULDN'T BE HARD. FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING ICE, HAVE ACCESS TO MARKED VEHICLES FOR BETTER OPERATIONAL TACTICS. ALL HAS, ALL ICE HAS TO DO IS LOOK AT THE POLICIES OF HPD AND OTHER LARGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. HPDS TRAFFIC STOP POLICIES, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT OFFICERS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, REPRESENT THE BEST PRACTICES THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER DECADES OF REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. FROM CONDUCTING THOUSANDS OF TRAFFIC STOPS, MR. SALGADO ARAUJO'S DEATH ALSO CALLS US TO DEMAND THE PASSAGE OF COMMON SENSE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORMS. FOR TOO LONG, OUR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE FAILED US ON IMMIGRATION, SOMETIMES LEAVING US TO PICK UP THE PIECES. IMMIGRATION RELATED ISSUES HAVE DOMINATED OUR TIME THIS YEAR WHEN WE COULD HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON DELIVERING THE CORE CITY SERVICES THAT HOUSTONIANS DESERVE. I WISH OUR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS COULD HEAR WHAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES THAT NOT ONLY KEEP US SAFE, BUT ALLOW LAW ABIDING IMMIGRANTS TO WORK, PAY TAXES, CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY, AND BE FREE FROM EXPLOITATION ARE LONG OVERDUE. WE MUST DEMAND THAT OUR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR. WE SHOULD ASK EVERY CANDIDATE FOR FEDERAL OFFICE WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO TO ENACT COMMON SENSE IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND HOW THEY PLAN TO WORK WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE. MAJOR LEGISLATION IS SOMETIMES PASSED AFTER A DEATH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. LET'S MAKE SOMETHING GOOD COME OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY. WE'LL BE BETTER OFF FOR IT, AND IT MIGHT GIVE THE SALGADO FAMILY SOME COMFORT TO KNOW THAT THEIR HUSBAND AND FATHER DIDN'T DIE IN VAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR THOMAS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UH, COUNCIL ON OUR AGENDA, UH, WE PASSED TWO SIGNIFICANT ITEMS ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AROUND THAT. UH, IT'S PERFECTLY TIED TO SOME OF THE WORK WE DID ON SATURDAY. WE HAD OUR SECOND ACTIVATION OF OUR WEST SIDE MOBILE CARE DAY, UM, WHERE WE SERVED THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON THE WEST SIDE. THE FIRST ONE WAS DURING EASTER WEEKEND, WHERE WE HAD OVER 130 IMPRESSIONS. THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE FOCUSED ON THREE TARGETED ENCAMPMENTS, UH, WHERE WE SERVED 40 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 20 WOMEN, 15 MEN, FIVE CHILDREN, AND THEN FIVE. WERE REPEAT FROM OUR FIRST ONE. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, TRANSFORMATION HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT EASY WORK. UM, IT IS EASY TO SAY YES TO BECAUSE WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT PARTNERS ON THE WEST SIDE WHO ARE WILLING TO JOIN WITH ME AND SO MANY OTHERS TO DO HARD THINGS. AND SO I WANNA THANK WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, UH, FOR BEING THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH 13 CLIENTS ALREADY IN HMIS AND THEN IN ADD AN ADDITIONAL 11 THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDED TO HMIS INTO THE SYSTEM. AND THEN ON SATURDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO PLACE SOMEONE IN EMERGENCY HOUSING. I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PROBABLY, UH, EYE-OPENING IS THAT THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT, WHO WALKED IN NEARLY IN A NEGLIGEE NOTHING. SHE HAD NOTHING. UM, AND WITH THE SHOWER CASE MANAGEMENT ACCESS TO CLOTHES UPSTAIRS, SHE WALKED OUT A NEW WOMAN AND PREPARED WITH MATERIALS AND WITH AN ASSIGNED CASE MANAGER. AND THE SMILE, HER CONTINENTS CHANGED. UM, AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS WE BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONNECT IT TO THE CITYWIDE INITIATIVE ON ENDING STREET HOMELESSNESS, WHICH ALSO JUST BRINGS TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THESE RESOURCES IN A VERY TARGETED WAY. UM, THE ITEM 15 WAS ABOUT YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. ITEM 16 WAS THE NAVIGATION CENTER, WHICH IS A CLEAR DISPLAY OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO FROM THE, THE, FROM THE YOUNGEST ON THE SPECTRUM, ALL THE WAY TO THOSE WHO ARE MOVING TOWARDS STABILITY. SO I WANNA THANK THOSE PARTNERS. [05:35:01] AND I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, STATE SENATOR BORIS MILES, WHO'S BEEN WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO, UH, EVERY QUARTER. WE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE TO DPS SO THEY CAN GET THEIR ID, UM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE IMMEDIATE BARRIERS FOR THEM TO START WORK FOR THE IMMEDIATE BARRIERS FOR THEM TO, UM, HAVE HOUSING. UM, AND SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SOME SUCCESSES, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL PIECEMEALING A LOT OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THE WORK, ESPECIALLY THE DISTRICT OF TEAM, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY THE MOBILE IMMUNIZATION DIVISION, UM, FOR THEIR WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT VACCINES WERE ISSUED, UH, EINA, THAT THE CLINIC OFF OF WEST BELFORT IN 59, THEY WERE TESTING FOR GLUCOSE, HIV, YOU NAME IT. AND THE PARTICIPANTS, THE CLIENTS WERE WILLING BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS AND THEY'RE EXPERIENCING VERY HARD, HAVING A HARD EXPERIENCE, UM, OUTSIDE. UH, AND SO THEY WERE WILLING TO ACCESS THE HEALTHCARE. THEY WERE WILLING TO ACCESS. UH, SOMEONE EVEN CALLED THE OFFICE ON FRIDAY SAYING, IS THIS TRUE? IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? SO THE WORD IS OUT ON THE STREET, AND I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ON FOR, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS SUMMER, FOR OUR SUMMER OF SAFETY, I ANNOUNCED OUR GUNLOCK, UH, SAFETY DISTRIBUTION THAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. TONIGHT, UM, FROM FIVE TO SEVEN AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. I ACTUALLY HAVE A EXAMPLE OF THE GUNLOCK THAT WE ARE, UH, DONATING THAT WE'RE GIFTING TO RESIDENTS. UH, WE HAVE 30 22 HAVE SIGNED UP. A COUPLE OF FOLKS HAVE CALLED, CALLED THE OFFICE. UM, SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SECURING YOUR FIREARM, CALL THE OFFICE TODAY, RIGHT NOW AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 0 2. UH, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON GUN SAFETY IN THE DISTRICT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND NOW WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HOME, AND IF YOU HAVE A FIREARM THAT IS EXPOSED, THERE'S A HIGHER POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY, UM, HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. THERE'S DEFINITELY AN APPETITE FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF RESOURCES IN THEIR HOME, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO RECEIVE MORE. I ALSO WANNA BRING THE COMMUNITY'S ATTENTION OF THE WEEK OF JULY 4TH. WE HAD A TWO ALARM FIRE IN WESTCHASE. 12 APARTMENT UNITS WERE DAMAGED. 12 FAMILIES LOST THEIR HOME. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR FIRE CHIEF AND CAPTAIN RAMOS FOR, UH, DETAILS IN TERMS OF THEIR TRANSITION WITH RED CROSS. THE WESTCHASE FUND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE NONPROFITS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE STABILIZED DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME. AND SO, AS WE HAVE DONE LAST YEAR, IF YOU ARE, UH, WILLING AND HAVE RESOURCES FOR 12 HOUSEHOLDS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE SO THEN WE CAN DIRECT TO THE WESTCHASE FUND. UM, DURING THIS SUMMER, 12 FAMILIES, UH, NEED TO BE MADE WHOLE, EVERYTHING FROM YOUNG BABIES TO KIDS, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET READY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL SEASON. AND SO I WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR EFFORT AROUND THAT. THERE WERE NO CIVILIAN INJURIES, HOWEVER, WE HAD SEVERAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES DURING THAT, AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, UM, HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO SUPPORT THEM. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THOSE 12 FAMILIES. AND AS WE FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THAT FIRE, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ARE CANVASSING THE COMMUNITY, UM, AS WE DO EVERY YEAR TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT SMOKE DETECTORS. UH, WE'VE HAD TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. WE HAD FIRES IN THE DISTRICT, CATALINA SQUARE, HUNTINGTON VILLAGE, UM, LAST YEAR. SO WE ARE CANVASSING THAT WITH OUR TEAM AND OUR INTERNS. AND I WILL TELL YOU, EVERY TIME WE GO DOOR TO DOOR, UM, COMMUNICATING ABOUT FIRES, YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW MANY FAMILIES DO NOT HAVE SMOKE DETECTORS IN THEIR HOME. UM, OR THEY'RE EXPIRED AND THEY'RE NOT AWARE. AND SO WE'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FIRES. SO WE ARE COMING TO THE DISTRICT. IF YOU ARE, UH, UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE AND YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A SMOKE DETECTOR, ALLOW US TO SERVE YOU AND FACILITATE THAT PROCESS. WE DO THAT AT NO COST AS WELL. UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS, UH, THAT THE ALE, THE OLD ALE LIBRARY, IS OFFICIALLY DEMOLISHED. UM, THE A HUNDRED BRICKS THAT WE SECURED WERE COMPLETELY, UH, UH, REGISTERED AND SECURED WITHIN LIKE THE FIRST 20 DAYS, FIRST TWO DAYS. UM, THE, UH, GSD, THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HAS BEEN SO KIND TO SECURE AN ADDITIONAL 70. SO IF YOU WERE ON THE WAIT LIST, WE HAVE A COMMEMORATIVE BRICK FOR YOU. UM, THE GOOD NEWS, JUST AS A REMINDER, IS THAT THAT LOCATION WILL BE ADDITIONAL FLOOD DETENTION, UM, FOR THE AREAS SO WE CAN PROTECT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING. SO THERE'S A $17 MILLION PROJECT, UM, SO THAT THAT COMMUNITY WILL, THAT, THAT LOCATION WILL GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC FOR PUBLIC GOOD. SO PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE COMMEMORATIVE BRICK. AND I WANNA JUST THANK EVERY RESIDENT WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES ABOUT THE OPENING OF THAT LIBRARY, UM, WHEN THEY WERE AT AJ MARTIN AT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH THE OTHER MAYOR. WHITMEYER WAS THE MAYOR AT THE TIME, UM, OPENING THAT LIBRARY, ONE OF THE FIRST REGIONAL LIBRARIES IN THE CITY. AND SO WE ARE TRANSFORMING THAT AREA, UM, TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY OF, IF ANY OF THE INFORMATION THAT, [05:40:01] UM, I SHARED TODAY IS HELPFUL TO YOU AND YOUR INTERESTED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE. AND THEN LASTLY, I SHARED MY A COMMENT WITH UNIVISION ABOUT, UH, THE, THE, THE MURDER, UM, OF OUR NEIGHBOR. AND I'M VERY CLEAR THAT ICE SHOULD HAVE NO BUSINESS, UH, DOING TRAFFIC STOPS TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S POINT IN OUR CITY, UNDERMINING LOCAL, OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM, AND I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING, UM, THE, THE ORDINANCE TO LIMIT HPDS, UH, INVOLVEMENT WITH ICE IS THAT WE HAVE TRUST IN OUR OWN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. AND THIS IS A, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY WE SHOULD TRUST OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. AND SO I, I, AGAIN, SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SEAN TIER, UM, HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL. AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS DIFFICULT. UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE LOST THEIR LIFE, AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE, UM, TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY ON A DIME TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SLOW UP IN ORDER TO MOVE. UM, BUT WE, FOR MANY OF US, WE KNEW THAT THIS MOMENT WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY. WE KNEW THAT, UH, WE WERE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE TERROR THAT FAMILIES WERE EXPRESSING, UM, LONG BEFORE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. AND SO, UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO RESTART WITH HOUSTONIANS, REGAIN THEIR TRUST, WALK THROUGH THEM, WALK WITH THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND REINFORCE OUR OWN COMMITMENT ABOUT KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND SO THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE A LONG HAUL. I THANK OUR HOUSTON DELEGATION, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THAT'S BEEN AT THE FRONT FRONT OF THIS, UM, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, CONGRESSMAN MENIFEE, A HOST OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS. AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. UM, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT WE COULD DO AT THIS HORSESHOE HORSESHOE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU FORGOT TO MENTION YOUR ARTICLE IN THE NLC CITY SPEAK. UH, WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT. I DID GET TO READ THE ARTICLE, UM, IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PENDANT ARTICLE AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AFTER, UM, THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD AROUND HOUSING, AROUND THE COUNTRY. UM, AND IT REALLY WAS ABOUT HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PLAY A ROLE IN SHAPING HOUSING LANDSCAPE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. SO THANK YOU FOR PENDING THAT ARTICLE AND REPRESENTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON WELL IN THAT SPACE. UM, COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE NEXT SOUTH GESNER PIP MEETING WILL BE HELD THIS EVENING AT 6:30 PM AT THE SOUTH GESNER STATION. UH, THIS MONTH'S PRESENTATION WILL FEATURE DETECTIVES FROM, UH, THE DEPARTMENT MAJOR OFFENDERS DIVISION. SO IF RESIDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, UM, THAT MEETING AGAIN IS AT 6:30 PM AT THE SOUTH GASNER POLICE STATION. WE'VE GOT SEVERAL BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS, UM, IN THE CITY. I KNOW THE MAYOR'S EVENT IS ON AUGUST THE FIRST. UM, WE HAVE THE JARED VANDERBILT BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT ON, ON THE EIGHTH. UM, YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS AND OUR NEWSLETTER TO FIND OUT ABOUT, UM, SEVERAL MORE OF THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT. UM, COLLEAGUES DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT OUR NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING, WE'LL CONVENE THIS AFTERNOON AT 2:00 PM HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. WE'LL HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE PROPOSED TURS PROJECT PLAN AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 SEVENT BUDGET SCHEDULES. UM, ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON ITEM 31, THOSE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS, UH, BRIARGATE AND WILLOW PARK. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE PROJECTS TO HELP WITH THE FLOODING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. SO THOSE RESIDENTS WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE THOSE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION. UH, CONTINUE TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PROIN PECK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS SATURDAY, HOPE CITY IS DOING THEIR DAYS OF HOPE IN DISTRICT A. THEY WILL HAVE A FOOD AND SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION AT 10:00 AM AT THE COVERDALE COMMUNITY CENTER. SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT. AND IF YOU KNOW OF ANY NEIGHBORS OR HOUSTONIANS ANYONE IN NEED OF SUPPLIES OR FOOD, PLEASE SEND THEM OVER TO THAT DISTRIBUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS SUMMER I AM, UM, PLEASED TO HAVE THREE INTERNS IN MY OFFICE. UH, I WANT THEM TO STAND THERE HERE. LIANI ANDERSON IS AT DEBAKEY HIGH SCHOOL. SHE IS A RISING SENIOR. UH, ANTHONY RIVERA IS A LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, AND WILL BE AN INCOMING FRESHMAN AT LSU AS WELL AS JAYDEN CARMEN, WHO IS A, UH, RISING SENIOR AT CYPRESS RANCH. UH, THEY'VE BEEN DOING OUTSTANDING WORK, UH, ON A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN THE OFFICE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE LEARNING AND HAVING A GREAT EXPERIENCE IN THE OFFICE. UM, MAYOR, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO, I SENT YOU A LETTER [05:45:01] REGARDING A 90 DAY MORATORIUM ON, UH, GAS STATION APPLICATION APPROVALS FOR, UM, NEW APPLICANTS FOR GAS STATION CONSTRUCTION, NEAR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. UM, THIS REQUEST CAME ON BEHALF OF 10 SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND 33 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. UH, THEY'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE, UH, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS ON ISSUES AND CONCERNS PERTAINING TO HEALTH HAZARDS, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, AS WELL AS JUST OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT GAS STATIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL, UM, BUSINESS AND CRITICAL TO OUR DAILY ROUTINE. UM, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PREVALENCE AND THE CONCENTRATION OF, UH, MANY GAS STATIONS IN A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS OR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, UH, DOES HAVE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AS WELL. AND SO, THE NEIGHBOR, THE 90 DAY MORATORIUM, WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AND HAVE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THAT ENGAGEMENT. UM, I'VE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM YOUR OFFICE, BUT I, I DO WANT YOU TO, UM, KNOW THAT IT'S, IT IS NOT JUST COMING FROM ME, IT'S COMING FROM THOSE 10 SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND THE 33 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME, SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT AND SOME FURTHER DISCUSSION TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO AT LEAST, UM, HEAR FROM THEM AND TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND BE CREATIVE AS WE EXPLORE, UH, POSSIBLE, POSSIBLE RESOLUTIONS. SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOUR OFFICE. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL. I KNOW EARLIER YOU MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, BEING ADVISED TO IGNORE ME, BUT I WOULD HOPE WE CAN PUT AWAY WHATEVER, UH, REASONS FOR THAT IS AND GET SOME ANSWERS, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CARTER? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL IMPORTANT EVENTS HAPPENING IN DISTRICT D THIS WEEK. AN UPCOMING EVENT TODAY WILL BE THE TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR GROUNDBREAKING, WHICH WILL BE AT THE, UH, EL DORADO BALLROOM AT PROJECT ROW HOUSES AT 2310 ELGIN SECOND FLOOR AT 1:00 PM. UH, THIS GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATES TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR, A NEW 90 UNIT APARTMENT COMMUNITY FOR SENIORS, AGES 55 AND OLDER IN HOUSTON'S HISTORIC THIRD WARD. THIS IS MORE THAN A GROUNDBREAKING. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SENIORS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THE CONTINUED FUTURE OF THIRD WARD. OUR SENIORS DESERVE TO AGE WITH DIGNITY, STABILITY, AND ACCESS TO QUALITY HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY HELP BUILD. I WANT TO THANK TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC HOUSING ALLIANCE, HTX, THE NHP FOUNDATION, AND ALL COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HELPED TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE ON TOMORROW, EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER, GROUNDBREAKING AND RIBBON CUTTING, LONG AWAITED, UH, THAT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW AT 10:00 AM AT EDGEWOOD PARK. THIS IS ANOTHER EXCITING MOMENT FOR DISTRICT D AND A CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY SPACES, FAMILIES, SENIORS, YOUTH, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER REPRESENTS PROGRESS, PARTNERSHIP, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE THE FACILITIES AND RESOURCES THEY DESERVE. UH, ON FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE A PASSPORT TO POSSIBILITIES, UH, FOR JOB EDUCATION AND RESOURCE FAIR FOR DISTRICT D, WHICH WILL, UH, HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION FROM 12 TO ONE RESOURCE FAIR FROM ONE TO SEVEN AT THE SUNNYSIDE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, 44 10 REED ROAD. AND IT'S OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. THIS EVENT WILL CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH JOB OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP OPEN DOORS TO NEW POSSIBILITIES. THE, THE PANEL DISCUSSION WILL FEATURE LOCAL LEADERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND CHANGE MAKERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT DISTRICT D IS ABOUT, BRINGING RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE, CREATING ACCESS AND HELPING RESIDENTS MOVE FROM OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBILITY. DISTRICT D IS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND THESE EVENTS REFLECT THE WORK WE ARE DOING EVERY DAY, INVESTING IN HOUSING, STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS, IMPROVING COMMUNITY SPACES, AND CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO THE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO AGAIN, CONVEY MY PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY OF LORENZO [05:50:01] SALGADO ROJO. MY COMMENTS YESTERDAY WERE NOT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL OR DISMISSIVE TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, AND CERTAINLY NOT TO THE FAMILY. I APPLAUD PUBLIC SPEAKERS COMING FORWARD, AND I TAKE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN VERY SERIOUSLY. PERHAPS IT IS A CHARACTER FLAW, BUT I TEND TO THINK IT IS ALSO MY RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER WHAT CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE, NOT ONLY IN THIS INVESTIGATION, BUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD. TO STOP THE ENGAGEMENT OF ICE. IN HOUSTON, I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TO STOP THE ROGUE ENGAGEMENT OF ICE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE POLITICAL MAKEUP OF THIS STATE'S ELECTED GOVERNANCE PRECLUDES THIS BODY FROM PASSING PROTECTIVE COMMON SENSE ORDINANCES WITHOUT BEING STRONG, ARMED BY STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS FOR THE MOST PARTS, CITIES THAT HAVE LIMITED ICE HAVE COOPERATIVE GOVERN GOVERNANCE AT THE STATE LEVEL WHO RESPECT LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS CAN ONLY CHANGE WITH THE HELP AND COOPERATION OF OUR REGISTERED VOTERS. CERTAINLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY AREN'T UNDOCUMENTED. THEY ARE UN UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE, UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WHO CANNOT VOTE. BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY THOSE THAT CAN, SHOULD AND MUST. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THIS CITY BY EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE FOR SENSITIVE COMMON SENSE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE OPPORTUNITY IS IN NOVEMBER, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A LONG WAY AWAY, BUT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY FURTHER KICKS THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND LEAVES US AT THE MERCY OF HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT THAT SUPERSEDE OUR AUTHORITY. THE POLITICAL SYSTEM ADMITTEDLY, IS FLAWED, BUT UNTIL WE GET LEADERSHIP IN PLACE TO CHANGE IT, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALL THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD. THIS CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS, UH, THAT, UH, WE LOST A GREAT LEADER IN OUR CITY, UH, ON JULY 4TH IN THE PERSON OF DR. ROBERT B. SLOAN OF THE HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, FORMERLY HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY. AND, UH, I WAS, UH, HONORED TO BE AT HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE, UH, UH, ON LAST FRIDAY. UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I BOTH, UH, AS OTHERS MAY HAVE, UH, ATTENDED, AND, UH, CERTAINLY LOST A GREAT, GREAT INSTITUTIONAL LEADER, EDUCATED THE DIVERSITY OF ALL OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. I'M PROUD TO BE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO. AND, UH, WE, YOU KNOW, RESPECT THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD, BUT A GREAT LOSS TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF A FINE INSTITUTION LEADER AND A GREAT, GREAT HUSBAND, UH, UH, FATHER, GRANDFATHER. AND, UH, IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO, HE'S CERTAINLY GONNA BE MISSED. AND, UH, WE HAVE A GIANT, UM, JOB TO DO IN REPLACING, UH, THAT POSITION. 'CAUSE YOU NEVER REPLACE ANOTHER ROBERT SLOAN. SO JUST WANNA MAKE THAT OUT. UH, PUT THAT OUT THERE AND LET, WE ARE OFFERING OUR PRAYERS TO THE SLOAN FAMILY IN THEIR LAWS IN A TIME OF, OF BEREAVEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE HOUSTONIANS THAT WERE HERE YESTERDAY TO SPEAK ON THE MURDER OF LORENZO ALDO RAJO BY THE HANDS OF ICE AGENTS. YOUR VOICES HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HEARD. YESTERDAY ICE CALLED FOR A CEASE IN VEHICLE PURSUITS AND JUST TODAY WE HEARD A DEMAND FOR A MORATORIUM FOR ICE RE UM, REINFORCEMENTS. AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT MAYOR LORENZO SALGADO. RAJO WAS MURDERED BY ICE. AND I HOPE WE ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE FULL TRANSPARENCY IN THIS INVESTIGATION. I WANT TO, UM, UPLIFT THE DA'S OFFICE AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FOR CONTINUING TO PUSH THIS FORWARD. REGARDLESS OF WHERE ANYONE HERE STANDS ON IMMIGRATION POLICY, I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT LORENZO SHOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY. THESE AGENTS OPERATE WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT WITHOUT IDENTIFICATION OR SET RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. THEY TERRORIZE OUR CITIES IN MASKS, TARGETING OUR NEIGHBORS WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE AND WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT MR. RAHO WAS NOT THE TARGET OF ICE'S INITIAL INVESTIGATION. INSTEAD, HE WAS TARGETED BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. HE WAS A FATHER, A PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND A HOUSTONIAN. HE'S NOW ONE OF OVER 50 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE CUSTODY OF, OR AT THE HANDS OF THIS RACIST ARMED MILITIA. I'M HEARTBROKEN AND ENRAGED BY THIS LOSS ON MONDAY. ICE KILLED ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME IN MAINE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME. THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO END THIS. WE NEED TO ABOLISH ICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY GOOD. [05:55:01] THANK YOU. WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.