[PRESENTATIONS]
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COUNCIL, PLEASE COME TO ORDER.I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO PRESIDE.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PANZELLA FOR A PROCLAMATION TO URBAN PATHS TO RECOGNIZE ITS GUIDING WALKING EXPERIENCES.
WE'RE GONNA FACE THIS DIRECTION.
I'LL PASS IT TO THE MAYOR AND, OKAY.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, COUNCIL AND MAYOR AS WELL.
AND LAURA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE LAURA CONLEY AND URBAN PATHS, WHICH IS AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION THAT ENCOURAGES AND BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO USE THE AMAZING SPACES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HOUSTON, PARKS, MUSEUMS, URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND JUST GETTING FOLKS OUT TO WALK AND BIKE AND REALLY ENJOY, UH, THE OUTDOORS.
UH, I HAVE A COUPLE QUICK ANECDOTES.
THE FIRST URBAN PATHS EVENT THAT I EVER WENT ON WAS ACTUALLY GETTING TO TOUR THE ISMAILI CENTER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, TRULY A JEWEL OF DISTRICT C.
AND IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO JUST WALK AROUND THE COMPLEX.
UM, BUT I MEAN, I THINK YOU HAD CLOSE TO 75 A HUNDRED FOLKS COME OUT TO THAT EVENT.
UM, I ALSO RUN FREQUENTLY ALONG BUFFALO BAYOU PARK, AND IT, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, I WILL RUN INTO A GROUP OF 50 OR 60 FOLKS ALL WEARING THIS BRIGHT BLUE OR BRIGHT GREEN SHIRTS, UH, REPRESENTING URBAN PATHS.
AND SO LAURA HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB TO CONTINUE TO BRING FOLKS OUT AND TO CONTINUE TO REALLY SHOWCASE ALL THE AMAZING PARKS AND AMENITIES THAT HOUSTON HAS.
MY PERSONAL VISION HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPROVING HOUSTON'S MOBILITY BY INVESTING IN SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, PARKS, AND PUBLIC SPACES.
URBAN PATHS SHOWS THAT IT ISN'T ONLY POLICY OR GOVERNMENT THAT CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN, BUT CIVIC AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZATIONS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE MORE THAN JUST AN ORGANIZATION, BUT A VISION FOR HOUSTON.
ONE THAT'S HEALTHIER, MORE WALKABLE, MORE CONNECTED, AND MORE ACCESSIBLE.
SO I'M GONNA PASS IT TO THE MAYOR, BUT I AM HONORED TO SAY THAT JULY 21ST IS NOW URBAN PATHS DAY.
UM, I LIVE BY MEMORIAL PARK, SO I GO DOWN BLOSSOM.
I WATCH PEOPLE, UH, CONNECT, UH, FROM ALLEN PARKWAY TO JACKSON HILL, TO BLOSSOM INTO THE PARK.
I'M ALWAYS, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT, AND I'M SURE YOU COACHED NOT TO, TO GO DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE, UH, INCREASING OUR SIDEWALKS YES.
BUT, UH, IN THE MEANTIME, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A SAFETY FACTOR INVOLVED, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THE HEALTH, UH, CONCERNS.
AND I WISH YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME A, IS IT A SHOT? YEAH.
OR SO WHAT TO MAKE YOU WANT TO WALK.
YEAH, I KNOW YOU'RE A GREAT MOTIVATOR.
AND, AND ALSO I'LL GET TO VISIT WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ON THOSE TRAILS.
SO THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMAR, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 21ST, 2026, IS URBAN PAST DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF DISTRICT C, AND I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE OUR NEW COUNCIL PERSON.
I'M SO HONORED AND PLEASED TO BE HERE.
AND THIS MEANS SO MUCH, JUST NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE MISSION OF URBAN PATHS.
SEE, WHEN I MOVED TO HOUSTON 40 YEARS AGO, UM, AS A NEW COLLEGE GRADUATE, LIKE SO MANY OTHER HOUSTON HOUSTONIANS, TAKING THE BUS AND WALKING WEREN'T A CHOICE.
UM, THEY WERE JUST HOW I NEEDED TO GET AROUND THE TOWN.
I DIDN'T HAVE A DEPENDABLE CAR.
AND THAT'S HOW I SAW THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY.
AND THAT'S HOW I FELL IN LOVE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH HOUSTON FROM THE FREEWAYS.
YOU FALL IN LOVE, CLOSE UP, UM, AT THE BUS STOP, WHERE A STRANGER TALKS TO YOU LIKE YOU'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS ON PORCHES, WHEN SOMEONE WAVES AS YOU PASS ON THE SIDEWALK, WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SEE THE REAL BEAUTY OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE BLOCK YOU'RE IN, THAT'S WHERE I MET AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HOUSTON.
AND THAT'S WHAT INSPIRED ME TO WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
I FOUNDED URBAN PATHS, YES, ON THAT BELIEF, AND A BELIEF THAT I'VE SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS RESEARCHING ON THE SCIENCE AND DATA BEHIND THE VERY BENEFIT OF THESE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVES THAT WALKING, NOT JUST ALONE, BUT TOGETHER, WHETHER ONE-ON-ONE OR
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IN A LARGE GROUP HAS PROFOUND HEALTH BENEFITS, NOT JUST FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT FOR OUR FAMILIES OR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CITY.I MAY BE THE FOUNDER OF URBAN PATHS, BUT AT ITS CORE, IT'S MADE UP OF ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO'VE COME TOGETHER AND TRUSTED ME TO EXPLORE AND EXPERIENCE HOUSTON ON FOOT WITH ME.
WE WALK ALL OVER HOUSTON BECAUSE THE CITY'S STORY DOESN'T LIVE IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT LIVES IN ALL OF THEM EARLY MORNING AND LATE AT NIGHT IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, RAIN, HEAT, COLD OR SHINE.
UM, WE WALK, WE'VE WALKED THROUGH EVERY PARK ALONG THE BAYOU THROUGH ALL SIX WARDS AND NEARLY EVERY STREET INSIDE OF SIX 10 LOOP.
WE'VE WALKED OVER THE MONTROSE RAINBOW CROSSWALK, AND ON THE HISTORIC BROOK STREETS OF FRIEDMAN'S TOWN, WE'VE WALKED THROUGH HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MAGNOLIA PARK, TRACING STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS SHAPED BY GENERATIONS WHO BUILT THEIR, BUILT THE CITY WITH THEIR HANDS AND THEIR HEARTS.
WE'VE MET ARTISTS AND SEEN THEIR WORK ON THE STREET CORNERS AND GALLERIES.
WE'VE LEARNED LINE DANCES ON LIONS AVENUE AND WALKED THROUGH THE COSTUME DEPARTMENT OF THE HOUSTON BALLET.
WE'VE HEARD CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIANS IN FRONT OF THE HOBBY CENTER.
WE'VE WALKED AND SUNG WITH MARIACHI SINGERS AND SINGER SONGWRITERS, AND LISTENED TO SOULFUL BLUES OF AN UNHOUSED GUITAR PLAYER IN MIDTOWN PARK.
WE'VE WALKED, WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE LAUGHED EVERY WALK TELLING THE STORY OF HOUSTON STRENGTH AND ITS DIVERSITY.
AND THAT WALKING TOGETHER ACROSS OUR DIFFERENCES IS HOW WE SEE OUR SIMILARITIES AND HOW WE BELONG TOGETHER IN THE CITY.
THAT'S THE HEART OF URBAN PAST WELLNESS WALKS, THE WALKS THAT HAPPEN THREE TIMES A WEEK.
BUFFALO BAYOU PARK, OUR BEAUTIFUL PARK NEARBY HERMAN PARK AND AT MEMORIAL PARK NEAR YOU, MAYOR.
AND THAT'S, AND THEN ALSO THE 7 1 3 WALKS INITIATIVE, 7 1 3 FOR SEVEN CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICTS, ONE CITY AND THREE MILES, WHERE WE'VE, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, COME TOGETHER WITH THE CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICTS TO GET PEOPLE OUT, UM, AND TO REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT WE HAVE HERE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, GETTING A BIG DOSE OF THE PROFOUND BENEFITS FROM MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
NOW, NONE OF THIS WOULD WORK IF, LIKE YOU SAID, OUR SEATS AREN'T SAFE, AND WE DIDN'T SHOW THAT SAFETY SIDEWALK SAFETY IS NEVER SEPARATE FROM OUR MISSION.
IT'S FOUNDATIONAL REALLY UNDER OUR FEET.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR THE TIMES THAT YOU'VE SAID YES TO SAFE STREETS, LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL 11TH STREET PROJECT AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.
I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL ALSO BE THE CASE IN THE UPCOMING WEST ALABAMA STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
AND WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO FOLLOW THE DESIRE OF SO MANY OF US IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PRIORITIZE THE DESIGN THAT WILL ENSURE SLOWER SPEEDS, WIDER SIDEWALKS, SAFER FOR ALL OF US.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU TODAY, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR, UM, PARTNERS WHO MAKE ALL OF THESE GROUP WALKS FREE TO EVERY PARTICIPANT.
THERE'S NEVER A CHARGE, UM, AND IT'S COMPLETELY FREE ALWAYS.
SO THANK YOU TO BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP, HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, THE HOUSTON THEATER DISTRICT, MIDTOWN CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICTS, EAST END COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES, ART DISTRICT, HOUSTON FRESH ARTS, A A RP, AND SO MANY MORE THAT HAVE OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP IT FREE.
SO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TODAY WHO THINK, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT TO COME JOIN ME.
TO COME JOIN ME, EITHER ONE-ON-ONE, MAYOR, I'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THESE PLACES, OR TO COME ON A WALK AND LEARN UP CLOSE ALL THE BEAUTY IN HOUSTON.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE TURN AROUND FOR PHOTOS, UM, FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO.
THANK, AND FOR, UM, THE INVITATION TO COME WALK WITH YOU, PLEASE.
UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND AN INVITATION.
I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY THAT YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK AT THE WILLOW WATER HOLE.
FOUR WALKS COMING IN THE FALL.
THAT MAY JUST BE WHAT I NEED TO GET BACK ON MY WALK ROUTINE.
SO WE LOVE TO HAVE YOU IN DISTRICT A YES.
AND, UH, COUNCIL ELA MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING LAURA.
UH, AND WE'VE HAD SOME WALKS TOGETHER AS WELL IN THE EAST END.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS GET OUT FIRST AND FOREMOST.
UM, AND THEN ALSO ACTIVATE SOME OF THESE, UH, PLACES THAT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, BUT FOR THESE WALKS AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER MIGHT NOT SEE, UH, A, A MORE PACKED PARK, A PARK THAT IS, UM, THAT IS SEEING, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTY OF WHAT HOUSTON IS RIGHT ALONG THE BAYOU.
YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY DISTRICT HAS SEVERAL HIKING BIKE TRAILS ALONG THE BAYOU.
UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, UH, AND READY TO CONTINUE TO DO WALKS WITH YOU AS WELL.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
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NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CELEBRATE THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.UH, I'M, I'M VERY HONORED TO HAVE A SECOND PROCLAMATION HERE TODAY, UM, CELEBRATING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
UH, AND WE ARE, UH, JOINED HERE BY ANGEL, WHO, UH, IS A, NOT JUST A MEMBER OF THE METRO BOARD, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH OUR, UM, REMIND ME AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT YOU'RE WITH, OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, I GOT TO KNOW ANGEL MOST RECENTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT KNOW I'M VERY NEW TO DISTRICT C, AND I WAS ABLE TO GO VISIT WITH HIM AND GET A TOUR OF THE WEST GRAIN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER FOR THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS DAY RECENTLY.
UM, AND THAT WAS AN AMAZING REMINDER THAT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, UH, ON WEST GRAY IS NOT JUST AN AMAZING AMENITY FOR FOLKS IN DISTRICT C, BUT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION, BUT ALSO NATIONALLY.
AND THIS IS REALLY JUST AN AMAZING INSTITUTION THAT ALLOWS FOR FOLKS TO PLAY ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SPORTS LIKE BASKETBALL AND TENNIS AND BASEBALL, AND REALLY JUST ANY TYPE OF SPORT.
AND SO, I WANNA GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO, UM, WEST GREEN MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, AND, UH, UM, WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THERE.
36 YEARS AGO, ON JULY 26TH, 1990, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, THE A DA TRANSFORMED OUR COUNTRY, NOT JUST BY PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION, BUT EXPANDING ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, EDUCATION, AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
THIS PROCLAMATION MEANS THAT, THAT, I'M GONNA MOVE OVER FROM THIS ONE AND JUST READ THE PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS ON JULY 26TH, 1990, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ESTABLISHING A LANDMARK NATIONAL MANDATE TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AND GUARANTEE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, GOVERNMENT SERVICES, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
2026 MARKS THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS HISTORIC CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION, AND IS CELEBRATED UNDER THE THEME CHAMPIONING ACCESSIBILITY AND WELLBEING FOR ALL, REINFORCING OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOSTER ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROMOTE PHYSICAL INCLUSION AND HOLISTIC WELLBEING FOR ALL.
THE A DA REMINDS US THAT WHEN WE REMOVE BARRIERS, WE DON'T JUST CREATE ACCESS, BUT WE CREATE OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, CELEBRATE THIS DAY, AND I'M GONNA PASS IT TO YOU, MR. MAYOR.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PENZA, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE DISABILITIES ACT.
UH, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN AROUND AND RECALL BEFORE WE HAD THE ACT, AND NOW THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.
AND WE DO KNOW WE STILL HAVE THINGS TO DO.
UH, WE WORK REGULARLY WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP TO TRY TO MAKE CITY HALL EVEN MORE, UH, FRIENDLIER FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY OF OUR CITY.
AND, UH, QUITE OFTEN WE'LL HAVE GUESTS MAKE THOSE REQUESTS, AND THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THE INITIATIVE FOR NEW OR BETTER, UH, SIDEWALKS.
SO IT'S AMAZING, UM, THAT THE COUNTRY TOOK THAT LONG, BUT IT WAS THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU REPRESENT ANGEL PONSE, UH, A MEMBER OF METRO TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC TRANSIT IS, IS MINDFUL OF THE CHALLENGES.
AND IT'S MY HONOR, UH, AS THE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR, HEREBY PROCLAIMS JULY 26 20.
2026, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ACROSS HOUSTON.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA.
UH, AND THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UM, UH, SORRY OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, I JUST WANNA ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID IT.
WELL, THERE'S STILL, IT'S BEEN 36 YEARS SINCE THE, UH, A DA BECAME LAW.
UH, BUT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.
I WILL SAY THAT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, A CITY THAT REPRESENTS OVER, UH, 300,000 HOUSTONIANS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, WE ARE DOING JUST THAT.
UM, AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IS THROUGH OUR EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT OUR, NOT JUST OUR FACILITIES, BUT THAT OUR PROGRAM SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES ARE UP TO NOT JUST A DA
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STANDARDS.UH, BUT BEYOND THAT, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP THAT OUR, OUR MAYOR HAS, UM, HAS DONE THROUGH OUR CITY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, AND, UM, I THINK THIS IS YOUR FIRST TWO PROCLAMATIONS, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT, THAT THE A DA WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST PROCLAMATIONS.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, BECAUSE THIS, THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT JUST FOR THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IT REALLY IS FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR CITY TO VISIT AND, UH, HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF ACCE, OF ACCESSING A CITY THAT IS TRULY EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO NOT JUST OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT TO EVERYONE.
AND THAT WOULD NOT ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO, I'M GONNA ASK THE FOLKS TO PLEASE STAND AS I, AS I CALL YOU OUR DIRECTOR, UM, UH, SIMS, AS WELL AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARK CUEVA.
WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON COMMISSION ON THIS DISABILITIES HERE.
THESE ARE COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY OUR MAYOR TO REPRESENT THE NEEDS RIGHTS OF HOUSTONIANS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, AND, UM, WE HAVE OUR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SIDEWALK TEAM THAT IS HERE TODAY THAT ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT A REALISTICALLY OF AS TO WHAT WE CAN BE DOING TO ENSURE THAT OUR, THAT WE'RE NOT JUST BUILDING SIDEWALKS, UH, BUT WE'RE BUILDING ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS BY LAW AND THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, I CAN'T, UM, DO THE WORK THAT I DO AT THE, AT THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITHOUT MY INCREDIBLE TEAM, UM, THAT ARE HERE ALSO.
SO I'LL ASK THEM TO ALSO STAND UP.
UH, WE HAVE ALSO MEMBERS, A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT IS LEADING OUR EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT ALL VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, UH, HAVE ALL THEY NEED THROUGH, UH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS.
AND SO, UM, LOOKING AHEAD, UH, AS WE PROUDLY CELEBRATE HOW FAR WE'VE COME TODAY, WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE SIMPLE TRUTH, AND THAT OUR WORK IS FAR FROM OVER.
UH, TRUE EQUITY IS AN ONGOING COMMITMENT FROM ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC TRANSIT TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT, TO DIGITAL ACCESS.
THERE ARE STILL BARRIERS TO TEAR DOWN AND VICTORIES, VICTORIES TO WIN.
UM, AND SO I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I'LL SAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THAT, UH, AN EFFORT NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE TODAY, BUT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING, I WANT TO INVITE ALL OF YOU AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING ONLINE, TO COME AND VISIT US AT THE WEST GRACE CENTER ON THIS SATURDAY, JULY THE 25TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM TO, UH, TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLA, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, AND ALL OF OUR CITY PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, UH, UH, FOR BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE ACCESSIBLE CITY OF HOUSTON, DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR PONTE, LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UM, YOU HAVE BEEN SO STEADFAST IN THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, UM, IN THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO THAT SIDEWALK TEAM.
WE KNOW HOW HARD Y'ALL WORK TO GET THOSE SIDEWALKS DONE.
UM, AND THE MIRACLES THAT YOU WORK, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT IN A, IN A TIMELY MANNER, UM, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, TO THE HFD, AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS ALONGSIDE DIRECT UPON SAY THANK YOU, WE COULD NOT HAVE, UM, CHOSEN A BETTER PERSON TO HELP US, UM, TO DO BETTER AS A CITY WITH YOU AT THE HELM OF THAT DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE 36TH YEAR OF THE A DA ACT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN HELPING TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER CITY FOR US ALL.
VICE MAYOR PRO TEPEC, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO.
TIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM, DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU HAVE SUCH A TOUGH JOB AND YOU ALWAYS HANDLE IT WITH SUCH CARE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
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RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING KIDS MEALS IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY.THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IS JOINING US FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AS WELL.
UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO KIDS MEALS.
UM, YESTERDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND I HOSTED, UM, A CITY COUNCIL VOLUNTEER DAY AT KIDS MEALS, AND WE WERE SO EXCITED TO BE THERE.
UM, KIDS MEALS MOVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS INTO DISTRICT DAY, AND WE ARE THRILLED THAT YOU ARE THERE AND THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHEREAS EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO THE HEALTHY FOOD THEY NEED TO GROW, LEARN, AND THRIVE.
AND MORE THAN 100,000 PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON FACE FOOD INSECURITY, LEAVING MANY WITHOUT RELIABLE MEALS EACH DAY.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 2006, KIDS MEALS HAS DELIVERED FREE HEALTHY MEALS DIRECTLY TO THE HOMES OF PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ACROSS 56 ZIP CODES IN GREATER HOUSTON, WHILE CONNECTING FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM BREAK THE CYCLE CYCLE OF POVERTY.
AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATION OF KIDS, MEALS, VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO DELIVER MORE THAN 20 MILLION MEALS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, BRINGING HOPE TO THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES.
AND WHEREAS ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER REQUIRES A UNITED COMMUNITY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KIDS MEALS AND HELP BUILD A HEALTHIER, STRONGER FUTURE FOR EVERY CHILD IN HOUSTON.
AND WHEREAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF KIDS MEALS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THANKS THE ORGANIZATION AND EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO ITS MISSION OF ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND RECOGNIZES THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND THRIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM PECK AND COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, AND GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK, UH, AND YOUR NEW FACILITY.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THERE IS, UH, SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE PHILANTHROPIC AND THE CORPORATIONS AND THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE IN YOUR MISSION.
AND IF NO, IF ANYONE HAS NOT GONE TO YOUR ANNUAL LUNCHEON, THEY NEED TO GO BECAUSE IT JUST, EVERYBODY LOOKS AROUND IN THE ROOM AND WE REALIZE WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE CHILDREN.
AND YOU DOCUMENT SO WELL THE AMOUNT OF HUNGARY, HUNGARY IN OUR CITY.
SO YOU'RE DOING YOUR ROLE, AND, UH, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 21ST, 2026 IS KIDS MEALS DAY IN CITY OF HOUSTON.
I FIRST JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK VICE MAYOR PROTON PECK, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR HOSTING THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR TWO COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER FOR ATTENDING, AND ALL OF THE, UH, DISTRICTS THAT WERE ALSO REPRESENTED THERE.
IT WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU CELEBRATING WITH US.
YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SITTING IN HIGH CHAIRS, THEY'RE LEARNING TO WALK, AND THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.
AND WHEN THE LITTLEST CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO EAT, OUR ENTIRE CITY CAN THRIVE AND IS STRONGER, AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY.
AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO HELP IN CHILDHOOD HUNGER IN HOUSTON.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE TO SUPPORT KIDS' MEALS.
IT'S JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL TO WATCH YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER.
AND KIDS' MEALS IS A NATION'S ONLY HOME DELIVERY SERVICE FOR PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN THAT ARE LIVING IN SEVERE POVERTY AND
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FOOD INSECURE IN OUR CITY.AND WE'RE DELIVERING A HEALTHY MEAL DIRECTLY TO THE DOORS OF CHILDREN IN NEED.
AND RIGHT NOW, THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM AND THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE ABLE TO FEED MORE THAN 13,000 PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN A DAY.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT NUMBER, WE THINK OF THE NUMBERS ARE SO BIG, BUT EACH ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS IS A PRECIOUS LITTLE CHILD THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.
AND THE NEED IS SO GREAT DURING THE SUMMER, WE FEED ALL THE SIBLINGS.
SO YOU GUYS THAT WERE THERE YESTERDAY LEARNED THAT WE'RE UP TO 22,000 CHILDREN A DAY, AND WE'RE MAKING A HUGE MARK IN 56 ZIPPA CODES RIGHT NOW BETWEEN HARRISON MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.
THERE'S MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND CHILDREN IN GREATER HOUSTON THAT NEED OUR HELP, AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONGSIDE US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY.
VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MARTINEZ, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD.
WE SAW THE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT ON YESTERDAY.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY HONORED TO PARTNER ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN OUR CITY IS WELL FED.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T WASTE A MOMENT TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT, UH, KIDS MEALS, MY FAVORITE CHARITY IN THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, I, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, IF YOU, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED UNTIL YOU'VE DONE A RIDE ALONG WITH THE DRIVERS, AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE MISSION FIRSTHAND.
AND I JUST, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU ALL AND THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
AND TO SEE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE OF THAT NEW BUILDING JUST DOES MY HEART GOOD.
AND I JUST, I, EVERY DAY I SING YOUR PRAISES TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN AND YOU KNOW THAT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO, AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND CONTINUE TO GROW.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THESE LITTLE CHILDREN COMING OUT TO GET THEIR LUNCH, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE THREE AND FOUR YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW, DRAGGING THEIR LITTLE TOY OR GETTING THEIR LITTLE SACK LUNCH, AND THERE'S NOT AN ADULT IN SIGHT, BY THE WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEED IS GREAT.
AND SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU.
[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR THE INVOCATION.UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OUR COMMUNITY HAS CARRIED OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC DEATH OF LORENZO SALGADO ARJO, OUR HEART REMAINED WITH HIS FAMILY AS THEY CONTINUE TO GRIEVE AN UNIMAGINABLE LAW, AN UNIMAGINABLE LOSS.
IN THE MIDST OF SORROW, OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY IN PRAYER AND COMPASSION, BUT ALSO IN A SHARED COMMITMENT TO SEEK TRUTH, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND JUSTICE.
MAY THE SAME SPIRIT OF UNITY CONTINUE TO GUIDE US AS WE WORK TO HEAL OUR CITY AND STRENGTHEN THE TRUST THAT BINDS OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
IF YOU CAN BOW YOUR HEAD, PLEASE.
WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY SEEKING YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, AND PEACE AS WE BRING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
LORD, AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO NAVIGATE HARDSHIP AND UNCERTAINTY, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER EVERY RESIDENT.
WE KNOW THAT THESE CHALLENGES HAVE WEIGHED HEAVILY ON OUR NEIGHBORS.
IN THIS SEASON OF GRIEF AND UNCERTAINTY, WE ASK THAT YOU COMFORT THOSE WHO MOURN, STRENGTHEN THOSE WHO ARE WEARY, AND REMIND US THAT HEALING BEGINS WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER WITH COMPASSION, HUMILITY, AND LOVE.
BRING PEACE TO EVERY FAMILY SEARCHING FOR HOPE.
LORD, FILL US WITH YOUR GRACE AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE.
GIVE US THE COURAGE TO PURSUE TRU TRUTH, THE INTEGRITY TO SEEK JUSTICE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR, AND THE WISDOM TO LEAD WITH FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION.
HELP US BE INSTRUMENTS OF HEALING IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS HURTING.
AND LET OUR ACTIONS RESTORE CONFIDENCE, HOPE, AND UNITY.
GUIDE US WHEN WE ARE UNCERTAIN.
RENEW US WHEN WE ARE EXHAUSTED, AND FILL US WITH THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
[00:30:01]
SO THAT EVERY, EVERYTHING SPOKEN, CONSIDERED AND DECIDED WITHIN THESE WALLS REFLECTS YOUR LOVE AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE OVER THIS GATHERING AND OVER OUR CITY.
MAY THE WORK WE DO TODAY HONOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON, STRAIGHTENING OUR COMMUNITY, AND MOVE HOUSTON CLOSER TO HEALING, RECONCILIATION, AND JUSTICE.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED TO US.
MAY WE USE THEM FAITHFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY IN SERVICE TO OTHERS, AND FOR YOUR GLORY.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
MR. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE.
HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCON WILL BE ABSENT.
NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF JULY 14TH AND 15TH? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE MEDI RICE TO FOLLOW LUCIA MORENO UNDER THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JOHN BRANCH TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST.
THOSE OPPOSED ANY MOTION PASSES.
[PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF NOT, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER, COURTNEY SALES AUDREY NTH TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESSE BOWMAN.HELLO, MY NAME IS AUDREY NTH AND I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE NORTH MONTROSE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT WHARTON DUAL LANGUAGE.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR INVESTING IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WEST ALABAMA.
I'M A PARENT OF LITTLE KIDS ON THEIR BIKES IN MONTROSE, AND I'M ALSO A PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGIST WHO HAS TAKEN CARE OF MANY CHILDREN WHO HAVE HAD BRAIN INJURIES FROM GETTING HIT BY A CAR WHILE A PEDESTRIAN.
SO I AM ADVOCATING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF SAFER CROSSINGS INTO THE WEST ALABAMA IMPROVEMENTS.
THESE INCLUDE PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLANDS AT INTERSECTIONS, RAISED CROSSWALKS AT DUN LAVY IN WEST ALABAMA, AND EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALKS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SPACE SO THAT TWO WHEELCHAIRS CAN ACTUALLY PASS EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTING IN WEST ALABAMA AND KEEPING OUR HOUSTONIANS SAFE.
NEXT JESSE BOWMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY L LEE.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF FLATS AND ARTISTS RUN SPACE IN MONTROSE.
EVERY WEEK WE WELCOME STUDENTS, ARTISTS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS FROM ACROSS THE HOUSTON, ACROSS HOUSTON TO OUR SPACE.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS SIMPLY GETTING PEOPLE TO OUR DOOR SAFELY.
WE REGULARLY SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO CROSS WEST ALABAMA AND MONTROSE ON FOOT, AND IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.
MANY OF OUR VISITORS AND EVEN MYSELF WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WALK, BIKE, OR TAKE TRANSIT.
BUT THE CURRENT STREET DESIGN AND LACK OF CITY INVESTMENT AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION DOESN'T MAKE THAT FEEL LIKE A SAFE OPTION.
AS THE COST OF LIVING AND GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO DRIVING ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MYSELF.
I HOPE OUR CITY OFFICIALS WILL DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY BY MAKING THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION INVESTMENT AS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN WELL-RESEARCHED AND PROVEN IMPOR IMPROVEMENTS.
TIME HAS HELP HELP A CITY FUNCTION LIKE WIDER SIDEWALKS, SAFER CROSSWALKS AND TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR CITY INVEST IN THOSE, UM, MEASUREMENTS.
NEXT LONG LEE TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOMORROW.
[00:35:03]
HELLO? HI, I AM, UH, MY NAME'S L LEE.I'M THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF 93 TILL.
I'M MONTROSE AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, WIDER OR SHORTER CENTER LANES AND WIDER SEAT, UH, SIDEWALKS.
JUST SO, UH, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I'VE SEEN OR ACCIDENTS I'VE SEEN DUE TO PEOPLE DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE OR THE TURN LANE.
UH, I THINK IT'S, UH, VERY BENEFICIAL IF WE SHORTENED THE CENTER LANES AND MADE THE SIDEWALKS A LITTLE WIDER FOR PEDESTRIANS.
AND, UH, HERE FOR PARALLEL BIKE LANES ALSO.
SIR? SIR, SIR, SIR PENZA, THANK YOU MAYOR LONG, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NINE THREE TILL IS A FANTASTIC ESTABLISHMENT.
I, I REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO IN, IN THE DISTRICT.
UM, BASED OFF YOUR EXPERIENCES, HOW ARE FOLKS GENERALLY GETTING TO YOUR SPACE? ARE THEY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY DRIVING IS A BIG PORTION OF IT, BUT DO YOU SEE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS? A LOT OF BIKERS, I SEE A LOT OF BIKERS AND A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ON THE WAY TO THE MENIL, SO I ALWAYS SEE PEDESTRIANS ON THE WAY THERE.
UM, JUST WALKING, BIKING WITH FAMILIES AND STUDENTS.
SO WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO, UH, ST.
SO I THINK ALL THESE CHANGES ARE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE GREATLY ADVOCATED.
NEXT TAMARA PAGE, HANNAH PERCEVAL, SARAH HARTZEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER RO.
UH, I KNOW THAT LEADERS HERE HAVE EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AND CALLS FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE MURDER OF LORENZO SALGADO RAJO BY ICE.
NOW THAT THAT'S NO LONGER THIS WEEK'S TOP HEADLINE, WHAT IS THE STATUS FOR THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE ON THIS CASE? UM, THE CHRONICLE IN HOUSTON PUB HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA REPORTED THAT HPD HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH ICE ALL YEAR.
THEY CALLED ICE AT LEAST A HUNDRED TIMES BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE, INCLUDING ON PEOPLE REPORTING CRIMES.
DO WE HAVE A FULL MORATORIUM ON THAT COLLABORATION NOW? UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA REPORTS THAT HPD DOES HAVE JURISDICTION TO INVESTIGATE THIS MURDER.
HOW CAN WE ASSURE HOUSTONIANS THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A FULLY INVESTIGATE, A FULLY INDEPENDENT AND TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION? PEOPLE ARE HIGHLY SKEPTICAL THAT AN ABBOTT ORDERED INVESTIGATION WILL BE EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HOSTILE AND UNTRUSTWORTHY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO WILL TRY TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE HERE.
JUST LIKE IN MINNESOTA, I KNOW OUR STATE GOVERNMENT HOLDS FUNDS, FOR EXAMPLE, HOSTAGE TO BULLY HOUSTON AND INTO ABBOTT'S AGENDA.
IF THERE'S EVER A TIME TO STAND UP TO THEM, IT'S NOW WHILE THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY BEHIND US ARE CRYING OUT FOR JUSTICE.
THOSE ARE QUESTIONS BY THE WAY.
EMILY WIS WIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SAMIA RIZVI.
IS THAT GOOD? UH, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING TO CITY COUNCIL.
I'M IN DISTRICT CI ACTUALLY LIVE IN YOUR GRANDSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD, MAYOR.
UM, AND I LIVE IN GARDEN OAKS.
I REALLY ECHO, I CAME HERE BASICALLY TO SAY WHAT SARAH SAID.
I HAD THOSE SAME QUESTIONS, UH, ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, UM, WITH THE MURDER THAT ALL OF US SAW AND ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
UM, AS A MOM OF TWO SCHOOL-AGED BOYS, WHEN I, YOU KNOW, AM GOING INTO HEB I'M FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WONDERING, AM I ABOUT TO SEE SOME ACT OF VIOLENCE? ARE MY CHILDREN ABOUT TO WITNESS SOME ACT OF VIOLENCE AND SEEING WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. SALGADO ARAJO? UM, YOU KNOW, I SAW MY GRANDFATHER IN HIM WHO WAS ALSO AN IMMIGRANT, AND I AM GOING, I WANT ALL PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO USE ALL OF THEIR POWER, THEIR INGENUITY, LOOPHOLES, THE COURT SYSTEM, THE PRESSURE TO BE RELENTLESS, TO MAKE SURE TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PEOPLE FILLED IN THIS ROOM FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
UM, SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER COME DOWN HERE IN CITY COUNCIL, UH, THAT WE ARE ALL WATCHING AND WE ALL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS CITY.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COLLABORATION OF HPD WITH ICE.
AND IT'S NOT SATISFACTORY OR ACCEPTABLE
[00:40:01]
FOR ELECTED LEADERS TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO BE DONE.PLEASE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE AND PLEASE USE YOUR POWER ACCORDINGLY.
SAMIA RIZVI, ALEXANDRIA O'NEILL TO BE FOLLOWED BY DIEGO MANNY, KARATE MAYOR WHITMEYER.
YOU SAY THAT YOU WANNA PAUSE ON ICE IN THE CITY, BUT THE P THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON NEVER AGREED TO ALLOW THESE LICENSED THUGS TO BE ON OUR STREET IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU ALLOWED ICE AND HBD TO WORK IN COLLABORATION TOGETHER TO TRACK, DETAIN AND CAUSE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE THE CITY RUN.
IT WAS YOUR CALL THAT ALLOWED FOR THE DEATH OF LORENZO ALGO ARJO AND THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY IS WHAT MAKES THE CITY RUN.
HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT HAS A POPULATION OF 25% IMMIGRANTS, THAT IS ONE FOURTH OF THE CITY WHO LIVE HERE, WHO HAVE LIVES HERE, WHO WORK HERE JUST LIKE LORENZO GURA.
THE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY, THE PEOPLE ARE P****D, THE PEOPLE ARE RISING UP.
THE PEOPLE ARE CALLING TO SHUT THE CITY DOWN BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND AND EMPLOY THESE SANCTIONED MURDERERS ON OUR STREETS.
WE ARE CALLING FOR THE PEOPLE TO SHUT IT DOWN.
FOR LORENZO AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IN ICE DETENTION THIS FRIDAY.
THERE CAN BE NO BUSINESS AS USUAL WHEN ICE MURDERS ONE OF OUR OWN.
DIEGO MONTE KARATE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ROBERTO CUO.
WHY IS IT THAT UNKNOWN MASKED AGENTS IN UNMARKED VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED TO EXECUTE PEOPLE WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES? LORENZO SALGADO ARRA WAS NOT THE TARGET OF ICE, YET HE WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.
HOW CAN PEOPLE LIVE SAFELY IN A CITY THAT AIDS IN THIS VIOLENCE? HOW CAN THE CITY TRUST A GROUP OF PEOPLE SPEEDING AROUND THROUGH OUR STREETS, CHASING DOWN PEOPLE AND MURDERING THEM WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS? WHEN YOU RUN FROM AN UNMARKED VEHICLE CHASING YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO KILLED THIS INNOCENT MAN ARE STILL OUT THERE.
WE STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW THEIR NAMES.
ON TOP OF THIS ICE, IMMEDIATELY DETAINED LORENZO'S PASSENGERS AND PRESSURED THEM TO SELF DEPORT.
ICE IS CLEARLY ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP WHAT HAPPENED? THEY LIED FROM THE JUMP.
SO WE CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
HOW LONG ARE OUR CITY LEADERS GOING TO DANCE AROUND THE CLEAR PROBLEM AND ACTUALLY DO WHAT'S NEEDED? YOU LIE LIKE ICE AND SAY THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE.
BUT YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE YOU POSSESS THE ABILITIES TO DELIVER JUSTICE FOR LORENZO.
THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAVE MADE THEIR DEMANDS CLEAR ICE OUT OF HOUSTON.
NOW WE DO NOT WANT RACIST AGENTS TERRORIZING AND KILLING OUR PEOPLE.
WE REFUSE TO ALLOW ANY ICE AGENTS TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER.
WE WANT LORENZO'S MURDERERS, NAMES AND FACES.
WE WANT JUSTICE FOR LORENZO JUSTICE WILL ONLY TRULY COME WHEN ICE IS OUT OF HOUSTON AND WE WANT THEM GONE NOW.
NEXT ROBERTO QUAIL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN GEIS.
UM, THAT'S MY TIME START 'CAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE THE FOLDERS YET.
YOU GUYS LISTENED TO ME AND I APPRECIATE IT.
DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT D, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS THE PROJECT THAT I PRESENTED.
IT'S PART OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'M PASSING ALONG.
THIS IS INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
A NUMBER THAT HELPS CLEARLY VISUALIZE, UNDERSTAND AND SIMPLIFY THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NUMBERS, GEOGRAPHIC FIGURES, AND OTHER MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.
TRADEMARKED COMING UP, ASSIGNED TO PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS FOR HUMANITY.
AS WORLD PEACE SITUATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS.
SO THAT IS NOT TAX MONEY, BUT ALSO FROM US.
OKAY, SO WE HEAR TWO SUPPORT Y'ALL BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE SUPPORTING US IN MY PERCEPTION.
HOCH STREET ORIGINATION PROJECT MOVING ALONG.
SUPER NICE EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN HOT, SMILING, POLITE THE ENTIRE TIME FROM BEGINNING TO END TO FROM FIRST GAME TO LAST GAME.
UM, INCIDENT IN OUR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER 10 MINUTES.
THE POLICE, I'M SORRY, THE AMBULANCE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS KEPT THEM SAFE.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO INTRICATE CONUNDRUMS. CONUNDRUMS IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROBLEM.
THERE ARE AMPLE SOLUTIONS AND BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO COMMUNICATE
[00:45:01]
MORE FREQUENTLY, PRIVATELY, AND PUBLICLY IN THIS INTRICATE TIMES.OKAY, WE'RE HERE TO HELP Y'ALL.
BEAR IN MIND WE'RE HERE TO HELP Y'ALL AT THE ION.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ADVANCES WITHOUT PROPER CHECKS AND BALANCES.
SYSTEMS COULD BE COMPOUNDING AND FURTHER AGGREGATING CONUNDRUMS DUE TO INFINITELY UNKNOWN INCONSISTENCIES IN THE INFORMATION ACROSS EVERYWHERE.
PUT IN MIND I PUT THE DEFINITION OF GOOGLE AI THAT WAS KIND OF EERIE.
TOOK ME 12 TO ACTUALLY FIND THE RIGHT DEFINITION.
AND I KNEW THE DEFINITION AND IT GAVE ME THE WRONG DEFINITION AFTER I ASKED FOR IT PROPERLY, I THOUGHT, BUT I GUESS NOT.
SO THERE'S NO INSTRUCTION MINUS TO ANY OF THIS STUFF.
UNHINDERED, WHATSAPP, SLACK, FACEBOOK FROM FACEBOOK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
UH, ANOTHER PHONE AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS ARE RELATIVELY NEW.
ANY QUESTIONS? INFORMATION THERE TO NO INFORMATION THERE TO REACH OUT.
NEXT JOHN GEIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN SCHNEIDER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE RICHMOND PLACE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND SECRETARY OF THE NEAR TOWN MONTROSE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY ELEMENTS OF THE WEST ALABAMA RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
BUT FIRST, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WELCOME OUR NEW DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER, JOE PANZELLA.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
AS MANY OF YOU MUST KNOW, THE MONTROSE CHURCH IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR REBUILD OF WEST ALABAMA.
FROM SPUR 5 27 TO SOUTH SHEPHERD, OUR ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE SAFETY DESIGN REQUESTS SUBMITTED BY FRIENDS OF THE BOULEVARD.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO WEST ALABAMA, BUT IS ONLY THREE BLOCKS AWAY.
WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO WALK ON WOODHEAD TO GET TO LUMIERE MIDDLE SCHOOL, A PEDESTRIAN ISLAND WHEN THEY CROSS WEST ALABAMA WOULD GREATLY CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFE CROSSING FOR THEM AT THAT INTERSECTION.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE CENTER TURN LANE REDUCED TO 10 FEET AT AS CON AS IT IS CONFIGURED.
NOW, SOME CARS USE IT AS A THROUGH LANE AND OTHERS TREATED IT AS A PASSING LANE.
I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISIONS WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A, AT A NONS SIGNALED INTERSECTION.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SIGNAGE ALONG THE WAY TO REMIND DRIVERS THAT IT IS A TURN LANE ONLY.
AND LASTLY, DUNLEVY AND WEST ALABAMA INTERSECTION IS HOME TO A VERY BUSY H-E-G-H-U-B STORE.
MANY PEOPLE GET THERE ABOUT FOOT AND BY CROSSING WEST ALABAMA CARS GO THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.
A RACE CROSS HOG WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE INTERSECTION.
NEXT, SUSAN SCHNEIDER TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE TIANI.
HI, I'M PASTOR SUE SCHNEIDER, UH, PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN THE MONTROSE.
AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY RIGHT ON WEST ALABAMA, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
AND A THANKS FOR DOING SOME DEVELOPMENT WORK THERE.
IT'S VITAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT I, I WALKED UP HERE TODAY WITH A CANE.
UM, IT MEANS I DON'T CROSS STREETS VERY QUICKLY, AND THAT CAN BE QUITE SCARY SOMETIMES.
UM, I'M VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT WEST ALABAMA IS PART OF THE HOUSTON HIGH INJURY NETWORK OF ROADS, WHICH MEANS IT'S ONE OF THE TOP 6% OF STREETS THAT ACCOUNT FOR 60% OF THE ACCIDENTS IN OUR, UH, AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BETWEEN 2018 AND 2024, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 500 REPORTED CRASHES IN THIS CO CORRIDOR.
SO I'M HERE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT ADDING SOME PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, UM, REFUGES.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF A, OF A RAISED PASS, UH, PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR OVER THE STREET.
I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS IN THE MIDDLE.
SO THERE'S A PLACE TO PAUSE AND BREATHE BEFORE YOU CONTINUE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT, WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MAY MAYBE MOST VULNERABLE AT THIS TIME.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT ON WEST ALABAMA.
I JUST HAD A, A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, WHEN IT, YOU KNOW, AS IT PERTAINS TO YOUR CHURCH, DO A LOT OF YOUR MEMBERS LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? DO AND YOU KNOW, COULD YOU MAYBE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YES.
SOME OF THE FOLKS AND HOW THEY GET TO YOUR CHURCH? YES.
UM, OUR CHURCH IS ON THE CORNER OF WA AND MISSOURI AND IT IS VERY MUCH, UH, FOR MANY PEOPLE A WALKING DESTINATION.
AND THOSE WHO AREN'T ALWAYS ON THE WALKING DESTINATION OFTEN TAKE THE BUS.
SO WE ARE VERY, UM, NOT A CAR HEAVY KIND OF COMMUNITY.
UH, AND, AND MANY OF OUR FOLKS ARE ELDERLY OR AT OTHER, IN OTHER WAYS AT
[00:50:01]
RISK.WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED.
SO WE ARE ALWAYS MINDFUL OF, OF THE RISKS THEY FACE JUST BEING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR EVERYBODY THE BETTER.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, GEORGE ANI TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN BRANCH.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN WINLOW PLACE.
UH, THE MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH, NORTH OF WEST ALABAMA.
DISTRICT CI HAVE TWO REQUESTS, UM, REGARDING WEST, THE WEST ALABAMA RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
UM, FIRST SIDEWALKS, I'M ASKING FOR THE PROJECT TO INCORPORATE EIGHT FOOD WHITE SIDEWALKS INSTEAD OF CURRENTLY.
UH, WEST ALABAMA IS BEING REBUILT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS AT LEAST.
RIGHT? UM, EVERYTHING IN THE DESIGN IS GETTING AN UPGRADE.
THE PAVEMENT, THE DRAINAGE, THE SIGNALS, THE TREES IN THE CURRENT DESIGN, THE SIDEWALKS ARE BEING REBUILT AT SIX FEET, THE BARE MINIMUM OF THE CURRENT STANDARDS.
UM, THIS IS A STREET WITH A LOT OF POINTS OF INTEREST.
HEB, THE MANIL UNIVERSITY OF ST.
UH, KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL ALONG IT, THERE'S A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC AND SIX FEET DOESN'T STAY.
SIX, SIX FEET SUBTRACT THE SIGNAL POLES, HYDRANTS, SIGNPOSTS, MITRAL.
UM, SECOND CROSSINGS BETWEEN MANDEL AND YOAKUM.
THERE ARE THREE LONG BLOCKS WITH NO PROTECTED PLACE TO CROSS.
UH, THE CURRENT DESIGN PROPOSES A SINGLE RAPID FLASHING BEACON IN THAT ENTIRE STRETCH.
A FLASHING BEACON IS A WARNING TO DRIVERS.
WE KNOW THAT FROM THE CAT CROSSING, UH, ON THE STREET WHERE TRAFFIC MOVES THE WAY IT DOES IN ALABAMA, ASKING IS NOT ENOUGH.
WHAT'S THE STRETCH? NEEDS IS A SIGNAL WITH A RED LIGHT AND MORE THAN ONE PLACE TO CROSS AGAIN.
UM, THIS SECTION SERVES THE MANIL, THE BUSINESSES, AND THE NORTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE BOTH SIDES OF THE STREETS.
THEY CROSS WHEREVER THEY CAN BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE, UM, DESIGNED FOR IT.
SO EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALKS, REAL CROSSINGS BETWEEN MENDEL AND YOKO.
UH, WE'RE NOT ASKING TO REMOVE ANY TREES.
WE'RE NOT ASKING TO REMOVE A LANE.
WE'RE ASKING THAT PEOPLE ON FOOD GET THE SAME CONSIDERATION AS EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE PROJECT.
NEXT JOHN BRANCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN ROYAL.
I FEEL LIKE I CAME THE RIGHT DAY.
I'M DISABLED AND ALSO HAVE STAGE FOUR CANCER.
I KIND OF STAY AWAY FROM COUNCIL BECAUSE I LOVE THE WORK THAT THE MAYORS ARE DOING.
BUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS RAN OVER ME WITH A GOLF CART.
YOU MAY HAVE SAW IT ON THE NEWS.
AND I HAD TO HAVE MY PROSTHETIC REDONE.
I ASKED FOR $200,000, THE JURY AWARD.
LAST WEEK I WAS GIVEN A LAWSUIT BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I THINK IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET THIS TO COURT BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING FOR ME TO DIE.
BUT THE GOOD LORD HAS KEPT ME HERE.
I AM GLAD TO HEAR THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT A DA AND WE HAVEN'T DONE AS MUCH.
I TRIED TO GET IN HERE TODAY, THE BUTTON DIDN'T WORK DOWNSTAIRS.
GOOD THING I HAVE MY NIECE WITH ME.
IF YOU GO TO THE CITY HALL ANNEX, FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES THAT YOU SET FORTH FOR A DA AND HANDICAP COMPLIANCE AND CITY HALL ANNEX, THERE'S A BUTTON THAT SITS ALMOST 10 TO 12 FOOT AWAY FROM THE DOOR.
YOUR ORDINANCE SAYS IT'S SUPPOSED TO SIT ONE TO FIVE FOOT FROM THE DOOR.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 34 TO 48 INCHES HIGH WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT.
YOURS IS BELOW GRADE, ALMOST 30 INCHES.
YOU GOTTA FOLLOW THE RULES AT HOME FIRST FOR A DA, WHY WOULD YOU HAVE A BUTTON 10 TO 12 FOOT AWAY FROM THE DOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVEWAY WHERE PEOPLE CAN RUN OVER IT? I'VE TAKEN PICTURES AND THAT'S WHAT I'M CHARGED WITH KNOCKING IT OVER, BUT I SEE IT'S BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THEN.
SO APPARENTLY IT'S IN THE WRONG PLACE AND YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING YOUR RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THE CITY OF PLACEMENT FOR THAT DEVICE.
AND WHEN IT WAS KNOCKED OVER, IT WAS TESTED.
IT STILL WORKED THE DOORS, BUT YET STILL A BRAND NEW ONE WAS BOUGHT.
IF I DENT YOUR DOOR ON YOUR CAR, YOU DON'T BUY A NEW CAR, YOU FIX THE DOOR.
HE SUED US, SO WE'RE GONNA SUE HIM.
WELL, GIMME MY MONEY AND I'LL GIVE YOU YOURS.
BUT FIRST, TAKE CARE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE Y'ALL CAUSE A DISABILITY THAT
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NOBODY CAN FIX.THANK GOD I GOT THE VA AND I'M SO GLAD THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY STANDING UP FOR A DA AND HANDICAPPED.
WE NEED A COMMISSION JUST TO GO AROUND BECAUSE ON MY SCOOTER GOING TO THE VA AND TO THE HOSPITALS, THESE SIDEWALKS ARE DEPLORABLE.
WE NEED A LINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST REPORT THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS EASILY.
IT'S FINE IF YOU WALKING, BUT IF YOU WALKING WITH A CAN ON A SCOOTER AND YOU GOTTA DRIVE IN THE STREET TO GET THERE.
I TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
LET MS. WILSON GET A COPY OF YOUR LAWSUIT.
I, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE CALLED ME.
UH, FACT, I THINK I SAW YOU WHEN A MONTH AGO.
UH, LIKE I SAID, MAYOR, I I, I DIDN'T PLAN ON COMING HERE, BUT THIS KINDA SHOCKED ME.
'CAUSE I LOVE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND I'M GLAD YOU STOOD UP HERE AND DEFENDED.
YOU SAID THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO FOR AADA A YEAH, THERE'S, AND THERE IS, THERE'S, THERE'S YEARS TO NEGLECT IN THE CITY, BUT WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IF YOU'LL TALK TO MS. WILSON, UH, LET HER GET A COPY OF THAT LAWSUIT AND WE'LL GET THE CITY ATTORNEY INVOLVED.
NEXT JOHN ROYAL TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUCIA MORENO.
I'M A LIFELONG HOUSTONIAN AN ATTORNEY, AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING BEFORE COUNSEL.
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, A LONG TIME HOUSTON RESIDENT WAS MURDERED BY MASS THUGS DRIVING UNMARKED VEHICLES CLAIMING TO BE GOVERNMENT AGENTS.
AND JUST SINCE SATURDAY, A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WAS KIDNAPPED BY MORE OF THESE THUGS AT HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND YET THE RESPONSE OF THIS COUNCIL TO THE UPSET AND TERRIFIED CITIZENS OF THIS CITY LAST WEEK WAS TO A BOX SPEAKERS DEMANDING THE COUNCIL DO SOMETHING.
C LECTURE SP SPEAKERS ABOUT THE VER PERILS OF NOT VOTING D EMPTY PLATITUDES E ACCUSE THEM OF POLITICIZING THE ISSUE, AND F MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHINE ABOUT A LACK OF DECORUM TO WHICH I AND NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, WHO HAS LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF BAD MAYORS AND AWFUL COUNCIL MEMBERS MUST ASK, WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? IF THAT'S YOUR IDEA OF ACTING, THEN GO AHEAD AND RESIGN BECAUSE YOU'RE CURRENTLY NOT UP TO THIS JOB.
UH, I'M WEARING MY, I VOTED SPEAKER, MY I VOTED STICKER, ONE OF MANY I HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER MY EAR.
SO HOPEFULLY MS. EVANS BI WHO'S NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT, WHAT MIND MY SPEAKING, YOU WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND LECTURE TO BE LIKE SHE DID TO OTHER PEOPLE LAST WEEK.
AND NOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA START ENFORCING SOME KIND OF RULES TO ENSURE THE QUORUM, THEN THE REQUEST MUST BE THAT YOU ENFORCE THESE RULES FAIRLY.
THUS, YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE SPEAKERS UP HERE AT THE PODIUM FOR 10 MINUTES JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE 'EM TO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON AN ISSUE LIKE SAY, DESPISING BICYCLE LANES AND HITTING GOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLANNING.
YOU ALSO DON'T GET, GET THE KEY PEOPLE UP HERE WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS FROM THE MONTROSE AND LET THEM GO DRONE ON AND ON ABOUT THE BE ABOUT, ABOUT THEIR POWERS WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN THE MONTROSE AND TRY AND GET THEM TO, TO RUIN THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEBATED AND AGREED UPON BY THE MEMBERS OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND MR. MAYOR, YOU SAID LAST WEEK THAT YOU REFUSE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE HERE IN COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.
BUT YOU ALSO REFUSE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE AND FROM HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA.
YET THE ONLY PLACE YOU EVER ANSWER QUESTIONS IS ON YOUR TAXPAYER FUNDED PODCAST AND ON TONY BUSBY'S RIGHT WING NUT JOB PODCAST.
THEN I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT YOU ARE A COWARD WHO ARE, WHO IS AFRAID TO FACE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SINCE I HAPPEN TO BE AN ATTORNEY, I THOUGHT I WOULD'VE REMIND YOU OF THE HOLDING OF THE US SUPREME COURT IN COHEN VERSUS CALIFORNIA FOR BACK IN 1971.
THAT IS, IF YOU REALLY, IF YOU REALLY THINK THIS WHOLE, THE QUORUM THING IS SERIOUS, LIKE YOU WANTED TO, WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE USE OF THE WORD F**K, THE COURT RULED IS PROTECTED POLITICAL SPEECH, A GOVERNMENTAL BODY ENFORCING SOME RULE FOR FORBIDDING THE USE OF A SO-CALLED OBSCENE WORD WHEN USED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT IS JUST NOT ALLOWED AS IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
I KNOW THAT WORD OFFENSE DELICATE SENSIBILITIES TO SOME OF YOU, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE US CONSTITUTION, YOUR DELICATE SENSIBILITIES ARE MEANINGLESS.
AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF MORE TRAUMATIZED BY LACK OF DECOR COUNCIL MEMBERS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS THAN YOU DO BY MASS AGENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE MURDER, THAT PERHAPS YOU SHOULD RESIGN IN FAVOR OF SOMEONE WHO WILL ACTUALLY DO YOUR JOB AND TAKE REAL ACTION.
LUCILLE MORENO, MEDI REYES TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARGOT FRICK.
I'M THE ACTING, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE NEWTOWN MONTROSE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR
[01:00:01]
C'S HURTING.I'VE HEARD WHAT MY NEIGHBORS ARE SAYING ABOUT LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO AND STREET DESIGN IS SECONDARY TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS HUMAN BEING, HIS FAMILY AND HIS COMMUNITY.
RE'S WEST ALABAMA STREET IS 1.6 MILES FROM SHEPHERD DRIVE TO SPUR 5 27 BY CAR.
IT'S ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE TO 10 MINUTE DRIVE ON FOOT.
IT'S ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND IT'S USUALLY UNLIKE ANY OTHER 30 MINUTE WALK IN THIS CITY PAST THE MANIL COLLECTION.
STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS, AND MORE RESTAURANTS AND BARS THAT I CAN LIST.
IT CONNECTS UPPER KIRBY TO MONTROSE AND MIDTOWN.
RIGHT NOW, ALMOST NOBODY CAN WALK OR DRIVE IT SAFELY.
LEMME PUT IT TO YOU IN NUMBERS.
MAYOR, SINCE YOUR TERM BEGAN, THIS CORRIDOR HAS SEEN 203 CRASHES THAT'S UNDER TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURIES.
THAT'S A STREET, THAT'S A STREET FAILING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK ON IT EVERY DAY.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
WHEN YOU CONVERTED THE PREVIOUSLY PRO PROVO PROPOSED BIKE LANE ON
THE PATH IS SEPARATED FROM TRAFFIC BY ROVE TREES AND IT'S PACKED WITH WALKERS, MOMS WITH STROLLERS, PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, KIDS ON BIKES, ALL SHARING THE SPACE SAFELY, FURTHER FROM MOVING CARS AND BETTER SEEN AT INTERSECTIONS CRASHES ON THAT, ON THAT STRETCHER DOWN, MR. MAYOR, THAT WAS A WIN.
I'M HERE TO TIP MY, MY CAP TO IT.
THE WEST ALABAMA CORRIDOR SAFETY DESIGN WAS CENTRAL TO A SUCCESSFUL CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION THAT WON THIS PROJECT.
A MILLION DOLLARS TODAY, I'M HERE TO SAY WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS IS A SAFE CORRIDOR.
I'M ECHOING WHAT NEIGHBORS ACROSS MAN MONTROSE ARE ASKING FOR AN EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALK.
REFUGE ISLANDS FOR SAFE CROSSINGS.
THERE'S NO EAST WEST CORRIDOR ACROSS MONTROSE THAT CONNECTS UPPER CORBY TO MIDTOWN.
THIS IS, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE NEXT, THE NEXT CENTURY WEST ALABAMA CAN BE THE CONNECTOR FOR PEOPLE, NOT JUST CARS.
YESTERDAY WE LEARNED FROM THE MONTROSE TIERS THAT THE CURRENT PLAN DOESN'T INCLUDE SAFE CROSSINGS OR PATH SEPARATED FROM TRAFFIC FOR WALKERS, STROLLERS, AND WHEELCHAIRS TOGETHER.
THIS ISN'T ONE CIVIC ASSOCIATION ASKING SEVEN OF OUR NINE ACTIVE MONTROSE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.
THREE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOZENS OF BUSINESSES AND CULTURAL DESTINATIONS HAVE SIGNED ON.
WE DEMAND AN EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALK.
WE DEMAND REFUGE ISLANDS AT THE INTERSECTIONS WHERE THE CRASHES ARE THE WORST.
YOU HAVE THAT DATA WITH YOU NOW THAT'S BEEN SHARED WITH YOU.
YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORY SINCE YOU TOOK OFFICE MAYOR.
YOU HAVE THAT MAP OF CRASHES, THE LIVES IMPACTED AND THE COST.
SINCE YOU TOOK OFFICE, YOU NOW CARRY THIS WEIGHT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS.
THE COMMUNITY HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN LEFT OUT OF DESIGN SO FAR.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PANZELLA, YOU HAVE CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY WITH THE EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALK AND REFUGE ISLANDS.
YOUR TIME HAS, I'M ASKING, ASKING FOR ONE THING I UNDERSTAND AND MEETING WITH YOUR ENGINEERS BEFORE YOUR THIS OPEN HOUSE ON AUGUST 3RD, SO THE DESIGN REFLECTS WHAT THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY WANTS.
CAN YOU HELP ME FACILITATE THIS COUNCIL PEN? THANK YOU, MAYOR MEDI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING, THANKS FOR, FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION.
UM, I KNOW YOU WERE FORMERLY ON THE FOURTH WARD TOURS.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE THERE.
UM, AND I WANNA SAY I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT THAT, UM, YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD WITH THE FOURTH WARD TOURS, ALONG WITH THE MONTROSE TOURS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY AWESOME PROJECT THAT IS GONNA BRING A LOT OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO SIDEWALKS ALL THROUGHOUT MONTROSE AND FREEMANS TOWN.
UM, I UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY ARE YOU THE PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, MONTROSE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT YOU'RE ALSO THE FATHER OF TWO.
UM, CAN YOU JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT, WHAT FEEDBACK HAVE YOU HEARD FROM FELLOW PARENTS, MAYBE YOUR PTO, UH, I KNOW YOUR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MONTROSE.
UM, WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU HEARD FROM, FROM PARENTS ON THIS? YEAH, SO I, I'VE MOVED RIGHT BY WEST ALABAMA, TWO BLOCKS AWAY.
UM, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE PEDESTRIAN, UH, FLOOD OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY AROUND WEST ALABAMA.
THERE ARE CHURCHES, THERE'S A MAJOR SUPERMARKET, HEB IS THERE, THERE'S A LINEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH HAS UP TO 2000 KIDS THERE A YEAR.
SO THAT CORRIDOR, PEOPLE ARE GOING ACROSS IT BACK AND FORTH, AND MANY ARE WALKING YOUR COMMUNITIES IN YOUR DISTRICTS.
THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE IDENTITY OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO LIKE, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO PRESERVE THAT.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO WALK INDEPENDENT UPON THE DESIGN.
IT'S OUR CHOICE WHETHER WE WANT THEM TO WALK AND CROSS SAFELY.
SO I, I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.
LIKE, I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.
AND ON AUGUST 3RD, THERE'S A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE WITH THIS TIER.
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THIS IS THE FIRST ONE OF ITS KIND WHERE IT'S A UNIT DIRECTIONAL CONVERSATION THAT THE COMMUNITY'S BEING TOLD WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM.I WOULD LIKE A BI-DIRECTIONAL CONVERSATION.
I WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EN ENGAGE THE ENGINEERS, AND THIS IS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
CAN I, CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION POTENTIALLY? SURE.
JUST, JUST REAL QUICK AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE TALKED ABOUT YOU BEING A PARENT HERE.
UM, YOU'RE ALSO THE PARENT OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
CAN I JUST ASK A LITTLE BIT, UM, REPRESENTING LOTS OF DIFFERENT CIVIC CLUBS IN MONTROSE.
UM, WHAT KIND OF GENERAL CONCERNS ARE YOU HEARING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT KIND OF THIS NEW REDESIGN? YEAH, SO THE, THE ORIGINAL DESIGN INCLUDED A LOT OF SAFETY FEATURES AROUND IT.
AND MANY, IF NOT, MOST OF THOSE HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT.
SO, UM, THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN RE-IMPLEMENT THOSE.
UH, MAYOR, I, I DO HOPE YOU AND MARLENE GAFFER CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION IN.
I I, MY SCHEDULE'S OPEN TO YOU.
I, I'M A PARENT OF A 9-YEAR-OLD AND 11-YEAR-OLD.
I WILL DROP EVERYTHING FOR YOU FOR JUST ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH THE COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE THESE SAFETY CONCERNS.
SO WE SIGNED ON THE, UH, OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
WE SIGNED ON TO FRIENDS OF THE BOULEVARD, THE LETTER THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.
WE SEE THE SAFE SAFETY TRACK RECORD OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IT'S NOT GETTING BETTER, IT'S GETTING WORSE, AND WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO I NEED YOUR HELP, MAYOR, YOU, YOU'RE A LOGICAL GUY.
LET'S FIGURE THIS ONE OUT AND GET THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.
NEXT MARGOT FDR TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHARON HAYNES.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF THE BOULEVARD AND A COALITION OF 64 ORGANIZATIONS CALLING FOR A SAFER WEST ALABAMA STREET.
AS IT HEADS INTO RECONSTRUCTION, INSTITUTIONS ALONG THE CORRIDOR HAVE SIGNED ON, INCLUDING THE MANIL COLLECTION, ST.
STEPHENS CHURCH, ALONGSIDE DOZENS OF SMALL BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 52,000 RESIDENTS.
I WANNA START WITH APPRECIATION.
WEST ALABAMA HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR DECADES WITH BROKEN SIDEWALKS.
POOR DRAINAGE IS JUST A ROADWAY IN DISREPAIR.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THE CITY IS FINALLY INVESTING TO, IN A REBUILD OF THIS CORRIDOR THAT BADLY NEEDS THE INVESTMENT MATTERS, AND WE WANT TO SEE IT SUCCEED.
WEST ALABAMA CONNECTS HOMES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, THE MANIL, HEB, AND DOZENS OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
IT'S PART OF HOUSTON'S HIGH INJURY NETWORK.
NEARLY 500 CRASHES IN SIX YEARS, ROUGHLY ONE IN EVERY FOUR AND A HALF DAYS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $57 MILLION.
A REBUILD IS EXACTLY THE MOMENT TO BRING THESE NUMBERS DOWN.
USE THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION RECONSTRUCTION TO BUILD IN THE SAFETY FEATURES THIS CORRIDOR NEEDS.
SPECIFICALLY WE'RE ASKING FOR SAFE, UH, SAFE, UH, PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLANDS.
SO PEOPLE CROSSING HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO STAND SAFE CROSSINGS EVERY FIVE TO 600 FEET SO PEOPLE AREN'T FORCED BETWEEN A LONG DETOUR AND A DANGEROUS DASH.
A RAISED CROSSWALK AT DUNLEY V BY HEV, WHERE FAMILIES CROSS CONSTANTLY LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS AND NO RIGHT ON RED, WHICH COSTS ALMOST NOTHING.
AND THE EXTRA FOOT GOES BACK TO SIDEWALKS AND TREES AND SIDEWALKS BUILT TO THE CITY'S FULL SIX FOOT STANDARD, WHICH IS NOT IN THE CURRENT PLAN.
AND WIDENED WHEREVER TREES ALLOW EVERY ONE OF THESE FITS WITHIN THE CITY'S CURRENT DESIGN DIRECTION OF THREE CAR LANES, CITY STANDARD WIDTHS AND MATURE TREES PRESERVED.
THEY'RE RECOGNIZED SAFETY COUNTERMEASURES, AND THEY SIMPLY MAKE THE WHOLE INVESTMENT SAFER.
WE'VE BROUGHT THESE REQUESTS TO THE TURS AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THE DESIGN IS CONSTRAINED BY CITY GUIDELINES.
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
YOU CAN ASK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FLEXIBILITY ON THIS CORRIDOR.
YOU CAN ASK FOR A BRIEFING BEFORE THE DESIGN IS FINALIZED THIS SEPTEMBER.
IF THERE'S ANYWHERE THE CITY SHOULD APPLY ITS OWN SAFETY COUNTERMEASURES, IT'S A STREET ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK THAT THIS IS WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ASKED FOR CONSISTENTLY FOR YEARS AT THE TOUR'S OWN OPEN HOUSE IN THE TOUR'S OWN PUBLIC COMMENT RECORD.
AND NOW FROM 64 ORGANIZATIONS STANDING TOGETHER.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THIS PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO MAKE IT AS SAFE AS IT CAN BE.
UM, MARGO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, YOU MENTIONED A LETTER THAT Y'ALL BROUGHT, UM, YES.
OVER STACY ORGANIZATIONS SIGNED ON.
I GUESS THIS IS KINDA A TWO PART QUESTION.
ONE, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THOSE OVER 60 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND KIND OF WHAT MAYBE PROMPTED THEM TO SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER? AND THEN TWO, UM, HOW HAS IT BEEN Y'ALL'S INTERACTION WITH THE TOURS IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? HAVE Y'ALL, DO YOU FEEL LIKE
[01:10:01]
Y'ALL ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION AND THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, BEING BROUGHT UP TO SPEED IN REASONABLE TIME? YES.SO THE, THE COALITION LAYER THAT WE HAVE, IT STARTED OUT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, INPUT.
SO WE FIRST WENT TO NINE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE SIGNED ON AND THREE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND FROM THERE WE GOT A BUNCH OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE MANIL AND ST.
STEPHENS AND OTHER CHURCHES THAT YOU HEARD SPEAK TODAY.
UM, UM, SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT STARTED IS FROM COMMUNITY INPUT AND HEARING FROM OTHER BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT THE TOURISM ISN'T BEING AS OPEN AS THEY HOPED, THAT THEY FELT BLINDSIDED, THAT, UM, THE PLAN HAD CHANGED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
UM, AND REALLY JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
'CAUSE EVERYONE WANTS THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS AND, YOU KNOW, CHURCHGOERS TO GET, TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO SAFELY.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE WITH COMMUNICATION WITH THE TURS.
UM, UM, WE HAVEN'T, WE'VE PRESENTED THIS LETTER, BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD A MEETING AND WE'RE REPRESENTING 64 ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH THEM AND, UM, AND HEAR WHATEVER CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THE PROJECT SAFER FOR ALL.
AND THEN JUST LAST QUESTION AS WELL, UH, IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF MEETING SCHEDULE, AND, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT EIGHT THREE IS, IS A VIRTUAL MEETING, IS THAT THE NORM FOR Y'ALL OR IS IT GENERALLY IN PERSON OR? WE'VE NEVER SEEN A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE BEFORE FOR, UH, FOR THE TOURS.
UM, THEY NORMALLY DO THESE IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSES LIKE THEY DID LAST YEAR.
WE'RE A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED, UM, BUT WE'LL OF COURSE BE IN ATTENDANCE.
NEXT, SHARON HAYNES TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS WHITAKER.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT AN EVENT LIKE THIS.
UM, I AM ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES.
I OWN TACOS, A GOGO, UM, ON MAIN STREET, BASICALLY AT ALABAMA.
AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT IN NEAR TOWN, UM, JUST OFF OF AUDUBON.
AND, UM, I CROSS, UM, ALABAMA ALMOST DAILY TO GO TO MY GYM ON FOOT.
AND, UM, MY HUSBAND AND I LITERALLY GRAB ONTO EACH OTHER AS WE ARE TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 30 YEARS AND I WAS DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT THERE WAS A PLAN TO REDO ALABAMA.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT WHAT HELPS THE ROAD RIGHT NOW IS THE TERRIBLE CONDITION THAT IT'S IN.
AND SO IT REQUIRES PEOPLE TO TRAVEL VERY SLOWLY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE BUILT IN SPEED BUMPS AND, UM, BUT IT'S A TRUTH.
AND SO WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE RECONSTRUCTION AND THE IDEA THAT IT WOULD BE A SMOOTH, QUICK ROAD FOR PEOPLE TO SAIL DOWN, UM, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT PEOPLE, IT, WHICH IS TRUE.
PEOPLE USE THAT MIDDLE LANE TO PASS PEOPLE THAT ARE SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF ALL THE BUMPS AND THEY DON'T WANNA HURT THEIR CARS.
AND, UM, IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, JUST REALLY BETWEEN THE SPUR AND MONTROSE, THERE'S VERY FEW.
YOU HAVE TO WALK QUITE A DISTANCE TO GET TO A LIGHT TO CROSS THE STREET.
WHERE I AM AT AUDUBON, WE, WE, WE JUST LITERALLY RUN ACROSS THE STREET.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MAKING THESE CHANGES.
APPRECIATE IT YOU NEXT NICHOLAS WHITAKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN WILSON.
AND FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHATEVER NELSON HAS SAID ABOUT THE DEPLORABLE MURDER OF MR. SALGADO ARAJO.
THE CITY DOES NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO INVESTIGATE THE MURDER AND MAKE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
UH, HOWEVER, I DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WEST ALABAMA STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
I LIVE IN MONTROSE, JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET SOUTH OF WEST ALABAMA.
AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST MONTROSE COMMON CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
I DRIVE ON WEST ALABAMA NEARLY EVERY DAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THE DIRE NEED FOR RECONSTRUCTION.
I ALSO WALK ALONG IT EVERY DAY AND CROSS IT EVERY DAY, BUT I RARELY FA FEEL SAFE DOING SO.
THE NEAR TOWN MONTROSE COMMUNITY HAS CLEARLY AND CONSISTENTLY ASKED FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND COMFORT FEATURES TO BE INCLUDED WITH STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
BUT THE CITY HAS PUSHED FORWARD PLANS THAT INCLUDE ONLY THE BARE MINIMUM FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
INSTEAD, THE DESIGNS PROMOTE SPEEDING WHILE DOING LITTLE TO ALLEVIATE ACTUAL CONGESTION.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MOST RECENT WEST ALABAMA PLANS HAVE SOME GOOD FEATURES, LIKE 11 FOOT LANES INSTEAD OF 12 FOOT LANES LEADING TIME FOR PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS AND MORE CROSSWALKS.
AND THE ACCELERATED SCHEDULE FOR THE 100% DESIGNED BY NOVEMBER LEAVES NO TIME TO INCORPORATE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK NEARBY.
RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS FOR GENUINE CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY AND TOURS ADDITIONAL CHANGES I'M REQUESTING THAT WOULD HAVE A MINIMAL EFFECT ON TRAFFIC WHILE PROMOTING SAFETY ARE A 10 FOOT CENTER LANE RAISED CROSSWALKS
[01:15:01]
AT THE BUSIEST PEDESTRIAN INTERSECTIONS LIKE DUN LAVY AND GROUSE STARK AND NO LEFT TURNS FROM STOP SIGNS DURING RUSH HOUR.THAT ACTUALLY ALREADY EXISTED AT GRO STAR.
AND I PERSONALLY WITNESSED AN ACCIDENT HAPPENING IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE SOMEONE IGNORED THAT RULE.
WITH REGARDS TO THE REMOVED BIKE LANES, I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN'T GO ON WEST ALABAMA.
BUT AN EASTWEST BIKE LANE COLLECTION, UH, CONNECTION FROM MIDTOWN TO THE BIKE LANES ON WALL AND COMMONWEALTH IS SORELY NEEDED.
THE CITY AND TOUR SHOULD COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO CONNECT THOSE ROUTES.
I DRIVE TO MOST OF MY DESTINATIONS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DRIVE, FEEL OBLIGATED TO DRIVE FROM MY SAFETY TO THE PARKS, BUSINESSES, AND MUSEUMS THAT WERE LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOME.
YOU NEXT JOHN WILSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSH NELSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT C.
THANK YOU MR. PANOLA, FOR YOUR UNDYING SERVICE WITH US.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I ALSO CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WEST ALABAMA AND MONTROSE ITSELF.
WEST ALABAMA IS A PART OF OUR DAILY LIFE AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY SONS HAVE WALKED ACROSS IT ON THEIR WAY TO LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL CONSTANTLY DURING THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS.
THEY HAD A NICKNAME FOR WEST ALABAMA, AND THEY CALLED IT JAWS.
WELL, THAT WAS THEIR FAVORITE MOVIE, SO MAYBE WE CAN JUST DISCREDIT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
ST STEPHENS CHURCH SITS ON WEST ALABAMA, WHICH SERVE A CHURCH COMMUNITY, A SCHOOL, AND MANY OTHER NEARBY NEIGHBORS.
UH, IN 2010, OUR SEXTON BY THE NAME OF ANDREW TOLBERT GOT OFF OF WORK ONE SUNDAY AND, UH, WAS STANDING ON WEST ALABAMA TO CATCH A BUS TO GO HOME.
AND HE WAS STRUCK BY A SPEEDING CAR AND IS A QUADRIPLEGIC, AND NOW COMES TO CHURCH REGULARLY GIVING HIS THANKS FOR HIS LIFE, UH, THANKS TO METRO LIFT, WHICH HAS JUST DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR HIM ANYWAYS.
EVERY DAY PEOPLE, UH, USE THE STREET TO WALK TO CHURCH, TO SCHOOLS, TO HEB.
WE HEAR ABOUT TO STORES, PARKS AND FRIENDS' HOMES.
AND WEST ALABAMA CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A ROAD THAT MOVES CARS.
IT CAN BE A SAFE, FRIENDLY PLACE THAT BRINGS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER.
SO I, FOR ONE, WOULD LIKE TO ASK OF TWO SPECIAL THINGS, UH, SIMPLY FIRST, PLEASE ADD PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLANDS.
THESE ARE SMALL, SAFE PLACES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
A PERSON CAN CROSS ONE HALF OF THE ROAD, STOP SAFELY, AND THEN CROSS THE OTHER HALF.
THIS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN LIKE MINE, GOING TO THE NEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL, OLDER ADULTS, PARENTS WITH STROLLERS COMING TO CHURCH, AND ANYONE WHO NEEDS MORE TIME JUST TO CROSS THE STREET.
SECOND, PLEASE ADD SAFE CROSSWALKS ALONG WEST ALABAMA.
CROSSWALKS SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND AND PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ALREADY NEED TO CROSS.
SAFE CROSSINGS WILL HELP PEOPLE GET TO HEB, THE SCHOOL, THE CHURCH HOMES, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES WITHOUT FEELING AFRAID.
THESE CHANGES CAN HELP US BUILD THE MONTROSE WE WANT FOR THE FUTURE.
IMAGINE WEST ALABAMA IS A STREET WHERE FAMILIES CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT WALKING.
IMAGINE CHILDREN GETTING TO SCHOOL MORE SAFELY.
IMAGINE OLDER NEIGHBORS BEING ABLE TO CROSS WITH CONFIDENCE.
IMAGINE MORE PEOPLE VISITING LOCAL SHOPS AND BUSINESSES BECAUSE THE STREET FEELS WELCOMING AND EASY TO USE.
A SAFER MONTROSE CAN HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE MONTROSE AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
SIR, PASTOR COUNCILMAN PENDRA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND AND THANK YOU FOR THAT REALLY POWERFUL ANECDOTE.
UM, I THINK WHEN WE DISCUSS STREETS ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK, THE STORY YOU TOLD DOES NOT SEEM OUT OF PLACE AND, AND, AND IT'S TRAGIC.
THAT BEING SAID, I'D LOVE TO ASK A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, AND SIMILAR TO WHAT I ASKED SUSAN.
UM, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE, UH, CONSTITUENTS YOU HAVE AND HOW DO THEY GENERALLY GET TO THE CHURCH, WALKING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
AND THEN, UM, ALSO THE, THE TWO DIFFERENT REQUESTS YOU MADE.
UH, IF THOSE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHAT WOULD THOSE CHANGES, UM, BRING OR HOW WOULD THEY IMPROVE YOUR CONGREGANTS EXPERIENCE WHEN VISITING THE CHURCH? THANK YOU.
UM, WELL, WE ARE A CITYWIDE CHURCH.
WE HAVE A, UH, A CERTAIN, UH, CULTURE AND CHARACTERISTIC TO IT.
UH, BUT MANY OF THE PEOPLE, MOST OF OUR, UH, RESIDENTS LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CHURCH.
I KNOW THAT I SELECTED THAT CHURCH 'CAUSE I WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK TO IT JUST LIKE MY KIDS WALK TO LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[01:20:01]
SO WE HAVE ON AN AVERAGE SUNDAY, UH, 225 PEOPLE ATTEND CHURCH AND ABOUT 40 OF THEM WALKED.SO IT'S A PRETTY GOOD PERCENTAGE OF OUR GROUP.
UH, THAT'S GOOD WEATHER, OF COURSE.
UM, YEAH, THE TWO THINGS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE, UM, PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLANDS GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE NOT TO HAVE, TO FEAR WALKING ACROSS JAWS JUST BY, UH, FROM START TO FINISH, LOOKING AT THE, THE METER, GOING ON THE, UH, PEDESTRIAN LIGHT AND, UH, UH, GIVES PEOPLE A CHANCE TO FEEL SAFE AND WANT TO BE OUT IN, IN ABOUT, IN OUR GREAT CITY.
UM, SECONDLY, CROSS SAFE CROSSWALKS.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT, UH, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND, AND, AND NOT IN ABUNDANCE.
UH, THEY'RE JUST NOT THERE RIGHT NOW FOR THE PEDESTRIANS TO, UH, BENEFIT FROM.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
JOSH NELSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY SELLERS.
I'M THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF, UH, SOUTHERN YANKEE CRAFT HOUSE, WHICH IS ON WEST ALABAMA.
UH, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME PROJECT THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN KIND OF MENTIONING.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WORK ON THE ROAD ITSELF AND THE DRAINAGE ITSELF ARE, ARE BADLY NEEDED.
UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, SHARON WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID THAT THE LARGEST EXISTING SAFETY FEATURE ON WEST ALABAMA IS THE POOR CONDITION OF THE ROAD ITSELF, UM, WHICH KEEPS PEOPLE DRIVING A LITTLE SLOWER.
UM, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT CAN BE DONE AND THE METHOD IN WHICH, UH, THE ORIGINAL PLAN HAS BEEN SCRAPPED AND WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A NEW ONE.
AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION SINCE THEN, UH, IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING AS SOMEONE WHO OWNS A BUSINESS THERE THAT HAS MANY CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO WALK TO, UH, MY ESTABLISHMENT.
UM, I THINK OUR LITTLE POCKET OF MONTROSE IS IN, UH, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS WALKABLE AS I'VE SEEN, UH, IN HOUSTON.
UM, LIKE I SAID, MANY OF MY EMPLOYEES WALK TO WORK.
YOU KNOW, MY GUESTS WALK TO WORK, THEY BRING THEIR KIDS IN STROLLERS, UM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO DEAL WITH CROSSING A, UH, VERY BUSY AND, UH, VERY CONFUSING WEST ALABAMA.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK THE, THE PLAN RIGHT NOW, UH, TO, UH, FIX THE DRAINAGE IS EXCELLENT.
HAVING A SMOOTH ROADWAY THAT'S NOT DAMAGING CARS IS FANTASTIC, BUT IGNORING, UH, THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LACK OF STREET CROSSINGS AND APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON LARGE STRETCHES OF THIS PROJECT, UH, WILL END UP UNCOVERING AN EVEN MORE UNSAFE WEST ALABAMA, UH, THAN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT MY CORNER OF WEST ALABAMA IN GROUSE STARK, UH, WHICH IS JUST CADDY CORNER TO WHERE, UM, UH, UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS IS, UH, WE FREQUENTLY SEE ACCIDENTS FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR FRONT DECK, WHICH IS VERY VISIBLE.
UH, THE CORNER THERE IS SORT OF A BLIND CORNER ON BOTH WAYS BY BOTH BUILDINGS AND TREES.
UH, CARS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FIGURING OUT WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO TURN INTO THE ROADWAY, UM, AND AT INCREASED SPEEDS, THOSE, YOU KNOW, UH, ACCIDENTS WILL ONLY BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND I THINK MORE, UH, UN YOU KNOW, UH, HARMFUL.
UM, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THAT CORNER AS WELL, UH, UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROJECT OF BUILDING A 400 UNIT RESIDENCE HALL THAT WILL BE OPEN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO RIGHT NOW, I THINK IS THE TIME TO BE, UH, TAKING THE FULL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO ACCOUNT, UH, WHENEVER WE ARE AT SUCH A CRUCIAL PHASE IN DESIGN THAT CAN'T REALLY BE UNDONE LATER.
AND IF IT IS UNDONE LATER, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PATCH WORK TOGETHER, SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY WORK WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
UM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS SIMPLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING, UH, APPROPRIATE CROSSWALKS EVERY 500 TO 600 FEET AT, AT PLACES RAISED AT FREQUENT PLACES LIKE THE DUNLEAVY CROSSWALK WHERE PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING TO HEB, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CENTER LANE BEING, UH, REDUCED IN WIDTH TO ALLOW MORE ROOM FOR THE EXISTING TREES AND SIDEWALKS, UH, TO BE WIDENED.
UM, AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, IDEALLY HAVING, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WELL LIT CROSSWALKS, UH, STOPLIGHTS THAT ARE TIMED APPROPRIATELY TO ALLOW FOR THE PROPER FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
I MEAN, WE'RE JUST SOUTH OF WESTHEIMER THAT MOVES A TON OF CARS JUST NORTH OF RICHMOND.
IT'S MUCH MORE EQUIPPED TO MOVE A TON OF CARS THAN WE ARE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD CONSIDERATION AT THIS MOMENT.
NEXT COURTNEY SELLERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MONROE HAGGARD.
UH, MY NAME IS COURTNEY SELLERS.
I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, UH, MONTROSE GRACE PLACE IN, UM, ABOUT WEST ALABAMA.
BUT I ALSO JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE REGARDING THE MURDER OF LORENZO SALGADO ARAJO.
AND I HOPE THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL CAN DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO FIND JUSTICE FOR THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY.
UM, SO MONTROSE GRACE PLACE, WE SERVE HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS PRIMARILY IN THE MONTROSE NEIGHBORHOOD.
[01:25:01]
AND IN ADDITION TO SIMPLY LIKE JUST PROVIDING BASIC NEEDS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN OUR WORK IS CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY VALUE ABOUT DOING OUR WORK IN MONTROSE.
WE ARE RIGHT OFF OF WESTHEIMER.
I BELIEVE PASTOR SUE ALREADY SPOKE.
WE, WE LIVE INSIDE OF LIVING MOSAIC CHURCH, BUT OUR YOUTH, OUR STAFF AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER MONTROSE.
AND SO HAVING SAFE CROSSING AT WEST ALABAMA WOULD REALLY BENEFIT EVERYBODY THAT, UH, ENGAGES IN THE WORK THAT WE DO AT GRACE PLACE.
A LOT OF OUR YOUTH ARE JUST STARTING OUT IN THIS WORLD, RIGHT? THEY DON'T HAVE CARS.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT HOUSTON IS A CAR CITY, BUT A LOT OF THE YOUTH THAT WE WORK WITH, THEY DON'T HAVE CARS YET, AND WE STILL WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR IS SLOWING DOWN THE SPEED LIMIT A LITTLE BIT SO THEY CAN CROSS WEST ALABAMA SAFELY, UM, HAVE SAFE CROSSWALKS.
AND THEN AGAIN, THOSE PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS ARE REALLY CRITICAL.
UM, OUR YOUTH ARE COMING TO US WITH ALL DIFFERENT SORTS OF ABILITIES AND DISABILITIES, AND SO THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO MONTROSE GRACE'S PLACE FROM OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, JOBS THAT THEY MAY HAVE AT HEB AND OTHER, UM, UH, OR, UH, OTHER, UH, RESTAURANTS AND THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, I JUST THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU MAYOR COURTNEY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO WITH GRACE PLACE.
IT'S AN AMAZING INSTITUTION, RIGHT, IN MONTROSE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME OUT TODAY TO SPEAK ON WEST ALABAMA REDESIGN.
UM, WE'LL BE LOOKING INTO IT AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND, AND ENGAGEMENT THAT Y'ALL ARE PUTTING IN INTO YOUR COMMUNITIES 'CAUSE IT REALLY MATTERS.
SO THANK YOU COURTNEY, AND THANK CARE EVERYONE ELSE.
JUST BEFORE I LEAVE, I WANT THE YOUTH ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE ACCESSING SERVICES, BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, DOESN'T MAKE THEM LESS OF A MEMBER OF MONTROSE.
AND SO I REALLY VALUE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UM, ABOUT THIS PROJECT WITH Y'ALL.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS.
D MONROE HAGGARD, ERIC SANCHEZ, GEORGE LEBLANC TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN BALL.
GREETINGS MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROTECTS ITS EMPLOYEES FROM RETALIATION THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 1 39 AND THE BROADER TEXAS WHISTLEBLOWER ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 5, 5 4.
THESE FRAMEWORKS ENSURE THAT CITY EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT FRAUD, WASTE, ABUSE, OR LEGAL VIOLATIONS ARE PROTECTED FROM ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTIONS SUCH AS TERMINATION, DEMOTION, OR HARASSMENT.
EMPLOYEES ARE SHIELDED WHEN MAKING A GOOD FAITH REPORT OF A LEGAL VIOLATION, FRAUD, OR WASTE TO AN APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ACCEPTS COMPLAINTS FROM CITY WORKERS WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE SUFFERED AN ADVERSE ACTION AND RETALIATION FOR A PRIOR REPORT UNDER THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THE OIG IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION OF WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS WITHIN 45 DAYS.
WHISTLEBLOWERS ARE THE EYES AND THE EARS OF THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
WHISTLEBLOWERS ARE INDEED THE FRONT LINE OF THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S, ANTI WASTE, ANTI-FRAUD, ANTI-ABUSE, ANTI-CORRUPTION AND ANTI-THEFT INITIATIVE RESOLUTION.
MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL, I AM GEORGE LEBLANC.
THE OFFICE OF OIG WEBSITE STATES THAT INVESTIGATIONS NORMALLY CONCLUDE AT 45 DAYS.
MY WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATION COMPLAINT PENDING WITH OIG HAS NOW EXCEEDED 120 DAYS ON MY BEHALF.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, TO INQUIRE THE STATUS OF MY COMPLAINT.
SECONDLY, MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WAS LAST HERE ON BEHALF OF AQUATICS REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL FOR A BUDGET INCREASE TO ACCOMMODATE TWO ADDITIONAL LIFEGUARDS AT EACH POOL FACILITY TO, UH, TO, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, CRITICAL LIFEGUARD UNDER STAFFING.
[01:30:01]
WOULD YOU PLEASE UPDATE ME ON YOUR STATUS COMMUNICATION WITH PARK DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN, REGULAR CONTACT WITH HIM AND HE'S FAMILIAR WITH YOUR CONCERN AND, UH, DEPENDING ON WHICH POOL YOU'RE LOCATED, IT'S EITHER STAFFING OR SOMETIME PLASTER AND YEARS OF NEGLECT.BUT WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND HE HAS HEARD YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, ANY COMMENT ON THE, UH, REQUESTING, UH, TO LOOK INTO MY, UH, MY, UH, RETALIATION COMPLAINT HAS BEEN PENDING.
WHAT'S THE NATURE? HUNDRED 20 DAYS? WHAT'S THE NATURE OF YOUR WHISTLEBLOWER? UH, IT'S A RETALIATION, UH, EVENT OF ME NOT BEING REHIRED BY THAT DEPARTMENT AND, UH, FILING, UH, COMPLAINTS ABOUT UNDERSTAFFING AS ONE AND SOME OTHER ISSUES, VIOLATION, SAFETY VIOLATIONS THAT I FILED.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN A SERIES OF RETALIATIONS BY THAT DEPARTMENT FOR THREE YEARS.
SEVEN RETALIATION EVENTS OVER THREE YEAR PERIOD.
STARTED, STARTED BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND, UH, I PROMISE YOU IT'S BEING PROGRAMMED AND, UH, I CAN'T DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF IT.
UH, 'CAUSE IT COULD BE LITIGATION.
AGAIN, I'M, I DON'T WANT THE DETAILS.
I'M ASKING FOR A STATUS BASIS ON THE FACT THAT THE LAW SAYS, OR THE, THE, THE CITY CODE SAID 45 DAYS.
YEAH, I WILL CHECK ON IT FOR YOU, SIR.
HAVE, HAVE A GOOD, HAVE A GOOD DAY.
CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM, AMADA STEEL, GENEVA, COLBERT, I'M HERE.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD COLLINS.
AND, UH, LET ME JUST, UH, SAY I DON'T WANNA START CRYING.
I DO WANNA MENTION THIS, UH, THE WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBER DR. EVANS SHABAZZ OVER THE PAST AND HER STAFF PERSON, MS. INGRID MECHI.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DO, MAYOR, AND THEN YOU CAN DO THE, THE MAJOR ISSUES FOR THIS CITY.
WHEN YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS STUDY A PROBLEM, COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONSTITUENTS.
I LIKE MR. LEMON
MAYOR, I'M NOT A, A, UH, LEGAL.
I HELD THAT CASE BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT AN EVICTION ON MY RECORD.
THAT IS WHAT THE CITY'S SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON, REMOVING BARRIERS TO HOUSING.
IF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WON'T COMMUNICATE WITH ME, THEN I NEED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM.
FOR PAULA TO TAKE INFORMATION, TAKE IT TO THE AMOS LAW FIRM.
I HAD MY VOUCHER, AND I COULD MOVE ON TO WHERE I AM NOW, WHERE YOU DID THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THE POINT AT BEL AIR.
BUT THE ISSUE IS THE CASE WAS PUT BACK ON THE DOCKET.
I'M TRYING TO MOVE, I'M TRYING TO FIGHT IN COURT.
I'M ADDRESSED MY COMMENTS TOWARDS THE SEAT OF COUNCIL.
UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, WHO NOW IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
WHEN YOU HAVE PREDATORY PRACTICES IN HOUSING.
I ONLY HAD TO PAY $183 A MONTH.
THE APARTMENT WAS UNINHABITABLE.
I WAS SPENDING ALL MY MONEY IN AN EXTENDED STAY.
AND SO THEREFORE, ALL I NEEDED WAS TO GO TO SOCIAL SERVICES TO PAY THE RENT, THE THREATS TO LIFE IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
[01:35:01]
THESE SMOKING VAPING, CIGARS, ELDERS, AND DISABLED PEOPLE WITH A HEART CONDITION.WE'RE LITERALLY ON THE FLOOR BEFORE WE EVEN FIGURE OUT WHERE THE SMELL IS COMING FROM.
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE, THEY'RE SMOKING STUFF.
SO YES, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF AND YOUR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE IF THIS SO-AND-SO VIOLATED ETHICS, IF YOU SHOT MY CASE, HOW MANY OTHER CASES IS HE SHOPPING? I THINK IT WAS A PUNK MOVE.
I'M UPSET THAT THAT'S IT, MAYOR.
THIS IS JUST, THIS IS THE ULTIMATE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MA'AM, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHO YOU ARE, UM, OR WHAT CASE YOU'RE REFERENCING.
SO, UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT YOU CAN, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SITUATION IS.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE A DISTRICT J RESIDENT.
SO I, SORRY, WHATEV FOR WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, UM, IF SOMEONE REACHED OUT TO ME FOR A REFERRAL TO SOMEONE FOR LEGAL SERVICES, YES, I WILL GIVE THEM REFERRALS.
DO I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU SPECIFICALLY OR YOUR CASE? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
SO I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND, UM, HOPE YOU FIND A RESOLUTION TO YOUR MATTER.
WE CONTINUE TO GET THESE EMAILS REGARDING THIS CONSTITUENT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU NEED FROM US, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER THAT CAME FROM YOUR STAFF PERSON.
UH, AS I SAID, OTHER, UH, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TALK AND LISTEN FOR TY IN MY DISTRICT MARTINEZ, TO SWEEP OVER AND SAY, OKAY, WELL WE HERE, UH, I GOTTA, I GOT SOME MORE CASES.
I JUST CALLED TO SEE IF YOU'RE GONNA BE AT CITY COUNCIL.
NO, THAT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.
SO PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
YOUR STAFF PERSON PREVIOUSLY TOOK TIME AND LISTENED AND WE SORTED THROUGH THE ISSUES OF A PREVIOUS APARTMENT.
MAYOR, THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE MATTER WHEN YOU HAVE ELDERS AND DISABLED FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES TO STAY HOUSED AND BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THEY'RE ILL, BECAUSE THEY'RE SICK, BECAUSE OF ONE SLIP UP, THEY'RE OUT ON THE STREETS.
BUT I DO ASK FOR, UH, MY EFFORTS HAVE NOT BEEN FRUITFUL WITH HOUSING AUTHORITY TO STAY HOUSED.
I WANTED THAT EVICTION OFF MY RECORD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN POISONED, LOST MEMORY.
THE DOCTORS COULDN'T EVEN DETERMINE WHAT DRUGS I'VE BEEN GIVEN.
I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS SOCIETY TODAY AND WE NEED SOMETHING THROUGH THIS CITY COUNCIL FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, UH, WHERE THEY CAN CALL AND SOMEONE WILL LISTEN THAT WE'RE NOT CRAZY.
I SAID YOU DID THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE POINT AT BEL AIR BUILT ON THE PREVIOUS LANDFILL.
WHY WOULD I BE IN BEL AIR? I'M TRYING TO THINK THE POINT AT BAYOU BEN, I THE POINT AT BAYOU BEN.
SO I SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
I LITERALLY HAD TO GET OUT OF THE UNINHABITABLE APARTMENT COUNCIL MEMBER.
I TELL YOU WHAT, TALK TO MS. WILSON, MY CHIEF OF STAFF.
WE'LL HAVE THE HOUSING DIRECTOR PERSONALLY GET INVOLVED.
MR. BRYANT DID A VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH ME.
UH, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU GONNA TALK OVER ME BECAUSE I'LL BE GLAD TO LISTEN.
SO I HAVE A COGNITIVE DISABILITY.
YES, I'M A PERSON, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY, BUT I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M SILLY.
SEE NOW, STUPID OR ANYTHING THAT I MADE OUT TO BE, MR. BRYANT APPRECIATED IT AND HE HAS A ZOOM MEETING.
HE ASSIGNED IT TO A MS. LAURA ROUTE.
AND I'VE BEEN GOING ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND OUT ON THE BUS.
AND THESE, IT'S SO HARD NOT TO CURSE WHEN YOU UP HERE.
THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T PREACH, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE I CURSE.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S, LET'S GET YOU SOME HELP.
I NEED SOME HELP, RIGHT? MAYOR, NOT TO CUT YOU UP, BUT MY I DO HAVE A HEART PROBLEM.
AND I KNOW WHEN I HAVE TO STOP
COUNCIL MEMBER CA HAVE A GOOD DAY.
[01:40:01]
NEXT.UM, SAMIL RISBY TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARIEN MILLER.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SAMMI RIZVI AND I AM THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZER FOR THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS TEXAS.
EARLIER TODAY, I JOINED COMMUNITY LEADERS OUTSIDE CITY HALL TO CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR LORENZO SALGADO RAJO.
THIS AFTERNOON I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THE LOSS OF HIS LIFE MEANS FOR OUR CITY.
AT CARE TEXAS, OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS AND STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
WE ENCOURAGE TEXANS TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS LIKE THESE, TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND WORK WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON TRUST.
BUT TRUST CANNOT EXIST WHERE FEAR AND RESPONSE TO INJUSTICE TAKES ROOT.
AS ICE OPERATIONS CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN OUR CITY AND STATE, WE ARE HEARING FROM MORE FAMILIES WHO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT CRIMES, SEEK EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, SPEAK OUT, OR SIMPLY ENGAGE WITH PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS LIKE THESE.
WHEN FEAR PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC LIFE, IT WEAKENS NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT OUR DEMOCRACY ITSELF.
AND LORENZO'S DEATH HAS DEEPENED THAT FEAR.
PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS REQUIRES MORE THAN WORDS.
IT REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY PERSON'S LIFE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WERE BORN, THEIR RACE, WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN IS PROTECTED.
WE URGE THIS COUNCIL TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT STRENGTHENED THE TRUST BETWEEN HOUSTON RED RESIDENTS AND THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CALL FOR A FULL, INDEPENDENT AND TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION INTO LORENZO'S DEATH.
AND TO ENSURE THAT CITY RESOURCES ARE NOT USED TO FACILITATE OR SUPPORT UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
THE STRENGTH OF THE CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ITS PEOPLE.
LET US ENSURE IT IS ALSO REMEMBERED AS A CITY WHERE EVERY PERSON CAN LIVE SAFELY AND SEEK JUSTICE WITHOUT FEAR.
DARIA MILLER, TABITHA CLAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY NADINE HERNANDEZ.
UM, TODAY IS EXACTLY TWO MUCH PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT.
TODAY IS TWO WEEKS SINCE LORENZO SALGADO RU WAS KILLED TRAGICALLY IN OUR STREETS.
UM, AND YET THE IDENTITY OF THE THREE MEN WHO KILLED HIM ARE STILL UNKNOWN.
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THESE MEN ARE.
Y'ALL, YOU'VE CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE DONE BY THE CITY RIGHT AFTER, LIKE, NOT EVEN A DAY OR TWO AFTER YOU SAID THAT YOU WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT.
HOW CAN WE TRUST THAT YOU WON'T FLIP FLOP AGAIN ON MORE THINGS? HOW CAN WE TRUST YOU AS APOL? DON'T SIT THERE AND LAUGH.
HOW CAN WE SIT THERE AND TRUST YOU? YOU'RE OUR, YOU'RE OUR MAYOR.
LIKE YOU'RE, WE VOTED FOR YOU.
YOU ARE THE ONLY VOICE THAT WE HAVE.
AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE DOING NOTHING.
ACTING LIKE YOUR HANDS ARE TIED WHEN THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT.
LIKE NO, NO 6-YEAR-OLD, NO CHILD, NO, NO TEENAGER SHOULD BE SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOL.
TO BE SHOULD BE SCARED TO VISIT THE COUNTRY, TO GO TO COLLEGES JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED TO GET ARRESTED BY ICE.
THIS ISN'T HOUSTON, THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
PLEASE, PLEASE URGE FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND CREATE AN ORDINANCE THAT'LL UNMASK ALL OF THE ICE AGENTS IN HOUSTON SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FEAR OF, OF LIVING WITH THIS GESTAPO ANYMORE.
THIS IS WE THIS LIKE, WE'RE AT A TURNING POINT AND IT NEEDS TO END NOW.
NADINE HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY NORA PIERCE.
IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS, TWO WEEKS SINCE OUR BROTHER LORENZO WAS MURDERED BY ICE AGENTS ON OUR STREETS WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
AND TWO WEEKS LATER, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON ARE STILL ASKING THE
[01:45:01]
SAME QUESTION.WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY? WHEN ICE IS ALLOWED TO ACT WITH COMPLETE IMMUNITY, IT LEAVES A MORAL STAIN UPON OUR CITY AND UPON OUR COUNTRY.
WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT THAT A RESIDENT OF YOUR CITY CAN BE MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD AND NO ONE HERE HAS HAD THE MORAL COURAGE TO MEET THE COMMITMENT AND THE ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY DEMANDING JUSTICE.
IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AND WE STILL DUNNO THE NAMES OF THE ICE AGENTS WHO KILLED LORENZO SAL.
SO WHY IS THIS INFORMATION BEING WITHHELD FROM US, FROM HIS FAMILY? FROM ALL OF US HERE DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR LORENZO.
I AM AN EDUCATOR OF FIVE YEARS.
I STAND WITH EDUCATORS ACROSS HOUSTON, INCLUDING LORENZO'S SON.
I CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT AND FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MURDER.
I STAND WITH MY NEIGHBORS IN CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE THREE MEN WHO WITNESSED LORENZO'S DEATH AND WHO WERE UNLAWFULLY APPREHENDED AND THROWN INTO ICE CUSTODY WHERE THEY ARE STILL BEING HELD TO THIS DAY.
I AM THE DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS AND I STAND WITH MILLIONS ACROSS HOUSTON IN CALLING FOR THE END TO ALL COOPERATION BETWEEN HPD AND THE RACIST DEPORTATION MACHINE THAT IS ICE.
YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO CITY COUNCIL, YOU REPRESENT US AND THE PEOPLE HAVE MADE CLEAR DEMANDS ON YOU.
SO I STAND HERE AND ASK, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? DO YOU FEEL THE HEAT YET? MAYOR WHITMEYER IT WILL REACH A HUNDRED DEGREES OUTSIDE THIS WEEK, AND STILL WE WILL BE OUT IN THE STREETS UNTIL JUSTICE IS SERVED.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE SHOUTS OF THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO CHICAGO, FROM LOS ANGELES TO HOUSTON? OUR MESSAGE IS THE SAME.
DO YOU SEE THE PEOPLE BEHIND US? IF YOU DEMAND JUSTICE FOR LORENZO, PLEASE STAND NOW IN SOLIDARITY WITH LORENZO S JUAN JESUS.
MANUEL, YOUR TIME ALEX AND RENEE.
WE ARE NOT LEAVING, WE ARE NOT BACKING DOWN.
WE WILL KEEP ORGANIZING, KEEP MARCHING AND KEEP DEMANDING JUSTICE UNTIL OUR COMMUNITIES CAN LIVE FREE FROM FEAR.
SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
NO, YOU JUST LOOKED UP FROM YOUR PHONES FOR FIVE MINUTES.
[01:51:47]
COUNCIL, COME BACK.WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME.
I'M FROM THE YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA.
UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M FROM HOUSTON.
UH, I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE I WAS FOUR.
AND NO ONE'S REALLY EVER QUESTIONED MY HOUSTON NESS, UM, ESPECIALLY AT A UNIVERSITY SO DIVERSE.
UM, BUT SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN HOUSTON LONG BEFORE I WAS LORENZO, HE BUILT HIS LIFE HERE WITH THIS IN THIS CITY WITH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
THE SAME COLOR THAT HIS FAMILY REQUESTED HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS WEAR AT THEIR FATHER'S AND THEIR FATHER AND HUSBAND'S OPEN VISITATION WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE VISITED HIS BODY.
I GUIDED DOZENS AMONG DOZENS OF SOLEMN PEOPLE, MANY CRYING TOWARDS THE DOORS AT THE FUNERAL HOME.
LORENZO'S FAMILY LET HUNDREDS OF GRIEVING PEOPLE HAVE A MOMENT WITH HIS BODY, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE URGENCY AND IMPORTANCE OF YOUR ACTIONS.
THIS ISSUE IS SO CRITICAL THAT A FAMILY HAS FOREGONE THE PRIVACY OF THEIR GRIEF AND LET THEIR LOVED ONE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THEIR WORLD BECOME A SYMBOL IN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS AGAINST ICE.
WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR ICE TO DETERMINE WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES, NOT JUST FROM HOUSTON, BUT FROM THE REALM OF THE LIVING.
THE ONLY THING DIFFERENTIATING HIM AND I IS THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN IN OUR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
THE ONLY UNIFYING THING SEPARATING ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM FROM HIM IS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YOU HEARD THE MESSAGE, YOU'VE SEEN THE NEWS.
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF YOU FIND OUR COMMENTS HERE, CRUEL, OFFENSIVE, OR DISTRACTING, WE HAVE NO OTHER KNOWN AVAILABLE OUTLET.
IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN FIX, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND OUT WHO CAN AND LET US KNOW.
WHITMEYER, YOU'VE CLAIMED THAT THE ONLY REASON HOUSTON'S BEEN SAFE IS THAT WE FOLLOW THE LAW.
THIS IS AFTER RENEE GOODE'S MURDER.
NOW WHAT WILL YOU FOLLOW YOUR LEGAL AND ETHICAL DUTY AS A CITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH IN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION? WILL YOU BE CAUTIOUS OF ANY FINDINGS THE TEXAS RANGERS FIND KNOWING THEIR SENSIBLE HISTORY OF LYNCHINGS? WILL YOU SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE AND STAND UP FOR HOUSTON? OR WILL MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE TO BE KILLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? THIS IS NOT A HUMBLE PLEA NOR A BEG FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS IS A SPEAKING OF A THOUGHT YOU'VE ALL HAD IN THE BACK OF YOUR MINDS FOR THE LAST YEAR, ICE OUT OF HOUSTON.
WE WILL NOT LET UP UNTIL THEY ARE NEXT.
KENRIC JOHNSON, STEVE WILLIAMS, NOAH MELENDRES OF BEL AIR TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARRYL HARPER.
[01:55:02]
I DO NOT KNOW THAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THIS DISCUSSION.THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT DECORUM, UH, IN OUR YOUR CLOSED SESSION.
A BASIC RULE OF DECENCY I WAS TAUGHT IS WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE, YOU ADDRESS THEM TO THEIR FACE.
SO, UH, COMPLAINTS ON DEAF EARS, UH, EXCUSE ME, COMPLAINTS OF DECORUM FALL ON DEAF EARS WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WAIT UNTIL THE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER INSIDE THE ROOM TO ACCUSE US OF BEING OUTSIDE AGITATORS.
YOU LOOK UP ONE PERSON ON FACEBOOK.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US? DOES LIVING IN BEL AIR MAKE ME AN OUTSIDE AGITATOR? UM, I'M ALSO CONFUSED ABOUT THOSE OF YOU WHO CONGRATULATED MEIR WHITMEYER ON HIS PATIENTS.
HE SAID HE WAS NOT BEING PATIENT.
HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE CITIZENS ANYMORE ATTENTION BY REMOVING THEM.
APPARENTLY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR Y'ALL TO IMAGINE, UH, THAT PEOPLE COULD BE EMOTIONAL OVER FEDERAL THUGS MURDERING OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
AND YOUR ONLY EXPLANATION MUST BE THAT THEY WANNA BE THROWN OUT.
IF THAT'S YOUR FEELING, YOU SHOULD TALK TO MORE PEOPLE, UH, THAN YOUR BIG BUSINESS BUDDIES.
FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN ELLA FOR BEING THE SOLE VOICE ON THE COUNCIL WEDNESDAY.
GAVE ANY INDICATION HE WAS ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THE DAY BEFORE I SPOKE CL CLUNKY AT THE END OF, UH, MY SPEECH ON TUESDAY ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING UP HERE AND I WAS TRYING TO PACK TOO MUCH IN AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT IT UP WITHOUT ELABORATING.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE TO YOU DIRECTLY YOUR TIME AND TO THE REST OF YOUR, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THIS TOMORROW AND, UH, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
STEPHANIE PADILLA OF TOMBALL TO BE FOLLOWED BY AIF CHOW.
ALRIGHT, WHAT'S UP GUYS? UH, WHAT YOU GUYS JUST EXPERIENCED WAS THE PEOPLE POWER, WHICH WHAT I, I KEEP TELLING YOU OVER AND OVER IN TIME AGAIN, IT'S MUCH BETTER TO WORK TOGETHER THAN FOR US TO BE DIVIDED.
SO THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA SAY TO THAT NOTION IS WHEN YOU'RE READY TO BRIDGE THAT GAP, I'VE ALWAYS EXTENDED AN OFF BRANCH.
IYT IS HERE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
OVER THE PAST WEEK, HOUSTON PROOF SOMETHING POWERFUL.
COMMUNITY PRESSURE WORKS WHEN PEOPLE ORGANIZE, SHOW UP, MAKE CALLS AND REFUSE TO STAY SILENT.
WE GET PEOPLE LIKE A LIM HOME.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO A LIMU IS, HE WAS APPREHENDED AND RELEASED WITHIN THREE DAYS.
TODAY, DANIEL RO PANTOJA, JOSE ROJAS AND VICTOR SRO RAJO REMAIN AT THE MONTGOMERY PROCESSING CENTER.
THEY DESERVE THE SAME URGENCY THAT A LIE RECEIVED.
SO I'M ASKING COUNSEL AND EVERYONE LISTENING, DO NOT STOP.
NOW, WHAT WE SAW TODAY IS THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE AT MY PROTEST ON SUNDAY.
UHUH, EXCUSE ME, I'M SPEAKING SIR, YOUR YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WHEN YOU'RE BEING DISRESPECTFUL? WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE DISRESPECTED.
AND I'M SORRY BABY, I WAS DEALING ON WHETHER YOUR COLLEAGUES SHOULD BE DETAINED OR NOT.
AND I SAID NO, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION.
I UNDERSTAND I DID, I DID ASK FOR A DECORUM, BUT APPARENTLY, UM, THAT DIDN'T WORK EXCEPT PEOPLE MISREPRESENTED WHAT WE MEANT.
I HAD SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ASK US TO GO BY THE RULES.
SO I WAS TRYING TO RESPECT THE WISHES OF THIS BODY SO WE CAN CONDUCT BUSINESS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE PURPOSE OF SOME WAS TO DISRUPT IT.
BUT I SAID IT'S NOT NECESSARY AT THIS STAGE.
SO IF WE ALL WILL BE RESPECTFUL, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE RESPECTFUL OF THE FAMILY AND WE WILL, WE WILL, WE WILL GET OUR MEETING GO.
WE HAVE BEEN AND THAT'S MADE GREAT STEPS FORWARD.
NO, I'M GONNA FINISH 'CAUSE YOU WERE DEALING WITH SOMETHING.
I'M SORRY, BUT I WAS TAKING CARE OF SOME VERY TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
HAVING THREE MONTHS IN A, IN A PROCESSING CENTER.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME FOR THESE MEN.
NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME, IT'LL BE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME BECAUSE I AM DONE PLAYING.
A I'VE WARNED YOU MULTIPLE TIMES.
AIE, CHILDRY, MR. LEMON, YOU SPEAKING? NO, I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR FACE.
I WASN'T SURE HOW YOU LOOKED LIKE I WASN'T GONNA GO TO YOUR OFFICE, BUT I GUESS I CAN GIVE YOU HERE.
OKAY GUYS, HOW ARE YOU GUYS? I, I WAS HERE LAST WEEK.
MY NAME IS AS CHORI AND I GUESS NO ONE IS RESIGNING YET.
I MEAN, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT LESS WORK FOR ME, BUT I GUESS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MOTION.
UM, UH, I'M, I'M PUTTING THIS ON A NOTICE.
UH, FORMER POLICY NOTICE, IT IS A POLICY NOTICE, NOT, UM, NOTICE OF CONCERN YET, BUT, UH, THE REASON
[02:00:01]
WE'RE PUTTING IT, IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, FORESEEABILITY, UM, IT HAS TO DO WITH GENERAL, UM, OUTCOME.LIKE IF YOU'RE MAKING A, IF WE'RE A POLICY MAKER AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BORDER ASPECT OF THE CITY AND IT HAS TO DO WITH RISKS, UH, PEOPLE GETTING HURT.
SO IT HAS A SPECIFIC, UH, REASONS THAT I HAVE OUTLINED.
UH, MOST OF YOU I'LL EMAIL IT TO YOU.
I THINK I JUST HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE SECRETARY TO COPIES.
IF YOU CAN TIMESTAMP FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE NICE.
ANYONE WHO'S HERE I CAN GIVE IT TO.
HEY JOHN, HOW ARE YOU DOING? OKAY, UH, WELL HOPEFULLY, UH, I BEGIN WITH SOME FACTS.
THIS WAS TAKEN AT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONS COURT, BUT IT INVOLVES HOUSTON AS WELL.
WE DID A GOOD JOB WITH THE PEOPLE COMING HERE AND, AND THEN WHEN, UM, YOU HAVE THE HARRIS COMING, SHSA AND THE HARRIS COMING FC AND I WANT THE, AND RICHARD THANK YOU NON AGENDA SPEAKERS, JACOB CLEMENT, MARY SPEC, LUPE MENDEZ AND RICHARD HYDE.
WE WE NEED A GOOD JOB WITH THE PEOPLE COMING HERE.
AND, AND THEN WHEN, UM, YOU HAVE THE HARRIS COMING, SHSA HOUSTON HORSE COMING FCC AND WELL, WHEN SOME 'EM CAME FROM THE DYMO PEOPLE BUT THE DYMO STADIUM.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO IMAGINE.
OH, DO YOU KNOW WHY HALLOWEEN IS FAVORITE TIME HOLIDAY FOR TO PLAY A SOCCER GAME FOR A AGGIE GOALKEEPER BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING THEM GOALS, YOU KNOW, NOT GOALS.
ISN'T NOTHING ONE ABOUT SOCIALISM.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU, WELL REALLY WHEN DOMI IS YOU REVERSED TWO LETTERS TO PUT THE OKAY, JACOB AND THE D YOU PUT MAD MAN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE LESSER CITY HALL AND THE COUNCIL OF JUSTICE AND YOU BEING THE JUSTICE OF MAYOR WITH MY, I STILL DO NEED THAT BEN CRUMP AND ALSO, UH, JUSTICE, I HAVE FILED A NEW COMPLAINT 20 YEARS OLD.
DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA HAVE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING HPD TOLD ME.
AND, UH, WAITING ON THAT JUSTICE AND STUFF AND HELP OF BEN CRUMP.
DO THANK YOU FOR THE LESSON THAT I'VE LEARNED AND LEARNING FROM Y'ALL ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL AND ABOUT THE MAYOR.
'CAUSE I DO KNOW OF RIGHTEOUS AND GODLY COUNCILS AND THEY ALL ARE USED BY GOD COUNCILS WHETHER THEY'RE GODLY OR NOT.
AND, UH, I AM LEARNING SOMETHING FROM Y'ALL.
AND UH, STILL WAITING ON THAT HELP FOR BEN CRUMP.
ANYTHING ELSE COME FOR, FOR COUNSEL? NO, WE,
[RECESS]
THAT'S IT.WE RECESSED AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
I WILL NOW READ THE CAPTIONS FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.
ITEM ONE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS THAT
[02:05:01]
HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE WORK AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENT IF ANY OF THE CONTRACTS WITH CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AIMS COMPANIES.DOING BUSINESS AS BULK AND SIGNS FOR SUPPLY OF ALUMINUM TRAFFIC SIGN BLANKS.
ITEM THREE, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE LICENSES, MAINTENANCE SUPPORT AND SERVICES AWARDED TO STATION AUTOMATION INC.
ITEM FOUR APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AND REPLACEMENTS AND RELATED SERVICES AWARDED TO LONE STAR RECREATION OF TEXAS LLC ITEM FIVE 40 LINE WATERWORKS FOR SUPPLY OF SEWER CASTING PRODUCTS.
ITEM SIX, AMEND MOTION 2021 DASH 5 36 TO EXTEND CONTRACT TERM TO SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2027 FOR RESPIRATORY PANELS, TEST AND CONSUMABLES FROM ROACH ROCHE DIAGNOSTIC CORPORATION.
ITEM SEVEN, ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING CITY TO EXECUTE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT TOGETHER WITH RELATED CLOSING DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF ZION VILLAGE APARTMENTS.
ITEM EIGHT, ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021 DASH 9 68 RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
ITEM NINE, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $325,000 FOR LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND HOUSTON AVIATION PARTNERS LLC DOING BUSINESS AS MILLIONAIRE HOUSTON.
ITEM 10, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH LEND LYNN LIMITED, DOING BUSINESS AS ICE CURRENCY SERVICES.
USA ITEM 11 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE DELINQUENCY UNDER THE FY 25 YOUTH GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR YOUTH GANG PREVENTION AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION SUPPRESSION.
ITEM 12 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE 2,600 TO 2,700 BLOCK OF WHEELER STREET BETWEEN DELANO STREET AND LIVE OAK STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 13 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHING OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FORTY THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR HUNDRED BLOCK OF LELAND STREET BETWEEN THE SYDNEY STREET AND ERNESTINE STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 14 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE SIDES OF THE 4,100 TO 5,100 BLOCK OF RED BUD STREET BETWEEN COFFEY STREET, CHAIN STREET AND THE DEAD END WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 15 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 40 4800 BLOCK OF RED BOARD STREET BETWEEN CALHOUN ROAD AND COFFEE STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 42 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES.
ITEM 16 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE CRMP PACKAGE EIGHT AREA ONE BASIN IB 0 4 3 PROJECT.
ITEM 17 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 18, ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR EMIL STREET AT J JFE STREET, JETTE CREEK.
ITEM 19 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR LOWER COPY ROAD AT DITCH ITEM 20.
ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR FARAY ROAD AT KENNEDY GULLY.
ITEM 21, ORDINANCE APPROVED IN AUTHORIZING ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR CARROLLWOOD DRIVE AT KENNEDY GULLY.
ITEM 22 ORDINANCE APPROVED AND AUTHORIZING ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OR REHABILITATION OFF THE STATE SYSTEM FOR WEST 15TH STREET AT HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT DITCH ITEM 23 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4 MILLION AND $2 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 FUNDING FOR DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION CONTRACTS.
ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPRO AND AUTHORIZING JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
[02:10:01]
ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,466,700 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH KUO AND ASSOCIATES.LLC ITEM 26 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,138,258 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH H TOWN ENGINEERS LLC ITEM 27.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $22,811,498 70 CENTS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH OX LLC ITEM 28.
ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $18,591,154.
APPRO AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH INDUSTRIAL TX CORPORATION.
ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $654,705 3 CENTS TO CONTRACT WITH WESTON SOLUTIONS INC.
ITEM 30 HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE IN $6,328,625 APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH DL GLOVER PIPE BURSTING LLC ITEM 32.
ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 18 DASH 37 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO THE LIMITATION ON REPAYMENT OF PERSONAL LOANS FROM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
THIS CONCLUDES COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT HAPPY HUMP DAY EVERYONE.
[RECONVENE]
TO ORDER MEMBERS.THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO OUR GREAT CITY THIS MORNING.
UM, I THINK YESTERDAY WE CERTAINLY ALLOWED EVERYONE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
UM, CERTAINLY THE ALABAMA STREET COMMUNITY WAS PRESENT AND HEARD.
UM, THOSE THAT ARE JOINING US IN THE SADNESS OF MR. ARAJO, UH, TRAGIC DEATH WERE PRESENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND THE FAMILY IN OUR DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR AN INDEPENDENT TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION.
I WOULD ADVISE EVERYONE THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE WILL BE HOSTING HEARINGS FRIDAY AT 11 O'CLOCK.
UH, CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SYLVIA GARCIA
ALSO, UH, KEEP THE FAMILY IN OUR PRAYERS, OUR DISCUSSIONS, RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THE FAMILY IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE EXPRESSED TO ME THEY STILL HAVE SUCH DIFFICULT TIMES IN FRONT OF 'EM, AND THE CITY'S DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ASSIST THEM IN THIS TIME OF SORROW.
ALSO, UH, KEEPING OUR PRAYERS.
THE MCNAIR FAMILY, THEY LOST JANICE MCNAIR, SHE IS A, UH, LEADER WHEN SHE WAS LEADING THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY OBVIOUSLY IN SPORTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IN CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES.
ALSO, I'D ASK YOU TO KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS.
KEN YARBOROUGH'S, FAMILY, LONGTIME STATE REPRESENTATIVE, LABOR LEADER, WHICH I'VE GOTTA LEAVE SHORTLY TO SPEAK AT HIS FUNERAL.
[02:15:01]
AS THE WRAP UP OF FIFA IS, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF SADNESS AND HEARTACHE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND MEET OUR CHALLENGES.ONE OF OUR GREATER CHALLENGES TODAY THAT I WANNA BRING TO YOUR, YOUR ATTENTION IN HOUSTONIANS IS EXTREME HEAT.
WE'RE ON AN EXTREME HEAT ADVISORY, THE HEAT INDEX TODAY IN OUR CITY.
HOUSTON IS EXPECTED TO REACH 115, MAYBE 117 EMERGENCY CENTER.
RYAN MASON, AGAIN, DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB WORKING WITH HOUSTON PD, HOUSTON FIRE HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, ALL HANDS ON DECK TO ASSIST HOUSTONIANS.
AS WE OPEN OUR COOLING CENTERS THIS MORNING, WE'LL BE OPENING 112 SITES.
WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE STEER PROGRAM, THE STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY ASSISTANT REGISTER, WHICH THE EMERGENCY CENTER OPERATES.
3,800 INDIVIDUALS HAVE REGISTERED.
WE ACTUALLY CHECK ON THESE INDIVIDUALS.
WE WILL BE OPENING OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR LIBRARIES, OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS TO SERVE THOSE THAT NEED A LOCATION DEALING WITH 115 DEGREE HEAT.
UH, UM, I WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS, TRY TO STAY OUTTA THE SUN.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR WORKERS THAT ARE IN THOSE ELEMENTS, BUT THE HEAT INDEX WILL BE 115.
THE BEST OUTCOME IS IT'S BLOCKING THE TROPICAL STORM, BERING, FROM APPROACHING HERE.
I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT WE'VE COMPLETELY BEEN SAFEGUARDED, BUT THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE THIS MORNING IS IT'S NOT GOING TO COME TO HOUSTON, DUE TO THIS DOME OF HIGH PRESSURE, WHICH IS BRINGING THIS EXTREME HEAT.
AND IN FACT, WE MIGHT GET A MODERATION IN THE TEMPERATURE TOWARDS THE WEEKEND AND MAYBE SOME RAINFALL.
SO THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE DO COME TOGETHER, THE CITY RESPONDS APPROPRIATELY.
UH, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS ALERT.
AND OF COURSE, WE'LL BE ENCOURAGING THE HOMELESS TO USE THESE COOLING CENTERS.
EMANCIPATION FACILITY IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD BE, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING A REPORT OF THAT FACILITY AND THE NUMBERS THAT IT'S ASSISTING AND ACTUALLY THOSE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH IT AND THEN BEING REFERRED TO ANOTHER SITE.
SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR, BUT THEN ALSO WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
WITH THAT SAID, I UH, WILL HAVE TO LEAVE YOU SHORTLY FOR MY RESPONSIBILITY AND, AND REQUEST BY THE FAMILY TO SPEAK AT REPRESENTATIVE KEN YARBOROUGH'S FUNERAL.
KEN WAS AN OUTSTANDING STATE REP FROM THE NORTHWEST AREA AND WAS A LABOR LEADER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
MS. SECRETARY, DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON THIS CONSENT.
I WANT TO THANK FOR THE THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR PRESIDING TODAY.
I MUST, I MUST LEAVE TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL AT THIS TIME.
I APPRECI APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I APPRECIATE HOUSTONIANS AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT'LL BE WORKING TO OPERATE AND ASSIST EVERYONE.
IF YOU WANT TO COME TO, UH, COOLING CENTER, UH, HOUSTONIANS SHOULD LOOK UP THEIR WEBSITE, THE EMERGENCY CENTERS HOUSTON O.CO ORG.
UH, AND YOU CAN GET A MAP OF THE COOLING CENTER CLOSEST TO YOUR HOME.
[02:20:01]
HAVE A SAFE DAY.[CONSENT AGENDA]
SECRETARY, IF YOU PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE ACCEPT WORD CATEGORY.ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION TECH MOVE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM ONE PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS.
CATEGORY ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 2, 3, 5, AND SIX.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEMS PASSED UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED.
ITEM 17 AND 30 HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ITEM 22 HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED ITEMS PASSED? ITEM
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
FOUR, MOTION MOVED.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM FOUR PASSES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 22 PASSES.
[NON-CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM 32 PASSES.
THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA POPUP.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS – COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FIRST]
MOVE TO OUR POPUP, UH, SECTION OF THE AGENDA AND WE ARE STARTING WITH BE FIRST, UH, COUNCIL VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK.UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS, UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR SLA AND MICHAEL WILSON FOR MOWING.
UM, A BIG AREA IN THE INWOOD, UM, AREA OF MY DISTRICT, THE FORMER GOLF COURSE THAT WE'RE DOING DETENTION BASIN WORK.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT THAT'S NEEDED TO BE MOWED AND THEY WENT OUT THERE AND MOW IT AND JUST WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR GREAT WORK.
VICE MAYOR, PRO TIMM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM, UH, JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, AS WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A LOT OVER THE, UH, PAST FEW WEEKS, UH, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS HEALING.
AND SO WE'VE REQUESTED HARRIS CENTER TO OFFER SOME CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN MAGNOLIA PARK COMMUNITY.
THE HARRIS CENTER TEAM WILL BE AVAILABLE TODAY FROM 11 TO TWO AT THE MAGNOLIA MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, AND AGAIN, FROM SIX TO EIGHT 30, UH, AT THE MAGNOLIA MOLD SERVICE CENTER, 70 37 CAPITAL STREET.
UM, WE'LL BE LEAVING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS, MY TEAM AND I TO GO IN CANVAS, THAT IMMEDIATE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, AS AM MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS, UH, THIS FRIDAY RANKING MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA WILL HOST AN OVERSIGHT FORUM IN HOUSTON.
UM, DURING THE HEARING, UH, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL HEAR FROM THE FAMILY, UH, DAT, UH, FAITH LEADERS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, AND MYSELF.
THIS HEARING IS ANOTHER STEP IN SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE SAL FAMILY.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SCALED BACK ENFORCEMENT TACTICS THAT PREVENT THIS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.
AND THE HEARING WILL BE LI UH, STREAMING BEGINNING AT 11:00 AM SO PLEASE STAY TUNED.
JUST WANTED TO, UH, SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO DIRECTOR, UH, CJ MESSIAH ON HIS RETIREMENT, THE RECEPTIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
AND, UM, GOT TO KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR MESSIAH.
I SAW HIM HERE A MINUTE AGO, BUT GOT TO KNOW HIM BACK IN HIS HPD DAYS AND WHAT A FINE INDIVIDUAL, AND I KNOW HE WILL BE MISSED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HIM.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO.
I WANNA START BY HIGHLIGHTING YESTERDAY A PARTNERSHIP WITH RELIANT AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
AS PART OF THE RESILIENT H INITIATIVE, WE WERE IN THE SECOND WARD AREA REPAIRING HOMES FOR FOLKS THAT HAD, UM, SOME WINDOW ISSUES.
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A EXPANSION OF RESILIENT H UH, WHICH, UH, PROVIDES RAIN BARRELS, TREES, AND PIPE WRAPPING TO FOLKS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.NOW, THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH RELIANT AND HABITAT, WE ARE REPAIRING, UH, HOMES FOR FOLKS THAT ALSO HAVE NEED, UH, WITH WEATHERIZATION AND RESILIENCY.
THIS IS HELPING TO PRESERVE OUR HOUSING STOCK.
IT IS HELPING TO BRING SOME RELIEF AND PEACE OF MIND TO FAMILIES.
UH, THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS EXPERIENCING, UH, WATER, UH, INTRUSION.
UH, THEY GOT, UH, AN ENTIRE SET OF NEW WINDOWS SEALED, AND THEY WERE, UH, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE HEAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH, THIS IS GONNA HELP KEEP THEIR HOME COOL IN THE SUMMER, WARM IN THE WINTER, AND AGAIN, GIVE THAT PEACE OF MIND, UH, WHEN IT RAINS THAT THEY WON'T BE DEALING WITH, UM, THAT WATER INTRUSION.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND RELIANT FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
AND AS WE CONTINUE TO, TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO, UH, BRING THIS INITIATIVE TO, UH, THIS IS, UH, A COMPONENT THAT I KNOW FOLKS ARE REALLY, UH, EXCITED ABOUT, AND, UM, THEY'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE IT.
LAST NIGHT I JOINED THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS IN THE PEOPLE'S HEARING OVER IN NORTH LYNDALE, UH, WHERE WE HEARD FROM VARIOUS, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS, LABOR LEADERS, RESIDENTS, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES ON ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING THEM, UH, DIRECTLY.
AND I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE MORALES FOR ORGANIZING IT.
UM, THE NUMBER OF OF STATE REPS THAT WERE THERE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS RAMIREZ AND PANZA WERE THERE AS WELL.
AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM FOLKS AND, AND I APPRECIATE HER BRINGING THE COMMITTEE OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, INTO NORTH LINDE, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT TO ADDRESS THEIR STATE REPS DIRECTLY.
AND FINALLY, THIS SATURDAY, I'LL BE, UM, PARTNERING ON A BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, AND THAT'S GONNA BE AT 51 15 HARRISBURG BOULEVARD, RO LAN, AND THAT'LL BE FROM 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM UH, COME ON OUT.
THERE WILL BE BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND ALSO SOME COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE AS WELL THIS COMING SATURDAY.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, AND GOOD MORNING TO ALL.
JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MAYOR WHITMEYER, HIS ABSENCE FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, OFFICERS FOR THE WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE AS WELL, ON A FANTASTIC JOB DOING THESE LAST SIX WEEKS, KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE AND ENTERTAINED DURING THE SEVEN MATCHES HELD AT THE SHELL ENERGY STADIUM AND OVER 100 TOTAL MATCHES AT THE FIFA FANFEST.
I THINK AMER, UH, UNITED STATES HAVE SEEN THAT HOUSTON IS A QUALITY CITY, ONE ON THE MATCHES, NOT A SINGLE PUBLIC SAFETY INCIDENT, UH, TO HAVE DOING ALL, I GUESS BEING HERE.
UH, YOU ALL HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS CITY HAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE WORLD THAT HOUSTON IS AN ELITE INTERNATIONAL CITY AND DOES NOT BUCKLE UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE WORLD STAGE.
I THINK I SPEAK FOR THOSE OF US AROUND THE HORSESHOE WHEN I SAY THAT WHAT WE WITNESSED THESE LAST SIX WEEKS WAS INCREDIBLE.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO, UH, THE MAYOR, OUR MAYOR, AND TO ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, CHRIS CNET AND THE HOUSTON HOST COMMITTEE FOR REALLY STEPPING UP AND DELIVERING A TRULY RE MEMORIAL TIME FOR HOUSTONIANS.
AND ALSO, WE MUST ADD COURSE HOUSTON FIRST AND OTHERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN MAKING THIS A GREAT, UM, YOU KNOW, TURNOUT.
FIND A LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO 10 OF MY PROP A COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 28TH AT TWO O'CLOCK, WE WILL BE REVIEWING OUR PROPOSAL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT ESTABLISHES A SECURE REQUIREMENT FOR CARS AND TRUCKS AND VEHICLES TO BE TIED DOWN, MOVING ABOUT IN OUR CITY.
UH, A VEHICLE DRIVEN WITH AN UNSECURED LOAD IS SUCH A, A PREVENTABLE, UH, PUBLIC, UH, I MEAN, PREVALENT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IN OUR CITY.
WE ALL EITHER SEEN OR HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF SOMETHING FALLING OFF A VEHICLE, CARRYING AWAY TOO MUCH, AND THE LOAD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED.
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AND MOST OF US HAS HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF SOME KIND OF DEBRIS ON THE ROAD.MY AMENDMENT AIMS TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF THESE PUBLIC SAFETY ROAD HAZARDS.
UH, I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF, UM, IN MY VEHICLE, LITERALLY CAUGHT A FIRE BEHIND AN OBJECT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO WHO HAD THESE EXPERIENCES, AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THE CITY STEP UP.
UH, I WILL BE JOINED BY HPD, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, CAPTAIN HECTOR GARCIA, WHO WILL SPEAK TO HOW THIS AMENDMENT WILL EMPOWER LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CRACK DOWN ON OFFENDERS.
A BC HAD AN INTERVIEW, UH, WITH A GENTLEMAN AS WELL AS MYSELF THAT A PIECE ON, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO EVENING NEWS ON THE TOPIC AND HAS ALSO INTERVIEWED HOUSTON AND MR. LANDON HAWTHORNE, WHO RECENTLY SUFFERED DAMAGE TO HIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE DEBRIS FALLING OFF A TRUCK.
HE WILL BE JOINED WITH US AS WELL IN THE COMMITTEE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
UH, THE OBJECTS HIT 13 CARS, UH, IN THIS PROCESS, AND HE WILL SHARE THAT.
AND, UH, HOPE YOU ALL, UH, WILL HAVE, UH, JOIN US IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING AND EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE DAY.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS TODAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM, UH, HAD THE PLEASURE YESTERDAY OF ATTENDING A GROUNDBREAKING FOR A TAYLOR GULLY CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT THAT INCLUDED, UH, 400 ACRES OF DETENTION.
UH, THE PROJECT WAS A COMBINATION OF CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY.
UH, CONGRESSMAN CRENSHAW WAS ABLE TO SECURE SOME MONEY FOR, FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO REALLY WANTED TO THANK THEM.
UH, THIS IS GONNA ADD 400 ACRES OF, UH, DETENTION CAPACITY.
SO THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE, UH, NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF KINGWOOD WILL GREATLY APPRECIATE THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT.
UH, ON A MUCH MORE NEGATIVE NOTE, I HAD A RESIDENT IN CLEAR LAKE THAT WAS MURDERED YESTERDAY, AND THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY PERPETRATED THE CRIME, UH, THEY KNOW WHO HE IS.
AND IN FACT, HE HAD GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT WITH, UH, THE VICTIM'S SONS THE DAY BEFORE.
AND THIS GENTLEMAN AT ONE O'CLOCK RODE HIS BICYCLE TO THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX WITH A RIFLE AND STARTED SHOOTING AT THE RESIDENCE FROM THE PARKING LOT.
AND ALTHOUGH THE WOMAN WASN'T THE INTENDED TARGET, SHE WAS STRUCK TWICE AND WAS KILLED.
UH, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF HE WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO TAKE A RIFLE ON HIS BICYCLE AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, THAT HE'S PROBABLY GOT A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE HISTORY WITH HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WHICH KIND OF BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER TOPIC.
LAST TUESDAY, I WENT OUT TO CRIME STOPPERS AND THEY HAVE THE, UH, PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN MEETINGS ON TUESDAY ONCE A MONTH.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, LISTENING AND SEEING THESE PEOPLE, UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A, A TRAGEDY TO SEE WHAT'S WHAT GOES ON AND, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE VICTIM, BUT THE VICTIM'S FAMILY AND THE SURVIVORS.
AND, UH, QUITE IRONICALLY, IT WAS THAT EVENING OR THE NEXT MORNING WHERE THEY CAPTURED AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEW YORK THAT HAD BEEN ON THE RUN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WHO WAS A CONFESSED MURDERER IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND HE HAD PLED GUILTY TO KILLING TWO PEOPLE.
UH, HE HAD BEEN OUT ON BOND FOR QUITE A WHILE BEFORE HE PLED GUILTY, HAD FIVE BOND VIOLATIONS WHILE HE WAS OUT ON BOND, PICKED UP AN ASSAULT CHARGE WHILE HE WAS OUT ON BOND, AND HE PLED OR A DEAL WITH THE DA.
ON A FRIDAY VISITING JUDGE, JUDGE ANDERSON DECIDED IT WAS OKAY TO LEAVE HIM OUT ON BOND EVEN AFTER HE PLED GUILTY TO COME BACK FOR SENTENCING THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.
SHOCKINGLY, AFTER AGREEING TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON, HE DECIDED HE WASN'T GONNA SHOW UP ON MONDAY.
FLED DIDN'T CATCH HIM UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER IN NEW YORK.
UH, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, WE CAN MAKE SOME CHANGES TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
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COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA.UM, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE WEATHER TODAY, IT, IT'S PROBABLY BEST THAT THE WORLD CUP ENDED ON SUNDAY, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THE FIFA FANFEST HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
THE FIFA HOST COMMITTEE DID A REMARKABLE JOB AND REALLY PROUD OF WHAT HOUSTON WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS TOURNAMENT.
I JUST WANNA SAY, MOVING FORWARD, UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE COULD LEARN FROM THE FAN FEST.
I MEAN, THAT WAS JUST A COUPLE PARKING LOTS THAT THEY CONVERTED INTO THIS MASSIVE COMMUNAL SPACE.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AREAS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE COULD SEE TRANSFORMATIONS LIKE THIS THAT ALLOW HOUSTONIANS TO COME TOGETHER TO BE IN COMMUNITY, UM, AND PROVIDE MORE BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY THAN JUST HOT, EMPTY PARKING LOTS.
UM, ON TOP OF THAT, I'LL JUST SAY ITEM FOUR THAT WE APPROVE TODAY IS A REALLY EXCITING ONE.
IT'S, IT'S A $1.3 MILLION FOR PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT C.
MAGNUM PARK IS GONNA BE GETTING A NEW PLAYGROUND SET.
UH, WHEN I STARTED THIS JOB ABOUT, UH, EIGHT WEEKS AGO, THE VERY FIRST EMAIL I GOT WAS FROM RESIDENTS ASKING ABOUT UPDATES ON MAGNUM PARK.
AND SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO VOTE AND APPROVE THE FUNDING TO REPLACE THEIR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
UM, A LITTLE CONTEXT ON THAT ONE, THEY HAD PUT IN A 3 1 1 REQUEST BACK IN 2024 BECAUSE THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WAS OLD AND DANGEROUS AND IT WAS REMOVED, AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY DESPERATELY WANTED PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT PUT BACK IN.
UM, I KNOW 3 1 1 CAN BE DIFFICULT AND THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A LONG TIME COMING, BUT, UM, WE LISTENED, WE HEARD, AND, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET THIS GOING.
THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIM, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
UM, THE SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE IS MEETING THIS AFTERNOON AT 2:00 PM UM, TODAY WE'LL HEAR FROM PUBLIC WORKS, UM, ON THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'VE MADE SINCE TAKING OVER NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, WE KNOW IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTIONS WERE TRANSFERRED, UM, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DEPART DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO PUBLIC WORK.
SO IT'S, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S GOING WELL.
UM, THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE HAVING.
UM, I KNOW DISTRICT B NEIGHBORHOOD INSPECTIONS ARE CRITICALLY, UM, CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO THE PRESENTATION WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO GET OUR CONCERNS OUT, UM, TO PUBLIC WORKS.
AND AGAIN, JUST LEARN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'RE MAKING SINCE, UM, TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, UM, AT, UM, THIS SESSION, THIS, UM, AFTERNOON, UM, GIVE US A CALL AT (832) 393-3009.
AND ALSO ON SATURDAY, JULY THE 25TH, WE WILL BE HOSTING A SHREDDING EVENT STARTING AT 9:00 AM UM, AT THE NORTHEAST MULTI-SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 27 20, I'M SORRY, 97 20 SPALDING STREET.
UM, BRING YOUR SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS, TIRES, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE OF JUNK WASTE.
UM, THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR PRO TEAM, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE IDEA FROM YOU AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, IN DISTRICT B, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, REGULARLY, UM, PARTNERING WITH, UM, ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THEN ALSO THIS AFTERNOON, UM, SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE.
DO Y'ALL HAVE A FLYER FOR YOUR EVENT ON SATURDAY? YES.
WILL YOU SEND IT TO US? 'CAUSE OUR CONSTITUENTS, THEY ALWAYS ASK FOR THE FREE SHRED EVENTS AND, UM, WE ONLY DO IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, SO IF WE CAN SHARE YOURS, WE'LL DEFINITELY SHARE.
THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES MADE TO THE SOLID WASTE PICKUP SCHEDULE, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT SO WE CAN PUSH OUT THE INFORMATION TO OUR RESIDENTS.
SO IF SOLID WASTE COULD SEND THAT OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
ALSO, TOMORROW, DISTRICT G WILL PARTNER WITH MIDWEST DIVISION TO DO A COFFEE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GONNA BE AT COMMONBOND BISTRO AND BAKERY, LOCATED AT 57 40 SAN PHILIPPI.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR ON HELLO HOUSTON, WHICH IS A RADIO SHOW AND ONLINE SHOW ALONG WITH, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXPERT EILEEN DONG.
AND THE PURPOSE WAS TO HIGHLIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN HOUSTON.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE NATIONAL HUBS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY, JULY 30TH WILL BE UNITED NATIONS WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS.
AND IT MATTERS HERE IN HOUSTON BECAUSE WE ARE A HUB FOR IT.
THERE ARE, UH, SEVERAL FORMS THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAN TAKE.
UM, MOST COMMONLY WE THINK ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING AND LABOR, UH, TRAFFICKING.
AND, UM, HOUSTON HAS A LOT OF SITES, UNFORTUNATELY, WHERE SEX TRAFFICKING OCCURS.
UM, ANYTIME YOU SEE A MASSAGE PARLOR OR A REFLEXOLOGY ESTABLISHMENT, THESE ARE COMMONLY FRONTS FOR
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HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND, UH, IT'S A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO ADDRESS.THERE ARE STATE REGULATIONS, UH, FOR MASSAGE PARLORS, AND THERE ARE LIMITED THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO.
BUT ONE THING WE ALL CAN DO IS TO BE VIGILANT AND IF WE SEE SOMETHING, SOME SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR, UH, WE CAN REPORT IT.
UH, HPD VICE INVESTIGATES HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND THEY CAN BE REACHED AT 7 1 3 3 0 8 30, I'M SORRY, 3 0 8 8600.
THERE IS ALSO A NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE.
UM, THIS YEAR, UH, THE UNITED NATIONS IS SPOTLIGHTING ONLINE SCAMS, WHICH CAN TAKE A NUMBER OF FORMS IN INCLUDING, UM, ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ONLINE ROMANCE SCAMS, ONLINE SCAMS, TARGETING THE ELDERLY WHERE THEY WILL CONTACT SOMEONE AND TELL THEM THAT A LOVED ONE IS IN DISTRESS AND, AND THEY NEED MONEY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL, WILL FALL FOR THAT FAKE JOB, OFFERS AN EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABLE PO UM, POPULATIONS, AND THEN FORCE CRIMINALITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE CRIMINAL SCAM OPERATIONS.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN ATTACK THIS IS WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER AND SHARE INFORMATION AND, UH, PEOPLE SPEAK OUT AND WHEN THEY HEAR SOMETHING OR THEY SEE SOMETHING, THEY ALERT THE AUTHORITIES.
EILEEN DONG IS, AS I SAID, A HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXPERT.
SHE HAS A WEBSITE WITH A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION AND THAT WEBSITE IS HOPE, H-O-P-E-P-X-P-Y-X GLOBAL.
AND I WILL ROUND IT OUT WITH A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DISTRICT K.
UH, NEXT FRIDAY WE WILL BE HOSTING A CHILDREN'S BOOK CELEBRATION AT THE EDISON ARTS FOUNDATION.
UM, AND THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH CHRIS'S LIBRARY IN THE ABRAHAM WATKINS LAW FIRM.
SO THEY, AND, UM, THE DISTRICT A OFFICE ARE SPONSORING MORE THAN 100 BOOKS AND 150 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SUPPLIES.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT STORY TIME EVENT, REALLY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS JOYFUL EVENT THAT THEY COME ON OUT TO.
EDISON'S, UH, FOUNDATION, UH, LOCATION ON FUKE WAY AT 7 1 1 5 WEST FUKE WAY IN MISSOURI CITY, 7 7 4 8 9 FROM 4:00 PM TO 6:00 PM WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US FOR THAT EXCITING EVENT.
AND THEN I WANT TO REMIND RESIDENTS ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING ON THIS THURSDAY, JULY 23RD, UM, AT TWO 30 REGARDING PLA UM, A PLAT APPLICATION ON HILLCROFT BUSINESS PARK, LOCATED AT 1 3 9 4 0 HILLCROFT AVENUE, UM, BETWEEN SIMS BAYOU AND HILLCROFT AVENUE.
THIS HEARING WILL ALSO COVER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2026 MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FREEWAY PLAN.
SO I KNOW THAT RESIDENTS HAVE, UM, HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UH, MAJOR THOROUGHFARE FREEWAY PLAN.
UM, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING ON THURSDAY.
UM, RESIDENTS CAN ATTEND THAT MEETING IN PERSON HERE AT 900 BAGBY STREET, OR THEY CAN SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS, UM, TO THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
DO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MILTON THIBODAUX AND THE GREATER HOUSTON BUSINESS PROCUREMENT FORUM.
YESTERDAY THEY HAD AN INCREDIBLE, UM, EVENT AT THE ION.
UM, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR HORDE AND, UM, UH, DIRECTOR, UH, JEDI GREENFIELD IN PROCUREMENT AND ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT WERE THERE.
UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING, UH, GREETINGS AND, UH, KEYNOTE THE EVENT AND TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S VISION FOR MAKING SURE WE HAVE INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT.
UM, THE FORUM WAS CENTERED AROUND DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THERE WERE 350 TO 400 ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THERE, AND THEY WERE ENGAGED.
UM, I LOVED THAT, UM, THERE WAS OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAD WON CONTRACTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND HOW THEY GARNERED THOSE CONTRACTS.
AND AFTER OUR DISPARITY STUDY AND THE WORK THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN OBO AND PROCUREMENT, WE ARE REALLY SEEING THE FRUITS OF THOSE LABORS.
UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT'S MAKING THE BIG PUSH AND THE BIG EFFORTS, UM, TO BE INCLUSIVE IN OUR CONTRACTING.
AND MAKE SURE, MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU KNOW HOW THAT CAN HAPPEN AND THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, COMPETE FOR BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT EVENT.
UM, THERE AGAIN, JUST WANT TO REMIND HOUSTONIANS TO STAY WEATHER AWARE.
UM, 100, UH, HEAT INDEX OF ONE
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15 IS VERY HOT.UM, YOU KNOW, STAY HYDRATED, STAY UM, INSIDE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
UH, AND IF YOU DO NEED, UM, TO COME IN OUT OF THE HEAT, OUR COOLING CENTERS ARE STILL ACTIVATED.
UM, THE LIBRARIES ARE COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR YOU.
UM, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE.
CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.
UM, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE LOCATIONS, YOU CAN GO TO HOUSTON OEM.ORG.
Y'ALL BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.
IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER FROM, UH, MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE STAND ADJOURN.