Oct 20, 2026 Council Meeting (October 20, 2026 &amp; October 21, 2026)

AND AS SINCE WE'RE, UH, ON A RUSH SCHEDULE, BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE APPRECIATE OF Y'ALL TIME, IF I CAN HAVE A JUDGE WHO COME UP, JUDGE .

OF COURSE, YES.

SO TODAY, UM, WE RECOGNIZE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT FOR THE COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

THE MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY PROVIDE SEVERAL INFORM, UH, INFORMATION WORKSHOPS FOR HOUSTONIANS ON SAFETY.

UH, THROUGHOUT THESE, THROUGHOUT THESE TYPES OF EVENTS, OUR MINI COURT COURT, UH, TOURS AND, AND ALSO WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE A PART OF AS WELL IS TEAM COURT, UH, WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING YOUNG FOLKS TO, TO THE COURT SYSTEM AND ENGAGE WITH OUR, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

AND SO, WHEREAS IN HOUSTON, RESIDENTS ARE SERVED BY CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT, WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE LEGAL FORUM WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN HAVE THEIR COURT MATTERS, HEARD IN A FAIR AND EFFICIENT MANNER, WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK TAKES PLACE FROM NOVEMBER THE SECOND THROUGH NOVEMBER THE SIXTH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE MUNICIPAL COURTS DEPARTMENT AND ITS STAFF MEMBERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE TO HOUSTON RESIDENTS FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL AND THEIR, AND, AND THEIR WORK TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AND THANK YOU JUDGE SANTOS.

AT ONE TIME, MUNICIPAL COURTS WAS OUR SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE AFTER PROPERTY TAXES, BUT DUE TO SOME CHALLENGES DUE TO HARVEY BOARDING UP FOUR COURTS IN THE BASEMENT, IT'S NOT BEEN A FRIENDLY PLACE TO RESPOND TO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

QUITE FRANKLY, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT WAS SEVERELY REDUCED IN RECENT YEARS.

IT'S A PRIORITY NOW FOR MY ADMINISTRATION, THIS COUNCIL TO MAKE OUR SEAT STREETS SAFER AND TO GUIDE US, WE NEEDED A MUNICIPAL COURT ADMINISTRATION IN PRESIDING JUDGE, AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH, AND WE'RE GONNA IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS.

WE WILL VERY SOON, I GUESS I CAN GO AHEAD AND ANNOUNCE WE'RE GONNA BUILD A NEW MUNICIPAL COURT.

THIS WILL HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE JUDGE AND HER STAFF AND LEGAL AND GENERAL SERVICES ARE COMING UP WITH A FINAL PLAN.

BUT AS A YOUNG LAWYER PRACTICING IN MUNICIPAL COURT, IT ALWAYS STRUCK ME AS NO ONE WANTS TO BE THERE.

NO ONE THOUGHT THEY DESERVED A TRAFFIC TICKET OR AN ORDINANCE VIOLATION.

SO NOW IT'S A MUCH MORE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

PEOPLE STILL DON'T WANNA BE THERE, BUT THEY'VE TAKEN OFF FROM THEIR WORK, THEIR FAMILY, THEIR SCHOOL TO BE THERE.

SO IT'S OUR DUTY TO SERVICE THEM.

AND IT, IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS BASIC TO CITY GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A COURT SYSTEM THAT IS FAIR.

YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS, EVEN FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THEY NEED A PLACE AFTER THEY'VE WORKED AN ALL NIGHT SHIFT AND HAVE TO GO TO COURT.

THEY NEED A FRIENDLY SETTING.

SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE RESIDING JUDGE HERE.

SHE HELPS SELECT HER JUDGES, THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DIVERSE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROFESSIONAL.

AND IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT THING TO BE ABLE TO STOP TODAY TO THINK.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE.

THANK Y'ALL FOR WHAT THE JOB YOU DO.

WHY DON'T YOU STAND? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND, UH, YOU HAVE OUR TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN

[00:05:01]

THE JOB YOU'RE DOING.

BE FAIR, WORK HARD, AND WE'RE HEADED YOUR WAY WITH NEW WORKING CONDITIONS.

THANK YOU, JUDGE ETTO, I'LL BE EXCITED TO YIELD TO YOU.

THEREFORE, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2ND THROUGH NOVEMBER 6TH, 2026 AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT IS THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO, UH, SERVE IN THIS ROLE, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS JOB.

I DO HAVE, AND I KNOW EVERY DEPARTMENT COMES AND SAYS THIS, BUT SINCE I AM A JUDGE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY, IT CARRIES MORE WEIGHT.

I DO HAVE THE BEST STAFF IN THE WHOLE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I HAVE MANY MORE THAT ARE BACK AT THE OFFICE, UH, UM, MAKING SURE JUSTICE IS SERVED OR WATCHING FROM, UH, HTV.

SO, UM, IT'S A SPECIAL HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK.

WE ARE THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL COURT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND ACTUALLY ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO I AM GRATEFUL AGAIN TO ALL OF MY STAFF FOR THE AMAZING JOB THAT THEY DO AND SERVING THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SHE'S DOING THAT BEHALF OF HER MIRROR.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR PROCLAMATION TO MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL, RECOGNIZING NEPHROLOGY NURSES WEEK NEPHROLOGY.

AND I KNOW THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ ORIGINALLY SPONSORED THIS PROCLAMATION.

SO DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM, UM, COME ON UP.

HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WHEREAS KIDNEY DISEASE CONTINUES TO AFFECT MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.

AND WHEREAS NEPHROLOGY NURSES PROVIDE SPECIALIZED, COMPASSIONATE AND ESSENTIAL CARE TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, INCLUDING PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, AND ACUTE KIDNEY INJURIES, DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION,

[00:10:02]

AND SUPPORTIVE CARE.

AND WHEREAS NEPHROLOGY NURSES SERVE AS CLINICIANS, EDUCATORS, ADVOCATES, CAREGIVERS, AND COORDINATORS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEIR PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS THE EXPERTISE, DEDICATION, COMPASSION, AND RESILIENCE OF NEPHROLOGY NURSES PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY KIDNEY DISEASE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS NEPHROLOGY NURSES WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEPHROLOGY NURSES AND RAISE AWARENESS OF KIDNEY HEALTH AND IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE.

AND WHEREAS MEMORIAL HERMANN, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER WILL OBSERVE THIS IMPORTANT WEEK AND RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEPHROLOGY NURSES.

AND WHEREAS ON THIS OCCASION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES ALL HOUSTONIANS TO RECOGNIZE NEPHROLOGY NURSES WEEK AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATION, COMPASSION, EXPERTISE, AND INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEPHROLOGY NURSES WHO SERVE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY KIDNEY DISEASE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPECIALTY.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I KNEW THERE WERE GREAT NURSES TAKING CARE OF THOSE WITH KIDNEY CONDITIONS.

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE UNTIL WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION.

SO I KNOW YOU'RE SAVING LIVES AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE LIVES FOR SO MANY HOUSTONIANS.

SO YES, THANK YOU.

IT'D BE INTERESTING SOMETIME HOW YOU GET SPECIALIZED IN SUCH A SPECIAL FIELD.

HARD WORK, HARD WORK.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I'VE JUST BEEN ALL MORNING WITH GOOD AFTERNOON COLLEAGUES AND IF EQUALITY TEXAS AND OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, WE WILL BEGIN.

AND, UH, THEREFORE, I, I, I, JOHN WHITMEYER MM-HMM .

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 13TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2026 IS NEPHROLOGY NURSES WEEK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK, I HAVE MY NOTES.

SO, ON BEHALF OF NEPHROLOGY NURSES EVERYWHERE, WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE WE PLAY IN KIDNEY CARE.

NEPHROLOGY NURSES ARE MORE THAN CAREGIVERS.

WE ARE PATIENT ADVOCATES, EDUCATORS, AND A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND HOPE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF KIDNEY DISEASE AND DIALYSIS.

OUR WORK REQUIRES SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE, CRITICAL THINKING, COMPASSION AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION, OFTEN BUILDING LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFELONG JOURNEY.

TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE HEART, THE RESILIENT RESILIENCE AND EXPERTISE OF EVERY NEPHROLOGY NURSE WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE, ONE PATIENT, ONE TREATMENT, AND ONE LIFE AT A TIME.

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR PROFESSION AND FOR HONORING OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING KIDNEY HEALTH AND DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL COMPASSIONATE CARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

MY NOW MY FATHER-IN-LAW, HE HAD KIDNEY CANCER.

AND YOU KNOW, HE SAID NOT ONLY DID THE TREATMENT AND EVERYTHING HE WENT THROUGH, YES, THAT SAVED HIS LIFE, BUT HE SAID THE NEPHROLOGY NURSES WERE REALLY WHAT KEPT HIM GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.

SO THANK NEXT.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A PROCLAMATION TO EQUALITY TEXAS TO HONOR LGBTQ PLUS HISTORY MONTH.

[00:15:19]

UM, I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR JOINING ME AS WELL.

EVERY OCTOBER IS L-G-B-T-Q HISTORY MONTH, AND TODAY IS ACTUALLY A, A SPECIAL DAY.

IT'S THE FIRST CITY HALL ADVOCACY DAY FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHO IS ALSO HERE.

I KNOW THEY VISITED WITH A NUMBER OF FOLKS.

UM, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO OBSERVE, UH, TODAY AS 2026 L-G-B-T-Q HISTORY MONTH.

I'LL BEGIN WITH THE PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS OBSERVED EVERY OCTOBER SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1994, LGBTQ PLUS HISTORY MONTH HONORS LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE TECHNOLOGY, PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, THE ARTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

WHEREAS DURING LGBTQ PLUS HISTORY MONTH, ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS SHARE STORIES THAT BROADEN PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE LGBTQ PLUS CONTRIBUTORS TO LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL HISTORY, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES DOCUMENTING LGBTQ PLUS HISTORY.

AND WHEREAS IN HOUSTON, THIS OBSERVANCE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSTONIANS TO LEARN AND CELEBRATE THE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT A FUTURE OF INCLUSION AND RESPECT, INCLUDING ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MONTROSE CENTER ALLIES AND HOPE, AND THE DIANA FOUNDATION, AND NEWER INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MAYOR'S LGBTQ PLUS ADVISORY BOARD, MONTROSE GRACE PLACE, AND THE HOUSTON LGBTQ PLUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH STATEWIDE IMPACT, SUCH AS HOUSTON, LGBTQ PLUS, POLITICAL CAUCUS AND EQUALITY, TEXAS, ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSTON'S HISTORY AND ENRICH THE CITY'S CULTURAL AND CIVIC LIFE.

AND WHEREAS DURING THIS MONTH LONG OBSERVANCE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL LGBTQ PLUS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE WORK HAS SHAPED CULTURE, PUBLIC LIFE, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION WITH PARTICULAR APPRECIATION FOR THE CONTRIBUTION OF LGBTQ PLUS HOUSTONIANS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP STRENGTHEN HOUSTON'S REPUTATION AS A WELCOMING, DIVERSE, AND GLOBALLY CONNECTED CITY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS.

AND I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND WE ALL JOIN YOU IN THIS RECOGNITION TIME DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROCLAMATION.

WE'RE MAKING A STATEMENT TODAY OF ONE OF INCLUSION AND REALLY WHY HOUSTON IS A GREAT CITY.

BECAUSE FIRST, IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

I WAS RECITING SOME OF MY PUBLIC SERVICE DAYS WHEN THERE WAS NO PRIDE PARADE.

THERE WAS NO CAUCUS, THERE WAS NO CHAMBER.

SO YES, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S RESIDENCE, BUT ALSO REALIZE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE HATEFUL COMMERCIALS THAT ARE BEING RUN ON THE AIR AS WE STAND HERE.

SO LET'S CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESS, BUT LEAVE HERE, UNITED, AS I'VE OFTEN SAID ON THE SENATE FLOOR, UNTIL WE'RE ALL EQUAL, NONE OF US ARE EQUAL.

AND I REALLY MEANT IT THEN, AND I MEAN IT NOW.

SO TO THE CHAMBER, TAMMY, YOU AND GARY CREATED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED.

THE CHAMBER DOES SO MUCH MORE, AFFECTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

SO IT'S REALLY A SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AS A MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON.

I HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 26TH IS LBTQ PLUS HISTORY DAY MONTH IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

CONGRATULATIONS A SECOND.

NOPE.

HEY, UM, SO THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL

[00:20:01]

MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE WATCHING CITIES AND COMPANIES PULL BACK ON THEIR SUPPORT FROM THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, PLACES LIKE HOUSTON CAN STAND AS A BEACON AS WHY WE UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING NOT JUST THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE WHO DO TREMENDOUS WORK, NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, BUT ACROSS THE STATE AND SOME RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY.

UH, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL L-G-B-T-Q HOUSTONIANS WHO COULDN'T BE IN THIS SPACE WITH US TODAY, WHO ARE MAKING HISTORY EVERY SINGLE DAY JUST BY LIVING AUTHENTICALLY AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME.

SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS.

AND SINCE THE CHAMBER HAS THEIR CHAMBER DAY TO DAY, I WANNA OFFER IT TO TAMMY, TO THE SAFETY WORDS.

WELL, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS COUNCIL, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

WE HAVE HAD A PHENOMENAL CHAMBER DAY AT CITY HALL, OUR INAUGURAL, OUR VERY FIRST, AND WE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER MONTH TO DO IT THAN LGBTQ PLUS HISTORY MONTH.

UM, WE ARE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS THIS YEAR, MAKING OUR OWN HISTORY OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.

BUT WE STAND ARM IN ARM WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU SEE REPRESENTED HERE AND SO MANY MORE THAT ARE DOING REMARKABLE WORK IN OUR CITY.

OUR HISTORY IS VALUABLE.

THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE MAKE TO OUR CITY ARE, UM, I I IMMEASURABLE IN TERMS OF WE ARE PART OF THE ECONOMIC FABRIC.

BUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE COLLEAGUES YOU SEE UP HERE THAT ARE DOING THE GOOD WORK, WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN LGBTQ PLUS HISTORY MONTH.

AND I'D BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT REMEMBER THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, THE RAY HILLS THAT HAVE DONE THE WORK, AND I INVOKE HIS NAME TO THANK HIM FOR ALL THAT HE'S DONE AND ALL THAT WE WILL DO COLLECTIVELY WORKING WITH THE OL.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

MAYOR PRO TAM.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TAM.

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE BRIEFLY, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU COUNCILOR CASTILLO, SALINAS AND MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING, UH, TAMMY, THE GOOD WORK THAT SHE'S DOING WITH THE, WITH HER COLLEAGUES WITH THE LGBTQ PLUS DAY.

UH, I WANNA DEFINITELY GIVE MY APOLOGIES, I WAS AT A-H-G-A-C MEETING ALL, ALL MORNING.

UH, BUT JUST KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, UH, ANYTIME.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST THIS DAY.

UH, WE'RE HERE TO STAND WITH YOU.

UM, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, INCLUSION, EQUALITY IS IMPORTANT TO US ALL HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DAY, AND MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.

REMEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ HAS A, UH, LINK COMING.

I CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE MY FRIEND BRANDON MACK HERE, WHO IS THE, HE IS JUST PHENOMENAL IN RUNNING MEETINGS AND TRYING TO RUN ME SOMETIMES TOO, BUT CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ.

NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO AVERY BROWN RENFRO, THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF PROFESSOR LEON RENFRO.

YAY .

I'M JUST GONNA BRIEFLY SAY HOW I MET THIS YOUNG LADY.

I HAD JUST COME FROM A TEXANS GAME, SO I CERTAINLY WASN'T REALLY HAPPY THEN , UH, AND, AND SHE WAS WORKING AT, AT PAPA DO'S, AND SHE WAS JUST PHENOMENAL IN HER SERVICE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WHICH MEANS TO ME IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AND SERVING US.

UH, YOU KNOW, OUR CUSTODIANS AND EVERYBODY HAS A STORY, AND SHE CERTAINLY HAD A PHENOMENAL STORY.

PROCEED WITH GIVING HER AND HER FAMILY.

AND I WANT TO

[00:25:01]

YOU AREN'T YOUR PARENTS HERE.

OKAY, WELL, Y'ALL COME ON UP.

COME ON.

WITHOUT YOU, IT WOULDN'T BE NO HER.

OKAY, SO COME ON DEAR.

WELL, CERTAINLY THE LEGACY OF PROFESSOR LEON RENFRO, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT D HONOR AND HONOR THE LEGACY OF PROFESSOR LEON RENFRO, AN ARTIST, EDUCATOR, MENTOR, AND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR WHO'S INFLUENCE ENDURES THROUGH THE STUDENTS HE TAUGHT AT THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

TSU, PROUD ALUM.

PROUD ALUM AND I DIGRESS.

AND THE ARTISTIC COMMUNITY, HE HELPED SHAPE BEFORE HIS PASSING IN 1993.

AND WHEREAS BORN IN HOUSTON IN 1939, PROFESSOR RENFRO EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EDUCATION FROM TSU.

AFTER GRADUATING, HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A DESIGNER AND ILLUSTRATOR AT NASA'S MAN SPACE SPACECRAFT CENTER IN HOUSTON, WHERE HE WORKED FROM 1964 TO 1965, AND LATER CONTRIBUTED TO INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL DESIGN PROJECTS, INCLUDING WORK WITH BROWN AND ROOT.

WHEREAS IN 1974, RERO RETURNED TO TSU TO TEACH DESIGN, BEGINNING A CAREER IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT SPANNED DECADES WHILE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP HIS ARTISTIC PRACTICE.

HE SERVED AS AN ARTIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND EARNED A MASTER OF FINE ARTS FROM SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1982.

WHEREAS PROFESSOR RENOLDS ARTISTIC WORK DREW ON AFRICAN, AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS, SYMBOLISM, MEMORY, AND SPIRITUALITY, EXPLORING THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND SHARED HISTORY.

DURING HIS LIFETIME, HIS WORK WAS EXHIBITED IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND, INCLUDING A FEST AC 1977, THE SECOND WORLD BLACK AND AFRICAN FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN LAGOS, NIGERIA, AND IN BLACK ART, ANCESTRAL LEGACY, A 1989 EXHIBITION AT THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART.

AND WHEREAS THROUGH HIS TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP AT TSU, PROFESSOR RENFRO HELPED FOSTER APPRECIATION FOR BLACK ARTISTIC HERITAGE AND SHAPE GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS.

HIS WORK AND INFLUENCE ARE NOW BEING REDISCOVERED BY A NEW GENERATION AND CARRIED FORWARD BY HIS GRANDDAUGHTER, AVERY BROWN RENFRO THROUGH THE EXHIBITION, BROWN RENFRO, THE PROFESSOR, THE STUDENT THROUGH CURATOR ON VIEW AT THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

AND I ALSO CALLED DR.

ELVIA WARDLAW, WHO WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS JUST, JUST SO, UH, SHE WAS BUBBLING OVER ABOUT AVERY AND, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST A PHENOMENAL YOUNG PERSON.

AND THIS EXHIBIT WILL, UH, TAKE PLACE THROUGH OCTOBER THE 25TH.

AND WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 10TH, PROFESSOR RENOLDS FAMILY, FORMER STUDENTS, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED TO VIEW THE EXHIBITION AND REFLECT ON HIS LIFE AND THE BODY AND HIS BODY OF WORK.

ON THIS OCCASION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT D RECOGNIZED PROFESSOR LEON RENFRO, ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS AS A HOUSTON BORN ARTIST AND EDUCATOR WHOSE WORK CONTINUES TO CONNECT GENERATIONS.

MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHAMA, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE RO FAMILY.

FORWARD SO WE CAN CELEBRATE THE PROFESSOR'S LEGACY.

AND I WAS LISTENING AND REALIZING SO MUCH OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE IN A DIFFERENT TIME SETTING.

YES, YES.

WE DIDN'T ALLOW BLACK ARTISTS TO BE AT THE ENSEMBLE THEATER OR AT CITY HALL.

SO I WANNA CELEBRATE HIS HELPING US GET TO VERY CHALLENGING, DIVISIVE TIMES.

HE ALWAYS HAD A VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND IT WAS EXPRESSED IN HIS ART.

SO IT IS A REASON TO PAUSE AND THANK YOU FOR HIS GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS.

AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT HOW YOU MET THE GRANDDAUGHTER YEAH.

SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD DO.

I ALWAYS START DRILLING THE WAITRESSES AND WAITERS THE HELP.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? WHERE'D YOU GO TO SCHOOL? AND IT'S JUST SOME REMARKABLE STORIES IN OUR GREAT CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND ALLOWING US TO BRING YOU FORWARD.

AND MS. MITCHUM FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR, MY GRANDFATHER, PROFESSOR LEON RENFRO, TAUGHT AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR 30 YEARS.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH, 2026, IS A LEGACY OF PROFESSOR LEON REPRO DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO MAYOR WHITMEYER AND DR.

EVAN SHABAZZ

[00:30:01]

HE WORKED AS AN ILLUSTRATOR FOR NASA AND WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN HOUSTON'S ART COMMUNITY.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HIS LEGACY AND CELEBRATE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY.

I BELIEVE ART ISN'T MEANT TO JUST HANG ON WALLS, IT'S MEANT TO BE SHARED, REMEMBERED, AND CARRIED FORWARD.

THAT'S WHAT WE SAY AT THE BROWN RERO EXHIBITION.

WE DON'T JUST HANG THE ART WE CARRIED ON.

THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE MY GRANDFATHER, PROFESSOR LEON RENFRO.

IT TRULY MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI.

AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.

HANG, HANG ON A SECOND.

WE DO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN Q COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI.

UM, THANK YOU MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

AND AVERY, THE ENTIRE FAMILY, UH, I WANT TO JUST TELL YOU ALL CONGRATULATIONS.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, UH, WE PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO COME BEFORE US, OUR FAMILY'S HISTORY, AND THE THINGS THAT THEY DID TO CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSTON.

MY MOTHER, WHEN I HEARD THE NAME, I SAID, I'VE HEARD THIS NAME BEFORE, UH, MANY TIMES GROWING UP, MY MOTHER, UH, DR.

DIANE JEMISON POLLARD, WAS THE DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS AT TSU OH.

AND I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER VIVIDLY HEARING HER SPEAK ABOUT PROFESSOR RENFRO.

AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION AND GLAD THAT YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO BE RECOGNIZED.

DO YOU WANT TO DO IT?

[00:37:48]

MM-HMM .

[2:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

COUNCIL, COME TO ORDER.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN FOR THE INVOCATION.

PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS DEAR.

GOOD AND GRACIOUS.

GOD, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME.

GRANT US WISDOM IN OUR DECISIONS, PATIENCE AND OUR DISAGREEMENTS AND COMPASSION FOR THOSE WE SERVE.

HELP US PUT ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES, OUR DIVISIONS, AND LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND ALWAYS SEEK WHAT'S JUST AND RIGHT.

PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, BLESS OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, AND WATCH OVER EVERY HOUSTONIAN.

AND A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE HOUSTON TEXANS AND TANK DELL, WHO'S COMING BACK AND MAKING HIS SEASON DEBUT ON SUNDAY.

AMEN.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE.

AMEN.

AND FOR WICH NATION, INDI WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, WE GOTTA WIN EVERY DAY.

MM-HMM .

SUNDAY.

MR. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL WHILE YOU AT IT.

SHE SAID, AND GOD, WHILE YOU'RE AT IT,

[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]

GOD.

MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBER, PEG HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER PANZA WILL BE ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ WILL BE ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 13TH AND 14TH.

PROCEDURAL MOTION TO LEAVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD THADDEUS COOKS TO THE, UH, SPEAKER LIST AFTER TRAVIS MCGEE.

ANYONE ELSE IF NOT MR. SECRETARY? UH, CALLER.

[00:40:02]

FIRST SPEAKER

[2:00 P.M. – PUBLIC SPEAKERS]

RICKIE CASTILLO OF HOCK HOCKLEY.

JENNIFER HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY TI SHAW.

GOOD ONE.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER HERNANDEZ.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLY TRADES DISTRICT COUNCIL 10.

ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GULF COAST AREA LABOR FEDERATION.

UH, WE REPRESENT WORKING MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FINISHING TRADES.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 10 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE OFFER BUSINESSES A TAX BREAKS, OUR COMMUNITY GETS SOMETHING MEANINGFUL IN RETURN, LET'S BE CLEAR.

A PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT IS A PUBLIC INVESTMENT.

IT MAKES THE CITY, IT MEANS THE CITY IS AGREEING TO GIVE UP TAX REVENUE THAT COULD OTHERWISE HELP PAY FOR PUBLIC SERVICES.

THAT MONEY, THAT'S MONEY THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.

AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING USED WISELY.

IF A COMPANY RECEIVES A TAX BREAK FROM OUR CITY, WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE THAN A PROMISE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WE SHOULD EXPECT GOOD JOBS, FAIR WAGES, SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AND BENEFITS THAT HELP WORKING FAMILIES MAKE ENDS MEET FROM LABOR'S PERSPECTIVE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD OUR CITY OR THE TAXPAYERS WHO HELP MAKE THESE PROJECTS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHY I-U-P-A-T DISTRICT COUNCIL 10 AND LABOR SUPPORT STRONG ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR COMPANIES RECEIVING THESE TAX BENEFITS.

WE NEED A MEANINGFUL MINIMUM WAGE TIED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MUNICIPAL WAGE AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SHOULD RECEIVE PREVAILING WAGES AND ALSO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS.

AND COMPANIES WITH SU SUBSTANTIATED WAGE THEFT OR SERIOUS WORKPLACE SAFETY VIOLATIONS SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED WITH TAXPAYER FUNDED BENEFITS.

WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED WORKERS BY STRENGTHENING APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENTS WITH A GOAL OF AT LEAST 15% OF TOTAL LABOR HOURS PERFORMED BY APPRENTICES THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CERTIFIED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. AND THESE STANDARDS MUST BE MORE THAN JUST WORDS ON PAPER.

THE CITY NEEDS STRONGER AUDITS, INSPECTIONS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENSURE COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY MEETING THEIR OBLIGATIONS.

WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE THE REAL CHALLENGES WORKING FAMILIES FACE BY INCLUDING CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE AS AN ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY BENEFIT COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST BUSINESS OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PAY THEIR PAY FAIR WAGES, FOLLOW THE LAW, AND MAINTAIN SAFE WORKPLACES AND INVEST IN THEIR EMPLOYEES.

UM, AN INVEST IN THEIR EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COMPETE AGAINST COMPANIES THAT CUT CORNERS AND SHIFT THE COSTS ONTO WORKERS OR TAXPAYERS.

OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD HELP BUILD A STRONGER HOUSTON, NOT SUBSIDIZE POOR LABOR PRACTICES.

WE URGE YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THESE AMENDMENTS AND ESTABLISH CLEAR ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.

WHEN HOUSTON INVEST IN BUSINESSES, THOSE INVESTMENTS SHOULD CREATE GOOD JOBS, SAFER WORKPLACES, AND REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS COUNCIL, JUST A SECOND MA'AM.

MA'AM.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS? YES.

JENNIFER, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE POLICIES WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON ON WEDNESDAY.

THEY ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION OF LABOR UNIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT.

WE ARE GONNA MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE TOGETHER AND JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE ALWAYS YOUR PARTNER IN THE FIGHT.

CITY HALL WAS THE FIRST GOVERNMENT BUILDING TO BE ILLUMINATED IN HONOR OF INTER SIXTH AWARENESS DAY, UH, 10 YEARS AGO.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, Y'ALL.

UH, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OKAY? YEAH.

GOOD AFTERNOON Y'ALL.

THANK Y'ALL FOR, UH, LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.

I'M MO CORTEZ, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT, UH, DISTRICT C I'M THE DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AT THIS.

THAT'S THE HOUSTON INTERSEX SOCIETY.

UH, INTERSEX ARE PEOPLE BORN WITH INNATE VARIATIONS OF CEX OF SEX CHARACTERISTICS.

UH, I WANTED TO WISH EVERYBODY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAPPY INTER SIXTH, UH, AWARENESS MONTH AND ALSO HIT HAPPY INTER SIXTH AWARENESS DAY, WHICH IS 10 26.

THAT'S MONDAY, 10 26.

UH, UH, A QUICK HISTORICAL FACT.

UH, HOUSTON

[00:45:01]

AND AFTER THAT, UM, CITIES ALL OVER THE WALL STARTED DOING THAT AS WELL.

ELIMINATING THEIR, THEIR, UM, BUILDINGS, PURPLE AND YELLOW, WHICH OURS WILL BE ILLUMINATED PURPLE AND YELLOW.

THIS, UH, UH, 10 25, UH, FOR HOUSTON INTERSEX AWARENESS DAY.

AND, UH, INTERSEX AWARENESS DAY IS A 30-YEAR-OLD.

THIS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF IEX AWARENESS DAY, AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE HOUSTON INTERSEX SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM.

AND THE HOUSTON IEX SOCIETY IS THE, THE FIRST AND ONLY INTERSEX EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND, UH, WE HOPE Y'ALL CAN CHECK IT OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT CARLOS ESPINOZA.

ALEXA RAKU TO BE FOLLOWED BY LOLA MACIAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME'S ALEXA RAKU, AND I AM THE VOLUNTEER AND OUTREACH MANAGER WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON.

TODAY'S ELECTION HERO DAY.

SO I, WE WANTED TO COME BY AND THANK ALL OF OUR POLL WORKERS, ELECTION JUDGES, CLERKS, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE VOTING POSSIBLE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, AND WE'LL RUN THROUGH THE 30TH.

THAT'S 12 DAYS, INCLUDING A WEEKEND FOR HOUSTONIANS TO VOTE AT A TIME THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM.

THEIR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOLLOWING EARLY VOTING IS ELECTION DAY, WHICH IS TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.

ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, VOTERS CAN CAST THEIR BALLOTS AT ANY OF THE 75 EARLY VOTE CENTERS FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM POLLING LOCATIONS WILL OPEN AT NOON THIS SUNDAY.

EARLY VOTING REDUCES LINES, GIVES VOTERS FLEXIBILITY AND MEANS FEWER PEOPLE MISS THEIR CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE.

WE ENCOURAGE EVERY HOUSTONIAN TO MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE AND SHOW UP AT THEIR NEAREST POLLING SITE.

NEXT LOLA MAC TO BE FOLLOWED BY SABINE HODGE.

FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

MY NAME IS LOLA MACIAS AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING, 104,600 HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS BEATING THE 2018 FIRST DAY EARLY VOTING TURNOUT OF 63,000 VOTERS.

THAT IS A SIGN OF HOW ENGAGED THEIR COMMUNITY IS.

AND ON ELECTION DAY, HERO DAY, IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THAT THOSE RECORDS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF ELECTION WORKERS WHO STAFF THE POLLS KEPT LINES MOVING AND WELCOMED TO VOTERS.

THAT ENERGY ALSO REFLECTS MONTHS OF WORK BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS HELPING NEIGHBORS REGISTER AND GET READY.

LET'S KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING THROUGH OCTOBER 30TH AND ALL THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY.

HARRIS COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE LONGEST BALLOTS IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR MANY VOTERS THAT CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING.

THAT'S WHY WE WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT TWO FREE NONPARTISAN TOOLS.

THE FIRST IS THE HOUSTON VOTERS GUIDE.ORG BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR HOUSTONIANS.

THIS GUIDE EXPLAINS WHAT'S ON OUR VERY LONG BALLOT, HOW PUBLIC GOVERNMENTS WORK, AND WHY THESE RACES MATTER.

FOR OUR DAILY LIVES, FROM OUR STREETS TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S WRITTEN IN PLAIN LANGUAGE.

SO FIRST TIME AND LONG TIME VOTERS ALIKE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT VOTERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GUESS THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LONG BALLOT.

WE ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SHARE HOUSTON VOTERS GUIDE.ORG WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

YOU CAN PICK UP A PRINTED HOUSTON VOTERS GUIDE FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY OR HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ADDITIONALLY, I DO HAVE SOME COPIES HERE THAT YOU GUYS CAN TAKE TO YOUR OFFICE.

MY NAME IS SABINE HODGE AND I'M ALSO WITH ILLEGAL WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER TOOL.

WE HAVE AVAILABLE VOTE FOUR ONE.ORG.

THAT'S GONNA BE THE LEAGUE'S RESOURCE FOR VOTERS, NOT JUST IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT ALL AROUND OUR REGION.

AND COMMUNITY.

VOTERS CAN GO THERE AND CHECK THEIR REGISTRATION, FIND POLLING LOCATIONS, AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S ON THEIR PERSONALIZED BALLOT.

THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO LOOK UP DIFFERENT CANDIDATES AND COMPARE THEM SIDE BY SIDE IN THESE CANDIDATES OWN WORDS.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND ALL OF THE ELECTION HEROES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND, WHO ARE MAKING THIS ELECTION POSSIBLE.

THE LEAGUE URGES EVERYONE HERE TO VOTE AND TO BRING A FRIEND OR MAYBE TWO, THREE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYONE, AND

[00:50:01]

JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE, UM, REPS FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO IS INVALUABLE.

UM, SO MANY OF US UTILIZE THE VOTER'S GUIDE.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE, WE ALL RAN FOR OFFICE.

WE HAD TO FILL OUT THAT QUESTIONNAIRE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS GUIDE.

SO THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT AND ALWAYS PUSHING THE MESSAGE ABOUT THE POWER OF THE VOTE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

NEXT SCOTTY JOSEPH TO BE FOLLOWED BY WENDY RODRIGUEZ.

I, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

DEAR HONORABLE DEAR HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SCOTTY JOSEPH, AND I'M HERE WRITING ON BEHALF OF THE JOSEPH FAMILY TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROCLAMATION OR OTHER APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION FOR MRS. WILLIE MAE JOSEPH, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF ACRES HOMES IN HOUSTON, DISTRICT B IN HOUSTON'S DISTRICT B AT 99 YEARS OF AGE, MRS. JOSEPH REPRESENTS A REMARKABLE LIVING CONNECTION TO HOUSTON'S HISTORY.

SHE HAS CALLED A ACRES HOME, HOME FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS, ESTABLISHING DEEP ROOTS IN A COMMUNITY SUSTAINED BY ITS FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

THROUGHOUT THOSE, THROUGHOUT THOSE DECADES, SHE HAS SERVED ST.

MONICA'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HER COMMUNITY ACROSS GENERATIONS.

BODYING, FAITH, PERSEVERANCE, AND DEVOTION TO OTHERS.

MRS. JOSEPH IS THE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, GRANDMOTHER OF FOUR, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT, AND GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF ONE.

AS A BELOVED MATRIARCH OF THE JOSEPH FAMILY, SHE CONNECTS FIVE GENERATIONS.

HER ENDURING PRESENCE REMINDS US OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE ELDERS PLAY IN PRESERVING FAMILY HISTORY, PASSING DOWN VALUES, AND STRENGTHENING THE BONDS TO HOLD COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

HER LONG LASTING DEDICATION TO ST.

MONICA'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HER LEGACY.

HER COMMITMENT TO HER CONGREGATION AND HER BROADER ACRE HOME.

AC ACRES HOMES COMMUNITY DESERVES RECOGNITION ALONGSIDE HER EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY.

HER LIFE REFLECTS THE LASTING IMPACT OF HOUSTON'S RESIDENTS WHO CONTRIBUTE, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ROOTED IN FAMILY AND FAITH AND SERVICE.

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT TO WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE SUPPORT OF DISTRICT B OFFICE IN ADVANCING THIS RECOGNITION, WE ALL, WE ASK THE CITY TO CONSIDER HONORING MRS. JOSEPH IN 2026 FOR HER SUSTAINED PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND DEVOTION TO CHURCH, AN ENDURING FAMILY LEGACY.

THANK YOU MR. JOSEPH FOR BEING HERE.

SO, YEAH, AND UM, GO AHEAD, MAYOR.

GIVE YOUR MOTHER OUR BEST REGARDS AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET THAT PROCLAMATION DONE BY.

YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

YEP.

AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, JUST SHARING THAT HISTORY OF, OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER IS, IT'S A EXTENSIVE HISTORY AND I KNOW COMING FROM ACRES HOMES, SHE IS JUST AN AMAZING WOMAN, AMAZING WOMAN.

EVERYONE IN DISTRICT B IS THE BEST GRANDMOTHER.

UM, SO, BUT MY OFFICE WILL, UM, HELP YOU.

WE WOULD SUBMIT THAT, UM, REQUEST FOR YOU.

SO, UM, DO YOU HAVE OUR EMAIL ADDRESS? UH, UH, ACTUALLY I'M HEADED ACROSS THE STREET RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE ALREADY SET EVERYTHING UP.

I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO SERENA, SO WE'RE ON IT.

SERENA.

WENDY RODRIGUEZ OF KINGWOOD DIANE SHEPHERD.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

TRAVIS MCGEE TO BE FOLLOWED BY THADDEUS COOKS.

GOOD EVENING.

I BROUGHT A, A PAMPHLET ALSO ON PAGE THREE.

IT WAS A LEGAL DUMPING IN HEAVY TRASH.

UH, WE TURNED THIS PLAN IN LIKE TWO YEARS AGO, OCTOBER OF, OF TWO YEARS AGO.

SO THAT'S TWO YEARS AGO, RIGHT? SO I'M HERE TODAY.

I'M THE CIVIC PRESIDENT FOR SUNNYSIDE GARDEN BIO STATES, AS WELL AS THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT FOR SOUTH PARK.

THE CITY DEPOSITORY IS A BIG PART OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING PROBLEM.

UH, THE SUNBEAM LOCATION.

THEY'RE TURNING FAR TOO MANY RESIDENTS AWAY.

UH, THEY CANNOT ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY IS A CONTRACTOR.

THE PEOPLE FROM OUTTA TOWN GET TO SEE, GET TO SHOW THEIR DRIVER THE LICENSE AND THEIR TAX BILL.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE DON'T HAVE THAT GRACE.

WE GOTTA GO ALL THE WAY BACK HOME AND GET A BILL AS A CIVICALLY.

THERE'S

[00:55:01]

A CIVIC PRESIDENT.

SOMETIME I HAVE TO DRAG THE MATTRESS OUTTA THE STREETS SO WE COULD DRIVE BY THE LIVING ROOM SET OUTTA THE STREET.

SOMETIME WE HAVE TO MOVE A WHOLE BOAT OUT OF OUR THIRD FILES TO GET BY.

AND WHEN WE GO BACK HERE TO THIS ILLEGAL DUMP, SOMETIME THEY'LL ASLEEP.

IT'S LESS THAN 30 SECONDS FROM ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS DUMP SITES IN HOUSTON, WHICH IS JUTTING.

IF THEY GOT TIME TO SEE SLEEP, THEY GOT TIME TO PICK THAT TRASH UP.

BUT I HAD TO, I HAD TO KEEP TRASH ON MY TRUCK FOR A DAY AND A HALF.

I WOUND UP, I HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY TO LAWNDALE LOCATION, ALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THE TRASH.

THEN WHEN THEY, THEY DO FIND THE LET US IN, THEY TOOK ME EVERY BIT OF 30 SECONDS TO THROW SOME OF THE TRASH OFF MY TRUCK.

EVEN WHEN IT'S NO LINE, THEY STILL TURNING PEOPLE AWAY.

WE RALLY THE TRASH GOING THAT DEPOSITORY VERSUS OUR DITCHES, OUR THIRD FAST, OUR DRIVEWAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT HAS BEEN A VERY BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM.

74, 74 40 CULLIN, 6 46 0 5 WILMINGTON, AND 33, 0, 3300 BEDFORD ALL ARE OWNED BY THE CITY.

THERE'S NO WAY WE SHOULD BE WAITING FOUR HOURS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE, UH, DUMPSTER TO COME BACK.

IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD HOW WE KNOW YOU GOT MULTIPLE PROPERTIES.

SO WHAT IF I GOT MULTIPLE PROPERTIES? I GOTTA PAY TAXES ON ALL OF THEM.

SO, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM AND IT'S DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO DRIVE AROUND A WEEK OR SO WITH THEIR STUFF ON THE BACK OF THEIR TRUCK AFTER THEY TRY TO TAKE IT TO THE DUMP.

AND THEN WHEN YOU DO COME BACK SOMETIME, THEY'LL SAY, WELL, THE DUMPSTER FULL NOW.

THEN YOU GO BACK THE NEXT MORNING, THEY SAY, OKAY, YOU GOT TO WAIT FOUR HOURS FOR US TO RECEIVE THE DUMPSTER NOW.

SO THAT HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHY SO MUCH TRASH.

ONE OF THE REASONS SO MUCH TRASH IS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, BY CITY, CITY, BY, BY THEIR, BY THEIR, UH, TAKE OF IT.

YOU COULD COME IN WITH A, A TRAILER LESS THAN 10 FEET WITH FOUR FEET WALLS ON IT.

THAT'S STILL TWO DUMPS.

WHAT IF I WANTED TO USE ALL FOUR OF MY DUMPS IN ONE DAY? WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE 80-YEAR-OLD LADY HAVE THIS BIG TREE DROPPED IN HER FRONT YARD? HEAVY TRASH.

DON'T PICK IT UP.

THE FIRST CYCLE, THE SECOND CYCLE WE LEFT TO GO OVER THERE AND HELP HER, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE HARASSED WHEN WE GO BACK THERE TO THE CITY DUMP.

UH, I WITNESSED A GENTLEMAN HAD MAYBE SIX PIECES OF SHEET ROCK.

THEY MADE HIM BAG IT UP PIECES, NOT SHEETS.

SO, AND WE, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHO REALLY WANNA WORK AT ALL.

IF WE GONNA BE PAYING THESE PEOPLE, WE WANT THEM TO WORK, NOT MAKE LIFE'S HARD FOR THE RESIDENTS, BUT IF YOU, IF YOU DRIVE DOWN LIN RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE LIVING ROOM SET.

YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU MIGHT SEE A BOAT ONE DAY.

YOU MIGHT SEE A HALF A TRUCK ONE DAY.

AND MOST OF THE TIME IT'S THE RESIDENTS TRYING TO PUSH IT OUT THE WAY.

EVEN WHEN WE CALL THREE ON ONE, WE STILL GONNA SEE IT OUT THERE.

ANOTHER 90 DAYS, ANOTHER 60 DAYS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY, ANY DIFFERENCE.

BUT WE'D RATHER THEM PUT THE STUFF IN THE DUMPSTER.

AND IF IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THESE CONTRACTORS, THEN THEY'RE, THE ONES NEED TO BE FINED.

JUST LIKE WHEN THEY PULL UP THE BUILDING PERMIT, MAKE THEM PULL A DUMPSTER PERMIT ALSO.

AND IF THEY DON'T SHOW PROOF OF DISCARDING THAT TRASH THE CORRECT WAY, THEN DO NOT GIVE 'EM THEIR FINAL PERMIT.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF SOLUTIONS TO IT, BUT THIS WAS TURNED IN LIKE TWO YEARS AGO SPEAKING.

VERY GOOD.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS.

A SENIOR, THEY'LL SAY, YOU CAN'T COME BACK IN THAT SAME TRUCK.

AND THANK YOU MR. MCGEE.

WE ARE CERTAINLY ON THE SAME SIDE OF THIS ISSUE.

UH, IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM.

PEOPLE COME AND THEN THEY SIT IN THE LINE AND THEN THEY'RE TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT DUMP.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO? THEY'RE GONNA DROP IT RIGHT THERE ON THAT JUTLAND STREET AND PLACES THEY'RE NOT TAKING THEIR TRASH BACK HOME.

BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION JUST YESTERDAY ACTUALLY, THAT THEY ARE TURNING PEOPLE AWAY SAYING THAT THEY'RE FULL.

AND SO WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DO IS TO GET SOME ROLLOUT CANS TO KINDA HELP TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY YOU'VE MADE SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS.

AND I BELIEVE DESMOND ALLEN, WHO IS OUR COMMUNITY LIAISON MM-HMM .

IS GONNA GET WITH YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM.

AND IT'S BASICALLY IN THE BACKYARD OF YOUR BUSINESS, RIGHT? AND SO YOU SEE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS, RIGHT? SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND REALLY WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS TERRIBLE, RIGHT? UH, AND I WANT YOU TO STAY ON THE FOREFRONT OF IT, AND WE ARE GONNA WORK WITH YOU AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AND WE HOPE THAT THOSE ROLLAWAY CANS CAN HELP TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT RIGHT.

UH, BEING TURNED AWAY.

SO, AND IF YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO SAY, PLEASE TAKE MY TIME.

PEOPLE ARE EVEN ASKED TO TEAR THE, UH, THE, THE DRESSER DOWN, MAYOR, THE, THE CHESTER DRAWS DOWN AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT MS. JOHNSON, WHO'S 80 YEARS OLD, CAN'T DO THAT.

IF I HAVE TO USE MY TRUCK TO GO AND HELP

[01:00:01]

THAT IS, THAT IS VERY IGNORANT IN MY OPINION.

SURE.

COUNCILOR SALINAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO COUNCIL.

JUST WANTED TO SHARE, I THINK A BIT OF GOOD NEWS.

UM, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BEEN RELAYED TO YOU AT THE LAST, UH, MEETING WHERE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WE CONFRONTED HIM WITH THE IDEA THAT WE HEARD AT A COMMUNITY MEETING EXACTLY WHAT YOU RAISED, HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO DISPOSE AT OUR DISPOSAL SITES.

HE AGREED THAT THE CITY WOULD AMEND THEIR CURRENT POLICY THAT REQUIRES BOTH A UTILITY BILL AND AN ID TO DISPOSE OF TRASH, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ROLLING OUT A MODIFIED PLAN THAT WILL BE MORE, MORE CLOSELY REMEMBER WHAT OTHER CITIES DO, WHICH SIMPLY REQUIRE EITHER AN ID OR A UTILITY BILL.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE PRESSING PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THE FINAL DATE ON WHEN THAT NEW POLICY WILL ROLL OUT.

BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

AND I WAS SO GLAD TO SEE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AGREE PUBLICLY THAT HE WOULD DO SO.

UH, BUT THANK YOU.

WELL, I GO, I, I JUST WANT SOMETHING DONE BY THE, UH, SUNBEAM LOCATION DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SOME FIXES ARE EASY COMMON SENSE FIXES.

UH, I GET THROUGH THE AIRPORTS EASIER THEN TAKING TRASH BACK THERE.

THANK YOU MAYOR TRAVIS, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND UH, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALREADY WORK TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE, UH, THESE CHALLENGES.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON IS WHEN YOU GO THERE AND HAVING A BREAKDOWN, WHETHER IT'S ADDRESS, I'VE HAD CONSTITUENT MORE RECENTLY, UH, WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, UH, CALL IN SAYING THAT, UH, THEY HAD TO BREAK DOWN THEIR FENCE, TAKE IT APART IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DUMP IT AS WELL.

SO, UH, JUST KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, RAISING TO THE TOP.

WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIRECTOR, UH, FROM SOLID WASTE, BUT ALSO FROM, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.

AND SO, UH, HEARING YOU MENTION THIS, KNOW THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO PRESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS, PROCESSES AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I THINK ONE, ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL IS THAT SOLID WASTE FINALLY IS BEING FUNDED AT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

UH, FOR HISTORICALLY WE'VE BEEN AT 90 TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR WE'RE AT OVER $130 MILLION.

THOSE DOLLARS HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT'S STAFFING, WHETHER IT'S EQUIPMENT OR FACILITY.

SO, UH, APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

UH, AND, AND THIS IS THIS, UH, THIS CHALLENGE INITIALLY YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD IS NOTED.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SHABA.

UH, ONE OTHER COMMENT, MAYOR, AND, AND THIS IS TO YOU.

I'M TOLD THAT SUNBEAM MAY BE TOO SMALL FOR ALL OF THE TRASH RIGHT? THAT IS COMING THERE.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF FINDING ANY OTHER LOCATIONS MAYBE NEAR SUNBEAM? I GOT IT.

THAT, THAT COULD PERHAPS MANAGE, UH, THE INTAKE THAT WE HAVE.

MAY I GOT IT.

THE OLD INCINERATOR PLANT, 3,300 BEDFORD, THAT'S, THAT'S CITY PROPERTY.

THERE'S NO REASON TO KEEP MESSING AROUND AT THAT DUMP OVER THERE.

TRYING TO PUT SOLAR FARMS AND EVERYTHING.

TAKES THIS TRASH TO A ALREADY EXISTING DUMP.

THEY USE IT TO PRACTICE WITH THE HEAVY TRUCKS AND STUFF OVER THERE.

3,300 BEDFORD IS 1 46 0 5 IS THE OLD, UH, SUNNYSIDE MULTI SERVICE CENTER.

AND 74 40 CULLEN IS A WATER UTILITY, UH, PLACE FOR ON, ON CULLEN.

ALL THOSE ARE OWNED BY THE CITY.

ALL OF 'EM, UH, HAVE SECURED FENCING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THAT'S BETTER THAN WAIT FOUR HOURS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS FOR ANOTHER DUMPSTER TO COME.

VERY GOOD.

WE'RE TAKING UP WITH, COULD YOU SEND THOSE ADDRESSES TO INGRAM? THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NEXT THA THADDEUS COOKS TO BE FOLLOWED BY BERNADETTE CAGNEY REEVES.

OF COURSE.

I'M, I'M THADDEUS COOKS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SUNNYSIDE AREA.

I'M A RESIDENT INDIRECT EFFECT OF THE ISSUE THAT WE DISCUSSING ABOUT THE JU UM, DEPOSITORY.

I DON'T, I THINK MAYBE SPECULATION.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT MY EXPERIENCE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT GO ON, BUT JUST HEARING IT FROM SOMEONE WHO'S, WHO'S ACTUALLY ON THE RESIDENT SIDE, UM, I DO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS OF CUTTING DOWN LIKE FENCES.

UH, MAYBE THREE PICKETS WIDE BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP THE SPACE IN THE DUMPSTERS.

YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS MAKE SENSE.

BUT WHAT, WHEN I, MY LAST EXPERIENCE WAS THE WORST.

I WENT THERE WITH A, A PICKUP TRUCK AND A TRAILER AND, UM, WE HAD FURNITURE THAT WE WAS MOVING THAT WAS GONNA STAY ON THE PICKUP TRUCK, BUT WE HAD THE STUFF ON THE TRAILER THAT WE WERE GOING TO DUMP.

THEY TOLD ME THAT, WELL FIRST OF ALL, THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THEIR DOING.

THEY ONLY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

AND PEOPLE ARE MAD AT THEM, FUSSING AT THEM, CURSING THEM OUT BECAUSE OF THE RULES THAT THEY GOTTA FOLLOW.

THE WORKERS TRIED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IS NOT THEM.

BUT THE NEW RULES CAME ABOUT AND THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW 'EM.

I WANNA FIRST SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE RULES.

[01:05:01]

I THINK MAYBE THEY WAS JUST MAKING SOME RULES UP JUST TO SAY THAT THEY DOING SOMETHING IN, THEY WORK IN, THEY SCOPE, IN THEY JOB CAPACITY.

SAY THEY LOOK LIKE THEY DOING SOMETHING, BUT THEY DID WORSE, SPECIFICALLY GETTING TO THE POINTS OF WHICH WE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

THEY SAID THAT I HAVE TO GET THE STUFF, THE FURNITURE OFF THE BACK OF MY TRUCK AND THEN COME BACK TO THE DUMP TO GET THE, TO DUMP THE STUFF THAT WAS ON THE TRAILER.

THEY JUST, THEY COULDN'T, I COULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO JUST KEEP IT ON THE TRUCK.

THAT WAS NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THEY SAID IT COULDN'T, WHAT I HAD STACKED WAS STRAPPED.

IT COULDN'T BE MORE THAN FOUR FEET HIGH.

AND THE DRESSER HAD TO BE BROKEN DOWN.

THAT WAS NUMBER TWO.

NUMBER THREE, THE TRAILER WAS NOT AN EXTENDED LONG TRAILER, TO BE FAIR, I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TRAILERS.

'CAUSE IT'LL BE A HAZARD DIFFICULTY GETTING IN.

IT WAS JUST MAYBE 12 FEET OR 10 FEET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY SAID I CAN'T COME BACK WITH THE TRAILER.

WHAT LOCATION WAS THAT? THE SAME LOCATION THAT WE ARE SPEAKING OF, UH, THE SUNBEAM LOCATION, SIR.

AND, UM, UH, I'M TRYING TO RUN THROUGH IT QUICK 'CAUSE I KNOW MY TIME IS LIMITED, SIR.

NO, YOU, Y'ALL BEAR WITH ME.

PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME.

UM, THE OTHER THING, SO MIND YOU THAT AS I'M BEING TOLD THIS, IT'S KIND OF NOT ALL AT ONCE.

I DONE WENT AND GOT RID OF ONE ISSUE AND CAME BACK.

THERE WAS ANOTHER ISSUE.

I WENT AND BROKE UP THE DRESSER AND I CAME BACK.

AND THEN AFTER I GOT THE FURNITURE OFF THE TRUCK, I CAME BACK AND THEY SAID, THIS DRESSER CAN'T BE TAKEN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT UP.

I CAME BACK AGAIN AND THEY SAYING, WELL, WE, I REALLY WORKING WITH YOU, BUT YOU CAN'T COME BACK IN THE TRAILER NO MORE.

SO AFTER I GOT ALL OF THAT DONE, DID ALL OF THE WORK AND GOT IT DONE, A NEIGHBOR NEEDED SOME STUFF TO BE DUMPED.

WE LOADED IT ON THE TRAILER.

OF COURSE, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

AFTER WE LOADED ON ON THE TRAILER, THEY SAID THAT I, MY NEIGHBOR'S IN THE CAR WITH ME, WITH HER DRIVER'S LICENSE AND HER BILL.

NOW I GET THE UTILITY AND I GET THE LICENSE.

'CAUSE THAT'S THE CUT DOWN ON CONTRACTORS USING OUR DUMP.

WE WE NEED FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN COME BACK IN MY TRUCK WITH MY NEIGHBOR HELPING MY NEIGHBOR BECAUSE I ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE DUMPS IN MY PERIOD.

AND THESE ARE THE NEW RULES WHEN THAT HAPPEN.

UM, JUST LAST MONTH, I'M, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE.

NO, NO.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE EXACT, I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT IT IN A TIMEFRAME.

YES, SIR.

IT WAS, IT WAS JUST A MONTH AGO.

AND, UM, IT'S JUST TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS.

AND I'VE EVEN SPOKEN WITH, UH, OUR MEMBER MR. BASS ON CERTAIN SOLUTIONS ABOUT THE TRASH.

BUT NOW THE, THE THING IS, IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THE TRASH NO MORE.

IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO EVEN GET TO THE DUMP NOW.

SOUNDS LIKE SOME BULLIES TO ME.

SOME, SOME FORM OF BOVINE DEPOSIT, SIR.

I DON'T KNOW.

COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN HERE.

AND AS COUNCILWOMAN SALINAS SPOKE ABOUT, UH, IN OUR GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS MEETING WHEN WE WERE, UH, DEALING WITH PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, UH, MACKEY, AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOLID WASTE.

UH, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEPOSITORIES AND THEY ABSOLUTELY KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT THE DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES.

UH, AND I THINK OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS ISN'T ANYTHING NEW, THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR A LONG TIME.

UH, THEY PUT IN RULES THAT SEEM REASONABLE ON THEIR FACE, BUT I THINK ACTUALLY MAY CAUSE US MORE PROBLEMS WITH DUMPED TRASH, ILLEGAL DUMPING THAN THE HEADACHE.

IT SAVED US IN THE, IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE USING OUR DUMPS FOR FREE.

SO WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RESIDENCE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF SOMEBODY'S TAKING THE TROUBLE AS COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ TALKED ABOUT, TO PUT THEIR TRASH INTO A TRUCK OR A TRAILER AND BRING IT DOWN THERE AND YOU TELL 'EM, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT, ODDS ARE IT'S NOT GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY THAT IT'S GONNA END UP BEING DUMPED.

AND THAT'S EVEN A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR US.

SO I, I KNOW THE DIRECTOR'S LOOKING AT THIS AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME CHANGES HERE BEFORE TOO LONG.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR POLLARD.

CAN DO TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

UM, TO YOU AND TRAVIS, UH, I WANT TO FIRST APOLOGIZE.

UM, FOR ONE, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES RESPECT THE RESIDENTS AND, AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL WITH A CERTAIN DECORUM AND LEVEL OF RESPECT AS WELL.

UH, SECONDLY, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY PRUDENT, UM, FOR YOU ALL AND OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO BE ABLE TO CONVEY TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, MAYBE ALL OF US ON FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, WHAT MAKES SENSE, RIGHT? BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE PUT IN PLACE RULES AND POLICIES THAT ON ITS FACE, YOU KNOW, SEEM PRACTICAL, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT ON A DAY TO DAY IS NOT PRACTICAL.

SO HEARING DIRECTLY FROM YOU ALL ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK NEED TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE OR REVISE, UH, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT, UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THEN SEE WHAT WE

[01:10:01]

WE WANT TO MAKE THE SYSTEM, UH, AND THE PROCESS AS EFFICIENT AND ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE.

WE WANT YOU ALL TO, UH, HAVE A STREAMLINED PROCESS AND WE WANT YOU ALL TO, UH, BE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE DEPOSITORY BECAUSE IF NOT, THEN YOU'LL GET FRUSTRATED AND OTHERS WILL GET FRUSTRATED AND WE WON'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THERE WILL BE MORE DUMPING.

SO, UM, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO GET THOSE IDEAS OVER TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYBE TO ALL OF US SO WE CAN TAKE YOUR IDEAS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENTS START TO IMPLEMENT THEM.

BUT AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, UH, WE APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR INCONVENIENCE.

AND I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR MR. POLLY, IF I MAY.

SURE.

HE DOESN'T, AND I HEARD YOU SAY WHO MADE THE RULES.

IT MIGHT SEEM GOOD TO THEM ON FACE VALUE WHAT THEY WAS LOOKING AT, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY THEIR WORKERS AND US, WE ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE IN THE FIELD EXPERIENCING THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE BEHIND THE DESK WHEN IT COMES TO CONFER.

HOW CAN WE GIVE REBUTTAL OR EMAIL TO SAY THESE RULES HERE, THIS IS THE RESULT AND THIS IS A PROBLEM TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF IT.

WHO MADE THE RULES? CAN WE GET A NAME OR NAME? YEAH.

I, I DON'T, I THINK THE, I THINK WE'LL, GOOD.

THE APP, I THINK THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT IS FOR, FOR THERE TO BE A, A SIT DOWN IN A DISCUSSION IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY WHERE YOU ALL CAN GIVE YOUR INPUT WITH THE DECISION MAKERS WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS DONE THEN YOU ALL CAN HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS TO GET THE RIGHT POLICIES IN PLACE THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT.

AND SO I WOULD START THERE IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND I BELIEVE THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE GET DONE, I WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO GET DONE IF WE GO IN THAT PROCESS.

BUT EMAIL WORKS FINE IF WE CAN'T BREAK AWAY, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE IT WORK.

OKAY, SIR.

THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I, I WAS LOOKING FOR YOUR NAME ON THE LIST AND YOU WERE ADDED.

WILL YOU GIVE THAT GENTLEMAN AT THE FRONT TABLE YOUR CONTACT AND WE WILL, WE WILL HAVE THE PERSON THAT MADE THOSE RULES TALK TO YOU.

LAW TO ENSURE THAT I AM PROCEEDING APPROPRIATELY.

IF WE CAN FIND HIM.

, IT MAY NOT EXIST.

NEXT.

BERNADETTE CAGNEY REEVES, MS. STEIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY REGINA SOFAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM A RESIDENT OF THE GRAY, AN AFFORDABLE SENIOR APARTMENT COMMUNITY OWNED BY NEW HOPE HOUSING AND MANAGED BY FDI GROUP IN HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD.

THE GRAY OPENED IN AUGUST OF 2025, YET RESIDENTS FACED SERIOUS CONCERNS INCLUDING BLACK MODE, QUESTIONABLE WATER QUALITY, SEVERE GNAT AND ROACH PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS SI SECONDHAND CIGARETTE SMOKE AND MARIJUANA ENTERING APARTMENTS.

SINCE MOVING IN, I HAVE ACQUIRED AN INHALER AND HAVE SOUGHT EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE I NOT CANNOT BREATHE.

AS OF RECENTLY, THE SMELL OF MODE COMES THROUGH MY AIR CONDITION VENT.

MY APARTMENT HAS FAILED THREE HOOD INSPECTIONS.

ALL OWNERS' RESPONSIBILITY, THE ELEVATOR EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM, AND HALLWAY EMERGENCY BUTTONS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE THE BUILDING OPENED.

DESPITE COMPLAINTS, NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THOSE ISSUES.

THIS WAS PRESENTED AS A NON-SMOKING COMMUNITY.

WE DESERVE A SAFE, HEALTHY HOME REGARDLESS OF OUR AGE OR INCOME.

UNDER PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT, SECURITY PERSONNEL PATROLLED THE PROPERTY.

THE SECURITY PRESENCE ENDED UNDER FDI AFTER RESIDENCE VEHICLE.

AFTER A RESIDENCE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN INTO WHILE THE GATES WERE NOT WORKING, I POSTED A NOTICE ENCOURAGING NEIGHBORS TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

AND INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING OUR SECURITY CONCERNS, MANAGEMENT THREATENED ME WITH A LEASE VIOLATION.

I HAVE NOW RECEIVED THREE LEASE VIOLATIONS CONNECTED TO RAISING CONCERNS, SHARING INFORMATION, AND ORGANIZING ATTENDANCE MEETING BEFORE ACTING.

I RESEARCH EVERY STATE AND FEDERAL

[01:15:01]

I HAVE ALSO DOCUMENTED DISRESPECTFUL TREATMENT, INCLUDING BEING TOLD, KNOW YOUR PLACE, YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE PRESIDENT OF AN ASSOCIATION.

THE MOST DISTURBING THING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY ROOM AND OUR MANAGER CREEPED ALONG THE WALL TO PEEK TO SEE WHAT I WAS DOING.

THIS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CAMERAS.

ON THE VERY EVENING OF OUR FIRST TENNIS MEETING, WE WERE LOCKED OUT OF THE COMMUNITY ROOM, WHICH NORMALLY REMAINS OPEN 24 7.

THE SECOND MEETING, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL AT 9:00 AM OF A OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULED THE SAME TIME AS OUR MEETING.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO NOT SAY NO TO FREE FOOD.

AWESOME.

THAT WAS THREE MINUTES.

GO AHEAD.

WOW.

I MUST ADD THAT THE DOOR.

OKAY, I SAID THAT ALREADY.

UM, OH, I MUST ADD THAT THE DOOR, WE HAVE TWO BUILDINGS, ONE AND TWO.

THE DOORS IN OUR FIRST BUILDING HAVE NOT BEEN LOCKED.

I WAS TOLD BY OUR MANAGER THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS CAME FROM NEW HOPE HOUSING.

I HAVE CORRESPONDED WITH NEW HOPE, FDI CONTACTED HOUSING AND LEGAL AGENCIES.

I HAVE ALSO INFORMED MRS. SHE'S OFFICE.

I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS, RECORDINGS, AND WRITTEN RECORDS OF EVERYTHING.

I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ASSISTANCE.

AND DIRECTIONS TO HELP ENSURE SAFE, HEALTHY HOUSING, PROPER ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE RIGHT OF RESIDENTS TO RAISE CONCERNS WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION.

I SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO ARE TOO AFRAID TO SPEAK.

IT'S BETWEEN, UM, LIVE OAKS AND SOY.

ALRIGHT.

REBECCA WILLIAMS, WILL YOU CHECK ON THAT AND STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE MS. CELESTE? THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO TALK TO COUNSELOR.

JUST A SECOND COUNSELOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, MAKE SURE THAT, I THINK INGRAM IS OUT THERE TOO, SO SHE KNOWS.

IF YOU ALL COULD WORK TOGETHER TO TRY THIS, PLEASE.

'CAUSE THIS IS FRUSTRATING.

WE ARE IN THE TWILIGHT OF OUR LIFE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH THIS.

AND NOBODY SHOULD BE.

WE AGREE, MA'AM.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

REGINA SOFAS, DERE WOODS, KATHY GUNTHER, CARAM ADAM OF ROSENBERG, SAMUEL MAYS TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE LE BLANCHE.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

UH, I'VE BEEN HAVING A REAL HARD TIME AT MY PROPERTY.

UH, OKAY.

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, UH, AND, UH, TO TRY TO GET HELP AND, UH, I AT MY HOUSE AND I COULDN'T GET NONE.

AND I JUST BEEN RUNNING C CIRCLES.

THEY TOLD ME WE WERE GONNA TALK TO SOMEBODY AND THEY SENT ME OUTSIDE AND THAT NOBODY EVER TALKED TO ME.

I HAD TO GET A POLICE OFFICER TO TAKE MY PHONE NUMBER AND I HAD TO HAD THE, SOMEBODY ELSE CALLED ME, BUT NOBODY EVER HELPED.

SO, UH, A LOT OF MY, YEAH, I DID NOT GET A DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO GO TO A COURT, UH, ANNEX TO, UH, TALK TO ME.

AND THEY SAID THEY'RE GONNA COME INSPECT MY HOUSE IN 30 DAYS.

I ALREADY GOT PERMITS AND EVERYTHING AND, UH, MY TRUCK STARTED TO FIRE.

SO I GOT THERE LATE.

AND, UH, THEY SAID THEY HAD A, THEY HAD A, A HEARING WITHOUT ME.

AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

AND I, I ALREADY GOT PERMITS AND MY TAXES ARE PAID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST STEADILY, UH, YOU KNOW, OUT TO GET ME.

AND, UH, FIVE OF MY CARS GOT IMPOUNDED.

UH, IT COST ME 15 THOU, $1,500, AND THEY GAVE THE TICKETS TO THE CASHIER TO GIVE IT TO ME.

SO NOBODY EVER TALKED TO ME.

NOBODY EVER TOLD ME ABOUT THESE, UH, HOUSES.

[01:20:01]

A A MILE FROM THERE.

WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING AT ONE OF MY HOUSES, ANOTHER HOUSE GOT HIT.

I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHEN THEY PUT THE TRASH OUT, EVERYTHING WAS GONE.

SO, UH, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UH, WHO TO WHO ELSE TO CALL TO GET HELP.

I ALREADY CALLED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

THEY SENT ME TO TALK TO SOME RECEPTIONIST DOWN AT THE ANN BUILDING.

SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE LAWYER OR NOTHING.

SO THEY JUST BEEN SENDING ME IN CIRCLES.

I TALKED TO, UH, A SERGEANT.

SHE WAS GONNA SAY SHE GONNA HAVE THAT APARTMENT THAT SHE, THAT UH, UH, INSPECTOR ARRESTED.

AND THEN A WEEK LATER SHE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THE LIEUTENANT WOULDN'T LET HER.

SO I JUST BEEN GOING ON CIRCLES OVER ONE CIRCLE INTO ANOTHER, JUST BUYING TIME.

SO THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY GOTTA DO.

BUT MEANWHILE, THEY TOOK ALL MY STUFF, MY BELONGINGS, MY MATERIAL FOR THE HOUSE, UH, TRAILERS, UH, CARS, UH, WOOD, ALL MY, UH, FOR MY OTHER HOUSES, METAL, WOOD, UH, BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES.

THEY TOOK IT ALL.

AND I, BUT THE MAN SAYS HE COULDN'T HELP ME.

SO, MR. MEINA, UH, HAS ANYONE TOLD YOU YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE COMPLAINING, BUT THEY, THEY STILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH.

THEY STOLE MY, MY TRAILER AND MY MOTORCYCLE.

I WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY SAID THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

HE SAID THIS, YOU SHOULD GO TO THE POLICE WITH THIS.

SO I GO TO THE POLICE.

THEY SENT ME BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THEY'D JUST BEEN SENDING ME BACK AND FORTH, WENT TO EVERYWHERE THAT THEY'D BEEN SAVING THINGS.

AND, UH, THERE WAS NOTHING THERE THAT WAS TOO SMALL.

THE PLACE IS TOO SMALL FOR, UM, THEY PUT EVERYTHING THEY TOOK OF MINE, 16 FOOT TRAILERS, MY MOTORCYCLES, MY LAWNMOWERS, MINE.

WHO, WHO TOOK THIS PROPERTY? UH, ARTURO BAAN IS THE ONE THAT WORKS FOR THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND, UH, HE, HE KNEW, I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

HE'S BEEN TO MY HOUSE.

HE, UH, KNOWS MY PHONE NUMBER.

HE KNOWS HOW TO GET AHOLD OF ME.

HE NEVER DID.

OKAY, WE'LL CHECK WITH HIM.

I TALKED TO HIS BOSS.

HIS BOSS IS THE ONE THAT SENT ME TO GO TALK TO THE POLICE.

THE POLICE IS JUST, JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, SENDING ME IN CIRCLES.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

GEORGE LEBLA NEXT TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALFREDA FRANKLIN.

GREETINGS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I RESPECTFULLY ASKED THAT TWO OFFICIAL RESPONSES BE PREPARED FOR ME BY THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAK MEETING.

ONE, WHY WAS I HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHISTLEBLOWER LE BLANCHE, NOT REHIRED.

SUMMER 2026 TWO, PLEASE RELEASE THE LE BLANCHE WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATION INVESTIGATION FILE.

THE THREE OF HOUSTON ATTORNEY ARE TWO, MICHELLE AND OIG ROBIN CURTIS ARE ROUTINELY VIOLATING AND THUMBING THEIR NOSES AT THE LAW, THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE TEXAS THIRD COURT OF APPEALS BY NOT RELEASING OPEN RECORD REQUESTS OF EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION FILES.

THESE ARE ALSO VIOLATIONS OF THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S ANTI-CORRUPTION TRANSPARENCY MANDATE.

IN 2014, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE TEXAS DISTRICT COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF KTRK TV 13 NEWS AND SUBSEQUENTLY ON APPEAL CITY OF HOUSTON VERSUS KENT PAXTON, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THE COURT MEMORANDUM OPINION WAS HANDED DOWN ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 2016.

OFFICIAL RULING WAS THE TEXAS THIRD COURT OF APPEALS.

AUSTIN RULED AGAINST THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AFFIRMING A LOWER COURT ORDER THAT REQUIRED THE CITY TO RELEASE THE DISPUTED INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS.

THE COURT'S LOGIC.

THE CITY OF HOUSTON ARGUED THAT BECAUSE THE OIG WAS PLACED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER 1 39, THE INTERNAL SWORN STATEMENTS AND WITNESS INTERVIEWS COLLECTED DURING EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS WERE SHIELDED BY ATTORNEY KLINE PRIVILEGE.

THE OUTCOME THE THIRD QUARTER OF APPEALS REJECTED THE CITY'S SWEEPING CONFIDENTIALITY CLAIMS UNDER THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.

THE COURT HELD THAT THE CITY COULD NOT BLANKETLY CONCEAL STANDARD FACT FINDING INTERVIEWS AND INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS SIMPLY BY ROUTING THEM THROUGH AN INTERNAL OIG ATTORNEY.

FINALLY, AND AGAIN, I FELT ASKED MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THIS CITY COUNCIL TO TERMINATE THIS OPEN RECORD ABUSE BY CITY ATTORNEY OTO, MICHELLE AND OIG ROBIN CURTIS, AND TO ORDER THEIR COMPLIANCE TO THE TEXAS THIRD COURT OF APPEALS RULING AND MAYOR WHITTIER'S ANTI-CORRUPTION TRANSPARENCY MANDATE BY RELEASING MY ENTIRE WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATION

[01:25:01]

INVESTIGATION FILE.

AND SECONDLY, TO PLEASE UNCOVER AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO ME AND THIS CITY COUNCIL, THE OFFICIAL OIG INVESTIGATION CONCLUSION ON WHY WHISTLEBLOWER LE BLANCHE WAS NOT REHIRED SUMMER 2026.

WE'RE CERTAINLY GONNA TALK TO LEGAL.

ALRIGHT, SIR, FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT, AL ALFREDA FRANKLIN, DARRELL GEORGE TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICK HURT MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK TO HOUSTON, TEXAS AFTER 56 YEARS AWAY, GOING TO NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AND SOME, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN TODAY IN TERMS OF YOUR CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY, IT REMINDS ME THE HOUSTON, TEXAS IS THE FINEST CITY, SOUTH OF HEAVEN, NORTH OF HELL.

I'M GLAD TO BE BACK HERE.

BUT IT BRINGS ME TO A CONCLUSION AND A SITUATION THAT HAS LASTED OVER 100 YEARS IN HOUSTON.

AND MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WE CAN'T LOOK BACK TO YESTERDAY, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY.

I WANNA SAY THAT THERE'S A GENTLEMAN'S NAME THAT RINGS IN MY MIND, AND I HOPE IT RINGS IN YOURS.

HIS NAME IS RICHARD CARLTON.

THAT NAME DOESN'T MEAN MUCH TO AMERICANS TODAY, BUT IN 1980 WE LOST OUR MANUFACTURING DRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, RICHARD CARLTON IS STILL RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST IMMINENT GOVERNMENT MAKER, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, BUT ALSO THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE REASON I COME TODAY IS BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

MAYOR HOLCOMB DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THAT WAS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, 1,939 MAYBE HE WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE FACT THAT HITLER HAD INVADED POLAND.

SO WE COULDN'T ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

BUT TODAY I HAVE A GARMENT ON AS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

IT SHOWS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RICHARD CARLTON AND BIRD DEPARTMENT STORE.

NOW, THE GARMENT COULD GO INTO BIRD DEPARTMENT STORE, BUT RICHARD, BECAUSE OF HIS PIGMENTATION, COULD NOT, THERE WAS A SECRET RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALL BARONS AND THE RICH MEN IN HOUSTON.

OAK IS HOME.

ACRES HOME WAS A POOR COMMUNITY.

BUT RIVER OAKS WAS WEALTHY.

MAYOR HOLCOMB KNEW THAT RICH WHITE MEN COULD GO AND BUY THIS GARMENT IN BIRTH DEPARTMENT STORE AT FOUR 20 MAIN STREET AT BUILDINGS THERE TODAY.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AMERICA DOESN'T KNOW IS HOW THIS GENTLEMAN MADE THIS PARTICULAR GARMENT.

AND IT IS STILL RECOGNIZED AS BETTER THAN OXFORD BRIANI OR ANY GARMENT THAT HAS EVER BEEN PRODUCED IN TERMS OF SUITS AND TUXEDOS.

I ASKED THIS COUNSELOR TO DO THREE THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WEAK CELEBRATION IN TERMS OF RECOGNIZING RICHARD CARLTON AND HOW HE PUT HOUSTON, TEXAS ON THE MAP, EVEN THOUGH YOU WON'T SEE IT IN A BOOK, BUT GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS GARMENT MAKING.

NOW JESUS HAD A SEAMLESS GARMENT.

IF WE HAD THAT, WE'D REALLY BE DOING SOMETHING.

BUT WE DO HAVE THE GARMENT THAT RICHARD MADE.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A WEEK THAT WE RECOGNIZE HIS ABILITY TO DRAW OUT AND MAKE THESE GARMENTS.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT HOW HOUSTON HAS MOVED TO THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.

AND SECONDLY, I THINK WE HAVE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, PRAIRIE VIEW AND THE GARMENT INDUSTRY UP IN NORTH TEXAS TO PRESERVE THIS GARMENT, I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A DATE THAT THIS GARMENT OUGHT TO GO TO CHURCH.

WE OUGHT TO TAKE THIS GARMENT TO ONE OF THE CHURCHES IN THIRD WARD, AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EDUCATION AND JOB CREATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES OR THE WAY OF A FUTURE.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STUDY HOW THIS GARMENT WAS MADE.

WE HAVE NUMBER 10 RANKING IN TERMS OF MOVIES.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO SHAKE A LITTLE FEATHERS FROM THE OWNERS OF THE ASTROS, THE ROCKETS, AND HOUSTON, TEXAS TO PUT RC ON THEIR PARTICULAR EQUIP.

[01:30:01]

FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND GIVING US A HISTORY LESSON.

I, UH, WAS ADMIRING YOUR TUXEDO AS YOU WALKED UP.

AND, UH, TO KNOW THAT IT IS, YOU SAY A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

AND, AND THIS GARMENT WAS, COMES FROM 1939.

OKAY? AND I FOUND THAT TWO WEEKS AGO I MOVED BACK TO HOUSTON, TEXAS BECAUSE MY WIFE HAD BRAIN SURGERY.

AND I KNEW HOUSTON HAD BETTER TREATMENT THAN ANYTHING UP NORTH IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

SO IN 2039, THIS GOVERNMENT WILL BE 100 YEARS OLD.

AND I THINK THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON OUGHT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT, TO EXAMINE IT.

AND AS I SAID, BIRD DEPARTMENT STORE IS CLEARLY HERE AND RICHARD CARLTON.

BUT SO WHAT I, WHAT I'LL SUGGEST TO YOU IS I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE YOU MY CONTACT INFORMATION.

LET'S STAY IN TOUCH.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT HIS CONTRIBUTIONS.

OKAY? ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK THIS CAN HELP THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR E-BIKES, YOU NEED TO TELL THAT BUSINESS.

UM, MR. GEORGE.

I WAS GOOGLING RICHARD CARLTON BECAUSE THE WAY YOU CAME UP AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT HIM, I THOUGHT, MAN, THIS HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING DYNAMIC.

I MEAN, YOU TELL AN AMAZING STORY, YOUR VOICE, YOUR INTONATION, JUST EVERYTHING.

I WAS CAPTIVATED BY WHAT YOU WERE SAYING JUST IN YOUR DELIVERY ALONE.

BUT I DID, UM, UH, LOOK IT UP ON, UH, INSTAGRAM.

AND I DO THINK THAT IT IS A WORTHY HISTORY LESSON, UH, FOR US ALL.

UM, SO COUNCILMAN POLLARD, I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP, UM, WITH TRYING TO GET THIS STORY TOLD TO MORE PEOPLE AND MAYBE LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, UM, SHARE THIS STORY, UM, CAST A WIDER NET ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT MR. CARLTON AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO, UM, OUR CITY.

YOU ARE A PHENOMENAL ORDER.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IF THERE IS A MOVIE THAT YOU COULD DO THE VOICEOVERS BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST FANTASTIC.

BUT I WANNA SAY, UM, THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAY BE A GOOD CONTACT, UH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MUSEUM, THEY HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A COMPLETE CLOTHING, UM, MUSEUM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

AND JUST THE PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL.

AND PERHAPS WE CAN GET STARTED THERE, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE PHENOMENAL IN WHAT THEY DO.

AND, AND THEM COUPLE WITH YOU AND YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND YOUR ORATORY SKILLS, THIS IS GONNA BE BIG.

AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

WELL, I MIGHT ADD SPIKE LEE ASKED ME TO BE IN A MOVIE AFTER I FINISHED FROM PRAIRIE VIEW AND UNIVERSITY.

AND I WENT TO MY CHURCH AND THEY SAID YOU COULD EITHER BE A MOVIE STAR OR A PREACHER.

SO I GOT STUCK WITH BEING A PREACHER STUCK.

BUT THEN LATER ON, A YOUNG MAN SPIKE FOUND TO BE A MOVIE STAR WAS DENZEL WASHINGTON.

SO DENZEL WASHINGTON IS WALKING AROUND WITH MY TROPHY, MY ACADEMY AWARD AND MY MONEY.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

RICK HURT OF CYPRUS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM.

I'D LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HIGHWAY.

WHICH ONE DO I DO? OH, OKAY.

, I LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION.

ACT WEEK, OCTOBER 22ND, 1960 5, 61 YEARS AGO, UH, THEY PASSED THAT ACT.

IT DEALT WITH YOUR ILLEGAL DUMPING.

IT ALSO DEALT WITH ILLEGAL BANDIT SIGNS ALONG HER ROADWAY.

AS I'M PICTURED HERE, THIS ONE RIGHT HERE IS ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW.

UH, IT'S IN THE GRASS.

I WASN'T GONNA MOVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE.

IT WOULD, IT COULD, I KNOW THE WIND, UH, THE, THE HIGHWAYS CREATE THAT ITS OWN WIND.

AND THIS IS THE SIGN WAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE OVERPASS, NOT ON THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT, BUT ON THE OUTSIDE, SOMEONE HAD, UH, NEEDS TO REMOVE THESE SIGNS.

IT'S DANGEROUS AS EVER.

AND, UH, I WAS TALKING, I THINK IT WAS MS. TATUM, UH, SHE WANTED

[01:35:01]

SOME NEW IDEAS.

AND I POSTED THAT ON LA LAST WEEK.

UH, MY EXPERIENCE, I WENT TO, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT A WEEK, UH, LAST THURSDAY AND SPOKE ABOUT THE BANDIT SIGNS, THE HIGHWAY BEAU IFICATION ACT.

AND, UH, AS I GOT OUT OF THE CONFERENCE OR THE, THE MEETING, I DROVE DOWN TO PATTERSON DRIVE ON I 10, AND I WAS ABOUT READY TO TAKE THOSE SIGNS DOWN, BUT THEY WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE LINE.

AND THERE WAS NO SAFE WAY OF DOING THAT.

ABOUT A DECADE AGO, I WAS PAINTING OVER A RELATIVE OF THIS CANDIDATE SIGNED THAT WE'RE ALL THE WAY TO THE UTILITY POLLS.

I THINK THAT MAYBE THE COUNCIL COULD CREATE A, A, UH, ORDINANCE.

IF YOU GO OVER THE TOP OF DISOBEYING THE LAW OF THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION ACT, THE, UH, THE SIGN ORDINANCE AND THE, UH, STATE LAW, WHICH IS PLACING UNAUTHORIZED BANDIT SIGNS SUCH AS HANDWRITTEN REAL ESTATE, CASH FOR CARS OR OPEN HOUSE ADVERTISEMENTS AND PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS, LIKE MEDIAN SIDEWALKS AND UTILITY POLES, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND CARRIES A STEEP ESCALATING THING.

I THINK PEOPLE THAT DO THIS IN A VERY UNSAFE WAY, THEY SHOULD BE CHARGED MORE MONEY OF REMOVING THEM IMMEDIATELY BY PUBLIC WORKS.

I DON'T KNOW IF PUBLIC WORKS IS IN HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

A SHERIFF, A CONSTABLE OR OTHER TRAINED VOLUNTEER AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF THE COUNTY MAY CONFISCATE A SIGNED PLACE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 3 9 3 0 0 2.

I WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS.

UH, I WAS AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UP IN NORTHWEST CHAMBER, AND I EXPRESSED, UH, THE NEED OF A CAR BECAUSE I WAS HARASSED.

I WAS, UH, UH, ASSAULTED.

MY CARS WERE DAMAGED, EVERYTHING.

AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS I DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY, I DON'T, BUT I DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE DOWN SIGNS.

VERY GOOD.

AND, UH, JUST A SECOND COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE ON ANYTHING THAT THE CITY, COUNTY, OR STATE OWNS.

THESE ARE ON ELECTRICAL BOXES OR YOUR STOPLIGHTS IN YOUR WHATEVER.

EXCUSE ME.

OH, SORRY, JUST A SEC.

MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU FOR COMING MR. HURT.

UH, I SAW YOUR MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I TOTALLY AGREE THAT THIS, I THINK, AND I BELIEVE IT'S A POLITICAL SIGN THAT, UH, THIS LADY HAS ON THE FENCE.

AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THEY GOT IT ON THE OUTSIDE.

I DON'T KNOW THE HIGHWAY.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

AND IT WAS STUCK.

I COULDN'T TOGETHER WITH, UM, SOME LITTLE STRAPS.

AND IF YOU CUT IT OFF, IT'S GONNA FALL DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW ON THE GRASS.

RIGHT? I, I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHO PUT IT UP THERE AND WHY IT'S UP THERE, BUT I DO THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE BANDIT SIGN LEGISLATION, THE PERSON WHO BENEFITS FROM THE SIGN IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET THE TICKET.

SO THIS PERSON SHOULD BE RECEIVING SOME TYPE OF, OF CITATION, UM, FOR HAVING THAT, UH, SIGN ON ON THE FENCE.

SO, UM, YOU AND I AGREE THAT THERE SHOULD BE PENALTIES.

WELL, SOMEONE FROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT, A STAFF MEMBER SAID, WELL, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE, TO THE MAYOR, PRO CHAIR 'CAUSE SHE'S, YEAH.

UM, WE, WE WORKED HARD TO GET THAT BANDIT SIGNED LEGISLATION.

BUT THE, THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THE ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT? OF, OF MAKING SURE THAT, UM, PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO PUT THOSE SIGNS IN INAPPROPRIATE PLACES GET THE, GET THOSE CITATIONS.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT IS THERE'S A SECTION IN THE, IN THE CODE WHERE THEY HAVE, UM, 72 HOURS TO CURE IT, TO GO AND, AND, AND REMOVE IT.

RIGHT? UM, AND THAT, AND THAT HAS, UH, IT WAS A COMPROMISE TO GET IT, TO GET IT PASSED, BUT IT, IT CAUSES PROBLEMS. UM, SO YOU AND I AGREE.

I THINK THAT THIS PERSON, UM, HER SIGN IT, IT HAS A, A, A VERY, UM, UNLIKELY INNUENDO ON A NAME, UM, I KNOW, BUT DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT BE ON THE FENCE.

SO THANK YOU FOR AMPLIFYING THE PROBLEM.

UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO THE RAILROAD.

UH, THERE'S A NEW SIGN, UH, THE GUY THAT LIKES TO PUT HIM ON THE RAILROAD OVER THE OVERPASSES, HE'S GOT SIGNS.

AND THE OTHER DAY, UH, CHANNEL 13 ON YOUR PAPER HERE HAS, UH, THESE BANNERS.

WELL, IF YOU'RE RIDING A E-BIKE AND I'M A DRIVER, I CAN'T SEE DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE MANY OF THESE BANNERS, THESE SEVEN FOOT BANNERS ARE OUT TO THE CURB, RIGHT?

[01:40:01]

IF YOU MOVE THEIR SIGNS BACK, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

IT'S, THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND THEY SAID, HE SAID YOU'D BE A GOOD ONE.

, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, .

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

NEXT, CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM LEE WISSMILLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANDREW PATTERSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WHITMER AND THIS MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S LEE WISSMILLER.

IT'S FITTING THAT YOU HONOR THE COURT'S FOR FAIRNESS TODAY, BECAUSE FAIRNESS UNDER THE LAW IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M HERE ABOUT.

HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A GENERAL ORDER 643 THAT ROUTES EVERY ATTACK ON AN ANIMAL TO BARK REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANIMAL IS ATTACKED, REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATIONS OF THE ATTACK.

I HAVE A SERVICE ANIMAL WHO HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR 10 YEARS.

SHE HAS BEEN SEVERELY INJURED.

THIS HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 9TH.

AND WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I ASKED FOR THEM TO ENFORCE OR TO AT LEAST WRITE THE REPORT FOR, UM, GIMME ONE SECOND.

I NEED THE NUMBER.

UM, SECTION 42.09, ONE OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE.

THEY REFUSE.

THEY SAID THIS WASN'T AN ISSUE OF AN ATTACK ON A SERVICE ANIMAL.

THIS WAS AN ANIMAL ON ANIMAL ATTACK.

AND THAT'S ALL THERE WAS TO IT.

AND THERE WAS BASICALLY NOTHING THAT THEY OR ANYBODY COULD DO ABOUT IT.

UM, I WENT UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND ALL THE WAY TO THE, I TRIED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CHIEF, HE WOULDN'T HEAR ME.

UM, I'VE TRIED TO BE VERY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS.

I'VE ASKED WHY THEY BELIEVE THIS LAW DOESN'T APPLY IN THIS CASE WHERE A SERVICE ANIMAL WAS ATTACKED.

AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION REPEATEDLY.

UM, WHAT THIS LAW DOES IS IT PRE IT, IT CREATES A, IT CREATES THIS ATTACK AS A STATE FELONY, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE POLICE TO ENFORCE IT.

AND ALSO THIS LAW ALLOWS FOR THE JUDGE TO CHOOSE TO GIVE THE VICTIM, ME, MY SERVICE DOG, UM, THE APPROPRIATE RETRIBUTION WITHOUT ME HAVING TO GO TO COURT AND TIE UP MONEY AND TIME TO DEAL WITH THAT.

UM, BY NOT DOING THIS, WHAT WE ARE EFFECTIVELY DOING IS WE ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH SERVICE ANIMALS TO, UM, EXCUSE ME FOR ONE SECOND.

WE ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH SERVICE ANIMALS TO DEAL WITH, UM, AN UNFAIR SITUATION.

I AM NOW IN A SITUATION WHERE I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU WITHOUT MY SERVICE ANIMAL AND WITHOUT ANY REAL PROTECTION.

UM, I ASK, I DON'T, THEY'RE NOT HERE, BUT I TOLD THE OFFICERS ABOUT MY DISABILITY AND SAID, IF I HAD A PROBLEM, WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

UM, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I SHOULD BE HAVING TO DO.

SHE'S HERE TO PROTECT ME.

SHE'S BEEN THERE FOR 10 YEARS TO PROTECT ME, AND SHE CAN'T.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO GET HER BACK TO THE STAGE WHERE SHE CAN DO THIS AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THIS TO A SITUATION WHERE I CAN FUNCTION AS A HUMAN BEING.

I'D LIKE THE CITY POLICY, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, GENERAL ORDER 600 DASH 43 TO BE MODIFIED TO ALLOW FOR THE POLICE TO LOOK AT AND ENFORCE THESE ISSUES.

ATTORNEY DAVIS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING, SIR.

UM, QUESTION, ARE YOU A VETERAN? YES, I AM.

WHAT? ARMED FORCES MARINES.

MARINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR.

UM, AND THIS WAS A SERVICE DOG? YES, SIR.

UM, HAVE YOU NOTIFIED THE, UH, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING YOUR MATTER? I HAVE NOT AS OF YET, BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT WITH THE POLICE AND DEAL WITH IT WITH THE SERVICE DOG ORGANIZATION.

I GOT IT FROM, UM, WHICH IS A COMPANY CALLED CANINES FOR CAMEL OUT OF ROGERSVILLE, MISSOURI.

UM, I CAN'T EVEN, SHE'S BEEN SLIGHTLY AGGRESSIVE TO DOGS AFTER THIS, WHICH I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

IF YOU GET ATTACKED, UM, I'VE GOTTA TAKE HER UP TO MISSOURI AND GET HER EITHER RETRAINED OR AT LEAST LOOKED AT TO SEE IF SHE CAN STILL FUNCTION THE WAY SHE NEEDS TO FOR ME.

AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT'S WHEN THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

OR WHAT THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WILL BE.

ME TALK WITH YOU AND IF, IF I MAY.

LET ME, LET

[01:45:01]

THANKS FOR COMING, SIR.

I'M TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION.

WAS YOUR SERVICE DOG ATTACKED BY ANOTHER DOG? YES.

AND SO OUR POLICIES SAY THAT HAS TO BE HANDLED BY BARK BY BARK, AND IT IS A ANIMAL ATTACK, AND IT'S, UM, SIMPLY PROPERTY ATTACK.

UM, THERE IS A STATE LAW THAT SAYS THAT A SERVICE ANIMAL ATTACK IS A STATE FELONY.

UM, IT'S A, IT'S A NUMBER I QUOTED.

I'VE GOT A PRINTOUT OF IT.

I ONLY PRINTED OUT 10 COPIES.

I APOLOGIZE.

BUT I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO GIVE THOSE OUT IF ANYBODY WANTS THEM.

UM, I JUST LIKE THAT LAW TO BE ENFORCED.

IF IT WASN'T FOR ME, I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT WASN'T FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH SERVICE ANIMALS TOO.

AND I HAVE TO WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WITH SERVICE ANIMALS ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR SERVICE ANIMAL BECAUSE OF A, BECAUSE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE THE COURTS, THE POLICE AND EVERYBODY COULD HAVE HELPED US.

BUT THEN, OKAY.

YEAH, SURE.

I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE AND, AND HAPPY TO JOIN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS IN TRYING TO HELP YOU RESOLVE THIS.

NEXT ANDREW PATTERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY ARIEL JONES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS A VERY SIMPLE THING, BUT SEEMS TO BE OVERSEEN QUITE A BIT.

AND THAT'S CRIMINAL STATUS.

NOW, THE OTHER DAY I WAS SITTING THERE WATCHING TV AND WATCHING THE NEWS, AND LO AND BEHOLD, HERE I FIND ICE OFFICERS RUNNING OVER SOMEBODY ON THE SIDEWALK IN A TRUCK OR ACCIDENT, SUV.

AND THE STATEMENT WAS THAT THE GUY THREW HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THE SUV.

NOW, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF BS.

IF WE ARE HERE AS LOOKING AT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WE NEED TO PUT OUT THERE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, IS IT GONNA BE A GRAND JURY THAT'S GONNA HEAR THE ISSUE? WHAT STATUS OR WHAT INVESTIGATION WOULD WE DO HERE TO LET CITIZENS KNOW THAT THE STATEMENT'S BEING MADE BY ICE OFFICERS OR BY THE ICE ADMINISTRATION, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A BUNCH OF HOOEY.

IT'S ACTUALLY SOME GARBAGE OUT THERE THROWING OFF SO THAT WE DONS FEEL THAT WE'RE BEING ATTACKED.

THIS NOT ONLY HAPPENS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, BUT ANYBODY WHO'S OUT THERE WHO'S BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE, WE HAVE A CERTAIN STANDARD THAT'S ACTUALLY CONSIDERED ALMOST A HOMICIDE ACTIVITY BECAUSE A VEHICLE ITSELF IS CONSIDERED, UH, AS A LARGE, IT'S A WEAPON WHEN IT RUNS INTO SOMEBODY.

NOW, WE ALSO TALKED HERE TODAY, AND I HEARD SOME OTHER THINGS HERE, TALKED ABOUT THE LANDFILL.

IF YOU WANNA BUILD A LANDFILL, YOU HAVE TO PUT A LANDLINE IN IT.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

HONESTLY, IF I WERE YOU, I'D TALK TO THIS PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, LOOK AT BFI, HOW THEY DO THINGS.

MAYBE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN PICK UP AND INCORPORATE, MAYBE NOT THROWING TRASH OUT IN THE STREET.

IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU LOOK THROUGH THE CRASH AND YOU FIND SOMEBODY'S BILL IN THERE, THAT OFFICER IS GONNA CONTACT THE PEOPLE WHO BILL IS IN THE CRASH AND GIVE THEM A FINE AND TELL 'EM THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PICK IT UP.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A, A HORRIBLE THING TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

IT'S BUNCH OF GARBAGE, EXCUSE THE EXPRESSION.

BUT THE REASON WHY WE SEEM TO BE SO COMPLICATED HERE IN TRYING TO MITIGATE EXPOSURE IS THAT I THINK THE SIMPLE PRINCIPLE, THE KISS PRINCIPLE, KEEP IT SIMPLE, IS PROBABLY THE BEST APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT ITSELF IN TRYING TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR CITIZENS AND ACTUALLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO THEM.

SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

UH, ON THE SCENE, I WASN'T ABLE TO FILE THE POLICE REPORT EVEN THOUGH I SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT I'M DEALING WITH TODAY.

NEXT, MR. JONES, ARIEL JONES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

UH, MY NAME IS ARIEL STONE, NOT JONES.

UH, I CALLED IN, UH, AND THEY ADDED ME TO THE LIST.

UM, YESTERDAY.

UM, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE, UH, METRO, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THEIR BUS ON THE 65, UH, COMING DOWNTOWN.

AND, UM, DUE TO THE WHOLE SITUATION, THEY DENIED ME THE RIGHT TO FILE, UH, A POLICE REPORT SAYING THAT, UH, JUST BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T,

[01:50:01]

UH, ON TOP OF THAT, UM, THEY DENY ME MY, MY RIGHTS, UH, UM, AS WELL AS FILING POLICE REPORT.

THEY SUPPOSED TO BE, UM, THEY SUPPOSED TO BE TRAFFIC AND, AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, UH, UNDER THE RULES OF THE, UM, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO PICK AND CHOOSE, UH, WHAT LAWS THEY GONNA, UH, UPHOLD.

UH, I WANNA KNOW HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE, UH, IF THEY'RE A POLICE, UH, FORCE.

UM, UM, UH, I GUESS UNDER THE SAME RULES AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I COULDN'T GET ANY ANSWERS, UH, FROM ANYBODY.

UH, THAT'S WHY I ENDED UP HERE.

AND, UM, THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS INJURED AND I'M STILL, UH, DEALING WITH THOSE PROBLEMS. I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET THE, UH, THE RIGHT TO, UH, PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH LOSS THEY'RE GONNA UP UPHOLD.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO METRO? UM, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY, BUT, UH, THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, UH, APRIL THE 18TH, UH, WHEN I GOT INJURED.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING ON THE PHONE, UM, TO GET TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

I WENT DOWN THERE, UH, TO METRO, WENT IN THE OFFICE, UH, ONLY GOT TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE TO FILE PAPERS.

I FILED ALL THE PAPERS AND I TALKED WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS TO YEAH, UH, FILE THE PAPER, FILE THE, UM, REPORT WITH THEM.

AND THEY TOLD ME, NO, WE DON'T TAKE REPORTS.

UH, WE WEREN'T ON THE SCENE.

I SAID, OH, UH, WHAT? YOU GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE, UH, WHICH LAWS YOU'RE GONNA UPHOLD.

DO YOU, UH, HAVE AN ATTORNEY? NO, I COULDN'T GET AN ATTORNEY AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE FILING, UH, SITUATION.

IF THERE'S NO FILING, THEY'RE NOT GONNA, UH, UH, REPRESENT.

I MEAN, I CAN'T GET ANY REPRESENTATION IN COURT.

SAY, LOUIE, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THIS ON AND CONTACT METRO ON BEHALF OF MR. STONE.

EXCUSE ME.

THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO TRY TO NETWORK WITH YOU AND METRO.

OKAY, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

UH, UM, I'M JUST SAYING I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS.

UM, I WE'RE SORRY.

YOU HAD THAT, YOU HAD AN ACTUALLY A CAR ACCIDENT WITH HIM.

NO, I WAS ON THE BUS.

I WAS ON THE BUS BUS, UH, TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION.

THE, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE ROAD.

I COULDN'T SEE.

I WAS SITTING IN THE BACK, BUT THE BUS WAS GOING, UM, AT LEAST 35, I BELIEVE.

UM, I CAN'T, UH, SPECULATE ON THE ACTUAL SPEED, BUT WHEN HE HIT THE BUMP, I WAS EJECTED OUTTA MY SEAT INTO THE OTHER SIDE OR INTO ANOTHER SEAT.

WHAT'D THEY HIT? I DON'T KNOW.

UH, THE BUS DRIVER, UM, WAS SUPPOSED TO, UM, CHECK IT OUT.

SHE DIDN'T DO A JOB.

UM, YEAH, MAYBE THEY JUST, UH, MAYBE STOPPED REAL QUICK TO SHE, NO, SHE, SHE RAN OVER THE BUMP AND THEN WENT AROUND AND THEN, UM, SHE SLOWED UP AND LOOKED AROUND, UH, IN THE BUS.

UH, AND UM, AFTER THAT SHE TOOK OFF AGAIN.

SO, UH, WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.

UM, UM, REVIEWING IT, GETTING METRO TO REVIEW YOUR INCIDENT.

THANK YOU NICK.

RUTHIE NADAL TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA ALLEN.

UM, AND IT'S JUST PAST CONCERN NOW IS FRUSTRATION.

HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS? UM, I'M BACK.

I WAS GONE FOR TWO WEEKS.

UM, HOW DO I START THIS? IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONG.

SO IT'S BEEN A HUNDRED ALMOST PAST A HUNDRED DAYS SINCE LORENZO SALGADO WAS MURDERED BY ICE IN HOUSTON.

AND I'M BACK HERE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT WHY ICE IS A THREAT TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

JUST ABOUT OVER A WEEK AGO, A MAN WAS RUN OVER, RUN DOWN, ACTUALLY OFF HIGHWAY SIX IN CLAY, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS A BUSY PUBLIC AREA AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY.

ANYBODY THAT LIVES ON THAT SIDE KNOWS THAT I KEEP HEARING THE SAME STATEMENT FROM MANY FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE I WORK IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

HE WAS JUST GOING TO WORK, HE WAS JUST GOING TO WORK.

HE WAS JUST COMING HOME FROM WORK.

IT'S THE SAME PATTERN.

SAME PATTERN WITH LORENZO, SAME PATTERN WITH ARNOLDO BISON'S DAD.

THE SAME PATTERN WITH MIGUEL RA.

THE SAME PATTERN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE DETAINED IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED.

[01:55:01]

AND WE KEEP ASKING YOU GUYS FOR HELP.

WE KEEP ASKING YOU WHAT MY FOR HELP.

WE KEEP ASKING EVERYBODY FOR HELP.

AND IT'S JUST SAD BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE RUNNING OUR PEOPLE DOWN.

LITERALLY THERE'S NO WAY A MAN CAN RUN IN FRONT OF A CAR, EVER.

I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS.

THAT'S NOT A MAN RUNNING IN FRONT OF A CAR.

REGARDLESS.

YOU DON'T SEE HIM STOP AT ALL.

LET'S NOT MENTION THE SIX MINUTES THAT PASSED BY AND NOBODY CALLS 9 1 1.

HOW MUCH TIME? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THEM TO CALL 9 1 1? THEY STOOD OVER HIM AND LOOKED AT HIM AND HE PASSED OFF FROM THE PAIN.

THAT'S ANOTHER PERSON.

MI MIGUEL RA.

EVERYTHING'S OVERCROWDED.

THIS AFFECTS MANY CIRCLES, ALL HOUSTONIANS.

EVEN MYSELF, MY COUSIN'S HUSBAND WAS SUPPORTED OVER A MONTH AGO FOR THE SAME THING.

HE WAS GOING TO WORK, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK.

ONE OF MY FRIENDS FROM OUR BASKETBALL COMMUNITY, CARLOS WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK.

HE'S LIVED HERE FOR 20 YEARS AS A FAMILY HERE.

HIS CHILDREN ARE CITIZENS.

HE WAS GOING TO WORK.

HE'S BEEN IN DETENTION AND ICE FACILITY FOR TWO WEEKS NOW IN CONROE.

THESE ARE PILLARS OF MY COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE LIKE IF LIKE THE BEST PLAY IN YOUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE GOT TAKEN OUT OF LIKE NOWHERE PEOPLE THAT I PLAYED BASKETBALL WITH.

AND THAT'S NOT THE FIRST ONE.

THAT'S THE SECOND PLAYER THAT I KNOW JUST IN MY BASKETBALL COMMUNITY, I'M TAKING MY FAMILY, MY FAMILY MEMBERS, RIGHT? PEOPLE I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

AND THAT'S WHY I TELL YOU THIS IS WHY I'M SO, IT HURTS ME INSIDE BECAUSE LIKE NOT ONLY ARE THEY PRE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S MY, IT'S MY, I'M LATINO TOO.

SO EVEN THOUGH MY DAD MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE LORENZO, I SEE IT IN LORENZO.

I GREW UP WITH PEOPLE, MY, MY UNCLES, MY COUSINS LOOK, SOME OF THEM LOOK LIKE LORENZO.

JUST 'CAUSE I DON'T LOOK LIKE THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T HAVE FAMILY THAT IT'S AFFECTING TOO.

AND ONE IN FIVE HOUSTONIANS IS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.

AND YOU CAN LOOK THAT UP.

IT'S A KINDER RICE STUDY.

IT'S NOT FAKE.

LIKE THIS IS NOT FAKE NEWS.

AND WE WOULD LIKE SOME DIGNITY FROM JOHN WHITMEYER TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS AT LEAST.

I JUST WANNA KNOW IF YOU HAVE, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, YOU SHOULD.

AND SOMEBODY SHOULD BECAUSE THEY DESERVE THAT RESPECT.

JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT POPULAR OR WELL SPOKEN OR HOWEVER THE WHEREVER IS OR HOWEVER HIS FAMILY IS.

I FEEL LIKE YOU STILL NEED TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

SOMEBODY DOES THANK YOU.

AND AGAIN, HE WAS GOING TO WORK.

WE'RE BEGGING FOR YOUR HELP.

I HAVE FAMILIES CALLING ME LOOKING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.

CRYING.

THEY CAN'T FIND THEM.

SO NOW ON TOP OF YOU NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, I LOOKED FOR MY FRIEND I PLAYED BASKETBALL WITH FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE HE POPPED UP IN THE SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO LOOK EVERYTHING UP.

IMAGINE THESE PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK IT UP.

NOT ONLY NOT KNOW HOW TO LOOK IT UP, YOU GOTTA LOOK IT UP AT THREE DIFFERENT SPACES.

THE LANGUAGE BARRIER.

YOUR TIME'S UP.

STOP ATTACKING OUR COMMUNITY.

LIKE ASK FOR THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, UH, TRANSPARENCY FOR THE CASE THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY'RE USING A DEAD MAN'S WANTED SIGN.

YOU KNOW THE DEAD, THE MAN HAS BEEN DEAD FOR EIGHT YEARS.

SO LIKE THE INCOMPETENCE HERE IS WHY ICE SEEMS TO GET OUTTA HOUSTON.

THE LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCE THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHECK TO SEE IF THIS IS A REAL PERSON OR NOT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WOULD YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, CITY COUNCILMAN? HI MAYOR WHITMEYER, HOW ARE YOU TODAY SIR? AND THANK YOU.

HAVE YOU CASTED YOUR BALLOT YET? GO AHEAD.

HAVE YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT YET? UH, NO MA'AM.

OH, OKAY.

WELL I CAST MINE YESTERDAY.

WELL, UH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO GO AND CAST YOUR BALLOT.

GOD GAVE US BLUE SKIES AND IT'S GOOD SUNNY WEATHER AS MR. ROGERS SAY.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS MY FAVORITE ACTOR THAT I GREW UP WATCHING THE ONLY ELECTRIC COMPANY, UH, MR. MORGAN FREEMAN.

SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THESE LADIES.

UM, MS. REBECCA AND UM, HER COLLEAGUE MS. VO, THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL OF GETTING ME A VISIT.

I HAVE ASKED THEM TO BRING MY SON TO 25 25 MUR WORTH EITHER AT MS. HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, VALERIE MILL, HOLLAND'S OFFICE.

OR I ASKED FOR THREE MINUTES WHEN I CALLED.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

AND THEY GAVE ME ONE, I ASKED FOR THREE MINUTES WHEN I CALLED.

ALL THAT STUFF IS RECORDED ON YOUR PHONES.

GO AHEAD.

AND SHE SAID I WILL GET THREE MINUTES.

BUT ANYWAY, IN ADDITION TO THAT THEY CAN BRING MY SON NATHAN, EMMANUEL ALLEN THAT THEY KIDNAPPED.

21 NOW AND THEY KIDNAPPED HIM SINCE HE'S BEEN 19.

HE'S

[02:00:01]

BRING HIM EITHER TO CITY HALL AND WE CAN HAVE A VISITING THE VINTAGE OFFICE AND POSSIBLY GET HIM GOING HOME OR BRING HIM TO 25 25.

MS. ATTORNEY HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY, VALERIE MILL, HOLLAND OFFICE AND I CAN PICK MY CHILD UP THERE AND HAVE A VISIT.

I NEED TO SEE MY SON, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.

I NEED TO SEE MY SON.

OKAY? I HAVE GIVEN THOSE LADIES THE PHONE NUMBER.

OBVIOUSLY THEY MUST BE AFRAID TO GO OVER THERE 'CAUSE THEY MIGHT THINK THEY GONNA GET KIDNAPPED.

I'LL TALK TO 'EM.

YOU KEEP TELLING ME THAT.

CAN YOU STOP LYING TO ME AND TELL ME THE TRUTH? STOP LYING.

YOU SAID YOU WENT, YOU WENT ON 90.9 AND TALKED TO MARCUS SECTION AND CHRIS JOHNSON AND ALL OF THEM SAID YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO TELL THE TRUTH.

SO CAN YOU TELL ME THE TRUTH? WHEN CAN I GET A VISIT WITH MY SON NATHAN? EMMANUEL ALLEN.

I'M GETTING TIRED OF COMING DOWN HERE.

I WANNA MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE, WITH MY FAMILY.

MR. KSHAWNA ANTHONY AIN'T GOT NO BUSINESS RECEIVING MY HUSBAND'S MONEY AND TAKING CARE OF MY SON WITH MY HUSBAND'S MONEY.

OKAY? I SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT, THAT'S MY JOB.

I WAS MARRIED TO LARRY ALLEN FOR 30 YEARS.

LARRY ALLEN CU TO ME EVERY NIGHT.

NOT MS. KSHAWNA ANTHONY.

SO I'M ASKING YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS TO RELEASE MY SON AND SO SHE CAN STOP GETTING MY SON, MY SON'S, MY HUSBAND'S MONEY TAKING CARE OF MY SON WHEN I SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT.

OKAY? OKAY.

NATHAN.

NATHAN IS, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

I JUST WANT MY SON.

ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD.

I WANNA VISIT MY SON.

WHEN CAN I VISIT MY SON? CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN CAN I HAVE A VISIT? I YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB TODAY.

WHEN CAN I SEE MY SON? STOP LYING TO ME MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, STOP LYING.

YOU SAY YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO TELL THE TRUTH, OKAY MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S UP.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS ALREADY WENT ON ISAIAH FACTORY AND SAID THAT THEY ARE KIDNAPPING PEOPLE'S CHILDREN, PUTTING THEM IN HOUSING SO THEY CAN KEEP THESE FACILITIES OPEN.

HER FACILITY IS GONNA HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.

'CAUSE SHE CAN'T KEEP GETTING MY HUSBAND MONEY.

AND I CAN'T KEEP KIDNAPPING MY SON.

YOU'VE DONE A GOOD, I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

I NEED, I NEED A VISIT WITH MY SON.

IS MY SON STILL ALIVE? CAN YOU TELL ME IF NATHAN, EMMANUEL ALLEN STILL ALIVE BUT SOMETHING IS GOING ON? I NEED TO KNOW IS NATHAN E EMMANUEL ALLEN STILL ALIVE? OKAY.

HE WAS ALIVE WHEN THEY APPROACHED US.

WHEN YOUR SIX POLICE OFFICER APPROACHED ME AT HIGHWAY SIX IN CLARO, ME AND MY SON, MY SON WAS ALIVE AND WELL.

OKAY MA'AM, THANK YOU.

NEXT, I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN CAN I GET A VISIT, SIR? WE'LL HAVE TO GET UNCLE, WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU.

OKAY, I'LL BE BACK.

IF THEY DON'T GET BACK WITH ME, I'LL BE BACK SIR.

THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY.

OKAY? BE I'LL BE THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY DID TO ME AND MY SON.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

IT'S TERRORIZING COUNTLESS OTHERS.

IT'S NOT GOING AWAY SIR.

ALRIGHT, BE SAFE.

ARCO BARMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY AIF CHORE.

I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT YOU TERMINATE THE FLOCK CONTRACT AND NEVER REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.

HPD HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH ICE AND THEY HAVE RUN HUNDREDS OF FLOCK SEARCHES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION.

I HAVE THE PUBLIC RECORDS DATA, IT'S OUT THERE IF YOU WANT IT, I CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU IF YOU WANT IT.

ONE OFFICER ONE HPD OFFICER RAN MORE THAN A HUNDRED SEARCHES IN A SINGLE WEEK IN 2025.

THAT'S A HUNDRED SEARCHES IN SEVEN DAYS.

THAT IS NOT PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT IS A DRAGNET.

IT'S TERRORIZING HOUSTON'S HARDWORKING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND THEY'RE HANDING OVER THE LATINO COMMUNITY TO WRITE TO ICE.

SURVEILLANCE LIKE THIS HELPED I SCALE.

LORENZO SALGADO ARJO.

IT HELPED THEM RUN DOWN MIGUEL PARA HERNANDEZ LAST WEEK AND BREAK HIS LEG.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS AN IMMIGRANT COUNCIL MEMBER.

MARTINEZ.

YOUR, YOUR PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS INVOLVED IN THE CHICANO MOVEMENT.

YOU GREW UP IN EAST END.

IMAGINE ICE WAITING FOR THEM THE DAY THEY ARRIVED.

IMAGINE THEM BEING HUNTED AND TORTURED AND MURDERED BY ICE.

WHO I DON'T SEE AND THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS THAT WAS SIGNED UP.

PICTURE YOUR FRIEND AND YOUR NEIGHBOR.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU SPEAK OF YOUR LATINO HERITAGE? IS IT JUST A CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO WIN LATINO VOTES? THANK YOU SIR.

WILL YOU VOTE YES ON THE FLOCK CONTRACT WHEN IT COMES UP FOR VOTE? ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE LATINOS BEING SURVEILLED AND TARGETED BY HPD AND EYES? ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE WITH IT? THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

WHAT YOU WANNA DO NEXT? A STEVE CHORE

[02:05:03]

IF NOT, WE RECESSED

[5:00 P.M. – RECESS]

AT NINE IN THE MORNING.

ITEM

[READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA]

19 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF ST.

GEORGE PLACE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE AUTHORITY AND FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR THE ZONE ITEM 20 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF UPPER KIRBY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 19, APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE AUTHORITY IN FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BUDGET FOR THE ZONE ITEM 21 ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISCAL AFFAIRS OF LELAND WOODS RE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 22 APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE AUTHORITY IN FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BUDGET FOR THE ZONE ITEM 22 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF THE 4,900 BLOCK OF EPPS STREET BETWEEN GRACE LANE AND BELVEDERE STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK.

ITEM 23 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 4,200 TO 4,300 BLOCKS OF WATSON STREET BETWEEN EAST 14TH AND FUGATE STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE BLOCK.

ITEM 24 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 4,600 TO 4,800 BLOCK OF RUSK STREET BETWEEN SOUTH LOCKWOOD DRIVE AND DUMBLE STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A SPECIAL MINIMUM BUILDING LINE BLOCK ITEM 25, ORDINANCE APPROVING ACQUISITION OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS APPROVING ACQUISITION BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS OF 26,072 SQUARE FOOT PERMANENT WATERLINE EASEMENT AND TWO 3000 SQUARE FOOT TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS ALL PARCELS BEING SITUATED IN THE WCRR COMPANY.

SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER 10 64, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS FROM RISING NATION INC.

ITEM 26 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.

INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS CRMP PACKAGE SIX AREA ONE BASIN IB 0 4 3 PROJECT ITEM 27 ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.

INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS THE LIFT STATION HAZARD MITIGATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

FEMA DASH CD AND THIS IS SUNNY GLEN DRIVE.

LIFT STATION SCOTTS POINT LIFT STATION WOODSTREAM, LIFT STATION RIVER CHASE TRAIL LIFT STATION, ASPEN PASS LIFT STATION, COLD CREST LIFT STATION, AND SPAIN COAL LIFT STATION PROJECT ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC DOING BUSINESS AS AIMS COMPANIES.

ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,500,000 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CENSUS USA INC.

ITEM 30 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,150,951 98 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH VORTEX SERVICES LLC ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,120,619 69 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION RELATED TO CONTRACT WITH LOPEZ UTILITIES CONTRACTOR LLC ITEM 32.

ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $167,091 75 CENTS AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH TRILOGY ENGINEERING SERVICES LLC ITEM 33.

ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $425,000 AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH FREEZE AND NICHOLS INC.

ITEM 34 ORDINANCE GRANTED TO THREE L ENVIRONMENTAL LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE WRIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 35 ORDINANCE GRANTED INTO ANYTIME SEPTIC SOLUTIONS.

LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 36, ORDINANCE.

ORDINANCE GRANTING TO DSAC CLEANING SERVICES, LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN

[02:10:01]

THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 37, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO GREASE SOLUTIONS LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT CALL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 38, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO R AND D PORTABLE SANITATION SOLUTIONS, LLCA TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT CALL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 39, ORDINANCE GRAINING TO SLICK RESPONSE SERVICES LIMITED, A TEXAS CORPORATION, THE WRIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 40, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO STALLION INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES LIMITED, A TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

ITEM 43RD AND FINAL READING ITEM 41, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO SUPREME SITE SERVICES LLCA TEXAS CORPORATION, THE RIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING, ITEM 42, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TEXAN WASTE SERVICES, INC.

A TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE WRIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT, HAUL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 43, ORDINANCE GRANTED TO TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS INC.

TEXAS CORPORATION, THE WRIGHT PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO COLLECT CALL AND TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE FARM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THIRD AND FINAL READING, THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CAPTIONS FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.

OCTOBER 21ST, 2026.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WITH THAT HAPPY HUMP DAY EVERYONE.

[RECONVENE]

COUNCIL PLEASE COME TO ORDER.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, WE RECOGNIZE YOU TO INTRODUCE YOUR UH, GUEST.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES THIS MORNING WE'RE JOINED BY A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM YES, PREP NORTHLINE SECONDARY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.

AND THIS IS A GROUP OF FANTASTIC YOUNG, YOUNG ADULTS.

YEAH, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE YES PREPS IN DISTRICT H I'VE ACTUALLY HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT AND VISIT WITH THEM AT ONE POINT AND, UH, WANNA WELCOME THEM TO CITY HALL THIS MORNING TO WATCH US DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK.

VERY WELL.

STUDENTS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU TO YOUR, UH, INSTRUCTORS AND, UH, WE CHALLENGE YOU TO GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

[HEARINGS - 9:00 A.M.]

MR. SECRETARY, LET'S START OUR PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE.

ON THE, UH, TAX CREDIT HOUSING PROJECT.

ITEM ONE ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO PROVIDE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR ONE APPLICANT SEEKING 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS.

MR. YOUNG AND MARK WITH HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS HERE.

WE RECOGNIZE YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M PAUL YDI.

MARK THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR HAYES STREET APARTMENTS.

HCD RECOMMENDS COUNSEL APPROVAL, A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR A ONE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICANT.

THE PROJECT IS HAYES STREET APARTMENTS, T-D-H-C-A, APPLICATION 2 6 4 4 9.

THE ADDRESS IS 14 AND 1500 BLOCKS HAY STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 9 DISTRICT H.

IT'LL BE A NEW CONSTRUCTION OF 110 FAMILY UNITS.

NO CD FUNDS ARE REQUESTED.

THIS RESOLUTION CREATE NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATION FOR THE CITY.

T-D-A-C-A REQUIRES A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FROM A LOCAL GOVERNING BODY FOR 4% HOUSING, TAX CREDIT, UH, APPLICATIONS.

AND WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL, THIS PROJECT CAN MOVE FORWARD TO T-D-A-C-A NOVEMBER'S BOARD MEETING.

UH, A LITTLE BIT ON THE THRESHOLD REVIEW.

WE COMPLETED OUT THE THRESHOLD REVIEW AND THE PROJECT MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS.

THIS SITE IS LOCATED IN NEAR NORTHSIDE COMPLETE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF OUR RECOMMENDATION.

THE SITE IS IN FLOOD ZONE X OUTSIDE OF 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN.

THE DEVELOPER IS AMT TECH'S MULTI-HOUSING.

THE SITE IS A FORMER

[02:15:01]

YELLOW CAB HEADQUARTERS AT BROWNFIELD.

IT COMPLETES TCEQ VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM AND IT WAS ACQUIRED BY HARRIS COUNTY WITH ARPA FUNDS, UH, OF 110 UNITS.

108 ARE INCOME RESTRICTED BETWEEN 30 AND 70 A MI AND TWO MARKET RATE UNITS.

THE UNIT MIX ARE ONE, TWO, AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS.

RESIDENT WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A GATED FULLY FENCED CAMPUS, A FITNESS CENTER, A BUSINESS CENTER, AND A COMMUNITY ROOM, AND ONSITE SOCIAL SERVICES.

TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST IS 28.4 MILLION.

THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE REVIEW THIS ITEM ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON A RESOLUTION WAS HELD ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2026.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.

IS ANYONE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WE DO HAVE ONE, ONE PERSON TIME.

NO.

NICK, YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD PLEASE? YES, SIR.

THE SECRETARY TO CONSENT AGENDA PLEASE.

I'M HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

I KNOW I HAVE MY, UH, THREE MINUTES.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE, EVERY WEEK I LOOK AT THE AGENDA OF CITY COUNCIL AND SEE IF I WANT TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT I HAVE I FEEL GOOD ABOUT AND SOME I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT.

NUMBER ONE, UH, THIS AREA AND I'M IN DISTRICT GATE AND WE DO NEED HOUSING.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM THERE.

BUT THE THINGS I DON'T LIKE, NUMBER ONE, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, I THINK PUBLIC HEARINGS LIKE THIS, I KNOW STATE CHARTER REQUIRES IT, STATE REQUIRES BECAUSE IT HAVE TO BE WITHIN A COUNCIL MEETING OR CAN WE HAVE A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AROUND WHERE THIS PLACE IS GOING IN? I THINK THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

UH, NUMBER TWO, I LOOKED ON A MAP.

THIS PLACE IS VERY WELL PLACED FOR THE 51 52 METRO ROUTE.

THE MOST PEOPLE IN THIS TYPE OF HOUSING NEED TRANSIT.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS BETWEEN WHERE THIS IS GOING.

AND HARDY ELY, WHEN THE 50 AND 51 ARE GOING, THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS BETWEEN THERE TO GET TO THE RED LINE.

SO I, I THINK PART OF THE THING WHEN, WHEN, UH, THE CITY HOUSING DEPARTMENT LOOKS FOR LAND, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE.

IS THERE ACTIVE TRANSIT? IS THERE, IS THERE, UH, SCHOOLS AROUND THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE SMACK AND, UM, I THINK THIS AGAIN, UH, BUT PART OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE HAS NEVER BEEN THERE.

AND I KNOW MAYOR, YOU'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT MAYBE ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IF COUNCIL APPROVES, MAYBE THE CITY COULD BRING IN SOME, UH, THE METRO, UH, MOBILITY FUNDS THAT PUT INTO THE RENEW HOUSTON BANK, AT LEAST TO PUT, WIDEN THAT STREET HAY BETWEEN THEIR PARTY LEISURE AND FULTON SO THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE A FULL ACCESS TO NOT ONLY A HOUSE, UH, TO TRANSIT.

IS THIS ALSO A FOOD DESERT? THERE'S ONLY ONE FOOD PLACE I KNOW OF IS THE FIESTA ON FULTON.

SO ALSO TO ONE LAST THING, THE GOLF COURSE.

THERE IS A COMMUNITY CONNECTION THAT GOES THERE, BUT, UH, I THINK YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS WHOLE THING WITH ANY PROJECT THAT THIS HORSE YOU TAKES ON AND DO A WHOLE ANALYSIS.

NOT JUST JUST PUTTING UH, HOUSING UP AND SAY, OH, WE DID SOMETHING NICE.

THINK OF THE WHOLE ENCHILADA.

GONNA GET YOU SOME SIDEWALK.

UH, ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? ANY? IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE HEARING? CASTEX TATUM, MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I SECOND.

MOTION MADE.

AND SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED NAY HEARINGS CLOSED.

UH,

[CONSENT AGENDA – NUMBERS 2 through 43]

ALRIGHT.

UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS TWO THROUGH SIX.

CASTEX TO MOVE.

SECOND MOTIONS MADE.

AND SECOND.

MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PROP PROPERTY CATEGORY.

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM SEVEN, CASTEX TATUM.

MOVE SECOND.

MOTIONS MADE.

AND SECOND.

MOTION PASSES UNDER THE PURCHASING AND UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY ITEM NINE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM EIGHT, CAST STATE TO MOVE.

SECOND.

MOTIONS MADE.

AND SECOND.

MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.

THOSE OPPOSED MAKE

[02:20:01]

ITEM 28 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, BUT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING.

ITEMS REMOVED FOR, FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE 10, 15, 16, 21 AND 33.

AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE 10, 15, 16, 21 AND 33.

NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED NA.

REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ITEMS

[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]

NEED A MOTION FOR ITEM NINE, CASTEX.

ITEM MOVED.

SECOND.

MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NAME.

ITEM 10 IS IN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE TAG.

TIME BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER JONES.

ATTACK.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, IF, IF YOU ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO REMOVE THE THANK FOR THE INPUT OF SO MANY OF YOU.

AND CERTAINLY THERE WAS A PRODUCTIVE HEARING BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UM, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS MADE ON THIS COUNCIL MEMBER.

SALINAS HAS A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND OTHERS HAVE.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR GETTING IT AT THIS STAGE.

AND, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE ADDITIONAL TIME, OBVIOUSLY THE TAG ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE FOR HAVING A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THIS AND ACCEPTING A LOT OF PROPOSED LANGUAGE.

RECOGNIZE YOU.

OH, IS IS HE GONNA REMOVE HIS TAG FOR DISCUSSION? YEAH, YOU'LL, YOU'LL ALLOW US TO DISCUSS IT.

I WAS HOPING TO DISCUSS IT ALL NEXT WEEK.

NO, NO.

I DIDN'T WANNA RELEASE IT.

OH, YOU TAGGED.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.

HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.

YOU WANNA WAIT NEXT WEEK? YEAH, THAT'S FINE.

ALRIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD.

I WAS BEEN TAGGED BY CUSTOMER FLICKINGER AND I'M TIMS TAGGED.

ANN CARTER HAND DATES YES.

GOING ONCE.

, CASTEX TATUM.

JOIN THE TAG, EVERYBODY.

OKAY, NEXT.

ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE.

ALL IN FAVOR OF 15.

ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST NEED A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED.

NAME.

I THINK, CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND NEED TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.

ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE.

IS THAT 21 TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? ITEM 20 ONE'S BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE.

JUST LEAD A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.

THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION PANELS.

AND THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WOW.

START WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO.

YOU READY? COUNCILMAN

[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS]

SO, EARLIER THIS WEEK I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE ON ANTISEMITISM IN DENVER, SPONSORED BY THE DAVID MIRAGE FOUNDATION, AND, UH, FOUND THE CONFERENCE TO BE VERY HELPFUL.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED WAS HOW, UM, UH, THE ROLE OF NOT ONLY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, BUT SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE RISE OF INCIDENTS OF ANTISEMITISM IN, UH, RECENT YEARS.

AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO COMBAT THAT.

PART OF THE SOLUTION, I THINK, INVOLVES, UM, ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS GROUPS SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE CAN SUPPORT AND RELY ON EACH OTHER.

EXCUSE.

BUT THESE ATTACKS,

[02:25:01]

UM, I OPPOSE HATRED OF ANY GROUP BASED ON RELIGION, ETHNICITY, RACE, OR GENDER, AND, UH, ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO COME TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO COME UNDER ATTACK FROM TIME TO TIME.

ALSO, I WANNA REMIND HOUSTONIANS THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT AN ELECTION GOING ON AND WE ARE IN THE THIRD DAY OF EARLY VOTING.

UH, EARLY VOTING WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF, AND WE'LL HAVE AN ELECTION DAY ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE THIRD.

AS YOU MAKE YOUR, UH, SELECTIONS, UM, PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

THE BALLOT HAS MORE THAN A HUNDRED POSITIONS ON IT, UH, MANY OF WHICH ARE JUDICIAL POSITIONS.

AND HAVING WORKED IN THE COURT SYSTEM BEFORE, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHO THE BEST CANDIDATES ARE.

I PRACTICED IN THE COURTS FOR DECADES, AND I HAD TO DO HOMEWORK TO, TO COME TO, UM, UH, DECISIONS ABOUT WHO TO VOTE FOR.

THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PUTS OUT A VOTER'S GUIDE THAT IS WIDELY AVAILABLE, INCLUDING ONLINE.

IT INCLUDES A LOT OF PROFILES OF CANDIDATES, UH, FROM BOTH PARTIES IN MANY OF THE RACES.

SO I ENCOURAGE HOUSTONIANS TO LOOK AT THAT.

UH, RELY ON, UM, THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL PREFERENCE POLL THAT, UM, POLLS ATTORNEYS AND FINDS OUT WHO THEY PREFER IN, UM, IN THE COURT RACES AND OTHER, UH, SOURCES AS WELL.

BALLOTPEDIA INCLUDES PROFILES OF CANDIDATES.

UH, THE LOCAL HOUSTON CHRONICLE DOES, UH, PIECES ON THE RACES AS WELL.

SO I ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND PLEASE GO VOTE, UH, WHILE YOU'VE GOT TIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

AND KIRKWOOD, AND THEN ALSO MISS POCAHONTAS, UM, NEAR WILCREST.

PLUS ONE TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S COMMENTS.

I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THE HOUSTON DEFENDER DID AN ANALYSIS OF A 300,000, UM, REGISTERED VOTERS ON THE LIST.

UH, FOR THOSE WHO WERE LISTED AS SUSPENSE.

UM, OUT OF THE TOP FIVE WEST CHASE WAS NUMBER THREE.

AND SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE, IF YOU LIVE ALONG ANY OF THE APARTMENTS ALONG WESTHEIMER, UH, YOU, UM, STILL ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

VERIFY YOUR STATUS ON THE ROSTER WITH AT HARRIS VOTES.

UM, AND TRACY G IS THE CLOSEST LOCATION FOR YOU TO ACCESS VOTING.

SO PLEASE, UH, PRIORITIZE THAT AND CHECK YOUR STATUS.

I WANT TO JUST ELEVATE THAT FOR THOSE IN THE DISTRICT.

UH, NU NUMBER TWO, ON A TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH AT 6:00 PM I'LL BE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.

I'M ASKING YOU TO JOIN ME FOR OLD SCHOOL ALE.

YOU KNOW IT AS THE OLD DOTTIE LANDFILL FOR MY CONTEMPORARIES.

YOU KNOW IT AS THE SUGAR HILL GOLF COURSE.

UH, THIS 132 ACRE SITE WAS ACQUIRED IN 2019.

THE DEVELOPER WILL JOIN ME AT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING FOR A SPECIAL DISCUSSION.

SO YOU CAN HEAR ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AT BISSONNET AND KIRKWOOD.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE SAID ARE THEIR PRIORITIES.

HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THEIR VISION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SITE, UM, ARE CLEAR AND YOU'RE MADE AWARE.

SO I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I HOSTED THE THIRD ANNUAL FAITH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING DATA OVER THE YEARS OF THE NUMBER OF ACRES, UM, HELD BY FAITH INSTITUTIONS.

HAPPY TO REPORT, UM, THAT AS OF TODAY, WE'VE IDENTIFIED 1000 ACRES, UM, PARTICULARLY IN 2026 ALONE, 39 INSTITUTIONS REPORTED ABOUT 291 ACRES.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MEETING OUR MISSION IN INFIELD AND LAND, UH, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PARTNERS THAT ARE READY TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY.

SO HAPPY TO REPORT THOSE NUMBERS AND LOOKING FORWARD THEM LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM HELPING US MEET OUR, UH, INVENTORY SUPPLY, UH, CHAIN.

UM, ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MOBILITY, WE ATTACH MOBILITY TO KIDS RIDING THEIR BIKES, UH, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

UM, EASY ACCESS TO PARKS INTO OUR, UH, COMMUNITY ASSETS.

BUT OFTENTIMES WE DO NOT, UH, ATTRIBUTE MOBILITY TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

AND I RAISED THAT POINT BECAUSE LAST WEEK I WAS NOTIFIED THAT TWO OF THE PARTICIPANTS, UM, THAT WE HAVE SERVED THROUGHOUT WITH OUR MOBILE SHOWER, LOST THEIR LIFE TO A HIT AND RUN MS. BRITTANY, UM, WHO WAS WITH US FOR THE LAST TWO EASTER WEEKEND.

AND IN JUNE, UM, UH, A HIT AND RUN, UH, OFF OF BISSONNET

[02:30:01]

AND SO, UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY OUT THERE.

SHE WAS A VIBRANT SPIRIT.

I MEAN, JUST ENERGETIC.

AND I WISH THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE FOR HER AND FOR SO MANY OTHERS.

AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, PRIORITIZE THE MOBILITY PROJECTS, UM, THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUND, SIDEWALK SPEED, UH, SPEED CUSHIONS, UH, STREET LIGHTS, YOU NAME IT.

UM, BECAUSE MOBILITY IS DEEP, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US IN THE, THE, THE, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT THE FIRST AND THEY WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

UM, SO I JUST WANNA LIFT UP THEIR NAMES ALSO IN MY REMARKS.

AND THEN THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR HOSTING THE LGBT CHAMBER YESTERDAY.

UH, A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH BUSINESS LEADERS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, EXCUSE ME, UM, FOR HOSTING THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

UH, JUST, UM, HAPPY TO, UH, SUPPORT AND BE AND BE A STRONG ALLY FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SO THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY, UM, IN OUR CITY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IS IT.

UM, AND IF, UM, MY OFFICE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE TO YOU, PLEASE REACH OUT TO DISTRICT F AT HOUSTON TX GOV.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, I'LL SEE YOU AT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25 MEETING ON NEXT TUESDAY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE.

A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD TODAY AT 2:00 PM UH, HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

UH, YOU CAN ALSO TUNE IN VIRTUALLY.

UM, WE WILL, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL PRESENT ON, UM, SOME TEZ PROPOSALS AND I THINK OF INTEREST TO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND HOUSTONIANS.

THERE'LL BE SOME DISCUSSION ON THE GAS STATION ORDINANCE.

UH, SO I THINK THAT, THAT THIS WILL BE A GREAT, UM, COMMITTEE TO ATTEND AND TUNE INTO.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER WILL CHAIR THAT COMMITTEE TODAY.

UM, MANY OF US KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY BREAST CANCER.

UM, THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR HOSTING OUR BREAST CANCER YOGA EXPERIENCE.

UM, WE WILL BE AT BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH ON TOMORROW AT 6:30 PM WE ARE ENCOURAGING SURVIVORS, PEOPLE THAT KNOW SURVIVORS, PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT WOMEN WHO HAVE, UM, DEALT WITH BREAST CANCER TO JOIN US.

THERE WILL BE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WE JUST WANT TO UPLIFT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, UM, AND ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO GET THEIR MAMMOGRAMS BECAUSE EARLY DETECTION DOES SAVE LIVES.

AND WANT TO THANK LINDSAY LEVINGSTON OF SURVIVE HER FOR PARTNERING WITH US FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

UH, AND THEN IF YOU MISS THE IN-PERSON MEETING LAST MONDAY, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS AND I HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON THEIR RECENT PROGRESS AND THE PROGRAM YEAR OUTCOMES.

YOU CAN ALSO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL MEETING.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SHARE, UH, THEIR UPDATES AND OUTCOMES ON TODAY.

FROM THREE TO 5:00 PM YOU CAN JOIN THAT CONVERSATION AND GIVE FEEDBACK ON HOUSING'S 2025 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT.

UM, HPD IS STILL HAVING THEIR PIP MEETINGS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

UM, WE GET A LOT OF, UM, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M ALWAYS CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGING OUR RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THOSE PIP MEETINGS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THOSE DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE PATROLLING IN YOUR AREAS.

DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT THE HPD SOUTHWEST DIVISION PIP IS ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE 27TH AT 7:00 PM AT THE HAROLD PRESTON POLICE STATION ON NATA, UH, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL PRESENT ON GENERAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

UM, HPD WANTS YOU TO COME OUT, SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND FEEDBACK, UM, WHETHER YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR SIMPLY WANT TO BE INFORMED, WE REALLY WANT YOUR PARTICIPATION.

AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FIVE CORNERS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS HOSTING A FALL CLEANUP.

UM, IT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT K OFFICE AS PART OF OUR, UM, CLEAN IT UP, GREEN IT UP INITIATIVE.

UM, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 24TH FROM EIGHT TO 12 AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER, LOCATED AT 1 4 0 8 3 SOUTH MAINE.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENT, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY ROLLING UP YOUR SLEEVES FOR PRODUCTIVE CLEANUP.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE.

BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.

VICE MAYOR, PRO IMPACT.

UM, THERE ARE TWO EVENTS COMING UP THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

THE FIRST IS THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD.

HPD NORTH DIVISION IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL TRUNK RETREAT EVENT.

SO BRING THE KIDDOS OUT IS ALWAYS

[02:35:01]

A GREAT EVENT.

UM, IT WILL BE AT THE NORTH DIVISION POLICE STATION 9 4 5 5 WEST MONTGOMERY, AND IT BEGINS AT 4:00 PM AND THEN THIS SATURDAY, UM, T-MOBILE IS HOSTING THEIR HOMETOWN HERO'S DAY FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE.

UM, COME CELEBRATE FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.

THEY'LL HAVE FOOD TRUCKS AND ACTIVITIES, AND IT'LL BE AT THE T-MOBILE STORE, UM, IN DISTRICT A 9 7 3 8 KATY FREEWAY.

AND THAT BEGINS AT 11:00 AM THANK YOU.

UH, WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED A RIBBON CUTTING IN EAST DOWNTOWN.

IT'S A NEW MID STREET ISLAND AT MCKINNEY AND, UM, IN ON THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.

AND SO I WANT TO, UH, THANK THE HARRISBURG TOUR FOR THEIR WORK.

AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOUR TEAM AS WELL, UH, MARLEY AND, UH, GAFFEY FOR ALSO HELPING WITH THAT, UH, IMPROVEMENT IN EAST DOWNTOWN.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, WHENEVER THEY'RE CROSSING, UH, AT, AT THESE TRAILS, UH, THEY'RE SAFE.

NOT JUST FOR PEDESTRIAN, BUT FOR CYCLISTS AS WELL.

UM, ALSO JUST WANT TO, UH, LIFT UP THE END OVER PARK.

UM, LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE.

WE'RE AT A GROUNDBREAKING THIS PAST MONDAY, MAYOR, AND IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT TO BRING SOME, UH, UH, SOME EXCITING NEWS TO THE HOBBY AIRPORT AREA OF DISTRICT.

I, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME FEDERAL, I MEAN, STATE DOLLARS ACTUALLY.

AND, AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR, YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

UH, THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL PARKS THAT RECEIVED A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WENT TOWARDS THIS, UH, THIS INITIATIVE.

UM, WHEN I FIRST, UH, WAS PRESENTED THE IDEA OF, UH, HAVING THESE PARKS, UH, BE IMPROVED FROM THE PARKS BOARD, UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EQUITABLE ACROSS DISTRICT.

I, AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF, OF, OF IMPROVEMENTS IN, IN SPECIFIC PARKS.

BUT IN THE HOBBY AREA, THERE'S BEEN, THERE'S SOME MISSING GAPS AS WELL.

SO, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PARKS BOARD.

WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK THE ANDOVER SOUTH FAIR LAWN, TROPICANA AND BAY OAKS COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THEIR PATIENTS.

UH, BUT WE'LL BE GETTING READY TO DO A RIBBON CUTTING SOON OUT THERE AS WELL.

UH, LASTLY, I JUST WANNA INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE 13TH ANNUAL DE LOS MUTOS PARADE IN MAGNOLIA PARK.

UH, THIS ANNUAL EVENT CELEBRATES OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE, AND THE COMMUNITY.

THE PARADE LINEUP BEGINS NEAR AMERICAN LEGION, UH, DEN MAGNOLIA PARK, LOCATED ON 75 99 AVENUE C, AND IT'LL END AT ALGO PARK, UH, WHERE THE CELEBRATION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 5:00 PM.

UM, THE FESTIVAL IS FILLED WITH LOCAL VENDORS AND, UH, OFFERS A TASTE OF THE CULTURE OF THE EAST END.

SO I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BOB.

UH, WANT TO ALWAYS KNOW THAT WE WANT TO PROTECT HOUSTONIANS AND PROTECT THE CITY AS WELL.

AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.

UM, YESTERDAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY MAYOR TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED ANTHONY BAES.

AND ANTHONY BAES, UH, WENT VIRAL, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO BECAUSE HE WAS DRIVING AN UBER.

AND, UH, THERE WAS TWO HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS JUMPED IN HIS CAR AS THEY WERE TRYING TO APPREHEND A SUSPECT.

AND MR. BAINES IS A ARMY VETERAN.

AND SO HE WAS STARTLED, BUT STAYED COMPOSED AND, UH, WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE OFFICERS AS HE DROVE THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD TRYING TO FIND A SUSPECT.

AND WE WANTED TO HONOR HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS AND HIS ACTIONS ON THAT NIGHT, AND IT WAS WELL DESERVED.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT, IT LEADS US TO LOOKING AT THE POLICIES OF HPD WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE TYPE OF, UM, ACTIONS.

IT, IT COULD PUT HOUSTONIANS IN HARM'S WAY.

AND, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK COULD ALSO BE A LIABILITY TO THE CITY.

UM, AND SO I THINK CERTAIN ACTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HOPPING IN, UM, CIVILIAN CARS, UH, TO APPREHEND CRIMINAL SUSPECTS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO DO.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE OFFICERS WERE PROBABLY THINKING FAST, WORKING FAST, TRYING TO DO ALL THEY COULD TO PROTECT AND SERVE THAT COMMUNITY.

BUT I DO THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, UM, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD LOOK AT.

AND SO, UM, I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO, UH, YOUR ATTENTION, UH, BECAUSE WE WERE ON TV LAST NIGHT DOING THE PRESENTATION, BUT I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT THAT IS A NORMAL, UH, OCCURRENCE THAT WAS PROBABLY VERY UNUSUAL.

UM, AND SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT TWICE BEFORE, BEFORE HAPPENING AGAIN.

SO I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ANTHONY.

THANK HIM AGAIN FOR HIS, UH, HIS ACTIONS ON THAT NIGHT.

THE SUSPECT WAS NOT APPREHENDED.

Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE SAW HOW FAST THIS GUY WAS RUNNING.

I MEAN, THIS, THIS GUY WAS RUNNING SO FAST.

UH, SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY HAD TO JUMP IN THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UM, BUT,

[02:40:01]

SO, UM, ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB, I SAY THIS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE MONTH, MORE JOBS.

HOUSTON.COM IS A WEBSITE FOR ALL JOB SEEKERS.

UH, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR, UM, ENTRY POINT IS, WHETHER IT'S A ENTRY LEVEL JOB OR SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A POSTGRADUATE DEGREE, UH, GO TO MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM.

UH, NOT ONLY TO LOOK FOR JOBS, UH, BUT THERE ARE RESOURCES ON THERE, UPDATES ON JOB FAIRS, AND WE WANT TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO FIND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT.

UH, FOR HOUSTONIANS.

THE REASON THAT I CAME UP WITH THIS, THIS SITE FOR MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM, IS I FOUND OUT THAT IN JC CITY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT RATE, BUT WE HAVE THE LOWEST MEDIAN INCOME RATE, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE HAVE JOBS, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE GOOD PAYING JOBS.

AND SO, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOOD MEANINGFUL PAYING JOBS AND HAVE THE TRAINING AND SKILLS NECESSARY, UH, TO, TO BE ELIGIBLE, UM, AND QUALIFY FOR THOSE JOBS AS WELL.

SO CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE MORE JOBS HOUSTON.COM.

COUNCILMAN ALCORN.

UH, OCTOBER'S A LOT OF THINGS, BUT IT'S ALSO BIKE OCTOBER, SO EVERYBODY GET OUT ON YOUR BIKES.

IT'S FINALLY LIKE, COOL ENOUGH WHEN YOU WON'T SWEAT TO DEATH.

AND I WANNA TELL Y'ALL ABOUT, UM, SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL'S DOING.

I'M ON THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE COUNCIL.

SO, UH, T DOTS CONNECT SMART BIKE, HOUSTON AND HGAC.

THEY HAVE SOMETHING CALLED LOVE TO RIDE, LOVE TO RIDE.NET.

UM, IT'S SO EASY.

YOU JUST GO ON, YOU SIGN UP, YOU CAN WIN UP TO, YOU CAN WIN A $3,000 TRIP.

YOU JUST LOG YOUR RIDES.

THIS SITE HAS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT RIDES YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN WITH GROUPS.

UM, OR YOU CAN JUST DO YOUR OWN RIDE AND LOG IT IN.

IF YOU DO, JUST EVEN JUST LOG ONE RIDE, YOU CAN WIN UP TO $500 CASH PRIZE.

AND THEN THERE'S A $3,000 GETAWAY IF YOU'RE LIKE THE GRAND WINNER.

SO IT'S REALLY EASY.

CITY COUNCIL HAS, UM, A LOT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE ALREADY ENROLLED.

I JUST PUT CITY COUNCIL ON THE LIST.

SO CHALLENGING EVERYBODY, ALL THE 91 EMPLOYEES OF CITY COUNCIL.

UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE ON YOUR BIKE.

IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH, IT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

UM, SO AGAIN, LOVE TO RIDE.NET IN THAT SAME VEIN, THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL, HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL RIGHT NOW HAS A SURVEY OUT IT'S REGIONAL ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN SURVEY.

AND IT WILL TAKE YOU FIVE MINUTES TO DO THIS SURVEY.

THIS IS STUFF THAT GOES INTO OUR REGIONAL ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN THE EIGHT COUNTY REGION.

WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE YEAR 2050, AND THIS HELPS US IDENTIFY PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES FOR WALKING, BICYCLING, ROLLING, AND ACCESS TO TRANSIT AGAIN, ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON.

IT'S NOT ALL CARS AND HIGHWAYS THAT WE DO.

WE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, SIDEWALKS, BIKEWAYS, ALL VERY IMPORTANT PARTS OF, OF OUR TRANSPORTATION IN THIS REGION.

SO PLEASE, IF YOU JUST GOOGLE HGAC ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY, PUSH THAT OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE'S INPUT ON THAT.

AND, UM, VERY IMPORTANTLY ON OUR, UM, RIGHT AFTER COUNCIL IS THE VERY EXCITING MUSICAL CHAIRS CONTEST.

AND I WENT AND PURCHASED A, A NICE CARROT CAKE FROM FRENCH GOURMET BAKERY.

THIS ALL BENEFITS, UH, THE COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN, WHICH I THINK CITY COUNCIL IS BENEFITING GRACE PLACE THIS YEAR.

SO, UH, RIGHT AFTER THIS, SEE YOU OVER AT THE CHAIRS IN THE ANNEX.

COUNCILOR SALINAS PASS.

COUNCILOR CARTER.

JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, MY FRIENDS OVER AT HOUSTON CHILDREN'S CHARITY THIS WEEKEND.

UH, WITH THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA, THEY RAISED OVER $13 MILLION THAT GOES TOWARDS HELPING DISABLED, UNDERPRIVILEGED AND ABUSED CHILDREN, CLEARING THEIR LIST FOR THOSE WAITING FOR ACCESSIBLE VANS.

SO A REALLY BIG DEAL AND GREAT SUCCESS FOR OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY.

ALSO, TOO, JUST A SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIENDS OVER AT BOMA, WHO WILL BE JOINING US FRIDAY AT FOUR 19 EMANCIPATION FOR A WORKDAY BEAUTIFICATION INSIDE AND OUT, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE OF HIM.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES WAS LAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAN.

PASS, PASS, PASS, PASS.

SHE SAID PASS.

THAT'S HER TALKING.

AIN'T NO WAY.

AND I'M GONNA TAKE UP COUNCIL MEMBER SALINA'S TIME.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I KNOW Y'ALL WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.

OKAY, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECAP ANOTHER BUSY WEEKEND ACROSS DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.

RECOGNIZE A SPECIAL HOUSTON MILESTONE FROM LAST NIGHT AND HIGHLIGHT AN IMPORTANT CELEBRATION COMING UP TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND.

UH, FRIENDS TO THE FRONT SUMMIT, ADVANCING HOUSTON'S

[02:45:01]

THANK YOU TO ED PETIT, UH, THE COALITION FOR ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND RESILIENT RESILIENCE, WHICH BROUGHT RESIDENTS, ADVOCATES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOGETHER AT THE EMANCIPATION PARK, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE FOCUSED ON OUR PARKS AND FUTURE PUBLIC SPACE, PUBLIC SPACES, ACCESSIBILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY, AND MAKING SURE RESIDENTS HAVE A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN HOW THESE COMMUNITY ASSETS ARE IMPROVED.

UH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE SMARTEN UP BLACK MALE SUMMIT, WHICH WAS ALSO ON SATURDAY, UH, HOSTED BY MINISTER DERRICK MUHAMMAD, WHICH BROUGHT BLACK MEN AND YOUNG MEN TOGETHER AT THE SHRINE CULTURAL CENTER FOR CONVERSATIONS CENTERED ON EDUCATION, SURVIVAL, AND SUCCESS.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUNG MEN AND THE INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO PROVIDE THEM WITH POSITIVE EXAMPLES, UH, FROM MALE ROLE MODELS, PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES TODAY DO NOT HAVE TO DETERMINE THEIR TOMORROW.

UH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, TOGETHER WE SURVIVED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FAMILY READINESS WORKSHOP.

OOH, I'M GETTING TONGUE TWISTED AT MUHAMMAD MA.

NUMBER 45, WHERE FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE, TOGETHER WE SURVIVED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

AND THIS PROGRAM FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL EMERGENCY PLANNING, HOUSEHOLD PREPAREDNESS, EMERGENCY SUPPLY KITS, AND HELPING FAMILIES PREPARE FOR SEVERE WEATHER.

IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, UM, WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN, SO WE MUST STAY PREPARED.

UM, LAST NIGHT, THE SOUTH MAIN ALLIANCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATED AN INCREDIBLE 50 YEARS OF SERVICE LAST NIGHT, FIVE DECADES.

SOUTH MAIN ALLIANCE HAS HELPED BRING TOGETHER THE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, ME MEDICAL, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE THE SOUTH MAIN CORRIDOR ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF OUR CITY.

UM, I'M GONNA SKIP ON DOWN.

I, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM.

CERTAINLY TONIGHT WE WILL HAVE THE GET OUT TO VOTE CAMPAIGN, AND I'M STRUGGLING THAT THIS IS IN DISTRICT K, I MEAN, WE RIGHT THERE ON THAT.

ANYWAY, UH, FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY, WHERE WE'LL HAVE BILL BELLAMY, UH, AT THE BAYOU CITY EVENT CENTER, 94 0 1 KNIGHT ROAD, WHICH WILL BE AT 6:00 PM TONIGHT.

VERY IMPORTANT TO GET OUT THE VOTE.

ALSO, UH, MAYOR, AND YOU ARE THE HONORARY CHAIR.

WE'LL HAVE THE ENSEMBLE THEATER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA SATURDAY NIGHT FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM AT THE HILTON AMERICAS HOUSTON.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY HOUSTON MILESTONE.

AND I'M GONNA SKIP ON DOWN.

ON A, ON A SAD NOTE, I WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO THE PERSON THAT LOST THEIR LIFE, UH, ON HOMES ROAD ON MONDAY.

THERE WAS A, UH, TRAGIC TRAIN ACCIDENT.

IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT I'M TOLD THAT THE PERSON MAY HAVE TRIED TO BEAT THE TRAIN.

LET'S NOT DO THAT.

IT'S, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO DO.

AND IT'S A VERY, YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOUR CAR MAY CUT OFF OR WHATEVER THINGS HAPPEN.

I'D RATHER YOU WAIT THAT TIME OUT AND BE LATE WHERE YOU'RE GOING THAN NEVER MAKE IT THERE.

SO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL RUSHING AND BUSY, ME BEING ONE, BUT YOU GOTTA LET THE TRAIN BE THE TRAIN.

AND CERTAINLY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, I GOT MY BIKE FIXED, Y'ALL.

IT'S BEEN SITTING IN THERE ALL DUSTY, AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME IT COULDN'T BE FIXED.

NOW IT IS AN ELECTRIC BIKE.

OKAY, I'M JUST GONNA KEEP IT REAL.

IT'S ELECTRIC, IT'S AN THAT'S OKAY.

BUT I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE BIKE TO A WONDERFUL BIKE SHOP, UH, RUN BY JEREMY HARDING, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE ON THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GREAT BIKE SHOP, IT'S RIGHT THERE IN NEAR HOLMAN STREET.

GO OUT, GET YOUR BIKE FIXED, GET READY, AND I'M, I'M GONNA WAIT ON COUNCILMAN JACKSON TO RIDE BACK THROUGH DISTRICT D AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANOTHER RIDE AROUND THE BAYOU, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, THIS CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

ALIVE WITH, WITH THE RAIN BARREL, AND ALSO HELP FOLKS LOWER THEIR WATER BILLS AS THEY HAVE A WAY TO WATER THEIR LAWNS AND GARDENS, ET CETERA.

THIS SATURDAY I'LL BE HOSTING OUR THIRD NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY EVENT IN EAST TEXAS.

JENSEN, WE WILL BE PLANTING AND DISTRIBUTING 285 TREES, UH, OVER THREE PARKS OUT THERE, SHADY LANE, DOTSON LAKE AND BUSBY PARK, AS WELL AS, UH, RESIDENTS WILL BE PICKING UP TREES.

AND THESE ARE ALL 15 GALLON TREES.

UM, ALSO RAIN BARRELS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO, TO DISTRICT H RESIDENTS, UM, AS PART OF THIS.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING TREES INTO OUR PARKS AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WE'RE HELPING KEEP THE TREES

[02:50:01]

UM, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE PLUMBER'S UNION WILL BE WRAPPING EXPOSED PIPES FOR RESIDENTS OUT IN THE EAST TEXAS JENSEN AREA AS WELL.

SO THIS IS OUR THIRD NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY EVENTS.

UM, THEY GET A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND A LITTLE BIT BETTER EVERY TIME, BUT, UH, IT TAKES A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP AND IT TAKES A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS AS WELL.

SO I WANNA THANK ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA COME ON OUT AND HELP US THIS COMING SATURDAY.

AND, UH, WE HAVE RAIN BARRELS FOR DISTRICT H RESIDENTS TO PICK UP.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP ONE, UH, AND YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT H, YOU CAN COME TO DOTSON LAKE PARK ON SATURDAY, 10:00 AM AND WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING FROM THERE.

YESTERDAY.

I WANT TO THANK THE GREATER HOUSTON L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB FOR THEIR FIRST CHAMBER DAY HERE AT CITY HALL.

IT WAS GREAT TO, TO HOST THEM, AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE, ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO MET WITH THEM AND TOOK TIME TO ENGAGE.

UH, DIRECTOR HORDE AND OBO, UH, DID A GREAT JOB GIVING THEM AN OVERVIEW, UH, AND ANSWERING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT HERE AT CITY HALL.

THEY DO PLAN ON DOING THIS EVERY OTHER YEAR.

SO NEXT YEAR THEY'LL BE FOCUSED ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN AUSTIN, AND THEN THE YEAR AFTER, UH, THEY'LL BE COMING BACK THROUGH HERE AT CITY HALL.

ALSO, WANNA THANK YESTERDAY THERE WAS A, A FIRE IN THE DISTRICT NEAR GLENDALE, AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WENT OUT AND ADDRESSED IT SO SWIFTLY.

UM, I KNOW WE GOT FOLKS THAT REACHED OUT TO US THAT WERE CONCERNED, AND THANKFULLY, UM, IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT I DO WANT RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND FOR GETTING OUT THERE AND HANDLING THE SITUATION.

AND FINALLY, AS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION, I KNOW A FEW OF US HAVE MENTIONED IT, I, I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET OUT AND VOTE EARLY.

WE ARE SEEING RECORD TURNOUT, UH, WHICH IS AMAZING.

AND THAT MEANS, UH, YOU DON'T WANNA WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE AND BE CAUGHT IN A LONG LINE OR GET STUCK AT WORK OR HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME RAIN AND SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE POLLS.

YOU CAN VOTE EARLY THROUGH OCTOBER 30TH AND MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

THAT'S 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM SUNDAY.

THAT IS 12 TO SEVEN.

AND GET OUT AND CAST YOUR BALLOTS.

I'M REALLY PROUD TODAY, EXCUSE ME, TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON OCTOBER 29TH, NEXT THURSDAY, WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR SECOND ANNUAL FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM.

UM, THIS IS DESIGNED IN ORDER TO BRIDGE BUSINESSES, UH, AND THE FINANCIAL RESOURCE IN OUR CITY.

AND I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT.

OF COURSE, OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER WILL BE OUR MAYOR, OUR HONORABLE MAYOR.

OUR, UM, MR. CEREMONY WOULD BE OUR HONORABLE MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, WHO WILL LEAD IT.

I'M EXCITED BECAUSE OF LAST YEAR WE HAD ROUGHLY ABOUT 350 BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESS ACROSS THE CITY OF ALL DENOMINATION COLORS, ETHNICITY, WHO ATTENDED IT, BECAUSE WE ARE LACKING THE RESOURCE WITHIN OUR CITY.

AND WE TALK ABOUT MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD.

AND SO IT BEHOOVES US THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE COME BEFORE US LOOKING FOR MONEY.

THE CITY DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY, THE COUNTY DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY.

THE STATE DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY, BUT BANKS HAVE THE MONEY.

AND UNTIL WE CREATE A RELATIONSHIP TO BRIDGE THESE THINGS TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT IS THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR DISTRICTS, AND OUR CITIES.

I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE TWO MAJOR SPONSORS, UH, HAS AND HBW ALONG WITH, UH, METRO.

UH, WE HAVE A, A NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, RESOURCE GROUPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SPONSORS AND BOOTS THAT WOULD BE AN ATTENDANCE OF A LOT OF BANKS ACROSS THE CITY WOULD BE ATTENDING.

WE WILL PROVIDE A CONDOT OF BREAKFAST.

UH, THIS WILL BE LOCATED AT THE BAYOU EVENT CENTER, 94 1 NIGHT ROAD.

AND WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT.

UH, IT WAS A GREAT TIME LAST YEAR, ACTUALLY.

UH, WE GOT MORE PEOPLE THAN EXPECTED, AND, UM,

[02:55:01]

HOPEFULLY THAT NUMBER WILL PROBABLY, UH, REACH THAT OR MORE THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

UM, THE, THE BEAUTIFUL THING OF THIS IS, IS THAT THIS IS ALLOWING THE CITY TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS AND HAVE THAT INTRODUCTION TO MANY, MANY OF OUR NON-FOR-PROFITS, UM, AS WELL AS FOR-PROFITS WILL BE THERE.

AND WE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE POTENTIAL ARE.

SO WE INVITE THOSE ACROSS THE CITY TO COME OUT.

IT WILL START AT 9:00 AM TO ABOUT 12 NOON.

AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT COLLABORATION, UM, TO SEE THAT MANY OF US CAN SEE THE BENEFITS.

MOST OF US KNOW OUR OFFICE OF BUSINESS, UH, OPPORTUNITY HAS TAKEN ON A BIG HIT.

AND THIS I THINK IS ANOTHER AVENUE TO OPEN IT UP.

OUR DIRECTOR OF OBO, UH, IN MY OPINION, HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN WORKING AND TRYING TO SEE TO IT THAT WE HAVE A CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DOES BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO WE INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO THAT.

WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND IT'S CALLED BANKING ON YOUR BUSINESS.

THE FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM IS TITLE BANKING ON YOUR BUSINESS.

SO WE OPEN THAT DOOR TO YOU AND I WANNA, AGAIN, THANK OUR MAYOR AND, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR WORKING WITH US AND HELPING US IN THIS EFFORT.

AND LAST, I DO WANT, AGAIN, THANK MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEK TATUM FOR ALLOWING US TO WORK, PARTNER WITH HER IN THE, UH, HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, A MEETING ON MONDAY A WEEK AGO.

IT WENT OVER VERY BIG AND WE WERE HAPPY TO ASSIST.

UH, LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR THIRD AND FINAL TOWN HALL OF THE YEAR.

UH, WE HELD IT AT ST.

AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, UH, THAT IS OVER IN THE MEADOW CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DISTRICT.

UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN AND COUNCILWOMAN CARTER FOR BEING THERE.

WE ALSO HAD STATE SENATOR ALVARADO STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARYANN PEREZ, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, VICTOR TREVINO, CONSTABLE JERRY GARCIA, CHIEF DIAZ.

AND, UH, JUST AGAIN, WANTED TO THANK THE, THE PRINCIPAL OF THE, THE SCHOOL AT ST.

AUGUSTINE, ERICA PARRIS, AND, UH, FATHER PAUL FOR HELPING US PUT THAT ON.

SO IT, IT WAS A NICE EVENT.

UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR BOPA IN KINGWOOD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH AT THE KINGWOOD METRO PARK AND RIDE.

THE EVENT STARTS AT NINE O'CLOCK AND LAST UNTIL NOON.

SO THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE WAY THAT YOU CAN, UH, RECYCLE OR GET RID OF YOUR BATTERIES, OIL PAINT ANTIFREEZE.

SO PLEASE, UH, IF YOU, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT AND WANNA DISCARD IT, COME ON OUT.

UH, LASTLY, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, BOB REHACK AND GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT.

UM, BOB WAS ABLE TO UNCOVER SOME INFORMATION THAT APPARENTLY NONE OF OUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIAS WERE ABLE TO DO.

UH, THEY ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT $113 MILLION, UH, WAS BEING PULLED FROM HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, UH, FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BASICALLY COMPLETE PROJECTS ON TIME.

IN FACT, UH, KIND OF WANTED TO READ FROM, AND, AND HERE'S WHAT WHAT GETS IT.

UM, HE ACTUALLY SENT IN AN INFORMATION REQUEST TO THE COUNTY.

THEY, UH, ABOUT AN AGENDA ITEM THAT HAD BEEN PULLED.

UH, THEY BASICALLY DID NOT GIVE HIM ANYTHING, SO HE WENT BACK TO THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE AND THEY SENT HIM INFORMATION, SENT HIM A LETTER.

WANNA READ FROM THAT TO MAKE SURE I GET IT RIGHT.

AND THIS IS FROM THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

GIVEN HARRIS COUNTY'S REPEATED INABILITY TO FULLY EXECUTE PROMISED PROJECTS EVEN WITHIN THE NEWLY AVAILABLE TIMEFRAME, THE GLL CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT SWAPS.

THIS DECISION IS NOT BASED ON ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.

RATHER, TEXAS STILL HAS SUBSTANTIAL UNMET NEEDS FROM HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE STATE CANNOT RISK FUNDS LAPSING BACK TO HUD BECAUSE OF HARRIS COUNTY'S EVENTUAL FAILURE TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS.

UM, HUD OR, UH, THE LAND OFFICE KIND OF WALKED THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEN ON TUESDAY THERE'S AN EMAIL THAT CAME OUT ANNOUNCING $92 MILLION OF DISASTER MITIGATION THAT IS NOW AVAILABLE WITH, UH, SUBMITTALS NEEDING TO BE BY NOVEMBER 18TH.

UH, KINGWOOD HAD ALMOST HALF OF THE DEATHS THAT WERE ATTRIBUTED TO HARVEY.

THERE WAS 15 THATS IN KINGWOOD ATTRIBUTED TO HARVEY OUTTA THE TOTAL OF 36 IN THE WHOLE COUNTY.

UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY MY DISTRICT, MY COMMUNITY NEEDS EVERY DOLLAR POSSIBLE FOR FLOOD MITIGATION

[03:00:01]

SPENT ON FLOOD MITIGATION, AND WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO LOSE THESE FUNDS.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET, UH, THINGS SQUARED AWAY.

I KNOW THE NEW FLOOD CONTROL DIRECTOR HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PRAISE AND, AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY NONE OF THIS FALLS ON HIS DOORSTEP SINCE HE'S ONLY BEEN THERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

BUT, UH, WE REALLY NEED TO GET THE SHIP RIGHTED.