[00:00:04]
[5:00 P.M. - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]
WOULD PLEASE COME TO ORDER.IF WE COULD PLEASE COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK FOR THE INVOCATION.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.
MAY WE APPROACH TODAY'S MEETING WITH OPEN MINDS, THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION, AND A COMMITMENT TO DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CITY.
MAY WE LISTEN WITH RESPECT, LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, AND REMEMBER THAT WE SHARE A COMMON GOAL OF MAKING HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
MAY OUR DECISIONS TODAY REFLECT WISDOM, FAIRNESS, AND GENUINE COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, OTHER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ROLL CALL AND ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]
SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.MAYOR WHITMEYER, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? HERE.
COUNCIL- COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER WILL BE ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN.
NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 20TH AND 21ST.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED TO ITEM CARRIES.
ANY PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? WE DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO IS IN THE QUEUE FOR.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE JASON EVANS TO THE TOP OF THE THREE-MINUTE NON-AGENDA LIST.
AND DO YOU HAVE ONE? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES.
I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SAMICHA RIZVI TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA THREE MINUTE LIST AFTER.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM CARRIES.
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE SHERRY BUTLER AND EDNA LEMKE ON THE THREE MINUTE NON-AGENDA LIST TO, UM, THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON-AGENDA LIST AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK.
IS THERE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR.
[5:00 P.M. – PUBLIC SPEAKERS]
IF NOT, MR. SECRETARY, IF YOU WILL PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER.UM, GOOD EVENING, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SAMIHA RIZVI AND I'M HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY TO TALK ABOUT THE PORT OF HOUSTON.
I WANT TO START WITH THE NAME, JIHAD ALVANDUR.
TWO WEEKS AGO, HE DIED OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS NEAR JABALIA CAMP IN GAZA.
TWO DAYS AGO, AN AIRSTRIKE HIT THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN GAZA CITY AND KILLED THREE SECURITY GUARDS.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD THERE'S A CEASEFIRE.
IN THAT YEAR, GAZA'S HEALTH MINISTRY HAS COUNTED NEARLY 1,500 PEOPLE KILLED, AND UNICEF SAYS 340 OF THEM WERE CHILDREN.
THIS MONTH, THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM CUT FOOD AID TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE THERE BECAUSE THE FUNDING RAN OUT RIGHT AS THE WINTER RAIN STARTED.
I KNOW THIS MAY FEEL FAR AWAY FOR SOME OF YOU, IT ISN'T.
PORTS OR PART OF THIS RUNS THROUGH THE CITY.
IN 2025, AN ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC SHIPPING RECORDS FOUND 432 SHIPMENTS OF F-35 FIGHTER JET PARTS CAME THROUGH THE PORT OF HOUSTON BETWEEN 2020 AND 2025.
THAT'S ABOUT 85% OF ALL, UH, THE F-35 PARTS SHIPPED FOR ISRAEL.
THEY CAME IN ON CONTAINER SHIPS.
THEY GET TRUCKED UP TO FORT WORTH, THEY GET BUILT INTO JETS, AND THOSE JETS FLY TO GAZA.
THE WINGS OF THOSE PLANES COME THROUGH OUR PORT, ON OUR ROADS, MOVED BY OUR WORKERS, WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT IT OR NOT.
I KNOW WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS SAID TO PEOPLE WHO'VE COME BEFORE ME AND STOOD HERE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO USE A POWER YOU ALREADY HAVE.
UNDER STATE LAW, THE COUNCIL APPOINTS TWO OF SEVEN PORT COMMISSIONERS, AND IN JANUARY, YOU AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL PICK THE COMMISSION'S
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CHAIR.YOU CAN ASK THEM TO DO SOMETHING.
SO HERE'S WHAT I'M REQUESTING.
FIRST, ASK THE CITY'S TWO PORT COMMISSION APPOINTEES TO PUT A POLICY ON THE COMMISSION'S AGENDA THAT ENDS THE HANDLING OF MILITARY CARGO BOUND FOR ISRAEL AT PORT HOUSTON TERMINALS AND HAVE THEM REPORT BACK TO THIS COUNCIL IN WRITING WITHIN 60 DAYS.
SECOND, BEFORE YOU NE - BEFORE YOUR NEXT PORT COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING THE CHAIR, ASK EVERY NOMINEE ON THE RECORD WHERE THEY STAND ON THIS POLICY.
IN APRIL, 40 US SENATORS VOTED TO BLOCK WEAPON TRANSFERS TO ISRAEL BECAUSE THEY'VE CONTINUED TO VIOLATE THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT AND HAVE MISUSED AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO COMMIT GENOCIDE.
MORE THAN 70 HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED ON TO BLOCK THE BOMBS ACT.
THIS COUNTRY IS MOVING ON THIS.
HOUSTON CAN AND SHOULD AS WELL.
JIHAD VASEVEN, YOU APPOINT THESE COMMISSIONERS.
THANK, THANK YOU, MS. RISBY, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
I'M, I AM GOING TO ASK, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LONG LIST OF SPEAKERS, IF WE WILL REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING IN THE CHAMBER.
NEXT SPEAKER? PANZARELLA FOR HIS POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PANZARELLA FOR POINT OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE REAL QUICK TO RECOGNIZE, UH, SOME MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN MEDIA HERE TODAY.
UH, COULD Y'ALL PLEASE RISE? WE HAVE, UH, PLEASE STAND, PLEASE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE ALEX COLAZZOLI, GIUSEPPE ROSANO, ANGELO MADONIA, AND SOPHIA ROSANO.
THEY'RE HERE REPRESENTING ILFATO KURDIRIANO.
THEY'RE IN TEXAS TO COVER THE MIDTERMS. UH, JUST REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IN TEXAS COVERING POLITICS HERE AND THANK Y'ALL FOR TRAVELING ALL THIS WAY AND
IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KELVIN LOWE.
I WAS HERE FOR A HALF HOUR, OKAY? NEXT TIME, PLEASE SHOW UP ON TIME BEFORE YOU EXERCISE YOUR PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
OKAY, MR. CHO, WE'RE READY FOR YOU.
CLOCK'S RUNNING, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE PAUSE, WASN'T IT? THAT WAS JUST OVER 15 SECONDS, SO I'M GONNA COME TO THAT POINT IN A SECOND.
THE HOUSTON FREEDOM ACT IS CURRENTLY ON OUR BALLOT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
FIRST OFF, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING US ON THE BALLOT ARE HEADQUARTERED APPROXIMATELY 170 MILES FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
ONE OF THEIR DIRECTORS SPENDS PART OF HER TIME LIVING IN HOUSTON AND THEY HAVE A HOUSTON FIELD MANAGER.
THE PETITION HEADING LACKED INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN, MAY HAVE INFLUENCED THE SIGNERS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY IF THERE WAS MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE UP FRONT, NOT ATTACHED.
THE STATISTICAL ASSUMPTIONS, ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE CITY SECRETARY, WHILE COMPLIANT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMBED A LITTLE FURTHER.
THE APPROXIMATELY 800-WORD PROPOSED AMENDMENT WAS REDUCED TO 50 WORDS FOR VOTERS, WITH THE POTENTIALLY MOST CRITICAL WORDS OMITTED, SECTION X.10 REQUIRE THE OFFICER TO KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE THEIR PRESENCE AND WAIT AT LEAST 15 SECONDS PRIOR TO EXECUTION, 18 WORDS, THAT IF THIS GOES THROUGH AND BECOMES CODIFIED, MIGHT RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE.
I WAS ADVISED BY A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT PER THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE FOR BALLOT LANGUAGE.
A SAMPLE BALLOT POSTED AT AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION, WHICH I WAS WORKING THE OTHER DAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROPOSITION A MEASURED SIX INCHES.
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO BOND ISSUES THAT MEASURED 11 INCHES.
THE AUGUST 12TH AGENDA SESSION, CITY SECRETARY, ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEEDS A VOTE.
I KNOW THAT'S HOW MOST THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT AGAIN, THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL WAS VERY MUCH LACKING IN TERMS OF THE ATTEN -
[00:10:01]
UH, UH, ATTACHMENT TO THE AGENDA.ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO WHICH FOR WHOM I SPOKE WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE THIS WAS ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
MANY FORMER AND CURRENT MEMBERS...
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. CHO.
IT'S ELECTION SEASON, Y'ALL, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED ALREADY, MAKE SURE TO GO VOTE.
AND IF YOU HAVE, GO GET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO VOTE TOO.
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, I'VE WORKED AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN THE HOUSTON AREA, MOSTLY IN CHURCHES.
THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE, I'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF CONVERSATIONS AND CONDUCTED THOUS - UH, DOZENS OF TRAININGS WITH HOUSTONIANS ALL AROUND THE CITY ON A MYRIAD OF ISSUES.
PART OF MY WORK HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON ORGANIZING CONGREGATIONS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
FROM COFFEE AND DONUTS AT OUR MOTHER OF MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH TO BAZAARS AT ST.
FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH, I'VE SPENT MANY AN AFTERNOON AND MANY A SUNDAY MORNING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WORKING IN HISTORICALLY BLACK CHURCHES, I'VE LEARNED FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT IMPORTANT LOCAL ISSUES LIKE FLOOD MITIGATION, DISASTER RESILIENCY, ILLEGAL DUMPING, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND CRIME, AMONGST OTHER ISSUES.
SINCE EARLY THIS SUMMER, I'VE HAD THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF ORGANIZING CANVASSING WITH A DEDICATED TEAM OF ABOUT A DOZEN CANVASSERS.
FOR THOUSANDS OF MAN-HOURS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE'VE KNOCKED ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS TO ENCOURAGE NORTHEAST VOTERS TO HAVE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM MOST, AND OF COURSE TO VOTE.
CANVASSING SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
THE BIGGEST AND MOST CONSISTENT SAFETY CONCERN THAT WE'VE HAD IS STRAY DOGS.
IN LATE JULY, WHILE TALKING TO A RESIDENT WITHIN TWO MILES OF ST.
FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH, TWO MEDIUM-SIZED DOGS INTIMIDATED ME, GROWLING AND SHOWING TEETH WHILE IT WAS PINNED AGAINST A GATE.
SHE, SHE SHOULD HAVE THREE MINUTES.
IN EARLY AUGUST, ONE OF OUR CANVASSERS IN THE SAME AREA WAS BITTEN.
MY TEAM AND I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE ROUTES SEVERAL TIMES TO AVOID LARGE ROAMING PACKS.
OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.
IN FACT, OUR TEAM CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF 200 PEOPLE IN THE NORTHEAST AREA TO ASK ABOUT WHAT ISSUES WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM.
OUR ANALYSIS FOUND THAT 17% OF HOMES WERE CONCERNED ABOUT STRAY DOGS, A TOP THREE ISSUE FOR RESPONDENTS.
THIS WAS REFLECTED IN A CONVERSATION WITH DAVID, A RESIDENT ABOUT TWO MILES FROM ST.
GREGORY THE GREAT AND NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH AND HIS WONDERFUL FAMILY OF FIVE.
AFTER TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTION, WE TALKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE HIS HOME.
WHAT WAS ONE OF DAVID'S BIGGEST ISSUES? STRAY DOGS, ESPECIALLY FOR HIS SMALL CHILDREN, WHERE HE COULD HAVE BEEN ENJOYING PLAYING OUTSIDE WITH HIS KIDS.
INSTEAD, HE HAD TO REMAIN HYPERVIGILANT OF POTENTIAL STRAYS ROAMING THE STREETS WHILE HIS KIDS ENJOYED THEIR FRONT YARD.
AS WE WIND DOWN THE ELECTION MOMENTUM AND ENTER THE HOLIDAYS, ALL I ASK IS THAT THERE BE INCREASED ANIMAL CONTROL PATROL FOR THE HOUSTON GARDENS NEIGHBORHOOD.
OCTOBER IS FOR POLES AND PIXIE STICKS, NOT PACKS OF PREDATOR POOCHES.
UH, WHAT, WHAT DISTRICT IS THAT IN? THIS IS, UM, TARSHA JACKSON.
I DO KNOW THAT, UM, MANY OF THE, UM, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE DONATED, UH, NOT DONATED, GIVEN MONEY TO BARK FOR, UH, PICKING UP STRAYS.
UM, WE CAN CONTINUE THAT, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE, IF YOU DO SEE STRAY ANIMALS, THAT YOU REPORT THAT TO 311, CALL BARK, UH, AND THEY CAN SET UP TIMES TO, UM, ACTUALLY CANVAS THOSE AREAS TO PICK UP THOSE STRAY ANIMALS.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ELKHORN.
WE DON'T SPEND ENOUGH ON ANIMAL WELFARE IN THIS CITY.
WE SPEND ABOUT HALF PER CAPITA OF OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A STRAY DOG PROBLEM UNTIL WE INVEST PROPERLY IN ANIMAL WELFARE.
AND IF YOU, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND EMAILING IT TO MY OFFICE, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
WE'VE BEEN BANGING THIS DRUM A LONG TIME.
[00:15:01]
LOTS OF THINGS TO SPEND MONEY ON, BUT FOR, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY UNDER-INVESTED IN OUR ANIMAL WELFARE.AND I SAW A STRA- STRAY DOG TODAY, UM, KIND OF CHASING AFTER SOMEBODY, AND IT'S A VERY SCARY THING, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR HIGHLIGHTING THIS.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, JUST EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, FOR CANVASSING AND TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.
UM, JUST IF YOU SEE ANY STRAY DOGS, UM, JUST ONCE YOU CALL 311, CONTACT OUR OFFICE, AND THAT WAY WE CAN FOLLOW UP, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE GOT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT.
BUT, UM, AS, UM, MAYOR PRO TIM SAID THAT, THAT'S AN ISSUE, BUT MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE INVESTED SOME OF THEIR DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO, UM, HELP ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
I WILL SAY BARK DID REACH OUT TO ME, SO I NEED TO GIVE HIM A CALL BACK.
UM, JENNIFER - COULD YOU HOP ONE INTO ONE OF THO TWO MICS? EITHER ONE IS FINE.
UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE BASKETBALL HOOPS AT THE PROCTOR PLAZA PARK PAVILION.
BASKETBALL IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCESSIBLE WAYS FOR KIDS, TEENS, AND ADULTS TO BE ACTIVE.
IT BUILDS FITNESS, TEAMWORK, CONFIDENCE, AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I PERSONALLY GREW UP IN THE SUBURBS, UM, HAVING THE LUXURY OF A DEAD-END STREET TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND HAVE LOTS OF FUN SAFELY WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT CARS AND ANYTHING ELSE GETTING IN MY WAY.
AND I THINK THE FAMILIES OF THE PROCTOR PARK AREA DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS.
UM, SO I JUST LIKE TO SAY, STATE MY SUPPORT FOR THAT.
I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PICKNEY TRAIL CONNECTOR TO WHITE OAK BAYOU.
I'M AN AVID USER OF THIS TRAIL.
I TOOK IT HERE TODAY TO GET TO THIS MEETING.
MY HUSBAND TAKES IT TO WORK EVERY DAY DOWNTOWN, AND WE PURCHASED OUR HOME OFF THE TRAIL IN 2021 BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO WHITE OAK AND EASILY, EASY, UH, WAYS TO GET AROUND TOWN.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL STARTED IN APRIL OF 2025, AND THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE TRAIL WERE BUILT.
HOWEVER, IT'S HAD BASICALLY ZERO MOVEMENT ON IT IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS BESIDES ONE POLE THAT WAS MOVED.
THAT WAS IN AUGUST, AND NO CONSTRUCTION HAS RESUMED SINCE.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF UNSAVORY CHARACTERS THAT COME ALONG THIS TRAIL.
WE HAD TO CALL THE POLICE ON A NAKED MAN THE OTHER DAY.
A PERSON IMMEDIATELY TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN A BENCH THAT WAS INSTALLED AT THE START OF THE TRAIL.
HE REGULARLY DEFECATES, LEAVES TONS OF TRASH, AND IS KIND OF JUST A SCARY CHARACTER TO SEE AT NIGHT WHEN WE'RE USING THE TRAIL.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A NUMBER OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO'VE TAKEN UP RESIDENCE ALONG THE TRAIL, AND I CAN KIND OF HANDLE MYSELF ON THE TRAIL, BUT IF, YOU KNOW, I HAD A CHILD IN A STROLLER, I WOULD NEVER TOUCH THAT TRAIL.
UM, AND BASICALLY, I'M JUST PRETTY FRUSTRATED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION HAS MADE IT UNSAFE TO USE.
UM, WE WERE BETTER OFF WITH THE MUD TRAIL THAT DIDN'T HAVE SKETCHY PEOPLE COMING UP AND DOWN IT ALL THE TIME.
AND YEAH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE, UM, THE CITY TO RESUME CONSTRUCTION ON THIS IMMEDIATELY, AND IF ANYTHING, JUST GET SOME UPDATES.
UM, THE LAST UPDATE I GOT WAS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WAS LOOKING INTO IT, AND I THINK THAT'S NOT REALLY RELEVANT BESIDES THE DEFECATION ISSUE.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, BOTH ON THE PROCTOR PLAZA AND THE, THE PICKNEY TRAIL.
UH, TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE TRAIL SPECIFICALLY, THAT IS A PROJECT THAT IS BEING LED BY PRECINCT TWO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE.
SO WE DID, UH, REACH OUT TO THEM.
I KNOW THE POLL THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS A CENTER POINT POLL THAT NEEDED TO BE MOVED FOR THAT PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THERE WAS A DELAY THERE.
UM, IT HAS BEEN MOVED, AS, AS YOU MENTIONED.
BECAUSE OF THE DELAY, THERE WERE SOME CONTRACTUAL ISSUES WITH THE ONSITE VENDOR THAT HAVE PAUSED WORK AND DELAYED PROGRESS.
HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING IS EVALUATING AVAILABLE REMEDIES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES AND GET THE PROJECT BACK ON TRACK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET UPDATED.
ALSO HAPPY TO CONNECT YOU WITH THEIR PROJECT MANAGER AS WELL, UM, SO THAT YOU HAVE A DIRECT LINE TO THEM, BUT KNOW THAT WE DO CHECK IN ON THEM REGULARLY.
WE DO GET COMMUNICATION FROM RESIDENTS WHO ARE EAGER TO SEE THIS, UH, COMPLETE, UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF, UM, AND WORK WITH PRECINCT TWO ON MOVING IT FORWARD.
I DO WANNA ALSO TELL YOU THAT WE RECEIVED A MEMO, UM, FROM PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DID SAY THAT THOSE BASKETBALL GOALS WERE TAKEN OUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT THE REQUEST OF SOME RESIDENTS.
HOWEVER, AFTER FURTHER DELIBERATION, THEY'VE GIVEN...
THEY'VE MADE THE DECISION, UM, TO PUT, REINSTALL
[00:20:01]
THE GOALS AT THE PAVILION AT PROCTOR PLAZA PARK, RESTORING THE SPACE TO ITS ORIGINALLY INTENDED RECREATIONAL USE, TO BALANCE COMMUNITY SENTIMENT AND ENSURE SH- SHARED ACCESS.THE PAVILION, UH, WILL HAVE HALF COURTS AND THEN CLOSEST TO THE PRO - UH, PLAYGROUND, IT'LL MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE.
SO THEY ARE GOING TO REINSTATE, UM, THREE OF THE, OF THE GOALS.
DO YOU WANNA GO AGAIN? DID YOU WANT, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING ELSE, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? I DO.
UM, ON THAT NOTE, SO AS WE'VE HAD FOLKS COME TO COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT THE NETS, UM, PARKS HAS MAINTAINED COMMUNITY CONSENSUS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS GONNA BE A PART OF THIS DECISION.
UM, THIS MEMO THAT CAME OUT TODAY HAS RELEASED A DECISION THAT HAS BEEN MADE, RIGHT? UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED.
UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S AS EASY AS A YES OR A NO, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN WITH, UH, WHAT WAS DECIDED, SOME TYPE OF MIDDLE GROUND COMPROMISE, AND, UM, WE'LL BE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND AFTER BEING TOLD COMMUNITY CONSENSUS AND ENGAGEMENT, WE'RE GONNA BE A PART OF THIS, AND THAT TO NOT HAVE IT HAPPEN, UM, WE DESERVE TO HOLD THAT UP TO THE RESIDENTS, SO...
TO BE FOLLOWED BY HALEY ROGERS.
UH, MY NAME IS KIRSTEN BUDWEIN.
I'M A POLICY ATTORNEY WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHT PROJECT AND ALSO A COALITION MEMBER OF THE REIMAGINING SAFETY FOR EVERYONE COALITION.
SO WE SENT A LETTER TO THE FULL COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 20TH REGARDING THE, UH, MODEL CITIES INITIATIVE.
AND SO I WANNA SPEAK ON SOME OF THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE.
SO WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE MAYOR HAS TALKED ABOUT WITHDRAWING THE APPLICATION, BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT THAT GOES FAR ENOUGH.
UM, WE WANT TO, UM, PROVIDE YOU GUYS WITH SOME POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THESE TYPE OF PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY FAILURES DO NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO REG- REGARDING, UM, DOJ GRANTS OR ANY GRANT RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO WE MAKE FIVE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR LETTER.
UM, THE FIRST IS PROHIBITING ANY APPLICATION FOR STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY OR SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY FUNDING FROM BEING SUBMITTED WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE FULL COUNCIL.
THE SECOND IS PROHIBITING ANY CITY OFFICIAL FROM SIGNING A CER- CERTIFICATION OR ASSURANCE ON THE CITY'S BEHALF ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, DATA SHARING, OR STATE OR FEDERAL OVERSIGHT WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE FULL COUNCIL.
THE THIRD IS REQUIRING THE ADMINISTRATION TO NOTIFY COUNCIL IN WRITING WITHIN 14 DAYS OF DECIDING TO PURSUE ANY SUCH GRANT.
THE FOURTH IS REQUIRING THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE ANY...
PREPARE AND PUBLISH IN ADVANCE OF ANY COUNCIL VOTE, A SUMMARY OF EVERY IMMIGRATION, DATA SHARING AND STATE OR FEDERAL OVERSIGHT CONDITION ATTACHED TO ANY SUCH GRANT.
AND THE LAST IS REQUIRING THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON EACH APPLICATION, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE ANY APPLICATION GOES TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.
UH, WE MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, REALLY URGING THE COUNCIL TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, UM, IMPLEMENTING A POLICY SO THAT WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION WHEN THE DOJ, THE STATE, OR ANY OTHER ENTITY COMES TO THE, UM, COMES TO THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, TO USURP THE LOCAL CONTROL THAT WE ALL HOLD NEAR AND DEAR IN TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND IF YOU COULD, UM, JUST EMAIL YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO THE COUNCIL OFFICES, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TOO.
I, WE EMAILED IT ON OCTOBER 20TH, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY FORWARD IT TO Y'ALL AGAIN TONIGHT.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
UM, ON ANY GIVEN DAY, I PASS FIVE FLOCK CAMERAS JUST TO GET IN AND OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WALK MY DOG, I PASS THREE MORE EVERYWHERE I GO.
FLOCK HAS EYES ON ME, EYES ON YOU, AND EYES ON EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM.
HOUSTON HAS A $6.3 MILLION CONTRACT WITH FLOCK.
UM, IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD FUND WITH THAT CONTRACT, UM, AND THAT MONEY.
FLOCK CAMERAS CREATE A DETAILED MAPS OF HOW HOUSTONIANS, UM, MOVE, WHERE
[00:25:01]
THEY WORK, WHERE THEY GO TO PRAY, WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL, AND WHERE THEY SHOP.THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY ON WHAT THEY TRACK.
PROFILES OF EVERY CITIZEN WITHIN HOUSTON ARE SHARED ACROSS THEIR PLATFORMS. THIS DATA IS SHARED WITH AGENCIES.
THIS DATA IS SHARED, UM, WITH UNKNOWN ACTORS AND ALSO STATE AGENCIES.
THE MOST INSIDIOUS AGENCY THAT THEY SHARE DATA WITH IS DHS AND ICE.
ICE DOES NOT MAINTAIN, UM, A FORMAL DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SYSTEM.
THEY NEED LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH THEM.
AND INSTEAD, THEY RELY ON HPD.
SO WE ALREADY KNOW THAT DATA SHARING HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH OPEN RECORDS INVESTIGATIONS AND SHOWN MISUSE OF, OF THE FLOC SYSTEM ACROSS HPD AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT'S AGENCY WITHIN THE HOUSTON METRO AREA.
I'M URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO END THE FLOC CONTRACT, UM, ALSO BRING A NEW ORDINANCE ON THE TABLE, UM, THAT ENDS HPD COLLABORATION WITH ICE AND CREATE REAL SAFETY AND TRANSPARENCY THAT HOUSTONIANS CAN RELY ON.
CHRISTOPHER, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY JASON EVANS.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, OR AFTERNOON.
BUT ANYWAYS, UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
I WORK WITH THE TEXAS RIGHT PROJECT, UH, AND I, I SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT I'LL ACTUALLY BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE MODEL CITIES AND, UM, AND THE CITY WANTING TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT IF THE CITY WAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MODEL CITIES, THEY WOULD OFFER FEDERAL FUNDING TO EXPAND LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVEILLANCE AND INVESTIGATE SURVEILLANCE TECH, UH, AND, AND FURTHER EXPAND THEIR INVESTIGATIVE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH INCLUDES REAL-TIME CRIME CENTERS, LICENSE PLATE READERS, DRONES, SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BALLISTIC INTELLIGENCE, FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BUT WHAT THE APPLICATION DOESN'T MAKE CLEAR IS THAT HOW LONG WILL THIS INFORMATION ACTUALLY BE STORED AND KEPT? AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE NO IDEA OF WHO'S ACTUALLY HAS ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, WHO'S ABLE TO SEARCH THIS, UH, THESE TECHNOLOGIES, AND ALSO WHO MAINTAINS THE DATA OVERALL AT THE END.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR, UH, INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT ON WHO GOVERNS THESE.
HOUSTON RESIDENTS SHOULD KNOW HOW THESE TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE USED AND WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, WHETHER THEY'VE COLLECTED BEFORE THIS KIND OF, UH, OF SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION IS EXPANDED OR WHETHER IT REQUIRES CLEAR LOCAL SAFEGUARDS, IT'S FOR US TO DECIDE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO REALLY ASK YOU TO INCLUDE THESE TYPE OF PROTECTIONS AND, AND, AND REALLY HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THESE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES AND REJECT THE FUNDING THAT WOULD COME WITH MODEL CITIES.
SO TODAY WE ASK THE COUN - THE COUNCIL TO REFUSE ANY FUNDINGS THAT RECKLESSLY EXPAND SURVEILLANCE INFRASTRUCTURES IN HOUSTON AGAINST THE CLEAR WISHES OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO PLEASE, UH, DENY THE FUNDING FOR THE MODEL CITIES AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHERRY BUTLER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PROTEMP AND THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
FIRST, I WANNA THANK MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND CONTINUED WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH HOPE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIP AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR GREAT CITY.
AS WE DISCUSS AFFORDABILITY OF IMPROVING CITY SERVICES AND DELIVERING RESULTS FOR HOUSTONIANS, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ARE THOSE WHO MAKE THOSE SERVICES POSSIBLE.
NEW TRUCKS, EQUIPMENT, AND STREET PAINTING MACHINES ARE GREAT INVESTMENTS, BUT WITHOUT FAIRLY COMPENSATING THE WORK, HARDWORKING PEOPLE OPERATING THAT EQUIPMENT AND OUR RESIDENTS WILL NEVER RECEIVE THE QUALITY SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE.
INVESTING IN OUR CITY MEANS INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE.
AS WE APPROACH CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, OUR PRIORITIES ARE SIMPLE, SECURING A FAIR CONTRACT THAT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE DEDICATED TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSTON'S MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
MAYOR WHITMEYER AND THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO MOVE HOUSTON FORWARD BECAUSE WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WE TAKE BETTER CARE OF OUR CITY.
UH, JASON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND TO THE MEMBERS OF HOPE.
UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, Y- YOUR, YOUR WORK AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY IS DEFINITELY ACKNOWLEDGED AND, UM, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK AT THE HOPE MEETING, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPEN DIALOGUE, UH, FOLKS ASKING SOME, SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS I THINK THAT ARE, THAT ARE IMPORTANT, RIGHT? UM, ULTIMATELY, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO IS A REFLECTION OF, OF, OF WHAT THE CITY SHOULD BE DOING, RIGHT, UH, AS FAR AS CORE SERVICES.
[00:30:01]
LEFT THAT DAY KNOWING THAT THERE'S A COMMITMENT, UH, TO A FAIR CONTRACT.UH, I DO WANT TO GIVE Y'ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT'S ON YOUR SHIRT AS WELL.
I, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO SEE IT, UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE IT AND SEE, UH, WHO ELSE IS SUPPORTING YOU ALL AS WELL.
WELL, THESE SHIRTS IS LIKE OUR OPENING CAMPAIGN.
IT'S BASICALLY SAYING THAT WE TOO DESERVE A LIFE-CHANGING CONTRACT.
UH, AND ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD ABOUT WITH THIS SHIRT, YOU WILL FIND ALL THREE UNIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL SECTOR, POLICE, FIRE, AND HOPE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL STANDING IN SOLIDARITY.
THERE'S NO LONGER A DIVIDE BETWEEN ANY OF THOSE UNIONS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CAMPAIGN, AND THAT IS THE KEY COMPONENT THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF.
AND TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF HOPE, UH, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT TAKES EACH OF YOU TO HELP MAKE OUR CITY RUN SMOOTHLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELVES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
LET'S LET THEM LEAVE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
SO RENEE'S BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO HAND SOME INFORMATION OUT.
UM, UH, BUT I'D LIKE TO, FIRST OF ALL, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF CAMPANILLE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
I FIRST CAME TO SPEAK WITH YOU, UM, OCTOBER 14TH, 2026.
SO TWO YEARS AGO IS WHEN THIS LIST STARTED.
AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MEETING MINUTES, THIS WERE THE MEETING MINUTES.
I WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT THESE WERE THE MANAGEMENT MEETINGS TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO FROM CAMPANILLE, OUR OWNER, UH, BLAZER.
BLAZER IS THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR CAMPANILLE.
AND IF YOU FLIP THE PAGE OVER, YOU CAN LOOK.
THESE WERE THE THINGS I BROUGHT UP TO YOU ALL AT COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 21ST, 24.
I HAVE SOME REAL GREAT CHAMPIONS ON MY SIDE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, MS. JACKSON, AND, UH, JULIA, UH, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RAMIREZ AND, UM, CAROLYN.
AND I APPRECIATED ALL THE HELP YOU DID.
AND WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS DONE TOGETHER.
I C - AND REBECCA WAS AWESOME, UH, THE MAYOR AND REBECCA, AND WE GOT THE THREATENING LETTERS ON THE GREAT ROOM AND THE GREAT ROOM REFRIGERATOR AND OUR DOORS OPEN ON THE WEEKEND.
AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON OUR BEHALF, BUT THE LACK OF ACCESS IS SO DANGEROUS WHERE WE LIVE.
IT'S THE SAME THING I TOLD YOU TWO YEARS AGO.
AND THEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS ACTUALLY HAD A TOWN MEETING.
I MET WITH THE FIRE, THE HEAD OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE PROMISED ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO THIS.
HE WOULD NOT ANSWER MY EMAILS.
THERE WAS TOTAL LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND SO AS A RESULT, WE STILL, THEY COME, THE, THE FIREMEN AND EMS COME, AND IF THERE'S NOT SOMEBODY TO LET THEM IN THE DOORS, THEY, THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THE GATES OR THEY GET THROUGH THE GATES AND THEN THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THE DOORS BECAUSE THERE'S A KEY.
AND THEY SAID, "OH, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE KEYS DONE." AND YOU DIDN'T GET THE PICTURES BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO ALL THIS ON MY OWN.
BUT HERE'S WHAT THEY TOOK OUT THESE SILVER CALL BOXES THAT WERE ON OUR DOORS ON OCTOBER 14TH WHEN I CAME UP HERE.
THOSE WERE RIPPED OUT WITH THIS UGLY, UGLY LOOK AND REPLACED BY A KEY BOX THAT SAYS 911.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS ONE, THERE WOULD BE A KEY IN THERE.
THEY, THEY COME AND THEY SAY THERE'S KEYS NOT THERE BECAUSE THE LAST PERSON TOOK THE KEY.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND, AND MY, MY, MY FRUSTRATION IS, UM, SHOWING NOT, NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO DIE.
I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE THING TO EXPECT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPLEX THAT HAS 144 ELDERLY PEOPLE THERE.
WELL, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ELDERLY, AND I'M SURE THEY DON'T LIKE ME CALLING THEM THAT, BUT I'LL ADMIT I'M ELDERLY.
AND I WANT MY FRIENDS AND OUR RESIDENTS TO HAVE THE SAFETY THEY DESERVE.
IT'S JUST UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME.
AND THEN BECAUSE I, THERE WAS FOUR OTHER LADIES THAT CAME WITH ME ORIGINALLY ON OCTOBER THE 14TH, BUT ONE OF THEM WAS 94 AND SHE DECLINED
[00:35:01]
TO COME WITH US AGAIN BECAUSE WE ALL TALK TOO MUCH.UH, I'M TALKING ABOUT ME, NOT Y'ALL.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS I DID SEND THE PIECE OF PAPER AROUND, BUT I DO HAVE THIS ONE.
I'LL SEND IT BACK AROUND NOW THAT I'VE EXPLAINED IT.
WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS BY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS. GATES ARE OPEN BY THE EMS AND THEN THEY STAY OPEN FOR A WEEK.
THAT'S 144 PEOPLE THAT MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT AND THOUGH THEY WOULD BE PROTECTED BY TWO OUTSIDE GATES.
THE FIREMEN GET THROUGH THE GATES, BUT DON'T KNOW THAT IF THEY DON'T CLOSE THE GATE THEMSELVES WITH THE FIRE ACCESS, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS IT STAYS OPEN UNTIL I CALL GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ BECAUSE HE'S BEEN THE AWESOME HERO.
HE'S A CAPTAIN AT, UH, NEAR US OF THE FIREHOUSE AT FIREHOUSE 30 AND HE SENDS HIS GUYS OVER TO SHUT THE GATES.
YOU CAN SEE BY THE DATES OF THIS.
MS. BUTLER, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
MS. BUTLER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN WE ALL MET WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, MYSELF, UM, AND ALSO REBECCA FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND I THINK WHAT, IF I RECALL, COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HAD THE DISCUSSION, AND I KNOW SHE AND I DID, REGARDING THE FIRE, UM, KEYS AND THE GATES.
SO AM I S - HEARING YOU SAY THAT THEY, THEY'VE CHANGED THE GATES? NEVER WORKED.
THEY NEVER WORKED? NEVER WORKED.
ONE KEY WITH, BEFORE I MET, UM, I WAS GOING AND GETTING FIVE KEYS MADE ON MY OWN DOLLAR AND CALLED GABRIEL, WHO'S SO KIND.
HE WOULD SEND HIS FIRE TRUCK OVER, THEY WOULD OPEN THEM, AND THEY WOULD PUT THE EXTRA KEYS.
BECAUSE THE KEYS ARE THE ONLY WAY YOU ACT.
THERE'S FIVE BUILDINGS INSIDE THE GATES - UH-HUH.
THAT Y'ALL WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT.
EVEN IF THEY GET THROUGH THE GATES, THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THE DOOR WITHOUT A KEY.
SO, SO, AND, AND YOU DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE MANAGEMENT? OH, THEY CALL HER ALL THE TIME AND SHE SAID SHE CAN'T, DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS.
SHE, SHE'S ALREADY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WHAT I'LL DO, I, YOU KNOW, I, I WILL, I WILL LOOK AND WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PECK BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A RESOLUTION TO IT, UH, AND I'M SURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PECK IS GONNA ADDRESS THAT.
SO JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE WE, THE SAFETY OF THE, OF THE RESIDENTS IS PRIORITY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOU FEEL SAFE.
MS. BUTLER, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
UM, I SPOKE WITH THE CAPTAIN AT STATION FOUR AND HE SPOKE WITH STATION 50 BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TWO STATIONS THAT PRIMARILY ARE ANSWERING CALLS, UM, AT YOUR COMPLEX.
THEY, UM, DID SAY THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES LATELY WITH, UM, THE KEY SITUATION.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT PART OF THE ISSUE IS...
WELL, THERE'S TWO ISSUES GOING ON.
ONE IS THAT, UM, THE, THERE'S TWO KEYS.
THERE'S ONE KEY TO GET IN, AS YOU SAID, AND THEN ANOTHER KEY FOR THE OTHER BUILDINGS.
AND SO, UM, I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE COMPLEX TODAY, AND HE ASSURED ME THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE - DID YOU SEE NATHAN - YEAH.
TWO YEARS AGO PROMISE US THAT WHEN YOU WERE AT THE MEETING? YEAH.
SO - THAT'S THE BLAZER, THAT'S THE BLAZER REPRESENTATIVE.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MAYBE SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED WITH THOSE KEYS THAT THEY, IT CHANGED AGAIN.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE ALSO WITH HFD, UM, THAT THEY ARE PUTTING THE KEY BACK.
THAT'S KIND OF THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT IF THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THE KEY BACK, IT MAKES IT HARD FOR THE NEXT CREW WHEN THEY COME.
SO WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.
IF THEY PUT THOSE SILVER CALL BOXES, THEY RIPPED OUT THE FIRST TIME WE CAME, THE FIREMEN AND US COULD ALL GET IN, BUT THEY RIPPED THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GONNA PAY FOR THE UPGRADE SOFTWARE.
SO I DON'T TRUST BLAZER BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T, UM, THEY HAVEN'T MET THEIR REQUIREMENTS OF SAFETY FOR US, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME ATTENTION.
MS. PETT, I WILL ADDRESS YOU FORMALLY BECAUSE I LIVE AT CAMPANILLE.
I AM JUST ONE YEAR OUT FROM HAVING BACK SURGERY.
THOSE GATES BEING OPEN LEAVES ME OPEN TO HIM AGAIN.
AND THEY WERE OPEN FOR A WEEK RECENTLY.
[00:40:02]
THIS IS VERY UNNERVING FOR ME.I HAVE FOUGHT MY WAY BACK TO BEING STABLE AGAIN.
AND I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO DEFINITELY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
PUTTING THE CALL BOXES OUT THERE WITH THE LITTLE KEYS DOESN'T WORK.
THEY NEED A SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN GET IN.
AND THE FACT THAT CAMPANILLE DOESN'T WANNA DO ANYTHING, BLAZER DOESN'T WANNA DO ANYTHING.
THERE WAS AN ALARM GOING OFF DOWN NEXT TO THE GREAT ROOM, AND THAT HAS GONE OFF SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
AND EVERY TIME I ASK ABOUT IT, THEIR RESPONSE IS, THE MAYOR, THE MANAGER, WHITNEY HUDSON, SHE SAID TO ME THAT IT NEEDS AN UPGRADE, A SOFTWARE UPGRADE, AND BECAUSE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE COSTS TOO MUCH MONEY, BLAZER WILL NOT PAY FOR IT.
SO WHAT KIND OF SOLUTION DO YOU THINK I SHOULD LOOK FOR? MS. LEMKE, THANK, THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING IN.
I DO KNOW THAT, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMPECK AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, UH, PLAN TO, UH, WORK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMPEC - I THINK THEY NEED TO WORK WITH GLAZER AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISSUE IS TAKEN CARE OF.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE RUN OVER A SECOND TIME.
DO YOU KNOW IF - I'M ALMOST PARALYZED.
UM, I THOUGH THAT ALL OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAD A MASTER KEY FOR HFD TO GET INTO THOSE GATES.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MASTER KEY, BUT I DO KNOW THAT HFD UNDER THE FIRE CODE REQUIRES ACCESS TO THE, UH, COMPLEX.
AND DOES HAVE TO PASS - WE, WE WILL HAVE THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL WORK ON THAT TO TRY TO GET A RESOLUTION WITH GLAZER, BUT, UM, KEEP US POSTED AND, UM, WE, WE DEFINITELY WANT YOU TO BE SAFE.
BEING RUN OVER TWICE ISN'T ON MY AGENDA.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ATTENTION.
DID YOU SKIP AMALIA SIMMONS? THAT'S NOT ON THE FINAL.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RHONDA, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT F.
RECENTLY, IT WAS REPORTED TO NEWS OUTLET KHOU 11 THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON MISSED OUT ON $29 MILLION IN FUNDS FROM TXDOT DUE TO INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS, WHICH LEFT SEVERAL PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS UNFINISHED.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS SAID THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WOULD HAVE BENEFITED FOUR TO FIVE PROJECTS IN HER DISTRICT, WHICH ARE AMONG 41 PROJECTS ON THE LIST.
THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE PROPOSED WORK ON DERRY ASHFORD ROAD, ENHANCING SIDEWALKS, CURBS, RAMPS, AND LANE REDUCTIONS.
THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE INTENDED TO COMPLIMENT A LARGER $28 MILLION FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY SPANNING THREE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND SEVEN MILES.
THE LIST THAT I'M REFERRING TO DATES BACK TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026, IN WHICH YOU ALL APPROVED SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO TXDOT FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR A PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE TRAFFIC RELATED DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS.
THE GRANT WOULD PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSTON PUBLIC'S WORKS DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE 13 ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, TOTALING $10.6 MILLION, WITH THE CITY APPLYING 9.6 MILLION FROM TXDOT'S HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM AND COVERS 90% OF THE PROJECT COSTS.
THE REMAINING 10% WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN KHOU 11 CONTACTED THE MAYOR OFFICE, MAYOR'S OFFICE MONDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, THEY REQUESTED A COMMENT FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND THE FOLLOWING WAS SAID.
WHILE SEVERAL PROJECTS RECEIVED INITIAL APPROVAL, SOME DID NOT ADVANCE TO CONSTRUCTION DUE TO DESIGN REQUIREMENTS, APPROVAL PROCESSES, AND STATE IMPOSED DEADLINES.
AND DURING THE MOST RECENT HSIP APPLICATION CYCLE, THE CITY RESUBMITTED TWO OF THE LISTED PROJECTS, WHICH WERE AT ALMEDA, GENOA AND FURMAN AND BARKER CYPRESS, AND THE LATTER WAS FUNDED ALONG WITH SEVEN ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
AND I ATTEMPTED TO FIND ANSWERS FOR MYSELF ON ENGAGEHOUSTON.ORG, WHICH IS A CITY OF HOUSTON WEBSITE, BUT THE DETAILS DON'T CONTAIN THESE SORTS OF STATUS UPDATES ON CURRENT PROJECTS.
SO I'M ASKING THAT THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON HOW OR WHY THESE APPLICATIONS WERE NOT COMPLETED, AND I'M ALSO ASKING FOR UPDATES
[00:45:01]
TO PROJECT TIMELINES ON ENGAGEHOUSTON.ORG, A PERIODIC AUDIT, PERHAPS MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY, TO GIVE US UPDATED, UPDATES ON THE COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS WHICH CURRENTLY SIT IN CONSTRUCTION PHASE UNTIL THEY'RE REMOVED FROM THE WEBSITE.I BELIEVE THAT AS A CONCERNED CONSTITUENT AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT F, I WISH SHE WAS HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME AWARE OF THE CITY'S IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING CONDUCTED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I WILL TELL YOU IF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WAS HERE, SHE'D DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE.
UH, SHE DOES HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THAT IS HERE THAT I'M SURE SHE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, UM, GET YOUR INFORMATION AND TO DIS- DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD IS IN THE QUEUE, SO DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
THIS IS THE SECOND PERSON THAT I'VE HEARD FROM TODAY THAT HAS BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF FAILURES ON, ON BEHALF OF DEPARTMENTS ON GETTING APPLICATIONS OR TO BE ON TIME WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
UM, AND WE'RE LOSING OUT ON MONEY BASED ON THAT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EMAIL MY OFFICE - OKAY.
WE'RE GONNA GET YOU THOSE ANSWERS.
IF IT COMES OUT THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON, UH, DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY FEDERAL DOLLARS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT COMPLETING APPLICATIONS ON TIME OR WE MISSING OUT ON DEADLINES FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT'S AN ISSUE.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT JUST NEGLECT.
WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT.
SO YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO LOOK INTO THAT.
WE WILL GET YOU SOME ANSWERS AND, AND IF IT, IF IT IS TRUE, THEN YES, WE, WE OWE THE CITY AN APOLOGY AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
I'LL JOIN MY COLLEAGUE IN ASKING YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
I SIT ON THE CITY'S CA - UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND I SIT ON THE, UM, HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL'S TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE APPLICATIONS THAT GO THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF THE, THE PASS THROUGH FUNDING, SO WE CAN ALSO DO SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT SPECIFICALLY HAPPENED WITH THOSE GRANTS.
AND THEN I, I DO WANT YOU TO, UM, SEE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS' STAFF THAT'S IN THE AUDIENCE.
UH, MONIQUE CAN HELP YOU AS WELL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
AMALIA SIMMONS, WHOSE NAME WAS LEFT OFF THE LIST.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE'S NOT ON YOUR LIST.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AMALIA SIMMONS, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C.
WHEN I MOVED TO HOUSTON ONLY ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO, I DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE WHAT EVERY HOUSTON DRIVER SEEMS TO ALREADY KNOW.
AND IT'S WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING IN THIS CITY, YOU SLOW DOWN, YOU SWERVE, AND YOU BRACE YOURSELF.
FOR ME, THAT'S ON SOUTH SHEPHERD NEAR BANK STREET.
THE TWO LANES ON THAT STREET SIT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.
IT'S NOT A CRATER, BUT I DO DRIVE AN OLDER CAR, AND EVERY TIME I GO TO CHANGE LANES THERE, I EASE OFF THE GAS, AND I HOPE I'M NOT DOING ANY DAMAGE TO MY TIRES.
IT'S PART OF MY ROUTINE, AND THAT WORRIES ME.
I THINK I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT, AND WHEN RESIDENTS LEARN TO DRIVE AROUND A PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM GET - STOPS GETTING FIXED.
THIS ISN'T JUST ONE STREET, MORE THAN HALF OF HOUSTON'S AREAS.
THE ROADS ARE RATED POOR IN CONDITION, THE HIGHEST SHARE OF ANY MAJOR METRO IN TEXAS.
DETERIORATED ROADS COST TEXAS DRIVERS AN AVERAGE OF $923 A YEAR, AND EXTRA REPAIRS IN VEHICLE WEAR.
THAT'S MONEY COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF RESIDENTS' POCKETS FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THEIR CONCERN.
I KNOW COUNCIL HAS ALREADY COMMITTED TO PHASING IN MORE STREET AND DRAINAGE FUNDING EACH YEAR, AND THAT'S REAL PROGRESS.
BUT AS THAT MONEY GROWS, RESIDENTS NEED TO SEE WHERE IT'S GOING.
SO I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE STRETCH ON SOUTH SHEPHERD, TO GIVE RESIDENTS REGULAR UPDATES ON HOW STREET AND DRAINAGE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT, AND WHEN PROJECTS ARE SCHEDULED, ALL IN ONE PLACE, SO IT'S EASY TO FIND AND STAY UPDATED.
IF IT HAPPENS, OUR STREETS ARE SAFER, DRIVERS SPEND LESS ON REPAIRS, THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE THEIR INVESTMENTS PAYING OFF.
HOUSTON VOTERS ALREADY DECIDED TO INVEST IN OUR STREET, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT INVESTMENT ONE STREET AT A TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT C.
UM, WE HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT C IN THE CITY, AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE QUITE A BACKLOG OF, OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SENDING YOUR REMARKS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE STREET YOU MENTIONED, SOUTH SHEPHERD, UM, WE CAN ESCALATE TO PUBLIC WORKS AND SEE WHERE IT IS IN THE PIPELINE.
HAVE YOU, UM, ALSO, UH, REPORTED THIS TO 311, THIS STRETCH OF SHEPHERD TO 311? I REPORTED THE STRETCH ON SHEPHERD, UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH, SO I'M HOPEFUL TO SEE THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN, BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO COME AND ADDRESS
[00:50:01]
MY CONCERN.IF YOU HAVE AN SR NUMBER, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU SEND THAT OVER TO, UH, DISTRICT C, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT ISSUE.
OH, MONROE HOGGARD? DID YOU...
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS-SHABAZZ FOR A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
UH, I WANT TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD ALFREDO, ALFREDA FRANKLIN TO THE THREE MINUTE, UH, NON-AGENDA IT, UM, LIST.
SHE - WHERE? DO YOU WANT HER TO GO NEXT? WELL, SHE CAN.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIA AMADOR.
UM, AS I STAND HERE TODAY AND I COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, THIS IS NOT THE SECOND TIME, THIS IS NOT THE THIRD TIME.
I'M A MOTORCYCLE ADVOCATE FOR THE HOUSTON MOTORCYCLE SET.
WE SEE A LOT OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS IN OUR CITY THAT IS CONSTANTLY GOING ON.
A LOT OF IT IS INTOXICATED, INTOXICATED DRIVERS WHO ARE HITTING THE MOTORCYCLIST AND THEY'RE RESULTING IN DEATH.
WE JUST HAD A MOTORCYCLIST THAT JUST WENT DOWN RIGHT THERE OFF OF 610, AND, UM, AN INTOXICATED DRIVER HIT HIM, DRUG HIM, RAN HIM OVER.
HE LEFT BEHIND HIS CHILDREN THAT HE WAS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF.
NOT ONLY THAT, HE HAD A CHILD THAT HAS AUTISM THAT WOULD ONLY LISTEN TO HIS FATHER.
WE JUST LAID HIM TO REST AS OF SATURDAY.
HIS SON, AS HE STAND THERE, HE STILL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HIS DA - HIS DAD WOULD NEVER BE COMING BACK.
WE'RE ASKING YOU, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR SOME HELP IN OUR CITY TO GET SOME OF THIS UNDER CONTROL.
A LOT OF YOU RECEIVED A SHIRT FROM ME PERSONALLY WITH THE MOTORCYCLE CLUBS IN YOUR CITY THAT DOES A LOT IN YOUR CITY.
WE DO TURKEY DRIVES, WE DO BACKPACK DRIVES, WE GO INTO YOUR SCHOOLS, WE GO INTO YOUR JAIL SYSTEMS TO MENTOR THE CHILDREN IN YOUR JAIL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THEY COME OUT AND DO BETTER IN LIFE.
WE ALSO DO THE HALLOWEEN, LIKE WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AT SUNNYSIDE PARK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE ON THESE STREETS.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THESE MOTORCYCLISTS CANNOT BE SAFE ON YOUR STREETS.
WE'RE NOT OUT THERE DRINKING, GETTING ON THESE MOTORCYCLES, DRIVING ERRATICALLY.
THEY DO NOT HAVE WALLS, IF EVERYONE KNOW WHAT A MOTORCYCLE LOOK LIKE.
THESE VIC - VEHICLES HAVE WALLS TO HALFWAY SAVE THEMSELVES, BUT THESE MOTORCYCLISTS DON'T.
WE'RE ASKING AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP.
WE HAVE 9,000 MOTORCYCLISTS IN THIS CITY.
WE'RE TRYING NOT TO RALLY IN YOUR CITY.
WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DO A LOT OF THINGS IN YOUR CITY IF YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
THAT'S NOT NOTHING THAT ANY CITY WANTS.
IT'S FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF MOTORCYCLISTS TO COME TOGETHER AND START RALLYING.
AND THAT THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE FAMILIES TOO.
WE WANT THEM TO STAY ALIVE AND BE ABLE TO STILL BE A PILLAR OF YOUR COMMUNITY WHO'S DOING GREAT DEEDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF THESE ROADWAYS HERE IN YOUR CITY ARE VERY DARK.
1960-45 IS ONE OF THEM WHERE A LOT OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING AT, BECAUSE IF YOU GO AROUND THAT CURVE, I DROVE IT MYSELF.
AND AROUND THAT CURVE, IT'S VERY DARK.
YOU CANNOT SEE NOT EVEN IN A VEHICLE.
[00:55:01]
ARE GOING AROUND THOSE RAMPS.SOME TYPE OF LIGHTNING AROUND THOSE, UH, RAMPS WILL HELP A LOT OF MOTORCYCLISTS FROM GOING OVER THOSE RAMPS, AS YOU ALL HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR HELP TO JOIN US TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE AND BRING AWARENESS TO OUR ROADWAYS AND TO OUR CITY ABOUT THESE MOTORCYCLISTS.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO DO IT ALONE, BECAUSE IF WE DO IT ALONE, Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS-CHABAZ.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THANK YOU, MS. FRANKLIN.
DIDN'T WE RIDE UP ON THE ELEVATOR AGAIN? OKAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN PLACES, OF COURSE, I'M NOT ON A BIKE, BUT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE LIGHTING IN SOME OF THESE AREAS, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR...
I KNOW TXDOT NEEDS TO LOOK CERTAINLY AT SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT ARE ON THE FREEWAYS.
YOU CAN'T READ THEM, UH, EITHER BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH LIGHT OR THE WORDING IS GONE.
BUT, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO, UH, PERHAPS, IF YOU COULD GET WITH INGRAM, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR SUGGESTIONS, UH, BECAUSE CERTAINLY THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE, AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE.
UH, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR SUGGESTIONS, AND PERHAPS WE COULD GET WITH THE MAYOR AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT TO MAKE THE TRAVEL FOR NOT JUST THE BIKERS, BUT FOR EVERYONE MORE SAFE.
THANK YOU, MS. FRANK, FOR COMING.
UH, JUST A FEW THINGS I, I, I WANNA JUST SAY ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CHABAZZ, THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY ON OUR HIGHWAYS.
I'M, I'M, FOR ONE, AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY REGARDING THINGS DROPPING OFF VEHICLES AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO SAFETY ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ALL OF US ON THE TRIP.
BUT I WANNA ASK YOU, YOU KEPT REFERRING TO YOUR CITY.
DOES YOUR, YOUR CLUB MEMBERS, DO THEY, NONE OF THEM LIVE IN HOUSTON? A LOT OF OUR CLUB MEMBERS LIVE IN HOUSTON.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE WHEN YOU WERE SAYING YOUR CITY, I'M LIKE, "IT'S YOUR CITY." NO, UH, MY CITY AND YOUR CITY, THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN.
I WILL BE STRAIGHT THERE BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
I'M GOING TO ASK, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CHABAZZ IF WE WOULD, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU RECOMMEND WE DO, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED LIGHTING, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE NOT IN THE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SO, BUT WE CAN STILL ADDRESS IT FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY OR WHATEVER COUNTY LINE IT'S IN.
BUT THAT, THAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN, AND I LIKE TO GATHER WITH COUNCILMEMBER CHABAZZ, WE GET SOME DATA ONTO HOW MANY ACCIDENTS THAT HAS OCCURRED AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO I THINK OVERALL, BECAUSE, UM, I HAVE A MEMBER WHO, UM, IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MY CHURCH WHO HAD A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, UM, AS A MOTORCYCLIST.
SO I, I UNDERSTAND IT AND CERTAINLY SENSITIVE TO IT.
SO I'LL WORK TOGETHER WITH THAT SO THAT WE CAN HELP THE CLUB IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED.
AND WE'RE NOT ONLY SPEAKING JUST FOR MOTORCYCLE CLUBS, WE'RE SPEAKING FOR THE OFFICERS IN OUR CITY AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE KNOW A COUPLE OF THEM AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PLANTED THE TREES, WE PLANTED A TREE FOR ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, GOT KILLED - SURE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON.
I'VE ALSO TALKED TO, UH, THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THEM - GOT IT.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT IT THAT DO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLES PRECINCT, PRECINCT SEVEN.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM RIDE MOTORCYCLES.
SO I WENT IN THERE AND I SPOKE WITH THEM ALSO.
I'VE ALSO, WHEN SHE SPOKE ABOUT TXDOT, WE WENT OFF, WE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE CAPITOL WITH THIS.
AND I KNOW THIS, WHO YOU'RE SPEAKING OF IN SEVEN, COUNCILMAN - YES.
WHO WE LOST, SO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR COMING FORWARD.
UM, I THINK THAT WHAT WOULD HELP US, AND SPECIFICALLY ME, IS TO HEAR WHAT ARE ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO I, I KNOW THAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD SPEAK WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT, LIKE, FOR ME, I DON'T RIDE A, A MOTORCYCLE, SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU ALL ARE FACING, BUT SINCE YOU AND YOUR CLUB MEMBERS DO, YOU HAVE A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE.
[01:00:01]
THAT YOU ALL FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY OUT ON THE ROADWAY.SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST LIKE, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WORKS, THAT COMES REALLY FROM YOU ALL.
AND SO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS I THINK WILL GO A LONG WAYS IN HELPING US SEE LIKE WHAT'S UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO MAYBE COLLABORATE WITH TXDOT ON? ARE THERE SOME, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, URBAN DESIGNS THAT WE CAN REVISE THAT MAKE SENSE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS? IS IT AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WHERE WE'RE PUTTING OUT EDUCATION TO DRIVERS? LIKE W - YOU KNOW, BUT HEARING IT DIRECTLY FROM YOU ALL WHO ARE ON THESE BIKES ON A WEEKLY BASIS WILL HELP PEOPLE LIKE US WHO MAY NOT RIDE THOSE BIKES EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ON WHAT THOSE POLICIES AND ORDINANCE CHANGES MAY BE.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN YOU GET THOSE REVISIONS, IF YOU CAN, OR RECOMMENDATIONS, IF YOU COULD SHARE THEM WITH THE COUNCIL, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST SITTING HERE THINKING, YOU KNOW, A LIGHTER HOUSTON IS A SAFER HOUSTON, PERIOD.
AND MAYBE WE COULD START SOMETHING LIKE A LIGHT UP HOUSTON CAMPAIGN AND MAYBE WHERE THE PEOPLE COULD REPORT THOSE PLACES BECAUSE NONE OF...
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, BUT THEY DO.
BUT MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH A DEDICATED LINE OR SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE CAN REPORT, UM, LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT THAT ARE, ARE PLACES WHERE NI - LIGHTS NEED TO BE INSTALLED.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY SEEING THESE - YES.
MS. FRANKLIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR GROUP OUT, UH, WHEN WE MET OUT ON SOUTH POST OAK AND PLANTED THOSE TREES.
THE TREES ARE DOING WELL, UH, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE GROWING.
AND, UM, I WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR, UM, PULLING ALL THAT TOGETHER.
AND, UM, YOU, YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF INTEREST ON COUNCIL ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THE ROADS SAFER FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE RIDING THEIR MOTORCYCLES.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE MOTORCYCLIST.
UM, UH, WE WERE ALSO WONDERING, UM, WHEN CAN YOU GET US BACK OVER THERE SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, COME OUT AND VISIT OUR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE THERE? ON THE TREES? TO SEE THE TREES? WE WANNA BE ABLE TO VISIT THEM.
WE'RE, WE JUST DON'T PUT THEM THERE.
SO, I MEAN, ANYTIME Y'ALL WANNA RIDE OUT, UM, THERE, THERE'S THE BIG PARKING LOT RIGHT THERE WHERE THE SCHOOL IS, SO Y'ALL CAN SEE THE TREES ANYTIME.
AND I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT BEHIND A GATE OR ANYTHING.
IF Y'ALL WANNA SET SOMETHING UP IN PARTICULAR FOR, UM, A TIME TO GO AND VISIT THE TREES, YOU CAN JUST SHOOT, SHOOT ME AN EMAIL.
Y'ALL CAN RIDE BY AND SEE THE TREES.
WE WANT YOU THERE THOUGH - OH.
BECAUSE YOU HELPED US MAKE THIS.
I'M JUST BEING HONEST.THIS IS WHAT I WAS ASKED OF A LOT OF - OKAY.
BUT WE WANT YOU THERE, YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE.
JUST EMAIL JOE IN MY OFFICE AND WE'LL SET UP A TIME.
JUST, I MEAN, IT'S JUST TIME FOR US ALL TO SAY NO MORE LIFE FOR IT.
MARI- MARIA ALMADOR TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD HOPP.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FIRST, I WANTED TO, UH, GIVE MY THANKS.
UH, I JUST HEARD A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT, UH, THERE HAS BEEN A DECISION FROM HOUSTON PARKS TO INSTALL BACK THREE BASKETBALL HOOPS.
UH, I DID SEE SOME, UH, TRUCKS WORKING AT PROCTOR PLAZA PARK IN NOR HILL, UH, ON MONDAY AND ALSO TODAY.
AND I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND, UH, SEEMS THAT IT'S CONFIRMED THAT AT LEAST THREE HOOPS ARE GOING BACK IN WHEN THE PARK HAS BEEN SITTING WITHOUT BASKETBALL HOOPS FOR A QUARTER CENTURY, 25 YEARS AGO.
UH, SO, AND I STAND HERE, UH, AGAIN, IT'S MY SECOND TIME I WAS HERE TWO MONTHS AGO, UH, COMING HERE, UH, WHERE I HAD JUST CREATED A BIT OF A GRASSROOT- GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT CALLED NORTH HILL NETS AND NEIGHBORS, UH, AND GATHERING SIGNATURES.
BACK THEN I HAD ABOUT 40 SIGNATURES.
NOW I HAVE CLOSE TO 90 SIGNATURES, UH, SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF BASKETBALL HOOPS.
IT'S TAKING ME AROUND A WILD RIDE.
I WOULD SAY I NEVER THOUGH BASKETBALL HOOPS WERE, WOULD BE SOMETHING, UM, WHERE PEOPLE HAD VERY STRONG EMOTIONS EITHER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
UH, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED WHAT I CAN SEE ON MY DMS IN INSTAGRAM, WHICH I'M JUST LEARNING HOW TO USE.
UM, I ALSO SAW, UH, MR. MAYER, YOU JUST, UH, WAS THERE AT MONTE BEACH, WHICH IS A QUARTER MILE, UH, BREAKING GROUND ON RE- RENOVATING THAT PARTY, INCLUDING THE
[01:05:01]
BASKETBALL COURTS.SO, UM, I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT, UH, PROCTOR PLAZA WILL SOON HAVE THAT SPORT BACK AGAIN AS ANOTHER OPTION FOR ALL AGES TO, YOU KNOW, PRACTICE AND JUST HAVE ANOTHER ACTIVITY TO DO.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I VIEW THIS, IT'S NOT A, A SERIAL ZONE GAME.
UH, THE WAY I THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ADD ANOTHER SPORT, UH, I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE'S ABOUT 14 DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN AND GOD FORBID, IF YOU ADD ONE MORE,
SO I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER OPTION THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ONE THING I WANNA JUST MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND AND, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR, UH, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT GETTING COMMUNITY CONSENSUS, WHAT DOES THAT IMPLICATE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, CHECKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER HAVING THREE HOOPS, ONE HOOP, SIX HOOPS AT A BASKETBALL PAVILION IS ADEQUATE OR NOT? UM, I DON'T WANT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED A QUARTER CENTURY AGO TO HAPPEN AGAIN FOR PROCTOR PLAZA.
UH, THERE ARE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS HOU- HOUSTON.
UH, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR OWNS THAT IS CALLED NORTH HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THAT'S A PRIVATE DUES PAYING MEMBER ASSOCIATION THAT IS NOT INCLUSIVE OR COMPREHENDS THE WHOLE POPULATION IN NORTH HILL.
IT'S A SMALL FRACTION OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUCH ASSOCIATION THAT MAY AT SOME POINT IN TIME, UH, PROVIDE SOME KIND OF FEEDBACK TO THE CITY ON WHAT NORTH HILL POTENTIALLY MAY WANNA DO.
THEY DO NOT DICTATE WHAT HAPPENS AT PROCTOR PLAZA.
ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT A PUBLIC SPACE SHOULD BE DICTATED BY THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE GO BACK AND SAY WE WANNA SEEK CONSENSUS, WE MU - WE, WE WANNA INCLUDE EVERYONE AND NOT SOLELY HEAR THE VOICE OF A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.
AND YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB AND I AGREE WITH, I AGREE WITH YOU.
I, UH, CAN ONLY SPECULATE WHY THEY WERE TAKEN DOWN 20 YEARS AGO, BUT CERTAINLY I ALSO RESPECT THE, UH, POSITION OF COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S TRYING TO TRULY REPRESENT A CONSENSUS OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND WE VISITED WITH HIM AND I'M, UH, I BELIEVE EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE VERY PLEASED.
THERE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY ROOM FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND I PERSONALLY THINK BASKETBALL SHOULD BE ONE OF THEM.
THE CONFIGURATION, I THINK IS WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S GONNA WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO, TO BEST SERVE EVERYONE'S INTEREST.
BUT IT'S A, IT'S A HECK OF A NICE PLACE AND, UH, I PERSONALLY THINK BASKETBALL HOOPS BELONG ON A BASKETBALL COURT.
CAN'T HARDLY CALL IT A BASKETBALL COURT IF IT DON'T HAVE HOOPS.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S GONNA GET, IT'S GONNA GET, UH, SITUATED.
THANK YOU, MA- MAYOR AND MARIA FOR BEING HERE.
SO AS CHANGES OCCUR, LIKE THIS ONE WHERE YOU HAVEN'T HAD HOOPS FOR QUITE A WHILE, HOOPS COMING BACK, THE INFORMATION'S GONNA NEED TO BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, HOW DOES THE PERMITTING AND REGISTRATION WORK? WHAT ARE THE HOURS? UM, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UM, IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE THAT THEY COME BACK AND NOBODY KNOWS, UM, SORT OF HOW THIS WORKS NOW TODAY VERSUS HOW IT WORKED 25 YEARS AGO.
UM, THE RECOMMENDATION TO REACH OUT AND TO ENGAGE WITH FOLKS, I THINK JUST DOES THAT ONE, BUT ALSO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE IT WAS, ARE THEY COMING BACK YES OR NO? THIS IS SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND OPTION.
AND SO, UH, THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO PEOPLE AS WELL.
UM, SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS, UM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NO ENGAGEMENT, THERE'S NO REACHING OUT TO FOLKS.
IT STILL NEEDS TO HAPPEN, EVEN THOUGH A DECISION HAS COME DOWN.
UH, I WANNA DO THIS TRANSPARENCY AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE WANNA ENGAGE EVERYONE.
I DON'T WANT IT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO WHEN THE HOOPS USE CAME DOWN BY A LETTER, TWO LETTERS WITH 31 SIGNATURES BY NORHILL ASSOCIATION, UH, WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
[01:10:01]
BY BRIDGET MAHARAJ.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF HOUSTON HEIGHTS AND A GRADUATE, UH, MBA AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, SO GO HOOPS.
UH, MY S - MY THUNDER'S BEEN TAKEN IN A POSITIVE WAY BECAUSE I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING PRETTY SIMPLE, AND THAT'S PUTTING BASKETBALL HOOPS BACK UP ON A PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT.
SO, UM, I'M EXCITED TO AT LEAST SHARE WHAT I WROTE DOWN.
SO I HOPE IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU ALL FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, I'LL, I'LL JUST SHARE THAT.
UM, APPARENTLY YEARS AGO, THE HOOPS WERE TAKEN DOWN.
NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHY.
THERE'S SOME SPECULATION, RIGHT? UM, MAYBE THE WRONG CROWD WAS, WAS SHOWING UP, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA START TAKING AWAY PUBLIC AMENITIES BECAUSE OF HEARSAY, UH, WE'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF THINGS PRETTY QUICKLY
BUT, UM, I, I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
ARE WE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT OUR KIDS CAN ENJOY TODAY BASED ON SOMETHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED 30 YEARS AGO? UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PARENTS WANT TO PRESERVE THE POSI - THE PAVILION FOR HOPSCOTCH SCOOTERS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, AND I 1000% AGREE WITH THEM.
THOSE ACTIVITIES ABSOLUTELY DES- DESERVE A PLACE.
UM, AND AS ANOTHER VERY SMART PERSON SAID BEHIND ME, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A ZERO-SUM GAME.
UM, YOU KNOW, PUT BASKETBALL HOOPS ON HALF THE C - THE COVER COURT, MAYBE THREE HOOPS.
IT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD NUMBER
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO DO SOMETHING GREAT, SHARE THE SPACE INSTEAD OF FIGHTING OVER IT.
UM, AND IF WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT LATE NIGHT ACTIVITIES, LET'S TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AT A REASONABLE HOUR.
IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE SOLUTION IN MY OPINION.
AS FOR NOISE, BASKETBALL IS HARDLY THE ONLY SPORT THAT MAKES NOISE.
IN FACT, THE SHARP, REPETITIVE POPPING SOUND OF PICKLEBALL, UH, CAN BE MORE DISRUPTIVE THAN THE BOUNCING OF A BASKETBALL, YET WE MADE ROOM FOR PICKLEBALL, AND RIGHTLY SO.
UH, AND THERE'S REALLY ONE MORE VERY IMPORTANT REASON WHY I THINK WE NEED THESE HOOPS.
UM, AND I DON'T REALLY WANNA MAKE THIS ABOUT ME, BUT THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE CURRENTLY BEING DEPRIVED OF WITNESSING ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST JUMP SHOTS IN ALL OF HOUSTON.
UH, BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, BASKETBALL CHANGED MY LIFE.
UM, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME AS A KID, THREE YEARS OLD.
I GENUINELY CANNOT IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT IT.
I WISH I WAS TALLER, BUT I'M QUICK.
UM, SO I DO, I DO WHAT I CAN WITH WHAT I GOT.
AND IT TAUGHT ME DISCIPLINE, IT TAUGHT ME TEAMWORK, IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO COMPETE, HOW TO WIN WITH HUMILITY, AND MAYBE MORE IMPORT- IMPORTANTLY, HOW TO LOSE AND COME BACK BETTER, OKAY? IT GAVE ME FRIENDSHIPS, CONFIDENCE, AND AN OUTLET WHEN I NEEDED ONE.
AND DECADES LATER, IT'S STILL SOMETHING I LOVE.
UM, I PLAY AT THE PUBLIC PARKS AND I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, SO I LOVE HAVING ANOTHER OPTION OF A PLACE TO PLAY.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, BASKETBALL'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE BODY, THE MIND, AND THE SPIRIT, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURTS SO SPECIAL.
THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THAT EXPERIENCE TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF KIDS WHILE STILL PRESERVING SPACE FOR THE FAMILIES WHO ENJOY THE PAVILION TODAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS AND FOR THE, WHAT SEEMS TO BE GOOD NEWS.
THANK, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN PANZARELLA.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE PARKS BOARD AS WELL, AND COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR BEING ON TOP OF THIS, IT SOUNDS.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL AND ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME BEFORE YOU AND, UH, HAVE CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITIES.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE ROCKETS ARE 4-0 RIGHT NOW, SO THAT'S A POSITIVE SIGN IN HOUSTON BASKETBALL.
I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF IT AND WE'LL, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
I HAD A REALLY POSITIVE CONVERSATION WITH ZOHA.
I'LL LET HER KNOW THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY JA'VON HARRIS.
NOW, I WAS GONNA SAY GOOD MORNING.
I'M NOT USED TO THE EVENING MEETING.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING US OUT.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SCIU TEXAS.
UH, AND WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE TO THE MEMBERS OF SCIU IN THE PAST.
AND SO WE'RE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH A, WITH, UM, WITH AN ISSUE
WITH THE UNION REPRESENTATION AT
[01:15:01]
THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE SEEN RACES REALLY GO A LONG WAY AND, AND REALLY HELP SOME PEOPLE OUT.UM, IT'S ALSO HELPED OUT WITH RETENTION AT THE, AT THE WORKPLACE.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE NOW SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO BE PART OF OUR UNION.
UM, THERE, THE, THE, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A CAMPAIGN TO ORGANIZE, UH, PARKING ATTENDANCE AT BUSH AND HOBBY AIRPORT.
AND I WANNA SAY THAT WORKERS ARE REALLY EXCITED AND THEY HAVE NOW APPROACHED THEIR CONTRACTOR, SP PLUS, AND THEIR, AND ITS SUBCONTRACTORS TO SAY THAT THEY WANNA MEET TO AGREE ON A PROCESS FOR RECOGNITION OF THEIR UNION.
UM, JUST A NOTE, SP PLUS IS NOW OWNED BY METROPOLIS.
SO IF YOU SEE THAT NAME ON, ACROSS YOUR, UH, THE PAPERWORK, IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW OWNED BY METROPOLIS.
UM, I WANNA SAY THE, THE SUBCONTRACTOR GLOBAL PARKING HAS ALREADY MET WITH THE UNION AND AGREED ON A PROCESS TO GET RECOGNITION FOR THOSE WORKERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, IMS HAS FAILED TO DO SO.
WE'VE REACHED OUT NUMEROUS TIMES.
UH, WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE, THE MAIN CONTRACTOR, UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH THEM OR EVEN GET A CALL BACK ON A PROCESS.
INSTEAD, WE NOW, UM, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WORKERS ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME ISSUES OF FEELING, UH, LIKE THEY'RE BEING SURVEIL, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN SOME HARASSMENT.
UM, AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOME OF THE WORKERS.
THESE WORKERS KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING AND HELP TRAVELERS FIND SAFE TRANSPORTA- TRANSPORTATION.
THEY WORK OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT OR IN THE RAIN, AND THEY DESERVE A VOICE ON THE JOB.
WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DEMAND OF IMS TO RESPECT THE WORKERS' RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE A UNION AND TO URCH - URGE METROPOLIS AND SP PLUS TO HOLD THEIR SUBCONTRACTOR ACCOUNTABLE, UH, TO THE COMMITMENT.
I WAS, THANK Y'ALL FOR APPEARING, YOUR MEMBERS.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY KEVIN CABRAL.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SAMANTHA KHALIL, AND TONIGHT THE TOPIC I'LL BE DISCUSSING IS PREDATORY TOWING.
UM, SO AS WE ALL KNOW, HOUSTON IS A CITY WHERE PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THEIR CARS, AND WHEN EXPLORING DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN, PEOPLE ALSO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PARK.
TOW TRUCK DRIVERS CAMP OUT IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACES, JUST WAITING AROUND FOR CARS TO TOW.
THIS IS A PREDATORY AND EXPLOITATIVE PRACTICE THAT AFFECTS ALL HOUSTONIANS.
IN THE CITY THAT NECESSITATES DRIVING AS MUCH AS WE DO, PARKING SHOULD BE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND RELIABLE.
TOWING IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE, IT ALSO PUTS PEOPLE AT RISK OF FACING SEVERE FINANCIAL STRAIN, WITH FEES EXCEEDING OVER $300 FOR JUST ONE TOWING INCIDENT.
I'VE HEARD DOZENS OF FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE PARKING IN SPACES WITH VAGUE RULES AND GETTING TOWED WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING AWAY FROM THEIR CARS.
AREAS LIKE DOWNTOWN, THE GALLERIA, THE HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON AVE, AND MONTROSE, WHICH ARE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE RICH WITH ACTIVITY AND NIGHTLIFE, TOW TRUCKS WILL LINE UP ON THE STREETS WITH UNCLEAR SIGNAGE AND TOW DOZENS OF CARS AT ONCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, OVER 10 CARS WERE TOWED DOWNTOWN ON TRAVIS AND CONGRESS STREET OUTSIDE OF MARKET SQUARE PARK BY ONE SINGLE TOWING COMPANY IN A SINGLE NIGHT.
THIS MADE THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PROFIT IN JUST A MATTER OF HOURS.
KHOU ALSO REPORTED THAT IN THE HEIGHTS NEAR WEST 20TH STREET, THERE WERE OVER 900 TOWING INCIDENTS IN ONE YEAR.
AND IN 2025 ALONE, THERE WERE OVER 350,000 TOWS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO IT'S CLEAR THAT MASS TOWING EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE A REPEATED OCCURRENCE.
ADDITIONALLY, TOW TRUCK, TOW COMPANIES HAVE DRIVERS STAKE OUT ON THE MEDIANS OF MAJOR ROADWAYS TO COMPETE WITH OTHER COMPANIES, WHICH DESTROYS CURBS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTY IN THE PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT TOWING IS, UH, IN GENERAL IS NECESSARY AND THERE SHOULD BE REPERCUSSIONS FOR LEGITIMATE PARKING VIOLATIONS.
HOWEVER, THIS HAS CLEARLY BECOME AN INCREDIBLY PROFITABLE INDUSTRY THAT SYSTEMATICALLY PREYS UPON PEOPLE IN A CAR-DEPENDENT ENVIRONMENT THAT ALREADY HAS LIMITED PARKING AVAILABILITY, WHICH INEVITABLY PUTS DRIVERS AT RISK OF IMMENSE FINANCIAL BURDEN.
I ASK THAT THE COUNCIL IMPLEMENTS MORE REGULATIONS TO PROTECT DRIVERS AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY REGARDING PARKING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH CLEAR SIGNAGE AND LIMITING THE WAYS THAT TOW TRUCKS CAN PREDATORILY STATION THEMSELVES IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS.
HOUSTON AS A WHOLE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS.
IT WOULD ALLOW ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO INDULGE IN THE MANY EXPERIENCES THE CITY HAS TO OFFER WITHOUT A RISK OF LOSING THEIR MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND HAVING TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO GET THEIR CAR BACK.
[01:20:01]
DRIVING IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH AS IT IS.WE ALL KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THE COST OF LIVING IS RIGHT NOW.
TOWING SHOULD NOT ADD ANOTHER LEVEL OF STRESS WHEN SIMPLY TRYING TO PARK YOUR CAR.
I THINK THE CITY OF HOUSTON NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.
THIS IS SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST AND PROBABLY WILL BRING UP AGAIN NOW THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT IT UP AND, UH, PUT IT BACK ON THE FOREFRONT OF MY AGENDA.
I THINK THAT, UM, THERE IS SOME PREDATORY PRACTICES BEING HAD.
AND I THINK AS A CITY, WE CAN REVISIT, UH, OUR ORDINANCES AND POLICIES TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS MORE FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC AND ALSO MAYBE FIND SOME REVENUE GENERATING, UH, POSSIBILITIES FOR US AS A MUNICIPALITY.
AND, UM, ARE YOU SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF OR AN ORGANIZATION? JUST ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.
AND WE'LL HAVE A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION, UM, AND THEN WE WILL WORK ON SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL.
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
SAMANTHA, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TOW TRUCKS THAT ARE DAMAGING THE CURBS AND THE STREETS.
THERE IS A SECTION ON SOUTH POST OAK AND MAIN THAT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE TOW TRUCKS SEEM TO LOVE THAT CORNER, AND THEY HOP THE CURB, AND THERE'S SOME BRICK.
WE, WE PUT THIS WHOLE DECORATIVE THING IN OUR GATEWAY TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL FOR THE AREA, AND THE, THE TOW TRUCKS PARK THERE, AND THEY'VE CRUMBLED THE BRICKS AND THE CURB, AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REPAIR THAT.
SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, WHERE THEY CAN REALLY PARK, BECAUSE HOPPING ON TOP OF THE CURB AND THE BRICKS AND THE AESTHETICS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO CREATE - YES.
AND DAMAGING IS, IS COSTING US ALL MONEY.
SO THANK YOU FOR AMPLIFYING THAT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON, UH, MAKING SURE WE HAVE CLEAR SIGNAGE - YES.
UM, SO WE CAN PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING TOWED IN AN UNFAIR MANNER.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY JACKSON.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE ABOUT THE PROPERTY AT 803 ST.
JOSEPH PARKWAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE OLD HOTEL, UM, THAT MIMICS MY BUILDING, WHICH IS 2016 NAME WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR 11 YEARS NOW.
SO THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT BUILDING IS THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK INTO IT, THEY CONTINUE TO GRAFFITI IT UP, AND THE KIDS ARE GOING UP ON THE VERY TOP FLOOR ON THE 26TH FLOOR, AND THEY'RE THROWING ALL THIS STUFF DOWN ONTO CARS IN THE PARKING LOT, AND ALSO ONTO THE STREET LEVEL ON ST.
SO I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 11 YEARS NOW.
I'VE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES, AND PART OF THE REASON IS THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING WILL NOT SECURE THE BUILDING PROPERLY.
SO WHAT I'VE DONE IN THE INTERIM, I'VE WORKED WITH, UM, PUBLIC WORKS.
I'VE WORKED WITH, UM, COUNCILMAN'S OFFICE, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, MAR- MARTINEZ OFFICE.
UM, I'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE PROPER CHANNELS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO BASICALLY WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE RANDY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, WILL NOT GET BACK WITH ME AT ALL.
NO ONE FROM PUBLIC WORKS GETS BACK WITH ME, AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY MR. JOAQUIN MARTINEZ'S OFFICE WILL NOT GET BACK WITH ME EITHER.
SO I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, AND FOR ME TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AND SPEAK IN PUBLIC, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I DO.
SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN TELL THAT WE, WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO FIX.
UM, SO LIKE I SAID, THE OWNERS, IF WE COULD JUST GET THE OWNERS TO SECURE THE BUILDING PROPERLY, ONCE AND FOR ALL, UM, I'VE CALLED, I'VE CALLED ON IT.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE CALLED 911 WHEN THEY'RE THROWING STUFF DOWN ON THE VEHICLES.
UH, THERE'S, THERE'S TEMPORARY PARKING RIGHT THERE WHERE THEY DO THAT AND THE, THE GUY THAT RUNS THE PLACE THERE IS VERY...
HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO BASICALLY, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR YOU TO HELP US OUT OR HELP ME OUT WITH THAT.
I SIT IN MY, UH, I'M ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR WHERE I LIVE, AND THAT BUILDING, I CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON BECAUSE I'M IN THE HIGH RISE ALSO.
SO I CAN SEE WHEN THE KIDS ARE IN THERE, I CAN SEE WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING, AND EVERY TIME
[01:25:01]
I SEE IT, I CALL IT IN, NOTHING HAPPENS.SO, UM, AT THIS POINT, I'M LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS.
UH, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ WILL BE RECOGNIZED, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND GET A REPORT.
SO BASICALLY I'VE GONE TO THE TOP.
BRANDY'S THE TOP DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND MR. MARTINEZ IS ON COUNCIL.
I WORKED THIS FIVE TIMES IN 11 YEARS.
WE ALREADY KNOW THIS PROJECT IS EVEN BEFORE I STARTED WORKING ON IT, IT WAS A PROBLEM.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.
I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT DIRECTOR MA- MACKAY, HIS TA - HIS STAFF HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF WORKING TO SECURE IT.
THIS IS A TROUBLING ISSUE ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A DOWNTOWN BUILDING THAT HAS ACCESS, AND TO BE ABLE TO BOARD OR SECURE THIS, IT'S A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THAN A REGULAR HOME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
PUBLIC WORK HAS BEEN OUT THERE.
THE LAST TIME THEY WENT OUT THERE WAS THE 12TH OF THIS MONTH.
WE'VE GONE OUT THERE PLENTY OF TIMES TO DO THIS.
WE'VE PAINTED THE WALLS TO GET RID OF THE GRAFFITI.
UH, MORE RECENTLY, HPD LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS OUT THERE INVESTIGATING, UH, AND THEY FOUND THREE, THREE TO FOUR MALES THAT WERE IN, IN THE BUILDING AS WELL.
IT'S A NUISANCE AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY.
UM, WHEN YOU CALL, UH, MY TEAM IS ALWAYS RESPONDING TO THOSE CALLS.
WHEN YOU EMAIL, THEY'VE RESPONDED AS WELL, SO AS.
AND KEVIN, AND I'VE ALSO HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH YOU AT LEAST TWO TIMES.
I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH YOU.
UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T CALL YOU ON, ON EVERY OCCASION.
YOU DON'T EVEN RESPOND TO EMAILS, SIR.
I, I'VE RESPONDED TO YOUR EMAILS, AND MY TEAM CONTINUES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMMUNICATING WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
SO I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, THE WORK THAT THE DIRECTOR IS ALSO DOING AS WELL AND HIS TEAM.
UM, THIS IS A D - A MORE DIFFICULT, MORE COMPLEX, THIS IS A DOWNTOWN BUILDING THAT IS JUST, IT'S NOT EASY TO SECURE.
UH, AND WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH YOU PRETTY CONSISTENTLY.
THE, THE TEAM, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM HAS ALSO COMMUNICATED WHEN THEY'VE SECURED IT.
THEY HAVE NOT SENT ME - WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE CAN DO - THEY HAVE NOT SENT ME ANY EMAILS.
WHAT WE CAN DO AT THIS TIME, KEVIN, I, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE MAYOR'S TEAM JUMP ON BOARD AND ALSO IDENTIFY, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
I KNOW ONE THAT YOU WANTED WAS TO DEMO THE BUILDING.THAT IS IMPORTANT.
SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY, KEVIN, WERE THAT YOU WANTED TO BE DEMOED.
I, I'VE, I'VE REALLY BEEN TOLD WHAT IT COSTS, AND, AND THE CITY'S NOT GONNA DO THAT ANYWAY.
THE, THE OWNERS ARE NOT GONNA DO THAT.
SO WHAT, SOME OF OUR FIRST, OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT DEMOING, AND I EXPLAINED THAT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SECURE, KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE.
HPD IS AWARE OF IT, THAT'S WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO OR, OR LAST NIGHT.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT.
THIS IS A MORE COMPLEX ISSUE THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, SECURING, SECURING IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT GO INTO IT.
PUBLIC WORKS AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORS HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF RESOURCES AS WELL.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO BRING THE MAYOR'S TEAM, I'M HAPPY TO BRING THE MAYOR'S TEAM ON BOARD SO WE CAN SEE WHAT OTHER SOLUTIONS WE CAN COME, COME UP WITH.
CAN I ASK SOMETHING, MARY? I, I THINK THE, TO BRING IT TO A CLOSE, WE'RE FIXING IT TO CONDEMN IT, OKAY? OKAY.
WE'VE, WE'VE RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE WITH THE OWNERS, SO, UH, THEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN DISCUSSION NOW.
SO I THINK WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS AS FRUSTRATED AS ANYONE.
I CAN'T STAND TO LOOK AT IT WHEN I'M ON THE PIERCE ELEVATED.
I, I DO KNOW THAT IT'S A, UM, HOMELESS, HOUSELESS PERSONS, UH, GATHERING, SO IT'S, IT'S GOTTA COME DOWN.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARITZA VASQUEZ.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR, OUR MEMBER AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
SHOULD I START? YES, GO AHEAD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO TAKE STRONGER ACTION AGAINST A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING RESIDENTS FOR YEARS, FREIGHT TRAINS BLOCKING PUBLIC STREETS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, PARTICULARLY IN HOUSTON EAST END AND FIFTH WARD.
ACCORDING TO AN ABC-13 INVESTIGATION PUBLISHED IN AUGUST 2026,
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DATA FROM FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION SHOWED APPROXIMATELY 23,000 COMPLAINTS ABOUT BLOCKED RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN HOUSTON SINCE 2021.THE INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED EASTWOOD STREET, LELAND STREET, MULBY STREET, COLLIN BOULEVARD, AND SOUTH LOCKWOOD AMONG THE LOCATIONS GENERATING COMPLAINTS.
THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT MORE THAN INCONVENIENCE.
THEY REPRESENT RESIDENTS STRUGGLING TO REACH WORK, PARENTS TRYING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO MAY BE FORCED TO FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.
IN FACT, ABC 13 REPORTED A PARTICULARLY CONCERNING INCIDENT IN EAST HOUSTON IN 2019 WHEN A MAN WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT AT HIS HOME ON JEFFERSON STREET.
AN AMBULANCE HAD TO BACK UP AND FIND ANOTHER ROUTE BECAUSE A TRAIN WAS BLOCKING THE NEARBY INTERSECTION.
HIS NEIGHBORS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WHILE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WORKED TO REACH HIM.
THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN DOCUMENTED THROUGH THE CITY'S OWN MONI- MONITORING EFFORTS.
ACCORDING TO REPORTING BY THE HOUSTON CHRONICLES IN 2022, CITY MONITORING AT LAWNDALE FOUND THAT A STREET WAS BLOCKED BY TRAINS 107 TIMES FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR OVER A PERIOD OF JUST 26 DAYS.
ONE BLOCKAGE LASTED NEARLY 15 HOURS.
I'M ASKING CITY'S COUNCIL TO TAKE THREE CONCRETE STEPS TO IDENTIFY THE RAILROAD CROSSING WITH THE MOST FREQUENT AND LONGEST BLOCKAGES, PARTICULARLY IN THE EAST END AND FIFTH WARD.
SECOND, DIRECT THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DEVELOP, TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR REDUCING PROLONGED BLOCK- BLOCKAGES AND IMPROVING EMERGENCY ACCESS.
LASTLY, PUBLISH A 90-DAY PROGRESS REPORT IDENTIFYING THE PRIORITY CROSSINGS, THE ACTIONS BEING CONSIDERED, THE AGENCY'S RESPONSIBLE, AND THE NEXT STEPS TOWARD LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
WHERE NECESSARY, THE CITY SHOULD ALSO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY AND FUNDING OF RAILROAD OVERPASSES OR UNDERPASSES.
THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON DESERVE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE STREETS.
THEY DESERVE MORE THAN PROMISES.
UH, THIS, THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY INTIMATELY AWARE OF.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT EVEN AS A, AS A STAFFER OUT OF THE DISTRICT HIGH OFFICE.
I DO WANNA LET, LET YOU KNOW THAT WORK IS BEING DONE.
UH, LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, SENATOR ALVARADO HELPED LEAD A, AN INITIATIVE TO BRING IN THE, OR WORK ON A $250 MILLION GRANT OPPORTUNITY.
SO THERE'S WAYS WHERE WE CAN CREATE GRADE SEPARATION.
IN THE EAST END SPECIFICALLY WHERE PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TRAIN TRACKS ULTIMATELY FUNNEL INTO THE, THE, THE PORT, UM, WE DO SEE A LOT OF THOSE BLOCKAGES, UH, LENGTHY.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AS, AS LONG AS THEY, THEY WERE MAYBE ABOUT SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO, BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.
SOME OF IT IS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW UNION PACIFIC IS ALSO DOING, UH, WITHIN THEIR YARDS, THEY'RE IMPROVING THEIR, THEIR, UH, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD MORE TRAINS ON, WITHIN THEIR YARDS.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
THEY ALSO NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN HAVE GRADE SEPARATION.
UM, I SIT ON THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL.
IT IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES AS WELL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE, HOW WE'RE BRINGING IN MORE FUNDING, UH, NOT JUST AT STATE LEVEL, BUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO THANK, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
UM, WE'RE HA - WE HAD ABOUT A 25 MILLION DOLLAR FUNDING GAP FOR COMMERCE, YORK, SAMSON GRADE SEPARATION.
BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING IN THE FEDERAL RAILROAD, RAILROAD ADMINISTRATOR ROUGHLY ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO, THEY SAW THE NEED AS WELL.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT FUNDING AT FEDERAL DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
THAT PROJECT IS IN DESIGN NOW.
UM, THESE, THESE PROJECTS TAKE FOREVER, UNFORTUNATELY.
IT FEELS LIKE, UH, UH, QUIET ZONES TAKE FOREVER AS WELL SOMETIMES, BUT KNOW THAT IT IS A PRIORITY OUT OF MY OFFICE AND IT'LL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY, IDENTIFYING WAYS WHERE WE CAN IDEN - WHERE WE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDING, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
UM, AGAIN, UNION PACIFIC IS DOING SOME OF THE WORK, BUT THEY COULD DO MORE.
AND THEN AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALSO NEED TO SEE THE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS COME INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND FIND OUT WHERE WE CAN DO, UH, UM, SPECIFIC GRADE CROSSINGS.
AND LAST THING THAT I'LL SHARE IS THAT, UM, IN THE EAST END SPECIFICALLY AT STATION 18, THEY DO HAVE A MONITOR WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE DIFFERENT CRITICAL CROSSINGS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON, UH, OUT OF THE DISTRICT EYE OFFICE ROUGHLY ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF INNOVATION AT THAT TIME.
UM, THOSE CAMERAS ALLOW FOR MORE REAL-TIME, UH, INFORMATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE FASTEST, SAFEST ROUTES FOR, UH, FOR - EMERGENCY.
FOR, UH, H- HFD TO BE ABLE TO GET TO, UH, WHOEVER NEEDS THOSE SERVICES.
UH, COULD WE HAVE MORE OF THAT? YES.
AGAIN, IT'S THE MONEY, AND SO ULTIMATELY THAT, THAT IS THE, THE, UM, THE ROUTE THAT WE'RE MOVING.
WHAT I WOULD ASK OF YOU IS, AS YOU'RE TALKING TO THE CITY
[01:35:01]
OF HOUSTON, UH, REACH OUT TO YOUR STATE, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOUR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.ULTIMATELY, THE, THE TRAINS ARE REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL RAILROAD, RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION.
SO THE MORE THAT YOU CAN HELP ADVOCATE AT THOSE LEVELS WILL BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
IMAGINE ESCAPING AN ABUSIVE OR EXPLOITATIVE SITUATION, FINDING SOMEWHERE SAFE TO GO, BUT HAVING NO WAY TO GET THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TRANSPORTATION, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TO CALL FOR HELP.
FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THIS IS MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE.
IT CAN BECOME A SERIOUS BARRIER TO REACHING SAFETY.
THROUGH MY WORK WITH TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS IN THE HOUSTON AREA, I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND HOW TRANSPORT- TRANSPORTATION AND NAVIGATING AVAILABLE RESOURCES CAN BECOME SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES.
RESEARCH SUPPORTS THIS CONCERN.
A 2021 STUDY CONDUCTED IN NORTH TEXAS FOUND THAT TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS CAN LIMIT SURVIVORS' ABILITY TO LEAVE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND REGAIN INDEPENDENCE.
HOUSTON ALREADY HAS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES TO SURVIVORS.
HOWEVER, NAVIGATING THESE RESOURCES CAN BE DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY AFTER BUSINESS HOURS AND ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF CRISIS.
AS PART OF MY RESEARCH, I CONTACTED THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I LEARNED THAT THE OFFICE DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A CENTRALIZED 24-HOUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR A CASE MANAGER.
I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CALLS TO THE OFFICE AFTER BUSINESS HOURS GO UNANSWERED.
THIS RAISED AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR ME.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SURVIVOR NEEDS ASSISTANCE AFTER HOURS AND DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN? THAT IS WHY I AM PROPOSING THE HOUSTON SAFE PASSAGE INITIATIVE, ONE POINT OF CONTACT AND ONE PATH TO SAFETY.
TODAY, I AM ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO CONSISTER - CONSIDER TWO SPECIFIC ACTIONS.
FIRST, ESTABLISH A CENTRALIZED 24-HOUR REFERRAL PATHWAY THROUGH EXISTING VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS USING A TRAUMA-INFORMED, WARM HANDOFF PROCESS.
WITH THE SURVIVOR'S CONSENT, AGENCIES COULD COORDINATE DIRECTLY, REDUCING THE NEED FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REPEATEDLY SHARE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES WHILE SEEKING ASSISTANCE.
SECOND, CREATING A SMALL EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION FUND THAT PARTNER AGENCIES CAN ACCESS WHEN SURVIVORS NEED TRANSPORTATION TO A SAFE LOCATION AND EXISTING RESOURCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
MY PROPOSAL IS NOT TO CREATE ANOTHER EXPENSIVE SERVICE SYSTEM, BUT TO STRENGTHEN COORDINATION AMONG ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY DOING THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
SURVIVORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO NAVIGATE A COMPLICATED SYSTEM OF RESOURCES JUST TO REACH SAFETY.
I'M ASKING HOUSTON TO MAKE ACCESSING HELP AS SIMPLE AS KNOWING ONE NUMBER TO CALL.
MS. VASQUEZ, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WORK IN THIS AREA, UM, FOR YOUR JOB, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO PULL TOGETHER A SMALL TRANSPORTATION FUND.
WHAT, WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A SMALL TRANSPORTATION FUND? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IS THAT - POSSIBLY, UM, SOME SORT OF PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP, UM, WITH UBER TRANSPORTATION.
SO IF SURVIVORS CALL INTO A 24-HOUR HOTLINE, WE CAN ASSESS FOR SAFETY AND SEE IF THEY HAVE A SAFE LOCATION TO GO TO.
THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY DO THAT WORK.
IT WOULD BE COORDINATING THEM UNDER POSSIBLY A NAVIGATOR, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HELP NAVIGATE THOSE CALLS, AND THEN PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
WHO HO - WHO HOSTS THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY DOING THE WORK? I BELIEVE THEY'RE EACH INDIVIDUALLY FUNDED.
FOR INSTANCE, MY ORGANIZATION IS, UM, STATE FUNDING, AND SO MOST OF THE OTHER VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS DOING THIS WORK ARE USUALLY STATE FUNDED OR PRIVATE FUNDS.
UM, IT'S THROUGH NONPROFITS, BUT THERE IS NOT, NOT ONE CENTRALIZED LOCATION TO WHERE A SURVIVOR CAN CALL.
SO DID YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE PERSON IN THE CITY'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING DEPARTMENT? I DID.
UM, WELL, WHEN I SPOKE TO HER, SHE STATED THAT, AGAIN, SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CASE MANAGER AND TYPICALLY A CASE MANAGER KIND OF HANDLES THAT, BUT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY CASE MANAGER ON STAFF RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THERE IS NO 24-HOUR CENTRAL SERVICE.
UM, AND SO BASICALLY THEY WOULD JUST GO ON THE WEBSITE AND GO DOWN ALL THE NUMBERS OF THE LIST OF RESOURCES THAT ARE ON THAT WEBSITE, WHICH CAN TRANSLATE INTO MORE CHAOS AND CRISIS BECAUSE IT'S HAVING TO REPEAT YOUR STORY OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
SO WE HAVE ONE CENTRAL PROCESS TO DO SO.
AND AS FAR AS THE FUNDING FOR IT, UM, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH.
UM, I WAS THINKING AROUND LIKE 20,000 TO, UM, YOU KNOW, GATHER A PILOT PROGRAM, UM, FUND IT FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, AND THEN COME UP WITH A PROTOCOL
[01:40:01]
TO SEE HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER TO MAYBE START A ROTATION.I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH IS BEING SPENT FROM THOSE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF PILOT PROGRAM.
I WOULD THINK IT'S, IT'S KIND OF SIGNIFICANT AS IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS, BUT YOU NEED TO BE IN THE PROGRAMS ALREADY.
AND SO WHEN A SURVIVOR IS IN CRISIS TRYING TO FLEE, THAT'S THE ISSUE, IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR INTAKE - RIGHT.
AND FOR SOMEONE TO CALL THEM BACK.
THEY NEED TO GET SOMEWHERE SAFE SO THAT THEY CAN FLEE OR, YOU KNOW, GET BACK TO HOME OR, YOU KNOW, GREAT, GREAT HOME BUS STATION OR POLICE STATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UM, METRO TRANSPORTATION? SO I WAS JUST THINKING, MAYOR, I SAW YOUR, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT, UH, METRO BEING UTILIZED TO GO VOTE.
I'D BE INTERESTED IF ANY OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, UTI- UTILIZE METRO.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THOSE, UH, VANS THAT TAKE PEOPLE TO THE GROCERY STORE THAT YOU CAN CALL AND GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.
I WOULD THINK IF, IF THERE WAS A SITUATION THAT THEY WANTED TO GO TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY NEED TO GO TO GROCERY STORE IMMEDIATELY - UH-HUH.
UH, MAYBE, MAYBE THE VAN COULD TAKE THEM TO THE GROCERY STORE.
I THINK - OR SOME- SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING CREATIVE.
SO I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO KINDA CHIT-CHAT WITH YOU TO - THANK YOU.
LOOK, LOOK FOR SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THANK YOU, MS. VASQUEZ, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AFTER HOURS, IS THE POLICE NON-EMERGENCY LINE, UH, AND TRANSPORT NOT, NOT AN OPTION? NO.
UM, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT IN A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE READY TO CALL THE POLICE, OR SOMETIMES THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE POLICE, BUT THE POLICE CANNOT DO ANYTHING AND TAKE A POLICE REPORT.
UM, AND SO THEY'RE KIND OF STUCK.
I HAD SOMEONE WHO ESCAPED TRAFFICKING SITUATION AND SHE MADE A POLICE REPORT, BUT THEN THEY PRETTY MUCH JUST...
SHE WAS ON HER OWN AND WE HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GET HER TO A GREYHOUND SO THAT SHE CAN GO BACK TO FAMILY IN ANOTHER CITY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES IT'S, IT'S BEYOND LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, OR, I MEAN, LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES HELP, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT IT'S UNNECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
IS THIS A PROBLEM DURING, UH, BUSINESS HOURS AS WELL OR NOT SO MUCH? IT'S 24...
I MEAN, IT'S, THERE'S - ALL RIGHT.
UH, ARE YOU, ARE YOU AFFILIATED WITH AN ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW? I AM.
I - AND WHAT'S, WHAT IS THAT? I WORK WITH BCFS COMMON THREAD.
WE SERVE SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.
I, I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU, UH, OFFLINE.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL ALEXANDER.
THIS IS VERY EMBARRASSING TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ANNA WACKETT AND I'M WITH EARTH ANGELS MINISTRY OUT OF KUNI, MEXICO.
WE BUILT SEVEN CHURCHES OUT THERE, MY AUNT AND MY FAMILY.
AND THEN THROUGH THAT, UNDER, THROUGH THAT, UH, AS A CHILD, I, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO, UM, HELP WASH SOULS.
AND 89.3 KSBJ GARTER PRECINCT 100 HOMELESSNESS, ME, ANNA WALKETT.
AND, AND NOW I'M WITH COLE MINISTRIES.
I HAVEN'T GONE YET BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS GONE ON WHERE I LIVE IS 7200 TC DISTRICT BOULEVARD.
UM, COLE MINISTRIES IS BREAKING CHAINS.
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR BOYD HARRELL, HELPING ME ON THIS PROPERTY IS 7200 TC DISTRICT BOULEVARD.
AND I CAN'T SAY MY APARTMENT NUMBER, BUT HELEN AND THE BLACK MAN WHO'S PART OF SECURITY AND LAWRENCE IS THE OWNER OF THESE PRIVATE CONDOS.
I WORKED WITH THE CITY, MY HUSBAND, WIL - ANNA WALKET, WILFORD, WILFORD DISMISS AND SYLVESTER TURNER.
WE HAD A BET AND HE'S NOT HERE NO MORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WENT, BUT MY HUSBAND NAMED COWBOY, UM, HE WAS, UH AND MY NIECE HAS ALL THE EVIDENCE ON HER PHONE.
AND I SEE ROSLYN GRANGER AND I, UH, FOUND HER, AND HER AND I FOUND HER BEHAVIORAL.
SHE HAD HELPED ME CHANGE MY LIFE FROM
[01:45:01]
A CRIMINAL MIND THAT I DIDN'T KNOW AS A CHILD.WE HAD BOUGHT FURNITURE STORES ALL OVER AND BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING.
TWO NEXT TO GALLERY ON JENSEN DRIVE AND, UM AND HARLAN AGAINST HER.
BUT, BUT THROUGHOUT THAT, I, MY MOM DIED.
MY, MY HUSBAND, UH, BOB, MY, MICHAEL, ROBERT JORGENSEN, THAT'S CRYSTAL DON JORGENSEN, CYNTHIA MATTHEW, WHICH MY SISTER ADOPTED.
AND, UM, I, I DIDN'T WANT ALL THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT MY MOM, UM, SHE, SHE, SHE DIDN'T DO THINGS RIGHT.
AND ROSEN HELPED ME TO CHANGE MY LIFE.
BUT I'M BEING HARASSED AND, AND STALKED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THE HOUSTON POLICE AND THE METRO POLICE ARE NOT HELPING ME.
AND NOW I CAN'T WALK BECAUSE, UM, I LEFT MY CANE ON THE, THE TRAIN ON SATURDAY OR FRIDAY.
AND, UM, UM, THE WATER HAS BEEN COMING OUT.
I CALLED EVERYTHING THAT, THAT YOU SPOKE TO LEGAL.
AND, AND I'VE CALLED THE, ON THE POLICE.
AND I, I WORKED FOR ES - ED GROWING UP WITH ERNEST LUCAS, UM, JR.
AND LAWRENCE AND, AND THE BUSINESS.
AND SO I, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING.
I WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.
AND I ONLY KNOW TWO SCRIPTURES.
I HAD FOR ANOTHER PLANT I HAVE FREE IN MATTHEW SEVEN: SEVEN.
AND THE POLICE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME ON THAT, COMING OFF THAT PROPERTY.
UM, THEY'RE SENDING THE PEOPLE ON THE BUS, AND THERE'S DRUGS GOING THERE, AND THERE'S LADIES OF THE NIGHTS GOING IN THERE AND STEALING FROM VETERANS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND, AND HELEN AND, AND AS FAR AS SECURITY IS LETTING THIS GO ON, AND I'VE CALLED SPARTA SECURITY, AND HE IS TALKING ME.
ROSALIND GRANGER HEARD THIS ON THE PHONE, AND I SEE HER ON THE 30TH, AND I SEE MY DOCTOR ON 30TH, AND I NEED SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP ON KEEPING THIS UP.
I NEED MY, MY METROLIFT, UM, REINSTATED.
I WAS HERE LAST TUESDAY, AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS.
AND, AND, UH, I MISS THE VOTING.
AND I, AND I NEED Y'ALL'S HELP TO, WITH THE POLICE AND, AND TO HELP ME TO GET MY METROLIFT REINSTATED LIKE THEY SAID LAST TUESDAY.
SOMEBODY HERE SAID THEY WERE GONNA CALL ME, BUT I MET THEM OUT THERE.
AND, AND THEY, THEY GOT MY PHONE NUMBER AND ON, ON WEDNESDAY.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY, THAT I NEED HELP AND, AND, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S UP THERE HAVE TO CALL AVENUE 360.
I WAS OUT THERE 14 YEARS, UH, PROOFING, TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE THRIFT STORE.
LET ME, UH - OKAY, I GOTTA GO.
LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU, REBECCA.
SHE'S RIGHT THERE IN THE CORNER.
WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MS. WAQUETTE ABOUT HER HOUSING, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES, PERHAPS CHIEF SATTERWHITE? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, THE HOMELESS COALITION COULD GET INVOLVED.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAX EMILIANO DIAZ.
IF I HAVE A HANDOUT, WHO DO I GIVE IT TO? OKAY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
MY NAME IS LUISA ULISI, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ISSUE AT DISTRICT C.
IN 2021, THE KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH REPORTED THAT PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN HOUSTON HAD INCREASED BY 125% OVER THE PREVIOUS DECADE.
AND ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, HOUSTON RECORDED 116 PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES IN 2024, THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER AMONG MAJOR US CITIES.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AMERICAN LEGION PARK IS A WONDERFUL POCKET PARK WHERE I OFTEN SEE NEIGHBORS PLAYING SOFTBALL, WALKING THEIR DOGS, AND CHILDREN ENJOYING THE PLAYGROUND.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO BRING IT, BRING ATTENTION TO TWO SAFETY CONCERNS.
FIRST, ALONG GULF DRIVE NEAR WEST, WEST 34TH AND A HALF STREET, THE SIDEWALK ABRUPTLY ENDS
[01:50:01]
BEFORE THE RAILROAD CROSSING.THIS FORCES PEDESTRIANS INTO THE ROADWAY NEAR A CURVE WHERE DRIVERS MAY HAVE LIMITED VISIBILITY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING FOR FAMILIES WITH STROLLERS AND PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS OR OTHER MOBILITY DEVICES.
SECOND, AMERICAN LEGION PARK SITS DIRECTLY BESIDE RAILROAD TRACKS.
A NEIGHBOR RECENTLY SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE WITNESSED THREE CHILDREN PLAYING ON THESE TRACKS.
WHILE PART OF THE PARK IS FENCED, THERE ARE AREAS WHERE ADDITIONAL FENCING COULD HELP PREVENT CHILDREN FROM ACCESSING THE TRACKS.
AMERICAN LEGION PARK IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE LET'S PLAY HOUSTON IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE, WHICH EMPHASIZES ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.
I BELIEVE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE SAFELY GETTING TO AND FROM THE PARK.
SO I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL FOR THREE THINGS.
ONE, FIRST DIRECT PUBLIC WORKS TO CONDUCT A SIDEWALK SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT OF THIS AREA.
SECOND, EXTEND THE SIDEWALK ALONG GULF DRIVE TO THE RAILROAD CROSSING AND COORDINATE WITH THE RAILROAD TO EVALUATE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS.
THIRD, WORK WITH PARKS AND RECREATION TO EXTEND PROTECTIVE FEN- FENCING ALONG THE PARK'S RAILROAD FACING BOUNDARY AND ADDRESS ANY OTHER UNSAFE GAPS.
I'VE PROVIDED PHOTOGRAPHS DOCUMENTING THESE CONCERNS ALONG WITH MY 311 SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER.
FAMILIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND REACH IT SAFELY.
I HOPE WE CAN ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU, LARISSA, FOR, UM, THIS VISUAL.
IT DOES HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SAYING AND ASKING FOR.
UM, WE, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, SO WE, WE HEAR YOU.
UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT HE GETS THIS INFORMATION SO THAT HE, UM, HE CAN BE AWARE OF IT.
WE DO HAVE, UH, SOME COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS THAT HE MAY CHOOSE TO USE, UM, TO COMPLETE THE, THE SIDEWALK ACCESS, UM, TO THIS PARK, BUT WE'LL ALSO, UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND THIS TO DISTRICT C OFFICE ELECTRONICALLY SO THEY CAN HAVE THE SR NUMBER AND THEN THE REQUEST THAT YOU'VE MADE FOR SIDEWALKS AND THEY CAN SHARE IT WITH PARKS FOR MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL FENCING TO KEEP THE STUDENT, THE YOUNG CHILDREN FROM, UM, HAVING JUST EASY ACCESS TO THE RAILROAD TRACK.
I THINK YOU'VE MADE SOME GREAT POINTS AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY STEVE WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THROUGHOUT US HISTORY, WE'VE SEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUSHING POLICIES THAT WOULD HURT MARGINALIZED GROUPS, BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN HOW THESE COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO PUSH BACK.
ONE PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, WHERE BLACK RESIDENTS BOYCOTTED ALABAMA'S HEAVILY SEGREGATED BUS SYSTEM.
TO UPHOLD THEIR AGENDA, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MONITORED DRIVERS FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS, REVOKED LICENSES TO DRIVE, AND PRESSURED CITY INSURERS TO CHANGE THE POLICIES THAT WOULD AFFECT THE ACCESSIBILITY OF VEHICLES.
DESPITE ALL OF THESE EFFORTS BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THE CITY RESIDENTS PERSISTED AND ORGANIZED TO COMBAT THESE RESTRICTIONS THROUGH CARPOOLS, CHURCH-OWNED VEHICLES, AND COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING.
THEIR RESPONSE SHOWED THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS FAIL TO SERVE A COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE WILL FIND WAYS TO STAND TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.
WITH THAT BIT OF HISTORY, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU A TOPIC THAT YOU'RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.
RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS HALL, THERE IS A MURAL WITH THE WORDS HOUSTON SISTER CITIES, WITH ONE POINT MARKED AT TAMPICO, MEXICO.
IN THIS MURAL ARE THE WORDS, VOLUNTEERS COORDINATE A VARIETY OF EXCHANGES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP, UNDERSTANDING, TRADE, AND COOPERATION.
THIS MURAL IS REPRESENTING SOMETHING THAT HOUSTONIANS DO NOT FEEL IS ACCURATE.
FOR MANY HOUSTONIANS, THE FEAR SURROUNDING ICE OPERATIONS IS PUTTING A SERIOUS STRAIN ON THE VERY COMMUNITIES THAT YOU ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITIES...
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY FACES PRESSURES FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST TO MAKE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE YOUR LOCAL LEADERSHIP MATTERS THE MOST.
HAD CITY COUNCIL STOOD BY ITS ORIGINAL VOTE ON PROPOSITIONS A, ORDINANCE ON IMMIGRATION, EVEN IF THAT MEANT THE STATE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ITS THREATS TO WITHHOLD FUNDING, THEN AT LEAST THE CITY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT IT HAD DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO PROTECT ITS RESIDENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT LOSING FUNDING WOULD HAVE MADE LIFE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHEN THE LEADERSHIP ASPECT OF YOUR POSITION COMES INTO PLAY.
AND IF THE CITY HAD FACED THOSE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, THAT IS WHEN WE WOULD HAVE COME TOGETHER AND FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER JUST AS WE HAVE DONE, JUST AS WE HAVE SEEN
[01:55:01]
DONE BEFORE.I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO STAND BY THE VALUES IT HAS PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT.
RATHER THAN BACKING DOWN BECAUSE OF FEDERAL PRESSURES OR FUNDING THREATS, ESPECIALLY ON A TOPIC AS IMPORTANT AS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, I ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER THE VALUES REPRESENTED IN THE MURAL THAT IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS VERY ROOM.
IN THIS MOMENT, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE ANGER, FEAR, SADNESS, AND FRUSTRATION IN THE CONSTITUENTS THAT COME TO SPEAK WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE.
SO I ASK THAT YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE EXPRESSES THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING ICE AND YOU SIMPLY REPLY WITH, "MY HANDS ARE TIED." THANK YOU.
MAY I APPROACH IN? THANK YOU, UH, GALILEA.
IT'S VERY NICE TO, UM, HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
AND I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, UH, THE SISTER CITIES MAP.
UM, THE FACT THAT YOU CAME HERE, YOU, UM, SAW THAT AT SOME POINT, UM, AND PAID THAT CLOSE A- ATTENTION TO ONE OF OUR, OUR SISTER CITIES, AND YOU RELATED THAT TO WHAT IS, WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY.
UM, I, I LIKE THE CORRELATION THAT YOU MADE FOR US.
UM, I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, THE COUNCIL HAS HAD LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ICE AND, UM, THE RESIDENTS IN, IN OUR CITY, UH, AND I HOPE THAT, UM, YOU WILL KNOW AS WELL AS THE OTHER, UM, FOLKS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WE ARE, WE ARE LISTENING.
WE, WE HEAR, WE HEAR YOU, WE FEEL YOUR, YOUR HEART, YOUR CONCERN FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, UM, AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HOUSTONIANS TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP EVERYONE SAFE IN OUR CITY.
UM, SO I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO, UM, JUST COME UP AND, AND NOT HEAR FROM SOMEONE ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO AS A CITY.
UM, YOUR CONCERNS ARE IMPORTANT TO US, AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW WE HEAR YOU, AND I'M VERY IMPRESSED THAT YOU MADE THE CORRELATION WITH ONE OF OUR SISTER CITIES.
I DO WANNA MENTION, I DID HAVE THE HONOR OF SPEAKING WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER RIGHT BEFORE THIS SESSION.
HE DID GO INTO DETAIL ON HOW HE'S CURRENTLY DOING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH HPD REGARDING ALL OF THE ICE ENFORCEMENT.
HE DID GO INTO DETAILS ON EXACTLY HOW THAT'S BEING HANDLED IN THE CITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT IF THAT INFORMATION IS SPECIFIED TO THE RESIDENTS AND THIS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THERE WOULD BE A LOT LESS ANGER OR FRUSTRATION IN THE FEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD.
I WAS HERE AT THE SESSION LAST MONTH WHERE THERE WAS ICE PROTEST GOING ON RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE HALL, AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT SESSION WERE COMING TO SPEAK TO SPECIFICALLY ON ICE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SAD TO SAY, A LOT OF YOU MEMBERS WERE COMPLETELY SILENT ON THAT.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST MENTION THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY DOING TO PROTECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LOT MORE ASSURANCE TO KNOW THAT THEIR CITY IS HEARING THEM ON THEIR CONCERNS.
STEVE WILLIAMS. JACOB CLEMENTAGE.
IT'D BE FOLLOWED BY MARK RODRIGUEZ.
WELL, MY TALK WAS ABOUT ELECTION AND THE VOTE IN AN ELECTION IS NOT A M- MOOT POINT.
AND SO, UH, I ASK Y'ALL ALL TO VOTE NO MATTER WHAT.
NO MATTER IF YOU THINK YOUR CANDIDATE WILL LOSE, YOU MUST VOTE BECAUSE IT'S YOUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO VOTE AND, UH, AFTER ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS FOUGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO VOTE, CORRECT? YEAH, AND NOW, AGGIE JOKE.
MARK RODRIGUEZ, TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE LABLANCHE.
THANK THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TOO, ALSO, TO HEAR ME OUT.
CRIME IS NOT BEING REPORTED BECAUSE IMAGINE HAVING TO WAIT 30 OR 40 MINUTES ON HOLD WITH DISPATCH FOR HPD.
I INVITED A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO THE PIP MEETING ON THE 20TH AT SOUTH CENTRAL.
THE COMMANDER G - NGUYEN WAS VERY RUDE TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO JUST ASKED A QUESTION.
THE COMMANDER YELLED AT HIM, "IF YOU CONTINUE, SCOTT, I'LL TRESPASS...
[02:00:01]
HAVE YOU ARRESTED.IMAGINE HOW ROSA TREVINO HELPED.
SHE CALLED OUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE LAST WEEK, ADDRESSING WITH TY, BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
IF A COMMANDER'S DOING THAT, WHAT'S HE TEACHING THE LIEUTENANTS? REMEMBER LIEUTENANT YELLED AT ME AT A MEETING ALSO THE WEEK, LIKE TWO WEEKS BEFORE? COUNCIL MEMBER, DO YOU, DO YOU RECALL THAT MEETING? UM, IF THE LIEUT - IF THE COMMANDER'S DOING, HE'S TEACHING THE LIEUTENANTS, THE SERGEANTS, AND THE OFFICERS, YOU GIVE THE RESPECT YOU'RE GONNA WANT.
I TRY TO RESPECT ALL OF Y'ALL, BUT IT WAS VERY WRONG FOR THE COMMANDER TO DO THAT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO A PIP MEETING TO ANSWER QUEST - ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS.
BUT, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I'M SORRY, BUT IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT.
YOU DON'T RECALL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER? GEORGE LEBLANCE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARIVA PAGE.
GREETINGS MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL.
IN 2010, FORMER MAYOR ANISE PARKER'S ADMINISTRATION AND OIG INSPECTOR GENERAL ROBIN CURTIS SCHEMED THE RELOCATION OF OIG FROM HPD TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECRECY, COVER UP, AND ONGOING ILLEGAL VIOLATIONS OF DENIALS OF THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT AND VIOLATING CONFIRMATION RULINGS DEMANDING OIG'S COMPLETE RELEASE OF EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION FILES.
RESPECTFULLY, I IMPLORE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND THIS CITY COUNCIL TO DEMAND OIG'S IMMEDIATE COMPLIANCE TO WHITMEYER'S ANTI-CORRUPTION TRANSPARENCY MANDATE AND TO THE RULINGS OF THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE TEXAS 261ST DISTRICT COURT, AND TO THE FEBRUARY 23RD, 2016 RULING BY THE TEXAS THIRD COURT OF APPEALS.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ.
HELLO, HOW Y'ALL DOING? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I'M HERE BASED ON SOMETHING THAT I SAID THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH.
UH, DOMINIQUE PAYTON, SHE USING THE CITY AND OTHER PEOPLE BUILDINGS SAYING THAT SHE'S HELPING REENTRY.
SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GONNA GIVE ME A JOB, BUT THE REAL REENTRY PROGRAM IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN CASHMERE GARDEN WHO IS REALLY HELPING PEOPLE AND GUYS, MEN AND WOMEN FROM OUT OF PRISON GETTING JOBS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE RAILROAD, AND, UM, SOME WAREHOUSE JOBS.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION.
SO IT WASN'T THE CITY OF HOUSTON RE-ENTRY PROGRAM.
SINCE I SPOKE, I HAVE GOT SOME INSIGHTS AND, UM, CALLBACKS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR A JOB.
AND MY OTHER SITUATION THAT STILL REMAINS THE SAME, SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION.
IT WAS, UH, DOMINIQUE PAYTON THAT WAS USING THE CITY SAYING THAT SHE WAS RE-ENTRY.
BUT THE KASHMIR GARDEN IS DOING THE IMMACULATE JOB.
THEY GOT RESUME, UH, JOB READINESS, PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT.
SO THEY ARE DOING A IMMACULATE JOB.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAKE KUSHNER.
HEY, GOODNIGHT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, ALFREDO DOMINGUEZ HERE WITH PEOPLE'S COUNCIL AND THE RICE HOUSTON CAMPAIGN.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, TO FOLLOW UP ON THE EARLIER TESTIMONIES FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE, THE MODEL CITIES DEBACLE.
UH, I THINK THERE'S STILL NOT ENOUGH ACCOUNTABILITY HERE BEING TAKEN BY THE MAYOR.
WH- WHEN I WATCHED THE INTERVIEW THAT FOLLOWED AFTER THE FACT ABOUT WHY THE MAYOR CHOSE TO OMIT THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAD ALREADY ACTUALLY APPLIED, UM, THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO THE MODEL CITIES INITIATIVE, TO NOT ONLY REPORTERS, BUT AT THIS VERY COUNCIL WHEN WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS ABOUT IT.
BEFOREHAND, UH, MY, MY UNDERSTANDING OF PROP A AND, AND THE WHOLE GOAL BEHIND WANTING TO PASS SOMETHING LIKE THIS SO WE CAN HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE MAYOR'S POWER BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND RICE HOUSTON HAS SENT A LETTER THAT'S VERY DETAILED, UM, THAT DE - THAT DENOTES HOW WE WANT AND WE THINK A ORDINANCE THAT OUTLINES WHEN AND HOW THE CITY CAN AND SHOULD BE APPLYING TO GRANTS THAT IMPACT, UH, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ABILITY, ESPECIALLY OF HPD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RELATES TO ICE, RIGHT? THERE'S NO REASON THE COUN - THE, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE FINDING OUT IN NEWS ARTICLES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS ALREADY APPLYING TO A GRANT THAT IN ITS OWN LANGUAGE WHEN WRITING IT, RIGHT? THE, THE MODEL CITIES IN THIS INITIATIVE ARE TWO FEDERALLY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN MEMPHIS AND DC.
THAT'S NOT WHAT HOUSTON WANTS AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ALLOW TO HAPPEN.
[02:05:03]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY JAY BUSTOS.I'M A RETIRED PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'M COMING TO HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, OF HPD'S ACTIVITY TO SEARCH THE FLOCK NETWORK.
TWO MONTHS AGO, I TOLD YOU THAT HPD IS A SUPER USER OF FLOCK SEARCHES HAVING CARRIED OUT NEARLY TWO MILLION SEARCHES, OF WHICH 1.2 MILLION WERE UNATTRIBUTED TO ANY JUSTIFICATION.
LAST MONTH I TOLD YOU THAT THERE WERE 108 SEARCHES CARRIED OUT BY HPD, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO IMMIGRATION.
SO I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO CON - TO VERY SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS.
UNTIL A FULL ACCOUNTING OF HPD'S USE OF FLOCK, INCLUDING ANY ICE DIRECTED IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATIONS IS COMPLETED, HOUSTONIANS CANNOT BE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING PROTECTED, THAT HPD IS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH TO RES - TO REVERSE PAST MISTAKES, AND THAT THIS POWERFUL SURVEILLANCE TOOL IS ADEQUATELY SECURED.
CONSEQUENTLY, I'M HERE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO IMMEDIATELY PASS A MOTION TO PAUSE FLOCK CAMERAS AND TO INITIATE AN INDEPENDENT, TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION OF PAST FLOCK USE.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT, UM, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU GAVE, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT NUMBER WAS ATTRIBUTED TO IMMIGRATION? I PRESENTED THIS DATA, UH, ONE MONTH AGO AT A PUBLIC SESSION AND I HAVE A LARGE, UH, UH, UH, LARGE HANDOUT THAT I CAN GIVE YOU, BUT IT COMES FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURES TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ASKED WHAT KIND OF SEARCHES ARE HITTING THEIR FLOCK CAMERAS AND THEIR, THEIR NETWORKS.
THERE'S A COUNTY IN UTAH CALLED WEBER COUNTY, AND THEY HAD 1.9 MILLION SEARCHES, UH, TO THEM FROM HPD.
DID, DID YOU SEE ANY IN HOUSTON? AND SO OF THOSE 1.9 MILLION, WHICH WERE ALL HPD SEARCHES TO UTAH, 108 OF THOSE IN EARLY JANUARY OF 2025 SPECIFICALLY DENOTED THE REASON FOR THE INVESTIGATION WAS IMMIGRATION.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY DOES NOT CARRY OUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
SO THAT IMPLIES THAT A PARTICULAR HPD OFFICER OR PERSONNEL WAS CARRYING OUT IMMIGRATION SEARCHES ON THE FLOCK NETWORK.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT JUST IN, IN WEBER COUNTY, UTAH, BUT I'VE ALSO VERIFIED THIS IN DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA, AND THERE'S MULTIPLE, UH, INSTANCES THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN PUBLIC.
SO WHAT WE OBVIOUSLY WANNA KNOW IS IF THERE'S 108 DOCUMENTED INVE - IMMIGRATION RELATED INVESTIGATIONS, HOW MANY OTHER IMMIGRATION RELATED INVESTIGATIONS HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT ATTRIBUTION? AND AGAIN, I, I TOLD YOU THAT THERE ARE 1.2 MILLION INVESTIGATIONS BY HPD WITH NO LEGITIMATE JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER.
AND UNTIL WE GET ACCOUNTABILITY, WE WILL NOT KNOW.
I WILL SAY THAT TWO MONTHS AGO, I, UH, I BROUGHT THIS TO CITY COUNCIL'S ATTENTION AND THE NEXT MORNING, HPD ANNOUNCED THAT AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN INITIATED, BUT THAT WILL NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TRANSPARENCY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
MAYOR PROTEM, JUST TO OFFER SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO.
YOU, YOU SAID WEAVER COUNTY, UTAH? WEBER COUNTY.
W-E-B-E-R? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
I, I PRESENTED THIS LAST MONTH.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF MANY MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE SEEN THESE NATIONAL SEARCHES.
ANOTHER IS DEKALB COUNTY IN GEORGIA.
AND OF THE 4.5 MILLION SEARCHES THAT HIT THE WEBER COUNTY NETWORK, 1.9 MILLION WERE FROM HPD.
AND OF THOSE, NEARLY 1.2 MILLION HAD NO JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER.
AND, AND HOW MANY SEARCHES IN WEBER COUNTY? THERE ARE 4.5 MILLION TOTAL.
AND OF THAT, 1.9 MILLION WERE FROM HPD.
HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN WEBER COUNTY? ONLY A FEW THOUSAND.
THESE ARE NAT - SEARCHES ACROSS THE NATIONAL FLOCK NETWORK.
SO YOU SEND OUT AN, YOU SEND OUT A SEARCH TO WEBER COUNTY AND DEKALB COUNTY, AND THESE SEARCHES WERE SENT OUT TO 3,700 MUNICIPALITIES.
WEBER COUNTY IS JUST ONE THAT GETS A SEARCH ON THE FLOCK NETWORK.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE CLICKING, UH, ALL THESE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY'RE SAYING, "OKAY, SEARCH THEM ALL." AND SO A COUNTY IN UTAH GETS SEARCHED, A COUNTY IN GEORGIA GETS SEARCHED, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER
[02:10:01]
MUNICIPALITIES GET SEARCHED AT THE SAME TIME SIMULTANEOUSLY JUST BY ONE CLICK.I, I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.
SO WHEN, WHEN A OFFICER CLICKS ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT COUNTIES - YES.
DOES THAT ONE SEARCH COUNT FOR ALL OF THESE, LIKE, DOES THAT ONE SEARCH THEN TURN INTO 300 SEARCHES BY THAT ONE? NO.
SO YOU'RE TELLING US THAT IT WAS 1.2 MILLION INDIVIDUALIZED SEARCHES? 1.9 MILLION INDIVIDUALIZED SEARCHES.
WHERE DO YOU GATHER YOUR DATA FROM? THIS IS FROM THE UTAH CIVIC - NO, NO, NO.
I'M ASKING YOU, YOU STAND THERE AND JUST KICK OUT NUMBERS AND YOU NEVER TELL US WHERE YOU GET YOUR NUMBERS.
LAST MONTH I HANDED OVER A, A DATA, A, A, A DATA HANDOUT THAT DESCRIBED IT IN GREAT DETAIL.
JUST, JUST TELL ME WHERE YOU GET THEM FROM.
THE DATA SETS HAVE BEEN RE - HAVE BEEN PUT UP IN PUBLIC DISCLOSURE PLACES SUCH AS THE INTERNET ARCHIVE.
AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE CSV FILES AND FROM THERE, YOU CAN ANALYZE THEM ON, UH, USING DATABASES.
TO BE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ARKO BARMAN.
YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD, HOUSTONIAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST HIGHLIGHT AFTER WHITMEYER'S, UH, INTERVIEW FROM THE 7TH, HIGHLIGHTING ABOUT MISRES - MISREPRESENTATION AND THINGS BEING POLITICIZED ON THE THOUGHT THAT, UH, OVER THE WHOLE, UM, MODEL CITIES INITIATIVES, THAT IT IS EASILY SEEN IN THE DOCUMENTATION ITSELF THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUOUSLY IGNORE THE HARM THAT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE.
YOU SAY THAT REPORTERS ARE STATING, UH, OR MISREPRESENTING THIS GRANT THAT, UH, IT'S CAUSING MORE HARM FOR IT THAN IT WOULD PROBABLY DO GOOD.
ANYONE WHO EASILY SEARCHES IT UP CAN EASILY SEE ONE EVEN BIG HIGHLIGHTED PART OF UNALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES IN THERE.
AND THERE'S THREE MAIN POINTS THAT'S LISTED THERE THAT SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THE HARM ABOUT, UH, THAT I DON'T...
WELL, I DON'T HAVE TO REALLY LIST BECAUSE THEY LITERALLY LISTED PUBLICLY THAT YOU WANT TO IGNORE THE HARM THAT IT WANTS TO CAUSE FOR THIS.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A THING THAT WE SHOULD NOT GO INTO, UH, EVEN CONSIDERING THE FACT.
I GET THE IDEA WE DO NEED FUNDING OR WE, WE CONSIDERUSLY ALWAYS NEED FUNDING, BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS CONSIDER THE FACT OF WHAT IT WOULD CAUSE, UH, ISSUES TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE CITIZENS HERE IN HOUSTON.
PLEASE CONSIDER, OR DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER TRY TO, UH, GOING INTO THIS AS WELL AS, AGAIN, END NON-SAFETY TRAFFIC STOPS, AND AS WELL, CUT TIES WITH FLOCK AND ANY OTHER, UH, COMPANIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO IT.
NEXT, ARKO BARMAN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ASIF CHAUDH - CHOWDHURY.
I'M HERE TO DEMAND THAT YOU TERMINATE THE FLOCK CONTRACT AND END HPDI'S COLLABORATION.
HPD HAS RULES, AND THEY'RE CALLED GENERAL ORDERS.
I WILL QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM HPD GENERAL ORDER 400-29 ON LICENSE PLATE READERS.
"EMPLOYEES SHALL USE THE ALPR SYSTEM AND DATA GENERATED OR STORED BY THE ALPR SYSTEM ONLY FOR BONAFIDE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
"ONLY FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
THAT MEANS HPD OFFICERS ARE FORBIDDEN FROM USING FLOCK FOR CIVIL OR ADMINISTRATIVE REASONS, PERIOD.
BUT OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.
HPD OFFICERS SEARCHED FLOCK HUNDREDS OF TIMES FOR IMMIGRATION.
[02:15:02]
OF IMMIGRATION CASES ARE KNOWN CIVIL CASES.IN SEVERAL SEARCHES, OFFICERS WROTE THE REASON THEMSELVES AS CIVIL OR ADMINISTRATIVE, AND THIS HAS HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS THIS YEAR.
WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY? WHY AREN'T HPD OFFICERS BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BREAKING THEIR OWN POLICY? MAYOR WHITMEYER, WHY ARE YOU SILENT? COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHY AREN'T YOU SPEAKING UP? WHY ARE HPD OFFICERS BREAKING THEIR OWN RULES TO DELIBERATELY TARGET HOUSTON'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES USING FLOCK CAMERAS? THANK YOU.
FLOCK DOESN'T BELONG IN THE CITY.
UM, THE MATTER, UM, THE ITEM ON NON'S AGENDA HAS BEEN ADDRESSED, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE WITH SOME REMARKS AND REFLECTION.
UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS ASIF CHOUDHURY.
UM, AS YOU MOVE, MO - AS WE MOVE TO 2027, SOME MAY ARGUE THERE IS A CONTROL, UH, RESISTANCE THEORY COME TO PLAY.
UH, HISTORY PROVES HOW FEAR-MONGERING AND ANGER CAN MOBILIZE VOTERS.
UH, WHETHER COINCIDENCE OR POLITICAL, UH, C- CALCULATION, THE TIMING IS REMARKABLE.
I HOPE NOVEMBER FOUR DELIVERS THE RESULT AS MANY PLAYED THEIR ROLE, OUTSTANDINGLY AND AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE.
THE OUTCOME WAS HARDLY UNPREDICTABLE.
UM, HAVING GROWN UP IN HOLLYWOOD, I MUST APPLAUD THE ENTIRE CAST, INCLUDING THE CERTAIN ORGANIZATION AND, OF COURSE, THE MASTRO WHO GUIDED THE NARRATIVE STILL MASTER FULLY.
FINALLY, I WOULD JUST WANNA THANK, UH, MAYOR WITMEYER AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR CHAMPIONING, UH, AT LEAST THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN EVERY PLATFORM.
[8:00 P.M. – RECESS ]
[RECONVENE]
I'M GONNA, UH, POSTPONE THE MAYOR'S REPORT TEMPORARILY.[HEARINGS - 9:00 A.M.]
LET'S MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARING, MR. SECRETARY.ITEM ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF LANDMARKS OR PROTECTED LANDMARKS.
MR. BUTLER WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JEFF BUTLER, AND I REPRESENT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, TODAY'S HEARING IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE DESIGNATION OF ONE PROPOSED LANDMARK AND 10 PROPOSED PROTECTED LANDMARKS, TOTALING 11 PROPERTIES.
PROPERTY OWNERS OR THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION MAY APPLY FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
ONLY PROPERTY OWNERS MAY APPLY FOR PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION.
ALL 11 PROPOSALS HAVE OWNER SUPPORT AND COMMISSION APPROVAL.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DESIGNATED 305 LANDMARKS AND 213 PROTECTED LANDMARKS, TOTALING 518 PROPERTIES.
DESIGNATION REQUIRES ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS, AND CERTAIN MAINTENANCE TO COMPLY WITH THE HOUSTON, HOUSTON'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE.
LANDMARKS MUST MEET AT LEAST ONE OF EIGHT CRITERIA.
PROTECTED LANDMARKS MUST MEET ONE OF FOUR ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.
ONLY PROTECTED LANDMARK DESIGNATION PROTECTS AGAINST DEMOLITION.
THE 11 PROPERTIES ARE WITHIN COUNCIL DISTRICTS C, D, AND I.
DISTRICT C HAS SEVEN PROPOSED PROTECTED LANDMARKS.
THE HOUSE AT 1317 RUTHMAN STREET IN FRIEDMANSTOWN IS CIRCA 1894 FOLK VICTORIAN COTTAGE.
ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S OLDEST SURVIVING BUILDINGS, IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE FRIEDMANS TOWN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT.
FRIEDMANSTOWN DEVELOPED AFTER EMANCIPATION INTO A CENTER OF BLACK COMMUNITY LIFE.
THE NZ CRAIN HOUSE AT 1914 DUSTIN, DUNSTON ROAD WAS BUILT CIRCA 1924.
IT COMBINES TWO DOOR REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE WITH SHINGLE STYLE ELEMENTS RARELY FOUND IN
[02:20:01]
SOUTHAMPTON PLACE.ITS FIRST OWNER, JEANIE CRANE, ADVANCED FROM STENOGRAPHER TO RAILROAD SUPERVISOR, REFLECTING WOMEN'S CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ROLES.
THE HELEN AND JESSE WEBB HOUSE AT 2232 DUNSTON WAS BUILT IN 1936.
THIS TWO-STORY BRICK TUDOR REVIVAL HOME IS ONE OF SOUTHAMPTON'S PLACE FEW REMAINING EXAMPLES RETAINING MUCH OF ITS HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
THE IRENE AND GEORGE ROBINSON HOUSE AT 2322 DUNSTON ROAD WAS BUILT IN 1930.
IT RETAINS MUCH OF THE TWO-DOOR REVIVAL CHARACTER WITH S- SHINGLE STYLE INFLUENCES.
THE ROBINSONS WERE ACTIVE IN HOUSTON'S CIVIC AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE.
IRENE HOSTED THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATE - ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S STUDY GROUPS ON ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND DECORATIVE ARTS.
THE MERRILL AND VERNON WILLIAMS HOUSE AT 2107 TANGLEY STREET WAS BUILT IN 1938 AND COMBINES COLONIAL REVIVAL AND RESTRAINED TUDOR REVIVAL INFLUENCES.
ORIGINAL OWNER MERYL WILLIAMS WAS A COLLEGE GRADUATE WHO HOSTED AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S MEETINGS AT HER HOME.
THE MEYER JONES HOUSE AT 2232 TANGLEY STREET WAS BUILT IN 1925.
ITS SYMMETRY AND CLASSICAL DETAILING EXEMPLIFY COLON - EXEMPLIFY COLONIAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE.
OWNERS ALICE AND STERLING MEYER WERE PROMINENT HOUSTONIANS.
STERLING WAS A LAWYER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF CORTLAND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
THE MAY AND JOHN WALLACE DONALDSON HOUSE AT 2306 TANGLEY STREET IS A 1931 COLONIAL REVIVAL HOME.
RESIDENT JOHN WALLACE DONALDSON FOUNDED THE DONALDSON LUMBER COMPANY AND LED THE RETAIL LUMBER DEALERS ASSOCIATION.
HE ALSO HELPED ESTABLISH THE GOOD SAMARITAN PROGRAM IN 1951 TO SUPPORT NURSING EDUCATION DURING THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER'S EARLY DEVELOPMENT.
DISTRICT D HAS THREE PROPOSED PROTECTED LANDMARKS.
THE TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT 2600 HOLMAN STREET IS IN THE GREATER THIRD WARD, DESIGNED BY GEORGE PIERCE AND ABEL B.
PIERCE AND BUILT IN 1951 IS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF HOUSTON'S POST-WAR MODERN CHURCH ARCHITECTURE.
THIS HISTORIC, THE BLACK CONGREGATION KNOWN AS THE MOTHER OF HOUSTON'S 10 METHODIST EPISCOPAL HOSPITALS, OR EXCUSE ME, CHURCHES BECAME A MAJOR INSTITUTION FOR BLACK HOUSTONIANS.
THE BRIANNE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AT TW - 2119 ST.
EMANUEL STREET IS ALSO IN THE GREATER THIRD WARD.
COMPLETED IN 1921 BY BUILDER AND CHURCH MEMBER, JAMES A.
CARROLL, THE SANDSTONE CLAD BUILDING HOUSED HOUSTON'S FIRST BLACK SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CONGREGATION.
BRIANNE HAS SERVED THE THIRD WARD FOR 105 YEARS DESPITE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES.
THE DEWONY M- MCELWAIN FREEDMAN HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE TERRACE WAS BUILT IN 1929.
THIS TWO-STORY COLONIAL REVIVAL HOME REFLECTS NEIGHBORHOOD, A NEIGHBORHOOD ONCE KNOWN AS THE JEWISH RIVER OAKS, WHICH LATER HOUSED PROMINENT BLACK PROFESSIONALS.
FREEMAN WAS A TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY DEBATE COACH, MINISTER AND PROFESSOR WHOSE STUDENTS INCLUDED MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DISTRICT I HAS ONE PROPOSED LANDMARK.
THE FIRST CITY NATIONAL BANK IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WAS DESIGNED BY GORDON BERNSHAFT OF SKIDMORE, OWINGS, AND MERRILL AND BUILT IN 1961.
THE 32-STORY COMPLETE MODERN TOWER WAS AMONG HOUSTON'S FIRST SKYSCRAPERS TO USE A GEOMETRIC MASONRY STRUCTURAL GRID, A DESIGN BE - THAT BECAME A FIRM TRADEMARK.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK WAS HOUSTON'S FIRST CHARTERED BANK, THE ONLY OFFICE TOWER PROPOSED FOR DESIGNATION.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE OFFICE BUILDING, UM, DO WE KNOW WHAT THIS...
SO THE CITY OFFERS INCENTIVES, UH, ON THE IMPROVEMENT VALUE, UH, IF THEY'RE GRANTED A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS BY THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
SO IF THEY PERFORM ALTERATIONS THAT ARE COMPLIANT WITH A HISTORIC ORDINANCE, THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR EXEMPTIONS FOR THE, THE BUILDING VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
SO IT COULD BE UP TO THE ENTIRE VALUE OF THE BUILDING? OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, CORRECT.
ANYONE ELSE? UM, THANK YOU, MR. BUTLER.
WE DO HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
MR. SECRETARY, YOU WANNA CALL, UH, THE FIRST SPEAKER? SIR, JOSEPH SLEZAK
[02:25:03]
TO BE FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN NUZO, NUZZO.UH, MY NAME'S JOE SLEZAK, AND I'M PART OF THE OWNERSHIP GROUP OF 1021 MAIN STREET, UM, IN DOWNTOWN.
UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE DESIGNATION OF THAT PROPERTY AS A LANDMARK.
UM, THAT DESIGNATION WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE INVESTMENT INTO IT AND THE REVITALIZATION OF IT, UM, TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE AS A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
UM, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE, UH, TO DO THESE TYPE OF OFFICE CONVERSIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, UM, AND THESE OLD BUILDINGS ARE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THESE DOWNTOWNS.
UM, THEY WERE PART OF THE STORY THAT CREATED THE DOWNTOWN AND MADE THEM GO VERTICAL, UH, ALL THESE YEARS AGO.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GREAT CHALLENGE TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK TO LIFE FOR THE NEXT CENTURY AS RESIDENTIAL, AS THE DOWNTOWNS EVOLVE THEMSELVES, UM, TO BE MORE HEAVY TO THAT RESIDENTIAL SETTING, AS OPPOSED TO JUST COMMERCIAL AND, AND A DAYTIME TRAFFIC.
UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THIS ONE BACK TO LIFE WITH THIS DESIGNATION, UM, AND ULTIMATELY SEE THAT CONTINUED EFFECT AROUND THE AREA, UM, BY HAVING THIS BUILDING BE ACTIVE, UM, AS OPPOSED TO JUST A BIG BLOCK OF CONCRETE THAT IT CURRENTLY SITS AS.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR IT, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO AN EXCITING PROJECT.
I'VE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT THESE OFFICE CONVERSIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING IT HERE.
WAN- WANNA BRING MORE RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN AND, AND GOOD USE OF AN HISTORIC BUILDING, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY JARVIS TILLMAN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
THIS IS JOE FISHER, AND WE ARE, UM, MEMBERS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE IN SOUTHAMPTON SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE SOUTHAMPTON NOMINATIONS TODAY.
UM, JUST TAKE A, A, A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME WITH SOME BRIEF, UH, PREPARED REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF THE NOMINATIONS.
SO AS YOU SAW, THERE ARE SIX PROTECTED LANDMARK NOMINATIONS FROM SOUTHAMPTON ON THE AGENDA THIS MORNING, THREE HOMES ON TANGLEY STREET AND THREE HOMES ON DUNSTON.
UM, MANY PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO SOUTHAMPTON FOR THE SAME REASON THAT WE WERE.
IT'S HISTORIC CHARM, BEAUTIFUL TREE CANOPY, AND CENTRAL LOCATION.
UH, NEIGHBORS TAKE PRIDE IN ITS HISTORY.
WHEN SOUTHAMPTON TURNED 100 IN 2023, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZED A YEAR-LONG CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION THAT EARNED A GOOD BRICK AWARD FROM PRESERVATION HOUSTON.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, RESIDENTS FORMED A COMMITTEE CALLED PRESERVE SOUTHAMPTON TO BEGIN DESIGNATING OUR HISTORIC HOMES AS PROTECTED LANDMARKS.
UM, WHEN I MOVED TO SOUTHAMPTON 13 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A LARGELY INTACT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MOST OF ITS ORIGINAL 20S AND 30S HOMES STILL STANDING.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, HOWEVER, WE'VE SEEN A STEADY WAVE OF TEAR DOWNS.
EVERY DEMOLITION TAKES AWAY A PIECE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORY THAT CAN'T BE REPLACED, AND WITH IT, THE CHARACTER THAT DRAWS PEOPLE HERE.
OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS PROTECT SOME THINGS, BUT THEY DON'T PROTECT THE HOUSES THEMSELVES.
THE OWNERS BEHIND THE SIX NOMINATIONS BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE CHOOSING TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES FOR GOOD.
THAT'S A REAL COMMITMENT, AND IT SHOWS HOW MUCH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CARES ABOUT ITS HISTORY, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THESE DESIGNATIONS WILL ENCOURAGE MORE NEIGHBORS TO FOLLOW.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE NOMINATIONS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR HOUSTON.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'M EMILY ARDUAN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION HOUSTON.
UM, WE ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE A BATCH OF LANDMARK AND PROTECTED LANDMARK NOMINATIONS COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.
LANDMARKING IS ONE OF A FEW TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR, UM, HISTORIC RESOURCES HERE IN HOUSTON.
UM, WE WRITE PROTECTED LANDMARK NOMINATIONS AT THE REQUEST OF PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE OF COURSE
[02:30:01]
THOSE ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROPERTY OWNER INITIATED, BUT I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS BEFORE YOU TODAY.UM, THE ONES THAT WE WROTE WERE TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN THIRD WARD, THE DONIE MCELWAIN FREEMAN HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE TERRACE, AND THE, UH, HOUSE AT 1317 RUTHMAN, WHICH IS ONE OF VERY FEW REMAINING 19TH CENTURY HOUSES IN FRIEDMANSTOWN.
UM, THESE, UH, WE WERE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO WRITE ALL OF THESE, UM, FOR THE, FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
WE THINK THAT THEY ALL REPRESENT VERY IMPORTANT PIECES OF HOUSTON'S HISTORY.
UM, WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED TO SEE, UM, AN OFFICE BUILDING BEING BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE DOWNTOWN, AND WE'RE VERY IMPRESSED WITH SOUTH HA - SOUTHAMPTON PLACE'S, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE EFFORT TO GET SOME OF THE HOUSES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTED.
UM, SO, UH, WE SUPPORT ALL THE NOMINATIONS BEFORE YOU TODAY AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? OH, WAIT, WE HAVE SOMEBODY.
I'M HERE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF 1021 MAINE.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, I'VE STARED AT MY WINDOW AT THAT BUILDING FOR SEVEN YEARS AND I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO SEE THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK THAT THEY REALIZED IN 1961 WHEN THEY DESIGNED THAT BUILDING THAT IT WOULD BE SUCH AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR CONVERSION, SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY SUPPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? TO CLOSE.
CAST 6A TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
MOTIONS MADE AND SECONDED TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
ASK THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO PLEASE PRESIDE AND PAUSE FOR...
WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO THE MAYOR'S REPORT AND THERE'LL BE A PROCLAMATION.
SO EVERYBODY'S LOOKING LIKE, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROCLAMATION.
THERE IS A GENTLEMAN THAT IS HERE, SO, UM, THE MAYOR WENT TO GET HIM.
SO WE'LL JUST HANG TIGHT FOR A SEC.
COLLEAGUES, WE'D LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO TANK DALE.
COLLEAGUES, WE, UH, HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME BEFORE US.
A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF INTEREST, MANY BUSINESS, MANY EDUCATORS, PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT I HAD THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW TANK LAST YEAR, AND HE WANTED TO COME TO CITY HALL.
AND WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT TODAY IS I GET TO, ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS, THANK HIM FOR BRINGING JOY INTO OUR, OUR LIVES DURING THESE DAYS OF TURMOIL AND STRIFE.
IT'S JUST DARN GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN LOOK UP TO.
UM, TANK, WITH HIS COURAGE, HIS PERFORMANCE, BEING AVAILABLE IS REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MEMBERS, OUR HEROES WERE PRESIDENTS, ASTRONAUTS, SOME INSTANCES SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
BUT TODAY IN MY FAMILY IS TANK DALE.
THEY GET SO EXCITED ABOUT LAST SUNDAY AND YOUR
[02:35:01]
OPPORTUNITY TO BE BACK ON THE FIELD.I, OF COURSE, WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME FROM YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE.
I KNOW YOUR TRAINING'S INTENSIVE, YOUR PRACTICE IS THOROUGH, AND, UH, WE'RE JUST DARN EXCITED FOR, FOR EVERYONE TO GET TO SAY HELLO TO YOU.
UM, TANK CERTAINLY GOT OUR ATTENTION AS A, A STAR AT U OF H, CERTAINLY FOR THOSE OF US THAT WENT TO U OF H.
HAD AN OUTSTANDING CAREER AT U OF H IN 2022, THEN WAS DRAFTED THE 69TH PLAYER IN THE NFL DRAFT, THIRD ROUND BY OUR HOME TEAM, WHICH GAVE US ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW TANK.
TANK KNOWS IT'S A CONTACT SPORT.
HAD, HAD INJURIES IN 23, BEGAN IN 24, SAT OUT AN ENTIRE YEAR.
NOW, NOT MANY ATHLETES, TANK, AND I'LL LET YOU SPEAK IN A MOMENT, COULD RECOVER FROM BACK TO BACK REALLY SEVERE INJURIES.
THE HOUSTONIANS WERE ROOTING FOR YOU.
I WILL GIVE THE TEXANS CREDIT WHEN WE VISIT.
THEY GAVE YOU EVERY OPPORTUNITY, PLENTY OF TIME TO RECOVER AND RETURN TO THE FIELD.
YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, SOSA, HAS KEPT ME POSTED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
VERY LOYAL CHIEF OF STAFF AND A FRIEND.
SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY ON BEHALF OF HOUSTONIANS AND THIS CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE YOU A PROCLAMATION.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE DO A LOT OF PROCLAMATIONS, BUT THIS ONE STANDS OUT BECAUSE IT'S FOR HOUSTONIAN.
CERTAINLY YOU GREW UP IN FLORIDA, BUT NOW I KNOW YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A HOUSTONIAN.
AND WE, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS ONE OF US.
SO MEMBERS, I, JOHN WITTMEYER, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 29TH.
TOMORROW, YOUR BIRTHDAY, BY THE WAY.
AND I'LL BE GLAD TO YIELD TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL, HOUSTONIANS, YOUR TEAMMATES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
FIRST, I JUST WANNA SAY I'M BLESSED AND HONORED TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION.
UM, LIKE HE SAID, I'M FROM FLORIDA, BUT HOUSTON LIKE MY SECOND HOME.
I WANNA THANK MY COACHES, ALL MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY OUT HERE.
UM, AND OF COURSE YOU GUYS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, JOHN, THE MAYOR, MAN, I THANK YOU.
I LOVE EVERYONE AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, TANG.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON MY I- IR FOR FANTASY FOOTBALL.
UH, THE MAYOR WAS WITH ME THIS PAST WEEKEND.
MY SON PLAYS LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL.
YOU'RE ONE OF HIS HEROES AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF THAT ARE HERE TO BE ABLE TO BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL, UH, TO YOUNG FOLKS, UH, ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, JUST, YOU KNOW, IN, IN ALL OF SPORTS IN, IN FOOTBALL, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, IT'S A HEAVY LIFT, RIGHT? BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND HOW YOU PERFORM ON THE FIELD, OFF THE FIELD, UH, IT'S SOMETHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
SO I, I DEFINITELY THANK THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING YOU HERE AND GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO JUST EXCHANGE SOME WORDS AND SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY COUNCIL, UH, HOUSTONIANS EVERYWHERE, WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOUR RECOVERY.
AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON SUNDAY AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS OF BEING OUT, GETTING THAT 43 YARD RECEPTION JUST SHOWS THAT THE EXPLOSIVENESS IS STILL THERE.
WE ARE ROOTING FOR YOU AND WE SUPPORT YOU.
[02:40:01]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR, FOR BRINGING TANK FORD AND TANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SERVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, I GOT TO SEE YOUR INTERVIEW JUST LAST WEEK WHERE YOU SAID, UH, AFTER SO MANY DAYS OUT, IF IT WAS A THREE-YARD CATCH OR A TOUCHDOWN, YOU WERE SPIKING IT AND YOU WERE CELEBRATING.
AND THEN AS COUNCILOR HUFFMAN SAID, IT WAS A 43-YARD CATCH AND REALLY JUST AMAZING TO SEE YOUR RESILIENCY.
UH, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR SUPPORTING THE TEXANS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, THIS, UH, GREAT SUPERSTAR ATHLETE HERE AND CERTAINLY PLAYING.
IT'S, IT'S NOTHING SHORT OF THE FACT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE LOOK UP BECAUSE YOU REPRESENTED THE, HOW YOU CAN OVERCOME.
AND OFTENTIME IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WE GET SO MANY PEOPLE WHO, WHEN THEY'RE DOWN, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET BACK UP, BUT YOU PROVED IT, UH, AS A PASTOR AND I SPEAK TO A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND, UH, JUST HAD, UM, WITH ONE OF YOUR TEAMMATES, NICO AND I, AND HIS FATHER - UH-HUH.
AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW THEY HAD THE FOUNDATION AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
I, UH, TANK, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I LOVE THAT YOU WANTED TO COME TO CITY HALL.
IN A WORLD WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH DIVISION, I DO KNOW THAT SPORTS BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE IMPACT THAT YOU MAKE ON THE TEXANS TEAM AND THAT YOU'VE MADE, UM, THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.
UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ROOT FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAMMATES.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DAY TOMORROW.
SHOULD WE JUST KEEP THAT? I THINK THEY PULLED THAT OUT.
COLLEAGUES WILL RECESS FOR 10 MINUTES.
[CONSENT AGENDA – NUMBERS 2 through 24]
WILL YOU PROCEED WITH A CONSENT? ARE THE CAMERAS LEFT? UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION.UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY, ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION.
THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION PASSES.
UNDER THE RESOLUTIONS CATEGORY, SINCE YOUR LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED, ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY.
ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, AND 16 HAVE BEEN PULLED, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
I'M SORRY, ESSENTIAL LIST WAS DISTRIBUTED.
ITEMS 11, 13, AND 18 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ARE FIVE, NINE, 11, 13, AND 14.
AGAIN, THOSE NUMBERS ARE FIVE, NINE, 11, 13, AND 14 NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE.
MEMBERS, ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES.
THOSE OPPOSED NAME, MOTION PASSES.
[CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.ITEM FOUR IS A RESOLUTION, JUST NEED A VOTE.
AND THIS ITEM, UH, COLLEAGUES, IS A PROPERTY THAT IS BEING REDEVELOPED, UH, INTO AFFORDABLE
[02:45:01]
HOUSING.THIS USED TO BE AN OLD YELLOW CAB SITE IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE.
IT WAS ABANDONED FOR A BIT, TURNED INTO A, A MAGNET FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING, RODENT INFESTATION, CAUSING A LOT OF ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE HOUSTON LAND BANK, UH, PURCHASED SOME LOTS, UH, ADJACENT TO THIS, AND WITH THE COUNTY DEVELOPING THIS MULTI-FAMILY AND THE LAND BANK DEVELOPING SINGLE FAMILY, WE ARE GETTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE NEAR NORTH SIDE WHERE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED IT.
UM, AND WITH THE TOURS ALSO, UH, POTENTIALLY DOING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS NEARBY TO THE ROADS AND THE DRAINAGE, WE'RE SEEING A, A COORDINATED EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE TURS, THE LAND BANK, AND WE'RE SEEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING COME TO AN AREA WHERE WE ABSOLUTELY NEED IT AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
ITEM FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THIS ITEM, WHICH WOULD RE-ESTABLISH MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, MAJOR CHANGES TO THEM.
THIS STARTED OUT AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CIP LAST YEAR.
UH, IT WAS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE AND TAKEN UP IN COMMITTEE AFTER WHICH DISCUSSIONS ENSUED INVOLVING MYSELF AND DIRECTOR MACKAY AND, UH, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEVEN DAVID.
THE RESULT WAS THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IN THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO ENSURING THAT COUNCIL HAS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THEIR, THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS, WHEN IT RELATES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, PROJECTS.
I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND YOU'RE ADDING IT, UH, TO THE AGENDA, MAYOR, AND SUPPORT THIS PASSAGE.
AND THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR HOW YOU'VE HANDLED THIS.
YOU HAD A, UH, CONCEPT, BEST PRACTICES, AND YOU ARE, UH, PROFESSIONAL ENOUGH TO ALLOW OTHERS TO HAVE INPUT, CERTAINLY THE PUBLIC WORKS WHO IT WILL PROBABLY IMPACT MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT, UH, REALLY A GOOD JOB AND NOW IT'S ON THE AGENDA AND A VERY...
MOST OF US BELIEVE IN A VERY WORKABLE, UH, POSITION.
UM, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ FOR SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT, AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DISTRICT C RESIDENTS HAVE SUPPORTED SINCE BACK WHEN IT WAS ON THE CIP, SO THIS IS EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON TODAY.
UM, AS WE KNOW, PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME TO GO THROUGH DESIGN AND PLANNING AND FUNDING, AND SO, UH, THIS IS JUST A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP RESIDENTS IN THE LOOP THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS, SO THANK YOU.
ITEM NINE IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
UM, I'LL BE VOTING FOR THIS, BUT I DID WANNA TAKE A SECOND TO KINDA COMPLAIN.
WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING THAT IS GOING ON.
UM, THE NO-KNOCK WARRANTS WERE ALREADY STOPPED AFTER THE HARDING STREET RAID, UH, SO THAT'S NOT GOING ON.
UH, THE, THE MARIJUANA IS ESSENTIALLY ALREADY BEEN, UH, DEPRIORITIZED, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE CITY DOESN'T REALLY DICTATE THAT BECAUSE THE DA'S OFFICE DECIDES WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT CHARGES ANYWAY.
SO THIS REALLY DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
THIS WAS DONE IN ORDER TO DRIVE, UH, VOTES, VOTERS OUT AND TO GET MORE VOTERS.
UH, THIS ONE HAPPENS TO BE BY A LIBERAL GROUP.
THIS ISN'T PARTISAN BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WILL DO THE SAME THING, BUT THE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES ARE THIS IS COSTING US $2 MILLION, $2 MILLION THAT CAN'T BE SPENT DOING ALL THE OTHER STUFF WE NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT, BARC DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF, OF, UH, ISSUES IN THE CITY THAT WE COULD REALLY USE TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON AND WE'RE NOT GONNA GET TO.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
I WILL REINFORCE THAT IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE POLICY.
THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT ARE PRACTICES OF HPD FOR, FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
SO IN THAT, UM, IN THAT VEIN, IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT CHANGING THINGS, BUT IT DOES GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
SO THE PETITION SYSTEM, UH, WORKED IN THIS INSTANCE TO GET THOSE TOPICS BEFORE US.
ITEM 11 IS AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE.
ITEM 13, IT'S AN ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE.
[02:50:01]
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.UH, I JUST WANNA, UH, ENCOURAGE OUR GOOD VENDOR, COBB AND FINLEY, TO MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, COLLEAGUES, YOU JUST SUPPORTED THE, UH, FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE BISSONNET SAFE STREETS, UM, $28 MILLION, UM, UH, PROGRAM THAT WAS AWARDED THIS, UH, PROJECT, UM, SPANS SEVEN MILES, THREE COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
IT'S THE MOST, IT'S THE SECOND MOST DANGEROUS STREET, CITY STREET IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND NUMBER ONE IN OUR HIGH INJURY NETWORK.
AND SO I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE THEM TO MOVE QUICKLY ON THIS.
UH, A MONTH AGO, WE EXPERIENCED A FATALITY AT BISSONNET IN KIRKWOOD, ONE OF THE IN- INTERSECTIONS.
I MENTIONED HER NAME LAST WEEK.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT WE'VE WORKED, WORKED WITH.
AND SO WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, PEDESTRIAN INVESTMENTS, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS REMAINS A PRIORITY.
I WANNA JUST SHOUT OUT PUBLIC WORKS FOR KEEPING THIS PROJECT ON THE AGENDA AND MOVING EVERY, UH, PHASE ALONG.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, UH, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT F, BUT WITH, UH, THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DISTRICTS OF CNJ ENGAGING WITH RESIDENTS ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT.
THOSE OPPOSING EIGHT MOTION PASSES.
[MATTERS HELD – NUMBERS 25 and 26]
IS AN ORDINANCE.MAYOR, I JUST WANNA START BY THANKING YOU AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR WORKING, UH, SO COLLABORATIVELY ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, WE CAME TO YOU WITH SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE TAX ABATEMENT CODE AND WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS IN LABOR, UM, AND JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR, YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING WITH US.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE REFORMS WE'RE PASSING.
A LOT OF FOLKS IN LABOR HAVE TALKED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT GETTING THIS DONE WITH PRIOR MAYORS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT DONE WITH YOU.
AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION, UH, AND I'M EXCITED TO GET THIS DONE TOGETHER.
WELL, WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EVERYONE.
AND BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THAT'S THE WAY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT WORK EACH AND EVERY TIME.
WHEN WE COME UP WITH AN ISSUE THAT CREATES SOME DISCUSSION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT IN A COMMITTEE, IT WILL BE A BETTER PRODUCT IN MY JUDGMENT.
I'VE SEEN IT WORK IN CERTAINLY THE LEGISLATURE FOR MANY YEARS TO GIVE OPPOSING SIDES OR MAYBE JUST THOSE THAT HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND WORK THROUGH IT AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHAIR CERTAINLY MADE A DIFFERENCE AND PROBABLY WHY IT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY AND OTHER MEMBERS WHO HAVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UH, ARE GONNA...
YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR, OR A PROPOSAL THAT COULDN'T BE IMPROVED.
THAT'S JUST KIND OF A, A FACT.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND RECOGNIZER AT THIS TIME.
UH, UH, MY QUESTION IS, I THOUGH WE HAD SOME TABLE AMENDMENTS.
UM, WELL, AFTER WE GO THROUGH THE TABLE AMENDMENTS, I'LL, I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS.
BEFORE TABLE AMENDMENTS OR AFTER? AFTER? OKAY.
SO THE FIRST TABLE AMENDMENT IS COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER.
COUNCILOR FLICKINGER FOR A, UH, TABLE AMENDMENT.
UH, UM, LOOK TO HAVE SOME MINOR CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE, UH, FOR SOME CLARIFICATION.
UH, YOU'VE GOT THE RED LINE VERSION IN FRONT OF YOU, AND, AND I'LL READ IT.
"AN AFFIDAVIT THAT THE APPLICANT WILL NOT KNOWINGLY USE ANY CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR THAT WITHIN THE PROCEEDING TWO YEARS HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE ADJUDICATION SUBSTANTIATING A SERIOUS WILLFUL OR REPEATED ACCOUNT OF WAGE THEFT OR TO A FINAL CITATION OF SUCH ACCOUNT OR SERIOUS WILLFUL OR REPEATED VIOLATION OF THE OSHA WITHIN THE OSHA SIX REGION.
IT WAS THE TWO YEARS, WHICH THIS LANGUAGE, THESE AMENDMENTS WERE ESSENTIALLY, UH, BASED ON THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY REVISED THEIR, THEIRS.
THIS JUST MIRRORS THAT ON THE TWO YEARS.
AND THEN ON, ON THE REGION SIX OF THE UH, OSHA, UH, THAT'S A THREE STATE REGION.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A COMPANY THAT HAS SITES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, 100 DIFFERENT SITES, THEY MAY WELL HAVE A SITE THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH.
YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMPANY THAT IS JUST A LOCAL COMPANY THAT'S ONLY HERE.
IT'S NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
SO BY ELIMINATING THE REGION SIX, IT GIVES IT MORE EQUITABLE COMPARISON TO THOSE TWO.
COUNCILMAN SALINAS? ON THE AMENDMENT.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WISH YOU HAD, UH, LET US KNOW ABOUT IT IN ADVANCE.
[02:55:01]
WE COULD HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION, BUT I'M GONNA BE VOTING AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT AND THE PRINCIPLE REASON IS IF WE WANTED TO TAKE A POSITION AS A CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WE DON'T WANNA HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAFETY VIOLATIONS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD MATTER IF THAT VIOLATION OCCURS HERE IN HOUSTON OR IT OCCURS IN LOUISIANA, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE REGION THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING WE CHANGE THE FLOOR AMENDMENT TO.A LOT OF COMPANIES DO BUSINESS IN HOUSTON AND LOUISIANA, AND IF A CONTRACT, IF AN APPLICANT WANTED TO SEARCH TO SEE IF SOMEONE HAD COMMITTED A VIOLATION, THEY'RE GONNA PERFORM THAT SEARCH ON THE SAME NATIONAL DATABASE THAT WOULD SHOW THE VIOLATION IN, IN THE REGION OR WOULD SHOW IT OUTSIDE THE REGION.
SO IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL WORK TO CONDUCT THAT SEARCH.
AND ALL WE ARE ESSENTIALLY SAYING IS WE'RE OKAY WITH PEOPLE COMMITTING WAGE THEFT.
WE'RE OKAY WITH PEOPLE COMMITTING SAFETY VIOLATIONS AS LONG AS THEY DO IT JUST ACROSS THE BORDER.
THAT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THIS POLICY.
THAT'S NOT WHY JURISDICTIONS HAVE PASSED IT ACROSS THE BOARD AND HELD THIS REQUIREMENT.
IT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE AND IT WOULD UNDERMINE THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE OF SENDING A MESSAGE TO HOUSTONIANS THAT WE ARE GONNA HOLD COMPANIES TO ACCOUNT.
IT IS AN AWESOME BENEFIT TO GET A TAX DEBATEMENT.
THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IF WE'RE GONNA PAY LESS TAXES, AND THAT INCLUDES NOT HARMING WORKERS JUST A FEW MILES AWAY IN LOUISIANA.
THE, THE REASON IS IT'S NOT THE SAME.
IT'S NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
IF I HAVE A THOUSAND CARS IN MY COMPANY THAT I INSURE, THE INSURANCE COMPANY DOESN'T CHARGE ME THE SAME AS I HAVE ONE CAR.
IT'S NOT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE.
AND THE IDEA THAT A HUGE COMPANY COULD HAVE AN OSHA ISSUE AT ONE LOCATION AND YOU HAVE A COMPANY THAT ONLY HAS TWO LOCATIONS THAT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT AN EQUITABLE COMPARISON.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THIS AS WELL.
UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF, OF TRANSITIONING FROM THREE YEARS TO TWO YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE AMENDMENT AND SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SUPPORT.
I ALSO THOUGH AM AGAINST THE RESTRICTION TO OSHA SIX REGION.
UM, A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES DO HAVE OPERATIONS ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, NOT JUST IN THE REGION, SO.
CASTILLO? COUNCILMAN CASTILLO.
I, I AGREE WITH, UH, THAT THE TWO YEARS SEEMS FINE, THE NARROWING THE REGION TO REGION SIX.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BAD ACTORS, BAD ACTORS ARE BAD ACTORS.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR LOOPHOLES.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR THINGS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SKIRT REGULATIONS AND RULES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING.
WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
I'M SORRY, CAN WE, CAN WE TAKE A, CAN WE TAKE A - ROLL CALL? ROLL CALL VOTE.
UH, FIRST I'M GONNA RECONSIDER THE VOTE.
NOW, NOW LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL.
SO, SO, UH, THE ROLL CALL IS ON THE FLICKINGER AMENDMENT.
BEFORE, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, I HAVE A QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, UM, TALK ABOUT THE OSHA SIX REGION CHANGE, UM, AND WHAT, UH, HAPPENED AT THE COUNTY AND WHY THEY CHANGED IT AND WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE.
THE, THE COUNTY'S PIECE THAT CHANGED WAS THE TIME.
THAT WAS THE THREE TO TWO YEARS.
SO WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO, UM, ADD THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE OSHA SIX REGION? BECAUSE THAT WAY IT'S MORE OF AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON TO WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A COMPANY WITH A SINGLE SITE BEING JUDGED ON THE SAME BASIS AS YOU HAVE A COMPANY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITH A HUNDRED SITES.
NO, WE DIDN'T HEAR THIS IN COMMITTEE.
WE, UM, GOT THIS AT THE TABLE.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSED IT PRIOR, BUT I DON'T THINK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL GOT IT, UH, BEFORE PROBABLY THIS WEEK.
I'M NOT SURE WHEN DUSTIN SENT IT OUT, BUT YEAH.
WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO SEPARATING THOSE TWO ITEMS, THE TIME AND THE...
I'D LIKE TO KEEP THEM THE SAME.
UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED IN UNION PARTICULARLY, UH, WOULD, YOU...
[03:00:01]
AS WE UNDERSTAND THE REGIONAL SIX IN TERMS OF OSHA, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON THE BASE OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKERS IS PRESENTING IS, AND, AND I THINK FROM MY STANDPOINT, IF YOU BASE A LARGE COMPANY OVER A SMALL COMPANY, WHICH MAY BE LOCAL COMPANIES, THEN THAT IN ITSELF CAN BE, IN MY OPINION, A LITTLE BIT OVER THE TOP.SO I THINK I, I UNDERSTAND IT.
UH, WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT, UM, THE CITY RECEIVING THE MONIES THEY NEED AND TAX ABATEMENT THAT THEY GIVE COMPANIES, AND I SUPPORT THAT.
BUT ON THIS BASIS, UM, I WOULD AGREE.
I, I THINK THE, THE, THE NUMBER OF YEARS IS ESSENTIAL AND TRYING TO BASE EVERYBODY ON THE SAME LEVEL, THAT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO ME BECAUSE IT COULD BE CASES.
THE CASES COULD BE DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE VIOLATIONS.
JEN FOR COUNCILMEMBER FLICKINGER, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY JURISDICTION, A COUNTRY THAT HAS APPLIED SUCH A LIMITATION? AND SECOND, HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ANY OF THE LABOR GROUPS OR SAFETY GROUPS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE THAT BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT PROTECTIONS UNDER YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT? NO, BUT I THINK YOU AND I SEE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
UM, I KNOW YOU LOOK TO SAN ANTONIO AND DALLAS AND THE COUNTY AS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE PATH TO FOLLOW.
BEFORE YOU DO, I UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE PURPOSES OF OUR DISCUSSION, THE REGION WOULD INCLUDE NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, AND TEXAS.
UH, THIS IS MUCH MORE OF A, A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
SO WHEN, UH, POP - TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS, SO WHEN YOU'RE, YOUR OPPOSITION, IS THIS IN, WHAT ARE, THIS IS IN CONTEXT OF WHAT? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT VIOLATIONS, UM, OR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT POSSIBLY THE ABATEMENT COMES WITH? LIKE WHAT IS THE SCALE THAT WE ARE, THAT YOU ARE, UM, WEIGHING THE OSHA RE- REGION SIX LANGUAGE? IF, IF I, IF I MAY RESPOND, MAYOR.
UM, SO THE WAY THE ORDINANCE WAS PUT FORTH FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THAT ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING AND RECEIVING A TAX ABATEMENT, UH, ANY TYPE OF TAX ABATEMENT IS THAT YOU NOT HAVE SAFETY VIOLATIONS AND WAGE THEFT CONVICTIONS, NOT JUST ACCUSATIONS, BUT CONVICTED VIOLATIONS OR WAGE THEFT SUBSTANTIATED CHARGES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
AND SO THE INTENT BEHIND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANNA REWARD BAD ACTORS WITH TAX BREAKS.
AND SO THE NOTION THAT WE WOULD SAY WE'RE NOT GONNA REWARD BAD ACTORS WHO DO BAD THINGS IN HOUSTON, BUT IF THEY DO IT ACROSS THE BORDER LOUISIANA, THAT'S OKAY.
IT SEVERELY UNDERMINES THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE AND THERE IS NO SUCH LIMITATION IN ANY OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ADOPTED SIMILAR CONTROLS.
AND I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT THE COUNTY DID NOT ADOPT SUCH A LIMITATION EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE WILLING TO DECREASE IT BY ONE YEAR.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT GOES AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL POLICY OF PROTECTING HOUSTONIANS, ENSURING THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA GET THIS INCREDIBLE BENEFIT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SOMEONE WHO'S CONVICTED OF WAGE THEFT OR OSHA SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
AND I, I HEAR YOUR POINT ABOUT THERE'S LARGER COMPANIES MORE LIKELY TO DO BAD THINGS, BUT IN MY PRIVATE PRACTICE, I REPRESENT LARGE COMPANIES ALL THE TIME.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DO MORE BUSINESS DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD BE HELD TO A LOWER STANDARD.
IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD HOLD BIGGER COMPANIES WITH MORE RESOURCES TO AN EVEN HIGHER STANDARD.
IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT YOU GET A BREAK JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE INSTANCES FOR WHEN YOU CAN COMMIT BAD ACTS.
IF YOU'RE COMMITTING BAD ACTS, YOU SHOULDN'T GET THE BENEFIT OF PAYING LESS TAX DOLLARS GIVEN HOW HARD IT IS FOR OUR CITY TO FUNCTION WITHOUT TAX DOLLARS.
MA- MAYOR, CAN I INTERJECT? THIS WAS MEANT SOLELY FOR THE OSHA.
IT WAS MEANT SOLELY FOR THE OSHA, NOT FOR THE WAGE THEFT.
UH, UH, COULD, COULD COUNCILMAN SALINAS, DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A BAD ACTOR IN A, UH, ONE OF THE OTHER STATES THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED? UH, CAN YOU SHOW US THE ACTIONS OF A BAD ACTOR AS YOU CALL THEM? SURE.
IF SOMEBODY COMMITTED A WAGE, UH, A SAFETY VIOLATION IN LOUISIANA, WHICH IS A FEW HUNDRED MILES AWAY - YEAH.
THAT VIOLATION WOULD NOT PRE- PRE- PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING A TAX ABATEMENT UNDER COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER'S POLICY.
AND AS WE KNOW, A LOT OF CONTRACTORS IN OUR CITY ALSO WORK IN LOUISIANA.
SO I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE OSHA REGION WOULD NOT ENCOMPASS OUR NEIGHBORING STATE WHERE WE KNOW A LOT OF THESE CONTRACTORS WORK.
AGAIN, THE INTENT OF THE POLICY IS TO SAY THAT IF COMPANIES PERFORM SAFETY VIOLATIONS OR WAGE THEFT, THEY SHOULDN'T GET THE BENEFIT OF TAX BREAKS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO LIMIT THAT TO PEOPLE THAT JUST COMMIT THOSE VIOLATIONS IN TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, AND NEW MEXICO.
[03:05:01]
YOU, YOU REST?ANYONE ELSE? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, ON THE FLECKINGER AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PANTARELLA? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER EVANSHAVAZ? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KASTEK-TATUM? YES.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN? NO.
IT'S JUST CLARIFYING, UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF YOU AND IT'S JUST CLARIFYING THAT EVIDENCE OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE BENEFITS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES AND, AND, UH, DEPENDENTS ON PROJECTS.
IT'S NOT UNLIKE WE SEE AT THE CITY EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS AVAILABLE.
THEY'RE NOT PAID FOR, PAID FOR BY THE CITY.
THEY'RE SPLIT COST, AND IT'S JUST REALLY CLARIFYING THE LANGUAGE, UM, TO THE INTENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, I APPRECIATE OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AND I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
ANYONE ELSE? JUST NEED A VOTE.
AND THEN BACK TO THE MAIN ITEM AS AMENDED.
MAYOR? YOU, YOU STILL WANNA MAKE COMMENTS OR - NO, 25.
DO YOU WANNA GO FIRST? NO, SHE WANTS TO WRAP IT UP.
FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE YOU'RE IN A PERFECT WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN ALREADY, AND OBVIOUSLY WITH EVERY OTHER ENTITY GIVING OUT TAX ABATEMENTS AND US ALL HAVING TO COMPETE FOR IT, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
I WOULD'VE MUCH RATHER SEEN OUR TAX ABATEMENT STRATEGY MOVE FROM WHAT IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON JOBS TO MORE OF A FOCUSED ON REVENUE.
WE DO NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH JOBS IN THE CITY.
OUR LATEST READING ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 4.6% IN THE CITY.
IT'S BEEN ESSENTIALLY HOVERING RIGHT BELOW OR RIGHT ABOVE 5% FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT HAVE AFFECTED THAT.
THE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS, COVID, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN RIGHT AT 5%.
5% IS CONSIDERED FULL EMPLOYMENT.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE A JOBS ISSUE.
WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A REVENUE ISSUE, AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD'VE LIKED TO SEEN THIS SHIFT FROM A JOBS FOCUS PRIMARILY INTO A REVENUE FOCUS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GONE THE EXACT OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND WE'VE MUDDIED THE WATER WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT WISHLIST FROM PEOPLE THAT WANTED DIFFERENT STUFF DONE.
AND THE ISSUE IS WHEN YOU BROADEN THE SCOPE, YOU LOSE FOCUS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE SPOKEN PREVIOUSLY ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN, UH, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, BOTH AS A PARTICIPANT AND A FACILITATOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE USED TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT WAS GETTING THIS BROAD FOCUS TO WHERE NOTHING ACTUALLY GOT DONE.
AND WHEN IT WAS IMPLEMENTED, IT ALWAYS FAILED.
AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THAT.
IN FACT, UH, IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, IN THE CHRONICLE NO LESS, UH, THEY HAD AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT ABOUT THIS, AND THEY QUOTED NATHAN JENSEN, A GOVERNMENT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN.
HE WARNED THAT THE CITY'S PROPOSED CHANGES RISK TACKING ON TOO MANY GOALS FOR ONE PROGRAM.
[03:10:01]
SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR, SPECIFIC FOCUS SUCH AS CREATING JOBS OR ATTRACTING PREMIUM INDUSTRIES.HE SAID RATHER THAN SERVING AS A CATCHALL FOR ANY COMPANY SEEKING TAX BREAKS.
LESS IS OFTEN MORE IN THIS TYPE OF THING, TO WHERE IF WE HAD FOCUSED ON REVENUE, GOT MORE REVENUE FOR THE CITY, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER OFF.
UM, ALSO, WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF LARGE TAX ABATEMENTS GIVEN OUT HERE.
AND IN FACT, AND THE TAX ABATEMENTS TYPICALLY ARE 10 YEARS, SO EVERY YEAR, WHATEVER ABATEMENT THERE IS, IS A 10 YEARS ACCUMULATION OF ALL THE ONES WE'VE GIVEN.
WE GAVE OUT 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN ABATEMENTS LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, THAT IS NOT THAT BIG FOR 10 YEARS ACCUMULATION.
THE BIG COMPANIES, ELI LILLY, APPLE, BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB, THEY'RE ALL JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY.
SO WE'RE NOT ATTRACTING THESE COMPANIES AS IT IS.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE VOTING ON.
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON CREATING NEW TAX ABATEMENT POLICY.
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING TAX ABATEMENTS.
THAT VOTE OCCURRED OVER A MONTH AGO, AND WE HAD A COMMITTEE HEARING WHERE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD PUT FORTH THEIR IDEAS AND THE ADMINISTRATION DISCUSSED WHICH IDEAS WE COULD PASS TO MAKE, IF WE ARE GONNA PROVIDE A TAX ABATEMENT, ENSURE THAT IT'S A BETTER DEAL FOR HOUSTONIANS.
THE POLICIES WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY IS A RESULT OF THAT EFFORT.
IT IS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A TAX ABATEMENT, THAT IT IS A BETTER DEAL FOR HOUSTONIANS.
NOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THAT ONE PERSON SAID IN THE CHRONICLE, BUT WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO IS FACTS.
AND THE FACTS SHOW THAT HOUSTON, THAT SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN HAVE CREATED THOUSANDS OF MORE JOBS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WITH VERY SIMILAR POLICIES IN PLACE.
SO THERE IS SIMPLY NO DATA TO SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT IF WE ADOPT THESE POLICIES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, COMPANIES ARE NOT GONNA WANNA DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IN FACT, THE OPPOSITE MAY BE TRUE.
AND SO ALL WE ARE DOING IS IF WE ARE GONNA TAKE, AGAIN, IT IS A BIG, BIG BURDEN ON THE CITY TO TAKE IN LESS REVENUE.
IF WE'RE GONNA DO THAT, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS BENEFIT FROM IT.
AND AGAIN, THE DATA SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT GONNA HURT OUR ABILITY TO CREATE NEW JOBS.
IT'S JUST GOING TO SAY THAT INSTEAD OF HOPING THOSE JOBS HAVE GOOD BENEFITS AND PAY, WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE GOOD BENEFITS AND PAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HOUSTONIANS DESERVE.
THE, THE DATA YOU CITE ON SAN ANTONIO AND OTHER CITIES DOESN'T SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YOU CAN'T TAKE A VERY SMALL PIECE AND THEN SAY, "OH, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE WHOLE, IT, IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT." AGAIN, THIS $1.5 MILLION IS WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY OF THE CITY? Y- YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT LITTLE BITTY PIECE AND SAY, "OH, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CHANGE THE WHOLE, IT DOESN'T MATTER." MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND IF YOU'D LIKE OR NO.
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND ALL THE WORK THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE ON, UH, THIS ITEM AS AMENDED.
UH, I WOULD NOTE THAT, UH, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, THE REGION'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROPOSAL.
UH, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO PERFECT PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND, UH, IN MANY INSTANCES OUR ORDINANCES ARE IMPERFECT AS WELL.
THE THING I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE CITY DO MORE OF IS CRAFT, UH, A TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE THAT WOULD SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND I, I BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER IN THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ABATEMENTS ARE LARGELY, EXCLUSIVELY, LARGE CORPORATIONS, AND, UH, WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING OUR CITY SMALL BUSINESSES.
UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM DOES NOT SEE IT THAT WAY.
WELL, WHEN I RAISED THIS, THE, THE, UH, RESPONSE WAS, "WELL, THAT'S FOR THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO DO," WHICH, YOU KNOW, GREAT THAT WE HAVE OBO FOCUSING ON SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT WE CAN DO MORE THROUGH THIS TAX ABATEMENT PROPOSAL, UM, AS WELL TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.
UM, AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER'S REFERENCE TO NATE JENSEN, UH, PROFESSOR JENSEN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HAS DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON
[03:15:01]
TAX ABATEMENTS, AND HIS RESEARCH AND THE RESEARCH OF OTHERS SHOWS THAT IN MANY INSTANCES, THE COMPANIES THAT END UP GETTING THESE ABATEMENTS WOULD HAVE MOVED TO THE CITY ANYWAY, OR WOULD HAVE DONE THE EXPANSION ANYWAY, UH, WHETHER THEY RECEIVED THE ABATEMENT OR NOT.AND SO I S - I THINK THE CITY CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF ENSURING THAT WHEN ABATEMENTS ARE HANDED OUT, UH, THEY'RE GIVEN TO GOOD CANDIDATES THAT, THAT ARE NEEDING THAT ABATEMENT IN ORDER TO, UM, UH, PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO WITH THOSE RESERVATIONS, I'LL STILL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM AS AMENDED.
I WILL KEEP MY REMARKS, UH, PRETTY SHORT HERE.
I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS FOR, UH, BRINGING FORWARD A LOT OF THESE CHANGES TO THE TAX ABATEMENT POLICY.
AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AS WELL.
UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS GONNA GO F - TO SUPPORTING OUR UNION MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, AND IT'S A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE MATRIX THAT, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUT IN, UH, PUT TOGETHER, UM, I THINK IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.
UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL MEETINGS THAT DIRECTOR TILLINGTON HAD, UM, TO DISCUSS THESE AMENDMENTS.
I MEAN, WE GOT AMENDMENTS FROM, UH, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SALINAS, UM, THOMAS, FLICKINGER, HUFFMAN, MARTINEZ, RAMIREZ, AND PANZARELLA ALL SUBMITTED, UM, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A, A GREAT WAY FOR US TO MAKE OUR POLICIES BETTER, UM, WHEN WE HAVE INPUT FROM ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I REALLY DID LIKE THE WAY, UH, THE MATRIX WAS SET OUT.
UH, THE MAJORITY OF THESE AMENDMENTS, UM, THE RISK WAS VERY LOW BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE, UM, TRADITIONALLY LOOK AT WHEN WE, UM, GRANT THESE TAX, UH, ABATEMENTS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT WE, WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF LOOKING AT OUR PR - OUR TAX ABATEMENT, UM, MAKING SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, AND WE HAVE A, A GOOD PRODUCT THAT WE COULD BE PROUD OF IN HOUSTON.
NOW, WE MAY HAVE SOME PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE ABOUT TAX ABATEMENTS.
I MEAN, THEY ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE AND GRANTED LOCALLY.
I THINK WE'VE PUT SOME GREAT PARAMETERS IN PLACE FOR US TO LOOK AT.
UM, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SO CONCRETE THAT IT DOES, IT CAN NEVER CHANGE.
WE GET A REPORT ON HOW IT WORKED.
WE GET A REPORT ON HOW MANY JOBS, UM, KEEP COMING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE'LL KEEP MAKING THE REPORTS, UH, AND WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE ON OUR BEST.
SO THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT IT AND, UH, MAKING THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
I DO, MAYOR, WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR TILLINGTON WHO HAD, UM, MEETINGS WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAD AMENDMENTS AND REALLY IS WORKING WITH THE LEGAL TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A BALANCE IN HOW WE ATTRACT LIVING WAGE JOBS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALSO PROTECTING THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO, UM, GET THOSE LIVING WAGE JOBS.
I MEAN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, I MEAN, WE CAN SAY WE DON'T HAVE A JOBS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK THAT 5% HITS, UM, MINORITY COMMUNITIES HARDER THAN IT DOES TRADITIONAL, UM, COMMUNITIES.
SO IT IS, UM, ALWAYS ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO BE TRYING TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND PROVIDE THOSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE JOBS, UM, AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED.
I THINK WE HAVE A PRODUCT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
ITEM 25, AS AMENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES.
I THOUGH WE WERE ON THE MAIN ITEM.
ANYONE ELSE WANNA BE REGISTERED? MOTION PASSES.
GREAT JOB, MAYOR PRO TEM, FOR SHEPHERDING, UM, ALL OF OUR AMENDMENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE INC- INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND MAYOR, ALSO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR, AND BIG THANKS TO DIRECTOR TILLISTON FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO HA - NOT JUST HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT ACTUALLY GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
UM, ONE OF THE SUCCESSES ON THE WEST SIDE, UM, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IT TOOK US LOOKING AT A BLIGHTED CORRIDOR ON WESTHEIMER BETWEEN KIRKWOOD AND WHAT WAS CALLED OLD WESTHEIMER ROAD.
[03:20:01]
WAS A CIRCUIT CITY AND AN OLD BLOCKBUSTER.AND IT WAS BLIGHTED, AND THERE WAS, THERE WERE NO JOBS AND A LACK OF COMMERCE.
AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY, WE WERE ABLE TO REVITALIZE THAT ENTIRE AREA.
IT'S NOW CALLED WEST ON WEST, WHERE THE DEVELOPER, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OF COURSE MY OFFICE IN SUPPORT WORKED WITH SMALL BUSINESS TO LOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES TO OCCUPY THAT AREA.
AND NOW IT'S A THRIVING CORRIDOR, UM, RIGHT ACROSS FROM PHOENICIA, THE BEST PHOENICIA, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND IT'S VERY ACTIVE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR EYES ON THE SECOND LOCATION, UM, FURTHER DOWN ON WESTHEIMER NEAR ELDRIDGE AT THE OLD WINCHIMES MOVIE THEATER.
SO THIS IS THE TYPE OF BENEFIT THAT COMES WITH OUR FINANCIAL GUIDELINES AND THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP OFFERED IN OUR OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I, I, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, OUR PART OF THE CITY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY PART, BUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION ARE PRIORITIES IN, IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE THESE STEPS IN ORDER FOR THAT CHANGE TO HAPPEN.
UM, AND WE ARE A WITNESS OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THESE POLICIES.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF MOVING THIS DOWN THE LINE.
AND LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.
AND DIRECTOR TILLISON IS AN OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR.
SHE'S IN ON ALL OF OUR DISCUSSIONS.
UH, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW SHE MAKES THINGS HAPPEN, CERTAINLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT COMING TO HOUSTON.
I'M ALSO, UH, VERY PROUD THE FACT THAT SHE WAS NUMBER TWO IN THAT DEPARTMENT WHEN, WHEN I GOT HERE.
AND, UH, WE REALLY DISCOVERED AND GAVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, SHE, SHE JUST MAKES THINGS HAPPEN ACROSS THE CITY.
I TAKE HER IN A MEETING WITH HUGE CORPORATIONS AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE ABOUT MOVING TO HOUSTON THAT NEED TO MAKE THE PACKAGE WORK AND, UH, SHE GETS THE CREDIT.
I JUST WANNA, UH, ALSO THANK, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEMP FOR LEADING THESE EFFORTS.
AND DIRECTOR TILLISON, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AS A STAFFER WORKING WITH HER TO SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, ENSURING THAT ALL PARTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON ARE THRIVING.
IT'S, IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, UH, THE DIRECTOR.
UM, AND, AND A LITTLE BIT OF JUST PIGGYBACKING OFF COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS THAT THESE AMENDMENTS, THEY COME UP AGAIN, AND THEY'VE GIVEN US, THEY'VE GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SEE WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
UM, THERE'S DEFINITELY, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THESE AMENDMENTS WILL BE CHA - TRANSFORMING OR TRANSFORMATIVE, UH, IN HOW WE DO, UH, BUSINESS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I DO WANNA ALSO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT COUNCILOR RAMIREZ MENTIONED.
UM, ONE OF MY, WELL, MY AMENDMENT WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESS AND STARTUPS AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE HOUSTONIANS THAT DESERVE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT'S THEIR TAX DOLLARS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THAT KIND OF WORK DONE, UH, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE HAVE A, A, A, A ORGANIZATION CALLED MAGNOLIA FUND IN THIS, IN THE EAST END THAT WAS ABLE TO GATHER A LOT OF FUNDING, UH, CROWD, CROWDSOUR - CROWD, UH, FUNDING THROUGH, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, TO OPEN UP UL- ULTIMATELY A KITCHEN, UH, OUT IN THE EAST END.
UH, HOW CAN WE SUPPORT COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT, UH, WITH THESE TYPES, TYPES OF TAX ABATEMENT? AND I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A, A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR TILLISON.
UH, SHE, SHE TOOK THAT INFORMATION.
I, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE, UH, FUTURE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS AS WELL.
AGAIN, UH, THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSTONIANS TO ULTIMATELY BENEFIT, UH, FROM, FROM, UH, THEIR OWN TAX DOLLARS.
AND SO, UH, AGAIN, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
UH, AND AGAIN, FOR DIRECTOR TILLISON, UH, FOR THE HEAVY LIFTING THAT YOU DO YEAR IN, YEAR OUT.
AND THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ]
JACKSON'S FIRST.HUH? I KNOW I MISSED, I MISSED THE TER - UM, UM, ITEM NUMBER 26.
AND I KNOW, BUT I DO WANNA SPEAK ON THAT.
I WANNA JUST, UM - OKAY, GO AHEAD.
UM, LELAND TURS, AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE LELAND TURS.
WHEN I FIRST CAME IN OFFICE, WE VOTED ON, UH, THE BUDGET WAS, LIKE, UNDER 500,000, AND NOW WE'RE VOTING 2.5 MILLION.
AND SO JUST IN THE PROGRESS, UM, WE'RE ABLE, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE A LOT OF PROJECTS FORWARD OVER THERE.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, EXCITED ABOUT HOW, HOW WE'RE MOVING OVER IN GREENSPOINT.
I MEAN, NOT IN GREENSPOINT, IN NORTHEAST.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE EXPANDING THE LELAND TURNS AS WELL, UM, TO COVER SOME PROJECTS THAT, VERY IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OLD KMART SHOPPING CENTER TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT, UM, THAT DEVELOPER OVER THERE.
UM, AND IN REGARDS TO MY POP-OFF, MAYOR, YESTERDAY, UM, I JOINED YOU AND HPD
[03:25:01]
ON THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE, UM, NEW NORTH BELT GR - UM, STATION IN GREENSPOINT.UM, IT'S 27,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, 20,000, I MEAN, 20 MILLION, THAT'S HOW MUCH IT COSTS.
AND SO, PERKINS AND WILLS ACTUALLY DESIGNED A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
AND SO, JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, MAYOR HPD, AS WELL AS THE GREENSPOINTEURS WHO, UM, PUT A LOT OF EFFORT IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
ANOTHER BIG, ANOTHER, UM, UM, BIT GR - OF GOOD NEWS IS ON, IN STAPLE STREETS IN FIFTH WARD, UM, PUBLIC WORKS IS NOW EXPANDING THE STREET, AND IT'S A VERY NARROW STREET.
UM, SIDEWALKS ARE BROKEN UP, UM, TREES ARE IN THE DITCHES.
IT ATTRACT A LOT OF ILLEGAL DUMPING, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT PUBLIC WORKS WERE ABLE, WAS ABLE TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO, UM, ACTUALLY CURB AND GUTTER THAT PARTICULAR STREET.
AND SO, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A HAZARD FOR PEDESTRIANS AS WELL AS CARS, AND SO JUST LOOK, HAPPY TO SEE THAT, UM, THAT, THAT ROAD IS BEING WIDENED.
UM, AND TODAY, WE WILL HAVE OUR SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE MEETING AT 2:00 PM.
UM, WE WILL BE, UM, HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON ADULT LITERACY, AND SO THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE LITERACY RATES IN HOUSTON.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA SHARE HOW WE, THEY CAN COORDINATE AND STRENGTHEN AND CONNECT WITH ADULT LITERACY, LITERACY, EXCUSE ME, ECOSYSTEMS AND CONVEY HOW READING, WRITING, DIGITAL, DIGITAL SKILLS, FINANCIAL AND HEALTH LITERACY ARE ENHANCED THROUGH PROGRAMS. AND SO, COME ON OUT AT 2:00 PM TODAY, UM, IN CHAMBERS.
LAST NIGHT IN DISTRICT G, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HOSTED AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL A COMMUNITY MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSED UNDERGROUND WATER DETENTION BASIN THAT WOULD GO UNDERNEATH THE BALL FIELDS AT MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT, A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS WERE GIVEN.
YOU KNOW, THIS 94 ACRE FEET OF DETENTION, THAT'S 46 OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING POOLS, WILL DO SO MUCH FOR FLOODING IN WEST HOUSTON.
YOU KNOW, WEST HOUSTON WAS HIT HARD AND OBVIOUSLY THE TAX DAY FLOOD, MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD, HURRICANE HARVEY, AND THIS DETENTION BASIN WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF OVER 1600 STRUCTURES, UM, FROM FLOODING.
WE'RE WORKING WITH FEMA, TEDM, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, PRECINCT THREE, TERS 17, THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE ALL COMING TOGETHER, AND RIGHT NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MONEY.
WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE UP TO $74 MILLION IN A FEDERAL GRANT.
PRECINCT THREE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS DEDICATED 20 MILLION TO THE PROJECT, AND THEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE TURS WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE FRONT FUNDS.
BUT THE TOTAL PROJECT BENEFIT IS $114 MILLION.
AND BECAUSE THIS COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, THE BENEFIT IS SO GREAT, UM, IS WHY WE'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON NOW, THE REASON WE HAD THAT TOWN MEETING LAST NIGHT, UM, WAS A LOT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEARBY TO COME AND ASK QUESTIONS, BUT WE NEED A, A LEASE FROM SBISD.
SO, UM, IT'S A WIN-WIN IF WE CAN PREVENT FLOODING.
SBISD IS GONNA BE PAID FOR THIS LEASE.
THEY'RE STILL GONNA HAVE 100% SURFACE USE OF, OF THIS LAND, AND THE VAULT UNDERNEATH WILL BE ENGINEERED IN A WAY THAT POTENTIALLY A NEW FUTURE MIDDLE SCHOOL COULD BE BUILT ON TOP OF IT.
SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL MY OFFICE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, AND IF IT'S GONNA PREVENT PEOPLE FROM FLOODING, THEN WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO IT.
I ALSO WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT EARLY VOTING ENDS ON FRIDAY, SO GO OUT AND VOTE.
TEXT 10 OF YOUR FRIENDS FOR THEM TO GO VOTE TOO.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS A SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.
AND SO LET'S ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO VOTE.
AND THEN ALSO, SATURDAY IS HALLOWEEN, AND I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO S - PLEASE SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE KIDS EVERYWHERE.
WE, UH, WANNA HAVE A FUN HALLOWEEN, BUT WE DEFINITELY WANNA HAVE A SAFE ONE.
I JUST WANNA EXPRESS APPRECIATION AGAIN TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR UNANIMOUSLY PASSING ITEM FIVE, WHICH I THINK IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S THE FIRST ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES A RE- REPORTING REQUIREMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE COUNCIL VITAL INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN PASS IT ALONG TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND ACT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN GOOD ABOUT SHARING INFORMATION THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS, INCLUDING THROUGH COMMITTEE.
[03:30:01]
PASSED WILL APPLY NOT JUST TO THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALL ADMINISTRATIONS AND COUNCILS GOING FORWARD, IT WILL BE WRITTEN INTO ORDINANCE.AND SO I VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORTS OF EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED.
I DIDN'T MENTION IN MY COMMENTS EARLIER THAT THIS IDEA STARTED, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH THE WORK OF MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO AND FORMER COLLEAGUE ABBY KAMAN.
AND, UM, I CARRIED IT FORWARD IN THE CIP PROCESS LAST YEAR.
HAD IT PASSED LAST YEAR, IT WOULD HAVE JUST APPLIED TO THE CIP FOR, FOR THAT YEAR, LAST YEAR.
BUT SINCE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IT AS AN ORDINANCE, WITH THE COLLABORATION OF MAYOR WHITMEYER'S ADMINISTRATION, IT NOW WILL APPLY GOING FORWARD, NOT JUST TO CIP, BUT ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT THE CITY UNDERTAKES TO COMPLETE.
AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED.
OUR STAFFS DON'T GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE, AND I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY CHIEF OF STAFF, LEAH WOLFTHAL, HAD A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS AS WELL.
UM, KUDOS TO DIRECTOR RANDY MACKAY FOR, UM, ENGAGING WITH US AND FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEVEN DAVID, FOR ENGAGING WITH US.
THERE WAS SKEPTICISM INITIALLY, BUT WE GOT IT TO A POINT WHERE DIRECTOR MACKAY SAID, "WE CAN DO THIS." AND SO, UM, VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS HELP ON THAT AND, UH, JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE.
LOTS OF CHANGE HAPPENING ON THE WEST SIDE.
LAST NIGHT I HOSTED, UM, AT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 25 MEETING AN UPDATE ON THE 132 ACRE PROPERTY AT BISSONNET AND KIRKWOOD THAT WAS ACQUIRED IN 2019.
IT WAS KNO- KNOWN AS A FORMER LANDFILL AND THEN IT, UH, CONSTRUCTION WASTE AND THEN IT WAS ALSO A, A GOLF COURSE.
AND MANY SUBDIVISIONS, RESIDENTIAL, UM, SINGLE FAMILY AND SCHOOLS ARE NEAR THAT AREA.
SO WE HAD ABOUT 50 INDIVIDUALS THERE.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO Y'ALL, UM, SHOWING UP AND, AND HELPING US MEET THE MOMENT.
BUT, BUT I, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS TIME FOR US TO CLEAN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS UP.
AND WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE WHO'S TAKING A CHANCE ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE NEED TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A REASON WHY FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING TO LEAVE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THERE'S A REASON WHY, UM, PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR PARTS OF ALIEF BUT NOT RETURN AND PURCHASE THEIR HOME.
SO IF WE ARE THE DISTRICT OF THE FUTURE THAT WE ALL BELIEVE THAT WE ARE, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO STAY A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONVERSA - WE APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AND WE APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPER FOR STANDING IN THE ROOM, UM, HAVING THE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND THE CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, THE IMPACT OF WASTE, THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE AIR, THE DIRT, THE SOIL, THE WASTEWATER, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR OUR FUTURE FLOODING? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR COMMERCE? UM, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHEPHERD THIS PROCESS ALONG WITH THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, COMMUNITY, BUT I, AND, AND I'LL CLOSE MY REMARKS AROUND THAT ISSUE WITH THIS.
THERE WAS A TIME PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT WE DESERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THAT $60 MILLION, UH, DOLLAR FACILITY TOOK 30 YEARS FOR US TO GET, AND NOW WE ARE THE GEM OF THE CITY.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD PONDER THE SAME QUESTION FOR BISSONNET AND KIRKWOOD.
UH, ALSO IN THAT SAME VEIN, IN TERMS OF CHANGE HAPPENING, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STILL HOSTING A SERIES OF OPTIMIZATION MEETINGS.
50% OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE AT 50%, UH, OR, OR, OR BELOW.
AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CO-CREATE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT IS TO COME.
UM, AND AS WE LOOK AT THE FOOTPRINT OF OLDER FACILITIES, PLEASE BE IN THE ROOM.
I WAS THERE THURSDAY ON THE 18TH AT ALI MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, THERE'S, UH, THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS.
IT'S THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29TH AT ALIEF KILO, WHICH CELEBRATED 50 YEARS AND NOVEMBER 19TH AT ALIEF O'DON - DONNELL AT, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 6:30.
VISIT ALIEF ISD FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT AS OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, THE HIGH RISK RENTAL BUILDING PROGRAM WEBSITE IS NOW LIVE.
AS YOU ALL RECALL, IN MAY, THIS, THIS BODY APPROVED, UH, THE GUIDELINES FOR THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE, THE ASEC TEAM, UM, HAS KEPT THEIR WORD.
DELAY DOES NOT MEAN DELI - DENIAL.
THAT, UH, LINK SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCIL OFFICES.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE ON THAT HIGH RISK LIST ARE THE, UM, ORIGINAL R - THE FIRST ROUND OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES, UM, CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW, UM, AND WITH ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO REPORT, UH, PROBLEMATIC, UH, A- APARTMENTS.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK MAYOR PRO TEM AGAIN, EVERYONE WHO JOINED US AS WE TRAVELED THE CITY TO INFORM AND EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE
[03:35:01]
ON BEHALF OF RENTERS, OUR PROPERTY OWNERS MANAGEMENT, SO WE CAN, UM, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A, UH, A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
UH, BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO PLEASE VISIT THAT WEBSITE AND, AND PLEASE SHARE ADIFER - ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, WE'RE HOSTING OUR THIRD MOBILE CARE DAY IN OUR FALL SEASON TO SERVE OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ON THE WEST SIDE.
IT'LL TAKE PLACE AT THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS, ELDRIDGE AT 9:00 AM, OF COURSE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER, UH, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SHOWERS, THE HAIRCUTS, VACCINES, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, GET THEM ENTERED IN HMIS SO THEY CAN RECEIVE THE TREATMENT NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD TO STA- STABILITY.
UM, LASTLY, I WILL SAY WE HAVE A NEW SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT COMING TO WESTCHASE, THE HEART OF DISTRICT F, OF 48 NEW TWO, UH, TWO AND THREE-STORY TOWN HOMES RIGHT THERE ON THE WEST SIDE.
UH, THE STONEWORKS BUILDER GROUP IS ONE OF THE, IS, UH, IS LEADING ONE OF THE FIRST NEW SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS IN WESTCHASE.
SO IF YOU WANT SOME INNER CITY LIVING ON THE WEST SIDE, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL DETAILS MY OFFICE CAN OFFER, PLEASE REACH OUT TO DISTRICTF@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM.
WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT, UM, TO OUR FIVE CORNERS DISTRICT A - FOR THE FAITH COMMUNITY CLEANUP WE HAD THIS WEEKEND.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, I TOTALLY AGREE.
WE DEFINITELY NEED TO CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S KINDA DISHEARTENING THOUGH.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU DO ALL THAT WORK AND YOU CLEAN IT UP AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE NO ONE EVER, UM, DID THE WORK.
BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME AND, UM, PICKED UP TRASH AND HELPED WITH, UM, THINGS THAT ARE LEGALLY DUMPED.
I JUST WANNA PUT A, A CALL OUT TO FOLKS.
I KNOW, UH, 50% OF THE TRASH THAT WE SEE ON OUR ESPLANADES AND, UM, ON OUR STREETS ARE FROM PEOPLE THROWING IT OUT OF THEIR CARS.
UM, TAKE YOUR TRASH HOME AND PUT IT IN THE TRASH CAN.
DON'T THROW IT OUT ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
UM, DO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND DEANDRE HUDDLESON FOR THE, SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS, UM, FOR THE CLEANUP IN DISTRICT K.
AND THEN WANT TO, UM, AMPLIFY OCTOBER 29TH FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 PM AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER.
UH, THE HIRAM CLARK FORT BEND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UM, WILL BE HOSTING AN UPCOMING DEVELOPER'S NETWORKING RECEPTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS WILL BE THERE.
UM, IT'S FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 AT THE FOUNTAIN LIFE CENTER LOCATED AT 14083 SOUTH MAIN STREET.
UH, THESE DEVELOPER NETWORKING EVENTS ARE REALLY, UM, ADVANTAGEOUS TO FOLKS THAT ARE WANTING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN GET STARTED, UM, DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UM, THIS CONVERSATION WILL FEATURE A DISCUSSION ON FINANCING STRATEGIES FOR INFIELD DEVELOPMENT.
SO HOPE TO SEE FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT AT THE EVENT.
AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT MARION PARK.
UH, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR SUNRISE TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT ON OCTOBER 31ST FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT THE SOUTH GESSNER, UM, MARION PARK LOCATION.
SO WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE MELVIN HOPKINS BACK IN THE DISTRICT K OFFICE.
UH, IF YOU SEE MELVIN, UH, WELL, HE TOLD SOMEBODY YESTERDAY, YOU, YOU'RE NOT SEEING A GHOST.
SO VERY HAPPY TO HAVE MELVIN BACK ON THE DISTRICT K TEAM.
BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE - THANK YOU.
UM, AS A REMINDER, TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE OFFICE HOURS AT OUR SATELLITE OFFICE AT FRIED PARK THAT, UM, IS 6818 SHADY VILLA.
AND THAT IS FROM 9:00 AM TO 11:30 AM.
NO NEED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.
UM, WE'LL BE THERE TO TALK ABOUT ANY CITY RELATED ISSUES.
UM, AND THEN NEXT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH IS OUR ANNUAL DISTRICT A STATE OF THE DISTRICT AND TOWN HALL FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST MAYOR WHITMEYER.
UM, THAT'LL BE AT 6:30 PM, UM, AT TRINITY MINDEN HALL, 1414 WURT ROAD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.
[03:40:01]
IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, MY OFFICE INVITED STAKEHOLDERS FROM AND AROUND DOWNTOWN AREA TO MEET, TO DISCUSS CONNECTIVITY IMPACTS FROM THE GEORGE R.UH, THIS CONVENING WAS THE FIRST STEP IN ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP, UH, TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING NEXT STEPS AND CONSIDERING AN ALTERNATE EAST-WEST, UH, STREET TO POKE, UH, UH, PO - TO THE POLE CLOSURE.
UH, IN APRIL, THE GROUP WAS IN AN I- IN ALIGNMENT WITH, UH, THE NEED TO, UH, IDENTIFY A MOBILITY STUDY THAT HELPED INFORM THE CONVERSION OF AN ALTERN- ALTERNATIVE LELAND STREET TWO-WAY.
UH, SO IT'S SIX MONTHS, SIX MEETINGS LATER, MAYOR.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALL ON OUR WAY AND IDENTIFYING, IDENTIFYING A VENDOR TO LEAD THE MOBILITY STUDY AND HELP ACHIEVE MOBILITY ENHANCEMENTS AND OTHER MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS OUTLINED BY THE GROUP.
AND I WANNA THANK A FEW FOLKS FROM THE, OR ACTUALLY THE WORKING GROUP THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
SO THE EAST END DISTRICT, EAST DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, TERS 15, WHICH IS EAST DOWNTOWN TURS, DOWNTOWN PLUS, HOUSTON FIRST, METRO, UNION PACIFIC, CENTER POINT, TXDOT, THE OFFICE OF SENATOR ALVARADO, AND OF COURSE, UH, YOU AND YOUR TEAM MAYOR, UH, RANDY, WHO'S, UH, SUPPORT AND TAKING THE LEAD ON THE NEXT STEPS OF THE MOBILITY STUDY, UH, COLIN LUPO FOR ATTENDING, UH, ALL THE MEETINGS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT.
BRIAN CRIMMINS FOR HIS INPUT, UH, WHICH WAS INVALUABLE.
UM, AND THEN JED, UH, GREENFIELD, UH, FOR HIS SUPPORT IN ENSURING THAT THE VENDOR SELECTION PROCESS IS IN MOTION AND WITHOUT DELAYS.
UH, JUST A QUICK NOTE ON THAT.
UH, WHEN WE PASSED THE CO-OP THAT ALLOWED, UH, JED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THIS OR FIND, MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS WAS MOVING A LOT QUICKER, UH, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THIS, THIS, UH, MOBILITY STUDY COULD HAVE TAKEN ANYWHERE BETWEEN EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS, UH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION MAYOR, WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE A LOT QUICKER.
UM, ONCE WE IDENTIFY THE VENDOR, WHICH WE'RE HOPING TO SEE EARLY NEXT YEAR, UH, WE WILL BE HAVING A LOT MORE FORWARD-FACING COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT BOTH DOWNTOWN AND E - AND EAST DOWNTOWN AND E- EVEN, UH, LEADING INTO THE EAST END, THAT THERE CONTINUES TO BE, UH, EAST-WEST CONNECTIVITY.
UH, ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT I SPEAK ABOUT MASON PARK, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE MASTER PLAN AND THE NEED TO COMPLETE THE WORK TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THE AREA, UH, WHERE MOST OF THE KIDS ARE PLAYING, UH, FOOTBALL AND SOCCER HAPPEN NORTH OF THE BAYOU.
UH, AND MY PERSONAL GOAL FOR THOSE THAT, UH, UM, HAVE BEEN HEARING ME IS WE'RE, UH, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE HEART OF THE PARK, WHICH IS PHASE ONE.
PHASE TWO WOULD BE TO COMPLETE THE, THE SPORTS COMPLEX, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS, UH, THE, THE MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS, UH, IM- IMPROVE PARKING, UH, AND, OR THE NEED TO INCREASE THE PARKING, UH, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BAYOU.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, RESTROOMS AND CONCESSION.
AND SO, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU WERE ABLE TO BE THERE THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH MAGNOLIA PARK SHARKS AND THE EASTON EAGLES, UH, FOR THEIR HOMECOMING LITTLE LEAGUE GAME.
IT WAS HUNDREDS OF, OF, OF, UH, FAMILIES THAT WERE OUT THERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FROM 7:30 TILL ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK.
UM, AND AS YOU SAW, MAYOR, THERE IS DEFINITELY A, A, IT'S A HUGE, WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO THEM TO SEE, UH, THIS MASTER PLAN COMING TO FRUITION.
I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, M - OUR PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP, CHIEF MUNOZ AND CHIEF DIAZ FOR ATTENDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I SPEAK TO, I SPEAK TO THIS A LOT, UH, AROUND THE HORSESHOE IS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, SPEAKING TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILDING THAT TRUST AND THAT RELATIONSHIP AND, UH, FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO SEE, UH, BOTH CHIEF MUNOZ AND CHIEF DIAZ OUT THERE AND ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, UH, ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ, IT, IT, IT'S ALSO A WAY OF WHERE FOLKS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, HPD IS THERE TO SERVE ALL FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO AGAIN, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
THE FAMILIES DEFINITELY, UH, LOVED HAVING YOU OUT THERE.
I'M SURE YOU FELT THE LOVE AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON, UH, COUNCILMEMBER M - COUNCILMEMBER MARINE HUFFMAN, UM, I WANNA WISH EVERYBODY A SAFE AND, UH, AND, UH, A HAPPY HALLOWEEN THIS SATURDAY.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT'LL BE WALKING AROUND.
UH, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU'RE BEING COGNIZANT OF IT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THESE ARE SOMETHING THAT'S SUPER PRECIOUS TO A LOT OF US, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES OF WALKING THE STREETS, UH, ASKING FOR CANDY, RIGHT, TRICK OR TREATING.
UH, BUT, UH, WITH THAT, JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SAFE ON THE ROAD, YOU DRIVE CAREFULLY, AND, AND BE MINDFUL OF THE KIDS THAT ARE WALKING, FAMILIES WALKING ON OUR STREETS, UH, SATURDAY.
LAST SATURDAY, THERE WAS A LOT OF LOVE IN MASON PARK.
I FEEL LIKE I'M A FAN OF THE SHARKS NOW BECAUSE YOU POST A LOT ABOUT THE SHARKS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, GREAT WORK ON THE ORDINANCE.
UM, THIS HAS, UH, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS A LONG TIME.
I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH YOU.
I THINK THIS WILL REALLY STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
WE'LL BE AWARE OF ANY CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE.
THOSE WILL BE, UH, UM, ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATED, AND I THINK ALL IN ALL, IT'LL, IT'LL, IT'LL BE A GOOD, A GOOD THING FOR OUR MANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AROUND TOWN.
ALSO, TO EVERYONE, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER SALINAS COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, COUNCIL MEMBER MARIS CARTER, EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THE, THE
[03:45:01]
TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, LIKE YOU, I WANT ALL THE TAX REVENUE.
UH, I WANNA TALK ABOUT BFA, UH, NEXT TUESDAY.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MONDAY.
COME HERE ON MONDAY, EVERYBODY THAT STAYS HOME ON MONDAY, COME HERE ON MONDAY BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING AN IMPORTANT, UM, BFA MEETING AND ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL BE THE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE, WHICH I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AD NAUSEUM FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.
SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES WE'RE GOING TO MAKE FOR, TO INCREASE PARKS FUNDING.
THIS WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED AT TOMORROW'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AT 2:30.
UM, AS FOR HALLOWEEN, GEORGE AND I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE WITCHES PADDLE DOWN AT ALLEN'S LANDING.
GET IN YOUR KAYAK OR YOUR CANOE, DRESS UP LIKE A WITCH AND PADDLE ON THE BAYOU.
THERE'S MORE THAN JUST ONE OPPORTUNITY AT BUFFALO BAYOU REGATTA.
YOU CAN GET BACK IN THE BAYOU THIS SATURDAY MORNING IN YOUR COSTUME.
AND IT'S THE FINAL WEEK OF BY OCTOBER, SO GET OUT THERE ON YOUR BIKE.
I'LL BE AT THE BIKE HOUSTON GALA TONIGHT AND, UH, GET OUT ON YOUR BIKE, LOG YOUR, LOG YOUR BIKING TRIPS AND, UH, Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT, SAFE HALLOWEEN.
UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT WHAT I THINK IS AN EXCITING CHANGE, UH, THAT IS NOW OFFICIAL ON LEGAL DISPOSAL SITES.
UM, FOR TOO LONG, IT WAS HARDER TO VOTE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAN IT WAS TO DISPOSE TRASH.
UM, IT IS OFFICIAL, AND PLEASE LET ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW.
THE NEW POLICY AT EVERY DISPOSAL SITE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS NOW EITHER PROVIDE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR A UTILITY BILL.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE BOTH ANYMORE.
THIS WAS AN IDEA THAT CAME TO US FROM A CIVIC CLUB MEETING, THE CONCERN OF RESIDENTS.
WE ELEVATED IT, WE PUSHED AGGRESSIVELY, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE DIRECTOR FOR MAKING THIS CHANGE.
IT IS NO LONGER HARDER TO VOTE THAN IT IS TO DISPOSE TRASH, AND LET'S ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE OUR DISPOSAL SITES.
UM, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECAP, UH, WHAT WAS ANOTHER WEEK ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
UH, THE HISD SUNNYSIDE SUNRISE CENTER GRAND OPENING WAS LAST THURSDAY, AND I WAS PROUD TO JOIN HOUSTON ISD AND THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY FOR THE GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NEW SUNRISE CENTER AT WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS NEW RESOURCE EXPANDS ACCESS TO FOOD, CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN SUNNYSIDE.
AND I CERTAINLY WANNA THANK HISD, THE WORTHING STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO DID SHOW UP, UH, FOR THAT EVENT.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, THE PARADE, UH, FOR THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING WAS OUTSTANDING.
IT BROUGHT STUDENTS, ALUMNI, MARCHING BANDS, ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE ONE OF HOUSTON'S GREAT INSTITUTIONS.
TEXAS SOUTHERN WON IN THE LAST SECOND OF THE GAME, AND SO IT WAS REALLY EXCITING WITH A GREAT OUTCOME, IN MY OPINION.
UH, CERTAINLY A LOT OF ENERGY, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF ENERGY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, TSU IS BEHIND ME, AND THE ST.
MARY'S BAZAAR IS IN FRONT OF ME.
AND SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS QUITE FULL WITH TRAFFIC JAMS, WHICH IS WHY I WAS LATE TO THE ENSEMBLE GALA, BUT I DID MAKE IT MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR A WONDERFUL, UH, EVENT.
MARY'S GUMBO FESTIVAL IN BAZAAR, I HAD TO GO.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT.
I HAD TO GO AND JUDGE THE GUMBO CONTEST.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT.
BUT CERTAINLY THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE AND WITH SOME GREAT ENTRIES.
I COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE WHO WON, BUT, UH, I DID ENJOY MYSELF, UH, GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
UM, AS CHAIR OF THE CITY'S ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD THAT ONE OF OUR GREAT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IS THE ENSEMBLE, AND CERTAINLY I WANNA CONGRATULATE, UH, YOU, MAYOR, IT'S BOARD, THE LEADERSHIP, THE ARTISTS, STAFF AND SUPPORTERS.
UM, ALSO, UH, ON YESTERDAY, I ATTENDED A LUNCHEON FOR THE DIAPER FOUNDATION, WHICH IS A, UM, AN ORGANIZATION THAT I SUPPORT MONTHLY.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR SOME PARENTS TO PROVIDE DIAPERS, UH, FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ALSO PROVIDE DIAPERS FOR OUR SENIORS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THAT PAID FOR THROUGH MEDICARE, AND
[03:50:01]
IT, IT PRESENTS A GREAT CHALLENGE, SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE IS VERY EMBARRASSING FOR THEM WHEN THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, WANNA GOOGLE THAT DIAPER FOUNDATION, IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE BENEVOLENT AND HELP THOSE THAT ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
I, UM, ALSO, I GOT MY BIKE OUT OF THE SHOP, AND SO I'M READY TO ROLL.
UM, AND I PROPOSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELCORN, IF WE COULD MAYBE HAVE A COUNCIL BIKE RIDE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT I WANT TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON TOMORROW TO CINDY CLIFFORD.
CINDY HAD A WONDERFUL PARTY ON YESTERDAY, AND SHE PROVIDED EVERYBODY THERE WITH A BIRTHDAY CAKE.
OKAY? SO IF YOU WANT BIRTHDAY CAKE, THAT CAKE IS IN MY OFFICE AND YOU CAN HANDLE IT.
GO UP THERE AND CERTAINLY GET YOU A SLICE BECAUSE I, I, I, I'M...
ANYWAY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CINDY, AND THAT CONCLUDES, I BELIEVE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
THERE WAS A STRONG FINISH STAYING ALIVE FOR THE CURE, WHICH WILL BE FRIDAY FROM 11:00 TO 2:00 AT THE EMANCIPATION COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, ON FRIDAY.
AND ALSO, I DID ATTEND A BLACK WELLNESS EVENT ON FRIDAY AT EMANCIPATION PARK AS WELL.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO STAY WELL IN DISTRICT D.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
YESTERDAY, WE HELD THE GROUNDBREAKING AT MONTE BEACH PARK WITH MAYOR, YOUR LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE, SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT GOING INTO MONTY BEACH, UH, WITH PARTNERSHIPS FROM OUR STATE LEGISLATORS WHO HELPED WITH, UH, SOME STATE DOLLARS.
AND THERE WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM, UH, AT THE PARK.
THE CIVIC CLUB HAS, HAS BEEN REALLY ENGAGED AROUND TRYING TO DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN AND FUNDRAISE, AND THEY HAVE THAT, AND NOW, UH, THIS IS GOING TO HELP BRING MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK, WHICH IS HEAVILY UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITY AND HELP KEEP IT, UM, A SOLID NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FOR, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE, UH, THE PARKS BOARD, UM, ESPECIALLY, UM, THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR THE MASTER PLAN THAT, THAT GOT THIS GROWING, UM, AS WELL AS THE LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING IMPACTS WHERE WE KNOW WE NEED THEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ACROSS THE CITY, AND IT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION.
THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS THE THIRD NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY EVENT AS PART OF THE RESILIENT H INITIATIVE.
210 TREES WERE PLANTED IN OUR PARKS, DODSON LAKE PARK, SHADY LANE PARK, AND BUSBY PARK, AND 75 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS AS WELL.
THESE ARE ALL 15 GALLON TREES.
AND IF YOU'VE GONE OUT TO DODSON LAKE PARK, THERE'S A VERY LARGE WALKING PATH OUT THERE.
IT NOW HAS 15 GALLON TREES LINING THAT WHOLE PATH, UM, WHICH IN YEARS WILL, TO COME, WILL HELP MAKE THAT PATH MORE COMFORTABLE TO, TO WALK AND UTILIZE.
UM, 136 RAIN BARRELS WERE ALSO DISTRIBUTED OUT TO RESIDENTS.
WE HAD OUR FRIENDS AT THE PLUMBERS UNION, LOCAL 68, OUT TO HELP INSTALL THEM AND ALSO, UH, WRAP EXPOSED PIPING AT OUR HOUSES IN EAST TEXAS JENSEN NEIGHBORHOOD.
GREAT FEEDBACK ON THE APPRENTICES THAT WERE OUT THERE DOING THAT WORK.
AND IT HAPPENED THANKS TO SOME SPONSORS AND ALSO VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED DO THE, THE ACTUAL, UH, PLANTING, THE, THE LABOR, THE DISTRIBUTION.
AND IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HAVE THIS...
BRING, BRING IT TO OTHER PARTS, OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT H AND WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
THIS COMING WEEKEND, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MECCA IS GONNA BE HOSTING THEIR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL FROM 11:00 AM TO 7:00 PM BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THIS IS GONNA BE AT THE HISTORIC DOW SCHOOL AT 1900 CAIN STREET.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE PERFORMERS, LOCAL ART.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT CELEBRATION.
UH, WE'LL BE, UH, STOPPING BY.
AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CELEBRATE, FAMILY FRIENDLY, UH, COME ON BY ALL WEEKEND.
ALSO, THERE ARE A FEW DAYS LEFT TO EARLY VOTE FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM.
[03:55:01]
CAST YOUR BALLOT, NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY, AND THEN, UH, DEAL WITH SOMETHING LAST MINUTE THAT POPS UP WHERE YOU'RE, YOU'RE STRESSED AND YOU'RE SCRAMBLING TO GO OUT AND VOTE.SO, UH, YOU HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY, ANY POLLING LOCATION IN HARRIS COUNTY, YOU CAN GO AND VOTE.
UH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESSES, ECONOMIC, UH, UH, PROGRESSION.
IT'S GOOD TO HEAR ALL OF THAT GREAT DISCUSSION, UH, TODAY.
AND, UH, JUST LIKE TO, UH, REMIND ALL THAT, UH, WE ARE HOSTING OUR SECOND ANNUAL CITY OF HOUSTON FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM, WHICH IS INVITING ALL SMALL BUSINESS, MEDIUM BUSINESS, LARGE BUSINESS.
WE DID IT A YEAR AGO, AND, UH, REALLY TOOK OFF VERY WELL, AND WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF IT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW MORNING AT THE BAYOU EVENT CENTER.
UH, CHECK-IN BEGINS AT 8:00 AM, AND THE PROGRAM STARTS AT 9:00 AM.
AND AGAIN, LET ME, UH, SAY THAT, UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE SPONSORS THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, STELLA BANK, WALLACE BANK.
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER HAS BEEN OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, UH, REINFORCING THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.
AND, UH, AND AS I ALSO STATED A WEEK AGO, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM AS MODERATOR, UH, OF OUR, UH,
UH, WE ARE ALSO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE JASPER CRUDDISON.
HE'S THE ACTING STATE DIRECTOR OF TEXAS AND LOUISIANA FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
HE WILL SPEAK ON HOUSING, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE ALL NEED AND, UH, CERTAINLY DESERVE AFTER OUR, UH, HIT ON THE MWBE.
AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY WE WANNA EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HUD AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE FIVE SIDE CHATS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SBA, LIFT FUND, PEOPLE FUND, UM, THE, UH, UH, HAMPTON FROM THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, UH, JEDIDIAH GREENFIELD FROM STRATEGIC PURCHASING.
WE ALSO, UH, WANT TO THANK OUR VENDORS.
IN MOST OF OUR MEETINGS, WE ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE VENDORS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC AND MANY OF OUR CITY CONSTITUENTS TO MEET THESE VENDORS FACE-TO-FACE.
UH, WE'LL HAVE THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, STELLA BANK, WALLACE BANK, AND, UM, LYFT FUND, PEOPLE FUND, HUD, SBA, HGAG, HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC, UH, UH, EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY, OBO, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, METRO OFFICE OF ECONOMIC BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE, THE HOUSTON AREA AND URBAN LEAGUE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS, UH, GREATER HOUSTON CHAPTER, AND MORE.
SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER.
WE WANNA PUT A STRONG EMPHASIS ON OUR CITY ABOUT DOING BUSINESS WITH SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT, RON BUT WE NEED TO PUT FORTH THESE THINGS.
WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY NEEDING MONEY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, AS I OFTEN SAY, THE CITY DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE MONEY, UH, THE COUNTY DON'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY, BUT THE BANKS HAVE THE MONEY.
AND SO THIS IS A, A ROBUST APPROACH TO GETTING THE BANKS IN THE ROOM TO HAVE THESE RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHERS.
SO IT WILL BE, UH, AGAIN, OCTOBER 29TH, 8:00 AM, UH, PROGRAM STARTS AT EXACTLY 9:00 AM, THE BAYOU EVENT CENTER, 9401 KNIGHT ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FLEGINGER.
UH, JUST WANTED TO DOVETAIL THE COMMENTS WITH COUNCILWOMAN THOMAS AND MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CLEANED UP.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN MY DISTRICT, AND MAYBE THIS IS LIKE EVERYBODY'S, BUT MINE IN PARTICULAR, I MEAN, I HAVE SOME AREAS WHERE THERE'S ALMOST ZERO LITTER.
AND THEN I'VE GOT AREAS WHERE IT'S BAD.
UM, WE RECENTLY CLEANED UP AN AREA,
[04:00:01]
I THINK ABOUT THREE, FOUR MONTHS AGO THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT EVER BEEN CLEANED UP.AND NOW I GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND IT'S PRETTY BAD.
AGAIN, NOT WHAT IT WAS, BUT PRETTY BAD AGAIN.
AND, AND I THINK IT, IT REQUIRES KIND OF BUILDING CRITICAL MASS TO WHERE WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT'S CLEAN, THEY TEND TO KEEP IT CLEAN.
I MEAN, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN YOUR HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, IF EVERYTHING'S WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND CLEANED UP IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU DON'T WANNA MESS IT UP.
IF EVERYTHING'S A MESS, NO BIG DEAL.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET IT TO WHERE IT'S LIKE THAT, THAT'D BE, I THINK, BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, CERTAINLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND VOTE.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PECK AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO GET, UH, SOME SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR THE E-BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE NEEDED IT FOR COUNCILWOMAN SHABAZZ, BUT NOW SHE'S THERE AND WELCOME TO JOIN US.
UM, I HAVE AN UNFORTUNATE ANNOUNCEMENT IN DISTRICT C AND THEN, AND THEN SOME MORE LIGHTER THINGS.
UM, MANY MAY RECALL THAT THE LIFE OF JACKSON, UH, LIFE OF JACKSON SQUARE, A 1300 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX IN DISTRICT C, HAS HAD RECURRING ISSUES ON THE PROPERTY FROM LACK OF HEAT AND HOT WATER DURING THE WINTER TO FIRES OCCURRING ON THE PROPERTY LAST YEAR.
ANOTHER FIRE ACTUALLY OCCURRED JUST LAST WEEK AT THE COMPLEX, AND AS WE KNOW, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
UM, A FIREFIGHTER WAS HOSPITALIZED AND WHILE THEY'RE IN STABLE CONDITION, THIS PROPERTY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE.
UH, THIS MONTH, THE LENDING COMPANY FORECLOSED ON THE PROPERTY AND IS NOW THE MAIN DEFENDANT IN THE CITY'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM.
I AM WORKING WITH CITY LEGAL, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS FINALLY STEP IN TO REMEDIATE AND TO PROTECT ALL THOSE WHO CALL THIS PLACE HOME.
MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR, FOR SUPPORTING IN THAT.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANNA GIVE A BUNCH OF COUNTLESS, UH, UH, THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENTS WHO MOBILIZED SO QUICKLY LAST WEEK.
THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR ARSON TEAM, HOUSTON, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHO HAS BEEN ON THE PROPERTY NEARLY DAILY ASSISTING RESIDENTS WITH THE ISSUES THAT THEY SEE, AND THEN THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
SO WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE AND I WANNA THANK ALL THOSE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, ELECTION DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
UM, UH, WE ARE HOSTING A BIKE TO THE POLLS AT 7:00 AM STARTING FROM CITY HALL TODAY, ACCOMPANIED BY SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND PRECINCT ONE WHO ACTUALLY WILL BE PROVIDING BIKES IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIKE.
AND THEN STATE SENATOR MOLLY COOK.
SO, UH, JUST A QUICK BIKE RIDE THROUGH BUFFALO BAYOU AND THEN WE'LL HOP DOWN TO WEST GRAY.
UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED, PLEASE COME AND BIKE RIDE WITH US AND VOTE.
AND IF YOU HAVE VOTED, JUST COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
UM, ALSO THIS SATURDAY, HALLOWEEN, PLEASE BE SAFE, HAVE FUN.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THE RIDE WITH REFUGEES OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT C, AND THEN I'LL BE GOING BACK INTO DISTRICT C TO CELEBRATE WITH THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION AT DONOVAN PARK AND THEN POE ELEMENTARY.
MEMBERS, I HAD THE, UM, PLEASURE OF ATTENDING ANTIOCH BAPTIST AND ACRES HOME, 103RD BIRTHDAY.
WILLIAMS II, UH, IS PASTOR, REBECCA WILLIAMS ON OUR STAFF, UH, IS HIS DAUGHTER, SO THAT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION.
IN CLOSING, WE'VE RECEIVED WORD THIS MORNING THAT DOLORES HAS PASSED, AN OUTSTANDING LABOR LEADER, AND A VERY STRONG WOMAN AND, UH, MENTOR TO, TO SO MANY.
SO I WOULD ASK AT THIS TIME THAT WE ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY.