[00:00:12]
THIS MORNING, I HAVE DIRECTED THE CHIEF AND HPD THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WE WILL CHANGE OUR POLICY IN REGARDING CONTACT WITH ICE.
I DO THIS TO BEGIN A HEALING PROCESS, REDUCE FEAR AND ANXIETY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO DO THIS KNOWING THAT ELECTIONS MATTER.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE NEW STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND SB4 IS NOT A PRIORITY OF THE NEW STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM SERVING WITH THEM IN THE LEGISLATURE.
IN FACT, TWO STATE SENATORS GOT ELECTED TUESDAY.
OUR NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, A GOOD FRIEND, COLLEAGUE, ACTUALLY INTRODUCED HIM TO THE SENATE.
FURTHERMORE, SENATOR ECKHART IS OUR NEW COMPTROLLER.
A NEW GOVERNOR ELECT AND HOSA WAS A COLLEAGUE IN THE HOUSE AND ALSO OUR NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GOODMAN.
MIGHT ALSO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SAFRONIA THOMPSON AND I WERE FRESHMEN IN 1973.
WE'VE BEEN IN BATTLES TOGETHER.
SO I'VE CONSULTED THE NEW STATE LEADERSHIP, CERTAINLY THE CHIEF, MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, COLLEAGUES LIKE COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ.
THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR WHEN SENATE FOUR WAS APPROVED.
IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME THAT THE CRITICS DON'T RECOGNIZE I UNDERSTOOD SENATE BILL FOUR BEFORE ANY OF THEM.
I VOTED NO BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FEAR, THE ANXIETY THAT IT WOULD CREATE.
BUT I DO KNOW THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF SENATE BILL FOUR IS TO REMOVE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS FROM THE STREETS OF TEXAS.
SO THE NEW POLICY'S GONNA DO JUST THAT.
CONTACT THAT HPD HAS, NO ONE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT THEM DOING A WARRANT SEARCH, WHICH INCLUDES ICE UNLESS THEY'RE BEING CHARGED WITH A NEW JAILABLE OFFENSE, INCLUDING DANGEROUS CRIMES, VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
IT WILL IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT WILL REDUCE THE FEAR AND ANXIETY OF STUDENTS, OUR WORKERS, AND I WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING THIS CHANGE, EVEN WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION STILL IN OFFICE FOR TWO MONTHS.
I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, ELECTIONS MATTER.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE NEW STATE LEADERSHIP.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BIPARTISAN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
QUITE FRANKLY, THIS SHOULD BE A NONPARTISAN ISSUE.
I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSTON'S FINANCES, SAFETY AND WELFARE.
I HAD TO THE LAST YEAR LISTEN TO THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN, THE ONES THAT TOLD US THAT OUR FINANCES WERE AT STAKE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY FOR CRITICS TO SAY, "FIGHT THEM BACK WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO PASS A CITY BUDGET." WE DEPEND ON STATE RESOURCES FOR MOST OF THE CITY SERVICES, HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR CERTAIN, OUR TRANSPORTATION, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I'LL SAY ONCE AGAIN, I'M PROUD OF OUR RECORD.
I'LL TAKE CREDIT FOR NOT HAVING TURMOIL ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON, LIKE ALL THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WE HAVEN'T HAD TOTAL DISRUPTION ON OUR STREET.
IT STARTS AT THE TOP WITH THE TONE.
OUR POLICE CHIEF, OUR DEPARTMENT HANDS OUT WATER AT PROTEST.
WE DON'T SHOW UP WITH BATONS AND MILITARY GEAR.
WE'RE INCLUSIVE, WE'RE RESPECTFUL.
AND SO THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD TOWARD CONTINUING THE UNITY THAT WE PROVIDE HOUSTONIANS.
[00:05:01]
WITH MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS TEXAS.I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE MODEL FOR TEXAS CITIES.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'VE DONE IT.
SO TODAY WE'RE CHANGING THE POLICY TO THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER.
IT'S TO REDUCE THE FEAR AND ANXIETY, AND NOT JUST IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ACROSS HOUSTON.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR WORKERS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEIR STUDENTS.
AND WHAT IT REALLY DOES, WHICH IS STILL MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS WILL GET INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH NEW CRIMES, JAILABLE CRIMES, INCLUDING VIOLENT OFFENDERS OFF THE STREET OF HOUSTON.
THE POLICY WILL BE, WHEN YOU SEE THERE'S A WARRANT FOR THIS NEW CHARGED PERSON, WHEN YOU GET HIM OR HER TO THE JAIL, YOU WILL NOTIFY ICE, AND THEN IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO REACT ACCORDINGLY.
IT WILL CERTAINLY IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO ASK THE CHIEF TO ADDRESS IT WITH HIS WELL-TRAINED, COMPASSIONATE...
I WANT EVERYONE TO REALIZE WHAT A COMPLEX JOB YOUNG OFFICERS HAVE WHEN THEY'RE ON THE STREET OF HOUSTON, FOLLOWING OUR ORDINANCE, A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
NOW WE DEAL WITH JAILABLE OFFENSES, AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I BELIEVE WE'LL BECOME THE MODEL.
CHIEF, CHIEF DIAZ, I HAVE THIS, UH, EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH I'VE SIGNED AND PRESENTED TO YOU THIS MORNING.
I'LL BE, UH, GLAD TO YIELD TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND VISITING WITH US.
FOLLOWING THE MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, WE'RE UPDATING THE DIRECTIVE TO EVERY OFFICER AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY.
AS WE SPEAK, OUR CIRCULAR WENT OUT.
AS THE MAYOR STATED, THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR.
ICE WILL ONLY BE CONTACTED IF SOMEONE COMMITS A JAILABLE OFFENSE.
THIS MEANS OUR OFFICERS WILL ONLY CONTACT ICE IF SOMEONE THEY ARREST, FORGIVE ME, ALSO HAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ICE WARRANT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF OUR POLICE OFFICERS PULL SOMEONE OVER FOR A MINOR TRAFFIC INFRACTION AND THEY WRITE A CITATION, THAT PERSON RECEIVES A CITATION AND GOES ABOUT THEIR DAY.
HPD WILL NO LONGER CONTACT ICE IF THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT AND THEY ARE NOT ARRESTED.
I WANNA THANK THE GOOD MAYOR FOR HIS COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP.
OUR OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO KEEP ALL HOUSTONIANS SAFE, TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS OUR TOP PRIORITY, BRIEFLY IN SPANISH.
THANK YOU FOR ASK AL TO TRANSLATE.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I SAID WHEN I WAS FIRST SWORN IN AND THIS BECAME AN ISSUE, IT WAS UNFORTUNATE AND IT COULD ONLY BE CHANGED IN WASHINGTON.
I WOULD URGE THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, THE RANK AND FILE, OUR LOCAL DELEGATION TO PLEASE ADDRESS IMMIGRATION.
[00:10:02]
I WANNA THANK CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, OUR SENATOR KELL ALVARADO, AND REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, CERTAINLY COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR WORKING WITH US TO DEAL IN A LAW ABIDING, FOLLOWING STATE LAW, CITY ORDINANCES, AND REACHING THIS POINT NOW TO WHERE I CAN SHARE THE REAL INTENT OF SENATE BILL FOUR WAS TO GO AFTER JAILABLE OFFENSES, THOSE THAT POSE A DANGER, NOT THOSE THAT ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR FAMILY BUSINESS, WORK AND EDUCATION.BUT I DO CALL ON CONGRESS TO CHANGE IMMIGRATION LAWS.
I WAS VERY CLEAR SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ICE NEEDS BETTER TRAINING.
THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED IN DEESCALATION, BUT THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE IN WASHINGTON.
I CAN ONLY CONTROL WHAT I CAN CONTROL AND, UH, BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. MAYOR, IS THIS CHANGE, UH, ACTUALLY A RECOGNITION THAT HPD WAS COOPERATING, COOPERATING WITH ICE BEFORE THIS? WE FOLLOWED THE LAW.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN USE WHATEVER TERM YOU'D LIKE TO.
WE HAD A STATE LAW THAT WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW BY THE LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN THAT CONTROLS OUR PURSE SPRING, STRINGS, AND THEN WE HAVE CITY ORDINANCES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST SEMANTICS.
UH, WE HAVE CRITICS THAT TRY TO MISREPRESENT THAT, BUT WE WERE FOLLOWING THE LAW.
WE'RE TAKING AN INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW TODAY, WORKING WITH THE NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEADERSHIP AND IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY, WHICH I BELIEVE, HAVING BEEN ON THE SENATE FLOOR, WAS A DISCUSSION TO DEAL WITH THOSE THAT ARE VIOLATING NEW LAWS.
I BARRED HIS TERM, GOOD, GOOD MAYOR, GOOD CHIEF.
UH, TRAFFIC INCIDENT WILL NOT, WILL NOT EVEN...
YOU WRITE THEM A CITATION OR YOU WARN THEM AND THEY GO ABOUT THEIR WAY.
NO CONTACT WITH ICE OVER NONVIOLENT, NON-JAILABLE OFFENSES.
IT'LL REDUCE THE FEAR AND THE ANXIETY.
AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT IT'S COMMUNITIES ACROSS HOUSTON THAT THEIR WORKERS WILL BE THERE, THAT THEIR NANNIES WILL BE THERE, THAT THEIR TEACHERS WILL BE THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO HOUSTONIANS TO TREAT EVERYONE EQUALLY, FAIRLY.
AND IF YOU DON'T VIOLATE ONE OF OUR LAWS THAT ARE JAILABLE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT HPD CONTACTING ICE.
I'VE SAID IT REPEATEDLY ALSO AT CITY COUNCIL, ELECTIONS MATTER, NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW POLICIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO.
UH, O- OTHER THAN CONTACTING ICE, HOW MUCH OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOES HPD SHARE WITH ICE CURRENTLY? IS WHAT? HOW MUCH BACKGROUND INFORMATION DO HPD SHARE WITH ICU? I, I CAN TAKE THAT QUESTION HERE IF YOU WANT ME TO.
UM, WHAT WAS YOUR NAME, SIR? UH.
OKAY, SO THE QUESTION WAS, OTHER THAN THIS NEW ORDINANCE? YEAH.
THE QUESTION WAS HOW MUCH CONTACT, HOW MUCH BACKGROUND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT? CORRECT.
THERE'S NO RADIO CONTACT IN ANY CAPACITY.
WE DON'T PROVIDE THEM ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE DO.
I'VE ACTUALLY PULLED PEOPLE OUT OF TASK FORCES TO COME BACK TO HOUSTON BECAUSE HOW SENSITIVE AN ISSUE THIS IS.
THE MAYOR AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR PERSONALLY HERE PUBLICLY FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WAS VERY PERSONAL TO ME AS THE SON OF M - IMMIGRANTS, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE OF HARDWORKING PEOPLE.
AND THE MAYOR, UH, CHALLENGED US FROM THE DAY WE STARTED THIS.
THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT THE 750,000 PEOPLE INTO NCIC.
BEFORE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THEM.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
TO BE SIMPLE LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, WE WILL ALWAYS DO OUR JOBS AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, BEFORE ANYBODY ASKED US TO, BEFORE AN ORDINANCE, WE WERE TRACKING.
I REVIEW EVERY SINGLE BODY CAMERA VIDEO.
UH, IT'S BEEN ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN DAYS.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONTACT, RIGHT? SO WE'RE FOCUSED ON
[00:15:01]
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL POLICE SERVICES TO THIS COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.CHIEF, HOW DO YOU, HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE CITY'S 287G AGREEMENT WITH ICE? I CAN...
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S, AGAIN, FALSE INFORMATION.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH - THAT'S A COUNTY.
WE DON'T - YOU HAVE TO RUN A JAIL TO HAVE A 287G.
CHIEF, COULD YOU ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU RESPOND IN SPANISH, PLEASE?
YOU SAY WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LAW.
WHAT LAW ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WE WERE FOLLOWING CITY ORDINANCES AND STATE LAW, CERTAINLY AS THE GOVERNOR, CURRENT GOVERNOR INTERPRETED SENATE BILL FOUR.
WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTION THAT OUR FUNDING WOULD BE WITHDRAWN IF WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THEIR DIRECTION OF CONTACTING ICE.
SOMETIME AS MAYOR, I HAVE TO PUT MY PERSONAL VIEWS ASIDE FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR HEALTH, WELFARE, PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WANNA ADDRESS MY RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S BEEN SO MISLEADING BY A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WHITMIRE WILL NOT HAVE AUSTIN RELATIONSHIPS.
THAT'S ABOUT AS SILLY A STATEMENT AS ANYONE CAN MAKE.
I SERVED IN THE SENATE WITH THE COMPTROLLER ECKHART AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.
I MENTORED THEM IN THE SENATE.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE NOW IN THE SENATE WHEN THEY'RE STILL CONTROLLED BY THE REPUBLICANS? I WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BECAUSE I DIDN'T MAKE ISSUES PARTISAN.
WE JUST WANNA GET THE JOB DONE.
AND SO I'M MENTORING NOW IN THEIR NEW POSITIONS.
CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR-ELECT AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ELECT WERE IN THE HOUSE.
I WAS IN THE SENATE WHEN THEY ARRIVED.
WHO DO YOU THINK THEY BROUGHT THEIR LEGISLATION TO IN THE SENATE? OBVIOUSLY, THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE EVEN A BETTER RELATIONSHIP.
WE HAD A GOOD ONE IN THE PAST BECAUSE I WOULD REMIND THE LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN, WE ALL REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE.
THE NEW LEADERSHIP, WE ALL REPRESENT THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT OBVIOUSLY I HAD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP THAT GOES BEYOND JUST SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT IF SAFRONIA THOMPSON BECOMES THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WE STARTED TOGETHER.
WE WENT THROUGH BATTLES TOGETHER, AND SHE WOULD BE A PERFECT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DURING THIS PERIOD OF TRANSITION.
WHAT'S BEST FOR TEXAS? IT'S COMPLICATED SOMETIME, BUT YOU CAN'T LET POLITICS GET IN THE WAY OF PROBLEM SOLVING.
UM, THEN MY QUESTION IS FOR THE CHIEF.
UM, HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THAT OFFICERS ARE ENFORCING THIS RULE AND HOW WILL YOU TRACK, UM, HOW THIS IS BEING ENFORCED? WILL THERE BE ANY RECORDS MADE PUBLIC NOW FOLLOWING THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER? WELL, THE ORDINANCE ISN'T GONNA GO AWAY, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THE CITY ORDINANCE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN.
UH, THE LAST QUARTER WE HAD NEAR 300,000 CONTACTS.
WE HAVE, UH, 5,500 EMPLOYEES THAT WORK EVERY DAY AROUND THE CLOCK, UH, THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS.
SO, UH, IT'S ALREADY BEEN RELEASED.
IT'LL BE READ AT EVERY ROLL CALL, EVERY SHIFT FOR FIVE DAYS, AND THEN WE'LL REINFORCE IT PROBABLY IN A MONTH.
BUT, UH, LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT I, WE, WE'VE TRACKED THIS SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, RIGHT? SO THERE'S NO OUT...
THERE'S A FEW OUTLIERS ON TIMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT EVERY VIDEO IS BEING LOOKED AT BECAUSE MY RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT WE TREAT EVERYBODY WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
[00:20:01]
I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'RE FROM OR YOUR CULTURE OR WHO YOU WORSHIP TO, BUT THIS OFFICE, THESE UNIFORMS ARE GONNA RESPECT YOU AND GIVE YOU THE DIGNITY.AND I WANNA JUST THANK THE STAFF.
UH, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT, THAT I WORK FOR EVERY DAY, BECAUSE WATCHING THOSE VIDEOS, YOU SEE THE HUMANITY IN THESE UNIFORMS. YOU SEE THEM WAITING AROUND TO RELEASE A VEHICLE SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO WORK TOMORROW.
YOU SEE THEM WAITING A LITTLE BIT LONGER SO A KID CAN COME HUG A DAD.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S SUCH A POWERFUL MESSAGE FOR ME AS AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LARGEST AGENCY IN THE STATE THAT OUR KIDS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DOING AMAZING THINGS WHEN THEY TREAT EVERYBODY THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH.
AND IT'S, AND IT'S LEADERSHIP, RIGHT? THE MAYOR AFFORDS US, UH, THE BEST TRAINING, THE, THE BIGGEST STAFF, AND IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE COMMUNITY.
MAYOR? CHIEF MAYOR, I CAN TELL THAT THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL TOPIC FOR YOU BOTH.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WEIGHS HEAVY ON BOTH YOUR HEARTS.
IF WASHINGTON FIRES BACK ABOUT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ANSWER IT? I ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M DOING WHAT'S IN HOUSTON'S BEST INTEREST.
IN FACT, THIS IS A REAL STATEMENT ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL.
WHEN I WENT TO LEGISLATURE 50 PLUS YEARS AGO, LOCAL CONTROL WAS THE DOCTRINE.
AND THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP, WHO HAS TWO MORE MONTHS ON THEIR SCHEDULE, STARTED INTERVENING IN CITY OPERATIONS IN MANY FACETS.
AND THEY CONTROL THE PURSE STRINGS.
UH, HAVING A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, BEING NONPARTISAN, BENEFITED HOUSTON.
SO YES, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S RISK.
I MENTIONED TO YOU A WHILE AGO, I CAN'T CHANGE OR CONTROL ICE.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE UNDOCUMENTED.
IF ANYBODY IN HERE SAYS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IMPACTED BY THE TRAGEDIES ACROSS OUR NATION AND LOCALLY, YOU DON'T HAVE A PULSE.
AND I'M ADDRESSING THAT TODAY.
YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF I GET SOME CALLS FROM THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OR OBVIOUSLY THE ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON.
I AM ELECTED, AND THE REASON I'M HERE IS I CARE ABOUT HOUSTON.
I'VE GOT 50 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, RELATIONSHIPS MATTER, AND I'M WILLING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I WILL TAKE THAT RISK, AND I KNOW I'M DOING RIGHT.
CAN YOU TRANSLATE THAT FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS? YEAH, I'M SORRY.
I GET S - THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION.
ALONG WITH THE QUESTION TOO, PLEASE.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, I WANNA FOLLOW UP ON WHAT JUST, UH - NO, YOU'RE BEING REAL PATIENT.
I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS GONNA BE, UH, INITIATING A SENSE OF, UM, HEALING.
AS YOU AND I BOTH KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, FOLKS IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, A LOT OF HOUSTONIANS THAT MAY HAVE, MAYBE LOST THEIR TRUST IN BOTH PD AND THE CITY BECAUSE OF, UM, WHATEVER WE WANNA CALL IT, INTERACTION, RELATIONSHIP, OR JUST A PHONE CALL OVER TO ICE.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA ENSURE, BESIDES LIKE MY COLLEAGUE WAS SAYING ON TRACKING THINGS, BUT HOW ARE YOU GONNA ENSURE THAT YOU'RE GAINING THAT TRUST BACK FROM THE SERVICE? WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, NOT ONLY HPD, BUT MYSELF.
I WAS IN MASON PARK WITH COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ TWO
[00:25:01]
SATURDAYS AGO, UP AND DOWN LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL FIELDS, TALKING TO HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES.AND, AND NOT ONLY THAT, I'M A HOUSTONIAN, AND I LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD.
SO THE POLICY CHANGE, THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, MY AVAILABILITY, YOUR WORK TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, UNLESS YOU COMMIT A NEW CRIME, A JAILABLE OFFENSE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME CRITICS AND SOME BENEFIT FROM MISINFORMATION.
ONE OF MY ENJOYMENT TODAY IS TO CLEAR THE RECORD.
SO I THINK ANYONE THAT SAYS THERE'S THAT LARGE AMOUNT OF DISTRUST, I THINK THEY'RE WRONG.
AND I THINK THE DATA WILL SHOW THAT.
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID? OVER 50% OF OUR 5,500 OFFICERS, WE HAVE LANGUAGE SKILLS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST A HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
WE ARE A DIVERSE CITY AND WE PATROL FAIRLY WELL-TRAINED LANGUAGE SKILLS.
THE DEPARTMENT LOOKS LIKE HOUSTON.
START LOOKING AT THE DIRECTORS ACROSS CITY HALL.
WE LOOK LIKE HOUSTON, AND WE'RE HERE TO SERVE ALL OF HOUSTON.
OBVIOUSLY, AS THE CHIEF SAID, THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE DEPARTMENT ON ANY POLICY.
SO IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR HOUSTON.
WE'RE MA - MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'VE BEEN DISCOVERED BY THE WORLD.
PEOPLE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY THERE IN FIFA, RECORD ATTENDANCE, FAN FEST, FREE, OVERFLOW WITH DYNAMO STADIUM, THE SHELL STATEMENT HAVE 20,000.
WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INCIDENT, AND THAT COMES FROM PREPARATION AND LEADERSHIP AND RE - AND RECRUITING THE RIGHT PEOPLE, BY THE WAY.
TO FOLLOW MY EARLIER QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WANT THIS TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER TEXAS CITIES.
HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO THE LEADERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, AND/OR DALLAS, OR DO WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST MODEL OF ITS KIND SINCE THE ELECTION? I'LL, I'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND, AND FREQUENTLY THEY CALL...
LET ME, LET ME EMPHASIZE AGAIN.
DURING THE MOST TROUBLING TIMES, ALL MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA WERE IN TURMOIL.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN HOUSTON, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE TONE THAT I, THE CHIEF, THE DEPARTMENT SET.
WE DON'T SHOW UP AT PROTESTS WITH BATONS AND, AND, AND MASKS AND SHIELDS.
AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, IF YOU DON'T THINK THERE'S NOT ELEMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO DISRUPT OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THERE'S AGENDAS, THERE'S MISINFORMATION, AND THIS IS SO COMPLEX.
I WISH TIME AND EVEN PRIVACY WOULD ALLOW ME TO DESCRIBE CASES WHERE HPD OFFICERS GOT THERE AND A MOTHER HAS SEVERAL CHILDREN.
SHE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE VIOLATED LAWS, BUT THE GOOD TRAINING, THE...
TRY A 23-YEAR-OLD OFFICER THAT'S BEEN ON THE STREETS A COUPLE YEARS.
WE'RE FOLLOWING OUR ORDINANCE.
THEY LOOK AT THE REASONABLENESS OF THEIR ACTION, REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, VERY SUBJECTIVE, BUT THEY WORK WITH THAT FAMILY TO SEE THAT RELATIVES ARE CONTACTED.
AND THEN THEY FINALLY SAY TO ICE, "DON'T COME HERE." THAT'S...
I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S REAL LIFE STORIES OF HPD OFFICERS SAYING PROTOCOL AND POLICY MIGHT SAY, "WE'VE GOT TO CONTACT YOU, BUT PLEASE REALIZE THE NUMBERS ARE THE MOTHER'S GOT SEVEN KIDS.
SHE'S PREGNANT." SO ANYWAY, I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING IT'S A DIFFICULT SUBJECT, VERY COMPLEX.
OTHER MAYORS ROUTINELY CALL ME, "HOW DO WE PASS A BUDGET WITHOUT TAXES?" YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA BRING UP THE BUDGET THIS MORNING, BUT AUSTIN TRIED TO RAISE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES 20%, WENT DOWN 63%.
THERE'S A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND THE TIME TODAY TO CHANGE OUR POLICY IS TODAY, AND WE'RE DOING IT, AND HOUSTON WILL BE A BETTER CITY FOR IT, AND I THINK IT'LL BECOME THE MODEL FOR OTHER TEXTS.
[00:30:01]
AND I WOULD EXPECT THE NATION.SOMEONE ASKED ME, AM I WORRIED ABOUT A CALL FROM WASHINGTON? LOOK AT MY RECORD.
I'VE DEALT WITH
AND I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I DON'T WORRY ABOUT POLITICS OR THE NEXT ELECTION.
THIS IS GOOD FOR HOUSTON AND I HOPE Y'ALL WILL DO YOUR JOB TO COMMUNICATE TO HOUSTONIANS THAT WE'VE GOT A RESPONSIBLE CITY GOVERNMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S DOING THE RIGHT THING ON AN ISSUE THAT HAS REALLY MADE US ALL EMOTIONAL OVER THE LAST YEAR.
YOU THINK THEY DON'T SEE ON TV WHAT'S HAPPENED? THE SALGADO FAMILY.
I WISH I COULD UNDO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I COULD ONLY DEAL WITH WHAT I CAN DEAL WITH, WHAT I CAN CONTROL.
AND IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN I SEE INCIDENTS LIKE ICE HITTING THE GENTLEMAN.
THE CALL FOR HOUSTON TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT, IT WAS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
I HAVE TO LEAD THIS COUNCIL, THIS COMMUNITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY PATIENT THAT I'VE GOT TO GO TO WORK.
UM, ARE YOU, I, I GUESS RELATED QUESTION, ONE, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING IT WAS A, THE OLD POLICY WAS A GOOD POLICY EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.
WAIT, SIR, I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS A GOOD POLICY.
I SAID WE HAD TO DEPEND ON STATE RESOURCES.
THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS A GOOD POLICY.
I THOUGH IT WAS A GOOD POLICY.
I VOTED AGAINST THAT POLICY FOR THE VERY REASON THAT IT, HOW IT'S PLAYED OUT.
BUT SOMETIME AS A MAYOR, I HAVE TO DO NOT MY PERSONAL VIEWS, BUT WHAT I KNOW TO BE IN HOUSTON'S BEST INTEREST.
WE CANNOT RUN THE CITY GOVERNMENT WITHOUT STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS, BOTTOM LINE.
AND BELIEVE ME, I'VE WORKED WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
THEY MEAN WHAT THEY SAY IN TERMS OF WITHDRAWING MONIES.
SO I'M NOT GONNA WAKE UP AND NOT HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR A PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE TO DO WHAT I BELIEVE IS BEST.
UP UNTIL TODAY, WHAT WAS BEST IS WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS BEING REPLACED.
WHAT'S BEST IS FOR ME TO TALK TO THE NEWLY ELECTED LEADERSHIP WHO BY THE WAY VOTED WITH ME AGAINST SENATE BILL FOUR.
WE KNOW THE POTENTIAL AND THE REAL CONSEQUENCES.