[Redistricting Public Input Meeting]
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-- THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
SOME MAY BE WITH US VIRTUALLY. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AS WELL. THERE ARE ABOUT 12 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP. IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE DIALED IN WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE YOU.
YOU STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REDRAW VOTING DISTRICTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES OVER THE PRECEDING DECADE.
REDISTRICTING IMPACTS EVER ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS FOR YOU TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS.
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO COMMENT ON OR CONSIDER AS PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY. THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION.
WHAT BONDS YOUR COMMUNITY. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE COMMON LINKS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WHERE IS YOUR COMMUNITY LOCATED? THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND WHY SHOULD THE COMMUNITY BE KEPT TOGETHER SEPARATE FROM ANOTHER AREA? THIS COULD INCLUDE NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, PUBLIC SERVICES, COMMERCIAL CENTERS.
AND OTHER UNIQUE FEATURES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. ARE YOU GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE PROTOCOLS AND HOW LONG PEOPLE HAVE.
7 AND YOU WILL LET THEM KNOW THAT I'LL JUST SAY THIS BEFORE I SIT DOWN. IT'S ONLY A SUGGESTION.
IF SOMEBODY HAS SAIDING THAT WANT TO SAY YOU DON'T OF TO SAY IT AGAIN BUT IF YOU WANT TO YOU CAN.
IF BASED ON THE TIME LIMITS * THERE IS MORE THAT YOU WANT TO SAY YOU CAN SUBMIT IT IN WRITING.
NOT NECESSARILY TONIGHT. BUT YOU LET THEM KNOW WHEN.
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR INPUT.
IT WON'T BE THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY.
YOU CAN ALWAYS E-MAIL THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU CAN E-MAIL MY OFFICE BUT THERE ARE SO MANY E-MAILSISM SUGGEST THAT -- WILL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN REDISTRICTING PROCESSES FOR A VERY LONG TIME BOTH AS A COLLECTED OFFICIAL AND A STAFFER TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. 8 *.
IT IS NEVER A PRETTY PROCESS. BUT AT THE COUNTY WE WANT TO GIVE YOU INPUT AS TO NOT JUST AN INSIDER'S GAME.
WITH THAT NEIL COME UP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE HERE. WHAT I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY DO IS WALK -- I'M GOING TO WALK EVERYONE THROUGH OUR PUBLIC INPUT PORTAL AND THEM WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR SPEAKERS.
SO LET ME BRIEFLY SHARE THE SCREEN.
7 AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS MENTIONED WE GO THERE THROUGH ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS AND THE PURPOSE IS TO ACCOUNT FOR BOTH THE POPULATION GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE COUNTY AS WELL AS SHIFTS WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO ACID SAID EARLIER OR AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID EARLIER ONE WAY TO GIVE INPUT IS HERE AT THE MEETINGS. THERE WILL BE AT LEAST THREE MORE MEETINGS IF NOT MORE AND FOLKS CAN SHOW UP AND SPEAK AND YOU CAN SHOW UP -- AT ANY MEETING.
PRECINCT 3 IS ON THE 5TH AND IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT. OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS ANOTHER WAY TO PROVIDE INPUT IS THROUGH OUR PORTAL.
THE WAY YOU GET THERE YOU GO TO THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY SITE AND CLICK ON RESDISTRICTING. THE HOME PAGE HAS GENERALIZED INFORMATION. FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE THE CENSUS
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DATA THAT YOU CAN USE TO DRAW DISTRICTS.WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
RESDISTRICTING CRITERIA. THE 2010 MAP AND SORT OF INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO YOU IN THE PROCESS OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THESE LINES MIGHT LOOK LIKE. THE SECOND OPTIONS THE PORTAL WHICH IS SUBMIT YOUR MAP IDEAS. IF YOU CLICK ON THAT WHAT YOU'LL DO IS YOU'LL GO HERE -- LET ME CLARIFY ONE THING.
WE HAVE A SELECT LANGUAGE TAB SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE. IF THERE IS ANOTHER LANGUAGE YOU WANT ON THE LIST WE CAN ADD IT SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
SO THE WAY THE PORTAL WORKS THERE IS A SECTION WHERE YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND IF YOU REPRESENT A GROUP YOU CAN TELL US WHAT PRECINCT YOU'RE IN.
7 THEN WE GET TO THE PROVIDE YOUR INPUT PIECE OF IT.
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO PROVIDE INPUT.
ONE IS ON THE MAP THAT YOU SEE HERE.
LIKE A PAINT FEATURE. 7 SO YOU CAN FOR EXAMPLE, DRAW LINES AND DRAW WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO.
THERE IS A TEXT FEATURE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN A TEXT BOX AND TYPE IN A DESCRIPTION. YOU CAN CLEAR THE MAP -- AND THEN START AGAIN. 7 THE SECOND OPTIONS TO GO WITH THE DOWNLOAD THE PDF OPTION. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A FULL RESOLUTION PDF. PRINT IT OUT AND MARK IT UP AND SCAN IT BACK IN AND THEN UPLOAD IT TO US.
EITHER OPTION WORKS. WHATEVER YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE W THE OTHER THING -- IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE PROCESS PLEASE PUT THEM IN HERE. ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY TECHNICAL ISSUES PUT IT IN HERE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO READ EVERY COMMENT THAT COMES THROUGH. IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM UPLOADING OR SOMETHING ON THE SITE IS NOT WORKING OR NOT USER-FRIENDLY I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU TO HELP MAKE IT WORK SO WE CAN GET YOUR INPUT. THE THIRD PIECE HERE IS THE JOIN THE DISCUSSION. THIS IS A CALENDAR.
SO WE HAVE SORT OF THE OLD MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD PRIOR.
THESE MEETINGS ARE RECORDED SO WE'LL PUT UP THE RECORDINGS FOR THE OLD MEETINGS. WE WILL BE DOING THAT FOR SEPTEMBER 31ST AND SEPTEMBER 22. AND THIS HAS FUTURE MEETINGS.
WE'LL HAVE A MEETING ON THE 5, 6, AND 7.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO ANY MEETING.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RESDISTRICTING PAGE.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO HELP WALK YOU THROUGH THE RESDISTRICTING PROCESS AND WHAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT.
LET ME ECHO ONE THING THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID ON THE COMMUNITIES AND TELLING US ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.
THE PLACE TO DO THAT IS THE SUBMIT YOUR MAPS IDEAS PAGE.
WHETHER IT'S ON THE MAP OR IN THE COMMENTS THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT YOU CARE ABOUT AND ALSO YOUR PLACE IS HELPFUL.
WHETHER THAT IS STREETS, HIGHWAYS, RIVERS, PLACES OF WORSHIP. HOWEVER YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY HELP COMMUNICATE THAT TO US SO WITH THAT WE'RE WRAPPED UP ON THE WEBSITE. AND I WILL TURN THIS TO SPEAKERS. WE HAVE A MIX OF VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON SPEAKERS. LUCINDA -- WHO DOES SUCH AN AMAZING JOB HAS GRACIOUSLY HELPED US HERE.
WE ASKED FOR FOLKS TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES WHICH IS THE RULE
FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU.
>> AND COMMISSIONER EL SIS SAID HAVE THEM SAY THEIR NAME AND IF
THEY REPRESENT ANYTHING. >> ABSOLUTELY.
*. >> ALL RIGHT THE FIRST SPEAKER IS DELLOYD PARKER WITH SHAY COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> YES. MY MAIN PURPOSE OF BEING PART OF THIS PROCESS IS LEARN AND GET MORE INSIGHT.
>> DO WE NEED TO HAVE HIM SAY HIS NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>> SAY YOUR NAME. >> MY NAME IS WE DID LLOYD
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PARKER. I'VE BEEN HERE 52 YEARS.I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS THAT I'M PART OF THIS DISTRICT THIS PRESI-- PRECINCT AND I'M NOT AS KNOWLEDGEABLE AS I SHOULD BE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I WANT TO LEARN MORE SO THAT -- ON THE NEXT DISCUSSION I WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTUNE.
I AM POLITICALLY A SUIT BUT KIND OF LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I HAD SOME ISSUE ESPECIALLY THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO EDUCATE MYSELF AS MUCH AS I NEED TO ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP IN TUNE AND KEEP IN TOUCH BETTER THAN I HAVE THIS LAST TIME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUE THAT'S I HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND I'M WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
7 SO AGAIN, I WANT TO BE MORE A PART OF WHO IS GOING ON.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HOW WE'RE BEING IMPACTED AND I WANT TO BE ENHANCED BY THIS PROCESS AS MUCH AS I CAN. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW. BUT I'M LOCKED IN TO THE PROCESS AND DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN KNOWING AND FINDING OUT MORE AND PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS SO IT WILL BE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS AFOOT. OKAY.
7. >> THANK YOU, DELLOYD AND WE'LL MAKE SURE FROM PRECINCT ONE -- THAT WE SEND YOU SOMETHING AND POST IT ON-LINE SO YOU KNOW THE TIMETABLE.
WE HAVE THESE HEARINGS APARTMENT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY JUDGE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND I'VE DONE THIS FOR A LONG TIME. I DON'T REMEMBER THE PROCESS BEING THIS TRANSPARENT IN TERMS OF COUNTY LINES BEING DRAWN SO I COMMEND HER FOR SUGGESTING THAT. TELL HER I'M HERE TONIGHT.
>> LIKEWISE. WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE LUCINDA HOW MANY MORE DO YOU
HAVE VIRTUALLY. >> THERE ARE A FEW THAT I JUST
RECEIVED. >> TELL THEM IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR ORDER WHEN SOMEBODY SHOWS UP I'M ALL FOR VIRTUAL NOW AND I APPRECIATE MY ALMA MATTA LETTING US HAVE THIS MEETING HERE AT TSU. GIVE THEM APPLAUSE BUT I WANT TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO SHOWED UP. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM
I CAN CALL THEM FIRST IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
I HAVE ROBERT JARRA. >> THAT IS WHY I WAS SITTING
>> MY NAME IS ROBERT JARRA I'M A RESIDENT.
SINCE THE LATE 1970S I'VE FOLLOWED AND PARTICIPATED IN RESDISTRICTING. LOOKING AT THIS YEAR'S I SUGGEST THAT YOU BE OPEN ABOUT USING PARTISANSHIP WHEN USING THE FACTOR. THERE IS NO REASON TO HIDE THE FACT THAT RESDISTRICTING IS POLITICAL.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH A POLITICAL LENS IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT IF THE COURT WISHES CAN DRAW IT.
IN 2016 HILLARY CLINTON CARRIED THE COUNTY WITH 54% OF THE VOTE.
IN 2018 BETO O'ROURKE CARRIED THE COUNTY WITH 58%.
JOE BIDEN RECEIVED 56% AND THIS GROWTH OF DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT CAN BE SEEN UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT. BUT THIS HAVE YOU INTORT GREW IN AREAS ACROSS THE COUNTY. IN NORTH NEAR SPRING IN THE WEST, OUTSIDE HIGHWAY 6 AND THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST HOUSTON.
THIS GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH AND SPREAD OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IS WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO DRAW FOUR PRECINCTS THAT HAVE GIVEN
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DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES A MAJORITY OF THE VOTE IN THE PAST.AND DRAWING THESE NEW COMMISSIONER LINES WILL NOT REQUIRE GERRYMANDERING AND COULD MEET YOUR REDISTRICTING CRITERIA. ASK YOURSELF SHOULD LIKE MINDED PEOPLE BE DRAWN INTO DISTRICTS WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT WHILE AT THE PRECINCT LEVEL AND COUNTY WIDE.
IF THE ANSWER IS YES DRAW FOUR DEMOCRATIC PRECINCTS.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, LUCINDA.
>> PAMELA -- BOVOLAND. >> MY NAME IS DR. PAMELA BOVOLA J.T. AND I'M A 5TH GENERATION RESIDENT OF THIRD WARD.
MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER MOVED FROM GALVESTON TO THIRD WARD IN THE MID-30S. 7 AND WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE ENTIRE TIME. AND WE HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH REDLINING AND PREVIOUS REDISTRICTING.
BUT WE STAY HERE BECAUSE THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY AND I DON'T BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THAT ALL THE DISTRICTS IN HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD NOT SPLIT UP COMMUNITIES. AVENUE COMMUNITIES ARE LOCAL.
THEY ARE GEOGRAPHICAL. WHEN I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE MAP -- I WORRY ABOUT THE LITTLE PIECE THAT GOES FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE SIDE AND WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE.
I'M NOT AFFECTED BY IT. BUT I'M SURE THOSE PEOPLE WERE AND IT'S IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICALLY BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE OUR BASIC CONCERNS COME. I WANT THIRD WARD TO BE A MIDDLE INCOME COMMUNITY THAT HAS LOW-INCOME AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT HAS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT IT CURRENTLY HAS.
IT HAS TEXAS SOUTHERN. SORT OF U OF H.
IT'S NOT MID-TOWN. 7 I RECENT THE FACT THAT MY TAX RECEIPT SAYS MID-TOWN AND NOT THIRD WARD BECAUSE THIS IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND I WANT IT TO STAY THAT WAY AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD GREAT REPRESENTATION OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE DISTRICT WAS CREATED WITH FRANCO LEE AND I WAS HERE FOR THAT. AND I JUST -- I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE -- I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE POLITICAL BALANCES THAT OCCUR AND I KNOW THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T DRAW POLITICAL LINES.
I KNOW THE STATE THINKS IT CAN BUT THE REALITY IS IN HARRIS COUNTY PEOPLE MOVE AROUND AND YOU CAN DO ALL YOU CAN TO TRY TO DILUTE DEMOCRATIC PULL IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE MOVE. TODAY -- AN AREA MAY BE VERY RED AND TOMORROW IT COULD BE LESS RED.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND AND I HOPE THE COUNTY ALSO FIGHTS WITH THE STATE IN TERMS OF HOW THE REDISTRICTING OCCURS IN THE COUNTY.
IT SHOULDN'T INCLUDE A FEDERAL DISTRICT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE THAT HAS A LITTLE SLICE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND A BIG SWATH OF FORT BEND. THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
AND IF LAWSUITS NEED TO BE FILED I HOPE THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS LEADING THE CHARGE TO FILE THE LAWSUITS BECAUSE COMMUNITIES ARE ABOUT GEOGRAPHY. IF YOU HAVE A PIECE OF URBAN AND
THIS HUGE PIECE OF -- >> MA'AM --
>> I'M SORRY MY THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
>> EVELYN -- >> WE'RE STICKING WITH THE TIME LIMITS, IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE'VE SEEN ONE ANOTHER.
WE WANT TO KEEP YOU SAFE. >> EVELYN HACK.
>> IF SHE SHOWS UP WE'LL LET HER SPEAK.
>> DR. CANADA IS MATTHEWS WITH THE TEXAS COALITION OF BLACK DEMOCRATS. *.
>> GOOD EVENING. FIRST OF ALL GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR HOLDING THIS AND OTHER COUNTY PUBLIC RESDISTRICTING
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HEARINGS FIRST OF ALL. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS HEARING AT THIS HISTORIC UNIVERSITY.TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS ON PRECINCT 1.
THE GOAL OF COUNTY REDISTRICTING SHOULD TO DRAW A CONSOLIDATED -- PRECINCT 1 AS POSSIBLE BY MAINTAINING COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AS COMMISSIONERS WORK TO EQUALIZE POPULATION COUNTY WIDE. IN THE PAST FEDERAL COURTS HAVE DISFAVORED FUNNY LOOKING DISTRICTS AND I HATE TO SAY IT BUT PRECINCT 1 LOOKS REAL FUNNY. I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
PRECINCT 1 LOOKS REAL FUNNY. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE COMMISSIONERS TO UNDO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE LET'S NOT FORGET THE 2011 GERRYMANDERING OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT. LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU FROM THE TEXAS COALITION OF BLACK DEMOCRATS. 7 AND THE RAINBOW COALITION.
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN DR. MATTHEWS TALK IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES.
GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. NEXT.
>> CHRISTINA SANDERS WITH POLLY CHICKEN GAUGEMENT FUND.
-- *. >> THESE GLASSES ARE FOGGED UP.
IF I MISS SOMEONE LET ME KNOW. >> THE NEXT ONE IS JOCELYN THOMAS. 7.
>> MY NAME IS JOCELYN THOMAS. I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1.
I TOO AM FROM GALVESTON AND MOVED INTO THIS AREA IN 1993.
MY QUESTION BASICALLY IS MORE OF A QUESTION OF WHAT THE NUMBERS OF PRECINCT 1 WERE COMPARED TO 2010 TO NOW.
DID PRECINCT 1 GAIN MORE POPULATION OR DID WE LOSE POPULATION? AND IF SO IF WE LOST WOULD WE LOSE RESOURCES AND IF WE LOST RESOURCES WHAT RESOURCES WOULD WE LOSE AND IF WE GAIN POPULATION WOULD WE GAIN RESOURCES AND IF WE DID GAIN WHAT RESOURCES WOULD WE GAIN.
MY QUESTION IS MORE INFORMATIONAL.
I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS A CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT FOR "MID-TOWN" AND NOW IT'S MUSEUM PARK.
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MIDDLED EARLY NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF AND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP ALL OF THESE CIVIC CLUBS AS ONE. VERSUS ALL SEPARATE BASED ON WHAT IS ON THE -- WHAT YOU LIVE ON OR CAROLINE -- JUST WANT THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE CAN ALL HELP
EACH OTHER. >> JUST SO I DON'T GET INTO THE BACK AND FORTH -- WE'LL ANSWER THEM.
THE COUNTY IS A LITTLE UNDER 5 MILLION PEOPLE AND PRECINCTS OUGHT TO BE 1.2 MILLION. AND THEN THE JUDGE IS ELECTED COUNTY WIDE. MOST OF WHAT WE DO WE DON'T DISTRIBUTE IN TERMS OF THE MONEY THE COUNTY HAS BASED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE PRECINCT. I'M A BIG ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY AND WE'LL FOLLOW THE PROBLEM. WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME SENSE OF TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE EQUATION. IF I FORGOT I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE SURE WE'LL GET YOU AN ANSWER BUT THAT IS NOT THE CONCERN ONLY.
IF SOMEBODY IS ON MEDICAID OR MEDICARE THE PROGRAMS FOLLOW THE PERSON WHERE EVER THEY ARE. AND IF YOU GO TO HARRIS HEALTH WE DON'T GIVE X NUMBER OF SLOTS. YOU GET ME?
7 YOU KNOW I'M NOT AS BRAVE AS DR. MATTHEWS WAS.
-- BRIEF AS DR. MATTHEWS ARE. >> THAT IS ALL OF THE SPEAKERS
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THAT HAVE SIGNED UP. >> YOU JUST GET EXTRA POINT IF YOU SHOW UP. I KNOW A FEW OTHERS -- ANYBODY HAVE TO LEAVE THAT HAS SHOWN UP? LET THEM TESTIFY.
MY NAME IS JASMINE AIRS AND I LIVE IN SOUTH UNION.
BY WAY OF THIRD WARD BECAUSE I WORK IN THIRD WARD.
AT THE SHAKE COMMUNITY CENTER AND OTHER AREAS THAT I'M PART OF. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS WHAT KIND OF POINTS SHOULD WE MAKE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY OF INTEREST THAT WILL HELP OUR CAUSE IN THIS MANNER? AND WHAT TYPE OF TESTIMONIALS SHOULD WE BE SHARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY THAT HELP SUPPORT THIS CAUSE? AND YEAH AND WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR THE TESTIMONIALS WHEN WE SHARE THEM AT THE MEETINGS. LIKE WHAT WILL THEY BE USED FOR AND HOW IT WILL HELP AND SUPPORT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. 7.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HERE WANT TO TESTIFY NOW BEFORE WE GO TO PEOPLE ON THE LINE. YES IN THE BACK TO THE LEFT.
Y'ALL ALL LOOK SO MUCH ALIKE WITH THESE MASKS ON BUT WE'RE
WEARING OUR MASK. >> I'M GOING TO DO THIS REAL FAST. IT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THE --
>> SIR -- SIR -- CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE FOR THE RECORD.
>> WHILE THEY ARE DOING THAT IT ALL GOES INTO THE RECORD.
BECAUSE REDISTRICTING ISSUES ARE GENERALLY CHALLENGED IN COURT BUT I CANNOT BE IN A POSITION WHERE I'M TELLING YOU WHAT TO SAY OR THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE IN COURT.
THAT IS THE SHORT ANSWER. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- MORE IMPORTANTLY I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1 AND I CAME OUT TO TOUCH ON TWO THINGS. I AGREE WITH DR. MATTHEWS.
WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE -- IN LIGHT OF THE POPULATION GROWTH TO MAKE SURE WE EXERCISE CONSISTENCY WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND FEDERAL RESDISTRICTING STANDARDS, COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST. COMPACTNESS.
NOT DIVIDING UP COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST THAT VOTE TOGETHER AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHO THEY ELECT BUT I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THIS AND IT SHOULD NOT GO UNINCLUDED. I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME THE COMMISSIONERS LOOKED APARTMENT JP AND CONGRESSABLE SEATS AND DID ANYTHING WITH THOSE LINES WAS 1970.
LET ME JUST CHECK BECAUSE I'M SLOW SOME TIME.
WE WENT FROM 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 1970 TO 4.7 MILLION. THAT IS A VOTING RIGHTS ACT KIND OF VIOLATION. YOU'RE DILUTING MY VOTE.
SOME OF THE DISTRICTS ARE WAY OVER POPULATED.
UNDER POPULATED AND I LOVE CONSTABLES AND JPS BUT THEY WORK FOR THE CITIZENS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE DISTRICTS WHERE THE POPULATIONS ARE MUCH MORE EQUALIZED BECAUSE COMBINED THEY ARE PART OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTY AND IT'S UNFAIR FOR JUSTICE TO BE DELIVERED IN SUCH AN UNEQUAL MANNER.
IF YOU'RE A CONGRESSABLE THAT HAS GOT 2 MILLION PEOPLE COMPARED TO A CONSABLE WITH LESS.
I PRACTICE LAW NOW. MY BROTHER PASSED.
WHEN YOU GO TO JP COURT AND IT TAKES YEARS EVEN BEFORE COVID TO
[00:30:04]
GET A HEARING AND RULING BECAUSE THE DOCKET WAS SO HEAVY.I HOPE COMMISSIONERS AS YOU WORK ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AND THE COUNTY MAP AS A WHOLE YOU ALSO TAKE SOME TIME TO GO LOOK AT AND TRY TO BRING SOME BALANCE TO THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME STANDARDIZATION.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO MODERNIZE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE. AND IF YOU GO MODERNIZE COUNTY GOVERNMENT THERE SHOULD BE SOME TIME THAT GOES INTO MODERNIZING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION OF IT.
THE CONSTABLES AND THE JUDICIAL PART OF IT.
THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> YES. I SEE A HAND OVER THERE.
>> I'M SO SORRY. >> WE'LL GET TO THE ONES ON THE LINE. I EXERCISED MY PREROGATIVE.
IF YOU'RE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.
>> WELL THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS HEARING.
MY NAME IS GARY BLEDSOE AND I WANT TO COMMEND EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I'M A LAWYER AND DONE RESDISTRICTING WORK. DID A LOT OF WORK WITH THE SENATOR WHEN HE WAS IN THE SENATE.
ABOUT THE LINES THAT WERE BEING DRAWN LAST TIME SO HAD A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON HARRIS COUNTY. I WANT TO SAY THAT STARTING OUT HARRIS COUNTY HAS DONE SO MANY GREAT AND POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE EXEMPLARY OF LATE AND I KNOW OF MANY THINGS THAT YOU HAVE'S DONE IN TERMS OF BRINGING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE FORMERLY ISSUES AND CHANGING GOVERNMENT TO WHERE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSE I HAVE TO PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE ARE NOT TREATED AS OUTSIDERS AND THE SAME THING SHOULD APPLY TO VOTING RIGHTS.
WHAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST AND WHAT I OBSERVED INDEPENDENT PAST THAT IS THERE HAS BEEN A REAL EFFORT THAT IS TAKING PLACE BY OTHERS TO ACTUALLY DILUTE MINORITY VOTES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO ONE OF THE FIRST -- RESPONSIBILITIES MIGHT BE THAT YOU TRUE TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE THERE WAS UNNECESSARY PACKING AND TRACKING TO MAKE SURE THAT LINES SHOULD BE DRAWN UP IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE DRAWN UP. WHEN YOU READ COURT CASES AND TALK ABOUT HOW DISTRICTS CAN BE DRAWN IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE THE PRACTITIONERS HAVE TREATED BLACK AND BROWN VOTERS DIFFERENTLY BUT YOU CAN DO THAT DIFFERENT THIS TIME.
YOU CAN TREAT BLACK AND BROWN VOTERS LIKE WHITE VOTERS ARE TREATED. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE EVERY EFFORT TO DO THAT. AND THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN IMPORTANT VOTE BECAUSE GOVERNMENT IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE LIVES OF ALL FOLKS AND I WANT TO FOLLOW MY GOOD FRIEND'S COMMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE CONSTABLES AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BECAUSE THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN LITIGATION IN OTHER COUNTIES AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. WHETHER IT'S JUST THE THINGS THAT CAN HELP SHAPE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND MOVE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR IF IT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AND THERE IS A LOT OF CAREER BUILDING THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN FOLKS START OUT AS A CONSTABLE OR JP. CONGRESSMAN GREEN USED TO BE A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE HERE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE FAIR BALANCE IN TERMS OF ELECTORALLY TO MAKE SURE THE DISTRICTS CONFORM TO SOME KIND OF FAIRNESS FOR THE VOTERS.
7 IF ONE JP HAS TWICE THE INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR DISTRICT THAT ANOTHER JP HAS -- THAT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE IN THAT JPS DISTRICT ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARDER TIME HAVING ACCESS TO THE JUDGE AND GETTING THEIR CASES HEARD.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER OUTCOMES THAT ARE NEGATIVE TO PEOPLE THAT OCCUR SO I URGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A REAL LOOK AT THAT AND TO FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES PARTICULARLY AS THEY RELATE TO COMMUNITIES OF
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FORMER INTERIM DEAN AND HAS -- ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES AND PREPARED ME TO TESTIFY. GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER.>> THANK YOU. I'M JUST JUST OF THE PEACE SHARON BERNIE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I LIKE PAMELA AM ORIGINALLY FROM THE AREA AND MY GRANDPARENTS WERE ALSO PRECINCT 1 RESIDENTS AND MY MOTHER VERY ACTIVE AND THEN MYSELF.
I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WENT TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WELL NOT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. THEY STARTED ZONING THEN AND THEN I WENT TO JACKIE YATES HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A GRADUATE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW HERE.
SO ALTHOUGH I AM VERY WELL CONNECTED IN THE CITY AND VERY WELL TRAVELED I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY TIME HERE UNDERSTANDING THESE COMMUNITIES AND OF COURSE THEN WHEN CAMPAIGNING, VISITING ALL OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOW BEING ON THE BENCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THE ZONING IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS I LISTEN TO CIVIL CASES QUITE OFTEN HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF IF THE TWO PARTIES COME FROM THE SAME COMMUNITY AND IN MOST CASES THEY DO.
I EVEN GET CASES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OR NEIGHBORS THAT I USED TO SAY THIS DOG GOT THAT DOG IN THE YARD.
SO ALTHOUGH THE CASES OF COURSE ARE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT HOW WE ZONE BECAUSE AS THE PEOPLE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE COURT THAT IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS AMANDA SAP.
I'M A MEMBER OF ST. JOHNS DOWNTOWN.
I'M STATION MANAGER OF KMLZ -- POWERED BY BRED OF LIFE INC THAT SERVICES OR HAS PROGRAM AREAS WHERE WE ARE TACKLING HOMELESS OUTREACH AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AND HUNGER RELIEF AND FOR ME SITTING HERE TODAY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW AS A RADIO STATION HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO HELP BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
THAT IS WHAT I'M HERE TO DO TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS. REALLY APPRECIATE THIS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND I'M AT YOUR CHURCH ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAVE BEEN ON YOUR SHOW MANY TIMES AND LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MANY OTHERS AS SOON AS ANY PROPOSED MAPS ARE OUT WE'LL POST THEM ON-LINE.
EVERYTHING IS ON-LINE NOW. ISN'T IT AMAZING? JUST GOOGLE IT. WE'LL GET IT OUT THERE.
>> REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM BEFORE WE GO TO VIRTUAL PEOPLE.
OKAY. LET'S TAKE A VIRTUAL ONE.
KEN ROGERS WITH OPERATION LOVE, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KEN ROGERS.
I'M WITH -- ON THE BOARD OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 67 I'M ALSO ACTIVE WITH PURE JUSTICE AND THE FOUNDER OF OPERATION LOVE AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING. I ATTENDED ANOTHER MEETING AND I LISTENED AND I GUESS -- -- THE THOUGHT THAT POPS IN MY HEAD IS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. 7 AND I THINK THAT IS A FEAR THAT IS WEDDING UP IN MY STOMACH AND MY HEART.
AND WITH ALL OF THE VOTER SUPPRESSION THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THE UNITED STATES THIS RESDISTRICTING SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BECOME ANOTHER VOTER SUPPRESSION.
-- TOOL THAT IS GOING TO BE USED TO TAKE AWAY OUR VOICE OUR VOTE OUR ABILITY TO ELECT SOMEBODY THAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IS GOING TO STAND UP FOR US. I'M HERE IN THIRD WARD NOW.
I WAS NOT BORN AND RAISED LIKE DR. PAT BUT I MIGRATED HERE AND
[00:40:02]
I LIVE HERE NOW AND I'VE SIMULATED.I'M ALSO ON THE -- ALUMNI CLASS OF '72.
I'M A PART OF THAT CLASS. SO THIS IS MY EFFORT TO ASSIMILATE. I DO A LOT OF WORK AT BLACK -- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WHEN I GO THERE AND WE DO EVENTS THERE AND I LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AT RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL.
AND WONDER WHY CAN'T THAT BE A PLACE THAT PROVIDES HEALTH SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF THIRD WARD.
BUT IF THEY KEEP GENTRIFYING THIRD WARD IF THEY KEEP REDISTRICTING AND BUILDING FREEWAYS AND CHOPPING UP THIRD WARD TAKING OUR VOTE AWAY TAKING OUR VOICE AWAY -- I JUST DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
7 EXACTLY HOW TO DRAW IT UP I'M NOT SURE.
7 BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR BEGGING FOR PRAYING FOR IS PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS -- AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
ALL WE WANT IS WHAT IS OURS. 7 THAT VOICE AND THE ABILITY TO ELECT SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO REPRESENT US.
AND THAT IS MY PRAYER -- AND I HOPE EVERYBODY -- WILL CONSIDER
THIS. >> THANK YOU, MR. ROGERS.
LET'S TAKE ANOTHER ONE VIRTUALLY.
>> DEBORAH WALKER WITH SUNNY SIDE REDEVELOPMENT ORG.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS REDISTRICTING MEETING.
MY NAME IS DEBORAH WALKER. I'M A SUNNY SIDE RESIDENT AND ALSO PRESIDENT OF SUNNY SIDE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT IS LOCATED IN SUNNY SIDE IN PRECINCT 1.
TALKING ABOUT THE RESDISTRICTING THE REPUBLICAN JUST RELEASED THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP AND AS BAD AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IT ELIMINATES COMPETITIVE SEATS AND -- AND INCREASES A NUMBER OF MAJORITY OF WHITE SEATS. 7 IT IS ALSO PUTTING CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN AND CONGRESSWOMAN -- A PLACE IN THE SAME DISTRICT IN A CLEAR ATTEMPT TO WEAKEN THE VOICE OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. CONGRESS MUST ACT QUICKLY TO PASS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TEXAS ALSO HAPPENED AROUND THE COUNTRY. GERRYMANDERING AND PROTECT OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES. WE NEED TO SETTLE LEGISLATION TO PASS TO STOP THIS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HOSTING THE MEETING AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR
PRECINCT 1. >> THANK YOU, MS. WALKER.
>> COMMISSIONER IF YOU'LL GIVE US JUST A MOMENT WE'LL TRY TO REACH SOMEONE ELSE. 7 DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN
PERSON? >> I'M GOING TO CHECK ANY PHONE AND SEE IF SHE HAS TEXTED ME P. I KNOW SHE -- SHE CALLED ME AT MIDNIGHT. I WAS ASLEEP.
7. >> MY NAME IS DEED BAROMETER DRAY GILBERT AND I'M RUNNING FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE REDISTRICTING AND I'M ASHAMED OF WHAT I'LL SEEING. IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND IT DON'T JUST AFFECT THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY BUT IT WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IN THE ENTIRE STATE IN WHICH WE LIVE AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO STOP DILUTING THE VOTE WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IT SEEMS THAT WE KEEP VOTING THE SAME PEOPLE IN AND WITH THIS REDISTRICTING THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
[00:45:02]
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RE-ELECT OTHER PEOPLE IN POSITIONS THAT THEY MIGHT BE IN. I'M SAYING TO YOU IF I BECOME THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS THIS IS AN ISSUE.I LIVE NOT IN HARRIS COUNTY. MY MOTHER DOES.
I LIVE IN FORT BEND BUT I LIVED IN A COMMUNITY WHERE I COULDN'T VOTE. BECAUSE I LIVE IN A MUDD DISTRICT WHICH MEANS THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO TO BE DEALING WITH AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PRECLEARANCE.
MAKINGS SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMES BACK IN AND DO PRECLEARANCE AND MAKE THESE COUNTIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DILUTING THE VOTING RIGHTS. SO THIS IS WHAT I JUST HAVE TO SAY TO YOU IS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON IT.
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THESE TYPE OF MEETINGS WHERE THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED AND SO I COMMEND YOU ON DOING THAT AND THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER I HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER ON THE LINE.
>> THANK YOU. D ELLEN, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> HI, THIS IS DEBBIE ELLEN. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS PLATFORM FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD.
I'M A PRECINCT CAPTAIN. AND A PROUD MEMBER OF SENATE DISTRICT 13 AND COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1.
AND I'M ALSO A HARRIS COUNTY VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR. I FULLY AGREE --
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE A DEAD ZONE IN YOUR HOUSE.
>> WE'LL TRY TO CALL HER BACK. 7.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN HERE WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO GET MS.AL END.
Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING THIS MEETING AND FOR ALLOWING THOSE OF US WHO ARE INTEREST IN WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS OUR --
>> YOUR NAME PLEASE. >> ALGONITA SCOTT DAVIS AND -- I'VE LIVED AND WORKED INSIDE THE LOOP FOR 70 YEARS SO I'VE BEEN WITHIN THIS PRECINCT FOR 70 YEARS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT ANY REDISTRICTING ANY DRAWING OF THE LINES OF THIS PRECINCT ALLOWS THIS PRECINCT TO SERVE AS THE COMMUNITY THAT IT HAS BEEN. INITIALLY OF COURSE IT WAS SET UP BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING HISTORICALLY AND HOUSTON'S RACIALLY SEGREGATED HOUSING PATTERNS BUT TO US TO OUR COMMUNITY TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HERE THIS TIME IT HAS ALLOWED US TO BE REPRESENTED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE SPECIFIC ISSUES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR ISSUES ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OUR ISSUES ARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE. OUR ISSUES ARE HEALTH RELATED SO WHATEVER WE DO IN TERMS OF A PRECINCT WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN OTHER PRECINCTS IN TERMS OF THE ALLOCATION OF COUNTY RESOURCES BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RECEIVED LESS HISTORICALLY IN TERMS OF RESOURCES. SO AS OUR DISTRICT LINES ARE DRAWN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DRAWN TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS OF COMMON INTEREST OF COMMON NEEDS OF COMMON PROJECTIONS TO REMAIN TOGETHER AND TO BE ALLOWED TO BE SERVED BY SOMEONE SUCH AS OUR COMMISSIONER WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN OUR PRECINCT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU. WERE YOU ABLE TO GET DEBBIE
GOOD EVENING AGAIN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH THIS PLATFORM
[00:50:04]
FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD. MY NAME IS DEBBIE ALLEN.I'M A PRECINCT CAPTAIN WHICH IS CASHMERE GARDENS AND A PROUD MEMBER OF SENATE DISTRICT 13 AND YOUR PRECINCT COMMISSIONER.
AND ALSO A VOLUNTEER VOTER REGISTRAR.
AND FULLY AGREE WITH THE ATTORNEY ROBINSON WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THE BALANCE OF OUR GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT FOR THE EQUALITY FOR JUSTICE OF PEACE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THESE ISSUES ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, MY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALWAYS HISTORICALLY ON THE RECEIVING END THE LOW RECEIVING END OF ANY FEDERAL, LOCAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER COMMISSIONER THE SIZE OF ALL OF THE PRECINCTS TOGETHER AND I LOOKED ACT THE MAP AND I DON'T THINK THE MAPS ARE FAIR. WE NEED TO HAVE FAIR MAP HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WHERE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IT NEEDS TO REFLECT THE HARD WORK THAT MANY OF US HAVE DONE. WE'VE UPHELD THE FOURTH FOR THE VOTING AND CANDIDATES IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR GENERATIONS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. ALLEN.
7 IS THERE ANYONE ELSE VIRTUALLY.
>> YES, SIR. DANNY NORRIS WITH NORRIS AND NORRIS LLP. GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> YES. MY NAME IS DANNY NORRIS.
I AM A LAWYER ACTUALLY GOT MY LAW DEGREE FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL. I'M A LONG TIME PRECINCT 1 RESIDENT. I'VE LIVED IN A FEW DIFFERENT PLACES. I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL SO I LIVED ON BOTH SIDES OF SKY STREET AND NOW I LIVE CLOSE TO LAKE HOUSTON. AND I'M ALSO ON THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND I REPRESENT PRECINCT 1.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED IS THAT IT'S SHAPED VERY FUNNY.
I'VE NOTICED THAT IT'S EXTREMELY ALL OF THE BIG BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS IN PRECINCT 1 AND THAT IS PRETTY CLEAR SO IT HAS ALL OF THE WARDS AND THE INNER CITY AREA.
I DEFINITELY COULD TELL PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ON THAT IT WAS SHAPED EXTREMELY ODD. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DESIGNATED DEMOCRATIC SEATS WHICH WAS FOR FINE FOR ME BUT OF A CONCERN AS FAR AS DEMOCRACY IS CONCERNED.
7 EVEN TO THE POINT OF GETTING OR HAVING A MORE CHALLENGING RUN FOR A SEAT FOR MY OWN SEAT I DEFINITELY SUGGEST THAT THE BOUNDARIES ARE DEFINITELY LOOKED AT AND CONSIDERED WHEN REDRAWING. AND I TAKE VOTING VERY SERIOUSLY. DURING MY ELECTION I SAT AND TRIED TO HELP -- DO VOTER ASSISTANCE.
I HAVE A A PENDING LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE LAST VOTING LAWS. I'M DEFINITELY -- I DEFINITELY CHARGE THE -- I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS SAID BEFORE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE LINES ARE DRAWN IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER. AND THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REPRESENT THE -- ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT BACK AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR EVERYBODY OUT.
>> WE'RE TRYING TO REACH ANOTHER SPEAKER AT THE MOMENT BUT I'M NOTICING THAT THE SIGN INTERPRETERS STREAM HAS TURNED
OFF. >> A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN I DO
BUT THAT I CANNOT DO. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN GET THAT STREAM GOING. 7.
>> ANYONE ELSE HERE IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY.
OKAY WE HAVE -- OVER HERE TO THE RIGHT.
YES, MA'AM AND WE'LL GET YOU A MIC.
THEY ARE CHECKING ON THE LIVE STREAM FOR THE -- IF IT DOESN'T WORK I'LL ASK HER TO COME UP HERE.
[00:55:08]
MY NAME IS STACEY CHILD'S. AND AT SUNNY SIDE LEGAL CLINIC OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES AND WE ALSO WANT TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LEGAL ISSUES AND ABOUT HOW THE LAURA EFFECTS THEM.SO WE'RE * VERY UPSET THAT THIS MAY IMPACT THE CITIZENS IN A NEGATIVE WAY BUT WE'RE HERE TO OFFER SUPPORT TO YOU COMMISSIONER AND TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO EDUCATE THE REST OF THE CITIZENS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING.
>> DID YOU SAY CHILDS. >> YES.
>> YOU MAY NOT KNOW BUT I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH SUNNY SIDE.
I HEARD SOMEBODY WHO -- KEN ROGERS SAID YATES 72.
I WAS BORN IN .72. >> COMMISSIONER I DO HAVE A
SPEAKER NOW. >> CARL KNICKS GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CARL'S KNICKS.
-- -- -- FOR JUSTICE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, SIR. >> MY NAME IS CARL NIX.
-- THE -- MR. ELLIS I FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT. I REALLY HAD A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS. I THINK ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS US AS YOUNG PEOPLE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT REDISTRICTING. I'M NOT AWARE OF HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS AND I'M 38. WHEN I WAS 28 AND 18 I HAD NO IDEA THAT ANYTHING NONE OF THIS WAS HAPPENING.
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
I'M NOT SAYING I'M A BAD BAD INFLUENCE BUT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY.
I CHALLENGE ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. NIX.
I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU TO HELP US WITH THAT.
YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD. IT'S 7:00 ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
YOU'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME. ANY MORE?
>> WE'RE TRYING TO REACH THE LAST ONE.
>> ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? Y'ALL ARE READY FOR SOME EVENT. WILLOW WATER HOLE HAS THE CONCERT. MAYBE WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONCERT FOR MUSIC AND POLITICS. MUSIC AND POLICY.
THEN Y'ALL ARE START THROWING CANNES UP AT THE STAGE WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT POLICY. DID YOU FIND THE OTHER ONE
>> THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE A POLICY
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MARIA RAWLS.
>> IF YOU COULD TURN DOWN YOUR AUDIO IF YOU COULD TURN THAT
>> AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START SPEAKING.
MY NAMING MARIA -- CAN YOU HEAR ME?
OKAY. HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
[01:00:04]
YES. GOOD EVENING.MY NAME IS MARIA RAWLS. MY CONCERN ABOUT RESDISTRICTING -- IS THAT OUR LIBRARY SINCE I COME INTO THIS AREA HAS BEEN REDISTRACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WE ARE AT THE VERY END OF THE PRECINCT 1. MY QUESTION IS IF EVER THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN ARE WE STILL PART OF PRECINCT 1 BECAUSE I LOVE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
WE'VE DONE A LOT SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
THAT IS MY CONCERN AND ANOTHER THING IS HOW THIS WILL AFFECT THE LIBRARY SINCE WE SAW A LOT OF GROWTH IN OUR AREA.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF BUSINESSES COMING UP.
THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITY -- GROWING AND BUILDING MORE HOUSES AROUND THE AREA. 7 AND THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN AT A STAND STILL SINCE 1980S AND WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO OUR LIBRARY AND OUR LIBRARY AS WELL IS A PLACE WHERE BEEN WE HOST ELECTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO HOST ANOTHER ELECTION THIS COMING OCTOBER 18TH UNTIL THE ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER. THE TRAFFIC IS REALLY BAD.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR PARKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO VOTE IN THE LIBRARY. SO, THAT IS JUST MY CONCERN.
HOW ARE WE BEING AFFECTED WITH RESPECT THIS REDISTRICTING AND IN FACT WE ARE REALLY ALSO IN -- FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.
WE'RE GIVING THEM REGISTRATION STORMS EVERY TIME THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE TO HAVE THEIR HEARD ARE VOICE HEARD DURING THE ELECTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WE HAD REGISTERED THAT WE COULD REACH.
>> OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AND THE MEETING -- LEGAL ANY MUMBO JUMBO.
YOU'VE BEEN AROUND HERE. ANY MUMBO JUMBO? THANK YOU ALL. STAY SAFE.
THANK YOU. '01 MORE? SOMEBODY ELSE PUT THEIR HAND UP. OKAY.
HE WANTED TO COME AND SEE HOW I GRADUATED.
HE HEARD I WAS OUT POLITICKING ALL OF THE TIME AND NEVER IN SCHOOL. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
STAY SAFE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.