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242.[Rabbi Yitzchak Sprung of United Orthodox Synagogues in Houston.]
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS OCTOBER 25TH, 2022 MEETING OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.WE'LL START BY RECITING THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED.
CHILDREN UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I KNOW IT'S A PAINFUL TIME FOR YOU.
SO WE'VE HAD A REQUEST TO START BRIEFLY WITH ITEMS 235 AND 277 BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO
[Departments (Part 1 of 4)]
THE TAX SO BOTH OF THESE ITEMS I KNOW, TIFFANY, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS ON THESE TWO ITEMS, SO WE'LL CALL THEM UP FOR THOSE.BUT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE COURT BACKLOG AND TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME.
SO, MR. BERRY, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU FOR ITEMS 235 ON PAGE 31 AND 277 ON PAGE 36.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A SHORT POWERPOINT TO PULL UP.
AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG AND VIOLENT CRIME RATES ARE TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC.
I KNOW THEY ARE TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT TO YOU.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO YOU ON SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE AND THAT YOU'VE IMPROVED YOU'VE IMPROVED BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT NOT ONLY DO WE SEE IMPACTS IN THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO THE TOP LINE INDICATORS, BOTH WITH THE BACKLOG AND THE CRIME, VIOLENT CRIME RATE THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND I ALSO HOPE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WORK THAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE DOING, BECAUSE I THINK WE DO THIS WORK IN A SOMETIMES CONTENTIOUS BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY LOTS OF PEOPLE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THESE TOPICS.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE, WE'LL START WITH THE BACKLOG.
THIS COURT APPROVED A $26 MILLION AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN BUDGET FOR EFFORTS TO TACKLE THE THESE EFFORTS ARE LARGELY ARP FUNDED, BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS ADDING POSITIONS AND FUNDING THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
AND A KEY PART OF THE STRATEGY IS ACTUALLY ADDING PORT CAPACITY.
SO THERE WAS ONE NEW PERMANENT DISTRICT COURT ADDED AS PART OF THE AGENDA OF THIS COURT FIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKETS.
THOSE ARE JUDGES, BY AND LARGE, THAT HAVE FULL POWER TO TRY CASES AND MOVE THEM ALONG WHEN THEY'RE REFERRED FROM THE HOME COURT.
AND THEN SIX ASSOCIATE JUDGES WHO, THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE THE FULL POWER OF JUDGES, CAN HANDLE MOTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS, FREEING UP SITTING JUDGES TO MOVE AND THEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S NOT JUST FUNDING JUDGES HERE.
IN EACH CASE, THIS COURT HAS FUNDED THE ASSOCIATED PROSECUTORS, BAILIFFS, CLERKS AND STAFF SO THAT THE COURT CAN ACTUALLY OPERATE.
WE'VE SEEN THESE BE A SUCCESS.
THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT IS IS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKETS HAVE DEALT WITH OVER 2500 CASES, AND MANY OF THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST CASES THAT ARE IN BACKLOG.
AND THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, THEY'VE HAD 947 CASES REFERRED OVER THAT THEY CAN HELP MOVE ALONG.
THE OTHER PROGRAM HERE THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN OPERATING IS AN OVERTIME PROGRAM CALLED THE TRIAGE PROGRAM THAT WAS INITIALLY FUNDED OUT OF UNSPENT A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION.
THE FUNDING THROUGH ARPA WAS RENEWED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THAT'S TAKEN A LOOK AT, WELL, 79,000 CASES WERE IDENTIFIED.
THEY'VE NOW BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW 49,000 FOR DISMISSAL, DIVERSION OR PUTTING A PLEA OFFER OUT AND 28,000 DISPOSED, 74% OF I'LL TURN NOW TO EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT.
AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND A GOOD DEAL OF TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE COURT SYSTEM, WHETHER JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
AND ONE FAMILIAR THEME THAT COMES UP IS THAT HAVING THE EVIDENCE READY REALLY HELPS MOVE THINGS ALONG.
WHETHER THAT'S A DEFENSE ATTORNEY FIGURING OUT HOW TO ADVISE THEIR CLIENT, WHETHER IT'S SCHEDULING A TRIAL, BUT ONLY WHEN THAT EVIDENCE IS READY CAN THINGS ACTUALLY
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PROCEED.SO THERE'S A SHORT TERM AND A LONG TERM PIECE.
THE SHORT TERM PIECE HAS BEEN ADDING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AND THIS COURT HAS APPROVED OVER 50 TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO GET GETTING TRIALS MOVING.
AND THIS HAS REDUCED THE BACKLOG AND WAIT TIME.
WE'RE DOWN 38% ON THE BACKLOG OF NINE ONE, ONE CALLS 59% ON BODY CAM REVIEW.
THERE'S ALSO A NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS THAT I THINK ARE BEGINNING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AND WILL CONTRIBUTE OVER THE LONG RUN.
THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS FLAGGED IT FROM DISCUSSION.
HE'S BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS OVER A LONG TIME, WHICH IS A STANDARDIZED BODY CAMERA SYSTEM, AND THAT WILL HELP OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE CONSTABLE OFFICES THAT ARE ELECTED TO IT HAS A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT FEATURES.
SO NOW HAS THE ABILITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PULL BODY CAM FOOTAGE WITHIN A SPECIFIC AREA.
SO IF THERE IS A SERIOUS INCIDENT, THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FOOTAGE AS THEY DECIDE HOW TO RESPOND AND GIVE OFFICERS ON THEIR WAY THE MOST INFORMATION THEY CAN TO DEAL WITH AN EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SORT OF A SHARED PLATFORM FOR BODY CAM AND OTHER EVIDENCE.
THEY'RE WORKING TO INTEGRATE HPDI SYSTEM.
THOUGH IT DOESN'T APPEAL, THEY'LL MOVE TO THIS EXACT BODY CAM SYSTEM.
IT DOES APPEAR THERE'S A WAY TO INTEGRATE IT SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A BUNCH OF TIME FERRYING INFORMATION FROM ONE FORMAT TO ANOTHER.
AND ALSO, I THINK REALLY IMPORTANT HERE HAS BEEN TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS.
SO THIS COURT IN THE COUNTY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN THE PATH OF CREATING SOME DASHBOARDS ON THE BACKLOG.
THE DISTRICT COURTS AND COUNTY COURTS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT THEMSELVES, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED READILY AVAILABLE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT AND I THINK IS IS ONLY GOOD FOR US WORKING THROUGH THIS PROBLEM.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.
THESE ARE THE RESULTS WE'VE BEEN SEEING.
SO THIS IS DATED FROM JANUARY 22.
AND THAT REALLY IS AN IMPORTANT DATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC DIMINISHED.
IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN DECEMBER, WE WERE DEALING WITH AN OMICRON SURGE.
IT'S ALSO WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE BACK JURY OPERATIONS DOWNTOWN.
AND AND REALLY START GETTING INTO THE SWING OF THINGS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DISTRICT COURTS BACKLOG DOWN 23.4%.
THEY'VE CLEARED SO FAR THIS YEAR, 58,000 CASES.
THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF OVER 2500 CASES PER COURT BACKLOG, DOWN FROM A LITTLE OVER 19,000 TO A LITTLE UNDER 15,000 CASES.
AND DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 19,721 BACKLOG CASES DISPOSED.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A LOT OF JUDGES AND A LOT OF COUNTY STAFF WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE THIS PROGRESS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS ON THE ON THE GRAPH IN THE UPPER LEFT HERE.
THE COUNTY COURT'S SIMILAR PROGRESS, 54,823 CASES RESOLVED, OVER 3400 PER COURT, BACKLOGS DOWN YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CLEARANCE RATES ON THE BOTTOM.
THOSE HAVE BEEN WELL OVER 100% FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
CASES RESOLVED OVER INCOMING CASES.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE CASES IN THE SYSTEM OVERALL ARE TRENDING DOWN.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT'S NOT RESOLVED.
THERE'S A BIG BUDGET PUT BEHIND IT THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK THERE'S VERY ENCOURAGING PROGRESS HERE, AND I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE PITCHING IN TO MAKE THIS MR..
SO JANUARY 2020, THE CASE BACKLOG WENT UP AS IT DID IN ALL JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE OF COVID.
OF COURSE, OURS WAS ALREADY IN A DIFFICULT PLACE BECAUSE OF HARVEY UNADDRESSED THEN, AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED GROWING.
IT LOOKS LIKE AS WE TURN INTO 2021 AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COME BACK DOWN, THE BACKLOG HAS COME BACK DOWN TO SOME POINT IN AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY TO THE LEVEL IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND REALLY, I'D SAY AROUND THE END OF OR MIDDLE TO END OF 2020, WE'RE BACK DOWN AT THAT LEVEL.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT EIGHT MONTHS OF PROGRESS WITH THESE RATES.
AND THAT'S DUE NOT ONLY TO EXISTING COURTS WORKING HARD, IT'S DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL COURT CAPACITY AND OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT THIS COURT HAS APPROVED.
WE'LL TURN NOW TO TWO VIOLENT CRIME INITIATIVES AND WHAT THE DATA ARE
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TELLING US.IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.
WE'VE GROUP THIS UP UPDATE FOR YOU INTO THREE CATEGORIES HERE, WHICH I WOULD ARGUE ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER.
THE FIRST IS PLACE BASED SAFETY INITIATIVES.
SO ONE THING WE KNOW ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME IS IT IS QUITE CONCENTRATED IN CERTAIN ZIP CODES, EVEN DOWN TO CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND CENSUS TRACTS.
AND SO THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT I THINK WORK TOGETHER TO TACKLE THIS.
HARRIS COUNTY IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG PLACE AND SO REQUIRES FOCUSING RESOURCES TO REALLY MAKE PROGRESS.
ONE IS THE HARRIS COUNTY SAFE PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN LEADING TO DEPLOY AN ENHANCED POLICE PRESENCE LARGELY THROUGH OVERTIME AND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF OF DAY WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME.
AND IT CERTAINLY ISN'T A PROGRAM.
THEY'VE SHARED THE DATA WITH US THAT IS FOCUSED ON WRITING OUT WRITING TRAFFIC TICKETS.
IT'S FOCUSED ON AN ENHANCED POLICE PRESENCE AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT THE ACTIVITY THAT THE PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN.
SO TO DATE, WE'VE SEEN 710 FELONY ARRESTS FROM THIS PROGRAM.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED ILLEGAL FIREARMS TAKEN OFF THE STREET AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM.
NEXT TO GO TO THE CLEAN STREETS SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS IMPROVING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THESE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE.
CAN YOU GO BACK A PAGE, PLEASE? THAT THE MOST SOCIALLY VULNERABLE AND OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME.
SO THERE ARE NOW 59 PROPERTIES IN THE PROCESS OF ABATEMENT THAT COULD BE TEARING DOWN AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE, BRINGING A VACANT LOT.
AND WHAT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING TO ME IS ACTUALLY SEE THESE INITIATIVES AND THIS INITIATIVE WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS ON A CALL A BIT AGO WHERE SOMEONE FROM THE KNOW WHAT, I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE CARE OF IT? AND THAT WAS REALLY GRATIFYING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE TRY TO PIT THE TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER APPROACHES AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE SPECIFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS THIS COURT IS FUNDED.
SO THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION INITIATIVE WAS AN OVERTIME PROGRAM FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CLEAR, TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE THE BACKLOG IN CASES, THE MOST SERIOUS CASES.
THAT PROGRAM LED TO OVERALL A 25% DECREASE IN THE BACKLOG AND A 100% DECREASE IN THE FAMILY AND CRIMES AGAINST AND THEN THE VIOLENT PERSONS TASK FORCE, SOMETIMES WE CALL IT VIPER, IS A PROGRAM, MULTI-AGENCY PROGRAM LED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THERE ALSO A NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING CONSTABLES THAT IS TO EXECUTE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AGAINST FOLKS CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES.
AND THAT PROGRAM HAS ARRESTED 75 PEOPLE SO FAR ON THESE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
IT'S ON TRACK TO REACH 150 PERSONS, AND THAT'S THE MONTHLY TARGET GOING FORWARD.
AND FINALLY HERE, I'LL TURN TO TO MORE HOLISTIC STRATEGIES.
AND AGAIN, MY OPINION OF THIS, AFTER TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, IS THAT THIS IS WORKING WITH SOME OF THE MORE TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES.
SO OUR HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM THAT'S NOW RESPONDED TO 1000 CALLS AND ITS PILOT AREA, THAT'S 1000 CALLS THAT THEY'RE FREED UP TO.
RESPOND EITHER TO VIOLENT SITUATIONS OR OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE.
OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM.
AGAIN, THIS IS MANAGED BY OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT IS INTERRUPTED FIVE PLANNED INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
AND THIS IS STILL IN A PILOT PHASE.
THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE WAS ACTIVELY THREATENING TO COMMIT A GUN CRIME BUT WAS INTERRUPTED BY THIS PROGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE INVESTED IN ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY ABOUT THAT.
AND FINALLY, OUR JOINT GUN BUYBACK PROGRAMS THAT THIS COURT IS FUNDED WITH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE TAKEN OVER 2000 FIREARMS OFF THE STREET.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.
SO IN PART TWO OF THESE PROGRAMS, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY HERE, WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENT CRIME RATES START TO COME DOWN, SOME OF THEM SUBSTANTIALLY.
IF YOU LOOK AT MURDER AND NON NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE, AND THIS IS LOOKING YEAR TO DATE IN 2022 COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS USING DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DATA.
MURDER IN NINE, NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE DOWN 2% FROM 2020, 13% FOR 2021.
YOU ALSO SEE DECLINES IN RAPE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.
AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE.
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CAN YOU PLEASE GO THROUGH WHAT THE DECLINES ARE? SURE.SO RAPE IS DOWN 30% SINCE 2020 AND 34% SINCE 2021.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, DOWN 8% FROM 2020 AND 11% FROM 2021.
ROBBERY IS DOWN 22% FROM 2020 AND 11% FOR 2021.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE CRIMES TOGETHER, THE OVERALL RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME IS ACTUALLY NOT BELOW WHERE IT WAS IN 2018.
SO CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO ON THIS.
I THINK NO ONE IS IS HAPPY WITH OUR CURRENT HOMICIDE RATE IN PARTICULAR, BUT WE ARE SEEING THINGS REALLY TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THE HUM IS THE HOMICIDE RATE REDUCING AS WELL? YES, IT IS.
SO JUST FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THERE'S A FEW BACK UP PAGES IN THERE'S A MORE DETAILED REPORT THAT'S ACTUALLY POSTED TO THE AGENDA, BUT MORE INFO ON EVERY PROGRAM ON SPECIFIC DATA.
ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED COULD COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
LET'S GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO EVEN MORE.
I THINK WE ALL OUGHT TO ALL BE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SENDING US THE FUNDS TO GO AND DO IT.
OBVIOUSLY, IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT WHAT WE DO WITH OUR BUDGET SITUATION, BECAUSE OUR COLLEAGUES ARE NOT HERE, BUT AT LEAST AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT FEDERAL MONEY, IT MEANS THAT WHAT TO DO.
YOU KNOW, ONCE WE DEDICATED MONEY IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? I KNOW THAT'S A BIG QUESTION MARK, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT.
I'M JUST GLAD TO SEE SOME PROGRESS.
I KNOW ON THE GUN BUYBACK, DESPITE A LOT OF THE POLITICAL CRITICISM OF IT SO FAR, I THINK IT'S THE LARGEST ONE IN IN HISTORY.
TEXAS MIGHT BE THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.
JUST DEPENDS ON WHO KEEPS THE DATA.
AND I KNOW AFTER MAYBE WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, ONE IS COMING UP WHERE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL TAKE THE LEAD AS OPPOSED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'VE TAKEN THE LEAD ON MOST OF THESE NOW WITH SUPPORT FROM COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND COMMISSIONER, IF I MIGHT ADD, OBVIOUSLY IN OUR BUDGET SITUATION, THERE'S LESS MONEY TO INVEST.
I THINK IT DRIVES HOME EVEN MORE.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY TARGETED AND STRATEGIC.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON I WANTED TO JUST TALK NOT ABOUT THE TOTAL INVESTMENT, WHICH WE TALK ABOUT A LOT AND IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT ABOUT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT ARE TARGETED AT A MY MIND AT LEAST, THAT'S AS IMPORTANT AS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
I DO KNOW IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US DEALING WITH VIOLENT CRIME BECAUSE OF THE EASY ACCESS TO GUNS.
AND BECAUSE OF THE RULING OF SUPREME COURT, IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
I KNOW EVEN IN NEW YORK, THEY'RE BEING AS CREATIVE AS THEY CAN.
WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE ON A STATE LEVEL.
BUT I KNOW THAT PRESENTS EVEN MORE OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH EASY ACCESS TO GUN AND PEOPLE CAN GO ONLINE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN A BASIC GUN NOW INTO A WEAPON OF MASS BUT THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
MR. OBVIOUSLY EARLIER TODAY WE HAD TO SET THE TAX RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
AND IN THAT GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE TEMPORARY POSITIONS.
WAS THERE GOING TO BE A TRANSITION FROM TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT IN THE NEW TAX RATE? IN SOME CASES, YES.
I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
THERE IS A ONE TIME OVER OVERTIME PROGRAM, THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION INITIATIVE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAD ACTUALLY HIRING 35, MIGHT BE 36 FULL TIME AND PERMANENT INVESTIGATORS TO TAKE OVER THAT WORKLOAD.
ALSO AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO ADD SOME PERMANENT POSITIONS IN ADDITION TO THE MANY, MANY POSITIONS THAT ARE TIED TO THESE COURT YOU THROUGH A MOMENT AGO.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WERE GOING TO START TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE TEMPORARY POSITIONS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WELL, HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO PASS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, WHICH WAS A TAX RATE DECREASE, WE WOULD HAVE STILL HAD RESOURCES TO TEMPORARY POSITIONS THAT WERE CREATED WITH CARES OR ARPA.
AND IN SOME CASES I THINK WE EVEN USE SOME TO BEING PERMANENTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
AND ADDITIONS TO TEMPORARY POSITIONS, CONVERTING ONE TIME OVERTIME PROGRAM INTO
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PERMANENT POSITIONS AND.AND AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN PARTICULAR, FOR WHERE WE'RE AT I WANT TO THANK THE CONSTABLES WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS, VIPER IN PARTICULAR.
I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
YOU SAID 75 ARRESTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.
AND I THINK WE'RE ON TRACK TO HAVE A MONTHLY GOAL OF 150, 150 WANTED FELONY NOT LOW LEVEL CASES.
FROM WHAT THIS THE TAX RATE OR TAX RATE? THE CRIME RATE WE'RE CITING.
IS BEING CITED BY WHO? THE COUNTY OR AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY.
ALL OF THE DATA ON PAGE FIVE HERE IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS A STATE STATE AGENCY.
SO COLONEL MCGRAW IS SAYING THAT WE HAVE NOW ACHIEVED OVERALL IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIME, A 12%.
IS HE THE HEAD OF DPS? OF DPS, THEN? THAT'S CORRECT.
THE AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT A LONG WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.
I MEAN, THE THE UTOPIA THAT WE WANT TO GET TO IS ZERO HOMICIDES, ZERO SEXUAL ASSAULTS, ZERO RAPES, ZERO A-GRADE ROBBERIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER SEE THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT'S THE GOAL THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WEAR A UNIFORM ARE OBVIOUSLY AFTER.
BUT THE BACKLOG OF CASES, YOU SAID, IS DOWN 23%.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE MUSIC TO A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EARS.
I JUST LEFT THE TRIAL OF SANDEEP DHALIWAL HOPING TO BE ABLE TO STAY THERE LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR HIS SISTER TESTIFY, BUT BUT I'VE SPOKEN WITH NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THEIR OWN CAPITAL MURDER TRIALS OF OFFENDERS WHO HAVE KILLED THEIR LOVED AND I THINK ONE JUST BARELY HAPPENED THAT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR FIVE YEARS.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE IN MOVING THAT BACKLOG ALONG.
IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. THE EFFORT WAS TO GO TO GENERAL FUND SO THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN THEM.
WE NOW HAVE STILL ARPA TO DEPEND ON, BUT ARPA EXPIRES IN.
IF IT'S COMMITTED AT THE END OF 24, YOU HAVE UNTIL THE END OF 26 TO SPEND IT.
BUT, MR. BERRY, LET ME ASK YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I PROPOSED THE THREE CONSECUTIVE EXEMPTIONS THAT THE COUNTY HAD DONE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS PRIOR TO 2019.
AND AND AND IT'S BEEN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS TO DO, IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF THE TABLE TAKE THEM OFF THE TABLE JUST FOR THAT ONE YEAR, BUT IT TAKES IT OFF THE TABLE IN PERPETUITY.
SO IN YOUR ESTIMATION, I'M NOT SURE IF MR. BUT THERE'S NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
WHAT WILL BE THE THE ANNUALIZED IMPACT GOING FORWARD.
SO THE THIS YEAR'S IMPACT IS 92 MILLION.
THIS, AGAIN, IS BASED ON A PROJECTION, BUT IT GOES UP TO ABOUT 150 MILLION NEXT YEAR.
JUST TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, IT WON'T BE UNTIL 2026 THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME REVENUE NUMBER.
IF WE CONTINUE AT NRX, THEN WE WOULD HAVE AT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
SO IF THIS IF WE WERE TO WALK THIS TAX RATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE SET THE
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TAX RATE EVERY YEAR, AGAIN, HAVE YOU DONE ANY ESTIMATIONS AS TO WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE? SO WE'RE GOING FROM ONE NEW NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND WE DO KNOW ANOTHER NO NEW REVENUE RATE BACK TO BACK.WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE IT'S A LITTLE OVER 150 MILLION.
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH NEW CONSTRUCTION, WHAT OUR DEBT RATE IS GOING TO BE.
BUT ROUGHLY 150 MILLION THE YEAR AFTER.
SO FISCAL YEAR 25 WOULD WOULD BE OVER 200 MILLION.
SO I THINK WHAT HE WAS HIT, IT WAS, DO YOU HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHEN THE HOLE WOULD BE SO DEEP WE'D HAVE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD GO TO THE TO COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY UNDER THE STATE RULES.
I THINK THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL WE'RE BUILDING OURSELVES A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
SO THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO TO HANDLE IT USING NOT CUTTING BACK ON NON-DEPARTMENTAL SPENDING.
I THINK MOVING FORWARD IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES IN IN MOST DEPARTMENTS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT START CUTTING SOME DEPARTMENTS UNLESS WE WERE TO AN INCREASED REVENUE.
AND MAYBE SIMPLE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS IS PER CAPITA REAL BUDGET, THE POPULATION GROWS.
WE CAN BUY LESS WITH THE SAME DOLLARS.
RIGHT NOW WE SEE THAT GROWING AT BETWEEN POPULATION GROWTH AND INFLATION.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS PRETTY SOON.
IF WE WANT TO KEEP THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES, EVEN WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, I THINK WE WERE I JUST MENTIONED.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SHOULD HAVE COMMENTED ON HOW MUCH WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
I THINK SPENDING OVER A COUPLE OF POLICE CHIEFS, AT LEAST I'VE BEEN GOING TO THOSE MEETINGS SMALL.
MEETINGS THAT YOU PULL TOGETHER.
HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE PARTICIPATING? AND IN THE VIPER AND VIPER IT IS 706 BECAUSE FIRST THING, SEVEN NEVER PARTICIPATED.
I THINK PRECINCT FOUR HAS OFFICIALLY PULLED OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND I STAND CORRECTED.
SEVEN BECAUSE PRECINCT ONE FINALLY GOT INTO A PROGRAM THAT REQUIRED.
AND OF COURSE, BECAUSE THEY ARE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.
JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I ASSUME IT'S PART OF WHAT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE STATE'S DISCOVERY RULES.
BUT SO WHY IS THAT? WHY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
VIPER IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT NUMBER ONE, IT PROVIDED FOR A COUNTY, A TRULY COUNTY WIDE ENFORCEMENT EFFORT TO BE EXECUTED, WARRANTS ON FELONY AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS WHO ARE SO THAT THEY CAN BE ARRESTED, SOUGHT AFTER AND ARRESTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THEY THERE'S THERE'S THE LONGER YOU LEAVE THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES OUT THERE WITHOUT BEING ARRESTED, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO COMMIT ANOTHER SO THE IDEA IS TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THEM, ARREST THEM, BRING THEM TO THE COUNTY JAIL WHERE THE JUSTICE PROCESS CAN CAN BUT EXECUTING THOSE WARRANTS IN A TIMELY MANNER IS CRITICAL BECAUSE ALREADY THERE IS A THERE'S A BACKLOG OF MISDEMEANOR PROBABLY NOT VIOLENT IN ANY REGARD, BUT THE VIOLENT THIS PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US THAT ONCE SOMEONE IS FOUND TO BE AT ALL PROBABLE CAUSE FOR HAVING COMMITTED A VIOLENT CRIME, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ON THE ON THE IF I A JUDGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHECK SIX OF THE EIGHT CONSTABLES OFFICES ARE PARTICIPATING.
IT'S FOUR AND SEVEN AT THIS POINT THAT ARE NOT PARTICIPATING.
SO IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO A DASHBOARD ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS AND THAT MIGHT HELP PERSUADE OUT.
AND THIS HELPS CITY, ALL CITY RESIDENTS.
AND WHAT I MEAN, CITY RESIDENTS, NOT JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON BUT PASADENA, ALL
[00:30:06]
OVER THE COUNTY, BAYTOWN.BECAUSE SINCE THE CONSTABLES DISTRICTS INTERTWINE WITH CITY JURISDICTIONS, THEN THIS ALLOWS THE CONSTABLES TO EXECUTE THE WARRANTS ON THEIR CONSTABLE PRECINCTS AS WELL.
JUDGE, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS? I JUST HAD ONE OTHER POINT, BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE BODYCAMS. GO AHEAD.
YEAH, SO LOOK, I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT THE HEART PROGRAM HAS SAVED 675 HOURS IN OFFICE TIME, WHICH HAS FREED UP AT LEAST 16 SO IT IS WORKING.
IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, BUT IT IS WORKING.
COMMISSIONER, I REMEMBER TALKING TO SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS AND SOME ATTORNEYS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE TRIALS CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL BOTH BOTH SIDES HAVE THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE.
IS THAT THE CASE? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
IN THE TIMES THAT I WAS ABLE TO SIT IN ON THIS TRIAL, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOR THE DEFENDANTS AT LEAST WHO FOOTAGE OF OF THAT SCENE AND OF CAPTURED THE KILLER'S FACE.
IF MR. SOLIS HAD CALLED MR. COMPETENT DEFENSE.
THEN THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT DEFENSE WOULD NOT HAVE RESTED OR BEEN READY FOR TRIAL HAD THEY NOT BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT EVERY PIECE OF NOT VIDEO FOOTAGE, BUT AUDIO FOOTAGE AS WELL, WHETHER IT'S NINE ONE, ONE CALLS OR OTHER CALLS THAT WOULD HAVE HAD ALL OF THAT IS JUST CRITICAL TO EITHER THE STATE'S ABILITY TO PROSECUTE A CASE AND THE DEFENSE'S ABILITY TO AND I JUST WANT TO BRING OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BODY CAM PROGRAM THAT I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
SO THAT THAT HAPPENS MORE QUICKLY.
AND IT'S A SYSTEMIC CHANGE SO THAT ALL OF THIS MOVES FASTER.
SO I THINK THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS CRIME RATES ARE LOW ACROSS MURDER AND NOT NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE, RAPE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY, 2020, SOME DOWN 13%, 2%, 30%.
BUT THE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS AND.
VERY, VERY SORRY TO HEAR THE CONTINUED AND WILLING DISINFORMATION GOING ON OUT THERE.
NO, MR. ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD ON THIS, THE JUDGES, THE WORK IS CLEAR.
BUT THE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT THERE.
SO WE'LL TAKE SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, TIFFANY.
[Appearances before court (Part 1 of 3)]
SO FIRST, WE'RE JUST TAKING SPEAKERS FOR THESE ITEMS. YEAH.JUST THESE TWO ITEMS. TIFFANY, PLEASE.
FIRST IS SPEAKER NUMBER 53, KENNETH BROWN SPEAKING IN PERSON FOR ITEM 235, AS WELL AS 125 AND 236.
SO WE'RE TAKING SPEAKER'S FOUR ITEMS, 235 AND 277, AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL.
ONE'S A TRANSMITTAL, THE OTHER ONE REQUIRES A VOTE, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET.
AND WE HAVE WHAT, TIFFANY, TWO SPEAKERS ON THESE.
OR IS IT IS IT MORE ON THESE TWO ITEMS? IT'S MORE THAN TWO, JUDGE.
AS HE MAKES HIS WAY UP, I WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SO MANY SPEAKERS TODAY, I WANT TO ASK THAT WE STRICTLY ENFORCE THE TIME.
EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS ARE IMPORTANT.
BUT I'D LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO TURN THE MIC OFF, IF I MIGHT, AFTER THAT ONE MINUTE, IF A COMMISSIONER TO JUST ASK A QUESTION, THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE ABOUT 137 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
OKAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE YOUR FAVORITE.
THERE'S NOT A REFUGEE, SO WE DON'T SHOW FAVORITISM TO ONE PERSON OR ANOTHER ONE.
AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
TAKES ALL ADDITIONAL PROJECTS I BELIEVE ARE THERE.
AND I WANT TO SPEAK ON TODAY THE WITH THIS WITH THIS BUDGET GOING, IF IT GOES THROUGH LIKE IT IS, GIVE THE MONEY TO THE POLICE, NOT TO DEFUND THE POLICE, BUT IT WE NEED SOME MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING FOR THE HOUSES.
[00:35:01]
FIX IT FOR HOW THE SLUMLORDS THAT REPORT THROUGH HOUSTON MAKE THE WEALTHY.MY PROBLEM IS SO THREE TIMES IN FIVE MONTHS.
SO WE NEED PEOPLE OUT TO SEE WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.
THERE IS, LIKE I SAID, A TRANSPORTATION.
WE DON'T WANT BUS 4 TO 5 MINUTES TO BUS ONE EVERY 1515 MINUTES.
SO THAT MONEY WOULD HELP IN THAT AREA AND IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AREA WHERE FOR DISEASES AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER PROBLEMS AS THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER 68 SINAGA MCQUEEN SPEAKING IN PERSON ON 235 AS WELL AS 125 AND 236.
I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT THIS INFORMATION SO I CAN'T GET MY SPEECH DONE IN ONE MINUTE.
THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER SEEN PEOPLE MENTIONED.
I HAVE A QUESTION AND COMMENT.
MY QUESTION IS, COMMISSIONERS COURT WHY Y'ALL CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN THIS WITH THE POLICE? FIRST OF ALL, IF I WAS IF I WAS THE OWNER OF WALMART AND I HAD AN ENTITY THAT WORKED FOR ME AND THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL.
THEN WE WOULD REVAMP THEM OR DO SOMETHING WITH THEM.
RE-IMAGINING POLICE IS OUR IDEA, NOT FORM.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REIMAGINING THE POLICE, NOT TO THE POLICE.
IF YOU WANT THE PUBLIC, YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO STOP YOU CREATING CRIMINALS.
WHEN THEY GO TO JAIL, YOU BEAT THEM UP.
YOU HURT THEM WHEN THEY COME BACK.
GOD, WHY DO YOU THINK OF MURDER? GO IN AND COME OUT AND COMMIT ANOTHER MURDER.
YOU HAVEN'T TREATED THIS PROBLEM.
I JUST LEFT THE JAIL FOR THREE DAYS.
NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 69, CAROLYN THOMAS SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON 235, AS WELL AS 125 TO 36 AND TO 67.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF VOICES FOR THE CAROLYN THOMAS FOUNDATION.
AS YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS RAMPANT.
AND EVERY 3 SECONDS, ALONG WITH HIS VIEWS, EVERY 4 MINUTES VIEWS A MINUTE HERE HE SPENT A YEAR AND OVER THIS YEAR I REACHED ME TO GO TO SHELTERS THAT WERE FULL.
AND WHEN THE SHELTERS ARE FULL, THEY END UP GOING BACK TO ABUSERS, TO THE ABUSERS, AND WE START THE WHOLE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.
CARMEN YVONNE SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 235 AND SHE'LL BE USING THE INTERPRETER.
REPORTER WHO'S ALSO IN PERSON.
WHEN I START THIS SELENA HIDALGO, SHE KNOWS ME AS CARMEN IS A PART OF.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE JUDGE LINA HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS CARMEN YVONNE, AND I'M PART OF THE TOP.
SO THE CASTLE ON THE RIVER YESTERDAY, ACCORDING TO THE INVESTORS THAT I AM THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WHERE I LIVE.
AND I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THE INCREASE IN TAXES TO PROPERTIES.
VIDEO ESTOS FONDOS LA COMUNIDAD ESTA TIPO DE FONDOS DURANTE LA PANDEMIA MUCHAS PERSONAS RECURSOS.
I ASKED THAT THIS TEXAS GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
THIS TYPE OF FUNDING DURING THE PANDEMIC HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND WERE VULNERABLE TO ON A SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK AND MEDICAID.
MAY YOU THAT OUR ANCESTOR SALLY MEETS AUGUSTUS MUST ESSENTIALLY AUGUSTUS MEDICOS.
I LIVE BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY AND THIS HAS HELPED FOR NOW TO THE DECREASE I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY EXPENSES.
MORE ESSENTIALS ON MY MEDICAL BILLS.
NO, L'AUMENTO IS A LA POLICIA CON ME.
[00:40:04]
BUENOS BENEFICIOS.I SAY NO TO THE INCREASE IN SALARY TO THE POLICE FORCE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE VERY GOOD BENEFITS.
THE ANSWER IS YES, MEANING BLACK CRIMINALITY.
DE PERSONAS SA FAMILIA COMPLETO ASYSTOLE DE LA VA DE NIRO.
PARENTS SHOULD BE DESTINE TO IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES LIKE THE CHILDREN, SCHOOL AND YOUTH, AND THEREFORE IT'S CRIMINALIZING YOUTH AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE WITHOUT THINKING THAT THESE ARE DESTROYING FAMILIES, AND THIS IS THE LEADERSHIP THAT THE D.A.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 124 RAY BRACKEN'S SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 235.
MY NAME IS RAY BRACKEN'S A TOP BOARD MEMBER BASED IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WHAT BRINGS ME OUT HERE TODAY IS THE SHEER AMOUNT OF RIDICULOUS REPUBLICAN POLITICAL HACKERY GOING ON AND HOW IT'S ENDANGERING THE LIVELIHOODS OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WHILE THEY THINK THEY'RE ON SOME KIND OF RIGHTEOUS CRUSADE IN REALITY.
COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY AND CAGLE ARE PUTTING THEIR OWN POLITICAL INTERESTS ABOVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.
THIS IS A DERELICTION OF DUTY AND IT'S DISGUSTING.
AS A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT, CITIZEN AND TAXPAYER, I SAY, DO YOUR JOB, PLEASE.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TAKES A HIT BECAUSE OF THESE COMMISSIONERS, THESE ACTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR SELFISH ACTIONS.
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TAKES A HIT BECAUSE OF THESE GOP COMMISSIONERS SELFISH ACTIONS.
OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE TAKES A HIT BECAUSE OF THE GOP COMMISSIONERS SELFISH ACTIONS.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE AND IT MUST STOP.
SO ITEM 235 IS A TRANSMITTAL, SO WE'LL JUST ACCEPT THE TRANSMITTAL ITEM
[Departments (Part 2 of 4)]
TO 77.ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS ON THAT ONE? NO, MA'AM.
OKAY, SO THAT ONE, WE NEED A MOTION TO PASS THAT ITEM AS PRESENTED.
AND THAT'S FOR THE BODY CAM PROGRAM.
I MOVE THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE THE THE PORTION OF THIS MEETING DEALING WITH THE TAX RATES AND THE BUDGET.
AND I REMIND EVERYONE TODAY IS THE VERY LAST CHANCE TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE CUTS THAT WILL FUND OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE ALREADY PASSED THIS MORNING THE OPPORTUNITY TO FUND THE TAX RATE CUTS THAT WOULD COVER OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES, THAT ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUT AND THAT WOULD COVER FUNDS FOR OUR VETERANS, FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, WHICH DEALS WITH SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN.
THE TAX RATE THAT WAS THAT TAX RATE CUT THAT WAS PROPOSED WAS THE EXACT TAX RATE CUT THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD REQUESTED, THEREFORE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THIS ROOM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE 8.25% RAISE WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM.
THERE SIMPLY ISN'T MONEY FOR THAT.
WE WERE GOING TO GIVE YOU 8.2, 5% RAISE.
NOW IT'S GOING TO BE FOR THEY WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 35 INVESTIGATORS, AN ADDITIONAL CADET CLASS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE'RE CUTTING MONEY TO THE TUNE OF $60 MILLION FOR THE SHERIFF, $5 MILLION FOR THE D.A., $16 MILLION FOR THE SHERIFF, $5 MILLION FOR THE DAY AND FOR THE CONSTABLES.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER FOR THE CONSTABLE'S EIGHT.
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUT.
SO WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY AND CAGLE TO THANK FOR THEIR RAMSEY AND CAGLE TAX LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET CUTS.
NOW, TODAY FOR THIS SECOND MEETING, WE'RE AGAIN NOT CONSIDERING A TAX RATE
[00:45:05]
INCREASE THAT'S NEVER BEEN ON THE TABLE.WHAT'S BEEN ON THE TABLE IS HOW MUCH TO CUT THE TAX RATE BY.
AS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR OF OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, DOCTOR PORSHA, THROUGH TEARS.
THROUGH TEARS, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CEO OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CEO OF MEMORIAL HERMANN, THE LUKE'S, THE CEO OF METHODIST.
WE HAVE HEARD THEM SAY THAT IF WE DO NOT PASS TODAY'S TAX RATE, CUT TODAY'S BUDGET, EVERYBODY IN HARRIS COUNTY WILL SEE THEMSELVES THIS WILL LEAD OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM TO OPERATE.
3000 PEOPLE THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE CANCER SCREENINGS.
I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO'VE HAD AN EXPERIENCE OR FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH COLON CANCER.
THERE ARE 3000 PEOPLE THAT WERE EXPECTING A COLON CANCER SCREENING.
WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO PROVIDE THOSE COLON CANCER SCREENINGS BECAUSE THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE PLAYING POLITICS.
$45 MILLION UNDER BUDGET MEANS THAT OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM CANNOT SERVE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS IT'S SUPPOSED TO SERVE.
WE CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE NEW CLINIC THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO OPEN.
WE HAVE FEWER FUNDS, SO THOSE PATIENTS ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS, WHICH CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF INDIGENT PATIENTS AS THE AS EXPLAINED, THIS IS GOING TO HURT EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS, WE PASSED A BOND BECAUSE THESE TWO COLLEAGUES ARE NOT HERE.
IF THEY DON'T ARRIVE BY THE END OF THIS MEETING, THE FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM WILL SEE ITS BUDGET CUT BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER $20 MILLION.
THAT MEANS THAT ALL THE FAMILIES THAT FLOODED DURING HARVEY AND IMELDA AND THE TAX RATE FLOOD IN THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD AND ALLISON AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THAT WE NOW DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE PLANNING ON BUILDING AND MAINTAINING.
THOUGH THERE IS ONLY TWO WAYS TO SOLVE THAT.
YOU EITHER DON'T PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS, WHICH MEANS THE BAYOUS ARE OVERRUN EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE WITH WITH MATERIALS THAT NEED TO BE OR YOU DOWNSIZE THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS.
THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY ARE NOT HERE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ONLY PROPOSED TAX RATE CUTS.
WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO TRY TO REACH A COMPROMISE.
ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, COMMISSIONER CAITLIN RAMSEY REFUSED TO SHOW UP.
ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, THEY REFUSED TO SHOW UP.
ON OCTOBER 11TH, THEY REFUSED TO SHOW UP.
COMMISSIONER CARGILL ASKED FOR A SPECIAL DISCUSSION ONLY MEETING.
WE'D ALREADY HAD DISCUSSION, ONLY MEETINGS ON AUGUST 2ND, AUGUST 23RD AND SEPTEMBER 6TH.
DESPITE THAT, I CALLED A DISCUSSION ONLY MEETING AT A TIME THAT WAS CONVENIENT FOR THEM.
THAT MORNING THEY REFUSED TO SHOW UP.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA OFFERED COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO NEGOTIATE IN PRIVATE.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY REJECTED HIS INVITATION AND THE INVITATION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I REQUESTED TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE THAT HE AND I VISIT AND REACH A COMPROMISE.
HE NEVER RETURNED MY REQUESTS FOR A CONVERSATION.
I ASKED HIM TO CALL ME ANY TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE ASKED FOR A PARTICULAR TAX RATE CUT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA PROPOSED IT.
THEY'RE PLAYING GAMES BECAUSE OF THE GAMES THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING ALREADY THIS MORNING.
$100 MILLION HAVE BEEN CUT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS AFTERNOON, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT CUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE HOSPITALS, FROM THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES THAT WE HAILED AS FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING LESS POLITICAL THAN THAT.
WE HAVE CALLED THEIR EVERY BLUFF.
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THESE KINDS OF ANTICS, AND THIS LEVEL OF EXTREMISM HAS NO PLACE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO ALREADY WHAT THEY'VE DONE WILL MEAN FEWER POLICE ON THE STREETS.
WE WERE GOING TO HIRE THOSE OFFICERS PERMANENTLY, THOSE INVESTIGATORS PERMANENTLY, THOSE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS PERMANENTLY.
THE CADET CLASS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE CAN NO LONGER FUND THAT.
THE PAY INCREASES TO FILL THE 450 FULL BUT UNFILLED POSITIONS ACROSS THE CONSTABLES, DISTRICT COUNCILS AND THE SHERIFF CAN NO LONGER INCREASES.
[00:50:01]
YOU CAN'T RAISE THE PAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.THE FACT THAT THEY WEREN'T HERE 10 A.M.
AND THEY ARE NOT HERE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON MEANS THEY'RE SINGLE HANDEDLY HARMING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR FLOOD CONTROL, OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM, OUR VETERANS, CHILDREN, OUR LIBRARIES.
I KNOW YOU DID THAT THIS MORNING, BUT WE HAVE NEW SPEAKERS HERE AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR FROM OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.
HE JOINED US EARLIER THIS YEAR, EXPERIENCED BUDGET DIRECTOR, MR. WHAT ARE THE CUTS THAT TOOK EFFECT THIS MORNING AND WHAT ARE THE CUTS THAT WILL NOW TAKE EFFECT IF THESE GENTLEMEN DON'T SHOW UP BEFORE THE MEETING ADJOURNS FOR IT'S AN OVERALL CUT OF $23 MILLION.
SO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, WHICH WAS THE VOTER APPROVED RATE, WAS AT 137 MILLION.
NINE OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTION INTO THEIR RESERVE FUND.
THE REST WOULD HAVE GONE TO MAINTENANCE OF THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THE PROPOSED RATE WAS 957 MILLION.
THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 822 MILLION, SO THAT'S OVER ITS $133,000,133 MILLION THAT THESE GENTLEMEN ARE NEED CANCER SCREENINGS, THAT NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, AND IT'S A TAX RATE CUT.
THE CEO OF OUR PRIVATE HOSPITALS HAVE BEGGED THEM HAVE BEGGED THEM TO GET THESE ITEMS PASSED.
I KNOW THERE ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HERE, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST CALL THOSE OUT? WHAT ARE THE CUTS THAT TOOK EFFECT THIS MORNING? BECAUSE THESE TWO FOLKS ARE SO HAVING SUCH A GRAND TIME PLAYING POLITICS.
AND AGAIN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE CUTS ARE OFF OF THE BUDGET THAT MY OFFICE PROPOSED IN IN AUGUST THE FOR CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO 386,379 CONSTABLE PRECINCT THREE CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR 2,884,206.
CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE 1,801,446.
CONSTABLE PRECINCT SIX 309,175.
CONSTABLE PRECINCT SEVEN 418,616.
CONSTABLE PRECINCT EIGHT 416,362 FOUR.
THE INITIAL CUT WAS 23,681,417.
THIS BODY RESTORED 20 MILLION OF THAT FUNDING IN ORDER FOR US TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS THERE AND NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY STATE ACTION.
AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO TAKE MONEY FROM OUR FROM OUR PICK.
WHICH WE NORMALLY USE FOR IT WAS A HANDFUL OF ITEMS, BUT IT WAS OUR UNBUDGETED RESERVE.
IT WAS A COMPENSATION STUDY FOR PAY EQUITY FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
IT WAS CYBERSECURITY INVESTMENT PLAN, CYBERSECURITY INVESTMENTS.
THOSE CUTS WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THIS MORNING, HAD ONE OR BOTH GENTLEMEN SHOWED UP.
WE HAVE WORKED OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MEETINGS, SIX MEETINGS IN WHICH THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP AND AN ADDITIONAL THREE OR FOUR IN ORDER TO PASS THOSE INCREASES FOR EVERY ATTORNEY.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON AND SEE IF THEY'LL CONTINUE WITH THEIR GAMES AND CONTINUE HARMING THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO FLOOD CONTROL AND BASIC I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2022 TAX RATES FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA HARRIS HEALTH, AS 2022 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.
[Appearances before court (Part 2 of 3)]
TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? YES, MA'AM.FIRST IS SPEAKER 54, BENJAMIN BROADWAY SPEAKING IN PERSON.
TIFFANY IS JUST RIGHT UP TO 32.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE TAKING ITEM 232, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET IN 233, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATE CUTS.
IF THEY FAIL TO APPEAR, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS THE TAX RATE CUTS.
WE WILL HAVE TO DEFUND OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
$23 MILLION CUT TO OUR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS.
[00:55:02]
I GUESS.THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, FOR EVERYTHING IN THE COUNCIL.
HOUSTON HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND YOU ALREADY KNOW IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT HAS COME THIS WAY.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT CAN BE CHANGED.
SO I WILL SAY THIS AND I'LL BE DONE WHEN THE MASTERS GET BACK.
WE'LL BE BACK FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN MEET IN A MEETING AFTER THAT.
BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES WHO WERE LOSING LIVES.
YOU TELL THEM THAT THE FIELD HAND AREA WILL GET ITS IMPROVEMENTS? WHETHER IF THEY WANT TO DO IT OR NOT.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 55 DORIS BROWN.
I'M CO-FOUNDER OF NORTH EAST ACTION COLLECTIVE.
AND FLOOD CONTROL HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR YEARS AND THE NOT MEMBERS HAVE PAID THE PRICE.
WE FLOOD EVEN DURING A HEAVY RAIN.
AND I JUST REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD CONTINUE, HOW THEY COULD JUST DISRESPECT US AND EVERYONE ISSUES AND IT'S MOSTLY THE LMI BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS WE'VE MADE PROGRESS SINCE HARVARD, AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHY RAMS AND CAGLE WON'T SHOW UP.
IT'S A STEP BACKWARDS THAT WILL HAVE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES TO ALL OF US.
THE NEW REVENUE RATE, INCREASED FLOOD RISK AND PUTS OUR COMMUNITY AT RISK.
AND WE'RE JUST SICK AND TIRED OF FLOODING.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 82, COURTNEY REVELS SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
YES, MY NAME IS COURTNEY, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE FLOOD CONTROL.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT IS DISHEARTENING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE SITTING OUT THIS SESSION IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE VOTE OR TO COMPLETELY.
LIKE MY DAUGHTER SAID, I LIVE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, AND ANY TIME THERE'S A HEAVY RAIN, WE ARE IN FEAR OF WE'RE IN FEAR OF FLOODING.
SO IT'S TIME THAT WE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND AS CONSTITUENTS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE VOTING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR BACK.
AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT HERE ARE WORKING FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US.
SO THIS IS DISHEARTENING AND WE HOPE THAT FLOOD CONTROL CAN MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE ANY IMPACT ON NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 99 CAROLYN RIVERA SPEAKING IN PERSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON CITY GAS AREA, AND I'M IN HERE IN REFERENCE TO THE FLOODING.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, HERE TODAY, BECAUSE OF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND CAGLE AND THEIR CHOICES TO STAY AND SO WE IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, WE NEED THE HELP TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 102, AUDREY NATH SPEAKING IN PERSON.
MY NAME IS AUDREY NATH, AND I'M A NEUROLOGIST IN HOUSTON.
I'VE WORKED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT EARLIER IN MY CAREER.
AS IT STANDS, THESE HOSPITALS CARE FOR OUR SICKEST, UNDERSERVED AND MOST MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT A TAX RATE INCREASE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT THE HARRIS COUNTY
[01:00:05]
HOSPITAL DISTRICT, WE WILL BE SERVING 10,000 FEWER PATIENTS NEXT YEAR.AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SKIMP OUT ON PREVENTATIVE CARE FOR 10,000 PEOPLE? THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE LATER STAGE DIAGNOSES, WHICH WILL END UP BEING FAR MORE EXPENSIVE THAN GETTING THESE FOLKS CARED FOR NOW.
SO LET'S BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND FULLY FUND THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT NOW.
NEXT, THE SPEAKER 9017 A DALEY SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR YOU.
IN MY MIND, I WAS CONVINCED THAT YOU'D BE THAT SOUND, UNBIASED VOTE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.
A YOUNG PERSON TO SET THE OLD MAN STRAIGHT UP THERE.
BUT YOU SEE, I GUESS I WAS WRONG.
WE CAN'T AFFORD ANY MORE TAXES.
WHEN I SAY THAT I SUPPORT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND CAGLE FOR NOT WALKING THROUGH THOSE DOORS BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER DIME.
I'M JUST NOT WORKING PERSON IN THE MIDDLE CLASS.
I NOTICED THAT YOU WANTED TO TAKE AWAY THE SURPLUS FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS.
WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE.
I NOTICED THAT YOU TAKE THE MONEY FROM ONE AND TWO AND YOU HAND IT FROM THREE AND FOUR, AND YOU HAND IT TO ONE AND TWO.
WELL, WE POUR IN THREE AND FOUR.
NEXT TO SPEAKER ONE OF THREE, CYNTHIA COLES, SPEAKING IN PERSON.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HONORABLE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS THAT DID SHOW UP.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET ANY MUD SLINGING ANY BETTER AT IT THAN WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
BUT ONE THING ABOUT FOLK FROM THE COUNTRY, YOU CAN'T THROW MUD UNLESS YOU GET SOMETHING ON YOU.
SO YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME ON YOU.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SAY IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE AIN'T BEGGING NO MORE.
WHAT WE GOT TO DO IS GET OUT THERE AND BE THE GHOSTBUSTERS.
THERE GOES WE BUST IN, WE VOTE AND SEE ALL AT THE POLLS.
THE SPEAKER 100 4K SHEPHERD SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I GREW UP IN COMMISSIONERS COURT.
MY MOTHER WORKED FOR SQUATTY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T LIKE PLAYING POLITICS.
I'VE ALREADY CALLED CAGLE ALL LAST WEEK.
I COULDN'T GET ANY ANSWERS WHY HE WASN'T SHOWING UP.
IT'S A SHAME I'M HERE AND HE'S NOT.
AND I FIND IT SO UPSETTING, SO, SO UPSETTING THAT THEY WOULD HURT OTHER PEOPLE JUST TO BE PLAYING POLITICS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE, AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYBODY CAN SUPPORT THEIR ANTICS.
SEEMS LIKE SOMEBODY IN THEIR HOUSE, THE WIFE, THEIR CHILDREN, SOMEBODY WOULD TELL THEM, THIS IS A DISGRACE.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE SHAME THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT AND THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS THEM SHOULD BE TALKING TO THEM.
NEXT IS SPEAKER ONE OF SIX, TOMMY VINSON SPEAKING IN PERSON.
AND FOLKS, JUST A REMINDER, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE NOISE DOWN IN THE COURTROOM.
SPEAKER 107 BARBARA GASTON, SHE'S SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
MY NAME IS BARBARA GAST, AND I'M IN NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M A DIRECTOR WITH 344 IN THE SUMMER WITH AREA TWO, COMMISSIONER ORTEGA AND RAMSEY.
YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY, NOT JUST YOUR POLITICAL PARTY.
YOU ARE ELECTED TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY, THAT WE ARE FULLY FUNDED FOR THE THINGS WE NEED, LIKE LAW REMEMBER THE LAST FLOOD? IT AFFECTED ALL OF YOU TO NOT JUST CERTAIN PRECINCTS.
PLEASE BE A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND UNITE WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE TO DO THE JOB YOU TOOK AN OATH
[01:05:06]
IT'S TIME TO SERVE.NEXT TO SPEAKER 108, TERESA BREWER SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
YES, MY NAME IS THERESA BREWER, AND I'M TRULY GRATEFUL, LEO HIDALGO, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID.
I'M A NURSE AND I UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT YOU DID FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'M SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVES THAT NOT DOING THEIR JOB AND USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THEY STILL GET PAID.
BUT WE HAVE THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SUPPORT EVEN FROM THE WINTER STORM.
OUR MENTAL HEALTH HAS ALREADY BEEN CUT.
PEOPLE PRETENDING THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE NOT.
I HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE TIME, BUT MY MOTHER, WHO LIVED IN LIVES IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, DID NOT.
AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SCRAPE UP MONEY, TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX SOME OF THESE HOMES.
HOMES IN THOSE AREAS WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE HIGH HEART RATES THAT CAN'T EVEN AFFORD IT.
WE NEED TO DO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
NEXT TO SPEAKER ONE AND I'M MICHELLE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY SCIENCE MANAGER FOR BIOACTIVE WATERKEEPER, A REGIONAL NONPROFIT AND USE SCIENCE BASED ADVOCACY AND THE LAW TO ENSURE PROTECTION FOR OUR REGION, ESPECIALLY HARRIS COUNTY.
YOU RECOMMEND APPROVING THE REQUESTED BUDGET OF 137 MILLION FOR FLOOD CONTROL.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN ITS FUNCTIONS, FUND FLOOD BOND PROJECTS AND INCLUDE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER TO MAINTAIN OUR DRAINAGE THESE PROTECTIONS ARE VITAL TO REDUCE THE COUNTY'S RISK OF FLOODING, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WHO EXPERIENCE FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINS.
THERE'S AN URGENT NEED TO INCREASE FLOOD PROTECTIONS FOR OUR COUNTY, REDUCING FUNDING, REDUCE THE CAPACITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO PERFORM ITS ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS, AND IN TURN PREPARED FOR FUTURE FLOOD EVENTS.
I URGE THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED BUDGET.
NEXT, THE SPEAKER ONCE AGAIN, WALTER MALLETT SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M SPEAKING ABOUT FLOOD CONTROL, LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS.
THE DOCTORS AND THE HOSPITALS AND THE MENTAL PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
WHERE DO YOU GET OFF WITH ALL OF THIS INFIGHTING? WHAT PEOPLE THAT NEED THE SERVICES THAT SUPPOSED TO BE RENDERED FOR US AS AMERICANS.
AND YOU DON'T DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE BY SUPPLYING THOSE SERVICES FOR US.
WHEN WILL IT STOP? EACH ONE OF THESE DOLLARS THAT'S NOT SPENT FOR THESE SERVICES AND THEN THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE A CROWN WITHIN ITSELF.
EACH DOLLAR, BECAUSE IT APPEARS IN EFFECT AND IT TAKES AWAY FROM EVERYBODY HERE.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 115 ELIZABETH BROTEN SPEAKING IN PERSON.
THE TRUTH TODAY IS THAT THIS JUDGE AND THESE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT ARE PRESENTING HALF THE TRUTH.
THE REAL TRUTH IS THAT THERE'S A DOUBLE DIGIT PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS HIDDEN WITHIN THIS BUDGET.
A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF THIS SIZE WILL CAUSE TENS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HARRIS COUNTY HOMEOWNERS TO LOSE THEIR HOMES, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY WHO ARE AS IF YOU'RE CLOSING DOWN.
PEOPLE WERE EVICTED FROM HOMES AND FIRED FROM JOBS.
WE NEED TO STOP WITH THE DOUBLESPEAK AND THE GAMES THAT YOU'RE PLAYING.
[01:10:01]
COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE OUTVOTED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY WERE HERE OR NOT HERE.MR. RHODEN, JUST REAL QUICK, MS..
JUST JUST REAL QUICKLY, JUST FOR THE RECORD, CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHATEVER THAT.
TAX INCREASE IS THAT'S HIDDEN IN THE BUDGET.
SO CAN YOU IDENTIFY THAT, PLEASE? BUT THERE'S NOT A TAX.
THERE'S NOT A TAX INCREASE ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU COULD CITE YOUR SOURCE.
WHO? BUT THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
SO WHAT'S WHAT? WHAT WHAT IS IT, THOUGH? WHAT IS IT? THERE'S NOT ONE.
THERE'S THAT THERE'S A THERE'S A TAX RATE DECREASE BEING PROPOSED, NOT A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I WANT TO JUST HAVE THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
OKAY, SOMEONE IS MISLEADING YOU.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 116 DANA OAKS SPEAKING IN PERSON.
OKAY, YOU SAY THESE ARE TAX DECREASES AND THE WORRY IS TAKING MONEY FROM HOSPITALS AND THE POLICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WELL, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF FRIVOLOUS SPENDING.
AND IF YOU WOULD MONITOR WHERE THE MONEY GOES A LITTLE BETTER, THAT IT WOULDN'T BE SUCH A PROBLEM.
THE MAIN THING THAT STAYS IN MIND AND I MEAN, I'M NEWLY INTO THIS, BUT I AM A MOM AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE YOU HAD A FEW MOMS TO HELP YOU GUYS THAT WOULD HELP THE THING THAT STICKS IN MY MIND BACK FROM A COUPLE OF TIMES AGO WAS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SPEND ON PAPER FOR OF HOUSTON.
AND MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T TRY TO SUPPLY PAPER TO ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR EXTENDED FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BECAUSE, I MEAN, THEY DON'T NEED THAT MUCH PAPER.
THAT'S JUST THE MAIN THING THAT STUCK IN MY MIND.
I CAN'T THINK OF EVERYTHING BUT A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY.
AND JUST BE A LITTLE MORE MINDFUL OF SPENDING.
AND THEN WE COULD SAVE OUR CUTS IN OUR HOSPITALS.
RIGHT? NEXT IS SPEAKER 117 LYNDA MORALES SPEAKING IN PERSON.
ONE, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A BOARD TRUSTEE OF HARRIS HEALTH, AND IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT CAGLE AND RAMSEY ARE NOT HERE TO FOR HARRIS HEALTH.
IT WAS THE LOSS BY CAGLE AND RAMSEY, THEY NOT BEING HERE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE COMMERCIALS AND YOU THINK EVERYTHING'S LIKE WORSE IN AMERICA.
BUT LISTEN TO THIS GENTLEMAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON ON A DOWNWARD TREND ON VIOLENT CRIME.
BUT THESE GUYS, WHAT THEY DID ON LAW ENFORCEMENT CUTS.
HOW MANY TIMES DID WE SAY COME ON DOWN HERE? 8.1 MILLION CUT FOR CONSTABLES.
HOW MANY TIMES I CAN SEE THOSE GUYS HERE? 16.7 MILLION.
THE SPEAKER 118 ROBERT SANDOR SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
ANDREA AND I LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN HOUSTON.
AND I WAS I AM IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED THEY DID WHERE THE RATE IS CUT.
AND I'M VERY SADDENED BY THE ABSENCE OF JACK CAGLE AND TOM RAMSEY TO.
TO NOT ALLOW THIS MEASURE TO GO THROUGH.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR
[01:15:07]
JOB.THEY'RE PAID BY THEIR COUNTY TO DO THE SPECIFIC TASK AND THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH.
SPEAKER 119 LETICIA ORTEGA SPEAKING IN PERSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGES, OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS LETTY ORTEGA, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRAITS IN THE LABOR COUNCIL AND LATIN AMERICAN ADVANCEMENT.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM A PROUD PRODUCT OF HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST U.S.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 233.
GROWING UP IN A LOW INCOME WORKING CLASS HOUSEHOLD, I FOUND A SAFE SPACE IN OUR COUNTY FUNDED LIBRARIES AS THEY GAVE US ACCESS TO COOL AIR CONDITIONED SPACES AND ACCESS TO IN MY PARENT'S HOME, I LIVE LESS THAN A TEN MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE ITZY CHEMICAL TANK FARM EXPLOSION THAT HAPPENED IN 2019, AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT POLLUTION CONTROL BE FULLY FUNDED UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MY PARENTS, DEPEND ON FREE HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY HARRIS HEALTH OFFERS HEALTH SCREENINGS AND PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS MORE THAN POLICING SURVEILLANCE IN JAILS.
OUR BUDGET SHOULD INVEST IN SYSTEMS OF CARE THAT PREVENT HARM AND KEEP US SAFE.
USING OUR HOSPITALS AS A BARGAINING CHIP FOR MORE POLICE SETS US SETS A DANGEROUS AND UNFAIR MODEL, UNDERCUTTING HARRIS HEALTH COST THE COUNTY MORE IN THE LONG RUN.
BECAUSE WHEN OUR NEEDS ARE NOT MET, ESPECIALLY OUR HEALTH NEEDS, IT CREATES CONDITIONS THAT MAKES US VULNERABLE TO POLICE VIOLENCE, CRIMINALIZATION AND EXPLOITATION.
SPEAKER 120 DICK TYSON SPEAKING IN PERSON.
SO JUST HEARING WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT AND CERTAINLY SPEAK A LITTLE BETTER.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN HARRIS COUNTY IMPACTS US TREMENDOUSLY, ESPECIALLY THE ENTITIES THAT YOU MENTIONED IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THE VA.
I WAS THERE TODAY, EVEN GALVESTON COUNTY AND FLOOD CONTROL.
THE WATER CAN ONLY GET OUT OF HERE TWO WAYS THAT LEWIS PATH.
WELL, THE BRIDE'S FAVORITE HOUSE A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT GOES THAT'S MANMADE.
AND I'VE BEEN IN THE WATER IN A FLOOD AND HAD IT MADE FUN.
I'VE BEEN IN SHOOTOUTS TOO MANY TIMES.
I WOULD HOPE TO TALK TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHILE WE'RE HERE, BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
WHAT IF WE GOT SERIOUS PROBLEMS? THANK YOU, SIR.
DR. FAT LEONARD WAS ON STAGE IN HOUSTON MANY TIMES.
IF YOU GUYS COULD PLEASE CONNECT HIM.
I'M SORRY, BUT WE'LL MAKE SOMEONE WILL CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU SO YOU CAN SPEAK WITH THE RELEVANT PERSON.
MY TEAM WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
HI, I'M LAUREN LIVELY, A CONCERNED HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT.
I LIVE NEAR THE ANTOINE AND PINE MONT.
IT'S A VERY UNDERSERVED, UNDERDEVELOPED AREA.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME THAT GOES ON THERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING FOR HELP WITH THAT.
BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE IS THAT HARRIS COUNTY DESERVES FOR ITS TAX DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE POLITICIANS LIKE COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY AND CAGLE TO UNILATERALLY DECIDE NOT TO PARTICIPATE AND PREVENT THE DECREASE, NOT INCREASE DECREASE.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE BUDGET NOT INCREASING WILL IMPACT A PARTICULAR AGENCY.
[01:20:11]
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.4.7 MILLION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUNDS WILL NOT PASS TODAY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS MONEY IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS ADMINISTRATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT TAX RATE DECREASE.
MR. RAMOS, REAL QUICKLY, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY EMPHASIZED, BUT THE THE.
THE TAX RATE THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED WOULD HAVE BEEN AMONGST THE LOWEST IN HOW MANY YEARS.
YET WE HAVE RECORDS GOING BACK TO 1990, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LOWEST, THE LOWEST SINCE 1990.
FROM THE RECORDS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE.
WHEN WAS THE GENERAL FUND? TAX RATE DECREASED LAST.
IF YOU GIVE ME A MINUTE, I'LL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
OVERALL, THEY MADE A CUT TO HEALTH CARE BEFORE.
YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK HE MEANT OVERALL.
IF YOU JUST GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES AND TAKE A FEW SPEAKERS, I CAN FOLLOW UP.
GEORGE, I DID WANT TO SAY THE SPEAKER SAID BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY.
EVERYBODY'S TESTIMONY IS IMPORTANT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT AT ONE MINUTE.
BUT YOU CAN STILL SUBMIT SOMETHING IN THE RECORD, BUT WE VALUE ALL OF YOUR TESTIMONY.
I WON'T DO IT EVERY TIME, BUT WE'LL KEEP THAT MONEY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE THANK YOU.
NEXT IS CHRIS BROWN SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO.
I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WITH YEARS LONG ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA THROUGH MUTUAL AID, HOUSTON AND THE HOUSTON ABOLITIONIST COLLECTIVE.
I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEMS 233 AND 125.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON OR EVIDENCE THAT SUGGESTS MORE COPS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD KEEP US SAFE.
UNDERFUNDING HARRIS HEALTH POLLUTION CONTROL UNDER UNDER-FUNDING.
HARRIS HEALTH AND POLLUTION CONTROL AND PUBLIC HEALTH DOES NOTHING ABOUT ACTUAL CRIME PREVENTION AND MAKES HARRIS COUNTY A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PLACE TO LIVE.
I NEED YOU ALL TO THINK THROUGH MORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMBATING CRIME, AND I SUGGEST YOU START WITH THE ROOT, WHICH IS ADDRESSING RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY'S NEEDS.
PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND COPS DO NOT ENSURE OUR SAFETY.
ADDITIONALLY, HARRIS HEALTH IS A WONDERFUL AND EXPANSIVE, PUBLIC FUNDED SYSTEM THAT SERVES OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN EACH OF US ARE VULNERABLE TO ADDICTION, UNEMPLOYMENT.
IT'S RIDICULOUSLY UNDERFUNDED.
AND I'M ASKING FOR WHAT HARRIS HEALTH AND THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A VOTER APPROVED RATE OF $0.19.
ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT IS SHAMEFUL.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW, ARE THERE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 233? YES, MA'AM.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE START LINING THEM UP, TIFFANY AND MR. A COMMENT.
SO FROM 2011 THROUGH 2018, THE TAX RATE INCREASED EVERY YEAR AND THEN DECREASE FROM THAT POINT ONE THING I DO WANT TO NOTE IS FROM 2008 THROUGH 2018, THE OVERALL COUNTY TAX RATE STAYED THE SAME.
MR. RAMOS, IF YOU COULD SPEAK INTO THAT MICROPHONE AND REPEAT THAT AGAIN.
FROM FROM 2010 THROUGH 2018, THE THE HARRIS COUNTY GENERAL FUND EVERY YEAR.
FROM THAT POINT ON, THERE'S BEEN CONSISTENT DECREASING.
FOR THE OVERALL HARRIS COUNTY RATE FROM 2008 THROUGH 2018, IT REMAINED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED.
PUT THAT IN WRITING BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR COLLEAGUES KNOW IT AND THEN I WON'T HAVE YOU DO THE COMMENTARY.
I'M JUST GOING TO SHOW WHO WAS IN CHARGE EACH OF THOSE YEARS.
BUT JUST SEND THAT TO ALL OF US IN WRITING.
OH, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR MYSELF.
I PUT IT TOGETHER AND I EMAILED EMAIL THE CHIEFS OF STAFF.
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 233, WHICH IS THE OTHER TAX RATE ITEM.
AND I HOPE THAT BEFORE ONCE THE SPEAKERS ARE DONE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE OR TAKE NO VOTE AND DEFUND THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM AND OUR FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM.
SO IT'S THE LAST CALL FOR COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY.
AND JUST REMEMBER, WHEN YOUR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT GETS DOWNSIZED, WHEN YOUR
[01:25:01]
HOSPITAL WAIT TIMES GET LONGER, YOU KNOW WHO TO THANK FOR THAT.IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP HERE WHILE THESE BY THE TIME THESE SPEAKERS ARE DONE, THIS MEETING'S BEEN LONG NOTICED.
FIRST FOR ITEM 233 IS SPEAKER 87, SABAH BLANDING, SPEAKING IN PERSON FOR 233, AS WELL AS 125.
MY NAME IS SABA BLANDING AND I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT TWO.
I REMEMBER THE EXACT MOMENT I LEARNED I WAS BEING LIED TO ABOUT POLICING AND CARCERAL JUSTICE.
IT WAS ON JUNE 2ND, 2016, AND THAT LESSON HAS BEEN REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN SINCE THEN.
MOST RECENTLY ON MAY 24TH, 2022.
CARCERAL JUSTICE DOES NOT PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
IT DOES NOT STOP A SCHOOL SHOOTING.
IT DOES NOT HOUSE THE UNHOUSED, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
IT DOES NOT IMPROVE MATERNAL MORTALITY BECAUSE CANCER CLUSTERS, IT DOES NOT MITIGATE FLOODING.
CARCERAL JUSTICE DOES NOT KEEP US SAFE.
IT CREATES AND PERPETUATES HARM.
COMMUNITY SAFETY IS A VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION.
IT IS A LIBRARY FULL OF BOOKS AND ACCESSIBLE HOURS.
IT IS A FULLY STAFFED AND RESOURCED HOSPITAL.
IT IS PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE.
IT IS PARKS WITH WORKING EQUIPMENT IN MOWN GRASS, IT IS CLEAN AIR, IT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
COMMUNITY SAFETY IS EVERY SINGLE PERSON BEING ABLE TO LIVE FULLY INTO THEIR POTENTIAL.
NEXT FOR ITEM 233 IS CYNTHIA COLE SPEAKING IN PERSON? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
TIFFANY, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I NOTICED SOME SPEAKERS THIS MORNING ALSO WENT TWICE.
I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY.
NORMALLY, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO, BUT IN THIS CASE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
NORMALLY, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MEET WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO SPEAK BOTH ON THE HEARING AND THEN ITEMS ITSELF.
I NOTICED THAT THIS MORNING AS WELL.
THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ACP LOCAL 1550.
EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS THAT I REPRESENT.
THIS IS ALSO GOING TO COST SOME OF THEM THEIR JOBS, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY, THEY WILL BE CUT BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
SO LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I TELL THE TRUTH AND SHAME THE DEVIL.
THE FACT IS, IS THAT WITHOUT THIS BUDGET, YOU HAVE NOT JUST PEOPLE AT RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR HEALTH, BUT YOU HAVE PEOPLE AT RISK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE JOBS TO HELP PROVIDE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 111 COOKY WICKER STROTHER AND SHE SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THAT WAS WRONG.
SHE MEANT TO SIGN UP FOR ITEM 233.
MY NAME IS COOKIE WICKER STARTER AND I AM A RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD.
I SAY WE COME ON ONE SIDE OF 16, WHICH IS THE EAST SIDE, AND WE LOOK THE WAY WE LOOK.
GO ON THE OTHER SIDE AND THEY LOOK THE WAY THEY LOOK BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MONEY.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE NEED MORE HEALTH CARE, WE NEED MORE SOLUTIONS TO OUR FLOODING STREET.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO OR WHO'S IN IT.
SO WE NEED SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE LIVE AND WE BREATHE AND WE WORK AND WE DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO, JUST LIKE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LOOP.
SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT WE HAVE ONE HOSPITAL, ONE CLINIC.
AND WHAT I IS THAT WHEN YOU BUILD ALL THESE TOWNHOUSES AND THE PEOPLE MOVE IN, THAT'S WHEN WE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WANT TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL.
BUT WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO WAIT WHEN WE'VE BEEN HERE? HISTORICAL FIFTH WARD.
NEXT SPEAKER 121 MICHELLE CARMONA SPEAKING ON ITEM 33.
YES, I JUST I JUST WANT TO CHECK LUCINDA.
THERE'S A MR. CHARLES INGRAM THAT IS HERE.
HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS NOT MISSED HIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I JUST WANT MAKE SURE THAT WHETHER WE DID PASS OVER HIM OR WHETHER HE'S STILL IN THE QUEUE.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO HIM YET, COMMISSIONER.
SO YOU'RE OKAY, MISTER? NOT YET.
AND THERE IS A CERTAIN TIME BY WHICH SPEAKERS NEED TO HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO ANYWAY, MAYBE YOU COULD CHECK IF HE'S.
AND JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T NORMALLY, WE DON'T MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT, OTHERWISE IT'LL JUST BE A MESS.
ALL RIGHT, BUT YOU'RE ON THE LIST, SIR.
YOU SIGNED UP BY BY THE CUTOFF TIME.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 121, MICHELE CARMONA SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
[01:30:02]
I LIVE IN TOM RAMSEY'S DISTRICT AND I AM PROUD OF MY COMMISSIONER AND CAGLE FOR STANDING UP TO THIS COURT.Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO PUSH A TAX INCREASE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
MR. GARCIA IN HARRIS COUNTY AND HOPING THAT THE PEOPLE ARE NOT DUMB ENOUGH TO NOTICE WE ARE IN A RECESSION AND THE TAX INCREASES WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO HURT THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS MONTHLY BUDGET HAS INCREASED, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I BRING HOME HAS NOT.
YOU HAVE THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR AND YOU WILL NEED TO LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS AND CUT BACK ON WHERE IT'S NEEDED AND NOT ASK THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY MORE.
SPEAKER 122 JOANNA STEPHENSON YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
DO YOU HAVE THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR AND YOU WILL NEED TO LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS? MRS. STEPHENSON.
SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE REQUIRED A CALL.
SHE'S PROBABLY LISTENING TO IT.
SPEAKER 122 JOANNA STEPHENSON WE MAY NEED TO COME BACK TO THIS ONE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I BELIEVE JUDGE HIDALGO STATED THAT WE WOULD LOSE $133 SYSTEM.
THAT IS A SHAME FOR THE LARGEST COUNTY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATEST SECURITY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN THE NATION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT ACT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL.
THE AMOUNT OF SHOWBOATING AND CHEST POUNDING FROM THE MISSING COMMISSIONERS, CAGLE AND RAMSEY CANNOT ALL CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY, A COUNTY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULATION, WHICH MEANS WE NEED MORE IT IS A TRAUMA ONE FACILITY.
IT IS WHERE EMTS TAKE THE MOST COMPLEX TRAUMA CASES WHICH CAN IMPACT ANYONE, NO MATTER YOUR INCOME LEVEL.
HARRIS COUNTY DESERVES BETTER.
AND I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT BRIEFLY THAT NORMALLY YOU NEED ONE TRAUMA, ONE FACILITY PER MILLION RESIDENTS.
WE'VE GOT ALMOST 5 MILLION RESIDENTS.
SO REALLY, HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD HAVE FIVE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTERS.
NOW, WE ONLY HAVE TWO, AND 50% OF THAT HAS BEEN TAUGHT THAT IS THIS.
THE ENTITY THAT IS BEING DEFUNDED, $45 MILLION.
SO IF VIEW AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION, FIND YOURSELF IN A CAR ACCIDENT, ANY KIND OF SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED TO TAKE YOU TO THE 5050 YOU'RE GOING TO END UP AT BEN TAUB.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE GENTLEMEN ARE GETTING READY TO, TO DEFUND, TO PUT $45 MILLION IN THE RED.
NEXT IS KATHARINA DE CHURCH SPEAKING IN PERSON.
MY NAME IS CATERINA DESERT AND I AM THE HOUSTON POLICY AND ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH TAHARI JUSTICE CENTER.
WE WORK WITH IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, WALKING ALONGSIDE THEM AS THEY NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEYS TOWARD SAFETY AND JUSTICE.
SO MANY OF THE SURVIVORS THAT WE WORK WITH, THE BIGGEST BARRIERS THEY FACE TO SAFETY AND JUSTICE ARE IN ACCESSING SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THEM HEAL.
WELL, THE RESPONSE SURVIVORS RECEIVED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IMPORTANT.
SAFETY MUST INCLUDE MORE THAN THAT.
THE BIGGEST GAPS FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS AND OTHER VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING STABILITY, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND COUNTY'S HEALTH SERVICES ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDED AND CAN ADDRESS THE CRITICAL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS OF SURVIVORS AND THE MOST NOT ONLY HELPS PEOPLE HEAL, BUT REDUCES VULNERABILITY TO FUTURE VIOLENCE AND MAKES US ALL SAFER.
FOR THAT REASON, WE ASK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO RECOGNIZE THAT A FULLY FUNDED HARRIS HEALTH IS A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURE.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 233.
OKAY, SO WE'VE TAKEN ALL THE SPEAKERS.
[Departments (Part 3 of 4)]
WE ALREADY WENT OVER ITEM 232, WHICH WAS THE THE PUBLIC HEARING.IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY OR COMMISSIONER CAGLE OR BOTH WERE HERE, WE WOULD BE ADOPTING A TAX RATE CUT.
[01:35:02]
OVERALL, THE TAX RATE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LOWEST SINCE AT LEAST 1990.LOWER THAN WHAT THEY EVER PROPOSED BEFORE.
THE TWO OF US GOT ON COMMISSIONERS COURT.
AND THEY DECIDED IT WAS WORTH IT FOR SOME REASON.
TO HARM THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE TODAY, WE'RE NOW.
THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS NOW $45 MILLION IN THE RED.
THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT NOW LOSES OVER $20 MILLION.
I JUST WANT TO GET ON THE RECORD AND HAVE YOU GO THROUGH IT, MR. SO THE ONLY RATE THIS THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED WOULD BE THE RATE ON HERSELF.
SO WE WERE ESSENTIALLY TAKING THE FLOOD RATE THAT.
OH, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL COMMISSIONER GARCIA COMES BACK.
AND THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY CALLED A BREAK.
IT'S 502 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
TIFFANY, IF YOU'LL CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
[Appearances before court (Part 3 of 3)]
JUDGE, I'M SORRY, REAL QUICK, JUST FOR THE RECORD, NO ACTION ON ITEM 232 AND 233, CORRECT? NO ACTION MEANS HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS DEFUNDED.FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IS DEFUNDED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP JUST SO THEY CUT 100 MILLION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
JUDGE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE SPEAKERS FOR THE RESOLUTIONS? JUST FINISH ALL OF THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'LL DO RESOLUTION IN THE COURT.
BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING THROUGH ALL THE SPEAKERS.
SO UP FIRST IS SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, PAUL PAWLENTY SPEAKING ON ITEM TO HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS PAUL SWINTON, THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR THE HOUSTON GULF COAST BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.
I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IS COMING UP NEXT MONTH, THE WEEK OF THE 14TH TO THE AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU, I SERVE ON THE TEXAS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
AND IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME TO COMMUNICATE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES OUTSIDE OF CONSTRUCTION, WHICH I SERVE TO UTILIZE.
IN KIND OF TAKE A PLAY FROM OUR PLAYBOOK.
OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE UNION HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN EDUCATING THE CULTURE AND SAFE WORK MANNER AND QUALITY WORKFORCE INDUSTRIES.
NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER TWO, VICKIE MARTIN SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM OUTRAGED ABOUT THE NO SHOW FROM COMMISSIONER CABLE AND RAMSEY.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, ABOUT THE DEFICIT AND EVERYTHING, THE 10,000 PATIENTS THAT WILL NOT BE SERVED AND HAVE ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING 15,000 PEOPLE COULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, INCLUDING MENTAL DIALYSIS AND MEDICATIONS AND THINGS AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, 4950.
WE SERVED THE ISSUES AND SAID AGAINST AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY INUNDATED WITH UNDERSERVICED.
AND I WOULD SAY TO DO NOTHING IS FLAGRANT, BUT TO DO NOTHING WHEN THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING WILL EVOKE CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE IS EGREGIOUS.
NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, DAVE LEWIS SPEAKING ON ITEM FOUR AND HE'S ON THE WEBEX.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR VETERANS OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR OPERATION GREEN LIGHT, LIGHTING OUR COUNTY BUILDINGS BE PRESENTED HERE.
[01:40:02]
AND THANK YOU TO OUR COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING THE EFFORT INTO DOING THAT.YOU KNOW, GREEN LIGHT MEANS GO AND FOR HARRIS COUNTY VETERANS.
YOU'RE CLEARED TO GO AS FAR AS YOU WANT TO IN LIFE.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE THAT DO STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT DON'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THAT'S WHERE HARRIS COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES DEPARTMENT COMES IN.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND TO YOUR STAFF, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
COLONEL, APPRECIATE YOU CALLING IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
NEXT IS SPEAKER FIVE MICHAEL STONEBRIDGE SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEMS 93 AND 95.
I'M MICHAEL STEINBERG FROM JERSEY VILLAGE.
MY WIFE, ANNE AND I AND MY DAUGHTER HANNAH FLOODED.
AND NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON CHUCK HAGEL, COMMISSIONER HAGEL, TO HELP WIDEN OUR BAYOU FOR LIKE FIVE YEARS SINCE THE 2017 PUT THROUGH.
NOW I GO TO TOM RAMSEY AND I ASK HIM FOR HELP.
HE SAYS WE WON'T GET FLOOD TUNNELS IN JERSEY VILLAGE.
HE SAYS YOU'LL HAVE TO RELY ON TRADITIONAL MEANS.
THE TRADITIONAL MEANS HOPPED OUT.
THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO NEW AND THE FLOOD DISTRICT.
I SAY RETURN THIS JUDGE, LINA HIDALGO, TO OFFICE BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING.
SHE'S BEEN IN THERE YEARS NOW.
DON'T PUT SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO FROM DAY ONE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THEM BY THE HAND.
MILLER AND I SAY PUT LESLIE BRYANS IN TO REPLACE JACK HAGEL.
IT'S TIME TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE WHO, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT FOUR VOTERS, YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU'RE IN THE CAPTURED SEAT.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THINGS.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THESE DEADLOCKS.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HELP YOUR FELLOW AND SISTER HARRIS COUNTY.
NEXT IS SPEAKER SIX DAVID WELCH SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
TIFFANY, CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT? IT WAS.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S MAKING HIS WAY.
MY NAME IS AREA PASTOR COUNCIL.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THE RESPONSIBILITY LISTED FIRST FOR TEXAS COUNTIES IS PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE.
IN YOUR FOUR YEARS OF MAJORITY, YOU HAVE FAILED THE FIRST PURPOSE.
YOUR BOND REFORM HAS LED TO AN 80% NO SHOW FOR MISDEMEANOR CASES.
YOU'VE UNDERMINED AND UNDERFUNDED BOTH PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE CURRENT CRISIS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
A 4 TO 1 CASE LOAD ON THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE COMPARED TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE BECAUSE OF SHORT STAFFING DUE TO UNDERFUNDING IS UNACCEPTABLE.
DIVERTING FUNDING FOR TRAINED AND EQUIPPED OFFICERS TO TREES, LIGHTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE EXPERIMENTS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
ON BEHALF OF HUNDREDS OF SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT CHURCHES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WE CALL ON YOU TO REPENT AND CORRECT THIS, OR WE, THE PEOPLE, WILL FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW.
AND JUST TO ADD ONE FINAL THING, A REDUCTION IN THE MASSIVE INCREASE OF REVENUES IN THE COUNTY IS NOT A CUT.
NEXT IS SPEAKER SEVEN PASTOR HERNAN CASTANO SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON.
THANK YOU, PASTOR HERNAN CASTANO.
I PREACH THE TRUTH FROM THE PULPIT TO MY PEOPLE.
BUT TODAY IT IS UNDENIABLE, UNACCEPTABLE AND INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT THOSE SITTING HERE TODAY AS COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU, JUDGE LINA AND INSENSIBLE TO THE DISINTEGRATION AND DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF OUR CITY TODAY BECAUSE OF CRIME WITHOUT CONTROL, TO OUR DA OFFICE AND THE DEFUNDING OF OUR OFFICERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHILE THEY'RE BURNING THOSE FUNDS TO NOTHING MORE IS NOTHING MORE THAN UNCONTROLLABLE CRIME SITUATION THAT IS DEVASTATING OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY.
YOUR ACTIONS TO NOT APPROVE THE PROPER FUNDING TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S SENDING A PROMOTIONAL MESSAGE TO THOSE THAT DO NOT RESPECT ORDER AND LAW.
AND WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS ANYMORE.
WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE GOING TO RETURN FOR 35 AND WE COME BACK.
[01:45:01]
THANK YOU.ORG SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON.
I'M KIM OGG, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND AS THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN HARRIS COUNTY, I'M HERE WITH OTHER LOCALLY ELECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
WHILE WE ARE BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, WE SHARE A DUTY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, WE TAKE AN OATH, COMMISSIONER, TO DO THAT.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THIS COURT'S OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET HAS INFORMED ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS THAT IF YOU DON'T PASS A TAX INCREASE, OUR BUDGETS ARE TO BE I'VE HEARD YOU DEFUNDING THINGS BEFORE.
THIS IS SIMPLY MORE DEFUNDING.
THIS PROPOSAL TO CUT $5 MILLION FROM OUR BUDGET IS BASICALLY CUTTING FROM SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T BE CUT ANY MORE.
WOULD YOU HAVE ME IN SEX TRAFFICKING, PROSECUTION, CAPITAL MURDER, A POLICE OFFICER, PROSECUTION? WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE US CUT $5 MILLION? DEFUNDING IS NOTHING NEW FROM OUR BOARD.
YOU NOTICE, LET ME PRESENT STATE'S EVIDENCE TWO EMPTY SEATS.
THOSE TWO EMPTY SEATS MEANS A FORCED.
NO, YOU KNOW, NEW REVENUE RATE.
AND NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS WHAT PROMPTED THE BUDGET OFFICE TO HAVE TO SEND THAT EMAIL NOT JUST TO YOU BUT TO EVERYONE ELSE.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THE TWO SEATS ARE EMPTY? MAY I RESPOND? DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT? THE TWO SEATS ARE? OF COURSE.
NO TAX INCREASE IS REQUIRED TO FULLY FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
JUST THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGETS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS SITTING HERE.
I'M AFRAID FOR PRECEDENT BECAUSE WE LOST ONE OF OUR QUORUMS. OH, SHE'S RIGHT.
UNTIL COMMISSIONER ELLIS GETS BACK, WE HAVE TO HOLD EVERYTHING OFF FOR A MOMENT.
AND JUST A REMINDER, EVERY SPEAKER GETS ONE MINUTE, SO WE ALL PLAY BY THE RULES.
SO WE'LL FIND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
IT'S IT'S 524 COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
TIFFANY, YOU'LL CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
ABOUT WHO'S WRONG AND WHO'S RIGHT.
BUT THE RESULT HAS BEEN THE DEGRADATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO A LEVEL THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN OVER 40 YEARS.
THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY ARE THE ONES BEING PUT AT RISK WHEN VIOLENT OFFENDERS ARE RELEASED BACK INTO THE STREETS WITH NO OR LOW BOND, WE FAIL.
WHEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS NO PROSECUTORS OR INVESTIGATORS, WE FAIL.
WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDS THEIR TIME HERE ARGUING RATHER THAN BEING ON THE STREETS, WE FAIL.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION FOR THE COPS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AM I SHORT ON THE STREETS? YES.
WHY? BECAUSE I HAVE THREE DEPUTIES ON LOAN TO HI TO AND OATH TO DEATH, TRYING TO GET DRUGS OFF THE STREET.
I HAVE THREE DEPUTIES ON LOAN TRYING TO TRACK DOWN VIOLENT OFFENDERS LIKE THE MURDERER OF CORPORAL GALLOWAY.
I HAVE TWO ON LOAN TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INVESTIGATORS TO SEE THESE CASES THROUGH.
THREE ASSIGNED TO AYCOCK TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND SEXUAL CRIMES.
ONE ASIDE, I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME IS UP.
REAL QUICKLY, JUDGE HIDALGO, IT'S ONE YEAR AGO TODAY.
YOU MADE TODAY DEPUTY KAREEM ATKINS DAY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE'S OUR DEPUTY THAT WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I GET A LOT OF CALLS, A LOT OF EMAILS.
AND THEY SAID, HERMAN, WE WANT YOU TO GO IN THERE AND ADDRESS US AND FORECAST FOR US.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A FORECAST FOR EVERYBODY.
I'M IN THE NINETIES AT FORECASTING, SO WE'RE GETTING OUR COURTS BACK IN JANUARY.
ONCE WE GET OUR COURTS, OUR DA'S ALREADY HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP HER SOME, PROBABLY.
BUT I HAVE A FUNNY FEELING SHE'S GOING TO GET THE HELP SHE NEEDS.
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING.
WE'VE NEVER STOPPED DURING THIS LAST FOUR YEARS.
THE BEST OF US ARE DEAD, 11 OF US IN JUST A FEW YEARS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, 11 ALL UNNECESSARILY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN EXPERIMENTED
[01:50:03]
WE'VE GOT A COURT THAT WE GOT SO DISTANT FROM.I'M THE CONSTABLE OF PRECINCT DATE.
I COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR YOU CAREFULLY TO CONSIDER THE REQUEST BEING MADE BY HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS AND TO VOTE ADEQUATELY TO FUND OUR NEEDS AND MORE THAN THE CALL VOLUME CONTINUES TO RISE WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES WITHIN ALL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
OUR ABILITY TO MEET THIS DEMAND IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.
THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN OUR COURTS ARE BACKLOGGED.
THE JAILS ARE AT FULL CAPACITY, INFLATION IS ON THE RISE AND THE POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW DRAMATICALLY.
WITH THE STRIPPING AWAY OF OUR ALLOCATED UNSPENT BUDGET FUNDS.
OUR ABILITY TO WEATHER SUCH STORMS HAS BEEN MADE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
WE HAVE ALL SUBMITTED A LIST OF NEEDS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO US.
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY KNOW WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED AND PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE OUR REQUEST THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR.
NEXT IS DANIEL GARZA SPEAKING IN PERSON FOR ITEM 125.
MY NAME IS DANNY GARZA WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR COSMO'S OFFICE.
I TAKE MY OATH OF OFFICE VERY SERIOUS.
THIS COURT HAS SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON STUDIES AND AN EFFORT TO JUSTIFY REMOVING THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM AND DECREASED FUNDING AND PERSONNEL COSTS FOR OFFICERS.
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS CURRENTLY SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ITEMS AND IS CALLING THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDING.
HOWEVER, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS PATROLLING AND RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE, INVESTIGATING CRIMES AND PROSECUTING CRIMES.
EXCUSE ME, WHY FLIES, NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT? LIGHTNING IS NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BIKE TRAILS IS NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY AND SERVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED, BUT IT IS NOT.
COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES NOT PROPERLY FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE COUNTY, LEAVING IT TO THE HIGHWAYS AND UTILITY DISTRICTS TO SUPPLEMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YET THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE COST OF CONTRACTS, MAKING IT FINANCIALLY CHALLENGING FOR HIGHWAYS AND UTILITY DISTRICTS IN LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS TO AFFORD I ASK FOR YOU TO CONSIDER ALLOCATING.
NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER NINE, SHEILA HAMILTON SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SHEILA HAMILTON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS REMOVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CONSTABLES BUDGETS, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT DEFUNDING AND REALLOCATING OF FUNDS ARE OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SHOWN A PATTERN OF DISRESPECT AND IRRESPONSIBILITY WITH HOW THEY TREAT AND FUND COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND WE ARE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS TRIES TO SAY WE CAN'T ADD LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY.
AS THE COUNTY GROWS, SO SHOULD THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES EMPLOYED BY THE SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES OFFICES.
WE NEED MORE DEPUTIES, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF OUT-OF-CONTROL CRIME, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR POPULATION AND GROWTH IN HARRIS COUNTY.
STOP USING FAILED LOGIC AS A REASON TO JUSTIFY YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO PROPERLY FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUT MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
NEXT TO SPEAKER TEN, TOBY HECKLER SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
MY NAME IS TOBY HECKER, AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
WE'RE ALL STRONGLY BEHIND THIS POLICY.
WE TRULY BELIEVE THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMILY.
HOWEVER, BY ALLOWING OUR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE UP TO 12 PAID WEEKS OFF, IT HAS CREATED A REAL EMPLOYEE SHORTAGE.
AT ANY ONE TIME, WE HAVE SEVERAL DEPUTIES OFF ON PATERNITY LEAVE AND WE'RE LEFT SCRAMBLING TO COVER THEIR CALL VOLUME, AS WELL AS TRYING TO COVER THOSE FOR THE DEPUTIES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES TO HELP US COVER THE STREETS WHILE THESE DEPUTIES ARE OUT.
IN FACT, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE LOST SEVEN DISTRICT POSITIONS.
CONSTABLE EAGLETON HAS LOST 19 AND CONSTABLE GARCIA HAS LOST SEVEN.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS RECEIVED 839 NEWLY FUNDED POSITIONS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I KNOW THE SHERIFF GONZALES WAS SHORT AND WAS IN NEED OF NEW POSITIONS, BUT SO IS THE REST OF HARRIS COUNTY.
ACCORDING TO CHICO, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 900 SWORN CONSTABLE DEPUTIES AND 2100 SWORN SHERIFF DEPUTIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES, JUST AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID.
I KNOW A CATCH PHRASE IS WE NEED MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
BUT IN ALL HONESTY, WE NEED ADDITIONAL POSITIONS JUST TO KEEP THE SAME AMOUNT OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
EVEN 1 MILLION OF THE NEARLY $70 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE THAT WE'RE STUCK WITH NOW, WHICH REALLY HELP.
[01:55:01]
THERE.I WANT TO JUST ASK MR. HE SAID THAT WE TOOK PICTURES AWAY.
IS THAT ACCURATE? I WOULD NEED A DOUBLE CHECK.
IT'S FROM DIRECTLY FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT.
PRIOR TO LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY DID THE BUDGET BY POSITION.
SO THERE ARE WHAT WE PROVIDED.
THAT DATA SET IS JUST THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WERE THAT ARE IN THE HR SYSTEM.
THERE MAY NOT BE A CORRELATION TO THEM HAVING HAD FUNDING ATTACHED TO THEM.
NEXT TO SPEAKER NUMBER 12, DONALD STEWART SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M CHIEF DEPUTY DONALD STEWART.
THE HARRIS COUNTY POLICING FORECAST FOR THE OFFICE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMOVAL AND REALLOCATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE HARRIS COUNTY HAS OVER $60 MILLION IN NEW PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WHICH A PORTION ENFORCEMENT.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS REMOVED TO REALLOCATE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE PRECINCT COUNSEL'S OFFICE.
THE REALLOCATION HAS CAUSED OUR AGENCY TO NOT FEEL VACANT POSITIONS AND PURCHASE MUCH NEEDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS VITAL TO THE SAFETY OF OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC.
LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE COULD SERVE OVER $900,000 OF OUR BUDGETED FUNDS, WHICH WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY.
OUR COST OF INSURANCE PROJECTED FOR THE 2223 FISCAL YEAR IS GOING TO INCREASE BY $535,000.
COMMISSIONERS COURT IS FORCING OUR AGENCY TO ABSORB THAT EXPENSE TO SET UP PROVIDING FUNDING, WHICH HAS BEEN STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
WHEN WE REQUESTED THAT THE OVER $900,000 WOULD BE CONSERVED BE ALLOCATED TO THE RISING INSURANCE COSTS.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 13, NICOLE ALLEN SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
MY NAME IS NICOLE ALLEN, AND I'M A CAPTAIN WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE LACK OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOES NOT PROPERLY FUND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN FALLING ON FOR THE WHOLE IN THE UTILITY DISTRICT.
THIS HAS CREATED A TWO PRONGED BURDEN ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
ONE, OFTEN THEY CANNOT AFFORD LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES EVEN THOUGH THEY WANT TO, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTRACT, THE COUNTY ISN'T PROVIDING GROUND TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD ONE COMMUNITY THAT HAD TO DECIDE BETWEEN TRASH SERVICES AND POLICE SERVICES, AND BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF POLICE SERVICES, THEY DECIDED TO CAN HAVE POLICE SERVICES.
THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR SAFETY AND KNOW THAT THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS UNDERSTAND HOW SAFE.
NEXT IS TYWIN SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I WORK FOR A PRECINCT FOR CONSTABLES OFFICE.
I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR OFFICERS.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK, WHY DID COPS SIGN UP FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS JOB? DEPUTIES TAKE THE OATH, UNDERSTATING THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB, AND THEY DO SO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND TO BECAUSE OF THIS, DEPUTIES ACCEPT UNNECESSARY RISK.
HOWEVER, DEPUTIES DO NOT DESERVE TO BE FORCED TO ACCEPT UNNECESSARY RISK.
IN HARRIS COUNTY, CRIMINAL COURT JUDGES WITH THE EXPLICIT OR IMPLICIT SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT RELEASE, REPEATED VIOLENT OFFENDERS ON LOW BONDS OR NO BONDS, ESCALATE THEIR VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS CREATE UNQUESTIONABLE, UNNECESSARY RISK THAT OUR DEPUTIES DID NOT SIGN UP FOR AND OFF DUTY.
DEPUTY CONSTABLE WAS JUST MURDERED IN OUR PRECINCT AFTER PICKING UP FOOD TO FEED HIS FAMILY.
HE WOULD JUST KILL ABOUT TWO INDIVIDUALS.
NEXT, THE SPEAKER 15, GLORIA RODRIGUEZ SPEAKING IN PERSON.
[02:00:03]
HELLO.I'M GOING TO SAY IT IN SPANISH, ALL OF YOU.
SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE SPEAKING IN SPANISH, WE NEED AN INTERPRETER.
CAN YOU GUYS GET THE INTERPRETER, PLEASE? JUDGE.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE INTERPRETER THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
MA'AM, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK IN SPANISH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT LATER BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR REMARKS ARE TRANSLATED.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW IN ENGLISH OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK LATER VIA AN INTERPRETER? THEY NEED TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETER.
DO YOU GUYS WANT FOR THE INTERPRETER? THE OTHER YOUNG LADY THAT WAS HERE WAS CERTIFIED.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RULES ARE.
SO, TIFFANY, CAN YOU CAN YOU GET.
LET US KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE AN INTERPRETER, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 16 CARL GLOR SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR MANY YEARS.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR COLONY? LINDA AND I WERE STOPPED BY A GUY THE OTHER DAY AND WAS GOING TO KILL US.
MY DAUGHTER HAD A GUN PULLED OUT ON HER.
AND THIS IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
ADRIAN, YOU AND I GO BACK 20 OR 30 YEARS.
WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET A HOLD OF THIS CRIME.
AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT YOU'RE A SHERIFF AND ALSO THE POLICE CHIEF.
WE DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING OUT TO DINNER EVEN ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
YOU ARE A FORENSIC CPA, RIGHT? YES.
A NO NEW REVENUE RATE MEANS LESS MONEY TO INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, RIGHT? TAKES AWAY 100 MILLION.
THAT WAS GOING TO GO TOWARDS THOSE PURPOSES.
CREATE THOSE INVESTMENTS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR US.
I'M GLAD YOU GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL TIME BECAUSE I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.
I THINK I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOARING APPRAISED VALUES, FAIR MARKET VALUES GOING UP.
MY TAXES HAVE GONE UP ON MY HOME AND I'VE GOT TO REFINANCE FOR A SECOND.
IT'S ALSO DISINGENUOUS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A TAX RATE DECREASE.
THE TAX RATE DECREASE AND IT WAS GOING TO BE AMONGST THE LOWEST, IF NOT THE LOWEST TAX RATE PROPOSED IN 30 YEARS THE TAX RATE HAD BEEN AT ITS HIGHEST WITH AND YOU HEARD MR. MAYBE YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD, BUT HE MENTIONED THAT THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A LOWER OR $2,000 TAX RATE.
THIS IS THE LOWEST WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LOWEST SINCE 1990, SINCE 1990, 1990.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR CPA BACKGROUND RECOGNIZES INFLATION, RECOGNIZES INCREASED COSTS.
SO THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PROPOSED TAX RATE DECREASE.
AND IN ORDER TO MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS, WE'RE GROWING.
I'M ONE OF THE MIND THAT IF WE'RE GROWING, YOU DO NEED TO ADD IN CERTAIN AREAS OF OPERATION, AND THAT DOES REQUIRE REVENUE.
AND SO NOW WE HAVE ZERO WE DON'T HAVE THAT NEW REVENUE AVAILABLE TO INVEST INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I'VE BEEN FIGHTING SINCE I WAS A SHERIFF FOR A DOUBLE DIGIT SALARY INCREASE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS ALMOST GOING TO GET US THERE AT THIS IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
THEY AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.
SO JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS WHAT IS MAKING THIS MUCH WHEN YOU APPLY, WHEN YOU APPLY THE RATE, WHATEVER THE RATE IS AGAINST HIGHER FAIR
[02:05:01]
MARKET VALUE.SO, NO, CARL, WE'RE TALKING WE'RE TALKING TO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
YOU WANT YOU WANT TO INVEST INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THE ECONOMY IS DOING RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED THE REVENUE TO INVEST INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WELL, WE DON'T AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 80 MORE SPEAKERS.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAD YOUR TIME.
DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
MR. I THINK FROM THAT CHART YOU SAID IT WAS ACTUALLY 91, SO THE RATE IN 91 WAS 0.586.
IN 2021, IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE 0.581.
SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT, SO IT'S ACTUALLY 91 INSTEAD OF 90.
WE HAVE WE HAVE DOZENS OF MORE MORE SPEAKERS.
THE INTERPRETER IS AVAILABLE IF RODRIGUEZ WANTS TO COME BACK.
ALL THE PRECINCTS OCCUPIED EXPRESS OUR PREOCCUPATION FOR SECURITY, THE LOSS OF CELLS IN THE SKIES, COUNTY.
WHERE'S THE INTERPRETER? TIFFANY? THE ENTONCES IS THE JOSE RODRIGUEZ TRABAJO PARA EL PRECINCT, CUATRO.
OH, I'M SORRY, MISS RODRIGUEZ.
I WORK FOR POLICE CONSTABLE AND PRECINCT FOR MY WORRIES FOR THE SECURITY OF THE POLICE OFFICERS.
AND MY CONCERN IS ALSO FOR THE CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUING.
LOST CONSTABLES NOTE THE NAME OF LOS FONDOS PARA TRATAR MAS OFICIALES.
YES TALK AT THE UN GRANDE IMPACTO DE INSECURITY AND MISTRUST COMMUNITIES, BUT SIMPLY SOME OF THE MOST SERIOUS ORDERS, SUCH AS THE COURT OF PERSONNEL CASE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS AND THIS HAS CREATED INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I STARTED AT THE END OF JUNE.
SHE SAYS, I'M NOT TRANSLATING RIGHT.
OKAY, THIS WILL BE AND HARRIS COUNTY, LOS CONSTABLES, NOT IN LOS FONDOS, BUT OUR CONTRACTOR OFFICIALS IN WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO CONTRACT MORE CONSTABLES.
NUESTRAS A LA POLICIA NECESITA OFICIALES AND LASCARIS NUESTROS OFICIALES IS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE COMPARADO DEL SOL.
YES, AND OUR AGENCIES NEED MORE POLICE IN THE STREETS.
OUR SALARIES ARE TOO LOW COMPARED TO SALARIES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
ESTO STOKOWSKI OWN GRANT PERCENT PERCENT AHEAD OF OTHERS.
ON GRANDE IMPACTO NEGATIVE ONE.
MR. GOODMAN DISCUSSES THE GREAT EFFECT THAT PEOPLE OF GREAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK IN OUR COUNTY AND INSTAGRAM'S OWN GRANT OR LOSS CONSTABLE'S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT GRANT PERCENT.
THE OFFICIAL IS PICASSO'S NOKIA CONDADO.
THIS CAUSES A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF QUALIFIED WORKERS THAT DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR OUR COUNTY, AND THIS CAUSES A NEGATIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE OFFICIAL IS NO TRABAJADORES OR OFFICERS.
LOTS OF BUSINESS TRAVELERS FROM AMAZON.
THE POLICY HERE IS YOU ONLY SEE SO MUCH TRATADOS COMO CIUDADANOS THE SEGUNDA CLASS USTED IS NO TOMAN CUENTA CUANDO NO TOMAN WASTERS.
CUANDO TRATA DE DISCUTER L'AUMENTO DE FONDOS DEPARTAMENTO.
THIS THIS THE OFFICES WE WORK AT IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE ARE STILL BEING TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS SINCE WE ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED WHEN YOU GUYS TALK THE BUDGETS.
LOSE, FUNDERS CANNOT TENEMOS SOME FUNDERS CAN ASSESS THE NECESITAMOS PARA
[02:10:04]
IMPAIRMENTS.OFICIALES EQUIPO MUCHO NOSOTROS OFICIALES ESTAMOS TRABALHANDO CON WESTEROS WARRIORS TRAVELERS C'EST UN BALOCHISTAN THE FUNDS WE DESPERATELY NEED ARE FOR MORE OFFICERS AND FOR MORE EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE WORKING WITH EQUIPMENT THAT IS NOT SAFE FOR US, AND OUR BULLETPROOF VESTS ARE NOT EXPIRED.
INSTEAD, IT'S UNCLEAR THAT THE DISRESPECT TO ACL, AS I SAY, THAT YOKO ONO.
WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY AND EVERY SPEAKER HAS RECEIVED ONE MINUTE, MA'AM.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK SPANISH, THEN WE NEED AN INTERPRETER.
GENTLEMEN, DO WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK? YEAH, LET'S TAKE A BREAK.
AND I ASKED THAT, FOLKS BE RESPECTFUL IN THE COURTROOM.
ALL DAY WE'VE HAD A CIVIL MEETING, NO HECKLING OR IN EVERYBODY'S ABIDING BY THE TIME.
EVERYBODY'S KNOWN THAT FROM THE START, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD.
JUDGE, I WANT TO REITERATE, IF PEOPLE WANT TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY, THEY CAN DO THAT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT ONE MINUTE, I THINK.
NEXT, THE SPEAKER 17, RICHARD JENNINGS SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
I'M RICHARD JENNINGS FROM THE HOUSTON AREA PASTORAL COUNCIL, AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RISING CRIME ISSUE.
IN ORDER TO FIX RISING CRIME, WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
A PASTOR, MANY FAMILIES IN THE NORTHWEST HOUSTON AREA, AND I'VE LIVED HERE ALL OF MY LIFE, THE NEWS SOMETIMES TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY THAN WHAT WE'RE LIVING.
PERSONALLY, SINCE 2019, ON MY OWN PERSON, THREE PERSONS ADULTS TRIED TO ROB ME AT A GAS STATION LAST YEAR.
AT MIDNIGHT, TWO MEN TRIED TO CARJACK ME ON BELTWAY EIGHT.
OUR CHURCH MAILBOX HAS BEEN ROBBED SO MANY TIMES THAT WE'VE REMOVED IT AND WE WENT TO P.O.
I'M USUALLY AND I'M USUALLY THE INTIMIDATOR, NOT THE INTIMIDATED.
EVERY DAY I SEE 20 CARS RUN STOP SIGNS, AND RARELY DO I SEE ANYONE PULLED OVER.
RECENTLY, ONE OF OUR YOUNG LADIES WAS MURDERED BEHIND GALLERY FURNITURE AT A DRUG INFESTED, GANG RIDDEN, RUNDOWN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
MY WIFE AND I WERE THE FIRST ONES TO HOLD THAT CHILD.
NEXT IS TERRI BRITTON SPEAKING IN PERSON? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I TELL YOU, ALL THE HARRIS COUNTY COUNCIL BLUFFS WERE FREEZING FIVE IN MARCH OF 2021.
THIS QUARTER APPROVED THE SPENDING OF $3 MILLION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SAFE PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OVERTIME PAID TO DEPUTIES WHILE THEY PATROLLED SPECIFIC HIGH CRIME AREAS.
I WAS TASKED TO HELP FILL THESE OVERTIME POSITIONS FOR MY DEPARTMENT, AND MUCH LIKE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, I COULD NOT DO IT.
LIKE MANY OTHERS, THIS WISHFUL THINKING PROGRAM DID NOT PRODUCE A SAFER HARRIS COUNTY.
EVERYONE KNOWS YOU HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS THE HUGE SHORTAGE OF DEPUTIES IN OUR COUNTY, WHICH MEANS THE ONES WE HAVE ARE ALREADY WORKING LONGER HOURS.
CLEARLY, THE DEPUTIES AREN'T LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE JUST TEMPORARY OVERTIME PAY.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HELP IN THE FORM OF MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
DON'T OUR DEPUTIES SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN HARM'S WAY ALREADY? THEY NEED SOMEONE TO RELIEVE THEM SO THEY CAN GO HOME AND SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THAT SAME COURT MEETING OVER A YEAR AGO, COMMISSIONER CAGLE WAS SPENDING $3 MILLION TO FUND FULL TIME DEPUTY POSITIONS.
THESE DEPUTIES COULD HAVE BEEN OUT PATROLLING OUR STREETS OVER THE PAST YEARS AND ACTUALLY MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A SAFER PLACE.
COMMISSIONER CAHILL'S MOTION WAS, OF COURSE, SHOT DOWN AND YOU PRESSED ON WITH YET ANOTHER COSTLY PROGRAM THAT DID NOT MAKE.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 20 KEVIN HUBBARD SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
THE CHIEF, HERBERT WOULD PRECEDE FIVE ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES TO HELP TRAIN OUR AGENCY ON ACTIVE ATTACK RESPONSE.
THREE YEARS AGO, A PLAN CAME ABOUT THAT WE WERE CREATED.
WE BECAME A CERTIFIED TRAINING ACADEMY AND WAS ASKED BY TECO TO USE OUR PRESENTATION AS ONE OF THE STANDARD ACROSS THE STATE.
YET WE STILL ARE FORCED TO SEND OUR TROOPS TO OTHER TRAINING CENTERS.
IN 2019, WE PLAN WAS TO RENOVATE A VACANT FIRE STATION INTO TRAINING FACILITY FOR ALL ELDERLY ON THE WEST SIDE.
THE RESIDUAL FUNDS ARE OVER $8 MILLION, WHICH WAS TAKEN FROM US IN MARCH OF 2021, WAS EARMARKED FOR THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, HAVE BEEN PLACED ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE RESIDUAL FUNDS.
IF YOU TRULY SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, RELEASE OUR FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN TRAIN OUR TROOPS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE DO, BUT OUR COMMUNITY IS WHY WE DO IT.
[02:15:01]
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR WIFE, YOUR WORK HAS MORE MEANING.SPEAKER 22 DOUGLAS HAIRE SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M THE LEAD PASTOR AT CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH IN DEER PARK.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY HAVE VESTED IN EACH OF YOU BOTH AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO DO YOUR PART TO KEEP OUR COUNTY SAFE AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THE ISSUE WE HAVE TODAY WITH CRIME IN HOUSTON IS NOT NEW, AND IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET DIFFICULTIES FACING US THIS YEAR.
THESE PROBLEMS GO BACK TO 2018, WHERE SINCE THAT TIME CRIME AND VIOLENCE HAS SKYROCKETED IN OUR CITY, MAKING THIS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES TO LIVE AMERICA.
AND IT HAS HAPPENED UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND WE BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING RISES AND FALLS ON LEADERSHIP.
IT'S HARD AT TIMES TO DISCERN THE TRUTH AND THE LIES THAT COME OUT OF THIS COURT.
BUT TO DISCERN THAT TRUTH, WE LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.
AND THE EVIDENCE IS THIS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OF HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT SUPPORT YOU.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOES NOT SUPPORT YOU.
THAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE FAILED THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
YOUR TIME IS NOT DOING YOUR JOB.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD RISE TO THE START YOUR TIME AS THE LEADER THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU.
THE SPEAKER 25 ROY GWINN SPEAKING IN PERSON.
SERGEANT GWYN WITH HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE, PRECINCT FIVE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE UNITING US, FIGHTING CRIME, THAT WE FIND OURSELVES CONSTANTLY DOWN HERE ARGUING ABOUT IT.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, CITIZENS HARRIS COUNTY HAVE SEEN AND FELT THE IMPACT OF A RAPIDLY INCREASING VIOLENT CRIME RATE.
IT'S BECOME EVIDENT CURRENT RESPONSES TO CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE.
THE COURT HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND MILLIONS TO CREATE NEW COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND TO FUND NUMEROUS INITIATIVES, BUT OFFER NO SOLUTIONS TO THE RISING NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO HAVE YOU'RE OVERLOOKING THESE VICTIMS BY NOT PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
YOU ARE AWARE THAT PROSECUTORS ARE DROWNING IN THE NUMBER OF ASSIGNED CASES.
YOU ARE AWARE THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUFFERING FROM AN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF OFFICERS TO PATROL THE STREETS.
AND YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
THE STARTING SALARY OF A DEPUTY IN HARRIS COUNTY IS 54,000 A YEAR, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS FOR A COUNTY THIS SIZE.
THE POLICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME UP OFFERING A STARTING SALARY OF 10 TO 15000.
SPEAKER 26 OSCAR MUNIZ SPEAKING IN PERSON.
JUDGE, COMMISSIONER MISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M A CAPTAIN IN HARRIS COUNTY SUPPORT COUNSEL'S OFFICE.
THIS GROUP HAS DEMONSTRATED THEIR LACK OF SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PRISON FOR CONSTABLES OFFICE BUDGET HAS INCREASED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING ADDED CONTRACT POSITIONS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY HIGHWAYS, UTILITY DISTRICT COST OF EXPENSES REQUIRED BENEFITS AND INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS NOT PROVIDED PRECINCT COUNCIL WITH A SINGLE FULLY FUNDED EVEN THOUGH WE ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME, INCREASED WORKLOAD AND TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN NORTH HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SPENT MILLIONS OF HOW MANY TIMES OF COMMISSIONERS COURT REACH OUT TO THE COUNSEL'S OFFICE? LET'S REMEMBER, STUDYING LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH CONSULTANTS IS NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE SPEAKER 30 JASON FEENAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 VIRTUALLY.
YOU HAVE WOMEN TO GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS JASON FINN AND I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR PRECINCT EIGHT CONSTABLES OFFICE.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE PERFECT STORM HAS DEVELOPED IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
CRIMINALS ARE BEING SET FREE IN RECORD NUMBERS ON LITTLE OR NO BOND FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES ONLY TO GO OUT AND RE-OFFEND.
THE POPULATION IS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED AND FUNDING REQUESTS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TACKLE CRIME HAVE BEEN DENIED BY THIS COURT.
DEPUTIES ARE ARRESTING AND ARRESTING THE SAME INDIVIDUALS OVER AND OVER FOR INCREASINGLY VIOLENT CRIMES, EACH TIME INCREASING THE RISK THAT THEY THEMSELVES WILL BE INJURED OR RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY ARE AFRAID TO WALK DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING ROBBED OR MURDERED.
CRIMINALS ARE UNAFRAID BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT EVEN IF THEY ARE CAUGHT, THEY LIKELY WILL NOT FACE ANY CONSEQUENCES.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS AND FUND OUR REQUEST IF WE ARE TO TAKE BACK THIS COUNTY FROM THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 31, STEVE HASTINGS SPEAKING IN PERSON.
[02:20:02]
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.MY NAME IS STEVE HASTINGS AND I'M A CAPTAIN WITH PRECINCT EIGHT KOPPEL'S OFFICE.
PRIOR TO OUR UNSPENT BUDGETED FUNDS BEING TAKEN, THIS MONEY WAS ROUTINELY USED TO OFFSET UNEXPECTED EXPENSES THAT WERE INCURRED THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR SUDDEN LOSSES OF FLEET VEHICLES OR FAILED TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT IS SOMETHING DEPARTMENTS CANNOT PREDICT DURING BUDGET PLANNING, AND WE RELIED ON OUR UNSPENT NOW, WHEN THESE LOSSES OCCUR, WE ARE FORCED TO CUT FUNDS IN OTHER AREAS.
REQUESTS REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR SIMPLY DO WITHOUT.
THOUGH BUDGETS HAVE INCREASED IN SMALL INCREMENTS OVER THE PAST OR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, COSTS FOR THINGS SUCH AS FUEL, LABOR, TECHNOLOGY AND FLEET MAINTENANCE HAVE RISEN WELL.
DUE TO THIS, THE BUDGET INCREASES DEPARTMENTS HAVE RECEIVED ARE INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN CURRENT STAFFING WHILE BEING ABLE TO COVER THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS.
NEXT IS KRIS JENNER SPEAKING IN PERSON? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
KRIS JENNER, LIEUTENANT WITH THE SANDERS OFFICE PRECINCT.
EIGHT OVER 80% OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT'S REQUEST FOR FUNDING WERE DENIED BY THIS COURT DURING THE LAST BUDGET HEARINGS.
HOWEVER, THIS COURT HAS HAD NO PROBLEM SPENDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON STUDIES BY OUTSIDE SOURCES, MANY OF WHOM ARE NOT EVEN LOCATED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, TO MAKE ISSUES.
ONE SUCH STUDY CONDUCTED BY PFM CONSULTING DID NOT EVEN CONSIDER THE INPUT BY THE CONSTABLES OFFICES WHEN SUBMITTING THEIR FINDINGS TO COURT, FORCING CONSTABLES TO FUND AN REBUTTAL TO THEIR INCOMPLETE STUDY.
IN THE END, THOUGH, THIS COURT SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE PFM STUDY.
YOU CONCLUDE IT IS A FLAWED, FLAWED STUDY AND NONE OF THE PANEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED.
THE MONEY SPENT ON THESE UNNECESSARY STUDIES WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY IN FAILING SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT'S REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
NEXT IS JEFFREY LAMAR SPEAKING IN PERSON? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I'M THE ASSISTANT CHIEF AT PRECINCT EIGHT.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME OF ABOUT 10% EACH YEAR.
YET DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD, MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR NEW POSITIONS TO MEET THIS RISING DEMAND HAVE BEEN DENIED BY THIS COURT.
IN ADDITION, WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROVED POSITIONS.
THAT HAVE REMAINED UNFUNDED EVEN AFTER SEVERAL REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE COURT DURING THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
MORE WITH IT CAUSES US TO DO MORE WITH LESS AND PUTS THE ENTIRE ASPECT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AT RISK.
OUR RESPONSE TIMES HAVE INCREASED.
CASE CLEARANCE RATES ARE AFFECTED AND THE SAFETY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WEAR THE UNIFORM IS COMPROMISED FOR NOT HAVING THE ADEQUATE BACKUP THAT WE NEED.
THE SPEAKER 34 DONNIE LUBECK SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DONNY LUBECK AND I AM A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS REMOVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CONSTABLES BUDGET AND IT'S CLEAR THAT DEFUNDING AND REALLOCATING FUNDS CONTINUING TODAY.
OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS SHOWN A PATTERN OF DISRESPECT AND IRRESPONSIBILITY WITH HOW THEY TREAT AND FUND COUNTY LAW THE COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND WE ARE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSIONER, ELLIS, TRIES TO SAY WE CAN'T ADD LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY AS THE COUNTY SO SHOULD THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES EMPLOYEES BY THE SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES OFFICE.
WE NEED MORE DEPUTIES, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF OUT OF CONTROL CRIME, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR POPULATION AND GROWTH IN HARRIS COUNTY.
STOP USING FAILED LOGIC AS A REASON TO JUSTIFY YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO PROPERLY THINK YOUR TIME IS UP.
NEXT SPEAKER 42 JOHN ZISSMAN SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
[02:25:01]
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE.GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
MY NAME IS JOHN, AND I'M ASSISTANT CHIEF OF PRECINCT FOR CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEOPLE WE SERVE AS VITAL.
IS VITAL FOR STABLE COMMUNITY AND EFFECTIVE POLICING.
CONSTABLE AGENCIES HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT TRUST BY CREATING SAFER ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE CITIZENS WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK.
IN A WORLD WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS PUSHED TO DO MORE, BE MORE AND MEET EVER EVOLVING NEEDS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TODAY, THAT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE THE CASE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE RECOGNIZE THIS DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AND THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING THAT SERVICE.
PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES, THEIR CHURCHES, THEIR WORK.
PLEASE RESTORE THE FUNDING TO OUR LOCAL CONSTABULARY OR PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND HELP US MAKE THIS A BETTER COMMUNITY.
THE SPEAKER 43 DAVID MEACHAM SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF HARRIS COUNTY IN CHIEF OF COURTS.
I SUPERVISE THE PROSECUTORS IN THE COURTS REPRESENTING THE STATE OF TEXAS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THE $100 MILLION BUDGET CUT THAT YOU HAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE YOU'RE RECEIVING $113 MILLION MORE IN TAX REVENUES THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR.
WE ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS IN WHAT YOU USE TO USE THE MONEY FOR IS SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL NOT ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY ANYTIME SOON, $50 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTIFICATION.
$31 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
$13 MILLION FOR EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
$8 MILLION FOR NEW BIKE TRAILS.
A MILLION AND A HALF FOR PUBLIC WI FI.
YOU CUT THAT AND YOU FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CRIME WAVE.
NEXT IS DENNY GASTON SPEAKING IN PERSON.
WHICH NUMBER IS THAT? TIFFANY? HE'S NUMBER 21.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL OUT THE NUMBERS.
MY NAME IS DENISE, AND I'M A LIEUTENANT AT HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE COURT TODAY ON THE ONGOING CRIME ISSUE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I'VE HEARD MORE WHAT IF'S AND SEEN MORE FINGER POINT TODAY THAN I THINK I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE DAYS TIME.
IT ALMOST REMINDS ME OF ME PARENTING MY CHILDREN.
WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER SOMEHOW TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT MURDERS AND VIOLENT CRIMES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT NO ONE UP HERE TODAY HAS MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING.
WE ALMOST LEAD THE NATION WITH IMPAIRED TRAFFIC DEATHS.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS SKIP OVER ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PUTTING STREETLIGHTS AND SIDEWALKS ON THE STREETS AND ACTUALLY PUT MORE PATROLMEN ON THE STREETS THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN HAVING TO GO TO A FAMILY AND EXPRESS TO THEM THAT THEIR LOVED ONE HAS BEEN LOST BECAUSE OF AN IMPAIRED DRIVER.
THEY COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY AN OFFICER.
IT'S A TOUCHY SUBJECT FOR ME AND IT'S ONGOING SUBJECT.
I WORK NIGHTS AND I NEVER SEE ENOUGH OF IT.
BUT THE SIDEWALKS AND THE STREETLIGHTS IS NOT GOING TO GET IT DONE FOR US.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 44 NATHAN BEADLE SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M THE MISDEMEANOR TRIAL BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
SET UP AT THE HEIGHT OF COVID, THERE WERE 98,000 ACTIVE CASES.
TODAY, THERE ARE 79,000 ACTIVE CASES.
THAT'S ALMOST A 20% REDUCTION IN THE LAST 16 MONTHS.
WE HAVE HIRED MORE THAN 40 ATTORNEYS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PLAN TO REDUCE CASES.
WE ARE EXECUTING THIS PLAN AND IT IS WORKING.
MR. BARRY, I BELIEVE, EVEN AGREES WITH THAT.
BUT NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING OUR BUDGET.
THIS WILL STOP THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND THAT STILL NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE TO GET THE CASELOAD TO PRE-HURRICANE HARVEY LEVELS.
CUTTING OUR BUDGET WILL SLOW CASE RESOLUTIONS AND THE BACKLOG.
THIS INCLUDES PUBLIC SAFETY MISDEMEANORS LIKE DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, BURGLARY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THIS WILL ALSO SLOW MISDEMEANOR DEFENDANTS ENTERING AND COMPLETING DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.
[02:30:01]
THANK YOU.NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 19, ANTON MOHAMUD SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M A RETIRED HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER AND I'M CURRENTLY SERVING THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY AS A DEPUTY OF PRECINCT FIVE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF TALK TODAY ABOUT BLAMING THE OTHER TWO THAT AREN'T HERE, SO I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REBUT THAT.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BOTH COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND RAMSEY HAVE ASKED THIS COURT TO ADD DEPUTY POSITIONS TO OUR LOCAL CONSTABLE DEPARTMENTS.
THAT A REPRESENTATIVE COURTS TODAY HAVE DENIED THAT REQUEST EACH TIME WITH THE EXCUSE THAT MORE DEPUTIES MEANT CUTTING JOBS FROM SOCIAL PROGRAMS. JUDGE HIDALGO, RESPECTFULLY, I BELIEVE YOU TWEETED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR THAT THESE SOCIAL PROGRAMS WOULD BE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, UNDER SIEGE.
I WOULD ADVISE YOU THAT IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION, THEY WOULD PROBABLY BEG TO DIFFER WITH YOU, MA'AM.
IT'S THE VIOLENT CRIME AND THE FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADDRESS IT THAT HAS THE COUNTY UNDER SIEGE.
SOMEHOW $53 MILLION WAS FOUND OF TOLL ROAD REVENUE MAKING.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 45, DANIEL EVANS SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I MEAN, MY NAME IS DANIELLE EVANS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN HARRIS COUNTY POLITICS SO DIVIDED.
WE'VE HAD TWO COMMISSIONERS BOUNDARIES FLIP FOR VINDICTIVE POLITICAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR THE BENEFITS OF YOUR VOTERS.
WE HAVE TERRIBLE VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY WITH RENEGADE DISTRICT JUDGES WHO SWORE AN OATH TO HELP US FIGHT CRIME, YET USE THEIR POSITION ONLY FOR POLITICAL WE NEED OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO WORK WITH ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE ROLE OF COMMISSIONER AND COUNTY JUDGES TO DISPENSE OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR WHAT THE PEOPLE OF COMMISSIONERS WANT AND NEED.
IT IS THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS RESPONSIBILITY TO ADOPT A BUDGET, SET THE TAX RATES, CALL FOR BOND ELECTIONS, BUILD AND MAINTAIN COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS AND PARKS, ETC.
WE WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON FUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE THEY ARE GETTING THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO COMBAT OUR OUT-OF-CONTROL CRIME RATES.
SPEAKER 46 CHRISTOPHER RIVERA SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA.
WE'RE AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AT THE PRECINCT ONE I'M AGAINST.
125 I THINK POLICE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE BIKE PATH.
BUT HERE'S THE REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T FUND THE POLICE OR PARTICULARLY THE PRECINCT ONE.
WE SEEN THAT THEY HAD A BACHELOR PARTY SCENE THAT EXPLOITED FEMALE DEPUTIES UNDER ALAN ROSEN'S SUPERVISION.
PRECINCT FIVE CHOW DEPUTY BRYANT OH, SORRY.
CHIEF DEPUTY BRIAN HARRIS CHARGED FOR SOLICITING PROSTITUTION.
PRECINCT FOUR DEPUTY BOBBY ESPINOSA EXTORTED VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES.
PRECINCT SIX LIEUTENANT PAUL FERNANDEZ IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A CHILD.
WE REALLY WANT TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE FUND EVICTION PROTECTION, HOUSING, YOU KNOW, BIKE LANES, STUFF LIKE THAT.
THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE AGAINST.
THIS BIGGEST GANG IN AMERICA IS RIGHT HERE.
LOOK HOW INTIMIDATING THEY ARE.
SPEAKER 48 LAURA GAYLOR SPEAKING IN PERSON.
SPEAKER NUMBER 48, LAURA GALLAHER SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I'M A GRANDMA LIVING IN THE HEIGHTS, A FOURTH GENERATION HOUSTONIAN WITH MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN LIVING IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M NOT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT ESPECIALLY IN A NO NEW TAX ENVIRONMENT.
THE CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET DOES NOT NEED AN INCREASE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT THE ONLY OR EVEN THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
I'VE SEEN UP TO 12 ARMED OFFICERS IN TEN VEHICLES FORCING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOMELESS MAN INTO A HOGTIED POSITION FACE DOWN ON THE 100 DEGREE THESE OFFICERS TELLING ME THE GUY WAS THROWING GRAVEL AT CARS.
WHAT A MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND TRUST THOSE RESOURCES COULD BE BETTER USED.
PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH.
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE AS A CITIZEN RETURNING FROM PRISON, SHE IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING,
[02:35:05]
THOUGH SHE SHE'S WILLING AND ABLE THANK YOU, MA'AM.NEXT TO SPEAKER NUMBER 49, VIVIAN KING SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON.
MAY I PLEASE REPORT? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MY NAME IS VIVIAN KING.
I'M THE FIRST ASSISTANT IN CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THERE HAS BEEN A 7% INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE FROM 21 TO FISCAL YEAR 22.
THAT'S $113 MILLION ON SEPTEMBER 15.
DANIEL RAMOS TOLD THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WANTED US TO CUT OUR BUDGETS, YET THERE WAS A 7% INCREASE.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE BIGGEST BACKLOG THAT WE'VE EVER HAD, BUT YET WE HAVE TO CUT OUR BUDGETS.
APRIL 5TH, YOU GAVE A $7.5 MILLION.
WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED 1.6 MILLION.
AND AT THIS POINT, AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, WE GOT $99 MILLION.
WE'VE ONLY SPENT 4 MILLION, BUT YET WE'VE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
WE CAN'T BUY A TRANSCRIPT FOR A TRIAL.
WE CAN'T BUY ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE AND WE HAVE $95 MILLION LEFT.
WE CAN BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CUT US OUT AND ENCUMBER OUR MONEY.
AND SO IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I MEAN, I'VE DEDICATED 30 YEARS.
YOUR TIME IS UP AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
THE SPEAKER 50 TROY DAVIS SPEAKING IN PERSON.
WELL, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS AND HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO.
I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
OUR COMMUNITIES NEED RESOURCES AND THERE'S JUST NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO USE BEN TAUB AS AN EXAMPLE.
I WAS THREATENING A MISCARRIAGE WITH MY SECOND OLDEST SON, WHO IS NOW 19.
I WAS RUSHED TO BEN TOP HOSPITAL AND HIS LIFE WAS SAVED.
DO YOU KNOW WHO ELSE GETS RUSHED INTO FOR LIFESAVING TREATMENT? PEOPLE LIKE ZACHARY MORALES, WHO WAS PINNED IN AN ACCIDENT.
PEOPLE LIKE FREDDIE JACKSON, WHO WAS BROADSIDED BY A VEHICLE GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR AND WHO'S ALIVE TODAY.
I LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY GO TO THE MENTAL HOSPITAL WHEN THEY ARE CRITICALLY INJURED ON THE JOB.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE DISTRICTS, WHEN THE HARRIS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NO LONGER FUNDED LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO? WE NEED THAT KIND OF LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CARE HERE IN HOUSTON.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 58 KATIE MURTHA SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
HI, MY NAME IS KATIE MEDICINE.
I ASK THAT YOU NOT GIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS, BUT INSTEAD FULLY FUND SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING CAROUSEL.
MY PARTNER IS A DOCTOR DOING HIS RESIDENCY AT U.T., CURRENTLY WORKING AT LBJ HOSPITAL.
WHILE HE PRAISES THE SERVICES, HARRIS HEALTH PROVIDES LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
HE SEES HOW THE NEED IS GREATER THAN THE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND HOW WE WASTE RESOURCES ON EMERGENCIES THAT COULD BE AVOIDED THROUGH PREVENTATIVE CARE.
WE RECENTLY HAD A PATIENT WITH PSYCHOSIS WHO, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO MANAGE HER CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.
HER CONDITION DETERIORATED AND SHE HAD TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
WHEN PEOPLE DON'T RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, THE COUNTY IS ALSO MORE LIKELY TO WASTE MONEY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTIONS WITH THEM.
PEOPLE ALSO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM REGULARLY FOR DIALYSIS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO A DIALYSIS CENTER.
THE COUNTY ENDS UP SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN IF THEY WERE PROVIDING PREVENTATIVE CARE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED TO SEE THE DISPLAY OF INTIMIDATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT PACKING THIS COURT IN UNIFORM AND HOPE YOU WILL NOT GIVE IN TO THOSE TRYING TO HOLD OUR COMMUNITY FUND.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 59, PERLA GARCIA AT TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, SPEAKING ON ITEM 125.
VIRTUALLY, SHE'LL HAVE 2 MINUTES AND SHE'LL BE USING THE INTERPRETER.
WHEN I STARTED IS A MEMBER OF THE TOP.
MY NAME IS PERLA GARCIA AND I'M A MEMBER OF TOP.
THEY NADIA THEY ARE GETTING ON THAT SENTIMENT AS PART OF THE PROYECTO BUYOUT.
I LIVE IN AN AREA IN ALLEN FIELD THAT IS CONSTANTLY FLOODED.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE IN A PROJECT CALLED FIGHT IT, BUT THEY LIKE INITIATIVE CONTROL.
THEY DESPERADO, CHICANOS AND THEN DURANTE LA TEMPORADA DE TORMENTA.
THIS IS PART OF THE INITIATIVE TO CONTROL THE FLOODING, TO RELOCATE IT TO AREAS WHERE IT DOESN'T FLOOD.
[02:40:03]
LAST WEEK.I, ALONG WITH SEVEN OTHER FAMILIES, ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT STILL NEED TO BE RELOCATED.
THE SOUTHERN LATINOS CARNIVAL AND THE SS PROYECTO DE LOS FONDOS CA NECESITA PARA THE REST OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE LEFT AND IN THE LAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN WORRIED AFTER I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROJECT WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE THE TO HELP MY FAMILY MEMBERS.
SOME OF THEM ARE NOWHERE NEAR TRABALHAR PARA SER TWO TOBACCO.
IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS IN THIS SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT HAVE OPTED TO NOT COME AND WORK TO DO THEIR JOB.
SPOKEN A POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE.
MEANWHILE, THEY'RE CHOOSING POLITICS OVER THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
THE LEGAL BATTLE OF POLITICAL NECESSITY AND MUST INVERSION.
I SAY STOP WITH THE POLITICAL GAMES.
OUR COMMUNITIES NEED MORE INVESTMENT.
INVESTMENTS IN POLICY AND GUARANTEES AS A GOOD INVESTMENT.
INVESTING MORE MONEY IN THE POLICE DOES NOT GUARANTEE SECURITY.
GET ME EXPERIENCIA NO GANJA, REALLY.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, THEY HAVE NEVER ARRIVED IN TIME IN THE CALLS THAT I MADE.
COMMISSIONER SCALE? DEMPSEY WELL, ONCE IT STARTS IN PUERTO RICO, THEY'LL BE IN THEIR CONDADO CAR DE LA COMUNIDAD.
I'M COMMISSIONER CAHILL AND RAMSAY.
PLEASE COME BACK AND DO YOUR JOB TO IMPROVE, TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN IN TRABAJO.
OR TO LET US GO HERE TO REPRESENT PARA LA COMUNIDAD.
YOU GUYS WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY.
MARY CURTIS SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
I'M THE CHAPLAIN OF CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE.
THE COMMISSIONERS AND THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA.
HOWEVER, IT IS EVIDENT BY THE FRUIT OF THIS COURT THAT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ARE ARE BEING LOOKED AT BY ONE PARTICULAR PARTY.
THEY'RE BEING CATERED TO BY THIS COURT'S POLICIES AS OPPOSED TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY.
OUR OFFICERS MORALE IS NOT GOOD.
AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THEY ARREST CRIMINALS AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET AND THEY'RE PUT BACK OUT THERE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE PROSECUTORS TO TAKE CARE THERE'S A 2 TO 1 SUICIDE VERSUS LINE OF DUTY DEATH RATIO AMONGST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE NEED FUNDING FOR THE DEPUTIES TO HANDLE CALLS FOR SERVICE FUNDING FOR CHAPLAINS AND PEER SUPPORT DEPUTIES.
ALL DEPARTMENTS SHOULD HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPUTIES TO DO POSITIVE THINGS AND TO BUILD BRIDGES INTO THE COMMUNITIES WHICH WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE OF THESE OTHER CALLS.
JESUS SAID ON THE CROSS, FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.
WELL, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, QUIT DEFUNDING THE POLICE SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOBS AND SERVE THE PUBLIC.
THE BIBLE SAYS, THANK YOU, SIR.
MARIA ROSITA SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON USING THE INTERPRETER.
BUT AS MARIA SAID, YOUR MANGO REPRESENT OUR TOP PREMIUM.
BUT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING AS A VIETNAM POLICY AS WELL, BECAUSE SHE IS MR. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY SON WAS SHOT AT.
AND DON'T MISS ME, BUT I WANT TO SEE ONE OPPONENT OF MY POLICY.
TRANSLATOR SORRY THAT YOU DIDN'T GET THAT RIGHT.
CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU STOP HER SO THAT YOU CATCH THE SENTENCE? SO YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO GET IN THERE AND SAY, HANG ON A MINUTE, MA'AM, IF
[02:45:02]
YOU'LL START OVER, SENORA.LA LA LA POLICY, I SUPPOSE ON A REGULAR OCCURRENCE.
FOUR YEARS AGO, THEY SHOT MY SON.
WE CALLED THE POLICE TO COME TO AN ARRANGEMENT AND THEY SHOT HIM.
AND YOU'LL GET YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE INVERTER AND POLISHERS IN THERE AND HOSPITALS OKAY, SO THEN I WANT TO ASK, INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN THE POLICE, PLEASE INVEST IN HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS.
THERE IS A MENTAL CAPACITY AND THERE'S ALSO YOUR OWN OWN EMPOWERMENT.
SINCE THAT MOMENT, MY HUSBAND GOT A HEART DISEASE AND I'M A DIABETIC.
BUT NO, TENEMOS LOS BENEFICIOS THEY.
WE LOST THEIR JOBS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS FOR INSURANCE.
WE DON'T HAVE BENEFITS TO PAY OUR OUR OUR BENEFITS.
WHAT IS MOST BENEFICIAL TO COUNTY.
OTHERS ARE GETTING THE BENEFITS FROM PARTICULAR COUNTY.
AMPHETAMINES KEPT US AT THE TEMPLE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO EXPRESS, THAT IT'S BETTER TO GET DOCTORS, HOSPITALS AND TO HELP SICK KIDS BECAUSE THE POLICE DON'T RESPOND IN TIME, IN MY EXPERIENCE.
YOUR SENIOR OFFICIALS WANT TO SEE, SAY, AN ORTHODOX POLICY.
I NEED FOR YOU GUYS TO USE THOSE FUNDS IN BETTER PLACES THAN TO BE WITH THE POLICE.
HE IS AWARE THAT YOU MUST BE SERIOUS.
BUT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO ASK, TO SEE IF THAT COULD BE DONE.
SPEAKER 64 ETHAN GANS SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
AND I'M A I'M WITH CAREER JUSTICE.
WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PEOPLE TELL US THAT PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE MORE RESOURCES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THIS REVERBERATES WHAT I LEARNED AT UST WHILE TAKING INTERNATIONAL STUDIES THAT SCARCITY BREEDS CONFLICT.
WOULDN'T ANY PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN FULLY FUND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AS A PROACTIVE WAY TO PREVENT CRIME AND A HOLISTIC WAY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES? I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, COMMUNITY GARDENS, FLOODING MITIGATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY PROTECTIONS BECAUSE WE NEED THANK YOU.
THE SPEAKER 65 RYAN PATRICK SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 IN PERSON.
LAST WEEK YOU SPOKE ON THE OPRAH ON OUR OATH OF OFFICE.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF HARRIS COUNTY COUNCIL, PRECINCT FIVE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE.
NOWHERE DOES THIS STATE THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO EXPRESS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN PERTAINING TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
SEVEN YEARS AGO, I JOINED THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES OFFICE PRECINCT FIVE, THE SAME DEPARTMENT MY FATHER SERVED FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I REMEMBER HIM MISSING MANY EVENTS AND FUNCTIONS TO SERVE THIS COUNTY EVEN AFTER HE BECAME TERMINALLY ILL AND EVENTUALLY PASSED, HE WAS STILL GIVING HIS TIME TO THIS COUNTY PROTECT AND SERVE.
WE CHOOSE TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN KEEPING OUR CITIZENS AND FAMILIES SAFE AND ABLE TO ENJOY THE FREEDOMS THEY DESERVE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS LET ME CORRECT THAT.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE SWORN THE SAME OATH.
AND YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ONCE SWORE THAT SAME EXACT OATH.
IT'S TIME THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT OATH AND LIVE BY IT.
PUT ASIDE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND DO WHAT YOU ALL KNOW IS RIGHT.
IT'S TIME TO START PUTTING CITIZENS SAFETY AS THE PRIMARY PRIORITY AGAIN.
NEXT, THE SPEAKER OF 66, PAUL FORTENBERRY, SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
[02:50:01]
BABE, PLEASE.THE COURT MY NAME IS PAUL FORTENBERRY.
I'M THE FELONY TRIAL BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE DA'S OFFICE.
AT THE FELONY LEVEL, WE COMBAT VIOLENT CRIME.
OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE IS OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANY OF THEM.
AT THE HEIGHT OF COVID, WE REACHED 54,000 FELONY CASES.
WE WORKED HARD TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN TO 42,000 AS OF TODAY.
BUT IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME HOW MANY CAPITALS AND MURDERS DO WE HAVE PENDING, I WOULD TELL YOU 1200 CAPITALS HAVE IF YOU WERE ASKED ME HOW MANY CAPITALS AND MURDERS HAVE YOU FILED THIS MONTH, I WOULD TELL YOU 29.
29 CAPITALISTS AND MURDERS FILED THIS MONTH.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A VIOLENT CRIME PROBLEM.
WE NEED MORE RESOURCES, NOT FEWER.
WE LOOK TO THIS COURT FOR LEADERSHIP, AND WE HOPE.
NEXT, THE SPEAKER, 67 BARRY BACHMAN SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
I'M A RESIDENT OF OVER 40 YEARS AND I'M NOT AN OFFICER, BUT I HAVE A BS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, POLICE SCIENCE TO CUT LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDS.
AND THESE TIMES DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE.
VIOLENCE AGAINST CITIZENS AND POLICE OFFICERS IS ON THE NEWS NIGHTLY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT YOU WERE LATE ATTENDING BECAUSE YOU ATTENDED DEPUTY DOOLEY'S TRIAL.
THIS PLACE GOT SILENT, AND WE ALL STAND WITH YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I'M ASKING EVERYONE TO, INSTEAD OF FINGER POINTING AT OTHER COMMISSIONERS, LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSUS WORKING AGAINST THEM.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR CITIZENS.
THE SPEAKER 72 TEACHER SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
SO, HI, MY NAME IS LEON DAVIS, AND THE CLOSEST I'M AFFILIATED WITH PURE JUSTICE.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSTABLE'S BUDGET AND MAKE IT A POINT TO WHERE THERE'S SO MANY FUNDS BEING ALLOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THE STATE AND THE BUT ONE PLACE IS BEING MISUSED OR MIS.
IT'S NOT BEING LOOKED AT CLOSE TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN TEXAS, NATIONAL, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, TEXAS SHOULD HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP.
THAT WAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SCHOOL.
THERE WAS RECENTLY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT PROMISED STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IN TEXAS WITH THE FUNDS WHO COULD BE ALLOCATED OTHER PLACES IS ALLOCATE THOSE TOWARDS NATIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THIS GRANDPARENTS HAVE BEEN LIVING IN STATES, PARENTS WHO LIVE IN THE STATE AND HAVE NOT BEEN AFFORDED THE PROPER WAGES AS THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF THAT.
X THE SPEAKER 73 LLOYD SAMS SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
TIFFANY SIR, WHY DON'T YOU GO AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.
IS THAT OKAY? COLLEAGUES, GO AHEAD AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS COURT MY NAME IS LLOYD SAMS AND I AM AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 125 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
A WONDERFUL STATEMENT IN AMERICA SAID THAT A OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.
IN OTHER WORDS, COMMISSIONERS, WE NEED TO INVEST IN PREVENTATIVE COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIKE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONAL TRADE LEARNING PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY FUNDING EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING BEEN HISTORICALLY LEFT BEHIND.
I'M A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN AND RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY, AND I REMEMBER HOW AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS HELPED ME CHESS, FOREIGN LANGUAGES, SPORTS, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR CHILDREN NEED SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM WITH SOCIALIZATION, WHICH PREVENTS CRIMES AND HELPS THEM TO GET TO KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY MORE.
SO I ASK THAT YOU GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES THE RESOURCES AND THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL BE BACK AT 645.
LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
[02:55:02]
NEXT IS SPEAKER 75, MAXIMO CORTEZ, SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.A COMMISSIONER HAS INDICTED US AS MO CORTEZ.
I'M AN INTERSECTION TRANS CRIMINAL LEGAL ADVOCATE HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON ITEM 125, AND I WANTED TO READ AN ITEM FOR SAFETY LIBERATION, SAFETY PLEDGE.
I KNOW CORTEZ UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS MY DUTY AND RIGHT TO DO MY PART IN KEEPING MYSELF AND THE PEOPLE OF MY COMMUNITY SAFE.
I PLEDGE TO LOVE MYSELF AND LOVE THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY TO VALUE PEOPLE OVER MATERIAL POSSESSIONS.
I PLEDGE TO RESPECT MY NEIGHBORS BY BEING UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECTFUL OF THE DIFFERENCES IN LIFE SITUATIONS.
I PLEDGE TO DO MY PART TO RESOLVE ANY OWN CONFLICTS INSTEAD OF CALLING THE POLICE AT THE SIGN OF CONFLICT.
I PLEDGE TO TALK TO MY NEIGHBORS AND WORK TOGETHER WITH MY NEIGHBORS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
I PLEDGE TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PLAN TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE OUTSIDE OF I PLEDGE TO OVERCOME THE FEAR AND USE OF COURAGE TO SAY POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 78, MICHELLE CHAPA SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
WELL, MY NAME IS MICHELLE CHAPA.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME, BUT YOU WILL HEAR ME WHILE YOU STARE DOWN AT YOUR PHONE.
YESTERDAY, I SAW A VIDEO OF LINA JOGGING AROUND WITH HER OVERPAID, TAXPAYER FUNDED, NO BID PRIVATE SECURITY DETAIL.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THAT MUST BE NICE, BECAUSE WHEN I GO JOGGING AS A WOMAN, I DON'T HAVE SECURITY.
AND I'M A TARGET FOR EMBOLDENED CRIMINALS WHO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO TAKE OVER OUR STREETS.
AND THEN BECAUSE YOU RATHER FUND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE INSTEAD OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT YEARS FOR JUSTICE.
MR. GARCIA, YOU KEEP BRINGING UP OUR FRIENDS NAME IN THIS COURT.
WELL, IT TOOK THREE YEARS FOR HIS TRIAL.
HOW MANY OTHER FAMILIES ARE STUCK IN THAT BACKLOG FOR YEARS WAITING FOR THAT THING? JUSTICE.
WASTED MILLIONS ON GUN BUYBACK PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT WORK.
SUCCESS IS BASED ON REDUCTION OF GUN CRIMES, NOT BY HOW MANY GUNS LAW ABIDING CITIZENS TURNED IN.
STOP IGNORING THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WHAT ABOUT OUR TEARS, MA'AM? YOUR DISRESPECTFUL, SELF-ENTITLED TREATMENT TOWARDS THE CONSTITUENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS COUNTY.
NEXT TO SPEAKER 79, GLENN COWAN, SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
MY NAME IS GLENCORE AND I'M PRESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, A NONPROFIT GROUP DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR DRASTIC CRIME REDUCTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT IS TO HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER MURDERED.
WE REQUEST PROPER FUNDING FOR HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HIRE MORE JAILERS AND DEPUTIES, ADDITIONALLY CONSTABLES, ESPECIALLY PRECINCT FIVE, TO HIRE MORE DEPUTIES.
THEY HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY HAVE POLICING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS IN THE STATE AND THE FOURTH LARGEST COUNTY IN THE NATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHEST CRIME YET THEY HAVE HAD NO FULLY FUNDED COUNTY POSITIONS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
PLEASE FUND THEM AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PROCESS THEIR CASELOAD TO BENEFIT THE CITIZENS THEY SERVE.
APRIL GEARY, SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
LYNN HIDALGO, EVER HAD PRIVATE SECURITY.
IF YOU SAY OUR COUNTY IS AS SAFE AS IT IS, WHY DON'T YOU DROP IT? YOU WERE SEEN AT MEMORIAL PARK RUNNING AND PRIVATE SECURITY RIGHT BEHIND YOU ON A BIKE.
WE DO NOT HAVE A FUNDING PROBLEM.
YOU DO NOT START DECORATING A HOUSE, BUT YOU'RE BEHIND ON THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT.
YOU HAVE DEVIATED SO FAR AWAY FROM WHAT THE COUNTY JUDGE IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
IT'S PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST, PUBLIC SAFETY SECOND, AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IF OUR COUNTY WAS RUNNING SO SMOOTHLY, I WOULD BE OPPOSED TO EXTRA MONEY ON EXTRA THINGS.
SOCIALIST PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOOD, BUT NOT WHEN YOUR COUNTY IS AMOK.
I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
I WAS BORN AT LBJ AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS.
I WOULD NEVER LET MY KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL NOW AND I WALKED ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME PLACE THAT WE GREW UP IN.
IT'S A TIME AND A PLACE FOR YOU TO SPEND ON EXTRA THINGS.
[03:00:03]
NEXT IS SPEAKER 81, J.K.WASHINGTON SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
GOOD EVENING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M KEN WASHINGTON FROM TALLAHASSEE.
AGAIN, A POINT OF CONTENTION IS FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY CONSTABLES, OFFICE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I HEARD STATEMENTS BY JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DOING ALL YOU CAN FOR THEM, BUT YOUR ACTIONS SAY HOW FUNDS ARE BEING PROVIDED.
CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE'VE NOTICED IT ALONG WEST LAKE HOUSTON.
WE RELY ON A CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND FULLY SUPPORT THEM, RECEIVING THE PERSONAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO WORK SAFELY EACH DAY.
THIS INCLUDES PAY TO KEEP THEM, THE DEPUTIES, COMPETITIVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE REGION.
MYSELF AND THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND TAXPAYERS ASKED TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THEIR PAY TO BRING THEM ON PAR WITH OTHER TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE NO MORE SHOWBOATING FOR VOTES.
JUDGE HIDALGO, LET'S APPROVE FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 84, STEVE BRADDOCK SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR THAT IT'S A SHAME.
REALLY A SHAME THAT SENDING SOCIAL WORKERS TO POLICE CALLS, WHICH IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY FOR THE SOCIAL WORKERS AS WELL AS THE HELP.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT REALLY CLEAR NONE OF Y'ALL HAVE THE BACKBONE TO RUN AROUND WITH SOCIAL WORKERS.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING.
THINK ABOUT THE REALITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF Y'ALL.
YOU HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS AND YOU CONTINUE TO KISS THE REAR OF CRIMINALS.
AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 85, JASON OLIVER SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
I'LL DIRECT MY MY COMMENTS TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND HOPES THAT HE'S LISTENING FROM THE GOLF COURSE OR WHEREVER HE IS.
125 I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PRIORITIZE HOLISTIC PUBLIC SAFETY INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT, SURVEILLANCE AND CAGING.
WE ARE SITTING HERE LISTENING TO SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER SAY THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PUT MORE MONEY INTO POLICING AND PROSECUTION THAN EVER RIGHT.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO SAFETY.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS, FLOOD CONTROL, PUBLIC HEALTH, THESE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE VITAL TO KEEPING.
ALL OF US SAY THE IDEA OF SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS REALLY BOTHERS ME IMMENSELY AND WOULD HARM US BOTH IN THE SHORT AND LONG RUN.
WE KNOW WHAT WHAT KEEPS US SAFE.
WE NEED TO PUT THE MONEY INTO INTO THESE THINGS.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 86 GABRIELA BARAHONA SPEAKING ON ITEM 125 VIRTUALLY.
TODAY'S A HARD DAY TO LOVE HARRIS COUNTY.
OUR HOME IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY REACTIONARIES, PLAYING GAMES WITH OUR LIVES.
BUT WEEK AFTER WEEK, MOMS, STUDENTS, DOCTORS, TEACHERS, IMMIGRANTS AND SURVIVORS HAVE FAITHFULLY SHOWN UP TO FIGHT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR HOSPITALS IN OUR LIVES, AND TRYING ARMED OFFICERS TRYING TO HIJACK ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
TODAY, CONSTABLES ARE WASTING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO REFILE HUNDREDS OF DISMISSED CASES IN A FLAGRANT ACT OF REVENGE.
CONSTABLES ARE GLUTTONOUS, OVERFUNDED COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS, WHILE OUR HOSPITALS ARE UNDERFUNDED IN COMPARISON.
THE FACT IS THE DEA IS RECKLESSLY OVERCHARGING AND CRIMINALIZING OUR FAMILIES, LYING TO THE PUBLIC, FILING CHARGES WITH INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN FILLING OUR JAIL, WASTING OUR BUT THE DA WANTS YOU TO FULLY FUND SAFETY AND MAKE HER JOB EASIER.
THEY NEED ME TO WRITE A BIG, FAT NEW CHECK TO COMMUNITY SERVICES HEART IN HARRIS HEALTH IN HER NAME AND DARE ANYONE THAT TRIES TO STOP YOU.
WE NEED YOU TO FIGHT FOR US, AND WE NEED YOU TO STAND UP TO BULLIES IN DEFENSE OF OUR LIVES.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AS ALWAYS.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 88, DIANA WILLIAMS SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
ANNA WILLIAMS, IS MISS DIANA WILLIAMS HERE? I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE, TIFFANY, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF SHE COMES, IF SHE COMES UP.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 89, MICHAEL ROACH SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 125.
[03:05:01]
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.AND JUDGE, MY NAME IS MICHAEL KOCH.
I'D LIKE TO READ YOU SOME HEADLINES ABOUT CRIME.
HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE DEPUTY ACCUSED OF TAKING BRIBES.
OCTOBER 2022 HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE CHIEF DEPUTY ARRESTED IN STING, SEP 2022 HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA.
FBI INVESTIGATING HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES JULY 2021.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEWSWIRE.
FORMER DEPUTY CONSTABLE CONVICTED IN COCAINE CONSPIRACY JANUARY 2022.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE DEFLECTS ALLEGATIONS OF TAINTING IN CAPITAL MURDER CASE SEP 2022.
AG'S OFFICE ATTEMPTS TO STEER NEWS COVERAGE DURING MURDER TRIAL HEARING SEPTEMBER 2022.
CONSTABLES IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT PROVIDERS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY'RE LYING TO YOU EVEN TODAY, STOKING FEAR, USING FAKE DATA AND FLAT OUT MISLEADING THE PUBLIC.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 94, VICTOR MENDOZA SPEAKING IN PERSONAL ITEM 125.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS AND HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LEON HIDALGO.
MY NAME IS VICTOR MENDOZA AND I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF PURE JUSTICE.
FLOODING IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
HURRICANE HARVEY CAUSED A LOT OF DEVASTATION, THE LOSS OF MILLIONS IN FUNDING FOR FLOOD CONTROL.
BUT HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS IN JEOPARDY AND ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF SO MANY OF US.
IF THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT FUNDED, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A HURRICANE, A FLOOD OR SOME TYPE OF NATURAL DISASTER WHERE YOU SHALL FACE A COUNTY DEPARTMENT SHALL BE PREPARED TO HANDLE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT IS JOSE GARZA, AND HE'S NOT ON THE LIST.
HE SIGNED UP BEFORE THE MEETING.
HE'S SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEM 125.
WHO SAY GAZA? I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE, TIFFANY.
NEXT IS SPEAKER 128 SARAH NIGEL SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM TO 66.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS IN THE AREA OFTEN FILLED IN FULL CAPACITY.
AND WHEN THEY DO, EVERY VICTIM CALLING FOR HELP THAT DAY WILL BE TURNED AWAY NO MATTER HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS.
FAMILIES TO FREEDOM PROVIDES FREE, LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORTATION FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE TO ARRIVE TO EMERGENCY SHELTERS LOCATED ACROSS THE GULF COAST REGION AND BEYOND.
WE HELP HOUSTON VICTIMS ARRIVE TO SHELTERS AND OTHER COUNTIES, AND WE HELP VICTIMS RELOCATE TO FAMILIES FAR AWAY, EVEN MULTIPLE STATES AWAY TO AVOID HAVING HOMELESS, OR END UP SPLASHED ACROSS THE HEADLINES LIKE SO MANY VICTIMS DO.
WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE DV HIGH RISK TEAM, SO WE'RE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE MOST SERIOUS OF VICTIM ESCAPE THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, OF WHICH WE'RE GAPS IN ORDER TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR PROTECTING VICTIMS FROM VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU FOR ADMITTING THIS TOPIC INTO COURT AND FROM HEARING FROM ALL OF THE VICTIM SERVICES AGENCIES TODAY.
NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, WALTER PROTHEROE SPEAKING IN PERSON.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF HARRIS COUNTY ON WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN USING HARRIS HEALTH FACILITIES.
FROM EXPERIENCE, AS I REPORTED TO HARRIS HEALTH OF AN INCIDENT AT BEN TAUB CONCERNING THE RESIDENT DR.
COLORED CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
THE INCIDENT CONCERNS A REVIEW OF DR.
AFTER I WAS EXAMINED BY HIM AND THEN FOLLOWED FALSE REPORT THAT DR.
MADE, STATING THAT HE EXAMINED ME, DISCUSS THE RESULTS, AND CONCURRED WITH THE NOTES OF DR.
I REPORTED THIS AND EVEN GAVE EVIDENCE.
HOWEVER, HARRIS HEALTH DID NOTHING, AND BY REPORTING THIS A SECOND TIME I WAS BANNED FROM THE CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
[03:10:01]
ONLY RECENTLY I FOUND OUT THAT THE NOTES THAT WERE FRAUDULENTLY PLACED IN MY MEDICAL RECORD WERE PART OF A CONTACT HOURS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IS UP.
CAN I GET THE REST OF THIS TO THE COURT SINCE THIS DOG WAS NOT INTERESTED? THANK YOU.
ELIZABETH GREGORY SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON ITEM 266.
FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN, GENDER AND SEXUALITY AT UAH.
SPEAKING ON THE DVV ASSISTANCE FUND'S PROPOSAL, WE'RE STUDYING DB PROVIDERS IN HOUSTON, AND I WOULD NOTE THAT OUR REGION HAS 475 SHELTER BEDS, WHILE NEW 3507 TIMES AS MANY.
THE LOW NUMBER OF BEDS HERE LEADS TO HIGH NUMBERS OF CALLERS TURNED AWAY, BUT WE WERE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED PRE-COVID.
SINCE THEN, HOST HOUSTON SHELTERS HAVE STEPPED UP TO MEET RISING DEMAND ON MANY FRONTS, PROVIDING SHELTER, SAFETY PLANNING, TRAUMA COUNSELING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES.
BUT THEY NEED A LOT MORE HELP WITH FUNDS FOR BOTH SERVICES AND EXPANDED STAFFING.
TO DATE, THEY'VE OFTEN PROVIDED ONLY A STOPGAP BUT CAN'T ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES.
THE DV ASSISTANCE FUNDS WILL EXPAND HELP FOR OUR SHELTERS AND NONRESIDENTIAL PROVIDERS WHO BUILD AND DELIVER THE SAFETY NET FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN FLEEING VIOLENCE BY HELPING SOLVENCY, FINDING WORK AND GOOD HOUSING.
THESE FUNDS WILL HELP END THE DEPENDENCY THAT LEADS MANY TO STAY IN VIOLENT HOMES IN ORDER TO AVOID HOMELESSNESS.
SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, JACOB CLEMENTS, YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES.
BUT THEN WHEN I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A NOTE THAT I GOT FROM A COMMISSIONER AND JACK HEGEL AND SAYS, DEAR JACOB, HOW GENEROUS OF SUPPORT THE ASTROS AND SHOW US YOUR KIND AND COMPASSIONATE HEART.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THE ASTROS ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES.
AND THEN WHEN I WORK FOR ARAMARK NOW, WHILE WORKING FOR ARAMARK, I'M GOING TO BE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES FOR FREE.
BUT HEY, I GOT TO WORK THERE AND I'LL DO A GOOD JOB.
SO WHAT ELSE? I MADE SOME FRIENDS TODAY WITH SOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FRIENDS, AND THAT FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LIKE THOSE PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE WITH, ALISON AND AMY, WHEN DEALING WITH DOMESTIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THAT THING.
WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL THAT, BECAUSE THE STREETS ARE UNSAFE.
LOOK, SHE HAD AND PRIVATE SECURITY WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS IN THE PARK AND IT WAS A KIND OF A SAFE PARK OH, AND MY OUTFIT TODAY IS ALL I KNOW FROM THE SHOES, SOCKS, PANTS TO UNDERWEAR TO JERSEY, T TIE PIN BECAUSE IT COMES FROM TENENBAUM.
SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, MICHAEL HUGHES SPEAKING IN PERSON.
IT'S POSSIBLE I CAN GIVE YOU ALL SOMETHING TO LOOK AT WHILE I'M SPEAKING ON THIS.
I HAD ENOUGH OF ALL THE COMMISSIONS TO PASS MY EVENTS TO IF Y'ALL CAN.
GUESS IT'S A GOOD THING I CAME HERE BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT CRIME.
SO LET'S START TALKING ABOUT CRIME.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CRIME WITH THE PEN.
WHAT? I GIVE YOU ALL THIS SPOT, THESE MORTGAGE COMPANIES THAT'S RUNNING SCANDAL, FRAUDULENT FORECLOSING ON THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY'S PROPERTIES.
AND THEY LEACH INTO THESE THINGS BY THE FORBEARANCE, WHICH I HAD NEVER HEARD OF,
[03:15:02]
AND THEN A MODIFICATION WHICH I NEVER HEARD OF.AND THEY OFFERED ME THIS AND I HAVE NEVER MISSED NOTE OF MY THING.
SO DAN TRICKED ME INTO THIS FORECLOSED AND THEN FORCED ME INTO IT.
AND WHAT IT'S DOING IS DESTABILIZED COMMUNITIES, NOT ONLY HURTING FAMILIES AS DESTABILIZED COMMUNITIES.
I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY, MY HOUSE BY MY HOUSE IN 1988.
AND SEE, I'M THE FIRST DEFENDER.
I'M THE ONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I GREW UP RIGHT.
I WENT TO GRIMES AND THEY MIS REMADE.
AND WE STILL I'M STILL IN THAT COMMUNITY.
SO THE YOUNG MAN OUT THERE DOING I'M GOING TO TELL HIM WITH THE PARENTS, I COME AND YOU, YOU'RE GOOD THIS SO WE NEED TO.
SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, ROBERT HORTON SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
YEAH, I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE MONEY THAT YOU OWE ME AND YOU HAVE NOT PAID ME.
AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ELECTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH ME IN THE YOU OWE ME OVER TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND AS MUCH AS CORRUPTION THAT IS GOING ON, SCANDALS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND THERE'S POLITICAL STUFF GOING Y'ALL NEED TO BE GETTING WITH ME.
HOW ABOUT MY IDENTITY? AND THAT'S ALL I NEED TO SAY.
NEED TO PAY UP AND RESPECT WHO I AM.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE WERE ABLE TO REACH.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.
[Departments (Part 4 of 4)]
I THINK WE HAVE JUST FOUR.I'LL BE VERY BRIEF ON MY MY TWO RESOLUTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON APPRENTICESHIPS AND DECLARING NOVEMBER 14 THROUGH 20TH AS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HARRIS COUNTY, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE CREATED FOR REBUILDING AND GENDER EQUITY, AND SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE EXPONENTIALLY VALUABLE BECAUSE THEY ALLOW HARRIS COUNTY BUSINESSES TO GAIN GREATER PRODUCTIVITY, STRONGER RETENTION RATES AND REDUCE EMPLOYMENT THEY'RE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISHING A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTION WITHIN THE COUNTY.
HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO EXPANDING WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, AND APPRENTICESHIPS HELP BUILD AN EVEN MORE WORKFORCE.
APPRENTICESHIPS ARE BENEFICIAL TO INDIVIDUALS BY CREATING A PATHWAY TO A CAREER, WHEREAS NOVEMBER 14 THROUGH 20 2022 IS DESIGNATED AS THE EIGHTH ANNUAL NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP CELEBRATION WHERE INDUSTRY, LABOR, EQUITY, WORKFORCE, EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS SHOWCASE THE SUCCESSES AND VALUE OF BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DECLARES THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 14TH OR 20TH 2022, AS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE SUCCESSES AND VALUE OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY.
AND I KNOW THE SPEAKER SPOKE EARLIER.
YES, JUDGE, I'VE GOT I HAVE ANOTHER ONE, I THINK.
LET ME SORRY, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I DON'T SPEAK A BIT HERE.
ONE IS THE FIRST ONE IS FOR OPERATION GREEN LIGHT FOR VETERANS.
COLONEL LEWIS SPOKE ON THIS EARLIER, AND WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM MISS RACHEL MCKEE OF THE WITH NACO, WHO IS MILITARY SERVICE COMMITTEE.
BUT EFFECTIVELY, THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH LET'S SEE, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, 11, 11 BUILDINGS WILL BE ABLE TO HONOR OUR VETERANS THROUGH THIS OPERATION GREEN BUILDINGS WILL BE LIT WITH GREEN LIGHTS SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WE'RE GIVING HONOR TO OUR VETERANS OF ALL IT IS THE VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED AND THE AMERICAN LEGION, VFW, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, CIVIL SERVICE, AND OFFICERS IN 29 STATES TO HELP FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS ACCESS MORE THAN $52 BILLION
[03:20:05]
IN COMPENSATION BENEFITS.I'M VERY PROUD OF MY FOLKS WHO WORK IN RAMSEY WORKING TO SERVE OUR VETERANS, BUT THIS IS JUST A COOL OPPORTUNITY GREEN LIGHT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK OF THE OF THE SPECIAL AND AS WE ALL REGRETTABLY KNOW, THAT ON NOVEMBER THE FIFTH OF LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER A AND THE SURGE CAUSED TEN OF THE CONCERT GOERS TO DIE FROM ASPHYXIATION AND MORE THAN 300 INJURIES.
THE THE FIRST RESPONDER AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, ACTED SWIFTLY AND BRAVELY TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CROWD AND AND THEN WHEREAS THE IN THE AFTERMATH, HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FORMED A JOINT SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE CONSISTING OF SUBJECT MATTER WITH THE FORWARD LOOKING MISSION OF DRAFTING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL ENSURE IMPROVED COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND CREATE SAFER THE CITY, IN THE COUNTY.
SO THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS COMING FROM THE SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE.
I WANT TO THANK BISHOP DIXON, RYAN WALSH, MR. RESPECTIVE WORK ON THIS TASK FORCE.
AND I MOVE ON BOTH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS.
CAN WE CAN WE PUT THEM WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THEM? SO WE'LL PUT THOSE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I SEE NO RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
LET'S GO OVER ANY MINOR CORRECTIONS.
SO, ITEM 35, COMMISSIONER GARCIA REQUESTS NO ACTION.
THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION.
THAT AGAIN, 9595 IS CITY OF HOUSTON IN HER LOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE STILL RUNNING DOWN THE DETAILS COMING UP, RIGHT? COMMISSIONER? YEP.
ITEM 96 IS THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
I DID WANT TO SAY THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL CALL THE DEPARTMENT ITEM 131 HAS A CORRECTION.
AND CHANGE THE NUMBER, 19573558 TO 19540 7813.
ON PAGE 29, THE AMENDMENT TO THE GULF COAST RAIL DISTRICT ORDINANCE.
THE RAIL DISTRICT NEEDS MORE TIME TO FINALIZE THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST APPROVAL OF FINAL VERSION OF FUTURE MEETING.
THAT'S AN APPOINTMENT BY MY OFFICE.
IT'S 62 TO 62, CORRECT? IT'S AN APPOINTMENT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
I HAVE TO 68 MARKED FOR NO ACTION.
THAT WAS NOT A CORRECTION TO 80.
CORRECTION WE NEED TO REMOVE THE FOLLOWING CLAUSE.
REMOVE OR UNTIL A NEW CONTRACT IS IN PLACE.
REMOVE THE WORDS OR UNTIL A NEW CONTRACT IS IN PLACE.
THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. SO RIGHT NOW THE WE HAVE I'M GOING TO 80.
THE ITEMS LISTED FOR DISCUSSION.
DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS EXECUTIVE SESSION? ITEM 263.
EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO MANAGE THIS ON COUNCIL BOARD.
[03:25:01]
NO.WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO NAME THE NAMES OF THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD? YEAH.
SO WHEN WE GET TO IT, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINT THE ONES THAT WERE NOMINATED BY THE JUDGE OR A COMMISSIONER.
TRUMP CAN JUST BE THE MOTION AND THEN WE PUT IT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHAT'S THE MOTION? SO THE MOTION IS THAT WE APPOINT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOMINATED BY A COMMISSIONER OR THE COUNTY JUDGE.
SO THERE WAS ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON THERE WHICH WAS NOT NOMINATED BY ONE OF US.
AND CALL THE NAME OUT IF YOU WANT ME TO.
SO I'M MOVING THAT WE APPOINT MARK TOUCH I HOPE I DIDN'T BUTCHER IT.
YOU SEE IT, RIGHT? PATRICIA ST JEWS.
I'M BROTHA JINDAL, CATHERINE DYER, ANTHONY ROBINSON, CARMEN ROWE, REVEREND WILLIE DAVIS AND TIMOTHY IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT.
I'M GOING TO PUT THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL RIGHT, COUNTY ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 264 FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL? NO, NO, JUDGE.
OKAY, WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHAT ABOUT ITEM 265 FOR AN ADDITIONAL SPECIAL COUNSEL AGREEMENT? NO JUDGE WILL PUT THAT ON CONSENT.
I'VE GOT A BRIEF UPDATE ON COVID 19 OR EXCUSE ME.
ITEM FIVE WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE.
SO THAT'S BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM 15 I HAVE A VERY BRIEF COVID 19 ITEM.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS.
ITEM 19 WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE.
I'M PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WHICH ONE IS THAT, MR. THAT IS A TRANSFER LIST.
WE NEED A REMOVE LINES 12 THROUGH 83 OR I HAVE NO ACTION ON THOSE ITEMS AND PASS THE REST.
OKAY, WELL, I'LL DO THAT WHEN WE GET TO IT.
JUST SO YOU DON'T GET CONFUSED.
THE TAX RATES NOT PASSING, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO WE'LL LEAVE ITEM 23 IN THE DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU REQUESTED.
SO THESE ARE THIS IS A PRECINCT THREE PROJECT.
THEY'RE MY CONSTITUENTS AS WELL, SO I'D RATHER MOVE FORWARD.
OF COURSE, LAST TIME I TRIED THIS, I KNOW I DON'T HAVE THE VOTES FOR THIS COMMISSIONER.
WHICH ONE IS THAT? WHAT NUMBER IS IT? 35.
BUT THEY'LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO MOVE THIS ITEM COMMISSION OR ELSE.
SO WE'LL PUT THAT AS A NOTE, KEEP THAT AS A NO ACTION.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU YOU REQUESTED THIS DISCUSSION.
OKAY, WE'LL PUT THAT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS ITEM 62 SOMETHING YOU'D STILL LIKE TO DISCUSS? 62 SECONDS.
IT'S A STUDY REPORT FOR JOHN HARRIS PARK MASTER.
ITEM 100 WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO APPROVE A BURN BAN.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED IT.
I'M PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT WAS ALSO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
SO I'M PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALSO FROM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PUTTING BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WOULD YOU STILL LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? IT'S AN AGREED WITH TETRA TECH.
179 COMMISSIONER GARCIA, CBC MEDICAL STAFF.
I'LL PUT 176 BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS 179?
[03:30:03]
THAT'S A TURNKEY CLINICAL STAFFING.OC 183 COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS NEGOTIATIONS WITH.
I CAN NEVER PRONOUNCE THIS COMPANY, YOU KNOW.
SO WE'LL WE'RE PUTTING 183 BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ONE HAD BEEN REQUESTED BY PRECINCT THREE.
I'M PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON PAGE 27, A VERY BRIEF UPDATE ON 214 TO 18 HAD BEEN FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE.
IT'S GOING BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE GOING BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
266 IS A WONDERFUL INITIATIVE, JUST WHAT WE HEARD SOME SPEAKERS ON IT, PUTTING IT ON THE CONSENT 269 HAD BEEN FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE, PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
274 HAD BEEN FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
280 AND 21 ARE ON THE DISCUSSION ITEM FOR COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S REQUEST.
283 COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT ONE? IT'S A TECHNICAL SERVICES, YES.
THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, YES.
TO 89 HAD BEEN FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
TWO YEAH, THAT'S A DISCUSSION.
290 HAD BEEN FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ALSO NO ACTION AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND 291 IS IT'S THE SAME OR SAME SITUATION, NO ACTION.
AND IT'S BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAD ITEM 232 AS A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WE ALREADY HELD.
AND SO THAT DOES IT FOR THE THE LISTING OF THE DISCUSSION ITEMS AND WERE ALL ON THE ITEM.
I'M SORRY, REAL QUICK, ITEM 216 WAS DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION.
THE ONE THE UPDATED RULES AND CONDUCT OF DECORUM COMMISSIONERS COURT.
IT'S IT'S AS PRESENTED AS PRESENTED AS PRESENTED.
AND THEN SO THE MOTION THAT WE NEED IS.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 291, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR.
SO GOING BACK BACK UP TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS, LET'S START WITH DISCUSSION ITEM 15 HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS CONTINUE TO TREND DOWN.
COVID CASES CONTINUE TO TREND DOWN.
WE JUST STILL ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, WHICH MEANS GETTING THE UPDATED BOOSTER SHOT, GETTING THE FLU.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RSV CASES AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN.
BUT THE WAY TO PREVENT THAT IS SIMPLY WASHING YOUR HANDS, AVOIDING CLOSE CONTACT WITH SICK PEOPLE AND STAYING HOME IF YOU'RE SICK.
THAT'S MY BRIEF REPORT ON ITEM 15.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY REQUESTS FOR ACTION.
VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.
AND FIRST, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY, MS..
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN COLLABORATIVE.
SHE HAS SOUGHT INPUT FROM EACH OF THE COURT OFFICES AND INCLUDING MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE US TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLEAN ENERGY STRATEGY THAT WE AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE US BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE IRA INCENTIVES TO MAKE THIS PROJECT EVEN MORE COST EFFECTIVE.
AND A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
WHEN I FIRST JOINED COMMISSIONERS COURT BACK IN 2019 AND WENT TO MY FIRST NACO CONFERENCE, I HAPPENED TO STEP INTO A ENERGY WORKSHOP AND WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH WHAT L.A.
COUNTY WAS DOING WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE INITIATIVES.
[03:35:02]
ALL OF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH P THREE, THE PUBLIC POWER POOL.WE ALL KNOW WHERE THAT HAS ENDED UP.
BUT JUST TO SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN A UNINTENDED BUT WELCOME CONSEQUENCE OF THAT ENTIRE PROCESS AND I'M EXCITED IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE, AS I MENTIONED, THE IRA INCENTIVES, THE PILOT.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING TEN COUNTY SITES THAT WILL PROVIDE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROJECT AND THE SUBSEQUENT DESIGN TO IMPLEMENT THE PANELS AND BATTERY STORAGE.
THIS INCLUDES A DETAILED ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND RFP PROCESS FOR ENGINEERING DESIGN AND A PRELIMINARY DESIGN DRAWINGS.
THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THESE CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVES OR CLEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS WILL BE EXECUTED BASED ON THE STUDY'S FINDINGS.
FOR NOW, THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS INCLUDE COMMUNITY CENTERS OR LIBRARIES, 2 TO 3 PER PRECINCT AND TWO OTHER SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED EACH COMMUNITY ENERGY PACKAGE WOULD INCLUDE A 100 KILOWATT CARPORT, MOUNTED SOLAR POWER AT 250 KILOWATT AND AND THIS IS JUST SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WILL ALLOW THE COUNTY TO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COUNTY FACILITIES IDENTIFIED THE IRP THE PRELIMINARY PRELIMINARY DESIGN DRAWINGS AND WHICH WILL BE WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK MR. WORK ON THIS AS WELL.
BUT, MAN, I TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN THEY SAY SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT MOVES LIKE MOLASSES, IT DOES.
AND AND IT COULDN'T GET HERE FAST ENOUGH.
I WANT TO THANK AND PARTICULARLY FRANCIS NUGENT WITH MY OFFICE AND KRISTIN LEE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THE UP MEMBERS OF MY TEAM WHO HAVE HELPED ME SHEPHERD THIS ALONG.
SO I MOVE ON TO ON COMMISSIONER ELLIS CHURCH.
HEY, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR, IF YOU STILL ON THE LINE.
ALTHOUGH YOU ARE, I SEE YOU UP THERE.
I HAD HOPED TO GO TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN EGYPT, BUT I WANT TO BE HERE FROM MY FRIENDS.
AND IT LOOKED LIKE IF I WENT, I'D HAVE TO GO COACH ANYWAY AND I'M NOT SURE I COULD TAKE IT TO CHANGE WOULD BE HOW TO GET ME OFF THAT PLANE IF I WENT THAT FAR.
I KNOW THE BEAR IS GOING, BUT I THINK HE FOUND OUT, YOU KNOW, I GET A TICKET, BUT I HOPE THEY ALIGN WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAYING HARRIS COUNTY'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, AT LEAST BY THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING OF THIS YEAR.
I JUST HATE TO GO TO I GUESS I'LL GO TO OUR BOARD MEETING WHEN THEY HOPE, BUT I'D HATE TO GO TO THAT WESTERN COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE AND NOT HAVE I KNOW YOU'RE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I SEE THE SEASONS CHANGE THE WAY THEY ARE.
WE OUGHT TO JUST HAVE SOMETHING, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO COME BACK IN AND AND WORK ON IT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ARE.
THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS LISA LYNN, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY.
AND OKAY, TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE DO PLAN ON BRINGING THE INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TO COURT ON DECEMBER 13.
SO WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF GETTING THOSE STRATEGIES KIND OF REVIEWED BY DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE AT LEAST OUR INTERNAL PLAN READY FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW.
AND THEN WE ARE MOVING ON THE EXTERNAL PIECE, THE CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN ALSO DOING SOME PRE PLANNING WORK WITH SOME COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
SO I SEE THE BITE IN THE BACKGROUND.
SO I KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU GET IT DONE, YOU WORK IT ON YOUR PART OF IT RIGHT THERE BY WRITING TO THE OFFICE AT HOME.
IF YOU WERE AT HOME TONIGHT WE'LL DO THANK YOU.
A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE IT COME TOGETHER.
AND FINALLY AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN YOU'VE BEEN PULLING IT ALONG.
AND TO MY TEAM, I JUST WANT TO.
APOLOGIZE FOR MY WHERE WENT WITH IT? WHERE WERE WE? WHERE ARE WE AT WITH IT? WHERE ARE WE AT WITH IT? SO THANK THANKS, EVERYBODY.
[03:40:04]
NO ACTION.A MOTION TO TAKE NO ACTION ON LINES 12 TO 83 AND APPROVE ALL REMAINING TRANSFERS.
THAT'S THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.
ANY OPPOSE? I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION.
YES, JUDGE, THIS IS ANOTHER EXCITING ITEM AND.
I'M I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS YET ANOTHER OUTPUT OF REVIVE TO THRIVE PRECINCT TWO, WHICH IS THE MASTER PLAN REPORT DEVELOPED IN THE EFFORT TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS UNDERUTILIZED LAND.
AND IT IS IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS TO DO EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COME UP WITH A VISION FOR THIS FOR THIS AREA.
THE SITE'S HISTORY GOES BACK TO ALMOST 200 YEARS TO THE NAMESAKE OF HARRIS COUNTY, JOHN RICHARDSON HARRIS, ANOTHER NOTABLE FACT IS THAT IN THE 1960S, THIS PLOT OF LAND WAS BOUGHT AND DEMOLISHED BY TEXTILE TO BUILD THE HARRISBURG WAS PLANNED TO RUN ALONG HARRISBURG BOULEVARD.
HOWEVER, THE COMMUNITY ROSE UP AND STOPPED THE PROJECT, AND THIS BECAME AN EXAMPLE OF JUST ONE OF THE FEW SUCCESSFUL FIGHTS AGAINST THE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE A COMMUNITY CENTER, A GAZEBO, SPORTS COURTS, COMMUNITY PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE ACCESS TO THE PARK.
IN ADDITION, THIS PARK WILL BECOME A KEY DESTINATION IN THE DESTINATION TRAIL CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED OR OTHERWISE AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO STEPPED UP AND WERE PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS AT M.B.
HIGH SCHOOL, WHO PROVIDED VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FEEDBACK.
BUT IN PARTICULAR, THIS WILL BE YET ANOTHER ENHANCEMENT TO THE MANCHESTER EAST LAWNDALE AREA.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THIS WILL BE A CONNECTOR TO THE EMANCIPATION TRAIL.
THIS WILL ALSO HELP US CONNECT TO MAKE SOME PARK TRAIL.
AND ULTIMATELY WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE A NICE DESTINATION FOR THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINE THAT MAY COME THROUGH THE AREA.
BUT I YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER ITEM THAT IS ATTACHED TO THIS, AND THAT IS A.
AND SO ONCE I REALIZED WHAT ALL THE CONNECTIVITY WAS, THIS PROJECT IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO HELP US CEMETERY SO THAT WE CAN PROPERLY TAKE CARE OF IT AND SUPPORT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SOME THOSE WHO WERE PART OF THE EMANCIPATION TRAIL AND BE QUITE ABSTINENT.
AND SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHY THIS BOND ELECTION IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THE HOPEFUL BONDS THAT PART GET OUT OF IT TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO VERY EXCITED AND I'M EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS ITEM FOR A SECOND.
THAT'S MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I AM 62, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
I'M SORRY, CAN I HAVE YOU GO BACK TO NUMBER 23? YOU HAD SAID 3 TO 2.
DO YOU NEED ME TO DO IT AGAIN? NO.
WE'VE BEEN GOING FOR A FEW TOO MANY HOURS.
OKAY, SO ITEM 119 IS, IS THE BURN BAN.
SO THERE'S WE'VE HAD A VERY DRY YEAR.
THE FOREST SERVICE MEASURES DROUGHT ON A SCALE FROM 0 TO 800 AND WHERE IT'S 619, WHICH IS TOO HIGH ACCORDING TO OUR FIRE MARSHAL.
LIKE THE PREVIOUS BURN BAN THIS YEAR WITH THE BURN BAN MEANS IS NO OUTDOOR BURNING IS ALLOWED EXCEPT IN AN ENCLOSURE THAT CONTAINS ALL FLAMES OR SPARKS OR, IF FIREWORK SALES, OUTDOOR GRILLING OR WELDING.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE FIRE MARSHAL MOTION TO IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE BURN BAN
[03:45:02]
IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 25TH, 2022, UNTIL THE OR A DETERMINATION MADE BY THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE THAT DROUGHT CONDITIONS NO LONGER EXIST COUNTY.I MOVE IN SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 0.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS CVC MEDICAL CENTER.
I'D LIKE TO SEE DIRECTOR ROBINSON IS STILL WITH US BECAUSE THE ALTHOUGH I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS ITEM BE CULTURAL COMPETENCY PROVIDED TO THIS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES WITH OUR PREVIOUS VENDORS AND THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL BE PART OF THEIR SO.
DIRECTOR ROBINSON, I WANT TO ALSO REMIND THESE VENDORS THAT BOTH PADS ARE INTENDED TO BE KEPT IN I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A WALK THROUGH WHERE THE THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE STATE OF THOSE PODS, AND WE'VE WORKED TOO HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT.
AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS.
COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, COUNTY ATTORNEY BOBBY ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF YOU RECALL, WE A DISRUPTION IN SERVICES BY FINDING AN INTERIM CONTRACTOR TO TAKE OVER THE PODS.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A ROBUST PROCUREMENT PROCESS WITH PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS RELATIVE TO PERFORMANCE AND OF THE SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PODS GOING FORWARD.
DESPITE THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 14,000 SERVICES TO INDIVIDUAL COVID TESTING AND IMMUNIZATIONS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE PODS GOING FORWARD.
AND I'M EAGER AND EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT OUT TO YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS THE PERFORMANCE EFFORTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY AND ENSURING THAT THERE'S CULTURAL COMPETENCE WITH THANK YOU.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ITEM 214 IS THE MONKEYPOX ITEM.
THE DOWNWARD TREND CONTINUES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE UNITED STATES.
THERE HAVE NOW BEEN 905 CASES TOTAL IN HARRIS COUNTY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
FOR ADMINISTERING OVER 6100 DOSES OF THE VACCINE SO FAR.
THEY STILL HAVE VACCINES AVAILABLE, AS DOES THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THEM AND PROUD OF THEM.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE ELIGIBILITY INCLUDES ANYONE WHO IS AT HIGH RISK OF MONKEYPOX, REGARDLESS OF GENDER OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE AT READY HERE OR G OR BY CALLING 8329270707.
AND I DON'T HAVE A REQUEST FOR ACTION, SO NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.
DWIGHT IF YOU'RE THERE, IT'S THE SAME ISSUE THAT I HAD FOR ITEM 176.
SO WHEN I SEE THESE ITEMS COME ON THE AGENDA AND I LOOK AT THEM AND IT SAYS PROJECT WAS AWARDED PRIOR TO LUNCH LAUNCH OF THE COUNTY'S MWB PROGRAM.
I KNOW I CALLED YOU AND I TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS, BUT BETWEEN YOU AND THE DE0 DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME PROCESS IN PLACE THAT WE CAN DOESN'T SAY IT WAS AWARDED BEFORE WE HAD A PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE WE WERE NOT LEAVING BEHIND OUR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO ON TETRA TECH, I THINK YOU TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS A MISTAKE ON THIS ONE.
AND THEY ARE THEY DID A VOLUNTARY GOAL WITH 20% AND THEY HAD ABOUT 31%.
BUT ON THESE AS WELL, I WANT YOU ALL TO THINK THROUGH SOME PROCESS SO I DON'T HAVE TO KIND OF GRAB THEM WHEN I SEE IT.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO COMMENT ON THAT A BIT.
ACTUALLY, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. HIM A LIST OF ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS.
SO WE HAVE THERE DIDN'T HAVE A GOAL ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY REVIEWING THAT LIST NOW TO DETERMINE THOSE THAT WE CAN ADD A GOAL TO AND THEN REACHING OUT TO THE VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A VOLUNTARY OFFERING OF A IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE'LL PUT IT THROUGH THE REBID PROCESS.
BUT WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HIM NOW AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE
[03:50:01]
BEFORE THEY GET TO YOU ON COURT.WE ACTUALLY STARTED THE ONE FOR TETRA TECH PRIOR TO COURT, BUT I DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION UNTIL THIS MORNING.
BUT WE WILL INCLUDE THOSE ON THERE.
WE'LL CHANGE THE LANGUAGE UP ON THE COURT TO SAY, EVEN IF IT WASN'T A GOAL ASSOCIATED, WE'LL PUT A GOOD FAITH EFFORT GOAL ONCE WE GET THOSE AGREED UPON LIKE WE DID THE ONE FOR AND OBVIOUSLY EVEN EVEN IF WE HAVE TO AMEND IT, IF WE'RE DOING IT, WHICH IS A GOOD FAITH GOAL AND THEY WILL SOMEHOW BE WILLING SO IT'S OF GOOD FAITH.
WE WANT TO KNOW IT, NOT JUST TRUST ME.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS.
IF WE HAD TO GO TO THEM, WE'LL ASSOCIATED INCLUDE IT INTO THE CONTRACT.
AND I WANT TO ASK THE DOJ DEPARTMENT IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS BEYOND THAT, IF THEY'RE STILL ON THE LINE.
COMMISSIONER DIONNE I HAD TO GO TO AN IMPORTANT MEETING.
BUT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TRACK HER DOWN FOR YOU? NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
AND IT IS CLEAR, DWIGHT, THAT THIS APPLIES TO PROJECTS COMING OUT OF COMMISSIONERS OFFICES AS WELL.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.
IF NOT, NO, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO VOTE NO.
I THINK IT COMES OUT OF WE'VE ACTUALLY I SPOKE WITH MR. REGARDING HIS FOR FOR TETRA TECH, AND HE AGREED WITH THAT PROCESS.
SO HE'S A LOT OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO LET HIM CONFIRM IT WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER.
AND ON SOME OF THEM, IT'LL SHOW COMMISSION.
GHASSAN, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING HIM TO PUT THIS ON IT.
IT WILL SHOW HOW MUCH HAS BEEN AWARDED SO FAR.
YOU ALL COME UP WITH SOME WAY.
SO AT SOME POINT, AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, WE GET SOME SENSE OF IF THEY MET IT, IF THEY MET THE GOAL BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW IT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACTUALLY A DROPDOWN THAT WE'RE GOING TO START ADDING ON.
IT SHOWS WHERE THE WHAT WHAT THE GOAL ORIGINALLY WAS AND THEN WHAT THE GOAL THERE MEETING IS.
COMMISSIONER SO WE'LL HAVE BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
I'LL MOVE THESE TWO ITEMS IN MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON TO 80 AND TO 81 SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND YOU OPPOSE THE MOTION? CARRY 3 TO 0.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU'D ALSO FLAGGED ITEM 283.
I THINK WE ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, SAME CONCERNS.
SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON TO 83, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I ASSUME YOU'RE IN FAVOR, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, OUR FINAL ITEM IS ITEM 284.
IF WE CAN GET MR. MR. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND I THOUGHT YOU SENT A VERY THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
I MUST ADMIT, I ONLY READ THE FIRST TWO PAGES OF IT, BUT CAN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH IT A BIT? AND ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE TO THE RESPONSE YOU CAN AND ALSO WANT TO KNOW.
HOW MUCH OF THE MONEY THAT I ASKED US TO SET ASIDE FROM ARPA FUNDS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE VOTING, ARE INDEPENDENT OR PROCESS WORKS AND HOW TO VOTE OR TO MAKE SURE WE EDUCATE THEM IN THE FACE OF THE MOST I THINK WE WORST IN GEORGIA, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AT LEAST KNOW.
I THINK THIS ITEM IS BROAD ENOUGH.
IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO USE ALL OF THAT MONEY, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED? I SHOULD GO THROUGH THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THIS PROCESS IS AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW WHEN I VOTED ON THE FIRST DAY, SECOND DAY, I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE ISSUE WITH GETTING THE PAPER IN THE CARTRIDGE, I WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO PUSH IT IN TOO HARD AND IT WAS NOT CROWDED.
I PICKED IT RIGHT AFTER THE LUNCH HOUR TO GO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DID TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WENT WITH ME AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING AS YOU NEED, DESPITE AT LEAST FOR THIS ELECTION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO WHEN OUR MONEY IS GONE, BUT AT LEAST FOR THIS ONE, I THE RESOURCES THAT YOU THINK YOU NEED.
TODAY, AS IT RELATES TO THE AUDIT, THE RESPONSE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PRELIMINARY AUDIT LETTER.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO RESPOND TO AT LEAST MAKE IT CLEAR TO OUR VOTERS THAT WHILE THE THE FORENSIC AUDIT CHAIN OF CUSTODY AS IT RELATED TO TABULATING OUR VOTES, I THOUGHT IT
[03:55:03]
IMPORTANT FOR US TO AT LEAST MAKE THAT ALL VOTES THAT WERE CAST ON DURING THAT NOVEMBER 2020 ELECTION WERE ACTUALLY ACCOUNTED AND WHILE THE THE AUDIT TEAM IS CORRECT IN THAT THERE WASN'T THE THE THE NATURAL SENSE OF A CHAIN OF CUSTODY BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, OUR TEAM ACTUALLY DID CREATE WHAT WE CALL CONTEMPORANEOUS NOTES THAT DOCUMENTED WHY WE HAD NOT COUNTED AND AN ADDITIONAL 30 MBES THAT WERE CREATED TO COUNT THOSE 14 MVPDS.
AND WE GET INTO A VERY TECHNICAL CONVERSATION.
BUT TO SORT OF PUT IT INTO LAYMAN'S TERMS SO THAT OUR VOTERS CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE USED IN OUR PREVIOUS SYSTEM, THE LEGACY SYSTEM, THE GBC AND THE SLATE DEVICE.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IF THE JBC AND THE EASTLINK DEVICE ARE SEPARATED IN AN UNTIMELY FASHION, THEN VOTES GET TRAPPED ON THE JBC OR THEY GET SLATE.
AND IN ORDER TO RECOVER THOSE VOTES OFF OF BOTH OF THOSE DEVICES, YOU HAVE TO CREATE ADDITIONAL MBES.
AND SO THE INITIAL 14 MBES THAT WERE CREATED FOR THOSE DEVICES, WE COULDN'T READ THOSE IN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CAPTURE ALL OF THE SO WE CREATED NEW MBES AND THE MBES ARE STORAGE DEVICES TO READ THE RESULTS OFF OF BOTH THE JBC AND THE EE SLATE TO AND THEN READ THOSE VOTES INTO THE INTO THE TABULATION SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR NOTES SHOW.
AND WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE AUDITORS.
AND BUT OF COURSE, THEY CAME BACK WITH THE CONCERN ABOUT OUR CHAIN OF CUSTODY.
AND THE GOOD NEWS THERE IS THAT WE'RE NO LONGER USING THAT LEGACY SYSTEM.
WE'RE USING A NEW SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE A NEW SET OF PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR CHAIN OF CUSTODY AS IT RELATES TO TABULATING VOTES ON AND AS MOST OF YOUR STAFF HAS SEEN AND AS WE'VE DEMONSTRATED TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WE'VE WE'VE WE'VE LOOKS LIKE AT THE END OF ELECTION DAY, HOW THE RESULTS COME BACK DOWN TO NRG, WHICH WILL BE THE CENTRAL COUNT OF THOSE RESULTS, HOW WE DEMONSTRATE THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FROM THE POLLING LOCATION TO CENTRAL COUNTY, AND THEN HOW THE TO TABULATION.
SO WE'RE VERY COMFORTABLE WHEN I WAS AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN ASSURING THE AUDIT TEAM, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AS WELL AS OUR VOTERS, THAT WE PROCESS IN PLACE AS IT RELATES TO COUNTING THE BALLOTS FOR THIS NOVEMBER ELECTION, AS IT RELATES TO THE ARPA FUNDS AND WITH THOSE FUNDS TO EDUCATE OUR VOTERS.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE ACTUALLY RETAINED A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FIRM TO ASSIST US IN CREATING MESSAGES THAT WE THIS IS WHAT THE ELECTIONS PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE ELECTION.
AND HERE'S HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU TO VOTE IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION, DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU'RE VOTING BY MAIL AND ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BY MAIL YOU'RE VOTING IN PERSON TO AN EARLY VOTING AND ON ELECTION DAY.
AND THIS IS THE SECOND DAY OF EARLY VOTING.
AND WE JUST RECENTLY WERE AT SEVEN, I THINK 745.
WE CLOSED DOWN THE LAST SITE FOR TONIGHT.
I'M WAITING TO SEE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOW.
BUT THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING, WE VOTED ROUGHLY 60,000 VOTERS THROUGHOUT THE 99 EARLY VOTE CENTERS.
AND WE'RE SEEING ABOUT THAT SAME TYPE OF NUMBER TODAY, AT LEAST RIGHT AT 50,000 OR SO.
AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IT'S TAKING OUR VOTERS THERE A LITTLE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 7 TO 10 MINUTES TO VOTE A BALLOT, DEPENDING ON HOW THEY WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT THE POLLING LOCATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO, THAT WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THE.
VOTERS TO GET THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT AND TAKE THAT SAMPLE BALLOT WITH THEM TO THE POLLING PLACES.
SO WE'RE REMINDING OUR JUDGES THAT THE VOTERS CAN ACTUALLY WALK INTO THE POLLING PLACE WITH A SAMPLE BALLOT TO TO MARK THEIR TO HAVE MARK THEIR SELECTIONS THROUGH THE PROCESS PROCESS THAT MUCH QUICKER.
SO AS IT RELATES TO ADDITIONAL ITEMS OR RESOURCES THAT WE MIGHT NEED
[04:00:04]
FOR THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION, WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY RECRUITING ELECTION JUDGES, PROVIDING JUDGES, ALTERNATE JUDGES AND CLERKS FOR ELECTION DAY.WE'RE SEEING SOME A LITTLE DROPOFF FOR CLERKS IN THE EARLY VOTING PROCESS.
SOME OF THE JUDGES ARE ASKING FOR MORE STAFF, MORE CLERKS AT THOSE LOCATIONS.
SO WE'RE WE'RE PROVIDING MORE STAFF TO THOSE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, MORE CLERKS, THAT IS.
AND THAT MEANS OUR DOLLAR, OUR DOLLAR VALUE OR OUR EXPENSES ARE GOING TO INCREASE A BIT AS IT RELATES TO ASSIGNING MORE CLERKS.
AND WE ANTICIPATE HAVING TO DO THE SAME TYPE OF THING FOR ELECTION DAY ITSELF.
IF THE TURNOUT CONTINUES IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE SEEING IT TURN OUT.
AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, WE WANT THE VOTERS TO TURN OUT EARLY AND DON'T WAIT FOR THE LAST DAY OF ELECTION DAY.
AND SO WE MIGHT NEED SOME RESOURCES THERE AS IT RELATES TO HIRING MORE ELECTION CLERKS AND ELECTION JUDGES.
AND THEN FROM A AN EQUIPMENT PERSPECTIVE, AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR COUNTY ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING FAIRLY HEAVY TURNOUT.
SOME OF THE LOCATIONS ARE ASKING FOR MORE EQUIPMENT AND MORE EQUIPMENT BEING THE DUO, THE DUOS, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL BALLOT MARKING DEVICE AND THE GOALS, WHICH IS THE DEVICE THAT WE TAKE OUT TO THE CURBSIDE VOTING, WHICH IN A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CURBSIDE VOTERS.
SO I'VE ASKED MY TEAM TO IDENTIFY WHAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE CAN WE CAN PUT OUR HANDS ON TO ACQUIRE MORE AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT ASKING FOR US TO PURCHASE MORE DUOS AT THIS POINT OR MORE SCANNERS.
BUT WE'VE ASKED THE QUESTION HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST US IF WE ACQUIRED 10 TO 20 MORE SCANNERS? HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST US IF WE ACQUIRED 20 OR 30 MORE DUO GOES, AND WE'VE GOT THOSE NUMBERS FROM THE VENDOR.
AND SO WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO ASK FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND THE QUESTION THERE BECOMES, COULD WE USE SOME OF THOSE ARPA FUNDS TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR FOR THIS VOTING CYCLE? AND WE HAVEN'T AGAIN, HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
SO BUT THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AS IT RELATES TO RECRUITING.
PRESIDING JUDGES AND ALTERNATE JUDGES FOR THE ELECTION DAY.
THE PARTIES ARE WORKING WITH US.
THEY'RE IDENTIFYING WITHIN THE EMERGENCY PERIOD.
WE'RE THERE NOW, MEANING THAT WE'RE LESS THAN 20 DAYS FROM THE ELECTION ITSELF.
SO WE'RE WE'RE IN AN EMERGENCY PERIOD WHERE WE CAN ASSIGN THE JUDGE OR THE CLERKS WITHOUT WITHOUT PARTY BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE PARTIES, ASKING THEM TO SEND THIS NAME SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.
AS IT RELATES TO ELECTION NIGHT RETURNS OF RESULTS.
SOME OF THE JUDGES DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THEIR RESULTS IN ON ELECTION NIGHT.
AND OF COURSE, WE'VE INDICATED TO THEM THAT THAT'S WHAT THE STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS ARE, IS EITHER TO DRIVE YOUR RESULTS IN OR TO DELEGATE TO ONE OF THE CLERKS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO WE, OF COURSE, HAVE THE DRIVER PROGRAM AND AND WE'LL HAVE DESIGNATED DRIVERS THAT WOULD THAT THE JUDGES CAN USE TO RETURN THOSE RESULTS IN.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER EVERY JUDGE.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS IN THESE LATE HOURS.
BUT WE'RE MAKING STRIDES TOWARD FINALIZING THAT FOR ELECTION DAY ITSELF.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 5 MILLION.
I CAN'T REMEMBER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I THINK IT WAS 5 MILLION BALLOTS.
AND DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO TABULATE HOW MUCH OF THAT WERE YOU ABLE TO USE TO EDUCATE VOTERS ABOUT THE NEW MACHINES AND PROCESS? YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S LEFT OF THAT? SO SO OF THE FIVE OF THE 5 MILLION THAT WENT INTO TWO DIFFERENT POTS, WE HAD THE FIRST 2.5 MILLION THAT WAS USED TO ACQUIRE THE SERVICES OF THE COMMUNICATIONS FIRM.
AND THEY ARE AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING WHAT WE CALL DIRECT MEDIA BUYS AND IN PRINT, BROADCAST AND RADIO, AND IN INTO THE INTO THE OUT INTO TO OUR VOTERS.
AND THERE'S THE SECOND PART WHICH.
PE AND WE SORT OF GOT BOGGED DOWN INTO FINALIZING THE RFP TO GET AN AWARD MADE.
SO THERE'S STILL THAT 2.5 THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR US TO THAT'S ASSOCIATED TO THAT RFP THAT WASN'T AWARDED TO IT TO AN AWARDING.
AND DO YOU KNOW, MR. INITIALLY BROUGHT ENOUGH WAS
[04:05:01]
BROAD ENOUGH SO YOU COULD USE THAT MONEY? THEY DIDN'T USE IT.WELL, LOOK, CONSIDERING A LOT OF THE STUFF I'VE READ ABOUT ELECTION WORKERS BEING INTIMIDATED OF.
THE WHITE HOUSE AT ONE POINT TOLD WHITE HOUSE, AT LEAST I THINK I THINK IT WAS MY MOTION TO INCREASE TO PAY FOR THOSE.
BUT LOOK, I WOULD SUGGEST IF WE NEED TO DO IT, WE NEED TO DO MORE.
WE OUGHT TO DO IT AT LEAST GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE ARPA MONEY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.
SO WHATEVER IT TAKES, IF WE NEED TO HIRE MORE DRIVERS, IF WE HAVE TO GET MORE PRINTERS, MORE PEOPLE GO IN AND DO WHAT I DID AND PUSH THE PAPER IN THAT TOO HARD, I THINK THAT'S YOU KNOW.
YEAH, I WENT TO NRG WHEN I DID IT.
I'M JUST I'M GLAD THAT WAS NOT A CROWD BEHIND ME.
AND OBVIOUSLY SOME PEOPLE KNEW WHO I WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS I DOING TAKING SO LONG? AND WE WENT.
SORRY, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ALLISON.
I MADE A CONFER WITH MR. BUT IF YOU DO WANT TO AUTHORIZE MR. WITH ME OR MR. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT OR FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF, I THINK A MOTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET THIS COURT IS NOT WHAT'S THE WORDING, MR. TO FINISH IT AND RELOAD FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL DRIVERS.
AND WHAT WAS THE SECOND THING THAT YOU SAID? MACHINES AND MACHINES.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? MR. TATUM CAN I SAY ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S RELATED TO THE ELECTION? RELATED TO THE ELECTION? YES, I THINK THAT WOULD COVER US BROADLY IF YOU IF YOU SAID THAT.
SO LET ME LET ME ASK MR. LIKE? SO THE THE I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE DUO GOES GO AT ABOUT 1000 APIECE AND THE THE DUO'S RUN ROUGHLY AT ABOUT I THINK THERE'S A 2.5 ENOUGH.
I WANT TO SAY MAYBE TO AUTHORIZE FIVE UP TO FIVE.
NOT TO EXCEED FIVE FOR MEGAN FOR, FOR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE ELECTION.
I GUESS I, I'LL MAKE IT SOMETIME ON THAT.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WAS A MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO A LOT UP TO $5 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE ELECTION.
AND SO AND IT'S UNDERSTOOD IN THERE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HAVING TO LOOK AT ARPA, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHERE ELSE WOULD IT COME FROM OR AND AND SO THIS IS THE SAME AMOUNT ALREADY PASSED.
BUT WE'RE DOING WE'RE EXPANDING THE USAGE.
BASICALLY WE ADD A 2.5, WE ADD A 2.5 BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY.
I JUST I'M CONCERNED ABOUT CIRCUMVENTING THE ARPA PROCESS.
I THINK THAT THERE WAS AN OVERALL $5 MILLION AMOUNT APPROVED FOR ELECTION PURPOSES.
OF THAT, TWO AND ONE HALF MILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN CONTRACT, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S A TWO AND A HALF MILLION REMAINS FOR ADDING 2.5.
AND TO THE ARPA, THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
NOW IF IT IS A PROBLEM TO CIRCUMVENT THE ARPA PROCESS, WE COULD LOAN IT FROM EACH OF THE PRECINCTS UNTIL IT GOES THROUGH THE ARPA PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARPA PROCESS.
I MEAN, I THINK OBVIOUSLY THERE'S TIME SENSITIVITY TO THIS, BUT I JUST I JUST DON'T LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A FREE FOR ALL IS ALL.
IT MAV JUDGE IF I MAY THAT TO BE CLEAR I WOULD NOT PROPOSE TO GO FULL THROTTLE WITH PURCHASING TO THE IT TRULY WOULD BE A SURGICAL STRATEGIC GOAL ACQUISITION OF X NUMBER OF MACHINES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE WOULD BUY ADDITIONAL DUALS AT THIS POINT.
I THINK THAT'S THE DUAL GOALS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
AND THEN THERE'S STAFFING ISSUES THAT I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED.
AND WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION DURING THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETING.
IT'S JUST THAT EVERYONE'S BEEN IT'S IT'S IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PRISONER'S DILEMMA TYPE THING.
LIKE ALL OF US HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE RPA PROCESS.
AND SO I FEEL THAT THE MINUTE WE OVERRULE IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE PROCESS IS DONE.
SO SO BUT SO, MR. MUCH YOU WOULD NEED AS THE TWO AND A HALF ADEQUATE, OR DO YOU THINK YOU NEED FIVE? I'M JUST I'M NOT PROPOSING ANYTHING, COLLEAGUES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD NEED FIVE.
I THINK BASED ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS, WITH ROUGHLY TEN DAYS TO GO
[04:10:02]
BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE EVENT ITSELF, I COULDN'T DO MORE WITH THE WITH THE NUMBER OF DUAL GOALS THAT I NEED.AND IT MAY BE A FEW DO DUOS THEMSELVES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS IT RELATES TO THE CLERKS AND THE JUDGES AND GETTING GETTING DRIVERS THAT THAT CAN ASSIST WITH THE SO 2.5 I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D HAVE TO GO BEYOND THAT.
AND I SUSPECT THAT I WOULD AT LEAST, AT LEAST FOR THIS COMMISSIONER.
I MEAN, ELECTIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ME IF I'M NOT ON THE BALLOT, BUT THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO ME, EVEN IF I'M TRYING TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET RID OF ME.
I MEAN, JUST BASED ON MY HISTORY OF OF KNOWING THAT MY OLD MAN HAD TO PAY A POLL TAX, DO YOU KNOW YOU WOULDN'T GO BEYOND 2.5? I'D APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING YOU CAN GIVE ME, SIR.
I SUSPECT THAT I COULDN'T SPEND 2.5 MILLION.
REAL QUICKLY, I WANTED TO ADD INTO THIS DISCUSSION.
DO YOU NEED MORE MONEY FOR A V DRIVE READER? SO FOR A SO THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE TABULATION SYSTEM.
AND AT THAT TABULATION SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WHAT YOU KNOW AS THE LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING PROCESS SO I COULD NOT ADD ADDITIONAL SERVERS SO SO NO, BUT BUT BUT BUT WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED PART OF THE.
IF A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EXERCISE THE OPTION TO VOTE EARLY.
STATE LAW SAYS SHE'S SUPPOSED TO KNOW THE NUMBER WITHIN 24 HOURS.
I REMEMBER THE HORROR STORIES LAST GO AROUND ALL PEOPLE.
I MEAN, IF YOU GOT TO GO GET A DIFFERENT CREW OF PEOPLE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT.
I MEAN, HEY, LOOK, I WAS BORN IN 1954.
I'VE WATCHED THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING UNEXPECTED.
IF I HAD TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE IT OUT OF OUR FIVE BUDGETS, I'LL DO IT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE DAMN SURE THAT THAT WE DON'T COME BACK.
AND I HAVE SOMEBODY SAYING, IF YOU HAD BETTER RESOURCES, YOU WOULD HAVE DONE IT.
SO FOR ME, IT'S THAT TO ME THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT OUR PROCESS ON THE PROTOCOLS ON TAKING MONEY OUT OF COMMISSION WE HAD A LOT OF PROTOCOLS AROUND HAVE BEEN BROKEN YOU TRIED TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME.
WHAT'S THE QUESTION? I WANT TO MAKE DAMN SURE HE HAS ENOUGH MONEY, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO WE THINK THAT YOU CAN GO UP TO 2.5 MILLION BASED ON THAT PRIOR MOTION.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO ABOUT THAT.
UNLESS WE GO AROUND OUR PROCESS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'D RECOMMEND, COMMISSIONER.
WHY? BECAUSE THERE'S A PROCESS.
IT'S BASED ON FEDERAL LAW FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND I THINK WE ARE A PROCESS BASED ON YOU SAID, NOT VIOLATE SOME FEDERAL RULE.
AND COMMISSIONER, IF I CAN ADD ONE THING.
THERE IS A VERY LONG RECONCILIATION PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH A LOT WITH THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR TO TABULATE ALL THE COSTS.
WE TYPICALLY THE ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY COSTS IS STAFFING.
WE'VE SEEN THE VENDOR GIVE US INVOICES 6 TO 8 MONTHS OUT.
SO IF THEY'RE WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT AS THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY, THERE'S A VERY LONG RECONCILIATION PROCESS WHERE WE WOULD COME BACK FOR OVER 2.5.
YOU PULL IT, WE'LL COME UP WITH IT AT SOME POINT AFTER THE FACT.
I WANT I WANT TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE, BECAUSE IF THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE STILL WAITING FOR TABULATION TWO DAYS LATER.
I WILL REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION.
I DON'T REMEMBER A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I WILL REMEMBER THIS ONE UNDERSTOOD.
WE WILL WORK WITH THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED.
BUT I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS THAT RECONCILIATION PROCESS.
AND, COMMISSIONER, I KNOW WE'RE EAGER TO GET OUT OF HERE, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS, TO GIVE US FIVE OR 10 MINUTES TO CONFER, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK ANYWAY.
REAL QUICKLY, I DID WANT TO ASK MR..
WELL, BASICALLY, FIRST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHT GIVEN TO ADDITIONAL READERS, BETTER COMPLIANCE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN WITH STATE LAW.
AND AND IT WILL GIVE US WHAT'S THE TERM WE CAN MEASURE EXPECTATIONS OF THE BUT I, BUT I, I WANT TO JUST REVISIT SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD REGARDING THE BALLOT IN ON ONE SHEET VERSUS THE TWO.
[04:15:10]
DID WE GET ANYWHERE NEAR THAT WITH THE VENDOR? AND GIVEN ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD THAT WERE.THERE WERE SOME SOME CHALLENGES ON ON OUR SIDE.
BUT THE CHALLENGES ON THE VENDOR SIDE, DID WE EVER EFFECTIVELY CHALLENGE EITHER THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THROUGH YOUR OFFICE WHERE THE SO WE HAVE HAD REPEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR VENDOR ABOUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE FOR FOR.
MAKING THE CHANGES TO THE VOTING SYSTEM ITSELF.
AND AND SO AS IT RELATES TO THE NUMBER OF CASTLE RECORDS, THE PBR, AS WE CALL THEM, THE VOTER RECORD BASED ON THE SMALLEST BALLOT IS 90 UP TO 103 CONTESTS PER PER VOTER.
WE COULD NOT GET THAT THAT CAST RECORD OF PRINT VOTE RECORD BELOW, ONE PAGE, BELOW TWO PAGES, AND IT'S ACTUALLY ON SO IT WASN'T A MATTER OF INCREASING THE FONT SIZE.
IT'S IT'S THE WAY THE BALLOT IS LAID OUT AND IT'S JUST IN THE DESIGN ITSELF AS IT RELATES TO THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS CONFIGURED.
YOU AND I, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE LIMITED BALLOT AND WE HAVE A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIMITED BALLOT AND WHAT THE STATE ACTUALLY ALLOWS THAT RELATES TO THE LIMITED SO WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HOW WE'RE PROCESSING THE LIMITED BALLOT.
NOW THERE'S JUST SOME SOME CHANGES WE'D LIKE TO SEE, BUT WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE VENDOR AND AND THOSE ARE PERHAPS CHANGES THAT WE'LL SEE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT BUT FROM A VENDOR PERSPECTIVE, THE VENDOR IS TOEING THE LINE AND SUPPORTING US IN OUR EFFORTS.
THEY WILL HAVE FOLKS ON SITE WITH US ON ELECTION NIGHT DURING EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION NIGHT ITSELF.
AND SO WE'RE RELYING ON THEM WHERE WE CAN AND WILL WILL ENSURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO DO AND DO YOU KNOW IF WHEN I VOTED, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF UNCONTESTED RACES, SO SOMEWHERE ALL THOSE LISTS OF ALL THOSE RACES WERE CONTESTED, COULD IT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WON CONTESTED, BUT THAT WILL LIST THE NAMES WHERE THEY WERE UNCONTESTED.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE STATEWIDE THE FEDERAL CONTEST, THE STATEWIDE CONTEST, THE COUNTY WIDE CONTEST, AND THEN THE LOCAL CONTEST, HARRIS COUNTY HAS ON A BALLOT DURING THE MIDTERM ELECTION.
AND THEN THE REMAINING REMAINING CONTESTS ON THE BALLOT ARE ENTITIES.
SO IF MORE ENTITIES AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ENTITIES THAT AREN'T HAVING ELECTIONS WITH THIS FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE.
SO FOR NOW, WE HAVE 37 ENTITIES THAT ARE CONTRACTED WITH US TO TO HOLD THEIR ELECTIONS, AND THOSE 37 HAVE PROVIDED 47 CONTESTS ON THE BALLOT.
AND SO IF MORE ENTITIES ASK US TO TO ASK TO HOLD THEIR ELECTIONS DURING OUR NOVEMBER MIDTERM ELECTION, IT COULD INCREASE TO A AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE STRATEGIZING ABOUT, IS WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN WHETHER WE COULD LIMIT AN ENTITY FROM PUTTING THEIR CONTEST ON ANY PARTICULAR BALLOT AND THAT'S A LONG TERM CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY AND STATE LAW CHANGE AND EXACTLY THAT.
SO, MR. ELECTION AND I FEEL SOME OF THIS WE CAN DISCUSS AFTER THE ELECTION IS KIND OF MOVING FORWARD FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING SURE YOU SO JUST TO CLARIFY, A COUNTY ATTORNEY, THERE'S THERE'S A THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF MAKING A MOTION TO DIRECT.
TO A UP TO TWO AND ONE HALF MILLION FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE ELECTION.
DO YOU STUFF TO CONSULT ON JUST THE TWO AND A HALF MILLION OR ONLY IF IT'S FIVE? WE SHOULD BRIEFLY CONSULT.
MR. BARRY RAISES A GOOD POINT THAT IT SORT OF DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE EXPENDITURE.
SO WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BREAK AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THEN? 10 MINUTES.
AND COMMISSIONER SCOTT IS BACK IN SESSION.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE ELECTIONS OFFICE ACTUALLY HAS $12 MILLION THAT THEY COULD SPEND DOWN.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'D HAVE TO RESTORE THEM BECAUSE THEY NEED TO SPEND IT FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.
BUT THERE ARE THERE IS A $12 MILLION BUFFER RIGHT NOW.
SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND BUDGET DIRECTOR TO WORK WITH THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR TO USE EXISTING BUDGETED FUNDS
[04:20:03]
FOR THE NOVEMBER 2022 BUDGET REQUEST TO REIMBURSE THESE FUNDS IF NECESSARY FOR OPERATIONS OF FUTURE ELECTIONS.SO IT'S LIKE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL IN FAVOR AND YOU POST I'M IN FAVOR OF MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 0.
THAT IS THAT GOOD WITH YOU, MR. YES, MA'AM.
THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR TATUM.
AND TO YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED? I THINK WE'RE ALL ABOUT TO SAY THE SAME THING.
WHEN WE VOTE TO RATIFY THIS, YES, WE NEED TO RATIFY THE NO NEW REVENUE RIGHTS, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE STUCK NOW.
THERE'S A BUSINESS COURT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 3RD.
OUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO MOVE IT TO NOVEMBER 2ND.
WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER CARGILL'S OFFICE THAT THEY COULD ATTEND AT THAT TIME.
SO WE WOULD NEED DIRECTION TO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE NEED A MOTION, BUT DIRECTION TO MOVE THE MEETING FROM NOVEMBER 3RD TO NOVEMBER 2ND AT 10 A.M.
BUT IF THERE ARE THREE ALREADY, THEN GREAT.
WHO SAID THEY COULD COME? SO WHAT IF ONE DOESN'T SHOW UP? IT'S LIKE MUSCLE MEMORY BY NOW.
STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
LOOK, I'LL JUST DO BOTH MEETINGS IF WE HAVE TO.
SO WON'T YOU POST IT BOTH? BOTH TIMES.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU CANCEL IN THE SECOND? DOING IT ON THE THIRD DAY.
YOU CAN'T BE ON THE THIRD, RIGHT? I CAN'T BE EITHER A DAY.
ISN'T THAT JUST THE MINISTERIAL? ISN'T THAT MINISTERIAL DUTY? I MEAN, THEY CAN'T NOT SHOW UP.
AS IN, LIKE, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR MINISTERIAL DUTIES LIKE THIS.
I MEAN, VOTING FOR A TAX RATE IS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, BUT IT'S NOT A MINISTERIAL DUTY.
APPROVING THE NO NEW REVENUE WHEN THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON THE TABLE IS A MINISTERIAL DUTY.
YEAH, THE TAX RATE, THE REVENUE RATE IS AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED ON THE BOARD IF IT DOESN'T PASS OR IF A NEW RATE DOESN'T PASS BY THE 28TH, THEN THE STATUTE SAYS THAT THE DAYS OF THAT.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ISN'T? IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TESTED BEFORE AND WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT AS A RESULT.
BUT WHAT IF THERE ISN'T THREE? IN THEORY, SOMEONE COULD COME IN AND CHALLENGE THE COURT'S INACTION AND ESSENTIALLY SAY, THERE'S BEEN NO REASON YOU HAVE NO BUDGET, THEY HAVE NO MONEY, NO RATE.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THE DIRECTION WE ARE MOVING THAT MEETING TO THE SECOND.
BUT NOT CANCELING THE OTHER UNTIL WE'VE HAD ONE.
SO WE WILL PUT TO BE CLEAR, COMMISSIONER, IT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE SECOND.
SO HAVING ONE ON THE THIRD DOESN'T HELP THE TWO.
DO WE HAVE ANY EARLIER AVAILABILITY? I MEAN, THESE FIVE DAYS OF THE 28.
LOOK, I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE 39 YEARS.
I HADN'T SEEN THIS THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.
NO, BUT AT THAT POINT THERE I MEAN, AT THAT POINT, IT'S OKAY IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COMMISSION.
IF THEY'RE NOT, THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP SIX TIMES.
AND THAT'S A IT'S A MINISTERIAL DUTY.
I MEAN, IT'S WORTH DOING THE RESEARCH IN CASE THEY'RE REALLY I MEAN, THEY'RE BURNING IT DOWN, DO THE RESEARCH, THEY TRYING TO BURN IT DOWN AND BLOW IT UP.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE JUST, OH, JUDGE, WE'VE DONE THE RESEARCH.
IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S NEVER BEEN TESTED BEFORE, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S A MINISTERIAL DUTY.
SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND BUT LIKE IF SOMEONE, IF SOMEONE FAILS TO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN, WHEN A MOTION PASSES COURT, I'M THERE MAY BE SOMETHING I DISAGREED WITH, BUT I STILL SIGN IT.
IF I WERE TO NOT SIGN IT, PRESUMABLY I COULD GET COMPELLED OR SUED OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? ISN'T THAT THE SAME THING? ISN'T THAT THE CASE WITH IT? IT'S CONSIDERED AN ULTRA VIRES ACTION.
BUT YEAH, IT'S A JUDGE GIVEN GIVEN THE CLIMATE.
AND THE FACT THAT SOME FOLKS HERE WERE SPEAKING MISTAKENLY ON SOME THINGS THAT A GOOD SENATOR HAS INFORMED THEM ON, ULTIMATE TAX RATE DECREASE.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING HAVING TWO MEETINGS ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.
I'M I'M DONE HAVING MEETINGS FOR THESE.
THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO FAIL AT THEIR MINISTERIAL DUTY.
[04:25:02]
THEY'RE GOING TO WHAT? I MEAN, THAT THAT WOULD BE THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN BEYOND THE PALE, I GUESS.LIKE YOU SAID, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
BUT IF THAT'S THE PLACE THEY'RE GOING, HAVING AN EXTRA MEETING, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT I HEARD ABOUT IT SOMEWHERE.
THAT WAS SOMEWHERE I CAN REMEMBER READING SOMETHING WHERE SOMEBODY WOULDN'T GO.
DO THEIR MINISTERIAL FUNCTION ON SOME GOVERNING BODY, AND IT WAS TIED UP IN COURT A LONG TIME BEFORE THEY RELENT.
BUT THE ONLY OPTION WOULD BE TO MEET EARLIER.
LET'S JUST HOPE THEY GET THE SANDBOXING.
COME ON BACK TO GET OUT OF SANDBOX.
SO IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEY HAVE THE LAWSUIT READY OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED TO DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.