[00:00:09]
>> ALL RIGHT. IT IS 10:43 A.M.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HARRIS
[Appearances before court]
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER.WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, AND I SPOKE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE BRIEFED ON. THIS THAT WILL GIVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO JOIN US. HE CAN JOIN US IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. LET ME START BY CALLING THE SPEAKER. GO AHEAD, TIFFANY.
>> CHRISTOPHER VERA OF THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER VIEIRA.
I LIVE IN PRECINCT ONE. THE ACCUSATIONS BY THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS DEFUNDING POLICE IS ANOTHER ATTACK ON HAR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WHETHER IT BE OUR VOTING SYSTEM OR OUR BAIL PRACTICES.
HARRIS COUNTY IS THE TARGET OF THESE TYPE OF SCARE TACTICS.
THESE TYPE OF TACTICS GALVANIZE THE FAR RIGHT IN BELIEVING THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS DEFUNDING THE POLICE WHEN IN REALITY, SPENDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, JAILS, AND THE D.A. HAVE INCREASED EVERY YEAR. LAW ENFORCEMENT ROUTINELY ASKS FOR EXTRA FUNDING. WE HAVE SEEN OVER $20 MILLION GO TO OUTSOURCING OF INMATES TO OTHER JAILS.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN. WE DON'T WANT MORE SPENDING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS AN INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS LIKE HOUSING, EVICTION PROTECTION, KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. PLEASE HELP US.
DON'T FALL FOR THESE FAR RIGHT FEAR-MONGERING TACTICS.
IF WE DO, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THIS TYPE OF SPENDING WHICH COULD BE USED AND SERVED BY PROVIDING DEBT RELIEF, EVICTION PROTECTION AND FREE TUITION. WE NEED CARE, NOT CAGES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
[Executive Session]
FOLKS, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO BE BRIEFED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS. THAT RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. OKAY, COLLEAGUES.COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY MADE CLEAR THAT THERE IS NOT ONLY AN ACCOUNTING PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE OF THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT HOW THE COMPTROLLER IS SUPPOSED TO REACH HIS DETERMINATION. FROM EVEN A BASIC MATH STANDPOINT. NOT EVEN GETTING TO THE ACCOUNTING. HE FAILED TO DO EVEN THAT.
BARRING ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST COMPTROLLER FK HAGAR? RELATED TO HIS FALSE DEFUNDING. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> NO. >> I'M IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
IT CARRIES 4-1. ANYTHING ELSE, COLLEAGUES?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THOUGHT THE PRESENTATION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY GAVE WAS... COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS VERY HELPFUL.
I HOPE NEXT WEEK HE WILL WALK US THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU ALL SO M
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.