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SO, IT IS -- LET'S SEE... IT IS 9:02.
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE SEPTEMBER 22ND 2026 BUSINESS MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING TO ORDER. SO WE HAVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HERE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND I SEE COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY, AND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, IF YOU HIT THE "HAND" BUTTON, I'LL DO MY BEST
[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]
TO RECOGNIZE YOU. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> SO LET'S MOVE ON.
WE HAVE 167 ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, ALL OF WHICH ARE ROUTINE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BUSINESS COURT POLICIES.
LET ME GO THROUGH THE CORRECTIONS.
SO WE HAVE CORRECTION ON ITEM 79.
REPLACE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WITH 2,00$2 MILLION AND A FURTHER AM.
ITEM 155. CUSTOM THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 4" AFTER COOKE COUNTY JUDGE.
AND THEN, THAT'S IT. JAMES, AM I MISSING ANYTHING?
>> NO, MA'AM. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
SO IF NIP WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ANY OF THE 167 ITEMS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED, PLEASE SAY SO NOW SO THAT ALL MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION J I'LL MOVE THE AGENDA.
>> OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1, THROUGH 167 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> JUDGE. I'M SORRY, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER
ITEM 6, AND THAT'S NOT A RESOLUTION?
LET'S HEAR THE SPEAKER ON ITEM 6.
>> JAKE ON CLEMENTAGE, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
HE DESERVES TO BE IN THE HSA, THE HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.
THE REASONS WHY HE'S GOOD, IS THE MENTALI■TY.
IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, AND THERE ARE THREE MAJOR SPORTS TEAMS HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SO I THINK RILEY ELLIS DOES A GOOD JOB AND RECOMMENDING HIM TO BE PART OF THE BOARD.
>> SAY YOUR NAME. >> DO YOU MIND -- DO WE NEED HIS
NAME FOR THE RECORD, TIFFANY? >> YES, MA'AM.
NICE TO SEE YOU. JAY, GO AHEAD.
>> PUBLIC HEALTH IS REQUESTING NO ACTION ON ITEM 50.
>> PUBLIC HEALTH REQUESTS NO ACTION ON ITEM 50.
AND ITEM 50 IS AN AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.
AND OTHER HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. OKAY.
DID WE ALSO PASS THE AGENDA? ITEMS 1 THROUGH 167, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RESOLUTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> (IN UNISON): YEA. >> ANY OPPOSED?
[Appearances before court]
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAD TO THE SPEAKERS FOR THE RESOLUTIONS, AND THEN WE WILL READ THE RESOLUTIONS. WOULD YOU GUYS PREFER TO DO, THAT OR WOULD YOU PREFER TO HAVE SPEAKERS FOR YOUR RESOLUTIONS AND THEN THE RESOLUTION AND KIND OF SWITCH BACK AND FORTH?>> I THINK JUST HEAR ALL THE SPEAKERS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR ALL THE SPEAKERS, TIFFANY.
THANK YOU. >> FOR ITEM 151 AND 1 55, ELLIOTT CHINO, MARCIA GONZALEZ. DR. RIVERA.
YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
COMMISSIONERS, AND EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELLIOTT CHINO.
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FOUNDER AND SECRETARY DI DIRECT. I'VE BEEN LIVING INFORM T THE CY OF HOUSTON FOR OVER 45 YEARS, AND 40 YEARS THAT I FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION. AND I FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE HIV WAS HIGHER WHEN EVERYONE WAS -- APARTMENTS AND HOUSES AND THEIR CARS. I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE HOPE.I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION, AFFORDABLE CARE AND PREVENTION SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR HISPANICS AND LGBT COMMUNITY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BRINGING OVER 20 MILLION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO PROVIDE HIV SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME AND THE HERITAGE MONTH. THIS HAS BEEN MY LIFE, AND I'M
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> AND I CONTINUE SAVING LIVES.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE CONSISTENT IN ENFORCING THE ONE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I'M MARIA GONZALEZ.
I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHICH OF MY ACTIONS I'M BEING EXACTLY RECOGNIZED FOR, BUT I DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK.
I'M START OFF WITH THANKING COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO CREATE THE L LGBTQ +COUNTY COMMISSION.
WE HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK TO MAKE ALL OUR COU COUNTY RESIDENS WELCOME. COMMISSIONER BRIONES RECOGNIZED THE NEED AND NOW WE JUST DON'T HAVE ONE RESOURCE CENTER; WE HAVE A COUNTY OF LGBTQ+ RESOURCE CENTERS.
I WANT TO THANK AUSTIN REESE FOR BEING AN EXCELLENT LEE'S SON.
WITH ITALIA AS WELL. EVERYONE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. DR. ROY RIVERA.
AS A LATINO AND A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ +COMMUNITY AND A LEADER AND PROVIDER OF MEDICINE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE HERE, AND IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL. IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A DECADE THAT I STARTED MY SMALL BUSINESS, ELATION PT, IN THE HEIGHTS, AND I'VE WORKED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE TOO OFTEN FELT UNSEEN IN HEALTH CARE, ARE SAFE AND RESPECTED AND CARED FOR.
AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR SEEING US AND OUR WORK, AND FOR CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LGBTQ +AND LATINO COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> FOR ITEM 152, FIRE MARSHAL LAURIE CHRISTIANSEN. MAJOR EARL DEAN.
MAJOR JOSEPH BLENDERMAN. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND PROVIDING THIS RESOLUTION. VERY IMPORTANT.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS A STAPLE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY TO MEET OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. ALL TOO OFTEN, IT'S WHEN IT'S A CALL FOR SERVICE, BUT THIS GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS, DEEP YOUR DEPUTIES OUT THERE ON THE STREET, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.
I HOPE TO SEE EACH OF YOU OUT THERE AS WELL AT THESE VAST COMMUNITIES WE HAVE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>> MAJOR EARL DEAN, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, WEST
REGION PATROL. >> THANK YOU, MAJOR DEAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MAJOR AL BLENDER MAN. I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT OUT. IT'S NOT ONE DAY OUT OF THE YEAR. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE CITIZENS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS, YOU KNOW, MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, AND WE JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ Y'ALL MAKING THIS RESOLUTION.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 43 AND
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A HALF YEARS, AND MOST OF MY YEARS HAVE BEEN IN PATROL, AND THE BOND THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL AND RECOGNIZING THIS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS ESSENTIAL AND KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU.>> OH, MY GOSH... >> HARRIS COUNTY FIRE FIR SCFIRE MARSHAL,AND WE HAVE A PES AAVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE GET TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND WE DON'T SEE US JUST AS FIRE INSPECTORS AND INVESTIGATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE PARTNER WITH ALL OF OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF AND THE CONSTABLES AND ALL OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS GO OUT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IS WE TALK ABOUT LIFE SAFETY AND WE WANT TO GO OUT AND TALK TO OUR COMMUNITIES IS ABOUT HAVING A PLAN, KNOW YOUR WAY OUT. KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY RESPONDERS BEFORE YOU NEED 'EM. BUT ALSO, JUST WANT TO SAY, TOO, THAT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR PETS AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS GONNA BE OUT.
WE WORK VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR FIRE SERVICE, TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE RESCUE NOT ONLY PEOPLE, BUT PETS.
AND SO I KIND OF BROUGHT THIS LITTLE GUY UP TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE'RE LOOKIN' FORWARD TO GETTING OUT, AND THANK Y'ALL AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF.
SO ARE YOU -- ARE YOU ADOPTING THIS LITTLE GUY?
>> I CAN'T. I'M ALLERGIC TO HIM.
>> BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THANK Y'ALL AGAINS, BECAUSE THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
AND DIRECTOR BARTON, IS SHE UP FOR ADOPTION?
DOES SHE HAVE NAME? IS SHE A GIRL? OKAY. HER NAME IS BUMBLE.
>> 12 YEARS OLD. >> HE'S A BOY.
I WOULD -- I WOULD PUT MY STAFF, BUT THEY'D BE LIKE, NO, JUDGE, NO. BUT, ANYWAY, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE -- ARE WE IN SEPTEMBER? IT COULD BE, LIKE, A PRE-HOLIDAY PRESENT OR, LIKE, TO YOURSELF.
OR YOUR LOVED ONES. SO, ANYWAY...
WE WILL LOVE YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU IF YOU DECIDE TO TAKE BUMBLE HOME, AND YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY.
LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.
>> FOR ITEMS 153 AND 162... DOCTOR ERICA BROWN.
AND DR. MARK ROBINSON, AND THEN FOR ITEM 154, DR. CHRISTA BOYLE. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
DR. ERICA BROWN, HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH. AS YOU CAN SEE WITH MY BRIGHT PINK. OCTOBER, WE ARE COMING INTO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVERY YEAR, WE STILL CONTINUE TO LOSE PEOPLE TO BREAST CANCER, AND SO WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AWARE OF OUR PREVENTION SERVICES, WHICH ARE SELF-BREAST EXAMS, AS WELL AS GETTING YOUR MAMMOGRAM, WHEN APPROPRIATE. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS, SO THE KEY IS TO GO AND SPEAK TO YOUR PROVIDER ABOUT WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR WOMEN AND SOME MEN WHO ARE AT RISK OF BREAST CANCER, DEPENDING ON THEIR FAMILY HISTORY, WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GET A BREAST EXAM AND POTENTIALLY A MAMMOGRAM? AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, AGAIN, OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND, LASTLY, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED --
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING -- >> THANK YOU.
>> A MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT EARLY NEX- >> OKAY.
MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT EARLY NEXT WE'RE.
THANK YOU, DR. BROWN. I APPRECIATE IT.
WE APPRECIATE IT. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MARK ROBINSON. FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, I'VE WORKED AS A PHYSICIAN AT BEN TAUB.
TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FLU VACCINE.
AS PANDEMICS AND OUTBREAKS HAVE OVERSHADOWED YEARLY INFLUENZA, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT THE FLU CAN BE REALLY, REALLY BAD.
NATIONALLY, OVER 40,000 PEOPLE CAN DIE DURING A PARTICULARLY BAD SEASON, AND THE AVERAGE SPEND GOING TO MISS THREE DAYS OF WORK, AND THAT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION FOR MANY OF US.
A FLU VACCINE MAKES THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING SEVERE DISEASE MUCH LOWER. HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH IS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO PRACTICE COMMUNITY IMMUNITY, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO HELP DO THAT AT ONE OF OUR MANY VACCINES CLINICS AND
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MOBILE EVENTS. AND YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED YOUR SHOT YET, I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE A PRECINCT VISIT.>> GOOD MORNING. EYE NAME IS DR. CRYSTAL BOYLE.
I'M T THE CHIEF OF VETERINARY OPERATIONS FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. PET WELLNESS AND PREVENTION CARE ARE ESSENTIAL TO HELPING ANIMALS LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.
VACCINATIONS, PARASITE PREVENTION AND SPAYING OR NEUTERING HELP US TO PREVENT DISEASES.
THESE SERVICES ALSO PROTECT THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
PREVENTATIVE CARE IS MORE THAN CARING ABOUT AN ANIMAL THAT APPEARS HEALTHY TODAY. IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE PET'S FUTURE. BY MAKING WELLNESS SERVICES ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE, WE HELP FAMILIES CARE FOR THEIR PETS AND CONSTITUENT THEN THE ANIMAL-HUMAN BOND, AND TODAY WE HAVE CRICKET, WHO IS A TEN-MONTH-OLD MIXED BREED SPAYED FEMALE, UP TO DATE ON VACCINES AND HEARTWORM PREVENTION, AND WE HAVE TWO 12-WEEK-OLD KITTENS, BOTH NEUTERED AND UP TO DATE ON ALL OF THEIR VACCINES AND PREVENTION.
BUMBLE, BACK THERE. AND LOTUS IS HERE.
PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE, BECAUSE OF YOUR PLAYOUR BLACK SHIRT AND THK
>> IS THIS A TUXEDO? OH, MY GOSH.
HE'S GOT LITTLE SOCKS. YES, I HAVE A TUXEDO.
THEY'RE GREAT. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THIS LITTLE
ONE? >> YOU COULD HAVE TWO...?
AND THEN... AND THEN THE -- THE LITTLE
>> CRICKET. AND SO HOW OLD DID WE SAY THE
DOG IS? >> SHE IS TEN MONTHS OLD.
SO -- >> YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL.
THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY PERVASIVE.
>> WE DO HAVE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK HERE TODAY.
>> YEAH, I HEARD THAT IN DECEMBER.
AND HE'S DOING JUST FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYBE THEY NEED A FRIEND...? >> NO! ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL. THINK ABOUT IT...
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE. YOU'VE GOT FOUR?
>> YOU COULD HAVE FOUR. >> NO, I CAN'T HAVE FOUR.
IF NOBODY ADOPTS THEM, WE'LL ASK YOU AS YOU WALK OUT "HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE"? OKAY.
LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.
>> FOR ITEM 156, MARK MOON. AND FOR NUMBER 157, GABRIELLA MAGANJA. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THE AFFOR AORTA IS A MAJOR AY IN OUR BODIES THAT SUPPLIES BLOOD TO THE BODY. THE AORTA IS A SILENT KILLER BECAUSE AS IT GROWS AND GROWS, IT CAUSES NO SYMPTOMS UNTIL IT BURSTS OR TEARS, WHEN IT CAN OFTEN BE TOO LATE.
IN HARRIS COUNTY ALONE, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT OVER 380 PEOPLE THIS YEAR WHO WILL DIE SUDDENLY FROM UNRECOGNIZED AORTIC DIS DISEASE. SO THE DECLARATION IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP. NEXT YEAR, WE'LL ASK YOU FOR MONEY. MAKE SURE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS UNDER CONTROL, AND IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY, GET AN ECO CARDIO GRAM. IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M ONE OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS. AND CONTINUING WITH DR.
MUNOZ... TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS, WHERE PHYSICAL WARNINGS ARE THE OBVIOUS OR -- FAMILY HISTORY.
PROACTIVE SCREENING. WHEN MEDICAL SCIENCE HAS MADE MONUMENTAL STRIDES IN TREATING THESE CONDITIONS, CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS REMAINS. CREATING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO KNOW THEIR HEALTH HISTORIES ARE OUR HIGHEST PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES.
PROACTIVE SCREENING SAVES LIVES, AND TOGETHER, WE CAN STOP AORTIC DISSECTIONS BEFORE THEY START. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I'M TRULY HONORED AND VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT COMMUNITY WORK IS NOT SOMETHING ONE PERSON DOES ALONE.
THE RECOGNITION I RECEIVE TODAY IS CONNECTED TO THE ARTIST, CULL TOOR WORKERS, MENTORS, COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE TRUSTED ME, CHALLENGED ME AND ALLOWED ME TO BE PART OF THEIR
[00:20:03]
WORK. MY COMMITMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO HELP CREATE SPACE FOR PEOPLE AND IDEAS TO BE SEEN AND HEARD AND TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES, ARTISTS AND INSTITUTIONS. HOUSTON HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH.AND I FEEL A DEEP RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SHAPED ME. WHETHER THROUGH ARTS, CULTURE, OR SIMPLY THROUGH SHOWING UP, I'M HELPING MAKE SOMETHING POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE THE WORK HAS MADE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED AND WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN WE HAD BEFORE.
SO I ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION WITH GRATITUDE.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS WORK, AND FOR IMPORTANTLY, FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU.
>> FOR ITEM 158: RICHARD ELLIS REYES.
AND THEN FOR ITEM 159, GLORIA SENTENO AND OTHERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR FOR THE ARTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.
I HAVE MY BOARD PRESIDENT, EDDIE TORRES HERE.
YOU HAVE INVITATIONS IN FRONT OF YOU TO MY 75TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. RICHARD REYES IS 75.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE MOVED TO THE GREENS POINT AREA, MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF MY MANY SUPPORTERS ON THE NORTH SIDE, EAST END, WHERE WE WORKED FOR YEARS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY, WHY ARE YOU MOVING TO GREENS POINT? IT'S KNOWN AS GUNS POINT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME AND POVERTY, AND WE'RE LIKE, WELL, THAT'S COMP EXACTLY WHERE WE NEO BE. WE DID GIVE OUT 20,000 PRESENTS THIS YEAR IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND THE RIO GRAND VALLEY.
I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE MOVED IN WITH US OVER THERE, AND WE HAVE, LIKE, 55 DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND NON-PROFITS IN THAT AREA NOW, WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS' RADIUS, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING THE NAME FROM --
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS FABULOUS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GLORIA.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF BODY OF DOGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN RECOGNIZING PUPPY MILL AWARENESS DAY. FOR NEARLY 17 YEARS, BODY OF DOGS HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY IN HOUSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS TO TACKLE ANIMAL POPULATION AT ITS ROOTS THROUGH SPAY AND NEUTER ACCESS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCACY.
COMMERCIAL BREEDING FACILITIES AND PUPPY MILLS PRIORITIZE PROFIT OVER ANIMAL WELFARE. FUELING A CRISIS THAT OVERFLOWS LOCAL SHELTERS LIKE BARK AND HARRIS COUNTY COUNTY PETS AND SUBJECTS ANIMALS TO INHUMANE CONDITIONS.
BY SHINING A LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE TODAY, WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING, SUPPORTING LOCAL RESCUES, AND SHUTTING DOWN THE DEMAND FOR INHUMANE PET MILLS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STANDING WITH BODY OF DOGS AND THE MANY
OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS -- >> THANK YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS MEGAN. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LONE STAR HUMANE ASSOCIATION. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING PUPPY MILL AWARENESS DAY AND FOR HELPING BRING ATTENTION TO THE CRUELTY CONNECTED TO LARGE-SCALE COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDING. EVERY YEAR, ABOUT 15,000 PUPPIES FROM OUT-OF-STATE ARE BROUGHT TO TEXAS AND SOLD IN PET STORES AT HIGH PRICES. MANY LEAVE THE STORES WITHOUT BEING SPAYED OR NEUTERED. SOME ARE SICK.
OTHERS ARE BORN WITH SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH SEVERE OVERCROWDING. THIS PROCLAMATION HELPS EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO ADOPT INSTEAD OF SHOP.
WE URGE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT HARRIS COUNTY PETS AND BARK ANIMAL SHELTER, WHICH CARE FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US TO PROTECT DOGS, SUPPORT OUR SHELTERS, AND HELP END THE PUPPY
MILL PIPELINE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HI. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KARISSA, AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF SANTOS SANCTUARY AND RESCUE, A HOUSTON BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING AT-RISK DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNIZING PUPPY MILL AWARENESS DAY. IT MEANS A LOT TO ALL OF US.
I'VE BEEN RESCUING DOGS INDEPENDENTLY FOR OVER 25 YEARS BEFORE STARTING MY ORGANIZATION. I'VE SEEN THE DEVASTATING
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REALITY OF THE PUPPY MILL TRADE. PRODUCING SICK DOGS AND ANIMALS THAT SOMETIMES DON'T MAKE IT PASSED TWO WEEKS OUT OF THE STORE, OUR LOCAL RESCUES AND SHELTERS ARE LEFT COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED AND STRUGGLING TO PICK UP THOSE PIECES.WE CANNOT RESCUE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS CRISIS ANY LONGER, WITHOUT THE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ACTION. RETAIL PET STORES ARE MAKING HAND OVER FIST, WHILE WE ARE STRUGGLING TO HAVE BASIC RESOURCES LIKE MEDICATION AND SPAY AND NEUTER IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE OUR RESCUE ORGANIZATION-
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM. ARE THOSE ALL FOR THIS
SO THERE WAS $400,000 UNALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET.
I PROPOSED IT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT INCLUDES, OBVIOUSLY, LGBTQ YOUTH WHO SURVIVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT ALTERNATIVES THAT I HOPE TO BRING NEXT COURT IS THE ANIMAL SHELTER. THERE WAS FUNDING PROPOSED FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER ALSO THAT DIDN'T PASS, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE THE ADVOCACY ON THAT, BECAUSE THE NEED IS HUGE, AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY $400,000 THAT ARE NOT ASSIGNED TO ANYTHING.
AND AS I SAID, THE KID THING. NOBODY VOTED FOR IT.
>> FOR ITEM 161: SHANE HARRIS.
AND FOR ITEM 151, DR. MICHELLE TOVAR.
YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SHANE HARRIS.
I'M THE BRANCH MANAGER FOR THE BARBARA BUSH BRANCH LIBRARY.
ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY, OUR DIRECTOR AND THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY TENDS, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
I EXPECT THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION. OUR FRIENDS' PRESIDENT, SALLY, IS TRAVELING TODAY AND ASKED ME TO SHARE HER GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF THE FRIENDS FOR THIS HONOR. FOR 50 YEARS, THE LIBRARY AND THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY FRIENDS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ENRICHING LIVES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. ON A FINAL NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE OUR NAMESAKE, BARBARA BUSH: "IF YOU HELP A PERSON TO READ, THEN THEIR OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE WILL BE ENDLESS." THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT JUDGE HIDALGO'S OFFICE FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HISPANIC COMMISSION AND TO ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MUST BE MORE THAN A CELEBRATION.
IT SHOULD REMIND US WHY TEACHING OF PRESERVING OUR HISTORIES MATTER. WHEN ETHNIC STUDIES DISAPPEARS FROM CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS LOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE, MOVEMENTS AND CULTURES THAT HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR CULTURE AND NATION. LATINO COMMUNITIES HAVE LONG CONTRIBUTED TO HARRIS COUNTY'S LIFE.
THIS RESOLUTION AFFIRMS THAT HISTORIES BELONG NOT ONLY IN ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS BUT ALSO IN CLASSROOMS, MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE
IMPORTANT LEGACY. >> THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>> OH, MY NAME IS DR. MICHELLE TOVAR.
[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]
>> JUDGE, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. I KNOW COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY REQUESTED THAT WE TAKE HIS RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER.
GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON ALL THE RESOLUTIONS AT ONE TIME? CAN WE PULL 155 AND VOTE ON THAT
OKAY, SO IS THERE A MOTION FOR 155? AND WE WILL READ IT AFTER WE READ COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S RESOLUTION. RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST THE VOTING.
COMMISSCOMMISSIONER ELLIS MOVES. MOTION CARRIES 3-1.
I'M IN FAVOR. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL THE OTHER RESOLUTIONS? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY, SO GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> THE FIRST ONE I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE IS THE HOUSTON CONTRACTS ASSOCIATION. THE HOUSTON CONTRACTS ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1956. BEGAN WITH A SMALL GROUP OF CIVIL CONTRACTORS JOINED TOGETHER IN BELLAIRE.
I THINK WITH A SHARED GOAL OF BEING SURE THAT CONSTRUCTION IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WAS DONE IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER.
[00:30:04]
IT STARTED WITH 15 MEMBERS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN TO A MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 400, INCLUDING SUBCONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, SERVICE COMPANIES. THEY PLAY A VERY VITAL ROLE IN THE REGION'S ECONOMY BY COLLECTIVELY PERFORMING MORE THAN $2 BILLION OF ANNUAL LABOR SERVICES IN THIS AREA.HCH'S HISTORY IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE HISTORY AND GROWTH OF HARRIS COUNTY ITSELF, AS THE REGION HAS EXPANDED INTO ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT METROPOLITAN AREAS. WE HAVE NOTICED IN THE CHRONICLE THIS MORNING CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN ON THE $6.9 BILLION ELI LILILLY FACILITY OUT IN NORTHEAT HARRIS COUNTY.
THOSE FACILITIES DON'T JUST HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THEY INVOLVE MANY, MANY TRADES, MANY, MANY CONTRACTORS, AND WE'VE GOT THE EXTRAORDINARY BENEFIT OF THOSE IN THIS REGION.
SO WHEREAS THE HOUSTON CONTRACT ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 70 YEARS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, 70 YEARS, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD NUMBER -- OF ITS MEMBERS HELPING TO BUILD ROADS, BRIDGES, TUNNELS, AIRPORTS, PARKS, TRANSIT SYSTEMS, DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER SYSTEMS AND OTHER CRITICAL AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE HARRIS COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE HOUSTON CONTRACT ASSOCIATION IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WELL DONE, CONTRACTORS. WE HAVE SOME HERE.
THEY'LL CHOOSE TO BE THERE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING DOWN HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, MAKING A DIFFERENCE, I THINK, IN THE COUNTY IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THANK Y'ALL, CASEY AND YOUR GANG BACK THERE. APPRECIATE IT.
THE COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I'M GONNA -- MY SECOND ONE -- AND I'LL BE DONE.
WE'VE ALREADY REFERENCED IT, BUT THE BARBARA BUSH BRANCH LIBRARY IN PRECINCT 3. IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE GEORGE BUSH COMMUNITY CENTER. BETWEEN GEORGE AND BARBARA, WE GET A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
IT REALLY IS THE CENTER OF ACTIVITY IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. WE'VE GOT J.P.ES ACROSS THE STREET. CONSTABLES ACROSS THE STREET.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF A BRANCH OF THE COUNTY OUT THERE IN THE CYPRESS AREA.
WHEREAS IN 1997, A REFERENDUM ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR A LARGE FACILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS AND GROWING COMMUNITY.
THE NEW LIBRARIES NAMED IN HONOR OF FORMER FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH AND LONG-STANDING ADVOCACY. I'LL NOT READ THE REST OF IT.
IT'S IMPRESSIVE. YOU SHOULD GO TO THAT LIBRARY.
WE GOT -- WE RECEIVED -- I GOT A CALL YESTERDAY FROM A GREAT SUPPORTER OF THE BUSHS. THEY'RE GIVING ME PENCIL DRAWINGS OF BARBARA AND GEORGE TO BE HUNG IN THOSE FACILITIES.
THOSE DONATIONS WILL BE COMING TO THE COUNTY.
SO, FOR FIVE YEARS -- FIVE DECADES, 50 YEARS, THE BARBARA BUSH BRANCH LIBRARY AND THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY FRIENDS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN THE LIBRARY AS A VITAL HUB OF EDUCATION, ENRICHMENT, COMMUNITY SECTION AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I'M GO AHEAD TO GO AHEAD AND READ MY RESOLUTIONS. TOIT WAS JUST THOSE TWO, CORREC,
COMMISSIONER? >> I HAVE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO 2.3 MILLION HISPANICS. GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS PROBABLY AN UNDERCOUNT, AND THOSE OF MEXICAN, CENTRAL AMERICA DESCENT CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST SHARE. $139.5 BILLION IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT. ABOUT 25% OF THE HOUSTON -- THE WOODLANDS, SUGAR LAND METROPOLITAN AREA'S GDP.
2002 HARRIS COUNTY MADE HISTORY BY ELECTING CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA AS ITS FIRST HISPANIC COMMISSIONER.
THE FIRST WOMAN THAT WAS ELECTED.
THERE HAVE BEEN WOMEN APPOINTED. THE HUSBAND DIED OR WAS CONVICTED OR SOMETHING, BUT ACTUALLY ELECTED.
THIS WAS THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHO WAS THE FIRST COMMISSIONER, ANDEN I AND THENI HAVE THE HONOR OF BEI FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO BE COUNTY JUDGE.
I ALSO JUST HAPPEN TO BE MISS HISPANIC.
THE FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTY'S 90-YEAR HISTORY.
[00:35:03]
ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS AND WORKERS RIGHTS.DEMONSTRATE RESILIENCE. PROMOTED EQUITY AND HELPED ADVANCE THE PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR ALL.
HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REAFFIRMS ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO HONORING AND SAFEGUARDING HISPANICS' ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COUNTY'S PROSPERITY AND EXCELLENCE.
THEREFORE, WE DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026 TO OCTOBER 15TH, 2026 AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
SO THE 43RD ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WILL BE OBSERVED ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH FROM 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. ALL THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY AND THE COUNTRY.
IT WILL GIVE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL, WHICH, OF COURSE, PROMOTES CRIME PREVENTION AND SAFETY AWARENESS. HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CONSTABLES OFFICES, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, ALONG WITH CIVIC GROUPS, BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, ENGAGED RESIDENTS, THEY ALL COME TOGETHER ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. IF YOU DON'T NORMALLY PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, CHECK OUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S EVENT. IT'S REALLY -- IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS YEAR-ROUND, AS THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EXPLAINED. BUT IN IN PARTICULAR IS A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT. WE RECOGNIZE AS HARRIS COUNTY THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT AND TRUST BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN ADVANCING SAFER, STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THEIR WORK, SACRIFICE, AND WORK BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
STARTED WHEN YOU WERE... FIVE? THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES TUESDAY OCTOBER 6TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
NEXT, WE HAVE THE FLU. SO -- WELL, NOT THE FLU.
THE FLU VACCINE. INFLUENZA ACTIVITY TYPICALLY INCREASES DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS.
IN TEXAS, IT PEAKS IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
CDC ESTIMATED DURING 2024-2025 FLU SEASON, 51 MILLION CAME ILL AND 45,000 DIED FROM FLU-RELATED ILLNESSES FLU SIDE.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ASSOCIATED PEDIATRIC DEATHS DEATHSDURING THE 2025-2026 FLU . ALONGSIDE WITH 12,000 FLU-RELATED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.
HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES THAT AWARENESS, VACCINATION PREVENTION AND TIMELY ASSISTIVE CARE ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS AND STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES OCTOBER 26TH, 2026 AS FLU AWARENESS MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK.
AND THEN I HAVE -- ONE, TWO, THREE -- JUST TWO MORE.
MONTH OF OCTOBER IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL PET WELLNESS MONTH.
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PREVENTATIVE VETERINARY CARE, RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND PRACTICES THAT HELP ANIMALS LIVE HEALTHY AND FULFILLING LIVES.
HARRIS COUNTY'S HOME TO MORE THAN 4.8 MILLION HUMAN RESIDENTS AND AN ESTIMATED 2 MILLION COMPANION ANIMALS.
REGULAR WELLNESS EXAMINATION, VACCINES, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ET CETERA, ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING PETS THROUGHOUT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LIFE. SPAYING AND NEUTERING ARE IMPORTANT, PREVENTING UNWANTED LITTERS, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS, EASING THE BURDEN OF SHELTERS.
EVEN REDUCE SOME DISEASE. SO HARRIS COUNTY PETS AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP BY PROVIDING RESIDENTS AFFORDABLE VETERINARY SERVICE, MICRO CHIPPING, PREVENTATIVE CARE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT PET WELLNESS ADVANCES ANIMAL WELFARE, COMMUNITY SAFETY AND STRONGER FAMILIES.
AND THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY DESIGNATES.
>> OCOCTOBER 2026 AS PET WELLNES AWARENESS MONTH IN HARRIS
[00:40:03]
COUNTY. THANK YOU FOLKS AND THE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT NOBODY CAN REALLY DISAGREE WITH, NO MATTER SORT OF WHERE YOU ARE ON THE AISLE, SOY HOPE SO I HOPE E CAN WORK ON THAT TOGETHER, COLLEAGUES. THE NEXT IS A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING DR. ROY RIVERA. THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT SETS OF LETTERS AFTER HIS NAME, INCLUDING PH.D. HERE.HE'S A HOUSTON-BASED HEALTH CARE LEADER, ENTREPRENEUR, EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE WHOSE WORK HAS ADVANCED EQUITABLE AND AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE FOR LGBTQ RESIDENTS AND FOUNDING COMMUNITIES.
HE'S THE FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ELATION THERAPY.
TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE GAPS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE SEEKING CARE BEFORE AND AFTER PROCEDURES.
DR. RIVERA IS THE AUTHOR OF A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER GUIDE TO LGBT INCLUSIVE PRACTICES. HE WAS THE 2026 MALE GRAND MARSHAL FOR GRAND PARADE 65. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF APPOINTING HIM TO POSITION 8 OF THE LGBT COMMISSION WHERE HE WORKS TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
AN ADVOCATE WHOSE INCLUSIVE AFFIRMING CARE AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP HAVE STRENGTHENED THE COMMUNITY AND ENRICHED HARRIS COUNTY. AND SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY COMMENCE AND HONORS DR. RIVERA FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LGBTQ +COMMUNITY AND BEYOND, I THINK, IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
OKAY. THEN WE MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER -- PET WELLNESS MONTH.
SO HERE'S THE THREE RESOLUTIONS. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HOAR HONOREES. SO LET ME -- I LOST TRACK HERE.
WHY DON'T WE MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AND I'LL COME BACK, BECAUSE I LOST TRACK OF MY RESOLUTIONS.
GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> I WON'T READ IT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN HOUSTON TO HAVE A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN HEART SURGEONS.
DR. WILLISSON, WHO WAS MY DOCTOR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WHICH IS WHY Y'ALL HAVEN'T GIVEN ME A HEART ATTACK YET, BUT THERE'S STILL TIME. BUT IT WAS QUITE ENLIGHTENING TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION TODAY. AND WE ARE SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE. I THINK THE FIRST TIME MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HEARD THE TERM "AORTA" WAS WHEN THEY WOULD HEAR ONE OF THOSE SPEECHES ABOUT THE TIME DR. MA MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS STABBED AND HE MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT A LETTER FROM A LITTLE GIRL. THE KNIFE BARELY MISSED HIS AORTA. IF IT HAD HIT IT, IT WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM. I THINK ABOUT THE STRESSFUL JOB MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HERE, SO WE'RE LUCKY WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ATTACK YET, BUT WE LUCKY FOR WHAT YOU DO.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE BAYLOR, AMONG MANY OTHER INSTITUTION, AND THE TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE. BACK WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, I WAS GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA A BIT, SO DR. DEBAKI TOLD ME TO LOOK UP DR. CHRISTIAN BERNARD WHEN I WAS IN CAPETOWN, AND IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO MEET HIM AND LEARN ABOUT THE FIRST OPEN HEART SURGERY. HOW IT WAS AN ANIMAL'S ORGANS PLACED IN A HUMAN TO KEEP SOMEONE ALIVE.
BUT THAT ADVANCED RESEARCH THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE, SO WE'RE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE RESOLUTION, BUT WE'RE PROUD TO GIVE IT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR PUTTING THAT OUT.
JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE WHAT THIS IS.
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF AORTA WAS 1984.
MY GRANDFATHER DIED ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
THAT'S WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT AORTA.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE -- WELL, THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD OF THAT WAS WHEN THEIR UNCLE OR THEIR GRANDFATHER OR THEIR FATHER, THEY PASSED.
SO IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE BE AWARE AND, WHEN YOU GO GET THOSE CHECKUPS, YOU NEED TO GET EVERYTHING EVALUATED.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO SAVING LIVES.
[00:45:08]
COMMISSIONER ELLIS? ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS?>> THOSE ARE MINE. NO OTHERS, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, COMMISSIONER GONZALES' RESOLUTIONS, I WONDER IF WE
COULD BRIEFLY READ THEM. >> I THINK HE'S GOING TO PRESENT
THEM HIMSELF. >> NOT TODAY, BUT TO THE --
>> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
>> I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR ALL ALL OF THE RESOLUTION, AND PROUD THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING HISPANIC MONTH, AND AORTA. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
I HAD A GRANDFATHER WHO DIED AT 75 UNEXPECTED.
BUT I'LL KEEP MY REMARKS VERY BRIEF TODAY.
SPEAKING OF 70TH ANNIVERSARY, I'M CELEBRATING MY MOM'S 70TH BIRTHDAY TODAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE TO JOIN YOU ALL, CAST MY VOTES, AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE, BLESSED DAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL TOMORROW.
>> TO YOUR MOTHER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
AND I'M GOING TO SEND HER MY PERSONAL RESOLUTION.
>> SEE YOU TOMORROW. THANK YOU.
TAKE CARE. AND TO THE PEOPLE, IS THE BINDER ON ITS WAY, OR HOW MUCH LONGER? OKAY.
PERFECT. SO, THAT IS COMMISSIONER BRIONES. OH, YEAH.
THIS IS THE BINDER OF ALL THE RESOLUTIONS AND REVALUATIONS ON OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THAT DIDN'T GET PUT ON THE BALLOT TWICE, FOR PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO EVEN SEE THEM CONTINUE.
THE COLLEAGUE THAT JUST LEFT SAID IT WAS HALF BAKED, SO...
I'LL JUST LEAVE THIS HERE, AND FOLKS ARE WELCOME TO LOOK THROUGH IT. THERE'S SEVERAL INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS. OKAY.
SO LET ME GO THROUGH THE REST OF MY RESOLUTIONS HERE.
OKAY. SO, VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THESE FOLKS, INCLUDING MARIA GONZALEZ, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT THIS POINT. IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
DR. GONZALEZ IS A LITERARY PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHERE SHE SERVED THROUGH 1991 THROUGH HER SCHOLARSHIP AND TEACHING ON THE STUDY OF MEXICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE, FEMINIST AND QUEER THEORY, A AND PEDAGOGY.
AS WELL AS A CO-EDITOR OF A THREE VOLUME COLLECTION OF TRANS NATIONAL ART AND ESSAYS. SHE WAS AMONG THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO HELPED ESTABLISH THE UNIVERSITY'S LGBT RESEARCH CENTER AND THE GROWTH OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS ON CAMPUS.
SHE HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DECADES OF POLITICAL AND SERVICE ENGAGEMENT. AS WELL AS TREASURER OF THE TEXAS TRANSGENDER NON-DISCRIMINATION SCHOLARS.
IN RECOGNITION OF HER LEADERSHIP, SHE WAS APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER LESLEY BRIONES TO SERVE IN POSITION 9 ON THE HARRIS COUNTY LGBTQIA +COMMISSION, WHERE SHE HELPS ADVANCE THE COMMISSION'S MISSION OF PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. DR. GONZALEZ, HARRIS COUNTY PROUDLY RECOGNIZES YOUR ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS AS A LATIN A SCHOLAR, EDUCATOR, CIVIC LEADER AND ADVOCATE WHOSE WORK HAS STRENGTHENED THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND ALL COMMUNITIES AND ENRICHED HARRIS COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMENCE AND HONORS DR.
MARS "H" MARIA C. GONZALEZ FOB R HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LGBTQIA +COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
WE'RE RECOGNIZING ALL OF IT, AND YOUR ONGOING WORK.
ADVANCING HEALTH, WELLNESS AND DIGNITY FOR LATINO AND LGBT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY.
AFTER WITNESSING THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF THE AIDES EPIDEMIC ON COMMUNITIES, SHE FOUNDED FROM THE --
[00:50:04]
PREVENTION EDUCATION AND LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES TO THOSE IN NEED, SO THAT'S IN ENGLISH... IT WOULD BE LATIN AMERICAN FOUNDATION AGAINST AIDS. IN 2013, THE ORGANIZATION BECAME...FLAS, LATIN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL ACTION.
PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. AS FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE A LITTLE BIT OWE AND LGBTQ COMMUNITIES THROUGH INCLUSIVE SERVICES THAT REDUCE STIG IN A, PROMOTE PREVENTION AND HELP INDIVIDUALS ACCESS THE CARE, SUPPORT AND INFORMATION NEEDED TO LIVE HEALTHY AND EMPOWERED LIVES. SHE ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP AND AS FORMER CHAIR OF THE CITY'S LATINO HIV TASK FORCE.
HER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE HAVE EARNED RECOGNITION, INCLUDING HEROES...
HISPANIC HEROES IN 2009. A HISPANIC HERO AWARD FROM LATE CONGRESSMAN TURNER. ENDURING LEADERSHIP AS A LATIN A TRANSGENDER WOMAN, HEALTH ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY CHAMPION WHOSE WORK THROUGH FLAS HAS STRENGTHENED THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE OF LGBTQ RESIDENTS.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED WE RECOGNIZE THEIR WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY. I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL THE RESOLUTIONS.
YES. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE PICTURES. CAN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.