Feb 25, 2020 Commissioners Court

[Call to Order]

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FEBRUARY 25TH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS NOW IN SESSION.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

TODAY WE HAVE REVEREND -- REVEREND MELVIN MITCHELL AT GREATER MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH. THIS IS THE CHURCH THAT HAS BEEN PART AND PARCEL OF THE COUNTY AND IN PRECINCT FOR QUITE AWHILE. REVEREND MITCHELL IS UNIQUE HIMSELF. HE IS VERY MUCH LIKE NEWTON. A LOT OF FOLKS REMEMBER NEWTON AS BEING A GOOD SCIENTIST, BUT HE WROTE AS MANY BOOKS IN THEOLOGY AS HE DID ON PHYSICS. REVEREND MITCHELL HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, BUT THE MASTER'S DEGREE IS IN THEOLOGY.

HE SERVES AS BIBLICAL EDUCATION LEADER UNDER VINCENT LEWIS AT MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH AND WAS A TRUSTY OF THE CONGREGATION. HE WAS AN ORDAINED MINISTER WITH DR. LAWSON AT WHEELER BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE 1990S.

THAT'S A COUPLE YEARS AGO. YOU HAVE A LITTLE EXPERIENCE. AND HE SPENT 15 YEARS IN THE SMALL GAS INDUSTRY AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND HE HAS WORKED HARD SERVING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS WORK IN GREATER MACEDONIA. REVEREND MITCHELL, WOULD YOU

PLEASE LEAD US. >> GOOD MORNING. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS.

FATHER IN HEAVEN WE COME THIS MORNING TO SAY FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY THAT HAS FALLEN FRESH ON US.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE THIS MORNING, ALL OF THE PRECINCT MEMBERS AND EVERYONE THAT IS IN POSITION TO BE YOUR SERVANT.

AND WE PRAY, FATHER, FOR UNITY THAT YOU WILL UNIFY THIS GROUP.

UNIFY THIS GROUP IN PURPOSE. UNIFY THIS GROUP IN FOCUS. UNIFY THIS GROUP WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE HERE TO SERVE AND SERVE THE PEOPLE AND TO BRING ABOUT THE BEST RESULTS AND THE BEST SOLUTIONS AND THE BEST IDEAS. WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE AND YOU WOULD DIRECT EACH ONE OF THEM AS THEY GO OUT DOING THE WORK YOU HAVE CALLED THEM TO DO. AND FATHER IN HEAVEN WE PRAY THAT THEIR FOCUS WILL BE ON IMPROVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE.

WE PRAY, FATHER THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE GUIDANCE AND THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WHATEVER THEY DO THAT YOU MAY GET THE GLORY IN WHAT THEY DO.

WE PRAY, FATHER,ING THAT THIS SETTING WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL SETTING.

THAT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING WILL END IN SUCCESS. THAT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING WILL END IN GIVING YOU GLORY AND GIVING YOU HONOR. FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ASK THIS

IN YOUR NAME -- IN YOUR SON'S NAME, AMEN. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WE WILL START WITH SOME RESOLUTIONS.

[Item I (Part 1 of 4)]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. MY NAME IS JUAN ALARCON.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIFL -- PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

OVER THE YEARS EVERYBODY ON THIS PANEL AND THE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU, JUDGES AS WELL AS COMMISSIONERS, HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CONVEYED TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS SIMPLY THAT.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. JUAN? >> YES.

>> YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU. YOU -- WE COME FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST TO HAVE SEEN YOU GROW AND DO ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND GIVEN YOUR

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND OURS AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COUNTY

ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? >> WELL, CERTAINLY JUAN EXEMPLIFIES THE PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE WHO TRY TO HAVE ONE IN OUR STANDING EXAMPLE AND THANK

YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS -- WE HAVE TWO

UNDER COMMISSIONER ELLIS' AGENDA. >> I THINK THE FIRST ONE CHAMBERS WASHINGTON WHO HAS HIS FAMILY HERE. HE WAS IN PRECINCT ONE AND FOR DEDICATION FOR 32 YEARS AND HE HAS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AND GREEN SPACE. CHAMBERS WASHINGTON BEGAN HIS CAREER IN HARRIS COUNTY IN PRE SINK 1 IN 1988 AS AN ASSISTANT CARETAKER IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

HE HAS WORKED HIS WAY TO THE TOP EARNING PROMOTIONS AS CARETAKER AND ASSISTANT PARK MANAGER AND THE HIKE AND BIKE MANAGER OF PARKS, AREA MANAGER AND REGIONAL MANAGER.

AND FINALLY PARK SUPERINTENDENT. HE IS A PROUD SERVICES WILL PUT THE PARK THERE FOR CHILDREN AND THE REFOR RES STATION OF PRE SINK 1 PARKS.

BE IT RESOLVES WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION IN THE HONOR OF THE GREAT CHAMBERS WASHINGTON.

HE WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF -- WHERE IS YOUR WIFE? CHAMBERS,ING WE ARE SO PROUD OF -- CHAMBERS, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. YOU WILL ENJOY THAT TRAVEL.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> OF COURSE AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS INDICATED, I AM CHAMBERS WASHINGTON. JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS ELLIS, GARCIA, RADACK AND GARCIA, I THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE SOMETHING DOWN, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN THIS INTO ANOTHER LECTURE. I AM ACCUSTOMED TO LECTURE. WHEN I CAME TO HARRIS COUNTY IN FEBRUARY OF 1988. -- 1988 AT 147 POUNDS, AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTY HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

I THANK THE COMMISSIONER FOR NOT ONLY HIRING ME, BUT TRUSTING ME IN THE POSITION, BUT THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WHEN HE CAME TO OFFICE HE SAW ME ENOUGH TO KEEP ME IN THE POSITION. THANK YOU AND I WISH THE VERY BEST OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 1 AND ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND. [APPLAUSE].

>> THE SECOND ONE IS SOMETHING COSE TO YOUR HEART. THIS IS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS RESOLUTION. IT SAYS WHERE NEARLY THREE OUT OF FOUR ADULTS IN HAIR RS COUNTY ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE AND PUTTING THEM AT RISK OF DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE -- I WON'T READ IT ALL. IN THE EIGHTH YEAR THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN TAKEN UP BY MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE IN ALL 50 STATES.

THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION IS CHALLENGING AND ENCOURAGING EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE THE VEGOUT CHALLENGE IN MARCH OF 2020. IN MARCH IT IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH. IT WAS CREATED BY THE CAVITY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS AND INVITES EVERYBODY TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING INFORMED FOOD CHOICES AND DEVELOPING SOUND EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HABITS. AND THEN IT SAYS BE RESOLVED

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>> QUITE TASTY. >> I SHOULD POINT OUT HER OPERATION IS PRIMARILY IN PRE SINK 1 -- PRECINCT 1, BUT SHE WORKS FOR ALL OF US. THEY ARE ON THE SIMMS BAYOU NEAR OLD WOODSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. SHE DOES A GREAT JOB.

SHE DOES A LOT OF HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS AFTER WE EAT THIS HEALTHY STUFF.

ON A REGULAR BASIS WE CAN HIT THE TRAILS. THE RULE IS 80/20.

80 PERCENT IS WHAT WE EAT. 20 PERCENT IS RIDING A BICYCLE ACROSS TEXAS.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS?

>> THESE CARROTS ARE FROM HOPE FARMS AND I INSTRAIGHT YOU ALL -- I INVITE YOU ALL OUT TO SEE. AND IT IS AT THE CORNER OF AIRPORT AND SCOTT.

>> SO THEY WERE PLANTED IN DECEMBER. YOU GOT THROUGH THE WINTER

MONTHS WITH THOSE. >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEY ARE EXCEPTIONALLY TASTY. I WILL JUST SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSION ELLIS, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT, CAGLE, GARCIA, RADACK. WE ARE HONORED BY YOUR RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY AND FRANKLY THE COUNTRY.

WITH PROGRAMS THAT TEACH AND EMPOWER AND INSPIRE HEALTHY EATING INCLUDING THIS YEAR'S VEGOUT CHALLENGE. WE IN TURN COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH IN HARRIS COUNTY AND PARTICULARLY ESTABLISHING THE FINANCING INITIATIVE THAT YOU JUST APPROVED. TO -- APPROVED TO INCREASE SUPPORT IN URBAN AGRICULTURE IN UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. THIS HAPPENS TO BE ALT BIT OR WE CAN SAY A LOT OF WHAT WE DO. I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THE CHALLENGE WITH US THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY EATING. AND SO WE DECIDED TO TURN ONE OF THE TACTICS WE USED WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM BY MAKING HEALTHY FOOD DELICIOUSLY FUN. WE TURNED IT INTO A GAME. THE VEGOUT CHALLENGE YOU HAVE THE MONTH OF MARCH TO EAT 30 DIFFERENT VEGETABLES. YOU CAN BE LEADERS.

YOU CAN DO THAT. HELP US BE CHANGE AGENTS. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE HARRIS COUNTY A HEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MY MOM IS CELEBRATING 95. SHE USED TO FIGHT WITH ME TO EAT MY GREEN PEAS -- MY PEAS IN PARTICULAR. LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.

>> YOU HAVEN'T TASTED OURS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF I DO PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH

CHALLENGE, YOU WOULD MAKE MY MOM VERY, VERY HAPPY. >> LET'S MAKE HER HAPPY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I PLAN ON DOING THAT. THANK YOU.

>> SO THE CHALLENGED -- CHALLENGE IS 30 VEGETABLE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO VEGAN?

>> WE DON'T HAVE TO GO VEGAN AND I WON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT BEING FRIED.

WE HAD A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT A PERSON WHO FINISHED THE CHALLENGE FIRST -- I MEAN YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO DO. IT BUT YOU CAN DO IT IN A DAY IF YOU WANT TO.

THE PERSON WHO FINISHED FIRST WAS ACTUALLY AT THE RODEO. JUST SAYING.

WE ARE NOT ASKING HOW YOU DO. IT BUT YOU DO IT. THE SURGEON GENERAL SAYS THE FASTEST PATH TO HEALTH -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO STOP EATING THINGS.

JUST START FILLING HALF YOUR PLATE WITH VEG. EASY PARKINSON'S DISEASE

>> EASY PEAZY. >> SEND US A LIST OF THE 30 DIFFERENT ONES.

>> WE WILL. WE DROPPED A PACKAGE IN EVERYBODY'S OFFICE WITH A LOT OF LITTLE TIPS. WE HAVE A WEBSITE. WE HAVE A MOBILE APP.

THERE ARE RECIPES. THERE ARE LISTS. IT IS SO EASY.

LET US DO IT, RIGHT? >> THANK YOU. >> YOU RAISED A LOT OF MONEY

IN THE HEART OF SUNNY SIDE AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

RESOLUTIONS? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: LET ME DO THIS ONE, IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE

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AND IT READS AS SUCH, WHEREAS THE FIRST AMERICAN HEART MONTH TOOK PLACE IN FEBRUARY OF 19P 64 AFTER IT -- 1964 AFTER IT WAS PROCLAIMED BY PRESIDENT LYNDON B JOHNSON, THE PROCLAMATION ON DECEMBER 30TH, 1963 AND WHEREAS ON ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR KNOWN AS NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY, THE NATION COMES TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. THE ERADICATION OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE.

WHEREAS THE HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION , THROUGH ITS EVENTS SUCH AS THE HEART WALK SEEKS TO ADVANCING EFFORTS TO CHANGE HEALTH OUTCOMES AS THEY RELATE TO HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. AND WHEREAS THE 2020 WEAR RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON ON MAY 15TH, 2020 FOCUSES ON PREVENTS -- FOCUSES ON PREVENTING HEART DISEASE AND STROKE ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND RAISING AWARENESS AND CRITICALLY NEEDED FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES. AND WHEREAS FOR OVER 10 YEARS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION -- THERE YOU GO -- ADDRESSING FOOD ACCESS CONCERNS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND SUPPORTING HEALTH AND NUTRITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD SHIP THROUGH THE TEACHING GARDENS NETWORK PROGRAM. IS IT -- AND WHERE TEACHING GARDENS SUPPORTS SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND MAKING HEALTHY FOODS FUN AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO GROW AND UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF HEALTHY FOODS EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT PLANS ON EATING HEALTHIER, LIVING LONGER AND DOING OUR PART TO ERADICATE HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL DO. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONER'S COURT, FOR RECOGNIZING AMERICAN HEART MONTH.

MY NAME IS HEIDI MCPHERSON AND I AM A SENIOR DIRECTOR WITH THE HEART ASSOCIATION IN HOUSTON. OUR MISSION IS TO BE A RELENTLESS FORCE FOR THE WORLD OF LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES. OUR NEWLY RELEASED GOALS IS TO RELEASE HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY AROUND THE WORLD. CURRENT AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE APPLYING THE SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE OF ALL OF THE RESEARCH WE FUND TO ACTUAL STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING CLINICAL AND HOSPITAL QUALITY OF CARE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. ONE EXCITING EXAMPLE OF THIS IS HOW THE COLLABORATION OF OUR PEERS IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AS WELL AS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES WE HAVE LAUNCHED A STATEWIDE MOVEMENT FOR HYPER TENSION CONTROL OUT OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT IS REALLY GROWING.

ANOTHER STRATEGY IS THE WORK WE MENTIONED WE ARE DOING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH IS NOW FOCUSED ON HEALTH PROMOTION AND MORE RECENTLY IS BUILDING AWARENESS ON THE E-CIGARETTES AND THE VAPING EPIDEMIC AND HOW DO WE COME -- COMBAT THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND THE COMMUNITIES. EXAMPLES INCLUDE FOSTERING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LAUNCHING A FARMER'S MARKET TO THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IN LEADING THE COALITION ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

THAT IS REALLY LOOKING TO BUILD AN ECOSYSTEM WHERE WE ARE COORDINATING CLINICAL CARE WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES IN WAYS THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH OUTCOMES.

OUR TEAM REALLY LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ALIGN OUR WORK WITH THE STRATEGIES OF HARRIS CARES AND HARRIS COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING FOOD ACCESS AND HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS AND PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY.

WE REMIND EVERYONE THAT EVERY LITTLE DECISION FOR HEALTH COUNTS.

WHETHER IT IS A COMMUNITY, FAMILY OR YOUR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.

SO LET'S VEGOUT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> I HOPE YOU WILL BE A PART OF THE HEALTH SUMMIT I AM HOSTING ON THE 28TH OF THIS MONTH. YOU KNOW, PRECINCT 2 HAS A FOOD PHARMACY.

AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE CHALLENGES BECAUSE BE -- WE ARE NOT IN THE METRO SERVICE AREA SO IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND, BUT I AM PROUD OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO THE FOOD PHARMACY THAT IS LOADED WITH ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF THAT EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGING US TO EAT.

I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME OTHER FOLKS HERE DRESSED IN RED. LET'S GET THOSE GUYS TO STAND

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AND WAIVE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> OUR WORK AND OUR VOLUNTEERS IS WHAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ON THIS NEXT RESOLUTION, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MALCOLM IF YOU WILL PLEASE JOIN US AT THE PODIUM.

MALCOLM AND HIS FAMILY REPRESENT AN INCREDIBLE PART OF WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT. ON JANUARY 25TH, 1949 PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN SIGNED A BILL ESTABLISHING NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY. ON FEBRUARY 1ST OF EACH YEAR CALLING UPON THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PAUSE ON THAT DAY IN SOLEMN CON TESTIMONY -- CONTEMPLATION OF THE LORD'S BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM WHICH WE HUMBLY AND THANKFULLY ENJOY. AND WHEREAS THE EFFORT TO CREATE NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY WAS LEAD BY MAJOR RICHARD R WRIGHT. A FORMER ENSLAVED PERSON WHO IN 1942 BEGAN HIS WORK ON THIS BELIEVING THERE SHOULD BE A DAY WHEN FRAY DOM, GOODWILL AND EQUALITY FOR ALL-AMERICANS IS CELEBRATED. AND WHEREAS ENSLAVED AS A BOY, MAJOR WRIGHT LATER BECOME AN AUTHOR, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND FIRST PRESIDENT OF SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY. AND WHEREAS ONE YEAR AFTER WRIGHT'S DEATH, BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS PASSED THE BILL TO MAKE FEBRUARY 1ST NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AND SIGNED INTO LAW JUNE 30TH, 1948. AND WHEREAS PRESIDENT LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN 1863 AND LATER THE 13TH AMENDMENT THAT WAS APPROVED ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 1865, FORMALLY ABOLISHING SLAVERY. AND WHEREAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY LEAD TO THE CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY DAY AND EVENTUALLY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR THE PRESIDENT MADE ISSUE A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 1ST AS NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AND WHEREAS IT IS A TRADITION TO MARK THIS DAY WITH LAYING A WREATH AT THE LIBERTY BELL IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA SYMBOLIZING FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS. AND SO LET IT BE KNOWN THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THIS DAY MEANS.

MALCOLM, I HAVE ASKED YOU TO BE HERE BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FREEDOM HISTORY IN HARRIS COUNTY. WITH YOUR FAMILY ESTABLISHING A BARIC AND THRIVING OUT THERE AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A FAMILY AND IT IS PROUD THAT THEY ARE A PART OF PRECINCT 2. MALCOLM, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUDGE, COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED AND PROUD THAT THIS IS BEING DONE. IT IS APPRECIATIVE HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

I AM PROUD TO BE ON THE HEELS OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PASSED AND HAS BEEN DONE TO BE A PART OF HISTORY AS MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER HARRISON BARRETT SETTLED IN BARRETT STATION AND PURCHASED THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY THAT WAS PURCHASED.

OUT OF HIS CHILDREN HE HAD ED -- HE HAD EDDIE BARRETT WHICH WAS MY GRANDFATHER.

HE HAD 13 CHILDREN. MY DAD WAS ONE OF THOSE. OUT OF THE 13 THERE ARE TWO STILL LIVING. TWO OPTS -- TWO AUNTS. ELIZABETH AND JUDY.

WE HONOR THEM AS WELL. IT IS MY EXTREME PRIVILEGE TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF BARRETT STATION AND THE HARRISON BARRETT FAMILY. WE APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING OUT AND TAKING THE TIME TO DO SUCH A THING AMIDST ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO.

WE ARE GRATEFUL AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING

BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CA DISB L -- CAGLE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: GOOD MORNING, YORL HONOR. IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH WE HAVE A LOT OF CEMETERIES WE ARE WORKING WITH IN PRECINCT 4 TO HELP ASSIST AND TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND THE LEGACY THEY HAVE. TODAY WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO

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ARE THEY JUST GONNA LET YOU STAND UP HERE BY YOURSELF? >> THEY ARE GONNA MAKE ME

STAND UP HERE BY MYSELF. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN HERE FOR A LITTLE MORAL SUPPORT? YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS -- OR THIS

ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TOGETHER 13 YEARS IN OCTOBER. >> YES.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: AND THEY HAVE THREE SECTIONS. ONE OF WHICH WE ARE WORKING TO TRY TO HELP THEM, WILLIS WOODS, TO GET THAT TO WHERE WE CAN HAVE ACCESS AND USAGE OF THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THAT ON OUR RADAR.

THIS NEXT MONTH, JUDGE, WE HAVE A LEGACY TREE PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE PLANTING SOME HISTORICAL TREES TO GO WITH OUR HISTORICAL CEMETERY AND WE WILL INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT EVENT. SO WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TODAY WHICH I WILL NOW WITH YOUR PERMISSION, JUDGE, READ. WHEREAS THE KOHRVILLE COMMUNITY AMOS SEEM TER ASSOCIATION REMAINS DEDICATED AT REMEMBERING THE LEGACY FOUNDERS THOMAS AMOS AND ORIGINALLY IT WAS WITH A K, BUT HE LATER CHANGED IT TO A C.

IN 188-1130-ACRES IN KOHRVILLE THAT WAS A SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PROMINENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. HISTORICAL CEMETERIES PRESERVE THE RICH TRADITIONS AND THE -- AND INSPIRES STORIES OF THOSE WHO MADE TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF FELLOW MAN AND DESCENDANTS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. NOTABLE BURIALS IN THIS CEMETERY INCLUDE WORLD WAR I VETERANS, PASTORS, KOHRVILLE TEACHERS AND MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. SINCE ITS FOUNDATION IN 2007, ALMOST 13 YEARS AGO, THE KOHRVILLE CEMETERY AMOS CEMETERY ASSOCIATION WANT TO PUT THEIR RESOURCES IN A MEASURABLE WAY TO PRESERVE HISTORY AND CULTURE. WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE KOHRVILLE COMMUNITY AMOS CEMETERY ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THEREFORE WE RESOLVE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE KOHRVILLE COMMUNITY AMOS CEMETERY SEW -- ASSOCIATION, NORTH, EAST AND WEST WOODS FOR CELEBRATING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU WILL GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO

EVERYBODY AND TELL US WHO YOU HAVE WITH YOU HERE TODAY. >> I AM JOANNE GREEN.

I AM WITH -- I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE KOHRVILLE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE KATHERINE, OUR PRESIDENT AND BETTY AND VICE PRESIDENT AND GENE.

[INAUDIBLE]. AND BARBARA BACK HERE. >> SHE HAS BEEN WITH US EVERY

TRIP. >> THAT'S WHY HE CALLED YOU UP HERE SO Y'ALL CAN HELP ME.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: IS MISS IRENE OUR 86-YEAR-OLD? >> YES.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> AND I AM THE HISTORIAN.

WILLIS WOODS, THAT'S MY GRANDFATHER BACK FOUR GENERATIONS.

THEY PURCHASED THAT LAND THERE IN LAKEWOOD WHEN IT WASN'T A LAKEWOOD.

IT JUST KEPT FLOODING AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY MOVED. THEY MOVED THERE AND PURCHASED LAND WE ARE JUST REALLY HONORED THAT YOU ALL ARE HONORING US.

IT IS FITTING. BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHICH IS AWESOME.

WE THANK YOU GUYS. I NEED TO PUT IN THIS LITTLE PLUG.

WE WILL HAVE A KOHRVILLE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL ON MAY 16TH, AND IT IS GOING TO BE A THE WINWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN KOHRVILLE. WE HAVE A WEBSITE, KOHRVILLE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE EXCITING THINGS WE ARE DOING.

WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU OUT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE FINAL CELEBRATORY RESOLUTION IS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A NONAGENDA SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER.

IT IS MARLENE LOBRECHT IS HERE TO PRESENT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WEBSITE AWARD TO DR.

TROUTMAN. >> GOOD MORNING. STS -- IT IS AN HONOR TO AT

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IT IS TIME TO GIVE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND OUR COUNTY JUDGE AND OUR COUNTY CLERK SOME RECOGNITION FOR A JOB WELL DONE. I AM HERE WITH -- MY NAME IS MARLENE LAWBRECHT AND WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. I AM WITH ANITA WOOLEY.

AND MARY JANE MUDD WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON LEAGUE.

AND WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TEXAS.

AS YOU ARE AWARE PART OF THE NONPARTISAN MISSION IS TO REGISTER VOTERS AND EMPOWER INFORMED VOTERS TO VOTE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE AND -- IN COMMUNITY ELECTIONS.

LAST EARLY NOVEMBER THE FOURTH REVIEW OF THE COUNTY WEBSITE TOOK PLACE.

ALL 254 COUNTIES AND THEY WERE CONDUCTED BY THE REVIEWERS AND THEY WERE TO FIND ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE AND USEFUL INFORMATION. THEY NOTED THE WEBSITE WAS ALSO SECURE, SAFE AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW TEXAS LAW.

THE ELECTION LAW HB933 AND HB1241 THAT WENT INTO AFFECT IN SEPTEMBER.

THE REVIEWERS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 20 WEBSITES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO RATE OUTSTANDING AND BE SECURE. Y.

TODAY WE ARE HERE TO CONGRATULATE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING ELECTION WEBSITE RATING AND TO PRESENT DIANE TROUTMAN, DR. TROUTMAN, AS COUNTY CLERK A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR ALL THEY DO. MY GOSH. SO STRONG FOR VOTERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY I.T. DEPARTMENT AND ESPECIALLY ONE PERSON WHO IS OUR I.T. AND WEBSITE WIZARD. HE IS THE MAN WHO MAKES IT HAPPEN.

[APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND DR. TROUTMAN AND THE TEAM WHO ALL MADE THIS HAPPEN AND

WORKING HARD ON THE ELECTION. THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE ARE THREE FOLKS TODAY BEING NAMED TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION, AND I BELIEVE THEY MAY BE HERE. IT IS FITTING TO CALL THEM OUT OF ORDER.

THERE IS ON PAGE 32 UNDER MY AGENDA SEEKING APPROVAL OF TONYA DUBOSE.

AND ON PAGE 32 COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1 IS SEEKING APPROVAL OF CARL DAVIS TO THE COMMISSION, AND ON THE SAME PAGE COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS SEEKING APPROVAL OF DEBORAH

SLOAN TO THE COMMISSION. >> SO MOVED. >> AND JUDGE THAT -- WE HAD A

TYPO. IT IS BLACKLOCK SLOAN. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE WILL CORRECT THAT ON SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 10. THERE IS A MOTION FOR THE THREE APPOINTMENTS AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WHO MADE THE SECOND? COMMISSIONER RUIZ. THANK YOU GUYS.

[APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: ARE ANY OF THE NEW APPOINTED --

APPOINTEES HERE? I DIDN'T THINK SO. >> WE WERE INFORMED THAT DEBORAH BLACKLOCK SLOPE WAS COMING, BUT WE -- SLOAN WAS COMING, BUT WE DIDN'T TELL HER WE TOOK IT OUT OF ORDER. SHE MAY BE AT THE TAIL END OF THE AGENDA.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IF SHE GETS HERE SHE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

GIVEN THE COMMENTS AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PRESERVING AND

[00:35:01]

STEPPING UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA.

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUT OF ORDER -- OH. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, GUYS. LET'S TAKE PICTURES WITH THE HONOREES.

[00:47:13]

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. SO NOW I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUT OF ORDER EYE -- EYE ITEM 6

[00:47:21]

SESSION. IT IS 10:49. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE FROM THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE WEST COAST THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS AGENDA ITEM.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL. I WANT TO STAY -- SAY VERY CLEARLY THAT I AM MAKING A MOTION TO AFFIRM COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONFIDENCE IN THE BUDGET DIRECTOR WILLIAM J.JACKSON. THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE HERE. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WELL RUN.

IN MY 35 YEARS WORKING IN THE COUNTY WE HAD TWO BUDGET DIRECTORS.

HE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY EYES WATCHING US RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR, MAJOR AGENDA ITEM TO EVEN TALK ABOUT REPLACING HIM.

I AM MAKING THAT MOTION RIGHT NOW. >> SECOND.

>> GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:50 AND WE ARE OFF TO EXECUTIVE

SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS. >> I AM GOING TO RESPECTFULLY DECLINE TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS MATTER. I KNOW WE CAN GO TO EXECUTIVE TIME AT ANYTIME. WITH THE SHORT NOTICE THAT WAS PUT ON THIS, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO NOTICE OF ANY PROBLEM OR ISSUE, AND UNLESS I HEAR OF SOMETHING WITH A LITTLE MORE TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT I WILL DECLINE. THANK YOU FOR THE IN --

INVITATION, I WILL DECLINE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE TAKE PERSONNEL MATTERS BACK OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE PERSON WHOSE CAREER IS BEING DISCUSSED. LAWYERS WILL CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, BUT WE ALSO GET TO ASK THE SUBJECT OF THE ITEM WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS IN PUBLIC. I AM EASY, COMMISSIONERS. IT IS JUST OUT OF RESPECT AS WE HAVE DONE WHEN THESE ITEMS HAVE COME UP WHETHER IT IS VETERANS OR POLLUTION CONTROL, LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY SERVICES. WE DISCUSS THIS IN EXECUTIVE SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S PERFORMANCE OR FUTURE ENDING WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, I AM NOT GONNA SAY LET'S HAVE THIS

DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, AND THEN -- ANYWAY. >> JUDGE, I AM ONLY OBJECTING

[00:50:02]

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS SAID THAT ANYTIME WE DO MAKE A PERSONNEL DISCUSSION, EVEN IF IT IS NOT POSTED AS EXECUTIVE SESSION, THAT WE NOT DO SO. I JUST THINK THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THINGS, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THEM IN THE CLOSED HOISTER, THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WE ARE DOING THAT. IT WAS PUT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEM, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MINOR THINGS BEING PUT ON SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, BUT THIS IS A MAJOR FACTOR THAT COULD HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF IMPACT IN A WHOLE LOT OF WAYS WITH A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. JUDGE, CALL IT A PROTEST, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A -- IN A EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO ME OR TO MY STAFF OF HOW THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH REGARD TO ANY OF OUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. WE HAVE THIS MARVELOUS TRIPLE-A RATING BECAUSE OF OUR OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY. SOMETIMES I DON'T LIKE IT, JUDGE BECAUSE WHEN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET OFFICER LAY ITSELF OUT ON THE TABLE WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS AND A LOT OF THE DECISIONS WERE 3-2, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THE CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE AND FACE UP. I FEEL THAT WITH -- I'M CONCERNED.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE. I THINK THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING WE NEED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AT LEAST SOME CHANCE TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS MOVE INTO A DIRECTION WHERE WE MAKE DECISIONS WITH THE CARDS FACING DOWN INSTEAD OF THE CARDS FACING UP.

THAT'S MY CONCERN. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS EASY TO HAVE IT IN PUBLIC THEN? I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT THIS TO BE FRAMED AS A SECRET OR ANYTHING.

IT IS JUST OUT OF RESPECT AS WE ALWAYS DO IT. IT IS UP TO YOU GUYS.

>> LOOK, I THINK IT IS RESPECTFUL. WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THESE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I JUST THINK THAT IT IS THE WAY WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO DO IT. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND I THINK WE

SHOULD JUST CONTINUE THE SAME WAY. >> I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE

TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK.

>> OH, I AM NOT GOING. THE MAN HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS. NOT ONE SING -- SINGLE THING IS REFERENCED TO THE BUDGET.

MATTER OF FACT, I THINK PEOPLE APPLAUDED THE BUDGET HE PRESENTED.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE PASSED THE BUDGET HE WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN AND I THINK IT WAS PASSED BY A VOTE, I BELIEVE. AND SO I AM NOT ABOUT TO GO BACK THERE.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, PEOPLE FROM THE EAST COAST TO THE WEST COAST ARE WATCHING THIS BODY RIGHT NOW. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST RUN GOVERNMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SO Y'ALL GO TO IT AND GO BICKER OVER A MAN WHO HAS DONE

AN OUTSTANDING JOB. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK HE DESERVE THAT'S WE NOT CRITICIZE HIM IN PUBLIC LIKE THAT UNLESS THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS WANT.

IF YOU WANT ME TO OR ANY OF US TO WE CAN WHEN WE COME BACK. BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR WHAT BILL JACKSON HAS DONE FOR THE COUNTY TO YOUR POINT, YOU CAN STAY OUT HERE.

WE HAVE OFFERED THAT TO EVERY EMPLOYEE WHOSE NAME HAS COME UP ON THE AGENDA.

SO IF THERE IS A VOTE I VOTE FOR THAT. IT IS 10:55.

[Item IV (Part 1 of 2)]

LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE BACK

[Item I (Part 2 of 4)]

FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FORGIVING ME A -- FOR GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES HERE QUICKLY.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS RELATING TERMINATING BILL JACKSON.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON 3 AREAS OF CONCERN RELATED TO THIS ACTION.

ONE, IT WAS ELUDED TO EARLIER IN THE BY MARKETS. WE ENJOYED A TRIPLE-A BOND

[00:55:02]

WE ARE AWARE OF IT. OBVIOUSLY IF WE WATCH THE STOCK MARKET TODAY, IT GIVES US A LOT OF ANST -- ANGST. THAT'S A LOT OF CONCERN.

THIS RATING WAS EARNED AND CAN BE LOST. FOR DECADES HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO MANAGE PROPERLY THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS.

I THINK BILL JACKSON HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN MAKING SURE WE CAN EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THESE PRECIOUS RESOURCES. WE HAD THE $2.5 BILLION BOND ISSUE HERE IN 2018.

WE WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE BY MARKET. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESENT AS STRONG A POSITION AS WE CAN. I THINK WITH BILL WE DO THAT. I THINK THE SECOND THING I WOULD REFER TO IS THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. IT IS DISTURBING.

IF YOU SEE LAST-MINUTE AGENDA ITEMS PLACED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, I THINK RESIDENTS LOOK AT THAT WITH CONCERN. THEY LOOK AT IT AS BEING MORE POLITICAL THAN PERFORMANCE.

I THINK WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I THINK THE THIRD THING IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND THEY CAN BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA TO BE TERMINATED. THAT'S NOW HOW WE OPERATE.

I RAN A BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS AND YOU DON'T WANT TO OPERATE THE BUSINESS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO OPERATE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY BASED ON FEAR.

THAT WOULD BE MY THIRD CONCERN. I THINK FIRING A MAN FOR DOING

GOOD JOB FOR NO GOOD REASON IS NOT APPROPRIATE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE WAS A MOTION ON THE TABLE -- COMMISSIONER RADACK, WOULD YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION?

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION A DIFFERENT MOTION.

LET ME SAY BEFORE WE DISCUSS BOTH OF THESE. FOR MY PART AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE MAYOR'S POINT WE HAVE A STRONG BOND RATING AND WHEN IT COMES TO ASSERTING CONFIDENCE IN THE BUDGET DIRECTOR I AM COMFORTABLE IN ASSERTING CONFIDENCE IN HIM WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOND RATING. I THINK THAT'S UNDENIABLE. I WILL BE HAPPY TO VOTE FOR THE MOTION IN THOSE TERMS. I THINK THE BOND RATING IS CRUCIAL.

I RECOGNIZE THAT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD I ALLOW FOR THERE TO BE A BUDGET DIRECTOR THAT WOULD NOT PROTECT THAT BOND RAILT -- BOND RATING AND NOR ENSURE THE FISCAL HEALTH OF OUR COUNTY. THAT'S IMPORTANT. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

NOW, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER BY OUR COUNTY. I SAID IT IN PUBLIC MANY TIMES.

WE HAVE BEEN -- FOR EXAMPLE IN THE PAST BUDGET HEARINGS WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING OF A MORE TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR THE NEW REQUESTS WHICH IS ABOUT 10%.

THE EXISTING FUNDS THE COUNTY HAS REALLOCATED -- THEY ARE JUST REALLOCATED BASED ON WHAT THEY RECEIVED LAST YEAR WERE NOT EXAM NATEED. WE ARE ALLOTTING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY BASED SIMPLY ON WHAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR AND NOT A THOROUGH LOOK OF IF THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO OR BEST FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS LIKE THAT AS WE MOVE TOWARD PERFORMANCE-BASED BUDGETING. INSTEAD OF BEING A HUGE, UPHILL CLIMB, IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE TOWARD EFFICIENTLY.

I DO BELIEVE ALLOT PATLY THE BOND RATINGS -- BELIEVE ULTIMATELY THAT THE BOND RATINGS ARE DRIVING THIS CAR. SO TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD WOULD HELP ULTIMATELY THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE A TRUE UNDER THE LOOK AND WITH TRANSPARENCY IT IS OUR RESIDENTS. FOR IT TO BE JUST A BATTLE TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD MORE TRANSPARENT BUDGETING AND PERFORMANCE-BASED BUDGETING, THAT DOESN'T DO RIGHT BY OUR CITIZENS. AND SO I WILL BE VOTING ON RESTATING THE CONFIDENCE IN BILL'S -- FOR MY PART COMING FROM THE BOND RATING ANGLE, AND I WILL ALSO BE

[01:00:06]

>> I WILL MOVE ON THAT MOTION. NOT SURE WHETHER WE HAVE TO

DEAL WITH PERSONAL ISSUES. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S DEAL WITH THE FIRST MOTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF COMMISSIONER RADACC'S MOTION I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSE? ED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> SO MOVE ON THE MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION IS TO HAVE A COMMITTEE FOR THE SEARCH FOR A NEW BUDGET DIRECTOR AND FOR OUR CURRENT BUDGET DIRECTOR TO STAY ON WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO DO THIS UNTIL WE FIND A REPLACEMENT.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUDGE, IF I MAY, BILL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT THESE PROCESSES ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES WHEN YOUR WORK WITH HURRICANE HARVEY IN PARTICULAR DIDN'T MAKE IT EASIER. I WISH THERE WAS ALWAYS -- I WISH THERE WAS A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND FRIENDSHIP. I AM COMMITTED TO DOING ALL I CAN SO THAT IN THE EVENT AFTER THIS TRANSITION PERIOD HAS GONE FORWARD IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO TO CONTINUE YOUR SERVICE WITH THE COUNTY, TO WORK WITH YOU AND OTHERS TO SEE IF THERE IS AN APPROPRIATE ROLE KAW MENS RETE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE AND I WOULD GIVE YOU LATITUDE TO SOMETIMES TRAVEL TO OTHER PLACES, BUT TO CONTINUE YOUR

SERVICE WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT FOR THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU.

NEXT THERE IS AN ITEM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IS ASKING US TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER. THEY HAVE TO GET BACK TO RUNNING THE ELECTION.

THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ACTUALLY. COMMISSIONER CAGLE LISTED THEM ON THE AGENDA. THEY ARE ITEMS 7, 8 AND 9 ON PAGE 32.

LET'S TAKE THEM IN ORDER COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. THE FIRST ITEM IS A REQUEST CONCERNING THE SELECTING OF POLLING LOCATIONS AND THE REDUCTION AND -- IN THE NUMBER OF EASTLAKE COMMUNITY CENTER.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AFTER THE KING -- KING CUED COMMUNITY SEN -- KING WOOD COMMUNITY CENTER AND IF YOU CAN HAVE HIM COME TO THE MICROPHONE, THAT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY ALLOTTED 36 EASTLAKE MACHINES AT THIS LOCATION.

WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT IN THE ROOM WITH ADEQUATE FACILITIES, THEY ONLY SET UP 16 MACHINES AND 20 MACHINES WERE SENT BACK.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2016 THEY HAD THOUSANDS OF EARLY VOTERS. SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT KIND OF A TURNOUT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE ON THIS ISSUE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER OCCASIONS TO WHERE A COMMUNITY WAS EXPECTING TO HAVE 36 OR LARGER NUMBER OF FOLKS AND THEN THE UNILATERAL DECISION ON THE GROUND WAS MADE TO DESCEND MACHINES BACK. I THINK, YOUR HONOR, THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I WERE IN AGREEMENT WITH AND THAT IS THE PRECINCTS THAT HAD THEIR NORMAL EXPECTED VOTING PATTED TURN -- PATTERNS SHOULD BE HONORED IN THAT. I THINK MR. WYNN MAY HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP, COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD A COMMENT ON THIS AS

WELL. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I'LL WAIT UNTIL THEY GET HERE.

[01:05:03]

I MAY HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AS WELL. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND JUDGE, I'VE GOT THREE THAT ARE RELATED. DO YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD AND

ROLL ALL THREE OUT, AND THEN THEY CAN RESPOND? >> LINA HIDALGO: SURE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS. WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF WE CALLED THEM BOTH UP? THEY ARE ON TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS.

BE -- WE CAN CALL THEM UP AND THEN DO ALL OF THEM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS GOING, BUT MAYBE THE SPEAKERS CAN SPEAK A LITTLE MORE ON THENS -- THINGS I DON'T HAVE HERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION LET'S LAYOUT WHAT THEY ARE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SURE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE NUMBER 8 IS UP -- SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEM INVOLVES PRECINCT 199. THIS IS ONE IN KING WOOD. AND WITH REGARD TO THAT IF I CAN HAVE -- I LOST HIM. WHERE DID HE GO? MR. WYNN? COME ON DOWN. COME ON DOWN. YOU WANT THE SPEAKERS TO GO

FIRST? >> ALL THREE OF YOUR ITEMS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I HAVE THE CONTRACT HERE ON NUMBER EIGHT. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

YOU WANTED TO LAY IT OUT SO LET'S LAY IT OUT. JACK JAG THE

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THE PROBLEM WE HAVE ON SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER EIGHT IS THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT, AND I HAVE 10 COPIES OF THE CONTRACT AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAND THE COPIES TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF COURT AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA. ITEM 1.1 IS THAT IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A NEW POLLING LOCATION, THAT IT BE IN THE SAME PRECINCT UNLESS THE PARTY AGREES OTHERWISE. JUDGE, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THAT I'VE GOT ALSO A SERIES OF E-MAILS TO WHICH ON FEBRUARY 17TH, LAST WEEK AN E-MAIL WAS SENT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TELLING THEM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RELOCATE THEIR LOCATION.

THEY HILLARY LOCATE THE -- THEY WILL RELOCATE THE LOCATION NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT A LOT. AND SO MUCH SO, JUDGE, THAT IT IS FROM KING WOOD TO WHERE THEIR STATE REP WAS GOING DOWN TO AND THEIR COMMISSIONER WAS PRECINCT 4 AND DOWN TO PRECINCT 1 WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE ANNA HERNANDEZ TO BE THE STATE REP.

THEY WERE GONNA MOVE IT FROM BRANDON CRAYTON, THEIR STATE SENATOR, TO WHERE JOHN WHIT -- WHITMEYER WOULD BE THE STATE SENATOR. SO INSTEAD OF VOTING FOR DAN CRENSHAW THEY WILL BE VOTING FOR SHEILA JACKSON LEE. AND ALL OF THESE ARE FINE FOLKS, BUT IF SOMEONE HAD MOVED SOMEBODY FROM THE MIDDLE OR SOUTH PART OF PRECINCT 1 AND PUSHED THEM UP TO THE TOP OF KING WOOD, I THINK WE WOULD ALL BE SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT THE SAME TO GO BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION JUST BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO BE PEOPLE FROM KINGWOOD.

AND NUMBER TWO, JUDGE, 2 RELOCATE THEM 26 TO 28 MILES DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU DRIVE THERE INTERFERES COMPLETELY WITH THE WAY A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS OPERATING.

A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AT THE END OF THE DAY AND AT THE END OF THE TERM IS REQUIRED IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR PRECINCT CONVENTION TO GO BACK TO THE POLLING LOCATION STEAK -- ESTABLISHED FOR THEM. AND SIMILAR TO A STATE CONVENTION OR A NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IT STARTS AT THE PRECINCT CONVENTION. I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE THERE IS SOME CONFUSION HERE BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOES NOT REQUIRE PRECINCT CONVENTION. THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PROCESS TO ELECT TO THE SENATOR, STATE AND OTHER CONVENTIONS. WHEN YOU MOVE THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UP AT THE TOP OF PRECINCT 4 AND THE TOP OF THE COUNTY AND THEN SAY THEY HAVE TO CROSS BELT WAY EIGHT AND THEY HAVE TO CROSS LOOP 610 AND GO INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SET OF PLACES TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR PRECINCT CONVENTION, YOU ARE EXTREMELY DISENFRANCHISING THEM. THEY CAN'T WALK CLEARLY TO

[01:10:08]

THEY PLACE TO PARTICIPATE. >> IF THEY WANTED TO VOTE IN THEIR PRE SINK THEY WOULD HAVE -- PRECINCT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE. THOSE ARE PRACTICAL REASONS FOR WHY THERE SHOULD BE AN HONORING OF THE CONTRACT. I KNOW I MIGHT BE SOUNDING LIKE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT TALKS ABOUT BACK IN THE DAY, BUT BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS A JUDGE WE HONORED CONTRACTS. AND AS A LAWYER WE WOULD LOOK AT CONTRACTS AND PROVISIONS 1.1, JUDGE, SAYS THAT IF IT IS GONNA BE REPLACED, IT WILL BE REPLACED BY A NEW POLLING LOCATION IN THE SAME PRECINCT UNLESS THE PARTY AGREES. WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS E-MAIL CHAIN WITHIN AN HOUR AND 24 MINUTES OF THE NOTICE THAT WAS A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION THEY SAID NO. THEY SAID WE OBJECT. AND THEN THEY WERE TOLD, WELL, WE ARE GONNA DO IT ANYWAY. AND ON THAT SAME DAY THEY SAID WE OBJECT.

THEY CONTINUED TO OBJECT AT 9:52 THAT DAY. THEY CONTINUED TO OBJECT AT 9:59 THAT DAY. JUDGE, THEY ARE CONTINUING TO OBJECT EVEN NOW, BUT THEY WERE BASICALLY TOLD, EH, THAT CONTRACT DOESN'T MATTER TO US.

AND THAT'S WHAT I NEED AN ANSWER TO IS WHEN ARE WE GONNA HONOR OUR CONTRACTS, AND WHY ARE WE GONNA ALLOW THESE PEOPLE IN KING WOOD TO BE DISADVANTAGED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS. I UNDERSTAND IT CAN BE CONSOLIDATION.

IN THIS LETTER PROCESS THERE WERE A FEW COMPROMISES OFFERED BY THE PARTY SAYING LET'S JUST DO AWAY WITH THIS LOCATION AND DO SOMETHING SOMEWHERE ELSE. APPARENTLY COMPROMISE WAS NOT IN THE BOOKS. IF THESE PEOPLE WANT TO PARTICIPATE THEY HAVE TO GO ACROSS BELT WAY EIGHT AND ACROSS 610 AND GO AND TRAVEL TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRECINCT -- VOTING PRECINCT, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COMMISSIONER'S PRECINCT.

THEY DON'T EVEN GET TO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SEEING THE FUN SIGNS THAT OTHER VOTERS GET TO SEE WHEN THEY GO TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY. I BELIEVE THIS WILL CAUSE EXTREME CONFUSION. WE NEED TO NOT -- NO, WE NEED TO HONOR OUR CONTRACT.

THE THIRD ISSUE, JUDGE, IS ONE THAT DEALS WITH THE ALLEGED PROBLEMS WITH E BOOKS.

AND I HAVE HAD AN E-MAIL THAT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A SINKING PROBLEM THAT WAS THERE ON THE FIRST DAY. THERE WAS A NEWS ARTICLE ON FOX 26.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS HIS ARTICLE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S. THERE WAS ALSO AN ARTICLE ON THIS THAT DEALS WITH THE SINKING PROBLEM AND HOW THE BOOKS DING SYNC UP -- SYNC UP APPROPRIATELY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE BEEN CURED.

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PROBLEMS ALLEGED AND I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME DISCUSSION ON THAT BY SOME OF OUR FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO VISIT WITH US. I HAVE A PRINTOUT THAT SAYS IF YOU TAKE THE FEBRUARY 21ST DOWNLOADED DATA WITH THE DUID NUMBERS AND PUT IT IN AN EXCEL SPREAD SHEET THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DOUBLE VOTING. I HATE TO CALL OUT NAMES HERE, BUT I HAVE AN EXHIBIT AND I WILL HAND IT TO THE DOCTOR OR TO MR. WYNN.

BUT APPARENTLY WE HAD INDIVIDUAL THAT'S VOTED BY MAIL TWICE.

WE HAD SOMEONE THAT VOTED BY MAIL AND THEN VOTED IN PERSON AGAIN, AND THEN A COUPLE OF -- I THINK THERE ARE 160 OF THESE EPISODES TO WHERE SOMEONE HAS DOUBLE VOTED.

ACCORDING TO WHAT'S BEEN DOWNLOADED FROM THE SPREAD SHEET FROM THE CLERK'S WEBSITE. I CAN HAND YOU THE SPREAD SHEET.

IT IS RUN FROM THE ZONE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN FIXED. IT MAY HAVE BEEN CURED.

I'M NOT SURE. USING THE DATA, WE NEED THE CLERK TO TELL US IT'S OKAY.

AND WE AREN'T HAVING PEOPLE DOUBLE VOTING IN THE PROCESS. THAT'S A PRETTY SCARY THING TO LOOK AT WHEN IT COMES UP. I HAVE THE NAMES RIGHT HERE AND I WILL HAND THAT TO THE CLERK. I DON'T WANT TO CALL THESE VOTERS' NAMES OUT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR DATA WE USE IN OUR BOOKS IS CORRECT AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO FIX THAT. I THINK BY GETTING EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE PRELIMINARY

[01:15:01]

JUDGE, OF THE THREE CONCERNS I HAVE TODAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT IS ALL HUGELY IMPORTANT WHICH IS ACCESS TO VOTING AND THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTION. I AM EAGER TO HEAR THEM.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE HAVE A PRETTY WEBSITE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND I THINK -- I PROPOSE -- LET'S HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS AND THEN I AM PROPOSING TO TAKE IT ONE BY ONE BECAUSE EACH OF THESE IS -- YOU KNOW, EACH OF THESE HAS TEXTURE TO. IT I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING.

LET'S START WITH THE -- IT LOOKS LIKE THE SPEAKERS ARE HERE ON THE ITEM ABOUT THE VOTING LOCATIONS. LET'S START WITH THAT AND THAT IS ITEM EIGHT.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY THE LOCATION THAT WAS SELECTED WAS KING WOOD FOSTER ELEMENTARY. THAT LOCATION IN PRECINCT 199 TURNS OUT NOT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR MARCH 3RD. THAT'S WHAT HAS GIVEN WAY TO THIS DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE TO SPEAK -- DONNA, IYLA AND LILY SCHECTER. >> HI.

MY NAME IS DONNA SKINNER AND I AM WITH THE [INAUDIBLE]. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND TESTIFY TODAY. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE -- THANK YOU. THE BREECH OF CONTRACT BY THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN REGARD TO HOME PRECINCT 199. EACH OF THE PARTIES CHOOSES THEIR LOCATIONS FOR ELECTION DAY PER STATUE -- STATUTE OUT. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHOSE THEIR LOCATIONS, COMPROMISING QUITE A FEW TO ACCOMMODATE COUNTY WIDE VOTING PER THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE E-MAIL THREAD BETWEEN THE PARTY AND THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE DECIDED ON THEIR OWN TO CUT ONE OF THE LOCATIONS AND PLACE IT ON THE EASTSIDE OF HOUSTON.

NEITHER PARTY REQUESTED THIS. THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IS ACTING AGAINST THE PARTY HAS DECIDED TO MAKE THIS CHANGE. THEY ALSO DECIDED ON THIS CHANGE WITHOUT CONSENT FROM BOTH PARTIES. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DIDN'T AGREE TO THE CHANGE.

IT IS A CLEAR BREECH OF CONTRACT TO MOVE ANY OF THE LOCATIONS WITHOUT CONSENT.

AS COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS PROVIDED AS WELL, I PROVIDED THE CONTRACT.

YOU CAN SEE SECTION 1.1 THAT IT STATES PARTY CONTRACTING OFFICER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ALL POLLING LOCATIONS WERE DESIGNATED BEFORE THIS CONTRACT WAS SIGNED AND WILL BE SHARED BY THE PARTIES. IF A POLLING LOCATION IS UNAVAILABLE OR IS REQUESTING TO BE MOVED IT WILL BE REPLACED BY A POLLING LOCATION IN THE SAME PRE SINK UNLESS PARTY AGREES OTHERWISE. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DID NOT AGREE TO THE MOVE.

NOR DO WE AGREE TO ELIMINATING AN ENTIRE PRECINCT. THE PRECINCT WILL NOT BE REPRESENTED WITH A VOTING LOCATION. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IS IN BREECH OF CONTRACT. BECAUSE WE DO NOT AGREE TO THE CHANGE. IF THE NEW POLLING LOCATION IS USED AGAINST THE WILL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT WILL NOT BE A SHARED LOCATION. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS WERE CHOSEN BY BOTH PARTIES BEFORE WE SIGNED THE

CONTRACT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR OVERSIGHT OVER THE DATA BEING USED FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION. ONE WEEK AGO TODAY AFTER 4:00 P.M. I NOTIFIED THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN WRITING THE COMPLAINTS FROM MULTIPLE VOTERS INDICATED THE CLERK WAS USING THE WRONG DATABASE FOR THIS ELECTION. SOME VOTERS WERE PRESENTING THEMSELVES WITH THE BRAND NEW VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS AND DRIVER'S LICENSE AND COULD NOT VOTE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT IN THE POLL BOOKS. OTHERS CAME WITH THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS AND LICENSES AND FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE POLL BOOK, BUT AT THE WRONG ADDRESS. SOME VOTERS WHO HAVE VOTED BY MAIL WERE NOT TAGGED IN THE POLL BOOKS DURING THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF EARLY VOTING. THEY HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE TWICE. FOR SOME VOTERS WHETHER YOU CALL IT A SINK ISSUE OR

[01:20:01]

FOR SOME VOTERS THIS WAS AN ANNOYING INCON -- INCONVENIENCE.

A FEW HAD TO LEAVE WITHOUT VOTING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO VOTE IN THE WRONG BALLOT STYLE FOR PEOPLE NOT IN THEIR DISTRICT. IT APPEARS SOME TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE ERRORS TO VOTE TWICE. THE AWARD WINNING WEBSITE AT THE TOP IS A TAB FOR ELECTION RESULTS. IN THE DROP DOWN MENU THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED ELECTION ROSTERS. THAT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAWS THAT SHOWS THE VOTER ROSTER FROM EVERY EARLY VOTER. IT INCLUDES THE MAIL BALLOTS AND THOSE WHO VOTED IN PERSON THE ONE-PAGE SPREAD SHEET IS A RESULT OF DOWNLOADING AND SORTING THE COUNTY CLERK'S ELECTION ROSTER THROUGH LAST THURSDAY, THE 20TH.

THAT'S THE ONE-PAGER. THIS SHOWS 14 VOTERS WHO THE COUNTY CLERKS SAID VOTED TWICE IN THIS ELECTION AS OF THURSDAY NIGHT. LOOK AT THE ONE-PAGE SHEET.

LOOK AT THE COLUMNS ON THE RIGHT. THERE ARE TWO HOUR -- HORIZONTAL ROWS FOR EACH AND ONE FOR EACH TIME THE COUNTY RECORDS SAY THE VOTER VOTED.

ON THE ONE-PAGE SPREAD SHEET LOOK AT THE TOP TWO HORIZONTAL ROWS.

THE DATA SHOWS THEY RECEIVED A MAIL BALLOT FROM PL -- FROM MR. A ON FEBRUARY 3RD, AND ANOTHER FROM MR. A ON FEBRUARY 5TH. LOOK AT ROWS THREE AND FOUR.

THE COUNTY CLERK'S DATA SHOW -- SHOWS A MAIL BALLOT FROM MS. A AND THEN VOTED IN PERSON AT SRD131. IF THAT HAPPENED IT IS BECAUSE THE MAIL BALLOT DATA WAS NOT IN THE ROLLS. THE MULTI-PAGE SPREAD SHEET YOU HAVE IS TO SHOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM. IF THE COUNTY CLERK IS USING THE VOTE SAFE SOFTWARE HOPEFULLY THE DUPLICATES SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. HOW ARE THESE VOTERS GETTING TWO MAIL BALLOTS IN THE FIRST PLACE? DOES IT FRAUD? AND HOW ARE THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY SUPPOSED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE WITH THIS DATA?

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER. >> YES, SIR. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES AND IT IS VERY CONCERNING. IT IS ON THE HARRIS VOTES WEBSITE, THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER. WE HAVE DOWNLOADED EXACTLY. THE SCARY PART IS THAT I VAUNT BROUGHT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND MONDAY BECAUSE IT IS EXPLODING.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BURDEN YOU WITH THAT. WE HAVE SEEN A TREND FROM THURSDAY TO FRIDAY AND THE TREND CONTINUES. WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE WAYS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. AND RIGHT NOW IF I AM A VOTER IN HARRIS COUNTY AND SEEING THE DATA, I AM WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE ELECTION

INTEGRITY. >> YOU KNOW IT IS A MAIL BALLOT BECAUSE OF THE DATE?

>> YES, MA'AM. IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A CODE NUMBER IT IS A MAIL BALLOT.

IN THE COLUMN IT SAYS -- IN THE COLUMN IT SAYS -- >> LINA HIDALGO: EARLY VOTING

SITE. >> IF THAT IS BLANK IT IS A MAIL BALLOT.

IF IT IS NOT BLANK IT TELLS YOU WHERE THEY VOTED. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S HELPFUL. LIG -- LILY SCHECTER.

IS SHE HERE? >> HI, MY NAME IS LILY SCHECTER AND CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY. I DIDN'T PLAN ON SPEAKING UNLESS YOU NEEDED TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS AND I WANTED TO GO AFTER THE CLERK IN CASE THERE WERE ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE PROCESS FOR THE PRIMARIES. WE HAVE SPENT -- WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO MONTHS NEGOTIATING ON SHARED LOCATIONS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE PROCESS IS BRAND-NEW TO US. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE PARTIES HAVE REALLY HAD TO AGREE ON ALL OF THE LOCATIONS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BELIEVES THE COUNTY WIDE VOTING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE ARE DOING IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION.

WE STARTED OFF WITH THE PREMISE THAT COUNTY WIDE VOTING IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO AGREE ON ALL 400 LOCATIONS. I CAME DOWN TODAY JUST TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE OF THE LOCATION THAT'S IS CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSION AMONG THE TWO PARTIES AND IT IS THE PLEASANTVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATION THAT RESIDES IN COUNTY -- IN COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS PRECINCT 1 PRECINCT.

CURRENTLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF HOW MANY VOTING LOCATIONS THERE ARE IN EACH

[01:25:02]

PRECINCT 2 HAS 84. PRECINCT 3 HAS 125. PRE SINK 4 HAS 120.

WE HAVE -- THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FEELS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ACCOMMODATING AND WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH VOTING LOCATIONS. ONE OF THE LOCATIONS WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH IS PLEASANTVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PRECINCT 1 HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PRE SINKS -- THE LEAST AMOUNT OF VOTING LOCATIONS SET UP FOR THE PRIMARY. SO FAR IN OUR TURNOUT OVER HALF OF THE VOTERS FOR THE ENTIRE PRIMARY HAVE GONE THROUGH PRECINCT 1. SO OVER HALF OF THE VOTERS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY HAVE COME THROUGH PRECINCT 1 SO FAR, BUT IT HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF VOTING LOCATIONS. AND SO WE ARE JUST ASKING THAT WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND HAVE COME TO A RESOLUTION ON USING PLEASANTVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS AN ELECTION DAY

VOTING LOCATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: I MEAN, YOU GUYS OBVIOUSLY WORKED -- BOTH PARTIES WORKED TOGETHER IN COMING UP WITH THIS NUMBER WHICH IS -- IT SOUNDS LOPSIDED HONESTLY THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS, BUT YOU AGREED TO THAT.

IS THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE -- YOU HAD TO COMPROMISE? WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> WE AGREED TO THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE HAD TO COMPROMISE. WE WERE TOLD BY THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH THAT COUNTY WIDE VOTING IS NOT IMPORTANT TO THEM.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE FELT LIKE AND THE PRIMARY COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY WIDE VOTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUED WITH THE COUNTY WIDE VOTING FROM THIS ELECTION AND THROUGH EVERY ELECTION MOVING FORWARD. SO IN ORDER TO -- WE HAD TO AGREE.

>> I GUESS WHAT I AM GETTING AT IS DID YOU GET MOST -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THE CLERK, BUT WHERE THERE WERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PARTIES WERE THERE -- WAS THERE A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHICH PARTY GOT THEIR WAY IN TERMS OF THE LOCATION?

WE DON'T KNOW? WELL NEVER MIND THEN. >> I CAN ANSWER THAT.

THE MOST RECENT CHANGES AS OF LAST FRIDAY THERE WERE SEVEN CHANGES THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PROPOSED. THERE WAS ONE WE PROPOSED. WE AGREED TO ALL SEVEN OF THEIR CHANGES PENDING THE APPROVAL OF OUR CHANGE. AND THAT'S BEEN THE

CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PERIOD. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

CAGLE HAS A QUESTION AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >>

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. I WOULD NOT LET THAT HAPPEN TO ANY VOTER IF HARRIS COUNTY.

I WOULD LIKE TO PLEA FOR A COMPROMISE. I BELIEVE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL ADDRESS THIS MORE. THEY HAVE SPENT HOURS LOOKING AT LOCATIONS TO FIND A LOCATION THAT WORKS. THEY HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT WAYS TO KEEP PLEASANTVILLE OPEN AND OFFER DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO KEEP PLEASANTVILLE OPEN AND TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS OPEN. IT IS NOT AN EITHER/OR.

>> SO, JUDGE, MS. SCHECTER IT WAS PRECINCT 1 HAD 70 AND PRECINCT 3126, PRECINCT 123.

AND WITH THE COMPROMISES THAT MOST OF WHICH YOU HAVE CONSENTED TO, NOW IT WOULD BE PRECINCT 171 AND 84 FOR TWO AND 125 FOR 3 AND 120 FOR FOURTH FROM WHAT YOU READ.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY THE -- IT IS SEVERAL ITERATIONS LATER. THE NUMBERS WERE MUCH MORE

EVEN, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE COMPROMISE HAS ENDED UP. >> I AM JUST ASSUMING AND I WOULD RUSH TO DO THE CENTERS, THE COUNTY WIDE VOTING CENTERS, THAT THEY HAVE TO

AGREE. >> WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL DECEMBER 12TH THAT WE HAD

TO SHARE ALL 400 LOCATIONS. >> SO UNDER THAT LAW -- I HAVEN'T DONE THE RESEARCH, BUT I ASSUME THAT IT HAS BEEN THERE AWHILE. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING NO ONE PAID ATTENTION TO. WE STARTED OFF WITH A FAIRLY SMALL ELECTION AND THEN IN THE MAYOR'S RACE AND THEN WE COME TO THIS ONE AND OF COURSE IT MEANS -- IT MEANS IF THE TWO PARTIES HAD NOT AGREED THEN WE GO TO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND WE GO -- WE WOULD NOT HAVE MEGA SIGNS FOR THE PRIMARY AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO SWITCH BACK WITH MASS CONFUSION.

THE POINT I AM MAKING IS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE ON BOTH PARTIES TO TRY TO WORK THIS OUT. ONCE WE MADE THE DECISION WHERE WE WERE GOING WITH

THIS. >> AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD A MEETING WITH OUR ENTIRE

[01:30:03]

AND WE WANTED TO STICK TO. >> WHO CAME UP WITH THIS NUMBER OF 400 BY THE WAY? IN THE LAST GO ARCHED -- GO AROUND THERE WERE 401 REPUBLICAN LOCATIONS AND 383 DEMOCRATIC LOCATIONS. THEY HAVE SEPARATE. SO HOW -- DID THE PARTIES HAVE

SOME INPUT IN IT? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IT COMES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S

OFFICE. >> AND THE WAY THEY PRESENTED IT WAS 800.

>> HAVE YOU BOTH. IT IS ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT.

>> DID ANYBODY DO SOME KIND OF ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACT OR ANY POTENTIAL

CLOSURES IT WOULD HAVE ON THE MINORITY VOTING? >> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOES

NOT. >> AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE PRE-CLEARANCE ISSUE ITSELF WOULD BE AN -- IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE IF THEY SAY BY ANY CLOSING. I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE WAS SOME UNINIMITY AT THE TABLE WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE VOTING SEN -- CENTERS TO BEGIN WITH. THEY CAN ANSWER IT, BUT IF YOU ALL DON'T AGREE -- IF YOU DON'T AGREE, WHAT HAPPENS? DO WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS? MAYBE THE LAW ISN'T CLEAR.

>> JUST SO WE ARE CLEAR THIS SHOW ITSELF WAS SIGNED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON JANUARY 30TH AND BY -- IT LOOKS LIKE AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ON FEBRUARY 4TH. ALL OF YOU HAD THE ORIGINAL 400 AGREED OUT IN PRECINCTS BEFORE IT WAS SIGNED BY THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

>> I DON'T THINK WE AGREED ON ALL 400 AT THAT POINT. WE WERE STILL TALKING ABOUT

IT. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE 400 AGREED TO IN TERMS OF WHERE THE PRECINCTS WERE. MAYBE THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE EXACT LOCATION.

IN TERMS OF WHAT PRECINCTS IT IS THAT LOCATION. >> SINCE I HAVE YOU HERE, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY DEMOCRAT PRECINCTS THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM ONE -- FROM ONE STATE REP

AREA TO ANOTHER STATE REP AREA? >> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>> OKAY. >> I -- BUT I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME SO I WOULD HAVE TO

LOOK IT UP. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A

COMMENT FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. I KNOW YOU ARE THE PARTY CHAIR.

IN TERMS OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DISPARITY BETWEEN PRECINCTS 1, 2 AND IN CONTRAST TO 3 AND 4 AND IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF VOTING CENTERS, WHAT SHOULD BE YOUR COUNCIL IN HOW

WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT? >> I MEAN THIS IS NOT WHERE WE STARTED OFF IN THE CONVERSATION. I THINK WE FELT LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL AMOUNTS OF POLLING LOCATIONS IN EACH PRECINCT, BUT WE COMPROMISED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTY WIDE VOTING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND WE BELIEVE ULTIMATELY THE COUNTY WIDE VOTING IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THINGS ON OUR VOTERS FROM THE LAST ELECTION FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. AND SO WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COMPROMISE FOR

IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DR. TROUTMAN? IF YOUR TEAM WOULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

>> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WE WILL LET MR. WYNN ADDRESS TWO OF COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S

CONCERNS. >> LINA HIDALGO: CAN WE JUST START WITH THE 199 ISSUE SINCE

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT? THE PRE SINK LOCATION? >> WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTAL

ITEM -- >> LINA HIDALGO: 8. >> OKAY THAT'S ME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> SO FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS AS YOU HAVE HEARD BOTH PARTIES MUST COME TO AN AGREEMENT. WE ASK THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE TO COME TOGETHER ON AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL VOTERS.

TO DO AWAY WITH THE COUNTY WIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM AT THIS LATE DATE WOULD CAUSE

[01:35:07]

IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE POLLING LOCATIONS, EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION AND POLL WORKERS AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THERE IS A COMPROMISE TO BRING THE PARTIES TOGETHER. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY. AS MR. WYNN WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IT AND THERE ARE NO LOCATIONS AVAILABLE IN 199.

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY JUST OUTSIDE 199, WHEREVER THEY SAY. AND IT IS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PLEASANTVILLE LOCATION.

I CAN'T BE INVOLVED IN THIS. I AM NOT ON EITHER SIDE. I AM PARTY ADMINISTERING THE ELECTIONS. I URGE YOU TO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO BRING THE PARTIES TOGETHER TO FIND THAT COMPROMISE. REGARDING THE ALLEGED BREECH

OF CONTRACT WE REFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO YOU HAD A

LOCATION IN 199, AND WHAT HAPPENED? >> IT FELL THROUGH.

THEY SAID NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT WASN'T THE CLERK'S OFFICE CANCELED.

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THEY REACHED OUT AND -- AND ARE THERE OTHER FOLKS IN THE PRECINCT THAT CON VOTE? IF THERE ARE SO MANY LOCATIONS

IN THAT PRECINCT, I IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE QUITE DENSE. >> MICHAEL HARRIS, THERE ARE A LOT OF LOCATIONS. WE LOOKED AT 20 SOME ODD LOCATIONS AND WE TRIED TO HELP THE PARTIES LOOK AT THE OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE KINGWOOD AREA AND THEY SAID NO.

FOR ELECTION DAY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY -- I THINK THERE ARE 20 LOCATIONS BEING USED IN

KIWOO -- KING WOOD ALREADY. >> LINA HIDALGO: HOW FAR DO THEY HAVE TO DRIVE?

>> .3 MILES OR SOME CLOSER AND SOME FARTHER AWAY -- FURTHER AWAY.

FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND FROM WHAT WE HAVE MAPPED OUT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF

LOCATIONS IN THE KINGWOOD AREA. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE CONCERN IS YOU ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND -- I MEAN HOW MANY PRECINCTS ARE THERE IN

THE COUNTY? >> THERE ARE OVER A THOUSAND AND 12 LOCATIONS OR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS NOT LIKE WE HAVE A LOCATION IN EVERY PRECINCT. BUT THE PRECINCTS ARE QUITE SMALL.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE IN THAT PRECINCT YOU CAN VOTE A QUARTER MILE AWAY.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: I MEAN, I JUST -- IT IS HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY Y'ALL CAN'T FIND A LOCATION THERE. OH.

>> SO THE PARTIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING THE LOCATIONS.

WHAT WE WILL DO BEHIND THE SCENES IS DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THOSE LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. WE HAVE TO POST THEM ON OUR WEBSITE.

THEY ARE TELLING US, WE ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE

AVAILABLE FOR THAT DAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE PARTIES ARE GIVING YOU OPTIONS, BUT THEN ONCE YOU CALL THEM, JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE INITIAL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THEY ARE LIKE, NEVER MIND. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> SO YOU CAN'T GO AND FIND ONE FOR THEM. >> NOME.

NO, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT COMPROMISE ARE YOU PROPOSING?

>> WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE PARTIES. WE ARE ASKING THEM.

IF YOU WANT US TO SELECT A LOCATION, TELL US THE LOCATION AND WE WILL COME AND LOOK INTO

IT. WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT BACK. >> JUDGE, IF I CAN PULL SOMETHING OUT OF MY OLD DAYS FROM WHEN I WAS A JUDGE WITH A ROBE AND A GAVEL? WE HAVE THE LILY SCHECTER HERE. WE HAVE THE MS. BANNER RIGHT OVER THERE. THOSE ARE THE TWO DECISION MAKERS.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. WE'VE GOT DOUG RAY SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE. I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU YOUR BUSINESS, JUDGE, BUT WHEN I HAD A ROBE AND A GAVEL I WOULD STICK THEM IN THE BACK ROOM AND TALK FOR AWHILE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL BE HERE AWHILE. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, COMMISSIONER. IF YOU GUYS ARE OPEN TO IT AND WITH DOUG, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT.

THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE THAT OTHER FOLKS MAY SHARE AS WELL IS WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PLEASANTVILLE LOCATION? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> ME NEITHER, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHY IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH PLEASANTVILLE?

>> WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE 400 LOCATIONS OPEN. THERE HAVE BEEN CONCESSIONS BY

[01:40:04]

AND SO THAT LOCATION IS A HISTORICAL LOCATION. IT WAS OFFERED UP BY THE DEMOCRATS. AND WE QUITE NATURALLY MOVED FORWARD WITH IT.

JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE SEVEN LOCATIONS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHO IS OBJECTING TO PLEASANTVILLE? >> WE'RE NOT.

>> JUDGE, I THINK WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU ARE GONNA TAKE THE 199 AND MAKE THEM GO

TO PLEASANTVILLE, I THINK THAT'S THE OBJECTION. >> I THINK THAT WAS MISCONSTRUED. THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENT. THE INTENT WAS FOR THE PARTIES TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND DECIDE WHERE THEY WANTED TO HAVE THE LOCATION FOR THE PRECINCT CONVENTION. AND SO --

>> AND THIS E-MAIL EXCHANGE HERE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I MEAN IT IS

NOT LIKE YOU ARE TELLING THESE PEOPLE. >> WOULD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, AND I AM NOT -- I CAN'T BE INVOLVED IN THIS, IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

IT HAS TO BE THE PARTIES, BUT WOULD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IF THEY WERE DESIGNED OUTSIDE THE

BOUNDARY AND PLEASANTVILLE GOT THEIRS. >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL. IN FACT, THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS KEPT IT FROM GOING THERE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF GRIEF THAT MAYBE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. OUR OFFICE AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES DO THE SAME THING. WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE PRECINCT, SOMETIMES WE HAVE RESOURCES AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AFTER THIS HAD ALREADY GOTTEN TO THE -- WE ARE GONNA CHANGE IT. NO WE ARE NOT.

>> ANYTIME YOU HAVE A QUESTION , PLEASE CALL ME. >> I AM JUST SAYING WHEN THIS STARTED OFF, TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND MAYBE THEY COULD HAVE HELPED FIND SOMEBODY AND

HELPED TO MAKE THIS WORKOUT. >> AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BE HANDS-OFF FOR BOTH PARTIES.

>> I KNOW. YOU'RE THE VENDER. >> WE'RE THE VENDER.

>> BUT YOU HAVE A CONTRACT. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT DOES SOUND LIKE -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. IF I MAY, IN DECIDING THESE LOCATIONS, I KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE OF, WELL, IT USED TO BE TWO BLOCKS AWAY, YOU KNOW, OR NOW IT IS, YOU KNOW, A MILE AWAY. DOES YOUR OFFICE WORK TO INCORPORATE ANY TECHNOLOGY TO PLACE LOCATIONS SO THAT THERE IS AN INITIAL DORM -- DETERMINANT RIGHT OFF THE BAT RATHER IT MEETS SOME RADIUS COMFORT ZONE --

>> RIGHT AND WE DO WHEN WE GET TO CHOOSE THE LOCATIONS. IN THIS CASE WE DID NOT GET TO

CHOOSE THE LOCATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND I DO THINK -- WE'LL HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS IN A SECOND, BUT I I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PARTIES AGREED WITH 399 LOCATIONS. ESPECIALLY TODAY -- IN TODAY'S DIVISIVE CLIMATE I THINK THAT

IS COMMENDABLE. >> YES. YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS, BUT I ENCOURAGE THE PARTIES -- YOU KNOW, YOU ARE WELCOME TO USE MY OFFICE. I WILL HAVE MY STAFF ESCORT YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR US ON THE COURT WE SEEM TO THINK THIS MAY BE MORE OF A MISUNDERSTANDING THAN ANYTHING

ELSE. >> AND MR. WYNN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> THE LAWS CHANGED IN 2019. THE PARTIES HAVE TO AGREE. IT WOULD BE LIKE THE GENERAL ELECTION. WHERE THEY DON'T AGREE, WE HAVE TO AGREE.

THAT WAS A BIG CHANGE. LET ME ASK A BIG QUESTION. THROWING MORE ON THE TAPE, YOU ALL CAME INTO 400, IF IT IS A HEADACHE AND IF YOU HAD TO GO TO 401 AND 402, CAN YOU GO AND DO THAT? I AM TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU.

THEY ARE A HISTORIC PRECINCT. THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. WHO CAME UP WITH THE 400.

I KNOW THEY HAVE TO AGREE ON THEM. I AM DOWN TO 71 ANYWAY.

WE NEED SOME KIND OF AN ANALYSIS AND I AM GLAD WE ARE DOING THIS.

I WILL THROW OUT THAT THIS IS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT YOU CAME UP WITH.

IF YOU HAVE TO WORK IT OUT GO TO 402, OR IF YOU HAVE A MOBILE HOME -- YOU HAVE TO

[01:45:05]

COME UP WITH IT. >> THERE ARE TWO ITEMS COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD.

>> I'LL ADDRESS THAT EARLY VOTING ROSTER THAT'S ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT ITEM EIGHT? SORRY, ITEM 9?

>> YOU ALL RECEIVED SPREAD SHEETS APPARENTLY. IT IS TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGATIONS OF DOUBLE VOTERS. THESE ARE EARLY VOTING ROSTERS.

AND THEY ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT IS AN ACCUMULATION FILE.

IT WILL SHOW EVERY SINGLE EARLY VOTER WHETHER THEY VOTED BY MAIL OR EARLIER IN PERSON EVERY DAY AND YOU WILL SEE THE SAME NAMES MONDAY TO ELECTION DAY.

ALL RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL UNTIL ELECTION DAY. SO NO VOTES IS IN MAIL BALLOT OR ANY OTHER PERSON IS COUNTED. IF A VOTER REQUESTS A MAIL BALLOT AND THEY SHOULD DECIDE TO GO AND WHAT IS WHAT IT WILL GO INTO THE ACCOUNTS.

THAT IS NOT TALLIED UNTIL THE END OF ELECTION DAY. WHAT I THINK YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS THE EARLY-VOTING ROSTERS. ROSTERS ARE AN ACCUMULATION FILE. YOU WILL SEE THE SAME NAMES INCLUDING EACH DAY AFTER WHO HAS VOTED. THAT'S TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGATIONS OF DOUBLE VOTERS.

THAT'S IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> AND THERE WERE NO VOTER THAT'S VOTED TWICE. THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

THE BALLOT RULE DETERMINES THAT. THAT'S THE STOP GAP.

>> IS THAT FOR ONE YEAR OR WAY BACK? >> AND WE DECIDE THIS RIGHT

BEFORE THE ELECTION? >> CORRECT. >> WOW.

>> THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN THE SAME FOR MANY YEARS. THE EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE FOURTH FLOOR AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PROCESS THE INFORMATION DAILY. AND AGAIN, NOTHING IS COUNTED UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S REQUEST NO BALANCE AND THEN WILL DECIDE

TO GO IN PERSON. >> THAT WASN'T A CHANGE THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE --

>> NO, SIR. NO, SIR. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE NOW IS YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE BECAUSE LEGISLATION HAS CHANGED THAT.

AGAIN, LOOKING AT NAMES OF WHO HAVE POSSIBLY VOTED IS NOT FINAL UNTIL ELECTION DAY AND

FOLLOWING ELECTION DAY. >> SO THIS COMES TO THE CRUX OF THE QUESTION.

SO WHEN WE GO TO THE WEBSITE AND THEN THAT DATA GETS LOADED INTO A SPREAD SHEET AND THEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU CAN SEE -- I THINK THAT ONE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, MAYBE IT IS A DIFFERENT ONE FROM THE ONE I HAVE -- WE CAN SEE TWO PEOPLE THAT VOTED IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. AND THEIR LAST NAME STARTS WITH A B.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY VOTED ONCE ON 128 AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY VOTED ANOTHER TIME ON 219.

AND THEN THE 219 YOU WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE ONE OF OUR NEW VOTER LOCATIONS.

SO JOE Q CITIZEN USING THE DATA FROM YOUR WEBSITE, HOW WOULD THEY KNOW THAT THIS REPUBLICAN VOTER, MR. B, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO USE THEIR NAME IN A PUBLIC PROCEEDING, HOW WOULD THEY KNOW, AND HOW WOULD MR. B KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT COUNTING HIM FOR TWO VOTES? HE MIGHT NOT LIKE THE IDEA THAT HIS NAME IS OUT THERE

SHOWING THAT HE VOTED TWICE? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AFTER THE ELECTION THERE IS VOTER HISTORY THAT IS COLLECTED AND PARTIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND JOHN Q PUBLIC CAN ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION. I GUARANTEE YOU THEY WON'T SEE IT ON THE LIST BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN PRESENTED A BALLOT RULE.

>> HOW DO WE KEEP MR. B FROM BEING SCORNED BY HIS NEIGHBORS FOR APPARENTLY VOTING TWICE? HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE PROTECT THROUGH OUR DATA HIS REPUTATION?

>> BY NOT PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT PUBLICLY UNTIL IT IS OFFICIAL.

IT IS NOT OFFICIAL. >> HOW DOES IT GET HERE TO WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS

[01:50:03]

BEING VOTED ON TWICE? >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THIS A -- >> THE CODE PROVIDES ROSTERS AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ROSTERS AND IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU THINK THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS VOTING TWICE, AT THE END OF THE ELECTION WHEN WE

RECONCILE, THAT LIST COMPLETELY IS DIFFERENT. >> SO WHICH ONE OF HIS BALLOTS ARE YOU GOING TO COUNT? THE ONE HE MAILED IN OR THE ONE HE DID IN PERSON?

>> IT IS UP TO THE BALLOT BOARD. THE BALLAD -- THE BALLOT BOARD WILL GET BOTH PIECES OF INFORMATION AND LOOK AT IT AND MAKE A DETERMINATION AND WHICH EVER GETS TO THE BALLOT FIRST WILL SAY THIS IS THE VOTE THAT WILL COUNT.

THE OTHER WILL NOT. >> SUPPOSE HE VOTED ONE WAY ON HIS VOTE BY MAIL, AND THEN HE GOT ALL THAT FLOOD OF BEAUTIFUL POLITICAL MAIL THAT I'M SURE EVERYBODY GETS --

>> AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING. >> AND HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND WENT DOWN AND VOTED AGAIN, BUT VOTED FOR A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE AFTER HE CHANGED HIS

MIND. >> THE ELECTION CODE ALLOWS FOR THEM TO GET AS MANY BALLOTS AS THEY WANT, AND THE LAST BALLOT THAT COMES IN WILL COUNT.

>> SO IF HE VOTES THREE OR FOUR TIMES YOU ARE TELLING US THAT WHEN IT IS ALL OVER WITH,

ONLY THE LAST VOTE COUNTS? >> THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS. >> I THOUGHT THE MAGIC OF THE NEW SICK -- NEW SYSTEM WOULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM VOAGHT MULTIPLE TIMES.

WHEN YOU ARE VOTING IT IS DONE. >> IT IS THE SAME SYSTEM WE ALWAYS USED, AND IT IS THE SAME SYSTEM WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST PREVIOS ELECTIONS.

>> I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER COMMISSIONER AGLE, WHEN -- CAGLE, WHEN WE WERE GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT I TOLD YOU ON THE FIRST DAY I TOOK OFFICE THAT THERE WAS A SHEET OF PAPER WITH SEVEN NAMES WAITING FOR ME.

PEOPL WHO HAD VOTED TWICE AND NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE. THIS HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME. USUALLY IT IS CONFUSED VOTERS, SENIOR SITTENS MOST OF THE

TIME. WE DO, HOWEVER, -- >> YOU KNOW I AM TECHNICALLY A

SENIOR CITIZEN NOW. >> IT HAPPENS. IF YOU DO VOTE ■TWICE,AND IF&-ÚT

[01:55:28]

>> YOU ARE SAYING IF YOU DO VOTE BY MAIL YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THOSE AS YOU VOTE IN EARLY AND ALL OF THEM ARE SUBJECT TO BEING CHANGED? WE WILL TELL EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT IF THEY VOTED BY MAIL AND IF THEY GET JUNK MAIL LATE OTHER AND THEY WANT TO

CHANGE THEIR VOTE THEY CAN GO AND REVOTE? >> THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE LAW. THIS IS HOW THE BALLOT BY MAIL PROCESS WORKED.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE RECEIVED A RETURN, BUT NOTHING CAN BE COUNTED UNTIL ELECTION DAY. AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE BALLOT BOARD IS THERE TO LOOK AND OBSERVE THE APPLICATIONS AND BALLOT AND IF THEY COUNT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO YOU DO IT DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY?

>> THIS IS A STATE PROVISION IN THE ELECTION CODE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THIS GOES TO THE DUPLICATION WHICH TURNS OUT PER EVERY OTHER COUNTY IT IS REVIEWED.

THERE IS STILL ONE POINT THAT I THINK MR. CAGLE BROUGHT UP EARLIER WHICH IS THE CASE OF THE PERSON WHO SHOWED UP -- IT WAS THE WRONG ADDRESS THAT WAS THERE WHEN HE SHOWED UP.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? >> WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF ANYONE LOOKING AT THE SYSTEM AND GIVING US -- AND CALLING AND TELLING US THAT THERE IS A SITUATION GOING ON.

YES, WE DID HAVE A CONFIGURATION SYNC ISSUE. THE FIRST DAY HE DID CALL AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. HE DID PRESENT TO ME A VOTER WHOSE ADDRESS WAS CURRENTLY ON HIS VOTER REGISTRATION CARD, BUT IT WAS NOT UPDATED IN THE SYSTEM.

WE IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT IT. I TALKED WITH THE ID STAFF AND THE TAX OFFICE WHO HAD GOOD DATA. WE RAN A SYNCHRONIZATION REPORT AND WE GOT THE REPORTS TO SYN UP AND -- SYNC UP. HE CALLED ME A COUPLE DAYS LATER WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HE SAID HAD PROBLEMS. WE LOOKED THEM UP AND I COULDN'T VERIFY THE INDIVIDUALS. THEY WEREN'T IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY DID NOT SHOW UP AS REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE DATABASE.

AND SO EVER SINCE TUESDAY, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, THE LATE AFTERNOON THAT SIN KRONNIZATION WAS MADE AND WAS DONE AND INSPECTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM ALL VOTERS

WERE CONNECT -- WERE CORRECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> YES, JUDGE I HAVE ANOTHER SERIES OF QUESTIONS, BUT WHILE I HAVE ALL THREE OF YOU AND MAYBE DOUG RAY BEHIND YOU. PERHAPS I AM JUST CONFUSED -- I AM CONFUSED.

I AM ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT I'M LEARNING THAT IF SOMEONE VOTES BY MAIL AND THEN CHANGES THEIR MIND AND THEY VOTE IN PERSON THAT THE SECOND BALLOT COUNTS. IS THAT TRUE OR NOT TRUE?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THE BALLOT WAS RETURNED -- WAS TURNED OVER TO THE POLL

JUDGE WHEN THE VOTER GOES TO GO VOTE. >> SO I GET MY VOTE BY MAIL.

I SIGN IT AND I PUT IT IN THE POST OFFICE AND IT GOES TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE ON JANUARY 28TH. I -- BACK TO MR. B. MR. B GETS THE FLIER WHERE HE GOES, I DON'T LIKE THAT CANDIDATE ANYMORE. HE GOES IN IN PERSON ON FEBRUARY 19TH AND HE VOTES IN PERSON. WE NOW HAVE HIS BALLOT FOR WHICH HE DID IT BY MAIL, AND WE NOW HAVE HIS BALLOT FROM WHEN HE DID IT IN PERSON.

THE QUESTION IS DOES HE GET TO CHANGING HIS MIND AND GET A RE-DO?

>> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. HE VOTED THE BALLOT AND SENT IT IN.

OUR OFFICE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED THE BALLOT YET, BUT IT WAS SHOWN HE WAS GIVEN A MAIL BALLOT. WHEN HE GOES TO THE LAW LIBRARY TO VOTE, THE FIRST THING THEY WILL SEE AFTER TAKING CREDENTIALS IS HE REQUESTED A MAIL BALLOT.

THE JUDGE OR CLERK SAYING YOU REQUESTED A MAIL BALLOT. DO YOU HAVE YOUR BALLOT TO

[02:00:01]

THE PROVISIONAL IS IN PLACE TO PREVENT A VOTER VOTING MORE THAN ONCE.

HE FILLS OUT THE PROVISIONAL FORM. THE JUDGE FILLS IT OUT AND HE GOES AHEAD AND HE PROCESSES HIS PROVISIONAL. THAT PROVISIONAL COMES BACK TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AFTER ELECTION DAY AND THE BALLOT BOARD PROCESSES HAVE WE RECEIVED HIS MAIL BALLOT? IF HE RECEIVES HIS MAIL BALLOT , COUNTS HE WILL GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL. IF WE RECEIVED IT WE CAN ACCEPT THE IN PERSON VOTE.

THAT IS THE PERIOD OF THE RECONCILIATION THAT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE REALLY KNOW WHETHER WE RECEIVED THE BALLOT OR NOT. AND IT HAPPENS OFTEN.

THAT HAPPENS OFTEN. THAT'S WHY THE PROVISIONAL AFFIDAVIT IS IN PLACE TO

PREVENT VOTERS VOTING MORE THAN ONCE. >> IF I CAN GO TO VOTER A HERE, THE FIRST ONE ON THIS CHART,ING ON MINE, AND LET ME HAND THAT OVER.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME ONE THAT I HAVE WHICH WAS DOWNLOADED.

THE FIRST NAME IS A CLASSICAL NAME WHICH IS THE ROMAN NIGHED VERSION OF THE ODISEUS.

VOTER A VOTED BY MAIL TWICE. THE REST IS WHAT I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

IT IS NOT FROM YOUR RECORDS. MY SCRIBBLE OF TRYING TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT.

>> AND I AM HAPPY TO ACTUALLY GIVE YOU -- >> I AM NOT A DUMMY, BUT I AM

A LITTLE CONFUSED. >> YES, SIR, I UNDERSTAND. WHAT I WANT TO DO IS BE ABLE TO GET YOU THE SPREAD SHEETS THAT COME FROM OUR OFFICE. I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS NOT IT, BUT ANYONE CAN DOWNLOAD THE SPREAD SHEET AND MANIPULATE THEM OR DO HOWEVER THEY WANT TO. A LOT OF TIMES THE CAMPAIGNS WILL LOOK AT THESE AND SAY EARLY VOTERS AND SNAIL VOTERS ARE COMPARED AND CONTRASTED. WE ARE HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THAT WITH YOU TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING AROUND IT EVEN THOUGH WE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY. THIS IS JUST WRITE INS. WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE,

FACT, MAIL, IN PERSON OR NOT. >> I THINK SOME OF THAT IS AN ASSUMPTION BASED ON THE DATES

OF WHEN THEY VOTED. >> THAT'S IT. YES, SIR.

IF I HAVE A DATE THAT WAS BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTED AND THOUSAND I HAVE A SECOND DATE I WOULD MAKE THE LOGICAL DEDUCTION THAT THOSE ARE BOTH BY MAIL.

I COULD BE WRONG. I DON'T THINK DR. TROUTMAN WOULD ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT. WE DON'T KNOW WHOSE RECORDS THESE RVMENT I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT RIGHT. --

>> I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT RIGHT. >> IT IS LOADED FROM YOUR

SHEET RIGHT HERE. >> IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU CAN GO AND DOWNLOAD IT DAILY. >> OH THIS IS THE LINK?

>> THE LINK SHOWS HOW WE GOT IT WHICH IS YOUR LINK. >> AND WHAT I HAVE NOTICED HERE TOO IS THIS LIST LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN COMBINED. ON THE WEBSITE, THE MAIL BALLOT LINKS ARE SEPARATE FROM THE EARLY VOTING LINKS. WHEN YOU GO TO THE SPREAD SHEET ALL THE EARLY VOTERS ARE ON ONE SPREAD SHEET AND THE MAIL VOTERS ARE ON A SPREAD

SHEET, BUT THIS TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS

DOCUMENT -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> IT WAS A MERGE OF THOSE TWO LINKS.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I AM NOT ASKING YOU TO SAY THAT MY DATA IS RIGHT OR WRONG. I AM JUST TELLING YOU HOW SOMEONE IN MY OFFICE SAID LOOK

AT THIS AND IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. >> THAT IS WHY WE ARE STAYING AWAY FROM WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG. WE DON'T KNOW -- WE CAN TELL

YOU THAT WE CAN PULL OUR RECORDS AND BREAK IT DOWN. >> I DO HAVE ONE MORE THING.

>> THE EQUIPMENT AND THE LOCATIONS -- GO AHEAD. >> THE LOCATION.

>> ON THIS ISSUE ACTUALLY IT GOES TO THE 199 PROBLEM. NOT THE 199, THIS PROBLEM HERE. THERE IS AN E-MAIL THAT WENT OUT FROM YOUR OFFICE TELLING

PEOPLE NOT TO TALK TO THE MEDIA OR PEOPLE. >> THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA,

BUT I UNDERSTAND MR. RAY HAS A RESPONSE TO THAT. >> IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPARENCY AND WHATNOT, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US NOT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WORK

FOR US TO NOT TALK TO FOLKS. >> AGAIN, THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA SO I WILL NOT MAKE A STATEMENT ON THAT, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE THE LETTER THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE THE LETTER BOTH TO AND FROM YOU AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN DISCUSS IT

[02:05:07]

OTHER THAN THE LETTER YOU HAVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS LEFT? >> I HAVE A SPREAD SHEET THAT I GOT FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR ALLOCATION EQUIPMENT. I RECEIVED TWO SPREAD SHEETS, ONE ON THE 12TH AND ONE ON THE 14TH. BOTH OF WHICH WITH I LOOKED -- WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ALLOCATIONS IT UNDER SERVED ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WAS HAVING THE PRIMARY ELECTION. SO TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND OUR EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION, WE GAVE OUT AS MUCH EQUIPMENT AS WE COULD BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG BALLOT. AND SO IF I HAD GONE WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY I WOULD HAVE UNDER SERVED THE THE EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION AND THE ALLOCATION BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> I WENT OUT TO KIGWOOD -- KINGWOOD TO TAKE A LOOK AND WE ALLOCATED 16 -- ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT, BUT THAT'S AS MUCH AS THE ROOM WOULD FIT. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALLOCATED FIVE. I THINK ON MEN DEN HALL THEY ALLOCATED THREE.

THERE IS SOME PROBLEMS. WE NEVER HAD ANYBODY SAY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE OVER DELIVER ON OUR EQUIPMENT. >> WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOU SAYING IS THAT THIS INSTANCE, BECAUSE THIS ELECTION DOESN'T HAVE THE ATTENTION THAT THE LAST ONE THAT WE HAD, AND I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF TIMES THEY REQUEST THEIR LAST EXPERIENCE. AND THE PRIMARY EXPERIENCE IS NOT AS HOT JUST YET AS THE

LAST NOVEMBER'S EXPERIENCE. IS THAT FAIR? >> THAT'S TRUE.

WHAT IT GOES TO ALSO IS THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF ALLOCATION, AND THEN NOT KNOWING WHAT THE -- WHAT TO ALLOCATE FOR A PARTICULAR ELECTION.

JUST LIKE YOU JUST SAID, THE PRIMARY IS A HOT TOPIC AND IT IS A LONG BALLOT AND WE TEND

TO PUT OUT AS MUCH EQUIPMENT AS WE CAN. >> DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH

LONG LINES IN THIS ELECTION OR AT ANY OF THE LOCATIONS? >> I AM NOT A CRYSTAL BALL

READER, BUT I WOULD -- >> I AM JUST SAYING -- YOU ARE THE VEDOR.

VENDOR. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED LONG LINES FOR REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS? I DON'T REPRESENT ONE PARTY. I REPRESENT BOTH.

>> AND WE SERVICE BOTH. I DON'T THINK SO WITH THE ALLOCATIONS WE ARE READY TO

PROPOSE. >> DO YOU MIND IF I ASK IF SHE IS -- SINCE SHE IS EXPERIENCED? ARE THERE LONG LINES AT PRECINCT 4 YOU ARE AWARE OF? IF YOU WOULD CALL US IF THERE IS AN ISSUE AND I WILL FORWARD THAT TO DR. TROUTMAN.

I AM GOING TO ASK HER THE SAME THING. >> YES, AND AGAIN, I VISITED

THE KING WOOD COMMUNITY CENTER. >> THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE OKAY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HUBERT WAS OUT IN THE PARKING LOT CAMPAIGNING AND HE SAID WE ARE

FINE. WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE. >> THERE IS A PROCESS OF HOW

THE DECISION WAS MADE AND WHEN IT WAS MADE. >> WE GO BY THE LAST ELECTION OF A SIMILAR TYPE. AND SO THE ALLOCATIONS THEY GAVE US WERE WAY OFF.

IT WAS NOT JUST A LITTLE, BUT WAY OFF. EVEN IN -- MAYBE IN NOT AS

POPULAR ELECTION. >> I CAN SEE WHY THEY HAVE THAT.

THERE WAS -- IN NOVEMBER OF 2018 THEY HAD 20,000 EARLY VOTERS.

THIS TIME THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE HAVING QUITE THAT MUCH ACTION.

>> WE ALWAYS ARE PREPARED. WE WANT TO BE PREPARED. >> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS

HAPPENING IN THAT ELECTION. >> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

>> I THINK WE ADDRESSED ALL OF YOURS. I DO HAVE ONE THING.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN VOTING.

I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. ONE THING WE ARE CONTINUING TO CAUTION PEOPLE ABOUT ARE CHECKING STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITES AND OTHER MEDIA SITES. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL GROUPS AND PARTISAN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROMOTING MISINFORMATION AND HALF TRUTHS TO STOP VOTERS FROM VOTING.

[02:10:02]

THAT IS WHY WE CAUTION VOTERS TO BE AWARE OF THOSE WHO SEEK TO MISLEAD OR MISINFORM VOTERS. SO WE ASK EVERYONE TO BE SURE THE SOURCES THEY ARE SHARING ARE LEGITIMATE NEWS OUTLETS AND WEBSITES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POLLING SITES AND OTHER ELECTION INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S AWARD- WINNING WEBSITE. THANK YOU ALL, COMMISSIONERS,

JUDGE. >> AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD-WINNING.

I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU ARE NOT SAYING ANY OF MY THREE QUESTIONS ON S7, S7, S9 --

>> NO, THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER TIME YOU NEED INFORMATION LIKE THAT, PLEASE COME STRAIGHT TO ME. I HAVE YOUR CELL NUMBER AND

YOU HAVE MINE. >> WITH THAT, JUDGE, ARE YOU GONNA ORDER THEM TO GO INTO

THE BACK ROOM? >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK HOPEFULLY THEY ARE ALREADY

CHATTING. MAY WE TAKE ACTION ON THIS? >> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO VISIT WITH US ON THIS SPREAD SHEET TO HAVE SOME -- WE ARE GOING TO GET WITH ELIZABETH IN MY OFFICE SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE SPREAD SHEET AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COME IF THEY WOULD WANT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY COME AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE SPREAD SHEET SO EVERYBODY HAS CONFIDENCE.

>> AND AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO BRING THE PARTIES TOGETHER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE BREAK FOR LUNCH LET'S JUST TAKE TWO MINUTES OF A SPEAKER BETH WHITE WHO IS HERE TO SPEAK ON --

>> PAGE 3 -- PAGE 2. PAGE 3, NUMBER E2. PAGE 6 NUMBER N AND MY PAGE 30 AND NUMBER TWO. THIS IS WHAT PRE SINK 1 -- PRECINCT 1 WILL PUT UP FOR THE PARKS. AND IT WILL BE BIKE SHARE CONNECT.

AS YOU KNOW THE CITY OF HOUSTON PUT UP ABOUT 100 MILLION AND THEY TOOK ON THE ROLE OF 120 MILLION TO DO THESE PARKS ALONG THE COUNTY LAND AND HE HAS BEEN HERE ALL DAY. I TOLD HER THE MONEY IS IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF HERE WITH A COOL 7.4 MILLION, SHE WANTS TO COME DOWN HERE AND GET HER

7.2 MILLION IN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM BETH WHITE AND I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD. WE ARE A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION. BEEN AROUND FOR 44 YEARS WORKING ON CREATING AND IMPROVING AND PROTECTING AND ADVOCATING FOR PARKSS IN THE HOUSTON REGION.

WE HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED TO BE PARTNERING WITH HARRIS COUNTY SINCE DAY ONE OF OUR BIO GREEN WAY INITIATIVE WHICH WILL CREATE 150 MILES -- ACTUALLY 163 BY OUR CALCULATIONS.

IT IS HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS AND LINEAR PARKS ALONG NINE OF THE MAJOR BIOS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WE HAVE HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR TO WORK WITH ALL FOUR COMMISSIONERS ON THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE WORKING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

LANDS ARE OPENING UP ACCESS TO 3,000 ACRES OF LAND TO PUBLIC USE IN ADDITION TO DRAINAGE AND THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION WE WILL BE ADDING ANOTHER THOUSAND ACRES TO THE SYSTEM.

SO TODAY I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ITEM BEFORE YOU.

WE ARE THRILLED WITH THE PLEDGE FROM PRECINCT 1 TO HELP US COMPLETE OUR CAMPAIGN.

THIS GIFT WOULD PUT US OVER THE TOP A LITTLE BIT OF OUR 1 IS -- $120 MILLION CAMPAIGN THAT AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS JUST EXPLAINED, WE PLEDGED TO RAISE IT AFTER THE CITY PUT FORWARD THE $100 MILLION BOND AFTER A VERY SUCCESSFUL BOND CAMPAIGN IN 2012 FOR THE PARKS BOND -- FOR BIO GREENWOOD PASSED BY 68% OF THE VOTE. WE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT WE WILL BE 94% COMPLETE WITH THE PROG DISWRECT BY THE END OF 2020.

AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION ON THE REMAINDER BY THE END OF 2020 AND 2021.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND WHERE FEDERAL BOND MONEY IS COMING FORWARD TO COMPLETE SOME FEDERAL PROJECTS.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF FLOOD MITT -- MITIGATION FOR TRAILS.

WE WANT TO PUT THOSE SEGMENTS IN THE RIGHT ORDER SO THAT WE ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL. THE MONEY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WILL BE USED ON GREENS

[02:15:06]

AREAS TO COMPLETE THE SYSTEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A COMMENT FOR YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WELL, I DON'T WANT TO -- JUDGE, THIS LADY RIGHT HERE, SHE ROCKS. HER ORGANIZATION HAS DONE FABULOUS WORK IN PARTNERING, AND I AM GLAD TO SEE THEY ARE DOING IT IN PRECINCT 1.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT A LONGTIME IN PRECINCT 4. I LOVE PARTNERSHIPS, AND YOU HAVE BEEN AWESOME PARTNERS. HAVE I A COUPLE OTHER PARTNERSHIP DEALS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT, JUDGE, WHEN YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUT OF THE BOX THINKING AND CREATIVE WAYS OF SERVING OUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS, THIS LADY HERE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE AND HELP WORK THOSE THINGS THROUGH. I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE HER.

DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE HERE? >> JIM WAS HERE, BUT HE HAD TO

GO. >> R. JACK CAGLE: HE IS HAPPY, RIGHT?

>> HE IS VERY HAPPY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I KNOW SHE IS PATIENT TO BE HERE ALL DAY, BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, I AM GOING TO OFFER A LITTLE FRIENDLY SUGGESTION THAT MR. BLUNT WORK WITH YOU.

THE KINDERS PUT UP 50 MILLION OF THE 120 MILLION YOU ALL CAME UP WITH.

YOU HAVE TO START TO THINK BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS ON THE BAYOUS.

HOW WE CONNECT THESE LINEAR PARKS IS PROBABLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND THE CITY STREETS AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THEM TOO. IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU DIDN'T

HAVE TO DRIVE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER. >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.

THE VIOS GO EAST AND WEST AND WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE NORTH AND SOUTH.

WHEN WE FINISH THERE WILL BE 1.5 MILLION HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS WITHIN A 1.5-MILE DISTANCE FROM A VIO, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE CLOSER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ACCESS AND CONNECTIVE TEE AND GETTING PEOPLE OUT AND ON

THEIR BIKES OR WALKING ALONG THIS AMAZING SYSTEM. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. IT IS 1:27. LET'S BREAK FOR

[Item II (Part 1 of 2)]

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 2:36 WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS HERE FOR ANOTHER ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER AND THAT IS A SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM I ADDED.

LET ME JUST ON PANEL 30 -- PAGE 32. ITEM 4.

THIS IS GEE -- CREATING AN IMMIGRANT SERVICES PROGRAM. IT IS A QUESTION OF JUSTICE AND A QUESTION OF FAIRNESS AND A QUESTION OF MAKING SURE WE ARE KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER. I CAN TELL YOU I SPOKE WITH SOME MEN RECENTLY AT A DE TENSION FACILITY. DETENTION FACILITY. THEY HAD DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION CLAIMS. THEY WERE CRYING NOT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE GOING TO STAY, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION IN SIGHT FOR THEIR CASE. SO MANY PEOPLE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY ARE LANGE WISHING EITHER IN FACILITIES OR WITH UNCERTAIN FUTURES BECAUSE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS DEEPLY BROKEN AND COMPLICATED.

WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE.

FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE I'M MEMES OF CHILDREN HAVING TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN COURT. A CHILD OR A WOMAN WITH AN ATTORNEY, WITH AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY HAS A 97 -- OVER 97% CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN IMMIGRATION COURT.

WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, THE CHANCE OF SUCCESS GOES DOWN TO JUST OVER 2%.

WE TALK TO THE COMMUNITY AND -- IN HOUSTON AND 2016 EARNED $11 BILLION IN WAGES.

THEY PAID A BILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES. ONE RECENT DEPORTATION EFFORT,

[02:20:08]

IF THERE IS NO VALID CASE, THEY HAVE HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT.

IF THEY HAVE A VALID CASE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO STAY AND CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES THEY CAN DO THAT TOO.

I AM PROPOSING FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

I I WILL READ MY RESOLUTION AND THEN CALL UP THE SPEAKERS.

IT SAYS HERE, WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY BENEFITS FROM DIVERSITY AND IS HOME TO IMMIGRANTS REPRESENTING DOZENS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND LANGUAGES WHO CONSTITUTE AN INSEPARABLE PART OF OUR SOCIAL FABRIC, AND WHERE AS OVER 25% OF HARRIS COUNTY IS FOREIGN BORN INCLUDING AN ESTIMATED $ -- 412,000 UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS WHO ACCOUNT FOR 10% OF THE COUNTY'S LABOR FORCE, AND THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS TO THE COUNTY INCLUDE EXPANDING OUR WORKFORCE AND STARTING THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES.

AND WHEREAS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT HOUSEHOLDS IN HOUSTON EARNED $11 BILLION IN TOTAL INCOME IN 2016, PAYING 742 MILLION IF FEDERAL TAXES AND 448 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES RESULTING IN 9.8 BILLION IN THE REMAINING TOTAL SPENDING POWER AND WHEREAS AN ESTIMATED IS 243,000 OR 20% OF CHILDREN IN HARRIS COUNTY HAD MORE -- HAD ONE OR MORE DOCUMENTED NONCITIZEN PARENTS AND 207,000 OR 18% OF CHILDREN HAD ONE OR MORE UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS, AND THE CHILDREN OF DETAINED AND DEPORTED PARENTS FACE ENORMOUS HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE THAT'S LEAD TO POOR PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL AND INCREASED RISK OF POVERTY, PLACEMENT AND FOSTER CARE AND INCARCERATION AND FOOD AND HOUSING AND SECURITY. WHERE AS HARRIS COUNTY HAS AN ESTIMATED 18,346 RESIDENTS CURRENTLY IN NEED OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION INCLUDING LARGE NUMBERS OF DETAINED FAMILY AND CHILDREN. AND WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS WHO LACK REPRESENTATION INCLUDING CHILDREN ARE FORCED TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION COURT.

AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS CRITICAL TO EVERYONE OBTAINING DUE PROCESS AND JUSTICE IN IMMIGRATION CASES. PUBLIC FUNDING OF IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAS PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING UNNECESSARY DETENTIONS AND AFFORDING AVAILABLE LEGAL RELIEF SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN REMAIN IN THIS COUNTRY LAWFULLY. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DIRECTS THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DESIGN ADMINISTER FUNDS FOR AND OVERSEE AN IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

>> SO MOVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THAT'S MY MOTION.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION -- I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS.

WE'VE GOT RAMIREZ, PANC -- PARCH -- UPON -- PONCHO ARGUELLREZ -- I WILL CALL UP

MORE NAMES AS WE GET THROUGH THESE. >> I WILL ASK HIM.

>> SIR COMMISSIONER, IT'S A PLEASURE SEEING YOU AGAIN, MR. GARCIA.

AND ALSO JUDGE LINA HIDALGO. THANK YOU TO ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO EXPRESS OURSELVES.

MY NAME IS NOEL RAMIREZ. I AM -- MY NAME IS NOEL RAMIREZ.

>> MY NAME IS NOEL RAMIREZ AND PRESIDENT OF LIVING HOPE WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION.

AN ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO BETTERING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO, LIKE I, HAVE

SUFFERED A SPINAL CORD INJURY THROUGH -- >> LINA HIDALGO:

SPANISH]. >>

[02:25:13]

>> I HAVE MET MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO -- PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE TIME ABLE TO WORK AND MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT AND TO GROW EVEN MORE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION, WOMEN WORKING CLEANING HOUSES, IN RESTAURANTS AND WE WON'T GO FAR.

>>

THAT GOES TO OUR MOUTH IS FARMED BY IMMIGRANTS. >>

>> UNFORTUNATELY MANY PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT IMMIGRANTS HAVE.

>>

>> PAIN AND SUFFERING AND MANY TIMES IRREVERSIBLE IN CHILDREN.

>> AND THERE ARE ABOUT 70 OF US, MANY WITH IMMENSE PAIN THROUGHOUT OUR BODY, AND OTHERS WITHOUT EVEN BEING ABLE TO TURN OUR HEAD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO START THIS

ORGANIZATION FOR 15 YEARS. >> ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS PAMPERS, CATHETERS, URINE BAGS AND WHEELCHAIRS AND ELECTRIC BEDS TO ALL THOSE WHO AREN'T -- WHO DON'T HAVE

MEDICAL INSURANCE INCLUDING AMERICAN CITIZENS. >>

>> A WHOLEHEARTEDLY HOPE THERE WILL BE ECONOMIC FUNDS FOR ATTORNEYS FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE

AS LOW INCOME. >> ADVICE AS THIS SHOULD BE A RIGHT THAT WE HAVE EARNED THROUGH OUR WORK.

>> BEEN DEPORTED. MANY WHO HAVE FALLEN -- MANY WHO HAVE FALLEN ASSASSINATED

TO ORGANIZED CRIME IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. >>

>> OR THEY MAY DIE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES IN THE UNITED

STATES. >> AND IF THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE THAT IS IN GOOD

[02:30:09]

HEALTH AND WALKS -- >> SPANISH]. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND IF THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR A PERSON THAT IS IN A WHEEL -- WHEELCHAIR, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR IF THEY WERE DEPORTED OR IN SOME CASES IF THAT PERSON -- IF THE PERSON THAT IS BEING WATCHED SUCH AS A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR, THEIR CAREGIVER IS DEPORTED, THEIR BROTHERS OR THEIR CHILDREN?

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

GRACIAS. >> LINA HIDALGO: PONCHO ARGUENAS?

>> ARGUENAS. MY NAME IS FRANCISCO ARGUENAS, PONCHO ARGUENAS.

THANK YOU JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS WORKING WITH PUBLIC SERVICE AND DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WE MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE ON THINGS, BUT I BELIEVE EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST. I AM AN IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO CITY, AND I HAVE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS.

OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE PROMOTED RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS.

THE FIRST I WORK WITH JIMENEZ. WE ALL KNOW SHE WOULD BE HERE IF HER HEALTH WILL ALLOW HER TO BE HERE. SHE IS HERE WITH OUR HEART. IN THIS WORK PROMOTING IMMIGRANT RIGHTS I WAS ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS PROMOTING IMMIGRANT WORKER WHEN'S THEY HAVE INJURIES AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIVING HOME FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. MY SON AND DAUGHTER ARE BOTH HERE IN -- BORN IN HOUSTON.

MY WIFE WAS BORN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO AND RAISED HERE IN TEXAS.

THE THE MOTHER -- MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS THAT CANNOT MY GRAM -- MIGRATE. I WILL SPEAK TO WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED WORKING ON THIS FOR THIS 20 YEARS IN SUPPORT OF THE CREATION OF A LEGAL FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE FACING DEPORTATION. I HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRANTS WITH DISABILITIES WHEN ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAS HELPED THEM TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THEY USE THEIR INCOME AS WORKERS GET DETAINED OR DEPORTED. I HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE POOR WITH VERY LOW WAGES HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR A LAWYER. AND I HAVE SEEN THE DEPARTMENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF LIVING WITH THE FEAR OF BEING DETAINED AND DEPORTED.

FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN VISITING WITH MY WIFE, CHRISTINE, THE SHELTERS IN AMERICA MIX. WE -- IN MEXICO. AND WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THE IMMIGRANTS ARE GOING THROUGH TRYING TO COME BACK. THIS DECISION TO PROVIDE IMMIGRANTS WITH ACCESS TO LEGAL DEFENSE IS A DECISION THAT CAN HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A DECISION THAT MIGHT NOT BE POPULAR OR EASY WITH -- THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE LIFE OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET DEPORTED THAT THEY DIDN'T CREATE AND YOU DIDN'T CREATE AND MAYBE WE CANNOT SOLVE THEM, BUT WITH ACCESS TO LEGAL REPUTATION WE CAN HELP TO UH SWROID -- AVOID THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPORTED LOSE THEIR LIFE. THANK YOU FOR THIS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> HALF -- HOVER -- JAVIER HERNANDEZ.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS SALZAR. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE BLACK LGBTQ PROJECT.

THEY ARE THE LEADERSHIP IN YEAR AND BLACK MIGRANTS FROM NIGERIA AND JAMAICA AND HONDURAS AND SO ON. I AM IN IN FAVOR OF A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS IN

[02:35:07]

ALMOST ALL OF THESE FOLKS ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO HAVE FACED INCREDIBLE DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. IT IS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE YEAR OR TRANSGENDER. I MYSELF IS ONE OF THESE UH SIGH -- ASYLUM SEEKERS WHEN NIGERIA WAS TALKING ABOUT AN ANTI-LGBTQ BILL I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY WHO TOOK MY CASE AND FOUGHT FOR ME. WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY I WOULD HAVE HAD TO DO THIS ALONE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS GOING TO A PLACE WHERE SOMEONE LIKE ME COULD BE IMPRISONED FOR 14 YEARS AND FACE VIOLENCE OR POSSIBLY DEATH. MY ORGANIZATION PROMOTED ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO HAVE FACED DAILY HARASSMENT AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

THEY ESCAPED IMPRISONMENT FOR BEING GAY AND TRANSGENDER. AND THEY ESCAPED FLEEING FOR THEIR LIVES AND SEEKING REFUGE IN HARRIS COUNTY. FOR THESE FOLKS WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRANT DETENTION AND FOR THOSE WHO CROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER, BEING LGB REQUEST MEANS THEY -- LGBTQ MEANS THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE IN DETENTION WHICH IS THE CASE FOR TRANS GENERAL -- TRANSGENDER WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE A HIGH LEVEL OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY RECEIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET OUT OF DETENTION IF THEY ARE LEGALLY REPRESENTED. AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY ARE DETAINED LONGER AND DEPORTED AT HIGH RATES.

WHAT AWAITS THEM WHEN THEY GOT -- WHEN THEY GO BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND? THEIR LIVES ARE IN GRAVE DANGER. THIS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WILL MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR INNUMERABLE PEOPLE.

IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE PEOPLE A FAIR CHANCE WITH THEIR CASE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JAVIER HERNANDEZ.

I AM A DACA RECIPIENT AND MEMBER OF UNITED DREAM. THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND TO BE HERE FOR THE TEXAS COUNTY LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS. I MIGRATED TO THE U.S. WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD.

I GRUE YOU UP AND WENT TO -- GREW UP AND WENT TO SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND I HAVE MY FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY HERE IN THE HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY AREA. FOR ME, HOME IS HERE. YET, MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF 700,000 DACA RECIPIENTS OF WHICH 36,000 CALL THE HOUSTON AREA HOME, LIKE ME AND MY BROTHER, ARE UNDER THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION EVERY DAY. THE FUTURE OF OUR LIVES IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION [INAUDIBLE] MASS -- HAS MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL DEPORT DACA RECIPIENTS. THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDS ARE ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY TO PROTECT DACA RECIPIENTS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR FAMILIES AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

ACCESS TO COUNCIL IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN -- ACCESS TO COUNSEL IS STAYING HOME OR DEPORTATION AND IN A LOT OF CASES THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.

MEMBERS OF THE LGBT PLUS COMMUNITY SUCH AS MYSELF KNOW THIS VERY WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY IN IMMIGRATION CASES IT IS A HARDSHIP FOR MANY FAMILIES, A PRIVATE LAWYER FOR DEPORTATION COSTS ARE AN AVERAGE OF $10,000. THE REALITY IS THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST ICE ARREST AND IT IS ONE OF THE TOP IN THE NATION.

THE MAJORITY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO LAWYERS. IT DEPENDS ON THE -- IT SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON THE SIZE OF YOUR WALLET. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT

[02:40:01]

THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHY I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A CREATION OF TAXPAYER FUNDED LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDS FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. MARIA ROSARIO ESPINOZA, BRIAN DAVIS, JODY CARDOZA.

>>

I AM HERE BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE MY STORY. >>

>> FOR ME IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE MY STORY AND HOW IT CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PROFILED AND PUT IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS. I AM DIRECTLY IMPACTED AFTER EXPERIENCING FIRSTHAND THE RISK OF DEPORTATION. I FOUND MYSELF AT RISK LIKE

THE OVER 26,000 IMMIGRANTS OF HOUSTON. >>

>> I FOUND MYSELF AT RISK -- I WAS IN PROCEEDINGS IN 2018 AND SPENT OVER EIGHT MONTHS DETAINED IN DETENTION. I EXPERIENCED DUE TO MY LANGUAGE AND/OR YEN STATION.

AND ORIENTATION. >> WAS ABLE ACCESS LEGAL COUNSEL UNTIL I FELT I COULD RECLAIM MY SPACE.

I SPENT FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT REPRESENTATION UNTIL I FOUND OUT ABOUT OUTLINE WHERE MY

CASE WAS GIVEN TO A PRO BONO ATTORNEY. >>

>> MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE OVERWHELMED DUE TO THE INCREASE OF DEPORTATION DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION ALONE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO SUPPORT AND WON

ASYLUM IN OCTOBER OF 2018. >> TO RETURN TO MY PASSION OF COACHING, PLAYING AND TEACHING SOCCER THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF MY LEAVE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO YOUNG TEENS THE SKILLS AND GUIDANCE TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSION AND LOVE FOR FOR -- FOR THE SPORT.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE TRANS AND YEAR -- QUEER RUN A A HIGHER CRISP -- RISK OF TRAUMA IN DETENTION. I WANT EVERY LGBT IMMIGRANT IN HARRIS COUNTY TO FEEL SECURE AND FOR IT TO BE CLEAR -- FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN TO BE CLEAR.

SO EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD. THIS FIGHT IS LIFE OR DEATH

[02:45:03]

FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> THAT I AM A UNIVERSITY PERSON. WHY -- I HELP PEOPLE.

I DON'T HURT PEOPLE. LEAN THANK YOU. >> GRACIAS.

>> MY NAME IS BRIAN DAVIS AND A CONSTITUENT AS WELL AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR.

JUDGE HIDALGO AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY IN FAVOR OF PUBLIC FUNDING FOR DEPORTATION DEFENSE.

I COME TO YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING BECAUSE IT IS PUBLIC POLICY AS WELL AS BEING THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I HAVE NO PERM INTEREST -- PERSONAL INTEREST AND NOR DO I HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH ANYONE THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THOSE CASES BEFORE IMMIGRATION COURTS. I COME TO SAY OUR LEGAL SYSTEM IS BASED ON PROVIDING FAIR ADJUDICATION, BUT IN THE INSTANCE OF IMMIGRATION COURTS, THE LACK OF EFFECTIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND THE ABILITY TO DELIVER JUSTICE IN A FAIR AND TIMELY MANNER IS UNDERMINE. THOSE REPRESENTED BY COUNCIL ARE 10 TIMES -- COUNSEL ARE 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME THAN THOSE WHO DON'T. 60% OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS DON'T HAVE LAWYERS AND SHOCKINGLY CLOSE TO 27,000 OF THOSE NOT IN DETENTION, BUT FACING DEPORTATION ARE NOT REPRESENTED. THE MOST INDEFENSIBLE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN IN IMMIGRATION COURT HAVING TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES. CHILDREN.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE RESULT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES ON IMMIGRATION HAS RESULTED IN A 45% INCREASE IN DEPORTATIONS FROM HARRIS COUNTY.

WE SHOULD NOT BE CLOSING THE DOORS COMPLETELY TO THOSE WHO SEEK TO IMIGRATE TO THIS COUNTRY. RATHER, IT SHOULD BE FOUNDED IN FAIRNESS IN DECIDING CASES. PUBLIC FUNDING OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THOSE FACING IMMIGRATION HEARINGS NOT ONLY SERVES THE INTEREST OF IMMIGRANTS, BUT THE INTEREST OF HARRIS COUNTY. JUDGE HIDALGO MENTIONED IN THE COURTS DESCRIBING THE RESOLUTION AS TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IMMIGRANTS HAVE ON THIS COUNTY SO I WON'T REPEAT THEM HERE. THE HARM BEING INFLICTED TO CHILDREN IS ASTONISHING.

ALMOST A THIRD OF ALL CHILDREN IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT WHO IS NOT A U.S.

CITIZEN AND OVER A QUARTER MILLION CHILDREN HAVE A PARENT WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED AND AT RISK OF DEPORTATION. THE STRESSES ON THESE FAMILIES ARE HAVING BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS. IN THE CASE OF THOSE SEPARATED BY PARENTS, THE HARM IS POTENTIALLY IRREPARABLE. HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD COMMIT FUNDS TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GIDDEON VERSUS WAYNE WRIGHT, THERE CAN BE NO EQUAL JUSTICE WHERE THE TRIAL A MAN GETS THAT DEPENDS ON THE MONEY HE HAS.

HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD DO THE SAME TO MAKE SURE IMMIGRANTS HAVE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: JODY CARDOZA,

RABBI, CARLOS CAMPOS AND DAVID SEAVER. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

TEXAS LEADS THE COUNTRY IN THE DETENTION AND ENDING OF DEPORTATION --

>> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU SPEAK YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. >> MY NAME IS DR. JODY BURGER CARDOZO AND I AM A ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE GRADUATE COLLEGE OF ASSOCIATE WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. TEXAS LEADS THE COUNTRY AND THE DEPORTATION AND DE -- DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS. MY ROLE AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND THE GRADUATE OF COLLEGE SOCIAL WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MY RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE HAS FOCUSED ON HOW STRUCTURAL FACTORS ON HOW IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, DETENTION AND DEPORTATION AND LEGAL STATUS AFFECT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. I HAVE ALSO STUDIED HOW PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AFFECTS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND SUBSTANCE USE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION I WORKED WITH THE LEGAL SECTOR TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS TO CHILDREN , YOUTH AND ADULTS SEEKING IMMIGRATION RELIEF SUCH AS ASYLUM. IN THIS CAPACITY I HAVE SERVED AS AN EXPERT WITNESS AND OVER

[02:50:02]

MY OWN RESEARCH HAVE LOOKED AT IMMIGATION ENFORCEMENT ON ANXIETY DISORDERS.

IN OUR SAMPLE THAT WAS TAKEN IN HOUSTON, WE FOUND 64% OF FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION OF KIDS MET THE CLINICAL CRITERIA FOR AN ANXIETY DISORDER. THE NATIONAL PRECEDENCE FOR CHILDREN 0 TO 18 WAS 7.1%. YOU HEAR CLINICAL ANXIETY AND THE HOUSTON SAMPLE WAS 9 TIMES THE PREVALENCE OF NATIONAL RATES. KNOWING A PARENT OR A FAMILY MEMBER DEPORTED INCREASED ANXIETY. AND BEING BORN IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT SHIELD ADD LESS DENT -- ADOLESCENTS FROM THIS AFFECT.

THERE ARE FEAR OF FAMILY SEPARATION THAT IS INCREASING THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL AROUSAL AND AT LEAST IN PART MAKING THEM SICK. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS HAVE ALL EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE LONG-TERM AFFECTS OF FAMILY SEPARATION, DETENTION AND DEPORTATION ON THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND STRESS REACTIVE TEE IN CHILDREN.

PARENTAL DEPORTATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ACADEMIC DISENGAGER -- DISENGAGE MEANT AND ALL OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY OBSERVED THE MENTAL HEALTH OF KIDS DE DE COMPENSATE AND THEY BECOME TREATMENT RESISTANT AND PSYCHOSIS INCREASES. WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY TO ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS THEY RUN THE RISK OF NEGLECT, PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE AND FOR UH -- ASYLUM SEEKERS CAN EVEN MEAN DEATH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM GRATEFUL TO THE COURT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I AM THE SENIOR RABBI OF CONGREGATION EMANUEL WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SYNAGOGUES IN HOUSTON. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION AND TO ENCOURAGE THIS COURT TO APPROVE ITS PASSAGE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU BOTH AS A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER AND AS A LEADER OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY.

JUST ABOUT EVERY JEWISH FAMILY HAS A STORY ABOUT A TIME WHEN THEY OR THEIR PARENTS OR GRAND PARENTS CAME TO OUR CITY AND COUNTRY AS IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SPEAKER -- ASYLUM SEEKERS. IT HAS BEEN A SAFE HAVEN THAT OFFERS ACCESS TO DUE PROCESS AND TO AN ASSUMPTION OF GOOD FAITH ABOUT OUR INTENTIONS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE LIVES HERE AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SOCIETY AS RESIDENTS AND AS EMPLOYEES AND AS GOOD NEIGHBORS. THE SYSTEMS ARE WHAT ENABLED US TO BUILD SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE LIVES. IN CONTRAST THE EXPERIENCE OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH INCLUDE PAINFUL AND INHUMANE AND INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE VALUES WE HOLD DEAR AS AMERICANS. IT IS IMPERATIVE WITH THE RELIGIOUS VALUES I TEACH MY CONGREGATION. IT IS AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE ACCESS TO SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE AND TO DUE PROCESS AND TO INEQUITABLE POTENTIAL AND FOR EVERYONE TO BE SAFE AND SECURE. WE CANNOT ABIDE BY THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH DEEP POCKETS OR EXTENSIVE POLITICAL CAPITAL.

EVERYONE IN OUR CITY DESERVES ACCESS TO INJUTS THIS AND -- INJUSTICE AND TO PLEAD IN WAYS THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOVE SO MUCH IS THAT IT IS A DIVERSE CITY OF IMMIGRANTS AND DREAMERS. IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY AND OBLIGATION TO GUARANTEE THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND THE CHANCE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY BY JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION

IN HARRIS COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

SCHWA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARLOS.

I LIVE IN ADRIAN GARCIA'S PRECINCT. I AM A FIRST GENERATION SOCIOLOGY STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.

I URGE ALL OF YOU TO VOTE YES FOR ILLEGAL DEFENSE FUND. WHAT IS JUSTICE?

[02:55:05]

I LIVE THE LIFE OF AN IMMIGRANT. I WAS IN FEAR THAT THE PEOPLE I LOVE WOULD BE ONE OF THE 69% OF IMMIGRANTS DETAINED WITHOUT A LAWYER.

WE ARE POOR PEOPLE. WE ARE FEARFUL PEOPLE. IS THIS THE SOCIETY WE WANT? IS THIS JUSTICE? IS IT JUSTICE TO EXPECT POOR PEOPLE TO SPEND AT LEAST $10,000 IN LAWYERS? IS IT JUSTICE TO EXPECT IMMIGRANTS TO BE EXPERTS OF THE LAW AND YET GIVE CRIMINAL LAW COURTS THE RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY? WE IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE IN THE CROSSROADS OF JUSTICE THROUGH A YES VOTE.

AND WE HAVE ON THE OTHER SIDE THE INJUSTICE THROUGH A NO VOTE.

LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, MY FAMILY ARE POOR PEOPLE. I COME FROM A POVERISHED BACKGROUND. MY FAMILY ARE IMMIGRANTS. WE DIDN'T GO TO PARKS.

WE DIDN'T GO TO MANY THINGS. WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT TO THE CITY.

WE DIDN'T GO TO VACATIONS BECAUSE OF FEAR THAT KEY COULD -- THAT WE COULD GET STOPPED. BECAUSE OF FEAR WE COULD NOTE REPRESENT STATIONS BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE $TEP,000. $10,000. THANKFULLY NOW WE HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. THANKFULLY WE CAN REPRESENT OURSELVES.

THERE ARE MANY IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT CANNOT AFFORD THAT.

THEY CAN BARELY AFFORD THE ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. WHO CAN BARELY AFFORD THE FOOD TO EAT. THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FORGIVING ME -- FOR GIVING ME MY TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> HELLO. I AM RABBI DAVID SEE -- SEGAL.

I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TREASURE OF THE BOARD OF THE REVENA ASSOCIATION.

I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, BORN AND RAISED HERE AND NOW RAISING MY FAMILY IN COMMISSIONER ELLIS' PRECINCT. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CREATE A PUBLIC FUND FOR I'M IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE. I AM HERE BECAUSE OF FAMILY AND FAITH. I AM THE GRAND CHILD OF AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY.

MY MOTHER IS A FIRST GENERATION OF HOUSTONIAN. HER PARENTS CAME FROM EUROPE LOOKING FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

MY GRAND PARENTS FOUND THAT HERE. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A VETERINARIAN AND MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A TEACHER. THEY NEVER FORGOT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAD GIVEN THEM AND THEY TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH GRAT -- GRATITUDE. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE I WANT THE SAME BLESSINGS FOR TODAY'S IMMIGRANTS. IN A COUNTY THAT TOPS THE NATIONAL LIST FOR I.C.E. ARRESTS AND DEPORTATION, ONLY 30% OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS HAD REPRESENTATION LAST YEAR. AND THOSE WHO DID REACHED THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AT 10 TIMES THE RATE OF THOSE WITHOUT LAWYERS. THERE ARE STORIES OF PEOPLE TRAUMATIZED AND FORCED TO DEFEND THEIR CITIZENSHIP. FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER AND EVERYONE DESERVES DUE PROCESS. THEY ARE ALMOST 30% OF THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND THEY CONTRIBUTE $2.5 BILLION IN LOCAL AND STATE TAXES.

UNNECESSARY DEPORTATIONS HURT OUR ECONOMY. FINALLY I AM HERE BECAUSE OF MY FAITH. OVER AND OVER THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO HELP PEOPLE AND

[03:00:05]

-- >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A COMMENT.

>> I WANT TO SAY TO THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND THEY ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE NOT LATINOS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LEFT-HANDING -- FOR LENDING YOUR VOICE TO THIS ISSUE YOU WOULD NATURALLY EXPECT THAT LATIOS WOULD -- LATINOS WOULD SPEAK UP ON THIS. IT MEANS THE WORLD THAT THOSE THAT DON'T SHARE THAT VERY SPECIFIC CURRENT STORY ARE HERE TO LEND YOUR VOICES AND YOUR FACES AND YOUR ENERGY TO THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANGELA DE MARTINEZ, ROBERT ESTES.

AND MAKALA RODRIGUEZ. >> MY NAME IS ANGELA LIMAS. I AM FROM EL SAL VAW -- EL SALVADOR.

NOT FINDING AN ATTORNEY I HAD TO REPRESENT MYSELF BY MYSELF IN COURT.

THE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY AND ENGLISH --

>> HAVING SOMEONE TO REPRESENT ME AND TO EXPLAIN MY CASE I FIND MYSELF WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING DEPORTED. AND WITH THE FEAR THAT THEY SEPARATE ME FROM MY DAUGHTER.

>> PUNISHMENTS. I HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY TO HELP AND GIVE THEM THE RIGHT -- THEY DON'T DESERVE TO GROW UP WHERE I GREW UP. I HAVE FEARED -- I HAVE FEAR OF REPRESENTING MYSELF AT MY NEXT COURT DATE AS I FEAR HAVING TO RETURN TO MY COUNTRY.

>> LIVE FREELY AND WITHOUT FEAR. WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SECURITY AND PROTECTION

WITHOUT PERSECUTION. >> FEW OF US WHO CAN PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT AID IMMIGRANTS AND OFFER LEGAL HELP DON'T COUNT THE MONEY OR THE CAPACITY TO REPRESENT SO MANY CASES IS.

>>

[03:05:15]

YOUR TIME. >> GRACIAS. >> LINA HIDALGO: RABBI ESTES.

MAKAYLA RODRIGUEZ. >> BI -- BUEAS TAR -- TARDES. >>

>> MY NAME IS MARIA BRESETTA. >> WAS ARREST -- ARRESTED BECAUSE OF AN ARGUMENT WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.

>>

WAS PREGNANT, THEY STILL ARRESTED HIM. >>

>> HE ASKED TO JUST GET SOME CLOTHES, BUT HE HE WAS STILL ARRESTED, AND NOW HE HAS TWO

YEARS IN MEXICO. >> ALL OF HIS FAMILY IS HERE. HE ARRIVED HERE AT THREE YEARS OLD.

>>

HAVE MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY, HE WAS DEPORTED. >>

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAMILY OF LOW INCOME RESOURCES. THE ATTORNEY WE ATTEMPTED TO

GET FOR HIM WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. >>

>> I AM HERE TO GIVE MY TESTIMONY. >>

>> THEY ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVE LITTLE BABIES LIKE MINE WHO DIDN'T EVEN GET TO MEET HIS. TODAY HE IS IN DANGER BECAUSE HE IS IN MEXICO BY HIMSELF AND

HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW MUCH. >> I AM ASKING FOR OTHER MOTHERS WHO MAY BE SUFFERING

LIKE ME FOR SONS. >> THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CONSCIENCE AND SO THAT YOU MAY HELP.

>> THANK YOU FORGIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GRACIAS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE HIDALGO. MY NAME IS RABBI ESTES. I AM A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY AND LIVE AND WORK IN COMMISSIONER RADACK'S PRECINCT.

I AM THE RABBI AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON URBAN ASSOCIATION, AN ASSOCIATION OF

[03:10:05]

AS A RABBI AND THIS IS -- MOST RABBIS ARE RHA, I THINK OF THE MORAL DECISIONS THAT WE AS A SOCIETY MAKE. TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPALS GUIDE ME WHEN I AM THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS. ONE IS THE EXCERPT -- EXERPTATION.

JUSTICE, JUSTICE YOU SHALL PURSUE. IN THE IDEA THAT ONE MAY NOT STR WE WERE ONCE A STRANGE NEITHER A STRANGE LAND. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS BOTH OF THESE TEACHINGS, ESTABLISHING A PUBLICLY FUNDED LEGAL FUND AND ENSURES THAT EVERYONE RECEIVES FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT BEFORE THE LAW IT IS THE MOST JUST THING WE CAN DO. ADDITIONALLY BY PROVIDING FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES, WE ARE STATING AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE VALUE THE HUMAN WORTH OF ALL PEOPLE AND NOT JUST THOSE WITH MEANS. ADDITIONALLY PROVIDING FOR IMMIGRATION DEFENSE SERVES THE NEED OF HARRIS COUNTY IN GENERAL. IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE $2.5 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ACCORDING TO THE NEW AMERICAN ECONOMY.

FURTHERMORE ALLOWING THE FAMILIES TO STAY TOGETHER CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELL BEING OF OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY. HOUSTON, THANK GOD, A COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS AND NEW COMERS AND DREAMERS. WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF OUR GREAT COUNTY. AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A TAXPAYER-FUNDED LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MAKAYLA RODRIGUEZ.

I AM A GRADUATE INTERN WITH MI PHO MEAL -- FAMILA-BOTA. I AM WITH THE HOUSTON GRADUATE SOCIAL WORK. I SUPPORT THE TAXPAYER FUNDED DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION IN HARRIS COUNTY. IN MY WORK WITH MFV I CAN EMPOWER AND MENTOR YOUNG LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE EMPOWER THEM TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED, AND I AM CONSTANTLY INSPIRED BY THESE HIGH SCHOOL TEENAGERS WHO ORGANIZE, WHO INNOVATE AND ARE CONSTANTLY TAKING CIVIC ACTION BECAUSE THEY WANT A JUST AND EQUITABLE FUTURE. DESPITE THE PASSION I SEE AMONG THE STUDENTS, ANOTHER THING I SEE A FEAR. MANY STUDENTS ARE AFRAID BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDEW POINTED AND THEY HAVE -- UNDOCUMENTED AND THEY ARE PARENTS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

YESTERDAY I SPOKE WITH ONE OF OUR STUDENT LEADERS, SOPHIA. SHE IS A 17-YEAR-OLD UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT WHO CURRENTLY HAS NO LEGAL PROTECTION.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SOPHIE -- SOPHIA WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO STOPPED BY YOUR OFFICE YESTERDAY WHO BROUGHT FLOWERS. HER STATUS, SHE DOES NOT LIVE WITHOUT FEAR BECAUSE OF HER STATUS, BUT SHE IS FEARLESS. SHE SAYS EVERY TIME SHE LEAVES HER HOUSE SHE FEARS ONE SMALL MISTAKE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RIP HER AWAY FROM THE ONLY HOME SHE HAS EVER KNOWN. SOPHIA AND OTHER STUDENTS LIKE HER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR -- SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR EVERY DAY OF BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES. WHAT WOULD BE MOST EBBING WAITABLE -- EQUITABLE FOR SOPHIA AND PEOPLE LIKE HER IS A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP. I KNOW IT IS A FEDERAL POLICY AND I KNOW IN HOUSTON WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, BUT IN HARRIS COUNTY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THESE STUDENTS' LIVES BY OFFERING LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST DE OR -- DEPORTATION. A QUARTER OF A MILLION CHILDREN HAVE ONE PARENT AT RISK OF DEPORTATION. AND TO REMIND YOU DR. CARDOZA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TALKED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT IT HAS, PTSD, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. IT IS NOT FARE TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY WERE BORN. CHILDREN WHO ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR TRUANCY AND DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL. IT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR ALL OF THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES WE JUST DISCUSSED. PROTECTING CHILDREN'S FUTURE AND WELL BEING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLICING AND IMMIGRATION STATUS.

FOR THAT REASON I SURGEON -- I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A TAXPAYER FUNDED IMMIGRANT LEGALIZATION FUND SO SO FEE YAW AND OTHERS DON'T -- SO SO FEE -- SOPHIA AND OTHERS

[03:15:06]

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE NEED TO REPEAT THAT? I DIDN'T HAVE ON MY MIC.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE COURT, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RADACK AND COMMISSIONER CAG LE E --

CAGLE. >> I AM WITH THE INDEPENDENT ALLIED TRADE.

WE COVER CONSTRUCTION AND FINISHING TRADES LIKE FINISHING, GLAZERS, DRYWALL ET CETERA. WE REPRESENT SHOW DECORATORS AND REPRESENT MEMBERS IF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA. WE ARE BASED HERE IN HOUSTON. IMENT -- IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP A LARGE PART OF THE INDUSTRY IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT INCLUDES UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS. IN OUR INDUSTRY IT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPLOITED GROUPS.

WE ARE MEMBERS HOUSTON LEADS COALITION AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IMMIGRATION REFORM HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THERE IS A CONTINUED COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY TO BE A CATALYST IN THE FIGHT FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE WE WANT THE FIGHT TO CONTINUE.

THEY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE THESE ISSUES AFFECT OUR MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MAKES UP A GROWING PERCENTAGE OF THE LABOR FORCE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THEY GO OUT AND WORK HARD TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND CONTRIBUTE BILLIONS TO THE ECONOMY. MANY OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS ARE SUPPORTED BY SINGLE INCOME. IMAGINE THE IMPACT WHEN THERE IS ANY INTERRUPTION.

AND NOW ADD THE STRAIN OF FIGHTING FOR THE ABILITY TO STAY WITH YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE OF YOUR INABILITY TO PAY LEGAL FEES. WHEN THESE FAMILIES ARE AFFECTED IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE HARRIS COUNTY. IT WILL GIVE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. IMMIGRANT ISSUES. AS IT IS OFTEN NOTED HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE IN THE COUNTY AND WE URGE THIS COURT TO CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER AND A PIONEER IN IMMIGRANT REFORM. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES.

>> WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION DONNA IS NOT HERE I HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WILL TAKE HER SPOT. THANK YOU. JUDGE YOU ARE BOLD BY DOING THIS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FORWARD THINKING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED THIS HELP. WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEADERSHIP ON THAT. GOOD AFTERNON TO THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE GULF COAST LABOR FEDERATION OF THE AFL/CIO. WE REPRESENT 55,000 UNION MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE BUILDING TRADE SERVICE MANUFACTURING TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC SECTORS. THIS NATION FOUNDING -- SINCE THIS NATION'S FOUNDED MORE THAN 55 MILLION IMMIGRANTS FROM EVERY CONTINENT HAS SETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES. YET SADLY TODAY IMMIGRANTS FACE FEAR AND HOSTILITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY, AND THEY NEED OUR HELP.

I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS FOR ALL OF THE REASONS, JUDGE, THAT YOUR RESOLUTION SO ELOQUENTLY STATES ALL PEOPLE DESERVE PROCESS. DUE PROCESS.

FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER. ALL PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH A DIGNITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION BASED ON RACE, LANGUAGE, NAGSAL ORIGIN -- NATIONAL ORIGIN.

HOUSTON IS A COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS. I URGE THIS BODY TO FULLY SUPPORT A PUBLICLY-FUNDED IMMIGRATION DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION, ACCESS TO COUNSEL IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. DO THE RIGHT THING.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM AN ATTORNEY AT GONZALEZ OLIVEARI IN HOUSTON. I AM APPEARING ON BEHALF OF OUR FIRM'S CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, MR. RYAN GONZALEZ. GONZALEZ OLIVEARI IS A PRIVATE LAW FIRM, BUT REPRESENT MANY CLIENTS IN HOUSTON PRO BONO. UNFORTUNATELY ALTHOUGH YOU HEAR MANY SAD AND TRAGIC STORIES, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH YOU TODAY, OUR FIRM IS NOT ABLE TO REPRESENT ALL CLIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATIONS.

RESOURCES DON'T PERMIT THAT. WE ARE HERE TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN

[03:20:07]

ALTHOUGH ACCESS TO AN ATTORNEY IS A KEY FEATURE OF THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM, EACH DAY AN -- IN IMMIGRATION COURTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION IMMIGRANTS ARE FORCED TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE AWESOME POWER OF THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THESE IMMIGRANTS INCLUDE ASYLUM SEEKERS FLEEING HARM AND PERSECUTION AND UNACCOMPANIED MINOR CHILDREN FLEEING UH BUYS AND NEGLECT. ANYONE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR STATUS AND STAY WITH LOVED ONES IN THE UNITED STATES. IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL THESE GROUPS ARE FORCED TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN A COMPLEX AND CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF IMMIGRATION LAW. THE STATE CAN BE LIFE OR DEATH.

A SAN FRANCISCO IMMIGRATION JUDGE HAS SAID IMMIGRATION COURT IS LIKE HEARING DEATH PENALTY CASES IN TRAFFIC COURT. WE KNOW THE RESULTS OF THIS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR SYSTEM. AS MANY OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED, THE DATA SHOWS IMMIGRANTS WITH LEGAL COUNCIL ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE RELEASED FROM DETENTION AND ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO SEEK AND SUCCESSFULLY OBJECT IMMIGRATION RELIEF.

FOR EXAMPLE, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL, FROM 2007 TO 2012, OVER 1.2 MILLION DEPORTATION CASES WERE DECIDED IN THE UNITED STATES.

DURING THAT PERIOD 44% OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS WERE RELEASED FROM DETENTION WHEREAS 11% OF DETAINEES WHO HAD NO ATTORNEY WERE RELEASED.

THE DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT THE DETAINED IMMIGRANTS WITH LAWYERS WERE 10 AND A HALF TIMES MORE LIKELY TO SUCCESSFULLY OBTAIN RELIEF FROM THE IMMIGRATION COURT.

TRAGICALLY DESPITE THE HIGH STAKES INVOLVED ONLY 37% OF ALL IMMIGRANTS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES ARE ABLE TO SECURE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

IN RESPONSE TO THE DUE PROCESS VIOLATIONS WE ROUTINELY WITNESSED THROUGHOUT THE NATION'S IMMIGRATION COURT SIS MORE AND MORE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDS HAVE STARTED TO SPRING UP ACROSS THE NATION. THESE DEFENSE FUNDS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL GRANTS FOR LOW COST LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ASSIST IMMIGRANTS AND PREPARE THEIR CASES SO THEY STAND A FIGHTING CHANCE AT SUCCEEDING AND REMAINING WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

FOR THESE REASONS WE RESPECTFULLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.

>> I AM RABBI DANIEL HOUR -- HOROWITZ. I WORK HERE IN HOUSTON WHERE I LIVE, AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT FACES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE MEDIA AND HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID TO ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME AS WELL.

MY FOUR GRANDPARENTS ALL IMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY FROM EASTERN EUROPE.

ALL OF THEM WOUND UP IN OKLAHOMA CITY AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME PLACE AND MY FATHER'S MOTHER NEVER ADAPTED VERY WELL TO THIS COUNTRY. COULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SPEAKING YIDISH IN OKLAHOMA CITY. I'M SURE THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE LIKED -- WHO WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD SEND HER BACK WHERE SHE CAME FROM WHICH OF COURSE IF THEY HAD DONE THAT IT WOULD HAVE MEANT THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE COME TO EXIST. SO IN OUR SYNAGOGUE WE HAVE PRAYER SERVICES EVERY MORNING AND EVERY EVENING. I WENT AND TODAY'S PSALM FOR THE DAY WAS PSALM82 WHICH SAYS CHAMPION THE WEAK AND THE ORPHANED AND DO RIGHT BY THE DOWNTRODDEN AND DESTITUTE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN APPROPRIATE THOUGHT TO SHARE ON THIS SUBJECT.

I SAW TODAY'S NEWS ABOUT THE CONVICTION OF HAIR -- HARVEY WEINSTEIN, A REPUGNANT FIGURE IN OUR SOCIETY. SOMEBODY YOU WOULDN'T WANT AROUND YOUR DAUGHTERS.

AND YET HE CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE BEST LAWYERS AVAILABLE, AND HE IS ABLE TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE AMERICAN WAY. EVEN THE WORST CRIMINAL IS ENTITLED TO A DEFENSE. SO WHAT WILL WE PROVIDE FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE IMMIGRANT, THE DEFENSE OF THE DOWNTRODDEN AND DESOLATE? WHAT WILL WE DO FOR FAMILIES

[03:25:05]

EVERYONE IS PROVIDED WITH A DEFENSE. AND SO I SUPPORT THE CREATION OF PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE LEGAL DEFENSE AGAINST DEPORTATION.

TO SUSTAIN THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND TO MAINTAIN THEMSELVES HERE.

I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT IT AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >>

>>

FOUNDER OF THE TRANSIT BASED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. >>

>> I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE VOICES OF THE TRANS QUEER COMMUNITY HELD AT THE

DETENTION CENTER. >> LATINA I REPRESENT THOSE WHO ARE IN DETENTION WITHOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

>>

BY SEEKING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY. >>

>> TRANS WOMEN WHO ARE SURVIVORS AND HAVE COME WITH A DESIRE TO LIVE THEIR IDENTITY WITH DIGNITY AND WITHOUT PERSECUTION AND WITHOUT TORTURE AND WITHOUT STIGMA AND

WITHOUT BEING VIOLATED IN THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS. >>

>> TRANS WOMEN ARE A MINORITY WITHIN ANOTHER MINORITY. AND TODAY WE ARE FIGHTING TO BE INCLUDED IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. AS A TRANS WOMAN I CAN SAY THAT CURRENTLY TRANS WOMEN IN DETENTION CENTERS ARE FACING THE SYSTEMATIC INEQUALITY OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS US UNDER DIRECT ATTACKS.

>> DETENTION CENTERS. ROXANNA HERNANDEZ DIED ON MAY 25TH, 2018 DUE TO ALLEGED HEALTH COMPLICATIONS SINCE SHE HAD NO ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES AND CARE AND WAS

CONFINED ALIGN WITH I.C.E. >> JUNE 1ST 2013 IN I.C.E. CUSTODY ALLEGEDLY DUE TO HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.

>>

>> REPRESENTATION AND THEIR LIVES ARE IN DANGER WITHIN THE DETENTION CENTERS.

>> FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. WE ALL HAVE RIGHTS TO SECURITY AND PROTECTION AGAINST

PERCENT -- PERSECUTION AND TORTURE. >>

>> ALL PEOPLE DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION ON THE GROUNDS OF

[03:30:01]

THE GENDER IDENTITY. >> CREATION OF THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>>

BEING DEPORTED. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. GRACIAS. >> GRACIAS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I ALSO PROMISED CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT SHE ASKED ME TO SHARE THAT SHE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE RESOLUTION. WE HAVE ANDRES RODRIGUEZ AND JESSICA MORINAS AND CAROLINA GONZALEZ AND AN GREE -- ANDREA GUTTON, GRACIE-ARMIJO, KATE

VIC RE. JAKE FLOREZ AND CARMEN IBON. >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS JADE FLOREZ AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR 34 YEARS.

MY FAMILY MIGRATED HERE FROM MEXICO. I AM WITH A GROUP OF MIGRANT FAMILY THAT'S SUPPORT EACH OTHER AROUND IMMIGRATION AND OTHER THINGS ALSO.

WHILE -- WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TRY TO PREPARE OURSELVES AND OUR OTHER FAMILIES TO BE READY IN CASE SOMEBODY GETS DETAINED OR DEPORTED. WE PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS AHEAD OF TIME AND WE PRACTICE HOW TO REPRESENT OURSELVES. AND I WANTED TO SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON A COUPLE OF CASES. A FRIEND OF OURS, HER FATHER WAS AGAIN BEING A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR 25 PLUS YEARS MADE -- SHE HAD A RUN IN WITH A POLICE OFFICER AND ENDED UP IN CUSTODY AND THEN WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROPER DEFENSE.

AND NOW HE IS WAITING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO I.C.E. AND THEY WILL SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS AND WIFE WHO ARE ALSO HERE.

WE HAVE A PAIR OF SIBLINGS WHO HAVE BOTH BEEN RAISED IN HOUSTON AND WERE UNDOCUMENTED. ONE WAS PULLED OVER IN A TRAFFIC STOP.

BECAUSE OF OTHER TRAFFIC TICKETS HE HAD PENDING, HE IS NOW ALSO WAITING.

THEY CANNOT AFFORD A LAWYER, SO HE WILL WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH HIS CASE AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH I.C.E. AFTERWARDS. THIS IS JUST TWO STORIES OF MANY STORIES, RIGHT? I HAVE BROUGHT COPIES OF OTHER STORIES FOR EACH OF YOU SO YOU CAN HAVE THEM. THESE ARE LOTS OF STORIES AND THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE USING OUR TAX DOLLARS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE REPRESENTATION IN OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES CAN STOP BEING SEPARATED, INCARCERATED AND SUPPORTED.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND THANK YOU, MY COMMUNITY, FOR COMING TOGETHER TO DO

THIS. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

THERE IS ALSO LESLIE DE LA GARZA AND TIMOTHY LING AND MARIA ESPINOZA.

I WILL CALL OUT AT THE END. I KNOW WE HAVE THREE LISTS GOING OVER HERE.

GO AHEAD. >> CAROL LINA GONZALEZ. YOU CALLED MY NAME EARLIER.

I AM CAROLINA GONZALEZ AND WE ARE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN CALIFORNIA, BUT WE ALSO SUPPORT AND ARE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON LEADS COALITION.

I WANT TO SAY HOUSTON LEADS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE GOT TOGETHER TO MOVE FORWARD POLICIES THAT WE PROTECT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

INCREASING ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS ONE OF OUR GOALS.

I AM HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN LEADERSHIP TO TAKE THIS STEP FORWARD.

HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD STAND ON THE SIDE OF FAIR DUE PROCESS FOR ALL AND SHOULD STAND ON THE SIDE OF ITS 1.2 MILLION IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY.

THEY ALL ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

MOST IMMIGRANTS MUST FIGHT THEIR CASES WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY GUIDING THEM THROUGH THE GRUELING IMMIGRATION MAZE EVEN THOUGH THEIR FUTURES AND THEIR LIVES ARE AT STAKE.

THE RESOLUTION INTRODUCED RECOGNIZES THAT 69% OF THE DETAINED INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSTON AREA DO NOT HAVE LAWYERS TO FIGHT THEIR CASE WITH.

IT RECOGNIZES THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS INCREASED 45% IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND JUST YESTERDAY WE LEARNED FROM NEW TRACK DATA THAT I.C.E. DETAINERS ISSUES IN HARRIS COUNTY ROSE 113% JUST IN ONE FISCAL YEAR.

[03:35:07]

BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS ARE ARRESTED AT HIGHER RATES DUE TO RACIAL PROFILING.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE BAIL REFORM HAS LEFT OUT IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE PLACED IN JAIL AND TRANSFERRED TO I.C.E. CUSTODY. AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM WE MUST INCLUDE IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR NEEDS OF DUE PROCESS AND EQUITY AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION. I ASK TODAY YOU SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF CREATION OF LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.

IT WILL MEAN THAT HAIR -- HARRIS COUNTY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WILL HAVE DUE PROCESS AND A CHANCE TO FIGHT THEIR CASES. MOST IMPORTANTLY WE WOULD BE GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO STAY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS ANDREA GUTTON. THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES COLLABORATIVE, AND WE SIT ON THE HOUSTON LEADS COALITION. I LIVE AND WORK IN PRECINCT 1 AND ARE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS -- OUR MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COALITION LIVE AND WORK IN ALL OF THE PRECINCTS.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION AND TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER IT AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR IT. EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO A FAIR COURT HEARING AND HAVING AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT HOW MANY FOLKS ARE IN THE DETENTION DEPORTATION PIPELINE. WE HAVE HEARD HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.

BUT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WIN THEIR CASES WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, 2.2% OF DETAINED CASES. LAST YEAR IN NONDETAINED COURT THERE WERE FOUR CASES WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY THAT WERE GRANTED THE RELEASE THAT THEY SOUGHT. THIS AFFECTS ALL IMMIGRANTS, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS WITH DACA AND EVEN U.S. CITIZENS.

SINCE 2008 AT LEAST 111 U.S. CITIZENS HAVE HAD THEIR CASES TERMINATED AFTER SUCCESSFULLY PROVING THEIR CITIZENSHIP CLAIM AND U.S. CITIZENS HAVE BEEN DEPORTED AND IT TAKES YEARS TO BRING THEM BACK AND THE GOVERNMENT WON'T PAY TO RETURN THEM.

AS ANGELA MENTIONED AND AS ROSS MENTIONED AND AS A PRO BONO ATTORNEY THERE IS NOT CAPACITY FROM THE LEGAL SERVICES COMMUNITY AND THE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS CANNOT HELP EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT. IT IS TIME FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANTS THAT FUEL OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE HUGE DIFFERENCE THAT IMMIGRANTS MAKE TO HARRIS COUNTY. BUT WHAT YOU YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IS WHEN A FAMILY IS DEPORTED WHAT IT MEANS FOR THAT FAMILY. THE FAMILIES CAN EXPERIENCE UP TO 90 PSHES -- 90% DROP IN INCOME WHICH CAN LEAD TO FORE -- FORECLOSED BUSINESSES AND HOMES. IT CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY AND ONCE -- AND SO THIS AFFECTS THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES IT HAS TO PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE TO RELY ON THOSE COUNTY SERVICES.

FURTHERMORE, ONCE PEOPLE GAIN IMMIGRATION STATUS, THEIR INCOME RISES AND THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO RISE OUT OF POVERTY GROWS EXPONENTIALLY. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE DONE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND WANT TO REMIND YOU AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS INCOMPLETE IF IT DOES NOT INCLUDE IMMIGRANTS. THE LATEST DATA SHOW THAT IT LEAD THE STATE IN DETAINERS AND WE SPENT $1.6 MILLION ON THE DETAINERS.

THE DETAINERS ROSE LAST YEAR WEUN -- 113% INCREASE FROM 126 TO 129 INCREASING ACCESS TO THE IMMIGRATION DEFENSE FUND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR CRIME VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS TO

ENGAGE WITH SYSTEMS TO HELP AND REPORT VIOLENCE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE NOW OR

LATER IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL ME BACK. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARMEN YVONNE. COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE LIA, -- LINA, I CAME TO ASK YOU SUPPORT FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE.

[03:40:03]

LEGAL. WHEN EVERYBODY ILLEGAL ON THIS PLANET THEY ASK ME WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I AM FROM THIS PLANET. I BELIEVE EVERYBODY HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY. EVERYBODY DESERVE GRANTS, HELP, LIKE EVERYBODY COME TO THIS COUNTRY. THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY AND WHEN THAT PEOPLE ARE THE ONE THAT'S BUILT THIS COUNTRY THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN ARE THE ONES THAT CROSS THE LINE. WE DON'T NEED A LINE.

WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OUR CITIZENS. IT IS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IT IS FROM AMERICA. I KNOW YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH AND THEY PUT THIS GRANTS,ING THIS MONEY -- THIS, THEY -- THIS MONEY, THEY HELP PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS.

THEY ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE, BETTER THINGS FOR THEIR FAMILY, LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS COUNTRY TO TAKE ALL OF THE LAND FROM THE NATIVES.

THAT PEOPLE DESERVE THE SAME. IT IS TO COME AND SERVE BECAUSE WE NEED EACH OTHER.

THIS IS CLEAR. NOBODY CROSSED THE LINE EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH THAT YOU WILL APPROVE

THIS. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. APOLOGIES FOR BEING LATE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> I AM DONNA KIM MURPHY AND A PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST WHO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DOCTORS FOR AMERICA AND ALSO AS THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL INITIATIVES FOR PROJECT LIFELINE. IT IS UNPAID POSITIONS.

TODAY I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF HARRIS COUNTY ESTABLISHING A DEFENSE FUND FOR ILLEGAL DEPORTATION. I SPEAK AS A PHYSICIAN ADVOCATE AGAINST ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLICY AS THEY IMPACT HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

IN JUNE OF 2018, A LOCAL ACTIVIST CONNECTED ME TO REBECCA, A DISTRAUGHT MOTHER IN GUATEMALA WHOSE 12-YEAR-OLD SON WAS SEPARATED FROM HER SON IN EL PASO, TEXAS UNDER THE FAMILY LAW OF SEPARATION. WE KNOW THIS POLICY SEPARATED OVER 5,000 CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS. HER HUSBAND, DANIEL, WAS TRANSFERRED TO AN I.C.E.

FACILITY IN NOTERRO AND HER SON TO A BOYS SHELTER SOME SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AWAY.

HE WAS SEQUESTERED FOR TWO MONTHS. FOR HIS MOTHER HE WAS DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS AND SEVERE HEADACHES AND WEIGHT LOSS. HE STILL DOES NOT TALK ABOUT THE TWO-MONTH EPIC IN HIS LIFE. TOXIC STRESS OF FORCED SEPARATION FROM PARENTS HAS CONSEQUENCES OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

I KNOW THIS AS A NEUROLOGIST AND NEURO SCIENTISTS AND THEY HAVE POKEN -- SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THIS. DANIEL, MINIMALLY LITERAL, THE FATHER, WAS COMPLETELY LOST AND TRAUMATIZED BY THE SEPARATION FROM HIS SON. HE CALLED REBECCA, DESPERATE SAYING HE OVERHEARD DETAINEES BEING NOTIFIED THEIR DNA TESTS DID NOT MATCH THE CHILDREN THEY WERE CLAIMING AS THEIRS. HE WAS HOUR NEED -- HORRIFIED SAYING HE WOULD KILL HIMSELF IF HE WAS NOT REUNITED WITH HIS SON. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A GENEROUS -- BILINGUAL 2-BONO -- PRO BOW KNOW ATTORNEY AND REUNITED THEM.

I WAS PULLED INTO ANOTHER FAMILY SEPARATION CASE AND THIS TIME HIS SECOND COUSIN.

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD WHO WAS SENT TO CHICAGO AND LANDED FAMOUSLY IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" AS THE MISCHIEVOUS IMMIGRANT BOY FROM GUATEMALA BEING INJECTED WITH SEDATIVES. I FOUND ANOTHER OUT STANDING ATTORNEY WHO TOOK THIS CASE PRO BOW KNOW AND WAS ABLE TO REQUEST MEDICAL RECORDS FOR MY REVIEW AND ARRANGE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION THAT ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN AN EXPEDITED REUNIFICATION.

WITHOUT LEGAL SERVICE PART -- PARTNERS MY INVOLVEMENT WOULD BE SORT LIVED AND MARGINALLY HELPFUL. AS IT IS ALREADY A STRAPPED SYSTEM RELYING ON UNPAID LABOR IS SIMPLY UNSUSTAINABLE. IN TEXAS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FAMILY SEPARATION FOR MANY YEARS IN THE CONTEXT OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND IN LIGHT OF SB4 AND 287G AGREEMENTS. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT IT IS VIOLENT IN THIS MOMENT. A DEFENSE FUND IS LONG OVERDUE AND RELIES ON THE

[03:45:06]

COMMUNITY TO SPEAK FOR YOU TODAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> HI, NAME IS MARIA GONZALEZ.

I AM AN ORGANIZER AND I WILL BE READING ON GAFF OF GRACIE. MY NAME IS GRACIE AND I AM THE RIGHT TO JUSTICE ORGANIZER WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CORE ESTABLISHMENT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO OVER 1.2 MILLION IMMIGRANTS ON -- IMMIGRANTS. MANY ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

THEY ARE FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS OR HUSBANDS AND/OR WIVES. THEY BUILD THE HOMES IN WHICH WE LIVE AND THEY PAVE THE ROADS WE DRIVE ON. IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE 2.5 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES. IMMIGRANTS ENRICH OUR JOB FORCE AND OUR CULTURE AND OUR COMMUNITIES. UNFORTUNATELY IN SPITE OF ALL OF THAT THEY ARE FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE CONSTANT FEAR OF DEPORTATION.

TODAY ALMOST 90% OF THE PEOPLE IN HOUSTON HAVE NO LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

HARRIS COUNTY NEEDS DONATION [INAUDIBLE] HOW CAN WE BE A WELCOMING HOME TO ANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IF WE DON'T GIVE NEIGHBORS A FAIR CHANCE TO FIGHT THEIR CASES.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A FAMILY MEMBER DEPORTED I KNOW THE IMPACT DEPORTATION HAS ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. I KNOW THE TRAUMA DEPORTATION CAUSES.

NO PERSON SHOULD BE FORCED TO FACE DEPORTATION WITHOUT ACCESS TO PROPER LEGAL COUNSEL BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO POOR TO AFFORD. ESTABLISHING A DEPORTATION DEFENSE FUND WILL KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND THE COMMUNITY WHOLE.

THIS IS THE JUST AND RIGHT THING TO DO. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS TIMOTHY LANGE. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REMEMBRANCE PROJECT.

WE HONOR AND REMEMBER AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY PEOPLE HERE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS.

I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THE WORK THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING IN THIS RESOLUTION.

FIRST OF ALL THERE ARE LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE BEING BROKEN BY EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO ENTERS THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. SO THEREFORE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS TRYING TO PROP UP PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROKEN THE LAW INTENTIONALLY, BREAKING THE LAW THAT'S HELP MAKE AMERICA SAFE. WE NEED OUR BORDER.

WE NEED TO HAVE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN AMERICANS AND COMBINE THEM WITH LEGAL IMMIGRANTS VERSUS ILLEGAL ALIENS. NOW, ONE THING IN YOUR RESOLUTION THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CORRECT BECAUSE IT WILL BE A TYPE OF LEGAL DOCUMENT AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE CALLING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. THERE IS NO SUCH TERM AS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. IMMIGRANTS BY DEFINITION OF THE U.S. LAW ARE PERSONS BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE HERE LEGALLY THROUGH A PROCESS, THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS. ALIENS ARE PERSONS WHO ARE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS OR ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE COME ACROSS WITHOUT ANY AUTHORIZATION WHATSOEVER. WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR BACKGROUNDS ARE, AND SO THEREFORE YOUR RESOLUTION IF IT SPEAKS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IS TOTALLY WRONG. IT MISLEADS PEOPLE.

SECONDLY, THERE ARE ALREADY 17 ORGANIZATIONS -- I WENT ONLINE ON HOUSTON IMMIGRATION.ORG I BELIEVE IT IS CALLED, AND THERE ARE 17 ORGANIZATION THAT'S ARE DOING THE WORK THAT YOU WANT THE TAXPAYERS TO PICK UP THE TAB ON. I THINK IT IS UNFAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS FOR US WHO MANY, MANY -- I MEAN PROBABLY 50% OR 70 OR 80% WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH THE FACT -- WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH THE POLICY OF ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THIS COUNTRY. THIRD, THE CRIME IS VERY, VERY HIGH IN THIS COUNTRY FROM ILLEGAL ALIENS. I THINK YOU CAN FIND THOSE NUMBERS.

I FOUND THOSE NUMBERS AND THEY ARE STAGGERING. THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW HOUSING AND INCARCERATIONS AND DEFENSE AND INTERPRETERS AND EDUCATION FOR

[03:50:06]

THAT YOU DO NOT PASS THIS. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

I HAVE CALLED EVERY NAME I HAVE. IF THERE IS ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS -- YES. GO AHEAD. JUST FEEL FREE TO LINEUP.

IF THERE IS ANYBODY I DIDN'T CALL, PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> HI, MY NAME IS MARIA ESPINOZA. I AM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE REMEMBRANCE PROJECT.

WE ARE A VOICE FOR THE VICTIMS KILLED BY ILLEGAL ALIENS. I AM ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN CD7. I AM FIRST GENERATION. MY FATHER IMIGRATED THE RIGHT WAY FROM MEXICO. I PICKED STRAWBERRIES AND GREW UP THAT WAY WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. I HAVE GONE TO MURDER TRIALS WITH THESE FAMILIES THAT WE CALL ANGEL MOMS AND DADS. I HAVE TESTIFIED IN AUSTIN AND TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS ON NATIONAL SECURITY, AND I STAND HERE AND OPPOSE YOUR RESOLUTION TO USE TAXPAYER FUNDS TO CREATE A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS.

IT IS REALLY CONTRADICTORY THERE. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON ILLEGALS WHO ENTER OUR COUNTRY AND WHO INTENTIONALLY BREAK OUR LAWS AND THEN THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER IS, QUOTE, MENTALLY IN THE BAG.

MY OTHER CONCERN IS TO SAFETY LET'S ADDRESS THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TEXANS SPEND $12 BILLION A YEAR ON ILLEGAL ALIENS. THE COST OF CRIMES IS $1 BILLION PER YEAR PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $455 MILLION FOR POLICING AND 180 MILLION FOR COURT COSTS. IT IS $445 MILLION ON PRISON COSTS.

EDUCATION IS ALMOST $8 BILLION. HEALTH CARE IS ALMOST $2 BILLION. IT IS ESTIMATED THERE ARE OVER DOUR -- 412 ILLEGAL ALIENS IN HARRIS COUNTY. IF WE ONLY SPEND $10,000 PER ILLEGAL ALIEN, THAT'S $4 BILLION. THE HARRIS COUNTY TAXPAYER SHOULD NOT FOOT THE BILL AND HOLD THE BAG FOR THOSE WHO INTENTIONALLY CROSSED THE ILLEGALLY.

IT IS OUTRAGEOUS IN MY OPINION , UNFAIR AND BORDER LINE CRIMINAL UNDER U.S. CODE TITLE 8 SECTION 1324 FOR THIS COURT AND ANYONE TO CONSIDER TO AID AND ABET AN ILLEGAL ALIEN.

2017 IN JUNE THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED $50 MILLION THROUGH THE MEXICAN CON -- CONSULATE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES TO ASSIST THEIR CITIZENS TO STAY IN OUR COUNTRY AND BREAK OUR LAWS OF YOU MUST BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY TAXPAYER FUNDS. YOU TALK ABOUT SEPARATING FAMILIES, WELL AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE PERMANENTLY BEING SEPARATED. THIS IS INJUSTICE.

OUR SYSTEM IS NOT BROKEN. PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING, LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COURT, TO ENFORCE THE EXISTING LAWS. I ASK YOU TO OPPOSE THIS

RESOLUTION. >> LNA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS SIN -- CYNTHIA GAR SEE YOU. GARCIA.

THANK YOU FORGIVING US THE MIC FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

I AM THAT ILLEGAL ALIEN YOU DESCRIBED. YOU KNOW WHO I AM NOW.

MY NAME IS CYNTHIA GARCIA AS I JUST SAID. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE TWO MAIN POINTS THAT I THINK WE HAVE STATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT THE DISCLOSE -- DISCLOSING OF THIS SESSION AND THE DISCUSSION, THE LAWS WE ARE TRYING TO UPHOLD HAVE ALWAYS TARGETED PEOPLE OF COLOR. BROWN AND BLACK BODIES ARE THE BODY THAT'S ARE SUSTAINING THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM. WE INCARCERATE 25% OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST POPULATION WHEN WE ONLY MAKE UP 5% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION.

THAT MEANS I AM FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE INCARCERATED IN THE UNITED STATES, THE LAND

[03:55:02]

THAT IS WHAT IS INCARS VAGUES. WE TALKED ABOUT AVOIDING DEATH PENALTY AND SLAVERY, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DEPORTATION AND INCARCERATION IS. AND WE CANNOT ADDRESS THAT IF WE DON'T GO TO THE CORE OF WHO IS IN JAIL AND WHO IS BEING TARGETED AND CRIMINALIZED BY THE LAWS WE HAVE DRAFTED.

THE LAWS HAVE BEEN DRAFTED PARTICULARLY AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THIS FUND OR LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT TO MAKE IMMIGRANTS BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION. IT IS TO ALIGN THAT ANYONE THAT HAS TO PRESENT A CASE AGAINST THE GO GOVERNMENT -- AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE WHICH MEANS WE NEED THE REPRESENTATION AND WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS. WE HAVE TALKED TIME AND TIME AGAIN ON HOW ONLY WEALTHY AND THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS HAVE ACCESS TO UNLIMITED FUNDS AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

WHAT WE WANT IS EQUITY FOR ANY PERSON WHO FINDS THEMSELVES FIGHTING A CASE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS. IT SHOULD NOT EXCLUDE IMMIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT BY A LOT OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE THAT I MISSED? YEAH, GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

I CAME HERE TODAY FOR AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT REASON -- >> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU STATE

YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. >> ELIZABETH ANNE GRAY AND I AM A HARRIS COUNTY RETIREE.

I WORKED FOR EIGHT YEARS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

I WAS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE. UNFORTUNATELY, ABOUT SEVEN YEARS IN I GOT MONO KNEW CLEO SIS. MY DOCTOR DIDN'T DIAGNOSIS. BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A DIAGNOSIS I DIDN'T EVEN APPLY FOR MEDICAL LEAVE. I PUSHED MY BODY TO WORK FOR A YEAR AND FEELING LIKE I WAS GOING TO HAVE A WRECK GETTING TO WORK AND SLEEPING AT NOON INSTEAD OF GOING TO EAT. BECAUSE I ONLY HAD EIGHT YEARS IN, I AM HAVING TO PAY HALF OF MY INSURANCE. MY HARRIS COUNTY RETIREMENT IS $511 A MONTH.

I AM NOW PAYING $308 FOR MY INSURANCE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I AM PAYING MEDICARE AND I HAVE HAD TO PAY TAXES -- ALL OF MY LIFE.

I WORKED ALL OF MY LIFE. MY PARENTS HAD 11 CHILDREN. MY DAD NEVER HAD ANY HELP.

I JUST THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WHEN I HAVE HAD TO PAY $58,000 SINCE I RETIRED IN 2004 AND I STILL HAVE TO PAY $300 A MONTH FOR MY INSURANCE AND CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE DENTIST BECAUSE MY INSURANCE DOESN'T PAY ENOUGH. SO I CAME HERE FOR THAT REASON , BUT ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. I HAVE WORKED ALL OF MY LIFE.

MY PARENTS WORKED ALL OF THEIR LIFE. WE PAID TAXES ALL OF OUR LIVES. TALK ABOUT UN -- UNFAIR WHEN I CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE DENTIST AND THERE IS UH -- A LOT OF ILLEGAL PEOPLE WHO CAN ON OUR TAX MONEY? I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CAME TO ASK COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO PLEASE BRIDGE THE OTHER TWO YEARS I COULD NOT WORK DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND HELP ME WITH MY INSURANCE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP, BUT I AM A CITIZEN, A TAX PAYING CITIZEN WHO IS DEDICATED EMPLOYEE AND I NEED SOME HELP TOO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WILL ASK OUR HUMAN RESOURCES FOLKS UNDER BUDGET MANAGEMENT -- I BELIEVE THEY ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH YOU JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY RUN DOWN YOUR

SITUATION. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I DIDN'T PLAN ON SPEAKING.

I AM WENDY SUTTON AND I AM JUST A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY.

I JUST FELT THAT IT WAS REALLY HATEFUL WHAT SOME PEOPLE JUST SAID.

[04:00:01]

JEWS WERE BEING SENT TO THE FRONT LINES TO FIGHT A WAR. THEY ESCAPED THE COUNTRY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE PAPERS. THEY WENT TO PARIS. THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T ENTER LEGALLY. HOW THEY GOT TO THE UNITED STATES IS BEYOND US.

I GREW UP. MY GRANDMA CAME -- BORN IN 1890 AND SHE CAME WHEN SHE WAS 12. I GREW UP HEARING STORIES ABOUT THEM AS BEING HEROIC, BRAVE, INTELLIGENT PEOPLE, RESILIENT WHO WANTED A BETTER FUTURE THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE.

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN IMMIGRANTS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

YOU WERE BRAVE AND HEROIC AND NOW YOU ARE SCUM. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND IT IS HATEFUL AND IT IS RASE -- RACIST AND IT IS IMMORAL. TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE AS, QUOTE, ILLEGAL ALIENS, THAT'S -- YOU FOE, GERMANY DID THAT WITH THE JEWS AND WE WERE NOT PEOPLE. WE WERE RATS. WE WERE WHATEVER THE HECK WE WERE, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST STEP IN DEHUMANIZING PEOPLE. YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

THIS IS NOT GIVING ANYONE CART BLANCHE TO INFILTRATE OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY.

IT IS GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IF THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE, THEN THEY CAN'T BE HERE. THAT'S ALL THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. IT IS TO HAVE A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND SO THAT THEY CAN BE REPRESENTED AND IF THEIR CASE IS LEGIT, GREAT. IF IT IS NOT LEGIT, FINE, THEN THEY CAN'T STAY. BUT TO BE HOLIER THAN THOU AND SUPERIOR BECAUSE YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE GOTTEN HERE AHEAD OF TIME , SOMEBODY SAID -- THE NATIVE AMERICANS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THE NATIVES. NONE OF US ARE. AND BECAUSE WHATEVER BY LUCK AND CHANCE AND TIMING, IT IS RIDICULOUS. IT IS ABSURD.

IT IS IMMORAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, GO AHEAD.

>> HELLO, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CEASAR EAST -- ESPINOZA. MANY HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK HERE BEFORE AND I COME TO YOU ONCE AGAIN TO PROVE THAT I AM NO ALIEN, BUT RATHER A FULL BLOWN HUMAN BOY ORCHID.

NOT A KID ANYMORE. I AM HOLDER -- OLDER NOW. WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT.

I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT HEARING THIS RHETORIC AND HEARING PEOPLE REFER TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT MANNER IS REALLY PAINFUL. I WILL TALK ABOUT SOMETHING VERY PERSONAL TO MYSELF JUST TO PUT THINGS INTO CONTEXT. I HAPPEN TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES SINCE I WAS 22. I PAY $200 EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR INSULIN.

SO WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME -- IT MAKES ME ANGRY WHEN PEOPLE SAY, HEY, ILLEGALS GET FREE HEALTH CARE, UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE GET FREE HEALTH CARE. NO WE DON'T.

I WISH THAT WAS THE CASE. IF THAT WAS THE CASE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $200 EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR A LIFE-SAVING INSULIN. RIGHT? THAT'S A LOT. IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S A TON OF MONEY.

I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I SHARED THAT PUBLICLY. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THIS SO THEY KNOW WE DON'T GET HANDOUTS AND THEY KNOW OUR LIVES ARE NOT EASY. AND WE DOLE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER PRESSURES AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH PAYING TO ARE OUR OWN SCHOOL AND RAISING OUR CHILDREN AND RAISING OUR -- YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS I WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE CROWD OF PEOPLE WHO CAME IN HERE TO SUPPORT. IT IS A DIVERSE AND AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS AND FROM ALL DIFFERENT GENDERS AND ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE WHO CAME HERE AND KNOW THAT WE ARE CHANGING DEEM -- DEMOGRAPHIC. WHOEVER DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THIS COURT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE LATER ON.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

I URGE YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO STAND UP AND HAVE BOLD LEADERSHIP AND KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FUTURE OF AMERICA, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS GONNA CHANGE THAT. SO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE TODAY. PLEASE VOTE ON BEHALF OF US, AND WE WILL BE BACK, I'M SURE, MANY, MANY TIMES. IN THE COLD AND THE RAIN AND THE HEAT, OUTSIDE, DOWNSTAIRS, WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE METAL DETECTOR AS MANY TIMES AS IT TAKES.

WE WILL BE HERE AND YOU WON'T GET RID OF US. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD.

[04:05:06]

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? HI. THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING THIS TODAY. MY NAME IS MARLA LOPEZ. I AM A CENSUS ORGANIZER.

I HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS ALL OF MY LIFE. I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

I AM CURRENTLY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE CENSUS. BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM THE VERY NEGATIVE THINGS TOWARD IMMIGRANTS AND THE VERY POSITIVE, I WANT TO URGE YOU ALL TO REMEMBER AND TO KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS FOR A FAIR AND LEGAL WAY TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITIES. MY MOM IS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT. I GREW UP ON THE BORDER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS GOOD PEOPLE AND THERE IS BAD PEOPLE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T GET TO JUDGE. ONLY THE COURT DOES. WE DON'T GET TO SAY SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET TO BE HERE WITHOUT GETTING A FAIR CHANCE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

IT IS NOT FAIR. WE CONTRIBUTE -- OUR COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS, THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTES TO THIS COUNTRY TIME AND TIME AGAIN NO MATTER WHAT. AND SO I WANT YOU ALL TO PLEASE VOTE ON BEHALF OF THIS.

ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN THE COURTROOM.

THIS COUNTRY AND MANY DIFFERENT COMPLEXES OF THIS COUNTRY IS PROFITING OFF OF THE MASSIVE DEPORTATION AND THE MASSIVE INCARCERATION AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

ESPECIALLY THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. BLACK PEOPLE AND YEAR PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS. AND IT IS NOT FAIR THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE TIRELESSLY WORKING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. I RECENTLY GRADUATED COLLEGE AND THERE IS NO WAY I COULD HAVE DONE IT IF MY MOM HADN'T MADE SACRIFICES EVERY DAY AS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WORKING IN SECONDHAND STORES AND MAKING $12,000 THE YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE SURVIVED THAT, BUT SHE DID IT. THERE ARE FAMILIES DOING THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IN EVEN WORSE CONDITIONS. IT IS TO THE FAIR THAT WE DON'T GET THE SAME ACCESS TO BE REPRESENTED FAIRLY AND EQUALLY IN COURT.

SO PLEASE VOTE ON BEHALF OF THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. WE NEED IT.

WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT. WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO EVERYTHING THAT SURROUNDS US TODAY. PLEASE VOTE ON BEHALF OF THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT MAY BE EVENING NOW. HI. I AM KATE VICARY.

I AM WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON IMMIGRATION CLAP BRA CLAP BRA -- COLLABORATIVE.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS UP. I WON'T REPEAT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID, BUT I WANT TO RESPOND FOR A FEW THINGS. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 0 SUM GAME.

WE ARE NOT TALKING THAT IF WE PUT THIS FUND OUT THAT SOMEHOW THAT MEANS THERE IS LESS FOR OTHER PEOPLE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS FOR ALL.

AND I WANT TO MENTION AND REMIND US ALL THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRANTS IN THE HOUSTON REGION, WE ARE NOT -- THIS IS NOT JUST THE NEXT ISSUE.

IT IS AFRICA, ASIA AND CENTRAL. IT IS NOT JUST A LATIN ISSUE. OUR POP -- POPULATION IS THE MOST DIVERSE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERYONE WHO BENEFITS FROM A FUND LIKE THIS. AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE 18 OTHER JURISDICTION THAT'S HAVE DONE EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO RIGHT NOW ALL-AROUND THE COUNTRY INCLUDING IN TEXAS. NEW YORK CITY HAS HAD A FUND FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY PUT $31 MILLION A YEAR INTO IT. L.A. CITY AND COUNTY HAS A FUND. THEY PUT $10 MILLION A YEAR. CHICAGO HAS A FUND AND THEY PUT $1.3 MILLION A YEAR. IN TEXAS AUSTIN HAS A FUND, SAN ANTONIO HAS A FUND AND AS OF LAST YEAR THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS A FUND. HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD BE A LEADER IN THIS, AND WE ARE NOT YET. WE ARE FOLLOWING A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS. SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, COLUMBUS, OHIO, DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, DENVER, COULD WILL KOLL, OAKLAND AND ALAMEDA COUNTY, PG COUNTY, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, PHILADELPHIA, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, RAMSEY COUNTY, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, BOSTON, NEW YORK STATE, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE LIST IS GROWING. WE SHOULD BE LEADING HERE.

HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD BE LEADING HERE. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO. THE LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE, THE WEBSITE THAT WAS BEING REFERRED TO, HOUSTON IMMIGRATION.ORG. THAT'S MY ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK OF PROVIDING REPRESENTATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DETENTION. WE ARE MEETING A TEENY, TEENY, TINY FRACTION OF THE NEED. THE REASON WE ARE ASKING FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLICLY FUNDED FUND HERE IS THAT THE RESOURCES DO NOT EXIST IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BE ABLE TO FULLY FUND WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IN ORDER TO BE PROTECTED FROM DEPORTATION AND TO HAVE ACCESS TO DUE PROCESS.

AND FINALLY I HOPE Y'ALL WILL DO YOUR RESEARCH ON THE REMEMBRANCE PROJECT REPRESENTATIVES WHO SPOKE HERE. THEY ARE AN SPLC DESIGNATED HATE GROUP FUNDED BY WHITE SUPREMACISTS SO DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON THAT

[04:10:04]

ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

SO I DO WANT TO MENTION FIRST OF ALL, JUST THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR WORK AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY VINCE RYAN AND HIS TEAM FOR HELPING US RUN ALL OF THIS DOWN. I DO WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE SEMANTICS, THE FOLKS THAT -- THE WOMAN WHO SPOKE WHO SAID HER GRANDPARENTS WERE REFERRED TO AS DEHUMANIZING NAMES. THE KIND OF DE HUMANIZATION TAKING PLACE ON EITHER SIDE IS LIKE LIVING IN A SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXTBOOK. WE CANNOT REFER TO FOLKS WE DISAGREE WITH AS ANYTHING LESS THAN ANY WORD THAT MAKES THEM SEEM LESS THAN HUMAN. I CAN THINK OF SOME VERY FEW THINGS LESS HUMAN THAN THE WORD ALIEN. SO LET'S BE CAREFUL JUST AS -- THEY ARE NOT HERE ANYMORE, BUT I DO THINK REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE WE ARE IN, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF THE LANGUAGE.

HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT THAT IS HOW VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS START WHEN WE DEHUMANIZE ONE

ANOTHER. SO WE HAVE A MOTION -- YES? >> THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROVISION IN THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE 6264.006 THAT ALLOWS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO AND SUPPORT OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF PROTECTION AND CARE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE IMMIGRATION STATUS TO THE CHILD OR THE CHILD'S FAMILY.

THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROVISION THAT WILL ALLOW THE COURT TO PROVIDE THESE TYPES OF

SERVICES. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GAR GASH GASH GARCIA AND

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETHING WHERE A FUND HAS

BEEN FUNDED. >> WE HAVE RJ SHED WHO IS IN THE BACK.

>> IF YOU CAN HELP HIM. >> WE CAN LOOK IT UP. >> LOOK INTO THAT.

MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THIS AND MAYBE THE SEMANTICS OF THE

NAME IS DIFFERENT, BUT THE FUNCTION I UNDERSTAND IT TO BE. >> CURIOUS HOW OLD IS THAT

STATUE? >> YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE. >> I KNOW WE ARE THE FIRST COUNTY IN TEXAS TO DO IT, BUT THOSE ARE THE JURISDICTIONS IN AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN AND DALLAS, BUT I THINK IT IS A WORTH WHILE CAUSE AND I THINK THE MOUNTAINS -- IT IS

ABOUT HALF A MILLION? >> LINA HIDALGO: WE FIGURE OUT TO STAND IT UP AND PROVIDE SOME SERVICE THAT'S COST HALF A MILLION. THE MOTION IS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE OUT AND BRING IT BACK.

AND OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN YOU HEARD THE RANGE THAT KAY VIC REMENTIONED.

DEPENDING ON HOW MANY FOLKS WE SERVE THE COST WOULD GO UP OR DOWN AND THAT IS A DISCUSSION FOR THIS COURT TO HAVE. FOR IT TO EXIST AND OFFER SOME REPRESENTATION, IT WOULD BE

AROUND HALF A MILLION. >> IT IS GOOD WE GAVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO SPEAK AS

WELL. I SECOND THE MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES,

COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> ROBERT, ISN'T A DAY THAT ARGUMENTS ARE BEING HELD ON THIS SECTION DEAN WITH THE LAW AND ENCOURAGING THE UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRATION?

>> IF IT IS, I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT. >> ARE WE JUMPING GUN A LITTLE

BIT? >> I MEAN, ALL THAT IS ON THE TABLE IS LETTING THEM SET UP THE PROGRAM IF I AM UNDERSTANDING THE RESOLUTION CORRECTLY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT MOVING FORWARD TO LOOK AT IT AND SET IT UP AND STUDY IT NECESSARILY IMPLICATES THAT. OUR OFFICE HAS CONSIDERED FOLKS TO HAVE REPRESENTATION IN COURT AND WOULD RUN A FOUL AND WE CONCLUDE IT IS NOT. ALL YOU ARE DOING IS PROVIDING THE PAIN OR REPRESENTATION THAT THESE FOLKS AREN SIGHT TELLED TO HAVE.

[04:15:07]

>> THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM, YES. >> BEYOND THAT WE ARE TRAPSING AND WE WANT TO KNOW IF WE CAN ENGAGE ON A FEDERAL LAW ISSUE, ARE WE NOT?

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS A POLICY ISSUE. >> THREE OBSERVATIONS.

THE FIRST CITY LOVE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF YOUR RESOLUTION AND I AGREE WITH IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. SOME WE HAVE NOD HAD A CHANCE SINCE THIS -- SOME OF IT WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AWARE THIS IS COMING. WE HAVE HAD NOT A CHANCE TO VET THAT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT TO SEND IT TO WHICH IS THE CSD. IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEND IT SEND IT TO WHERE THE LEGAL ISSUES ARE -- OR THE PRIMARY FUNCTION. WE ASKED THEM TO PULL OUR COUNTY OUT OF ISSUES OF GETTING HELP TO DISASTER RECOVERY.

AND ADDING AN EXTRA BURDEN INTO THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT THE PLACE TO DO IT.

I THINK WE WILL GET THEM ON THE AGENDA AND WE WILL SEE HOW THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

PUTTING THIS ISSUE INTO THAT DEPARTMENT I BELIEVE IS THE WRONG DEPARTMENT.

I THINK YOU SHOULD REFER IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I AM NOT A FAN OF GETTING INVOLVED IN FEDERAL ISSUES ALTHOUGH AT THE SAME TIME IF THE ARGUMENT CAN BE MADE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SAVE OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS FUNDS BY BEING ABLE TO CLEAR PEOPLE OUT OF LOCAL FACILITY THAT'S ARE NOT LOCAL TAXPAYER FACILITIES I WILL BE LISTENING TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT. AT THIS POINT IN TIME I AM DOING -- I SAY THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE AND I WILL NOT BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS THE RABBIS -- NONE OF YOU QUOTED BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE FAIR AND DUE JUS SIS AND -- JUSTICE AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE VOICES FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> WOULD YOU ALL ALL BE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT TO COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT INSTEAD OF THE COUNTY

ATTORNEY. >> LINA HIDALGO: I HAD THE SAME CONCERN.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. FOLKS WERE RUNNING THIS DOWN FOR A BETTER PART OF THE YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF JOSH IS AROUND AND FOLKS HAVE UH SURED -- ASSURED ME THAT -- THAT'S WHERE IT BELONGS, BUT THEY ARE RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS. OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING WILL GO THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE FOLKS THAT -- THE STAFF THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR MONTHS RATHER THAN -- THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY.

>> I APOLOGIZE. I WAS WALKING HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE ALL CONCERNED THAT YOUR FOCUS AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED NEEDS TO BE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECOVERY PROGRAM SUCCEEDS. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN EVERYBODY AT THE STAFF LEVEL RECOMMENDED THIS NEW PROGRAM BE HOUSED UNDER CSD GIVEN HOW MUCH YOU HAVE GOING ON.

BUT WAS ASSURED GIVEN THE SUPPORT YOU ARE RECEIVING FROM THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND MY STAFF OF COURSE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? IS THAT OKAY.

>> SURE. WE WANT TO ALLOCATE POST HARVEY.

THAT BEING SAID THIS WOULD FALL UNDER NORMAL CSD. AND I WOULD AND THE AND WE CAN DO THIS. AND I I OBVIOUSLY. FEDERAL LAW HAS A RIGHT TO

[04:20:02]

AND IT IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC DCHED -- DEFENDER.

>> AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT WITH THE STAFF AND ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION BASED ON THE DIRECTION IT IS GOING. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO RUN IT.

IT MAY BE THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT RESOURCES TO DO IT INTO OUR SHOP AS

WELL. >> I AM ASSUMING THAT MAYBE ONE PLACE TO LOOK AND MAYBE SEE HOW THEY DO IT IN ALAMEDA COUNTY AND ALSO IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

>> COMMISSIONER, I DO HAVE AN ANSWER ON THE DATE. IT IS 19905 -- IT 1995.

>> AND MR. SHED IS ALSO HERE. >> I I WAS THERE IN 1995. >> COULDN'T YOU LOOK AT THIS?

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT. WHETHER IT IS ASSIGNED TO

COMMUNITY SERVICES. >> YOU ARE DEALING WITH LAWYERS AND BASICALLY HARRIS

COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING LAWYERS THAT'S YOUR DEAL. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU WILL BE PART OF IT. I MEAN, I WILL ADD IT TO THE MOTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE,

COMMISSIONER, TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE -- >> LET ME CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT. SOME OF THE OTHER MODELS WE LOOKED AT, I THINK MAYBE

TRAVIS COUNTY LITERALLY FUNDS THESE NONPROFITS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE ORGANIZATIONS EXIST, BUT THERE IS NOT THE FUNDS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD FOR THEM TO HANDLE

THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT NEED REPRESENTATION. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF NONPROFITS AND IN ADDITION TO THE HOUSTON IMMIGRATION SERVICES. AT LEAST OUR ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND CHILDREN IMMIGRATION LAW AND UH -- AND ACADEMY AND THE RESOURCE CENTER AND BONDING ACTIVE AGAINST DIVERSITY AND THE IMMIGRANT DEFENSE PROJECT AND RESOURCE FOR ATTORNEYS. IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER AND THE LAW CENTER AND THE HOUSTON JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS ASSOCIATION WHICH I LIKE TO TOUT THEM A LITTLE BIT SINCE I AM A MEMBER. THERE WAS AN EARLIER LIST THAT WAS PROVIDED AND IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT IS LEGALIZE AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUPS AND TALENTS AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE WHETHER OR NOT THERE

IS -- WHETHER OR NOT THERE SOMETHING THAT NEED TO BE DONE. >> WHAT I PROPOSE BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS A COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DESIGN AND ADMINISTER FUNDS FOR, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND AGAIN IF YOU GUYS COME BACK AND IF YOU WANT TO HOUSE IT UNDER JAB, WE CAN DO THAT. THAT'S THE POINT OF YOU GOING TO WORK IT OUT.

>> ARE WE DOING A REFERRAL OR THE RESOLUTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS THE

RESOLUTION. >> I WANT TO BE GOOD WITH THE REFERRAL.

IF WE ARE DOING THE RESOLUTION I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE RESOLUTION, JUDGE.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER CAGLE, WE WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

YOU ARE PRETTY GOOD AT THINKING ON YOUR FEET. THERE IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO GET YOUR SUPPORT I THINK WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO HAVE THAT.

THE JUDGE HAS BEEN AMENABLE TOO -- TO MAKING SURE WITH COMMISSIONER RADACC'S APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT I AM NOT HEARING ANYTHING REALLY SPECIFIC ABOUT YOUR CONCERN. AND SO IF THERE IS SOME TWEAKING TO GET YOU ON BOARD THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT THE JUDGE CAN

[04:25:04]

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THE JUDGE DID REACH OUT TO ME. >> IT IS LATE AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS. I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT THAT I CAN DANCE ON MY FEET.

I DON'T KNOW I CAN COME UP. I AGREE WITH THE FIRST SENTENCE, JUDGE, OF YOUR RESOLUTION. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IF WE WILL REFER THIS SOMEWHERE ELSE, I AM FULLY COMFORTABLE REFERRING IT TO AN AGENCY TO STUDY, ABOUT YOU THE PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION WITH ALL OF THOSE STATS AND FACTS THAT ARE IN THERE, I DON'T THINK I AM THAT

FAST, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> HOW ABOUT THE PART THAT WE DO AGREE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT WOULD BE FOR THE -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT DIRECTS THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DESIGN AND ADMINISTER FUNDS FOR AND OVERSEE IMMIGRANT SERVICES PROGRAM FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS SUBJECT TO FINAL

APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> DESIGN AND WHAT WAS THE

OTHER WORD, JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS RESOLVED.

LISTEN, IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WE CAN JUST FIGHT FOR YOUR SUPPORT NEXT TIME

AROUND, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S THE MOTION PART. >> WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON A RESOLUTION. I THINK THERE ARE GOOD POINTS IN THE RESOLUTION I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAN'T COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS AFTER PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND THEN HAVE A VOTE INSTEAD OF SAYING WELL, IF WE HAVE IT TODAY WE HAVE TO VOTE AND GET IT DONE.

WHEN IN FACT, IT COULD BE ROBERT SWORD LEADING THE CHARGE WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES OR WHOEVER AND DO THIS IN A WAY THAT EVERYBODY CAN GIVE A LITTLE INPUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS AND GET SOME KIND OF A FINAL PRODUCT AND MAYBE WE CAN ALL SUPPORT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK DESIGNING THE PROGRAM WON'T TAKE TWO WEEKS. IT WILL TAKE MONTHS. EVERYONE IS HERE.

CERTAINLY I HAVE BEEN AND MY TEAM AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S SHOVES HAS BEEN WORKING -- ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING THIS FOR MONTHS. WE SHARED THIS AS SOON AS WE HAD THE DRAFT. THIS WILL COME BACK ONCE IT IS DESIGNED.

IN THE PROCESS I WELCOME YOUR GUYS' STAFF TO HELP US DESIGN EVERYTHING AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE VOTE THEN WILL BE 5-0. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS BEFORE THE COURT TODAY.

I AM HAPPY TO SPLIT IT COMMISSIONER CAGLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL THIS OUT AND VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT. I DO WANT TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY OF AGAIN, FOLKS, IT WILL COME BACK. I WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE --

>> THERE IS A FUNDING COMPONENT IN THERE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH.

READ THE FIRST PARA-- PARAGRAM -- PARAGRAPH. MY PROBLEM IS -- AND I THINK WE GOT A COPY OF THAT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MY WEEKEND WAS RATHER HECTIC AND WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE PUT ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.

THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING ISSUE THAT'S WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND HAVE ADDRESSED TODAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

IN THE NAME OF TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND I AM ASKED TO VOTE ON IT AFTER JUST A FEW DAYS. AND THERE IS TALK ON HOW I SHOULD BE PUT ON THE SPOT TO VOTE ON EVERYTHING SIGHT UNSEEN, THAT'S A HIGH

COMPLIMENT, BUT I DON'T THINK I AM THAT FAR -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I UNDERSTAND THAT. IN THE INTEREST OF IT BEING 4:48 AND WE STILL HAVE TO GET TO THE AGENDA I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE RESOLUTION FORWARD AND COMMIT NOW THAT THIS IS OUT IN PUBLIC. THAT'S THE OTHER THING, COMMISSIONER, I CHOSE TO SPEAK TO YOU AND NOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO VISIT.

>> THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT INITTER SECTIONS ON US THAT PERHAPS WE CAN COME TO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S PUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN HERE. >> [INAUDIBLE].

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND IT HAS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THERE.

ALL IN FAVOR. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED.

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. AND THANKS AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS.

THANK YOU, FOLKS. LET'S TAKE A BREAK UNTIL

[04:30:10]

[Item I (Part 3 of 4)]

NOW. >> COUNTY ENGINEER. >> YES, I WANT TO START ON

PAGE 4. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NO ACTION TAKEN ON ITEM 17 ON PAGE 4 AND ITEM O ON PAGE 6 UNTIL THEY ARE BACK FROM THE PROGRAM.

>> ON PAGE SIX? >> ARE WE HAVING A DISCUSSION?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. >> NUMBER 17 ON PAGE 4 AND WHICH SO PAGE 6?

>> JUDGE, ON ITEM S ON PAGE 6 I HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE. JUDGE, THIS IS A RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION, AND I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT THE SCIENCE AND THERE IS NO SCIENCE IN THIS ALLOCATION. IT WILL BE SPLIT 25% BETWEEN THE PRECINCTS.

I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT AND STUDYING IT. WHEN PRE SINK -- PRECINCT 4 HAS 44% OF THE UN UN-- UNINCORPORATED PART OF THE POPULATION AND WHEN OUR OTHER PRE SINKS ARE -- PRECINCTS -- PRE SINK ONE HAS 14% OF THE UN UNINCORPORATED POPULATION AND PRECINCT 2 HAS 14% AND PRE SINK 3 HAS 28% OF THE POPULATION, DIVIDING THE FUNDS IN FOUR EQUAL WAYS WHEN OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVICE IS NOT EQUAL IS JUST TO THE JUST.

>> SECONDLY YOU RECEIVED THESE MARGINAL GROUPS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THE NEW WAY.

AND HE HAS DONE IT THE NEW WAY. BUT THIS LIST OF BUCKET THAT'S WE HAVE HERE IS A VERY RESTRICTIVE WAY OF TRYING TO DO BUSINESS.

JUDGE, PRECINCT 4, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON SERVING OUR CONSTITUENTS.

IT IS SAFETY FIRST. IT IS MOBILITY SECOND, AND IT IS AESTHETICS THIRD.

NOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS BUCKET APPROACH WHICH EVEN ON THE CHART ITSELF IS THE BO THE TOM AND IT SAYS -- IS THE BOTTOM AND IT SAYS IT IS RESTRICTED.

SO MOSTLY THE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED. AND WE ARE HAVING TO NOW DO BUSINESS NOT BY WHO HAS THE GREATEST NEED, BUT WE HAVE TO DO BUSINESS BY THESE RESTRICTED PARAMETER THAT'S ARE PUT ON TOP OF IT. 25% IS NOW GOING TO GO TO THE EQUITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WHICH IS BASICALLY UPON THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

25% ARE GOING TO GO FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS. JUDGE, PRECINCT 4 HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. IN FACT, WE RECEIVED AWARDS FORGETTING ENGAGED IN LEAD CERTIFICATION. WE ARE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. WE LOOK AT SAFETY FIRST, AND WE LOOK AT MOW -- MOBILITY SECOND AND AESTHETICS THIRD. AND WHEN WE PUT ALL OF THESE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW YOU PUT IN ROADS, WHAT WE ARE IN ESSENCE SAYING IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE GREATEST NEED FIRST.

WE WILL PUT THEM ALL IN THESE BOXES AND HANDICAP OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO SERVE. NOW, I GET WHAT IT MAY BE IS THAT TAKING 25% ORIE DEUCING PRE -- OR REDUCING PRE SINK 4 BY 25% AND USE IT OR LOSE IT IS A WAY OF GETTING MORE MONEY OUT OF PRECINCT 4. IT COULD BE A RAW MONEY GRAB, I GET THAT.

IT IS JUST NOT FAIR, JUDGE. IT IS JUST NOT FAIR. POTHOLES DON'T COME WITH R'S AND D'S ON THEM. POTHOLES COME WITH A HOLE IN THE GROUND.

IF WE CAN FIX IT QUICKLY AND WE CAN FIX IT EFFICIENTLY, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT GET HIT WITH THE POTHOLES. IF I CAN BE BLUNT, IF YOU ARE A POOR PERSON AND YOU HIT A POTHOLE IN YOUR OLD CAR WHEN YOU ARE ON A TIGHT BUDGET, IT IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX YOUR CAR, AND IT TAKES MORE MONEY OUT OF YOUR FAMILY BUDGET. IF WE WANTED TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE NEEDS OF THE POOR WE NEED TO DO A GOOD JOB OF FIXING THE POTHOLES. ALL FOUR OF US, JUDGE, DO A

[04:35:05]

THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU COME OUT OF PRE SINK -- PRECINCT 4 THERE IS A SIGN THAT SAYS MAINTENANCE ENDS HERE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WE PUT VALUE INTO WHAT WE ARE FIXING AND WHEN YOU GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT WASN'T THE COUNTY THAT CAUSED THAT PROBLEM.

ROADS ARE BLIND. WE NEED TO NOT PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO THESE CRITERIA AND THESE BUCKETS WHICH RESTRICT US. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS FUNDING, MOST OF IT IS RESTRICTED AND IT IS JUST -- JUDGE, IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

AND SO I WANT TO LODGE MY PROTEST. I WILL SAY THIS.

THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS OF DOING THIS RIDICULOUS ALLOCATION TO WHERE NO MATTER WHERE -- WE HAVE 2700 MILES OF ROADS AND BRIDGES TO MAINTAIN AND WE HAVE THE SAME BUDGET AS THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE BUT A FRACTION OF THAT HAVE TO DO I WILL SAY THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND AT LEAST THEY WILL NOT BE PUNISHED AND THEY WILL HAVE ENOUGH TO DO THE JOB AGAIN. AND IT IS STILL NOT FAIR. THAT'S MY PITCH, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING AND I WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOHN TO EXPLAIN THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> WELL, I HAVE QUESTIONS ON OTHER ITEMS, BUT ALSO TO THAT POINT, I JUST WANT TO ASK

MR. BLUNT BLUNTLY, WHO IS PLAYING WITH THE NUMBERS ? >> NO, COMMISSIONER.

THE TRUTH IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA. THE ASSESSMENT TYPICALLY TAKES 14 TO 16 MONTHS AND WE WILL GET IT DONE MUCH FASTER. WE WON'T HAVE THAT DATA UNTIL SUM -- SUMMER. THERE IS A LOT OF THE OTHER DATA WE ARE WORKING ON.

IN LIEU OF TRYING TO SKEW IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE SPLIT IT EQUALLY AND WE WORK WITH THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY THAT NO ONE WAS PUNISHED.

WHEN WE COME BACK WITH A 20 -- 2040 TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR FINAL ADOPTION WE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE DATA. THIS IS THE INTERIM. THE ONLY THING WE ARE ASKING TO BE APPROVED IS THE FUNDING. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A TRANSMITAL OF MORE PERFORMANCE TO DATE AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANCE -- SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MISSING WORK. WE BROKE THESE DOWN AND I WILL CALL THEM BUCKETS OR CATEGORIES BASED ON STANDARD ENGINEERING AND WE CALL IT BE A BETTER PROGRAM WHICH IS A LEVEL OF SERVICE AND IT IS A TERM FOR WHEN A CONDITION -- WHEN A ROAD CONDITION EITHER BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD AND THE CAPACITY OF THE ROAD AND THE SAFETY CONDITION OF THE ROAD GETS TO A CERTAIN LOWER WAY YOU UPGRADE AND THEN WE HAVE AN EQUITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM AND ANEN VIERN MEN -- AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> IN THE PAST DID THE PRECINCTS IN THE PROJECTS IN THE OTHER CITIES OTHER THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON?

>> THEY HAVE, YES. >> I WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT MOST OF US WOULDN'T BE HERE, I SAID THIS MANY TIMES, IF THE CITY WAS NOT HERE, IF THE PORT WAS NOT HERE.

I MEAN, REASON THE ALLEN BROTHERS COULD DEVELOP IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GALVESTON WAS BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE BAYOUS WERE NAVIGABLE. WE FOUND OUT AS OF LATE THEY ARE WHEN IT FLOOD IS -- FLOODS. WE DID GET A PORT EVENTUALLY. WE WERE DOING PROJECTS IN OTHER CITIES.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROTEI. WHETHER YOU ARE A DRR AND WHERE YOU COME FROM AND WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE OR ANYTHING ABOUT YOU, BY GOING THROUGH BE A BETTER PROGRAM, THAT MEANS WE REALLY ARE TAKING THE POLITICS OUT OF IT.

I THINK YOU ARE ALL DRIVING ON THESE ROADS. >> WE MAINTAIN A COMPANY THAT LOOK AT EVERY ROAD AND EVERY LANE MILE. THEY LOOK AT THE RIDE QUALITY. THEY MEASURE THE RIDE QUALITY AND THEY ACTUALLY PHOTOGRAPH THE ROAD ITSELF AND THE ADJACENT SIDEWALK AND THE HANDICAP RAMPS.

AND ALL FOUR PRECINCTS PARTICIPATED IN THE -- IN THE INITIAL GRADE TESTING PROGRAM

AND THEY FELT CONFIDENT WITH HOW IT WAS GOING TO BE DONE. >> AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO

[04:40:04]

IT IS A WAY TO HELP THEM CATCH UP. WE CAN'T DO IT ALL.

THE EQUITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, WE SAID MANY TIMES, EVERYTHING WE MUST DO WE MUST DO IN EQUITY. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SO DESPERATELY POOR IN OUR REGION. AND I AM GLAD TO HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT STANDARDS HERE. PART OF WHATEVER CAUSED HARVEY , YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE SOME OF THAT WAS HUMAN CAUSATION THAT LEAD TO IT. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I STRESS TO THE BOARD THAT THIS STARTED, THIS CAME AS A RESULT OF AN INITIAL ITEM I POSTED

TRYING TO CENTRALIZE IT. >> YES, SIR. >> I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE. EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN CENTRALIZED.

WE STILL HAD THE OLD SYSTEM. ALL OF THE URBAN COUNTIES HAVE CENTRALIZED.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? >> MOST OF THEM. >> WHICH HAVEN'T?

>> SOME HAVEN'T, BUT -- I THINK DALLAS HASN'T, BUT IT IS SMALL UNINCORPORATED AREAS.

>> I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB AND I COMMEND YOU FOR IT

>>>THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED. CLARIFY THAT PART.

>> CONDITIONAL? THE HECTRA IN THIS BUDGET MOVE THE ALLOCATION FROM 120 MILLION A YEAR TO 150 ALMOST 160

MILLION. >> THAT'S GETTING ALSO DISTRIBUTING.

>> THAT'S GETTING DISTRIBUTED BUT IT'S 90% OF IT IS IN RESTRICTIVE TYPE ACCOUNTS.

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROGRAMS. WHAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS SAYING IS HE DOESN'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT HE DIDN'T GET HIS FAIR SHARE BUT AT LEAST HE GOT ENOUGH, HE GOT ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY HE DID LAST YEAR. OR FAIRLY CLOSE.

>> FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH I DON'T THINK PRECINCT ONE WAS GETTING ITS FAIR SHARE.

THAT FORMULA WAS CHANGED RIGHT BEFORE, RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE NOMINATION BEFORE I CAME HERE.

IT WENT DOWN LOWER FOR PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT, TWO, MY COLLEAGUE NOT TO POINT TO YOU BUT THEY WERE DOING SHORT PROJECTS AND IT WENT UP.

FOR SOME REASON ONE WENT DOWN. I THINK WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT OUR COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, BY THE WAY, IN TERMS OF MORE THAN JUST ROADS.

WE GOT TO START LOOKING AT MASS TRANSIT, THIS IS BROAD ENOUGH. IF WE WANT TO DO BEYOND THE BAYOUS IN UNINCORPORATED AREA AS AN EXAMPLE. HOUSTON STEPPED UP WITH A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO DO LINEAR PARKS ON OUR LAND. THE PRIVATE SECTOR PUT IN ABOUT 110 MILLION, I GUESS, PRECINCT ONE PUT IN, OUT OF THIS MONEY I MIGHT ADD, ABOUT 7.4 ON THE AGENDA LATER ON TODAY. IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, EVEN IN THE INTERIM DISCUSSES DEVELOPING THE FULL MULTI-MASS TRANSIT PLANS. THAT'S A HUGE COMPONENT OF LOOKING WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN

THE NEXT 20 YEARS. >> I THINK, JUDGE KS WE FOUND WE CAN'T BUILD ENOUGH ROADS TO KEEP SERVICE FOR ALMOST FIVE MILLION PEOPLE. WE ALL HAVE TO START LOOKING HOLISTICICALLY AND MORE THAN JUST ROADS. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH EVERY TIME WE DO THAT WHEN THE WATER COMES DOWN WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE FOR IT TO GO.

SOME TIME DOWN THE ROAD I HOPE WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRY AND USE SOME OF THIS, SOME OF OUR TRANSPORTATION MONEY RELATED TO FLOODING ISSUES. IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT LEGALLY WE OUGHT TO SEE. IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP WITH DRAINAGE ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDS WE HAVE. WHETHER IT'S THE MONEY WE PUT IN

DIRECTLY. IF IT'S LEGAL. >> WE ARE WORKING.

WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HECTRA AND FLOOD CONTROL TO SEE WHAT WE CAN

DO. >> IF I CAN JUMP IN ON THE LAST COMMENT.

ONE THING WE'VE DONE IN PRECINCT FOUR IS ADDED 25% ABOVE THE DRAINAGE REQUIREMENT.

WHEN WI FIRST CAME IN, YOUR HONOR, THE ADDAGE WAS WE WERE JUST BARELY THE BOY SCOUTS.

WE BUILT A ROAD OR IMPROVED A ROAD WE ADDED JUST ENOUGH DRAINAGE TO MAKE SURE IT HAD NO IMPACT, THAT WAS THE LANGUAGE. ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE REALIZED THAT OLD NO IMPACT RULE WAS INSUFFICIENT AND SO AT LEAST IN PRECINCT FOUR, I THINK YOU'RE DOING IT NOW IN SOME OTHER PRECINCTS. E WE STARTED TO ADD A RULE TO WHERE WE WOULD BE SUPERBOY SCOUTS AND ADD DRAINAGE OF 25% ABOVE OF WHAT WE WERE DOING ON THE ROADS.

IT ENDED UP BEING VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL IN TERMS OF DOING THAT PARTICULAR REFORM, JUDGE.

[04:45:01]

TO IMPROVE MORE. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONER I WANT TO COMMEND YOU.

IN FACT, I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.

WHATEVER THE BEST PRACTICE IS NOT TO JUST LEAVE IT UP TO EACH PRECINCT.

WITH THE RAIN EVENT WE WENT THROW WE OUGHT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND REQUIRE IT.

PART OF IT IS SOME LEVEL OF STANDARDIZATION. DOESN'T MEAN YOU CANNOT DEVIATE FROM IT BUT EACH PRECINCT WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT CASE PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY SO THERE'S A VOTE ON DEVIATING. WHETHER IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE.

THERE COULD BE REASON TO DEVIATE FROM OTHER STANDARDS LAID OUT IN HERE, AS WELL.

BUT WE OUGHT TO START OFF WITH THE BEST PRACTICES AND DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> WAIT. WAIT. WAIT.

I'M THINKING I MIGHT HAVE HEARD SOMETHING I LIKED. IF YOU'RE SAYING THIS BECOMES, INSTEAD OF BUCKETS TO WHERE THE FUNDING IS TIED TO THESE PERCENTAGES.

IF IT IS A GOAL OR A STANDARD THEN I'M GOOD WITH A GOAL OR STANDARD TO ACHIEVE THAT.

>> GOOD ON YOUR FEET BUT NOT THAT GOOD. LET ME SUGGEST IT TO YOU THIS WAY. OUT OF THE STATE ROUTES PROGRAM, THE BE A BETTER PROGRAM.

ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT THREE MEMBERS OF THE COURT AGREE TO. AT ANY POINT IF THERE'S A DECISION, AS I SAW WITH THE REDO OF THE ALLOCATIONS AFTER I GOT THE NOMINATION, I REMEMBER CLEARLY. THAT VOTE WAS RIGHT AFTER I WAS NOMINATED TO COME OVER HERE.

THEN THE COURT MET AND REDUCED THE ALLOCATION OF PRECINCT ONE. IT'S ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

BUT I HOPE WHEN WE MOVE TOWARDS SOME SYSTEM OF STANDARDIZATION. THE REASON I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE IS I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD, EVEN IF WE ARE NO LONGER HERE AND WHOEVER THE FOLKS ARE GOVERNING THIS COUNTY DECIDE IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE SOME UNIVERSAL, COUNTY WIDE SYSTEM IN PLACE.

THEN AT LEAST YOU HAVE THE THE SAME STANDARDS. >> I THINK STANDARDIZATION WORKS. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO BE INNOVATIVE.

OUR BIAS WORK ON LEAD THINGS WE'RE DOING. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO BE THE CUTTING EDGE IN TECHNOLOGY. I DON'T WANT TO BE HELD BACK FROM THAT.

>> MY HOPE IS THAT IT WON'T HOLD YOU BACK. SOMEBODY HAS A GOOD IDEA, EVEN IF WE WANT TO TRY SOMETHING OUT. SOMEBODY OUGHT TO MAKE THE CASE AND WHETHER IT'S WITH MONEY THE PRECINCTS CONTROL OR MONEY THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OR FOR THAT MATTER,

BY THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY. WE OUGHT TO TRY IT. >> THE PROBLEM WITH THE BUCKET SYSTEM HERE IS THAT NOBODY CONTROLS IT. IT'S KIND OF ALMOST THE FLIP SIDE OF WHAT YOU WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT IN THE BAIL BOND SYSTEM WHERE JUDGES WEREN'T MAKING DECISIONS THE NUMBERS WERE MAKING DECISIONS. IF WE MAKE THESED A GUIDELINES, AS TARGETS MY OBJECTION GOES AWAY BECAUSE I'M FINE WITH THEM AS GUIDELINES AND AS TARGETS.

WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE GOING TO BE INFLEXIBLE AND RUN THESE NUMBERS THIS WAY.

THEN I THINK IT'S WHERE WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS. >> I GOT YOU.

I APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE IN POSITION. I FAVOR IT THE WAY HE PRESENTED IT AND IF SOMEONE CAN MAKE A CASE TO CHANGE IT GO BACK AND MAKE IT.

OFFER AN EXCEPTION ONE CAN ALWAYS DO THAT. WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

>>>COMMISSIONER. >> JOHN, AS YOU WELL KNOW FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS I HAVE WORKED WITH ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL TO FIGURE OUT THE WAY A THAT I CAN DO PROJECTS WORKING WITH ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH DETENTION, BETTER

[04:50:07]

I'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BUILD TRAILS, WHICH, I GUESS I HAVE MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE DON'T I?

>> YES, SIR. >> I'LL BUILD TRAILS. I'LL BUILD PARKS AND WE'LL GET THE JOB DONE BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE POORNS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF UNINCORPORATED GROWING. IF AN UNINCORPORATED AREA DOESN'T GROW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A BUNCH OF DEBT TO PAY.

WE NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HELP PAY THAT. I'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I'M DOING. I'LL MAKE IT WORK. BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

BEAM NEED TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY THE VENTURES MAY HAVE EACH ON HAND.

I SAY MONEY IN THE BANK DOESN'T GET PARKS BUILT. IT DOESN'T GET ROADS BUILT.

IT DOESN'T GET TRAILS BUILT. YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY AND BE PREPARED TO SPEND THE MONEY.

SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A BIG SAVINGS ACCOUNT THEY CAN HAVE IT IT'S THEIR CONSTITUENTS WITHIN

THEIR PRECINCT THAT SUFFER. >>>SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.

JOHN, YOU'RE COMING UP WITH THE PLAN, WHICH ALSO WILL INCLUDE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

>> YES. >> IT DOESN'T, IT CAN'T BE DONE IN A FEW MONTHS.

YOU WON'T BE DONE UNTIL FEBRUARY 2021. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE'LL DO MOST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MIDSUMMER. >> OF THIS YEAR.

>> OF THIS YEAR. >> IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S ABOUT, I JUST REMEMBER SO WELL Y'ALL. I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED THIS AND EVERY SINGLE COMMISSIONER HAD THE BEST ARGUMENT FOR WHY THEY DESERVE THE MOST, YOU KNOW THE LARGEST CHUNK OF THE TRANSPORTATION FUND. THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO WEIGH THOSE WITHOUT A SORT OF ARBITER ARMED WITH NUMBER AND INFORMATION.

I'M STILL WHERE I WAS BACK THEN. WHICH IS WHILE WE FIGURE IT OUT LET'S SPLIT IT INTO FOUR EVEN

PORTIONS, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT JOHN PROPOSING, CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING, ALSO, ENSURE THAT WHILE YOU FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE PLAN IS GOING TO HELP GUIDE US TO THE NEEDS WE NEED SIDEWALKS IN SCHOOLS.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN SIDEWALKS IN SCHOOLS IN THE MEANTIME INVEST IN THINGS WE KNOW WE

NEED. >> THESE PROGRAMS NO DOUBT IN THE NEXT VERSION THEY'LL BE THERE AND HAVE DIFFERENT ALLOTMENTS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SIDEWALKS ARE MISSING. THAT INVENTORY IS BEING DONE. WE'RE DOING THE WORK TO CATEGORIZE WHERE THE NEED IS. THERE'S NEED FOR SIDEWALKS NEXT TO SCHOOLS.

THERE IS NEED FOR THESE PROGRAMS. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR, YEAH.

>> YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS BLATANTLY WRONG. I HAVE NO ARGUMENT OF WHY I SHOULD HAVE MORE MONEY THAN OTHER PRECINCTS. HE SHOULD HAVE MORE MONEY THAN

ME. HE HAS MORE NEED THAN I HAVE. >> THREE OF FOUR HAD.

HIS ARGUMENT WAS THAT IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING. COMMISSIONER GARCIAS ARGUMENT IS HE HAS THE HEAVY TRUCKS AND INDUSTRY. ELLIS WAS HE HAS TO PICK UP THE SLACK FOR THE CITY. ANYWAY, THERE WAS AT LEAST THREE VERY STRONG, I CAN'T REMEMBER

YOURS FRANKLY. >> MY POINT IS THIS. I RECOGNIZED THE NEED OF HIS PRECINCT. I RECOGNIZE IT VERY WELL. MY POINT OF THE MATTER IS I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER COMMISSIONER HAVING MORE MONEY THAN I HAVE IF THAT PERSON HAS MORE NEED. HE HAS MORE NEED. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS.

I HAVE RECOGNIZED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THAT THINGS SHIFT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT GO BACK AND FORTH. PRECINCT FOUR FOR YEARS AND RIGHTFULLY SO HAS MORE NEED FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE MONEY. HAVE MORE UNINCORPORATED AREA. HAS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND SO DO I. I THINK I HAVE NEEDS, TOO. BUT HIS NEED IS GREATER THAN MINE. I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR THAT I THINK THIS 25, 25, 25, 25, SUCKS. IT'S RIDICULOUS. BUT THAT'S THE SCIENCE.

IT'S SOMEWHAT LIKE AND I CLOSE WITH THIS. IT'S SOMEWHAT LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT DURING THE BUDGET, TWO WEEKS PRIOR, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

[04:55:02]

WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH COMMON SENSE, FRANKLY, TO BE ABLE O TO FIGURE OUT THINGS.

>>>THANK YOU. I WOULD MOVE TO ADOPT IT. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU JOHN FOR RUNNING ALL THIS DOWN. I KNOW IT'S A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ALLOCATE THIS ACCORDING TO MORE SIGNS THAN JUST SPLIT IT FOUR WAYS.

ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED. I'M FOR IT.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

>>>JUDGE, I DID HAVE ANOTHER ITEM ON PAGE 6 ITEM R. THE CURRENT COUNTY TRAVEL POLICIES, YOU GET AN ESTIMATE, SUBMIT IT TO THE COURT. THE COURT APPROVES IT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU MAKE THE RESERVATIONS THE HOTEL IS $10 MORE YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT AGAIN. WE'RE RECOMMENDING, I RECOMMENDED FOR THE ENGINEERING BUT I THINK THE AUDITOR WOULD AGREE IT SHOULD BE COUNTY WIDE. THERE SHOULD BE A PERCENTAGE OVER THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE THAT SHOULD BE APPROVED WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK TO COURT.

THESE ARE ESTIMATES AND SOMETIMES HOTEL, WE HAD A CASE WHERE THE HOTEL RATES CHANGED.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO ANOTHER SET O OF PAPERWORK FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS.

>> I HAD TO CANCEL A TRIP. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO MAKE THIS APPLY TO ALL COUNTY

DEPARTMENTS? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT. DID YOU CATCH THAT? >> NO.

>> WE WERE SAYING THE CURRENT COUNTY POLICY ON TRAVEL YOU SUBMIT AN ESTIMATE, THE COURT APPROVES IT. IF THE TEST MAT IS WRONG BECAUSE THE HOTEL RATE WENT UP OR SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT TO APPROVE THE SECOND TEN OR $20.

>> OKAY. SO WE VOTE A MOTION TO EXTEND THAT TO ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IN ADDITION TO COUNTY ENGINEER. ALL IN FAVOR. O OPPOSED?

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> ON PAGE SIX ITEM Q. I DON'T KNOW IF THE FIRE MARSHAL IS HERE BUT BY SUPPORT MOVING OVER THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS WHICH MAKES SENSE. THEY ARE THE EXPERTS IN IT.

THERE YOU GO. MARSHAL. MY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT. ALREADY IT IS PART AND TAKES TIME FOR BUSINESSES TO GET THEIR PERMITS SO THEY CAN BE OPERATIONAL AND CAN START SENDING US THEIR TAX MONEY.

SO MY COMMENT TO YOU IS THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND JOHN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A BASELINE.

I DON'T WANT THESE PERMITS TO TAKE ANY LONGER THAN THEY'VE BEEN TAKING TO BE ISSUED TO

AREAS. >> COMMISSIONER, THIS IS MAINLY THE COUNTY BUILDINGS.

AS OPPOSED TO OPERATIONS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE TRANSFERRING SIX POSITIONS BCAUSE THE FIRE MARSHAL IS INTONL FOR INSPECTION OF ALL BUILDINGS INSIDE THE DOWNTOWN COMPLEX IN LIEU OF THE CITY FIRE MARSHAL. AND WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE INSPECTING FIRE ALARMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HER PEOPLE ARE MORE QUALIFIED.

>> THIS IS JUST FOR COUNTY. >> JUST COUNTY FACILITIES. >> THANK YOU.

>>>THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE ON COUNTY ENGINEER?

>> NO, MA'AM. >>>FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. I'VE GOT A NOTE HERE THAT ITEM

9A ON PAGE 7, NO ACTION BE TAKEN ON THAT ITEM. >> I MOVE.

>>>ANYTHING ELSE?

TOLL ROAD. YEAH. >>>SORRY TO GET BACK TO PAGE 6 ITEM P. PAGE 6 ITEM P AS IN PEOPLE. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR OFFICE. WE HAD A SERIOUS QUESTION ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE THE COST FOR DOING THE NEW FACILITY ON THE FIRST FLOOR SO THE FOLKS WHO HAVE TO SIT THROUGH COMMISSIONERS COURT ALL DAY ON THE, YOU KNOW WE HAVE PROVIDED FROM PRECINCT ONE LITTLE CUSHIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER. IT'S STILL NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE FACILITIES FOR THOSE OUT THERE. I UNDERSTAND U WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A BETTER AND CONVENIENT PLACE FOR FOLKS TO SIT AND BE. LOOK.

[05:00:01]

>> DON'T PICK ON MY STAFF, COME ON. >> I LIKE HER, JUDGE.

BUT ANYWAY, THIS NUMBER WASN'T WHAT WI THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

THE STAFF LET US KNOW THIS INCLUDES THE RELOCATION AND BUILDING OUT OF OTHER FACILITIES AND FOLKS AND OTHER PLACES AND GONE THROUGH THE EXPLANATION WORKING WITH THE ENGINEER.

WHERE I WAS GOING TO HAVE A SERIOUS RAISED EYEBROW AND I'M STILL JUST A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT PRICE TAG. I'M GOING VOTE FOR IT BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE YOUR STAFF TALKING TO MY STAFF HAS ASSUAGED OUR BIG CONCERN. STILL A LITTLE EYEBROW AND I WANT JOHN TO DO THE REVERSE ENERGYING STUFF HE DOES SO WELL. HE'S DONE THAT IN OTHER PLACES TO WHERE YOU HAVE A PLAN AND GOES THROUGH AND FIGURES OUT IF WE USE STANDARD SIZED BENCHES WE CAN MAKE THE COST HALF INSTEAD OF THE FANCY ARK TECH CHUL BENCHES. I IMPLORE JOHN TO DO WHAT HE DOES WELL AND REVERSE THE ENGINEER AND GET THE PRICE DOWN. JUDGE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN ON THE FIFTH FLOOR WHERE JOHN AND MR. JACKSON ARE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TAJ MAHAL

WITH FANCY MARBLE BUT THAT'S THE CHEAP STUFF. >> PORCELAIN.

>> IT'S CHEAP PORCELAIN. BUT IT LOOKS SLICK. AND MAYBE WE CAN DO SOME OF THAT STUFF ON THE FIRST FLOOR TO WHERE IT LOOKS NICE BUT IT'S THE CHEAP STUFF.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT WAS ENGINEER. LET'S COME BACK TO TOLL ROAD. BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS. I'LL JUST SAY I-G-A.

>> PAGE TEN? >> PAGE TEN COMMISSIONERS COURT.

UNIVERSAL SERVICES >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO HOLD ITEM B.

>> WHICH ONE COMMISSIONER? >> B. B. AS IN BOY. >> OKAY.

AND IS THAT -- >> TIME SENSITIVITY TO THAT.

>> ITEM B. >> YEAH. >> IS BRUCE AROUND?

>> I SAW HIM A SECOND AGO. >>>UNIVERSAL SERVICES I HEARD THE QUESTION.

THERE'S TO TIME SENSITIVE. THERE'S NO SENSITIVITY THERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS GOING OUT AND DOING THEIR OWN THING. THEY CAME TO US BECAUSE THERE'S SOME CONSISTENT EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTY. THAT'S TO PULL THAT TOGETHER.

HOWEVER YOU WANT TO HANDLE IT. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU ON IT. FROM WHAT YOU SAID IT'S PART OF MY CONCERN.

>> OKAY. >>>THANK YOU. THAT WAS UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

NO ACTION ON THAT ONE TODAY. 7B ON PAGE TEN. PUBLIC HEALTH.

POLLUTION CONTROL. COMMUNITY SERVICES YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES CONSTABLES THERE'S A CORRECTION ON ITEM 13A ON PAGE 13.

WE NEED TO STRIKE THE WORDS AND THE PETTY CASH ACCOUNT THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED.

INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES COUNTY CLERK DISTRICT CLERK, WE'VE GOT A FEW SPEAKERS ON ITEM 16B. THAT'S ABOUT A COURT REPORTER COMPENSATION.

>> YES, MA'AM. WE REQUEST THAT BE REFERRED TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE CAROLINE BAKER, CHRIS FELDMAN, MIKE INK LHART AND

KAREN CORONADO. >> WE HAVE ANOTHER JUDGE THAT SHOWED UP.

[05:05:01]

>> JUDGE SCHAFER?

HERE? >> JUDGE BAKER. >> GO AHEAD FOLKS.

YEAH. I'M SORRY. I CAN'T SEE THAT FAR.

>> THANK YOU JUDGE. I'M CAROLINE BAKER. WE'LL BE BRIEF.

WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS ISSUE TO YOU. IT HAS TO DO WITH HISTORICALLY THE COURT REPORTER SALARY WHICH IS DEALT WITH PROBABLY SINCE ABOUT 2004.

ONE OF THE ISSUES HAS TO DO WITH THE STATUTE THAT I BELIEVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BELIEVES APPLIES. THE CONCERN FROM THE COURT REPORTER STANDPOINT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND I WAS INVOLVED IN IT OVER THE YEARS AS A JUDGE WITH THE COURT REPORTERS.

ONE OF THE THE ISSUES HAS BEEN THAT THEY ARE VIEWED LIKE OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES UNDER THE STATUTE TO GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF A RAISE, WHICH THEY HAVE NOT CONSISTENTLY GOTTEN.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE STATUTE IS USED AS A WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING SORT OF RECONCILED AT THIS POINT TO BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE MARKET. SO IT'S REALLY MORE OF AN ADJUSTMENT THAN A RAISE. COMMISSIONERS COURT VERY GRACIOUSLY BACK IN 2008 GIVEN THEM A SORT OF THREE TROFRJS RAISE TO TRY TO TRUE UP SOME OF THAT.

AND THEY GOT THE FIRST ONE UNFORTUNATELY AFTER THAT WE HAD A RECESSION AND THE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE. THEY HAD TO MAKE BUDGET CUTS AND NO ONE IS CRITICAL OF THAT.

AT THIS POINT WE ARE IN A COURT REPORTER CRISIS. WE CAN'T ATTRACT COURT REPORTERS TO HARRIS COUNTY. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET SUBS. WE HAVE 84 COURT REPORTER POSITIONS AND ONLY 79 FILLED AND WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE ARE SO OUT OF WHACK WITH WHAT THE OTHER COURT REPORTERS ARE PAID AROUND THE STATE THAT WE CAN'T ATTRACT PEOPLE HERE.

THE COURT REPORTERS ARE NOT ASKING TO BE ADJUSTED THE TO THAT AMOUNT.

THEY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE COUNTIES POSITION. WHAT THEY ARE ASKING IS AN ADJUSTMENT BE MADE SO THE STATUTE IS NOT USED AS A SWARD AND SHIELD.

IT IS AN ADJUSTMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEY ARE NOT CURRENT WITH THE MARKET AND TO GET THEM MORE INLINE SO THAT EVENTUALLY THEY CAN BE UP WITH THE MARKET IN THE STATE.

THAT'S REALLY THE THRUST OF THE REQUEST FROM THE COURT REPORTERS.

I BELIEVE THE JUDGES MADE A RESOLUTION THAT SORT OF RECOGNIZED A TRUEING UP.

BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT WHAT THE COURT REPORTERS ARE ASKING FOR.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR LESS THAN THAT. THEY REALLY JUST WANT TO BE IN LINE SO THEY CAN GET MORE CONSISTENTLY TOWARD A MARKET RATE.

>> ALL RIGHT. COMM COMMISSIONER.

>> ROBERT THIS IS SOMETHING I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES WITH REGARD TO THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS.

I'VE RECENTLY FOUND THERE'S NEW TERMINOLOGY. IN THE FAMILY COURTS THERE'S THIS THING CALLED THE POOL TO WHERE THERE'S A SITTING JUDGE IN EACH COURT AND THE ASSOCIATED JUDGES DRAW FROM POOL. I UNDERSTAND THAT IN OTHER LOCALS THEY CALL THAT A SET AS OPPOSED TO A POOL. I MEAN A SWING REPORTERS AND WE NEED A SWING SET.

A SET AS IN LIKE WHEN YOU DO YOUR MATH PROBLEMS. SO THAT EACH COURT CAN HAVE A COURT REPORTER AND THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A SET OF COURT REPORTERS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN CASE SOMEBODY IS OUT THAT THEY CAN DRAW FROM. IN ORDER FOR US TO JUST EVEN KEEP THE REGULAR REPORTERS AND BE ABLE TO GET SUBS BECAUSE THE SUBS WON'T COME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY CAN GET MORE BY GOING TO THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

WE NEED TO GET TO MARKET AND WE NEED YOUR INTERPRETATION. I'VE TOLD THE REPORTERS THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT DOING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT LEGAL. BUT IF YOU TELL US THAT IT IS LEGAL FOR US TO, INSTEAD OF CALLING IT A RAISE, WE CALL IT WHAT'S THAT FANCY WORD? MARKET ADJUSTMENT. YOU SAY THAT THAT THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND NOT VIOLATING THE STATUTES I'M IN. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

ON THE SECOND SIDE OF THAT AND TODAY IT'S FOR DISCUSSION NOT TO DO IF YOUR OFFICE DOES NOT SAY WE CAN DO A MARKET ADJUSTMENT, THEN THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS GET INTERGALACTIC AFFAIRS TO PUT THIS ON THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE

LOSS OF GOOD REPORTERS TO OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES. >> WE AS AN OFFICE AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT THAT COURT REPORTERS NEED TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

WE'VE JUST NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE VARIOUS LAWS THAT APPEAR AT SOME LEVEL TO CONFLICT. WE WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH

[05:10:04]

THAT AT THIS MOMENT. >> AND A SWING SET. SET NOT AS IN LIKE SWING SET BUT

A SWING REPORTER SET AS IN NUMEROLOGY. >>>AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO TRY TO OFFER DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND SO FAR WE'VE NOT

GOTTEN WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO. >>>COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> SUB TIME SNABL A WEEK,

A MONTH. >> TWO WEEKS. I THINK WE CAN PRETTY MUCH THOUGHT WELL, WE THOUGHT WE HAD IT RESOLVED AND IT TURNED OUT THE NUMBERS DIDN'T MATCH UP WITH WHAT WE NEEDED THEM TO MATCH UP TO. WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON IT.

>> THANK YOU. >>>THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>>THANK YOU JUDGE.

>>>JUDGE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING KNOW SPEAK. I'VE BEEN A JUDGE OVER ELEVEN YEARS AND THIS IS THE ONLY TOPIC ON WHICH I HAVE APPROACHED COMMISSIONERS COURT BECAUSE, I WAS HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

>> YOUR HONOR. >> YES, SIR. >> THIS YOUR HONOR.

>> I'M SORRY. >> HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE ON BEHALF OF THE COOK OFF.

>> NOT COUNTY BUSINESS. HOUSTON COOK OFF. WHICH IS COMING UP.

>> SORRY. I WAS GOING TO OBJECTION. I WAS GOING TO REGISTER MY OBJECTION. HE'S A GOOD JUDGE. BUT HE'S A GREAT LAWYER.

I USED TO HAVE TO, NOT HAVE TO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESIDING OVER SOME OF HIS TRIALS.

>> AND YOU SWORE ME IN AS A JUDGE. >> I DID.

HIS WIFE IS A BETTER LAWYER THAN HIM. >> IF YOU CAN IMAGINE SUCH A THING. BUT I AM HERE NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A CRISIS.

I NEED TO, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. I MONITOR THE TRAFFIC EVERY DAY ON OUR E-MAIL. WE ARE EACH ONE OF THE 24 CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS, THE 22 CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT, FAMILY COURTS, JUVENILE COURTS, COUNTY COURTS, TAX COURTS ARE STRUGGLING EVERY DAY TO DO BUSINESS. PERIOD. BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS OF A SHORTAGE OF COURT REPORTERS. WHY ARE THEY LEAVING? WHY ARE THEY NOT COMING BECAUSE THE PER DIEM WE PAY SUBS IS TOO LOW. THEY CAN STAY HOME.

THEY CAN GO WORK IN PRIVATE COURT REPORTING. GO TO OTHER COUNTIES AND MAKE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY. HERE'S THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND.

OTHER COUNTIES HAVE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM. OTHER COUNTIES HAVE COMPARABLE SIZE HAVE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM. HOW? BY CONTINUALLY, ANNUALLY GIVING RAISES TO COURT REPORTERS AS THEY GIVE RAISES TO OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

FOR MANY YEARS, FOR DECADES, WE DID NOT. AND THUS OUR COURT REPORTERS HAVE FALLEN BEHIND. I IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK AT THE LAW FROM THIS STANDPOINT.

THAT IS AND YOUR HONOR, AS WELL, THAT IS IF WE HAD CONSISTENTLY BEEN GIVEN RAISES TO COURT REPORTERS AS PER THE STATUTE CAP, CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST 20-30 YEARS THEY WOULD BE MAKING SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THEY ARE ASKING FOR NOW. AND SO IF WE GO BACK IN TIME AND TRUE UP AND ARE CONSISTENT TO THE STATUTE. DON'T TRY TO USE IT AS JUDGE BAKER SAID A SWORD AND A SHIELD. WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TOGETHER.

IT IS IN FACT SOMETHING WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY AND WE ARE BEING, WE ARE SPENDING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE AS JUDGES COULD BE USING TO ACTUALLY JUDE KATE CASE AND MOVE CASES THROUGH JUST SHUFFLING COURT REPORTERS AND FINDING A COURT REPORTER TO COVER A MATTER.

FOR EXAMPLE OUR COURT REPORTERS OF THE 24 CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS HAVE TO SPEND NUMEROUS DAYS DOWN IN THE TAX COURTS BECAUSE THE TAX COURTS DON'T HAVE TIME, DON'T HAVE COURT REPORTERS OF THEIR OWN. WE HAVE TO DELEGATE OUR COURT REPORTERS.

ON THOSE DAYS WE CANNOT DO BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES A COURT REPORTER.

PERIOD. I'M NOT EXAGGERATING. I KNOW I'M PROBABLY ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE TWO I THINK THISES. THERE IS NO INSTITUTE FOR COURT REPORTERS. WE NEED LIVE HUMAN BEINGS OFFICIATING WHAT WAS SAID IN THE COURTROOM. IF SOMEBODY MUMBLES OR THERE WAS A NOISE OR SOMETHING WE CANNOT GO BACK IN TIME EVEN WITH AN AUDIO RECORDING AND DETERMINE WHAT WAS SAID.

MORE IMPORTANTLY I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD RUIN A FOUL OF THE CONTROLLING STATUTE TO TRUE UP COURT REPORTERS TO SOMETHING CLOSE TO WHAT THEY ARE MAKING IN OTHER COUNTIES TO STAUNCH THE

BLEEDING IMMEDIATELY. >> JUDGE. >>>THANK YOU.

>> I'M CURIOUS. WE TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE THAT DOES NOT RUN FILE

[05:15:02]

THEN THE CAP IS THERE. CAN YOU GRANT AN EXCEPTION FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND CATCH UP? WE JUST MAY WANT TO THINK ABOUT CRAFTING SOMETHING TO DO THAT.

EVEN IF WE DO SOMETHING AND IT GETS STRUCK DOWN AT SOME POINT YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT A

LEGISLATIVE FIX TO MAKE UP FOR WHATEVER HAPPENED. >> MAY I RESPOND? THE COURT REPORTERS DID GO TO TO LEGISLATURE AS I THINK YOU KNOW.

WE HAD VERY PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES ABOUT THIS THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THERE WAS A BILL THEY GOT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND BUT DIED IN THE SENATE TO LIFT THE CAP OR TO ALLOW COMMISSIONERS COURT TO AT LEAST HAVE A VOTE TO DECIDE,

ESSENTIALLY, WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A RAISE. >> WAS IT BRACTED BY HARRIS

COUNTY? >> YES. BECAUSE IT WAS COUNTIES OVER THREE MILLION. WE WERE JUST BY DEFINITION WE WERE THE ONLY ONES.

>> ONE CHAMBER? SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS THAT WAY. >> THE ANSWER TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT ASKING FOR THAT EXCEPTION BASED ON THE FACT WE HAVEN'T TRUED THEM UP IN THE PAST OR ONE TIME WAIVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE LAW. WE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT

QUESTION. >> THAT MAY BE THE THOUGHT. >> IT IS, WE RESPECTFULLY

NEED TO DO SOMETHING SOONER THAN THAT BUT SHOULD ALSO DO THAT. >> DO BOTH.

TRY THIS BUT WHO KNOWS UNTIL SOMEBODY CHALLENGES IT. IT WOULD BE THE BEST LEGAL ANALYSIS, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT CAN COME UP WITH. BUT RUN THE RISK OF SOMEBODY

DISAGREEING. >> RIGHT. >> NOT ONE OF US.

>> I HEAR YOU. >>>THANK YOU. >>>THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>>I'M CAROLINE CORONADO. COURT REPORTER. YOU ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH ME.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO VISIT WITH ALMOST EACH ONE OF YOU. I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THE JUDGES HAVE SAID. WE COURT REPORTERS ARE REALLY AT YOUR MERCY AND WE ARE JUST PRAYING AND HOPING THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND SEE THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING AT THE COURTHOUSE. WE LOVE OUR JOB. WE LOVE WHAT WE DO.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO IT. WE WANT TO STOP LOSING EMPLOYEES IN HARRIS COUNTY COURTS TO OTHER COUNTIES AND TO THE FREELANCE SIDE OF THE BUSINESS. WE NEED THIS TO GO FORWARD.

WE NEED THIS TO PASS. LIKE JUDGE SAID WE ARE JUST ASKING WHAT WE ASKED AT THE BEGINNING THE FIRST TIME. WE JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE MOVE QUICKLY TO RESOLVE THIS AND TO

HELP US AS SOON AS YOU CAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>>HI. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHRIS FELDMAN.

I HAVE APPEARED BEFORE THIS COURT BEFORE. JUST VERY BRIEFLY I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BUILD ON A COUPLE OF THINGS ALREADY STATED. THE STATUTES AT STAKE INVOLVING THIS MATTER ARE SOMEWHAT CON TRO INDICT RI AND USED HISTORICALLY, MAYBE NOT INTENTIONALLY, AS A BIT OF A SWORD AND SHIELD. MEANING ON THE ONE HAND THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF EMPLOYEES IS LIMITED IN TERMS OF HOW FAR THEY CAN ADVANCE YET THERE'S A PROCEDURE IN PLACE INVOLVING THIS INTERNALLY IN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN ADHERED TO.

RAISING POTENTIAL EQUITABLE CLAIMS. IN THAT REGARD IT WOULD BE NICE TO AVOID ANY FURTHER DISPUTE INVOLVING THIS MATTER IF THERE WAS A WAY WITHIN THE CURRENT CONTEXT TO ACTUALLY AS IT WAS PUT, TRUE UP. THIS IS A HISTORICAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF OR THIS DISPUTE IS HISTORICAL IN TERMS OF TENSION BETWEEN THE JUDICIARY WHICH HANDLES THE EMPLOYMENT OF THIS GROUP OF EMPLOYEES VERSUS THE SETTING OF THE BUDGET BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND CASE OUT OF GAL HAVE A STON INVOLVING JUDGE COX AND COUNTY JUDGE HENRY INFORMATIVE. IT'S THIS BALANCE BETWEEN THE JUDICIARY AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THE MOST, IN MY VIEW IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE IN WORKING WITH THE COURT REPORTERS, THE MOST EXPEDIENT AND EFFICIENT WAY FOR THIS TO OCCUR WOULD BE FOR SOME REASONABLE APPROACH IN TRUEING UP THE HISTORICAL DISCREPANCY DEVELOPED IN TERMS OF THE PAYMENT OF THE COURT REPORTERS WITHOUT FURTHER ESCALATION OF THE ISSUE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY ATTAINABLE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT MATTER. THANK YOU.

>>>THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE BAKER AND JUDGE INGLEHART.

[05:20:03]

OUT FOR US, RIGHT? >> I DON'T HAVE THE STATUTE IN FRONT OF ME.

THERE IS A POPULATION, ONLY THE LARGER COUNTIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

>> OKAY. WELL THAT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE STEPS ON THIS.

WE RECOGNIZE THE PRESSURE YOU ARE UNDER. THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD. >>>I WAS JUST GOING ADD THE LAW THAT IS THE IMPEDIMENT IN THIS MATTER IT WAS PASSED DECADES AGO. I DON'T THINK THERE'S NO LONGER A RATIONAL BASIS FOR THE LIMITATION AS TO THIS PARTICULAR CLASS OF EMPLOYEES.

IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY HARRIS COUNTY WOULD BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

IN THAT REGARD, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO BE ADDRESSED DOWN THE ROAD BY EITHER LEGISLATION

OR THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> THANK YOU.

SO THAT WAS DISTRICT CLERK. LET'S MOVE TO COUNTY ATTORNEY. DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. PRETRIAL SERVICES. COUNTY COURTS.

DISTRICT COURTS. I'M ON PAGE 16. DISTRICT COURTS.

TRAVEL AND TRAINING. GRANTS. >> PAGE 20 HOLD, WHAT IS THAT, L? I KNOW THE JUSTICE OF ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT TALKED

TO THE OPERATION AND THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THAT SOME MORE. >> ELECTION ON ITEM 24L ON PAGE 20. FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING.

I WANT TO POINT OUT THE ITEM N ON PAGE 23. THE FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM WEBSITE. I JUST THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

RIGHT NOW BASICALLY I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE WEBSITES. THEY ARE VERY MUCH DESIGNED FOR THE METEOROLOGISTS WHO LOVE THEM. THEY STILL OUGHT TO HAVE THEM BUT WE NEED SOME THAT ARE USER FRIENDLY. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

I'M GLAD TO BE WORKING ON THIS WITH FLOOD CONTROL. >>>COMMISSIONERS.

>> PAGE 24, JUDGE. IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? >> YES.

>> RIVER SIDE ITEM. [INAUDIBLE] >> WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

>> JUDGE, IN YOUR REFERENCE EARLIER ON PAGE 22 UNDERNEATH THE TREASURER.

THE BANK ACCOUNT THAT'S BEING CREATED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER.

THAT'S TO HOLD $30 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS THAT WERE SET ASIDE FOR THE DREDGING OF LAKE HOUSTON. UP O ON THE NORTH SIDE. THAT'S GOING TOIMPACT A LOT OF FOLK THAT IS ARE THERE. I DO COMMEND OUR ENGINEERING, FLOOD CONTROL AND THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS, WITH THE RIVER GROUP.

THIS IS MULTIPLE MOVING PIECES WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN DAN HUBERTY'S OFFICE PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER. IT'S A SMALL BLIP ON THE PAGE BUT IT REFLECTS A LOT OF WORK TO GET $30 MILLION TOWARDS DREDGING LAKE HOUSTON WHERE IT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED. I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND ALL THE PARTIES FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THE THAT TOGETHER AND IT'S UNDER THE TREASURERS OFFICE BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT GETS

TO HOLD THE CHECK. >>>THAT'S GREAT. IT'S GOOD FOR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY, TOO. IT'S VERY GOOD. MOVING ONTO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'VE GONE OVER MY RESOLUTION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THIS PART. >>>MOTION.

THAT ITEM, MANY BLOUNT IS TO WORK WITH THE PARKS BOARD TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DONATION TO B CYCLE. ONE WITH B CYCLE AND THE OTHER IS WORKING WITH CITY AND PARKS BOARD TO SEE IF WE CAN CONNECT BRAISE AND SAMS IN TWO LOCATIONS.

GREENS AND HALLS IN ONE LOCATION. I THINK WE PROBABLY TALKING

[05:25:02]

IF THAT'S A FUNDING SOURCE MAYBE THE TOLL ROAD. COME UP WITH SOME NUMBERS TO SEE IF WE CAN'T DO IT. MAYBE WON'T GET THE SUPPORT HERE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE TO

HAVE LINEAR PARKS AND NO WAY TO GET TO THEM. >>>MOTION.

>>>PRECINCT TWO. >>>I MOVE. >>>PRECINCT THREE.

>>>MOTION. >> PRECINCT FOUR. >>>MOTION AND JUDGE WE MAY NEED A DISCUSSION ON ITEM FOUR, WHICH DEALS WITH COUNTY AUDITOR, COUNTY ATTORNEY.

JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, AND I SEE IS CLAY STILL HERE. THERE HE IS.

CLAY BACK THERE. JUDGE, THIS IS BROUGHT UP LAST COURT WHERE WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH REGARD TO THE ALLEGATION A THAT SOME OF THE JUDGES MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION. MY COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER GARCIA POINTED OUT THAT, OH, ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO OR SO WANE DID A BIG THING ON IT AND CLEANED UP A LITTLE BIT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH I REMEMBER ABOUT TEN YEARS BEFORE THAT THERE WAS A BIG DEAL THAT CAME OUT. WHAT HAPPENS IS ABOUT EVERY TEN YEARS I THINK JUDGES GET A LITTLE, THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION ENOUGH. WE HAD ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE IN COURT TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR ATTORNEYS WERE PUTTING IN TIME AND WERE BILLING AND GETTING RESETS BUT THEY WEREN'T GETTING THE JUSTICE THAT WE AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WERE APPROVING UNDER THE SYSTEM. SO MY REQUEST IS THAT WE JUST GET OUR, WE GOT GOOD FOLKS ON OUR TEAM. WE GET THE AUDITOR, COUNTY ATTORNEY, CLAY, EVERYBODY TO JUST PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND DO A REVIEW FOR A WHILE AND EDUCATE THE JUDGES TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOUCHERS THEY ARE SIGNING ARE ARE NOT GETTING OUT OF HAND. IT'S JUST A MATTER, JUDGE KS PERIODICALLY SHINING THE LIGHT ON IT AND WE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF BRAND NEW JUDGES THAT SOME JUST NEED TO SAY HEY. WE'RE LOOKING. IT'LL BE CLEANED UP FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS THEN, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US STILL HERE IN TEN YEARS HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AGAIN

PROBABLY. >>>COMMISSIONER GARCIA THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

IN THE MEANTIME, I WONDER IF JIM IS HERE. I BELIEVE THEY ARE WORKING ON

THIS AND WOULD LIKE THE HEAR WHAT'S UP. >>>THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. I'M CURIOUS WHETHER THIS WILL BE FOR ALL COURTS, FAMILY, CIVIL, AND CRIMINAL COURTS? IS THAT WHAT THIS ITEM WILL

COVER? >> I THINK SO. BASICALLY, IT'S WHEN WE ARE HAVING JUDGES THAT ARE APPROVING VOUCHERS. I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SYSTEM OVERALL. BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN PEOPLE JUST QUIT PAYING ATTENTION.

>> IF YOU ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS COVERING ALL COURTS.

I'LL SUPPORT IT. >> I ACCEPT THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT AND AS HE COMES UP I KNOW THAT MORE THAN 80% OF OUR CASE LOAD IS HANDLED BY PRIVATE COUNSEL. THAT LEAVES APPOINTED BY THE JUDGES. 20% THAT'S LEFT BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND 10 RULES FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE SYSTEMS REQUIRES INDEPENDENTS FROM THE JUDICIARY. I KNOW THAT THE MISDEMEANOR JUDGES AND WE ALSO POINTED OUT HAD SOME RATHER LIVELY DISCUSSIONS HERE ABOUT THE MAX SYSTEM. MY FIRST PREFACE IS EXPAND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CONFLICTS AND MONEY ISSUES. AND THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP WORKED UP GUIDELINES RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM CASE LOADS FOR ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING INDEGENT CLIENTS. 77 FIRST-DEGREE FELONY CASES.

105 SECOND-DEGREE FELONY CASES. 144 THIRD-DEGREE FELONY CASES. 174 STATE JAIL FELONY CASES.

216 CLASS A MISDEMEANORS AND I KNOW THAT YOU A OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME REPORTS ON THIS. IN 2019 ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT HANDLED CASE LOADS WERE OVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE ISSUE OF EXCESSIVE CASE LOADS AND POOR REPRESENTATION FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IS SYSTEMATIC.

I SEEM TO RECALL A BILL YOUR OFFICE RECOMMENDED TO ME SOME YEARS THAT SAYS THESE LAWYERS HAVE TO SHOW WHAT PERCENTAGE IT IS OF THEIR PRACTICE. SO IF YOU MAKE $200,000 ON COURT

[05:30:02]

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GIVE COMMENT AND GIVE UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE ON THAT MAC FOR THE FELONY JUDGES. I DON'T WANT TO CALL NAMES OUT. I DID BEFORE BUT HERE'S ONE PERSON IN 2019 HAD 562 FELONY CASES IN ADDITION TO 144 MISDEMEANOR CASES FOR A TOTAL OF 706 AND THE COUNTY PAID HER $356,000. YOU KNOW, SHE CERTAINLY DID WELL. I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL HER CLIENTS COULD HAVE DONE.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT HAD 273 FELONY CASES IN ONE YEAR. 303 MISDEMEANOR CASES FOR A TOTAL OF 576 AND THE COUNTY PAID THAT PERSON $234,000. SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT COMMENT

ON THAT. >>>COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA WE'VE BEGUN WORK ON THE REPORT YOU ASKED. COMMISSIONER KEAGLE WE SAW WHAT YOU SUBMITTED, VISITED WITH BOTH COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND THEIR TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE.

WE'RE WORKING TO GO AHEAD AND BRING SOME SUNSHINE ON IT AND PUBLISH REPORTS.

THE STATE DOES PUBLISH IT. YOU HAVE TO GO A FEW CLICKS BACK TO FIND IT.

PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH INTERVIEWS FOR THE MANAGED ASSIGN DIRECTOR LATER THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY. WE HAVE OUR FIRST INTERVIEWS FOR THAT.

RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS AS THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DOWN HERE, I THINK, ALMOST ONCE A MONTH KIND OF WORKING WITH THE JUDGES.

I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC MOVING FORWARD. IT WILL NOT TAKE US VERY LONG TO PULL TOGETHER AN INITIAL REPORT AND BRING IN TRANSPARENCY TO IT. VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR ON DATA TECHNOLOGY BEGAN YESTERDAY. IT'S NICE.

WE'VE GOT OTHER TECHNOLOGY POSITIONS POSTED. WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS.

>>>COMMISSIONER KEAGLE THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> JUDGE, I FAILED TO MENTION EARLIER THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP ABOUT EVERY TEN YEARS.

ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, THIS IS 2020, I WAS A BRAND NEW JUDGE IN 2001.

I WAS APPROVING VOUCHERS FOR FOLKS DOING CONDEMNATION WORK. THERE WAS A REAL GRUMPY COUNTY

COMMISSIONER WHO I'M SITTING NEXT TO RIGHT NOW. >> STILL GRUMPY.

>> THAT CALLED UP MY OFFICE AND IN ONLY SOMEWHAT POLITE TERMS WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD SO AND SO WAS BUILDING THIS AMOUNT FOR. WELL, I WILL ADMIT THAT I HAD JUST BEEN IN OFFICE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND HAD JUST BEEN KIND OF GOING ALONG WITH THE WAY THE PROCEDURE WAS. IT FORCED ME TO SIT BACK AND LOOK AT THE PROCESSES WE HAD AND WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF REFORM IN THE COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AT THAT TIME IN TERMS OF WAY WE DID IT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY BILLING. THERE WERE PEOPLE CHARGING TRAVEL TIME AND GOING FROM THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY DOWN TO MEETINGS AND CHARGING TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO TAXPAYERS FOR TRAVEL. ONE HOUR HEARING SO THEY HAVE LONG EXPENSIVE BILLS.

WE DID A REFORM IN THE COUNTY SAIFL COURTS, OR AT LEAST IN PRECINCT FOUR AT THAT TIME.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO ABOUT EVERY TEN YEARS. WE NEED TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON IT. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WHAT COMMISSIONER DID 20 YEARS AGO TO ME WHEN I WAS SITTING THERE AS A JUDGE. IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR JUDGES. THEY SAY LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MAKE SURE WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT THE JUDGE'S MONEY.

IT'S THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY. >> WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CALL YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU NEVER DID. >> IT WORKED. >> IT WORKED FOR ALL MY 12

YEARS IN OFFICE. >>>COMMISSIONER ELLIS. DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?

>> COME BACK WITH IT IN TERMS OF THE TRANSPARENCY. SO YOU COME BACK AND PRESENT

SOMETHING TO US? >> YES, SIR. >> YOU KNOW YOUR TIMETABLE?

TWO WEEKS? A MONTH? >> WHY DON'T WITH, I GIVE

MYSELF FOUR WEEKS BUT WE MAY GET IT ON THE MARCH 10. >> OKAY.

>> I'M GOING TO SHOOT FOR MARCH 10. >> I HOPE YOU FIND SOME WAY IN TERMS OF THE TRANSPARENCY, IF IT'S ONLINE. WITH THE STATE, YOU KNOW,

[05:35:05]

ANYBODY CAN HIT A FEW CLICKS BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO FIND IT. >> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SO TALENTED.

NOT MANY PEOPLE SAY GIVE ME FOUR WEEKS BUT WE'LL TRY TO DO IT IN TWO.

>> YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE. DOES THIS FIT WITH WHAT YOU WERE WORKING ON? YOU WERE DOING MAC, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP.

>> IT WILL. JUDGE, I APPRECIATE IT. WE DO HAVE A LOT.

WITH AJ, POOR AJ IF HE'S WATCHING HE'S GOTTEN A MULTITUDE OF ASSIGNMENTS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT HARD TO PULL TOGETHER. BOTH LEVELS OF COURTS HAVE, COURT ADMINISTRATORS HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE TO WORK WITH US.

>> IT'S LIKE NECESSARY. WHEN YOU HAVE MAC THEN THE SUPERVISOR THERE IS GOING TO BE

THE ONE REVIEWING THE VOUCHERS. IT MAKES IT FOR EFFECTIVE. >> I THINK IT'S ONLINE.

I FOUND IT ONCE. IT'S JUST SO MASSIVE. >> IT'S NOT SUPER EASY TO

GET TO. >>>THANK YOU. >>>THANK YOU JUDGE.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION. >>>SO MOVE. >>>AND SECOND.

THE MOTION HAD A CHANGE. >>>THAT WAS MY AGENDA. LET ME DO THE MOTION AND ACCEPT

THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND YOU CAN SECOND. >> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. >>>FOR THE AMENDMENT IT WAS WE ADDED.

>> MAKE SURE IT SAID ALL COURTS. >> MAKING SURE IT INCLUDES ALL THE COURTS. OKAY. THEN THE MOTION.

ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

MISCELLANEOUS. ON SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS. ANY COMMENTS ON SUPPLEMENTAL

[Item II (Part 2 of 2)]

SEVEN WE'VE DONE. EIGHT NINE AND TEN. SO WE'VE DONE ALL OF THEM.

[Item IV (Part 2 of 2)]

>> SO MOVED. >> I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO COUNTY ATTORNEY.

CORRECT? >> SOMETHING WE NEVER ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

TERMS OF ONE OF THE GRANTS OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT REQUIRES THAT LESS THAN 50% OF THE MEMBERS DO NOT RECEIVE THEIR PRIMARY INCOME MEDICAL. THIS ONE [INAUDIBLE]

>> SO LET'S FINISH DISCUSSING THIS ONE. THE DOCTOR, DOES ANYBODY HAVE TO

GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE? >> NO.

SHE CAME BY. >> SHE'S GREAT. SHE HAD TO LEAVE TODAY.

BUT I BELIEVE SHE'S EXCITED TO DO THIS AND QUALIFIED FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD DUE TO WORK WITH HOPE CLINIC. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT HER TO THE HARRY HEALTH

SYSTEM. >> SECOND. >> PENDING.

>> SUBJECT TO REVIEW. >>>THE OTHER THING WE NEED, JUDGE, BECAUSE OF SOME THINGS COMING UP AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ON THURSDAY. THEY ARE REQUESTING THAT

APPOINTMENT BE EFFECTIVE MARCH 1. >> RIGHT.

OKAY. SO WITH THE APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE MARCH 1.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. BEFORE WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS. >> CAN WE DO THAT ONE?

>> SURE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION JUDGE. FIRE MARSHAL.

>> COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, YES, SIR. >> YOU DONE FABULOUS.

ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IT FOR US FOR ANOTHER YEAR? >> YES, SIR.

>> HOW LONG IS THIS TERM? >> IT'S A TWO YEAR TERM. EVERY TWO YEARS YOU GET

REAPPOINTED. >> ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IT FOR US ANOTHER TWO YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> I MAKE THE MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I DON'T NEED TO GO BACK ON MINE UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS CONCERNS. I MAKE A MOTIONFUL CARL DAVIS.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM 2? >> GOOD JOB.

[05:40:01]

>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NUMBER THREE COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT DR. EDWIN GEARING TO THE BOARD

OF CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IED. >> ANYBODY NEED TO GO BACK

TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR. O OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> JAMES WHICH? >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

ELLIS FOR THE APPOINT OF DR. GEARING. >> NUMBER FOUR.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE. RIGHT?

>> YES. >> OKAY. >> I KNOW THAT'S AN ISSUE.

WE NEED THE TO WORK OUT TERMS OF HIS CLASSIFICATION. WE DON'T NEED TO GO BACK TO

EXECUTIVE SESSION? [INAUDIBLE] >> CAN WE JUST SAY YES?

>> YES. >> ONE MORE ISSUE. A CLASSIFICATION.

IF IT BECOMES A DIRECTOR HE LOSES HIS VACATION. IF HE'S COMING BACK HE'LL HAVE

NO VACATION AND SICK LEAVE. >> WHAT DO WE DO? >> KEEP HIM AS INTERIM --

>> OKAY. >> OTHERWISE HE HAS TO BE PAID FOR IT.

>> WHAT'S THE MOTION ROBERT? >> MOTION BE TO SALARY UP TO 275 THOUSAND [INAUDIBLE] HIS BENEFITS, WHICH IS SICK TIME, VACATION AND COMP TIME BE BASICALLY AT THIS POINT FROZEN

UNTIL COMES BACK OFF TO KEEP THOSE BALANCES. >> A SECOND?

>> NAUL FAVOR? OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

IT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR HAS ADEQUATE PAY.

NUMBER FIVE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PRECINCT THREE.

>> MOTION. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

OKAY. BEFORE WE TAKE THE SPEAKERS WE NEED TO GO BACK TO PRECINCT

[Item I (Part 4 of 4)]

THREE. >> ITEM ONE. >> JOSH STUCKY I THINK IS BACK THERE AND LESS BECKER. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH PODS. IT'S KIND OF A MESS.

SO HOW DO WE STAND ON THE HEALTH PODS? >> THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT

HASN'T COME BACK TO US TO GIVE US VALUES ON COST AND LOCATIONS. >> OKAY.

HEALTH PODS. >> YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. >> COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS INVOLVED IN THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN A MESS. WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE. I THINK YOU HAVE ONE GOING.

ONE QUESTION IS D HEALTH POD THE BEST WAY TO GO INSTEAD OF MOBILE THINGS.

>> THE HEALTH POD IS JUST FOR EVERYONE'S NCHGS IS BASICALLY A METAL BUILDING THAT LETS YOU USE THE MOBILE UNITS WHEN YOU HAVE INCLEMENT WEATHER OR HEAT.

A METAL BUILDING ALLOW PEOPLE TO WAIT TO GO IN AND USE THE MOBILE UNITS.

WE HAD COME UP WITH THE IDEA ORIGINALLY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AS WE STARTED BUILDING OUT THE MOBILE UNITS AND SAW SOME OF THE FLAWS WHEN YOU TAKE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER. WE TALKED TO CSD ABOUT PUTTING THESE UNDER A DR GRANT.

WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS THEY HAD A SHORTER TIME LINE THAEN WE NEED TO GET CLARIFICATIONS ON WHERE TO PUT THEM AND SERVICES NEEDED FOR PAPERWORK.

WE PAUSED ON THAT. WE PUT IT IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST AND THE BUDGET REQUEST COMES BACK FRR THE JUNE C-I-P FOR THIS YEAR WHERE WE SUBMIT THEM AS A PROJECT AID CORDING TO WHAT WENT THROUGH CORD. AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK FLU TDR PROCESS AND WORK TO TRY IF

FUND THEM. >> CAN WE TRY TO GET THIS WORKED OUT AND GET THEM GOING?

>> JOSH AND I CAN WORK THROUGH THAT. >> THE PLACE WE SELECTED WE

STHAD WOULDN'T WORK. >> WE PROPOSED IDEAS OF WHERE WE THOUGHT THEY'D GO BASED ON THE STUDY THAT SHOWED WHERE THERE ARE GAPS. THEY DIDN'T ALL FIT THE MODEL WITH WHAT CSD NEEDED FOR GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND THE FACILITIES THEMSELVES HAD ISSUES.

>> HE UNDERSTANDS THIS. HE'LL GET IT FIGURED OUT. WE GO FROM THERE.

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE MOVING ON. >> YES.

FRIDAY IS MY LAST DAY. >> YOU'RE AN OUTSTANDING MAN AND DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I HATE TO SEE YOU LEAVE. >> I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME. I WAS WITH FLOOD CONTROL 7 YEARS, PUBLIC HEALTH AT TEN. I ENJOYED SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S GREAT WORK THAT HAPPENS

[05:45:04]

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

SO IS THERE A MOTION ON THE AGENDA? WE NEED MOTION ON THE AGENDA.

>> SO MOVED. >>>SECOND. >>>ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT TEN A. 6A?

>> YES. >> I'M AYE ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT ON PAGE TEN I'M NO ON 6A

AND B. >> ALL RIGHT. SO SPEAKERS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

[Item V]

BARRY THOFRP SEWN AN ROBERT HARDING. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK

MA'AM? >>>I STARTED COMING TO THESE MEETINGS LAST YEAR AS A REPUBLICAN WOMAN IN SUPPORT OF MY TWO REPUBLICANS HERE BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE GOOD STEWARDS.

I THINK THEY ARE HONORABLE AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF BOTH PRECINCTS.

I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY FUNCTIONS. BUT WHILE SITTING HERE I HAVE LEARNED AND BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED IN HOW VILE SOME PEOPLE CAN BE. THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS COURT WHO ARE NOT HONORABLE. WHAT YOU DID TODAY I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN TO THIS GENTLEMAN.

WHAT YOU DID TODAY TO A GOOD MAN WAS DESPICABLE. A MAN FROM WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID HAS DONE A SUPERB JOB. HE HAS DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB. HE DID HIS JOB WELL AND YOU'RE GETTING RID OF HIM SO YOU CAN HIRE SOMEONE WITH YOUR THREE VOTES TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO INSTEAD OF TRANSPARENCY, PROBABLY WILL HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER THE TABLE.

I DON'T DOUBT THAT WILL HAPPEN. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU MOVED HIS SECOND IN COMMAND TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT SO THAT WHEN YOU GET RID OF HIM HE WOULDN'T BE MOVED UP? AND, AGAIN, YOU CAN GET WITH YOUR THREE VOTES YOU CAN GET WHOMEVER YOU WANT BUT THEY WILL NEVER COME UP TO THE STANDARDS THIS GENTLEMAN HAS SET. YOU THREE NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING. YOU THREE NEED TO KNOW YOU ARE NOT SERVING THE HARRIS COUNTY PROPERLY AND WELL AND HONORABLY. YOU HAVE TARNISHED WHAT HAS BEEN DONE HERE FOR YEARS.

SHAME ON YOU. THANK YOU. >>>THANK YOU.

>>>THANK YOU. >>>MY NAME IS GARY MONROE. FROM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN STANDPOINT I FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT LADY FEEL. LET ME MAKE YOU FEEL SOMETHING.

RIGHT NOW YOU LOOK LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD. A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HAD A FIVE FOUR VOTE GOING EVERY TIME YOU LOOKED UP AND NOW A THREE TWO VOTE GOING EVERY TIME WE LOOKED UP. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. ? ONE OF YOU FORGOT TO GIVE ME MY TURKEY LAST NOVEMBER? YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME A TURKEY ON YOUR PAYROLL SO THEREFORE I GET TO STEP O ON YOUR TOES IN THIS LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM THAT I SUED SOMEBODY FOR IN FEDERAL COURT. SO I RECOMMEND YOU SIT THERE AND EAT THIS SOUP.

DISTRICT ONE, MY FRIEND, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AFRAID OF YOU. I'M NOT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT AFRICAN ART. THE HOUSE IS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

[05:50:05]

AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WE CAN'T FIND ONE BECAUSE WE GOT THE WRONG LEADERSHIP.

AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE THINK WE HAVE MORE POWER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE.

NO. AND IF YOU CAN SIT NEXT TO SOMEBODY THAT'S CORRUPT AND DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH, WHEN YOUR TIME TO RUN COMES UP YOU WON'T BE HERE VERY LONG EITHER.

I WON'T SLEEP. YOU KNOW WHAT MADE ME COME? I WATCHED THE NEWS YESTERDAY AND I SAW AN OLD CLIP OF SOMETHING ABOUT MY COMMISSIONER AND SOME MONEY MISAPPROPRIATED FROM HIS CAMPAIGN AND THE NEXT DAY SOMEBODY POSTED A TWITTER PICTURE OF YOU WITH YOUR CAMPAIGN PEOPLE SITTING AT A TABLE LIKE WE DON'T CARE NOTHING ABOUT THEM PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

THAT DON'T WORK FOR US NO MORE. A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR SEATS IN THAT LAST ELECTION.

AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, LIKE I TOLD THE MAYOR, Y'ALL RUN THE STREETS IN THE DAYTIME.

I RUN THE STREETS AT NIGHT. AND I CAN GET MY PEOPLE TO THE POLLS THAT YOU DON'T NEVER GIVE A TURKEY TO. THIS 3-2 THING AIN'T WORKING. YOU'VE EXPOSED YOURSELF.

I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU REALLY DOING IT FOR BECAUSE THE BLACK AND LATINOS AIN'T GETTING NOTHING OUT OF THE DEAL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WHO ARE WOW WORKING FOR? WHO YOU BEEN PUTTING ELECTIONS TO RUN AGAINST THESE FOLK? I KNOW EVERYTHING.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT NOBODY. I GOT 28 SECONDS. SO THIS IS HOW THE GAME IS BEGINNING TO BE PLAYED. I'M GOING TO AFFECT SOMEBODY AT THE POLLS THIS ELECTION RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET TO HIDE YOUR AFRICAN ART IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR YOU. WHENEVER YOU DECIDE TO COME UP FOR ELECTION WE'RE GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE BARRY THOMPSON AND ROBERT HARDING. I BELIEVING THAT'S IT. ANYBODY ELSE NOT ON THE AGENDA THAT I DIDN'T CALL? OKAY. SO IT'S 6:26.

COMMISSI

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.