>> LINA HIDALGO: GOOD MORNING.
[00:00:01]
>> LINA HIDALGO: GOOD TO SEE YOU COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
[Opening prayer by Rabbi Gideon Estes of Congregation Or Ami in Houston.]
I FEEL FINE.I HAVE A LITTLE ALLERGY THING WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT STARTED THIS WHOLE BIT OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
YOU MAY HEAR ME SOUNDING CROUPING, BUT I AM POSITIVE ON THE ANTIBODIES AND NEGATIVE ON THE VIRUS.
MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS A FEW ALLERGIES AND I'M GRUMPY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ARE WE WAITING ON ANYBODY? I SEE COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS RUNNING A FEW MINUTES LATE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: RADACK, ARE YOU ON? WELL, LET'S GET STARTED HERE IN A MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> LINA HIDALGO: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY.
I JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ALLERGY STUFF GOING ON, BUT I AM POSITIVE ON THE ANTIBODIES AND NEGATIVE ON THE VIRUS.
MY BIGGEST PROBLEM, AS I WAS TELLING THE JUDGE, IS I AM JUST GRUMPY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY CALL YOU CACTUS.
ANYWAY, GOOD TO SEE YOU SMILING AND ON THE SCREEN.
I WANT TO OPEN UP COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER.
JACK CAGLE: GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR.
WE HAVE THIS MORNING RABBI GIDDEON ESPES FROM CONGREGATION OR AMI.
HE REPRESENTS BOTH OUR GREAT COASTS OF THE NATION.
HE WAS BORN IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA, AND HE ACTUALLY HAD SOME EXTENSIVE ACADEMIC PURSUITS INCLUDING GRADUATING CUM-LAUDE FROM UCLA.
HE ALSO WENT TO SEMINARY IN NEW YORK CITY, OTHER COAST.
AND HE HAS BEEN THE HEAD RABBI OF CONGREGATION OR AMI SINCE 2010.
AND HE IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM.
WOULD YOU DO OUR INVOCATION FOR US THIS MORNING, SIR?
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCTION, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
COMMISSIONERS HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS GARCIA, CAGLE AND ELLIS.
WE ASK YOUR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT OF THIS BODY.
PLEASE LOOK OVER THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
BLESS THIS COUNTY AND PROVIDE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT AND THEIR STAFF INSIGHT SO THEY MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE FAITHFULLY THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
WE ASK YOU PLANT LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP AND PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE MANY PEOPLE WHO DWELL IN OUR GREAT COUNTY.
GRANT US THE KNOWLEDGE AND WIZ WISDOM -- KNOWLEDGE TO ACT JUSTLY AND WISDOM TO ACT COMPASSIONATELY.
WE ASK FOR HELP FOR OUR COUNTY, STATE, COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD.
BLESS THE HOLY WORK OF THE GOVERNORS AND ALLOW EACH MEMBER OF THE COURT TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES.
MAY WE SEE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE GOODNESS IN THE WORLD.
YOUR CAN GNAW -- CANOPY OF PEACE AND LET US SAY AMEN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN AND SHALOM, RABBI.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR INVITING THE RABBI ON.
WE HAVE A FEW RESOLUTIONS THIS MORNING.
[I. Departments (Part 1 of 4)]
I START WITH TWO OF MINE.THE FIRST IS AN INCREDIBLE AND IT IS ON PAGE 23.
MANY OF US MAY HAVE GROATED THEM DOWN THE STAIRS, BUT THEY JUST RECENTLY -- RECENTLY HE SAVED HER LIFE.
WHEREAS MR. RICK CRUZ-AEDO, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY USED THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER TO SAVE THE LIFE OF MISS DIANA MONCRIEF, A GUEST RELATION SPECIALIST FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
MR. CRUZ-AEDO JUST UNDERWENT SURGERY ON HIS HAND WHEN MS. MONCRIEF HAD AN OBJECT BLOCKING HER AIRWAY.
HE PERFORMED THE HEIMLICH TO RELIEVE THE AIRWAY.
SOMEBODY HAD PERFORMED THE MANEUVER ON HIM SO HE PERFORMED THE PROCEDURE.
IT SHOULD BE A REMINDER SIGNS OF DISTRESS IS LABOR OF BREATHING AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS IF THE OBJECT IS NOT REMOVED.
THE ABDOMINAL THRUST IS A WAY TO REMOVE AN OBSTRUCTION.
CHOKING IS THE FOURTH LEADING CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL DEATH.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED COMMISSIONER'S COURT COMMANDS MR. RICK CRUZ-AEDO FOR SAVING THE LIFE OF MS. DIANA MONCRIEF BY PERFORMING THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER.
THE COURT SUGGESTS PEOPLE KNOW THE SIGNS OF CHOKING.
THANK YOU TO RICK IT -- RICK FOR STEPPING UP AND GLAD DIANA IS WELL.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: CONGRATULATIONSES AND THANK YOU, RICK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND FOR YOUR QUICK ACTION.
YOU ARE INCREDIBLE TO THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES OF HARRIS COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.
I WAS JUST FORTUNATE TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I NOTICED THAT DIANA WAS CHOKING.
AS THE JUDGE SAID, I WAS ON VACATION A COUPLE YEARS AGO I NEEDED THE HEIMLICH DONE.
MY NIECE IS A SURGEON AND NOTICED I WAS CHOKING AND WENT INTO ACTION.
[00:05:03]
ON HER THIRD TRY SHE WAS SUCCESSFUL AND MAKING THE OBSTRUCTION POP OUT.AT THAT POINT I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.
IN THIS INCIDENT IT WORKED FOR ME.
SOMEBODY ABOVE WAS ALSO LOOKING AFTER US SO I WAS ABLE TO HELP DIANA REMOVE HER OBSTRUCTION.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW THIS PROCEDURE.
WOW, IT COMES IN HANDY WHEN YOU NEED IT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALL.
RODRIGUEZ >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, RICK.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 5 AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF MONICA
[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 1 of 3)]
ROBERTS.I WAS CRUSHED WHEN I HEARD OF HER DEATH LAST WEEK.
SHE HAD DONE INCREDIBLE WORK ON BEHALF OF ALL COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS MONICA ROBERTS A TRAIL BLAZING ADVOCATE AND JOURNALIST USED HER BLOG, TRANS RIO, TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY AND TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY TRANSGENDER MURDER VICTIMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS AUNTIE, SHE WAS A VALUED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, A HOUSTON SPORTS FAN, AGO TAU -- ACTIVIST AND MENTOR TO OTHER YOUNG AGO TAU -- ACTIVISTS.
SHE IS A PIONEER, CHAMPION AND ICON.
HER ACCOLADES INCLUDE OUT SORT MAGAZINE AND GOP CAUCUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND THE GLAD MEDIA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING BLOG.
SHE WAS A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR THE TBL -- TBLGQ COMMUNITY.
THAT'S HOW SHE LIKED THE ACRO -- ACRONYMN.
AND HER FINAL POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS DEDICATED TO OCTOBER 13TH, 2020, THE START OF EARLY VOTING.
BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HONORS THE LIFE OF MONICA ROBERTS AND EXPRESSES OUR SINCERE AND DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ALL WHO LOVED HER.
I'M SO SORRY PERSONALLY FOR THIS LOSS AND I LEARNED ABOUT HER BEFORE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HER BECAUSE OF HER WORK AND HER BEING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BRING THIS RESOLUTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HER LIFE.
I WAS -- MY STAFF MENTIONED TO ME ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND I WAS SURPRISED.
MONICA -- I HAD BEEN TO SO MANY OF THE CAUCUS MEETINGS AND THE DIFFERENT EVENTS WHERE I WOULD SEE HER AND ALWAYS -- NOT FOR HER HEIGHTTH -- HEIGHT, BUT HER QUICK WIT AND PRESENCE FOR WHATEVER ROOM SHE WAS IN.
AFTER SEEING HER SO OFTEN YOU ENGAGE PEOPLE FOR A FEW MINUTES.
MONICA WAS ONE THAT WHEN I WAS WORKING ON POLICIES AS A SHERIFF FOR THE INMATE POPULATION AND THEN LATER FOR SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD CREATING THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE FOR SAFE PLACES AND SAFE SPACES FOR PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO AND BE ENGAGED BY.
MONICA WAS EXCITED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
WE ARE GOING TO MISS HER, AND I WANT THOSE CLOSEST TO HER TO KNOW WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU, AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
WE ARE FEELING THIS LOSS HERE, JUDGE, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THOSE CLOSEST TO HER ARE GOING THROUGH.
OUR PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY AND ALL WHO KNEW HER AND LOVED HER AND WERE CLOSE TO HER.
I HOPE THAT THIS WILL -- THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
[00:10:02]
THANK YOU, JUDGE.>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND ALONG WITH YOU AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A VERY LONGTIME AS WELL.
SHE WAS ALWAYS A CONSISTENT VOICE WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.
SHE WAS TRYING TO GET THE HATE CRIME STATUTE PASSED AND MAKING THE CASE THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON IMPROVING IT.
I KNOW SHE MUST BE SMILING TODAY KNOWING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.
A TREMENDOUS LOSS AND WE WILL MISS HER SO MUCH.
WE WANT HER FAMILY AND HER LOVED ONES AND THAT COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE FEEL THE PAIN AS WELL.
WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS ON ISSUES AND POLICIES THAT MATTER TO THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND ALL COMMUNITIES.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER EL -- ELLIS, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY.
IT WHEREAS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE ORIGINAL, DIVERSE SOCIETIES WITH THEIR OWN IDENTITIES THAT FORM AN EQUAL PART OF HARRIS COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT ON THIS LAND AND KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE SEVERAL TRIBES.
NAMES WE USE TODAY LIKE WACO AND WICHITA CAME FROM VARIOUS TRIBES, SHY -- CHEYANNE.
AND WHEREAS THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE ESSENTIAL AND THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED NATION UNDER THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE 2007 AND ENTER THE AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, AMERICAN DECLARATION OF RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN 2017.
WHEREAS THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO RESPECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUDING IN HARRIS COUNTY.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION EAST -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT SEE THE SECOND DAY IN OCTOBER.
I AM FOLLOWING THE LEAD AND WE WILL JOIN MANY CITIES AND COUNTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WILL RECOGNIZE THIS DAY.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I CAN REMEMBER SOME YEARS AGO WHEN I WANTED TO GET RID OF THE CHIEF SYMBOL AT LAMAR HIGH SCHOOL, THE REDSKINS.
MY SON WAS THERE AND I TOOK THAT EFFORT ON AND ASKED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DO THAT.
I WAS PROUD OF THEM TO DO THAT.
I TOURED A NATIVE AMERICAN MUSEUM NEAR HISD'S HEADQUARTERS AND FOUND OUT THAT ONE OF MY FAVORITE DELICACIES WAS INVENTED BY NATIVE AMERICANS.
OF COURSE, I AM TOLD TO STAY OFF THE CARBS SO I NEED TO LEAVE IT ALONE, BUT THEY HAVE SUCH A RICH HISTORY AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE HARRIS COUNTY JOIN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN RECOGNIZING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
I HAVE SOME THINGS I LIKE TO ADD AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE ADD THE -- ADD TRIBES TO THE LIST.
THE KAKAKEISA IS IMPORTANT TO US.
ATASKACITA, WACO FROM THE WACO INDIANS AND THEY -- AND WE HAVE IN PRECINCT 4 OUR NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY AT JESSE JONES PARK AND I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO COME OUT AND I KNOW THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, LIKE TO GO OUT AND CHECK OUT SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS EVERY NOW AND THEN AND CHECK OUT OUR INDIAN VILLAGE WE HAVE THAT IS THERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND IT IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY.
THE LAST WAS ON SEPTEMBER 26TH.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE MONTH COME OUT AND SELL -- EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH THE TRIBES THAT COME AND SHOW AND WE HAVE THE VILLAGE THERE THAT I THINK JUDGE YOU HAVE SEEN OUR VILLAGE OUT THERE.
AND EVERY YEAR THEY GO AND CUT THE THATCH AND THE PALMS AND RECREE -- RECREATE THE VILLAGE JUST AS THE FOLKS WHO WOULD COME THROUGH THE REGION USED TO DO.
[00:15:05]
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE INCLUDE THE LOCAL TRIBES.JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE ADOPTION WITH THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WHENEVER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR YOUR ADDITION TO THIS RESOLUTION.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER GALLEGOS.
COUNCILMEMBER GALLEGOS LEAD THE CITY TO ALSO RECOGNIZE INDIGENOUS DAY.
I WANT TO GIVE HIM A SHOUTOUT FOR HIS WORK.
I WANT TO APPLAUD AND THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER GALLEGOS' PROCLAMATION AND HIS EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE THIS DAY.
AND I JUST TELL YOU THAT ONCE THIS -- AS WE WERE HEARING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES WITH COMMISSIONER CAGLE ADDING THE OTHER TRIBES INTO THE EQUATION, WHY WE HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND CELEBRATED THEM MUCH MORE SOONER, I HAVE NO IDEA.
I'M GLAD WE ARE PART OF THE HISTORY.
ONCE YOU START TO BEAR DOWN THERE ARE SO MANY THAT WE -- THAT DO US A LOT OF SERVICE.
I AM HONORED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CASHOTOC TRIBE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE OFFICE.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD ON HARRIS COUNTY, BUT TO APPLAUD COUNSELING -- COUNCILMEMBER GALLEGOS AND TURNER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, OBVIOUSLY, AND AT SOME POINT I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
I KNOW WE HAVE A COMMISSION THAT RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTY.
HISPANICS, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, COMMISSIONER.
I ASKED MY STAFF TO LOOK AT SOMETHING ON WOMEN.
I NOTICE OVER IN FRONT OF THE FAMILY LAW CENTER THERE IS A PLAQUE THAT MAKES SOME REFERENCE TO -- LIMITED REFERENCE TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE WE CAN DO.
THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THEM LEFT IN OUR REGION, BUT WE SHOULD FIND A WAY THAT WE AS A GROUP -- THE MUSEUM STRUGGLES FINANCIALLY.
I ONLY WENT BECAUSE WE NEEDED ALLY WHEN'S WE WERE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE REDSKINS MASCOT.
EVEN TO DO THE RESEARCH ON LAMAR, HE DISCARDED ALL OF THOSE TREES THAT SAM HOUSTON SIGNED WITH NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEN REALLY ENGAGED IN A FORM OF GENOCIDE AGAINST THEM.
THERE IS A PICTURE OF ALL OF THESE BLANKETS LAYING OUT IN THE FIELD.
I SAID WHAT IS THAT? I SAID WHAT IS THAT? HE SAID IT IS BLANKETS COVERING CHILDREN.
IT IS A DESPICABLE PART OF OUR HISTORY IN TEXAS THAT WE OFTEN OVER LOOK AND WE SHOULD FIND SOMEWAY.
I PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO IT AND GET SOME INPUT FROM YOU ALL.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US WILL EMBRACE AND SPEND A LITTLE GENERAL FUND MONEY SOMEHOW TO RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
I MOVE ADOPTION WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FROM COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
SOUNDS LIKE UNANIMOUSLY, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CORRECTION TO THE WORD PEOPLE'S?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, I MEANT TO SAY THAT.
THE APOSTROPHE GOES AFTER THE S.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU ADD COUPLE OF RESOLUTIONS AS WELL?
[I. Departments (Part 2 of 4)]
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVANT.
ALAN HAS BEEN A STEDFAST PRESENCE AT THE ASSOCIATED COUNCIL FOR A NUMBER OF
[00:20:07]
YEARS.I REMEMBER WORKING WITH HIM ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN I SERVED ON THE TPC.
AND THEN AS THE CHAIR OF THE REGIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL WHEN I SERVED AS SHERIFF.
BACK AGAIN AS COMMISSIONER AND BACK ON THE TPC AND BACK WITH ALAN AND HIS LEADERSHIP.
WITH ALL HE'S DONE TO PROVIDE COUNCIL AND DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES RELATED TO MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND REDUCING CRASHES, ALAN HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER OVER THERE AT THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
THINKING ABOUT ISSUES AND CREATING CONSENSUS AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHY I AM HONORED TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.
IT READS, WHEREAS ALAN CLIFF -- CLIFFORD CLARK SERVED THE CITY COUNCIL SINCE JANUARY 24, 1983 AS A TRANSPORTATION PLANNER, AS DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNCIL'S METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND WHEREAS HE LEAD THE TEAM THAT DEVELOPED THE REGION'S MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.
WHEREAS HE BEGAN AS A TRANSPORTATION PLANNER FOR THE METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WHEREAS HIS LEADERSHIP HELPED TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT LACED WITH SAFETY AND COORDINATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED HURRICANE EVACUATION PLAN INCLUDING TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND INCORPORATING CONTRA FLOW LANES ON MAJOR FREEWAYS IN THE HOUSTON REGION.
AND WHEREAS AL CLARK HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE RESEARCH BOARD AND ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVING ON THE TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH.
AND WHEREAS MR. CLARK DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO REDUCING ROADWAY FATALITIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE SAFETY PROGRAMS. DEVELOPING AND IMPROVED REGIONAL EVACUATION PLANS INCLUDING INCORPORATING LANES ON THE MAJOR FREEWAYS AND LEADING NORTH AND WEST FROM THE HOUSTON REGION.
BE IT RESOLVED COMMISSIONER'S COURT #*R HONORS ALAN CLIFFORD CLARK FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND IN THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON REGION AND THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON COUNCIL.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A STATESMAN AS YOU DEALT WITH ALL OF THE VARIOUS INTERESTS AND CONCERNS RELATED TO MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION, CRASH REDUCTION AND WITH THE I-45 EXPANSION.
I WISH YOU WOULD STICK AROUND A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, BUT WE UH -- WE APPLAUD YOU THE SAME AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE MANY, MANY YEARS YOU HAVE GIVEN US WITH IMPECCABLE SERVICE AND DEDICATION AND INTEGRA FEE -- INTEGRITY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
JACK CAGLE: I AM PROUD TO JOIN IN ON THIS RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF YOU AND THE GREAT WORK YOU HAVE DONE.
I HAVE APPRECIATED SO MUCH WORKING WITH YOU ON OUR DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN THE REGION OVER THE LAST 9 YEARS.
WHEN YOUR RETIREMENT CAME UP SINCE COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS CURRENTLY SERVING AT HGAC, WE ALMOST ARM WRESTLED OVER WHO WOULD BRING THE RESOLUTION TO HONOR YOU.
I ENDED UP DEFERRING SINCE HE IS OUR CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS ON THAT BODY, SO HE WON THAT LITTLE FRIENDLY TUSSLE IN TERMS OF WHO GETS TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION.
WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND KNOW THAT YOU -- YOUR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE.
WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREETS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE HERE AND IN THE OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT NO ONE -- I SHOULDN'T
[00:25:06]
SAY NO ONE -- FEW KNOW THE NAME OF ALAN CLARK BUT US, BUT MANY KNOW THE WORKS YOU HAVE DONE.>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, ALAN FOR YOUR WORK AND CONGRATULATIONSES ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
>> THANK YOU -- >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD.
I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED BY YOUR RESOLUTION, AND I CAN SIMPLY SAY THAT IT IS THE DEDICATION OF THE LEADERSHIP AT THE COUNCIL TO DO OUR UTMOST.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY INSPIRED ME TO LOOK FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS WE HAVE TODAY, AND RECOGNIZE THE DIVERSITY IN THOSE MEETINGS AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE OVER TIME AND TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL WORK TODAY AND FOR THE YEARS AHEAD.
I AM PARTICULARLY HAPPY THAT YOU ARE ALL NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO.
I AM REMINDING WITH THE SCRIPTURE YOU DON'T PUT NEW WINE IN OLD WINE SKINS.
WHEN I GOT HERE WE REACHED THREE MILLION PEOPLE AND THE NEXT CENSUS WE WILL HAVE PROBABLY CLOSE TO SEVEN.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEW SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP CARRY OUR REGION FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND AGAIN I AM DEEPLY HONORED BY YOUR RESOLUTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOD SPEED, ALAN.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, ALAN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALL RIGHT, JUDGE.
THIS RESOLUTION CONTINUES IN THE SPIRIT OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN WHICH WE ARE IN.
THIS RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE A FIRST, BUT NOT THE LAST WHICH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE.
THIS ONE IS WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH 2020 IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS AN INTEREST IN PROMOTING STORIES OF HISPANICS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS JOSEFINA WREN -- RENDON, AN ATTORNEY AND GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S LAW CENTER, ONE OF HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST HISPANIC WOMEN ATTORNEYS AND BECAME THE FIRST LAW TINA CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE -- LATINA CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN 2009.
WHEN I SAW THE YEAR, I THOUGHT, SHE BECAME THE FIRST IN 2009? OH MY GOSH.
NONETHELESS, IT IS GREAT THAT WE STILL HAVE THAT -- THAT SHE WAS JUST -- IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS AS A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE.
WHEREAS PRIOR TO HER ELECTION TO CIVIL DISTRICT COURT, JUDGE RENDON BECAME THE THIRD LATINA MUNICIPAL JUDGE AND REMAINED A MUNICIPAL JUDGE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
I JUST SAY AS A YOUNG COP, I WAS IN HER COURT EARLY AND OFTEN WITH THOSE TRAFFIC CITATIONS THAT I WOULD WRITE.
WHEREAS JUDGE RENDON HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE TEXAS CENTER FOR THE JUDICIARY.
SHE IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MEDIATORS AND THE ASSOCIATE FOR CON P FLICT RESOLUTION IN -- CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN HOUSTON AND IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PASADENA BAR ASSOCIATION.
AND WHEREAS RENDON IS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR OF OVER 150 ARTICLES AND BOOK REVIEWS.
A FREQUENT SPEAKER LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY IN THE AREAS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION, NEGOTIATION, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND LAW.
THE EDITOR OF THE TEXAS MEDIATOR AND EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER OF BOTH THE TEXAS BAR JOURNAL AND THE HOUSTON LAWYER.
AND WHEREAS JUDGE RENDON HAS BEEN MARRIED TO ATTORNEY RUEBEN RENDON FOR OVER 40
[00:30:05]
YEARS.THEY HAVE A SON, A DAUGHTER AND TWO BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN.
RUEBEN, THOSE BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN TAKE AFTER GRANDMA, BY THE WAY.
LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT HONORS JUDGE, ALWAYS JUDGE, ONCE JUDGE, ALWAYS JUDGE, JUDGE JOSEFINARENDON FOR HER VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE OF HARRIS COUNTY.
JUDGE RENDON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, CONGRATULATIONS.
JACK CAGLE: YOUR WORK -- I MEAN, I REMEMBER CHATTING WITH YOU BACK WHEN WE WERE MEETING IN THE OLD FELIXS WITH THE QUESO THAT NOBODY HAS BEEN EVER ABLE TO REPLICATE.
THAT'S BEFORE OUR JUDGE HIDALGO WAS BORN AS LONG AS JUDGE RENDON HAS BEEN WORKING THERE.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR MADA AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE COURTS.
JUDGE, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO JOIN IN ON THIS RESOLUTION IN YOUR HONOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS.
YOU WERE THE FIRST AND I'M GLAD YOU MADE SURE YOU WERE NOT THE LAST.
YOU WERE A ROLE MODEL FOR SO MANY PEOPLE COMING AFTER YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND WE LOVE YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ALL OF YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RESOLUTION.
THE HONOR OF BEING RECOGNIZED BY YOU ALL.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY, VIRTUALLY, BUT PRESENT.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOU ALL BECAUSE I KNOW ALL FIVE OF YOU HAVE BEEN PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND EACH OF YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE SERVICE YOU HAVE GIVEN TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD BECAUSE I AM HISPANIC AND PROUD OF MY HERITAGE.
THE VARIETY OF MUSIC, THE FOOD, THE RICH HISTORY, THE FRIENDLINESS AND SO MUCH MORE.
SOME MAY NOT REMEMBER, BUT TWO OF THE SIX TEXAS FLAGS ARE HISPANIC.
MORE AND MORE TEXANS HAPPEN TO BE HISPANIC.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS I AM PROUD OF BEING HISPANIC.
I ALSO BELIEVE AND PROUD OF WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP OF BEING INCLUSIVE IN YOUR CONVERSATION TODAY ABOUT INDIGENOUS GROUPS AND EVERYTHING.
I BELIEVE THAT NOT JUST HISPANICS SHOULD BE PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE.
BY DOING SO, BY BEING PROUD OF OUR OWN HERITAGE WE HONOR OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND ANCESTORS AND THOSE WHO IN MANY WAYS HELP MAKE US WHO WE ARE TODAY.
I HAPPEN TO BE A HISPANIC WOMAN [INAUDIBLE] AMERICAN AS A COMBINATION OF CULTURES.
WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND AS PUBLIC SERVANTS WE SHOULD BE A VANGUARD OF RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DIFFERENT GROUPS AND CULTURES NO MATTER OUR POLITICAL ORIE LIG -- OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
EACH OF OUR GROUPS HAS MUCH TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
IF WE DO SO, I BELIEVE WE WILL HELP CREATE A BETTER TEXAS AND A BETTER AMERICA.
ON A FINAL NOTE, I NEED TO THANK MY HUSBAND, ALSO.
HE HAS SUPPORTED AND TOLERATED ME ALL THESE YEARS.
EVERY TIME I GET A RECOGNITION I FEEL THE URGE TO THANK HIM.
HE IS MY FRIEND AND MY SWEETHEART AND MY ROCK.
HE HAS BEEN BY ME ALL THESE YEARS.
HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, ON THAT POINT, I JUST GOT TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN I SAY YOU AND RUEBEN, AND LIKE YOU SAID HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT YOUR SIDE, IT IS HARD NOT TO
[00:35:05]
HAVE THE IMAGE OF JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG AND HER HUSBAND WHO JUST SUPPORTED HER THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, ALWAYS WANTED HER TO BE IN A PLACE TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS.I THANK RUEBEN FOR HIS SUPPORT OF YOU.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I BELIEVE.
IT IS IN HONOR OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
THE FIRST IS FOR DR. VIOLA GARCIA WHO SERVED AS THE SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTY IN THE ALAN -- IN THAL DEAN -- IN THE ALDINE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I BELIEVE WE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA SHARE PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.
SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD IN 2012 AND IN 2013 THE PRESIDENT OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
SHE SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AS PRESIDENT-ELECT AND WHEREAS DR. GARCIA EARNED A DOCTOR OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION, A MASTER'S IF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN READING METHODS FROM TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY AND DR. GARCIA IS A BELOVED AMERITAS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN WHERE SHE SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT AND AS ASSISTANT CHAIR FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS. DR. GARCIA RETIRED AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR.
20 YEARS IN SCHOOLS AND 20 YEARS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
HER I WILL LOS -- ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THE BOARD.
AND IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE COUNCIL WHEN THEY RECOGNIZED DR. GARCIA FOR A LIFETIME OF EDUCATION.
BE IT RESOLVED COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZES AND HONORS DR. VIOLA, M.GARCIA, EDD, FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HER LIFETIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND JUDGE HUH -- JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THIS HONOR RECOGNIZES THE SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SECTOR.
WHILE MY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, SERVICE AND HARD WORK THEY REALLY EXEMPLIFY THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE LATINO COMMUNITY DURING THIS MONTH.
WE HAVE ALL LEARNED DURING THIS CRISIS THAT EDUCATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL CHILDREN AND TO FAMILIES, BUT THE OVERARCHING IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY IS ABSOLUTE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING ME AT THIS TIME AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND ALL EDUCATORS WHO ARE GIVING IT THEIR ALL RIGHT NOW.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DR. GARCIA, I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU.
I AM GLAD TO SEE COMMISSIONER CAGLE BRING YOUR NAME FORWARD TO HONOR YOU ON THIS OCCASION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE ALDINE IS AMONG THE LEADING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR REGION AND IN OUR STATE.
I AM EXCITED THAT IT HAPPENS TO BE MOSTLY IN PRECINCT 2.
VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR GOOD WORK THERE AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE KIDS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF YOU.
I WANT TO THANK JUDGE HIDALGO AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR PARTNERING WITH TEA ON THE CONNECTIVE TEE PROGRAM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL BENEFIT FROM OUR EFFORTS AND WE ENSURE WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, DR. GARCIA.
APPLAUD YOU AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD.
[00:40:02]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE IF I MIGHT, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CAGLE AS WELL AND ECHO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S COMMENTS.
WE REPRESENT A GOOD BIT OF ALDINE AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, DOCTOR, FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
WE WILL ALSO MAKE HEADWAY ON THE EQUITY ISSUES SO WE CAN ADDRESS THE DRAINAGE ISSUES OUT THERE AS WELL.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE AREA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. GARCIA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, MY NEXT RESOLUTION HONORS A BUSINESS LEADER DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
WHERE -- WHEREAS ALAN-D.VERA, CDC, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT D -- CDC IS FOR.
INCLUDING MARKETER OF THE YEAR BY THE MARKETING ASSOCIATION AND VENDOR OF THE YEAR BY THE FED EX RETAIL OPERATIONS AMONG OTHERS.
MR. ALAN VERA GRADUATED MAGNUM-CU MU-LAU DE E AND WAS AN AIRBORNE RANGER.
HE SERVES TODAY BY DEDICATING HIS TALENT AND KNOWLEDGE FOR FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS.
IT IS HEAVIED BY THE 2012 TRUE THE VOTE AND WHERE MR. ALAN VERA'S PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS HIS WONDERFUL FAMILY.
HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN AND SIX ENERGETIC GRANDCHILDREN.
MR. VERA GIVES ALL MIGHTY GOD CREDIT FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LIFE AND BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HONORS AND RECOGNIZES MR. ALAN VERA FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FOR HIS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY AND LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE COUNTRY.
JACK CAGLE: THE FLOOR IS YOURS, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GAR SEE JAW AND COMMISSION -- GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RADACK FOR OBSERVING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND INCLUDING ME IN THE OBSERVATION.
LIKE THE LOVELY MRS. CAGLE I WAS BORN AND RACED -- RAISED IN EL PASO DEL NORTE.
A MOTHER FROM MEXICO AND A FATHER NATIVE TO EL PASO.
I SPOKE SPANISH FOR YEARS BEFORE I LEARNED ENGLISH.
WHEN I WAS A BOY IN EL EL PASS -- EL PASS SEW THERE WERE FEW AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF DESTRUCTIVE DISCRIMINATION.
SO THAT TREATMENT FELL TO THE HISPANICS AND ESPECIALLY TO THE NASTIT OS.
I REMEMBER HOLDING MY MOTHER'S HAND IN LINE AT A RESTAURANT TO BE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE, QUOTE, THE OWNER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE, END QUOTE.
MY PARENTS HAD TO PAY A POLL TAX, BUT THEY SHOWED UP UP FOR EACH AND EVERY ELECTION WHICH THEY WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
THINGS WEREN'T ALWAYS EASY, BUT I CLEARLY REMEMBER MY FATHER TAKING MY BROTHER AND ME ASIDE FOR AN IMPORTANT LIFE MESSAGE.
HE SAID, SONS, YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.
YOU CAN SPEND YOUR ENTIRE LIVES DRAGGED DOWN BY SOME OF THE BAD TREATMENT YOU HAVE RECEIVED, OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO TAKE GOD'S HAND AND RISE ABOVE IT.
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HAPPILY WE BOTH CHOSE THE LATTER COURSE.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE SAID SOME NICE THINGS ABOUT ME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW THAT AT HEART I AM AN OLD UGLY, CRANKY, VIETNAM VET WHO ADHERES TO THE OATH I TOOK YEARS AGO.
I AM COMPELLED TO REMAIN IN SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY THAT HAS GIVEN ME AND SO MANY OTHER HISPANICS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THIS UNEXPECTED HONOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF MR. VERA.
LOOK, EVEN CRANKY, YOU SERVED OUR NATION AND YOU SERVED US DURING A DIFFICULT CONFLICT, SO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CRANKY.
I KNOW A FEW VIETNAM VETERANS MYSELF, AND I JUST TELL YOU THAT MY RESPECT IS ALWAYS WITH YOU.
I WISH THIS NATION HAD GIVEN YOU THE WELCOMING HOME THAT YOU DESERVED.
I HOPE THIS RESOLUTION SERVES TO KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS HONOR ALL OF OUR
[00:45:01]
VETERANS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR NATION AND TO THE MILITARY.I DO -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION.
THAT'S SIMPLY TO KEEP THIS ON A HIGH NOTE AS TO STRIKE THE PHRASE AS EVIDENCE BY RECEIVING THE 2012 TRUTH OF BAY YAWN NET AWARD.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO SAY TO MR. VERA I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
I AM GOING TO SECOND THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA BECAUSE I WANT TO HONOR YOU AS WELL.
ITY -- IT EVOKES PAINFUL MEME -- MEMORIES IN THE MINDS OF ME AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND HISPANICS AND WOMEN.
TEXAS HAS SOME OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE VOTING LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.
I REMEMBER THINKING ABOUT IT IN THE LEGISLATURE AND TRIED TO DO IT WITH A SMILE, BUT WANT YOU TO KNOW I HONOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY AND I RESPECT YOU EVEN IF ON SOMISH EYE -- SOME ISSUES I WOULD -- WE WOULD DISAGREE WVMENT THAT FRIENDLY ADDITION I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SIGNING THAT IN HONOR OF YOU.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: QUICKLY, JUDGE, I DO WANT TO ASK MR. VERA, MR. VERA, ARE YOU ANY RELATION TO A SCHOOL TEACHER BY THE NAME OF AL VERA?
I HAVE MET HIM IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HIS LIFE.
I ADMIRED HIM GREATLY, BUT WE ARE NOT RELATED.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK HE SERVED IN THE NAVY IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
I JUST TELL YOU THAT I WAS SO PROUD BECAUSE WHETHER I FIRST -- WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR OFFICE, MR. VERA -- I REFERRED TO HIM AS MR. VERA AS I DO YOU, BUT HE WAS NOT OF MY POLITICAL STRIPES, ARE BUT -- YOU KNOW, AND HE WAS YELLING AT ME FOR LINING UP WHERE I AM AT TODAY, BUT THEN HE CALLS ME UP AND SAID "DAMN IT, ADRIAN.
IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE MY STUDENTS DOING WELL THAT I WENT AHEAD AND VOTED FOR YOU." HE WAS A LITTLE CRANKY HIMSELF, BUT I LOVE YOU BOTH, AND I LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR HIS LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, MR. VERA.
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE WITH THAT AS I UNDERSTAND IF WE PUT A COMMA AFTER THE WORD ELECTIONS AND THEN STRIKE THE NEXT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX -- 9 -- 11 WORDS THAT WE CAN BE UNANIMOUS ON THIS RESOLUTION, AND WITH THAT I GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND MOVE THE RESOLUTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> STEVE RADACK: MR. VERA, YOU ARE A GREAT MAN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
THOSE ARE THE RESOLUTIONS I HAVE OUT OF ORDER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE COVID-19 AGENDA.
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, WE ARE NOT DOING ROCCO WEDNESDAY OUT OF ORDER?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I ASKED AS WELL AND I WAS TOLD THAT WASN'T THE PLAN.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MY GRATITUDE AND AWE AT ROCCO WEDNESDAY.
I AM SO SAD HE IS RETIRING AND I THINK HE IS LEAVING SOME FANTASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION, BUT I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF ROCK.
I KNOW THAT DIVISION IS IN GOOD HANDS BECAUSE OF HIM.
I KNOW IT IS STILL GOING TO BE GREAT PEOPLE, BUT ROCK, YOU KNOW -- SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, YOU HAVE AN ADMIRING PERSON AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION AND I JUST WISH YOU WOULD STAY WITH US A LITTLE LONGER, BUT I KNOW YOU TRAINED SOME GREAT PEOPLE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IS HE ON THE LINE? WE HONOR HIM, I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK HE IS MORE HUMBLE.
MAYBE ROBERT WILL SAY -- HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PUT ON THE SPOT.
[00:50:05]
I DID ASK.>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HE BETTER GET ON THE LINE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: GET ON THE LINE!
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MY RESOLUTION IS TO SHRED HIS RETIREMENT PAPERS.
>> IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO GET HIM ON.
HE WAS SO HUMBLE, AND WE SPOKE TO HIM SO MANY TIMES.
AND HE JUST CHOSE NOT TO BE PRESENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF LUCINDA WANTS TO TRY TO CALL HIM ONE MORE TIME.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHILE WE DO THAT, I JUST SHARE, JUDGE, THAT WHEN KIM AND I, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WERE SERVING TOGETHER FOR MAYOR LAW NEAR IN THE ANTI-GANG OFFICE WE WERE WORKING ON THE ABATEMENT ISSUES AND DEALING WITH VARIOUS THINGS AND WE WOULD ON OCCASION HAVE TO SEEK COUNSEL FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
ROCK WAS A CONSTANT IN THE DISCUSSION AND WOULD VISIT WITH US.
FROM THOSE DAYS THROUGH AND THROUGH, ROCK HELPED ME WHEN I WAS THE SHERIFF.
I WAS ON LOAN UNTIL JIM SAVAGE CAME OVER.
I JUST TELL YOU THAT ROCK IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING.
HE IS A CONSTANT FOLLOWER OF THE LAW.
LIKE YOU SAID, HIS STAR WILL ALWAYS RIDE HIGH FOR HIS WORK IN PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HOLDING THE VIOLATORS OF IMPORTANT REGULATIONS ACCOUNTABLE.
I AM SUBMITTING THE RESOLUTION TO SHRED ALL OF YOUR PAPERWORK, ROCK.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO REACH HIM, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
AID LOOK UNDER >> ADRIAN GARCIA: LOOK UNDER HIS DESK.
I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE HIS WORK AND CERTAINLY EITHER WAY HE KNOWS HE HAS OUR SUPPORT.
I THINK HE IS ALREADY RETIRED.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HE IS CHOOSING TO BE AWOL ON HIS LAST DAYS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, ROCK! WE LOVE YOU!
>> THIS -- >> STEVE RADACK: THIS IS RADACK, ROCK.
STOP BEING HARD HEADED AND CALL IN.
YOU ARE LISTENING AND I KNOW YOU ARE LISTENING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WELL, LET'S SEE IF WE GET HIM AND FOR NOW LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH THE AGENDA.
SO COVID-19 SECTION STARTING ON PAGE 24.
IT IS FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID FOR HOURS WORKED ON COVID-19.
A2, AN INTER LOCAL WITH SEVERAL CITIES.
PAGE 25 AND ITEMS B1 AND 2 ARE PUBLIC HEALTH AGREEMENTS AND GRANTS.
COUNTY CLERK ACCEPTING A DONATION OF MASKS.
THE DISTRICT CLERK SEEKS APPROVAL TO INCREASE THE JUROR MEAL RATE WHICH I UNDERSTAND THESE MEALS HAVE GONE UP IN PRICE BECAUSE OF COVID.
ITEM 21E IS THE BROAD COVID SECTION.
IT IS THE BROAD COVID ITEM I PLACED ON THE AGENDA.
DO FOLKS HAVE ANY NOTES TO DISCUSS ON HERE? 21F IS AN ITEM BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE ON THE REPORTING OF THE CARES ACT DOLLARS.
JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTS GET TOGETHER TO HELP US SEE EXACTLY WHERE THE MONEY HAS GONE.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS ON HOW WE CAN TRY TO CREATE OUR DASHBOARD AND HAVE A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AS TO WHO HAS RECEIVED THESE FUNDS AND HOW HAVE THEY BEEN DISTRIBUTED AND WHO HAS BEEN HELPED AND WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
MY PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THIS ON THE FRONT BURNER, BUT WE DON'T LET IT GO INTO THE BACKGROUND, AND THAT WE PUSH FORWARD WITH TRYING TO GET
[00:55:05]
THOSE DASHBOARDS AND THOSE METRICS IN PLACE SO WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHO HAS BEEN HELPED AND WHERE ARE THEY IN OUR COMMUNITIES? THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM.I DON'T KNOW I NEED A WHOLE LOT MORE, EXCEPT I KEEP THIS AS A MATTER OF PRESENTED SENSE -- PREDESENCE IN OUR MIND.
IT IS ONE THING TO SAY WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY, BUT ANOTHER TO SAY WHO GOT IT? WHO DID WE HELP? HOW DO WE HELP THEM AND WHERE WERE THEY? THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION ITEM.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE AT THIS TIME.
I JUST REQUEST THAT THESE DIVISIONS GET TOGETHER AND HELP US HAVE -- I THINK THE WORD DEJOUR IS THE METRICS.
IT IS AN ACCESSIBLE FORMAT SO WE CAN SEE HOW THIS HAS ALL COME TO PASS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW WHEN I DID MY ZOOM MEETING WITH THE GUIDE HOUSE PEOPLE OVER THERE, THE DASHBOARD LOOKED PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
I HAD A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS ON IT.
MAYBE BUDGET MANAGEMENT KNOWS.
I THOUGHT SHE DID A GOOD JOB ON WHAT SHE POSTED AND I THINK I MENTIONED TO YOU MAYBE AT THE LAST COURT AT SOME POINT, I KNOW I WANT TO PUT IT ON MY WEBSITE OR ALL OF US WILL WANT TO.
IF DAVE OR -- I CALLED GENERAL NOREAGA WILL POST IT.
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? IT IS ALL THERE.
THE JUDGE DID PUT IT OUT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT IT UP AND IT IS AS GRANULAR AS WE WANT TO GO.
>> I THINK WE ARE CLOSE ON GETTING A SECOND SET OF REPORTS OUT.
WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THE BUDGET WEBSITE ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED.
TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S POINT, IT IS ONE THING TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY AND IT IS ANOTHER THING TO SPEND IT AND TRACK IT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT INFO AND WE ARE SORTING THROUGH IT WITH GUIDE HOUSE.
I WOULD HOPE WE CAN GET SOMETHING OUT FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO REVIEW IN THE NEXT WEEK AND WE CAN REFINE IT AS WE GO.
>> AND I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE ANY PRIVACY LAWS IN TERMS OF CONTRACT -- CONTRACTING WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
MAKE SURE WE OBEY THOSE ISSUES FOR PEOPLE.
BUT TO THE EXTENT WE ARE PERMITTED, I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING TO GET IT OUT.
WHAT I LOOK AT IN TERMS OF THE BROAD CATEGORIES IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME TO SEE WHERE IT IS GOING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM.
FIRST I WANT TO APPLAUD MR. BERRY FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF DOLLARS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED.
AND MR. BERRY, WAS THERE ANYTHING SIMILAR ON HARVEY DOLLARS OR THAT HAD BEEN DONE AND YOU FOUND IN YOUR OFFICE, BY THE WAY?
>> I HAVEN'T LOOKED EXHAUSTIVELY, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT ROLLED UP LIKE THAT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WELL, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
FOR ME IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN, ALTHOUGH PROTECTING THE PRIVACY WHERE IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO SO.
NONETHELESS, ACCOUNTING FOR ALL OF THE DOLLARS IS VERY CRITICAL.
SO FAR AT LEAST 629,000 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 100,000 KIDS HAVE OR WILL SOON RECEIVE HELP.
22,000 HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT IS STILL UNDERWAY.
IT IS $65 PER CAPITA AND -- WELL THAT'S NEARLY A HALF MILLION PEOPLE AND 460,000 TO BE EXACT THAT WERE HELPED IN THE SMALL CITIES.
OVER 27,000 TO BE HELPED BY THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE FUND.
120,000 HOTSPOTS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND THE COURT EVICTION SERVICES AND THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PUBLIC HEALTH, ET CETERA.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM PROUD OF IS 1600 BUSINESSES HAVE RECEIVED OR WILL RECEIVE GRANTS FROM THOSE PROGRAMS.
[01:00:01]
WRY -- WE HAD 443 SMALL BUSINESSES THAT GOT AID THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM AND THEN -- 1200 OR MORE SMALL BUSINESSES TO OVERSEE HELP FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF.I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU, MR. BERRY, BECAUSE THE FIRST DRAFT THAT YOU SHARED WAS ALMOST DONE WITHOUT PROMPTING FROM US.
THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS TO MAKE THESE THINGS BETTER, BUT -- WE APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER CAGLE RAISING THIS ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT.
THE NICE THING IS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THIS ACCOUNTING MUSM -- MUCH EASIER THAN PREVIOUS ITEMS. THANK YOU TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THESE FUNDS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, JUDGE, THAT GUIDE HOUSE ALLOWS US TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT WITHIN THE RULES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US TO WORK WITHIN.
AND I WANT TO THANK GUIDE HOUSE AND THEIR STAFF FOR ALL THEY DO.
THEY LET US BOUNCE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS, BUT THEY DON'T LET US GET OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS.
ENSURING WE DO NOT HAVE A FALL BACK HAS BEEN PANAMOUNT IN MAKING SURE THESE FUNDS ARE SPENT ACCURATELY.
I TOO APPLAUD TRANSPARENCY AND THANKFUL WE ARE DOING IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WAS JUST THING COMMISSIONER GARCIA WHEN YOU RAISED THAT, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW WHAT WAS RELEASED IN THE PAST NOT JUST WITH HARVEY, BUT OTHER DISASTERS.
THIS IS UNIQUE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
ALSO, MR. BERRY, MAKE SURE WE LOOK AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE THE COUNTRY.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO AND RELEASE SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL INFORMATION IF WE ARE -- IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING IT.
IT IS ONE THING TO LET THEM KNOW -- SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS I KNOW WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD LET PEOPLE APPLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WE LET THEM APPLY IN OTHER CITIES AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET A BREAK DOWN ON THE MONEY FROM DIRECT ASSISTANCE THAT WENT IN THE CITY AND OUTSIDE THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE THERE.
IF WE HAVE TO RELEASE IT WE SHOULD, AND GO AND SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING SO WE DON'T PUT SOMEBODY IN A POSITION OF -- WHERE THEY CAN BE ENDANGERED.
OR WE OUGHT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AT THIS TABLE AND MAKE A DECISION IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE WANT TO BREAK DOWN THE RULES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE WANT TO SEE WHAT GUIDE HOUSE HAS.
SOME MAY HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA, BUT AT LEAST WE OUGHT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE.
SNLS -- UNLESS WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO IT.
IF IT IS A POLICY DECISION, LET THE FIVE OF US MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ON THAT POINT I WOULD PROBABLY -- BECAUSE ON THE DISTRICT ASSISTANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE ARE USING THAT TO PAY RENT, BUT THEY MAY BE USE -- USING IT TO PAY FOR MEDICINE OR MAYBE A DOCTOR'S VISIT OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T APPROACH THINGS THAT ARE HIPPA-LIKE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S WHY I SAID WHAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST? GET A SENSE OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.
IF I MIGHT, JUDGE, I JUST ASK HOW ARE WE DOING ON OUR SPENDING IN TERMS OF NEEDING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT ELSE TO DO? I DON'T FOE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A BROAD COMMENT ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA ABOUT IT, BUT WE DISCUSSED IT WHEN WE CHATTED YESTERDAY.
>> I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER WE ARE -- AS OF 10 DAYS AGO WE HAD GOTTEN A LITTLE OVER $40 MILLION OUT THROUGH THE VERY -- GENTLEMEN YOUS PARTNER -- THE VARIOUS
[01:05:01]
PARTNER PROGRAMS. THAT IS SET TOKING A SELL RATE.I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE PART OF THE REPORT THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS REQUESTING, HOW FAST IS THE MONEY GOING OUT? AND HOW WILL WE HAVE A LOOK FORWARD THE NEXT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.
AS WE DISCUSSED IT IS USE IT OR LOSE IT.
IF WE ARE NOT ON PACE TO GET THE MONEY WE NEED TO EXPLORE OPTIONS.
I DO THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS.
>> AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE SOME RESERVED IN CASE WE CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR AND MAYBE WE CAN NOT BE REAM -- REIMBURSED FOR.
WHEN WE MEET AGAIN, TWO WEEKS, THE APPROPRIATE TIME, WE CAN ALWAYS DO IT IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
IF WE CAN'T GIVE IT TO SOME ENTITY AND THEY HAVE A TIMETABLE TO GET IT OUT IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING -- WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO TAKE IT BACK.
WE COULDN'T AWARD A GRANT TO SOMEBODY CONTINGENT ON A, B, C, D AND THEN IF WE DON'T DO IT -- WE GAVE IT TO THEM.
>> IT WOULD DEPEND -- AND IF ANYONE FROM GUIDE HOUSE IS ON, IT WOULD WOULD DEPEND ON THE FACTS OF THE PROGRAM.
THE MORE MONEY WE GET OUT THE DOOR, THE BETTER FROM A COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SPOT WHERE WE ARE PARKING THE MONEY WITH A THIRD PARTY, WITH, AS YOU SAID, THE ABILITY TO GET IT BACK.
I THINK THAT'S TAKING RISK WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE.
>> AND JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, IF GUIDE HOUSE IS ON THE LINE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS AS WELL.
AND ROCCO WEDNESDAY, WE -- ROCK OWENS, WE GOT HIM ON THE LINE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS ROCK STILL ON?
AND I WAS TRYING TO GET UH HOLD OF TODD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM ROCK RIGHT NOW.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GO.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.
I'M HUMBLED BY THE FACT THAT YOU ALL WOULD WANT TO TALK TO ME TODAY.
I HAVE HAVE ENJOYED THE LAST -- I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE LAST 37 YEARS WORKING FOR THE COUNTY.
I AM ACTUALLY GOING AT WHAT I THINK IS A GOOD TIME.
THE EMPHASIS ON THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE AND COUNTY ENGINEER, IT IS HEADING IN A GOOD DIRECTION.
I FEEL I AM LEAVING IT IN HANDS THAT ARE MORE CAPABLE THAN MINE.
WE HAVE THE ENERGY AND VITALITY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP.
I REALLY LIKED MY JOB AT THE COUNTY.
AND I ALWAYS REMAIN A RESOURCE TO ANYBODY THAT WOULD WANT TO SEEK OUT MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE IN THE FUTURE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ROCK, WE ARE SO, SO THANK -- THANKFUL.
IT IS ALL THINGS RELATED TO THE LAW AND THE COUNTY AND THE THINGS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS HELP IN.
ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
AS A PRECINCT THAT HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF DIAGNOSED CANCER WE ARE LOOKING AT A SUPER FUND SITE AND THE WASTE BEDS AND SO MUCH MORE.
WE WILL MISS YOU AND YOU USED THE WORD VITALITY.
VITALITY IS A GOOD THING, BUT ALSO EXPERIENCE.
IN SPANISH THERE IS A WORD, OR A PHRASE RATHER THAT GOES A LITTLE BIT LIKE -- YOU KNOW, NOT TO CAST YOU IN THAT LIGHT, BUT THE DEVIL KNOWS MORE NOT BECAUSE HE IS THE DEVIL, BUT BECAUSE HE IS OLD AND BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN AROUND AWHILE.
ROCK, IT WILL READ ROCK OWENSS ROCKS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THE GRACIOUS, RESPECTFUL PUBLIC SERVANT YOU HAVE BEEN AND THANK YOU FORGIVING FOLKS LIKE ME AND
[01:10:01]
THE OTHERS CONFIDENCE IN YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP AND PROTECT SO MANY VULNERABLE PEOPLE.AND SO, ROCK, WE LOVE YOU AND WE RESPECT YOU AND WE HONOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
>> STEVE RADACK: ROCK, THIS IS RADACK.
HATE TO BE HARSH WITH YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
WE WORKED TOGETHER A LONGTIME.
WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT I GUARANTEE ONE THING.
YOU ALWAYS HAD THE DRIVE TO GET IT DONE AND YOU HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF GREAT THINGS DONE.
JACK CAGLE: ROCK, THIS IS CACTUS JACK.
I THINK WE HAD SOME LITIGATION OPPOSITE EACH OTHER WHEN I WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.
AND THEN I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOU WHEN YOU WERE PRACTICING IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY CIVIL LAW AND WHILE AS A COMMISSIONER WE WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS.
I THINK WE EVEN GOT IN THE CREEK A COUPLE TIMES TOGETHER ALONG THE WAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE THROUGH THE YEARS AND FOR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE.
WE ALMOST LET THIS THING GO PAST.
AND I TAKE CREDIT FOR CAUSING THE TROUBLE HERE.
I ASKED THE JUDGE, WHERE IS ROCK? AND THEN ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ERUPTED.
NO ONE WANTS TO LET YOU GO BY ON THIS DAY WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD SERVICE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER ELLIS HERE AND YOU MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE AND NOT EVERYBODY CAN SAY THAT.
YOU CAN LEAVE WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH AND YOU MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THIS COUNTY SO THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, ROCK.
WE HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR YOU AND JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LET YOU RETIRE, BUT AT LEAST WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT EASY.
I COULDN'T GET ANY HIGHER PRAISE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME TODAY.
WE WERE DISCUSSING THE ITEM ON TRYING TO PUBLISH MORE TRANS PARENTALLY WHO HAS GOTTEN AID.
DID YOU HAVE ANY EDITS TO IT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS 1234*.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: NO, IT CAN WAIT UNTIL IT COMES BACK.
>> I HAVE TODD ON THE LINE IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO UNMUTE HIM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: NO, I THINK WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> SO, JUDGE, THE EYE -- THE ITEM WILL BE APPROVED AS IT IS ON THE AGENDA?
AND NEXT IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL COVID AGENDA.
[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 2 of 3)]
ITEM 8 IS A TRANSMITAL ON ITEMS TO THE BAKER RIP PLEA AGREEMENT.ITEM 9 IS THE AGREEMENT FOR PROJECT 10 MILLION.
ITEM 10 AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
ITEM 11 IS THE UPDATE ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
I BELIEVE GUIDE HOUSE AND THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SOME PROPOSALS AS TO A COUPLE OF MOTIONS.
I LET YOU GUYS -- THANK YOU TO GUIDE HOUSE AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON THIS.
>> JUDGE, I BELIEVE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR PRESENTATION UNTIL AFTER 1:30.
>> LINA HIDALGO: CENSUS IS ITEM 12 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS JOSH OR FELICITY.
WHO WILL RUN US THROUGH WHAT YOU ALL NEED ON THIS?
>> JUDGE, I DIDN'T HAVE AN ITEM ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE SENSE WAS THAT -- THE CENSUS DEADLINE IS EXTENDED RIGHT NOW UNTIL OCTOBER 31ST.
THE PROGRAM, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, HAS BEEN DOING GREAT.
WE ARE -- ACTUALLY WE ARE SURPASSING THE TEXAS AVERAGE IN CENSUS RESPONSE LAST WEEK.
[01:15:01]
62.6.>> LINA HIDALGO: 62.6 AND 58.6.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
I HAVE A REPORT HERE THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPACT ANALYSIS DONE, A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS SHOWING OUR EFFORTS ARE HAVING AN EFFECT ON CENSUS RESPONSE RATES.
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO STOP OUR EFFORTS ON SEPTEMBER 30TH BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE THOUGHT THE DEADLINE WAS GOING TO BE.
THERE WAS A REQUEST TO HAVE THE CENSUS FOLKS PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL AS TO WHAT DO THEY NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE RUNNING THE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH OR THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THE COURTS DECIDE THE DEADLINE IS.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT BACK A FEW PROPOSALS.
SOMEBODY PUTS IT TOGETHER WHO HAS DONE THE CENSUS WORK.
WE ARE REVIEWING THE PROPOSALS RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE REVIEWING WHAT THE BEST IMPACT WAS BASED ON THE EFFORTS WE DID IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS TO REALLY PUSH US ABOVE.
WE WERE VERY MUCH LAGGING BEHIND THE STAT -- THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THERE WAS A MOMENT WE WERE AHEAD OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT PUSH.
WE ARE WORKING WITH PURCHASING RIGHT NOW.
IF THIS CAN GET APPROVED WE CAN WORK ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT.
AND WE CAN UTILIZE THESE LAST COUPLE WEEKS THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE TO PUSH US EVEN FURTHER.
THE ESTIMATES RIGHT NOW ARE THAT CONTINUED PROGRESS COULD BRING UP TO $70 MILLION.
THAT'S TO THE COUNTY OVERTIME THROUGH THIS CENSUS EFFORT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO WE DON'T MEET AGAIN UNTIL NEXT WEEK SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT GOING.
I GUESS WE SHOULD MAKE A MOTION.
DO WE NEED TO PULL A CERTAIN AMOUNT? WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION, JOSH OR JUDGE, IN TERMS OF GIVING US THE FLEXIBILITY TO DRAW DOWN MORE FEDERAL MONEY ASSUMING THE COURTS GIVE US THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE WITH THE DEADLINE THAT LETS US KEEP COUNTING PEOPLE?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IF THE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM IS APPROVED AS WRITTEN WE CAN WORK WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT TO WORK ON THE CONTRACT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE AGAIN.
PART OF THIS IS ALSO RELATED TO COVID AND PUSHING THAT FORWARD.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITIES WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO EARLY ON.
DWIGHT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK MY STAFF CAN WORK WITH YOUR STAFF ON THAT CONTRACT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND YOU DON'T KNOW A DOLLAR AMOUNT IS WHAT I AM ASKING?
>> THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT I WAS PROVIDED YESTERDAY THAT WE WERE REVIEWING LAST NIGHT THAT I THINK THE TOP COST FOR THE GOAL LEVEL WAS 1.4 MILLION AND THE LOWEST VALUE WAS 557,000.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH LEVEL THEY WILL TAKE AT THIS POINT.
IF YOU WANT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THE HIGHER END, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WAS THE REALM OF WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
UNLESS YOU HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS TO APPROVE IT AT THE HIGHER AMOUNT CONTIN -- CONTINGENT ON THAT MAKING SENSE AND WHETHER IT IS THE PURCHASING OR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE OR CSD AND IF SOMETHING COMES UP AND YOU NEED MORE, LET THE JUDGE KNOW AND LET'S COME BACK AND DO IT.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I JUST WANTED TO CONCUR WITH THAT.
I'M NOT SURE SINCE ALL OF THIS IS ALL IN DEVELOPMENT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HANDSTRUNG WHERE WE ARE HAVING TO MEET OR WORK WITHIN A DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I WOULD LIKE TO -- IF IT IS ALLOWABLE, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A MOTION.
IT IS SOMETHING LIKE NOT TO EXCEED TWO MILLION.
AND THEN WHATEVER CAN BE DONE AND BE DONE PROPERLY AND BE DONE EFFICIENTLY.
JUDGE, WOOER A GIVING IT TO YOU -- JUDGE, WE'RE GIVING IT TO YOU.
GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH LATITUDE.
IF YOU ONLY NEED HALF A MILLION, DO IT.
THAT WOULD MAKE IT THE EASIEST.
>> SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE UP TO $3 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL CENSUS ACTIVITIES UP TO THE NEW OCTOBER 31ST DEADLINE FOR THE CENSUS SELF-RESPONSE PERIOD.
>> AND WE CAN ADD SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY PURCHASING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
[01:20:03]
OBVIOUSLY NONE OF THIS IS -- [INAUDIBLE].>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS VERY CAREFULLY IN MY PRECINCT AND I WANT TO THANK FRANCISCO CASTILLO IN MY OFFICE.
EVERYONE ELSE AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL, JUDGE.
I UNDERSTAND WE ARE AT THE CUSP.
IF THAT GIVES MONEY TO THE PRECINCT WE OUGHT TO SPEND THE MILLION AND A HALF OR THE THREE MILLION OR THE HALF A MILLION, WHATEVER IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT WITH THE RIGHT PROPOSAL.
I HAVE JUST BEEN VERY, VERY ANXIOUS FOR ALL OF THE KAY -- CHAOS WITH WHAT SURROUNDED THE CENSUS WITH THIS DATE, THAT DATE.
WE HAVE A VERY, VERY SMALL WINDOW SO WE NEED TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS POSSIBLE.
THE REASON I SUGGEST A HIGHER NUMBER IS THAT WHO CAN ARGUE WITH US TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF REGARDLESS.
I COMMEND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BY THE WAY.
I AM GLAD MR. SOARD AND MR. RYAN, THAT WE GOT -- YOU ALL GOT OUT THERE AND DID A GOOD JOB WITH THE VARIOUS GROUPS WHO WERE LITIGATING ON THIS ISSUE TO GIVE US MORE TIME.
I AM PROUD TO SECOND THE MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
JACK CAGLE: FOR CLARIFICATION THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE CARES FUND?
IT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE UP TO $3 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL CENSUS OBJECTIVITIES UP TO THE NEW OCTOBER DEADLINE FOR THE RESPONSE PERIOD SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY PURCHASING AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? COMMISSIONER RADACK, I DIDN'T RECORD YOUR VOTE.
WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK BACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: RADACK IS AN I.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.
I KNOW IT IS NOT QUITE TWO HOURS, BUT I COULD USE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
IT IS 11:41 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WE JUST FINISHED OUR COVID AGENDA.
[I. Departments (Part 3 of 4)]
LET'S GO TO THE COURT AGENDA.STARTING WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, LUCINDA.
>> I THINK WE WERE GOING TO TAKE A3 OUT OF ORDER ON PAGE 24?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S DO THAT.
ITEM E3 ON PAGE 24 IS A REQUEST THAT WE HAVE OUR DIFFERING DEPARTMENTS GET TOGETHER AND WORK BECAUSE THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME DISCREPANCIES IN OUR REPORTING AND IN OUR DATA.
AND, JUDGE, YOU HEARD ME FOR A LONGTIME SAY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IN OUR REPORTING WE DO NOT NEGLECT THE VICTIMS THAT ARE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN OUR STUDIES THAT WE HAVE OUR TRACKING DATA THAT IS THERE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL FIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES THAT WE MAY FIND THAT THE UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR MAY BE THE LARGEST DYNAMIC WITH REGARD TO THOSE WHO CONSTITUTE THE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND THAT WE WOULD BE REMISS IN OUR APPROACHES IF WE NEGLECT ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE DYNAMICS ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO ASSIST AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING THE VICTIMS OF A CRIME IN THE PROCESS.
[01:25:13]
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MR. ANDY KAHN ON THE LINE TO TALK ALSO, YOUR HONOR.WHEN WE ARE DO AUGUST LOT OF OUR STUDIES, AND THIS IS WHERE PART OF THE PROBLEM HAS COME.
WE HAVE OUR MISDEMEANOR OFFENDERS, AND THEN WE TRACK THE ADDITIONAL OFFENSES OF THE MISDEMEANORS THAT ARE COMMITTED.
WE ARE LOSING IN THE TRACK OF ALL OF THE STUDY SOME GAPS BECAUSE WHO IS IT THAT HAVE COMMITTED MAJOR CRIMES, SPECIFICALLY MURDERS, WHO ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROCESS AND THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED PRIOR FELONIES WHO ARE PART OF THE PROCESS.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS WE ARE STUDYING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE LITIGATION IS ON GOING WITH REGARD TO A SIMILAR SET OF OUTCOMES IN THE FELONY CASES AS WE HAVE HAD IN THE O'DONNELL CASE THAT ONLY DEALT WITH MISDEMEANORS THAT TRACKED THE MISDEMEANORS AND THE FELONIES BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROCESS ACROSS THE BOARD.
SINCE WE HAVE THE DATA AND SINCE WE HAVE THE METRICS AND WE HAVE THE PROCEDURES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STEADYING ALL OF THE DEFENSES ACROSS THE BOARD AND WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE WITH REGARD TO VICTIMS. IF ANDY IS ON THE LINE I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES.
HE HAS SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS ON HOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING MAY HAVE SOME GAPS IN TERMS OF SOME IMPACT THAT'S HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
JACK CAGLE: I WOULD DEFER TO HIM RIGHT NOW TO WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE DISPARITIES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND JIM BETKEY ARE ALSO WANTING TO SPEAK, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE WE ON PUBLIC SPEAKERS ? WHERE ARE WE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE ON THE AGENDA -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A FULL DAY AND MR. KAHN WANTS HIS FULL THREE MINUTES NOW, BUT WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS ITEM E3 UNDER COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S AGENDA ON PAGE 24.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING REGARDING SOME OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF FELONY BOND REFORM.
BRIEFLY A LITTLE BACKGROUND, I STARTED DOING SOME BACKGROUND ON SOME OF THE DEFENDANTS BEING CHARGED WITH MURDER OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND I NOTICED A LOT OF THEM HAD A COMMON DENOMINATOR.
MANY WERE RELEASED ON MULTIPLE FELONY BONDS.
MANY WERE RELEASED ON PR BONDS.
SOME ACTUALLY HAD BOND FORFEITURES THAT WERE REINSTATER -- THAT WERE RENNE STATE -- REINSTATED.
I STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER A LIST AND AS OF TODAY THERE ARE 63 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 2018 BY DEFENDANTS ALLEGEDLY OF COURSE WHO WERE EITHER RELEASED ON MULTIPLE FELONY BONDS, BOND FORFEITURE AND/OR PR BONDS.
OF THE 63 VICTIMS, 9 ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED CASES.
OF THE 9 IT INCLUDES UNBORN CHILDREN.
THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 56 DEFENDANT THAT'S ARE NOW CHARGED.
OF THOSE 56, 26 ARE NOW CHARGED WITH CAPITAL MURDER.
BASICALLY IT BRINGS ME UP TO A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE AT CRIMESTOPPERS THAT I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ON THE SAME PAGE OF IS THAT -- OF THAT.
THE LAST REPORT I GOT THERE ARE 4,000 DEFENDANTS WHO HAD BONDS FOR VIOLENT AND SEXUAL OFFENSES.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE OUT ON REPEAT MULTIPLE BONDS AND FOR WHAT TYPES OF OFFENSES.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FELONY DEFENDANTS ARE IN BOND FORFEITURE AND DECLARED FUGITIVE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FELONY DEFENDANTS ARE NOW FUGITIVES AFTER VIOLATING THE BOND.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DEFENDANTS ARE ACTUALLY ACCUSED OR HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES AFTER A MOTION TO REVOKE THEIR ORIGINAL BOND WAS DENIED.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HAD THEIR BOND REVOKED WHILE CHARGED WITH A CRIME WHILE OUT ON BOND.
AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE BECOME CRIME VICTIMS AS A RESULT OF OFFENDERS VIOLATING THEIR CONDITIONS OF A BOND.
I MEAN, I AM ONLY KEEPING UP WITH THE MURDERS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
YOU KNOW, GOD KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF AGGRAVATED ROBBERY.
[01:30:04]
WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY DEFENDANTS WHO WERE ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING HAVE REMOVED THEIR ANKLE MONITOR AND HAVE BECOME FUGITIVES.FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IT IS THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SAME DEFENDANTS BEING RELEASED ON MULTIPLE BONDS AND CONTINUALLY BEING ARRESTED FOR ADDITIONAL FELONY CRIMES AND THEY ARE STILL GETTING
OUT ON JAIL ON THE NEW BONDS -- I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NEWS STORIES -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
ANDY HOW MUCH -- YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD AND FINISH THAT SENTENCE, SIR.
>> I MEAN I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT EXAMPLES, BUT AS A VICTIM ADVOCATE, HAVING TO DEAL WITH VICTIMS' FAMILIES, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE PAIN AND THE ANGUISH THAT GOES THROUGH A FAMILY MEMBER WHEN I TELL THEM IN ALL FRANKNESS THAT THIS WAS A TRAGEDY, YET FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WAS UTTERLY PREVENTABLE BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE KILLED, AGAIN, MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER, EVER HAPPENED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN A LEADING PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE -- WE STRONGLY BELIEVE WE NEED A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY CONVERSATION TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH POSITIVE REFORM.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M ASKING IS THE QUESTIONS THAT I DELIVERED.
I THINK THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS DOING THE REPORT ON BOND REFORM, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND GO OVER MY FINDINGS AND FINDING WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE EVERY DAY IT SEEMS THAT I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE.
I JUST ADDED ANOTHER ONE TODAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH EVERYBODY HERE.
AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO START TAKE SOMETHING PRO ACTIVE MEASURES.
WE DEFINITELY NEED TO START LOOKING AT RISK ASSESSMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CONTINUE TO RELEASE THE SAME OFFENDER.
WE HAVE GUY THAT'S ARE OUT ON EIGHT MULTIPLE BONDS WHO ARE CHARGED WITH CAPITAL MURDER.
ONE OF THEM IS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY WHILE ON BOND FOR CAPITAL MURDER AND STILL GETS A BOND.
THE ONLY REASON HE IS IN CUSTODY NOW IS BECAUSE THE FEDS, THE U.S.
AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY STEPPED IN ON THREE OF THE CASES WE IDENTIFIED AND TOOK THE DEFENDANTS IN CUSTODY FOR FIREARMS VIOLATIONS.
JACK CAGLE: ANDY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE TWO SETS OF ISSUE THAT ARE HERE.
ONE IS THE TRACKING AND THE DATA INFORMATION AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WITH REGARD TO THE IMPACTS ON VICTIMS. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS THE ONE THAT YOU WERE JUST TOUCHING UPON AND THAT IS ONCE WE KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO DO TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM THOSE WHO ARE OUR MOST VIOLENT, WHO ARE OUR LEAST LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RISK ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE THERE.
WE HAVE JIM BETKEY ON THE LINE HERE IN A MINUTE OR TWO, BUT I GATHER YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH JIM, AND I BELIEVE JIM WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT WITH YOU TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH REGARD TO TRYING TO HAVE A WAY OF MEASURING THESE CRITERIA.
WE CAN KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE WITH REGARD TO THE VICTIMS. ARE YOU UH MEANABLE TO THAT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KAHN.
I HAVE -- I WANT TO SPEAK ON THE RAPT -- ON THE SUBJECT.
ANDY, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING OUT THERE FOR THE VICTIMS AND ADVOCATING ON THEIR BEHALF.
THEY COULDN'T HAVE A BETTER GUY DOING THAT THAN YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO GET A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, JUDGE.
ANDY MADE MENTION TO FELONY BAIL REFORM.
THAT HAS COME NOT ACROSS OUR DESK AS OF YET, CORRECT? THERE'S BEEN NO REFORM -- NO COMPLETED REFORM.
SO THAT'S STILL IN THE COURTS SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION ON THE BAIL REFORM, CORRECT, JUDGE?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE WHEN HE SAID THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I FELL ASLEEP AT A COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THAT RIGHT THAT WE HAVE NOT APPROVED ANYTHING AS IT
[01:35:02]
RELATES TO FELONY BAIL REFORM.>> NO, WE ARE SEEING BAIL REFORM THAT WE ALL SUPPORTED AS BEING DOMINOD OVER ON THE FELONY SIDE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH, BUT, ANDY, THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I GET YOUR POINT ON THE JUDGES INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I GET WHAT YOU ARE POINTING, BUT THIS COURT HAS NOT YET TAKEN ANY FORMAL ACTION ON FELONY BAIL REFORM.
BUT IN THAT END -- I AM GLAD WE ARE GETTING JIM ON THE CALL, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE ASKED MR. BEKEY AND -- BETKEY AND HIS TEAM AT THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION TO DO A STUDY ON THE VARIOUS ISSUES.
ON ONE OF THE LAST CALLS THAT I WAS ON WITH HIM, I WAS GETTING HISTORICAL DATA THAT IS NOW COMING IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
THE HISTORICAL DATA IS TELLING US A STORY, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS BRINGING WHAT IS HISTORICALLY ASIDE FROM THE MISDEMEANOR BAIL REFORM AND ASIDE FROM ANYTHING ELSE, THE HISTORICAL DATA IS INDICATING A PICTURE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE USING THAT TO EMPOWER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS.
BUT TO THAT END, THE DATA SURROUNDING THE STUDIES LIKE THIS IS COMPLEX, JUDGE.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A DATA-DRIVEN INDIVIDUAL AND WE ARE BETTER FOR THAT.
AND IF IT IS NOT DONE CORRECTLY THERE COULD BE A LOT OF MISS STEPS AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MISREPRESENT THE DATA.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THIS AS IMPERICALLY AS POSSIBLE.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN EXPERT.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THEM AS OF YET, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROFESSOR BY THE NAME OF RUPAUL HEATON WHO IS CONSIDERED TO BE A WORLD RENOWNED EXPERT ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND HAS THE BACKING OF THE ARNOLD VENTURES.
WITH HE IS PARTNERED WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THAT OR ANYBODY IS PARTNERED WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THE ARNOLD VENTURES IT SHOWS YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE DOING AND DOING IT ACCURATELY AND CORRECTLY.
I WOULD BE AN ADVOCATE FORGETTING MR. BETKEY AND THIS GENTLEMAN, PAUL HEATON, TOGETHER.
AND TO ENSURE THAT, ONE, A STUDY OF THIS NATURE IS DONE WHICH I SUPPORT, BUT ALSO THAT IT IS DONE CORRECTLY AND DONE WITH THE RIGHT RESOURCES.
AND ALSO THAT INDIVIDUALS LIKE ANDY AND OTHER ADVOCATES FOR CRIME VICTIMS ARE HEARD AND THEY ARE -- AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR INFORMATION IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SO WE CAN MAKE GOOD -- OR HAVE GOOD ASSUMPTIONS FROM THAT.
AND SO -- JIM, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? MR. BETKEY, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY OTHER ON GOING STUDIES ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER?
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CENTER WHERE PROFESSOR HEATON IS A SENIOR FELLOW, AND HIS PROJECT AND STUDY IS LOOKING PRIMARILY AT MISDEMEANORS, BUT THE DATA THAT IS BEING REQUESTED ALSO INCLUDES THE FELONY.
THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT NOTION.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OR TO COMPARE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2019, 2020, 20 UN-- 2018 TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THESE REFORMS ARE HAVING.
WE HAVE A DATA TEMPLATE THAT IS UNDER REVIEW RIGHT NOW BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S
[01:40:01]
OFFICE.WE HAVE MONTHLY CHECK IN CALLS WITH OUR NEW VENTURES.
THEY ARE FUNDING NOT ONLY THE TRAINING CENTER, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM PARTNERS THAT IS LOOKING AT PRE-TRIAL RELEASES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND SO BILL -- SORRY.
JIM, IN YOUR OPINION FROM WHAT YOU KNOW, FROM WHATEVER DR. HEATON IS DOING, WILL THAT STUDY HELP TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED TODAY?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DO YOU SEE -- WITH ALL OF THE STUDIES WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO AND WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, CAN WE -- IN YOUR OPINION CAN WE BE A PARTNER WITH DR. HEATON'S STUDY?
WOULD I HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT FROM YOU IN THAT REGARD?
JADE JADE JUDGE, WHENEVER >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION RELATED TO THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING ON THIS.
I ALWAYS TRY TO BE AS DATA DRIVEN AS YOU, JUDGE, AND SO I DON'T MIND STUDIES, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD STUDIES TO HELP US -- TO HELP GUIDE US.
IF IT IS APPROPRIATE, I MAKE A MOTION.
>> I THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT THAT PEOPLE AREN'T HEARING.
YOU ARE TRYING TO RUN PARALLEL, ARE YOU NOT, BETWEEN PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING RELEASED ON MISDEMEANOR CHARGES THAT ARE TURNING INTO FELONS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WHAT I AM STRICTLY LOOKING ON WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IS ANYBODY THAT WAS KILLED SLASH MURDERED IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THEIR HISTORY REGARDING BONDS WHETHER IT IS MISDEMEANOR BONDS AND/OR FELONY BONDS.
THE ONLY MISDEMEANOR DEFENDANTS I INCLUDED IF -- IS IF THEY WERE OUT ON A MULTIPLE -- MULTITUDE OF PR BONDS OR THEY HAD THEIR BOND FORFEITURE AND THEY WERE REINSTATED.
IT WAS A FINE LINE ON THE CRITERIA THAT I DEVELOPED.
IF YOU WERE OUT ON BOND AND YOU WERE CHARGED WITH MURDER, YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST.
THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OFFENDERS CHARGED WITH MURDER THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ON MULTIPLE BONDS.
THEY WEREN'T ON FELONY BONDS AND WEREN'T ON PR BONDS.
WITH THE MISDEMEANOR STUDY, I APPLIED THEM TO THE MISDEMEANORS AS WELL AND WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE DEFENDANTS THAT ARE BEING RELEASED ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE HAVE EITHER NOT SHOWN UP IN COURT, OR HAVE GONE ON TO COMMIT ADDITIONAL CRIMES, ALL BE -- ALBEIT, FELONY CRIMES AS WELL.
IT IS SOMETHING WHERE I AGREE WITH JIM THAT THE STUDY REALLY NEEDS TO INCLUDE THAT TYPE OF DAY -- DATA.
IF YOU START TO LOOK AT THE FELONY SIDE WHICH IS WHAT I AM LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, CRIMESTOPPERS WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH WITH THE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.
>> I THINK A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ANALYST IS TO START WORKING ON SOME OF THIS AND COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND AFTER WORKING WITH YOU AND TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR NUMBERS, AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR PROTECTING THE TAXPAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
ALWAYS HAPPY TO GET YOUR INPUT.
MR. BETKEY, I DO WANT TO MAKE A REQUEST THAT IF THE CENTER IS LOOKING AT THIS AND THE ARNOLD FOUNDATION IS PAYING FOR IT, WILL WE NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDS, OR CAN WE ESSENTIALLY PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT THE ARNOLD FOUNDATION IS ALREADY DOING?
>> WE WILL BE ABLE TO PIGGYBACK ON TO THE WORK THAT'S BEEN FUNDED.
NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM WELL UH -- AWARE OF THE PAW THRONE CENTER.
I WENT ON IT WHEN I STEPPED DOWN OF THE AM MA THIRST PROJECT -- AMETHYSTT PROJECT YEARS AGO.
[01:45:05]
BY CONSENTING TO THE WORK IT WAS A VERY GOOD THING BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF MISDEMEANOR BAIL IN THE COUNTRY.I KNOW THERE ARE THOSE AMONG US EVEN ON THIS GOVERNING BOARD WHO WERE AGAINST MISDEMEANOR BAIL REFORM WHEN THE LAWSUIT CAME ABOUT AND THEY ARE AGAINST IT NOW.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AND KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE POLITICS.
SOME OF WHAT IS GOING ON, AND IT IS NOT LOST ON ME, THAT IT IS RIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTION AND YOU HAVE THE FEAR AMOUNG GEARERS -- THE FEAR MONGERERS WHO WANT TO WHIP IT UP.
WE HAVE THE REPORT THAT IS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT WE ARE PAYING FOR.
THERE IS ALWAYS A POSSIBLE -- POSSIBILITY IT WILL CHANGE.
THERE IS ALWAYS A TENDENCY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO A MONEY BAIL FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO POST BAIL.
OFTENTIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHEN THEY DO IT.
LOOK, I THINK WE ARE IN THE ERA OF REAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANT TO ROLL BACK THE CLOCK TO THE OLD DAYS.
I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET THERE.
WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTION, AND THIS WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER AND WHAT PEOPLE WILL BE VOTING ON.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND SECOND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION.
WE NEED TO GET THE DATA AND BE DRIVEN BY THE DATA.
IF THE DATA DOES NOT AGREE WITH MY POSITION, I'M GONNA BE BIG ENOUGH TO SAY IT'S A PROBLEM.
I JUST THINK WE OUGHT TO MOVE FORWARD AND LET THE FEAR MONGERERS DO THEIR DEAL.
I BELIEVE IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
BUT YOU CAN GO AND EXPRESS YOUR ISSUES AT THE BALLOT BOX.
INCLUDING ANY OF US ON THIS GOVERNING BOARD.
I AM NOT RUNNING FROM THE ISSUE.
I AM PROUD OF THE MISDEMEANOR BAIL SETTLEMENT.
WE HAVE NOT MADE PROGRESS ON THE FELONY BAIL CASE, IN PART BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE HAVE GIVEN 9 -- GIVEN THE JUDGES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND SETTLE THE LAWSUIT INSTEAD OF DRAG IT OUT IN COURT.
FOUR OF THEM HAVE OPTED TO DO THAT TO OTHERS AND ARE BEING REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON AND REFUSE TO EVEN HAVE HIS CLOY -- CLIENTS MEET WITH THE PLAINTIFFS WHO ARE SUING US.
I ADMIT THE SAME CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPALS AND ISSUES THAT EXISTED ON MISDEMEANOR BAIL EXIST ON FELONY BAIL.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM, AND WE NEED TO DO IT IN A JUDICIOUS WAY.
WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SEE WHERE THESE REFORMS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE, AND THE SKY DID NOT FALL IN, DESPITE THE FEAR MONGERERS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS IT IS EASY TO PICK OUT INDIVIDUAL STORIES AND SAY THAT THE POSITION IS BASED ON A SMALL NUMBER, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS STUDY.
I AM CURIOUS YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? WHAT WOULD IT BE EXACTLY?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT WOULD BE I MOVE THE COUNTY ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE DR. HEATON WORKS AT.
IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHARING DATA TO ASSIST DR. HEATON ON COMPLETING THE CURRENT STUDY OF HARRIS COUNTY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT WOULD MANAGE THIS PROJECT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I SECOND THE MOTION, AND IF I MIGHT SPEAK IN FEVER OF -- IN FAVOR OF IT BRIEFLY.
THE REASON IT IS IMPORTANT IS YEARS AGO THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ASKED FOR THE DATA, THE COUNTY WAS WILLING TO GIVE IT.
IT LEAD TO, I THINK I READ IN THE STANFORD LAURIE VIEW, THAT -- LAW REVIEW, THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BAIL.
I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IT PUTS US IN A A POSITION WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH OPEN RECORDS MEETINGS.
WE ARE GLAD TO OPEN IT UP AND HAVE A GROUP OF STAYS THUS -- STATUSTICIAS IN -- STATUSTICIANS WHO DIDN'T HAVE A PRAB -- PROBLEM WITH IT LIKE ME, BUT THEY CAN HAVE A MEETING WITH ANDY KAHN OR ANYBODY ON THIS BOARD AND WE CAN ARGUE ON THE FACTS AND NOT JUST BASED ON SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL OPINION.
[01:50:02]
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
AND AGENTS -- AND A LITTLE BIT LIKE I WAS SHARING WITH THE ROCK THAT WHEN YOU GET TO BE AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT YOU TEND TO REMEMBER SOME THINGS.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS HAD A LONG HISTORY WITH AN OVERCROWDED JAIL.
WHEN I STARTED MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER IN 1980, RIGHT AROUND 82 MAYBE WHEN WE HAD A DOWNTURN IN OIL, THE CRIME RATE WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
HOMICIDES SPIKED DRAMATICALLY.
ALL THE WHILE WE HAD A VERY, VERY RESTRICTIVE CASH BAIL SYSTEM.
WE HAD THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR DECADES.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STORIES LIKE THE ONE THAT ANDY HAS HAS -- YOU KNOW, I WOULD -- I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.
I HAVE DONE MY SHARE OF ARRESTING FOLKS.
I REMEMBER BEING AS FRUSTRATED AS ANYBODY ELSE.
WHEN I WOULD SEE THOSE GUYS BACK OUT ON THE STREET, ALL OF THIS WAS PRETTY REFORMING.
I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET THAT THAT'S A PART OF OUR HISTORY THAT TELLS US THAT WITH A WAREHOUSE KNOWN AS THE COUNTY JAIL AND WITH A RESTRICTIVE CASH BAIL SYSTEM AND THEY ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO GET OUT AND CAUSE HARM.
WHILE WE ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM, AT LEAST THE EARLY STUDIES ON MISDEMEANOR BAIL REFORM IS INDICATING THAT NOTHING HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS TO THE EXTENT SOME MAY CHARACTERIZE AND NO ONE ON THIS POLL IN PARTICULAR.
I JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE HISTORY AS WELL.
IT ALSO -- IT HAS DRIVEN ME AS MY TIME AS A SHERIFF TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO FOLLOW THE RULES I'M -- IMPOSED BY THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION AND TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY THE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND IT WILL BE CHARGED TO KEEP US SAFE SO I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN A GOOD DIRECTION.
BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE TODAY LIKE JIM BETKEY AND OUR ANALYSTS WHO CAN REALLY DIG INTO THE INFORMATION AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.
ANOTHER PART IS I REMEMBER PARKING IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY JAIL THE NIGHT IT WAS DECLARED.
THE DOORS WERE OPENED AND PEOPLE FLOOD THE STREET.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE ARE DEALING WITH THINGS TODAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, YOU HAD A QUESTION?
BEFORE I GET THERE, AS THE FEAR MONGERER ON THIS PANEL AND THE CLOCK TURN ERBACHER, I UH -- CLOCK TURNER BACKER, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE ACKNOWLEDGING WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE ARNOLD FOUNDATION AND TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS. I LONG BELIEVED THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY A BOND.
OUR SYSTEM SHOULD BE BASED UPON ONE OF RISK.
NOW, MY QUESTION TO JIM IS, JIM, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE GOTTEN BACK ON TRACK ON FOCUSING TODAY ON THE ACCUSED OF THE CRIME.
MY FOCUS WAS TO TRY TO GET US TO WHERE WE WERE FOCUSING ON THE VICTIM IMPACTS.
MY QUESTION IS, JIM, ARE YOU ABLE TO WORK WITH ANDY AND THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE METRICS THAT WE'RE USING WITH REGARD TO THE IMPACTS ON THE ACCUSED, THAT WE CAN BRING TO BEAR WITH REGARD TO THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS AND THEIR
[01:55:02]
BACKGROUNDS AND THEIR IMPACTS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF CRIME IN THE SITUATION? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THE ANSWER IS YES.
THAT IS A PIECE THAT WILL BE IN THE STUDY.
IT IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PIECE TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE OVERALL SYSTEM IS WORKING.
JACK CAGLE: AND I BELIEVE YOUR ANSWER ON THIS WILL BE A YES AS WELL, BUT THE SECOND PORTION OF THAT IS THE RISK ASSESSMENT COMPONENT WHEN SOMEONE IS RELEASED, WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE HOW WE CAN TRY TO TRACK AND HOW WE CAN TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE REMOVAL OF THOSE BEING RELEASED INTO OUR SOCIETY THAT HAVE A PATTERN OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES, IE, NOT HURTING THEIR NEIGHBORS.
SO TO THE EXTENT YOU MAY BE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY THAT THE MOTION IS BEFORE US ON TODAY, WILL THAT STUDY INCLUDE THE RISK ASSESSMENT COMPONENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT RELEASING RISKY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS BACK INTO SOCIETY?
>> THE ANSWER IS YES, COMMISSIONER.
AT THE FELONY LEVEL, THE RISK ASSESSMENT IS STILL BEING EMPLOYED.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING OUT ON WHETHER IT IS PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE OR A CASH BOND OR WHATEVER TYPE OF RELEASE IT IS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JIM, ALSO IT JUST REMINDED ME -- I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
YOU JUST PROMPTED ANOTHER MEMORY.
THAT LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR ANKLE MONITORING BRACELET PROGRAM UNDER DR. MAY, YOU KNOW, I ASKED HER TO COME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T WORK FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SHE SAYS SHE WORKS FOR THE JUDGES.
I WANT TO GET INTO THE FACT OF HOW EFFECTIVE WAS THE ANKLE MONITORING PROGRAM GOING.
I AM GLAD COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THAT YOU PROMPTED THIS DISCUSSION.
JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ARE YOU MAKING THAT AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION THAT WE INCLUDE THE STUDY ON THE ANKLE MONITOR SNG.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK IT WOULD BE ALL-INCLUSIVE, RIGHT, JIM?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS MOTION, MR. CAGLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JIM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO STUDY, BY THE WAY, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT? I THINK THE LACK OF EMPIRICAL DATA HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE THROW THE WORD VICTIM AROUND SO LOOSELY.
I WAS READING A WRITE UP ON GEORGE FLOYD THAT HE WAS A VICTIM IN THIS COUNTY TO A DIRTY COP BEING ARRESTED AND GETTING A COURT-APPOINTED LAWYER AND SITTING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL BECAUSE HE HE COULDN'T POST BAIL.
AND THEN HE TOOK A PLEA TO GO INTO THE STATE SYSTEM.
I MEAN THERE ARE VICTIMS ON BOTH SIDES.
FAR FAR TOO LONG THIS ABUSIVE, RACIST SYSTEM OF LETTING PEOPLE OUT WHO HAVE MONEY AND NOBODY SAID A PEEP ABOUT IF A CRIME WAS COMMITTED, ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY THEM AFTERWARDS.
SO IF THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES YOU WANT TO STUDY, I MENTIONED TO YOU LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, TONY CRIVELO WAS INTERESTED WHEN HE WOULD DO THESE STUDIES AND COULD PRESENT THEM IN A WAY WHERE IT REALLY GOT ATTENTION IN THE LEGISLATURE.
IF NOT NOW, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO STUDY THAT HELPS US GET TO THE TRUTH AND BEYOND THE RHETORIC AND THE POLITICS I AM SUPPORTIVE OF.
YOU BRING THAT BACK AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION OR SOMEBODY ELSE CAN.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE COURT FOR THIS SUPPORT AND THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED OUR OFFICE.
WE HAVE HIRED SOME INCREDIBLY GOOD TALENT.
WE ARE DOING THE FOUNDATION WORK SO THAT WE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS POSED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
AND IDEALLY THIS FOUNDATIONAL WORK WILL ENABLE US TO ANSWER MANY, MANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME OUT.
SOMETIMES IT IS A PAINSTAKINGLY SLOW PROCESS, BUT I PROMISE THAT WE ARE
[02:00:01]
WORKING AS DILIGENTLY AS POSSIBLE.WE ARE REALLY HAVING SOME MEANINGFUL BREAKTHROUGHS.
ONE THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL VISITING WITH BARBIE AND ALICIA SO WE HAVE THE CONTINUAL DIALOGUE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS IDEALLY WILL PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE IS WHEN A PERSON IS RELEASED WITH A ELECTRONIC MONITORING ADVICE THEY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A GRANT THAT HAD AN APP ON THE VICTIM'S SURVIVOR PHONE THAT IF THAT PERSON GETS IN A CERTAIN RADIUS IT ALERTS OFFICERS.
THERE IS DEFINITELY MEANINGFUL WORK BEING DONE.
I WANT TO TIP MY HAT TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HELP INFORM THE COURT AND IDEALLY GET TO THE SINGLE VERSION OF TRUTH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION SO YOU ALL CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
THANKS FOR ALLOWING US TO DO IT AND THANKS FOR PROVIDING US THE RESOURCES TO DO IT AS WELL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, JIM.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE -- AND I THINK WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE DR. -- I'M ASSUMING HE IS A PROFESSOR, BUT DR. HEATON ON BOARD TO DO THE STUDY.
I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE ONE YOU READ BEFORE, CORRECT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO SHALL WE VOTE ON THAT? IS THAT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, COMMISSIONER TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S MOTION?
JACK CAGLE: I DIDN'T INTERPRET THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, JUDGE.
I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL MOTION THAT WAS IN LINE WITH MINE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT WAS YOUR MOTION?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I STRUGGLE -- >> R.
JACK CAGLE: IT WAS REFERRING TO JIM BETKEY'S OFFICE -- THE MOTION WAS THE -- TO HAVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE APPELLATE COURTS ROW DEUCE -- PRODUCE A REPORT WITH REGARD TO THE DATA THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE VICTIM IMPACTS.
I VIEWED COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION NOT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, BUT A COROLLARY THAT WENT ALONG THE LINE THAT WHERE IN ADDITION TO THAT WE WOULD REFER OUT TO THE HELP OF THE PROFESSOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO I STRUGGLE, COMMISSIONER,ING WITH YOUR MOTION AS PRESENTED BECAUSE -- I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE DR. HEATON HERE, RIGHT? I WOULD SAY WE SEND -- WE ASK HIM TO TAKE A LOOK AT -- I AM TRYING TO FIND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHARING DATA TO COMPLETE THE STUDY.
I THINK THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MOTION.
MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS WE WOULD BE LENDING CREDENCE TO A STUDY BY ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT DOING THIS RIGOROUS ACADEMIC ANALYSIS AND IT IS VERY, VERY EASY TO MISCHARACTERIZE THIS INFORMATION.
SO CERTAINLY IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR IN THE MOTION, AND I THINK IT IS CLEAR IN COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION, BUT WE CAN WORD SMITH IT, BUT HE HAS TO LOOK AT MOTIONS OF PRE-TRIAL AND THE IMPACT THAT CURRENT PRACTICES HAVE HAD ON OUTCOMES, AND SO HE WILL DO THAT.
HE WILL WORK WITH JAD AND WORK WITH ANDY.
I I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ASK ANDY AND THE D.A., FOR ONE THEY ARE INTERESTED PARTIES, TO DO THE STUDY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I SAW IT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND THE COMMISSIONER WANTS TO WORK WITH JAD.
I CAN'T SUPPORT COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S MOTION.
JACK CAGLE: IF I COULD REITERATE IT.
IS SAYS I REQUEST THOSE DIVISIONS WHICH ARE OUR COUNTY ENTITIES PRODUCE A REPORT TO BE RETURNED TO US IN 60 TO 90 DAYS PROVIDING THE EXACT NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED BOTH NEW FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS WHILE FREE ON BAIL, PR BONDS OR ANY TYPE OF PRE-TRIAL RELEASE FROM JANUARY 12019 TO OCTOBER OF 2020.
INCLUDING AN ACCOUNTING OF THE CHARGES ON WHICH THEY WERE RELEASED PENDING TRIAL, THE NEW CHARGES THEY PICKED UP WHILE FREE PENDING FINAL DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASES AND WHETHER OR NOT THE NEW CHARGES RESULTED IN THEM BEING TAKEN BACK INTO
[02:05:06]
CUSTODY.AND HOW MANY DEFENDANTS HAVE PREVIOUS CRIMINAL RECORDS AND WHAT COURT HAD JURISDICTION IN THE CASES.
MY MOTION DOES PRESIDENT -- DOESN'T REQUIRE A PHD FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MY MOTION REQUIRES OUR DEPARTMENT TO POST DATA THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, WHAT I WOULD SUBJECT WOULD BE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STUDIES IN THE CUE INCLUDING A NUMBER OF ITEMS I ASKED BETKEY'S OFFICE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE MET AFTER MR. FLOYD FUNERAL.
IF HE WANTS TO THROW THIS IN THE LIST, BUT IF IT IS THAT EASY TO DO, HE CAN DO.
IT HE HAS A GREAT STAFF OVER THERE.
I AM FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION AND THESE OTHER THINGS, I'M JUST NOT SURE I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY TAKE, BUT I KNOW YOU GOT A GREAT STAFF OVER THERE
AND YOU GOT FOLKS -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS -- I MEAN, NUMBER ONE I THINK IT IS A DUPLICATION OF WORK BECAUSE HEATON IS ALREADY DOING IT.
I DON'T SEE IT SIMPLY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, AS AN OVERBURDEN OF -- AN OVERBURDENING OF THE JAD, BUT IT COULD BE THAT AND IT WOULD BE AN INEFFICIENT DUPLICATION.
I THINK IT COULD BE A PROBLEMATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DATA IF NOT DONE WELL.
YOU SEE IT AS SIMPLE, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, BUT AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA POINTED OUT, YOU CAN GO AND ASK FOR A LIST OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO PAID THEIR WAY OUT AND COMMITTED A CRIME AGAIN.
JACK CAGLE: THAT'S PART OF MY MOTION, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE TRYING TO DO THINGS SMARTER.
WE DON'T WANT TO DO COMMON DENOMINATOR AND KNEE JERK POLICY MAKING.
IT WOULD LEND THE COURT'S WEIGHT INTO KNEE-JERK REACTION.
DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULDN'T EVALUATE THE PRACTICES ? NO, WE SHOULD.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR DR. HEATON TO SPEAK WITH ANDY.
IT IS GOOD THAT ANDY AND EVERYBODY IS ASKING QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE LAWYERS -- THE LAWYERS AND JUDGES DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.
ARNOLD CAME UP WITH THE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE IT TO WHERE THEY WILL KNOW EXACTLY -- I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
I HAVE CALLED SOME OF THESE JUDGES AND IT IS THEIR DECISION AND THEIR JUDICIAL DISCRETION.
ALL OF THE CASES THAT GOT FLASHING LIGHTS IN THE PRESS AT THE TIME WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF THEM.
IT WAS CLEAR THAT -- IT WAS CLEAR WHY IT MADE SENSE.
FOR THE MOST PART THESE ARE JUDGES -- I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERY CASE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WHEN I HAVE CALLED AND THEY WALKED ME THROUGH IT AND IT IS LIKE, OH, OKAY.
DID NOT LOCK THAT CASE OR THAT PERSON ONLY HAD A HISTORY OF CERTAIN THINGS THAT IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HOLD THEM.
YOU COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A NON-VIOLENT BACKGROUND THEY WOULD KILL SOMEONE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT CRYSTAL BALL.
THE ONLY WAY WE PROTECT AGAINST THAT IS ARREST EVERYBODY AND THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
EVERYBODY, PERIOD, WHO EVER DID ANYTHING.
I'M AFRAID IT HOPE -- IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR A KNEE JERK POLICY AND WE ARE DOING IT IN A SMART WAY WITH AN ACADEMIC WHO WILL -- I THINK WE SHOULD ASK HIM TO CIRCLE ANDY AND CIRCLE THE JAD AND SEE WHAT HE COMES BACK WITH AND ASK HIM TO LOOK AT OUTCOMES AND WE CAN PUT THAT IN MOTION.
>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, WHEN YOU SAY COLLECTIVE DATA ON THE DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED BOTH NEW FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS WHILE FREE ON BAIL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED? IT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WORK WITH YOU.
I KNOW SOME FOLKS THAT I HAVE HAD TO BATTLE WITH OVER THE YEARS.
EVEN THE BAIL BOND INDUSTRY WHO WOULD DO THIS STUDY FOR YOU.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN GO AND ASK THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
I THINK WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS A LOT OF SPECULATION.
I MEAN, I KNOW SOME FOLKS IN THE BAIL BOND INDUSTRY THAT I FOUGHT WITH FOR 25 YEARS, THEY CAN PAY FOR THIS IN A MINUTE AND MAY HAVE DONE SOME OF IT.
YOU NEED TO TIGHTEN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT IS MY SUGGESTION.
JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, YOUR LAST COMMENT I THINK ADDS TO PART OF THE POINT OF MY MOTION.
THAT IS, WE HAVE SOME JUDGES, AS YOU MENTIONED, WHO ARE BASING DECISIONS WITHOUT ALL OF THE DATA IN FRONT OF THEM, THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW THERE HAD BEEN PRIOR CHARGES OR THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WERE PRIOR CONVICTIONS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED ALL OF THE DATA FOR THEM TO MAKE A
[02:10:04]
GOOD DECISION.YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH A PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FULL SET OF ALL OF THE INFORMATION WHEN MAKING A DECISION AND HOW EASY IT IS AFTER A SENTENCE -- A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO CRITICIZE THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP THAT WAS NOT BEFORE THE JUDGE AT THE TIME.
SO THAT IS PART OF WHERE THIS IS GOING.
I ACCEPT MY COLLEAGUE'S OFFER OF HOLDING MY MOTION FOR TWO WEEKS AND TIGHTENING UP THE LANGUAGE, BUT I THINK THE RAW DATA -- THE RAW DATA WITH HAVING IT BEEN PICKED UP AND WHERE IT WAS PICKED UP AND THE INFORMATION THE JUDGES NEED TO MAKE THEIR BEST DECISION DECISIONS IS GOOD DATA FOR US TO HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND THEN THERE IS A SECOND COMPONENT THAT PERHAPS WHEN I COME BACK I COULD BE TIGHTER WITH TOO AND THAT IS REGARDING THE DATA WITH REGARD TO THE DISPARITIES WE MAY SEE OCCURRING WITH REGARD TO THE VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WHO ARE OUR VICTIMS ? WHERE ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC CRITERIA? I ACCEPT THE OFFER OF MY COLLEAGUE TO BRING IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS, OR THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ANOTHER THING I SUGGEST IS TAKE THE 60-DAYS OFF.
I CAN THINK OF THINGS I ASKED FOR THE FIRST -- THE SECOND MONTH I GOT HERE THAT I AM STILL WAITING ON.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- IN ADDITION TO US PLAYING A LITTLE POLITICS, YOU GOT ME? DON'T GET TOO UPSET.
I TELL YOU WHAT, OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, I REMEMBER YOU TOLD ME I COULD LOOK AT DISPARITIES.
I CAN DO A DISPARITY STUDY AND I CAN PAY FOR IT OUT OF PRECINCT 1 FUNDS.
I PAID $650,000, AND OF COURSE YOU WERE SAYING, OH, WE DO EVERYTHING.
WE ARE FAIR, COLOR-BLIND AND DIDN'T QUITE TURN OUT THAT WAY, MY FRIEND.
SO I AM SAYING I WANT THE STUDIES I ASK FOR ON THE DAY OF GEORGE FLOYD FUNERAL TO BE COMPLETE ETD -- COMPLETED SO WE CAN MAKE SOME POLICY DECISIONS AND YOU CAN COME UP WITH ALL OF THE VARIOUS AND HURTFULS YOU WANT.
I CAN HELP YOU COME UP WITH THEM.
THE BAIL INDUSTRY HAS DONE A LOT OF THE STUDIES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTY.
THEY WILL TRY TO MAKE YOUR POINT FOR YOU.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL PUT HOLES IN THEM.
YOU CAN PULL $650,000 OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY FINISHED THE STUDIES I TASKED THEM WITH.
A LOT OF THOSE THINGS I SAID DUE IN SIX WEEKS AND COME BACK AND LET US KNOW.
ALL OF THEM FROM CAHOOTS, EVERY ONE OF THEM WE ARE STILL WAITING BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, COMMISSIONER.
I WOULD SAY I WOULD HELP YOU TIGHTEN UP YOUR LANGUAGE.
I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT THE LANGUAGE IS PRETTY LOOSE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE OTHER STUDIES ARE COMPLETED FIRST AND GET A SENSE OF WHAT THIS WILL COST.
I CAN TELL YOU SOMEBODY YOU CAN PAY TO DO IT.
YOU MIGHT GET THREE VOTES HERE TO PAY FOR IT, AND IF NOT PAY FOR IT OUT OF YOUR BUDGET.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL A QUESTION.
SOUNDS LIKE COMMISSIONER CAGLE WILL TABLE HIS MOTION, AND SO WE CAN JUST POLL THE COMMISSION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A RATE OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE PERSON SHARING DATA TO ASSESS WITH DR. HEATON ON COMPLETING THE STUDY OF HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT WILL MANAGE THIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, THIS IS RADACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING LOVED ONES THAT ARE BEING MURDERED, THE SKY IS FALLING.
MANY OF THESE PEOPLE, MANY FAMILIES ARE LOOKING AND WONDERING WHY.
WE NEED TO PROCEED WITHOUT A BUNCH OF DELAYS AND TRY TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
>> SO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, NO ACTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GOING BACK UP TO COUNTY ENGINEER.
DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON ITEM 1, LUCINDA?
>> HE ONLY WANTS TO SPEAK IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND IT IS ON ITEM 1, J1 AND J2.
[02:15:02]
>> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS ITEM F AND WE EXPECT NO ACTION ON THAT ONE?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT FOR A FUTURE COURT MEETING.
ALTHOUGH I DID SUPPORT THE CONCEPT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM S -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: PAGE 5.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, JUDGE, THAT ON THIS ITEM THAT I GET TO SEE WHAT THE DETAILS ARE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS WILL GO, AND WILL BE USED AND WILL GO INTO THE RFQ AND WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE FOR SELECTING TO THE FIRMS AND EXPRESSED AS A GOAL OF THIS PROJECT.
WHAT THE STORY OF THE CRITERIA WILL LOOK LIKE AND TO WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS WILL THIS ON CALL LIST APPLY TO? WHO WILL BE ON THE SELECTION AND REVIEW COMMITTEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO WRK WITH MR. BLOUNT ON THIS AND BRING HIM BACK IN THE FUTURE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
MR. BLOUNT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, PURCHASING, I'M GLAD ARE YOU SENSITIVE TO THE ISSUE OF BRINGING MORE MINORITY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, SMALLER BUSINESSES AND PARTICULARLY WITH WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND I SUPPORT YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
WE ALL NEED TO HAVE INPUT AND BRING IT BACK AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE START DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS ACROSS THE BOARD, PARTICULARLY PULLING OUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT .
5% OF THE COUNTY'S BUSINESS ARE GOING TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES IS EMBARRASSING AND IN -- INEXCUSABLE AND WE ALL BEAR A RESPONSE -- RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THAT.
I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A LOT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS WHEN HE WAS A SHERIFF.
HE WAS TRYING TO DO THINGS AND GOT A LOT OF PUSH BACK.
I APPRECIATE, COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SINCERE ABOUT IT.
I AM SEEING IT ALREADY AND I KNOW ON THE SHIP CHANNEL BRIDGE AS AN EXAMPLE THERE IS SOME MWBE LANGUAGE COMING FROM I THINK A STATE STATUTE.
LANGUAGE THAT WAS ABLE TO PUT IN 26 YEARS AGO ON THE STATE LEVEL, BUT I WANT TO COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMING FORWARD WITH SOMETHING.
BY DELAYING IT, WE ARE NO WAY CRITICIZING YOU FOR MOVING FORWARD.
HE AND I'M SURE OTHERS MAY JUST WANT SOME INPUT AND SEE HOW IT IS WORKING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY, SO NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE I I DID WANT TO ASK IF I MIGHT, A CENTER POINT ITEM, MR. BLOUNT, EVERYTHING IS MOVING ALREADY ON THE UTILITY CORRIDOR AGREEMENTS?
>> COMMISSIONER, WE EXPECT THE -- THEM TO BE ON THE NEXT COURT.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION BETWEEN BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CEDAR .
ON THE -- CEDAR POINT AND THE BOND AMOUNTS.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN AGREEMENT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND CENTER POINT ARE AGREEING TO COME BACK NEXT COURT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ON ITEM 4 ON THE TOLL ROAD, I WANT TO THANK PETER KEY AND HIS STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS THE SHIP CHANNEL BRIDGE IS SUCH A CRITICAL PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE INDUSTRY AND THE PORT NEEDS IT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR HELPING US MOVE FORWARD.
BUT JUST AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS ELUDED TO, THE REWORK ON THIS ITEM TO NOT ONLY BRING COWI IN AS THE ENGINEER OF RECORD, BUT ALSO TO CONCLUDE THE HUB COMPONENT FOR SUBCONTRACTORS THAT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY IN THE FIRST CONTRACT WITH FIG.
[02:20:11]
I THINK THE GOAL IS ABOUT 10% OF THE PROJECT WILL BE DIRECTED FOR MWBE PARTICIPATION.I ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD KEY AND THE CON TEEN -- THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE *9 -- THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE LOOKING AT A DELAY WITH THE CHALLENGES WITH THIS, THAT IF SAVINGS -- EITHER COST SAVINGS OR TIME SAVINGS ARE IDENTIFIED BY COWI, OUR AGREEMENT INDICATES THAT YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM.
THEY HAVE A DUTY TO INFORM US THAT THEY SEE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES TO EITHER SAVE MONEY OR SAVE TIME.
I THINK THAT WAS A VERY, VERY VERY CRITICAL PIECE OF WORK ON THIS AGREEMENT.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR WORK ON IT AND THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPORT.
THIS WAS A DIFFICULT THING FOR US AND I'M GLAD WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO GET THIS THING DONE AND OPEN IT UP FOR USE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT.
ONE, I HOPE WE WILL GO THROUGH LUNCH BECAUSE SOME OF US HAVE AN IMPORTANT EVENT WE WANT TO GO TO.
I AM TRYING TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT, BY THE WAY.
ON THE HUB LANGUAGE, PETER, LANGUAGE LIKE THIS HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CONTRACT COMING FROM THE TOLL ROAD, IS THAT CORRECT? I WANT TO GET A SENSE OF HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THIS LANGUAGE.
MAYBE LEGAL CAN COMMENT ON IT.
I WANT IT IN ALL MAJOR CONTRACTS OR SOMETHING.
I KNOW WE WILL HAVE A POLL SEA -- A POLICY SOON.
WE WOULD LOVE MORE STUDIES ON COLLEAGUES, BUT THE LANGUAGE WILL COME BACK SOON.
I SEEN THIS LANGUAGE BEFORE, PETER.
WE CAN PROBABLY DO EVEN MORE NOW WHEN OUR RECOMMENDATION COMES BACK.
GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THE IMPACT WILL HAVE.
>> MAYBE THE REASON THE LANGUAGE LOOKS FAMILIAR, I HEARD YOU HAD A HAND YEARS AGO.
I AM NOT CERTAIN AS TO WHETHER THIS IS THE FIRST CONTRACT IN LANGUAGE.
I AM PRETTY CERTAIN IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST CONTRACTS THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE SUCH.
IT IS OUR INTENTION THAT THE CONTRACTS OF SIGNIFICANCE WILL HAVE LANGUAGE SIMILAR TO THIS THAT ARE PERTINENT TO HIM.
AND THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THE POSSIBLE POLICIES.
I AM TALKING ABOUT COUNTY AND STAFF WITH REGARD TO HIM.
WE ARE PROUD TO GET IT TO COURT AND IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT THE COWI FIRM HAD ABSOLUTELY NO OBJECTION TO THIS LANGUAGE BEING PLACED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I APPRECIATE IT AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IT A LONGTIME AGO.
THIS IS A MAJOR PROJECT, THE LARGEST ONE WE HAVE DONE AND THE LARGEST FOR FLOOD CONTROL AND IT GOES THROUGH A NUMBER OF OUR PRECINCTS.
I KNOW THEY WILL WORKUP SOME LANGUAGE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A POLICY SOON SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AT THE TABLE.
ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THAT DOESN'T HAVE LANGUAGE IN IT, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE SOMEBODY WILL.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I CAN PIGGYBACK, REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE NOW FORMALLY ADOPTED THE HUB PROGRAM BASED ON SOME OF YOUR WORK AND BASED ON WE FOUNDED THE DBE PROGRAM IN THE HARRIS RIDES AREA OF CSD.
I JUST WANT TO APPLIED -- APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE FIGHTING THIS FIGHT.
GOT A LOT OF AGGRAVATION OVER THE THINGS WE WERE DOING AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TRYING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY.
I HAD A SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY BECAUSE OF US WORKING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS THAT HADN'T BEEN THERE.
YOU CAN TRY TO GET MR. CRUZ TO HELP SELL SOME DONUTS IN THE COMMA -- IN THE
[02:25:04]
COMMISSARY, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR PETER, YOU AND YOUR STAFF, AND FOR EVERYONE WHO ARE THOUGHTFUL IN THE CRAFTING OF THE AGREEMENT.IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD AND GET ON -- ULTIMATELY GET ON TRACK.
POSSIBLY YOU CAN SAVE SOME MONEY, BUT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR AREA BUSINESSES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
JACK CAGLE: ROBERT, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
JACK CAGLE: MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE ARE A CHILD OF THE STATE AND THAT ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS HAVE TO CON FORNL -- CONFORM WITH STATE LAW.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT THIS PROVISION COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW?
THE ONE WITH THE COWI CONTRACT CERTAINLY DOES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT AND SO WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE OKAY THERE.
CERTAINLY WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON ALL OF THE CONTRACTS INCLUDING FLOOD CONTROL TO HAVE SIMILAR LANGUAGE.
JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO BY FOR -- BIFORCATE THIS MOTION.
I AM IN FAVOR OF OUR CONTRACTS COMPLYING WITH STATE LAW WITH REGARDS TO THE INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES, WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND MINORITIES.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF VOTING FOR COWI GOING FORWARD AT THIS TIME TO BE CONSISTENT WITH MY PRIOR OBJECTION TO COWI AS THE FIRM.
SO IF THERE IS A WAY I CAN BIFORCATE THIS CONTRACT, VOTE TO WHERE I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE WHERE WE FOLLOW STATE LAW AND PARTICIPATION, BUT THAT I CAN VOTE AGAINST COWI SO I CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH REGARD TO MY POSITION OF HOW I DID NOT LIKE HOW WE WENT ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
TO THE EXAT THE PRESENT TIME -- EXTENT THAT WE MAKE A MOTION WE BIFORCATE THE VOTE AND VOTE ON THE CONTRACT REVISIONS WITH COMPLIANCE TO STATE LAW ON PARTICIPATION AND THEN TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE ON COWI BEING THE PRIME.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD JUST OBJECT TO THAT.
THIS IS ALL ONE ANDEN CAPSULE LATED.
I WORRY THAT WE WILL CREATE A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS ITEM TOGETHER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I COULD PUT A SEPARATE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
MR. SOARD, IF SOMETHING IS BROAD ENOUGH ON OUR AGENDA TO JUST SAY GOING FORWARD ALL CONTRACTS WILL HAVE AN MWBE OR HUB GOAL AND PENDING US COMING UP WITH A POLICY.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS BROAD ENOUGH TO DO THAT, AND IF NOT I DO IT IN TWO WEEKS, MR. SOARD.
>> I THINK I WOULD PREFER THAT YOU WAIT TWO WEEKS, COMMISSIONER, AND AT THE SAME TIME AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT MOTION, CERTAINLY WE AS AN OFFICE ARE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.
I AM CONFIDENT ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE ALREADY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THEY SEEM TO BE KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE ONE OR TWO, AND IF I SAW ONE I WOULD CALL YOU AND YOU WOULD SAY, THEY DID IT.
IF THE STUDY CAME BACK, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS OBJECTING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO IF WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SO EVERY DEPARTMENT KNOWS AND I AM NOT SCOURING THE DEALS.
IF THEY CAN'T MEET THE GOAL, DON'T DO IT.
>> STEVE RADACK: COMMISSIONER SOARD THIS IS RADACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: ARE YOU SAYING THE MOTION COULD NOT BE SPLIT LIKE COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS TALKING ABOUT?
THE MOTION -- THE SPLITTING OF THE MOTION IS UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
>> STEVE RADACK: BUT -- IT IS LEGAL, ISN'T IT?
SO WHY CAN'T WE DO IT? WE CAN DO IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS PROPOSING SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR NEXT COURT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I SAID NEXT COURT IF HE WANTS TO SHOW THAT I AM AGAINST COWI, BUT FOR MINORITIES PARTS -- MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES BEING INVOLVED, HE CAN SAY THAT.
I I PUT SOMETHING ON THE COURT AT THE NEXT MEETING SINCE I CAN'T DO IT TODAY SO HE CAN SHOW HE IS FOR MINORITY-OWNED WOMEN BUSINESSES.
[02:30:04]
AND WE WILL WILL BE MEASURE OWED IT SO PEE WEE WILL -- SO WE WILL REALLY KNOW WHEN THE REPORT COMES OUT.WE WILL COLLECT THE DATA FOR A CHANGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IT IS YOUR -- IT'S IN YOUR PRECINCT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF IT IS MY PRECINCT, I MOVE THAT WE MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SOMETHING IS PRESENTED AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS COMING BACK NEXT COURT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
LON >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR.
THE MOTION AREA -- THE MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT IS BUDGET -- >> STEVE RADACK: I HAVE A QUESTION.
>> STEVE RADACK: WHEN WAS A GOVERNMENT -- THE GOVERNMENT CORPORATION FORMED FOR THE TOLL ROAD TO BE ABLE -- WHEN WAS THE GOVERNMENT CORPORATION FORMED IN ORDER FOR WHAT OCCURRED LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING AND FOR THE ABILITY TO CREATE THE BOND -- THE CHOICE THAT WAS CHOSEN.
WHEN WAS THE GOVERNMENT CORPORATION CREATED?
>> SO FAR AS I KNOW, COMMISSIONER, THE CORPORATION HAS NOT YET BEEN CREATED.
>> STEVE RADACK: ARE YOU SURE OF THAT?
>> I AM NOT 100% CONFIDENT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY CHECK ON IT AND GET BACK TO YOU
BEFORE COURT'S OVER STEVE >> STEVE RADACK: PLEASE DO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY QUESTIONS ON BUDGET MANAGEMENT? IGA.
ON PUBLIC HEALTH THERE IS A REQUEST FOR NO ACTION ON ITEM 7B AND PAGE 8.
THE AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ON ITEM B2 I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THAT ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WHICH, COMMISSIONER?
>> LINA HIDALGO: INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.
I HAVE A NOTE ON ITEM F, 15F ON PAGE 10 TO REMOVE THE WORD "RETROACTIVE." >> YES, MA'AM, AND ALSO ADD THAT IT IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE AUDITOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WAS GETTING THERE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT A MOTION?
>> NO, I THINK IT JUST CHANGES THE LANGUAGE ON ITEM F.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THIS IS THE ONE -- THESE ARE -- AS LONG AS THEY ARE COVERED POSITIONS WITH THE EXISTING BUDGET I THINK I'M FINE WITH IT.
IS NOT REQUESTING NEW BUDGET TO COVER THESE POSITIONS.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF OPEN POSITIONS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WOULD COME FROM THE OPEN POSITIONS AND THERE WOULDN'T BE AN INCREASE IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BUDGET.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IS THIS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DO AT OTHER DEPARTMENTS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS WHAT WE DO WITH OTHERS AS WELL.
>> STEVE RADACK: STEVE RADACK.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION SINCE YOU ARE ON THERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, I CAN'T TELL IF YOU ARE ON -- IF YOU
[02:35:02]
ARE MEANING TO SPEAK.>> STEVE RADACK: I JUST WANTED TO ASK COMMISSIONER BERRY.
>> STEVE RADACK: WHEN IT COMES TO -- IS EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT'S ARE GOING TO BE WORKING EXTRA TIME FOR THE ELECTIONS.
IS THAT ALL APPROVED TO GET Z TIME FOR ALL OF THESE HUNDREDS -- ACTUALLY THOUSANDS OF OFFICERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING?
>> COMMISSIONER RADACK, WE ARE WORKING ON AN ITEM TO BRING FOR THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT WOULD CLARIFY THE MECHANISM TO DO THAT.
>> STEVE RADACK: I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
THERE IS GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT WITHOUT COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL.
MR. SOARD, THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS.
THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA.
I ASKED TO THE COUNTY CLERK ABOUT PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA AND HE DIDN'T DO IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M AT A LOSS.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM, COMMISSIONER?
>> STEVE RADACK: THERE IS GOING TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVING TO BE -- FOR THE ELECTION, HAVING TO WORK THOUSANDS OF HOURS OVERTIME.
MY POINT HERE IS THE Z TIME, THIS HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE COURT.
THE CLERK HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
SO NOW I DON'T THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO SAY, WELL, WE WILL PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER TO PAY THEM OR NOT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK, COMMISSIONER RADACK IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS PAID, AND I DON'T THINK WE EVER WILLINGLY NOT PAID THEM, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST -- WE HAVE THE BROAD COVID ITEM AND IT IS FOR MATTERS LIKE THESE.
IF IT IS NECESSARY TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WONDER WHY IF IT WAS NECESSARY -- I GUESS IF IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE AGENDA I IMAGINE IT IS OKAY IT IS FOR A REASON.
THE LAWYERS AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAVE WORKED IT OUT, BUT IF THERE NEEDS TO BE AN
ITEM -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I SUGGEST COMMISSIONER RADACK EITHER YOU OR I COULD CALL THE CLERK AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL FINISH IN THE NEXT 45 MINUTES OR SO, AND IF HE WANTS TO ADD AN ITEM EVEN WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT IS UNSPECIFIED UP TO SOME AMOUNT OF WHATEVER IT IS, I THINK THERE WOULD BE SUPPORT FOR THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO CALL COMMISSIONER RADACK OR I CAN CALL HIM IF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.
>> STEVE RADACK: HE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SUGGESTED WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM GOING TO TAKE MYSELF OFF CAMERA AND CALL HIM.
IF I CALL YOU IN A SECOND, PLEASE COME ON.
JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WANTS TO WORK THROUGH LUNCH, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT COULD YOU GIVE ME AN EXTRA 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO TAKE ANOTHER BREAK, PLEASE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WHY DON'T WE DO THAT.
I DO THINK WE CAN FINISH THIS COURT WHICH IS RATHER LIGHT.
JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I SEE YOU LAUGHING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS LAUGHTER IN SUPPORT OR RIDICULE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SOLIDARITY, BROTHER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 12:57 AND LET'S TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 1:10 AND WE WILL BE BACK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE, ARE YOU BACK?
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, ARE YOU THERE.
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I'M HERE, BUT I'M NOT SHOWING THE VIDEO BECAUSE I'M TRYING -- I JUST GOT A LITTLE PIECE OF A POTATO AND I'M TRYING TO DO THAT SO I CAN ADD SUCCESS STAW -- SUSTANENCE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE SESSION.
DO YOU MIND IF I EAT IN SILENCE? I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ONE OF THE REASON HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK IS BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN EATING.
I GOT A LITTLE PIECE OF POTATO HERE.
DO YOU MIND, JUDGE, IF I EAT THAT GOING FORWARD.
I WAS QUICKLY TRYING TO EAT MY POTATO.
IT IS 1:13 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ITEM.
DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON ITEMS B2 THROUGH 5?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THEM.
>> DANIEL GOSHAN WITH GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION SPEAKING ON 18B2 AND 18D.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SUBMIT THESE COMMENTS.
[02:40:01]
I AM A WATER QUALITY SPECIALIST FOR THE GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION.HARRIS COUNTY'S FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE SEEKING REQUESTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS -- FOR AUTHORIZATIONS FOR PRODUCT APPLICATIONS.
HOWEVER, THE DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE APPLICATION IS THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16TH.
YOUR ACTIONS COULD AUTHORIZE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE PUBLIC IS ENGAGED WITH THE PROJECT.
PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES ARE A COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT APPLICATION THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ABOUT THE APPLICATION AND APPROVE THE PROJECT BEFORE THEY ARE SUBMITTED.
THEREFORE I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO REQUIRE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO RECEIVE AND RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE SUBMITTING THEIR APPLICATION THROUGH THE GLO.
COMMISSIONER'S COURT SHOULD APPROVE A PROJECT UNTIL SUCH FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND IT IS A TIME THAT YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THIS COURT.
THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING IS OCTOBER 27TH WHICH IS THE DAY BEFORE PROJECT APPLICATIONS ARE DUE.
THEREFORE WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU DELAY A VOTE ON AUTHORIZATION UNTIL THAT OCTOBER 27TH COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THESE COMMENTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FLOOD CONTROL IS AWARE OF, AND OF COURSE WE ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT, MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH COMMUNITY INPUT.
AS I UNDERSTAND OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL WITH SOME TIMELINES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE RUSS FROM FLOOD CONTROL COMMITS TO SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A QUESTION AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM RUSS BRIEFLY AND SO THE NEXT SPEAK ARES ARE AWARE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL'S POSITION ON THIS.
JACK CAGLE: MY QUESTION WAS TO ROBERT ALONG THE LINES OF WOULD THERE BE A PROBLEM WITH US APPROVING THEM TO MAKE AN APPLICATION AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WAS DONE? IN OTHER WORDS, WE ADD THAT LITTLE CLAUSE INTO THIS SO THEY DON'T DO THEIR APPLICATION UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS COMPLETE SNED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS, COMMISSIONER, IS THE GLO HAS BEEN VERY FIRM, I GUESS TO PUT IT KINDLY, ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION DEADLINES.
AND SO WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THEIR TIMELINE AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO STRETCH OUT THE TIMELINE SO WE CAN GET MORE INPUT.
BUT CERTAINLY IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T COLLECT INPUT LATER ON HOPEFULLY ONCE WE GET THE FUNDING.
I MEAN, THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THEY PROMISED US.
A BILLION DOLLARS AND THEN THEY ARE TURNED BACK AROUND AND DHE -- AND THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO APPLY AND SEE WHAT YOU GET.
I'LL LET RUSS -- ARE YOU ON, RUSS?
>> JUDGE, COMMISSIONER, THIS IS RUSS POPPY WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
YES, WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY ON THESE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN FRONT OF COURT TODAY AS PART OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE GLO HAD FOR US TO ENGAGE THE UNIT COMOO.
THIS IS JUST THE START AND BY NO MEANS IS IT THE END.
IN FACT, AS THESE APPLICATIONS PROGRESS, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, JUDGE, THERE IS A TIGHT TIMELINE HERE TO GET THESE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE.
ONCE THE STATE MAKES THEIR SELECTIONS ON THESE MAJOR PROJECTS, THEN THAT WILL KICK IN AND INITIATE THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH MUCH MORE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITIEN DAIJ --EN DAIJ NENT ANDEN -- COMMUNITIEN DAIJ -- ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THERE WILL BE TIME TO DEFINE AND REDEFINE AS FAR AS BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS PLACED UPON THESE MONIES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO, RUSS, WE CAN'T DELAY THE DATE, CORRECT? CAN WE DELAY? THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE WAS SAYING UNTIL MORE ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN DONE.
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHY WE CAN'T DO THAT AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO?
SO THE GLO HAS HELD FIRM AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DELAY BECAUSE THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY MUST SHOW THE PUBLIC AND PART OF THE PROCESS IS THE APPLICATIONS.
BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY THAT'S ASK THE GLO TO DELAY THE SUBMISSION PROCESS.
THEY HAVE HELD FIRM, AS YOU SAID FIRM TO THEIR DATES PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF A TRICKLE UP EFFECT.
THEY ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO GET THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS SPENT IN THE CERTAIN TIME FRAMES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY HUD.
AND THEIR COMMENT BACK TO US AND OTHERS IS IF WE WERE TO DELAY SUBMISSION OF THESE APPLICATIONS ANY FURTHER THEY WOULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR FAILURE TO DELIVER WITHIN
[02:45:02]
HUD'S TIMELINE.I AGREE IT IS NOT IDEAL, BUT WE ARE FULLY COMILTED -- COMMITTED TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO SO AS PART OF THE PROCESS IF THESE PROJECTS ARE SELECTED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I AM SAW SPORT -- SUPPORTIVE, RUSS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY.
[INAUDIBLE] SOMETHING GOVERNOR ANNE RICHARDS HAD ME DO.
HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS ENGAGEMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC? ARE YOU DOING VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETINGS?
IN FACT, ONE WEEK WE DID FIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS.
THEY WERE ALL IN THE EVENING AND ALL HELD VIRTUALLY.
>> SO SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION IS ADAPTING TO THIS AS OPPOSED TO THE OLD FORM WE USED TO.
GOING FORWARD WE WILL ALL USE THIS AS WELL.
AS A SPEAKER I AM SENSITIVE AND I HEAR YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO EVEN BE INVOLVED IN A LIMITED EXTENT.
IT REMINDS ME WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED BACK IN THE 90S.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS?
>> NO, MA'AM, WE DO NOT ON THIS ITEM.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT ITEM ENTIRELY.
SO ITEM C4 ON PAGE 12 IS REQUIRES A DIRECTION.
REPLACE IT WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.
AND THEN FOR THESE, FOR THE SPEAKER, WE HEAR YOU.
WE ARE ABIDING BY THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO THEN ITEM J WE HAVE SPEAKERS AND THAT'S A GRANT TO THE TIDC, THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION.
GABRIELLE LAW WITH TEXAS JAIL PROJECT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO.
MY NAME IS GABRIELLE LAW AND I WORK WITH THE TEXAS JAIL PROJECT.
SINCE THE PANDEMIC WE CONDUCTED 90 LONG FORM INTERVIEWS WITH FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND A CLEAR PATTERN HAS EMERGED REGARDING QUALITY DEFENSE OF A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY.
THE MOST COMMON GRIEVANCES ARE SUSTAINED ACCEPTING GUILTY PLEA.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE MOST IMPACTED AS THE COURT DISCUSSES COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY.
I READ FIRST PERSON BY MOTHERS AND VETERANS AND DISABLED FOLKS DESPERATE FOR AN ATTORNEY TO CARE.
QUOTE, I HAVE BEEN IN JAIL 18 MONTHS AND MY ATTORNEY HAS NEVER COME TO SEE ME OR TALK TO ME ABOUT MY CASE AT ALL.
QUOTE, I DON'T KNOW MY ATTORNEY'S NAME.
I HAVE BEEN HELD OVER TWO MONTHS AND NEVER HAD A PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING AND DID NOT KNOW WHO MY COURT-APPOINTED LAWYER WAS.
QUOTE, MY ATTORNEY SAYS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO TRIAL, YOU HAVE TO PLEAD GUILTY AND TAKE WHAT THE PROSECUTOR IS OFFERING.
MY ATTORNEY DOES PRESIDENT -- DOESN'T GIVE ME VISITS AND DOESN'T TALK TO ME OR WRITE LETTERS.
MY OPINION IS COURT APPOINTED LAWYERS TRY TO GET A CONVICTION FROM THE COURT THEY WORK IN AND THEY DON'T WORK FOR YOU.
AS FAR AS MY ATTORNEY HE IS THE MOST INEFFECTIVE COUNSEL.
HAVE I BEEN HERE SINCE DECEMBER AND BEEN TO COURT ONCE IN FEBRUARY AND THE ONLY THING I ASKED MY ATTORNEY TO DO IS GIVE ME A WNL -- REASONABLE BAIL.
QUOTE, I AM A MILITARY VETERAN AND IN THE MARINE CORP.
I WAS DISCHARGED BECAUSE OF SEIZURES.
BECAUSE OF THESE ASPECTS I ASK TO BE PUT IN A VETERAN COURT, BUT MY ATTORNEY WOULD NOT SUBMIT TO THE D.A.
QUOTE, I HAVE A COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY WHO DOES NOT SEE MY CASE.
HE CHEWS BUBBLE GUM AND WALKS AWAY.
COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ARE GIVEN TO YOU BY THE STATE BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR THE STATE.
PEOPLE INSIDE NEED SOMEONE TO FIGHT FOR US.
I FEEL LIKE I AM FORCED TO REPRESENT MYSELF.
I I HAVE TO FORCE AM I FIGHTING TO TELL THE TRUTH OR WALKING INTO THE COURT WITH SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS TO HAND A CONVICTION TO THE STATE.
QUOTE, MY LAWYER HASN'T SPOKEN TO ME SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2019.
MY COURT DATE IS NOW RESET TO JANUARY OF 2021.
COMMISSIONERS, THERE IS IT CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG HERE.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN FAR BEHIND BEST PRACTICES AND INDIGENT DEFENSE FOR DECADES BY ALLOWING OVER LOADED COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS TO CARRY MORE CASE LOADS.
IT HURTS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHOM WE JUST HEARD FROM.
[02:50:02]
IT DETAILS -- DETAILS OVER LOADED ATTORNEYS.>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
HI, MY NAME IS BEA ATR -- BEATRICE.
MY SONS ARE IF HARRIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY MADE IT A YEAR ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10TH.
MY OLDEST SON HAS A LAWYER AND ONLY SAW HIM WHEN HE WENT TO COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HASN'T SEEN HER AGAIN.
JUST RECENTLY WHEN HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE OFFICERS, AND SHE WAS JUST THERE TO TRY TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHARGE.
I KNOW ON BOTH PARTS UNFORTUNATELY THAT A LOT OF THESE LAWYERS DON'T EVEN BOTHER.
SHE HAS NOT BOTHERED WITH MY SONS.
ONE OF THEM A LITTLE MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.
HE HAS NOT SEEN THE LAWYER AND THEN RECENTLY GOT ANOTHER CHARGE.
EVEN WHEN I CALL OR WHEN MY DAUGHTER CALLS SHE IS RUDE.
SHE WON'T EVEN TALK TO US ABOUT MY SON'S CASE.
SHE JUST TELLS HIM, LIKE, OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY GIVE YOU, JUST GO AHEAD AND SIGN IT OR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO TRIAL YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH -- IT IS POINTLESS.
SHE HAS NOT EVEN ASSESSED THE CASE AND HAS BT -- HASN'T EVEN BOTHERED HIM -- BOTHERED WITH HIM.
MY OTHER SON HAS A RECORDING OF THE OFFICERS TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL WITH MY SON AND STILL NOTHING IS GOING ON.
HE HAS BEEN IN THERE A WHOLE YEAR.
THE LAWYER HAS NOT HAD ANYTHING DONE.
THE FREE CALLS ARE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OKAY OUT HERE.
IT IS THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO.
A LOT OF US ARE UNEDUCATED, BUT WE KNOW WHAT A MOTHER IS SUPPOSED TO DO OR WHAT OUR RIGHTS REALLY ARE.
THAT'S THE SAME THING FOR A LOT OF THEM LOCKED UP.
THEY HAVE COURT APPOINTED LAWYERS.
THEIR LAWYERS DISMISS THEM OR MAKE THEM FEEL THEY ARE HELPLESS AND WHATEVER THEY GET IS WHAT THEY GET AND THEY NEED TO SIGN.
IF NOT THEY ARE GOING TO GET A LOT WORSE.
THEY GET SCARED AND THEY SIGN FOR 10 YEARS, 12 YEARS.
FIRST -- I AM NOT SAYING EVERYONE IS INNOCENT, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T EVEN GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO HAVE SOMEONE TO BE ON THEIR SIDE AND NOT MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE THERE TO DO A JOB AND WALK AWAY LIKE THEY ARE NOTHING.
WE ALL DESERVE TO BE REPRESENTED RIGHT AND THESE COURT-APPOINTED LAWYERS, THEY DON'T REPRESENT RIGHT.
NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND NOT TO MY SON'S KNOWLEDGE, AND THE PEOPLE THEY ARE INCOURSE RATED WITH.
MY KIDS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THESE LAWYERS ARE NOT JUST -- COURT-APPOINTED LAWYERS, THEY DON'T BOTHER WITH NO ONE IN THERE.
THE YOUNG BOYS SIGN FOR 20 YEARS BECAUSE THE LAWYER TOLD HIM THAT'S ALL HE COULD DO.
HE WAS GOING TO GO IN THERE LONGER IF NOT.
HE WENT AHEAD AND SIGNED IT BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S ALL THE LAWYER TOLD HIM.
HE DIDN'T TELL HIM ANYTHING ELSE.
HE DIDN'T SPEAK SPANISH AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DREW WILEY WITH RESTORING JUSTICE.
THIS IS DREW WILEY WITH RESTORING JUSTICE.
AGAIN TALKING ABOUT CASE LOAD LIMITS.
THE REASON THIS IS CONNECTED TO AGENDA ITEM 18J IS BECAUSE IF Y'ALL DON'T IMPOSE CASE LOAD LIMITS ON THESE JUDGES, THE GRANT FUNDING FROM TIBC THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING ON THE AGENDA ITEM COULD BE LOST.
JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER RADACK WAS CONCERNED THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON OFFICERS WITHOUT COMMISSIONERS' APPROVAL, WELL, FOR YEARS THERE HAS BEEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT WITHOUT COMMISSIONER APPROVAL UNDER YOUR NOSE WITHOUT APPROVAL BY THE JUDGES AND THE INDIGENT DEFENSE SYSTEM.
1.3 MILLION LAST YEAR IN ONE COURT ALONE.
YOU HAVE THE LAW AND YOU HAVE THE RESEARCH TO ACT NOW.
WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING SIGNATURES ON A PETITION.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE 2,139 SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE ASKING TO PLEASE PUT ON THE AGENDA ON OCTOBER 27TH TO VOTE TO VETO CONTRACTS AND IMPOSE CASE LIMITS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THE IJ -- THE IMPACT WOULD BE NATIONAL.
HARRIS COUNTY IS SO FAR BEHIND, BUT INDIGENT DEFENSE IS A CRISIS EVERYWHERE IN AMERICA AND NOT JUST HARRIS COUNTY.
IF YOU MADE THESE CASE LOAD LIMITS IMPLEMENTED IN HARRIS COUNTY NOW, ON OCTOBER 27TH,
[02:55:07]
THE CULTURE CHANGE FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE THAT COULD HAPPEN OVERNIGHT WOULD BE FELT STATEWIDE AS THE SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY AND IT COULD BE FELT NATIONALLY WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN NEW ORLEANS AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE SOUTH AND OTHER PLACES.AGAIN, I END BEFORE MY TIME IS UP, BUT PLEASE ONE OF YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO VOTE TO VETO THE TERM ASSIGN MINT CONTRACTS AT -- ASSIGNMENT CONTRACTS AT YOUR NEXT MEETING ON OCTOBER 27TH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> DREW I WANT TO SAY TO YOU AND GABRIELLE LAW AND BARAHOMA AND FERNANDEZ AND I WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL YOU ALL SPOKE.
THIS ITEM IS BROAD ENOUGH TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT.
BRIEFLY, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. BETKEY, THE LAW IS NOT CLEAR TO ME.
BETKE Y, IF YOU ARE THERE, IF I CAN REMEMBER WHAT I DID TWO WEEKS AGO I WOULD BE LUCKY TRYING TO REMEMBER SOMETHING 20 YEARS AGO.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS CLEAR WE AS COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN PUT THE CASE STANDARDS ON THE COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS.
I AGREE WITH IT, BUT IS THAT YOUR SENSE OF THE LAW OR DO YOU KNOW?
THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE INDIGENT DEFENSE PLAN.
THE ONE WHO HAS TO PUT THE CASE LOAD LIMITS IS THE JUDICIARY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT ABOUT THE CASE LOAD CONTRACTS? I KNOW I ASKED FOR THE AUDITOR -- I ASKED FOR IT THIS WEEK AND THEY ARE COME BAG -- COME -- COMING BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
CAN WE STOP THOSE? ARE WE ABLE TO VOTE NO ON THOSE?
>> AS IT IS SET UP THERE IS NOT A CONTRACT FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER.
MOVING FORWARD, I BELIEVE THE JUDICIARY WILL BE ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS WITH THE ATTORNEYS.
IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THE CONTRACT COULD BE SUBMITTED TO COURT AND YOU ALL WOULD EITHER SAW PROVE IT OR DE -- OR DENY IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON SO WE WILL STOP ON THIS, COULD THAT BE A WAY TO ENFORCE CASE LOAD STANDARDS? WE CAN VOTE ON CONTRACTS TO PUT PRESSURE ON.
I KNOW OTHERS ARE COMING OUT, BUT WHAT IS THE MOST EGREGIOUS ONE YOU HAVE SEEN? I AM NOT ASKING FOR THE PERSON'S NAME, BUT HOW MANY CASES DID THE PERSON HAVE, LIKE A THOUSAND?
>> NOT A THOUSAND, BUT THERE IS A NUMBER WHERE THEY DISPOSED OF TWO OR THREE OR FOUR CAPITAL CASES AND STILL HAVE ANOTHER 200 FELONY CASES.
THE COURTHOUSE IS OPEN BASICALLY 250 DAYS A YEAR.
SOME ON THE FELONY SIDE, THE CASE LOADS ARE WELL OVER THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT IS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT -- I LOOKED AT THE STATE AND WASN'T SOMEBODY MAKING ALMOST A MILLION OF THE YEAR AND IT WAS ONLY A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR PRACTICE AS A COURT-APPOINTED LAWYER?
>> THERE IS ONE CLOSE TO 500,000 AND THAT WAS ONLY MAYBE 50, 60% OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I HOPE YOU COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR WHAT WE CAN DO.
ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS THIS COURT MADE WAS TO GET THAT OFFICE UP TO 40%, 50%, WHATEVER IT WAS.
40%? 50% IN ONE YEAR, IN TWO YEARS.
WHEN THEY COME BACK WITH THAT, JUST GIVE US A REPORT ON THAT.
PUT THE EYE -- ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND PLEASE MEET WITH MR. DREW AND WILEY -- MR. DREW WILEY AND THE OTHER FOLKS.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR CASE TO THOSE JUDGES, BUT THAT'S THEIR CALL.
IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE PLAN AND I AGREE.
>> AGAIN, THIS WAS ADDRESSED AT THE LAST MEETING.
BECAUSE THERE IS AN AGREEMENT AND THEY ARE PAYING THE CONTRACTOR TERMS. THERE IS A CONTRACT OF THE COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY, BUT IT IS NOT WRITTEN.
THE CONTRACT IS STILL SOMETHING THE LAW ALLOWS THE OVERSIGHT OF.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE OPPOSED.
THAT'S WHAT THE LAW IS ABOUT AND EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION.
IF WE CAN DO IT, I AM ALL FOR IT, BUT HAVE I TO ASK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
[03:00:01]
I PUT IN THE REQUEST IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING IN WRITING.>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA?
MONIQUE JOSEPH WITH RESTORING JOSEPH.
MONIQUE JOSEPH WITH RESTORING JUSTICE.
HARRIS COUNTY IS CURRENTLY DROPPING THE BALL ON EXECUTING TRUE JUSTICE.
FAR TOO MANY ATTORNEYS ARE OVERLOADED WITH CASES AND FUNDAMENTALLY UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE DEFENSE FOR THEIR CLIENTS.
THIS ISSUE IS NOT NEW AND IT HAS DIRECT TIES TO ECONOMIC GAINS THAT PR PRODUCED -- PRODUCED OFF THE BACKS OF BLACK PEOPLE DURING JIM CROWE AND THE BLACK CODE.
AS OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS X ONE IMPORTANT FACT HAS NOT CHANGED.
WE ARE GETTING GAINS OFF THE BACKS OF BLACK AND NOW BROWN PEOPLE ACCUSED OF CRIMES.
THIS INJUSTICE DOES NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE.
I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TO IMPOSE CASE LOAD LIMITS.
THE JUDGES TODAY ASK FOR A GRANT FUNDING, PLEASE JUST DON'T CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY CAN LOSE FUNDING, BUT ALSO CONSIDER THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN ENSURING EQUITY IS BROUGHT TO A SYSTEM THAT HAS HISTORICALLY DISPARAGED POOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
IF WE CAN JUST GET STRAIGHT A LEGAL THEORY OF HOW WE COULD GET INVOLVED, CERTAINLY I WOULD BE FOR IT.
I CAN SEE COMMISSIONER GARCIA NODDING AS WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I AM THINKING IF BETKEY GETS SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM LEGAL.
I KNOW THEY CAN AUDIT OUR GRANT, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS THE COUNTY HAS BEEN GETTING MONEY FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE.
WHATEVER PRESSURE WE CAN PUT ON MR. BETKEY, I AM TASKING YOU.
THEY DID THE MATCH ON THE FELONY SIDE WOULD HELP, BUT WITH THE ACTIVISTS, IT IS GOOD YOU ARE GETTING ACTIVE.
AS I USED TO SAY WHEN I WAS IN AUSTIN, DON'T JUST ALWAYS TALK TO THE FOLKS THAT AGREE WITH YOU.
YOU HAVE TO WORK THAT OTHER SIDE AS WELL.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE TO THOSE JUDGES.
A LOT OF THEM ARE RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
>> SO JUDGE ITEM 18J IS STILL ON THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL, CORRECT?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE'LL PASS IT WHEN IT COMES UP.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND JIM, ARE YOU GETTING WITH THESE FOLKS AND WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? IT SOUNDS LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW, ROBERT, BUT IS THIS SOMETHING YOU -- HAVE YOU GUYS RUN DOWN THE THEORY THAT THE ADVOCATES ARE PROPOSING?
>> I'M SORRY, JUDGE, WERE YOU TALKING TO ME?
>> WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT IT AND THERE ARE SOME ISSUES HERE THAT EVEN GO BEYOND THE PLAIN WORDS OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, BUT WE WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO -- DO WE HAVE TO -- OBVIOUSLY WE WANT THE MONEY BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO PAY IT IF NOT.
DO WE HAVE TO PASS THIS TODAY? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN ADD TO THE INDIGENT DEFENSE PLAN AND LET THEM SEND IT BACK AND SAY YOU CAN'T DO THAT? I AM JUST THINKING OFF THE CUFF.
YOU RAN THE AGENCY SO YOU TELL ME IF I AM OVERBOARD.
>> I THINK ACCEPTING THE GRANT -- AS YOU KNOW, THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN THEY WILL ISSUE THAT REPORT.
I CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH MR. SOARD.
I I LOS TALK WITH -- I TALK WITHDREW AND MONIQUE AND OTHERS AND I WILL WORK WITH THE JUDGES.
AS FAR AS MANDATING CASE LOAD STANDARDS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN A CONTRACT IT STATES YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE ALLOWED.
THE STATE HAS NOT PROMULGATED A SPECIFIC STANDARD.
IT HAS PROVIDED GUIDELINES, BUT IT HASN'T SAID, OKAY, YOU CAN'T GO ABOVE THIS.
IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO WORK IN COORDINATION WITH THE JUDGES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IS IT A PROBLEM IF WE DO THIS? THIS IS A TWIST.
WE WANT TO ASK FOR THE MONEY, OBVIOUSLY.
COULD WE WRITE THEM AND ASK TO PASS A RESOLUTION AND ASK IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ADOPT CASE LOAD STANDARDS?
>> WE CERTAINLY COULD DO THAT.
[03:05:04]
WITH THE FORMATION.COUNCIL PROGRAM BEGINNING IN THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THERE WILL BE CASE LOAD STANDARDS.
THEY ARE GUIDED BY THE STATE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE IS DEFINITELY HELP ON THE IMMEDIATE NEAR FUTURE.
>> I AM GOING TO SUBJECT WE TAKE THE MONEY, BUT YOU COME BACK WITH SOMETHING EVEN AFTER WE HAVE ASKED FOR IT AND MAKE AN AMENDMENT SAYING WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.
USE YOUR DISCRETION WHICH I THINK THE AGENCY HAS TO HAVE US ADOPT CASE LOAD STANDARDS JUST FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
TELL THEM TO DO IT AS A PILOT PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE.
JUDGE, WHEN MR. BETKEY GOT THERE IT WAS LIKE A COMMISSION.
HE PASSED A BILL AND TURNED IT INTO A STATEWIDE DEPARTMENT IN TEXAS.
I THINK THAT'S THE SUGGESTION.
WE PASS IT, BUT THEN WE SEND SOMETHING UP TO MAKE US A PILOT IN HARRIS COUNTY TO ADOPT CASE LOAD STANDARDS OR AS A CONTINGENT ON THEM GIVING US THE MONEY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M GONNA CALL HIM WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BREAK OR WHEN WE FINISH.
I'LL TELL HIM YOU WORKED IF UP -- WORKED IT UP AND NOT ME.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE'LL PASS THAT ITEM AS PRESENTED.
CONTINUED -- CONTINUING ON WITH THE AGENDA, FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING.
JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
JACK CAGLE: ON PAGE 19 AND ITEM J I VOTE NO ON THAT SO IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT NOW OR THE END.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS ITEM J ON PAGE 19.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ON THIS ITEM, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THIS MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED.
IS IT A MILLION DOLLARS EACH TO MILLER AND EHRA, OR IS IT 2 MILLION TO EACH?
>> COMMISSIONER, IT SHOULD BE A MILLION TO EACH.
THESE FIRMS WERE SELECTED TO BE AN RFQ.
THIS IS FUNDING THAT IS COMING FROM A FEDERAL GRANT RELATED TO COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THEY ARE DEVELOPING DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES TO FACILITATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF THIS ITEM?
>> COMMISSIONER, I HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP.
I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF YOU CAN GET THAT BACK TO ME BEFORE WE CONCLUDE TODAY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUDGE, GOING DOWN TO ITEM N ON PAGE 19, OUR CONTRACT WITH CIGNA, I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF WE ARE -- WHERE THIS ITEM IS AT.
I AM CURIOUS TO WHAT CIGNA'S COMMITMENT IS ON THIS ITEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHANE OR -- >> YES.
I HAVE SOME INPOM ON THE MWBE -- INPUT ON THE MWBE PORTION.
CIGNA REACHED OUT TO US AND ASKED FOR A SELF-IMPOSED -- WELL, NOT SELF-IMPOSED, BUT
[03:10:02]
THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO SELLING COSTS OVER TO THE MWBE PROGRAM.AND THEY MET WITH ME I GUESS ABOUT THREE, FOUR WEEKS AGO AND THEY PROVIDED THEIR PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM.
THEY SHOULD HAVE A FINAL PROPOSAL THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK IN REGARDS TO MOVING SOME OF THEIR COSTS.
I THINK ROUGHLY 13, 14% OF THEIR COSTS TO MWBE AS THEIR OWN GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO DO THIS FOR THE COUNTY AS FAR AS WHAT THEIR SPENDING WILL BE.
THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BACK TO COURT SOON.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO YOU DON'T HAVE A FINAL PROPOSAL ON THAT?
IT WAS JUST A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL.
IT WAS 13% OF THEIR TOTAL SPEND NOT INCLUDING THE COSTS WE SAVED FOR ALL OF OUR -- THE ACTUAL MEDICAL COSTS.
IT IS THE ACTUAL SERVICE COSTS.
I SHOULD HAVE HOPEFULLY A FINAL PROPOSAL THIS WEEK OR THE THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK AND I'LL REACH OUT TO HIM BY THE END OF TODAY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THAT, IS THERE A HARM HOLDING IT UNTIL YOU GET THE DETAILS?
I DON'T THINK IT STARTS UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT.
I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM CIGNA AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I AM GLAD THEY ARE REACHING OUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DETAILS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR CATCHING THAT.
THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE, MR. SOARD WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING SO WE KNOW.
WHAT WAS THE PARTICIPATION LAST YEAR AND HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH 13%? THEY WILL WALK OUT OF HERE WITH $363 MILLION THEY ARE A FINE FIRM I'M SURE.
LAST TIME I CHECKED I HAD TO CHANGE DOCTORS.
I AM SURE IT IS NOT BECAUSE I AM A MINORITY, BUT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES CHANGING DOCTORS WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WAS IT.
AND HOW DO THEY SELF-IMPOSE 13% ON $363 MILLION?
>> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, THE 363 MILLION AND I WILL LET SHANE ADDRESS.
IT BUT IT INCLUDES CLAIMS COSTS.
I THINK THE MONEY THEY PAY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE FULL SERVICE OF THE CONTRACT, BUT I CAN GET YOU THAT NUMBER.
SO 13% IS ON 363 MILLION AND IT IS ACTUALLY A LESSER AMOUNT THAN WHAT WE PAY THEIR FEE TO DO THE ACTUAL INSURANCE PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT A GOOD LOOKSY.
MR. SOARD, SOMETIMES WE GO THROUGH SO MUCH, YOU JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
WHEN WE HAVE A PROGRAM AND I HOPE -- I KNOW YOU ARE DEALING WITH -- WITH DWIGHT AND FLOOD CONTROL.
THE ANGST IS IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO DO THE STUDY.
NOW WE HAVE IT AND NOW WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM.
THE NAYSAYERS AND ALL OF THAT WOLF TALK I WAS HEARING TWO YEARS AGO WENT AWAY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DWIGHT, ON THE SAME POINT AND ON ITEM Q, HOW ARE THESE TWO -- ARE THESE TWO ITEMS RELATED?
WE CAN HOLD THIS ONE TOO IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> BOTH ARE THE SAME RENEWALS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
MOVING ON TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
WE HAVE MY AGENDA WE WENT ON THE RESOLUTIONS AND I HAVE AN UPDATED OEM PLAN ANNEXED.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE DID MY ITEMS. THANK YOU.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, I WANT TO -- I WANT TO DO PRECINCT 4.
THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM -- ROBERT, THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM UNDER PRECINCT 4 THAT RELATES TO VOTING DISCREPANCIES IN A NUMBER OF POLLING LOCATIONS IN THE PRECINCTS DO YOU SEE THAT, MR. SOARD?
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IN REFERENCE TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT THE Z TIME FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN REFERENCE TO BALLOT SECURITY AND TRANSPORTATION OF SOME OF OUR VOTER -- [INAUDIBLE].
[03:15:01]
UNLESS YOU OBJECT THIS IS FROM HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT HE IS GOING TO ASSIST HIM BY MAKING A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE OUT OF HIS BUDGET WHETHER IT IS COVID OR WHATEVER, MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE UP TO $2 MILLION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY TO ASSIST THEM.>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS GOING TO CALL AND HOOK YOU ON THE LINE.
DID YOU TALK TO HIM? I KNOW YOU SAID IT IS IN HIS BUDGET AND THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA.
IS THIS SOMETHING HE FEELS IS NECESSARY? IT COULD BE 4 MILLION HE IS GOING TO SPEND.
BUT I THINK THE TWO MILLION WILL BE MORE THAN ENOUGH.
THE FACT IS THAT THAT I THINK WE NEED -- ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR PEOPLE.
IT IS QUITE A COMMITMENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I DON'T THINK HE WOULD OBJECT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS JUST SAYING BECAUSE WHEN WE MET EARLIER I SAID I WOULD CALL YOU IF YOU DIDN'T ANSWER.
I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF IT IS CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL BY A CLERK.
SO UNLESS WE CAN GET HIM ON THE LINE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME JUST GET -- IT MAY JUST BE AN ACCOUNTING ISSUE.
DEAF -- DAVE DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD?
THE CLERK DOES HAVE BUDGET TO PAY FOR THIS THROUGH HIS CARES ALLOCATION.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF YOU HEARD OTHERWISE FROM THE CLERK, LET ME KNOW.
MY TEAM TALKED WITH HIS BUDGET PERSON AND THEY AGREED THAT Z TIME WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS WHICH WOULD PAY OVER -- OVERTIME RATES.
I WAS NOT UNDER THE POSITION THAT IT REQUIRED ADVANCED COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL.
BUT COMMISSIONER RADACK IS ASKING ABOUT IT PROBABLY BECAUSE HE HAS QUESTIONS AND AT LEAST ON THE BUDGET OFFICE'S SIDE WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH CLEANING IT UP.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: HAVE I NO PROBLEM WITH IT JUST AS I WOULD DO FOR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD'S OFFICE WHICH IS WHY I CALLED.
IF IT IS MY OFFICE I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CALL ME.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER RADACK, WOULD YOU ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION -- I WAS SECONDING IT, BUT BASED ON WHAT MR. BERRY SAID, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WOULD SOUND LIKE, IF NEEDED.
>> STEVE RADACK: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, IF NEEDED.
BUT THE FACT IS HE IS ASKING FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE TO BE THERE.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL BE PAID.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO I GOT CHRIS ON REAL QUICK AS HE WAS IN TRANSIT, AND HE SAID -- I THINK WE ARE ALL SAYING THE SAME THING.
HE HAS THE BUDGET THAT SAYS WE WANT TO SEND A SIGNAL AND COMMISSIONER RADACK HAS A FAIR POINT.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE ANY DOUBT AND NOT JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT.
SO CHRIS IS GOOD WITH SAYING WHAT COMMISSIONER RADACK SAID.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A FULL TWO MILLION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M ALL RIGHT WITH IT.
BUT AS A COURTESY TO THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, I WOULDN'T DO IT TO THE SHERIFF OR ANYBODY ELSE WITHOUT A COMMON CALL TO SAY -- YOU GOT ME?
>> STEVE RADACK: COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- >> LINA HIDALGO: HE SAID HE IS FINE.
>> STEVE RADACK: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I TALKED TO HIM LAST WEEK.
SO NOW IT JUST MAKES -- EVERYBODY INVOLVED WILL KNOW THE COURT HAS APPROVED IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER RADACK, WAS FOR UP TO $2 MILLION OUT OF THE COUNTY CLERK BUDGET TO BE APPROVED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WORKING THE ELECTIONS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: Z TIME FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING THE ELECTIONS.
>> STEVE RADACK: THAT'S RIGHT, JUDGE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: GARCIA SECONDED IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR AGENDA?
UNDER THAT SAME ITEM WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION WITH
[03:20:04]
DISCREPANCIES IN VOTING LOCATIONS.JUDGE, WE HAVE IN PRECINCT 131 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS.
PRECINCT 4 THAT HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE COUNTY, THE LARGEST NUMBER HAS 26.
TODAY WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING TEXTS BECAUSE APPARENTLY IN THE FEW LOCATIONS WOO VERY RELATIVE TO THE OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTY THERE ARE LONG LINES BECAUSE WE DON'T SCR -- HAVE ENOUGH VOTING MACHINES.
BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY ONLY HAS 9 AND IT IS ONE OF THE BUSY -- BUSIEST LOCATIONS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE LONG LINES IN ONE OF COMMISSIONER RADACK'S -- I GUESS IT IS JERGEN'S HALL WHEREVER THAT USED TO NEVER HAVE LINES.
TYPICALLY BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY DOESN'T HAVE LONG LINES, BUT WE HAVE LONG LINES NOW AND IT IS A WARM DAY AND THE SUN IS OUT THERE AND, JUDGE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE HAVE SPENT MORE -- WE NORMALLY SPEND $3 MILLION TO $4 MILLION FOR AN ELECTION.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST ELECTION MONEY CAN BUY BECAUSE WE ARE ADDING IN THE ZUCKERBURG MONEY.
WE ARE AT $36 MILLION, AND YET WE ARE HAVING LONG LINES AND WITH REGARD TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF WHERE THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND VOTE.
MORE PEOPLE LIVE OUTSIDE BELT WAY 8 THAN INSIDE BELT WAY 8.
OF THE DRIVE THROUGH LOCATIONS FIVE ARE IN LOOP 610 AND ONLY THREE ARE OUTSIDE OF BELT WAY 8, AND NONE OF THEM ARE IN THE NORTH OR THE WEST.
IT WAS NOT RIGHT DURING THE PRIMARY SEASON.
IT IS NOT RIGHT WE HAVE LONG LINES DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION AND TRYING TO SAY, HEY, LET'S STICK IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NORTH BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE FAIR, THAT'S NOT A GOOD ARGUMENT.
WOLF WHISTLING OR WOLF TALKING OR WHATEVER IT IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS LIKES TO TALK ABOUT, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS, JUDGE.
WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF LONG LINES WITH THIS KIND OF MONEY THAT WE ARE SPENDING IN THIS ELECTION.
I GOT ONE MORE THAN PRECINCT 4.
WE HAVE MORE VOTERS THAN PRECINCT 2, BUT THEY RELATIVELY SPEAKING TO PRECINCT 1 ARE SHORTENED OF THE STICK OF VOTES WHO CAN VOTE AND THE -- IN THE EARLY VOTE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE.
IF MR. HOLLINS IS ON THE LINE MAYBE HE CAN HELP US WITH THAT.
ONE THING THAT COULD BE DONE IS IN THE FEW LOCATIONS WE HAVE IS WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF MACHINES.
AT BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY, THAT'S NOT A BLUE SLASH RED LOCATION.
THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM BOTH PARTIES THAT VOTE THERE.
I REPRESENT WHETHER THEY ARE MY POLITICAL PERSUASION OR NOT AS LONG AS I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE I REPRESENT THEM ALL AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT ALL OF US WERE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF SPENDING THE RESOURCES THAT THE COUNTY HAS PUT FORWARD TO TRY TO MAKE THIS ELECTION AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.
IT IS ALSO UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO HELP THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN ITS ARGUMENT WE NEED EARLY VOTING AND MORE DROP OFF LOCATIONS.
AND OUR FRIENDS ON THE STATE LEVEL WERE IN CONTROL OF THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, I HOPE MR. HOLLINS CAN COME ON THE LINE AND WALK THROUGH THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE THAT AREN'T DECISIONS THAT ANY OF US MADE OTHER THAN WHEN WE VOTED ON IT.
IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS, WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE READY TO DO MAIL IN BALLOTS TO DROP THEM OFF AT AS MANY LOCATIONS AS POSSIBLE.
IT IS GOOD THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SO FAR AT LEAST WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A RECORD TURNOUT IN THIS ELECTION.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH SIDE WILL BENEFIT FROM IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE A RECORD TURNOUT IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.
I DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF WOLF TALK WHEN WE WERE ALLOCATING THIS MONEY AND MAKING THE
[03:25:01]
CASE THAT WE SHOULD SPEND EVEN MORE THAN WE ARE SPENDING.WITH THAT SAID, I HOPE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE WE WILL DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND ENCOURAGE THE STATE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.
HE CAME UP WITH EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.
IT IS NOT OJ -- IT IS NOT ONLY AROUND THE STATE, AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
INCLUDING SOME DOLLAR HOLLERRERS.
I HOPE THEY ARE GETTING MINIMUM WAGE WALKING AROUND THE COWER -- THE COURTHOUSE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.
LEAVING THE DOLLAR HOLLERS ASIDE I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THIS STATE.
IT IS A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN TEXAS.
A LOT IS BECAUSE ONE SIDE HAS BEEN TRYING TO ADVANTAGE ITSELF OVER THE OTHER.
THEY CAN'T GET VOTES ON THE FLOOR.
ONE SIDE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HURT THEM.
AS IT TURNS OUT FROM THE AMENDMENT, I HAVE THE DISTINCT THROUGH THE LICENSE DEAL OF REGISTERING MORE PEOPLE OF THE OPPOSITE PARTY THAN ANYBODY IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE IN PART BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INJUSTICES, A LOT OF FOLKS ON MY SIDE DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
WITH THAT SAID I HOPE MR. COLLINS CAN COME ON THE LINE AND WALK US THROUGH THE DECISION.
>> DO WE HAVE CHRIS ON THE LINE? I KNOW COMMISSIONER GAR SEE -- GARCIA HAS A COMMENT AS WELL.
CHRIS, IF YOU WILL WALK US THROUGH THE LOGIC FOR ALL OF THIS.
>> CAN YOU FILL ME IN ON WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, I WAS IN A MEETING TODAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS THE ITEM -- GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
JACK CAGLE: MR. HOLLINS, HAVE I AN ISSUE IN THAT WE HAVE 41 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT 1.
THERE ARE 26 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT 4.
NOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LONG LINES GOING ON IN PRECINCT 4.
BAR -- BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY HAS 9 OF THE MACHINES IN USE.
THE LINE IS TWO TO THREE HOURS LONG.
THE KLEIN MULTI PURPOSE CENTER HAS 10 AND THEIR LINES ARE OVER AN HOUR LONG.
THE MATTHEWS CENTER ONLY HAS 10 AND THEIR LINES ARE OVER AN HOUR.
WE HAVE FEWER LOCATIONS AND ON TOP OF THAT WE HAVE FEWER MACHINES.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO REDEUCE THE LOCATIONS -- REDUCE THE LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT FOUR BECAUSE -- I FORGET THE LANGUAGE MY COLLEAGUE TALKED ABOUT WITH HOW ONE SIDE TRYING TO ADVANTAGE THEMSELVES OVER THE OTHER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE EVIL REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO ADVANCE THEMSELVES OVER THE GOOD DEMOCRATS PUTTING ONE VERSUS WOULD 6 IN PRECINCT -- VERSUS 26 IN PRECINCT 4.
HOW CAN WE GET SOME ADDITIONAL MACHINES IN THESE LOCATIONS THAT ARE IN PRECINCT 4 ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER PLACES TO VOTE.
I DON'T KNOW IF PRECINCT 2 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
I KNOW THEY HAVE A SIMILAR NUMBER OF MACHINES OR LOCATIONS AS PRECINCT 4 HAS.
THEY MAY BE IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE VOTING LOCATION OF PRECINCT 1.
WE HAD PEOPLE STARTING -- STANDING IN LONG LINES ON THE FIRST DAY OF VOTING AND THEY NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND THAT'S MY PROBLEM.
WE ARE SEEING AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR VOTING.
AS OF JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO WE SURPASSED THE RECORD FOR THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VET -- EARLY VOTING EVER.
WE ARE ON PASS TO PASS IT BY 50%.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE VOTING TODAY.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND TRYING TO GET THEM THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE IN PRECINCT 4 YOU HAVE 136% MORE LOCATIONS THAN YOU HAD IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2016.
YOU HAD 11 AND NOW YOU HAVE 26.
WE HAVE INCREASED AND NOT DECREASED THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT 4.
[03:30:04]
AND IT IS BY QUITE A LOT.YOU MENTIONED BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY AND IT IS A POPULAR VOTING SITE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY AND MANY OTHER LIBRARIES IS THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY SMALL.
THE LIBRARY CANNOT FIT A NUMBER OF MACHINES WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AS YOU MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO WE GAVE THEM FAR MORE THAN THEY COULD PHYSICALLY FIT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THEY COULD BE CREATIVE AND SQUEEZE.
OTHER PRECINCTS INCLUDING PRECINCT 1 WE CLOSED LIBRARIES AND MOVED TO OTHER LOCATIONS.
WE MADE THE CHOICE TO KEEP BARBARA BUSH OPEN, BUT OPENED LOCATIONS NEARBY.
WE ENCOURAGE VOTER WHEN'S THEY EXPERIENCE LONG LINES TO USE HARRIS VOTES.COM/LOCATION AND FIND A LOCATION THAT IS NEARBY THAT HAS A SHORT LINE.
YOU SEE THESE POPULAR HISTORIC LOCATIONS LIKE BARBARA BUSH, LIKE WES GRAY THAT RIGHT NOW HAVE A LINE FOR AN HOUR AND IF YOU GO DOWN THE STREET THERE IS A 5-MINUTE LINE.
WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO PLACES WHERE THEY ARE -- THERE ARE SHORTER LINES.
EVERY SINGLE PRECINCT AND YOU MENTIONED IT, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, BUT EVERY PRECINCT HAS MORE THAN A HUNDRED% ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS THAN THEY IN 2016.
WE ARE PROUD TO ACCESS VOTER ACCESS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND WE HAVE ALSO ALLOCATED 50% MORE VOTING MACHINES THAN EVER USED BEFORE.
WE CAUGHT A BREAK BY HAVING THE OLD EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE.
WE TOOK FORT BEND'S OLD EQUIPMENT AND TRAVIS COUNTY EQUIPMENT AND USED IT HERE.
THEY MOVED ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF VOTING MACHINE.
IT WILL BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THERE ARE LINES.
ON THIS DAY WE ARE EXCITED THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE VOTING BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE VOTING DAY SAFER.
WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM.
OUR STAFF UTILIZED RECENT PROJECTIONS TO LOOK AT TURNOUT ON ELECTION DAY.
SINCE 2000, THE GROSS NUMBER AND EARLY PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS WHO VOTE EARLY INSTEAD OF ELECTION DAY HAS INCREASED TO WHERE MOST VOTERS VOTE IN EARLY VOTING.
WE WERE TRYING TO PUSH MORE ACCESS AND THAT'S WHY WE GOT TO OVER 120 LOCATIONS AND 112 ARE UNIQUE.
ALSO IT IS THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WE KNOW THE VOTERS WILL TAKE LONGER TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.
USUALLY IT IS 30 SECONDS OR A MINUTE, NOW IT MAY TAKE 10, 15 OR 20 MINUTES DEPENDING ON WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS THAT WERE PUSHED.
>> ACROSS THE BOARD AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF VOTING MACHINES ACROSS THE BOARD.
JACK CAGLE: CHRIS, THIS IS JACK CAGLE -- HANG ON.
NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT TRIGGERED A THOUGHT IN MY MIND.
IF YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE SHORT LINES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THESE LOCATIONS.
IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN PUT SIGAN -- SIGNAGE OUT SAYING THEY ARE CLOSE BY IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH SIMPLE SIGNAGE.
THE GREETERS -- >> THE GREETERS ARE AT THE LOCATION, BUT HAVING THE SIGNAGE OUT CAN HELP.
>> HOW MANY MACHINES ARE ALLOCATED TO EACH PRECINCT -- >> IT IS BASED ON TWO THINKS -- TWO THINGS.
>> HOW MANY CAN FIT AND AND IT IS THE EXPECTED TRACK AND THEY ARE TRYING TO
[03:35:08]
UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTED TRAFFIC.WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE ANYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTY.
SO PEOPLE'S VOTING PATTERNS MAY HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE OF THAT.
THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS OF IT AND I WAS TALKING A MOMENT AGO -- >> R.
JACK CAGLE: WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT.
I THOUGHT WE WERE IN EARLY VOTING AND WE COULD ALWAYS DO THAT.
I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
TO BE CLEAR, IN EARLY VOTING IN THE PAST YOU COULD VOTE ANYWHERE.
ON ELECTION DAY YOU CAN VOTE AT YOUR PRECINCT.
BUT THE WAY THINGS WERE MESSAGED IN THE PAST IS YOU NEED TO VOTE AT YOUR PRECINCT.
NOW THE MESSAGE HAS GOT N -- GOTTEN OUT THAT WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF SPREADING THIS MESSAGE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND YOU CAN VOTE ANYWHERE.
BECAUSE OF THAT PEOPLE'S VOTING HABITS HAVE CHANGED.
AND SOME PEOPLE WHO VOTED AT THE HOME PRECINCT ARE VOTING IN NEW PLACE THAT'S ARE CLOSE TO THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS AND THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL SO SO AND SO FORTH.
CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED AND THUS THE VOTER HABITS HAVE CHANGED.
AND SO WE WILL LEARN FROM TODAY AND MAKE ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS.
WE HAVE MORE VOTING MACHINES IN INVENTORY.
WE HAVE KEPT SOME BACK INTENTIONALLY, BUT IF WE NEED TO WE CAN ADD MORE VOTING MACHINES IN THE HIGHER TRAFFIC LOCATIONS.
JACK CAGLE: WOULD YOU LET MY OFFICE KNOW THIS AFTERNOON HOW MANY MACHINES HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO PRECINCT 4?
WE CAN TELL YOU BY THE LOCATION HOW MANY EACH HAS.
>> STEVE RADACK: THIS IS RADACK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WOULD YOU DO US ALL A FAVOR AND GIVE EVERYONE -- EVERY ONE OF US A LIST OF HOW MANY VOTING MACHINES ARE AT EVERY LOCATION.
YOU CAN SEND EVERY ONE OF US ONE OF THOSE AND IT TELLS US HOW MANY MACHINES -- EXCUSE ME.
HOW MANY VOTING PLACES IN EACH PRECINCT AND HOW MANY MACHINES ARE IN EACH.
OKAY? CAN YOU DO THAT? IT SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG.
YOU CAN SEND IT TO US AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT ON MY WEBSITE SHOWING HOW MANY LOCATIONS ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND HOW MANY MACHINES IN EACH.
>> WE WILL GET THAT OVER TO YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
CHRIS, WHEN YOU ARE ON THE LINE, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING OUT IN THE FIELD ASSESSING WHAT IS TAKING PLACE.
YOU ARE WITNESSING YOUR OWN WORK AND YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WE MADE HISTORY AGAIN IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I WANT TO AGAIN COMMEND YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND I AM LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN LOOKING AT THE DATA FROM PRECINCT 2 WHERE IN MY FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THE VOTERS IN MY PRECINCT AND WE ARE SAYING -- WE ARE SEEING FRUIT COME FROM THAT.
IN THE EARLY VOTING LOCATION IN PRECINCT 2 WAS 10.
AND NOW WE HAVE 28 IN THIS ELECTION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE VOTERS OF PRECINCT 2 FOR HELPING US MAKE VOTING AS EASY AS POSSIBLE AND I WANT TO -- I AM LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS FOR ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS PER PRE SINK -- PER PRECINCT AND THINGS HAVE STAYED
[03:40:03]
FAIRLY CONSISTANT ACROSS THE BOARD.NUMBER ONE WE HAVE NEVER HAD DRIVE BY VOTING.
YOU WORKED TIRE -- TIRELESSLY AND THERE HAS BEEN CHAOS WITH THE MAIL IN BALLOTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT PRECINCT TWO IS BENEFITING FROM YOUR WORK AND SO ARE OTHER PRECINCTS.
AND I WANT TO INDICATE THAT WHILE THERE WAS SILENCE IN TERMS OF HOW MANY VOTING MACHINES WE HAD DURING A NONCOMPETITIVE PRIMARY ON THE GOP SIDE, BUT YET WITH AN EXPECTED LARGE TURNOUT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, PRECINCTS 3 AND 4 HAD MORE POLLING LOCATIONS THAN ONE AND TWO.
I KNOW I SPOKE UP ABOUT IT AND I WORKED WITH YOUR OFFICE.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS DID AS WELL.
THERE WASN'T ANY -- I DIDN'T HEAR TO CORRECT THAT FOR PRECINCTS 1 AND 2.
AND WHILE THERE IS QUESTIONS AS TO WHO IS HOLDING THE -- RUNNING THE ELECTION, I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR NAVIGATING THE CHAOS AND MAKING IT LOOK EASY.
CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD, WOULD, MAN.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS A CHANCE TO VOTE CONVENIENTLY.
WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF FOLKS EXCITED ABOUT VOTING TODAY AND WE'LL GET THEM THROUGH.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE? CHRIS, BEFORE YOU GO I WANT TO THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU'RE GOOD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO SAY I KNOW ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT FOLKS COMPLAINING ABOUT ISSUES AND CALLED YOU LATE LAST NIGHT AND CALLED YOU EARLY THIS MORNING.
I MEAN, NO GOOD DEED GOES UNREVIEWED.
SHALL WE SAY? I APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING AWAY FROM YOUR NORMAL LIFE TO COME AND DO THIS.
AND EVEN WITH THE CRITICISM THAT COMES ALONG THE WAY.
PEOPLE JUST WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK?
>> STEVE RADACK: CHRIS, THIS IS RADACK.
CAN YOU ALSO INCLUDE WHEN YOU SEND US THAT INFORMATION, WOULD YOU ALSO INCLUDE HOW MANY REGISTERED VOTERS THERE ARE IN EACH PRECINCT, PLEASE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
>> I AM HEADING INTO THE FIRST CONGREGATION CHURCH AND I TELL THEM YOU SAID HELLO.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND SAY A PRAYER FOR US.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET US KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT WAS PRECINCT 4 ITEM.
JACK CAGLE: AND I MOVE ON THE REST OF THE ITEMS.
>> SO FOR ITEM 20.5 THE ONLY THING MOVED WAS COMMISSIONER RADACK'S MOTION?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THERE IS NO MOTION ON THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: HE ASKED CHRIS TO SEND A REPORT, RIGHT, WITH ALL OF THE VOTING MACHINES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THEN CHRIS WILL BRING BACK THE REPORTS.
COVID-19 ITEMS WE WENT OVER THOSE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? I DID WANT TO GO -- BEFORE WE FINISH GO BACK TO PURCHASING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AN ITEM I HAD A QUESTION ON.
IT IS ON PAGE 19 AND ITEM C! I WANT TO THANK MR. BLOUT FORGIVING ME INFORMATION ON THIS.
JOHN, IF I READ THE NOTE THAT WAS HANDED TO ME CORRECTLY YOU ARE INDICATING
[03:45:02]
THAT BOTH RG MILLER AND EHRA HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL VALUE AND THEIR CONTRACTS WAS 2 MILLION.THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN PAID A MILLION AND THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND OF THEIR CONTRACT.
I SAY THAT'S ESSENTIALLY RIGHT.
IT COULD GO HIGHER THAN THAT IF WE GET MORE APPROVAL FROM THE GLO.
EACH FIRM HAS BEEN PAID ALMOST A MILLION TO THIS DATE.
THIS IS THE SECOND RENEWAL TO AUTHORIZE BASED ON GLO'S APPROVAL.
>> AND WITH THE FACT THAT IT IS ATTACHED TO THE GLO, IS IT TOO LATE TO LOOK AT A HUB OR DB COMPONENT TO THIS?
>> IF I RECALL, I THINK THERE ARE SMALLER FIRMS WORKING ON THAT, COMMISSIONER.
WHAT I TELL YOU IS AS WE GET THE NEXT ASSIGNMENT FOR THEM, WE CAN DO THAT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT WAS IN THERE ORIGINALLY AND WHAT WE CAN DO GOING FORWARD.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, MR. GARCIA, I JUST THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME TO THE EXTENT WE CAN.
WHEN THESE COME UP AND THE REASON WE HAVE TO DO IT IS CASH I MEAN, PREVIOUSLY IT WASN'T ON THE RADAR.
EVERYBODY SAID THE NUMBERS WERE GREAT.
BETTER THAN THE CITY'S NUMBERS AND NOW WE KNOW THEY AREN'T.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE FIRMS ARE QUALIFIED, BUT WE SHOULD MAKE UP FOR IT WITHIN THE LIMITS OF WHAT THE LAUPER PERMITS -- THE LAW PERMITS.
>> COMMISSIONER, WE DID DO THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE PROCUREMENT ON THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS UNDER THE GLO AND THE FEDERAL PROCURE MEANT -- PRO COULD YOU -- PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT.
THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE, BUT HAVE I TO LOOK AT THE LEGAL SIDE TO
SEE IF WE ADD MORE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND A LOT OF THAT WAS ASKING.
YOU CAN SAY OH YEAH WE DID OUT REACH.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THAT WITH THE GLO AND THE FEDERAL FUNDS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHEN WE FEN -- FINISH I'M GOING TO CALL.
YOU KNOW I KEEP PUSHING TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
IT WON'T WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE EQUITY.
>> COMMISSIONERS, I KNOW FOR A FACT AND MR. HENSHAW THERE IS A WOMAN-OWNED FIRM THAT IS DOING PART OF THE WORK.
THERE IS PROBABLY -- I'LL GET BACK WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND PROVIDE A DATA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I FORGOT ON THE COVID ITEMS WE NEED TO COME BACK AND DISCUSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE PROPOSALS FROM GUIDE HOUSE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT ON TIME? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE WILL ROLL IT OUT.
I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING WHEN THEY WERE TELLING ME ABOUT IT.
I THINK I PUT IN THAT REQUEST.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK THE QUESTION IS THE MOTIONS THAT THEY HAVE.
I RECEIVED THE REPORT AND GUIDE HOUSE THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I BELIEVE YOU HAD THREE PROPOSALS.
SO THE QUESTION IS FOR COURT CONSIDERATION.
IF GUIDE HOUSE WANTS TO WALK US THROUGH THE THREE MOTIONS AND WE CAN VOTE AS EACH PERSON SEES FIT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT NUMBER IS THIS? THAT IS THE COVID SUPPLEMENTAL.
AND IT IS PAGE 1 OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA AND ITEM 9.
IT IS ITEM 11 ON PAGE 1 OF THE IS UP PLAY MENTAL AGENDA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THERE ARE THREE PROPOSALS? WHICH DO YOU PREFER?
I WANT TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE CAN LEAN -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THE FIRST IS TO AUTHORIZE GUIDE HOUSE TO WORK WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND PURCHASING TO HAVE CARRIERS PROVIDE PRICING AND QUOTES FOR SOLUTIONS FOR CONNECTIVE TEE SOLUTIONS IN TARGETED AREAS.
THAT WILL ALLOW DISBIED -- GUIDE HOUSE AND THE TEAM TO BEGIN PROPOSALS AND START A QUICK RFP PROCESS TO EXPAND CONNECTIVE TEE.
>> YES, JUDGE, THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN, GUIDE HOUSE AND THAT IS CORRECT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT'S THE MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS A SECOND.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU ARE MUTED, COMMISSIONER.
[03:50:02]
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM?
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE FOR CLARIFICATION, ARE WE VOTING ON ITEM 1 OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IT LISTED AS, ITEM 1.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, WHAT'S YOUR VOTE?
WE WILT -- WE WILL CIRCLE BARK -- BACK TO COMMISSIONER RATTED -- RADACK -- >> STEVE RADACK: CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS RADACK AND I AM AN I.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT MOTION PALSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THEN GUIDE HOUSE PROPOSED A SECOND RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING TO PROCEED WITH THE PROCUREMENT OF ADDITIONAL HOTSPOTS, KEYBOARD ENABLED DEVICES AND OR ALTERNATIVE INTERNET SOLUTIONS DETERMINED NECESSARY USING CARES FUNDING IMPLEMENTED IN A MONTH.
AND JUDGE, I HAVE THE THREE IN FRONT OF ME.
I THINK WE HAVE ALL OF THEM IF YOU WANT TO -- IF THEY HAVE READ THEM MOVE THEM BOTH.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED ON THE OTHER TWO PROPOSALS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST MOVE THE OTHER TWO AND I SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR PROPOSALS TWO AND THREE.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE VERBIAGE, IF YOU CAN READ IT FOR COURT RECORD.
THE THIRD PRO -- PROPOSAL AUTHORIZE BUDGET MANAGEMENT UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING TO PROCEED WITH THE POTENTIAL ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTI-LINGUAL SUPPORT CENTER SLASH HELP DESK TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY USING COUNTY RESOURCES.
THE CURRENT SHORT-TERM WORKHORSE -- WORSE -- WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THEM TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL AGENCIES ON APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY OUT REACH EFFORTS TO UTILIZE THE SUPPORT/HELP DESK.
THIS IS ONE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
THROUGH OUR WORK WE FIND THERE IS A PUSH-PULL.
IT IS THE PERSON OF THE DEVICES -- IT IS THE PUSH OF THE DEVICES AND A PULL INTO THE SUPPORT CENTER CONCEPT BECAUSE WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME LEARNINGS THERE AND BARRIERS WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND POTENTIALLY OVERCOME.
JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR I NEED TO ADD THAT WE NEED TO GET THE HARRIS COUNTY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THEY HAVE FUNDING AND RESOURCES THAT MAY BE UH PLIK ONLY TO THESE -- APPLICABLE TO THESE PROJECTS.
>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THAT WAS A REQUEST AND I DON'T DIS -- DISAGREE WITH THAT.
THAT WAS A REQUEST FROM A FEW COURTS BACK.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION WE HAVE NOT.
WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE THAT WITH THEM.
AS IT RELATES TO FUNDS, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS A LOT OF THE FUNDS THEY HAVE SET ASIDE ARE FOR THE SMALLER TYPE OF REQUESTS.
NOTHING POTENTIALLY THIS LARGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, ARE YOU GOOD ON PROPOSALS TWO AND THREE AS WELL?
>> STEVE RADACK: I AM AN I ON ALL OF THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THOSE THREE MOTIONS PASS UNANIMOUSLY.
AND GUIDE HOUSE, IF YOU WILL LET US KNOW AT THE NEXT COURT AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WITH MOTIONS 1 AND 2 IF THERE ARE CLEAR NEXT STEPS AND IF YOU WILL KEEP US POSTED AND ANY ADDITIONAL LEADS YOU HAVE LET US KNOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE REINS.
THANKS FOR THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THE SUPPORT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING FROM THE PRE SINKS AS WELL AS UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT.
IT HAS BEEN A TEAM EFFORT SO THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE HAVE GONE OVERALL COVID ITEMS AND GOING BACK TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.
ITEM 1 IS TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HIRING COMMITTEE TO
[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 3 of 3)]
APPOINT MR. KENNETH HARDIN AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL.[03:55:04]
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION NEEDS TO INCLUDE THAT KENNETH HARDEN BE APPOINTED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF COUNSEL AND ANNUAL COMPENSATION AT $180,000.
AND FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY OFFICIALS TO BE AUTHORIZED TO DO ANY AND ALL THINGS NECESSARY OR CONVENIENT TO ACCOMPLISH THE PUBLIC OF THE MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
JACK CAGLE: JUDGE I AM IN FAVOR, BUT HAVE I A COMMENT.
MR. HARDEN INTERNED FOR MY OLD TEACHING PARTNER, GEORGE HANKS.
WE USED TO TEACH TOGETHER AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TRIAL ADVOCACY.
GEORGE HAD A HIGH BAR OF SLEN SEE.
IF HE INTERNED FOR HIM AND SURVIVED HE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SNAP.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, WHAT'S YOUR VOTE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR AND WELCOME MR. HARDEN TO THIS NEW INFORMATION -- NEW POSITION.
JACK CAGLE: IS HE ON THE LINE?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WELCOME ABOARD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, IS HE?
HE LEARNED THAT FROM GEORGE HANKS AND THEN WORKING PEE -- PEE PD OFFICE.
IT IS A PLEASURE AND I AM HONORED TO BE SELECTED AS RECOMMENDATION AND NOW APPROVAL AS THE DIRECTOR.
I AM A LOUISIANA NATIVE, BUT IN LOVE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I GRADUATED FROM THURGOOD WASHINGTON AND SPENT MUCH OF MY CAREER IN WATERS BEFORE JOINING THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
I AM A CAREER PUBLIC DEFENDER AND I AM EAGER TO WORK HARD AND I AM EAGER TO CONFIRM THE THE CONFIDENCE THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN ME FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND I AM PROUD TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY PROUD.
JACK CAGLE: MR. HARDIN, THIS IS JACK CAGLE.
I NOTED ON YOUR RESUME YOU INTERNED FOR GEORGE HANKS.
JACK CAGLE: I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT UNTIL LATE YESTERDAY.
THIS MORNING I SENT OUT A QUICK TEXT TO HIM, BUT HE HADN'T RESPONDED JUST YET.
I AM THINKING IF YOU SURVIVED AN INTERN -- WE TEAM TAUGHT TRIAL ADVOCACY BACK WHEN GIANTS WALKED THE FACE OF THE EARTH, BUT I FIGURED IF YOU SURVIVED WORKING WITH HIM, THAT YOU PROBABLY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SNAP TO YOU THERE.
>> YES, I HAD TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RESILIENCE, BUT I GIVE ATOP SECRET.
ONE OF THE SECRETS IS WE ARE BOTH LOUISIANA NATIVES AND BOTH GRADUATES FROM LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
JACK CAGLE: YES, THE LSU, GEORGE LEFT HIS PURPLE AND GOLD -- HE LOVED HIS PURPLE AND GOLD.
BUT NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT MAYBE I AM LUCKY HE DID NOT.
JACK CAGLE: I THINK HE USED TO MAKE HIS INTERNS GO SCUBA DIVING.
I GUESS IF THEY SURVIVE THEY PASS THE INTERNSHIP.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: CONGRATULATIONS.
I HOPE THIS IS A MODEL THAT THE REST OF THE STATE WILL FOLLOW SUIT, AND HOPEFULLY THE FELONY COURTS WILL COME OVER AS WELL.
>> IT IS MY HOPE AND SHOULD AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS I WILL BE PREPARED.
I HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GREAT IMPACT ON HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND KENNETH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE.
IT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO START ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN -- YOU UNDERSTAND THE GOAL HERE, AND YOU'RE READY FOR THE CHALLENGE.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR WORK TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AS YOU AND I VISITED, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IF MIND THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE ENGLISH NOT AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE WHETHER THEY SPEAK SPANISH OR SOMETHING ELSE AND SO -- AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE CALIBER OF FOLKS THAT YOU WILL ADD TO YOUR TEAM OVER THERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
[04:00:05]
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME.
I APPRECIATE IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT IS ITEM 1 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.
WE KEEP GOING DOWN THE AGENDA.
2 IS AN AGREEMENT WITH PRECINCT 2.
ITEM 3 IS A PURCHASING AGREEMENT OR AWARD.
ITEM 4 AS WELL FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AT UNIVERSAL SERVICES.
ITEM 6, PRECINCT ONE'S ELECTION JUDGES AND EYE SEEM -- AND ITEM 7 WE DISCUSSED AND THE REST ARE THE COVID ITEMS. THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGENDA.
[IV. Executive Session]
EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 1 IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS.>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE MINE UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THERE IS A DATE.
THE TERM SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO RUN THROUGH AUGUST 31ST 2022 IN ORDER TO COINCIDE WITH THE BY LAWS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: FOR ALL THREE?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ITEMS A AND B THE TERM SHOULD BE RUNNING THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 2022 IN ORDER TO CINE SIDE WITH THE BY LAWS -- TO COINCIDE WITH THE BY LAWS OF THE BOARD.
JACK CAGLE: WHAT ITEM ARE WE ON NOW, JUDGE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM ONE ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION SECTION.
THERE IS AB AND C WHICH IS -- A, B, AND C.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: CATUZZI AND GARRISON AND RAMOS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 2 IS COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 3.
JACK CAGLE: I UNDERSTAND YOUR SECOND APPOINTMENT, GARRISON IS QUITE THE TENNIS PLAYER AS WELL SO SHE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SHE'S BEEN THERE AWHILE, COMMISSIONER.
JACK CAGLE: SHE'S A TENNIS PLAYER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SHE'S ON THE BOARD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, WE ARE ON YOUR ITEM.
PS OI -- IT IS ITEM 2 UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> STEVE RADACK: [INAUDIBLE] >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DIDN'T HEAR HIM.
JACK CAGLE: IT SOUNDED LIKE HE MOVED FOR HIS APPOINTMENTS.
DO YOU NEED A SECOND? I SECOND IT WITH YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE TO KNOW MR. FINDER.
I'M SURE THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE.
I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THE INCOMING COMMISSIONER, WHOEVER IT MAY BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THEM IN THEIR WORK AND TO DECIDE WHETHER THE COMMISSIONER WILL WANT TO KEEP THOSE FOLKS OR APPOINT SOMEONE DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO EVALUATE THEM.
I'M DOING THAT WITH ALL OF MY APPOINTEES.
I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE HIS WAY TO A BOARD MEETING.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALLOW THE INCOUPLING -- THE INCOMING COMMISSIONER TO HAVE A SAY IN WHO GETS APPOINTED TO THESE ROLES.
OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL A NEW COMMISSIONER DECIDES TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I AGREE WITH THAT.
WE ARE SO CLOSE TO AN ELECTION, I KNOW THAT I WAS QUITE OFFENDED WHEN I WAS IN MY PREVIOUS JOB AND IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE COURT WAS FROM THE OUTSIDE RUSHING THROUGH APPOINTMENTS WHEN THEY KNEW I WAS COMING.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS AN INDICATION THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE ME OR SOMETHING, BUT I WAS JUST HURT, AND I DID CALL JUDGE EDMUND AND CHATTED WITH HIM ABOUT IT.
[04:05:04]
AT LEAST FROM THAT POINT GOING FORWARD SOMEHOW THEY HELD THE OTHER THAT'S WERE COMING UP.I KNOW AS I MENTIONED AT OUR MEETINGS BEFORE THE PROCESS CHANGED WHEN I GOT HERE ON SOME OF THE APPOINTMENTS ANYWAY.
THE RULES KIND OF CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
I GUESS I DIDN'T STAY IN MY PLACE WITH HARRIS HEALTH.
I WAS TOLD ONE THING AND THEN THAT CHANGED AND I I CAN REMEMBER THE LAST COURT MEETING.
IT WAS ON THE BOARD BEFORE YOU AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA CAME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS WRONG THEN AND I THINK IT IS WRONG NOW.
>> SO LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THESE APPOINTMENTS.
JACK CAGLE: I WAS JUST GOING TO SUGGEST THAT THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION WE HOLD THEM.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I SECOND THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE IS A MOTION TO HOLD THE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL AFTER THE NEW COMMISSIONER TAKES OFFICE, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR.
DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE OTHER MOTION?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT WAS FOR BOTH.
I MADE A MOTION FOR BOTH OF THEM, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT IS THE EXTENT OF THAT SECTION, COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 4.
YOU HAVE AN AN APPOINTEE TO THE FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK FORCE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO LET'S VOTE ON THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR THE ONES WE HAVE ALREADY VOTED ON.
AND THEN WE CAN -- >> SO MOVED.
[I. Departments (Part 3 of 4)]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: GIVING PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO VOTE AGAINST THE ONES ALREADY VOTED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ALL AGENDA ITEM THAT'S HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? I AM IN FAVOR.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS A GOOD OMEN, JUDGE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: LET'S SEE YOU DO IT NEXT MEETING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, DO WE HAVE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: NO LUNCH?
[V. Appearances before court]
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S TAKE THEM.
>> STEPHANIE WITH UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF UNITED WAY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING AWARENESS TO LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL.
LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL IS HELD ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 22ND.
THIS IS A NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS AND CELEBRATION OF ALL OF THE PROGRAMS HAMMING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT MEANS AFTER SCHOOL, BEFORE SCHOOL AND SUMMER AND HOLIDAY BREAKS.
EACH SPENDS A NUMBER OF THEIR WAKING HOURS AFTER SCHOOL.
IT REPRESENTS THE COLLECTIVE OUT OF SCHOOLTIME PROGRAMS HAPPENING.
LIKE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL DISCOUNTS AND BASKETBALL ORGANIZATIONS -- SMALL ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MANY MORE.
THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF YOUTH JULY -- ANNUALLY.
IT IS THE GATE TO SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND SPARKS INTEREST IN CAREER AND COLLEGE PATH KAYS.
IT PROVES THAT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SCHOOL HAPPENS AFTER SCHOOL.
WE HAVE DATA AND SCIENCE AND WE WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK MORE AND BE A RESOURCE TO THE COURT.
WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE WORKFORCE PARENTS CAN'T HAVE A DREAD OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY CHILD AFTER SCHOOL.
WE KNOW THAT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4:00 TO 7:00 THERE IS A SPIKE IN JUVENILE CRIME.
MAKING PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE YOU WILL HEAR FROM TODAY ARE DEFINITELY WORTH HAVING A CELEBRATION ALL NEXT WEEK, BUT DEFINITELY LOOK FOR MORE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH US.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> STEVE WILLIAMS. GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
[04:10:02]
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED WHATABURGER.IT IS A BURGER PLACE AND YOU HEARD OF IT BEFORE.
I WARNED THESE PEOPLE AND I COMPLAINED WITH THE U.S.
THESE PEOPLE ARE PLAYING A GAME WITH PEOPLE'S FOOD COLLECTIVELY THAT CON POTENTIALLY KILL YOU.
THEY HAVE DONE THIS ON -- PARTICULARLY ON -- WHAT IS IT SHEPHERD.
I WARNED THIS PERSON THAT HE WILL MESS AROUND AND STIR UP A SERIAL KILLING TO GET INNOCENT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I GUESS HE THOUGHT I -- AS I TALK ABOUT YOU ON THE -- I TRIED TO TALK TO THE COMPANY.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE SO-CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE AND THEY LAUGH AND GIGGLE, AND GIGGLE AND IT IS SERIOUS STUFF.
IT IS MOSTLY THE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THESE FAMILIES AND THAT'S THE PRIMARY VICTIM.
IT IS PLACE AFTER PLACE AFTER PLACE AFTER PLACE.
THERE ARE POOR WHITES ON THE BOTTOM AND THIS IS THE GAME BEING PLAYED.
IT IS PRESENTED AROUND THE WHATABUR ARES AND THESE ARABS AND PERSIANS AND THE BLACK FOLKS FROM SO-CALLED -- USED TO BE CALLED UN-- UPPER NOLTA AND THEY ARE DOING PEOPLE HARM.
THEY ARE DOING IT -- THEY ARE NOT DOING HISPANICS.
THEY ARE JUST DOING THESE TWO GROUPS, THE ONES THEY MESS OVER MORE TIMES THAN NOT.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] ARE PROTESTANT.
MOST PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THE GAME THEY ARE PLAYING ARE PROTESTANT.
THEY VOTE AGAINST EVERYTHING THE CATHOLICS DID.
THAT'S WHY THEY WERE PLAYING THE GAME FOR SO LONG.
THE ONLY PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE AT THE BOUGHT -- BOTTOM.
I TOLD THE SO-CALLED MANAGER, A RACIST SON OF A GUN.
I TOLD THE PEOPLE OVER THERE AND SO IT IS JUST A MATTER OF DAYS -- MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED -- [INAUDIBLE] IT IS NOT A JOKE.
IT IS WHAT I KNOW AND WHAT I SAY.
[INAUDIBLE] SOME OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL KNOW OF THE EVENT THAT TRANSPIRED.
ANY RATE, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THESE PEOPLE FOR A LONGTIME.
I AM GOING TO DEAL A BLOW TO THESE BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME.
AND ALL OF THAT MONTROSE AREA, THIS GAME GOES ON SO MUCH THAT IT IS NOT EVEN BELIEVABLE.
BOY DID I MAKE A MISTAKE SAYING I WOULD VOTE FOR RICK SANTOROM AND THAT STARTED --
>> ANSWER THIS QUESTION, MR. ELLIS, CAN YOU EXTEND -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA -- THERE IS NOT AN ITEM ON YOUR TOPIC, WE CAN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> THEY ARE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> JACOB CLEMETEK, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> WOULD I LIKE TO SAY IS THE IMPORTANT CONCERN THAT THE HARRIS TICKET -- HARRIS BIDEN WINS THE TICKET AND THEY WILL GET [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST WANTED -- THEY ARE GOING TO PACK THE COURT BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO FIND PEOPLE AS UNETHICAL AS THOSE ACCEPTING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
STEVE RADACK SHOULD LIKE THAT A LOT.
KATHY ROSE OF COLLEGE COMMUNITY CAREER.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I AM PART OF THE LIGHTS OUT PROGRAM.
MY NAME IS KATHY AND I AM PART OF COLLEGE COMMUNITY CAREER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN ABOUT A STORY WITH ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.
MURE -- MURIEL IS A DOCTORAL STUDENT.
HIS MOTHER WAS INJURED ON HER JOB AND NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK.
MURIEL HAD TO WORK HARD TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD EDUCATION AT TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY.
[04:15:05]
EVERY SEMESTER HE WORKS FOR MONEY TO FUND HIS EDUCATION.HE IS A RES DEBT -- RESIDENT ADVISER.
WORKS ANOTHER JOB ON CAMPUS AS WELL AS TWO SUMMER JOBS.
INSTEAD IT IS HARD TO MAINTAIN.
MURIEL WILL GRADUATE WITH A DEGREE IN PERSONAL FUNDS.
MURIEL WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE FAMILY TO RECEIVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
LIKE MURIEL WE HELP IN ALL ASPECTS IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS UNTIL THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE GIVING THEM THE IMPORTANT TOOLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE GRADUATES AND ENTER THE WORKFORCE CONFIDENTLY.
WE ARE AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, BUT WE WANT THIS MARCH TO BE VIRTUAL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT FADE AWAY AS THEY GO OFF TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
IF THE STUDENT IS NOT IN ATHLETICS OR BAND MANY TIMES THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE LEFT TO GO HOME OFTEN TO AN EMPTY HOUSE.
THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY CAREERS NEED A PLACE TO GO AND ACHIEVE THEIR DREAM OF GETTING THEIR EDUCATION AND ENDING THE PER -- THE PERPETUAL CYCLE.
THEY ARE OFTEN WITH DISCIPLINARY OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LEAVING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS TO FALL BY THE WAY SIDE.
BE PART OF THE UNITED WAY COLLABORATIVE ALLOWS US TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PROGRAMS SERVING THIS POPULATION.
COLLABORATING WITH THE WHY FOR THE UNITED WAY SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM, A LOT OF COMMUNITY CULTIVATES THE YOUNG LEADERS AS THEY GO OFF TO COLLEGE AND FIND THEIR VOICES AND LEARN ADVOCACY SKILLS DURING A PIVOTAL TIME IN OUR PRESENCE.
THEY LEARN NOT ONLY HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVESES TO RECEIVE MORE FINANCIAL AID OR TO TALK WITH A PROFESSOR, BUT HOW ADVOCACY LIKE COMPLETING THE CENSUS CAN BRING MORE RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY OR VOTING CAN BE A WAY TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD ABOUT ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THEM.
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY CAN CREATE A REAL CHANGE.
IT STARTS NOT ONLY WITH THEMSELVES, BUT PERMEATES THE NEIGHBORHOODS REGARDING ISSUE THAT'S ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR SUPPORT.
>> TODAY I SUBMIT FOR 28,900 TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
I APPEARED MANY TIMES BEFORE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON THE ARDMORE STREET PROJECT AND FLOOD CONTROL'S LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
SINCE 2018, I REQUESTED MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
YOU AND YOUR OFFICE HAVE REMAINED MUTE.
TODAY THEREFORE I POSE THESE QUESTIONS SINCE OUR ELECTED COMMISSIONER HAS NEVER GRANTED A MEETING ORIE SPAWNS TO A LETTER.
I AM 68 YEARS OLD REFIRED -- RETIRED SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME.
I LIVED IN MY HOME FOR 40 YEARS.
DO YOU THINK IT IS FAIR THAT A SENIOR CITIZEN SHOULD FOOT THE BILL FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY 1234* FLOOD CONTROL NEVER ENGAGED EFFECTIVE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS AND YOUR OFFICE FAILED TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ARDIMORE PROJECT.
FLOOD CONTROL IS IN THE MIDDLE -- [INAUDIBLE] OF TAKING $150,000 OF HOME'S VALUE.
THE DESIGN WENT AGAINST THE PRESERVATION ACT.
DO YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THESE FACTS ? SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2 SWLR 1 -- 2019 THE IMHITIONER -- THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE ASKED FOR A DESIGN FOR THE DRAINAGE.
THEY SAY THE PLAN MUST BE SUBMITTED BY CIVIL ENGINEERS.
IN 2019 THEY SUBMITTED A PLAN TO THE COUNTY.
CAN A CITIZEN ONLY SUBMIT A PLAN PREPARED BY LICENSED ENGINEERS ? THE COUNTY USED THE PLAN BY MY ENGINEERS FOR $4,700 CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THESE FACTS? FLOOD CONTROL MISLED THE COMMISSIONER SAYING THE DESIGN WOULD COST TAXPAYERS $100,000.
THEN FLOOD CONTROL MISLED ME SAYING THEY REJECTED THE PLAN WHEN IN FACT PLANS WERE NEVER SUBMITTED FOR FURTHER REVIEW.
DO YOU THINK FLOOD CONTROL SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR THIS BEHAVIOR AND HAVE NO WRITTEN POLICY CONCERNING A CITIZEN APPEAL PROCESS AND MAKE UP THE RULES THAT APPLY?
[04:20:05]
I WAS FORCED TO APPEAL TO A BAD DESIGN PROPOSED BY FLOOD CONTROL FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.DO YOU THINK IT IS FAIR FOR FLOOD CONTROL TO USE ECONOMIC TERRORISM AND TACTICS TO APPEAL A BAD DECISION? ESPECIALLY ON A SEENER IS CITIZEN ON A -- SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME.
COMMISSIONER'S COURT IMPLEMENTED THE PLANS IN AUGUST OF 2020.
DO YOU BELIEVE MY CIVIL ENGINEERS PRODUCED A BETTER PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE AND CORRECTEDDED THE ERRORS IN FLOOD CONTROLS PLANS AND SAVE THE COUNTY $55,000 AND REMOVE THE THREAT OF TAKING OUR $50 THOWSES -- $5,000 FROM MY VALUE.
I WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSIONER TO RESPOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING.
>> YES THE TEXAS HOMESTEAD PROTECTION LAWS HELP PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE EVENT OF A FORECLOSURE OR CHANGE OR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVERY FAMILY AND EVERY ADULT PERSON IS ENTITLED TO A HOMESTEAD EXEMPT OF FORFEITURES PASSED ON THE CLAIMS OF CREDITORS EXCEPT FOR THE PRE-EXISTING MORTGAGE AND LIENS.
TEXAS HAS SOME OF THE STRONGEST HOMESTEAD PROTECTION IN THE NATION.
ON THE 76 -- I'M SORRY, THE 76 LEGISLATURE IN 1999 AND EFFECTIVE ON THAT DATE TEXAS VOTERS APPROVED TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE 76 LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS SOME UNCERTAINTIES.
THE SJR12 REDEFINED A REVERSE MORTGAGE CONSISTENT WITH SJR LAW.
INCREASE THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF AN URBAN HOMESTEAD TO 10-ACRES.
THE AMENDMENTS WERE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER SECOND, 1999.
I BELIEVE THE HOME EQUITY PAPERWORK I SIGNED WAS DATED SEPTEMBER 21ST, 1999 BEFORE THE AMENDMENT TOOK AFFECT ON MY 1.4797 ACRES OF LAND IN GARDEN GROVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS TAKEN AN OATH TO DEFEND THE LAWS IN THIS STATE OF TEXAS WILL DEFEND THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION HOMESTEAD LAW AS IT AFFECTS MY SEPTEMBER 21ST, 1999 HOME EQUITY LIEN.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I ASK THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO FOLLOW-UP WITH HER.
I KNOW MY STAFF DID MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DO SO.
SHE TOOK OUT A HOME EQUITY LOAN AND SHE WANTS THE COUNTY TO HELP FIGHT THE LIEN ON IT.
>> SO I HEAR FROM YOUR OFFICE AROUND -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: RODNEY IS FINE.
AND I THINK THE COUNTY DOES IT, BUT I CAN'T DISCUSS IT HERE BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IF LEGAL WILL DO IT -- WE WILL TRY TO REFER YOU SOMEWHERE.
>> WE WILL CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO MS. KING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, MS. KING.
THAT IS MR. SOARD WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
HE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY CALL YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AT LEAST THEY CAN LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE LAW.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR OWN LAWYER.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT THEY WILL FOLLOW-UP.
>> JUDGE, THE NEXT SPEAKER IF I CAN GET THE INTERPRETER TO UNMUTE, PLEASE.
[04:25:03]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE EVERYTHING CLEAR REGARDING THE PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE MANDATORY BUYOUT PROGRAM.
>> MY QUESTIONS ARE THE FOLLOWING.
>> WHY ARE WE NOT TREATING PEOPLE THE SAME OR EQUALLY?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FAIR TREATMENT FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALLEN FIELD AND PRECINCT 1.
>> BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HAPPENING AND I FEEL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
>> WHY DO THEY TAKE THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY VALUE FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO INSTEAD OF NOW.
>> WE ASK THAT YOU VALUE OUR HOMES AT THEIR CURRENT MARKET PROPERTY VALUES.
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLEAR ANSWERS AND WE ARE BEING IGNORED WITH OUR RIGHTS.
>> WE ARE NOT THE ONES OPTING TO SELL OUR HOMES.
>> YOU GUYS ARE FORCING US TO SELL THEM.
>> THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO US, NOT JUST A VIRUS.
>> I TURNED IN MY DOCUMENTATION FOR MY RELIEF FORM ON THE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 29TH.
>> SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS TURN EM -- TURNED THEM IN AS WELL.
>> BUT THEY ARE ASKING FOR ALL THESE DOCUMENTS.
>> AND WE DON'T OPPOSE A DEBT ON US THAT WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ON OUR HOMES.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FAIR CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT OUR BENEFITS REALLY ARE.
MY NOTES TELL ME MY STAFF TRIED TO REACH OUT, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET A PHONE NUMBER WHEN THEY SAW SHE SIGN ETD UP -- SIGNED UP.
BUT THEY WILL FOLLOW-UP AGAIN.
THE CSD DEPARTMENT HAS MET WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I DID A ZOOM CALL WITH MANY OF THEM.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT WE WILL GET YOU THE ANSWER THAT'S MAY NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY, BUT WE ARE GONNA GO AS FAR AS THE LAW WILL LET US GO ON TRYING TO MAKE THEM OPEN.
THAT IS AN AREA THAT HAS FLOODED MANY TIMES.
JOSH STUKEY AND THE FOLKS IN THAT DEPARTMENT WILL FOLLOW-UP AND SO WILL MY STAFF.
PLEASE ANSWER IF YOU GET A STRANGE NUMBER.
>> I WANTED TO VERIFY SHE WAS STILL ON THE LINE.
[04:30:02]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE'LL MAKE SURE SOMEBODY CALLS WHO DOES SPEAK SPANISH TO WALK HER THROUGH IT AS WELL.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH A COMMENT.
THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE REGARDING THE FLOODING MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE CORRECT.
BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THAT WAS TO RECEIVE HELP FROM HARVEY.
I DIDN'T RECEIVE AS MUCH AS I NEED, BUT I HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD FLOODING.
I WAS CALLING ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THEY HAVE THEIR BOARD MEETING TODAY ALSO.
I'M BLOCKED FROM MAKING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BY THE FACT THAT I CAN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH THE LIVE PEOPLE TO TELL ME HOW.
I MADE A PUBLIC COMMENT A COUPLE YEARS BACK ABOUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO PULL OUT MY VOUCHER TO ANOTHER CITY, MY CASEWORKER HAS AN EXCUSE TO TAKE MY HOUSING AWAY AND THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING NOW.
WHAT I LEARNED IS THEY DIDN'T PAY LIKE THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF TWO OTHER PROPERTIES AND THIS PROPERTY WHICH MY RENT CAUSES ME TO GET EVICTED AND THEY STIR UP DRAMA AND THEY MAKE IT LOOK LIKE MY FAULT.
I HAVE A LETTER SAYING THEY ARE EVADING THE HOUSING THE LAST MONTH.
IT IS FOR ABSOLUTELY NO -- THEY USUALLY HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR THE EVENT THAT I MAKE AN -- A COMPLAINT ABOUT.
YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE TOGETHER AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THEY DO THE SAME THING EVERY TIME.
INCLUDING THE FORGERY OF MY SIGNATURE.
I SLAMMED MY PHONE IN THE DOOR OF THE VAN AND MY THUMBNAIL WAS BLACK AND IT HURT REAL BAD AND I COULDN'T WRITE.
THEY TOOK THAT SIGNATURE FROM 15 MONTHS EARLIER AND USED IT ON THE MOVEOUT FORM AND THINKING THAT WAS MY SIGNATURE.
THAT CREATED A FALSE E-MAIL USING IT TO STOP ME.
APPARENTLY EVERYBODY IS IN ON IT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE DIRECTOR.
I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP WITH THIS AND I APPRECIATE IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MAYBE, MR. SOARD, CAN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WITH LEGAL -- >> YES, WE WILL GIVE MR. KIRK A CALL.
SOMEONE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL GIVE YOU A CALL.
>> THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, LUCINDA.
SO, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE AGENDA, THE COVID SECTION, THE SPEAKERS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I MAY HAVE MISSED?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE THE RECORD CORRECT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 2A AND 2B WERE BOTH HELD, CORRECT?
>> AND JUDGE IF I MAY, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
BUT I DID WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING I SAID EARLIER CONCERNING THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD CORPORATION.
SO I WANTED TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF GENE MOSLEY WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
I KNOW HE WAS A LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE OF COMMISSIONER FONTINO'S.
I WANTED TO ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
JACK CAGLE: GENE MOSLEY, JUDGE, THANK YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: STAY SAFE, KEYING GEL -- STAY SAFE, CAGLE.
[04:35:02]
GET OUT OF THE OFFICE!>> LINA HIDALGO: I CAN'T TELL IF RADACK IS SAYING SOMETHING.
WELL, IT IS 3:08 AND WE ARE ADJOURNING IN THE MEMORY OF GENE MOSLEY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.