Council, please come to order.

I'm gonna ask the mayor pro tem to preside.

The chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a proclamation recognizing Black Nurses Week.

All right.

Okay.

Are you ladies?

Hi, nice to meet you.

Wonderful.

Thank you, colleagues, and for those who are joining us in the chambers, and for everyone watching us online, I'm proud and honored to present uh our distinguished guest today in just some background context.

Um, although we are celebrating Black Nurses Week in Houston, we also have institutions in our city that has supported the matriculation of uh providers of care from the Prairie View College of Nursing, right in the heart of the Medical Center to the historic Riverside Hospital, Jefferson Davis, our VA serving in our U.S.

military, our four-year institutions, our community colleges from LVN to BSN to PhDs, um, and in Houston, we get the benefit of that.

And so, whereas black nurses have served communities for centuries with skill, compassion, and resilience, yet their contributions have often gone unrecognized, and even as they have advanced health equity and helped reduce disparities in care.

Whereas Black Nurses Week was founded by Tequila Manning in 2022 to help address this long-standing oversight observed annually from July 26th to August 1st.

The week celebrates excellence of black nurses and highlights their invaluable service to communities across our nation.

And whereas the first documented professionally trained black nurse in the United States was Mary Eliza Mahoney, who graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston on August 1, 1879, as one of the only one of four students to complete the rigorous nursing program from an original class of 42.

And whereas, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing of 2023, black and African American nurses represent only 7.8% of the nation's nursing workforce.

Yet they disproportionately serve community, communities most affected by health inequities and limited access to health care, such as chronic illness and maternal health disparities.

And whereas in Houston, black nurses strengthen the city's health care system by serving in hospitals, clinics, schools, community settings, including within the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, and the city's distinguished nursing programs and health care institutions.

And whereas Black Nurses Week is observed this year, the City of Houston proudly recognize the enduring service, leadership, and sacrifices of black nurses.

We express gratitude for their steadfast commitment to the health and well-being of all Houstonians, which highlights the importance of equity, inclusion, and opportunity in health care.

Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember Thomas and Black nurses will no longer go unrecognized because of your great leadership and the opportunity that you bring before us today to thank these black nurses for your contribution to Houston's health care.

We have the largest medical center in the world.

Thank you to Prairie View University for providing so many outstanding black nurses.

And I could go on and on the service you provide.

Reassures so many of our diverse communities that they have someone that really understands their challenges.

So this is a great day for the city of Houston, and I therefore John Whitmar, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaimed July 26th through August 1st, 2026 is Black Nurses Week in this great city of Houston.

Congratulations.

Very well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good to see you.

Good to see you.

Well thank you.

Mayor and Council, it is my honor today to welcome and recognize the Greater Houston Frontiers Club, which is an organization that has spent over four decades driving positive change in our communities.

It's a nonprofit civic organization, and their mission is very simple to encourage, promote, and assist in educational and cultural development of youth in the Greater Houston area.

This year they will host their national convention right here in our great city from July 15th through July 18th at the Royal Sinester.

So in recognizing of their outstanding service, their unwavering commitment to our youth and their enduring impact on the spirit of our city, we are very proud to present this proclamation to the Greater Houston Frontiers Club.

And it reads whereas the Greater Houston Frontiers Club is a chapter of Frontiers International, an organization founded in 1936 by Nimrod B.

Allen, a respected leader in the African American community to promote civic engagement among African Americans.

Whereas since its inception in 1985, the Greater Houston Frontiers Club has continued the legacy of its parent organization and has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships to underserved high school students throughout Harris County.

It has enriched the community through programs and initiatives such as the annual Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Memorial Scholarship Program, Toys for Kids, Wreaths Across America, and Family STEM Day, and has partnered with numerous organizations to enhance the quality of life for Houstonians.

And whereas for more than four decades, the Greater Houston Frontiers Club has made a lasting and positive impact throughout the Houston region, empowering countless young Texans to achieve their full academic potential through its steadfast commitment to education, mentorship, and community service.

And whereas on July 14, 2026, the City of Houston proudly welcomes the Greater Houston Frontiers Club and its visiting delegation to City Hall and expresses its sincere appreciation for the organization's collective contributions and enduring service to the people of Houston.

Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim Castics Tatum, and thank you to our guests and the frontier civic leaders.

I could spend the rest of the afternoon talking about your academic involvement.

We all know we have a great city, and sometimes we have to have moments like this to pause and demonstrate why we're such a great city because government can't do everything.

We're sure trying, but we also depend on our civic leaders and our frontier club day volunteers that make such a difference.

So I really want to thank each and every one of you, and I know even the best days are still in front of you.

Therefore, I, John Whitmeyer, mayor of the city of Houston, hereby proclaimed July 14th, 2026 as Greater Houston Frontiers Day in the City of Houston.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you, thank you.

On behalf of the Greater Houston Frontiers Club, is an honor and a privilege to serve in the community, and we look forward to impacting more lives and continuing our service.

Thank you.

Very well.

Thank you.

I think we'll we'll go inside.

For a proclamation recognizing World Refugee Day.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Uh, this last proclamation, we are here to celebrate World Refugee Day in Houston.

And I just want to take a moment to recognize the organizers we have here today.

I've had the privilege of meeting with some of them.

They're doing exceptional work in our community and are really a testament to the strength of the immigrants in our city.

So I will have the privilege of reading the proclamation.

Whereas World Refugee Day is an annual observance established by the United Nations in two thousand and one to honor the courage, resilience, and contribution of refugees and to raise awareness of their rights, needs, and aspiration.

Whereas, home to nearly seventy thousand members of a vibrant refugee and immigrant communities representing more than eighty countries.

Whereas on this observance of World Refugee Day, Houstonians come together to uphold the city's legacy of dignity, opportunity, and shared humanity by ensuring that newcomers are met with respect, compassion, and pathways to safety and belonging, affirming Houston's commitment to remaining a welcoming city for all.

Thank you, Councilman Salinas, for giving us this opportunity to thank you.

The refugee community of Houston and those that serve the communities.

If it's at least a day or two older, there's more than 70,000, and certainly more at languages.

And this gives me an opportunity to thank those that support the refugee community.

Y'all understand it better than most.

But our school districts.

I've had school superintendents and they leave tell me.

Senator.

It's difficult for us to teach the basics because we're serving the refugee community.

Language skills, just culture exchanges.

So either it's the faith-based, Baker Ripley, our school district.

I could go on, and I'm certain you could give us a long list of people that assist our refugee.

Councilman Salinas now is certainly including the City of Houston, which we do on a regular basis with our outstanding programs, but today allows us to pause and recognize how strong we are as a city because of our refugee community.

Therefore, I, John Whitmar, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaimed June 20th, 2026 as Royal Refugee Day in the City of Houston.

Thank you all.

This World Refugee Day proclamation is more than a recognition.

It is a proof of that Houston greatest strength, is not in the skyline, but its people.

Today, every refugee story has been seen.

Every Johnny was honored, and every voice morrow.

My deep gratitude to the mayor, the city, uh Councilmember Salina Lejandro, to Councilmember Paula Eduard, Councilmember Tiffany, and everybody engaging this city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Salinas, we do have a colleague in the queue.

Yes, Councilmember Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim, Mayor, Councilmember Salinas, thank you all.

I just want to um thank you all for your continued advocacy and your leadership all throughout the year, even though we're celebrating you today, but all throughout the year, uh you all are here uh talking to us about issues and concerns, ways to collaborate, different community events, different offerings that we have all around the city.

So I want you all to know that we are really appreciate you, continue to lean on you and anything that uh I can do to continue to support.

Please continue to reach out to my office.

God bless you all.

Chair recognizes Vice Mayor Pro Tim Peck for the invocation.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, Pastor Lucas, if you could come on up.

Um, Pastor Kevin Lucas serves as pastor at Hope City Church in Houston, Texas.

Pastor Lucas, uh local Houstonian serves on the executive team of Hope City, overseeing all teams helping and reaching people in our communities.

Hope City Church in partnership with the city has helped families receive 1.4 million mules and mobilize over 5,000 volunteers serving more than 17,000 hours.

During the month of July, Hope City holds an event called Days of Hope, where they lead hundreds of service projects with volunteers to spread hope to our local communities.

We were so thankful that they were in District A last weekend at Spring Spirit for a food and supply distribution, and this Saturday they will be in District A again at the Carverdale Community Center to offer supplies and food as well.

So thank you, Pastor, for all the work that you do.

Absolutely.

It's an honor to be here and uh thankful to be a part of it with everybody on behalf of our senior pastors, Daniel and Jackie Groves.

Uh, it's an honor to be here.

We're in the middle of an initiative that we call Days of Hope the entire month of July.

And as she said, a lot of those stats, a couple of the things we are doing over the course of July.

We'll have over a hundred service projects all through our community.

We had over a thousand volunteers last week mobilized all through the city, and just trying to do everything that we can to be a blessing to this city and partner well.

This weekend we'll be back at Carverdale, and we expect to serve upwards of a thousand families with supplies and be able to help meet food insecurity needs.

So very honored to be a part of all that we get to do uh with the community and with the city.

So thanks for having us today, and uh, let's pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather today in service to this community.

We ask for your wisdom to guide every discussion, every decision, and every action taken in this chamber today.

We pray that you grant our council members discernment, integrity, and humility as they seek the good of all citizens in the city.

Help them to listen with respect, speak with grace, and lead with courage.

May they pursue justice, value truth, and work together in a spirit of unity, even in the middle of any disagreements.

We pray today for the residents of Houston and that our neighborhoods would be places of peace, safety, and opportunity where families can flourish and neighbors care for one another in a powerful way.

We take we pray today that you bless our first responders, our public servants, our educators, and all who serve this community.

We pray that you protect them and you strengthen them in their line of work.

We pray that today everything done here contributes to the well-being of Houston and bring honor to the responsibility entrusted to these incredible city leaders.

We thank you that you go before us, and we thank you for your guidance in every aspect of today's meeting.

We trust you and we honor you in the mighty name of Jesus.

We pray.

Amen.

Please rise to the pledge.

Liberty and justice for all.

Councilmember Peck.

Here.

Councilmember Jackson.

Here.

Councilmember Panzarello.

Here.

Councilmember Evan Shabazz.

Councilmember Flickinger.

Councilmember Thomas.

Present.

Councilmember Huffman.

Councilmember Castillo?

Here.

Councilmember Martinez will be absent.

Councilmember Pollard?

Here.

Councilmember Castex Tatum.

Here.

Councilmember Ramirez.

Here.

Councilmember Davis.

Councilmember Carter.

Councilmember Salinas.

And Councilmember Alcorn.

Here.

Need a motion to adopt a minutes of July 7th and 8th.

Cast next to it to move.

Heck second.

Motion made and second, and all in favor say yes.

Those opposed to a motion passes.

Councilman Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move to suspend the rules to add Norma Garza to the bottom of the two-minute speakers list.

Non-agenda.

Motion made in second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed, nay.

Motion passes.

Anyone else?

Members.

Before we get to our speakers, I'd like to thank everyone that's present today.

It's important that we fill the chambers today with speakers that will support our call for a transparent and independent investigation.

It's been one week today of the tragedy of Mr.

Roha.

The pain is not subsided.

It certainly has united this council.

It's united our city.

And as mayor, I want to thank Houstonians from every walk of life that have showed their compassion, that it brought it, brought the subject and the tragedy up in their pulpits.

It's a real challenge for the city of Houston to make certain that everything is done to support this family.

And respect them, respect their privacy.

There are many development.

Sean Tyr's done an outstanding job and difficult challenge.

He and Chief Diaz are meeting with the FBI as we talk.

The city is doing everything possible to participate and assist in an investigation.

We're told today that the staff they're meeting, the regional director of the FBI does not have the evidence.

It's in the hands of Homeland Security in Washington.

Not only do we want to keep the Salgado family in our thoughts and prayers, but certainly the young man that was shot and killed yesterday in Maine.

These are challenging times for our community, but our nation as well.

But together, demonstrating our unity, our inclusion, we'll get through it.

But there's going to be challenging days ahead of us.

We ask everyone for their thoughts and prayers for the family as well as this great city.

The city comes together when we face challenges, and that's what we're doing as we gather today.

And also let our speakers know you are making a difference.

I've seen on the news where ICE is pausing their traffic stops.

But the community is making a difference, and we will continue.

Please join me in a moment of silence and respect and pray for Lorenzo Salgado Aruaho's family.

Amen.

Due to the number of speakers, the rules require us to only give one minute per speaker.

As long as we're being respectful of the family and making progress, which I know we will.

This one-minute rule was here when I got here, having chaired hundreds, if not thousands of committee meetings in Austin.

Someone is sincere making a difference.

I'm not going to shut them down.

But do be mindful that we have over a hundred speakers.

But let's go to work.

Mr.

Krueger, Dan Krueger.

To be followed by Esmeralda Ledesmo.

Gina Magallon.

I am here today to implore the council to support an independent and thorough investigation into the murder of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo by murdered by ICE.

It has been stated by the mayor in the past that the city does not have jurisdiction to do so, but it can be done and it must be done for the sake of Houston's children.

It must.

I am an elementary school teacher and a Title I school in Houston ISD.

The last month of this past school year, two of my fifth grade boys got into a physical fight.

I pulled them aside and I talked to them about the importance of talking out our issues, listening to each other, respecting each other, getting a trusted adult involved in their problems.

And my fifth grade student looks me in the eyes and says, that's not real life, miss.

ICE wouldn't do that to me.

Police don't do that.

They fight.

They've hurt us.

What could I say to him?

What will I say in August after a man, a father was murdered in our streets?

We are teaching our children to expect violence towards them.

So please, for my students, for our children.

Justice for Lorenzo Salgado Arajo.

This is on all of you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, Esmeraldo Ledesma.

To be followed by William Brooker.

Okay.

Um, what happened last week to Lorenzo Salgado Arajo was unbelievable.

One of our community members was ripped from us.

A father, a husband, a Houstonian.

Our city council talks frequently about public safety, but who is this safety for?

One in four Houstonians are foreign-born.

What about the safety of our immigrant community?

This city must do everything it can to end or limit ICE enforcement in our city and make these streets safer for us all.

ICE has no place here.

We need an investigation from the city of what happened.

We need the agents and this agency to be held accountable, and we need ICE out of Houston.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next.

Councilmember Salinas.

Yes, I'd like to move to suspend the rules to add Javon Tyler to the end of the three-minute non-agenda list.

Motion made in a second.

All in favor say yes.

Those opposed nay.

Motion passes.

William Brooker.

Hi, my name is Bill Brooker, and I live in District C.

Mayor Whitmire.

I believe you work with your ICE-supporting Republican pals, Greg Abbott and HPOU to sabotage even mild limits on ICE actions in Houston.

Now ICE is apparently hunting random brown people on our streets.

We don't even know if Selgado's killers are hunting immigrants in Houston right now.

Now you say you want accountability for ICE.

I'm skeptical.

Prove me wrong, Mr.

Mayor.

You have leverage.

Use it.

For example, you can announce that the city will suspend support of the 2028 GOB convention until the Trump administration fully cooperates.

Mr.

Mayor, we don't need another taxpayer-funded sports event or another taxpayer-funded convention payday for insiders.

They can wait.

We need justice for Lorenzo.

Thank you.

Next.

Maureen O'Connell.

To be followed by Jake Kushner.

Good afternoon.

I'm Sister Maureen O'Connell.

I'm a Dominican sister and a member of the Migration with Dignity Coalition.

And a citizen of the City of Houston.

I'm here to express my frustration and anger at the weaponization of our federal government and the terror that many of our neighbors and friends are feeling.

Many years ago, I was a Chicago police officer for 13 years.

And I'm appalled at the unprofessional and irresponsible behavior that we are seeing from ICE and Homeland Security.

These people clearly lack training.

They left their understanding of what they should be doing and their role as law enforcement personnel.

The murder of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo last week demands that we as citizens stand for what not only for the Arajo family, but for our neighbors, our friends, and our family, and depend accountability and end to the lack of humanity and care that we are expressing at the hands of our federal government.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next, Jake Kushner.

Paige Richardson.

Danny Hernandez.

Nicholas Green.

I'm checking.

Brian Lisco of Sugarland.

Camila Amador.

To be followed by Christopher Colin Herrerous.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Camila Galenoud, the 16-year-old daughter of two immigrants and somebody who holds fear for the future of my generation in this beautiful city.

I aspire for Houston where its government values accountability, justice, and community over complacency.

And my ask is simple.

It's for measurable action from y'all as our elected officials.

Y'all say it's difficult.

It's a difficult case to navigate, but I ask that y'all do the following with the city's funding, something that y'all do have control over.

Please protect the people who call Houston home.

Fight to stop the halt of the county-level taxpayer-funded defense program so witnesses and community members facing immigration enforcement have access to immediate legal support and launch a multilingual know your rights campaign so residents and small business owners all fully understand their rights in a city where the policy is ever so changing.

Please do not let state mandates prevent you from protecting the people who you serve.

Bring transparency, safety, and promise into my generation's future.

Thank you.

Council mayor Panzrella.

Thank you, Mayor.

And thank you, Camilla, for being here.

And I'm just really proud to see so many district C residents here today speaking out on what happened here in Houston recently.

And I'm not going to speak after every single resident because there's a lot of speakers here today, but I just want to say I share your sentiments and I feel exactly what you're feeling.

What we understand is that Lorenzo Salgado Arajo was killed by ICE agents, but he was not the target they were looking for.

Correct.

They attacked him because he was brown and because he looked like every other immigrant that lives here in Houston.

Yesterday, ICE killed again in Maine.

This time, and without accountability, this will not be the last time.

To everyone here today using your voice, your voice does matter, and it is working as the mayor pointed out.

We have already seen changes at the national level from ICE, and I encourage you to continue speaking to continue to be loud.

And there is only one way to really end this, and it's to abolish ICE.

And I stand by that, and I hope we can work together to figure this out.

Thank you.

I will really appreciate hearing that from you, and I hope that's reflected across the council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Christopher Cologne Herrero.

To be followed followed by Maury Byrd Lucas.

Good afternoon, members of the Council.

I'm here today to stand with our community and say we don't want ICE.

We want justice.

The murder of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo was a senseless act of violence, and the ones that were responsible must be held accountable.

We cannot relay on the investigation of an entity that has been caught in the lie after a lie.

They have shown us that they don't care about justice nor about truth.

We condemn their act, their abusive tactics, and their illegal behaviors.

I'm asking you to join us publicly, amplify our voice and echo them.

We don't want violence reviving our streets.

We don't want corruption influencing our people.

We don't want mass bigots abusing their power.

We don't want ice.

We want justice.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next bird lucas.

To be followed by Cameron Waterson of Spring.

Hi, uh just got here, so um good timing.

Um thank you for allowing me.

My name is Mari Bird Lucas.

I'm a um resident citizen here in Houston, and um I'm calling on you, Mayor and Council, to request a an official um investigation into uh the murder of Lorenzo the other day in Houston.

Um those of you, uh I especially thank um Councilmember Panzarello, um Salinas.

Um sorry I don't have the rest of my notes quite ready.

Um those of you who initially spoke up and have spoke up Commissioner Pollard, um, thank you very much.

Those of you who remain silent and on the sidelines, I have to assume that you condone the um the torture, the um pulling up of citizens off of our streets.

Um it's it's despicable, and your silence means that you condone it, and it's not okay.

Thank you.

Next Cameron Waterson, a spring.

To be followed by Frida Hale.

We first warned that if our tax dollars fund companies like Halliburton, Mersk, and Flock, Houston risk the same tools of oppression.

We bankroll abroad like mass surveillance, militarized policing, land theft, and now murder to be normalized here.

And we were ignored for profit.

We warned, and now even a Harris County DA says when Houston collaborates with ICE, it breaks the foundation between the city and communities.

Victims are afraid to report crimes, and witnesses will stay silent because neighbors fear a call for help could mean detention or death.

Yet we were ignored.

We warn that a father who dies in a breadline in Gaza is no different than any immigrant who leaves for work in the morning and is killed or kidnapped by ICE, for both do not get to return home or to their families.

Houston's revoking of the city ordinance with ICE is violence.

Houston's capitulation and allowance for flock to put a camera on every corner of our streets is violence.

Our mayor's inability to be proactive rather than reactive to violence is violence itself against our immigrant communities, especially the marginalized communities as well along with them.

So again I say you've made us our city a martyr, just like the ones you won't acknowledge abroad.

You have brought the same murder to the innocent here, which cannot be ignored.

R.I.P.

Lorenzo demand all evidence be shared for private investigation and the naming of the officer and to Houstonians.

We cannot change what has happened, and it is not about a father being killed in Houston.

It is about what Houston does when a father is killed in our city.

So organize, for if there are no immigrants' rights, there are no rights, for there can be no freedom unless we are free.

Frida Hale.

To be followed by Monica Hatcher.

Hello, my name is Frida Hale, and I'm here with Migration with Dignity Coalition.

I would like to address the necessity and critical importance of an investigation into the tragic shooting of the death of Lorenzo.

Without the facts and without the truth from our local trusted authorities, how can we prevent this from happening again?

When established members of our communities are chased by unmarked vehicles and men that are unidentified, armed and masked, that kind of fear permeates our entire city.

Houston is making strides and becoming a very safe city, and feeling safe impacts every aspect of our lives here.

I'm asking you to resist any pressure that deters you from continuing this local investigation until the facts are established, the truth is revealed, and every member of our community can feel safe.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next Monica Hatchy to be followed by Salomu Ali Masi.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Monica Hatcher.

I live in Spring Branch, uh, in Councilmember Peck's district.

Um I'm here today with the Migration with Dignity Coalition.

Also to urge you to please use your influence and your voices to represent our interests here as Houstonians.

ICE, the federal government says immigration enforcement is about community safety.

I work in a convent in the East End, that's right on South Waveside Drive.

I I drive that road every day, every morning.

I'm not safe, and nobody is safe when there are rogue law enforcement agents and unmarked cars shooting their guns at random people who they don't even know.

It's barbaric, it's uncivilized, it's un-american, and it's so unworthy of us as Houstonians.

So I hope that I see all of you speaking very loudly to our federal officials to demand justice for Lorenzo and for Houston.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Masi.

To be followed by Dan.

Danny Hatcher.

I'm sorry.

Danny Hands.

Danny Hernandez.

Good afternoon once again.

My name is Salem Alimaski with CWS.

And I'm proud of you tuning in.

Today we go though with deep grief in our hearts.

We remember Lorenzo, a father, a brother.

And we hold close every family in our community, carrying a pen of lost.

This sorrow is real.

For many of us, this is personal.

Leaving home, coming to find peace, but being separated from your loved one.

We honor the dignity, the courage, the resilience of a new American and the new community who continue to rebuild their lives and strengthen our city even while carrying wound that many cannot see.

I shall urge you to stand with the community that is grieving.

Remember all uh crying, protect the health of those without worth.

May our grief move us toward justice, and may our hope keep us together.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Danny Hernandez.

To be followed by Matt Cannard.

My name is Danny Hernandez, and I am on the I hope my time starts over.

My name is Dani Hernandez.

I'm on the HISC elected board.

I'm also the president of East Lawndale.

Uh, and that is a neighborhood right next to Magnolia Park.

It's deeply upsetting that the city of Houston has not taken a stronger stance against IC.

The remain quiet approach is supposed to keep our community safe, but our residents don't feel safe, and now we have a Houstonian that was murdered.

There are several times, many times that the East End has called on City Council for help and support, but no one is listening.

I'm here again as a community member and a lifetime resident of the East End.

I want to thank council members who worked in the previous resolution to limit uh HPD coordination with ICE.

But the eventual gutting of the resolution in order to bend the knee to Abbott only served to legitimize ICE operations in our city.

I want to thank the council members who called for an independent investigation of ICE for the murder of Lorenzo Salgado before it became politically convenient.

I also want to um point out that there is also somebody who our district I uh council member who is not here today who represents the East End.

We need to stop making sure that the East End uh doesn't get the short end of the stick anymore.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mr.

Hernandez, um, your council member, Councilmember Martinez um is not here today, but his staff is here, and Juan Pablo is over there by the door, and he just wanted me to let you and any of his constituents know um to please contact his office if you'd like to have further conversations.

Thank you.

We can contact his office, but his presence is obviously needed right now in the city of Houston.

Council one check.

Council.

Okay, I'm sorry.

Council Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I want to thank you for your words.

Uh thank you for being here and your leadership.

Um to let you all know how I'm feeling about uh this situation as well.

Uh, when we hear about a call for independent investigation, that's very vague.

I think it needs to be extremely direct.

I think it needs to be coming from the city.

We have one of the largest police departments in the nation with resources in abundance.

Um, and I know that they're fully capable and qualified to do a task to bring forth clarity, uh, answers, um, insight.

Um, because there was a Houstonian that was killed, and Houstonians have to take the lead on that investigation.

I don't uh don't believe that we need to wait for uh the federal government or state agencies to get involved when we can take the lead ourselves.

And so I think we need to really um get away from just the ambiguous term of uh independent investigations and put it on ourselves to take the lead.

And I think Houston is looking for us to lead, and Houston deserves for us to lead, and so uh that's my call and my hope.

So thank you very much for your for your work.

I completely agree with you.

Thank you, Matt Matt Cannard, Matt Connard, Friday Ottawa to be followed by Katie Tippateau.

Hello, my name is Frida.

I am an I am an immigrant residing in the city of Houston.

On January 27th, I stood at this podium demanding ice out of Houston.

I asked this council, must you wait until it happens here in Houston?

Must one of your own die before you act.

You did nothing.

Now I can swing instead.

Lord Ansalgar left her work, expecting to come back to his wife.

He never made it back.

She was shot and killed by a nice agent with nobody camp.

May I?

You filled our community.

How many more?

How many more must die before you finally go out backbone and do something?

We are being hunted like dogs.

We are getting killed, and no one is doing anything.

I could be next.

I'm grown, I'm an immigrant.

Who is thinking of me next?

Enough thoughts and prayers, enough statements.

We need action.

No action, it's complicity.

It's time to act, protect everyone who calls Houston home, regardless of his skin color or immigration status.

We will not be right because we do not have a papers.

Ice out of Houston and justice for insul.

Councilmember Evan Schwaz.

Thank you, Mayor.

You know, I don't want to get emotional because this is a very, very sensitive issue.

One that certainly I am appalled is what has transpired.

I am glad that the district attorney has made the determination that there will be an investigation.

But what I want people to realize that are sitting in the audience, please register to vote.

Because that's where we are.

Because there is very little that we can do without you going to the polls and letting your voices be heard to change the leadership that can really make a difference.

So don't just put it all on us, because if we had the power to do it, you could best believe that it would be done.

But without you going and taking responsibility for changing the leadership that is more sensitive to people black and brown and people in general, the sensitivity, there's very little we can do.

So make sure that you're doing everything that you can do come November and in the future for any time that we are voting.

And in the future, for any time that we are voting.

Because I believe that everybody here is appalled.

But it's not much we can do if we don't have you doing more than coming and talking and protesting.

We need you at the polls.

So thank you.

And justice is only gonna come when you change the leadership.

And that is what is necessary because this body would do it all if we could, but we cannot.

So we can we're not gonna have a shouting match because everybody sitting here, I think was appalled and very, very upset when they found out what was going on.

But you can't just sit there and say, do this, do that, and you're not doing what you need to do at the polls.

So thank you, Mayor.

Council Member.

All right, please.

Councilmember Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor.

I like to suspend the rules to make a procedural motion to add Andrew Patterson to the end of the uh three-minute agenda list.

All in favor say yes, those opposed they next.

Katie Tibetou to be followed by Cesar Espinosa.

Hello, fellow Hustonians.

I am an HISD high school student.

Speak on the half of murderers in our city.

Ice do not belong here.

They kill innocent people.

Papers are not.

We need to stand for them.

They're human beings.

We are not supposed to be killing human beings, are we?

Are we, though?

Because, like, am I the only one here that feels like this is crazy?

Are we?

Am I the only one here?

No!

No!

Y'all are the ones that have to have the jobs to help us.

We cannot get an a uh degree, eight-year degree, just to do this.

Y'all need to help us too.

We're not doing everything we can without y'all.

I'm just a 17-year-old.

Okay.

But y'all need to stand up for Houston.

Because we cannot do anything but go to college and get an eight-year degree and wait for 20 more years to where y'all are right now.

We need to stand for Houston.

This cannot be right.

We need to stand for Houston.

Have we learned nothing in our textbooks at all?

I remember, I remember we took land from Native Americans.

We hurt enslaved people, and now this, this gotta stop.

Caesar Espinosa.

To be followed by Gian Thomas.

Before I get started, if you believe in justice for Lorenzo, stand up right now.

I want you to see this council, and I want you to see this mayor.

And today I brought with me enough copies of three independent investigations that the city of Houston has launched against federal law enforcement and have won.

So for those to say that it cannot be done, here is proof.

Independent proof that it can be done.

I will turn this over to the city secretary because I'm tired of the lying.

I'm tired of the deceiving of the of this administration on a variety of levels.

Trying to look for the for the easy way out, not taking accountability.

We we must not make excuses.

And for those people who say that voting is the only answer, I remind you, there is a million people, including myself.

350,000 LPRs and 600,000 undocumented people, a million people at the city of Houston that do not have the power to vote, but we exist, and we have a voice.

Listen to us.

And on behalf of the Salgala family, I just talked to Lorenzo, he does say thank you for shutting down the street and allowing his mom to grieve.

Thank you for that.

But he is also encouraging you to make the right choice and launch an independent investigation and win for Lorenzo Salgado Arauco and his family.

Councilor Craig Girl.

Okay.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Ces Hatter, for being here.

Thank you for the work you do with Fiel.

It's an amazing and important organization fighting for the immigrant community here in Houston.

I just want to re reiterate again that Houston is a city of immigrants.

It always has been and it always will be.

And we will fight for justice for Lorenzo.

And it starts with an independent investigation, and we're gonna see that through.

So thank you for this.

Thank you so much.

And we need it immediately.

ASAP, it should have already been done, and I hope that we encourage all of City Council and our mayor to do just that.

And I also want to acknowledge the people that are outside that couldn't come inside.

I want us to hear them because this is Houston calling for justice.

Mayor.

Helen Taylor.

To be followed by Denise Wilbur.

Hi, my name is Ella Taylor.

I live in City Council District C.

When it comes to ICE, Houston can't rely on the federal or state government to assure accountability because they won't.

Our local officials have to.

When it comes to sorry, sorry.

Please ensure that you do everything within your authority to investigate Lorenzo Salgado Arupo's death.

Not only for his family, but for everyone in our city.

First, his family needs justice.

But if we don't investigate this, it also sends the message that ICE can operate in Houston and kill people without consequences.

All Houstonians deserve to be able to safely exist in our city.

We shouldn't have to fear ICE driving around Houston in unmarked cars, stopping anyone they suspect of being an immigrant with the ability to kill people without being held accountable.

Please use every tool available to ensure accountability for this murder, justice for this family, and to protect all Houstonians of the future.

Thank you.

Also, um you ask people to vote.

I already vote.

I'm pretty sure most people here who can vote vote.

And I um I know that most of us vote, and we vote and we voted for our reps here so that they can act in our interest.

Denise Wilburne.

Brandon Thancavarro.

To be followed by Melissa Yarbrough.

Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council.

My name is Nicole Navarro, and I'm a recent health graduate from the University of Houston.

My time in my career has been spent ensuring that Houstonians are safe, educated, and healthy, and that commitment is what brings me here today.

In recent months, increased and aggressive attacks rise have placed Houstonians in a state of constant fear.

Their officers have terrorized our communities.

Families have been ripped apart as unmarked fans, hawk fathers and mothers to detention centers, leaving their relatives wondering where they are, if they're safe, if they're alive.

These attacks cannot continue.

I call in Mayor Whitmeyer and the City Council to actually do something that shows that you care about the people that put you in office.

I am asking the city council to turn their attention to the following.

Number one, stricter ordinances that limit collaboration between ICE and HPD.

And number two, in order to function in our city, ICE must be held to these standards.

A total ban on here apparel designed to mask their identity, the mandatory use of active recording body cameras at all times, and prohibiting the use of unmarked vehicles that allow agents to stalk our neighborhoods and seek in secret.

Mayor Whitmeyer, it is time for you to act like the mayor you promised to be and stand up for just owns.

Stand up for families who are afraid.

Stand up for all those who call the city home.

Thank you, Nick.

Council and Castello.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move to suspend the rules to add Lupe Mendez to the two-minute non-agenda list at the bottom.

Those opposed night.

Motion passes.

Next yarbrough.

To be followed by Bianca Santorini.

Hello, everyone.

Okay.

Um, first I want to take time to say thank you for being here.

Um, everyone in the audience, the city members.

Um, your voice matters now more than ever, obviously.

And uh I won't won't be talking about the agenda today because there are more pressing issues at hand.

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Christian Contreras.

I was born and raised in Houston, and through the support of my parents, I was able to graduate high school and college here in the city of Houston.

I stand before you as a certified teacher of Texas, and I use that uh I use that education to create more opportunities for students in middle school and high school.

I take pride in the work that I do, but I must recognize that it would not be possible had my parents not come and laid their roots in this amazing city we call Houston.

This is the reality of a lot of children of America of immigrant parents.

Most of us have grown up hearing about college since we were kids because our parents want us to live a life better than the ones they live.

One filled with higher education, job opportunities, and a chance at living the American dream.

I say all this to humanize the word immigrant because I feel as though lately a large population uh has made the word synonymous to criminal.

It would be a disservice for me as a U.S.

citizen to not speak up for my community.

Today marks a full week since ICE agents not only murdered but chased down an innocent hardworking man, a father Lorenzo Salgado Aurajo.

There are no answers yet.

ICE has already claimed another life up in Maine.

So I need to ask when did politicians stop fighting for us?

When did they let armed men uh run through our cities with guns and terrorize our hardworking residents?

Why are ICE agents taking immigrant parents from schools?

Why are we uh why are we allowing them to take our community members and putting them into overcrowded facilities and sometimes even cages?

What what are you all for if not to serve the people?

The mistreatment of Latin Americans will not be forgotten.

And I leave you with this warning.

Every year, a bunch of children to immigrant parents are eligible to vote, and social media has made it very easy for them to see all the events that are taking place.

And I can assure you that they will not be voting for politicians that allow modern-day Nazis to publicly execute our people and put them into modern day concentration camps like they did the Japanese Americans in 1942.

Let us not repeat America's ugly history and let us continue the diversity that has always existed in Houston.

Thank you so much.

Bianca Santorini.

To be followed by Dustin Rhodes of Missouri City.

Yes, ma'am.

So my name is Bianca Santorini.

I'm an attorney here in Houston.

I practice criminal and immigration law.

Council members, first of all, I do want to recognize that there has been some action on behalf of city leadership, and I want to thank you for that.

I know, Mayor, how hard it is to maybe have one idea what is going on, and then it seems like when you met with a family, you realized how bad the tactics used by this agency really are.

I do recognize that the DA has issued subpoenas.

I also want to recognize and let everybody know that this is a start.

It doesn't happen everywhere.

The subpoenas, the labeling his death as a homicide, all those things matter, and I sincerely thank you for those actions.

Now, as an attorney, I've been trained to try to root my arguments in facts and not emotion.

Although this is a very emotional situation, I'm not surprised that we are here.

So I my office is in District J, where I practice most of my career.

Late October of 2025.

I accompanied one of my clients to an ICE check-in here at 126 North Point.

At the conclusion of that interview with the ICE officer, when I was walking out and speaking to a supervisor, he made a uh comment to the effect of it was about to be Halloween weekend, and he made a comment to the effect of well, I think we'll be handling handing out a little bit more tricks than treats.

And I say that and it's important because it shows the culture going on in this institution right now.

So when he said that, I thought, you know what?

Something's gonna go on this Friday, something's gonna go on this weekend.

And they always hit a certain area in District J.

And they did.

They hit Club Creek.

And so what I did, which my mom was not very excited about.

I got up and I went to work at about 5.15 in the morning, 5.30 in the morning.

It was me, my cell phone, and God.

And what I witnessed out there resonated where with the mayor when he changed his position, as some will say, but it's not really a change of position.

It's when you're presented with facts that make you won't say, whoa, what the hell did I just see?

And so I understand it, and I thank you for moving in the right direction.

On Club Creek, I was present and I saw the same things.

I saw what we see on TV.

I saw windows being busted open.

I saw people being dragged out of vehicles.

So I went live on Facebook.

I went live because I was scared that I would not get a chance.

Such a permission to what we know is due process in the United States.

Because the way that a civilized society carries out laws is through arrest, through court proceedings, and due process.

And I'm gonna wrap this up.

Let me just tell you when I left that scene, and I had a lot of recordings and I had a lot of interactions.

When I left on the way to my office, I went ran up on a scene where an ICE officer had done exactly what he did to Lorenzo.

He stopped, he pit maneuvered a van that was driven by a 72-year-old black man who was volunteering for a church driving a van full of mentally incapacitated adults who were going to an adult daycare for the day because he thought he had got a big hit.

Um this was all caught on video, and so the reason I came today is because we say that we want to move in that direction.

Well, I have what the young people call receipts, and I have here enough copies for everybody, and what I have is after I witnessed this, I have this all on video.

After I witnessed this, I was contacted by another individual who's a U.S.

citizen that same day on that same operation.

He was pit maneuvered again, it's all on video, and he was maze within the confines of his vehicle by mass men.

Guess what he did.

Thank thank you.

I have the copies here.

We'll hand them out.

Councilmember Panzerella.

Thank you, Mayor.

He called 911.

There's a 911.

Come on, ma'am.

We've been very cooperative.

Uh, excuse me, I want to just have a quick comment.

Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't comment after everyone, but it uh this is an important conversation.

Um I want to thank you for that anecdote because what I've been saying lately is that ICE is an untrained and unqualified and frankly a dangerous organization.

And I just want to reiterate um my sentiments that ICE should be abolished.

And and I appreciate you for bringing that context because again, Houston is an Evergrande City, and the actions with which they act are very very dangerous.

And thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council Member Thomas.

Procedural motion, I move to suspend the.

Thank you, ma'am.

We'll hand that out for you.

Procedural motion.

That's fine.

Thank you.

Okay, so I can continue.

No, I'm on procedural motion.

Oh, okay.

We being ample time.

Uh procedural motion to move to suspend the rules to move former council member Robert Gallegos as the next speaker.

Second.

Motion made in second.

All in favor, say yes.

Those opposed to so done.

No, no, okay.

Robagalles.

Thank you.

I'm Robert Gallegos, former District I council member, and I'm also the proud son of immigrants.

And I'm appalled that our council member Joaquin Martinez, who represents District I is not here today.

It has been a week since Lorenzo Zagado Arojo was gunned down and murdered by ICE agents days after the shooting.

DHS has stated he was not the targeted person.

It was his a case of mistaken identity.

So in other words, he was racially profiled and gunned down by ICE for being brown.

The federal government has failed us.

Hispanics make up 46% of Houston's population.

We are the largest ethnic group in Harris County and in Texas.

Governor Abbott was quick to threaten 114 million dollars in public safety for Houston in support of ICE.

If City Council didn't reverse the approved ICE ordinance, and unfortunately, the mayor and most of city council voted to do so.

Now we have an ICE murder on Houston streets.

It's been a week since the murder of Rhode Island.

Governor Abbott and other state GOP leaders have not mentioned the shooting.

Have not extended their condolences to the family.

This is shocking, but not surprising.

I asked that we take our anger to the polls come November and we vote them out.

But what is extremely disappointing and concerning is that the uh six GOP council members around this horseshoe have failed us too.

We're not publicly demanding an independent investigation.

And your lack of compassion to publicly offer your condolences to the wife and sons of Lorenzo Salgado Arojo.

Shame on you.

Ms.

Romer.

Dustin Rhodes of Missouri City.

To be followed by Olivia Smith.

Hello.

My name is Dustin Rhodes, and I am a high school student in Houston.

I, like many others, am here to make it clear that ICE is not welcome in this city.

And that their killing of Lorenzo Salgado cannot be treated with disregard.

We are told that ICE is here because our streets are flooded with dangerous criminals.

That they were sent at the word of a felon.

They claim to be here to detain the worst of the worst.

Yet a beloved father is dead.

We have eyes, we have ears, and we are paying attention.

To use your ears right now, you'll hear the chance at the steps of this building.

There's no point to pretending that ICE is here to protect us, and any attempt to continue that lie will only show that our safety is not your concern.

ICE has failed to support their version of the killing in any way.

And after we have watched them plainly execute three Americans, I personally do not believe them.

This city, you have an obligation for its people and for its decency to independently investigate the killing, to reject flock security, and to stand up and fight the presence of ICE in Houston.

You can be damn sure that I'll be voting next year.

But right now, I'm in the benches.

You are on the council.

That is all.

Right now, our community is grieving.

We grieve the loss of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo, a father, a friend, a neighbor, a Houstonian.

Your position as city council members is to represent the interests of the community.

And the community is here demanding proper use of our tax dollars to bring charges upon the federally sanctioned masked criminals terrorizing our citizens.

We demand that the agent or agents be identified immediately and be held accountable for their horrendous crimes.

They acted illegally and murdered an innocent man simply for being brown.

Where is the law and order in that?

It has never been about law and order, it has always been about preserving the deeply ingrained culture of white supremacy, working hand in hand with pursuit of profit.

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in this country.

That means this is a city of immigrants.

They run your public transport, they cook your food, they look after your children, and like Lorenzo, they build your houses.

They break their backs in the name of giving their families a better life, and they deserve to be honored for that, documented or not.

Nobody ever deserves to be gunned down in the street over a piece of paper.

It is the civic duty, but also the moral responsibility of this council, Mayor Whitmeyer, and the Harris County DA to hold those responsible accountable for this unacceptable violence.

People afraid to speak out or take action for fear of significant significant consequences.

I ask you, when our neighbors are being gunned down in the streets, what more do we have to lose after the loss of one human life, let alone the many that have already been murdered by ICE this year alone, two innocent fathers in just one week.

They want to silence us, they want us to be afraid.

Those of us who are able have a duty to stand up and say not one more.

Abolish ICE, justicia para Lorenzo, justicia para todos los esos por ICE!

Stephanie Padillo.

To be followed by Norma Garza.

Well, I I want to clarify because I don't think people know what's happening.

There's been a third death.

I don't know if everybody's in the loop right now, but there is a third death that happened this morning in Miami because the man was fleeing from ICE and got struck by a vehicle.

So let's settle on that.

That's three in seven days, not including our own.

Um, I'm not gonna come here and speak to you and berade what you should do because I don't c I I don't believe you even care to listen.

Um, she has proven it the entire time you've been on your phone being disrespectful to the entire community requesting us to vote, but you can't even give us your undivided attention for a few minutes, right?

That much.

I am here for one purpose.

I am IYT.

I am immigrating in Texas, and I'm here not just for the community, but for all of Houston.

So I'm going to invite every single person sitting here today to come out on Sunday without a political agenda to protest for the justice that we are requesting for Mr.

Lorenzo's family.

I know you guys probably have never attended a protest, or if you have, it's probably because there was a camera there.

But leadership isn't about showing up.

I have come time and time again and spoken with you about collaborating and working together, and I quite literally don't know what else is going to take.

Oh, you don't remember when the kids came out in March.

Oh, now you don't want to talk.

Got it.

Norma Darthaus.

Lupe Mendez.

Oh, to be followed by Lupe Mendez.

My name's Norma Motu Garza for the record.

Norma Mo 2.

I go by Norma Motu.

There's a scene in the movie, set it off that asks a simple question.

What is a protocol when someone has a gun pointed to your head?

The truth is, fear doesn't follow a procedure.

I know because I've had a gun pointed at my head.

And in that moment, your heart races, your body goes into survival mode.

You don't calmly analyze every detail.

You don't ask yourself whether if that person approaching is law enforcement or someone intending to harm you.

You react because you believe your life is in danger.

Lorenzo Salgado.

Arugo in the morning hours.

I cannot tell you exactly what was going through his mind, but I do know what fear feels like.

When your body believes your life is in danger, it doesn't stop to think about procedures.

It doesn't calmly analyze who is behind you and what their intentions are.

You go into survival mode.

Again, my name is Norma Motu.

And I come to you as a granddaughter of a World War II veteran and a father of a Mexican immigrant and an educator teaching children of Houston, including in the East End.

A business owner and a community advocate.

But during the COVID pandemic, I was a contact tracer and then became a COVID administrator.

During that time, we watched federal, state, and local governments work together because protecting human lives mattered.

We educated communities, shared information, we adapted.

Why should this be any different when it comes to public safety?

If federal immigration enforcement must take place in our neighborhoods, then leaders at every level should work together to reduce unnecessary fear, improve communication, encourage de-escalation at all times, and protect the public safety.

They swore to serve public safety and human dignity should never be opposites.

As an educator, you already know what we do.

Our government should be held to the same values as our children are being taught.

Families in our communities live with fear every day and feel judged or treated differently because the color of their skin.

Or because they are perceived to be immigrants.

Whether we are born here or not, the color of our skin should not determine how safe they feel in their own community.

Fear is real.

Fear changes how people respond.

Today I'm asking you to do what is right.

Transparent investigation for Lorenzo Salgado Arugo.

So facts can be fully examined.

No family should ever have to go through this and endure this kind of loss without clear answers.

Thank you, ma'am.

If I need to, I can help with educating ICE agents, just like I created a COVID education that actually want at the CDC Atlanta.

We put together COVID education.

We can put together an ICE co an ICE coalition training.

If I need to be a part of that, okay.

I will.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good presentation.

Again, thank you, Mario Castillo for letting me talk, and thank you, um, Joaquim Martinez for at least calling you from where he needs to be so that we can be here.

Thank you.

I appreciate you.

Counselor Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Kendrick Sampson.

Um at the bottom of the three-minute nun-de-gener list.

Motion made and second.

All in favor say yes.

Next lupe Mendez.

To be followed by Nicholas Green.

Greetings.

My name is Waldo Pemendez, Texas Poet Lord Emeritus.

And I come here with you to demand that you protect our families as best you can.

You've already heard and will continue to hear calls for an investigation to the death of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo.

Continue to advocate for your constituents as much as you can, but I also ask that you think and strategize going forward, not reactively, on what you plan to do to assist families that have been negatively impacted by the inexcusable actions of agents from ICE.

So many families have been affected by this lawlessness.

Schools should not have to design plans for their un for their undocumented students to keep their families safe.

Yes to my screen not giving up.

Yes to an investigation, but also your support is needed for our families.

What will you decide to do next?

There are people outside right now calling for change, and the next move is yours, Mayor.

Ice out of Houston.

Thank you.

Lorenzo Salvadorajo was murdered on Tuesday, July 7th by an ICE agent with a fatal bullet to his stomach.

Not only did that bullet take a loving member of our community, it also fragmented and impacted each one of us by establishing the precedence that an ICE agent can murder whoever they want whenever they want in the Houston of City and the city of Houston.

When one Houston's rights are tarnished, every Houstonian's rights are tarnished.

It's by their very nature that rights are collective and communal.

We cannot turn a blind eye to this event simply because we were not shot or we do not lose a family member.

But we could resist eyes.

All I'm asking is that there is an independent investigation opened into his death.

It's being framed that all we can do is register to vote and cross our fingers that ICE agents don't mow down any of our community members.

As if our city is helpless and powerless.

But we are not.

Move over to the mic, ma'am.

Second, dinero para reglar.

También, también ustedes, usted, anda de policía y el governador, ustedes se vendieron con el pedófilo de la Casa Blanca.

Por eso están todos los desastres.

Y por eso andan los ayes desatados, matando nuestra gente.

La economía va adelante.

Pero ya se fregó todo.

For culpa del presidente and se vendieron.

Estamos en una ruina.

And she signs as you vamos para abajo.

Otra vez in November, según ya noticias, el presidente nos quiere hacer chapusa con las votaciones.

Y eso no lo vamos a permitir.

Ya no queremos más magas aquí, destruyendo nuestro país.

Segundo, también que for nosotros, ustedes receben su sueldo.

Hacer su trabajo and ya basta le mentiras.

Otro canvas justicia por Loresa.

Porque nomás dicen estamos investigando y que estamos investigando.

Eso ya lo sabemos, pero no sabemos cuando.

Cuando se llega ese día.

El lunes, ayer mataron a otro hombre joven de 26 años.

No aquí en el otro stado.

Lo atribuyeron a tiros.

Ese señor lleva su niña de three años.

Y que pasó?

Lo mataron in frente de su niña.

Estos hombres son unos salvajes.

Son unos animales despensando la palabra.

Porque no tienen conciencia, no tienen nada.

Me duele mucho ver a mi gente.

In this condition.

You say por qué?

Porque yo sufrime in California.

Muchas años atrás trabajan during California.

Entonces, yo ya sé como me trataron that.

Me discriminaban.

Me duele mucho que está pasando esto.

Ya basta.

Y si no salimos a votar el día in November, ya nos llevó la tristeza.

Salgamos a votar todos para que ya este país salga delante.

Y muchas gracias por todo.

We'll heal.

Dr.

Myron Hopes.

O'Connor.

To be followed by Mel Melvin Williams.

Good afternoon.

Thank you all for having me.

I'm not the authority for veterans.

But as a disabled veteran, I am here speaking on behalf of all the disabled veterans who use the Houston Airport system.

Disabled veterans enjoy complimentary parking.

And while it is a privilege to enjoy this parking, it should not be met with such harsh restrictions.

My petition to this mayor to this council to this city is that you all consider removing or making an exception to the parking that is granted to veterans to disabled veterans for bullet number four.

I had uh made some copies.

And real quickly, this fourth point, the first three are good.

I'm not talking about the amount of days, I'm not talking about the time, but this fourth point says you must provide current original unexpired DMV vehicle registration renewal paper receipt.

There are veterans who are disabled veterans who are driving in vehicles that display the disabled veteran license plate who may not be on the registration for that vehicle.

And I just believe they should be granted the opportunity to still receive that complimentary parking.

And all I'm asking you all is that you all consider removing that fourth bullet that says as a disabled veteran, you have to be on the registration.

I mean, if you're gonna give the complimentary parking, give it.

But if you're gonna restrict it, remove it.

My argument is simple.

I think the council of the city, the Houston Airport system, should consider removing that fourth bullet and let the veterans enjoy the complimentary parking that you all have given them.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next Melvin Williams.

Melvin Williams.

To be followed by Brenda Samuel.

Mayor Whitmeyer.

Mayor Whitmeyer, can I ask you a question?

And I want you to, I mean, I look at me when I'm asking you these questions because I see you glazed off.

Okay.

Do you have any kids or do you have any grandkids?

Please testify, ma'am.

No, I'm asking you a question.

You you work for me.

I'm asking you.

I pay your check.

Do you have any kids?

No, I'm asking you.

Let me tell you something.

I'm gonna tell you something, okay?

Would you and you look at me while I'm talking to you?

Do you want ma'am?

Any of your kids being hunted down like animals as what they did to our native, um our native uh brother.

How would you like that?

You wouldn't like that, would you?

Exactly, because you can't answer the question.

Think about it.

One of your relatives, helpless, while seven men are seven men, one helpless man by what by seven men getting beaten down.

You wouldn't want that, and I'm pretty sure any one of you people that are on this staff wouldn't want it.

Justice for a rental, and by all of you, we pay, we pay your paycheck by you're here, is because of our vote.

He paid for all of you without us, you're nothing, man.

You sold us out.

You know what I mean?

You know what you did?

The flock climbers that you have invested without us consent.

You wasted that money instead of building, instead of fixing our potholes, our sewer, our trash bins now look like crap, but you worry about yourself.

You can cough all you want to, but it's the facts, and you want to know why?

Because of my skin color, because I'm brown.

It's all is about ethnic cleansing.

Brenda Samuel.

Uh she's not here today.

She had a family matter.

Okay, Doris Wesley.

To be followed by Anna Brooks.

Hello, everybody.

My name is Doris Wensley, and I'm 64, I'll be 65.

Say what?

So you have to see.

Oh, here.

Oh, that's ready.

Okay.

Hello, everybody.

I'm 64, I'll be 65 September the 3rd.

Uh, I'm here because the city of Houston.

Let me put my eyes on here.

Uh, the city of Houston Housing and Community Development Center Department Home Repair Program.

Built a house for my husband and I, which he passed away a year after the fact.

And Brenda Samuel was going to speak about her house also.

Um, I want you all to see.

This is a picture of my house.

The outside is really beautiful.

Okay.

Under the house, they built the house on top of all the rubbish of the old house.

Okay.

Um this is more pictures of rubbish.

Uh I had the inspectors to come out.

They say, oh, it's nothing wrong with the house.

The house is popping, floors coming apart.

I showed them that.

I have a daughter, this is artistic, just me and her now and my husband had.

This is my uh kitchen floor, where it's a big hole that's coming in here.

Uh right here in front of my kitchen cabinet.

I can't wash my dishes because it's a hole.

Okay, here's another picture of how the floor coming loose.

In my washroom in front of my washing machine.

Big hole.

The floor is coming loose.

This is how they did the corking for is around the uh washer.

It's more uh right here.

Uh mole in the mirror doing the washroom where they got water running into the pipes.

This house was built only six years ago.

They have my dean on my house for 10 years.

All the plugs are coming to loose, breaking apart.

Okay.

Here it is, the light switches.

Okay, ma'am.

This is in the bathroom.

Mold and meal do around the toilets, bathroom floor.

Ma'am.

Apply.

Mayor Protect.

Well, the dry uh hot water tank is Miss Miss Wesley.

Uh-huh.

Um is here.

Um, was your home repaired through the GLO, the general land office, or from the housing department?

The housing and community development.

The part.

But was that in Houston, the home repair?

It's where I own my own house.

They thanked my husband.

Due to him being a citizen, uh, senior citizen.

It was gone.

Repair, uh, build a house with growing up.

They tore down our old house.

Right.

Which my old house, the only thing was wrong with it, the roof was needed.

No, it's a tough polling.

So I I understand that the the repairs were made by the general land office.

I'm gonna ask you to talk to Rebecca Williams from the mayor's office.

Okay, and we can check and see if the GLO's warranty program can assist you with those home repairs, but she'll be able to help navigate you through that process.

Okay, because I spoke with the Ryan Jones at the city.

He said I'm not the only one.

I want you to speak to my baby.

And uh I will have to deal with it.

Okay, talk to Rebecca, she'll help you navigate that process.

Like I say, it's molding meal deal, and oh Shann City uh O'Shan Lumber came out, and they the one that let me know that the house is heavily.

I mean, it's he said it's gonna cause me bad health problems later in the middle.

Okay, we'll try to help you.

Yes, yeah.

Good luck.

What is Rebecca?

Right here.

Okay.

Let me get my uh next Anna Brooks.

Rita Pratier, Angela Freeman, Noel Freeman.

To be followed by Rishti Tripathy.

Good afternoon.

It's been a minute since I've been here.

Um next door neighbor running a leaf blower 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

That is the situation at my house because of the HVAC system at 1002 West 11th Street, which is soon going to be called Angie's Pizza.

Now, this developer, the developer of the property, has a long history of bad faith.

I've been dealing with the tenant, Angie's Pizza, who's taken a nicer approach, um, but they have done up to this point absolutely nothing to constructively solve the problem or even reduce the problem.

And their HVAC system is running between 90 and 94 decibels at my property line, and my garage apartment is six feet beyond that property line.

It's running 71 decibels inside.

The Houston Noise Ordinance limits HVAC systems to 65 decibels or less at the receiving property line.

Houston Public Works approved the creation of this nuisance.

They did not take into account that this massive HVAC system would create noise.

They didn't take into account that it's 14 feet from a residential dwelling, and adding insult to injury, the developer has or the tenant has applied for or will apply for an amplified sound permit.

So I've got HVAC blasting from one side of the building and music blasting from the other.

I've had three asks, and if you will indulge me, I will tell you number one.

I would like Mayor Whitmire to compel public works to force a resolution to the problem.

The restaurant opened Friday night, so they have no more incentive to fix the problem.

The second thing is to deny the amplified sound permit, and I would like to ask finally for this council to amend the amplified sound permit ordinance to require that written notice be sent to every property owner within 250 feet of the applicant.

Thank you all very much.

Thank you, no.

Uh Councilman Panzerell.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, thank you for being here, Noah.

Um, I'm being come to speed on this.

I just want to say that our office is following up on it, and we'll be in contact.

All right, thank you.

Thanks.

Hi, Nel, good to see you.

Um, as you know, I worked on the noise ordinance a lot and would be happy to help um with that.

Certainly if they're already above the approved decibel levels, that they can't hear it inside my house.

Right.

With my air filters running.

Yeah, no, if they're my AC unit running.

If they're already over, we need to do something.

So send send it to me as well, and I'm happy to back up.

Uh I sent a video to you and Councilmember Conserva of the sound inside my garage apartment.

Uh I sent public works and ARA both video from outside showing it at 94 decibels at one o'clock in the morning.

I'm happy to forward that to both of your officers.

No, no, no.

I mean we'll I'm sure we have it, and I'm sure Jordan's already sent it on, but we'll we'll follow up on it.

Question.

Houston Public Works and ARA, just for the record, have been completely non-responsive.

All the times I've contacted them about the problem, not one single person has contacted me.

We'll make we'll make sure you get a response.

We'll make sure you get a response.

Thank you.

To be followed by Marcus Lastrop.

Good afternoon, honorable mayor and the members of the Houston City Council.

My name is Shrichtrapati, a resident of District F and a volunteer of Hindu Swam Sea of Aksangha.

It is an honor to join you in the celebrating of America's 250th anniversary.

As Hindu Americans who proudly call Houston home, we are deeply grateful for the freedoms and the opportunity this nation has given us.

Houston's diversity is one of the greatest strengths.

Our community is proud to contribute through volunteering services, civic engagement, charitable activity, and cultural programs that make our city stronger.

The guiding principle of our tradition was the Deva Kutumbakum.

The world is one family.

The timeless value inspires us to serve others, build bridges across communities, and contribute to the common good.

To mark this historic milestone, more over than 40 Hindu temples across Greater Houston area displayed America's 250th anniversary banners, expressing a gratitude and the blessings of liberty and our commitment to the democratic values that unite us all.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today, and congratulations to our nation's 250 years of freedom and independence.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Next Marcus Lastrop.

To be followed by George Leblanc.

Hi yeah, doing um how you doing, Mayor, City Councilman.

I'm a uh resident of District B, Miss Tarsha Jackson.

On May 14th, uh some of y'all city workers came in my yard and dug a 15 foot by four foot by four foot deep hole in my yard, replaced a pipe and uh replaced the hydrant.

I was waiting on uh the replacement of a sod and grass, no one ever came and uh fixed my yard.

And I've been waiting and calling my uh city councilman in 311 for the past two months.

Nothing has happened, and uh I need some results.

Will you talk Rebecca?

We'll get some action on that real quick.

Ms.

Williams.

All right, thank you.

What's it public works, probably?

Yeah, public works.

They came and replaced the fire hydro.

Uh yeah.

Yes, sir.

Talk to Miss Williams.

We'll uh we'll give you some help.

Oh, Councilman Slainus.

I procedural motion.

Oh, uh you recognize.

Yes.

Um, I'd like to uh suspend the rules to move up Hannah Dometo to be the next speaker.

Okay, motion made in segment.

All in favor say yes, those opposed to make motion pass.

Hannah Romero.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mayor, members of council.

My name is uh Reverend Hannah E.

Atkins Romero, and I serve as rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Midtown Houston.

I'm a co-founder of the Migration with Dignity Coalition, a faith-based ecumenical local group that recently advocated for the end of non-traffic safety stops and an end to Houston Police Department collaboration with ICE.

One of our members received recognition from you all at the beginning of this session for World Refugee Day.

I come as a pastor, a Houstonian, and someone who has spent years walking alongside immigrant families.

I'm here because the death of Lorenzo Salgado Arrajo has shaken our city.

I've been to several vigils over the recent week where the family members have shown up seeking support and answers.

We are told that he was not the intended target.

We have learned that officers were reportedly operating in unmarked vehicles and without body cameras.

Fox News 26 and others quoted DHS that ICE agents were acting on a tip from their local law enforcement partners in Houston.

I can only assume that that was Houston Police Department.

Whether every detail is ultimately confirmed through investigation.

Those facts alone demand transparency and accountability.

If armed officers can peruse, pursue someone in unmarked vehicles without body cameras, and an innocent father can lose his life, then every Houstonian should be asking what safeguards exist to ensure that this never happens again.

We especially call for the protective measures of the three brave witnesses, presumably undocumented as they were taken into detention centers, that Houston, that you all make sure that they are safe, that they are protected, that they are not deported, that they are able to tell the truth without fear about what happened that day.

I ask this council to insist on full transparency and to do everything within your authority to protect the lives of everyone who calls Houston home, whether they have a slip of paper, a certain number, or not, and to not let Governor Abbott reverse decisions that you make as a city council.

Justice is not about politics, justice is about truth, and truth is the beginning of healing.

Scripture teaches us that every human life bears the image of God.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25, I was hungry and you gave me food.

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.

The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you.

For you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

These are not simply religious ideals.

For five long years, girls and women have been denied their fundamental rights to education and excluded from school, universities, and many aspects of society.

Today I stand here as a proud member of the refugee community in Houston.

Thank you for recognizing World Refugee Day and for honoring the strength, resilience, and contributions of refugees.

I'm truly grateful for this recognition and the opportunity to be here with you today.

We are currently and respectfully asking you to work on policy that ease the fear and chaos in our communities.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Mink Jawandor.

To be followed by Sharifa Hussein.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I'll start by saying world peace starts in your community.

I am Professor Joander.

I'm a proud Eustanian.

We are here today because we are recognized as refugee and it's a World Refugee Day.

But as a former refugee, I want to thank the mayor.

I want to thank Councilmember Thomas and all the rest of other council members, and especially uh Honorable Salinas for inviting us here.

We are here today also, but we cannot ignore what's going on in our community.

Also here because of the lingering fear in our community due to the current uh immigration policy change.

Uh, like my colleagues say we are kindly and respectfully acting for policy to be eased and so the fear can go away in our community.

Can we grant in our community that confidence has been tested?

As a as a professor in college, I see this we in real time.

After every class that I teach, the students come back in my class and tell me that my parents cannot leave the house three or four days now because they feel like somebody will follow them home.

And if we don't work on policies that can ease this fear and chaos in our community, we're gonna keep having problems like uh what we have right now with Lorenzo.

So we just kindly and respectfully.

Sometimes people speak out of passion.

That's why we have all this chaos from people that come here.

But that's how life is.

When somebody likes to go away, you can't come back.

So we have to understand and respect that.

And we should work on policy that can change things around based on what's going on.

And I want to thank everybody and thank the people that are here to sympathize with the family, and please let's keep their family in our heart.

I just want to say that thank you.

Very good.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members, and members of the community.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Sharifa Shakira.

I am Rohingya woman from Myanmar, or known as Burma, and the founder and executive director of Rohingya Women Development Network.

It's an um 501C here.

I stand before you not only as a former refugee, but also a proud historian and a proud U.S.

citizen who deeply values the opportunities, the freedoms, and the responsibility this country and the city has given to me.

The Rohingya people are one of the world's most persecuted minorities.

Many of us flight genocide, violence, and persecution in safe in search of safety.

Houston has become home to many refugee families.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to rebuild our lives here.

But rebuilding a life requires more than safety.

It requires opportunities, inclusion, and meaningful integration.

We need greater support for refugees' integration through education, English learning, uh language learning, workforce training, skill development, mentorship, and service engagement.

We also need guidance and access to resources that help families become self-sufficient and active members of this community.

When refugees are given the opportunity to learn, work, participate, they become entrepreneurs, skilled workers, community leaders, taxpayers, and volunteers.

We strengthen our communityhood, contribute to our economy, and enrich the culture fabric of Houston.

I also encourage greater civic and political participation among refugees.

When people understood how law, how local government works and have opportunity to engage with their community, they became more connected, more responsible, and more invested in the future of the city now they call home.

Now they call home.

Very good.

I asked you to see refugee as a I I see um I asked you to see refugee not as burden, but as a people with extraordinary resilience, unstopp unstoppable potential.

Every refugee represents human potential, waiting for the opportunity.

Thank you, ma'am.

When we investigate, uh invested in education, skilled leadership and integration.

We are not simply helping refugees.

We are investing in Houston future workforce and economic community.

Thank you.

Once again, thank you for your time.

Thank you, ma'am.

Roger Heard, Alexander.

To be followed by Sandy Vinto.

How are you doing?

Um Roger Hurry that is down there.

Um I was here a year ago.

Um I did 24 years in prison, and um when I got out, they they found me I did over my time, and um when I came home, they didn't do anything for me.

Um I found my paperwork, and still yet is another year back.

No, um as you got the hospital.

I have what they call incarditis, and um they don't have no insurance.

They um they put me out that's at least six m six weeks worth of IVs.

Um I'm homeless.

Um it's just like everything I'm trying to do, you know.

Um I'm hitting a brick wall, you know.

This thing up here about I haven't watched TV, I never knew and never even knew it was going on with butter ice and things, you know.

Um I'm in the streets trying to just survive my body, my body hurts.

I can't get my medication, but um my medication, I think it's two seventy.

27 dollars.

Um trivia IV.

Where uh where do you reside?

Um I was uh I'm I'm in the third war area now, but I'm homeless.

I have nowhere they just put me at the hospital uh the whole past year.

I just been in the streets.

Are you still on parole?

No, this choice.

They found out um I had to do a 2254 to the federal government for them to re to release me because they had me way past the time I posted the emerson Councilmember Airworth.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

Hurd Alexander.

Um, if you would see the lady right there, uh Ingol Mitchell.

And she can maybe talk to you.

I know that you are a district D.

Well, that's the address you gave, which is right down the street from the Jack Ace High School.

All right.

Jay when I'm Jay Wild for life.

But certainly, if you could have a conversation with her, then maybe we could help to navigate you uh to where you need to get um health care.

Now health care in this country, sir.

But we will do what we can to try to see if we can assist you.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, she's right there behind, right there in the jacket.

And right the end of the world.

Okay, thank you so much for coming.

Sandy Vinto.

I thought it was her.

Mr.

Q Annie Manus of Katie to be followed by Paul Manus of Katie.

Hello, um, Miss Mayor Whitmeyer.

I uh this is my first council meeting.

I heard you speaking, and I heard you speaking in the beginning with sensitivity and intelligence about ice accountability.

I was glad I was, I guess, surprised, but you spoke with sensitivity.

You spoke with what sounded to me like commitment.

So I just want you to hear you, and I'm listening, and I'm I'm wanting you to follow through with that.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am, for being here.

Yes, sir.

Okay, I'm I'm next up.

I'm Paul Mona's her, and he is my wife.

So I was next up to speak, if you will.

Can I go now?

Yeah.

Okay, so um, I grew up in India, and I spent my early life there, and so I came to America, even though I had American parents as a sort of immigrant.

One of the things that I respect most about living here in the U.S.

and about Houston is the rule of law.

And I think we need to get ICE to follow the rule of law.

I also went to University of Minnesota for my education, and up there, the public tried to rein in ICE by following ICE around and documenting it.

And as you know, Alex Predi and Renee Good were shot trying to just film what ICE was doing to have a record.

An idea I had to present to the city council is maybe you could assign a police officer with a body cam to follow the ICE officers around, at least until they change their behavior.

And at least I would have warned Lorenzo that there was an ICE event happening because he had no way to know.

So that's just an intervention that could be done, like the public did in Minnesota.

So I thank you for your effort, and I support your getting to the bottom of what really happened.

Thank you for being here.

Okay.

Next.

Councilmember Jackson has a procedural motion.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm going to suspend the rules to um have Kendrick Sampson as the next speaker.

Motion made in the segment.

All in favor, say yes.

Those opposed to make.

Motion passes.

Kendrick Sampson.

Hey, how's it going?

Um, I am so proud of Houston and them standing up right now.

Um my question, honestly, is why is Houston not protecting his people?

Um that's that's my direct question.

What are we waiting for?

Where do we draw the line?

Like where what line do we have to draw?

Cut ties with ice, period.

There's a rise in violence across the United States and specifically in Houston, and the rise in violence is coming from law enforcement.

From cops to ICE, there's a shootout.

I mean, the anniversary of Sandra Bland's murder was yesterday.

Yesterday was the anniversary of Sandra Bland's murder.

And in 2026, over a decade later, law enforcement is having shootouts with unarmed citizens, and now y'all have invited ICE, law enforcement from outside of our communities to come in here and murder our citizens, our people.

Murdering a citizen like Lorenzo Salgao Arajo.

We have been fighting for accountability for police corruption here, and now y'all are inviting and collaborating with law enforcement from outside of our city to abuse and murder our people.

Why aren't y'all protecting us?

That's the question.

Where do y'all draw the line?

It should only take one.

It should be not one more, not one more murder, not more, one more abuse case, not anything.

Not waiting until it gets to our front door.

If we're if you're not going to protect us, we should not protect y'all.

We shouldn't protect y'all's seats.

We shouldn't protect collaborating with ice, collaborating with ice is collaborating with Jim Crow.

Thank you.

It's collaborating with the delusion of white supremacy and with the huge population of black and brown migrants that we have in this city.

The call to abolish ICE and disconnect everything from ICE should be loudest from Houston.

Okay.

And from our leadership alone, we should be the loudest on the world stage saying abolish ice, cut ties with ice, and we then get them the fuck out of Houston.

Andrew Patterson.

Adriana Telez.

And then he's here.

Okay.

To be followed by Adriana Telez.

Well, Mayor, City Council members, and I want to thank you, Mr.

Pollard, for putting my name on the list.

Uh today seems to be a very difficult day for everybody.

But to make it long and short, the mayor stood up yesterday and said there's very little that can be done with regards to doing any topic.

Investigation.

And he's right.

There is nothing we can do because the Pedal Drone is handling it.

But what we can do is we can get the HPD and the Sheriff Department get the best personnel that do investigations and get them deputized.

By ICE.

So they can do the investigation.

And they can make sure that all evidence and documents and everything else is done properly.

It's not going to disappear.

It's surprising to learn how many deaths have occurred in the U.S.

as a result of ICE intervention and doing things.

But supposedly they know 4,000 violations that have occurred those guys even know one or two.

And actually, how to handle themselves in a situation that law enforcement is hot.

It's rather unfortunate the results are that people are killed.

Um just a couple of things.

Actually, just one thing.

Please.

We have to understand that ICE was created by a president who recently stated that the countries in the Middle East that are fighting America, and he pointed out specifically the Republic, the Islamic Republic of Japan.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Also, sing bedwinsa is another term that's used in Spanish to describe the uh ICE.

Singbedwensa.

Thank you.

Nick.

Adriana Televis.

Yeah.

Oh, okay.

To be followed by Maria Cervantes.

You can pull that down.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

We stood, or at least I stood, in this chamber months ago, and warned you this very thing would happen.

And uh told you where this road would lead.

But when the pressure came, many of you abandoned your promises.

You made to the immigrant community.

Today, Lorenzo Saldo Arauco is dead, and I have to ask Council members Diaz and Martinez and every Hispanic council member sitting here today.

What will it take for you to stand with your constituents instead of siding with very little political pressure?

Will it matter when it is your father, your brother, your son, or someone else you love?

Help this family bring Lorenzo home and demand a full independent investigation and publicly commit that HPD will not collaborate with ICE and remember that being undocumented should not ever be a death sentence.

Sadly in this Houston.

You know, I ask you, sir.

Am I am I next?

Am I gonna walk out of here and get a bullet in my head?

My heart.

Shouldn't even happen.

I don't know if you guys have a father, but it is very tragic to lose a parent.

Very tragic.

Now when you lose the weight, Lorenzo's children lost him.

You know what are we waiting for?

Look at me, I'm shaking.

Am I gonna die from my underlying conditions?

Or am I gonna lie from a bullet?

You know, ice hunts us worse than animals because when we call animal control, do they just shoot the animal?

No, they pick them up, right?

Alive.

Because you know what?

If they kill them, you know, there's proof.

And we incarcerate those people, right?

Immediately.

We say, oh, look at this person, they killed the dog.

But here, what more proof do we need to make a proper investigation?

You know, for for the for the poor people that keep dying all over the nation, not just here locally.

Yeah, but sir, we plead to you.

We put you in this place.

I'm an American citizen and I grew up in East End, specifically Magnolia Park.

And I don't know if you remember the incident of Joe Campos.

Below Marine.

If you guys don't know about him, he was a beloved Mexican American of the community, 23 years old, shot and killed by law enforcement.

No, I don't even consider ICE law enforcement.

They're just like hunting dogs that are killing us left and right.

They don't even ask questions.

They shoot and ask later.

Is that true or not?

Thank you, Mayor.

You know, and no, my time, my minute is not up.

We will not allow another murder to happen in this city, in this county.

I come here today to ask you to get ICE out of the streets of Houston.

I know you can do it because our previous uh alcalde mayor, you know, did it, you know, when Chief Acevedo launched the investigation for the people that were killed when Mayor Sylvester Turner was here.

He was able to do a very thorough investigation.

So I ask you, sir.

Not with bad words, not with you know any I'm so tired of sitting here because my body is very sick.

I have written to Miss Martha in the past before, Maria Cervantes, and she's a very nice lady.

But you, sir, I don't want to think that you are an animal that cannot even animals have feelings, you know, they can feel other people's, you know.

Very good.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

Nick.

Doctor.

Dr.

Kiginio Fernandez Sanchez.

Oh.

To be followed by Kaylee Gallaro.

Good afternoon.

My name is Sijinio Fernando Sanchez.

I am a nurse scientist and researcher at the Texas Medical Center.

And my research focuses on HIV, human trafficking, and immigrant health.

And today I'm here, very concerned about the consequences of enforced ice in the city.

I am tired of watching our immigrant communities being targeted, stigmatized, and weaponized because of our color of our skin, our immigration status.

Through my research, I don't witness it fear like I've never seen before.

That fear has driven people away from medical care, increasing psychological and mental health.

People are delaying medical care, missing appointments, and avoiding hospitals because fear of detention.

Family separation and now killing.

For people living with HIV, interruptions and treatment can have serious health consequences.

I have spoken with research participants, experienced an overwhelming anxiety, depression, and they worry about their future.

I also worry about their future.

Fear also makes victims of human trafficking less likely to seek health care, report abuse, or work with law enforcement.

It threatens the power of traffickers and weakens community safety.

This is not only an immigrant issue, it's a public health issue.

It's a mental health issue.

It's a human dignity issue.

As elected leaders responsible for the well-being of Houstonians, I I encourage you to look at the health consequences that carry out their responsibilities and make decisions that affect our communities.

Thank you.

Kaylee Gargato.

Hello, Mayor, uh City Council.

I am a district K constituent and a UH alum.

I just want to start by saying that I think Houston is such a beautiful city.

When I think about the beauty of Houston, I don't think about things like the skyline.

The first thing I think about is the people who live here.

When I see my fellow Houstonians and all their colors and shapes and cultures, our community is where Houston's beauty lives.

Recently, there have been more and more attacks from our state and federal government on our community in attempts to strip us of what makes us beautiful.

ICE has forcefully infiltrated our community and is taking our brothers and sisters alive or dead.

These attacks should not be permitted.

And I call on you, Whitmeyer and the City Council to stand up to Abbott and Trump and their administration and fight with us.

People are dying, and families are getting torn apart.

People are being tortured in detention centres.

There is no space for complacency.

It is time to be brave.

I am asking the city to follow in the footsteps of other major cities across the nation and focus on passing policies that place limits on the tactics that ICE uses.

We need to see harsher ordinances that further restrict ICE and HPD collaboration.

We need to, in order for ICE to operate within city limits, we need to make sure that they are not concealing their identity, have body cameras on and recording, and are not concealing the vehicles so that they can infiltrate our communities and hide amongst our own.

Whitmeyer and honestly the rest of the city council here.

Y'all have campaigned to keep us safe and quote from Whitmeyer's campaign, violent keeping violent criminals behind bars.

Well, there are violent criminals in our streets, destroying the lives of people who are just trying to make a living.

What are y'all going to do to keep that promise?

Thank you.

Thank you, Kaylee, for being here.

Our district K constituent and former district K intern.

Thank you for lifting your voice.

Thank you for the work that you continue to do and your engagement.

And we hear you.

Thank you, Martha.

Thank you.

Katie King.

To be followed by Carolina Boustos.

Good afternoon, Houston City Council members and Mayor Whitmeyer.

I am the Reverend Keaton King, associate pastor of St.

Philip Presbyterian Church in the Galleria.

As clergy, I come before you today to advocate for a full, fair, transparent, independent investigation into the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo.

This homicide erodes necessary public trust in law enforcement agencies.

The public deserves the truth.

The family deserves answers.

If the ICE officers involved in the death of Lorenzo lawfully discharge their duties, then surely they won't mind an independent, thorough investigation.

While the Trump administration has ordered ICE to cease most, not all vehicle stops.

We do not accept that body cameras are delayed because of government shutdowns.

If they are not outfitted with necessary equipment like body cameras, then they shouldn't be on duty.

HPD officers show up to work every day in uniform, complete with their names, badge numbers, body cameras without masks, in properly marked vehicles.

Why?

Because they have nothing to hide.

The Houston community can settle for nothing less than holding ICE to the same standards as HPD.

We need you to join us in demanding that ICE agents be equipped with body cameras and proper identification of all officers and vehicles.

This is a moral test for this city.

We cannot look away while the right to due process is violated by ICE.

Lorenzo's rights were taken from him when unnecessary lethal force was used as a first resort.

A simple review of his ID would have revealed that Lorenzo was not even the target that ICE sought.

Houston cannot abide the ICE approach of shoot first and ask questions later.

Houston City Council members and Mayor Whitmeyer, I implore you to do everything in your power to ensure the independent investigation of the death of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo and to establish higher standards of accountability for ICE agents.

Body cams on, masks off, identification presented, guns holstered.

Thank you for your service on City Council.

Thank you.

Mayor Councillor Salinas.

Reverend King, uh, when I saw you on the list, I thought it appropriate to speak after you since you are my pastor.

I I can't put into words the the fear and grief that the city is feeling right now.

And I want you and all of Houston to know that many of us on this council stand with you.

And not just following the shooting.

Many of us have done everything in our power to limit the cooperation between HPD and ICE.

Many of us have done everything in our power to try to keep ICE out of Houston.

And know that we are gonna keep fighting with you.

We are gonna be out there protesting with you, and we are gonna do everything to make sure HPD does everything in its power to make sure no stone is unturned, and we get justice for Lorenzo.

But you have my promise.

You have the commitment of so many of us up out here on this horseshoe.

But thank you for what you do.

Thank you for your guidance, and you have taught me and so many others.

Faith means so much more than just prayers and words.

It means taking action.

And you have my commitment that we are gonna take action.

Thank you, Councilmember Salinas.

We have your back.

Please keep fighting.

Carolina Bustos to be followed by Aubrey Contreras.

Hi, good up.

Hi, good afternoon.

My name is Carolina Bustos, the first generation Mexican American.

When my family came to the United States, we landed in the barrio de Magnolia.

I don't think ICE could have ever imagined the uproar Magnolia would make.

I am here because it is my duty to speak up for those who are at greater risk.

One in every three adults in Harris County do not have the ability to read or write.

Are Houstonians not showing up to vote?

Or are elected officials selling out after their pockets are lined with money?

Why is it so difficult to do what you say you will?

The people are the city are posted on the wall.

What does that mean or stand for?

When Houstonians speak up and we voice our concerns, what comes from that?

So far, not enough.

We are here to demand a transparent independent investigation and hold those accountable for the murder of Salgado Arujo.

We must not stop there.

We will not back down until ICE is abolished.

Mayor Whitmeyer and other leadership must stay strong on this, even if the governor or president disagree.

They are not Houston.

We are.

You represent us, not them.

Power to the people.

Aubrey Contreras.

To be followed by Hector Magno.

Um, before I start, may I ask if my little sister can also speak because she didn't really want to.

Alright, um, hello, city council members.

My name is Abi Cotreras.

ICE has killed three people in the last week.

First was Lorenzo Salgoda and Barrio Magnola down the street where I first went to school.

The second was John Sub Juan Sebastian who was killed in front of his toddler daughter.

He while he was going to work, one killing that even happened this morning.

I am scared to even go outside with my family, and that should not be happening.

I I'm understanding that it's not okay right now to ICE in general.

And you know how hard that is?

Is it because of my skin color?

Because I don't look like most of y'all right now.

And you know how upsetting it is to hear people call me names a monster.

You know how maybe my sister has to hear that in school.

That we're monsters.

We are not monsters, we are humans, we are not aliens, we did not come from different places.

We are from earth, we are from all the same places.

We beat the same blood, blood right here.

I I cut myself and I bleed.

I I wonder what color y'all bleed.

What color do y'all bleed?

Red?

Oh, and whenever I stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance, and we get to the part and justice for all.

Not all of us have justice.

Look what's happening.

Ice.

What if I get deported?

What if my sister does?

What are my grandma does?

Oh, you see all those people out there?

They're trying to, they're trying to make sure ICE doesn't stay in Houston, Texas.

Do you want to speak?

All right, people.

Hello, City Council members.

My name is Julia Booster.

This is a very sad topic for me and my family because ICE has the power to hurt many families like mine.

Please to be stop Ice.

That's a little girl.

Thank you.

That's a little girl.

Help!

Help her!

Help her generation.

Thank you.

Hector Magno.

To be followed by Jeremy Peel.

Hi.

Hi.

My name is Hector Manuel Gonzalez Magno.

I'm an attorney here in Houston.

I work for the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

And I previously worked for the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

I am here today because I am asking this city to seek the truth behind the killing of Lorenzo Salgal by ICE agents.

And I asked before you, how many more Houstonians must be killed at the hands of ICE before the city takes action.

Mayor Whitmire, you repeatly said that the city cannot get involved because this is a federal matter.

And two investigations cannot be ongoing at the same time.

However, local authorities do have the right to investigate deaths that occur within their jurisdiction.

During the first four days of Lorenzo's death, we needed leaders who stand up for us and to demand the truth.

Not leaders who find their voice after the harm has been done.

It was the community and district attorney who uh who started demanding accountability and they wanted to find the truth.

Every day that passes by without transparency sends a dangerous message that some lives can disappear into unanswered reports, incomplete investigations, and political convenience.

This city has shown it can move quickly, so act now.

We cannot accept federal agents driving around through our neighborhoods in unmarked vehicles where body cams are not being used.

The authority here is that Houston, us taxpayers, we do not want our taxes going to ICE operations nor assistance.

So please stop that with that collaboration with them.

Thank you and have a good day.

Jeremy Peale.

To be followed by Irma Linda Reese.

Hello, I live in District A, and I'm a teacher with 15 years of experience teaching in immigrant communities throughout Houston.

In those years, I have taught a number of uh novels to students that discuss the American dream.

It seems to me that my immigrant students are living the American dream every day.

It also seems to me that Lorenzo Salgado lived the American dream.

He raised a family in Houston, he built our city, and he provided incredible opportunities for his children.

The part of the dream that was denied on the day that he died was due process.

We also know that due process applies to any person on U.S.

soil, not just American citizens.

Because Lorenzo Sargano was one of us, he deserved due process.

Ice thinks they are judge, jury, and executioner, and it is your job as our representatives to tell them that they are not.

Thank you.

To be followed by Anthony Hubbard.

All right, good afternoon, all of you council members, and to the mayor.

Um, I'm a proud Histonian.

I am from District I, my parents have been in Houston for as long as I can remember.

And if I'm gonna be honest, I'm tired.

I'm really, really tired of this.

The fact that everybody in this room is advocating for something as basic as human decency for an internal transparent investigation is insane.

I am a teacher.

There have been educators in this room that have said we have to deal with our students not feeling safe.

We as teachers have had to go through training.

Training that if we don't follow through, we immediately are raked over the coals for.

This needs to stop.

ICE need to get the hell out of our city, and you need to do it now before the next one happens.

And let's be honest, let us be absolutely transparent.

We've already had three deaths.

Y'all say y'all are gonna try to do something, but let's all be honest.

The moment that this hits national news or some other death starts coming into play, everybody's gonna forget about it.

Everybody is gonna forget about it.

And just to remind people, we are in July.

I go back to work in August.

I've got students that have to deal with this.

I've had my school tell us what we have to do if I shows up.

There needs to be transparency.

Anthony Hubbard.

That's gonna require direct action and courage from you.

You told us that your leadership would stop what happened in Minneapolis and many other cities from happening here in Houston.

We can clearly see that did not happen.

And it was not the case.

And for what we can do, all of us are gonna vote in November to vote Abbott out.

But how many months is that?

Should we have to live in fear every single day that we may be shot and murdered in the street for nothing else besides the color of our skin?

For months.

I can vote in November.

I am probably going to vote in November.

Well, what are we supposed to do?

And to say council cannot do anything.

Are y'all are you all going to tell me that a man can be executed in the street?

And HBD can do nothing.

HBD can do nothing while a man is murdered and cold blooded in the street.

My name is Norma Gonzalez.

I am with Uri Juntos and the Houston Leeds coalition.

I have a message for the people of Houston for City Hall, and for John Whitmire.

Because of our city's refusal over the past several months to be transparent and in its collaboration with ICE, our communities have been forced to grieve over and over again.

We are watching our own neighbors be hunted.

We watched it happen here in Houston with Lorenzo Salgado Arajo days later and this morning again.

We're slowly watching this become the norm as you just sit there.

Another tragedy, another press conference, and then we move on.

I refuse to accept this as normal, and neither, and so should you.

Not too many days ago on the 4th of July, many celebrated freedom.

This is not what freedom looks like.

What happened to Lorenzo was not inevitable.

Policies have consequences.

Rhetoric has consequences.

Decisions made in this very building have consequences.

And we need leaders in Houston who are willing to protect every person who calls Houston their home.

The question isn't whether another family will be standing where their Cerrado family is standing today.

John Whitmeyer, we have been standing in front of this building for months.

We've asked you to end Houston's collaboration with ICE.

We warned you that these policies put our communities in danger.

We have reached a tipping point.

Seven days is an unidentified murderers run free.

And I ask why do they have this jurisdiction justice diction?

I ask you all who voted to give police our tax dollars to protect us.

When will you hold these ice ages accountable and identify them to the to the public?

When will you hold the city investigation?

You cut millions in our social services to provide an 820 million dollar reward for HPD.

So where are they now?

Where is our public safety that you have promised us?

How can we trust what you say about providing us public safety when you can't keep us safe from state and federal agents who are negatively impacting the well-being of all immigrants who call Houston their home?

This death is on your hands as you caved into fascism and set forward an ordinance that allowed HPD to fully collaborate with ICE, the same fascist organization that drive in unmarked vehicles, refuse to identify the person, turn off their body cams, and has the ability to kill our members in our community without consequences.

We demand you push to prosecute them, and we demand justice for Lorenzo's family because your continuation of support for them will show who you truly work for.

Uh, not like a year ago when I was a student at uh University of Houston, graduate college of church will work or when we approach uh approach our education committee in Austin because we know how Greg Abbott and uh those community members of Trump's vote.

Now I want to welcome the new council member.

Welcome to this Madness.

No, Mayor Winmeyer.

Sir, how are you?

No, sir, how are you?

I hope um you had a peaceful weekend.

Got to share meal with your family, and I'm assuming in peace.

And many of the members in this council as well.

And business is as usual for you guys.

And when you share that sentiment, you know it's very offensive.

It's very offensive to me.

I'm sure it's very offensive for the people who behind me.

It's not normal what's going on.

And for you guys not to act on it.

It's very disappointing.

And you guys should be ashamed, and we really don't want to see eyes.

We don't body camera, we don't want to see eyes in Houston.

I know you guess I'm not up for election until 2028.

But if we guess they're gonna act properly, maybe this is resigned.

Thank you.

Stelina Villarreal.

I am here to demand three things related to ICE in Houston.

The first is to have an independent investigation as to what happened to Lorenzo Salgado Arajo presented.

The second is for city council to reverse their decision about HPD.

Houston police should not be collaborating with ICE.

And the third is for Mayor Whitmaiers to take actions to toward making Houston a sanctuary city.

Ice should be banned from the city.

I live just a few blocks from where Mr.

Salgado Arajo was killed by ICE agents.

When I heard the news, I was too scared to leave my home.

Today I still fear being on Houston Street because ICE has proven to make mistakes that are fatal or detrimental to our community.

Mr.

Sagado was not the target of ISIS operation, yet he was still murdered.

His innocence did not matter to ICE because they mistook his identity.

Even ICE targeted operations are xenophobic because they isolate and oust humans who are treated as lesser than.

We now know that ICE killed more humans, one in Maine and another in Miami.

The violence will not stop if we do nothing about it.

We must stop ICE.

You all must take action to get ICE out of Houston as policymakers.

You have the power and duty to protect your constituents and the residents of Houston.

Next speaker.

To be followed by Noah Malindres.

Hello, Miss Smith.

Um I wanted to address Mayor Whitmeyer.

Is there a way to be back?

Okay.

Um I was born in and raised in Houston, so I love this city with all my heart.

I'm a resident of District C.

And I took the afternoon off from work to be here today because I am horrified over the murder of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo at the hands of ICE agents in our city.

And two days after this murder, Mr.

Mayor, who I you know I'd be speaking to him directly if he was here, uh, you stated that Houston police don't have the authority to investigate, adding and I quote This is a time for the federal government to oversee their employees.

As if you believe they did such a great job with that when ICE murdered two people in Minneapolis.

Then legal experts at the South Texas College of Law disagreed with your initial position, Mr.

Mayor, and on Friday, July 10th, you flip-flopped and called for an independent investigation.

And I find it disgusting that you take the weak and impotent fascist enabler position until you are called out for it.

After the ICE murders in Minneapolis, Houstonians marched down here and demanded a real plan for protection for when these deputized neo-Nazis bring their terror to our city.

And apparently the only plan y'all had in place was to uh vote down that ordinance.

Um Ken Paxton sued the city over that ordinance.

Y'all could have fought back in court.

You chose not to do that.

You chose not to stand up to these fascists who love to repeat the old don't mess with Texas slogan out of one side of their mouths and then out of the other, threaten us if we protest their Gestapo, who are not just messing with Texans, now they're killing them.

I want to thank uh council members Salinas Thomas and Edward Pollard for standing up to fascism from the jump.

Mr.

Panzerella, I trust you would have voted the same as Ms.

Kamen did.

The rest of you are fascist collaborators.

And if you don't want that to be your legacy, then consult the city attorneys on your payroll paid for by our tax dollars and figure out a plan to fight back with specifics.

What is your plan?

Because if you don't have a plan, I'm left to assume that the 13 of people up here sitting up here who didn't fight back are bought and paid for by Core Civic.

Thank you.

Trust in law enforcement is an important part of our society.

In the course of attending several protests around the murder, Mr.

Salgato, I've had the opportunity to talk to many police officers there.

These are hardworking people in a difficult job, and they deserve to be above suspicion.

Unfortunately, in reversing Councilwoman Salinas' ordinance last April, City Council has raised fears and distrust across Houston towards HPD.

The trained officers of HPD do not deserve to have their professions besmirched by being forced to associate with a gang of bugs recruited by a criminal federal government to terrorize and harass our communities with hardly any training.

Many of these people are joining ICE because they couldn't get into the police academy.

So why do we want our officers working not just with them but for them?

So for the safety of our communities, as well as the integrity of the HPD, I asked that City Council resolve to make every legal effort to remove ICE from Houston and to refuse collaboration with them.

Congress, uh sorry, Councilman Penzerrell, I really appreciate your comments today, and I hope you reverse your position to join Councilwoman Salinas' efforts.

And uh, Councilwoman Edwin Shapaz, you also voted to uh repeal uh Councilwoman Selinas' ordinance.

So I'd appreciate it if you let us worry about our voting since we also have to worry about yours.

Thank you so much.

Maria Gonzalez.

To be followed by Jennifer Delott.

Mr.

Mayor, Council members.

I was here two m about a couple of months ago telling you my students were scared.

They're still scared.

I appreciate you all sitting here and listening to the anger and the frustration.

I need you all to do the right thing.

And I'm with Bill Booker.

Let's start playing hardball with the state and the federal government.

I need our city attorney to start figuring out how to address this.

And yes, let's start suing ICE.

Let's start.

This city can do more.

On Saturday, I have to go before Magnolia Park students again.

These students are scared.

I need to be able to tell them that our city is going to do everything it can to protect them.

Right now, two months ago you didn't.

Let's try to fix that.

Thank you.

Jennifer Delatte.

To be followed by Ambelika Williams.

Good afternoon.

Thanks for hearing me.

Appreciate it.

I woke up last Tuesday morning to hear another person was extraditicially executed by ICE.

This time it was my neighbor Lorenzo.

I bought my house in the East End because it was a safe place to live, because of people like Lorenzo.

Hardworking, law-abiding families look out for one another.

This is why I feel compelled to speak before you today.

July 7th, around 7 a.m., an armed armed masked men wearing no cohesive uniforms who identify themselves in two generic black SUVs with no lights or sirens, chase Lorenzo down canal, ran him off the road, shot him, and then mocked him as he bled out in the streets screaming.

This happened a short distance from Franklin Elementary around 7 a.m.

as children were going to school.

There's absolutely no excuse for endangering innocent people like that.

This was an act of reckless egregious violence.

If they refuse to look and act like law enforcement, how are we even supposed to know they aren't robbers or having a road rage incident or anything else?

How is Lorenzo supposed to know that the mass men wearing no uniforms and unmarked vehicles behaving erratically and attempting to run him off the road were law enforcement?

He'd committed no crime.

I'm not done.

Mayor Whitmeyer, I voted for you.

I've never asked you for anything.

Hell, I don't even want to be here today.

I'm a private person who just wants to live in peace.

But I can't because there is no peace here now.

My hand was forced, which is what your assistant told me on the phone.

She said that your hand was forced.

She said you said it was a federal matter and there was nothing you could do to help us.

Twice.

Sir, with all due respect, that's a load of hogwash.

It's unacceptable.

If our local government can do nothing to keep us safe, what's the point of your office?

If your constituents are afraid for our lives for legitimate reasons, and you're throwing your hands up and saying you can't help us, why should we vote for you again?

Can I get an answer to that question?

Thank you, Mayor.

That was a direct question.

Am I not allowed to get answers to my questions?

As a district H resident, I wanted to address you and also the folks that have come here today.

I know there have been a number of folks from District H and people that are still to speak, but uh, you know, the calls for justice, transparency, the support for the Lorenzo Salgado Ajuyo's family.

Um it's I'm glad that this is happening because we need it.

Um it's important for us to hear from y'all.

And yes, it's important to vote, but it's also important to hear from the people we represent directly.

And y'all asking for demanding for the transparency, the accountability, pushing us to do more is important as well.

Um I have and will continue to stand for a transparent and open investigation that will bring justice to Lorenzo and and to his kids and wife, and want to again thank y'all for being here today.

I hope so.

Thank you.

Next, to be followed by Julia Godinich.

Hey y'all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Umbelika.

I am a proud Houstonian who was raised by South Asian immigrants here in the great city of Houston.

I recently was living in District C.

Now I live in District D.

So just letting you know you have a first-generation person in your district, as well as my wife, who is an immigrant, who also lives in your district.

Immigrants make Houston Houston.

To be anti-immigrant is to be against this very city.

Love for country means love for the people and the values this country stands for.

Those values are liberty, freedom, and democracy.

And I this is not to you, this is for the general public.

To anyone who supports ice terrorizing our communities, most importantly, to anybody who voted for this.

What you did is not patriotism.

My immigrant family loves this country more than you ever will.

Liberty means due process, not unmarked cars and unidentified agents.

Democracy means a government that actually serves this people, not one that tears families apart.

Freedom means walking our streets without fear, yet my family and I feel this fear every single day.

I'm gonna wrap this up real fast.

I'm done, almost done.

To our council, love and service of country means upholding its values and protecting its people.

As elected officials, your job is to protect and serve the people of Houston to City Council.

If you are actual people, God, when it is your time to leave this world, will you be known as someone who protected the people against forces of evil or someone who let the forces of evil wreak habit on the very people you sworn to protect?

Be a patriot, Mayor Whitney.

I know you can.

Protect immigrant communities who define this city and make it great.

Thank y'all.

Hello.

Oh my god.

Hi.

My name is Julia Godnich, and I live in District C.

And I'm here to talk about the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Arajo, which I'm sure you all have heard about this whole afternoon.

And I just want to say that unless you or someone you care about has lived in fear of ICE, you do not understand how we feel.

The killing of Lorenzo was unjust.

We know this.

The witnesses of the killing safety are threatened by the very same people who have shown their arrogance to the law and human decency before.

ICE is not welcome here.

They have made Houston unsafe.

The only dangerous criminals I've seen on our streets are the ones that shot Lorenzo last week and have terrorized communities.

Mayor Whitmire, I know this council told you to leave the investigation to the federal authorities.

Just yesterday, critical evidence was released from Minnesota over the shootings of Renate Good, Alex Preedy, Julio Soso, Celis, and the to the local authorities.

It can be done.

Justice can be served.

I support that decision to push for an independent local investigation, because despite previous claims by this council, we have the resources and we can take the lead.

I was with the protesters last Wednesday at Magnolia Park, and I marched because I believe that all Houstonians deserve the fair a fair and just investigation.

I appreciate the push for a local investigation now, but we need to fight the presence of ice in our communities and ensure that this investigation happens fairly and we prevent ice in the future.

Action is needed more so than thoughts and prayers at this moment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Nancy Gassinov.

To be followed by Kalis Calista Herbert.

I timed this multiple times.

That is significantly less than three minutes, so don't tell me to stop.

Hello, my name is Nessie Gasnov.

I am 18 years old and I am the child of two immigrants from Belarus and Azerbaijan respectively.

A man has died in your city, and his name was Lorenzo Solgado Araho.

You are adults like me, and I don't care about decorum because decorum is just meant to quell the revolutionary spirits, and I will not hold back.

Thank you for the work you have done because I do recognize that, but you have a responsibility to protect your citizens.

And Mayor Whitmire, it is beyond me how much you let the federal government step all over you.

In regards to the investigation, all I am hearing is, oh, well, there isn't much we can do.

It isn't in our hands.

Well, you know what you can do?

Push and pressure more for an independent investigation, or even the bare minimum to get ice out of our goddamn city.

And don't say that isn't possible because Colorado and many other states like Utah have enacted many regulations as such.

All of my friends who are people of color and are also children of immigrants have expressed fear of rice since the increased presence began in Houston when I was in high school.

And as a white first generation American, I recognize my privilege and I speak for them.

No one should feel this scared to live in a country that has been built on immigrants.

I am so goddamn sick of seeing families get ripped apart due to ice.

Power trips and inhumane acts being done to men and women and children.

And you should lie sleepless at night, knowing you are letting this presence run rampant in your city.

The key witnesses of Lorenzo Sagado Rajo's murder are being pressed against a deportation.

And his family, last I checked, hasn't even been able to claim his body.

Ice killed another man yesterday in front of his three-year-old child, if any of you in this council even knew that.

Does it sound like justice to you?

It's anything that anyone is saying getting through to you, because I certainly can't protect my community if you guys do nothing to protect them.

I am Jewish, and seeing ICE, I want to be a Gestapo, kill people and cold blood in the streets is have some of my ancestors eventually die to the Nazis.

And I will not be silent watching ice pathetically try and do the same anywhere, but especially in my city.

Finally, Amy Peck, you once said in an email, quote, there's no better way to stick it to the Antifa type than to show them that they can't stop people from participating in public life, end quote.

Well, there's no better way to stick it to a fascist bootlicker than to show them that you can't stop the people from making every single person on this council feel the crushing weight of their sins and all the screams of the citizens they are letting down and having died in the streets of ice.

I know you hear them out there.

I know you do.

To the Araco family, I have nothing but love and admiration for you.

I'm sorry.

Abolish Ice, free Palestine, the proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.

Thank you.

Ma'am, just a second.

Thank you for coming today.

I don't know what that quote is, but I never said that.

So don't know what that is.

Okay, thank you.

Next to Herbert.

Cassandra Casados.

Rachel Damon.

To be followed by Sasha Monte Rosso, Monte Rosso.

A man was murdered in cold blood by ice in our city.

Not in Los Angeles, not in Chicago, not in Minneapolis, right here in the streets of Houston.

So what are you, as city council, going to do about it?

Who are these ICE agents who killed our brother Lorenzo?

And where are they?

It's been over a week since he was murdered.

Why does nobody seem to know the names of these state-sponsored killers who are wreaking havoc in our city?

This isn't simply the fault of the Trump administration.

Every single one of you on the Houston City Council has Lorenzo's blood on your hands.

Every single one of you who has refused to take a stand against ICE, operating freely within the bounds of our city has Lorenzo's blood on your hands.

Every single one of you who capitulated to Greg Abbott in allowing ICE in police collaboration has Lorenzo's blood on your hands.

ICE may have pulled the trigger, but you handed them the guns.

Houston is home to 1.6 million immigrants.

Nearly 25% of our population.

Immigrants make Houston run.

Yet Harris County is leading the nation in ICE detainments.

Harris County jail holds the most ICE detainees in the entire country.

These aren't just statistics.

They are real people, families, children.

We should be deeply ashamed.

So again, I ask, what are you going to do about it?

We will not allow ICE to lie about the details as it's part of their playbook to blame Lorenzo for his own murder.

And we won't allow you to blame us for his murder.

We need more than hollow statements.

We need answers.

To get up there and say that there's nothing you can do is an insult to all of us who are who participate in the political channels that are made available to us.

Thank you.

We demand an independent investigation immediately.

We cannot allow these armed folks and their counterparts to investigate themselves.

We demand an immediate halt to the collaboration between HPD and ICE that is the primary thing making our communities unsafe.

We demand an immediate halt to the deportation proceedings of the witnesses of Lorenzo's murder.

You represent us, the people, and the vast majority oppose this racist deportation messine.

So again, what are you going to do about it?

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mayor Rittmeyer, City Council, and my fellow Houstonians.

My name is Sasha Montrosso.

And I am a daughter of an immigrant.

Who refused to accept the silence and the face of tragedy?

Lorenzo Sardado was not just another name in the news headlines.

He was a human being.

He had a family who loved him, dreams of his future, and people who expected him to come home that night.

Before they had time to grieve, they were met with closed doors.

This is not compassion.

This is not leadership, and this is not justice at all.

Justice cannot depend on who put the trigger.

Accountability cannot disappear because the federal badge was involved.

When a life is taken, every level of government has a moral responsibility to seek the truth.

If we cannot even ask the questions, how can people ever get the answers to the truth?

Today we're asking city council to do what is right, not because it is politically convenient, but because it is morally correct.

An independent investigation is not an attack on the law enforcement.

It is a commitment to transparency, accountability, and the principle that no one is above scrutiny.

Mayor Whitmeyer and members of the city council, history will remember the choices that you decide to make in moments like this.

You somehow will not remember the talking points or the excuses.

They will remember whether you stood with a greedy family or turned away from them.

They will remember whether Houston chose courage or comfort.

To Lorenzo's family, you should never have to fight alone, and neither should anybody.

This is the kind of a city we choose to be in.

A city that looks away when difficult questions arise, or a city that believes in every dis every life deserves dignity, every family deserves answers, and every abuse of power deserves accountability.

As the great labor leader and civil rights activist, the Laris Cuata once said, every moment is an organizing opportunity.

Every personal activist, every minute, a chance to change the world.

Today our service is not measured by words, but by our willingness to stand up for justice when it is hardest to do so.

If we remain silent for one family, how can we expect to see sentence?

I'm not finished yet.

I am not done.

With all due respect, I'm not finished.

We send a message to any family that can be next.

If we stand together with courage, compassion, and conviction, we can build a Houston where truth is never buried, where accountability is never optional, and where every person, regardless of who they are, is treated with dignity that they deserve.

Today I ask you to choose justice and to choose transparency.

Choose the people you were elected to serve.

Because if justice means anything at all, we all deserve to have it.

Thank you.

That ain't gonna work.

One at a time, please.

One at a time.

No, no, one person at the public here.

Well, they're here.

They are here.

Okay.

I know y'all would like to have an incident, but you're not gonna get your way.

I'm gonna ask you, I'm gonna ask you respectfully to follow the rules at one person.

We're not speaking, she is one person at the time.

I'm so glad that one of you mentioned uh voters and that we parents should be teaching our children.

Let them go.

I can't see basis all day long.

I'm up till three o'clock in the morning talking to people.

I have groceries in my car right now to deliver to an undocumented person.

Thank you.

Why are we doing your job?

It's a setting to come up here and and you're not even looking at me.

Okay, you've got 30 seconds to finish.

And I'm gonna respectfully ask you to follow the rules.

A city ruled by fear creates communities that learn to survive without their leaders.

If we have to keep doing your job, you were the job that you were elected to do, then eventually the people are going to ask.

Why do we even need leaders at all?

Democracy.

They came here to see you guys act like leaders, and you're not leading.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, there's someone's back to Jesus.

Christine Vaux.

To be followed by Julie McShay.

Good afternoon, City Council.

My name is Christine Fo, and I'm a resident of District A.

It's astonishing to me that even after a year of community members, organizers, and families coming to City Hall to demand you to do something, anything to protect us from ice.

You have done the exact opposite.

And now we've lost a community member to ice.

Council member, don't say there's not much that we can do.

At the bare minimum, you should be joining us in the streets, passing policies to end ice operations in the city, and standing up to the full right state government and Trump calling to abolish ice.

When you choose to allow ICE to operate in Houston, you're sending a message to all of us whose lives are of value and whose are disposable.

Houston is home to 1.6 million immigrants.

How many more immigrant fathers need to be killed before this council decides to actually do something?

How many more families need to lose a parent before you decide to stand up to Trump and Abbott?

Lorenzo deserved to come home to his family like all of you on the city council get to.

Thank you.

He deserves to grow old with his family.

And not for you because you failed him and he failed the city.

Conduct an independent investigation and get ice on our streets.

Justice for Lorenzo.

Before I begin, I want to just clarify that I do have three minutes, correct?

One.

Okay, I would like my time to start now.

I am Professor July McShay.

I teach at an HSI.

So this is critical to me because my students are a part of the community that is being targeted.

Growing up, my favorite song was I believe the children are the future, The Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston.

And today I have seen that the children really are the future.

Because the young people have come up here today and they have read y'all for filth.

They have told you how they feel, and they have also expressed the power that is in them that they will be voting.

And some of you may not have any more political futures because the children have spoken.

And the Bible says from the mouths of babes.

You have heard it from the mouths of babes today.

I am only the teacher.

I model myself after my creator, after my savior.

And so I teach the children.

But let me just say to you, as a body, that is incumbent upon you to set politics to the side and stand up for your fellow Houstonians.

It is time for you to speak up and stand by your fellow Houstonians, whether they have citizenship or not.

Three hours ago, exactly at 154, we heard you present um global refuge day, refugee day, right here in this very chamber.

A lot of our immigrant community members are here because they came as refugees, whether official or unofficial.

So it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to stand up for our neighbors.

The Bible teaches us that in Matthew chapter six.

I'm a member of the social justice ministry at my church.

So if you hear me cuss, it's because I'm Peter.

But if you hear me speak up and use the word of God, it's because I live by it.

But I'm also on y'all behinds as a politico.

I expect action.

I expect you to demand action, call on the Texas Rangers, stand with our county attorney, Sean Tier, and stand up for Houstonians.

We cannot afford to lose another father, business owner, husband, neighbor, friend, uncle, business owner.

Thank you.

We can't afford it.

A man was killed today in St.

Augustine, Florida.

The Miami Herald reported it.

This is serious business in Houston.

We have an opportunity, Mayor Whitmar.

You have the opportunity to be a historic mayor by standing up and creating policy and making demands at this moment.

In our nation where people, citizens, and residents of these United States are losing their lives.

Their 14th Amendment right to do process is being snatched away from them.

Thank you very much and have a great day.

Thank you.

Mayor Pro Pair.

Ma'am.

Professor Mc Professor McShay.

Julas.

Mayor.

Professor McShay, I wanted to uh thank you for coming today.

Um, not only for your words, because we hear you, um, we watch you, we see the work that you are doing.

Um, your civics and campaign school has been instrumental in the short time that you have started that, but you have taken on the mantle to make sure that the people in the community actually know the process and they know what their powers are and they know how they can affect change, and we need more of that.

So we appreciate you being here today.

We appreciate you always lifting your voice and encouraging others to lift their voices, and I did want not want you to leave today without telling you that we see you and we appreciate the work that you continue to do for the city.

Thank you so very much.

Thank you.

Sarahi Garcia to be followed by Salma Garcia.

My name is Saray.

Saraí Garcia, let's get it right.

Um, I'm I I was here a couple months ago uh because the youth have been organizing around uh making sure that this did not happen.

Um, I hold each and every one of you all accountable for bending the need to admit and to Trump for not not having any moral backbone or fortitude.

Uh you know, y'all were okay with ice coming and kidnapping our neighbors, taking them to concentration camps, knowing what happens in those concentration camps.

They are fucking concentration camps.

The people are not getting fed, they are not, they don't even have water, little girls are are falling pregnant.

How the hell does that happen?

And y'all were okay with ice coming into our city.

I'm Magnolia Grown.

I live there, that's my community.

I went to school down the street from where Mr.

Lorenzo was shot and murdered by state-sanctioned fucking thugs.

And y'all are here, okay with this, not doing anything, not showing any kind of moral character or fortitude.

Y'all are weak and pathetic.

What kind of leadership do you show, Mayor?

You don't.

You fucking bend the knee to those fucking tyrants up in Washington and over there in the state capital.

Look, I mean, you are supposed to protect your community, but you demonstrated it to us very clearly that you don't give a shit about us.

When that day, when they had that press conference, you went there.

Every fucking politician was there, but you're faced with nothing.

Why could you don't give a shit about us?

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Thanks for letting me uh speak to each and every one of you.

She wants to mayor directly that no one is illegal on stolen land.

Some parkemos, do you know why they're killing us?

Do you know why they're hunting us?

I don't have life.

I have to have white skin.

I'm right here with my brown skin.

In my canoe.

In my blood, it runs.

I have courage, I am bold, I speak for my people.

No, you will not suffer.

And you need to get up out of the city.

It's your job, your responsibility to do something about it.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Javon Tyler.

To be followed by Ruben Garza.

My name is Joe Von Tyler.

I am a native Houstonian.

I live in District D.

Listen.

Silence equals death.

This statement isn't meant to be sensational.

Houston City Council may not have jurisdiction over ice.

But each of you certainly has a voice.

Those who've been silent, I challenge you to use your voice to demand transparent justice for the family of Lorenzo Silgato.

Who was a law-abiding laborer who owned his own business.

You've made a commitment to protect all Houstonians, no matter the color of their skin, their immigration status, their sexual identity, or any other perceived difference.

There is a heartbreaking memorial in remembrance of Lorenzo on Canal Street.

If you've not been there, I'd encourage you to go.

When you go to that memorial, there's a continuous crowd of Houstonians who are there.

And their reoccurring message is that those who live in the East End are not cared for by this council.

No Houstonian should feel that their government doesn't care.

This isn't true.

Now is the time for you to step into history and go into the streets where darkness abounds our streets, this hot, bloody summer.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, City Council.

My name is Ruben Garza.

I'm going to be very honest.

I can't follow any of what the previous crowd has talked about, so I just want to give a shout out to the brave Eustonians who've coming up, who've come up and given their time.

It is possible to prosecute federal uh officers uh for state crimes like murder.

So, like as this investigation continues with DA tier, um there is an opportunity to prosecute.

Um, that's not why I'm here.

What I'm here to talk about is a federal housing act that just passed over the weekend without the president's signature.

Um essentially there's a lot of really good stuff there, but something I do want to point out is federal guidelines on uh infill housing programs, uh single stair reform, as well as uh the innovation grant, which is under section 208 of the Road to Housing Act, which again just passed on July 11th.

Uh in short, the City of Houston can compete for competitive HUD grants up to 200 million dollars for implementing certain uh housing affordable housing affordability policy reforms, including but not limited to, shockingly, eliminating off-street parking requirements.

So the city of Austin has already done so in 2023 citywide.

Dallas has taken a good whack at some of their parking uh requirements.

So they already stand to they already have a competitive advantage against us, and if we want to uh be more secure in uh getting these federal housing grants, we can and should eliminate off-street parking requirements as well as other uh housing related reforms.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next Lindsay Williams to be followed by David Espinoza.

Hi, y'all.

My name is Lindsay Williams, and I'm here as a district I resident, not as my not as a super neighborhood president capacity.

Lorenzo Salgado Orajo built homes, Houston homes for 35 years.

He was a father and a husband, and he wasn't even the target.

The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, and the agents wore no body cameras, even though Congress funded them in April.

My friends and neighbor tell me that they feel like they're being hunted like animals.

And this could that this could be them, this could be their families, and this hurts.

Former sheriff and current county commissioner Adrian Garcia said it plainly.

Harris County is less safe because of this shooting.

And he reminded us body cameras protect officers too.

They prove not more often than not that officers did their dark did their difficult work the right way.

I encourage this council to support the Lorenzo Salgado Orajo Act, body cameras, clear identification, independent oversight.

Legislation like this makes everyone safer, our neighbors, and the agents themselves.

I'm a sixth-generation Texan, a third generation Houstonian born and raised.

I don't recognize my home right now, and I believe Houston can lead here.

Somos Lorenzo.

Good afternoon, Mayor, Council.

My name is David Espinoza.

I'm a member of the Northeast Action Collective and co-director of Language Justice and Community Organizing at West Street Recovery.

Now, as part of my job, I do meet with a cohort of Spanish speaking residents in Northeast Houston to discuss topics like these.

And right now, well, ever since ICE has made their presence known in Houston, people have been scared to go to work, to go to school, get groceries, even come to this very chamber.

While you're you're supposed to be you and the county are supposed to be a bulwark against an increasingly fascist federal and state government.

And only when the ICE ordinance was uh debated in April, only four of you came in, Thomas Pollard, and Salinas stood up for the Latino community.

And I can see right now, maybe potentially a lot of Democrat aligned or liberal uh council members are trying to stay faced right now.

Some of the GOP are probably celebrating this murder.

So now we're a year out from election.

And right now, I'm supporting if you all want to change your mind on that.

Thank you an investigation and do and do so.

Because we we need y'all to stand up for us against the fascists that are coming to take over.

Thank you.

I just want to shame one more group.

Because one people that didn't show up here to speak is HPD.

Samuel, last year being in this chamber during the budget season, they were here plain closed, demanding that they get their raises.

But where are they here?

Where's the where are they protesting the light the abuse against citizens?

Thank you.

Jacob Clemench.

To be followed by Eduardo Duran.

The fan fest uh for uh Walcott Most was a panalumpic Olympic uh got together to show off yet I wasn't informed of it or invited to it.

I I don't know why, because I I was free that day, but um they didn't inform me or um uh invite me to it.

And so uh um I feel like very disappointed because I wouldn't have loved to have gone today in the fanfass.

But um well um say is uh uh bye thank you, Jacob.

It's been a long day.

Thanks for waiting.

Council.

Counselor Evans.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to take the time to recognize Arneta Murray.

She's the city council member from Iowa Colony, and she comes to a lot of activities and supports the city of Houston.

Thank you.

Welcome, ma'am.

Thank you.

Next, Eduardo Duran.

Oh, that dude.

So I'll make this quick.

Uh I have two clips, so um, since uh it's busy today, then I guess I guess I only have one minute, so I'll put the first one and let it play, and then I'll play this second one, let it just play, and then uh uh no comments or anything.

Thank you, BC.

Centralized local issue.

So over the past six months we've been working on this project called the AI data center map.

I'll just bring it up on screen here.

AI datacenter map.org.

And so what's the best way to get people to care about what's going on in the area?

We'll actually talk about what's going on in the area.

So if you live in Denver, for example, and you want to see the impact of local data centers, all you have to do is click on the map.

There you go.

This is a rough estimate of how many how much power and water these centers are using, and that combined with the report.

If Derek, you could bring that up on screen.

This uh this report we published, which you'll be prompted to download.

Okay, so that's that's Derek Bros and uh from uh conscious resistance, and uh that was the first clip, and then I have a second one for you right here.

Thank you very quickly.

Um Thank you.

Um this is talking about a digital one website.

The digital uh bill of rights, which uh was just uh presented to three to three states are considering it your website by companies by uh uh Patrick Wood and Courtney Turner, they went ahead and created this model for a digital bill of rights, and so far we have uh three states that are actually considering and looking at it.

Thank you, sir.

Here's the report of it uh we give me 30 seconds or an extension since I'm the last person.

Uh I will be out of your hair very quickly.

I've launched a brand new digital dollar called Open US D.

So again, it's all coming together.

Now that brings us to our final topic.

Okay, digital bill of rights.

Thank you for being here.

We stand recessed in the morning.

Drive.

This item should only be considered after the passage of item 16, item 18, ordinance amending ordinance 2025-46 related to contract with Terra Nova Consulting Inc.

Item 19, ordinance appropriating 588, 240 dollars.

Authorizing First Amendment to contract with the Gonzalez Group, LP.

Item 20, ordinance appropriate in one million one hundred eighteen thousand five hundred thirty-nine dollars, forty-five cent.

Authorizing First Amendment to contract with Gadbury Construction Company, Inc.

Item 21, ordinance approving and authorizing contracts with Morris Moving and Storage LLC.

Rubicon LLC doing business as Texas Rubicon Transport and Samson Powell Movers LLC for moving and storage services.

Item 22, ordinance approved and authorizing contract with Harris County through Harris County Commissioners Court for Harris County Resources for Children and Adults to implement early warning system and system of care.

Item 23.

Ordinance approved and authorizing interlocal agreements among the city of Houston, Harris County, reinvestment zone number two, the midtown zone and midtown redevelopment authority relating to Harris County's participation in the midtown zone.

Item 24, ordinance approving and authorizing interlocal agreements among the city of Houston, Harris County, reinvestment zone number seven, old Spanish Trail Elmita Corridor Zone and Old Spanish Trail Almeda Corridors Authority.

Item 25, ordinance approving and authorizing interlocal agreements among the city of Houston, Harris County, reinvestment zone number 26, Sunnyside Zone and Sunnyside Redevelopment Authority.

Item 26, ordinance establishing the north and south sides of the 4900 to 5,000 block of Lingonberry Street, North and South Sides between Coffee Street and Chain Street within the City of Houston, Texas, as a special minimum lot size block pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances.

Item 27, ordinance establishing north and south sides of the 4900 to 5,000 block of Mayflower Street between Coffee Street and Chain Street within the City of Houston as a special minimum lot size block pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Court of Code of Ordinances.

Item 28, ordinance establishing north and south sides of the 4800 block of Mayfowl Street between Calhoun Road and Coffee Street within the City of Houston, Texas, as a special minimum lot size block pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances.

Item 29, ordinance consenting to the addition of 0.153 acres of land to Harris County Municipal Utility District No.

477.

Item 30, ordinance approving and authorizing submission of grant application for funding to the Texas Water Development Board Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant Program.

Item 31 Ordinance Appropriating 2,133,787.

Approving and authorizing professional engineering services contract with SES Horizon Consulting Engineers Inc.

Item 32, ordinance appropriating $3,150,000.

Approved and authorizing professional engineering services contract with Trilogy Engineering Services LLC.

Item 33, ordinance appropriating 127,400 400.

As an additional appropriation to contract with Lloyd Smith and Associates, LLC.

Item 34, motion to set a public hearing date for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department's Houston Youth Recreation Program Standards of Care.

Item 35, motion to set a public hearing date regarding the proposed tax abatement agreement with NRG Greens Bio 6 LLC.

Item 36, ordinance appropriating $93,771,329.

Approving and authorizing professional engineering services contract with CDM Smith Inc.

This item was tagged by Councilmember Pollard and was Item 34 on the agenda of July 8th.

Item 37 37 ordinance appropriating $8,525,000, $2,501 and $20,000 approving and authorizing interlocal agreement by and between the City of Houston and Houston Parks Board LGC Inc.

This item was tagged by Councilmember Martinez and with item 38 on the agenda of July 8th.

Item 38, ordinance appropriating 26,437,655.

Approving and authorizing contract with Kewit Water Facility South Company.

This item was delayed by motion 2026-387 and with item 39 on the agenda of July 8th.

This completes the reading of the captions for the agenda of Wednesday, July 15th.

Stay tuned for the next city council session to begin at 9 a.m.

And with that, I wish everyone a happy Wednesday.

Council, please come to order.

And I begin with a heavy heart for Mr.

Salgado's family.

But what I really want to mention this morning, as we keep them in our thoughts and prayers, I want to thank the council for sitting through a long session yesterday that I know from body language and our personal visits was tough on all of us.

I mentioned yesterday at the beginning how we conduct ourselves is important to the family.

Their suffering.

Yesterday, often some of our speakers did not respect their privacy.

And quite frankly, misbehaved would be an appropriate term.

So with your support, we're going to have enforcement.

We'll use good judgment.

A nice little old lady after one minute.

But though, those that are using this tragedy for either political purposes, to build their organization, to incite folks.

This should not be the venue.

And I'm committed to working with each of you and Houstonians.

The display outside that was intended to disrupt us.

But that's okay.

But this is not something that we saw yesterday with the F word, taking the Lord's name in vain.

Again, but I need your support and advice and counsel, certainly those of you that have been here four years longer than some of us.

We had a good session yesterday, and I understand anger, passion, but also understand bad behavior.

And I've probably chaired more committee meetings in Austin than anyone.

Very emotional issues, some police issues, and I give people such latitude.

But I would have not conducted a legislative hearing in the manner that we witnessed yesterday.

It's just wrong.

It's wrong to Houstonians, it's wrong for young people to see that.

But that's what's on my mind this morning.

Because it does, in my judgment, after visiting with the family, they won't respect for the process, they won't respect so we can have our investigations.

And we we deal with misinformation on regular basis, but to be attacking each of us, y'all.

Saying we hadn't called for an independent transparent investigation.

We know that's wrong.

We all have.

We did it last Wednesday as we learned about the tragedy.

And I would ask you to keep the Arajo family in our prayers.

Families asking everyone to leave their phones in the car, and then they will follow Saturday with a private funeral.

So thank you for allowing me to lead.

I said that over two years ago.

There's no real training for this.

Experience does matter.

But I'm thankful for each and every one of you for remaining here yesterday.

I think it's only appropriate that I say Councilmember Martinez was representing us at a conference, an Alejo conference, which is important to his community and this city.

So the politics of attacking him for doing his job at a different venue was wrong because he has been a true community leader from the moment of the tragedy to this very moment.

So thank you, everyone.

Councilmember Pollard.

Thank you, Mayor, and good morning to everyone.

Mayor, I agree with you when it comes to decorum and respect for others.

And so I would I was I would stand with you in and wanting to see that.

I do understand, though, that the public is angered, they're emotional, they're passionate.

And sometimes people communicate in a variety of different ways when they are going through uh a very difficult time.

Um for the most part, people want answers, people want some type of clarity, uh, and people are frustrated with some of the actions of the city.

Um at first we put out or your office put out statements that we couldn't do anything, we won't do anything, and I think that angered people.

Then we put out a request, or your office put out a request for um the Texas Rangers to investigate.

I think people were frustrated with that.

News came back today that they have declined to investigate.

Um we have our own police department here, and one of the largest in the entire country, one of the most capable, with an abundance of resources to look into the death of a Houstonian.

And for whatever reason, it seems as if we are trying to ask everyone else to do what Houston can do for Houston.

And I'm not sure if there's some tactical or logistical or political reasons why, but it just baffles me that in a time of uncertainty that we are leaning on the state government and the federal government on an issue that affects Houstonians when we should be taking the lead ourselves.

And so my question to you is there a plan for us to do our own independent investigation so that we can be in control of the dynamics of trying to get answers for Houstonians who don't have faith in the state government or the federal government to do what's right by Houston, and trust that their local representatives will be able to step forward and do all we can as a city to look into a tragic death of a Houstonian.

And so my question to you is you know, where do we go from here?

And where does Houston go from here, knowing that the troopers have declined, and the federal government, you know, is kind of locking us out from information.

Well, Councilmember, I've been advised to ignore your misinformation, but it's too sensitive to ignore.

HBD and the DA and the FBI are executing a search warrant at 10 o'clock this morning on the vehicle.

We have done everything in regards to an investigation by HPD that is possible.

We met with the FBI, the DPS, the district attorney yesterday at 2 o'clock.

Houstonians understand politics when they see it.

But they also understand because it was on CNN this morning at 7.30, where I was representing this great city.

The long list of things we've done.

ICE actually called them in to a South Padre Island incident because ICE admitted they didn't have the resources or the capabilities.

From the moment, the very moment of the tragedy, HPD's been involved.

No interaction with ICE, the commitment that we've made in practice.

No interaction.

Houston Fire responded.

We furnished the 911 tape to all the parties.

I've heard it.

It pains me that the Sagato family will have to hear it.

It's not.

But I'm not going to debate you.

That's not the best use of our time or productive.

We furnished Sean Tier the 911 tape.

We furnish Sean Tyr the Metro bus video.

So it's so unfortunate.

And I think I spoke to it in my opening remarks.

Words matter.

Messaging matters.

HBD is conducting an investigation.

That's what people want to do.

Homeland Security.

That's what people want to do, Councilmember.

I've got to do that.

People want to hear that HPD is doing extracts.

Council member, I have the floor.

HPD was called to the scene in security.

FBI was there gathering evidence of the actual action at the scene.

But Homeland Security controls the investigation.

We cannot even have the Rangers do the job we requested unless we have a cooperation of Homeland Security.

So we're using every contact we know possible.

The family understands it.

The family wouldn't even dare think the content of your words.

In fact, Sean Tier knows to the point.

They're going to be searching the van at 10 o'clock.

So we've been very clear.

Then Thursday night visiting with Congresswoman Garcia, who met individually with the witnesses that were in the van.

We had more information Friday morning, so we went public with it.

So I probably ought to listen to my advisors and ignore your regular misinformation.

But let me just say this is this is sensitive.

Regardless of your politics, your political affiliation, your position on immigration, this is a time when we come together.

And we're doing that.

Yesterday was a tough day.

I understand the passion, the pain, particularly the young people that were here for the first time.

They're only hearing some of the misinformation that was mentioned a moment ago.

So let's just be transparent as we go forward with the process and the truth.

Because it will set you free.

So to reclaim to reclaim my time.

I want to thank I want to thank and I'll finish in and yield.

I want to thank HBD.

Noe is a leader.

Noy is working around the clock.

I want to thank Silvio Garcia, Congressman Menife, Sean Tier.

Sean Tier will tell anyone.

We're furnishing him most of his information.

That's an investigation.

But we can't get to Homeland Security evidence unless they yield it.

And we're working in that direction.

I appreciate Homeland Security pausing traffic stops.

Although the President this morning tried to overrule that.

On CNN, I call for a moratorium on ICE enforcements.

Their system is broken.

It's a broken national policy.

With the loss in Maine, with the loss yesterday in San Augustine, with our loss.

They've got to be trained in the de-escalation.

Municipals, police, arrest people on a regular basis without the outcome being so tragic.

Homeland Security has to train their officers to de-escalate.

When they have someone cornered or they've identified the person, de-escalate.

We do it on a daily basis here.

Thank you, Chief Diaz, for setting the policy.

And as I said this morning to the nation, if we don't, if you don't remember one thing I say, body cameras.

Very controversial, very opposed by law enforcement.

We did it.

It's an honest, hard-working cop's best friend.

Please do a moratorium.

Fit everyone with body cameras.

We wouldn't be speculating and dealing with misinformation if we had a body camera.

So I've called on Congress.

Put your by put your partisanship aside.

Come together and purchase body cameras.

It ought to be a requirement.

I've watched police departments that did not have them and then had them.

It changes behavior.

People are held accountable.

People are prosecuted.

People are set free.

Officers having false accusations against them.

It's their best friend.

So we're doing everything possible at HBD to investigate this tragic death.

Death.

And anyone that says different is just wrong.

So I appreciate your comments.

And I think Houstonians appreciate your comments because you're the mayor.

People are listening to you.

Up until now, that that's the most that you've spoken out on this issue since it happened.

When it first occurred, you said we can't do anything, we won't do anything.

Now you're in now you're advising us and letting us know that HPD is doing an investigation.

And whoever is advising you not to speak or to respond to council members' inquiries.

People have to get information from their leadership.

If you don't give the information, if you don't disclose the information, that's how misinformation gets out there.

So I know you're not paying attention right now, but ultimately I want Houstonians to know that when matters occur in this city, we have to take the lead.

We cannot wait on state and federal agencies to do the work.

And I do appreciate DA tier and others who are taking the lead and making sure that they use every resource available to them to find answers.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm not my comments, I'm not going to make any comments regarding the process of immigration, but I do want to address, take the moment to address the fact, Mayor, to thank you for addressing the issue of decorum.

We have myself sit here for now two and a half years and watched much of what has gone on inside of the council, and I think it's totally disrespectful to the least ungodly.

Many people, those of us who know that I think it's a shame that people would, those of us who would take the advantage of the of a life lost and use it as political grandstanding, gathering people up to come down.

You don't have to love, I didn't run for office for people to love or like me, but at least you ought to respect people.

Everybody's due respect.

Whether you disagree or agree with Councilmember Shabazzle yesterday, her statement, she didn't personalize anyone.

She spoke as a council person.

But then it turned into personal attacks.

And I think it's, and I understand that because even a council person around this horseshoe disrespected me, and I didn't tell, you know, I didn't go after that person or retaliate because I thought it just identifies the kind of nature and character of some people.

You know, we we we talk about these things, but I think it's it's everybody have a right to the freedom of speech.

I serve the United States as a military armed force person to give everybody that right.

I would do it again.

But but we don't people take advantage of what is freedom of speech and use it as an opportunity to attack people disrespectfully.

And I think I'm thinking the issue of decorum, mayor, I hope that it will be identified and addressed because it's out of control.

The very people who are saying they are demanding emotionally and compassion, I get it.

But some of all of that was planned, orchestrated in order to come here and attack the mayor and the council, and I think the general public by every estimation ought to at least respect this council and the office of the mayor, and without using foul language, as some of us have been used against, and you know, it just sets it sets a precedent that I think is just way out of control.

So, Mayor, I'm I'm I'm just I just want to thank you again for this process because I said yesterday, I was I was in 2024.

I sit in the funeral of Joshua Longaray.

I was at the I was at the service.

I didn't see no protesters when this child was killed.

I didn't see no outrage when her life was taken.

And I didn't see this council use it as a political football.

So I I just pray that Houston, those who want us to be other cities.

I don't want to be no, I don't want to be any other city but Houston.

So respectfully, um I I hope and pray that this get resolved.

And um, but I just think Estonians will at least give the respect to this municipality.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mayor Proteir.

Thank you, Mayor.

I I really want to um say to the public that how governing is perceived and how governing is actually experienced, I think is what we're dealing with now.

Um probably one of the most pivotal moments in what has happened was uh Mayor at the press conference that you held in the proclamation in the uh room upstairs outside of your office.

Uh one of the reporters asked you a question and said, why are you changing your thoughts on this now?

And you and Congresswoman Garcia said the facts have changed.

And I think people need to understand that the facts had changed.

Um for a lot of people the morning that we found out what happened, we had different facts.

And you made your comments with the facts that we had.

And I think it's important for people to understand that governing without trying to be first.

We're in we we live in a society where everyone's trying to be first with breaking the news.

Everyone's trying to be a viral sensation.

Everyone's trying to report it first.

But the responsibility and the weight of people who have different information is important and it weighs on people.

And at a time like this in our city, when people are hurting, when community members are hurting, when a family has lost a loved one, we need to all give each other grace.

We need to all show compassion.

Um I think the direction that we have moved in as a city is a good direction.

We have talked with our federal partners.

Congresswoman Garcia has been a champion on this issue.

She is the Congresswoman where this happened.

She knows the community members, she knows the people in that area, um, and she knows Mayor Whitmire.

And I sat in the room where our Hispanic delegation, um, congressional delegation, city delegation, the DA, the police chief, and everyone came together and talked about what can we do now that we have more facts and we have more information.

And I think we as a city have to be able to be patient and make the decisions as we gain the facts.

And I know it's hard for people because they expect the mayor, the council members, and the leadership to have all the answers right away.

And that's unfortunately just not realistic.

It is important for us to say what we need to do as a city.

We should do everything possible to protect Houstonians.

We should do everything possible to do what we can to keep our citizens safe and to keep this city safe.

But we also need people to understand that we have to give each other grace.

No one person has all the answers.

Yesterday I thought that you know the the members that came, the Houstonians that came to speak during public session, um, we knew that people were hurting.

We knew that people were going to be passionate, and that was public session, and people have a right to come and express their concerns, but I do agree um using the foul language can be a bit much, especially we had young people in the audience.

But I do agree.

Using the foul language can be a bit much, especially we had young people in the audience.

We had young people to speak at the podium.

And I was quite frankly very proud of the young people advocating.

Because this is their city too.

This is their Houston as well.

But I do agree that we do have to ask our citizens for decorum in the council and using extremely foul language towards council members.

And someone asked her a question that said, how how does the President and his administration deal with the daily criticism and cynicism and the foul language and all of those terrible things that you have to deal with on a daily basis?

And she said something that I keep in mind every time we have to deal with tough situations.

She said You as a as a public servant, you have to be able to absorb that pain and never let it cripple your service.

And I thought that was really, really good advice, because yesterday what we saw was a community that was hurting.

We saw people that were in pain.

And we all can agree that hurt people want to hurt people.

And I think that was on display yesterday.

And so I would ask that we all give each other grace and that we not fight amongst each other, but that we fight for each other together.

And that's what's happening now.

The city is collaborating with the DA's office.

The city is collaborating with our Federal partners.

We saw it with Christian Minif uh Congressman Christian Menifee.

We saw it with Congresswoman Garcia, we saw it with D.A.

Sean Tier.

Um there are a lot of meetings that happen outside of the chamber in order to govern this city.

And so it's not just what you see here, it's not just what you see online.

There are a lot of moving parts in government.

So I would ask as people come to speak that they would express themselves the best they can, and we are listening.

We hear you, we see you, we also feel emotions.

We all want Mr.

Lorenzo to be here and for him to have gone to work this morning.

And so it does no good for any of us to fight amongst ourselves, but for us to fight together to try to change the policy so that regardless of where you stand on immigration policy, no one should lose their life in our cities.

Thank you.

Councilmember Alcorn.

Mayor Pro Tem, very well said.

Very well said.

You know, we all hated yesterday, we all hate what's happening.

I've said before ICE's actions are atrocious.

They go against my values and my faith.

We're all mad about it.

And there's a lot we could all say about what's transpired.

But on your initial uh statement, Mayor, you asked for council's help and enforcing the council rules of procedure, which we already have on the books.

Uh a year ago, almost to the day, July 16th, um, Vice Mayor Pro Tem Peck and Councilmember Castillo and I sent a memo to your office.

It was right when we were instituting the the evening public session.

And we sent a memo about enforcing.

I mean, every mayor, I've seen a lot of mayors, every mayor has our own style on how they they go about, you know, public session.

Bill White used to go through his work, and he worked through the entire thing.

Uh Mayor Turner certainly shut down any decorum situation.

Um you have been incredibly patient, more than any mayor I've seen.

Parker, you have you uh it started from the very beginning of your service.

You have let people speak their mind.

You have not, you have stayed very calm in Valerie Jarrett's words.

You have not let it affect your public service.

You listen and you give them the respect.

But we do have rules on the books, and I'm kind of a little old lady rule follower.

So, you know, you're not supposed to clap, you're not supposed to yell, you're not supposed to have something, you're not supposed to do all this stuff.

So, yeah, let's enforce it.

And some of the memo also talked about like streamlining some of it, bringing um like speakers down the list, you know, for the first two rows, so there's not so much like climbing over everybody.

I mean, there's all kinds of little practical practical things we can do at public session.

Um, we get it.

It's your first amendment right.

We want to hear from you.