Thread by @zoyamiddleton

I thought this was public comment, not explain away Houstonians concerns away.

"The ION is not just for Third Ward."

BUT IT'S IN THIRD WARD.

Also, lol, I would not talk about how there was a task force on the issue.

Mayoral paraphrase: This is not about any one geographic area regardless of how where the ION may sit.

Huh?

CMs and the mayor have now spoken for longer than the two speakers so far on the issue.

TY to CM @TiffanyForAlief for pointing out that digital community meetings have features that aren't inspiring trust that demands will be met (example: chat function disabled = no real dialogue). Process matters!

At last a public comment. They point out the performativity of inaccessible, non-binding community workshops and the false idea that all Houstonians will be equally harmed or benefitted by this development.

oooh, he's getting defensive.

"no homes will be demolished."

but the area will become less affordable. which leads to displacement.

@salliealcorn's on camera now and her glasses are F-U-N!

yes federal inaction on climate change is inexcusable, but being the mayor in a city facing continuing climate disasters and appointing a former oil VP to oversee the recovery from #Harvey is yikes.

The mayor is talking about Complete Communities, his legacy project, in response to my comment. Complete Communities is not sufficiently funded (but HPD is). Complete Communities does not have clawforwards.

anyway, here are my comments.

It's Ms.Juanita with the Harvey Forgotten Survivors Caucus talking about the political football with Harvey recovery as a result of Amendment 7.

More about Ms Juanita's experience here:
houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

Turner says we'll have to wait and see what the state (of Texas) does re: her recovery. Her home is slated to be rebuilt by the city program, but Amendment 7 puts that all up in the air.

Ms. Juanita has been waiting for three years.

Alice, another Harvey Forgotten Survivors Caucus member, is speaking on behalf of her mother Dolores who died from COVID19 waiting for a home repair from Hurricane Harvey.

Alice: I am confused and frustrated by the process.

Turner, in reponse to Alice: We want to make sure that all of the people in Houston that their needs are met...I am also equally frustrated with the state and HUD. We will everything we can to make sure that people in CoH's needs don't go unmet.

CM Gallegos offers Alice his condolences and remembers Dolores' smile. (It was an incredible smile.)

We are all frustrated apparently, but some of us have more power and access to power than others. The mayor says the CoH will continue to advocate for every single person who needs their home repaired regardless of who runs the program. I hope so. There are thousands.

Here are some videos that Caucus members filmed of their unrepaired homes back in January:

facebook.com/15752312918/vi…

facebook.com/15752312918/vi…