1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: It's that time, time, time, time, luck and load. 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 2: Michael Very Show is on the air. Hey, come on, man, 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 2: wake up. 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 3: I've said it for years now. 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: He's cogent, but I undersold him when I said he 6 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 2: was coaching. He's far beyond cogent. 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 3: In fact, I think he's better than he's ever been. 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 2: And f you if you can't handle the truth. 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 4: This version of Biden intellectually, analytically is the best Biden ever, 10 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 4: not a close second. 11 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,599 Speaker 2: And I've known him for years. The Prezienskis have known 12 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: him for fifty years. 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 4: If it weren't the truth, I wouldn't say. 14 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: One of my great regrets. 15 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 3: Is that I do not have as much time to 16 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 3: study elections where I could make a choice and make 17 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 3: an indorsement or make a statement about an election and 18 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 3: hopefully make a difference, because there are so many. I 19 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: was asked yesterday in an email when I point out 20 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 3: the Republicans who voted for Dustin Burroughs to be Speaker, 21 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 3: and now Burroughs is as we expected because all the 22 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 3: Democrats were with him, and then a few Republicans giving 23 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 3: him the majority, making the others fall in line. The 24 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 3: question was, why do you always call out Mono, Della 25 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 3: Lacey Hall and the ones you do and not doctor Bonnin. 26 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 3: And I said, well, the truth is because I know 27 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 3: Mono and have known Mono for many years, and I 28 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 3: think he could do better. I don't know Greg Bonnon, 29 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 3: Dennis Bonnon's brother. I know who he is. I know 30 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 3: he and I don't agree on very much of anything. 31 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 3: I know that he's a Republican who sides with the 32 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 3: lobbyists and the Democrats, all while calling himself a Republican. 33 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: I know all of those things. 34 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: But as I said to that person, he's not in 35 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 3: my backyard, so I don't think of him. That being said, 36 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 3: I was asked who I would be supporting in the 37 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 3: Sugarland mayor election, and I said, I don't have a 38 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 3: choice because I haven't studied it. There is a runoff. 39 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: I called several people who I trust in the area 40 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 3: with different sort of perspectives, and all of them were 41 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 3: going with William Ferguson. I said, if you'd like to 42 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 3: come on the show for a few moments and talk 43 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: about the race. So William Ferguson is our guest. He 44 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: is a candidate in the runoff to be the next 45 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 3: mayor of the City of Sugarland, voting May twenty seventh 46 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 3: through May third, with election day on June seventh. William Ferguson, 47 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 3: Welcome to the program. 48 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 5: Or a hello Michael, Good morning, my friend. 49 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 3: Now, as I understand it, Joe Zimmerman is term limited, 50 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: he's been on since twenty sixteen, and it's you and 51 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 3: Keryl McCutcheon as the two candidates who are vying to 52 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 3: be the mayor. 53 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: Tell me a little bit first about you. 54 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 5: Got okay, Michael, You and I have a lot of 55 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 5: mutual friends, one of which you and I met in 56 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 5: your studio before twenty seventeen. And I know you'll remember 57 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 5: when I tell you the name Matt Patrick. Another Michael Ryan. 58 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 5: So Michael's are all around me. Michael Garfield is Sugarland, 59 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 5: and Michael Garfield says he is the real Michael. He 60 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 5: told me to tell you that. 61 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: There you go, so. 62 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 5: Hey, So Michael, I've been a police officer here in 63 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 5: Fortman County since Goodness nineteen ninety two, started with City 64 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 5: of Stafford, been with my wife, my high school sweetheart, 65 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 5: for forty years, since graduating in a Leaf. We've been 66 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 5: married thirty five years. I'm an entrepreneur. I have been 67 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 5: on council since twenty twenty, and I absolutely adore this 68 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 5: city and I adore this county. So it's pretty much 69 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 5: who I am. I'm very conservative. I've always been that way, 70 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 5: and that's why I'm such a fan of yours. 71 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 3: I'm not asking you to criticize your opponent, but I 72 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 3: would like to get a sense. Do you think she 73 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: votes in Republican or Democrat primaries? 74 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 5: I believe historically she's voted in Republican primaries. 75 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: What would you say would differentiate her administration from yours. 76 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 3: Doesn't mean that she has to be terrible for people 77 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 3: to vote for you, but what would be a difference. 78 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 5: Well, I like to say this because I think it's fair. Once. 79 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 5: She's nice, she's smart. He's simply not decisive. I am 80 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 5: very decisive. I do not blow with the political wind. 81 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 5: I go the way that people needs. We represent one 82 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 5: hundred and fifteen thousand people and I will all do that, 83 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 5: and so simply being decisive matters and leadership, and you 84 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 5: know that I do. 85 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 3: Sugarland has seen a lot of growth and development and success, 86 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 3: but with it eventually some of the problems that came 87 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 3: from Houston to be a little more like Houston. What 88 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 3: do you see as the biggest challenges for Sugarland going forward. 89 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 5: Well, right now, we are missing our thirty and forty 90 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 5: year olds. And as you may or may not know, 91 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 5: I'm sure you do. If you want to drive your economy, 92 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 5: you need to have consumers, and our thirty year olds 93 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 5: are missing, and so we're bringing them back through jobs, destinations, housing. 94 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 5: You may or may not know. MD Anderson's building in 95 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 5: our city right now. They're largest building four hundred and 96 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 5: sixty two thousand square feet at University in fifty nine. 97 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 5: That alone is two thousand new high paying jobs. So 98 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 5: our city's really starting to thrive, bringing back our young 99 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 5: people to our city and that's where we're going to shine. 100 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 3: And how do you do that, Well, the key piece. 101 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 5: Is working with our regional partners to bring in these 102 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 5: new jobs. And we do that well. Mayor Zimmerman is 103 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 5: really I mean, he's a great partner to our state 104 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 5: and our nation. So he's been able to really adapt 105 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 5: those relationships and so our corporate partners and trends are 106 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 5: coming back to our city. Our developers are working now 107 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 5: on their plans for Lake Point. You may remember Floria Daniel. 108 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,559 Speaker 5: They've moved out of our city and so Lake Point 109 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 5: Green is now in development. It's been presented to the city. 110 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 5: It's a fabulous development. It's probably a six hundred million 111 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 5: dollar add to our value of our city. Plus we're 112 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 5: in the process of saving to ourhouse the Imperial property 113 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 5: off of Highway ninety that is our history and historically, 114 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 5: based on plans we've discussed, that could be a value 115 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 5: add to our city of nearly one billion dollars. It's 116 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 5: really really a good time to be in the sweet 117 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 5: city of Sugarland. 118 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 3: It is, and I think one advantage is as the 119 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: city of Houston's crime rate and the judges keep putting 120 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: the bad guys back out on the street, people are 121 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 3: simply going to vote with their feet and they're going 122 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 3: to go to Magnolia and they're going to go to 123 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 3: the Woodlands, and they're going to go to Sugarland. And 124 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 3: we've seen it happen. They're going to go to League 125 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 3: City in Texas City. We've seen it in friends with 126 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 3: We've seen it happen. We're going to see it continue 127 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 3: to happen more and more and more. And I think 128 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: it denures to your benefit It is interesting you make 129 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 3: the point of thirty and forty year olds, because I 130 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: know so many people who move to sugar Land for 131 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: the purpose of raising kids. 132 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: But I guess if the numbers are not there, then 133 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: the numbers are not there. That's interesting. 134 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 5: Well, you know, and Michael, you probably again you know 135 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 5: all this. But our consumer, you and I, we're about 136 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 5: the same age. I'm fifty seven, so the evening time 137 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 5: you and I are probably eating at the house. Right 138 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 5: all these thirty year olds I've gotten you families, they've 139 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 5: got your jobs, they're out thriving, and when they're not around, 140 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 5: our economy suffers. 141 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 3: William Ferguson, candidate for Sugarland. It is coming Monday, because 142 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 3: I'm sure you know is Memorial Day again. Since nineteen 143 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 3: seventy one, the holiday has fallen on the last Monday 144 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 3: of May, so it moves around year to year, and 145 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 3: like say Christmas, which is set at December twenty fifth. 146 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 3: I use the term holiday because I went and looked 147 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 3: at a list of holidays coming from the Holyday origin 148 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: is not a holiday in that sense. It is a 149 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 3: holiday in the sense that many businesses will be closed. 150 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 3: Banks because they're always closed and schools and a lie. 151 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 3: But of course it is a day of remembrance for 152 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,359 Speaker 3: those who died. 153 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 2: In battle. 154 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 3: Now many people will expand Memorial Day to the veterans 155 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 3: or active that's we have days for all of those. 156 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 3: Memorial Day is a specific day for a specific thing. 157 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 3: It is also a marker on the calendar rather loosely 158 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 3: for after Memorial Day. The people who love to say, 159 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 3: you know, you don't wear white, or you do wear white, 160 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 3: or what, I never followed their stupid rules. It always 161 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: amuses me when I'm violating one of their rules. People 162 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 3: love to have rules, and they know the rule, and 163 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 3: they love to tell you the rule. You're not supposed 164 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 3: to wear is it? Do you supposed to? 165 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: Yeah? 166 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 3: You know, I guess you're not supposed to wear white 167 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 3: after Memorial You're not supposed to wear white after Memorial Day. 168 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 3: And you know it's the week or two after. Okay, yeah, 169 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 3: you're not supposed to, don't you know. I've heard set 170 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 3: stupid statement made before. You're making it again. Now, Yeah, 171 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 3: you're not. 172 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 2: Supposed to, it says who who're not supposed to? 173 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 3: Everybody knows. Everybody knows, and you're not supposed to. But 174 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 3: why well, yeah, you small minded peon. You heard that, 175 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 3: and you repeat it because it somehow gives you some 176 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 3: sense of belonging to the to the bigger stratosphere that 177 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 3: you repeat. 178 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 2: The things that you don't even know why they're there. 179 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 3: You're just repeating what Versace or some other goofball said that. 180 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 3: If you ever met that person, you'd think, what an idiot. 181 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 3: And then you're just repeating it. But I don't know 182 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 3: why I got off on that. Monday, May twenty sixth, 183 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 3: Memorial Day is also a date in the marking of 184 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 3: a president's You've got your first hundred days, and then 185 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 3: you've got the things that are accomplished by Memorial Day. 186 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 3: President Trump meeting today with some members of Congress Republicans 187 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 3: in Congress to hold the ranks to get a spending 188 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 3: cut in a tax cut bill done by Memorial Day. 189 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 3: Congress will be in recess next week. Some of you 190 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 3: will be attending events where your congressman who is back 191 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 3: in town wants to make the most of it, so 192 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 3: they will be appearing at different events and showing up 193 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 3: at Memorial Day events. That is because they will be 194 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 3: in recess next week. President Trump is trying very hard 195 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 3: to impress upon the members of the Republican members of 196 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 3: Congress that he needs their vote because we've got such 197 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 3: a slim majority. Now, there is an interesting thing happening 198 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 3: here that is easy to reduce to, well, that guy's 199 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 3: an idiot. But you've got Chip Roy and Thomas Massey 200 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 3: and a couple of guys who are holding out and 201 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 3: threatening to vote against it. From a purely principled perspective, 202 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: the bill is not what they want, and I agree 203 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 3: with that. From a real politique perspective of Trump's getting 204 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 3: more than he otherwise would. He expects them to vote 205 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 3: for him with him for this package, which he wants. 206 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 3: He doesn't need, but he wants. I say he doesn't need, 207 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 3: because it's not that his administration is going to be 208 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 3: a failure without it. But this would certainly be a 209 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 3: feather in his cap, and he would like to get 210 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,839 Speaker 3: it going into Memorial Day, and so he's putting the 211 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 3: squeeze today. The art of the deal is not limited 212 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 3: to tariff threats on China or meetings in Saudi Arabia 213 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 3: and investments. This morning, he said that he would like 214 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 3: someone to run against and beat Thomas Massey. Look if 215 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 3: Massey comes around and votes for the bill. Trump will 216 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 3: endorse him the following day. And again, when you watch 217 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 3: Trump for a period of time, you notice this is 218 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 3: a tactic that he uses. He punches you in the face, 219 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 3: and then you know, you think of the Christopher Walking 220 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 3: and Dennis Hopper in true romance. He punches you in 221 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 3: the face and he says, you want, You're gonna get. 222 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 2: More of that. You go, no, no, no, no, you. 223 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 3: Can have my wallet, you can have whatever you want. Oh, 224 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 3: thank you, you're a really nice person, and he hugs 225 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 3: it out. I think the thought that he has the 226 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: hope is to threaten Massy that I'm going to get 227 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 3: involved in your congressional district and I'm going to run 228 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 3: somebody against you, and I'm gonna raise money for them, 229 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 3: and I'm gonna work hard to defeat you. And Massy 230 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 3: can say, all right, I've got my problems with this bill. 231 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 3: It's too big, it's too fat. I'm opposed to that. 232 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 3: But I can work a deal. And he works the deal, 233 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 3: and he brings his his vote on Chip Roy, same thing, 234 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 3: and he's going to put the pressure on them. He's 235 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 3: not going to lightly or take lying down them, not 236 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 3: voting with him. But that is I don't know how 237 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 3: well how much that will be covered today, but that 238 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 3: is a major domestic political development going on today, and 239 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: it is the talk of DC. It is a big, 240 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 3: big deal and Trump, I say, wants, not needs, but 241 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 3: Trump wants to get that deal done. The Trump tax cut. 242 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 3: At the end of his first year in Trump one 243 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 3: point zero. So in December of twenty seventeen, some of 244 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 3: you will remember that tax cut was said to be 245 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 3: about six hundred dollars. It ended up being about two 246 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 3: thousand dollars on average per person. And if you'll remember 247 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 3: what the Democrats said, because they had whatever he does, 248 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 3: they have to criticize, so they said it was peanuts. 249 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 3: You remember we talked about this a lot. Oh, it 250 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 3: wasn't a big deal. That was just peanuts. That's not 251 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 3: real money to people, which was a little surprising working 252 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 3: class people that Trump got them a tax cut. 253 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: When we were told all he wants to do is 254 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: help rich people. 255 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 3: Trump got them a tax cut of two thousand dollars. 256 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 3: And the Democrats were saying, that's peanuts. Well maybe for you, 257 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 3: Nancy Pelosi who's gotten rich with insider trading information, but 258 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 3: not for us. 259 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 2: I asked William Ferguson, candidate from mayor Shogland. 260 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 3: And the folks I've asked they were all behind him. 261 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 3: But I asked him to tell me the difference between 262 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 3: Hi and Carol McCutcheon, because I don't know her. And 263 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 3: I made the point, Carol McCutchen does not have to 264 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 3: be the devil or Joe Biden, or stupid or a 265 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 3: criminal in order for you to believe that you would 266 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 3: make a better mayor. So what would separate the two 267 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 3: of y'all? And he said, I believe I am more 268 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 3: decisive and that that is an important skill in a leader. 269 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 3: And that is absolutely true. I watch when people when 270 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 3: I talk to candidates who will ask for my support 271 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: for a particular office, I will ask them to assess 272 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 3: their opponent. And if it's in a runoff and you're running, 273 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 3: I mean, if it's in a general and you're running 274 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 3: against a Democrat, that's one thing. But if you're running 275 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 3: against a Republican, it is possible that both of you 276 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 3: are good candidates. And I'm always interested how often someone 277 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 3: will say that their opponent is the worst human being 278 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 3: in the history of mankind. It shows a certain lack 279 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 3: of sophistication. 280 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 2: For them. 281 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 3: But it also shows a lack of respect for my 282 00:16:55,680 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 3: or your intelligence to think that person's got to be 283 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: the absolute worst for you to think that I would 284 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 3: be better, It's possible to say that other person is 285 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 3: professionally accomplished, loves their family, is a good person with 286 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 3: good intentions. I think I would be better for this reason. 287 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 3: And to his credit, William Ferguson took that approach, and 288 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 3: I was trying to guide him toward that because I 289 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 3: didn't need him to trash his opponent. I just think 290 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 3: that's a good standard to use, particularly in a Republican primary. 291 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 3: It is a good standard to use that you should 292 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,479 Speaker 3: be able to say something nice about the other person 293 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 3: you are running against. Otherwise I have to question your 294 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 3: veracity when you tell me the other person's the worst person. 295 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 2: Ever. 296 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 3: The Democrats couldn't tell you that Kamala Harris was a 297 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,719 Speaker 3: good candidate, so they just went all in on Trump's 298 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,199 Speaker 3: the devil work. But that was their approach because they 299 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 3: knew they had a bad horse and they couldn't get 300 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 3: you to bet on her. So Jim Mudd informs me 301 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 3: with the White issue that from the Farmer's Almanac quote 302 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 3: in the early nineteen hundreds, those who were well to 303 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:23,159 Speaker 3: do often favored lightweight, bright clothing, white linen suits, and 304 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 3: breezy dresses. Wearing white after Labor Day meant you were 305 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 3: someone who had the means to have end of summer vacations. 306 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 3: Wearing your whites beyond Labor Day was just well showing off. Okay, 307 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 3: interesting chance. McClain is one of the wackiest human beings 308 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 3: I've ever met. He is. He's not crazy per se, 309 00:18:54,160 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 3: but he is extraordinarily artistic in the sense that he 310 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 3: will make up and has made up hundreds and hundreds 311 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 3: of songs in his head. 312 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 2: He'll make up a song. 313 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 3: About a mosquito metamorphosizing Kafka esque into an automobile and 314 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 3: flying driving along and hitting other mosquitoes in the windshield, 315 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 3: and he'll, you know, some of us will think, well, 316 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 3: that'd be a funny concept. He will actually record it 317 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 3: in a three part harmony, and he'll create interesting music 318 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 3: to go with for literally nobody to ever hear. 319 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 2: Ever, And what is the band? Ramon? Is it? 320 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 3: Ramstein? Is am I pronouncing it right? Ramstein? Ramstein? Okay, 321 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 3: he did a Santa Claus is coming to Town as 322 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 3: if Ramstein had sang it for nobody to ever hear. 323 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,640 Speaker 3: In One day, that band's name came up and he said, oh, 324 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 3: I did a tribute to them. I did Santa Claus's 325 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:00,479 Speaker 3: Come to Town as that Why just to do it? 326 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 3: And I guess that's kind of his therapy. But I'm 327 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 3: glad to have a friend like that, because otherwise you don't. 328 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 3: It makes life more interesting. So he sends me a 329 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 3: song he wrote. He said, you don't need to ever 330 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 3: play this. 331 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 2: I start. 332 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 3: You get a kick out of it because you were 333 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 3: talking about the other day that the phrases young people 334 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 3: use today and like, for instance, young well people in 335 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 3: their twenties and thirties, they don't know the word very 336 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 3: v e r y, not va ry, not to change course, 337 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 3: but to mean a lot. They simply don't use that word. 338 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 3: If they say he was super strong, I mean he 339 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 3: was very strong. Everything is super now super is the 340 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 3: replacement for very. But they have all these other as 341 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 3: every generation does. They have their own you know, gag 342 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 3: me with the spoon was the eighties. They have their 343 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 3: own little phrases. And so we were talking about God 344 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 3: bless the USA, and he imagine what that would sound 345 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 3: like if the current youth generation sang it and it 346 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 3: was in their lingo, and so with apologies, here it is. 347 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 6: If tomorrow all my grind and gates got fenosnaffed and 348 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 6: I'm left with just my kids. 349 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 2: And Queen, I wouldn't be trapped. 350 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: I'd still be vibing hard legit ate down no cap 351 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: because the flag still pop and off. 352 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 7: Ain't nobody joinking that. 353 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 6: Bad. 354 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 7: I'm straight up proud to be an American where I 355 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 7: know three no yikes and props to the ogs who. 356 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 8: Went he road mode and died and not too flex. 357 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 8: But I go pist mode for this land because I'm 358 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 8: all in for the USA. 359 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 6: One hundred full sent from Lakes of Minnesota. 360 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 7: I'm friving, no cringe energy. 361 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 2: Texas. 362 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 6: HiT's different, no sus, straight fire g. 363 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:55,239 Speaker 1: From Hotown down to h Town, the Apple to La 364 00:22:55,480 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: La Land, not gonna lie. We got that bride, no 365 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:11,360 Speaker 1: skipity fast. I'm proud to be an American where I'm 366 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: free and that straight fat respect to. 367 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 2: I'm gonna get emails. When we were going, Michael, that 368 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 2: was terrible. Yes, that's the point it's supposed to be terrible. 369 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 2: I realize that's not for everybody. 370 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 3: That's it's hilarious one of those worst did you catch 371 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 3: remone six or moments from ABC thirteen. 372 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 2: Someone's interesting that government has. 373 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 3: No money to maintain things until there's going to be 374 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 3: uh an Olympics, a World Cup, a Super Bowl, and 375 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 3: then all of a sudden everything looks needs to look nice. 376 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 3: In other words, things don't need to look nice for 377 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 3: the taxpayers who live here. They just need to look 378 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 3: nice and other people come to town. So City of 379 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 3: Houston's Public Works department is launching big projects to tear 380 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 3: down blighted buildings and fix the roads. 381 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 2: Huh in that someone, But. 382 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,159 Speaker 3: It'll probably be like Marion Barry when he was mayor, 383 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 3: the path from his home to City Hall was perfectly paved. 384 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 2: Everything else was a pothole that looked like Beirut. 385 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 3: So I'm sure the streets that will get the best 386 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 3: repair will be those nearest where the World Cup matches 387 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 3: will be played. Isn't it interesting that we can't seem 388 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 3: to find the money. Look, I know it's one of 389 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 3: those things it's hard to quantify, and I know it 390 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 3: sounds like such a grump. You know, there are certain 391 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 3: guys out there Bob Shot. 392 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 2: Is one of them. Bill King is one of. 393 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 3: Them, These old white guys that are on the internet 394 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 3: all day pointing out how the government is wasting money, 395 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 3: local government is wasting money, self dealing, and then something 396 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 3: will happen and they'll go, well, this is just like 397 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 3: twenty seventeen, in twenty twelter. 398 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,880 Speaker 2: And I know people kind of write them off. 399 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 3: Because the idea is, well, that grumpy old white guy, 400 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 3: he just looking at data all day. But thank god 401 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 3: for them, because if they didn't point it out, the 402 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 3: journalists in town are not going to They don't have 403 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 3: the bandwidth to be studying you know what's happening on 404 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 3: the agenda of you know, the mud districts and things 405 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 3: like that. You need the old white guy retiree was 406 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 3: he called sense himself common sense Bob. Bob showed c Hoate. 407 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 3: He's a good follow on Twitter. Marissa Hanson. Every time 408 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 3: I mentioned Marissa Hanson's name, I get people who criticize 409 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 3: me because they don't they don't like her, they don't 410 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,199 Speaker 3: know her. I met her one time for twenty minutes 411 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 3: when I was going with Ramon somewhere and their buddies. 412 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 3: But I will tell you this. She posts very very 413 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 3: interesting things. Is she right one hundred percent of the time? 414 00:25:58,480 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 2: No, who is? 415 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 3: But she is fearless Mary Tally Boden. I have people 416 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 3: who don't like her. She's not allowed in polite company 417 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 3: because she's deterred in the punch bowl that's pointing out 418 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 3: spike proteins and hospital systems that overstep their bounds. Well, 419 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 3: everybody knows some socialite who's on a hospital system board. 420 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 3: So you can't be around Mary Tally Boden because well 421 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 3: that's not polite society, and on and on and on. 422 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 3: I don't you know, Bob Schult would probably get all 423 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 3: my last nerve. What's the guy's named the flooding guy 424 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 3: in Kingwood? 425 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 2: Bill King? 426 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 3: Arrogant beyond all belief. I mean, I don't know that 427 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 3: I've ever met a person who thinks more of themselves 428 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 3: than Bill King. Obnoxious, I mean, unbearably obnoxious. But he 429 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 3: does good work, and it's important that people like that 430 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 3: are out there doing that important work because the rest 431 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: of us, myself included, are not going to I'm not 432 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 3: going to sit and pour over appropriations and budgets and 433 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 3: expend to try I'm just not going to do it. 434 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,160 Speaker 3: I will take what they write and I will talk 435 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 3: about it. And they don't have the outlet I do, 436 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 3: and I don't have the research they do. Thank goodness 437 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:14,719 Speaker 3: for Rachel Rachel Palmer Hooper because she does all that 438 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 3: in the legal perspective, or Josh Blackman, who'll do it 439 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:18,640 Speaker 3: with Supreme Court cases. 440 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 2: You need these kind of people. 441 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 3: These nerdy, can of quirky people, because they're gonna do 442 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 3: the heavy lifting that no one else is gonna do. 443 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 3: The problem is most of what they find and report 444 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 3: and they're going. 445 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 2: Hey, look over here, this crazy thing is happening, and 446 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 2: nobody cares. Nobody pays attention. No crazy guy, he just but. 447 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 3: What they're talking about the Harrison County tax increase, for instance, 448 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 3: nobody even noticed that was happening anyway. So here is 449 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 3: the story ABC thirteen about the City of Houston doing 450 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 3: the things they should have been doing, but now they'll 451 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 3: do it because companies come in to town. 452 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 2: We're hosting the World Cup. 453 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 9: The City of Houston is respect consible for maintaining freeway 454 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 9: lights in the city limits. Houston Public Works told us 455 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 9: in a statement that they've dealt with wire theft aging 456 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:11,880 Speaker 9: infrastructure unreported damage and electrical issues. Good news is they're 457 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 9: fixing them ahead of the World Cup next summer. It's 458 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 9: one of their major projects as the city gears up 459 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 9: to host what they're calling seven Super Bowl level events 460 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 9: in a month's time. We wondered what other projects Houston 461 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 9: Public Works was prioritizing, so thirteen investigates requested their emails. 462 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,920 Speaker 9: You know this building in downtown, it's been abandoned since 463 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 9: at least nineteen ninety eight. 464 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 10: The GK is catching bats, nets, rats, vultures, insects, and diseases. 465 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 9: Well, what about the old Greyhound bus station in Midtown. 466 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 9: Both buildings have been the topic of many discussions in 467 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 9: the city. According to an email from the city's legal 468 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 9: department in November, the administration wants to take action against 469 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 9: two properties in advance of the World Cup in twenty 470 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 9: twenty six. It's those buildings, So the city sent out 471 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 9: inspectors to both properties so they can consider their options 472 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 9: and perhaps reach out to the owners to take down 473 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 9: the buildings. And they say there are quote several other 474 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 9: properties the city administration would like inspected. ABC thirteen has 475 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 9: reported on the city's dangerous Buildings list in the past, 476 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 9: and the long drawn out process to get these eyesores demolished. 477 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 9: What else are they doing? Cleaning up graffiti, landscaping, restriping roads, 478 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 9: fixing sidewalks, and building a park on the east side 479 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 9: of downtown where a month long FanFest party will be 480 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 9: hosted for the World Cup next summer. If you've lived 481 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 9: in Houston any period of time, you know road closures 482 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 9: from construction and popholes are favorite topics of conversation. 483 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 10: It's always nice to have a vehicle when you go 484 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 10: in and get your tires rotated and they're like, hey, 485 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 10: your suspensions a little off. I'm like, yeah, I made 486 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 10: a couple trips into downtown. 487 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 2: Not for long. 488 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 9: The city is repaving these highlighted streets in downtown for 489 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 9: the games. Plus, this Houston public Works email put other 490 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 9: departments on a alert to quote ensure all possible travel 491 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 9: lanes are open mid May through mid July twenty twenty six. 492 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 9: What you see in these emails over and over among 493 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 9: public works leaders is that projects should be phased for 494 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 9: completion or to be cleaned up by May of twenty 495 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 9: twenty six. Ahead of the Games. Projects are on an 496 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 9: expedited schedule. City leaders are addressing and fixing things that 497 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 9: concern Houstonians in their everyday lives. A recent study from 498 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 9: the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs found 499 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 9: that bad road conditions are actually Houstonian's top concern for 500 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 9: the city. 501 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 10: We should probably care a little bit more about the 502 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 10: people living here on a day to day basis and 503 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 10: those who traveled. 504 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 9: These streets, and Mayor Whitmeyer said something similar in our 505 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 9: recent council meeting during an update about preps for the Games. 506 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 11: Not regularly tell our working groups that we need to 507 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 11: act like every day is a World Cup day for Houstonians. 508 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 11: So we don't need to just clean up and make 509 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 11: Metro safe for major events. 510 00:30:58,240 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 2: We need to do it on a daily base. 511 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:02,479 Speaker 9: We wanted to ask the mayor about that, so we 512 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 9: requested an interview granted. Mayor Whitmeyer only took office in 513 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 9: January of twenty twenty four and Houston was announced as 514 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 9: a host city in twenty twenty two, But we wanted 515 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 9: to know if these city infrastructure projects can be deemed 516 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 9: high priority and aggressive like we saw in emails, why 517 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 9: is that not how they're always operating to provide the 518 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 9: best quality of life for people who live here? His 519 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 9: office declined our request. 520 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 2: Promote. 521 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 3: Let's open the phone line, shall we? Seven one three, 522 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 3: nine nine nine one thousand. Dave in the parking lot 523 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 3: behind Yalleri Furniture. 524 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 2: You can hang up. 525 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 3: You call too often. We're not putting you on. You're 526 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 3: taking a bline. Seven one three nine none nine one 527 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 3: thousand