1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: A few headlines from that day one year ago. Yesterday, 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: the Secret Service rushes Trump off stage after he falls 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: at rally. That's what CNN reported. Secret Service rushes Trump 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: off stage after he falls at rally, no reference that 5 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: he'd been shot, which he had then in a series 6 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: of live updates, Their next live update was Trump injured 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 1: in incident at Pennsylvania rally. Incident? What did he fall 8 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: down the stairs? Did something fall on him? An incident? 9 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: USA Today reported Trump removed from stage by Secret Service 10 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: after loud noises startles former president and crowd. Loud noises 11 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: startled him, so they removed him from the stage. NBC 12 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: News reported the following day, Secret Service rushes Trump off 13 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: stage after popping noises heard at his Pennsylvania rally. Did 14 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: someone bring firecrackers? Is that what you're suggesting? MSNBC reported 15 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: Secret Service Trump safe after being rushed off Pennsylvania stage 16 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: after gunshot Like sounds okay, we're getting a little closer. 17 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: The Washington Post Trump escorted away after loud noises at 18 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: Pennsylvania rally. Loud noises. I am certain there was a 19 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: conspiracy to kill Donald Trump, because on July thirteenth, it 20 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: was clear he was going to defeat Joe Biden. But 21 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: in the great words of Maxwell Smart of Get Smart, 22 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: it didn't succeed. 23 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: Missed it by that much, missed me by that much, 24 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 2: missed it by that much, missed me by that much, 25 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 2: missed it by that. 26 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: Much, missed it by that much, missed me by that much. 27 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 3: She missed it by that much, missed it by that much, 28 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 3: missed me by that much, missed it by that much, 29 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: missed it by that much. 30 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: What is often overlooked in all of this is that 31 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: a firefighter, father, husband, friend, Patriot was killed Corey comparatory 32 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 1: his widow. Blasting the Secret Service for only suspending six agents, 33 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: she says she wants to sit down in Secret Service 34 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: and get answers. We'll talk about that in the next segment. 35 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: More victims of the flooding in Kerrville bodies have been recovered, 36 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: so many, so many have none, and so much more. 37 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: In this one, they glad you wates. 38 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 4: The Michael Berry Show to be part of your. 39 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: She turned her attention to Harris County, where Lena Hidalgo 40 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: released a really odd video where she's talking about her 41 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: successes as Harris County judge. Remember she Shila Jackson, Lee's 42 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: daughter has now announced that she's running to replace Lena 43 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: Hidagg going the Democrat primary, and that has Rodney Ellis's 44 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: fingerprints all over it, which means that Lena has lost 45 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: Rodney and she is floundering because she's never been in 46 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: charge of this whole thing, and somehow, some odd way 47 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: she would still like to hang around and she ain't 48 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: doing it without Rodney, and it's looking increasingly unstable. I 49 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: think they need to keep an eye on her, and 50 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: I'm not even joking. Then you've got Letitia Plummer, who 51 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: is a city councilman, a black woman sitting city councilman, 52 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: and she has announced that she is running after a 53 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: couple of false announcements that she was running. And then 54 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: you've got a niece, Porker, the former mayor, and she's 55 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: got kind of the white liberal lock and she has 56 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 1: announced that she is running. And so that leaves Lena 57 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: with three challengers in her own party, which is making 58 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: for a very very awkward situation. So in the midst 59 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: of all of this, Lena Hidalgo oddly releases this. 60 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 5: One of the things I'm most excited about is we 61 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 5: just concluded Paris county's first ever trade mission. We went 62 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 5: to Paris and it was incredibly successful. One of the 63 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 5: meetings we had, for example, was with MEDEF, which is 64 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 5: the largest employer federation in France. So we bring together 65 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 5: tens of thousands of employers and they are going to 66 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 5: be coming to Sarah Week next year, which is an 67 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 5: incredibly important, world class conference that we host here, and 68 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 5: that's going to be a direct follow up from our conversation. 69 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 5: We also met with BVPI France, which is the largest 70 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 5: development bank in France and they invest tens of billions 71 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 5: of each year. 72 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: She sounds like she's got a deal, doesn't she. I mean, 73 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: she doesn't sound like she's just stringing together words that 74 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: have absolutely no meaning to her in the most unstable, 75 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 1: uncertain terms ever. But she had a big trade mission 76 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: to Paris, and she wants you to know that she 77 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: went there and there was a company that was there 78 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: that told her, Hey, we're going to be in Houston 79 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: next year at a conference there. Can you believe that? 80 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: And she's come back and counted that as her successes. 81 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: It's very odd. It's odd, and it's sad. It's odd 82 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: and it's sad in the same way that Joe Biden 83 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 1: was the president, and yet he was brain dead, and 84 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 1: the minute he wasn't the president, everybody's running around saying, 85 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: oh my goodness, he was brain dead, as if nobody knew. 86 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: Everybody knew, and everybody knows what's going on here. And 87 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: now Rodney's in the awkward situation where he can't defend 88 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: her anymore. He's ready to replace her. She won't go. 89 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: The other Democrats on the Commissioner's court, Garcia and Brioni's 90 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: are so embarrassed of her now and they have clearly 91 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: pitched in with other candidates. And so now she's left 92 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: on her own. Of course, Tom Ramsey's no supporter. He's 93 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: been calling her out since the very beginning. So here 94 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: she is left in a real pickle, a real pickle. 95 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: ABC thirteen had a story Harris County commissioner raises sorry 96 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: questions flood control District workers. Eighty one hundred twenty dollars 97 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: three day trip a taxpayer funded three day conference trip 98 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: for a Harris County employee was too much for one commissioner, 99 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: who questioned why they needed more than eight thousand dollars. 100 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: On Thursday's Harris County Commissioner's Court agenda was an out 101 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: of state travel request that caught Commissioner Ramsey's attention. I 102 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: thought the costs were pretty extraordinary, he said. Documents show 103 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: the Harris County Flood Control District wanted to send one 104 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: person to the Urban Land Institute Fall Conference. The price 105 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: tag was for taxpayers was eight twenty dollars. Ramsey pulled 106 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: the item from the other travel requests. Commissioners later returned 107 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: to the item for a vote. Ramsey was the loan 108 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: vote against it. Commissioners Garcia Ellis and Hidalgo voted for it. 109 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:37,239 Speaker 1: Although she approved it, Hidalgo told Abcuit thirteen, her office 110 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: is looking into it. Why would you need to. I 111 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 1: have to believe there's something else to that. Certainly, an 112 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: estimate of many thousands of dollars per night, it doesn't 113 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: make sense. We're still running that down. But you just 114 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: approved it. You're not running anything down. Yeah, it looks 115 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: real bad. We're gonna check into it and everything. Yeah, 116 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna we're gonna check into it because it really 117 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: doesn't sound right. That sounds weird, and we're gonna check 118 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: into it. But we went ahead and passed it. We 119 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: went ahead, and passed it. So Channel thirteen pointed out 120 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: that the amount requested for a hotel was thirty five 121 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: hundred dollars. They called the hotel where the conference is 122 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: being held, and it was two hundred and forty nine 123 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: dollars a night for the block room rate, which she 124 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: gets because she's part of the conference. So why did 125 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: she need thirty five hundred dollars for a three day 126 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: hotel that only costs two hundred and forty nine dollars 127 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: a night. Then there was a one thousand, seven hundred 128 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: dollars registration, that's what the budget request was. But the 129 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: registration is only one thousand and seventy Why did she 130 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: need the extra six hundred and thirty dollars For airfare? 131 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: They requested fifteen hundred dollars. It was only two hundred 132 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: dollars for a round trip flight, so they asked for 133 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: a eight hundred and twenty They only needed about two thousand. 134 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: Now that's assuming you send her. I will tell you 135 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: from my years in public life and from years of 136 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: watching this, almost all governmental travel is an absolute waste. 137 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: These conferences are boondoggles and hookups. That's what they are. 138 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: That's why they're held in Vegas. That's why, that's why 139 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: they have concerts. Associated people look forward to these conferences. 140 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: In fact, that's true of most industries, but it's particularly 141 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: true of government employees, and it's the taxpayers dollars. So 142 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: why not give her over eight thousand dollars for what 143 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: if she needed to go, which she doesn't, She could 144 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 1: have done for two thousand. What did she need to 145 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: go to that conference for to learn something? They can 146 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: put that on zoom. Why do we need to spend 147 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: all this money transporting you there, putting you up in 148 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 1: a hotel, paying for your food and drinks, which are plentiful, 149 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: and all the other expenses that you have supposedly to 150 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:21,719 Speaker 1: learn the things that are being transmitted that would have 151 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: been able to be produced in a document that you 152 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: sit at your office and read again. This is why 153 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: you never have the resources you need for your government 154 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: is because you have waste like this. 155 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:39,439 Speaker 5: Michael Berry's. 156 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 6: God. 157 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: So Lena Hidalgo tried to get more money for yet 158 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: another trip, and Tom Ramsey raised a flag. And it's 159 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: embarrassing because at this point it's Joe Biden falling off 160 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: the bicycle. Joe Biden falling off the staircase. We all 161 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: know what's going on. We all know how bad it is. 162 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 1: We're beyond that now. They're just trying to push through 163 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: and pretend it's not happening. But it is. So what 164 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: does Rodney Ellis say? He says, Oh, there's nothing wrong 165 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: with taking all these trips. I take all these trips 166 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: all the time. 167 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 6: I've traveled a good bit inter Nashley over the years. 168 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 6: I went with Mary Brown to China when he did 169 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 6: a historic trip. I wish I could claim credit for 170 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 6: convincing Yaoming to come, but it didn't hurt any By 171 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 6: the way, at the Rockets got the first round pick 172 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 6: and they couldn't get mister Alexander On at that time, 173 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 6: couldn't get Mayor Brown because his name was not listed. 174 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 6: But old Rodney was listed, so he woke me up 175 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 6: at three m in the morning. I'm not saying we 176 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 6: get the credit for it, but it helped. And I 177 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 6: can't remember if the city of a partnership paid for 178 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 6: me to go, if I paid off my campaign. But 179 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 6: I also took a number of trips to Qatar over 180 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 6: the years. In fact, went I think over Thanksgiving to 181 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 6: the Doha Forum. I wish I could take credit and 182 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 6: money that they donated after Harvey. I can't, but it 183 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 6: didn't hurt that I had been to Doha as a 184 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 6: state center on a number of occasions. For some reason, 185 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 6: invites stopped when I became a county commissioner up until 186 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 6: last year. 187 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, he can't really take credit that he and Lee 188 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: Brown brought yal mean to Houston, But it didn't hurt. 189 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: It definitely didn't hurt. When the Rockets drafted him with 190 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: the first pick. He could have held out and gone 191 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: anywhere else. That wasn't wallet whipping him. But Lee Brown 192 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: stumbled and bumbled, and you know Rodney ls and you 193 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: know they they well, you know you don't want to 194 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: take all the credit. You don't want to take all 195 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: the credit. But it certainly didn't hurt. Every time you 196 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 1: think to yourself, why didn't they. 197 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 5: Have a. 198 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: Siren in the Kerrville area that when the big flood 199 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: came out, you could fire to make sure nobody doubted. 200 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: This is the emergency of all emergencies. We can't afford it. 201 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: Why can't we ever afford anything that is important? Paved roads, 202 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: a flooding system that wicks the water away. Why can't 203 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: we ever afford anything that matters to people, sheriff's deputies, 204 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: police officers. You can't afford anything because you've got Rodney 205 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: Ellis's and Lena had all goes, and your lady that 206 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: is off to the Urban Land Institute. You ever done 207 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: a family budget, I encourage you to do that, because 208 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: when you keep a family budget and you make it 209 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: a family activity to look at every expense that your 210 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: family undertakes, you put it on a spreadsheet. You go 211 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: through the credit cards, you go through the venmos, you 212 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: go through the auto checks that are paid, and you 213 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: start looking at every single expense, and the rest of 214 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: the family is looking at you. Why'd you door dash? 215 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: Why'd you door dash? We had dinner already here. Why 216 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: would you do that? That's just a waste of money. 217 00:15:55,920 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: That's what families do, but not Ridney Ellis, not Len Hidalgo. 218 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: You just keep taking until someone makes you stop taking. 219 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: This is why we never have the money we're supposed 220 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: to have, because it's being squandered. Oh, eight thousand dollars 221 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: for the Urbiline Institute won't break us. Oh the trips 222 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: to Doha won't break us. It's not one or the 223 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: other it's that pattern throughout, it's that waste throughout the system. 224 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: But it's even more than that, it's the utter and 225 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: absolute disregard for you for the sanctity of your dollars, 226 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: which should be sacred. Those are your dollars. We've got 227 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: that story. It's clip number two off Chad's prep If 228 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: you can play it please, Jimbo. 229 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 7: A three day trip to San fran caught the attention 230 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 7: of Harris County commissioners. 231 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 2: I thought the costs associated with that were pretty extraordinary. 232 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 7: The Flood Control District wants to send one person to 233 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 7: a conference. Document show the taxpayer price tag is eighty 234 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 7: one hundred dollars, a request made by Director Tina Peterson. 235 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 4: ABC thirteen tried to ask her about it. 236 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 8: Can you explain why you wanted eighty one hundred dollars 237 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 8: to go to a three day conference. 238 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 9: I don't have anything to say. 239 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 8: We can certainly talk with you once I get back 240 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 8: to the ultimate request. 241 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 7: Taxpayer funds would be used for the department's chiefest staff 242 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 7: to attend the Urban Land Institute's three day fall conference. 243 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 7: The document show they want thirty five hundred dollars. 244 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 4: For a hotel. 245 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 7: We called and the group told us block room rates 246 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 7: are about two hundred and fifty bucks. The document says 247 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 7: seventeen hundred dollars are needed for registration fees. The conference 248 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 7: lists the fees on its website for less than eleven hundred. 249 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 7: As for airfare, the request shows fifteen hundred dollars. We 250 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 7: checked travel websites and found round trip tickets for around 251 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 7: two hundred bucks. 252 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 8: I requested thirty five hundred dollars for a hotel. I 253 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 8: called the conference. They said the rates are two forty 254 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 8: nine a night. You wanted thirty five hundred for a 255 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 8: three day conference. Can you explain why you had that number. 256 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 9: We do estimates for our travel, and certainly we try 257 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 9: to be conservative in our numbers. 258 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 7: The department later told ABC thirteen it provides estimates with 259 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 7: buffer money for approval. Commissioner Tom Ramsay voted against it. 260 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 7: The measure passed even though she supported it. Judge Lena 261 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 7: Hidago says she's looking into it. 262 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 9: Well, I have to believe there's something else to that. Certainly, 263 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 9: an estimate of many thousands of dollars for a night, 264 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 9: it doesn't make sense. So but we're still running that down. 265 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 7: That trip wasn't the only one discussed during the meeting, 266 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 7: Hidago revisited her recent Paris trip. She wanted to use 267 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 7: more than twenty thousand taxpayer dollars for the week long 268 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 7: trade mission. Instead, commissioners denied that she used campaign funds. 269 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 7: Because of this, she wants to change the travel policy 270 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 7: for future traps. 271 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 9: And despite my paying out of the campaign funds or 272 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 9: my willingness to pay on my campaign funds for a 273 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 9: security detail, the fire Marshal did not allow the security 274 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 9: detail to travel. 275 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 4: It didn't pass in you a post no. 276 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 9: And what's the reason for that, Commissioner. 277 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 5: Garcia, I don't need to give you a reason. 278 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 6: I'm just voting no. 279 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 2: Let's move on. 280 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 9: It's clear in other votes you know why somebody has 281 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 9: a position, But in this one it seemed inexplicable to 282 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 9: not allow a travel policy. 283 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: So that and what I see all over the place 284 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: is people who care about looking good while doing evil. 285 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 4: The Michael Arry. 286 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 1: Show, Well, Harris County government might be all messed up, 287 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 1: but the people, the people have a spirit, a special spirit, 288 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: they really do. There's a story we're now seeing beyond 289 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: just Camp Mystic, where so many girls campers and counselors 290 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:16,880 Speaker 1: and even the director perished in the flood. Now you're 291 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: seeing so many other folks, Pat Green's brother and his family, 292 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: different people who were on vacation. I saw a story 293 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: about a young lady. She was a third year associated 294 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: a law firm in Atlanta. She was out visiting her mother. 295 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: I wondered how many folks would turn up missing and 296 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: then perish as a result of these floods. Because it 297 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 1: was the July fourth weekend. It was July fourth itself, 298 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: and you had a lot of folks you have every 299 00:20:54,040 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 1: year who vacation along that river. I mean, it's a 300 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: fun thing to do. It's a great place to gather. 301 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: It's pretty, it's fun, it's festive, and it makes all 302 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: the sense in the world. I can't help but wonder 303 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: if that storm had come a day later, how many 304 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: more people would have died? Because I can't help but 305 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: wonder how many people did not make it in on 306 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: Friday yet because they were driving in from further afield. 307 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: I don't know. I guess that's maybe just looking for 308 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: a silver lining. One of the stories is that has 309 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: caught a lot of people's attention outside of the KMP 310 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 1: mystic community. Is a young man by the name of Shiloh. 311 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: Wilson was apparently one heck of a rodeo rider, and 312 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: he and his two parents perished. They live in Kingwood, 313 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: and apparently they're quite famous in the rodeo community. I 314 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: was not aware of this. I do love the name Shiloh, 315 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: but the people of our community showed up to pay 316 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: tribute as Shiloh's body was brought home. They were in 317 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: Kerrville for a rodeo. I guess he was riding in 318 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 1: when the flooding swept them away, so they weren't necessarily 319 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: on vacation, but there for a rodeo. The story about 320 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: his homecoming beautiful as it was from Khou. 321 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 4: From those who knew him personally to others simply touched 322 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 4: by the tragedy. We all came out to see Shiloh 323 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 4: come home. Hundreds helped honor a twelve year old finally 324 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 4: back with his mom and dad. 325 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 6: It's almost part of a dream still, but this is 326 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:52,360 Speaker 6: great seeing all these people come out. 327 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 4: Shiloh Wilson at his parents, Jeff and Amber, were in 328 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,439 Speaker 4: the Hill Country for a rodeo when catastrophic flooding swept 329 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 4: through their can sight. Jeff and Amber were previously recovered 330 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 4: and Shiloh one week after the flood on Friday. Tom 331 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 4: Schweger first met Jeff Wilson in college, and I know that. 332 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 6: He fought tooth and nail to try to keep himself 333 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 6: and his wife and son alive. 334 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 4: The Harris County Fire Marshall's office live stream much of 335 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 4: the journey back as people paid their respects along the route. 336 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 4: What do you think of this outpouring the outborn is great. 337 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 9: I'm glad to see the turnout, to see the love 338 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 9: for him, love for the family. 339 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 8: It's devastating. 340 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 9: Amber was the sweetest person I've ever met. Shiloh was 341 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,920 Speaker 9: he was something they call en stingray. 342 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 4: Many here knew the family through Jeff, who was a longtime, humble, 343 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 4: liased d career and technical education teacher. 344 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 8: I just know that Jeff and Amber and Schilotte were 345 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 8: looking at all this right now, probably got a big 346 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 8: giant smile on her face, and. 347 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 4: It just breaks my heart that you just don't have 348 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 4: a chance to say good bye. I'm told funeral arrangements 349 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 4: for the family impacted in an instant, like so many others, 350 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 4: are still being made. 351 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: It's inspiring to see that people took time out of 352 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: their own lives to go and stage there along the 353 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: route as the body was brought back. You know, everybody 354 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 1: who is present for something like that had something else 355 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,959 Speaker 1: going on, and they gave up what that other thing was, 356 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: whether it's sitting on the couch watching TV, taking a nap, 357 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 1: working hobbies, whatever that might be. People took time away 358 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: from what they had intended to do and came out 359 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 1: because their presence was a powerful statement. It reminds me 360 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: of that scene in He'll Biliology where jd Vance is 361 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: asking about this ritual when a family member has died. 362 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: Why do they do that, Mammo? 363 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 4: Because we're hell people, Honey, we respect on death. 364 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: It's not just hill people, it's decent people. I think 365 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:39,680 Speaker 1: you learn a lot about a culture by the way 366 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: children are treated, and by the way the elderly are treated, 367 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 1: and when there is a death, by the way that 368 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: life is honored or not. You'll see videos in big 369 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 1: cities where rhyme is rampant and someone's been shot dead 370 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: in the street and people will walk over that person 371 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: and just keep going about their business as if it 372 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,360 Speaker 1: isn't a human life. That tells you a whole lot 373 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:15,399 Speaker 1: about that culture. You can make a lot of assumptions 374 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: that are going to be true. When the loss of 375 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: the life of one little boy is that important to 376 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: the people of Kingwood, it tells you a lot about 377 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: the people of Kingwood. I don't know what his mother 378 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 1: Amber did, but it also tells you how popular his father, 379 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: Jeff was in the community where he was an educator. 380 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: Tells you a lot about that as well. Meanwhile, Austin 381 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: Firefighters Union says ninety three percent voted no confidence in 382 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: Chief Joel Baker after he refused to send Cruiz to 383 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: Kerrville to help in the flood rescue efforts. The Austin 384 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: Firefighter Association President Nick said the chief had a standing 385 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 1: order to deny all deployments to save money. He said 386 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: Austin firefighters were requested on July second and July third 387 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: before the flooding even started. He added Austin, Texas had 388 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: the best boat crews in the state, if not the nation. 389 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: He explicitly trained with san Antone for response to the 390 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: hill Country because it's in our backyard. So we have 391 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: the resources, we have the training, we have the personnel. 392 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: We are absolutely geared to do to doing in that 393 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: area of work. The union said Baker told him the 394 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 1: city manager's office limited the response, but the city manager's 395 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: office that he had never received any deployment request and 396 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,439 Speaker 1: would have approved them. Nick added in the statement posted 397 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: after the no confidence vote, let me be clear, the 398 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: leadership failed the community when it was needed the most. 399 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: This isn't about politics, It's about accountability. The Austin Firefighters 400 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: are resolute that the truth must see the light of 401 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,400 Speaker 1: day and all all people involved with this horrendous decision 402 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: to not deploy life saving swift water resources to Kerr 403 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:13,199 Speaker 1: County must be held accountable. They have called for his termination. 404 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: I don't know what a difference it means. Maybe not 405 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: one life could be saved, But you read these accounts 406 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: of people being swept down the water and to varying 407 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: degrees they survived to a certain points. Some of them 408 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 1: didn't pass until further down their way. What difference would 409 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: it have made to have experts on the scene.