everyone agreed with that.
>> Welcome back to Houston
newsmakers where I’m joined
this morning by precinct 3
Harris County commissioner Tom
Ramsey. Good morning, commissioner Ramsey, thank you
commissioner Ramsey, thank you
so much for
joining me. Good morning.
It’s great to be with you.
Thank you again, Harris you
voted the commissioners court
to take governor Abbott, a court about the mask mandate
court about the mask mandate
issue. You were the ones who
voted no on that. And that 3 to
2 vote. Why did you
vote no? >> I trust people. This is a
>> I trust people. This is a
we’ve been in this for over a
year now people have a great
understanding of what their issues are and want what they
issues are and want what they
be around or not
be around. I don’t think we
need to be telling them what
dark, what they should be doing, whether it’s mask, been
doing, whether it’s mask, been
vaccinated. I think it’s a good
thing. I think we’ll leave that
up to our doctors. We laid it
up to the experts. We don’t government doesn’t do this very
government doesn’t do this very
well in terms of mandating
dictating in terms of local
issues like this line. I a
simple response to that is I
trust able. They don’t need to
hear from
me on whether they should or
should not wear a mask. They
just need to exercise or
great judgment.
>> In doing while the other
one of the things the
government does is that is get
involved when we have concerns
like flooding and I know
commissioners court very much
involved. And you are very much
concerned about flooding in for
good reason. We’ve seen plenty
of it in our recent years here.
But there’s been hope with the
promise of federal dollars to
help with mitigation issues.
They’ve been good news and bad news about that. No recent
news about that. No recent
months the group and granted
general land really kind of
threw a curve ball when they
designated $0 for Harris
County. Big push back to that.
Now there’s a little bit of change, at least they’re
change, at least they’re
reconsidering that. Where does
it stand now in terms of money.
The Harris County might
receive. >> You are pursuing obvious in
>> You are pursuing obvious in
750 million dollars from the G
o o the good news is the to
Mister Bush. Here’s my didn’t stated public. One, he supports
stated public. One, he supports
doing that.
The time it takes to go back
and read it all you plan.
That’s what’s going on right the plan he S made that has to
the plan he S made that has to
prove it. But as I tell my
colleagues own core do every
way. Remind Many people I know
in Washington. Now the decision
is all in Washington. We’re good here
in Washington. We’re good here
in Texas, at least Mister Bush
o o indirectly allocating 750 Million. Here’s County to
750 Million. Here’s County to
deal with great. And the good
news is we know exactly what
gets into the 2018 bond that we
have projects and we know this is going to be of great
is going to be of great
benefit. 2 people have been
>> And you also some other good
news.
250 million is on the way for
sediment removal. That’s got to be good news as well. Talk
be good news as well. Talk
about what that means for
efforts in
cleaning up all the accumulated
sediment that’s involved.
It’s in some of those waterways
and Houston water shes talking about the bayous and channels
about the bayous and channels
that are better really clog
right now.
>> Yeah, this gives me an
opportunity to brag on the
Harris County flood control
district they do such a great job. They have such
great job. They have such
credibility with people.
I’d on the Corps of Engineers.
So when these kinds of dollars
become available and we know their settlement in not only
their settlement in not only
addicks and Barker but Buffalo
by you and the other channels.
There’s 22 watersheds and hears
County alone. So when they’re looking at how can we most
looking at how can we most
effectively once the biggest
value we can do with
250 Million. They can be used
because they know here is can
he can deal with projects specifically. We know exactly
specifically. We know exactly
what we’re going to do with
those dollars. We’ve got the
projects and then abide were
moved again will begin
very quickly.
>> In addressing that if you’re
an engineer, you know exactly what they’re talking about this
what they’re talking about this
because you’re kind of
language, right. And that’s a
good thing here are I know that
you’re especially concerned
about in the Harris County is a lot of that going on the
lot of that going on the
numbers of not being on the
right direction. What’s your
biggest concern about dealing
with the crime levels in our
community and in your precinct
and we talk about some of the
ways you want to see that addressed.
>> Well, we honored at the last
court nominee corn. He was
unfortunately murdered.
By someone let out on several bombs in this is an
several bombs in this is an
ongoing problem within the
county and we need to deal with
that is mom gave a compelling
testimony in terms of the
wonderful things you son was doing in the community was
doing in the community was
Little League coach graduate
from Prairie View. AM news
construction science major just
had a world of opportunity be killed in your
killed in your
early 20’s is just
unacceptable. And what we are
proposing is a first step in Senate bill 6. I gave the corn
Senate bill 6. I gave the corn
opportunity to support that.
They chose
not to that doesn’t mean that
some point and that that will be the first step in trying to
be the first step in trying to
address at least that element
of pride.
>> we have about a minute left.
Senate
bill 6. What’s in it that really speaks to your heart as
really speaks to your heart as
far as
his concern.
>> It does deal with Reed allowing repeat violent
allowing repeat violent
offenders now home owned by got
it. They should be not allowed
because they go to neighborhoods where people can
neighborhoods where people can
afford. Protection.
the streets and now to an in
and good citizens out of
harm’s way. >> You have and I know I’m kind
>> You have and I know I’m kind
of run over time here a little
bit. But.
3 to 2, 3, to 2, 3, to 2.
That seemed to be the votes on that Council on the
that Council on the
commission’s court. How hopeful
are you commissioners court
going to be a come together and
have some unanimous vote for
change. I’m the most optimistic person in hears can.
person in hears can.
>> I come to court every week
there we have
a meeting with great ideas.
And even though I get voted
down 3, 2, it happened more than a
3, 2, it happened more than a
dozen times in the last
meeting, new rap and probably a
dozen times. The next meeting.
I’m going to continue to bring
great ideas to the fore.
>> the good
news is the public support the
ideals bring into court.
And some point. Yes, because
the public supported it will
pass. Thank you.
>> Commissioner. Thank you for that. Added to that positive
that. Added to that positive
attitude, not thought I was the
most positive guy. But now I
guess I got to be