Protecting the prairie, turning an oil field into a nature center, that’s good government and good environmental stewardship in Houston, Texas. Listen to Commissioner Adrian Garcia explain how he did it.
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Editor: Jason Stershic
Transcription
00:00:00:01 – 00:00:03:23
David Martin
This is the good government show.
00:00:03:28 – 00:00:35:39
Adrian Garcia
Remember, this is the energy capital of the nation, if not the world. I have over 200 refineries manufacturers in my precinct along the Port of Houston. We you get to see nature in its most undisturbed state. That’s why I’m proud that we received the, Best in category award by Naco. Look, I’ve been blessed to have a good life.
00:00:35:41 – 00:01:01:41
Adrian Garcia
I want to make sure that I leave it as healthy as I got it for the next generation. I’ve been working to make people’s lives, safer and better as a cop. I think I can do it as an elected official. Government is important, but government also has to be practical and very, very focused.
00:01:01:46 – 00:01:18:06
David Martin
You’re about to be surprised. I know I was when I heard a story about a huge oil and gas company becoming partners and saving a big tract of natural land in Houston, Texas. Welcome to the Good government show. I’m Dave Martin. First, help us show the message of good government by liking us and showing us where we are on social media.
00:01:18:11 – 00:01:37:00
David Martin
Make sure reviews and send our show everywhere. Send it to all your friends. We all need to talk about good government. On today’s show, I’m talking with Adrian Garcia. He’s a county commissioner in Harris County, Texas. This is Houston, home to the oil and gas industry, but it’s also bayou country. Low lying marshes and rivers dot the landscape in many cases.
00:01:37:00 – 00:01:59:17
David Martin
Right alongside refineries and other oil and gas plants. Balancing industry jobs and environmental protection can be tricky, but Adrian Garcia is going to tell you how he does it. When ExxonMobil put land up for sale, the commissioner saw an opportunity. He protected the land and turned it into parkland for his work. He was awarded a National Association of Counties Achievement Award for protecting the prairie.
00:01:59:22 – 00:02:20:31
David Martin
Two things to know about Adrian Garcia. He’s another former cop who wanted to continue his public service after leaving the police force. And he has a commitment to the environment. As you’ll hear on a personal note. He’s a fellow pilgrim. We are people who walk the community de Santiago in Spain. It’s a heritage route known for the amazing walks that can take you from France or Portugal through Spain.
00:02:20:40 – 00:02:37:40
David Martin
And it’s known for its historical significance, as we say, when we meet fellow programs. When Camino Good Camino basically was saying, hey, have a good walk in the Camino. So coming up, fellow Pilgrim and Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia.
00:02:37:45 – 00:03:04:18
David Martin
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00:03:04:31 – 00:03:28:52
David Martin
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00:03:28:57 – 00:03:50:28
David Martin
Let Hello Nation lift you up and lead the conversation. Visit Hello nation.com to learn more. Once you wrap up this episode of The Good Government Show, give a listen to our friends over at Good News for lefties. This daily podcast highlights news stories that show there’s more good news out there. Other people in government are really trying to do the right thing.
00:03:50:42 – 00:04:04:02
David Martin
That’s good news for lefties. Listen, we’re listening now. Welcome to the Good Government show. I’m happy to have with me Adrian Garcia, who is a commissioner in Harris County, Texas, which is the greater Houston area. Welcome to the.
00:04:04:02 – 00:04:05:44
Adrian Garcia
Show. Thank you. David. Thank you for having me.
00:04:05:45 – 00:04:20:21
David Martin
And you’re here to collect your achievement award at the National Association of Counties for something called Protecting the prairie, the Almond Bayou conservation Project. That’s right. Yes. Right. So, first of all, tell us a little bit about, Harris County. What’s going on in Harris County?
00:04:20:26 – 00:04:42:39
Adrian Garcia
Well, first of all, hello to all your listeners. And, look, for those who do not know, Harris County, or not familiar with Houston, are only only known by name. Remember, this is the energy capital of the nation, if not the world. I have, over 200 refineries, manufacturers in my precinct along the Port of Houston.
00:04:42:44 – 00:05:02:13
Adrian Garcia
So to be able to have a, natural preserve in this area is immensely, big. You know what kind of deal? Yeah. And so, so, because there has to be a balance. There has to be a balance. Absolutely. And, you know, we want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to, number one, protect the environment.
00:05:02:13 – 00:05:25:39
Adrian Garcia
You know, secondly, protect the community because, my precinct, rides along the, part of Houston. And so I get incredible storm surge, as people may have seen during Hurricane Ike that led us into a conversation about creating the dike. So the Port of Houston exists there. I have NASA in my precinct. I have a million, 300,000 people that I directly represent.
00:05:25:44 – 00:05:38:28
Adrian Garcia
And so, it is an immensely critical area, for the region of Harris County, but absolutely, because of the energy capital, it’s important to the state and to the country.
00:05:38:30 – 00:05:42:02
David Martin
So tell me what the Armand Bayou Conservation Project is.
00:05:42:02 – 00:06:05:20
Adrian Garcia
What is it? So Armand Bayou is a, is a which has always been a natural preserve for decades. Again, it’s in the, Clear Lake area. So it it abuts, the water channel that comes into my precinct. And so for years, we’ve been able to enjoy an effort to preserve the habitat, to preserve the, the wetlands, the marsh that we have there.
00:06:05:25 – 00:06:18:20
Adrian Garcia
And it’s been, a double benefit because we’ve been able to not only enjoy the protection for the for the, for the habitat, but we’ve also been able to improve the flood mitigation efforts that we are constantly working on in Harris County.
00:06:18:34 – 00:06:22:17
David Martin
So two wins, they’re always there. And and protect the people.
00:06:22:19 – 00:06:24:43
Adrian Garcia
Exactly. And now when this.
00:06:24:43 – 00:06:25:47
David Martin
And storm surge and.
00:06:25:48 – 00:06:44:26
Adrian Garcia
Storm surge and all that, that goes with it. And then we hear that ExxonMobil has 1100 acres of, old wells that just aren’t materializing, or producing anymore. And they were put in there about to put that, those acres on the market. Our concern was that was there.
00:06:44:26 – 00:06:48:15
David Martin
Was there any, environmental hazard to what was left behind by ExxonMobil?
00:06:48:16 – 00:07:10:15
Adrian Garcia
No, I wanted to make sure that there wasn’t saw, you know, before I took on those 1100 acres. I pushed for a strong environmental assessment. It came back good for us. So then we move forward with, with the purchase. But 1100 acres could have become, developed area. And that’s what I didn’t want to see happen. And so I pushed worked on it.
00:07:10:21 – 00:07:16:03
Adrian Garcia
We we probably worked on it for the better of two and a half years. Okay. And finally made it happen, late last.
00:07:16:03 – 00:07:16:57
David Martin
And this was your idea?
00:07:17:12 – 00:07:18:29
Adrian Garcia
Yes. I guess what.
00:07:18:29 – 00:07:19:37
David Martin
Made you decide to do this?
00:07:19:39 – 00:07:20:58
Adrian Garcia
Well, you know, look, I just take it.
00:07:20:58 – 00:07:23:08
David Martin
A shower one day and said, hey, you know what I need to do?
00:07:23:11 – 00:07:43:19
Adrian Garcia
Well, here, when I hear that that Exxon Mobil was about to put 1100 acres on the market, I obviously get your attention. It was in your area. Yeah. So as we looked into it and then we talked to our, reserve board, the Almond Bayou, board and talked to them and, and to the CEO and say, hey, look, this, land is about to go on the market.
00:07:43:23 – 00:08:02:47
Adrian Garcia
What do you think about the idea? They explored a little bit more. They took on the commitment of the maintenance and and the expansion of it. So it became a huge win win. We were able to apply, American Rescue Plan Act dollars to it. Okay. And it’s just been an incredible thing. I mean, it’s so just describe.
00:08:02:47 – 00:08:09:16
David Martin
The arm on Bayou. You talk a little bit about it. I mean, you said they’re habitat. What’s what’s going on there? Who they are.
00:08:09:21 – 00:08:39:26
Adrian Garcia
There’s probably, like, hundreds of different bird species that call that place their home. Secondly, alligators as well. And, you know, hey, we’re the Bayou city. Sure. It comes with certain neighbors. And, and so when you go there and different, types of plant species, it’s just gorgeous. The one thing that the almond buy you, folks do is that they provide a pontoon tour through the area.
00:08:39:28 – 00:08:45:09
Adrian Garcia
Okay. Electric pontoon. So, number one view, you’re not, you know, polluting the environment.
00:08:45:13 – 00:08:47:16
David Martin
It’s not airboats like in the Glades.
00:08:47:21 – 00:08:58:21
Adrian Garcia
Exactly right. But we also use an electric motor so that you don’t scare any of the habitat, and you can see them, just living and moving around.
00:08:58:22 – 00:09:03:44
David Martin
Is this other than, you know, taking a ride through it? Is this an area that for fishing or hiking or.
00:09:03:46 – 00:09:23:24
Adrian Garcia
No, no, no, no fishing recreation. Yeah. I mean, just just general, relaxation and appreciation of of the, of the environment. It’s it’s a it’s a great place to visit. We have many schools that come by, and, we provide classes for them, teach them all about the plant species, the animal species, the birds.
00:09:23:29 – 00:09:25:03
David Martin
So it’s just now a giant county park.
00:09:25:14 – 00:09:50:34
Adrian Garcia
It is a it’s been a park. It’s one of my parks. But the biggest thing for me, again, going back to that, the energy capital of the nation is and my appreciate. I’m also proud that I partnered with a energy, industry partner to make this the largest, wilderness preserve in the state of Texas.
00:09:50:38 – 00:09:58:31
David Martin
It’s the largest preserve in the state of Texas. Wow. Yeah. And so when you purchased this land, did this, like, double the size? Triple the size of the other.
00:09:58:33 – 00:10:07:57
Adrian Garcia
One by it? Probably. Let’s see, we have three by 3000 acres. So, so about 20%. Okay.
00:10:07:58 – 00:10:12:25
David Martin
By a 20% increase. You have a panel of experts with your head and saying, yeah.
00:10:12:26 – 00:10:14:53
Adrian Garcia
Give me the hand side. So you’re you’re you’re you’re you’re.
00:10:14:53 – 00:10:23:47
David Martin
You’re accurate 20%, 20% larger. That’s significant. Yeah. What could have happened to this had it not been extended that we successfully added?
00:10:23:47 – 00:10:48:06
Adrian Garcia
And look, it wasn’t an easy, prospect to to, to acquire this, this property. What could have happened is that ExxonMobil could have simply said, you know what? We don’t like your your, the offer you’re making us. Quite frankly, we don’t have to entertain the idea of your offer. We’re going to put this on the market, and we’re going to get as much money as we can for it.
00:10:48:11 – 00:11:05:29
Adrian Garcia
That’s what could have happened. And it would have, in all likelihood, gone to a developer that then would have, created a devastation effect to the flood mitigation and the and the habitat, that we had out there. So we wanted to keep that from happening.
00:11:05:32 – 00:11:07:31
David Martin
You said a developer, what would they have developed there?
00:11:07:45 – 00:11:12:26
Adrian Garcia
They would have developed homes, condominiums, community hotel. Who knows.
00:11:12:35 – 00:11:14:29
David Martin
And all that could have happened on.
00:11:14:33 – 00:11:21:29
Adrian Garcia
All of that could have happened. And it would have been just a huge, huge detriment to everything we’re trying to do there.
00:11:21:36 – 00:11:26:29
David Martin
And the worst thing you can do to Marshland and Tidal basins is develop.
00:11:26:31 – 00:11:55:02
Adrian Garcia
That’s right. That’s right. So again, you know, Exxon Mobil. Yeah. I hope people don’t lose sight of the fact that a, oil and gas company agreed to work with us to give us a under market piece of property that we have now been able to, expand our wilderness preserve and make it the biggest in Texas. That’s a I to me, that’s a big deal that a oil gas company who’s all about money.
00:11:55:15 – 00:11:56:05
Adrian Garcia
Okay.
00:11:56:09 – 00:11:57:34
David Martin
Thank you for saying it’s right.
00:11:57:39 – 00:12:04:58
Adrian Garcia
Yeah. It’s all about money. And they could have just kept that thought process in mind and gone after it where they could.
00:12:04:58 – 00:12:06:30
David Martin
And willing partners in this bridge work.
00:12:06:33 – 00:12:24:09
Adrian Garcia
They were they they were very, very reasonable, very patient. And the most difficult point in the negotiations was me. I did not want to buy this land if it was contaminated. Right. If it had a strong environmental problems, I didn’t want to acquire it.
00:12:24:09 – 00:12:30:25
David Martin
And they were. You said they were. They were capped. Oil. Oil wells. Oil wells there. Are they cleaned up now?
00:12:30:37 – 00:12:31:13
Adrian Garcia
They’re cleaned.
00:12:31:13 – 00:12:31:29
David Martin
Up.
00:12:31:31 – 00:12:54:23
Adrian Garcia
Did they, Exxon did it. They made sure that there’s going to be no problems for us. And we wanted to make sure that we could sustain the maintenance of it, as well as the Ormond Bayou Preserve that they could, raise the money to maintain and protect the, the area and make sure that if anything happens with those wells that we were in good hands.
00:12:54:34 – 00:12:58:58
David Martin
Well, it’s certainly nice to hear is had ExxonMobil, we’re we’re good environmental citizens.
00:12:59:12 – 00:13:04:36
Adrian Garcia
Hey, gardeners, go buy more Exxon Mobil. Mobil gas. I mean, I’m a big cheerleader.
00:13:04:38 – 00:13:13:23
David Martin
I don’t know if I’ll do that, but it’s nice to hear that. I think that they were they were helpful in this. Yeah. So what’s the future for the for the, arm on bayou conservation project?
00:13:13:25 – 00:13:38:16
Adrian Garcia
Well, the the future now is the responsibility that the, that the conservation has taken on, and that is to raise the money to further, protect the area and and do all that they need to do to fight against invasive species, whether animals or plants, to make sure that it meets, its continued, ability to flood, mitigate, in the area.
00:13:38:21 – 00:14:06:32
Adrian Garcia
So that’s the responsibility future of it. But the future of it is that generations are going to continue to be able to enjoy an area that is peaceful. It’s, it’s very relaxing. You get to see nature in its most undisturbed state. You get to come across wildlife out there. In a very natural environment. So it becomes a very, very special place in an urban jungle like the city of Houston.
00:14:06:35 – 00:14:07:51
David Martin
This sounds like good government.
00:14:07:54 – 00:14:21:02
Adrian Garcia
It is. It is. It absolutely is. That’s why I’m proud that we, received the, best in category award by Naco, for County. Resiliency and infrastructure, energy and, sustainability.
00:14:21:02 – 00:14:29:43
David Martin
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. You did. Have you always been have environmental issues always been, forefront? I mean, you talked about the fact that you’re an energy city. This is this one of the.
00:14:29:52 – 00:14:37:58
Adrian Garcia
I’m one of those kids who, saw that commercial of a Native American canoeing down, the river.
00:14:38:03 – 00:14:39:12
David Martin
Oh. No. You’re as old as me.
00:14:39:15 – 00:14:44:06
Adrian Garcia
Yeah. And then to see him crying, then that really made an impact on this.
00:14:44:06 – 00:14:50:06
David Martin
Is a public service announcement where they. Back in the 60s, I think. Yeah. Reckon. And he was. Yeah. The side of the road they threw.
00:14:50:06 – 00:15:12:29
Adrian Garcia
Trash out of. Yeah. Exactly. And so that made a huge impact on me as a kid. And so the environment has always been important to me. And so yes, I, I mean, I like the Democrat, but I am so proud that I have always received the endorsement of the Sierra Club and other, environmental organizations because, look, I’ve been blessed to have a good life.
00:15:12:29 – 00:15:16:39
Adrian Garcia
I want to make sure that I leave it as healthy as I got it for the next generation.
00:15:16:46 – 00:15:22:30
David Martin
And is this a challenge in the city of Houston, which, you know, you said was the energy capital of America? It’s not the.
00:15:22:30 – 00:15:27:28
Adrian Garcia
World. Yes. It absolutely is. Look, we’re an urban jungle. And and every day.
00:15:27:29 – 00:15:28:31
David Martin
I’ve been in Houston. I mean.
00:15:28:33 – 00:15:37:02
Adrian Garcia
You know, it’s it. We’re growing. You got concrete all over the place. And so it’s it absolutely is a challenge.
00:15:37:02 – 00:15:40:41
David Martin
And oil and gas is the number one industry in your city.
00:15:40:43 – 00:15:42:42
Adrian Garcia
Exactly. And so how do you.
00:15:42:42 – 00:15:57:07
David Martin
As a, as a county commissioner, balance the needs of, you know, having a strong, industrial base and job center, but also preserving the environment and making sure that the energy companies are held to a standard.
00:15:57:16 – 00:16:20:13
Adrian Garcia
At the end of the day, I’m I’m a very pragmatic individual. If industry is doing their job and they’re abiding by the rules and following the laws and working hard to be, a good partner, I they’ll have my support all day long. The environment and compromising the environment is non-negotiable. I’ll never back off of that. Because I think it is a both.
00:16:20:13 – 00:16:34:31
Adrian Garcia
And you can do both, and make sure you continue to grow industry jobs, continue to support that that, industry and the economy it creates. But you also must commit to protecting the environment. I think it’s critical.
00:16:34:35 – 00:16:35:47
David Martin
Is that hard?
00:16:35:52 – 00:16:39:27
Adrian Garcia
I don’t think so. It hasn’t been hard for me.
00:16:39:31 – 00:16:41:36
David Martin
What did you do before you were a county commissioner.
00:16:41:41 – 00:17:03:47
Adrian Garcia
For 23 years? I was a Houston cop. I got elected to Houston City Council. I was, appointed mayor pro tem to, then under the former, under, Secretary of Energy Bill white. Okay. Then I became the first, person of color to be elected county sheriff in my county, the largest county in Texas, third largest in America.
00:17:03:51 – 00:17:06:43
Adrian Garcia
And then I got elected as county commissioner.
00:17:06:48 – 00:17:07:51
David Martin
So you’re a police officer?
00:17:07:52 – 00:17:08:27
Adrian Garcia
I’m a cop.
00:17:08:36 – 00:17:10:04
David Martin
Like, what did you do as a cop?
00:17:10:09 – 00:17:18:21
Adrian Garcia
I did all kinds of fun stuff, man. I didn’t. I patrol undercover work, investigations, community relations a little bit. Everything. A little bit of everything.
00:17:18:25 – 00:17:22:37
David Martin
All right. Interesting career pass. Yeah, yeah. Did you expect to run for office?
00:17:22:37 – 00:17:36:51
Adrian Garcia
No, I never did. It wasn’t my idea. And, others thought I could contribute. And then I thought about it. I said, you know what? I’ve been working to make people’s lives, safer and better as a cop. I think I can do it as a an elected official.
00:17:36:58 – 00:17:43:53
David Martin
So, any other, good government environmental issues you championed, as, city council? Yes. Not. Sorry. Sorry. Yes.
00:17:43:57 – 00:18:15:08
Adrian Garcia
I got a commissioner. Yes. If people recall, we had the incredible ITC fire. That, was the explosion of several chemical, tank, tanks in my precinct. It created the largest black plume over the entire state of Houston, for about a week. And it took us about a week to finally find out what was burning in those tanks as a consequence of holding the CEO of that company accountable.
00:18:15:13 – 00:18:37:13
Adrian Garcia
The American Chemistry Council provided me $1 million grant that I had been able to use to buy mobile and, permanent air monitors that are more contemporary and read the the right type of or provide the right type of readings to really tell us what’s in the environment. And is it a concern to the the general public.
00:18:37:24 – 00:19:03:38
Adrian Garcia
And then we were able to construct a process to do tabletop exercises so that our neighbors are I I’ve got 14 mayors in my city, in my precinct, and so so that my neighbor mayors, yeah, they’re easy to negotiate. So it allowed me to create a tabletop exercise that we refer to it as the Good Neighbor policy, meaning that industry has got to be able to communicate and share information.
00:19:03:42 – 00:19:21:41
Adrian Garcia
We have got to be able to work with industry and share information. The community has got to be at the table. As a, as a, stakeholder. And we all need to be working together when environmental challenges are occurring so that we can all be, recognizing that we’re neighbors. At the end of the day.
00:19:21:41 – 00:19:22:35
David Martin
This does sound like good.
00:19:22:35 – 00:19:24:09
Adrian Garcia
Government. It is. All right.
00:19:24:14 – 00:19:46:05
David Martin
That was the easy part. Yeah, I in a minute we’re going to get to the hard part. All right. The Good Government Show is sponsored by our. That’s. Oh you are for our community. Get involved. We hear that all the time from government leaders. Our co-branded with your governments name and logo. Your staff and the people you serve are connected and part of your community.
00:19:46:20 – 00:20:12:49
David Martin
From any device your members provide reliable data and meaningful feedback. Ask a question like, do we want more parkland or better homeless services? More engaged conversations come through the our app. Visit our Co that’s ou rco.com and book a demonstration. After you get done with this episode, hear more good government stories with our friends at How to Really Run a City for mayors.
00:20:12:49 – 00:20:38:00
David Martin
Kasim Reed of Atlanta and Michael Nutter, a Philadelphia, and their co-host, journalist and author Larry Platt talk with guests and other mayors about how to really get stuff done in cities around the nation. Check them out where you’re listening now or through their nonprofit news site, The Philadelphia Citizen. Dot org slash podcasts. All right, so I have a few questions I ask you.
00:20:38:00 – 00:20:43:25
David Martin
And I ask everyone who comes on the show. So long career in public service define good government to me.
00:20:43:25 – 00:21:09:07
Adrian Garcia
Good government is, look, I’ll give you this perspective. I always say that from the front seat of a patrol car. I’ve seen where government has failed and where government has done well. I mean, when you are patrolling an area that is incredibly crime ridden and then you drive a block over and you’re in a totally different economic class of a community, to me that’s a failure.
00:21:09:12 – 00:21:39:40
Adrian Garcia
And so I have always worked to make sure that there is equity and, and responsibility across, the ability to run government. So for me, it’s been, to a certain extent a fiscal conservative, but making sure that where we do spend money, that it is value added. It’s not just spending money to spend it, but making sure that it enhances people’s lives, that it helps keep people safer, that it helps to keep people healthier, and that it helps to create jobs and protect jobs.
00:21:39:40 – 00:21:43:32
David Martin
If people don’t like what you are doing or what government is doing, what would you like them to do?
00:21:43:36 – 00:21:56:38
Adrian Garcia
Tell me, tell me, tell me what we can do better. People are scared of cops. So now you know. They look at people, not look. The other day. Look people. Some people are afraid of cops. But the other thing, too, is that cops know how to walk into tough conversation.
00:21:56:38 – 00:21:58:31
David Martin
That’s true. Yes. So you carry.
00:21:58:31 – 00:22:00:55
Adrian Garcia
That with you to the county commissioner? Yes. Right.
00:22:00:59 – 00:22:06:14
David Martin
All right. What drew you to public service? I mean, did you start off for your first job as police officer?
00:22:06:19 – 00:22:20:12
Adrian Garcia
I came out of high school. I was one of the last classes that the Houston Police Department allowed to join when you were 19. I couldn’t even legally buy bullets. I had to tell my mom if you going to the store, you know, pick you up a box of bullets for me.
00:22:20:17 – 00:22:21:13
David Martin
You had to buy your own bullets.
00:22:21:13 – 00:22:42:30
Adrian Garcia
Yeah, your own gun and your own bullets. Wow. And so, you know, look, I had an incredible career in the police department. At the tail end of my career, I was, appointed by mayor Lee Brown, former police chief? Yeah, former drug czar. Right. He appointed me as the director of the mayor’s anti-gang office. We were having incredible challenges.
00:22:42:35 – 00:23:01:26
Adrian Garcia
And so he and the previous mayor were looking for ways to, make the community safer and keep people from taking that path of, getting involved with criminal street gangs. That gave me a lot of notoriety, if you will. When bad things happened, you know, the media was always asking me about it, when good things happened.
00:23:01:26 – 00:23:02:52
Adrian Garcia
The media. Thanks for being out.
00:23:02:52 – 00:23:03:33
David Martin
To talk to the press.
00:23:03:41 – 00:23:24:09
Adrian Garcia
That’s right, that’s right. Thank you. And so, as a consequence, I think people began to look at me in a different light and said, hey, why don’t you consider running for office? I refused the idea because I kept saying, I’m a cop, I’m not a politician. And, but then, you know, my wife and I talked about it and she said, look, you know, you’re doing good work.
00:23:24:14 – 00:23:33:35
Adrian Garcia
You might as well have the title. So, I she supported me, and I did it. And it’s been an incredible, incredible experience.
00:23:33:35 – 00:23:34:09
David Martin
Who inspires.
00:23:34:09 – 00:23:52:39
Adrian Garcia
You? So many people inspire me. My dad, above all, you know, my dad was, I. Look, I’m. I’m the only American born in my family. My mom and dad and my brothers are all born in Mexico, and. But I remember how my dad treated people. My dad had an auto mechanic shop that we all, all the boys worked in.
00:23:52:41 – 00:23:55:08
Adrian Garcia
I have, you know, four older brothers and an older sister.
00:23:55:12 – 00:23:56:20
David Martin
You still work on your own car?
00:23:56:20 – 00:24:18:35
Adrian Garcia
I do, I, I can, I can, I can tell you what’s wrong with it. Except the new ones, the EVs are harder to, to diagnose, but people would walk up to my dad’s shop and ask him for money, and my dad would say, I don’t give money, I give jobs. And so my dad would help people, you know, work and and be productive and contributing members of the community.
00:24:18:40 – 00:24:37:49
Adrian Garcia
He was always compassionate. Would you know, if someone was hungry, he’d give them food if someone needed a place to sleep. He gave them a bed. And that type of, attitude that my dad had, I think, had a lot to do with why being in public service, being elected office, is a good and important thing to do.
00:24:37:54 – 00:24:47:35
David Martin
You said that you never envision yourself running for public office when all these people are saying it. You did somewhere in the back of your mind think, yeah, I’d like to do that. I’d like to be the mayor. I’d like to be the police.
00:24:47:35 – 00:25:05:48
Adrian Garcia
First of all, I didn’t I didn’t understand politics. I didn’t understand, the process of how you get elected and, and then being a kid who grew up in a tough neighborhood where tough things happened, I didn’t come from money. So I didn’t know how you raised money to do all these things. And so thankfully, others believed in me and supported me.
00:25:05:48 – 00:25:07:17
Adrian Garcia
And here I am today.
00:25:07:22 – 00:25:09:19
David Martin
So how long you’ve been a county commissioner?
00:25:09:24 – 00:25:11:57
Adrian Garcia
I have been I was elected in 2018.
00:25:12:02 – 00:25:21:59
David Martin
Okay. So a few years in and then other other service before that city council. So with all that experience, plus your experience in the police department, what would you like people to know about government?
00:25:22:01 – 00:25:56:58
Adrian Garcia
What I want people to know about government is that government is important, but government also has to be practical and very, very focused because government with the wrong leadership can go in so many different ways that ultimately do not impact the daily lives of the average person living in the community. Okay, all I want I want people to know that the effort I try to bring to government and governance is to keep it practical, keep it focused, and make sure that it’s impactful to every person living in my community.
00:25:57:03 – 00:25:58:27
David Martin
What’s the best part of your job?
00:25:58:31 – 00:26:15:26
Adrian Garcia
Talking to, really talking to kids because I see them as the next generation. All right. I see them as the next generation of leaders. And so I really want to make sure that, kids grow up with their heart in the right place, and with a vision for better things for all people.
00:26:15:40 – 00:26:17:03
David Martin
What’s your biggest concern?
00:26:17:08 – 00:26:34:13
Adrian Garcia
My biggest concern is that there’s a lot of there’s a lot of noise, and that it’s easy to get distracted and so I’m hopeful that at the end of the day, we will find a way to find more in common with each other and be able to disagree respectfully, but also be able to work together diligently.
00:26:34:26 – 00:26:44:39
David Martin
So I’ve been in Houston once. I was there for a, rugby conference, actually. Oh, wow. Yes. I’m guessing I’m going to ask, what’s the cuisine of Houston? I’m guessing you’re going to say some good Mexican.
00:26:44:39 – 00:26:56:14
Adrian Garcia
Where do we go? You know? Hey, look, first of all, Houston has become a foodie town, all right? We now have Michelin rated restaurants in the city of Houston. Okay, so it’s no longer barbecue and Mexican food.
00:26:56:18 – 00:26:57:48
David Martin
Which are both two great options.
00:26:57:48 – 00:27:08:21
Adrian Garcia
By the way. They are they and we even have a michelin rated barbecue place. Really? Yeah. So what’s it called? Which one is, is it truth? Well. Well, what I actually have to mention.
00:27:08:34 – 00:27:09:35
David Martin
You have your whole stack.
00:27:09:35 – 00:27:10:27
Adrian Garcia
Here. When we get an.
00:27:10:27 – 00:27:11:52
David Martin
Answer, look at it. It’s answer later. Right.
00:27:12:06 – 00:27:33:48
Adrian Garcia
But, but it’s a foodie town, so Mexican food is at the top of list. My favorite place, for good Mexican food is Irma’s original restaurant. That your wife? No, no, no, I actually I met this lady when I was a cop. Yep. She was only selling sandwiches at the time, and she has now become one of the premier, locations in Houston to get good food.
00:27:33:50 – 00:27:36:52
David Martin
Irma’s Irma. Okay. What do you do for fun?
00:27:36:57 – 00:27:41:59
Adrian Garcia
I ride bikes. Oh. Right. I like to read biographies, and I love to watch movies.
00:27:42:06 – 00:27:48:06
David Martin
So this is a good government show. We always bring it back to a good government project. Tell me about another good government project. You’re excited.
00:27:48:06 – 00:28:05:29
Adrian Garcia
About it? Well, look, when I came into office, I, you know, I wanted to, you know, make an impact. And the staff that I inherited said, well, Commissioner, the best thing you can do is spruce up a park. And, that way I’ll tell people that there’s a new commissioner in town. And I said, well, how much are we talking about spending?
00:28:05:29 – 00:28:33:35
Adrian Garcia
And they said, maybe million, maybe 2 million. I said, that’s a lot of money to spruce. I want to spend that kind of money. I want to make an impact. And so as I thought about it, I said, you know what the largest underrepresented minority group in the area is the individuals with special needs. And so I got my folks to study and focus on creating a exclusive special needs park.
00:28:33:50 – 00:28:34:13
David Martin
Okay.
00:28:34:13 – 00:28:56:53
Adrian Garcia
But when I was on city council, I got to work with the Commission on Disability. So I called my old friend, who was the CEO of it at the time, and she gave me an epiphany. She said, Adrian, you’ve only known me since I’ve been in my wheelchair, but since you’ve known me, well, first of all, it was a car wreck that paralyzed me and put me in this wheelchair.
00:28:56:58 – 00:29:16:09
Adrian Garcia
Since you’ve known me, I’ve gotten married and I’ve had children, and my children are healthy. They have no disabilities. So I appreciate you thinking about the special needs in an exclusive way. But I want to be able to go to a park where I can play with my children. Okay. And so hence the idea of creating an inclusive park came to mind.
00:29:16:14 – 00:29:45:55
Adrian Garcia
And we now have the only fully inclusive park for people of all abilities, in Harris County. It has become so, immensely known and visited, I have about, over a half a million people that come to visit it on almost a regular basis. And people from other counties drive to that park because their autistic children get overstimulated and overwhelmed in other areas.
00:29:46:00 – 00:30:15:47
Adrian Garcia
But my park has everything that they need to have a nice day at the park. The challenge I have in in Harris County is this David, we are a UN zoned community, so right now I’m fighting a concrete batch plant that is trying to open up next door to that park. I can’t, you know, I try to buy the property from the owner and I just and so disappointed that that owner just couldn’t see the value of the people coming to that park and what that park means to them, to have.
00:30:15:47 – 00:30:17:49
David Martin
Them sit down with Jackson and explain how this whole thing.
00:30:17:49 – 00:30:26:51
Adrian Garcia
Works. We tried, we tried, we tried. But unfortunately, that is one of the, people in the private sector that are not necessarily good neighbors, I guess.
00:30:26:51 – 00:30:47:57
David Martin
Not that the park does sound like a pretty impressive project. Adrian Garcia, commissioner from Harris County, Texas and Houston, Texas, congratulations on your Naco, Achievement award for the Almond Bayou Conservation Project. That’s right. You got ExxonMobil to the table to do the right thing. That’s saying something. Congratulations. And a pleasure to meet a fellow pilgrim of the community.
00:30:47:57 – 00:30:48:29
David Martin
Santiago.
00:30:48:31 – 00:30:54:45
Adrian Garcia
Hey, when Camino break Camino. Thank you. I.
00:30:54:50 – 00:31:12:43
David Martin
Want to hear more about good government. Check out another show I host leading Iowa. Good government in Iowa cities. I host the show with Brad Cavanaugh, mayor of Dubuque, Iowa, and the immediate past president of the Iowa League of Cities. Together, we talk to leaders in Iowa cities. We talk about what works and what good government looks like in Iowa.
00:31:12:47 – 00:31:21:37
David Martin
Join us right here. We listening now that’s leading Iowa. Good government in Iowa. Cities.
00:31:21:41 – 00:31:43:35
David Martin
An impressive balancing act by Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia. He’s expanded his natural parkland and worked with ExxonMobil, all while supporting the local economy in his city. That means working with the oil and gas industry to protect the environment. And he’s doing it. Next time I’m in Houston, I want to check out those electric pontoons and take a ride out on the Almond Bayou Nature Center when I’m done.
00:31:43:39 – 00:32:01:07
David Martin
Corkscrew barbecue has the star briskets on the way. That’s our show. Thanks for listening. Please like us and share this with your friends. And we’re viewers right here where you’re listening. And check out our website. Good government show.com for extras. Help us keep telling stories of good government in action everywhere. Join us again for another episode right here.
00:32:01:11 – 00:32:30:17
David Martin
I’m Dave Martin and this is the Good Government show. Wayne Camino. The Good Government show is a Valley Park production. Jim Mundo, Dave Martin, that’s me and David Snyder are the executive producers. Our show is edited and produced by Jason Sterling. Please subscribe, then share and like us and review us. That’s the best way to make sure we’re able to keep telling these stories of our government working for all of us.
00:32:30:32 – 00:32:45:41
David Martin
Then listen to the next episode of The Good Government Show.
00:32:45:45 – 00:32:48:25
Narrator
This podcast is part of the democracy Group.
**This transcription was created using digital tools and has not been edited by a live person. We apologize for any discrepancies or errors.