Remarks by Matt Devoti
26 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 1:24:19
“Madam President, members of the board, I would ask that Bill 78 be placed on the informal calendar.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:25:15
“Madam President, members of the board, I would request unanimous consent on Resolution 145.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:25:26
“Madam President, members of the board, I would request that the board adopt Resolution 145.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:25:44
“This is very simple. This particular resolution simply approves the garden side subdivisions district budget for this next fiscal year, which it is required to do by its authorizing ordinance.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:27:10
“Madam President, members of the board, I move that the board adopt resolution 125, committee substitute.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:27:35
“Thank you, Madam President. We're here today considering this particular resolution because it's our firm belief, or at least I believe it should be this entire board's firm belief, that words matter, that attitudes matter, that tone matters. That as public officials, that rule are those principles, things that the vast majority of 10-year-olds recognize, that they particularly apply to us. And they have to apply to us. I think we would all agree that we are public officials, that we stand in front of our communities, that while our communities disagree with us on certain things, at the end…”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:33:11
“Department of Personnel, administrative regulation number 142, madam. Oh, but not our rules.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:33:30
“No, ma'am. 142 applies to city employees.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:39:52
“Actually, Alderman, to set the record straight, you did make that statement last week on the floor. Before I left this building last Friday, I placed a call to you. I did place a call to you, and I left a voicemail for you. It was with respect to the resolution that you had filed, with respect to the hospital. So if we're going to be straight and you're going to accuse me of not reaching out to you, let's be crystal clear to everybody on this board and to the public. that I did place a call to you, that I specifically mentioned in my voicemail, that I wanted to speak with you about the…”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:55:40
“I would like to respond. I know that was quite a bit of information, but I would like to take a few moments to respond. First, I'm going to give you the same courtesy, or I'm going to give you the courtesy that you failed to give to Alderman Aldridge, and that is apologize. To the extent that my language in my voicemail when I reached out this last Friday to you was inexact or imprecise, I apologize. I'm sorry. I can do that. I think, second, let's talk in terms of what this resolution is. Because you have just referencing taking away committee assignments or parking spots or whatever else.…”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:57:19
“That talks in terms of the First Amendment right of a council or a board, a legislative body just like this, to stand up and say that particular language is not acceptable.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:57:36
“Third, and I think this is very important, You have challenged the veracity of this audio or this video that we have all seen, that's been circulating throughout the media. As you sit here today, do you deny that you told a group of community folks, quote, if you was in my black caucus, you would be the first person I'd put a bullet- Alderman, are you inquiring? I am.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 1:58:18
“I appreciate that. Thank you, Madam President. I want to make sure that we all are on the same page. You have challenged the veracity of the videotape. My question to you is, do you admit that you said to a community group, quote, if you was in my black caucus, you would be the first person I put a bullet in your head?”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:06:44
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:08:34
“A final question so that we can move on, and I apologize for dragging this on. We are here to talk about this particular resolution, and we're here to talk about certain statement or certain language. Would you agree with me that the statement, I pull a bullet in your head directed at a colleague, a fellow alder, is inappropriate in today's day and age in the matter of public discourse. Oh, I'm sorry. And as you've said to me, Alderman, this is a yes or no question. Would you agree with me that such language, I put a bullet in your head.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:09:22
“I'm just asking you with respect to would you agree that such language is inappropriate? Simple question.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:11:18
“I can tell you, and I don't have the red line version in front of me.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:11:23
“I know that generally speaking, the original Resolution 125 talked in terms of censure and removal of certain benefits of office. two significant changes were made. Number one, the term censure was defined. So in the committee substitute, as you now have before you, there is the definition of censures defined as a verbal reprimand without sanction or denial of any privilege of office. That is new language. akin with that language than the request or the suggestion that there would be some discipline or some removal of a sanction or denial of a privilege so pulled out of the resolution. The…”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:29:17
“In a criminal setting? Absolutely. Life, liberty at issue? Absolutely.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:29:34
“I will tell you that we had video in hand. My work, 28 years doing civil work, I've got a videotape that shows action, that shows conduct. Ten out of ten times, the person stands down and says, I made an error, I screwed up, When confronted with that photograph, when confronted with that video, they say, I'm sorry. And that's the end of it. That's my 28 years of experience. And if not, you're right. In that setting, we proceed to a jury trial, and we have 12 folks in a jury trial look at that video and go... Yep. The video is what the video is.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:34:11
“I don't mean to cut you off, Alderwoman, and you may have a beef with President Green. No, it's not a beef. No, it's not. But you are cutting. No, no, no, no, no. I'm trying to follow the discussion. How does this deal with me?”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:37:03
“I understand, Alderwoman. Was that a question?”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:37:18
“My belief is that the language I would put a bullet in your head is reprehensible and uncalled for and unexcusable in any forum for those words to come out of a public official's mouth. Excuse me, let me finish. about a colleague.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:39:56
“This is a statement. That is Committee Substitute 125 about what language is acceptable to members of this board. Let me answer your question.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:40:14
“The First Amendment of the United States Constitution, as recognized by the United States Supreme Court in the case of County of Houston. That would be right. And as you know as a lawyer, the United States Constitution trumps the city charter every day of the week. And this is an exercise of this body to say that language is not permissible.”
Board of Aldermen · Oct 2, 2026