Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/845136
t m c » p u l s e | j u ly 2 0 1 7 14 14 What's the solution? We can all agree that one person living on our streets is one too many. As I said to one person who asked me to move the homeless: 'What would you have me do? Load them up and take them to another neighborhood?' 'No.' 'Put them in jail?' 'No, Mr. Mayor, we're not telling you to do that.' We know a big problem is housing, and we'll work to house 500 people over the next six months. The federal government cut off funding to certain voucher programs, so that has slowed down perma- nent supportive housing. And I recognize that even if I go to someone and say, 'I have housing for you,' they might not want to go. So we're looking at establishing low-barrier shelters for people, temporary locations while we work on their individual circumstances to move them to a better place. Another piece of the solu- tion is more funding for substance abuse and detox centers. We're asking people who give to the homeless who are panhandling to redirect their funding—to give to nonprofits and to faith-based operations instead. To give meaningful change, not spare change. Q | You have asked several universities to work together to support an institute for data sciences in Houston. At the same time, the Texas Medical Center is working on TMC 3 , a translational research campus where major medical institutions will work together. Is there a theme here? A | I think there's an opportunity for this city to create high-paying innovation jobs. All the elements are here. The question is: Are we going to have collaboration? Are we going to get past being territorial and recognize it's in all our mutual interests? You can be territorial and defend your space, but if you're not moving forward, you're moving backward. In the city of Houston, some- body is going to play in that space. Mayor Sylvester Turner was interviewed by Pulse editor Maggie Galehouse. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Previous page and above: Mayor Turner at Houston City Hall. One in four Houstonians is foreign-born. And over the next 15 years, another three million people will be moving into the Houston region, which is the equivalent of placing another Chicago in our midst. We're the fourth-largest city in the country and, in due time, we will be the third. We will pass Chicago. CALL OUR EXPERTS AT 832-355-2285 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING A CONSULTATION OR REFERRING A PATIENT. bcm.edu/heartandlung GABRIEL LOOR, MD Cardiothoracic Surgeon Director of Lung Transplantation Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery Baylor College of Medicine Co-Chief, Section of Adult Cardiac Surgery Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center Professional Sta Member Texas Heart Institute I N T R O D U C I N G GABRIEL LOOR, MD Cardiothoracic & Transplant Surgeon World renowned expert in Lung Transplantation and complex Adult Cardiac Surgery Lung transplant wait list time is less than half of the national average Baylor St. Luke's is recognized as a leader in successful lung transplants in the nation by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center