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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
THE TIME IS 9:12 A.M. ON THE 12TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2023. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. BEFORE I BEGIN TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO START JUST WITH SOME REFLECTION. WE'VE ALL BEEN GRIPPED OVER THE LAST WEEK BY THE NEWS AND EVENTS UNFOLDING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SPECIFICALLY IN ISRAEL. AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE PRECIOUS SOULS WHO HAVE BEEN LOST, WHO ARE MISSING, AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.
MANY OF WHOM RESIDE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND NOW, AS THE WAR BREAKS OUT, WHICH HAS BEEN INCITED BY THE BRUTALITY AND TERRORISM OF HAMAS, IT UNFOLDS THROUGHOUT OTHER AREAS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE MOURN THE LOSS OF ALL INNOCENT LIVES AS WE PRAY FOR PEACE. I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AND READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL AND CONDEMNING HAMAS' TERRORIST ACTS OF WAR. WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 7, 2023 DURING THE SACRED JEWISH HOLIDAY, THE PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS INFILTRATED ISRAEL BY LAND, SEA, AND AIR IN AN UNPROVOKED TERRORIST ATTACK.
AND WHEREAS ISRAELI CITIZENS WERE ATTACKED, HELD CAPTIVE, KIDNAPPED, OR SLAUGHTERED IN THEIR HOMES AND THOUSANDS WITNESSED A MASSACRE AT AN ISRAELI MUSIC FESTIVAL WHERE HAMAS TERRORISTS KILLED AT LEAST 250 PEOPLE. WHEREAT THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL IS BELIEVED TO BE THE WORST ATTACK IN ISRAELI HISTORY. WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO HAS A BOND AND COMMERCIAL TIES WITH OUR FRIENDSHIP CITY IN TEL-AVIV WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2011 . WE STAND IN UNITY WITH TEL-AVIV IN THESE DARK DAYS.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT REVOLVED THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DENOUNCES HAMAS FOR THE ACTS AGAINST ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE AND THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL AS WE MOURN THE LOSS OF ISRAELI AND AMERICAN LIVES AND THE LOSS OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS. WE PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO WERE KILLED DURING THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AND WE PRAY FOR A PEACEFUL, JUST RESOLUTION.
ON THIS DAY, THE 12TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023. I KNOW WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE, WHICH IS STRONG AND RESILIENT, REPRESENTED BY RABBIS, BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BY ALSO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, ET CETERA . I WOULD LIKE TO CALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UP NOW TO COME FORWARD ON BEHALF OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY TO MAKE SOME REMARKS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR . THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
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GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO.THESE ARE DEFINITELY TOUGH TIMES FOR MANY IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HUMANITY. AS A JEW LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE I CALL MY HOME, MY SECOND HOME, WHERE MY MOTHER, SISTER, AND HER FAMILY LIVES IS TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL. OUR SISTER CITY. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME HOW ARE THEY DOING, I SAY PHYSICALLY, THANK GOD, THEY WEREN'T WHERE THE TERROR ATTACKS TOOK PLACE.
MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, THEY WILL BE AFFECTED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
AS JEWS, WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT GENERATIONALLY THOSE WHO SUFFER THE EVILS OF THE HOLOCAUST, THE SECOND GENERATION, THE CHILDREN WHO LIVED IN THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED THAT LOSS. AND EVEN THE THIRD GENERATION, LIKE ME, WHO ARE THE CHILDREN THAT HAD TO GROW UP IN THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED THAT.
FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, WE WILL NOW NOT ONLY BE TALKING ABOUT THE NEVER AGAIN OF THE HOLOCAUST, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE NEVER AGAIN OF THE INCIDENTS OF THIS PAST WEEKEND. THE CRIMES THAT TOOK PLACE ARE NOT JUST TO THOSE WHO SUFFERED DEATH, INJURY, HOSTAGE TAKING, THE PAINS OF SEEING ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT IT WILL BE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. NONE OF US, NONE OF US -- AND WHEN I SAY "US" I DON'T MEAN JUST THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. ANYBODY WHO BELIEVES IN HUMANITY BELIEVES THAT THE PATH TO PEACE IS THROUGH TERRORISM. THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO SUFFER UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HAMAS ARE NOW SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT HAMAS IS REALLY LIKE . DON'T THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT HAMAS BEHEADING CHILDREN ISN'T THE SAME KIND OF PRESSURE THAT THEY PUT ON THEIR OWN PEOPLE TO NOT PARTNER WITH ISRAEL AND FIND PEACE. IT'S HARD ENOUGH WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THESE PAST FEW DAYS. THE PAIN, THE LACK OF SLEEP, THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
BUT TO SEE OUR CITIZENS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBORS RALLY SOMEHOW TO SUPPORT THE EVILS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IS INSULTING ON A LOCAL LEVEL. I'M SORRY TO BE STANDING HERE EMOTIONAL IN FRONT OF YOU. BUT THIS IS NOT JUST A SMALL INCIDENT, A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE. THIS IS A TERRORIST GROUP WHO IS LEADING A PEOPLE AND THEY'RE BEING RECOGNIZED AND THEY'RE BEING VALIDATED AND THEY'RE BEING TOLD IT'S OKAY TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. NOBODY, NOBODY WHO I WANT AS MY NEIGHBOR SHOULD BE THE KIND OF PERSON STANDING IN THE STREETS AND SAYING THAT'S OKAY. SO TO STAND HERE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THE WORDS YOU JUST READ, MAYOR, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBOR. EVERY FRIEND.
EVERY RELATIVE. EVERY PERSON WHO HAS REACHED OUT TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY TO SAY WE'RE THINKING OF YOU. WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU AND WE SHARE OUR CONDOLENCES FOR YOUR LOSS. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS IN PAIN AND ANYBODY WHO KNOWS A JEW, WHO LIVES NEXT TO A JEW IS ALSO IN PAIN. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT. IT IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED BY THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NAMMY. I KNOW A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS AS WELL. LET ME TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER
WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THTHANK YOU, NAMI.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE LESS THAN A WEEK SINCE THE TERROR GROUP KNOWN AS HAMAS COMMITTED THIS BRUTAL AND BARBARIC ATTACK AGAINST THE NATION OF ISRAEL. THIS ATTACK HAS LEFT MORE THAN 1,000 DEAD, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. AND OTHER THAN THE HOLOCAUST, THIS IS THE SINGLE LARGEST ATTACK ON THE JEWISH PEOPLE THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.
WE KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT IT'S NOT ONLY ISRAELIS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS ATTACK BUT PEOPLE WITH NATIONALITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING 20 AMERICANS.
SO TODAY IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS WE WANT TO CONDEMN THE TERRORISTIC ACTS OF
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HAMAS. AND WE WANT TO STATE THAT WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR ALLY ISRAEL. AND LET IT BE KNOWN AND VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT WE SHOULD ALL REAFFIRM OUR BELIEF THAT ISRAEL HAS THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF MOVING FORWARD.NOW, NEWS REPORTS HAVE SHOWN THAT HAMAS IS CALLING FOR ADDITIONAL ATTACKS THIS WEEK AND MOVING FORWARD. I WANT EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO TO REMAIN VIGILANT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ONLY THREE HOURS FROM OUR BORDER AND RECENTLY WE KNOW WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME ACROSS THAT BORDER. I WANT TO AGAIN CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS JOB, CLOSE THE BORDER. AND FOR ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT DEALING WITH THE FOLKS COMING ACROSS, WE NEED TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM AND WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE.
AND, FINALLY, I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT WE ALL KNOW AND I KNOW THAT THEY KNOW.
AND THAT IS THAT GOOD ALWAYS TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL. AND COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING WILL ALWAYS WIN OUT OVER HATE. AND AFTER DARKNESS ALWAYS COMES THE LIGHT. JUST LIKE OUR GREAT COUNTRY EMERGED STRONGER AFTER 9/11, AFTER THE DUST SETTLES ON THIS, ISRAEL WILL BE STRONGER AS WELL.
GOD BLESS EVERYBODY AROUND THE WORLD THAT'S BEEN AFFECTED BY THESE RECENT EVENTS.
GOD BLESS ISRAEL AS IT SEEKS TO CREATE A LASTING PEACE IN THE REGION IN THE WEEKS MOVING FORWARD. AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES AND ALL AMERICAN FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THESE EVENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERY WELL SAID, COUNCILMAN.
I THINK ALL OF US ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN ISRAEL AND ALL OF US HAVE AN AFFECTION FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN ISRAEL. YOU SAID SOMETHING IN YOUR TALK ABOUT HUMANITY AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE MISSING INGREDIENT THAT WE ALL NEED TO MAKE SURE WE THINK OF.
WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. THERE HAS TO BE HUMANITY IN THIS EFFORT.
WHEN I WAS IN FRONT OF CITY HALL YESTERDAY, SOMEBODY CAME UP TO ME AND SAID THE CITY NEEDS TO EXPRESS ITS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL. AND I AGREE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN YOUR OPINION, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO PUT A BANNER OUT IN CITY HALL SAYING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SUPPORTS ISRAEL?
>> SEGOVIA: COUNCILMAN, AS YOU KNOW I RARELY GIVE OPINIONS FROM THE DAIS BUT HERE I CAN
SAFELY TELL YOU, YES. THAT'S PERFECTLY ALLOWABLE. >> COURAGE: AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE EXPRESSION OF THIS CITY TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND TO ALL OF OUR FELLOW SAN ANTONIANS. MAYOR, I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. I HOPE THAT WE COME TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION SOON.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WHEN I FIRST LEARNED OF THIS ATROCITY, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS COMPLETE DISBELIEF. DISBELIEF THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
BUT AS YOU MENTIONED IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. THEY'VE BEEN LIVING UNDER THIS REGIME AND WE ARE JUST SHOWN, UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I'M SADDENED, DISTRESSED AT THE TERRIBLE EVENTS IN ISRAEL AND THE SENSELESS LOSS OF LIVES.
TERRORISM OF ANY KIND IS INHUMANE AND WE SHOULD COLLECTIVELY CONDEMN IT AND CONTINUE TO WORK AGAINST IT. COUNCILMAN WHYTE I THINK MENTIONED GOOD TRIUMPHING OVER EVIL. I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT BUT IT TAKES FIGHT AND IT TAKES SUPPORT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO OFFER YOU TODAY HERE.
I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MY BEAUTIFUL HOMETOWN.
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YOU APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR EMOTION BUT WE SHOULD ALL BE THIS EMOTIONAL, THIS PASSIONATE FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITIES, FOR OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW WE CAN HELP YOU. I SHARE THE GRIEF OF COURSE OF OUR JEWISH AND ISRAELI NEIGHBORS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO GRIEVE THE LOSS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND STAND WITH ALL WHO STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, TO LIVE IN PEACE, WHICH WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IN OUR COUNTRY AND FORGET THAT EVERY DAY THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING UNDER THIS REGIME. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR BRINGING THIS TOLIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: I THINK WHAT IS MOST OBSCENE IS THAT THIS OCCURRED ON THE FINAL DAYS OF SUKAT. USUALLY WHEN I HANG OUT WITH YOU ALL, IT'S TO CELEBRATE.
AND I HATE THAT YOU'RE HERE. I HATE THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO DO THIS AND I HATE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. I WILL TELL YOU THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE WE PLAYFULLY USE THE WORD [INDISCERNIBLE] AND THERE'S NO PLAYING WHEN I TELL YOU THAT I HOPE THAT YOU'RE PICKING UP WHAT WE'RE LAYING DOWN HERE, WHICH IS TODAY ALL OF SAN ANTONIO IS.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND WE FEEL YOUR PAIN AND WE WITNESS. WE WITNESS.
DID I SAY IT CORRECTLY? GOD BLESS YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YOU ALL ARE HURTING AND SO WE'RE HURTING RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU ALL.
TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WHO IS HERE, WE STAND WITH YOU. I STAND WITH YOU.
I HAVE BEEN CHECKING IN ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY THIS PAST WEEK AND SO THIS IS JUST MY REQUEST OUT TO Y'ALL. IF THERE'S ANY OTHER WAY THAT WE CAN SHOW SUPPORT, PLEASE LET
ME KNOW. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. WHEN ATTACK ON HUMANITY LIKE THIS HAPPENS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT USE THEIR VOICE TO CONDEMN SUCH ACTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR ALWAYS WORKING SO HARD TO BUILD SAN ANTONIO AND FOR COMING INTO MY COMMUNITY AND SERVING AS YOU DO.
AND THE OTHER THING IS REMINDING US HOW IMPORTANT ISRAEL IS AND THAT RELATIONSHIP IS. I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO WE CAN TALK TODAY AND LET THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO KNOW THAT WE STAND WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE STAND WITH ISRAEL AS THEY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS HORRENDOUS ACTIVITY GOING ON THERE.
AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO PRAY AND SUPPORT AND THAT WE WILL BE HERE FOR YOU AS THIS
CONTINUES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALL IMMEDIATELY GO INTO SUPPORTIVE MODE OF EACH OTHER AND YOU ALL ARE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT I MOST ADMIRE BECAUSE OF THAT. BECAUSE I KNEW INSTANTLY THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY BEHIND YOU ALL, LOOKING TO WHAT YOU ALL NEED US TO DO AS LEADERS. AND WE STAND HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU. I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSSES. YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE IN OUR PRAYERS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE LIVE IN A WORLD FULL OF HATRED.
IT'S SAD TO SAY BUT THIS IS NOT TOO SURPRISING. IT'S SHOCKING, ABSOLUTELY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE HATE IN THE WORLD, I AM SO AFRAID THAT OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY, EVEN IN OUR OWNMMUNIR ATTACK. AND I AM TERRIFIED AT WHAT IS TO COME AFTER THIS. I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND EVEN WITH CHIEF MCMANUS, WHO I SEE BACK IN THE BACK, TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE DOESN'T HAPPEN. AND SO REST ASSURED THAT YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING YOU TODAY, WE ARE BEHIND YOU ALL AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING YOU ALL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND, AGAIN, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSSES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES AUDIO] BY THE VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED AROUND AND WITHIN GAZA THIS PAST WEEKEND.
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AS THE EVENTS CONTINUE, MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH EVERYONE WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IN HARM'S WAY. MY HEART BREAKS FOR EVERYONE NOW LIVING WITH TREMENDOUS GRIEF AND LOSS. I SPOKE TO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN MY DISTRICT THAT IS JUST VERY WORRIED FOR HIS FAMILY. HE SHARED MY NIECES WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WATER. I JOIN THEM IN SEEING THAT WE GRIEVE AND WE ADVOCATE FOR A FUTURE WHERE REGARDLESS OF RACE OR CREED, PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF BRUTAL VIOLENCEAND TERROR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
NAMI, WE STAND WITH EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN LIGHT AND IN THE DARK.
AND SO PLEASE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, RABBI WINSLOW, IN YOUR TIME OF NEED, SAN ANTONIO IS WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND PARTICULARLY CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND TO THOSE REPRESENTING THE MILITARY, TWO PORTS, U.S. STATIONS IN ISRAEL.
WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THAT SECURITY TOO. THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR TODAY.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING PASTOR RYNE WEITZEL. RYNE WEITZEL WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
HE HAS SERVED AS THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PASTOR FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
RYNE HAS A HEART FOR PASTORING AND MENTORING YOUTH AND SHARING THE GOSPEL.
HE IS PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIONS AND IMPACT THAT CROSSROADS BAPTIST CHURCH HAS HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY. EACH SUMMER THEY HOST A BACKPACK DRIVE WHERE THEY PARTNER WITH LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES TO DISTRIBUTE HUNDREDS OF BACKPACKS TO STUDENTS IN DISTRICT 7. DURING THE PANDEMIC, CROSSROADS HOSTED SEVERAL BLOOD DRIVES.
MOST RECENTLY RYNE HAS TEAMED UP WITH THE FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN ATHLETES ORGANIZATION TO PASTOR AND MENTOR STUDENTS AT STEVENSON MIDDLE SCHOOL. PASTOR RYNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE TODAY . >> I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, COUNCILWOMAN. MAYOR, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND PRAY WITH EVERYONE HERE THIS MORNING, THERE IS SO MUCH TO PRAY FOR. I DID A MESSAGE THIS PAST SUNDAY TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE. AND HEARING WHAT WAS JUST SAID AND WHAT EVERYONE UP HERE JUST SAID, I BELIEVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOOD TRIUMPHING OVER EVIL, SATAN IS THE ONE BRINGING THIS EVIL. WHENEVER WE ARE DOING ANYTHING FOR GOD, HE ATTACKS. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YEAR. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH THEM. GOD HAS ALWAYS BROUGHT THEM FROM THE ASHES AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS RISEN AGAIN. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ON MY BEHALF I KNOW THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AS WELL IS FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THIS.
WE STAND FIRM WITH THEM. SO BECAUSE OF SO MUCH TO PRAY FOR, LET US ALL JOIN TOGETHER AND PRAY TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. DEAR GOD, LORD, YOU ARE AN AWESOME GOD. YOU ARE A TRIUMPHANT GOD. YOU ARE A GOD OF LOVE AND COMPASSION. YOU ARE ALSO A GOD OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
LORD, WE ALL STAND TOGETHER, LIFTING UP ALL OF OUR PRAYERS, ALL OF OUR CONCERNS TO YOU RIGHT NOW. LORD, WE LIFT UP ALL THE ISRAEL PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AS THEY ARE NOW BEING ONCE AGAIN BEING ATTACKED BY EVIL.
LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU PUT YOUR ARMOR OF PROTECTION AROUND THEM, THAT YOU BRING PEACE DURING A TIME OF DISTRESS. THAT THEY ARE REMINDED OF YOUR LOVE FOR THEM AND THAT YOU JUST SEND SO MANY FORCES OF LOVE AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAND FIRM WITH THEM.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. THAT THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THEM AND LOVE THEM. THEY HAVE A GOD THAT LOVES THEM AS WELL.
LORD, I PRAY FOR ALL THE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE, THE MAYOR, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PUT
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INTO LEADERSHIP, LORD, YOUR SCRIPTURE TELLS US YOU PUT EVERYONE IN A PLACE OF AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP AND WE ARE TO RESPECT THAT AUTHORITY. LORD, THEY TAKE ON A HEAVY BURDEN. LORD, I PRAY YOU GIVE THEM WISDOM IN ALL AREAS THAT THEY SERVE. LORD, I PRAY THAT THEY ALLOW YOU TO LEAD THROUGH THEM FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. LORD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND A PRAYER TO OUR ARMED FORCES. ALL MILITARY.HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE NAVY'S BIRTH.
WE KNOW THE BURDEN THEY TAKE AS WELL, THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FOR YOUR PEOPLE. FOR PEACE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR, LORD, IS PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE. LORD, I LIFT UP THE CITY TO YOU WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE ONES WHO ARE APPOINTED.
LORD GOD, WE LOVE YOU. WE LOVE YOU. WE THANK YOU.
IT'S IN JESUS' HOLY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR RYNE. OKAY.
THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 12, 13, 14, 20, AND 21. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AS STATED. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
FOR THE RECORD, JUST -- I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.
WE DO HAVE AN AGENDA. ALL ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS TO PULL TODAY UNLESS -- I MEAN, THERE ARE NO ITEMS TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY UNLESS MY COLLEAGUES PULL THEM. FOR THE RECORD, ITEMS NO. 21, 22, AND 23 ARE WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL OFF THE AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? IF THERE ARE NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 21, 22, AND 23 WHICH HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN. WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT, SO LET ME CALL HIM UP NOW. JACK FINGER.
AFTER MR. FINGER, I'LL TAKE ANY COMMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN
WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR CEREMONIALS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ON A CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DAY, THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED OUR GREAT NATION.
BROUGHT CIVILIZATION AND CHRISTIANITY TO A NUMBER OF WARRING FACTIONS THAT HE FOUND HERE AT THE LAND. HE GETS A BAD RAP AT TIMES BUT HE DESERVES HIS RECOGNITION.
WE'LL SEE IF Y'ALL RECOGNIZE HIM TODAY. ONE ITEM I DO WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, MR. MAYOR. IT'S LIKE THIS. A FEW WEEKS AGO I CAME BY HERE AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW A PERSON LOOKS HARD ENOUGH YOU CAN FIND BURIED TREASURE IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. AND I MEAN TO DO THAT AGAIN TODAY, BY GOLLY.
MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP. FOLLOW THE ARROWS THERE.
IT SAYS AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. KEEP ON GOING.
YOU HAVE TO GO WAY, WAY DOWN TO PAGE 5 OR 6. HERE YOU GO, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. PUT THAT THERE. FOLLOW THE ARROWS FROM THE
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UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER THERE. YEAH. SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OH, ITEMS 14. YEAH. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.WHAT DOES IT SAY? YOU HAVE TO GO BACK UP TO PAGE NO. 6 THERE.
APPOINTING MONICA GARZA AND FRANKIE GONZALES WOLFF DISTRICT 8 TO THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN. YES. BY GOLLY.
SO LET'S SEE MR. MANNY PELAEZ, THAT'S YOUR DISTRICT, I BELIEVE.
LET'S SEE WHO YOU HAVE POINTED TO THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN,
MR. PELAEZ. YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ATTACKS ON SOMEONE WHO IS NOT HERE, I'M GOING TO CUT YOU OFF .
STICK TO THE AGENDA, PLEASE. >> THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS, MR. MAYOR, AS I'M SHOWING THAT YOU THE CITY COUNCIL PUT OUT SHOWS THE ITEM, MS. FRANKIE GONZALES.
IT'S ABOUT A PERSON WHO IS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, MR. MAYOR. IF YOU SCROLL DOWN FURTHER YOU'LL SEE WHAT THE PERSON SAYS. KEEP GOING.
AND FINALLY HERE'S THE NEXT PAGE. BURIED TREASURE, AS I SAY.
RACE AND ETHNICITY, HISPANIC. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU'RE DONE, JACK.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CONVERSATION WITH COU COUNCIL .
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 12 AND 13.
ITEM 12 IS ABOUT PROTECTING SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, OUR CHILDREN.
WE'RE ACCEPTING CLOSE TO $400,000 IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE CHILD WELFARE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PROGRAM. THE FUNDS WILL FUND TWO DETECTIVE INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS. THESE DETECTIVE INVESTIGATORS WILL INVESTIGATE SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSAULT CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN.
TRAGICALLY A LARGE VOLUME OF SPECIAL UNIT CASE LOADS INVOLVE CHILDREN VICTIMS. CHILDREN AND SENIORS ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ANY GRANT FUNDS WE CAN USE TO KEEP THEM SAFE WILL BE WELL USED. ITEM 13 IS ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE ON OUR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. DWI ARRESTS HAVE INCREASED TO 4,289 IN 2021 AND 4300 IN 2022 . THIS YEAR WE'RE ON A PATH TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S TOTAL. ITEM 13 ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF A $50,000 GRANT FROM TXDOT FOR THE IMPAIRED DRIVER MOBILIZATION PROGRAM.
THE GRANT WILL PAY FOR DWI TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TO HELP INCREASE SAPD'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE IMPAIRED DRIVING. THERE'S A CITY IN KIND CONTRIBUTION OF $12,500 FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLES, FUEL, MAINTENANCE REPAIRS, BUT THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER AND THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THIS GRANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THTHANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM 14A, THE APPOINTING OF REBECCA MARTINEZ TO THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. BECKY, IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING TO BE RECOGNIZED. BECKY IS AN ACCOMPLISHED EXECUTIVE AT USAA AND A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT. SHE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED TEAM LEADER WITH USAA'S HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND I'M EXCITED TO ADD SOMEONE WITH A NATURAL BACKGROUND AND SKILL SET FOR THIS ROLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND REPRESENTING DISTRICT 7 ON
THIS BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: THANKS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FRIEND FRANKIE GONZALES WOLFF AND HER HUSBAND, JEFF FOR LENDING FRANKIE TO US. SHE ALREADY WORKED A LOT OVER AT THE COUNTY BUT SHE'S AGREED TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY ON THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION OF THE STATUS OF WOMEN. I KNOW HER TO BE THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL THAT YOU KNOW HER TO BE AND I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU TO REBECA-CLAY FLORES
FOR LENDING HER TO US AS WELL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO SAY TWO THINGS. I'LL START OFF BY HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 9.
IT'S A CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT OR FINISH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BLACK CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT. SHE WAS A LEADER AT MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH ALONGSIDE HER HUSBAND. IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO SEE WE ARE APPROVING FUNDING FOR MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH WHICH WILL INCLUDE SPACE FOR DAYTIME SENIOR ACTIVITIES, A SPACE FOR EVENTS, CATERING KITCHEN AND CLASSROOM. SHE WOULD BE PROUD OF THIS ADDITION TO OUR EAST SIDE COMMUNITY. THIS HONORS A WOMAN WHO WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OUR COMMUNITY WILL KNOW HER NAME AND LEGACY THROUGH THIS DYNAMICS FACILITY AND I CAN'T
[00:35:03]
WAIT TO INVITE EACH OF YOU TO THE OPENING SOON. I'M MODERATELY TRIGGERED, MAYOR. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE -- I NORMALLY WOULDN'T HIGHLIGHT SOMEONE ELSE'S APPOINTMENT BUT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IS APPOINTING FRANKIE GONZALES WOLFF AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT YESTERDAY WAS NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY AND, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS OUT OR NOT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL ARE VALID IN THEIR IDENTITY AND DESERVE DIGNITY, HUMANITY, AND BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS. I APPRECIATE YOUR ACTION, MAYOR NIRENBERG.BUT I WANT TO BE VERY DIRECT IN CALLING OUT WHAT WAS ABOUT TO BE A VERY TRANSPHOBIC ATTACK.
JUST TODAY I HAPPEN TO BE WEARING A SHIRT THAT SAYS WHY BE RACIST, HOMOPHONIC WHEN YOU
CAN JUST BE QUIET? THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY APPOINTEE, MONICA GARZA.
ARE YOU HERE? IF YOU COULD STAND. MONICA WAS MY CHAIR FOR LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO BRING A GREAT ASSET TO THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MAYOR . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MY APPOINTEE, LORENA PULIDO WHO IS REAPPOINTED TO THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WILL BE VERY HAPPY.
SHE DOES GREAT THERE. SHE'S A VICE CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AHEAD OF TIME. THERE IS AN AGENDA ITEM.
TWO YEARS AGO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ SAID THIS IS A SUICIDE MISSION.
WHOEVER GETS APPOINTED, THEY ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ALL SORTS OF BULLETS.
AND I'M SIGNING UP AGAIN FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT, COUNCILMAN. LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT 15A, APPOINTING ROBERT MORENO, SUSAN RICHARDSON, AND REAPPOINTING ARACELY MACIAS TO THE WESTSIDE TIRZ.
THEY HAVE BEEN SUCH GREAT ASSETS TO THE DISTRICT 5 AND I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO GREAT
THINGS ON THE WESTSIDE TIRZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 21, 22, AND 23. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE MANY OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS TODAY. AND TODAY, IF YOU DIDN'T REALIZE, WE'RE CELEBRATING A REALLY IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY AND THAT IS THE UNITED STATES NAVY IS TURNING 248 YEARS OLD.
SO LET'S RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE TO OUR NATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
[APPLAUSE] THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CURRENTLY BOASTS ABOUT 230 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE EITHER SERVED IN THE NAVY OR ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE NAVAL RESERVES. AS I HAVE EVERY YEAR ACKNOWLEDGED OUR OWN CITY MANAGER ANDY SEGOVIA -- WHAT DID I SAY? OH, I'M SORRY, ERIK.
CITY ATTORNEY, ANDY SEGOVIA WHO SERVED IN THE NAVY FROM '81 TO '87 AS A SURFACE WARFARE OFFICER. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OTHER PERSONNEL, PATSY, OUR CITY'S CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER. DAVE RAMSEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND IT SAYS DAVE. IT SHOULD BE MIKE RAMSEY.
MIKE RAMSEY, OUR CITY'S DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TIM SALAS.
THE UNITED STATES NAVY WAS ESTABLISHED OCTOBER 13, 1775 DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR WHEN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASE OF WHO VESSELS TO INTERCEPT BRITISH MERCHANTMEN. SAILORS HAVE FACED OUR NATION'S FOES, ON SHORES AND ABROAD.
THE NAVY'S HISTORY INCLUDES THE WAR OF 1812, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE CIVIL WAR, AND CONFLICTS IN BETWEEN. DURING WORLD WAR I IN THE INNER WAR YEARS THE NAVY SPENT MUCH TIME PROTECTING AND SHIPPING THOUSANDS OF MARINES. DURING WORLD WAR II THE NAVY GREW INTO A FORCE THAT FACED A TWO-FRONT WAR ON THE SEAS. OPERATING FROM COMBAT SHIPS AND
[00:40:05]
AIRCRAFT THE NAVY CONTINUED TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF DURING THE COLD WAR IN MORE RECENT TIMES.I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE NOW CAPITAL WALTER BRADFORD. HE'S ALSO SENIOR NAVAL OFFICER IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. WE AT SAN ANTONIO ARE PROUD OF OUR NAVY AND THE PLACE THAT HE AND OTHER SAILORS STATIONED IN SAN ANTONIO COULD JOIN US TODAY FOR THE CELEBRATION.
CAPTAIN BRADFORD, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR INVITATION TO COME FORWARD AND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND
ALL THE SAILORS IN SAN ANTONIO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MAYOR NIRENBERG, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL OF OUR VETERANS HERE TODAY.
GOOD MORNING. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ALL OF US TO BE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING THE UNITED STATES NAVY'S 248TH BIRTHDAY.
ALSO CELEBRATING 248 YEARS OF POWER, PRESENCE, AND PROTECTION.
FOR THOSE OF US IN THE NAVY THAT ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, WE ARE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ESPECIALLY MILITARY CITY, USA. THERE TRULY IS NO OTHER CITY THAT CELEBRATES AND SUPPORTS ITS MILITARY MEMBERS LIKE SAN ANTONIO.
WITH ME HERE TODAY, BESIDES MYSELF, FROM SUPPORT COMMAND WE HAVE LEADERSHIP FROM NAVY MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE SOME LEADERSHIP FROM THE NAVY TALENT ACQUISITION GROUP, WHICH ARE ALL PART OF THE NAVY ENTITY IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THE U.S. NAVY HAS A VERY RICH HISTORY IN TEXAS DATING BACK AS FAR AS THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO IN 1836. THE NAVY HAS BEEN PRESENT HERE EVER SINCE AND TODAY THE NAVAL FORCES, INCLUDING OUR MARINE CORPS BROTHERS AND SISTERS COMPRISE ABOUT 12% OF THE ACTIVE DUTY FORCES ASSIGNED IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. THIS WEEK, LIKE EVERY WEEK FOR THE PAST 248 YEARS, THE U.S. NAVY WAS UNDERWAY AROUND THE WORLD ON THE SEA, UNDER THE SEA, AND IN THE AIR. THE U.S. NAVY IS AS CRITICAL TO OUR NATION TODAY AS WE WERE ON OCTOBER 13, 1775. AND WE ARE ALL PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THE GREATEST SAILORS THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. I WOULD ASK THAT ALL OF US HERE TODAY KEEP OUR DEPLOYED SAILORS, MARINES, SOLDIERS, AND AIRMEN IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US CELEBRATE THE NAVY'S 248TH BIRTHDAY WITH YOU.
WE ARE THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AND EVERYONE HERE TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GO NAVY.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND TO UNDERSCORE THE POINT, TIM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT THE NAVY HAS ACTUALLY NAMED A SHIP AFTER OUR GREAT CITY, WHICH IS THE USS SAN ANTONIO, A TRANSPORT COMMISSIONED IN 2006 CARRYING A CREW OF 700 TO INCLUDE U.S. MARINES. AND WE ARE VERY GLAD TO HAVE MULTIPLE NAVY COMMANDS HERE THAT CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME TO INCLUDE NAVY MEDICAL FORCES SUPPORT COMMAND, NAVY MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT OF SAN ANTONIO, NAVY TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER, AND THE NAVY INFORMATION OPERATIONS COMMAND TEXAS . THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US AND WE'RE VERY GLAD TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU. >> IF YOU COME DOWN, MR. MAYOR,
WE'LL CUT SOME CAKE. >> AS THE MAYOR MAKES HIS WAY FORWARD, THE CAKE WILL NOW BE BROUGHT IN. THE UNITED STATES NAVY MEMBERS THAT ARE PRESENT AND ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE NAVY TO INCLUDE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FORM UP LOOSELY AROUND MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CAPTAIN BRADFORD. TRADITIONALLY, REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, MILITARY MEMBERS WILL PAUSE TO OBSERVE THEIR SERVICE BRANCH'S BIRTHDAY BY SHARING A CAKE, A SWORD OR SABER IS USED TO CUT THE CAKE AS A REMINDER THAT SERVICE MEMBERS ARE A BAND OF WARRIORS, COMMITTED TO CARRYING THE SWORD SO THAT OUR NATION MAY LIVE IN PEACE.
CAPTAIN BRADFORD AND MAYOR NIRENBERG WILL NOW CUT THE CAKE.
[00:45:41]
[APPLAUSE] TODAY'S NAVY MEMBERS HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE CHALLENGES SUCH AS A PANDEMIC, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND SUPPORTING CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND ITS MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO LIVING A MOTTO WHICH MEANS NOT FOR SELF BUT FOR COUNTRY.HAPPY 248TH BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES NAVY! [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE CAKE WAS VERY GOOD. I WOULD SAY THE BEST OF ALL THE BRANCHES. ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] WE GOT TO LET THE ARMY BAKERS KNOW THAT THE NAVY REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. [COUGHING] EXCUSE ME.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO AS WE TRANSITION NOW, I DO WANT TO CALL UP THESE MOMS WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH PICTURES OF THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN LOST. AS WE RECOGNIZE THE TOLL THAT THE FENTANYL CRISIS HAS TAKEN ACROSS OUR COUNTRY BUT ALSO HERE LOCALLY. AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JOINS OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO OBSERVE TEXAS' FIRST FENTANYL POISONING AWARENESS MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF TEXAS' STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO COMBAT DEADLY FENTANYL EPIDEMIC.
WHEREAS FENTANYL IS AN OPIOID 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROINE AND 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE, JUST 2 MILLIGRAMS OF FENTANYL IS CONSIDERED A LETHAL DOSE.
JUST ONE PILL KILLS. AND WHEREAS FENTANYL IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF AMERICANS AGE 18 TO 45. FIVE TEXANS DIE EVERY DAY ON AVERAGE FROM FENTANYL POISONING. AND MOST VICTIMS ARE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES AND THE DEATH OF A YOUNG PERSON FROM A PREVENTABLE CAUSE IS A TRAGEDY.
WHEREAS ON JUNE 14, 2023 GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED FOUR NEW LAWS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE EPIDEMIC TO PROSECUTE FENTANYL DEATHS AS MURDER AND REQUIRE DEATH CERTIFICATES.
TO PROVIDE NALOXONE TO TEXAS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH-BASED INSTRUCTION ON FENTANYL MISUSE, PREVENTION, AND AWARENESS TO STUDENTS GRADE 6 THROUGH 12. TO PROTECT OVER 5.4 MILLION TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND HELP SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FENTANYL AWARENESS WALK ON OCTOBER 14, 2023 AT THE GREEN LINE TRAIL BEGINNING AT 4:00 P.M. AND CONCLUDING AT A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023 TO BE FENTANYL POISONING AWARENESS MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COURAGE TO COME FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT YOUR CHILD, YOUR BELOVED, AND TO PROVIDE A WARNING TO PARENTS ALL OVER, INCLUDING US UP HERE ABOUT THE TOLL THAT THIS CRISIS HAS CAUSED ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCILWOMEN, COUNCILMEN, GUESTS, AND FELLOW
[00:50:06]
SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. MY NAME IS KATHY DRAGO AND I AM HONORED TO BE HERE ALONGSIDE MY FELLOW ANGEL MOMS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILIES. TODAY WE GATHER HERE TO MARK A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY. TEXAS' FIRST-EVER FENTANYL POISONING AWARENESS MONTH. THIS PROCLAMATION IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COMMITMENT TO CONFRONTING A DEVASTATING CRISIS THAT HAS AFFECTED COUNTLESS LIVES ACROSS OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS . AS WE COME TOGETHER THIS MORNING, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE HARSH REALITY THAT FENTANYL POISONING HAS TAKEN FAR TOO MANY PRECIOUS LIVES, INCLUDING OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN. CODY DRAGO, DANICA KAPROSI. KYLE VIAGRANA, RAIN REESE, BRAYDEN WILLIAMS, JAKE PAEZ, JULIANNA PENTELLO. JACOB, MARCUS, KELLER PERSON, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS . WE HONOR THE RESILIENCE OF THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE FACED THE UNIMAGINABLE PAIN AND LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONES AND WE RECOGNIZE AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE STRENGTH IT TAKES TO SHARE THEIR STORIES IN HOPES OF PREVENTING OTHERS FROM ENDURING OUR SAME HEARTBREAK. WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST COMPASSION AND SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE BATTLING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. ADDICTION IS A FORMIDABLE ADVERSARY AND OUR FELLOW TEXANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THIS DESERVE OUR UNDERSTANDING AND ASSISTANCE. FENTANYL IS AN UNFORGIVING DRUG.IT IS POTENT AND A DEADLY SUBSTANCE AND IS OFTEN MIXED WITH OTHER DRUGS, THUS MAKING IT A SILENT AND LETHAL KILLER. DURING THIS OVERDOSE AWARENESS MONTH, WE VOW TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL, THE SIGNS OF OVERDOSE, AND HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY. WE AIM TO TURN THE TIDE ON THIS CRISIS AND PROVIDE HOPE AND HEALING TO THOSE IN NEED. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT EVERY LIFE LOST IS A PROFOUND TRAGEDY BUT IT ALSO SERVED AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE URGENCY OF OUR MISSION AS MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 AT BROOKS CITY GREEN LINE, MANY WILL GATHER FROM ALL OVER OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST, TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BATTLE, AND TO SHARE OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES AT OUR FIRST ANNUAL SOULS WALKING FOR SOULS FENTANYL AWARENESS WALK . WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME JOIN US FOR OUR ONE-MILE WALK AND CONVERSATION WITH PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY SPECIALISTS.
THERE WILL BE FOOD TRUCKS. THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC AND ENDING WITH A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN HONOR OF OUR LOVED ONES. WE KNOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, RAISE AWARENESS, PROMOTE ADVOCACY, AND BUILD A TEXAS WHERE THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF FENTANYL IS A THING OF THE PAST. WE ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US IN OUR ENDEAVOR AND ALLOWING US TO SHARE OUR MESSAGE OF HOPE AND AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AHEAD AND BEYOND. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT OUR GOVERNOR WILL BE ATTENDING OUR WALK AND HE WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR COURAGE. YOU HONOR THE MEMORIES OF YOUR CHILDREN IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND FOR PARENTS OUT THERE WHO ARE LISTENING, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE AT THE AGE WE SEE SO MANY OF THEM TAKEN, I HOPE THEY HEAR YOUR WORDS BECAUSE IT IS
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DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NO PARENT WOULD EVER WISH IN THEIR WORST DAY ON SOMEONE ELSE.SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR STORIES. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON TACKLING THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES, DR. ROCHA GARCIA, PHYLLIS VIAGRAN, MANNY PELAEZ, AND COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA WHO SIGNED ON TO A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST THAT WE SUBMITTED TO CREATE AN OPIOID RESPONSE PLAN.
WE KNOW THAT FENTANYL DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. IT IMPACTS ALL AGES, EVERY SEX, EVERY GENDER, EVERY INCOME LEVEL. AND THIS IS A CRISIS THAT'S IMPACTING AND NOT ONLY HEAVY HITTING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING US AS A CITY, CREATING A PLAN ON HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS AS WELL AS RESOURCES, TESTING STRIPS THAT WE KNOW SAVE SO MANY LIVES. I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF SHERIFF SALAZAR WHO HAS DONE AN EXTENSIVE JOB ON EDUCATING NOT JUST INMATES BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF PRICES AND HOW IT TAKES SUCH A SMALL DOSE TO TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TALK TO YOU NOW NOT AS A COUNCILPERSON BUT A MOTHER.
TO SEE THIS WALL OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE COME HERE TODAY, IT'S VERY INSPIRING AND HUMBLING. I SEND MY CHILDREN, TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS OUT INTO THE WORLD EVERY DAY WITH MY PRAYERS AND MY BLESSINGS AND NOT KNOWING, NEVER KNOWING WHAT THE WORLD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM THAT DAY. SO TO SEE YOU HERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IS VERY IMPORTANT.
PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS. PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT AWARE OR THEY ARE AND THEY'RE HIDING THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE HERE. UNDER COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S LEADERSHIP, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN HERE BUT IT'S REALLY YOU THAT'S TAKING IT OUT INTO THE WORLD AND LETTING THEM KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCES AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REMEMBERING YOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND HONORING THEM IN THAT WAY. SO I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'M A MAMA'S BOY SO THIS IS -- IT'S HARD TO LOOK YOU IN YOUR EYES RIGHT NOW. MY PARENTS KNOW I'M NOT A VERY CAUTIOUS PERSON BUT I DO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND SOMETHING THAT MY MOM TOLD ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND IT'S THAT NO PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILD. AND SO IN RECOGNIZING -- I WANT TO, ONE, RECOGNIZE THE COURAGE AND THE BRAVERY THAT IT TAKES TO STAND HERE AND TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND TO BE ON, YOU KNOW, A PLATFORM SUCH AS THIS. AND I KNOW THAT TODAY HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONALLY-HEAVY DAY ALREADY AND THIS COMPOUNDS EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT YOU FEEL. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, GUYS FOR THAT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND TO WALKING AND MARCHING AND STANDING ALONGSIDE
YOU. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SAME SENTIMENT THAT WAS JUST SHARED. THAT YOUR PAIN WILL NEVER GO AWAY BUT YOU'RE USING YOUR CHILDREN'S STORIES, THEIR MEMORIES, AND YOU'RE HONORING THEM SO THAT FUTURE MOMS DON'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE LOSS THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. I WANT TO SAY HOW EMPOWERING YOU ALL ARE TO BE HERE. GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I TOO WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR LOSSES, TELL YOU HOW SORRY WE ARE FOR THAT. AND, AGAIN, COMMEND YOU ALL FOR THE AWARENESS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S MY HOPE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT, FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. DOWN WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO STOP THE FLOW OF FENTANYL FROM COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY. AND WE KNOW IT'S HAPPENING AND IT'S HAPPENING WITHIN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES HERE WITHIN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S MY HOPE WE CAN GET A HANDLE ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
[01:00:04]
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND YOU ARE WELCOME AT THE GREEN LINE ANY TIME.
I HOPE WE HOST IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME THERE. YOUR LOSS IS THE CITY'S LOSS AND WE FEEL IT AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES AND WORKING ON PREVENTIVE CARE BUT ALSO GETTING INTO THE SCHOOLS WITH WHAT WE NEED.
THANK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR DOING THIS. WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL BUT WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT THEM, TO SAVE OTHERS.
AND THESE BEAUTIFUL FACES AND THESE LIVES CUT SHORT -- I LOVE THE TERM ANGEL MOM BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY ARE WATCHING OVER YOU NOW AND SO PROUD OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL ON SATURDAY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT? THANK YOU, LADIES VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND SHARING YOUR STORIES. WE OFFER YOU BEST WISHES IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE
ADVOCACY AND WE'RE TAKING ON OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. NOW TODAY IS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION AS I ASK MEMBERS OF OUR INDIGENOUS COUNSEL TO COME FORWARD.
WHEREAS THE TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL WILL OBSERVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY AND HOLD ITS MARCH SATURDAY OCTOBER 14, 2023 TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE TRADITIONS AND HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES. WHEREAS THE TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL IS A GROUP OF LOCAL CITIZENS WHOSE GOAL IT IS TO BRING A GREATER COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO, SOUTH TEXAS AND TO THE WORLD.
WHEREAS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE LONG HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO. WHEREAS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE ENDURED PAST INJUSTICES THEY CONTINUED TO EMPHASIZE A RESPECT FOR LAND, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COOPERATION AMONG NEIGHBORS. WHILE INDIGENOUS HAVE ENDURED PAST INJUSTICES THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO ON OUR BEHALF FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 12, 2023 TO BE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY IN SOUTH TEXAS. ANTONIO, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS . >> I STATED THIS IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT I WILL NOT BE SHACKLED BY APPRECIATION.
SO MY WORDS MAY BE KIND OF HURTFUL BUT WE ARE A COLONIZED PEOPLE, HAVE BEEN SO FOR OVER 530 YEARS. IT'S AN OCCUPATION. SO WE FEEL THE PAIN OF THE PALESTINIANS AS WELL. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, OUR ANCESTORS, WHEN THEY FIRST SAW PEOPLE DISEMBARKING FROM SHIPS, SAW A BODY, A HEAD, TWO ARMS, TWO LEGS.
THEY SAW FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. HUMAN BEINGS. NO RACE.
HUMAN RACE. UNFORTUNATELY THOSE THAT WERE DISEMBARKING DID NOT VIEW OUR ANCESTORS AS HUMAN BEINGS. THEY HAD THEIR OWN DOCTRINE, THEIR OWN POLICIES AS TO WHAT A HUMAN WAS AND THEY BROUGHT THAT WITH THEM. WE ARE A COLONIZED PEOPLE.
WE ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AS WHO WE ARE. VERY APPRECIATIVE TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, TO OUR MUNICIPALITY, TO THE REPRESENTATIVES -- ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HERE THAT YOU ARE DOING SO. BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS BEEN SO. WE DO MARCH ON DIFFERENT DATES IN OCTOBER TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE EXIST, THAT WE DO EXIST. EVEN THOUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ONE SINGLE TRIBE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS IS POLICY.
POLICY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THESE ARE ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE
[01:05:05]
DEALT WITH AND LIVED WITH, SURVIVED. OUR PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY RESILIENT. AS I SAID ALSO IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT, I AM GRATEFUL THAT OUR ANCESTORS KNELT TO THE CROSS AND OBLIGATED THEMSELVES TO BE COLONIZED. OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE AND A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE THAT ARE CALLED HISPANICS WOULD NOT BE SURVIVING TODAY IF NOT FOR THEIR ACQUIESCENCE TO BEING COLONIZED. THIS IS OUR HISTORY.READ IT. IF YOU'RE TRULY EDUCATED, YOU KNOW OUR HISTORY.
THOSE THAT ARE NOT EDUCATED CAN LAUGH AT WHAT I SAY, CAN THINK IT'S FUNNY, CARTOONISH, BUT IT IS NOT. IT IS A REALITY. SO WHILE I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT OUR CITY AND SOME OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT OUR NATION, THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZED THAT WE EXIST AND ARE STARTING TO DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH SOMEONE THAT FOLLOWED THE DISCOVERY DOCTRINE BY THE PAPAL DECREE THAT WE WERE NOT HUMAN BEINGS AND ENSLAVED US, WAS A PEDOPHILE. NOT IN ANY FORM A DISCOVERER OF US.
HE WAS LOST, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE CALLED INDIANS. WE ARE NOT INDIANS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ACCEPTED THAT AS WELL, TO BE CALLED INDIANS. JUST TO BE A PEOPLE.
THAT'S MY BLOODLINE. BUT I AM INDIGENOUS TO THIS CONTINENT .
I AM INDIGENOUS TO YANAWANA, WHICH IS NOW SAN ANTONIO. PLEASE RECOGNIZE THESE FACTS.
WE HAVE ONE COUNCILMEMBER STATING THAT WE HAVE BARBED WIRES. CHILDREN ARE DYING TRYING TO CROSS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT ARE INDIGENOUS FROM INDIGENOUS BLOOD LIONS.
THAT IS NOT UNDER CONSIDERATION BY ANY OF THE NATIONS THAT EXIST THERE.
NONE OF THE GOVERNMENTS. I THINK ONLY PRESIDENT LOPEZ HAS MADE SOME MENTIONS OF APOLOGIES AND TRYING TO BE ACCEPTING OF MIGRATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
ALL GOVERNMENT LEADERS SHOULD TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT. WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE 15TH CENTURY. I DO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SING A SONG FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, BEING RECOGNIZED ON THIS DAY . HERE IT GOES.
LANGUAGE] I PAINTED MY FACE. ONE SIDE FOR COLUMBUS AND THE GENOCIDES.
ALSO WE HAVE THE SUNFLOWER FOR THE INDIGENOUS ON THIS OTHER SIDE.
THAT WAS USED FOR FLOUR, OIL, AND FOR SNACKS, RIGHT? THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS.
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AND THE CHILDREN, THE CORN PEOPLE. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.WE WERE AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND I SANG THEM A SONG TOO. WITH ISRAEL GETTING BOMBED OVER THERE AND ALL THE STUFF THAT WE GO THROUGH -- ALL OF US. WE'RE ALL HUMAN.
WE'RE ALL HUMANITY. I MEAN, WE BLEED THE SAME. WE NEED TO WATCH WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHATEVER WE DO.
WE ALL GO, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT ANYTHING. YOU COULD BE RICH, YOU KNOW, BUT DON'T FORGET THE POOR. YOU'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT TOO.
WE'RE ALL PEOPLE. I'M HERE AND NEW ONES COME. >> NEW BABIES.
NEW GENERATIONS. >> NEW GENERATIONS RIGHT HERE. FOR ALL OF US.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT RACE YOU ARE, WHAT RELIGION. IT DON'T MATTER.
NEW ONES COME. SOME OF US PASS AWAY AND NEW ONES ARE BORN.
WHY WE HAVE TO SUFFER, I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER THAT WE'RE INNOCENT OR GOOD. FOR LIFE HAS TREATED ME SO SWEET BUT SOMETIMES FULL OF PAIN. THOUGH MY JOURNEY'S OVER, ANOTHER ONE BEGINS.
I'LL RISE, I'LL RISE ABOVE THE PAIN. YES, I'LL RISE TO NEVER BE THE SAME. CAN YOU HEAR THE ANGELS CALLING? CALLING OUT MY NAME. WELL, DON'T CRY FOR ME. FOR I AM FREE.
DON'T CRY FOR ME. NOW I HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR LIFTING ME WITH YOUR LOVE.
NOW MY FAITH CAN GUIDE ME TO MY HOME UP ABOVE. I'LL RISE.
I'LL RISE ABOVE THE PAIN. YES, I'LL RISE TO NEVER BE THE SAME.
CAN YOU HEAR THE ANGELS CALLING? THEY'RE CALLING OUT MY NAME.
WELL, DON'T CRY FOR ME FOR I AM FREE. BUT DON'T CRY FOR ME BECAUSE I AM FREE. I AM, OH YES I AM, I AM FREE.
[APPLAUSE] >> I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK SECOND HERE TO THANK THE CITY FOR FINALLY GETTING TO THIS POINT AND ALL THAT YOU DO. I'M APACHE.
THIS IS MY DAUGHTER , EVANGELINA. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE FINALLY GOT HERE TO THIS POINT. THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU
DO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
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>> AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS HOPEFULLY GETTING THE STATE TO DO AS WELL.
WE'VE HEARD PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLING INTO COEXISTENCE WITH COLUMBUS DAY.
HOPEFULLY ONE DAY IT WILL BE A PAID HOLIDAY, NOT TAKEN AWAY BUT RECOGNIZED ONLY AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY. THAT IS OUR HOPE. HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY TODAY. YOU KNOW, WE HAD ONE OF OUR WARRIORS WAS HERE AT FORT SAM, KNOWN AS GERONIMO. SO OUR HISTORY GOES AS FAR AS WARRING AND FIGHTING FOR OUR LAND. WE UNDERSTAND, LIKE I SAID, THE PAINS THAT ARE COMING ON WORLDWIDE RIGHT NOW. OCCUPATIONS BEING CONFRONTED. IT'S NOT PRETTY.
IT'S VERY PAINFUL. WE JUST HOPE HUMANITY, ALL HUMAN BEINGS CAN LIVE IN
PEACE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] LASTLY, FROM ME, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES, WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY CELEBRATION .
SO I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE 59TH ANNUAL WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY WILL TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 12, 2023 AT -- THIS YEAR'S THEME IS UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE WHITE CANE. WHEREAS THE WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY EMPHASIZES THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE WHITE CANE FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE, THE CANE PAINTED WHITE TO BE MORE EASILY VISIBLE MAKES THE HANDS AND ARMS OF A VISUALLY-CHALLENGED PERSON LONGER SO THEY CAN ASSESS SITUATIONS MORE QUICKLY. WHEREAS THE WHITE CANE, WHICH EVERY BLIND CITIZEN OF SAN ANTONIO HAS THE RIGHT TO CARRY, DEMONSTRATES THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE A FULL AND INDEPENDENT LIFE, THE CAPACITY TO WORK PRODUCTIVELY IN A COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT. TO MOVE SAFELY AND FREELY FROM PLACE TO PLACE, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO LIVE THE LIVES THEY WANT. WHEREAS ON WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY WE REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED AMERICANS HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL WITH THE WHITE CANE SERVING AS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT TOOL OF INDEPENDENCE AND AS A SYMBOL OF SAFETY TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE SEEING PUBLIC ON STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND HIGHWAYS. WHEREAS THE OBSERVANCE CELEBRATES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF GENERATIONS OF BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AMERICANS ACROSS THE NATION WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR PASSION, SKILLS, AND TALENTS, GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES, ENRICHING OUR SOCIETY, INSPIRING ALL OF US WITH THEIR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 15, 2023 TO BE WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY CELEBRATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE
TODAY AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SHELLY MCMULLEN AND I AM THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ALAMO COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, BUT I'M HERE REPRESENTING ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND MY HUSBAND IS HERE AS WELL, BUT HE LETS ME DO THE TALKING. SMART GUY.
I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE WHITE CANE. ACTUALLY I GOT MY FIRST CANE WHEN I WAS IN THE FOURTH GRADE AND I WAS JUST A LITTLE KID, I WASN'T THRILLED ABOUT IT. BUT THE CANE ACTUALLY CAN BE FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN BLIND ALL THEIR LIFE LIKE I HAVE, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. BUT FOR SOMEONE WHO LOSES THEIR VISION LATER IN LIFE, I HAVE TO GO INTO THIS BECAUSE I USED TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS COUNSELOR, SO BEAR WITH ME FOR A MINUTE.
FOR SOMEBODY WHO LOSES THEIR VISION, WHETHER IT'S GRADUALLY OR WHETHER THE ONSET IS JUST VISION AND THEN NOTHING, DARKNESS, IT'S A HORRIBLE, SCARY PROCESS AND YES, IT IS A GRIEF PROCESS OF SHOCK, DENIAL, ANGER, DEPRESSION, FINALLY ACCEPTANCE, BUT ALL OF THESE EMOTIONS ARE GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY CAN CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY. SOMEBODY -- WHEN YOU USE A CANE, YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED TO -- TO TRAIN BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE TO USE THE WHITE CANE TO TRAVEL INDEPENDENTLY.
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THOSE ARE CALLED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS. WHEN YOU USE A CANE, YOU WALK DOWN A SIDEWALK. IF THERE'S A BICYCLE IN FRONT OF YOU OR A MANHOLE OR WHATEVER IT IS, YOU HIT THAT WITH YOUR CANE AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AROUND IT. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME LIKE OLDER BLIND PEOPLE WHO ARE EVEN TERRIFIED TO TRY TO USE A CANE. IMAGINE YOURSELF, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE AND NOW YOU ARE IN A WORLD OF DARKNESS. WOULDN'T IT BE SCARY TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP OUT? I THINK I WOULD. I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, YOU SAY YOU DON'T HAVE A CANE, THAT'S A WEIRD LOOKING CANE, IT'S GOT FOUR LEGS AND A TAIL. THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE WHITE CANE IS THE GUIDE DOG.AND I AM PRIVILEGED TO GET MY DOGS FROM THE SEEING EYE IN MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, THE OLDEST GUIDE DOG SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. IN MY OPINION, AND I'VE BEEN TO OTHER SCHOOLS, IT'S THE BEST. I DIDN'T COME HERE TO TALK MAINLY ABOUT THE DOG TODAY, BUT IF YOU EVER WANT ME TO COME BACK, I CAN TALK ABOUT GUIDE DOGS FOR THREE HOURS. BUT THAT WAS A WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION.
I LOVE WHAT IT SAYS. AND I AM -- I FEEL SO HONORED TO BE HERE AND I FEEL HONORED TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH OUR WONDERFUL MAYOR.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I'LL STEP DOWN SO WE CAN GET A QUICK PHOTO AS I TURN MY CHAIR OVER TO OUR MAYOR PRO TEM. OH, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, IF YOU COULD -- I WAS GOING TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO YOU ANYWAY, SO IT ALL WORKS OUT.
VERY HEAVY WEEK AND A HEAVY DAY, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BRING SOMEBODY HERE WITH THE NORMOYLE SENIOR CENTER. THE SENIOR CENTER GAMES WHICH WERE PAUSED FOR A FEW YEARS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH YOU HERE TODAY. SO IF YOU ALL CAN PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP, ANA MARIE AND TEAM. THIS YEAR YOUR 2023 SENIOR CHAIR VOLLEYBALL GAMES CHAMPS ARE THE NORMOYLE COMMUNITY CENTER TEAM. [APPLAUSE] I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND SOME OF THE VOLLEYBALL GAMES AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. SENIORS WERE SERVING SPIKES AND SERVING LOOKS ALL THE WAYS AND IT WAS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. THERE WERE PLENTY OF BLOCK PARTIES AT THE NET. IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO WITNESS ALL OF YOU ALL IN ACTION AND THE CARE THAT GOES INTO THESE EVENTS WITH ANA MARIE AND THE ENTIRE CENTER.
IT WAS AMAZING. I WAS TALKING ABOUT IT FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK AFTER.
HONESTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO BRING ONE OF YOUR SENIOR CENTER TEAMS TO CHALLENGE US IN D5 OR I ENCOURAGE YOU CHALLENGE AS YOUR TEAM, YOUR TEAM TO CHALLENGE YOUR SENIOR CENTERS.
I THINK IT COULD BE A LOT OF FUN. AND AS ALWAYS, STAFF PROVIDES SUCH GREAT SUPPORT AND I KNOW WE HAVE A VIDEO THAT WE WANT TO PLAY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT LAST WEEK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WHERE MELODY AND HER TEAM WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THE GREAT WORK. IT WAS A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ME BECAUSE I HAD ALWAYS ASSUMED ALL THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OUR SENIORS HAVE ACCESS TO THESE AMENITIES. WHAT I LEARNED FROM FOLKS IN CHICAGO, THIS WOMAN WAS NEARLY IN TEARS BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE WISHED SHE HAD IN OPPORTUNITY IN CHICAGO. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO SERVES IN THE ROLE OF WORKING WITH SENIORS. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN IN NEW YORK WHO SHARED THAT, WOW, I WISH THIS OPPORTUNITY, A SENIOR CENTER THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN NEW YORK FOR MY MOM. I WAS STRUCK THAT THE SENIOR SERVICES WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO AREN'T AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE.
I WANTED TO THANK DHS AND TEAM AND I KNOW IF WE COULD CUE THAT VIDEO, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THEN WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM AND ANA MARIE.
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[SINGING]>> CASTILLO: I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAMPS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> ALL I CAN SAY WHO KNEW THERE WAS LIFE AFTER 60. AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
I'M THE CAPTAIN FOR THESE PEOPLE AND THERE IS A NEVER-ENDING STORY GOING ON THERE. WE HAVE THE FIGHTS, WE HAVE THE LAUGHING, THE DANCING BECAUSE WE PLAY WITH MUSIC, AND WE JUST ENJOY LIFE AT THIS TIME.
OUR DAYS -- WE PLAY FOR THREE HOURS SOMETIMES AND WE DON'T WANT TO QUIT.
NOBODY WANT TO GO HOME. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE] >> ANN MARIE, OUR MANAGER. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, TERI CASTILLO. THIS TEAM HAS WORKED VERY HARD.
THEY PRACTICE EVEN AFTER THEY WON THEIR TROPHY, I CAME BACK TO THE CENTER AND THEY WERE STILL LAST. I'M LIKE GUYS, GO CELEBRATE. WE WELCOME ANY OTHER PEOPLE TO COME OVER AND PRACTICE WITH US. WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD ON TO
THAT TROPHY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, CHAMPS. APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.
>> WE ENJOYED IT. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN FOR A
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. INSPIRED BY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 5, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE SENIOR RESIDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK DURING THE SENIOR CENTER GAMES. A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SOUTHSIDE LIONS CENTER WHO BROUGHT HOME A COUPLE OF WINS.
THEY WILL BE GOING OVER TO NORMOYLE TO PRACTICE. OUR SOUTHSIDE LIONS SENIORS HAD ALL THE GOOD LUCK ON THEM, A SPIRIT STICK AND MASCOT.
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THERE'S THE LIST OF OUR WINNERS THAT PLACED. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THE JOY I FEEL WHEN I VISIT OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND NORMOYLE INCLUDED, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE JUST LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE AND UNDERSTANDING AND BEING CONNECTED, IT'S WHY WE DO -- IT'S WHY I DO WHAT I DO AND I KNOW IT'S FOR THAT MANY OF OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HERE.OUR SENIORS SPEND THEIR DAYS AND NOW EVENINGS AT THE CENTERS THANKS TO OUR EXTENDED HOURS. MELODY I DID AND TEAM, THOSE EXTENDED HOURS ARE KEY.
THEY HAD A MOVIE NIGHT LAST TIME AT SOUTHSIDE LIONS TUESDAY, I THINK IT WAS.
SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOTIVATE OUR SENIORS, TO CELEBRATE THEM, NOT JUST A SENIOR CENTER MONTH, NOT JUST ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, BUT WHENEVER YOU GUYS ACCOMPLISH THAT. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO RYAN AND THE SOUTHSIDE STAFF. HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AS WE STRUGGLED WITH OUR AC ISSUES BUT THOSE ARE ON THE MEND. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE SENIORS ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN D4 AND 5 AND ALL OF OUR SENIORS CITYWIDE HAVE
DONE AN AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA
WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND SO I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE RING OF FIRE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE [INAUDIBLE] ARE COMING UP. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PLAY JOHNNY CASH, BUT I WAS TOLD NO THIS MORNING. AND TIMOTHY WON'T LET ME WEAR MY RING OF FIRE SHIRT EITHER. I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ECLIPSE AND WE GET TO EXPERIENCE IT ON SATURDAY.
SO WE ARE IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY AND THE BEST VIEWS ARE GOING TO OCCUR JUST BEFORE NOON. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE, WE HAVE SUNGLASSES LIKE I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN MAKING THESE SUNGLASSES WHICH IS GREAT.
YOU ALL HAVE SOME OF THESE THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS PROVIDED TO US.
BUT THEN ALSO THE ALAMO IS DOING AN EVENT. BUT I'M MOST EXCITED BUT SAMSUNG IS HOLDING A EVENT AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR WHO WAS RECENTLY ASKED TO ASSIST WITH THE OBSERVATORY PROJECT. I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THEY ARE DOING OVER THERE.
IT'S NEED TO KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE -- SPECIFICALLY DR. PACKUM IS GOING TO BE AT THE HE HAVEN'T AT THE BOEING CENTER ON SATURDAY. THAT WILL BE FROM 10:00 TO 1:00 THIS SATURDAY. WE'LL HAVE S.T.E.M. AND STEAM ACTIVITIES AND ASTRONOMY DISPLAYS AND LOCAL EXPERTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN THE AREA 21.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE KIDS BEING ABLE TO LEARN. SAMSUNG IS GOING TO HAVE FREE GLASSES TO VIEW THE HE CLIPS SAFELY AND I'M ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE SAFE ABOUT IT. AS A REMINDER, DO NOT USE REGULAR SUNGLASSES.
DON'T LOOK AT THE SUN THROUGH A CAMERA LENS OR TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE STANDING IN A SAFE AREA. I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE PARKS & REC DEPARTMENT AND SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB OF PUSHING THE INFORMATION TO OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND TO OUR PARENTS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ANNUAL ECLIPSE ON SATURDAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. DID YOU HAVE A SECOND ONE? YOU'RE GOOD.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT IS THE -- ALL RIGHT. DID I GET EVERYBODY? OKAY.
WE DO HAVE ONE MORE ITEM AND THAT IS OUR CITY MANAGER REPORT.
ERIK OVER TO YOU. >>. >> WALSH: TWO ITEMS I WANTED TO SHARE. RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS AT A NATIONAL CONFERENCE HERE LAST WEEK. AND IT'S A COMPETITION AND EVALUATION OF OTHER MAJOR MUNICIPALITIES IN IN COUNTRY. THE TVSA TEAM RECEIVED SIX AWARDS INCLUDING THE OVERALL TOP AWARD AND OVERALL EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAMMING.
SO THIS IS THE TEAM, YEAH -- [APPLAUSE] SO THIS IS THE TEAM THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO WATCH THESE MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, VIDEOS LIKE YOU JUST SAW THEY PRODUCE FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO HELP COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC. AND THEY ALSO HOST COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR PUBLIC ACCESS
[01:35:03]
STUDIO SO THAT THEY CAN PRODUCE THEIR OWN PROGRAMMING FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AUDIENCE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE TVSA TEAM.JULIAN REYNA, JOE SANDOVAL, DANIEL, FRANCISCO, LEON BURNS, FRANK BURNS, ROSEANNE GARCIA AND CLIFF AND DAVID CONGRATULATIONS, TVSA TEAM. AND THEN SPEAKING OF GREAT PROJECTS AND PRODUCTS, OUR SPOTLIGHT VIDEO TODAY HIGHLIGHTS ANTHONY ALLEN WHO STARTED WITH THE CITY AS A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE IN 2021, BECAME A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE IN 2022. AND IS ONE OF OUR PARKING ATTENDANTS, BUT COMES TO WORK EVERY DAY WITH A SMILE AND EAGER TO HELP THE PUBLIC WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
TODAY? I'M A PARKING AMBASSADOR, AND TYPICAL DAY ONCE I GET TO WORK, I ANNOUNCE MY ARRIVAL VIA TWO-WAY RADIO AND GATHER MY EQUIPMENT I WILL BE USING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. FROM THERE I DO A COUNT AND ASSIST CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR MONETARY TRANSACTIONS. HOW ARE YOU DOING? OUR DEPARTMENT HELPS WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW TO MAKES SURE EVERYTHING RUNS FORWARD. ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.
TEAM WORK, MAKE SHUCK THE RUNNING SMOOTHLY. PULL UP JUST A TAD BEFORE ME. WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS HELPING CUSTOMERS START THEIR DAY OFF BY ASSISTING THEM, ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS AND ASSIST THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? WHAT I THINK MOST OF BEING A CITY EMPLOYEE, FOR ONE, THE BENEFITS, THE TEAM WORK, THE HELP FROM SUPERVISORS, AND JUST A FEELING OF BELONGING TO A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND ONE THING I CAN ENSURE IS I'M HERE TO MAKE YOUR DAY GO SMOOTHER AND YOU CAN RELY ON US TO HELP YOU OUT
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: THAT'S IT,
MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT JOB AND GREAT JOB TO OUR TV STAFF AS WELL, PART OF THE A AND E TEAM.
THE C AND E TEAM, DO THEY PRODUCE THOSE VIDEOS? MORE WORK ON DISPLAY.
GREAT JOB, GUYS. WE HAVE AN EX SICK, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER BIRTHDAY. NOT AS OLD AS THE NAVY IS, OUR VERY OWN MARINA GAVITO.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LET'S SING HER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
IS IN THE BACK. AND WE WILL GRAB THAT ON THE WAY TO EXEC SESSION.
THE TIME IS NOW 10:4 A.M. ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 23, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE SAN ANTONIO WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087, PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551 PORTION 072. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 5512.071.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.