[ PROCEDURAL ]
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THE TIME IS 9:09 A.M. ON THE 15TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ IS HERE VIRTUALLY.
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WE HAVE SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY SO WE WILL RECOGNIZE THEM VERY SHORTLY. FIRST LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO
WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND SO TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING PASTOR RALPH RAMOS. ORIGINALLY FROM RIO GRANDE VALLEY, RALPH RAMOS AND HIS FAMILY HAVE CALLED SAN ANTONIO HIM SINCE 2016 AND HE CURRENTLY SERVED THE PEOPLE AT MIGHTY FORTRESS CHURCH IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. MIGHTY FORTRESS CHURCH IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES THROUGH PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
THEIR GOAL IS TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY SHARING THE HOPE OF JESUS AND BY PARTNERING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND RESOURCES.
MIGHTY FORTRESS CHURCH HAS TAKEN ON PROVIDING LOCAL FAMILIES WITH THANKSGIVING MEALS AND MOST RECENTLY PROVIDED CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHILDREN AT OUR LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
RALPH ALSO WORKS FULL-TIME FOR SUN CREST HOSPICE AS AN AREA DIRECTOR, AN ORGANIZATION WHERE FAMILIES CAN GET THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
RALPH AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE LOVE SAN ANTONIO AND LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS GOD ALLOWS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN Y'ALL THIS MORNING AND TO SHARE A FEW WORDS OF PRAYER. I KNOW THAT LEADING A GROUP OF PEOPLE IS AN ARDUOUS TASK AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THE WEIGHT OF LEADING THIS GREAT CITY. MY HAT IS OFF TO EACH OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU FOR YOUR DESIRE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO LEADING THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER ONCE SAID THAT THE SUPREME QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP IS INTEGRITY.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ACT WITH INTEGRITY OF HEART AND MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MIGHTY FORTRESS CHURCH IS PRAYING FOR EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR WELL-BEING AND FOR YOUR SUCCESS.
LET US PRAY. LORD GOD OF CREATION, I COME BEFORE YOU AND I LIFT UP THOSE IN THIS ROOM THIS MORNING. I PRAY THAT OUR CITY LEADERS, FOR OUR CITY LEADERS AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD KEEP THEM SAFE AND THAT THEY WOULD LEAD WITH INTEGRITY OF HEART AND PASSION TO SERVE THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. YOU ARE THE GOD WHO MAKES IT RAIN ON THE JUST AND UNJUST AND MAY WE BE REMINDED THAT BY YOUR GRACE WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE AND BREATHE AND HAVE OUR BEING. WE LIFT UP OUR LEADERS AS WE PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, POLICE CHIEF, JUDGES, AND ALL WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. MAY YOU STRENGTHEN THEM WITH WISDOM AND GRACE FOR THE HEAVY BURDENS THAT MAY CARRY. MAY THEY MANAGE THEIR TEAMS WITH WISDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE. KEEP THEIR EYES TURNED TOWARD YOUR FACE AS THEY WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE THEY ARE CALLED TO SERVE. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR RAMOS . ALL RIGHT.
FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 25, 31, AND FEBRUARY 1ST. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES IN OUR AGENDA.
ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
AND WE'LL TAKE A VOICE VOTE FROM COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: AYE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A FULL CITY COUNCIL
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
AGENDA TODAY. ALL ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR CONSENT CONSIDERATION.SO AT THIS TIME ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY TO PULL FROM THE AGENDA? IF THERE'S NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. JACK FINGER. ITEMS 14 AND 15. JACK, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KIM
JEFFERIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT YOU MAY WANT TO PULL FOR DELIBERATION BEFORE YOU JUST LET THEM SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH. ONE OF THEM IS ITEM NO. 14.
IT'S ABOUT GIVING ABOUT, OH, AN EXTRA -- WHAT IS IT? HALF A -- $55,000 TO A PROGRAM KNOWN AS PROJECT WORTH. WHAT IS PROJECT WORTH? IT IS A SO-CALLED -- WE'LL LET YOUR BACK-UP DOCUMENTS TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? THE PROGRAM COLLABORATES WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY BRINGING TOGETHER PREVENTION, YES, TURN THE PAGE AGAIN. PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TEEN PREGNANCY.
RETURN THE CAMERA HERE. YEAH, TEEN PREGNANCY. WHAT WAYS DOES PROJECT WORTH TRYING TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY IN OUR CITY? IT USES SUPPOSEDLY ABSTINENCE AND OTHER METHODS OF COUNSELING. ABSTINENCE PLUS. NOT ABSTINENCE ONLY.
ABSTINENCE ONLY AS YOU KNOW WORKS EVERY TIME IT'S TRIED. PROJECT WORTH HAS DECIDED TO DO THIS TO OFFER, AT OUR CITY-RUN HEALTH CLINICS, COUNSELING FOR YOUNG TEENAGERS.
MAYBE COUNSELING OFFERING BIRTH CONTROL PILLS, CONDOMS, ALL KINDS OF SO-CALLED PREGNANCY PREVENTION DEVICES. ESSENTIALLY IT IS PROMOTING PROMISCUITY.
YES. THAT'S WHAT IT DOES. AND SO GO ON FURTHER DOWN, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. WHAT ELSE DOES IT SAY THERE? IN 2022, PROJECT WORTH CONDUCTED A SURVEY IF PROJECT WORTH IS DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB, IF IT'S REALLY HELPING TEENS PREVENTS THEIR PREGNANCIES, WHY IS THE PREGNANCY RATE CONTINUED TO REMAIN THE SAME? HUH? 20 YEARS, AT LEAST 20 YEARS IT'S HAD A CHANCE TO DO THIS AND YET IT STILL IS A -- NOTHING DEFINITE. NOTHING HAS IMPROVED IN THE TEEN PREGNANCY. COULD THIS, BY CHANCE, THE IDEA OF PROMOTING PROMISCUITY BE THE REASON WHY TEEN PREGNANCY RATE HAS NOT GONE DOWN? HUH? MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM BEFORE WE SHELL OUT ANOTHER -- WHAT IS IT, $55,000 TO -- WHAT IS IT? A HALF A MILLION ALREADY HERE? HUH? YEAH. WHY NOT TRY THAT INSTEAD OF -- THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. KIM JEFFERIES.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE YET SO
WE'LL BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR.
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THIS MORNING I HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16, FUNDING FOR THE URBAN CHAMPIONS ACADEMY.IT'S A YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL KIDS LEARN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE PREPARATORY WORKSHOPS. THEY COMBINE SOCCER WITH EDUCATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AN AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED ENVIRONMENT. I'VE BEEN OUT THERE AND SEEN THE KIDS, NOT JUST PLAYING SOCCER, BUT WORKING ON THEIR HOMEWORK AND THEY HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO DO ALL OF THAT. THIS IS THE TYPE OF ORGANIZATION WE NEED MORE OF IN OUR CITY.
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FUNDAMENTAL POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES OUR CITY STRONG AND OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. UCA IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 1 BUT THEY SERVE CHILDREN FROM EACH DISTRICT IN OUR CITY. THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO FORMER MAYOR ED GARZA WHO LEADS UCA AND FOR ALL HE DOES FOR THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY . THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A VERY SPECIAL MEMBER OF DISTRICT 7, ERICA. IS SHE HERE? FEEL FREE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM. ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, ERICA'S NONPROFIT THREW THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY ADMISSION WAS COMPLIMENTARY AND FEATURED MUSICAL ACTS, PERFORMANCES AND THE EVENT WAS TAILORED TO SHOWCASE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OFFERINGS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE MINDFUL THAT MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN VERY MUCH PLAY A FACTOR IN KEEPING THEIR BUSINESSES AFLOAT. AT THE END OF EACH MONTH, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON SHE PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON KEEPING IT LOCAL . ERICA'S VISION OF CREATING EXPERIENCES THAT SPREAD JOY AND ACCEPTANCE AND ACCESSIBILITY WAS REALIZED AT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR BLOCK PARTY.
RESIDENTS FOR ALL WALKS OF LIFE JOINED, MY FAMILY AND I JOINED. IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT.
OVER 5,000 NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE, HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND BOND OVER FOOD. YOU KNOW, MY GIRLS AND I BOUGHT SO MANY BARRETTES AND VALENTINE'S GIFTS FOR THEIR FRIENDS . IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING THAT COME TO LIFE.
>> I'M REALLY HONORED THAT I WAS ABLE TO CURATE AN EVENT THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. I FEEL LIKE HAVING GROWN UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVING GROWN UP WHERE I FELT LIKE THERE WASN'T SPACE HELD FOR SOMEBODY THAT LOOKED LIKE ME.
I REALIZED VERY QUICKLY THAT I HAD TO HOLD SPACE, LIKE STAND ON MY OWN.
AND THEN IN DOING THAT YOU HAVE TO KIND OF SHINE AS BRIGHT AS YOU CAN.
AND SHARE THAT LIGHT WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD BECAUSE GOING IN OPPOSITION JUST IS EXHAUSTING AND A WASTE OF ENERGY. I FELT LIKE HOLDING SPACE FOR FOLKS IS A MEANS OF REPRESENTATION, WHICH IS INVALUABLE TO THE GROWTH OF ANYBODY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT EVEN, ALTHOUGH THAT EVERYONE IS BATTLING SOME KIND OF STORM OF SOME SORT, HOLDING SPACE FOR SOMEBODY IS LIKE AN ANCHOR. I'M NOT GOING TO BATTLE -- I'M NOT GOING TO WIN OVER THE WORLD AND THEIR STORM, THEIR OWN PERSONAL STORM BUT I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU HOLD SPACE FOR SOMEBODY, THAT'S KIND OF AN ANCHOR TO ALLOW FOR THAT STORM TO PASS. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS EQUAL OR SYNONYMOUS WITH REPRESENTATION AND THE VALUE OF IT. I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. >> GAVITO: AWESOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERICA. ALSO I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT LISA AND LUKE FOR Y'ALL'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOR GOODNESS PROJECT IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
IF WE COULD JOIN IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERICA. JUST AS A REMINDER FOR THE COUNCIL, WE ARE DISCUSSING CONSENT AGENDA NOW. WE'LL GET TO THE POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IN JUST A MOMENT. WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GAVITO: I WOULD TO HIGHLIGHT NO. 9, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS GOING TO FUND THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AN AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT FISHING DOCK. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I
[00:15:03]
WANT TO THANK HOMER GARCIA FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THINKING ABOUT THAT.I WENT OUT, IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING WE HAVE A VETERAN THAT WALKS OUT THERE AT 5:00 A.M. AND I GOT TO JOIN HIM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SO THIS IS A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HOMER. AND THEN ALSO ITEM 11B, APPOINTING GRACE GARZA TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION ON STRENGTHENING FAMILY WELL-BEING.
GRACE IS A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 4. SHE BRINGS HER TWO LITTLE GIRLS TO EVERY EVENT WE HAVE AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
VERY HAPPY TO BE APPOINTING HER TO THE STRENGTHENING FAMILY WELL-BEING COMMISSION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 6, WHICH IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE FOR SOME TRAIL EXPANSION FROM THE EXISTING SALADO CREEK GREENWAY NORTH OF AUSTIN HIGHWAY ALONG BEITEL CREEK.
IT INCLUDES A TRAIL HEAD, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, IT'S A NICE A ADDITION THERE.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 10 IN THE APPOINTMENT OF MARTIN GUTIERREZ TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION. HE'S GOING TO BE THE SMALL BUSINESS TRADE ORGANIZATION SEAT. ANYBODY WHO KNOWS MARTIN KNOWS THE GREAT WORK THAT HE'S DONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM APPOINTED TO THIS NEW POSITION.
THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. FIRST ITEM 13. I WANT TO THANK MARIA AT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STRAC FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO FUND THE MIH PROGRAM.
THESE CRITICAL FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FUND HAVEN FOR HOPE'S ACUTE CARE STATION AND THE PROGRAM FOR INTENSIVE CARE COORDINATION KNOWN AS THE PICC RAM.
CC PROGRAM. THESE ENSURE THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED ARE CONNECTED TO SERVICES. ITEM 15 IS A VERY EXCITING ITEM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE BOCCE PROJECT.
THEY WILL BE BUILDING CASITAS ALONG THE CREEK. THEY HAVE A BACKGROUND OF BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BUILDING DEEP COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.
GRATEFUL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO.
11. WE WERE ABLE TO APPOINT MS. CAROL LYNN KNAPIK TO OUR DISTRICT 1 COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS. I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB THERE. ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE'RE EXCITED THAT OLD SPANISH TRAIL IS IN DISTRICT 1 AND THE URBAN CHAMPIONS ACADEMY IS GOING TO BE GETTING SOME FUNDING TODAY .
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS 4 THROUGH 17.
PLEASE VOTE. >> PELAEZ: YES. AYE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ]
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE SO I'M GOING TO KICK THINGS OFF WITH A RECOGNITION OF A COUPLE OF OUR ACCLAIMED ARTISTS. AND SO, MARIA, COME ON UP.BLAKE, I DON'T KNOW IF -- BLAKE, THERE YOU ARE. COME ON UP.
MARIA AND BLAKE. AND THEY'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK OF SAAACAM BUT ALSO FEATURE SOME SPECIAL WORKS OF ART FOR US TODAY.
TAKE IT AWAY. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS BLAKE MARLOW. I SERVE AT SAAACAM. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN MAKING OUR PRESENCE IN THIS SPACE POSSIBLE. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TODAY OF INTRODUCING ONE OF A SERIES OF TALENTED ARTISTS WHO WILL DEMONSTRATE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS A SAMPLE OF THE IMMENSE TALENT AND CREATIVITY FOUND THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IN OUR NATION. THIS MORNING'S PRESENTATION WILL HIGHLIGHT THE VISUAL ARTS. A MEDIUM WHOSE IMAGERY IS WORTH MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS.
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CAPTURING THE MILLIONS OF LIVES AND EXPERIENCES. FROM CHATTEL SLAVERY TO CONSTRUCTING SYMBOLS OF BLACK PRIDE TO IMAGINING FUTURES IN WHICH OUR HUMANITY IS FULLY REALIZED AND OUR LIBERATION ACHIEVED. THE VISUAL ARTS HAVE LONG BEEN A VEHICLE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS TO EXPLORE WHO WE WERE, WHO WE ARE, AND WHO WE MIGHT YET BECOME.IT IS MY SINCERE PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MARIA WILLIAMS, ARTIST AND FOUNDER OF IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ART GALLERY AS SHE PRESENTS THE WORK OF THREE INCREDIBLE ARTISTS IN THIS
FIELD. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BLAKE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS PLATFORM TO TALK ABOUT IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ART GALLERY AND STUDIO. WE ARE THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING AND WE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT. SOME HAVE ALREADY MADE THE VISIT. WE ARE LOCATED IN GOVERNMENT HILL.
WE HAVE A REACH. IN THREE YEARS WE HAVE NOT ONLY LOCAL, REGIONAL, BUT INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AS WELL. WE HAVE AN ARTIST FROM NIGERIA, WHO FOUND OUR GALLERY FROM A COLLECTOR HERE, A LOCAL COLLECTOR WHO BOUGHT THEIR WORKS.
SO THE WORKS I'M SHOWING TODAY, I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THEM. BUT WE HAVE A LOCAL ARTIST SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW. THAT IS CLAUDETTE HOPKINS. SHE IS COLLECTED BY OUR FORMER MAYOR LILA COCKRELL AND WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY WAS DEDICATED TO ST. PHILIPS COLLEGE.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT AT THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL. YES, WE ARE A BLACK ART GALLERY BUT WE WELCOME ALL ARTISTS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO COME AND SHOW THEIR WORK.
ANOTHER ARTIST WE HAVE IS CECIL BERNARD. QUITE PROUD OF THIS ONE.
CECIL CAME TO THE GALLERY BEFORE WE EVEN OPENED OUR DOORS. WE ARE THE ONLY GALLERY THAT CARRIES HIS WORK AND CECIL WAS RECENTLY NAMED ONE OF THE ARTISTS THAT WILL BE AT THE OBAMA -- IN THE OBAMA LIBRARY COMING UP. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
[APPLAUSE] WE ALSO HAVE AN ARTIST FROM AUSTIN.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER TEXAS. SO RAYA ROSE IS ONE OF OUR ARTISTS AS WELL. WHY I LOVE RAYA'S WORK IS SHE SHOWS THE BEAUTY OF BLACK WOMEN.
WHAT SHE HAS DONE IS SHOWN OUR FEMININITY. AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WE ENJOY BEING WOMEN AS WELL AS STRONG BLACK WOMEN.
SO I AGAIN EXTEND AN INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU TO COME TO THE GALLERY.
KNOW DO IS NOT JUST FOR ONE COMMUNITY BUT IT'S FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE ONLY WITH DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WILL IT REALLY MATTER. I ALWAYS SAY THAT DIVERSITY IS LIKE A BOX OF CRAYONS. THE INCLUSION IS USING EVERY COLOR IN THAT BOX TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ART GALLERY AND STUDIO. I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER OF THE ART OF FOUR , WHICH THE GALLERY WAS DEVELOPED OUT OF THE INITIATIVE AND THE INITIATIVE WE SPEAK ON BEHALF OR ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF LOCAL BLACK ARTISTS AND MINORITY ARTISTS AS WELL. SO, AGAIN, INCLUSION IS IMPORTANT TO ME BUT I DON'T ONLY SPEAK IT BUT I WALK IT. AND YOU WILL SEE THAT ONCE YOU COME INTO OUR GALLERY THAT WE HIGHLIGHT ALL ARTISTS WHO ARE WILLING TO JOIN A BLACK ART
GALLERY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARIA AND BLAKE. DON'T GO ANYWHERE, GUYS. IF YOU COULD JUST STAY HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT, WE'VE GOT MORE COMMENTS FOR YOU. LET ME TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO ELEVATE THE WORK OF BLACK ARTISTS. I THINK LAST WEEK OR LAST MEETING WHEN WE FIRST RECOGNIZED BLACK HISTORY MONTH WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN CELEBRATING BOTH BLACK HISTORY AND BLACK FUTURES AND YOUR GALLERY DOES A FANTASTIC JOB OF DOING THAT.
OF COURSE THE ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM. FOR THOSE WHO WERE HERE LAST TERM, I GIFTED YOU ALL AROUND CHRISTMASTIME SOME ARTWORK FROM ACTUALLY THE GALLERY AND IT'S FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS THAT I DISCOVERED AT THE GALLERY.
FROM DELLA NAY. SHE'S SO, SO TALENTED AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES
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OF ARTISTS ON DISPLAY AND YOU'LL ALWAYS MEET AND LEARN SOMEONE NEW.BOTH MY FIELD OFFICE AT CLAUDE BLACK AND MY RITTIMAN FIELD OFFICE HAS WORK THAT WAS PURCHASED OR ON LOAN FROM THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER GALLERY. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO STOP BY.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO GO AND I YOU'LL FIND IF YOU O IT MAKES YOU TOP FIVE LIST.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SERVING ON THE COMMISSION AS WELL.
SHE'S MY APPOINTEE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO FOLLOW THE WORK OF SAAACAM, NOT JUST DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
BIG THINGS TO COME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BLAKE AND MARIA FOR BRINGING US THIS DISPLAY OF THESE ARTISTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN EYE OF THE BEHOLDER GALLERY.
WE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO OUT AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK BRETT FINLEY AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO COME FORWARD NOW AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY THE NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
THE NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS SERVED AS A VITAL LINK BETWEEN LOCAL BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND THE COMMUNITY FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR REGION. WHEREAS THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS CHAMPIONED THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF BUSINESS LARGE AND SMALL, PROVIDING INVALUABLE RESOURCES, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS AND ENTERPRISES TO THRIVE. WHEREAS THROUGHOUT ITS ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT ENRICH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE AND PRESERVE OUR UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE. WHEREAS NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ADVOCATING FOR POLICY AND INITIATIVES IN INVESTMENT, CREATE JOBS AND ENSURING A VIBRANT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WHEREAS THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WE COMMEND THE ORGANIZATION FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 10, 2024 TO BE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND EXTEND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THIS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.
BRETT. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRETT FINLEY. I'M THE NEWLY-APPOINTED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER. I'M PLEASED TO BE STANDING HERE WITH JOE AND MR. ROB KILN. ON BEHALF OF OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS CULMINATION . IT'S BEEN A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION. WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR GALA. IT WAS A CULMINATION OF A LOT OF HARD WORK AND LEGACY OF LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN DEDICATED WITH THEIR TIME IN FOSTERING AN ECONOMIC AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY HERE ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO.
I WANT TO THANK THE MANY PAST CHAIRS, 50 NOW, OF OUR ORGANIZATION THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE. AND FOSTERING THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THAT WAY A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND LIVING FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED EXACTLY IN JUNE OF 1974 WITH THOSE PURPOSES, TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP LEADERS AT ALL ASPECTS AND ALL STOPS OF THEIR CAREERS. IF THEY'RE JUST GETTING THEIR START OUT IN THEIR EARLY 20S OR TRANSITIONING OVER FROM A DIFFERENT JOB TO THOSE C-SUITE LEVEL EXECUTIVES. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT TREND OF PROVIDING GOOD LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES UP AND DOWN THE BOARD. AS AN ADVOCACY-FIRST ORGANIZATION, THAT WAS CERTAINLY OUR FOCUS OVER THE DECADES. AS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDED TOWARDS THE NORTHERN PART OF SAN ANTONIO AND NOW OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR EFFORTS ALL OVER THE GREATER COMMUNITY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AN ADVOCACY-FIRST ORGANIZATION THAT IS A GALVANIZED VOICE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO BE FIRST TO THE FIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INDEPENDENT AND WE'RE STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT AND BE THE BEACON OF LIGHT IN THIS COMMUNITY BUT ALSO SOMETIMES THE LOUDEST VOICE IN THE ROOM TOO IF IT'S SOMETHING OUR ORGANIZATION GOES AGAINST. CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THIS CHAMBER OVER THE YEAR. THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF THIS MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, BRETT. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO AN
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ORGANIZATION THAT I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO WORK WITH AS A COUNCILMEMBER FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE WHAT THE REAL WORK IS FOR A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND FOR THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER.YOU GUYS ARE ADVOCATES FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND NOT ONLY ACROSS THE NORTHSIDE BUT I KNOW ACROSS THE CITY YOU HAVE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE.
AND ADVOCACY FOR BUSINESS IS ALSO ADVOCACY FOR THE PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY BUSINESSES, FOR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN THOSE POSITIONS.
AND YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR ALL OF THEM WHEN YOU COME TO US OR WHEN YOU GO TO OTHER AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS. YOU KNOW, I'VE NOT ALWAYS BEEN IN AGREEMENT WITH SOME OF THE CHAMBER'S WANTS OR NEEDS OR ISSUES BUT I'VE LEARNED TO LISTEN AND EXCHANGE IDEAS AND OPINIONS, WHICH I THINK BENEFIT US AS A COUNCIL AS WELL AS BENEFITING ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PAST 50 YEARS.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL. AND THANK YOU.
BECAUSE AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE SAID, THE WORK YOU ALL DO IS SO IMPORTANT.
RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AT LEAST FROM WHERE I SIT, THERE'S NOT A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN SUPPORTING BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING THEIR GROWTH SO THAT WE CAN -- OUR BUSINESSES CAN HIRE MORE PEOPLE, PAY THEM BETTER WAGES. AND THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE ADVOCATING FOR AND PUSHING FOR ON A DAILY BASIS.
REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO. THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION.
I KNOW THAT THE NORTH CHAMBER -- I'M GOING TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENT -- PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR CITY. I KNOW SEVERAL FORMER COLLEAGUES AT USAA WERE GOING THROUGH THE NORTH CHAMBER LEADERSHIP LAB. I KNOW WHEN I HAVE PARTNERED WITH YOU, ROB, AND JOE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUPS OR THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS GROUPS, I ALWAYS FIND THE CONVERSATION EXTREMELY ENGAGING, REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS BEING ASKED. AND REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE INTENT OF MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD. I REALLY ALWAYS APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT I ENGAGE WITH THE NORTH CHAMBER AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE IN GREAT HANDS AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR Y'ALL. THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO AND SAY HAPPY 50TH.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE GALA AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EMBRACING THE CONDOR AIRLINES EXECUTIVES THAT WERE THERE. YOU ALL INTRODUCED THEM TO EVERYONE ACROSS THE ROOM AND I FELT YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF EMBEDDING THEM INTO THE PROGRAM SO PEOPLE COULD REALIZE WE NEED TO SUPPORT CONDOR AIRLINES. I THOUGHT THAT YOU ALL DID THAT JUST SO BEAUTIFULLY. I MEAN, IT'S VERY CLASSY. Y'ALL HAD A QR CODE WITH DISCOUNTS. I THINK YOU ALL MADE THEM FEEL WELCOME.
THEY WERE EASILY SPOTTED, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE TALL, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THEIR COWBOY HATS AND YOU ALL JUST MADE THEM FEEL SUPER WELCOME. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. AND ALSO BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE REALIZE BUT A LOT OF YOUR MEMBERS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HEADQUARTERS IN THE NORTHSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, A LOT OF THEIR BUSINESS IS SOUTH AND IT'S BECAUSE THE GROWTH IS SOUTH. SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE MAP THAT SHOWS EXACTLY WHERE THE HEADQUARTERS ARE. I HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO DO A MAP TO SHOW WHERE THE BUSINESS IS GOING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THE IMPORTANCE THAT YOU PLAY ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEN, LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK LETICIA MARTINEZ OVER IN THE CORNER.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE NORTH CHAMBER LEADERSHIP LAB AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO COME IN AND PRESENT A FEW MODULES. I'M REINVIGORATED AFTER I MEET WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO EVENTUALLY I HOPE WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY. EVERY ANNIVERSARY AND EVERY CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON SUCCESSES AND PRACTICES THAT WORK. BUT ALSO TO REFLECT ON WAYS THAT YOU CAN PLAY A ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE LOWEST OF US. BLACK, BROWN, QUEER, DISABLED, POOR WORKERS WHO RELY ON FOLK LIKE YOU AND ME, FOLK IN ELEVATED POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THEM AND SYSTEMS MADE TO PERPETUATE INEQUITY AND INJUSTICE.
I HOPE AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHARE THAT COMMITMENT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
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COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND A LOT OF US WENT TO THE GALA AND CELEBRATED WITH YOU. BRETT, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOUR ADVOCACY THERE NOW. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TOO THAT THERE'S SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT ARE CRITICAL OF CHAMBERS, THAT BUSINESS ALREADY HAS A BIG VOICE. BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO MANY OF YOUR MEMBERS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES AND A BIG PERCENTAGE OF BUSINESS IN OUR CITY IS OUR SMALL BUSINESS. THEY DON'T HAVE MAYBE THE FUNDS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ADVOCATE SO THEY GO TO YOU AND YOU REALLY COME AND FIGHT FOR THEM. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT ADVOCACY AND WHAT YOU DO. AND REMEMBER THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE OWNED ALL OVER THE CITY AND YOU DO FOR MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE NORTHSIDE. WE APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA. HAPPY 50TH TO YOU ALL. I THINK IT IS PLAINLY EVIDENT THAT BIG, POWERFUL THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR CITY WHEN THERE'S COLLABORATION AMONG GROUPS.
WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND THE MAKING A SELECTION IN BRETT BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB, BRETT.
AND HARNESSING THAT EVOLUTION TO MAKE IT AS POWERFUL AS IT CAN BE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.
NOW AN EVEN OLDER ORGANIZATION WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE. WHEREAS 95 YEARS AGO THE FOUNDERS OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS BETTER KNOWN AS LULAC, JOINED TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL HISPANIC CIVIL RIGHTS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES .
WHEREAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION ON FEBRUARY 17, 1929 IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, LULAC HAS CHAMPIONED THE CAUSE OF HISPANIC AMERICANS IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND CIVIL RIGHTS. AND WHEREAS LULAC HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, JOB TRAINING, HOUSING, SCHOLARSHIPS, CITIZENSHIP, AND VOTER REGISTRATION.
AND WHEREAS LULAC MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION HAVE DEVELOPED A TREMENDOUS TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS ADVANCING THE ECONOMIC CONDITION, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, POLITICAL INFLUENCE, HEALTH AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEREAS LULAC HAS ADOPTED A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT PROMOTES HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR IMMIGRANTS, INCREASE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH AND EQUAL TREATMENT FOR ALL IN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES INCLUDING PUERTO RICO. WHEREAS THIS YEAR THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS WILL CELEBRATE 95 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO INCREASE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL AMERICANS.
NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 11 THROUGH 17, 2024 TO BE DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL LULAC WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND EXTEND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO LULAC AS THEY CELEBRATE 95 YEARS OF SERVICE IN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS MADE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY . CONGRATULATIONS, LULAC AND ASK ALL THE LEADERSHIP TO COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS OUR COUNCIL AND PUBLIC. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP HERE AND RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION. WE ARE SO PROUD.
WE'RE PROUD MEMBERS OF LULAC. HAVE BEEN, MANY OF US, FOR AT LEAST 50 YEARS.
I KNOW I AM. AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR ALL BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH SINCE THE BEGINNING, SINCE 1929 WHEN A COUPLE OF MEN IN CORPUS CHRISTI GOT TOGETHER AND SAW THE DISCREPANCIES AND DISCRIMINATION ON BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. AND DISCRIMINATION WAS VERY PREVALENT THEN.
IT'S BETTER NOW BUT WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE FOR 95 YEARS. AND WE HOPE TO BE HERE FOR MANY, MANY MORE YEARS, EVEN AFTER WE'RE GONE. TODAY A GROUP OF OUR LEADERSHIP IS IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW.
ALSO CELEBRATING LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS UP THERE AND OF COURSE OUR GALA, WHICH REALLY FOCUSES A LOT ON THE LAWS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE. AND, SECONDLY, ALSO VERY DEDICATED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE INVEST IN EDUCATION. BECAUSE EDUCATION IS OUR SHIELD THAT HELPS US TO MOVE FORWARD.
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OUR DIRECTOR IS IN WASHINGTON AND COULD NOT BE HERE BUT OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MS. FLORES, IS HERE WITH US TODAY TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR THE CITY. BECAUSE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BE HERE AS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ORGANIZATION, OVER 890 MEMBERS, AND THAT NUMBER SEEMS TO STICK.AND SO THERE'S SO MANY OF US ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE SAME BENEFITS FOR ALL. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
THIS MORNING. >> YES. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M SURE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF LULAC.
TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE, JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THERE ARE OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE MEMBERS OF LULAC THAT STRIVE TOWARDS PROMOTING AND EDUCATING AND MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE GETTING AWARE OF SITUATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS AND STAYING IN SCHOOLS AND GOING TO COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY TO LEARN MORE, PROMOTE MORE AND CARRY ON THE MISSION OF LULAC AS WE DO. SO THERE ARE A FEW MEMBERS HERE THAT MAY WANT TO RELATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH KIDS IN SCHOOL.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM LOCALLY THAT'S FUNDED BY FEDERAL GRANTS THAT DEAL WITH YOUTH STAYING IN SCHOOL AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS. AND THAT IS ORLANDO IS THE DIRECTOR OF A NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER. AND OUR AGENDA THROUGH THAT PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE THAT MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EDUCATION CENTER FOR KIDS ON THE WESTSIDE. WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA A YEAR AGO AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOPEFULLY NOT BUILDING OUR OWN LULAC CENTER THAT DOES ALL THAT THROUGH THE ADMISSION OF THE NATIONAL OFFICE.
THAT WE CAN PROMOTE AND BRING KIDS TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD. SO WE THANK YOU TODAY FOR THE PROCLAMATION, MAYOR RON NIRENBERG AND OUR BEAUTIFUL HARD-WORKING COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE THING.
SAN ANTONIO HAS THE LARGEST MEMBERSHIP DISTRICT IN THE WHOLE LEAGUE.
SO THERE'S MANY OF US. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. DON'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS AND CONGRATULATIONS. LET ME START WITH COUNCILMEMBER
ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF THIS IMPACTFUL ORGANIZATION MAKES ME REFLECT ON ALL THE PEOPLE BEFORE US WHO HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR LATINOS. MYSELF INCLUDED. TO BE THE FREEDOMS WE DO AND ARE ABLE TO SERVE IN POSITIONS OF POWER. IT'S THANKS TO EFFORTS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LULAC THAT MANY OF US ARE EVEN SITTING HERE ON THIS DAIS.
I KNEW GROWING UP, I WATCHED MANY OF YOU ALL LEAD THE CHARGE ON THIS IMPACTFUL THING.
I SEE HENRY UP THERE WITH YOU ALL. YOU ALL HAVE HELPED ADVOCATE FOR HISPANICS AND LATINOS TO BE PART OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS FOR NEARLY A CENTURY AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT IS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVALUABLE AND I'M GLAD TO CELEBRATE YOU ALL TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS, LULAC FOR 95 YEARS OF RELENTLESS ADVOCACY FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND REALLY THE LATINOS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. I'M A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN SO IT'S A POINT OF PRIDE THAT YOU STARTED HERE. IN FACT, LULAC COUNCILS 1 AND 2 STARTED HERE AND IN CORPUS CHRISTI, I UNDERSTAND. PRETTY NEAR IN TIME. BUT OF COURSE WE HAVE THE LARGEST MEMBERSHIP. I LOVE THAT WE HAVE THAT POINT OF PRIDE AS WELL.
WE STARTED HERE SO LONG AGO WITH THE SPECIFIC GOAL OF ADDRESSING THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CONCERNS OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN SOUTH TEXAS AND Y'ALL HAVE GROWN INTO A FORMIDABLE FORCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS.
SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SIT ON THIS DAIS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT MANY OF YOU PERSONALLY HAVE
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DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO AS WE CONGRATULATE LULAC AND REMEMBER THE INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST 95 YEARS, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD WITH OPTIMISM AND HOPE AND CONTINUE TO GROW THAT MEMBERSHIP SO THAT WE CAN LAST ANOTHER 95 YEARS.THANK YOU AND AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CONGRATULATIONS ON 95 YEARS. I WANT TO PUT OUT A PLUG THAT IN GETTING READY FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY DO SOME FUNDRAISING SO WE CAN HAVE THAT PHYSICAL STRUCTURE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, NOT JUST TO SHAPE SAN ANTONIO'S POLITICS BUT IN GENERAL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND GETTING SPECIFICALLY LATINOS IN POLITICS. I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO VISITS WITH ALL OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AND REMIND THEM THE IMPORTANCE THAT LULAC HAS PLAYED.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL WERE THE ORIGINAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION GROUP. YOU ALL STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT WAS COOL OR NECESSARY TO TALK ABOUT THIS. SO ALL OF US UP HERE ARE REPRESENTATIVE IN PART OF YOUR EFFORTS AND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. AND WE SEE THAT WE HAVE, FOR INSTANCE, A FEMALE-MAJORITY COUNCIL AND THAT'S BECAUSE WOMEN LIKE YOU ALL, WITH MALE ALLIES LIKE YOU ALL, HELP CHAMPION THAT. AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE THE ORIGINAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOLKS SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CENTENNIAL IN FIVE YEARS AND WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT SPACE YOU NEED TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK AND TO KEEP DOING THE WORK. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZATION, NOT JUST FOR THE 95 YEARS BUT FOR EVERY YEAR THAT YOU WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I SAY "OUR COMMUNITY." I HAVE LIVED HERE 50 YEARS. I'VE WATCHED THE WORK OF SO MANY OF YOU. I RECOGNIZE A LOT OF THE FACES HERE THAT I'VE SEEN WORKING FOR YOR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY ALL OF THESE TIMES. WE JUST HAD THE CHAMBER HERE AND THEY ADVOCATE BUT YOU ADVOCATE TOO. YOU ADVOCATE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THE LATINO COMMUNITY BUT I KNOW YOU'VE ADVOCATED FOR EVERYBODY AND YOU'VE HAD TO WORK HARD AND FIGHT FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE WHOLE CITY. YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SERVICES OR EDUCATION OR HOUSING OR CIVIL RIGHTS OR JUSTICE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE LIST OF THINGS THAT LULAC HAS BEEN OUT FRONT ON FOR SO MANY YEARS. FOR YOUR WORK AND THOSE WHO HAVE PRECEDED YOU AND FOR THOSE I KNOW WHO ARE GOING TO FOLLOW YOU, WE ALL OWE A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND CONTINUE TO DO.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS ON 95 YEARS OF WORKING TO BUILD A SAN ANTONIO AND A UNITED STATES THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE STOOD IN COALITION WITH YOU ALL, WHETHER IT'S MARCHING ALONGSIDE FOLKS FOR OUR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS OR STANDING IN COALITION IN OPPOSITION TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AS THE ATHEADVOCACY THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN BUT IT'S BRINGING INDIVIDUALS IN. THERE'S OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS JUST HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THIS IS JUST ONE CHAPTER. AND THAT'S SO MANY ORGANIZED INDIVIDUALS ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEMAND AND FIGHT FOR A BETTER SAN ANTONIO AND A BETTER UNITED STATES. I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL AND THAT WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE CHALLENGE THESE INJUSTICES AND BUILD THAT BETTER WORLD. THANK YOU ALL AND THE FIGHT CONTINUES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
95 YEARS. WE SHOULD ALL HOPE TO BE SO LUCKY.
I HAVE GREAT GRANDPARENTS YOUNGER THAN THE ORGANIZATION. I ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE THE AGE COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN SAY A LOT ABOUT THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM AND I'M A PRODUCT OF THE HAWAII STATE EDUCATION SYSTEM. AND I REMEMBER ONE OF THE MOMENTS THAT -- OR ONE OF THE PARTS OF HISTORY THAT MADE MANY OF MY PEERS EXCITED WAS WHEN THEY GOT TO READ ABOUT LULAC AND WHEN THEY GOT TO READ ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINO LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS AND MOVEMENTS. AND WHAT I THINK MAKES ME MOST EXCITED IN PARTS OF HISTORY I THINK WE WERE MOST IMPACTFUL AS A COLLECTIVE WAS WHEN BLACK AND BROWN LEADERS IN ORGANIZATIONS
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AND MOVEMENTS COLLIDED AND WORKED TOGETHER AND I THINK THERE'S MUCH, MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT STILL AND WE SEE IT TAKING PLACE TODAY. AND IT'S NO DOUBT IN LARGE PART TO THE WORK AND THE INSPIRATION THAT YOU'VE INSPIRED INTO MANY. EVEN TODAY THERE'S YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVED AND INSPIRED AND SOME OF THEM THINK THE WORK IS DONE.THEY THINK THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S TIME HAS COME AND THEY'RE SURPRISED TO LEARN, OH, LULAC STILL EXISTS TODAY AND LAST GROUP, AN ANNIVERSARY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE PAST.
AND THERE'S A LONG, LONG, LONG PAST FOR YOU GUYS TO CELEBRATE BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO A LONG, LONG FUTURE TO CELEBRATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE.
I SEE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE. I WAS COMMUNICATING THROUGH THE EYES WITH THEM EARLIER.
JUST SO EXCITED FOR YOU. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S NEXT, THE NEXT CHAPTER, AND ESPECIALLY THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE 100 YEARS IS A BIG, BIG DEAL. THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. I KNOW ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO HAS BEEN PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT THE LATINO COMMUNITY BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP STARTING SO MANY YEARS AGO YOU HAVE AFFECTED A LOT OF SUBMINORITY COMMUNITIES TOO THAT NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
CONGRATULATIONS. 95 YEARS. THE RECORD DOES SHOW THAT THE ORGANIZATION WAS BORN IN CORPUS CHRISTI BUT I THINK IT WAS FAIR TO SAY THAT IT WAS NURTURED AND INCUBATED AND BROUGHT TO FRUITION IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PITCH AND HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE RUN UP THE FLAGPOLE. AT YOUR 100, JUST DOWN THE ROAD, THAT WE ARE IN FACT
YOU TELL ME WHICH CHANNELS WE NEED TO GO THROUGH. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> EXCUSE ME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YES, SIR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF SO MANY OF OUR PEOPLE, NOT ONLY IN CIVIL RIGHTS, WHICH WE HAVE PROUDLY REPRESENTED, BUT OUR ETHNIC GROUP HAS INHABITED THIS REGION FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
SO WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS. WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF DR. HECTOR P. GARCIA, GUSTAVO GARCIA, ROSA ROSALES AND SO MANY OTHER LEADERS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED FOR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS BUT OUR HUMAN RIGHTS. OUR ETHNIC GROUP HAS PAID A VERY DEAR AND HIGH PRICE FOR PRESERVING THE FREEDOM OF OUR COUNTRY. OUR MEXICAN AMERICAN HEROES HAVE BEEN THE FIRST AND THE LAST ON THE BATTLEFIELDS IN EACH OF THE WARS OF OUR COUNTRY.
I HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM A MEMBER OF LULAC.
SO MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO SERVE AND TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS AND WE THANK YOU AND WE THANK GOD
FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
Y'ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
AS THE PODIUM CLEARS, I'M GOING TO BRING NOW THE U.T. SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCE
CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO. >> WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION, A GIFT ON BEHALF OF LULAC . IT GIVES YOU THE STORY OF THE FOUNDING OF THIS ORGANIZATION
AND ONE OF THE LEADERS. WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON NOT TO EVER INTERRUPT YOU GUYS. SO, GO AHEAD.
>> AND SHARE IT WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. WE'LL TREASURE THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO ALL THE
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MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND LIKE THEY SAYVOTES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. NOW, IF I COULD HAVE THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AT UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER LEADERSHIP COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AT U.T. WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD ORAL HEALTH. ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVING OUR NATION'S OVERALL HEALTH. AND WHEREAS IN 2023 DENTAL CARE REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST PREVENTABLE CHILDHOOD DISEASES. AND ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE REMAINS INADEQUATE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INCLUDING CHILDREN OF COLOR. THOSE OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS. AND WHEREAS DENTAL DEDICATED ORAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, EDUCATORS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE IMPROVED ACCESS AND QUALITY OF CARE FOR THE MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SUPPORTS THE DELIVERY OF ORAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AT UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SAN ANTONIO TO EDUCATE THE FUTURE DENTAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. WHEREAS BY HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPACT OF UNTREATED DENTAL DISEASE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF THE CHILDREN OF SAN ANTONIO, DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENHANCES THE ABILITY FOR ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, OR INTELLECTUAL STATUS TO OBTAIN HIGH-QUALITY ORAL HEALTHCARE. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY TO BE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR COMING TO
OUR MEETING TODAY . >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH MONTH . THE MONTH IS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR TO BRING AWARENESS TO ORAL HEALTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH, NOT ONLY IN CHILDREN BUT IN ADULTS. THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE FOR MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN IS DENTAL PROBLEMS. YOU CAN'T EAT IF YOU'RE IN PAIN. AND OFTEN YOUNG CHILDREN REALLY CAN'T EXPRESS WHY THEY'RE HAVING PAIN. SO GOOD ORAL HEALTH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. OUR SCHOOL HAS BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING ORAL HEALTH NEEDS, MEETING THE ORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO, BOTH IN THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO AND THE SOUTH. AND IT WAS REMINDED TO ME EARLIER TODAY THAT WE CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO TO ADVOCATE FOR SUPPORT FOR THE CARLOS SALINAS CLINIC, WHICH WE RUN IN SOUTH SAN ANTONIO, PROVIDING CARE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION, CHILDREN POPULATION IN THAT AREA. AND OUR TEAM IS NOT ONLY INVOLVED IN PROVIDING CARE AND TRAINING OF DENTISTS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, BUT ALSO IN ADVOCATING FOR GOOD ORAL HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THROUGHOUT SOUTH TEXAS, GLOBALLY IN AFRICA, IN LATIN AMERICA. SO REALLY WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE GOOD GENERAL HEALTH WITHOUT GOOD ORAL HEALTH AND IT'S A QUESTION OF EDUCATING THE POPULATION TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND PROVIDING CARE WHEN THE NEED IS THERE.
SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AND WE'RE PROUD OF OUR SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND TO HELP MAKE THE POPULATION HEALTHIER AND MORE ROBUST. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DO WANT TO TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THTHANK YOU AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR BEING HERE TODAY. MY COLLEAGUE WHO REPRESENTS THE MEDICAL CENTER AREA IS RIGHT BEHIND ME ON THE SCREEN. SO WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, THE MAYOR AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND MEET WITH YOU ALL AND DO A TOUR OF YOUR FACILIT FY. AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU ALL HAVE WITH US IN THE CLINICS ON THE SOUTHSIDE AND IN GENERAL, JUST ALL OVER THE CITY. YOUR EFFORTS FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL.
AND JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL HEALTH.
AND SO I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A VISIT.
IT'S A ONE OF A KIND FACILITY AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT YOU ALL TREAT CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND IT'S SO HARD TO DO THAT. AND I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA CARE AND EFFORT AND ATTENTION THAT YOUR ENTIRE TEAM TAKES TO SERVE THOSE FAMILIES WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF NEEDS AND IN PARTICULAR DENTAL NEEDS THAT OTHERS WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
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TO DO THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN MANY MORE YEARS.THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY OVER AT THE U.T. HEALTH SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY.
MY SISTER-IN-LAW IS ONE OF YOUR GRADUATES AND SHE, LIKE ALL OF YOUR GRADUATES, ARE DEDICATED TO THE VOCATION AND THE CALLING. YOU GUYS ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS FOR ADULTS AS WELL AS CHILDREN AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS. PLEASE PASS ALONG MY THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOUR TEAM. BIG THINGS AHEAD FOR ALL OF YOU.
YOU NEVER, EVER, EVER CEASE TO DISAPPOINT. PROUD OF YOU GUYS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING FORWARD FOR THE RECOGNITION. I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE RECENTLY BECOME A PATIENT OF U.T. DENTAL AND THE CARE FOR WHICH I SEE YOUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY HAVE FOR THEIR PATIENTS IS JUST OUTSTANDING. CONGRATULATIONS FOR EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'RE DOING, FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SO MANY OTHERS. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AS I MENTIONED DURING OUR MEETING I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO LEARN FROM MIKE RAMSEY, WHO IS TAKING THE LEAD ON OUR READY TO WORK PROGRAM, OFTENTIMES WHAT WE HEAR FROM APPLICANTS IS HOW LACK OF ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE AND HOW DENTAL CARE IMPACTS ONE'S CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. SO I THINK WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT PROVIDING ACCESS TO CARE TO CHILDREN, HOW CAN WE HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION AS A CITY ON HOW WE CAN SUPPORT INCREASING ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR ADULTS. BECAUSE THAT'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO CARE AND THE CONFIDENCE TO APPLY AND GET THE TRAINING TO ACCESS THE NEXT-LEVEL WAGE. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE DENTAL SCHOOL SOCIETY WHO IS EAGER TO HAVE A LARGE CLINIC HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN HELP ACCOMMODATE HIM TO ENSURE WE CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN. THANK Y'ALL FOR THE WORK YOU
CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYBODY FOR WHAT YOU DO. OH, I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT.
THANKS, Y'ALL. OKAY . [APPLAUSE] WE'VE GOT SOME VERY QUIET, PATIENT, WELL-BEHAVED AND MODEL STUDENT CITIZENS IN THE BACK COUPLE OF ROWS. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEACHERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THEM SO WELL BEHAVED. I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO OBSERVE THAT.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR TO WELCOME YOU ALL.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AM SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO WELCOME THE THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS OF MS. KERRY FROM THE ADVANCED LEARNING ACADEMY . IF Y'ALL COULD MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HONOR YOU AND MS. KERRY FOR THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN CREATING THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK ABOUT SAN PEDRO SPRINGS PARK .
LIKE YOU ALL KNOW, SAN PEDRO SPRINGS PARK IS THE SECOND MOST HISTORIC PARK IN THE COUNTRY AND YOU ALL GOT A CHANCE TO EXPLORE HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE PARK AND LIVING ORGANISMS. YOU TALKED ABOUT IF ACEQUIAS, THE GROTTO, THE ANIMALS THERE AND WHAT'S IT'S BECOME NOW.
THIS PARK IS REALLY SPECIAL TO US AS AN OFFICE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET YOU ALL BACK TO THE PARK THERE ALL THE TIME. AND SO WE ARE INSPIRED BY THE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED FOR US AND WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD BE USING. I THINK THEY WERE SHOWING SOME OF THE PICTURES OF THE DRAWINGS THAT YOU ALL CREATED ABOUT THE HISTORIC ASPECTS OF THE PARK. WHAT IT MEANS FOR ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOU ALL. AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO ACTUALLY LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY IS BEAUTIFUL. AND WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THROUGHOUT BOTH YOUR
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EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO ONCE YOU GRADUATE, GO TO COLLEGE AND BEYOND.AND TELL YOUR FAMILIES TO COME OUT AND ENGAGE WITH US IN THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD IT BE THAT SAN PEDRO SPRINGS PARK COULD GET YOU THERE EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL, ON THE WEEKENDS AND IN THE SUMMER. IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST HISTORIC AND LOVED PLACES IN DISTRICT 1.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING TEACHERS FOR BEING ABLE TO INCORPORATE COMMUNITY INTO THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WITH THEM TO HELP TEACH THE TEKS EVERY DAY, WHICH I KNOW IS A STRUGGLE, ESPECIALLY AS THIRD-GRADERS, WHICH IS YOUR FIRST YEAR TAKING THE STAAR. I'M SURE THAT'S ANOTHER LAYER OF WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE TEACHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WE DO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AT OUR SCHOOL AND SO WE TRY AND REALLY GIVE THE STUDENTS A PURPOSE BEHIND ALL OF THEIR LEARNING. AND THE PARK IS SO CLOSE TO OUR SCHOOL, PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT JUST IS THE PERFECT SPOT TO ENGAGE THEM IN INQUIRY AND REALLY BROUGHT OUT KIND OF WHAT A COMMUNITY MEANS TO THEM. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THEIR IDEAS AND KIND OF IDEAS OF WHAT THAT PARK CAN BECOME AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN A COMMUNITY TO
THESE STUDENTS. >> KAUR: AWESOME. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR IS GOING TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU ALL.
I THINK I'LL JOIN HER. ERIK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS FEEDBACK GETS OVER TO HOMER AS
THEY DO THEIR PUBLIC PROCESS. THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. >> WALSH: I LIKE THE MAP THAT THEY SHARED AND WE'LL MAKE THAT EXHIBIT 1 IN THE MASTER PLAN, COUNCILWOMAN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR A POINT OF
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE 29TH ANNUAL BASURA BASH. THAT'S ALSO RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY, BY THE WAY. THERE'S GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE CLEANING UP OUR PRECIOUS WATERWAYS AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR'S EVENT AND TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE. REMEMBER, THERE'S STILL TIME TO VOLUNTEER AT BASURABASH.ORG.
THERE ARE SEVERAL SITES WHERE GROUPS WILL BE GATHERING TO CLEANUP INDIAN CREEK, SALADO, SIX MILES, ZARZAMORA, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE GROUPS OF PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS CLEANING UP AND PICKING UP DEBRIS FROM OUR WATERWAYS. IN DISTRICT 4 WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS WHO TAKE PART IN BASURA BASH EVERY YEAR AND IT'S IMPORTANCE IMPORTANTFOR THEM.
I FEEL OUR YOUTH ARE OUR MOST ECO CONSCIOUS GENERATION SO FAR. WE KNOW THAT THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM AND OUR CITY'S FOUNDATION IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THIS NATURAL RESOURCE LIKE THE KIDS LEARNED EARLIER IN THEIR STUDIES.
BASURA BASH AND OTHER CLEANUPS ORGANIZED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ARE EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING AND PRESERVING OUR WATERWAYS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
EARLIER THIS MONTH AT A TEXAS CONFERENCE IN TEXARKANA, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND
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MYSELF HEARD FROM SOME OF THE LEADING EXPERTS IN WATER WHO SHARED WITH US THE STATE OF WATER IN OUR AREA. AND LET ME SAY THAT I WAS TERRIFIED.I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WAS TERRIFIED AS WELL.
WE WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN ABOUT THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES WE ARE CURRENTLY FACING AND THE WATER SQUSCARCITY IN OUR REGION AND AS MOTHERS I THINK WE HAD A SPECIAL RED FLAG THAT WENT OFF THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I DON'T MEAN TO CAUSE PANIC BY SAYING WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF WATER BUT IF WE KEEP THE SAME RATE OF CONSUMPTION WITHOUT WATER PLANNING AND CONSERVATION, I FEAR THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER. I MADE THIS A POINT TO TALK TO THE MAYOR ABOUT DURING OUR ONE-ON-ONE THIS WEEK AND THE MAYOR SAID, LET ME TELL YOU.
I KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS ON THE DAIS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY BASURA BASH IS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT WILL HELP US REFLECT ON THE CONDITIONS OF OUR WATERWAYS AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACT NOW. THIS YEAR'S EVENT ORGANIZERS, RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO, ARE LEADING THE EFFORTS AND WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY SOME OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO RIVER AID, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO HELP US CLEANUP OUR WATERWAYS AND TO JOIN US AT BASURA BASH THIS SATURDAY. I KNOW AS SOON AS THIS YEAR'S EVENT WRAPS UP WE'LL BE PLANNING FOR A MEMORABLE AND FUN-FILLED 30TH ANNUAL BASURA BASH NEXT YEAR. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A FRIENDLY COUNCIL COMPETITION AND CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF CLEANING UP OUR WATERWAYS. IF CHARLES BANK FROM THE RIVER AID IS STILL HERE, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE THIS MORNING. THE FLOOR IS ALL YOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US DOWN, MAYOR, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MOST OF YOU WILL BE WITH US ON SATURDAY. I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS RECOGNITION MEANS A LOT TO ME. IT MEANS A LOT TO ATHENA, TO EVERYBODY WHO PUTS THE WORK INTO ORGANIZE THIS. BUT IF YOU CAN IMAGINE 2,400 VOLUNTEERS STANDING BEHIND ME FILLING THESE BALCONIES, THAT'S WHO THIS RECOGNITION'S GOING TOWARDS. AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE CITY WORKERS, FROM SOLID WASTE, FROM PARKS AND RECREATION, FROM PUBLIC WORKS, THIS EVENT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP 29 YEARS GOING STRONG BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE DROPS A BALL, THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE TO PICK IT UP.
AND WE WERE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS BATON HANDED TO US TWO YEARS AGO.
AND WE'RE TRANSITIONED FULLY NOW, RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO WILL HOPE TO RUN BASURA BASH FOR SECONDS TO COME WITH ALL Y'ALL'S HELP. I BROUGHT YOU A MOMENTO TODAY, WHICH I HOPE YOU RECEIVED. JUST A LITTLE COURTESY REUSABLE BAG TO ENCOURAGE -- THERE WE GO.
BEAUTIFUL DESIGN BY ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. AND WE HOPE TO DISTRIBUTE A COUPLE THOUSAND OF THEM TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND CUT DOWN ON USE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
BUT IF YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING SATURDAY, MAKE IT DOWN TO BASURA BASH.
YOU CAN REGISTER AT BASURABASH.ORG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RECOGNITION AND FOR YOUR TIME AND ENERGY. I HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU IN THE FIELD ON SATURDAY. THANKS. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA HAS ALREADY SAID. THANK YOU TO RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT. AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT WORK AT WOODLAWN LAKE.
WE COULD TELL A DIFFERENCE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS RESIDENTS WE CAN ALL SEE AND FEEL A DIFFERENCE AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. MY TEAM AND I WILL BE OUT AT O.P. SCHNABEL PARK THIS SATURDAY AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
THANK YOU FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT FOR US AND LEADING THE EFFORT FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL AND THAT OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT 10 TEAM WILL BE THERE AT TOBIN TRAIL HEAD AND WE'LL BE DOING OUR PART THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN GETTING THIS ALL TOGETHER.
THANKS. STEVE PETERSON WILL BE THERE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, CHARLES AND TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO. LAST YEAR I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN Y'ALL OUT ALONG THE CREEKWAY AND MET SOME D5 CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE STUDENTS AT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT I LEARNED IN CONVERSATIONS -- THEY'RE STUDYING SUSTAINABILITY, SO WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT AIR QUALITY AND SOIL REMEDIATION AND SO MUCH MORE. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN
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OF COURSE JUST PICK UP ALL THAT DEBRIS. BUT I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNING AND URGE US TO DO SO MUCH MORE. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AID.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA FOR BRINGING YOU UP TODAY AND YOU SAID FRIENDLY COMPETITION. SO WE WILL BE OUT AT ALAZAN CREEK WITH ABOUT 200 VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO HELP COME CLEAN.
WE'LL COMPETE. THANK YOU, ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. I WOULD JUST REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. HOPEFULLY PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT IT TAKES TO CLEAN UP THE CREEKS AND THINK TWICE BEFORE THEY MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, FILTHY AGAIN. BUT WE REALLY NEED FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT THE MISSION OF BASURA BASH EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR. ONCE WE DO THAT, HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN ALL OF OUR CREEKWAYS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND
HOPEFULLY THAT DAY WILL COME. >> THANK YOU. I THINK TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT COME. APPRECIATE YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR A
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST HERE WITH US TODAY. WE INVITED THE LEGENDARY CINDERELLA BAKERY TO COUNCIL. CINDERELLA BAKERY HAS BEEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND SAN ANTONIO SINCE 1960 AND THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF SAN ANTONIO'S CULTURAL FABRIC AND OF DISTRICT 5 THAT MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO SPECIAL . IN THE EARLY DAYS THEY EXPANDED THEIR MENU TO PROVIDE OTHER STAPLES LIKE BARBACOA AND BIG RED.
CINDERELLA BAKERY REPRESENTS THE MEXICAN SPIRIT THAT IS ALIVE AND WELL IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT'S WHY IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THEY REPRESENT US IN WAYS THAT BIG CHAINS JUST COULDN'T. UNDERSTANDABLY COMMUNITY WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED WHEN THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE ABRUPT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CINDERELLA BAKERY MAY BE CLOSING BUT AFTER 64 YEARS. LARGELY DUE TO MEDICAL ISSUES.
WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL AND PLEASED THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND CINDERELLA BAKERY IS STILL IN OPERATION SERVING SAN ANTONIO. BACK IN JANUARY OUR DISTRICT 5 TEAM HAD THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO WITNESS ALL THE SUPPORT OF CINDERELLA BAKERY BY HONORING YOU ALL AT ST. TIMOTHY'S PARISH HALL. THERE WERE SO MANY FOLKS THAT SHOWED UP FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO AND DISTRICT 5.
I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO HENRY CORREA AND THE CORREA FAMILY. >> MY NAME IS HENRY RODRIGUEZ AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LULAC. LULAC IS BACK HERE AGAIN.
WE REALLY WANT TO THANK -- THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR US AND OF COURSE FOR CINDERELLA BAKERY AND THE FAMILY. WE GOT TOGETHER LAST MONTH ON THE 17TH AND WE AT ST. TIMOTHY HALL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. FULL HOUSE.
STANDING-ROOM ONLY. AND WHY? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AROUND THE CINDERELLA BAKERY, THEY SIMPLY LOVE THE FAMILY, THE CORREA FAMILY.
HENRY IS HERE. HE'S A FIGHTER. I MEAN FIGHTER.
I THINK HE GOT OUT OF HIS DEATHBED TO KEEP WORKING. HE'S DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF THE GENEROSITY OF CINDERELLA BAKERY.
LULAC INCLUDED. THE COMMUNITY WAS THERE. THE TWO SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTERS WERE THERE THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND THAT'S OF COURSE ST. TIMOTHY AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN. THEY WERE ALL THERE AND PLUS OTHERS .
THOSE GUYS FROM THE GHOST TOWN SURVIVORS. YOU SEE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE THEY ALL APPRECIATE WHAT CINDERELLA BAKERY HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY. AT IT'S VERY BEST . WE WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY OUR ILLUSTRIOUS COUNCILWOMAN FROM DISTRICT 5. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5 EXCEPT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. NOW I'M DISTRICT 7.
LET ME TELL YOU WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY WITH THE ALDERETE FAMILY AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT TOO. IF YOU PASS BY CINDERELLA BAKERY, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE A GREAT MAN THERE, MR. HENRY CORREA AND I GO THERE FOR MY EMPANADA AND THERE'S MR. SALAZAR
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THERE HAVING A GOOD CHAT WITH HENRY. >> AND DON'T FORGET THE SHERIFF.
>> THAT WAS COMING. [LAUGHTER] SO -- OH, BY THE WAY, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT LATER. ANYWAY, SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THE SITUATION, HIS HEALTH SITUATION, WE SAID WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
SO WE JUMPED -- EVERYBODY JUMPED IN AND SAID, YES, WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL BANNER THAT SAID CINDERELLA STRONG. THANK YOU, MR. HENRY CORREA. WE HAD THE FAMILY THERE, HIS FAMILY. WE WEREN'T SURE HE WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT OF DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. HE'S GOT A STRONGER HEART THAN MINE.
HE HAD A BIG HEART FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT HE HAS. I'M GOING TO LET -- I KNOW HE
JUST WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. COME ON. >> WELL, WHAT I CAN SAY IS, YOU KNOW, HENRY AND HIS FAMILY HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THE SENIOR CENTERS AND THAT'S WHY THEY ALL CAME TOGETHER TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION. WE WERE NOT SURE THAT OUR FRIEND HENRY CORREA WOULD SURVIVE. HE HAD A VERY SERIOUS HEART ATTACK.
HE HAD TO HAVE OPEN HEART SURGERY. AND FOR A WHILE IT SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS THE END OF CINDERELLA BAKERY. BUT GOD HAD MORE PLANS FOR -- AND BETTER PLANS FOR MR. HENRY CORREA AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO STAND HERE WITH HIM TODAY AND HE
WILL CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I'LL CONTINUE TRY TO STAY THERE AND HANG IN THERE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. ESPECIALLY THANK YOU, TERI CASTILLO FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME. MR. SALAZAR, HENRY RODRIGUEZ, AND ALL THE LULAC COUNCIL
MEMBERS THAT ARE ALWAYS BEHIND ME. >> THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, WE HAVE A LITTLE COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING LULAC, OF COURSE.
AND WE ARE JUST GROWING AND GROWING AND WE HAVE HERE THE LEADER, I CALL HER LA CAMILLA, AND THAT'S SONIA WALKER. I WANT TO READ THE -- WITHOUT THE HELP OF MY READING GLASSES THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.
AND IT SAYS HERE, PRESENTED TO SILL REEL LA BAKERY. IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE INVALUABLE AND TASTY CULTURAL CONFECTION, THE CINDERELLA BAKERY HAS PROVIDED FOR DISTRICT 5. AND ALL OF SAN ANTONIO FOR OVER 60 YEARS. YOUR DELICIOUS [INAUDIBLE] HAS BROUGHT SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES TOGETHER, THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR TUMMY FOR DECADES.
SIGNED BY, AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU,
HENRY, AND THANK YOU TO THE CORREA FOR ALL YOU DO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS AND THANK YOU FOR THE CINDERELLA BAKERY FOR ALWAYS BEING PRESENT.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I WAS HAVING A BIRTHDAY COMING UP AND MY PARENTS AT THE TIME, IT WAS ONLY MY DAD WORKED CONSTRUCTION AND THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ME AND MY DAD WAS TERRIBLY SAD.
HE HEARD ON THE RADIO STATION THAT THERE WAS A DRAWING OF SOME SORT FOR A BIRTHDAY CAKE, AND HE REGISTERED FOR IT SOMEHOW. AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT I HAD A WOLFE BIRTHDAY CAKE. -- A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY CAKE BECAUSE I WAS THE LUCKY WINNER OF THE CAKE. YOU ALL MADE MY DAD SO HAPPY.
HE WAS IN TEARS PICKING UP THE CAME, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CAKE.
AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES LIKE MINE BENEFITED FROM THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR FAMILY IN PARTICULAR. SO IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU COME TODAY AND BE CELEBRATED. I WAS SAD WHEN I THOUGHT THAT YOU ALL WERE CLOSING BECAUSE, BY THE WAY, I LOVE THE BAKERY. I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT I TRY FROM THERE IS INCREDIBLE. MY FAMILY GREW UP, I WAS BORN ON LEAL STREET, SO ALL OF -- Y'ALL ARE THE LOCAL BAKERY. LITERALLY, WE WOULD DRIVE DOWN AND PICK UP BEFORE WE WOULD VISIT MY AUNT. I HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL MEMORIES AT YOUR BAKERY AS WELL. THERE'S TWO VERY SPECIAL
[01:25:03]
BAKERIES, BUT YOU ALL HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR FOR ME OF HAVING GIVEN ME ONE OF MY BIRTHDAY CAKES THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOURGENEROSITY. [APPLAUSE] >> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE FACT THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT WORKS THAT AREA TIRELESSLY FOR MANY REASONS INCLUDING THE POLITICAL SIDE. AND THAT IS NONE OTHER THAN FORMER COUNCILWOMAN GALVAN RIGHT HERE. AND SHE'S THE ONE THAT WORKS AND GOES AND VISITS ALL THE SENIORS AND TAKES THEM ALL KINDS OF LITTLE PRIZES AND HAS BINGOS AND ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES AND THEY JUST LOVE HER THERE.
BUT HENRY, CAN WE HAVE SOME PAN, OF COURSE, COME AND GET IT.
>> THOSE SENIORS LOVE SWEET BREAD. BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE HENRY BECAUSE ANY TIME HE SAW ME COMING INTO THE BAKERY, HE KNEW WHAT I WANTED. HE ALWAYS DONATED SWEET BREAD FOR MY LITTLE FUNCTIONS WITH THE SENIORS. I HAD FIVE CENTERS AT ONE TIME, SOME OF THEM CLOSED AFTER COVID, BUT WE HAVE TWO THAT -- GOOD SAMARITAN AND ST. TIMOTHY'S AND THEY KNOW WE ARE BRINGING SWEET BREAD. I WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY FOR ALL THE SWEET BREAD FOR YEARS THEY HAVE GIVEN TO US. I CONTINUE TO GO TO THE SENIOR CENTERS TO DO BINGOS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO ON SPECIAL DAYS AND HENRY ALWAYS HAS TO PAY FOR THE SWEET BREAD OR DONUTS. IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY SERVED FOR MANY YEARS, WE'RE THERE TO CARRY THE FLAG AND THEN HOPEFULLY BEHIND US THERE'S MORE THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. HENRY, THANK YOU FOR EVERY PIECE OF BREAD THAT YOU HAVE
GIVEN ME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY, MAYOR, I WANT TO BRING UP WE DID FORGET THE HOUSING PROJECTS BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN PROVIDING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING OUT THE HOUSING PEOPLE, HE HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED FOR THE
PROJECTS, THE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: I'LL BE BRIEF. WHAT I'M HEARING IS THE SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO, IT'S THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, THE SPIRIT OF RALLYING AROUND EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY NOT ONLY FOR LULAC, BUT FOR CINDERELLA BAKERY. I THINK YOU ALL ARE EXEMPLIFYING THE TRUE
MEANING OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M GOING TO NOW -- CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON THE RESILIENCY OF THE FAMILY AND CINDERELLA BAKERY AS WELL. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO CELEBRATE AN EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG LADY. A DISTRICT 10 CELEBRITY WHO IS A CONTESTANT ON THIS YEAR'S KIDS BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE FOOD NETWORK. LILA SMITHERS HAS BEEN BAKING SINCE THE AGE OF 5.
SHE'S CURRENTLY A 7TH GRADER AT DISTRICT 10TH VERY OWN TEX HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. HER LOVE OF BAKING CAME FROM HELPING HER MOM AND NANNA IN THE KITCHEN. WHEN SHE'S NOT BAKING, SHE LOVES SPENDING TIME WITH HER FAMILY, CHURCH YOUTH GROUP AND PLAYING TENNIS ON TEX HILL'S TENNIS TEAM.
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE LILA WITH US ALONG WITHER WILL MOM, SISTER AND THE REST OF HER. YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN YOUR LIFE AND WHEN I WAS TALKING TO YOUR MOM EARLIER, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT LILA HAS DONE IN HER LIFE.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I'VE GOT A FEELING THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT COOLER THINGS IN STORE FOR YOU IN YOUR FUTURE. SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO WATCH MONDAY NIGHT, LILA IS IN THE FINAL FIVE. I THINK THE SEMIFINALS ARE THE SECOND-TO-LAST SHOW IS THIS MONDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON THE FOOD NETWORK.
THEN THE FINALS WILL BE THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. WE'RE ALL PULLING FOR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE FLOOR IS ALL YOURS. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. MAYOR AND MR. WHYTE. THAT MEANS SO MUCH I GET TO LIVE OUT MY DREAM.
I HOPE THIS INSPIRES KIDS FROM SAN ANTONIO AND EVERYWHERE ELSE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS AND KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO IT. THIS IS SO CRAZY THAT I JUST GET TO BE HERE. I'M SO THANKFUL THE LORD GAVE ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
[01:30:03]
JUST DO WHAT I LOVE AND MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.>> WHYTE: WE'RE CERTAINLY THANKFUL FOR YOU AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NOT ONLY THIS COMING MONDAY BUT YEARS INTO THE FUTURE. AND MAYOR, IF I CAN, WE HAVE A GIFT FOR LIE LA. -- LILA. THE COOKIES ARE NOT AS GOOD AS ONES YOU MAY BAKE, BUT WE GOT THOSE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALONG WITH A DISTRICT
10 CUTTING BOARD. YES, ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
CONGRATULATIONS, LILA. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WHYTE: THE MAYOR AND OTHERS MAY HAVE SOME COMMENTS. HERE'S A CARD FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
I'M SO EXCITED AND HAPPY FOR YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
THIS IS HUGE AND I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THIS IT WILL BE JUST A SMALL PIECE OF WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH. I WANT TO CONVEY THAT WE'RE ALL SO, SO PROUD OF YOU AND I ALSO AM GOING TO COMMIT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE TO PURCHASING SOME GOODS FOR THE REST OF COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN TRY YOUR BAKING.
>> THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I THINK I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF
A GOOD NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
AND I THINK MR. CORREA IS STILL BACK THERE, BUT YOU TWO SHOULD MEET.
WITH HIS BUSINESS SKILLS AND YOUR BAKING SKILLS, THERE COULD BE SOME POWERFUL COLLABORATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT ROUND,
LILA. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE I GET TO YOU, ERIK, THAT WAS ALL OF OUR POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I DO -- THIS IS USUALLY YOUR TERRITORY, ERIK, TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES, BUT THERE IS A SPECIAL CONNECTION HERE THAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE WITH ERIC STEFANEK. USUALLY WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT TO SAY MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, ERIC IS MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, ONE OF THEM, AND HE WAS CRITICAL TO OUR TEAM DURING COVID SETTING UP OUR MULTIMODAL MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, BUT THE SPECIAL CONNECTION FOR ME WAS IN 2017 ON OUR INAUGURATION DAY, WE HAD THAT CEREMONY AT ARNESON THEATER. UNBEE NOTES TO ME, THE CITY EMPLOYEE ERIC AND ANOTHER CITY EMPLOYEE CECILY MET AT THE THEATER.
A FEW MONTHS LATER I GOT AN INVITATION OR I GOT A HINT THAT I GUESS THEY STARTED DATING THERE. AND SO ABOUT A YEAR LATER HE ASKED ME TO OFFICIATE HIS WEDDING, WHICH I DID, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN. UNFORTUNATELY ERIC AND CECILY WHO HAS ALREADY MOVED TO OREGON ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING SO I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON A BEAUTIFUL LIFE TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU GUYS, BUT WE HOPE BEST WISHES AND A LIFETIME OF HAPPINESS TO COME.
THANK YOU, ERIC. IF WE CAN GET HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[City Manager's Report ]
[APPLAUSE] NOW TO THE OTHER ERIK FOR OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.>> WALSH: THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. HOW MANY WEDDINGS HAVE YOU
OFFICIATED? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ACTUALLY THAT'S THE ONLY
ONE. >> WALSH: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M ORDAINED ONLINE SO IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, LET ME KNOW.
[01:35:04]
>> WALSH: ALREADY MARRIED, MAYOR. ONE, THIS MORNING, WHILE WE WERE AT COUNCIL I SENT AN EMAIL TO COUNCIL ON MONDAY, BUT THIS MORNING THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAD BEEN AWARDED $18 MILLION TOWARDS THE NEW TERMINAL FACILITY PROJECT. IT'S A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THIS.
LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED $20 MILLION, ALL THIS IS SUPER CRITICAL TO THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND WORK AT THE AIRPORT. WITH TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED IN $30 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR THE AIRPORT OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS BECAUSE LAST WEEK WE WERE NOTIFIED OF $12 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR ELECTRICAL UPGRADES THROUGHOUT THE AIRPORT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO JESUS AND THE ENTIRE AIRPORT TEAM AS WELL AS SALLY AND OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO PUT TOGETHER COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS. AND THEN DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING WHY THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
LOOKING AT THE LIST THIS MORNING, WE WERE -- IN TERMS OF MEDIUM-SIZE AIRPORTS, WE HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST AWARD SO CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY.
LASTLY, MAYOR, OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS ON IMELDA MORENO, WHO IS A CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN WITH OUR LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. SHE IS THE LONGEST TENUREED LIBRARIAN EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE WITH 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO WITH THE VIDEO, YOU'LL SEE WHERE IMELDA HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT TEAM MEMBER AND CONTINUED DEDICATED EMPLOYEE IN OUR LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.
>> WAKE UP, DAY IS BREAKING. I'M THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AT THE WEST FALL LIBRARY.
THE NEXT DAY COWBOYS WILL RIDE THE BUCKING BRONCO. I ENJOY THE MOST SHARING WITH KIDS EXCITING THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN BOOKS. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I ACTUALLY USED THIS LIBRARY WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
OPENS UP A WHOLE WORLD. I LOVE SHARING WITH CHILDREN THINGS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE AN INTEREST IN AND HELPING THEM TO MATCH THOSE INTERESTS WITH BOOKS.
GIDDY UP, CACTUS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> GO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. BEING ABLE TO SHARE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES HAS BEEN SUCH A GIFT AND GIVEN ME SUCH AN APPRECIATION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL AND HOW PRECIOUS EACH PERSON IS AND HOW THE LIBRARY CAN HELP PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS IN SO MANY WAYS.
THE LIBRARY MEANS KNOWLEDGE, FUN AND LEARNING. IT'S SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. ALMOST ANY SUBJECT THAT A PERSON COULD WANT, YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING IN THE LIBRARY. AND THAT IS THE END.
[APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: THAT'S IT, MAYOR.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE A EXEC. WE DO HAVE A ZONING MEETING AT 2:00.
THE TIME IS 10:45 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WOULD ASK US TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.