[00:00:09]
UH, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
THE TIME IS 9:15 AM UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UH, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO? HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
[1. 21-3193 Invocation]
GET US STARTED TODAY.UH, LEMME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA TO WELCOME OUR IN VINDICATOR.
I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S INDICATORS SISTER BERNADETTE MOTA.
SISTER BERNADETTE IS A MEMBER OF THE IAN SISTERS OF ST.
BOSCO AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE PROVINCE DIRECTOR OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT.
SISTER BERNADETTE IS A CALIFORNIA NATIVE AND WAS A COLLEGIATE ATHLETE AND RECREATION COORDINATOR BEFORE ENTERING RELIGIOUS LIFE IN 2005.
HER EXPERIENCE INCLUDES YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CAMPUS MINISTRY, ATHLETICS AND FAITH INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT.
THE SA LEGIAN SISTERS ARE AN INTERNATIONAL CONGREGATION OF MORE THAN 12,000 SISTERS SERVING 96 COUNTRIES IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.
THEY, THEY HAVE COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, OREGON, AND LOUISIANA.
THE ORDER HAS HAD A PRESENCE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 87 YEARS AND IS CURRENTLY HOME TO 45 SISTERS RANGING IN AGE, FROM THOSE IN THEIR TWENTIES TO THE YOUNG AT HEART.
AT AGE 90, THEIR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FORMATION TO YOUNG WOMEN AT RISK.
THIS IAN SISTERS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR JOYFUL SPIRIT, WELCOMING PRESENCE, AND ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH OUR YOUTH.
THEY HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO GOD, THE SOURCE OF ALL THEY ARE, AND THROUGH WHOM THEY ACCOMPLISH ALL THE GOOD THEY DO.
THEIR SIMPLE BUT DEEP PRAYER, LIFE AND YOUTH CENTERED MISSION GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH AND ENERGY TO HELP PE TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH FAITH AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
THIS SATURDAY, THE IAN SISTERS OF ST.
JOHN BOSCO ARE HOSTING THE VIRTUAL FUN NUN RUN A FUNDRAISER TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS AND VOCATION OUTREACH.
PLEASE VISIT IAN SISTERS WEST.ORG AND RUN, WALK, OR ROLL ANY DISTANCE TO HELP THE IAN SISTERS WITH THEIR GOAL OF RAISING $25,000.
I UNDERSTAND SISTER AT BERNADETTE WILL EVEN BE RUNNING IN HER FULL HABIT.
AMAZING
SISTER DIANA FELIPE AND SISTER SARAH GARCIA HAD A COMBINED 195 YEARS OF SERVICE.
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE WITH GOD.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY, SISTER BERNADETTE.
AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU IN THE ORDER OF THE IAN SISTERS.
AND THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
LOVING GOD, OPEN OUR MINDS AND TOUCH OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MAY ATTEND TO THE COMMON GOOD.
HELP US TO CARE FOR THE NEEDS OF ALL IN OUR HOMES, IN OUR CITY AND IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY THE POOREST, THE YOUNG, THE ELDERLY, AND THOSE MOST AT RISK
[00:05:01]
OF BEING LEFT BEHIND.TO TRANSFORM OUR FEARS INTO HOPE, OUR JUDGMENT INTO COMPASSION, OUR DOUBTS INTO FAITH.
HELP US TO SHOW CREATIVE SOLIDARITY IN ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING TODAY.
MAKE US COURAGEOUS IN EMBRACING THE CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE PURSUIT OF INTEGRITY, PEACE, AND UNITY.
WE MAKE THIS PRAYER THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD.
THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
[2. 21-3194 Pledge of Allegiance]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.[3. 21-3195 Approval of Minutes from the City Council Meetings of March 3, 2021, March 4, 2021, March 17, 2021 and March 18, 2021]
ALL RIGHT.OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 3RD, MARCH 4TH, MARCH 17TH AND MARCH 18TH, 2021.
SECOND, UH, SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES.
DID I HEAR A SECOND? UH, SECOND BY VERAN? ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE MINUTES? ALRIGHT.
[Additional Item]
BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR, UH, AGENDA TODAY, UH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.FIRST TO COUNCIL MEMBER KEO VARDA.
THIS APRIL MARKS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN TEXAS.
TWO IN FIVE WOMEN HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN ONE IN FIVE MEN, 6.3 MILLION TEXANS HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THEIR LIFETIME.
THESE SURVIVORS ARE FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND COLLEAGUES.
THEY DESERVE OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE NEITHER ALONE NOR DEFINED BY ONE HORRIFIC AND COWARDLY ACTIVE VIOLENCE IN TEXAS.
THE PROVABILITY GAP CONTINUES TO MAKE SEXUAL ASSAULT ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING CRIMES TO PROSECUTE, AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM OFTEN RE-VICTIMIZE THOSE WHO ARE DESERVEDLY SEEKING JUSTICE.
I CHALLENGE OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AROUND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO NOT ONLY ENCOURAGE MORE SURVIVORS TO COME FORWARD, BUT ENSURE WE TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEM AMID JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.
WHEN THEY DO, WE ABSOLUTELY MUST START BELIEVING.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE VICTIM BLAMING, WHICH REDUCES THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE TO UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES, HAS NO PLACE IN THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE WHO BRAVELY COME FORWARD.
THREE OUTTA FOUR SEXUAL ASSAULTS STILL GO UNREPORTED AND SERIAL OFFENDERS ARE COUNTING ON US TO REMAIN SILENT WHILE THEY PREY ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE COUNTING ON US TO SECOND GUESS HOW WE DRESS, HOW WE ACT, WHO WE'RE WITH, IF WE'VE HAD A DRINK, AND BE SO CONSUMED IN THAT SELF-DOUBT THAT WE FORGET THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NOT ABOUT SEX.
IT'S ABOUT VIOLENCE, POWER, AND CONTROL.
AND IT IS ONLY AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE HELP SURVIVORS TAKE BACK THAT CONTROL FROM THE ABUSERS WHO HAVE FELT SAFE AND EMBOLDEN, AND THE ANONYMITY PROVIDED BY OUR SILENCE.
TODAY, I WELCOME LARISSA MARTINEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF CIRCLE OF ARMS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
LARISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN HAJA FOR INVITING ME HERE AND SHARING YOUR PLATFORM SO THAT I CAN SPEAK TO MY ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UM, AND AS APRIL COMES TO AN END, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, RAPE, AND STALKING, SADLY, DON'T WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AWARENESS, PREVENTION AND CHANGE YEAR ROUND.
I'M A SURVIVOR OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RECEIVE NO JUSTICE BECAUSE MY PARENTS AND GUARDIANS FAILED TO PROCEED WITH LEGAL PROCESS OR MAYBE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
IT'S UP TO ADVOCATES AND SEATED LEADERS LIKE YOURSELVES TO HELP CHANGE OR BRING DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT, UM, PREVENT SURVIVORS FROM SEEKING JUSTICE.
THERE SHOULD BE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATION WHEN REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT, ASSAULT, OR RAPE, ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS WHO HAVE NO CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS LEGALLY TO THEM.
I'M ALSO A SURVIVOR OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
I'M A PROUD UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN, BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE BLINDED TO KNOW THAT CHANGE AND REFORMING OF MILITARY CULTURE WHEN
[00:10:01]
IT COMES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS TO HAPPEN.LIKE YESTERDAY, VANESSA GUILLEN, THE SOLDIER FROM FORT HOOD, SHED LIGHT ON HOW COMMON THIS HAPPENS IN THE MILITARY.
I APPLAUD HER FAMILY'S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND CHANGE TO PASS WITH THE BILL.
I AM THE VANESSA GUILLEN BILL, WHICH WOULD HELP SERVICE, UH, SERVICE MEMBERS TO REPORT OUTSIDE THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND AND KEEP FROM HAVING RETALIATION.
I HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF P T SS D FROM THE ASSAULT, BUT WITH THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL HELP AND CONTINUED THERAPY AND EMPOWERMENT, I GOT MY VOICE BACK AND I'M SURVIVING, BUT THRIVING.
SO HOPE IS ALWAYS, RECOVERY IS ALWAYS, UM, AN OPTION.
AS A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS AND ADVOCATES, WE NEED TO REMEMBER TO BELIEVE SURVIVORS PROVIDE MORE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR PREDATORS AFTER INCARCERATION, AND EVEN BRING MORE PRODUCT PREVENTIVE EDUCATION TO OUR SCHOOLS.
I'M ALSO A FIRM BELIEVER TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
A GOOD IDEA MIGHT BE THAT PART OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S, UM, TERM TO MAYBE RIDE ALONG WITH S A P D FOR TWO WEEKS TO REALLY KNOW WHAT'S IMPACTING YOUR DISTRICT.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT MY ORGANIZATION.
I FOUNDED CIRCLE OF ARMS IN 2019.
WE'RE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.
UH, THE REASON WHY I FOUNDED IT WAS, AGAIN, THROUGH MY JOURNEY OF MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE, I HAVE KNOWLEDGE.
THERE'S STILL GAPS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.
UH, OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATION, FILL GAPS, AND BREAK STIGMA PRIMARILY AMONG VETERANS, WOMEN, AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
WE DO THAT WITH PROGRAMS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, WHICH IS LIKE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, BUT FOR YOUR MIND AND ASSIST, WHICH IS, UH, ASSIGNED SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING.
REMEMBER, SEXUAL ASSAULT IMPACTS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WOMEN, MEN, AND THE L G B Q T COMMUNITY PREVENTION IS KEY AND EDUCATION IS KEY.
THANK YOU LARISSA, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
WE'RE ALL, UM, EVERYONE HERE IN THE DIOCESE WEARING TEAL TODAY IN HONOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH, AND WE ASK ANYONE, UM, WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL HELP TO, TO, TO CALL, UM, CIRCLE OF ARMS AS AN, A WONDERFUL, UH, OPTION.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO CLAIM YOU AS A DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT TOO.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER COVEO HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA.
AND THANK YOU LARISSA FOR YOUR WORDS AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH CIRCLE OF ARMS. UM, IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU JU YOU REFERENCED ONE YEAR AGO, THE ANN TO THE ANNIVERSARY AND OF THE MURDER OF VANESSA GUILLEN GUILLEN, AND THE INCIDENT INVOLVING A CAPITAL STAFFER BEING DRUGGED, I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO THE MANY SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
WE RECEIVED A, UH, CALL ALSO FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE INA MRE WHO IS DOING HER PART, AND WE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COLLEAGUES KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS TO US.
I ASKED OUR COLLEAGUES TO WEAR TEAL IN RECOGNITION OF SEXUAL AWARENESS MONTH, BUT ALSO AS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE INDEED A COMPASSIONATE CITY.
THE LINKS TO WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ARE UNDENIABLE AND PART OF OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY FROM THE LAST CENTURY.
FOR A CITY THAT'S MORE THAN 300 YEARS OLD, IT REMINDS US HOW MUCH WOMEN AND OTHER VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, INCLUDING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, HAVE ENDURED SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THIS NATION.
THE OPENING OF THE FIRST RAPE CRISIS CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO HAPPENED IN 1971, AND THREE YEARS LATER, THAT RAPE CRISIS CENTER WAS FOUNDED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND OR ABUSE.
I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL THAT RECOGNIZES AND CHAMPION FOR LGBTQIA PLUS AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCIL AND SHIRLEY GONZALEZ FOR FILING A C C R IN 2018, REQUESTING A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN SAN ANTONIO AND FOR EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR EQUAL PAY AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR SINGLE MOTHERS.
THIS REPORT SHOWS THE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH,
[00:15:01]
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND DIGITAL ACCESS.MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE LEGACY AND REVISED RAPE RATES BY YEAR, AN INCREASE FROM 45.7 IN 2009 TO 75.4 IN 2014.
GIVEN THE CHANGE IN THE DEFINITION OF RAPE FROM A FORCIBLE ACT TO ANY PENETRATION, THE REVISED RAPE RATE FOR 2014 IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THE LEGACY RAPE RATES FOR 2013 AND EARLIER.
AGAIN, SAN ANTONIO HAS THE HIGHEST REVISED RAPE RATES AT 75.4 COMPARED TO 63.2 IN AUSTIN, 61.4 IN DALLAS, AND 36.6 IN HOUSTON.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE RATES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE AS A RESULT TELL US A VERY DARK REALITY THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY FACE DAILY.
THE DATA ONLY REFLECTS THOSE WHO ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME FORWARD OR WHO HAVE SADLY LOST THEIR LIVES.
WE NEED TO DO OUR PART BY ERA THE STIGMA AND BELIEVING THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND ABUSE.
THAT IS WHY RAISING AWARENESS, PROVIDING POLICIES TO PROTECT SURVIVORS AND AVOID VICTIM VICTIM BLAMING REASONING AS NECESSARY.
THOSE POLICIES AND LAWS NEED TO HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994 WAS MONUMENTAL AND RECEIVED BY PARTISAN SUPPORT FROM BOTH HOUSES.
WE'VE SEEN THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THIS BILL A FEW TIMES OVER THE YEARS AFTER THE HOUSE APPROVED THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2021 ON MARCH 17TH.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL SOON HAVE THE SENATE APPROVE THIS AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE DATA COMPILED IN THE REPORTS WE RECEIVED, LIKE THE STATUS OF WOMEN REPORT AND THE STATUS OF POVERTY HELP GUIDE US IN THE POLICY.
WE AS A GOVERNING BODY DEVELOP TO SERVE AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND AS THE MONTH OF APRIL COMES TO AN END, I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE SPREADING THE WORD AND RAISING AWARENESS FOR THIS YEAR ROUND BECAUSE SO LONG AS THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, ABUSED, OR HARASSED, OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ITEM, UM, TODAY AND FOR OUR GUEST, UH, SPEAKER WHO CAME TO SHARE HER STORY.
UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO HERE ON THE COUNCIL, I, UM, WAS APPROACHED BY ONE OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES, UH, WHO, UH, REALLY STARTED TO TELL ME ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT WITH, WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
UH, AND IT WAS REALLY WHEN I, I STARTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE AS A CITY HAD TO DO SOMETHING, HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
UH, AND I REQUESTED SOME FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO TRAIN 10 URAS, UH, THROUGH THE WET C NO LESS, WHO I KNOW WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGING SHORTLY, UM, AND, UH, THROUGH OUR ALAMO COLLEGES, UH, TO TRAIN THESE WOMEN TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THE WAY THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THIS KIND OF INITIATIVE WAS FROM THE WOMEN WHO GATHERED TOGETHER.
UH, I HAD A, A, A VERY SMALL SORT OF, UH, CIRCLE ASKING WHAT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
AND THEY SAID THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE IS ON A PEER-TO-PEER BASIS.
IT'S THROUGH YOUR OWN COMMUNITY, UM, GIVING YOU, UH, DIRECTION AND ADVICE.
SO, UH, AS A RESULT, I, UH, I CREATED THAT PROGRAM WITH ABOUT $250,000, UH, OF, OF, UM, OUR CITY FUNDING.
UM, AND FROM THERE, IT GREW INTO SOMETHING INCREDIBLE, WHICH WHAT WE SEE NOW, A WHOLE DEPARTMENT, UH, IN OUR CITY DEDICATED TO VIOLENCE AND, UH, PREVENTION, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
BRIDGER IS NOT HERE THIS MORNING.
UM, I DIDN'T PLAN MY MORNING WELL ENOUGH TO PLEASE ASK HER TO BE PRESENT, BUT SHE CAME ON TO THE CITY AT THE SAME TIME THAT I WAS WORKING THROUGH THIS, AND I TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, DR.
BRIDGER, I THINK IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.
UH, I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
WE'RE STARTING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS CITY, UM, WITH VIOLENCE.
BUT THE SMALL PROGRAM THAT I STARTED WITH THE TEMP, UM, UH, WE'RE, WAS NOT IMPACTFUL.
AND WHAT CAN WE DO? AND SO SHE, UM, CREATED A MODEL, UH, WHERE WE AT THE CITY, UH, OF SAN ANTONIO, IN COOPERATION WITH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, HAVE THE ONLY TRAINING CENTER IN THE COUNTRY AND ALL THE SOUTHWEST.
I TAKE THAT BACK, I THINK THERE'S ONE IN DC WHERE WE TRAIN EVERY ORGANIZATION, EVERY INSTITUTION TO BECOME TRAUMA INFORMED.
UH, AND I LEARNED ABOUT TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND HOW WE CAN REALLY PARTICIPATE, UH, WITH, UH, EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT, EVERY CITY ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS EXACTLY THE ISSUES, UH, THAT
[00:20:01]
OUR GUEST WAS, WAS TALKING ABOUT TODAY.AND I THINK WITH THE MAJORITY LED FEMALE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR VERY STRONG, UH, MALE SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING OUR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLI, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS AND YEARS, UH, ON THIS ISSUE, HE'S DEDICATED MANY, MANY HOURS OF HIS, UM, LEGAL, UH, SERVICES TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT REALLY BELIEVES THAT WE CAN MAKE THE, UH, TURN THE TIDE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE CAN DO IT WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S DIRECTION.
WE CAN DO IT WITH INCREDIBLE LEADERS LIKE DR.
BRIDGER, WHO WAS REALLY THE ONE WHO, UH, SAW BEYOND WHAT WHAT I WAS SEEING, WHICH WAS JUST A MICRO PROBLEM, UH, AND CREATED A PROGRAM THAT IS REALLY THE MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
UM, WE ARE NOW ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE, UH, ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND, UH, SEXUAL ABUSE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE ARE, I THINK WE'RE MAKING THOSE TIDES, AND I THINK WE COULD DO IT BECAUSE WE WERE A MAJORITY FEMALE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE I HAVE SUCH INSIGHTFUL COLLEAGUES, UH, WHO WILL BE WILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OF OUR MAYOR.
UH, AND, UH, OF COURSE OUR CITY MANAGER.
BRIDGER, I'M SORRY YOU'RE NOT HERE.
UM, SO THAT I COULD PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR INCREDIBLE GUIDANCE, UM, ON THIS ISSUE.
AND I HOPE THAT WE START TO, TO SEE THAT TURNAROUND, THE DATA IS HARD TO COLLECT.
SO, UM, I'LL LEAVE THAT IN THE HANDS OF, OF OUR FUTURE, UM, DEPARTMENTS, UH, JENNY HIXSON, WHO IS NOW LIKE A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER, UH, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, UH, I KNOW IS WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY.
AND SO I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, UH, AND TAKING SURVIVOR'S VOICES AND STORIES VERY SERIOUSLY AND TRYING TO MAKE POLICY, UH, THAT WILL CHANGE THAT TRAJECTORY FOR THE REST OF, OF OUR FUTURE LIVES.
AND, UH, I KNOW WHEN, WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE STAY AT HOME ORDER, THE VERY FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND, UM, WAS THAT WE CANNOT DO THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LIVE IN SAFE HOMES.
UH, AND THAT THE VIOLENCE WOULD SPARK, WOULD REALLY RISE, UH, IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT HAS, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO ADJUST THE ISSUE.
AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS UP, FOR HIGHLIGHTING IT, UH, AND, AND, UM, FOR MAKING THE, THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO RAMBLE.
BUT THESE ARE MY LAST FEW DAYS.
UM, AS OF, UH, MAY 1ST, WHO KNOWS, WE, THIS SEAT MAY TURN OVER VERY QUICKLY, SO ONE OF MY LAST OPPORTUNITIES TO THANK, UM, ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THE TEAM HAS DONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, AND BY ALL MEANS RAMBLE ON.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
UM, MELISSA, THANK YOU, UM, LARISSA, I'VE WALKED IN YOUR SHOES AND I KNOW WHAT MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA CAN DO TO A PERSON'S MIND, SPIRIT, HEART, AND A FAMILY.
AND ONE THING THAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE MILITARY DOES NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT ENOUGH.
AND TO WALK AS A WOMAN IN THE BOOTS THAT WE WALK IN, WE DESERVE THE SAME RESPECT AS OTHERS.
AND EVEN TO KNOW THAT MANY MEN IN OUR MILITARY GO THROUGH THE SAME THING AND THEY REFUSE TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE OF A STIGMA THAT CAN BE LABELED ON THEM.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT GOING INTO THE VA SYSTEM, THEY CONTINUE TO REVICTIMIZE YOU THROUGH HAVING, YOU HAVE TO TELL YOUR STORY TO PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT EVEN BE THERE THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
SO, I STAND WITH YOU BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER, WE RISE UP TOGETHER AND WE GROW STRONGER.
SO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT, AND ANYTIME YOU NEED ME, I'M AVAILABLE TO YOU.
IT WASN'T UNTIL 10 YEARS AGO THAT I HAD THE STRENGTH TO STAND UP AND TELL MY STORY, AND THAT WAS WORKING WITH, UH, ANGEL EYES FOUNDATION, WITH MR. DON FOSTER, WHO TOLD ME THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU LIVED THROUGH SOMETHING DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO BECOME WHAT YOU'VE LIVED THROUGH.
YOU FIND YOUR STRENGTH AND YOU GET THROUGH IT, AND YOU HELP OTHERS.
WHEN I SIT ON THIS COUNCIL TODAY, I SIT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I'VE LIVED THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF MY COMMUNITY.
SO KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE, AND YOU HAVE A WHOLE SUPPORT SYSTEM HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WILLING TO STAND, WILLING TO FIGHT, WILLING TO SPEAK, WILLING TO ADVOCATE, AND WILLING TO MAKE A CHANGE.
[00:25:01]
PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO SAY, TODAY IS THE DAY THAT WE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER AYAS.
UM, THANK YOU TO THE, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUES, MY, MY MY FEMALE COLLEAGUES TODAY FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND, UM, AND HELPING THOSE OF US WHO ARE MALE, YOUR MALE COLLEAGUES, BE BETTER MEN, UM, BETTER FATHERS, BETTER HUSBANDS, AND, AND BETTER, UM, ADVOCATES.
WE, I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LEAVE OUT, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, WHICH IS THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY WHO ALSO EXPERIENCES, UM, THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE AND THIS KIND OF HATE, UM, EMBODIED IN SEXUAL ASSAULT, RIGHT? UM, 73% OF THOSE VICTIMS KNOW THEIR PERPETRATORS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEIR COLLEAGUES AND OR FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OR PARTNERS OR TEACHERS.
UM, IF YOU'RE A, IF YOU'RE A LESBIAN, YOU HAVE A 50% CHANCE OF HAVING A SEXUAL ASSAULT STORY, UH, TO TELL.
AND, UM, 26% CHANCE, IF YOU'RE A, A GAY MAN, UM, OFTENTIMES GAY MEN AND WOMEN AND TRANS INDIVIDUALS CAN'T FIND SERVICES, AND THEY'RE DENIED SERVICES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE A MEMBER OF THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S, UM, THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
AND SO THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS TELL MY CHILDREN.
NUMBER ONE, UM, WE BELIEVE THE VICTIMS WHEN THEY MAKE AN OUTCRY FIRST, RIGHT? AND WE, WE PUT OUR ARMS AROUND THEM AND WE, WE REASSURE THEM.
WE REASSURE 'EM THAT IT'S NEVER THEIR FAULT.
UM, AND NUMBER THREE, UH, WE DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
WE ACTUALLY SUPPORT, UM, THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING THE, THE WORK.
AND SO, UH, TODAY, UM, AS SOON AS THIS MEETING IS OVER, UH, I'LL BE MAKING A A $500 DONATION TO THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER FOR MY OWN POCKET.
UM, AND I'LL BE MAKING A $500 DONATION FROM OUR CAMPAIGN FUNDS TODAY, UM, TO THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER.
UM, I'M PUTTING SOME PRESSURE ON MY COLLEAGUES TODAY TO DO THE SAME WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT, UH, GOES A LONG WAY.
UH, AND LASTLY, EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, YOU CAN DONATE A DOLLAR, $10, $20, A HUNDRED DOLLARS, UM, TO THE RAPE CRISIS.COM/DONATE.
UM, I'D WELCOME AND I'D, I'D BE, UM, I'D BE REALLY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU IF YOU DID THAT TODAY.
UM, I'LL BE LISTING IT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AS WELL, THAT LINK.
I INVITE EVERYBODY TO DO IT TODAY.
UM, AND, UH, ERIC AND ANDY, IF IT'S ALLOWED, I'D LOVE IT IF WE PUT A LINK UP TO THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, UH, ON THE COSA WEBSITE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAVE HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER VICHE GARCIA FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND ENCOURAGING ALL OF US TO WEAR TEAL.
UM, AND SO WE CAN BE AN OUTWARD REFLECTION OF WHAT WE ARE STANDING FOR AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY, BUT AS A CITY IN PARTICULAR.
UM, THANK YOU, LARISSA, FOR COMING UP HERE FOR SHARING YOUR STORY, BUT THEN FOR SHARING YOURSELF AS DIRECTOR OF CIRCLE OF ARMS, AND I'M SURE YOU WOULD ALSO WELCOME CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIRCLE OF ARMS AS WELL, YOUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.
UM, BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GIVING IDEAS AND, UH, NO PRESSURE.
BUT IF YOU WANT, I MEAN, I THINK WITH YOUR IDEAS AND WITH YOUR WORK ETHIC AND WITH YOUR, UM, COURAGE AND BRAVERY, YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT POLICY MAKING AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT WOMEN AND PEOPLE MAKING THOSE POLICY DECISIONS.
SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, AND USUALLY IT TAKES WOMEN THREE TIMES TO BE ASKED.
SO IF I'M NOT YOUR FIRST, THEN I'M YOUR THIRD.
OKAY? UM, JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT, UM, THANK YOU, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
WE NEED TO CALL IT SEXUAL ASSAULT.
AND WE NEED TO, UH, BELIEVE, AND YOU NEED TO USE YOUR VOICE AND NOT BE SILENT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE SILENT, THAT DOES EQUAL VIOLENCE.
THAT'S ANOTHER VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA TO PEOPLE.
UM, WHEN YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THEM, WHEN YOU DISMISS THEM, WHEN YOU, UM, DO NOT TAKE WHAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE GONE THROUGH SERIOUSLY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE.
I KNOW TEACHERS SEE IT AND HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT A LOT WITH THEIR LITTLE ONES IN THE CLASSROOMS. I WANNA ENCOURAGE TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS, YOU KNOW, YOUR STUDENTS.
AND SO IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS OFF AND AWKWARD
[00:30:01]
PLEA, AND I KNOW YOU DO THIS, A LOT OF YOU DO, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.IF YOU ARE IN A FAMILY AND YOU FEEL THAT SOMETHING IS OFF AND AWKWARD FROM ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.
BECAUSE YOU COULD BE SAVING A FAMILY MEMBER'S LIFE OR TRAUMA FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY BIG, THIS IS A PROFOUND POSITION THAT WE HAVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I HAVE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE IN SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER, I WILL NOT SAY IN CRIME, BUT JUST A GREAT PARTNER, UM, MOVING GREAT POLICY AND CONVERSATIONS, UM, TO THE FOREFRONT.
AND WE DO NOT, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF ONE, OUR MOTHERS WHO RAISED US, BUT THEN TWO, THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
WE DO NOT SETTLE FOR CERTAIN ANSWERS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS AND PRESS FOR, UM, WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THIS COUNCIL IN PARTICULAR, BUT I'LL START IN 2018 WHEN MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, GONZALEZ, WITH THE HELP OF MARISA BONO AND OTHERS, AND WITH, UM, CHERYL SCULLY AT THE TIME, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A, UM, RESOLUTION TO MAKE WOMEN'S ISSUES PRIORITY AND EQUITY AND ISSUE AND A PRIORITY.
AND THEN IN 2019, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE STATUS OF WOMEN REPORT, AND THEN IN 2020 WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DECLARING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND THEN THIS YEAR WITH ANOTHER RESOLUTION WITH 2021 WITH GENDER PAY PARITY.
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO US, AND WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS THIS.
I ALSO WANNA CHALLENGE ALL OF US THAT WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE SITUATION, AND INDEED, IF YOU HAVE NOT, YOU ALREADY, YOU WILL IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHEN THE CONVERSATION TURNS INTO SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHEN YOU MAYBE ARE A LOBBYIST THAT IS WORKING FOR A FIRM THAT, UH, DOES SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ASSAULTS, WOMEN STAFFERS, THAT YOU SAY SOMETHING AND THAT YOU DO NOT DISMISS IT WITH AN AWKWARD LAUGH, WITH A DISMISSING YOURSELF FROM THE CONVERSATION, BUT THAT YOU SPEAK UP AND YOU SAY SOMETHING AT THE TIME.
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU COULD BE SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE WITH THAT.
MAYOR, I AM GLAD WE'RE TAKING THIS SPACE AND THIS TIME TO DISCUSS THIS 'CAUSE IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, LARISSA, FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
EVERYONE, PLEASE, UM, DONATE TO RAPE CRISIS CENTER, WHO'S BEEN DOING SIGNIFICANT WORK AND CIRCLE OF ARMS FOR THAT SUPPORT THAT NEEDS TO BE THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ILLA GR, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
WE DID HEAR FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE INA MRE, UH, ABOUT THIS.
AND, AND SHE WAS REALLY BESIDE HERSELF ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND IT BECAME CLEAR TO US FROM WHAT SHE TOLD US, THAT, THAT SHE RELIED ON US, UH, AS THE LOCAL ELECTEDS TO BOLSTER AND SUPPORT AND, AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT SHE NEEDS AND OTHER WOMEN NEED AT THE, AT THE CAPITOL.
SO I WANNA THANK HER FOR, FOR DOING THAT AND LET HER KNOW THAT WE TAKE THAT STATEMENT VERY SERIOUSLY.
I ALSO, UH, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT MENTIONED BY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ REGARDING THE TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING.
AND I, I DO FEEL REALLY PROUD THAT THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY.
AND WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE, WITH THE WORK OF DR.
BRIDGER AND YOUR TEAM, UH, CREATED THE TOOL THAT IS NECESSARY TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, BECAUSE WE CAN'T ESCAPE IT WITHOUT, WITHOUT BREAKING THAT CYCLE.
UM, I ALSO, UH, WANT TO, UH, TO SHARE A COUPLE OF ANECDOTES WHILE WE'RE, WHILE WE'RE ON THIS TOPIC, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, BELIEVING THE, THE VICTIMS, I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN BELAY SAID WAS VERY, VERY, UH, IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, I WAS REALLY SADDENED, UH, IT WAS MAYBE TWO, TWO YEARS AGO OR SO, UH, SOMEONE, UM, WHO STUDIES AT ONE OF OUR UNIVERSITIES, A STUDENT HAD FACED A HARASSMENT ISSUE WITH, UH, ONE OF HER INSTRUCTORS.
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO REACH OUT, WHAT, WHAT TO DO.
THEY WEREN'T GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY FELT THEY NEEDED FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
SO THEY CONTACTED ME AND I CONTACTED, UH, THREE MEN AND TWO OTHER WOMEN, UH, IN WHO MIGHT KNOW MORE THAN I DO ABOUT THE TOPIC.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, ALL THREE MEN ASKED ME IF IT WAS
[00:35:01]
TRUE, IF WHAT SHE WAS SAYING WAS TRUE.AND IT NEVER, IT NEVER CROSSED THE LIPS OF THE WOMEN WHO, WHO I SPOKE TO AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, THE STUDENT IS, IS DOING ALL RIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE OVERCAME THAT.
BUT I, I THINK IT, I I JUST REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORDS THAT COUNCILMAN BELAY SAYS IS WE BELIEVE THE VICTIMS. AND I THINK WE ALL NEED TO, TO REMEMBER THAT.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE OTHER ANECDOTE I WANNA SHARE IS I WAS HAVING A COMMUNITY EVENT, ALSO A COUP PRE COVID.
AND THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A VETERAN THERE, A FEMALE VETERAN.
AND, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER WAS, UH, THE SITUATION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY.
AND SHE, SHE SAID, YOU ARE MILITARY CITY, U S A.
SHE SAID, WE HAVE ALL THESE FACILITIES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHY AREN'T YOU DOING MORE IN THAT ROLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY? AND I DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR HER.
UM, AND NOW I POSE THAT TO MY, TO MY COUNSEL COLLEAGUES.
CAN YOU HELP ME, UH, GIVE A VALID RESPONSE TO THAT ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE ARE MILITARY CITY U S A, ABOUT ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY? SO THAT'S OUR HOMEWORK.
I THINK ONE OF OUR MANY HOMEWORKS.
UM, AND, AND LASTLY, I I WILL SAY THAT THIS, UH, THIS FRIDAY, THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY WILL BE DISCUSSING, UH, L G B T Q ISSUES AS THEY RELATE TO POLICING.
OUR L G B T Q COMMUNITY IS DENIED A LOT OF SERVICES.
WE WILL, UH, TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN ENSURE WE PROVIDE THEM THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, UH, THROUGH OUR, THROUGH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR, UH, SUCH A, UH, UH, AN INCREDIBLE PIECE TO, TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERY WORD THAT WAS SAID BY ALL MY COLLEAGUES.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS THAT, UH, I AM GLAD TO BE A PART OF THIS COUNCIL, THAT, THAT REALLY, UH, IS, IS VERY FOCUSED ON, ON FACING, UH, THIS MUCH, MUCH, UH, UH, VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
UH, I, I CAN ONLY ADD TO, UM, TO SOME OF THIS BY SAYING THAT I WANT US TO ALSO, UH, INCLUDE OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
AND THIS, UM, WE KNOW IN, IN OUR CITY, THE, THE COUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, MANY OF WHICH ARE WOMEN.
MANY OF THESE, UH, WOMEN ARE FACED WITH VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, UH, ARE BEING PUT IN A POSITION THAT THEY SHOULD SIMPLY SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN.
THEY COME AND ASK FOR HELP, AND WE TRY TO HELP THEM.
UM, I AM GONNA MAKE A CALL, UH, MUCH LIKE COUNCILMAN S MADE IN TERMS OF, OF GETTING DONATIONS FOR, FOR, UM, HELPING, UH, SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M GONNA MAKE A CALL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BEDS WE HAVE FOR DETOX.
CURRENTLY AT 28 BEDS, ONLY EIGHT OF THOSE BEDS ARE FOR WOMEN.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ASK OF THIS COUNCIL.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE BARRIERS THAT REALLY, REALLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR MANY, MANY WOMEN.
MANY L G B T Q YOUTH FIND THEMSELVES OUT ON THE STREETS AND ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MANY PREDATORS, SUSCEPTIBLE TO MANY ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THERE.
THEY ONLY, UH, EXACERBATE THEIR ISSUE AND THEIR TRAUMA.
UH, JUST BEHIND ME, THERE'S ARE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP, JUST LIKE I DESCRIBED.
I ASK THAT WE AS, AS A CITY, HAVE THE COMPASSION TO FACE THIS ISSUE HEAD ON AND SAY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS TOPIC TODAY.
IT IS A, A, A CRISIS IN OUR CITY, BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TACKLE BECAUSE WE'RE FACING IT.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE IN THIS COUNCIL AND ALL THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN THIS MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME.
YOU'VE SAID SO MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SAID.
[00:40:01]
YOU'VE REMINDED THIS COMMUNITY OF THE THINGS THAT WE SOMETIMES IGNORE OR FORGET, OR WE CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN TO.AND, UH, I'M, I'M JUST PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL.
AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER WITH REALLY THE GREAT LEADERSHIP OF SO MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE, UH, SPOKEN UP ON THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT MAYBE MEN DON'T ALWAYS GIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ATTENTION TO THAT WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST, UM, ONE THING THAT I DID AS A, OR I SAW AS A TEACHER THAT GAVE ME THE GREATEST TROUBLE AND A MEMORY I NEVER FORGET, IS, UH, TEACHING, UH, AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHERE, UM, THERE WERE GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 12 YEARS OLD WHO WERE PREGNANT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S RAPE, THAT'S WHY THAT HAPPENED.
AND TO SEE THAT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I SAW IT AGAIN IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH YOUNG GIRLS, UM, IT, IT'S AN EPIDEMIC IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE A LOT OF STEPS, UH, TO OVERCOME THAT AND TO, UH, UNDERSTAND IT AND TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP PEOPLE, UH, DEAL WITH THOSE INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS. BUT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH IT TOO.
AND WHETHER IT'S CHILDREN, OR WHETHER IT'S WIVES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS, UH, WHETHER IT'S OUR ELDERLY ALONE WHO ARE ABUSED, YOU KNOW, WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS, AS YOU'VE BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY, AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AS A CITY COUNCIL, OUR NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT SHOULD BE A CRITICAL PART OF WHAT WE DO.
SO, I'M PROUD TO BE IN THE COUNCIL.
I'M PROUD OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE'VE TAKEN.
I'M PROUD TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY TODAY.
AND I, I JUST COULDN'T SIT HERE WITHOUT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW.
AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE, AND HOPEFULLY MORE WE WILL DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
UM, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SET UP HERE ALREADY.
UM, A LOT OF RECOGNITION NEEDS TO BE PUT TOWARDS THIS ISSUE.
AND, AND AS A RETIREE IN THE MILITARY, I TOTALLY GET THAT ALSO.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
BUT I LIKE TO LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE.
THERE'S HELP OUT THERE, AND THERE'S GREAT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURS AND OTHERS IN THIS CITY THAT CAN HELP IN THESE SITUATIONS.
SO, UM, UH, I THINK THAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS NEED TO, UM, STEP UP AND ADVERTISE THEIR, THEIR CARE SERVICES AND GIVING SERVICES THAT, UH, PEOPLE BECOME MORE AWARE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND, AND CAN REACH OUT TO THEM WHENEVER THEY NEED THAT HELP.
SO, UM, MAN, I HATE TO BE OUTDONE BY COUNCILMAN PIUS.
I'LL MATCH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOD BLESS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
UH, AND I DON'T HAVE, UH, MUCH TO ADD THAT WAS ALREADY SAID, AND, AND NEEDS TO BE UNDERSCORED, UH, SIMPLY TO SAY, AGAIN, LARISSA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND HAVING, UH, THE COURAGE TO SPEAK YOUR STORY TO THE PUBLIC, UH, GIVING US A FACE, UH, TO SO MANY STORIES THAT ARE, ARE LIKE YOURS, UH, THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND NEED TO BE, UM, UH, ENDING THE STIGMA, UH, OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I TOO AM A GRATEFUL OF THE WORK, UH, THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE COLLECTIVELY OVER THE YEARS.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE, JUST TAKE A MOMENT, UM, TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR COLLEAGUES, UM, WHO WILL UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO BID FAREWELL TO OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, UH, WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS TO CHAMPION THESE ISSUES, REALLY, WHEN THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION, UH, SUBSTANTIVELY ABOUT THAT.
UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO AND FOR COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ FOR BEING, UH, TIRELESS CHAMPIONS, UH, OF THE WOMEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU'RE CONCERNED MAYBE THAT THOSE CON THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL START TO, UH, WANE WHEN YOU'RE GONE.
UH, I WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE.
UH, YOU LEAVE A LEGACY OF THAT LEADERSHIP HERE.
UH, AND IT WILL BE MY JOB AND, AND MY COLLEAGUE'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES, UH, AND THAT WE STAY TRUE TO THAT MISSION.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT LARISSA AND CIRCLE OF ARMS IS DOING.
UH, SHE IS PART OF A CONSTELLATION OF SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER, UH, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, JUST TO NAME A COUPLE, UH, THAT ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK.
AND PART OF OUR JOBS UP HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THE ON THE GROUND WORK ARE FULLY RESOURCED BY THIS CITY.
UH, SO ON THAT YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN, UH, END,
[00:45:01]
UH, THE SCOURGE THAT WE KNOW AS, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OUR COMMUNITY.SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
ALRIGHT, UM, I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE, UH, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE THIS THE MALICIOUS SHOW THIS MORNING, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE ACCOMMODATION.
UM, AT 10:00 AM HERE, ACTUALLY IN ONE MINUTE, THE ALAMO COLLEGES DISTRICT AND ITS PARTNERS WILL BREAK GROUND ON THE NEW WEST SIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER.
THE CURRENT 31,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WILL BE, WILL BE REPLACED BY A 46,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, BETTER ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
MY COMMUNITY, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THE ORIGINAL CENTER OPENED IN 2006 AS A RESULT OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY, ALAMO COLLEGES, EDGEWOOD, I S D, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF EDGEWOOD.
THE CENTER IS A ONE-STOP EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER DESIGNED TO MEET THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LIVE.
THE WETS E PROVIDES ACADEMIC AND WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR HIGH PAYING IN DEMAND CAREERS, BASIC JOB SKILLS, OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOWARDS A COLLEGE DEGREE.
SOME OF THEIR CURRENT OFFERINGS INCLUDE A FOOD PANTRY, COMMUNITY, COMPUTER LAB, FINANCIAL AID, AND ADMISSIONS ASSISTANCE, G E D TESTING, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND E S L CLASSES.
TODAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY'S $500,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR WEST SIDE RESIDENTS, AND THE BUILDING OF A MORE RESILIENT WORKFORCE WITH THE UPSKILLING THAT WILL ENABLE FAMILIES TO FIND ECONOMIC SECURITY.
I KNOW MANY OF US ON THIS D SHARE AND THE EXCITEMENT OF WHAT THIS DAY MEANS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I PERSONALLY CANNOT WAIT TO ATTEND THE RIBBON CUTTING AND WELCOME OUR NEIGHBORS INTO THE NEW WEST SIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER.
WE, UH, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE WESC IN RECOGNITION.
IN RECOGNITION OF THIS OCCASION, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EXTENDS ITS OFFICIAL GRAD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WEST SIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER.
SO WE WELCOME FORMER COUNCILMAN ART HALL, UM, TO ACCEPT IT.
DO I HEAD DOWN THERE? I GUESS HERE,
WELL, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION, AND I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, UH, DOWN THIS MORNING.
UH, BUT ON BEHALF OF OUR CHANCELLOR, DR.
MIKE FLORES, OUR ENTIRE ALAMO COLLEGES BOARD, CHAIRED BY DR.
SPRAGUE, AND THEN ALSO, UH, ROBERTO S ATE, WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA THAT THE, UH, THE WETS C IS IN.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS REC RECOGNITION.
UM, THIS STARTED OFF AS A 23 MILLION, UH, GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROJECT.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO, TO SENATOR JOSE MENENDEZ, WHO ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 300,000, UM, FOR A VETERAN CENTER THAT WOULD BE LOCATED THERE.
AND THEN, UH, COUNCILMAN RAY LOPEZ, WHEN HE WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ADDED 500,000.
AND WE HOST THE WEST SIDE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, ONSITE AT THE WESC.
AND THEN THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN, UH, CABIO.
HDA, ALSO ASSISTED BY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ, AND ALL THOSE WHO VOTED TO SUPPORT.
WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 500,000, UH, ON THIS PROJECT TO MAKE IT A $24.3 MILLION PROJECT.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SERVE THE WEST SIDE, AND WE EXPECT THE, UH, THE GRAND OPENING TO BE, HOPEFULLY IN JANUARY OF 2022.
UH, BUT I DID WANNA SAY THIS, AND I WAS JUST SIT, SITTING THERE THINKING AND LISTENING TO A COUNCILWOMAN VIA, VIA GRAND AND COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME PROJECTS THAT WE, THAT WE STARTED THAT YOU ALL START AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOU CAN'T GET IT COMPLETELY DONE OR WHILE YOU'RE ON COUNCIL.
BUT SOMETIMES OUR ROLE IS TO GET THE BALL STARTED.
SOMETIMES OUR ROLE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE TO KEEP IT GOING.
AND SOMETIME OUR, OUR ROLE IS, IS ON THE, ON THE BACK END TO, TO CLOSE IT OUT.
BUT I THINK ABOUT THE WET SEA.
AND I THINK THAT THE, ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS, THIS PROJECT WAS STARTED, UH, BY COUNCILMAN BARRERA, UM, MANY YEARS AGO.
IN FACT, THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF WETS SEA IS NAMED AFTER HIM, AND HE WASN'T ABLE TO SEE, SEE IT ACTUALLY GET STARTED.
UH, THAT HAPPENED UNDER, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EDA, UH, WHO ALSO WORKS AT THE EAST SIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER NOW.
SO SHE CARRIED THAT, THAT BALL ON, AND I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY VOTED ON THE FIRST WET SEA WHEN IT, WHEN IT STARTED.
AND THEN COUNCILMAN LOPEZ, WHEN HE WAS A CITY COUNCILMAN, UH, ADDED TO THE, THE NEW PROJECT WITH 500,000, UH, SENATOR JOSE MENEZ, WHO USED TO BE DISTRICT SIX SIX CITY COUNCILMAN, GAVE FROM HIS CURRENT POSITION, UH, OR PREVIOUS POSITION AS A, AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
AND THEN NOW WE HAVE, UH, THE CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT, UH, AND THE NEXT VERSION, UH, WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN
[00:50:01]
CAVEO INE.AND, UH, THANK YOU ALSO TO, TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ FOR THEIR EDITIONS.
SO THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THOSE THAT TOOK SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO GET STARTED AND TO KEEP GOING.
AND, UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VERAN, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ.
YOU GUYS STARTED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
YOU GUYS COMPLETED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, UH, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WON'T ACTUALLY GET DONE UNTIL FUTURE GENERATIONS.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE LEGACIES THAT YOU ALL ARE LEAVING PINE, UH, AND STARTING.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WORK ON THE, ON THE WEST SIDE THROUGH, UH, THIS WEST SIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER, UH, THROUGH THE ALAMO COLLEGES.
UH, COUNCILMAN HALL, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU IN HERE AGAIN.
ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND ALSO JUSTING, THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WATSI IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, BUT WE KNOW THAT SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, UH, ATTEND THERE.
AND SO I MENTIONED THE
AND SO THAT'S THE KIND OF COOPERATION WE LOOK TO HAVE WITH THE READY TO WORK INITIATIVE, UH, THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED, UH, HERE RECENTLY.
SO WITH A BRAND NEW FACILITY, WE KNOW THAT IT SHOWS THAT WE RESPECT PEOPLE AND THAT WE HONOR THEM, UH, BY PHYSICALLY INVESTING, UH, IN THEIR BUILDINGS, UM, AND ALSO BY US VOTING, UM, AS WE DID FOR THE BOND AND OF COURSE IN OUR BUDGET.
AND SO, MY GOODNESS, I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT.
WASN'T COUNCIL MEMBER BADA LIKE 20 YEARS AGO.
HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THAT LONG, UH, TO SEE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, UH, COMPLETED.
ALRIGHT, UM, I THINK IT IS NOW TIME FOR US TO GET INTO OUR, UH, CONSENT
[CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA.WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION TODAY.
UH, SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, ITEM FOUR IS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AT THIS POINT.
IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR ITEM FOUR.
UH, WE DO HAVE, UH, ONE CITIZEN SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.
WELL, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.
A COUPLE ITEMS I REALLY WISH Y'ALL WOULD PULL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
AND ONE OF 'EM IS ITEM NUMBER 20.
WHAT IS ITEM NUMBER 20? WELL, IT'S THE IDEA OF, UH, ESTABLISHING SOME SERVICE FOR TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION.
A FEW MOMENTS AGO, Y'ALL, Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, THE CONCERN YOU HAVE FOR, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR WOMEN AND TEENAGERS HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WELL, THE QUESTION ARISES, ARE PREDATORS USING OUR VERY OWN CITY OWNED CL MEDICAL CLINICS TO TAKE THEIR DAUGHTERS YES.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF INCEST FOR THE BIRTH CONTROL DEVICES THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE? YES.
HOW, HOW REAL IS IT? IT IS QUITE REAL, FOLKS, BECAUSE A PREDATOR KNOWS WHERE HE CAN GET THESE THINGS.
SO OUR, OUR QUESTION IS, IS MR. AUTO VISUAL MAN, IF YOU WOULD, UH, SH SHOW WHAT WE HAVE THERE ON OUR BACKUP DOCUMENTS FOR THIS ITEM? UH, YEAH.
DARKEN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BLOW IT UP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? WELL, I'LL READ IT HERE.
IT SAYS THIS IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR THIS, IT'LL SAY, UH, IN THIS PROGRAM, IT, ITEM NUMBER 20 SAYS, REFER TEENAGERS TO PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AND OR FOR MONITORING OF MAINTENANCE DRUGS AS NECESSARY.
NOW, IF YOU'RE TRULY GOING TO HELP TEENAGERS PREVENT THEIR PREGNANCIES, YOU WOULD BE HELPING THEM WITH SOMETHING, WITH SOMETHING KNOWN AS WHAT REALLY WORKS.
AND THAT IS CALLED ABSTINENCE ONLY.
THE ABSTINENCE ONLY COUNSELING THEM AND HOW TO SAY NO TO ANY PREDATOR, ANY BOYFRIEND WHO WANTS TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM.
INSTEAD OF ABSTINENCE PLUS, WHICH IS INTRODUCING THEM TO, TO BIRTH CONTROL DEVICES AND, AND PRODUCTS.
SO WHY IS THE WORD DRUGS IN THERE?
[00:55:01]
ARE Y'ALL PRAC PRACTICALLY DOING THAT? SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE, MR. AMAN.WHAT'S IT SAY? UH, UH, ITEM G PROVIDE ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND REFERRALS TO SUPPORT PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND OR ANOTHER MEDICAL PROVIDER FOR CARE AS NECESSARY.
WELL, WHO ARE THESE MEDICAL PROVIDERS? THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS.
DO NOT SPECIFY JUST WHO YOU'RE REFERRING THEM TO.
IS IT PLANNED PARENTHOOD? YOU KNOW, THE NATION'S BIGGEST ABORTION PROVIDER? YES.
THANK YOU MR. AUTO VISION MA'AM, RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE, TO THE PODIUM IF YOU WOULD.
SO YES, MAYBE JUST, MAYBE YOU'D WANT TO PULL THESE ITEMS AND DISCUSS IT AND FIND OUT JUST WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING TO ABSENCE PLUS ORINE ONLY.
UH, MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS RIGHT NOW.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS FIVE AND ITEM 11.
BOTH HAVE TO DO WITH STINSON AIRPORT.
UM, ONE IS A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS AIR MUSEUM AND ONE IS ALSO JUST SOME BASIC SERVICES.
BUT AGAIN, UH, TAKING A LEAD FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE KNOWING THAT I HAVE A LIMITED, LIMITED NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEETINGS TO, TO BE, UM, AT, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT STINSON AIRPORT AND WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE.
I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN I WAS FIRST ON COUNCIL, BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER, REED WILLIAMS WAS STILL HERE.
AND WHEN HE WAS STEPPING OFF, HE TOLD ME NOT TO FORGET STINSON.
'CAUSE I, I COULDN'T, UH, IT WAS IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, AND SO WE CONTINUED TO INVEST IN IT.
AND AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, STINSON IS THE SECOND LONGEST RUNNING AIRPORT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND AS THE FIRST COMMERCIAL AIRPORT IN THE REGION AND THEN WAS USED AS A MILITARY BASE DURING WORLD WAR II.
IT CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A RELIEF FOR OUR GENERAL AVIATION, UH, AIRPORT.
I WANNA SHARE SOME MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AT STINSON SINCE MY TIME IN 2013.
WE HAVE A NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER.
IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP OF COURSE WITH TXDOT.
AND ITS SIGNIFICANT LANDMARK INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND IS GOING TO HELP US PLAN INTO THE FUTURE I WANT.
AND WE DID HAVE THE DESIGN OF THE TOWER WAS A RESULT OF A DESIGN CONTEST WITH THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO FOR HELPING PARTNER WITH THAT AND TO MAKE IT REALLY STAND OUT THERE AS IT IS AT, UH, STINSON AIRPORT.
SO IT WAS, THE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 2017 AND ITS COMPLETED IN 2019.
WE ALSO HAVE A FABULOUS HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THERE AT STINSON AIRPORT NOW.
I MEAN THE PARKING LOT THAT WE HAD HERE, IT WAS JUST CALICHE AND GRAVEL.
AND SO NOW AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, WE FINALLY HAVE A RESPECTABLE PARKING LOT AT STINSON AIRPORT.
BUT THAT HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IS SOMETHING ELSE.
IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
WE HAD TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE WE HAD TO GO INTO PART OF THEIR PROPERTY.
AND IT IS BENEFITING ALL OF THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T NOT GONE OUT THERE ON THAT HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, IT CONNECTS YOU FROM THE MISSION, REACH TO THE FRONT DOOR OF STINSON AIRPORT BACK OUT.
THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT SWITCHBACKS OUT THERE, SO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE RIDING.
AND IT IS 1.3 MILES LONG AND IT IS A LOOP.
IT IS A GREAT, GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WANNA THANK, UM, HOMER AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING ON THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE DONE NEW WAYFINDING AND MISSION ROAD SIDEWALKS IN 2018 AND 19.
THERE'S A NEW MONUMENT SIGNAGES OUT THERE.
'CAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY, WE ARE PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE THE MISSION ROAD MINISTRIES OUT THERE WHERE OUR, UM, RESIDENTS WITH, UM, WHO ARE OF EVERY ABILITY NEED ACCESS TO GO FROM JUST DOWN THE STREET SAFELY TO VISIT STINSON AIRPORT.
SO THANK YOU ZY AND ROD AND, UM, EVERYONE FOR HELPING FIND THOSE DOLLARS AND AVIATION DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING US GET THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO GET THAT MULTI-USE PATH OUT THERE.
AND OF COURSE, THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR WORLD HERITAGE ARTWORK THERE IN 2017.
WE HAVE AVIATION THEMED DE MURALS THAT WERE INSTALLED ON, UH, IN AND AROUND STINSON AIRPORT.
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE MANY PIONEERING WOMEN FROM BESSIE COLEMAN AND THE STINSON FAMILY
[01:00:01]
WHO MADE GREAT ST.UM, CATHERINE STINSON WHO DID TEACH THE FROST FAMILY HOW TO FLY OUT THERE AT STINSON.
AND IF YOU HAVE NOT VISITED THE TEXAS AIR MUSEUM, PLEASE GO AND VISIT.
YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED AT WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS FLEW IN, UM, AT THE VERY BEGINNING AT STINSON.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW FIXED BASE OPERATOR OUT THERE.
AND WITH OUR PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN STINSON, IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
IN 2015, WE CELEBRATED THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
I SAT ON THE, I WAS THE, UM, CHAIR OF THE STINSON 100 COMMITTEE.
WE HAD OUR KICKOFF WITH THE REG RECOGNITION OF A MILESTONE, UM, THERE.
AND IT WAS THE A HUNDRED YEAR BIRTHDAY OF CATHERINE STINSON.
WE ALSO HAD IN 2015, STINSON AIRPORT HAD THEIR FIESTA METAL RECOGNIZING, OR ACTUALLY AVIATION DEPARTMENT, ALSO THEIR FIESTA METAL RECOGNIZING STINSON AIRPORT.
WE HAD OUR FIRST YOUNG EAGLES RALLY AND EDUCATION FAIR OUT THERE AT STINSON, WHERE MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, 80 CHIL 80 CHILDREN EXPERIMENTED WITH AIRCRAFT, A ASSOCIATION AND ACTUALLY WENT UP IN THE SKY, MANY OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO IT WAS GREAT TO OFFER THAT TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
IN OCTOBER OF THAT SAME YEAR, WE HAD THE POWER OF PRESERVATION GALA, THE POP PROM, WHICH MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN TO.
WE HAD IT OUT THERE, UM, WITH ITS THEME AT THE HANGAR.
IT WAS ONE OF THE, UM, THE AREAS THAT WON AN AWARD FOR THE LEGENDS, UH, GALA FOR THE SOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THEY WON AN AWARD BECAUSE OF THE LEGACY THERE AT THE AREA.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE EVENTS OUT THERE.
VETERANS DAY, ANNUAL EVENTS WITH AGELESS AVIATION.
WE HAD, UM, SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPEAKER SERIES WITH LIEUTENANT COLONEL OLGA, UH, GU, THE FIRST LATINA US MILITARY PILOT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR THE AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.
STINSON IS ALSO THE HOME OF THE ANNUAL GIRLS IN AVIATION CAMP RUN BY THE WOMEN IN AVIATION ALAMO CHAPTER SINCE 2015.
AND WE ARE HELPING SUPPORT THE INTEREST OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN A MYRIAD OF AVIATION OPPORTUNITIES THERE AT STINSON, WE HAD OUR CELEBRATION COMMEMORATING CATHERINE STINSON BEING INDUCTED INTO THE, UH, NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME.
WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS DISTRICT THREE FIVE K RUNS AND WALKS OUT THERE.
AND WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS THAT ABOUND IN THIS AREA.
THEY'VE ALSO HOSTED AT STINSON BECAUSE OF THE RE RENOVATION THAT'S HAPPENED THERE.
THEY'VE HOSTED MANY PUBLIC FORUMS, MANY WORLD HERITAGE OPEN HOUSES, AND OUR DISTRICT THREE, UM, LEGACY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE STUDENTS AND TOURS OUT THERE AT THE AIRPORT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE STUDENTS TO GO UP INTO THE OLD TOWER AND UP INTO THE NEW TOWER TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.
AND WE HAVE NEW BIG, BIG, BIG BIB BARBECUE OUT THERE.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE MR. BURNS.
LARRY BURNS FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEA OF THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL BEHIND STINSON.
UH, EVEN THOUGH WE COULDN'T HAVE A VEHICULAR, UM, PATH ACROSS THE CREEK, WE'VE MOVED THAT HIKE AND BIKE AND PE PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE OF HIS IDEA.
Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT ARCHBISHOP GARCIA FLEW OUT OF STINSON FOR A FLYOVER BLESSING, THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, DURING C O V I D.
AND WE ALSO, THANKS TO ALL OF THE WOMEN HERE, WE HAD THE WOMEN IN AVIATION ALAMO CHAPTER DO A FLYOVER OUT OF STINSON IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 100 YEARS OF WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE.
I ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE AVIATION DIRECTORS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH.
ERIC, UM, FROM FRANK MILLER TO CARLOS CONTRARAS IN AN INTERIM POSITION TO RETIRE GENERAL, UH, TOM JONES TO RETIRE GENERAL.
RUSS HANDY AND NOW TO JESUS SIGNED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THERE AND THROUGH.
BUT THROUGHOUT IT ALL, ERIC, NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAPPEN WITHOUT THE PHENOMENAL TEAM THERE ON THE GROUND AT STINSON, ESPECIALLY IN SPECIFICALLY OUR AIRPORT MANAGER, MORRIS MARTIN, WHO LOVES THAT PLACE, WHO GREW UP IN THAT PLACE, AND WHO IS AN ADVOCATE EVERY DAY FOR THAT AIRPORT.
SO, I'M GLAD THIS IS ON CONSENT, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE THERE, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT DONE YET, MAYOR.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT'S BEEN THERE AND ALL THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE TO GO.
[01:05:01]
YOU.WELL, I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE THE HISTORY OF MY, UH,
YOU SHARED A BIKE PED PATH COMING IN, IN DISTRICT, UH, SEVEN, BUT I'M, I'M NOT SURE I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO, TO MATCH THAT COUNCILWOMAN.
WELL, THIS ONE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING, SO IF STAFF COULD SHOW THE SLIDE.
SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS BRON ROAD, AND RIGHT UNDER THE CORNER WHERE OUR, UH, A S L INTERPRETER IS.
YOU CAN'T TELL
IT'S GOT A Y M C A, IT'S GOT CRICKET FIELDS, IT'S GOT LOTS OF STUFF, AND IT'S CALLED OP SCHNABEL.
BUT IF YOU WANTED TO WALK THERE FROM ANY AREA HERE, ANY OF THESE HOMES, ANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU WOULD BE PUTTING YOUR LIFE IN DANGER BECAUSE THERE IS NO PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET THERE.
BUT EVERY DAY, RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND EIGHT, UH, DO WALK THAT PATH TO, TO GET THERE.
I GOT TO KNOW THIS AREA VERY WELL IN THE SPRING OF 2017, WHEN I WENT TO MANY HOMES IN THE AREA, ASKING THE RESIDENTS WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I HEARD ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR SIDEWALKS ON BRAUN ROAD, HOW RESIDENTS USED IT, HOW KIDS USED IT TO GET TO SCHOOL.
IT CONNECTS FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, BRONZE STATION, EAST BRONZE STATION, WEST BRAUN, OAKS WOODS, AND, AND CAMINO BANDERA.
THIS PROJECT WAS MADE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING THAN OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED RIGHT OF WAY AND THE DRAINAGE FEATURES ALONG BAND ALONG BRAUN ROAD.
HOWEVER, UH, WHEN CHERYL WAS HERE IN FISCAL YEAR 20, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET, WE AS A COUNCIL, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR VOTING FOR THAT SET ASIDE A MILLION DOLLARS TO, TO BUILD SIDEWALKS ON THIS ROAD.
HOWEVER, THEY ONLY GOT US SO FAR.
SO IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, UH, IN THE ALLOTMENT THAT ERIC GAVE EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT, WE WERE ABLE TO SET ASIDE AN ADDITIONAL HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE WE GOT AT LEAST TO TEEL ROAD.
SO, IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING TODAY.
I, I TOLD EVERYBODY, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE BREAK GROUND.
I WILL BE JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON THAT DRAINAGE EASEMENT WHEN IT'S FINALLY TIME TO BRING THIS SIDEWALK, UH, TO FRUITION.
SO, I WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION, AND THOSE WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO ASK ME FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
WHERE IS THAT SIDEWALK
SO I BELIEVE, UH, WE WILL BE BREAKING GROUND IN MAY, AND WE SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT ON THAT AND FOR PUBLIC WORKS'.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL.
ITEM 23 IS WORTHY OF HIGHLIGHTING.
UH, THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF FOR HELPING OUT TODAY.
WE ARE GONNA BE VOTING ON ACCEPTING $4.8 MILLION OF STATE GRANT, DO, UH, MONEY FOR, UH, A CYCLE TRACK IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE WORK, UH, THAT WAS DONE PRIOR TO ME, UM, SITTING IN THIS CHAIR.
CITY COUNCILMAN, UH, NIRENBERG, I DUNNO IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD OF THE GUY, UH, THE, UH, HE, UM, YOU KNOW, HELPED, UH, BRING AND, UH, MAKE A REALITY OF SOME REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, CYCLE, UM, CYCLE LANES ALONG FLOYD CURL IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
AND THIS IS, UH, GONNA BE, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE USING THIS MONEY FOR A TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK.
AND THIS IS REALLY ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT JEFF, SALLY, CHRISTINE, UM, AND ALL OF THE, UH, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM DOES AS FAR AS LEVERAGING STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP US, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THESE BIG GOALS.
AND SO, IF WE DON'T SPEND OUR TIME IN AUSTIN AND IN DC KNOCKING ON DOORS AND BRINGING THIS MONEY HOME, OTHER CITIES WILL, AND, UH, THIS IS OUR STATE TAX DOLLARS COMING BACK HOME TO, UH, BENEFIT NOT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND MAKING IT MORE FUN TO TRAVERSE THE, UH, THE MEDICAL CENTER, BUT IT'S ALSO, IT'S ALSO ABOUT AIR QUALITY, RIGHT? AND MICRO MOBILITY.
SO, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK BEFORE I GOT HERE, AND, UH, MAKING IT EASY FOR ME TO TAKE VICTORY LAPSE FOR, UH, YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
[01:10:02]
I THANK YOU, MAYOR.UM, WE ARE APPOINTING MR. FRANK BROWN TO THE CITY COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR DISTRICT TWO APPOINTEES.
WE KNOW THAT THEY GIVE UP THEIR TIME, THEY GIVE UP THEIR FAMILIES, UM, TO REALLY REPRESENT THE DISTRICT TWO AREA, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FACILITATING OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BY HAVING PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO JUST SEEING A CHANGE INTO THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
AND SO, THANK YOU TO MR. BROWN.
ALSO, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT NUMBER 20 AS A SINGLE MOTHER, BUT AS A 16 YEAR 16 YEAR OLD MOTHER, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A MOTHER.
AND SO WHAT THIS WILL DO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TEEN PRE PREGNANCY PREVENTION, IT IS A MINDSET TO HELP OUR YOUTH OVERCOME EVERY SINGLE CHALLENGE TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.
AND WE CANNOT FAULT ANY OF OUR YOUTH.
WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM EVERY POSSIBILITY TO MAKE THEMSELVES BETTER.
IT IS NOT SAYING THAT WE WANT TO SEE TEEN PREGNANCY ESCALATE, OR THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE THAT WILL ALWAYS BE OVER THEIR HEADS.
BUT THIS IS A WAY TO SAY, HOW DO WE HELP? WHERE DO WE TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO HELP? AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES.
IT GIVES A LIFE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING.
AND THAT IS WHY NUMBER 20 ON OUR AGENDA IS IMPORTANT.
EVERY CHILD, EVERY YOUTH, EVERY YOUNG PERSON, ESPECIALLY A TEENAGE MOTHER, DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BETTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILWOMAN ANDREW SULLIVAN'S COMMENTS ON, ON THIS ITEM IN THE PAST, I'VE, I'VE HIGHLIGHTED OUR TEEN PREGNANCY, UH, PROGRAMS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE TO DO IT TODAY AND STAND BEHIND HER, BECAUSE EVERY WOMAN, EVERY GIRL DESERVES TO KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HER BODY AND DESERVES TO HAVE THAT BODY RESPECTED.
SO, I, UH, I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THIS PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD.
OKAY, THAT'S, UH, OUR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEM SAFE FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE VOTE.
[4. 21-2999 Briefing and possible action on legislation filed in the 87th Regular State Legislative Session, an update on the status of proposed State legislation and its impact on the City of San Antonio. [Jeff Coyle, Assistant City Manager]]
WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.ITEM FOUR IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON LEGISLATION FILED IN THE 87TH REGULAR STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
OKAY, MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL, UH, OPEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
UH, SO AS WE, UH, UH, GO THROUGH TODAY'S UPDATE, UH, TODAY IS OUR, UM, FOURTH UPDATE ON THE 87TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND DURING THE LAST FEW COUNCIL MEETINGS, YOU'VE HEARD FROM, UH, JEFF, ON ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE STATE CAPITOL AND THE CITY'S ENGAGEMENT ON LEGISLATION.
AND, UH, THE SESSION IS NOW ENTERING, UH, THE FINAL AND, UM, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY STRESSFUL, BUT, BUT WHERE WE NEED TO START, WE NEED TO KEEP PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS.
SO JEFF IS GONNA GIVE YOU AN UPDATE THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, THIS IS THE STRETCH WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
THE STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ALONG WITH OUR LOBBYISTS TO, TO KIND OF MONITOR ALL THE CHANGES.
AND, UM, THERE ARE, UM, WE'RE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE BILLS MAY SUDDENLY BECOME UNSTUCK AS THE PROCESS GOES ALONG.
JEFF WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
SO LET ME TURN IT OVER TO JEFF.
UM, I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THIS IS WHAT, WHAT WE WOULD DEFINE AS SORT OF THE MAKE OR BREAK TIME OF THE SESSION.
UH, AND IT'S ALSO BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE WE'VE GIVEN YOU AN UPDATE.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, ROBUST BRIEFING THAN, UH, THAN OUR WEEKLY CADENCE.
UM, FIRST THING IS, A WEEK AGO TODAY, UH, THE BUDGET WAS DEBATED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
UH, A COUPLE OF KEY NOTES, UH, FROM THE BUDGET FOR YOU.
AND ACTUALLY, GUYS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ITEM CAN BE, THERE WE GO.
UM, THE BUDGET INCLUDES, UH, ITEMS THAT WE CARE ABOUT, $30 MILLION FOR THE DAG PROGRAM.
THAT'S THE DEFENSE, UH, ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT
[01:15:01]
PROGRAM.SO THAT FUNDING REMAINS WHOLE, UH, 152 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAN ANTONIO STATE HOSPITAL.
UH, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE WE'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN.
AND OF COURSE, WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE, UH, TRANSPORTATION FUNDING THROUGH THE VOTER APPROVED PROPS.
ONE IN SEVEN, UH, ERODED OR DIVERTED, UH, GIVEN THE BUDGET DIFFICULTIES THIS YEAR.
AND, AND RIGHT NOW, THE FUNDING REMAINS INTACT.
WHAT WHAT ISN'T IN THE BUDGET, UH, ARE GENERALLY THE STATE'S, UH, DISTRIBUTION OF THE, UH, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING.
THE, THE THIRD RELIEF PACKAGE, UH, THAT WAS PASSED IN MARCH.
UH, THERE WAS, UH, AN AMENDMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT, UH, BASICALLY SAID BEFORE ANY OF THOSE DOLLARS CAN BE ALLOCATED, IT HAS TO BE DONE AND APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE IN EITHER A REGULAR SESSION OR A SPECIAL SESSION.
SO WHAT THAT SETS UP IS A SPECIAL SESSION, LIKELY THIS SUMMER, UH, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, UH, DIRECT THE STATE DOLLARS.
UH, THAT CAME FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT, UH, ON THE WAR TO, UH, FORCE, UM, THE STATE TO EXPAND MEDICAID.
THE LEGISLATION, HB 38 71, HAS NOT MOVED.
ITS PENDING A HEARING, UH, IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE.
AND SO AN AMENDMENT WAS OFFERED, UH, RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, REVOKING THE 10 YEAR, 1115 WAIVER THAT THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION HAD APPROVED FOR TEXAS.
UM, AND, BUT THAT AMENDMENT FAILED ON A, ON A FLOOR VOTE ON THE HOUSE.
SO THAT, UH, TENDS TO SIGNAL, UH, WHERE THE HOUSE IS ON THE ISSUE.
UH, IT'S NOT OVER YET, BUT, UM, BUT THEY'VE NOW TAKEN A VOTE ON THE ISSUE, AND IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.
THERE WAS ALSO AN ATTEMPT TO, UH, ADD A LOBBYING AMENDMENT, A, A, A BAN OF TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING, SIMILAR TO SB 10, WHICH ALSO HAS NOT MOVED, UH, OR BEEN HEARD IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
UH, ACTUALLY, THERE WERE TWO ATTEMPTS AT THE LOBBYING AMENDMENT.
UH, THE FIRST WAS DEFEATED BY A POINT OF ORDER, AND THEN THE SECOND RELATED ONLY TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN BY A MAJORITY OF, BY A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IS ALSO A SIGNAL THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE HOUSE, AND, AND THEY DON'T INTEND TO PROHIBIT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM HAVING A VOICE AT THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, LEMME GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PRIORITIES IN OUR PROGRAMS, STARTING WITH THE, UH, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BILLS.
AS OF YESTERDAY, WE NOW HAVE THREE OF THE FOUR BILLS VOTED OUT OF THE URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
UH, 1561 HAS, WAS VOTED OUT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
THAT'S THE FIVE EXTRA POINTS FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES TO THE POLICE ACADEMY.
UH, 10 87, WHICH IS THE 180 DAY RULE, HAD BEEN SITTING IN COMMITTEE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
UH, AND THEY DID JUST VOTE IT OUT YESTERDAY, UNANIMOUSLY AND HOUSE BILL 1563, WHICH WAS JUST HEARD LAST WEEK.
THE, UH, OPENING UP OF THE FULL PERSONNEL FILE OF POLICE OFFICERS AS IT RELATES TO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, WAS VOTED OUT BY A VOTE OF SEVEN TO 2 19 40 IS THE BILL THAT LIMITS, UH, WHAT ARBITRATORS CAN, UH, CONSIDER UPON APPEAL.
UM, SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THREE OF THE FOUR ARE OUT OF COMMITTEE.
THE BAD NEWS IS THEY NOW HEAD TO THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE, WHERE EVERY SESSION THERE IS A, A BOTTLENECK IN CALENDARS.
UH, THIS SESSION IS PARTICULARLY BAD AS OF THIS MORNING.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 500 BILLS, UH, WAITING TO GET VOTED ON BY THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE TO GET MOVED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THAT THEME A LOT IN THESE, UH, UPDATES BECAUSE A LOT OF BILLS ARE PENDING IN THAT, IN THAT LOG JAM.
ON THE, UH, HEALTH PRIORITIES FRONT, OUR SECOND BIG PRIORITY, AS I MENTIONED, THE, UH, MEDICAID EXPANSION BILL 38 71 HAS NOT, UH, MOVED IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY, UH, BILL THAT HAS MOVED THAT WE'VE LENT OUR SUPPORT TO, SPEAKS TO, UM, WHAT SEVERAL OF YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING.
IT'S HOUSE BILL 34 93, AND IT DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ACKNOWLEDGES, UH, THE IMPACT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND SETS OUT A WHOLE PROCESS TO GATHER THAT INPUT FROM, UH, MANY STAKEHOLDERS, UH, ON THE FUNDING, UH, FRONT.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES IS STILL AMONG ALL OF THE STATE AGENCIES REQUIRED TO CUT THEIR BUDGETS BY 5%.
WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING THAT THAT, UH, THAT THAT AGENCY OF OF ALL BE, UH, EXEMPTED FROM THOSE CUTS.
IT HASN'T CHANGED YET, BUT THE STATE COMPTROLLER IS EXPECTED ANY DAY NOW TO ISSUE A REVISED, UH, BUDGET ESTIMATE REVENUE ESTIMATE.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT COULD CREATE MORE MONEY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO WORK WITH, WHICH WOULD, COULD POTENTIALLY OPEN THE CONVERSATION FOR RESTORING THOSE CUTS.
AND THEN THE, UH, THE, UH, HB FIVE, THE, UH, OMNIBUS BILL TO, UH, HELP CLOSE
[01:20:01]
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND EXPAND BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE, UH, HAS NOW PASSED THE FULL HOUSE PASSED SENATE COMMITTEE, AND IS ON THE, EFFECTIVELY THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE SENATE.SO THAT BILL IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND, AND, UH, NEARING THE FINISH LINE, WHICH WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE.
UH, AND THEN UNDER OUR FOURTH BIG PRIORITY AROUND LOCAL CONTROL, JUST A QUICK CHECK IN ON SOME OF THE BILLS THAT WE'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT, UH, IN PAST WEEKS THAT HAVE BEEN CONCERNING THE E T J BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW ANY AREA TO, TO PETITION TO RELEASE ITSELF FROM THE E T J REMAINS STUCK IN COMMITTEE, BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
WE HAVE OFFERED LANGUAGE TO CARVE OUR E T J OUT IN THE EVENT THAT IT MOVES, BUT HAVE CONTINUED TO COMMUNICATE THAT THIS UNDOES 50 YEARS OF E T J AUTHORITY STATEWIDE.
UH, THE BILL APPEARED TO BE STUCK, AND I JUST HAPPENED TO CALL THE CITY CLERK TUES, I MEAN, THE CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE TUESDAY MORNING TO CHECK ON IT.
AND IT WAS ON THE LIST TO BE VOTED OUT.
AND THEY HAD TAKEN THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAD GIVEN THEM AND SENT IT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR DRAFTING.
AND IT HAD COME BACK IN A WAY THAT WAS WRITTEN THAT DID NOT PROTECT OUR E T J.
IT WAS JUST POOR DRAFTING, UH, AND ADMITTEDLY A COMPLICATED, UH, AMENDMENT.
UM, WE WENT THROUGH ALL FIRE DRILL TUESDAY OF COMMUNICATING OUR CONCERNS AGAIN.
UH, THE BILL TAKEN OFF THE LIST AND DID NOT GET VOTED OUT TUESDAY.
SO IT REMAINS IN, IN THAT COMMITTEE, UH, AND WE'RE NEARING THE DEADLINES WHERE BILLS HAVE TO BE OUT OF COMMITTEE OR, OR THEY'RE DEAD.
UH, THE DEBT, UH, BILL, THE, THE ONE THAT WOULD, UH, LIMIT, UH, WHAT WE CAN ISSUE IN NON-VOTER APPROVED DEBT, UH, REMAINS IN THE SAME PLACE IN TERMS OF ALL THE LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT, UH, REPRESENTED MOVEMENTS THAT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE MARTINEZ FISHER HELPED SECURE FOR US.
UH, THE BILL ACTUALLY, AFTER HAVING GOTTEN KICKED OUT OF COMMITTEE ON, UM, APRIL 12TH, WAS REFERRED BACK TO COMMITTEE NINE DAYS LATER FOR SOME PAPERWORK TECHNICALITY.
AND SO IT'S NOW BACK IN LINE AT THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, UH, AND ONE OF THE MANY, MANY BILLS, UH, IN CALENDARS.
UH, SO THAT WEEK AND A HALF TIME, UM, IS BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANNA SEE THE BILL PASSED.
UM, H P 1474 HAS TO DO WITH HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONCE, BUT IT WAS EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
THE BILL INITIALLY ONLY SAID THAT, UH, WE CAN'T SHOP AMONGST OUR COMMISSIONS WHEN SEEKING THE SUPER MAJORITY VOTE TO CREATE A HISTORIC DISTRICT OR DESIGNATION, WE HAVE TO USE ONE COMMISSION, WHICH WAS NOT A PROBLEM FOR US.
WE USE OUR HISTORIC DESIGN AND REVIEW COMMISSION.
THERE WAS A LANGUAGE ADDED LATER THAT SAID THAT CHURCHES CAN OPT OUT OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS, WHICH IS A CONCERN FOR US AND FOR MANY IN THE PRESERVATION COMMUNITY LOCALLY.
UH, WE HAVE OFFERED LANGUAGE THAT AT LEAST CLARIFIES THAT THEY MUST BE A CHURCH WHEN THE DISTRICT IS CREATED TO TRY TO CLOSE A LOOPHOLE OF, OF SOMEONE CREATING A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION OR SELLING TO A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION TO REDEVELOP A PROPERTY AND GET AROUND, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.
AND WE'RE WAITING ON THE ANSWER FOR THAT, UH, AMENDMENT.
UH, THE POLICE DEFUNDING BILLS, UH, THE SENATE BILL, I THINK I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU, HAS FULLY PASSED THE SENATE AND SENT OVER TO THE HOUSE.
THE HOUSE BILL IS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY.
A LOT OF THE REALLY PROBLEMATIC LANGUAGE HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT.
IT EFFECTIVELY SAYS YOU CANNOT LOWER THE POLICE BUDGET UNLESS THE OVERALL BUDGET, UH, DECREASES FOR THE CITY.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT HAS TO BE, UH, IN ACCORDANCE, MEANING THE BY THE SAME PERCENTAGE.
UM, THERE ARE, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THERE ARE MORE THAN 80 CO-AUTHORS ON THIS BILL, UH, ALMOST ALL REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND A FEW DEMOCRATS.
SO IT'S A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THEY'RE GONNA VOTE IT OUT TODAY, UH, IN THE HOUSE.
AND, UM, IT DOES ADD SOME PRETTY, UH, PUNISHING PENALTIES IN TERMS OF NOT US NOT BEING ABLE TO INCREASE OUR TAX RATE, US HAVING TO HOLD ELECTIONS TO ALLOW, ALLOW AREAS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY ANNEXED TO DIS ANNEX, ALL OF WHICH WOULD BE TRIGGERED IF WE WERE TO LOWER THE POLICE BUDGET AND NOT THE OVERALL BUDGET.
AND THEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT WE HAVE DEFUNDED POLICE.
UH, FINALLY, UH, ANOTHER BILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY THAT WE, UH, WE'VE BEEN, UH, EXPRESSING OUR OPPOSITION FROM THE BEGINNING REQUIRES ANIMAL SHELTERS TO NOTIFY EVERY PREVIOUS ADOPTER OF ANY, UH, DISEASE THAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE SHELTER.
UH, IT DOESN'T APPLY TO BREEDERS.
IT DOESN'T APPLY TO FOR-PROFIT, UH, ANY OTHER, BASICALLY, UH, ANIMAL ADOPTION ENTITIES.
IT REALLY JUST APPLIES TO SHELTERS, WHICH WOULD PUT OUR SHELTER AT A POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGE IN, IN DISCOURAGING ADOPTIONS AND SCARING PEOPLE, AS THERE ARE OFTEN DISEASES THAT ARE TREATED AND COMMON AND AND SO FORTH IN ANIMAL SHELTERS.
WE EXPECT A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT THAT TODAY.
THERE IS OPPOSITION, UH, FROM MANY CORNERS OF THE STATE.
I'LL JUST QUICKLY GO THROUGH THIS, BUT WE BRIEFED THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE A WEEK AGO.
THE FIRST THREE BILLS THERE HAVE ALL BEEN PASSED
[01:25:01]
OUT OF HOUSE COMMITTEE.UH, ONE IS REQUIRING A THREE FOOT PASSING DISTANCE FOR VEHICLES GOING AROUND CYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS.
THE OTHER IS THE PRIMA FASCIA SPEED LIMIT.
IT'S BEEN WATERED DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND REALISTICALLY, IT'S GONNA GET SENT TO THE SAME SENATE COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN THE ROADBLOCK FOR THE SENATE BILL.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HOPE FOR THAT AT THIS STAGE.
UH, A BILL THAT WOULD, UH, REQUIRE AFFIRMATIVELY A VEHICLE TO STOP AT A CROSSWALK.
RIGHT NOW, THE LANGUAGE IN THE LAW JUST SAYS YIELD.
BUT THIS WOULD, UH, CAUSE A STOP AT CROSSWALKS, UH, HAS ALSO PASSED OUT A COMMITTEE, AND THEN A BILL THAT EXPANDS THE STATE'S, UM, TEXTING PROHIBITION.
RIGHT NOW, THE STATE ONLY PRO, UH, PROHIBITS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING, WHILE WE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL HAVE AN OR ORDINANCE THAT GOES BEYOND THAT AND PROHIBITS ALL, UM, UH, USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE DRIVING.
SENATOR ZINI HAS A BILL THAT ALIGNS THE STATE LAW WITH OUR ORDINANCE, BUT IT HAS NOT HAD A HEARING AT THIS STAGE IN THE GAME.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE ONE BILL THAT'S, UH, SEEMS TO HAVE MORE MOMENTUM THAN MOST IS SENATE BILL 10 55.
IT'S BEEN PASSED BY THE FULL SENATE, AND IT CREATES A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR, UH, CAUSING AN INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN OR CYCLIST IN A CROSSWALK IF, IF IT'S NEGLIGENT, IF IT'S NOT AN, NOT AN
UH, THESE ARE THREE INITIATIVES, MEANING BILLS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD, DRAFTED, AND, AND HAD A PART IN, UH, AND ALL ARE MOVING.
UH, I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE B A SS C BILL THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BILL MEDICAID FOR, UH, CIVILIAN TRAUMA CARE.
UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF THAT, UH, WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO GET A UNANIMOUS VOTE OUT OF COMMITTEE.
SO IT'S NOW ONE OF THE 500 PLUS BILLS SITTING IN CALENDARS.
UH, THE, UM, THE NEXT TWO BILLS HAVE ACTUALLY PASSED THE FULL HOUSE, MEANING THEY'VE GOTTEN THROUGH CALENDARS AND A FLOOR VOTE.
AND THAT IS PROTECTING THE PRIVACY INFORMATION OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE UTILITY ASSISTANCE, THAT SAWS INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM ON, AND THEN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ELECT TO USE ELECTRONIC RECORDING DEVICES, NOT JUST LIVE COURT REPORTERS.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE HEADED TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION THERE.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP, UH, REDISTRICTING THAT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT THIS WEEK.
UH, YOU SAW THE CENSUS DATA WAS RELEASED.
THIS WAS REALLY THE STATE APPORTIONMENT DATA.
IT JUST DIVIDED UP, UH, THE STATE NUMBERS.
WE WILL GET THE MORE DETAILED CENSUS DATA IN, UH, LATE AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER.
UH, SO IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT A REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE HELD, UH, SOMETIME AFTER THAT DATE, PROBABLY MID, MID-SEPTEMBER, UM, TO DO THE REDISTRICTING FOR THE STATE.
UM, I WILL SAY, WHILE MANY CELEBRATED THE TWO EXTRA SEATS IN CONGRESS THAT TEXAS IS WINNING IS GETTING THROUGH THIS, THERE WERE PREDICTIONS THAT WE WOULD GET AS MANY AS THREE.
AND, UH, JUST YESTERDAY, SENATOR GUTIERREZ FILED A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, WHICH IS SORT OF A LATE FILING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY VOTERS, BUT IT WOULD DIRECT THE STATE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UH, PAXTON TO SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FORCE A MORE ACCURATE COUNT IN TEXAS.
YOU CAN SEE THE POLITICS AND HERON IN THAT, AND, AND NOT LIKELY NECESSARILY TO, TO GO ANYWHERE.
BUT NONETHELESS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME BELIEF THAT THE, THE EFFORTS TO, UH, UH, NOT, NOT DISCOURAGE PARTICIPATION, BUT THE LACK OF INVESTMENT BY THE STATE IN GETTING A COMPLETE COUNT, UH, IS BEING POINTED AT NOW AS PART OF THE REASON THAT WE DIDN'T GET THE FULL THREE SEATS FOR TEXAS.
ALL THE OTHERS GROWTH STATES ONLY GOT ONE.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL CONNECTED ME WITH A GROUP CALLED FAIR MAPS TEXAS, THAT HAD A WEB SESSION YESTERDAY THAT I PARTICIPATED IN.
THEY ARE PUSHING HB 31 12, WHICH WOULD CREATE A NUMBER OF TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC, UH, PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS AROUND REDISTRICTING, FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC HEARINGS AFTER THE CENSUS DATA IS RECEIVED, UH, AND AT LEAST 14 DAYS FOR ANY PROPOSED MAPS TO BE REVIEWED ONLINE BY THE PUBLIC.
IT'S ALL VERY GOOD STUFF THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE POSITION IN OUR, UH, AGENDA.
THAT SAID, IT IS A BILL FILED BY A DEMOCRAT.
UH, AND REDISTRICTING IS A PARTISAN, UH, EXERCISE, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THAT BILL HAS NOT BEEN HEARD.
SO THIS GROUP IS PUSHING FOR A HEARING.
WE'RE GONNA, UH, SEND A LETTER.
I TALKED TO COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.
BUT THE REALITY IS, EVEN AT THIS LATE DATE, A HEARING IS NOT LIKELY TO, TO, UH, GET THE BILL, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.
A FEW OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST THAT YOU HAVE ASKED ABOUT, UM, THE CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL, THAT'S THE BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE THAT SAYS, UH, YOU DON'T NEED A LICENSE OR TRAINING TO CARRY A GUN ANYMORE IN TEXAS.
IT WOULD BE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
WHEN IT CAME OVER TO THE SENATE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SAYING THE VOTES WERE NOT THERE IN THE SENATE.
UH, SINCE THEN, HE HAS CREATED A SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING JUST THIS BILL.
[01:30:01]
AND MOST OF THE MEDIA REPORTS ARE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE ARE GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY.SO, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHERE THIS GOES, BUT I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON THAT.
UH, SECONDLY, THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A BILL THAT PASSED THE FULL HOUSE AFTER SOME, SOME DRAMA.
UH, IT HAD MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES ON BOTH SIDES.
BUT HOUSE BILL 1818 ESSENTIALLY CREATES A STATE LAW THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE SALE OF PETS TO COME FROM ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT, UH, MASS BREEDERS AND SO FORTH.
SO THAT NOW MOVES OVER TO THE SENATE.
UH, AND THAT WOULD HELP JUST LIKE TOBACCO 21, WHEN WE PASS A LOCAL ORDINANCE, IF THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT MIRRORS IT, IT HELPS STRENGTHEN WHAT WE'VE DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE, UH, TRANSGENDER, UH, PARTICIPATION IN, UH, K THROUGH 12 SPORTS.
UH, AS I REPORTED PREVIOUSLY, IT HAD PASSED THE SENATE.
IT CAME OVER TO HOUSE COMMITTEE.
THE HOUSE CHAIR HAD SAID THERE'S NO VOTES FOR IT.
THERE'S NOW A SENATE BILL THAT HAS NOT TO DO WITH SPORTS, BUT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, GENDER REASSIGNMENT, UH, PROCEDURES, ESSENTIALLY CONSIDERING IT CHILD ABUSE IN TEXAS TO CONSENT TO THAT.
AND THAT MAY WELL GET SENT TO A DIFFERENT HOUSE COMMITTEE, WHICH, UH, COULD CREATE A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC FOR THAT BILL.
BUT WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH THE NCAA, UH, AND OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST IT, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WATCH AND, AND REPORT TO YOU ON IT.
FINALLY, I JUST, UH, BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING, AS YOU KNOW, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS ANOTHER, UH, PLANK IN OUR PROGRAM.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF UPDATES ON BILLS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE VERY BRIEFLY.
UM, THE, THE, THE ONE THAT'S MOST DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE LANGUAGE IN OUR PROGRAM IS SENATE BILL 3 43.
THIS REQUIRES THAT WHEN THERE ARE CONDITIONS UPON A BOND, UH, ISSUED BY A MAGISTRATE, SUCH AS, UH, STAYING AWAY FROM THE PERSON THAT THAT PERSON'S BEEN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING OR CARRYING A WEAPON, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THAT THIS WOULD REQUIRE THAT THAT BE INFORMATION BE ENTERED INTO A STATEWIDE DATABASE, BE SENT TO THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND BE SENT TO THE, UH, ALLEGED VICTIM IN THE CASE THAT BILL HAS PASSED THE FULL SENATE AND SCHEDULED FOR A FLOOR VOTE IN THE HOUSE TODAY, SO THAT THAT BILL'S IN GREAT SHAPE.
UM, AND, UH, AND THEN THE OTHER BILL THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, WHICH WAS REQUIRING, UH, STRENGTHENING THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND SURRENDERING A FIREARM WHEN SOMEONE IS ACCUSED OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, UH, HAS NOT BEEN HEARD AT ALL IN COMMITTEE.
AND GIVEN THE SORT OF DIRECTION WHERE THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO BE GOING WITH FIREARMS, UH, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SURPRISING.
BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT QUICK UPDATE BASED ON THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING, AND I'LL HAVE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I CAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, JEFF, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, JACK FINGER, THE MEMBERS OF OUR ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.
YOU, THE COUNCIL, HAVE HIRED PAID LOBBYISTS TO ESSENTIALLY LOBBY AGAINST OUR INTEREST AS TAXPAYERS.
MR. COURAGE, YOU, YOU HAVE DONE SO, YOU, YOU, THROUGH THE LOBBYISTS, THROUGH YOUR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, YOU HAVE LOBBIED AGAINST OUR INTERESTS AS TAXPAYERS WHEN IT COMES TO TAX CUTS AND TAX REFORM.
WE, UH, IN FACT, A FEW THINGS I NOTICED HERE THAT IN THIS REPORT THAT CAME UP, THE, UH, NOT JUST THE TAX REFORM, BUT ALSO, UH, WELL, THE ONE THING THAT WE KNOW THAT WORKS, THAT WORKS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, SCHOOL CHOICE.
THE IDEA OF TAX DOLLARS FOLLOWING THE STUDENT, WHEREVER THAT STUDENT GOES, IT BE A PRIVATE SCHOOL, A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, A PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHEREVER HE WANTS TO GO, WELL, YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF LOBBYING AGAINST THAT INTEREST, AND WE DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER.
THE, UM, ALSO, UM, AND THE MOST RECENT ISSUE, THE IDEA OF THE TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, UH, UH, COMPETING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.
YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF MEN WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN, BUT BOYS, BUT ACTUALLY DECIDE TO SAY, SAY, I THINK I SHALL BECOME A GIRL TODAY, AND I INSIST ON COMPETING AGAINST GIRLS, AND I AM GOING TO WIN IN THEIR SPORTS AND GET A SCHOLARSHIP FOR IT.
[01:35:01]
UH, IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THESE THINGS.AND YOU ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THAT.
TELL ME, MR. COYLE, NOT TO DO THESE THINGS.
I HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS TO ASK ABOUT, UH, JEFF.
A CONCERN I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE IS THE, UH, FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS THAT THE, UH, THE STATE HAS RECEIVED FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT APPORTIONMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE HEARD TODAY WHERE, UH, THE GOVERNOR IS RELEASING, I BELIEVE, $11 MILLION IN EDUCATIONAL FUNDS.
BUT THERE, THE OTHER 7 MILLION, I THINK, THAT WAS ALSO ALLOTTED FOR THAT IS KIND OF, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S GONNA GO, OR WHEN DO WE HAVE AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW MUCH FEDERAL MONEY HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNOR, AND HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR ALLOCATION SINCE THIS CRISIS BEGAN? WE MAY BE ABLE TO FIND THAT REPORTING.
WE'RE NOT TRACKING ALL OF THAT.
A LOT OF THE MONEY DIRECTED TO STATES IS AT THE STATE DISCRETION.
UM, A LOT OF IT IS PART OF THE COVID RESPONSE, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, THE, UH, BUT WHAT SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT AMENDMENT SPEAKS TO IS THE, UM, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE THIRD RELIEF PACKAGE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S MONEY SPECIFICALLY FOR BROADBAND, UH, THAT, THAT WENT TO THE STATES.
AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS OPTIMISTICALLY, YOU SAY, WELL, THERE, THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT CREATES A BROADBAND OFFICE AND DOES MAPPING AND A GRANT PROGRAM.
AND SO IT MAKES SENSE TO THEN HAVE THAT IN PLACE BEFORE DOLING OUT THE MONEY.
UH, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EDUCATION FUNDING, UH, HAS BEEN SITTING NOT JUST FROM THIS THIRD RELIEF, BUT PREVIOUS RELIEF PACKAGES HAD NOT FLOWED DOWN TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STILL HAS NOT IN, IN ITS ENTIRETY.
THIS WAS THE BIG PIECE THOUGH, THAT, UH, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE, WERE, UH, UPSET ABOUT IN PRESSING THE STATE.
IN FACT, WE'VE ENGAGED ON THAT.
WE'VE HAD THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS COME IN AND TALK TO I G R ABOUT IT.
UM, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S, IT'S, WELL, IT'S 11 BILLION OUT OF 18 BILLION TOTAL IN THAT RELIEF ACT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S SOME REQUIREMENT FOR THAT REMAINING THIRD THAT, UH, THAT INVESTMENTS IN HIGHER ED AND K THROUGH 12 BE IN EQUAL PROPORTION.
AND I BELIEVE THE STATE HAS NOT GIVEN THAT INCREASE YET TO HIGHER ED.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON IT HASN'T BEEN RELEASED.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT ENTIRELY, BUT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING, AND I THINK THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSE, I REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL OF THEM YESTERDAY, WAS, THIS IS NOT ALL OF IT, BUT THIS IS GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, AND SO I REALIZE I'M ANSWERING MORE THAN YOU ASKED, BUT, UH, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY THAT HAS GONE TO THE STATE.
WELL, I, I APPRECIATE YOU CORRECTING ME WHEN I WAS SAYING MILLIONS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS WITH A B.
UM, BUT YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE LEGISLATION THAT'S PENDING THAT SAYS THE STATE LEGISLATURE WOULD START TO MANDATE HOW THAT MONEY WOULD BE ALLOCATED.
UH, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE, UH, LIKELIHOOD OF THAT IS? WELL, IT WAS AN AMENDMENT ADDED TO THE BUDGET BILL BY THE HOUSE.
SO THAT MEANS IT WASN'T IN THE INITIAL VERSION OF THE BUDGET.
SO NOW, AS THE BUDGET GOES BACK TO THE SENATE AND A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO SORT OF RECONCILE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE BILL, UH, BILLS, THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE POINTS OF DISCUSSION.
I'LL SAY IT WAS A 147 TO ZERO VOTE, AND THE ENTIRE HOUSE FLOOR APPLAUDED WHEN THEY PASSED IT.
I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE BEING THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE DOLED OUT.
DOESN'T WANT IT TO BE JUST BY THE GOVERNOR, UH, IN THE STATE.
AND SO, AGAIN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT, UH, PESSIMISTICALLY OR OPTIMISTICALLY, DEPENDING ON THE ISSUE, BUT IF IT STICKS, THAT'LL BE THE PROCESS.
THIS, THIS SUMMER, YOU MENTIONED BROADBAND, AND, AND THAT WAS A QUESTION I HAD.
UH, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO REGARDING THE BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT, UH, ACCORDING TO WHERE THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION MAY BE GOING? THAT'S GREAT.
I'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH CRAIG HOPKINS THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, AND A LOT OF THE GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS, THIS BILL DOES ABOUT 90% OF WHAT WE WANT, WHICH IS, IT CREATES A STATE BROADBAND OFFICE, WHICH IS TASKED WITH STUDYING BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY STATEWIDE, UH, REQUIRES MAPS TO BE CREATED, AND THOSE MAPS TO BE DONE IN COORDINATION WITH
[01:40:01]
INTERNET PROVIDERS, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.SO WE WOULD HAVE SOME ROLE IN THAT.
OF COURSE, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF MAPPING LOCALLY, SO WE'RE SORT OF ALREADY THERE IN A LOT OF THIS.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, ONCE IT, THE STATE IS MAPPED AND AREAS ARE IDENTIFIED THAT HAVE LESS THAN 80% ACCESSIBILITY, UH, TO BROADBAND, IT CREATES A GRANT PROGRAM THAT THE STATE CAN DULL MONEY OUT TO PROVIDERS TO EXTEND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THOSE AREAS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NE IT'S NOT, IT'S AN ISSUE NUMBER ONE OF AVAILABILITY.
SOME, SOME AREAS JUST AREN'T SERVED BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY HAS NOT FOUND IT TO BE PROFITABLE ENOUGH.
UH, IN OTHER CASES, THERE IS BROADBAND AVAILABILITY, BUT THERE'S AN AFFORDABILITY OR A LITERACY ISSUE.
AND SO WE'VE CONSISTENTLY PUSHED TO MAKE SURE THAT LANGUAGE IS RECOGNIZED ALSO, SO THAT, UH, PROVIDERS ARE NOT JUST PUTTING THE FIBER IN THE GROUND, BUT ALSO CREATING PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE GET CONNECTED IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT OR, OR OTHERWISE, RIGHT.
SO IN, IN GENERAL, IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD BILL THAT MOVES THE STATE FORWARD.
AND WE WILL PLAN TO BE A REGULAR, UH, A VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN IT AS THEY SORT OF IMPLEMENT WHAT IT CALLS FOR.
NOW, AGAIN, UH, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO SET UP, WILL THAT BE FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S COME DOWN? IT SHOULD BE.
AND SO IT SHOULDN'T BE TAX DOLLARS, SO TO SPEAK, RIGHT? IT SHOULD BE.
UH, UH, BILLIONS HAVE GONE TO THE STATES FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION.
UH, AGAIN, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, UH, IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY, WE SEE A BILL MOVING FORWARD THAT SORT OF LAYS OUT THE GAME PLAN AND THEN FUNDING THAT WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW.
AND SO IN THEORY, THAT FUNNEL, THAT FUNDING WOULD BE FUNNELED THROUGH THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT IS CREATED.
BE INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW MANY BILLIONS TEXAS RECEIVED FOR, UH, TECHNOLOGY TOO.
WE CAN GET THAT, THAT CATEGORY FOR YOU FOR SURE.
I'LL ASK OUR FEDERAL TEAM TO PULL THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DEFUNDING BILLS FOR THE POLICE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF ANY OF THOSE BILLS PASS, UH, WHAT WOULD BE THE SITUATION? FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, REDUCING WHAT WE CAN DO FOR TAXES IF WE'RE GONNA REDUCE THE POLICE FUNDING.
WHAT IF WE, UH, DECIDE IF THOSE, IF ANY OF THOSE BILLS PASS AND WE DECIDE, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TRANSFER SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT THE POLICE ARE DOING.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ASKING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, DO YOU WANT THE POLICE TO BE OUT THERE, UH, ALL THE TIME FOR EVERY NINE ONE ONE CALL COMES IN? OR ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT CAN SERVICE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S IT'S NOISE OR ANIMALS OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CA PARKING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
SO ACCORDING TO, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF WE WERE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE CHANGES IN OUR POLICE BUDGET, THAT BECAUSE WE'RE REASSIGNING THESE DUTIES TO OTHER AGENCIES IN THE CITY, IF OUR TAX BASE GOES UP, BUT WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE POLICE NEED 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING NO SERVICES, WE COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.
IS THAT A, A FAIR TRANSLATION OF WHAT THAT COULD MEAN? YES.
IF THE SHIFTING OF SERVICES WAS SO LARGE AS TO CAUSE, UH, AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET? UM, I WISH, I WISH YOU'D WRITTEN OUR EMAIL TO LEGISLATORS.
'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE'VE BEEN CONVEYING TO THEM, THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND LOOKING AT IT.
UM, I WILL SAY BOTH BILLS HAVE, HAVE, HAVE A RELIEF VALVE.
UH, THE SENATE BILL SAYS YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO VOTERS.
SO IN THEORY, IF WE WERE TO REMOVE, UH, SERVICES OR COMPONENTS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT CAUSED A REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL POLICE BUDGET, WE COULD MAKE THE CASE TO VOTERS.
UH, AND THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE UNDER THE LAW.
THE HOUSE BILL, IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT DETERMINES, AND IT'S GOT SOME EXCEPTIONS WRITTEN INTO THE LAW.
IF WE WERE TO, UH, INTO THE BILL, IF WE WERE TO MAKE MAJOR CAPITAL PURCHASES IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT COULD BE BACKED OUTTA THAT CALCULATION.
OR IF WE HAD MAJOR DISASTER EXPENSES ONE YEAR, THAT WOULD NOT BE PART OF THAT.
AND THEN IT HAS A LINE THAT SAYS, OR OTHER REASONS AS DETERMINED BY EFFECTIVELY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
SO WE COULD MAKE A CASE TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT THERE'S A REASON WHY THE POLICE BUDGET WENT DOWN AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
WHAT ABOUT IN THE CASE WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW WITH PROPOSITION B, LET'S SAY PROPOSITION B PASSES, AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GONNA REVERT TO, UH, 1 43 AS OUR, OUR MORE OR LESS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS THAT WE BUILD FROM, UH, THAT VERY WELL MAY MEAN THAT SOME OF THE INCENTIVES THAT WE GRANT NOW WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE.
AND THAT MAY MEAN THAT OUR OVERALL BUDGET MAY GO DOWN.
UH, SO IF THIS BILL PASSES, COULD THAT REFLECT, UH, ON OUR TAX BASE, COUNCILMAN OUR TAX ON, ON THAT, ON THAT QUE THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
[01:45:01]
YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONALLY, AS WE GO THROUGH THE, UM, IF THAT PROPOSITION PASSES, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, WE, WE STILL NEED TO HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.AND SO, UH, WHERE, WHERE MAYBE THE, THE CONTRACT WOULD GO AWAY OCTOBER 1ST.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET THIS SUMMER, UH, I I, I JUST DON'T ANTICIPATE MAKING ANY MAJOR SHIFTS BECAUSE OF A, OF A PAYMENT ISSUE OR A SALARY ISSUE THAT'S PROVIDED UNDER THE CONTRACT WHY WE WOULD MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES.
THAT, THAT, THAT'S A POLICY ISSUE.
OBVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL AS AS, AS YOU SET THE PRIORITIES FOR THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING AS AS MANAGER, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD BE SADDLED WITH.
I'M, I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE OTHER SCENARIO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE MAYBE WE MAKE A SHIFT ORGANIZATIONALLY OR ASSIGNMENTS.
UM, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAP WHAT'LL HAPPEN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
MAYBE THE POLICE LINE OF WORK CHANGES AND HOW DOES A HOW DOES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE THE LATITUDE NECESSARY? BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK PROP B WOULD, WOULD PUT US IN THAT POSITION.
WELL, I KNOW THAT WE WOULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO GIVE THEM SOME OF THE INCENTIVES THAT WE GIVE 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED UNDER 1 43.
AND THOSE INCENTIVES ADD UP TO A FEW MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR BUDGET.
I, I WOULD ANTICIPATE, CAN I CLARIFY, CAN I CLARIFY? UH, 1 43 DOES NOT DISALLOW THEM COUNCILMEN, IT, IT, IT PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN INCENTIVES TO PAY UNDER 1 43 IN OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
SUPPLEMENTAL ONES, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS 1 43 DOES NOT PROHIBIT.
SO WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AS ERIC SAID, UH, DEPENDING ON, ON WHAT, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT WE WANT TO DO, BUT IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT 'EM AND AS AN EMPLOYER.
I JUST, I, I THINK THE ONLY, UM, C COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON THE SCHOOL FUNDING? I, I, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT WAS THE PART THAT I WAS GONNA JUST INQUIRE ABOUT, AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT, BUT, UM, HOW THAT, THERE'S 13 BILLION, BUT 11 MILLION OF IT HAS BEEN RELEASED.
RIGHT? I BELIEVE, UH, AND I'M GONNA START WITH A CAVEAT THAT THIS IS NOT A DIRECT ITEM IN OUR AGENDA.
SO WE'RE NOT, I'M NOT STUDYING SCHOOL FINANCE REALLY CLOSELY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW FROM A HIGH LEVEL, UM, THE, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, UH, HAD ABOUT 18 BILLION TO TEXAS FOR SCHOOLS TO HELP WITH THE, UH, BASICALLY WITH THE LOSS OF LEARNING THAT STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR.
UH, OF COURSE, IT'S COMING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THE TIMING OF THIS IS TO HELP DISTRICTS PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR OF THE 18 BILLION.
THEY RELEASED 11.2 OR 11.8 BILLION YESTERDAY.
UM, OUR DISTRICTS, I'VE LOOKED AT THE ALLOCATIONS FOR OUR DISTRICTS.
THEY RUN THE GAMUT BASED ON POPULATION.
SS A I S D, I BELIEVE IT'S 138 MILLION TO THEIR BUDGET, UH, EDGEWOOD ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, IT'S ABOUT 35 MILLION TO THEIR BUDGET.
UH, AND SO HOW THE DISTRICTS USE THAT MONEY AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
I, I DON'T KNOW THOSE ANSWERS.
THERE IS A REMAINING ONE THIRD, AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE MENTIONED.
ANOTHER, WHAT IS THAT 6 BILLION OR SO THAT, UH, I BELIEVE IS PENDING SOME DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROVAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND I THINK IT'S RELATED TO ENSURING THAT, UH, THE STATE DOESN'T REDUCE FUNDING IN OTHER AREAS, AND THAT THE, IN THE, UH, RELIEF IS EQUAL AT BOTH THE K THROUGH 12 AND HIGHER ED LEVELS.
UH, LET ME JUST ON THAT NOTE, UM, THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THIS IS THIS FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY IS NOT OFFSETTING THE, UH, 5 BILLION OR SO THAT, UH, HB THREE LAST SESSION GENERATED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THEY MADE A BIG INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC ED LAST SESSION.
THAT'S NOT BEING OFFSET BY THIS MONEY.
AND THAT WAS A, AN IMPORTANT POINT.
THANK YOU FOR JUST, UM, ELABORATING A LITTLE BIT AND WHAT ANY, UM, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S ALSO NOT ON OUR, UH, PRIORITY AGENDA, BUT ANYTHING REGARDING THE, UH, LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA? DID THAT NOTHING THERE? I JUST CURIOUS.
LOOK, I JUST ACTUALLY SAW AN ARTICLE THIS MORNING ON THE, UH, TEXAS TRIBUNE, I BELIEVE, AND I DIDN'T READ IT.
SO I'LL, I'LL, UH, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT AND, AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.
JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, CURIOUS.
BUT, UM, THANK YOU THA THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
UM, ALL WITHOUT NOTES, FOLKS, THAT WAS, THAT'S LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A, A TIGHT WIRE ACT WITHOUT A NET.
I'M, I'VE ALWAYS IMPRESSED JEFF.
UH, ANDY, I IMAGINE, AND DON'T GIMME LEGAL ADVICE, BUT, UH, I'M, I IMAGINE THAT THIS BILL ON PET SALES THAT, UM, JEFF JUST COVERED WILL MAKE THAT LOCAL LAWSUIT MOOT.
[01:50:01]
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WERE THINKING ABOUT? UH, ABSOLUTELY.COUNCILMAN, UH, FIRST, UH, ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD, UH, A THREAT OF A LAWSUIT, NONE HAS BEEN FILED.
UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU ARE CORRECT IF THAT BILL PASSES, I WOULD IMAGINE, UH, THE, IT'S EXTREMELY UNLIKELY THAT, UH, WE WOULD HAVE ANY LITIGATION BECAUSE THE STATE WOULD, WOULD, UH, ESSENTIALLY AFFIRM WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I, I, I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING, JEFF, AND TELL ME IF I'M WRONG.
'CAUSE THE WAY, THE WAY I'M SEEING THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING UP THERE WITH REGARDS TO THIS DEFUND THE POLICE BILL.
UM, I, I, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED BY THE AG AND SOME OTHER AGS, UH, CLAIMING THAT STATE'S RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S RESCUE ACT, UH, RESTRICTIONS ON THAT MONEY.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK THE RESTRICTION WAS YOU CAN'T USE THAT MONEY TO PLUG UP OR TO COVER TAX CUT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY FOR SERVICES THAT YOU COULD HAVE PAID FOR, BUT FOR YOUR TAX CUT.
IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? THAT THAT'S THE BILL? I MEAN, THAT'S THE LITIGATION.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LITIGATION.
AND, AND, UH, THE, UH, THIS IS THE SAME STATE BY THE WAY,
UM, SO THAT IF WE MOVE, LET'S SAY HOMELESSNESS OR, UH, MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES THAT THE POLICE SHOULDN'T BE DOING, HONESTLY, UM, OVER TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WE NOW RISK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SAME CONSEQUENCES THAT THE STATE IS RISKING AND SUING OVER, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO, UH, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, THAT I I, THAT CONFLICT IN, IN LOGIC, UM, WHICH BY THE WAY IS CALLED DISHONESTY, UH, YOU KNOW, IS, UH, YOU KNOW, IS, IS OUT THERE.
I THINK THAT'S WORTH THE ARGUMENT TO MAKE JEFF MAYBE A LITTLE MORE SUCCINCT AND MORE ARTFUL THAN I JUST DID.
BUT, UM, YEAH, IT IT IS A DEFINITE, UH, PREEMPTION OF LOCAL CONTROL ISSUES.
UM, AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT VOTED ON JUST ABOUT PARTY LINES.
UH, I LOOKED AT THE 80 PLUS CO-AUTHORS TODAY, AND THE TWO REPUBLICANS FROM OUR DELEGATION ARE AMONG THEM, AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THE DEMOCRATS WERE AMONG THEM.
IT'S GONNA, IT'S ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE YES, IT'S A PREEMPTION OF LOCAL CONTROL.
AT THE SAME TIME, CITIES ARE NOT UP AT THE CAPITOL ARGUING TO DEFUND POLICE NECESSARILY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, NUANCE STUFF SOMETIMES GETS LOST IN LEGISLATION THAT'S HIGHLY POLITICAL AND PARTISAN.
UH, I WILL SAY THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS WERE MUCH WORSE.
THEY DIDN'T ALLOW US TO CUT OVERTIME.
THEY REQUIRED THAT WE INCREASE THE OFFICERS EVERY TIME OUR POPULATION GOES UP.
IT ACTUALLY LOCKED US INTO GROWING EXPENSES AS OPPOSED TO, UH, REDUCING IT'S BETTER.
BUT IT'S STILL, AT THE END OF THE DAY, SAYS YOU CAN'T LOWER YOUR POLICE BUDGET UNLESS VOTERS APPROVE, OR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE APPROVING APPROVES, DEPENDING ON WHICH BILL MAKES IT.
UM, SO THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE, BY THE WAY, WHO, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN THEY SEE A PROHIBITION ON POSSESSION OR SALE OF GUNS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE COVERED BY PROTECTIVE ORDERS,
BUT THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? TRANSGENDERED KIDS RUNNING AT TRACK MEETS, THAT ONE'S GOT ME ON FIRE.
AND THAT ONE, WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO RESCUE AMERICA FROM THAT.
UH, AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, LEADERSHIP IS NOT THE WORD I'D USE TO DESCRIBE THAT.
FECKLESSNESS MENDACITY, UH, I'LL LET YOU GUYS DECIDE.
JEFF, YOU LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD.
AND I'M IMPRESSED BY HOW MUCH DISHONEST YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH UP THERE JUST TO GET THE MESSAGE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO STORY TOLD.
I'M PROUD OF YOU, MAN, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE YOU UP THERE DOING THIS, DOING THIS WORK.
AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE SMILING EVEN WHEN YOU GIVE THESE PRESENTATIONS.
UM, BUT LIKE SOME OF US, OR I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF, SCREAMING INSIDE WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, TOO.
UH, I DID WANT TO, I KNOW WE WERE ALREADY MENTIONING THIS ABOUT POLICE DEFUND, WELL, THE POLICE DEFUNDING BILLS.
UM, SO I DON'T WANNA NECESSARILY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS OUR PLAY, BUT WHAT IS OUR PLAY? WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY IN, IN ORDER AS, AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE OUT WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL SPECIFICALLY TO HOME OR LOCAL CONTROL, OR JUST SURE.
WE, WE'VE OFFERED, UH, AMENDMENT SUGGESTIONS.
UM, I THINK GOING BACK TWO MONTHS NOW, WE'D OFFERED LANGUAGE TO REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON.
[01:55:01]
HAD A, A BILL ORIGINALLY THAT DEALT WITH THIS THAT BASICALLY SAID WHAT, UH, I GUESS WAS COUNCILMAN COURAGE SAID ABOUT IF A GOVERNMENT BODY DECIDES TO REASSIGN SERVICES TO A MORE APPROPRIATE, UH, DEPARTMENT, IF IT'S A NON, UH, UNIFORMED RESPONSE NECESSARY, THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE, UH, CALCULATED.UM, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF AMENDMENTS LIKE THAT TO TRY TO IMPROVE IT.
BUT THESE, THESE REALLY, UH, SORT OF PARTISAN VOTES END UP BEING ALMOST A PRESCRIBED VOTE COUNT WITH EACH AMENDMENT.
UM, SO WE WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE OUR, OUR, I THINK OUR DELEGATION KNOWS WHERE WE STAND ON IT.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN CAREFUL TO, TO COMMUNICATE THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING, WE'RE IN FAVOR OF FLEXIBILITY AND THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH HAS, HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNICATION TO OUR MEMBERS.
SO IN TERMS OF WHAT'S OUR PLAY, I MEAN, I, THIS IS ONE THAT SEEMS TO BE HEADING TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE, AND I'M JUST NOT SURE, UM, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A, A ROADBLOCK TO IT.
UH, I'M SURPRISED THAT, UH, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL DOESN'T WANT TO SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH WHAT OUR, UH, SENATOR, WHAT SENATOR GUTIERREZ WANTS TO PUT FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS MY EXPECTATION THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THREE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE, THE FIRST NUMBERS THAT WAS PRELIMINARY SENT TO THE, THE STATE.
UM, SO I AM, YOU KNOW, IT IS DISAPPOINTING NOT TO SEE THAT, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.
UM, AND I DID SEE THAT TODAY, UH, SENATOR MENENDEZ LAID OUT A NEW BILL, UH, WAS LAYING OUT A NEW BILL TODAY, 2233, REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF A LOBBYIST TO BE CONTINGENT ON COMPLETING A SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ETHICS TRAINING COURSE.
SO I'M GLAD HE IS, UH, MOVING THAT FORWARD.
AND OF COURSE, WE'RE, UM, DOING OUR PART, UH, TOGETHER.
AND I THINK IF YOU COULD JUST INDULGE US TO SHARE, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO THE, UH, MONEY THAT'S FINALLY BEEN RELEASED TO, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM THE, THE GOV, THE GOVERNOR, UM, CAN YOU TELL US, LIKE, WHAT IS THE, IF YOU DO KNOW, IF YOU CAN JUST FILL US IN, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT RELEASE OF THOSE, THOSE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT, UH, WHY, WHY DON'T WE, UH, AT LEAST OUR BIG THREE DISTRICTS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY HAVE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS STAFF WHO CLOSELY FOLLOW LEGISLATURE.
THE REST OF THE DISTRICTS ARE PART OF A COALITION OF DISTRICTS LOCALLY.
WHY DON'T WE, OUR TEAM REACH OUT TO THEM TODAY, HAVE THEM SEND US SOMETHING AND WE CAN SHARE IT WITH THE FULL COUNCIL.
SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT EVERYONE'S INTERESTED IN.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE, UM, ALL OF MY, MY COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
UM, ON TUESDAY, WE WERE JUST AT THE STATE OF THE DISTRICT WITH SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, OUR SUPERINTENDENT MARTINEZ WAS ASKING WAS, WHEN WILL THE FUNDS COME? AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID IS, WE HAVE NOT, 'CAUSE WE ASKED NOT.
AND IT SEEMS AS SOON AS HE MADE THAT STATEMENT, WE RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE RELEASED.
UM, JEFF, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS ON HB 1877 ABOUT THE VACANT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
AND WANTED TO FIND OUT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PROPOSITION A ON THE BALLOT AND WANTED TO SEE IF THIS PASSES, WHAT WILL IT DO FOR WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? UM, I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK THE BILL NUMBER.
I THINK I RECALL THAT ONE, BUT I, BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN.
THERE, THERE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF, OF BILLS THAT HAD TO DO WITH REALLY LIMITING WHAT WE COULD REQUIRE AS IT RELATED TO VACANT BUILDINGS.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, PROHIBITING US FROM REQUIRING IMPROVEMENTS, UH, ABOVE, UH, I, I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS, BUT I CAN, I CAN PULL THAT UP AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.
I WILL SAY WE, UH, IF IT'S THE BILL THAT I'M THINKING OF, WE DID ACTIVELY OPPOSE IT AND, AND EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS.
OUR, UM, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, OFFICE HELPED US WITH THAT.
AND I BELIEVE WE SUBMITTED A LETTER, BUT I'LL GO BACK.
I'LL, I'LL GO CHECK THAT ONE AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
AND THEN ALSO, AS IT RELATES TO HB SEVEN EIGHTY TWO, WHICH IS THE RECALL OF ELECTIONS AND PROPOSITIONS AND PETITIONS.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT AFFECTS HOW WE CAN TRULY PUT AN AMENDMENT OR A DIFFERENT PROPOSITION ON THE BALLOT.
[02:00:01]
SO I WANTED TO FIND OUT AS WE GO FORWARD, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO DO CHARTER AMENDMENTS AND LOOK AT OTHER WAYS OF GETTING OUR VOTERS INVOLVED IN THE, THE CIVIC DUTIES OF, OF WHAT WE WANNA SEE WITH OUR CITY, HOW DOES THAT BILL AFFECT US OF WHAT WE CAN START PUTTING ON OUR BALANCE? OKAY.I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME WITH THAT.
I, IT IS 7 82 IS WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
WELL, THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.
AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
UM, THE, UM, SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THAT REIMBURSEMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, GOING TO THE SCHOOLS, AND THIS MIGHT BE ERIC'S QUESTION, UM, THE 20, I THINK IT WAS AROUND $20 MILLION THAT WE SET ASIDE FOR INTERNET SERVICES FOR THE SCHOOLS, UH, IN THOSE, THOSE SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS.
UM, ARE WE GONNA GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT? IS THAT ON THAT LIST OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT, FOR THAT FUNDING THAT'S COMING DOWN? NO, SIR.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UH, PART OF, UM, OUR MONEY THAT WE PUT TOWARDS THAT EFFORT.
UM, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, THAT COULD BE AN OPTION FOR JUST NOT BROADBAND, BUT, UH, BUT OTHER OPTIONS.
UM, BUT THE TREASURY IS STILL NOT RELEASED GUIDANCE.
UM, BUT, UH, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, THAT WAS MONEY WE ALLOCATED OUT OF OUR, OUT OF OUR FUNDING.
AND THEN WE ARE, WE INTEND, WE HAVEN'T INTENDED ON SPENDING.
UM, WELL, I, I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT.
SEE IF WE CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT ALSO FROM, FROM, EITHER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THROUGH THE SCHOOLS WITH THIS, UH, MONEY THAT THEY'RE GETTING.
I, WELL, I THINK, I THINK PROBABLY WHAT, WHAT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, AND IT REALLY GOES BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE WAS ASKING JEFF ABOUT BROADBAND.
IF THE STATES ARE GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UM, AND THERE IS ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING FOR BROADBAND, UM, THEN WHATEVER WE DO.
'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON THOSE 50 NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHATEVER THEY DO, WHATEVER WE DO WHATEVER THE STATE INTENDS ON DOING, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALL CONNECTED.
AND, AND WHILE THE STATE MAY BE HAVING, MAY, MAY, UH, CREATE A, A BROADBAND OFFICE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, AS I'M, AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION, WE ALMOST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT LOCALLY WE'VE GOT THAT SAME TYPE OF ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN CROSS POLLINATE BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY, BETWEEN US AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE SAME THING.
UM, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO GET THAT BACK INTO OUR COFFERS IF POSSIBLE, UH, IF THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, JEFF, ON THE, UH, UH, AND I ASKED THIS QUESTION HERE A WHILE BACK, UH, THE SAWS AND C P SS, UH, DO THEY HAVE ANY BILLS THAT THEY'RE PUSHING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE? UM, YES.
I KNOW C P S IS VERY INVOLVED IN THE ENERGY DISCUSSIONS, AND I REACHED OUT TO SOME OF OUR COUNTERPARTS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
UH, SO I, I WOULD ASK THOSE FOLKS MAYBE AT OUR NEXT I G R MEETING TO GIVE A MORE DETAILED EXPLANATION THAN I CAN GIVE.
UM, SAWS, I BELIEVE IS ALSO, UH, CLOSELY FOLLOWING BILLS RELATED TO, TO WATER.
UM, I, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHY DON'T WE, I'LL DO THE SAME THING I DO WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ASK THEM TO GIVE US, SHARE WITH US THEIR LATEST UP LEDGE UPDATE OR PROVIDE ONE FOR US SO THAT
I MEAN, WE OWN THOSE TWO UTILITIES.
AND I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THEY'RE PUSHING UP AT THE STATE LEVEL.
YEAH, THEY, THEY'VE HELPED US VERY CLOSELY ON THE E T J BILLS OUT A CONCERN THAT, UH, WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS AND WATER QUANTITY, DROUGHT RESTRICTION OR AUTHORITY COULD BE UNDERMINED IN THE E T J.
UM, WE TALK WITH THEM A LOT AND WORK WITH THEM A LOT ON SPECIFIC BILLS, BUT IF THERE'S A BILL REALLY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE UTILITY AND, AND NOT SO MUCH ON OUR RADAR, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
SO I'LL, I'LL ASK THEM TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.
THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR ALL THE GREAT NEWS YOU'RE BRINGING US, UH, TODAY.
SOMEONE MADE ME AWARE ABOUT IT.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING AN OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY.
THERE USED TO BE ONE IN THE STATE.
IT WAS, UH, ELIMINATED AT SOME POINT.
IT'S BEEN HEARD IN COMMITTEE, UH, BUT IS IT STALLED THERE? AND IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? NO, I BELIEVE I JUST GOT A REPORT
[02:05:01]
ON THAT.UH, IT MIGHT TAKE ME A SECOND TO FIND IT.
UH, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHY DON'T I ANSWER A PREVIOUS QUESTION WHILE I LOOKED THIS UP FOR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ANDREW SULLIVAN, 1877 IS THE ONE THAT, UH, WE WERE AWARE OF.
UH, WE OPPOSED THAT BILLING COMMITTEE.
IT WAS JUST HEARD THIS WEEK AND WAS LEFT PENDING.
SO IT'S, UM, IT'S PRETTY LATE IN THE SESSION.
BUT YES, THAT IS A REAL PROBLEMATIC BILL WOULD PROHIBIT US FROM REQUIRING A, UM, PROPERTY OWNER TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT ABOVE WHAT IS REQUIRED BEFORE THE DAMAGE WAS OCCURRED.
COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY TO TAKE UP YOUR, YOUR TIME HERE.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA USE ALL 10 MINUTES TODAY.
UM, YES, THE, THE HOU THE FULL HOUSE IS, IS SLATED TO TAKE THAT UP.
THE H THE OFFICE OF EQUITY BILL.
SO IT WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE.
IT WOULD CREATE A STATE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY.
I COMMUNICATED WITH OUR TEAM THIS MORNING THAT WE NEED TO LET OUR DELEGATION KNOW WE'RE SUPPORTIVE.
SO I IMAGINE THAT'S BEING DONE OR HAS BEEN DONE.
LET YOU, LET, LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE WE WE CAN DO ON THAT.
I READ THAT ONLY TWO PEOPLE TESTIFIED ON IT WHEN IT WAS AT COMMITTEE, BUT NONETHELESS, IT WAS VOTED OUT, SO THAT'S GREAT.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOLLOWING UP ON HB 3 1 12.
I AM ALSO VERY DISCOURAGED THAT IT, IT PROBABLY WON'T, UM, BE TURNED INTO LAW, BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE MEDICAID EXPANSION, UH, THERE WAS, UH, SOME TALK IN THE, IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT HOW, UH, THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION ON THE MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM, UH, WAS GOING TO AFFECT, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR FUNDING IN, IN TEXAS.
SO CAN YOU, CAN YOU TELL ME, IS THAT HAVING ANY SORT OF EFFECT ON, ON THE VOTE FOR MEDICAID? THAT WAS THE HOPE.
IN FACT, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE, THERE WERE SOME, UH, LEGISLATIVE TWEETS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS REVIVES THE WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION.
UM, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE CASE, BUT THERE'S A LOT, AND I'M VEERING NOW INTO THE TERRITORY OF SHARING WHAT WE HEAR, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE ACCURATE.
UM, WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL SESSION THIS SUMMER TO DEAL WITH THE FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND TO TAKE UP THE DISCUSSION ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION, UH, SORT OF AS A PACKAGE THING.
AGAIN, THE, OR AS A REMINDER, THE GOVERNOR IS THE ONE WHO SETS THE ITEMS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED IN A SPECIAL, IT'S NOT A OPEN FREE FOR ALL.
SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, REQUESTED OR PUT ON THE CALL BY THE GOVERNOR.
UH, THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF BILLS, UH, MOVING THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS THAT, THAT TAKE PIECEMEAL APPROACHES TO THIS.
UM, I THINK WE'VE REPORTED ON SOME OF THOSE IN PAST, UH, DISCUSSIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, EXPANDING MEDICAID FOR, UH, POSTPARTUM MOTHERS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT NOT THE BROAD ALL, ALL IN SORT OF EXPANSION.
UM, I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK THE VOTE THAT HAPPENED WITH THE AMENDMENT ON THE BUDGET LAST WEEK WHERE IT WENT DOWN IS, UH, A SIGNAL THAT EVEN THE 1 11 15 WAIVER REVOKE, UH, REVOKE REVOCATION DOESN'T, UM, DOESN'T CHANGE THE DISCUSSION UP THERE.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH, WE'RE PART OF THE BAYER HEALTH COALITION.
THEY'RE COMMUNICATING TO US EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN TO ENGAGE.
WE WERE ONE OF THE 150 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SIGNED ONTO A LETTER A WEEK OR SO AGO ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE THIS UP.
UM, BUT THE NEWS HASN'T BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY ENCOURAGING.
SO WHERE WOULD THAT LEAVE US, UH, IF IT'S NOT APPROVED AS LAW? AND THERE IS STILL A CHANGE TO HB 1 1 1 TO THE, SORRY, THE WAIVER 1115 WAIVER PROGRAM, AND MAYBE, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS FALLS INTO YOUR REALM OR
I'LL ANSWER THE SIMPLE ANSWER THAT I KNOW, WHICH IS THAT MEANS FEDERAL FUNDING WOULD RUN OUT IN SEPTEMBER AND THE 1115 WAIVER AS A GENERAL RULE WAS, UH, TO OFFSET THE COST OF, I BELIEVE, OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE TO HOSPITALS.
AND SO, UH, THAT WOULD PUT THE STATE IN A POSITION OF NOT HAVING THAT FEDERAL SUPPORT.
THE ARGUMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THAT THE 1115 WAIVER WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE LONG TERM.
IT WAS A SHORT TERM STOP GAP, UH, FOR STATES THAT DIDN'T TAKE UP, UH, THE BROAD EXPANSION.
UH, AND IT WAS JUST THE PAST PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION THAT SAID, OKAY, WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS, AND THAT'S GONE AWAY.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS ON THAT, BUT OUR METRO HEALTH PEOPLE COULD TALK BETTER, SPEAK BETTER ABOUT, UM, WHAT IT MEANS FOR US LOCALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRANT.
REALLY QUICK, UM, ERIC, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE STATE AND THE BROADBAND,
[02:10:01]
WELL, WHEN WE GET THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE 50 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE IN OUR FIRST ROUND, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS I NEED YOU TO CONSIDER PLEASE, IS THE SOUTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.THEY WERE NOT IN THE CONVERSATION WITH OUR FIRST ROUND OF THE 50 NEIGHBORHOODS FOR BROADBAND.
AND SOUTH SIDE I S D DOES NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT CONVERSATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UM, THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS AND I THINK SOME, UH, PROPOSED LEGISLATION REGARDING PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATIONS AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCE CORPORATIONS.
WHERE ARE THOSE LEADING, UH, AND, UH, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY MAY AFFECT OUR SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST? SURE.
IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY THAT ACTUALLY WE WERE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
SO SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE BILL I'M ABOUT TO MENTION THERE, THERE ARE OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE REALLY TRYING TO DEEPEN THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES, UH, WHO USE PFCS.
UH, AND SO THERE WAS A BILL YESTERDAY IN URBAN AFFAIRS THAT WE EXPRESSED OUR SUPPORT FOR, WHICH BIFURCATES THE LAW RELATED TO PFCS AND TREATS PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES LIKE SAHA DIFFERENTLY THAN, SAY, PRIVATE, UH, MARKET, UH, DRIVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IS AS THE, FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE PLACED ON HOUSING AUTHORITIES, IT IT COULD, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE MARKET, UH, BASED PROPERTIES NOT VIABLE.
AND SO THE LAW SEPARATES THE TWO, IT STILL KEEPS THE EXISTING REQUIREMENTS IN STATE LAW FOR DEVELOPER IS GONNA DO, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, WHILE SEPARATING THE, UM, PUBLIC HOUSING.
IT ALSO, UH, WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING LANGUAGE THAT PROHIBITS PFCS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS, SORT OF A NEW ISSUE THAT'S COME TO OUR RADAR, WHICH IS A P C IN THE VALLEY, FOR EXAMPLE, COMING IN AND DOING A PROJECT HERE THAT TAKES PROPERTIES OFF THE TAX ROLL.
I, WE THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT THE INTENT AND NOT NOT FAIR TO THE LOCAL TAXING ENTITIES.
SO, UM, THE NET EFFECT IS WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS BILL THAT WE THINK WOULD PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE P F C TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST, LIKE THE RED BERRY, UH, ESTATE, LIKE THE FRIEDRICH, UH, APART, UH, BUILDING APARTMENTS NEAR DOWNTOWN.
UH, AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE TRUST WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, WITH SAHA AND WITH SOME OF OUR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UH, WE ARE MAKING STRIDES RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH OUR HOUSING TRUST, P F C AND F C TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABILITY.
WE DON'T NEED THE STATE KIND OF MANDATING THINGS THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE REALLY COULDN'T BRING OUT, UH, OUT OF OUR EFFORTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
I KNOW THE C D C HAS DECLARED RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL WAS JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY, UM, THAT'S LOOKING TO GO FORWARD.
DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT WOULD THEN, UM, TRITE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, I KNOW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE DECLARE RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND HOW WILL THAT TRULY SPEAK TO THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, IF THERE WILL BE ONE AT THE, THE STATE LEVEL, UM, OR IF YOU'VE HEARD ANY OF THAT, UH, BEING, BEING MENTIONED, UM, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW WILL THAT CORRELATE TO GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HEALTHCARE, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HOSPITALS, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, UM, AND THEN SPEAK TO THE, THE ISSUE AS A WHOLE.
SO IF YOU'VE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT, UH, UH, DECLARING RACISM OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, CRISIS.
UM, AND THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS IN THE BILL FOR THAT CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY OF HEALTH EQUITY THAT SORT OF DIRECT THE, THE OFFICE TO DO VARIOUS THINGS.
I DON'T HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME, BUT, UM, I CAN PULL THOSE UP AND SEND THOSE TO YOU OFFLINE AS WELL.
I THINK THE MA THE BIG TAKEAWAY OF IT IS IF THE STATE ULTIMATELY ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT WE KNOW AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON HERE, THAT HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE RELATED TO GEOGRAPHY IN SOME CASES AND, AND CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND MANY OTHER THINGS, THEN THAT'S A PLUS FOR THE DELIVERY OF ALL SORTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES THAT, THAT THE STATE MAY BE A PARTNER IN.
SO, UM, I DON'T, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO SAY HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT ULTIMATELY STATEWIDE, BUT, BUT THAT IS THE INTENT TO START MOVING STATE GOVERNMENT IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE ALREADY ARE.
[02:15:02]
THANK YOU.COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
SORRY, I, I'M NOT USED TO ALL THE BUTTONS.
AGAIN, I HAVE TO RELEARN THEM.
UH,
SO, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK.
UH, AND THANKS, UH, JEFF, THANK YOU, UH, YOU AND CHRISTINA CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB FOR US UP THERE.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
UH, TWO, UH, TWO ITEMS I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, AND SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, VETO SOTO, UM, UH, VETO WAS, UM, NAMED, UH, ONE OF 10 WOMEN INNOVATING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY, UH, BLOOMBERG CITIES NETWORK.
UM, I, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT, UH, VETO DID NOT, UH, FOUND IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED.
AND IT IS A, AND THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF, OF 10 WOMEN, UH, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, THAT DID, UH, GREAT THINGS IN 2020.
SO CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT VETO, UM, HAS DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND HER AND HER ENTIRE TEAM.
AND I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
UM, SHE CERTAINLY IS REPRESENTING THE CITY WELL, UM, AND, UH, WITH BLOOMBERG.
AND, UM, UM, I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER.
I'M, I'M, I'M MORE PROUD THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE KIND OF JUST DIDN'T LET ANYBODY KNOW.
AND, UM, AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF PERSON SHE IS.
SO, VETO, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, CONGRATULATIONS AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THE SECOND ITEM, MAYOR IS OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO.
UM, SOME OF YOU KNOW JULIUS HUNTER, HE'S OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, UM, SUPERVISOR IN THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.
AND, UH, ON THE HEELS OF YESTERDAY'S, UH, PRESENTATION ABOUT PARKS AND REOPENING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, UM, JULIUS IS GONNA BE IN DEMAND AND BUSY.
HELLO, METRO HEALTH, DIABETES PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
WE OFFER THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR, UH, DIABETES PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM.
THE FIRST TYPE OF PROGRAM IS OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM.
IT'S KIND OF OUR OVERALL OVERARCHING PROGRAM.
THE SECOND PROGRAM WE OFFER IS OUR DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS IT THERE IN THE NAME.
THE GOAL THERE IS TO PREVENT DIABETES.
THE THIRD PROGRAM WE OFFER IS DI DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND THAT'S FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY, WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HELP.
SO TO BECOME MY LIFE'S PASSION, TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO GET HEALTHIER, DEFINITELY CONNECTED TO MY OWN PERSONAL JOURNEY IN HEALTH.
I LOST ABOUT A HUNDRED POUNDS THROUGH DIET AND EXERCISE.
WHEN I STARTED MY JOURNEY, I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND THOSE RESOURCES THAT I KNEW IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP ME OUT.
I WAS REALLY DOING IT ON MY OWN.
SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT WE ARE OFFERING THESE FREE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY CAN GO AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHY I LOVE WORKING FOR THE CITY, WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT PROGRAMS, SO MANY GREAT DEPARTMENTS DOING SO MANY MUCH GREAT WORK THAT REALLY AFFECT OUR LIVES AS EMPLOYEES.
AND SOMETIMES WE, WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT.
WE, WE ALSO SERVE EACH OTHER JUST AS MUCH AS WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, FOR AN EMPLOYEE THAT WANTS TO GET STARTED ON A HEALTHY TRACK WITH THEIR LIFE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO SAN ANTONIO.GOV/WELLNESS TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AND FIND THOSE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE GONNA BEST HELP THEM MEET THEIR NEEDS AT THIS TIME.
AND AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THAT JOURNEY, THEY MAY FIND THAT SOME OF THE OTHER TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM MAY BE BENEFICIAL AS WELL.
UH, WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, CONTINUED
[Executive Session]
FROM YESTERDAY.SO THE TIME IS NOW, WHAT TIME IS IT? 1133, UH, AM ON THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 29TH, 2021.
CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE, UH, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PUR PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071, AND TO CONTINUE DELIBERATIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THE ITEMS POSTED ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR APRIL 28TH, 2021, BUT NOT REACHED OR FINISHED.
[02:20:02]
ON THIS APRIL 29TH, 2021.CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.