[00:00:06]
I LIKE AUSTIN, BUT I LOVE SANTO BECAUSE THAT LOVE DANCING IN THEY GROOVE THEN HEAD BACK DOWN THE ROAD.
SO I LIKE, BUT I LOVE SANTON AND WE'RE PLACE TO GO.
[ PROCEDURAL ]
GOOD AFTERNOON ORIT'S 9:19 AM ON THIS 19TH DAY OF 2022.
UH, WE'LL CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER PALIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE VIRTUAL COUNCIL MEMBER.
COURAGE PRESENT, BUT ISOLATED.
UH, WELCOME AGAIN TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GET STARTED THIS MORNING.
UH, TO GET US STARTED THOUGH, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO TO RECOGNIZE AND WELCOME OUR INDICATOR.
MAYOR DANIEL GARCIA WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND HAS SPENT OVER 40 YEARS IN DISTRICT FIVE.
DURING THAT TIME, HE HAS SERVED HIS COMMUNITY IN NUMEROUS WAYS, NAMELY AS PASTOR AT THE LORD'S HOUSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT 1250 SOUTH TRINITY, AND AS THE OWNER AND MANAGER OF THE NEARBY GALLERIA FOODS AT 7 0 3 SAN JACINTO.
MY INTRODUCTION TO MR. GARCIA TOOK PLACE BACK WHEN I WAS STILL VERY YOUNG.
NOT TOO LONG AFTER HE OPENED UP THE GALLERIA IN THE EARLY NINETIES.
HE HAD INITIALLY PLANNED TO OPERATE THE STORE UNTIL HE FOUND WORK ELSEWHERE.
HOWEVER, THE GALLERIA SUCCESS CAME AS A BIT OF SURPRISE TO MR. GARCIA, AND HE ULTIMATELY ENDED UP STICKING AROUND FOR MUCH LONGER TO MUCH BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.
STUDENTS AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED JUST ACROSS THE STREET, VISIT THE GALLERIA EVERY DAY, AND NOT SIMPLY OUT OF CONVENIENCE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT A KIND OF LOYALTY.
OVER THE YEARS, MR. GARCIA HAS FORGED A DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THOSE STUDENTS.
HE HAS FOR DECADES BEEN A JUDGMENT-FREE DISPENSARY OF WISDOM AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE HIGH SCHOOLERS, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED IT.
IF YOU WALK INTO MR. GARCIA'S ESTABLISHMENT, YOU'LL FIND THE NEAR FOOTBALL TEAM PHOTOS AS WELL AS PHOTOS OF FORMER STUDENTS WHO'VE GONE OFF TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY ALONG THE WALL.
THOSE KIDS RIGHTLY VIEW MR. GARCIA AS HAVING PLAYED A ROLE IN THEIR SUCCESS, AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY SEES IT IN THE SAME WAY.
I REMEMBER MR. GARCIA AND HIS CHURCH FEEDING THE COMMUNITY EVERY NOVEMBER AROUND THANKSGIVING, AN ANNUAL ACT OF GENEROSITY THAT I KNOW MEANT A LOT TO STRUGGLING RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I KNOW IT MEANT A LOT TO MINE.
THAT IS WHO HE IS, AND THAT IS WHAT HE HAS SPENT YEARS PROVING HIMSELF TO BE A MAN OF GOD.
ACNE IN SERVICE TO OTHERS AND LIFTING THEM UP IN HIS WAY.
UM, MR. GARCIA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M OVERWHELMED BY THE INTRODUCTION.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO, TO OPEN UP.
THERE'S JUST TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, NUMBER ONE, THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US THAT A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT EASILY BROKEN.
IT ALSO TELLS US THAT WITH A MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS, YOU'LL HAVE GREAT SUCCESS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE TODAY.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TOGETHER WITH THE LORD, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SUCCESS.
WHEN I FIRST OPENED UP AT, UH, IN, UH, GALLERIA, THERE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS RUNNING VENITA GUADALUPE, A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION THERE.
I THINK HE WENT ON AND I THINK HE'S AN ARCHITECT AT WITH THE CITY IF HE'S STILL THERE, ROGER CARILLO.
[00:05:01]
AND HE CAME TO ME.I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM, AND HE CAME TO ME AND HE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, DANIEL, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR CORNER OF IT.
AND THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO DO, IS WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR CORNER OF THE WORLD.
AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAME VISION.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME HOPE FOR SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M SURE ALL THAT IS GONNA GET BETTER AND BETTER AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME AND LET'S OPEN UP IN PRAYER.
FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, FATHER AND LORD, THAT YOU FATHER, THAT YOU MAY BE SHARED IN ALL OF THIS.
FATHER LORD, I PRAY FOR WISDOM.
I PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT TO FALL UPON US.
FATHER, I PRAY FOR YOUR ANOINTING, FATHER, THAT WE MAY BE FILLED WITH YOU, FATHER AND LORD, THAT EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE, IT IS MADE TOGETHER.
FATHER, AS WE BECOME ONE LORD TODAY, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, OPEN TO HEAVENS FATHER AND BEGIN TO POUR YOUR DISCERNMENT AND YOUR WISDOM UPON US.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU, WE PRAISE YOU AND WE GLORIFY YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR GARCIA.
OUR FIRST, UM, ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 4TH AND MAY 5TH, 2022.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
ALL RIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 4TH AND FIFTH, 2022.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PAPA IS AN I.
[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ]
ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE HEART OF OUR AGENDA TODAY, UH, LOTS OF FOLKS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE WITH.UH, BUT I DO WANT TO BEGIN TODAY BY MARKING A SOLEMN OCCASION, AND THAT IS MEMORIAL DAY.
MEMORIAL DAY BECAME AN OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 1971, AND WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN 1868 TO COMMEMORATE THE SACRIFICES OF CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS.
WHILE COVID ARE CURTAILED MANY OF OUR CELEBRATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE DID NOT FORGET TO HONOR THE FALLEN AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WEARING THE CLOTH OF OUR NATION.
TODAY, MILITARY CITY U SS A PAYS TRIBUTE TO THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED FORCES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE IN SERVICE OF OUR NATION.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TRADITION.
WHILE IT'S A DAY TO PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THE FALLEN, IT'S ALSO A DAY TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO GRIEVE THEM GOLD STAR FAMILIES.
LET'S REMEMBER THAT EACH ONE OF THESE MILITARY MEMBERS LEFT IT BEHIND A WIFE, A HUSBAND, PARENTS, CHILDREN, OR OTHER LOVED ONES TO THEM, TODAY IS THE TOUGHEST DAY OF THE YEAR.
OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY IS THE SOLID SPINE OF THIS COUN COUNTRY.
AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WE HONOR TODAY, WE'RE MOSTLY VERY YOUNG.
MANY OF THEM WERE VOLUNTEERS, YET THEY STEPPED UP TO SERVE KNOWING THE ULTIMATE PRICE OF SERVING WAS NEVER COMING HOME.
THEY EMBODY THE SAYING GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
AS A NATION AND AS A CITY, WE, WE HAVE MANY OBLIGATIONS, BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE SACRED OBLIGATION, AND THAT IS TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY RETURN HOME AND WHEN THEY DON'T.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY STRIVE EVERY DAY TO MEET THAT SACRED OBLIGATION.
TODAY, OVER 7,000 MILITARY MEMBERS HAVE FALLEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OF WAR, THESE FALLEN ANGELS HAVE, AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN TERMED IT, GIVEN THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION.
TOO MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN FROM THE SAN ANTONIO REGION.
AND WHILE WE DON'T KNOW THEM ALL, WE OWE THEM ALL.
AT THIS TIME, I WANNA READ A SHORT VERSE CALLED PRAY.
WE NEVER FORGET, PRAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT THE FREEDOMS WE HOLD DEAR, WERE KEPT FOR US WITH BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS.
REMEMBER THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO PRESERVE OUR NATION? THEY LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES.
AND IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE NOW JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[00:10:06]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.AND I SEE, UH, OUR OFFICE OF MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS HERE.
UH, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO TO STEWARD THAT RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY.
UM, NOW, UH, WE HAVE SOME FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE MISSING SOME SCHOOL, SO I WANT TO GIVE IT OVER FIRST TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, TO WELCOME THEM AND RECOGNIZE, UH, THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FOR THE CESAR E CHAVEZ LEGACY AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN DR.
ROCHA GARCIA AND HER CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, TIM SALAS, FOR HELPING FACILITATE AND PUT THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT EASY TO COORDINATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS RUNS SMOOTHLY, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HELP.
TODAY, 20 GRADUATING SENIORS ARE RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP THAT WILL AID THEM ON THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.
WITH THE HELP OF THE CAESAR E CHAVEZ LEGACY AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, WE ARE MAKING THEIR EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS A REALITY.
OF COURSE, WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO JAIME MARTINEZ, ERNEST, THE FOUNDATION'S CHAIR'S.
FATHER, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH JAIME P MARTINEZ, HE GREW UP ON THE WEST SIDE AND GRADUATED FROM THE NEAR.
HE WAS A UNION MAN, DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO ORGANIZING WORKERS.
AND IN 1997, FOUNDED THE FIRST EVER CAESAR E CHAVEZ, MARCH FOR JUSTICE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE WEST SIDE IS FULL OF FIGHTERS.
ORIGINALLY, THE MARCH WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED BY THE CITY, BUT NOW IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST MARCHES FOR JUSTICE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO SPEAK AT THE MARCH FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, SO THANK YOU, EARNEST, TO THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT.
YOUR WORK HAS SHINED THROUGH AND YOU WILL HAVE EARNED THIS SCHOLARSHIP.
IF THERE ARE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO IMPART ON YOU ALL TODAY, TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE CESARY CHAVEZ.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO TEACH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL SO THEY CAN REALIZE THEIR AMBITIONS, SO THEY CAN EARN, EARN GOOD LIVINGS SO THEY CAN ACCUMULATE THE MATERIAL THINGS THAT THIS SOCIETY BESTOWS.
THOSE ARE WORTH WORTHWHILE GOALS, BUT IS IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO PROGRESS AS INDIVIDUALS WHILE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE LEFT BEHIND, SHOULD, SHOULD SERVE AS A REMINDER TO NEVER FORGET WHERE WE'VE COME FROM.
AND WHEREVER YOUR EDUCATIONAL PASSION TAKES YOU, I WISH YOU ALL SO MUCH SUCCESS.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO AND CONTINUE TO WORK UPLIFTING YOUR COMMUNITIES HERE ON THE WEST SIDE AND ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
AND I'D LIKE TO NOW INVITE, UH, DR.
CARLA AND THE CHAIR, UM, ERNEST, UH, UP TO THE PODIUM.
WELL, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR THE FOUNDATION.
UH, TWO YEAR HIATUS, BRINGING BACK THE MARCH, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE ON THAT SATURDAY.
WE HAD A LABOR DAY, HOL, UH, EXCUSE ME, A HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF CESA CHAVEZ PASSED THE FIRST MAJOR CITY IN THE US TO DO SO.
BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU TONIGHT, WE'RE GONNA BE VERY EXCITED AS WE AWARD THESE SCHOLARSHIPS AND RECOGNIZE THEM THIS AFTERNOON.
THESE STUDENTS THAT WERE SELECTED, UH, A LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THESE STUDENTS ARE HEADED FOR GREATNESS.
THEY, THEIR ESSAYS AND ALL OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS DEFINITELY PREPOSITIONS THEM FOR SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW, MY FATHER, WHEN HE STARTED THIS IN 97, I REMEMBER, UH, THE, THE FIRST SCHOLARSHIP, UH, DINNER WE HAD WAS OVER AT ST.
HENRY'S RESERVE IN DISTRICT FIVE IN THE GYMNASIUM WITH ABOUT 10, WITH ABOUT 10 STUDENTS.
AND SO IT BEGAN TO GROW OVER THE YEARS.
BUT I, I GOTTA TELL YOU THIS YEAR, UH, FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LABOR TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN, TO BE A RECORD YEAR FUNDRAISING EFFORT, $50,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE.
NOW, MY FATHER ALWAYS QUOTE, OFTEN QUOTED CESA CHAVEZ, BUT I'D LIKE TO QUOTE MY FATHER.
HE ONCE SAID, AND HE ONCE SAID, OUR FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO MARCH PROTEST AND FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, BUT TO ALSO REMEMBER THE MOST IN NEED.
IT WAS IN HIS HEART TO GIVE BACK.
AND IT'S INSTILLED IN OUR FOUNDATION, WHETHER IT BE A THANKSGIVING IN THE BARRIO OR THE CESA CHAVEZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT TONIGHT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION TODAY FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A VERY, VERY SPECIAL, VERY SPECIAL YEAR FOR US.
SO IT'S BEEN, UH, BEEN QUITE A RIDE, YOU KNOW, BUT I, I ALSO WANT TO ADD CESA CHAVEZ IN THIS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, CESA LOVES SAN ANTONIO.
AND, UH, THAT MEETING BETWEEN MY FATHER AND HIM IN THE LATE SIXTIES DEVELOPED INTO A RELATIONSHIP.
AND MY FATHER, UH, ALWAYS REMINDED US OF THE PE PEOPLE WOULD ASK, WHY IS, PEOPLE WOULD ASK, WHY CESA CHAVEZ? WHY? BECAUSE CESA CHAVEZ HAD A, A TRUE LOVE FOR OUR CITY.
HE WAS INTRODUCED IN DISTRICT FIVE AT MOCK IN 1979.
[00:15:01]
OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STRUGGLES AND, AND MOVEMENTS ALONG THE WAY.BUT, YOU KNOW, CESA CHAVEZ REMINDS US, AND, AND I QUOTE, WE CANNOT SEEK ACHIEVEMENT FOR OURSELVES AND FORGET ABOUT PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR AMBITIONS MUST BE BROUGHT ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE ASPIRATIONS AND NEEDS OF OTHERS FOR THEIR SAKES, AS WELL AS FOR OUR OWN, THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF SESSA CHAVEZ.
CARLA DURAN'S, OUR SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO HER TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS AND WE, WE CAN BEGIN THE RECOGNITION.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.
SO, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL ON EVERY DONOR AND SPONSOR AND OUR SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE FOR ALSO, UM, SHOWING UP AND MAKING THESE REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT APPLIED WERE WONDERFUL, AND WE HAD TO NARROW IT DOWN TO THESE LAST 20 THAT WILL BE RECEIVING $2,500 EACH TO HELP THEM, UH, IN THEIR JOURNEY TO COLLEGE.
SO WE HAVE, UM, OUR BEAUTIFUL STUDENTS HERE TODAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND WE WANNA JUST CONGRATULATE YOU AND BECAUSE YOU GUYS REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO TO EVERY CITY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE AT, UM, AND ABROAD.
SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR JUDGES, UM, HERE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED AND GET THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, UM, HONORED TODAY.
ONE LAST THING I I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA.
I KNOW SHE'S AT HOME RECOVERING, AND MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, ADRIANA, OUT THERE FOR, UH, AS YOU GET THROUGH THIS, UH, THIS COVID.
SO THANK YOU, ADRIANA, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND FOR THE PHONE CALL YOU MADE.
I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'D LIKE TO CALL THE MAYOR IF YOU COULD PLEASE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START WITH MR. RAY GONZALEZ.
YOU ARE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE MAYOR.
AND NEXT IS MS. EMILY CASTILLO.
WE NOW HAVE ESMERALDA MACIATO MADISON WRIGHT.
SHE COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY, BUT WE WILL HAVE CHRISTIANA GARCIA.
WE NOW HAVE MS. LINDA RAMIREZ, MR. MICHAEL VALDEZ,
[00:20:20]
MS. ALEXIS LOZANO, MS. SOPHIE RUBIO, MS. ABIGAIL, CECILIA MARTINEZ.SHE COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY.
SO WE HAVE LAUREN CUNNINGHAM, MS. VICTORIA ESPINOZA, MR. ALESSANDRO ESPINOZA, MR. FRANCISCO RIA, MR. DAVID CORTEZ, MS. NATALIE CARILLO, MS. DARLENE ANN TU, MS. URIEL GONZALEZ, MR. URIEL GONZALEZ.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MS. MAGALI CARILLO, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS TODAY.
NOW, WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY FOR THE WHOLE MEETING, BUT WE DO HOPE YOU'LL STAY FOR A FEW WORDS OF COMMENDATION FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN ELIAS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS, UH, BEAUTIFUL TO SEE YOU.
AND, UM, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO INSPIRES ME AND INSPIRES EVERYBODY AROUND YOU.
I, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, AND I'VE TOLD YOU THIS IN THE PAST, I, I LOVED YOUR FATHER VERY, VERY MUCH.
UH, HE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE HUMAN BEINGS THAT I'VE EVER, I'VE EVER COME ACROSS.
AND, HI, SAN ANTONIO'S, UM, LESS OF A CITY WITH HIM GONE.
BUT, UH, YOU'RE, UH, YOU AND YOUR WORK REALLY ARE FILLING A VOID THAT YOUR, UM, THAT YOUR FATHER LEFT BEHIND.
[00:25:01]
UH, MANY OF US WERE WORRIED, AND I'M, I'M GONNA CONFESS IT, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ONCE HY HAD PASSED, THAT, THAT, UH, THE ENERGY BEHIND THE FOUNDATION WOULDN'T BE THERE, AND THAT WE WOULD SEE A FOUNDATION THAT WAS, UM, NOT FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS.UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JAIME, OF COURSE, WAS IRREPLACEABLE.
BUT, UM, I KNOW HE IS LOOKING DOWN AND HE'S VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOUR WORK AND THE WORK OF, UH, ALL THE KIDS THAT WE JUST CELEBRATED, AND, UM, ALL THE WORK OF ALL OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS.
UM, AND YOU GUYS ARE STRONGER THAN EVER.
AND I'M JUST DELIGHTED THAT, UH, I'M ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THAT YOU'RE IN MY CITY.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY, COUNCILMAN.
CARLA FOR BRINGING THE, UH, STUDENTS HERE TODAY.
THE ONE THING, I I'VE BEEN PART OF THE MARCH.
I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE SENDING.
UM, SESAR CHAVEZ, DOLORES HUERTA, WHAT THEY MEANT, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY ACROSS TO, TO THE COMMUNITY, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER.
AND WE TRY AND HONOR, AND YOU, YOU ALL HAVE DONE THAT TODAY, AND I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN E EASY BECAUSE YOUR PAST, THESE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.
BUT YOU SUCCEEDED AND YOU CAME THROUGH AND UNDERSTAND THAT SAN ANTONIO IS YOUR HOME, AND WE WELCOME YOU, AND WE WANT YOU TO FIND GREAT SUCCESS.
BUT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO COME HOME AND, AND REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO WITH YOU.
AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, IF YOU DON'T COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, SAN ANTONIO IS ALWAYS WITH YOU SUPPORTING YOU AND CHEERING, CHEERING YOU ON.
COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
ERNEST, WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN.
CARLA, WHAT, GREAT, GREAT TO SEE YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS.
UH, THERE ARE SOME FACES I ALREADY RECOGNIZE IN THAT CROWD THAT COME TO CITY HALL QUITE FREQUENTLY, AND NOT JUST TO WATCH THE SHOW, BUT THEY ARE THE SHOW, UH, WHEN THEY COME.
SO, I, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE OFF TO WONDERFUL THINGS, AND, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR JOURNEYS AS YOU BEGIN, UH, COLLEGE.
AND ERNEST, I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE.
UH, THE OTHER DAY WHEN WE, UH, HONORED WORKERS, IT WAS WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE LEGACY OF OF CSTA CHAVEZ IS, UH, I MEAN, HE'S A HERO FOR US, OF COURSE, BUT WE CAN'T FORGET WHAT HE FOUGHT FOR.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL WILL, WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU, AS YOU MOVE THROUGH YOUR CAREERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
THANK YOU ERNEST, FOR CONTINUING, UH, THE GREAT TRADITION THAT YOUR DAD STARTED MANY YEARS AGO.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE STARTED OR CONTINUED, I THINK BLESSES ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY BY HELPING THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GO ON TO, UH, BETTER THINGS IN THEIR LIVES.
AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL ALL MAKE STRONG CONTRIBUTIONS THIS COMMUNITY, JUST AS YOU HAVE, AS YOUR FATHER DID IN THE FUTURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
UM, I WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HUGE MILESTONE.
AND, UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GRADUATING THIS, ALL OF YOU'RE GRADUATING THIS SEMESTER, CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, I KNOW EVEN PRIOR TO THE, UH, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, YOU GUYS ARE A GENERATION THAT HAS CHALLENGES AND HAS, UM, UH, CHALLENGES THAT MANY OF US AND NO GENERATION BEFORE YOU HAVE SEEN, UM, INCLUDING THE BEING BORN INTO TECHNOLOGY AND INTO SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTO THE CRAZINESS THAT IS OUR WORLD.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY, UH, RESILIENT, VERY, VERY RESILIENT.
AND I KNOW THAT ALSO YOU BEING A PART OF THIS GENERATION, THAT YOU ARE SMARTER.
UM, YOU'RE MORE CULTURALLY SAVVY AND YOU'RE BETTER EQUIPPED TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS SCHOLARSHIP MAKES IT JUST A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
CONGRATULATIONS, ACCOMPLISH AMAZING THINGS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MAKI RODRIGUEZ, UM, ERNIE, I, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE RECOGNIZE THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS INDIVIDUALLY IN CITY HALL.
IS THIS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THAT? YEAH, IT'S THE FIRST TIME.
UH, TO THE STUDENTS, TO THE PARENTS, UM, TO THE TEACHERS.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S THE FIRST TIME.
SO I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND ROCHA GARCIA FOR, FOR DOING THIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME, NOT ONLY THAT WE GROW
[00:30:01]
THE MARCH, BUT WE ALSO GROW THE MARCHES, UH, IMPACT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.AND THAT IS BEING, UH, FELT IN, IN GENERATIONS THROUGH THE WORK THAT, THAT YOU'RE DOING TO GET PEOPLE INTO COLLEGE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE STAY AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.
UH, I ALSO WAS IMPRESSED, UH, BY THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES AND, AND THE INITIATIVE THAT THEY SHOW.
UH, AND, AND I KNOW I, I MET A YOUNG MAN NAMED ALESSANDRO ESPINOZA THIS MORNING.
AND, UH, SO I KNOW OUR A H A A N H P I MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I THINK FOLKS WHO STUDY THE LEGACY OF CESAR CHAVEZ IN PARTICULAR, WILL APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S A FILIPINO AMERICAN RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP, KNOWING THAT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY INSPIRED CESAR CHAVEZ IN MANY WAYS, TO, TO, UH, BRING THE FIGHT, UH, FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND FARM WORKERS, UH, AND LABOR RIGHTS, UH, TO TEXAS AND, AND NOW HAS BEEN SOLIDIFIED IN MANY WAYS.
AND, AND OBVIOUSLY AS A MARCH, IT STILL CONTINUES.
BUT, UH, IT'S A GREAT INTERSECTION THAT, THAT I THINK WE'RE SEEING TODAY, UH, AND THAT HOPEFULLY THESE YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE APPARENTLY NO STRANGERS TO COUNCIL ALREADY WILL CONTINUE IN OUR CITY AND AND BEYOND.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY, UH, FOR YOUR SUCCESS AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK, UH, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, KUDOS TO THE PARENTS TOO.
UH, KUDOS TO THE PARENTS FOR A WONDERFUL JOB IN RAISING THEIR KIDS AND READY TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE HERE.
ALRIGHT, AND WELL, AND, AND, UM, AND IF YOU DO HAVE TO FILTER OUT, NO ONE WILL, UH, BE UPSET BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL.
WE KNOW YOU'RE CALLING THE RIGHT SHOT.
SO JUST AS YOU DO FILTER OUT, IF YOU HAVE TO DO SO, UM, IF YOU CAN JUST KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WE WANNA RECOGNIZE TODAY.
AND SPEAKING OF FILIPINO AMERICANS, UH, I, UH, HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF WELCOMING OUR, UH, ASIAN AMERICAN, UH, NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
IT IS A N H P I, UH, HERITAGE MONTH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
I HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON MONDAY.
UH, AND, AND NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR US TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, AND, AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY HAVE FACED, UH, SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN, UH, THE, THE TARGET OF HATE CRIME, UH, AT RECORD LEVELS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND IT'S TIME THAT WE RECOGNIZE, UH, THE IMPACT, UH, BROADLY THAT, UH, THE ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY HAS HAD IN OUR COUNTRY, AND IN PARTICULAR IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO RECOGNIZE, UH, WITH A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2022, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC DESCENT HAVE HAD ON THE UNITED STATES.
WE ALSO COMMEMORATE ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO WE HAVE LOST TO ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME SELECTED BY FEDERAL ASIAN AMERICAN, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COUNCIL IS ADVANCING LEADERS THROUGH COLLABORATION, ENCOURAGING LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO PRIORITIZE COLLABORATION, DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND INCLUSION THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER PEOPLE.
AND WHEREAS CITIZENS OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLAND ANCESTRY HAVE HELPED MAKE AMERICA A VIBRANT AND FREE SOCIETY THROUGH THEIR STRONG VALUES, LOVE A FAMILY AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS BRING CULTURAL TRADITIONS, NATIVE LANGUAGES, AND RICH UNIQUE AND HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES OF THE DIVERSE ETHNIC GROUPS FROM THE ASIAN CONTINENT AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY OF OUR SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS HISTORICALLY, ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND OUR NATION AND TO PROTECT THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY, AND CONTINUE TO SERVE PROUDLY AS THEY CARRY ON OUR NATION'S NOBLE TRADITION OF ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD.
NOW THEREFORE, IRAN NURENBERG, THE FIRST MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER SCENT IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2022 TO BE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND INVITE ALL ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS TO STAND TALL AND PROUD OF YOUR HERITAGE.
AS I ASK FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO STAND UNITED AGAINST RACISM AND ANTI-ASIAN HATE FOR NO PERSON OR COMMUNITY SHOULD EVER FACE ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE OR DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THEIR HERITAGE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE PODIUM.
UM, I KNOW, UH, WE HAVE, UH, NICOLETTE, WHO IS THE, UH, ONE OF OUR YOUNG STUDENT LEADERS.
WE HAVE CAMILLE AND MEMBERS OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
[00:35:01]
COME ON UP, Y'ALL AND GIVE US A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE MONTH.WHEN IS THE
MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER SHA AND I AM THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS.
I GET CHOKED UP EVERY TIME I SAY THIS.
I PRACTICE A MILLION TIMES, I PROMISE.
UM, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL LEAD FOR ASIAN TEXANS FOR JUSTICE, WHERE WE CAN, OUR MISSION IS TO CONNECT ASIAN TEXANS ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON MEANINGFUL CIVIC ACTION TO BUILD PERSONAL AND POLITICAL POWER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
I AM JOINED THIS MORNING WITH AMAZING A A P I LEADERS BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UM, I'M SORRY, AMA AMAZING.
A A P I, LEADERS AND BUSINESSES AND JUST COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ADVOCATES WHO ARE PROUD TO STAND BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW IN, IN HONOR OF OUR A A P I COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, ASIAN AMERICANS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING RACIAL ETHNIC GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE TERM ASIAN AMERICAN WAS ACTUALLY USED, UH, FIRST IN 1968 BY UC, BERKELEY'S GRADUATE STUDENTS AS A WAY TO UNITE CHINESE, KOREAN, JAPANESE, FILIPINO AMERICANS, AND AMONG OTHERS TO FIGHT FOR POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ACTION.
WHO KNEW WE WOULD STILL BE DOING THAT TODAY? THE A A P I POPULATION IN TEXAS ALONE IS OVER 1.8 MILLION.
THE LARGEST A A P I ETHNIC POPULATIONS ARE INDIAN, VIETNAMESE, CHINESE, FILIPINO, KOREAN, AND PAKISTANI SINCE 2000, THE A A P I POPULATION HAS GROWN OVER 137% BASED ON 2020 CENSUS DATA IN BEXAR COUNTY.
WE HAVE OVER 94,562 A A P I FOLKS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND OF THOSE IDENTIFYING AS ASIAN AMERICAN AT LEAST SIX 61% SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE AT HOME.
SO OUR NEXT TARGET IS ACTUAL A A P I LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH WITH US, WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A MOMENTOUS TIME, AND HONESTLY, WITH YOUR HELP MAYOR, WE'VE, WE HONESTLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT GREAT CHAPTERS THAT WE CAN BUILD TOGETHER FOR THE A A P I COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF THAT HAVE HELPED CREATE, UH, HELPED PUSH THIS PROCESS AND THE PROCLAMATION FORWARD.
MARIO OGA, CIA, GUNTHER, AND ZACH, LIKE OUR CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE MAYOR WHO IS ALSO A MIXED RACE, A A P I.
SO I HUMBLY AND GRACIOUSLY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF A A P I COMMUNITY.
THIS IS THE START OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND NEW IN SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE ASIAN AMERICAN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WANNA GIVE OVER THE MIC TO MY DEAR FRIEND, CAMILLE DE LOS REYES, SARA, THE ENTIRE BEAUTIFUL BUSINESSES THAT THEY HAVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO TALK ABOUT THE AMAZING A P I PASSPORT RESTAURANT PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE RUNNING ALL MONTH LONG.
UH, GOOD MORNING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUDIENCE, UM, TO MY FELLOW A P P I RESTAURANT AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE COME TO REPRESENT US TODAY.
UH, WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH THE RECOGNITION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN, UM, THE A AP A A P I COMMUNITY.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR FOR SHOW SHEDDING LIGHT TO THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO.
YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A BIG SUPPORTER OF OUR BUSINESS PER PERSONALLY.
UM, AND TO SEE YOU SHINE IN THIS, UM, ARENA IS AWESOME.
UM, WE CREATED, OH, IT DISAPPEARED.
UM, FOR, TO COMMEMORATE THIS MONTH, UM, ME AND, UM, TANNER FROM DO SOUTH CREATIVE HAVE HELPED TO CREATE THIS, UM, A A P I SAN ANTONIO RESTAURANT PASSPORT TO KIND OF SHED LIGHT ON, UM, THE DIFFERENT A A P I RESTAURANT OWNERS AND BUSINESSES, UM, THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S A SHORT LIST OF A LITTLE OVER 30 RESTAURANTS, UM, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT OURSELVES.
UM, THEY'RE OFFERING A 10% DISCOUNT ALL MONTH LONG WHEN YOU
[00:40:01]
VISIT OUR RESTAURANTS.UM, CHECK OFF THE PASSPORT AND, UM, SUPPORT, LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CULTURES THAT EXIST IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, ALLOW PEOPLE TO SHARE THE STORIES OF HOW THEY GOT HERE, UM, THEIR IMMIGRATION STORIES, UM, THE, JUST THE CULTURE THAT SURROUNDS ALL OF THE RESTAURATEURS HERE.
UM, SO APPRECIATIVE TO BE A PART OF IT AND TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE IN.
UM, HOPEFULLY THIS GAINS MOMENTUM AND IT CAN GO YEAR TO YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CITY, REALLY, AND TO NICOLETTE AND FOR YOU GUYS TO HELP PROPEL THIS FOR ALL OF OUR SPONSORS.
UM, I'M JUST IN UTTER GRATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO STAND HERE TODAY.
YOU, ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK? ARABLE, THE MAYORS AND ARABLE CITY COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT MONTH, DAY AND YEARS TO COME.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND THIS IS OUR YOUNG LEADERS WITHIN OUR A A P I.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA CONTINUE TO PROMOTE, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR GALA.
I REPRESENT ALI, MY ASIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND MANY OF YOU, ALL OF YOU ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE THIS HISTORIC, UH, MOMENT WITH US NEXT WEEK.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OUR A A P I LEADERSHIP.
PROPONENT, LEADERSHIPS AND ADVISORY A BOARD MEMBER FOR OUR CHAMBER.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, WE DO HAVE COUNCIL COMMENTS.
UH, I, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, NICOLETTE AND I USED TO WORK TOGETHER AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO, AND SHE WAS A FIRECRACKER THERE.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE USING YOUR VOICE THE WAY YOU ARE TODAY.
MAY AND I TALKED, UH, AT, AT THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART, AND I, I TOLD HER, I LOOKED AT THE REDI.
I I LOOKED AT, WE WERE TALKING REDISTRICTING.
I LOOKED AT THE CENSUS NUMBERS AND I SAID, MY ASIAN AMERICANS WERE NOT COUNTED.
THEY WERE NOT COUNTED COMPLETELY.
AND SHE TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE SCARED.
'CAUSE THEY, AND AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE SCARED BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL WELCOME.
SO TODAY WE'RE SAYING, NO, YOU ARE PART OF MY COMMUNITY.
YOU NEED TO USE YOUR VOICE, AND YOU NEED TO BE COUNTED BECAUSE THIS IS HOW SAN ANTONIO GROWS.
WE GROW WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU USE YOUR VOICES.
SO I'M SO PROUD OF YOU PERSONALLY, NICOLETTE, I'M SO THANKFUL TO ALL OF Y'ALL FOR BEING OUT HERE BECAUSE THIS IS HOW SAN ANTONIO MOVES FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I JUST HAVE TO GIVE IZZY A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE SHE, I ADMIRE YOU SO MUCH IN THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN DISTRICT FIVE AND ACROSS SAN ANTONIO TO ENSURE THAT, UH, ALL COMMUNITIES MARGINALIZED OR NOT, ARE REPRESENTED AND HEARD.
AND I ADORE YOU, IZZY AND COMMUNITY
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL.
I, I WANNA TELL YOU, UM, I'M, I'M NOT ASIAN, UH, BUT I, I SURE, UH, REGRET NOT HAVING BEEN BORN ASIAN BECAUSE, UH, MY LAST NAME IS, UH, EZ.
MY FIRST NAME IS MANUELA, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMMON NAMES IN THE PHILIPPINES.
UM, AND SO I GET ALL OF THE FILIPINO, UH, TELEMARKETERS CALLING ME SPEAKING, UH, UH, IN TAGALOG, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
AND SO ALL I CAN SAY IS UBA WHEN THEY CALL ME.
BUT, UM, I LOVE THE FACT THAT, UH, ALL OF MY, UH, MY ASIAN COMMUNITY, UM, MOST OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO LIVES IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO ALL THE FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS, UH, AND, UH, THE, THE TEMPLES, BUT ALSO, UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE, UH, LOOKING TO, UH, LIVE IN, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE, UH, OTHER ASIANS LIVE.
AND, UH, I, I LOVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE PICKED DISTRICT EIGHT IN WHICH TO, UH, LIVE, PLAY WORK, THRIVE WORSHIP.
UM, I, I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY FAMILY AND I ARE GONNA BE CELEBRATING, UH, THIS MONTH, AND WE'RE GONNA BE VISITING ALL OF OUR, AS, AS MANY OF OUR ASIAN RESTAURANTS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND, UH, I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE AND EVERYBODY'S WELCOME TO OUR ASIAN RESTAURANTS IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, YEAH, AND I HOPE TO BUMP INTO YOU.
I WANNA OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SUCCESS AND THE DEDICATION THAT SO MANY ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I PARTICULARLY REMEMBER ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO GOING TO THE SAUDI SAUDI STORE OPENING.
[00:45:01]
I REALLY ENJOYED THAT.AND, UH, I KNOW THAT YOU OFFER A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS TO THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, MY DAUGHTER MADE A GREAT DECISION IN MARRYING A JAPANESE AMERICAN FAM INTO A JAPANESE AMERICAN FAMILY, THE TATAU FAMILY.
AND TODAY, UH, I HAVE A WONDERFUL GRANDSON, RYAN TATAU.
SO MY COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY RUNS DEEP, AND I WISH YOU ALL GREAT SUCCESS.
THANKS FOR BEING PART OF SAN ANTONIO.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, HAPPY ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING TIME.
UM, I WANTED TO VERBALIZE A COMMITMENT.
UM, AND I THINK ABOUT THIS, UM, WHENEVER WE HAVE MINORITY GROUPS AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY SPEAK IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL FOR US TO CELEBRATE AND FOR US TO, UM, HAVE THIS MOMENT AND TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH.
BUT I'M GOING TO CONSIDER THIS A CHALLENGE THAT WHEN I HIRE, WHEN I MAKE A BOARD APPOINTMENTS OR WHEN I PUT, UH, UH, EMPOWER PEOPLE AND PLACE 'EM IN POSITIONS OF DECISION MAKING THAT I'M CONSIDERING, UM, THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY, AND I, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BLIND SPOT.
AND SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO PUT THAT COMMITMENT OUT THERE, AND I HOPE, AND I WOULD CHALLENGE MY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND FOR WHAT, UH, YOU ARE DOING, REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
AND, AND I HAVE TO SAY, CAMILLE, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING CREATIVE AND CREATING THIS, UH, RESTAURANT MONTH PASSPORT.
UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT THERE WITH MY TEAM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CHECK OFF AS MANY OF THOSE RESTAURANTS AS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TOO, BY THE WAY.
HAVE A WONDERFUL MONTH, AND WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE.
UH, LET ME RECOGNIZE NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN, UH, WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
UH, SO TODAY I HAVE TWO POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, AND THE FIRST IS MOMS ON THE MOVE.
SO WHILE WE KNOW WE SHOULD ALWAYS HONOR OUR MOMS, UH, DURING MAY, WE TAKE SPECIAL TIME TO DO SO.
AND ONE WAY THAT WE SHOW THEM LOVE IS BY MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE HEALTHY.
WE KNOW THAT AN EVERYDAY ROUTINE, IT CAN GET HARD TO FOCUS ON SELF-CARE, YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH, UH, JUST TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF.
BUT THIS SATURDAY, DISTRICT THREE, BROOKS HARVEY NAMM, Y M C A, SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, PRE-K FOR SA MISSION TRAILS BAPTIST HOSPITAL, WILL BE, WILL HOST THE MOMS ON THE MOVE.
OTHERS INTEN IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDE RESOURCES FROM ANY BABY CAN WIC, MEDICAID, AND SNAP.
THEY'RE HOSTING A FREE WALK FOR MOMS, DADS KIDS, AND GRANDPARENTS AT THE GREEN LINE ON BROOKS.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, IT IS BEAUTIFUL WITH OVER 100 REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
THE GOAL IS FOR FAMILIES TO WALK WITH MOM.
THE EVENT IS ENCOURAGING MOMS TO WALK BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER PREGNANCY TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS, ESPECIALLY DURING PREGNANCY FOR BETTER DELIVERY OUTCOMES, AND TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR CARE.
THE EVENT ALSO ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO WALK TOGETHER AND EAT HEALTHY TOGETHER.
SO THEY'LL BE PROVIDING HEALTHY RECIPE IDEAS, AND WE'LL HAVE A PRODUCE VENDOR ON SITE FOR A $5 BAG OF FRESH VEGGIES AND FRUITS.
IN 2019, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DID THE STATUS OF WOMEN FROM IT.
WE LEARNED ALARMING FACTS, UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN REGARDS TO PRENATAL CARE.
IN BEXAR COUNTY, LOW-INCOME WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE ADEQUATE PRENATAL CARE AND MORE LIKELY TO HAVE NEGATIVE BIRTH OUTCOMES.
ON SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE, JUST 54% OF WOMEN RECEIVE PRENATAL CARE IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER COMPARED TO 77% NATIONWIDE.
THE WALK IS TWOFOLD, PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR WOMEN TO HELP OVERCOME THESE STATS.
AND TORI TO REMIND WOMEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THE MISSION TRAILS BAPTIST HOSPITAL HAS, YOU CAN NOW HAVE YOUR BABY THERE AT THE NEST, AND THAT WAS OPEN IN AUGUST, 2021.
I WANNA THANK, UM, MARY WIRTH FROM MISSION TRAILS BAPTIST HOSPITAL, WHO'S HERE REPRESENTING IF YOU COULD STAND, MARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
MARY AND MISSION, CHARLES BAPTIST HEARD THE CALL FROM THAT 2019 SURVEY.
IT WASN'T JUST A SURVEY THAT SAT ON THE SHELF FOR THEM.
THEY, THEY TOOK ACTION, THEY CREATED THE NEST FOR, UH, SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE CHILDREN ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND NOW THEY'RE CONTINUING IT WITH THIS WALK.
SO I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT MOMS ON THE MOVES.
[00:50:01]
UM, BARRING ANY, UH, ANY, ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT COME UP AND FILL HER SCHEDULE.I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'LL BRING HER FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS, BUT FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU'ALL FOR, FOR CONTINUING TO CHAMPION WOMEN AND MOMS ON THE MOVE.
MY SECOND POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IS, UH, MILITARY APPRECIATION.
I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY TALKED, UM, ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY, AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE IT FROM THE DIOCESE NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE'RE OFF.
BUT THIS SATURDAY IS ARMED FORCES DAY, AND IT WAS CONCEIVED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 1949 AND FORCED COMMEMORATED IN 1950.
ARMED FORCES DAY IS THE ANNUAL OBSERVANCE CELEBRATED ON THE THIRD SATURDAY OF EACH MAY FOR THOSE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY.
UH, BECAUSE WE ARE MILITARY CITY U SS A, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE DAYS THAT CELEBRATE OUR MILITARY IN THEIR SERVICE.
JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO'S MISSION INCLUDES INTELLIGENCE, CYBERSECURITY, AVIATION, BASIC TRAINING, MEDICAL CONTRACTING, INSTALLATION, SUPPORT, DEFENSE AND SECURITY CO COOPERATION.
AND THIS IS THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
SO I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE ANY DAY THAT, UM, THAT PASSES.
AND I THINK I SAID TRUMAN IN 19
UM, DURING THE COVID, WE WANNA REMEMBER HOW THE MILITARY SUPPORTED OUR PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, RESERVES THAT COMES EVERY MONDAY TO MY FIELD OFFICE TO GIVE BOOSTERS AND TEST FOR THOSE.
SO WHILE ONLY 1% OF OUR NATION CITIZENS SERVE IN THE MILITARY, THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND VOLUNTEERED TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE TO PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE.
MILITARY FAMILY IS NOT EASY, AND THE FAMILY SEPARATION, FREQUENT MOVES AND DEPLOYMENT TO DANGEROUS REGIONS OF THE WORLD ARE COMMON.
SO TODAY, AS OUR MILITARY, OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ARE, ARE ALL OVER, UM, EASTERN EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AND THE FAR EAST.
I WOULD LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE OR KNOW SOMEONE THAT ARE SERVING ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY TO PLEASE STAND UP TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ARE SERVING OVERSEAS.
UH, AND NOW LET ME CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FOR A POINT OF PERSON PRIVILEGE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DISTRICT TWO RESIDENTS TO A COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION SUMMIT ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH FROM SIX TO EIGHT AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH COMMUNITY CENTER.
I WANT YOU TO JOIN US FOR A BRAINSTORMING SESSION TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO CRIME, INCLUDING BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON INFRASTRUCTURE AS CRIME PREVENTION, COMMUNITY SUCCESS STORIES, AND PROPOSALS FOR STATE AND LOCAL POLICY INITIATIVES.
THIS WILL BE SIX TO 8:00 PM ON THURSDAY, MAY 26TH AT SECOND BAPTIST SECOND BAPTIST COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE'LL HAVE LOCAL OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TOGETHER TO BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS FROM CITY COUNT AND STATE LEVELS AS WELL AS AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.UM, WE ARE GONNA GET INTO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA NOW, AND FOR, UH, MY COLLEAGUES, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS LISTED AS INDIVIDUALLY CONSIDERED.
ALL OTHER ITEMS ARE FOR OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, SO AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? 23.
ANY OTHERS? ALRIGHT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR FOUR AND 23.
UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START OUR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S NO, THERE ARE NO CITIZENS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO STRAIGHT INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
AND, AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, HIGHLIGHT CONSENT AGENDA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO QUEUE IN ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. AND THIS INCLUDES ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ON CONSENT.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16, UM, THE ACCEPTANCE OF $1 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS FOR THE EXPANSION
[00:55:01]
OF THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.THE 2020 POINT IN TIME COUNT FOUND THAT, UH, ONE IN FOUR HOUSES, PERSONS IN SAN ANTONIO REPORTED EXPERIENCING A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, MENTAL HEALTH INCIDENTS HAPPEN, UM, DESPITE YOUR HOUSING STATUS.
SO THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT REPRESENTS A CRITICAL SHIFT AWAY FROM THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT TOWARDS A TRAUMA INFORMED CARE APPROACH THAT IS COMPASSIONATE AND ULTIMATELY MORE EFFECTIVE.
40% OF THE GRANT FUNDS WILL GO TOWARDS HIRING ADDITIONAL CRISIS RESPONSE CLINICIANS TO OPERATE ALONGSIDE SAP'S MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.
THE CLINICIANS ARE SUB, ARE SUB SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, DEESCALATION AND CARE NAVIGATION, WHICH ARE ALL CRITICAL SKILLS FOR BUILDING TRUST AND FACILITATING POSITIVE RESOLUTIONS.
FUNDS WILL ALSO GO TOWARDS MORE COMPASSIONATE TRAINING, SUCH AS ADVANCED MENTAL HEALTH PEACE OFFICER TRAINING AND CRIS CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT TRAINING, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BE A STANDARD FOR ALL PD OFFICERS SOON.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE GRANT WRITERS WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION AND TO EVERYONE WORKING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, UM, MORE HELP IS ON THE WAY.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER GER.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ORDINANCE, UH, 17, THE GRANT FUND ACCEPTANCE FOR THE CLICK, CLICK IT OR TICKET.
UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT TRAFFIC SAFETY IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE, UH, CLICKING OUR SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.
AND I HOPE THIS, UH, PROGRAM, IN ADDITION TO ITEM NUMBER 18, OPERATION SLOWDOWN IS HEATED AND WE SEE, UM, WE SEE PEOPLE BEING MORE RESPONSIBLE ON THE STREET.
SAN ANTONIO WILL BE DISTRICT THREE, WILL BE HOSTING A, UM, STREET RACING SEMINAR LATER THIS MONTH, UM, KIND OF TO SEE HOW WE CAN CURB THE STREET RACING IN OUR DISTRICT AND CITYWIDE.
ON THE SAME NOTE, I WANTED TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 19, UM, WHICH AUTHORIZES ACCEPTANCE OF $79,000 FOR THERA FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE UNIT, UM, UH, TO IMPROVE OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND CRISIS RESPONSE OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE SUFFERED ALCOHOL OR OTHER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
SO I WANNA GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE STRAC TEAM, UH, FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION AS WELL AS TO OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK AND THE CONTINUED EFFORTS TOWARDS, UH, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE CONNECTING EVERYONE TO RESOURCES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR AND 23, PLEASE VOTE.
[ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING]
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF DEBBIE ROCKA SITTER AS CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
UM, LET ME JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AND I'LL ASK FOR THE MOTION.
UM, ACTUALLY, WE KNOW WHAT THE, WE KNOW WHAT THE ITEM IS.
THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF A PERMANENT CITY CLERK, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR SO WE CAN START DISCUSSION.
MAYOR, I MOVE THE CONFIRMATION.
WAIT, I MOVE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF DEBBIE ROCK SITTER AS CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF, OF SAN ANTONIO.
UM, TODAY WE'RE CONSIDERING, UH, MS. DEBBIE ROCK SITTER FOR APPOINTMENT AS CITY CLERK, AND THUS REMOVING THE INTERIM, UH, FROM HER CURRENT TITLE.
DEBBIE HAS SERVED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR OVER 20 YEARS, HIRED ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2001.
SHE HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS ROLES AND DEPARTMENTS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, MOST RECENTLY AS INTERIM CITY CLERK SINCE 2021 SEPTEMBER.
DURING HER SHORT TENURE AS INTERIM CITY CLERK, SHE HAS WORKED WITH HER TEAM TO FILL CRITICAL POSITIONS, IMPLEMENT PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, COLLABORATE WITH IT AND INNOVATION TO BEGIN ADDRESSING
[01:00:01]
THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND VITAL RECORDS AND PASSPORT PROCESSES.UH, LED VITAL RECORDS DIVISION TO A FIVE STAR AWARD WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT JUST LAST WEEK, UH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK RECEIVED THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE AWARD.
UH, THEIR HIGHNESS HONOR, IN FACT, UH, IS A, A TRADITION WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE EXTENDED, UH, AND HAVE ENJOYED.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN DEVELOP AND GROW THROUGH MULTIPLE CAREER PATHS.
AND DEBBIE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS CAREER FLEXIBILITY, HAVING SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, WHERE SHE LED AND IMPLEMENTED NUMEROUS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
PREVIOUSLY, SHE SERVED AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OVERSEEING CONTRACTS, FISCAL OPERATIONS, PROJECTS, SCHEDULES, REAL ESTATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.
UH, MS. ROCK SITTER HOLDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS, MASTER OF SCIENCE AND MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, ALL FROM ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY.
AND SO I AM ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMENDING WE APPOINT DEBBIE ROCK SITTER TO THE ROLE OF CITY CLERK, UH, BEING AN OPTIMIST.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS, DEBBIE, UH, FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH THEM.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING THIS POINT.
UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY, WE HAD OUR LONG TIME.
I HAVE OUR LONG TIME, UH, CITY CLERK, LETICIA VASIC WITH US TODAY, WHO'S IN SUPPORT OF DEBBIE, UH, AND HAS PROVIDED GREAT GUIDANCE TO OUR COUNCIL AND OUR ORGANIZATION OVER THE YEARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, LETICIA.
UH, SO WITH THAT, LET'S, UH, BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION.
UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
I DON'T HAVE ANY LONG WORDS PREPARED.
I THINK DEBBIE, YOU KNOW, THAT I'VE BEEN APPRECIATIVE OF.
I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT I'VE BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE OF, UM, THE ROLE YOU'VE TAKEN ON AND, UH, THE CHANGES YOU'VE MADE IN, IN THAT OFFICE.
AND, UH, I, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND, UM, I EXPECT GREAT THINGS AND I, I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY HAPPENING.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS, DEBBIE.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE, UM, ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS, YOU ARE THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL.
UM, VOTING YES ON THIS IS SO EASY.
IN FACT, YOU MAKE MY JOB VERY EASY.
GENERALLY, UM, HAVING YOU IN OUR CORNER IS, UM, IS A PLEASURE.
UH, I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU HAVE, UM, I WAS WORRIED WHEN LETICIA BATEK, UH, YOU KNOW, LEFT THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE LEFT BIG, BIG SHOES TO FILL.
UM, NOT BECAUSE SHE'S GOT ENORMOUS FEET, I'M JUST SAYING LIKE FIGURATIVE LEADERSHIP SHOES, AND YOU FILL THEM, UH, VERY, VERY WELL.
ERIC, YOU, YOU HAD THE RIGHT INSTINCT WHEN YOU PULLED, UH, DEBBIE IN, AND I'M NOT SURPRISED, DEBBIE, THAT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE CHOOSING HERE.
YOU'VE, YOU'VE PROVEN YOURSELF AND I, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR, YOUR FUTURE YEARS OF SERVICE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT DEBBIE IS HER BACKGROUND IN THE ARTS.
NOT ONLY DID SHE LEAD OUR ARTS DEPARTMENT, BUT SHE HERSELF IS A POET.
AND I HEAR SHE IS ALSO AN AVID COLLECTOR OF FIESTA POSTERS,
UM, ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, AND I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY HER ABILITY TO IDENTIFY A ROADBLOCK, A SYSTEMIC FLAW OR SOME SORT OF OBSTACLE, BUT ALSO IDENTIFY A PATH FORWARD ROOTED IN, UM, SOLUTIONS THAT WORK AND SOLUTIONS THAT ARE WORKING IN OTHER PLACES THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T TRIED BEFORE.
UM, I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE CREATIVITY YOU'RE GONNA BRING TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ALONGSIDE YOUR SKILLS AS A PLANNER.
I'M SURE YOU'LL KEEP US ON OUR TOES AND STREAMLINE THE NECESSARY PROCESS TO KEEP EXCELLENT RECORDS AND ALL THINGS THAT CLERKS DO.
WELCOME ABOARD OFFICIALLY IN THIS CAPACITY AND GOOD LUCK, DEBBIE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHU RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO.
THANK YOU, MAYOR DEBBIE, I'M EXCITED FOR YOU, UH, REMOVING THE INTERIM TI PORTION OF YOUR TITLE.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPROVEMENTS YOU'RE GONNA MAKE TO THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING SYSTEM.
UM, THAT'S, I'M READY FOR THAT.
UM, AND I'M GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ERIC BEING IN THE ROOM AND MY CO COLLEAGUES AND SAY THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE LIMITED IN HOW MUCH OF A BUDGET INCREASE THEY CAN GET YEAR OVER YEAR, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT FOR A ONETIME, UH, A ONETIME BUDGET ISSUE IN ORDER TO BRING A LOT OF OTHER, UM, NEEDED ISSUES, UH, BACK UP TO
[01:05:01]
SPEED IF IT TURN IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU NEED.I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES ARE AS WELL.
THANK YOU DEBBIE FOR, UH, STEPPING UP AND SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN AND MEETING WITH ME SO REGULARLY.
I WANT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AS A WHOLE BECAUSE I THINK WITH THIS CHANGE WE CAN MOVE EVEN FASTER.
AND THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS DONE SO MUCH WORK OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND I DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF ALL THEY DID UNTIL I GOT HERE.
AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE, THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS SO WELL AND SO SUCCESSFULLY, UH, IS GOING TO BE KEY TO OUR RECOVERY AND OUR LEADERSHIP OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
THANK YOU DEBBIE, FOR STEPPING UP AND SAYING YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE.
UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I, I CAN RECALL EARLY ON WHEN YOU AND I SAT DOWN TO TALK ABOUT ART AND I KIND OF WAS PUSHY ON YOUR BUDGET AND YOU PUSHED BACK, AND I APPRECIATED THAT THEN.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY, UH, WE MADE A, A TRIP TO ASIA TOGETHER, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH SOMEBODY FOR A WEEK AND YOU REALLY SEE THEM IN ACTION AND GET TO KNOW THEM, UH, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT MOTIVATES AND, AND WHAT SUPPORTS SOMEBODY.
AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB AS, UH, OUR, UH, CLERK AND I REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
SO BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND TO ALL OF US AS AS SHE BECOMES OUR NEW CITY CLERK.
DEBBIE, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT WORK AHEAD.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, THAT IS OUR DISCUSSION, AND, UH, TIME TO VOTE, PLEASE VOTE.
WE HAVE A NEW CITY CLERK AND, UM, LET ME RECOGNIZE DEBBIE'S HUSBAND, HER MOTHER, AND HER DAUGHTER WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, UH, TO WITNESS THE SWEARING IN.
UH, THE WHOLE FAMILY'S HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THIS OFFICIAL.
MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, IF I COULD SAY A FEW WORDS OF GRATITUDE TO YOU ALL, UM, MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND, AND BELIEVING IN ME AND GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I WANNA THANK YOUR STAFF, UH, FOR ALSO BEING SO GREAT TO WORK WITH.
I HAVE TO THANK ERIC FOR THINKING OF ME WHEN, UH, FORMER CITY CLERK RETIRED AND, UH, SEEING IF I WAS INTERESTED IN FILLING IN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
AND, UM, I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS SUPPORT AND ALL OF HIS TEAM, INCLUDING ALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM HERE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE GREAT LEADERS THIS SIDE AND BOTH SIDES WITH ANDY TOO.
UM, CITY AUDITOR CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GREAT THINGS ABOUT HOW HE HELPED ME.
EVERYBODY'S HELPING THE CITY CLERK, UH, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.
IT'S THE OLDEST MUNICIPAL PROFESSION THAT THERE IS, UH, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE TAX COLLECTOR.
YOU CAN GO BACK TO BIBLICAL TIMES AND, AND THE CITY CLERK IS, IS THE THING THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE, KEEPING THE RECORDS OF THE CITY.
AND I TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY CITY.
I, MY FAMILY COMES FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS AND BUILT THIS CITY AND I LOVE MY CITY.
AND I, I HAVE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING ME BECAUSE THIS WAS A LOT OF WORK.
AND, UH, I ALSO MOSTLY HAVE TO THANK THE TEAM OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AURORA.
UM, THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UM, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROMOTE 10 CITY EMPLOYEES SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND HIRE SEVEN NEW PEOPLE.
WE'RE BUILDING A GREAT TEAM IT AND BETTER TEAM, AND WE'RE GONNA GET BETTER EVERY DAY.
WE'RE GONNA DO MANY, MANY MORE THINGS, AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND, AND BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY AND FOR MANY DAYS TO COME.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SWEAR YOU IN, IN THE NAME, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I, DEBBIE, ROCK SITTER, I, DEBBIE ROCK SITTER, DO SOLEMNLY
[01:10:01]
SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OF CITY CLERK.AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
UM, THIS, UH, CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO DEBBIE ROCK SITTER, WHEREAS THE SECTION 10 OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY CHARTER PROVIDES THAT CITY COUNCIL SHALL CHOOSE A CITY CLERK WHO SHALL KEEP THE RECORDS OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE CITY, AND WHO SHALL PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER OF THE COUNCIL.
AND WHEREAS THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS SERVICE SINCE 1837, ONLY A YEAR AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO, AND IS WITH DISTINCT HONOR THAT DEBBIE ROCK SITTER WILL BE ADDED TO THE HISTORIC ROLE AS THE 48TH CITY CLERK.
AND WHEREAS DEBBIE ROCK SITTER WAS APPOINTED AS ACTING CITY CLERK ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2021.
AND SINCE MS. ROCK SITTER'S APPOINTMENT HAS AS ACTING CITY CLERK BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND SEPTEMBER OF 21, THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK HAS EVOLVED INTO A PROGRESSIVE AND STATE-OF-THE-ART DEPARTMENT OF DIGITAL DIGITIZED ARCHIVAL RECORDS, VITAL RECORDS, PASSPORT SERVICES, LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL RECORDS, ELECTIONS, VOTING LOBBYING, CAMPAIGN FINANCE RECORDS, AND PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE DOCUMENTATION THAT PROVIDES EFFICIENT AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR OUR CITY, HER RESIDENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND WHEREAS DEBBIE ROCK SITTER WILL TAKE OFFICE AS THE CITY CLERK UPON HER SWEARING IN 22, NOW THEREFORE BE IT KNOWN, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DO HEREBY EXTEND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. DEBBIE ROCK SITTER ON BEING APPOINTED AS CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND OFFER BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS, PRESENTED THIS 19TH DAY OF MAY 22.
I BET EVERYONE WAS A LITTLE BIT TAKEN ABACK BY 1837, RIGHT? A YEAR AFTER THE ALAMO, WE GOT OUR FIRST CITY CLERK.
SO WELCOME TO THE TRADITION, DEBBIE.
[Miscellaneous ]
DO HAVE ONE MORE ITEM NOW ON OUR AGENDA.SO, UM, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE, UH, CAPTION ITEM NUMBER 23 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ESSAY READY TO WORK FISCAL YEAR 2023, BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BE BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2022, AND ENDING ON JUNE 30TH, 2023 IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,732,521 AND PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT AS ADOPTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY EDUCATION EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MAY 10TH, 2022.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 23.
WE'LL START OUR DISCUSSION NOW.
UH, MIKE AND AMY CONTRERAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MEETING ME WITH ME, UH, THIS WEEK ON SHORT NOTICE.
I KNOW I HAD A LOT OF ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, MY, MY BIG FOCUS IS MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES
[01:15:01]
TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND MAKING SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST IN OUR COMMUNITY.UM, AND I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES SPECIFICALLY.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO WE HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR, UH, CHILDCARE? SO IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE MOTHER, UH, SHE'S WORKING DURING THE DAYTIME, BUT HAS YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAS TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF THEM IN THE EVENING WHEN SHE COULD POTENTIALLY GO TO TO NIGHT CLASSES TO GET A, A, A, UH, UM, AN ANY KIND OF A DEGREE OR A CERTIFICATE, WHAT, WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, COUNCILMAN BRAVO.
UH, EVENING CHILDCARE AND CHILDCARE QUALITY CHILDCARE IN GENERAL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH ONE OF OUR PRIME PARTNERS WORKFORCE, SUSAN ALAMO.
UM, THEIR C E O IS HERE, ADRIAN LOPEZ.
UM, THEY HAVE PHENOMENAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH CHILDCARE VOUCHERS THAT THE CITY, THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HELPS TO MANAGE.
UM, BUT FINDING HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IN THE EVENINGS WHERE A WORKING PERSON DURING THE DAY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN EVENING BASED PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT OUR CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS GONNA CONTINUALLY HELP THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF FINDING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND THEN FINDING WAYS TO HELP THEM TO PAY FOR THOSE, UM, CHILDCARE SERVICES DURING THE EVENINGS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE COURSES THAT ARE OFFERED ONLINE.
UM, SO FOR THAT SCENARIO THAT YOU MENTIONED, IT MAY NOT BE BEST FOR THAT PARENT TO SPEND THAT TIME IN THE EVENING.
UM, TECHNOLOGY HAS GOTTEN TO A PLACE NOW WHERE ONLINE LEARNING HAS BECOME THE NORM.
THE PANDEMIC HAS PUSHED US ALL INTO THAT SPACE.
AND OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND OUR SHORT TERM CERTIFICATE TRAINING PROGRAMS, UM, HAVE OFFERINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CONVENIENCE OF A CELL PHONE.
UM, SO WE WANNA TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, AND AS THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT COACH THROUGH THAT CAREER NAVIGATION PROCESS, HELPING THEM TO CHOOSE THE PATHWAY THAT'S GONNA BE BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE ONLINE COURSES AS WELL, WHICH COULD MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, CHILDCARE IS ACTUALLY A CHALLENGE THAT I'M DEALING WITH.
UH, I GUESS, I GUESS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE RECENTLY HAD THE Y M C A, THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A CHILDCARE FACILITY THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO MOVE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW C P SS ENERGY I'VE HEARD IS, HAS REACHED OUT TO ONE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS SAYING, WHY CAN YOU, WOULD YOU ALL CONSIDER BUILDING A CHILD CHILDCARE FACILITY? BECAUSE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO COME AND WORK DOWNTOWN, THEY NEED A PLACE TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN.
SO I'M, I'M HERE AND AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW WE CAN EXPAND CHILDCARE FOR THAT SITUATION OR ANY OTHERS HERE.
UM, AND THEN I, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT REPORTING, HOW ARE WE YOU GONNA BE REPORTING? WHEN ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE INFORMATION, SEE WHAT, WHAT, UH, HOW THIS, HOW THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING? AND YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GONNA TRY AND REPORT DATA IN REAL TIME.
SO, UM, I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU WANNA TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, WE'RE WORKING TO GET THOSE DASHBOARDS PUBLISHED TO THE PUBLIC WEBSITE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING IS HITTING OUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
UM, THAT SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING BY THE END OF JUNE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THE, THE GREAT BENEFITS OF ALL OF OUR DATA GOING INTO THE SIGNIFY CITRAL DATA PLATFORM IS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PULL THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE IT READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE DOING GREAT, WE CAN CELEBRATE THOSE SUCCESSES AREAS THAT WE'RE FALLING SHORT.
WE CAN SOLICIT THE RIGHT SUPPORT TO SHORE THOSE AREAS UP.
AND THEN, SO WHEN WOULD, WILL YOU BE COMING BACK TO US? WHEN WILL WE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TWEAK THE, THE PROGRAM AND COME, WHEN WILL YOU BE COMING BACK TO US AND WE CAN SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT'S WORKING WELL, THIS IS WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, AND WHEN WILL THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO AUTHORIZE THAT? UH, WELL, ONE OF THE BEAUTY BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF THIS PROGRAM IS WE HAVE A READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD THAT WAS APPOINTED BY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, UM, TO HELP THE GUIDE THE PROGRAM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UH, WE COME BEFORE COUNCIL, UM, ONCE A YEAR FOR BUDGET, UM, AND BI-ANNUALLY IF WE NEED TO DO ANY BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS IN THE INTERIM.
UM, AND, UH, BUT THAT READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD IS THE GROUP THAT PROVIDES US THAT GUIDANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON TRACK AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, WHERE WE BRING INFORMATION TO THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INFORMED AND KEPT ABREAST OF THE PROGRESS OF THE PROGRAM.
UM, BUT I KNOW THAT AT, AT, AT A MINIMUM, WE'LL BE BEFORE COUNCIL AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO PROVIDE UPDATES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL.
UH, YEAH, I, I, ALL, ALL THE COMMENTS COUNCILMAN BRAVO, UH, MADE ARE, ARE ECHOED BY ME.
UH, I, I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, UH, AND, AND, AND ONE CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN TRUST YOU WITH THE LITTLE THINGS, I CAN TRUST YOU WITH THE BIG THINGS.
AND, AND IN THIS INSTANCE, MIKE, I, I KNOW I CAN TRUST YOU WITH THE BIG THINGS.
YESTERDAY, UH, I HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH, UM, MY FAMILY DOCTOR.
UH, HE CALLED ME AND SAID, OH MY GOSH, WE WERE HAVING THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME HIRING FOLKS.
THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS SITUATION, YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING TO DO A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE CLERICAL WORK, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO THAT CLERICAL WORK AND THE, AND THE BACK OFFICE WORK.
AND I PUT HIM IN TOUCH WITH MIKE RAMSEY VIA TEXT, AND MIKE JUST STEPPED UP AND IS CONNECTING
[01:20:01]
HIM WITH THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF SERVICES FOR READY TO WORK.AND THE DOCTOR CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND WAS LIKE, I'M, I'M JUST SO IMPRESSED.
AND, YOU KNOW, MIKE, YOU COULD HAVE EASILY HAVE JUST DELEGATED THAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
UH, AND I, I STILL WOULD'VE BEEN APPRECIATIVE FOR, FOR YOU DOING THAT, BUT INSTEAD, YOU ROLLED UP YOUR SLEEVES AND YOU'RE HELPING THIS DOCTOR PERSONALLY.
UH, AND I, I, IT'S THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT, THAT MATTER TO ME A LOT, AND I KNOW THAT WILL MATTER TO ALL THE END USERS OF THIS, OF THIS PROGRAM.
SO YOU'VE GOT AN ENTHUSIASTIC YES VOTE COMING FROM ME RIGHT NOW, AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
YOU KNOW, I WANNA REITERATE WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN BRAVO WAS JUST ASKING ABOUT THE, THE PROBLEMS WITH, UH, DAYCARE FOR PEOPLE GOING TO SCHOOL, OR EVEN TRYING TO GO BACK TO WORK.
AND I UNDERSTAND W S A GETS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE THAT.
AND I THINK YOU SAID THEIR C E O IS HERE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT, UH, THAT PROCESS, AND I GUESS THIS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
IF AS A SUBCONTRACTOR TO OUR, OUR READY TO WORK PROGRAM, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH THROUGH OUR PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE FIND DAYCARE SERVICES? SO I THINK HE CAN PROBABLY EXPLAIN THAT PRETTY WELL.
COURAGE FOR, UM, THE QUESTION, UH, THE ANSWER, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
UM, UM, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, ALAMO, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, UH, INVEST ABOUT $90 MILLION INTO CHILDCARE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP HERE WITH THE CITY AND, AND THROUGH MIKE'S LEADERSHIP HERE, IS REALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATING SOME GOOD SYNERGY.
THERE IS AN ISSUE ASSOCIATED AS, AS COUNCILMAN, UH, MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT, UH, CHILDCARE IN THE EVENINGS.
UM, BUT WE WORK WITH, UH, NOT ONLY ESTABLISHED CHILDCARE CENTERS THAT YOU SEE ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH HOME-BASED CHILDCARE.
UH, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO TRY TO BUILD UP SO THAT WE CAN OFFER, UH, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING EVENING CLASSES.
BUT THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THE BENEFIT IS AVAILABLE, UH, TO THOSE IN, UH, READY TO WORK.
UH, I WANNA THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM UP, BUT WE KNOW FROM THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN SAN ANTONIO IS THAT CHILDCARE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE.
AND NOT JUST FOR THO THOSE PART OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT CITYWIDE IT'S AN ISSUE.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, AS A COUNCIL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO READY TO WORK TO HELP PROMOTE PRE-K FOR SA.
THEY'RE GOING TO DO THREE YEAR OLDS NOW, UM, EDUCARE AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE LOOKING TO BRING QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR THOSE IN, IN, IN THIS RECOVERY PROCESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO REALLY ADDRESS THE CHILDCARE ISSUE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AS IT'S BEEN A LONGSTANDING ISSUE FOR MANY WORKING MOTHERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER IRAN, UH, MIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR CONTINUED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
I APOLOGIZE, MAYBE I PRESSED IN ON THE WRONG, UH, ITEM THERE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU GAVE IT TO US A FEW WEEKS AGO AT, AT B SESSION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERS FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I DO WANNA FOLLOW UP ON, ON THIS QUESTION, SO I'M, I'M GLAD IT WAS, UH, IT WAS BROUGHT UP TODAY.
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS JUST SAID THAT ANYONE WHO NEEDS CHILDCARE WILL HAVE CHILDCARE.
DID I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY, ADRIAN? 'CAUSE I THOUGHT I HEARD FROM YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY, AND IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY SOLVED.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE, UH, CHILDCARE ISSUE IS WE CAN SNAP OUR FINGERS AND IT'S DONE.
THERE'S PRO PROVIDER, UH, ISSUE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE QUALITY PROVIDERS THAT ARE, HAVE OPENINGS AND AVAILABILITIES FOR FAMILIES, BUT I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR OF THEM STEP OUT THE WAY.
SO, UH, TO CLARIFY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, UM, THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE, ARE, ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, GONNA BE PART OF READY TO WORK.
THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE POTENTIALLY FOR, UH, CHILDCARE.
UH, WHAT MIKE WAS ALLUDING TO IS THE ISSUE OF, OF WE DO HAVE A WAITING LIST.
UH, SO AT ANY GIVEN DAY, WE PROBABLY HAVE AROUND 3000 TO 6,000 FAMILIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY ON THAT WAITING LIST.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UH, VERY AGGRESSIVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS SEEKING OUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM THE STATE AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SLOTS.
UH, BUT TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ON, UH, CHILDCARE ON A DAILY BASIS, WITHIN $90 MILLION
[01:25:01]
INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE, IT'S ABOUT 10,000 KIDS, UH, ON A DAILY BASIS THAT ARE IN, IN CHILDCARE.UM, WHAT MIKE WAS MENTIONING IN RELATION TO THE AVAILABILITY OF, OF CHILDCARE SLOTS, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE PANDEMIC, UH, WAS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL TO BUSINESSES ACROSS, UM, THE ECONOMY, BUT, UH, CHILDCARE CENTERS SUFFERED, UH, DRASTICALLY.
SO WE, UH, WE ESTIMATE THAT WE LOST ABOUT 10 TO 15% OF CHILDCARE, UH, CENTERS OR THE AVAILABLE SLOTS, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR REGION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK FROM, FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND OTHERS TO TRY TO BUILD THAT BACK UP.
UH, LOOK, THE, THE EXPLANATION MAKES TOTAL SENSE.
I, UM, YOU HAVE EXPLAINED THE BARRIERS.
UH, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THIS MAY INEVITABLY AFFECT WOMEN MORE THAN MEN, UH, IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THAT IS, UH, NOT BY INTENTION DISCRIMINATORY.
SO I, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO.
WELL, WHAT I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO REQUEST IS THAT, IS THAT YOU TRACK ULTIMATELY WHO ENDS UP PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM AND FOR WHOM CHILDCARE IS A BARRIER.
I, UH, I AM CONCERNED THOUGH, THAT WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN SELF-SELECT MOTHERS SELF-SELECT OUT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM PRECISELY FOR THIS REASON, THE SAME WAY, THE SAME WAY WE SEE IT ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY, PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT, UH, THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE.
IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN TRACK THAT IN REAL TIME AND REPORT TO US? ABSOLUTELY.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INCLUDE ON OUR, SO THAT KIND OF FEEDBACK IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I CAN SAY THAT FROM PAST HISTORY TRAINED FOR JOBS, 69% OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE WOMEN, AND, UH, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL.
UM, AND WE EXPECT THAT TREND, UH, TO CONTINUE AND READY TO WORK.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM IS ACCESSIBLE AND THE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM TO OVERCOME THAT CHILDCARE BARRIER.
WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY AND HARD WITH PARTNERS LIKE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE IT AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE FOR 'EM.
AND JUST, JUST TO NOTE, I DO THINK, UH, HAVING, UH, CLASSES AVAILABLE ONLINE IS CERTAINLY MORE FLEXIBLE AND MAKES THINGS EASIER, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN ABSORB THE MATERIAL THE SAME WAY WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING A CHILD.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE CAREFUL ABOUT ASSUMING THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN TAKE THE CLASS ONLINE MEANS THAT THERE IS NO CHILDCARE PROBLEM.
JUST A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, UM, AND, AND CERTAINLY WHAT ADRIAN IS, IS, UM, UH, REFERRING TO IS A MUCH LARGER ISSUE THAT, THAT W S A IS WORKING THROUGH.
UM, AND, UH, AS WE KICK THIS PROGRAM OFF, THE POINT OF THE IS TO HELP THE APPLICANTS, RIGHT? AND CASE MANAGERS, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE CONTRACTED FOR THE CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO I THINK AS WE SEE TRENDS DEVELOP AND, AND POTENTIAL BARRIERS, WHETHER IT'S CHILDCARE OR OTHER, OTHER THINGS, IT, IT'LL BE INCUMBENT UPON US TO ADJUST.
UM, AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE APPLICANTS ARE SUPPORTED AS THEY GO THROUGH.
THAT'S WHAT THE EMPLOYERS ARE ASKING, RIGHT? THEY'RE ASKING FOR THOSE FOLKS TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING.
AND SO, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, THE, THE, THE CHILDCARE ISSUES THAT ADRIAN'S DESCRIBING ARE, ARE KIND OF GLOBAL COMMUNITY-WIDE.
WE'RE VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT THOSE APPLICANTS THAT ARE COMING IN TO READY TO WORK HAVE THAT WRAPAROUND SERVICE AND ARE SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, AND PRIORITIZE HOW WE DO THINGS.
AND, AND I THINK AS WE, AS THE PROGRAM KICKS OFF, WE STARTED TAKING APPLICATIONS ON MONDAY AS TRAINING BEGINS AND EMPLOYMENT BEGINS.
AS WE SEE THOSE TRENDS, WE WILL ADJUST ACCORDINGLY, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WON'T BE SUCCESSFUL AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS.
CAN, CAN I INTERRUPT YOU? GO AHEAD.
UM, WE, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE CHILDCARE ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'M WEARING MY D E I HAT, I'LL PUT ON MY LEGAL HAT PRETTY SOON, COUNCILWOMAN.
UH, IT IS IMPORTANT, UH, AND THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED GENDER AS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT, UH, IN TERMS OF OUR, UH, EQUITY TOOLS THAT WE USE.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO CLARIFY NOW, I'M PUTTING MY CITY ATTORNEY HAT ON THAT THE, UH, THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT DISCRIMINATORY AS THAT IS LEGALLY DEFINED.
UH, BUT WE DO KNOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AND, UH, WE'LL BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
UH, I, THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT CHILDCARE AS IT RELATES TO READY TO WORK IS, IS, IS TOO IMPORTANT TO NOT HAVE.
UM, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN ROCHA, AND I NEED TO BRING THIS UP AT THE, AT THE BOARD, UH, WHEN WE, WHEN WE CONVENE AGAIN, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, ERIC, YOU AND I HAD TALKED LAST WEEK, I MENTIONED FROM THE DAAS, UM, THAT WE HAVE THIS CONTRACT WITH U T S A FOR, UM, FOR RESEARCH,
[01:30:01]
AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE'RE ALL RIGHT AND THAT OUR GUT IS TELLING US THAT THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT, UH, FEMALE CUSTOMERS MORE AND MORE, UM, POST COVID AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROGRAM, BUT ALSO, I, YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY.AND SO, CONNECTING THIS TO U T S A, THIS SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COMMISSION THEM TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE, THE PHENOMENON OF, YOU KNOW, CLOSURE OF, OR, OR INAVAILABILITY OF SPOTS, UH, FOR CHILDCARE, AND THEN HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES, THIS ONE BEING AN EXAMPLE, AND HOW IT IMPACTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GENERAL IN THE CITY.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S IMPEDING SOME OF OUR SUCCESS.
I, I, I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT DATA FOR US TO, TO HAVE.
UH, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, GRO ARE, ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK HERE, BUT I, I, I DO WANT HARD NUMBERS, RECENT HARD NUMBERS, AND SO CAN, CAN YOU AND I TALK ABOUT THIS OFFLINE, UM, ABOUT POSSIBLY COMMISSIONING THAT STUDY AND HAVING THAT RESEARCH DONE FOR US? ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PHENOMENAL USE OF, UH, RESOURCES.
UH, ALL OF THIS RIGHT NOW, READY TO WORK, UH, FALLS UNDER OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CORPORATION, WHICH ALSO OVERSEES PRE-K FOR SA.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON PRE-K FOR SA, THE, UH, THE C E O WAS TELLING US THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 40, UH, DAYCARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TO TRAIN THEIR STAFF TO IMPROVE THEM.
AND THAT THEIR GOAL WAS TO TRY AND REACH AS MANY AS 100, WHICH I PRESUME ARE, MAY OR MAY NOT BE EXISTING ONES, BUT MAYBE HELPING TO REDEVELOP SOME THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FUNDED BY SALES TAX.
THEY MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMING IN BEYOND THEIR EARLY BUDGET EXPECTATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO, UH, WORK WITH THEM TO SEE IF THEY CAN EVEN EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS BEYOND THAT TARGET OF 100 TO TRY AND HELP REOPEN OR, OR ADD MORE, UH, ABILITY TO SOME OF THE DAYCARE CENTERS THAT MAY HAVE CLOSED, OR THEY MAY ARE STRUGGLING TO HAVE, UH, EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY CAN DO MORE TO TRY AND OVERCOME SOME OF THIS SHORTAGE WE HAVE IN, UH, DAYCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION I'D LIKE TO SEE US WORK ON AND, AND MAYBE HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THIS PROBLEM A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PART OF THE, UH, PRE-K FOR SA BUDGET.
THERE'S ACTUALLY FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THAT.
THE PRE-K FOR SA BOARD IS ACTUALLY A STRONG SUPPORTER OF INCREASING THAT WORK.
AND ACTUALLY IN COLLABORATION WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, ALAMO, WE'RE ALSO PURSUING ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING TO KEEP EXPANDING THAT WORK WITH LOCAL CHILDCARE CENTERS TO IMPROVE ON QUALITY AND CAPACITY, SO THEY COULD HOPEFULLY SERVE MORE CHILDREN AS WELL.
UM, THANK YOU, ANDY, FOR STEERING US BACK ON THE RIGHT PATH.
I'M CONCERNED,
HOW DOES THAT SOUND? THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHY WE, WE, WE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF OUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO TRY TO, UH, ADDRESS THAT.
MY, UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS, I KNOW THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD THAT, THAT YOU MENTIONED, UH, I, I DON'T SERVE ON IT.
UM, BUT DO YOU THINK THERE'S SOMEONE THERE WHO WOULD REPRESENT THIS PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS A MOTHER OR A SINGLE MOTHER ON, ON THAT BOARD? I'M NOT SURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY'S A SINGLE MOM ON THE BOARD, I DON'T THINK SO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ON IT.
WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE ANSWER ON THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
UH, LET ME JUST, UH, WRAP UP FIRST BY SAYING, MIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE HARD WORK AND, AND RESPONSIVENESS REALLY.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY EVOLVED EVEN BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S FLEXIBLE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE ASPIRATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM WILL ACCOMPLISH FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S VERY FOCUSED ON REAL WORLD ISSUES.
AND IN MY VIEW, IS TRYING TO TACKLE, UH, THE, THE ESSENTIAL AMERICAN PROBLEM, WHICH IS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF EQUITY IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
[01:35:01]
DON'T, THERE ISN'T TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT EXIST OR JOBS THAT ARE WAITING FOR FOLKS TO TAKE THEM.IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE OBSTACLES IN THEIR LIVES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM DOING IT.
AND SO WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES WIDE OPEN WITH REGARD TO WHAT THOSE OBSTACLES ARE.
FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, DISPROPORTIONATELY FOR WOMEN, IT'S CHILDCARE.
IT'S, UM, IT IS A, A A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION IN A LOT OF PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE READY WITH READY TO WORK TO MEET ALL THOSE CHALLENGES AND, AND, AND DO WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SAYING GOES, MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
AND SO IF WE TRACK THESE DATA PROPERLY AND WE STAY FLEXIBLE, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE BARRIERS.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF READY TO WORK.
IT'S NOT THE TRAINING PROGRAM OR THE CURRICULUM ITSELF, IT'S THE FACT THAT WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, LEANING INTO THOSE OBSTACLES TO ADDRESS 'EM.
AND THAT'S PERHAPS WHY IT'S SO PAIN SINKING.
AND NOBODY SAID IT WAS GONNA BE EASY.
IT'S PROBABLY WHY NOBODY'S EVER DONE IT, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR DECADES, AND WE'RE FINALLY DOING IT AT SCALE, WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT.
AND, AND THE FACT THAT THE, THE PUBLIC SUPPORTED IT IS REMARKABLE.
AND SOMETHING THAT I'M EXCEEDINGLY PROUD TO TELL PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT SAN ANTONIO DOING THIS AS A PUBLIC.
SO, UM, I JUST, AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION.
I HOPE IT, IT IS A, A CONTINUING DISCUSSION BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA LEARN HOW THE PROGRAM SHOULD NAVIGATE THAT SPACE.
AND AS MORE RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE, WE HAVE TO BE WELL READY AND WILLING TO, TO TACKLE THOSE OBSTACLES TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO YOU, UH, YOUR ADVISORY BOARD, UH, TO OUR PARTNERS, UH, AND ALL OF THE NONPROFITS AND, AND, AND CORPORATE COMMUNITY THAT ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON THIS AS A, AS A COMMUNITY-WIDE CHALLENGE.
READY TO WORK IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE TRAINING, IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE WILLING AS A COMMUNITY COLLECTIVELY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK WE ARE, AND WE'RE READY TO DO IT.
UM, WITH THAT, THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UH, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR MORNING AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE A 2:00 PM WE ALSO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER REPORT.
BUT ERIC, BEFORE I GIVE IT OFF TO YOU, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UH, WITH A, A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE THAT I FORGOT TO GET TO IN THE MORNING.
SO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, PUT OUT A ASK TO THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE, UH, NEWSPAPERS FOR THE KENNELS OVER AT THE SHELTER.
SO OUR OFFICE IS HOSTING A NEWSPAPER DRIVE, AND WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE AT CITY HALL IF YOU HAVE THE HARD CUP COPY OF THE EXPRESS NEWS OR, UM, WHATEVER, UH, MEDIA THAT YOU READ TO SAVE THAT PHYSICAL COPY FOR US.
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, DELIVER IT TO OUR OFFICE AND WE'LL TAKE THAT OVER TO ANIMAL CARE SERVICE.
UH, WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR KAREN SPEAR, UH, OUR A C SS BOARD APPOINTEE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE CONTINUES TO DO WITH A C S, AS WELL AS, UM, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
SO, UM, MY ASK IS THAT, UM, RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT FIVE TAKE THEIR NEWSPAPER TO OUR FIELD OFFICE AT THE Y W C A, AS WELL AS OUR COLLINS GARDEN LOCATION.
AND, UH, KAREN SPEAR AND OUR OFFICE WILL GO AND DELIVER THAT TO THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
BUT YOU WANT US TO READ IT FIRST, THOUGH, RIGHT? THE PAPER BEFORE WE GIVE IT TO YOU? YES, PLEASE.
[City Manager's Report ]
ALRIGHT.ERIC, NO, NO MANAGER'S REPORT.
SORRY, MARY, I HAD A, MY MOUTH WAS FULL WITH COFFEE.
UM, NO, UH, THREE ITEMS, THREE ITEMS. UM, ONE IS, UH, UM, ONE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL, I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED.
UH, THE SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL IS OCCURRING THIS WEEK, UM, AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, MAY 21ST.
UM, THIS EVENT IS A CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORS.
UM, WE DID NOT HAVE IT LAST YEAR.
I THINK ACTUALLY LAST YEAR WAS VIRTUAL.
SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING, UH, THIS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL PRO, UH, PROGRAM BACK.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.
WE DO FUND A PORTION OF THIS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL BUDGET AND, UM, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE REPAINTING OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY DONE, UH, BEFORE THIS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO, UM, THAT'S ONE THING I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
SECONDLY, UM, UM, AND HE'S, UH, THEY'RE, SOME OF 'EM ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT IS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE 860 EMPLOYEES WE HAVE IN PUBLIC WORKS THAT DO, UM, EVERYTHING FROM STREETS TO STORM WATER AND SIDEWALKS AND, UM, UH, BOND PROGRAMS, INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT, UM, TRAFFIC, UM, AND ENGINEERING AND, AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT RAZZI AND HIS TEAM DO.
WE, UM, ARE GEARING UP, UM, AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY FOR OUR FIRST, UH, 2022 BOND PRESENTATION,
[01:40:01]
UH, TO YOU ON, ON JUNE 1ST.AND THEN FINALLY, TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT VIDEO, UH, IS REALLY, UM, FOCUSING ON, ON NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, WHICH, UH, THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR RECOGNIZED, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, WITH OVER 2300 POLICE OFFICERS, SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS, 132 CADETS CURRENTLY IN THE ACADEMY, 163 PARK POLICE OFFICERS AND 41 AIRPORT POLICE OFFICERS.
UM, WE WANTED TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, UM, AND WHY THEIR JOB IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND AS, UH, IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UH, LAST WEEK OR ON MAY 6TH, UM, TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, WE HONORED 62 OFFICERS THAT HAVE FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN SERVICE TO THE, UH, CITY.
AND SO I WANNA THANK, UH, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THANK THE EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE, IN THE VIDEO.
I'VE BEEN AN OFFICER FOR 10 YEARS NOW.
I LOVE MY JOB, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNIT THAT I'M IN AS A SAFE OFFICER, I'M ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOLS AND TALK TO CHILDREN.
WHERE I GREW UP, OUR IMAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS WAS REALLY NEGATIVE.
NOT UNTIL I JOINED THE POLICE EXPLORERS, THAT'S WHEN, LIKE THE FIRST REEL.
THEY'RE NOT MEAN POLICE OFFICERS.
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME WHEN I'M SIMPLY MAYBE EATING A LUNCH OR A DINNER SOMEPLACE AND SOMEBODY JUST COMES AND SHAKES MY HAND AND THANKS US FOR WHAT WE DO.
IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS, IS MAKING AN IMPACT ON, ON PEOPLE.
AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING MATTERS.
BEEN WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 25 YEARS, BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WAS AFRAID OF OFFICERS BACK THEN FOR NO REASON.
OKAY, COACHES READY? ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.
I JUST WANT TO KIND OF LET THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, I'M, I'M JUST LIKE YOU.
I GREW UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD YOU DID AND, UH, I'M COMING FROM THE SAME PLAYGROUND, THE SAME SCHOOLS THAT YOU DID AT AIRPORT.
WE HAVE BOTH PATROL AND CANINE, WHICH ARE TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS WITHIN THE AIRPORT.
POLICE DEPARTMENT, CANINES ARE REALLY THE, THE FASTEST WAY TO RULE OUT THE EXISTENCE OF EXPLOSIVES, UH, TO KEEP THE TRAVELING PUBLIC SAFE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE ALL PASSENGERS, EMPLOYEES, AND TRAVELERS ARE SAFE AND ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TRAVELING FOR VACATIONS, WORK IN BUSINESS.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME TASK, WHETHER IT'S PARK POLICE, WHETHER IT'S, UH, AIRPORT POLICE, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME TASK IS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, THEY SHOW LOVE TO US ALL THE TIME AND, AND IT'S APPRECIATED.
SO MAYOR, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THAT BOWLING EVENT, YOU SAW A COUPLE CLIPS HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEK AND WAS ORGANIZED BY A, UM, UH, AN ORGANIZATION HERE CALLED RISING STARS.
UM, AND THAT WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT, UM, CAME AND PITCHED AN IDEA AT THE D TWO BUDGET HEARING LAST YEAR AT ELLA AUSTIN.
AND WE INCLUDED FUNDING IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND, UH, THEY HAD A HUGE TURNOUT.
WE HAD A LOT OF OFFICERS THERE, A LOT OF KIDS.
AND, UM, MARIA AND I WERE TALKING LAST NIGHT.
THE KIDS WERE SURVEYED AND, AND THE TYPE OF INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING FROM THAT IN, UH, FROM, FROM THOSE KIDS' PERSPECTIVES, I THINK WILL HELP SHAPE, SHOULD HELP SHAPE HOW WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, ONE OF THE THANK RISING STARS FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR WORK AND ORGANIZING THAT.
ALRIGHT, UH, WE DO HAVE AGAIN, UH, 2:00 PM ZONING SESSION, BUT BEFORE THAT WE'RE GONNA GO MOVE INTO AGNI EXEC.
SO THE TIME IS NOW 11:01 AM ON THURSDAY, MAY 3RD, NOT, EXCUSE ME, MAY 19TH, 2022.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, THE PURCHASE GAINS LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND COVID 19 PREPAREDNESS UNDER 5 5 1 0.071.
OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
THE TIME IS 12:07 PM ON THE 19TH OF MAY, 2022.
OUR CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AND OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.