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PLEASE TAKE A SEAT? COUNCILMEMBER TREVINO?>> CITY CLERK: MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
[1. Ordinance acknowledging the resignation of Councilmember William "Cruz" Shaw, District 2, and initiating procedures to select an interim replacement Councilmember. [Leticia M. Vacek, City Clerk]]
MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPECIAL MEETING TODAY.WE'RE HERE TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF DISTRICT 2 CITY COUNCILMAN WILLIAM CRUZ SHAW EFFECTIVE JANUARY 7, 2019.
CRUZ IS LEAVING US TO ACCEPT A POSITION WITH THE COUNTY AS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE FOR THE 436TH JUVENILE DISTRICT COURT.
WE WILL MISS HIS PRESENCE AND SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 2 AND TO THE CITY.
SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CLERK TO READ THE CAPTION SO WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH IT.
>> YES, SIR, ITEM NUMBER ONE IS THE ORDINANCE ACKNOWLEDGING THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAM CRUZ SHAW, DISTRICT 2, AND INITIATING PROCEDURES TO SELECT AN INTERIM REPLACEMENT COUNCILMEMBER.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH THAT NOW, I'LL CALL THE FIRST NAME.
I'LL CALL THE SUBSEQUENT NAME IF YOU CAN MAKE -- GET READY TO COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
NO ONE IS LISTED HERE AS IN FAVOR OR AGAINST.
SO I'LL ASSUME THAT WE'RE JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT CRUZ.
WE'LL START WITH AUBREY LEWIS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR NIRENBERG, CITY COUNCIL PERSONS, OUR VERY OWN DISTINGUISHED WILLIAM CRUZ SHAW, COUNCILMAN DISTRICT 2.
I'M AUSTIN BREW LEWIS, PRESIDENT OF THE DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHICH IS THE LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN DISTRICT 2 AND COUNCILMAN PERRY AND I WERE TALKING JUST WHILE AGO, HE CORRECTED ME, HE SAID, WELL, YOU'RE NOT THE LARGEST IN THE CITY, WE GOT TO COMPARING THE HOUSING.
SO I BELIEVE WE MAY BE THE LARGEST IN THE CITY ALSO.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR IN BEING ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS DAY, IN ORDER THAT WE MAY PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE IN ORDER TO COUNCIL WILLIAM CRUZ SHAW WHO IS OUR OWN DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN.
COUNCILMAN SHAW, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
YOU HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY AND CITY WELL.
YOU SERVE WITH HONOR, JUT MOST RESPECT, DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY, AND MY BROTHER, AS YOU FURTHER YOUR CAREER INTO THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, THERE'S NO DOUBT YOU WILL SERVE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RESPECT, FAIRNESS AND INTEGRITY.
COUNCILMAN, WE DO APPRECIATE THE JOB YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND CITY AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU MY BROTHER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS.
EVELYN HARRISON? FOLLOWED BY JOE LINSON.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU.
I'M EVELYN HARRISON, I'M A FORMER AT&T RETIREE.
I WORKED IN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
I ALSO SERVED ON CITY PLANNING UNDER COUNCILMAN JOE WEBB, SO I'M TELLING MY AGE HERE, ALSO I SERVE ON THE ALAMO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK WILLIAM CRUZ SHAW, OUR COUNCILMAN, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION HE HAS DONE AND SHOWN TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HE WORKED IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH GREAT PASSION.
I'M A FOURTH GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN, SO EAST SIDE IS IN ME ALL IN AND OUT.
I WANT TO THANK HIM BECAUSE HE CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND HE HAS REALLY SHOWED THAT HE WAS CARING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE, WE ARE GIVING HIM HIS SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT LEVEL THAT HE IS NOW GOING TO, AND WE WANT TO ALSO THANK HIM AND MICHELLE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DID IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE KNOW, AS A JUDGE, HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK JUST AS HARD.
JOE LINSON? FOLLOWED BY TONY HARGROVE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL.
I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, APOLOGIZE FOR MY AT TIRE.
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I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING TODAY.ONCE I GOT THE WORD Y'ALL WERE ACCEPTING CRUZ'S RESIGNATION, I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS DISTRICT.
IN THE HISTORY, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1981 FROM DALLAS AND I'VE WATCHED CITY COUNCIL PERSONS COME AND GO, AND TWO, YOU'RE PROBABLY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
I'M GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE.
YOU'RE BRINGING IN MORE THAN $27 MILLION INTO THAT DISTRICT THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE, BOND, ET CETERA.
THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO THE DISTRICT.
AND WHILE I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE LEAVING, I'M ECSTATIC ABOUT YOU GOING TO THE JUVENILE COURT.
I THINK THAT YOU AS A JUDGE, YOUR BACKGROUND IN LAW, AND WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE BLACK YOUTH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY BLACK MALES.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB THERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE DOWN HERE.
NO SKELETONS OR SCANDALS OF THAT NATURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. LINSON.
TONY HARGROVE FOLLOWED BY (INDISCERNIBLE).
>> CITY MANAGER, COUNCILMEMBERS, HOW DO YOU DO COUNCILMAN, MAYOR, I'M TONY HARGROVE, CEO OF TELL OF THEELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CEN.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE STAFF AND THE BOARD BASICALLY TO SAY THANK YOU TO A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG MAN THAT HAS DONE WELL AND IS MOVING ON TO SIT ON A BENCH TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT COUNCILMAN SHAW.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO I REMEMBER SITTING AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM, AND IT WAS CANDID.
SHOULD I RUN? I SAID ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO WE BASICALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, WANT TO WISH YOU WELL AS YOU STEP INTO YOUR NEW POSITION ON THE BENCH, AND LET ME SPECIFICALLY SAY WE BOTH, ELLA AUSTIN, AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, APPRECIATE THE MANY THINGS YOU DID, SPECIFICALLY THE HEAVY LIFTING ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING THE LEASE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO WE WISH YOU WELL, AS JUDGE, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY TO EACH OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HARGROVE.
EMILIO DEBNO FOLLOWED BY LIZ FRANKLIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST -- THE EAST VILLAGE NEIGHBOR'S ASSOCIATION FOR MY SECOND YEAR AND WE WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH CRUZ SHAW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SINCERELY MISS YOU, AND HE STARTED MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE WHERE WE WERE KIND OF THE FORGOTTEN SIDE OF TOWN, THE NORTHEAST PART OF TOWN, SO IT'S GOING TO BE SAD IF.
SO I HOPE THAT DOESN'T, BUT AS HE EMERGES INTO A NEW JOB, HE LEAVES BEHIND A STAFF AND AS EVERY RUN OF YOU, COUNCILWOMAN AND COUNCILMEN KNOW, BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN THERE'S A WOMAN AND BEHIND EVERY GREAT COUNCILMAN IS THEIR STAFF, AND WITHOUT THEM HELP TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THE JOB CANNOT GET DONE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT COUNCILMAN IS LEAVING BEHIND A VERY GOOD STAFF AND WE HOPE THAT THAT STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE US AND IF THEY DO HAPPEN TO CHANGE OVER, AS HAPPENED WITH WARWICK, THEY DID NOT TRANSFER, EVERYTHING -- ALL OF OUR NEEDS THAT WE HAD DOCUMENTED GOT LOST, AND SO WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND TO ANY OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE, IF THEY EVER HAVE TO LEAVE, AND NEW PEOPLE COME IN.
SO WE -- THAT IS MY HOPE, THAT AS A COUNCILMAN LEAVES, THAT WHOEVER FILLS HIS SHOES, IT'S ALL SO UNCERTAIN RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES FROM AN APPOINTEE TO A PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE SPECIAL ELECTED AND THEN TO A -- THE REGULAR ELECTION IN JUST FIVE MONTHS, SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM FROM DISTRICT 2 HAS WORKED SO HARD WITH HIM, AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT, AND WE HOPE WE CAN CALL HIM SOMETIMES AND SAY, PLEASE, HELP US.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. DEBNO.
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REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA GERVIN HAWKINS.YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I GO, I'M ALWAYS BEHIND SOMEBODY GREAT.
WHAT A PICKLE WE'RE IN, CRUZ! I HOPE YOU GET PARKING WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BECAUSE FOR US TO BE HERE, IT WAS A RIDE.
ACTUALLY, I KIND OF EXCITED FOR YOU ON THAT JUDGESHIP POSITION AND I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY CARED ABOUT THE YOUTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS ITSELF, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THOSE AS THEY COME, AND FOR SURE OUR YOUTH NEED IT.
SO WISHING YOU THE ABSOLUTE BEST ON THAT.
NOW, LET'S GET BACK TO THE PICKLE WE'RE IN! RUMORS ABOUND, IT'S RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THAT THE SELECTION PROCESS -- THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS BECAUSE CRUZ DIDN'T GET CAKE.
BUT THE SELECTION PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT IT OFTEN, AND MANY OF YOU, A FEW OF YOU, HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, BUT WITH SO MANY OF YOU NEW, THIS IS REALLY UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
SELECTING SOMEBODY FOR 117 DAYS OR HAVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY AND THOSE OF US THAT CARE ABOUT DISTRICT 2, ARE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED.
117 DAYS AS MANY THINGS COME UP ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT ARE IMPORTANT, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE LEFT OUT? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A VOICE IN WILL WE KNOW? SO I WILL ASK YOU TO USE THE SAME DUE CARE IN YOUR SELECTION PROCESS FOR INTERVIEWING THAT YOU WOULD IF IT WERE YOUR DISTRICT.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT? WOULD YOU WANT -- I SAY IT OUTLOUD.
WOULD YOU WANT 30 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED TO BE INTERVIEWED? OF COURSE NOT.
BECAUSE 30 PEOPLE WITHIN THE DISTRICT SAY THEY CARE ENOUGH, AND IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA, THEY SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED.
THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BE THINKING IF I WERE SITTING THERE.
HOW WOULD I MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THE FINAL THINGS THAT I WOULD DO WOULD NOT DISENFRANCHISE AN ENTIRE DISTRICT FOR 117 DAYS? THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
AND WE ALL THOUGHT CRUZ WAS RUNNING AGAIN, SO, YOU KNOW, THE FIELD WAS KIND OF THEIR ROW FOR US, NOW WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. FRANKLIN INCH REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA GERVIN HAWKINS, FOLLOWED BY ROCIO HILL.
FIRST OF ALL, COUNCILMAN CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU SERVED.
WE REALLY APPRECIATED YOU, AS I SHARED WITH EVERYONE, YOU MOVING FORWARD IS GOOD WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I THINK FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM ON THE BENCH, WEARING THE ROBE, AND WHO COULD.
SO WE APPRECIATE -- ALSO TO THE COUNCIL, TO OUR CITY MANAGER, AND TO OUR COUNCIL, TO OUR MAYOR, YOU KNOW, AS MR. FRANKLIN SAID, THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNED.
I THINK Y'ALL NEED TO KNOW THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO WAS WALK THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T GET PARANOID AND THEY DON'T BECOME NEGATIVE, BUT WE MAKE THIS AS A POSITIVE THING, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNCILMAN LEAVES ON A GOOD JOURNEY AND WHAT HE LEAVES IS PEOPLE INTACT AND WORKING TOGETHER.
SO THE PROCESS, I WAS CALLED 50 MILLION TIMES DURING THIS PROCESS, BUT LIKE I ASSURED EVERYBODY, THAT INDEED AS LONG AS WE STAY TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER, WORK WITH OUR COUNCILMEN, WORK WITH OUR MAYOR, WORK WITH OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY.
BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED AND SO AS LIZ EXPRESSED THAT, MANY OTHERS ARE EXPRESSING IT, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT Y'ALL WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SOME LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN, GOOD LUCK.
ROCIO HILL? FOLLOWED BY NORMA WITHERSPOON.
>> GOOD EVENING, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, MR. SHAW, COUNCILMAN, MY NAME IS ROSE HILL.
PROUD TO BE OF GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE ESTABLISHED IN 1988.
COUNCILMAN CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, WE GOT SOME STREETS.
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WE HADN'T GOT THERE IN A LONG TIME.ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL, I'M ASKING YOU TO WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEW DISTRICT 2 THAT WE LOOK AT SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THE COMMUNITY, KNOWS THE PEOPLE, KNOWS THE ISSUE IN DISTRICT 2, KNOWS THE PRESIDENTS AND IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST GET ON THE OJT, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.
SOME OF US HAVE BEEN IN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
SOMETIMES I WONDER WHY I WANTED TO DO FOR ELECTION, IF I SHOULD HAVE -- YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE WHO MAKES IT ALL WORTH WHILE.
WHY ARE WE REALLY THERE? WE DON'T HAVE ANY HIDDEN AGENDAS, WE'RE THERE FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR OUR ELDERS, FOR THE VETERANS, BASICALLY WE'RE THERE TO STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED US.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER WHOEVER THE TOP THREE YOU MAY SELECT THAT THEY REALLY, REALLY HAVE THE PASSION FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT 2.
I WAS BORN, RAISED IN DISTRICT 2.
WE WANT TO SEE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING.
GOVERNMENT HILL FOR ONE, WE'RE EXPANDING LIKE NO TOMORROW, LIKE EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THAT THREE THINGS, WHY DO YOU WANT TO RUN? HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO RUN? AND ACTUALLY WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DELIVER TO THE COMMUNITY? AND WHAT COMMITMENT DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO THAT COMMUNITY, AND TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, WORK WITH US, BECAUSE NOW THAT YOU'RE LEAVING, COUNCILMAN, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO PROBABLY FILL THOSE SHOES, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PUT SOMEBODY IN THERE THAT'S GOING TO BE STRONG, WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF RUNNING LIKE A BAT OUT OF HECK, SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO BE PASSIONATE, GET THEIR HANDS DDIRTY, WHAT IS IT THAT I NEED O HELP YOU? TO BE ABLE TO SAY I'M GOING TO DO IT, NOE TO NOT SAY I'M GOING TO DO IT, BUT TO ACTUALLY DO IT.
TALK IS CHEAP, ACTION GOES A LOT LONGER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
I DON'T KNOW THE FULL PROCESS, THAT'S WHY I CAME TODAY, TO HEAR WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
I WANT LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW, AS A PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT HILL, A LOT OF PRESIDENTS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME, WE WILL BE HAVING A TOWN HALL MEETING TO HEAR THE VOICES OF CONCERNS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHAT IS IT THEY WANT TO SEE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT, IN A DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN, NOW THAT YOU'RE EVEN COUNCILMAN CRUZ, COULD I HAVE MS. WITHERSPOON'S TWO MINUTES, SHE'S NOT GOING TO SPEAK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. WITHERSPOON, YOU'RE CEDING YOUR TIME? GO AHEAD.
I GOT A BUNCH OF CALLS AND THEY SAID, OKAY, SO MS. HILL CAN WE ORGANIZE, PUT A TOWN HALL TOGETHER? IT'S JUST TO SAY WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR NEXT COUNCILMAN? AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO FILL THOSE SHOE, COUNCILMAN CRUZ, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AS PRESIDENTS, WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO SEE THE NEXT INCOMING COUNCILMAN.
PUTTING SOMEBODY IN THERE FOR FIVE MONTHS IS GREAT FOR APPOINTMENT, BUT REALLY IN FIVE MONTHS, YOU'RE IN THERE, AND THEN IF YOU DON'T GET ELECTED, THEN WE'RE STARTING BACK AT SQUARE ONE.
SO WHOEVER IS WANTING TO BE APPOINTED, THEY REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMMITTED 100% TO SAY NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO GO IN THERE FOR THOSE FIVE MONTHS, BUT I WANT TO GO GET RE-ELECTED, I WANT TO START THE FIRST DAY OF COMMITMENT OF THOSE FIVE MONTHS, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO PLAN ON, TO BE THE NEXT COUNCILMAN, WHETHER THEY WIN OR THEY DON'T WIN, BUT I WANT THAT COMMITMENT, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO COME BACK IN AT THE END OF MAY AND SAY HERE WE GO AGAIN, ALL THE PRESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 2, NOW WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR ANOTHER PERSON, WHO IS GOING TO RUN.
I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE PLENTY OF PEEP IN DISTRICT 2 WANTING TO PUT THEIR HATS IN THE RING, BUT THEN AGAIN, I ASK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT BE THE TOP THREE, TOP TWO, TOP ONE, THAT THAT PERSON ACTUALLY IS COMMITTED TO SERVING DISTRICT 2, AND SERVING US, THE PRESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OF OUR BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT 2.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. HILL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, MEMBERS OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS GORDON M BENJAMIN AND I AM A 55 YEAR RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, RECENTLY RELOCATED FROM THE DENVER HEIGHTS AREA WHERE I SERVED ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND AS MEMBER OF DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I DO COMMUNITY ACTIVISM, ROAD REGISTRATION.
I SERVED ON THE 2017 BOND ELECTION COMMITTEE, CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR STREETS, BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS.
SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AND THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY TO COUNCILMAN SHAW IN HIS
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DEPARTURE IS.AND WHAT THAT TRANSLATES INTO IS OUR MAIN BUSINESS IS NOT TO SEE WHAT LIES DIMLY AT A DISTANCE BUT TO DO WHAT LIES CLEARLY AT HAND, AND I THINK THAT VISION -- YOU HELD THAT VISION.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU PRACTICE YOUR CRAFT.
YOU HAD A PURPOSE AND YOU DEVELOPED PATIENCE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH REPRESENTING SUCH A VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS.
AND IN MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL, SIR, I WOULD ADMONISH YOU TO JUST MAINTAIN YOUR PATIENCE, DEVELOP SOME, AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE WHAT YOU KNOW IS GOING TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO MAY COME BEFORE YOU.
WHEN WE COME THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO SEE THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO BEING FAIR, HONEST, AND TO MAINTAIN THAT INTEGRITY AND DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE ON BEHALF OF THOSE PEOPLE AND THE CONSTITUENCY THAT YOU WILL BE SERVING, SO AS A RESULT OF YOUR PAST INTERACTION WITH US IN THE COMMUNITY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS, AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS AS MS. HIL SAID WHO IS EVER COMING BEFORE YOU TO WANTS TO APPLY TO THIS SITUATION, TAKE THIS INTO SAID, AS IF YOU WERE CONSIDERING SOMEONE FOR YOUR DISTRICT.
I'VE SEEN NOTHING BUT GOOD ACTIONS OVER THE COUNCIL THE LAST SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN BACK IN SAN ANTONIO.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK BROTHER SHAW AND SAY GOOD LUCK AND THE BEST TO YOU, THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BENJAMIN.
ALL RIGHT. IN ANTICIPATION OF OUR ACTION TODAY, THE CITY CLERK HAS PUBLISHED THE NOTICE OF VACANCY AND INVITATION FOR APPLICATION FACTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO HER OFFICE BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON.
BECAUSE OF THE WINTER CLOSURE OF CITY OFFICES, THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE TEN BUSINESS DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION, BUT WILL BE EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS ENDING AT 5 P.M., JANUARY 4TH.
APPLICATION PACKETS WILL BE PROVIDED TO CITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY, JANUARY 7TH, TO BEGIN OUR REVIEW OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.
ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9TH, WE WILL HOLD A B SESSION TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION BRACKETS AND SELECT UP TO THREE FOR INTERVIEW AT THE A SESSION ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 10TH.
ONE OF THE PLING LICT APPLICANTE SELECTED TO SERVE THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM THROUGH MAY 31, 201.
AT THIS TIME DO HAVE I A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMAN SHAW AND TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO FILL THAT VACANCY? ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMAN SHAW AND TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO FILL THE VACANCY.
I WANTED TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT COUNCILMAN SHAW BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO -- APPRECIATE THAT.
FIRST I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT, TO ONE, SHARE THE SENTIMENTS ABOUT MY COLLEAGUE, OUR COLLEAGUE, BUT THEN ALSO THE SENTIMENTS AND CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE VOICED ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS IN DISTRICT 2 AS WAS MENTIONED.
SOME OF US ON THIS DAIS HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS SOME TIME BEFORE, SO YOUR VOICE IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND YOUR CONCERNS AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD, AND LASTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, AND I FIRST WORKED WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS A ZONING COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT 2, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE DECISION THAT HE HAS MADE AND LIKE MANY OF YOU ALL, I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE HIM TAKE THIS ROLE AS A JUDGE AND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO DO TRANSFORMATIONALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR DOING THAT, TAKING THAT STEP, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND ALL OF THE ADVISEADVISE YOU EVE GIVEN ME, O THANK MICHELLE FOR ALL OF HER HELP, TOO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT YOU POSED, WE WILL BE -- SO IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING PITHY TO SAY, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU RESERVE IT FOR A LARGER AUDIENCE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AND FORCE COUNCILMAN SHAW BACK TO US AS HE'S STEPPED AWAY FROM THE DAIS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE HEARS AND BEARS THROUGH THE LOQUACIOUS ENDING TO HIS CAREER ON CITY COUNCIL.
IT WON'T BE EXACTLY TODAY, BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE HE ENDURES THAT.
SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> PERRY: GOOD LUCK WITH GETTING HIM BACK, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAW.
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YOU.NO, NO, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROCESS ON BRINGING ON A REPLACEMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DELIBERATING IF WE SHOULD EVEN SHOW UP TODAY TO MAKE HIM STAY LONGER, HERE WE ARE, HERE WE ARE, BUT I WANT TO THANK HIM ALSO FOR HIS SERVICE, AND COUNCIL, AND WISH HIM GOOD LUCK ON THE BENCH AND WITH MICHELLE AS SHE'S MY FAVORITE AGGIE, AND, YOU KNOW, HEY, IT'S ALL GOOD, AND WISH Y'ALL THE EBEST OF LUCK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, PERRY, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND YOU HERE TODAY, WE'VE DONE THIS FOUR TIMES, SO IT'S NOT A NEW EXERCISE, BUT I THINK PREVIOUSLY WE WOULD OFTEN QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON HAD THE INTENTION TO SERVE AND PERHAPS THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A DOWNSIDE, THAT NOT TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO INTENDED TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE SO THAT IT WOULD BE FAIR AND OPEN WHEN THAT PERSON -- WHEN THERE WAS AN ELECTION.
I THINK WE'RE FINDING -- AT LEAST I SHOULD SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I KNOW I APPRECIATE HAVING SOME LONGEVITY ON THIS COUNCIL.
HAVING EXPERIENCE COUNTS FOR A LOT, AND I KNOW IN NOW SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK, AND THAT EXPERIENCE WHETHER IT'S FIVE MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS WOULD TRANSLATE VERY WELL INTO WHOMEVER SERVES YOU NEXT.
I KNOW WE'LL TAKE THAT APPOINTMENT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WELCOME THE CANDIDATES AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT EXERCISE, BUT IT'S NOT A NEW ONE, SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, AND THEN I GUESS WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO COMMENT ABOUT OUR COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, COUNCILMAN CURRY.
>> COURAGE: I WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST.
THANKS FOR THE LEADERSHIP YOU PROVIDED ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
I SEE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SAID SO MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU AND I HOPE THEY WILL ALSO WORK WITH YOU TO FIND SOMEONE WHO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY CAPABLE FULFILLING YOUR SHOES FOR THE REST OF THIS TIME.
I KNOW PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU GET THE BEST REPRESENTATION POSSIBLE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'LL STRIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTINUES.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU -- MY ONLY THING I'LL SAY HERE, COUNCILMAN, IS TO THANK YOU FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM AT WHICH YOU'RE HANDLING THE TRANSITION.
SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT 2 REMAINS IN GOOD HANDS AND KEEPS MOVING FORWARD AT THE GUIDANCE OF OUR COLLEAGUE WHO I THINK WILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE PATH THAT'S LEFT BEHIND HIM.
SO WITH THAT, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMAN SHAW AND TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO FILL THE VACANCY IN DISTRICT 2.
MOTION CARRIES, AND THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS LEFT AT THIS MEETING, SO WE STAND ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.