[00:00:45]
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, FESTIVITIES IN THE HOUSE.
[ PROCEDURAL ]
MORNING EVERYBODY.THE TIME IS 9:11 AM ON THE SIXTH DAY OF APRIL, 2023.
WE'LL CALL OUR A SESSION ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
UH, IT'S A PARTICULARLY FESTIVE DAY TODAY AS WE'RE RECOGNIZING MANY OF OUR FIESTA ROYALTY AND COURT AND ORGANIZATION.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GET STARTED THIS MORNING.
UH, IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR TODAY, AND SO I WANNA WELCOME PASTOR CHAD BELU FROM THE ARSENAL CHURCH.
THE ARSENAL CHURCH IS AN AUTHENTIC, VIBRANT COMMUNITY IN SOUTH TOWN SAN ANTONIO, WITH A COMMITMENT TO NEW COVENANT GRACE BASED TEACHING ABOUT THE LIFE WE LIVE IN.
PRIOR TO BECOMING LEAD PASTORS CHAD AND HIS WIFE MA, SERVED AS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PASTORS.
CHAD BRINGS AN INTERESTING TAKE TO MINISTRY AS A FORMER INTERROGATOR IN THE US ARMY, AND TRULY AS A HEART TO SEE PEOPLE FIND THEIR TRUE IDENTITY IN CHRIST.
MA IS A GIFTED LEADER AND VOCALIST AND ALSO A VETERAN OF ARMY INTELLIGENCE.
CHAD AND MA HAVE FOUR CHILDREN.
JAY JACKSON, JET AND YADA BALLOU'S INTEREST IN MINISTRY GREW IN HIS TEENS AFTER MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO IN 1996, WHEN HE WAS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE GRADUATED FROM MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO BIBLE COLLEGE ONLY TO DROP OUT.
WHEN HIS EXPENSES GREW AND HIS GRADES DROPPED, BALLOU TURNED TO THE ARMY WHERE A JOB IN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AS A HUMAN INTELLIGENCE COLLECTOR CAUGHT HIS EYE.
THEN IN 2007, CHURCH MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD DENOMINATION HE GREW UP WITH TOLD HIM HE COULDN'T BE A PASTOR.
DURING HIS SECOND DEPLOYMENT, BALLOU MET HIS WIFE, MA, WHO WAS AN ARMY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER IN THE TWO MARRIED AND GOT STATIONED IN GEORGIA, WHERE BALLOU'S HOOK UP HIS OTHER PASSION MOTORCYCLES AS A MOTORBIKE SALESMAN.
AFTER THE COUPLE MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2009, BALLOU ENDED UP OWNING TWO MOTORCYCLE SHOPS, BUT THE PULL OF BEING A PASTOR NEVER LEFT HIM.
SO IN 2014, HE SHIFTED GEARS TO YOUTH MINISTRY AT NEW COVENANT CHURCH IN A SCHOOL ON THE CITY'S FAR NORTH SIDE.
WHEN THAT CHURCH'S LEAD PASTOR LEFT A YEAR LATER, LUKE CONVINCED CHURCH LEADERS TO MOVE TO SOUTH TOWN IN 2016 AND REBRAND THE ARSENAL, WHICH OPENED IN 2017.
IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE YOU, PASTOR CHAD.
I AM INSPIRED BY YOUR MESSAGE AND YOUR MINISTRY, UH, AND SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY AS WELL.
UM, I'LL TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES.
THE MAYOR SAID I HAD ALL THE TIME.
NOW, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, I I DO GET THE PRIVILEGE TO PASTOR A CHURCH JUST DOWN THE STREET IN SOUTH TOWN, UM, IN DISTRICT ONE, AND WE ACTUALLY LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, SO WE ARE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF, UH, SAN ANTONIO.
UM, YOU UNDOUBTEDLY LOVE THIS CITY THE SAME AND PROBABLY MORE THAN I DO, BUT I I LOVE SAN ANTONIO.
I'M SAN ANTONIO, THROUGH AND THROUGH.
I SAW WE EVEN HAVE THE SPURS LADY HERE TODAY.
SO GO SPURS, GO, MR. MAYOR, I, OUT OF ANY OF THE COUNCIL SESSIONS YOU COULD INVITED ME TO, I'M, I'M JUST GLAD IT'S THE PARTY ONE.
UM, THIS SEEMS VERY ARSENAL TO ME, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[00:05:01]
AS, AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, THIS REALITY OF YOUR LOVE FOR THIS CITY.UM, I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA THAT RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY NOT THE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, BEST, EASIEST OF TIMES TO BE A POLITICIAN AND A CITY LEADER.
UM, AND, AND I KNOW AS ELECTION SEASONS IN FULL SWING FOR, FOR US IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE SCRUTINY THAN UNITY, UM, IS WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
SO TODAY I I HOPE THAT I CAN JUST BRING A LITTLE, UM, GRATITUDE TO YOU TODAY.
UM, AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THE REALITY, I, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO SAY ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE, MA, UM, OUR ARSENAL FAMILY AND MYSELF, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR CARRYING THE BURDENS THAT YOU CARRY AS A CITY LEADER.
THANK YOU FOR LOVING THIS CITY AND LOVING IT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING SERVANTS TO THIS CITY.
TODAY'S THURSDAY OF HOLY WEEK, WE, THOSE OF US THAT CELEBRATE IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, THIS IS MONDY THURSDAY.
UM, IT'S ON THIS DAY THAT JESUS SPENT HIS LAST NIGHT WITH HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS FOR HIS LAST SUPPER.
IT WAS AT THIS DINNER THAT JESUS, THEIR TEACHER, THEIR RABBI WASHED THE FEET OF HIS DISCIPLES.
SO TODAY I BROUGHT SOME BASINS.
I FELT LIKE WE COULD ALL WASH EACH OTHER'S FEET JUST TO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
UM,
IT MIGHT BE A, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD PRACTICE, RIGHT? MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THIS AS COUNT.
ANYWAY, UM, IT WAS ALSO THIS DINNER THAT JESUS GAVE US, HIS NEW COMMANDMENT, WHICH HE WE FIND IN JOHN 1334, WHERE HE SAYS, A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.
YOU ALSO ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
THE CALL OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION LIFE, I BELIEVE IS THE CALL OF UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF ONENESS AND OUR CALL TO LOVE OUR FELLOW HUMANS.
AS WE PRAY TODAY, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU KEEP THIS BEAUTIFUL QUOTE FROM THE LATE BISHOP DESMOND TUTU AND MIND, MY HUMANITY IS BOUND UP IN YOURS FOR WE CAN ONLY BE HUMAN TOGETHER.
WILL YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO PRAY WITH ME? GOD, I FIRST JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE FOR EACH OF US AND THE LIFE YOU'VE GIVEN TO US THROUGH THE RESURRECTED LIFE OF JESUS.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THAT LIFE, AND I THANK YOU THAT WE GET TO DO LIFE TOGETHER.
I THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CALL THIS CITY HOME.
I PRAY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY AND FOR THE FAMILIES AROUND THEM THAT SUPPORT THEM WELL.
I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN A TANGIBLE WAY TODAY.
THAT THEY MIGHT SENSE THE BELONGING, ACCEPTANCE, AND TOGETHERNESS OF YOUR LOVE.
I PRAY TODAY WE ANSWER THE CALL TO RECEIVE AND LIVE IN THE ONENESS AND UNITY THAT WE ARE OFFERED AND CALLED TO IN CHRIST.
I PRAY THAT WE MIGHT SEE THE HUMANITY OF EACH OTHER, THAT WE WILL FIND THE BEAUTY IN THAT HUMANITY, AND THAT WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HUMANITY IN EACH INDIVIDUAL WE ENCOUNTER BY LOVING THEM WELL.
BECAUSE YOU NOT ONLY CALL US TO LOVE WELL, BUT AS THE WAY THAT WE LIVE AS OUR MOST AUTHENTIC SELVES, AS BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS OF OUR LOVING GOD.
I PRAY THAT UNITY, TOGETHERNESS, AND LOVE WOULD BE WHAT WE ARE KNOWN FOR.
THAT WE'LL FIND A UNIQUE AND CREATIVE WAYS TO LOVE OTHERS TODAY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR CHAD MARTY.
ALRIGHT, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 8TH AND 9 20 23.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 8TH AND 9 20, 23 MINUTES PLEASE VOTE.
UH, CAN WE GET A VERBAL VOTE VOTE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MICKEY RKI RODRIGUEZ.
[00:10:01]
UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, THERE IS NO ITEM LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION TODAY.SO BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR CEREMONIALS, I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND 34 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 1939 AND THEN 34, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, MOVED.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT FOLKS.
THERE'S ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT.
SO, UH, JACK FINGER, ARE YOU HERE? MR. FINGER? YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 33, 35, 36 AND 40.
UH, MAYOR EHRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD.
UH, ONE OR TWO ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA HERE.
WELL, WHAT IS IT? UH, WE'LL PUT THIS UP HERE FOR THE AUDIOVISUAL MAN.
WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? BASICALLY IT'S SAYS SALT SEEKS AUTHORIZATION TO USE CASH ON HAND IN A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $130 MILLION FOR THE REDEMPTION DFE OF OUTSTANDING DEBTS AND ANY INTEREST, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
OKAY, THANK YOU, MR. VISUAL MAN.
YES, FOLKS, WHY ARE WE USING CASH? WHY ARE WE USING OUR, MAYBE I'M NOT THE BRIGHT, BRIGHTEST BULB WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCE, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE TO USE CASH FOR PAYMENT OF YOUR DEBTS.
WHY? I MEAN, DON'T WE HAVE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS TO PAY OFF OUR DEBTS WITH OTHER BONDS AND OTHER ACCOUNTS AND SO FORTH INSTEAD OF CASH? ARE ARE WE GETTING THAT BAD OFF? IS, IS, IS IF ALL THE RATE INCREASES THAT
AND, UH, COUPLE OTHER ITEMS I WANNA BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
ITEM 30 RESOLUTION ABOUT NO OBJECTION TO FOR SPANISH PECAN APARTMENTS, SIR.
WELL, BASICALLY IT, IT'S ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING, WHICH I HAVE CALLED WELFARE HOUSING.
AND YES, BECAUSE WHY IT, UH, WELL, IT GOES DOWN TO, LET'S SEE IF I HAVE ANYTHING HERE.
YEAH, IT'S, UH, IT GOES DOWN TO WHAT, WHATEVER IT IS.
I THINK THE 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN'T CHARGE THE RENTAL RATES ANY HIGHER THAN THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HAPPENING OVER IN THE, UH, UH, DISTRICT, UH, WELL, GENERAL MCMULLIN, SOUTH GENERAL MCMULLIN AREA THAT'S IN THE SOUTH SIDE.
FOLKS, UH, ONE OF YOU, YOU FOLKS THERE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, PUTTING THIS, PLACING THIS ON YOUR COMMUNITY OVER THERE.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS, UM, OVER ON, UH, PECAN VALLEY.
UH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE COUNCIL COMMENT ON THE CONSENT ITEM, UH, CONSENT ZONE, EXCUSE ME, CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAY FOR 19 AND 39, UH, AND 34, WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN.
SO WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE'RE HEAR YOU.
NINE, WHICH IS A, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UH, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE HAY STREET BRIDGE PARK.
THIS HAS BEEN, UH, LONG IN THE MAKING.
I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE INVESTMENT INTO A PARK THAT BELONGS
[00:15:01]
TO OUR COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT TWO AND THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.IT TOOK A LONG AND A HARD STRUGGLE TO REALIZE THIS PARK, AND I'M THANKFUL TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE HAY STREET BRIDGE RESTORATION GROUP FOR THEIR TIRELESS ADVOCACY AND THEIR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING SKILLS TO KEEP OUR PUBLIC SPACES FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS PARK WILL FEATURE A SKATE PARK WIDE OPEN SPACES SO FOLKS CAN ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE HAY STREET BRIDGE AND ALSO A PAVILION, WHICH WILL BE ANOTHER SPACE THAT FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS AND USE TO CREATE MEMORIES.
AND SINCE THIS PARK WILL BE SO CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL BE A CATALYST FOR BRINGING MORE EAST SIDE FAMILIES TO ENJOY A NEAR DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE WITH THE HAY STREET BRIDGE AS A CORRIDOR TO THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WAS A PART OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 37 AND, UH, TO THANK BRIAN AND JOHN FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR CONCERNS, INCLUDING THOSE OF INCLUDING UNION PARTNERS, WERE ADDRESSED.
AND AS WE WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT WAS ONLY BY WORKING TOGETHER AND ENSURING THAT OUR UNION PARTNERS WERE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, THAT WE ENDED WITH A, A REALLY GOOD, UM, PRODUCT.
SO, I I ALL THIS TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WHEN WE CENTER WORKERS, THEIR UNION AND OUR COMMUNITY AT THE FOREFRONT OF CONVERSATIONS, WE ALWAYS GET TO A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE PLACE.
SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE THAT UNIONS PLAY IN ADVOCATING FOR BETTER CONTRACTS.
UH, AND WITH THAT, I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA, UM, LOCAL 61 43 FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF COMMUNICATION WORKERS IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE INDUSTRY.
THE C W A HAS BEEN PLAYING A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT, UH, WE CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND THAT WE ENSURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
TWO THINGS, ONE ON, UH, TODAY'S AGENDA.
UH, WE ARE APPOINTING, UH, SOMEBODY BRAND NEW TO OUR ETHICS AND REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, MR. JIM REY, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE'VE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FIREFIGHTER ON THAT ETHICS REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, HE'S BEEN, UH, A MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT EIGHT COMMUNITY FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS.
SERVED AS A LIEUTENANT ON LADDER 46, UM, FOR 33 YEARS, UM, AND HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.
UH, AND HE'S A MEMBER OF FIREFIGHTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON PROTECTION SINCE 2004.
MR. REEDY, WHERE ARE YOU? GOOD JOB, SIR.
AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER THING I WANNA POINT OUT, MAYOR, IS, UH, ON ITEM 31, WHICH IS, UH, IN THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT TODAY WE VOTE ON FINALLY, UM, ISSUING THE ARPA DOLLARS TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT.
AND, UH, I WANTED TO JUST TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR REALLY LEANING INTO THIS, THROWING ALL THEIR WEIGHT BEHIND, UH, THIS EFFORT, UM, BY PROVIDING EASIER ACCESS TO, UM, TO THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T, UH, THAT DON'T KNOW, WE ALSO, THIS WAS A PRODUCT OF A LOT OF WORK FROM OUR, UM, FROM OUR VERY OWN CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE APPOINTED TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION, UM, AND WHICH IS TODAY LED BY SARAH SHAQUILLE, THANK YOU TO EVERY ESBA C UM, VOLUNTEER WHO TOOK TIME AWAY FROM THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND TOOK TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, UH, AND PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS TO COME UP WITH WHAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION.
AND SO, UM, YOU GUYS, I'M, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT SBAC DOES, AND THANK YOU ERIC, FOR BEING SO, UM, SO, UH, ENERGETIC AND VIGOROUS WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT.
UH, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT, UH, IS STEPPING UP AGAIN FOR SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SHE ACTUALLY, UH, SERVED ON THE, UH, COMMISSION FOR ELDERLY AFFAIRS BACK IN 17 AND 18.
SHE TOOK A BREAK AND NOW SHE'S COMING BACK AGAIN.
SO THANK YOU BARBARA, FOR, UH, CONTINUING TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY.
ALSO, UH, WANNA HIGHLIGHT MR. UH, CARDELL, WHO IS, UH, SERVING ON THE ZONING, UH, THE BOARD OF ZONING, UH, TO, UH, SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
HE'S, UH, A RETIRED MILITARY ARMY VETERAN.
AND, UH, UH, WE'RE REALLY GLAD FOR HIM TO STEP UP AND SERVE ON THAT BOARD AS WELL.
SO, THANK YOU TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT 10.
ALRIGHT, UH, ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 19 AND 39, AND THEN 34, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
[00:20:02]
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED PATIENCE.
WE'VE GOT TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE GONNA BE VERY QUICK, SO WE WON'T BE VERY LONG.
[Acquisition, Sale or Lease of Real Property ]
19 IS ASO LET ME, UH, CALL UP ITEM 19.
ITEM NUMBER 19 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTEREST, CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS AND LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING SIX PERMANENT WATER EASEMENTS AND ONE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT IN N C B 1 8 3 3 3 1 8 3 3 8 AND 1 6 3 9 2.
LOCATED ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10 RELATED TO THE IH 10 BERNIE STAGE ROAD TO HARMAN ROAD 36 INCH WATER MAIN PHASE A PROJECT DECLAR COUNCIL MEMBER PAPA DECLARING THE PROJECT OH, TO BE PUBLIC USE AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION.
I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF POWER, UM, OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE SAWS IH 10 BERNIE STAGE ROAD TO ERMAN ROAD 36 INCH WATER MAIN PHASE A PROJECT, UM, THAT PROJECT DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAC, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBING THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF MY MOTION BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY, UH, THAT WAS JUST DESCRIBED BY OUR CITY CLERK AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION.
SECOND, SECOND, THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY FOR ONE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT AND SIX PERMANENT EASEMENT INTERESTS LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT SAWS IH 10 BERNIE STAGE ROAD WATER MAIN PROJECT N CCB 1 8 3 3 3 1 8 3 3 8, AND 1 6 3 9 2 LAKE LOCATED ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10.
THESE PROPERTIES ARE DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND MORE, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THIS MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION AS SECOND FOR ITEM NUMBER 30.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
[Miscellaneous ]
FINALLY, UH, A GOOD NEWS ITEM ON NUMBER 39.I'LL, UH, READ THE CAPTION AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER GRO.
ITEM NUMBER 39 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHILD ADVOCATE SAN ANTONIO CASA AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT OF $800,392.
FUNDING IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 FISCAL YEAR 2028, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 39.
MAYOR NURENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.
UM, ON THIS ITEM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SHELL OUT ABOUT NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS, ABOUT $800,000 TO THE CHILD ADVOCATES OF SAN ANTONIO.
WELL, MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CITY ALREADY DOES A LOT OF BUSINESS WITH CHILD ADVOCATES, AS I I SEE IT MANY TIMES IN THE, UH, VARIOUS AGENDA ITEMS OVER THE YEARS.
AND SO WHY ARE WE GIVING MONEY TO A NONPROFIT LIKE THIS? UH, DO NOT.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MONEY FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR PREMISES AND THEIR, UH, HELP FOR THEIR PROGRAMS AS WELL.
I MEAN, JUST AN INNOCENT QUESTION THAT, UH, SOME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.
DOES IT HAVE TO BE DONE THIS WAY? DON'T THEY, AS A NON-PROFIT, AS ANY OTHER NON-PROFIT AROUND THE CITY THAT, UH, WHO'S IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FINANCES? WHY ARE WE GIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE CASA PEOPLE? HMM.
I, I, WE WOULD LIKE TO INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
UH, FOR THE RECORD, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL IS RECUSED ON THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 39.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 39.
UH, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM TO GIVE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
[00:25:01]
THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH CASA.THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SERVICING FOSTER CHILDREN, UH, AND THEN THEY HAVE COURT APPOINTED CHILD ADVOCATES.
CASA HAS BEEN A GREAT NEIGHBOR IN DISTRICT THREE, OPENING UP THEIR FACILITIES TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS, UH, PROVIDING JUST A, A, A SAFE SPACE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE, UH, THAT ARE CASA MEMBERS.
UM, AS PART OF THE CASA'S FORTRESS OF HOPE INITIATIVE, THE EXISTING FACILITY WILL UNDERGO RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS DELIVERED IN THREE PHASES.
UH, THE CONSTRUCTION AND THEN, UM, IS PHASE ONE.
AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE QUALITY ASSURANCE THAT IT PHASE TWO AND THREE CAN BE PROVIDED FOR THIS.
THESE ARE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HOLTS THAT THAT PROVIDED THE FACILITY AND ALL THOSE THAT HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE PLAYGROUND.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AS A CITY IF WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE UPSTREAM ISSUES THAT WE ALSO CONTRIBUTE.
SO, I WANNA THANK MY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, THAT DID, AND I, I INVITE THEM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH CASA, THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF CARING FOR OUR, OUR YOUTH.
COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN, I DON'T HAVE A CUE FOR THIS, BUT I CAN SEE FOLKS DO WANNA SPEAK.
UH, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, FOR CASA.
UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'VE ADVOCATED, UH, FOR A LONG TIME FOR FOSTER CHILDREN, SPECIFICALLY AGING OUTTA THIS SYSTEM.
BUT A LOT OF THE INSPIRATION CAME FROM VISITING CASA AND TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN THERE, TALKING WITH THE, THE, THE WORKERS THERE THAT ARE, UM, EXHAUSTED.
UH, BUT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
SO THIS IS, UM, A SMALL THING THAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO TO TO TO THAT WORK.
THIS COUNCIL APPROVED TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS, UH, FOSTER CHILDREN THAT ARE AGING OUTTA THE SYSTEM.
THIS, THE CITY HAS NEVER SPENT ANY MONEY ON FOSTER CHILDREN.
AND AGAIN, THAT CAME FROM THE INSPIRATION FROM PEOPLE AT CASA DOING THIS GOOD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FOSTER CHILDREN ARE ONE OF THOSE.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN CASA AND I'M, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 39? UH, MY THANKS ALSO.
OH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
UM, I DID JUST WANT TO SHARE, I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE IN THIS WAY AND SUPPORT CASA IN THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN, UH, SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, UM, MY FRATERNITY'S PHILANTHROPY, UH, IS ACTUALLY CASA AND SO WE GOT TO, UM, TOUR THE FACILITY WHEN IT, WHEN IT WAS IN DISTRICT TWO, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO AT THE TIME.
AND THEN, UH, DONATE AND TALK TO, GOT TO CELEBRATE SOME OF THE FOLK WHO WERE BEING SWORN IN AS ADVOCATES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE THAT ADVOCATES PLAY IN A CONSTANCY AND, UM, CONSISTENCY IN A CHILD'S LIFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'VE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
AND SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UM, I WISH WE WILL DO MORE, I'M SURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
AND MY THANKS ALSO TO CHILD ADVOCATES OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE ENTIRE NETWORK OF CHILD ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE WORK.
I MENTIONED THAT IT'S GOOD NEWS BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING, BUT THE GOOD NEWS WOULD BE WHEN FUNDING IS NO LONGER REQUIRED, OBVIOUSLY.
SO, UM, THANK YOU ALSO TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING PICTURES WITH THE CARDBOARD KIDS.
THE CAMPAIGN IS INTENDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AWARE AND WE SHINE LIGHT ON THE PROBLEM, THE, THE EPIDEMIC LEVEL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
UH, SO YOU'LL SEE THESE, UH, CARDBOARD CUTOUTS AS A REMINDER TO US THAT CHILDREN ARE OFTEN LIVING IN THE SHADOWS, SCARED ALONE, UH, IN HOMES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SANCTUARIES, UH, PLACES OF LOVE AND SUPPORT.
AND QUITE OFTEN THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE, UH, WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES WHO DEAL WITH THIS CHALLENGE.
YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE PORT SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO WITH THAT, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 39.
WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
ALRIGHT, NOW WHO'S READY TO PARTY?
[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ]
WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FIESTA T TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.AND SO, UH, THE FIRST FOLKS I WOULD LIKE TO,
[00:30:01]
UH, CALL ON OUR, OUR, OUR FIESTA COMMISSION.SO IF Y'ALL CAN COME FORWARD, REPRESENTATIVES ARE SAN ANTONIO'S FIESTA COMMISSION.
UH, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION HERE, WHICH WILL KICK OFF OFFICIALLY OUR FIESTA SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO, WHERE THE SUN WILL BEGIN SHINING SHORTLY.
WHEREAS FIESTA SAN ANTONIO, ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER FESTIVALS, WILL TAKE PLACE APRIL 20TH THROUGH 30TH 2023 TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE HEROES OF THE ALAMO AND THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO AND CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO'S RICH AND UNIQUE CULTURE.
AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS SIZE FESTIVAL IS COORDINATED BY THE SAN ANTONIO FIESTA COMMISSION, A NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEER, SELF-SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION, AND THROUGH SUPPORT OF ITS PARTICIPATING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WORKS YEAR ROUND TO MANAGE THE THOUSANDS OF DETAILS AND DAY-TO-DAY TASKS IS ESSENTIAL TO PLANNING AND EXECUTING THE HUGE CITYWIDE CELEBRATION.
AND WHEREAS WHAT BEGAN IN 1891 AS A ONE PARADE EVENT HAS GROWN INTO AN 11 DAY EX EXTRAVAGANZA WITH VIBRANT PARADES, FOOD-CENTRIC EVENTS, LIVELY AND LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, AND THE LONGSTANDING TRADITION OF OBTAINING AND WEARING AS MANY FIESTA MEDALS AS POSSIBLE.
AND WHEREAS THE FUN-FILLED MULTICULTURAL PARTY WITH A PURPOSE GENERATES A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE CITY, BENEFITS NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES, AND PROVIDES A SAFE EDUCATIONAL CELEBRATION OF THE DIVERSE HERITAGE AND SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO ENJOY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 20TH THROUGH 30TH 2023 TO BE SAN ANTONIO'S OFFICIAL FIESTA SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AND WE OFFER BEST WISHES TO THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.
UM, SO WITH OUR COMMIS COMMISSION LEADERS UP HERE, I'D LIKE TO ALSO, UH, WELCOME EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S HERE FOR FIESTA.
IF YOU WANT TO COME UP ALL AT THE SAME TIME OR ONE AT A TIME, UH, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.
KING ANTONIO AND THE TEXAS CAVALIERS, UH, RAY FAO, UH, SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY, THE CONSO EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.
WE'VE GOT THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS ASSOCIATION AND FIESTA FLAMBE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT CELEBRATION.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THAT WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION.
UH, ONE THING I'VE LEARNED GROWING UP IN SAN ANTONIO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IS NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RAIN.
HAPPY TO HAVE IT, ALTHOUGH WE DO HOPE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT THE NEOSA RAIN ROCK IS AT FULL STRENGTH.
UH, ANYWAY, I'M JOHN MEYER, UH, FIESTA COMMISSION PRESIDENT FOR 2223.
THIS IS JALYN RAMIREZ, MISS FIESTA FOR 2223.
JAZZ IS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD.
UH, HERE IN OUR GROUP, UH, WE'VE GOT ANNE BALLANTINE ON OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, KATHY DELUNA, DAVID CHRISTIAN, FERN, BERNIE, UH, THIS WAY ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UH, STEVE ROSENAU, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOHN FRISTO, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, UH, JIM MARY AS WELL.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO AN AMAZING FIESTA.
THE BUZZ AND THE CROWDS AT THE A FEW PRE FIESTA EVENTS ARE JUST MUCH BIGGER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
UH, LAST YEAR WAS A REALLY GOOD FIESTA THIS YEAR HAS EVERY INDICATION THAT IT'S GONNA BE TREMENDOUS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GIVES US.
AND THE ONE CHALLENGE I'VE GOT FOR EACH OF YOU THIS YEAR IS FIND SOME EVENT THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO BEFORE AND GO SEE IT.
WE'VE GOT OVER A HUNDRED EVENTS, OVER 11 DAYS.
THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU WANT BIG CROWDS, YOU WANT NO CROWDS.
YOU WANNA WATCH A A POOCH PARADE.
WE GOT EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD YOU CAN DO.
SO, UH, PLEASE JOIN US AND COME OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH ALL OF US.
UM, BEFORE WE HAND IT OFF TO ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE, UH, MISS FIESTA SAN ANTONIO TODAY? YES.
AND LET'S GET READY TO PARTY WITH THE PURPOSE.
SO, BUT REAL QUICK, UH, JUST WANT EVERYBODY HERE TO KNOW THAT MISS FIESTA HAS A STORY OF HER OWN, UH, IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF OUR VERY OWN MELISSA RAMIREZ ALSO, AND, AND OUR VERY OWN GILBERT RAMIREZ IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, MELISSA AND GILBERT WORKING HARD FOR US EVERY DAY.
AND HER GRANDMOTHER WAS ALSO A RETIRED CITY, IS ALSO A RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE PAT, WHO WORKED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
SO JOHN, YOU'RE THE RINGMASTER HERE.
SO YOU HAND IT OFF TO EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS PRESENT TO MAKE COMMENTS FOR US.
[00:35:02]
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.I'M CLYDE JOHNSON KING ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO'S HUNDREDTH KING.
AND I SAY SAN ANTONIO'S HUNDREDTH KING.
'CAUSE IF YOU DO THE MATH, UH, WE STARTED IN 1920.
THE CAVALIERS WERE STARTED IN 1926.
KING ANTONIO WAS BEFORE THE TEXAS CAVALIER CAME, BEFORE THE TEXAS CAVALIERS.
AND THIS YEAR I'M GONNA GO AROUND IN EACH ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND GO TO SCHOOLS AND CHARITIES AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE AWAY, UH, WE HAVE RAISED $3.4 MILLION THROUGH THE TEXAS CAVALIERS RIVER PARADE TO GIVE AWAY TO ABOUT, UH, 70, UH, CHARITIES AROUND BEXAR COUNTY.
SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I COUNTED UP THE OTHER DAY AND STARTING ON THE 19TH THROUGH THE 30TH, I GO TO 322 EVENTS.
THAT'S EVEN A LOT FOR A POLITICIAN,
AND, UM, THE, THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT I GET TO SEE IS THE MELTING POT AND THE, THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE AS SAN ANTONIOS OF ALL GETTING TOGETHER AT FESTIVALS, PARADES AND PARTYING TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT FOR OUR CITY IN, IN THE UNITED STATES, PUTS US IN A VERY UPPER ECHELON POSITION BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL SERVE US OVER THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS, OVER THE NEXT A HUNDRED KING ANTONIOS AS WE GROW AS A CITY.
IT WILL KEEP OUR CULTURE IN, IN THE FABRIC OF SAN ANTONIO'S TOGETHER.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT DOES TAKE LEADERSHIP TO ALLOW US TO COME PARTY IN THE STREETS, PLAZAS AND, AND UH, RIVERS.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT, UH, AND ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS HISTORIC ANNUAL EVENT.
AND UM, JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S EDIFICATION HERE, THE 78TH TEXAS CAVALIERS RIVER PARADE WILL BE HELD AND IS PROCLAIMED FOR APRIL 24TH, 2023.
ALL RIGHT, NOW THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY.
I AM THE FOURTH VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSERVATION SOCIETY AND NEOS CHAIR AGAIN.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM, LISA PIERCE, UH, TERRY CAMPBELL, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VINCENT MICHAEL AND FERNANDO ARIAL, WHO IS OUR BUSINESS MANAGER THAT WE STOLE FROM THE FIESTA COMMISSION.
AND THEN OUR GOOD FRIEND MARY ROGERS, WHO SUPPORTS THE COUNCIL AND THE SOCIETY SO FAITHFULLY, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 75TH BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR OF RAISING MONEY FOR PRESERVATION IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I, EVERY TIME I'M HERE, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THE CEILING THAT WE CONTRIBUTED TO ON THE RESTORATION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL ROOM.
AND NEXT YEAR, THE SOCIETY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF CELEBRATION FOR PRESERVATION IN SAN ANTONIO.
NOT THAT I WANT YOU TO IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO WITHOUT TOUCHING A BUILDING THAT HAS HAD THE SOCIETY'S HANDS ON IT BY SAVING IT, REBUILDING IT, MOVING IT LIKE THE FAIRMOUNT HOTEL, OR SAVING THE RIVER BACK IN AFTER THE 1921 FLOOD.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL EVENT.
WE WILL HANG THE RAIN ROCK AND THAT FAITHFUL RAIN ROCK WILL KEEP THE RAIN AWAY FOR THE RIVER PARADE, GUYS.
AND FOR ALL THE OTHER FESTIVITIES THAT WE'LL HAVE DURING FIESTA, WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME.
GATES OPEN ON APRIL THE 25TH AND WE OPEN AT FIVE 30.
AND I PROMISE YOU THE BEVERAGES WILL BE COLD AND THE CHICKEN ON A STICK WILL BE HOT.
SO WE HOPE THAT YOU COME DOWN AND CELEBRATE WITH US.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND THE 75TH PRESENTATION OF A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO WILL BE HELD APRIL 25TH, 2028 IN THE LA THE NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS THERE.
ALRIGHT, NOW FOR THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M KELLY KENNEDY WITH A BATTLE OF FLOWERS.
AND THIS IS CORINNE COMB AND THE LADIES IN YELLOW.
YOU MIGHT IDENTIFY THAT COLOR AS BATTLE OF FLOWERS.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR 132ND PARADE THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE THRILLED WITH.
AND I HOPE YOU FIND IN YOUR SWAG BAG A LITTLE MEDAL IN THIS YEAR'S THEME IS BATTLE FLOWERS WHERE FIESTA REIGNS.
AND WE THINK IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE DURING THE BAND FESTIVAL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT
[00:40:01]
OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE GONNA REIGN OVER OUR IN A SPECTACULAR FORMATION AND WONDERFUL MUSIC.AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE PARADE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OVER THREE UNIVERSITIES REIGNING DOWN THE STREETS OF, UM, SAN ANTONIO.
AND ALSO HOPEFULLY SOME OF YOU, WE ALSO HAVE A, A CONTEST THIS YEAR WHERE SOME SAN ANTONIO HOPEFULLY WILL BE ROYAL AND GO FOR A ROYAL RIDE IN OUR PARADE.
AND SO ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS, UM, SUBMIT THEIR ENTRY WITH KSAT.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A FABULOUS FIESTA.
AND THE, UM, BATTLE OF FLOWERS PARADE, OBVIOUSLY A GREAT TRADITION FOR SAN ANTONIO, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO IS HAVING THAT DAY OFF TOO, THAT NOBODY ELSE GETS.
SO, UM, WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE ASSOCIATION WILL HOST ITS 132ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIESTA BATTLE FLOWERS PARADE ON APRIL 28TH, 2023.
AND AGAIN, THIS YEAR'S THEME IS WHERE FIESTA REIGNS.
AND FOR THOSE ROAD RUNNERS IN THE HOUSE, THE GRAND MARSHAL WILL BE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH JEFF TRAY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
AND NOW THE FIESTA FLAM BOW PARADE ASSOCIATION.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE FIESTA FLABEL PARADE ASSOCIATION AND I'M HERE TODAY WITH OUR PRE, UH, TREASURER JAMES FENIMORE, AS WELL AS OUR IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT BONNIE AL AND OTHER MEMBERS OF LETTI AND, AND, UH, RAS, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
1946 MARKED A NEW BEGINNING FOR FIESTA IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
REYNOLDS ANDRICK HAD A VISION AND CREATED A NEW NIGHT PARADE.
UM, THE FIESTA FLAM BO'S PURPOSE WAS TO PLAN, ORGANIZE, PRODUCE IN STATES THE FIESTA FLAMM BO PARADE ANNUALLY DURING FIESTA SAN ANTONIO TO ENHANCE THE CELEBRATION OF FIESTA FOR THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND ALL ITS VISITORS.
THE CAT DOWN TO THIS YEAR'S PARADE'S, 23 DAYS AWAY.
UM, IT'S ALSO OUR 75TH DIAMOND JUBILEE, UH, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE, WHEN THE PARADES FIRST STARTED.
AND IT WILL BE SEEN BY ESTIMATES OF OVER 750,000 ON THE PARADE ROUTE, AS WELL AS MILLIONS ON NOT ONLY TELEVISION, BUT OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA EVENTS AS WELL.
OUR LINEUP AND SCRIPTS ARE JUST ABOUT FINISHED.
UH, I KNOW THAT EVEN IN CITY COUNCIL YOU HAVE SCRIPTS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY UPDATE AND WE'RE DOING THAT AS WELL.
OUR PARADE WILL BE LED BY THE TEXAS LONGHORN BAND AND WILL INCLUDE, UM, ADDITIONAL 38 BANDS FROM LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE LOCATIONS ACROSS TEXAS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OUTTA STATE BANDS FROM TROY, MICHIGAN, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, MARIETTA, AND VALDO, GEORGIA, AS WELL AS FROM ALABAMA.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE AT LEAST 61 FLOATS FROM GROUPS IN ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, THIS YEAR'S FLOATS THAT WE'RE HAVING BUILT BY, UH, CREATIVE, UM, UH, SOUTHWEST PARADES ARE GONNA HAVE A BRAND NEW WOW AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT ARE COMING IN AS WELL.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE SUCCESS EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE GLAD THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.
WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND LOOK FOR YOUR SUP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE NATION'S LARGEST ILLUMINATED PARADE.
AND MAYOR, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU AND THE POLICE CHIEF BOTH BEING IN OUR PARADE.
AND WE DO HAVE THAT CAR YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
SO VEEVA FIESTA AND VIVA FLAM.
UH, HE'S LOOKING FOR AN AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR CONVERTIBLE DROP TOP IF YOU GOT IT
WELL, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT PARADE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAKE IT MORE UNIQUE, BUT, UH, YOU SAID YOU WILL.
AND THIS WILL BE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY FIESTA FLAMM BOW NIGHT PARADE ON APRIL 29TH.
AND AGAIN, THE THEME BEING FIESTA FLAMM BOW 75TH DIAMOND JUBILEE.
AND ALSO FOLKS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT THIS YEAR OUR GRAND MARSHALL IS DANILO CARRERA, ALONG WITH HONORARY GRAND MARSHALL, AND I'M LOOKING AT CROSS THE DIOCESE 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FANS, SHELLY LATIS.
ALRIGHT, UM, STAY RIGHT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW, UH, A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO COMMENT AND WE CAN'T HEAR.
[00:45:01]
MEMBER PERRY, UM, AND HIS PARTY STATEMENTS THIS YEAR.SO WE'LL START, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, EVERY YEAR.
I LOVE WELCOMING, UH, BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU'RE NOT FROM SAN ANTONIO AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY, UH, MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE LIKE, WHAT, WHAT ARE ALL THE CENTRAL AMERICAN DICTATORS DOING HERE WITH THEIR SASHES AND METALS? UH, BUT, UH, BUT I, I LOVE YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS, ALL YOU GUYS ARE JUST SUNSHINE.
UM, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT, KING ANTONIO, I'M, I'M GONNA, I, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID.
IT TAKES LEADERSHIP TO PARTY IN THE STREET.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO UTTER THOSE WORDS.
ERIC WALSH AND I, WHEN WE WERE AT TRINITY, WE WOULD CALL OUR PARENTS, UH, AND BE LIKE, NO, I ASSURE YOU IT TAKES LEADERSHIP TO PARTY IN THE STREET.
UH, BUT, BUT THEY BELIEVE YOU.
UM, THE THE OTHER THING TOO IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I KEEP HEARING FROM FOLKS EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT THE COST OF A BEER AT OSA AND AT THE DIFFERENT EVENTS GOES UP AND UP AND UP, RIGHT? AND YOU HAVE TO STAND AN HOUR OR TWO OR FIVE TO PAY 32 BUCKS FOR A BEER, RIGHT? UH, AND I JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, I, IT'S, MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE LESS, BUT, UH, IT'S ALL FOR CHARITY AND IT'S ALL TO, YOU KNOW, HELP KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.
AND IT'S ALL TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO BETTER AND HELP SOME VULNERABLE PEOPLE BE LESS VULNERABLE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE TO DESCRIBE SAN ANTONIO'S D N A, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HOLD A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE, UM, WITHIN THE MIX OF THINGS THAT MAKE US, US.
UH, AND I'M JUST, I'M JUST FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE YOU GUYS ARE.
UH, BUT IT'S NOT TODAY'S, UH, CELEBRATION IS NOT JUST A CELEBRATION FOR ME, UM, ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
UH, AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, WHO WINS THE FIESTA SPIRIT AWARD TODAY? IS THAT SPURS LADY SITTING RIGHT BEHIND.
LOOK AT, LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS.
BUT SINCE WE'RE CELEBRATING THINGS, I, I DO WANT TO MAYBE ALL OF YOU JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
UM, 'CAUSE I JUST HEARD DAVID CHRISTIAN PASS THE BAR EXAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
UM, EARLIER I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH, UH, MRS. DRIGGERS AND SHE SAID, OH, YOU ALL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
AND I SAID, YEAH, IT'S REALLY GOOD BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AND THEY ALL HAVE HATE SIGNS.
AND SO TODAY IT'S A CELEBRATION DAY.
AND SO I'M SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL AND JUST BE ABLE TO WELCOME YOU ALL HERE AND TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THIS IS ONE OF THE TIMES THAT I MOST LOOK FORWARD TO, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO CELEBRATORY.
AND FOR RESIDENTS, LIKE THE ONES THAT I REPRESENT TO SEE ROYALTY, IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.
SOMEONE CAME DOWN TO VISIT US ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN THAT DIDN'T LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR US, THAT REALLY CARED ABOUT US.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR US TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'LL NEVER FORGET HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT YOU HAD, NOT ONLY ON MYSELF, BUT ON MY, UM, MY, MY FELLOW STUDENTS AS WELL.
UM, YOU ALL KNOW THAT I AM A RAFAEL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT.
I SEE RAFAEL WILL BE COMING ANOTHER DAY.
BUT IT'S ALL OF YOU THAT PUT UP A GREAT FIESTA THAT REALLY REPRESENT THE SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO.
WHAT SAN ANTONIO LIVES FOR IS JUST MOST, MOST, UH, PROUD OF IS THE FACT THAT SO MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO HELP EVERY KID IN SAN ANTONIO.
THIS YEAR, I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEXAS CAVALIERS, AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL SURPRISE THAT INVOLVES THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
AND SO WE WILL ANNOUNCE IT AT A LATER TIME.
BUT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL AND SO EXTREMELY EXCITED, UH, ABOUT HELPING WITH EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND JUST WANNA, AGAIN, SAY THANK YOU, EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND SAY, UH, I'M READY.
I I WILL SHOW YOU ALL, I THINK SOMEBODY'S WEARING MY BOOTS.
BUT YES, I GOT TO WEAR MY, MY FIESTA BOOTS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND THEY WERE THE MOST POPULAR BOOTS IN TOWN.
AND SO I WAS INVITING EVERYBODY TO COME TO FIESTA ALREADY.
SO, UM, SO AVIVA, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER VEO HD.
WHEN, WHEN EVERYBODY STOOD UP AND YOU HEAR THE FAMILIAR CLINK OF METALS, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE OFFICIAL SOUND OF FIESTA.
IF IT ISN'T ALREADY, UM, I, THAT MAKES, IT MAKES MY HEART SWELL TO HEAR THAT SOUND.
I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO FIESTA.
IT'S, UH, PART OF OUR SAN ANTONIO'S FABRIC.
I MARCHED WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE, IN THE, IN THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS PARADE.
I WAS A, A TRUMPET PLAYER AT TAFT HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
MY SON TRUMAN, IS GONNA BE MARCHING IN THE PARADE.
SO IT'S AGAIN, YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR, OF, OF ALL OF OUR LIVES.
UM, I WANNA ALSO MENTION THAT MS. ROGERS TODAY NOTICED, UH, THAT THE CEILING ABOVE US WAS ACTUALLY, UM, A PROJECT OF THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY,
[00:50:01]
THE GOLD LEAF, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAD TO UNCOVER THE, THE CEILING AND THEN THE GOLD LEAF HERE THAT WE SEE ABOVE US EVERY DAY, UM, AT LEAST EVERY THURSDAY IS PART OF THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY.SO AGAIN, PART OF THE FABRIC OF D N A ALSO MENTIONED THAT MS. JALYN, ALTHOUGH VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND SHE'S DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB HERE, SHE'S ALSO GONNA GRADUATE WITH HER BUSINESS DEGREE FROM INCARNATE WORD, RIGHT? SO, UM, PART OF OUR, PART OF OUR D N A I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE PARADES, ALL THE EVENTS.
THERE ARE SOME EVENTS THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN TO, I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND I'VE PROBABLY NOT BEEN TO ALL OF THEM.
SO I'M GONNA, UH, BRANCH OUT THIS YEAR AND TRY TO GO TO A NEW, A NEW, UH, FIESTA EVENT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO.
OF COURSE, THE BEST PART OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE ENSURING THE FUTURE OF OUR, OF OUR CITY AND MORPH FIESTA STORIES AND MORE SUCCESS STORIES FOR SAN ANTONIO.
COUNCIL MEMBER CABELL HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO, AND I JUST TALKED TO YOU, UH, SAY THAT, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
THE, THAT FIESTA IS ALSO A STORY ABOUT WOMEN.
IT'S A STORY ABOUT WOMEN WHO WANT TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY TO TELL THE STORY.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING IN YOUR YELLOW AND COMING AND CONTINUING TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE THAT DEFENDED THE ALAMO.
AND AS A DESCENDANT, AND I BELIEVE, UH, JASMINE IS TO OF, TO LA SOYA, WE, THIS JUST IS SO SPECIAL TO ME THAT WE CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY, EXPAND ON, ON THE STORIES THAT WE TELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S INCLUDED.
AND IT HAPPENS BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE FIESTA FESTIVAL.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, NOW THAT WE'RE BACK, IT, WE'RE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
IT'S 2023, WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE PEOPLE MARCHING, MORE PEOPLE AT THE PARADE THAT INTERNATIONALLY WE, WE GET KNOWN AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING WORLDWIDE TO SEE THE AMAZING WAY WE CELEBRATE.
AND SO IT'S SO HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE, UM, 'CAUSE I LOVE THE NIGHT PARADE TOO.
AND, AND THE CAVALIERS DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE RIVER PARADE.
AND I, I JUST COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I WANT, I WANT Y'ALL TO REMEMBER BROOKS HAS THEIR FIESTA EVENT, CHOCOLATE CISA.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING THE STORY.
AND THANK YOU WOMEN FOR CONTINUING TO STAND UP THERE AND SERVE AND THANK YOU MEN FOR BEING GREAT ALLIES AND SUPPORTING THEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME, UH, WE, WE GET TO FIESTA, I, I THINK OF THE TIME I TAUGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 25 YEARS, AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WOULD COME TO THE SCHOOLS AND HELP THE CHILDREN GET EXCITED, UH, ABOUT FIESTA AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
AND I SEE ALL OF YOU OUT HERE TODAY, AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE STEPPED UP, UH, OUT OF JOY, BUT ALSO OUT OF A SACRIFICE OF YOUR TIME AND YOUR ENERGY.
UH, WE ALL KNOW WHAT A CHALLENGE IT IS TO STEP FORWARD, TO LEAD SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S A PARADE OR IT'S, UH, A CHARITABLE, UH, GIVING OR ANY OF THE FIESTA EVENTS.
SO YOUR SACRIFICE, I KNOW, COMES WITH JOY, BUT COMES WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK.
BUT IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
YOU KNOW, MANY OF US WERE IN WASHINGTON ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AND SO WE FLEW BACK AND FORTH AND I, I WOULD TALK TO THE PEOPLE, UH, ON THE FLIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, I'D TELL 'EM I'M FROM SAN ANTONIO AND THEY'D ALL SAY, OH YEAH, THE ALAMO OR THE RIVERWALK, BUT I RI REMINDED THEM ALL THAT FIESTA WAS COMING UP THIS MONTH.
COME TO SAN ANTONIO FOR FIESTA BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY UNIQUE.
IT'S TOTALLY SAN ANTONIO AND ALL THE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT REALLY REWARDS EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY.
THE MAYOR'S ALREADY MADE AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT ME, SO I'M GONNA FILL IT OUT HERE.
BUT YES, THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING IN HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, UH, JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING OUT YOUR TIME TO COME IN AND ANNOUNCE THIS GREAT AND IMPORTANT CELEBRATION HERE FOR SAN ANTONIO.
I HEARD SOME KEY MILESTONES THIS YEAR, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
UH, WE WANNA REMEMBER THAT AS WE, UH, UH, REMEMBER ALL THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING HERE FOR THE CITY FOR, BECAUSE IT IS TO GO ON, UH, TO CHARITY, UH, ACROSS THE CITY.
AND, AND LEMME TELL YOU, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT, UH, UH, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HAND OUT AND HELP HAND UP, UH, TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE CITY THAT REALLY NEED THE EXTRA HELP.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE MEDALS, Y'ALL ALREADY GOT A HEAD START ON THE MEDALS HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING OFF COUNCIL HERE AND I'M TRYING TO THINK, WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH ALL THE MEDALS THAT I'VE BEEN COLLECTING
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OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.I'M, THAT'S GONNA GIMME SOMETHING TO DO AFTER I GET OFF COUNCIL.
GO BACK THROUGH AND LOOK AT ALL OF 'EM.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
UH, AND I'M STICKING WITH MY THEME THAT I'VE HAD EVERY YEAR AS PARTY WITH PERRY.
UH, SO I'M, I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, BUT I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY, PARTY, BUT BE SAFE, RIGHT? LESSON LEARNED HERE.
SO ANYWAY, I, I WANT Y'ALL TO ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, HEY, IT, IT'S A TIME FOR CELEBRATION AND TO BE, BE OUT THERE AND LOOK ACROSS THIS COMMUNITY WITH ALL THE CULTURES AND, AND RESOURCES THAT WE DO HAVE.
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
WE'RE ALL BLESSED, AND LET'S SHARE THOSE BLESSINGS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR COMING IN HERE TODAY.
AND LET'S PARTY AND VIVA FIESTA.
AND I'LL JUST ADD IT, IT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE SOME TIME OFF, UH, A LOT OF PARTIES.
WE GO TO A LOT OF PLACES, UH, BUT IN SAN ANTONIO WE CAN DO THAT AND FEEL GOOD THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING SOME INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND, UH, STEVE, I, STEVE ROSENAU IS STILL HERE.
I SAW THE LINEUP FOR OYSTER BAKE.
NICE JOB IN GETTING EVER CLEAR HERE.
SO, UM, SAVE ME A SEAT, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU ALL, ALL EVERYBODY AND UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING OFF FIESTA AND, AND, UH, GOING STRONG ALL THE WAY THROUGH VIVA FIESTA.
VIVA VIVA, EVA, THANKS EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING SOME OF OUR MANY EVENTS.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AROUND TOWN DURING OUR 11 DAY FESTIVAL, VIVA FIESTA.
ALRIGHT, SO ALL THAT CLANGING YOU HEARING, WE'RE GONNA GET USED TO HEARING THAT FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS.
ALRIGHT, UM, AT THIS TIME, UH, WE DO HAVE MANY OTHER GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.
SO I'M GONNA TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN, AS WELL AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY TO RECOGNIZE MONTH OF MILITARY CHILD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR APRIL IS DESIGNATED AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANT ROLE MILITARY CHILDREN PLAY IN THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR WE WILL CELEBRATE THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD, WHICH IS PART OF THE LEGACY OF FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY CASPER WEINBERGER, WHO ESTABLISHED THIS DEPARTMENT COMMEMORATION IN 1986.
THERE ARE OVER 1.6 MILLION MILITARY CHILDREN WHO FACE MANY CHALLENGES AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARENTS' SERVICE.
MILITARY FAMILIES MOVE ON AVERAGE EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS.
THIS MEANS CHANGING OF SCHOOLS, CHANGING OF SUPPORT NETWORKS, MAYBE OF CLUBS.
THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD IS A TIME TO APPLAUD MILITARY FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR THEIR DAILY SACRIFICES AND THE CHALLENGES THEY OVERCOME.
UM, SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
WHO WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TODAY IS MRS. JANET D DRIGGERS, THE SPOUSE OF JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, COMMANDER OF THE 522ND AIR, AIR BASE WING.
WE ALSO HAVE MILITARY CHILDREN HERE FROM FORT SAM, HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, LACKLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WOULD ANY OF Y'ALL LIKE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND JUST TELL US YOUR NAMES, ANY OF THE CHILDREN? MILITARY? MY NAME IS MAYA.
ANYBODY ELSE? MY NAME IS DEACON.
AND, AND THE PERSON THAT CAN'T INTRODUCE THEMSELVES IS CAMO THE MASCOT.
AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, MARK CARSON, WHO, WHO SERVES DISTRICT THREE ADMIRABLY AND HELPS WITH ALL OF OUR, OUR MILITARY INITIATIVES.
AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOUR STORY IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TELL.
BUT AT THIS TIME, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
ELIZABETH, LIZ LEE, WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF PURPLE UP U SS A A 5 0 1 C THREE LIZ, ALONG WITH ALL OF HER VOLUNTEER BOARD THAT'S HERE, UH, THEY JUST GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY HIGHLIGHT THE MILITARY CHILD AND PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE MILITARY CHILD, ESPECIALLY DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL.
BUT WE WANNA CELEBRATE YOU GUYS.
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THE ENTIRE YEAR, BUT TODAY WE CELEBRATE YOU GUYS AND WE'LL DO IT THE ENTIRE MONTH, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT THIS MONTH, UNDERSTANDING THE S THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MAKE.A 27 YEAR VETERAN TEACHER WITH AN MS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND HER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION CERTIFICATE.
CERTIFICATE, UH, SERVED AFTER 32 YEARS OF SERVING WITH HER HUSBAND AS A MILITARY FAMILY, A MOM, A MILITARY SPOUSE, AN EDUCATOR OF MILITARY CHILDREN.
SHE HAS MADE SAN ANTONIO HER HOME AND SHE'S ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING, NOT JUST WITH MILITARY CHILDREN, BUT WITH SENIORS.
SO I'M GONNA, AT THIS TIME, I WANT YOU TO COME UP AND JUST SHARE KIND OF WHAT THIS MEANS AND, AND, UH, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION.
AND THEN I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MILITARY AFFAIRS GENERAL AYALA AND DEB CLARK.
THEY HAVE BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE, UM, OF US GETTING THIS GOING.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT PURPLE UP IS A MOVEMENT THAT STARTED IN 1986.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING NATIONWIDE.
YOU HAVEN'T HAPPENED IN SCHOOLS, ALL THE DIFFERENT BASES, ALL THE POSTS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, UM, ANYWHERE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MILITARY SERVICE FAMILIES GOING, IT'S PURPLE UP.
BUT PURPLE UP, U S A, WE ARE THAT NONPROFIT.
WE ARE HOMEGROWN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO
THIS IS OUR HOME AND WE STARTED IN 2020.
AND AS YOU SAID, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF OUR AREA ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT, UM, THE MILITARY AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR MILITARY AND FAMILIES.
AND WE JUST LIKE TO, UM, ADD TO THAT AND JUST TO BRING RECOGNITION TO OUR KIDS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, YOU'RE GONNA SEE MANY OF OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE, UH, REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
CAMO MEANS CHILDREN ADAPTING TO MILITARY OPERATIONS.
UH, HE'S A CHAMELEON AND HE IS UNIQUE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT HE'S BEEN ASKED TO COME TO VIRGINIA.
WE'VE, SOMEBODY WANTS HIM TO GO TO ALASKA, THEY WANT HIM TO GO TO CALIFORNIA, HE'S GETTING OUT THERE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, CHIL MILITARY CHILDREN HAVE TO CHANGE AND THEY HAVE TO ADAPT AND MAKE CHANGES IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES, UM, JUST TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND CAMPBELL HELPS HIGHLIGHT THESE ABILITIES.
HE'S GONNA BE ATTENDING EVENTS, VISITING SCHOOLS, AND WE LOVE IT BECAUSE ANY POSITIVE WAY THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE MILITARY CHILD IS A WIN-WIN.
NOW WE HAVE A LOT HAPPENING, UM, BUT HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
APRIL 14TH IS THE DAY OF THE MILITARY CHILD IN TEXAS, AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALL TO GO PURPLE.
YOU WEAR IT, LIGHT IT, DISPLAY IT, YOU WANNA PURPLE UP.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMMITTED ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMMITTED TO PUT THEIR LIGHTS ON PURPLE, SO LOOK FOR THOSE ON THE 15TH OF APRIL, WHICH IT WAS UP HERE, WHICH WAS GREAT.
UM, WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEMISPHERE.
UH, WE'RE HAVING A FIESTA THEME, MILITARY CHILD DAY, AND THERE'LL BE FREE FUN ACTIVITIES, MUSIC AND RESOURCE SHARING FROM OVER 25 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVICE OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ON THE 24TH, UM, TALENTED MILITARY CHILDREN AND CAMO, ALONG WITH MRS. DRIGGERS AND HER, UM, HUSBAND, WHO'S THE COMMANDER OF J B SS A AND, AND FIVE OH SECOND AIR BASE WING WILL BE RIDING IN THE TEXAS CAVALIER, UH, RIVERBOAT AND LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM MILITARY CHILDREN WILL BE FEATURED.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE GONNA BE OUR SINGERS.
AND THEN, AS YOU SAID, IN CLOSING, I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR MILITARY CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SONS AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE 1% WHO VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN THE ARMED FORCES.
AND THEY ARE THE REASON THAT WE ARE HERE.
AND IF YOU WERE RAISED A MILITARY CHILD, THANK YOU.
U SS A AND THEN I HAVE FOR YOU, CAMO HAS HIS OWN BOOK.
IT'S CALLED DID YOU KNOW? IT HIGHLIGHTS.
AND THEN I LIKE, IF YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITES, PURPLE USA.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT PMO AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND CHECK US OUT FOR PICTURES AND UPDATES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THANK YOU.
AND, AND, UH, THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY AND MONTH FOR ME AS WELL.
I HAD THREE CHILDREN THAT, UH, UH, I LIKE TO SAY I DIDN'T DRAG 'EM ALONG WITH ME AND ALL MY CHANGES OF DUTY STATION, BUT, UH, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT CHILDREN ARE A PART OF THE MILITARY FAMILY, AND Y'ALL DO GO ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS WHEREVER THEY GO.
AND, UH, UH, WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
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OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE GROWN UP IN THE MILITARY SYSTEM AND, UH, TRAVELED.AND, AND SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT IT THAT AS A, A KIND OF A, A BAD THING.
BUT I, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE YOU GET TO MEET DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
YOU GET TO SEE DIFFERENT CULTURES.
YOU HAVE, YOU'LL HAVE FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD IF YOU'VE BEEN OVERSEAS OR EVEN AROUND IN THE STATES, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
AND YOU MAINTAIN THOSE FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
UH, MY MY KIDS STILL HAVE FRIENDS THAT THEY MET BACK IN GERMANY MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
SO, UH, AND THEY REMEMBER THOSE TIMES AND THE CULTURES THAT THEY VISITED WHILE WE WERE OVER THERE.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S SPECIAL, UH, THAT YOU'LL, YOU'RE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT AND BE A PART OF THAT AND BEING PART OF THE MILITARY FAMILY.
AND THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND, AND WE ARE ALL THANKFUL FOR THE MILITARY SERVICE THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE IN, AND YOU PARTICIPATING WITH THAT AS WELL.
SO, UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE Y'ALL ALL HERE TODAY AND REALLY, UH, EVERYBODY IS BLESSED AND JUST REMEMBER THESE TIMES, UH, IN THE FUTURE AND RE MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND, UH, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HAVING FUN OUT THERE AS WELL.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
I HAVE TO CONCUR WITH MY, UH, COMPATRIOT, UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
UH, I TOO, UH, HAD MY MILITARY FAMILY GO WITH ME WHILE I WAS IN THE MILITARY IN THE AIR FORCE.
AND I KNOW THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE WITH PICKING UP, UH, AND STARTING AGAIN IN NEW PLACES.
MY WIFE WENT THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE, HER AND HER BROTHERS.
UH, WERE IN A MILITARY FAMILY AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN.
THERE'S A LOT TO BENEFIT FROM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
UH, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING YOUR FAMILY MEMBER.
AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THIS COUNTRY IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHAT YOU DO IN SUPPORTING THEM, UH, IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS COUNTRY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
WELL, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO, UH, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2023 WILL BE OBSERVED AS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD IN APRIL 15TH, 2023, AS PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY KIDS DAY TO HONOR MILITARY FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE, AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES.
AND AN ESTIMATED 900,000 CHILDREN HAVE HAD ONE OR MOST PAR PARENTS DEPLOYED MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ALONG WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS, AS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES AND MISSIONS THEY FACE IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
AND WHEREAS ON APRIL 15TH, CITIZENS CAN SHOW THEIR SUPPORT OF MILITARY CHILDREN IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR STRENGTH AND SACRIFICES BY WEARING PURPLE, WHICH REPRESENTS THE BLENDING OF THE COLORS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2023 TO BE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD IN APRIL 15TH, 2023 TO BE PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY KIDS DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AND, AND I WANT TO SAY TO, TO ALL, ALL OF THE KIDS, UH, WE TELL YOUR PARENTS EVERY CHANCE WE GET, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
BUT WE KNOW, UH, WE SHOULD BE THANKING YOU AS WELL FOR THAT SERVICE BECAUSE IT'S A FAMILY ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND OUR ARMED FORCES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH KIDS FOR COMING, AND PLEASE EXPRESS THAT TO YOUR PEERS AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, NOW I WILL, UH, TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR PER POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
AND, UH, APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH A TIME WHERE CHILD WELLNESS AND CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RAISE AWARENESS AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS THAT PUT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
FIRST, I WANNA TAKE THIS MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE CHILD SAFE, LED BY PRESIDENT AND C E O CAME, UH, UH, KIM KAY ABERNATHY AND HER TEAM FOR WORKING TIRELESSLY IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREN TRAUMATIZED BY ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT IN BEXAR COUNTY THAT INCORPORATES THE EFFORTS OF CHILD PROTECTION STAFF, LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, FAMILY ADVOCATES, MEDICAL EXPERTS, AND MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULT AND ADOLESCENCE TRAUMATIZED BY SEXUAL ABUSE, SEVERE PHYSICAL ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION.
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WORK THEY DO IS CRITICAL AND THEY PROVIDE LIFESAVING SUPPORT TO CHILDREN IN BEXAR COUNTY.ONE IN 10 CHILDREN IN THE US WILL BE SEXUALLY ABUSED BEFORE THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY WITH 650,000 CHILDREN LIVING IN BEXAR COUNTY.
THESE STATISTICS MEAN 65,000 WILL BE VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED CHILD ABUSE CASES AMONGST ALL MAJOR METROPOLITAN TEXAS CITIES.
WITH THE ALARMING NUMBER OF CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN OUR COUNTY, WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONTINUE RAISING AWARENESS AND INTERVENE IN SITUATIONS WHERE CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT IS SUSPECTED.
WE KNOW THAT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES CAN HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE OF A CHILD.
SO I COMMEND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CHILD SAFE, THAT ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
THANK YOU, KIM, FOR YOUR PASSION AND COMMITMENT.
YOU AND YOUR TEAM CONTINUE TO REMIND US HOW WE CAN ALL PLAY A ROLE IN PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
AS WE ARE SUPPORTING OF OUR SURVIVORS.
AS A COMPASSIONATE CITY, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE CHILDREN HAVE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AND THE FAMILIES HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED THEM, WELL BEFORE THEY ARE IN CRISIS.
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE PREVENTABLE, AND ALL COMMUNITIES BENEFIT WHEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE WELL SUPPORTED.
COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT MESSAGING ARE NECESSARY AS WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
WE KNOW SOME PARENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND THE CYCLE OF ABUSE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO BREAK.
SO IT'S NECESSARY FOR INTERVENTION STRATEGIES TO BE IMPLEMENTED WELL BEFORE CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT CAN TAKE PLACE.
WE CAN AND SHOULD BREAK THE CYCLE.
ONE CASE OF CHILD ABUSE IS ONE TOO MANY.
AND SO LONG AS THERE'S CHILDREN AT RISK, OUR WORK IS FAR FROM OVER AND WILL REQUIRE COLLECT, GIVE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
IT'S MY HONOR NOW TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO KIM, WHO WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH AND THE CARDBOARD KIDS CAMPAIGN.
AND I THINK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES SHOULD HAVE A CARDBOARD KID.
SO, AND TO SHOW OFF MINE TODAY, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU ALL, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, WILL JOIN US IN TAKING A PICTURE RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CARDBOARD KIDS AND DISPLAY IT PROUDLY IN SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN HURT.
UM, SO I THINK FRED WANTS TO TAKE A A, A GROUP PICTURE, BUT KIM, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
AND THANK Y'ALL FOR LETTING ME COME AGAIN.
THIS IS THE NINTH YEAR OF OUR CHIL OUR CARDBOARD KIDS.
AND, UM, WE HAVE, UH, DISTRIBUTED OVER 650,000.
AND SO THE REASON WHY WE STARTED CARDBOARD KIDS WAS TO CREATE SOME AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WEREN'T HERE, WHEN WE STARTED THE FIRST YEAR, WE, OUR GOAL WAS TO GET 5,580, UM, CARDBOARD KIDS ON THE STREET REPRESENTING ALL THE CHILDREN THAT YEAR THAT WERE, THAT WERE ABUSED.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE HERE.
CHILD SAFE HAS BEEN HERE TOO FOR 34 YEARS.
UM, AND IT IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM AND I I I WE SO APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THAT ALL OF YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF CHILD SAFE AND ALL OF, I DON'T, I THINK IT'S KIND OF A NO-BRAINER TO ME AS FAR AS SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND KEEPING THEM SAFE.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF ALL OF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT I'M SURE SOME OF ERIC'S STAFF ARE, IS THAT IN 2017 WE DEEDED 17 OF OUR ACRES, UM, IN THE FLOODPLAIN THAT CONNECTS, UM, TO SATO CREEK AND THE, AND, UM, MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, PARK, BUT ALSO THEY JUST FINISHED.
WE HAVE A TRAILHEAD NOW THAT STARTS AT CHILD SAFE AND GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SATO CREEK AND THE ALSBURY FAMILY, UH, HOMESTEAD IS WHAT OUR LAND WAS ORIGINALLY, AND THEY'VE ALSO RESTORED IT FOR THE FAMILY BURIAL SITE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT FOR US.
I HAVE A SECOND POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TODAY, AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S FAIR HOUSING MONTH.
APRIL IS NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH, AND THIS YEAR WE COMMEMORATE THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE HAIR FAIR HOUSING ACT, THE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SIGNED BY PRESIDENT LYNDON B JOHNSON ON APRIL 11TH, 1968 THAT MADE DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING TRANSACTIONS UNLAWFUL.
THIS NATIONAL LAW PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN THE SALE, RENTAL AND FINANCING OF HOUSING AVAILABLE ON RATE OF ON RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, AND GENDER.
THE ACT WAS LATER AMENDED TO INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTRY'S LONG HISTORY.
THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIR HOUSING BECAME NATIONAL LAW ONLY AFTER CENTURIES OF DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES
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AND PRACTICES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED PEOPLE OF COLOR.THIS LAW IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO FACED ONGOING DISCRIMINATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE KNOW THE LEGACY OF REDLINING CONTINUES TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MITIGATE THE LASTING EFF EFFECTS.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR LEADING OUR LOCAL EFFORTS TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS ABOUT THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
PART OF THE WORK, THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS TO ENSURE OUR HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS, AND LANDLORDS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, WE'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP INITIATIVES, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM, WHICH WAS RECENTLY PASSED.
SOME OF OUR OTHER EFFORTS INCLUDE THE CITY'S FAIR HOUSING AND TENANTS RIGHTS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND THE TENANTS RIGHTS RESOLUTION.
IN THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WE ADOPTED TWO OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, IMPLEMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ON HOUSING, AND A SYSTEM-WIDE EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE PREVENTION.
I WANT TO COMMEND CITY STAFF FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY AND SWIFTLY TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN THE SHIP WITH DIRECTION FROM THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO SIT ON THE PLANNING COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
LATER THIS MONTH, WE WILL DISCUSS AT TENANT'S RIGHTS RESOLUTION AND HOPE TO BRING TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN MAY.
SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR, N H S D STAFF HAS PARTNERED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZA ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST SEVERAL PROPERTY TAX WORKSHOPS AND RENTERS RIGHT WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE CITY.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID AND THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF GREATER SAN ANTONIO, N H S D WILL HOST FREE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, RENTERS RIGHTS, POWER HOUR SESSIONS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION REGARDING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS IN SAN ANTONIO.
TWO WORKSHOPS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO FAR, AND THREE MORE WORKSHOPS WILL TAKE PLACE IN APRIL 6:00 PM ON THURSDAY, APRIL THE 13TH AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
THAT IS A SPANISH LANGUAGE SESSION AT 1:00 PM ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 15TH AT MAVERICK LIBRARY.
AND AT 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19TH AT THE WALKER RANCH SENIOR CENTER.
AT THESE WORKSHOPS, LEGAL EXPERTS WILL INFORM ATTENDEES ABOUT LOCAL RENTER PROTECTIONS SUCH AS THE NOTICE OF TENANTS RIGHTS ORDINANCE, THE SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, AND THE SAN ANTONIO NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.
IN ADDITION TO STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND PROTECTIONS SUCH AS A FAIR HOUSING ACT.
SINCE FEBRUARY, N H S D STAFF HAS HOSTED SEVERAL PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION SESSIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH LAWYERS AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID AND THE SAN ANTONIO LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION.
EIGHT SESSIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, AND SIX MORE INFORMATION SESSIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL AND MAY AS HOMEOWNERS RECEIVE A NOTICE OF APPRAISED VALUE IN THE COMING WEEKS.
I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THESE INFORMATION SESSIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO FILE FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND FIND OUT IF THEY QUALIFY FOR OTHER EXEMPTIONS.
RESIDENTS WILL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPEAL TO THE BEXAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TAX APPEAL, INCLUDING HOW TO GATHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
RESIDENTS CAN RECEIVE PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION PACKAGES IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HOUSING RIGHTS THROUGH PROACTIVE EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND RESPONSIVE COORDINATED OUTREACH AND SERVICES.
I WANNA THANK LORI HOUSTON, MARK CARMONA, VERONICA GARCIA, IAN BENAVIDEZ, VERONICA GONZALEZ, AND THE ENTIRE N H S D TEAM FOR LEADING THESE EFFORTS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THE TEAM DOES TO ORGANIZE AND HOST THESE WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS TYPE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT CONTINUE TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF REDLINING.
UH, NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR POINT OF PERSON PRIVILEGE.
TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING A VERY SPECIAL DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT AND SAN ANTONIO ICAHN SOVIA ANO IS BETTER KNOWN AS THE SPURS LADY IS CELEBRATING HER MILESTONE OF HER 70TH BIRTHDAY SOON SPURS LADY, YOU ALWAYS MANAGE TO LIGHT UP THE ROOM NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT WITH YOUR CHIPPER ATTITUDE AND YOUR INFECTIOUS LAUGH.
MANY PEOPLE KNOW THE SPURS LADY FOR HER INCREDIBLE SPURS FANDOM SO MUCH THAT ASIDE FROM BEING ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED SPURS FANS WITH HANDMADE OUTFITS, SHE HAS ALSO BEEN INVITED TO LEAD FUNERAL PROCESSIONS IN HER SPURS TRUCK.
AND SHE WAS ALSO A PILLAR OF STRENGTH AND LOVE FOR THE VALDI TRAGEDY AT ROB ELEMENTARY.
NOT ENOUGH FOLKS KNOW THAT THE SPURS LADY WAS ALSO A FORMER EDUCATOR AND WORKED AT HARLANDALE I S G FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, UH, TO AT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT ALL THINGS RO SAN ANTONIO.
MY FIRST FI UH, FIESTA COUNCIL, UM, THE SPURS LADY GIFTED ME WITH ONE OF HER SPURS MEDALS THAT SHE MAKES A LIMITED AMOUNT.
SO IF YOU GET ONE, YOU'RE LUCKY.
[01:20:01]
I BELIEVE THAT YOU MAKE.UM, AND I THINK YOU SPEAK FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THAT I SPEAK FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, UM, THAT YOU ARE AN ICON IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M YOUR NUMBER ONE MAN AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.
MY TEAM AND I WE'RE RESERVING A TABLE, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
BUT I WANTED TO, UM, BE SURE THAT WE ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SING YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEFORE WE ALLOW YOU TO, UM, GIVE SOME WORDS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, YOUR SPURS, LADY
I KNOW THEY TOLD ME TO DO IT QUICK.
OH, AND I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU, CASTILLO
WHEN, UH, WHEN I GO TO YOUR OFFICE ALL THE TIME, AND YOU KNOW, I I YAK A LOT OVER THERE AT YOUR OFFICE.
I ALWAYS TELL YOU, WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR OFFICE? I DING, DING, DINGING, DINGING.
I COULDN'T FIND ONE, BUT I GOT YOU THIS ONE.
IT TOOK, IT TOOK YEARS, BUT I'M HERE.
I WANNA SAY HI TO THE COUNCIL.
I'M MARY RON AND I LOVE SAN ANTONIO AND I LOVE MY SPURS.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY'RE THE LIFE OF THAT GIVES ME LIFE.
AND MY HUSBAND, MY LOVE RIGHT THERE,
I MEAN, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE UP HERE.
AND I SAID, AS LONG AS GOD CAN GIMME A DAY TO COME UP HERE, AND HE GAVE IT TO ME.
SO I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING THE CITY AS GREAT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE SO MUCH THING TO DO NOW.
AND WE ALSO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND.
I BELIEVE IT'S Y'ALL'S ANNIVERSARY TODAY.
AND BEFORE YOU HEAD OFF, I WANTED TO READ THIS OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU IN HONOR OF YOUR SETH BIRTHDAY ON MAY 17TH.
FOR OVER 25 YEARS, YOUR INCREDIBLE SPIRIT HAS HELPED BOOST MORALE FOR OUR SPURS.
TEAM RIGHTFULLY EARNING YOU THE TITLE AS SPURS LADY, THROUGH YOUR ELECTRIC HANDMADE OUTFITS AND DEDICATED DEVOTION, YOU CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE SUPPORT IN OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE SPURS.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOU, YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATING YOU ON THIS UH, OCCASION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'LL HAND THIS OVER TO YOU.
BEFORE, BEFORE ANYTHING, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY FANS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPURS LADY 39 YEARS
AND, UH, HOW ABOUT ONE GO SPURS.
ALRIGHT, NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AFTER THE PICTURE.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER K HDA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
THANKS FOR COMING AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
WHAT AN ABSOLUTE RAY OF SILVER AND BLACK SUNSHINE.
SO NOW I'M GONNA, UM, TALK ABOUT SOME LOSSES.
UM, THIS PAST WEEK, OUR COMMUNITY LOST TWO ICONS.
ONE WHO MADE MILITARY HISTORY AND ANOTHER WHO TRANSCENDED CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC BOUNDARIES.
RETIRED AIR FORCE COLONEL EUGENE KOTT, THE LAST SURVIVING TUSKEGEE AIRMEN IN SAN ANTONIO PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 96.
HE BROKE BARRIERS AS AN AVIATOR AND MADE STRIDES TO SHOW AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE WORTHY AND SKILLED COMBAT PILOTS.
COLONEL KOTT BECAME A LEADER IN MANY OTHER WAYS.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
AND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, HE WAS CHIEF OF ORAL SURGERY AT LACKLAND A F B.
LATER HE BECAME AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ORAL AND MAX MAXO MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY AT UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO.
[01:25:01]
IN FOSTORIA, OHIO, AND GRADUATED FROM DEFIANCE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1944.LATER HE ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, WAS, BUT WAS DRAFTED SOON AFTER HE WENT TO AVIATION TRAINING IN A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR BLACK AVIATORS AND GRADUATED IN 1946.
IT WAS TOO LATE FOR HIM TO FIGHT IN WORLD WAR II, BUT HE IS NONETHELESS CONSIDERED AMONG THE ORIGINAL GROUP OF PILOTS KNOWN AS A TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.
ALSO, THIS WEEK, SAN ANTONIO LOST ANHE RODRIGUEZ DIAZ, A BELOVED ARTIST WHO USED PORTRAITS TO SHED LIGHT AND PROVOKE THOUGHT ON ISSUES LIKE COLONIALISM, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WAR.
HIS WORK HAS BEEN SHOWCASED IN IMPORTANT GALLERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM, AL DEL BARRIO, NEW YORK, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART IN CHICAGO, AND OF COURSE, OUR SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
HE'S WELL KNOWN FOR THE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS HE CREATED FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
MANY OF YOU'LL KNOW THE ICONIC METAL OBELISK ON I BLANCO AND FULTON, KNOWN AS THE BEACON.
IT'S THE PROUD NAMESAKE OF THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND HE CREATED THE CROSSROADS OF ENLIGHTENMENT, ENLIGHTENMENT AT BLANCO AND BASSI TO MIRROR THE SMOKESTACKS AT THE QUARRY MARKET.
HIS CREATION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE MEXICAN AMERICAN WORKERS WHO ONCE WORKED FOR THE NEARBY ALAMO QUARRY.
MR. RODRIGUEZ DIAZ'S WORK IS PROFOUND AND A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM.
WE'VE LOST PROMINENT SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS OF LATE, AND IT'S A REMINDER TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS TODAY.
HE WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO, EARNED A DEGREE IN PRINTMAKING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, AND MOVED TO NEW YORK IN 1978, WHERE HE EARNED A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM HUNTER COLLEGE.
HE MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO IN 1995 WITH LONGTIME PARTNER AND FELLOW ARTIST ORLANDO ENO.
HIS LIFE, HIS ART AND HIS INFLUENCE ON OUR CITY'S CULTURE CANNOT BE MEASURED.
ANJA RODRIGUEZ DIAZ AND COLONEL EUGENE KOTT LIVED THEIR LIVES AS A TESTAMENT TO OUR CITY'S RICH CULTURAL AND MILITARY HERITAGE AND TO OUR DIVERSITY.
UH, NOW I'LL TURN TO COUNCIL MEMBER PAL FOR POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
UM, I DUNNO IF Y'ALL KNOW, BUT THIS WEEK, UH, IS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR FRIENDS AT METRO HEALTH AND OUR FRIENDS AT UT HEALTH, UM, WHO ARE PARTNERS IN, UM, THEIR CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER AND MORE RESILIENT SAN ANTONIO.
UM, I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU KNOW CLAUDE JACOBS, UH, AND, UH, HE, HE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY, UH, DR.
VASAN? HE'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
UH, HE'S, UH, HE'S OUR NEW FOUNDING DEAN OF, UH, THE UT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, I'M SORRY, THE UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN SAN ANTONIO, UM, WHICH BEGINS ENROLLING STUDENTS NEXT YEAR, DOCTOR.
AND, UM, THIS IS A HOSPITAL, UH, OUR ONLY HOSPITAL THAT IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY FOCUSING INTENTIONALLY ON ELIMINATING HEALTH INEQUITIES, UM, AND AS IT TEACHES AND TRAINING TRAINS OUR FUTURE, UM, OUR FUTURE BIG BRAIN DOCTORS.
AND SO, UH, THIS YEAR'S PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IS ALL ABOUT CENTERING AND CELEBRATING CULTURES AND HEALTH, WHICH FOCUSES ON GETTING OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED, UH, WITH EACH OTHER AS IT RELATES TO HEALTH.
AND, UM, ALL OF US KNOW ALL TOO WELL, RIGHT? THAT, UM, COVID V I D BROUGHT ABOUT NOT JUST A PANDEMIC, BUT AN EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS AND DISCONNECTION.
UM, AND THIS LONELINESS AND DISCONNECTION AND ALL OF THE HEALTH OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WERE PARTICULARLY FELT IN OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
AND SO, UM, WITHOUT, WITHOUT GOING ON FURTHER, 'CAUSE I, I THINK I MAY BE STEALING YOUR THUNDER, CLAT AND, UH, AND YOUR THUNDER, UM, DR.
AND I INVITE YOU, I INVITE YOU BOTH TO THE PODIUM TO TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK.
CLAUDE JACOB, DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BE JOINED BY THE FANTASTIC TEAM AT METRO HEALTH.
UH, WE ALSO CALL OURSELVES A FABULOUS TEAM BECAUSE WE ARE A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ONE IN FIVE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS MET THESE NATIONAL STANDARDS.
AND I DO SERVE ON THE NATIONAL BOARD.
UM, YOU, YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE, THE FOUNDING DEAN OF THE, UH, UH, UH, THE COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, DEAN, UH, RAM CHANDRAN, WHO JOINS US.
UH, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT I DID WANT TO JUST SAY ON BEHALF OF OUR FANTASTIC TEAM, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR RESILIENT PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS.
UM, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, DR.
UH, ADRIANA
UM, COUNCILMAN S UH, YOU ARE A FAN OF OURS, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT YOUR
[01:30:01]
COLLECTIVE UNDERLYING SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US TO TACKLE SAN ANTONIO'S MOST PRESSING HEALTH ISSUES.UM, I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH, WHO HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LAUNCH OF OUR SA FORWARD PLAN, WHICH WE ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR.
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE HAVE GUIDED US IN MAKING SAN ANTONIO A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COASTAL ENTERPRISE.
SO NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK JUST NOW SERVES AS A CALL TO ACTION TO APPROACH, UM, THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND TO BUILD A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.
THE UNPRECEDENTED EXPERIENCE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS ACCELERATED THE TRANSFORMATION TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE NATION.
SO YOU MAY RECALL THAT THIS PAST FALL, WE SECURED A $25 MILLION, UH, GRANT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT THAT WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN HELPING TO SHAPE OUR NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKFORCE TO BETTER DELIVER HEALTH SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS WEEK, WE ARE CELEBRATING THE LONG-TERM RESILIENCY OF OUR STAFF AND THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SA FORWARD PLAN THAT WE LAUNCHED.
SO THAT PLAN, WE ARE BUILDING A MORE ROBUST, INNOVATIVE, AND EQUITABLE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND I'M ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WHILE EVERYONE CELEBRATES WITH FIESTA METALS, UH, WHAT'S MORE EXCITING THAN A FIESTA METAL, A PUBLIC HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT.
HOW ABOUT THAT
THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS OUR DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMMATIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DEMONSTRATES OUR VISION OF HEALTHY PEOPLE THRIVING IN A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING KEY ESSAY FORWARD ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE.
SO THE REPORT ITSELF CAN BE FOUND ON A WEBSITE@SANANTONIO.GOV FORWARD SLASH HEALTH.
WE DID LEAVE A COPY FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, ALTHOUGH WE ARE CELEBRATING, WE DID HAVE TO MAKE, UH, ONE ADJUSTMENT TO AN EVENT TAKING PLACE, UH, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE THIS EVENING.
UM, SO WE ARE POSTPONING THE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH FEST, UH, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING PLACE THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO WEATHER.
WE ARE, UH, WE WILL BE HAVING AN EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19TH.
UH, AND IT'S GONNA BE TAKING PLACE AT CROCKETT PARK, UM, SAME TIME FROM THREE TO 6:00 PM DETAILS TO FOLLOW, BUT WE DID WANNA AT LEAST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE MADE THAT CHANGE.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING VIVA FIES OR VIVA FIESTA.
IT'S ONLY BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF.
I'M TRYING TO GET IT, BUT THERE WE GO.
JACOB, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PEZ, MAYOR BERG, COUNCILMAN COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN.
IT'S A REAL HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE OVER HERE.
THE MISSION OF THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS VERY SIMPLE.
IT'S SERVING THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF THE CITY TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY, AS HEALTHY AS THEY COULD BE AND SHOULD BE.
AND FOR THIS PURPOSE, WE'LL BE TRAINING THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE, WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT METRO HEALTH, U T S A AND OUR CURRENTLY SMALL TEAM OVER HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.
YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT US SCHOOL AND WHAT WE DO, AND WE'LL VISIT WITH SEVERAL OF YOU TO SHARE OUR LITTLE VICTORIES.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
WELL, AND MY THANKS, UH, ALSO, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
IT UNFORTUNATELY, TOILING OFF AND BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT IT WAS THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT HAVE REALLY BROUGHT YOU TO, UH, THE FRONT PAGES AND, AND, AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME, I THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT SAN ANTONIO IS BLESSED WITH ONE OF THE BEST PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
SO, UH, OUR, UH, CONTINUED THANKS, UH, YOU ARE ALL, UH, ALL STARS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION AND SO ON THAT, ON THAT NOTE, IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE WEEK OF APRIL 3RD THROUGH NINTH, 2023 IS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.
AND THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME IS CENTERING AND CELEBRATING CULTURES IN HEALTH.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 1995, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, THROUGH ITS SPONSORSHIP OF NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, HAS EDUCATED THE PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES TO IMPROVING THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH.
AND WHEREAS THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC HASLUM HAS ILLUMINATED AND EXACERBATED RACIAL INEQUITIES, A PERSON'S HEALTH STATUS CAN DIFFER DRASTICALLY BY ZIP CODE IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE BORN, LIVE, LURK, LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY WORSHIP AND AGE THAT AFFECT A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH FUNCTIONING AND QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES AND RISKS.
WHEREAS THE GOAL OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN 2023 IS TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, BEXAR COUNTY, AND SAN ANTONIO, AND ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY.
AND WHEREAS METRO HEALTH FOSTERS A CULTURE OF TRUST BY
[01:35:01]
BUILDING COLLABORATIONS TO STRENGTHEN, SUPPORT AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH.AND WHEREAS ENROLLING IN 2024, THE UT HEALTH, UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WILL ENRICH SAN ANTONIO'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.
THE NEW SCHOOL IS A STRATEGIC COLLABORATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO.
THE UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH WILL EDUCATE, DEVELOP, AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIVERSE PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS.
NOW, THEREFORE, IRAN NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 3RD THROUGH NINTH, 2023 TO BE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND CALL UPON THE COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE THIS TIME BY HELPING OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, COWORKERS AND LEADERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND BECOME PART OF A GROWING MOVEMENT TO CREATE THE HEALTHIEST NATION BY 2030 AND ADOPT PREVENTATIVE LIFESTYLES IN LIGHT OF THIS YEAR'S THEME, CENTERING AND CELEBRATING CULTURES AND HEALTH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
OKAY, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY FOR POINT OF PERSON PRIVILEGE.
UH, WE'VE GOT SOME MORE VISITORS HERE TODAY.
CAN Y'ALL COME ON UP HERE? I THINK WE GOT SOME VISITORS HERE FROM, UH, LONGS CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND, UH, THESE ARE FOLKS HERE THAT ARE IN THE FIFTH GRADE, RIGHT? THE GIFTED AND TALENTED FOLKS HERE.
AND, UH, THEY'RE ESCORTED BY HEATHER CARROLL, WHO'S BEEN, UH, WHO'S A TEACHER, BEEN A TEACHER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND NATALIE VERA, UH, A PARENT THAT'S HELPING, UH, UH, BRING THEM HERE TODAY.
I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, UH, THIS PARTICULAR CLASS, UM, HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS CREATIVE, UH, ALSO HARDWORKING, INQUISITIVE, UM, BUT I THINK WHAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN, Y'ALL ARE GREAT DEBATERS, RIGHT? AND, UH, MAYBE I OUGHT TO HIRE Y'ALL TO COME AND SIT IN MY JOB HERE AND DEBATE WITH THE REST OF THESE FOLKS UP HERE.
BUT, UH, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UH, I KNOW THIS YEAR'S THEME IS, UH, PHILOSOPHY AND POWER, AND Y'ALL BEEN RESEARCHING ABOUT WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS AND WHAT, WHAT, HOW THE GOVERNMENT, WHAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IS IN PHILOSOPHY AND POWER ALSO.
SO, UH, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE SAT THROUGH A LOT OF THESE SPEECHES, AND A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS BORING STUFF UP HERE.
AND, BUT Y'ALL HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ON A, ON AN EXCITING MORNING HERE.
WE'VE GOT THE FIESTA FOLKS HERE, THE SPURS LADY.
UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF EXCITEMENT HERE TODAY.
AND, AND I HOPE Y'ALL SEE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS HERE ON CITY COUNCIL, AND, UH, I'M JUST GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE TODAY TO LEARN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT THE COUNCIL.
BUT WE DO DO SOME BUSINESS HERE ALSO.
AND, UH, UH, I'M JUST GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE.
UM, UH, Y'ALL ARE THE FUTURE, AND I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE Y'ALL, THAT HEY, Y'ALL, Y'ALL COULD BE UP HERE ON THIS, UH, DIOCESE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE ALSO, AND KEEP THOSE DEBATING, UH, SKILLS GOING AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU'LL NEED THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AND, AND BEING ABLE TO ARGUE YOUR POINT AND, UH, GET THOSE POINTS ACROSS TO, TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND HOPE Y'ALL LEARNED A LITTLE BIT TODAY, AND Y'ALL ARE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THIS, UH, BORING STUFF UP HERE.
SO, ANYWAY, Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO Y'ALL.
COUNCILMAN, CAN I ADD A COMMENT? OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
YEAH, I, I JUST WANNA COMMEND THE TEACHERS AND, UH, THE PARENTS WHO HELPED THE STUDENTS AT LONGS CREEK.
MY GRANDSON WENT TO LONGS CREEK, SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY OVER THERE.
UH, AND YOU KIDS REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHERS, REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS, AND YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD LIFE.
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN PERRY FOR COORDINATING FOR YOUR STAFF WORKING WITH MS. CAROL, OUR GT TEACHER.
AND ALSO I CAN ATTEST THAT THEY ARE GREAT AT ARGUING AS THE MOTHER OF THIS ONE HERE.
UH, AND HE'S, WE'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING TO YOUR SEATS AND, UM, AND TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
AND WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH TODAY.
WELL, THANK Y'ALL FOR MAKING THE TRIP OUT HERE.
I HOPE THEY PICKED UP A FEW FIESTA MEDALS WHEN THEY WERE HERE.
ALRIGHT, UM, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR NOW.
I HAVE A, A AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH FIXTURES,
[01:40:04]
I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ.UM, IN ADDITION TO OUR CHILD ADVOCACY THAT, UH, THIS MONTH, EXCUSE ME, TODAY, UM, WE'RE RECOGNIZING INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY AWARENESS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, WHERE, WHEREAS HEROES FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WILL OBSERVE INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY AWARENESS DAY ON APRIL 8TH, 2023, TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY VIOLENCE THROUGH THE USE OF A CHILD AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS OF THIS CRIME.
AND WHEREAS CUSTODIAL INTERFERENCE DEPRIVES CHILDREN OF THE RIGHT TO LOVE AND BE LOVED BY THEIR WHOLE FAMILY RESULTING IN NEGATIVE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN, AND AS SUCH, IS CONSIDERED A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE.
AND WHEREAS TRUSTED ADULTS IN A CHILD'S LIFE, THAT INCLUDES DOCTORS, THERAPISTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF, COACHES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BE WILLING TO SPEAK OUT AND QUESTION ALIENATING BEHAVIORS SUCH AS WITHHOLDING AND INTERFERING WITH A PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP DURING THEIR NON-CUSTODIAL TIME.
AND WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CAN BE REDUCED BY MAKING SURE EACH FAMILY HAS A SUPPORTED NEEDS IN RAISING THEIR CHILDREN IN A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, HEROES FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WILL BE INTENSIFYING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY VIOLENCE THROUGH THE USE OF CHILD AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS OF THIS CRIME.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2023 TO BE INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY AWARENESS DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE ANY REPRESENTATIVES HERE, BUT AGAIN, UM, WANTED TO MAKE THAT KNOWN TO US TODAY.
UH, WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
SO AT THIS TIME, UH, WE WILL BE HAVING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT FIRST, IS THERE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? YEAH.
[City Manager's Report ]
THANKS, MARY.UM, A COUPLE ITEMS. UH, ONE, I I WANTED TO, UH, AND SOME OF YOU, SEVERAL OF YOU ATTENDED OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THAT, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND, LAST SATURDAY, WE REOPENED, UM, THE, UH, CENTRAL LIBRARY AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN BRAVO WHO WERE THERE.
CONGRESSMAN, UH, CASSAR WAS ALSO THERE.
THE BUILDING HAD BEEN PARTIALLY CLOSED FOR, UH, UH, UH, RENOVATIONS AS PART OF THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM.
UM, AND, UM, REALLY FANTASTIC IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, UH, THANK YOU TO RAMIRO AND HIS WHOLE TEAM AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, AN UPDATED, UH, ENTRY AREA, UH, A NEW ART WALK THERE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, A COMPLETED, COMPLETELY RENOVATED THIRD FLOOR CHILDREN'S AREA THAT IS, UH, REALLY FANTASTIC.
AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
UH, SECONDLY, THE 11TH ANNUAL, UH, SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL, UH, WILL BE TAKING PLACE THIS, UH, ON SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, AS WELL AS THE U T S A CAMPUS SOUTHWEST CAMPUS ACROSS THE STREET.
OVER 90, UH, LOCAL, REGIONAL NATIONAL AUTHORS ARE CONFIRMED FOR 60 DIFFERENT SESSIONS.
IT'S A FREE EVENT, UH, WILL BE, UH, ADVERTISING IT PRETTY HEAVILY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS A PROUD FOUNDING PARTNER IN THE, UH, SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL.
UH, THIRDLY, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AND I SENT A MEMO TO YOU LAST WEEK.
UH, THE GREAT NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE FOR THE NINTH TIME, SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN NOMINATED AS AN ALL-AMERICAN CITY FINALIST FOR OUR WORK, UH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND CREATING THRIVING COMMUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
AND OUR APPLICATION, UH, HIGHLIGHTED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
OUR NEXT LEVEL AMBASSADOR, UM, OUR NEXT LEVEL PROGRAM AT D H SS, OUR, OUR AMBASSADOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR WORK WITH THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION, OUR METRO HEALTH TINA, UH, AMBASSADORS, AND THE, UH, SARAH YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD.
UM, IT'S, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE, UH, IDENTIFIED AS A FINALIST.
WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROCESS AND, UM, WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED THIS SUMMER IN, ACTUALLY IN JUNE IN DENVER.
BUT, UM, THIS IS A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW LAST YEAR, OR REMIND THE COUNCIL, WE WERE DESIGNATED A, AN ALL AMERICAN CITY.
AND SO TWO YEARS RUNNING, UM, WE ARE, UH, IN COMPETITION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE D H S STAFF, UM, AND, UH, LORI HOUSTON, WHO'S LEADING THAT EFFORT FOR US.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, THE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS, UH, HIGHLIGHTS OUR DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY OFFICE.
MATA, WHO YOU ALL KNOW, UM, JUST CELEBRATED HER SIX MONTHS WITH
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THE CITY.UM, AND SHE BRINGS TO OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TEACHING COURSES AND DIRECTING PROGRAMS AND CENTERS THAT FOSTER, UH, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLU AND INCLUSION.
AND SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR STAFF.
UM, MOST RECENTLY, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, MOST RECENTLY, SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR AND A PROFESSOR OF MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AT T L U AT TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY.
SHE'S FROM SAN ANTONIO AND HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM U T SS A, A MASTER'S FROM ARIZONA STATE, AND A, UH, DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY FROM, UH, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO.
I DID LEAVE TO GO ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, BUT I KNEW THAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO COME BACK.
MY PASSION IS, IS WORKING TOWARDS MAKING EVERYONE FEEL THAT THEY BELONG.
WHILE I WAS AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, I GOT THE CHANCE TO TEACH COMPARATIVE ETHNIC STUDIES, AND PART OF MY WORK THERE WAS USING MY ETHNIC STUDIES BACKGROUND TO CREATE COALITIONS WITH OTHER GROUPS ON CAMPUS.
YOU FIND THAT WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES, YOU FIND MORE COMMONALITIES AND STRUGGLE.
WHEN I REFLECT ON ALL OF THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE, IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN ABOUT BEING MORE INCLUSIVE.
IT HAS BEEN ABOUT BEING MORE DIVERSE.
IT HAS BEEN ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE COMMUNITY AT CORE VALUE WHEN YOU'RE UPLIFTING ONE COMMUNITY AND UPLIFTING ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, AROUND THEM AS WELL.
MY GOALS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF D E I A ARE TO CREATE MORE EQUITABLE GOALS FOR EVERYONE WHO EITHER WORKS HERE AND OR LIVES HERE.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY ARE LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY'RE WANTING TO, TO CREATE, CREATE A BETTER SAN ANTONIO.
I LOVE MY JOB COMING BACK AND WALKING EVERY DAY ON THE SAME GROUND THAT MY ANCESTORS WERE WALKING.
HERE WE ARE, WE'RE STILL HERE.
AND LIKE THEY DID, AND LIKE I'M TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO LIVE, WORK, AND MAKE THIS PLACE A REMARKABLE PLACE TO BE.
UH, LAST THING, MAYOR, I'LL, UH, I'LL WORK, I'LL WORK WITH CLAUDE AND, UH, MAKE SURE HE GETS THE WHOLE VIVA FIESTA THING DOWN.
[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following: ]
ALRIGHT, THAT IS OUR MORNING AGENDA.WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, THE TIME IS NOW 10:57 AM ON THE SIXTH DAY OF APRIL, 2023.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5 1, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 TO PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE, OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE 1.072, AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND C OVID 19 PREPAREDNESS.
TIME IS 11:48 AM ON APRIL 6TH, 2023.
CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.