[00:01:12]
[2023-2025 Council Swearing-In Ceremony on June 21, 2023.]
GOOD EVENING.IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, EVERYONE CAN FIND THEIR SEATS FOR THOSE UP ABOVE.
HOW ARE WE DOING TONIGHT? THERE WE, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
HOW ARE WE DOING TONIGHT? THERE WE GO.
I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE, UH, 2023 2025 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL INAUGURATION CEREMONY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU I'VE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING, MY NAME IS HENRY RAMOS AND I'M PROUDLY REPRESENTING KEN'S FIVE, WHERE I'M A JOURNALIST, UH, REPORTER.
AND NOW 10 O'CLOCK ANCHOR FOR OUR NEWSCAST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK TONIGHT IS SPECIAL FOR SO MANY REASONS.
FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS IS THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE FINALLY SPOKEN.
YOU ALL IN THIS ROOM HAVE FINALLY SPOKEN, AND NOW LEADERS THAT NEED TO DO THE JOB AND GET TO WORK, SOME HAVE ALREADY DONE IT.
THEY'RE GONNA DO THE HARD WORK, RIGHT? THEY'RE GONNA DO THE HARD WORK.
SO WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THEM IN SUCH A SPECIAL CEREMONY.
I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT, IF YOU'VE GOT THIS LITTLE PASSPORT HERE, DID YOU ALL PICK THIS UP AT THE VERY FRONT? THIS IS, UH, PART OF, PART OF OUR BROCHURE, OUR CEREMONY TONIGHT ACTUALLY KIND OF MATCH IT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THIS IS PART OF OUR SISTER CITY, UH, RELATIONSHIPS.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE INSIDE IT HAS ALL OF OUR SISTER CITIES MENTIONED EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, WE HAVE SOME DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE.
IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS PART OF OUR SISTER CITY PROGRAM, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CULTIVATE THESE RELATIONSHIPS, OBVIOUSLY, FOR DIVERSITY AND FOR CONNECTION.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I THINK WE'RE READY TO INTRODUCE THREE INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR CITY.
IF I COULD HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY, ANDY SEGOVIA COME OUT, AS WELL AS OUR CITY CLERK, DEBBIE ROCK, ROCKET SITTER, AS WELL AS OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH, SHOULD THE THREE OF THEM COULD COME OUT AND GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL AS THEY COME OUT AND THEY TAKE OUR SEAT.
ANDY SEGOVIA, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY CLERK, DEBBIE ROCKET SITTER, AND OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH.
YOU KNOW, AND THIS REMINDS ME, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF CITY STAFF, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF CITY STAFF IN THE HOUSE, AT THE BOTTOM AT THE TOP.
LET'S GIVE A RUN OF APPLAUSE FOR THE CITY STAFF TONIGHT, AS WELL AS THOSE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AS WELL AS THOSE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE TONIGHT SPECIAL.
SO WE WOULD NOT BE THERE FOR, FOR IF WE WEREN'T BE HERE, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM THAT ARE MAKING TONIGHT VERY SPECIAL.
SO I WILL SAY IN MANY EVENTS THAT I GET THE PRIVILEGE TO BE AN MC, WHICH I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY GET READY TO CLAP A LOT, BECAUSE I'M ALL ABOUT THE ENERGY.
WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR YOU IN STORE TONIGHT.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY INCREDIBLE TALENTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE GONNA BE WITH US TONIGHT.
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT MY FAVORITE, THE NEXT ONE IS COMING UP.
IT'S BECAUSE I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I WAS REVIEWING THE SCRIPT, I'M LIKE, THIS IS LIKE LIVING OUT MY, UH, CHILDHOOD DREAM OF BEING ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT AND CALLING DOWN SOMEONE'S NAME.
[00:05:01]
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA GET TO LIVE THAT TONIGHT.SO, ARE Y'ALL READY? WE'RE READY.
AND I SEE THAT SHE IS READY WITH ALL BIG SMILES.
Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR YOUR NEW DISTRICT ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SOUK CORE.
SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER AUNT SUNNI CORE AND COUSIN KARE SJA.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, TAKE HIM BACK.
HIS SEAT REELECTED FOR DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL MEMBER.
I ALWAYS SAY HE BRINGS IT WITH THE FASHION.
Y'ALL KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
JALEN MAKI RODRIGUEZ, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS LOVELY HUSBAND, NATHAN MAKI RODRIGUEZ.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT YET, OF COURSE WE ARE GOING IN ORDER TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT, SO AFTER NUMBER TWO, WE ARE GOING TO DISTRICT THREE ALSO TAKING BACK HER SEAT.
Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR REELECTED DISTRICT THREE COUNCIL MEMBER PHYLLIS VRAN.
COUNCILWOMAN VRAN IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER LOVELY MOTHER, BECKY VRAN.
ALL RIGHT, AFTER THREE, WE GO TO DISTRICT FOUR, ALSO TAKING BACK HER SEAT.
REELECTED DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA, ACCOMPANIED BY HER SON, STEVE GARCIA.
REELECTED DISTRICT FIVE, COUNCIL MEMBER TERRY CASTILLO, WHO'S A COMPANY BY HER PARENTS.
JOAN TERESA CASTILLO AND HER HUSBAND THOMASINE.
ALL RIGHT, WE CONTINUE THE FUN TONIGHT.
THAT'S KIND OF THE THEME TONIGHT.
DISTRICT SIX, COUNCIL MEMBER MELISSA CAVEO HARTA ACCOMPANIED BY HER LOVELY FAMILY, HER HUSBAND JASON, AND THEIR CHILDREN.
WHOEVER DID THAT, QUEING THE PARTY.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT A NEW ONE, RIGHT? A NEW FACE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
SHE'S GIVING ME SMILES AS WELL.
Y'ALL GIVE IT OUT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MARINA ALGAR RITO COMPANY BY HER HUSBAND GEORGE, THEIR CHILDREN MARIA AND GISELLE.
SO SPECIAL BEING WITH THE FAMILY.
ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE IF DISTRICT EIGHT IS READY.
I'M NOT SEEING HIM OUT JUST QUITE YET.
WHERE IS COUNCILMAN MANNY? AYA ELAS HIDING OUT.
OH, IS HE RIGHT THERE? OH, OKAY.
[00:10:01]
BACK HIS SEAT.REELECTED DISTRICT, A COUNCIL MEMBER, MANNY ELAS COMPANY BY HIS WIFE DIANA ELIAS AND THEIR CHILDREN, MAX AND SOPHIA, DISTRICT NINE.
WE GO REELECT A DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER.
Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR MR. JOHN.
COURAGE, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE.
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, LORIANNE WHITE AND THEIR CHILDREN.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ALMOST FULL UP THERE, BUT NOT QUITE DONE JUST YET, RIGHT? WE'RE MISSING ONE PIECE.
PRETTY HISTORIC MOMENT RIGHT NOW, REELECTED FOR HIS FINAL TERM AS MAYOR FOR OUR GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
Y'ALL GIVE IT UP A LOUD WELCOME FOR OUR MAYOR RON NUREMBERG, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE OR FIRST LADY ERICA PROSPER AND THEIR SON JONAH.
ALL RIGHT, WE LOOKING GOOD UP THERE? YEAH, FEELING GOOD? ALRIGHT, WE GOTTA CONTINUE THE PROGRAM.
IF I COULD PLEASE ASK ALL OF YOU WHO ARE NOT STANDING, IF YOU COULD PLEASE RISE FOR ME.
WE'RE GONNA BEGIN TONIGHT WITH OUR INVOCATION.
IF YOU COULD GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO PASTOR DAN HARRINGTON, THE LEAD PASTOR AT COLONIAL HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
PLEASE GIVE HIM A MORE WELCOME PLEASE.
IT IS A JOY TO WORSHIP AND TO SERVE WITH MAYOR RON AND HIS FAMILY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.
I'VE OFTEN NOTICED AND ADMIRED RON'S LOVE FOR HIS WIFE ERICA AND HIS SON JONAH.
AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE WAY HE TAKES TIME TO GREET PEOPLE, A SINCERE INTEREST IN OTHERS, A SIMPLE KINDNESS THAT'S AUTHENTIC AND GENUINE.
AS RON HAS AND I HAVE TAKEN TIME TO BREAK BREAD TOGETHER, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF LIFE, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FAITH, FAMILY, FATHERHOOD, LEADERSHIP, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I CAME ACROSS A QUOTE BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON THAT REMINDED ME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS IT SPEAKS TO THE HEART OF WHAT SUCCESS REALLY MEANS.
WHAT IS SUCCESS? TO LAUGH OFTEN AND MUCH TO WIN THE RESPECT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AND THE AFFECTION OF CHILDREN, TO EARN THE APPRECIATION OF HONEST CRITICS AND ENDURE THE BETRAYAL OF FALSE FRIENDS, TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY, TO FIND THE BEST IN OTHERS, TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER, WHETHER BY A HEALTHY CHILD, A GARDEN PATCH, OR A REDEEMED SOCIAL CONDITION, TO KNOW THAT EVEN ONE LIFE IS BREATHED EASIER BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED.
GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, TODAY WE COME TO YOU WITH HEARTS FULL OF JOY AND GRATITUDE FOR OUR BELOVED CITY SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR RON NURENBERG.
LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE RON IN HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE AND PROTECT HIM AND GIVE HIM WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND THE COURAGE TO LEAD THROUGH WHATEVER CHALLENGES WE FACE.
GOD, POUR OUT YOUR BLESSINGS ON MAYOR RON'S FAMILY, ERICA JONAH, AND ALL THEIR EXTENDED IS.
THEY CONTINUE TO BE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
AND GOD, WE LIFT UP ALL THE LEADERS OF SAN ANTONIO TO YOU.
[00:15:01]
UNITY TO BE THE MOST INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE, AND INNOVATIVE CITY THAT WE CAN BE.WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR HOLY NAME.
WELL SAID, PASTOR HARRINGTON, IF YOU COULD ALL JUST REMAIN STANDING, WHICH YOU ALL ARE DOING, VERY NICE.
THE UNITED STATES JOINT BASE COLOR GUARD WILL PRESENT THE COLORS, FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, WHICH WILL BE SUNG BY MASTER SERGEANT SAMMY LEWIS FROM THE 323RD ARMY BAN FORT SAM ZONE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WHICH WILL BE LED BY 10 YEAR OLD TATIANA CULVERT FROM GIRLS INC.
OH, CAN YOU SEE BY THE WHAT'S SO AT THE TWILIGHT, WHO'S BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE OR THE WE AND THE, THE BOMBS BURST THE NIGHT THAT THE FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
OH, THE OF THE AND THE FOUR MORE.
HELLO, WHAT MARK? WELL, MARK, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG OF PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AN INDIVISIBLE.
ALRIGHT, YOU ALL MAY BE SEATED.
[00:20:04]
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE OBVIOUSLY, I WILL SAY IT ALWAYS GETS ME EMOTIONAL BEING MILITARY CITY U S A, IT ALWAYS HITS DIFFERENTLY.BUT IF WE COULD ALSO JUST, UH, GIVE A WARM WELCOME, EXCUSE ME, A THANK YOU TO THE 323RD ARMY BAND, THE UNITED STATES JOINT BASE, SAN ANTONIO, COLOR GUARD, MASTER SERGEANT SAMMY LEWIS AND TATIANA CULVERT, WHO YOU HEARD SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE, FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.
I TALKED TO TATIANA BEFORE AND I SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB AND YOU DID.
SO A DOUBLE THUMBS UP, TATIANA.
AS I TOLD YOU, THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA HAVE SOME IMPECCABLE ARTISTS, PEOPLE IN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE REALLY TALENTED AS WE KNOW.
THAT IS WHAT OUR CITY IS ABOUT.
SO NEXT UP, I'M GOING TO HAVE MATT EVANS COME UP AND SEEING A SOCIAL JUSTICE HYMN.
MY NAME IS MATT, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE MUSIC DIRECTOR FOR THE NUREMBERG FRIENDLY AT THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP.
AND AS COUNCILMAN RON WAS BECOMING MAYOR ON HIS FIRST TIME, UH, ONE SUNDAY AFTER WORSHIP, HE AND ERICA APPROACHED ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT SONG YOU SANG THIS MORNING IN WORSHIP, THAT SONG, THE WORDS WERE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, AND WE'D LIKE YOU TO SING THAT AT RON'S FIRST INAUGURATION.
AND AS SURPRISED AS I WAS TO BE INVITED TO THAT, I WAS EVEN MORE SURPRISED ANYBODY ACTUALLY PAID ATTENTION TO THE WORDS OF THE HYMNS.
UH, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS AN ESPECIALLY, UH, MEANINGFUL MODERN HYMN.
IT'S SANG OF, UH, THEMES OF, OF COMMUNITY AND LOVE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND SO WE THOUGHT WE'D BEGIN THIS SERVICE AS WE BEGAN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
THE HYMN IS FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS OF THE, THE CREATOR HAS CREATED INTO KINDNESS BRING
[00:25:15]
AND MR. MATT EVANS, EVERYBODY ALL IN THE FEELS TONIGHT, ALL IN THE FEELS.ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, IT'S THE MOMENT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT.
AND THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO CAN DO THE JOB, AND IT IS NOT ME, BUT SHE IS OUR CITY CLERK.
SO IF MS. DEBBIE ROCK ROCKET SITTER CAN COME FORWARD TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF THE OFFICE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, NOW YOU'RE GONNA STAND
EVERYBODY'S GONNA RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND, AND I'M GONNA HAVE YOU SAY I AND STATE YOUR NAME, BUT I'M GONNA START WITH DISTRICT ONE.
AND WHEN I SAY DISTRICT ONE, YOU'RE GONNA SAY I AND YOUR NAME.
WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA AS A GROUP SAY THE REST AND I'LL CUE YOU.
OKAY? SO IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNCIL, JUST KO AYE.
PHYLLIS VRAN, I ADRIANA R GARCIA A TERRY BEST.
I MARK WHITE, I RON NURENBERG, REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EX EXECUTE OF THE OFFICE OF OF OFFICE.
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, RELATIONS.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR 20 23, 20 25 CITY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO.
LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BRIEF INTERLUDE OF SOME OF THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE'VE HAD TODAY AND THE RECOGNITIONS TO NOW HEAR FROM YOUR NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO I'M GONNA GO IN ORDER ON THE DAAS.
AND SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT ONE, SUKKUR.
HAVING WORKED EIGHT MONTHS ON THE TRAIL AND THEN JUMPING RIGHT INTO COUNCIL BRIEFINGS WITH THE CITY AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS FEELS INCREDIBLE TO TAKE A DAY TO CELEBRATE WHAT ME AND THE TEAM HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND SERVING AS YOUR NEXT DISTRICT.
EARLIER WE WERE TAKING PICTURES AND MAYOR MENTIONED TO ME, THIS PICTURE IS GOING TO GO IN THE AIRPORT.
AND THAT, UM, IT TOOK, IT HIT ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE NEXT INDIAN AMERICAN FAMILY THAT IMMIGRATES INTO SAN ANTONIO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM AND KNOW THAT OUR CITY LOVES WELCOMES AND INCLUDES THEM INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
SO, AND I PROMISE YOU, AS YOUR FIRST SOUTH ASIAN COUNCILWOMAN COUNCIL
[00:30:01]
MEMBER, I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR ME SO MUCH.
I SEE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE YOUR HARD WORK TO SHOW HOW INCLUSIVE, COMPASSIONATE, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR INTERFAITH PRAYER TODAY, THAT OUR CITY IS, IS THE REASON WHY I'M ABLE TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
SO I WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS HELPED ALONG THE WAY.
THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A ONE PERSON SHOW.
SO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO MY FAMILY, UM, FROM FAR AND NEAR THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THIS ENDEAVOR.
MY TEAM THAT WORKED RELENTLESSLY EVERY DAY TO HELP GIVE ME BLOCK WALKING LISTS TO HELP POST SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT'S A LOT MORE WORK THAN YOU THINK, AND THEY NEVER LET UP.
AND THEN LAST AND DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE SO MANY CONSTITUENTS IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, BUT DISTRICT ONE IS THE, INCLUDES THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
WE'RE SITTING IN IT RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THERE ARE SO MANY CONSTITUENTS THAT PUT THEIR FAITH IN ME, PUT THEIR FAITH IN MY LEADERSHIP, AND GAVE ME ADVICE ALONG THE WAY, BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW THAT I'M NEW TO THIS AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL, FOR ALL OF THE ADVICE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED AND THE ONES I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE TODAY, MAKING HISTORY, AND THEN WE'LL PUT ON OUR SHOES AND GET TO WORK TOMORROW.
PROBABLY NOT THESE BOOTS, BUT WE'LL BE AT, WE'LL BE AT HERE IF ANYONE WANTS TO JOIN AT 9:00 AM TAKING SOME VOTES ON SOME PRETTY AMAZING AND HISTORIC THINGS.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
IT IS PRIDE MONTH AND IT IS TWO DAYS AFTER JUNETEENTH.
AND I AM BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND WITH SOME NUMBERS, WITH SOME NUMBERS AND ELECTION RESULTS TO PROVE IT.
UM, I WANNA START OFF BY GIVING THANKS TO MY AMAZING, WONDERFUL HUSBAND WHO WORKS HARD AND ALLOWS ME TO BE RECKLESS AND RUN FOR OFFICE AND STUFF.
I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AS MY ROCK, AND I KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT MY DAY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW LONELY THIS ROLE CAN FEEL AT TIMES THAT YOU ARE THERE.
THE REST OF MY FAMILY COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW THEY WISH THEY COULD BE.
I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MADE FOR ME AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY, UH, MADE SURE THEY COULD AFFORD ME.
OF COURSE, I HAVE AN AMAZING, FANTASTIC TEAM, SEAN AND MARIE, UH, THE MUSCLE OF THE OFFICE.
I MOVE SAFELY BECAUSE I HAVE BODYGUARDING BUILT INTO THEIR BUILT INTO THEIR ROLE.
Y'ALL MIGHT NOT SEE THEM ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY'RE THERE WAITING ON Y'ALL TO BREATHE TOO LOUD IN MY DIRECTION.
AND I CHECKED IN WITH THEM FIRST, DENISE SDEL AND JOLENE, MY POLICY TEAM WHO KEEP ME GROUNDED IN OUR MISSION TO BUILD A BETTER SAN ANTONIO FOR THE WORKING CLASS.
AND HELP ME FEEL CONFIDENT THAT EACH AND EVERY TIME I PRESS THE LITTLE BUTTON TO CAST MY VOTE, UH, LORITA MY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, WHICH DOUBLES AS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ALSO SERVES AS A GRAND ELDER OF ALL THINGS DISTRICT TWO HISTORY AND FRANKIE WHO STEERS THE SHIP WHEN I NEED TO STOP TO POSE FOR PICTURES WITH CONSTITUENTS.
HE IS THE BEST CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIM ON MY TEAM.
IT IS ALSO HIS 42ND BIRTHDAY TODAY AND THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR, MY PRESENT TO YOU IS JOB SECURITY
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING TO DISTRICT TWO, TWO YEARS AGO, YOU MADE HISTORY BY ELECTING ME, UH, WHEN I BECAME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY MAN ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THE FIRST OPENLY GAY BLACK MAN ELECTED TO ANY OFFICE IN TEXAS.
AND NOW I'M THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER TO BE REELECTED TO A SECOND FULL TERM.
IN 10 YEARS, WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY MOVED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE DIRECTION OF CRIME PREVENTION.
WE'VE, WE'VE SECURED MORE INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT TWO INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'VE PROVIDED PROGRAMMING FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING OUR EAST SIDE YOUTH CONTENT CREATOR PROGRAM, WHICH JUST STARTED BACK UP AGAIN YESTERDAY.
UH, WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN PARKS, OLD AND NEW, AND PROVIDING CLEAR AND DIRECT FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.
WE ARE MOVING SAN ANTONIO FORWARD, AND I DON'T TAKE YOUR TRUST OR SUPPORT LIGHTLY, AND I WILL WORK EVEN HARDER EACH AND EVERY DAY, UM, TO DEMONSTRATE OUR VALUES AND A COMMITMENT TO THE PROSPERITY OF OUR EAST AND NORTHEAST SIDES, AS WELL AS THAT OF OUR WHOLE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF A LIFETIME TO SERVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER PHYLLIS VILLAGRA, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MY FELLOW COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
[00:35:01]
TODAY I SIT BEFORE YOU WITH A SENSE OF PROFOUND HONOR AS I EMBARK ON MY SECOND TERM AS THE DISTRICT THREE COUNCIL PERSON.I WANNA THANK THE VOTERS FROM DISTRICT THREE WHO WENT OUT AND PUT ME BACK IN THIS SEAT.
THE JOURNEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ENDURING SUPPORT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHOSE LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAS SUSTAINED ME THROUGHOUT MY MOM, BECKY, REBECCA, MY SISTER, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING ME, ESPECIALLY ON THOSE LONG DAYS, MY CAMPAIGN TEAM LED BY LAINA JOB WELL DONE.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO MY ENTIRE STAFF WHOSE DEDICATION AND EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ACHIEVING OUR SUCCESS FROM THE EARLY MORNINGS TO LATE NIGHTS.
YOU HAVE SHOWN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT IN ASSISTING AND REPRESENTING OUR CONSTITUENTS.
YOUR HARD WORK AND COUNTLESS HOURS SPENT SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IS TOP-NOTCH.
I WANNA THANK THOSE WHO JOINED ME IN THE EARLY DAYS AND HAVE MOVED ON TO OTHER CAREERS.
I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DEBBIE, ANA, VIRGINIA, ADDIE KAY, MELANIE, EDWARD, ENRIQUE, SAL, CHRIS AND RUBEN, THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH ME.
AS WE, AS WE REFLECT ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR FIRST TERM, WE CAN CELEBRATE A SERIES OF SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES THAT HAS TRANSFORMED OUR DISTRICT.
THE PASSAGE OF THE 2022 BOND TO INCLUDE A NEW POLICE SUBSTATION FOR THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE INVESTMENT SIGNIFIES OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THE 2021 AND 2022 BUDGETS TO INCLUDE AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUS ON WALKABLE AND SAFE STREETS.
IN DISTRICT THREE, WE FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES, BUT LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT A MORE WALKABLE COMMUNITY IS A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
THE SPENDING OF ARPA DOLLARS THAT PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THROUGH INCREASED SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, WE HAVE STRIVED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY OUR VALUED SENIORS.
INVESTING IN OUR DISTRICT'S FUTURE HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE, BE BEHIND OUR POLICIES AND DECISIONS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS DEPEND ON STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION.
THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE IN THIS NEXT TERM, I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION A FEW THAT I THINK WE CAN WORK ON.
ART HAS A UNIQUE ABILITY TO INSPIRE, UNIFY, AND UPLIFT US.
BY EMBRACING CREATIVITY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS, WE NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR DISTRICT CULTURALLY, BUT ALSO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THE SECOND IS LOOKING AT OUR PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CITY HOLISTICALLY.
THIS MEANS INCLUDING ENERGY, FOOD, AND DIGITAL ADVOCATES.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE STEPS TO, TO ADDRESS THIS DIGITAL DIVIDE AND MAKE SURE ALL HAVE ACCESS TO TOOLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY.
AND THE THIRD IS ADDRESSING STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN EMPOWERING WOMEN.
TODAY WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE A MOMENTOUS MILESTONE.
SAN ANTONIO PROUDLY BOAST FOR THE SECOND TIME AN ELECTED MAJORITY FEMALE COUNCIL.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TALENT OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BREAKING BARRIERS AND SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS ALONG THE WAY.
MANY SITTING IN THIS COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO WELCOME COUNCILWOMAN KO AND AVITA TO THIS DAIS.
YOU JOIN ME, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA CASTILLO AND CAB HDA IN WHAT IS SURE TO BE A MEMORABLE TERM.
OUR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERTISE ENSURE THAT A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES AND CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THIS NEXT TERM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING POLICIES AND INITIATIVES ALONG WITH OUR MALE COUNTERPARTS,
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS MAYOR BERG'S FINAL TERM, AND THERE IS MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH.
LET US CONTINUE TO WORK HAND IN HAND, FORGING A FUTURE WHERE PROGRESS, PROSPERITY, AND COMPASSION PREVAIL.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST, SUPPORT, AND BELIEF IN ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADRIANA ROCHE GARCIA.
[00:40:01]
MAYOR.I'LL START OFF BY THANKING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT FOUR FOR GETTING ME BACK HERE A THIRD TERM.
I'M SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOU A THIRD TERM.
IT'S THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE YOU.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY PARENTS, MIMA.
THANK, THANK YOU ALSO TO MY SON STEVE, WHO HAPPILY HELPS WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS WHEN I CAN'T GET HOME EARLY ENOUGH TO RUN THE ERRANDS THAT THEY NEED.
THANK YOU TO MY EXTENDED L SS A FAMILY.
THEY'RE UNDER THE BALLOONS OVER THERE.
WE OFFICIALLY HAVE AN L S A MAJORITY ON COUNCIL.
THANK YOU ALSO TO MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER WHO'S SITTING RIGHT THERE WITH THE L S A CREW.
LODA, UM, THANK YOU TO MY STAFF WHO RUN THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF OUR OFFICE AND WHO SERVE OUR D FOUR CONSTITUENTS WHILE I'M IN AND OUT OF MEETINGS, SPECIFICALLY TIM, RAUL, ANA, ALEX JOHANNI, EDWARD RAY, RJ, CINDY, JED, AND JEAN.
AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF, THE PEOPLE WHO TRULY MAKE US LOOK GOOD, BUT SELDOM GET THE SPOTLIGHT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW COUNCIL'S OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY AND MAKE IT OUR TIME TO MOVE BEYOND A CITY THAT'S ONLY KNOWN FOR HAVING THE BEST TACOS AND MARGARITAS.
SOMETIMES WE'LL KEEP THAT TITLE THOUGH, DON'T WORRY.
BUT OUR TRIUMPHS PUT US ON A PATH TOWARD ACHIEVING GOALS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED TO BE TOO MUCH FOR LITTLE OLD SAN ANTONIO TO HANDLE.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO BE THE CATALYST THAT BOOSTS SAN ANTONIO TO THE NATION'S TOP TIER OF CITIES FROM PORT SAN ANTONIO TO FOLLOW OUT THE COLLEGE IN TEXAS A AND M.
WE ARE BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR SAN ANTONIO'S FUTURE.
THE PORT IS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY IN FOSTERING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY CREATING NEW MARKETS AND NEW JOBS, BUT IN SERVING AS A TRAINING SITE FOR OUR YOUTH TO EMERGE IN ROBOTICS AND IN SPACE TECHNOLOGIES.
AND WE CANNOT FORGET THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE NATION RELIES ON LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE IN D FOUR TO PREPARE THE YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN WHO WILL KEEP OUR AIR FORCE THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD.
THIS NOW INCLUDES OUR GUARDIANS IN THE SPACE FORCE WHO PROTECT US ACROSS IN INVISIBLE ENEMY LINES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I SEE THE SOUTH SIDE AS A NATION'S DOOR TO SOUTH TEXAS AND MEXICO.
THE IH 35 CORRIDOR IS THE PIPELINE THAT MOVES MORE FREIGHT THAN ANY OTHER IN THE NATION.
WHERE WOULD THE MIDWEST BE WITHOUT THE GOODS THAT MOVE IN AND OUT THROUGH IH 35? WE MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE GREAT ASSET AS WE BRING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND WELL-PAYING JOBS TO OUR CITY.
WE'LL WELCOME WENDY IN A FEW DAYS, AND WITH IT WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO USHER IN A NEW ERA IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT NOT JUST FOR THIS SPUR.
IT WILL BE A ERA FULL OF CONTAGIOUS PRIDE, HOPE, AND OPTIMISM, ROOTED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF EMBRACING OUR ASSETS, INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE, DEFINING OUR GREATNESS, AND BECOMING A LEADING CITY NO LONGER FALLING IN THE SHADOW OF LARGER CITIES.
OUR COLLABORATIVE COMPASSIONATE NATURE ALLOWS SAN ANTONIANS TO LIFT ONE ANOTHER UP.
AND IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, OUR RESILIENCE SHINES IN TRUE FORM TO OUR MONIKER OF MILITARY CITY U S A.
BUT WHILE WE GATHERED HERE TODAY, ARE FORTUNATE TO ENJOY THE PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY.
MAY WE NOT FORGET THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS RIGHT NOW WON'T TURN ON THEIR AC UNIT BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL.
THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM OR WHERE THEY WILL SLEEP.
AND THERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO I'VE SHARED WILL NOT LEAVE WILL ARE JUST ONE MINUTE AWAY FROM LOSING HOPE.
THIS CITY, THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT LEAVE THOSE WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED AND WHO HAVE GIVEN UP ON OUR SYSTEM BEHIND, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THEM AND FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
AND SPEAKING OF THAT TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE EVERY ONE OF YOU IN HERE WITH A SMALL ASK IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR BUSY LIVES.
I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER A GROUP OF 53 MIGRANTS WHO ON JUNE THE 27TH OF LAST YEAR, IN THE SAME A HUNDRED PLUS DEGREE HEAT LOST THEIR LIVES TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE PROMISE OF A BETTER LIFE IN THE DEADLIEST SMUGGLING INCIDENT OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.
MAY THEIR MEMORY SERVE AS A REMINDER TO ALL OF US THAT EVEN ON OUR WORST DAYS, WE SITTING HERE TODAY ARE BLESSED
[00:45:01]
WITH THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES AHEAD BECAUSE WE WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY.LET'S GIVE OTHERS THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.
LET'S TAKE OUR BLESSINGS, MULTIPLY THEM FOR OTHERS, SHARE OUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE WITH THOSE WHO NEED US MOST.
AND NOONA, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER TERRY CASTILLO.
I AM TRULY HUMBLED AND HONORED FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND SUS AND SECURE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND UPWARD MOBILITY FOR THE DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS THAT ENSURES THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT THINGS FROM HOUSING, DRAINAGE, LABOR, AND SO MUCH MORE.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO GET DONE.
I MUST THANK MY WONDERFUL FAMILY, MY PARENTS, MY SIBLINGS, MY THEO AND THES WE'RE HAVING MY BACK AND BELIEVING IN THE WORK OF MY TEAM AND ALWAYS HAVING YOUR SLEEVES ROLLED UP TO ENSURE THAT Y'ALL HELP WITH THE CAMPAIGN.
MY ADMIRABLE HUSBAND, WHO HAS BEEN ON THIS ROLLERCOASTER WITH ME FROM TOURING PROGRAMS TO, UH, MAKING THE DECISION WITH ME TO STAY IN SAN ANTONIO AND ORGANIZED WITH COMMUNITY.
CONTINUING TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT FIVE WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY AMAZING TEAM.
I WANTED TO BRIEFLY APOLOGIZE TO THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I'M ALMOST DONE WITH THIS BOOK.
IT'S IRON AMBITION, MY LIFE WITH CUSTOM ANCHO, UH, UH, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A BIOGRAPHY OF MIKE TYSON AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH A BOOK ABOUT KATIE AND I, UM, SOMEONE FROM THE RIO AND THIS ITALIAN
SO I, I WANTED TO BE SURE TO RECOGNIZE MY TEAM FOR HOLDING ME ACCOUNTABLE AND TO MY PRINCIPLES AND VALUES AND MANAGING CONSTITUENT CASES WITH CARE YOU ALL ARE IMPACTING AND IMPROVING THE MATERIAL LIVES OF DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS EVERY DAY.
I MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE CITY STAFF, MY DISTRICT FIVE LIAISONS FROM ROD, MARIO, ROGELIO, SO MANY MORE OUR SAFE OFFICERS AND THE FOLKS OUT ENSURING THAT THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF DISTRICT FIVE, MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, ALL THAT WORK, ALL THAT SERVICE THAT YOU ALL DO.
I I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE NOT HERE, BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE, I WANTED TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR THAT CONTINUED WORK, TAKING CARE OF DISTRICT FIVE AND KEEPING US SAFE.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO MY BELOVED DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS, WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE ORGANIZE, WE WIN.
SO MY PROMISE TO YOU ALL IS THAT ALL OF US, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR A LIVING WAGE, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TRULY IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR ADJUST AND EQUITABLE DISTRICT FIVE THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH LABOR TO ENSURE THAT EVERY WORKER HAS THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZE AND THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORK TO CREATE A LOCAL ECONOMY THAT SERVES EVERYONE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT ALL OF US CAN THRIVE.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND SOLIDARITY FOREVER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCILS MEMBER MELISSA CAB.
THANK YOU, UH, FIRST TO MY DISTRICT SIX COMMUNITY FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND GIVING ME THE HONOR, UM, TO REPRESENT THIS BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT THAT I, WHERE I ACTUALLY GREW UP.
THEY'RE SITTING HERE IN, IN THE SECOND ROW.
THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND JASON, AND OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, TRUMAN, QUENTIN, TRINITY.
THE, THE, THIS JOB IS PRETTY HARD ON US.
UM, BUT IT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S PRETTY HARD ON OUR FAMILIES.
SO THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND LOVE THAT THEY SHOW EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, WHEN I GO TO CITY HALL AND DUNNO WHAT FIGHT I'M FIGHTING THAT DAY IS, IS KEEPS ME GOING AND KEEPS ME, UM, INSPIRED TO DO THE WORK FOR, FOR THEM.
I ALSO THANK MY PARENTS-IN-LAW, CHARLIE AND LAURA HDA, WHO IN SO MANY COUNTLESS WAYS HAVE HAVE SUPPORTED OUR FAMILY OVER THE YEARS.
I THANK THE MAYOR FOR TRUSTING ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD IN KEY COMMUNITIES FOR LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS AND ALWAYS, UH, BELIEVING IN ME AND SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS WITH ME.
I AM REALLY EXCITED AND THANKS TO MY NEW COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE, AND, UH, NOT JUST NEW COUNCIL KELLY, ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE CHALLENGED ME, SUPPORTED ME, AND TEACH ME EVERY DAY.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I, UM, THERE'S KIND OF AN AIR OF EXCITEMENT.
I, I'VE, I'VE DONE THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW AND IT NEVER GETS BORING.
UM, I FEEL LIKE IT'S LIKE SPRINGTIME AND COUNCIL LAND.
THERE'S NEW HOPE AND
SO I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT, THAT WORKS OUT FOR US.
THANKS, OF COURSE TO CITY STAFF, ERIC AND MARIA, ANDY, LIZ, UH, ROD, LORI.
UM, YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF THE CREDIT SOMETIMES, BUT Y'ALL ARE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS AND YOU LEAD AN IMPRESSIVE TEAM.
[00:50:01]
DIRECTORS AND ALL THEIR TEAMS ARE OUTSTANDING, AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION IS ONE OF THE GREATEST, UH, COUNCIL'S STRENGTHS.THANK YOU TO MY DISTRICT SIX STAFF, MARTIN, ORLANDO, NANCY, VERONICA, CYNTHIA, DESIREE, VICTOR.
SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ, THEY WORK HARDER THAN, THAN ANY ANYBODY.
I MEAN, THEY ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
I'VE LITERALLY CALLED THEM AT TWO IN THE MORNING.
UH, I JUST PASSED BY SOMETHING AND THAT DIDN'T GET DONE RIGHT.
UM, THERE'S A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY LATE MOTHER, LINDA FLORES CAVEO, WHO IS IN MY HEART ALWAYS.
AND A, UH, THANKS TO MY FATHER WHO'S HERE TODAY.
UH, FOR ALWAYS BELIEVING IN ME.
MY PARENTS WHO WERE NOT BORN INTO FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES.
AND THOSE, AT THAT TIME, THOSE SCHOOLS REALLY BRED A LOT OF TALENT AND WERE THE BACKBONE AND CONTINUE TO REMAIN, I THINK, THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY.
MY FATHER WAS DETERMINED TO DO BETTER, AND HE MADE HIS WAY OUT OF, OF THE BAR IN, UM, HE GREW UP THE, AT THE COURTS.
UM, AND HE, HE JOINED THE ARMY.
HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY, AND HE GAVE HIM A SKILLSET.
HE LATER USED TO BE HIRED AT WHAT WAS THEN SOUTHWESTERN BELL.
NOW AT AND T MY LATE MOTHER BECAME A CIVIL SERVANT AT KELLY AIR FORCE BASE, AND WAS A UNION LEADER WITH THE AMERICAN AND FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, THE MILITARY.
AND OUR UNIONS, JUST LIKE MANY SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES HELPED CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF MY FAMILY.
MY FAMILY MOVED OUT TO DISTRICT SIX WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED.
I'M THE FIRST GENERATION OF MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
THE VERY FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY, HOPEFULLY MANY, MANY MORE, TO HAVE A DOCTORATE.
I HAVE A HUGE EXTENDED FAMILY THAT SUPPORTS ME AND IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I WAS EVER ABLE TO DO THIS.
ALL THESE THINGS THAT, THAT I'M ABLE TO DO, NOT JUST BE HERE ON COUNCIL.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
SO, IN MANY WAYS, MY STORY IS THE STORY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I BELIEVE THAT I AM THIS CITY.
EVERY ONE OF YOU OUT HERE CAN RELATE TO SOMETHING IN THAT STORY.
WE ALL ARE, ARE RELATED TO, UH, KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH ALL OF THOSE, THOSE THINGS.
AND EVERY DAY I LEARN AND, UH, AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE.
WE, AS A CITY, CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE.
IT PUSHES ME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.
I SAY THAT I DON'T ALWAYS LOVE IT, BUT IT DOES.
AND, AND BECAUSE IT PUSHES ME OUT MY COMFORT ZONE, I LEARN AND I GROW EVERY DAY.
WE'RE STILL COVERING, RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE PREPARING FOR GROWTH THAT'S COMING.
WE DON'T WANNA REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES WHO GREW QUICKLY, BUT LOST THEIR SOUL IN THE PROCESS.
I MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MY CITY, OUR CITY, THAT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
AS WE GROW, WE WILL KEEP OUR CULTURE.
WE HAVE AN ECONOMY TO DEVELOP WITH JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY TO BUILD BY PROVIDING CONDITIONS FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.
YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE AND TALK ABOUT THOSE, FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, FOSTER KIDS, VETERANS, SENIORS, YOU KNOW THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT THE MILITARY PLAYS IN OUR CITY AND OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CULTURE.
WE SAY A LOT THAT THE CITY, UH, WAS SHAPED BY OUR RIVER, AND THAT'S TRUE.
UM, IN MODERN TIMES, I THINK THE, THE CITY IS SHAPED BY OUR MILITARY.
SO WE HAVE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT.
AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE CONNECTED.
THOUGH I'M READY TO BUILD FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED, I'M GOING INTO THIS NEXT TERM WITH FOCUS AND WITH PURPOSE.
AND I'M READY TO CONTINUE THE WORK.
MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE ON THE DAES REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I KNOW THAT TODAY I'M STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.
AND FOR THAT, I AM GRATEFUL TO COUNCILWOMAN ROSIE STRO.
THIS IS A TRULY A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.
SO MANY OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATION IN, IN ENSURING WE ARE REPRESENTED.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR STRIDES AND EFFORTS YOU MADE YEARS AGO.
WE ALL OWE YOU SO MUCH TO YOU AND TO YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR RELENTLESS FIGHT.
CAN WE ALL GIVE COUNCILWOMAN ROSIE CASTRO? ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YESTERDAY I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING WITH, UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, THE U T S A CEREMONY, HONORING DR.
BEBO AND MARIA BEBO FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BE ABBO WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE PREP PROGRAM, THE PRE-FRESHMAN
[00:55:01]
ENGINEERING PROGRAM, AND WE'RE PREP ALUM.I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER SITTING AT THE ST.
MARY'S CAMPUS AS A SEVENTH OR EIGHTH GRADER AT AND LISTENING TO A FEMALE GUEST SPEAKER TALK ABOUT HER CAREER IN TECH.
AND AT THAT POINT, I MADE IT MY MIND THAT IF SHE CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT.
AND I PURSUED A CAREER IN TECH.
I'M STANDING ON THE SHOULDER OF GIANTS WHILE WORKING AT RACKSPACE.
I MET AND WAS MENTORED BY GRAHAM WESTON, WHO POINTED OUT TO ME, MARINA, YOU HAVE A HEAD AND A HEART.
YOU CAN USE THAT TO HELP OUR CITY ONE DAY.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR GRAHAM'S CONSTANT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT LEADERS WHO RECOGNIZED MY COMMUNITY WORK AND APPOINTED ME TO ROLES OF SERVICE.
I, MANY OF THEM ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
JUDGE WOLF LETA, VAN DEPU, HOPE, ANDRA COMMISSIONER JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ, HENRY CISNEROS, MY GODMOTHER, NORMA RODRIGUEZ.
LARA BAENA, AND THE VIVA POLITICS TEAM FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.
AS I FOCUS ON FURTHER SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, AGAIN, I'M STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.
I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FRIENDS I SURROUND MYSELF WITH.
WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER THROUGH OUR CAREERS, THROUGH MOTHERHOOD AND THROUGH LIFE IN GENERAL.
THEY PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MY LIFE.
SO I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP DAILY AND WE ALL GAIN STRENGTH FROM EACH OTHER.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE VOTERS WHO HAVE ENTRUSTED ME WITH THIS RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING THIS OFFICE.
LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT DELIVERING.
AS I PREPARE TO LEAD THE DISTRICT SEVEN COUNCIL OFFICE, I'M SET ON WORKING ON FULFILLING THE PROMISES I MADE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE SUPPORTERS ALONG THE WAY.
THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN TO HELP STRATEGIZE WITH ME, THAT CONNECTED ME TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ALL OF THOSE LITTLE THINGS WENT A LONG WAY.
AND TO THE ORGANIZATIONS, THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO HELPED ENDORSE MY CANDIDACY, THEIR SUPPORT CONTINUES TO MEAN SO MUCH TO ME.
AND I WOULD NOT BE STAND SITTING UP HERE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR EVERYONE PULLING TOGETHER TO GET ME HERE.
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT JOINING MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF A FEMALE MAJORITY.
I TRULY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AHEAD.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT 17 THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING.
WE'RE, WE'RE BUILDING A STRONG TEAM.
AND I, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS, JOE AND CHRIS ALTE, WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH AND CONTINUE TO DO SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY TAUGHT US ALL THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING HERE TODAY.
UH, SO THANK YOU MOM AND DAD FOR THE EXAMPLE YOU SET FOR US IN THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THAT YOU GAVE US ALONG THE WAY.
AND WHAT A MOMENT TO BE SERVING IN THE DISTRICT.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO MY SIBLINGS, CLAUDETTE JO AND MY TWIN SISTER, CARINA.
Y'ALL ARE MY SOURCES, STRENGTH AND LOVE.
AND I'M NOT GONNA SAY MUCH MORE 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA CRY.
AND TO MY EXTENDED FAMILIES, THE ESS, THE DORIA, THE GATOS, ALL THAT LOVE AND ALL THAT SUPPORT YOU PROVIDED IN TAKING CARE OF ME AND MY FAMILY DURING THE CAMPAIGN, UH, MEANT SO MUCH TO ME AND ALL YOUR EFFORTS ALSO IN HELPING GET ME HERE.
AND FINALLY, I WANNA THANK MY HUSBAND GEORGE AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS, MARIELLE AND GISELLE.
I CANNOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY HUSBAND.
UM, I'M SO THANKFUL MY HUSBAND AND I MET AT ST.
MARY'S UNIVERSITY ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, AND THAT I CAN CONVINCED HIM TO MOVE BACK TO THE AREA I GREW UP IN NEAR WOODLAWN LAKE.
I I LOVE YOU AND YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING.
AND TO MY GIRLS WHO ARE MY REASON WHY THIS WORK WON'T BE EASY.
BUT IF I CAN MAKE OUR LITTLE PIECE OF THE WORLD BETTER, NOT ONLY FOR MY TWO GIRLS, FOR, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN, THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
I'M EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR DISTRICT SEVEN COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTE, GATO, COUNCIL MEMBER MANNY ELAS.
UM, I'M, I'M LOOKING OUT INTO THE AUDIENCE AND I'M SEEING, UH, MARINA, YOUR, YOUR GIRLS.
AND I GOT A CHANCE TO SAY HI TO THEM.
AND, UH, MARK, UH, YOUR LITTLE GIRLS ARE DELIGHTFUL AND CONGRATULATIONS.
THEY'RE VERY SMART, UH, AND VERY INTERESTING KIDS I GOT TO TALK TO ALSO.
AND, AND I'M REMINDED, UM, THAT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN THIS VERY DAY WHEN I TOOK THIS SEAT, I SAT DOWN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THIS CHAIR AND I PRESSED THIS RED BUTTON IN FRONT OF US.
UH, I DUNNO IF YOU ALL KNOW THIS, THERE'S A BUTTON HERE THAT, THAT LIGHTS UP RED WHEN YOU PRESS IT, AND IT MEANS THE MIC IS ON.
AND I PRESSED IT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
AND I SPOKE TO MY CHILDREN WHO WERE THAT LITTLE, UM, AND MY CHILDREN, MAX AND SOPHIA, UH, I, I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER THIS OR MAYBE YOU DON'T, RIGHT?
[01:00:01]
BUT I'M GONNA DO IT AGAIN, Y'ALL, UM, AND MAX AND SOPHIE, I, I'D LIKE TO, UM, TO REMIND YOU WHAT I REMINDED YOU BACK THEN, RIGHT? THAT THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT, UM, IS GONNA REQUIRE YOU TO BE VERY PATIENT WITH YOUR DAD.UH, AND TO UNDERSTAND, AND TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND, KEEP THE FAITH, RIGHT? THAT WE'RE DOING THIS FOR, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I VOLUNTEERED TO DO, AND WHAT I VOLUNTEERED YOUR POOR MOTHER TO DO WITH ME, UM, WAS, WAS WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU COULD LIVE IN A CITY THAT'S STRONG, RIGHT? AND WHEN I SAY STRONG, I MEAN STRONG IN, IN HEALTH, RIGHT? A CITY THAT'S HEALTHY, A CITY THAT'S STRONG IN ITS SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE.
A CITY THAT IS STRONG IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT? SO THAT ALL THESE, THIS ECONOMY COULD THRIVE STRONG IN, IN ITS ABILITY TO PULL PEOPLE UP AND WRAP ITS ARMS, ITS STRONG ARMS AROUND THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS WHO ARE HURTING AND LEAVE THEM IN A BETTER PLACE.
AND I'VE SPENT THE PAST SIX YEARS REMINDING YOU, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR MOM, UH, IS ALWAYS TELLING YOU, LOOK, DON'T FORGET, THIS IS WHY YOUR DAD'S DOING IT.
RIGHT? AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT BACK THEN, I GAVE YOU THE FORMULA FOR HOW I WAS GONNA TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, RIGHT? AND THERE WERE THREE PARTS TO THAT.
ONE WAS THAT WE WERE GONNA LISTEN A LOT TO EVERYBODY.
TWO, THAT WE WERE GONNA WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD.
AND THREE, WE WERE GONNA SURROUND OURSELVES WITH GOOD PEOPLE WHO WERE GONNA HELP ME, UH, CARRY THIS BURDEN.
AND I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT I SURROUND MYSELF WITH HAVE HELPED US ACCOMPLISH GREAT, WONDERFUL THINGS, ASTONISHING THINGS.
AND THOSE PEOPLE INCLUDE PAT WALLACE, LARA GARAN, AARON NICHOLS, CLAIRE, ERIC, ALL MY TEAM MEMBERS.
BUT THEY ALSO INCLUDE ADVISORS AND CONFIDANTS LIKE LA BARENA, A VIVA POLITICS, ANTHONY MENO AND JR.
HE TEXTED ME, LITERALLY, HE TEXTED ME AND SAID, WILL YOU PLEASE MENTION ME DURING YOUR SPEECH? UH, YEAH,
UM, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT THE REALLY GOOD ADVICE OF A VERY LOVING MOM.
LIKE THE ONE YOU HAVE, DEANNA.
YOU'RE THE, YOU'RE THE ROCK THAT KEEPS US, UM, YOU KNOW, STEADY.
AND I ALSO COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE 13,000 MAOS PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TEAM MEMBERS.
THAT IS A VERY, VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE DAY THINKING, HOW AM I GONNA MAKE THIS CITY BETTER FOR PEOPLE LIKE MAX AND SOPHIA? AND HOW AM I GONNA CREATE, YOU KNOW, GOODNESS, AND PUT IT OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BETTER OFF BECAUSE OF MY WORK? ALL THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE 13,000 PEOPLE, THEY PROBABLY COULD HAVE GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GOTTEN RICH SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT INSTEAD THEY CHOSE TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S A REALLY SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.
SO I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT TWO MOMENTS THAT STAND OUT, UM, AS CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS FOR ME DURING THESE LAST TWO YEARS, MAX.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE PROUD OF THESE MOMENTS.
ONE OF THEM IS HAVING SAT UP HERE AND WITH, UH, THEN CITY COUNCILWOMAN SHIRLEY GONZALEZ, HAVING CREATED THE, UM, COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT SECTORS THAT TOUCH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SITTING DOWN IN THE SAME ROOM, TALKING THE SAME LANGUAGE, AND TRACKING THE PROBLEM AND SOLVING FOR IT TOGETHER.
THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
SECOND, AND BY THE WAY, MY MOM ALSO TEXTED ME AND TOLD ME, MAKE SURE TO MENTION ME IF YOU'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MARTA IS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE.
ALSO, UM, THE SECOND MOMENT, AND, AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT 'CAUSE THE, THERE'S SO MANY OVER THE YEARS.
THE SECOND MOMENT WAS WHEN WE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL, AND YOUR MOM REMEMBERS.
I STAYED UP NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, JUST REALLY FRUSTRATED, JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WRAPPED THIS PROJECT IN BUBBLE WRAP AND THAT NOBODY, YOU KNOW, WAS ALLOWED TO DISTRACT US FROM GETTING IT ACROSS THE LINE, OR NOBODY WAS ALLOWED TO CHISEL AWAY, UM, AT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.
AND THAT WAS FUNDING THE CREATION OF THE MULTI ASSISTANCE CENTER AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE NOW HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL FOR THE CARE OF KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO ARE DISABLED, UM, AND
[01:05:01]
WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE STRUGGLING WITH FINDING THE RIGHT KIND OF CARE.AND SOPHIA, YOU WENT WITH ME WHEN, WHEN THAT PLACE, UH, WHEN WE CUT THE RIBBON ON THAT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON THAT I SURROUND MYSELF AND I TRY TO RELY ON OFTEN IS GORDON HARTMAN, WHO'S HERE, AND HE'S ONE OF MY PERSONAL HEROES AND A MENTOR.
GORDON, THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY LIFE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, FOR PUSHING THIS COUNCIL TO BE BETTER AND DO BETTER.
LASTLY, I'LL TELL YOU, MAX AND SOPHIE, WHAT IS IN WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DRIVE RON NUREMBERG CRAZY.
UM,
UH, WE WERE ALLOTTED, I THINK THREE MINUTES, AND THOSE ARE MANNY PAL'S MINUTES.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO LESSEN.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE BALL FORWARD.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, UM, TRY TO HAVE FUN WHILE WE'RE DOING IT.
UM, AND ALL WITH ONE GOAL TO MAKE THIS CITY THE KIND OF CITY THAT YOU WANNA LIVE IN AFTER COLLEGE, AND THAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA RAISE YOUR FAMILY IN AND THAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA RAISE, UH, AND THAT THEY'RE GONNA WANNA RAISE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND SO, BETWEEN US, RIGHT? I HOPE NOBODY'S, NOBODY'S EAVESDROPPING.
COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN COURAGE.
YOU KNOW, I ARRIVED IN SAN ANTONIO 52 YEARS AGO, AND POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PASSION.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE AT A YOUNG AGE, I WANT A SEAT ON THE A C C D BOARD WHEN IT WAS CALLED THE BEAR COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO.
AND THEN OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS OR SO, I WENT ON TO LOSE MY NEXT FIVE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.
BUT TODAY I'M BATTING 500, AND SO I'M NOW FIVE OF 10.
NOW, A LOT OF YOU KNOW MY NAME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID, BOY, THAT'S A GREAT POLITICAL NAME.
UH, AND I, I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THOSE COMMENTS, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NAME BETTER THAN MINE SITTING IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY.
AND THAT'S MY WIFE'S NAME, ZETA TRUE COURAGE.
AND I, I, I NEED TO THANK MY WIFE, ZETA, TRUE COURAGE FOR ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING ME TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY 10 DIFFERENT TIMES.
YOU KNOW, TODAY, THIS IS YOUR GOVERNMENT IN THIS CITY.
AND I BELIEVE WE ARE NOT HERE TO LEAD, BUT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE.
I WANNA START OUT BY THANKING MY NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT NINE FOR THE FAITH THEY'VE SHOWN IN ME IN ELECTING ME FOUR TIMES TO BE THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT A COUNCILMAN FOR ONE DISTRICT IS REALLY A COUNCILMAN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY BECAUSE EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE HERE IN THESE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY GOAL HAS BEEN AND WILL BE TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO.
TO DO THAT, I'VE RELIED ON A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW AND THANK MY COUNCIL STAFF FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT NINE.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE A DEDICATED BUNCH, AND I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT 'EM.
BUT ALSO, I WANNA THANK OUR AMAZING CITY STAFF FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE COMMITMENT THEY HAVE TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU ERIC AND YOUR TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP ME BE A GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER AND TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY
[01:10:01]
OF LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO.AND FINALLY, I WANNA TELL THE MAYOR AND MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.
I WANNA PARTNER WITH YOU TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
FOR ME, IT STARTS, UM, WITH A LOT OF THANK YOUS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, TO MY FAMILY, THOSE THAT ARE HERE, UH, TONIGHT, MY, MY MOM AND DAD, UM, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, LORIANNE, MY TWO, UH, DAUGHTERS, OLIVIA AND ASHLYN.
UM, AND OF COURSE MIRIAM WHO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM FLORIDA, UH, TO MY, MY BROTHER AS WELL, WHO, UH, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT HE'S IN DALLAS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, UM, TO MY, UH, TO MY GRANDPARENTS WHO, WHO ARE LOOKING DOWN FROM ABOVE, UM, AND TO STEVE, WHO'S, WHO'S BACK IN HOUSTON, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING.
IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN AN EASY RIDE, UM, BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO PUSH ME ALONG AND TO, UH, ALLOW ME TO FOLLOW MY DREAMS. AND SO, UM, I CAN'T, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME.
UM, NEXT, MY FRIENDS, UM, AND MY MENTORS, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
UM, ALL THE COFFEES, ALL THE LUNCHES, UM, ALL THE TIMES PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR THIS, UM, YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT MEANS, UH, THE WORLD TO ME.
UM, YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS, UM, ENCOURAGED ME TO, TO FOLLOW MY DREAM, UM, OF DOING THIS AND, AND REALLY WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, I WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, UM, WHO SUPPORTED ME DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
UM, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE, UM, I'LL ALWAYS BE THERE, UM, TO SUPPORT YOU.
I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU DID FOR ME FOR THE, UH, DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
YOU ALL DO SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY.
UM, AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, EVERYBODY SAID SEVEN PEOPLE IN THE RACE.
UM, THANK YOU TO MY, UM, AMAZING CAMPAIGN TEAM, UH, WHO MADE ME LOOK GOOD, UH, DURING THE CAMPAIGN, UM, TO MY STAFF, UM, RAUL, THE STAFF WHO'S GONNA GO ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
UM, A BRAVE GROUP, UM, RAUL, JD, PAULA, SAMANTHA, CYNTHIA, REBECCA, PAULINE, STEVE AND ROSA, LINDA.
UM, I, I'M, I'M JUST HONORED, UH, THAT YOU BELIEVE IN ME, UH, AND THAT YOU'RE READY TO GO ON THIS TWO YEAR RIDE WITH ME.
IT'S GONNA BE FUN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
UM, AND FINALLY, AND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, UM, TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 10, UM, IT, IT WAS JUST, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 10.
DISTRICT 10 IS MADE UP OF STRONG, UM, BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, IN THE THREE MONTHS DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT I GOT TO GO WALK AROUND OUR DISTRICT, UM, AND TALK TO ALL OF YOU, UM, FRANKLY, IT, IT WAS EXHILARATING.
UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M HUMBLED, UM, BY THE FAITH THAT YOU'VE PUT IN ME.
AND, UM, I HEARD YOU, I HEARD YOU.
ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, UM, ARE IN THE TOP OF MY MIND.
UM, AND I'M GONNA GO TO WORK FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, TO TRY TO MAKE YOUR LIVES BETTER.
SO, THANK YOU, UH, TO THE RESIDENTS AT DISTRICT 10, BEING IN THIS POSITION IS REALLY AN HONOR OF A LIFETIME FOR ME.
UM, SAN ANTONIO IS SUCH A SPECIAL, SPECIAL CITY.
UM, IT'S MADE UP OF HARDWORKING, UM, COMPASSIONATE, TALENTED PEOPLE.
UH, AND THERE'S SO MUCH POTENTIAL, UM, THAT WE HAVE.
UH, BUT WE ARE ONLY GONNA REALIZE THAT POTENTIAL, UM, IF WE COME TOGETHER, UH, TO DO ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO.
AND SO I TURN, UH, TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I, AND I SAY THAT I'M EXCITED, UM, TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU, UM, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR ON EACH AND EVERY ISSUE, UM, THAT COMES BEFORE US.
UH, FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS SINCE THE ELECTION.
I'VE, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW, UM, ALMOST ALL OF YOU.
AND, AND THIS IS A, A TALENTED GROUP, UM, A COMPASSIONATE GROUP, AND A GROUP THAT REALLY IS DEDICATED, UM, TO THIS CITY.
UM, AND WE'VE GOT A STAFF, UH, LED BY ERIC, UM, WHO IS PHENOMENAL AT WHAT THEY
[01:15:01]
DO.SO I WANT TO CHALLENGE US ALL UP HERE, UM, TO DREAM IT BIG AND Y'ALL ARE GONNA GET TIRED OF HEARING ME SAY THAT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DREAM IT BIG AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND LET'S DO GREAT THINGS, UM, FOR THIS CITY TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
I KNOW I'M THE DISTRICT 10 CITY COUNCILMAN, UM, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHATEVER DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN, THAT MY OFFICE AND I WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
UM, I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS COUNCIL CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
UM, I WANT YOU TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU ALL GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOU WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILIES, AND YOU DESERVE A CITY COUNCIL, UM, THAT IS WORKING FOR YOU.
AND SO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, UH, THAT YOU LET US KNOW, HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.
WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT TWO YEARS ARE BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS TWO.
AND FINALLY, I'M GONNA TALK TO MY GIRLS, UM, AS WELL.
UM, ASHLYN AND OLIVIA WE'RE SO LUCKY.
WE HAVE SO MUCH, BUT THERE'S SO MANY OUT THERE THAT DON'T.
PUBLIC SERVICE IS A WAY OF GIVING BACK AND OF HELPING PEOPLE.
I TELL YOU ALL, ALL THE TIME, RIGHT, THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
BUT IT ONLY GOT LIKE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME, AND I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE OTHER STRONG WOMEN UP HERE, YOU THINK TO YOURSELVES THAT ONE DAY IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, IN THE FORM OF, OF AN ELECTED OFFICE, BUT YOU THINK ONE DAY ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GIVE BACK, UM, TO YOUR COUNTRY SO THAT WE KEEP AMERICA, UM, AT ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE, UM, ON TOP OF THE WORLD.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
IT IS VERY GRATIFYING AND IT'S SPECIAL FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY, AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS TO HEART, UH, WITH ALL THE SPECIAL GUESTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.
FIRST, TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO OUR CITY STAFF.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THIS PART OF YOUR, YOUR EVENING.
UH, THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF JOY IN THE ROOM AND THAT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE.
UH, THE LEADERS OF OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE HERE AS WELL.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR CLERGY.
AND I WANNA SAY AGAIN, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY PASTOR, PASTOR DAN, UH, FOR THE WONDERFUL PRAYER, UH, AS WELL AS PASTOR ED FOR WE, WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM VERY SOON.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ASK JUST A FEW FOLKS TO STAND BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TAKE PRIDE IN THIS AS A CITY.
UM, IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED THAT WE ARE MILITARY CITY U S A.
WE HAVE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR NATION'S DEFENSE IN OUR CHAMBERS TONIGHT, AND THAT IS ALL THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE FROM JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO.
SO IF YOU ALL FROM JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR US TO RECOGNIZE YOU PLEASE.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, SOME SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE BACK, UH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AS, AS WE SAID IN MY FIRST GO AT THIS, UH, SAN ANTONIO IS NOT JUST A CITY IN THE WORLD.
WE ARE A CITY OF THE WORLD AND WE ARE REPRESENTING ALMOST EVERY PART OF OUR WORLD TONIGHT WITH OUR CONSULS GENERAL, WHO HAVE TRAVELED QUITE A DISTANCE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING.
SO THE CONSULAR CORE FOR OUR UNITED STATES CONS OFFICES, CONSULATES ARE HERE.
AND IF YOU COULD STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL, AREAS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COMING TO SAN ANTONIO TO BE, BE WITH US TODAY.
OUR CONSULS GENERAL, PLEASE STAND.
I SEE SOME THAT DIDN'T STAND BECAUSE I, I THREW OFF THE TRANSLATION SERVICES, I'M SURE.
UH, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CITY COUNCIL TERM IS LADEN WITH LOTS OF DREAMS AND POTENTIAL.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO TAKE AN OATH TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS HAVE ACCEPTED A GREAT HONOR AND A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I DO THINK I SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE HERE TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE,
[01:20:01]
TO CONTINUE ITS FORWARD PROGRESS AND TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY TRULY MORE EQUITABLE.AS A LEGENDARY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, SAM RAYBURN ONCE SAID, ANY J*****S CAN KICK DOWN A BARN, BUT IT TAKES A GOOD CARPENTER TO BUILD ONE.
AND SO THIS COUNCIL WILL BE WORKING ON OUR MUNICIPAL CARPENTRY SKILLS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
FOR MY PART, I NEVER PLANNED ON A LIFE OF POLITICS, BUT AS I MOVED THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY 30 YEARS AGO, LEARNING ITS NEEDS, GETTING TO KNOW ITS PEOPLE, AND BECOMING STEEPED IN ITS UNIQUE AND DIVERSE CHARACTER, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS CITY LIKE I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE.
AND AS MY WIFE AND I STARTED OUR FAMILY YEARS LATER, IT WAS A CALLING TO DEVOTE MY TIME TO OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
I WILL HAVE SPENT 12 YEARS, 12 OF MY PRIME YEARS AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE WHEN MY TIME IN CITY HALL ENDS.
THIS HAS NOT BEEN SOME VAIN PURSUIT OF LEGACY.
THE COMMON THREAD OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN TO BUILD A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT AND MORE EQUITABLE FOUNDATION FOR THIS CITY'S FUTURE.
THAT FOUNDATION QUITE LITERALLY BE BEGINS BELOW OUR FEET AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR SACRED EDWARDS AQUIFER AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, IT'S BUILT UP BY ENSURING PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MODERN TRANSPORTATION, AND THE EDUCATION TO PURSUE GOOD WELL-PAYING CAREERS.
THIS WORK HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO PURSUE.
AND OF COURSE, AS EVERYONE UP HERE, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT LOTS OF HELP.
MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU FOR ENDURING ALL THAT YOU HAVE.
I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL THANK YOU, THOUGH PUBLIC TO PUBLICLY TO MY BRILLIANT AND UNFLINCHINGLY SUPPORTIVE WIFE, ERICA PROSPER.
I KNOW THAT THE SACRIFICES OF HAVING A MAYOR IN THE FAMILY HAVEN'T BEEN EASY.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A SPECIAL THING IT IS TO BE MARRIED TO LITERALLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE, BEST PERSON I'VE EVER MET.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MY SON JONAH, FOR TOLERATING MY POLITICAL ENDEAVORS.
HE IS A LOT TALLER THAN HE WAS, UH, 10 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS SHOWING HIS MATCHBOX CAR TO THE CAMERAS THAN WHEN THEY WERE POINTED AT HIM.
BUT MY SON HAS BECOME A YOUNG MAN THAT I CAN SAY, WITH ALL HONESTY IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE GROWN TO REALLY ADMIRE.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY 'EM ALL BY NAME, BUT I WILL SAY A FEW.
MY PARENTS, MY FATHER KEN, WHO BECAME A CONSTITUENT THIS PAST YEAR, UM, HE'S ALREADY CALLED MANNY'S OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT.
MY STEPMOTHER CAROL, UH, MY MOTHER, CHARLOTTE, WHO CANNOT BE HERE, MY SIBLINGS, MY BIG BRO, MARK, MY LITTLE SISTER, HEATHER, ANNA WILL JAMES, THEIR KIDS, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL, UH, BEING PART OF THIS WITH ME.
AS EMBARRASSING AS YOU MAKE ME FEEL SOMETIMES.
AND I ALSO WANT OF COURSE, UH, EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO SOME AMAZING PEOPLE.
UM, ROSIE SAID EARLIER TODAY THAT YOU DON'T DO THIS WORK ALONE.
UM, IF YOU ARE DOING WELL, IT'S BECAUSE, UH, YOUR STAFF IS DOING WELL.
SO TO MY CITY HALL TEAM, LED BY AN INCREDIBLE CHIEF OF STAFF, ZACH, LIKE THEY'RE ALL SITTING UP THERE.
YOU GUYS ARE TRULY PART OF MY FAMILY TO OUR CITY CA CITY STAFF, LED BY A TERRIFIC CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALLACE OF 13,000 PEOPLE WHO GO TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, THE DIFFICULT WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND OF COURSE MY CAMPAIGN STAFF, MY TEAM THAT'S IN THE TRENCHES, I SEE COLE UP THERE, I SEE BURT DOWN BELOW.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN WITH ME THROUGH SOME PRETTY CHALLENGING EFFORTS, UH, BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK TO THOSE OF YOU, UH,
[01:25:01]
WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MY CITY COUNCIL ADVENTURE.I WANT TO INCLUDE IN THAT FORMER MAYOR PHIL HARDBERGER.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE MADE IT HERE, MAYOR HARDBERGER.
I COULDN'T HAVE FOUND A WISER POLITICAL MENTOR, BONNIE CONNOR, ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, THE INCOMPARABLE LIONEL SOSA.
BONNIE, ARE YOU HERE? HI BONNIE.
LIONEL SOSA, BETTY SUTHERLAND, LINDA CHAVEZ THOMPSON, GORDON HARTMAN.
MANY OTHERS GAVE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO HELP ME TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE.
I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR GENEROSITY AS I BEGIN MY FOURTH AND FINAL TERM.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, BUT THE CHALLENGES ARE ENDLESS.
SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE.
AND OUR COLLECTIVE TASK IS TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD AS FAR AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BEFORE PASSING THE BATON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
SO I VIEW THESE NEXT TWO YEARS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE HARD WORK THAT IS CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE READY TO WORK IN OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY EFFORTS, WE WILL STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE DIGNITY OF WORK IS PRESERVED AND THAT A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIO IS FINALLY WITHIN REACH.
OUR CITY HAS GAINED MOMENTUM IN RECENT YEARS.
DESPITE THE PANDEMIC IN 2016, OUR CITY'S MEDIAN INCOME DECLINED, BUT OUR COMBINED EFFORTS HAVE HELPED RAISE THE MEDIAN INCOME IN EACH OF THE LAST SIX YEARS THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
THE STANDARD FOR THIS CITY, THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR THIS CITY IS RISING AND THOUSANDS OF BENEFITED FROM JOBS, PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SAN ANTONIO'S FIRST EVER HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE MAXED OUT TOMORROW.
THIS COMBINED WITH THE FIRST TAX RATE CUT IN YEARS AND OUR FIRST EVER HOUSING BOND WILL HELP KEEP OUR HOUSING STOCK BOTH PLENTIFUL AND AFFORDABLE THROUGH OUR BONDS AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES.
THERE ARE MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY MILES ON OUR STREETS THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY FINALLY TO ENSURING THAT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE WORLD CLASS FACILITY THAT THE CITY DESERVES IN OUR FIRST EVER ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT LINES ARE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAD VISIONED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
SO I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN THIS MOMENTUM AND WE WILL.
AND I'M EXCITED TO TACKLE THE LOOMING ISSUES WITH ONE OF THE FEW FEMALE MAJORITY IN CITY COUNCILS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
IF ANYBODY'S KEEPING RECORD, THAT'S TWO OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN UP HERE
SO WELCOME TO OUR THREE NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I PROMISE THIS WILL BE A WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR LIFE.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST FOR HER OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND SO MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
NOW I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT, BUT ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, TWO MORE ORDERS OF BUSINESS AND THEN WE ARE DONE.
THIS NEXT INDIVIDUAL IS REALLY TALENTED AND IS GONNA MOVE US WITH HIS WORDS.
ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S POET LAUREATES WHO HE LIKES TO SAY, ORA, GIVE IT UP FOR NE DE LEON.
ES GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY.
WHAT AUGUST BEAUTIFUL BODIES WE HAVE FACING EACH OTHER.
I'M ALMOST THINKING THAT WHAT KIND OF WORLD AM I LIVING IN NOW? BECAUSE WHAT I SEE ELSEWHERE IS THE TOXICITY OF GOVERNMENT, THE CONFLICT OF PEOPLE.
WE SEEM TO HAVE EITHER A PERFECTION OF DEMOCRACY HAPPENING AT THIS VERY MOMENT AND I AM AWED BY IT.
I HEARD LOVE, I HEARD ACCOUNTABILITY.
[01:30:01]
HEARD YOU MUST SERVE IF YOU ARE TO LEAD.THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL WORDS, BUT HEAR THEM IN THE POLITICS OF NATIONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR OF BEING YOUR POET LAUREATE.
I AM A MIGRANT WORKER COMING FROM THE FIELDS THAT FEED AMERICA.
SO YOU TODAY ARE MY TEACHERS AND MY MENTORS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIMES.
I MAY KNOW OF WHAT I HEARD AND WHAT I HEARD IS THAT THE BEST LEADER IS A SERVANT LIKE JESUS CHRIST, LIKE MAHATMA GANDHI, LIKE EMILIANO ZAPATA, WHO WAS A LEADER BECAUSE BEFORE HE LED, HE HAS PERMISSION TO DO WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DO.
THIS IS THE CITY THAT WE HAVE.
AND I AM MO BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TOGETHER, EVEN WITH WORLD AMBASSADORS.
MAY I ASK THAT WE GIVE A HAND TO OURSELVES FOR BEING WHO WE ARE, BUT WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE HAVE? MY CITY IS A MIGRANT CITY TALENT FROM EVERYWHERE IN TOWN WHERE EVERYONE COMES TOGETHER IN COLORS, WHITE, BLACK, BROWN.
WE'RE A HAPPY, WE'RE A HAPPY TACO TOWN.
HEY MR. AND MRS. TORTILLA, YOUR NAME WILL BE ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND IN CASE YOU GOT SOME S HEY MR. AND THIS IS PINATA.
LET'S HANG OUT IN OUR FIESTA TOWN.
I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND, THIS CITY, YOU WHO DO NOT FORGET THAT PEOPLE CAN BE IN NEED.
AT THE NORTH STAR MALL, THE MISSIONS WERE BUILT TO CONVERT THE NATIVE FOLKS, BUT ONE BITE OF OUR TAMALES AND THE FRIARS WERE CONVERTED TO PRAY FOR TACO WAGONS THAT BECAME OUR TACO TRUCKS.
AND THE ALAMO, THEY SAY THEY GOT HERO ASHES BURIED IN DOWNTOWN SAN.
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS, BUT IT'S OKAY.
AFTER ALL, THEY BURIED THREE PANCHOS AND LEFT HIM IN DIFFERENT CITIES.
WHILE MANY THEY SAY THEY HAVE HIS HEAD.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT USED THE MANGER HOTEL BAR IN FRANCISCO, MADERO AVIA IN SAPA OF FAME.
HE PLANNED THE REVOLUTION FOR
ALONG WITH ZA A PRESIDENTIAL FAME.
PRESIDENT CLINTON CAME TO TOWN.
DWIGHT D EISENHOWER WAS A FOOTBALL COACH, THE KING OF ENGLAND.
CHARLES, HE BOUGHT JESSE TREVINOS ART.
HIS MAMA QUEEN WAS DOING A TWO STEP POKE A DANCE, AND IT WAS POKE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND KIND OF CRUISING IN OUR TOWN, GLEAMING IN WHITE, BRIGHT TONES.
HE LOOKED LIKE AN ICE CREAM CONE.
MOUNT RUSHMORE WAS PLANNED IN SAN ANTONIO AND PRESIDENT GERALD FORD, HE GOT A TAMALE PLATE.
SOMEONE WHISPERED IN HIS EAR EVEN IF IT WAS A LITTLE LATE.
HEY MR. PRESIDENT, DEAR, DON'T YOU EAT THE HUSK.
WE'RE A MULTICULTURAL CAMELOT.
TELL THE WORLD ABOUT OUR CULTURE.
TELL THE WORLD ABOUT OUR CITY.
TELL THEM WE GOT OUR OWN CULTURAL CUCKOO PAC AND TITOS FOR WHOM WE HAVE A CITYWIDE FEAST.
[01:35:01]
DON'T LET US BE FORGOT.TELL THEM WE HAVE LION HEARTED PEOPLE SITTING ON A PLACE TO LEAD STEWARDS OF OUR FUTURE, STEWARDS OF OUR FATE.
THIS TIME CAPSULE IS OUR STORY.
MAYOR RON DENBERG AND THE ROUND TABLE CITY COUNCIL TITANS SOUK KA.
JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, PHYLLIS
ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA, TERRY CASTILLO, MELISSA CAVEO.
MARINA
BLESSED IS THE SKYLINE OF OUR CITY.
POLKA TUNES BLESSED OUR CORRIDOS IN OUR SONGS.
SO MANY NOW FROM NOW, PEOPLE WILL ASK, WAS THERE REALLY, WAS THERE REALLY SUCH A CITY THAT THE LEADERS REALLY LEAD YOU, WE SHALL SAY, WITH PRIDE? YES, THERE WAS.
TRUE TO LEGEND, NOTHING WAS IMPLIED.
WE LIVED IN HIS HEART AND SOUL.
WE GREW UP AND WERE RAISED INSIDE.
ALRIGHT, ONE LAST, ONE LAST ITEM ON BUSINESS.
ED NEWTON, THE LEAD PASTOR OF COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH TO COME FORWARD FOR OUR BENEDICTION.
GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU, HUMBLY TODAY TO LIFT UP MAYOR RON NUREMBERG AND OUR CITY COUNCIL LEADERS AND OUR CITY STAFF AS THEY BEGIN ANOTHER TERM OF SERVICE.
AS THE LEADERS OF THIS GREAT CITY, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM WITH SOLOMON WISDOM COUNSEL, INSIGHT, KNOWLEDGE, STRENGTH, AND COMPASSION AS THEY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
MAY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE THEM IN ALL DECISIONS, AND MAY THEY ALWAYS SEEK YOUR WILL ABOVE THEIR OWN.
GRANT THEM COURAGE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
THE PATIENCE TO LISTEN TO ALL VOICES, TO BRING ABOUT THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE GREATER GOOD, FOR THE GREATEST PEOPLE IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
I PRAY FOR FIRST LADY ERICA PROSPER.
I PRAY FOR THE SPOUSES AND THE CHILDREN OF EACH CITY, COUNCIL MEMBER AND CITY STAFF.
AND I PRAY GOD FOR YOUR PROTECTION, YOUR PEACE, YOUR PROSPERITY OVER THEM.
AS MAYOR RON NUREMBERG AND OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CITY STAFF, TAKE ON THIS NEW SEASON OF RESPONSIBILITY.
WE PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE THE SHINING EXAMPLE OF YOUR LOVE AND GRACE.
AND MAY THEIR LEADERSHIP INSPIRE US ALL TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD, THE COMMON GOOD.
AND MAY YOUR BLESSING BE UPON THIS CITY AND ALL HIS PEOPLE.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE PRAY.
AND THAT FOLKS CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAM.
JUST WHEN I MET IN THE BUSINESS BEFORE YOU GO, PLEASE REMAIN SEATED UNTIL AFTER THE RECESSIONAL.
THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DEPART WITH THAT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, GET TO WORK EVERYONE ELSE.
AND REMEMBER, JUST BE SEATED TILL AFTER THE RECESSIONAL AND THEN YOU CAN DEPART.