[00:00:02]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS HERE TONIGHT, SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SPEAKERS, UM, UP HERE IN ORDER OF SIGN UP, WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC HEARING,
[ PUBLIC HEARING ]
AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO OUR NORMALLY SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK, GROUPS UP TO SIX, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS HERE AND IS, IS HEARD.
UM, SO I'M GONNA START THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW.
WE DO HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION, UH, FROM JUSTINA IN OUR BUDGET OFFICE BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, SO THE PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE CITY'S 2023, A VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE FY 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE FY 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, IS NOW OPEN.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO MATTERS REGARDING THE SIDE OF EACH PERSON WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO EACH TO SPEAK.
THE FIRST PERSON, UH, WILL BE CALLED UP MOMENTARILY AFTER WE GET, UH, THE BRIEF PRESENTATION.
SO JUSTINA, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S, UH, BUDGET HEARING.
SO TODAY'S HEARING IS TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024 CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.
TODAY IS ONE OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE'LL BE HOLDING.
THE NEXT ONE WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 7TH AT 9:00 AM THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'VE, WE WILL HAVE HELD NINE, UM, BUT BY THE TIME THE, UH, BUDGET IS ADOPTED, AND THESE HAVE BEEN HELD SINCE AUGUST 10TH.
THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF OUR TOTAL CITY BUDGET.
SO OUR TOTAL CITY BUDGET IS $3.7 BILLION, AND THAT'S COMPRISED OF THREE MAIN COMPONENTS.
OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS AT $1.3 BILLION, AND THIS INCLUDES OUR AIRPORT, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
THE CAPITAL PROGRAM HAD ABOUT 798, UH, MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THIS PROVIDES FUNDS FOR OUR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS, OUR 2022 BOND PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR AIRPORT, UH, CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
AND FINALLY, OUR GENERAL FUND AT $1.6 BILLION.
AND THIS PROVIDES SOME FUNDING FOR OUR BASIC CITY SERVICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS LIBRARY.
SO OVERALL, OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE IS DECLINING.
IT'S A SLIGHT DECREASE, UH, FROM ABOUT 54 CENTS, 54.16 CENTS TO 54.16 CENTS.
AND AS A REMINDER, OUT OF THE TOTAL, UH, PROPERTY TAX, THE CITY RECEIVES 20% OF THE, OF TOTAL PROPERTY TAX.
THE REMAINING 49% GOES TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND 30% GOES TO THE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH DISTRICT.
NOW, THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET INCLUDES, UH, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
WE ARE FOREGOING ABOUT 134.5 MILLION OF FOREGONE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.
SO, AS YOU MAY RECALL, IN JUNE, CITY COUNCIL INCREASED OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 10% TO 20%, AND THAT ACTION IS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET.
ADDITIONALLY, IT MAINTAINS AN EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED AT 85,000.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR OVER 65 PROPERTY TAX FREEZE.
WE ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING A SAN ANTONIO VOLUNTEER EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS WHERE SENIORS CAN VOLUNTEER FOR THE CITY AND GET A, A CREDIT ON THEIR PROPERTY TAX.
SO FINALLY, JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR BUDGET TIMELINE.
AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, PUBLIC HEARING OF TWO.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD OUR BUDGET WORK SESSIONS THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER 13TH AND THEN SEPTEMBER 14TH.
WE ARE, UH, SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION, JUSTINA.
THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, IS NOW OPEN.
UM, SO I'LL CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
UM, SO IS MARIA TURIN HERE? MARIA TURIN.
MS. SONO, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA MOLINAR.
[00:05:01]
OF THE COUNCIL.I, UH, COME ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION INSTITUTE, THE LATON U S A, WHICH IS BETTER KNOWN AS CRED.
UH, WE APPLIED FOR THE CONSOLIDATE FUNDING, UH, AND WE RECEIVED A LETTER THAT WE WEREN'T, UM, THAT WE WERE NOT GONNA BE CONSIDERED.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT FOR US, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE BUDGET FOR CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.
WE HAVE BEEN SERVING FOR 10 YEARS, CHILDREN FROM SAN ANTONIO.
WE SERVE EVERY YEAR MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE, TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY KIDS FROM SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE HAVE A WAITING LIST OF MORE THAN 225 KIDS ON THE WAITING LIST.
THEY REALLY NEED THE SERVICES.
IT'S, AS I ALWAYS SAY, WE DON'T SERVE KIDS WITH DISABILITY.
WE SERVICE FAMILIES WITH DISABILITY, AND WE HA AND WE HAVE SERVICES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY SERVICES THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE IN ANY OTHER PLACE.
SO, PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO RECONSIDER AND, AND MAKE US PART OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AS A CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LAURA MOLINA AND I COME HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE CO-FOUNDER AND CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE ORGANIZATION, SONORA, AND AS A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
THIS PROPOSED FUND WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, RESOURCES, AND EDUCATION TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS CENTERED AROUND THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN AND TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES IN SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FREE FROM VI VIOLENCE.
AS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, I REMEMBER HOW CRITICAL IT WAS TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY COMMUNITY AS I NAVIGATED MY OWN UNINTENDED PREGNANCY IN 2015, AS A POOR PREGNANT PERSON IN A VIOLENTLY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, I WRESTLED WITH THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT I WANTED TO BECOME A PARENT AND RAISE A CHILD IN AN ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.
I WAS ALSO CERTAIN WITHOUT A DOUBT, THAT IF I DID GO THROUGH WITH A PREGNANCY, THAT MY EX ABUSER WOULD'VE KILLED ME NOT HAVING ACCESS TO.
COMPREHENSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND RESOURCES IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
ON APRIL 6TH OF THIS YEAR, 22 YEAR OLD SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, JADE ALVAREZ WAS FATALLY SHOT BY HER BOYFRIEND IN THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE DID NOT WANNA HAVE A BABY WITH HIM.
RATES OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AND POVERTY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED SINCE THE OVERTURN OF ROE VERSUS WADE IN 2022, AND ARE COMPOUNDED BY HIGH RATES OF REPEAT TEEN PREGNANCIES.
MATERNAL MORTALITY AND INFANT MORTALITY IN SAN ANTONIO TEXANS ARE DYING DUE TO A LACK OF ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
SO WHAT ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY, AS A CITY GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? BY ESTABLISHING THIS FUND, THE CITY DEMONSTRATES ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY FACED BARRIERS AND TO ACCESSING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.
MS. SMITH, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
SAMUEL RICHARDS IS GONNA ALLOCATE HIS TIME TO ME.
I DON'T SEE, OH, THERE YOU ARE.
YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES, MARIAH RECORDING.
ARE WE CUTTING IT IN HALF? THAT'S WHY.
SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
UH, YOU CAN HAVE UP TO SIX AS A GROUP, SO WITH HIS TWO, YOU'LL HAVE FOUR.
I'M A YOUNG CITIZEN AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE DANGEROUS ROAMING ANIMALS AND WE HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT AND A MAN DIED BECAUSE OF IT.
WE HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH CALLS AND ONES THAT AREN'T BEING RESPONDED TO APPROPRIATELY.
AND WE HAD A WOMAN SHOT AND KILLED BECAUSE OF IT.
THE CITY IS THE HOTTEST IT'S EVER BEEN, AND WE HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF FIRES EVERY DAY THAT OUR UNDERAPPRECIATED FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND WE HAVE THE CITY'S DEADLIEST FIRE OF THIS DECADE THAT LEFT FIREFIGHTERS DEVASTATED AND A GENERATION OF FAMILY GONE.
AND SO THE CITY WANTS TO USE A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A GYM THAT DOES NOT NEED THAT MUCH, CONSIDERING ALL OTHER THINGS AND $2 MILLION ON A COOLING PAVEMENT PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT WORK.
THIS YEAR, THE CITY LAUNCHED ITS $1 MILLION COOLING PAVEMENT PROGRAM AND APPLIED THIS TO STREETS ACROSS THE CITY AND ATTEMPT TO FIGHT RISING TEMPERATURES.
AND I MEAN, HOW MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM WOULD SAY THAT IT'S WORKING? IT'S NOT AND NEVER WILL.
WE'RE POURING MONEY INTO THINGS THAT HAVE NO REAL IMPACT ON URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING WHAT
[00:10:01]
GOT US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.AND THAT IS THE CITY AND THE BIG DEVELOPERS.
DON'T CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THINGS.
THE KEY TO EVERYTHING IS IN THE TREES AND OUR GREEN SPACES, TREES AND SHADED SURFACES CAN REDUCE AIR AND SURFACE TEMPERATURES BY AS MUCH AS 20 TO 40 DEGREES.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EVEN STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT SOME PARTS OF THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH A LOT OF BUILDINGS AND ROADS, BUT NOT MUCH NATURAL SHADE, CAN GET EVEN HOTTER SOMETIMES BY AS MUCH AS 20 DEGREES.
IT'S NOT ONLY TIME TO START PLANTING MORE TREES, BUT WE NEED TO START RESPECTING OUR ALREADY EXISTING GREEN SPACES.
POURING ASPHALT ON OUR STREETS IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, NOR IS IT EVEN A SOLUTION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS WASTED $2 MILLION GO TO SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY FOCUSES ON LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, AND NOT JUST SOME BANDAID SOLUTION, BUT LIKE A TREE PLANTING PROGRAM.
AND MORE TO OUR GREEN SPACES OVERALL, WHICH IS ONLY GETTING $150,000 WITHOUT OUR GREEN SPACES.
I MEAN, NONE OF THIS MATTERS BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR GREEN SPACES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR FUTURE.
ALSO, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE UNDERVALUING OUR PUBLIC, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS IN THIS BUDGET.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SIMILAR EAGERNESS FOR FUNDING SA CORE A C S AND SS A F D AS WE DO SS A P D.
AFTER ALL, THEY'RE HEROES AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN MARINA GTO LIKES TO SAY, FIREFIGHTERS SEE THE WORST OF THE WORST.
I MEAN, THEY RUN TOWARDS SITUATIONS THAT PEOPLE WANT RUN AWAY FROM.
AND NOT TO SAY POLICE DON'T DO THE SAME, BUT RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE EXTREME HEAT AND FIRES, THINGS AREN'T LOOKING TOO GOOD.
AND I DON'T THINK WE AS A CITY ARE PREPARED AND PROVIDING THE MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES FOR WHAT'S ABOUT TO COME.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EVEN A C SS IS EXCEPTIONALLY STAFFED LIKE WE DO SS A P D CONSIDERING WE ONLY USE THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR THEM.
WE ARE FACING FIRES LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN WITH AN UNKNOWN WINTER TO COME.
AND CHIEF HOOD EVEN EXPRESSED TO US IN 2021 AFTER RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC, THAT THEY WERE QUICKLY IMPACTED WITH ONE OF, OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL EVENTS.
2021 WINTER STORM URI, S A S, SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD A TOTAL OH, THANK YOU.
JACK FINGER, MR. FINGER, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN SHEETS.
WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK MINGER.
I, UH, COULDN'T HELP NOTICING THAT.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SLIGHT PROPERTY TAX RATE DECREASE.
UM, I CALCULATED THE SAVINGS ON THAT DECREASE.
UM, I THINK IT'S ONE 20000TH OF A PENNY PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS A VALUATION.
I THINK THE AVERAGE VALUATION HERE IN TOWN PER PROPERTY IS ABOUT $205,000 OR SO.
AND I CALCULATED THAT AND, UH, THIS IS, UH, WHAT I CAME UP WITH THERE.
THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX OWNER WILL GET HOW MUCH SAVINGS? 40 CENTS.
OH, WHOPPING 40 CENTS FOR YOUR AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX CUTS.
RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD, TO THE PODIUM THERE.
UM, I, I LIKE THE WAY Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND BANDY ABOUT THESE THINGS.
NOW YOU SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A HOMESTEAD EXECUTIVE ABOUT 10%, 20%, WHATEVER.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THOSE PROPERTY TAX OWNERS THAT DON'T HAVE HOMESTEADS? YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
NOW ALSO, THE, UH, BUT WHAT YOU DIDN'T TOUT, AND MANY OF YOU HAVEN'T TOUTED IN YOUR, YOUR, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS IS THIS, UH, THE, UH, THE, THE GARBAGE RATE INCREASE.
YOU KNOW, WE DO ALL THIS WORK OF RECYCLING, HELPING OUT THE CITY, RECYCLING OUR, OUR SEPARATING OUR RECYCLABLES FROM THE NON-RECYCLABLE THERE.
AND SO HOW WE DO ALL THAT LABOR ALL EVERY WEEK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND HOW ARE WE REWARDED FOR THAT? WELL, WE GET A, UH, LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE.
THE, UH, MR. AUDIOVISUAL, THAT THING, THERE WE GO.
AN INCREASE AS MUCH AS 13% IF YOU HAVE A BIG CAN AND AS MUCH AS, UH, WELL 5% FOR THE MEDIUM CAN AND 72% FOR FOR THE FEE.
HOW MUCH DOES THAT CALCULATE? THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY MARY BUREAU.
HELLO? UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THE $1 MILLION SAN ANTONIO IS PROPOSING TO USE TO EXPAND THE FITNESS CENTER FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
I'M A CITIZEN AND I'M A TEACHER LIVING ON THE EAST SIDE.
AFTER LISTENING TO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS THINK POLICE ARE ACTUALLY DECREASING VIOLENCE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AS FAR AS MY NEIGHBORS ARE CONCERNED,
[00:15:01]
I DO NOT KNOW A SINGLE PERSON WHO WOULD CALL THE POLICE IF THEY'RE FEELING UNSAFE.I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROPOSAL TO EXPAND THE GYM AS PART OF A LARGER PLAN, THAT INCLUDES ADDING OVER 105 MORE OFFICERS.
I ASK WHY WHEN THERE ARE OPEN VACANCIES RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED, UM, SIX DECADES WORTH OF DATA SHOWS THAT SPENDING MORE MONEY ON POLICING DOES NOT SOLVE CRIME.
IF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS THOSE WORKING FOR SA CORP HAD MORE MONEY TO RESPOND TO POLICE CALLS, UM, WE COULD, WE COULD SAVE LIVES.
I THINK ABOUT THE LIFE OF MELISSA PEREZ THAT WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BY SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS WHILE SHE WAS IN THE MIDST OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
SA CORE IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION TO PREVENTING CITIZENS FROM BEING HARMED BY POLICE WHO GENERALLY PROVE INCOMPETENT DEESCALATING CRISES.
IN ADDITION TO SA CORE, THE $1 MILLION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT ON A POLICE GYM COULD GO TO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, MORE MONEY COULD BE ALLOCATED TO VIOLENCE AND INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR HOUSELESS PEOPLE.
THE CITY SHOULD, UH, SPEND THIS MONEY ON PUBLIC HOUSING AND EMERGENCY BEDS AS A WAY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE.
UM, I'M REMINDED OF ANOTHER CITIZEN RECENTLY LOST DUE TO A MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
ALBERT GARCIA, HIS VIGIL WAS ACTUALLY LAST SUNDAY.
HE WAS A DISABLED, HOMELESS MAN WHO DIED ON THE STREET, UM, AFTER BEING ABUSED BY A, A CAREGIVER THAT FORCED HIM BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET.
UM, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT COUNTLESS CITIZENS' LIVES MAY BE LOST WHEN WE ALLOCATE MORE RESOURCES TO POLICE WHO ARE TAKING LIVES AND LESS RESOURCES TO CHILDREN.
THE HOUSELESS, THE ELDERLY, DISABLED, LOW INCOME PEOPLE, THOSE IN, UH, HIGH RISK OR VIOLENT SITUATIONS, AND WOMEN AND PREGNANT FOLK.
THE SOLUTION TO MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS LIES IN USING MONEY WISELY TO BUILD UP COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS. MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE POLICED BREAK THE LAW AND GET PUNISHED FOR IT.
YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JAMIE GONZALEZ BEFORE MY TIME STARTS.
MAYOR, CAN I, IS IT THREE MINUTES OR TWO MINUTES? IT'S TWO MINUTES, MA'AM.
TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND UP TO SIX MINUTES PER GROUP.
SO I READ THREE MINUTES ON THE WEBSITE.
AM I WRONG? DID I NOT READ THAT RIGHT? THAT'S UP TO THE CHAIR.
AND WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HERE, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS HEARD, SO I DON'T, UH, I DON'T SEE MY REPRESENTATIVE OR THE CITY MANAGER.
SO THANK YOU, UM, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UM, I DID SPEAK IN DISTRICT ONE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, BY THE WAY.
UM, I USED TO LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, MY POINT IS RIGHT NOW, I ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE I SUFFER WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND I'M VERY ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW AND I DIDN'T EVEN WANNA GET OUTTA BED.
BUT WHAT I NEED TO SAY IS I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS EMPLOYEE RETENTION THAT YOU AND THE YOU AND THE MANAGER ARE IN SUGGESTING TO GIVE YOUR EMPLOYEES MORE MONEY AND TO GIVE THE MANAGER MORE TIME WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S, UM, KIND OF A RUDE THING TO CONSIDER CONSIDERING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING WITH MENTAL HEALTH THAT CAN'T FIND JOBS LIKE MYSELF.
I'M HOMELESS BY THE WAY I LIVE WITH MY UNCLE.
IF IT WASN'T FOR MY UNCLE, I WOULDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP FOR HIM TO GET HIS HOUSE FIXED FOR SIX YEARS, AND I STILL CAN'T GET THE HELP.
SO THE REASON I'M SAD TO NOT SEE THE MANAGER, CITY MANAGER, AND MS. PHYLLIS GRO, I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW YOU PRONOUNCE HER NAME, IS THAT, UM, NEITHER ONE OF THEM ARE HELPING EITHER.
THEY'RE SENDING ME TO PLACES THAT PEOPLE THAT DON'T EXIST, PEOPLE THAT DON'T RESPOND BACK TO EMAILS.
IT'S A SHOW WHEN YOU SEND SOMEBODY TO THE PEOPLE ONCE THEY LEAVE THE PODIUM AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO HELP THEM.
I, UM, I GET I'M OFFENDED BY THAT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THIS IS MY THIRD TIME SPEAKING.
AND ONCE IT WAS WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR, THAT YOU SEND SOMEBODY TO HELP ME BEFORE I BECAME HOMELESS AND NOBODY HELPED ME.
ONCE I BECAME HOMELESS, I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO DISTRICT TWO AND NOBODY HELPED ME 'CAUSE I WAS LIVING IN DISTRICT TWO AT THE TIME.
NOW I'M LIVING IN DISTRICT THREE, TRYING TO GET MY HELP THAT WE NEED FOR THE HOUSE.
PLEASE HELP THE HUMANS THAT ARE HOMELESS AND THE ANIMALS THAT ARE HOMELESS BEFORE YOU GIVE YOUR PEOPLE RAISES BECAUSE THAT'S THE FOCUS.
MS. GONZALEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MITCH HANEY.
I'M A LOCAL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AND FOOD ACTIVIST, AND TODAY I AM REPRESENTING THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL AS THEIR PRESIDENT.
AND A FOLLOW UP TO THE NATIONAL CAPITAL GRANT STUDY THAT WE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF THE CHECK COMMITTEE A FEW MONTHS, MONTHS AGO.
AND THE POLICY POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE ENDORSED SINCE THEN.
[00:20:01]
EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC TOOL SHED AND LOW COST LEASES ON PUBLIC LANDS FOR URBAN FARMING, AND AN EXPANSION OF THE FOOD FOREST CONCEPT THAT'S GROWING IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.WE BELIEVE THAT THESE CONCEPTS NOT ONLY WILL HELP SUPPORT THE ECONOMY HERE AND THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND BUILDING COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE VITAL IN HELPING TO, TO PROTECT THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION CHAIN IN THE CITY.
I HAVE BEEN IN PRODUCE PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF DISRUPTIONS IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM, IN OUR ACCESS TO FOOD.
AND THE WAY THAT WE CAN START TO HELP PREPARE US BETTER FOR THE LONG RUN IS BY CLOSING IN GAPS, BY GROWING MORE FOOD IN OUR, OUR PUBLIC LANDS, ENCOURAGING GENERATIONAL FARMING TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT LAND, AND ENCOURAGING US TO TAKE BACK OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD INTO THE COMMUNITY LIKE ME CAN EMPOWER LOCAL INDIVIDUALS TO DO SO TOGETHER.
MR. HANEY BE FOLLOWED BY BENNI, DENISE HURST.
UH, I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL TODAY.
I AM AN URBAN FARMER, AND I HAVE OPERATED A HYDROPONIC FARM AND FOOD HUB ON THE EAST SIDE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
UH, I'VE WORKED TO BUILD THE TAMMA TULO FOOD FOREST WITH MANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS, UH, ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
AND I NOW OPERATE THE URBAN FARM FOR THE FOOD BANK ON THE WEST AND THE SOUTH SIDE.
THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL'S THREE AFFIRMATION, UH, STRATEGIES ARE MEANINGFUL INTERVENTIONS, UH, TO INCREASE URBAN AGRICULTURE.
UH, OUR STUDY WITH THE NATURAL CAPITAL PROJECT FROM STANFORD FOUND THAT PUBLIC LANDS, IF USED FOR, UH, FOOD PRODUCTION, COULD GROW ALMOST 200 MILLION POUNDS OF HEALTHY PRODUCE WHILE PROVIDING $3.5 MILLION IN URBAN COOLING SERVICES, UH, AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING REAL WATER INFILTRATION STRATEGIES AS WELL AS CARBON SEQUESTRATION.
IF USED AS FOOD FOREST, IF THEY BECAME URBAN FARMS, THEY COULD PROVIDE ALMOST A BILLION POUNDS OF FOOD ANNUALLY.
UH, WITH GREEN JOBS, NEW FROM THESE COMMUNITIES, THESE WILL BE CRITICAL SOURCES OF FOOD IN A CHANGING CLIMATE AND A GROWING CITY.
NOW, WE DEVELOPED THESE POLICIES OVER, UH, SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE THINK AT THIS POINT THEY'RE READY TO ADOPT.
WE'VE MET WITH COUNTLESS CITY STAFFERS.
WE HAVE, UH, SUPPORT FROM MANY DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE HELD DOZENS OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS TRYING TO MEET WITH BOTH PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS, COOKS, THOSE WHO EAT ALL THROUGHOUT THE THE CITY.
AND WE'VE COMPARED THESE STRATEGIES TO OTHER CITIES AROUND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE FARMERS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY THAT ARE READY, UH, TO CULTIVATE ON THESE LANDS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM.
AND WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC LANDS ARE REAL ASSETS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE FOR THESE.
UH, AND WE'VE DRAFTED AN URBAN FARM LEASE AGREEMENT MODELED, UH, ON IMPROVING HOW OTHER CITIES HAVE, UH, HAVE IMPLEMENTED THESE POLICIES.
WE'VE BUDGETED OUT WHAT TOOLS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE, UH, FOR THE TOOL LIBRARY.
UH, AND WE'VE DRAFTED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR FOOD FOREST MAINTENANCE ON PARKS.
WE THINK THESE POLICIES ARE READY TO GO AND CAN HAVE CROSS-CUTTING BENEFITS, UH, AS SOON AS 2024.
DENISE HURST, MS. HURST, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY VANESSA ACOSTA.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE BUDGET.
MY NAME'S DENNY HURST AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND C E O OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS.
I'M UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT A REALLY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY RELATIVE TO THIS CITY BUDGET, BUT SINCE IT HAS ENORMOUS IMPACT ON HUMAN LIVES, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I'M TALKING OF COURSE ABOUT CONSOLIDATED FUNDING THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING THE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS ALLOCATION THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING SINCE 2013, WHICH IS $113,000, HAS BEEN CUT TO $50,000, WHICH IS A 56% DECREASE.
MY ASK OF YOU TODAY IS TO NOT APPROVE THE BUDGET WITH THIS CUT.
THE YOUTH WHO WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THIS CUT ARE THOSE WHOSE CAREGIVERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO US BECAUSE OF WORRIES THEY HAVE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
UM, LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ISOLATION, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, TROUBLE IN SCHOOL, BULLYING, ABUSE, AND OTHER TRAUMA, ALL OF WHICH OUR MENTORS HELP ALLEVIATE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE FALL UNDER THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE FUNDING CATEGORY AS WELL.
THIS CUT PUTS CHILDREN AT GREATER RISK FOR CHILD ABUSE AS A COMMUNITY STRIVING TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.
OUR YOUTH NEED THE SUPPORT OF CARING ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES MORE THAN THEY NEED A LOT OF OTHER THINGS AS A COMMUNITY STRIVING TO ENSURE EDUCATION AND LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
CUTTING AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM PROVEN TO FURTHER THESE GOALS IS SHORT-SIGHTED AND WILL COST THE CITY MORE
[00:25:01]
MONEY ON DOWN THE ROAD.WE'VE HEARD THAT, UM, OR WE'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS FUNDING IS DUE POSSIBLY TO ARPA FUNDING THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT RECEIVED, OR THAT IT'S DUE TO THIS BEING A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY, UM, ABOUT IT BEING A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
IT'S ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THE KIDS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA SERVE IF THIS, IF WE GET CUT, NO ONE'S GONNA TAKE THOSE CUSTOMERS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE A WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WHERE, UM, WHO GETS THE CONTRACT IS GONNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED IF THEY CAN AFFORD THEM.
VANESSA ACOSTA, MS. ACOSTA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LENA ECLIFFE.
HI, MY NAME IS VANESSA ACOSTA.
I AM FROM DISTRICT TWO EAST SIDE.
I WANNA THANK MY D TWO PERSON FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE ANIMALS AND WORKING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
UH, IT WILL TAKE A TEAM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THE CITY HAS PUT THEMSELF IN WHEN IT COMES TO THE ANIMALS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO FOCUS MORE ON PREVENTING THE BIRTH OF COMPANION ANIMALS, CATS, DOGS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE POLICIES TO REFLECT THE NEED FOR SPAYING AND NEUTER AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE PUBLIC AND SHUTTING DOWN BACKYARD BREEDERS.
UM, SOME FEEDBACK FOR THE BUDGET IS IF WE CAN ADD MORE SPAY NEUTER UP TO 50 TO 60,000.
WE, UH, YOU GUYS HAD SAID 44, BUT THAT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO EVEN SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
ANOTHER FEEDBACK IS IF WE CAN ADD ANOTHER, UM, OFFICER WHO REALLY FOCUSES ON BACKYARD BREEDING.
WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF DANGEROUS DOGS.
WE ARE MORE AFRAID OF THESE NEGLECTFUL OWNERS WHO CAUSES ISSUES PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE ANIMALS.
I THINK, UH, COUNCIL SHOULD SUPPORT A C S BUDGET REQUESTS AND REALLY FOCUS ON FINDING SOLUTIONS NOT ONLY FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE BURDEN OF SICK, INJURED, HURT, AND UNADOPTABLE ANIMALS EVERY DAY.
WE DON'T HAVE SPACE FOR THESE ANIMALS AND EUTHANIZING THEM IS NOT THE ANSWER ANYMORE.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SPAY NEUTER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS WANTED TO ADD MORE MONEY INTO THE GYM FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS, BUT WE NEED MORE FOR OTHER STUFF.
WE HAVE AN ANIMAL CRISIS, AND IF IT DOESN'T GO TOWARDS THE ANIMALS, PLEASE ADD IT TO THE TREES, ADD IT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED HERE RIGHT NOW.
MS. ECCL, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL GONZALEZ.
DEAR ARE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR NUREMBERG.
I AM A BIG SISTER WITH BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS, AND I'M HERE TO STATE MY CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROGRAM.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.
I WORK IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND MY MATCH, LITTLE SISTER ARIANA, ALSO LIVES IN DISTRICT SIX.
I CAN EASILY SPEND MY TWO MINUTES TELL, TO TELL YOU HOW INCREDIBLE MY LITTLE SISTER IS ABOUT HER SMARTS, HER OPTICAL LIFE, HOW MUCH SHE'S TAUGHT ME, AND HOW MUCH SHE HAS MADE ME GROW DURING AND A HALF THAT WE HAVE BEEN MATCHED.
I CAN ALSO SPEND MY TIME TALKING ABOUT BEING THE PARENT OF TOO MUCH LITTLE SISTERS, THE PARENT WHO'S NOT ONLY FROM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUND.
'CAUSE I'M SURE YOU CAN TELL BY ACCENT I'M NOT FROM HERE, BUT I AM THE PARENT, UH, WITH A VERY DIFFERENT, UH, COLORED SKIN IN TODAY'S SOCIETY OF TWO CARAMEL COLORED SKIN GIRLS, HOW I CANNOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO RELATE TO THE PERSPECTIVE THEY ARE GROWING UP IN AND HOW INCREDIBLY VALUABLE IT IS, IT HAS BEEN WITH THEIR BIG, UH, MATCH BIG SISTERS WHO PHYSICALLY LOOKS LIKE THEM, ALMOST AS TO THE POINT THAT THEY COULD BE THEIR SISTERS BY BIRTH.
HOWEVER, I LIKE TO TAKE THE REST OF MY LOT OF TIME TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POWER OF CHOICE AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE LITTLES IN THIS PROGRAM.
FOR ALL BIGS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WE MAKE THE CHOICE OF BECOMING BIGS.
WE JOIN THE PROGRAM TO DEDICATE OUR TIME, ENERGY, AND EFFORT, WHICH LET LITTLES KNOW THAT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO BE RELATED BY BLOOD TO CARE FOR THEM, NOR DO THEY HAVE TO BE PAID LIKE TEACHERS TO BE PART IN SHAPING THE PERSONS THEY GROW UP TO BE.
NOT ONLY DOES IT TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, BUT IF WE ASK THE VILLAGERS, DO NOT DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO RAISE CHILDREN, RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T WANNA GROW UP, UH, GROW OLD IN THAT VILLAGE WHERE KIDS GROW UP REALIZING THAT NOT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WAS GIVEN TO THEM TO BE SUPPORT, UH, SUPPORTED.
I HOPE MY WORDS DON'T FALL SHORT.
CONVEYING THE IMPORTANCE OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS WORK BY MATCHING BIGS AND LITTLES, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT IN THE REQUIRED TRAINING, SAFETY, AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TEAMWORK.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE SUPPORTING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS.
THANK YOU, MS. IFF, CRYSTAL GONZALEZ.
MS. GONZALEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KATE SANCHEZ.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
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THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH ME HERE TODAY.I WANNA SHARE WHY THIS ISSUE MATTERS SO DEEPLY TO ME REGARDING THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
SO I USED TO WORK IN ABORTION PROVIDER AND I WOULD SEE FIRSTHAND HOW, UM, IT WASN'T JUST ABORTION THAT PEOPLE NEEDED, PEOPLE NEEDED ACCESS TO FUNDS LIKE, UM, ACCESSING LIKE TRANSPORTATION, UM, ACCESSING, UM, PRACTICAL SUPPORT AND SO MUCH MORE.
UM, IF YOU HAVE, UM, THE REPRODUCTIVE FUND, THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND IS AN INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE GAPS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BY ESTABLISHING THIS FUND, WE CAN PROVIDE CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR OUR FAMILY PLANNING, CONTRACEPTION, PRENATAL, AND REPRODUCTIVE EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE OR MIGHT BE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUNDING OF THIS INITIATIVE IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT INVESTING IN REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS AN INVESTMENT IN LONG-TERM WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I URGE Y'ALL TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
BY DOING SO, YOU WILL DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, HEALTH MEMBERS, MEMBERS, HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND AUTONOMY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS AND FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO MAKING OUR DISTRICT SAFE AND EQUITABLE PLACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ, KATE SANCHEZ.
MS. SANCHEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY NATASHA HERNANDEZ.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I WORK IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS OVER WHERE WE'RE PUTTING OUR MONEY THAT COULD CAUSE OUR CITY TO MOVE BACKWARDS.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET PROPOSED TO CITY POLICE.
OF THE NEARLY $1 BILLION DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, OVER HALF OF THIS MONEY WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE POLICE.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE'S ABOUT 60 YEARS WORTH OF DATA SHOWING NO CORRELATION BETWEEN POLICE SPENDING AND THE OVERALL CRIME RATE.
IF SAN ANTONIO IS THAT WORRIED ABOUT CRIME, DATA SHOWS CITIES THAT PRIORITIZE WAGE INCREASES OR INCREASING SUPPLEMENTAL HOUSING, LOWERS CRIME RATES, AND SHIFTING FUNDING INTO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE POSITIVELY IMPACTFUL IS WHAT WILL BE BETTER FOR OUR CITY.
NOT FUNDING A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A RECORD OF VIOLENCE TOWARD PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING.
COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THIS UMBRELLA PROVIDE SERVICES AROUND LOW INCOME HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AFFORDABLE PRI PROVIDERS AND CLINICS, CHILDCARE.
IT'S A LOT, UH, IN SAN ANTONIO, DRUG RELATED OVERDOSE DEATHS, SYPHILIS CASES AND SUICIDE RATES HAVE ALL INCREASED SINCE 2010.
IF WE WANNA TALK ABOUT A BETTER SAN ANTONIO, WE NEED TO FUND HEALTH INTERSECTIONALLY FUNDING HOUSING IS HEALTHCARE FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IS HEALTHCARE FUNDING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES AND EDUCATION IS HEALTHCARE.
AND THAT WILL BRING ME TO MY LAST POINT IN WHICH I HOPE THAT, UH, Y'ALL WILL FUND THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
UH, SAN ANTONIO HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE STATE, INCLUDING, UM, THE HIGHEST S T I RATE AMONG THE BIG TEXAS CITIES.
IF WE WANNA PROTECT OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, UH, WE SHOULD ALLOCATE MONEY TO THIS FUND AS IT WILL ADDRESS THE GAPS IN HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND RESOURCES FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
THINGS LIKE CONTRACEPTION, PRENATAL CARE, REPRODUCTIVE EDUCATION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND JUSTICE TOUCHES SO MANY PARTS OF OUR LIVES FROM PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SAFE CHILDBIRTH AND ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR THESE SERVICES IS CRUCIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING.
MS. HERNANDEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JOANNE KNIGHT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS NATASHA HERNANDEZ AND I'M A REGISTERED NURSE WITH 10 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
IN MY YEARS WORKING AT A DOWNTOWN HOSPITAL AND AT A LOCAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINIC, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE HARM CAUSED TO OUR PATIENTS BY A LACK OF ACCESS TO SAFE, MEDICALLY ACCURATE CARE AND EDUCATION.
THIS HARM IS MOST COMMON AND MOST HEARTBREAKING WHEN I SEE IT IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, LIKE VERY YOUNG PATIENTS, IMMIGRANTS, L G B T Q, AND FINANCIALLY INSECURE WOMEN.
I NOT ONLY HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, BUT WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER, I SUFFERED A MISCARRIAGE AFTER BEING HIT ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY A VAN, AND THEN HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN MEXICO BECAUSE ME AND MY PARTNER COULD NOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
THIS EXPERIENCE WAS BOTH PHYSICALLY PAINFUL AND TERRIFYING, AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAVE SEEN MY PATIENTS GO THROUGH AND WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH.
THIS FUND WOULD PROVIDE SUPPORT, EDUCATION, RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU THINK YOUR CONSTITUENTS STAND ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION,
[00:35:01]
BECAUSE AT ITS CORE, THIS IS ABOUT MEDICAL CARE AND THIS IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES.THE TRUTH IS A LACK OF ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE IT, SOME PATIENTS DON'T SURVIVE.
AND WE HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT WITH MONEY.
SO IF YOU ALLOCATE MONEY TO THIS FUND, YOU CAN HELP SAVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM PAIN THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED IN OUR HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.
THANK YOU YOU, MS. HERNANDEZ, JOANNE KNIGHT, MS. KNIGHT, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY TERESA GUTIERREZ.
I GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO AND I RECENTLY MOVED BACK TO SAN ANTONIO DOWNTOWN, UM, ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND, UM, WE, IT'S AN AMAZING COMMUNITY AND, UH, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED LIVING AMONGST THE NEIGHBORS WE HAVE THERE.
AND THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK UP TO, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT WE COULD IMPROVE.
AS FAR AS OUR ANIMAL POPULATION GOES, WE HAVE NUMEROUS ANIMALS THAT ARE JUST DUMPED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOT TWO DAYS AGO, MY FRIEND RESCUED A DOG THAT WAS TIED TO A POLE.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY COME FROM.
UM, NUMEROUS NEIGHBORS HAVE BECOME FOSTERS OUT OF JUST, WE HAVE TO HELP BECAUSE FOR ONE THING, I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT A C SS YOU CALL FOR HELP AND THEY SAY, WE'LL BE THERE IN TWO WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT, BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO HELP US WITH THESE ANIMALS, AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH HOMES OR PLACES FOR THEM TO GO.
IT IS TOO HUGE OF A PROBLEM, UM, THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE A C S, UH, IN THIS ANIMAL CRISIS BECAUSE WE NEED THEM TO SUPPORT US AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO, UM, WE'D VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IF WE COULD ADD FUNDS TO THE A C S IN ADDRESSING HOW MANY ANIMALS HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED OUT OF SHEER CAPACITY AND, UH, TO HELP SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORS IN TRYING TO MAKE THESE COMMUNITIES LIVABLE FOR, AND ALL THESE ANIMALS THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON US AND FRANKLY, NEGLECTED BY PEOPLE.
WE NEED MORE SUPPORT IN STAFFING, UM, SO WE CAN ADDRESS PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVELY ABUSING ANIMALS.
WE HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE DOG FIGHTERS AND SHOULD NOT OWN DOGS.
AND I WALKED BY HIS HOUSE THIS MORNING AND THERE WAS A LARGE DOG IN HIS YARD.
SO THESE RULES AREN'T BEING ENFORCED.
WE NEED, WE NEED SUPPORT FOR, UM, ENFORCING AND HELPING WITH THE BIG SITUATION THAT WE ARE FACING.
MS. GUTIERREZ, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL NEWMAN NOON.
I VOLUNTEER WITH MOMS DEMAND ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE.
I WANTED TO SHARE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH POLICE AS AN ARGUMENT TO, FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE ALL THE MONEY YOU CAN FOR SOCIAL SERVICES INSTEAD OF FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT MELISSA PEREZ AND ALBERTO GARCIA AND OTHERS DO NOT DIE IN VAIN.
IN THE 1970S, I WAS A MAYO STUDENT AT U T S A AND WE CAME DOWNTOWN ONE NIGHT TO GO TO THE CLUB.
AND AS WE WERE WALKING, A GROUP OF POLICE HAD A YOUNG LATINO PUSHED AGAINST THE WALL.
AND OF COURSE, WE WERE CONCERNED, AND WE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING HIM FOR? AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW SHERIFF BULL CONNOR, BUT THIS BIG WHITE COP TURNED AROUND AND TOLD US, FOR WHATEVER I WANT, I WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT.
10 YEARS AGO, I WENT TO PHILADELPHIA WITH 500 PEOPLE TO PROTEST THE PROUD BOYS, THE WHITE SUPREMACISTS.
WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, THEY LINED UP AND TURNED THEIR BACKS AGAINST THE PROUD BOYS AND FACED US AND LINED, AND LINED, HOOKED TOGETHER A BUNCH OF BICYCLES, AND PUSHED US WITH THESE BICYCLES TO THE POINT OF DANGER, TO THE POINT OF PAIN.
NOW, THESE EXPERIENCES SHOCKED ME.
THEY FRIGHTENED ME AND I, AND I WONDERED IF I SHOULD STOP PROTESTING, FRANKLY.
BUT INSTEAD, I STUDIED THE ROLE OF POLICE IN SOCIETY, AND I LEARNED ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE SLAVE PATROLS, THE TEXAS RANGERS, AND HOW THEY'RE USED, ESPECIALLY TO OPPRESS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND HOW THEY NEVER EVER DEFEND WORKERS IN STRIKES.
BUT FRANKLY, NOTHING PREPARED ME FOR THE
[00:40:01]
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020.OH, DANIEL NEWMAN, MS. NEWMAN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JANNI FLORES AFTERNOON.
I WAS PART OF THE BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER PROGRAM.
I'M HERE WITH MY BIG BROTHER, TIM HICKS.
HE WAS OUTTA MY LIFE BY, AT THE TIME I WAS THREE BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER PROGRAM DID EVERYTHING FOR ME.
HE TOOK ME TO WHAT ANY FATHER WOULD TAKE A KID TO DO.
FLY KITE A AND M GAMES, SPURS GAMES, EVERYTHING.
WHEN IT WAS ON TANDEM, HE USUALLY WAS JUST TOWING ME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
HE, HE'S MET MY CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THEY CALL HIM, YOU KNOW, PAPA TIM, EVERYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
SO TO DEFUND IT FROM 113,000 DOWN TO 50,000, I FEEL LIKE THE PROGRAM CAN DEFINITELY USE THAT EXTRA $63,000.
I, I WAS REFERRED TODAY BY A NEIGHBOR OF MINE, WHO'S SON IS ONE OF MY DAUGHTER'S BEST FRIENDS.
I'VE KNOWN HER FOR FOUR MONTHS, AND HE JUST GOT ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.
SHE LINKED ME TO CLAIRE MCCOY WITH BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER.
I SAW THE EMAIL LAST WEEK AND IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO BE HERE.
THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THAT PROGRAM WAS IN MY LIFE.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL CONSIDER NOT CUTTING THAT FUNDING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M GONNA CALL THE NAME ONCE, SO PLEASE KEEP THE APPLAUSE DOWN SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR THEIR NAME.
UH, MS. FLORES, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY JOANNE MARGOT GONZALEZ.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT ALL IN TWO MINUTES.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE IN FAVOR OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, UM, WITH 19 ANTI-ABORTION CENTERS OR CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS LOCATED WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO NEW BROWNSVILLE AREA, SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE OVERWHELMED WITH MISINFORMATION AND PREDATORY RESOURCE TRAPS.
ARE YOU ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THAT THESE CENTERS WORK? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO ONE? UM, I HAVE.
AND SO HAVE MANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND THE FOLLOWING IS, IS HER, HER STORY.
I WENT TO A CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER, OR WHAT I KNOW TO BE A STATE FUNDED ANTI-ABORTION CENTER.
NOW, A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I NEEDED TO CONFIRM I WAS PREGNANT, THEY ADVERTISED FREE PREGNANCY TESTS AND SONOGRAMS. AND SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND WAS FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE AT THE TIME I WAS LURED IN, I WAS TOLD BY THE COUNSELOR THAT I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THIS OPTION.
I WAS, I TOLD THE COUNSELOR THAT I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THIS OPTION AND MENTIONED AGAIN THAT THE BEST CHOICE FOR ME WAS TO HAVE AN ABORTION.
A PERSON FINALLY CAME WEARING SCRUBS AND LED ME TO A SONOGRAM ROOM WHERE MY BOYFRIEND WAS ALSO BEING LED TO FROM A DIFFERENT ROOM.
I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE COUNSELOR BEING IN THE SONOGRAM ROOM SINCE THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
BUT WHEN THE NURSE STARTED THE SONOGRAM, I HEARD A LOUD, BOOMING HEARTBEAT THAT SOUNDED VERY UNGENUINE.
I LOOKED AT MY BOYFRIEND AND I WAS CONFUSED.
THIS IS WHEN I REALIZED THE ANTI-ABORTION CENTER FAKED A HEARTBEAT TO TRY TO MANIPULATE US INTO HAVING AN ABOR INTO NOT HAVING AN ABORTION.
I WAS LATER CONFIRMED TO BE 22 DAYS PREGNANT AT A RIO CLINIC.
THE ANTI-ABORTION COUNSELOR HAD A SONOGRAM IMAGE PRINTED WITHOUT ASKING IF WE EVEN WANTED IT, AND THEN HANDED IT TO ME AND MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE, IGNORED, AND DISRESPECTED.
WE TOLD THE STAFF WE WERE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN THEIR SERVICES AND LEFT.
THE COUNSELOR THEN FOLLOWED US INTO THE PARKING LOT AS WE WERE LEAVING AND ATTEMPTED TO GET MY BOYFRIEND'S ATTENTION TO GET BACK AND TALK WITH HIM.
THE COUNSELOR COMPLETELY IGNORED ME, AS IN MY OPINION OR NEEDS DID NOT MATTER.
JOANNE GONZALEZ, MS. GONZALEZ, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY BRIAN HUMMEL.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO.
MY NAME IS JANAE MARGO GONZALEZ, AND I'M THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER.
WE'RE THANKFUL TO CITY STAFF FOR RECOMMENDING C A S SAN ANTONIO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR OPERATION GRADUATION.
AS YOU KNOW, FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, C A S SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE IN SCHOOL GRADUATE AND GO ON TO BRIGHT FUTURES.
OUR MISSION IS TO SURROUND STUDENTS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, EMPOWERING THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE.
[00:45:01]
WE REQUESTED WOULD ALLOW US TO EMBED A SITE COORDINATOR IN 17 CAMPUSES, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL, ACROSS THE FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY THE CITY.OUR UNIQUE MODEL POSITION SITE COORDINATORS INSIDE SCHOOLS TO ASSESS STUDENTS' NEEDS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM SUCCEED IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN LIFE.
THE FUNDING WOULD ALSO INCLUDE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS WHO WOULD PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE UNMET MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
WE KNOW THAT EARLY INTERVENTION PREVENTS EMERGING ISSUES FROM MANIFESTING INTO SERIOUS CONCERNS AND CRISIS.
OUR CLINICIANS CONNECT STUDENTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTLY IN THE SCHOOLS WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS.
IN ADDITION TO OPERATION GRADUATION, OUR REQUEST INCLUDES SPENDING FOR NEXT LEVEL.
NEXT LEVEL IS A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH BOTH THE CITY AND GOODWILL.
IT CONNECTS OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 TO 24, WHO ARE DISCONNECTED FROM EDUCATION WORK IN A MAJOR SOCIAL INSTITUTION.
WE CONNECT THESE YOUTH TO MEET THEIR PERSONAL AND EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS BY PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN MEET WITH AN EDUCATION AND LIFE COACH TO OFFER SUPPORT, EMPOWERMENT, AND ACCESS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO ENSURE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.
MR. HUMMEL, YOU BE FOLLOWED BY ANANDA THOMAS.
I'M BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND A BIOLOGIST BY BIRTH.
I WENT TO LARKSBORO ELEMENTARY, EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL, CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL, TRINITY UNIVERSITY.
I'D LOVE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU SOME NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS LIKE, UH, TO MITIGATE HEAT, DROUGHT, WILDFIRE, AND FLOODING.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION INVESTMENT, FEDERAL INVESTMENT, UM, COMING FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT FEDERAL AGENCIES.
SO AS WE DISCUSS OUR CITY BUDGET, IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF WE WERE BETTER AT LEVERAGING THESE LOCAL FUNDS WITH DOZENS UPON DOZENS OF FEDERAL GRANTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
THESE ARE 87 PAGES OF GRANTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
THEY'VE BEEN ASSEMBLED BY THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION.
IF YOU JUST SEARCH FOR, UH, NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FUNDING.
UM, AND I COULD DISCUSS THESE FOR TWO FULL DAYS, BUT I ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SO I JUST WANNA HIT FOUR MAIN TOPICS.
UM, ONE IS, UH, PLANTS AND TREES ARE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS.
UH, PLANTS ARE VITAL TO LIFE ON EARTH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE TO EAT OR IF YOU LIKE TO BREATHE.
UM, TREES ARE MUCH MORE THAN JUST SHADE.
WE SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE FIGHTING TO PARK UNDER THE SHADING PARKING LOT, BUT THEY'RE MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
THEY ACTUALLY ABSORB WATER FROM THE, THE ROOTS AND AS THEY BREATHE, THIS ACT AS A NATURE-BASED EVAPORATIVE.
COOLING, PLANTS NEED FOUR THINGS TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
THEY NEED CARBON DIOXIDE, THEY NEED SOIL IN THERE, THEY NEED WATER.
WE HAVE MORE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE.
WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SOIL IN OUR WATER.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOIL, HEALTHY SOIL IS FULL OF ORGANIC MATTER, AND THAT ORGANIC MATTER IS GREAT AT HOLDING WATER, BUT IT ALSO ABSORBS CARBON DIOXIDE.
SO WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MEET OUR CARBON NEUTRALITY GOALS BY 2050, WE CAN USE THIS AS A PART OF THE PLAN TO SOLVE THAT.
AND WE KEEP THE CARBON BUDGET IN OUR OWN WATERSHEDS TALKING ABOUT WATER.
THOSE HEALTHY SOILS ABSORB A LOT OF WATER.
WE CAN TURN FLOODING LIABILITIES INTO BIOLOGICALLY FILTERED GROUNDWATER ASSETS.
WE CAN DO IT AT ENHANCED AGRICULTURAL PROFIT.
SO WE PROVIDE GREAT WATER RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT 300 YEARS OF SAN ANTONIO HISTORY.
MS. THOMAS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ELIZA WALTON.
MY NAME IS ANANDA THOMAS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACT FOUR S A.
I FIRST WANNA QUICKLY SAY THAT THE DEFUNDING OF SA 2020 IS DISGRACEFUL MAYOR NUREMBERG, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF A B L D P, AND YOU KNOW HOW CRITICAL THAT THAT SA 2020 IS TO THAT PROGRAM AND THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO OUT OF THAT.
I'M ALSO HERE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO RETHINK THE 105 NEW OFFICERS IN $1.1 MILLION FITNESS FACILITY FOR SS A P D IN NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
CHIEF MCMANUS KEEPS ALLUDING TO THE STRUGGLE TO RECRUIT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO OFFSET ATTRITION.
I WAS INFORMED WE STILL HAVE 50 OPEN POSITIONS, WHICH IS ENOUGH FOR A FULL CADET CLASS, AND OUR FISCAL YEAR IS ALMOST OVER.
AND EVERY YEAR, THAT NUMBER RANGES FROM 30 TO 60 VACANCIES.
DOES IT SEEM RESPONSIBLE TO ADD THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF OFFICERS IN OUR THREE YEAR PLAN AT THE FRONT END WHEN WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW THAT WE CAN FILL THOSE POSITIONS IN A FISCAL YEAR? THE SHERIFFS IN THE COUNTY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
THEY KEPT ADDING POSITIONS THAT COULD NOT BE FILLED, HOLDING UP VALUABLE TAX DOLLARS TO FUND COMMUNITY.
SO THEY STOPPED ADDING POSITIONS AND FOCUSED ON RECRUITMENT TO FILL MORE POSITIONS.
INSTEAD SO THEY COULD FUND COMMUNITY.
[00:50:03]
WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE HERE AND HOLD SS A P D TO THE SAME STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.SEE IF THEY CAN FILL THEIR CURRENT OPEN POSITIONS AND ADD A FEW MORE POSITIONS NEXT YEAR, A SMALLER NUMBER, LIKE 50 OR 75 OFFICERS.
BEFORE WE TIE UP THESE VALUABLE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO FUND THINGS LIKE MORE A C S POSITIONS TO HANDLE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL CRITICAL A C S CALLS.
WE CAN COVER 20,000 PLAN BS AS PART OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
WE CAN FUND ONE MORE SA CORE TEAM TO HELP AVOID DES LIKE MELISSA PEREZ AND DAMIEN AND DANIELS.
EVEN NOW, THREE TEAMS IS NOT ENOUGH TO HANDLE EVEN A THIRD OF THE CALLS THAT WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE FROM MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.
THAT FITNESS FACILITY CAN LITERALLY HELP US COVER A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL CRITICAL A C SS CALLS.
PLEASE FUND COMM COMMUNITY, NOT POLICE.
MR. WALTON, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ERICA GALINDO.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS ELIJAH WALTER, THE C E O OF PRISTINE, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FROM DISTRICT NINE.
OUR CORE MISSION AT PDOT TRANSCENDS MERE BUSINESS GROWTH.
WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ACTIVELY ADDRESSING OUR COMMUNITIES MOST PRESSING ISSUES FROM CRIME TO HOMELESSNESS.
AT THE HEART OF PDOT JOUR AT THE HEART OF PDOT JOURNEYS, IT IS OUR DEDICATION TO INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT.
WE ENVISIONED A TRANSFORMATION, A TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH VALERO, A KEY PLAYER ALREADY EMBEDDED IN OUR CITY'S FABRIC.
THIS PARTNERSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT BUSINESS, IT'S ABOUT ALIGNING OUR MUTUAL ASPIRATIONS FOR THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT.
YET I'VE ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS IN PRESENTING THIS PROPOSAL TO VALERO FACING COMPLEXITIES THAT HAVE THREATENED OUR CITY'S MOVE OUR CITY'S FORWARD MOMENTUM.
JUST A YEAR AGO, I GRAPPLED WITH HOMELESSNESS, MY INSIGHTS IN SAN ANTONIO, MY, I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME.
MY NIGHTS IN SAN ANTONIO WERE SPENT AT A AIRPORT AT POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE CHALLENGES MANY FACE TODAY, MY SPEARHEADING COLLABORATIONS WITH THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT, OUR PRIMARY IMPORTER FOR THE UNITED STATES.
AS OF TODAY, SURPASSING CHINA, TURNING CHALLENGES INTO CATALYST FOR CHA FOR CHANGE.
I EARNESTLY REQUEST FOR THE SUPPORT TO BRIDGE DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PDOT AND VALERO'S.
SUCH COLLABORATION NOT ONLY FOSTERS ECONOMIC GROWTH, BUT ALSO SETS A STANDARD FOR CITYWIDE INNOVATION AND PROGRESS.
TOGETHER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SCULPT A RESILIENT, THRIVING FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UNDERPINNED BY MEANINGFUL COLLABORATIONS LIKE THAT WITH PDOT, SAN ANTONIO AND VALERO PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
MS. GALINDO, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LAURA LEHAM.
I AM A CURRENT CITIZEN OF DISTRICT FIVE, AND ALSO THE ORGANIZING PROGRAM MANAGER AT LULU FUND, WHICH IS A LOCAL ABORTION FUND.
UM, LITTLE FUND RELIES ON GRASSROOTS AND OTHER FUNDING ALTERNATIVES THAT ALLOW US TO STEP IN WHERE THE STATE HAS NOT ONLY CREATED A GAP, BUT ALSO CRIMINALIZES PEOPLE SIMPLY FOR SEEKING CRITICAL REPRODUCTIVE CARE, MAINLY ABORTIONS.
UM, LAST MONTH, LITTLE FUND GAVE ABOUT $104,333 TO ABOUT 275 TEXANS.
UM, THIS IS BOTH FOR THEIR CARE AND ALSO OTHER REPRODUCTIVE CARE, UM, THAT THEY ARE NEEDING.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HERE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND PROVIDING CRITICAL CARE OUTSIDE OF THE PREDATORY AND BIASED ANTI-ABORTION CENTERS THAT ARE IN AND ALL THROUGHOUT TEXAS, ALSO KNOWN AS CPCS.
UM, AND THE STATE HAS FUNDED THEM AT ABOUT $160 MILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO COERCE, UM, PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE ABORTION.
SO WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ASK IS THAT SAN ANTONIO, UM, DOESN'T TURN THEIR BACK ON SAN, LIKE, ON THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT CAN, UH, BE CREATIVE IN THE WAY THAT THE STATE HAS NOT ONLY TURNED THEIR BACK WITH LIKE CRIMINALIZES PEOPLE.
UM, IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR CARE.
UM, AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, YOU ALL DO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES, INCLUDING THEIR NEED FOR ABORTION CARE AND OTHER CARE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF A CRITICAL, UM, COERCIVE AND UGLY, UM, SYSTEM THAT ARE ANTI-ABORTION CENTERS THAT SO MANY OF OUR FOLKS DO ACT, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO GET SWEPT UP IN.
AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THAT, UM, PLEASE FUND CARE, FUND ABORTION CARE AND NOT COPS.
[00:55:05]
I'M SORRY.UH, JOHN HAS NOT SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
HE'LL BE SIGNED UP TO COMMENT, PERIOD.
JOHN, YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT? SIGNED UP.
MS. LINE, ARE YOU GONNA TAKE YOUR MINUTES? YES.
MY NAME IS LAURA AND I'VE BEEN UP HERE BEFORE.
UH, FOR, FOR DOGS WE HAVE, AGAIN, WE DO HAVE A CRISIS IN OUR HANDS.
WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR SPAY NEUTER PROGRAMS THAT WILL INCLUDE MOBILE SPAY NEUTER.
WE HAVE A CRISIS IN OUR HANDS.
WE ARE OVERRUN WITH SO MANY DOGS THAT ARE BEING JUST TRASHED.
YOU KNOW, THAT WE, I'VE BEEN HERE, UP HERE.
WE NEED TO, IT'S IMPORTANT IN MY DISTRICT 10, WE NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM THAT SO MANY DOGS ARE JUST BEING DISCARDED AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ROOM.
I'M ALREADY, THIS YEAR, THIS IS MY NINTH DOG THAT I'VE BEEN FOSTERING.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THE DOGS THAT ARE OUT THERE, BUT IT STARTS WITH SPAY NEUTER.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS SIGRID MANLEY.
MS. MANLEY, WE FOLLOWED BY EDUARDO MUNOZ.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ARMY.
I RETIRED OUT OF FOUR SAM HOUSTON.
I HAVE TWIN BOYS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE BIG BROTHERS PROGRAM.
WHEN I SAY ONE OF THEM WAS LIKE, OH, I'M SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT, THE OTHER, SO I WAS LIKE, MM-HMM.
I DON'T WANT NO PARTS OF THAT.
ONCE HE REALIZED THAT HE GOT THE CARE AND THE ATTENTION AND THE ONE-ON-ONE, IT'S ONLY ONE OF ME AND TWO OF THEM, I GET IT.
BUT ONCE HE, ONCE HE SAW THAT, HE WAS LIKE, MOMMY, WHEN CAN I GET MY OWN BIG BROTHER? THEY'VE BEEN FISHING, THEY'VE BEEN, UM, TO THE FOOTBALL GAMES THAT THE BIG BROTHER PROGRAM PUTS ON.
THERE ARE SO MANY ACTIVITIES THAT THE BIG BROTHER PROGRAM ALLOWS THESE CHILDREN TO BE A PART OF THAT.
IT, IT GOES UNKNOWN BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S MENTORSHIP WITH IT.
AND THE FACT THAT, UM, MY BOYS HAVE A BLACK MALE THAT REPRESENTS THEM.
THEY LOOK AT THAT AND IT'S LIKE, MAN, I CAN BE JUST LIKE YOU.
AND THEIR MENTORS ARE ALSO MILITARY MEMBERS.
SO THAT IN ITSELF ALLOWS THEM TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF, NOT ONLY THROUGH ME BECAUSE I'M MOMMY.
THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE LIKE, YEAH, OKAY.
BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE TELLS THEM, MAN, THAT REALLY SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THEM.
AND ONE OF THE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, DID ANYBODY ASK TO BE BORN? MY THING IS, SINCE WE ARE HERE, LET'S DO THE BEST WE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SEE A POSITIVE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
AND THE OTHER SIDE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN, WE'RE CUTTING THE FUNDING FOR.
HAS ANYBODY GONE TO ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES TO SEE THE PARTICIPATION? 'CAUSE WE HAVE A MASS PARTICIPATION.
I WILL TELL YOU, WE JUST HAD A MINUTE AT SEAWORLD.
THE LINE WAS OUT THE DOOR TO JUST PICK UP THE TICKETS, NOT EVEN TO GET IN, JUST TO PICK UP OUR TICKETS FOR BIG BROTHER PROGRAMS. SO PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE BUDGET FOR THAT PROGRAM.
MR. MUNOZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY GIANA LOPEZ.
UH, I'M A COMMUNITY BOARD AT ACT FOUR.
I SAY HOWEVER, UH, I'M ALSO A, UH, RESIDENT AND, UH, MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, THIS IS JUST A CITY RIDDLED WITH, UH, POVERTY AND SEVERE MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.
SO WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF A POLICE FORCE, I BECAME CONCERNED.
THE CONCERN IS NOT ONLY FOR ME, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE CITY AN INCREASE OF 105 OFFICERS WHEN WE'VE ALREADY, WHEN WE'RE ALREADY LACKING THE ABILITY TO FILL UP CURRENT VACANCIES IS IGNORANCE AT ITS BEST AND BORDERS THE FIVE, LIKE THE FINE LINE OF IRRESPONSIBILITY.
AND WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR TRAINING COMPLEX IS VALUED AT $1.1 MILLION, WE EVEN TREAD ABSURDITY.
THIS WOULD CREATE A 7.8% BUDGET INCREASE THAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS FINE CITY WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GO BACK ON DUE TO HB 1900, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DEFUND BILL.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES LIKE THESE THAT CAN OBVIOUSLY BE BE SO HASTILY WASTED ON A PRIVATIZED GYM COULD GO TOWARDS BETTER, MORE COMMUNITY BENEFICIAL THINGS LIKE VIOLENCE, INTER UH, INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR HOUSELESS AND ELDERLY FOLKS, INITIATIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING.
THE FUNDING OF MEALS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED AT A LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE LIST IS ALMOST NEVER ENDING.
[01:00:01]
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY YOU CLAIM TO SERVE, HAVE REQUESTED YOU FROM YOU FOR AGES, THINGS THAT COULD AID IN THE CREATION OF THE CHANGE YOU PROMISED WHEN YOU WERE VOTED INTO YOUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES.THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE FUNDING OF POLICE AND MORE HEAVILY CONSIDER THE FUNDING OF THE COMMUNITIES YOU SWORE TO SERVE WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED INTO YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MS. LOPEZ, YOU BE FOLLOWED BY EDUARDO MARTINEZ.
HELLO, MY NAME'S JOVANNA LOPEZ.
I AM A, A URBAN AG COMMUNITY COORDINATOR AT ECO CENTRO AND GARCIA STREET URBAN FARM ON THE EAST SIDE.
WE ARE LOCATED IN DISTRICT TWO.
THE FARM IS, AND ECO CENTRO IS IN DISTRICT ONE.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, I'VE WORKED OVER 10 YEARS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER AND NOW GROWING FOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY.
THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT FOOD INSECURITY TO THE SURFACE AND IN THAT WE HAPPENED TO GET, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS OUT FOOD TO COMMUNITY AND IT, THERE'S SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE THAT HELPED US.
WE PUSHED OUT OVER 3 MILLION POUNDS OF PRODUCE DURING THE PANDEMIC TO FEED EVERYBODY THAT WE COULD.
WE SAW THAT PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING AND WEREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS FOOD.
AND OUR FOOD BANK IS INCREDIBLE, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION, BUT IT NONETHELESS SERVES 29 COUNTIES.
AND WHEN THAT LARGE AND CONSOLIDATED, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY LAST MILE EFFORTS OF DISTRIBUTION THAT THE FOOD BANK CAN ACHIEVE WHEN IT COMES TO CITIZENS NEEDING FOOD IN URBAN SAN ANTONIO.
THOSE FACING INTERSECTIONAL BARRIERS LIKE DISABLED, ELDERLY, AND TRANSPORTATION LIMITED FOLKS, AS I SAW PERSONALLY IN THE PANDEMIC, ARE THE FIRST TO LOSE ACCESS TO FOOD SUPPORT IN THAT WE WERE INSPIRED ALONG WITH, UH, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO START BUILDING OUT SPACES WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO GROW AND PROVIDE, UH, FOOD FOR THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND UP TO DATE IN THE LAST TWO SEASONS, UH, A M E HAS PUSHED OUT OVER 1500 POUNDS OF PRODUCE INTO THEIR, UH, COMMUNITIES ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS COULD IMPACT THE REACH SIGNIFICANTLY.
GARCIA STREET URBAN FARM HAS FILLED THE STUDENT ADVOCACY CENTER REFRIGERATORS WITH HUNDRED OF HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE IN THE PAST FOUR SEASONS.
WE INTEND ON EXPANDING INTO ST.
PHILIP'S ADVOCACY CENTER IN THE COMING SEASONS, EMPOWERING AND FUNDING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GROWING FOOD IN THE CITY AND ENCOURAGING MORE TO PARTICIPATE ADDRESSES SO MANY ISSUES FACING SAN ANTONIO'S FUTURE, BUT IN PARTICULAR GIVES AGENCY TO PEOPLE AND NONPROFITS TO HELP GROW AND DISTRIBUTE HEALTHY FOOD TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
WELL, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE FUNDING FOR BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS PROGRAM.
YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET DANNY, WHO IS MY BIG, UH, LITTLE BROTHER OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO EXPRESS WHAT DANNY MEANT IN OUR LIVES AND WHAT THAT BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS PROGRAM DID FOR US.
ME PERSONALLY, AS A HUMAN BEING, AND THEN FOR DANNY'S FAMILY, HE IS A PART OF OUR FAMILY NOW.
THAT PROGRAM IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE PREMIER, I THINK AGENCIES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE ARE EXEMPLARY.
I CAN ATTEST THAT PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, THE VETTING PROCESS THEY HAVE FOR THE BIGS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM IS EXCEPTIONAL.
AFTER GOING THROUGH THAT VETTING PROCESS.
ANY OTHER VOLUNTEER AGENCY I WANTED TO VOLUNTEER FOR, YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN QUALIFIED JUST FROM THAT ONE EXPERIENCE.
SO THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, I, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THEY REALLY OFFER TREMENDOUS SERVICES TO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND I IMPLORE YOU TO REALLY, UH, EXPLORE THAT BUDGET MORE AND TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.
HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AT, UH, 6:17 PM ON AUGUST 30TH, 2023.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, AND WE DO HAVE A LIST OF FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
I'LL CALL THEM IN ORDER AGAIN,