[00:00:04]
HEY, I NEED A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA MAKE ME JAM.
NEED A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA MAKE ME JAM.
THIS WHAT MAKES YOUR BODY MOVE? MAKES YOUR BODY MOVE YOUR SOUL.
[ PROCEDURAL ]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
THE TIME IS 9:11 AM ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF 2023.
WE'LL CALL OUR A SESSION TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER COR PRESENT? COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ IS HERE VIRTUALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
ALRIGHT, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GET UNDERWAY HERE.
WE'RE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE OUR BUDGET ADOPTION.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK, UH, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE TO GET US STARTED TODAY.
LET ME TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ TO WELCOME OUR IN VINDICATOR CATER.
UM, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY I AM A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE ON TUESDAY I EXPRESSED HOW BADLY I WANTED TO SEE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S MASCOT SMARTY, AND I HEARD HE'S THERE WHEN I'M NOT.
HOWEVER, I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED TODAY TO WELCOME ANOTHER ACADEMIC TO COUNCIL AND TO REINTRODUCE YOU ALL TO A BELOVED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME UP REVEREND DEBORAH SEWARD.
REVEREND SEWARD IS A GRADUATE OF HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL AND IS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL WITH THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 13 YEARS WITHIN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHE HAD, SHE OBTAINED A CERTIFICATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE AND A CERTIFICATION, UH, CERTIFICATION OF LAY MINISTRY AND PASTORAL STUDIES FROM OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY.
SHE ACCEPTED HER CALLING INTO THE MINISTRY AND WAS LICENSED ON JANUARY 15TH, 2017.
DEBORAH IS MARRIED AND MAY ONLY HAVE ONE BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER, BUT IS A LOVINGLY KNOWN AS MOM BY MANY.
SHE NOW SERVES AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM.
AND THIS YEAR SHE ACCEPTED AN, AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME AS MARCH CHAIR FOR THE 2024 DR.
COMMISSION, THE LARGEST IN THE NATION, AND THEREFORE THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE WORK SHE'S GOING TO ACCOMPLISH IN HER MANY ROLES, AND SHE'S SURE TO ADD TO HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
BUT SHE SAYS HER GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS THAT SHE IS A CHILD OF GOD AND HAS RESPONDED TO HIS CALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, REVEREND SEWARD.
IF WE ALL CAN BEGIN TO GET IN A HEART AND A MIND OF PRAYER.
I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO PRAY MORE FOR OUR COUNCIL PERSON HERE
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL NEED PRAYER.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FIRST FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY FOR OUR CITY AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT RUN OUR CITY SO WELL.
LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS OUR MAYOR, GIVE HIM THE WISDOM AND THE GUIDANCE THAT HE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO TO MAKE THIS CITY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.
LORD, I ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR CITY MANAGER.
I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVANTHOOD.
WE THANK YOU THAT THEY HAVE DESIRE TO COME AND MAKE OUR PLACE A BETTER LIVING COMMUNITY.
LORD, THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY, SO MUCH VIOLENCE, SO
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MUCH CRIME AGAINST CRIME.LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS US IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE COULD COME TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND IN PEACE, THAT THE GUN VIOLENCE CAN BECOME SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE PAST.
LORD, WE ASK THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY, ONE CITY, ONE STATE, AND HOLD EACH OTHER'S HANDS AND BACK EACH OTHER UP WITH LOVE, WITH PEACE.
LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE THIS COMMUNITY.
LORD, WE ASK THAT THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO BLESS EACH OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES OUR WAY.
WE ASK THAT YOU SEND IT TO OUR CITY LORD.
AND I ASK THAT THE FUNDS BE USED WISELY.
LORD, WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS EACH PERSON THAT IS UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE.
I GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND THE GLORY AND THE HONOR FOR IS IN JESUS' NAME.
THANK YOU REPUBLIC ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALRIGHT, THE FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 23 AND 24.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE OBJECTION.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
UH, AND WE'LL NEED A VOICE VOTE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
UH, WE DO HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM FOUR IS LISTED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, AND BRIEFING OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, ALL THE OTHER ITEMS ARE LISTED
[CONSENT AGENDA ]
FOR CONSENT, CONSIDERATION.ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO HEAR INDIVIDUALLY FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS, UH, SAVED FOR ITEM FOUR.
UH, WE DO HAVE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.
ACTUALLY, ONE PERSON'S ASSIGNED TO SPEAK ITEMS 15, 16, 18, 20 21 AND 22 JACK FINGER FOR THE AUDIO VISUAL BAND.
WELL, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.
FINGER AT LEAST, UH, ONE OR TWO ITEMS ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA I NEED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
AND ONE OF 'EM, OF COURSE IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 22.
IT'S WHAT IS ITEM NUMBER 22? WELL,
UM, IT'S ABOUT, UH, WELL, LET'S, LET'S GET TO IT HERE.
TIME'S A WASTING APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO RISING STARS IN SUIT UP THE WORLD L L C TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION.
WELL, WHAT, UH, EXACTLY ARE WE GOING TO SHELL OUT WHAT? A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO MR. DIVISION MAY PUT THAT UP THERE.
LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED AREAS THERE.
IT SAYS THE EDUCATION INCLUDES SIX VIDEOS AND SIX PART COMPASSION MICRO COURSE.
NO, I'M TAKING, I'M TAKING THE OTHER ONE HERE.
[00:10:02]
THERE YOU GO.THE COMPASSION ONE IS ANOTHER, UH, FA FAVORITE ONE THERE.
ANYWAY, THE PROGRAMS WORTH SHELLING OUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO ARE THE TEEN WALK TO TEEN TALK COMMUNITY BASKETBALL LEAGUE, INCREASING CHILDREN EDUCATION PROGRAM, A STIPEND THAT MEANS MONEY GIVEN TO ADULTS IN LIFE.
SKILLED TRAINING, POST-INCARCERATION, URBAN AIR ACTIVITY, TOPGOLF MOVIES, FOOT LOCKER, SHOE DRIVE, ALL THIS FEEL GOOD STUFF WE'RE GIVING FOR CRIME PREVENTION, LIKE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO, UM, HELP US PREVENT CRIME.
UH, WHY DON'T SOMEBODY USED, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ONE THERE.
UM, ALSO, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE I HAD? YEAH, MR. AMAN PUT THAT OTHER ONE UP THERE THERE THAT WE HAD THERE.
YEAH, THIS ONE'S ABOUT THE COMPASSION.
OH, WE'RE SUCH A COMPASSIONATE CITY HERE.
ITEM NUMBER 18, WHAT IS ITEM NUMBER 18? WELL, IT'S ABOUT, UH,
WHAT, UH, ARE WE SHELLING OUT? UH, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR HERE, UH, MR. DIVISION.
A SIX PART COMPANION MICRO COURSE THAT COVERS SELF-REGULATION AWARENESS, SELF-COMPASSION, GRATITUDE, INTERDEPENDENCE, COMPASSION FOR OTHERS, COLLECTIVE TRAUMA, HEALING AND COMPASSION SYSTEMS. HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A LOT OF COMPASSION THERE.
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE PULL THESE THINGS? AT LEAST ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT 'EM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YEAH.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON CONSENT.
SO WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO JUST SIGNAL ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, THEN COBE.
UM, WE'LL DO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF, UH, ITEMS ON CONSENT.
YAHIDA LOZANO IS GETTING REAPPOINTED TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND SHE HAS SERVED, SHE CAN'T BE WITH US HERE TODAY, BUT SHE HAS SERVED SO WELL FOR THE LAST ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.
SO SHE IS WORKING ON SERVING HER LAST TERM ON THE COMMISSION AND HELPING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO FILL HER SEAT, UM, COMING AT THE END OF HER TERM.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SERVICE SHE'S PROVIDED AND LOOK FORWARD TO HER HELP IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRONG, UM, ARTS COMMISSION.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE CHARLES FUENTES, WHO HAS SERVED ON ZONING AND WHO HAS AGREED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.
UH, SO THOSE ARE TWO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16, UH, UNDER METRO HEALTH SA FORWARD PLAN, WHICH IS A FIVE YEAR COMMUNITY FACING STRATEGIC PLAN RELEASED IN F Y 2020.
WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON TO LOOK AT OUR FOOD INSECURITY ASSESSMENT.
AND TODAY WE ARE ADDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE TWO THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE TWO DELIVERABLES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
THE FIRST WAS ASSESSING THE NATURE AND SEVERITY OF FOOD INSECURITY IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE SECOND WAS THE LAWS AND POLICIES CONTRIBUTING TO FOOD INSECURITY AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL.
AND NOW WITH TODAY'S AMENDMENT, THE DATA COLLECTION ON THE ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY ASSETS SUPPORTING FOOD RESILIENCY THAT WILL PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENT STRATEGIES FOR NEGOTIATING FOOD INSECURITY.
APPROXIMATELY 14% OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE FOOD INSECURE.
AND THE CHILD FOOD INSECURITY RATE IS EVEN HIGHER AFFECTING ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN IN BEXAR COUNTY.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, DISTRICT THREE, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND MY PREDECESSOR DID, HAS THE MOST FOOD DESERTS WHERE IN LARGE PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SECTOR LACK ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
SO FOOD IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE FED IS, IS ONE THING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE HEALTHY CORNER STORE PROGRAM THAT WAS PILOTED IN DISTRICT THREE OR OTHER FOOD BANK PROGRAMS THAT CONTINUE AND, AND THE HOMEGROWN FOOD PANTRIES THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I THINK THIS TODAY IS A TRUE TESTAMENT OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN DO NOT WONDER WHERE THE NEXT MEAL'S COMING FROM.
UM, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT THE APPOINTMENT OF AARON ELIZONDO.
AARON, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
UH, WE'RE APPOINTING HIM TO THE, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, THEY WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE, UM, JOINING THIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND ALSO THE CITY.
[00:15:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.COUNCIL MEMBER ALTE GATO, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT, UH, ITEMS 10 THROUGH 12, UH, WHICH ARE APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON MORE THAN 30 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS REPRESENTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, TODAY I WANT TO PARTICULARLY, UH, THANK CHRISTIE WOODWARD FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD, JOHN FETZER FOR THE HISTORIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION.
ELIZABETH WABA FOR PARKS AND RECREATION ART DOWNEY FOR STREETS, BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS ADVISORY BOARD, AND MARCO BORROWS, UH, FOR SERVING ON THE ZONING COMMISSION.
MANY OF THESE REAPPOINTMENTS UH, THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YEARS.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS COMMEND EVERYBODY WHO IS WILLING TO SERVE ON ANY BOARD AND COMMISSION, HELP CITY COUNCIL DO ITS JOB AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD OF WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WANT AND EXPECT FROM THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, CO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER NINE AND THANKS CITY STAFF SPECIFICALLY FOR HELPING US.
UM, WHAT THE ALAMO COLLEGES, SPECIFICALLY THE PALO ALTO COLLEGE TEAM, AND THEY'RE HERE TODAY.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND SUPPORT DR.
GARZA AND ALL OF THEIR TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH RAZZIE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UH, TO REACH AN AGREEMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE DELIVER A NEW AQUATICS CENTER AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL CENTER THROUGH A LEVERAGED PARTNERSHIP THAT IS MUCH NEEDED IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND LIKE SEVERAL OTHER BOND PROJECTS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REVISIONS.
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COLLABORATIVE WORK, UM, THAT WAS DONE WAS TO HONOR THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO THE RESIDENTS WHO VOTED IN SUPPORT OF BOTH THE 2017 AND THE 22 BOND PROGRAM.
AND WE KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL RESIDENTS WHO LEARNED TO SWIM AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE.
AND, UH, IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD RESIDENTS THAT ARE INQUIRING ABOUT THE PROJECT.
AND I KNOW THAT MY, UM, TWO OF MY PRIESTS USED TO, UH, SWIM THERE AND THEY WERE REALLY UPSET WHEN, WHEN IT CLOSED DOWN AND THEY WERE WONDERING WHEN THEY WERE GONNA OPEN IT.
ONE OF THEM ALREADY RETIRED, SO THEY WAITED A LITTLE TOO LONG.
BUT IT'S OKAY, THIS AGREEMENT'S GONNA HELP SET THAT PROJECT BACK ON TRACK.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT THE ALMO COLLEGE'S, UH, BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS, IS VERY, UM, SUPPORTIVE AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE SCHEDULED LATER TO MEET ON, ON THE AGREEMENT.
AND I DO THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT.
SO PLEASE THANK THEM ON, ON MY BEHALF.
AND I'M CERTAIN THAT, UH, FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE GOING TO ENJOY AND MAYBE OTHER KIDS WILL LEARN HOW TO SWIM IN THAT POOL.
UM, THERE'S IMMENSE GROWTH GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, SPECIFICALLY IN THAT AREA.
AND DISTRICT FOUR IS PROUD TO BE THE HOME OF PALO ALTO COLLEGE, WHERE, UH, A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING PLACE.
AND NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE NEW BUILDINGS AND THE CAMPUS EXTENSION, BUT ALSO NEW PROGRAMS. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GROUNDBREAKING EVENT OF THIS PROJECT AND OF OTHER PROJECTS.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE GET AN ASSOCIATES ONE DAY IN WINE MAKING, UH, WHICH IS A VERY CLOSE DOWN THE ROAD FOR ME AND, UH, IN CRAFT BREWERY.
GARZA, IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME LAST TIME, SIGN ME UP FOR THAT PROGRAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CORE.
JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A FEW, UH, ADDITIONAL FOLKS THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING FROM DISTRICT ONE TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LIKE OUR COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HELP US, SUPPORT US AND DO THE WORK.
SO, UM, IF YOU ARE HERE, IF YOU'LL PLEASE STAND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME TO BE RECOGNIZED.
UM, SO MR. VALDEZ, WHO WILL BE SERVING ON OUR DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND MR. VALDEZ HAS BEEN A LONG TIME, UH, VOLUNTEER AND ADVOCATE FOR BOTH, UH, OUR, OUR ARMED FORCES AND ALSO, UH, DISABILITY ACCESS.
UM, MR. MENDEZ, ROBERTO MENDEZ WILL BE, WILL BE, UH, SERVING ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS S B D A.
AND, UH, HE'S A, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE HARLANDALE GRAD.
AND ACTUALLY IT WILL BE COMMENTATING ON SOME FOOTBALL GAMES THIS WEEKEND.
SO IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, THAT'S ONE OF HIS SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HE OWNS.
UM, AND THEN ALSO SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT AREN'T HERE, BUT JENNIFER ESTA IS AN LONG-TERM EDUCATOR WITH S E I S D, WILL BE ON OUR EDUCATION COMMISSION.
ARTHUR KASEY WILL BE SERVING ON OUR ARTS COMMISSION.
NATALIE GARZA WILL BE SERVING ON OUR LINEAR CREEKWAY ADVISORY BOARD.
AND THEN BETHEL AL AL MARINA WILL BE CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THROUGH DECEMBER ON THE PORT AUTHORITY BOARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER COR, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, MY APPOINTMENT TO THE ZONING COMMISSION.
WHO IS BEING SWORN IN TODAY OR WHO'S BEING APPOINTED TODAY? JANELLE CHASE.
UM, JANELLE, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE, TO OUR
[00:20:01]
COMMUNITY ON THAT COMMISSION.ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT TO JOIN AGENDA, PLEASE VOTE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
UH, WE DO HAVE TODAY A PUBLIC HEARING AS REQUIRED BY, UM, LAW FOR OUR F Y 24 BUDGET.
UH, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FIRST BEFORE I OPEN THE HEARING? OKAY.
ACTUALLY BEFORE THAT, MARIA, I'M SORRY.
WE HAVE OUR CEREMONIALS THAT WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A FEW FOLKS BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, FOLKS, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, MY APOLOGIES.
[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ]
HAVE A FEW FOLKS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HERE TODAY.UM, I ALSO FAILED TO MENTION ONE OF MY APPOINTMENTS THAT WAS MADE BEING MADE, UH, EILEEN KRET TO THE ARTS COMMISSION.
SO EILEEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALSO, UH, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, UM, IF ANYBODY NOTICED, WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO JUST KIND OF STICKS OUT TODAY, AND THAT IS SMARTY WITH OUR SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO SMARTY, COME ON FORWARD WITH YOUR TEAM.
SO I'D BE HONORED TO READ THIS FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL CELEBRATE LIBRARY CARD SIGNUP MONTH TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMMEASURABLE VALUE AND VAST RESOURCES LIBRARIES PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, AS THEY FOSTER LITERACY AND LOVE OF READING FOR ALL.
AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY'S MISSION IS TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF INFORMATION, IMAGINATION, AND IDEAS.
AND WHEREAS LIBRARIES ARE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO LEARN TOGETHER AND ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER ACROSS CULTURAL, ETHNIC, GENERATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC LINES, STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY SERVED.
AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDS ARE FREE AND AVAILABLE TO ALL SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND SERVES AS A TOOL TO SPARK CREATIVITY AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO EXPLORE NEW PASSIONS AND INTERESTS AND PURSUE A PATH OF LIFELONG LEARNING.
AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY IS FINE, FREE, REMOVING BARRIERS TO THE USE OF A LIBRARY CARD AND STANDS AS A CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY, FACILITATING THE FREE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS FOR ALL.
NOW THEREFORE, IRAN NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 23 TO BE LIBRARY CARDS.
SIGN UP MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGE EVERY SAN ANTONIO TO SIGN UP FOR THEIR FREE LIBRARY CARD TODAY.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, CITY MANAGER WALSH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD CARD SIGN UP MONTH.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND FOLKS TO GET A LIBRARY CARD BECAUSE THE LIBRARY CARD PROVIDES ACCESS TO A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, THE LIBRARY AND RESOURCES THE LIBRARY OFFERS TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THE LIBRARY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE.
THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE IT PLAYS IN LITERACY, PROMOTING READING, ADVANCING DIGITAL INCLUSION.
UH, SUPPORTING EDUCATION IS A KEY ROLE, UH, THAT THE LIBRARY PROVIDES, UH, DOES AND AND PROVIDES SPACES FOR STUDENTS TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK, TO COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PEERS, TO ACCESS RESOURCES, TO HAVE ACCESS TO A LIBRARIAN, TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR EFFORTS.
AND SO I ALSO, AS STUDENTS ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL OR HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL, I WANNA REMIND STUDENTS TO GET A LIBRARY CARD.
THE LIBRARY CARD WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THOSE RESOURCES, IN PARTICULAR, THOSE STUDENTS THAT MAY BE EXPERIENCING OR GOING BACK TO THEIR SCHOOLS THAT MAY NOT NO LONGER HAVE READY ACCESS TO A SCHOOL LIBRARY OR MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A SCHOOL LIBRARY.
AND I WANT TO TELL THOSE STUDENTS THAT THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THERE FOR YOU.
SO I WANT TO INVITE ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UH, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UH, THE LIBRARY RESOURCES.
UH, I MENTIONED, UH, PROMOTING AND ADVANCING EARLY LITERACY FOR THOSE PARENTS THAT, UH, ARE TEACHING THEIR KIDS TO READ, WE OFFER STORY TIME FOR THEM.
SO WE OFFER SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES, AND WE WANT TO, AGAIN, INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES BY GETTING A LIBRARY CARD.
HERE'S ONE, AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER ONES.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE LIBRARY STAFF AND THE, AND STAKEHOLDERS OF THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR ROLE IN FACILITATING THE EFFORTS AND ADVANCING THE, THE MISSION OF THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.
[00:25:01]
AND I DO LIKE THE, UM, THE FACT THAT OUR PROCLAMATION SAYS THAT LIBRARIES ARE AT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY.THANK YOU RAMIRO, FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT, UH, ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS A TEACHER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 25 YEARS, AND, UH, WHEN I RETIRED A FEW YEARS AGO, SOME PEOPLE SAID, YOU KNOW, HOW WAS YOUR TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND WOULD YOU DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? AND I'VE TOLD PEOPLE NUMEROUS TIMES THAT IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN AND I WENT BACK INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION, I WOULD WANT TO BE A LIBRARIAN BECAUSE I THINK THEY OFFER SO MUCH IN A WAY OF, UH, IMPORTANT SUPPORT FOR THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS.
SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE HEAR CRITICISMS ABOUT LIBRARIANS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT LIBRARIANS REALLY ARE A KEY TO EDUCATION FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT, UH, YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR STAFF AND ALL THE LIBRARIANS AND IN THE LIBRARIES IN SAN ANTONIO DO.
THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
ALRIGHT, UM, NOW, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN IN THE ROOM FOR A REAL PURPOSE HERE TODAY.
AND SO IF I COULD HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM COME FORWARD, UH, AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 10TH IS RECOGNIZED AS WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY, A TIME WHEN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD JOIN THEIR VOICES TO, TO PROMOTE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS, TO SHARE MESSAGES OF HOPE AND HEALING, AND TO PROMOTE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS MAJOR LIFE CHANGES ARE A RISK FACTOR FOR SUICIDE, AND THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED THE CHALLENGES MANY PEOPLE FACE, INCLUDING INCREASED SOCIAL ISOLATION, THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES, UNEMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL STRESS.
AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE DIE BY SUICIDE EVERY YEAR AND GLOBALLY FOR EVERY ONE DEATH BY SUICIDE, 20 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE.
MOREOVER, TOO MANY OF OUR NATION'S MILITARY VETERANS AND ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED SUICIDE OR TAKEN THEIR OWN LIVES.
AND WHEREAS IN BEXAR COUNTY IN 2021 BOYS 19 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER EXPERIENCED A 33% HIGHER SUICIDE RATE COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR THEIR AGE RANGE.
AND GIRLS, 19 AGE YEAR, 19 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER EXPERIENCED A 30% INCREASE IN EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR SELF-HARM.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO ENHANCE ITS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAM KNOWN AS THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RESILIENCY EFFORT, SA CORE TO COMPASSIONATELY RESPOND TO 9 1 1 MENTAL HEALTH CALLS AND CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CRISIS WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS ON THIS DAY, WE CALL UPON THE CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS TO COMMIT TO INCREASING AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, AND SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SUICIDE PREVENTION, WHILE REMOVING THE STIGMA AND SHAME FROM SEEKING HELP AND TO INCREASE ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR ALL PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2023 TO BE WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
GOOD MORNING, I'M JESSE HIGGINS, CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.
BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE A GREEN RIBBON FOR, UH, TO RECOGNIZE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND AS ESTABLISHED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.
THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IS CREATING HOPE THROUGH ACTION.
AND IT SERVES AS A CALL TO ACTION TO REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUICIDE.
OUR ACTIONS ARE A KEY TOOL TO PROVIDE HOPE AND INCREASE PREVENTION.
SUICIDE PREVENTION IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY, AND WE MUST ACT TO CREATE AWARENESS SO THAT SUICIDE RATES CAN BE REDUCED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION.
THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC AND RELATED ADVERSITIES SINCE 2020 HAVE INDEED TAKEN A PARTICULAR TOLL ON OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH POPULATION.
AND THIS IS APPARENT IN THE DATA.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE METRO HEALTH INFORMATICS TEAM WHO COMPILE AND MONITOR THE DATA YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AS THE MAYOR READ.
IN 2021, BEXAR COUNTY MALES EXPERIENCED A SUICIDE RATE FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN FEMALES.
IN FACT, BOYS IN BEXAR COUNTY HAD A 33% HIGHER SUICIDE RATE COMPARED TO OTHER BOYS NATIONWIDE.
AND BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021, THERE WAS A 25% HIGHER SUICIDE RATE FOR HISPANIC YOUTH IN BEXAR COUNTY COMPARED TO TEXAS.
OVERALL, DESPITE THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN OUR SOCIETY, PEOPLE WAIT AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT TO 10 YEARS BEFORE THEY SEEK HELP FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THESE ARE ALARMING STATISTICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH HAS A ROLE TO ADDRESS THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS, THE RELUCTANCE OF PEOPLE TO SEEK HELP SOONER, AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE.
ALTHOUGH THESE STATISTICS ARE STAGGERING AND SOBER, THERE IS HOPE.
IMPROVING THE COORDINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY ASSETS TO ENSURE EMOTIONAL,
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PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL WELLBEING FOR PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES IS A PRIORITY AREA IN METRO HEALTH'S MULTI-YEAR ESSAY FORWARD PLAN.THROUGH THIS PLAN, METRO HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL CONNECTION AND CREATES SPACES FOR COMPASSION AND HEALING.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS ARE DOING IN THE REALM OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS.
AND TODAY I'M HONORED TO WELCOME OUR PARTNERS AT THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS AND THE ALAMO AREA TEEN PREVENTION COALITION WHO JOIN US TODAY IN THE FIGHT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE TRAGEDY OF SUICIDE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PREVENTION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK WITH OUR AMAZING PARTNERS IN THIS COALITION TO ENSURE THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE CAN BE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND HAPPY.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TERRY MA BRITO.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PERSONS AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS HERE AND OUR ADVOCATES ESPECIALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, YES, TO SUPPORT SOME OF JESSE'S POINTS.
AND, UM, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, UH, ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL AND EXPERIENCES SURVEY DURING THE PANDEMIC REVEALED A LOT MORE THAN ONE.
IN THREE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCED POOR MENTAL HEALTH AND NEARLY HALF PERSISTENTLY FELT SAD OR HOPELESS.
ONE OUT OF EVERY 10 YOUTH SAID THEY HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE LAST YEAR.
FEMALE STUDENTS AND OTHERS, THOSE ESPECIALLY WHO IDENTIFY AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, OTHER OR QUESTIONING, ARE EXPERIENCING DISPROPORTIONATELY LEVELS OF POOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE RELATED BEHAVIORS.
APPROXIMATELY ONE IN THREE STUDENTS WHO HAD EVER USED ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS REPORTED USING THESE SUBSTANCES EVEN MORE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
MANY POPULATIONS THAT EXPERIENCED MORE INEQUITY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ALSO HAD GREATER RISK DURING THE PANDEMIC, PRIMARILY AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE IDEATION, SUBSTANCE USE, AND ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
HOWEVER, YOUTH WHO FELT MORE CONNECTED AT THEIR SCHOOL AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY HAD OVERALL BETTER MENTAL HEALTH.
AND MANY STUDENTS ARE STILL MORE LIKELY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER IF THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
SO THIS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR ALL OF US THE NEED FOR YOUTH EDUCATION AND PEER-TO-PEER MODELS FOR ALL TYPES OF PREVENTION.
THE ALAMO AREA TEEN SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION, EXCUSE ME, IS GRATEFUL TO ADA SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND, UH, DRUG AWARENESS FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
AND THEY BRING YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COALITION BUILDING AND IN PREVENTION EFFORTS.
WE'RE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT TO INCREASE, UH, SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH ALL OF YOU, OUR CITY, OUR PARTNERS, AND ESPECIALLY YOUTH ADVOCATES, TO ADDRESS THE INTERSECTION OF SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES TO REDUCE STIGMA, INCREASE, HELP SEEKING, AND ULTIMATELY SAVE LIVES.
I'D LIKE TO ADD, UH, A COMMENT OR TWO.
UH, I HAD THE PRIV PRIVILEGE OF, OF SERVING, UH, WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION CENTER, M H M R, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND WORKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AT THE TIME.
AND I KNOW TODAY IT'S SUCH A STRONG ISSUE AND, AND SOMETIMES WE THINK THAT, WELL, MAYBE THIS PERSON HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE AND, AND THAT'S THE END OF THEIR LIFE.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T REMEMBER HOW IT AFFECTS THE SPOUSE OR THE CHILDREN OR THE PARENTS OR SIBLINGS OR OTHER PEOPLE WHO VALUED THAT PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO MUCH OF IT IS RELATED TO, UH, ADDICTIONS, UH, WHETHER IT'S, UH, DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND OF COURSE, DEPRESSION.
AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US REALIZE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I REALLY COMMEND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE STEPPING FORWARD AND, AND REMINDING US ABOUT THIS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SUICIDE.
AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CONCERNS THIS COUNCIL IS THE PREVALENCE OF GUNS ALL OVER THE CITY AND THOSE BEING THE PRIMARY WEAPON FOR PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SUICIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS COUNCIL, I THINK, IS COMMITTED TO DOING MORE ABOUT GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREET AND PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS FROM ONE ANOTHER AND FROM THEMSELVES.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL FOR OUR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
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YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KZ, UH, AS THE COUNCILMAN WAS TALKING, AND ALSO, UM, WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IN ADDITION TO THE PARENTS AND THE SIBLINGS AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND, UH, THAT IS IMPACTED BY SUICIDE, THOSE WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IMPACTED BY SUICIDE ALSO HAS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN.SO WE WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, ACKNOWLEDGE THE BURDENS THAT YOU HOLD, UH, BUT ALSO THAT, UH, WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR BACK HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AS I WAS WALKING IN TODAY, I SAW A TRUE POWER COUPLE SITTING IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY, AND THAT IS THE, UH, GREAT KATIE AND JIM REED ARE HERE.
UH, AND IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE NEWS, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER RETIREMENT IN THE FAMILY.
AND THAT IS, UH, JIM REED, WHO HAS SERVED FOR ALMOST THREE DECADES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO MEDICAL FOUNDATION, UH, HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S GONNA FINALLY HANG IT UP AND LEAVE SOME EXTRAORDINARILY BIG SHOES TO FILL.
JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I SAY THAT AS A NEIGHBOR, UH, BUT ALSO AS A FORMER DISTRICT EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER AND A MEMBER OF YOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
UH, WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE IN SO MANY WAYS.
UH, BEFORE YOU SPEAK, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS.
UM, YOU KNOW, JIM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WE ELECTED OFFICIALS LOVE TO DO IS TAKE CREDIT FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK.
AND SO, I, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN TAKING CREDIT FOR A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT YOU'VE DONE, BUT NOBODY BELIEVES ME, UH, BECAUSE THEY, YOU, YOU ARE AN INSTITUTION, A WALKING, TALKING INSTITUTION.
UM, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WHEN I BRAG ABOUT THE MEDICAL CENTER, THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, RIGHT.
UH, AND FOLKS, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THAT WANNA KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR EXPANSION OF UT HEALTH.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EXPLOSIVE EXPANSION OF METHODIST INDUSTRIES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I'M SORRY, METHODIST MINISTRIES IN THE HOSPITALS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROTON CENTER THAT'S COMING SOON.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE VA HOSPITAL, HUGE EXPANSIONS OUT THERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, COMPLETE GREEN STREETS, UH, UP AND DOWN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRADE SEPARATION ON, UH, WHAT WAS IT, FREDERICKSBURG AND MEDICAL.
UM, THE, WE'RE JIM, UH, IS, UH, ALSO GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW PARK, UH, THE LISA STAR PARK OVER IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
UM, JIM, UH, THE LIST IS WAY TOO LONG FOR ME TO MENTION, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'VE COME BEFORE ME, UM, WHO'VE, UH, WHO'VE GOTTEN TO WITNESS, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU'VE POURED AND, UH, THE AMOUNT OF YOUR FAMILY TIME THAT YOU'VE POURED INTO THIS PROJECT TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO, SOUTH TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER A MAJOR WORLDWIDE DESTINATION FOR HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE.
UM, AND BECAUSE OF YOU, UH, WHEN THE NEXT EVOLUTIONARY STEP IS GONNA BE MAKING THE MEDICAL CENTER A LIVE, WORK, PLAY CENTER.
UM, AND HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO COME, FOLKS.
UH, WE, UH, WE'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING REALLY BIG AND EXCITING OUT THERE, BUT I I AM, I'M HEARTBROKEN THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE YOU, UH, WHO I'M GONNA BE STANDING WITH TO CUT ALL THESE RIBBONS.
UH, BUT THE THUMBPRINT YOU'VE LEFT ON SAN ANTONIO IS INDELIBLE.
UH, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH THANK YOUS IN THE WORLD, UM, TO PROPERLY HONOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND SO, UM, YOU'RE MY FRIEND AND I LOOK UP TO YOU, JIM, AND HOPEFULLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT LEADER WHO IS GOING TO BE FILLING THOSE ENORMOUS SHOES OF YOURS, UM, UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY HOW BIG A JOB THIS REALLY IS.
UM, AND I AM JUST EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEXT EVOLUTION IN YOUR LIFE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO WITH 'EM AT HOME, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, JIM, UM, I KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD, UH, BECAUSE I'M, I'M, I'M A LITTLE, JUST A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER THAN YOU, BUT, UM, I AM PROUD OF YOU AND I'M PROUD TO KNOW YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLY, JIM FLOOR IS YOURS.
WELL, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, UH, KATIE AND I DO BELIEVE IN THIS CITY, AND WE BELIEVE IN VOLUNTEERISM AND WE BELIEVE IN GIVING BACK.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'VE DONE SOME OF THAT.
UM, THE, UM, MEDICAL CENTER IS LIKE A SMALL CITY, AND I GUESS OVER THE 25 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, LIKE HUMAN RESOURCES AND A FEW OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
BUT I'VE WORKED WITH YOUR STAFF, UH, ERIC'S STAFF, AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF DOING THAT AND SEEING HOW THEY WORK AND HOW THEY HELP US AND HOW SUPPORTIVE
[00:40:01]
THEY ARE.SO I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR COMMENTS.
UH, I'M GONNA STAY ON UNTIL MY REPLACEMENT IS CHOSEN AND, AND WE TRANSITION.
UM, BUT, UH, THIS IS MY THIRD RETIREMENT, AND I THINK IT MAY BE MY LAST.
SO, UH, UH, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THE CITY DOES, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT IF IT WEREN'T A PARTNERSHIP WORKING TOGETHER.
SO I JUST SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND JUST WE'LL CONSIDER THIS THE KICKOFF TO YOUR VICTORY LAP, WHICH WE KNOW WILL BE FAIRLY LONG, UH, AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY SO WE COULD PROPERLY RECOGNIZE YOU AT COUNCIL, BUT WE WILL BE WITH YOU AS YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR VICTORY LAP, WHICH WILL CERTAINLY TAKE YOU AROUND THE CITY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE HAD A FEW CALLS OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, NON-PAID VOLUNTEER TYPE THINGS TO DO.
AND, UH, I'LL INVITE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES DOWN TO, UH, HAVE A PICTURE WITH YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO.
NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, WITH A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR AND REMEMBER TWO REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.
FIRST, I WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO TOMMY ACOSTA, A PERSON I DEEPLY ADMIRED AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH.
TOMMY'S STORY WAS ONE OF RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE HE HELD DEAR, HE FACED ONE OF LIFE'S MOST FORMIDABLE CHALLENGES WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN 2022 AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND CHAPTER ADVISOR OF ALL OF US OR NONE, TEXAS.
TOMMY DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
HE WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO HAD BEEN MARGINALIZED AND FOR FORGOTTEN BY SOCIETY.
HIS INVOLVEMENT IN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ENMAR, END, MASS INCARCERATION, SAN ANTONIO, BIG HOMIE STREET MENTORING LULAC, BIG HOMIE COUNCIL SHOWCASED HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHER.
AND HE WAS VERY PROUD TO, UM, BE A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WITH STANDUP SA.
TOMMY'S ROLE AS A NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR THE BROWN BERETS AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHICANO NATIONAL MOVEMENT DEMONSTRATED HIS DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
HE STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL OF THOSE WHO SHARED HIS PASSION FOR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, LEAVING A HUGE MARK ON THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
ONE OF ONE OF TOMMY'S PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS WAS THE FOUNDING OF HOMIES CAN VOTE.
HE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO EMPOWER EX-FELONS, HELPING THEM REGAIN THEIR VOICE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, HE NOT ONLY RESTORED HOPE TO THOSE WHO HAD LOST IT, BUT ALSO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN CH UH, CHANGING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IN TOMMY, WE FIND A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT ONE PERSON CAN ACHIEVE WHEN DRIVEN BY LOVE, COMPASSION, AND UN UNYIELDING BELIEF IN THE GOODNESS OF HUMANITY.
HE LIVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF UNITY ACTIVISM AND THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE.
SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS WORK, AND WE KNOW THAT, UH, THE HOMIES ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO, TO ORGANIZE AND DO THAT COMMUNITY WORK.
ADDITIONALLY, WE MOURNED THE LOSS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CONSTITUENT WHO LIVED IN DISTRICT FIVE TILL HE WAS 101, UH, AND THEN MOVED WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
UM, FOR HIS LATER YEARS, BOBBY WAS NOT JUST A MEMBER OF THE
[00:45:01]
TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.HE WAS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE WEST SIDE.
HIS LIFE WAS MARKED BY REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING HIS SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II AND HIS TALENTS AS A SINGER AND ACTOR, WHICH GRACE STAGES ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
AND EVERY TIME HE'D LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE, IT WOULD ALWAYS START WITH, OH, YA MIHA, EVERY MESSAGE.
BOBBY'S COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF THE WEST SIDE DATED BACK TO 1937, WHEN HE BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR HIS COMMUNITY.
HE PASSIONATELY PROTESTED THE CENTRAL PECAN FACTORY, PROTESTING FOR BETTER WAGES FOR WORKERS IN MATTERS OF THE, IN MATTERS OF THE HEART.
HE WAS MARRIED ONLY ONCE TO HIS BELOVED VICTORIA VIDAL, WHOM HE CHERISHED UNTIL HER PASSING AT THE REMARKABLE AGE OF 103, BOBBY EXPRESSED HIS LOVE THROUGH POETRY, OFTEN DEDICATING HIS CHERISHED WIFE THROUGH, UH, BEAUTIFUL, UM, AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WEST SIDE HOME.
AND HE HAD THIS AWESOME BUSINESS CARD THAT SAYS, LIKE, UH, JESSE VIDAL IS THE POET RIGHT IN OLD ENGLISH.
UH, AND HE WOULD GIMME ONE EVERY TIME, EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY HAD ONE.
IN 2014, AFTER THE LOSS OF HIS WIFE, BOBBY JOINED THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES HE FACED HIS ADVOCACY FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND THE ENTIRE STATE REINVIGORATED HIM.
HE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS MARCHES, RALLIES, ACTIONS, PASSIONATELY ADVOCATING FOR THE ISSUES SUCH AS IMMIGRATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, REFORM, AND HOUSING.
BOBBY'S COMMITMENT TO THESE CAUSES BROUGHT HIM IMMENSE JOY, AND HE CONTINUED HIS ADVOCACY EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE GET OUT THE VOTE CAMPAIGN, EVEN CELEBRATING HIS HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY, HIS HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY, WHILE PARTICIPATING.
AND I HAD AN HONOR OF JOINING HIS HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY PARTY.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, HE WAS SWINGING THE, TO HIT THE PINATA, LIKE REALLY HARD AND HAD A GOOD SWING DESPITE JUST TURNING 100.
AS WE REMEMBER, TOMMY AND BOBBY WE'RE REMINDED OF THEIR INCREDIBLE SPIRIT AND THE LASTING IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE LEFT IN OUR HEARTS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEIR LEGACIES WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US ALL.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, NOW TO, UH, COUNCILMEMBER CAB HAU WITH THE RECOGNITION.
SEPTEMBER IS HUNGER ACTION MONTH.
IT'S A NATIONWIDE RECOGNITION OF THE NEED TO ACT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER.
ACCORDING TO FEEDING AMERICA, 14% OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE FOOD INSECURE AMONG THE CHILDREN, AMONG CHILDREN.
THINK ABOUT THAT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN IN OUR AREA DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.
WE CONSTANTLY ADDRESS HUNGER AMONG OUR FAMILIES AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE PLAN AND WE STUDY, BUT SEPTEMBER IS A CALL TO ACTION TO DO SOMETHING.
I SEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK WHO TOOK CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE AND THROUGHOUT AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND CONTINUES TO GO DO SO TODAY.
THE FOOD BANKS MARIO BLEO IS HERE THIS MORNING, AND I'D LIKE TO CALL HIM TO THE PODIUM TO, TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO THIS MONTH AS WE OBSERVE HUNGER ACTION MONTH.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN HDA.
UM, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UM, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY STAFF.
MY NAME'S MARIO BLATO, JUNIOR CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE SARAH SORENSON, WHO'S HERE WITH ME TODAY, WHO HELPS US OUT WITH, UH, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, PUBLIC POLICY, AND ADVOCACY.
UH, LET ME ALSO SAY ON BEHALF OF ERIC COOPER, OUR PRESIDENT AND C E O, OUR BOARD, OUR ORGANIZATION, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, UH, THAT Y'ALL PROVIDE TO THIS GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, UM, COUNCILWOMAN HARVARD.
THANK YOU, UH, AGAIN FOR HIGHLIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY AND, AND FOR HIGHLIGHTING, UH, ADVOCACY.
WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDING AMERICA'S NATIONAL HUNGER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN KNOWN AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH, WHICH TAKES PLACE EVERY SEPTEMBER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE REMAIN HUMBLED AND PRIVILEGED, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND THE REGION OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE SO MUCH NEEDED.
THEY'RE VITAL, UH, TO SO MANY.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE CONTINUE TO STAY STRONG AND TIGHT AS A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS THAT MIGHT STUMBLE AND FALL DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL.
PLEASE REMEMBER SA FOOD BANK.ORG WHEN YOU TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT HUNGER ACTION MONTH, UH, FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION ON THIS GREAT HUNGER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THAT TAKES PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN OUR GREAT STATE, IT, IT ALSO, UH, CREATES ADVOCACY AROUND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED OR HOW YOU CAN, UH, DIRECT FOLKS TO THE FOOD BANK TO ACCESS OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS. WITH THAT SAID, IN CLOSING, UH, WE'RE GONNA SHOW A VIDEO HERE.
UM, AND IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE, MAYOR OF WHAT YOU ALWAYS SAY.
UH, WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, A CITY OF RESILIENCY, A CITY OF COMPASSION OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER WHEN TIMES ARE TIGHT AND TOUGH TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.
[00:50:01]
TO, UM, SHOW, UH, AND EXPLAIN A STORY ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, WHO HELPED US WHEN WE NEEDED HELP IN ORDER TO HELP OTHERS WHO STRUGGLED.SO, AT THE AGE OF FIVE OR SO, I WAS ADOPTED BY MY GRANDMOTHER AND MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO, LIVING WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.
AT THAT EARLY AGE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF FOOD TO GO AROUND, BUT MY GRANDMOTHER, THEY ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT I HAD A BREAKFAST MEAL TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, AND SHE SUPPLIED WHATEVER SHE COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SOMETHING TO EAT THROUGH THE DAY.
WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR THREE MEALS TODAY, AND WE ALWAYS VOLUNTEERED AT CHURCH, AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT SHE BROUGHT ME UP TO GIVE MY TIME TO THE CHURCH AND TO PEOPLE THAT NEEDED HELP.
IT, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT SHE TAUGHT ME TO HAVE TIME TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
BACK IN NOVEMBER, I ATTENDED A FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION, AND THERE WAS A LONG LINE, AND WE GOT THERE EARLY, BUT WE WERE AT THE END AND I SAW THAT THERE WERE NOT MANY VOLUNTEERS AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING REAL SLOW.
SO WE WENT UP TO THE FRONT AND I ASKED THEM, DO Y'ALL NEED HELP? AND THEY PUT ME TO WORK.
AND AS I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER BEFORE, I JUST KEPT GOING.
I KNEW WHAT TO DO, AND I WANTED TO GIVE ALL OF MYSELF TO HELP AND VOLUNTEER.
THE THING THAT I WANNA TELL YOU IS THAT THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS VOLUNTEERING FOR THE FOOD BANK BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN BLESSED, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THEN, BUT NOW, AND I HAVE MET SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
I WANNA CONTINUE AND VOLUNTEER AND HELP THEM.
THEY DO SO MUCH FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
AND I AM TRULY BLESSED THAT I VOLUNTEERED THAT DAY BECAUSE IT MADE ME MORE AWARE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO GO OUT THERE AND VOLUNTEER.
AND EVEN IF IT'S ONE HOUR, TWO HOURS, BUT I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER.
IF THERE'S A FOOD DISTRIBUTION, I'D WALK UP THERE AND SAY, CAN I HELP? LET ME JUST SAY, MARY HELEN VARS COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING.
SHE, SHE USES THAT STORY AND, AND ADVOCATES ON OUR BEHALF.
SHE'S ACTUALLY AT THE FOOD BANK RIGHT NOW SHARING THAT STORY TO ABOUT 180 FOLKS, UH, FROM VARIOUS PANTRY PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, JUST TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE THAT YOU CAN GIVE BACK AND HELP.
AND SHE ALLUDED TO THAT DISTRIBUTION LATE LAST YEAR.
AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, YOU WERE OUT AT THAT DISTRIBUTION.
AND, AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BEING OUT THERE AND WORKING SO HARD ON THAT DAY.
AND DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, WAS OUT THERE AS WELL, THEIR STAFF.
AND SO, UM, UH, SHE SAW THE NEED.
MARY HELEN SAW THE NEED TO, TO HELP, AND SHE, SHE SPRUNG INTO ACTION AND HELPED, AND IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
AND, UM, AND REALLY, I THINK SHE EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF OUR CITY, THOUGH, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I IMPLORE ALL OF YOU, UH, THIS IS, UM, UH, HUNGER AWARENESS MONTH.
BUT, BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, DO SOMETHING, GIVE MONEY TO THE FOOD BANK.
UH, GO VOLUNTEER AT THE FOOD BANK IF YOU HAVE THE TIME.
IT REALLY IS A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.
IT FEELS GOOD TO HELP OUT, UM, ESPECIALLY AT THE FOOD BANK BECAUSE YOU ALL, UH, NOT ONLY SERVICE SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALL, UH, MOST OF SOUTH TEXAS, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I ASK YOU ALL TO DONATE YOUR MONEY OR TIME TO, TO THE FOOD BANK.
COUNCIL MEMBER KI HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GREAT WORK THAT THE FOOD BANK DOES, AND I WANTED TO NOTE THAT I SAW A STORY IN THE EXPRESS NEWS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER.
WE'RE PUTTING OUT A LITTLE NOTE TO OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, YOU'LL SEE DISTRICT NINE BACK OUT THERE AGAIN, HELPING OUT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
VOLUNTEERING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE FOOD BANK BE SUCCESSFUL AS WELL AS GIVING MONEY.
YOUR STAFF REACHED OUT, UH, DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY.
I HAVE A DEADLINE OF TOMORROW TO SUBMIT INFORMATION TO YOUR OFFICE ON THAT.
UM, MARIO, AS YOU KNOW, UH, OUR LAW FIRM WAS OUT THERE.
WE TOOK OUR ENTIRE STAFF AND, UM, MY, MY LAW PARTNER AND I SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA LIVE OUR VALUES
[00:55:01]
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.AND WE HAD SOME OF OUR STAFFERS KIND OF GROUSING AND GRUMBLING THAT THEY HAD TO WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING ON A WEEKEND TO GO VOLUNTEER.
AND THEY WALKED OUT OF THERE WITH HUGE SMILES ON THEIR FACES, SWEATY SHIRTS, UM, YOU KNOW, MUST HAIR.
AND, UH, JUST GRATEFUL THAT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.
UM, I'VE HAD THEM ASK AGAIN, WHEN ARE WE GONNA DO THAT AGAIN, MANNY? AND, UM, SO STAY TUNED FOR THE PHONE CALL.
BUT THE THING I WANT, I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS, UM, IF THERE'S HUNTERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE AVID DEER HUNTERS, UM, AND I'VE ALREADY REFERRED SOME OF MY FRIENDS OUT THERE, YOU GUYS HAVE A BACK, YOU KNOW, FACILITY IN THE BACK WHERE HUNTERS CAN SHOW UP MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND AT NIGHT TO CLEAN THEIR DEER, PROCESS THAT MEAT AND DONATE IT TO YOU GUYS SO THAT YOU CAN THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, FEED FAMILIES WITH IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND GENIUS WAYS OF BEING A SOUTH TEXAS FOOD BANK.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UH, FOR DOING WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND TO PLEASE PASS MY BEST ON TO ALL YOUR VOLUNTEERS AND YOUR STAFF.
THE WITHOUT THAT ARMY OF, OF FANTASTIC BIG HEARTED PEOPLE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE DONE.
THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING, UH, HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE PARKS.
UM, MARIO, COUNCIL MEMBER APP PLYS, EVERYBODY FOR THIS.
UH, YOU KNOW, MARIO, JUST AS A THOUGHT, WE HAVE GREAT PRIDE IN THE COMPETITION.
WE HAVE DURING THE, UH, THE BLOOD DRIVES BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
UH, MAYBE IT'S TIME THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF VOLUNTEER COMPETITION WITH THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AS WELL.
UH, JUST TO HELP BOO BOOST VOLUNTEERISM AT THE FOOD BANK.
WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED BECAUSE WE SEE SO MUCH VOLUNTEERISM AT THE FOOD BANK, BUT ANY DIP IN THAT ACTIVITY IS REALLY IMPACTFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, IF WE CAN BE HELPFUL TO THAT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SPURRING ON SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY, UM, BY ALL MEANS BRING IT, BRING IT ON.
IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT AND IDEA.
UH, MAYOR, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING Y'ALL ENGAGED.
SO, UH, I DO WANNA MENTION NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING, UH, D H S AND METRO HEALTH FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT AND, AND WORK, UM, WITH US IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
SO THANK YOU TO THOSE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
ALRIGHT, UM, AND LASTLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRAND, WITH THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
MY FIRST POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IS TO REMIND EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL SENIOR CENTER MONTH.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR DISTRICT THREE SENIOR CENTERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND THE, AND JUST THE SENIOR CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK TO OUR SENIORS.
OUR SENIORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED, ACHIEVED AN EXPERIENCES MOMENT IN, IN OUR LIVES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HOW WE LIVE TODAY.
I GET TO SIT ON THIS DIET BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS WOMEN HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS AS MEN.
SENIOR CENTERS ARE THERE TO ENCOURAGE AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR ALL SENIORS.
ON THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE THE EVENTS OUR SENIOR CENTERS WILL BE HOSTING.
THIS MONTH WE'RE DOING A GRANDPARENTS' DAY CELEBRATION AT SOUTHSIDE LIONS, A GRANDPARENT CELEBRATION AT SOMERSET ACADEMY AT BROOKS LV.
CISNEROS WILL BE CELEBRATING 15 YEARS ANNIVERSARY.
AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH, WE WILL BE DOING CELEBRITY BINGOS AT THE D THREE SENIOR CENTERS.
UH, WE'LL WRAP UP THE MONTH WITH OUR PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE AWARENESS BECAUSE IT IS PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH.
AND SAVE CLINIC WILL BE DOING THEIR ANNUAL SCREENINGS AT SOUTH SIDE ALLIANCES.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE SENIORS IN YOUR LIFE.
REMEMBER, THEY CAN GET CONNECTED AT ONE SENIOR CENTER AND THEN GO THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO, UM, I ENCOURAGE AND I WANNA THANK, UM, MARIO AND THE FOOD BANK BECAUSE THEY'RE CRITICAL TO WHAT WE DO AT THE SENIOR CENTERS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR SENIORS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND MY SECOND POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, OF COURSE, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, AND YOU ALL GOT THE SWAG TO CELEBRATE THE EIGHTH ANNUAL WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH.
YOU CAN SEE THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
IF I THINK I HAVE ONE OR TWO, UM, WORLD HERITAGE FEST, WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE, GO AHEAD AND STAND UP AND WAVE.
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS OUT THERE PREPARING.
SO YOU'VE GOT, YOU SEE THE MEDAL, IT'S VERY FANCY THIS YEAR.
THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER.
YOU GET THIS GREAT PASSPORT IF YOU DO NOT DO THE RIDE BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE TOO HOT.
KEEP THIS PASSPORT AND DO THE RIDE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, THIS IS A MULTI-DAY FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE SAN ANTONIO VIBRANT COMMUNITY, UH, COINCIDING WITH OUR GLOBAL RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION OF WORLD HERITAGE CITIES, WHICH IS SOLIDARITY DAY ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.
THE WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL IS AN ANNUAL COLLABORATION OF ALL OUR PARTNERS, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WORLD
[01:00:01]
HERITAGE OFFICE, BEXAR COUNTY, SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE ALAMO MISSION, HERITAGE PARTNERS, NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, AND LAS MISSES.AND THROUGHOUT THOSE ORGANIZATION ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THE MISSIONS.
THEY'RE PART OF EITHER ONE OR, OR ALL OF THOSE GROUPS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, EXPERIENCE THIS.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THIS BELONGS TO THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA WAS AT A BREAKFAST WITH ME THIS WEEK.
UM, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS BEEN TO THE, UM, MUSIC UNDER THE STARS.
SO I ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO GET OUT THERE, UH, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE CITY'S WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND LET'S HAVE A GOOD TIME.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER POINTS OF PRIVILEGE THAT WE NEED TO GET? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, UH, AT THIS TIME,
[PUBLIC HEARING ]
WE'RE GONNA ENTER INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE CITY'S 2023 AVALON TAX RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET, AND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.WE'LL BEGIN, UH, BY HAVING A PRESENTATION FROM OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MARIA VILLAGOMEZ.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PROAM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
SO TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024, OPERATING IN CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE CITY.
ALSO, THIS HEARING IS TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK AND INPUT ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024 CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE.
TODAY IS THE SECOND HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE'RE HOSTING HERE AT COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THE FIRST ONE WAS ON AUGUST THE 30TH.
ALSO THIS WEEK WE CONCLUDED THE NINE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD ACROSS THE CITY SINCE WE PROPOSED A BUDGET ON AUGUST THE 10TH.
AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING YOU A REPORT WITH THE COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ON MONDAY.
THE BUDGET IS $3.7 BILLION AS PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, AND OUR FISCAL YEAR BEGINS OCTOBER ONE.
THE GENERAL FUND IS THE LARGEST OPERATING FUND OF THE CITY AT 1.6 BILLION, UH, RESTRICTED FUNDS, FUNDS AT 1.3 BILLION, INCLUDING THE AIRPORT AND THE SOLID WASTE FUND AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AMONG OTHERS.
AND THE CAPITAL PROGRAM IS $798 MILLION.
APPROPRIATE TAX RATE AS PROPOSED, HAS A SLIGHT REDUCTION ON THE RATE, AND ALSO, UH, REFLECTS AN INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL EARLIER THIS CALENDAR YEAR, GOING FROM 10% TO THE MAXIMUM STATE ALLOWED OF 20%.
SO IN CONCLUSION, AS I MENTIONED, WE PROPOSE A BUDGET ON THE 10TH OF AUGUST.
UH, WE HAVE HOSTED COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETINGS ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL BUDGET HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, POTENTIAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE 24 BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER THE 14TH.
AT THIS TIME NOW WE WILL, UH, OPEN THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMENTS.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO MATTERS REGARDING THIS ITEM.
EACH PERSON WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND IF THERE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE SIGNED UP, EACH GROUP WILL HAVE NINE MINUTES.
THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS BARBARA ROBLES RAM MURPHY.
PARDON ME FROM RUINING YOUR LAST NAME, BARBARA
AND SHE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JEFF GOLDBLATT.
MY NAME IS BARBARA ROBLES RAMAMURTHY AND I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT NINE, UM, LED BY COUNCILMAN JOHN COURAGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH ME TODAY.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AN INITIATIVE THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING, THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
I AM HERE SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE BOTH AS A MOTHER AND A PHYSICIAN.
I AM A TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED ADULT CHILD AND FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SUPPORTING YOUTH AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING POVERTY, INCARCERATION, RAPE, AND OTHER SOCIAL INJUSTICES.
PERSONALLY, I HAVE ALSO WITNESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THIS INITIATIVE WOULD FUND.
AFTER A TRAUMATIC, UH, CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE WITH MY FIRST BABY, I WAS AFRAID TO GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN I
[01:05:01]
FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT.WITH MY SECOND, I DECIDED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND SEEK THE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION OF A DOULA.
AND MY SECOND CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE WAS A SAFE AND HEALTHY HO HOSPITAL DELIVERY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FUNDING THIS INITIATIVE RAISES SOME CONCERNS, AND I KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL IS CAPABLE OF FINDING IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE SUPPORTS INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES.
THIS APPROACH EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES, HEALTHCARE, AND SUPPORT FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED.
THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE GAPS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.
BY ESTABLISHING THIS FUND, WE CAN PROVIDE CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS PRENATAL CARE AND REPRODUCTIVE EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE, UH, FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE UNDERSERVED AND HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT CENTER THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROMOTE HEALTH FOR ALL.
COUNSEL MEN, UH, UH, COURAGE TO SUPPORT THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
BY DOING SO, YOU WILL DEMONSTRATE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MEMBERS', HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND AUTONOMY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR LISTENING AND FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO MAKING OUR DISTRICT A SAFE AND EQUITABLE PLACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
NEXT, JEFF GOLDBLATT, WHO'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MEREDITH COOPER.
WHEN YOUR DAUGHTERS AWOKE THIS MORNING, COUNCILMAN WHITE, THEY GOT DRESSED ON THEIR OWN, ATE BREAKFAST ON THEIR OWN WITH NO ADULT SUPERVISION NEEDED.
SAME FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF US IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS THIS MORNING, WHO HAVE CHILDREN.
MY NAME IS JEFF GOLDBLATT AND I'M AN AMBASSADOR OF THE NONPROFIT CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION INSTITUTE, TETON U S A, ALSO KNOWN AS CRIT, LOCATED IN DISTRICT 10.
WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN THE CITY 10 YEARS, AND WE'VE APPLIED TO BE A DELICATE AGENCY WITH AN ASK OF NORTH OF $2 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 20% OF OUR BUDGET.
OUR REHABILITATION CENTER WORKS MAGIC WITH CHILDREN WITH MUSCULAR SKELETAL AND NEUROLOGICAL DISABILITIES.
CHILDREN LIKE CRYSTALLINE WHO YOU SEE THERE, WHO IS AN INFANT, WAS IN A CAR AND A HEAD-ON AUTO COLLISION.
SHE SUFFERED A SEVERE BRAIN BLEED AND DOCTORS TOLD HER FAMILY SHE'D NEVER WALK OR TALK AGAIN AS A TODDLER.
SHE STRUGGLED TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS WITH HER REHABILITATION BEFORE SHE CAME TO CRIT.
NOW, FIVE YEARS LATER, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT SHE LOVES TO SING AND TELL EVERYONE I LOVE YOU.
THAT SAID, SHE CAN'T GET DRESSED ON HER OWN.
SHE CAN'T EAT BREAKFAST ON HER OWN.
SHE WOULDN'T BE THE CRYSTALLINE OF TODAY WITHOUT CRIT.
WE'RE A UNIQUE REHABILITATION CENTER IN THAT WE DON'T JUST TREAT THE CHILD, WE TREAT THE FAMILY BECAUSE WHEN A CHILD HAS A DISABILITY, IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE OFFER MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, NUTRITION, SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE.
IT'S A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REHABILITATION AND UNLIKE ANY OTHER OUTPATIENT THERAPY MODEL FOR CHILDREN IN THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SERVING 350 CHILDREN ANNUALLY, 270 OF THEM FROM ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S EVERY DISTRICT WITH A WAITING LIST OF 220 SAN ANTONIO CHILDREN AND CRIT ABSORBS ALL THE COSTS FOR THOSE FAMILIES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.
WE REALIZE THERE ARE MANY NEEDS IN A CITY OF THIS SIZE, BUT I ALSO ASK AND URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF CRIT DID NOT EXIST AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THE CITY IF CHILDREN LIKE CRYSTALLINE DID NOT HAVE CRIT.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING OUR FUNDING REQUEST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN AND ALSO FOR THE HEALTH OF SAN ANTONIO.
NEXT UP IS, UH, MEREDITH COOPER.
OKAY, MS. COOPER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MARIAH SMITH.
[01:10:02]
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY.SHE WEIGHED A POUND 10 OUNCES DUE TO HOLLY'S EARLY ARRIVAL.
HER BRAIN AND BODY WAS UNDERDEVELOPED, AND DURING HER SIX LONG MONTHS IN THE NI UNIT, HOLLY HAD COUNTLESS PROCEDURES TO SAVE HER LIFE.
SHE HAS SURVIVED 12 FLAT LINES, 18 BRAIN SURGERIES AND 57 SURGERIES.
HER MAIN DIAGNOSIS IS CEREBRAL PALSY, HYDROCEPHALUS AND EPILEPSY.
SIX YEARS AGO, I WAS A MOM, FRUSTRATED AND LOSING HOPE IN THE THERAPY WORLD.
I SPENT YEARS WATCHING THERAPISTS COME IN AND OUT OF MY HOME TRYING TO HELP MY DAUGHTER MEET MILESTONES, BUT MONTHS OR YEARS INTO HER THERAPY, THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR STRIVE OR THEIR HEART AND HOLLYWOOD REGRESS, AND I WOULD TRY TO CHEER THEM ON AND KEEP MOTIVATING THERAPISTS TO DO WHAT MY DAUGHTER DESPERATELY NEEDED.
SHE NEEDED THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR HELP TO LEARN HOW TO WALK AND TO LEARN HOW TO EAT AND TO EVEN SWALLOW FOOD.
WE HAD OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND SPEECH THERAPIST COMING IN AND OUT OF OUR HOME AND STILL HOLLYWOOD REGRETS IN HER MILESTONES.
ONE DAY HOLLY HAD A SEIZURE AT MY HOME.
SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HOLLY'S SEIZURE LASTED SEVEN HOURS.
SHE WAS PLACED ON LIFE SUPPORT.
HOLLY STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 14 DAYS AND DURING THAT 14 DAYS, HOLLY SEVERELY REGRESSED IN HER MUSCLES.
HER DEVELOPMENT, HER EATING A G-TUBE WAS PLACED.
MY DAUGHTER COULD NO LONGER EAT OR DRINK ON HER OWN.
WE WERE THEN SENT TO AN OCCUPATION.
WE WERE THEN REFERRED TO A NEW ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR, AND THAT DOCTOR TALKED TO ME ABOUT CRIT, AND IN TALKING TO HIM, I TOLD HIM ABOUT MY FRUSTRATION OF ALREADY SPENDING YEARS IN THE THERAPY WORLD AND HOLLY BEING CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR AND THERE WAS NEVER IMPROVEMENT OR HOPE.
HE REASSURED ME ABOUT CRIT, AND BECAUSE OF HOLLY'S SETBACKS, THEY WERE SEVERE ENOUGH THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE FAMILIES THAT GOT TO BYPASS THE LONG WAITING LIST.
TWO WEEKS LATER, WE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF CRIT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT HAS DONE TO CHANGE MY LIFE, BUT I MUST DEMONSTRATE WHEN WE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF CRIT, HOLLY WAS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR.
HOWEVER SHE COULD WALK, HOLLY WALKED LIKE THIS, AND TODAY WE HAVE BEEN FIVE YEARS AT CRIT.
SHE CAN COLOR, SHE CAN WRITE HER NAME, BUT THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL IS MY DAUGHTER IS NO LONGER CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR.
THE MIRACLES THAT HAPPEN THROUGH THE DOORS OF CRIT, EVERY HANDICAP CHILD DESERVES TO BE THERE.
BUT I MUST DEMONSTRATE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT HOLLY.
I MUST SHOW Y'ALL THAT MY DAUGHTER WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY HOPE OF WALKING CAN WALK NOW.
ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILY LIKE MINE DESERVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN TRULY HEAL AND HAVE HOPE FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
MS. SMITH, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KATE SANCHES.
LEAH LAPORTE AND AND WHO ELSE? SAMUEL RICHARDS.
[01:15:01]
OKAY.AS MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, I'M YOUNG CITIZEN WHO FREQUENTLY COMES UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.
SO ON THAT NOTE, I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT EVERYTHING I SAY COMES FROM A GOOD PLACE AND A PLACE OF PASSION.
IN REGARDS TO MY COMMENTS ON THE COOLING PAVEMENT PROGRAM, I UNDERSTAND THE COOLING PAVEMENT PROGRAM IS JUST ONE PART OF A MUCH LARGER EQUATION, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S PROACTIVELY TACKLING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS, BUT INSTEAD REACTING.
I LOVE THAT WE AS A CITY WANNA TACKLE OUR EXTREME HEAT AND THAT THIS COULD BE A POSSIBLE PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT I JUST HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND POTENTIAL CONCERNS THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO JUST YET.
FOR EXAMPLE, NUMBER ONE, IS THIS SOMETHING THE CITY CAN EVEN KEEP UP WITH CONSIDERING WE CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH OUR OWN ROADS? ALSO, MORE REFLECTED ENERGY MEANS MORE REFLECTED LIGHT.
SO HOW WILL THAT REFLECTED LIGHT IMPACT DRIVERS AND THEIR VISION? CAN THIS CONTRIBUTE TO GLARE AND CAUSE POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS AND THEN BE A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN AT THAT POINT, OR JUST REALLY ANNOYING TO DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY OUR ELDERS THAT ALREADY HAVE A HARD TIME DRIVING.
LASTLY, FOR RIGHT NOW, ASSUMING THAT THIS PAVEMENT WILL LOWER SURFACE TEMPERATURES, WHICH I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL, IT WILL, WILL IT HAVE ANY REAL SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AIR TEMPERATURES, WHICH IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT, RIGHT? IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, WE'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT A HALF DEGREE IMPROVEMENT.
SO THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THESE IS THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET, RIGHT? SO ALL I'M SAYING IS I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE INVESTING $2 MILLION INTO SOMETHING THAT'S STILL BEING STUDIED THAT WE DON'T KNOW OFFICIALLY WORKS, AND THAT COULD COME WITH POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES.
HERE WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WORK THAT INVOLVE NATURE AND THAT COMES WITH NUMEROUS OTHER BENEFITS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN INTO THESE THINGS.
ESPEC, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
AND SO WHEN I SEE SOMETHING LIKE GREEN SPACES ONLY GETTING $150,000 IS JUST REALLY UPSETTING AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING OUT ON SOME, SOME REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND A POSITIVE COMMUNITY ASSET 150 K IS NOT ENOUGH.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THAT GONNA GET US? I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST A PILOT PROGRAM, BUT SO WAS THE COOLING PAVEMENT PROGRAM AND WE STARTED THAT OFF AT A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS LIKE 10 TIMES MORE THAN WHAT GREEN SPACES ARE GETTING.
I'M OPEN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
SO PERHAPS IF THE COOLING PAVEMENT PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY PROVEN EFFECTIVE, THEN SURE, LET'S ALLOCATE SOME MORE DOLLARS TO IT.
BUT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I'M BEING FAIR, AND I'M NOT EVEN ASKING YOU GUYS TO TAKE AWAY THE FULL 2 MILLION, BUT INSTEAD CUT THAT IN HALF OR AT THE VERY LEAST, TAKE OUT $500,000 AND INSTEAD DIRECT THIS TO THE GREEN SPACE VACANT LAW ACTIVATION PROGRAM ENOUGH WITH GREEN SPACES.
SO LAST WEEK I EXPRESSED TO Y'ALL THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE UNDERVALUING OUR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS IN THIS BUDGET, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SIMILAR EAGERNESS FOR FUNDING SS A CORE A C S AND EVEN SS A F D AS WE DO S A P D.
AFTER ALL, THEY ARE HEROES AS WELL.
TO START OFF, SA CORE DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE LOVE IN THIS BUDGET AND EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS IT.
IN A PREVIOUS BUDGET MEETING, THE CITY EVEN ADMITTED TO US, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER EVERY MENTAL HEALTH CALL.
THE CHIEF ASSURES US THAT THERE'S NOT A GAP IN RESOURCES BECAUSE IF MENTAL HEALTH CAN'T RESPOND, OFFICERS WILL.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THEM AREN'T DOING WHAT THEY'RE TRAINED TO DO AND IT'S COSTING US LIVES.
ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT SHOT AND KILLED THAT WOMAN SUFFERING AN ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, ALL COMPLETED MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND DEESCALATION PRACTICES, AND IF WE HAVE OFFICERS SAYING THAT THEY FEEL THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM IS NEVER AVAILABLE, SO THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA CALL THEM, THEN WE DO HAVE A GAP IN RESOURCES.
THIS ISN'T MEANT TO PUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON BLAST, IT'S SIMPLY JUST THAT MENTAL HEALTH UNITS NEED TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS.
JUST LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ONLY POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDING FIRES, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL 2025, LIKE WHAT MOST OF YOU WANT TO DO.
THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW BECAUSE IT'S COSTING US LIVES.
AND IF THIS WAS ANY ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU WOULD BE ACTING IN URGENCY ON THIS.
WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE UNDERFUNDED THINGS AND A C S THAT EITHER NEED MORE MONEY OR REALLOCATION OF THE ALREADY EXISTING MILLIONS FOR THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHY IS RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP ONLY GETTING $59,000? WHEN I'VE HEARD EVERY PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL SAY THAT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP IS A HUGE FACTOR IN OUR ANIMAL PROBLEM, ONCE AGAIN, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE FOCUSED ON PREVENTATIVE SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF JUST REACTING, WHICH IS WHY EDUCATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH FREE OR LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES AND MORE FACILITIES ARE CRITICAL.
I FEEL LIKE THIS BUDGET STILL NEEDS TO SUBSIDIZE THESE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND JUST LIKE SS A P D, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE A C S IS JUST AS REMARKABLY STAFFED BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ONLY ABLE TO RESPOND TO 44% OF CRITICAL CALLS THEY RECEIVE
[01:20:01]
ONLY STRIVING TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER BY 20% IS A DISGRACE.AND TO SEE, SEE YOU USE THEIR TAX, THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON KILLING YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.
AND EVERY WEEK, CITIZENS OVERWHELMINGLY TELL YOU THIS AT PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ALL KNOW THROWING MILLIONS AT A C SS WON'T JUST FIX OUR PROBLEM.
WE NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WE HAVE ACTUALLY YET TO SEE LAID OUT BY THIS COUNCIL.
I KNOW THE CITY IS NOT GONNA TAKE AWAY THE FULL 1.1 MILLION INTENDED FOR THE FITNESS FACILITY.
SO I'M BEING REALISTIC AND I'M ASKING FOR COUNCIL ERIC WALSH, CITY STAFF, UH, TO CUT THE 1.1 MILLION IN HALF.
THAT WAY THE POLICE CAN STILL GET THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, BUT LET'S FACE IT, THEY DON'T NEED THE FULL MILLION.
AND INSTEAD, DIRECT THAT TO THE UNDERREPRESENTED PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS THAT DESPERATELY NEED IT MORE LIKE A C S AND SA CORP.
LASTLY, LET'S DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THE CITY HAS EVER MADE ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE BUDGET BASED ON PUBLIC INPUT FROM ALL THE TOWN HALLS AND BUDGET HEARINGS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE FOR.
WHY ARE WE HAVING THESE AFTER THE BUDGET IS ALREADY CREATED? I HOPE YOU ALL CAN FIND SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AND ANIMALS THAT ARE COUNTING ON YOU AND HOPING THAT SOMETHING WILL CHANGE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 14TH.
AND AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
MS. SANCHEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL VIAL.
I, UH, LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTH TEXAS.
WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
WE SEE OVER 20,000 PATIENTS IN OUR FIVE HEALTH CENTERS IN SAN ANTONIO EVERY YEAR, AND WE KNOW THIS FUND WILL HELP PEOPLE LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES HERE IN OUR CITY.
WE WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE LAUNCHED THIS INITIATIVE TO CREATE THE FUND AVOW, THE LILITH FUND, SAN ANTONIO AND JANE'S DUE PROCESS.
WE JOIN THEM IN SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF THIS FUND, WHICH AIMS TO EMPOWER SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENTS WITH PROVIDING MEDICALLY ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
DESPITE THE GAINS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, SAN ANTONIO STILL HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST TEEN PREGNANCY RATES.
ACCORDING TO THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT'S 2020 TEEN BIRTH REPORT.
OUR TEEN BIRTH RATE NEARLY MATCHES THE STATE OF TEXAS AND TEXAS CONTINUES TO RANK WITHIN THE TOP 10 IN THE NATION, 14 BIRTH RATES.
FURTHER, OUR STATE HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES IN THE COUNTRY AND RAPIDLY INCREASING INFANT MORTALITY RATES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT IS CLEAR THAT MORE LOCAL RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO CAN BECOME PREGNANT, ACCESS THAT PREVENTATIVE CARE THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY AND STAY HEALTHY.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS DATA THAT SHOWS OUR CITY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF THE HIGHEST RATE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE OF ANY LARGE TEXAS CITY, AND THIS UNFORTUNATE DESIGNATION COMES AS NO SURPRISE, GIVEN THAT NEARLY 20% OF SAN ANTONIANS UNDER THE AGE OF 65 LACK HEALTH INSURANCE, AND THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS BUREAU, IT'S THROUGH THIS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND THAT SAN ANTONIANS CAN OBTAIN FREE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESOURCES WITHOUT SHAME OR JUDGMENT.
RESOURCES COULD INCLUDE PREGNANCY TESTS, MENSTRUATION PRODUCTS, UH, EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, S T I TESTING, CONDOMS, DIAPERS, FORMULA, PRENATAL VITAMINS, AND POSTPARTUM AND INFANT CARE ITEMS. THIS FUND WILL ALSO PROVIDE CRITICAL NEEDS LIKE DOULA TRAINING, CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY SOUND, SEXUAL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE NAVIGATION.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTH TEXAS BELIEVES ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION THEY NEED TO LIVE HEALTHY AND FULFILLING LIVES.
AND WE STAND PROUDLY HERE TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE LEADING THE EFFORT TO CREATE THE SAN ANTONIO REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THERESA EZ.
WHO, WHO IS WITH YOU? UH, LINDA DAVILA AND RAY VIE.
OKAY, Y'ALL HAVE NINE MINUTES.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CASTANO HOMES AND SLASH UH, CO METRO, UM, LEADER.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO ASK Y'ALL FOR FUNDS TO REPAIR THE CASTANOS.
THEY'RE NOT LIVABLE, IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN OUR FLOORS.
EVERY TIME WE CLEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE, IF IT'S NOT CLEAN
[01:25:01]
ENOUGH, UM, WE BUY OUR OWN RODENT, UH, RODENT MEDICINES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.UH, WE HAVE RATS NESTING IN OUR STOVE AND OUR BRAND NEW FURNITURE AS WE BUY.
UM, WE'RE JUST TIRED OF LIVING LIKE THIS.
UM, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO ASK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL'S HELP.
AND I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR NU BERG AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR SUPPORTING US, AND PLEASE SAY YES TO THESE FUNDINGS.
I'M A COPS METRO LEADER FROM ST.
TIMOTHY ON THE WEST SIDE, AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE MORE THAN 57,000 RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, AND APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THEM ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
TIMOTHY NEIGHBORS LIVING IN THE UNITS OF CASTANO HOMES, WHICH TURNED 70 YEARS OLD THIS SUMMER, MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
WE MOST RECENTLY BROUGHT CASTANO HOMES TO YOUR ATTENTION BACK IN APRIL, AND YOU MADE A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT US IN OUR EFFORTS TO BRING MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION AND FUNDING TO THE AGING BUILDINGS WITH SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
WE DO THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THAT COMMITMENT.
THROUGH THE COLLABORATION STARTED AMONG THE KEY PLAYERS NEEDED TO ADDRESS RESIDENTS CONCERNS.
WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR PROPOSING THE CREATION OF THE ACCESSIBILITY AND MODERNIZATION FUND, WHICH WILL BE USED TO REPAIR, REHABILITATE, AND MODERNIZE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
WE REALIZE THAT FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IS COMPLICATED, BUT HAVING FAMILIES STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF BACK AND FORTH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THE EXISTING CONDITIONS AT THE CALANO HOMES COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER OPPORTUNITY HOME HOUSING CREATE AN EMERGENCY CALL FOR CHANGE.
SOME OF THESE UNITS ARE ALREADY UNLIVABLE.
AS CRYSTAL JUST PROCLAIMED TO YOU.
I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO TAKE UP THE RESIDENCE FOR A WEEK, MAYBE EVEN TWO DAYS, SO YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELVES HOW DIRE THE LIVING CONDITIONS ARE.
WE URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY AND MODERNIZATION FUND.
THE RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT WILL LEAD TO HEALTHIER AND SAFER LIVING FOR THE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS ALSO CRUCIAL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.
SO WE COMMIT TO YOU THAT WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES AS WE DID YOU TO DISCUSS INCREASED FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO.
YOU'VE MADE COMMITMENTS, DON'T BACK DOWN.
NOW, OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN, DESERVE A HAPPY, SAFE, AND HEALTHY PLACE TO CALL HOME.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY STAFF.
I AM A COPS METRO LEADER WITH ST.
FRANCIS OF SY PARISH, AND I RESIDE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK AND SUPPORT THIS MORNING REGARDING THE PROPOSED ACCESSIBILITY AND MODERNIZATION FUNDING FOR OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO.
TIMOTHY IS OUR SISTER PARISH TO, UH, ST.
FRANCIS AND THE, UH, PARISHIONERS OF ST.
TIMOTHY HAVE SHED QUITE A BIT OF LIGHT, UH, AS WAS DONE THIS MORNING ON THE TERRIBLE LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE CASCIANO APARTMENTS.
THIS FUND WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS SOME VERY DIRE NEEDS THERE.
THESE ARE VERY BASIC ESSENTIAL REPAIRS AND UPGRADES THAT ARE SO NECESSARY AT THE PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITIES OPERATED BY OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO.
IN ADDITION, THESE FUNDS WILL PROVIDE, UH, UH, COMPASSION OR, OR SHOW COMPASSION AND PROVIDE HOPE FOR MANY PEOPLE THERE.
THESE REPAIRS ARE CRUCIAL IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SO MANY PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO ENHANCE THEIR LIVING STANDARDS.
MANY CHILDREN AND ELDERLY AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS WILL BE IMPACTED VERY POSITIVELY BY THESE FUNDS.
THIS REQUEST REINFORCES MANY OF THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EQUITY GOALS.
AND FINALLY, THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED TO SUBSTANTIALLY ADDRESS EVERYDAY NORMAL LIVING CONDITIONS AND STANDARDS THAT MOST OF US ENJOY.
COPS METRO WILL BE REACHING OUT TO COUNCIL
[01:30:01]
MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR, UH, FROM YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS HOW IMPORTANT THIS FUNDING IS TO THE ENTIRE CITY.AND WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR CITY AND IN MAKING SAN ANTONIO THE BEST CITY TO LIVE IN IN AMERICA.
MS. IBANEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ARIANA RODRIGUEZ.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NUREMBERG, I'M, WE'RE HERE AS A GROUP, UH, WITH FREE TEXAS, AND, UH, I HAVE, UH, MS. LIGHT WALKER.
UH, WHO IS THE C E O FOR FREE? TEXAS.
WHO, WHO ELSE IS IN YOUR GROUP? I DON'T HAVE YOU LISTED MS. WALKER, BUT IF YOU'RE A PART OF THE GROUP, UH, AS LONG AS FOLKS ARE SIGNED UP, WHO IS, WHO ELSE IS, UM, LEGALLY KIMBERLY, MARIE AND CHRISTOPHER CHIPOTLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP OTHER THAN YOU, THERESA, SO, BUT YOU CAN SPEAK AS A GROUP AS YOU'D LIKE.
UM, I WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY EACH OF YOU CITY COUNCILMEN.
AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY.
I HAD BEEN SPEAKING WITH THERESA AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE NOW AND BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO MY DISTRICT A COUNCILMAN ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING SO MUCH FREE TEXAS STANDS FOR FINISHED RECIDIVISM THROUGH EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND DIVINITY.
I AM SOMEBODY THAT IS FORMERLY INCARCERATED AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE THAT ARE NOW WORKING AT FREE TEXAS THAT ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT OUR FORMERLY INCARCERATED AS SOMEBODY THAT WAS FORMERLY INCARCERATED.
WHEN I CAME OUT, I LIVED AT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND FOR THAT YEAR AND A HALF AT LIVING AT HAVEN FOR HOPE, IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO GET HOUSING.
ONCE I CAME OUT, I WAS CON, CONTINUOUSLY CRIMINALIZED TO A POINT WHERE I COULD NOT GET ADEQUATE HOUSING.
I COULDN'T GET ADEQUATE EDUCATION AND ADEQUATE EMPLOYMENT.
I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO HELP REDUCE THE HARM THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, THE HOMELESSNESS THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH AND THE CRIME PREVENTION THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS, WE REALLY SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE CITIZENS THAT ARE HERE WHEN THEY COME OUT OF INCARCERATION, HOW THEY'RE TREATED.
AND WHAT I MEAN IS THINKING ABOUT OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IS PREDOMINANTLY OUR FORMERLY INCARCERATED POPULATION BECAUSE WHEN WE COME OUT, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOLVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE HOUSING THAT WE NEED, OR WE DON'T HAVE FAMILIES, UM, FAMILY MEMBERS OR OUR PLACES THAT WE CAN SAY THAT ARE SAFE.
I WAS VERY BLESSED TO LIVE IN THE SHELTER, BUT IT WAS VERY HARD LIVING IN THE SHELTER.
AND WHEN IT CAME A TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET HOUSING, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET HOUSING, THEY HAD FAMILY FRIENDLY HOUSING, WHICH IS VERY DILAPIDATED HOUSING THAT'S OFFERED TO OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION WITH VERY POOR MANAGEMENT.
AND THAT POOR MANAGEMENT IS WHERE WE KNOW THAT IF WE'RE NOT COMPLYING WITH WHATEVER THEY SAY, WE CAN BE BACK INTO THE HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS AGAIN, THIS IS A CYCLE THAT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY HAPPENING FOR WAY TOO LONG.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHARE THAT OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION DEFINITELY NEED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT COULD BE ABLE TO BE RESPOND TO THEM.
MEANING THAT RIGHT NOW, EVEN GOING TO COLLEGES, THERE ARE CAREERS THAT WE CANNOT EVEN GET BECAUSE OF OUR BACKGROUNDS.
WE ARE BEING CONSTANTLY CRIMINALIZED FREE.
TEXAS IS REALLY ON THE FOREFRONT OF DOING THINGS HOLISTICALLY WHERE WE HAVE CLASSES MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, WE PAY OUR FORMERLY INCARCERATED $15 AN HOUR WHILE THEY DO THEIR WORK WITH US.
AS WELL AS WE DO PEER SUPPORT.
WE HAVE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT CIVICS AND DIVINITY, AND WE DO A GREAT DAY OF THERAPEUTIC CARE WITH AN IN IN-HOUSE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AS WELL AS A COUNSELOR.
AND ONE OF OUR ALUMNI SCHOLARS, CHRISTOPHER CHIPOTLE, THAT DID 12 YEARS, EIGHT YEARS IN SIG, HAS BEEN NOW TEACHING OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, PLEASE THINK ABOUT FREE TEXAS AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT OUR FORMERLY INCARCERATED THAT REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, YOU ALL, AND I WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
MS. RODRIGUEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN SILVER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A CONSTITUENT FROM DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M THE YOUTH ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT JANE'S DUE PROCESS.
JANE'S DUE PROCESS IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT
[01:35:01]
THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS ABORTION CARE, BIRTH CONTROL, AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES.I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ESTABLISHING A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.
SINCE ROE WAS OVERTURNED, THERE HAS BEEN A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN CALLS TO THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VI VIOLENCE HOTLINE ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE COERCION.
THERE HAS BEEN A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE, AND WE KNOW FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, THIS RULING HAS INCREASED THEIR CHANCES OF EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE AND CREATED NEW BARRIERS.
FOR MANY OF OUR TEENS WHEN THEY ACCESS CARE, IT IS THEIR FIRST TIME EVER ON A PLANE, THEIR FIRST TIME EVER OUT OF STATE.
OUR FORMER CLIENT, VERONICA, SAID IT BEST, BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, LIKE COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION DURING MY ABORTION COULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY TO MAKE MY OWN INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT MY BODY.
SAN ANTONIO SHOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO NEED THEM.
FUNDING FOR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT FOR TEENS LIKE OUR CLIENT, VERONICA, WHO DESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCESS ABORTION ON THE JANE DUE PROCESS, HOTLINE AND TEXTLINE, WE ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE CALL AND TEXT US, AND THEY ARE TERRIFIED OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR BODIES.
THEY'RE SCARED OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE AND WHO AREN'T EVEN SURE WHAT IS AND ISN'T ILLEGAL.
WE'VE HAD ADULTS CALL IN TO ASK US IF IT'S ILLEGAL TO GET BIRTH CONTROL.
AND I SHARE THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE LACK OF EDUCATION ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL.
SAN ANTONIO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES WHERE THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED.
BY ESTABLISHING A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, YOU CAN DIRECTLY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THIS FUND WOULD FACILITATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES SUCH AS PREGNANCY, TEST, CONTRACEPTION, S T I TESTING AND DOULAS.
TEXAS HAS SOME OF THE WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES.
BY INVESTING IN THIS FUND, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOURISH OUR COMMUNITY SO IT CAN THRIVE AND SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO FOLLOW SUIT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE A STAND FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND ALLOCATE FUNDS TO CREATE A BRIGHTER, HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
MR. SILVER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY HOWIE NESTO.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN,
UM, I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT EVERYTHING I SAID LAST WEEK, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UH, AS THE GRANT MANAGER, I DEAL WITH THE NUMBERS AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE PROVIDED IN 2022 16,904 SERVICES FOR 267 LOCAL PATIENTS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A WAITING LIST OF 1,619.
UM, WE, UM, DEFINITELY, UH, UH, COULD USE THE FUNDING THAT WE REQUESTED, IF NOT ALL, SOME THAT WOULD BE NICE.
UH, FURTHER, UM, I WANNA INVITE THE, UM, THE NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, TO COME AND VISIT.
SO WE HAVE EVERYBODY, UH, KNOWS WHAT WE DO.
UM, OUR UNFUNDED AND UNDERFUNDED, WHICH WAS TOUCHED ON, UH, EXCEEDS $4 MILLION.
THAT'S OUR, UM, THAT'S OUR PAYMENT MODEL.
YOU PAY WHAT YOU CAN AND IF YOU CAN'T, YOU DON'T.
WE RECEIVE NO FUNDING FOR SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING OR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, NUTRITION AND RECREATIONAL THERAPY.
THOSE ARE ALL DONE BASICALLY FOR FREE, IF YOU WILL.
UM, AND I WANNA CONCLUDE BY, UH, MENTIONING THAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUNT I REPORTED TO THE AREA FOUNDATION, WE HAD 27 FAMILIES MOVE TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE SERVICES IN IN THEIR CITY.
AND I MEAN, CITIES LIKE DALLAS, UM, OUT WESTERN CALIFORNIA, UM, THE FAMILIES COME HERE IN A PROGRAM WE CALL, UH, THE INTENSIVE PROGRAM, 35 SESSIONS, AND THEY COME THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
AND THAT IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED IN THAT TIME.
SO THEY SAY, OKAY, WHAT THE HECK? WE'LL MOVE HERE.
SO, UM, ALL OF THOSE FACTORS REALLY INFORM THE REASON THAT WE SHOULD GET, UH, FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
THANK YOU, MR. SILVER, HOWIE NESTLE, MR. NESTLE, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY BARBARA REYES.
[01:40:01]
MORNING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS, I'VE SAT ON A HUNDRED NONPROFIT BOARDS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'VE VOLUNTEERED COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES AND I'M HAPPY TO JOIN YOU ALL AT THE FOOD BANK.
IF YOU GUYS WILL JOIN ME AT THE CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION INSTITUTE, TELE TON U S A, UH, OVER AT, UH, IN DISTRICT 10.
AND, UH, YOU GUYS VOLUNTEER OR COME TAKE A TOUR.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE, SO I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT.
I'VE BEEN AS, UH, JEFF GOLDBLATT MENTIONED EARLIER, AN AN AMBASSADOR AS WELL FOR CRIT.
I CAME TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AND EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN HERE INVOLVED WITH NONPROFITS FOR SO MANY YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED.
AND WHEN I INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND TAKE A TOUR AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH, AND I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT IT'S NEXT TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AND ACROSS FROM THE SOCCER FIELD, THEY SAY, OH, I'VE SEEN THE SEEN THE BUILDING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO.
SO YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, AND I WANNA TELL YOU AND, AND, UH, POINT, UH, TO THE SCREENS THAT YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THERE.
UH, TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY FRIEND MOI, WHO THE MAYOR HAS MET BEFORE, UH, THIS LITTLE BOY HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME AGE AS MY YOUNGEST SON, MAX.
AND WHEN I HAVE TO FOLLOW HOLLY AND HOLLY'S MOM UP HERE, I GET VERY EMOTIONAL THINKING ABOUT IT.
I CAN'T TALK AND SEE MY CHILDREN GETTING DRESSED AND GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN AT CRIT.
YOU'VE HEARD THE STORIES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND MY STORY IS NO DIFFERENT.
HE CAME HERE BECAUSE HIS PARENTS WERE TOLD THAT HIS SON WOULD NEVER WALK.
HE HAD BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR FIVE YEARS.
HIS DAD WOULD TALK TO ME AND TELL ME THAT HE WOULD DRAG HIMSELF ACROSS THE GROUND, ACROSS THE FLOOR BEFORE GOING TO CRIT.
HIS DAD BEING A TRUCK DRIVER SAVED UP MONEY TO BE ABLE TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND TAKE HIS SON TO CRIT.
NOW HE'S 12 YEARS OLD, SAME AGE AS MY SON MAX.
HE'S A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF SOCIETY JUST LIKE HIS PARENTS ARE.
HE'S FUNDRAISING, HE'S RUNNING FOR FIESTA KING.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN THE PARADES WITH HIM.
HE IS JUST A KIND, COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEING THAT I KNOW AS AN ADULT WOULD BE A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR SOCIETY.
THIS STORY IS REPEATED HUNDREDS OF TIMES WITH THESE CHILDREN.
AND WITHOUT THE INDEPENDENCE THAT CRIT IS GIVING THEM, THEY MIGHT END UP HAVING TO BE LOOKED AFTER, NOT ONLY BY OUR GOVERNMENT, BUT BY THEIR PARENTS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
AND WHAT CRIT IS DOING IS MAKING THESE CHILDREN TO GROW UP, TO BE INDEPENDENT HUMAN BEINGS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE BACK TO WHAT OUR CITY IS ALL ABOUT.
AND IT IS QUITE AMAZING TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION THAT CRIT IS HAVING ON THESE CHILDREN.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, LIKE I MENTIONED, WITH A LOT OF NONPROFITS AND WE HAVE SO MANY GOOD ONES HERE, AND THEY ALL NEED TO BE FUNDED.
I DO SOMETHING WITH HIM WITH HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, A LOT OF IMPORTANT, UH, CAUSES, BUT THE TRANSFORMATION, YOU'VE HEARD MAGIC, YOU'VE HEARD MIRACLES.
IT'S, IT'S A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT IS PROVEN AND IS UNIQUE.
THE ONLY CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES IS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT IT AT THE CITY LEVEL.
MS. REYES, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ANI DE LA GARZA.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M BARBARA REYES AND I'M HERE IN THE CAPACITY OF A VOLUNTEER.
I STARTED MY JOURNEY AT THE CRIT U SS A, UH, APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO, NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO, BUT LOOKING FOR PURPOSE AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH GROWN CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
I STARTED OUT GREETING AND MEETING PARENTS AND PATIENTS AS THEY WOULD COME IN AND HELPING THEM GET TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS ON TIME.
I QUICKLY TRANSITIONED INTO TRANSLATING WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND WITH THE PHYSICIANS OR WITH THERAPISTS, AND THAT'S WHENEVER MY EYES WERE OPEN TO THE NEED.
UM, PARENTS WHO I JUST FELT ON MY OWN INITIATIVE, I NEEDED TO ASK, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH HERE WITH YOUR CHILD? AND ALL OF THEM CONSISTENTLY WOULD SAY, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DAY WHEN I'M NOT HERE ANYMORE AND WHO'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY CHILD? I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT MY CHILD HAS EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THE WORLD TO DO, TO BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH VOLUNTEERS, WITH THE WORK THAT'S THERE IN THE STAFF.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT'S NEEDED IS FUNDING.
AND I PROCEEDED AT THAT POINT TO TRY TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED AND SEE WHAT WAS NEEDED.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE HELPED US, BUT THE NEED, UH, WILL NEVER BE COMPLETELY FULFILLED.
[01:45:01]
TO, TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART, BASICALLY, SO THAT YOU ALL CAN UNDERSTAND AND FEEL.AND I ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT GONE AND TAKEN THE TOUR AND SEEN THE BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES, THE SMILES AND JUST THE PLAIN HAPPINESS.
BUT TO WATCH A CHILD, MY FIRST PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WAS A CHILD THAT COULD NOT WALK AND HAD BEEN TOLD THAT HE WOULD NEVER WALK.
AND SHE BRINGS HIM EVERY WEEK.
AND BY YEAR FOUR, I SAW THIS CHILD WALKING UP AND DOWN THE HI THE HALLWAYS.
SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S MORE GRATIFYING THAN THAT.
BUT THAT IS MY, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
MS. DE LA GARZA BE FOLLOWED BY DESTINY ESPINOZA.
MY NAME IS ANI DE LA GARZA AND IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE, REPRESENT THE CRE U SS A MOMS, AND TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THE IMPRO THE IMPORTANCE OF MY SON BEGIN INT TON U S A PASSION OF 10 YEARS.
MY SON WAS BORN WITH A LIFE CONDITION, CALL IT LEFT HEMIPLEGIA, WHICH ONLY AFFECT THE FINE AND THE GROSS MOTOR PART.
THE DOG TALK TOLD ME THAT THE BEST MEDICINE IS EXERCISE, SO I DID THAT.
BUT IN 2015, THIS SUDDENLY CHANGED WHEN MY SON RAMON MILANO BEGIN TO HAVE A TERRIBLE SEIZURES.
AND UPON A RIP AT THE HOSPITAL, THE DOCTORS GIVE A TERRIBLE DIAGNOSTIC BRAIN CANCER, YES, CANCER NOW STARTING A NEW BATTLE AND SUBMITTED HIM TO A
HE PARTICIPATE IN TRACK FIELD SWIMMING, GOLF, ARCHERY, AND HE HAVE EXCELLENT GRADES.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, HE HAVE, UH, FRIENDS WITH THE TON WHO PROVIDE HIM WITH DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT.
I ONLY TO SAY THANKS, GOD AND THE ALL THE STAFF THAT WORK IN THE TON U SS A FOR MAKING A GREAT IMPACT IN YOUR LIFE.
MS. DELA GZA, DESTINY ESPINOSA.
MS. ESPINOZA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN BACHMAN.
HELLO, ENOS DIAZ COUNCIL, ENOS DIAZ MAJOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS DESTINY ESPINOZA AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION.
I REPRESENT HERE AND I REPRESENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT I WAS ALSO ONCE A PATIENT AT THE CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION INSTITUTE IS A PLACE THAT IS FULL OF RESOURCES.
IT'S FULL OF HOPE AND IT'S FULL OF LOVE.
THEY HAVE PROVIDED LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MYSELF AND MANY OTHER FAMILIES.
THIS INSTITUTION PROVIDES THE SUPPORT, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY TO STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF.
I WAS ABLE TO BALANCE MY THERAPY, MY SCHOOL, MY WORK.
I WAS THERE FIVE YEARS SINCE I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.
MY LIFE CHANGED FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER, BUT FORTUNATELY I FOUND A
BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR AND HAVING A DISABILITY IS A CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE TO FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
LIFE IS FULL OF ADVERSITIES AND THE CITY, THE WORLD IS NOT ADAPTED FOR ME.
AND WHEN YOUR LIFE CHANGES FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER, YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THAT.
BUT WITH THE RESOURCES AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT GRIT, I WAS ABLE TO BE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO FACE THOSE CHALLENGES.
I AM NOW ABLE TO WALK WITH BRACES THANKS TO THE THERAPY AND TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED, BUT THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE THE DREAM TO GROW ONE DAY AND BE ABLE TO BECOME SOMEONE BIG.
BUT HAVING TO LEARN TO BALANCE THAT LIFE AND THE DISABILITY, IT'S VERY A GREAT, GREAT CHALLENGE.
AND I HOPE THAT THE GRE PROVIDES THOSE RESOURCES FOR MANY OTHER STUDENTS, MANY OTHER CHILDREN, MANY OTHER PARENTS THAT
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THEY'LL KNOW THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT HOPE TO BECOME SOMEBODY BIG ONE DAY.AND I AM IN A WAY WHERE I WANT TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING VERY, VERY BIG.
AND I HOPE THOSE CHILDREN SEE THAT AS AN INSPIRATION, BUT ALSO HAVE THAT RESOURCE AS A GREET TO BE ABLE TO REACH THEIR GOALS.
MR. BACHMAN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
UH, MAYOR RON AND CITY COUNCIL.
UH, I ENJOYED THE PRESENTATIONS BEFORE, ESPECIALLY FROM FOOD BANK ABOUT SENIORS AND ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, I NEVER HEARD ONE MENTION OF PETS.
EVEN TO POOR PEOPLE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE PET FOOD.
THEY ALSO ARE IMPORTANT TO SENIORS AND IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT PETS ARE OFTEN THE GREATEST HELP FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS. ANYWAY, ONTO WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
I THINK I'VE SHARED WITH YOU ALL THE NEGATIVES ABOUT A C S I BELIEVE YOU AND EVERYONE KNOWS SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
I DID NOT GET COPIES OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART TO ALL OF YOU, BUT THIS MORNING I EMAILED YOU ALL ONE.
IT IS USING THE FUNDS WHICH GO UNUSED EVERY YEAR FOR THE VACANT POSITIONS, 38 PRESENTLY IN A C S AND THE INCOMPLETE PROGRAMS THAT REAL CHANGE CAN BE ACHIEVED.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CITY OR OF THE A C S ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION.
THIS WILL BE CHEAP COMPARED TO THE BUDGET.
ALSO, DO A SURVEY FOR ANIMAL STATISTICS IN THIS CITY.
I WILL ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
I WILL WRITE UP THE PROBLEM TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF SPAY AND NEUTER NECESSARY AND PRESENT IT TO JAYLEN'S CLASS OR ANY CLASS AS AN ASSIGNMENT.
ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROGRAM WILL BE ORGANIZED TO ACCOMPLISH THESE NECESSARY SPAY NEUT, INCLUDING A C S ASSETS, SPAY AND NEUTER PARTNERS, CITY OWNED FACILITIES, AND ALL VETS IN SAN ANTONIO WHO WANT TO JOIN.
USING MEANS TESTING VOUCHERS AND REFERRALS.
THE RESCUE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED TO HELP ALL RESCUES, NOT JUST THE SIX.
NOW, THE ADOPTION PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OFFSITE ADOPTIONS AND OFFSITE FACILITIES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
THE FOSTER PROGRAM WILL BE SIMPLIFIED AND EXPANDED, BE SIMPLER FOR FOSTERS TO USE AND BE MORE HELPFUL TO THEM WITH SUCH THINGS AS MEDICAL CARE AND TRAINING.
TRUE NO KILL WILL BE THE GOAL AND WILL BE ACHIEVED.
AND THEN WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AND ANNOUNCE TO THE WHOLE WORLD THAT SAN ANTONIO IS THE BEST CITY FOR ANIMALS IN THE US AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM.
JACK FINGER, MR. FINGER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ALMA GONZALEZ.
MAYOR NURENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.
I AM A CITIZEN, A TAXPAYER, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, UNLIKE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PRESENTERS.
I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANY GIVEAWAYS TODAY.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO PUT A ROOF OVER MY HEAD OR TAKE CARE OF MY SICK CHILD OR TO GIVE ME ANY HEALTHCARE.
AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT ASKING YOU TO PUT ANY MONEY INTO A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE BABY KILLING FUND.
I AM BY THAT SAME TOKEN THOUGH, ASKING YOU TO PRETTY MUCH LEAVE ME THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYER ALONE.
I, BUT I DON'T SEEM TO SEE THAT IN THE CURRENT BUDGET HERE.
I I'VE MENTIONED THIS MESSAGE BEFORE, BUT Y'ALL DON'T SEEM TO HAVE GOTTEN IT.
[01:55:01]
UH, AND I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE, UM, THE PROPOSED SOLID WASTE MONTHLY FEE INCREASE.UM, REGARDING THE TAKE WHEN WE, THE, UH, THE HOMEOWNERS CITIZENS TAKE OUT OUR GARBAGE, WE TRY TO BE DUTIFUL, UM, UH, CITIZENS.
WE TRY TO BE STEWARDS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
CONSEQUENTLY, WE FOLLOW YOUR INSTRUCTIONS, UM, RECYCLING, RECYCLING OUR RECYCLABLES, PUTTING IN THIS, UH, THIS RUBBISH IN THIS CAN AND THIS, UH, UH, SHRUB CUTTINGS IN THIS OTHER CAN AND PUTTING ALL THE OTHER GARBAGE IN THIS OTHER CAN.
AND HOW ARE WE REWARDED FOR OUR CONCERNS AND OUR DILIGENCE? WE GET A RATE INCREASE.
UH, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
LET'S SEE, WHAT DOES IT SAY HERE? UH, UH, NOTHING FOR THE NO INCREASE ON THE SMALL CART, BUT THE MEDIUM CART IS ABOUT, UH, WELL, IT'S ABOUT A DOLLAR INCREASE.
THAT'S ABOUT, UH, IT COMES TO ABOUT, UH, FIVE, AT LEAST 5% INCREASE THERE.
5% LARGE CART, ANOTHER 3 49 THAT COMES TO ABOUT, UH, OH, 14% IS IN MY ESTIMATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE AT THE BOTTOM THERE.
AND DOLLAR 26, THAT'S, THAT'S ABOUT ALMOST, UH, A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE OVER WHAT WE HAVE, UH, NOW.
SO YES, MR.
UH, SO CONSEQUENTLY DO, IS THIS HOW YOU WANT TO REWARD US? THE PERSON TRYING TO DO THINGS RIGHT.
AND THE, UH, AND THE TAX RATE.
Y'ALL MENTIONED HOW WE'RE GIVING US A BIG TAX CUT.
THE TAX CUT IS A WHOPPING TWO THOUSANDS OF PENNY PER HUNDRED DO DOLLARS OF, OF, UM, VALUATION.
AND WHAT DOES THAT FLIP TO THE SIDE? FLIP IT THERE.
IT HAD A 40 CENTS SAVINGS, A GIGANTIC 40 CENTS SAVINGS AVERAGE FOR EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, MR. FINGER ALMA GONZALEZ.
MS. GONZALEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY FREDERICA SORIANO.
HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE VOLUNTEERS FROM CRIT U S A.
I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW AND HAVE HEARD SO MANY STORIES OF OVERCOMING STRENGTH AND POSITIVITY THAT REAFFIRMED ME THE VALUE OF LOVING LIFE.
BUT ABOVE ALL, HOW FRAGILE IT IS TODAY.
YOU'RE SITTING HERE TODAY AND WE'RE ALL HERE LISTENING TO ME SPEAK.
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE CAN HAPPEN.
NONE OF US HERE TODAY, WE'RE NOT EXEMPT FROM A DISABILITY OR A LIFE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO CONSIDER CRIT AS A PART OF THE CITY'S BUDGET.
WHY? BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY FAMILIES, 1,600 FAMILIES TO BE EXACT WAITING TO BE TREATED, WAITING FOR, TO START THEIR LIFE CHANGING JOURNEY.
I KNOW THAT AS A, AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF AND FROM COMING FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY, I'VE BEEN SO PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME PRIVILEGE.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING HERE TODAY AND HAVING THE POWER TO MAKE THESE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES, THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO GIVE THAT FAMILY THAT HOPE.
AND AS WELL AS MY GENERATION TO SEE THAT CHANGE.
AND I HOPE THAT I'M AN INSPIRATION FOR SO MANY VOLUNTEERS TO GET INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OUR WORLD IS CHANGING IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND ONE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO LEAVE WITH YOU TODAY IS SOMETHING THAT I LIVE BY EVERY DAY WHEN I WAKE UP, WHICH IS WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE, BUT WHAT WE DO WITH THAT TIME IS UP TO US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME AGAIN LAST WEEK.
I GAVE YOU SOME NUMBERS OF WHAT WE DO THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PICTURE WHO WE SERVICE AND HOW WE DO IT.
NAMES ARE NOT REAL BECAUSE OF HIPAA, BUT PLEASE PICTURE MAX.
HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY RUN OVER BY BY HIS DAD WHILE BACKING UP HIS TRUCK.
KAYLEE WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE MOM WAS INTOXICATED.
MARIA WAS DRIVING A SMALL MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT A
[02:00:01]
HELMET.TOMMY WAS LEFT TO DIE IN A TOILET AS A NEWBORN IN A PUBLIC RESTROOM.
PETTO SURVIVE A MASS SHOOTING OF SUTHERLAND SPRINGS.
ASHLEY CHOKED WHILE EATING A GRAPE.
DAMIEN WAS RESUSCITATED AFTER DROWNING IN A POOL.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND THEY CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF US, TO ANY OF OUR CHILDREN.
ACTUALLY MORE THAN 10% OF THE POPULATION HAS A DISABILITY.
HOWEVER, MOST INSURANCES COMPANIES STATE THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, RECREATIONAL THERAPY, NUTRITION, SOCIAL WORK, ASSISTED TECHNOLOGY, AND SOME OF OTHER SERVICES THAT COULD PROVIDE.
THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
SO THEY DON'T COVER ALL OF THOSE SERVICES.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING A PARENT TO ANY OF THESE KIDS AND NOT NEEDING THE SUPPORT OF A FAMILY COUNSELOR, NOT NEEDING THE SUPPORT OF A SOCIAL WORKER TO NAVIGATE THE NEW ROLE THAT LIFE HAS GIVEN YOU? WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT FOR A COM, FOR A CITY AS COMPLEX AS SAN ANTONIO, MONEY IS NEVER ENOUGH TO COVER ALL THE NEEDS.
AND PROBABLY YOU THINK THAT CRI, IF CRIT HAS SURVIVED 10 YEARS WITHOUT THE FUNDING OF THE CITY, WE CAN KEEP ON THIS WAY.
BUT HOWEVER, WE REALLY NEED MORE FUNDS TO EXPAND OUR REACH.
WE HAVE MANY KIDS ON THE WAITING LIST.
AND ALSO OUR MAIN FUNDING SOURCE HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL TV FUNDRAISER CALLED TON U SS A.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, TV HABITS HAVE BEEN CHANGING DRASTICALLY IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
SO WAS OUR FUNDING IN THIS PAST EIGHT YEARS.
PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION OF CRI AS A DELEGATE AGENCY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR WORK AND REACH MORE FAMILIES.
RIGHT? HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, OUR PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
AND UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PATIENCE, UH, TODAY.
THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA NOW.
[City Manager's Report ]
CITY MANAGER FOR A REPORT.THE UM, EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO IS A VERY IMPORTANT EMPLOYEE IN OUR HR TEAM.
UM, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. AND SO HIRING THOSE POSITIONS IS A BIG LIFT EVERY YEAR.
AND, UM, VANESSA BAJO FROM OUR HR DEPARTMENT HEADS UP AND LET'S ROLL TODAY'S VIDEO.
I AM THE OUTREACH MANAGER OVER HERE IN HUMAN RESOURCES WITHIN THE RECRUITMENT DIVISION.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY NOW SEVEN YEARS.
I KNEW I WANTED TO BE IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT MADE AN IMPACT.
I WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW AS WE PRIMARILY I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSOLIDATED HIRING PROCESS.
THAT'S ONE OF MY MAJOR PROJECTS HERE.
THAT'S WHERE WE MASS HIRE SPECIFIC POSITIONS OR JOB TITLES ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY.
MY TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SCREENING THE CANDIDATES, BRINGING THEM AND PRESENTING THEM TO THE HIRING PANEL TO GO AHEAD AND INTERVIEW THEM FOR CONSIDERATION TO HIRE.
MY TEAM IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR STAFFING THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S A PROGRAM WHERE HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND ACTUALLY INTERN WITH US OVER THE SUMMER.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM 'CAUSE IT GIVES SOME INSIGHT TO CANDIDATES, HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS SPECIFICALLY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GRADUATE AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THEIR POSITION IS GOING TO BE ONCE THEY GROW UP OR EVEN WHEN THEY'RE IN COLLEGE.
SO IT GIVES THEM THAT SNEAK PEEK INTO WHAT WORK LIFE IS.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS PROBABLY THE CONNECTIONS I MAKE.
THEY'RE COMING IN AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO GET IN WITH THE CITY AND WE'RE THERE TO PIVOT THEM AND POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, KIND OF HELP THEM GET WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
WE GET TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE THEM ENTRUST IN US TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following: ]
A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION.SO THE TIME IS NOW 11:14 AM ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2023.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5 1 IN THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE DISCUSSING FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072.
CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 1 FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND LEGAL
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ISSUES RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.071.TIME IS 12:00 PM ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2023.
CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OUR A SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.