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THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
WE DO HAVE OUR CEREMONIALS AGENDA TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING PATIENTLY.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON OUR CEREMONIAL AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST IS A PROCLAMATION FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AWARENESS MONTH.
THE SOUTH TEXAS TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CONSORTIUM WILL REUSE THE MONTH OF MAY OF 2019 TO OBSERVE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AWARENESS MONTH.
AN ESTIMATED 50% OF ALL BEXAR COUNTY CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS, SUCH AS NEGLECT, ABUSE, EXPOSURE, OR TO MENTAL ILLNESS AND OR WITNESSING VIOLENCE AT HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE CONSORTIUM IS COM COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE IMPACT OF ACES AND TRAUMA.
SO I'D LIKE TO CALL FORWARD DR.
BRIDGER TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION AND YOUR TEAM, AND I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW.
WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2019, THE SOUTH TEXAS TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CONSORTIUM WILL OBSERVE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AWARENESS MONTH.
AND WHEREAS ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, ACES INVOLVE ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPOSURE TO MENTAL ILLNESS, AND VIOLENCE AT HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY, ARE TRAUMATIC EVENTS THAT DISRUPT A CHILD'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND ALTER THE WAY THEIR BRAINS AND BODIES RESPOND TO STRESS.
AND WHEREAS SCIENCE SHOWS THAT EXPOSURE TO ACES AND TOXIC STRESS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES A PERSON'S RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASE, OBESITY, SUICIDE, PREVENT PREMATURE DEATH, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, INCARCERATION, AND BECOMING A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE.
AND WHEREAS TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE ENHANCES THE ABILITY OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO ADAPT, COPE, AND THRIVE DESPITE DIFFICULT TIMES SUPPORTING AND HEALING AND THE MENTAL WELLBEING OF EVERYONE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2019 TO BE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AWARENESS MONTH.
UM, SO THE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CONSORTIUM HELD ITS FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST, SO IT ISN'T EVEN A YEAR OLD YET.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED 11 DIFFERENT SECTORS THAT ARE WORKING ON ESTABLISHING A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
UM, I'M THRILLED THAT A SMALL PORTION OF OUR CONSORTIUM MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.
THE, THE MEMBERSHIP ACTUALLY EXCEEDS 250 MEMBERS.
UM, JOINING ME AS TRI CHAIR ARE KATHY FLETCHER WITH VOICES FOR CHILDREN AND, UH, YVETTE SANCHEZ WITH THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER.
AND, UM, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE MONTH OF MAY BEING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE MONTH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
UM, THERE'S A CALENDAR OF ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT YOU CAN FIND ON, UM, EITHER VOICES FOR CHILDREN'S WEBSITE, THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER WEBSITE, OR METRO HEALTH WEBSITE.
UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THIS, UM, CRITICAL INITIATIVE FOR THE CITY, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
SO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VIA GRANT.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER MY THANKS FOR THIS CRITICAL WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND ALSO, UM, EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TALKED ABOUT OFTEN, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OVERLOOKED THAT I THINK WE DO HAVE TO, UH, DE-STIGMATIZE IN ORDER TO BRING UP THIS INFORMATION.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR, UM, INVOLVEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE AND FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AS WELL.
AND I'LL ECHO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BRAN'S, UH, COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE STATISTIC THAT 50% OF ALL BEXAR COUNTY CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S TRAGIC.
UM, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CONSORTIUM OF ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE SORTS OF ISSUES.
AND SO WE WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR YOUR WORK AND, UH, AND HELPING TO RESOLVE A, A TRAGIC, UH, STATISTIC WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, ACTUALLY, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, COURAGE.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY, UH, APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO INDIVIDUALLY WITH YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS COLLECTIVELY IN THIS, UH, IN THIS AREA.
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE MANY ADVERSE EXPERIENCES IN THEIR LIVES.
AND EVERYTHING WE CAN DO INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH OUR AGENCIES AND COLLECTIVELY AS AS A CITY, HELPS MAKE THIS A BETTER CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND
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I KNOW THAT THE CITY'S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING.YEAH, AND I, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE THANKS.
AND, UM, BEING THOUGHT LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP US, UH, MOVE AN AGENDA FORWARD THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES, BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT IMPROVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.
I WAS AT A TOWN HALL, UH, LAST NIGHT IN SOMEONE'S HOME, AND IT WAS MOSTLY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES.
AND I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN AS PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AS POLICYMAKERS AS I HAVE BEEN, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS UNDER, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP, DR.
HARRIET, AND THE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE AROUND YOU, AND HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS THOSE, UM, THOSE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND THOSE OUTCOMES AND THOSE METRICS THAT WE MEASURE OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING, UH, THAT REALLY DETERMINES OUR SUCCESS AND OUR LEGACY AS POLICY MAKERS WHO ARE JUST A, A BLIP ON THE HISTORY'S RADAR, UH, BUT THAT WE ARE MOVING AN AGENDA FORWARD, UM, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TELL US THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR.
IN FACT, MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR.
BUT WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THESE ISSUES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE KNOW WE'VE DONE WELL, UH, IN THE, IN THE ROLES THAT WE WERE, UH, BLESSED TO, TO, TO PLAY.
SO, THANK YOU, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO EXECUTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND OF THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND LOOKING TO, LOOKING FORWARD TO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY FOR, FOR SO LONG.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
SO STEP FORWARD JUST A LITTLE BIT, SO YOU'RE ALL THE SAME LINE, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.
OKAY, OUR SECOND ITEM ON OUR CEREMONIAL AGENDA IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.
DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2019, THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ENHANCES NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO SHARE PRIDE IN THE DIVERSE AND UNIQUE HERITAGE OF THIS CITY.
SO, I'LL READ THIS PROCLAMATION NOW AS I ASK FOR SUSAN, UH, TO COME AND WITH YOUR TEAM ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2019, THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, WE'LL OBSERVE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH TO ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE THE PLACES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THEM AND TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS, FOSTERING LOCAL PRIDE AND MAINTAINING COMMUNITY CHARACTER WHILE ENHANCING LIVABILITY.
AND WHEREAS THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY'S PURPOSE IS TO PRESERVE AND ENCOURAGE THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC, HISTORIC BUILDINGS, OBJECTS, PLACES, AND CUSTOMS RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS DURING THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION, THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY WILL HONOR LOBBY TO HISTORIC DISTRICT SAN ANTONIO'S OLDEST NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1722, AND ENTERED INTO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1972.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON EHRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2019 TO BE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.
AND THIS IS YOUR PLAN, NOT TO, NOT TO BE REDUNDANT.
EVERY YEAR IN MAY, LOCAL PRESERVATION GROUPS, STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S BUSINESSES AND CIVIL CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CELEBRATE PRESERVATION MONTH THROUGH EVENTS THAT PROMOTE HISTORIC PLACES AND HERITAGE TOURISM, AND THAT DEMONSTRATE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
PRESERVATION MONTH BEGAN ITS NATIONAL PRESERVATION WEEK THROUGH A RESOLUTION SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON ON MAY 5TH, 1973.
WHO KNEW FIRST LADY PATRICIA NIXON, WHO PRESENTED THE NATIONAL TRUST AWARDS? READ THE PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION, AND
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IT SAID, AS THE PACE OF CHANGE ACCELERATES IN THE WORLD AROUND US, AMERICANS MORE THAN EVER NEED A LIVELY AWARENESS OF OUR ROOTS AND ORIGINS IN THE PAST, ON WHICH TO BASE OUR SENSE OF IDENTITY IN THE PRESENT AND OUR DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.THE SAME CAN BE SAID TODAY WITH BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE DOUBLE LANDMARK WOOLWORTH BUILDING UNDER THREAT OF DEMOLITION, AND THE POTENTIAL LANDMARKING OF THE NO ALITOS GAS STATION.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE OUR ROOTS AND REPURPOSE THEM WHEN NECESSARY.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW TO LANDMARK THE WONDERFUL HOUSE AT 8 43 RIGSBY WITH HIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH PROCLAMATION.
YOU'LL BE JOINING US TO HELP SAVE PLACES THAT MATTER.
WE APPRECIATE THE PROCLAMATION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VI VIA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR BEING HERE.
I'M SORRY IT'S A LITTLE HARD FOR US TO HEAR UP HERE, 'CAUSE OF THE, THE SPEAKERS AREN'T QUITE RIGHT, SO IT'S HARD.
BUT I THINK YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT TOMORROW AND HIS, UH, DESIGNATION OF A HOUSE ON RIGSBY.
ON RIGSBY, AND THAT'S IN DISTRICT THREE.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, UM, MOVING FORWARD IN THAT AREA IN, UM, OUR AGENDA TOMORROW.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN TELL THE STORY FROM YEARS IN THE PAST MOVING FORWARD TO EVERYONE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOUR CONSTANT, UM, ENGAGEMENT WITH US AS A, AS A CITY.
UM, AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO SHARE OUR STORIES AND TELL OUR STORY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, NOT JUST JUST TODAY, BUT EVERY DAY.
WE SEE YOU FREQUENTLY HERE AT OUR, AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES THE COUNCIL'S ON ONE SIDE AND, AND YOU'RE ON THE OTHER.
UM, I WISH WE WERE ALWAYS IN AGREEMENT, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK, AND I ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK MS. MARY ROGERS, OR DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, RESIDENT FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, ALL THE, THE MANY, MANY 15 YEARS THAT YOU PUT INTO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND BROUGHT YOUR EXCELLENT EXPERTISE FROM HISTORICAL PRESERVATION INTO THAT WORK.
YOU MAKE US ALL VERY PROUD, MARY.
AND THE ONLY THING I'LL ADD IS, IS IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY WE WERE CELEBRATING OSA AND, AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY'S, UH, FUNDRAISING EVENT.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR A CITY BEING 300 PLUS YEARS OLD, UH, WITH LOTS OF HISTORY HERE, LOTS OF HISTORY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, UH, YOUR ORGANIZATION IS AT, AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL CELEBRATING THIS MONTH AND ENCOURAGING US TO, UH, TO PRESERVE, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD, WE ALSO NEED TO RELY ON THE PAST THAT WE BUILT ON.
AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BUILT ON A, A PAST AND, AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND ALWAYS PRESERVE IT.
ONE MORE FROM COUNCILWOMAN VIGA AND I, IT, IT WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THE GREAT WORK OF OUR OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
YES, SHANNON MILLER, YOUR TEAM.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKS AND ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER FOR ITEMS LIKE OUR LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM AND ALSO REHAB ORAMA THAT IS GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE AGAIN IN THE, IN THE, UM, IN DISTRICT THREE.
WELL, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, UM, AND SOMETIMES IT GETS CONTENTIOUS, BUT IT IS A REMINDER THAT EVERY TIME WE HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME, WHO HAS COME BACK TO VISIT IT, OR WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND REMARKING THAT AS THIS CITY, WHICH IS NOW ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, CONTINUES TO GROW AND BECOME ONE OF THE NEXT GREAT METROPOLITAN AREAS, UH, THAT WE STILL REMAIN A GREAT SAN ANTONIO, A UNIQUE CITY IN THE WORLD, ONE OF THE FOUR UNIQUE CITIES THAT MARK TWAIN SAID, BECAUSE WE REMAIN OUR, WE, WE CONT WE CONTINUE TO PRESERVE OUR CULTURE, OUR HERITAGE, AND THAT IS SO MUCH A PART OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND WE APPRECIATE, UH, ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO, UH, BRING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND THEN DIVERSITY, APPARENTLY YOU GET THE SANDWICH, SANDWICH BETWEEN THE SHORT PEOPLE.
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ALL RIGHT.OUR THIRD ITEM ON OUR CEREMONIAL AGENDA IS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH.
DURING THE MONTH OF 29, MAY, 2019, THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MOBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THE ALAMO AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH.
THE SECOND ANNUAL BIKE TO WORK DAY WILL BE HELD ON MAY 17TH, 2019.
AND WE'LL INCLUDE NINE ENERGIZER STATIONS LOCATED THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY THAT WILL PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST ITEMS, COFFEE AND SWAG BAGS TO MOTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE MORNING CYCLISTS.
AND THE GOAL OF THIS MONTH'S CELEBRATION IS TO PROMOTE EFFICIENT, HEALTHY, AND DESIRABLE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION.
SO LINDA IS HERE, ALONG WITH HER TEAM, TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION, AND I'LL READ THAT NOW.
DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2019, THE ALAMO AREA, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S, M P O, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MOBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND HOST BIKE TO WORK DAY ON MAY 17TH, 2019, TO PROMOTE EFFICIENT AND DESIRABLE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION, EXERCISE, AND RECREATION.
AND WHEREAS CYCLING, WALKING, AND TAKING TRANSIT ARE HEALTHIER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT CAN HELP REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND WHEREAS TODAY, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ENGAGE IN BICYCLING AND WALKING AS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION, REGULAR FITNESS AND QUALITY FAMILY TIME ACTIVITY.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S BIKE TO WORK DAY WILL INCLUDE NINE ENERGIZER STATIONS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE BEAR COUNTY, THAT WILL PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST ITEMS, COFFEE AND SWAG BAGS TO MOTIVATE AND CHEER ON MORNING CYCLISTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2019 TO BE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND MAY 17TH, 2019 TO BE BIKE TO WORK DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
MY NAME IS JOEY ICK, AND I'M THE ACTIVE CHA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLANNER AT THE ALAMO AREA M P O, UH, MAYOR BERG COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND BIKES WORK DAY.
WE ALSO SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT ON OUR BICYCLE MOBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ALL THE NPOS COMMITTEES AND BOARD.
THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ FOR HER WORK AS CHAIR OF BMAC AND COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, ESTABLISHED IN 1956.
NATIONAL BIKE MONTH IS A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THE MANY BUS BENEFITS OF BICYCLING AND ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO GIVE BIKING A TRY.
BICY IS A FORM OF JOY AND TRANSPORTATION IS THE BICYCLE IS A FORM OF JOY AND TRANSPORTATION FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT HELPS US TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL, WORK THE GROCERY STORE AND MORE.
I HOPE IT'S FOR MANY PEOPLE TO REALIZE THE POWER AND ABILITY OF THE BICYCLE TO TAKE TO THEM, TAKE THEM ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THIS TI TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT FOR ALL THE EVENTS THROUGHOUT NATIONAL BIKE MONTH WITHOUT THEY'RE HELPING SUPPORT THIS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE YOUR OWN COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SAFETY OF BICYCLISTS, AND THAT YOU HOP ON A BIKE FOR MANY RIDES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY FOR MANY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NATIONAL BIKE MONTH, OUR BIKE MONTH CHALLENGE, AND OUR BIKE MONTH, UH, VINCE CALENDAR, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, ALMO AREA PO.ORG/BIKE MONTH.
AND, UM, SO GRANT, GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL HERE TODAY AS WE ANNOUNCE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH STARTS TODAY, MAY 1ST, AND, UH, WE JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET OUT THERE AND PEDAL.
UM, WE ARE IN, IN ADDITION TO JUST ADVOCATING FOR CYCLING AS A FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, WE ALSO KNOW THAT SAFETY IS, IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR ALL OF US USING THE ROAD.
AND SO WE HAVE LOST SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY JUST IN THE LAST MONTH IN CYCLING ACCIDENTS.
SO, AS WE ARE CELEBRATING NATIONAL BIKE MONTH, I HOPE THAT WE ALSO HA TAKE TIME TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THOSE LIVES.
WE'VE LOST, UH, ON THE ROAD AS WELL.
SO, SUCH AN IMPORTANT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE ON MAY 17TH, UM, TO, UH, DO ANNUAL RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK DAY.
SO, UM, I, I OFTEN RIDE MY BIKE TO WORK.
UH, IT'S LIKE LESS THAN TWO MILES, SO MAYBE NOT SO AMBITIOUS.
I KNOW FOR OTHERS IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER OF A RIDE, BUT WE HOPE THAT WE, UH, ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET OUT AND RIDE THEIR BIKE TO WORK.
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THANK YOU.I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR ADVOCACY.
AND I KNOW, UM, WHEN WE GOT THE, UM, THE ALERT ABOUT THE BIKE TO WORK DAY, MY STAFF HAS ALREADY CHALLENGED ONE ANOTHER THAT ON THIS DAY WE ALL ARE GOING TO BE, UM, BIKING TO WORK.
NOW SOME OF 'EM, UH, LIVE FARTHER THAN OTHERS FROM OUR SITE, BUT WE WILL, UH, BE BIKING, BIKING TO WORK ON THAT FRIDAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE CHALLENGE 'CAUSE WE'RE ALREADY CHALLENGING ONE ANOTHER.
COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILWOMAN VALE.
RIGHT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR BEING HERE TO CELEBRATE BIKE TO WORK WORK MONTH.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BIKE TO WORK DAY, AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN VRAN HAS THROWN DOWN THE GAUNTLET.
UH, THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR YOU, BUT, SO HERE WE GO.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY, UH, I HAD A GREAT TIME LAST NIGHT.
WE DID SOMETHING CALLED, UH, BIKING TO THE POLLS.
WE DID IT WITH A SOCIAL RIDE GROUP.
UH, WE RODE TO LIONS, UH, FIELD, UH, CENTER, AND THERE WERE ABOUT 150 CYCLISTS ALTOGETHER BEING, UH, CIVICALLY ACTIVE.
AND I HOPE TO SEE THAT GROW IN IN THE FUTURE.
I ALSO TOLD THOSE CYCLISTS ABOUT THE MEETING THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE IN LIKE FIVE MINUTES AT THE, UM, AT, IT'LL BE AT THE VM METRO CENTER.
AND I WANNA REMIND OUR COLLEAGUES ON, UH, SOME PROJECTS THAT WE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
THERE WERE FOUR CYCLE TRACKS, OR FOUR PROTECTED BIKE PATH PROJECTS, UH, TO BE FUNDED BY THE M P O, UH, THROUGH, UH, THROUGH SOME NEW FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE'RE ELIGIBLE FOR.
AND, UH, I HOPE THAT THOSE COME THROUGH FOR US.
I HOPE SOME CYCLISTS SHOW UP TONIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT WE ALL TAKE THE TIME TO ALSO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR, FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA ACCEPT THAT CHALLENGE ON MAY 17TH.
OF COURSE, MY FIELD OFFICE IS ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM WHERE I LIVE, SO IT'LL BE PRETTY, YOU'RE TAKING THE DAY OFF, BUT I'LL MAKE IT OKAY.
FIRST I GOTTA GET A BICYCLE,
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
UH, MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENTS.
WELL, AND I'LL JUST CLOSE UP BY SAYING, UM, THANK YOU TO, FOR YOU TO, FOR ADVOCATING FOR OUR BICYCLISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT, UM, YOU HAVE, UH, BEHIND ME A GROUP OF ADVOCATES AS WELL IN POLICY.
OUR WORK COLLECTIVELY, I THINK THAT, UH, IS BEGINNING TO GET REALIZED WIDELY IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DO, UH, A LOT OF WORK TO DO THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SAFE BICYCLING, UH, IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I THINK AS A RESULT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME VERY UNFORTUNATE, TRAGIC EVENTS, UH, YOU HAVE OUR RED REDOUBLED COMMITMENT, A PROMISE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NO LONGER PUT THAT PLAN ON PAPER AND, AND LET IT LANGUISH, BUT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING IT.
I THINK OVER THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL YEARS, PARTICULARLY AS WE TALK ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A FOCUSED EFFORT FOR US TO MAKE GOOD ON THE PROMISES THAT WE MAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE BICYCLE ROUTES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING THAT WITH YOU, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY A SAFE PLACE FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ, FOR BEING ADVOCATES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS DIFFICULT AND NO ONE WAS LISTENING FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, YOU HAVE OUR COMMUNITY'S ENTIRE ATTENTION AND WE'LL MAKE GOOD ON THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S IT, RIGHT? OKAY.
AND, UH, WE WILL BEGIN NOW SHORTLY WITH OUR, UM, CITIZENS BE HEARD SESSION AFTER.