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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION. I'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER AT 11:04 A.M. ON THE 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY, BUT TO GET US STARTED I'M GOING TO ASK AURORA FROM OUR CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO OFFER AN INVOCATION FOR OUR BODY
TODAY. >> GOOD MORNING, ALL. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER.
GUIDE OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL IN THIS TIME THAT THEY MAY SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AND DETERMINING HOW TO PROCEED. WE PRAY FOR ALL -- WE PRAY OR ALL THAT ARE GATHERED HERE AND WE PRAY THAT THE WEATHER KEEPS EVERYONE SAFE DURING THIS TIME.
RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA GOOD AND THAT IS CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF CENSURE. WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO IT. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL -- EXCUSE ME, READ THE CAPTION. WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>> ITEM 1 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
ENTERING CITY COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE'S ACTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. AND I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME ON THE LIST, IF YOU CAN PREPARE TO COME FORWARD. GREGORY CUROS. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK
FINGER. >> HI THERE. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS GREG CURO S AND I'M STUDYING MEDICAL SCIENCES AND EM TO THE.
I WORK AT ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S BUSIEST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND PATIENTS OFTEN WHITE HOURS OR DAYS JUST TO BE SEEN DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF EMSS THAT REQUIRE TIME FROM E.R. STAFF. MANY OF THE EMSS THAT COME INTO THE E.R. PREVENT CRITICAL PATIENTS BEING SEEN ARE PREVENTABLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO IMPAIRED DRIVERS. SAN ANTONIO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES PER CAPITA ALONG LARGE TEXAS CITIES IN 2021. MY NATIONAL CERTIFICATION WITH THE BRAVE WOMEN OF THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACTS IMPAIRED DRIVING CAN HAVE. THE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN MOST DRUNK DRIVERS CASE ARE OFTEN ON UNSUSPECTING PARTIES. I'VE SEEN CHILDREN, STUDENTS, EVERYDAY PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO GET HOME FROM WORK KILLED TO TO NEGLIGENCE OF IMPAIRED DRIVER. I URGE TO CONSIDER CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY ON OVERWORKED, UNDERSTAFFED REC WORKERS LIKE MYSELF AND GENUINELY SICK TEAM WHOSE CARE BECOMES DELAYED WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.
SOME MIGHT LIVE IN THE DISTRICTS WHERE YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND BE OUTSTANDING CITIZENS LIKE WE'RE EXPECTED TO BE. YOU AND I ARE BOTH TRUSTED TO SERVE PEOPLE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEED US. HOWEVER, ACTIONS LIKE THIS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MERRICK THE ALREADY GRUELING JOB I HAVE THAT MUCH HARDER AND EFFECT MANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT AND THAT I TREAT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JACK FINGER. MR. FINGER, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PATRICK VAN
DOLEN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
IF ANY OF YOU EVER PLAN ON MOVING TO DISTRICT 10, PLEASE DO NOT DRINK THE WATER THERE. SOMETHING IN IT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND MAKES THEM WANT TO ALLEGEDLY DRIVE DRUNK. WELL, AND THAT'S ALL THIS REALLY IS AT THIS TIME, AN ALLEGATION ABOUT MR. WHYTE DRIVING DRUNK.
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HE HAS YET TO GO TO COURT, HE IS YET TO BE CONVICTED OF ANY SUCH THING.THE PLAINTIFF IS GOING TO TESTIFY THAT HE SAW MR. WHYTE DRIVING ERRATICALLY AND WEAVING AND SPEEDING. OKAY.
WELL, LET'S LET THE FACTS PROVE THAT OUT AND UNTIL THE BLOOD TESTS COME BACK IN A WHILE, WE'LL -- I THINK IT'S TIME TO GIVE EVERYONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT LIKE OUR TRUCKS CONSTITUTION ALLOWS US TO BE. REMEMBER MR. WHYTE AND HIS PREDECESSOR MR. CLAYTON PERRY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO EVER HAVE DRIVEN YOUNG WHO HAVE SAT BEHIND THIS DAIS. I REMEMBER MR. KEVIN WOLFF DOING SOME SOME YEARS AGOEN PAID HIS DUES AND WENT ON TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AS I RECALL. YEAH, AND I'M KNOWING THE ANTICS OF PEOPLE FROM DECADES AGO. PLEASE BEAR IN MIND YOU HAVE NO REAL PROOF YET ABOUT MR. WHYTE'S ACTIONS AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO LET THE FACTS COME FORWARD BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISIONS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEING HELD ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
SUNDAY MORNING. THAT HAS TO BE UNPRECEDENTED.
AND I MEAN IT'S ALMOST LIKE A RUSH TO JUDGMENT. THAT'S WHAT THIS SMACKS OF HERE, YOU KNOW. YEAH, SUNDAY MORNING. WE HAVE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS TO GET TO LIKE CHURCH AND FAMILY AND SO FORTH.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
PATRICK VAN DOLEN. RODNEY KIDD. ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY. BEFORE WE GET TO COUNCIL DELIBERATION, I AM GOING TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE SO HE CAN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY APOLOGIZING AGAIN TO MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY STAFF, SUPPORTERS, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT 10 FOR MY ACTIONS ON DECEMBER 29TH. I HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20 HOURS TO COME BACK HOME TO SAN ANTONIO THAT DAY AND THEN MADE THE DECISION TO GO OUT TO THAT SOCIAL GATHERING THAT EVENING. AS I SAID THE MORNING AFTER, MY DECISION TO DRIVE HOME THAT EVENING WAS WRONG. ANYBODY THAT HAS HAD EVEN ONE DRINK SHOULD NOT GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR, IN MY OPINION.
AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY DECISION TO DRIVE THAT NIGHT. I'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS JOB AND WHAT A RESPONSIBILITY AND A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE SITTING IN THIS POSITION.
AND [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. YOU WANT TO BE EVERYWHERE FOR EVERYONE, AND I THINK WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM THIS IS THAT PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW, ARE IMPORTANT. AND FOR ME IT'S SERVING THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT 10.
IT'S MY FAMILY. AND MY FAITH. IN MOVING FORWARD, I'M GOING TO FOCUS, REFOCUS ON THOSE PRIORITIES AND I CAN PROMISE YOU ALL THAT THE MISTAKE THAT I MADE ON DECEMBER 29TH WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SO MANY PEOPLE, STARTING WITH YOU, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF YOU HAVE SHOWN ME RESPECT DURING THIS TIME, HAVE SHOWED COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT. I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS AND RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 10. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES,
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LETTERS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED AGAIN SHOWING COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT.MY STAFF AS WELL HAS BEEN SO STRONG AND SO SUPPORTIVE DURING THIS TIME, AND I JUST --K EVERYBODY ENOUGH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS, FOR YOUR BELIEF IN ME AND I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THOSE WORDS AND THAT BELIEF WILL RESONATE WITH ME FOREVER REALLY, FOREVER.
SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT HAVE WANTED ME TO FIGHT THIS RESOLUTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE TODAY. AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO THEM AND ALL OF YOU IS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE ANY ARGUMENT ABOUT TODAY'S RESOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS I'VE WATCHED THESE KIND OF RESOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE IN THE PAST, THIS RESOLUTION HERE TODAY MAKING A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO CONSUME ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL BEFORE THEY DRIVE A CAR I BELIEVE IS WORTHY. AND SO FOR ALL OF YOU UP HERE AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE TODAY, THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ME IN THIS, THERE'S NO NEED TO HAVE ANY STRESS OVER YOUR VOTE.
THIS IS SOMETHING TO WHERE IF WE CAN PUT THIS FORWARD AND PASS THIS TODAY, AND EVEN JUST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE OUT THERE TAKE NOTICE AND MAYBE DECIDE NOT TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR AFTER THEY'VE HAD A DRINK, THEN I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING. AND SO TODAY LET THERE BE NO DISPUTE, LET THERE BE NO FIGHT, LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND LET'S PASS IT. IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT TODAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT TOMORROW WE'VE GOT TO TURN THE PAGE AND GET BACK TO BUSINESS. MELISSA, WE'RE WORKING ON ELDER CARE ABUSE AND TRYING TO CURB THAT. MARINA, WE'VE GOT SO MUCH WORK TO DO WITH RESPECT TO ACS. MANNY, WE'RE WORKING ON A PLAN FOR WHAT WE WANT THE CITY TO LOOK LIKE 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
JOHN AND PHYLLIS, SO MUCH WORK TO DO ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
ADRIANA, LGC AND HOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE WE CAN REFINE THINGS THERE.
TERI, MAKING SURE WE AS A CITY COMPLY WITH CITY ORDINANCES, THAT WE HAVE PROPER PROCESSES IN PLACE THAT ARE ACTUALLY FOLLOWED. AND GALLOGEN AND SUK, OUR CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION CCR THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD NOW SO WE CAN HELP BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION.
THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES, SO MUCH WORK WE NEED TO GET DONE.
ON TOP OF THAT THERE'S ISSUES THAT ARE VERY PERSONAL TO ME.
CRIME SEEMS LIKE IT'S RUNNING RAMPANT IN THE CITY AND WE'VE GOT AUDIO]. OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY, HOW WE SPEND OUR DOLLARS AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THOSE DOLLARS, AGAIN IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW WE FUND CPS MOVING FORWARD. RIGHT, SO THAT WE CAN STOP CONTINUALLY RAISING RATES ON OUR CITIZENS AND INSTEAD FUND SOME OF THAT THROUGH OUR CITY BUDGET. ALL OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES, IMPORTANT BUSINESS THAT WE WERE ELECTED TO ADDRESS. AND MY HOPE IS THAT AFTER WE MAKE THIS STATEMENT HERE TODAY WITH THIS RESOLUTION THAT TOMORROW WE CAN TURN BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND ON DO WHAT THEY ELECTED US
TO DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WILL BE RECUSED FROM THIS ACTION TODAY AND ANDY WANTS TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THE BOUNDS OF OUR CONVERSATION.
ANDY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> SEGOVIA: JUST ASBESTOS
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REMINDER MORE FOR THE PUBLIC THAN THE COUNCIL, THE RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNCIL IS VOTING ON THIS MORNING IS THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS POSTED, NOT NECESSARILY THE ONE DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. SECOND, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, THE COUNCILMAN WILL RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE CONSIDERATION AND VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION. SO I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL AS YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOU DELIBERATE THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS EITHER TO THE PUBLIC OR TO THE PRESIDER AND DO NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE OR DIRECT ANY COMMENTS HIS WAY SO THAT WE CAN HONOR THE FACT THAT HE IS RECUSING HIMSELF FROM THIS CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO OUR CONVERSATION NOW SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 1.
>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 1.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT'S HARD TO SIT IN ON THIS MEETING TODAY. I THINK ALL OF US RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AS ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHENEVER THERE'S ANY KIND OF ACTION OR OCCURRENCE THAT MAY HAVE PEOPLE DOUBT OUR COUNCIL AND IN ANY WAY, I THINK IT'S WORRISOME TO ALL OF US.
I KNEW -- I'VE KNOWN DISTRICT 10 COUNCILMAN FOR NOW OVER SIX AND A HALF YEARS. WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS BEFORE WITH DISTRICT 10.
WITH SOMEONE WHO I CONSIDER A FRIEND WHO NO LONGER IS WITH US.
I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW MARC PRETTY WELL OVER THE LAST SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS, AND I VALUE A LOT OF WHAT HE SAYS AND WHAT HE DOES. I'M SURE WE'RE DEVELOPING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND A FRIENDSHIP THAT MAY CONTINUE.
I WILL SAY THIS, THOUGH, THAT I'VE SAID THIS TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO IN THE CITY BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN PUBLICLY, A COUNCILMAN FOR ONE DISTRICT IS REALLY A COUNCILMAN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO ON THIS [INAUDIBLE] AND PUBLICLY IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO, YOU KNOW, IF ONE OF US MAKES A MISTAKE, IT REFLECTS ON ALL OF US TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WANT TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR CONDUCT OR ACTIVITIES THAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOES, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S PUT ON US. AND SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. WE ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL, EVERY PERSON WHO HOLDS A SUBSTANTIAL POSITION IN THIS CITY IS HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. I THINK MARC, OUR COUNCILMEMBER, REALIZES THAT. I WOULD HOPE THAT ANYONE WHO IS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION WOULD EMBARK ON IMPROVING THEMSELVES AFTER A SITUATION LIKE THIS OCCURS. THERE ARE DWI CLASSES THAT ARE IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEIR OWN ISSUES BEFORE THEY EVER GET BEHIND A WHEEL OF A CAR. THERE ARE VICTIM STATEMENTS THAT ARE VICTIM -- PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE REPERCUSSION FOR VICTIMS. TALKING TO THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND RESTRICTIONS, OBLIGATIONS, CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY OR TALKING TO H.R. TO FIND HELP WITH MAYBE INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS WE HAVE. SO THERE ARE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THESE SITUATIONS. I HOPE ANY OF US AS COUNCILMEMBERS WILL REMEMBER THAT, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK, AS YOU HAVE SAID, AS HAS BEEN SAID, BY OUR COUNCILMEMBER, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO I'M -- I'M READY TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS CITY AND I THINK WE ALL ARE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO SAY WE'VE GOT TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY, WE'VE GOT TO DO WHEW WE CAN TO MAKE OURSELVES BETTER AND MAKE THIS COUNCIL BETTER AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE A FINAL RESULT OF THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WITH THE FACTS THAT WE DO
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HAVE, WE ARE TASKED WITH ADDRESSING THE BEHAVIOR OF ONE OF OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 3, MY CONSTITUENTS EXPECT THAT WE ARE TRANSPARENT AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS.I BELIEVE THAT AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, WE MUST HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND TO A HIGHER STANDARD. IN THE ABSENCE OF A CODE OF CONDUCT OR EXPLICIT GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY CHARTER, WE AS A BODY MUST DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION.
THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE THIS TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. IT IS SOMETHING I I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. IT IS SOMETHING I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO.
WE ARE TASKED WITH WHETHER OR NOT A CENSURE OF MARC WHYTE FOR HIS ARREST FOR SUSPECTED DWI. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE HAS EXPRESSED HIS REGRET AND I APPRECIATE HIM TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS.
I APPRECIATE HIM BRINGING THE LIGHT TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO EXAMINE WHY WE DRINK AND WHY WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AFTER WE DRINK. I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKER WHO CAME UP AND BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE FACT THAT THIS IMPACTS PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING FOR MEDICAL SERVICES AND THAT THIS CAN BE PREVENTIVE.
AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS EFFORT, I DO ALSO APPRECIATE HIM LETTING US KNOW THAT VOTING FOR THE CENSURE IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY.
SO I WILL BE VOTING FOR CENSURE OF MY COLLEAGUE, MARC WHYTE, AND I DO WISH THE COUNCILMEMBER THE BREAST AS HE WORKS THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME IN HIS LIFE AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING THINGS DONE.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY TOP PRIORITY AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IF YOU DO CONSUME ALCOHOL IT IS ESSENTIAL WE -- EXPRESSING BOTH ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND REGRET FOR THE SITUATION. NEVERTHELESS, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR OWN ACTIONS.
THIS HAS CREATED A DISTRACK STRUNG FROM DOING THE WORK WE WERE ELECTED TO DO AND WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET BACK TO SERVING THEM.
I'LL CAST MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION SO WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD AND GET
BACK TO WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OBVIOUSLY WE ALL DID NOT ARRIVE HERE WITH A SMILE ON OUR FACE. IT IS THE THIRD TIME WE'VE ARRIVED FROM CHAMBERS TO AN ITEM LIKE THIS ONE AND IT IS EMBARRASSING FOR ALL OF US.
MOST OF US HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND IT'S HARD TO TAKE 25 VOTE LIKE THIS. IT'S NOT FUN, IT'S NOT A POLITICAL VICTORY AND NOT SOMETHING ANY OF US WANT TO DO.
BUT OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE ASKED HOW WE PLAN TO HOLD OUR COLLEAGUE ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY ARE WATCHING. I WANT TO CONVEY A SIMPLE MESSAGE TODAY.
THE FACT REMAINS THAT DRINKING AND DRIVING IS WRONG AND IT PUTS NOT ONLY YOURSELF IN DANGER BUT ALL OF THOSE AROUND YOU. IT WOULD BE A STRETCH TO SAY A LARGE MANY OF SAN ANTONIANS HAVE NEVER DRIVEN AFTER HAVING A DRINK OR TWOER OR THREE AT A BAR AND DRIVEN HOME. LARGER THAN THAT IS WHAT WE AS A PEOPLE OWE TO ONE ANOTHER. I BELIEVE IN PART THAT IS GRACE, KINDNESS AND COMPASSION. EACH OF US WILL MAKE A MISTAKE OR TWO OR A THOUSAND IN OUR LIFETIMES. IT IS VERY CONSISTENT.
I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES AND THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS EVERYWHERE WHO COMMIT A CRIME EITHER BY YOU WILL HAVE A SECOND CHANCE REGARDLESS WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY AS A BODY.
MANY MANY OUR COMMUNITY BELIEVE WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE GRACE, KINDNESSES AND COMPASSION. LIVING IN POVERTY AND DESPERATION STEALS BABY FOOD, DOZENS SHE DESERVE ARREST.
DOES GRAFFITI ON A BUILDING, DOES HE NOT DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE? MANY CAN SAY THESE ARE EXTREME EXAMPLES, BUT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS I'VE HEARD LIMITED HUMANITY IN CRIME AND RECIDIVISM. WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE DID
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WAS DANGEROUS AND HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT A AND I PLAN TO VOTE YES.WHAT I'VE HEARD INCREASINGLY AS A TOUGH ON CRIME RHETORIC THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE AROUND US TOO ARE WORTHY OF GRACE, KINDNESS, COMPASSION, UNDERSTAND AND FORGIVENESS. AS A FRIEND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LESSON FOR YOU AND ALL OF US. WE AS COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO HOLD OURSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD. OUR CONSTITUENTS CANNOT AFFORD THE KIND OF MISTAKES COME FROM THIS BODY IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE AS A BODY. AND I DO RESPECT AND ADMIRE THE WAY YOU'VE SWIFTLY TAKEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THIS SHOCK TO ME AND KNOW IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO YOUR CHARACTER.
AS A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, WHAT I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU IS A SHIFT IN RHETORIC BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CRIMINALIZE FOR SOMETHING YOU'VE DONE THAT YOU NOW REGRET. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT YOU OWE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, WHEN HE AND I WERE CLASSMATES A LONG TIME AGO, WE HAD A PROFESSOR WHO I THINK HE AND I WILL AGREE WHO WAS THE PARAGON OF REASONABLENESS AND ETHICS.
I THINK YOU WILL AGREE WITH THAT. HE TAUGHT US THE THREE AS.
AND THAT IS WHEN YOU SCREW UP, YOU FIRST OF ALL YOU ACCEPT, RIGHT, YOU EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. NUMBER 2, YOU AAPOLOGIZE SIGN SEARLY.
AND THEN THREE IS ACCOUNTABILITY OF ONE'S SELF.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE HAS DONE THREE TIMES TODAY. ONE, A, HE'S OWNED HIS MISTAKE AND ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHOICES THAT YOU'VE MADE. TWO, YOU'VE COME HERE BEFORE US, BEFORE THE CAMERAS, BEFORE CITY STAFF AND YOU'VE EXPRESSED AND I'M CONVINCED EXPRESSED SINCERE CONTRITION. THREE, I THINK MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU'VE DONE IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS THAT YOU'VE TODAY AND PREVIOUSLY IN CONVERSATIONS YOU AND I HAVE HAD, YOU'VE REQUESTED THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY CENSURE YOU. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT WE HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. THAT'S PROFOUND.
VERY RARELY, AND I'M SAD TO SAY VERY RARELY DO YOU SEE AN OFFICIAL ASK FOR THAT. PLEASE HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE. AND INSIST ON SOMETHING MEANINGFUL WHEN IT COMES TO THAT ACCOUNTABILITY. I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, AN APOLOGY, WE'VE ALL HEARD PEOPLE APOLOGIZE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TREAT IT LIKE A SOCIAL NICETY, BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY OF DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND PEOPLE AND YOU AND THE RULES. DEMONSTRATING RESPECT FOR THE EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU'VE BROKEN AND IT'S ALSO A WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST IS A BRITTLE ONE AND THAT IT TAKES WORK TO PROTECT IT AND ALSO WORK TO MEND IT. SO I ALSO THINK THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE -- IS AN IMPORTANT GATEWAY TO RESTORING THAT TRUST. I GOT TO TELL YOU, HAVING SPOKEN TO YOU THE NIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH WERE, MANNY, I'VE LET A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN. AND I THINK THAT TODAY YOU ARE TAKING A VERY IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS FIXING THAT. AND SO BASED ON YOUR REQUEST THAT WE CENSURE YOU, I WILL BE VOTING YES AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT LESS
DIFFICULT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.
ANDY, DID YOU WANT TO -- >> SEGOVIA: NO, MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL NOT TO DIRECT COMMENTS TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
IF YOU COULD REFRAIN FROM DOING THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND THAT EXTENDS TO MY COLLEAGUES.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
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THEIR WRONGDOING WRONGDOINGS ANE THEIR TIME AND GROW AS A PERSON.I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY PERSON IN MY DISTRICT, IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SECOND CHANCE TO GROW AND LIVE THEIR LIFE AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. LET ALONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE THEIR LIFE AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTER BEING ARRESTED AND SPENDING TIME IN COUNTY JAIL. I WANT THIS BODY TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD EXTEND BEYOND THIS DAIS. FROM AN INTERACTION THAT RESULTS FROM TIME IN JAIL TO BE IN PRISON, THE AFFORDABILITY TO AFFORD JAIL. THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SECOND JOB TO MAKE A MINIMUM WAGE INCOME AND THAT'S HARDLY THE CASE FOR MANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND TAKEN AND I WANT US TO AFFORD THAT GRACE FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE A RUN-IN WITH THE LAW AND HAVE TAKEN THAT ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO LEARN AND MOVE ON AND BE PRODUCTIVE AND GET BACK TO WORK.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, I'LL CLOSE WITH SOME COMMENTS. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE'VE GOTTEN A FEW LETTERS WE'LL PUT INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU ALL, FIRST, FOR BEING HERE ON A SUNDAY. THIS IS NOT THE LEGAL PROCESS COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WILL BE ENTITLED TO. WE ARE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF AN IMPORTANT BUT UNPLEASANT DUTY. WE ARE LINKED AS MEMBERS OF A CITY COUNCIL AND IT'S OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THAT REPUTATION. AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HELD TO HIGHER STAND AROUND RIGHTFULLY SO.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SET AN EXAMPLE WORTHY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN A COUNCILMEMBER'S BEHAVIOR CASTS THIS BODY IN AN UNFAVORABLE LIGHT, THE INSTITUTION'S REPUTATION AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE SUFFER. TRUST IN GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS FRAGILE AND WE MUST BE VIGILANT IN PROTECTING THIS COUNCIL'S CREDIBILITY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE'S WILLINGNESS TO BE CANDID AND COMMUNICATE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. HE SWIFTLY OWNED UP TO HIS ERRORS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT NOBODY WAS HURT. WHILE SAN ANTONIO OFTEN LEADS THE WAY IN SO MANY POSITIVE WAYS, WE ALSO LEAD IN A TRAGIC STATISTIC. PER THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS" AND TXDOT, SAN ANTONIO IS THE TOP LARGE CITY IN THE STATE FOR DRUNK DRIVING INCIDENTS. IN 2021, THERE WERE OVER 1700 OF THEM.
LEADING TO 59 DEATHS AND 107 SERIOUS INJURIES. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS ONE INSTANCE OF DRINKING AND DRIVING. WHILE THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IS NOT COMPLETE, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED DRIVING AFTER HAVING DRINKS AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES MORE IS EXPECTED OF CITY COUNCILMEMBERS IN THIS CITY. OUR CHARGE IS WORK TOGETHER TO SET A HIGHER COMMUNITY STANDARD AND CHART A DIFFERENT COURSE. THE ACTION WE TAKE TODAY WILL SEND THE MESSAGE WE DON'T TAKE DRINKING AND DRIVING LIGHTLY.
BEYOND THE SINGLE INCIDENT THAT LED TO THIS MEETING, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDEMN THIS BEHAVIOR WHEREVER IT ARISES. I'LL BE CASTING MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION. WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEAS VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL OF OUR BUSINESS TODAY. AT 11:38 A.M. ON THE 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024, OUR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.