Mar 21, 2024 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:25]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE MANY GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY AND WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL. TO GET US STARTED TODAY, THOUGH, THE TIME IS 9:11 A.M. ON THE 21ST DAY OF MARCH 2024.

WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME. IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE'LL GET STARTED. AND TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR TO

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, COLLEAGUES.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR INVOCATOR'S VISIT TODAY. HE HAPPENS TO BE MARRIED TO A VERY NICE LADY WHO IS STEP SISTER, IS MY UNDERSTANDING, WITH THE MOTHER OF ONE OF MY STAFFERS, JARVIS SWALLOW. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE I'M A BIG FAN, PASTOR, BUT JARVIS ON MY TEAM IS ALSO A BIG FAN. I KNOW HE'S WATCHING RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PASTOR PATRICK JONES LEADS THE CONGREGATION AT GREATER PILGRIM REST BAPTIST CHURCH AND HE IS BLESSED -- HE AND HIS WIFE ARE BLESSED WITH FIVE SONS AND TEN GRANDCHILDREN . THAT'S A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS TO REMEMBER, PASTOR.

HE'S BEEN COMMITTED TO MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST 35 YEARS.

AND HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS AS A VOCAL LEADER BUT ALSO WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM ON THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CITIZENS' REVIEW PANEL AND ON THE BOARD OF THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION . PASTOR, THE MICROPHONE'S YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, SIR.

>> LET US BOW. GOD OUR FATHER, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ANOTHER DAY.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN JUST AS WELL AS WE ARE THE SUNSHINE.

WE COME NOW, DEAR GOD, WE PRAY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE PRAY THAT PEACE WOULD ABOUND IN OUR STREETS. THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT OF -- THE THINGS THAT DISRUPT AND BRING CHAOS AND CONFUSION TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE REBUKE THEM RIGHT NOW.

GUN VIOLENCE, GANG VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT DISRUPT OUR COMMUNITIES. WE PRAY NOW, DEAR GOD, THAT THOU WOULD BLESS THOSE THAT MAKE UP THIS DAIS. WE PRAY, DEAR GOD, AS WE DO DAILY FOR ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAT YOU WOULD CROWN THEM WITH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.

THAT THEY MAY LEAD ALL OF THE PEOPLE DOWN THE PATHS THAT LEADS TO PROSPERITY AND PEACE.

WE PRAY, O GOD, THAT THOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS THEM, CROWN THEM AS ONLY YOU CAN.

WE PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT WE COME TOGETHER AND RALLY BEHIND THOSE THAT GIVE LEADERSHIP TO ALL OF US. WE PRAY DEAR GOD THAT THOU WOULD HAVE YOUR WAY IN OUR CITY AND ABROAD. IT'S IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN AND AMEN.

[00:05:21]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR JONES. ALL RIGHT.

OUR FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, MARCH 6, AND MARCH 7. THOSE ARE IN YOUR BACK-UP DOCUMENTS. IS THERE A MOTION? ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGE HERE SO

WE'LL TAKE A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>

>> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY, IN ADDITION TO ONE INDIVIDUAL

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

14? ANY OTHERS? 21 IS ALSO FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ANY OTHERS BESIDES 4 AND 21? 4, 21, AND 14.

PARDON ME. IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 14, AND 21.

>> COURAGE: SO MOVED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE IS A SECOND.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT ARE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO REMAIN ON CONSENT. WE HAVE CODY HUNT -- SORRY. JACOA ROSS ON ITEM NO. 8.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY AMENDING ITS CONTRACT WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY TO EXTEND THE NEW YORK TIMES.COM ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY . I'M CONCERNED FIRST BECAUSE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES' BIASED AND UNETHICAL COVERAGE OF THE SLAUGHTER OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AT THE HANDS OF ISRAEL WHOSE LEADERS AND MILITARY REMAIN UNREPENTANT OF THEIR LACK OF RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE. SECONDLY, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE NEW YORK TIMES REFUSES TO HOLD ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ITS TRANSGRESSIONS HAVE BEEN WIDELY P PUBLICIZED IN RECENT WEEKS. THIS IS NOT THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM I EXPECT TO BE HONORED IN MY CITY. THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS WILLFULLY OMITTED BOTH THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GENOCIDE IN GAZA AND ANY PROFESSIONAL SCRUTINY OF THE RIDICULOUSLY FALSE CLAIMS MADE BY THE ISRAELI OR AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN GAZA.

MOREOVER AND MUCH LIKE THIS CITY COUNCIL WHEN IT HAS BEEN FORCED TO TALK ABOUT IT, THE NEW YORK TIMES CAN BARELY EVEN MENTION THE WORD "PALESTINE" WHEN IT IS REPORTING ON PALESTINE. THERE IS ALSO THE EGREGIOUS OFFENSE THAT CONSTITUTES THE ARTICLE TITLED SCREAMS WITHOUT WORDS WHOSE AUTHOR BOLSTERED FABRICATED CLAIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN AN ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY GENOCIDE. I AM REMINDED OF THE PROPAGANDA FILM THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL WATCHED . DESPITE UNEHICAL COVERAGE OF PALESTINE AND THE RECENT EXPOSURE OF ITS JOURNALISTIC MALPRACTICE IN THE SCREAMS WITHOUT WORDS ARTICLE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS COMPLICITY IN THE DEHUMANIZATION OF THE PALESTINIANS AND ITS ROLE IN SPREADING APATHY ABOUT IF NOT OUTRIGHT APPROVAL FOR THE MASS

[00:10:05]

AND SO I URGE MY CITY COUNCIL TO THINK HARD ABOUT THE LOCAL UPROAR THAT WOULD BE CAUSED BY ALLOWING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO GO TO THE ANTI-ISLAM PHOBIC AND YELLOW JOURNALISM OUTLET THE

NEW YORK TIMES . >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ROSS.

ON ITEM 27, CODY HUNT. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CODY HUNT AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING FOR PALLADIUM USA.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THIS INCREDIBLE PROJECT TO DISTRICT 4. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HUNTER. ON ITEM NO. 33, JACK FINGER.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ITEM NO. 33 IS ABOUT -- OH, IT'S AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH -- I'LL PUT THIS UP THERE. ITEM 33, IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE CLOSELY.

KIND OF BLOW IT UP A LITTLE BIT. YEAH, OKAY.

YEAH. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH WSP USA FOR CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING SERVICES FOR THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR AN ANNUAL AMOUNT OF ABOUT $208,000 AND CHANGE THERE. THANK YOU.

YES. BASICALLY IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT, OH, WITH THE ITEM OF FUNDING IS FROM THE EPA CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT. YEAH.

THOSE OF US YOU'RE GOING TO CALL US CLIMATE DENIERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL WAITING, WAITING FOR THE PROOF THAT CLIMATE CHANGE, GLOBAL WARMING ACTUALLY DOES EXIST.

FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE, THE NUMBERS HAVE NOT CHANGED FOR ABOUT A CENTURY.

FOR REAL. YOU WILL FIND THAT MAYBE A DEGREE OR TWO FROM 100 YEARS AGO WHEN WE HARDLY HAD ANY CARS ON THE ROAD. YOU KNOW, AND WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THIS QUESTION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. NOW, YOU THINK THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM THAT YOU ARE CONTRACTING WITH A COMPANY TO HELP YOU ESTABLISH A PLAN.

A PLAN TO WHAT WILL ESSENTIALLY DO IS RESTRICT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HERE IN THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING OUR CAR, FORCING US TO . FORCING US TO WALK OR BICYCLE IN AREAS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY WERE ALLOWED TO DRIVE OUR CARS.

ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. ALL KINDS OF UNGODLY RESTRICTIONS. SO, NO, WE THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA.

IT'S JUST ONE MORE STEP CLOSER TO WHAT WE THINK OF AS A SOCIALISTIC INITIATIVE HERE.

NO. I THINK MAYBE Y'ALL MIGHT WANT TO REMOVE ITEM NO. 31 AS WELL FOR DELIBERATION TO SEE AND ASK SOME VERY TOUGH QUESTIONS, JUST EXACTLY WHAT WOULD THIS PLAN DO. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ALL THE CITIZENS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 14, 21. I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE SO JUST SIGNAL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE GRANT APPLICATION FUNDS UPON AWARD. AND THIS IS THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM, IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS GENERAL COMPETITION TO IMPLEMENT LARGE-SCALE SOLAR.

[00:15:02]

AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL WERE WATCHING B SESSION, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT YOU A LOT, DOUG, YESTERDAY.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT THIS COUNCIL HAS TOWARDS MAKING SURE SAN ANTONIO IS A SUSTAINABLE CITY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND WE NEED TO DO OUR PART TO HELP

THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

ITEM 18, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF JACOB QUINN BAZAN TO THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION. QUINN IS A SENIOR AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN THEIR CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM AND IN THEIR MARCHING BAND WHERE HE HELD FIRST CHAIR PLAYING THE SAXOPHONE. I'M THRILLED TO HAVE QUINN JOIN THE YOUTH COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT 5 AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES FOR SAN ANTONIO'S YOUTH. THE SECOND ITEM I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH URBAN 15.

I WILL CONTINUE TO ARGUE THAT DISTRICT 5 IS THE CULTURAL ARTS HUB OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND URBAN 15 IS HOUSED IS DISTRICT 5 AND WHILE THEY PROVIDE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THE EXTENSION OF THIS CONTRACT WHICH PROVIDES ARTS SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S SENIOR CENTERS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN ONE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S SENIOR CENTERS WHEN URBAN 15 IS PERFORMING

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M ALSO DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD. Y'ALL MAY KNOW HER AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE WEST SIDE COMMERCE. THE CLIMATE ACTION STEERING COMMITTEE .

HER SERVICE HAS BEEN VERY EXTENSIVE AND I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME HER TO THIS NEW ROLE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO.

20, APPROVING A $50,000 GRANT FOR A DISTRICT 1 BUSINESS. OPTIMAL TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS.

THEY ARE LOCATED ON SAN PEDRO AND 410 AND THEY DO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING WITH I.T. SUPPORT. AND THE FOUNDER IS A MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS.

WE'RE EXCITED THAT THEY'RE GETTING THIS GRANT. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT 18B, THE APPOINTING OF BRIAN MAST TO THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE BRIAN ON THIS NOMINATION AND EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THIS APPOINTMENT .

BRIAN HAS LED THE -- CO-LED THE WESTSIDE CREEK ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION FEASIBILITY STUDY AND WORKED ON VARIOUS OTHER PROJECTS. WE MEET WITH BRIAN MONTHLY FOR THE WATER QUALITY, LOOKING AT THE WATER QUALITY AT WOODLAWN LAKE.

I HAVE EVERY BIT OF FAITH THAT BRIAN WILL EXCEL AT THIS ROLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.

IF THERE ARE NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 14, AND 21. PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL TAKE A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>

>> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, AS YOU CAN TELL,

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

I'M GOING TO GET US STARTED BY TURNING IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH TO

RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR CITY TEAM. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ACTUALLY, TWO FOLKS THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS MORNING.

THE FIRST IS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ROD SANCHEZ. TODAY IS ROD'S LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING. HE WILL CONCLUDE 31 YEARS WITH THE CITY NEXT WEEK.

ROD ALSO HAS FOUR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, IN CASE YOU GUYS WANTED TO ASK ANY LAST-MINUTE QUESTIONS. ROD STARTED IN THE BUDGET OFFICE 31 YEARS AGO AND HAS PROGRESSED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET OFFICE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. HE WAS IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ROSE

[00:20:05]

I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE ROD AND ASK HIM IF HE WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS.

HIS FAMILY IS HERE TODAY. SELENA SANCHEZ, WHO IS A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE AND ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL COLLEAGUE -- SORRY. A HIGH SCHOOL -- GRADUATED FROM THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL CLASS AS MY WIFE, SO THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR MANY YEARS. ROD. BE CAREFUL, THE QUESTION

HASN'T ASKED THEIR QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT ITEMS. >> AS USUAL, ERIK SETS ME UP AND HE SAYS EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY AND I'M LEFT TO SAY NOTHING.

I'M THOROUGHLY EMBARRASSED HOUSTON, NO ONE COMPLAINS MORE ABOUT POPS THAN ME. NOW I'M A POP.

BUT THANK YOU. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION FOR TAKING COUNCIL TIME TO RECOGNIZE ME IN MY 31 YEARS OF SERVICE. I WANT TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE.

STARTING WITH MY FAMILY. MY LOVELY WIFE OF 22 YEARS, SELENA.

AND MY SON, LUKE, WHO IS STILL HERE. AND MY DAUGHTER, AVA, WHO WAS HERE BUT HAD TO RUN BACK TO ST. MARY'S TO TAKE A TEST. 99% OF MY 31 YEARS HAS BEEN GREAT BUT THERE WAS THAT 1% THAT IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT STRESSFUL.

YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH THAT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND LOVE OF YOUR FAMILY.

SO THANK THESE GOOD-LOOKING PEOPLE BACK THERE. MARINA, MY MOM AND DAD MADE IT IN FROM DISTRICT 7. THEY USUALLY DON'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE TOO MUCH SO I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THEM HERE AND FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT. AND MY SISTER AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW. I HAVE SEVERAL SISTERS-IN-LAW HERE.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THEM. THEY ARE PART OF THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT KEPT ME GOING.

I HAVE ALSO HAD A TREMENDOUS STAFF. SINCE DAY ONE WHEN THEY MADE ME AN INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND ZONING PROCESS WAS ALL MESSED UP, THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A TEAM. AND FROM DAY ONE WE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. I HIRED CAT HERNANDEZ, WHO NOW IS OUR AMAZING TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, AS ONE OF MY ZONERS. I HIRED JOHN JACKS, DIRECTOR OF CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT .

CHRISTY CHAPMAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH PUBLIC WORKS. AND CHRIS LOONEY, ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT PLANNING DIRECTORS AND DSD DIRECTORS, NOW HE'S IN NEW BRAUNFELS.

WITH PEOPLE LIKE THAT WE HAD TO SUCCEED. THEN WHEN I WENT TO DSD -- YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT IS A CAST OF ALL-STARS IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

WITH THAT GROUP WE HAD TO SUCCEED. THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, MANNY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MICHAEL SHANNON. THERE'S ALWAYS ONE BAD SEED, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO SAY THIS -- THIS KILLS ME TO SAY THIS AND I'M GOING TO DEVELOP AMNESIA AFTER I SAY IT BUT MIKE IS ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTORS WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE ELSE BETTER TO REPLACE ME AS A DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

I DIDN'T SAY THAT, ALL RIGHT? NO ONE REMIND ME LATER. MY OTHER DIRECTORS, RAZI HOSSEINI, HE IS AN AMAZING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. HE DOESN'T GET CREDIT FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT HE DOES. YOU KNOW, 90% OF WHAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES IS EXCELLENT WORK.

THEY GO OUT AND FILL A POTHOLE WITHIN 24 HOURS. PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE 5% OF

[00:25:02]

THEY'RE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE A PART OF THE PROCESS. RAZI DOES AN AMAZING JOB.

HE'S ALSO JUST A KIND AND GENTLE PERSON AND I'M GOING TO MISS HIM TREMENDOUSLY.

BRIDGETT WHITE, MY PLANNING DIRECTOR. WE JOKE THAT SHE'S MY GOLDFISH. I FEED HER ONCE A WEEK AND SHE TAKES CARE OF HERSELF.

I NEVER WORRY ABOUT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB AND SHE WORRIES ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DETAIL. I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT IT. BRIDGETT, YOU GUYS ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HER. MY LAST DIRECTOR IS JORGE PEREZ.

HE'S TAKING CARE OF THE BUILDINGS, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS CLEAN AND WHEN I NEEDED A PITBULL TO HELP ME WITH A CONTRACTOR WHO WASN'T DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO, JORGE WAS MY MAN. JORGE IS A GREAT GUY AND YOU'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM.

MY IMMEDIATE STAFF, I HAVE HAD AMAZING EMAS THROUGHOUT MY COURSE HERE AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. MICHAEL DICE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI IS HERE.

HE DID AN AMAZING JOB FOR ME. AND MY CURRENT EMA, STEPHANIE FLORES.

I KNOW WHEN I LEAVE, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE PULLING TO GET HER SO WHEREVER SHE LANDS, YOU GUYS WILL BE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE THAT MAKES SURE THAT I'M PREPARED FOR EVERY MEETING THAT I GO TO. AND THEN MY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, NORMA QUINN. I HIT THE LOTTERY WHEN I GOT HER.

AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE OFFICE THEY PUT ME IN WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER WORKSTATION AND THAT'S HOW I GOT HER. BUT SHE'S THE BEST EXECUTIVE SECRETARY WE HAVE HERE AT CITY HALL AND SHE'S BEEN A GOOD FRIEND AND JUST SHE LETS ME BE ME, AND I'M GOING TO MISS NORMA QUITE A BIT. OF COURSE TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE ELT.

I'M GOING TO TURN OVER THE BEST DRESSED TO DAVE MCCARY. YOU GUYS KNOW THEY'RE AMAZING.

THEY WORK VERY HARD. THEY CARE ABOUT THIS CITY SO MUCH AND YOU GUYS ARE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE HIM. TO MY GOOD FRIEND SITTING IN THE CHAIR THERE, YEAH, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER 33 YEARS. WE MET AT GRAD SCHOOL. WE BOTH STARTED IN THE BUDGET OFFICE. WE WORKED OUR WAY UP TOGETHER. HE WASN'T ALWAYS MY BOSS BUT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN MY FRIEND. AND FOR THE LAST SEVEN OR SO YEARS, OFF AND ON, HE'S BEEN MY BOSS. HE'S AN AMAZING BOSS AND YOU GUYS KNOW IT.

HE'S AN AMAZING CITY MANAGER AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM IN THAT CHAIR.

I WILL MISS YOU, MY FRIEND. HE'S BEEN MY WINGMAN FOR 33 YEARS.

IT WILL BE WEIRD GOING TO WORK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITHOUT HIM THERE.

AND, COUNCIL, THANK YOU TO YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU GUYS HAVE A TOUGH JOB.

YOU HAVE A THANKLESS JOB SOMETIMES. YOU WORK 24/7, WE KNOW IT.

AND I KNOW THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. YOU GUYS HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED WITH MY RECOMMENDATIONS, EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE GUILTY OF THAT.

[LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S OKAY. THAT IS HOW OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT WORKS. THAT'S HOW IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK.

WE GIVE YOU A PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION. YOU TAKE THAT AND TAKE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR DISTRICTS AND YOUR CITY AND YOU MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE AT CITY COUNCIL. AND BE NICE TO ME.

[APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. AT RISK OF BEING HERE ALL DAY, I THINK WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS FOR ROD. SO I'LL JUST START AND SAY, ROD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, HAVE DONE FOR OUR CITY AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT YOU WERE LEAVING, I WAS SOMEWHAT RELIEVED TO FIND OUT YOU WERE NOT GOING THAT FAR AWAY.

IT'S BEEN A JOY TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OVER THE YEARS AND OUR CITY IS MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR SERVICE. I WILL SAY THAT WHERE YOU'RE GOING, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE NEED FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THIS CITY.

[00:30:04]

WE'LL JUST GO AROUND. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ROD, I FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD BE STANDING UP HERE. I DON'T WANT TO TURN MY NECK.

OUR LOSS IS VIA'S GAIN. IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT I'M SORRY TO SEE YOU GO.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE -- YOUR SHOES ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO FILL.

YOUR VERY FANCY SHOES ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO FILL. YOU'VE BEEN A TRUE PARTNER FOR DISTRICT 6 AND TRULY EVERY SAN ANTONIAN. YOU ARE OUR GO-TO WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE WE CAN'T GET FIGURED OUT, YOU SIT DOWN, ROLL YOUR SLEEVES UP, AND YOU REALLY GET TO WORK. I REALLY APPRECIATE, YES, YOUR FANCY THREE-PIECE SUITS AND YOUR HUMOR BUT YOUR ATTITUDE OF GETTING IT DONE. I REALLY APPRECIATE AND I RESPECT. NO, I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE A FRIEND AND I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE'LL BE TALKING TRANSPORTATION FOR SOME TIME TO COME. BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME, MY DISTRICT, OUR CITY, AND YOUR TRUE DEDICATION TO THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO MISS YOU. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ROD, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WORKING TOGETHER, TO ME IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT YOU CARE. YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITY.

YOU CARE ABOUT DISTRICT 7, YOUR PARENTS ARE LIVING THERE. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE PARTNERED REALLY WELL TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE. AS A PAST BOARD MEMBER OF VIA, I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE. WE NEED MUSCLE THERE AND I'M SURE THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO MOVE ALONG WITH A POWER LIKE YOURSELF THERE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS. ROD, YOU ARE THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL. THE WAY THAT YOU HANDLE COMPLEX PROBLEMS HAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME AND I THINK THE RIGHT WORD IS ELEGANCE. YOU'VE HANDLED EVERY BIG, BIG HEAVY LIFT AND ALL THE BIG CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND ELEGANCE.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND, YOU KNOW,YOU GOING TO VIA CREATES A PROBLEM FOR US. VIA COMES UP EVERY BUDGET YEAR AND ASKS FOR $10 MILLION.

THIS YEAR THEY'RE GETTING ZERO BECAUSE ROD IS WORTH ABOUT $10 MILLION IN MY OPINION.

YOUR MOVE, VIA. THE SECOND THING IS I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A GOOD FATHER AND THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO SET AN EXAMPLE. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSIVE TO ME. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR CHILD, MIKE SHANNON, TO

THE MEETING. >> KEEP GIVING HIM A HARD TIME.

>> PELAEZ: ANDY AND I WERE COMMENTING IT'S NOT A GOOD DAY UNLESS WE GET TO RAZZ MIKE AT LEAST ONCE. THANKS, ROD FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, ROD. SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL NOW SIX AND A HALF YEARS, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE US THE COMPLETE PICTURE.

WHO WILL OFFER WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND TO BE A GOOD WAY OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS. BUT ALSO I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES A COMMUNITY HAS OTHER VIEWS AND YOU TAKE THOSE INTO CONSIDERATION AND YOU HELP US WORK THROUGH WHATEVER THE BEST SOLUTION CAN BE THAT'S GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A SIGN OF A PROFESSIONAL. IT'S A SIGN OF SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, THE ROLE THAT COUNCIL PLAYS. AND IT'S REALLY HELPED ME AND I'M SURE IT HELPS EVERY COUNCILMEMBER THAT YOU'VE SERVED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO MAKE THE RIGHT KIND OF REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY NEED. I KNOW THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE BEING VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO DO OVER AT VIA.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD MOVE FOR US HAVING YOU IN THAT POSITION, UNDERSTANDING THE CITY AND WHAT WE DO, AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION.

[00:35:05]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: ROD HAD THE TASK OF BEING MY LIAISON SO NOBODY BLAME ROD FOR HOW I TURNED OUT. THIS WAS ALL MY DOING. NO, I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR GUIDANCE OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS OR SO AND I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER.

YOU SEEM TO HANDLE EVERY ISSUE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY AND REALLY COME FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE. I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME THUS FAR AND OBVIOUSLY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY AND LOOK FORWARD

TO WORKING WITH YOU AT VIA. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH JEFF. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT POACHING LOOKS LIKE. BUT I GUESS HE KNOWS GOOD TALENT WHERE HE SEES IT.

HE'S A DISTRICT 1 RESIDENT TOO. THANK YOU, ROD SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. WE COME IN AS NEW COUNCIL PEOPLE AND DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS. YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME BUT YOU ALWAYS PATIENTLY EXPLAINED THE DETAILS, THE INS AND OUTS OF CHILLED WATER LINES.

YOU ALWAYS EXPLAINED IT. PEOPLE SAY ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN A THAT INNOVATION OR EDGE, BUT I NEVER FELT THAT FROM YOU. YOU WERE ALWAYS OPEN TO WHATEVER IDEA WE ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE, EVEN IF YOU WERE LIKE, WE TRIED THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU SHOWED ME JUST IN THE SHORT TIME THAT WE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER. THANKS, ROD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'M NOT LAST BUT, DANG, HOW DO YOU FOLLOW ALL OF THAT? I'LL SAY ONE IS OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE GAINED SO MUCH INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM IN YOUR TIME HERE AND EVEN BEFORE. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING ALL OF THAT. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME TREMENDOUS SHOES TO FILL.

I DON'T ENVY THE PERSON WHO ATTEMPTS TO DO SO. BUT I KNOW THAT THEY CAN STILL COUNT ON YOU FOR THEIR GUIDANCE. AND YOUR FOOTPRINT WILL STILL BE FELT AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND CONTRIBUTED TO OUR BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL CITY. AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE PROUD

OF THE LEGACY THAT YOU'VE BUILT. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ROD, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. ON BEHALF OF MY PREDECESSOR, SHE ALSO THANKS YOU AND WE BOTH AGREE THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BELIEVING IN SOUTH SAN ANTONIO.

I KNOW REBECCA GAVE YOU A LOT OF GRIEF. ME, I THINK I WAS MORE MODERATE IN GIVING YOU GRIEF BUT YOU ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THE INVESTMENT NEEDED FOR DISTRICT 3 AND SOUTH SA AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT YOUR LAST TEN YEARS, THE BOND PROJECTS WE GOT DONE, THE BUDGET PROJECTS WE GOT DONE IS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE BEHIND YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU.

THE THING IS, THOUGH, NOW I CAN GET MY EAST/WEST CORRIDOR FROM VIA.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, ROD FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING NICE. AND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT THE CITY, YOU WERE ONE OF THE ONLY NICE PEOPLE TO ME.

[LAUGHTER] AND I WAS AN OUTSIDER. I DIDN'T GROW UP IN PUBLIC ADMIN SO THERE WAS A LOT OF MEAN GIRLS AND MEAN PEOPLE AT THE CITY.

AND YOU WERE NOT ONE OF THEM. LIKE, YOU WERE AWESOME AND I WAS LIKE, MAN, THAT GUY IS SO GREAT. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THAT AND SAY THAT IT GOES A LONG WAY. JUST BEING NICE TO PEOPLE, LISTENING. THAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP TRAIT. I REALLY THINK THAT'S WHY YOUR TEAM IS SO INCREDIBLE BECAUSE THEY FOLLOW YOUR LEAD. AND YOU BUILT THEM UP. YOU KNOW ABOUT CROSS-TRAINING.

YOU KNOW ABOUT GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED. AND LATELY I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ON PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION, THE NEW TRAININGS FOR CODE OFFICERS, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NEW TRAINING, VERY MUCH NEEDED TRAINING.

ALL THE UDC AMENDMENTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, INCLUDING THE ONES I'M TRYING TO ASK ABOUT RIGHT NOW. AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUED WORK WITH THAT

[00:40:02]

I APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IN FRONT OF YOUR KIDS BECAUSE YOUR KIDS ARE SEEING YOUR EXAMPLE AND JUST A REMINDER TO YOU ALL, BE NICE TO EVERYONE YOU MEET. I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR BEING SO NICE TO ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROD. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WORKED AT THE CITY A LONG TIME AGO BEFORE BECOMING A COUNCILMEMBER. SO IF ANYBODY IS WONDERING ABOUT TIMELINES ON THE

MEANNESS. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE MEMO I LITERALLY GASPED. I WAS IN SUCH SHOCK THAT I DIDN'T FINISH READING IT UNTIL TWO HOURS LATER. OH, HE'S GOING TO VIA. CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOUR FAMILY, I'M SURE THAT 1% WERE DISTRICT 5 COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WERE STRESSFUL. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I'M REMEMBERING BACK TO AT ONE POINT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN MY LIAISON, I WAS LIKE, NO, CAN I STAY WITH ROD SANCHEZ BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT 5 CONCERNS ARE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS. AS MENTIONED, YOUR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE INVALUABLE.

SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO OVER AT VIA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. ROD, YOU GET THE LAST WORD. >> I THINK EVERYBODY SAID IT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AT VIA AS WE BUILD THE AMAZING GREEN AND SILVER LINES AND DO AMAZING THINGS OVER THERE. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS SO MUCH, ROD. [APPLAUSE]

ERIK, BACK TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THEN, SECONDLY -- AND I SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL THIS NEWS IN JANUARY. BUT RAMIRO SALAZAR, THIS IS RAMIRO'S LAST COUNCIL MEETING. RAMIRO IS RETIRING AFTER 19 YEARS OF DIRECTOR.

HE HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE LONGEST-SERVING EXECUTIVE IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW. AND HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR SIX YEARS, BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY IN EL PASO, THEN THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES IN DALLAS WHEN HE WAS RECRUITED DOWN TO SAN ANTONIO.

SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, OVER 19 YEARS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS -- WHERE IS RAMIRO? NOW I GOT TO LOOK BEHIND ME. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT HAS BEEN INDICATIVE OF RAMIRO'S LEADERSHIP STYLE IS HIS STEADFASTNESS. HE IS THE LONGEST-SERVING TENURED EXECUTIVE. A LOT OF EXECUTIVES LOOK UP TO RAMIRO AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT HE'S BUILT AT THE LIBRARY, THAT HE'S HAD AT THE LIBRARY FOR MANY YEARS IS REFLECTIVE OF THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS RAMIRO. BUT IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAREER AND I WANT TO THANK RAMIRO FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE CITY, TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE GOOD-BYES WITH THE REST OF THE EXECUTIVES BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT'S LEAVING THE CITY WITH JUST THESE TWO GENTLEMEN AND WE WILL MISS THEM. THANK YOU, RAMIRO.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, ERIK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE MY CAREER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO. OF COURSE ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE REALIZED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THROUGHOUT MY 19 YEARS, WAS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY ELEVATED THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY UNDER ME TO BE THE INSTITUTION THAT IT IS. A VALUED INSTITUTION.

THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARIES HAVE RANKED AT THE TOP WITH POLICE AND EMS FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. THAT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THE HARD WORK OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, TWO OF THEM ARE HERE.

INTERIM LIBRARY DIRECTOR KATHY DONNELLAN. INTERIM ASSISTANT LIBRARY

[00:45:07]

THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM WHO LEAD THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND OF COURSE, THE FOLKS THAT REALLY DO THE HEAVY LIFTING ARE THE FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINES AND THOSE THAT PLAY SUPPORTING ROLES. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR EXCELLENT WORK AND THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION AND PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. AND OF COURSE WE NEED SUPPORT.

SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE FIRST OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DAVID MCCARY.

HE'S BEEN SUCH A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

HE ALWAYS SAYS MY ROLE IS TO CLEAR THE RUNWAY. HE HAS DONE THAT.

HE'S RESPONSIVE SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE LIBRARY. AND, OF COURSE, OUR CITY MANAGER.

IT'S BEEN A JOY. IT'S BEEN GREAT. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP. I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR OUR CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH.

HIS WORK, HIS APPROACH, HE DOES IT WITH COMPASSION BUT ALSO STRONG LEADERSHIP.

IT'S SOMEONE WE SHOULD EMULATE. TO MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU ALSO FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. AND, OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW I OFTEN SAY THAT I HAVE TWO BOSSES BECAUSE IN REALITY I DO. BY CITY CHARTER THERE'S A LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO HAS MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT ASSIGNED BY CITY CHARTER.

I ALSO REPORT TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY. TO ALL OF YOU, YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY SO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED.

FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

AGAIN, IT'S A VALUED ORGANIZATION. THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S NEEDED, IT'S NECESSARY. IT EMPOWERS THE COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, RAMIRO.

WE HAVE HAD A BIT OF AN EXTENDED VICTORY LAP FOR YOU, WHICH IS WELL DESERVED.

MANY OF YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS BUT RAMIRO IS A LAUDED DIRECTOR NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUT HAS TAKEN LEADERSHIP FOR LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA.

HE IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE VERY BEST IN THE INDUSTRY AT A TIME WHEN I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT BOOKS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF READING AND THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE BOOKS AND LITERATURE AND NEWSPAPERS AND ALL FORMS OF PRINT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE AS PART OF THE FREEDOMS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. OUR SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY SYSTEM, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, RAMIRO, HAS BEEN A SANCTUARY FOR LITERATURE.

AWAY FROM ALL OF THE NOISE THAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE. AND FOR THAT I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOUR WORK, BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE LAST DECADE.

AND I'M IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR OUR TIME TOGETHER AND WISH YOU CONGRATULATIONS ON A

WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RAMIRO FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE ELAINE AYALA ARTICLE THAT SHARED YOUR HISTORY AND YOUR ROLE, NOT JUST WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUDIO] PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THE ACCESS THAT IT PROVIDES RESIDENTS TO INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO. BUT ALSO STUFF THAT'S RESTRICTED IN OUR K-12 SCHOOLS AND HOW THAT'S INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING DEMOCRACY AND IN AUDIO] PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION. JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHEN I READ YOUR MEMO. I MAY BE A HOARDER BUT I HAVE ALL MY LIBRARY CARDS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAVE BEEN EXPIRED. I WAS LOOKING AT THEM AND WAS LIKE, WOW, RAMIRO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THESE LIBRARY CARDS. [LAUGHTER] SO JUST THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING TEAM THAT YOU FOSTERED. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. I FEEL YOU HAVE MOVED US AGES IN THE WAY PEOPLE THINK OF LIBRARIES. YOU HAVE BUILT THE LIBRARY AS A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY.

YOU BUILT THE LIBRARY AS A PLACE FOR SMALL BUSINESS EVEN BY ALLOWING US TO HOST A LOT

[00:50:06]

I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOU UNDERSTAND THERE'S CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF OUR CITY THAT ARE LOOKING TO JUST GET A LITTLE BIT OF HELP IN DIFFERENT AREAS OR NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. AND YOUR STAFF GETS IT AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF YOU. I ALSO HOPE YOU'LL STILL BE AROUND WHEN WE DO THE KATRINA BALL BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALWAYS FUN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSTANT SUPPORT OF THE BOOK FESTIVAL AND THE EXPANSION OF IT AND THE FOOTPRINT LAST YEAR WAS AWESOME. I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE AGAIN AND I HOPE YOUR SUPPORT CARRIES ON WITH THAT. ONE OF THE LAST THINGS I WANT TO SAY IS I GOT TO VISIT A LIBRARY LAST SUMMER AND THEY SAID RAMIRO SALAZAR FROM THE LIBRARY WAS HERE. AND IT WAS SO AWESOME BECAUSE THEY KNEW YOUR NAME AND THEY RECOGNIZED AND IT WAS SO AWESOME TO SAY, YEAH, HE'S OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

THEY HAD A WHOLE SECTION OF BOOKS ON BRAILLE AND I WAS JUST SO AMAZED.

AND THEY SAID THEY SPOKE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAD ALSO OFFERED THAT WE DO IN SAN ANTONIO. CONGRATULATIONS FOR MAKING A GREAT IMPACT ON LIBRARIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: RAMIRO, CONGRATULATIONS. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE FACT THAT YOU'VE STAYED WITH SAN ANTONIO AND GONE OTHER PLACES TO WORK BUT COME BACK HOME JUST MEANS SO MUCH. AND YOU HAVE REALLY CULTIVATED A VERY STRONG TEAM AND I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH THEM. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE LIBRARY AT MCCRELESS.

THAT WAS AN EVENT. AND YOU WORKED SO WELL IN MAKING SURE WE GOT THAT PLACE REOPENED. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES LOVES YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CULTIVATING THEM AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS. AND THEN MISSION LIBRARY, ON THE SOUTHSIDE WE USE THAT ALL THE TIME. AND THE EFFORTS YOU PUT FORWARD FOR PAN AMERICAN TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT AREA CAN USE THAT.

YOUR LEGACY IS GOING TO JUST BE SEEN IN SO MANY PARTS OF THE CITY BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE SOUTHSIDE AND DISTRICT 3 AND MAKING SURE THAT FROM OUR CHILDREN TO OUR SENIORS THAT THEY STAY CONNECTED. I MEAN, IT'S WHY YOU DESERVE ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT YOU RECEIVED NATIONALLY. SO THANK YOU.

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT BUT REMEMBER THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE ALWAYS YOUR HOME. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. AGAIN, ANOTHER TREMENDOUS LOSS. I'LL TELL A STORY SIMILAR TO COUNCILWOMAN TERI.

IT WAS THE SAME MEMO. IT WAS ANNOUNCING MARIA VARGAS AT THE COORDINATOR BUT THERE WERE A FEW OTHER APPOINTMENTS THERE AND THEY ANNOUNCED THAT KATHY WAS GOING TO BE STEPPING UP AS INTERIM DIRECTOR. I WAS LIKE, THAT'S INTERESTING.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN TWO DIRECTORS. THEN YOU MOVED DOWN AND IT ANNOUNCES YOUR RETIREMENT. AND I GASPED. IT'S BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH YOU. DISTRICT 2 LOVES THE LIBRARIES AND I GET TO DO MY OPEN OFFICE HOURS AT OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND SEE THE JOY THAT ALL OF THE LIBRARY WORKERS HAVE.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TREATS THEM THE NICEST ALL THE TIME BUT IT'S IN PART BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND SO, AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT LEGACIES, I HOPE YOU CAN BE PROUD OF THE LEGACY YOU LEAVE BEHIND.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE, AS THE MAYOR ACKNOWLEDGED, WE'RE AT A TIME WHERE BOOKS AND EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ARE ALL UNDER ATTACK. AND YOU'VE TAKEN IT ALL IN STRIDE AND YOU'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THE SAFE PLACE THAT ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ALL OF OUR SENIORS THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN GO TO AND FEEL EMPOWERED.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT JOURNEY.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. LIBRARIES WERE A SAFE SPACE LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE LIBRARIES TODAY. THAT MEANS AS A DIRECTOR YOU HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, MAKING SURE OUR DIGITALS SERVICES ARE GROWING AND I THINK YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF EVOLVING THE SYSTEM WITH THE

[00:55:01]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHIRTS THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM BEING MY EIGHT MONTHS ON COUNCIL SAYS: LIFE HAPPENS. LIBRARIES HELP. AND SO REALLY CREATIVE MARKETING THERE. THE SECOND THING IS BEING A REALLY GREAT LEADER FOR FOLKS THAT YOU'VE WORKED WITH. A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, CARLA VASQUEZ, WAS AN EMPLOYEE AND ONE OF HER FIRST JOBS WAS WORKING AT THE LIBRARY AND NOW SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT. THAT GROWTH AND TRAINING YOU PROVIDED HER IS INVALUABLE AND GETS THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE BOARD NOW. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND I KNOW YOUR WORK IS GOING TO CHANGE THOUSANDS OF KIDS' LIVES AND

FAMILY'S LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

WELL, JUST IN THE LITTLE TIME I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO, NOTHING BUT RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THAT. THE PEOPLE AT DISTRICT 10 LOVE THEIR LIBRARIES. AND SO ALL YOUR WORK HAS REALLY BEEN A GREAT SERVICE TO OUR DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND WISH YOU WELL MOVING

FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, RAMIRO. WHEN YOU FIRST STEPPED UP I STARTED TO THINK BACK.

WHEN I WAS A KID AND BEING IN THE LIBRARY AND HOW IT REALLY AFFECTED ME.

IT WAS REALLY A PART OF MY LIFE. GO IN AND LEARN AND JUST EXPERIENCE BOOKS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THEN I BECAME A TEACHER FOR 25 YEARS AND NEAR THE END OF MY TEACHING, PEOPLE WOULD SAY WOULD YOU DO THIS AGAIN? AND I WOULD TELL PEOPLE AND I TELL PEOPLE NOW. IF I HAD IT TO DO ALL OVER AGAIN I WOULD GO BACK INTO EDUCATION AS A LIBRARIAN. I LOVE BEING AROUND BOOKS, LOVE BEING AROUND KIDS. I LOVE THE IDEA OF SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S THERE TODAY. YOUR DEDICATION, YOU KNOW, TO PRESERVE OUR HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND OUR EXPERIENCES IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE.

PRESERVING OUR FACTS, PRESERVING OUR IMAGINATION, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE CAPACITY FOR US TO LEARN AND SHARE AND GROW CONTINUES TO BE PART OF OUR LIVES.

SO YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR SYSTEM HAVE DONE THE SAME.

THANK YOU, RAMIRO. YOU KNOW, BEST WISHES ON THE NEXT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS, RAMIRO TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF I BET NONE OF YOU THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE ASKING YOU TO ALSO OPERATE RESILIENCE CENTERS AND HELP PEOPLE GET AWAY FROM EXTREME HEAT OR EXTREME COLD OR, YOU KNOW, HURRICANES.

AND WE HAVE TESTED YOUR RESILIENCE AND YOUR STAFF'S RESILIENCE AND EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE LED A TEAM TO DELIVER AND GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS. AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT YOU'RE STILL RUNNING A VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE LIBRARY SYSTEM. A LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND ALL LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT SADLY ARE UNDER ATTACK. AND, YOU KNOW, ATTACKING READING AND ATTACKING BOOKS AND ATTACKING LEARNING NOW PASSES FOR LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN AND IN CERTAIN OFFICES IN D.C. IT'S REALLY GROSS BUT YOU HAVE BEEN A VANGUARD. YOU HAVE BEEN A CONTINUOUS -- YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS GUARDIANS OF FACTS AND LEARNING AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HELPED KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED, DESPITE -- I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY THERE WAS A REPORTER NAMED RODDY STINSON WHO WROTE AN ARTICLE ATTACKING OUR LIBRARY FOR ATTACKING THE LITERATI.

YOU GUYS HAVE HELD YOUR HEAD HIGH WITH ELEGANCE AND GRACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL JUST SAY THIS. AS A MOM TO TWO LITTLE BOOKWORMS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING SAN ANTONIO'S PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM A POINT OF PRIDE FOR OUR CITY. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING IT WAS THE ELECTION SITE AT MEMORIAL LIBRARY HOW MANY CARLOADS OF GRANDPARENTS WERE TAKING THEIR GRANDKIDS THERE AND THE MOMS TAKING THEIR KIDS THERE. AND, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR WAS SAYING, IT IS A SAFE SPACE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, A PLACE WHERE THEIR IMAGINATION CAN GROW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT CULTURE THAT YOU FOSTER. WE'LL MISS YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[01:00:02]

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE, IN SOME WAYS, HELPED TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. I KNOW I DID.

AND NOT JUST FOR THE BOOKS AND THE MEDIA BUT TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT OR TO USE THE WI-FI, SIGNIFICANTLY I APPRECIATE -- I LOVE COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S COMMENT ABOUT WANTING TO BE A LIBRARIAN. BUT I'LL SAY THAT IT'S NEVER EASY TO BE A LIBRARIAN BUT ESPECIALLY NOW WITH BOOKS AND MEDIA AND INFORMATION ITSELF BEING THREATENED.

IT'S TERRIBLY DIFFICULT. SO I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO SHIELD US FROM THAT, IN SOME WAYS THE CITY. AND THE WORK THAT EVERY LIBRARY UNDER YOU DOES TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. RAMIRO, LAST WORD TO YOU.

>> MAYOR, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO YOUR LEADERSHIP.

YOU TOOK THE INITIATIVE WHEN LIBRARIES WERE THREATENED WITH CENSORSHIP.

YOU ASKED LET'S FIGHT BACK AND LET'S PROMOTE THE FREEDOM TO READ AND FREEDOM TO ACCESS.

YOU SUPPORTED THAT NOW GOING ON 12 YEARS, THE INITIATIVE THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

THE MAYOR'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM. AND I W I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AL THE SUPPORT YOU PROVIDED TO THE LIBRARY. COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR RECOGNITIONS. I'M GOING TO FIRST -- THERE'S A YOUNG MAN HERE WHO'S ON A BIT OF A TIME SCHEDULE SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ TO WELCOME

ONE OF OUR CHAMPIONS. >> PELAEZ: ALL RIGHT. COME ON UP WITH YOUR DAD TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. I KNOW THAT YOU GOT TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

THERE HE IS. COME ON UP. OKAY.

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YEARS AGO THIS COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE CRICKET FIELDS IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THEN CITY MANAGER SHERYL SKULLEY SAID WHAT THE HECK IS CRICKET? I SAID IT'S IMPORTANT.

HELP ME OUT HERE. SHE DID IT. WE BUILT THOSE CRICKET FIELDS.

SINCE THEN THE CRICKET LEAGUES IN TOWN HAVE ALL ORGANIZED AROUND KIDS.

WE NOW HAVE FIELDS WHERE THESE KIDS CANNOT JUST LEARN AND PRACTICE THE SPORT BUT THERE'S A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT TO THIS. AND OUR VERY OWN VIRAT, WHO IS STANDING THERE WITH HIS TOURNAMENT TROPHY, REPRESENTED SAN ANTONIO CRICKET ON HIS TEAM, THE SAN ANTONIO POWER RANGERS, AT THE 2023 NATIONAL YOUTH CRICKET TOURNAMENT IN HOUSTON . THE REASON THIS IS A BIG DEAL IS BECAUSE THIS IS A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. AND HE WAS AWARDED THE BEST BOWLER AWARD.

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SAN ANTONIO NOT ONLY HAS WIMBY BUT WE HAVE THE BEST BOWLER IN THE UNITED STATES. HE SECURED THE MOST WICKETS IN THE TOURNAMENT EARNING HIM THE AWARD FOR THE UNDER 10 CATEGORY. DAD, YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE PROUD AND I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE ALL PROUD OF HIM. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE THIS YOUNG MAN. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR YOUNG CHAMP. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, CAN I HAVE ERNEST AND THE TEAM COME FORWARD AS I READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.

ERNEST, ARE YOU HEAR? WHEREAS THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION WILL HOST THE MARCH FOR JUSTICE -- [APPLAUSE] ON MARCH 23, 2024, THAT'S THIS SATURDAY, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND DELORES

[01:05:05]

WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S MARCH THEME LET THE SPIRIT FLOURISH AND GROW GIVES US PURPOSE FOR UNITING OUR VOICES AND THE MARCH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENERGIZE PEOPLE WITH THE POWER OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PROVIDE A BEAUTIFUL TRADITION FOR ALL CITIZENS TO ENJOY TODAY AND GENERATIONS TO COME. NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 23, 2024 TO BE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH FOR JUSTICE DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. [APPLAUSE]

>> WELL, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

THE EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HERE 28 YEARS CELEBRATING CESAR CHAVEZ.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CESAR WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT DELORES HUERTA AS WELL.

OUR CITY DOES IT RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO HONORING OUR HEROES. WE DO IT FOR OUR MILITARY AND VETERANS. WE DO IT FOR DR. KING. SINCE 1997 WE'VE BEEN MARCHING AND CELEBRATING CESAR CHAVEZ. THIS YEAR IS A SPECIAL YEAR. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS LET THE SPIRIT FLOURISH AND GROW. THAT IS INSPIRED BY A LINE TAKEN OUT OF THE FARM WORKER PRAYER WRITTEN BY CESAR CHAVEZ. THIS YEAR I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER YEAR THAN 2024 THAN TO LIFT UP THE LEGACY OF WILLIE VELASQUEZ.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FAMILY GRAND MARSHAL, THE FAMILY OF WILLIE VELASQUEZ. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM CARMEN, HIS DAUGHTER, BUT ALSO MY FATHER ONCE SAID OUR FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO MARCH, PROTEST, AND FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, BUT TO ALSO REMEMBER THE MOST IN NEED. AND ON THAT NOTE, WE'RE DOING THAT BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR. AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHY SAN ANTONIO, WHY DOES SAN ANTONIO HAVE THE LARGEST CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH IN THE COUNTRY? BY THE WAY, WITHOUT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. NATIONAL HOLIDAY WILL COME ONE DAY BUT WE DO IT RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE IT COMES FROM THE SEEDS PLANTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO BY THOSE THAT TOOK ON THE IDEA OF MARCHING IN SAN ANTONIO WHEN IT WASN'T POPULAR. AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE NOT EMBRACED.

IT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT THEY NEVER GAVE UP. MY FATHER, THE LATE JAIME P.

MARTINEZ WHO PASSED AWAY SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE CONTINUE IN THOSE TRADITIONS.

AND NOW THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CHALLENGES DO NOT EXIST. AND THAT'S WHY WE MARCH. WE MARCH FOR HOUSING.

WE MARCH FOR VOTING RIGHTS. WE MARCH TO FIGHT HUNGER. AND THERE'S SO MANY OTHER ISSUES WE COULD GO ON AND TALK ABOUT. BUT ON THAT DAY, THIS SATURDAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A COLLECTIVE OF VOICES COMING TOGETHER TO PAY TRIBUTE TO CESAR AND DOLORES HUERTA AND TO LIFT UP THAT LEGACY. SO ON THAT NOTE OF GIVING BACK, DR. DURAN IS OUR SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR WITH A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT.

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE OUR VICE PRESIDENT WITH US TODAY, OUR VICE PRESIDENT, CARLA DURAN, ON OUR BOARD. AND THE RIGHT-HAND TO MY FATHER, CAME OUT OF THE FREDERICK PLANT, HE'S HERE WITH US TODAY.

CARLA. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS FROM YOUR DISTRICT.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE REALLY -- EVERY YEAR IS INCREASINGLY MORE POPULAR.

WE HAVE MORE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS. THIS YEAR WE HAD THE MOST SUPPORT FINANCIALLY. WE RAISED THE MOST MONEY. I LOVE SAYING THAT EVERY YEAR AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

BUT BIGGER THAN THAT, WE ARE SCHOLARRING AND WE'RE PROVIDING MONEY AND OTHER TYPES OF SUPPORT FOR OVER 16 HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE COVERING THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH IS HUGE FOR ME. OVER 50% OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE FIRST-GEN STUDENTS.

FOR US THAT'S A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE FAMILIES TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AND TO

[01:10:01]

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THIS IS 2024 AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES OUT THERE. WE'RE A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION BUT WE KNOW THERE'S SOME ISSUES OUT THERE. IT'S ELECTION YEAR. CESAR CHAVEZ ONCE SAID WE DON'T NEED PERFECT POLITICAL SYSTEMS, WE NEED PERFECT PARTICIPATION.

THOSE WERE THE WORDS OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND ON THAT NOTE I WANT TO BRING UP CARMEN VELASQUEZ, DAUGHTER OF WILLIE VELASQUEZ. IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO HONOR CESAR CHAVEZ,

DOLORES, AND WILLIE. CARMEN VELASQUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, AND OF COURSE THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE.

AS THE DAUGHTER OF A MAN WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE FOR EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE DAUGHTER OF A WOMAN WHO WAS A CHILD MIGRANT WORKER, IT IS AN IMMENSE PRIDE AND GRATITUDE THAT I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY. CESAR CHAVEZ AND MY FATHER, WILLIE VELASQUEZ, WERE NOT JUST LEADERS, THEY WERE VISIONARIES WHOSE LEGACY CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE CITY, OUR STATE, AND BEYOND. ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, PROCLAIMING SUPPORT FOR CESAR CHAVEZ AND HONORING MY FATHER AS THE GRAND MARSHAL.

THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT JUST A RECOGNITION OF CESAR'S AND MY FATHER'S CONTRIBUTION, BUT A TESTAMENT TO THEIR ENDURING IMPACT ON THEIR WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND APPRECIATION TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY.

AS MANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND, FAMILIES OF POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OFTEN SACRIFICE AND SO THEY ARE THE ONES WHO STAND AND SUPPORT US AND YOU.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT FAMILIES ARE ALWAYS IN THE FOREFRONT.

MY FATHER BELIEVED THAT POWER OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY VOICE IN SHAPING OUR DEMOCRACY. THROUGH HIS TIMELESS EFFORTS IN CREATING THE SOUTHWEST VOTER EDUCATION PROJECT, HE EMPOWERED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD. AS WE MARCH IN HONOR OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND MY FATHER, LET US REMEMBER THE LESSONS THEY TAUGHT US, THAT CHANGE BEGINS WITH EACH ONE OF US AND THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE A MORE AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CITY COUNCIL, TO THE MAYOR, AND TO THOSE PRESENT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO CARRY FORWARD THE LEGACIES OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND MY FATHER. AND ON SATURDAY, LET US MARCH TOGETHER TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE JUSTICE AND EQUALITY PREVAILS FOR ALL. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> WELL, OVER THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BATTLES OVER THE YEARS. WE REMEMBER THE STREET BATTLE FOR CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD.

13 YEARS TO HAVE A STREET NAMED AFTER CESAR CHAVEZ . SO THERE'S BEEN SOME VICTORIES. THE MOST RECENT VICTORIES, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR LEADING THE CHARGE DURING THE TRANSITION OF A NEW COUNCIL BACK TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE CAME FOR THE CITY HOLIDAY, A PAID HOLIDAY, WHICH IS NOW A PAID HOLIDAY HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. HAPPY TO SHARE THAT NOW ALAMO COLLEGES' UNANIMOUS SUPPORT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THIS YEAR WILL BE CELEBRATING FOR THE FIRST TIME A PAID HOLIDAY FOR ALL ALAMO COLLEGES. STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF A PAID HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF CESAR CHAVEZ. [APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO CLOSE WITH SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOOD INSECURITY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, NOT ONLY IN OUR CITY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FARM WORKERS FEED A NATION.

IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FEED OUR CITY THIS SATURDAY. ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE THE YES WE CAN CAMPAIGN. IF YOU COULD TEE UP THE VIDEO, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO AND SOME REMARKS WILL BE CONCLUDED BY MARIO, CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

>> THE YES WE CAN CAMPAIGN IS VERY SPECIAL . IT'S SPECIAL IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE THAT GO HUNGRY. THOSE THAT STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

SO THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO GIVE BACK AND PARTICIPATE AND BRING NON-PERISHABLE GOODS TO THE MARCH IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE SET THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS THAT STRUGGLE. WE KNOW CESAR STOOD FOR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO PEOPLE'S LIVES BUT ALSO WHEN HE PROTESTED, HE DID IT IN A WAY THAT WAS A PEACEFUL WAY. HE DID IT IN A WAY THAT WAS EDUCATIONAL AND INSPIRING AND

[01:15:03]

THOSE FARM WORKERS ARE OUT IN THOSE CONDITIONS, CONDITIONS WHERE IT'S OVER 100 DEGREES AT TIMES. THEIR FAMILIES WORK LONG HOURS.

THE PRODUCE AND THE FOOD IN OUR GROCERY STORES, IT'S COMING FROM THE HANDS OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THAT SWEAT EQUITY, THAT'S MAKING ALL THAT HAPPEN.

WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WITHOUT THEM WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT PRODUCE IN OUR STORES AND WE WA WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SET THAT ON THE TABLE FOR OUR FAMILIES. I THINK IT'S TYING ALL THAT IN TOGETHER TO REMEMBER.

SO THE ADVOCACY, THE AWARENESS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCE, PEOPLE, PUBLIC POLICY. SO THE SHORTHAND HOE IS ON MY FAMILY'S DESK AND IT'S A STRONG REMINDER OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT HELPED GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND HELPED OPEN DOORS AND HELPED WITH IMPROVING LABOR CONDITIONS. WE MUSTN'T FORGET THAT.

THERE'S STILL A WAYS TO GO. WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART AND GET INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE FOR IMPROVING OUR FARM WORKERS' RIGHTS OUT IN THOSE FIELDS. THERE'S MILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND HERE IN OUR GREAT STATE THERE ARE MANY HUNGRY TEXANS, FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS HERE IN TEXAS. FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, WE'RE SERVING OVER 100,000 INDIVIDUALS IN ANY GIVEN WEEK WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY FOOD AND RESOURCES, FOOD NUTRITION PROGRAMS. AND SO THE YES WE CAN CAMPAIGN IS CERTAINLY AN AVENUE OR VEHICLE FOR FOLKS TO USE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING HUNGER

AND FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK.

ON BEHALF OF ERIK COOPER, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, OUR BOARD, OUR ORGANIZATION, OUR STAFF, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LEADERSHIP YOU PROVIDE TO OUR GREAT CITY.

AND THANK YOU FOR PROMOTING THE YES WE CAN CAMPAIGN. ERNEST, WITH RESPECT TO CCLIFF AND THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH, THANK YOU FOR THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OVER THE YEARS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SATURDAY MORNING. LET ME JUST SAY THINK ABOUT THESE WORDS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FARM WORKERS, FOOD, THE FOOD BANK, FAMILIES, AND FAITH. THINK ABOUT THOSE WORDS. SPREAD THAT MESSAGE FAR AND WIDE. AND FOLKS CAN COME AND DONATE FOOD ON SATURDAY MORNING, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE. SO, WITH THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY MORNING. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE

RECOGNITION. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR ORGANIZING OUR VISIT HERE TODAY AND RECOGNITION. LET ME TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, ERNEST. AS I'VE SHARED BEFORE, AS THE DAUGHTER OF A MIGRANT FARM WORKER WHO TOILED IN THE FIELDS IN MICHIGAN AND IS A GENERATIONAL RESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE, WHICH IS WHERE THE MARCH KICKS OFF OFF OF SOUTH BRAZOS AND GUADALUPE IS HUMBLING. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION FOR IDENTIFYING THE WILLIE VELASQUEZ FAMILY TO HONOR THEM THIS YEAR.

IT'S HISTORIC THE WORK WILLIE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND TO LEARN IN THE ARCHIVES OVER AT UTSA THAT WILLIE VELASQUEZ ORGANIZED IN THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE.

I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN THAT ONE OF MY FAVORITE TAQUERIAS IS WHERE WILLIE WOULD MEET WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO REGISTER AND MOBILIZE INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE. SO IT'S EXTREMELY EXCITING. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONTINUED WORK AND OF COURSE TO MARIA IN THE FOOD BANK AND JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE DONATE CANS, IF YOU CAN, AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO KICKING OFF WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING AND IMPORTANT ABOUT MARCHES LIKE THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH IS NOT ONLY IS IT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HONOR THE PAST AND RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORY, BUT IT ALSO SERVES AS A PLATFORM FOR THE WORK THAT WE CONTINUE -- THAT NEED TO ACCOMPLISH. THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MARCH ALONGSIDE ATU694 AS THEY DEMAND RECOGNITION FROM VIA. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO FIRST OFF THANK COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR -- AND DISTRICT 5 FOR HOSTING THE MARCH. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. WHEN YOU ALL ARE SPEAKING ABOUT THE ACTIVISM TODAY, I

[01:20:03]

THOSE MEMORIES PLAY A FORMIDABLE EXPERIENCE IN OUR LIVES GROWING UP.

I WANT TO THANK ERNEST FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK, LEADING THE CHARGE, AS YOU ARE SEEING THE WORK FOR FATHER DID, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MY DAD AND HE WAS WILL YES VELASQUEZ'S VELASQUEZ FAMILY HERE TODAY. I KNOW JANIE IS NOT HERE, BUT SHE WAS AT MY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF ON THE STAIRS OF CITY HALL AND I REMEMBER SEEING HER AND CONSIDERING IT A GOOD LUCK CHARM, YOU KNOW. I THOUGHT THIS IS GOING TO GO WELL. CARMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, DAN AND GEORGE AND ANDREA VELASQUEZ AND DAVID, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MARIO, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. I KNOW THAT WE'RE PROMOTING THE YES WE CAN AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING SOME GOODS ON SATURDAY. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MARCH AND WILL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND ERNEST AND CARMEN AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CESAR CHAVEZ LEGACY FOUNDATION AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT YOU BEGAN WORK ON THIS MARCH THE DAY AFTER LAST YEAR'S MARCH AND I TELL THIS STORY ALL THE TIME, BUT I RAN INTO YOU AT A GAS STATION READY WITH YOUR FLYERS.

I'M READY TO MARCH. I HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA MARCH THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET TO HAVE THE MLK MARCH SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS EVENT AND SHOWING SOLIDARITY NOT ONLY FOR LATINOS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MIGRANT FARM WORKERS BUT ALSO FOR EDUCATION. I'M HONORED TO CALL MANY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FOUNDATION FRIENDS AND THANKFUL TO MARIO, ESPECIALLY THE FOOD BANK, PERSONAL PRIDE TO SAY THAT FOOD BANK IS IN DISTRICT 6 AND HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS. I WANT TO MENTION THAT THE FARM BILL IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, BUT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN PASSED.

ANYBODY LISTENING, WHATEVER ADVOCACY YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE FARM BILL PASS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP THE FOOD BANK WHICH, OF COURSE, HELPS OUR HOLE COMMUNITY.

AMONG A SELECT GROUP OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE IMPACT THAT STAND OUT FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AND I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MARCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO ERNEST AND THE ENTIRE TIME FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO YEAR AFTER YEAR AND FOR BELIEVING IN OUR FUTURE, AND THROUGH THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND THE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT YOU RAISE, I FEEL LIKE YOU ALL ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT GREATER IMPACT. I'M ALWAYS HONORED TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE AND IT'S AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO TELL MY STUDENTS, SIGN UP FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT CAUSE.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING HERE AND PRESENT WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE YOU ALL SPEAK UP FOR THEM. THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

THE MARCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WAS GOING TO SAY AS THE OLDEST BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE OLDEST, BUT AS THE MOST SENIOR MEMBER ON THE COUNCIL WHO CAME HERE 53 YEARS AGO, I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING WILLIE AND WORKING WITH JAMIE AND GETTING TO SEE CESAR AND DELORE REST WHEN THEY CAME TO SAN ANTONIO. I TOO REMEMBER BOYCOTTING GRAPES AND MADE SURE PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

COURSE, THE WORK THEY'VE DONE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST AND THE COUNTRY THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE HATCHED ME MOLD MYSELF IN THE WAY I WANT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. SO I'M ALWAYS HONORED TO SEE THE MARCH AGAIN.

I'LL BE WITH YOU AND I HOPE WE'LL HAVE MORE AND MORE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

[01:25:06]

I'LL BE BRINGING MY CANNED FOOD TOO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. -- COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR COMING. AS OUR RIGHTS AS VOTERS CONTINUE TO BE THREATENED WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS MARCH, THE EFFORTS OF VOTER RENTAL ADMINISTRATION AND THE WILLIE -- REGISTRATION.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF WILLIE VELASQUEZ HADN'T OPENED THAT PHONE BOOK AND CALLING PEOPLE AND INFORMING THE COMMUNITY THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

I THINK THIS YEAR AS YOU ALL MENTIONED IS PROBABLY A CRITICAL YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUT AND MARCH. I AM SORRY THAT I CAN'T, BUT KNOW THAT I WILL BE THERE IN SPIRIT AND I WILL BE CHEERING ON ALL OUR UNION MEMBERS THAT I KNOW WILL COME OUT IN FORCED TO THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK.

CARLA, FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, MAKING SURE THE ENTIRE CITY IS REPRESENTED AND UNDERSTANDS WHO CESAR IS AND DELORES AND MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, MARIO, FOR CONNECTING THIS BACK TO THE FOOD BANK. IN OUR DISTRICT WE'RE COLLECTING FOOD FOR YOU TOO.

AND THANK YOU, CARMEN, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR SHARING YOUR DAD WITH US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE IT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE FIGHT ISN'T OVER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GROUP, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB AND LET'S JUST CONTINUE TO REMEMBER WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. >> PELÁEZ: ONE OF THE GREAT OWNERS OF MY LIFE AND I REMEMBER IT VIVIDLY IS GETTING TO MARCH UP FRONT HOLDING THE BANNER IS RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR DAD. WALTER CERNA GOT A CALL IN 2009 FROM SOME BIG COMPANY OUT OF L.A. AND SAID CAN WE HIRE YOU GUYS TO HELP FIND WAYS TO CONNECT WITH LATINO ORGANIZATIONS AND WE'RE LIKE YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO JAMIE MARTINEZ, YOUR POP, WHO I LOVE VERY MUCH. I REMEMBER THAT FIRST MEETING YOUR DAD -- WE SAID, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY AND BRING A BIG CHECK FROM CALIFORNIA. AND YOUR DAD SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CHANNEL CESAR CHAVEZ. THAT'S A GREAT CHECK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE NEED TWICE THAT. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE SECOND CHECK? AND HE WAS INDEFATIGUABLE AND GOT THE SECOND CHECK. GOT THE SAME SPONSORSHIP THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, I LOVE YOUR DAD VERY MUCH AND HE WOULD BE VERY PROUD. BUT I WANT TO CALLING ATTENTION TO SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, I PRACTICE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW.

I REPRESENT UNIONS SOMETIMES, I REPRESENT EMPLOYERS, I REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES. AND THE REASON THAT THOSE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS ARE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE AND THE REASON THAT THOSE EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS ARE ABLE TO HAVE HEIGHTS AND GO TO COURT AND PROSECUTE THEIR RIGHTS IS BECAUSE OF LEADERS LIKE CESAR CHAVEZ. AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BREAKS MY HEART IS THAT CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY STATE TO RECOGNIZE THE LABORING RIGHTS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS. IN 1935 WHEN THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT WAS WRITTEN, CONGRESS LITERALLY SAID ON THE FLOOR, YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDE WORKERS BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT. WHAT WAS DIFFERENT WAS THEY WERE LATINOS AND THEY WERE ASIANS AND THEY WERE MARGINALIZED. TO THIS DAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T REPRESENTING A CULTURAL WORKERS AND GIVES THEM THE SAME RIGHTS THAT THEY GIVE TO EVERY OTHER WORKING WHO BUSTS THEIR HUMP.

AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THAT PRESSURE ON. I'LL SEE YOU AT THE MARCH.

[01:30:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND EVERYONE UP HERE.

JONATHAN DELMAR ON MY STAFF WOULD PROBABLY SLAP ME UP SIDE THE HEAD IF I DIDN'T SAY WELL DONE AND CONGRATULATE YOU AND EVERYONE UP THERE.

IT'S GREAT WORK SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE CITY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AND COLLABORATION.

I LOVE SEEING THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT

AGAIN THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

THIS IS SUCH A BUSY GROUP. SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE AND EXCITED TO CELEBRATE CESAR CHAVEZ WITH YOU. AND I SAY ALL THE TIME THAT THE EAST SIDE, OF COURSE, HAS A VERY RICH CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY AND THAT'S TRUE FOR MUCH OF SAN ANTONIO INCLUDING THE WEST, SOUTH AND NORTH SIDE.

AND THAT'S -- AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THE LARGEST MLK MARCH IN THE NATION, THE LARGEST CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH IN THE NATION. KEEP UP THE WORK, KEEP PROMOTING THEIR LIVES AND LEGACY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. AND I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS WHAT HAPPENS IN SAN ANTONIO WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE LABOR FIGHT REALLY DOES CHANGE THE WORLD, AND WE SEE THAT EVERY DAY.

SO THANK YOU TO THE VELASQUEZ FAMILY, TO THE MARTINEZ FAMILY FOR YOUR LEGACIES HERE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MARCH SO WE CAN GET CLOSER TO THE VISION YOUR FAMILY HAS HAD FOR ALL SOCIETY AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE ON SOCIETY. MY APOLOGIES ERIKA WILL BE OUT OF TOWN.

YOU KNOW HER STORY AS A MIGRANT WORKER SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW, ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK NOW TO COME FORWARD AND THE REST OF OUR PERSIAN COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS PROUD TO JOIN THE SAN ANTONIO PERSIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY TO CELEBRATE PERSIAN NEW YEAR WHICH TAKES PLACE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, NEW DAY IS A CHAIR ISSUED DAY 13-DAY CELEBRATING AND CELEBRATING THE DAY OF THE VERNAL EQUINOX AND CELEBRATED BY MORE THAN 300 MILLION PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING NATURE'S POWER OF RENEWAL AND REJUVENATION AND WISH EVERYONE A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. THEREFORE IN RECOGNITION THEREOF HEREBY PRO PLAME MARCH 21, 2024, TO BE PERSIAN NEW YEAR DAY IN

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. [APPLAUSE] >> MY TURN? GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY ATTORNEY, MANAGER, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MAYOR NIRENBERG. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US BACK FOR A SECOND YEAR TO CELEBRATE. LAST YEAR WE TAUGHT YOU SOME CUSS ITEMS. YOU -- CUSTOMS. OUR COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE A TREE OF LIFE GOOD LUCK CHARM. MY SISTER MADE THEM FOR YOU.

MAYOR NIRENBERG, WE'VE GIFTED YOU THE BOOK OF KINGS THE HISTORY OF THE PERSIANS AND THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, MYTH LOGICAL AND FACT YOU'LL.

I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY THAT AND READING MORE ABOUT THE VERY LONG HISTORY OF THE PERSIANS. IT LITERALLY MEANS A NEW DAY IS IS A BITTERSWEET HOLIDAY FOR MY FAMILY. ON THE FIRST DAY IN 1984, WE LEFT IRAN TO ESCAPE WAR AND TURMOIL AND TO BE REUNITED WITH MY FATHER AFTER NEARLY FOUR YEARS.

A FEW MONTHS LATER WE FOUND OURSELVES IN SAN ANTONIO. 40 YEARS LATER WE ARE STILL

[01:35:02]

SOME CALL IT FATE, OTHERS LUCK, BUT I CREDIT OUR UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF ONE ANOTHER AT HUMANS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OPENNESS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR CULTURE, HERITAGE AND ETHNICITY. IT IS AN ANCIENT HOLIDAY CELEBRATED BY OVER 300 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, FROM THE FAR CORNERS OF MONGOLIA, INDIA, PAKISTAN, TURKEY AND PARTS OF EASTERN EUROPE, PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CELEBRATE THE COMING OF SPRING. THERE IS NO BETTER OF TIME THAN SPRING TO REJOICE IN OUR COMMONALITIES, SHARED CUSTOMS, HEAR AND EMBRACE OUR DIFFERENCES. -- HISTORY. THE EMPIRE WAS HOME TO DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF ETHNICITIES, LANGUAGES AND RELATION.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ONE TO PLACE A BARRIER BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHERS.

I BELIEVE IN THE WORDS OF A PERSIAN POET WHO WROTE HUMAN BEINGS ARE MEMBERS OF A WHOLE IN CREATION OF ONE ESSENCE AND SOUL. IF ONE MEMBER IS INFLICT WITH PAIN, OTHER MEMBERS UNEASY WILL REMAIN. IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR HUMAN PAIN, THE NAME OF HUMAN YOU CANNOT PERTAIN. I BELIEVE I HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH MY NEIGHBORS. PERHAPS THE CHILD IN MY WANTS TO BELIEVE OUR ANCESTORS WERE UNITED IN A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD. I BELIEVE IN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN PROVIDE A CHILD IMMIGRANT SUCH AS MYSELF WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. WHILE I HAVE LOST HOPE OF EVER RETURNING TO MY HOME LAND, I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF IRAN TO SAN ANTONIO. I LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING THESE CELEBRATIONS WITHIN OUR CITY NOT JUST AS ANOTHER REASON TO THROW A PARTY BUT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. I STAND HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IRANIAN COMMUNITY AND ALSO A FRIEND TO OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. THIS YEAR WE ARE JOINED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO CELEBRATE NUREZ AND SOME OF ARE WEARING THEIR ETHNIC ATTIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY DEAR FRIEND TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS AS SOMEONE WHO CELEBRATES.

THANK YOU AGAIN. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING NOREZ WITH YOU ON AN ONGOING OCCASION.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

I HAVE RESIDED IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS. IN THE LAST THREE DECADES I HAVE WITNESSED A MEDLEY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS, IF YOU ARE COUNTING FIESTA, OF EVENTS IN SAN ANTONIO. AS THE CITY GREW, SO DID THE EVENTS.

AND THE EVER-VIBRANT CULTURAL TAPESTRY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BECOME JUST THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE OPENED OUR ARMS AND CELEBRATED FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS WITH EVERY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT. CELEBRATING NAVROZ AT A CITY LEVEL WILL ENRICH OUR CITY IN MULTIPLE WAYS AND MAKE ALL THOSE WHO CELEBRATE THIS FESTIVAL EVEN MORE AT HOME RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU AND ROSE MUBAREK. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A FEW COMMENTS SO

DON'T MOVE ANYWHERE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR RICH CULTURE WITH US.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ALL TOMORROW.

I'M ALWAYS IN AWE OF THE BEAUTIFUL DANCES AND JUST THE IMPRESSIVE GARMENTS THAT YOU ALL WEAR AND I JUST KEEP STARING ALL THE TIME. IF YOU SEE ME STARING TODAY.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A SHOWCASE IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> PELÁEZ: FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE ONE OF TWO OF MY FAVORITE F PERSIANS. THE OTHER IS SHAROD. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE TODAY. I WANTED TO TELL YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO HELP US WITH THE SILK ROAD CORRIDOR ENDEAVOR.

YOUR ORGANIZATION ALONG WITH OUR CHINESE FRIENDS AND ALONG WITH OUR NORTH AFRICAN

[01:40:04]

YOU ALL ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR DISTRICT AND THE ENTIRE CITY AND CONRIBUTIONS IN EVERY SECTOR FROM EDUCATION TO MEDICINE TO I.T. TO ENGINEERING TO RESTAURANT INDUSTRY TO EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SUCCESS. AND ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS, I'M SURE THE SENTIMENT IS UNANIMOUS YOU 'HERE, THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NAVROZ MARKS THE BEGINNING OF SPRING AND SYMBOLIZES UNITY AND HOPE FOR MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

I'M GOING TO JUMP ON COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ'S COMMENT, YOU ARE ALSO ONE OF MY TWO FAVORITE PERSIANS, BUT MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE IS MY VERY GOOD FRIEND AND STAFFER VERONICA. I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GALA TOMORROW NIGHT AND CELEBRATING WITH YOU AND HOPE THESE BEAUTIFUL SYMBOLS OF SPRING AND HOPE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL. ALL OF OUR CULTURES HAVE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS COMING UP, BUT WE CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU TOMORROW. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. TO THE REST OF THE FOUNDATION, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU.

I AM -- OH, I'M SORRY. I SKIPPED OVER COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING A MOMENT OUT OF YOUR REMARKS TO ALLOW ME JUST TO CONGRATULATE YOU.

AND I WAS TOUCHED BY THE BIT OF POETRY THAT YOU STARTED TO READ ABOUT US BEING HUMAN. AND IT'S WONDERFUL FOR US ALL TO SHARE IN THE CULTURE AND THE TRADITIONS AND 2 ETHNICITY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE BRING TO SAN ANTONIO.

BUT ALL OF THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE HUMANITY THAT WE ALL SHARE.

AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT AND THAT BEING PART OF THE OVERALL IDEA OF WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, BUT AS WE ALL REALLY GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM LINE, WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND WE ALL SHOULD BE ENJOYING AND SHARING WITH ONE ANOTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS BEFORE US

TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

AND BEING GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR CULTURE AT A MOMENT WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES IMMIGRATION MEAN AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AMERICAN. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT NO ONE HERE OTHER THAN INDIGENOUS NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE A MONOPOLY ON WHAT IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN.

WE ALL COME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS. WE ALL UNITE UNDER THE BANNER OF PURSUING A MORE PERFECT STATE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AN AMERICAN, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CELEBRATION OF EACH OF OUR CULTURES. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY GREAT.

THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BE HERE TO AGAIN RECOGNIZE NOREZ ONCE AGAIN.

IT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL WHEN WE HAVE OTHER CULTURES HERE, IT REMINDS US TO BE AN AMERICAN AND A GREAT FESTIVAL TO YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO

CELEBRATING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> AND WE SAY --

THAT'S HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HAPPY NEW YEAR. ALL RIGHT. I WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT RECOGNITION, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY PATIENT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. AND THEY MIGHT ALL BE ACTING, THEY MAY BE VERY IMPATIENT BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL THEATER STUDENTS. I'LL ASK OUR THEATER STUDENTS TO COME FORWARD AS I PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.

I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WITH US TODAY. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2024, CAST STEM HIGH SCHOOL CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS AND WILLIAM TAFT WILL OBSERVE THEATERS IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. LET ME NOT FORGET ALA, TO BRING HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF THEATER IN THE SCHOOLS AND IMPORTANCE OF ARTS AND

[01:45:02]

AND WHEREAS THE THEATER IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE LEARNING PROCESS AND DEVELOP STUDENTS' CREATIVITY, SEVERAL DISCIPLINE AND CRITICAL THINKING ABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS THEATER EDUCATION ALLOWS THEM TO DISCOVER THEIR MYRIAD SKILLS AND COLLABORATION AND UNLOCKS THE UNLIMITED POTENTIAL OF STUDENTS.

NOW THEREFORE I HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2024 TO BE THEATER IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH

IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WELCOME, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE MAYOR AND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK DURING THIS IMPORTANT TIME IN THEATER EDUCATION. MY NAME IS TAREN SMALLS AND I'M CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. I SERVE AS SCHOOLS FOR MY SCHOOL'S THESPIAN SOCIETY AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE MY TROOP'S COUNCIL WITH ME TODAY. I ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A STATE THESPIAN OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHICH IS A PART OF THE TEXAS THESPIANS CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THIS ORGANIZATION TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS IN TEXAS. THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE EDUCATIONAL THEATER ASSOCIATION AND IS A HIGH SCHOOL HONOR SOCIETY THAT RECOGNIZES STUDENTS IN THEATER. AS A THESPIAN OFFICER ON MY CAMPUS, I WORK AS A STUDENT LEADER FOR MY TROOP. OUR TROOP PARTICIPATES AND PLANS SEVERAL PROJECTS, SOCIALS AND PERFORMANCES AND MUCH MORE.

OUR TROOP BELOWS IN THE POWER OF EDUCATIONAL THEATER --S YEAR WE PLANNED A GOAL FOR THEATER ADVOCACY. WE WISH TO HAVE MARCH DECLARED AS NATIONAL THEATER MONTH. THIS WOULD RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE MANY DIVERSE BENEFITS OF THEATER EDUCATION. TO HELP WITH THIS GOAL, WE THANK YOU FOR SIGNING A PUBLIC PROCLAMATION STATING THAT YOU SUPPORT THE ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION IN TEXAS. TEXAS THESPIANS BELIEVE INCREASED AWARENESS OF ARTS EDUCATION WILL ENCOURAGE FURTHER ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, RESULTING IN POSITIVE CHANGE FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IN. SO ON BEHALF OF OUR CAMPUS, THESPIAN TROOP 7694, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESPIANS NOT ONLY IN TEXAS BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOUR TEACHERS AND ADVISERS TO ALLOW YOU TO BE HERE ALL MORNING.

YOU'VE GOTTEN NOT ONLY A LITTLE THEATER EDUCATION, HOPEFULLY YOU GOT A LITTLE CIVICS GOING TOWARDS YOU. LET ME RECOGNIZE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE COMMENTS

FOR YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND ENGAGING IN THE ARTS.

I KNOW FOR A LOT OF YOU THE ARTS IS PROBABLY A SAFE SPACE WHERE YOU CAN GO TO EXPRESS YOURSELVES AND ALSO MAKES YOU A MUCH MORE ROUNDED STUDENTS.

THANK YOU FOR THE TEACHERS AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN.

I KNOW PUTTING THOSE STAGES TOGETHER TAKE A REALLY LONG TIME AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THEATER ARTS. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL THE AMAZING THINGS YOU ALL

ACCOMPLISH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I GUESS I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY WE ARE ALL ACTORS AND LIFE IS JUST A STAGE.

[LAUGHTER] AND IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COUNCILMEMBERS HERE. AND I THINK, THOUGH, THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO AND THE VALUE THAT IT ADDS TO YOUR SCHOOL AND TO YOUR OWN LIVES.

I REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL GOING AND WATCHING A COUPLE PLAYS.

I NEVER PERFORMED IN ANY, BUT THEY WERE VERY INSPIRATIONAL TO ME.

AS IT TURNED OUT LATER IN LIFE I DID HAVE A COUPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET UP ON STAGE AND ACT IN A COUPLE OF SHOWS. AND I REALIZED THIS IS MORE THAN I COULD DO. BUT IT WAS FUN. AND I'M SURE IT'S FUN FOR YOU AND HOPEFULLY SOME DAY IT WILL MAKE SUCH DRAMATIC IMPACTS IN YOUR LIVES IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIVES BETTER AS I'M SURE IT IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

[01:50:02]

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'LL BE BRIEF OR ELSE WE'LL BE HERE ALL DAY. AS A TEACHER IT ALWAYS BRINGS SO MUCH JOY TO MY HEART AND SPIRIT WHENEVER I SEE STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE HERE AND FOR YOU ALL TO BE ENGAGED IN THE ARTS. WE SPEND TIME THINKING ABOUT SCIENCE, MATH, ENGLISH, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THE ARTS PLAY A HUGE RULE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT AS HUMANS AND AS COMPASSIONATE LEADERS. AND ALSO AS EMPATHETIC LEADERS.

I WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THE DAIS AND FIND MAYBE A PLACE FOR YOURSELF AT SOME POINT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF PERFORMANCE ART.

THAT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BUILT OF A LAUGH. [LAUGHTER] CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE THINGS YOU GUYS DO. I HOPE THAT WE'LL GET A LIVE INVITATION FOR PERFORMANCES, FOR PLAYS, ALL OF THE THINGS.

PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY. THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: I'M GOING TO TRY THIS, OKAY? HARK -- I WAS LITERALLY WRITING THIS. HARK, DRAMA STUDENTS, YOUR TALENTS SHINE SO BRIGHT.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT YOU DAZZLE WITH SHEER MIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR THEATRICAL FLIGHT, YOUR PASSION FOR THE STAGE IS A WONDEROUS SITE.

WHAT IS THAT BY THE WAY? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US.

OH, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC I GAVE A SPEECH AND I WAS LIKE THE THEATER ARTS, ALL THE ARTS ARE GOING TO GET US OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, GOING TO HELP US HAVE THE HARD CONVERSATIONS. WHAT YOU DO IS SO IMPORTANT IN TELLING STORIES THAT RESONATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE. I'M SO EXCITED YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU ASKED THE MAYOR FOR THE PROCLAMATION BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ASK ONE THING.

YOU GUYS SEND LETTERS TO YOUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES AND ASK THEM TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO ARTS AND CULTURE WHEN THE BUDGET COMES ALONG BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR VOICES TO START SAYING THAT TOO AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB COMING THIS MORNING AND ASKING FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AND I'M A HUGE FAN OF THEATER ARTS AND I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN COMING FORWARD AND WHERE YOU PLAN TO BE, BUT PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COUNCILMEMBERS AND TELL THEM WE NEED MORE MONEY IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER AS WELL AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE SOME OF YOU ON THE AWARDS STAGE LATER IN THE YEAR.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. EVERYONE IN HERE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT AND WE DO HAVE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RECOGNITION OF SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. AND THAT IS OUR TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

ARE WE STILL HERE? COME ON UP, Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] WHEREAS PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II AFRICAN AMERICANS HAD LIMITED ROLES IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION AND WITH NONE IN MILITARY AVIATION, WHEN THE UNITED STATES WAS DRAWN INTO WORLD WAR II, AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE ASPIRING TO HAVE MORE MEANINGFUL JOBS IN THE MILITARY INCLUDING FLYING AND MAINTAINING AIRCRAFT.

WHEREAS THE AXIS POWERS SPREAD FASCISM AND MILITARY CONQUEST CREATED GREATER NEED FOR MILITARY PILOTS. PUBLIC OUTCREW STRONGLY IMPRESSED THE WAR DEPARTMENT --E CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM AUTHORIZED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO TRAIN STUDENTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CIVILIAN PILOTS AND THEREBY INCREASE THE NATION'S MILITARY PREPAREDNESS. TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE IN ALABAMA WAS ONE OF SEVEN BLACK COLLEGE SCHOOLS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE.

WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO'S YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICANS STEPPED UP TO HELP HALT THE EXPANSION OF FASCISM, 24 SAN ANTONIANS, NINE PILOTS WHO SIGNED UP AT TUSKEGEE AND

[01:55:07]

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.

MY NAME IS RICK SINKFIELD. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER CUSS KEY GEE AIRMEN, INCORPORATED. WE ARE ONE CHAPTER OF ABOUT 50 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE NATION AND OUR NEWEST INITIATIVE IS TO BUILD UP THE IDEA OF HAVING A TUSKEGEE AIRMEN COMMEMORATION DAY.

AND THAT DAY IS SET ASIDE TO KIND OF COMMEMORATE WHAT HAPPENED AT TUSKEGEE, WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE TUSKEGEE GOT STARTED, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS. AS YOU KNOW, THAT TIME WAS A TOUGH TIME FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS. IT WAS JIM CROW LAWS, IT WAS --O THINK OF WHY WOULD THESE GENTLEMEN ASK TO SIGN UP TO FIGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES FOR WHICH HAD ENSLAVED SOME OF THEIR ANCESTORS. SO, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE ASKED SOME OF THEM WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SIGNED UP. SOME OF THEM WERE DRAFTED, YES, SOME WERE VOLUNTEERED. BUT TO A MAN, TO A WOMAN, AND THERE WERE SOME WOMEN, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, YES, AND SO THEY -- THAT'S CORRECT. YES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S INCLUDED. BUT ANYWAY, THEIR IDEA WAS THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER -- THERE WAS NO OTHER -- THERE'S NO OTHER WAY WE COULD EXPRESS OURSELVES AS WE DO HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. SO AS THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN FLYING, YOU'LL HAVE TO REALIZE THAT HALF -- THIS IS ABOUT HALF OF THE JOB THAT THEY WERE INTENDING TO DO BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BREAKTHROUGH THIS ISSUE -- OF COURSE, WE'RE FIGHTING FASCISM OVERSEAS BUT FIGHTING RACISM LOCALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. SO WE THINK THEY ESTABLISHED THAT AND I HOPE SOMEBODY DOESN'T THINK I AM A TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, AN ORIGINAL.

I'M GETTING OLD, BUT NOT QUITE THAT -- SO THE PROCLAMATION IS INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO SUPPORTED AND TRAINED TO FLY IN WORLD WAR II COMBAT. THE DATE SIGNIFIES THE FIRST 1942 GRADUATING CLASS TO START THE PROGRAM. DESPITE THE DISCRIMINATORY CULTURE AT THE TIME, THEY MANAGED TO EXCEL AS COMBAT PILOTS PROVING THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS COULD MAINTAIN AND FLY U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT. AND SO AT THAT POINT THERE WERE ABOUT 1,000 TRAINEES FROM TUSKEGEE, BUT AS YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE A PILOT, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 10 TO 14 GUYS WHO ARE BEHIND YOU MAINTAINING THOSE AIRCRAFT.

AND SO WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP, IT'S LIKE 1 4,000 TO 16,000 CUSS KEY GEE AIRMEN AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE DOWN TO ZERO IN SAN ANTONIO.

[02:00:01]

AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO -- WE STARTED OFF -- THIS IS A NEW INITIATIVE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION NATIONWIDE TO BRING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COMMEMORATION DAY.

AND SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE LUNCH AND A LITTLE SPEAKER AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND THEN WE TOLD THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT HERE OVER HERE AT THE AIRPORT, BOY, THEY GOT DOWN AND THEY REALLY PUMPED IT UP. THEY JUST REALLY -- WE HAD AN ALL-OUT, I MEAN. WE DIDN'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT ALL COULD HAPPEN.

THIS IS AMAZING AND WE APPRECIATE THE STAFF THERE AT THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LEADERSHIP THERE. THEY JUST -- THEY JUST WENT OFF THE CHAIN.

THOSE GUYS WERE REALLY VERY HELPFUL. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE ARE SET UP TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION CEREMONY ON THE --T STINSON FIELD, AND IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO COME TO THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU THERE.

IT WILL BE AT 2:00 P.M. ON THE 28TH OF MARCH. IF I DIDN'T ALREADY SAY THAT. OUR CHAPTER'S GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE LEGACY, PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND ALSO TO MOTIVATE YOUTH IN THE AVIATION CAREERS AND S.T.E.M. CAREERS AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO. AS I SAID, AS I INTERVIEWED SOME OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AT ONE OF THE CONVENTIONS, I THINK ONE OF THE CHILDREN IN THE AUDIENCE WAS ASKING, WELL, DIDN'T YOU -- DIDN'T YOU FEEL LIKE DURING THAT TRAINING, DURING ALL OF THAT THAT YOU WANTED TO QUIT? THEY GOT ALL EXCITED.

NO, WE NEVER USED THE WORD QUIT. WE JUST STAYED WITH IT ALL THE WAY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

HAVING US. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. LET ME TURN NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I WAS SO EXCITED TO LEARN THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE.

IT WAS FUNNY TO HEAR YOU SAY I HOPE NO ONE BELIEVES I'M A TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

I NOTICE THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL REMAINING ALIVE AND ALMOST A YEAR TO TODAY ON MARCH 31ST I BELIEVE WAS THE LAST TUSKEGEE AIRMAN IN SAN ANTONIO PASSED.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO TO UP LIFT AND HONOR OUR HEROES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY TRULY, TRULY WERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M THE SON OF TWO VETERANS AND I THINK ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOOK AT BLACK MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED FORCES AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE INJUSTICES WE FACE AS A PEOPLE BUT THE HOPE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT IF I GO OUT AND FIGHT FOR MY COUNTRY, I'M GOING TO RETURN HOME A FREER MAN OR FREER PERSON AND MY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE FREE FROM INJUSTICE, FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, FREE TO VOTE AND FREE TO PARTICIPATE FREELY IN OUR SOCIETY. AND FOR THEIR SERVICE. BUT THERE'S A SPECIAL, SPECIAL PLACE THAT OUR NATION SHOULD HOLD FOR BLACK MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED FORCES AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, KNOWLEDGE THAT HISTORY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HOPE AND OPTIMISM THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN MET WITH THE REWARDS THAT IT SHOULD BE. AND SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO HONOR OUR HEROES. DO YOU GUYS STILL DO THE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AWARDS FOR YOUTH? THAT'S A WONDERFUL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. AGAIN, YOU GUYS, IT'S ALL ABOUT HONORING OUR HEROES AND HONORING THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND OUR LEADERS OF THE PAST ARE ALSO ABOUT UP LIFTING THOSE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART IN THAT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NOT ONLY ARE YOU CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF THE TUSKEGEE

[02:05:06]

AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WANT TO COMMEMORATE IT BECAUSE THESE STORIES ARE GOING LOST AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DISMISS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WERE DONE. SO CONTINUE WITH THE GOOD WORK.

KNOW THAT I AM COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT AND I WILL TRY AND MAKE IT OUT THERE NEXT THURSDAY BECAUSE STINSON IS IN DISTRICT 3, AND THAT AIRPORT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO KEEP ON TELLING THE STORIES OF HOW WE SERVED AND HOW PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE TREATED BADLY WHEN THEY TRIED TO SERVE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK ALL OF US REALIZE WE CAN'T UNDO THE INJUSTICES OF THE PAST. WE KNOW THEY EXIST AND HAVE EXISTED, BUT WHAT WE MUST DO IS RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COURAGE AND THE VALOR AND THE SERVICE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY. WHAT THEY PROVIDED IN THE PAST AND WHAT THEY AND YOU PROVIDE TODAY. THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ARE THE EPITOME OF PEOPLE WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY. SOMETIMES IN TERRIBLE SITUATIONS. BUT REALLY BELIEVED IT WAS THE BEST FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR FELLOW AFRICAN AMERICANS AND FOR THEIR NATION.

AND I REALLY AM GLAD THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS REMINDING US TODAY AND IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ASK US TO REMEMBER AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE HISTORY AND THE SERVICE OF ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SERVED AS TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, AND, OF COURSE, THEIR FAMILIES THAT SUPPORTED THEM IN THE PAST AND TODAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TO US TODAY. >> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YEAH, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING NOW. IT'S AN IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL.

IT'S AN INSPIRING STORY. AND FOLKS NEED TO HEAR IT AND THE LEGACY NEEDS TO LIVE

SO, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. I'LL JUST SAY THAT WE DO TAKE A LOT OF AUDIO] NATIONAL SECURITY IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT HERITAGE WOULD BE INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO REMEMBER OUR TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND THE TRADITIONS THAT THEY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.

I DID GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME BRIEFLY FRIENDS WITH GRANDVILLE WHILE HE WAS STILL ALIVE AND HE LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON MENE AND REMINDED ME WE SHOULD BE HERE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE MEMBERS OF EQUALITY TEXAS TO COME FORWARD, SOPHIA SEPULVEDA AS WELL. WHEREAS TEXAS IS KNOWN FOR HAPPENS TILT AND HAS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE POPULATIONS INCLUDING 120,000 TRANSGENDER TEXANS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO WEALTH OF TALL HE WANT AND HOSPITABLE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS TRANSGENDERED TEXAS MARCH TOWARD LGBTQ+ EQUALITY. AND WHEREAS TRANSGENDER TEXANS ARE ADVOCATES, CEOS, JOURNALISTS, PHILANTHROPISTS AND RESPONDERS AND MORE. WHEREAS OVER 140 ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS WERE FILED DURING THE 2023 SESSION WITH A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT TARGETING THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, WHICH ENDANGERS THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF TRANSGENDER TEXAS AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN NEED TO FEEL SAFE YET EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THEIR WORKPLACE AND NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE MAJORITY OF VIOLENCE OCCURRING AGAINST BLACK AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DECLARED ITSELF A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND ON THIS DAY WE HIGHLIGHT THE INNOVATION AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO.

[02:10:01]

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS FORTH. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG, FOR DOING THIS PROCLAMATION. MY NAME IS SOPHIA, PROUD MEXICAN WOMAN, FIELD DIRECTOR EQUALITY TEXAS, BOARD MEMBER OF TRANSGENDER OF TEXAS. WITH THE HATE AND RHETORIC SPEWING FROM OUR STATE, IT IS GREAT TO FEEL ACCEPTED IN THE BEAUTIFUL SAN ANTONIO. WE CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF TRANSGENDER AND GENDER EXPANSIVE PEOPLE. THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO WAVED THE WAY FOR US TO BE HERE AND THUS INCREASING VISIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

A VISIBILITY WITHOUT SAFETY NETS CAN BE DANGEROUS, THAT IS ALSO AN ACT OF RESISTANCE WHEN MANY ELECT OFFICIALS WANT TO ERASE US. WHICH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ, FOR INVITEING A THE MICROCHIP WHO LED TO CREATION OF THE COMPUTER. TO JAMES BARRY, A DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL C-SECTION TO OUR AMERICA -- LAUREN FARIS WHO WAS AN ACTIVIST AND FUTURE TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO A SAFE PLACE FOR TRANS FOLKS.

WE STAND ON THEIR LEGACY WHO CONTINUE MAKING WAVES AND CREATING ROADS FOR OUR YOUNG TRANS KIDS TO WALK ON LIKE MY FRIEND, CREATOR OF THE FIRST EVER TRANS MARCH IN SAN ANTONIO. LYNN ANDREWS, THE MAYOR'S COMEDIAN.

LEO CASTILLO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AS THE GENDER DAY OF EQUALITY AND I WANT TO INVITE RAIN TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> THANK YOU. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A MART FULL OF GRATITUDE AS WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE TRANS DAY VISIBILITY. I WANT TO EXTEND THANKS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR -- MY RAIN IS RAIN GARCIA, FOUNDER OF UNFILTERED WINGS. I HAD A VISION AND OUR PRESENCE COULD BE FELT. IT WAS LAST YEAR AT THE MLK MARCH WHERE I WAS INSPIRED BY MANY OF OUR PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO SHOW LOVE AND UNITY AND EQUALITY.

THIS MARCH SERVINGS AS A POWERFUL STATEMENT -- SORRY, AS A POWERFUL STATEMENT TO OUR TRANS AND NON-BINARY COMMUNITY THAT WE MATTER AND BELONG.

SAN ANTONIO WITH ITS DIVERSE TAP INDUSTRY OF CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES HAS BECOME A HOME OF MANY US IN THE TRANS AND NON-BINARY COMMUNITY. A PLACE WHERE LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE THRIVE AND NO ROOM FOR HATE. I FOUND THE COURAGE TO BE MY TRUE SELF, EMBRACE MY IDENTITY AND BE PART OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

TO PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY AND TO STAND TALL IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, WE ARE HERE TO DECLARE OUR IDENTITIES MATTER, THAT OUR LIVES MATTER, ARE VALUABLE AND WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE.

AS WE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE TRANS VISIBILITY, LET US REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING MORE INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.

LET US STAND UNITED IN OUR DIVERSITY AND LET US TO CONTINUE TO UP LIFT AND EMPOWER EACH OTHER. THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR CREATING THE FIRST LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. LET ME TURN TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO RECOGNIZE TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY AND ACTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO AS ELECTED LEADERS IS ELEVATE AND BRING AWARENESS TO ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE PART OF PUBLIC DIALOGUE. WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SHARE OWN OWN USE EVERY DAY AND MAKE DECISIONS IN OUR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES, BUT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE MANUALIZED AND MAKE SPACE FOR THEIR VOICES.

[02:15:01]

THE LIVES OF TRANS FOLKS HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE UNDER ATTACK WHETHER BY OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS OR BY TRANSPHOBIC INDIVIDUALS WHO SPREAD HATRED AND ANGER AND VIOLENCE.

EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY AND MOST PREVALENTLY BLACK TRANS WOMEN AND FEMS WHO ARE THE FRONT LINES OF POLICE BRO FACILITY, HOUSING INJUSTICE, GOVERNMENT ACCESSIBILITY AND SO MANY HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO BE UNDER ATTACK.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND I IMPLORE MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN PROMOTE PROSPERITY FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO PREVENT HARM BY NOT GIVING THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED OUR COMMUNITY A PLATFORM. THAT INCLUDES WHO WE GRANT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CONTRACTS TO AND VETTING PEOPLE WE APPOINT TO BOARDS AND COMMISSION AND PEOPLE WE HIRE TO STAFF. INSTEAD PLACING THOSE IN POSITIONS WILL PROMOTE LOVE AND COMPASSION. WE NEED TO STAND BESIDE AS A COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY OUR TRANS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOR AND FAMILY. THANK YOU TO SOPHIA FOR WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE TO RECOGNIZE THIS DAY AT CHAMBERS.

TODAY AND EVERY DAY I'M HAPPY TO HONOR THE LIVES OF OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, SOPHIA. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MARIA FOR BEING HERE.

YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY LAW PRACTICE AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH PASSION AND DEDICATION TO THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU -- I THINK IT'S VERY FITTING THE DAY OF VISIBILITY MARCH BECAUSE THE DAYS OF HIDING ARE LONG OVER. EVEN THOUGH OUR STATE CONTINUES TO TRY TO HIDE AND PUT PEOPLE IN THE BACK, IN THE CORNERS, IN THE SHADOWS, AND THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT WE WILL NOT BE PUT BACK IN THOSE SHADOWS. I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR CITY FOR REALIZING THAT YOUR VOICES, LIKE YOU SAID, YOUR VOICES DEMAND AND DESERVE TO BE HEARD. SO WE HONOR YOU HERE TODAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE MARCH, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK, THE ADVOCACY WORK YOU DO TO EDUCATE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU OUT HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND REMINDING US OF WHO WE ARE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WHO WE ARE, NOT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO TELL US WHO WE SHOULD BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE TO ME IS WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND JUSTICE AS ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING HAS. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING SOPHIA FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND WE'VE WORKED FOR DEMOCRACY. AND I'M GLAD YOU STILL DO.

AND I KNOW, MARIA, WHAT YOU DO FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR EVERYBODY IN YOUR COMMUNITY HAS REALLY BEEN A LEADING POSITION. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE WHO YOU ARE AND NOT WHO SOMEBODY ELSE THINKS YOU ARE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND JUST FOR LIVING YOUR LIVES THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL WAYS YOU ARE.

WE STAND WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I WANT TO SAY THANKS AS WELL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. EVERY HUMAN NO MATTER RACE, COLOR, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION SHOULD ALL BE TREATED EQUALLY AND WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AND SO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO IN THAT VAIN.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AS I LOOK AT YOU ALL, I SEE FIGHTERS AND I SEE ACTIVISM. AND WE NEED THAT REMINDER.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONSTANT WORK, THE ACTIONS BIG AND SMALL THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. LOOK FORWARD TO THE MARCH. I REALLY LIKED WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ SAID THAT WE NEED TO EVERY SINGLE LETTER IS REPRESENTED AND THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR EVERY LETTER.

SO STAND WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: YOU ALL STAND IN EXCELLENT COMPANY. MARIA SALAZAR, BEFORE WE HAD

[02:20:06]

AND SOPHIA, YOU AND I DISAGREE ON A LOT, BUT WE DON'T DISAGREE ON THIS.

THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. OUT OF THE SHADOWS IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG AND YOU FOUGHT VERY, VERY HARD FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE AT THE TABLE AND SPEAKING YOUR VOICE AND WE ARE ALL WITNESSES TO THE STRUGGLE AND WE'RE ALL WITNESSES TO YOUR TRUTH. I WILL TELL YOU THAT ONE OF MY POLITICAL OPPONENTS I THINK IN MY SECOND OR THIRD RACE WAS FRANKIE GONZALES WOLFF.

AND SHE STARTED AS MY ARCH NEMESIS, MY OPPONENT, NOW A DEAR FRIEND AND I ADMIRE HER VERY MUCH AND SHE'S TAUGHT ME A LOT. AND HER AND HER HUSBAND JEFF ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND WE HAVE -- WE'RE VERY LUCKY ALSO WE GOT TO SEE HER VULNERABILITY AND WE GOT TO SEE HER COURAGE IN THE FILM CALLED "A RUN FOR MORE." WHICH IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT IS A FANTASTIC DOCUMENTARY BY SILAS HOWARD AND REALLY DOCUMENTED THAT RACE. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S AT THE TABLE.

SHE'S FOUGHT SUPER, SUPER HARD AND FACED A LOT OF HATE AND BIGOTRY JUST TO GET THERE AND DONE IT SO ELEGANTLY. THANKS FOR DOING WHAT YOU

GUYS DO. I SUPPORT YOU 100%. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND FOR NEVER GIVING UP. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO LET OTHERS KNOW HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT YOU AND I AM JUST GENUINELY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS CELEBRATING YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANT TO EVERYONE WE KNOW TO COME OUT ON THE 30TH AND I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT SOPHIA AND MARIA AND CONTINUE THE WORK AND FIGHT AND I CONTINUE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA HOW CAN WE ENSURE WE'RE SUPPORTING POLICY THAT'S PROTECTING TRANS RIGHTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A THEME GOING ON REQUEST WITH OUR POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HOW THIS STATE ATTACKS PEOPLE. AND THAT WITH THIS PROCLAMATION AND WITH THIS MARCH, WE CONTINUE TO SAY THIS IS TEXAS AND THIS IS SAN ANTONIO AND WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE IN THOSE SMALL TOWNS IN TEXAS, ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE AND IN THE VALLEY THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

JUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE TODAY JUST IMPACTS THIS ENTIRE STATE AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THE COUNCIL THAT LOOKS TO SUPPORT THIS AND ACCEPTS ALL

OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. I'LL JUST SAY I REMEMBER BEING ON THIS DAIS WHEN WE WERE DEBATING THE NDO. I SAID IT THEN AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN TODAY, NO ONE IN THIS CITY OR COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER IS ABOVE THE LAW AND NO ONE IS BELOW IT.

AND SO IN THIS COMMUNITY ALL DOES INCLUDE ALL, EVERYONE, AND WHEN ONE MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY'S DIGNITY, RIGHTS OR LIBERTIES ARE ATTACKED, WE STAND FOR THEM.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND, AGAIN, APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY FOR ALL OF THIS COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] AND THE PATIENCE CONTINUES. AND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A VERY YOUNG NATALIE GRIFFITH IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE SOMEWHERE AND DESERVES TO COME FORWARD FOR HER MOMENT IN THE SUN BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN HELPING COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES IN THIS CITY FOR SO LONG AND DESERVES THE RETIREMENT SHE'S ABOUT TO GET.

ACTUALLY ALREADY GOT, BUT WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NATALIE. I'M GOING TO READ SOME

[02:25:04]

NATALIE GRIFFITH IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AND SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND GUADALUPE VALLEY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THROUGHOUT HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, NATALIE SERVED COUNTLESS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN NEED WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME. THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS FORGED WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, HELPED INDIVIDUALS BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES AND NO PROFIT. DURING OTHER TENURE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SERVING AS THE TOP EXECUTIVE FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, NATALIE OVERSAW THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEARLY 100 AFFORDABLE HOMES, THROUGH HERE STRATEGIC VISION AND LEADERSHIP, NATALIE GREATLY ADVANCED HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAN ANTONIO EVERYBODY IT A CONSISTENT SPOT AMONG THE TOP PRODUCING HABITATS IN THE UNITED STATES. IN HONOR OF OUR LEADERSHIP NATALIE WAS CLOSE CHOSEN AS A -- CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARE PROUD TO JOIN YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN THIS CITY IN SALUTING YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. MAY YOUR RETIREMENT OPEN NEW VISTAS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED. CONGRATULATIONS, NATALIE, ON THIS 21ST DAY OF MARCH,

2024. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. IT'S BEEN A LONG MORNING, BUT THE -- THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS YOU ALL DO FOR PEOPLE AND THE GROUPS IN THE PUBLIC IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT MEANS A LOT. I CAN SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, I COULD JUST TAKE ROD'S SPEECH AND SAY DITTO. I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS RETIRING.

RECOGNIZE. I STARTED HABITAT WHEN WE WERE VERY SMALL AND I WAS VERY UNDER SKILLED. AND I GREW AND DEVELOPED -- BOTH HABITAT GREW AND DEVELOPED AND I GREW AND DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THE HELP AND SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE SHARED, AND ESPECIALLY AT THE CITY.

SO I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO A COUPLE OF THE WOMEN LEADERS THAT I HAVE WATCHED, AND THEY ARE JUST -- YOU ALL HAVE -- YOU ALL DO HAVE AMAZING CAST OF ALL STARS. AND A COUPLE OF WOMEN THAT IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO GET THINGS DONE AND DO THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY, YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK AT MARIA VILLAGÓMEZ AND LORI HOUSTON. THEY ARE JUST EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERVANTS AND REALLY SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR ALL WOMEN LEADERS. WE ALSO -- DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS GREATLY SHARED THEIR EXPERTISE. EVERYTHING FROM US WANT TO GO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE OUR DESIGNS A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENT AND A LITTLE MORE LIVABLE FOR FAMILIES. WE'VE MERELY HAD TO ASK AND ROD CERTAINLY HAS PERSONALLY HELPED. MIKE SHANNON HAS PERSONALLY HELPED.

MELISSA RAMIREZ, AND CAT HERNANDEZ, WHO IS NOW IN TRANSPORTATION.

THOSE ARE DEFINITELY SOME OF YOUR ROCK STARS AT THE CITY. IN HOUSING, WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH IN PLANNING, BRIDGETT WHITE, I WILL SECOND WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT HER. SHE IS DEFINITELY A HUGE ASSET FOR THE CITY.

AS IS VERONICA GARCIA, VERONICA GONZALES AND IAN BENAVIDES.

THEY HAVE TRANSFORMED THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO BE WHAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH IN ALL 30 YEARS WORKING WITH HABITAT, THAT DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST IT HAS EVER BEEN AND THOSE THREE ARE INSTRUMENTALLY IMPORTANT IN THAT. AND ERIK, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT-OUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE WISDOM TO PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE OF BEING A COMPASSIONATE AND CARING BUT SUPER HIGH-STANDARDS CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU CAN TAKE THIS AS MY

[02:30:04]

ANDY, I'VE WORKED WITH YOUR TEAM. YOU HAVE A GREAT LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SUGGEST THERE'S THIS REALLY COOL TECHNOLOGY CALLED DIGITAL SIGNATURES ON CONTRACTS THAT IF YOU GUYS COULD DO THAT INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL ONES. BUT IT IS -- THE LEGAL TEAM HAS JUST GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER. AND WITH THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FUNDING AND AGREEMENTS THAT WE ALL ENTER INTO THE CITY, THERE IS A LOT OF LEGAL WORK BEHIND THAT. AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THE CARE AND CONCERN YOUR STAFF PUTS INTO THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, I CANNOT LEAVE WITHOUT THANKING YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY. THIS COUNCIL, I'VE WORKED WITH SO MANY COUNCILS AND SO MANY MAYORS OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL COUNCIL. AND MAYOR NIRENBERG, I THINK THAT YOU WILL GO DOWN IN HEAR AS ONE OF OUR -- HISTORY AS ONE OF THE BEST MAYORS IF NOT THE BEST ONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND ESPECIALLY YOU'VE BEEN A VERY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER ON SITE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED, YOU NEVER WANT RECOGNITION OF THAT, YOU JUST WANT TO COME OUT AND HAMMER, AND YOU ARE GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

WHEN YOU ARE DONE HERE, HABITAT WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.

WE ALWAYS NEED BUILDERS. COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, I KNOW YOU INITIATED THIS TODAY. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.

YOU ALSO CAME FROM A NON- TRADITIONAL BACKGROUND AND YOUR EXAMPLE OF LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND NEVER STOPPING, YOU ARE BRILLIANT, YOU ARE GRACIOUS AND YOU ARE SINCERE. YOU TOO, I LOVE HOW YOU'VE BEEN AT MOST EVERY HOUSE DEDICATION SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL. AND HOW YOU INTERACT, YOU SPEND YOUR TIME INTERACTING WITH THE FAMILIES THAT WE'RE SERVING.

AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I LOVE HOW YOU ASK THEM WHAT DO THEY NEED FROM YOU. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN A LOT. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AND SO MANY OF YOU I'VE ALSO SEEN YOU ON SITE, AND COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA, WE WERE JUST FINISHING A PROJECT IN YOUR DISTRICT WHEN YOU CAME AND SO I DEFINITELY APPRECIATED YOU JUST WANTING TO HELP AND GETTING INVOLVED AND LISTENING TO WHAT THE ISSUES ABOUT HOUSING ARE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT TOO.

AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, I'VE GOT TO GIVE YOU A BIG SHOUT-OUT BECAUSE THE BEST EXAMPLE YOU GIVE IS ACTIVISM IS SHOUTING WHEN YOU NEED TO SHOUT TO BE HEARD IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

BUT YOU TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER AND YOU GOT INTO THE FRAY.

YOU BECAME PART OF THE SOLUTION, AND THAT IS A HARDER PART.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT. AND ALL OF YOU, I REALLY DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ONE OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES AT HABITAT IS JOHN 3:18, OUR LOVE MUST NOT BE JUST WORDS AND TALK, BUT MUST BE SHOWN BY DEEDS OF ACTION. AND SO THAT IS WHAT HABITAT DOES IS WE TRY TO -- WE TRY TO TURN WORDS AND TALK INTO DEEDS OF SERVICE TO GOD AND MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY EXCITING PROJECTS COMING UP THAT I WILL BE A CHEERLEADER AND VOLUNTEER ON AND NO LONGER THE LEADER. ONE IS GOING TO BE IN DISTRICT 2, SO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND SO WE

APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT. AND COUNCILWOMAN. >> COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, WE'RE EXCITED WE'LL BE STOCK MARKET A PROJECT THERE.

HABITAT IS STILL GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS AND I WILL BE A VOLUNTEER AND A CHEERLEADER.

I WANT TO SAY THIS RECOGNITION FOR ME, I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH, BUT IT IS REALLY RECOGNITION OF THESE PEOPLE HERE. WE HAVE MANY OF THE HABITAT TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS. THEY TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT THIS MORNING, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. THIS IS REALLY RECOGNITION OF THEM. THIS IS A TEAM SPORT. I'VE JUST BEEN A CUSTODIAN FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. AND I'M VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE LEAVING HABITAT IN SUCH GOOD HANDS AND LEAVING SUCH A PROMISES FUTURE.

AND I SO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO TO MAKE THIS A REALLY --R CARE AND COMPASSION AND

[02:35:05]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME TURN FIRST TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, NATALIE, FOR YOUR MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HABITAT. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S VERY FITTING WE'RE DOING THIS DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. WHEN YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE GOING TO RETIRE, THAT'S THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF AND I SAID HOW FITTING.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HONOR YOU TODAY. YOU HAVE MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE AND YOU STARTED OFF WITH A STAFF OF TWO AND A HALF PEOPLE AND A BUDGET DEFICIT AND THERE WAS ONLY 57 HOMES THAT HAD BEEN BUILT AT THAT TIME.

AND SO YOU WENT FROM STAFF ACCOUNTANT TO CFO TO COO AND ULTIMATELY PRESIDENT/COO.

BUT THE NUMBER OF HOUSES I THINK IS IMPRESSIVE. YOU ALL COMPLETED 1,376 HOME WITH 1,319 BEING BUILT DURING YOUR TEN YOUR. I WANTED TO STRESS THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE LEVEL, THE INCREASED LEVEL OF PRODUCTION THAT YOU BROUGHT TO HABITAT. AND SO 12,000 VOLUNTEERS, I DO THINK THAT WAS ALL TO YOU. OF THAT 420 FAMILIES HAVE FULLY PAID THEIR HOMES AND OWN THEIR HOMES OUTRIGHT. AND THAT'S ALL THANKS TO THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO RECOGNIZE DON, YOUR HUSBAND. DON GRIFFITH IS HERE. YES, PLEASE.

[APPLAUSE] SO DON ALSO RETIRED RECENTLY FROM HABITAT AFTER 27 YEARS OF GREAT SERVICE. AND HE KEPT THE HABITAT STORES RUNNING AND TOP PRODUCING BUILDING MATERIAL THRIFT STORES AS ONE OF THE TOP PRODUCING THEFT STORES IN THE NATION AND IT'S KEPT HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF USABLE MATERIAL FROM GOING TO LANDFILLS. YOUR CONTRIBUTION HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED EITHER.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING NATALIE. IT'S NOT SURPRISING THIS HAS ALL BEEN DONE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A WOMAN AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR DISTRICT 4. WE HAVE HABITATS ALONG OLD PEARSALL ROAD AND PALO ALTO ROAD. I WANTED TO CLOSE BY SHARING WITH MY COLLEAGUES SOMETHING THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW AND IT WAS ABOUT YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A CHILD, ADOLESCENT PARENTS. THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND THAT'S HOW IT SHAPED YOUR ROLE AS A LEADER. YOU MOVED 11 TIMES BY THE TIME YOU WERE 10 YEARS OLD BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY HAD TO MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE BECAUSE EITHER THEY COULDN'T FIND WORK OR HAD TO RELOCATE BECAUSE OF UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING. I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS CHALLENGING, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS SHAPED WHO YOU ARE AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE HELPING THOSE FOLKS THAT THINK THAT SOMETHING IS UNATTAINABLE TO BECOME ATTAINABLE.

THANK YOU FOR CREATING YOUR NON-TRADITIONAL PATH, IN A TRADITIONALLY MAIL-DOMINATED FIELD YOU HAVE PROVEN YOU HAVE LED THE WAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMPATHY

AND CONTINUED SERVICE. THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, NATALIE, FOR YOUR SERVICE. YES, YOUR TEAM IS AMAZING, BUT THAT IS DUE TO YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MISSION IS. AND I'M ALL FOR PEOPLE RETIRING.

IT KIND OF HURTS, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU ARE STARTING MY PROJECT, BUT I KNOW YOUR TEAM WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS IS THE TIME TO RETIRE AND JUST CELEBRATE.

YOU AND YOUR TEAM'S ADVOCACY FOR THE HOUSING BOND PORTION, WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT THAT DONE IF WE HADN'T HAD YOUR SUPPORT. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASION ON MY THREE YEARS WHERE YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE RESIDENTS HERE TO TELL THEIR STORY. AND JUST LETTING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY KNOW HOW NECESSARY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS AND TO LOOK AT THEM AS A PERSON AND REALLY PUT THEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I JUST APPRECIATE THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOND ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING ALSO. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU NATALIE FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND KIND WORDS. YOU MENTIONED THAT HABITAT DEVELOPMENT IN MY DISTRICT WHEN I FIRST WAS ELECTED, AND I RECALL HOW UPSET THE

[02:40:01]

FAST FORWARD TO NOW AND IT'S A THRIVING, BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND SO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE HABITAT COMMUNITY ARE NOW MEMBERS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I THINK IT'S FUNNY, BUT YOU IN EARLY DAYS TAUGHT ME ABOUT -- I REMEMBER YOU MENTIONED NIMBY. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AND ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE STILL GOING TO VOLUNTEER BECAUSE I THINK THEY WILL NEED A LITTLE OF YOUR

TENACITY AND ASSISTANCE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

NATALIE, I THINK ALL OF US REMEMBER WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FROM FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS STUCK IN MY MEMORY. WHEN I FIRST CAME TO SAN ANTONIO IS WHEN I FIRST SAW IT IN ACTION. YOU'VE CARRIED THAT TORCH FOR A LONG TIME.

NOW IT'S TIME TO PASS IT ON. BUT YOU KNOW AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IN THE CITY AND YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANDY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS

YOU. >> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I'M GLAD YOU ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETIMES WE CAN DO THE LATTER JUST AS GOOD AS THE FORMER. IN YOUR HONOR, UNLESS SOMEBODY GIVES A GOOD REASON WE'LL IMPLEMENT DIGITAL SIGNATURES BY THE END OF THE

YEAR. >> OH, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO YOU ARE STILL MAKING CHANGE, NATALIE AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WE HAVE A PRETTY STRONG, IN FACT NATIONALLY KNOWN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM AND IT WOULDN'T BE THAT WAY AT ALL WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY AND YOU PUSHING, YELLING WHEN YOU HAD TO THOSE YEARS AGO.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. NONE OF THAT WOULD BE HERE WITHOUT YOUR WORK AND YOU ARE AT THE FOUNDATION OF THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE NOT DONE AND I WILL BE TAKING YOU UP ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AT THE LAST SITE.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FOR A

SPECIAL RECOGNITION. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS MONTH IS NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH. IF WE COULD HAVE CARMEN AND HEATHER COME UP. AND ALL OF THE OTHER SOCIAL WORKERS THAT ARE HERE FROM NORTHSIDE, SAISD AND HARLANDALE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR YOU ALL IN THE THEME OF EMPOWERING SOCIAL WORKERS, INSPIRING ACTION AND LEADING CHANGE. THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IS INVALUABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS. THERE'S ONE IN SIX CHILDREN FROM TWO TO EIGHT YEARS OLD NOW DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND YOU ARE THEIR FIRST POINT OF CONTACT. YOU WORK INCREDIBLY HARD EVERY DAY TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS FEELING HOLE AND SAFE SO THEY CAN LEARN AND BE PRESENT IN SCHOOL.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN ME IN EXPRESSING OUR SUPPORT FOR YOU ALL TODAY AND ALSO IN CALLING FOR FAIR COMPENSATION FOR YOU ALL WHICH I KNOW HAS BEEN CHALLENGING WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR STATE RIGHT NOW AND SO THAT YOU ALL CAN PRACTICE IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS. I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO YOU, CARMEN, TO SHARE A FEW

WORDS. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR AND MAYOR NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS HEATHER THATCHER.

I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER. ON BEHALF OF ALL THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN SAN ANTONIO, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME BUT ALSO THE ONES WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR PROFESSION AND NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH. SAN ANTONIO HAS SOME OF THE BEST SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD SOCIAL WORKERS FROM SAN ANTONIO WIN THE TEXAS SOCIAL WORKER AWARD AND ONE IS STANDING NEXT TO

ME. >> THANK YOU, HEATHER. SO MY NAME IS CARMEN THATCHER AND YES, WE ARE RELATED. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND OF SOCIAL WORK IN A SCHOOL SETTING.

SO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS RECOGNIZES NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH, EACH MONTH IN MARCH. TODAY WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING THE SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE IN SCHOOLS.

[02:45:03]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FOR CELEBRATING SOCIAL WORKERS TODAY.

THEY ARE UNSUNG HEROES, THEY PLAY A ROLE IN ADDRESSING MANY ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY AND DO THE WORK MOST OF US WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE. THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR TEAM, DIRECTOR OF POLICY KYLE BUCKLEY IS A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER.

I WAS SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERTISE ON THE TEAM.

HEARING HER STORIES ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FACE AND THE LIVES THAT SHE AND OTHER SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE HELPED CHANGE IS EYE-OPENING.

WHEN PART OF THE PROFESSION THAT IS CORRECT IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH SOCIAL WORKERS ARE NEEDED. SOCIAL WORKERS BRING KNOWLEDGE TO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, HOSPICE EDUCATION, POLITICAL ARENAS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, REFUGEE SUPPORT PROGRAMS, NON-PROFITS AND SO MUCH MORE. SOCIAL WORKERS KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE HOW THOSE IN HELPING PROFESSIONS CAN OFTEN BE UNDERSTAFFED, FUND FUNDED AND -- UNDERFUNDED.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO KYLE, TO ALL THE SOCIAL WORKERS OUT THERE WHO ANSWER THE CALL TO HELP OTHERS DESPITE WE NEED YOU.

WE LOVE YOU. WE SUPPORT YOU AND PLEASE DON'T EVER STOP FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DR. KAUR FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT SOCIAL WORKERS PLAY. I'M REMINDED OF ONE OF MY FIRST OPEN OFFICE HOURS WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO OFFICE, AND IT WAS THE SOCIAL WORKER FROM RHODES MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHE FOUND BIG MOMMA'S SAFE HOUSE AND WAS LIKE HOW CAN WE BRING THIS TO DISTRICT 5. SEEING HOW YOU ALL ARE NOT ONLY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO OUR STUDENTS AND YOUTH BUT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO RESEARCH HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER. GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT BRITNEY BECAUSE SHE WENT TO SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 5. JUST CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK.

YOU ALL DO SO MUCH AND I THINK WE ASK YOU HOW TO DO SO MUCH. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT YOU ALL GET PAID FOR THAT WORK. WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ALL RECEIVE THE BEST PAY THAT Y'ALL CAN AND ENSURE WE'RE DOING OUR PART TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIVES FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THEY CAN SHOW UP TO SCHOOL WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PATIENCE YOU EXHIBIT NOT ONLY TODAY BUT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF YOUR WORK. YOUR WORK HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS OR ACTUALLY JUST BEING ABLE TO SURVIVE THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I THINK THE WORLD IS FINALLY RECOGNIZING WHAT A CRITICAL ROLE YOU PLAY IN DELIVERING BASIC SERVICES AND ALSO KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR BEING WITH US TODAY TO CELEBRATE. [APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THE FIRST IS TO RECOGNIZE WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY.

[02:50:04]

WE CAN WORK TO DISPEL MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS AND FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY.

WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

WE CAN OFFER SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF FOLKS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY AND THAT THERE ARE NETWORKS AND ORGANIZATIONS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE. TODAY'S A CALL TO ACTION TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS, FUNDRAISING FOR DOWN SYNDROME ORGANIZATIONS, OR SPREADING AWARENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I INVITE BRIAN LOPEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH TEXAS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF --

>> WELL, I'M NOT BRIAN. HE HAD TO LEAVE EARLY BUT I'M FAITH.

I WORK WITH THE ASSOCIATION AS WELL. WE ARE HERE WITH SOME OF OUR ADVOCATES HERE OUT HERE, LIKE CHRISTINA. SHE'S ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND HAS BEEN SERVING ON OUR BOARD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY .

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME, I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM SAN ANTONIO BUT I CAME HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH THIS CITY IS INCLUSIVE, AS I GREW UP WITH AN AUNT WITH DOWN SYNDROME.

SHE INSPIRED ME AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO EMBRACE AND LET THESE INDIVIDUALS SHINE. I'M GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY AND GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING WITH US. I AM A SELF-ADVOCATE FOR THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION AND I'M ALSO THE LEAD FOR ONE OF THE PROGRAMS AS WELL CALLED ABLE.

THAT TEACHES YOUNG ADULTS HOW TO BE INDEPENDENT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO I'M EXCITED. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. [APPLAUSE]

>> AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE WITH US. WE ARE THE DSA FAMILY AND I SUPPORT FAITH AND BRIAN AND MICHELLE. THEY HELPED US OVER THE YEARS AT THE DSA DO FUN THINGS AT THE DSA. WE HAVE DRUM CIRCLE.

WE DO ARTS AND CRAFTS. YESTERDAY WE HAD A KARAOKE NIGHT.

WE DID COOKING, ALL THE FUN THINGS WE DO. [APPLAUSE]

>> AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE ARE CELEBRATING 30 YEARS THIS YEAR OF THE DSA HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SO IT'S 30 YEARS OF ALL OF YOU GUYS SUPPORTING US. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. SO WEAR YOUR BLUE AND YELLOW. REPRESENT TODAY.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. EVERYBODY GOT THESE BRACELETS TO

WEAR IN AWARENESS. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

WE ACTUALLY -- COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA FOR HIGHLIGHTING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY. I WANT TO THANK FAITH AND BRIAN AND THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY. WE ARE -- I HOPE YOU KNOW THIS COUNCIL IS IN SUPPORT OF YOU AND IN SUPPORT OF WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU WANT TO PURSUE IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT I HOPE THEY SEE THIS AND SEE THAT I'M SUPPORTING THEM ALSO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS.

AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT SAN ANTONIO IS EMBRACING ALL PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING PATIENT TODAY AND ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE.

ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA HAS ONE MORE POINT.

>> HAVRDA: ONE MORE. WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE TEJANO PUBLIC ART AND INVITE KRYSTAL UP AND MR. LEON, IF YOU WANT TO STAND UP HERE. MR. DE LEON .

OKAY. IT'S ACTUALLY -- I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS GREAT DISTRICT 6 NEWS. THE COMPLETION OF A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PUBLIC ART ON OLD HIGHWAY 90. IT'S AN INSTALLATION BY A SAN ANTONIO ARTIST.

IT'S INSPIRED OF THE MUSICAL LEGACY OF HISTORIC OLD HIGHWAY 90 AND HAS BEEN INSCALD AT OLD HIGHWAY 90 AND 37. IT DEPICTS A 14-FOOT TALL MOSAIC.

[02:55:05]

>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS LUIS LOPEZ. I HAVE BEEN AN ARTIST IN THIS CITY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO LEAVE SOMETHING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR MY PEOPLE ON THE SOUTHSIDE AND SUCH AN IMPORTANT HIGHWAY, WHICH IS -- I MEAN, OLD HIGHWAY 90. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC ARTS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. CABELLO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S JUST BEEN AN IMMENSE CHANCE FOR ME TO LEAVE SUCH A MARK THAT GENERATIONS WILL BE ENJOYING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.

AND ESPECIALLY -- AND THE PLACE THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR MY PEOPLE WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

AND I REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN. THANK YOU.

>> HAVRDA: I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK. I AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S NICE TO SEE ART THAT REPRESENTS US. WE WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE MOMENT WE SAW IT, WE ALL SORT OF DANCED A LITTLE BIT.

YOU SEE THE ACCORDION AND HEAR THE MUSIC. THANK YOU.

KRYSTAL, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE COMPANION PIECE AS WELL? >> WE HAVE A COMPANION PIECE ON THE RIVER WALK PUBLIC ART GARDEN AND IT'S AT THE CORNER OF MARKET STREET AND ALAMO STREET .

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEDICATION ON TUESDAY, NEXT TUESDAY AT 1:0. WE HOPE EVERYBODY WILL JOIN US AND GET YOUR OFFICIAL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FIESTA MEDAL, WHICH IS INSPIRED BY LUIS' PIECE.

AGAIN, THAT RIVER WALK PUBLIC ART GARDEN, ITS INTENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THERE'S OTHER PUBLIC ART ALL THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO. SO WHEN PEOPLE SEE THIS CONNECTION PIECE THEY CAN GO AND VISIT THE DISTRICT WHERE THERE'S OTHER PUBLIC ART PIECES.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, KRYSTAL. MR. LOPEZ, YOU KNOW YOU MADE IT WHEN YOUR ART IS ON A FIESTA MEDAL. OLD HIGHWAY 90 IS A PROUD, HARD-WORKING COMMUNITY AND THIS ART PIECE IS A TRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING IT, THE FAMILIES, THE SPIRIT, AND THE CULTURE OF THE OLD HIGHWAY 90 COMMUNITY.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, CHECK IT OUT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

DRIVE BY 151, EXIT OLD HIGHWAY 90 AND YOU'LL SEE IT IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 6.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA AND MR. LOPEZ. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING OUT THERE AND SEEING YOUR ARTWORK. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAD ANTICIPATED BEING DONE WITH OUR MEETING AT THIS POINT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CLOCK, IT'S JUST ABOUT EIGHT AFTER 12:00. SO I WANT TO BRING IN SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE CHAMBER TODAY. IT'S A BIG TREAT FOR US. IT IS OUR UTSA ROADRUNNER FOOTBALL SENIORS ALONG WITH COACH TRAYLOR IN THE HOUSE . WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR THEM. ARE THEY COMING? YEAH, THEY MIGHT NEED TO GET BACK TO PRACTICE, ACTUALLY. [APPLAUSE] HEY, COACH.

ROADRUNNERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING FLEXIBLE WITH US TODAY.

WE ANTICIPATED BEING DONE WITH OUR MEETING BY NOW BUT IT'S STILL GOING SO WE WANTED TO BRING YOU IN HERE. BUT THE PURPOSE OF TODAY WAS TO REALLY RECOGNIZE ALL THAT OUR SENIORS HAVE DONE FOR UTSA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. COACH, THE TEAM YOU PUT TOGETHER HAS LIFTED OUR SPIRITS IN WAYS YOU CAN'T EVEN MEASURE. WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE YOU OFFICIALLY. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND TO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, I DO WANT TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2011 THE UTSA ROADRUNNERS FOOTBALL PROGRAM STARTED ITS INAUGURAL SEASON PLAYING ITS FIRST-EVER GAME AGAINST NORTHEASTERN STATE AND SETTING A RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST ATTENDED GAME FOR A NCAA DIVISION START-UP PROGRAM. UTSA FINISHED THEIR FIRST SEASON SETTING ANOTHER RECORD FOR THE LARGEST AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE FOR A NEW FOOTBALL PROGRAM. WHEREAS TODAY THE LET'S GO 210 RALLY CRY CELEBRATES THE UTSA ROADRUNNERS FOOTBALL PROGRAM'S RAPID RISE THAT HAS DRAWN NEARLY 2 MILLION FANS INTO THE ALAMODOME WHEREAS THIS SEASON RETURNING FOOTBALL PLAYERS HAVE PLAYED A HISTORIC ROLE IN LEADING THE TEAM TO A 35-17 VICTORY OVER MARSHAL IN THE FRISCO BOWL, THE FIRST BOWL WIN IN UTSA HISTORY.

[03:00:01]

NOW THEREFORE I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 21, 2024 TO BE DESIGNATED AS UTSA FOOTBALL SENIORS DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS . THANK YOU, GUYS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

[APPLAUSE] >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, COACH TRAYLOR AND TO ALL THE ATHLETES THAT ARE HERE TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU ALL UNITED US. YOU ALL INSPIRED US AND YOU ALL HELPED SAN ANTONIO COME OUT OF A SLUMP THAT WAS BROUGHT ON BY A PANDEMIC. AND THE LOVE THAT YOU ALL HAD FOR FOOTBALL AND EACH OTHER AND FOR COMMUNITY WAS JUST TRULY INSPIRATIONAL AND SO WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL. WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL LAST YEAR BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL HAD LIVES TO GET ON, COMMUNITIES TO SERVE, AND REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU. COACH TRAYLOR, SINCE YOU GOT HERE, I WAS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU SAID, I WAS ON THE TRAYLOR TRAIN.

I TOLD THE MAYOR I'M ON THIS TRAYLOR TRAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS GUY'S GOT BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT HIM. AND THE MAYOR MET YOU SHORTLY AFTER AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE AT THE HEAD OF OUR UTSA FOOTBALL TEAM AS AN EDUCATOR, I'M A COLLEGE PROFESSOR, SO I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR MY ATHLETES TO MAKE IT TO CLASS EARLY OR TO MAKE IT TO CLASS LATE, AFTER THEY'RE TIRED. SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TWO A DAYS AND I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM. VERY PROUD OF THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND ALLOWING US THIS RECOGNITION TODAY. THANK YOU, COACH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COACH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK Y'ALL. THERE WAS ACTUALLY 17 OF THEM THAT GRADUATED.

TEN OF THEM ARE GOING TO MAKE IT TODAY. FIVE OF THEM ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND A PARKING SPOT RIGHT NOW SO I APOLOGIZE. TO HER POINT, SOMETIMES THEY'RE LATE TO CLASS AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN SHOW UP FOR CLASS. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THANK Y'ALL. IT HAS BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE PARTNERSHIP.

SINCE THE DAY WE'VE GOTTEN HERE, HOW RON HAS TREATED ME PERSONALLY, HOW Y'ALL HAVE EMBRACED US. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BECOME THE FOOTBALL TEAM OF SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE HUGE FANS OF UIW AND TRINITY.

IT IS OUR MISSION TO BE Y'ALL'S FOOTBALL TEAM AND WE TRIED OUR BEST TO DO THAT AND LOOK CORRECTLY WHILE WE'RE DOING IT AND BEHAVE. IT'S JUST SO HAPPY WE WON A TON OF BALLGAMES ALONG THE WAY. IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE GUYS. THEY ALL HAVE DEGREES.

THEY'RE ALL WORKING FROM CYBERSECURITY TO CONSTRUCTION TO MANAGEMENT TO POSSIBLY SOME NFL GUYS. WE'VE GOT THEM ACROSS THE CITY TRYING TO SERVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND GOD BLESS AND BIRDS UP.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DON'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE I DO THINK SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES WANT TO MAKE

SOME REMARKS AS WELL. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS.

IT'S ELITE ATHLETES LIKE YOU AND LIKE ME -- [LAUGHTER] I DON'T GET IT. GUYS, SERIOUSLY, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO AN ELITE UNIVERSITY AND ALL WE HEAR ABOUT, BECAUSE WE SHOULD HEAR ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE A TIER ONE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY. UTSA IS COMPLETING WITH THE LIKES OF HARVARD AND OXFORD AND BROWN AND MIT IN RESEARCH . WHEN I TALK ABOUT UTSA LOCALLY, SAN ANTONIANS, THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT RESEARCH. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU GUYS AND YOU GUYS HAVE ELEVATED THE REPUTATION OF UTSA AND BROUGHT IT TO A NATIONAL STAGE. AND I GOT TO TELL YOU SOME OF YOU MAY ONE DAY END UP BECOMING PATRIOTS OR COWBOYS OR TEXANS BUT MAYBE NOT .

AND THE ONE THING THAT YOU WILL BE IS GOOD MEN. AND YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING THAT AND YOU WILL BE GOOD MEN FOREVER BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF GENTLEMEN LIKE YOUR COACH.

BECAUSE OF THE ENTIRE ATHLETICS STAFF WHO HAS EMBRACED YOU AND WHO HAS HELPED DEVELOP YOU.

AND I'M PROUD OF YOU. ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE CHEERING FOR YOU

[03:05:05]

CONGRATULATIONS, COACH. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE TEAM OF OTHER COACHES AND ADMINISTRATORS OUT THERE. YOU GUYS HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE PROUD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. I THINK ERIK HEARD THE PARKING THING. WE JUST GOT SOME OF THEM PARKED SO IF ANYBODY ELSE IS OUT THERE,

ERIK IS ON THE CASE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALWAYS OWE IT TO THE ATHLETES, THE MEN AND IN OTHER SPORTS THE WOMEN TOO WHO STEP FORWARD AND PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE. THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE SPORT. THEY LOVE THE GAME. THEY LOVE THE TEAMWORK AND THE CAMARADERIE. ALL OF THAT HELPS BUILD A TEAM AND I THINK SAN ANTONIO CAN BE VERY PROUD OF THE TEAM YOU'VE HELPED PUT TOGETHER, COACH. AND ALL OF THE ATHLETES WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT TEAM. I'M PROUD.

I ENJOY THE GAME. I THINK THAT IT HELPS SAN ANTONIO UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES A LOT FOR A TEAM TO WORK TOGETHER, JUST LIKE WE KNOW ON CITY COUNCIL.

BUT YOU BRING US JOY AND YOU BRING RESPECT TO THIS CITY. SO AS MEN COMMITTED TO FOOTBALL, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. I KNOW YOU'RE MOVING ON TO OTHER THINGS.

CONTINUE TO BRING RESPECT TO OUR CITY. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.

COACH, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THESE YOUNG MEN TO BE, I THINK, WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE THE GREAT MEN GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND ALSO JUST GREAT ATHLETES AND GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYERS. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO SAN ANTONIO TOO.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COACH AND ALL YOU GENTLEMEN FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YOU ARE OUR HOMETOWN TEAM. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A COLLEGE GAME IN MY LIFE UNTIL 2011. WE WENT TO THE FIRST GAME. MY TODD DAUGHTER WAS A TODDLER.

AND WE HAVE BEEN TO EVERY BOWL GAME. WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT YOUR TEAM, THOUGH, AND THIS IS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, EVERY TIME I COME ACROSS ONE OF THESE YOUNG GENTLEMEN, THEY'RE ALWAYS RESPECTFUL, ALWAYS KIND, ALWAYS VERY TALKATIVE AND FRIENDLY.

THAT'S A LOT OF THEIR UPBRINGING AND YOUR COACHING. THE DISCIPLINE YOU GUYS HAVE LEARNED AND THE RESPECT WILL TAKE YOU INTO SUCCESS NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR LIFE.

I HAVE TO THANK FRANK. HE'S BEEN OUT TO COMMUNITY EVENTS IN DISTRICT 6 AND JUST DOING THAT OF HIS OWN ACCORD. JUST AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WAS JUST REALLY WONDERFUL FOR US. I THANK YOU. AS AN ALUM OF UTSA, I GOT MY MBA

THERE, GO RUNNERS. >> HE SHOWS UP LATE NOW. THAT JUST SHOWS YOU FRANK IS EVEN LATE SOMETIMES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, FRANK, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M LOOKING AT YOU, COACH. AS AN EDUCATOR, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD WELL-ROUNDED HUMANS AND SPORTS ALLOW US TO DO THAT. AND TO BUILD SUCH CRITICAL SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, SACRIFICE, SPORTSMANSHIP. ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS YOU GET TO WITNESS IS YOUR KIDDOS GRADUATING AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON THAT. I DO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRADUATION.

I KNOW SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IN COLLEGE IT'S EASY TO GET INVOLVED IN THE THINGS YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AND LOSE FOCUS OF THE ACADEMICS BUT Y'ALL HAVE MAINTAINED.

I HAVE A DEEP CONNECTION TO UTSA. OF COURSE I'M A GRADUATE BUT I WAS ALSO ROWDY THE ROADRUNNER FROM 2013 TO 2017. IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, THOSE WERE SOME ROUGH YEARS . BUT ONE THING -- AND SO GOING TO GAMES AND GOING TO EVENTS AND REPRESENTING OF COURSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT GENERATION AFTER GENERATION -- I GET TO SAY GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. THE PLAYERS WORK HARD.

THEY APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER AND YOU REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL WONDERFULLY AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I WOULD LOVE TO BRING Y'ALL OUT TO THE EASTSIDE SOMETIME SOON.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE ALL TAKE WINDING PATHS TO POLITICS, I GUESS.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: UNLIKE COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ, I ACTUALLY DO PLAY SPORTS.

[LAUGHTER] BUT WHENEVER I'M GOING TO HIRE SOMEONE, THE FIRST THING, IF I SEE THEY HAVE BEEN AN ATHLETE, ALWAYS GOES TO THE TOP OF MY LIST.

NOT ONLY ARE YOU ALL ATHLETES BUT YOU'RE STUDENTS AND YOU'RE PUTTING IN THE HARD WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON THE FIELD, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WAS TALKING ABOUT.

YOU GET HIT YESTERDAY. FIRST COUNCILMAN COURAGE, WOMEN ALSO DO PLAY FOOTBALL NOW.

I LITERALLY GET HIT AND YOU MISS PASSES AND YOU MISS WHATEVER POSITION YOU PLAY AND YOU HAVE

[03:10:03]

THAT'S WHAT SPORTS TEACHES US. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE EXTREME SUCCESS.

COACH, TO YOU, YOUR JOB IS SO IMPORTANT. YOU ARE LITERALLY MOLDING THE MINDS OF OUR NEXT GENERATION AND DOING SO BY TEACHING THEM DISCIPLINE, BY TEACHING THEM RESPECT AND INTEGRITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR THE CITY. I HOPE YOU HEAR TODAY THAT THE CITY LOVES AND RESPECTS YOU AND YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL.

AND SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CONSTRUCTION. [LAUGHTER]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: YEAH, COACH, WHAT AN AMAZING JOB YOU HAVE DONE. YOU HAD A FOUNDATION OF A PROGRAM WHEN YOU GOT HERE BUT YOU REALLY ELEVATED IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE EXCELLENCE. AND TAKING A COLLEGE PROGRAM TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND THEN BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT SUCCESS IS REALLY TOUGH TO DO. AND SO IT'S REALLY BEEN IMPRESSIVE WATCHING WHERE THE ROADRUNNERS HAVE GONE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.

TO THE STUDENT ATHLETES, I WOULD SAY TODAY REMEMBER ALL THE LESSONS THAT YOU LEARNED WHILE PLAYING UNDER COACH TRAYLOR. BEING A STUDENT ATHLETE IS TOUGH.

A LOT OF DEMANDS ON YOUR TIME. BUT THE LESSONS YOU LEARN AS ATHLETES, AS STUDENT ATHLETES, YOU CAN ALWAYS FALL BACK ON LATER IN LIFE IN WHATEVER IT IS YOU DO.

WHETHER IT'S A CAREER DECISION, PERSONAL DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER WHAT YOU LEARNED.

REMEMBER THE DISCIPLINE IT TOOK TO DO WHAT YOU DID. THE HARD WORK.

THE PASSION THAT YOU PUT INTO IT. KEEP THOSE LESSONS FRONT OF MIND AND IF YOU DO THAT IT WILL REALLY HELP YOU MOVING FORWARD. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF

YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COACH FOR BEING HERE. I ALSO GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE AT UTSA SO YOU ARE RIGHT NOW MY FOOTBALL IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I'VE BEEN JUST SO PROUD OF THE EFFORTS YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

CONGRATULATIONS, COACH. CONGRATULATIONS, SENIORS, ON GETTING TO THIS POINT WHERE YOU HAVE A DEGREE AND THIS INCREDIBLE FOOTBALL SUCCESS AND EXPERIENCE.

THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IS JOHN COURAGE AND I ARE THERE PRETTY REGULAR WITH OUR PLUS ONES AND THE DRAMA ON THE FIELDS, YOU'VE ALWAYS MADE THOSE GAMES SO EXCITING AND HAVE STRESSED US OUT SOMETIMES TOO. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR COMMITMENT.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GO ON TO DO VERY SUCCESSFUL THINGS. I HOPE THE MAJORITY OF YOU STAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OR COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO TO HELP US AND THE CITY.

YOU'LL ALWAYS BE OUR TEAM. YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE A WELCOME MAT OPEN HERE.

THANK YOU. COACH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON.

LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST AS MUCH DRAMA BUT NOT TOO MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR SAID ABOUT SPORTS TEACHING US MENTAL TOUGHNESS. MAYBE ONE DAY Y'ALL CAN JOIN US FOR A 5:00 A.M. WORKOUT AT ANY POINT. BUT I'M A GRADUATE OF ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM. Y'ALL ARE MY FOOTBALL TEAM.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH A FEW COMMENTS FOR THE GROUP. THANK YOU IS REALLY THE BEST WAY WE CAN PUT IT.

THIS CITY HAS HAD SOME TOUGH TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND ONE THING WE FELL BACK ON IS THE FACT THAT WE COULD COUNT ON UTSA ROADRUNNER FOOTBALL TO BE A BOOST TO THE COMMUNITY .

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S ALL DONE ON YOUR SHOULDERS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, COACH. I WOULD INVITE ANYBODY -- I WAS ON THE PLANE LISTENING TO A PODCAST THAT YOU DID WITH THE EXPRESS NEWS WITH JOSH AND KERRY GO LISTEN TO THAT.

IF YOU'RE A FOOTBALL FAN OR IF YOU'RE A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, GO LISTEN TO THAT PODCAST.

IT WILL MAKE YOU ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF OUR HEAD COACH AND OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND UTSA AS AN ORGANIZATION, GENERALLY. AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE SUCCESSFUL, THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT IN THIS COMMUNITY

[03:15:01]

GO AHEAD, COACH. >> ONE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY.

ALL OF OUR PRACTICES ARE OPEN. WE MIGHT BE THE ONLY COLLEGE TEAM THAT DOES THAT.

LIKE EVERY PRACTICE IS OPEN SO IF YOU EVER WANT TO COME, WE TAKE THE FIELD.

THIS SATURDAY MORNING WILL BE OUR FIRST SCRIMMAGE. SHOW UP, BRING YOUR FAMILY.

AS LONG AS YOU DON'T FILM OUR PLAYS, YOU CAN HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS. IT MAKES MY PLAYERS PRACTICE HARDER AND IT MAKES MY COACHES BEHAVE BETTER. I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO BE THERE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU UP ON THAT. I'VE BEEN MEANING TO COME TO ONE OF THE PRACTICES. ON THAT NOTE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORTING UTSA SO YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR TRAJECTORY, I WANT TO INVITE FRANK OVER HERE BECAUSE FRANK HAS A NEW POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT THE UTSA FOOTBALL PROGRAM. IF YOU DON'T MIND, FRANK, COME FORWARD. I'M GOING TO READ SOMETHING FOR YOU.

FRANK HAS BEEN A SPECIAL FOOTBALL PLAYER AND STUDENT AND MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. I'M GOING TO PROVIDE THIS CITATION TO FRANK HARRIS QUARTERBACK UTSA FOOTBALL PROGRAM. UTSA ROADRUNNERS FOOTBALL CHAMPION. IN HONOR OF COMPLETING SEVEN LEGENDARY SEASONS WITH UTSA AS A CHAMPION QUARTERBACK, THIS AWARD IS TESTAMENT OF YOUR EXEMPLARY ATHLETICISM, OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, HARD WORK, AND DEDICATION. YOUR PATH TO VICTORY LED UTSA TO ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON EVER. YOUR LEGACY ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD IS WORTHY OF COMMENDATION AS GIVEN RISE TO THE UTSA FOOTBALL VICTORIES INCLUDING CONFERENCE UTSA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN '21 AND '22 AND THE ROADRUNNERS FIRST BOWL VICTORY IN PROGRAM HISTORY IN 2023.

YOU HAVE ENDED YOUR CAREER HOLDING MORE THAN 35 SCHOOL RECORDS EARNING MANY PRISS TEEGOUS ACCOLADES INCLUDING CONFERENCE USA'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER.

YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE GENERALLY LIMITLESS. I PROUDLY CONGRATULATE YOU ON MANY OUTSTANDING AND LEGENDARY ACHIEVEMENTS AND OFFER BEST WISHES AND MUCH SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD OF LIFE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME . THAT'S FOR YOU, FRANK, FOR ALL

THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FRANK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO GIVE US A PITCH.

>> YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT CONSTRUCTION. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. NO, SERIOUSLY, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.

STAYING IN SAN ANTONIO WAS A BIG PART OF WHY I CHOSE UTSA. ALL MY FAMILY IS FROM SAN ANTONIO. THEY STILL LIVE HERE TO THIS DAY AND SAN ANTONIO HAS A BIG PART OF MY HEART AND I HAVE NO REASON TO LEAVE HERE UNLESS Y'ALL PUT ME OUT.

BUT I LOVE SAN ANTONIO AND I CHOSE UTSA FOR THOSE REASONS AND UNDER COACH TRAYLOR'S LEADERSHIP WE WERE ABLE TO GO OUT AND ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS AND HOPEFULLY PUT UTSA ON THE MAP AND BRING NOTORIETY TO SAN ANTONIO AS A WHOLE. THANK Y'ALL AGAIN.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BIRDS UP. >> BIRDS UP.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] ACTUALLY, LET'S ALL STEP DOWN THERE AND TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

[03:22:10]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS FUN. THANK YOU ALL FOR WAITING THROUGH THAT. BUT, WAIT, THERE'S MORE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. IT'S TOUGH FOLLOWING THAT WITH A MORE SOMBER NOTE BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ALONG WITH OUR BRAVE SAPD FOLKS THAT TOGETHER HELPED APPREHEND A COLOMBIAN DRUG LORD JUST LAST WEEK.

THE SAME WEEK WHERE WE ALL SAT UP HERE AND HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR MIGRANT CENTER.

MR. PARELLA WAS ARRESTED 40 MINUTES FROM HERE ON THE STREETS OF NEW BRAUNFELS.

THIS IS A GUY THAT WAS ON THE WATCH LIST. HE'S THE SECOND IN COMMAND OF A COLOMBIAN DRUG GANG. HE'S ASSOCIATED WITH FOUR MURDERS AND ALLEGEDLY WAS DOING SOME DRUG TRAFFICKING OUT OF A TEXAS MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. I BRING THIS UP TODAY TO OF COURSE HIGHLIGHT, AS I MENTIONED, THE BRAVE FOLKS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AS WELL AS OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE FORCE THAT ASSISTED IN THE ARREST.

AND THEN AGAIN TO SAY THAT I'M URGING US AS A CITY COUNCIL. >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILMAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING, WE NEED TO POST THAT AND SO IT'S NOT A POINT OF

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THAT. >> WHYTE: LET ME MAKE IT A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO HONOR THE FOLKS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS ARREST BECAUSE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE STATE ARE DEALING WITH I THINK ISSUES LIKE THIS.

AND THANKS TO BRAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT WE CAN GET MORE OF THESE FOLKS LIKE MR. PARELLA OFF

THE STREET. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA NOW.

WE DO HAVE THREE ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. 4, 14, AND 21.

ITEM 14 HAS BEEN PULLED BECAUSE IT IS A CONDEMNATION SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS REAL QUICK TO RELEASE THAT ITEM. LET ME ASK THE CLERK TO GO AHEAD AND -- ACTUALLY, ONE SECOND.

[Acquisition, Sale or Lease of Real Property  ]

[03:25:05]

LET ME CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS, MAYOR.

I MAKE THE MOTION THAT THE CITY AUTHORIZE THE USE OF POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE SAWS BLANCO ROAD TO ORSINGER LANE WATER MAIN PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY THAT OUR CITY CLERK WILL DESCRIBE AND THAT IS

INCORPORATED INTO THIS MOTION. >> CLERK: THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY FOR TWO PERMANENT WATER EASEMENTS LOCATED IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8 ALONG PRIVATELY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY DRAINAGE CHANNEL IN SUMMERFIELD SUBDIVISION. THESE PROPERTIES ARE DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND

INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THIS MOTION ON ITEM 14. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THERE WAS A MOTION. >> I'LL SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 14? WE HAVE NO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 14.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION

CARRIES. ITEM NO. 4. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 4.

[ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

ITEMS AT CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A PRESENTATION BY ANDY SO GO AHEAD, ANDY. >> SEGOVIA: YES.

WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH THE PRESENTATION, MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO GO

AHEAD WITH THE PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DOES ANYONE REQUIRE THE PRESENTATION? OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK SO LET ME

ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NO. 4. >> SO MOVED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NO. 4. ANY DISCUSSION?

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH. WELL, I AM HAPPY THAT THIS DAY IS HERE AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SORT OF PARTNER WITH ME LAST YEAR AND REALLY MOVE THIS THING THROUGH. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND I KNOW WE ALL UP HERE AGREE THAT WE -- EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE, THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT, AND EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORTH THEIR IDEAS FOR FIXING SOME OF THE CITY'S PROBLEMS THROUGH THE CCR PROCESS. I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE INPUT AND EVERYBODY'S SEEING THE VALUE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR.

THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEW PROCESS GETTING INTO PLACE QUICKLY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DEBBIE, I KNOW, ANOTHER DASHBOARD, BUT I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SETTING A WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO MORE EASILY VIEW THE POLICY PROPOSALS SET FORTH BY THIS COUNCIL AND TRACK THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO EXCITED ABOUT TODAY. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HISTORICALLY THE CCR PROCESS HAS TAKEN MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED. THIS CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR TERMS BEING ONLY TWO YEARS. WE GET INTO THIS PROFESSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND ENACT TANGIBLE CHANGE. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT OUR CCRS ARE STAYING ON TRACK AND NOT GETTING PUT ON THE BACK BURNER. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE FOR GETTING THIS CONVERSATION STARTED AND ADVOCATING FOR THIS CHANGE.

I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE FOR INITIATING THIS CONVERSATION.

FOR ME THIS PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND THE CONCERN THAT I'VE EXPRESSED DURING THE B SESSION IS THE PRECEDENT IT SETS IN AMENDING POLICY THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING IT. THE CURRENT PROCESS SET IN PLACE DOES HAVE A STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN THE TIME IN WHICH ITEMS ARE

[03:30:01]

I HAVE A QUESTION AROUND WHO MADE THAT DECISION TO REMOVE THE CCRS FROM THE DASHBOARD PRIOR

TO 2022? >> THIS IS DEBBIE RACCA-SITTRE. WE REMOVED ALL OF 2023 INTO THE DIGITAL COLLECTION. THEY STILL EXIST ON THE DIGITAL COLLECTION, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE A MEANS TO TRACK WHERE THEY WENT AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT HISTORICAL DATA. BUT THE OLD CCRS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC ONLINE

AND THERE IS A LINK TO CLICK ON TO THAT. >> CASTILLO: THAT'S HELPFUL.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING DISCUSSED DURING THE B SESSION, RIGHT? WE HAD A VERY RICH CONVERSATION AND TO TALK ABOUT CHANGES ON THE DASHBOARD.

WE HAVE LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DASHBOARDS SO I THINK GIVING US A HEADS UP THAT IT WOULD BE SHIFTED SOMEWHERE ELSE WOULD BE HELPFUL. ULTIMATELY I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT EACH OF US WERE ELECTED TO INITIATE C COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENCY. JUST MY TAKE ON WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS AMENDING POLICY THAT ALREADY EXISTS BUT AMENDING IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING IT. AND THE PRECEDENT IT'S GOING TO SET ON CONTINUING TO AMEND IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THAT TIMELINE. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN WHYTE FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT FOLKS WOULD TALK ABOUT, CONSTITUENTS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT YOU FILED A CCR. WHAT NEXT? SO THANK YOU. SINCE THAT CONVERSATION WE'VE SEEN THOSE CCRS START MOVING THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE. YESTERDAY I THINK WAS -- I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE GOVERNANCE MEETING AND GETTING TO SPEAK ON THREE OF MY CCRS WHICH WERE BEING CONSIDERED ALONG WITH ONE THAT WAS CO-AUTHORED WITH COUNCILWOMAN MARINA.

THAT'S HOW I WOULD EXPECT THE GOVERNANCE GOES IS THAT THE CCR IS BASICALLY PRESENTED, VERY BARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CONCEPT, WHAT IS THE IDEA. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S EXISTING-ISH AND WHAT IS THE REQUEST. AND THEN WHERE DO WE THINK IT SHOULD GO.

AND IT'S SENT TO A COMMITTEE. I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE EXPECTATION THUS FAR AND THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE SET THIS EXPECTATION THAT STAFF HAS TO DO A YEAR AND A HALF'S WORTH OF RESEARCH BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE PRESENTED TO GOVERNANCE.

I THINK YESTERDAY WAS A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHY THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE THE CASE.

I THINK WE SET UP THESE COMMITTEES FOR A VERY GOOD REASON AND WE SAW YESTERDAY THAT GOVERNANCE WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH NINE CCRS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THERE'S MAYBE ONE MORE SESSION THAT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT. BUT AFTER THAT, IT SHOULD BE A SIGNIFICANTLY LIGHTER LOAD.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, CCRS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL FOR US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MY CONSTITUENTS ARE HAPPY WHEN THEY KNOW THAT, HEY, I'VE SAID THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE AND THERE'S NOT A CONVERSATION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ON COUNCIL ABOUT IT BUT MY COUNCILMAN AUTHORED A CCR AND HE GOT THE SUPPORT OF FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BRING THAT DISCUSSION TO THE FOREFRONT.

SO CCRS ARE IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO MAKE NOTE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IS THAT THREE OF THE TOP TEN -- SO I WENT THROUGH THE LIST OF COUNCIL CCRS SINCE 2007.

AND WE HAVE THREE OF THE HIGHEST SUBMITTERS OF ALL TIME. NUMBER THREE IS COUNCILMAN PELAEZ WITH AT LEAST 28, THE LAST TIME I CHECKED. MYSELF WITH 22.

AND THEN MAYOR NIRENBERG IS AT SIX, HE HAD 19. WE ARE MAKING USE OF CCRS AND WE HAVE HISTORICALLY MADE USE OF CCRS AND IT'S BECOMING MORE COMMON PLACE BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SEE AND BECAUSE OF THE CCR'S DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN OUR DECISION MAKING. I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE TODAY. I'M GOING TO MAKE USE OF THE POLICY PUT FORWARD BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONCERNS THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO PUT OUT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WE FOLLOW THEM.

JUST BECAUSE THE SYSTEM ISN'T BEING FOLLOWED, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT.

I'LL ECHO THAT SENTIMENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. I WILL RELUCTANTLY BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY BECAUSE I THINK

[03:35:04]

GOING TO NEED TO MONITOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NO. 4?

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. SORRY, MAYOR, I DIDN'T TAP IN THERE. I WAS CONCERNED AND TO SIMILAR CONCERNS FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. I'M THE ONLY MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS THE SOUTHSIDE ON THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE DISCUSSION WITH OUR OTHER MEMBERS SO I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS TO B SESSION IN FEBRUARY.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND OUR COLLEAGUES THAT IT'S PREROGATIVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CHOOSE THE BEST PROCESS FOR OUR POLICY PROPOSALS. SO WHETHER IT'S FILING A CCR, HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR, WITH THE CITY MANAGER, OR EVEN CHECKING IN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM BECAUSE THEY DO THE RESEARCH.

EVERY TIME SOMEONE BRINGS A CCR, THEY REVIEW, THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES THEM DAYS AND SO I HAVE HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO JUST GO AND FIND SOMEBODY ELSE'S SIGNATURE BECAUSE MY TEAM IS TAKING TOO LONG. BUT THEY'RE DOING A THOUGHTFUL, THOROUGH RESEARCH. I HAVE HAD COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ SAY WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A WHILE SO WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU DO THE WORK.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES FOR ALL OF US. OUR RESIDENTS ELECT US TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS THAT FIT THEIR OWN NEEDS AND SO WE'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IT SERVES A GREATER PROCESS TO HAVE CCRS AND TO BE ABLE TO BE THE FINAL AUTHORITY WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THE ELECTED BODY AFTER ALL. SO I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER BUT ULTIMATELY THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS JUST THAT. IT'S A STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND WE'RE THE ONES THAT VOTE FOR IT. AND I CLEARLY REMEMBER THAT WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BACK IN 2021 AT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS. AND WE CAME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS.

THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWED, NECESSARILY. SO I'M JUST HESITANT AGAIN TODAY THAT IF WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE ARE WE REALLY GOING TO COMMIT TO THAT.

I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE STILL WITH STAFF BEING ABLE TO TELL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT REPRESENTS ITS RESIDENTS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH IN POLICY.

AND I KNOW THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH OUR POLICIES. I KNOW THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY ALSO MISS OUT ON DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH LISTENING TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE, I KNEW I WASN'T ALWAYS GOING TO SEE EYE TO EYE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, EVEN WITH THE RESIDENTS I REPRESENT SOMETIMES.

AND QUITE FRANKLY EVEN WITH MY STAFF AT TIMES. IT TAKES THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND I'M COMMITTED TO LISTENING TO THE PERSPECTIVES OF OTHERS BECAUSE WE EACH HAVE DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS. BUT TODAY I'M NOT COMFORTABLE AND I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NO. 4? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4. PLEASE VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: VOTE ALREADY STARTED. MOTION CARRIES.

[Miscellaneous  ]

OKAY. MOVE NOW TO ITEM NO. 21. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 21 IS AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER, QUEER, LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO PROVIDE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN

THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A PRESENTATION

[03:40:02]

THIS WAS PULLED BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF COMPLETION WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON IT SO LET ME START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 21.

WE'LL START WITH BRAD VILLOS FOLLOWED BY CHAD ROOMING. >> FIRST OF ALL, MY FATHER WOULD BE VERY UPSET WITH ME BECAUSE HE ALWAYS TOLD ME, MIJO, GO INTO A BUILDING AND YOU'RE WEARING A HAT, PLEASE TAKE IT OFF. I HAVE BEEN COLD OFF MORNING SO I REALLY DON'T WANT TO TAKE MY HAT OFF. BUT HATS TO YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.

AND I AM OLD SCHOOL SO I'M GOING TO READ MY PRESENTATION. SAN ANTONIO MUST HAVE A PERMANENT BOARD THAT PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS THAT NOT ONLY INFLUENCES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES BUT ENHANCES ENGAGEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO'S LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. SAN ANTONIO SHOULD REFLECT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE LGBT RIGHTS AND INCLUSION AND OUR CITY SHOULD DEMONSTRATE AN LGBTQ-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

MY SPOUSE AND I MET IN 1977 AT A GAY BAR AT THE CORNER OF ST. MARY'S AND BROOKLYN.

THE SAN ANTONIO QUEER COMMUNITY, LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES, WAS VERY DIFFERENT THEN, ESPECIALLY FOR BROWN AND BLACK QUEERS. SOME GAY BARS REQUIRED MEMBERSHIPS TO DISCOURAGE ENTRANCE. AND LESBIAN BARS WERE PRETTY MUCH SEGREGATED TO WOMEN ONLY.

MY HUSBAND IS FROM A FAMILY OF 12 SIBLINGS AND GREW UP IN ZIP CODE 78207, WEST SIDE.

I AM FROM A FAMILY OF EIGHT SIBLINGS AND MY SAN ANTONIO FAMILY IS ALSO FROM THE WEST SIDE. ALTHOUGH MY HUSBAND WAS OUT TO HIS FAMILY, I WAS PRETTY MUCH IN THE CLOSET DUE TO MY WORK SITUATION AT THE TIME. BUT MY FAMILY KNEW I WAS QUEER BUT WE JUST DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT. FOR ME, IT TOOK A NATIONAL QUEER MARCH IN WASHINGTON IN 1987. ALSO, MY MOM WAS A FIRM BELIEVER ON SIGNS.

SHE ALWAYS SAID THAT SHE LOOKED FOR SIGNS. AND THIS MORNING THERE WAS A SIGN FOR ME BECAUSE IN 1987 I ATTENDED THIS MARCH AND I HEARD THE WORDS, INSPIRATIONAL WORDS OF CESAR CHAVEZ, ONE OF MY HEROES. AND HE SPOKE ABOUT EQUALITY FOR ALL AND I LOST IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. HERE WAS THIS PERSON THAT MY FAMILY HAD HELPED THROUGH THE GREAT BOYCOTTS. THAT MY FAMILY HAD TALKED ABOUT AND HERE HE WAS TALKING TO A QUEER AUDIENCE. HE WAS TALKING TO ME.

AND IT MOVED ME. I CAME OUT TO MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND AT WORK.

AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY KNEW THAT I WAS QUEER. SO I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE

YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VILLO.

CHAD ROOMING FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD MORNING BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL BUT I NEED A SNACK.

I AM -- MY ENERGY LEVEL HAS GONE WOO. SO I HAD MY COFFEE READY TO GO BUT HERE WE GO. AS THE MAYOR SAID, MY NAME IS CHAD.

I USE HE/HIM PRONOUNS. I AM A RESIDENT, ALONG WITH MY PARTNER OF 17 YEARS IN DISTRICT 6. WE'RE PROUD RESIDENTS OF THAT DISTRICT.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CURRENT MAYOR'S LGBTQ ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I WANT BASICALLY Y'ALL TO VOTE YES. I HAVE AN INKLING THAT YOU ALL WILL, THANKS TO THE KIND WORDS YOU ALREADY SAID TO OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

I HAD BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE LAST 16, 17 YEARS AND I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE LIKE BRAD AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I NOW AM TRYING TO CREATE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO COME AFTER ME.

[03:45:02]

REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND THIS WOULD MAKE A HUGE SIGN OUT TO NOT ONLY THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

BUT THOSE WHO LOVE THEM. SO, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ROOMING. JACK FINGER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARIA

SALAZAR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF AMAZING WHAT YOU'LL SEE BURIED AMONG THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS HERE. YOU KNOW, AMID THE, OH, ROOF REPLACEMENTS, ASPHALT PAVING AND SO FORTH, I SAW BURIED DEEP IN ITEM 21 I SAW THIS ESTABLISHING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO PROVIDE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. I LOOKED AT THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS ON THIS AND THIS IS WHAT I SAW. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SCROLL DOWN TO THAT UNDERLINED AREA THERE, IF YOU WOULD. YEAH, THE CURRENT COMMITTEE'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE THE -- TURN THE PAGE OVER A BIT. ESTABLISHMENT OF GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS IN CITY BUILDINGS AS A DISPLAY OF SAN ANTONIO'S PRIDE FLAG OVER CITY HALL IN THE MONTH OF JUNE IN CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH. AN OFFICIAL ADVISORY BOARD WILL PROVIDE A FORMAL PLACE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S LGBTQ COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, ALLOW A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF AND ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WORKS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE SAN ANTONIO.

RETURN THE CAMERA. YEAH. YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY ATTEND CHURCH EVERY WEEK OR CLAIM TO? ESPECIALLY DURING CAMPAIGN SEASON WHEN YOU ADVOCATE TO THOSE CONGREGATIONS JUST HOW MORAL AND ETHICAL A PERSON, CANDIDATE YOU ARE. THAT THEY DESERVE YOUR VOTE. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT OUR

LOCAL CHURCH ACTUALLY SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE, ITEM 21, SO PLEASE STAY ON TRACK OR

YOUR TIME WILL BE LOST. >> HERE'S WHAT THE CHURCH SAYS ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO, MR. MAYOR. CATHOLIC CATECHISM -- SCROLL DOWN TO HOMOSEXUALITY SECTION 2357. BASING ITSELF ON SACRED SCRIPTURE, ACTS OF GRAVE DEPRAVITY, TRADITION HAS DECLARED THAT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS ARE DISORDERED.

THEY ARE CONTRARY TO NATURAL LAW. THEY DO NOT PROCEED FROM A GENUINE [INDISCERNIBLE] UNDER NO, REPEAT NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN THEY BE APPROVED .

RETURN THE CAMERA. HOW MUCH MORE OF A DIRECT LINE DO YOU NEED, PASS THE SPECIAL

[03:50:01]

PERSONS? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MARIA SALAZAR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARIA SALAZAR.

MY PRONOUNS ARE HE, SHE, HER, THEY, THEM. I LIVE OUT AND PROUD IN DISTRICT 5 ON THE SOUTHSIDE. I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR THE LASE FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR FIVE. WE WORK IN DISTRICT -- I BELIEVE IT'S 2.

MY WIFE WORKS IN DISTRICT 2. I WORK AS AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CHILDREN WHO ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, SO I TRAVEL TO EVERY PART OF THIS CITY VISITING CHILDREN. IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE MAYOR'S LGBTQ+ ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH I WAS SELECTED TO WORK ON THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE IN 2018.

FOR THE LAST TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS I HAVE SERVED AS THE CO-CHAIR BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE I MUST RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THAT WERE INVOLVED AND GOT US TO THIS POINT. THIS COMMITTEE CAME TOGETHER AFTER A FORMATION COMMITTEE WAS GATHERED BY MAYOR RON NIRENBERG. THAT INCLUDED DAN CUELLAR, GREG CASILLAS, AND THE LATE LAUREN FERRIS. I WANT TO THANK THE PAST MEMBERS WHO SERVED ON THIS COMMITTEE, INCLUDING DAN GRAINY, REVEREND DR. WILLIAM H. KNIGHT, ASHLEY SMITH, ENRIQUE MACIAS, AND SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT JAMIE HASH, LUCA RIOS AND BRAD VILLO.

OUR CURRENT MEMBERS INCLUDE DAVID SOLIZ, VICTORIA, CHAD ROOMING, AND GINGER CHUN.

ALL OF THESE FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF THIS COMMITTEE COME FROM EVERY PART OF THE TOWN. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

I'M GOING OFF SCRIPT HERE. SEVERAL YEARS AGO I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE NDO AND THAT WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS CAMPAIGNING THAT WE HAD TO DO TO GET THAT PASSED. I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE IN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES AND I HAVE FELT VERY MUCH AFFIRMED.

I AM A FORMER MIGRANT WORKER. I WAS RAISED BY MIGRANT WORKERS WHO COME FROM SOUTH TEXAS.

I WORK WITH SOCIAL WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE WORK I DO AS AN ATTORNEY.

I'M A GRADUATE OF UTSA, SO I'M A ROADRUNNER. HORNS UP .

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN IN THESE CHAMBERS THAT I FEEL AFFIRMED IN SO MANY WAYS.

AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT I FOUND ABOUT THIS COMMISSION.

PEOPLE WOULD COME TO US AND WOULD ASK US HOW CAN WE PUT OUR RESOURCES TO EVERY DISTRICT? AND WE WOULD TRY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE MET WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND WE'VE MET OR WE HAVE SPOKEN TO EVERYONE HERE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO WE NEED THIS COMMISSION SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE THOSE RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE LESBIAN,

GAY, TRANSGENDER, BISEXUAL COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

LUIS VASQUEZ. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LUIS VASQUEZ.

MY PRONOUNS ARE HE AND HIM. I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF A STORY.

WHEN I FIRST ENTERED THIS BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS BACK IN 2013 DURING THE NDO.

ONE THING I LEARNED WAS PATIENCE BECAUSE THAT NIGHT WE WERE HERE UNTIL 12:00 MIDNIGHT AT A CITIZENS TO BE HEARD SESSION. I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS THE GOOD AND THE BAD COMMENTARIES FROM THAT EXPERIENCE. IT WAS ALSO A NIGHT OF INSPIRATION FOR ME TO BE STANDING THERE WITH GIANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO INSPIRE ME TO THEN BACK THEN SEE THE VOICE THAT I HAD, THE POWER OF MY VOICE AS AN LGBT-OWNED BUSINESS OWNER.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT PROGRESS TAKES TIME SO 11 YEARS LATER I'M HERE, NOT JUST STANDING ON THE SIDELINES BUT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTING LGBT-OWNED BUSINESSES AND ALLIED BUSINESSES IN SAN ANTONIO AND A GROWING NUMBER OF LGBT-CERTIFIED

[03:55:02]

THE CHAMBER MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TO LGBT-OWNED BUSINESSES. THAT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WHEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE REPRESENTED AND HAVE A SEAT AT THE DECISION-MAKING TABLE.

AND THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT CITIES, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT AN LGBT COMMISSION CELEBRATES DIVERSITY AND BRINGS ALL THE VOICES TOGETHER.

AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WE CONTINUE TO BE INSPIRED TO BE HERE TODAY, LIKE MARIA SAID.

WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VASQUEZ. ANTONIA PADILLA.

>> ELECTED OFFICIALS, I HAD HOPED TO SAY GOOD MORNING BUT WE'RE WELL PAST THAT.

SO, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE COMMISSION, THE LGBT COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. I HOPE Y'ALL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO A GREAT NUMBER OF CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT ONLY THE LGBT CITIZENS BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF MR. FINGER. SO, WITH THAT SAID, I'M HAPPY TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND VOICE MY SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY Y'ALL WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF PASSING THIS. I'M DONE.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 21.

SO WE'LL MOVE INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 21. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 21.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME. AS THE FIRST-OUT LGBT + COUNCILMEMBER ELECTED SINCE 2007. IT TOOK MORE THAN A DECADE OF OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE ANY SORT OF REPRESENTATION ON THIS DAIS AND THAT'S THOUSANDS OF DECISIONS MADE WITHOUT ANYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE EVEN PAST COUNCIL MEMBERS IN MY OWN DISTRICT THAT HAVE SAID HORRIBLE, HATEFUL THINGS ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND MADE DECISIONS GUIDED BY BIGOTRY AND IGNORANCE. PEOPLE LIKE ME SIT IN ROOMS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME AND DON'T HAVE PEOPLE CALL OUT HATEFUL RHETORIC LIKE JACK'S. JACK IS NOT A NOVELTY, AS MUCH AS WE TREAT HIM LIKE ONE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HIM NOT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, JACK.

YOU'RE STILL OF THE LESSER VOICE THROUGHOUT OUR NATION. I WANT YOU TO BE VERY SURE ON THAT. BUT WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR IN OUR MINDS THAT THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND WE ARE IN A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO FACE THE KIND OF BIGOTRY THAT WE SEE ON DISPLAY FAR TOO OFTEN, EVEN IN THE MOST INCONSPICUOUS WAYS. CREATING SPACES FOR US WHERE WE CAN WEIGH IN ON DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, IS A SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT ACT AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT FORMALIZED AS A PERMANENT BOARD AND COMMISSION AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S TAKEN AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET IT DONE. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A NEW COMMISSION.

IT WILL JUST BE TAKING A NEW FORM AND IT'S VERY TIMELY FOR THAT REASON.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CREATION OF THE MAYOR'S LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD WAS A FANTASTIC OLIVE BRANCH ON THE MAYOR'S BEHALF TO OUR COMMUNITY BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MOVE TODAY IS THAT THE NEXT MAYOR, WHOMEVER THEY MAY BE, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISSOLVE THE COMMITTEE QUIETLY.

IT WILL TAKE AN ACT OF THE COUNCIL TO ELIMINATE THIS COMMISSION AND THAT WOULD BE A LARGE TRANSGRESSION AGAINST THE LGBT COMMUNITY. WE ARE SEEING REPRESENTATIVES WALK BACK THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND IT WOULD BE TOO EASY FOR SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT THEIR POLITICAL FUTURE IN, SAY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TO LET THIS COMMITTEE DISAPPEAR INTO THE ABYSS. THEY COULD FIND ANY REASON NOT TO SUPPORT ITS EXISTENCE.

[04:00:04]

THINK ABOUT OUR HISTORICAL LGBTQ+ ACTIVISTS AND LEADERS COULD BE HONORED IN THE NAMING OF BUILDINGS, STREETS, AND MARKERS. THINK ABOUT DESIGNATION CORRIDORS, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY GENTRIFICATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING EVERYWHERE ELSE.

THERE IS A ROLE FOR LGBTQ+ VOICES WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE AND THIS COMMISSION WILL BE A PERMANENT SEAT AT THE TABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND ADVOCACY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO

DECADES AND DECADES MORE OF IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS ORDINANCE REPRESENTS OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY FEELS VALUED, RESPECTED, AND INCLUDED. THIS LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD -- NO, IT'S BOARD AND COMMISSION.

IT'S NO LONGER AN ADVISORY BOARD. ESTABLISHES A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, AND ENSURES THAT THE VOICES AND CONCERNS OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY ARE HEARD AND ADDRESSED. THIS BOARD WILL SERVE AS A VITAL RESOURCE, PROVIDING VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR LGBTQ+ NEIGHBORS. THE BOARD WILL PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SHAPING A MORE EQUITABLE AND WELCOMING SAN ANTONIO FOR ALL.

THIS ISN'T A SYMBOLIC GESTURE. I SAID EARLIER TODAY THESE VOICES DEMAND AND DESERVE TO BE HEARD. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR YOUR CITY TO CATCH UP WITH YOU BUT HERE WE ARE. WE'RE HERE NOW AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I LIVE IN A CITY THAT WILL GIVE SPACE FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD AND REPRESENTED.

MR. NEWMAN, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND REPRESENTING DISTRICT 6. I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT YOU IN DISTRICT 6 AND MARIA, LUIS, AND ANTONIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT AND SPEAKING HERE TODAY. MOSTLY FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED TO MAKE THIS A REALITY AND YOUR DEDICATION AND ADVOCACY HAVE BROUGHT US ONE STEP CLOSER TO BUILDING A CITY THAT VALUES INCLUSIVITY AND COMPASSION BUT ALSO SHOWS IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BOARD BEING ESTABLISHED, TO HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION FOR OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR OWN LIVES SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO CONSIST OF FOLKS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A SAFE AND WELCOMING CITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. MR. NEWMAN, THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT AS WELL.

THIS BOARD WILL HELP FURTHER SOLIDIFY THIS AND ADVANCE EQUITY FOR THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO STILL FACE BARRIERS AND HATE IN BOTH OVERT AND SUBTLE WAYS IN TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THIS BOARD DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE THE WELFARE OF LGBTQ+ FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED FIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO ANTONIA, LUIS, MARIA, AND NEWMAN FOR EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGES WHERE I DID WANT TO SPEAK BUT I WANTED US TO GET TO ITEM 21 SOONER SO I DIDN'T CHIME IN. I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COMMITTEE FOR LEADING THIS INITIATIVE. I RECALL ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS I HAD WITH THE COMMITTEE WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OFFICE, RIGHT, AND THE ASK AND THE REQUEST WAS WILL YOU SUPPORT THE CREATION OF AN ADVISORY BOARD. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY YES.

I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE FINALLY HERE MOVING THIS FORWARD. IT'S LONG OVERVIEW.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DISPARITIES THAT IMPACT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND ACCESS TO HOUSING, THEY'RE STARK. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THE COMMITTEE AND THE DIRECTION THAT'S

[04:05:01]

FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I WANT TO THANK MARIA, BECAUSE I THINK SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT TALKED TO ME DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THIS WAS THE ASK. AND I'M SO GLAD THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS, THAT WE CAN DO THAT TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

I LOOK FORWARD TO PROBABLY GETTING A VERY -- LOTS OF PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT 3 THAT WANT TO SERVE ON THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND KEEPING US

ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS THAT I ASK THIS TO.

ON THE AGENDA ITEM IT SAYS PROVIDING -- THIS IS TO PROVIDE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?

>> SAMANTHA SMITH, SHE/HER PRONOUNS. I AM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEIA. BASICALLY THIS WOULD SERVE AS ANY OTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION CURRENTLY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THEIR COUNCILMEMBER THAT APPOINTS THEM. THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE A STAFF LIAISON THAT WILL SERVE ON THE BOARD THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST THE BOARD FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE.

SO THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES DIRECT WITH EVERY SINGLE MEETING FOR THE MEMBERS THAT ARE EVENTUALLY APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD TO HAVE THAT DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION.

>> WHYTE: OKAY. I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MENTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY. AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, THERE'S ALMOST 30% OF OUR BOARD POSITIONS RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S 80, 90 BOARDS. I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT NUMBER. BUT WE'VE GOT ALMOST 30% OF THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN EXPIRED OR ARE AVAILABLE. NOBODY'S IN THEM. I THINK WE'RE APPROACHING 100 OF THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSION SEATS THAT ARE VACANT. WITH RESPECT TO THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOARDS OUT THERE, HALF, I THINK SIX OF THOSE SPOTS ARE EITHER EXPIRED OR NOT FILLED. I SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE NEED ANY, ANY -- AND THIS IS NOT SPECIFIC TO THE BOARD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED MORE BUREAUCRACY. WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE OF THESE BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS, AT LEAST NOT UNTIL WE CAN FILL UP ALL THE ONES WE HAVE.

AND WE JUST HAD A MEETING WITH OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GROUP AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AND SOME OF THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HADN'T MET AT ALL IN 2023. SOME HADN'T MET IN SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. I WANT TO MAKE EXCEEDINGLY CLEAR THOUGH TODAY THAT MY OFFICE WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE LGB COMMUNITY. MY VOTE TODAY HAS NOTHING TO DO OR DOES NOT REFLECT MY FEELINGS AT ALL WITH RESPECT TO THE LGBT COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE EQUALLY AND WITH RESPECT AND SHOULD HAVE ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS HEARD. I BELIEVE, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR, ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE SO THAT IF THERE ARE ISSUES, WHATEVER MAY BE, THERE IS A DIRECT LINE TO EACH OF US AND WE OF COURSE HAVE A DIRECT LINE -- AND CITY STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB WHEN WE GO TO THEM WITH PARTICULAR ISSUES OF HEARING US AND TRYING TO WORK WITH US TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. SO, AGAIN, I SUPPORT EQUALITY FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE LGBT

[04:10:07]

IT'S SIMPLY BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING IN THESE FIRST NINE MONTHS AND HAVING SERVED ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HERE IN THIS CITY, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE ADDING TO THE NUMBER.

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER AND I AM HONORED TO SUPPORT THIS COMMISSION THAT'S BEING CREATED TODAY.

THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE ON COMMISSIONS RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE LGBTQ+IA COMMUNITY.

IT IS OUR FAULT BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES WHO APPOINT PEOPLE TO THESE COMMISSIONS.

I HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THREE TEXTS FROM DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS SAYING I WOULD BE HONORED TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS COMMISSION. AND SO WE MUST KEEP THE ISSUES OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE FOREFRONT. PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE, LOVING WHO THEY LOVE IN ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FOLKS THAT CAME HERE TODAY TO SPEAK, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL THAT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THESE ISSUES STAY FOREFRONT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR CITY WITHIN THIS STATE WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO SLIP EVEN JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT. AND SO I WILL BE HONORED TO SUPPORT THE VOTE OF THIS

COMMISSION TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: 2018, DECEMBER 12, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IS WHEN I GOT TO APPOINT MY VERY FIRST MEMBER ON THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.

AND I APPOINTED SOMEONE WHO I ADMIRE VERY MUCH, RUBY RESENDEZ THAT SAME DAY -- I WON'T SAY HIS NAME -- YOUR OPPONENT, WHO YOU AND I KNOW VERY WELL. HERE WE GO AGAIN, SA CITY COUNCIL THIS THURSDAY WILL APPOINT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HOMOSEXUAL FEMALE.

OH NO. THE SKY IS FALLING AND ALL THAT GIBBERISH.

I APPOINTED RUBY, AND THIS IS THE QUOTE I GAVE THE PAPER. I APPOINTED RUBY BECAUSE SHE IS A RESPECTED AND ENGAGED SAN ANTONIAN. SHE OWNS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

SHE CARES ABOUT HER COMMUNITY. SHE IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER. SHE HAS A VALUABLE INSIGHT THAT I VALUE. SHE'S A HARD WORKER. SHE HAS THE RESPECT OF HER PEERS. SHE'S A SERIOUS THINKER. HAS A REPUTATION FOR KNOWING HOW TO NAVIGATE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IN A THOUGHTFUL AND INCLUSIVE WAY.

I CHOOSE HER BECAUSE SHE EXHIBITS THE TRAITS OF A LEADER AND BECAUSE SHE GENUINELY CARES ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THIS COMMISSION IS TASKED WITH ADDRESSING.

AS A PROUD SAN ANTONIAN I FEEL LABELS SHOULD NEVER DISQUALIFY ANYONE FROM SERVING IN ANY CAPACITY FOR THEIR CITY AND I DON'T CARE WHO YOU LOVE OR HOW YOU LOVE, YOU ARE A SAN ANTONIAN TO ME AND YOU HAVE A VOICE THAT I WANT TO HEAR. I WILL TELL YOU ALSO THAT THE ONE THING THAT ALL OF US HAVE IN COMMON IN THIS ROOM IS THAT WE'RE ALL STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON 281 AND I-10. YOU CAN BE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, GAY, LESBIAN OR NOT AND YOU STILL HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT ALL SAN ANTONIANS HAVE.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. YOU PAY TAXES. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU PAY CPS BILLS AND SAWS BILLS. YOU ENJOY OUR PARKS.

YOU FLY IN AND OUT OF OUR AIRPORTS. YOU RELY ON 9-1-1 SERVICES.

YOU ARE OUR CUSTOMERS. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. AND WHEN YOU CALL MY OFFICE, I DON'T ASK YOU, WAIT A SECOND, ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY? BECAUSE, IF YOU ARE, THEN I HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF PROTOCOLS ON HOW TO TREAT YOU.

I DON'T! HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A BOARD THAT TALKS ABOUT AND SOLVES PROBLEMS AROUND AND RELATED TO THE ISSUES OF THE STATUS OF WOMEN. WE HAVE A BOARD AND WE APPOINT WOMEN TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVE A BOARD ABOUT ELDERLY AFFAIRS BECAUSE THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY GATHER TOGETHER AND BRING TO US AS A GROUP.

WE HAVE A BOARD ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION. WE EVEN HAVE A BOARD ON THE LATIN AMERICAN TASK FORCE THAT IS HELPING US FORGE A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THE SOUTHERN COUNTRIES

[04:15:01]

WHY THE HELL SHOULD WE NOT HAVE A BOARD WITH PEOPLE WHO BRING A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LENS AND PERSPECTIVE THAN MY OWN? MARIA, I SAW JUDGE ROSIE HERE EARLIER.

I'LL NEVER WALK THE PATH THAT YOU'VE WALKED. I NEVER WILL BUT I WANT TO KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT IT AS I POSSIBLY CAN SO I CAN BETTER SERVE YOU. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT MATTERS. AND ALSO BECAUSE I TAKE THE WORDS ON THAT WALL VERY SERIOUSLY. UNDERNEATH THAT -- AND YOU CAN'T READ IT HERE.

IN LATIN IT SAYS.

ANTONIO. IT'S OUR ICON AND IT STANDS FOR, IN LATIN IT MEANS THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY. YOU ARE NOT FREE UNLESS, IN THIS COUNTRY, IF YOU'RE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. IF WE'RE NOT SERVING YOU THE WAY THAT WE'RE SERVING EVERYBODY ELSE. AND IF WE'RE EXCLUDING YOU SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU LOVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK YOU SHOULDN'T. YOU'RE NOT FREE.

THAT'S NOT FREEDOM. I ALSO HEARD ONCE -- AND I SAY IT OFTEN -- THAT THE MOST CRUEL THING YOU CAN DO TO SOMEBODY IS INDIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO YOU FOREVER. BUT WE STOP TODAY. AS IT RELATES TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE HAVE SUPPORTED THIS COMMUNITY IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS BUT TODAY THIS VOTE MATTERS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY LEGITIMATE REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T CREATE THIS BOARD FOR YOU TODAY.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE LAST GENTLEMAN TO SPEAK TO US UP HERE GOT WITH THAT FIRE HYDRANT OF UGLINESS. IT MUST BE REALLY PAINFUL TO LIVE WITH THAT MUCH HATE IN YOUR HEART. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. AND I'VE NEVER COME ACROSS A STRAIGHT MAN WHO THINKS SO MUCH ABOUT GAY SEX THAN MR. FINGER DOES.

THAT'S FOR A DIFFERENT TOPIC. GUYS, THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO.

THAT REPRESENTS HATE. THAT'S NOT US. NOT AT ALL.

AND MY CONSTITUENTS, WE EMBRACE YOU. YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY DELIVER BABIES IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. THEY ARE NURSES.

THEY DRIVE OUR BUSES. THEY ARE TEACHING KIDS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE AND HISTORY. THEY ARE LITERALLY LANDING OUR AIRPLANES AT THE AIRPORT.

THEY'RE HANDLING BAGGAGE, FIXING AIR-CONDITIONING, THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN SAN ANTONIO.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOR DOING IT WITH COURAGE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S LOTS OF PAIN IN THE HEART. I KNOW.

AND THERE'S LOTS OF FRUSTRATIONS. THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO BUT WE'RE DOING IT TODAY.

I KNOW IT'S OVERDUE AND IT'S A LONG TIME COMING BUT I HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE LOVE YOU AND WE EMBRACE YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL ASK ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR TO BE MY APPOINTEE ON THIS COMMITTEE. AND HE'S BACK THERE. WASHINGTON NAVARRO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ONE OF OUR STRONG AND VERY IMPRESSIVE LEADERS AS IT RELATES TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. AND FOR SERVING AS A VOICE THAT KEEPS ME ACCOUNTABLE WHEN I NEED TO. WILL YOU DO ME THE HONOR OF SERVING AS DISTRICT 8'S ADVOCATE ON THIS COMMITTEE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO VOTE YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

I EXPRESSED THOUGHTS EARLIER AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING AFRAID TO FIGHT AND STAND FOR YOUR RIGHTS.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ALL HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD IN THE PAST. I AM ALSO READY TO APPOINT MY PERSON AND HOPE THEY WILL APPLY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE VICTORIA WHO IS HERE, ONE OF MY CLASSMATES AND SHE IS ALWAYS A STRONG VOICE AND A I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. MARIA SALAZAR HAS LONG BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING NEXT GENERATION. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S -- DURING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH -- I FORGET THE NEW NAME OF OUR

[04:20:01]

AND I APPRECIATE WE ARE MAKING THIS A MORE FORMAL RECOMMENDATION TODAY SO FUTURE COUNCILS, FUTURE MAYORS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS UNLESS IT TOOK A MAJORITY OF THE BODY. I ATTEND CHURCH EVERY WEEKEND.

EVERYBODY CAN FIND ME, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE I'M GOING TO BE AT EVERY SUNDAY AT NOON. BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, I'VE MISSED THE LAST THREE FOR WORK-RELATED OBLIGATIONS. I CHECKED RIGHT NOW, DID I MISS ANYTHING, RIGHT? BUT NO, AT LAST CHECK. I'VE BEEN ATTENDING MASS EVERY SUNDAY SINCE MY SON WAS 10 YEARS OLD BECAUSE HE WAS N ALTAR SERVER AND I'M PROUD TO SAY I ATTEND A CHURCH THAT IS LOVING, A COMMUNITY THAT WILL ALWAYS WELCOME EVERYBODY.

ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO THE POPE SAID WHO AM I TO JUDGE. THOSE FIVE WORDS WERE SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE WORDS THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD COMING FROM A JUDGE.

AND OVER THE LAST DECADE, THE POPE HAS SHIFTED OUR TONE AS A CHURCH, REFUSING TO TAKE A JUDGMENTAL STANCE ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

HE HAS AUTHORIZED THE BLESSINGS OF SAME-SEX COUPLES BECAUSE HE FAMOUSLY SAID IF A PERSON COMES TO ME WHO HAS COMMITTED SOME SIN AND ASKS FOR A BLESSING, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE LOVED, BLESSED. OUR CHURCH OFFERING OFFERS THESE TEACHERS THAT IN AUDIO] UNJUST DISCRIMINATION SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

SO TODAY I AM HONORED TO VOTE AND TAKE THAT SMALL STEP AS A CITY COUNCIL FOR THE GRACE OF GOD WORKS IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO DO NOT CLAIM TO BE RIGHTEOUS BUT WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THEMSELVES HUMBLY AS SINNERS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, IN THE

WORDS OF THE POPE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE OPENING REMARK THAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MADE ABOUT THE FACT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT EXISTS, BUT IT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR AND WHOEVER THE NEXT MAYOR MAY BE COULD SAY I DON'T THINK WE NEED THAT COMMITTEE ANYMORE. SO I THINK IT IS VERY SOUND MOVE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO SOLIDIFY THIS COMMITTEE, THIS COMMISSION TO CONTINUE TO ADVISE US ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS IN THIS CITY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- WE'RE ALWAYS SAY WE WANT MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

WE ALWAYS SAY WE WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT ISSUES. I THINK WE WOULD FIND A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY THROUGH THE WORK OF THIS COMMISSION AND ADVISING US.

I KNOW I NEEDED ADVICE, FROM EVERY COMMITTEE, COMMISSION, BOARD THAT EXISTS WHEN IT COMES TO MY HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION RELATED TO WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING.

I THINK COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ MADE A GOOD POINT WHEN HE POINTED OUT WE HAVE A WOMEN'S COMMISSION, A YOUTH COMMISSION, A SENIOR COMMISSION.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE MORE IMPORTANT COMMISSION THAT WE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHING.

SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING FOR IT. I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE

MOVE. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I KNOW WE SHOULDN'T -- I KNOW WE SAY ALL THE TIME, YOU GET ON THE DAISEN DO THE BUSINESS, THEN YOU GO BACK AND SHAKE HANDS AND YOU DON'T TAKE VOTES PERSONALLY, BUT IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY. AND I THINK WHAT I WANT TO CONVEY IS THAT IF YOU SUPPORT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN THE LAST TIME YOU SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD WAS, THE LAST TIME YOU SPOKE TO QUEER EMPLOYEES AND ASKED THEM HOW ARE YOUR BENEFITS. DO THEY MEET YOUR NEEDS AS A QUEER EMPLOYEE IN OUR GOVERNMENT. HOW CAN I BE AN ALLY TO YOU.

AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING TRULY AND ACTIVELY SUPPORTIVE TO THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY VERSUS NOT WANTING TO BE SEEN AS A BIGGOT.

I WANT THAT TO BE INTERNALIZED. AND I FEEL LIKE A A NO VOTE

[04:25:01]

EACH OF US REPRESENT 150,000 PEOPLE AND COUNTING AND IFER WORRIED ABOUT VACANCIES, FILL THEM, BRO. I PUT OUT A INSTAGRAM POST THAT LISTED THREE OR FOUR VACANCIES AND I HAD THREE OR FOR APPLICANTS FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS. WE HAVE THAT OBLIGATION. AND SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS ISSUE WE HAVE -- IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF WE WERE CREATING A COMMISSION OUT OF THE BLUE NOBODY ASKED FOR. THERE IS AN EXISTING BOARD, AN EXISTING COMMITTEE THAT IS ASKING FOR A PERMANENT PLACE IN OUR GOVERNMENT. IT'S NOT INCREASED BUREAUCRACY, IT'S EXISTING BUREAUCRACY. AND IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN IT, LET THEM. AND SO I DO TAKE -- I WILL FIND IT VERY CHALLENGING TO NOT CONSIDER OR TO CONSIDER A NO VOTE NOT PERSONAL. AND IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION OR YOU NEED TIME OR YOU ARE REALLY GRAPPLING WITH THIS DECISION, I WOULD URGE YOU TO ABSTAIN AT THE LEAST, BUT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF THIS WAS A

UNANIMOUS VOTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN BECAUSE I STUMBLEED EARLIERER. I WANTED TO SAY EACH LETTER AND EACH MATTERS.

LGBTQ+, WE ALL MATTER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. CONSIDERS. >> PELÁEZ: I FORGOT TO MENTION WHAT I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THIS IS A WORKING COMMITTEE, THIS IS A WORKING BOARD. AND SO WHAT I ALWAYS TELL THE FOLKS THAT I APPOINT IS I EXPECT RESULTS, RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US EXPECT RESULTS TOO.

AND SO IF I MAY GIVE YOU A CHALLENGE AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AND ACCEPT IT, THIS CITY NEEDS TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

WHICH THE STATISTICS ARE ALARMINGLY DIFFERENT. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS ARE ALREADY BAD ENOUGH, BUT IN THIS COMMUNITY THEY ARE HEART BREAKING AND THE NUMBERS ARE OBSCENE. AND IN HOW TERRIBLY HIGH THEY ARE.

THE SECOND THING WE NEED TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AS IT RELATES TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

AND WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE. AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS GET TO WORK VERY QUICKLY ON BRINGING US ADVICE ON HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HOW

TO SOLVE FOR THOSE ISSUES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS ITEM PASS UNANIMOUSLY SO I WANTED TO CHALLENGE MY COLLEAGUES AND FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THE A SESSION AGENDA WE JUST APPROVED WHICH HAD TWO P.I.D. BOARD APPROVALS.

WE JUST HAD A CCR WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A STEERING COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT FIRE CODES. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO, HAVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES EMPHASIZED THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE, ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO APPLY FOR THESE POSITIONS AND SENDING THEM TO THE CLERK FOR THEM TO GET AGENDIZED. THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND I WANT US TO ENCOURAGE US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE JUST APPROVED ON THE A SESSION AGENDA WHICH WAS THE CREATION OF TWO P.I.D. BOARDS. I DON'T FEEL COMPELLED WITH THE ARGUMENT THIS IS MORE BUREAUCRACY WHEN WE JUST PASSED IT ON THE CONSENT

AGENDA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, TAXPAYERS, THEIR INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS. THEY MAKE UP SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT MEANS INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN CONTRIBUTIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, POTENTIALLY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SO MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO OUR CITY. AND THAT'S ANOTHER VOICE THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD.

AGAIN, I THINK IN A DIFFERENT SETTING. ALL OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING ANYWAY, BUT THIS IS A WAY FOR THAT ONE PART OF THEMSELVES TO BE -- TO HAVE THAT SEPARATE VOICE ABOUT WHAT -- EVERYTHING ELSE THAT

THEY ARE DOING. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: REAL QUICK ADDITION. EVERY 45 SECONDS IN OUR COUNTRY, A LGBTQ+ YOUTH

[04:30:05]

LOVE WHO THEY LOVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANKS. I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SAID EARLIER. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE UNANIMOUS ALSO.

ONE BECAUSE IT'S 2023 AND IT SHOULD BE. AND THE OTHER IS BECAUSE WE -- THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND THIS -- THIS COULD HAVE STAYED ON CONSENT, BUT SO MANY OF US WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT AND CELEBRATE IT SO I'M REALLY THINKING IF WE HAD LEFT THIS ON CONSENT IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PULLED. BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE UNANIMOUS TOO. AND IF IT'S NOT, THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WE'RE HERE AND WE SUPPORT THEM AND ARE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE ELEVATE THEIR VOICES REGARDLESS OF THE MAYOR WE GET NEXT TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION, THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR MAJORITY OF COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: SO I DON'T WANT TO -- I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT THE GOALS BEHIND CREATING AND FORMALIZING THIS BOARD. BECAUSE, AGAIN, I WANT EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHAT THE GROUP IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VOICE. I JUST -- I DON'T AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, AGAIN, ANOTHER BOARD AND COMMISSION.

AND I KNOW IT WAS SAID EARLIER, WELL, IT'S OUR FAULT THAT 30% OR MORE OF THESE POSITIONS OR 27%, WHATEVER IT IS ARE EXPIRED OR AVAILABLE, BUT OFTENTIMES, I MEAN I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER COUNCIL FOLKS, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO FILL SOME OF THESE. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND, I DO UNDERSTAND THE GOALS BEHIND THIS. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE, LIKE I SAID. AND I HEAR YOU ON -- I HEAR YOU ON NOT WANTING A NO VOTE AGAINST THIS. BUT I WILL SAY THAT I HOPE THAT FROM HERE -- FROM HERE ON OUT THAT WE CAN PUT SOME FOCUS ON THE EXISTING BOARDS THAT WE HAVE.

WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE ACTIVE, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FILLED.

WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE MEETING. WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD FOLKS ON THIS ONE. WE CERTAINLY GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD IS PROPERLY FILLED AND THAT THERE ARE NO EXPIRED TERMS. AND SO I CHALLENGE EVERYBODY TO DO THAT MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. I'LL CLOSE WITH A FEW COMMENTS. FIRST, I WAS REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF COUNCILMEMBER KAUR'S COMMENTS. THE FIRST TIME AND THE SECOND TIME. ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE CAME IN AND EMPHASIZED THE LETTERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD. YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD A RECOGNITION OF TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY HERE. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY, EVEN IN 2024, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO JUST DO NOT HAVE A VOICE, THEY ARE NOT EVEN SEEN OR HEARD. IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO KNOW THEY ARE THERE.

SO MAKING SURE WE RECOGNIZE THEM, NUMBER ONE, IS THE FIRST STEP IN GIVING SOMEONE DIGNITY, AND SO I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. AND SO FOR -- YOUR FIRST COMMENT RECOGNIZING PRONOUNCE, THAT'S ALSO WHY THAT'S DONE.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT'S SILLY, BUT THERE'S A PURPOSE BEHIND THAT BECAUSE IT RECOGNIZES THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF A PERSON. SO FOR THOSE INTERESTED, MY PRONOUNCE ARE HE, HIM, EL. BUT WHY THIS I THINK IS IMPORTANT AS A VOTE, A RECORD VOTE IS THIS IS REALLY A CONTINUATION OF AN EFFORT THAT BEGAN IN 2013 WITH THE MODERNIZATION OF OUR NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, MR. VAST COMMITTEES, YOU WERE THERE. I WAS THERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. BUT IN 2013, WE PASSED A NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE

[04:35:08]

AND ONE OF MY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WAS GOING THROUGH THE HEARINGS AND I FORMED REALLY IMPORTANT VALUES AND IMPRESSIONS DURING THAT TIME SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNEW IF THEY ELECTED ME MAYOR I WOULD DO SOME THINGS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF WHO HAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS DAY TODAY WHICH IS THE DAY THAT I ONE DAY WILL NO LONGER BE HERE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO DIGNIFY EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY. THAT IT IS WHY WE MADE THE EFFORT THIS WAS NO LOCKER A MAYOR'S COUNCIL BUT WAS A CODIFIED BOARD WHERE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN APPOINT BUT ALSO WASN'T -- IT WASN'T SOLELY DETERMINED BY THE WHIMS OF THE NEXT MAYOR.

BECAUSE IT IS THAT IMPORTANT. I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF IN PARTICULAR, MARIA, LUIS CESAR ORIGINALLY, BEN GUNTHER AND GABRIELLE HERRERA WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THIS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK SAMANTHA SMITH FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALSO NOW HEADING OUR DEIA EFFORTS. YOU HAVE DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK, DILIGENT WORK ON THIS AND I KNOW YOU'VE HAD SOME PATIENCE TESTED BECAUSE WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS SO THANK YOU.

THERE IS NO DOUBT TODAY MARKS AN HISTORIC VOTE FOR SAN ANTONIO AS A COMMUNITY THAT MOVES WITH COMPASSION AT THE FOREFRONT, WE MUST ALSO WORK WORD WITH ESTABLISHING PERMANENT LGBTQ+ VOICES AT THE TABLE. YEAR AFTER YEAR ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION AND ATTACKS ON THIS COMMUNITY, PROTECTIONS FROM TEXAS STATE OFFICIALS PROVE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTION, ADVOCACY AND SOLIDARITY AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL. SO I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS MAYOR OF A CITY THAT HAS MOVED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THOSE ATTACKS.

IN 2013 WE PASSED THE NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.

IN 2018 I CREATED THE LGBTQ+ MAYOR'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND TODAY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ESTABLISHING THE LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OFFICIALLY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE OFFICE OF DEIA FOR THEIR ADVOCACY AND COORDINATION, SPECIFICALLY YOU SAMANTHA, AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO MARIA SALAZAR FOR HER LEADERSHIP FOR ALL THESE YEARS ON THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE. WITH THAT THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 21. PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE NOW -- WE HAVE A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE DO HAVE A 2:00 P.M. ZONING. [APPLAUSE]

[City Manager's Report  ]

ERIC, DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR MANAGE'S REPORT? >> WALSH: TWO QUICK ITEMS, THE EMPLOYEE VIDEO SPOTLIGHT TODAY IS OF AN EMPLOYEE WHO RECENTLY REQUIRED.

JOE CRUZ SPENT 35 YEARS WITH THE CITY. ALL 35 YEARS HE SPENT ON THE RIVERWALK. AND I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH JOE AND HIS TEAMMATES ON HIS LAST DAY. I THINK THESE GOING TO MISS US.

I TOLD HIM HE COULD COME BACK AFTER SIX MONTHS IF HE WANTED TO.

JOE SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER MAKING SURE THAT THE RIVERWALK IS WHAT IT IS FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.

>> I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO 35 YEARS AND I'M LUCKY TO SAY ALL OF IT HAS BEEN ON THE RIVERWALK. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS ON THE RIVERWALK. ONE OF THE ONES I'M MOST PROUD OF IS THE IMPROVEMENTS DONE TO THE RIVERWALK TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY.

MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CCD HAS BEEN EXTREMELY POSITIVE.

SINCE WE'VE BECOME CCDO ON THE RIVERWALK, THE SUPPORT WE GET IS PHENOMENAL AS FAR AS FUNDINGER TO THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE WANT TO DO, AS FAR AS TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS, STAFF, AND JUST THE SUPPORT OF OUR MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE TEAM COMING DOWN AND ENGAGING WITH THE EMPLOYEES. ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY EMPLOYEES OR SOMEONE IN A SUPERVISORY CAPACITY IS DON'T GET STRESSED. ALL YOUR WELL-LAID PLANS FOR THE WEEK, FOR THE DAY, FOR THE MONTH COULD GET TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AT ANY MOMENT BECAUSE OF WHERE WE WORK.

[04:40:02]

ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE, BUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT EASY. >> WALSH: AND THEN SECONDLY TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE CITY MANAGER'S 5K AT THE ZOO.

ABOUT 4,000 FOLKS SHOWED UP. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. AND WE HAD COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO RUN THE RACE, SHE COMPETED IN 24 MINUTES, A PACE OF 7 MINUTES, 49 SECONDING. SHE WAS SO FAST SHE LEFT BEFORE SHE COULD GET HER MEDAL, BUT SHE WAS THIRD IN HER AGE GROUP AND I WANTED TO PRESENT THE COUNCILWOMAN AND THANK HER FOR BEING OUT THERE. SHE, AGAIN, I THINK SHE RAN OFF BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO RUN IN ANOTHER RACE AND I WANTED TO THANK HER FOR BEING OUT HER AND GIVE HER HER MEDAL. THANKS.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CONGRATULATIONS, MARIA.

BEFORE WE BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, ACTUALLY BEFORE WE ADJOURN, ACTUALLY IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE'S BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK AND WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE NOW WITH CAKE IN THE BACK. BEFORE THAT LET'S SING HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

[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:  ]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THE TIME IS 2:56 AND WE'LL REVEAL OUR A SESSION.

WE'RE CLOSING EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 2:56 P.M. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE WILL NOW ADJOURN A SESSION AND OPEN UP OUR CITY COUNCIL ZONING AND LAND USE MEETING

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.