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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL BSM SESSION.
THE TIME IS GO 08:00 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
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RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING ABOUT OUTER FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO ERIK, THOUGH, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS THAT ARE ON OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY TEAM, FORMER CONGRESSMAN PHIL VELA AS FAR AS FORMER CONGRESSMAN LAMAR SMITH.
SO THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR BEING HERE AND BEING PART OF THE TEAM.
ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS KIND OF A BROADLY CAPTIONED ITEM TO TALK ABOUT. THE FEDERAL OVERVIEW, IN ADDITION TO JUST OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, SO THERE'S FOUR MAIN PARTS OF THE PRESENTATION. WE'LL START OFF WITH SALLY, WHO WILL WALK THROUGH OUR FEDERAL INITIATIVES AGENDA, WHICH WAS INITIATED AND BEGAN LAST FALL WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE. JUSTINA WILL COVER HIGH LEVEL WHAT IS IN OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW, FISCAL YEAR '25, IN TERMS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS. AND I THINK IN LAST WEEK'S COMMUNICATION TO YOU, I SHARED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT $325 MILLION IN OUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, AND A VARIETY OF AREAS, JUSTINA'S GOING TO KIND OF COVER THAT BY DEPARTMENT AND FUNCTION AND WHAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE IN THOSE GRANTS. PHIL VELA AND LAMAR SMITH, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
THEY ARE WITH OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONSULTANTS, AKIN-GUMP, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF MONITORING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER -- EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND ALL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING UP IN D.C. AND FRANKLY, WE'RE GOING TO RELY UPON THEM TO KEEP US INFORMED AS WE -- AS WE WADE THE FUTURE WATERS. AND I'LL WRAP UP WITH KIND OF HOW WE HAVE INTERNALLY ORGANIZED TO REVIEW, RESPOND, REPORT, DETERMINE IMPACT OF CHANGES AS THEY POTENTIALLY MAY OCCUR. AND I'LL -- THAT WILL BE THE LAST SLIDE, AND I'LL COVER THAT ONE. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO SALLY TO KICK US OFF. >> BASURTO: THANK YOU, ERIK. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO REVIEW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 119TH CONGRESS FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
THEY SAY THAT THE THIRD TRY IS THE CHARM, SO BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR FULL AKIN BENCH OF FEDERAL CONSULTANTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALREADY RECOGNIZED CONGRESSMAN LAMAR SMITH AND CONGRESSMAN PHIL VELA, AND OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW WALTER SERNA. IN ADDITION TO THESE THREE KEY MEMBERS, WE HAVE HANS, JOSE AND AUDREY MAY LUCAS. THEY HAVE BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING GROUP TO WORK WITH, THE DURATION OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE WE CONTRACTED WITH THE AKIN GROUP. THEY WILL REVIEW SOME OF THE WINS WE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL SESSION, BUT ALSO ALLAY SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS OUT THERE TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO AND REASSURE YOU THAT THEIR WORK, NOT JUST THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR BENCH THAT YOU SEE HERE IN PERSON AND ON THIS SLIDE, BUT THEY HAVE A
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VERY DIVERSE BIPARTISAN BENCH THAT STRETCHES OUT TO MANY AREAS OF EXPERTISE WITHIN THE AKIN FAMILY. MOVING ON TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THIS WAS A MULTIMONTH PROGRAM. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE IGR, COUNCIL COMMITTEE, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE LEADERSHIP AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM.AFTER TODAY, WE WILL MOVE TOWARDS COUNCIL APPROVAL IN A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS TO COME. OUR PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF THE SEVEN PILLARS THAT YOU SEE HERE, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MILITARY PROTECTION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY, INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY AND TRANSPORTATION, WORKFORCE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST PILLAR IS ONE THAT INCLUDES OUR NDO THAT I WILL PROVIDE A FEW MORE DETAILS HERE MOMENTARILY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT MANY OF THE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCLUDED UNDER EACH OF THESE PILLARS ARE TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE. THEY REPRESENT IMPORTANT PRIORITIES FOR THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION THROUGH OUR RECENT REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES THAT INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION, WORKFORCE, A TAX BILL THAT I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES VARIOUS PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND FEDERAL FUNDING WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THE AGENCIES. UNDER THE FIRST PILLAR, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE AIMING TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION AND FUNDING THAT EXPANDS THE AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTION OF INCENTIVES THROUGH TAX CREDITS, THROUGH -- TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF HIGH COST OF HOUSING. THIS IS A KEY AREA OF FOCUS FOR CONGRESS. THERE WILL BE MAJOR NEGOTIATIONS HAPPENING FOR THIS 2.0 TAX PACKAGE THAT THE PRESIDENT -- THANK YOU.
[INDISCERNIBLE] ANY OF OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THE LOW INCOME HOUSE CREDIT OR LITEC. THIS HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND IT WILL BE CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE WERE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION FILED IN THE PAST SESSION THAT WE ANTICIPATE -- AUDIO] -- SUPPORT AS WELL, ONE OF THEM IS THE HOUSING CREDIT IMPROVEMENT ACT. THIS WAS A BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT STRENGTHENS AND EXPANDS LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
THIS WAS SUPPORTED BY CONGRESSMAN GONZALES AND CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM IN OUR DELEGATION ONCE THIS BILL IS REFILED IN SUPPORT OF LITC. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE KEY COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT IN THE CREATION OF THIS NEW TAX PACKAGE.
THOSE KEY COMMITTEES INCLUDE THE SENATE'S FINANCE COMMITTEE AND SENATOR CORNYN IS A KEY MEMBER, A LONGSTANDING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE THAT WILL OVERSEE THE NEW TAX PACKAGE, SO WE WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH SENATOR CORNYN ON THAT. ADDITIONALLY AS YOU KNOW, HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS ONE, AS YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE, CARRIES OUT THE FUNDING AMOUNTS AND APPROPRIATIONS THAT COME OUT OF CONGRESS THAT WILL FUND EACH OF THE AGENCIES.
IN THIS CASE, THE TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE UNDER THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE -- AUDIO] -- CRITICAL IN OUR WORK WITH HIM MOVING FORWARD.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO POINT OUT THESE ARE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE, THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE, CDBG, HOME AND AS WELL AS ESG, THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE WORK THAT ARE EXPERIENCING AT-RISK HOMELESSNESS AND THAT ASSIST WITH US THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROGRAM WAS A PROGRAM THAT IS GETTING A NEW LIFE DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S GEARED TO BOOST PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A FINANCING TOOL THAT WAS CREATED IN THE 2017 TAX PACKAGE DURING THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND IT
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DEFERS CAPITAL TAX GAINS. IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY, THERE ARE 24 OPPORTUNITY ZONES. FURTHER MORE UNDER THE SAME PILLAR, I WANTED TO BRING THUR TO BRING CLOSE ATTENTION, WE SUPPORT PROTECTION OF THE TAX EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BOND, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITY'S POLICY AND THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS. ESSENTIALLY THE TAX EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BONDS ARE A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TOOL FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE USED TO FINANCE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BENEFITED FROM THESE TAX -- FROM THIS TAX EXEMPTION FOR STREET, AND ROBUST DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, WITH GSA AND THE WHITE HOUSE, IN ORDER TOHE EXPEDEDEDEDEDEDEDEDED PURCHASE OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AKIN TEAM, WE WILL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN 2025 TO TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PURCHASE OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING AND IT'S ADJOINING PARKING FACILITIES. OF SPECIAL NOSE, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN EFFICIENCIES IN HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO, WHICH EXTENDS TO THE FEDERAL BUILDINGS. AND SO THAT SAID, WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP EXPEDITE THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH GSA. UNDER MILITARY PROTECTION, THIS IS A STAPLE EVERY TWO YEARS IN EVERY SINGLE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL SESSIONS.
THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF GENERAL JUAN A AYALA AS MILITARY USA WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND OUR MILITARY MISSIONS.
WE WILL ALSO ADVOCATE FOR CERTAIN GRANT PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT OUR DEFENSE PARTNERS SUCH AS THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY'SEN FRA STRUCTURE PROGRAM.
IN THE LAST ROUND, WE WERE AWARDED AN AWARD FOR $643,000 FOR ARMY NATIONAL GUARD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ON ACKERMAN ROAD, SO WE WILL WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION TO TRY AND MAKE THIS FUNDING, AT THE VERY LEAST LEVEL, BUT WE WILL SHOOT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DSIP.
ONTO PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY, AGAIN, THIS IS A CARRYOVER ITEM THAT WILL REMAIN A PRIORITY ITEM FOR US IN OUR PROGRAM AS RECOMMENDED. WE SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOWER CRIME, INCREASE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN OTHER AREAS SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION, ANTITRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING INITIATIVES. SUPPORT FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS SUCH AS THE URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE, THE REGIONAL CATASTROPHIC AND ASSISTANT GRANT AND FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS, THESE GRANTS FALL UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SPECIFICALLY UNDER FEMA. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE EXTENDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A STATEMENT HERE THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF MONEY OWED TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THE FEMA PROGRAMS. AS YOU RECALL THE SHELTER SERVICES PROGRAM FALLS -- THERE IS AN AMOUNT OF $12.4 MILLION THAT IS STILL REMAINING OWED TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SO WE WILL WORK WITH THE INCOMING DHS CERTIFICATE WITH THE WHITE HOUSE TO SECURE THOSE REMAINING FUNDS.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING OWED TO THE CITY UNDER COVID FUNDS IN THE WINTER STORM URI THAT WE HAVE ON OUR SHORT LIST TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH FEMA, MAKING SURE THAT THEY REIMBURSE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THOSE MONIES OWED. UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY AND TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WILL LIKELY SHIFT THEIR AWARDING CRITERIA. THERE WERE MANY PROGRAMS UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT WERE ALIGNED WITH CERTAIN
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AREAS, NEW PROGRAMMING IN ORDER TO AWARD THOSE FUNDS IN PARTICULAR, COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, POPULATIONS; HOWEVER, THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION ON A POSITIVE STREAK WILL FAVOR LARGE-SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SUCH AS HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, AIRPORTS, TRANSIT SYSTEMS, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COORDINATING WITH HIM AND IN CONTINUING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE INCOMING SECRETARY.WITH THIS IN MIND -- CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGE AND PURSUE THESE FUNDS UNDER DIFFERENT PATHS AND DIFFERENT AWARDING CYCLES, WE WILL HAVE THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY ROADWAY IN THE SOUTHERN AREA OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR MANUFACTURERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AS ONE OF THE ITEMS TO PURSUE FUNDING FOR IN COORDINATION WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNDING TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE THE RISK OF FLOOD DAMAGE IN SAN ANTONIO. THIS ALSO HAS BEEN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FEMA PARTNERS, AS WE PURSUE GRANT FUNDING FOR FEMA MITIGATION FLOOD GRANTS AS WELL AS OTHER GRANTS.
FURTHER MORE, WE SUPPORT FUNDING TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE INTERNET FOR URBAN COMMUNITIES. AND IN PAST ROUNDS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CONGRESS HAS ALLOCATED VARIOUS ROUNDS OF BROADBAND FUND K FOR FREE AND AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE INTERNET FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS STAY ON TEAR RADAR, AND THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR URBAN AREAS, AND NOT JUST RURAL AREAS, WHICH HAD BEEN THE TREND IN PAST FUNDING CYCLES.
PLUS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PUBLIC PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, SUCH AS THE OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANT. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO THE PARKS TEAM, IN 2024, THEY RECEIVED A GRANT FOR $3.1 MILLION FOR WOODLAWN INITIATIVE, AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT WIN.
IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST GRANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR COUNCILMEMBERS AND HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRAW DOWN THOSE PARTICULAR DOLLARS FOR OUR PUBLIC SPACES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. UNDER THE WORKFORCE PILLAR, WE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH TRANSITIONING INTO THE WORKFORCE. AS YOU KNOW, THESE EFFORTS WILL SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF OUR SA READY TO WORK AND ALL OUR OTHER WORKFORCE AND JOBS PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WHICH MAYOR NIRENBERG AND THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY HAD VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SO IT IS MY AIM TO CONTINUE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPLEMENT OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE AND TRAINING INVESTMENTS, NOT JUST FOR ADULTS, BUT ALSO FOR YOUTH TRANSITIONING INTO THE WORKFORCE.
THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS IN THE LAST CONGRESS, THEY WERE BIPARTISAN BILLS, IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION THAT AIMED AT IMPROVING CHILDCARE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY. WE SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THESE SUCH PROGRAMS THAT WILL PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE AND ALLOW PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS MORE EASILY. WE KNOW THIS IS A CHALLENGE ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN ANY TYPE OF WORKFORCE ACTIVITY, WHETHER IT'S A TRAINING PROGRAM OR AN ACTUAL JOB WHEN THEY'RE IN THAT PLACE. THERE WERE SEVERAL BIPARTISAN BILLS, ONE THAT WE ARE TRACKING VERY CLOSELY IS THE CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT, SO THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL. SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS BILL WILL BE REFILED IN 2025, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN THE LAST APPROPRIATION CYCLE, CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HEAD START GRANT FUNDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS IS NOT A SAN ANTONIO ISSUE OR A PRIORITY. HEAD START AND THE CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 1 BILLION IN FUNDING INCREASES IN THE LAST APPROPRIATIONS CYCLE, SO THAT INDICATES TO US THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT AREA FOR CONGRESS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND OUR DELEGATION TO CONTINUE ROBUST FUNDING IN THAT AREA. UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICES, WE SUPPORT FUNDING AND PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND HELP REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR STAPLE ITEMS AND ISSUES IN OUR PROGRAM.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK IN SUPPORT OF THESE RELATED BILLS, SUCH AS THE FARM BILL, WHICH INCLUDED LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE THAT EXPANDED THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH YOU KNOW AS SNAP, AND THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE
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PROGRAM, WHICH IS TEFAP. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES USDA FOODS AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS FOR STATES AND DISTRIBUTION AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE STATE. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORT FOR EXPANSION THE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING TO CONTINUE PROGRAMS THAT HELP ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, SUCH AS DIABETES, ORAL HEALTH AND MANY OTHERS THAT OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM MOVES FORWARD IN PROVIDING SERVICES EVERY DAY.REGARDING THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS, OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED OVER $9 MILLION IN FUTURE FUNDING NEEDS FOR THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS, SO WE WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM AND THE RELATED AGENCIES SUCH AS USHHS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY TO FILL THOSE PARTICULAR GAPS. IN ADDITION, ANOTHER CARRYOVER ITEM IS SUPPORT FOR OUR LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR METRO HEALTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION TEAM, IN ADDITION TO OUR COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE WILL CONTINUE PUSHING FOR VIABLE PROGRAMS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE OUR PROGRAMS HERE LOCALLY MORE ROBUST. AND LASTLY, THE ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST, THIS IS OUR OVERARCHING PILLAR THAT GIVES THE TEAM, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, OUR D.C. CONSULTANTS, THE ABILITY TO REMAIN NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE AS WE COME TO THE IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES AND GUIDANCE ON EMERGING ITEMS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C. WE WILL RELY ON THIS STATEMENT TO BE ABLE TO, AGAIN, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE OFFENSIVE ITEMS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C. IN ADDITION, THIS INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY OUR NDO LANGUAGE, THIS MIRRORS THE LANGUAGE IN OUR STATE PROGRAM AS WELL, AND WE INCLUDED IT HERE AS WELL.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.
I WILL PASS THE MIC OVER NOW TO JUSTINA TATE, OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU. >> TATE: THANK YOU, SALLY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME'S JUSTINA TATE.
I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND TODAY I WILL BE PRESENTING AN OVERVIEW OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET.
OF THE CITY'S $3.9 BILLION, FEDERAL GRANTS MAKE UP ABOUT 8.3% OF THE TOTAL ADOPTED BUDGET, OR $326 MILLION. THESE GRANTS FUND A TOTAL OF 758 AUTHORIZED POSITIONS. NOW, THE TABLE ON YOUR RIGHT LISTS THE GRANTS BY DEPARTMENT WITH THE LARGEST RECIPIENT BEING HUMAN SERVICES AT $172 MILLION. THIS NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES AND PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE TYPES OF SERVICES THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY OUR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING. AS YOU CAN SEE, ALMOST HALF OF OUR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS GOES TO SUPPORT CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES. WITH THE NEXT LARGEST GRANTS BEING COMPRISED OF CAPITAL FUNDS FOR THE AIRPORT, PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THESE SERVICES REPRESENT OVER 93% OF THE TOTAL FEDERAL GRANT ALLOCATION, AND I'LL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THESE GRANTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES.
THE REMAINING GRANTS FUND SERVICES TO INCLUDE MIGRANT SERVICES, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE MIDBLOCK CROSSINGS AND VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEMS, MEAL SERVICES FOR OUR SENIORS, AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE SOLAR ENERGY, AIR QUALITY AND PROGRAMS TO HELP US REDUCE ENERGY USE. SO AS I MENTIONED, THE GRANTS SUPPORTING CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $159 MILLION.
THIS INCLUDES OUR CHILDCARE SERVICES GRANT, WHICH IS ALMOST $117 MILLION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. THIS GRANT PROVIDES CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES TO OVER 21,000 CHILDREN AND PROVIDES RESOURCES TO THE CITY TO WORK WITH CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO CERTIFY THEM AS TEXAS RISING STARS. OUR EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START GRANT PROVIDES EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO CHILDREN AS WELL AS HEALTH AND FAMILY WELL-BEING. THIS PROVIDES SERVICES TO CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX MONTHS AND FIVE YEARS.
THE WIC GRANT, OR OUR WOMEN INFANTS AND CHILDREN GRANT TOTALS
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OVER $7 MILLION. THIS GRANT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR NUTRITIOUS FOOD, NUTRITION, EDUCATION AND BREASTFEED PROBLEM PROBLEM PROMOTION TO BEST FEEDING WOMEN AS WELL AS THEIR INFANTS AND CHILDREN UP TO FIVE YEARS. FINALLY WE RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANTS TO OUR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM AS WELL AS EXTENDED HOURS AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. IN TERMS OF THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE OVER73 MILLION INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2025 TO SUPPORT SOME OF OUR AIRPORT CAPITAL PROJECTS. THIS PROVIDES FUNDING FOR TAXIWAY RECONSTRUCTION, MILL END OVERLAY, AIRFIELD SAFETY, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS AT TERMINAL A AND B, AND FINALLY SUPPORT FOR OUR AIRPORT TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET INCLUDES ALMOST $31 MILLION TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, AND THIS INCLUDES IMMUNIZATIONS AND VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.IT ALSO WORKS TO IMPROVE BIRTH AND PERINATAL OUTCOMES AND HELPS TO
REDUCE LEAD HAZARDS IN HOMES. >> KAUR: CHRISTINA, SORRY TO PAUSE YOU, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE A QUICK RECESS? I FEEL LIKE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO GREET THE STUDENTS.
>> 2:45. WE WILLSTARTED AGAIN. ALL RIGHT.
THE TIME IS 2:53 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025. WE'LL RECONVENE NOW FROM OUR BRIEF RECESS, AND, I BELIEVE, JUSTINA, YOU HAD THE FLOOR.
>> TATE: JUST A QUICK RECAP OF WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED SO FAR.
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. THE FEDERAL GRANTS COMPRISE ABOUT 326 MILLION OF THE $3.9 BILLION BUDGET. WE HAD DISCUSSED IN DETAIL THE GRANTS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN, AIRPORT, AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEALTH. SO TWO LAST AREAS THAT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON. THE FIRST IS HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
SO FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT $27 MILLION. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CONNECTING ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY BOTH THE CITY AND NONPROFITS TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS IN RECTIFYING CODE VIOLATION. THESE FUNDS PROVIDE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH AIDS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING OUR HOUSING STABILIZATION.
FOR HOMELESS SERVICES, THE FEDERAL GRANTS PROVIDE FOR SHELTER OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS.
AND FINALLY, THE AMOUNT INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IS OVER $14 MILLION.
THIS PROVIDES PARTIAL FUNDING FOR 100 POLICE OFFICERS.
IT SUPPORTS ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE DRUG TRAFFICKING IN SAN ANTONIO, AND ENHANCES TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. IT ALSO FUNDS CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND PROVIDES FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES. THIS CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE AKIN GROUP TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CONGRESSMAN SMITH AND I ARE HAPPY TO BE REPRESENTING Y'ALL IN WASHINGTON, AND I THINK IF WE WERE TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WE MIGHT BE HERE UNTIL TOMORROW, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN 71 WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. I MEAN, I THINK ALL OF US KNEW THAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE TAKING AN ATYPICAL APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WERE ALL READY FOR, YOU KNOW, 71 EXECUTIVE ORDERS. THREATS TO FREEZE HIRING ACROSS VARIOUS AGENCIES, THE ISSUANCE OF TARIFFS THAT FORTUNATELY WERE BACKED OFF, AND SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND WHAT'S IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND WHERE IS ALL THIS HEADED. AND I THINK THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME TIME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S ALL HEADED. FORTUNATELY, THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS WERE FROZEN BY A COURT, AND SO WE HAVE TO -- WE HAVE TO TAKE EACH OF THOSE ISSUES
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ONE BY ONE. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO REALLY TAKE US SOME TIME TO ABSORB WHERE IT'S ALL HEADED. BUT FOR NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THESE ORDERS ARE ALL FROZEN. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A TRACKING SYSTEM THAT SALLY AND THE TEAM HAVE ACCESS TO, AND IT'S A VERY GOOD TRACKING SYSTEM TO THE -- THERE WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CAME OUT JUST AN HOUR BEFORE WE WALKED IN WITH RESPECT TO DEREGULATION, STUFF LIKE THAT, RIGHT? SO THEY KEEP COMING, AND WE KIND OF KEEP WATCHING. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, JUST BE ASSURED THAT WITH -- YOUR TEAM DOESN'T JUST INCLUDE CONGRESSMAN SMITH AND MYSELF AND THE OTHERS YOU SAW EARLIER, BUT BEHIND THE SIX OF US WHO WORK ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ISSUES, PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY, ARE A WHOLE TEAM OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT GIVE US THE BREADTH TO HANDLE BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, BOTH PARTIES WITHIN THOSE TWO BRANCHES, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, TO BE ABLE TO GET WHATEVER SUPPORT ON WHATEVER ISSUES WE MAY CONFRONT WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. I WILL SAY THIS, WE USUALLY -- BY NOW -- AND SALLY DOES THIS AS WELL AS ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NEW STAFFERS THAT COME IN AS AN ADMINISTRATION TAKES OVER. PART OF THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS, IS THAT WITH THIS ONSLAUGHT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THESE POSITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN POPULATED YET. SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IN TIME, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, AND CONGRESSMAN SMITH'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE AIRPORT ISSUE HERE -- THE NONSTOP FLIGHT ISSUE IN JUST A BIT, BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IT WAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STAFFERS THAT WE WORKED WITH ALL THE TIME THAT WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING US TO WHERE WE ENDED UP BUT IN EVERY AGENCY, WE STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE THOSE PEOPLE POPULATED YET. AND SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE LONGER THAN USUAL.USUALLY BY FEBRUARY, MARCH, WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY TO TALK TO IN THESE AGENCIES, AND IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT.
>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, GOOD TO BE 82 WITH YOU TODAY, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT A 300 YEAR OLD TRICULTURE CITY THAT SEEMS TO BE HORMONEIOUS IN EVERY WAY, AND THE MAYOR GETS CREDIT FOR THAT.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOU WERE IT NOT FOR SALLY'S LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND HER ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITY. IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOUR ENTIRE STAFF IN THAT REGARD. PHIL MENTIONED THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DELIVERABLES, PAST AND FUTURE. AS FAR AS THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, YOU'VE GOT COURT BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY EXECUTIVE ODDER DER IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT. AND YOU'VE GOT THE AGENCY THEMSELVES.
RULE MAKING MAY TAKE 45 DAYS OR LONGER, DEPENDING.
BUT THE REAL POINT IS THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS PHIL MENTIONED, BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PERSONNEL, IMPLEMENTED ANY TIME SOON, SO YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN FOR THEM, IF AND WHEN THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRACK FOR YOU, DON'T YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT I, WE'RE GOING TO TRACK THE COURT CASES WE'RE GOING TO TRACK THE STATUS. PHIL MENTIONED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TRACKER THAT AKIN-GUMP HAS -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT, BUT THEY DO IT IN REALTIME, AND IT'S REPUTEDLY THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
JUST AMONG AKIN AND AKIN FRIENDS, WE HAD 165,000 HITS.
SALLY GETS IT EVERY DAY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO GET IT, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO. WE'LL FOLLOW THOSE FOR YOU, WE KNOW THE CITY'S PRIORITIES AND CAN SAVE YOU SOME TIME, AND JUST BE AWE BEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THINGS IN THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE CITY AS THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS COME OUT. I THINK THE PRESIDENT'S AVERAGING MORE THAN THREE A DAY, SO ANYWAY, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ROLLING OUT ON ANY SUBJECT IMAGINABLE AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO TAKE A BREATH, THREE MORE COME OUT, THREE MORE APPOINTMENTS AND THREE MORE SPEECHES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WHICH IS TO SAY, WE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, AND WE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO DO. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE CAN AS WELL.
PHIL MENTIONED THE FIRM AKIN-GUMP, THERE ARE 65 OF US IN D.C. WITH THE LARGEST LOBBYING FIRM IN TOWN, AND WE HAVE EXPERTISE, WHICH IS BOTH WIDE AND DEEP, ACROSS ANY FIELD. AND WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP AND WE MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER, WE OFTENTIMESES DON'TS, WE
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HAVE PEOPLE IN THE FIRM WHO DO KNOW THE ANSWER. WE HAVE WONDERFUL CONTACTS WITHIN THIS ADMINISTRATION, WITHIN DEMOCRATIC ADMIN STLAITION, WE'RE A COMPLETELY BIPARTISAN EFFORT.LET ME MENTION DELIVERABLES TO YOU, THE MAIN ONE THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM SAT TO DCA, I'M REMINDED OF BRUCE SPRING TEEN'S SONG, LONG TIME COMING. YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER IT, BUT IT WAS A GREAT SONG. THAT WAS SORT OF THE THEME SONG OF THE NONSTOP FLIGHT. I'LL TELL YOU HONESTLY, WHEN THE CITY CAME TO US AND SAID THAT WAS THEIR TOP PRIORITY, I SAID TO COLLEAGUES AT AKIN, WE'VE GOT TO TALK THEM OUT OF THAT, THERE'S ONLY A CHANCE OUT OF 10 WE GEARING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT. BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED, AND I HAVE TO GIVE SENATOR CRUZ CREDIT.
HE WAS IN THE MINORITY WHEN THE BILL PASSED SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO ADD FIVE NONTOPS TO D.C.A., ONE OF WHICH WOULD BE SAN ANTONIO, BUT HE DUG HIS HEELS IN AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY BILL TO GET OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE, COMMERCE, SIGNS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, UNLESS THEY APPROVED SAN ANTONIO AS ONE OF THOSE FIVE. AND HE DUG HIS FEET IN, WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND IT WAS SORT OF A NICE COMBINATION OF A LOT OF SUPPORT. IT WAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ACROSS THE BOARD, AND THAT WAS NICE. SPEAKING OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ACROSS THE BOARD, SALLY MENTIONED IT A WHILE AGO, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ARE ON THE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEES, TONY GONZALES AND HENRY CUELLAR AND THEY ARE OUTSTANDING MEMBERS.
THAT'S A BIPARTISAN EFFORT. THEY'RE ALL GOOD FRIENDS, WE'VE KNOWN THEM FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP.
-- COMMERCE, SCIENCE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
I THINK IT HAS JURISDICTION OVER ABOUT 80% OF WHAT THE SENATE CONSIDERS, SO WE HAVE KEY PEOPLE IN KEY PLACES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK OUT FOR YOU, HELP YOU AND TRY TO FEND OFF HARM -- YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE TOO HARMFUL, AT LEAST THAT'S THE HOPE.
THE OTHER -- BESIDE THE NONSTOP FLIGHT, WHAT I THINK IS OF CITY PRIORITY COMING UP IS THE SALE OF THE OLD FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, THE FEDERAL BUILDING. AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE HAVE THE WIND BEHIND US. THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, HE WANTS TO SELL THE UNUSED FEDERAL BUILDINGS, SO THIS IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HIM.
THERE WAS A COMMISSION THAT BECAME SORT OF DEFUNCT LAST YEAR ON WHICH WE -- A COLLEAGUE OF OURS AT AKIN-GUMP SERVED, AND SHE SAID THAT BEFORE THE COMMISSION SORT OF WAS DISSOLVED, THEY HAD ALREADY PRIORITIZED THE SALE OF THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN SAN ANTONIO AS ONE OF THEIR OBJECTIVES. SO WE'D LIKE TO REVITALIZE THAT 80 AND GO BACK AND SEE IF WE CAN'T IMPLEMENT IT. THAT'S -- SALLY COVERED THE FUNDING, THE APPROPRIATIONS, I MENTIONED BOTH TONY GONZALES AND HENRY CUELLAR WILL BE OF HELP TO THAT, AND ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS, I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE, PHIL.
AGAIN, OUR TRACKER REALLY HELPS A LOT. WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRM. LIKE I SAY, WHO CAN GET US INSIDE INFORMATION QUICKLY. WE'LL GET THAT INSIDE INFORMATION TO YOU ALL AND ALL I CAN SAY IS IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR ALL OF US TO BE CONNECTED TO SAN ANTONIO. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.
THE CITY IS THE GREATEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVES. MARK WHYTE IS MY COUNCILMAN, JOHN COURAGE AND I GO WAY BACK, 20 YEARS, I GUESS, 15 OR 20 YEARS OR SO, AND THE MAYOR MAY OR MAY NOT REALIZE IT, BUT I WAS A PART OF HIS FIRST RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL. SO ANYWAY, I'LL PULL OUT THINGS AS FAR BACK AS I CAN, MAYOR. SO ANYWAY, WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER -- WALTER, DO YOU
WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY IN CLOSING BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER WALSH, WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM.
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MY ROLE IS PRIMARILY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DELEGATION, AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A DELEGATION THAT WORKS TOGETHER, WHETHER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, THEY WORK SOMEWHERE CLOSELY TOGETHER, AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE OUR BACK IN WASHINGTON.
IF ANY OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS WERE TO COME TO FRUITION, THEY'LL BE ON THE FRONT LINES WITH US TRYING TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP US HERE LOCALLY, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
ERIK. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, WALTER.
SALLY, CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THERE WE GO.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK, AND I WANTED TO ALLAY THE COUNCIL OF WHAT OUR INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS IS GOING TO BE AS YOU HEARD IN THE PRESENTATION, THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL IMPACT AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE SEEN -- AND I HEARD AN EXAMPLE EARLIER TODAY, WHERE PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WE'RE SEEING SOME IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, DATA, INFORMATION.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN SOME OF THE NEWS REPORT ABOUT WEBSITES BEING DOWN.
[00:40:01]
STUFF LIKE THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING. BUT NO REAL IMPACT.AND SO WHAT WE'RE -- WHAT WE'VE DONE IS ORGANIZED INTERNALLY AN EFFORT THAT WILL BE KIND OF CO-LED BETWEEN MARIA VILLAGOMEZ AND LIZ PROVEN SEEIO AMONG CHRISTINA, TROY AT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, RENE AT HR AND THE AFFECTED DEPARTMENT TO REALLY LOOK AND SEE WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, WHAT IS THE -- WHAT IS THE IMPACT. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, THAT GROUP WILL MEET WEEKLY, AND WE'LL PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL ON -- ON ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES OR ORDERS THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO THE CITY.
AND CERTAINLY, WE WILL AT THE TIME THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IT, LAY OUT ANY POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO US IF WE CAN DETERMINE ANY. IF WE CAN'T DO IT THEN, THEN WE WILL WORK TO DETERMINE WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT MIGHT BE. AND THEN I THINK FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION, ONCE AN IMPACT IS DETERMINED AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE -- AS WE THOUGHT THROUGH THIS EFFORT, WE WERE THINKING, OKAY, WE NEED LIKE A WEEKLY TEMPO, WELL, IF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE TIED UP IN A FEDERAL COURT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HEARD UNTIL NEXT MONTH, I'M NOT -- I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE. POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE WEEKLY, BUT WE PROVIDE THAT UPDATE TO YOU ALL AT THE END OF THE WEEK, AND THEN IF WE NEED TO, THEN WE HAVE TIME TO DO A PUBLIC DISCUSSION THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND TIME TO AGENDIZE IT. WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND POTENTIALLY RESPECTS. I THINK UNDERLYING ALL OF THIS IS OUR EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION TO EMPLOYEES AND I THINK BEYOND WHAT POTENTIALLY MAY AFFECT US, AND THIS MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO AS TIME GOES ON, BUT ATTEMPT TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOME OF OUR PARTNERS.
AND WHEN I SAY PARTNERS, SOME OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES WHO MAY RELY UPON FEDERAL FUNDING OUTSIDE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH US, TO DO X. AND SO THAT'S KIND OF ON OUR RADAR SCREEN TO BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY MAKE SURE WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT.
AND MUCH LIKE YOU, I'LL SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT -- MUCH LIKE YOU HEARD LAST WEEK, THIS TYPE OF REVIEW MECHANISM THAT WE'VE KIND OF INTERNALLY ORGANIZED IS REALLY APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND WE HAD -- YOU HAD YOUR UPDATE LAST WEEK. FRANKLY, I THINK THAT THERE'S POTENTIALLY A MORE IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE STATE, POTENTIALLY -- I'M SORRY, ON THE CITY. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THOSE IN THOSE REGULAR UPDATES ON THE COUNCIL THAT SALLY WILL BE GIVING ON STATE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE OUR HEAD KIND OF CONCLUDED IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NIMBLE, THAT WE'RE FLEXIBLE, THAT WE COMMUNICATE BOTH INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION, OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION, AND UP TO YOU ALL, AND THEN BE PREPARED TO HAVE THAT POLICY LEVEL CONVERSATION, IF IT WARRANTS IT.
THAT'S IT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK.
AND THANK YOU, SALLY AND THE TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AT RISK OF BEING POLITICAL, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T SHARE THE SAME PARTY, LAMAR, LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I MISS YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE THE DEMONSTRATION OF BIPARTISANSHIP THAT YOU GUYS REPRESENT IN THE FIRM, WHICH IS REALLY THE APPROACH THAT WE TRY TO TAKE WITH THE CITY, DESPITE SOME OF THE RHETORIC, BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID ABOUT SALLY. SHE KEEPS US UPDATED. SHE'S ALSO VERY IMPRESSIVE WHEN WE GO UP TO D.C. ABOUT GETTING INTO THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEM KNOWING OUR PRIORITIES AND MISSION THERE AS A CITY.
I WON'T SPEAK LONG. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CO COUNCIL, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND THERE'S A LO OF CONCERN. AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF ACTION ALREADY CURRENTLY IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THIS ADMINISTRAION.
I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY. WE HAVE ONE. BUT IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF WHAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED SEEMS TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR ILLEGAL ON ITS FACE. AND SO THE IM IMPACT OF THAT IS LOT OF FEAR AN CONSTERNATION AND FROM SOME COMMUNITIES REACTION.
AND I THINK THAT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO BE PREPARED, BUT WHAT I WOULD HOPE THE APPROACH THAT WE WOULD -- WHAT I HOPE THE APPROACH THAT WE WOULD TAKE IS, IF THESE ACTIONS OBTHEIR FACE ARE UNCONSTITUUNTIONAL AND ARE
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LIKELY TO BE LITIGATED, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO, WHICH IS TO DELIVER THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE'RE TOLD WE CAN'T. I MEAN, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A LOT OF THE PRESS RELEASES AND THE MEMOS AND THE PULLBACK OF THE MEMOS, THE ACTION THAT'S OCCURRING IS ALMOST THROUGH THE REACTION OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RECEIVING THEM.WHEN IT COMES TO ACTIONS WHAT'S HAPPENING ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND GRANT PROGRAMMING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE THAT HAS CHANGED ALL TOO MUCH, YET.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN BE SOBER IN OUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND LEGISLATION, CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO, CARRY OUT THE MISSION THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS AND THEN WE WILL GET GUIDANCE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT THAT'S NO LONGER POSSIBLE.
SO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK. WE HAVE A LOT CUT OUT FOR US. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT TEAM TO DO IT.
I WILL SAY IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT AKIN-GUMP HAS BEEN OUR TEAM, ERIK, IT HAS PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IN GOING IN THAT DIRECTION. YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY OVERPERFORMED IN A LOT OF WAYS, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT DIVIDENDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO WITH
THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER >> PELAEZ: SO THAT'S A LOT TO UNPACK, SALLY. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, YOU'RE DOING THIS WORK WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DOING THE WORK AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN AUSTIN. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF RED BULLS THAT SALLY WILL BE CONSUMING TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING.
DOVETAILING ON THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS, LAMAR -- I WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU THE OTHER DAY AND I TOLD SOMEBODY YOU WERE THE LAST REMAINING GENTLEMAN IN CONGRESS.
AND SEEING YOU NOT THERE HURTS. WE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT VOICE FOR SAN ANTONIO UP THERE. BUT THAT YOU'RE ON TEAM SAN ANTONIO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WARMS THE HEART AND MAKES ME CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE VERY WELL REPRESENTED. I THINK ALL OF US WILL AGREE THAT IT ALMOST SEEMED PLANNED THAT WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO INTERFACE WITH OUR GOVERNMENT IN D.C. ON THE EXACT SAME DAY THAT THE VOICE OF OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE IS OUTSIDE BEING HEARD, AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY BEING HEARD.
IT'S JUST COINCIDENCE, I'M SAD TO SAY. BUT IT IS SERENDIPITY AND IT'S NOT COINCIDENCE, NONE OF THIS WAS PLANNED? I AM PROUD OF THEM AND I THINK ALL OF US ARE. AND THE ONE THING THAT WORRIES ME -- I ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE THING, SALLY. THE ONE THING THAT WORRIES ME IS OUR EFFORTS AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OUR PUSH FOR HELP IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOUSING AND THAT THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT IS DIGNIFIED, SAFE, CLEAN, AND AFFORDABLE, THAT THOSE WILL BE MET WITH RESISTANCE.
I DO THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US AND IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO KEEP PUSHING, DESPITE THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN FRONT OF US.
I'M CERTAIN THAT THERE WILL BE OBSTACLES. ON THE ONE HAND, WE'RE HEARING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION, WE HEARD HIS AIM WAS TO CUT REGULATION, WHICH WAS ADMIRABLE.
DURING HIS CAMPAIGN HE PROMISED TO CUT REGULATION SO IT WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD. WE KNOW -- I WAS WITH GENE DAWSON THE OTHER DAY AND HE HELPED LEAD THE ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATE OF HOUSING WHEN WE ADOPTED THE SHIP.
AND HE REMINDED ME THAT, YES, IN FACT HE HAD SAID THAT THE FIRST $25,000, YOU KNOW, OF A COST OF A NEW HOUSE IS JUST REGULATION AND THAT'S BEFORE ANY BRICK IS LAID AND BEFORE ANY STICK IS PUT IN THE GROUND. I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE HOUSING MORE ACCESSIBLE BY MAKING IT LESS EXPENSIVE.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE HAS SHIFTED AND WHEN YOU HAD THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION THE PUBLIC WASN'T TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE SAME VIGOR THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY. WE SAW THAT REFLECTED IN THE
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CAMPAIGNS, YOU KNOW, THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.MY CONCERN IS THAT WE CAN LISTEN TO CAMPAIGN RHETORIC AND JUDGE PEOPLE BY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING BEFORE THEY GET ELECTED. OR WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT THEY DO. AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT TARIFFS ON CHINA OR MEXICO OR A GOOD IDEA. YOU CAN DEBATE IT ALL YOU WANT BUT YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPUTE THAT MUCH OF OUR BUILDING MATERIAL COMES FROM CHINA, MEXICO, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND MAKING THOSE MORE EXPENSIVE JUST HURTS POOR PEOPLE AND IT HURTS THE HOMEOWNER. AND SO WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT DESPITE OUR EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF OTHER CITIES ADMINISTRATION WHO REALLY DIDN'T CARE THE LAST TIME AROUND WHEN THEY SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE LITECH INDUSTRY. IT MADE IT REALLY DIFFICULT WHEN THEY AFFIRMATIVELY DECLARED THEIR HOSTILITY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS NOT JUST ME, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING DOTS AND COMING TO A CONCLUSION.
I'M GOING TO QUOTE. I'M HAPPY TO INFORM ALL OF THE PEOPLE LIVING THEIR SUBURBAN LIFESTYLE DREAM, THAT YOU WILL NO LONGER BE BOTHERED OR FINANCIALLY HURT BY HAVING LOW-INCOME HOUSING BUILT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, END QUOTE.
THAT WAS HIM. THAT WAS HIS VICTORY LAP AT THE END OF THE LAST ADMINISTRATION. AND SO I TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD.
I HAVE NO REASON NOT TO. AND THEN, IF YOU WANT TO JUDGE ACTIONS, YOU JUST GOT TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHEN THAT ADMINISTRATION SLASHED -- I MEAN, DEEP SLASHES IN FUNDING FOR HUD. AND THEY SUSPENDED A LOT OF FAIR HOUSING REGULATIONS AND, AGAIN, THAT ALSO SENT SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE LITECH INDUSTRY, MAKING IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF THESE DEVELOPERS TO KNOW WHETHER IT WAS SMART TO EXECUTE ON THEIR PROJECTS NOW.
MANY OF THEM WAITED HIM OUT SO THEY COULD BUILD HOUSING WHEN HE WASN'T IN THE WHITE HOUSE. I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO TWO DEVELOPMENTS I SUPPORTED AND ONE OF THEM IS A DISTRICT 8 DEVELOPMENT, BRAND NEW.
IT'S THE NRP'S PROJECT CALLED THE BALTHAZAR. YES, IT IS NAMED AFTER WALTER SERNA. I PROMISE IT IS AND THERE'S A STORY BEHIND THAT .
HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE LIVING THERE, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.
AND THE OTHER ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, I HELPED PUSH ACROSS THE LINE -- ERIK YOU WERE THERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING --T 38 OPERATED BY FRANKLIN HOUSING .
WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAD AN ECOSYSTEM WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS SUPPORTIVE OF PROJECTS LIKE THAT. AND SO WHEN YOU GOT A PRESIDENT OUT THERE SPIKING THE FOOTBALL AND SAYING I DELIVERED ON MY PROMISE TO KEEP POOR PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS -- BY THE WAY, LET'S NOT BE NAIVE.
POOR PEOPLE IS CODE FOR BROWN PEOPLE. IT'S REALLY SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S THIS PUBLIC CONVERSATION GOING ON RIGHT NOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND GET ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BUT AT WHAT EXPENSE? OUR VALUES? YOU KNOW, AT THE EXPENSE OF POOR PEOPLE? AND SO EVERY ONE OF US RAISED OUR RIGHT HAND AND WE SWORE FEALTY TO SAN ANTONIANS.
WE DIDN'T SWEAR FEALTY TO THE WHITE HOUSE OR GREG ABBOTT OR KEN PAXTON.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE SAYING, YOU WANT TO HEAR GOD LAUGH, WE GOT PLANS.
WE HAVE PLANS, VERY SOPHISTICATED AND ELEGANT BUT NOBODY AT THIS TABLE IS NAIVE ENOUGH TO THINK THAT THERE ARE ANYTHING BUT SHARP KNIVES WAITING FOR US AT THE WHITE HOUSE. SO I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC BUT I'M ALSO A PRAGMATIST.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG FOUR YEARS OF CRUELTY BUT IF WE CAN GET ANYTHING DONE IT WILL BE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT LAMAR, PHIL, WALTER, HANS UP IN D.C.
THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK. ANYWAY, THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. MY COMMENT WAS NOT THAT IT'S COINCIDENTAL WE'RE HAVING
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THE BRIEFING. THOSE KIDS ARE OUT THERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME THINGS WE ARE. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE OUT THERE.SO, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THE PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS ZACH AND GROUP FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO'S FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PRIORITIES. QUICK ANECDOTE BEFORE I DIVE INTO THE DETAILS.
IN 2017 I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL FOLLOWING THE SWEARING IN OF OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT. WHILE THE TEACHER AND I WENT INTO THE CLASSROOM TO COMPLETE THE LESSON, WHICH WE DID, RATHER THAN RECEIVING QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION AND THE CONTENT WE TAUGHT THE STUDENTS, THEIR PRIMARY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS AROUND IMMIGRATION AND PROTECTION FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND EVEN DOCUMENTED STUDENTS WHO WERE JUST AT-RISK AND CONCERNED WITH BEING REMOVED FROM THE CLASSROOM. A YEAR LATER I'M AT FOX TECH HIGH SCHOOL, A YEAR INTO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW IN THE CLASSROOM WHO STARTED SCHOOL WITH TWO PARENTS BUT NOW ONLY HAVE ONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DEPORTED. I HAVE SEEN THAT STRAIGHT A STUDENT GO FROM A C STUDENT AND GO FROM BEING OUTWARD TO INWARD. I AM EXTREMELY MOVED BY THE STUDENTS THAT ORGANIZED. THEIR WALK-OUT TODAY AND ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY TOO ARE GOING TO CHALLENGE THE RHETORIC THAT CAUSES HARM.
WHILE WE MAY NOT SEE THE INVESTMENT IN THE RESOURCES THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THEY'RE DEMONSTRATING TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE REST OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL NOT STAY SILENT AND THEY WILL HOLD THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURE WE WORK TOWARDS THE GOALS AND FUTURE THAT THEY DESERVE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, PART OF THE REASON I DECIDED NOT TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM IS YOU OFTEN SEE THE THINGS THAT STUDENTS LACK IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND ACCESS TO PARENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST ONE TO INCARCERATION.
MY QUESTIONS TODAY THAT I HAVE, GIVEN THOSE PRIORITIES AROUND HOUSING THAT WE'VE SEEN EVIDENT IN THE BUDGET SURVEYS, SALLY, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH ABOUT WHAT THE TREND IS WITH HOUSING AND HUD. DO WE AND SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLASHING OF FUNDING? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TYPICALLY IT REMAINS
THAT CONTEXT? >> BASURTO: YES, COUNCILWOMAN.
YOU'RE DEFINITELY RIGHT. IN PAST ROUNDS WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE OR THROUGH THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS HAS RECOMMENDED TO REDUCE DRASTICALLY FUNDS THAT BELONG TO HUD OR OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. CONGRESS HAS REJECTED THOSE PROPOSALS. SO AS CONGRESSMAN SMITH AND CONGRESSMAN VELA SAID, CONGRESS IS THE HOLDER OF THE PURSE.
I BELIEVE THAT WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR DELEGATION, OUR SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS, THAT MESSAGE WILL CONTINUE TO RESONATE IN CONGRESS.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, SALLY. I APPRECIATE THE CONTEXT AND THE SENTIMENT OF KILLING PROJECTS BUT THIS COUNCIL KILLED AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT. NOT THE PRESIDENT, THAT WAS THIS COUNCIL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US NOT TO PASS THE BUCK AND OWN OUR DECISIONS.
BUT IN TERMS OF HAZARDOUS PROTECTION, OF COURSE DISTRICT 5 IN PARTICULAR HAS EXPERIENCED A GROWTH IN THEIR FLOODPLAIN. SO ENSURING WE'RE INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY. I UNDERSTAND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ROLLED BACK A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS -- OR THEY INTEND TO, RATHER. CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES REMAIN IN
TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY? >> BASURTO: YES, COUNCILWOMAN. THERE ARE GRANTS THAT CONGRESS INCLUDES IN THEIR APPROPRIATION FUNDING CYCLES, LIKE THE BRICK GRANT UNDER FEMA AND OTHER FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS . THOSE GRANTS HAVE REMAINED CONSTANT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET CYCLES. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT CONGRESS WILL DO BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT BECAUSE THESE GRANTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE, THERE ARE
BIPARTISAN EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THESE GRANTS. >> CASTILLO: IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT -- I UNDERSTAND GOING AFTER INITIATIVES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THINGS LIKE OPPORTUNITY HOME TO HELP CREATE JOBS, WHETHER THEY'RE CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND ULTIMATELY HAVE NEW STOREFRONTS AND NEW INVESTMENT IN THRIVING COMMUNITIES. I'M A BIT CONCERNED THAT WHEN WE SEE OPPORTUNITY ZONES PLAY OUT OFTENTIMES THEY FACILITATE COMMUNITY DISPLACEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT.
I THINK JUST A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE NEED TO INITIATE BARRIERS AND BUFFERS OF PROTECTIONS FOR ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES SO THAT WAY THEY DON'T FEEL THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF WHAT OPPORTUNITY ZONES CAN HAVE FOR LOWER-INCOME
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COMMUNITIES, IN PARTICULAR. IN REGARDS TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, A PRIORITY FOR US IN DISTRICT 5 IS ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT WORKERS.I UNDERSTAND THIS PRESENTATION IS MORE ABOUT IDENTIFYING ALIGNMENT IN AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ADVOCATE FOR SAN ANTONIO WORKERS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ALIGNMENT BUT ALSO CHALLENGING ANY BILLS THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY ROLL BACK OSHA PROTECTIONS AND JUST PROTECTIONS THAT PROTECT OUR WORKERS. SO EVERYONE DESERVES RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND A SAFE WORK SPACE. SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL CONTINUE TO NOT SUPPORT ANY BILLS THAT MAY HAVE THOSE ROLLBACKS WITHIN THEM.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE AND THE LAYOUT THAT YOU LAID OUT FOR US, ERIK.
THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND I'M GRATEFUL WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CAUGHT UP TO SPEED ON WHAT CHANGES ARE TAKING PLACE. I APPRECIATE THE DASHBOARD THAT ATKINS GUMP ESTABLISHED. ULTIMATELY I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, A LOT OF FIRES TO PUT OUT BUT I'M HOPEFUL IN THE AREAS THERE IS ALIGNMENT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS BY BRINGING HOME THE INVESTMENT, WHETHER IT'S FOR INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY, PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS. ULTIMATELY I NEED TO BE SURE THAT I CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE US TO CHALLENGE ANY BILLS THAT ATTACK LABOR RIGHTS AND OF COURSE ATTACK OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK SALLY FOR BRIEFING MY TEAM AND I AND IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS OF
OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS, SALLY AND YOUR ENTIRE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM. WALTER, PHIL, LAMAR FOR NAVIGATING THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. YOUR JOB IS NEVER EASY BUT TIMES LIKE THESE WHEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE THROWN LIKE DARTS ON A WALL, IT SEEMS TO BE CREATING INTENTIONAL CHAOS AND IT'S EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
SO YOUR WORK IS ABSOLUTELY THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. SO, THANK YOU.
THE REALITY IS THAT EVERY DECISION MADE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL LANDS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN A BUBBLE.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN IMMUNE TO IT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MORE SO BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM LIKE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING ATTACKED. AND WHEN THOSE DECISIONS INCLUDE ELIMINATING LOW-INCOME HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WHEN THEY CREATE FEAR AND INSTABILITY THROUGH UNPREDICTABLE IMMIGRATION RAIDS, THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE DEVASTATING. OUR FAMILIES ARE LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT. WORKERS ARE DRIVEN FURTHER INTO THE SHADOWS AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES FACE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. SO THE ROAD AHEAD IS ALONG.
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU SHOWED THE FOCUS PLAN, THE SEVEN PILLARS.
AND I HEAR STAFF, ERIK, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO REVIEW PLANS AND THESE ARE GOOD. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY WE HAVE TO SORT OF KEEP OUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL. WE DON'T KNOW ALWAYS WHAT'S COMING.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR ECONOMY. THE HOME GRANT, THE CDBG, AND ESG GRANTS ARE UNDER ATTACK AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THAT.
ALSO JBSA'S MISSION. THEY CONTRIBUTED 242,000 DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS AND OVER $31 BILLION TO OUR ECONOMY. WE IS NOT MEETING DEMAND AND THAT DRIVES US PRICES FOR EVERYONE.
RENTERS, FIRST-TIME BUYERS, WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES.
ALL OF IT IS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN KEPT UP. INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH. WE MAY LOSE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS CAN BE PRICED OUT OF OUR OWN CITY AND IN FACT WE SAW IT JUST UP THE ROAD IN AUSTIN. THIS COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP UP WHERE OTHERS STEP BACK. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR POLICIES THAT CREATE AFFORDABILITY, CREATE HOUSING PRODUCTION, AND PROTECT THOSE BEING OUSTED. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE STAND AND WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE. I KNOW THAT'S A LOT ABOUT WHAT TODAY IS ABOUT. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO -- IT'S A ROLLING PROCESS, RIGHT? SO THESE TIMES ARE BEGGING FOR CLARITY AND DIRECTION AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE. WE HAVE TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS THAT BRING US THAT CLARITY. RIGHT NOW I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CLEAR ANSWERS BECAUSE WE'RE OPERATING IN SOME CHAOS BUT UNCERTAINTY IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR INACTION. WE HAVE TO SET THE DIRECTION, DEMAND TRANSPARENCY, AND MAKE SURE EVERY DECISION IS ROOTED IN WHAT'S BEST FOR SAN ANTONIO. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THINGS TO FALL INTO PLACE.
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WE HAVE TO ACT NOW TO CREATE THAT STABLE FUTURE FOR SAN ANTONIANS.I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. WE NEED AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITIES BUT IN THESE TIMES WE HAVE TO BE BETTER. WE HAVE TO FIGHT HARDER AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP STRONGER. AND SO WE HAVE TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS EVEN ABOUT OUR OWN ACTIONS, HOW WE'RE RESPONDING TO ICE RAIDS, WHAT POLICIES GUIDE OUR POLICE FORCE'S COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AGENTS.
WE OWE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT CLARITY. IN FACT, THERE'S A LARGE GROUP OF SAN ANTONIANS OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW DEMANDING THESE ANSWERS.
LET'S NOT FORGET WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO GETS PAID AND WHAT WAS PROMISED TO US OF COURSE WHAT'S OWED ON THE MRC. SO, SALLY, I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, MORE THAN USUAL. I OFFER MY ASSISTANCE.
I KNOW YOU'VE HAD SOME OF US TESTIFY IN DIFFERENT PLACES BEFORE.
I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND BE AWARE THAT A RANDOM DECISION IN WASHINGTON CAN AFFECT THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT EVERY DAY.
SO, AGAIN, I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS BLUEPRINT MOVING FORWARD.
IT KEEPS OUR PRIORITIES IN SAN ANTONIO FRONT AND CENTER AND THE SEVEN PILLARS YOU PRESENTED TODAY OFFER THAT BLUEPRINT. THEY'RE THE FOUNDATION THAT WE NEED TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS UNCERTAINTY AND ENSURE WE PROTECT THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY, COMMUNITIES, AND OUR FAMILIES. THANKS SO MUCH.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANKS AGAIN SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, SALLY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CONGRESSMAN SMITH AND CONGRESSMAN VELA FOR BEING WITH US AND WALTER AND THE ENTI Y'ALL'S EFFORTS IN HELPING SAN ANTONIO BECOME STRONGER. I WANT TO REITERATE MY COMMENTS FROM LAST WEEK. WE AS A CITY DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FACILITATING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE COUNTERPARTS DESPITE DIFFERENCES IN OPINION. THE GOAL IS AND ALWAYS SHOULD BE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING THERE. I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
SPECIFICALLY ON SLIDE 6 FOR THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
MELODY, YOU OR SALLY. I KNOW LAST WEEK WE HAD THE POINT IN TIME COUNT AND WE GET FEDERAL FUNDING BASED OFF THE METRICS WE SEE THERE.
ARE WE -- WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IF WE'RE AT RISK OF NOT RECEIVING FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR THAT. >> WE HAVEN'T REALLY RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THAT. THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FOR HOMELESSNESS IS EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT AND THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, WHICH IS PART OF THE CDBG PLAN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING OVERSEES. AND SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY NEWS EITHER WAY. WE ACTUALLY EXPECT THE CURRENT PLAN FOR 2025 TO GO FORWARD. I CAN TELL YOU WITH OUR HEAD START GRANT, WHICH IS OUT OF A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT BUT IT IS FEDERAL.
WE RECEIVED OUR NOTICE OF AWARD YESTERDAY SO WE FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT AND
HOPE WE SEE THAT WITH THE HUD PROGRAMS AS WELL. >> GAVITO: YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF NEWS ARTICLES AND I KNOW RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7 SEE AND FEEL IT. WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS. I KNOW WE AS A CITY RELY ON THAT FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP US ADDRESS OUR HOMELESSNESS ISSUE SO IT IS SOMETHING US COLLECTIVELY HAVE TO KEEP ON
TOP OF. >> WE'RE WATCHING THAT AND WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION OF HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. AND THEN SLIDE 9. SALLY, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE TO THE FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM. WHAT DO OUR EFFORTS LOOK
LIKE THERE? >> BASURTO: THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS IS A ROBUST GRANT UNDER FEMA AND IT ALLOWS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SUBMIT FOR FIRE STATION EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES EMERGENCY VEHICLES AS WELL. IT'S BEEN FUNDED REGULARLY THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S A COMPETITIVE GRANT AND IT'S HIGHLY SOLICITED. IT COMES DOWN TO THE NUMBERS. EVEN IF YOU SUBMIT A HIGHLY-QUALIFIED GRANT, THERE USUALLY IS MILLIONS OF UNFUNDED DOLLARS THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE OVER
[01:10:03]
SOLICITED AND SUBMITTED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PURSUE THESE PARTICULAR GRANTS FOR THOSE. AND YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE. WE'RE AT ABOUT $2.3 MILLION NOW ANNUAL ALLOCATION. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HOMELAND SECURITY AND FEMA THAT WE STAY ON THE TARGET LIST THAT ALLOWS US TO DRAWDOWN THOSE DOLLARS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. >> GAVITO: ALSO TO THE STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY GRANT PROGRAMS. WHAT ARE OUR EFFORTS THERE? ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN HELP PUSH THAT?
>> BASURTO: THE REASON WE ADDED THAT ONE IS THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ALLUDED THEY WANT TO PUT MONEY INTO CYBERSECURITY. AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE A MAJOR CYBER FOOTPRINT IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST THROUGH OUR MILITARY PARTNERS BUT THROUGH UTSA. WITH THE RECENT STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THAT THE GOVERNOR SPOKE ABOUT ON SUNDAY, THERE IS A STATE PROGRAM THAT THERE ARE NO DETAILS YET ANTONIO WILL BE PART OF THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS CYBER
COMMAND. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE IN HIGHLIGHTING SAN ANTONIO AND ALL OF OUR CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS.
I THINK THAT IS AN EFFORT WE NEED TO CAPITALIZE ON. LET'S SEE, ONE MORE COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SEE HOMER HERE AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THE DISTRICT 7 TEAM HAD WITH PARKS AND OTHERS TO GET THAT FEDERAL GRANT FOR WOODLAWN LAKE. THE RESIDENTS ARE SO EXCITED. WE'RE ALL SEEING NEW BABY TREES BUT WE'RE READY FOR ALL THE REST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED. ACTUALLY I WAS AT THE THUNDERBIRD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST NIGHT AND THEY'RE EXCITED AND WAITING . WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THAT DONE AND NOW WE JUST NEED TO GET THE FUNDING SECURED SO WE CAN MAKE ALL THE THINGS HAPPEN.
ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION. WE TALKED ABOUT THE REIMBURSEMENTS.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN THE CITY IS WAITING ON REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE MRC OR THE FEMA GRANT THAT YOU MENTIONED? HOW LONG DO WE WAIT? THAT'S A LOT OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT COULD BE USED ON A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE MRC AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, LIKE OUR RESPONSE TO COVID, OUR RESPONSE TO WINTER STORM URI, SOME OF THEM TAKE YEARS. FOR INSTANCE WHEN WE RESPONDED TO COVID, WE STEPH SECURED FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT VARIES. THOSE PROCESSES TEND TO BE LENGTHY.
WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH EITHER FEMA DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE
ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. SO IT VARIES, COUNCILWOMAN. >> GAVITO: HAS IT BEEN THE CASE THAT WE AREN'T REIMBURSED FOR SOME OF THE THINGS WE PUT OUR TAXPAYER
DOLLARS FOR? >> VILLAGOMEZ: VERY UNLIKELY THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I DON'T HAVE RECOLLECTION OF THAT HAPPENING.
THERE'S A PROCESS BY WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD DISALLOW COSTS BUT GOING OFF MEMORY I DON'T REMEMBER A TIME WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION.
>> GAVITO: I WOULD HATE FOR -- OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING INTO A BUDGET DEFICIT NEXT YEAR, I WOULD HATE FOR OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BE TIED UP IN THIS WAITING PROCESS BUT AS LONG AS WE'RE FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO GET THEM BACK.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SALLY AND THE TEAM'S WORK HERE. I FEEL LIKE EVERY TWO YEARS I FEEL SUPER SAD BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE JUST CONSTANTLY WORKING AND I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL GIVE SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. THANK YOU AGAIN FROM ALL OF US.
I DO ALSO WANT TO FOCUS ON THE LITECH AND THE NEW TAX PACKAGE THAT YOU ALL HAD REFERENCED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IN PARTICULAR IN SAN ANTONIO. AND SO I WANT TO RECALL THAT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WE TOOK A VOTE THAT VOTED AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
HAD WE KNOWN AT THE TIME I WONDER IF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED. POINT BEING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW SO WE SHOULD TAKE THE BEST EDUCATED DECISION. SOMETIMES THOSE ARE
[01:15:04]
DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST TAKEN BY CONSULTING WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES, BY CONSULTING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN TRYING TO SEE WHAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL GOING FORTH AND WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT COLLABORATION.THE KICKOFF MEETING WE HAVE FOR THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS GREAT WHEREWET ALL THE PARTNERS, UTSA, ALAMO COLLEGES, CPS ENERGY, AND EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE EXPERTS AT EVERYTHING AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL CREDIT FOR THAT. ALSO, ON THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, WOULD THAT MEAN THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE OPPORTUNITY ZONES TO BEYOND THE 20-SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE, SALLY? >> BASURTO: THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, COUNCILWOMAN.
WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WILL BE A FUTURE OPPORTUNITY WITH US.
ONE OF THE MAIN ARCHITECTS OF THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES -- IT WILL BE, AGAIN, IF PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. THERE'S DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE TAX AND MOMENTUM FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE TAX PACKAGE.
WE FORESEE THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT OBVIOUSLY THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL ALSO
PLAY A ROLE IN. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. THANK YOU.
I'M INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE OF COURSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITY ZONES, SEVERAL IN MY AREA, BUT IN PARTICULAR MAYBE EVEN FOCUSING IN ON HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES ZONES AND SO HOW WE TIE INTO THAT.
THE TAX EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BONDS, THE ADVOCACY FOR THAT.
HOW WOULD THE STATE'S PROPOSAL ON A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE ON BONDS AFFECT THAT? LIKE HOW DO WE NAVIGATE AROUND THOSE?
>> BASURTO: GREAT QUESTION. AS YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT CONCEPT IN HIS SPEECH ON SUNDAY. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
THERE ARE NO BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. THERE ARE NO PROPOSALS OUT THERE. WE DID SOME IMMEDIATE DIGGING.
I MADE SOME PHONE CALLS BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN TO SEE WHAT
THE ACTUAL PROPOSAL WILL LOOK LIKE. >> WALSH: DO YOU KNOW WHAT, COUNCILWOMAN? WE DID SOME DIGGING -- I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT SOUNDS -- WE DID SOME DIGGING INTO WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS REFERRING TO AND IT WAS NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT WAS THE HOUSTON FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT .
AND SO WE'VE GOT A GOOD SUMMARY THAT WE'LL SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL BY E-MAIL.
I THINK WHEN WE INITIALLY HEARD IT FROM THE GOVERNOR, I GUESS MY REACTION WAS GO LOOK AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAPPENED.
BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. BUT AN INTERESTING SCENARIO THERE AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD USE TO MAYBE GUIDE WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE
DON'T DO. >> GARCIA: I GUESS IN ANTICIPATING WHAT COULD HAPPEN, WHICH AGAIN WE NEVER KNOW. IF THIS IS ON THE TABLE, WHAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING A GREAT IDEA TO EXPAND IT BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME IS IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY, LET'S MOVE ON IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALSO, SALLY, I'M NOW ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND IT WAS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF MY INTEREST IN THE MUNICIPAL BONDS AND SO WE KIND OF GET REGULAR UPDATES ON THAT AND SO I KNOW THAT THE NLC IS ADVOCATING AT THAT LEVEL.
I FEEL LIKE ALMOST ONCE A WEEK WE GET AN UPDATE. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE SO FOCUSED ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE REALLY AS A CITY DEPEND ON BONDS.
AND SO A LOT OF OUR -- OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF OUR LOCAL COMPANIES DEPEND ON THE WORK THAT RESULTS FROM BONDS, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL KEEPING AT THE FOREFRONT. ALSO ON THE MILITARY PROTECTION, I APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON THAT. ERIK AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION JUST YESTERDAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO WRAP YOU INTO. IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND, AND ALSO WITH GENERAL AYALA IN THE BACK. MY OFFICE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESSMAN GONZALES' OFFICE AND HE IS READY AND WILLING TO HELP WITH WHATEVER IT IS, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE AIR FORCE BASE RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN ON -- WILL THE OFFICES -- I THOUGHT I HEARD THIS.
THE OFFICES SHOULD BE OR WILL NOT BE KIND OF SET BY MARCH? WHAT'S THE HIT AND MISS? I'M ASKING THIS IN REGARDS TO S.A. TO D.C.
IS IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT THE CITY IS MAKING TO TAKE A TRIP FROM S.A. TO D.C. AND POTENTIALLY SPEND SO MUCH MONEY IF THERE'S GOING TO BE NOT A WHOLE LOT READY TO GO.
>> BASURTO: THE STATUS IS PRACTICALLY EVERY SINGLE AGENCY HAS AN ACTING, HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIAL AT EACH OF THE AGENCIES. SO THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING EACH AGENCY RIGHT NOW. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S
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NOMINATIONS FOR CABINET MEMBERS ARE IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW AT THE SENATE.MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE THROUGH COMMITTEE APPROVALS ALREADY AND MANY OF THEM WILL GET APPROVED THIS WEEK. A COUPLE OF THEM WERE DONE LAST WEEK.
SO WE'RE TRACKING THAT CLOSELY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AKIN TOO.
IF I WERE TO GAMBLE I WOULD SAY THERE ARE GOING TO BE A GOOD NUMBER OF CABINET
MEMBERS IN PLACE BY MARCH . >> I THINK ANY TIME YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AS A GROUP AND ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND ALL THAT, THAT GOING TO D.C. IS WORTHWHILE BECAUSE JUST -- I SAY THIS TO ALL CLIENTS. IF YOU GO ONCE A YEAR, PEOPLE FORGET. IF YOU GO OVER THREE, FOUR MONTHS, WHETHER IT BE JUST A GROUP OF YOU, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT CONSTANT CONTACT.
I THINK NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS OR BUDGET
RECONCILIATION, WHATEVER, I WOULD FORGE AHEAD. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I USED TO HELP PLAN S.A. TO D.C. WHEN I WORKED AT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER. I KNOW THE VALUE. I UNDERSTAND.
BUT NEVER HAVE WE HAD SO MANY EXECUTIVE ORDERS COME OUT DAY AFTER DAY SO I WAS LEGITIMATELY ASKING WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE PROCESS OR HOW ARE WE -- I GUESS MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION ALSO FOR THE CHAMBER. HOW DO WE DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM OTHER TIMES? HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON? I LOVE YOUR TRACKER. IT'S BY SUBJECT LINE BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE
BUT I THINK JEFF WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. >> COYLE: I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD IN TERMS OF THE TRIP ITSELF. YOU KNOW, THE CHAMBER LARGELY SETS THE AGENDA FOR THOSE MEETINGS, BASED ON ALL THE ISSUE TEAMS THAT YOU AND ALL THE OTHER ATTENDEES CHOOSE. SO THEY'LL BE TRYING TO GET THOSE MEETINGS WITH KEY AGENCIES AND BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THEM.
IN TERMS OF KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON AND SORT OF PREPPING FOR THAT, I E-MAILED EACH OF YOU LAST WEEK. THERE'S THREE PLANNING MEETINGS THAT THE CHAMBERS HOSTS IN PREPARATION FOR THAT TRIP.
THE FIRST WAS LAST WEEK. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT THEY'RE THIS MONTH. SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU'RE GOING ON THE TRIP AND HAVE SELECT AN ISSUE TEAM, IF YOU YOURSELF CAN'T MAKE THE PLANNING MEETING, THEN TO HAVE YOUR STAFF GO AND MEET WITH THE ISSUE TEAM AND GET UP TO SPEED ON THE ISSUES. I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH WHAT CONGRESSMAN BELL HAS SAID, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE UP THERE REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. >> GARCIA: DID THEY PICK THE ISSUE TEAMS ALREADY?
DID THEY ASSIGN US TO ISSUE TEAMS? >> COYLE: YOU ALL ARE
SELECTING THEM. >> GARCIA: I SELECTED MY TOP FIVE.
>> COYLE: DID THEY CODIFY THAT, YOU'RE SAYING? I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GRANT WHAT YOU REQUEST. AND WE'VE GOT THEM FROM ABOUT HALF THE COUNCIL, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM EMILY. ONCE THE CHAMBER HAS THAT, THEY'LL KNOW WHAT TEAMS YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN. IN ADDITION TO THOSE PLANNING MEETINGS, WE HAVE ASKED THE CHAMBER TO HAVE THE ISSUE TEAM LEADS REACH OUT TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SELECTED THEIR TEAM SO ASIDE FROM THE PLANNING CONVERSATION THERE CAN BE A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ISSUES TO HELP
BRIEF YOU AND HAVE YOU READY TO GO. >> GARCIA: PERFECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. SALLY AND EVERYBODY, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
VERY INFORMATIVE. CONGRESSMAN SMITH HAD TO GO BUT I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS A THRILL TO HAVE HIM HERE. HE IS SORT OF SOMEBODY THAT GOT ME STARTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE OTHER WEEK THE OTHER SPEAKER JOE STRAUS I HAD AT ONE OF MY EVENTS AND THEN TO HAVE CONGRESSMAN SMITH HERE TODAY AND SEE THEM BOTH IN THE COURSE OF A WEEK, IT'S PRETTY NEAT FOR ME. LISTEN, I'LL REPEAT SOME OF WHAT I SAID LAST WEEK THAT THE DOOM AND GLOOM ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, FRANKLY I THINK IS OVERBLOWN AND REALLY NEEDS TO STOP.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, MORE AMERICANS VOTED FOR THIS PRESIDENT THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.
NOT ONLY IS THAT TRUE FOR US AS A NATION AS A WHOLE BUT EVEN HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY WE HAD 45% OF FOLKS VOTE FOR THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S PEOPLE IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. THAT'S ALMOST HALF OF OUR CITIZENS HERE IN THIS
[01:25:04]
COUNTY. TO ACT LIKE WE ARE UNDER ATTACK AND EVERYTHING COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. IS AGAINST WHAT ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WANT IS JUST SIMPLY INACCURATE IT'S WRONG AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN POWER IN AUSTIN AND REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I DON'T KNOW THAT I RECALL ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS BEING MADE CRITICIZING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.WE HAD A DISASTROUS WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN --
>> COURAGE: WHY DOES THIS KEEP TURNING INTO A POLITICAL SPEECH BY YOU?
>> WHYTE: IT'S NOT A POLITICAL SPEECH, JOHN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAS THE FLOOR AND HE WILL KEEP IT GERMANE.
>> WHYTE: IT'S VERY GERMANE AND THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO GET ALONG WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SOMEHOW WE'VE MANAGED TO PLAY NICE WITH THEM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND NOW IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IT'S LIKE WE WANT TO GO TO WAR WITH THEM. AND WHY? BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTY THAT NOW CONTROLS THE WHITE HOUSE. AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PARTY IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE OR WHAT POLITICAL PARTY CONTROLS AUSTIN.
WE GOT TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY AND WORK WHERE WE CAN TO DO THINGS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. YOU KNOW, WITH THAT SAID, I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THIS PRESENTATION THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO US AND WE LOOK AT THE OVER $300 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS THAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO BE RELYING UPON AND I THINK IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUBLICLY CRITICIZE THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK ON EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO AND THEN EXPECT THEM TO SEND GRANT MONEY HERE TO SAN ANTONIO LIKE WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING IN THE PAST. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND I LOOK AT A RECENT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ORDER FROM LAST WEEK AND IT TALKS ABOUT DOT SUPPORTED OR ASSISTED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GRANTS, LOANS, CONTRACTS, ET CETERA. AND IT LISTS FIVE CRITERIA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO LOOK AT WHEN DETERMINING WHO SHOULD GET SOME OF THE THOSE FUNDS. AND ONE OF THE CRITERIA IS, YOU KNOW, COMPLIANCE AND COOPERATION WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON IMMIGRATION AND OTHER ISSUES.
SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PLEDGING FEALTY TO THE WHITE HOUSE OR A PARTICULAR PRESIDENT, THIS IS ABOUT BEING SMART AND STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW WE ACT AND THE THINGS WE SAY SO THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE NEED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. AND YOU DON'T GO ABOUT THAT BY FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BY CRITICIZING THEIR EVERY MOVE. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. SO MY HOPE AND THE LAST WORD THAT I'M GOING TO SAY ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC IS JUST THAT LET'S BE SMART AND STRATEGIC. I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO LOVE EVERYTHING THEY DO.
I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO CHEER EVERYTHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT, PROMOTE IT, ET CETERA. BUT LET'S BE A LITTLE BIT SMARTER IN HOW WE DEAL WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAN WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS. BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO OUR CITIZENS TO GET ALONG WITH THE STATE, TO GET WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR CITIZENS. WE OWE IT TO OUR CITIZENS TO GET ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WITH THAT SAID, ERIK, MY QUESTION IS THERE'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WE RELY ON FOR SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS AND THAT ARE A PART OF OR AT
[01:30:02]
LEAST CONTEMPLATED IN SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES COULD BE AFFECTED, FROZEN, TAKEN AWAY, ET CETERA. THERE ARE OTHER CITIES OUT THERE, MINNESOTA BEING ONE OF THEM, WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING CLAUSES IN THEIR CONTRACTS THAT SAY IF THEIR CITY DOESN'T RECEIVE PARTICULAR FUNDS THAT THE CITY ISN'T OBLIGATED TO COMPLY WITH, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TERMS IN THE CONTRACT. DO WE LOOK AT ANYTHING LIKE THAT MOVING FORWARD?>> WALSH: YEAH. ACTUALLY, ANDY AND I SPOKE ABOUT ONE THAT WILL LIKELY BE COMING TO COUNCIL PROBABLY IN THE MARCH OR APRIL TIME-FRAME REGARDING A GRANT, AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NOTICE AND ALLOWANCES.
GENERALLY -- AND ANDY CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
BUT GENERALLY THERE'S LANGUAGE IN ALL THOSE CONTRACTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT BEING MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT IN CASE THAT HAPPENS.
>> L.>> SEGOVIA: YES, COUNCILMAN. MANY OF OUR CONTRACTS CONTAIN LANGUAGE THAT OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE CONTINGENT ON THIS COUNCIL APPROVING THE BUDGET AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING. WE CAN BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT IT BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN PLACE THAT ADDRESS THEM IN GENERAL AND WE CAN ADD SPECIFIC LANGUAGE TO PRETTY EASILY.
>> WHYTE: AND HAVE WE LOOKED AT -- HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THE PROGRAMS HERE THAT SPECIFICALLY RELY ON FEDERAL FUNDING AND PERHAPS AT LEAST STARTING TO CONTEMPLATE WAYS TO MAYBE SCALE THEM BACK SO THAT EITHER WE'RE LESS RELIANT ON
THE FEDERAL MONEY OR PROTECT OURSELVES IN OTHER WAYS? >> WALSH: NO, WE HAVEN'T.
AND THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO I THINK THE PART OF THE CONVERSATION DURING THE PRESENTATION. NOTHING'S CHANGED AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE $326 MILLION OF CAPITAL IN OPERATING DOLLARS.
ALL OF IT FOR CONGRESSIONALLY-APPROVED PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING ADMINISTERED. MOST OF THEM BEING -- WELL, PROBABLY ABOUT HALF AND HALF ALLOCATIONS BASED ON SOME CERTAIN FORMULA. AND THE OTHER HALF BASED ON AWARD OF GRANT APPLICATIONS. WILL IT CHANGE POTENTIALLY GOING FORWARD? THAT'S THE POINT I THINK PHIL AND LAMAR MADE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF FUTURE BUDGETS THAT ARE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT. BUT, NO, WE'RE NOT MAKING THOSE ASSUMPTIONS RIGHT OW.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOLLOW THROUGH, MUCH TO YOUR COMPLIANCE POINT. WE HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR GRANT ASSURANCES THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTE CAPITAL PROJECTS OR OPERATING DOLLARS AND PROGRAMS. AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER THOSE AS AWARDED UNTIL TOLD OTHERWISE. AND AT THIS POINT WE'VE NOT
BEEN TOLD THAT. >> WHYTE: OKAY. I'LL -- MY NEXT QUESTION WAS SORT OF TIED TO THAT ABOUT LOOKING AT FEDERAL PROGRAMS, FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAMS HERE THAT HAVE UNDERPERFORMED OR MAYBE COULD BE RESTRUCTURED, YOU KNOW, TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY. BUT I GUESS WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET
EITHER. >> WALSH: NO, WE HAVEN'T. ANY FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT AREN'T MEETING OR THAT AREN'T EFFICIENT OR NOT HITTING TARGETS, WE'RE GENERALLY NOT GOING TO GET THE FUNDING IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS OR WE'RE GOING TO GET A DECREASE OR
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGETS. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. THANKS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE JUST HEARD A LOT.
WHY I RAN WAS TO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN PROUDER OF MY COMMUNITY THAN I WAS TO WITNESS WHAT I DID EARLIER TODAY.
TEN YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE MARCHED.
THEY WOULD HAVE WAITED FOR THE CLASS AND ASKED THE QUESTION OF THE TEACHERS.
TODAY THEY MARCHED. THEY WALKED OUT AND THEY CAME TO CITY HALL TO SEND A MESSAGE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR HISTORY AND THEY REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION FIRST CAME ON BOARD. AND THE FEAR. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS ISN'T ABOUT IMMIGRATION ISSUES, THIS IS ABOUT MEXICANS.
THIS IS ABOUT BROWN PEOPLE AND THE FACT THAT THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION DOES
[01:35:01]
NOT LIKE THEM. AND 45% IS NOWHERE NEAR 50%. NOWHERE NEAR 50.1, WHICH IS NEEDED TO WIN THIS SEAT. SO THAT RHETORIC AND TALK IS FALSE.THIS COUNTY, THESE RESIDENTS HAVE MADE A CLEAR MESSAGE AND THEY WANT -- THEY LIKE SAN ANTONIO THE WAY THAT IT IS AND THEY WANT TO SEE GROWTH AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND THIS WAS A STEP FORWARD. BECAUSE IF A HIGH SCHOOLER CAN KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT SOMEONE SAYS AND WHAT SOMEONE MEANS, WHICH MEANS THEY WANT YOU TO LIVE IN FEAR AND COME OUT AND MARCH, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THEY COULD HAVE A COUNCILPERSON CALL ICE AND ASK THEM TO COME AND DO A CHECK.
BUT THEY CAME. SO THEY MARCHED AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO FEDERALLY. AND I WANT TO THANK THE GROUPS WE'VE HIRED BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T COME IF YOU GUYS HADN'T MADE THE PROGRESS YOU HAVE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OVER THE LAST DECADE. AND THIS COUNCIL WOULDN'T CONSIST OF THE WAY IT CONSISTS AND THE VOICES IT CONSISTS IN IF WE HADN'T BEEN USING OUR VOICES AND MAKING THIS MESSAGE CLEAR. WHAT'S AT RISK? WE TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, NOT EXECUTIVE ORDERS MADE ON A WHIM BY TWO FRIENDS. BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TWO PRESIDENTS RIGHT NOW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN HAS THE FLOOR AND SHE WILL
REMAIN GERMANE TO THE ITEM. >> VIAGRAN: THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE GO UP FEDERALLY.
AND YOU WANT TO SAY -- THIS IS POLITICS. THIS IS WHY WE WERE ELECTED.
AND IT'S NOT PARTISAN IF YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE POPULATION THAT LIVES HERE, WHICH IS PRIMARILY MEXICAN AMERICAN. AND DIVERSE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, PLEASE ADDRESS THE ITEM.
>> VIAGRAN: SO, WITH THAT SAID -- AND I WANT TO THANK THE GROUP THAT -- WE STILL HAVE THE REGULAR ITEMS TO BE THERE. AND BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE FIRST TERM, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO COME BACK TO US AND NOT HEAD TOWARDS STATES THAT THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION FINDS MORE FAVORABLE, IE FLORIDA. SALLY, DO WE KNOW? DO WE HAVE A COMPARISON OF WHAT FUNDING FLORIDA GOT DURING THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION?
>> BASURTO: WE DON'T, COUNCILWOMAN. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE STATES THAT HE FAVORS AND RIGHT NOW I DO NOT SEE TEXAS BEING A STATE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION CURRENTLY FAVORS WITH THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE ORDERS REGARDING MEXICO AND TARIFFS. SO DO WE HAVE ANYONE DOING DEEP DIVES INTO WHAT, IF A TARIFF IS IMPLEMENTED, WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THE
BUSINESSES WITHIN TEXAS AND SOUTH TEXAS, IN PARTICULAR? >> BASURTO: THE TARIFFS EXECUTIVE ORDER IS VERY RECENT AND I KNOW THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, ARE REVIEWING THAT AS WELL AS OUR AKIN TEAM. WE CAN DEFINITELY REPORT BACK TO YOU ONCE THERE'S A
SUMMARY ON IT . >> VIAGRAN: WE'RE ALSO GOING TO NEED THE IMPACT OF A DAY
>> BASURTO: NO. NOT THAT I AM AWARE. >> VIAGRAN: THERE ARE BUSINESSES WITHIN SAN ANTONIO THAT I THINK WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THAT IF ANY OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS GAIN TRACTION WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ECONOMY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND -- WELL, SOUTH TEXAS AND TEXAS, IN PARTICULAR.
AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS ONE. THE ENERGY INDUSTRY IS ANOTHER. AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SEVERE FINANCIAL LOSSES FOR US. I DO NOT SEE THE FUNDS, IF WE DO NOT COLLECTIVELY, AS TEXANS, WHETHER YOU SIT ON WHATEVER AISLE YOU SIT ON, START ASKING FOR OUR DOLLARS BACK, WE WILL BE IN A DEFICIT.
AND THAT IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AS WE LOSE WORKERS.
[01:40:06]
SO AS SOON AS WE HEAR, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT -- IF THE TARIFFS INCREASE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE -- NEED TO BE SUBSIDIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED BACK.SO IF WE COULD COORDINATE ON OUR STATE SIDE IN TERMS OF MAYBE NOT -- MAYBE ASKING FOR MORE BACK TO SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS COMING IN. BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC POPULATION THAT HE'S TARGETING AND THAT'S A POPULATION THAT WORKS THROUGHOUT THIS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, MY FEAR IS HOUSING COSTS WILL GO UP OR EITHER SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF OUR LABOR FORCE.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST A LABOR FORCE, THESE ARE OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT TEXAS, AS A STATE, CERTAIN STATES WANTING TO BE PREPARED. SO WHEN WE HEAD UP TO S.A. TO D.C., I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE TALK WITH NLC AND SEE WHAT OTHER STATES ARE FACING.
AND THE OTHER IS OUR STATES THAT PROVIDE OUR GROCERIES AND INTO OUR MARKETS AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTING OUR GROCERY STORE, WHICH WE REALLY ONLY HAVE H-E-B.
SO IF WE COULD MAYBE MEET WITH THEIR LOBBY TEAM TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THEY'RE DOING. I KNOW CURRENTLY THE COURTS HAVE PUT A STOP AT THAT BUT SOME OF IT'S GOING TO GET THROUGH IN TERMS OF TARIFFS AND WHAT IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE. BECAUSE IT IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO FILTER DOWN TO OUR RESIDENTS. SO THANKSO YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK. AKIN, SERNA AND SERNA, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE. I'M GLAD YOU ARE TRACKING IT.
I WOULD, MAYOR AND ERIK, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS MARCH TODAY THAT WE LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WE'RE MONITORING THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS. I KNOW OUR MAYOR IS JUST DYING TO GET BACK ON TELEVISION AND GIVE MONTHLY AND WEEKLY REPORTS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE TO COME AND SEE BECAUSE THE PASSION AND THE FEAR OF THESE STUDENTS WAS REAL AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. BECAUSE THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH THAT I WILL SAVE FOR MAYBE MY SECOND ROUND.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
MUCH DIFFERENT KIND OF CRISIS WE'RE DEALING WITH. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER. I'M GOING TO USE THOSE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN BECAUSE AS WE CONTINUE, AS THE MAYOR SAID, CONTINUE BUSINESS AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT UNTIL WE CAN'T. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO REALLY HIT ME HARD WITH HER WORDS IN TERMS OF HOW THE STUDENTS REALLY IMPACT US AND THEY REALLY IMPACT ME TOO. WE WERE IN A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OTHER CITIES THAT CHANGED THE WORK THEY DO BY FRAMING IT FOR WHAT THE OUTCOMES WOULD BE FOR KIDS.
AND I THINK OFTEN ABOUT HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE CONVENIENT FOR ADULTS BUT NOT NECESSARILY WHAT'S BEST FOR THE KIDS' FUTURE AND HEARING THEIR WORDS, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SIGNS I SAW WHEN I WAS WALKING AROUND OF STUDENTS WHO ARE -- WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+ AND THE GIRL THAT STOOD UP THERE AND SAID THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH MY BODY. THOSE ARE MOVING STATEMENTS.
WHAT WOULD OUR WORLD BE LIKE IF IT WERE RUN BY KIDS? PROBABLY MUCH MORE JUST.
BUT ALL THAT TO SAY I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT WE DO HEAR WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IN TERMS OF OUR JOB IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THEM. AND SOMETIMES JUST ALLOW THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD EVEN LOUDER. THANK YOU TO AKIN GUMP FOR THIS TRACKER.
I HAVE BEEN OVER HERE NERDING OUT ON ALL OF THE LINKS AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED. IT'S VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER. EASY TO READ, SYNTHESIZED.
THE ONE THING -- I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT WEREN'T BROUGHT UP. ONE OF THEM WAS THE RETURN TO WORK ORDER.
WOULD THAT TAKE AN EFFECT FOR ANY OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES? OKAY. THAT'S ONLY FOR FEDERAL. IS THAT ONLY FOR FEDERAL?
[01:45:02]
>> WALSH: YES, MA'AM. >> KAUR: JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
THE OTHER ONE THAT I SAW ON THERE WAS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ONE.
WOULD THAT IMPACT ANY OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH METRO
HEALTH? >> WALSH: WELL, WHEN I WAS TALKING, REMEMBER I SAID THAT THERE WAS, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WE'RE SEEING SOME IMPACT ON RESOURCES AVAILABLE. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M GOING TO LOOK BACK AT CLAUDE.
SOME WE REFERENCE BACK TO THE CDC WEBSITE OR RESOURCES ONLINE.
MANY OF THAT STUFF IS TAKEN DOWN AT THIS POINT. BUT I'M HOPING, AND, CLAUDE, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP, THAT THAT'S BECAUSE OF THIS INTERIM PERIOD WE'RE IN.
AT SOME POINT THAT WILL OPEN BACK UP. DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ONGOING RIPPLE EFFECTS. WE DO RECEIVE SOME DIRECT FUNDING.
MOST OF THE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE ARE PASS-THROUGHS. REGARDING THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND RESTRICTIONS WITH THE CDC, IN PARTICULAR, WHETHER IT'S WEBSITES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN, THE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE DATA SETS.
WE'RE JUST ASSESSING HOW THAT PLAYS OUT DAY-TO-DAY. CLEARLY, GIVEN THE IMPACTS OF COVID, WE PAY A LOT MORE ATTENTION TO HOW DISEASES ARE TRANSMITTED AROUND THE GLOBE. WE'RE KEEPING OUR EAR TO THE GROUND AND PAYING ATTENTION
TO ANY OTHER GUIDANCE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CLAUDE.
JUST TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT ISSUE, SALLY, REALLY FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AND THE CONTINUED WORK. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS REALLY EXCITED WHEN WE GOT THAT FACILITY THAT WAS JUST OPENED BUT WE NEED TONS MORE OF THOSE.
AS MUCH SUPPORT AS WE CAN GET IN THAT AREA. THE OTHER SPECIFIC AREA THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS HOUSING. WHEN WE DID GO TO S.A. TO D.C. LAST TIME, IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE LITECH CONVERSATIONS AND LITECH IS AN AREA THAT IS BIPARTISAN AND GETS SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES.
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THOSE AREAS THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR, EVEN MORE VETERAN HOUSING. THE HOUSING TRUST JUST PUT FORWARD A DEAL IN COUNCILMAN PELAEZ'S DISTRICT TO SUPPORT MORE VETERAN HOUSING. I THINK THOSE ARE WINS, TRYING TO FIND THE PURPLE LINING IN ALL OF THIS. THE NEXT QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ON PAUSED ORDERS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A PAUSED ORDER?
>> COUNCILWOMAN, I ASSUME THE PAUSE IS WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE TRACKER.
FORTUNATELY FOR US THE AKIN TRACKER NOT ONLY LISTS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT IT ALSO LISTS THE STATUS. AND SO YOU WILL SEE PAUSE WHEN IT'S BEEN AFFECTED BY OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE PREVENTED IT FROM GOING INTO EFFECT.
>> KAUR: SUCH AS LITIGATION. >> SUCH AS LITIGATION OR
RESCISSION OR SOMETHING OTHER. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.
THERE WERE SOME ON THERE, THEY WERE SOME IMPORT TAXES FOR MEXICO AND CANADA
SHOWING UP AS PAUSED. >> THOSE ARE THE TARIFFS. >> KAUR: OKAY.
THOSE WOULD BE REALLY, I THINK, DEVASTATING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT MIGHT BE FOR CITY STAFF AND JUSTINA. I NOTICED THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, $300 MILLION-PLUS IN FUNDING.
DO WE CREATE A BACKUP PLAN IN THE EVENT WE LOSE 50% OF IT? WHAT KIND OF DISASTER PLANNING, I GUESS, DO WE DO IN THAT SENSE?
>> WALSH: WELL, NOTHING'S CHANGED. NOW, AND IT'S UNLIKELY ANYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE THROUGH THIS PERIOD. I'M JUST, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. NOW TWO YEARS FROM NOW AS WE'RE DEVELOPING PROPOSALS FOR AIRPORT GRANT FUNDING OR MATTERS LIKE THAT, THE REQUIREMENTS COULD CHANGE.
NOW, ITEMS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THE HEAD START -- AND I'LL ASK MELODY TO COME UP.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THAT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE NOT JUST FOR US BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'RE NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN A LARGE CITY. THE MAJORITY COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> KAUR: THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION. PERFECT.
WILL YOU TELL US WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR HEAD START? >> 100% OF OUR FUNDING FOR HEAD START COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S THAT WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO REDUCTION IN THE GRANT WOULD REDUCE THE
[01:50:01]
NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED. ELIMINATION OF THE GRANT WOULD REDUCE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT GOES TO CHILDREN THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS, EVEN SOME PRIVATE CHILDCARE FACILITIES OFFER HEAD START.IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S OFFERED BY GENERALLY BY NONPROFITS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> KAUR: I DON'T KNOW. I WAS JUST IDEATING. WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT PRE-K 4 SA COULD TAKE ON FOR STUDENTS IN THE INTERIM? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE AFFECTED BY THAT. SO OUR GRANT IS ABOUT $30 MILLION AND SO THAT WOULD BE STEEP. AND SOME ARE WITH THE CHILDCARE BLOCK GRANT. WE DO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, THAT'S THE $117 MILLION GRANT SERVES 20,000 CHILDREN A YEAR. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
PICK THAT UP. >> KAUR: OKAY. THERE WAS ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT'S A PART OF THE SOLAR ORGANIZATIONS THAT CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THERE'S SOME MONEY SITTING IN ESCROW AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO EXECUTE.
DO WE HAVE ANY CONTEXT ON THAT? IS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL FOLLOW-UP QUESTION? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, ERIK?
>> WALSH: IS IT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE?
>> KAUR: OH, I DON'T KNOW. >> WALSH: HE GRABBED ME AS I WAS WALKING IN.
I DON'T SEE HIM IN THE AUDIENCE ANYMORE BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ISSUE HE WAS RAISING. THE QUESTION IS, JUST FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL SOLAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FINANCED WITH LOWER ELECTRICITY COSTS INSTALLATION OF THE MUNICIPAL SOLAR PROGRAM. THERE'S AN ELEMENT THAT IS TIED TO A TAX CREDIT THAT WAS PART OF OUR FINANCING AND PART OF THE DEAL THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE COORDINATE WITH THEM TO KEEP THAT PROJECT ON TRACK. AND IF WE NEED TO MAKE -- I THINK ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID EARLIER WE NEED TO STAY NIMBLE AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
I HAD A SHORT CONVERSATION AS I WAS WALKING INTO THE BUILDING WITH HIM.
>> KAUR: THAT WAS A BIG WIN FOR US LAST YEAR WHEN WE PASSED THAT.
AND IT PUT US ON THE MAP. WE WERE NUMBER ONE FOR THAT PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE.
SO I WOULD SAY -- WE ALL SUPPORTED IT SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR US TO GET SOME OF THAT WORK EXECUTED. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I THINK COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA SAID THIS BEAUTIFULLY.
LANGUAGE DOES MATTER AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT FROM THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED OR LACK OF STATEMENTS, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE ARE ALL HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS BUT -- AND I KNOW IT IS A TRICKY BALANCE OF TRYING TO REMAIN IN PARTNERSHIP TO GET THINGS DONE BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO AT LEAST PUT OUT SOME LANGUAGE THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY LITERALLY STOOD UP THERE AND SAID SAPD IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU IF ICE COMES TO YOUR HOUSE. I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO TELL PEOPLE WE ARE -- SORRY. I'M FINISHING MY THOUGHT. JUST WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH LANGUAGE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT WHERE OUR VALUES ARE.
WHATEVER THE WAY THAT LOOKS. I CHALLENGE US ALL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CONCUR WITH COUNCILWOMAN KAUR'S SENTIMENTS.
I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING ERIK FOR AMENDING THE LANGUAGE FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM POSTING TODAY TO INCLUDE NOT JUST THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM BUT A FEDERAL OVERVIEW. I THINK IT MAKES OUR REACTIONS AND FEEDBACK TO THE ACTION THAT WE SAW FROM OUR YOUNG CONSTITUENTS OUTSIDE GERMANE TO THIS CONVERSATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- SO I GOT TO SIT OUT AND I LISTENED TO THE ENTIRE DEMONSTRATION AND SOME THINGS STUCK OUT TO ME.
YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME STUDIES CONDUCTED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT SHOW THAT OUR YOUTH ARE HURT BY THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF POLITICAL LEADERS AT STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL LEVEL. AND STUDENTS COMMIT SUICIDE BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE A FUTURE WHERE THEY ARE LOVED AND PROTECTED AND VALUED BY THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
AND IT'S OUR DUTY TO CREATE THAT WORLD. THEY WANT TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER OUR DEAD BODIES WILL SAPD ENDANGER OUR RESIDENTS BY COLLABORATING WITH ICE. THEY WILL NOT CREATE DANGER IN OUR SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY. THEY WANT TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAND WITH OUR TRANS AND OTHER LGBTQ+ YOUTH, THAT WE'LL KEEP THEIR CLASSROOMS FREE FROM THE THREAT OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, INCLUDING PREVENTING GUNS FROM BEING PLACED IN
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SCHOOLS, INTO TEACHERS' CLASSROOMS. I KNOW THAT SO MUCH OF THAT IS NOT THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ANYWHERE AND SPECIFICALLY NOT HERE.BUT WHAT ROLE CAN WE PLAY IN ENSURING THAT THEY KNOW THAT'S WHERE OUR VALUES ARE AND THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEM AND TO MAKE THOSE THINGS TRUE THAT WE WILL DO THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE RANDOM PRESS CONFERENCES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE, THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH ICE, ALL OF THESE THINGS THEY'RE SENDING THE STATEMENTS FROM DEPARTMENTS, I THINK THEY'RE SENDING MESSAGES THAT DON'T MAKE A COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE OR HEARD. AND SO TODAY WE HEARD FROM STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR INNOCENCE TAKEN FROM THEM. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. AND I REMEMBER BEING A HIGH SCHOOLER AND NOT BEING NEARLY AS ENGAGED AND NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS. AND IT REALLY SHOULD HURT EVERYONE'S HEART THAT THERE ARE 10, 11, 12, 13, 14-YEAR-OLDS OUTSIDE MISSING SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT COMING HOME AND ONE OF THEIR PARENTS NOT BEING THERE. AND WE HEARD FROM BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS STUDENTS.
WE HEARD FROM STUDENTS OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, TRANS, AND OTHER LGBTQ YOUTH.
WE HEARD FROM FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES, VISIBLE OR NOT VISIBLE.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ALL HAVE COMMITTED TO REPRESENTING.
I KNOW OUR HEART IS VERY MUCH WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE THINGS THEY WANTED TO SAY. IN OUR HEARTS WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT BUT THAT HAS TO TRANSLATE TO ACTION AND IT HAS TO TRANSLATE TO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
OFTEN I FEEL LIKE RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT ENOUGH. THEY'RE NOT QUITE THE SAME THING AS AN ORDINANCE. BUT MAYBE IN THIS CONTEXT A RESOLUTION THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, THAT OUR CONCERN IS THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES BEHIND IN THIS MOMENT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SACRIFICE THEM SO THAT WE CAN BUILD BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH ABBOTT AND TRUMP. THERE'S NOT A WORLD IN WHICH THAT HAPPENS. THERE'S REALLY NOT. YOU KNOW, 45% DOES NOT WIN YOU AN ELECTION IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THOSE OF US WHO ARE SPEAKING TO THIS ISSUE ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING THAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS DOING. I WILL SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY RELIES ON STEADY, CONSISTENT INFORMATION AND I THINK WHAT WE HEARD FROM -- I WAS VERY CONCERNED BY THE STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED BY SAPD.
I KNOW THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT A SANCTUARY CITY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE RUNNING AFOUL OF ANY LAW. BUT WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH ICE, IT DOESN'T MAKE CLEAR IN WHAT CAPACITY ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING THAT. ARE WE GOING TO BE USING THE VERY LIMITED POLICE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO REDUCE OUR RESPONSE TIMES. WE DON'T HAVE -- UNTIL WE GET AN OFFICER ON EVERY STREET CORNER, THE COMMUNITY IS APPARENTLY NOT GOING TO FEEL SAFE AND WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR SAPD TO DO THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO.
ARE WE GOING TO BE USING THOSE LIMITED AND FINITE RESOURCES TO BE CARRYING OUT TRUMP'S AGENDA? PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR THAT WE'RE NOT.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE CONSIDER A RESOLUTION THAT WE MAYBE COORDINATE SOME LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND THAT IS CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE. BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO US TO LEAD AND TO STAND WITH THEM IN THIS MOMENT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I THINK ALL OF US UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO LISTEN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE NEED TO TAKE WHAT WE HEAR FROM THEM AND USE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO. I THINK THAT A LOT OF US HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING, COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON ANY KIND OF RESTRUCTURING OR
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RECONFIGURING DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND A LOT OF THAT AFFECTS THE CITY BECAUSE WE RECEIVE $325 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY CONGRESS AND THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.I GET CONCERNED IF I FEEL LIKE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS MAKING NEW LAW.
BUT I THINK IT'S UP TO CONGRESS TO GO AHEAD AND STEP UP AND SAY WHETHER OR NOT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS EXECUTING THOSE LAWS BASED ON THE WAY CONGRESS APPROVED THEM. AND I'M SAYING THIS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON OUR AGENDA, YES, I THINK SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT DEPARTMENT HEADS ABOUT AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO SAN ANTONIO. BUT MORE SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE TALKING TO OUR ELECTED LEGISLATORS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO CREATED THE LAWS.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SET THE PARAMETERS. THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES TO MAKING SURE THAT ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON THOSE LAWS MEETS THE LAWS THAT WERE PASSED BY CONGRESS AND DON'T END UP BEING SO MODIFIED THAT THEY'RE CREATING LAWS OF THEIR OWN, SO TO SPEAK. SO I WOULD SUGGEST TO OUR TEAM THAT IS GOING TO BE IN WASHINGTON THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATORS STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN CREATING THESE LAWS AND ENSURING THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS CARRYING THEM OUT THE WAY THE LAWS WERE INTENDED TO BE CARRIED OUT.
I SAY U. >> COURAGE: I SAY THE SAME THING TO OUR COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE PLANNING TO GO TO WASHINGTON. I'VE FN THERE, I'VE GONE ON SA TO D.C. TRIPS, AND I CAN RECALL A COUPLE OF THEM WHEN WE SAT IN DURING AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE AND THE PEOPLE WE WERE MEETING WITH SAID, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING, THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
NEW PEOPLE COMING IN, NEW PRESIDENT, NEW IDEAS. AND SO WE SAT THERE AND TALKED FOR 20, 30 MINUTES, AND WHAT WE WALKED AWAY WITH WAS, WELL, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.
WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO AND TO LAY OUT OUR AGENDA AND TO LET THEM KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO US, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO GO AND TALK WITH OUR CONGRESSPEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOING TO HELP TO PUSH THOSE THINGS THROUGH, AND THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACCOUNTABLE FOR LIVING UP TO THE LAWS THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN WRITTEN AND NOT RECREATING THEM THE WAY THEY PERCEIVE THE LAWS SHOULD OPERATE. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, AS COUNCILMEMBERS, CAN DO. I'VE ALREADY WRITTEN TO MY SENATOR ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK JUST SEEM TO BE WAY OFF BASE, AND SO I SAID, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE LIVING UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS AS MY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE? AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE, SO THAT WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WHEN CONGRESS HAS APPROVED FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAPROGRAMS THAT THIS CITY IS PROVIDING, THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR BECAUSE AN EXECUTIVE MEMBER THINKS WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND THAT MONEY THAT WAY ANYMORE.
I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. AND SO I GUESS I'LL SAY TO ERIK, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TIME FRAMES THAT WE RECEIVE FEDERAL DOLLARS ALMOST ANNUALLY EVERY -- THIS QUARTER MONEY COMES IN FOR THIS PROGRAM, MONEY COMES IN FOR THIS PROGRAM, BASED ON WHEN WE'VE ASKED, WHEN THEY'RE APPROVED, WHEN THEY DELIVER.
AND I'M SURE AS OF TODAY, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DEPARTMENT SAY WE'RE NOT SENDING YOU YOUR MONEY, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THOSE TIME FRAME, AND WE NEED TO BE HEARING IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE ARE DELAYS IF FUNDING ISN'T COME ACROSS THE WAY IT USUALLY DOES. AND RESPONDING THAT SAYING, IS THIS SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY OR IS THIS SAYING WE NEED TO WAIT AN EXTRA SIX MONTHS SO WE'VE GOT DIRECTION ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BENEFITING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE AND HOW IT'S EXECUTED. AND I'M REALLY RELYING ON ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE
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536 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE LAWS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT CORRECTLY, EXECUTED CORRECTLY, AND THAT THE PEOPLE RECEIVE THE BENEFITS THAT CONGRESS HAS GRANTED. THANK YOU.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENTS, RIGHT, AND WE NEED TO GET ALONG, RIGHT. IT'S THE ONE THING THAT YOU NEVER TELL A BATTERED WOMAN. YOU NEED TO GET ALONG WITH YOUR ABUSER. YOU NEED TO LAY BACK AND LET IT HAPPEN BECAUSE IF YOU COMPLAIN, IT MIGHT MAKE IT COME ACROSS AS UNGRATEFUL TO YOUR ABUSER. YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE EVERYTHING THAT YOUR ABUSER DOES TO YOU, BUT, REMEMBER, HE PAYS THE RENT AND IF HE SEES YOU GET TO UPPITY, HE MIGHT RETALIATE. HE'LL RIGHTFULLY SAY, LOOK AT WHAT YOU MADE ME DO. THAT'S THE WE NEED TO GET ALONG ARGUMENT, AND IT'S GROSS. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN SAID A COUPLE DAYS AGO THAT WE ARE A DO DONOR CITY.
WE LITERAT LITERALLY WRITE CHECKS AND SEND THEM UP TO.
WE DON'T GET GRANTS. THEY'RE NOT GIFTS, RIGHT? IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS BE RETURNED TO US, AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS BE RETURNED TO US, THE WAY THAT THEY IN ME MOREIUM. AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH NAMING A PROBLEM. AND AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS THREATENED TO CUT OFF FUNDING TO NONPROFITS, LIKE THE FOOD BANK, HAVEN FOR HOPE, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, AND CITIES, AND THAT THOSE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS, RIGHT, AND THEN TO SAY, I'M JUST NOT GOING TO SEND THEM UNTIL I'M GOOD AND READY, THAT'S GROSS. THAT'S NOT OKAY. IT'S EQUALLY NOT OKAY FOR, YOU KNOW -- FOR US TO WATCH OUR STATE LEADERS EITHER CHEERING IT ON, OR EVEN WORSE, WITH, YOU KNOW, EVIDENT LACK OF CONCERN, JUST WATCH IT HAPPEN. AND SO, YEAH, THERE'S A DEBATE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. SHOULD WE JUST GET ALONG? AND IT'S STUPEFYING TO HEAR SOMEONE SUGGEST THAT WE NEED TO KEEP ALL THOSE CONCERNS IN OUR HEAD. DON'T SAY THEM OUT LOUD AND DON'T SAY THEM IN POLITE COMPANY BECAUSE WE RISK THE FUNDS BEING DENIED TO US.
AND THAT -- YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT SUFFICIENTLY OBPSYCHOUS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DENIED TO US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TREATING OUR ABUSER LIKE A SAY SACRED COW. THERE ARE NO SACRED COW. AND LUCKILY THIS CITY COUNCIL, AT LEAST AS I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT FOR THE LAST THREE DECADES, HAVE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM BLOWING THE WHISTLE AND SAYING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THREATENS THE RESILIENCE AND THE ABILITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS TO THRIVE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF I TOOK THIS ADVICE OF JUST GET ALONG, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT OR ELSE WE RISK ANGERING SOMEBODY IF THEY GET THEIR THIN SKIN BRUISED, I WOULD RIGHTFULLY BE ACCUSED BY MY CONSTITUENTS OF BEING OBSCENELY COWARDLY IN THE FACE OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT. AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT.
SO THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, BEFORE COUNCILMAN COURAGE CRIES FOUL, THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS NOT A NOVEL DOCUMENT. THIS IS WHAT WE PUBLISH EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE AND EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL BEFORE US HAS PUBLISHED A SIMILAR DOCUMENT. EVERY SUNG L SINGLE ONE THAT SAYS THE CITY COUNCIL WILL OPPOSE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS, THAT'S NOT NOVEL, BUT FOR SOME REASON SAYING THAT OUT LOUD RISKS ANGERING SOMEBODY WHO WILL, YOU KNOW, BANISH US TO THE LAND OF WIND AND GHOSTS OR SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT.
SO -- AND THIS DOCUMENT IS 100% IN KEEPING WITH THE CONVERSATION THAT HAS UNFOLDED AT THIS TABLE, WHICH IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT US BEING VERY ALARMED THAT WE'RE HEARING THE RHETORIC AND NOW WE'RE SEEING IT IN WRITING, BEING PASSED IN THE FORM OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT IS DIRECTED
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DIRECTLY AT, YOU KNOW, OUR MOST VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS.AND SO -- AND ANYBODY WHO'S ANYBODY, AND IT'S NOT JUST COUNCILMAN WHYTE, BUT ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO GASP AND CLUTCH THEIR PEARLS EVERY TIME I SAY SOMETHING THAT'S CRITICAL OF THEIR PRO FERRED CANDIDATE, YOU BETTER BY A LOT OF PEARLS, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE GASPING AND CLUTCHING A LOT WHILE I STILL HAVE A MIC. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: SO, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, I -- YOU KNOW THE RESPECT THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, BUT I'M SORRY. COMPARING WHAT'S GOING ON IN D.C. THE LAST THREE WEEKS TO DOMESTIC ABUSE IS -- NO.
THAT'S WHAT'S GROSS. THAT'S WHAT'S GROSS. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF RESTRUCTURING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR HAVING TIGHTER BORDER CONTROL OR SPENDING MONEY MORE WISELY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND TO COMPARE THAT TO DOMESTIC ABUSE IS INSANE TO ME.
MY COMMENTS STAND. YOU CAN DISAGREE, BUT YOU SHOULD DISAGREE IN A MANNER THAT MAY BE PRODUCTIVE. AND SAYING THE THINGS LIKE THAT AND OTHERS IS NOT GOING TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE 11 PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE GOING TO BE SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. WE DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF US WILL BE HERE. AND WE SHOULDN'T PUT THAT GROUP BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL BECAUSE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE MAKE AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO I'M GOING TO AGAIN ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO WORK WITH THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS BEST WE CAN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SAN ANTONIANS. THANKS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
WELL, OUR WORK IS CUT OUT FOR US. I'LL JUST SAY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DISAGREEMENT THAT SAN ANTONIO'S BEST POSITIONED WHEN WE CAN AND WE DO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE REQUIRE A TWO-WAY STREET ON THAT ISSUE. SO, AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT THE ACTIONS, NOT THE THEATRICS AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS, CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO WHAT WE DO AS A RESPONSIVE, COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY THAT SERVES ALL RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR STATUS, REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, THEIR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OR ANYTHING ELSE. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, IT'S 4:40 P.M.
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.