[00:00:44] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING, HOW ABOUT ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR NEW SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL! FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THAT ON TELEVISION. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EVENING AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE TOP OF THE HOUR HAS COME, THE CATHEDRAL BELLS HAVE RANG AND I'M RAFAEL ZUÑIGA WITH KSAT12. WE HAVE APPEAR AMAZING PROGRAM TONIGHT AND WE'LL GET TO YOUR LEADERS IN A MOMENT. IF YOU WOULD INDULGE ME ON A PERSONAL NOTE, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND I FIND TONIGHTS ON A FULL MATERIAL MOMENT FOR ME, NO SCRIPT HERE. I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART FOR A FEW MOMENTS. MANY OF YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THAT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO I WAS AT A POINT IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS BETWEEN JOBS AND I WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. I HAD SENT OUT DOZENS OF RESUMES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YOU NAME THE ORGANIZATION, THE HOSPITAL, THE OUTLET, AND I HAD SENT THEM OUT. AND I WAITED AND WAITED AND THE PHONE NEVER RANG. AND I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE I WAS SECOND-GUESSING MYSELF AND DOUBTING MYSELF AND HAVING A LITTLE PITY PARTY AND WONDERING WHAT HAVE I DONE AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AROUND THAT SAME TIME IN MAY OF 2023, SAN ANTONIO HAD A CITY ELECTION AND AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT THERE WERE SOME NEW CITY COUNCILMEMBERS THAT YEAR AND A FRIEND OF MINE WAS WORKING IN THE CITY SERVICES IN DISTRICT 10 FOR THEN COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. AND HE REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID DO YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER IN 10, MARK WHITE, WHYTE, AND I THK WE COULD REALLY USE YOUR SKILLS AND YOUR HELP. AND I EXPLAINED I MET WITH THE COUNCILMAN. I HAD NEVER MET HIM BEFORE, BUT I MET WITH HIM AND THE STAFF AND I REALIZED I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THE POLITICS, RIGHT? THERE ARE ENOUGH TALENTED PEOPLE TO DO THAT. BUT I DO LOVE A MICROPHONE. AND I LOVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE. AND A LOT OF THE OUTREACH IN WHATEVER DISTRICT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVOLVES PUBLIC EVENTS AND MEETING PEOPLE AND CONSTITUENTS, RIGHT? I DO NOT LIVE IN DISTRICT 10, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY SINCE I'VE BEEN HIRED AT KSAT12 TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 10 ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE WHO EMBRACE ME FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND TREATED ME LIKE FAMILY AND WELCOMED ME IN AS THEIR OWN. WE DID TOWN HALLS A HOMELESSNESS AND THE BUDGET AND WE TRIED TO MAKE BUDGET FUN FOR TWO HOURS. THANKSGIVING TURKEY DRIVES, CHRISTMAS PARTIES, FIESTA PARTIES, AND IT WAS SO GREAT AND WE DID A LOT OF THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I KNOW THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR 10, RAÚL, IS UP THERE. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND ALL OF THE OTHER NINE CHIEFS OF STAFF WHO WORK SO TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES TO DO AMAZING WORK BECAUSE YES, WE ALL KNOW THAT THESE DOZEN PEOPLE OR SO ARE THE ONES WHO END UP ON TELEVISION. WE KNOW THEIR NAMES AND WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO GET TO KNOW THEIR NAMES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. BUT TWO THINGS I CAME TO KNOW AFTER BEING A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 10 WERE VERY FINE TO ME AND I WILL NOT FORGET THAT. BUT TWO, VERY SINGLE LEADER BEHIND US IS LED BY A CHIEF OF STAFF, A COMS PERSON, A POLICY PERSON, A ZONING PERSON, THE CITY SERVICES, NAMES AND PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT SEE ON TV AND NEVER RECOGNIZE. BUT AS WE SPEAK THERE ARE DOING SO IMPORTANT WORK TO MAKE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY CAN BE. SO TONIGHT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO TO YOU, RAÚL, AND ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES I SALUTE YOU AND I THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND I THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME ON THAT. NOW TO THE BUSINESS OF HAND TONIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE THE NEW DAIS IF WE WILL, AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS ESSENTIALLY JUST FOR HOUSEKEEPING PURPOSES, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FROM THE NEW MAYOR IS THE SEATING ARRANGEMENT. FROM HERE FORWARD WE'VE GOT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARRANGED NUMERICALLY FROM ONE TO 10 AS OPPOSED TO ONE TO FIVE AND 10 TO SIX. SO JUST FOR HOUSEKEEPING PURPOSES IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHEN THEY WALK IN, WAIT A MINUTE, THEY'RE NOT SITTING, [00:05:02] THE ONLY PERSON WHO HASN'T MOVED AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS PHYLLIS VIAGRAN. SHE'S STILL RIGHT HERE. [APPLAUSE]. HER PILLOW IS STILL THERE AND EVERYTHING IS STILL HERE AS IT WAS THE OTHER OTHER DAY. SO JUST FOR HOUSEKEEPING PURPOSES, ONE THROUGH 10. OF COURSE, THE MAYOR STILL GETS THE CENTER SEAT. WITH THAT BEFORE WE INTRODUCE OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR REELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OF COURSE THE NEW MAYOR, LET'S BRING IN THREE INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN. AND IF I COULD PLEASE START WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, ANDY SEGOVIA. [APPLAUSE] WE'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR PHOTO NOW. THANK YOU, ANDY. HE WILL TAKE HIS SEAT IN HIS FAMILIAR SPOT. NEXT UP OUR CITY CLERK, DEBBIE ROCHA SITRE. [APPLAUSE] TY, DEBBIE. AND LASTLY, TAKING HIS SEAT OVER HERE OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, ANDY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL. WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE LOCAL LEADERSHIP FROM BEXAR COUNTY. SO MANY LOCAL FACES HERE TONIGHT TO INCLUDE OUR COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE] OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BEXAR COUNTY OFFICIALS, OUR MILITARY LEADERS IN MILITARY CITY USA, WE SALUTE YOU. [APPLAUSE]. JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO. WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR FORMER MAYOR NIRENBERG, FORMER CITY MANAGERS AND OUR CURRENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH US TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY, IF YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE JUST WAVE OR BE ACKNOWLEDGED. TOO MANY TO COUNT, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND YOU BEING WITH US HERE TONIGHT. WE ARE HONORED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF COUNSELS GENERAL REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, FRANCE, GERMANY, JAPAN, MEXICO, THE PHILIPPINES, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND SPAIN AS WELL AS THE HONORARY CONSULS BASED IN SAN ANTONIO REPRESENTING CHILE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED. WE WELCOME YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] SO I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING. WE HAVE SO MANY INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. IF THAT I WOULD ASK FOR A LITTLE ACCOMPANIMENT FROM UP TOP HERE. OUR WONDERFUL 123RD ARMY BAND FORT SAM'S OWN. PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME IN TO YOU THE 2025 THROUGH 2029 SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, BEGINNING WITH DISTRICT 1 COUNCIL MEMBER DR. SUKH KAUR. SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER AUNT AND UNCLE. [APPLAUSE] DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL MEMBER JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS HUSBAND NATHAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. DISTRICT 3 COUNCIL MEMBER PHYLLIS VIAGRAN. [APPLAUSE] SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER MOTHER BECKI VIAGRAN. DISTRICT 4 COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD MUNGIA. [00:10:02] HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PARTNER KELLY. [APPLAUSE] DISTRICT 5 COUNCIL MEMBER TERI CASTILLO. SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER NEPHEW, JOSHUA. DISTRICT 6 COUNCIL MEMBER RICK GALVAN. [APPLAUSE]. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND CORINNA. [APPLAUSE] DISTRICT 7 COUNCIL MEMBER MARIA ALDERETE GAVITO. SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER FAMILY MEMBERS. [APPLAUSE] DISTRICT 8 COUNCIL MEMBER IVALIS MEZA GONZÁLEZ. SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. [APPLAUSE] DISTRICT 9 COUNCIL MEMBER MISTY SPEARS. [APPLAUSE]. SHE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND JUSTICE AND THEIR CHILDREN. [APPLAUSE] DISTRICT 10 COUNCIL MEMBER MARK WHYTE. HE IS AMANIED ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. [APPLAUSE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL! [APPLAUSE] OF COURSE, THERE IS ONE MORE SEAT TO FILL. IT IS NOW MY HONOR AND MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME PUBLICLY IN THIS CHAMBER, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, MAYOR GINA ORTIZ JONES! BY HER MOTHER AND PARTNER. [00:15:20] I'D LIKE TO ASK THE REST OF YOU TO PLEASE STAND NOW AND WELCOME OUR REVEREND GUSTAVO GARCIA. >> WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. MOST GRACIOUS GOD, EVER-FAITHFUL AND TRUE, WE GATHER TODAY BEFORE YOUR HOLY PRESENCE AS THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO ENTRUST OUR CITY TO THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WE THANK YOU FOR CALLING THEM TO SERVICE AND FOR THE CONFIDENCE PLACED IN THEM BY OUR RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS. EVERYONE WHO IS PART OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY. ALMIGHTY FATHER, GRANT OUR MAYOR ORTIZ JONES THE WISDOM TO DISCERN WHAT IS JUST, THE COURAGE TO UPHOLD THE VULNERABLE, AND THE COMPASSION TO GOVERN WITH HUMILITY. BLESS EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, A TEAM, WITH INSIGHT THAT SEEKS THE COMMON GOOD ABOVE ALL PERSONAL GAIN, THAT THEY MAY BUILD BRIDGES OF UNITY ACROSS EVERY DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY. MAY THEY SHINE BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATION AND LOVE. MAY PEOPLE FIND A HOME IN THEIR HEARTS. HEAR US OH LORD, AS WE PLACE OUR LEADERS UNDER THE GAZE OF YOUR LOVING CARE. INSPIRE THEM TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO THE VOICES OF THE POOR, THE VULNERABLE, AND ALL WHO LABOR UNDER THE BURDENS UNSEEN. MAY YOU RESOLVE TO INVEST IN BEAUTY WHERE THERE IS DEGRADATION. AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE IS NEED. AND IN FELLOWSHIP WHERE THERE IS DIVISION. AS PROVERBS 14 REMINDS US, THE PATH TO PEACE DEMANDS HEARTS AND MINDS TRAINING CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND CAPABLE OF PERCEIVING THE COMMON GOOD IN TODAY'S WORLD. END OF QUOTE. MAY OUR CIVIC LEADERS EMBRACE SERVICE AS THE HIGHEST CALLING, EVER MINDFUL THAT TRUE AUTHORITY IS BORN OF LOVE. AND SEND FORTH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE THE DELIBERATIONS THAT EVERY ORDINANCE AND INITIATIVE MAY REFLECT YOUR MERCY AND TRUTH TRUTH. AND TO THE INTERCESSION OF A WOMAN, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, PATRONESS AND MOTHER OF OUR CITY. MAY ATTENDANT SAN ANTONIO FLOURN PEACE, JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY. ALL THIS WE ASK THE LORD, AMEN. >> THANK YOU, ARCH BISHOP. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND I ASK THAT ALL OF YOU CONTINUE TO REMAIN STANDING. THE UNITED STATES JOINT BASE COLOR GUARD WILL PRESENT THE COLORS NOW FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WHICH WILL BE SUNG BY PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS LESLIE MONROE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF JALEN ROUNTREE WHO HAS THE HIGHEST AWARD FROM GIRL SCOUTS FROM GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTH TEXAS. [00:21:23] OH ♪ OH SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS, THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT. OER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY EXTREMING. ST. ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. ♪ OH SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE... OER THE LAND OF THE FREE... AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE JOINT BASE COLOR GUARD AND LESLIE SAVAGE MONROE AND JALEN ROUND TREE. GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD, THE HIGHEST HONOR IN GIRL SCOUTING FROM THE GIRL SCOUTS. THANK YOU AGAIN JALEN FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT. I JUST WANT TO GO OFF SCRIPT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE SAW THE PHOTO OPS REALLY QUICK. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPOUSES, THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, THE CHILDREN WHO LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL UP HERE AND I THINK ALL OF THESE [00:25:01] PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THEY'VE SACRIFICED SO MUCH DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON, IN SOME CASES MULTIPLE CAMPAIGN SEASONS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. CAN WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, SPOUSES, CHILDREN, EXTENDED FAMILY THAT ARE ALL HERE? [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND YES, YOU DESERVE A STANDING OVATION. THANK YOU ALL. I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, IT IS TIME TO GET DOWN TO THE FORMAL BUSINESS AT HAND. AT THIS TIME OUR CITY CLERK DE BY ROCHA SITTER WILL DELIVER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, PLEASE RISE, RISE YOUR RIGHT HAND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, STATE YOUR NAME, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF, STATE YOUR OFFICE, OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: HERE WE GO. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ERNIE FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT EMCEE FOR THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A PROSPEROUS AND EFFECTIVE 2025-2029 CITY COUNCIL TERM. AT THIS TIME WE'LL HEAR BRIEF REMARKS FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS? >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE]. WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY. I WANT TO START OFF FIRST BY THANKING MY AMAZING TEAM THAT'S HERE TODAY, MY CHIEF OF SAVE, RYAN, CAMERON AND CASHMERE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING THE FACE THAT PEOPLE TRULY ELECTED. I LEARNED THAT THIS ELECTION CYCLE. FOLKS THAT WE GET TO STAND UP HERE AND MAKE POLICY AND WORK TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE TO BUILD SOLUTIONS, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ANSWERING THE PHONE CALLS, WORKING WITH CONSTITUENTS, THAT ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE IN THE OFFICE GETS DONE SO WE CAN BE UP HERE SUCCESSFULLY DOING OUR JOB. I KNOW I'M NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST PERSON TO WORK FOR, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR STICKING THROUGH AND ALWAYS BEING BY MY SIDE. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU. SO I REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT DISTRICT 1 IS TRULY THE [INDISCERNIBLE] OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT. WE TALKED EARLIER TODAY ABOUT BEING A LEADER FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND DISTRICT 1 FORCES YOU TO DO SO. WE HAVE THE SUBURBS OF THE CITY WITH WHAT USED TO BE THE SUBURBS PREVIOUSLY OUTSIDE OF 410. WE HAVE THE MOST HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. AND WE HAVE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. SO WE CAN'T BE SINGULAR FOCUSED AS AN ELECTED FOR THIS OFFICE. AND THAT HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT. IT HAS TAUGHT ME ABOUT LISTENING, ABOUT LEARNING, ABOUT NOT MAKING ASSUMPTIONS WHERE SOMEONE IS COMING FROM AND I THINK IT'S TRULY HELPED ME IN MY FIRST TEAM IN LEADING POLICY THAT'S REALLY EFFECTIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BUT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH WORK TO DO. SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON FOR THIS NEXT TERM. SO PREVIOUSLY THE MAYOR MENTIONED I TOOK THE ORANGE CONE HEAD ON THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND JOHN, YOU AND [00:30:02] I -- I CAN'T SEE HIM, BUT JOHN, YOU AND I WILL STILL BE BEST FRIENDS THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE POSITIVITY AS ONE OF MY STRENGTHS, BUT BECAUSE YOU WILL ALWAYS DO WHATEVER IT TAKES EVEN IN THE HEAT OF A MOMENT WHERE I'M SUPER FRUSTRATED THAT SOUTH ALAMO IS STILL NOT DONE, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ME MILE. I KNOW WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE REALLY COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE ALWAYS SAYS WE'RE THE FIRST ELECTED CLOSEST TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THE FIRST THING THEY SEE WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE IS THEIR STREET AND THEIR SIDEWALK. AND TOO MANY SAN ANTONIANS LIVE WITHOUT AN ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALK. SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THAT. THE SECOND THING THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IS HOUSING. I TRULY HAD NO IDEA HOW HARD IT WAS TO BUILD HOUSING UNTIL I GOT INTO THIS POSITION AND HOW LITTLE HOUSING EVEN AFFORDABLE THERE IS DOWNTOWN. THE LAST YEAR REALLY TAUGHT ME THAT THE UNIQUE PART ABOUT HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN IS THE NEED TO BE EFFICIENCY UNITS, AND IF ANYBODY IS IN CONSTRUCTION YOU REAL THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION IS JUST SKY ROCKING AND THAT MEANS THAT GETS TRANSFERRED TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. UNLESS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND WE WILL BE MULTIPLYING ISSUES FOR OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION FOR JOBS, ET CETERA. SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS HOUSING. AND I KNOW SO MANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE. MY STAFF AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO FIGURING OUT UNIQUE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT DISTRICT 1 IS LAND LOCKED AND UNLIKE D3 WHERE THEY CAN BUILD THIS AMAZING STRUCTURE, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT IN D1. RECEIVE GOT TO GET CREATIVE. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE WAY THAT WE CAN REMOVE BARRIERS TO TRULY CREATE INNOVATIVE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING. AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO FIGURING OUT WAYS TO DO THAT IN THIS NEXT TERM. WE'RE CONTINUING THAT PATH AT LEAST THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SET FOR US. AND THE LAST THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON IS PUBLIC SAFETY. AND MAYOR JONES EARLIER SAID I LIKED THIS METAPHOR, IT SAID NO FAILED MISSIONS. AND I APPRECIATE THAT A LOT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH IMPORTANCE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE ONE COMMUNITY THAT I'LL ADD TO THE SAFETY STATEMENT FROM EARLIER TODAY IS THE STRAY AND LOOSE DOG POPULATION. IT IS TRULY IN DISTRICT 1 A BIG ISSUE AND KHAN COME ALDERETE GAVITO, COUNCIL MEMBER RADRY GOES HAVE BEEN SUPER ADVOCATES FOR THIS TOO. THERE IS SUCH PAIN WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE WHO GETS ATTACKED BY A DOG, WHEN YOUR OWN ANIMAL GETS ATTACKED AND IT'S SCARY. IT CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING AND WE DON'T HAVE STRONG SOLUTIONS. IT HAS TO BE A CURRENT SOLUTION AND A LONG-TERM. WE'VE GOT GREAT TEAMS SET UP AT ASC BUT I KNOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRULY ADDRESS THAT. SO THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY FOR OUR OFFICE. SO I'LL SAY THIS TO END, THAT I MENTIONED DISTRICT 1 IS THE CORAZON OF SAN ANTONIO AND IT HAS THE HEART I TRULY BELIEVE, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE BIGGEST EPIDEMIC IN OUR CITY WHICH IS THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE. YOU CAN CROSS THREE BLOCKS IN DISTRICT 1 AND TRULY GO FROM A-MILLION-DOLLAR HOME WITH BEAUTIFULLY PAVED SIDEWALKS AND TREES THAT YOU'RE LIKE THIS IS AMAZING, TO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS MASSIVE DRAINAGE ISSUES, NO SIDEWALKS, HOMES THAT NEED THE SUPPORT AND LOVE AND AREN'T GETTING IT. AND THAT'S I THINK OUR CHALLENGE IN THIS NEXT TERM IS HOW DO WE TRULY GET TO TOW ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY MOST? AND I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE ON THAT -- TAKING ON A PORTION OF THAT ECONOMIC DIVIDE AS A COUNCIL TOGETHER. SO I'LL END BY SAYING THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH -- I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF ERIC AND THE TEAM, LORI AS MY LIAISON, ALL THE REST OF THE CITY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT TEAM. I'LL END AND I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES. I'M USUALLY NOT LONG-WINDED. BUT SOMEONE SAID WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GO AFTER YOUR CITY MANAGER ERIC. AND I SAID I'M A BOXER NOW, WE'LL FIGHT YOU. AND WE TRULY DO THINK WE HAVE THE BEST CITY MANAGER. HE'S ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT WE HEAR BECAUSE HE KNOWS WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO CONSTITUENTS. SO HIS FIRST QUESTION TO TO ME IS ALWAYS WHAT ARE YOU HEARING OUT HERE AND HOW CAN WE BEST ADDRESS THAT? THAT'S THE WAY TO BRING TO THE PERSON THAT IS LEADING THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE UP HERE TO BE REELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY. TWO YEARS AGO I SAT UP HERE AND SAID I GOT TO BE THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL AND EVERYONE GOES THROUGH WHETHER IT'S A SIKKH AND THE ONLY SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN IN TEXAS ELECTED TO A CITY COUNCIL, NOW I GET TO BE PART OF A CITY COUNCIL THAT'S SEVEN OF 11 FEMALE REPRESENTATION. [APPLAUSE] AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME SO [00:35:08] PROUD TO BE YOUR DISTRICT 1 COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS AMAZING COUNCIL. WE ALWAYS SAY THIS, LET'S GO IS LIKE MY BIG PHRASE. SO IN SPANISH IT SAYS THANK YOU, SAN ANTONIO! COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IMAGINE IF I SAID KNOW. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY! GOOD EVENING! I WANT TO BEGIN -- FIRST OF ALL, YOU MISSED THE ROAST EARLIER TODAY IS GOING TO BE A BIT MORE SERIOUS. I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING SO MUCH GRATITUDE. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY IS NOT ONE THAT I TAKE LIGHTLY AND I'LL FOREVER BE INDEBTED TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. TO MY HUSBAND NATHAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY ROCK, FOR YOUR PATIENCE, STRENGTH AND YOUR DEEP WELL OF LOVE THAT HOLDS ME UP WHEN THIS WORK GETS HEAVY, AND IT DOES GET HEAVY. YOU CARRY MORE THAN PEOPLE KNOW AND I HOPE TONIGHT YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT OF MY GRATITUDE. I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OF YOU AND ALL THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND AT THE END OF EVERYDAY YOUR VOICE BRINGS ALL OF THE COMFORT THAT I NEED. I'M SO EXCITED TO EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT DAD AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT. WOO. WHO I AM BECAUSE OF YOU, BECAUSE OF YOUR SACRIFICES, BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE AND BECAUSE OF YOUR BELIEF IN ME BEFORE ANYONE KNEW MY NAME. TO MY STAFF, FRANKIE, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO SUPPORTS US, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING REAL QUICK. [APPLAUSE] YOUR BRILLIANCE, COMPASSION AND GRIND MAKE THIS OFFICE WHAT IT IS. EVERY THE CITY CALL BACK, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT. YOU DON'T JUST SUPPORT ME, BUT SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH EXCELLENCE AND GRACE AND IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. THANK YOU TO -- YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF THE CITY STAFF FROM OUR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES TO OUR CITY MANAGEMENT, IT'S AGAIN AN HONOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU. AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED EARLIER, THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO FOLLOW OUR GUIDANCE AS WELL AS OUR MISGUIDANCE AND MISDIRECTION. AND TO DISTRICT 2, MY HOME, MY HEART AND MY MISSION, THE SOUL OF THE CITY, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME AGAIN. FOUR YEARS AGO WE MADE HISTORY AND NOW WE'VE MADE A MOVEMENT AND I'M COMMITTED TO SEEING THAT MOVEMENT FORWARD. WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR OFFICE I WAS 26 YEARS OLD AND HAD TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL MATH IN ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRESOURCED ZIP CODES IN THE CITY. I SAW STUDENTS NAVIGATING TRAUMA JUST TO MAKE IT TO FIRST PERIOD. I SAW COMMUNITIES IGNORED BY SYSTEMS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO SERVE THEM. I SAW BRILLIANCE, TALENT AND RESILIENCE IN KIDS WHO WERE WALKING IT TO SCHOOL A CRUMBLING SIDEWALKS, DODGING VIOLENCE AND BABY-SITTING SIBLINGS WHILE THEIR PARENTS WORKED DOUBLE SHIFTS JUST TO SURVIVE. AND I RAN BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO ENTER A CRUEL, UGLY WORLD. I WANTED TO PREPARE A BETTER WORLD FOR THEM. AND AS I PREPARE TO BECOME A FATHER IN JUST A FEW DAYS, THIS WORK HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PERSONAL FOR ME. WE ARE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE. WE LIVE IN A CITY, IN A STATE, IN A COUNTRY, IN A WORLD, WHERE THE WORKING CLASS HAS ASKED TO SACRIFICE WHILE THE WEALTHY ARE HANDED TAX BREAKS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS. WHERE BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS WAIT DECADES FOR BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE. WHERE YOUNG QUEER KIDS ARE TOLD THEY WON'T BELONG AND WHERE WOMEN HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR BODIES. WHERE WE BEG FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE WHILE OUR JAILS OVERFLOW, WHERE STUDENTS ARE FORCED TO LEARN IN OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS WHILE STATE LEADERS FOCUS ON NOT FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS, BUT BANNING BOOKS AND DRAG QUEENS WHO READ THEM. WHERE CHILDREN SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR BOTH ABROAD AND HERE AT HOME. WE ARE BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THIS WORLD AND ACCEPTING THE INHE HAVE TA BILLTY OF THEIR PAIN, THEIR SUFFERING AND THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT AND THIS IS A REALITY THAT WE INHERIT BUT IS NOT THE FUTURE THAT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT AND IT IS ONE THAT I REFUSE. I'M PROUD THAT IN JUST THESE PAST TWO TERMS WE'VE SHIFTED THE CONVERSATION AROUND PANELIST PUBLIC SAFETY FROM PURELY PUNISHMENT TO INVESTMENT. WE'VE BEEN PAVING STREETS, FIXING DRAINS, BUILDING PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND LIGHTING UP DARK CONDITIONS CORNERS OUR CITIES. WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN INITIATIVES THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT LONG AFTER WE'RE DONE INCLUDING YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT DON'T JUST KEEP KIDS BUSY BUT UPLIFT THEIR TALENT AND STORY. AND WE'VE CHAMPIONED [00:40:03] HOUSING, HEALTH, ART, GREEN SPACE AND EQUITY IN EVERY POLICY DISCUSSION. WE DID ALL OF THAT AND IT'S JUST GETTING STARTED. IN THESE FINAL FOUR YEARS WE WILL GO BOLDER. WE'LL FIGHT TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT WITH POLICY AND PASSION. WE'LL CHALLENGE PREDATORY DEVELOPMENT AND CENTER PEOPLE NOT PROFIT IN EVERY CONVERSATION. WE'LL INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH EQUITY AT THE CORE BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SIDEWALK, A BUS STOP, A LIGHT AND GREEN WATER. OUR JOB IS NOT TO PROTECT POWER BUT TO SERVE PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] WE'LL DISRUPT THE SYSTEMS THAT HARM OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WILL DO IT WITHOUT HESITATION AND WITHOUT QUESTION. AND WE WILL LEAD WITH LOVE BECAUSE WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN THESE FOUR YEARS IS YOU CANNOT POLICY YOUR WAY OUT OF INJUSTICE IF YOU DON'T LOVE THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, AND I LOVE THIS CITY. I LOVE DISTRICT 2. I LOVE THE BLOCK PARTIES AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THE GRANDMOTHERS AND THE GSA KIDS, THE NEIGHBORS WHO SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER EVEN WHEN THE SYSTEM DOESN'T. I LOVE MY DAUGHTER AND I WANT HER TO INHERIT A CITY WHERE JUSTICE AND EQUITY AREN'T JUST A TALKING POINT, BUT A LIVED TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. PLEASE STAND BY.]. SO LET ME BE CLEAR ONCE MORE. I DID NOT COME HERE TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO AND THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT OF ME THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I CAME HERE TO BUILD SOMETHING RADBLY BETTER. I WILL NOT BE POLITE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE. I WILL NOT BE SILENT WHEN SYSTEMS FAIL OUR PEOPLE AND I WILL COWER TO THE STATUS QUO BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE BOLDNESS, URGENCY AND ACTION AND THEY'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH. FOUR YEARS I WILL LEAVE THIS SEAT, NOT BECAUSE I LOST IT, NEVER DID THAT. [CHEERING] BUT BECAUSE WE WON SOMETHING BETTER, A MORE JUST, MORE PEOPLE POWERED CITY. A DISTRICT 2 THAT DOESN'T JUST GET BY, BUT GETS AHEAD AND KNOWS THAT THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER LED WITH LOVE AND COURAGE AND WITHOUT REGRETS. I PLAN TO LEAVE A CITY AND A DISTRICT BETTER THAN I FOUND IT. I PLAN TO BUILD A BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT GOVERNANCE CAN LOOK LIKE WHEN A CENTER'S WORKING --S WORKING AS PEOPLE WHEN IT UP LIFTS BLACKNESS, WHEN IT REMARBLE FALLS SAFETY AND WHEN IT TELLS THE TRUTH AND DARES TO DREAM. SO TONIGHT I RECOMMIT TO THE PEOPLE, TO THE PURPOSE, TO THE PROMISE THAT PUBLIC OFFICE CAN STILL BE ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE. LET'S WORK, BUILD, FIGHT AND LET'S WIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH SAN ANTONIO AND THANK YOU DISTRICT 2. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MY FELLOW COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE RESIDENTS OF TRUSTEE, IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR AND HUMILITY THAT I STAND OR SIT BEFORE YOU TODAY TO BEGIN MY FINAL FOUR-YEAR TERM REPRESENTING THE PROUD AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SIDE. HISTORY AND INNOVATION MEET. THIS JOURNEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THOSE CLOSEST TO ME. I WANT TO THANK MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, VIVA POLITICS, YOU GOT ME HERE, NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES AND YOU GOT REBECCA HERE FOUR TIMES. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. MY MOTHER WHOSE STRENGTH AND VALUES LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING I DO. AND MY SISTER AND FORMER TRUSTEE COUNCILWOMAN FOR BEING MY SOUNDING BOARD AND BIGGEST ADVOCATE. [APPLAUSE] TO MY EXTRAORDINARY DISTRICT 3 TEAM PAST AND PRESENT, YOU ARE THE 2014 SPURS. [LAUGHTER]. VIRGINIA, ANA, DEBBIE, MELANIE, KAY, ADDIE, CHRIS, ENRIQUE, EDDIE AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF RUBEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, YOUR RESPONSIVENESS AND YOUR GRIT HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. YOU ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN EVERY SENSE. YOU SHOW UP EARLY, YOU STAY LATE AND YOU LEAD WITH YOUR HEART. OUR WORK WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU. TOGETHER WE'VE MADE REAL LASTING PROGRESS AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. WHEN I FIRST TOOK THIS OFFICE I MADE A COMMITMENT TO PUSH THE SOUTHSIDE FORWARD AND OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE DONE JUST THAT. WE'VE INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE LONG OVERDUE ATTENTION TO OUR F STREETS AND OUR NO STREETS AND ENSURED THAT BASIC CITY [00:45:05] SERVICES LIKE ACS, SOLID WASTE, CODE COMPLIANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE WORKING WELL FOR RESIDENTS. THESE AREN'T JUST SERVICES, THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYDAY LIFE. THEY'RE WHAT KEEPS OUR HOMES SAFE, OUR STREETS CLEAN AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THRIVING. THIS NEXT TERM WILL BE ABOUT BUILDING ON THAT MOMENTUM. WHILE ADDRESSING OUR CITY'S FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. WE ARE FACING A PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT IN 202026 AND 202015. THIS WON'T BE EASY TO ADDRESS BUT I'VE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM HARD CONVERSATIONS AND HARD DECISIONS. I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE DISTRICT 3 IS NOT FORGOTTEN DURING OUR BUDGET GOAL-SETTING MEETINGS AND I WILL CONTINUE PUSHING THE SOUTHSIDE FORWARD WITH INTENTION, INVESTMENT AND IMPACT. BUT TODAY IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER BECAUSE TODAY WE COMMEMORATE A TRULY MEANINGFULFUL MILESTONE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. I AM HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE A MAJORITY FEMALE CITY COUNCIL, THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE] AND THE THIRD TIME A WOMAN HAS HELD THE ROLE OF MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] THIS MOMENT MATTERS. REPRESENTATION MATTERS. IT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO EVERY YOUNG GIRL WATCHING --P NOT ONLY INCLUDES HER, IT LOOKS LIKE HER. AND LET ME BE CLEAR, IT INFLUENCES HOW WE GOVERN, HOW WE SERVE AND HOW WE INSPIRE. I WANT ALL MY WOMEN HERE ON THE DAIS TO STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED. PLEASE STAND, LADIES. SERVING ON BOARDS, ARE SERVING FAMILIES, ARE TEACHING, TO STAND UP ALSO. PLEASE STAND UP. [APPLAUSE] CHIEFS OF STAFF, THAT'S ALL YOU LADIES, ALL YOU LADIES STAND UP. STAY STANDING. STAY STANDING, LADIES. WITH THIS, WITH THIS ACCOMPLISHED, DIVERSE AND DEEPLY DEDICATED GROUP OF WOMEN LEADING OUR CITY, I HAVE NO DOUBT WE ARE BUILDING MORE COMPASSIONATE, EQUITABLE AND RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU, LADIES. FOR YOU TO BE OUR ALLIES. [LAUGHTER]. THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL BRINGS A BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE, LIVED EXPERIENCE AND PASSION TO THE TABLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH NEWLY APPOINTED COLLEAGUES TO DELIVER BOLD AND MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. AND WE MUST THINK BOLDLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR ENTIRE CITY. AND YES, THAT INCLUDES TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN HOUSING AND A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE CAN BRING THE SPURS DOWNTOWN AND WE CAN ALSO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. [APPLAUSE] AS I CLOSE I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENTS I REPRESENT FROM THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SIDE. YOU ARE THE REASON I DO THIS WORK. WHETHER IT'S FIGHTING TO FIX YOUR STREETS, RETURNING YOUR CALLS AFTER HOURS OR STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT ON THIS VERY DAIS, YOU DESERVE A LEADER WHO SHOWS UP, SPEAKS UP AND NEVER GIVES UP. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME ONCE AGAIN, FOR YOUR PRAYERS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FOR YOUR DONATIONS, FOR THE COOKIES THAT YOU SEND ME. I PROMISE TO CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND WITH HEART. THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR DISTRICT 3 AND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, GOD BLESS OUR CITY AND LET'S GET BACK TO WORK! [00:50:04] COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, 18 YEARS AGO I FIRST VISITED THIS CHAMBER AS A SOPHOMORE ON A HIGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIP AND OUR CLASS ACTUALLY MAILED A COUNCIL AIDE AND WHEN I TOLD HIM I MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT HE SAID I COULD DO IT AND THAT I BELONGED HERE. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT I WOULD BE SITTING UP HERE ONE DAY MYSELF. DISTRICT 4 HAS BEEN HOME TO MY FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS, I'M A PROUD PRODUCT MFI COMMUNITY. MY COMMUNITY DIDN'T ASK FOR THE WORLD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THEY SIMPLY ADVOCATED FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH PARKS, SIDEWALKS, GOOD STREETS AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT. IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90 WHICH INCLUDE MY GRANDMA, MYSELF AND SAM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, HAVE A 20-YEAR SHORTENED LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN OUR NEIGHBORS ON THE NORTHSIDE. AND THAT'S SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. DISTRICT 4 RESIDENTS MAKE THIS CITY RUN AND I COMMITTED MYSELF TO GETTING THINGS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR LONG-TERM ISSUES THAT NEED RESOLUTIONS. I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT UP HERE WITHOUT MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS IMMIGRATING TO THIS COUNTRY. MY GRANDPARENTS WORKING HARD TO BUILD BEING BETTER -- [APPLAUSE] AND MY PARENTS FOR THEIR FOCUS ON MY EDUCATION AND BEING SUPPORTIVE OF MY DREAMS. I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 4 FOR THEIR CONFIDENCE IN ME. MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, NATALIE AND MATT, MY AUNT. >> DEBERRY: WHO DEDEE WHO IS HERE TODAY, MY PARENTS AND SIBLINGS, AND MY PARTNER FOR HER SUPPORT AND LOVE THIS WHOLE TIME. AND AS I'VE BEEN NOTING TO FOLKS, I BOUGHT A TIE TO MATCH HER DRESS TODAY. [LAUGHTER] I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY D4 TEAM WHO IS UP THERE WATCHING. [APPLAUSE]. THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR ME SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I WAS AN INTERN AND SLIGHTLY GOT BULLIED BY RAÚL. SO MY OUT RIGHT WIN WAS IN PART DUE TO THEIR HARD WORK. SO THANK YOU, STEPHANIE, TIM, RAÚL AND OTHERS AND OUR INTERNS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT 4. [APPLAUSE] I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO FORMER COUNCILMAN SALDANÃ FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO COME INTO THIS OFFICE AND START MY CAREER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO GROW INTO MY ROLE HERE ON THE STAFF. AND TO ALL MY FOUR PREDECESSORS WHO ACTUALLY HELPED ME ON THIS CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BACKED ME UP AND WANTED ME HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, PLEASE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MATURE ORTIZ JONES. I'M EXTREMELY HONORED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO'S WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE RESIDENTS AS A DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCILMEMBER. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS FOR ENTRUSTING ME AND HAVING THE CONFIDENCE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND REPRESENT YOU ALL FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS HERE ON CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS FOR HAVING CONFIDENCE TO REPRESENT YOU ALL. EVERY DOOR, EVERY CONVERSATION THAT I'VE HAD WITH RESIDENTS, THANK YOU FOR ENSURING THAT I CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND WITH DISTRICT 5 CENTERED AT EVERY DECISION THAT I MAKE. YOU KNOW, OFTEN TIMES WE GET ASKED WHAT IS THE MOST TOUGH THING ABOUT BECOMING A CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY IS THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILD WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FOR EXAMPLE, MS. VELASQUEZ WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RESIDENTS WHO ASKED TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH ME WHILE I WAS CONTINUED TO BE SUPPORTED WITH THE UPCOMING BOND IN 2022. WE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP. SHE 5 RESIDENTS THAT MY DISTRICT 5 TEAM AND I HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH. AND I THINK THAT'S THE TOUGHEST PART, MANAGING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILT WITH CONSTITUENTS THAT HELP KEEP US GROUNDED IN THE WORK AND CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK MY DISTRICT 5 TEAM FOR JUST CONTINUING TO ENSURE THAT I LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND TO QUESTION MY DECISIONS, WHETHER I'M VOTE YES OR NO COMING BACK TO THE FIELD OFFICE OR DOWN AT CITY HALL, FOR THEM TO ASK ME CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY YOU VOTED NO OR YES. THANK YOU ALL FOR CHALLENGING ME AND NOT BEING YES MEN OR YES WOMEN BUT ENSURING I CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH THE BEST DECISION, THE BEST INFORMATION, AND THE BEST DATA TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS. DISTRICT 5, NONE OF THIS WORK [00:55:03] WOULD BE DONE WITHOUT YOU ALL, THE FOLKS AT THE FIELD OFFICE AT CITY HALL. I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR OUR IMPRESSIVE TEAM CHRISTINE, RACHEL, STEPHANIE, CYNTHIA, JUSTIN, FELIZ, COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN, DEREK, THANK YOU FOR LEADING WITH THE MINDSET WITH RESIDENTS FIRST AND INTEGRITY. AND SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. KATIE AND MY BUDDY, BENJAMIN AND EDDIE, THANK YOU FOR LEADING WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY FOR LOVING MY FAMILY AND MY FAMILY JUST ABSOLUTELY ADORES YOU ALL. SO, JUST THANK YOU. WE ABSOLUTELY ADORE BEN, WHO IS OUR CHIEF OF STAFF MORALE WHEN HE COMES DOWN TO CITY HALL. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, KATIE. SO, THANK YOU. MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS, JOE AND TERI, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND MY UNCLE ART. THOMAS FOR BEING THE BEST SOUNDING BOARD AND BEST ORGANIZER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR HEARING ME OUT WHEN I COME HOME FROM WORK FROM AN EVENT GOING ON HERE. I LOVE YOU ALL. TO MY SIBLINGS, JOE, AMBER, IRIS, AND MY NEPHEW, YOU ARE THE BEST CAMPAIGN TEAM EVER . WHETHER IT'S KNOCKING ON DOORS, POLL GREETING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, YOU ALL HAVE HAD MY BACK. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME AND BELIEVING ME WHEN THOMAS AND I MADE THE DECISION THAT THIS IS WHAT HAD TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF INVESTMENT AND WEREN'T LEFT OUT OF CONVERSATIONS. SO, THANK YOU. BUT NONE OF THE THANKS AND ACCOLADES THAT OUR DISTRICT 5 TEAM RECEIVES AND THAT I RECEIVED WOULD BE DONE WITHOUT ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES. WHETHER IT'S SOLID WASTE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, CODE COMPLIANCE, NONE OF THE WORK IS DONE WITHOUT CITY STAFF. NO MATTER WHICH CITY DEPARTMENT YOU'RE IN, THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM AND MYSELF ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR JOHN PETEREK FOR ALWAYS ENSURING THAT HE'S ASKING WHAT CAN WE DO IN DISTRICT 5 AND ENSURING HE'S LEADING WITH TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY TO ENSURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS. OF COURSE, OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH. WHAT I'VE SHARED WITH ERIK AND SOME OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS IS THAT AS THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND BEING AN AGITATOR, OFTENTIMES THERE'S A LOT OF CRITIQUE. AND NOW I FIND MYSELF IN THE POSITION STANDING AS A SHIELD SAYING ERIK WALSH LEADS WITH INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY. AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM ON THE TEAM. GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT YOU'VE CREATED THAT YOU LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY AND WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS YOU'RE A REALLY GOOD COACH AND YOU TRUST YOUR TEAM PLAYERS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS. THANK YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP'S TEAM FOR JUST BEING AND LEADING WITH INTEGRITY. AGAIN, MY GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO AFSCME AND ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. TOO MANY DEPARTMENTS TO NAME. BUT OF COURSE JAMES WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHO SERVES AS THE LIAISON. OUR D5 TEAM HAS SO MANY PUBLIC WORKS REQUESTS SO I KNOW JAMES IS FIELDING SO MANY CALLS. THANK YOU, JAMES HALL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE MARIO, WHO WAS OUR LIAISON, AND WAS A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR DISTRICT 5 PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR SAFFE OFFICERS, TOO MANY TO NAME BUT JUST THANK YOU FOR LEADING WITH INTEGRITY, CONNECTING WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND HELPING TO REBUILD THAT TRUST. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEW MAYOR, MAYOR ORTIZ JONES. WE KNOW THAT BUILDING A SAN ANTONIO IS GOING TO TAKE FULL LEADERSHIP AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. OFTENTIMES I GET ASKED WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS THE POVERTY IN DISTRICT 5? , THE 78207, OUR NATION'S MOST ECONOMICALLY DIVESTED ZIP CODE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONSENSUS VOTING AND COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY . I AM A STRONG BELIEVER THAT CITIES, NATIONS, AND STATES ARE AS STRONG AS THEIR MOST VULNERABLE AND I'M HOPEFUL WITH THIS COUNCIL THAT'S ELECTED TODAY WITH OUR NEW MAYOR THAT WE WILL MAKE GREAT STRIDES IN ENSURING THAT NOT JUST DISTRICT 5, BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WHERE WE UPLIFT EVERYONE. YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, DURING MY TENURE ON COUNCIL, WE HAVE MADE SO MANY GREAT IMPROVEMENTS FROM CREATING OPERATION REBUILD, WHICH STARTED AS A DISTRICT 5 PILOT, THAT'S NOW A CITY-WIDE INITIATED PROGRAM, SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THROUGH THE 2022 BOND. TO LEADING IN THE STATE WITH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BEING THE FIRST TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK. SUPPORTING OUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A WATER BREAK AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WORK WE HAVE AHEAD AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT I HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THIS BODY TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FORWARD. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 5 FOR ENTRUSTING MYSELF AND THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM TO CONTINUE TO LEAD. THANK YOU. [01:00:03] THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN, PLEASE. >> M. >> THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH TIME TO EXPRESS NEIGHBORHOOD I HAVE GROWN UP IN, THE SCHOOLS I WENT TO, THE TEACHERS THAT TAUGHT ME AND WERE ABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTE FOR ME AS WELL AFTER TEACHING ME IN THE FIRST GRADE OR SO. IT WILL NEVER -- I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FULLY EXPRESS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK MY PREDECESSOR, COUNCILMEMBER MELISSA CABELLO HAVRDA ALONG WITH HER TEAM CAMPAIGN TRAIL. AND TO THE STAFF MEMBERS TOO, WHETHER THEY'RE STAYING WITH THE TEAM OR NOT, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR DISTRICT 6. WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEM AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR MY COMMUNITY THAT I GREW UP IN WAS ALWAYS INCREDIBLE AND IT SADDENS ME TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MAIN PEOPLE THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WITH MYSELF, RYAN TREVINO IS NOT HERE TO SEE AND DO THE HARD WORK TOGETHER. I KNOW HE WAS EXCITED TO DO THE HARD WORK. BUT THAT HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF. COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT HIS LEGACY, THE WORK, THE LEGACY OF COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THEM. ALSO TOO TO WORK WITH NANCY AND ORLANDO IN THE DISTRICT 6 OFFICE, WHO ARE STAYING ON BOARD WITH ERIK CAVAZOS COMING ON BOARD TO HELP BUILD THIS TEAM THAT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM TO HELP SUPPORT AND WORK FOR THE MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6. TO MY FAMILY, WHO IS HERE TODAY. MY MOM, MY BROTHER. TO MY GIRLFRIEND, KARINA, TO MY FAMILY WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BUT WERE ALWAYS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH ME OR SUPPORTING FROM INTERNALLY, I CANNOT SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART. TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT THE ENTIRE WAY, TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF FORMER TEACHERS. TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SOMEONE WHO GOT ME INTO THIS ENTIRE WORLD OF POLITICS. RAY MARTINEZ, AT THE START OF MY CAREER INTO THIS WORK AND TO BE HERE TODAY TOO, GETTING ME ON COUNCIL HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US. FOLKS ON THE CAMPAIGN TEAM WHO DID INCREDIBLY HARD WORK, RUNNING A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN IN DISTRICT 6 FOR A YOUNG CANDIDATE IN THE AREA AND HELPING HIM GET TO CITY HALL. THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF Y'ALL AND THE WORK WE'RE GOING TO DO TOGETHER AND THE SUPPORT I'M GOING TO STILL NEED IS GOING TO BE INVALUABLE. SO, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OF COURSE DISTRICT 6, THE ENTIRETY OF IT. I KNOW IT WAS A CLOSE ELECTION BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 6 WHO OPENED THE DOOR, ANSWERED THE PHONE, WHO SPOKE WITH US, ANYBODY THAT APPROACHED YOU IN THE RED SHIRTS, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THEM. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU, TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THE CONCERNS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. I'M EXCITED AND EAGER TO WORK FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU. TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DELIVERING THAT VISION I SET OUT ON, A SAFER, AFFORDABLE, AND QUALITY PLACE TO LIVE IN DISTRICT 6 AND ACROSS OUR CITY. AS A PROUD SON OF AN EDUCATOR AND A VETERAN, THE PROUD GRANDSON OF EDUCATORS AND ARTISTS OF THE WEST SIDE, I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HERE IN THEIR LEGACY AND AFTER ALL THE WORK AND ENERGY THEY PUT IN TO GROWING OUR FAMILY IN DISTRICT 6 ON THE WEST SIDE. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, OF COURSE, WHO ARE HERE, WHO WERE INCREDIBLE BOTH ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL BUT ALSO IN THE TRANSITION TOO. GETTING THOSE FIRST PHONE CALLS, HAVING COFFEE WITH Y'ALL, I CAN'T THANK Y'ALL ENOUGH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME IN THIS TRANSITION. MANY OF US WORKED TOGETHER ALREADY BEFORE WHILE I WAS A CITY COUNCIL STAFF MEMBER. BUT I'M REALLY PROUD TO KNOW THAT Y'ALL TRUST AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH ME REALLY WELL IN THIS NEW ROLE TOO. OF COURSE I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HARD FOR DISTRICT 5, TO DELIVER FOR OUR RESIDENTS THERE. THE AMOUNT OF DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS THAT REACHED OUT WHEN I DIDN'T TELL THEM I WAS RUNNING AND THEY SAW ME ON TV AND SAID, RIC, YOU GOT THERE. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS HOW INVALUABLE IT WAS. TO WORK HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY WHERE MY FAMILY CAME FROM, TO WORK HARD FOR THE FOLKS WHO ALSO HAVE FAMILY THERE BUT ARE NOW IN DISTRICT 6, JUST LIKE MY FAMILY. IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING A CHANCE ON ME AND FOR SUPPORTING ME ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I CAN'T WAIT TO FIGHT FOR OUR WEST SIDE RESIDENTS TOGETHER ON THE DAIS. FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M JUST EXCITED TO GET TO WORK. EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW I LIKE TO GET INTO THE WEEDS OF IT ALL AND TO GET GOING BUT I CAN'T SAY HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO WORK TOGETHER, TO BUILD A GREAT TEAM, AND TO DELIVER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6 AND FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO TOO. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] [01:05:05] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. IT IS AN HONOR TO CONTINUE SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7. TO ALL THE NEIGHBORS, SUPPORTERS, THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING ME TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK. YOU DRIVE ME TO DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY. JAMES, I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT -- THERE HE IS. AND I REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY TEAM. I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. I HAVE THE BEST TEAM IN THIS BUSINESS. SO IF THE DISTRICT 7 TEAM CAN PLEASE STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED. [APPLAUSE] WE ALL HAVE SERVANTS' HEARTS AND WE TOO -- I THINK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID IT. WE TOO GET IN VERY HEATED DISCUSSIONS. THEY'RE ALL PROFESSIONALS. WE PUSH BACK ON EACH OTHER. BUT WE DO IT BECAUSE WE CARE AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. SO TWO YEARS AGO I SAID SOMETHING ON ELECTION NIGHT THAT STILL GUIDES ME TODAY. CAMPAIGNS ARE ABOUT PROMISES BUT LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT DELIVERING. AND TOGETHER WE'VE DELIVERED. WHEN OUR COMMUNITY SAID SAFETY WAS A TOP CONCERN, WE ACTED IMMEDIATELY. WE ADDED OFFICERS TO THE POLICE FORCE, WE STRENGTHENED OUR SAFE TEAMS, AND WE EXPANDED OUR MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE PROGRAM, SA CORE, TO HAVE 24/7 COVERAGE. WHEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED A CHAMPION, I PROUDLY STOOD WITH THEM. WITH A LOT OF MEDIA BACKLASH BUT STILL DID IT. LEADING THE EFFORT FOR THEIR BEST CONTRACT IN MORE THAN A DECADE. AND WHEN FAMILIES DEMANDED ACTION ON DANGEROUS DOG ATTACKS, WE INTRODUCED OUR LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG POLICY PROPOSAL TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE RESPONSIVE AND THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD. REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU ASKED FOR BETTER STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND WE GOT TO WORK. WE INVESTED OVER $12 MILLION TO REPAIR 143 STREETS AND WE FILLED THOUSANDS OF POTHOLES. I DID ONE MYSELF AND IT'S TOUGH WORK. WE DEDICATED NEARLY $5 MILLION TO NEW AND IMPROVED SIDEWALKS AND COMPLETED MORE THAN 300 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. EVERYONE DESERVES SAFE AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY. IT IS NOT A LUXURY, IT IS A NECESSITY. WE ALSO SERVED WITH COMPASSION. WE LAUNCHED THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SAN ANTONIO, TO HELP OUR OLDER ADULTS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS FIX CODE VIOLATIONS WITH SUPPORT, NOT WITH PUNISHMENT. THAT'S HOW WE BRING HEART INTO THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT, BY MAKING POLICY THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES WE GREW UP WITH. ABOUT PARKS AND GREEN SPACES. IN DISTRICT 7, WE DIDN'T JUST INVEST IN PARKS, WE PAID ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS. WHEN I WAS BLOCK WALKING ON MY FIRST CAMPAIGN, I WAS SO SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL PARKS IN DISTRICT 7 THAT HAVE PLAYGROUNDS WITH NO SHADE STRUCTURES. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE LIVE IN TEXAS. THEY CAN'T BURN THEIR LITTLE HANDS. SO IF A PLAYGROUND DIDN'T HAVE SHADE, WE FIXED IT, TO THE HISTORIC $6.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN WOODLAWN LAKE PARK, WE'RE MAKING SURE FAMILIES CAN HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO ENJOY BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACES IN EVERY CORNER OF THE DISTRICT. I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. GREEN SPACES AND PARKS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL HEALTH BUT ALSO MENTAL HEALTH. THE FEDERAL GRANT THAT ME AND MY TEAM WORKED ON ADDS $3.25 MILLION MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. THIS IS THE LARGEST GRANT EVER GIVEN TO A SINGLE PARK IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, AND WE DID THAT IN MY FIRST TERM. REGARDING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY. I SAID I WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE AND I MEANT IT. WE DIDN'T SIT BEHIND A DESK, WE SHOWED UP AT TOWN HALLS, AT OUR MONTHLY COFFEES WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN. WE BLOCK WALKED, NOT JUST DURING THE CAMPAIGN BUT ALL YEAR LONG. WE ATTENDED OVER 500 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS IN UNDER TWO YEARS. WE KEPT RESIDENTS INFORMED WITH MY WEEKLY VIDEOS, WHICH I DON'T LIKE RECORDING, BUT I DO IT ANYWAYS, WITH LOVE. NEWSLETTERS AND UPDATES. BECAUSE ACCOUNTABILITY HAPPENS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, IN REALTIME, AND FACE-TO-FACE. LOOKING AHEAD, THIS INAUGURATION MARKS NOT JUST A NEW TERM BUT A RENEWED COMMITMENT. WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN. WE WILL WORK HARD TO KEEP OUR SPURS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE THEY BELONG AND WE WILL BRING MORE INVESTMENT TO SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, SMALL BUSINESS, HOUSING, AND OUR GREEN SPACES. I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH TRANSPARENCY, EMPATHY, AND A RELENTLESS FOCUS ON EVERYDAY NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. DISTRICT 7 IS WHERE I GREW UP AND WHERE I CHOSE TO RAISE MY DAUGHTERS. [01:10:02] SERVING THIS COMMUNITY IS PERSONAL. TO MY FAMILY, TO MY GIRLS, YOU ARE MY WORLD AND YOU ARE MY WHY. TO MY PARENTS, JOE AND CHRIS ALDERETE, MY SISTER'S BIRTHDAY WHO WE JUST CELEBRATED, AND HER FAMILY. TO MY BROTHER JOE, MY TWIN SISTER -- IF Y'ALL SEE MY TWIN SISTER AND I'M NOT SAYING HI, IT'S PROBABLY MY TWIN SISTER. AND TO PAUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME AND SUPPORTING ME AND LOVING ME UNCONDITIONALLY. TO MY SUPPORTERS AND MY COUNCIL OFFICE TEAM, I'M GOING TO NAME THEM BY NAME. ISABELLA, KYLE, TRACY, ADRIAN, ERIK, FRANK, JAMES, SANTIAGO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO THE CITY TEAM, YOU ALL ARE INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALS LED BY ERIK WALSH AND WE APPRECIATE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU ALL. AND TO MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, ISABELLA, FRANK, JAMES, MIA, AND SAUL. THANK YOU. EVERYONE'S DEDICATION, LONG HOURS, AND BELIEF IN THIS WORK HELPED MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE. YOU NEVER TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS. I KNOW I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND YOU MEET THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. TOGETHER WE ARE BUILDING A STRONGER, SAFER, MORE VIBRANT DISTRICT 7 AND CITY. AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M THANKFUL TO THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT 8 FOR ELECTING ME TO REPRESENT THEM ON THIS COUNCIL. I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND IT IS WITH DEEP SENSE OF PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CONFIDENCE IN ME. MY PLEDGE IS TO KEEP IN MIND THEIR NEEDS AND PRIORITIES THAT I HEARD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ENCOURAGED AND HELPED ME THROUGHOUT THIS LONG CAMPAIGN. I SEE SOME OF MY CAMPAIGN TEAM HERE TODAY. LAURA, CHASE WAS HERE EARLIER, JUDY, BEN, ELIZA. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME THAT YOU WERE HERE AND ALL THE WORK HAS PAID OFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH . I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND MAYOR FOR THE GOOD OF OUR GREAT CITY. ALTHOUGH I'M NEW TO COUNCIL, I CAME TO THIS JOB WITH SOME WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF CITY OPERATIONS, WHICH WILL HELP ME NAVIGATE THE DIFFICULT BUDGET SHORTFALL ISSUES WE'RE FACING AT A TIME WHEN PROJECTED STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES ARE SHRINKING. I BELIEVE SAN ANTONIO IS UP TO THE CHALLENGE TO MAKE THE COURSE CORRECTIONS NEEDED, TO MAINTAIN OUR POSITIVE GROWTH TRAJECTORY, WHILE REMAINING A COMPASSIONATE CITY WHERE NEIGHBORS ARE ALWAYS READY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. I AM CONFIDENT THAT ERIK AND HIS GREAT TEAM WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE OPTIONS TO HELP US MAKE THESE HARD DECISIONS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WILL BE UP TO US AS A COUNCIL TO SET PRIORITIES AND MAKE DECISIONS. DISTRICT 8 IS A SPARKLING JEWEL OF DIVERSITY WITH VITAL EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND HEALTHCARE RESOURCES AND SUCCESSFUL LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SERVE OUR ENTIRE REGION. WE ALSO HAVE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE WANT TO KEEP SAFE, CLEAN WITH GREAT PARKS, RESTAURANTS, BUSINESSES, AND PEACEFUL HOUSES OF WORSHIP. DISTRICT 8 HAS A LONG HISTORY OF STRONG REPRESENTATION ON COUNCIL. I INTEND TO CONTINUE THAT COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION OF MY PREDECESSORS. FINALLY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY MOTHER, CHOCO MEZA -- WHO LEFT US FAR TOO EARLY. AND MY DAD, DANIEL MEZA. MY MOTHER WAS -- [APPLAUSE] MY MOTHER WAS BORN IN MEXICO. MY DAD WAS BORN IN LAREDO. AND THEY ACTUALLY MET HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. MY DAD WAS A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL. AND MY MOM WAS DOING HER STUDENT TEACHING. THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION, THEY HAD AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND INSTILLING IN ME THE OBLIGATION WE ALL HAVE TO HELP EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY ENJOY THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY AS AMERICANS. MY MOTHER HELPED ACTUALLY CREATE THE SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT PLAN, WHICH WAS ADOPTED AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN 1977. AND 48 YEARS LATER, HERE I AM, HER DAUGHTER, SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL. WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MY HUSBAND, MANUEL [01:15:03] GONZALEZ, AND OUR TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, EMMA AND JOAQUIN. THEY CONSTANTLY REMIND ME THAT FAMILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF BUILDING A VIBRANT, INNOVATIVE, AND COMPASSIONATE CITY FILLED WITH DIVERSE CULTURAL ROOTS AND STEEPED IN A RICH HISTORY THAT IS SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WE'RE HERE TODAY NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE A CAMPAIGN VICTORY, BUT TO BEGIN THE REAL WORK. THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 9 HAVE GIVEN US OUR CHARGE. NOW WE'RE GOING TO FULFILL IT WITH DRIVE AND PURPOSE. AS A MOTHER, I'VE LEARNED THAT COMPASSION AND TOUGH LOVE GO HAND IN HAND. MOMS DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF IGNORING PROBLEMS. WE FIGURE IT OUT. WE SOLVE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I PLAN TO LEAD. I WILL WORK SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR BUSINESSES TO CREATE A CITY THAT REFLECTS WHAT WE ALL WANT: A PLACE WHERE WE FEEL SAFE, WHERE WE ARE RESPECTED, AND WHERE WE CAN THRIVE. PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT NE NEGOTIABLE. THAT MEANS FULL SUPPORT FOR POLICE, FIRE, AND EMS. NOT JUST IN WORDS BUT IN RESOURCES AND SMART INVESTMENT. THAT INCLUDES OUR DISPATCHERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS BEHIND THE SCENES. SAFETY IS THE FOUNDATION OF ANY STRONG CITY AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME. WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY DRAINAGE. THIS ISN'T JUST A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. FAMILIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AROUND OUR CITY WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING CAUGHT IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. WE NEED TO MODERNIZE AND MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT SAFETY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY GO HAND IN HAND. A GROWING, VIBRANT CITY CAN'T AFFORD TO IGNORE THESE BASICS. I'M ALSO COMMITTED TO CHANGING HOW WE THINK ABOUT HOUSING, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR SENIORS. AGING IN PLACE SHOULD NOT MEAN ISOLATION OR INDIGNITY. WE NEED TO REIMAGINE SENIOR LIVING SO THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE, FLEXIBLE, AND FILLED WITH SERVICES THAT HONOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY. DIGNITY AND AGING IS SOMETHING WE CAN AND WILL DELIVER ON. JOB CREATION IS ANOTHER PILLAR OF THIS VISION. PEOPLE DESERVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR FUTURE. THEY WANT THE DIGNITY OF WORK THAT PROVIDES FOR THEIR FAMILIES. I WANT SAN ANTONIO TO BE THE KIND OF CITY WHERE BUSINESSES CHOOSE TO HEADQUARTER AND WHERE WORKING FAMILIES DON'T JUST GET BY, THEY GET AHEAD. AND AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO HAVE WORN THE UNIFORM. OUR VETERANS HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND IT'S OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NEVER LEFT BEHIND. AND THAT MEANS ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND MAKING SAN ANTONIO A PLACE WHERE EVERY VETERAN CAN THRIVE IN CIVILIAN LIFE. HONORING THEIR SERVICE ISN'T JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT MAKES OUR CITY STRONGER. BEING KNOWN AS MILITARY CITY, USA IS MORE THAN A TITLE, IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY. WE MUST PROVIDE THE ACCESS, ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROTECT OUR EXISTING MILITARY MISSION AND SEEK TO GROW THEM. OUR MILITARY PRESENCE STRENGTHENS OUR ECONOMY, OUR CULTURE, AND OUR VALUES. AND I'LL ALWAYS FIGHT TO PROTECT IT. I'M NOT HERE TO WIN HEADLINES, I'M HERE TO DELIVER RESULTS. I'M WILLING TO BUILD BRIDGES. I'M OPEN TO IDEAS AND I'LL WORK WITH ANYONE WHO'S COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS CITY BETTER. BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. I WAS NOT ELECTED TO PLAY IT SAFE. I WAS ELECTED TO LISTEN AND TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 9, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'LL DO. NOW, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU, FIRST AND FOREMOST I THANK GOD, BECAUSE NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HIS GUIDANCE AND GRACE. I THANK MY FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY ADRIAN, SAVANNAH, SCARLET, SADIE, DUKE, ELLEN, EMILY, JAY, JAN, AND JASON, TO NAME A FEW OF MY LOVELY FAMILY MEMBERS HERE TODAY. MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, SPECIFICALLY DR. JENNIFER HENDRICKS, MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, AND COMMISSIONER GRANT MOODY. MY INCOMING STAFF AND THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 9, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN THIS VISION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. TODAY I STEP INTO THIS ROLE FULL OF HOPE, CLARITY, AND FOCUS. I KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE. I KNOW WHAT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE. OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY DESERVE EXCELLENCE. AND I PROMISE YOU THIS: I WILL SHOW UP. I WILL WORK HARD AND LEAD WITH HEART, CONVICTION, AND DETERMINATION. THANK YOU. [01:20:11] [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. FOR ME, THERE'S NOWHERE TO BEGIN, OTHER THAN THANKING MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT. MY MOM, DAD, BEAUTIFUL WIFE, AND BROTHER, SISTER, STEVE, JAN, BROOKE, KRISHNA, AND SO MANY OTHERS. I AM SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, NO MATTER WHAT I HAVE WANTED TO DO IN THIS LIFE. AND I'M VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL OF THAT LOVE AND SUPPORT. TO MY KIDS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. THIS JOB THAT I'M DOING HERE TODAY IS AWESOME. BUT NOTHING COMPARES TO BEING YOUR DAD. AT THE END OF THE DAY, SAN ANTONIO IS OUR HOME AND I DO THIS JOB TO TRY TO MAKE THIS CITY BETTER FOR EVERYONE, AND THAT OF COURSE INCLUDES YOU. YOU ALL KNOW HOW HARD I TRY TO DO THIS JOB RIGHT. BUT YOU ALSO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES DAD DOESN'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT. I MAKE MISTAKES. JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU OR BOTH OF YOU WILL MAKE IN YOUR LIFE. BUT AS I TELL YOU ALL THE TIME, IT'S HOW YOU REBOUND FROM THE MISTAKES THAT IS WHAT REALLY MATTERS. LIFE ISN'T EASY. YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP PUSHING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. AND I KNOW THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE GOING TO DO JUST THAT, AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE LADIES THAT YOU'RE BECOMING. [APPLAUSE] TO ERIK AND THE REST OF CITY STAFF, YOUR STAFF, ERIK, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR CITY. THIS JOB -- OUR CITY. THIS JOB ISN'T EASY AND YOU'VE GOT 11 PEOPLE UP HERE CONSTANTLY PEPPERING YOU WITH QUESTIONS AND DIFFERENT IDEAS AND WANTING DIFFERENT THINGS. AND YOU ALL ALWAYS ACT SO PROFESSIONALLY AND JUST SEEK TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND ALL OF THAT WORK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. TO MY TEAM, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THIS RIDE WITH ME. RAUL, CYNTHIA, LANEY, REBECCA, PAULINE, NATHAN, DELLMER, BRENNA, MAX, AND SAMANTHA. I SAY IT ALL THE TIME YOU ARE GREAT PEOPLE WITH SO MUCH TO OFFER AND DISTRICT 10 AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS SO LUCKY YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO USE YOUR TALENTS TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS. SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME, FOR OUR DISTRICT, AND THIS CITY. TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 10, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST IN ME. IT IS TRULY THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO REPRESENT THIS GREAT DISTRICT. DISTRICT 10 IS A PLACE WITH GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS, PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN FAITH, FAMILY, AND FREEDOM. I SAY IT ALL THE TIME. I FEEL LIKE I WAS MEANT TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT, AND FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS I PLAN ON DOING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF MY CONSTITUENTS. TRULY, TRULY LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE NEXT FOUR YEARS. AND, FINALLY TOO MY COLLEAGUES. SUKH, JALEN, PHYLLIS, EDWARD, TERI, RIC, MARINA, IVALIS, MISTY, AND MAYOR, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS. WE'RE BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT A NEW BUDGETING MODEL WITH MY THREE FAVORITE LETTERS. YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO SAY IT, SUKH. ZBB. SO WE'RE GOING TO HELP SPEND OUR MONEY MORE WISELY. WE'VE DONE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE'VE ADDED FUNDING FOR MORE THAN 170 NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND WE GOT THAT CONTRACT FOR OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE DONE SO MUCH. THE CITY IS DOING FINE BUT THE CITY COULD BE DOING SO MUCH MORE. I WANT Y'ALL TO THINK ABOUT THIS. WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THAT COUNTRY. AND THE 11 OF US GET TO [01:25:04] REPRESENT IT AND GUIDE THIS CITY INTO THE FUTURE. WE ARE 11 DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH MANY DIFFERENT BELIEFS. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE DISAGREEMENTS. BUT IF WE DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY AND THEN WE AGREE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON WHATEVER THE NEXT ISSUE IS, I BELIEVE THAT OUR COLLECTIVE TALENT AND OUR SHARED PASSION FOR SAN ANTONIO IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO TAKE THIS CITY TO HEIGHTS THAT IT HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. BUT WE CANNOT GET DISTRACTED BY WHATEVER THE LATEST HOT-BUTTON POLITICALLY-DIVISIVE ISSUE IS. AS SUKH SAID EARLIER, THIS IS THE CLOSEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE. AND EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN WE COME TO ASK OURSELVES ONE QUESTION: HOW CAN WE USE OUR RESOURCES, WHICH ARE LIMITED, AS WE KNOW, TO MOST DIRECTLY AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS. AND, REALLY, IT COMES DOWN TO THREE MAIN THINGS. IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN OUR CITY FEELS SAFE. IT'S ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING SURE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS UP TO PAR SO EVERYONE CAN DRIVE ON SAFE ROADS, WALK ON SAFE SIDEWALKS. AND WE HAVE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS THAT WORK. AND THEN IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS CITY MORE PROSPEROUS? HOW CAN WE CREATE MORE JOBS, GOOD-PAYING JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND WE CAN LIFT EVERYBODY UP IN ALL FOUR CORNERS OF SAN ANTONIO. I AM CONFIDENT THAT IF WE STAY FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND, THE NEXT FOUR YEARS ARE GOING TO BE GREAT FOR OUR CITY. I'M HONORED TO SERVE WITH YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO TOGETHER. THANKS, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. LET ME AGAIN EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE UP HERE WHO HAD A TOUGH CAMPAIGN AND NOW, AS REFLECTED IN THEIR COMMENTS, EVERYONE IS MAKING SURE THAT WE MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD TOGETHER WITH EVERYBODY IN MIND. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY STAFF THAT HAS WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS THE TRANSITION POSSIBLE, IN PARTICULAR THE CLERK AS WELL AS ERIK AND THE TEAM. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE I CERTAINLY THANK MY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE FLOWN IN. MY FRIENDS. MY PARTNER, ANGELICA, MY MOM, WHO CONTINUES TO GUIDE ME IN ALL WAYS. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I THANK THE CAMPAIGN TEAM THAT GOT ME HERE. THAT WORKED VERY, VERY HARD. AS YOU ALL SAW, AGAINST VERY HIGH ODDS WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO REMINDED EVERYBODY THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS TWO THINGS: COMPASSION AND COMMON SENSE. YOU VOTED FOR ME OR DIDN'T VOTE FOR ME OR DIDN'T VOTE. YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL UP HERE, AGAIN, IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE YOUR BEST POSSIBLE LIFE HERE IN THE GREATEST CITY, AS MENTIONED, IN OUR COUNTRY. I THINK WHEN WE GO THROUGH EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS, THEY ARE OFTENTIMES OPPORTUNITIES TO REFLECT, AS THE ARCHBISHOP REMINDS US. WE REFLECT CERTAINLY ON WHO HELPED US GET HERE AND THE THINGS THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH THAT HAVE STEELED US. STEELED US IN MANY WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE GOING. AS MENTIONED, I AM ALWAYS GUIDED BY MY MOM'S EXAMPLE. MY MOM CAME TO THIS COUNTRY OVER 40 YEARS AGO. SHE GRADUATED FROM THE NUMBER ONE UNIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES BUT CAME HERE AS A DOMESTIC HELPER. MY UNCLE JOINED THE U.S. NAVY IN 1967 AS A MEMBER OF THE NAVY STEWARD PROGRAM. THE NAVY WAS RECRUITING FILIPINO MEN TO DO MENIAL JOBS. BUT, AGAIN, SO MOTIVATED BY A CHANCE AT THE AMERICAN DREAM. MY MOM AND MY UNCLE HUMBLED THEMSELVES FOR A CHANCE AT THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND SO THEY INSTILLED IN MY SISTER AND I THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE GAVE BACK TO THIS VERY SPECIAL COUNTRY. IT IS WHY MY SISTER PROUDLY SERVES IN THE NAVY TO THIS DAY AND I WAS HONORED TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN A NUMBER OF WAYS IN UNIFORM AND OUT OF UNIFORM. I'M ALSO QUITE THANKFUL OF THE IMMEDIATE INVESTMENTS BY THIS COMMUNITY. I MEAN, THIS IS AN EXIT 7 KID, TITLE I, NORTHSIDE INDEPENDENT [01:30:06] SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M PROUDLY JOINED HERE BY MR. CALVIN WHO TAUGHT AT JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL FOR OVER 40 YEARS, A MENTOR OF MINE, AND IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR COMMUNITY INVESTS IN SMART KIDS. MY TIME IN PUBLIC SERVICE HAS SHOWN ME THAT TRUE NATIONAL SECURITY STARTS AT HOME WITH A STRONG MIDDLE CLASS, INVESTING IN SMART, HEALTHY KIDS . AND IT REQUIRES ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT UNDERSTAND TO WHOM THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE. AND IT IS ALWAYS THE PEOPLE. IT'S ALWAYS THE PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHOM SHOULDERS MANY OF US UP HERE, AS COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN MENTIONED, THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD TIME THAT YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG BOYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MADAME MAYOR. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, EQUALLY FOR OUR YOUNG GIRLS AND OUR YOUNG BOYS. [APPLAUSE] SO I KNOW THE HONORABLE MARIA DE ZAVAL IS IN THE ROOM. PLEASE STAND. I WANT TO THANK THE HONORABLE ROSIE CASTRO AS WELL. THE HONORABLE -- THE OTHERS ARE NOT IN THE ROOM BUT CERTAINLY HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE SO THAT I COULD BE HERE TODAY. ANISE PARKER, THE FIRST OUT MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY TO LEAD A TEXAS CITY. CERTAINLY EVEN THE EXAMPLE OF GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS. [APPLAUSE] MANY OF US AGAIN, AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH, ARE STEELED, NOT ONLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE, BUT, AGAIN, WHAT WE ARE FACING. AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE ALSO VERY COGNIZANT OF THE HEADWINDS FACING OUR COMMUNITY. BE THEY FISCAL, BUT ALSO BE THEY FUNDAMENTALLY ATTACKS ON AMERICAN CHARACTER AND AMERICANS' ABILITY TO LEAD. AND ATTACKS ON -- THE ARCHBISHOP REMINDS US TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE MOST VULNERABLE. SHOW ME HOW YOU TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE AND I WILL SHOW YOU YOUR CHARACTER. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY THROUGH OUR BUDGETING PROCESS, WE CAN CERTAINLY INCORPORATE COMPASSION INTO ZBB, COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE, AND WE WILL DO THAT, TO ENSURE THAT AGAIN WE ARE LIVING OUR VALUES AS BEST WE CAN HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS A VERY TALENTED GROUP. I THINK YOU JUST HEARD. CERTAINLY BY THE REMARKS OF COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT SHE OUTLINED AND WHAT SHE ACCOMPLISHED IN HER DISTRICT. I THINK WHEN YOU ALSO LOOK AT THE BACKGROUNDS OF THESE FINE PUBLIC SERVANTS, THERE IS A LOT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR OUR CITY. AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE WE ADDRESS THE INEQUITY NORTH AND SOUTH OF 90. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE SENIOR HOUSING IN DISTRICT 9, WHICH I AGREE WE NEED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. OR WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A JUSTICE SYSTEM, THAT IS TRULY REFLECTIVE, NOT ONLY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE'RE THINKING OF EXPANSIVELY ANIMAL CONTROL, AS COUNCILMEMBER SUKH JUST DESCRIBED. BUT ALSO A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES AS BEST ABLE. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN I MENTIONED SOME OF THE GREAT WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED AHEAD OF US, THAT HAVE MADE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE, AT TIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAN MAYBE BE DISTRACTED OR QUESTION OUR OWN PATH FORWARD, WE'RE REMINDED, FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT THE GREAT WORDS AND THE VERY SIMPLE WAY OF WHAT THE HONORABLE BARBARA JORDAN SAID. CONGRESS MEMBER OUT OF THE HOUSTON AREA, AT THE TIME. AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT IS VERY SIMPLE. THEY WANT AN AMERICA AS GOOD AS ITS PROMISE. RIGHT? AND SO IF WE EVER ARE CONFUSED ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, FUNDAMENTALLY IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT DO WE WANT FOR OURSELVES. THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALSO WANT AND ALSO WHAT THEY DESERVE. SO I KNOW WITH THIS TALENTED [01:35:02] GROUP OF FOLKS UP HERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD, MAKE SMART INVESTMENTS, MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE REFLECT THE VALUES AND THE PROMISE AND THE CAPACITY AND THE TALENTS OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY. THERE WILL BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INTO THE DETAILS AND PLANS, BUT I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LEVELSET HOW WE ARE GOING TO APPROACH THERE AND THE CHARACTER THIS DAIS WILL HAVE MOVING FORWARD. WITH THAT, ERNIE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE ONE MORE TIME FOR MAYOR JONES AND YOUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. CONGRATULATIONS, ONCE AGAIN. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME UP TO THE DAIS HERE, SAN ANTONIO'S OWN POET LAUREATE, EDUARDO EDDIE DEGA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR STICKING AROUND FOR THIS WHOLE THING. IT SEEMS LIKE A SEVEN-HOUR CEREMONY. NO, I'M KIDDING. I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 4:00, WHICH MEANS THE MORE TIME I SPEND HERE THE MORE I WANT TO WRITE AND PUT INTO THIS POEM. SO BEAR WITH ME, BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW COMPOSITION. MADAME MAYOR, ESTEEMED COUNCILPERSONS, COUNCIL MOM AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FAMILIES, HONORED GUESTS. THIS SPOT OF EARTH FULL OF BALD CYPRESS AND LIVE OAK THAT SEEM TO WELCOME THE DAWN AND MORNING DOES PROVIDE THE FIRST CALL TO BREAKFAST. TACOS. AND THIS PLACE, YANAWANA, AND OF THE SPIRIT WATERS IS SACRED. THEY NAMED IT SAN ANTONIO FOR THE FRIAR OF PADUA. SAN ANTONIO, WE F FIND OURSELVES HERE. IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL, DOWNTOWN NEXT TO THE CATHEDRAL WHERE OUR HEROES REST AND TO WHERE SOUTH SIDERS WILL BRING THEIR BREAKFAST TACOS. WEST SIDERS WILL BRING THEIR BARBACOA. EAST SIDERS WILL BRING THEIR BARBECUE. AND NORTH SIDERS WILL BRING THEIR KIDS TO WATCH THE NUTCRACKER AT THE MAJESTIC. SAN ANTONIO, WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS MOMENT. IN JANUARY WE MARCHED FOR A KING AND MARCH MARCHED FOR A CESAR. SUMMER STARTED BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. IT WILL LAST UNTIL NOVEMBER. MAYBE DECEMBER. WHEN WE'LL FIND OURSELVES IN THE WINTER OF OUR THIS IS STILL TOO WARM TO BE WEARING THAT BIG FLUFFY SUIT. SO WE'LL HAVE POSADAS AND STROLL THE RIVER WALK LIT UP IN TWINKLES AND SPARKLES. NOW IT'S JUNE. AFTER FIESTA SOME OF YOU WALKED THROUGH THOSE DOORS. THE REST OF YOU HAD TO KEEP RUNNING A LITTLE LONGER. AND IT'S JUNE. AND MAYBE THINGS GOT HEATED BUT YOU'VE MADE IT INTO THIS AIR-CONDITIONED BUILDING AND IT'S TIME TO BE COOL. AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WE ASK YOU TO COOPERATE. AS YOUR COMMUNITY WE ASK YOU TO COME THROUGH. AS YOUR PUEBLO WE ASK YOU TO BE WE FIND OURSELVES IN A CITY THAT NEVER TIRES OF HISTORY. WHERE NATIVE PEOPLE MORE OR LESS WELCOME THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS. FAIR-COLLECTED PEOPLE THAT SPOKE SPANISH. OUR FIRST ALCALDES WERE TEJANOS UNTIL MORE CAME SPEAKING GERMAN AND ENGLISH. TODAY WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS, THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, WITH A MAYOR WHO SPEAKS PRIDE AND PROGRESS AND REPRESENTATION AND FAMILY AND INSPIRATION AND FOUR MEN AND SEVEN WOMEN WILL LEAD US. AND SAN ANTONIO WILL CONTINUE TO BE A LIGHT SET UPON THE FOOT OF THE HILL COUNTRY THAT WILL NOT BE HIDDEN, WILL NOT BE PUT UNDER A BASKET. WILL BE PUT ON A LAMPSTAND TO LIGHT UP THIS HOUSE WE CALL AMERICA. WE FIND OURSELVES IN YANAGUANA AND WE LOOK TO GINA, SUKH, TERI, RIC, MARINA, IVALIS, MISTY, AND MARC TO LOOK TOWARD OUR FUTURE AND CONTINUE TO ASK ETERNAL SAN ANTONIO QUESTIONS. WHERE IS THE BASEMENT TO THE ALAMO? IS THIS THE YEAR THAT THE SPURS GET THE SIXTH TITLE? WHEN WILL COMMERCE STREET BE FINISHED? REGARDLESS, WE FIND OURSELVES [01:40:05] IN THIS CHAMBER, THE PEOPLE OF ZARZAMORA, AC SOUTHWEST MILITARY, CULEBRA, COMMERCE, NOGALITOS, WE ARE ROOSEVELT, WURZBACH, MARBACH, POTRANCO. WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD, MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE AND ROSA PARKS WAY. WE ARE NORTH SIDE, EAST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE, WEST SIDE, YANAGUANA, WE FOUND OURSELVES HOME RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE . OKAY. THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO CONCLUDE OUR INAUGURATION CEREMONY THIS EVENING. SO AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO ASK ALL OF OUR GUESTS IN FRONT OF ME TO PLEASE REMAIN SEATED AS WE DISMISS OUR DAIS HERE, OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, AND CITY ATTORNEY. WE'RE GOING TO DISMISS ALL OF THEM. I ASK EVERYBODY HERE TO BE SEATED AND REMAIN SEATED. WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO THAT AS THE COLOR GUARD, UNTIL THEY HAVE COME AND RETRIEVED THE FLAGS AND PROCEEDED THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'LL ASK FOR ONE MORE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND CONGRATULATE OUR NEW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WHILE THE COLORS ARE BEING RETRIEVED, WE WILL ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ARE DISMISSED. THEY'RE HEADED TO A PRIVATE CEREMONY. MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT. BUT FIRST WE'LL RETRIEVE THE COLORS. [DRUMMING] >> THANK YOU, AGAIN. WE'LL ASK OUR GUESTS TO REMAIN SEATED. ALL OF YOU ARE DISMISSED. THANK Y * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.