* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [City Council Inauguration Virtual Ceremony] [00:00:10] GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING IN FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SWEARING IN OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, ALEKS, UH, WHO WERE ELECTED DURING THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION, UH, OR THE DECEMBER RUNOFF. IT IS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6TH, UH, 2021, UH, UH, 6:02 PM IN THE EVENING. I WORK IN A CONDUCT, A SWEARING IN CEREMONY VIRTUALLY IS ALLOWED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND THE RELATED, UH, SUSPENSION OF A CERTAIN OPEN MEETING, UH, STATUTES. UH, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO WHEN THE ENTIRE COUNCIL IS PRESENT AT OUR FIRST MEETING, UH, AT THE END OF THE MONTH, UH, UH, HAVE A CEREMONIAL OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, TO AGAIN, WELCOME, UH, THE, THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE REINSTALLATION OF THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY SERVING. UH, AND, UH, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, WITH, UH, THE ENTIRE, UH, DIOCESE, UH, PRESENT. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, THE HONORABLE SHERRIE STATMAN, WHO'S THE PRESIDING JUDGE AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT. WHO'S GOING TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE IN DISTRICT, OR JUDGE THAT, HELLO, WE'RE STARTING WITH DISTRICT TWO. IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT, MS. WINTERS, IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME, I CHRISTIAN VANESSA WEDNESDAYS, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR? I CHRISTIAN VANESSA DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OSS OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO OF THE OPPOSITE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO OF THE STATE OF TEXAS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. CASAR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, RICK OREO, RIGHT? COSAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. I GOT TO GO AUDIO, GREG GOSSARD DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THAT'S KELLY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. REPEAT AFTER ME. I, MACKENZIE KELLY DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. AYE. MACKENZIE KELLY DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT SIX OF THE STATE OF TEXAS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, [00:05:01] AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD, CONGRATULATIONS. MS. POOLE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. AYE. LESLIE POOL, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. AYE. LESLIE POOL DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE AUSTIN OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AT THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, AND OF THE STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MS. ALTER. YOU'D REPEAT AFTER ME. I ALISON ALTER DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. I ALISON ALTER, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 OF THE DUTY OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, WELL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION FOR SERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAW AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD, AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME, GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO JUDGE STATMAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY, AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. UH, CONGRATULATIONS COLLEAGUES. UH, I WANT TO, UH, INVITE EACH OF THE NEWLY ELECTED AND REELECTED MEMBERS TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. WE'LL GO AND DISTRICT ORDER, UH, AGAIN, UH, SO LET'S BEGIN, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OF WET. UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. WHEN AS NATCHEZ, I'M HONORED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND REPRESENT THE DISTRICT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT TWO WHO HAVE PLACED THIS TRUST IN ME, I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO FORGED AN INDEPENDENT PATH TO WIN THE SEAT. ONE THAT IS ROOTED IN PROGRESSIVE VALUES AND GUIDED BY THE COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS PART OF THE PROCESS IN MY COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A SAYING NO DECISION ABOUT US WITHOUT US. AND I INTEND TO HONOR THAT COMMITMENT AND TO DO ALL THAT I CAN WITH THE POWER THAT IS VESTED IN THIS OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT MY COMMUNITY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT THINKING THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICES YOU MADE AND THE SACRIFICES YOU'VE MADE TO ENSURE THAT I RECEIVED A QUALITY EDUCATION AND FOR INSTILLING IN ME THE VALUES OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND HARD WORK, YOU TAUGHT ME THAT CANANAS ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND TO MY FAMILIA, THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, CURTIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENDURING LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTING ME. WHEN I MADE THE DECISION TO RUN DURING [00:10:01] OUR NEWLYWED HERE, NOT ONLY WERE YOU UNDERSTANDING ABOUT JUST HOW IMPORTANT TAKING THIS RISK WOULD BE FOR ME TO PURSUE MY PASSION, BUT YOU WENT ALL IN STAYING UP THOSE LATE NIGHTS TO HELP ME PROOFREAD MY QUESTIONNAIRES, TO PUTTING OUT SIGNS ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, TO JUST LETTING ME VENT WHEN I NEEDED TO THANK YOU AND TO MY INCREDIBLE TEAM, LISA KING, DIANA, MY ROCK STAR CAMPAIGN MANAGER, WHO BROUGHT THE ENERGY AND THE GRIT. THANK YOU FOR LEADING OUR SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. AND ONE THAT WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, TO JACQUELINE YOUR SD FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO GOD. LOWE'S MARTINEZ HELPING ME LAUNCH OUR WEEKLY TACO TRUCK TALKS AS A WAY TO CREATIVELY ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY, AMID THE PANDEMIC AND TO SUPPORT SMALL BIZ TO THE WOODIES, ROY AND SUSANNAH FOR WELCOMING ME TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR BEING ONE OF THE FIRST TO BELIEVE IN THE MOVEMENT WE WERE BUILDING BIANCA GARCIA, MY INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN TREASURER, WHO WAS RAISED IN WHAT IS NOW DISTRICT TWO AND TWO ARE VOLUNTEERS WHO POWERED OUR MOVEMENT THEN. YEAH, KYLE TALENT, BOLA TAYLOR RILEY, SOUL GARMENT, LAURA AND VIRGINIA, AND THEN LAUREN. SO, SO MANY MORE, UH, JUST VERY SPECIAL. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW NANCY SMITH AND TO ARLENE NIXON WHO JOINED OUR WEEKLY PHONE BANKS FOR MONTHS EVERY WEEK TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT WHEN MASCARAS YES, TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THOSE TACO TRUCK TALKS FOR EVERY VOLUNTEER HOUR LOGS AND FOR EACH CONTRIBUTION THAT WAS MADE TO POWER, OUR SUCCESSFUL GRASSROOTS VICTORY. THANK YOU. RUNNING A CAMPAIGN, A METTA PLANT PANDEMIC HAS MADE THE STAKES VERY CLEAR. WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE IN AUSTIN. THAT IS JUST AS DIVIDED TODAY AS IT WAS NEARLY A CENTURY AGO, OR WE CAN CONTINUE THE TOUGH WORK OF ADDRESSING THESE INEQUALITIES DEMANDED BY OUR COMMUNITIES. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD JUDGE AUSTIN STANDING IS ONE OF THE BEST CITIES TO LIVE IN BY JUST HOW WELL THE EVERYDAY AUSTINITE IS DOING. MY IMMEDIATE FOCUS WILL BE IN SERVING MY COMMUNITY DURING THIS TIME OF CRISIS TO ENSURE THAT OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES RECEIVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COVID VACCINES AND TO HELP BUILD TRUST IN, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. AND AS I THINK ABOUT THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN AS A NATION AMID THE CHAOS THAT WE WITNESSED TODAY AT THE US CAPITOL AS A STATE AND AS A COMMUNITY, I STAND COMMITTED TO THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE UNTIL JUSTICE IS REALIZED FOR ALL FOR THESE ARE MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH. AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE IN THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND HAVING A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD FOOD ON THE TABLE. HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE SAFETY AND A JOB THAT PAYS A LIVABLE WAGE AND THE ABILITY TO SECURE A LOAN TO START OR TO SAVE A BUSINESS. AND THE SAFETY OF LIVING IN A WELL-LIT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH CONNECTED SIDEWALKS AND DECENT STREETS AND QUALITY SCHOOLS NEARBY AND SAFETY, AND BEING ABLE TO CALL A FIRST RESPONDER, WHO'S WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE AND IF A DANGEROUS SITUATION ARISES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SAFETY AND KNOWING THAT OUR SYSTEMS AND OUR INSTITUTIONS RECOGNIZE AND HONOR OUR HUMANITY AND OUR DIGNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AUSTIN FOR GETTING THIS SMALL TOWN GIRL FROM THE HEART ATTACKS IS A SHOT WHEN THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS COUNCIL MEMBER, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. I WANT TO START OUT BY, UH, BY THANKING, UH, MY DISTRICT FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH, UH, THIS IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THINKING, UH, MY SUPPORTERS ARE THINKING MY PINKY, MY FAMILY THAT'S WATCHING TODAY. I'LL SHOW THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, THAT A CITY RIGHT HERE ON THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE, UH, AND THINKING EVERY DAY AUSTINITES OUR DEMOCRACY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL. IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER, TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE OUR COLLECTIVE DESTINY. RECENTLY WE'VE FELT CONSTANT ATTACKS ON OUR DEMOCRACY. TODAY'S VIOLENT STORMING OF OUR NATION'S CAPITOL IS AMONG THE MOST DISTURBING AND BLATANT OF THESE ATTACKS, BUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY HAS STOOD STRONG THESE LAST FEW YEARS AND DEMANDING MORE DEMOCRACY. NOT LESS. AUSTIN HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO OPENING THE DOOR WIDER FOR MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE SELF-DETERMINATION AND DIGNITY AND PROSPERITY. EVEN IN THE FACE, UNPRECEDENTED ACTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE STOOD BY PRINCIPLES. WE CAN BE PROUD OF BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR MORALS HAVE DEMANDED IT. [00:15:01] WHEN IN RETALIATION FOR IMMIGRANT FRIENDLY POLICIES, FEDERAL AGENTS WERE SENT TO OUR DISTRICT TO TEAR FAMILIES APART. WE DIDN'T BACK DOWN. WE LED THE COUNTRY WITH OUR ANTI DEPORTATION POLICIES AND OUR DEPORTATION DEFENSE FUNDS, AUSTIN RALLIED AND SAID, NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE BORN, WHERE YOU COME FROM, YOU'RE PART OF OUR FAMILY. YOU'RE PART OF OUR CITY. WE RE WE RAISED WAGES FOR THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN OUR CITY FROM SEVEN 25 TO $15 AN HOUR. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS CLOSED INEXCUSABLE TAX LOOPHOLES FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROPERTIES IN THE CITY, SO THAT WE COULD PAY FOR THE VITAL PROGRAMS THAT COMMUNITIES NEED. WE INVESTED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A WAY THAT THIS CITY AND THE STATE HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE FOR ALL OF THAT. WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AND FOR WHAT WE STAND FOR. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF A CITY THAT CARES ABOUT THOSE VALUES AND HAS PUSHED US EVEN WHEN WE ARE SWIMMING UPSTREAM. WHEN STATE LEADERS TRIED TO CLOSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD OR OVERRIDE OUR COVID PROTECTIONS OR TAKE AWAY OUR SICK DAYS, RULES, AUSTIN DIDN'T GIVE UP. WE KEPT CLINICS OPEN. WE RALLIED OUR COMMUNITY TO WEAR MASKS AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. WE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED IN THIS MOMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISIS, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THAT'S NOT JUST US, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE RALLIED TOGETHER WITH OUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY TO SAVE LIVES. WHEN AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF AUSTINITES AND AMERICANS, MARCH SAYING THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER, WE RESPONDED, WE AREN'T PERFECT, BUT ON THIS DIET, WE CAME TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT ALMOST NO OTHER CITY IN THIS COUNTRY DID BY PASSING A TRANSFORMATIVE BUDGET THAT BEGINS TO TRULY PRIORITIZE RACIAL JUSTICE, TRULY PRIORITIZE CIVIL RIGHTS AND A BUDGET THAT CAN MAKE OUR CITY SAFER FOR ALL PEOPLE. OUR WORK IS FAR FROM OVER AND TOO MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN NEEDLESSLY LOST, BUT OUR COMMUNITY'S BRAVERY HAS SET US ON THE RIGHT PATH. SO MY MESSAGE TODAY REALLY IS OF GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK. IT'S YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE OUR COMMUNITIES SO MUCH AND WHO CONTINUE TO DEMAND BETTER, NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR EVERYONE. I RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THIS MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY TODAY. MY PLEDGE IS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND ITS PROMISE. IT'S HARD TO FEEL LIKE YOUR CITY IS WORKING FOR YOU, IF YOU CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN IT. SO OUR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC POLICIES MUST CHANGE IN THE INTEREST OF EVERYDAY FOLKS. IT'S HARD TO FEEL LIKE OUR CITY IS WORKING WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO LIVE ON THE STREETS. WE MUST END HOMELESSNESS FOR THE THOUSANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITHOUT HOMES, AND REALLY FOR THE SOUL OF OUR CITY, THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO CAUSE DEEP HARM TO EVERYDAY FAMILIES AND TO JOB'S WELLBEING AND OUR WELLBEING. AND IT'S TAKING LIVES. WE MUST GET EVERYONE VACCINATED AND HAVE A FAIR AND INCLUSIVE RECOVERY IN EACH CASE, THE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH ALL OF US. AND I KNOW THAT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THE ANSWER IS A MORE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY THAT PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO OFTEN LEFT OUT. I KNOW WE'RE UP TO THE TASK AS AUSTIN, BECAUSE I KNOW THE HEART AND THE COMMITMENT IN THIS CITY. AND SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WHO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED IN THESE ROLES CAN GET IT DONE BECAUSE OF YOU. THANK YOU. UH, AND NOW, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME MONEY? YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU NEIGHBORS ALL ACROSS THE CITY WHO ARE WATCHING TONIGHT. I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED TO BE SERVING AS YOUR DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCIL PERSON. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT OUR PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL PERSON WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING THE NEEDS OF OUR DISTRICT IN A WAY THAT IS MORE COLLABORATIVE AND LESS DIVISIVE THAN OUR CURRENT CLIMATE. POLITICALLY, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND I WILL WORK TO HELP MAKE THOSE PROBLEMS BE SOLVED. I WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I WILL ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IS EQUALLY REPRESENTED REGARDLESS OF IF YOU VOTED FOR ME OR NOT. FINALLY, UM, THE DISTURBING VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW AT THE CAPITOL DAY WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED BY ANYONE. AND MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT INCIDENT TODAY. I HOPE THAT AS A CITY, WE ARE ABLE TO SHINE BRIGHTLY AS AN EXAMPLE FOR HOW WE CAN [00:20:01] WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME GOALS, WHICH SHOULD BE TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING MY CONSTITUENTS FOR TRUSTING ME TO CONTINUE AS YOUR A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN. IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT AND THE BROADER AUSTIN COMMUNITY. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT A CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT YEAR 2020 WAS FOR OUR CITY AND TO RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO HELP AND HEAL EACH OTHER. I KNOW THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS, PARTICULARLY ATX EMERGENCY SUPPLY AND THE AUSTIN LATINO COALITION. THANK YOU. MOST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR INCREDIBLE CITY STAFF WHO SHOW US EVERY DAY WITH THEIR HARD WORK AND FIERCE DEDICATION TO OUR RESIDENTS. WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE TRULY LOOKS LIKE? THANK YOU. ALL THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS DEVASTATED OUR FAMILIES AND EXPOSED LONGSTANDING INEQUALITIES INJUSTICES THAT THE NATION HAS TOLERATED FOR TOO LONG. AND FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND MIKE RAMOS, THE PEACEFUL PROTESTS THAT CONTINUED OVER MANY WEEKS COULD NOT BE DENIED AS A COMMUNITY. AND AS A COUNCIL, WE TOOK BOLD STEPS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THESE INEQUITIES. AND I'M PROUD THAT WE MOVE SO SWIFTLY WITH DETERMINATION TO UNITE AROUND POSITIVE CHANGE ALONG THE WAY, HOWEVER, AND LARGELY INFORMING THESE MAJOR CHALLENGES OF 2020 WAS THE EXTREME PARTISAN DISCOURSE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND ITS AFFECTS WERE INESCAPABLE AND CORROSIVE. EVEN AT OUR LOCAL LEVEL. WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT WANTING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S A LOT TO KEEP LESSONS LEARNED, PERHAPS SUCH AS WHEN WE ALL PULLED TOGETHER, WE CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE FOSTER A SENSE OF STRENGTH IN UNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AS I BEGIN THIS NEXT TERM, I PROMISE TO STRIVE FOR THAT STRENGTH IN UNITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND ALL OF AUSTIN. IT'S THIS GOAL OF UNITY THAT GIVES ME HOPE IT IS IN UNITY, THAT WE WILL MOST SUCCESSFULLY TACKLE THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES AHEAD OF US IN MY NEXT TERM, THE GREATEST PRIORITY, OF COURSE, WE'LL BE GUIDING OUR CITY THROUGH OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND WE MUST KEEP ON WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS. WE MAY FACE THE VERY WORST OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE COMING WEEKS, AND WE MUST PREPARE OURSELVES FOR A POTENTIAL HOSPITAL CRISIS. SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE MUST SUCCESSFULLY DISTRIBUTE AND ADMINISTER VACCINES AND ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD. AND WE MUST TAP INTO EVERY RESOURCE TO ENSURE A STRONG ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND TO SAFEGUARD THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION. IN 2020, I WAS PROUD TO BRING THE SHOP, THE BLOCK INITIATIVE TO HELP BUSINESSES SAFELY OPERATE DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND NOW WE MUST THESE EVERY POTENTIAL TOOL AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY COMES ALONG. LEST WE LOSE THE WORKERS AND THE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE OUR CITY SO SPECIAL. LOCAL RESTAURANTS IN PARTICULAR ARE STRUGGLING AND WE NEED TO DO MORE. WE MUST USE THE LESSONS LEARNED HERE TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TOWARD RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISASTERS AND INEQUITY COMMUNITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE WILL BE A FOCUS FOR ME IN THIS TERM. AS WE WORK TO EMERGE STRONGER AND BETTER TOGETHER TO MORE POLICY AREAS, HOMELESSNESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUE TO BE PRO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. FOR ME, OUR CITY'S RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORT IS MAKING IMPORTANT PROGRESS. AND I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE TRULY READY FOR A NEW CADET CLASS IMMEDIATELY. FOLLOWING THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE ALL ANXIOUS OVER THESE OPEN ISSUES, BUT I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE GET THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR EFFORTS AROUND REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN, CONTINUE. WE MUST REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS ON HOUSING NECESSARY, WRAPAROUND SOCIAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS, THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAS PROVEN ITS SUCCESS. [00:25:01] SO LET'S EXPAND UPON IT IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC ASSETS. PROJECT CONNECT COULD NOT BE MORE TIMELY. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I AM COMMITTED TO TAKING ON A NEW LEADERSHIP ROLE AT CAP METRO TO SERVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO IMPROVING SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY WITH OUR TRANSIT AUTHORITY PARTNERS. I REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE CITY'S CHARM AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THIS CITY HAS ALWAYS REGARDED ITS ENVIRONMENT AS ONE OF ITS GREATEST ASSETS. EVERY CITIZEN, REGARDLESS OF INCOME DESERVES ACCESS TO PARKS, GREENERY AND BEAUTY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED ACCESS TO PARKS AND FRESH AIR IMPROVES PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. SO LET'S REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE EVEN MORE OPEN SPACE AND PARK LANDS. WE SHOULD EXPLORE REGIONAL POLITICAL COMPACTS WITH SURROUNDING CITIES AND COUNTIES TO COORDINATE THE ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL GREEN OPEN SPACES THAT ALL CAN SHARE. CITIES ARE MORE THAN CONCRETE. AND FINALLY, A FEW BENEDICT'S THREE WORDS OF GRATITUDE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, KEENLY ATTUNED TO THE CURRENT BURDENS. WE FACE, I OWE MUCH TO THE MANY WOMEN LEADERS WHO HAVE DONE THIS WORK IN THE PAST, AND THOSE WHO NOW SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THE LIST OF WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR LOCAL AREA IS LONG AND THE WOMEN ARE LEGENDARY AND POWERFUL AND INSPIRING. AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR INSIGHTS AND DILIGENCE AND PRESENCE OF MIND. I LEAN ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO INFORM MINE. AND NOW AFTER THE STORMS WE'VE WEATHERED, THIS COUNCIL HAS RENEWED ENERGY TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF THE YEAR AHEAD. I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO BE ON THIS DIOCESE. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN THE COMPANY OF SO MANY DEAR FRIENDS AND VALUED COLLEAGUES, RESTORING EQUILIBRIUM THROUGH CONSENSUS IS OUR JOB ONE AND TWO CLOSE AND REFLECTING ON THE IMAGES WE ALL OBSERVED IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL TODAY. TONIGHT, WE HONOR THE SACRED RITUALS OF THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER THAT SAFEGUARD OUR DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. AS A SWEARING IN THIS SHOULD BE A NIGHT THAT IS FULL OF LOTS OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS OF GRATITUDE, EXCITEMENT, AND NEW BEGINNINGS TODAY, RIGHT? AND THRILLED THAT WE LIVE IN IT IS ALSO FULL OR COSTIN RESPONSIBILITY ADAPTATION. AND FRANKLY, IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, EMOTIONAL WHIPLASH, I WON RE-ELECTION LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, BUT IN SOME WAYS, DECEMBER 15TH OR EVEN FRANKLY, JANUARY 5TH FEELS LIKE A YEAR AGO, GIVEN ALL THAT IS GOING ON. AND AS I REFLECTED ON WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT, I KEPT RETURNING TO THE IRONY OF SWEARING, AN OATH TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE VERY SAME DAY THAT THE FAILURE OF OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO SO HAS BEEN SO OBVIOUS AND ON DISPLAY FOR THE WORLD TO SEE TODAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER DAY, I CAN REMEMBER. AND WE'VE HAD QUITE AN EVENTFUL TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. EACH OF US HAS BEEN FORCED TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE MOCKERY OF OUR DEMOCRACY TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE DOUBLE STANDARDS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE STARKLY DIFFERENT RESPONSE TO TODAY'S TERRORIST ACTIONS BY PROTESTORS COMPARE TO THE SUMMER'S CALLS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. WE ARE PROCESSING THESE EVENTS IN DC, STILL UNFOLDING. AS I SPEAK WHILE OBSERVING AN OUTPOURING OF DEMOCRATIC COMMITMENT AND PARTICIPATION FROM A MULTIRACIAL COALITION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS JEWS, HISPANICS, WHITES, ASIANS, AND GEORGIA, AS ELECTED LEADERS AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COUNTRY. I HOPE WE FIND STRENGTH TO WORK TOGETHER TO THIS CROSSROADS IN THE DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS TO COME HERE IN AUSTIN. TONIGHT, AS MY COLLEAGUE JUST MENTIONED, WE GATHER TO MARK A PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER IN OUR OWN CITY. WE REMEMBER THAT THOSE OF US BEING SWORN IN ARE ASSUMING OR REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO LEAD RESPONSIBLY AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, LET TODAY'S EVENTS REMIND US EVERY DAY OF THE OATH THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY, OUR COUNTRY, NOTHING IS NORMAL OR USUAL ABOUT THIS DAY. UH, BUT [00:30:01] I DO WANT TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT WELCOME TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUES, VANESSA FONTUS AND MACKENZIE KELLY, AND TO CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUES, GREG AND LESLIE. I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE DIOCESE TO IMPROVE BOSTON. FOR ME, IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AUSTIN AND DISTRICT 10. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE VOTERS, VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY WHO BELIEVED IN MY LEADERSHIP AND JOINED IN SUPPORT OF MY REELECTION CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU TO THE MANY NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, PRECINCT CHAIRS, UNIONS, ENVIRONMENTALIST, ELECTED, OFFICIAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVERYDAY AUSTINITES OF ALL STRIPES WHO STOOD WITH ME IN SUPPORT A PROVEN LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND INTEGRITY IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, YOUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNMENT INSPIRE ME AND SHOW US THAT AUSTIN'S BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US. I WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THANK YOUS BECAUSE ONE DOESN'T GET TO A DAY LIKE THIS ALONE. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CAMPAIGN TEAM AT VICE STRATEGY, ESPECIALLY MICHAEL TOMLINSON. AND THANK YOU TO MY AMAZING DISTRICT 10 TEAM AT CITY HALL, KURT, APRIL MENA, NINA AND MELISSA. AND THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, MY MOTHER, NATALIE, JEREMY, AND ZACHARY. AND THANK YOU TO DISTRICT 10 FOR TRUSTING ME TO REPRESENT YOU. I AM PROUD OF MY RECORD TO MAKE, SEND A PLACE WHERE ALL CAN THRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ON MY WORK IN MY SECOND TERM, WHETHER IT'S CHAMPIONING THE ENVIRONMENT, WE IMAGINE A PUBLIC SAFETY PREVENTING WILDFIRES, IMPROVING OUR MEDICAL RESPONSE, ENSURING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY DURING AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC OR MANAGING GROWTH RESPONSIBLY. WE LIVE IN A COMPLICATED WORLD AND IT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT THAT WE FACE MANY CRISES AT ONCE TO GATHER AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY, WE MUST FIND WAYS TO USE THESE CRISES AS CATALYSTS TO SOLVE STANDING CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY. IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN PROVE TO BE CURIOUS, DELIBERATE. LABORATIVE JUST A MOMENT. SEE IF SHE'LL COME BACK, I'VE JUST TEXTED HER. LET'S GIVE HER A SECOND. YOU'RE BACK. YOU'RE MUTED THOUGH. ALL RIGHT. SO 2020 MIGHT NOT BE THAT DIFFERENT THAN 2020, 21 MIGHT NOT BE THAT DIFFERENT FROM TONY. SO THAT ONE, I WILL OWN MY COMPUTER. UM, DIDN'T LIKE BEING ON ALPHA ON, OFF OF IT, OFF OF THE OTHER SPACE. UM, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA ROLL WITH IT AS WE HAVE. UM, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY NEXT ON IT. UM, THAT'S REALLY MY HOPE THAT AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY, WE CAN BE CURIOUS, DELIBERATIVE, COLLABORATIVE, INCLUSIVE, EFFECTIVE, AND EMPATHETIC. UM, WE WILL NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE, LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES, FIND COMMON GROUND AS WE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US. UM, WE'VE HAD TO LEARN TO BE REALLY RESOURCEFUL AND ADAPT OVER THE LAST YEAR. AND I HOPE THAT WE TAKE THOSE LESSONS AND THEY ALLOW US TO, UM, INNOVATE AND SOLVE WHAT IS BEFORE US. I BELIEVE THE BEST DAYS FOR AUSTIN ARE IN FRONT OF US. UM, AND AS WE FINISH HERE, I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS ARE RETURNING TO THE CAPITOL TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK, TO CERTIFY OUR NEXT PRESIDENT AS OUTLINED IN THE CONSTITUTION TONIGHT, WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND COMMITMENT TO WHAT ABRAHAM WAS IN CALL AT THE END OF A DARK PERIOD IN OUR HISTORY, THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE. THANK YOU, AND APPRECIATE YOUR FORBEARANCE WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY. UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, MY, UH, MY LONGSTANDING AND, AND NEW COLLEAGUES, BOTH, UH, BEGINNINGS ARE FILLED. THIS BEGINNING IS FILLED WITH SUCH WONDROUS, UH, PROVINCE AND POTENTIAL, UH, CITY MANAGER, CHRONIC. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS YOU ALWAYS, UH, [00:35:01] AS YOU ALWAYS DO. UH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING OUR COUNCIL'S FIRST VIRTUAL SWEARING IN. WE REMIND YOU THAT WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY, UH, TO, TO, TO, TO WELCOME AGAIN WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL PRESENT ON MAYBE ON THE DIES. I WANT TO THANK JUDGE STATMAN. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE, UH, CITY HALL TEAM, UH, FOR, UH, UH, PULLING THIS OFF, UH, AND AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE, UH, PRETTY MUCH UNCONTROLLED SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT. UH, I DO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS REALLY THE MOMENT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAYING HOME. UH, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU CAN CERTAINLY AVOIDING LARGE GROUPS AS WE ARE DOING HERE, UH, TONIGHT WITH OUR VIRTUAL CEREMONY, UH, WITH THAT, UH, I THINK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH. AND AT SIX 38, I WOULD WISH EVERYONE A GOOD EVENING. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.