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[Austin City Council Inauguration]
EVENING.IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE EVERY TIME I HAVE STEPPED TO THIS PODIUM.
UH, AND THAT INCLUDES THIS LAST TIME.
UH, TONIGHT I WANT TO, UH, TO RECOGNIZE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE JOINED US HERE FOR THIS, UH, CELEBRATION AND, AND NEW BEGINNING.
UH, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SABINO PIO RENT IS WITH US TODAY, FORMER MEMBER OF THE TEN ONE COUNCIL.
COUNCIL, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY DANIEL GARZA, PLEASE WITH US, UH, MY PARTNER IN MANY THINGS, INCLUDING THE COVID VIRUS COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN IS WITH US.
CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES IS WITH US.
UH, COMMISSIONER TRILLIAN IS WITH US COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE A COUPLE FORMER MAYORS, UH, COMING BACK TO, TO CITY HALL.
UH, MAYOR FRANK COOKSEY IS WITH US TONIGHT.
AND MAYOR LEE LEFFINGWELL IS WITH US SENATOR SARAH ECKHART, UH, IS WITH US.
MAYOR LEE COOK, PLEASE STAND UP.
YOU MUST HAVE SNUCK IN TO NOT MAKE IT ON THE LIST, BUT AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU EARS, SIR.
UH, DID WE GIVE SARAH ECKARD A CHANCE TO STAND? OKAY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US SENATOR PETE FLORES WITH US SENATOR.
SO MEMBERS OF OUR CHAMPION LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, UH, IN THE HOUSE.
UH, REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL COLE, FORMER MEMBER OF COUNCIL AND MAYOR, REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD, REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BUSEY, AND REPRESENTATIVE GINA AND AOSA WE'RE ALSO HONORED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CONSULATE GENERAL RICARDO MENDEZ.
UM, COUNCIL, THE GENERAL FROM MEXICO COMMISSIONER BRIDGET SHA GOODWIN, AND, AND REPRESENTATIVE GOODWIN IS WITH US.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT, THAT SNUCK IN AND DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST? I'M SORRY, TRUSTEE.
JOSE GARZA, DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS WITH US COUNTY JUDGE HERNANDEZ COUNTY JUDGE HERNANDEZ WITH US.
ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL
THANK, WHO'S THAT? SENATOR SEIGER, I THINK IS WITH US AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER RILEY IS WITH US.
AND THERE YOU ARE IN THE BACK.
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RILEY.HECK, WE CAN BE HERE ALL NIGHT.
ANY OTHERS? CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE GET A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE COME BACK OR ARE HERE.
WITH THAT SAID, THEN, IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE POSTING OF COLORS AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UH, COLOR GUARD PLEASE POST THE COLORS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE ALYSSA HARRIS FOR THE SINGING OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
AND THEN IF YOU WOULD REMAIN STANDING, UH, WHILE WE RETIRE THE COLORS.
AND WHEN THE CHAPLAIN, UH, DELIVERS THE INVOCATION, UH, THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE THE WHAT? SO PROUD WE THE LAST THE WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIDE STARS THROUGH THE, OR THE WATCH.
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HAVE YOU RAISED.NOW I ASKED THE, UH, CHAPLAIN CRAYOLA SHAW BURNS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HOW ARE WE THIS EVENING? CAN WE ALL SAY THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD IS MADE AND WE'RE ALL GONNA BE GLAD IN IT? AMEN.
IF WE COULD ALL PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE OUR GOD POSITION OF PRAYER, FATHER GOD, A HUMBLY BRING THIS INVOCATION, INVITING YOU, OUR CREATOR, IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR, TO BE PRE TO BE PRESENT WITH US IN THIS CITY OF AUSTIN.
COUNCIL SWEARING IN AND CELEBRATION.
FATHER GOD, YOU WHO ARE THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS AND THE MASTER PLANNER OF ALL TIME.
THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE.
HEBREWS 1110 RECORDS THAT ABRAHAM LOOKED FOR A CITY THAT HAD GOD AS ITS ETERNAL BUILDER.
GOD, JOIN US TONIGHT IN THIS CITY OF AUSTIN, BUILT AS IT WAS BUILT AS A RESULT OF THE SAINTS AND THE FOREFATHERS WHO CAME BEFORE THIS GROUP, WHO GATHER HERE TONIGHT.
JOIN US AND SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO FOREVER DWELL IN THESE CHAMBERS.
DWELL IN EACH CREVICE AROUND EVERY WINDOW SILL AROUND EVERY DOOR.
LORD, CONTINUE THE BLESS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO YOU HAVE PLACED IN SEATS OF AUTHORITY OVER THIS, YOUR CITY, YOUR PLACE ON A HILL FOR ALL TO SEE.
COVER THEM WITH YOUR BLESSINGS AND ALLOW THEM TO BE REMINDED THAT THEIR PLACEMENT HERE IS FOR YOUR PURPOSE.
I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE REMINDED TO SEEK YOU FIRST IN ALL THAT THEY ARE CHARGED WITH EVERY TASK THAT IS LAID UPON THEM.
MAY THEY BE REMINDED OF PROVERBS THREE, FIVE THROUGH SIX, TO TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL MY HEART AND LEAN NOT UNTO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, AND YOU SHALL BE SUCCESSFUL.
GIVE THEM WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT AND A STAFF AND OUR ADVOCATES TO ASSIST THEM.
GOD, YOU HAVE A PURPOSE FOR EVERYTHING YOU CREATED AND EVERYTHING YOU CREATED HAS A PURPOSE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PURPOSE IS NOT OF OUR DOING, BUT OF YOURS.
AID THEM TO NOT STRAY FROM YOUR PLACEMENT.
PLACE THEIR FEET IN THE VINEYARD YOU HAVE CHOSEN FOR THEM.
SHOW THEM HOW TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK WHEN THEY STRAY.
HELP THEM TO BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS THIS CITY.
AND WHEN THERE IS DISAGREEMENT, HELP THEM TO FIND COMMON GROUND.
GIVE THEM THE SPIRIT NOT TO LIVE AS A PRISONER OF UNFORGIVENESS.
GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE THAT YOU MADE NO MISTAKE IN PLACING THEM AND THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH THEM.
SHOWER THEM WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY, HONESTY, DIVERSITY, EQUAL EQUITY, JUSTICE AND RESPECT FOR ALL MANKIND.
SHOW THEM THE WAY TO RESOLVE THE CURRENT HOUSING AND UNHOUSED CHALLENGE.
GIVE THEM THE VISION WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING YOUR PEOPLE SAFE THROUGH THE LAW EN THROUGH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND RECREATION AREAS.
ORDER THEIR STEPS WHEN WORKING TOWARD IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT, LACK OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN HANDLING OUR POPULATION GROWTH.
HELP THEM TO DETERMINE HOW TO SPREAD THE BENEFITS THAT THE NEW THE NEW COM COMPANIES COMING INTO THIS CITY ARE RECEIVING, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF THOSE TAX PAYING CITIZENS WHO WE WELCOME THE BUILT, WE WELCOME THE GROWTH LORD, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME RESULTS ON OUR END.
ALSO HELP US TO CONTINUE EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND ALL THOSE IN HIGHER ED RANKS, HELP THEM TO
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FIND YOUR GRACE AND YOUR COMFORT AND PROTECT THEM.REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE, THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS PRESENT.
YOU ARE ALWAYS THE SILENT LISTENER TO EVERY CONVERSATION AND EVERY PLAN.
AND IF I COULD JUST ASK EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES TO SAY AMEN.
I NOW INVITE THE, UH, CONTINUING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY MANAGER SPENCER CROCK AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ANN MORGAN TO PLEASE TAKE THEIR SEATS ON THE DESK.
UH, I WOULD NOW ASK THAT THE, UH, THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ELECT, UH, REMAINS SEATED ON THE FLOOR, BUT APPROACH THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
UH, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE HONORABLE SHERRY STATMAN, WHO IS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT, WHO WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I KIRK WATSON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE O OFFICE OF AUSTIN, MAYOR OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN, MAYOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
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 THIS STATE AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THIS STATE.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. YOU JUST RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
NATASHA HARPER MADISON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT ONE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, 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 THIS STATE AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THIS STATE.
LET'S RAISE YOUR HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I JOSE VELAZQUEZ, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL.
DISTRICT THREE 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.
I RYAN AL ALTER, I RYAN AL ALTER.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES AND I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE 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.
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PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.I, PAGE ELLIS, I, PAIGE ELLIS, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE O OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT OF THE OFFICE OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT 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.
DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR I ZHE ZO CADRE? DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE OF THE OFFICE OF, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY, A ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE? AND OF THIS STATE.
I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT IS 6 24 ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 2023.
WE'RE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TONIGHT'S MEETING IS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE MAYOR PRO TIM FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND ITS CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS, UH, FOR THE CITY.
IN THE MAYOR'S ABSENCE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ELECTED BY THE COUNCIL AND FROM THE COUNCIL.
UH, I WANT TO THANK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, PREVIOUS COUNCIL, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OUR CURRENT MAYOR, PRO TEM MAYOR PRO TEM ALLISON AL ALTER, WHO HAS SERVED US VERY, VERY WELL AND, AND DESERVES THE TIME.
AND I WILL NOW CALL ON THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO MAKE A MOTION.
UM, I MOVED TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE ELLIS AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023, ENDING ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2023.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024 AND ENDING WITH THE ELECTION OF THE NEXT MAYOR PRO TE IN 2025.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, UH, THE MOTION IS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PAGE ELLIS BEING MADE.
MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 2023 WITH A LIMIT ON, UH, 12 23 20 23.
AND THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOL BE THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE YEAR 2024 UNTIL THE ELECTION OF ANOTHER MAYOR PRO TEM IN 2025.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MCKENZIE KELLY, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION HEARING? NO OBJECTION.
WILL NOW RECOGNIZE MAYOR PRO TIM ELLIS, UH, FOR SOME COMMENTS, AS YOU JUST HEARD, AS SHE WAS REW SWORN IN WITH HER REELECTION.
UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM ALSO REPRESENTS COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT, MAYOR PRO TIM, THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON.
IT IS AN HONOR TO RETURN FOR A SECOND TERM, SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT EIGHT IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, LONGER THAN IT'S EVEN BEEN A DISTRICT, AND WE'VE ALL SEEN CHANGES AROUND US.
THE SOUTHWEST AUSTIN COMMUNITY IS
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RESILIENT.TOGETHER, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH PANDEMICS, WINTER STORMS AND MORE.
THAT'S WHY HOLDING THIS POSITION MEANS YOU ALWAYS NEED TO BE AT LEAST ONE STEP AHEAD.
THROUGHOUT IT ALL, WE, WE LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, AND WE WORK EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS BETTER.
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PARKS ROAD SAFETY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE SOMEONE READY TO HELP WITH A FOUR BY FOUR.
THIS SENSE OF COMMUNITY GIVES ME HOPE AND A CONTINUED SENSE OF OPTIMISM FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE ON THE DIAS.
OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN CHANGES IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, CHANGES THAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND OUR ENTIRE CITY, AND THE KIND OF GROWTH THAT HAS TURNED OUR ONCE SMALL TOWN INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CITIES IN AMERICA.
AND WHEN I SEE AUSTIN'S GROWING SKYLINE, I SEE A CITY THAT PEOPLE LOVE SO MUCH.
THAT ALSO GIVES ME A SENSE, A SENSE OF OPTIMISM.
AND AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT AUSTIN IS WELCOMING TO EVERYONE.
ALL OF THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT MY WORK, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE TIRELESS WORK OF THE DISTRICT EIGHT TEAM.
OUR CONSTITUENTS TRUST IN US TO HELP BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT ELECTED REPRESENTATION SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I DECIDED TO STEP UP FOUR YEARS AGO.
AND IT'S WHY TODAY I RENEW MY COMMITMENT TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, TO MY DISTRICT, AND TO THE PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MY TEAM AND I WILL MAKE, WILL TAKE ON THE TASKS AHEAD WITH A SENSIBLE WORK ETHIC AND CONTINUED SENSE OF OPTIMISM.
AND I WANNA THANK ESPECIALLY MY HUSBAND, ED ESPINOZA, FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT, MY FAMILY, FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR PATIENTS AS WE PLANNED A WEDDING DURING A REELECTION CAMPAIGN.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH, DON'T DO THAT.
AND I WILL WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO UPHOLD THE CITY COUNCIL'S PROCEDURES AND POLICIES TO BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN A RESPONSIBLE AND EQUITABLE MANNER.
I KNOW THAT WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY THE BEST IT CAN BE, BUT LET'S PLEASE TRY TO AVOID ANY MEETINGS THAT GO UNTIL 4:00 AM
THANK YOU, MEMBER TIM AND I SECOND THAT MOTION.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE DRAWING SEATS, UH, EVERY SIX MONTHS, THE COUNCIL WILL DRAW FOR DIFFERENT SEATS AT THE DIAS.
UH, THIS PROCESS TAKES PLACE IN JANUARY AND JULY OF EACH YEAR.
SO THE CITY CLERK IS NOW GOING TO WALK, UH, TO EACH MEMBER, AND EACH MEMBER WILL SELECT A NUMBER AND ANNOUNCE THE NUMBER THAT WAS PICKED.
NUMBER ONE IS THE SEAT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE DIAS OVER THERE ON WHERE THE CLERK'S DESK IS.
AND NUMBER 10 IS THE SEAT ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DIAS.
THESE WILL BE YOUR ASSIGNED SEATS GOING FORWARD, UH, EFFECTIVE AT THE JANUARY 26TH, 2023 MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
NUMBER EIGHT, NUMBER FIVE, NUMBER THREE.
NUMBER TWO, FOUR
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL, UH, START STARTING ON THE, THE, THE JANUARY 26TH MEETING.
WILL EVERYBODY WILL BE IN THEIR NEW SEATS.
UH, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO ME TRYING TO ALWAYS KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY IS.
AND ABOUT THE TIME I GET IT, I BET WE'RE GONNA SWITCH.
SO, UM, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
IT'S NOW AN HONOR FOR ME TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON THE NEWLY ELECTED AND REELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND SO I WILL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER.
MADISON, YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, MR. MAYOR.
OH, WELL WHAT DID YOU, WHAT DID YOU ASK ME? THIS IS AN I BET THAT DOESN'T STOP
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED AND NEWLY REELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND I'M RECOGNIZING YOU FIRST FROM DISTRICT ONE.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO JUST SAY, I'M, I'M LOOKING OUT AT A SEA OF FAMILIAR FACES, UM, PEOPLE I LOVE AND PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY
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SUPPORTIVE DURING, UM, LET'S JUST CALL IT A, A HARD CAMPAIGN.AND SO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIRELESS SUPPORT.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW.
UM, AND THEN FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT MY HOMETOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE AUSTINITES UP HERE, AND I, I PROBABLY AM, AM SPEAKING TO THE CHOIR WHEN I SAY THERE'S NOTHING MORE PRIDEFUL THAN REALLY BEING ABLE TO POUR YOUR ALL INTO SERVING YOUR HOMETOWN.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
I LOOK VERY MUCH FORWARD TO TAKING ON SOME BOLD CHALLENGES.
UM, WE'RE IN A HOUSING CRISIS AND MOBILITY IS ABSOLUTELY CONNECTED TO HOUSING.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT MOBILITY AND HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BE THE BEST VERSION OF, OF AUSTIN THAT WE CAN BE.
I HEARD SOMEBODY CALL US A GLOBAL CITY THE OTHER DAY.
I'LL SAY, WE HAVE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF A GLOBAL CITY, BUT NONE OF THE ADVANTAGES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSIT AND ENOUGH HOUSING.
SO LET'S WORK ON THAT TOGETHER.
I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ FROM DISTRICT THREE.
UH, I, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY, UM, FOR BEING HERE.
I HAVE, UM, IT IS, IT'S STILL KIND OF HITTING ME THAT I'M UP ON THIS DI I ACTUALLY VISITED CITY HALL, NOT THIS CITY HALL, BUT CITY HALL FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT ALMOST 24, 26 YEARS AGO WHEN I RECEIVED THE, THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, UM, FROM THIS MAYOR, UH, BACK THEN.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE BOOKENDING THIS THING WHEN I WAS AT, AT, UH, STUDENT AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE, UH, IN THE SMART PROGRAM.
UM, SO IT IS, IT IS RIDICULOUSLY SURREAL TO BE UP HERE, TO BE SERVING MY HOMETOWN.
MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN ABOUT SERVICE.
ALL I'VE EVER WANTED TO DO IS SERVE.
AND THIS IS JUST THE, UH, THE, UM, THIS IS ALL I'VE EVER WANTED IS, IS TO SERVE MY HOMETOWN.
UM, I DO WANT TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE, UH, MY FAMILY THAT IS OUT THERE, MY SPECIFICALLY MY MOTHER, YOLANDA VELASQUEZ, WHO'S RIGHT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE, WHO, WHO IS MY CHAMPION AND WHO TAUGHT ME THAT.
UM, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU COME FROM, IT DOESN'T DETERMINE WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
UM, MY NIECE VELASQUEZ, WHO'S HERE WITH ME TODAY, AND THEN THREE OF MY DEAR MENTORS THAT ARE HERE, AND IF THEY CAN, UH, RISE BECAUSE AT THERE IS THIS PHOTO OF US ABOUT, UH, 10 YEARS AGO WHEN NONE OF OUR 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO WHEN NONE OF US WERE ELECTED.
AND NOW WE'VE ALL EITHER BEEN ELECTED OR ARE ELECTED.
AND THAT IS, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY DE GARZA, THE HONORABLE PAUL SALANI AND CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES.
ALSO, I JUST WANNA THANK MY, UH, CAMPAIGN TEAM, UH, WHY MY PIT BULL, UH, MICHAEL TOMLINSON FROM Y STRATEGIES AND ALL THE AMAZING FOLKS AT Y STRATEGIES AND THE TOTAL DREAM TEAM THAT I, THAT I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BUILD, UH, YUDY, DORA AND LIZETTE.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING ON BOARD AND LET'S MAKE THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYBODY.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, UH, MAYOR PROTI, YOU JUST REMINDED ME.
I HAD THANK YOU TO MICHAEL TOMLINSON AT WEIS STRATEGY IN MY NOTES, AND I SKIPPED OVER THEM
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TEAM'S HARD WORK.
I KNOW, I KNOW Y'ALL DO THIS EVERY DAY, AND SOMETIMES THINGS GET SLOW, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WILL BE A MILLION RACES AND A MILLION RUNOFFS, AND I JUST KNOW Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS THERE TO WORK FOR US.
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER OF DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, I HAD TO WRITE THIS DOWN TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T FORGET ANYBODY.
SO I JUST, I WANNA START OFF WITH SOME THANK YOUS, UM, WHICH CAN'T START ANYWHERE OTHER THAN WITH YOU.
RITA, YOU SUPPORTED ME IN THIS ENDEAVOR IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
UM, YOU RITA'S NOT SOMEONE WHO INVITES THE SPOTLIGHT.
SO I'M SURE RIGHT NOW SHE'S LOVING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HER IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, BUT, BUT YOU TRULY ARE THE ENGINE THAT KEEPS OUR FAMILY MOVING.
UH, YOU HAVE LISTENED TO MORE STORIES THAN I KNOW YOU CARE TO AND PRETENDED LIKE YOU'RE INTERESTED.
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I ALSO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY MOM, MY DAD, DEBORAH, HEY ADRIANA, MY SISTER SAVANNAH WHO CAN'T BE HERE.YOU'VE GIVEN ME YOUR TIME, YOUR RESOURCES, SOME COUNSEL, EVEN WHEN I MIGHT NOT WANT IT.
AND I JUST, I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH.
SO I, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU, UH, PETER AND REBECCA.
I DON'T, I I KNOW YOU'RE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE.
UH, Y'ALL ARE ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE NEED YOU, AND I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU THAT HOW HELPFUL THAT REALLY IS.
SO THANK Y'ALL BOTH, UM, MY GRANDPARENTS, SOME HERE, SOME NOT.
YOU'VE, YOU'VE ALWAYS GIVEN ME THAT SUPPORT, THAT WISDOM.
UH, AND I KNOW MY, MY GRANDMOTHER'S HAND IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT STACK OF POSTCARDS I GAVE YOU.
I TOLD YOU IT WAS SMALL, BUT IT WASN'T
UH, MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, THANK Y'ALL FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME.
UM, AND THEN MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU REACHING OUT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, GIVING ME YOUR COUNSEL, YOUR WISDOM.
I KNOW THAT I'M GONNA LEARN FROM, FROM ALL OF YOU.
AND SO I JUST, I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND TO NOW CALL YOU COLLEAGUES.
AND THERE'S ONE NEW COLLEAGUE THOUGH THAT I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO SINGLE OUT AND GIVE A LITTLE EXTRA THANKS.
YOU GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW MY PASSION, MY DREAMS. IN YOUR SENATE OFFICE.
I HAVE LEARNED AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT FROM YOU.
YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN A YOUNG LAW STUDENT EAGER TO MAKE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE.
AND WHILE YOU'LL ALWAYS BE SENATOR WATSON IN MY HEAD, I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH YOU NOW AS MAYOR WATSON AND, AND DO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, AND THAT'S JUST IMPROVED THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, LASTLY TO THOSE IN, IN DISTRICT FIVE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU SUPPORTED ME OR NOT, I AM SO HONORED THAT YOU'VE TRUSTED ME TO, TO BE YOUR VOICE WHEN DECIDING ISSUES THAT SO DIRECTLY IMPACT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO LIVE UP TO THIS HONOR, AND, AND I'M READY TO GET TO WORK FOR YOU.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO SOLVE SOME OF OUR MOST STUBBORN PROBLEMS. UH, BUT I, IF WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THE BEST SOLUTIONS ARE BORN FROM COLLABORATIONS WITH THOSE WHO AGREE WITH US AND THOSE WHO DON'T.
YOU KNOW, FROM MY SHORT TIME OF JUST GETTING TO KNOW EACH AND OF YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, I KNOW WE'RE UP TO THE TASK AND I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED.
COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER, THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE CADRE OF DISTRICT NINE.
UM, UH, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, TONIGHT, I'M, I'M, I'M FILLED WITH HOPE.
UH, I'M, I'M FILLED WITH THANKS.
UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'M GONNA START.
I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE LAID A FOUNDATION, UH, BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WORK, UH, OF FOLKS LIKE MARY ADLER, UH, OF, OF OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS, RENTERIA, UH, KITCHEN AND TOVO.
UH, I, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THEIR STAFF DID, THOSE WHO ARE CONTINUING ON WITH THIS NEW COUNCIL AND THOSE THAT ARE, THAT ARE LEAVING CITY HALL.
UH, IT'S THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE THAT WE, I HOPE THAT WE'LL BUILD OFF OF.
UH, I, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS COUNCIL.
UH, I, I'M, I'M SO, SO TOUCHED WITH THE KINDNESS, UH, THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS DIAS HAS, HAS SHOWN ME AND, AND ONE ANOTHER.
UH, DURING THIS TRANSITION PROCESS, UH, I'VE HAD THE FORTUNE TO, TO TALK TO EVERYONE, UH, TO EAT AT CHILI'S WITH SOME, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I, I, I'M SO EXCITED, UH, BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS DIAS GIVES ME HOPE, UH, THAT WE CAN BE A, A, A BETTER CITY, UH, THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT, THAT WE CAN LIVE UP TO OUR VALUES THAT WE ALWAYS CLAIM TO BE, UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK STARTS NOW.
UH, AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT I GET TO WORK WITH THESE FOLKS.
UM, AND, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE FOLKS WHO HELPED GET ME HERE.
UH, WE, WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN FOR CITY COUNCIL.
UH, WE HAD PEOPLE WHO, WHO I CONSIDER FRIENDS, UH, FOR LIFE NOW, UH, WHO GAVE EVERYTHING TO THIS, TO THIS CAMPAIGN, TO THE CAMPAIGN, UH, BECAUSE THEY CARED SO MUCH ABOUT THE CITY.
UH, THEY SAW A CITY SUFFERING FROM A HOUSING CRISIS.
UH, THEY SAW A CITY THAT, UH, ON HOUSE FOLKS WERE, WERE DYING IF IT WAS GETTING TOO HOT OR TOO COLD.
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UH, AND THEY SAW A CITY THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE, AND THEY CAME TOGETHER.AND, AND WITH, UH, WITH, WITH LO WITH THE LABOR OF LOVE, UH, THEY WORKED AND WORKED AND WORKED.
UH, AND, AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO'S, UH, SITTING DOWN, STANDING UP, MAYBE WATCHING THIS FROM, FROM HOME, UH, Y'ALL MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
UH, I'M, I'M ALSO VERY THANKFUL FOR, UM, FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US ON THIS CAMPAIGN.
UM, AND ALSO FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THIS CITY.
UH, IF, IF YOU SUPPORTED ME, THANK YOU.
UH, AND IF YOU DIDN'T SUPPORT ME, I, I, I GENERALLY HOPE TO BUILD BRIDGES, UH, AND TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THESE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
UH, AND, AND IF I, IF I DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB, HOPEFULLY ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
UH, AND, AND, AND LASTLY, BUT, BUT NOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT LEASTLY, UM, I'D, I'D LIKE TO, UH, I I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY.
UM, MY, MY WIFE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT, UH, IF SHE'S WATCHING THIS FROM, FROM SOMEWHERE, UH, THANK YOU WAFA, UH, FOR, FOR US BEING THERE, UH, FOR, FOR BEING, UH, A CHEERLEADER, YOU KNOW, DURING THIS RACE, UM, I, I GENERALLY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU AND, AND YOUR LOVE.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK MY MOM, UH, WHO, UM, MY, MY DAD PASSED AWAY ABOUT A DECADE AGO, AND SHE, UH, RAISED ME AND MY THREE SIBLINGS.
UH, I WANT TO THANK MY GRANDPARENTS WHO 50 YEARS AGO DECIDED TO LEAVE, UH, THE ONLY COUNTRY THEY EVER KNEW AND, AND CAME ACROSS THE POND, UH, TO GIVE THEM THEIR KIDS AND THEIR GRANDKIDS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO FORTH AND SO ON, A BETTER LIFE.
UH, IT'S THESE SACRIFICES THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
UH, AND, AND I HOPE TO DO RIGHT BY BY THEM, AND SO MANY OTHERS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, LAST, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY.
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO IS, WHO'S HERE.
UH, YOU TOOK IN A GUY WITH A FUNNY NAME WHO LOOKS LIKE, WHO LOOKS LIKE ME.
UH, AND IT NEVER MADE ME FEEL OTHERED.
YOU MADE ME FEEL LIKE THAT, THAT I BELONG.
AND WHEN YOUR NAME ISHE MAMMOTH GATHERER, YOU OFTEN FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T BELONG IN A LOT OF SPACES, AND YOU GUYS NEVER ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
UM, SO I AM, I, I AM READY TO SERVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS CAMPAIGN WAS NEVER ABOUT ME.
IT WAS ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
UH, AND NOW THAT WE ARE HERE, UH, I'M JUST SO THANKFUL AND I'M SO READY TO SERVE, UH, ALONGSIDE EVERYONE.
IT'S NOW MY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND I WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT'S OUT THERE.
UH, MY FAMILY IS HERE WITH ME, UH, MY WIFE, UH, MY SON, PRESTON, AND, UH, MY SON, COOPER, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, CATHERINE, MY BROTHER KYLE, AND SISTER-IN-LAW, MARYANNE, AND MY TWO, UH, PERFECT GRANDDAUGHTERS, UH, EFFIE AND, AND BIRDIE, BIRDIE'S, THE ONE THAT, THAT STARTED APPLAUDING REAL EARLY, IF YOU NOTICED.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL MY FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE IN COLLEAGUES AND, AND, AND FELLOW AUSTINITES AS THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER YOGI BARRA ONCE SAID, THIS IS LIKE DEJAVU ALL OVER AGAIN,
AS, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT I'VE BEEN SWORN IN AS AUSTIN MAYOR, UH, WITH ABOUT A 20 YEAR INTERMISSION BETWEEN, UH, TERMS. AND, AND WHILE THIS MOMENT DOES HAVE A REAL FAMILIARITY TO IT, AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I AM VERY CLEAR-EYED ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN AND HOW PROFOUNDLY DIFFERENT IT IS FROM ANYTHING THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME, AND I HOPE NOT ON YOU, THAT THIS IS JANUARY THE SIXTH.
THAT'S AN UNDENIABLE REMINDER OF THE VERY DEEP POLITICAL DIVISIONS THAT COLOR SO MUCH OF OUR NATIONAL PUBLIC LIFE TODAY.
BUT I ALSO SEE JANUARY 6TH AS A CRITICAL REMINDER THAT WE RELY ON ASSUMPTIONS AT OUR GREAT PERIL ON THIS DAY.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE SAW WITH OUR OWN EYES THAT INSTITUTIONS WE THINK OF AS FOUNDATIONAL, EVEN OUR DEMOCRACY, ARE NOT A GIVEN, BUT THEY STILL REQUIRE DILIGENCE AND SACRIFICE, EVEN BLOOD TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN.
AS WE EMBARK HERE TONIGHT ON A NEW JOURNEY OF PUBLIC SERVICE TOGETHER, I THINK WE'D BE WELL SERVED TO CONSIDER HOW THE FACT OF JANUARY 6TH SHOULD HA PERHAPS APPLY TO US, MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, AGAINST
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THIS NATIONAL BACKDROP OF EXTREME PARTISANSHIP, OF THE RELENTLESS, RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF POLITICAL POWER WHERE ONE SIDE GETS EVERYTHING AT ONCE AND THE OTHER SIDE GETS NOTHING AT ONCE.AGAINST THAT BACKDROP, MY HOPE FOR US IN AUSTIN IS THAT WE WILL RELENTLESSLY PURSUE UNITY.
NOW, I AIN'T GONNA SIT HERE AND PRETEND THAT WE DIDN'T ALL JUST LIVE THROUGH A VERY HARD FOUGHT CA ELECTION.
IT'S NOT MUCH FUN FOR ANYBODY.
AND INEVITABLY THERE ARE CONFLICTS, BUT WHEN RACES ARE OVER, THE WORK MUST BEGIN.
AND THAT WORK DEMANDS, I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, THAT WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SEEK OUT AND FIND COMMON GROUND AND ULTIMATELY TO PURSUE A SHARED VISION OF OUR FUTURE TOGETHER.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO JUST THAT.
I COULDN'T CARE ANY LESS ABOUT WHO SUPPORTED WHOM OVER THE PAST YEAR.
WHAT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS FINDING WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND.
IN FACT, THE MORE THE WORLD AROUND US BECOMES MIRED IN DIVISION AND INACTION, THE MORE I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN AUSTIN TO COME TOGETHER AND GET THINGS DONE FOR THIS CITY WE ALL LOVE.
AND THAT LEADS ME BACK TO THE SECOND POINT ABOUT JANUARY 6TH.
HERE'S THE TRUTH, NOTHING ABOUT AUSTIN IS A GIVEN.
OUR STORY FOR ALMOST ALL OF OUR 185 YEAR HISTORY HAS BEEN ONE OF NEARLY CONSTANT GROWTH AND CHANGE.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE MADE MISTAKES AND SOMETIMES PAID A VERY DEAR PRICE FOR THOSE, FOR THE MOST PART, AUSTIN HAS ENJOYED AN ENVIABLE SUCCESS, BUT PAST IS NOT A RELIABLE PROLOGUE.
AND THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES ABOUT HOW THE NEXT CHAPTERS OF AUSTIN'S STORY MAY UNFOLD.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST DECADE, THAT IT IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS TO BELIEVE THAT THE CORE CHARACTER OF THIS CITY CAN WITHSTAND ANY CHALLENGE.
SO WHEN MOST OF US THINK ABOUT WHAT AUSTIN IS OR WHAT WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE, WE THINK OF A CITY THAT'S INNOVATIVE AND UNIQUE.
WE THINK OF A CITY THAT'S CARING AND COMPASSIONATE, AND WE THINK OF A CITY THAT'S OPEN-MINDED, TOLERANT, INCLUSIVE, AND FAIR.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF THOSE CORE CHARACTERISTICS, WHAT MAY THAT MAKE AUSTIN SPECIAL? A LOT OF THE FOUNDATIONAL IDEAS THAT WE ALL HAVE ABOUT WHAT AUSTIN IS OR SHOULD BE, ARE AT RISK AS WE SPEAK.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THIS CITY SENSE IT.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN NOW AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME SAYING IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, FOR A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY FOR AUSTINITES WHO CAN'T FIND AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, OR WHO OR WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOME.
IT'S AN EMERGENCY FOR AUSTINITES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHO URGENTLY NEED OUR HELP TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
IT'S AN EMERGENCY FOR AUSTINITES WHO DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES OR NEIGHBORHOODS, OR DON'T HAVE THE TRUST THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE IN POLICE.
IT'S AN EMERGENCY FOR AUSTINITES WHO SPEND HOURS AND HOURS EVERY DAY JUST GETTING TO AND FROM WORK IN SCHOOL.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW THAT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING TAX DOLLARS AND MANAGING VITAL COMMUNITY ASPECTS OF ASSETS EFFECTIVELY.
IT'S AN EMERGENCY AND IT'S AN EMERGENCY FOR AUSTINITES WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, WHO WANT EVERY PART OF THIS CITY TO GET ITS FAIR SHARE AND EVERY PART OF THIS CITY TO GIVE ITS FAIR SHARE.
AS I SEE IT, WE'VE BEEN CALLED ON AT A CRITICAL MOMENT TO RESPOND TO THESE EMERGENCIES THAT STARTS WITH A COMMITMENT TO PROACTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER, TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED.
AND UNQUESTIONABLY, IT DEMANDS THAT WE ACT WITH A NEW SENSE
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OF URGENCY.WHERE ALL OF THAT LEADS FINALLY, IS TO THE QUESTION OF ASPIRATIONS.
LIKE SO MANY OF YOU, I'M AN OPTIMIST AND I HAVE A POSITIVE VISION OF OUR FUTURE.
BUT ALSO, LIKE MANY OF YOU, I'M A PRAGMATIST, AND I KNOW THAT HARD CHOICES ARE ALMOST ALWAYS PART OF THE DEAL.
ZERO SUM GAMES TOO OFTEN RESULT IN GETTING ZERO.
CAN WE SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM? CAN WE REALIZE EVERYONE'S IDEAL? NO.
AND NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT THAT.
BUT WHAT OS NIGHT'S DO WANT AND SHOULD EXPECT IS CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR REALISTIC ASPIRATIONS TO BE SAFE, TO BE HEALTHY, TO BE RESPECTED, TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY, TO BE HAPPY, CAN AND WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT THOSE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES MUST RELY ON AND LOOK TO.
SO LET'S GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY WANT.
LET'S INVEST OUR SHARED PRIORITIES, BUT MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR COUNTS, LET'S GO THE EXTRA MILE WHEN WE CAN.
BUT AFTER WE'VE MADE SURE THAT THE BASICS ARE COVERED, LET'S MAKE PROGRESS RIGHT NOW, NOT WAIT ON PERFECTION.
MOST OF ALL, LET'S DO GOOD JUST BY DOING BETTER.
I'M EXCITED AND I'M VERY EAGER TO WORK WITH EACH OF MY NEW COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WITH CITY STAFF, AND WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE READY TO WRITE AUSTIN'S NEXT CHAPTER.
OUR STORY FEELS A LITTLE LIKE A CLIFFHANGER AT THE MOMENT.
AND THE POINT THAT I'VE PROBABLY BELABORED BY NOW IS THAT A HAPPY ENDING IS NOT GUARANTEED.
BUT PLEASE MAKE NO MISTAKE, AUSTIN, TEXAS IS A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL PLACE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU AND I AND ALL OF US CAN LIVE OUR VERY BEST LIVES.
AND I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT KEEPING IT THAT WAY IS SQUARELY WITHIN OUR POWER.
IF WE CHOOSE NOW TO ACT DELIBERATELY AND DECISIVELY TOGETHER IN PURSUIT OF A SHARED POSITIVE, BUT PRACTICAL VISION, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE THE NEXT PART OF OUR STORY EVEN MORE AMAZING.
AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR CALLS ALISA HARRIS TO SING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL OH, BEAUTIFUL SPACE, SPACIOUS SKIES FOR AMBER, WAVES OF GRAVE, FOR PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY ABOVE THE FRUITY PLAY AMERICA.
GOD SHARED HIS GRACE ON THE HAND, MY GOOD WITH BROTHERHOODHOOD FROM SEA TO TOO SHINING.
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO HAVE CHAPLAIN CRAYOLA SHAW BURNS, PERFORM THE BENEDICTION.
THIS IS A BENEDICTION FOR US ALL.
IF YOU COULD ALL JUST JOIN ME IN SING, MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, MAY HE ALLOW HIS FAITH TO SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO ALL OF YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE.
LORD, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, UH, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THANK YOU TO MAYOR ADLER AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SERVED BEFORE US AND IN THE POSITIONS THAT WE SERVED.
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IT'S A, IT'S A DEBT WE OWE FOR GREAT SERVICE AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.SO THANK YOU AND THANK ALL THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 6 57 ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 6TH.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION, HEARING? NO OBJECTION.
I, I, I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HEAR ONE SO QUICK.
UH, LET ME, LET ME JUST THA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
UH, I'D ESPECIALLY LIKE TO THANK ELISA HARRIS AND THE CHAP CHAPLAIN BURNS AND JUDGE STAMAN FOR WHO HELPED, UH, MAKE THIS CEREMONY A VERY SPECIAL EVENING.
IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN YOUR PARKING TICKET VALIDATED
AND WE ALL HOPE THAT YOU'LL NOW JOIN US IN THE ATRIUM FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS AND LIGHT APPETIZERS.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING IN AUSTIN AND LOVING OUR CITY.