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[Call to Order]
TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.THIS IS A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.
WE ARE CONVENING AT 9:00 AM ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 2020.
UH, IS IT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO ORDER, I WANT TO LAY OUT FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, UH, QUICKLY WHAT I THINK WILL BE THE RUN OF SHOW TODAY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PREPARE AND, AND BE READY.
UH, WE ARE, AS SOON AS I FINISH LAYING THIS OUT, UH, I WILL, UH, RECESS US INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MY HOPE IS THAT THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE COMPLETED AT 9 45.
UH, BUT LET'S FACE IT, OUR HOPES HAVE BEEN DASHED A TIME OR TWO BEFORE.
UH, BUT THE GOAL IS TO BE OUT BACK OUT HERE AT 9 45.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE WILL TAKE UP THE, UH, TEST PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
WE WILL THEN HAVE DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THERE WILL BE A SHORT RECESS AFTER WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER TWO, WE WILL RECONVENE.
JUST FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT ARE KEEPING SCORE, WE WILL THEN HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION IN VOTE, AND IF NECESSARY, WE WILL, UH, RECESS BACK INTO ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF UNNECESSARY, WE WILL, UH, ADJOURN AFTER THAT VOTE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE HERE BACK ON THE DIAS AT 9 45 WHERE WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
WE WILL THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION AND VOTE RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THEN AT 10 30 WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, A DISCUSSION IN VOTE, AND THEN EITHER ADJOURNMENT OR ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION IF NECESSARY.
[3. Discuss legal and personnel issues related to the employment, compensation and benefits for the City Manager and potential appointment of an interim city manager (Private consultation with legal counsel - Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code; Personnel matters - Section 551.074 of the Government Code).]
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 51 0.071 AND 5 5 1 0.074.THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES AND PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO THE EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND POTENTIAL APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED? HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THANK YOU ALL MEMBERS, WE WILL GO INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROOM.
I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
[2. Authorize payment of severance benefits to City Manager Spencer Cronk pursuant to Ordinance 20181213-046, and potentially discuss and take action related to the appointment, compensation, benefits and transition plan for an interim city manager.]
NOW WILL BE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, I'M SORRY, PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO ON OUR AGENDA.UH, MADAME CLERK, I'D ASK YOU TO START, UH, LETTING US KNOW WHO WE HAVE TO SPEAK.
THE FIRST, UM, REMOTE SPEAKER IS BEVERLY LUNA.
I'M WITH AUSTIN, LOST AND FOUND PETS.
WE HAVE 70,000 MEMBERS AND OUR MISSION IS TO REUNITE, LOST AND FOUND, LOST AND FOUND PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, PEOPLE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE OFFICE ANIMAL CENTER TO LOOK FOR THEIR LOST PETS UNDER CENTERED CLOTH.
THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER HAS BEEN SO POORLY RUN THAT BINDERS HAVE LOST DOGS, CAN'T GET DOGS INTO THE SHELTER FOR OVER A MONTH.
BY THEN, MOST DOGS HAVE EITHER BEEN RELEASED OUT INTO THE STREETS OR REHOME.
ANIMAL CONTROL HAS ESSENTIALLY STOPPED PICKING UP STRAY DOGS DESPITE CITY AND COUNTY ORDINANCES REQUIRING THEM TO DO SO.
AND THESE DOGS ARE LEFT TO SUFFER AND DIE IN THE STREETS AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HELP THEM FOR EACH MONTH.
IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE SPENCER CROSS BROUGHT DON BLAN IN TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE SHELTER, INTAKE OF DOGS AT THE SHELTER IS 50% OF WHAT IT WAS IN YEARS PRIOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN JUNE, 2016, THE SHELTER TOOK IN AND WAS ABLE TO HANDLE TWICE AS MANY DOGS AS THE SHELTER TOOK IN IN JUNE, 2022.
THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SPEND ITS TIME AND TAX DOLLARS MARKETING THEIR STORY THAT THEY HAVE TO RESTRICT INTAKE BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE INFLUX
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OF DOGS THAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.MS. LUNA IS THANK YOU, SPEAKER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH GARRICK.
HI, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH GERRICK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DECISION TO APPOINT A NEW CITY MANAGER WAS UNANIMOUS, ALBEIT YEARS OVERDUE.
I WON'T WASTE TIME AND MURDERING THE DOZENS OF WASTE FUNDS FOR CAUCUS SHELTER CITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INSTEAD ASK COUNSEL FOR THE UTMOST PRUDENCE IN DETERMINING HIS SEVERANCE TO OFFER NO MORE THAN THE BARE MINIMUM.
HIS SALARY IS NEAR 10 TIMES THAT OF MEDIAN AUSTINITE INCLUDING MINE, AND MOST AUSTINITE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD COBRA COVERAGE.
UM, IF THEY EVEN GET IT, SPENCER CRONK WILL BE FINE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHO HAVE SUFFERED UNDER HIM WILL NOT BE.
UM, AND, UH, SO AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO DEMAND THAT HE BE OFFERED NO MORE THAN THE BARE MINIMUM CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGED IN SEVERANCE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE, THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
UM, BUT BEFORE WE GO INTO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, MAYOR, IF I CAN MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALL THE SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO CALL THREE SPEAKERS AT A TIME.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND THE OTHER TWO, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
THIS WAY THIS WILL ALLOW US TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.
UM, WE DO HAVE A, A SPANISH SPEAKER IF, UM, AND THE INTERPRETER IS ON THE LINE.
JACQUELINE, CAN YOU HEAR US, JACQUELINE? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS LINDA NUNO SPEAKING ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO ON DECK ARE BRANDON JAMES AND CLEO PETROC.
OKAY, JACQUELINE, YOU MAY BEGIN.
YEAH, I DON'T ENGLISH OR IN SPANISH IS THE PLACE THAT HE'S BEEN WHERE HE'S BEEN PUT I'M SECRETARY OF OF FIGHTING FOR A CHILD.
MY CHILD, A CHILD THAT THEY NOT HAVE TO ADOPT, THAT I ACTUALLY CARRY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM SPEAKING SWAHILI, FRENCH OR JAPANESE.
YOU'RE STILL NOT HEARING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ELECT YOU.
IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STEP DOWN.
AND I ASKED EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER IN HERE TO PLEASE DO NOT CAVE AND DO NOT FORGET THE PROMISES THAT YOU MADE TO ALL OF US.
I AM THE SURVIVOR OF A RAPIST WHO JUST HAPPENED TO WORK FOR THE A P D POLICE.
MY CASE HAS BEEN DERAILED AT EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.
MY LAWSUIT FOR THE 4TH OF JULY, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ALONE FOR ARREST, UH, WHILE I WAS, UH, FIGHTING AGAINST ICE AND THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY PERPETRATED AGAINST MY PEOPLE, WAS THROWN OUT.
I WILL NOT GO AWAY AND I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL YOU STEP DOWN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMES BRANDON.
ON DECK IS CLEO PETROC AND KATHY MITCHELL.
JAMES BRANDON, CLEO PETROC, AND
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KATHY MITCHELL IS ON DECK.I AM HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
IT'S TIME TO PUT A P D ON STABLE FOOTING SO AUSTIN CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THOSE SO LOUDLY SUPPORTING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT ARE THE SAME.
WHO GAVE US THE MISGUIDED AND FOOLISH DEFUND POLICY? THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT NO SENSIBLE PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM, AND THAT THEY HAVE ZERO CONCERN FOR WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUSINESSES, OR SCHOOLS.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ON THE DAIS KNOWS THAT THE BRUNT OF CRIME AND CHAOS FALLS ON PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SIMPLY SHOW UP HERE TO ENGAGE IN THE PERFORMATIVE VIRTUE SIGNALING.
SO COMMON WITH THE ACTIVIST CROWD IN THIS CITY, NO MATTER HOW LOUDLY THEY CRY, RACISM, THERE IS NO GETTING AROUND THE FACT THAT, DO YOU NEED ME TO STOP? OKAY.
IT'S PEOPLE OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM THE MISGUIDED POLICIES.
THESE PERFORMANCE ARTISTS PROMOTE IT'S TIME TO STOP THE MADNESS AND SUPPORT THE RESULT OF GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, WHICH DELIVERS BOTH STABILITY AND PROGRESSIVE OVERSIGHT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY MITCHELL.
ON DECK IS JACK WEST AND ALEXANDER STRANGER AFTER, AFTER ALEXANDER STRANGER IS DINO FERNANDEZ.
KATHY MITCHELL HAS INDICATED SHE DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
ALEX STRINGER, PLEASE PROCEED.
UH, MY NAME IS ALEXANDER STRINGER.
MY PRONOUNS ARE CLOWN CLOWN SELF.
UM, LAST WEEK I APPLIED TO BE THE CEO OF AUSTIN ENERGY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I FEEL AS THOUGH YOU GUYS DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
APPARENTLY THERE'S A NEW JOB OPENING TO BE THE NEW CITY MANAGER, SO I'M THROWING MY HAT IN THE RING.
UM, THIS JOB REQUIRES A LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN BEING AUSTIN ENERGY CEO.
SO I AM ASKING FOR A BASE PAY OF $750,000 A YEAR.
AUSTIN IS AN EXPENSIVE CITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIVE ON RAINY STREET.
GO OUT TO DINNER FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK AND USE COCAINE HEAVILY.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I BLEW MY ENTIRE LIFE SAVINGS ON PFIZER AND MODERNA CALL OPTIONS.
UM, AND NOW I'M BROKE BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO NAZIS LIKE JOE ROGAN INSTEAD OF THE STEAMED SCIENTISTS LIKE BILL GATES AND DR.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MY WIFE IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
SHE HAS STAGE FIVE TESTICULAR CANCER, AND WHEN YOU REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED, YOU ARE BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT YOU WANT MY WIFE TO DIE.
BACK WHEN I WAS THE LEAD CONTENT MODERATOR FOR TWITTER, I CALLED THE POLICE ON MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR FOR GOING TO THE PARK BY HIMSELF DURING COVID.
AND GUESS WHAT? THE POLICE NEVER CAME.
SO WHY SHOULD THEY GET A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT? ALSO, I WAS ASSAULTED ON JUNE 15TH, 2020 AFTER THROWING A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL THROUGH A SMALL BUSINESS BUSINESS BECAUSE THE OWNER CALLED ME BY THE WRONG GENDER PRONOUN.
ANYWAY, IF I COULD GET A JOB AS THE CITY MANAGER, THAT HERNANDEZ ON DECK IS WALLACE LUNDGREN.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
GINO FERNANDEZ, WALLACE LUNDGREN, ELIZABETH BARON, MR. LUNDGREN, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M HERE TO ASK Y'ALL TO CONSIDER NOT FIRING MR. CRONK.
GIVE HIM A PERIOD OF THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO GET STRAIGHTENED DOWN AND SEE WHAT YOUR MUTUAL PRIORITIES ARE.
I DON'T SEE ANY POINT IN GIVING SOMEBODY A RAISE AND 30 DAYS LATER TRYING TO FIRE HIM.
I, I THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE WASTE OF $400,000.
UH, HE WAS, HE WAS GOOD 30 DAYS AGO.
NOW HE IS NO GOOD CUZ WE HAD A STORM.
SO I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD OUTLINE WHAT YOU THINK HE SHOULD BE DOING AND IN 90 DAYS REEVALUATE IT AND GO FROM THERE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM TWO.
MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WILL, UH, ACCEPT A MOTION.
UM, BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER FOR
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CLARITY PURPOSES, THAT'S, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.OH, WHAT'D I SAY? OH, MANAGE IT.
NOT, UH, I, I WANT TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR, UH, SOME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, OPERATING UNDER THE POSTING, UH, IN A, IN A WAY THAT THAT IS APPROPRIATE.
UH, THE POSTING IS SUCH THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE CITY MANAGER, UH, BY REMOVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER.
IT WOULD BE TO PAY THE CITY MANAGER SEPARATION PAY ENTITLED UNDER THE ORDINANCE THAT HIRES THE CITY MANAGER, AND IT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND SET THE, UH, PAY SCALE FOR THAT, UH, INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR, I KNOW THERE'S SOME TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU'RE POSTED FOR, UM, AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS AND TO APPOINT AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND THE PAYMENT OF THE SEVERANCE PACKAGES TRIGGERED BY EITHER BY COUNSEL TERMINATING THE MANAGER OR BY THE MANAGER BEING FORCED TO RESIGN.
AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE DOING TODAY.
THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, SO THE, THE, THE I I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION, UH, TO BE MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
UH, IT WILL HAVE THREE PARTS TO THIS MOTION.
UH, THE FIRST WOULD BE THE COUNCIL REMOVING SPENCER KRAN FROM THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 16TH, 2023, AN APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF ALL SEVERANCE BENEFITS TO HIM AS SET FORTH, SET OUT IN PART TWO OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 21 8 1 2 1 3 0 4 6.
THOSE PAYMENTS BEING A BASE PAY FOR 12 MONTHS OF $388,190 AND 40 CENTS COBRA PAYMENTS FOR SIX MONTHS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,234 AND 92 CENTS.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR 22 PAY PERIODS OF $19,038 AND 46 CENTS, A VACATION PAYOUT OF 240 HOURS OF $44,791 AND 20 CENTS AN EXCEPTION VACATION FOUR HOURS OF $746 AND 52 CENTS.
AGAIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE HIRING OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR A TOTAL OF $463,001 AND 50 CENTS.
THE THIRD PART OF THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF JESUS GARZA AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF OF AUSTIN, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 16TH, 2023.
AND TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE APPOINTMENT.
AND CONTINUING UNTIL A NEW CITY MANAGER IS APPOINTED AND SERVING OR UNTIL COUNSEL TAKES OTHER ACTION INCONSISTENT WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
NUMBER ONE, ACTING BASE SALARY OF $350,000 PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL PRACTICES.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION CONTRIBUTIONS EQUAL TO $19,038 AND 46 CENTS ANNUALLY PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL PRACTICES, AN EXECUTIVE ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO $7,200 ANNUALLY, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE TAXES AND PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL PRACTICES, CELL PHONE AND DATA ALLOWANCE, EQUIVALENT TO $1,620 AND 32 CENTS ANNUALLY, PLUS AN ANNUAL 225,000, I'M SORRY, $225 DEVICE ALLOWANCE, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE TAXES AND PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL TAXES AND ALL OTHER BENEFITS ALLOWABLE UNDER CITY PERSONNEL AND BENEFIT POLICIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THOSE POLICIES.
I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MOTION.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR HAND COUNCILMAN ROBERT MADISON.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING UNANIMOUSLY.
SHE'S JUST SAYING SHE'S VOTING.
SO IT IS A, IS A UNANIMOUS NO, SHE'S VOTING.
NO, I'M SAYING I'M NOT VOTING.
SO ARE YOU, ARE YOU VOTING? I AM VOTING, NO.
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PASSES ON A VOTE OF 10 TO ONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON VOTE BEING SHOWN VOTING NO FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE, THE, AND AND HERE TO TESTIFY, WE ARE NOW GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS.MY HOPE IS THAT IT'S NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES LONG AND WE'LL BE BACK IN AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
I'M GONNA CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER.
IT'S 10 45, UH, AM ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.
UH, BEFORE I CALL UP THE FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, AS PART OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY, I'D LIKE TO FRAME THE MOMENT, UH, JUST A LITTLE, UH, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AND SOLEMN DAY.
IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH ARGUABLY TWO OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE.
ONE IS ABOUT WHO IS THE CITY MANAGER OR WHO IS NOT THE CITY MANAGER OF OUR CITY.
AND THE OTHER IS ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR CITY.
AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND APPROACH THIS DECISION CAREFULLY, THOUGHTFULLY, AND FULLY INFORMED.
OF COURSE, THERE'S NO ONE THAT'S NAIVE HERE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'LL START THE DAY AND WE'LL END IT WITH MANY WHO SEE DECISIONS WE'LL MAKE AS ONLY ONE WAY TO BE MADE NO IN BETWEEN.
NO TRULY COMPETING PRINCIPLES OR VALUES WINNER TAKE ALL.
BUT TO APPROACH THIS DECISION CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND HIGHLIGHT THREE KEY PRINCIPLES THAT DO IN REALITY INTERACT AND THEY BECOME INTERTWINED SO THAT IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING BINARY CHOICES WHEN MAKING THESE IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY DETERMINATIONS.
FIRST, WE NEED TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WHO EMPOWERED US TO MAKE THIS DECISION AND THE CITY CHARTER THAT EMPOWERS THEM TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT.
WE ALSO NEED TO RESPECT THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THEM THE STABILITY AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO KEEP THEM ON THE JOB.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY STAFF SO THAT AUSTIN NIGHTS ARE BOTH SAFE AND IMPORTANTLY, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME OR THEY'RE BEING PULLED OVER FOR A TRAFFIC STOP AND NO ONE SHOULD FEAR THE POLICE MAKING ALL US NIGHT SAFE AND ABLE TO FEEL SAFE.
RESPECTING ALL POLICE OFFICERS AND WORKING FOR STABILITY DOES NOT PRECLUDE AND I WOULD ARGUE IT NECESSARILY INCLUDES A ROBUST AND TRANSPARENT OVERSIGHT OF POLICE.
THIRD, WE NEED TO RESPECT THE PROCESS.
WE NEED TO RESPECT THE PROCESS.
IT ABSOLUTELY MATTERS HOW WE TAKE UP THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.
THIS PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH IS BEING CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT ONE BUT TWO BALLOT PROPOSITIONS RELATED TO THAT CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FINALIZED WEEKS AGO WITH TIME ENOUGH BEFORE THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO REVIEW, COMMENT, AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK, A TIME TO DEBATE, A TIME TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT BEING TOLD WE ALL FACE CATASTROPHIC OUTCOMES.
A TIME TO MODIFY SO IS TO AVOID AT LEAST PART OF THE ALL OR NOTHING BS THAT COMES WHEN YOU TRIED TO DO A PROCESS WRONG.
BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST WEEK.
A LAST MINUTE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WAS SPRUNG ON ALL OF US THE NIGHT BEFORE COUNCIL WAS SET TO PROVIDE DIRECTION.
LET ME BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO OUR BUSINESS LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
THE OUTCOMES ARE TOO IMPORTANT.
WE AS A COUNCIL WANT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY SHOW VALUE FOR THESE THREE PRINCIPLES AND MOVE BEYOND THIS IMPASSE AND BEGIN TO HEAR EACH OTHER AND MAYBE EVEN TRUST EACH OTHER A LITTLE MORE THAN WE DO TODAY.
[1. Approve a resolution concerning bargaining for a meet and confer labor contract with the Austin Police Association. 1]
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE FIRST PERSON TO TESTIFY? YES.MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP A SPANISH SPEAKER.
WHO IS HERE IN PERSON? SARAH RODRIGUEZ.
AND WOULD YOU EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL THREE AT A TIME SO THAT PEOPLE WILL PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP? WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN OPERATE THIS MORE EFFICIENTLY.
IF WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE ON DECK OR IN THE CIRCLE TO COME UP AFTER SOMEBODY SPEAKS, IF YOU'LL MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN SO THAT YOU'RE READY TO GO THE MINUTE YOUR NAME IS CALLED
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JACQUELINE, ARE YOU READY? YES.I'M NOT A SPANISH SPEAKING OR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE SPEAKER.
SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL MY NAME IS RECALLED OR SPEAK? TELL ME YOUR NAME.
IT MIGHT BE ANOTHER SARAH RODRIGUEZ.
GO AHEAD AND WAIT UNTIL YOU, UM, WE CALL, WE WANNA MAKE SURE.
OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CLARIN WILLIAMS? YES.
UM, MY NAME IS CHLORINE WILLIAMS. UM, I'M WITH BLACK LEADERS COLLECTIVE, NUMEROUS OF DIFFERENT, UH, UM, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS IN THE PEACE PROGRAM.
AND I'M A FOURTH GENERATION AUSTIN TONIGHT.
UM, MY BROTHER WAS LAWRENCE PIERCE.
IN 2017, OFFICERS WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR VIDEO FOOTAGE.
THE FIRST OFFICER NAMED MARCUS JOHNSON, WHO IS THE FACE OF THE RECRUITING DEPARTMENT AND HAS, HAS BEEN PUT ON ALL BILLBOARDS FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BOUGHT HIS OWN BODY CAMERA, SHOT MY BROTHER IN THE FACE AND LIED ABOUT IT.
THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT LIED ABOUT IT AND EVEN TOOK US TWO YEARS TO GET THE THE TRUTH.
HE WAS RELEASED AFTER THE TRUTH CAME OUT AND TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, MY BROTHER RECENTLY PASSED AWAY FROM THE BULLETS THAT WAS IN HIS HEART AND IN HIS LUNGS.
MY BROTHER WAS SHOT 12 TIMES IN HIS EYES AND HIS NOSE AND HIS MOUTH, BOTH HANDS.
THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MASK MAX HORSEMAN.
I'M CALLING IN FROM DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TODAY THE MEMBER OF REPUBLIC THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WOULD BE PASSED AND ANYTHING ELSE IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE DON'T NEED ANY HAND RINGING OR EXCUSES.
WE DON'T NEED YOU TO BLAME ANYONE ELSE.
WE JUST NEED YOU TO PASS THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
ALSO, I THINK WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR ANYTHING MORE ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD RESPECT THE POLICE.
WHEN THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION IS THE ONE WHO'S GONE AROUND MISLEADING THE PUBLIC WITH THE FRAUDULENT PETITION, PLEASE JUST PASS THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND EVERYONE CAN JUST MOVE ON FROM THERE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS GUMBO V HEY, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR WATSON.
I WAS HOPING TO BE THERE IN PERSON TODAY, BUT I'M NOT FEELING SUPER WELL.
I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA, UH, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, A PROUD CITY EMPLOYEE ORGANIZED WITH AFSCME 1624.
AS A REGULAR CITY EMPLOYEE, I DON'T GET A CONTRACT.
UH, THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T GET A CONTRACT AND THE FACT THAT APD DOES GET A CONTRACT AND CAN ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS A MASSIVE PRIVILEGE THAT WE BESTOW ON A RO DEPARTMENT.
SO I THINK IT MAKES CLEAR AND LOGICAL SENSE TO REJECT BEFORE YOUR CONTRACT.
PUSH FOR A ONE YEAR STOP GAP, WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS SIGNALED THAT THEY WANT ALREADY LEAVE THE DECISION ON OVERSIGHT TO THE VOTERS IN MAY.
AND THEN WE CAN ALIGN ALL THREE OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE CONTRACTS BETWEEN A F D, EMS AND APD AT THE SAME TIME.
UH, AND IF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR A P D, I WANT TO ASK YOU WHY IT WAS OKAY TO FORCE ON EMS. THANK YOU.
I'M FROM DISTRICT SIX AND I BELIEVE IN THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE MORE LEASE OVERSIGHT.
WE HAVE THE OPO, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OVERSIGHT, BUT IN 2021, A 220 COMPLAINT BY THE OPO TO THE A P D, ONLY A HUNDRED, ONLY 90 WERE INVESTIGATED.
AND OF THOSE THERE'S ONLY 10 SUSPENSIONS.
SO ESSENTIALLY OTHER PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING AND NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
AND ALSO WITH RESOLUTION 95, WHICH IS DESIGNED AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE, THERE'S FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS SENT FROM THE OPO JPB TO CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES AND THEY IGNORE IT ALL BUT ONE WE CANNOT HAVE.
A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IGNORES ITS CITIZENS IGNORED THE OVERSIGHT, PLEASE.
AND IF THAT MEANS HAVING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, THEN SUDDENLY BE IT.
I YIELDED MY TIME ON THAT SPEAKER.
[00:30:01]
GOOD MORNING.MY NAME IS MARINA ROBERTS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I ALWAYS HOPE THAT MY CITY COUNCIL REPS RECOGNIZE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD FAITH, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT IT'S HELPFUL, I'M CALLING IN TO ASSIST.
THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE CONFUSED.
THIS ITEM IS ABOUT A GROUP OF REGULAR WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES WHO HAVE ON GOOD FAITH ORGANIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT POLICE FROM KILLING AND BEATING US TO DEATH WITH IMPUNITY VERSUS A BAD FAITH CITY MANAGER WHO IS EXPENDING THE DYING BREATH OF HIS CAREER AS A PUBLIC SERVANT TO RAN THROUGH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, THE DEFINITIVE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO HELP COPS ESCAPE THE KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING.
IT IS YOUR JOB TO RECOGNIZE THIS DIFFERENCE, AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO PERMIT THIS HAIL MARY, THEN YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED AND REMEMBERED BY THIS COMMUNITY IS HAVING CHOSEN DECIDE OF BAD FAITH, POLICE AND THEIR CRONIES AND LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH MURDER.
BASIC ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BARGAINING TABLE, CHOOSE US OTHERWISE YOU MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHO YOU'RE REALLY SERVING UP THERE WITH THE POWER WE GAVE YOU.
UNLIKE SOME OF THESE OTHER SPEAKERS, UH, YOU CAN CHECK MY FACTS WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND STATISTICS, BUT LET'S GET INTO TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL'S NOT BEING COMPLETELY HONEST WITH THE NUMBERS AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE, UH, IN THIS CITY OF AUSTIN, THERE ARE, THEY'VE, THEY'RE ALLOTTED FOR 1800 OFFICERS YET ROUGHLY 400 OR ON THE FORCE BECAUSE OF VACANCIES AND LONG-TERM INJURY LEAVE.
UM, SO THIS LEAVES US AT A RATE OF TWO OFFICERS FOR EVERY 1400 PEOPLE ROUGHLY.
UM, AND IF ANYBODY BELIEVES THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY TARGETING, DISCRIMINATING AGAINST AND USING FORCE OVER ANY ONE PARTICULAR PART OF THE COMMUNITY OVER ANOTHER, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THEIR ACTUAL RESEARCH, BUT I HAVE.
SO LET'S LOOK AT OTHER NUMBERS OF RESEARCH.
YOU HAVE THE G L B T Q, COMMUNITY, BLACK COMMUNITY, AND IPOC COMMUNITY AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY THAT SUFFERS A RATE OF VICTIMIZATION THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER PARTY OF COMMUNITY.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS A SMALLER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HI, I'M RYAN WECH, HUSBAND, FATHER OF FOUR, AND I SUPPORT ITEM ONE, UH, TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO PURSUE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
WITH THAT SAID, I'M ALSO FOR THE POLICE AND THE DUTIES THEY SERVE.
WHAT I'M NOT FOR IS LONG-TERM CONTRACTS BEING RUSHED THAT ALLOW FOR THE BUDGET TO GO UNCHECK AND LACK OF OVERSIGHT WHEN THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE USED TO PAY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVERY MAJOR CORPORATION IS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY WITH OVERSIGHT AND PROPER GOVERNANCE.
AS A CEO FOUNDER OF FOUR COMPANIES WITH OVER 1.5 BILLION IN VALUE IN THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES AND CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE BOARD OF SEVERAL COMPANIES, I WOULD NEVER GIVE A COMPANY LEADERSHIP NOR WOULD I EXPECTED OF MY OWN COMPANY.
THE ABILITY TO HAVE A BUDGET APPROVED, MANAGE THAT BUDGET AND THE ABILITY TO GOVERN ITSELF FOR FOUR YEARS.
BEING UNCHECKED, ACCOUNTABILITY, DOING WHAT IS REQUIRED AND DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IS THE ONLY WAY SUCCESS CAN BE ACHIEVED.
FOUR YEARS OF SELF OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL OF FUNDING INCREASE TOO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORE LEADERSHIP TO EXIST, STAY IN PLACE, AND NOT SEE THE KEY OBJECTIVES REQUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT.
OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT FOR ONE YEAR WILL FORCE GOOD RESULTS, OBJECTIVES TO BE ADHERE OR TWO, AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES, THE RESULTS AREN'T THERE.
THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE THAN ANY LARGER SMALL CORPORATION HAVING ANNUAL THANK YOU SPEAKER.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED ACROSS OUR COUNTRY TODAY.
PLEASE REJECT THE FOUR YEAR AND PASS THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE CHAMBLEE.
HI, MY NAME IS KATHERINE CHAMBLEE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M CALLING TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND REQUEST A FOLLOW THROUGH.
WITH A FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT, THE CITY MANAGER AGREED TO WITH APA IN 2020 CADET CLASSES WERE HALTED IN ORDER TO REIMAGINE THE CURRICULUM THAT WAS FINALLY COMPLETED.
AND WE'VE NOW HAD TWO UTMOST CADET CLASSES GRADUATE THE MOST DIVERSE IN HISTORY YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN IN 2023.
FURTHER RE-IMAGINING THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS OF YOUR VOICES AND DECISIONS ARE AFFECTING POLICE MORALE, INCREASING RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS, AND NEGATIVELY AFFECTING RECRUITMENT.
WE NEED MORE OFFICERS AND WE NEED TO RETAIN THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE SEVERELY LACKING A PATROL UNIT BY LOCALLY OWNED LGBTQ NURSERY GARDEN.
17 HAS BEEN BURGLARIZED THREE SEPARATE TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS.
THEY'RE ARE AN EXAMPLE, BUT FAR FROM THE ONLY LOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING, UH, SUBJECTED TO REPEAT CRIMINAL ACTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF LACK OF PATROL UNITS.
KIRK WATSON WON THE ELECTION AS THE MODERATE VOICE INDICATING HE WOULD WORK WITH APA TO BETTER THE POLICE
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RELATIONSHIP AND HE NEEDS TO HONOR THAT PROMISE.I ASK YOU HONOR, THE FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT AGREES TO BY OUR CITY MANAGER.
HI, MY NAME IS JOAN CATLEY AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, OH GOSH, ABOUT 50 YEARS, SO I'VE SEEN IT GROW LESS AND LESS SAFE EVERY YEAR.
I'M AGAINST AGENDA ONE AND I'M IN FAVOR OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT CONTRACT FOR OUR POLICEMEN.
WE NEED TO SHOW THEM A LOT MORE RESPECT THAN THEY GET AT THIS POINT.
CRIME HAS RISEN IN THIS CITY DRAMATICALLY SINCE, WELL, SINCE THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.
UM, THEY DON'T GET THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE PUNISHED, IT SEEMS FOR DOING THEIR JOB.
YES, THERE ARE, THERE ARE EVIL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THERE ARE EVIL POLICEMEN, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE GOOD AND THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP OUR CITIZENS BE SAFE.
IT DOES NO GOOD TO CALL 9 1 1 WHEN A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH POLICE TO RESPOND TO THEFTS AND BREAK MENS.
IF THEY DON'T GET THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO RETIRE OR QUIT, AND WE'RE ALREADY AS WOMAN OF FORM.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
HI, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
I AM URGING THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT IN FAVOR OF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
THEY'LL GIVE THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON A POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN MAY.
IF THERE ARE ANY COUNSELORS STILL CONSIDERING APPROVING A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, I ASK YOU CONSIDER THE SIGNING CONTRACT AT THIS POINT WITH ITS LIMITED ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES WOULD PLACE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRUST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AS SOON AS THEY'RE WORKING IN GOOD FAITH ACT ON THE CONCERNS OF OUR CITIZENS.
HOWEVER, WE KNOW THE POLICE UNION HAS SPENT NEARLY $300,000 ON A BALLOT MEASURE THAT'S DESIGNED SECRET VOTERS AND THEY GATHERED SIGN SIGNATURES BY MISREPRESENTING THEMSELVES IN USING DECEPTIVE TACTICS.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO THESE, THE ACTIONS OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS EARNESTLY TRYING TO BUILD TRUST WITH THEIR COMMUNITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CALLEN GILDER SLEEVE.
HI, GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR TESTIMONY TODAY.
I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT ONE.
I'M A NURSE HERE IN AUSTIN AND ALSO A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA.
THIS MAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS ABOUT POLICE OVERSIGHT, THOUGH WE MUST ALREADY HAVE SOME IDEA.
IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, WE SAW JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO OUR CITY WHEN THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES TOOK TO THE STREETS IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER DURING THE PANDEMIC TO HOLD A P D ACCOUNTABLE.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON ITEM ONE TODAY SO WE CAN SHOW THAT WE DO KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THIS TOWN AND WE ARE PREPARED TO MAKE REPARATIONS FOR AUSTIN'S HISTORICALLY RACIST, PAST AND PRESENT.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M RU CHATRI, A BUSINESS OPERATOR IN DISTRICT TECH.
AUSTIN HAS BEEN IN NATIONAL YOUTH THE LAST FEW, FEW YEARS, NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT HEIGHTS, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FAILED POLICIES.
WE ARE TOP 10 CITIES IN AMERICA.
HOWEVER, WE WENT OUT UTILITY FAILURES YEAR AFTER YEAR, FORGETTING B WATER NOTICES, UH, NO ELECTRICITY DURING WINTERS ROOM, NO SOLUTION TO HOMELESS AND AND NOW WE WANT TO BE NATION USED AGAIN FOR HAVING LEWIS POLICE OFFICERS.
I'M AGAINST ITEM ONE AND IN FAVOR OF FOUR, YOUR POLICE CONTRACT SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER LAN, COUNCIL MEMBER F ARE PROPOSED EXTENSION FOR ONE YEAR AND DO NOT WANT FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR THEM AND ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THIS EXTENSION AND SET UP FOR YOUR CONTRACT THAT THEY TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS THE CONS CONSTITUENCY FOR ALL THE CRIME THAT IS COMMITTED IN THEIR DISTRICT CAUSE OF THEIR POLICY FOR RE-IMAGINING POLICING.
UH, WITH EXPERIENCED LEADER MAYOR WATSON, WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO START FRESH RATHER THAN BLINDLY FOLLOWING TRENDS AND UNTESTED POLITICAL THEORIES.
AUSTIN CAN BE LIKE TO CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN RUSSELL.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CALL IN.
I'M SUSAN RUSSELL FROM DISTRICT 10.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
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WE HAVE LOST TOO MANY POLICEMEN ALREADY AND MORE MAY RESIGN THIS YEAR.A LONGER TERM CONTRACT WOULD ADD STABILITY TO THE HIRING AND RETAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WOULD NOT ACCOMPLISH THIS.
I'VE HAD TO DO THAT IN MY OWN BUSINESS.
I AM IN FAVOR OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
I HAVE FRIENDS IN OTHER CITIES WHO ARE AFRAID TO VISIT AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE.
LONGER TERM POLICIES CAN SOLVE SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU FOR SERVING.
I AM THE, UM, I'M PART OF AUSTIN MUTUAL AID IS THAT, UM, IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING AND I'M SPEAKING TO THIS, UH, I'VE BEEN IN AUSTINITE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW AND, UM, SOMETHING THAT I'M NOTICING NOT SURE IF Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF, THERE IS AN INCREASING, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR TRENDING DEMOGRAPHICS IS ACTUALLY IN THE HIGH 60% OF WHITE, OF WHITE, UM, DEMOGRAPHICS HERE.
UH, I WAS IN GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS RUN BY THE BEAUTIFUL HUMANS OF SAFFRON TRUST WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, ESPECIALLY IN POLICING.
THEY HAD 40, UH, AT LEAST 40, UH, A P D OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WAS REAL.
HEARING THAT FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNING TO ME.
I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE ACCOUNT, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
I WILL ALSO SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS AN A P D OFFICER.
HE WAS TRYING TO BE ONE OF THE GOOD APPLES HE WAS RUN OUT OF.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED A, A REPORT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M CALLING BECAUSE I SUPPORT ITEM ONE BECAUSE THE POLICE DESPERATELY NEED OVERSIGHT.
IT'S WHAT AUSTIN RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD YOU CONSISTENTLY THAT WE'D LIKE.
UM, WE HAVE HEARD MANY, MANY STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW THE POLICE OFFICERS LACK RESOURCES, BUT THEY'VE WASTED MONEY ON THIS FRAUDULENT PETITION TO CIRCUMVENT DEMOCRACY AND OVERSIGHT, WHICH ONLY PROVES THAT THEY NEED OVERSIGHT.
PLEASE DO NOT EXTEND THE CONTRACT PAST THE YEAR.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDY RAM RAMIREZ.
Y'ALL HAVE CONCERNS OF OFFICER RESPONSE TIMES INCREASING MURDER RATES AND 256 POLICE STAFF IN CRISIS, BUT CONTINUE WITH NO REAL ACTION TO STOP LOSING OUR OFFICERS.
OFFICERS DO NOT WANT AN UNPRECEDENTED ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
IT'S NOT HOW ANY OFFICER CAN REASONABLY PLAN THEIR FUTURE IN OUR CITY.
ON FEBRUARY 28TH OF THIS YEAR, WE MIGHT HAVE 200 OFFICERS THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO LEAVE OR RETIRE IF THE CONTRACT DOES GO THROUGH FOR ONE YEAR.
CITY AND AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AGREED.
A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT MUST BE PASSED FOR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FINALLY, FINALLY, STABILITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY.
WHY NOT DO YOUR JOB? GIVE US BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE PAY RUNNING POWER, SAVE DRINKING WATER, STAY WALKABLE AND DRIVABLE STREETS, AND A FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH DETERS CRIME LIKE THE INCREASE IN HOMICIDES, VIOLENT ASSAULTS, ARMED ROBBERIES, PETTY THEFT, VEHICLE THEFT, AND INCIDENTS OF RECKLESS AND DRUNK DRIVERS.
DUS RIGHT AND VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE.
HI, MY NAME IS LAUREN NORTEL AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
FIRST I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE FIRST SPEAKER WHO WAS CUT OFF WHILE SHARING A DEEPLY PERSONAL AND DEVASTATING STORY TO MAKE ROOM.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVEN'T BEEN IMPACTED IN SUCH A SEVERE WAY BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, I URGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR ITEM ONE.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULDN'T BE BARGAINING CHIPS AND NEGOTIATIONS.
EXTENDING THE CURRENT POLICE CONTRACT ALLOWS THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS TO BE HEARD RATHER THAN ENTRENCHING THE CITY IN A BRAND NEW FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WOULD LEAVE OUR OVERSIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WEAK.
AND AT THE MERCY OF THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS SHOULDN'T BE NEGOTIABLE.
PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER ONE TODAY.
THIS IS NATHAN FERNANDEZ, FIVE, ONE RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND CURRENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
FOR FAR TOO LONG THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY WHO DULY ELECTED
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YOU ALL HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE DARK.THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET THAT TAKE THE MOST OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND HAVE ALLOWED A P D IN THE APA TO WORK AS A ROW UNIT.
RESPECT IS GIVEN WHEN EARNED AND APD HAS NOT GIVEN THE COMMUNITY RESPECT, THEREFORE GETS THE RESPECT THEY HAVE EARNED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THE POWER TO HAVE LACK OF REGULATIONS AND OVERSIGHT FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO PAY THEIR SALARY AND SETTLEMENTS FROM THE ABUSE STATEMENT INFLICTED OWN RESIDENTS THIS CONTRACT PROCESS.
THE SHANNON BALLOT MEASURES, UH, HAVE TO DECIDED APDS LACK OF COOPERATION TO GAIN TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO NEGOTIATE.
THEREFORE, WE SHOULD APPROVE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT TO ENSURE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I'M WORKING RIGHT NOW, BUT I'VE FELT LIKE THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DISCUSS THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE TODAY.
UM, THE, UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT IS GONNA BE VOTED ON LATER THIS YEAR.
I FEEL LIKE THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC, UH, WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS IS TO GO THROUGH WITH A, A ONE YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE POLICE AND THEN SEE HOW THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT THEIR OVERSIGHT.
ONCE THAT'S DECIDED, THEN THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DECIDE ON A MORE LONG TERM PROJECT OR, UH, FOR THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND TELL THEN I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, FEASIBLE TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UH, MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY THAT WE'VE WITNESSED IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
MARK MUNK, MY BROTHER, RAJAN MUNING MAN WAS KILLED THREE MONTHS AGO TODAY OF BOSTON PD.
STEVE SHAONE CONDUCTED A PRESS CONFERENCE SEVERAL HOURS AFTER HIS DEATH PURPOSEFULLY GAVE FALSE INFORMATION THAT HAS MADE THIS TRAGEDY SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR OUR FAMILY.
WHY WOULD THE CHIEF SAY THAT HE WAS A WHITE PERSON AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 9 1 1 CALLER WHO SAID ROD AND MELISSA HOMEOWNER SCARED OF SOMETHING IN HIS HOUSE.
AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WE FRANTICALLY SEARCHED FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE A APD CONFIRMED IT WAS HIM.
THAT SAME CRES CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY INTERIM DIRECTOR OF POLICE OVERSIGHT SYLVIA HARTMAN.
SEVERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND STAFF.
NOT ONE OF THEM INTERVENED AS THE CHIEF MAY BE.
FALSE STATEMENTS TO THE NEWS MEDIA, PLEASE VOTE FOR A ONE YEAR CONTACT SO WE CAN HEAR FROM THE AUSTIN RESIDENT AND REBUILD PUBLIC TRUST.
HELLO, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF AGENDA ITEM ONE.
I WAS DUPED INTO SIGNING THE FRAUDULENT AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT PETITION BACKED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AT THE ACTIONS OF THE APA MISLEADING VOTERS AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN DECEMBER, MY BOYFRIEND AND I WERE WALKING HOME FROM DINNER ON EAST SIXTH STREET AND A YOUNG WOMAN APPROACHED US ASKING US TO SIGN A PETITION FOR INCREASED POLICE OVERSIGHT.
IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD BECAUSE WE'D ALREADY SIGNED THE ORIGINAL PETITION, BUT THE LANGUAGE WAS THE SAME AND SHE INSISTED THIS WAS NEEDED TO GET EVERYTHING BACK ON THE BALLOT.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THIS PETITION HAD NO CONNECTION TO THE ORIGINAL, I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW ANGRY AND GROSS I FELT LIKE I'D BEEN USED, BUT ALSO ASHAMED THAT I HAD LET DOWN MY COMMUNITY AND NOW THE VOTERS WERE GONNA BE JUST AS CONFUSED AS I WAS.
THE APA IS CLEARLY NOT ABOUT BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THEY PUT FORWARD THE SKETCHY PETITION OBSCURED WHERE IT ORIGINATED AND HAD THEIR CANVASERS LIE TO US.
THE POLICE WILL NOT INCREASE TRANSPARENCY ON THEIR OWN AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY WITHHOLD INFORMATION.
HI, MY NAME IS NALIA MANN AND I'M CALLING, UM, FROM CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR AND I'M CALLING TODAY TO URGE YOU TO PASS ITEM NUMBER ONE.
I'M NOT SURE I CAN ADD ANYTHING TO ALL THE POWERFUL AND WELL INFORMED SPEAKERS WHO CAME BEFORE ME, BUT I WILL SAY THAT MY GRANDMOTHER DIED LAST NIGHT AND INSTEAD OF BEING WITH MY FAMILY AND HERE ON THIS CALL BECAUSE IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS EVEN A QUESTION, OFTEN POLICE MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY REMAINS SERIOUS ISSUES AND WE WANT STRONGER OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO DETER IT.
ITEM NUMBER ONE STRENGTHENS AND STABILIZES OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS A MORE TRANSPARENT SYSTEM.
YOU MUST PASS ITEM NUMBER ONE.
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RESIDENT AND I DO NOT SUPPORT RESOLUTION ONE.AUSTIN NEEDS A FULLY STAFFED AND SUPPORTED POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR MONTHS AS A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND IT SHOULD NOT NOW BE SWITCHED TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AT THE LAST MINUTE.
THE ACTIONS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL HAVE DEMORALIZED THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE HISTORIC UNDERSTAFFING.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS ALONE AT HOME WHEN SOMEONE TRIED TO BREAK IN AND SHE CALLED THE POLICE AND WAITED SCARED FOR HOURS AND NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP BECAUSE OF THE UNDERSTAFFING.
IF THIS CONTRACT HAS CHANGED TO A ONE YEAR DEAL, IT WILL FURTHER DEMORALIZE OUR AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS AND WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO MORE OFFICERS LEAVING OR RETIRING AND WILL MAKE RECRUITING NEW OFFICERS MORE DIFFICULT.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON RESOLUTION ONE.
JUST CALL, JUST CALLING IN TO, UH, VOTE.
UH, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE.
UH, OUR POLICE STAFFING IS AN INSANELY LOW LEVELS.
IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK UP AND AGAIN, JUST VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE, SUPPORT THE POLICE, GIVE THEM A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND, UH, DON'T GIVE IN TO THE, UH, ANARCHISTS.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, NATIVE AUSTIN I D FOUR RESIDENT SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
YOU APPROVED TO PUT THE ORIGINAL LEGITIMATE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT ON THE MAY 6TH BALLOT.
YOU BOTH PLACED A DECISION IN THE HANDS OF THE AUSTIN VOTERS.
MANY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REPS HAVE DONE THE WORK.
WE TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK.
SUPPORT, PROTECT AND ENSURE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE BY APPROVING ITEM ONE, SUPPORTING A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT LACKING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS A DISSERVICE TO AUSTINITE AND BACKING OUT ON YOUR VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR YOUR OPPOSED REGARDING THE POLICE CONTRACT TEMPORARY EXTENSION COMPARING THE LEGITIMATE AND IMPOSTER A P O A DO NOT DELAY JUSTICE.
APPROVE ITEM ONE, APPROVE A ONE YEAR TEMPORARY POLICE CONTRACT TODAY.
QUINCY DUNLAP QUINCY DUNLAP PLEASE UNMUTE.
CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? HELLO? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE IS IN FAVOR OF THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
I NEED INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT LONG-TERM COMPENSATION OF, UH, A P D OFFICERS OR COMMAND.
SO I I WANT PEOPLE TO STOP CONFUSING THE TWO ISSUES AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE BENEFIT OF OVERSIGHT.
FROM A ONE YEAR PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE IN FAVOR OF THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT, RIGHT? WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR AND, AND TWEAK THE, UH, COMMUNITY'S PARTICIPATION IN OVERSIGHT, WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE THE COMMUNITY STEP ASIDE OR SIT BACK AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE OVERSIGHT.
RIGHT? THIS IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS.
THIS IS ABOUT THE PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF THE TAXPAYERS.
AND THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT GIVES THE COMMUNITY A DIRECT IMPACT ON THAT SYSTEM.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS A DECEPTION.
WE ARE NOT FOR THE MEASURE THAT WAS PUT FORWARD BY THE ASSOCIATION AS AN ATTEMPT TO DESTROY.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THAT WAS NECESSARILY PUT FORWARD BY THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS BETTY STEWART IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
AND I CAN SAY THAT REVIEWING THE POSTS ON NEXT DOOR OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS PROVES THAT THE APPROACH TO POLICING THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY HAS BEEN TAKING IS NOT WORKING.
THERE WAS ONE MAN FROM SOUTHEAST AUSTIN WHO WAS PLEADING FOR HELP BECAUSE THUGS AND CRIMINALS HAD DECLARED THEY WERE IN CHARGE OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THERE'S INTENSIVE CONSEQUENCES, WHICH
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IS LOWER QUALITY CANDIDATES ARE APPLYING FOR AND BEING ACCEPTED FOR POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WILL RESULT IN MORE OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT THOSE WHO ARE FOR PROPOSITION, UH, ITEM ONE DON'T WANT.AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLEAR MESSAGE IF YOU ARE GOING TO COMMIT A CRIME, BE PREPARED FOR CONSEQUENCES UP TO AND INCLUDING DEATH.
CAN I BE HEARD? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
UM, WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF CRIME.
I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN, UH, DIAZ A, UM, AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF CRIME AND LAWLESSNESS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THAT CRIME AND LAWLESSNESS BEGINS IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THEY HAVE ENGAGED IN UNETHICAL AND, AND FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR IN COVERUP, IN, UM, IN UN IN BLATANT MISCONDUCT AND NAVAL VIOLENCE.
IF WE WANT TO, I WILL RESPECT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY STOP OPPOSING THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY STOP RESISTING ANY, ANY TURN WHEN THEY STOP BEATING AND BRUTALIZING OUR CITIZENS IN THE STREET.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE COURT
CHRISTIAN DURHAM TWO DETOX I THINK, AND THEN, UM, CHRISTIAN DURHAM, AND THEN IT'S JUST ADULT SPECIALIZED FEMALE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
UM, AND THEN THE ONE THING IS LIKE, WHERE DOES HIV SIT IN TRAVIS WARD? HI, MY NAME IS TRAVIS WARD.
I'M A DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA.
I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT A ONE YEAR POLICE CONTRACT AND GIVE AUSTINITES THE BEST CHANCE AT REAL POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN MAY, THE LATEST FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WAS PUSHED BY X CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CRONK AND HIS TEAM OF POLICE DEFENDING LAWYERS AND CITY NEGOTIATORS.
THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WANT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT FOUR YEARS KNOWING THAT AP D IS ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN TEXAS.
THEY SAVING NEED A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT TO IMPROVE STAFFING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, YET ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE EXTRA OFFICERS TO DO THINGS LIKE DEFEND DUMPSTERS FROM UNHOUSED FOLKS TRYING TO SURVIVE DURING A FREEZE.
THEIR RECENT BRUTALITY SETTLEMENTS DEFUNDED THE CITY OF BOSTON, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO A PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES AND FAIR WAGES.
WAS MURDERED BY RAMPAGING OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER AND THAT OFFICER IS STILL ON THE FOURTH UNPUNISHED.
WE KNOW WHAT A LACK OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY LOOKS LIKE AND WE DON'T NEED FOUR MORE YEARS OF IT.
YES, TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, YES TO REAL POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND A HELL YES TO FIRING CRIME.
I'M CALLING IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE AND FOR A ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT.
I'M THANKFUL THAT WE WILL GET TO VOTE ON POLICE OVERSIGHT IN MAY, BUT I WAS CONCERNED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS LAST MINUTE ATTEMPT TO PUSH A FOUR FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WOULD STALL THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE FOR FOUR YEARS.
THESE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN A BLUR, UH, BUT THAT'S FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE PRIVILEGED TO NOT BE A DIRECT VICTIM OF POLICE VIOLENCE.
FOR THE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT TIME WAS AND WILL BE AN ETERNITY FOR THE MANY MORE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE SUFFERED HARASSMENT LOSS THAN ANY OTHER IMPROPER CONDUCT BY THE POLICE, UH, THAT TIME WILL NOT BLUR.
IT WILL LINGER IN THEIR MINDS FOR A LIFETIME.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DELAY PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, UM, OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO DESPERATELY VOTE ON IN MAY.
WE CAN'T EXTEND THE CURRENT CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR AND WE SHOULD, UM, AND THEN RESUME LONG, LONG-TERM CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AFTER THE UPCOMING VOTE.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
[01:00:03]
YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND RESIGN.MARY, YOU SAID THAT NOBODY SHOULD FEEL THE POLICE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CURRENT REALITY.
THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT WILL ALLOW OVERSIGHT THAT IS MISSING AT THIS TIME AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTED ON TO BE VOTED ON FOR TWO MONTHS.
ALLOW THE CITY TO MAKE THE DECISION BEFORE STOPPING IT FROM BEING ENACTED.
CROSS RESIGN MAYOR COUNCIL APPROVAL WHEN CONTRACT SO THE FOLKS ABDICATING FOR A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF A POLICE FORCE IF THERE'S NO OVERSIGHT FOR OFFICERS WHO ARE MURDERING PEOPLE AND REMAINING ON THE BOARD? WHY DO YOU WANT OFFICERS WHO HAVE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR ACTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OKAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WITH INADEQUATE OVERSIGHT WAS PUSHED THROUGH AT THE LAST MINUTE TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CITY.
I URGED COUNCIL TO OPT FOR A RENEWED ONE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL ALLOW THE VOTERS TO DECIDE ON THE MAY BALLOT, HOW WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND HEALTHY.
I BELIEVE AUSTIN CAN BE A NATIONAL LEADER ON ACCOUNTABLE RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS A NECESSARY COMPONENT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF INFORMATION ABOUT POLICE CONDUCT SERVES A LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSE BY INCREASING TRUST IN THE POLICE AS THE A P O A STATES.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE BASIC PRINCIPLE THAT NO PERSON AND NO INSTITUTION CAN BE AN IMPARTIAL JUDGE IN THEIR OWN CASE, A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT WOULD PERPETUATE THE SAME ABUSES AND WORST PRACTICES THAT THE VOTERS HAVE REJECTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO REJECT AND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN WORKING EARNESTLY TO CORRECT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR HER OFFICE IS EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIVENESS DURING MY TIME AS CONSTITUENT.
MANY THANKS AS WELL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, VELA, CADRE, VELAZQUEZ, AND FUENTEZ FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO RESPECT THE VOTERS WHO PUT YOU HERE AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I I FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST A TYPO THAT, THAT SAYS ROOM AND RAMSEY BIS.
HELLO, I'M RAMSEY BI, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH AUSTIN DSA AND BORN AND RAISED OFFSITE.
CURRENTLY LIVING IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
VOTING FOR A ONE YEAR POLICE CONTRACT IS YOUR DUTY AS OUR CITY COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT AUSTINITES OUR SAFE IN OUR CITY.
STRONG POLICE OVERSIGHT SHOULD BE THE FIRST ACTION THIS COUNCILS WILL TAKE BEFORE ANY OTHER POLICE BUSINESS OVERSIGHT IS CRITICAL TO US FEELING SAFE IN IN INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN USING FRAUD AND DECEPTION TO UNDERMINE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, I'VE TALKED WITH MANY DIVERSE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN, NOT JUST DISTRICT SEVEN WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
EACH CITIZEN I'VE TALKED TO HAS BEEN IN FAVOR OF STRONGER OVERSIGHT.
THE STORY OF ALEX GONZALEZ JR'S MURDER TELLS THE STORY OF A VIOLENT AND KALI POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY CAN ONLY BE REIGNED IN WITH STRONG OVERSIGHT.
VOTING FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WILL ENSURE IN MAY THE VOTERS CAN DECIDE ON WHAT SORT OF OVERSIGHT WE WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY PREVOST AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M CALLING IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
I BELIEVE THAT PER, UM, APPROVING A FOUR YEAR CONTACT WITH WEAKENED OVERSIGHT THAT WAS PUSHED THROUGH AT THE LAST MINUTE IN A BAD FAITH EFFORT WILL UNDERMINE DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING IN THE CITY.
AND THAT INCREASED OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY WILL INCREASE TRUST IN THE POLICE.
ITEM ONE WILL ALLOW VOTERS TO VOTE ON THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM, MAY SUPPORT AND THEN ALLOW THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN A FUTURE LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
EXTENDING THE CURRENT POLICE CONTRACT ALLOWS THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS TO BE HEARD RATHER THAN ENTRENCHING THE CITY IN A BRAND NEW FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WOULD LEAD THE CITY'S OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
WEAK AND AT THE MERCY OF THE POLICE ASSOCIATION AND KEEPS THEM TIED TO OFFICER WAGES AND BENEFITS, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS SHOULDN'T BE NEGOTIABLE.
I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST ITEM ONE, VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SUFFERS WHAT WAS A DEFICIT OF OFFICERS ON THE STREET OF ABOUT 400, UH, FOR THIS SIZE CITY.
UH, MY FEAR IS NOT THE AUSTIN POLICE.
MY FEAR IS THE CRIME THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN THIS CITY AND WHICH HAS BEEN, UH, UH, JUST, UH, AT DEVASTATING AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE FOR
[01:05:01]
THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN HAMMERED OUT, UH, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION ALONE WITH THE, THE CITY MANAGER.UH, AND UH, SO I VERY MUCH OPPOSE THIS IDEA OF A ONE YEAR EXTENSION, VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE, OF THE, UH, OF THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
I'M A MEMBER OF BOSTON BSA AND A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEES UNION.
UH, WE DO NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BARGAIN INTO LEGAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, UNLIKE A P D, UM, I'M URGING CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR BY ITEM ONE AND ALLOW VOTERS TO CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT WE NEED AND THAT WE DESERVE.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WAS PUSHED BY SPENCER CRONK.
HE IS AN UNELECTED BUREAUCRAT.
HE'S REPEATEDLY IGNORED THE WILL OF OUR CITY'S RESIDENCE.
UM, AND WE NEED TO END THE, THE INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT OF POLICE IMPUNITY FOR RACIST VIOLENCE AND THE KILLING OF OUR CITIZENS.
HI, MY NAME IS ALAN NIRENBERG.
I'M IN DISTRICT, UH, 10, HAVE BEEN AN ON AND OFF, UH, RESIDENT FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
THE LAST 20 HERE, UH, I AM AGAINST THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO GET A FOUR YEAR, UH, PLAN IN PLACE.
UH, I KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES EVERYBODY, ALL CITIES HAVE ISSUES, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, UH, HE WAS OUR CITY MANAGER, STILL IS TODAY.
HE NEGOTIATED THIS AND I THINK THAT WE NEED SOME STABILITY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, CRIME IS, IS OUT OF CONTROL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SARAH GORE AND I'M A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
WHEN I WENT TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER, I WAS APPROACHED OUTSIDE BENNER SHRINE BY PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN WHO WERE GETTING SIGNATURES FOR A DECEITFUL POLICE PETITION.
I DON'T APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT THE A P D HAS TRIED TO CONFUSE VOTERS AND ARE NOW FURTHER TRYING TO DIS DISENFRANCHISE AUSTIN VOTERS BY PUSHING FOR DIS CONTRACT.
I URGED A COUNSELOR VOTE YES IN ITEM ONE SO THAT I CAN VOTE ON THE ISSUE.
IN MAY, THE POLICE NEVER SEEM TO HAVE MONEY, BUT WHEN THEY WANTED TO SEE VOTERS, THEY FIND PLENTY OF MONEY.
WHEN THEY NEED MILLIONS TO PAY THEIR SETTLEMENTS, THEY FIND THE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THE CITY, AUSTIN AND ITS TAXPAYERS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I OPPOSE ITEM ONE.
I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S FAIR TO, TO LET PEOPLE HAVE LONG-TERM OR TO GIVE PEOPLE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND TELL THEM TO PLAN LONG TERM AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PROTECT OUR CITY WHEN WE'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO SUPPORT THEM FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
NO ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN HAVE TO GO DO THAT ALL OVER AGAIN A YEAR LATER.
I THINK WE'RE CREATING MORE WORK FOR OURSELVES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IN THIS NEXT YEAR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE NEXT CONTRACT.
LET'S JUST GET A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT OUT OF THE WAY.
WE'RE ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CRIME AND POLICE SHORTAGES AND PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ZE ABDULLAH.
HELLO, MY NAME'S HASIB ABDU, DISTRICT SEVEN MEMBER, UM, THE RESIDENT.
I'M AGAINST ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
THE CITY SELECTED, UM, OR THE CITY MANAGERS SELECTED BY THE CITY AND AUSTIN PEACE ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATED MUTUAL AGREEABLE CONTRACT.
UH, THIS NEGOTIATED CONTRACT, I BELIEVE WILL HELP RETAIN, UH, AND RECRUIT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST.
UM, I SEE THE, I PERSONALLY SEE THE DEMONIZATION OF PEACE OFFICERS AND SCAPEGOATING KIND OF SIMILAR TO HOW YOU SCAPEGOAT TO RELIGION OR A RACE AFTER A HIGH PROFILE INCIDENT OR ANY INCIDENT.
UM, JUST AS STEREOTYPES, BOTH OF, OF RACES AND RELIGIONS ARE WRONG.
UH, BOTH WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
UM, I THINK A STEREOTYPING A WHOLE PROFESSION SIMILARLY IS WRONG IF CHANGES IS DESIRED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
ONCE TO TAKE THAT UP TO ACCOUNT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR HERE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN SESSION RIGHT NOW.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A NEED OF GREAT IMPROVEMENT HERE IN TEXAS AND CITY OF BOSTON, BUT I SHOULDN'T BE STEREOTYPING AN ENTIRE PROFESSION.
SO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST ITEM NUMBER ONE AND, UM, GO AND PLEASE VOTE FOR THE FOUR YEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN A NEGOTIATED AND AGREED BOND BY THE THANK YOU SPEAKER.
[01:10:05]
HI, MY NAME IS SOPHIA RODRIGUEZ.I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT ONE.
IT IS WOR IT IS VERY HORRIFYING TO HEAR MY COMMUNITY COMPLAIN ABOUT AUSTIN POLICE.
I DO WISH TO SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING DECISION BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE DO NEED THE POLICE.
WE DO NEED FOUR YEAR CONTRACTS.
BUT AGAIN, I WANNA GO WITH PAPA'S.
I WANNA GO WITH NUMBER ONE BECAUSE THE POLICE DO NEED OVERSIGHT.
OKAY? OUR GOVERNMENT HAS, HAS WAY TOO MUCH POWER OVER US AND THE WAY IT IS.
IT'S SO SAD THAT AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING OUR POLICE FUNDED HERE IN AUSTIN, WE, THE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BANK CAMPING.
SO WE NEED THE OFFICERS TO TAKE CARE OF THE CAMPING.
I, I'M NOT MICHAEL LUXEMBOURG.
UM, I JUST WANT, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
UH, ABSOLUTELY EXTENDED ONE YEAR CONTRACT BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, CRIME WAS WORSE HERE 10 YEARS AGO BY A SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN.
IT'S NOT ACTUALLY GETTING MUCH WORSE.
AND EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS GETTING WORSE, THE BUDGET WITH ATD HAS BEEN BALLOONING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND SO IF YOU THINK CRIME IS GETTING WORSE, WELL THEY GET MORE MONEY.
THAT IS A CLEAR DEMAND FOR OVERSIGHT.
AND IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN WE NEED TO DO THIS ONE YEAR EXTENSION AND THEN LET THE PEOPLE VOTE TO DETERMINE AN OVERSIGHT PROGRAM THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ARE OKAY WITH, AND THAT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ELECTED THE HOUSTON COUNCIL ARE COMFORTABLE WITH AND WILLING TO, UH, WILLING TO ABIDE BY.
THIS IS THOMAS LEMANSKI WITH, UH, DISTRICT NINE, UH, OR I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE.
UH, I GUESS GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FATE OF CITY MAYOR CRONK AND THE LONG PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW CITY MANAGER, SHOULD CRONK VA VACATE THE POSITION EITHER WILLINGLY OR BY COUNCIL ACTION, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO SYNC UP THE APA CONTRACT WITH THAT SEARCH FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER.
THEREFORE, I AM FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE, I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
MY NAME IS SAM AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TODAY WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO AUSTIN POLICE VIOLENCE AND THOSE DEATHS AND OTHERS LIKE THEM ARE WHY I AM FOR ITEM ONE.
UH, I THINK THAT OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD BE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO KEEP AUSTINITE SAFER.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS ON THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BILL IN MAY.
UH, SO I'M ASKING, PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, SUE PARK.
MY NAME IS SUE, AND I'VE BEEN A FRIEND OF RAJAN MONA SINCE WE WERE KIDS, UNTIL HE WAS KILLED BY AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER EXACTLY THREE MONTHS AGO.
SINCE RAJAN DIED, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OVERWHELMINGLY SHARED MOTIONS AMONG HIS LOVED ONES.
FIRST, WE FEEL, OF COURSE, AN INCREDIBLE LOSS, BUT NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES.
IT'S ALSO A DEVASTATING LOSS OF POTENTIAL OF SUCH A POSITIVE FORCE FOR AUSTIN AND THIS COMMUNITY.
SECOND, WE SHARE THE SENSE OF SHOCK THAT FOR ME, HASN'T WANED EVEN AFTER THREE MONTHS, IN PART, AS THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SHOOTING THAT KILLED RAJAN HAS NOT PROGRESSED.
BUT TRUTHFULLY, WE SHOULDN'T BE SHOCKED.
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT ARE LACKING IN AUSTIN AND THAT WE AND THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING YOU TO CHANGE.
PLEASE ACT URGENTLY FOR THE SAFETY OF AUSTINITE AND VOTE YES ON ITEM ONE.
UM, I'M SO SORRY TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, UH, FOR HER LOSS.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 15 YEARS.
I AM, UH, IN FAVOR OF AGENDA ITEM ONE.
I WAS ONE OF MANY AUSTINITES DECEIVED INTO SIGNING A FRAUDULENT POLICE OVERSIGHT PETITION.
I TEND TO BE CONNECTED TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, AND YET I WAS TRICKED.
A PETITIONER APPROACHED ME AS I WAS LEAVING WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY, OCCUPIED WITH A DOZEN THOUGHTS.
HE INFLUENCED ME BY MAKING AN EMOTIONAL PLEA ABOUT THE CITY NEEDING TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, WHICH IS AN ISSUE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT.
[01:15:01]
AND REFERENCING EQUITY ACTION, A GROUP WHOM I TRUST AND WHOSE EXAMPLE OF ACTIVISM I FOLLOW.IT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO EXTEND THE CURRENT POLICE CONTRACT FREE YEAR SO THAT THE VOTERS CAN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT POLICE OVERSIGHT IN MAY BEFORE A LONG-TERM CONTRACT IS NEGOTIATED.
IF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT THAT EQUITY ACTION ESTABLISHED IS DIVERTED, SO MANY AUSTINITES WILL BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR WILL.
THIS IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOR SOME DEPRIVED OF THE CHANCE FOR THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED FREE TIME, THEIR LIVES FIGHTING FOR THANK YOU, CASSIE SODER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
WE NEED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT SO VOTERS CAN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT POLICE OVERSIGHT IN MAY BEFORE THE CITY RETURNS TO BARGAINING A LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT LACKS THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AUSTINITES NEED, AND IT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST GIVEN THE AUSTIN CHRONICLES REPORT OF K CROWN'S PERSONAL TIES TO THE TREASURER OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
TO PASS A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT NOW IS TO THWART THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
IT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR LAST WEEK AND AGAIN THIS WEEK THAT AUSTINITES SUPPORT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
ANY COUNCIL MEMBER IN OPPOSITION TO OR QUESTIONING THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT THAT PROVIDES A CHANCE AT SOME ACCOUNTABILITY WITH OUR POLICE FORCE IS FRANKLY IN NEED OF A MORAL INVENTORY.
FRANK IS BEING FIRED FOR A REASON.
HIS PUSH FOR A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS NOT SOUND, IT IS NOT REASONABLE, AND IT DOES NOT PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MARILYN.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS MARILYN WENDY.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION IN AUSTIN.
IF CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE, THEY'RE MAKING CLEAR THEY DO NOT WANT VOTERS TO HAVE A STAY IN POLICE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS PAST FALL WE LEARNED THAT AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION PAID LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO TRICK AUSTIN VOTERS INTO SIGNING A POLICE OVERSIGHT PETITION THAT ACTUALLY WEAKEN POLICE OVERSIGHT.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT PROPOSED TODAY IS ANOTHER INDICATION THAT AUSTIN POLICE DO NOT TRUST VOTERS TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WITHOUT COERCION.
THIS IS BECAUSE POLICE AUSTIN POLICE HAVE BEEN KILLING PEOPLE WITH IMPUNITY.
A P D KILLED MIKE RAMOS, ALEX GONZALEZ, RAJ MUNEZ, ANTHONY FRANKLIN, AND MANY OTHERS IN RECENT YEARS, OF COURSE, PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE QUESTIONING AD'S ABILITY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE LEARNING THAT INVESTMENT OF ALMOST 400 MILLION POLICE BUDGET INTO JOBS, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND EDUCATION WOULD DO A LOT MORE TO IMPROVE SAFE SAFETY, ESPECIALLY IF WE DO NOT HAVE A STAY IN HOW POLICING WORKS IN AUSTIN.
IF CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM ITEM ONE, THEY'RE INDICATING TO VOTERS THAT THEY'RE ON THE SIDE OF AUSTIN POLICE.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
HELLO, DO YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I AM IN DISTRICT ONE AND I AM HERE, FIRST OF ALL TO SAY I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE THAT LIVES IN AUSTIN CUZ THAT WOULDN'T BE FAIR.
I AM A OPPOSED, OPPOSED TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WITH, UH, ANYTHING CONTRACTS SAY AS MARRIAGE SECURITY STABILITY DOESN'T COME WITH A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND THERE IS NONE OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL SEAT ANYWHERE THAT ARE VOTED IN FOR JUST ONE YEAR.
THERE IS, THERE IS NO SECURITY, THERE'S NO STABILITY IN THAT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE OR THE OTHER.
I THINK YES, WE NEED OVERSIGHT, THAT'S FOR SURE.
I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY ON THAT.
WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT WE NEED SAFETY TOO.
WE NEED SAFETY BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE, WE CAN HAVE NO RIGHTS IF WE HAVE NO SAFETY BECAUSE WE MAY NOT EVEN BE.
SO I'M OPPOSED TO JUST A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND ASK THAT WE GO FORWARD WITH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
ARE YOU OF MY TIME? JACOB ARNOWITZ.
UH, HI, MY NAME'S JACOB ARNOWITZ.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE SPEAKING TODAY IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE AND A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH, UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
IT'S, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PRESERVE DEMOCRATIC NORMS AND ALLOW THE VOTERS TO SPEAK ON ISSUES BEFORE THEY'RE DECIDED ON COUNCIL.
UH, WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW AN UNELECTED NOW DISGRACED AND FIRED CITY MANAGER TO SHORT CIRCUIT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
[01:20:01]
I AND MY WORKERS LABORED IN THE HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD IN THIS CITY TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT WITH EQUITY ACTION.AND IT WAS VALIDATED BY THE CITY WHEN IT CAME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION OF IMPLEMENTATION.
THEY SAID THEY PUT IT ON THE MAY BALLOT TO ALLOW THE VOTERS TO SPEAK ON IT, AND THEY SAID QUITE, QUITE FRANKLY THAT THEY WOULDN'T IMPLEMENT A CONTRACT OF A LONG TERM BEFORE IF THE VOTERS GOT TO SPEAK ON IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM KEEP TO THEIR WORD AND RESPECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN AND ALLOW FOR THE PROCESS TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY AND FOR A, UH, A REAL DECISION TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
SPEAKER FROM THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY INSPIRED LAURA BARBER.
HI, MY NAME IS LAURA BARBER AND, UM, AND MY FEELING IS THE PRIMARY JOB OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR IS THE SAFETY OF THE TAXPAYER.
AND WE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR POLICE ARE GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED.
UH, CRIME SEEMS TO BE OUT OF CONTROL.
WE DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING DOWNTOWN ANYMORE, AND IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF CRIME THAT DO NOT GET THE TIME AND THE ATTENTION FROM THE POLICE THAT THEY PAY FOR AND THAT THEY DESERVE.
UM, MANY INSTANCES DO HEAR OF PEOPLE IN DISTRESS CALLING FOR POLICE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO SHOW UP.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS, UH, A POLICE STATE, BUT, UH, AND WE DO WANT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT WE NEED TO GIVE THE POLICE SOME STABILITY AND SECURITY, AND I THINK IT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE TO CONTINUE TO YOU SPEAK YOUR TIME AS THE POLICE.
CHELSEA BREMER, UH, I SUPPORT ITEM ONE FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND URGE THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS TRYING TO BE FORCED THROUGH BY THE DISGRACE, HOPEFULLY SOON TO BE FIRED.
CITY MANAGER CRO AND THE VOTERS SHOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON EQUITY ACTIONS OVERSIGHT ACT IN MAY.
CRONK CANNOT AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN WHEN HE IS BIASED TOWARDS THE A P D AND THE APA.
HE MUST BE FIRED AND HE DOES NOT DESERVE 1 CENT OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN A SEVERANCE PACKAGE.
HOW DO Y'ALL, FRANK NUER HERE, UH, LOUD AND PROUD DISTRICT ONE, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
UH, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY, ABOUT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, LIKE IT'S SOME KIND OF RADICAL IDEA.
THAT IS WHAT OUR EMTS ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH BECAUSE THE APA SABOTAGED THEIR UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
UH, WE ARE ASKING SIMPLY TO BE HEARD AS VOTERS A P O A WILL BE VOTED ON IN MAY.
A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS AN ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE THAT, AND WE'VE SEEN WHAT A, WHAT THE A P D DOES WITH THEIR MONEY WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN RAISES, THEY TURN AROUND AND THEY LIE TO US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
HI, THIS IS ERICA FLOSS, UH, DISTRICT ONE.
THERE IS, UH, NOTHING THAT I CAN SAY THAT HASN'T BEEN MORE ELOQUENTLY SAID BY OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR, UH, ITEM ONE, WHICH I AM AS WELL.
BUT I AM A FORMER MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION AND AS FORMER VICE CHAIR, I WANT TO SAY THAT OUR OVERSIGHT IS SEVERELY LACKING AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC, I MEAN MIKE ERICKSON.
I'M THE PRECINCT CHAIR OF FOUR FOUR HERE IN AUSTIN, AND I'M VOTING OR CALLING IN SUPPORT OF, UH, NUMBER ONE.
[01:25:01]
AND BASICALLY I HAVE OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE I DO MY JOB RIGHT.BUT, UH, THIS PROPOSAL BASICALLY GETS, WANTS TO, GETS RID OF OVERSIGHT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME, BUT I MEAN, WE CAN GET RID OF OUR SIDE ON PILOTS AND NURSES AND DOCTORS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
SO, YES, I'M VOTING, I'M CORRECT THAT I'M CALLING TO, UH, IN RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OF NUMBER ONE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
HI, THIS IS ERICA FLORES, UH, DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I, THERE'S NOTHING THAT I CAN SAY THAT SPOKES BEFORE ME, HAVEN'T SAID A LITTLE BIT MORE ELOQUENTLY.
UH, I AM FOR ITEM ONE, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS I AM A FORMER VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION.
AND, UM, WHAT I HAVE SEEN DURING MY TIME IN THE C PRC, UM, AND IN MY ABILITY TO BE ON THE, UH, OVERSIGHT COMMISSION, IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE, TRANSPARENT OVERSIGHT WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO I STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO, UM, LET THE WILL OF THE VOTERS BE HEARD AND TO HAVE REAL MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE A P D AND TO STICK WITH THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND LET THE WILL OF THE VOTERS BE HEARD.
THAT CONCLUDES THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
AND AGAIN, BEFORE WE BEGIN CALLING ON THE SPEAKERS, WE ASK, UM, I WILL BE CALLING THREE SPEAKERS AT A TIME.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND THE OTHER TWO, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT SO THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.
SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH NELIA ERICKSON ON DECK IS SOPHIA RODRIGUEZ AND JAY POPHAM.
I'M SORRY, THAT WAS THE INCORRECT LIST.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS JOANNE MUN SING.
ON DECK IS BRIAN CROW AND ANDREW HARRIS.
TODAY IS A THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS KILLING BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
RAJ WAS MORE THAN MY LITTLE BROTHER.
HE WAS MY CO-FOUNDER, MY NEIGHBOR, MY BEST FRIEND.
I SAW RAJ ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS WHEN WE MOVED TOGETHER TO AUSTIN.
THERE IS A CRIME PROBLEM IN AUSTIN.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS WAS STABBED IN ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF MY HOME.
BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO PUT UP WITH WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND IF IT WERE WORKING, ROGER WOULD BE WITH US TODAY IF POLICE RESIGN BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ACCOUNTABILITY.
THESE AREN'T THE POLICE THAT WE WANT.
VOTE FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT SO THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT THAT GIVES AUSTIN POLICE HIGHER PAY INCENTIVES TO DO A GREAT JOB, INCREASED RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES, BUT ALSO GIVES US A SAFER AUSTIN THROUGH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
WE NEED A SAFE AUSTIN SO THAT NO OTHER FAMILY HAS TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH.
ON DECK ARE ANDREW HARRIS AND SARAH RODRIGUEZ.
ASK YOURSELVES, WHY ARE THE POLICE LOBBYING FOR LAST MINUTE DEAL WITH LESS PAY THAN THE ONE YEAR IN EXCHANGE FOR PUTTING OFF ANY REAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER FOUR YEARS? THIS ALONG WITH THEIR THREATS OF QUITTING IF WE ADD OVERSIGHT AMOUNTS TO A BLATANT SELF CONFESSION OF GUILT.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, ANY OFFICER THAT RESIGNS OVER GETTING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT THAT PAYS THEM MORE IS SOMEONE WITH SOMETHING TO HIDE, LOSING THEM WILL BE A GOOD THING.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT AN ANTI-POLICE STANCE.
I WANT TO PAY A APD OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT AFRAID OF ACCOUNTABILITY MORE AND CLEAN HOUSE OF THOSE WHO ARE SO SCARED OF SUNLIGHT THAT THEY'D BE WILLING TO TAKE LOWER PAY IF IT KEEPS 'EM IN THE SHADOWS.
FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, WE'VE SEEN VIDEOS OF APD BREAKING THEIR OWN RULES WITH DEADLY IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES.
THEIR RAPISTS STILL IN THE FORCE AND NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT.
WHEN POLICE, POLICE THEMSELVES, WE GET OVERSIGHT THEATER WITH NO REAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
THEY KNOW THAT WHEN THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR A RULE, THEN EFFECTIVELY THERE IS NO RULE.
ON DECK ARE SARAH RODRIGUEZ AND AJ JKA DROP THE GUN.
THAT'S HOW LONG THE POLICE GAVE MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, RAJ, TO OBEY THEIR COMMAND.
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ARRIVED WITH NO LIGHTS, NO SIRENS, AND SHOT HIM WHILST HIDING BEHIND A FENCE.AFTER BEING SHOT THREE TIMES WITH NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON, RAJ DROPPED HIS GUN, BUT STILL THE OFFICER FIRED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THEN INSTEAD OF GIVING HIM AID, THEY HANDCUFFED HIM AND HE DIED.
THE COMBINED LAW, THE COMBINED LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS SAID IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILST THIS EVENT IS A TRAGEDY, THE OFFICER FOLLOWED HIS TRAINING, DROP THE GUN.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE POLICE TRAINING IN YOUR CITY BEING TO SHOOT WITHOUT INVESTIGATION? ARE YOU OKAY THAT SOMEONE WHO LOVED GOING TO ACL AND F1 AND LET THE LITTLE KIDS ACROSS THE ROAD PLAY ON HIS BASKETBALL HOOP WASN'T GIVEN A CHANCE? YOU RAN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT AUSTIN AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TODAY.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE PEOPLE YOU CARE BY VOTING FOR ITEM ONE AND GIVING US THE TIME TO ENSURE BETTER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRAINING.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.
NEXT IS SARAH RODRIGUEZ ON DECK.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA READ A LITTLE BIT FROM THE REPORTS, UM, FOR THE CO-CREATION OF THE CURRENT, UH, ANONYMOUS AND COMPLAINT PROCESS BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY IF YOU VOTED FOR THE, FOR YOUR CONTRACT, YOU WOULD BE DEMOLISHING IT AND BASICALLY DEMOLISHING THE ABILITY TO COMPLAIN IN A WAY THAT WOULD FULLY CAPTURE, UM, MISCONDUCT AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND SO, SO THE PREVIOUS PROCESS, UM, HERE'S SOME OF THE VOICE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE REPORTS.
UM, FROM THE WORK, I THINK IT'S, I'VE SHARED WITH, UH, ZOE'S OFFICE AND IT'S BEEN SHARED WITH BELLA'S OFFICE, UM, FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD A REALLY BAD EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S A FEAR OF REPRE, OF RETRIBUTION TO ASK FOR YOUR ADDRESS AT THE TOP IS WIPING OUT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS RIGHT OFF THE TOP, HAVING THE ADDRESS ON THERE.
IT'S LIKE, LIKE, OKAY, SO NOW THE COPS KNOW WHERE I LIVE.
WE HAD A FEW STORES FROM ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
WE HAD A FEW STORES IN SOUTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY THAT WERE ROBBED AND LET ALONE COMPLAINING.
THEY WON'T EVEN REPORT THE CRIME TO THE POLICE OUT OF FEAR THAT THEY MIGHT GET DEPORTED OR VICTIMIZED BY THE POLICE FROM ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND THEN TRYING TO, OH, I GUESS IT'S MY TIME.
UM, PEOPLE WHO DID THIS, THEY'RE NO LONGER HERE.
ALL OF THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN THAT OFFICE NO LONGER EXISTS, SO THAT PROCESS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED AND I CAN SHARE THE REPORT WITH Y'ALL.
NEXT IS AJ JUKA ON DECK ARE KEVIN MOON SING AND MATT SAYDA.
MA'AM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE LAST SPEAKER IF YOU COULD EMAIL THAT TO EVERYONE.
SORRY, THE MAYOR HAS STEPPED AWAY FOR A MINUTE, BUT IF YOU COULD EMAIL THAT TO US AS WELL, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND I AM HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
I'VE WORKED IN LEADERSHIP IN NONPROFITS FOR NEARLY A DECADE.
NONPROFITS ARE LUCKY WHEN WE GET A ONE YEAR GRANT.
FOUR YEAR CONTRACTS ARE VERY RARE AND EXPLICIT ACCOUNTABILITY IS BUILT INTO ANY CONTRACT.
SOME GRANTORS EVEN ASK FURTHER MONEY BACK IF A NONPROFIT DOESN'T FOLLOW THEIR RULES.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT WE WOULD GIVE ONE YEAR GRANTS TO NONPROFITS, BUT GIVE POLICE A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WITHOUT THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY WE EXPECT OF OTHERS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT CITY MANAGER CRONK HAS PUT FORWARD, LACKS CLARITY AND FAILS TO DEFINE TERMS AND CLEAR RESTRICTIONS ON CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT AND HAS KILLER RESTRICTIONS ON CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT.
IF YOU TRUST YOUR DISTRICTS, PLEASE LET US HAVE OUR SAY IN MAY AND LET OUR WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEXT, UH, UH, INTO WHAT THE POLICE, UM, DO.
WITHOUT US HAVING TO WAIT FOUR MORE YEARS FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR ITEM ONE.
NEXT IS KEVIN MOON SING ON DECK, OUR MATT CITA AND RUTH MOON SING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ING FATHER OF ROGER, WHO WERE SHOT SEVERAL TIMES BY A AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER AFTER HE HAD HIS HANDS UP, THE OFFICER DIDN'T IDENTIFY HIMSELF AND AMBUSHED RAJA ON HIS OWN FRONT PORCH.
HIS SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED IT ALL.
HE LAY HANDCUFFED FOR SIX MINUTES WHEN HE WAS NOT A THREAT AND WAS DENIED.
LIFESAVING AID, IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, MY SON WAS TREATED WORSE THAN AN ANIMAL.
PLEASE VOTE FOR A ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACTS SO WE CAN FIND WAYS TO REWARD THE POLICE WHO FOLLOW POLICIES AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE, THOSE WHO DON'T.
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NEXT IS MATT CITA ON DECK, OUR RUTH MOON SING AND MICHAEL CITA.THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS MATT SADA, CO-FOUNDER OF INKIND HERE IN AUSTIN, WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT 70 EMPLOYEES.
I'M AN EMPATHETIC, BIPARTISAN PERSON.
I'VE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN IN DISTRICT FIVE FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE THAT IN WASHINGTON DC MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, AND SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA WHERE MY FAR NUMBER OF YEARS.
AUSTIN IS THE ONLY CITY I'VE LIVED IN WHERE I'VE QUESTIONED THE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT GOVERN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I FEEL UNSAFE NOT BECAUSE OF CRIME HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE HELD TO STANDARDS THAT APPROPRIATELY REFLECT THEIR POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY.
MY BEST FRIEND AND CO-FOUNDER, RAJAN MUNING WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON HIS OWN DOORSTEP BY APD.
WELL, HE WAS PROTECTING HIS OWN FROM RESPECTED INTRUDER.
I RESPECT THE POLICE BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM SOCIETY CANNOT FUNCTION.
BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME TO FEEL PROTECTED WHEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN GO AND CHECK WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
ITEM ONE FOR ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
WE NEED GREATER OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO WE CAN ALL FEEL SAFER IN THE CITY WE CALL HOME
NEXT IS RUTH MOON SING ON DECK ARE MICHAEL CDA AND DEREK KELLER.
YOU SEE THIS DAY, MARK THREE TREATMENT, THAT ANNIVERSARY OF MY SON RAJ, WHO WAS SHOT DEAD BY THE AUSTIN POLICE.
COINCIDENTALLY, IT IS ALSO THE GRAND OPENING OF HIS RESTAURANT EMBER HERE IN AUSTIN.
IF RAJAN WAS HERE, HE WOULD BE TOUCHING THE TABLES, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME JUST LIKE RAJA.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS PLAQUE.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SHOW FOR HIM TODAY AT THE RESTAURANT.
UM, THE ONLY THING THAT THIS GRIEVING MOTHER IS ASKING YOU, IT'S, I'M SORRY, IS THAT YOU ENFORCE POLICE POLICIES, ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
SPEND MONEY ON TECHNOLOGIES AND TRAINING THAT SAVES LIFE.
NEXT IS MICHAEL CITA ON DECK ARE DEREK KELLER AND NOEL CATTERY.
UH, I LIKE TO THINK I'M A PRETTY NORMAL GUY.
UM, I VOTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, UH, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE POLICE.
UM, I'VE NEVER SPOKEN TO THIS CITY COUNTY TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW, I FELT COMPELLED TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK.
THIS JUST KIND OF SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
I MEAN, IT'S A QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
UM, LOOK, I'VE HEARD THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT AND HAVING STUDIED ECONOMICS FOR A LONG TIME, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SHORT TERM COSTS HERE ARE GONNA DRASTICALLY OUTWEIGH OR ARE NOT GONNA BE OUTWEIGHED BY THE LONG-TERM COSTS.
SO TO ME THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE.
UM, LOOK, I I THINK THAT, UM, I SUPPORT THE POLICE AND I WANT THIS TOWN TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I I JUST ASK THAT IF IF CITIZENS SUPPORT THIS, WE KNOW ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE GREATER.
UH, THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS WILL OUTWEIGH THE SHORT-TERM COSTS.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I, I JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, SO I ASK YOU TO, TO VOTE YES TO, TO, TO SUPPORT THIS.
TO ME IT'S, IT'S QUITE SIMPLE, SO THANK YOU.
ON DECK ARE NOEL CATTERY AND EDWARD BLAINE.
THANKS FOR OPENING THIS TO, TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, I'VE SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS WATCHING MY BROTHER SERVE IN THE AIR FORCE, UM, IN SOUTH KOREA AND ACROSS EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS.
I HAVE ALWAYS VOTED THAT DIRECTION.
IT'S LIKELY I WILL CONTINUE VOTING THAT DIRECTION UNTIL SOMETHING STRIKES CLOSE TO HOME.
YOUR MIND STAYS PRETTY FIRM ON WHAT YOU THINK.
WHEN I LOST MY CLOSEST FRIEND IN TEXAS, MY MIND STARTED TO CHANGE A BIT.
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME GIVEN THE EXACT SAME CIRCUMSTANCES LIVING IN WESTLAKE BEHIND A GATE.
THAT VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN ME AND THAT COULD BE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
UNLESS WE START TO BEHAVE LIKE I HAVE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS AS A CFO OF TECH COMPANIES, I DESPISE AUDITORS.
THEY COME IN, THEY NITPICK, THEY SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS AND THEY CREATE PROBLEMS. BUT WE PLAY BY THE SAME RULE BOOK AS A CFO AND AS, UH, AUDITORS, WHICH MAKES ME LOOK AT THEM MORE AS PESTS.
I KNOW THAT IF I'M IN THE RIGHT, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HARM THE DECISIONS THAT I'VE MADE TO LEAVE MY COMPANIES.
[01:40:01]
IF THE POLICE ARE IN THE RIGHT AND I DO NOT SUPPORT DEFUND THE POLICE, I SUPPORT THE EXTREME OPPOSITE.WE SHOULD PAY DOUBLE, TRIPLE TO THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE GIVEN THEIR LIVES LIKE MY BROTHER HAS.
BUT WE SHOULD EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY AND RETURN AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO DEEPLY OVERSEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS NOEL CATTERY ON DECK R EDWARD BLAINE AND DIANE KELLER.
HELLO, I AM IN DISTRICT THREE IN FAVOR OF ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE CITY AND CITIZENS TIME TO ENSURE PROPER ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT MEASURES SO THAT OUR CITY IS STRONGER, SAFER, AND A MODEL FOR ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
I SUPPORT WELL-TRAINED AND WELL-PAID POLICE RAISED IN A SMALL APPALACHIAN TOWN.
I LEARNED TO RESPECT MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE.
HOWEVER, MY FAITH HAS DISSIPATED DUE TO RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS AT THE HANDS OF AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS LEAVING FAMILIES WITHOUT ANSWERS OR JUSTICE.
ONE SUCH TRAGIC EVENT OCCURRED IN MY OWN STREET THREE MONTHS AGO TODAY.
AS A MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN, I NEED TO KNOW THAT MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN A CITY THAT WE LOVE.
75% OF CITIZENS AGREE TO THIS OVERSIGHT AND WE CAN ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WILL NOT ONLY NEGATE THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE, BUT IT CAN PUT OUR CITIZENS AT RISK.
I APPRECIATE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE AND A CITY COUNCIL.
THIS WILL IMPACT GENERATIONS TO COME.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
NEXT IS EDWARD BLAINE ONDECK, ORDAINED KELLER AND MIRA CROW.
HELLO, MY NAME IS EDWARD BLAINE.
I WANT THE AWESOME POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID, BEST TRAINED AND FULLY STAFFED FORCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
BUT IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT AS EXERCISE THEIR DUTY TO SERVE AND PROTECT ALL AUSTIN CITIZENS.
THIS MEANS INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT AND THIS APPEARS LACKING IN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT TO PROVE A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
DENIES A PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, ANY INPUT ON THE ISSUE OF OVERSIGHT AND SERVES ONLY TO FURTHER DIVIDE OUR CITY.
THEREFORE, I SUPPORT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO FIND COMMON GROUND IN BALANCING THE GOALS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
PLEASE SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
DO IT FOR THE GONZALEZ FAMILY.
DO IT FOR THE MOON, SINGING FAMILIES.
DO IT FOR RAJ, DO IT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ON DECK ARM MIRA CROW AND TRACY GRAAFF.
TRACY GRAAFF, MATT MCC CAK ON DECK ARE LOUIS RODRIGUEZ AND SHAY PETRI.
UH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MATT MCC KOYAK DISTRICT 10, UH, ABSOLUTELY SYMPATHIZE WITH THE HORRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT HAS BEFALLEN THE MINCING FAMILY.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW THEM.
DEFINITELY BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE A FULL INVESTIGATION AT A P D, UH, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED FOR.
LOOK, WE HAVE A CRISIS AT A, AT AT IN TERMS OF STAFFING AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT AND I RECOGNIZE YOU'RE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE WE DID NOT MAKE MORE PROGRESS LAST YEAR, UH, WHEN THE CONTRACT NEEDED TO BE REACHED SO THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME TO REVIEW IT.
THE REALITY IS WE HAVE 275 VACANCIES, OR EXCUSE ME, 275 OFFICERS AVAILABLE, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT.
UH, AS OF FEBRUARY 26TH, WE'RE ALREADY 350 OFFICERS DOWN FROM WHEN DEFUND TOOK EFFECT AND WE HAVE 230 VACANCIES.
SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO GIVE US ANOTHER YEAR, THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE HERE IS IT'S GONNA GET WORSE IF WE DO ONE YEAR.
JUST BECAUSE YOU VOTE FOR ONE YEAR DOESN'T MEAN THE APA IS GOING TO ACCEPT A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT.
IN FACT, WE'RE LIKELY TO FALL OUT OF CONTRACT, WHICH WILL LEAD TO ENDING THE POLICE MONITOR AND WILL NOT LEAD TO MORE OVERSIGHT.
THAT IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE.
SO I DO BELIEVE THE, THE, THE, UH, NEGOTIATED FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS THE BEST PATHWAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LUIS RODRIGUEZ ON DECK R SHEA PETROC AND NATALIE CIA.
HI COUNCIL LEWIS RODRIGUEZ, NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE WIN THERAPY FREEDOM RIDERS.
UH, MARY USED A INTERESTING WORD CONSEQUENCES.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS COUNCIL, SINCE THEY HAVE FOLLOWED THESE WEAK ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN RECORD MURDER RATES, RECORD CRIME, AND OF POLICE FORCE THAT HAS STAFFING CRISIS.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACTOR WILL ONLY A ADVANCE THAT WHERE ABOUT 40 PLUS NEW, UH, OFFICERS
[01:45:01]
WILL RETIRE.AND THAT'S NOT EVEN RIGHT NOW.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET CADETS TO APPLY THAT ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST WHEN THEY LOOK AT A COUNCIL THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? YOU WANT THE BEST OF THE BEST.
IT IS DEFUNDING BY OTHER MEANS.
IT IS TIME FOR THE STRONG TO STOP BENDING TO THE WILL OF THE WEEK.
ARE NATALIE CIA AND SUSAN SPATARO? I'M NATALIE.
I'M A 16 YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND A LIFELONG LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.
I'M HERE TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE AND TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WITH A P D THAT HAS BEEN IN NEGOTIATION FOR A FULL YEAR.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACT IS LEGALLY QUESTIONABLE UNDER STATE STATUTE AND WILL FURTHER HURT.
DISTRICT FOUR AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT ARE BURYING THE BRUNT OF REDUCED POLICE RESOURCES.
I WONDER WHERE THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.
THE REIMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE IS NOT WORKING.
IT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF AUSTINITES.
IT HAS BROUGHT A DRASTIC SPIKE IN VIOLENT AND PETTY CRIME, RECKLESS AND DRUNK DRIVING AND CHAOS AND DISORDER IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA WOULD FAIL TO SEE THE REALITY ON THE GROUND IN HIS DISTRICT AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TO IMMEDIATELY STABILIZE THE POLICE STAFFING CRISIS.
WE HEAR OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS DEBATE PREACH THE GOSPEL OF EQUITY, BUT REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BADLY MISSED THE MARK EQUITY IS NOT DUMPING THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF POORLY THOUGHT OUT POLICY ON WORKING CLASS PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENDED UP ON THE INSPIRED OF REIMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY.
ON DECK IS JOEL MCNE AND PAUL BRICK.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE FRONT.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATION.
PEOPLE ACT LIKE IT'S SOME SECRET, IT'S NOT A SECRET.
THEY'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING FOR OVER A YEAR.
ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN PUBLIC.
I'VE ATTENDED PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN OF THEM.
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE, THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL LAWYER ON EACH SIDE.
THE CITY AND APA, UH, EACH SIDE HAD 15 TO 20 PEOPLE COMING.
THIS 20 PAGES IS THE OVERSIGHT IN THE, FOR YOUR AGREEMENT.
THERE'S MORE OVERSIGHT THAN THERE IS NOW.
SO PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THE MONEY TAXPAYERS HAVE SPENT FOR ONE YEAR ON A VERY VALID NEGOTIATION HAS, HAS HAD FRUITION.
PEOPLE THAT WANTED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT AND THEN YOU COULD HAVE NEGOTIATED THIS CONTRACT.
ALL IT DOES NOW IS THROW EVERYTHING OUT INTO THE WIND AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE POLICE OFFICERS AND SAFETY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
NEW ON DECK ARE PAUL BRICK AND AMANDA RIOS.
I AM JOELLE MCNE, PRESIDENT OF SAFE HORNS HERE TO VOICE OUR OPPOSITION TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH A P D AND SUPPORT THE FOCUS ON FINALIZING THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
STAFFING LEVELS ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE ENTIRE CITY.
MANDATORY BACKBONE FROM DETECTIVES WHO ARE NORMALLY ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATIVE UNITS ARE BEING MANDATED TO HELP PATROL.
THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT BAKER SECTOR HAS ONLY TWO OFFICERS ON DUTY.
THIS AREA IS THE FOURTH MOST DENSELY POPULATED IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
U T P D INCIDENT LOG IS UP 30% AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUSINESSES ARE NOW PAYING FOR ARMED SECURITY TO PROTECT THEIR BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES.
BASIC ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE NOT BEING MET FOR TAXPAYERS.
IS THAT EQUITABLE? THE POTENTIAL TO LOSE OVER 270 OFFICERS ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR EVERYONE.
IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOESN'T PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE RECENT VIOLENCE ON THE MICHIGAN STATE CAMPUS WITH THE QUICK RESPONSE BY LAW LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD BE EVEN WORSE HERE.
PLEASE DON'T LET THAT BE YOUR LEGACY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL BRICK ON DECK IS AMANDA RIOS AND CERITA.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 45 YEARS NOW.
I SERVED AS AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVE FOR 28 YEARS.
THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT CANNOT EXIST IN THE PROPOSED FORM WITHOUT A CONTRACT AS
[01:50:01]
ARTICULATED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN CHARTER MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE RULES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH WERE EFFECTIVE JULY OF 2014 WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO ARTICLE NINE, SECTION ONETHESE RULES DO NOT AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO APPLY TO EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY WHO ARE COVERED BY TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 1 43, INCLUDING ALL SWORN PERSONNEL AND CADETS.
CHAPTER 1 43, CIVIL SERVICE FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS IS A STATE LAW AND STATE LAW TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER CITY OR MUNICIPAL LAWS.
THEREFORE, TO SUGGEST THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN VOTERS CAN SUPERSEDE STATE LAW IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA RIOS ONITA AND CLINTON RE.
MY NAME IS AMANDA RIOS AND I HAVE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN FOR 30 YEARS AND I LIVE IN ST.
UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF CRIME.
JOHN'S PARK AND SEE 20 TO 75 CARS DRIVING IN AND OUT, DEALING, BUYING, SELLING DRUGS, SEX, TRAFFICKERS, PROSTITUTION.
THERE'S GUNSHOTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF OUR MINDS.
THERE'S MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ONLY TO BUY HOUSES AND REALIZE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND HAVE TO SELL BECAUSE OF LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, WE HAVE REALLY SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF THE LAST, UM, POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY CITY COUNCIL ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND I ASK THAT YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BECAUSE WE WILL BE WORSE OFF IF YOU DO NOT.
UM, I HEARD AN IMMIGRANT FROM HONDURAS WHO SAID SHE WAS SAFER IN HER HOME COUNTRY OF HONDURAS THAN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND THAT'S A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY IN A FIRST WORLD COUNTRY AND CITY.
SPEAKER TIME HAS EXPERIENCED THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CITA FONTI ON DECK OUR CLINTON RE AND LAURA NORTH.
HI, MY NAME IS SARITA FONTI, UM, AND I WANNA QUOTE TIMMA OUN ON THE TENETS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
TIM STATES THAT A CONSTANT SENSE OF URGENCY MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE TIME TO BE INCLUSIVE, ENCOURAGE DEMOCRATIC AND OR THOUGHTFUL DECISION MAKING TO THINK AND ACT LONG TERM AND OR TO CONSIDER CONSEQUENCES OF WHATEVER ACTION WE TAKE.
WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE LIKES TO ENGENDER A CULTURE OF URGENCY IN THOSE OF US WHO ARE WORKING TO DISMANTLE IT BECAUSE IT KNOWS THAT LIVING WITH A CONSTANT SENSE THAT EVERYTHING IS URGENT IS A RECIPE FOR THE ABUSE OF POWER AND BURNOUT.
BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, THERE WERE ALREADY 230 VACANCIES WITHIN AUSTIN PD.
CLEARLY THIS INDICATES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT PREPARED TO MANAGE ITSELF APPROPRIATELY.
THEREFORE, WE NEED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT SO THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN VOTE IN THE MAIL ELECTION AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE LONG TERM AND ALLOWS SPACE FOR THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CLINTON RE ON DECK, OUR LAURA NORTH AND RICHARD SMITH.
BEFORE MY TIMER STARTS, UH, CAN NATASHA HARPER MADIS I ME, COUNCILWOMAN HARPER MATTISON, I WANT CALL THE WHITE SUPREMACIST AGAIN, TURN ON HER CAMERA AND RESPECT OUR TIME AS SHE DEMANDS WE RESPECT HER TIME.
SIR, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND START TALKING.
YOU KNOW IT'S CUTE HEARING AUSTIN AND JUSTICE COALITION TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY WHEN THEY LOST THEIR 5 0 1
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
DECEMBER 1ST, CHRIS HARRIS STARTED A SCAM PETITION DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST VPA CLAIMING THAT THEY'RE INTIMIDATING THEM UNDER ON THE SAME DAY AUSTIN CHRONICLE AND K X A N, WHICH RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN MONITOR POSTED ARTICLES GIVING THEM PLATFORMS AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE RECORDINGS THAT THAT APPROVED THAT EQUITY ACTION WAS BEING INTIMIDATED BY VPA.
BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD THESE RECORDINGS TO THIS DAY.
ON DECEMBER 14TH, PAIGE ELLIS POSTED THIS UH, DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN VIDEO ON HER OWN TWITTER ACCOUNT AND IN IN THAT VIDEO THE GUY SAID HE WAS WITH VPA MULTIPLE TIMES AND SHE SAID, AREN'T YOU WITH EQUITY ACTION? DECEMBER 17TH, ADAM POWELL, WHO IS APPOINTED BY LESLIE POOLE AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, POSTED A VIDEO AMPLIFYING THIS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT A SCAM PETITION ON DECEMBER 19TH, CHEETO, YOUR POLICY COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR POSTED A VIDEO AMPLIFYING THIS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
[01:55:01]
WHAT'S RIGHT.NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA NORTH ON DECK IS RICHARD SMITH AND JESSICA ROBERTSON MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I OPPOSE THE ATTEMPTED NEGOTIATION OF A ONE YEAR POLICE CONTRACT.
I HAVE READ THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AGREED TO BY THE CITY AND POLICE NEGOTIATORS, AND IT INCLUDES A ROBUST OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND A CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT PANEL.
MOREOVER, THAT FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WAS OVERSEEN BY ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THUS REFLECTS THE WILL OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
IF YOU ELECT TO TORPEDO THE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR ATTEMPTING TO NEGOTIATE THE ONE YEAR AGREEMENT, REMEMBER THIS, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT.
ONE YEAR AGREEMENT FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN FOR Y'ALL TO SIGN OR APPROVE.
THERE'S NO ONE YEAR EXTENSION AND THERE MAY NEVER BE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION OR A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT.
WHAT WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH BEFORE LONG WOULD BE TEXAS RANGERS AND THE TEXAS GUARD PATROLLING OUR STREETS WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT BY AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA NORTH ON DECK.
JESSICA ROBERTSON AND SENECA SAVOY.
JESSICA ROBERTSON, SENECA SAVOY, AARON MUK.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FUENTEZ CADRE, UH, VELA AND VASQUEZ VELAZQUEZ, PARDON ME FOR, UH, FOR RESPECTING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
UM, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, I KNOW WHAT IT, I KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE HELD TO A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE STANDARD.
SERVING THE CITY KNOWING YOU'RE UNDER CONSTANT SCRUTINY AND IF YOU DO NOT NEED MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, WE CAN ELECT PEOPLE WHO WILL, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY WITH THE POLICE AND THEIR ASSOCIATION.
WE LARGELY HAVE TO RELY ON YOU TO UPHOLD THEIR STANDARD AFTER REPEATED DEMONSTRATION THAT OUR POLICE SERVE THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE SECOND, IT WOULD, UH, TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS AND WE'LL GO THROUGH DISGRACEFUL LENGTHS TO GET WHAT THEY WANT, INCLUDING THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE TRIED TO UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY.
IN DISTRICT FOUR AFTER OUR SPECIAL ELECTION, A FRIEND OF MINE HAD TO CALL A P D TO RESPOND TO A BREAK-IN AS IS TYPICAL WITH LIKE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE POLICIES, ET CETERA.
SHE WAS ASKED POINT BLANK WHO SHE SUPPORTED IN THAT RACE.
WE GOT IT ON CAMERA OR EXCUSE ME ON RECORDING, BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THIS YET.
UM, BUT UH, ANYWAY, SO THIS, THE LENGTHS THAT THEY WILL GO TO, TO UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY REALLY AFFECTS ME AS LIKE SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN CAMPAIGNS AND WHO REALLY BELIEVES IN INFORMATION AND LETTING THE VOTERS SPEAK TO THEMSELVES.
COULD C MA'AM MA'AM, COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF? BECAUSE THERE WERE SEVERAL NAMES CALLED, OH, SORRY.
UM, I'M JESS RODRIGUEZ ROBERTSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS SENECA SAVOY ON DECK ARE ERIN MUK AND FRAN TA.
UH, I'M SENECA SAVOY, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, I THINK TODAY FUNDAMENTALLY COMES DOWN TO IF THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR ACTIONS AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, RIGHT? ARE THERE CONSEQUENCES FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BEING BRUTALIZED BY AUSTIN POLICE EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS DURING 2020? ARE THERE CONSEQUENCES FOR A MAN BEING SHOT TO DEATH ON HIS OWN FRONT YARD? ARE THERE CONSEQUENCES FOR DECEIVING VOTERS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN? ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR TRYING TO OVERRIDE AND ULTIMATELY ESCAPE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT? THOSE CONSEQUENCES DON'T COME FROM PEOPLE SELF-REGULATING.
THEY COME FROM US ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF OVERSIGHT THAT IT CLEARLY ESTABLISHES WHO'S IN CHARGE.
ARE THERE GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES? AND THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN THIS OVERSIGHT SYSTEM PASSES 70 30 HERE IN MAY, RIGHT? WILL THE WILL OF THE VOTERS MEAN ANYTHING EVEN IF THEY GET OVERTURNED BY A LAWSUIT? WILL YOUR BARGAINING POSITION BE INFORMED BY WHAT YOU GET TOLD BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS? I THINK IT SHOULD.
I THINK CONSEQUENCES HAVE TO MATTER HERE IN THIS CITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON LER ON DECK, OUR FRAN TATTOO AND YVONNE WELDON, JOHN DEWOLF AND HEIDI SLOAN.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
I'M YIELDING MY TIME TO UH, LIZ GONZALEZ.
GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
[02:00:01]
AND UM, I'M JUST SO UPSET.ONE YEAR NEEDS YES TO PROC ONE AND A NO TO THE OTHER ONE.
AND BECAUSE MY SON GOT MURDERED BY A P D, YOU HAVE NOT.
THE POLICE HAS NOT TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH IS MESSED UP BECAUSE THEY NEED TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY.
ANOTHER THING, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE TELLING ME FROM OUTTA STATE WHATEVER, STEROIDS, STEROIDS, POLICE ARE ON STEROIDS.
SO WHAT DO YOU, WHERE DO WE GET OUR TRUST FROM? YOU TELL ME, MAYOR, ANSWER ME.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THE COPS WHO MURDERED MY SON AND HANDCUFFED HIM WHEN HE DEAD? WHY DO Y'ALL DO THAT? HANDCUFFED PEOPLE? WHY THEY'RE DEAD.
THAT'S WHY THAT, THAT'S WHY THE COMMITTEE'S TAKEN WHAT WE GOTTA DO.
CUZ YOU NEED TO HEAR OUR VOICE.
YOU ARE NOT MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES AND WE DO, WE DO.
OKAY, WE DO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES.
REMEMBER THAT GONZALEZ ALEXANDER GONZALES, YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS YVONNE WELDON, JOHN D WOLFF AND HEIDI SLOAN.
AND LET, AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UM, WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE, UH, HER TESTIFY, UH, AND APPRECIATE THE, THE PASSION AND APPRECIATE HER POINT OF VIEW.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, OUR RULES DON'T ALLOW FOR PO SOMEONE TO DONATE TIME THAT WAY.
UM, I DIDN'T GO AHEAD AND I DIDN'T GO AHEAD AND INTERRUPT.
WELL, I'M TELLING YOU WHAT THE RULES ARE AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED.
SO FROM HERE GOING FORWARD, I WAS HAPPY TO DO THAT BECAUSE I KNEW WHO THAT WAS AND WAS GONNA ALLOW HER TO TESTIFY.
BUT WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE RULES, DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
NEXT UP IS YVONNE WELDON ON DECK ARE JOHN DE WOLFF AND HEIDI SLOAN.
HI, GOOD EVENING OR GOOD MORNING.
UM, MR. MAYOR, I GOT TO MEET YOU DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND YOU STARTED TELLING ME ABOUT THE WATSON ROOM, UH, BUT YOU GOT PULLED AWAY.
I'M A RESIDENT FORMER CITY COUNCIL, UH, CANDIDATE FOR UM, DISTRICT THREE.
UM, IN MY OPINION, WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT THE FOUR YEAR APD CONTRACT AND OPPOSE THIS NIGHTMARE ONE YEAR EFFORT THAT WILL DO NOTHING BUT IN MY OPINION, BUT TO PUT FURTHER HARM TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
UM, I DID, UM, FOLLOW AND ATTEND THE A UH, THE NEGOTIATIONS AS WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE.
THERE IS OVERSIGHT IN THOSE PROVISIONS.
WE'VE GOT NAKED FOLKS WALKING AROUND IN FRONT OF H E B CITY BUS DRIVERS GETTING SHOT BY GUNFIRE.
UH, FOLKS JUST, UH, GETTING ATTACKED, UH, JUST FOR WALKING THEIR DOGS OUTSIDE THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX AND EMERGENCY ROOMS THAT ARE INUNDATED WITH CASUALTIES FROM DRUNK DRIVERS AND OTHER CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
A WOMAN TOLD ME RECENTLY SHE WAS ATTACKED MUGGED IN FRONT OF HER HOME, UM, JUST WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF HER RIDESHARE CAR BY NOT GOING WITH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, Y'ALL WILL JUST BE WASTING TIME, EFFORT, AND TAX DOLLARS WITH THESE MEETINGS.
AND SO I DO REQUEST THAT Y'ALL SUPPORT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND OPPOSE THE ONE YEAR.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN D WOLFF WITH HEIDI SLOAN AND TODD HITTNER ON DECK.
WANNA CITIZEN VOTES FOR A CANDIDATE.
THEY MAKE IT IN EFFECT PREDICTION.
THEY HAVE A GUESS A FEELING, BUT THEY REALLY HAVE A HOPE THAT YOU GUYS REPRESENT THEM.
AUSTIN IS STILL STILL A CITY FULL OF OPTIMISTIC AND REALLY WEIRD PEOPLE WHO ARE HOPING THAT YOU TAKE YOUR JOB SERIOUSLY DURING YOUR CAMPAIGNS, YOU GO OUT AND YOU MAKE PROMISES, PROMISES NOW, AND PROMISES IN THE FUTURE.
BUT THE SAME UNIFORM PROMISE YOU MAKE IS ABOUT REPRESENTING PEOPLE HERE.
AUSTIN POLICE UNION IS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL HAVE THIS IN THE BAG.
THEY'RE FIVE HOURS AWAY FROM A DEAL BEING SIGNED.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENCY IS ASKING FOR YOU TO PURSUE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION FOR REASONABLE ACCOUNTABILITY.
PROVE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER CITY THAT'S RUN BY POWERFUL GROUPS, NAUGHTY CITY THAT MEASURES OUTCOMES OF DOLLARS WHILE NOW THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE SCALE, IS AWAITED IN REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES.
ON DECK ARE TODD HITTNER AND CHRISTINA REY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND I ORGANIZE WITH AUSTIN DSA.
I SPEAK TODAY IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
FOLKS IN LABOR KNOW THAT WHETHER YOU'RE AT THE BIG TABLE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS OR NOT, YOU'RE ALWAYS NEGOTIATING.
WE HERE TODAY, WE ARE ULTIMATELY PARTY TO THIS CONTRACT AND WE ARE NEGOTIATING.
APA HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING SINCE THE LAST CONTRACT THROUGH THEIR WORDS AND ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE CONTINUATION OF PRACTICES OF BRUTALITY AND DECEIT.
THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNWILLINGNESS TO INCLUDE IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS THE KIND OF OVERSIGHT THAT 30,000 AUSTINITES HAVE ASKED FOR.
[02:05:01]
MUST BE DEMOCRATICALLY WEIGHED AND DETERMINED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, MAYOR.TO YOUR POINT, A ONE YEAR CONTRACT PROVIDES A P D WITH CONTINUITY AND STABILITY.
IN THE MEANTIME, IT PUTS THEM IN A FAIR BARGAINING POSITION FOR THE FUTURE.
A MUCH BETTER POSITION I MAY NOTE THAN A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO YOU SERVE ALONGSIDE OF LET'S WRITE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND NOT NEGOTIATE AGAINST THE VOTERS OF THIS CITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TODD HITTNER AND CHRISTINA REY ON DECK.
MY NAME'S TODD HITTNER, DISTRICT FIVE DAVID SECTOR.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT.
UM, I'M AFRAID THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE PEOPLE LEAVING, COPS LEAVING AND THAT'S LESS PEOPLE ON THE FORCE TO INVESTIGATE AND PURSUE VICTIMS OF CRIME.
AND I, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT VICTIMS TODAY, BUT IT'S MOSTLY BEEN VICTIMS OF ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY.
BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME EVERY DAY IN OUR CITY AND IF WE CONTINUE TO BURN DOWN OUR NUMBERS OF OFFICERS WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE AND INVESTIGATE THESE VICTIMS. SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE VICTIMS AND CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
LOCK DOWN THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
IT'S TIME TO MEND THE FENCES IN AUSTIN BETWEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA RE ON DECK IS MIRA CROW AND PAUL QUINCY.
ACCORDING TO A POLL TAKEN BY THE AUSTIN MONITOR, 52%, THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN KNIGHTS THINK WE HAVE TOO FEW POLICE OFFICERS AND WANT MORE.
MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT TELLS THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN NIGHTS THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT OR THEIR SAFETY, THAT THEIR SAFETY ISN'T VALUABLE TO YOU.
WE'RE LOSING 150 OFFICERS A YEAR TO RETIREMENT AND TRANSFERS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT LOSING UP TO UP TO ANOTHER 250 OFFICERS MAR AFTER MARCH 31ST TO RETIREMENT.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST 37 OFFICERS TO RETIREMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
WE ALREADY HAVE 256 OFFICER VACANCIES.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO CALL ANSWER CALLS NOW WHAT WILL AUSTIN BE LIKE 500 OFFICERS DOWN? I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE.
WE WANT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OFFICERS.
EVERYONE IS HERE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT BRINGS EVEN MORE, MORE OVERSIGHT TO THE A P D WHILE STILL BEING, STILL BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN MORE OFFICERS GIVING O P O AND CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT A SEAT SEAT AT THE TABLE DURING INVESTIGATIONS INTO OUR OFFICERS.
ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS THE DI DIAS TO STOP FAILING AUSTIN LIKE YOU DID WITH WINTER STORM URI OR THE STORM THAT JUST WENT THROUGH BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A DISASTER IF THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT GOES THROUGH.
YOU GAVE YOURSELF A 40% RAISE LAST YEAR.
ON DECK ARE PAUL QUINCY AND YAZMINE SMITH.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN IN AUSTIN.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR ITEM ONE AND THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT DOES NOT HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT HAS OVERSIGHT THEATER WHILE LEAVING THE ALL THE CONSEQUENCES AND ACTUAL ENFORCEMENT UP TO THE POLICE ITSELF.
THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM ONE AND LET US HAVE OUR VOTE IN MAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL QUINCY ON DECK IS YASMINE SMITH AND WILL RAY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO THE RE.
IN THIS RESOLUTION, WE'RE AT A POINT IN HISTORY WHERE EVERY THREAT TO DEMOCRACY MUST BE MET, FOUGHT AND DEFEATED.
AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY CLEAR IN THE CASE WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, EQUITY ACTION AND THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.
THEY LEGITIMATELY GATHERED 33,000 SIGNATURES TO GET THE A P O A BEFORE COUNCIL.
CITY COUNCIL LIKEWISE BELIEVES IN DEMOCRACY.
RATHER THAN VOTE THE MEASURE INTO LAW, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO SEND THIS ISSUE TO THE VOTERS THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.
HERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PAY ERS POSING AS EQUITY ACTION VOLUNTEERS TO DECEIVE AUSTIN VOTERS INTO SIGNING A COMPETING COMPETITION OF A COMPETING PETITION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY AWARDED TO DECEIVE AND CONFUSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE EXPERTS TO MAKE A JOKE OF OUR ELECTIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL AND NOW WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR MAY TILL, MAY FOR TRUE TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT AND WE WILL WIN TO REWARD THAT KIND OF DECEPTION.
WITH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT PREEMPTS THE VOTERS WOULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT AND DECREASED CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS, IT WOULD ALSO AMOUNT TO THIS COUNCIL GETTING PLAYED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND FORMER MANAGER.
SPENCER CON, PLEASE VOTE FOR A NE PLEASE VOTE TO NEGOTIATE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
YOU SPEAKER YOUR TIME VOICES BE HEARD.
NEXT IS YAZMINE SMITH WILL RAY ON DECK
[02:10:01]
AS WELL AS JULIE FINNA RESPECTFULLY.MY NAME IS YAZMIN SMITH, VICE PRESIDENT.
JUST AS AN ADVOCACY FOR THE AUSTIN AIR URBAN LEAGUE, WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND FOR THE REAL POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
AND WE ARE AGAINST THE SYSTEM OF POLICING, NOT THE HUMANS THAT WE THE BADGE AND ACTUALLY DO THEIR JOBS.
AND THOUGH THERE ARE THOSE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS AISLE THAT WILL SAY THEIR OPINIONS OR THAT THIS IS AN US VERSUS THEM CONVERSATION.
THIS IS NOT AN US VERSUS THEM CONVERSATION TEAM.
THIS IS NOT AN US VERSUS THEM CONVERSATION.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE IMPACT A SYSTEM THAT EVOLVES AND CAN PROTECT ALL OF US SO THAT WE CAN ALL FEEL SAFE.
AND SO THAT THOSE THAT WE'RE THE BADGE WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY CAN ACTUALLY NOT BE SUD BY THE NEGATIVE ACTIONS OF THEIR LESSER COUNTERPARTS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN EVOLUTION IN ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRACY, THE SAME DEMOCRACY THAT RESPECTS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND IF YOU DO NOT, THEN YOU SHOULD SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS SPENCER CRONK YOUR NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.
RESPECTFULLY, WILL RAY ON DECK ARE JULIE PENA AND THOMAS DOWNING? THAT'S A TOUGH FACT TO FOLLOW.
I'M A SERGEANT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE CLAIMING THAT THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY OR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE CREATED A FALSE DICHOTOMY.
WE ALREADY HAVE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE, WE INCREASED IT IN OUR FOR IN OUR NEGOTIATION OVER THE LAST YEAR OF THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
IF YOU GO WITH A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, YOU ARE PROCEEDING WITH A HALF MEASURE THAT WILL CREATE INSTABILITY AND INTENSIFY THE STAFFING CRISIS.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, YOU WILL REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE WILL ATTRACT AND HIRE THE, THE KIND OF THOUGHTFUL, EMPATHETIC, AND SERVICE MINDED CANDIDATES THAT WE NEED TO DO THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DEMANDS OF US AS POLICING PROGRESSES IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
JULIE PENA ON DECK ARE THOMAS DOWNING AND SANA CARRANZA.
I'M A WIFE, A MOTHER, A GRANDMOTHER, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND THE DAUGHTER OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SOUTH AUSTIN FOR 21 YEARS.
AS A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, I TRUST AND RESPECT THE POLICE.
AS THE MOTHER OF A HISPANIC CHILD WHO'S BEEN ARRESTED MULTIPLE TIMES, I STILL TRUST AND RESPECT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
PROPOSING A CHANGE FROM A FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT TO AN ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT UNDERMINES THE PROCESS THAT WAS NEGOTIATED BY BOTH PARTIES IN GOOD FAITH, FAITH, AND JUST AGREED UPON LAST WEEK, UM, THE IDEA THAT OVERSIGHT IS NOT A PART OF THAT FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN NEED A FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN BE SAFE.
THE NUMBER OF OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE RESIGNED JUST THIS YEAR MAKES OUR COMMUNITY LESS SAFE AND MORE OFFICERS ARE LIKELY TO RESIGN.
IF WE DON'T HONOR THE FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT, WE NEED TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS.
WE NEED TO PAY THEM MORE SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE, PAY JEALOUS.
AND MCKENZIE KELLY, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST AGENDA ITEM ONE PLEASE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS DOWNING ON DECK, GARIS CARRANZA AND BECKY MCMILLAN.
I'M TOM DOWNING, CO-CHAIR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE OF UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I SUPPORT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION SO THAT IN MAY VOTERS CAN DECIDE WHAT KIND OF POLICE OVERSIGHT THEY WANT.
WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK TODAY ABOUT THREATS TO DEMOCRACY.
SOME SAY THE THREATS ARE INTERNATIONAL FROM DICTATORSHIPS LIKE RUSSIA.
SOME SAY THE GREATEST THREATS ARE NATIONAL FROM POLITICAL PARTIES, WHICH DENY ELECTION RESULTS.
SOME SAY THE GREATEST THREATS COME FROM STATES WHICH MAKE VOTING MORE DIFFICULT.
I BELIEVE THE GREATEST THREATS ARE LOCAL, WHERE DECISIONS ARE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
ONE POWERFUL WAY TO THREATEN DEMOCRACY IN AUSTIN IS TO HOLD AN ELECTION UNDER A CONTRACT WHERE VOTERS' CHOICES WILL BE IGNORED OR NOT IMPLEMENTED UNTIL EVERYONE IS FORGOTTEN WHAT THEY VOTED FOR.
I'M A PERSON OF FAITH AND I HAVE FAITH THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN THE VOTERS TO LET THEM DECIDE WHAT KIND OF POLICE OVERSIGHT THEY WANT.
FOR AUSTIN, PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SANA CARRANZA.
ON DECK ARE BECKY MCMILLAN AND LINDSAY BUEN.
I LIVE IN AUSTIN DISTRICT NINE, UH, IN THE RAINY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALSO I BELIEVE IN THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS ENTER A FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT NOW WOULD MAKE THE MAY ELECTION IRRELEVANT AND WOULD PRETTY
[02:15:01]
MUCH TELL AUSTIN THAT OUR VOICES DO NOT MATTER.I SUPPORT ITEM ONE IN THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S A PLAN FOR AN EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE TIME FOR THE CITY AFTER THE MAY ELECTION RESULTS TO NEGOTIATE LONGER TERM CONTRACTS IMPLEMENTING WHATEVER WE MIGHT CHOOSE.
I URGE YOU, ALL OF YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM ONE AND I'M HAPPY THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBER IS ONE OF THIS POLLS.
NEXT IS BECKY MCMILLAN ON DECK ARE LINDSAY BUMAN AND CHAZ MOORE.
HI, MY NAME IS BECKY MCMILLAN.
I'M PART OF THE COMMON SENSE PARTY, NOT PART OF THE DSA PARTY HERE TODAY AS A BUSINESS OWNER, SINGLE MOM AND CITIZEN CITIZEN OF AUSTIN FOR THE LAST 36 YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY FOR AGAINST A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND FOR A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
I WAS JUST CURRENTLY IN A MEETING IN NOVEMBER WITH MAJOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS HERE IN AUSTIN.
THE ONES WHO FUND YOUR SALARY, BY THE WAY, THEY ARE READY TO PULL OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEALS AND MOVE IT TO NASHVILLE.
IF YOU DON'T GET RID OF THE CRIME AND THE HOMELESS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL, WHAT YOU DO HAS CONSEQUENCES AND THEY WILL PULL OUT.
WE VOTED ON PROP B FOR NO CAMPING.
YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING TO THE VOTERS THAT HAVE VOTED FOR THIS.
WHY BRING SOMETHING TO VOTE WHEN YOU DON'T UPHOLD OUR VOICES? DON'T FORGET WHAT WE'VE, THAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD THAT PROP A IS ILLEGAL AND WILL WASTE OUR MONEY IN COURT.
I'VE WATCHED OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TAKE DIRECTION FROM CONVICTED FELONS SUCH AS CHAZ MOORE, WHO IS HERE TODAY, WHO WANT TO ABOLISH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST FOR ONE MINUTE WHY A CONVICTED FELON WANTS TO GET RID OF POLICE.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CHAZ MOORE ON DECK AS WELL AS MAXWELL MILKS
HI, MY NAME IS LINDSAY RESIDENT DISTRICT ONE AND I WORKED WITH EQUITY ACTION LAST SUMMER TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FOR THE A P O A.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT IN SEPTEMBER Y'ALL VOTED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON WHETHER TO ENACT THIS POLICY AND PREFERENCE TO ADOPTING IT YOURSELVES AS THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
NOW AT THE APAS INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT AS WELL, THE VOTERS HAVE AN EVEN CLEARER CHOICE.
A FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT SET IN MOTION PRIOR TO THE MAY ELECTION UNDERMINES THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE AND THIS COUNCIL'S PREVIOUS DECISION, PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM ONE, A ONE YEAR EXTENSION, WHICH WILL GIVE AMPLE TIME TO CONSIDER ELECTION RESULTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHAZ MOORE, ON DECK MAXWELL MILLS AND CRAIG NAOR.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE FRONT.
UM, YEAH, THIS IS, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A, UH, A VERY INTERESTING MEETING, UM, MAINLY BECAUSE I THINK SOME FOLKS ON RESPECTIVELY THE OTHER SIDE ARE NOT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.
UM, AND I THINK WHOLE STORIES ARE IMPORTANT, RIGHT? I CAN TELL YOU, UM, THAT YES, I AM AN ABOLITIONIST, RIGHT? I THINK THAT SOME POINT, AT SOME POINT, WE AS HUMANS CAN EVOLVE INTO A WORLD, A SOCIETY WHERE WE DON'T RELY ON POLICE, UM, WHERE WE FULLY FUND AND, AND PUT RESOURCES INTO ALTERNATIVES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES HOUSING, UM, WELL LIT NEIGHBORHOODS, THINGS OF THIS NATURE, RIGHT? AND THE, AND I JUST, I JUST BELIEVE THAT IF WE DO THAT, WE'LL START TO SEE THE REASONS WHY CRIME HAPPEN REDUCED, RIGHT? A LOT OF PEOPLE COMMIT CRIME BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNGRY OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, AND I JUST THINK IF WE INVEST IN COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE, THE NEED FOR ASKING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT US JUST CAN GO OUT THE WINDOW.
UM, AND I'LL SAY LIKE COMPLETE STORIES BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HAVE VERY STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT POLICING, UM, AND I HAVE TO UPLIFT THE NAMES OF, UM, YOU KNOW, RISE MOON SING, WHO WAS KILLED BY APD AND I'M GONNA ASK SOMEBODY TO LET ME FINISH MY THOUGHT.
I THINK I'VE EARNED THAT OVER THE YEARS.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAXWELL MILLS AND CRAIG NAOR IS ON DECK, MAXWELL MILLS.
CRAIG NAOR ON DECK IS ALSO NINA SEALY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NAER, PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOCRATS AND STATE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
I DO NOT ENVY YOUR DECISION IN THE HINDU FAITH.
THE TRUE ENEMIES OF KRISHNA ARE THOSE WHO GO AROUND MAKING THE UNIMPORTANT THINGS IMPORTANT.
THE FINANCIAL ARGUMENTS PRESENTED AGAINST THE ONE YEAR POLICE CONTRACTOR COMPLICATED, BUT THEY DO
[02:20:01]
NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL DAMAGE DONE TO AUSTIN BY LACK OF REAL CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE.THE TALKING POINTS IN THE BACKUP SUPPORTING THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT ARE TELLING, THEY SEEM TO SAY THAT THE OPINION OF THE VOTER IS IRRELEVANT.
THEY APPEAR TO SAY THAT A P A HAS GRANTED ALL THE OVERSIGHT THEY'RE WILLING TO GRANT, AND IT'S THAT OR NO POLICE CONTRACT AT ALL FROM AN ORGANIZATION THAT RECEIVES AS RECEIVES CLOSE TO HALF A BILLION TAX DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT SOUNDS LIKE BULLYING TO ME.
ISN'T THAT WHAT ABUSIVE POLICING IS IN THE FIRST PLACE? THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WANT REAL CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS NINA SEALY, SAM KIRSCH, AND ERIN ABRAMS ON DECK.
I'M NINA SEALY, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR WATSON.
OUR FAMILY IS FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND EXTENSION.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, THIS IS ABOUT LIVES.
WE'VE HEARD TODAY ABOUT THE TRAGIC LOSS OF OUR FRIEND RAJA AND ONE OF AUSTIN'S RISING STARS.
HE NEEDED HELP, BUT THE POLICE WERE ILL TRAINED AND NEGLIGENT.
A P D EDITED THE FOOTAGE FROM THE BODY AND RING CAMERAS AFTER RAJA'S DEATH AND SENT THAT OUT TO THE MEDIA TO CHANGE THE FACTS, WHICH IS INCONCEIVABLE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE TRUTH.
WHY CHANGE THE STORY THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THIS INNOCENT LIFE, FRANKLY, OF ANY LIFE? SADLY, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CONCERN.
THE POLICE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KILL YOU.
THEY'RE HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT EVERYONE.
WE SHOULD HAVE THE BEST POLICE FORCE THAT PROVIDES PROPER TRAINING FOR AUSTIN CITIZENS, NOT A CONTRACT THAT PROTECTS THEIR JOBS IF THEY DON'T DO IT PROPERLY.
I'M SURE YOU WANT THAT TOO, AND I HOPE AD A P D DOES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM KCH ON DECK, OUR AARON ABRAMS AND JEN RAMOS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE AND AN ORGANIZER WITH DISTRICT FIVE FOR BLACK LIVES EMERGENT COUNCIL.
TO SUPPORT ITEM ONE, WE MUST BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON POLICE OVERSIGHT IN MAY BEFORE A LONG-TERM CONTRACT IS NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED.
CLEARLY POLICE CANNOT POLICE THEMSELVES, SO WE NEED TO GET OVERSIGHT RIGHT, AND ONLY THEN THE CITY AND THE APA NEGOTIATE WAGES AND BENEFITS, NOT OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
OUR CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON ABRAMS ON DECK, OUR JEN RAMOS AND SHELBY BOHANNON.
MY NAME IS AARON ABRAMS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND A POLICY INTERN FOR THE TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT.
WE SUPPORT ITEM ONE AS IT ALLOWS THE VOTER'S DECISION ON THE REAL AWESOME POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ONE YEAR.
IF COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD WITH THE FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT, THE VOTER'S DECISION IN MAY WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED UNTIL THIS CONTRACT IS UP.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT ALSO LACKS THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT SYSTEMS AND DATA ACCESS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE REAL A P O A.
NOT GIVING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS ACT BEFORE A LONG-TERM, A LONG-TERM CONTRACT IS NEGOTIATED IS A DISSERVICE TO AUSTIN RESIDENT AND AN INFRINGEMENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
TF DP, LIKE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BELIEVES THAT POLICE MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY SHOULD BE MET WITH STRONGER CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AGREEING TO A LONG-TERM CONTRACT NOW LEAVES NO OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCH CHANGES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
VOTING YES ON ITEM ONE WILL BE ANOTHER STAFF TOWARD APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT THROUGH A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BY LETTING VOTERS MAKE THE DECISION IN MAY.
ON DECK IS SHELBY MOHAN AND AMANDA WEEMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I LIVE OFF OF BURTON DRIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M A RENTER, A VOTER, A TAXPAYER, AND MUCH TO DISMAY OF AUSTIN'S CURRENT MAYOR, A COMMUNITY LEADER AND ACTIVIST WHO WANTS OUR CITY TO LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISE AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
WHEN WE REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR, THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT GO AWAY.
MATTER OF FACT, IT NEVER MAKES IT GO AWAY.
THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS THAT THE UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR OF MORE THAN A FEW BAD OFFICERS SCARES OUR COMMUNITY.
BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT BEING SAFE AROUND THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS OF A COUPLE OF BAD OFFICERS.
THE VOTERS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND OFFICERS WHO WANT TO SKIRT THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAD BEHAVIOR ARE PROBABLY NOT THE OFFICERS WE NEED ON THE FORCE.
ANYWAY, I URGE OUR COUNCIL TO PLEASE VOTE IN SUPPORT OF AN EXTENSION ON THIS CONTRACT FOR ITEM ONE.
[02:25:02]
NEXT SPEAKER SHELBY BOHANNON ON DECK ARE AMANDA WEEMS AND JIM TRUCKING.I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
UM, I SPENT ALL OF LAST SUMMER AS A FIELD ORGANIZER WORKING ON THE A P O A WITH EQUITY ACTION AND I TALKED, TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN NIGHTS WHO BELIEVE THAT OVERSIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED NOW.
UM, MANY WERE HESITANT TO SIGN A PETITION AFTER BEING TRICKED BY SAVE AUSTIN NOW IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
UM, AND SO WHEN A P D OR APA STARTED A CAMPAIGN, UH, IN THE FALL SAYING THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR INCREASED OVERSIGHT, UH, THEY TRICKED THOUSAND OR THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES INTO SIGNING A FAKE PETITION, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT GETS, UH, VOTERS SCARED TO EN BE INVOLVED IN THEIR GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AND LOCAL POLITICS.
UM, THEY WASTED OVER $300,000 AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY A P D NEEDS OVERSIGHT.
THEY'RE WILLING TO LIE AND TRICK AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT DOES NOT GR MAKE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING.
OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA WEEMS. ON DECK IS JIM TRUK AND ANDREA BLACK.
HOW DO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS AMANDA CAVASSO SWS.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA AND A UNION MEMBER.
I'VE ALSO LIVED IN AUSTIN, BORN AND RAISED MOST OF MY LIFE, AND I'M A CURRENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM ONE.
UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SAFETY AND LIKE WHO FEELS SAFE AND WHO COUNTS, UM, IN AUSTIN'S COMMUNITY AND AS A LATINA, I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH AN UNDISCIPLINED AND UNACCOUNTABLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN THEY SHOW AN UNWILLINGNESS TO BE GOVERNED BY THIS BODY.
IT DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I HAVE A PLACE IN THIS MY HOME.
UM, I HAD A NEIGHBOR HAVE A BREAK IN AND HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT COME TAKE A POLICE REPORT BECAUSE OF THE DECISIONS THAT THIS BODY MADE.
I HAD TO COUNSEL MY NEIGHBORS.
I SAID, YOU NEED TO CALL CITY HALL AND TELL THEM THAT THE POLICE ARE REFUSING TO DO THEIR JOBS IN AN EFFORT TO DISCIPLINE YOU ALL FOR EXERCISING OVERSIGHT THAT IS WRONG.
THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEM THEIR CONDUCT LOOKED AT AND HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR ACTION.
JIM TRUK ON DECK IS NEXT, AND ANDREA BLACK ANDREO DEL BARRIO ON DECK.
I'M JIM TRUCKS, IS, UH, DISTRICT THREE HERE IN SUPPORT OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
SO I GET THIS NOTE TO ITEM ONE.
UH, MY EXPERIENCE IS, UH, WORKING WITH UNIONS OVER FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
I'VE DID IT FOR 30 YEARS FOR GENERAL MOTORS.
UM, WE HAD A GREAT SUCCESS AND ALL THOSE COUNTRIES EXCEPT ONE, THE ONE THAT ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
IN ORDER TO BUILD TRUST WITH THE UNION AND TO MAKE GREAT STRIDES FROM BOTH SIDES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LONG-TERM CONTRACT TO BUILD THE TRUST, TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S PRESSURE POINTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE.
YOU CAN'T DO THIS OF THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE FOUR FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
ON DECK ARE ALFREDO DEL BARRIO AND CARRIE GRACE.
UH, I'M GARRETT NEVES, UH, FROM DISTRICT FIVE, UH, INCENTIVES MATTER.
A POLICING SYSTEM WITHOUT REAL INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT IS INCENTIVIZED TO ESCALATE THE USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE AND DEADLY FORCE.
WITHOUT REAL INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT, THE POLICING SYSTEM IS, IS INCENTIVIZED TO PROTECT ITSELF RATHER THAN TO CORRECT ITSELF.
AUSTIN VOTERS SEE THE COST IN BOTH PHYSICAL INJURY AND DEATH FROM POLICE ESCALATIONS AND THE COST IN TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS OR THEIR SURVIVORS.
AUSTIN VOTERS ARE REPEATEDLY VOTING FOR REAL INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT.
THE A P A RESORTED TO FUNDING A CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO SABOTAGE REAL INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT BY LYING TO VOTERS TO GET THEIR SIGNATURES.
I ASK ALL 11 OF YOU, PLEASE VOTE FOR ITEM ONE TO ALLOW A POLICE CONTRACT AND RENEGOTIATE IT AFTER WE, WE PASS REAL INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT SO THAT WE CAN BECOME SAFER FOR ALL
[02:30:01]
OF US.NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIELLA SILVA.
ON DECK IS ALFREDO DEL BARRIO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS DANIELLA SILVA, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE, UM, TO SPEAK SO ELOQUENTLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, SO I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO SAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE POLL THAT MS. RAY NOTED EARLIER WAS A NOTLEY POLL THAT DOES SAY HALF OF AUSTINITES THINK THERE AREN'T ENOUGH POLICE.
IT ALSO SAYS 75% OF AUSTINITES WANT MORE OVERSIGHT.
SO PLEASE, LET'S NOT CHERRY PICK DATA.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH CRIME, I'M, I, I WANNA ADDRESS YOU AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE READY TO START INVESTING IN ALL OF AUSTIN'S COMMUNITIES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING SEEING YOU HERE IN SUPPORT OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IN SUPPORT OF ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDS, IN SUPPORT OF HARM REDUCTION, INCREASING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AND SCHOOL TEACHER PAY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR ABYSMAL FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE AND MANDATORY PARENTAL LEAVE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU HERE AS CHAMPIONS ALONGSIDE THE REST OF US.
NEXT SPEAKER IS AL ALFREDO DEL BARRIO.
ON DECK IS CARRIE GRACE AND BOB LIBEL.
I COME HERE TO SUPPORT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
I'VE STARTED, UH, PLENTY OF STARTUPS IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND I WORK IN THE VENTURE CAPITAL SYSTEM OVERSEEING OVER TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT IN THIS CITY.
ALL I HAVE HEARD FROM MY PEERS, FROM MY FRIENDS IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
PUT THE VOTE IN THE MATTER AND THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE SO THAT MORE MOTHERS DON'T HAVE TO BURY THEIR SONS.
I CARRIED MY FRIEND ROGER'S CASKET FOR A 33 YEAR OLD MAN WHO HAD HIS DREAMS CUT SHORT.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO POINT FINGERS, BUT WE NEED ANSWERS AND WE NEED ACTION, SO PLEASE DO THAT ACTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BOB LIBEL ON DECK ARM.
MELANIE RODRIGUEZ AND TRAVIS HOLT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, I'VE JUST BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE TESTIMONY TODAY FROM RAJA'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, THE NEED FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IN THE DEMOCRACY, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS TESTIMONY IS REALLY DEVASTATING AND I THINK THAT IT REALLY SHOWS HOW, UH, HOW MUCH OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS KIND OF TRUE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT AND HOW WE NEED THE KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, THAT HAS CLEARLY BEEN LACKING OVER, OVER, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT, UH, THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND LET AUSTIN VOTERS HAVE A SAY.
UM, YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MELANIE RODRIGUEZ ON DECK, OUR TRAVIS VON HOLT AND RUTH HOWARD.
25 YEARS AGO, YOU SHOOK MY HAND AS I ACCEPTED MY BADGE TO BE AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER.
THE NARRATIVE THAT THIS IS A RUSHED DEAL IS A COMPLETE FALSEHOOD AND SHAME ON ALL OF YOU FOR PERPETUATING THAT FALSEHOOD.
WE BARGAINED FOR OVER A YEAR AT THE DIRECTION OF THIS COUNCIL WHO DECIDED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT THEY WON A ONE YEAR DEAL.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE NEGOTIATED A FOUR YEAR DEAL.
THERE IS MORE OVERSIGHT IN THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAN CAN EVER BE HAD IN A ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
AND GUESS WHAT, WHEN WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AGAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE MADE YOUR DECISION, WHEN WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AGAIN, YOU WILL HAVE LESS OVERSIGHT THAN WHAT WE HAVE PUT IN THIS FOUR YEAR DEAL.
SO SHAME ON ALL OF YOU THAT APD WANTS OVERSIGHT JUST AS MUCH AS THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TRAVIS VON HOLTZ.
ON DECK ARE RUTH HOWARD AND CATHERINE GARNELL.
I'M AN APA BOARD MEMBER AND I NEGOTIATE HIS CONTRACT WITH THE BARGAINING
[02:35:01]
TEAM.I SUPPORT A LONG-TERM POLICE CONTRACT.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACT IS NOT GOING TO KEEP ANYONE HERE WHO'S ALREADY ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE.
A P D STAFFING MEMBERS ARE DWINDLING AND IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER IS DEAD AT THE HANDS OF CITY COUNCIL.
DUE TO UNSAFE STAFFING NUMBERS, WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER AN ERROR OF AUSTINITES CALLING 9 1 1 AND NOBODY'S SHOWING UP TO HELP THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO THEIR EMERGENCIES.
I'M ALSO RESPECTING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
HOWEVER, THE EQUITY ACTION BALLOT IS GOING TO SET POLICE OVERSIGHT BACKWARDS AS MOST OF THE LANGUAGE IS ILLEGAL AND HAS ALREADY BEEN EXPLAINED TO COUNSEL THAT IT IS, IT IS ILLEGAL CITY LEGAL HAVE BOTH AGREED.
MANY PARTS OF THE BALLOT ARE ILLEGAL.
YOU WILL NOT GET THE OVERSIGHT LISTED IN THAT BALLOT BECAUSE IT'LL BE TIED UP IN COURT FOR YEARS TO COME.
THE OVERSIGHT ITEMS THAT EQUITY ACTION WANTS CAN ONLY BE CHANGED AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.
THEIR BALLOT WILL NEVER TRUMP STATE LAW BECAUSE OF PREEMPTION, THE CURRENT BARGAIN FOUR-YEAR DEAL EXPANDS STATE LAW RESTRICT OVERSIGHT BECAUSE THE APA HAS AGREED TO THAT.
ALSO, THE FOUR-YEAR PROPOSED CONTACT INCLUDES STEROID TESTING FOR OFFICERS.
IF YOU ACTUALLY READ THAT, YOU WOULD KNOW IT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH HOWARD ON DECK ARE KATHERINE MACLE AND SHAYA HABIBI.
HELLO, MY NAME IS RUTH HOWARD AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
I AM IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE.
OUR POLICE PERFORM A NECESSARY AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS SERVICE.
A P D DESERVES AND NEEDS OUR SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THEY PROVIDE.
MY FATHER'S RENTAL HOME WAS BROKEN INTO BY A HOMELESS PERSON WHO FELT THAT THEY HAD A RIGHT TO MY DAD'S PROPERTY.
MY DAD WAS IN A NURSING HOME AND HE NEEDED THAT INCOME TO HELP PAY FOR HIS NURSING HOME CARE.
I CALLED THE POLICE AND IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE WAY, THEY CONVINCED THE HOMELESS PERSON THAT THEY WERE COMMITTING COM CRIMINAL TRESPASSING.
PLEASE VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE AND FOR SUPPORT OF OUR POLICE.
KATHERINE MCCARTEL ON DECK ARE SHAYA HABIBI AND BECKY BULLARD.
HI, MY NAME IS KATHERINE MCCARTEL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE IN CHERRYWOOD.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE FROM AUSTIN POLICE MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY TO THE POLICE UNION'S FUNDING OF THE DECEPTIVE CAMPAIGN TO CONFUSE VOTERS IN MAY WITH THE SECOND BALLOT MEASURE OF THE SAME NAME AND DESCRIPTION AS EQUITY ACTIONS, WE NEED STRONGER POLICE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
MORE THAN EVER, THESE THINGS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BARGAINING TABLE FOR A LABOR CONTRACT.
IT'S CRITICAL TO LET VOTERS DECIDE IN MAY WHAT POLICE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN AUSTIN AND ANY FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT WILL EFFECTIVELY NULLIFY THEIR WILL FURTHER.
THE PARTICULAR FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT RECENTLY NEGOTIATED IS SO FAR FROM WHAT'S IN THE REAL AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
IT CANNOT BE SEEN AS A STOP GAP.
THE ONLY MEANINGFUL WAY TO LET AUSTIN VOTERS WEIGH IN ON POLICE OVERSIGHT IN MAY IS TO PASS ITEM ONE TODAY TO PURSUE A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.
NO FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT OF ANY KIND.
ABEBE ON DECK ARE BECKY BULLARD.
AND MEGAN MARVIN FOR YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
HI, MY NAME'S CHRISTIANA KEELER.
I'M RESIDENT IN DISTRICT FOUR PAGE ELLIS'S DISTRICT.
I DO NOT SUPPORT RESOLUTION ONE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO ADD THE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT BACK ONTO THE AGENDA BEFORE FEBRUARY 23RD.
IN 2020, MAYOR ADLER AND CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO CUT THE POLICE BUDGET BY 150 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE BUDGET.
SINCE THEN, CRIME IS SKYROCKETED.
IN FACT, AUSTIN IS FACING A MORE DIRE SITUATION.
AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD EARLIER THIS YEAR, THERE'S ABOUT 250 TO 300 OFFICERS THAT WILL RETIRE.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WOULD MAKE IT EVEN WORSE.
THE PENSIONS WOULDN'T BE FUNDED AND THEN THEY WOULD MORE, UH, A P D WOULD WOULD RESIGN.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S THE UNSOLVED MURDER DETECTIVES.
THEY'RE HAVING TO SHIFT TO PATROLS.
70% OF THE MURDER CASES IN AUSTIN ARE BLACK OR BROWN AND BROWN CITIZENS.
WHAT JUSTICE DO THEY HAVE? THANK YOU.
[02:40:01]
IS SHIA HABIBI.I LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT THREE, UH, AND HOMEGROWN AUSTINITE AS WELL.
IT'S A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WITHOUT MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT.
SO, AND I THINK YOU AGREE THAT'S WHY THE THE ONE YEAR IS HERE ON THE TABLE.
UM, SO INSTEAD I WANNA ADDRESS, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS DIRECTLY.
IF YOU WANT A DEPARTMENT BASED ON RESPECT AND NOT FEAR, YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE DEFICIT OF TRUST THAT HAS BEEN BUILT.
CREATING A DECEITFUL COUNTER PROPOSITION IS NOT HOW YOU BUILD TRUST.
SHOOTING AN UNARMED RESIDENT IN THEIR OWN HOME IS NOT BUILDING TRUST.
THAT IS NOT PUBLIC SAFETY TRAIN ACCOUNTABILITY.
SOME CURIOSITY IS HOW WE BUILD TRUST AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE WHETHER YOU APPROACH IT WITH FEAR OR THANK YOU.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ON DECK ARE LOGAN GRIFFIN, WAIT, AND BLAINE ENGLAND.
TIFFANY PNI AND BEVERLY LAZAR, ALSO CHRIS VARANO.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM.
HI, MY NAME IS BEVERLY LIZAR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT PAGE ELLIS'S DISTRICT.
AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO PUT THROUGH A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
A SHORT TERM CONTRACT WILL ALLOW THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BALLOT MEASURE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IF PASSED A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT MAINTAINS A WEAK SYSTEM OF OVERSIGHT AND IN SOME CASES WEAKENS IT EVEN FURTHER FROM TODAY, ENCOURAGING MORE POLICE MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY.
PIVOTING TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT PROTECTS THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN THE MAY ELECTION.
THAT COUNCIL CALLED AND WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO SET UP A MUCH, MUCH STRONGER SYSTEM OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO HOLD OFFICERS THAT COMMIT MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY ACCOUNTABILITY.
I URGE YOU AGAIN TO PASS ITEM ONE, BECAUSE POLICE OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULDN'T BE BARGAINING CHIPS IN NEGOTIATIONS.
I WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I CAN DESTROY SOMEONE'S LIFE AND TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT WITH A FEW KEYSTROKES OR A MISSPOKEN WORD.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
I JUST WENT, YEAH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS MS. PNI.
WE DO NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH OVERSIGHT AND BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WHEN I FIRST CAME AN OFFICER 21 YEARS AGO, WE TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEING EITHER THE SAFEST OR ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE NATION.
NOW BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY BAD POLITICAL DECISIONS, LOOK AT IT.
EVERY DAY I HAVE CITIZENS APPROACH ME AND THANK ME FOR MY JOB AND EVERYTHING I DO.
THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS WHO UNFORTUNATELY ARE NOT HERE AND CAN'T BE HERE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THE LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, IGNORANT ACTIVISTS.
SO PLEASE STOP PLACATING TO THESE GROUPS THAT ARE MORE INCLINED TO SEE THE DESTRUCTION AND DOWNFALL OF THIS CITY AND LAUGH ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.
THE ONLY SUBVERSION COMES FROM THIS RESOLUTION AND THE SOON TO BE VOTED ON PROPOSITION A.
BOTH WERE PRE PRESENTED TO SUBVERT THE LEGAL AND AGREED UPON GOOD FAITH PROCESS USING FALSE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION, WHICH HAS BEEN SPEWED OUT BY THE ACTIVISTS IN CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION, THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT THERE WILL BE NO CONTRACT FOR SEVERAL YEARS IF PROP A PASSES.
[02:45:01]
THIS CAN'T BE BECAUSE WE WILL NEVER AGREE TO THE STIPULATIONS PRESENTED IN PROP A WHY CUZ IT'S ILLEGAL, OF WHICH Y'ALL ARE ALL FULLY AWARE, IT WILL BE TIED UP IN COURT FOR YEARS.MEANWHILE, THERE WILL BE MORE ATTRITION AND YOU'LL NOT GET OFFICERS TO APPLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO SECURITY IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
CRIME RATES AND EVERYTHING GOES UP, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
REMINDER THAT IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
NEXT IS MEG HALPIN NOEL DAVIS ON DECK AS WELL AS SHANE JOHNSON.
MY NAME IS MEG HALPIN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, AUSTIN HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR 35 YEARS AND I'M A SEMINARY STUDENT AND A MOM.
AND I'M HERE AS SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE IN MY CITY.
A SELF-POLICING A P D HAS NOT AND WILL NOT KEEP ALL OF US IN AUSTIN SAFE TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SHARED PROFOUNDLY WRENCHING REMINDERS OF THAT TODAY I STAND WITH YOU AND I HOPE OUR COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO YOUR VOICES AND I WANNA APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
ON DECK ARE SHANE JOHNSON AND ASHLEY WYNN.
HELLO, MY NAME'S NOELLE DAVIS.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR ABOUT 22 YEARS NOW, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE, UM, ACADEMY, UH, CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND THROUGH MY WORK ON THAT COMMITTEE, I'VE REALLY COME ACTUALLY TO HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION FOR THE POLICE AS INDIVIDUALS AND REALLY RESPECT THEIR, UM, PASSION AND DEDICATION FOR OUR CITY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I URGE YOU TO, UH, VOTE FOR ITEM ONE BECAUSE WE DO ALSO NEED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND THERE ARE STILL THE, THE RE-IMAGINING WORK IS NOT COMPLETE.
THERE IS A LOT MORE TO BE DONE THAT I THINK WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF CREATING A SAFER COMMUNITY FOR THE POLICE AND THE VOTERS AND, AND CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
NEXT IS SHANE JOHNSON ON DECK, OUR ASHLEY WYNN AND JONATHAN SEABOLD.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL SHANE JOHNSON.
I SEE HIM PRONOUNS, UM, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND I ALSO SPEAK FOR MY PARENT PARENTS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN OFF LIVE OFF OF SCOFIELD RIDGE.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF IT OF ONE OF COURSE AS IT SHOULD BE, UM, A NO-BRAINER.
WE NEED MORE POLICE OVERSIGHT.
THAT REALLY IS THE, YOU KNOW, BIGGEST UNDERSTATEMENT POSSIBLE.
UM, MAYOR WATSON SAID HE WANTS OUR COMMUNITY TO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE POLICE OR EVEN TO TRUST THE POLICE, BUT I'M HALF BLACK, MY DAD IS BLACK.
I HAVE TO WORRY WHETHER OR NOT THE POLICE WILL KILL HIM EVERY TIME HE DRIVES TO WORK OR HE DRIVES HOME.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH MOST PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT ME AND THINK I LOOK BLACK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THAT POLICE ARE KILLING, UH, BROWN PRESENTING PEOPLE AS WELL.
AND SO WE NEED, UH, THIS POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT IS ONLY GONNA BE POSSIBLE BY ADOPTING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AS THE TINIEST BABY STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UM, SO THAT WE CAN START MAKING OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY SAFE.
ON DECK IS JONATHAN SEABOLD AND WILLIAM COSTELLO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEGOTIATED FOUR YEAR CONTRACT DON'T COME ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE LEVEL OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT THAT THE COMMUNITY IS CALLING FOR.
IT'S DE UNDEMOCRATIC AND DISRESPECTFUL TO THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN TO APPROVE THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND DELAY THE OUTCOME OF THE MAY ELECTION FOR THE THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
WHY SHOULD WE LIVE WITH THE POULTRY OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES PUSHED THROUGH BY AN OUTGOING CITY MANAGER WHO THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY DETERMINED TO BE UNFIT FOR THE JOB? I URGE YOU TO PURSUE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION AND RESPECT THE WILL OF THOSE WHO ELECTED YOU.
NEXT IS JONATHAN SIEBEL WITH WILLIAM COSTELLO ON DECK.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX AND WITH A PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE DISGRACE CITY MANAGER SPENCER CROC'S FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT THAT HE IS TRYING TO FORCE THROUGH ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR.
AS WE'VE SEEN SOME FROM THE RESULTS OF HIS HANDLING OF THE WINTER STORM, HE CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
HE ALSO HAS INAPPROPRIATE CONNECTIONS WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, WHICH SHOULD RENDER HIM INELIGIBLE TO MAKING THESE DE DEALS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS POLICE CONTRACT WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
THEREFORE, WE SHOULD HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT
[02:50:01]
TO VOTE FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR THE BARE MINIMUM OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICE FORCE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MUCH VIOLENCE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE IS ALLEGED TO BE PROTECTING.
MIKE RAMOS, ALEX GONZALEZ, RAJ MUN SINGH AND ANTHONY FRANKLIN ARE JUST A FEW OF THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS OF APDS VIOLENCE WHOSE FAMILIES CANNOT SEEK THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT THE OVERSIGHT ACT.
AFTER THE VOTE IN MAY, ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO LOOK AT YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE EYES AND TELL THEM THAT YOU FOUGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, OR YOU'RE GONNA SNUB YOUR NOSE AT THEM AND RAM THROUGH A DEAL THAT STRIPS SOME OF THAT CHOICE TODAY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM COSTELLO.
ON DECK ARE MICHAEL KREK AND JOE POWELL CONLEY.
AS A DETECTIVE IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT SEX CRIMES UNIT, I ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
A FOUR YEAR DEAL PROVIDES STABILITY IN THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL POSITIVELY IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENTLY DIRE STAFFING SHORTAGES.
THESE SHORTAGES GREATLY AFFECT THE INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS OF THE SEX CRIMES UNIT.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE CITY COUNCIL'S BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND COMPLETENESS OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS AS WE INVESTIGATE CRIMES WITH VICTIMS OF RAPE AND OTHER SEXUAL OFFENSES.
SINCE AUGUST OF 20 20 22, OUR DETECTIVES HAVE TO HAVE HAD TO RETURN TO PATROL DUTIES ON A DAILY BASIS TO ANSWER 9 1 1 CALLS.
THAT MEANS EVERY DAY TWO TO THREE OF OUR DETECTIVES ARE WORKING THE STREET UNABLE TO ANSWER CALLS FROM VICTIMS OF RAPE IN THE CITY.
IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES, THAT'S 10 TO 15% AT ALL TIMES, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HELP OUR VICTIMS. IF COUNSEL DOES NOT PREVENT STABILITY TO DEPARTMENT IN FORM OF OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, 125 TO 300 OFFICERS ARE READY TO RETIRE TOMORROW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR MY UNIT? THAT MEANS DOUBLE.
THAT WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THE STREET EVERY DAY.
WE WILL BE UNABLE TO ANSWER CALLS FOR VICTIMS AND EVIDENCE WILL BE LOST.
I YOUR VOTE TODAY GREATLY IMPACTS THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL KRUK ON DECK, AJA PAOLO CONLEY AND KATIE NAO.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND SPEAKING WITH MOST OF Y'ALL, UH, THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I HAVEN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY YET, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER.
UH, I HAVE DEDICATED MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND TO PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY.
OVER A YEAR AGO, YOU ASKED CITY MANAGER AND YOUR NEGOTIATION TEAM TO NEGOTIATE A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU ASKED THE NEW CONTRACT TO HAVE THE MOST ROBUST CITIZEN OVERSIGHT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
A FAIR RAGE AND BENEFIT COMPREHENSION FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS AND A CONTRACT THAT BRINGS ABILITY TO THE DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN IMPROVE RECRUITING AND BE STAFFED AT THE LEVEL THAT KEEPS ALL OF AUSTIN'S CITIZENS SAFE.
CONGRATULATIONS, Y'ALL NEGOTIATED SUCH A CONTRACT AND THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU LAST WEEK BY THE CITY COUNCIL, I MEAN BY THE CITY MANAGER AND YOUR NEGOTIATION TEAM.
IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR, EQUITY ACTION BROUGHT A PETITION TO YOU THAT HAD BEEN, UH, PUT ON THE MAY BALLOT.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IS EXPIRED PUT FORWARD.
HAS NEXT SPEAKER IS J PAUL CONLEY ON DECK ARCADE NAO AND JAMIE KIM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO AUSTIN'S VOTERS AND AN INSULT TO EVERYONE IN AUSTIN WHO RESPECTS AND UPHOLDS DEMOCRACY.
I WANNA MAKE A POINT VERY CLEAR THIS CRAZY FEAR MONGERING ABOUT HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE GONNA RESIGN IF WE DON'T PASS A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
I REMEMBER BACK IN 2018 WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE FIGHT OVER THE CONTRACT, IT WAS 30 OFFICERS ARE GONNA RESIGN, THEN 40, THEN 50.
THIS YEAR WE SEE THE SAME THING.
YESTERDAY THEY SAID 30 YEAR, 30 OFFICERS.
YESTERDAY THEY SAID 30 OFFICERS WILL RES PLEASE STOP THE CLOCK FOR JUST A SEC.
PLEASE STOP THE CLOCK FOR JUST A SECOND SO WE DON'T EAT UP HIS TIME.
I, I APPRECIATE HOW CLASSY AND RESPECTFUL APDS.
HANG ON ONE SECOND, SPEAKER ONE SECOND.
EVERYONE, THE WAY I STARTED THIS TODAY WAS TO AVOID EXACTLY WHAT IS NOW HAPPENING.
IN PART, EVERYONE HAS STRONG OPINIONS OR YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR HAVING STRONG OPINIONS AND BEING WILLING TO BE HERE SO THAT WE CAN ENGAGE IN DEMOCRACY IN THIS ROOM.
BUT IF YOU'RE FOR DEMOCRACY, WHETHER YOU'RE FOR IT, BECAUSE YOU SAY, YOU SAY YOU'RE FOR IT, BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN MAY OR BECAUSE YOU WANT A DECISION TO BE MADE TODAY AND NOT LET IT GO TO MAY.
IF YOU'RE FOR THAT DEMOCRACY, YOU WILL NOT INTERRUPT YOUR CITIZENS.
YOU MAY WANT TO BE, UH, SHOW YOUR RESPECT AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR SOMEONE, BUT YOU WILL NOT INTERRUPT.
[02:55:01]
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GONNA HAVE THAT.IT'S, IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AS THE DAY GOES BY.
SO WE'RE GONNA STOP IT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY.
WHETHER YOU PREVAIL OR NOT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU BE HERE AND THAT YOU SPEAK AND THAT'S WHY WE ALLOW FOR THIS.
BUT PLEASE SHOW RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU MAY WANT 'EM TO AGREE WITH YOU THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE ON SOMETHING.
I WANNA NOTE THAT YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY FOLKS WERE SAYING 30 OFFICERS MIGHT RESIGN.
THIS MORNING IT WAS 80 TO A HUNDRED.
THESE NUMBERS SEEM TO BE PULLED OUT FROM SOMEWHERE, BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THESE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM.
AND ALSO IF FOLKS WANNA BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY OFFICERS ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO CALLS, THEY SHOULD GOOGLE BLUE FLU.
UM, ANYWAY, EVERY VICTIM OF POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE CITY IS BY THE WAY, A VICTIM OF CRIME.
IN CROS STATEMENT LAST WEEK, HE CLAIMED THAT THE FINAL TENTATIVE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT WAS CENTERED ON HIS PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE ON HOW BEST TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
THAT K CRONK SO-CALLED EXPERTISE HAS PROVEN LIMITED AND SELECTIVE AND THAT COUNSEL SHOULD TAKE IT WITH A POUND OF SALT.
WHAT ABOUT OUR UNDERFUNDED, UNDERPAID, UNDER STAFFED EMS? I DON'T SEE CITY STAFF FEAR PEDDLING ABOUT THE SEVERE STAFFING ISSUES AT EMS. DO EMS NOT ALSO KEEP US SAFE? WE'RE NOW AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY STRUGGLES WITH A MASSIVE EVICTION AND AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY AT A 37% STAFFING VACANCY.
MANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE STAFFING VACANCIES NEAR 20%.
IS THAT NOT ALSO PART OF OUR SAFETY? THAT IS BEING NEGLECTED? THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE NACO ON DECK ARE JAMIE KIM AND CHRISTIAN CEAL.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 10.
I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I'M HERE IN THAT CAPACITY.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE SPEAKERS FOR THEIR STORIES AND FOR ON BOTH SIDES FOR THE PASSION THAT THEY SHOW.
I AM HERE REPRESENTING 178 PRECINCT CHAIRS WHO ARE ELECTED THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN THE PRIMARY.
THIS THE C E C UH, PASSED IN IN UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT, UM, THE MAY BALLOT INITIATIVE.
AND WE ARE ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS BY TODAY BEING FOR PROP ONE.
WE ARE NOT PRO-POLICE OR ANTI-POLICE.
WE ARE PRO COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SAFETY.
UM, IN AUSTIN, WE LIKE OUR PROCESSES EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE OUTCOMES.
AND SO YOU, THE COUNCIL HAS PRESCRIBED TO THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING, UH, THE PROPOSITION.
TODAY THAT WE GO TO THE BALLOT IN MAY, WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU CONTINUE THAT PROCESS SO THE VOTERS DECIDE AND REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, WE AT LEAST SUPPORT THE PROCESS.
AS MAYOR WATSON TOLD ME ONCE, THE PROCESS IS WHAT MATTERS.
ON DECK IS CHRISTIAN CEAL AND KATHERINE BARFIELD.
BECKY ROBINSON ON DECK IS LINDSAY IGNATOWSKI.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE YOUR MAKE, MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE FRONT AND STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN SEVADAL.
I'M IN DISTRICT ONE AND PART OF THE PARTY OF SOCIAL SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION CITY COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDE PROPER OVERSIGHT OVER THE A P D AS THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY CANNOT HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.
DESILVA, ALEX GONZALEZ, RAJ, UH, MUK ARE JUST SOME OF THE NAMES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO THE A P D FROM OFFICERS.
OFFICERS ENGAGING IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION OR SHOOTING BEFORE PROPER PROPERLY ASSESSING THE SITUATION.
WE CAN ALSO CAN'T FORGET THE ABUSE PROTESTORS FACE IN 2020.
CURRENTLY THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT HAS BEEN INEFFECTIVE AND LEASHED BY THE A P A BLOCKING INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OUTSIDE OF POLICE INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IS THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, BUT THE WINDOW IS BEING SH FORCED SHUT BY THE APA AND THE SOON-TO-BE FORMER CITY MANAGER CRONK.
BY FORCING THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT ON AUSTIN NIGHTS, WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO CHOOSE THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE HOW WE HOLD THE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO THANK YOU.
SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THAT'S NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE BARFIELD.
ON DECK ARE BECKY ROBINSON AND LI LINDSAY IGNATOWSKI.
MY NAME IS KATHERINE BARFIELD.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND A MEMBER OF
[03:00:01]
DISTRICT EIGHT.UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST UH, PROPOSITION ONE.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA REITERATE, WE'VE HEARD SOME GREAT SPEAKERS TODAY SO I WON'T REHASH POINTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD.
BUT THE TWO THINGS I WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF ARE THAT OVERSIGHT IS BUILT INTO THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
CITIZEN REPRESENTATION IS IN THERE.
YOU HEARD EARLIER THAT THERE'S 20 PAGES WORTH OF OVERSIGHT BUILT INTO THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
WE NEED THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT SO THAT WE HAVE SOME STABILITY AND LONG RANGE PLANNING.
I DUNNO, OF ANY BUSINESS PUBLIC OR PRIVATE THAT CAN DO LONG-RANGE PLANNING WITHOUT SOME SORT OF STABILITY IN THERE.
WE'RE LOSING OFFICERS AT AN ALARMING RATE.
YOU CALL 9 1 1 AND YOU CAN'T GET POLICEMEN OUT.
IT'S A VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR AUSTIN AND I THINK THAT OUR POLICE FORCE DESERVES BETTER AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AND IT WAS A FOUR YEAR THANK YOU SPEAKER PROCESS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BECKY ROBINSON.
ON DECK IS LINDSEY IGNATOWSKI.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME SPEAK.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR 50 YEARS, SO I KNOW A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS CITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW ARE LEAVING AUSTIN BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT CRIME RATE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
I HAVE NEVER, AND I MAY NEVER SEEN THE CHAOTIC LACK OF CONTROL OVER CRIME WE NOW HAVE IN ALL MY 50 YEARS IN AUSTIN, CAUSED BY OUR DEFUNDING OF THE POLICE.
EVERYWHERE I DRIVE I SEE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE RUNNING RED LIGHTS, CRUISING DOWN MAJOR ROADS AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.
AND ALL BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE'S VERY LITTLE CHANCE THEY WILL BE CAUGHT BY A VASTLY UNDERSTAFFED POLICE FORCE.
THE DETERIORATION OF AUSTIN HAS BROKEN MY HEART.
MY DOWNTOWN 150 YEAR OLD CHURCH HAS EVEN HAD TO GET SECURITY.
MA'AM, MA'AM, I WONDER HOW MANY AUSTIN NIGHTS MA'AM KNOW MA'AM, THAT WEAM.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDSAY IGNATOWSKI.
ON DECK ARE RACHEL SHANNON AND TED CLEM.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS AMANDA SANFORD, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND CURRENTLY LIVING IN DISTRICT NINE.
I'M ALSO AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER.
FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY NEGOTIATING TEAM AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT IN NEGOTIATING THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE WATCHED AND LISTENED AS BOTH SIDES WORK TO BRING WHAT I BELIEVE IS A FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
FAILURE TO ADOPT THAT FOUR YEAR CONTRACT COULD RESULT IN FALLING OUT OF CONTRACT ALTOGETHER.
THAT MEANS ABSOLUTELY NO OVERSIGHT.
THE CITIZENS AND POLICE DESERVE A CONTRACT THAT DOES ITS BEST TO ATTRACT NEW OFFICERS AND RETAIN THE HARDWORKING OFFICERS WE HAVE SERVING NOW.
WE CURRENTLY ARE AT A CRISIS WITH EACH, AS I SAID, I BOTH LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I SEE EVERY DAY THE EFFECTS LESS OFFICERS IS HAVING ON OUR CITY.
AS A POLICE OFFICER, A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, AND IMPORTANTLY A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN, I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE OFFICERS FOR THEIR FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND REJECT YOUR CURRENT RESOLUTION.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TED CLEM ON DECK.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE.
WHO, WHO'S THE FIRST ONE? OKAY.
I'M ANDREW EO, DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, I'M, I'M HERE CAUSE I SUPPORT THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.
THERE'S A FEW REASONS FOR THAT.
COUPLE YEARS AGO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FOR GROUND GAME TEXAS FOR A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WOULD DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALSO BAN NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
[03:05:01]
AND SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH TO ME, UH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED MY PETITION WAS AN A P D OFFICER.HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS SUCH AND I SAID, I'M, I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU'RE SIGNING THIS PETITION TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA AND BANNED NO KNOCK WARRANTS.
AND HE SAID, I HATE NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
I'M TIRED OF GETTING A SHOT AT.
AND I SAID, DOESN'T THE APA DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT YOU FROM THAT? AND HE'S LIKE, NO, THAT'S EXACTLY WHO WANTS US DOING THESE.
AND SO MY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE HERE IS IF THE APA DOES NOT EVEN SUPPORT THEIR OWN OFFICERS WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THEY CARE ANYMORE ABOUT YOU? I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
HEY, MY NAME IS KEVIN WELCH, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT LIFELONG AUSTINITE.
UM, I DO, UH, DIGITAL CELEBRITIES ACTIVISM HERE IN THE TOWN, BUT ALSO IN MY DAY JOB.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE TECH AND STARTUP COMMUNITY.
I STAND HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH RAJ AND HIS FAMILY.
I AM SO SORRY THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
HE WAS EXECUTING HIS SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN HIS OWN HOME AND HE WAS KILLED IN A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT WAS COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM ONE BECAUSE WE NEED EVERY BRAIN IN THIS CITY ON IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE RECORD FUNDING AND WE STILL HAVE THESE OFFICERS SHORTAGES.
WE, WE NEED EVERY BRAIN IN THIS CITY ON THIS CRISIS TO CREATE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE PROCESS FOR EVERY CITIZEN SO THAT BOTH OUR CITIZENS AND OUR OFFICERS CAN BE EMPOWERED SO THAT WE ALL HAVE JUSTICE.
SO THAT HORRIBLE TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS WON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
PLEASE GET EVERY BRAIN ON THIS.
I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE MORE RAJS.
ON DECK ARE DALE BULA AND PAT HARRING.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME, HOW DO Y'ALL MY NAME'S ROY WHALEY AND I'M NORMALLY HERE SPEAKING FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION, BUT TODAY I'M HERE SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT I WILL TOUCH ON SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL.
WHEN THE SOS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, WE WERE TOLD NO BUSINESS WILL EVER MOVED TO AUSTIN EVER AGAIN.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COPS ARE GONNA RESIGN AND QUIT.
REALLY WHAT I WILL SPEAK ABOUT TODAY, THAT'S SOMETHING I RARELY TALK ABOUT, UH,
REALTORS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OVERSIGHT ON WHAT WE DO AND I'M GLAD THAT WE DO BECAUSE IT WEEDS OUT THE BAD PLAYERS, NOT JUST THE BAD AGENTS, BUT THE BAD LENDERS, THE BAD TITLE COMPANIES, ET CETERA.
AND IT MAKES THE WHOLE INDUSTRY STRONGER.
IT MAKES EVERY REALTOR LOOK BETTER.
AND WE NEED THAT JUST LIKE ATTORNEYS DO.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH OVERSIGHT.
WHAT WILL YOU TELL PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT WHEN THEY'RE BEING STABBED? CARJACKED ROBBED AND THEY CALL 9 1 1.
AND THERE ARE NO OFFICERS AVAILABLE.
EMS WON'T EVEN ENTER A CRIME SCENE WITHOUT IT BEING CLEARED BY A P D FIRST.
WHAT WILL YOU TELL RAPE VICTIMS, FAMILIES OF MURDER VICTIMS ABOUT WHY THERE ARE NO DETECTIVES WORKING ON THEIR CASES, BUT BECAUSE DETECT DETECTIVES ARE OUT ON PATROL, SINCE OUR PATROL OFFICERS HAVE LEFT TO WORK IN OTHER CITIES, MANY SPEAKERS TODAY ARE ACTING LIKE THE CHOICE IS BETWEEN A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT OR OVERSIGHT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THE NEW FOUR YEAR CONTRACT INCLUDES VERY, VERY ROBUST OVERSIGHT.
I WAS AT SOME OF THE NEGOTIATION MEETINGS AND HEARD WHAT WAS IN THE CONTRACT.
ALSO, NO ONE'S TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH A LAST MINUTE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
HISTORICALLY, THEY'VE BEEN FOUR YEAR.
THE CURRENT ONE ENDS IN MARCH AND THIS ONE HAS BEEN IN, IN NEGOTIATION FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
IT WAS AGREED TO BY A LARGE TEAM OF CITY ATTORNEYS AND THE APA CRIMINALS HOPE THAT WE LOSE ANOTHER WAVE OF OFFICERS.
I SUPPORT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
[03:10:05]
GOOD AFTERNOON.I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I KNOW YOU TAKE PEOPLE'S VOTE QUITE SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S WHY LAST YEAR SOME OF YOU KICKED THE REAL A P O A DOWN THE ROAD, UH, SO THAT, UH, FOLKS COULD VOTE ON IT IN MAY OF 2023.
SO I RESPECT THAT AND TODAY, I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO RESPECT THAT AS WELL.
CROC'S FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WOULD NULLIFY THE REAL A P O A AND THAT WOULD BE AN ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOVE JUST WEEKS BEFORE A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY THAT K CRONK HAS LEFT A ROUGH ENOUGH LEGACY FOR US? A ONE YEAR CONTRACT MAINTAINS THE STATUS QUO AND ACCOMMODATES THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUTURE.
MOST OF US WANT PASSING THE REAL A P O A.
SO BARGAINING IS STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT PAY AND BENEFITS AND WHERE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES CAN'T BE BARGAINED AWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE OFF THE TABLE.
HONOR AUSTIN VOTERS' VOICES WITH A YES ON ITEM ONE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MAGGIE STERN ON DECK THOMAS VILLAREAL AND ANDREW HARSTON.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, DETECTIVE THOMAS
UM, I HAD SOME PREPARED REMARKS TO, UH, SPEAK TO CHEETO.
THE, UM, THE, THE MESSAGES Y'ALL POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UH, IRONICALLY, I THINK YOU AND I WERE ON THE PHONE, UM, WHEN IT GOT POSTED, BUT, UM, I THINK THOSE HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO BY STAFF IN SOME OTHER DOCUMENTS.
UM, YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE WE STAND, RIGHT? REPRESENT THE 1,550 ISH COPS THAT ARE LEFT HERE.
UM, THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF FOLKS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WHAT WON'T HAPPEN.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO REITERATE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A FOUR YEAR DEAL ON THE TABLE.
I AM NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT UNTIL Y'ALL GIVE US RESOLUTION ON A FOUR YEAR DEAL.
UM, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DIRECTION OUR BOARD IS GOING TO GIVE ME IN TERMS OF WHERE TO TAKE THAT ONE YEAR DEAL.
UM, AND WE'RE NOT, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEND A YEAR OF OUR PEOPLE'S TIME, UM, TO THEN TURN AROUND AND JUST MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT THING.
SO, UM, LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY IS, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE TWO OFFICERS.
EVERY NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREW HAIRSTON.
FOLLOWING IS JEFFREY BOWEN WITH JOE MARTINEZ ON DECK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF AMERICA AUSTIN CHAPTER.
AND I STAND IN FOUR IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.
UH, I AM COMING INTO THIS THINKING ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT ITEM ONE REPRESENTS.
CERTAINLY THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO CONTINUE OUR LEGACY OF ENSHRINING, THE WILL OF THE VOTERS ON THE BALLOT, BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN AMERICA, THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVE PATROLS, THE PROTECTORS OF WHITE PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THE UNION BUSTERS THAT THEY ARE PRESENTLY IN 2023.
THIS IS ONE NOTCH IN THE LONG GAME TO DEFUND TO ULTIMATELY ABOLISH THE POLICE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM ONE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFFREY BOWEN.
ON DECK ARE JOE MARTINEZ AND DAVID JOHNSON.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JOE MARTINEZ.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
I'M A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, RETIRED, AND I COME TO YOU AS A, AS A CITIZEN, AS A TAXPAYER.
THIS BUSINESS ABOUT PROPOSITION ONE OR VOTING FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT IS AN UNHEARD OF.
NOBODY'S GONNA WORK FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT ANYWHERE.
NEITHER ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS RAN FOR A ONE YEAR TERM.
SO LET'S BE STRAIGHT WITH EVERYBODY.
NUMBER ONE, YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN TOLD THAT NUMBER ONE, THE, THE ACT OF EVEN A ONE YEAR CONTRACT IS TOTALLY, TOTALLY OUT OF BOUND AND TOTALLY ILLEGAL.
SO WHY ARE WE EVEN GOING DOWN THAT ROAD? ARE WE LOOKING FOR A, A COURT BATTLE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS? THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO POLICE OFFICERS
[03:15:01]
ON THE STREET.I LIVE IN A CITY WHERE I WAS PROUD TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.
I WAS WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HERE IN AUSTIN TODAY.
WE RECEIVED NO POLICE OFFICERS OTHER THAN GOING FROM ONE CALL TO ANOTHER.
LET'S BRING BACK BEFORE YOUR CONTRACT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFFREY BOWEN ON DECK.
DAVID JOHNSON AND JOHN SHEPHERD.
HANNAH ALEXANDER, MARISSA NUNEZ, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
MY NAME IS DAVID JOHNSON AND, UM, MY NAME IS DAVID JOHNSON AND I'M A NEW RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I HAD, UH, SOMETHING TO REFERENCE AND IT, IT HASN'T COME UP ON MY PHONE.
I WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK SPECIFICALLY AS A NEW RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I WANT TO REFERENCE SOMETHING THAT MY REP, MY, MY COUNCILPERSON SAID WHEN THE VOTE WAS HELD TO PLACE, THE ORIGINAL, THE TRUE A P O A ISSUE ON THE BALLOT, COUNCILPERSON ELLIS SAID IT WAS A TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
I HEAR MONEY BROUGHT UP AS A REASON AND, AND AS A BLACK PERSON, THAT THAT ACTIVATES ME BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY.
MONEY WAS A REASON IT TOOK FOREVER FOR SLAVERY TO BE PARTIALLY ABOLISHED.
MONEY IS ALWAYS A REASON WHY SOME CIVIL RIGHT ISN'T ENACTED.
I'VE HEARD THINGS SAY, BUT MONEY, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHEN OVER 16 MILLION WAS SPENT TO PAY FOR THE HARM DONE BY A P D.
WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN, HOW WE'RE GOING, WHAT WILL HAPPEN, APD, HOW WE'RE GONNA GET PEOPLE TO COME.
WELL, I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO COME TO PROTECT AND SERVE US ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE AFRAID OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE AFRAID OF BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE AFRAID OF BEING REQUIRED TO DO THEIR BEST.
AND AS FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THE APA SAYS THEIR FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT DOES, WHY SHOULD THOSE EVEN BE PART OF A NEGOTIATION? IF WE'RE TO TRUST YOU WITH OUR LIVES, WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING? WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE YOU DOING THE RIGHT THING? YEP.
I'M THE AUSTIN STAFF ATTORNEY AT WORKERS' DEFENSE, A NONPROFIT IMMIGRANT WORKER'S RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
I TESTIFIED BEFORE CITY COUNCIL LAST SEPTEMBER TO URGE Y'ALL TO PASS THE A P O A THAT DAY.
I TOLD YOU ABOUT A P D RATING, OUR OFFICE, AND I TOLD YOU ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE O P O, THAT DESPITE GOOD INTENTIONS, IT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY OR ANY OVERSIGHT.
IT WAS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT DAY THAT THAT COUNCIL WOULD WAIT TO VOTE, TO LET THE VOTERS TO DECIDE IN MAY, THAT THEY WERE GONNA LET THIS OVERSIGHT SYSTEM THAT WAS INEFFECTIVE EXIST FOR ONE MORE DAY.
I KNEW MANY WOULD SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF A P D, AND WE'VE HEARD HEART-WRENCHING TESTIMONY FROM MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED.
AND I AM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT, DESPITE MANY WARNINGS THAT WE'D BE IN THIS CURRENT PREDICAMENT WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE APA CONTRACT, Y'ALL REFUSED TO ACT, AND YOU SAID, LET THE VOTE VOTERS DECIDE.
SO YOU MADE A COMMITMENT THAT DAY AND YOU NEED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.
YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
JOHN SHEPHERD, MARISSA NUK, DONNY PETRIDES, PALMER CORONE.
DAVID RODRIGUEZ, KEN CHAMBERS.
UH, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN EASY DECISION TO ME.
ON, ON THE ONE HAND, YOU HAVE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKED HARD TO GET THIS PETITION, UH, ON THE BALLOT.
AND I, I THINK THAT SHOULD GO FORWARD.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS HASN'T BEEN HONEST, THAT CREATED A, A FAKE ORGANIZATION TO, TO FOOL THE VOTERS IN DEVOTING ON A WEAKENED, UH, POLICE OVERSIGHT.
[03:20:01]
DISHONEST AND THEY FEAR MONGER.AND I, I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN EASY LITMUS TEST.
IF YOU FAVOR DEMOCRACY, YOU'LL VOTE FOR PROP FOR THE ONE YEAR, ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T FAVOR DEMOCRACY, IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH FEAR MONGERING AND DISHONESTY, YOU'LL GO WITH THE FOUR YEAR.
STEVE MAYER, MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO BE A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T BE HEARD.
A VOICE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, A VOICE FOR OUR CITIZENS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DESPITE WHAT'S BEING SAID TODAY, OUR VICTIMS OF CRIME.
WHILE I'M HERE TO TALK TO ALL OF YOU, I'M HERE TO TALK.
MY FOCUS RELIES WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTEZ.
THE LAST IS MR. VELA AND MR. QUADRI, I IMPLORE EACH OF YOU TO GO VOTE AGAINST AGENDA ONE.
EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE LEADERS THAT DECIDE THE FUTURE AND FATE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS ABILITY TO SERVE VICTIMS OF CRIME.
OUR POLICE SERVE AS FIRST LINE DEFENSE, SECURITY, AND ADVOCACY OF VICTIMS OF CRIME.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS ARE UNSUSTAINABLE IN ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR CITY ITS ABILITY TO SERVE VICTIMS OF CRIME OUR POLICE SERVE.
I'M SORRY, SIR, WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I'M CLEAR.
I DID MISS THAT, THAT I'M DAVID RODRIGUEZ.
I'M A FIRST RESPONDER FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TYLER LAHAM ON DECK.
I'M A POLICE OFFICER IN AUSTIN FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS.
JUST, UH, I THINK IT'S PRETTY DISINGENUOUS, UH, FOR YOU MAYOR AND SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SAY THAT THIS WAS SPRUNG ON YOU LAST SECOND.
UH, YOUR TEAMS, YOUR NEGOTIATING TEAMS, WHICH YOU DIRECTED HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING FOR A YEAR.
AND IF YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SPRUNG ON YOU, IT'S CUZ YOU FAILED TO MONITOR WHERE THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE AND THE TIMETABLE WE HAD.
I THINK THAT YOU OWE IT TO YOUR NEGOTIATING TEAM.
OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM TO PUT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK AND HAVE A UP OR DOWN VOTE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, I THINK EACH ONE OF YOU NEEDS TO GET OUT AND TALK WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES, TALK WITH YOUR COPS, TALK WITH YOUR CITIZENS OUT OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM.
AND I'VE GOT A GREAT OFFER FOR YOU TO DO THAT.
I WORK THE NEXT FIVE NIGHTS AND MY FRONT SEAT PATROL CAR IS WIDE OPEN FOR YOU, AND I INVITE EACH ONE OF YOU TO COME RIDE WITH ME.
WE'LL GO WORK IN YOUR DISTRICT.
WE'LL GO SEE YOUR CITIZENS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THESE CRIMES AND BY THIS POLICE SHORTAGE.
YOU CAN TALK TO THE COPS THAT WORK YOUR DISTRICTS AND, AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR, YOUR CITIZENS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA VASQUEZ.
ON DECK IS MICHAEL BULLOCK, NOEL
UM, AND I AM AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER AS WELL AS I GREW UP HERE IN AUSTIN.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE NOT SCARED OF OR HIDING FROM ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, SEEK TO ROOT OUT THOSE WHO WOULD DO DISCREDIT UPON OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONORABLE PROFESSION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE ARE SCARED OF BEING PAWNS IN POLITICAL GAINS WITH FEWER, WITH 300 FEWER OFFICERS TO POLICE THE CITY, WE NOW HAVE OVER 250,000 MORE RESIDENTS TO SERVE.
CITY COUNCIL HAS CREATED A STAFFING CRISIS.
CITY COUNCIL HAS CREATED A MORALE CRISIS.
YOU HAVE DEVALUED YOUR OWN EMPLOYEES THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS AND DESPITE OFFICERS WORKING EXTRA SHIFTS AND STRUGGLING TO GET PAID FOR THAT WORK, WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO KEEP YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR CITY SAFE.
YET THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A P D OFFICERS ARE HARDWORKING.
WE HAVE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND SUCCESSFUL OVERSIGHT SYSTEM IN THE STATE AND HAVE BEEN LOOKED TO AS A NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE OVERSIGHT MODEL.
BEFORE THIS PROPO, THIS PROPOSAL EVER CAME FORWARD.
WE AGREED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT LONG-TERM CONTRACT AND WE JUST ASK YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR OFFICER.
JULIE, MITCH AND CHASE WRIGHT.
AM I YES, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
[03:25:01]
JULIE ANN MITCH, DISTRICT FIVE.I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT OUR POLICE AREN'T DOING A GOOD JOB.
I'VE HEARD THAT AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY'VE CONTINUED TO HURT PEOPLE.
THEY'VE CONTINUED TO KIND OF DO THINGS LIKE THIS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE SPEEDING, BUT THEY HAD TIME TO RUN A FRAUDULENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST OUR CITIZENS THAT WERE TRYING TO GET THINGS ON THE BALLOT TO HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT.
SO IF THEY'RE SO, SO STRAPPED FOR TIME, HOW DO THEY HAVE TIME TO DO THAT? I I WOULD, I WOULD ASK YOU, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE PUTTING, ALSO PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OUR COUNTY FORCES.
UM, SHERIFF'S, DEPUTIES, CONSTABLES THAT AREN'T, THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR GETTING THE FUNDING THEY'RE GETTING.
THEY DON'T WANNA DO THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET MORE, MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
PLEASE DO NOT REWARD THEIR TEMPER TANTRUM.
THE PEOPLE DESERVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHASE WRIGHT ON BOARD OUR BRIAN REGISTER AND MIKE GORSE.
HOW'S IT GOING? MY NAME IS CHASE WRIGHT.
UH, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUNGRY HILL FOUNDATION.
UH, I REPRESENT 131 CLIENTS, UH, ALL UNHOUSED AND HOMELESS, QUITE FRANKLY.
I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE REASON WHY I WAS COMING TO CITY COUNCIL TODAY, AND A LOT OF THEM WERE LAUGHING THEIR EARS OFF.
I COME INTO A ROOM WHERE MINE'S ALREADY MADE UP.
INDIVIDUALS ALREADY HAVE THE HATE IN THEIR HEART.
I WANNA LET YOU KNOW ME BEING BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UNFORTUNATELY, I HATE TO SAY THIS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE MAD, BUT I DO WORK WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BETTER IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THIS YEAR.
I'VE HAD TO UNDERSTAND WHY DO THEY MAKE SOME OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE BECAUSE THEY REFLECT ON MY CLIENTS.
I ALSO ASK THOSE OFFICERS, I SAY, WHAT DOES ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK LIKE? INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIED IN OUR SYSTEM, UM, AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DUE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, THE THE DEATH OF, UM, I'M SORRY.
THE VIOLENCE CHOSE BY A CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE AREN'T BAD.
WHAT I AM ASKING IS THAT ACCOUNTABILITY TO BE BROUGHT TO THE FRONT THE FOREFRONT.
I'VE ASKED A LOT OF THE LIEUTENANTS OF A P D WHO I WORK WITH CLOSELY TO CLEAN OUT SOME OF THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, UH, THAT WERE ABANDONED.
UH, AND THEY SAY THEY'RE WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE CHARGE.
I ASKED YOU GUYS ONE YEAR, THANK YOU, ONE YEAR LET'S, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN REGISTER AND MIKE GORSE.
MY NAME IS MIKE GORSE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM ONE.
I'M HEARING VALID ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT TO ME IT'S AN ISSUE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND ABOUT FINISHING WHAT WE'VE STARTED, THERE'S A PETITION ON THE BALLOT.
COUNSEL MADE THE DECISION TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET VOTERS CHOOSE WHETHER TO SUPPORT IT OR NOT.
AND WITH THE CURRENT FOUR YEAR CONTRACTS, THIS BALLOT ITEM WILL NOT HAVE ANY MEANING OR IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY IT.
IF COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD WITH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, I FEEL THAT IT WILL CREATE A SITUATION WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL FEEL THAT THERE IS MISTRUST THERE.
THEY WILL SEE COUNCIL UNDERCUTTING THE PER THE PETITION THAT'S ON THE BALLOT.
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT COUNCIL IS MAKING THE DECISION THAT SPENCER CRONK IS UNFIT TO SERVE IN HIS ROLE, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN A MISTAKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THANK YOU SPEAKER CONTRACT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN REGISTER ON DECK IS TAYLOR DINO.
UH, MY NAME IS DOROTHY DOOLITTLE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE ABACUS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM.
I ATTENDED MOST OF THE NEGOTIATION MEETINGS, UH, FOR A P D CONTRACT OVER THIS PAST YEAR.
WE DO NEED A STRONG O P O THAT HELPS OUR POLICE BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT.
WHERE THERE IS IMPARTIAL OVERSIGHT OF THE A P D PRACTICES AND POLICIES, WE WERE DISHEARTENED
[03:30:01]
BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION WHEN THEY PAID $300,000 FOR A FRAUDULENT PETITION AND ABUSE THE INTENT OF OUR DEMOCRACY.ALSO, OUR GOOD OFFICERS NEED THE ABILITY TO SUBMIT ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, UH, WOULD GREATLY RESTRICT THAT AND OFFICERS FROM DOING THAT.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
NEXT SPEAKER IS TAYLOR TREVINO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D THREE AND I'M A LOCAL ORGANIZER AND ADVOCATE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES AND CADRE FOR SUPPORTING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
SO FAR, THERE'S NO FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT THAT HAS THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY WE NEED.
MANY AUSTINITES HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF THE OVERSIGHT WE WANT TO SEE FROM A P D.
AND IF COUNCIL MEMBERS BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THEY WILL LET VOTERS DECIDE.
THIS MAY INSTEAD OF RUSHING THROUGH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WAS NEGOTIATED BY SOMEONE WHO WAS CLEARLY NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THIS CITY, FOR THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE, OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD NOT BE POINTS OF CONTENTIOUS DEBATE.
IF YOU'RE OPPOSED TO THAT, THEN WHAT ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF? MISCONDUCT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN ANY CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY BY THOSE WHO ARE ARMED AND ARE CHARGED WITH KEEPING THIS CITY AND ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS SAFE.
WE NEED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT SO WE CAN HONOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND GET OVERSIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR GIVING CONSTITUENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.
ON DECK ARE LIZ GONZALEZ AND LOCKNEY MUNIS, DANIEL PETRI AND STEVEN MCCORMICK.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
COUNSEL NEEDS TO FOCUS ON WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES, AND THAT IS MORE POLICE ON THE FORCE ALLOW A P D A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM STABILITY TO ATTRACT QUALITY CANDIDATES.
WE USED TO SEE BICYCLE PATROLS ON AUSTIN TRAILS, FOOT PATROLS ON AUSTIN STREETS, PATROL CARS AND AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE AND THANK OUR POLICE MAYOR ALSO.
LIZ GONZALEZ, LOCKNEY MUNIS, STEVEN MCCORMICK,
MY NAME IS FRANCESCA FRAGA LEAHY AND I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M A FORMER TEACHER WITH OVER 15 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION, UM, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AT LOCAL AND AND STATE LEVELS.
UM, UH, CURRENTLY A PRECINCT CHAIR FOR PRECINCT FOUR 14 IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO KEEP OUR, UM, COMMUNITY SAFE AS WELL AS OURS.
I AM IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE, UM, AS A PRECINCT CHAIR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE TIME FOR VOTERS TO MAKE THEIR WILLS HEARD IN MAY AND KNOW THAT THAT VOTE MATTERS.
UM, IT IS A STRUGGLE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR VOTERS ARE INFORMED AND ENGAGED AND THE, UH, FALSE PETITION, UH, WEAK CAN TRUST IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND THEREFORE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE VOICES YOU HEARD TODAY AND ALLOW US TIME TO UPHOLD THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS STEVEN MCCORMICK ON DECK CHASE DALTON AND PAUL SAMUEL JEFF EDWARDS.
I'M AN ATTORNEY AT EDWARDS LAW.
WE REPRESENT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY AP D'S ACTIONS.
I SPEAK BEFORE YOU DO TO EMPHASIZE ONE POINT, UH, THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT BEFORE YOU
[03:35:01]
STILL LEAVES.UH, POLICE OVERSIGHT IN THE HANDS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
OPOS, UH, POWER AND ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE WILL BE WHOLLY LIMITED BY IASS ABILITY OR IASS CONCLUSIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THE A P D I A DEPARTMENT HAS PROVEN THAT THEY ARE NOT UP TO THE TASK OF INVESTIGATING THEIR OWN.
IN FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS USES OF FORCE OVER THE PAST DECADE, IA HAS FOUND, UH, THE OFFICERS EXONERATED OR SIMPLY HAS REFUSED TO FIND A CONCLUSION, WON'T HAVE THE POWER TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THOSE INVOLVED AND WON'T HAVE THE POWER TO INVESTIGATE ANY FURTHER.
UH, RATHER LEFT ON THEIR OWN DEVICES.
IA OFTEN DEVOTES ITS RESOURCES TO FINDING.
FOLLOWING IS CHRIS HARRIS, BRANDON JAMES AND KATHY MITCHELL.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
UM, I DO AGREE THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS NEED MORE FUNDING.
I AGREE THAT THEY NEED JOB STABILITY.
I THINK THAT THEIR FUTURES NEED TO BE SECURE.
WE DON'T WANT, AS CITIZENS, WANT AS CITIZENS FOR A TIME WHERE WE REACH OUT AND THERE'S NOBODY TO COME BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO DON'T WANT YOU TO COME TO OUR HOMES AND KILL THE HOMEOWNER.
WE ALSO DON'T WANT YOU TO MURKY UP THE DETAILS AND GIVE US FALSE STORY OR A FALSE NARRATIVE TO THE COMMUNITY TO, UH, HOLD AND NOT HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
UH, MOST OFFICERS, I BELIEVE WANT TO DO A GREAT JOB IN MAKE IT HOME SAFELY.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND I THANK YOU FOR SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY.
THIS VOTE IS ABOUT THE BAD APPLES.
IT SHOULD NOT BE TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY.
YOUR ANGER SHOULD BE PLACED TOWARDS THOSE BAD APPLES WITHIN THAT ARE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE CAUSING THIS VOTE TO EVEN BE ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE NEED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF EVERYBODY WAS DOING THEIR JOB, THERE WOULD BE NO REASON FOR US TO EVEN BE HERE TODAY.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY'S NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
SO THANK YOU OFFICERS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LOOK AT YOUR PEERS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
CHRIS PARIS AND KATHY MITCHELL.
UH, I'M WITH EQUITY ACTION AS WELL AS OFFICER JUSTICE COALITION.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
A ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION IS YOUR EFFORT.
UH, I BELIEVE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE STABILITY, UH, TO ENSURE THE BENEFITS AND PAY OF THE OFFICERS CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO ENSURE HONESTLY, THAT THEY LIKELY WILL GET A RAISE OVER THAT NEXT YEAR.
UH, A ONE YEAR DEAL ALSO, UH, RESPECTS THE WILLARD OF VOTERS.
UM, IT, IT ACCOMPLISHES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD EVERYONE HERE SAY THAT THEY WANT, UH, STABILITY OF, UH, UH, MORE, MORE, UH, MORE MONEY FOR OFFICERS AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO VOTE.
UM, THIS IS THE BEST PATH FOR THAT.
THERE IS ANOTHER PATH TO PROVIDE TO PROTECT THE WILL OF VOTERS.
AND THAT'S THE PATH THAT I THINK YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO AVOID HERE TODAY.
UH, AND SO AGAIN, A ONE YEAR DEAL ITEM, ONE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE PATH OF STABILITY, OF, OF CONTINUED PAYING BENEFITS, OF PROBABLY A RAISE FOR THE OFFICERS AS WELL AS PROTECTING THE WILLARD OF VOTERS.
UH, THIS IS THE PATH THAT MEETS THE INTEREST OF EVERYBODY HERE IN THE CITY AS WELL AS IN THIS ROOM.
I'M A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, A HOMEOWNER, A GRANDMOTHER, AND AN ORGANIZER WITH EQUITY ACTION.
I AM GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SIMPLY READ, UH, FROM SOMEBODY THAT I THINK MANY OF YOU ON THE DIAS REMEMBER AND KNOW.
MARGO FRAZIER WAS OUR, UH, SHERIFF IN TRAVIS COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND AFTER BEING SHERIFF AND MANAGING A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, SHE THEN WAS OUR POLICE MONITOR FOR A, AN ADDITIONAL, MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND SHE WAS, WAS VERY OUTSPOKEN.
AND I WANNA READ WHAT SHE HAS SAID MOST RECENTLY.
ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THIS CONTRACT, AND SHE'S SPEAKING ABOUT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT HAS COME TO YOU EXPAND CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS DELUSIONAL.
NOT SURE WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BE THE O P O, THE DIRECTOR OF THE OPO UNDER THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT IN ANOTHER PLACE.
[03:40:02]
MAYOR, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WE CALLED.
AND I THANK EVERYBODY, UH, THAT'S BEEN HERE AND SPOKEN TO US TODAY.
UM, REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER POSITION YOU TOOK, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE AND WE APPRECIATE, UH, THAT YOU, YOU PARTICIPATE WITH, WITH A PASSION.
AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN, UH, MEMBERS.
YOU'LL CALL THAT AT THE LAST MEETING.
UH, THE ITEM THAT'S IN FRONT OF US WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THIS MEETING.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, AND THAT MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE WAS THE ORIGINAL MAIN MOTION AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH IN TERMS OF RECONSIDERING THERE, WE WERE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MAIN MOTION, WHICH HAD BEEN MADE BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
THE WAY I WOULD OPERATE IS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NOW A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
IN OTHER WORDS, UH, A A MOTION THAT ADDRESSES THIS, THE SAME THING THAT THE ORIGINAL MAIN MOTION ADDRESSED, BUT IT IS DIFFERENT AND TAKES OUT QUITE A BIT.
AND, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING IN FRONT OF US.
SO THE WAY I'LL PROCEED IS I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO MOVE THE ADOPTION OF A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THE WAY THAT WILL THEN WORK IS, UH, I WILL CALL FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION, NOT THE SUBSTITUTE, BUT THE MAIN MOTION.
I CAN'T ANTICIPATE, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE AMENDMENTS TO THAT, BUT I, I'M GONNA TRY TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND THEN I WILL ASK IF THERE, AND ONCE WE HAVE PERFECTED THE MAIN MOTION AS IT EXISTS, I WILL THEN ASK FOR ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THOSE AMENDMENTS, IF THERE ARE ANY, IF THO ANY OF THOSE PASS.
WE WILL THEN HAVE PER, WE WILL HAVE PERFECTED THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I WILL THEN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MAKE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THE MAIN MOTION.
AND IF THAT PASSES, WE WILL THEN TAKE A VOTE ON THE NEW MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
WITH THAT, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
I, I APPRECIATE ALL OF, UH, THE COMMENTS AND THE PASSION FROM, FROM EVERYONE.
OBVIOUSLY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE, UH, UH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT THE CITY FACES.
AND WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE, UH, A HIGH LEVEL OF, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY QUOTE WITH A, A QUALITY, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, OFFER MY, UH, SUBSTITUTE A MOTION.
IT ESSENTIALLY IT, THE MAIN MOTION, IT'S SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL ITEM, UH, BUT INCORPORATES SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED IN A MAYBE A MORE SUCCINCT AND, UH, A FOCUSED WAY.
IT IS TITLED, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, VELA SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION DATED, UH, 2 15 23.
UH, AND IT WAS EMAILED OUT BY THE CLERK, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST A BIT AGO.
AND, UH, I WOULD, UH, UH, OFFER THAT FOR THE DIOCESE CONSIDERATION.
IS THERE A SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER VALLAS MOTION IS SECOND ABOUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MEMBERS.
LET ME ASK IF THERE ARE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION, THE ONE THAT WAS CONSIDERED LAST WEEK.
ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION? THEN I'LL DECLARE THE MAIN MOTION AS A PERFECTED MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBSTITUTE? MOTION OFFERED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AVELA AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OF FUENTES.
ANY AMENDMENTS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER? I DON'T HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, WHEN WE WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY ONCE THIS IS PERFECTED AND ONCE IT BECOMES THE MAIN MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY VELA? SEEING NONE.
I'LL DECLARE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS THE MAIN MOTION.
THE MOTION THAT I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN IS SHALL THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BECOME THE MAIN MOTION? THAT MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BECOMING THE MAIN MOTION HEARING? I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ABSTAIN ON THAT.
IS THERE ANY AB YES, I OBJECT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION
[03:45:01]
BECOMING THE MAIN MOTION? HEARING NONE, UH, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION HAS BE, BECOME, BECOMES THE MAIN MOTION WITH TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, BEING SHOWN AS ABSTAINING.COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M OBJECTING.
UH, SO THERE, THERE THE MAIN MOTION HAS NOW BECOME THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY VOTING NO.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER ABSTAINING.
WE NOW HAVE, UH, BEFORE US OUR NEW MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD TODAY.
AND THIS I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
AND I'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER.
I'M GONNA START WITH MY QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL HEAR OTHER QUESTIONS.
FAIR AND COMMENTS BEFORE I MAKE COMMENTS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM OR LEGAL, I'M NOT SURE WHO IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO ANSWER TO, TO COME FORWARD.
MAYOR REBECCA HAYWARD HERE, OUTSIDE COUNCIL FROM ENT, NAVARRO, ROCHA, BERNAL AND ZK.
AND SO, UM, I'M REPRESENTING L R O TODAY AND MS. SARAH GRIFFIN.
UH, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO US EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN LEGALLY IF THE EQUITY ACTION PETITION IS PASSED PASSES IN MAY.
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS ACTIONS THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IF THE PETITION IS APPROVED.
AND I THINK MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION ALSO FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS A 1 43 CITY, RIGHT? 1 43 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS GOVERNED UNDER RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO CHANGE THE STATE LAW.
ONE BEING A VOTER INITIATIVE TO REPEAL 1 43 OUTRIGHT.
THE OTHER WAY BEING TO CHANGE THE STATE LAW ON THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE OTHER BEING THROUGH A MEET AND CONFER CONTRACT, RIGHT? SO THE EQUITY ACTION PETITION, IF ADOPTED, HAS PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND STATE LAW, WHICH IS NOT ONE OF THOSE THREE MECHANISMS. SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, UM, IS, IS NEGOTIATE AROUND 1 43.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMENT AND FEEDBACK TODAY ABOUT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND OVERSIGHT.
UH, WHAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE IN, IN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT DOES INCLUDE OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS THAT BRING IT FURTHER THAN WE ARE TODAY FROM THE CURRENT CONTRACT.
SO I GUESS IN A LONG WAY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COUNSEL MEMBER, UM, THE LEGAL EFFECT OF THE EQUITY ACTION PETITION, WHETHER IT'S IN, IN EFFECT, IF THERE IS NO CONTRACT, MANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS AND THE WILL OF THE VOTER VOTERS, QUITE FRANKLY, WILL NOT COME TO PASS.
UM, BUT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS A MECHANISM TO GET MANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS IN THAT EQUITY ACTION PETITION TO COME TO FRUITION, UH, IN REGARDS TO OVERSIGHT.
AND LEGALLY, HOW WILL THE PASSAGE OF THE PETITION SPECIFICALLY IMPACT THE PROVISIONS THAT MUST BE CONTAINED WITHIN A CONTRACT THAT IS RATIFIED BY APA MEMBERSHIP? UM, AGAIN, I THINK THAT, UH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS, IS REALLY THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THOSE PROVISIONS IN THE EQUITY ACTION OR THE, THE GOALS AND THE INTEREST OF THE EQUITY ACTION PETITION IS IN WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE CONTRACT.
AND SO, UM, AND JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TOO, UH, FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING SINCE MARCH OF, OF 2022.
AND OUR PROPOSAL HAS BEEN, OUR CITY'S BUILDING DIRECTION FROM CITY LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN IN LINE WITH THE GOALS OF THE EQUITY ACTION PETITION.
AND SO, UH, BUT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO LEGALLY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I GUESS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, THE, THE, THE OPTIONS BEFORE US WITH EITHER THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION AND THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION, ASSUMING STATUS QUO WOULD KEEP THE STATUS QUO OF THE CURRENT LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE ARBITRATION AWARD, THAT HAS ESSENTIALLY KIND OF CUT THE LEGS OUT FROM UNDER US IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE IN PLACE FOR A YEAR, NOT THE PROVISIONS OF THE EQUITY ACTION PETITION.
UM, IF WE ADOPT THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, THEN THOSE NEW NEGOTIATED TERMS ABOUT REGARDING OVERSIGHT WOULD BE IN PLACE.
AND THOSE PROBABLY OUR OPINION, OUR, OUR OUR OUR, UH, UH, OPINION REALLY IS THAT THOSE EQUITY ACTION GOALS ARE AS CLOSELY CONTAINED IN THIS FOY YEAR CONTRACT.
NOW, UM, YOU SPOKE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE, THE CONTRACT AND THE PETITION TODAY.
UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE CONTRACT PROVISIONS WORK WITH THE PROPOSED OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT ORDINANCE AND THE POLICE CHIEF'S RULES TO PROVIDE, UM, THE OVERSIGHT,
[03:50:02]
UM, PROPOSAL? YES.AND, UM, THE WAY WE'VE BEEN FRAMING THIS, UH, OUR SOLUTION, AND I, AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN ALSO SOME CONFUSION IN THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE YOU'LL LOOK AT THE FOUR YEAR PROPOSED CONTRACT AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF STRIKETHROUGHS, YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME, UH, THINGS THAT, UH, THAT MENTION OPO THAT ARE STRUCK THROUGH, AND THAT IS STRATEGIC AND DELIBERATE BECAUSE OUR THREE, OUR, OUR, OUR KIND OF THREE LEGGED STOOL, OUR, OUR SOLUTION IS, IS A, IS A TRIANGLE, ESSENTIALLY THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY BEING ON TOP, THE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT, UH, THAT WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE AROUND STATE LAW, AND THEN THE ORDINANCE THAT NEIL HAS DRAFTED AND, AND HAS BEEN BEFORE YOU AS WELL, THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN IN FURTHER DETAIL.
THOSE THREE THINGS WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE, IN OUR OPINION, THE BEST OVERSIGHT MODEL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S ON, THAT'S THAT WE'VE NEGOTIATED, UM, AND MEETS THE, ESSENTIALLY THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
BUT I'LL LET NEIL KIND OF TOUCH ON THE, THE ORDINANCE REAL QUICKLY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MARON COUNSEL.
I'M AN ATTORNEY IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT HERE AND HAVE BEEN, UH, A MEMBER OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAM FOR THE PAST YEAR.
SO, UM, BACK IN 2021, LATE 2021, THE CITY RECEIVED AN ARBITRATION AWARD THAT WAS, UH, ADVERSE TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR, OUR OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT WAS DOING.
UH, AT THAT TIME, COUNCIL DIRECTION WAS TO, UH, AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT TO TAKE THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT OUT OF THE CONTRACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO WHEN BECKY SAYS, THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LOT OF STRIKETHROUGHS IN THE CONTRACT TAKING O P O LANGUAGE OUT OF THE CONTRACT, THAT'S WHY THAT'S THERE.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IS TAKEN A LOT OF THOSE PROVISIONS AND PUT THEM INTO AN ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU.
UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT ORDINANCE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN, UH, PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
UM, AND SO I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT ORDINANCE, BUT A LOT OF THOSE PROVISIONS THAT WERE IN THE, THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT THAT RELATE TO O P O ARE NOW IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT O P O CAN TAKE ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS, AND THERE WILL BE NO DUTY ON O P O TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY OF THOSE COMPLAINANTS.
UM, IT AUTHORIZES O P O TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE CITY MANAGER RELATED TO OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES.
IT ALLOWS THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO ACT AS AN INVESTIGATOR, WHICH MEANS THEY GET TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION ASKING QUESTIONS OF OFFICERS.
SO ALL THAT IS IN THE ORDINANCE.
I'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS LATER.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? LET ME SAY ONE THING BEFORE WE, WE GO TO THAT, UM, SARAH GRIFFIN, WHO WE ALL KNOW AND MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM KNOW BECAUSE OF THE ROLE SHE'S PLAYED IN NEGOTIATING.
THIS IS NOT WITH US TODAY, BUT NOT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF INTEREST.
UH, IT'S BECAUSE SHE ALSO GOT BIT BY THE COVID BUG.
AND SO SHE'S, UH, FIGHTING BACK AGAINST COVID RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S NOT HERE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY THAT, UM, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE MM-HMM.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES ON THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS NOW JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT'S BEEN LAID OUT HERE TODAY.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION? YES.
FOR ME, THIS DECISION BEFORE US IS A SIMPLE ONE.
IT'S ABOUT EXTENDING OUR POLICE CONTRACT.
IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OUR POLICE OFFICERS UNDER CONTRACT, KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PRESERVE THE BENEFITS TO AND TO HAVE INCREASED INCENTIVES BOTH TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICERS.
AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING THE CHOICE OF AUSTIN VOTERS.
I WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF CIRCUMVENTING THE BALLOT MEASURE PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN SHOULD EXPECT SAFETY AND HAVE SAFETY IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD.
THE RESOLUTION WE HAVE BEFORE US HONORS BOTH OUR DUTY TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND TO AUSTIN VOTERS.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I DO, I WILL SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER OF ELLA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.
UM, THROWING ASIDE THE ALREADY AGREED TO FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT IS DISINGENUOUS TO THE NATURE INTENT
[03:55:01]
AND COMPLETED WORK OF A FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT.THE CITY COUNCIL'S AN ELECTED BODY BY THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, AND OUR JOB IS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
DELAYING THIS ALREADY AGREED TO UPON FOUR YEAR CONTRACT WILL PLACE ADDITIONAL DOUBT IN OUR ABILITY TO GOVERN WITH THE COMMUNITY.
FURTHER DELAYING WILL CREATE UNNECESSARY UNCERTAINTY, WHICH CAN AND ALREADY HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE MORALE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AND ULTIMATELY PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPOSED SHORT-TERM EXTENSION COULD LEAD TO MORE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, DELAYING PAST THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CURRENTLY IN PLACE CONTRACT AND INITIATING THE RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS OF MANY OFFICERS.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
THE PROPOSED TEMPORARY EXTENSION CAN CAUSE CONFUSION AND CREATE THE PERCEPTION.
THE CITY IS NOT COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ITS OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF ITS RESIDENTS.
IT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE MORALE OF THE POLICE FORCE.
THE CITY'S TEAM AND APA HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS SINCE MARCH OF 2022.
THE CITY'S FIRST POLICE OVERSIGHT PROPOSAL WAS PUBLICLY PRESENTED IN MARCH OF 2022.
TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN 22 COMMUNITY MEETING NEGOTIATIONS THAT WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC STARTING IN MARCH OF 2022.
AND ULTIMATELY, THE COMMUNITY GETS THE MOST OUT OF THIS FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT.
UM, NEGOTIATING A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX PROCESS THAT REQUIRES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE INTEREST OF THE CITY AND THE POLICE UNION, WHICH THE CITY AND APA HAVE DONE FOR OVER A YEAR.
DELAYING THAT NEGOTIATION WILL PROLONG THE PROCESS AND NOT LEAD TO A BETTER OUTCOME.
THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AFTER MY REVIEW HAS THE MOST THOUGHT OUT, ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE OVERSIGHT OF THIS, UM, IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY AND EVEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND IF THE STATE WERE TO GET INVOLVED, THERE WOULD BE ZERO CITY OF AUSTIN OVERSIGHT ABILITY BASED ON INSIGHTS FROM BOTH APA AND CITY STAFF.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT IS NOT ONLY THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S MOST IN LINE WITH KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE AND OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
DURING ALL THE MEETINGS THAT I REVIEWED, OVERSIGHT WAS FRONT AND CENTER IN EVERY COMPONENT OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
AND ALTHOUGH SOME MAY READ THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT AND ASK WHY SOME OF THOSE OVERSIGHT COMPONENTS WERE REDLINED, THIS IS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE JUST HEARD, THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS DRAFTED AND CIRCULATED TWO DAYS AGO AND WILL GO HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE CONTRACT AND MANDATE ENGRAVING THE OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS HAVE AGREED TO.
ONE OTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE, IF APD MORALE FALTERS TO THE POINT WHERE VACANCY LEVELS RISE TO 25%, A P D WILL BE FORCED TO SEEK OUTSIDE HELP FROM THE COUNTY AND THE STATE, WHICH WILL COST TAX TAXPAYERS A LOT MORE MONEY.
AND THEN ALSO I WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2022, THE CITY HAS EXPENDED $530,000 FOR CONTRACTED SERVICES AND STUDIES RELATED TO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ALL THREE ASSOCIATIONS.
THESE COSTS ARE IN ADDITION TO STAFF TIME FOR BOTH CITY MANAGEMENT AND THE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP.
AND AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND SCRAPPING OUR ALREADY AGREED TO PLAN, WE'D BE THROWING THAT MONEY AWAY.
SO LET ME END HERE BY SAYING SOMETHING VERY CLEAR.
WE'RE NOT APPROVING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
WE WOULD BE APPROVING THE DIRECTION TO RESTART NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXHAUSTIVELY DOING FOUR YEAR OVER AGAIN.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE CITY WOULD NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT BY THE TIME THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS FROM OFFICERS, AND CREATE UNNEEDED INSTABILITY WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PLACING RESIDENTS AT UNNECESSARY RISK RIGHT BEFORE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST F1, ACL, SOCCER GAMES, FOOTBALL GAMES, AND COUNTLESS OTHER LARGE SCALE EVENTS WHERE THE PROTECTION OF THE ATTENDEES IS THE MOST VITAL COMPONENT FOR SPECTATOR TO ENJOY THEIR TIME HERE.
THE CLEAR AND HONEST QUESTION BEFORE US TODAY IS WHY WOULD WE GIVE THOSE THAT ELECTED US, OUR CONSTITUENTS, SOMETHING RUSHED AND LESS SERVING THAN THE ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT AVAILABLE TO US? THE FACT IS, IT'S OUR DUTY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER AND VOTE FOR THE BEST OPTION AVAILABLE BEFORE US NOT SETTLE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MOST ASSUREDLY TO PLACE OUR CONSTITUENTS IN UNNEEDED ADDITIONAL HARM.
SO IT'S MY STANCE THAT, UM, THIS FOUR YEAR AGREEMENT IS WHAT THE POLICE UNION AGREED TO THE CITY NEGOTIATED WITH, AND THAT THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN DESERVE.
IF WE DELAY BY STARTING OVER NEGOTIATIONS, WE WILL CAUSE FURTHER FRACTURING OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY, WHICH IS UNNECESSARY, AND THE PEOPLE AT MOST RISK WILL BE THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM ONE INDEFINITELY TODAY.
MEMBERS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS MOVED TO POSTPONE ITEM ONE.
[04:00:01]
IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.DO YOU WANT TO BE REC? HAVE YOU FINISHED? YES, SIR, I AM DONE.
YEAH, I, I'LL, I'LL MAKE MY MY POINTS REALLY QUICK.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC, WITH THOSE OF US ON THE DIAS, THIS IS A ONE YEAR EXTENSION, UH, TO GET AND EVENTUALLY PURSUES SOMETHING LONGER AFTER A VOTE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN MAY, UH, THAT WILL GIVE THE FOLKS OF THIS CITY, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR, YOU KNOW, VIEWS HEARD.
UM, THIS, THIS ONE YEAR EXTENSION IS, IS NO DIFFERENT, UH, THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH EMS. UH, AND, AND MUCH LIKE EMS WORKERS WHO GIVE SO MUCH TO THIS CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO RIGHT, UH, BY, BY, BY EMS, FIRE POLICE, AND MAKING SURE ALL THESE, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND, AND WE'RE DOING RIGHT.
UH, I THINK IT'S, I I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN TO BE A LEADER, UH, ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M TIRED OF THE HEADLINES THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE, WE'VE BECOME A LEADER ON, OR ARE THESE, UH, MASSIVE SETTLEMENTS THAT WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AS A CITY, UH, BETWEEN THE CITY AND, AND OUR POLICE FORCES.
SO I, I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AS, AS IT AS IT CONTINUES TODAY.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THIS IS GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTERS TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
IT'S NO MORE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH, WITH THE EMS IN THE PAST.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ALISON AL ALTER? WOULD YOU NOW LIKE TO SPEAK OR I CAN GO AFTER MR. VELA.
I WAS GONNA ALLOW THE MAKER THE MOTION TO HAVE THE LAST WORD, BUT UNLESS OKAY.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US FOR SO MANY HOURS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, DECISION AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING ALL OF YOUR VOICES AND ALL OF YOUR, UM, FEEDBACK.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT TIME.
I HAVE LONG BELIEVED THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT OVER POLICE MISCONDUCT ARE CRITICAL TO CREATING TRUST BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
I AM ONE OF THE FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAS BEEN PART OF A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION BEFORE I LED THE QUORUM IN 2017 THAT WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH REFORMERS AND ADVOCATES TO CHAMPION ENHANCED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IN OUR POLICE CONTRACT.
OUR WORK CREATED THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, ALLOWED FOR ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS AND INTENDED TO ALLOW THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO CONDUCT INVE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS.
MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY, FIVE YEARS LATER, I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT.
EVERYONE ON THIS DIAS SHARES THE SAME GOAL.
REASONABLE PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE ON WHICH PATH WE WANT TO PURSUE BASED ON THE LEGAL RISK AND LEGAL REALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED TO US AS A BODY BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY.
THE OVERSIGHT PROCESS, UM, MYSELF AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL PAINSTAKINGLY BUILT IN 2017 AND 2018 HAS BEEN DISMANTLED DUE TO THE RESULTS OF THE ARBITRATION PROCESS.
AS WE DISCUSS A CONTRACT THAT DELIVERS ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE TERMS ARE ONLY REAL IF IT IS RATIFIED BY THE APA.
AS PER AN EARLIER CITIZEN INITIATIVE ADOPTING 1 43 IC THREE OPTIONS BEFORE US OPTION ONE, NO CONTRACT, NO CONTRACT DOES NOT ADVANCE ANY MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT PROCESSES, AND IT WILL EXACERBATE OUR EXISTING VACANCIES.
OPTION TWO, A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
THE PROPOSED FOUR YEAR CONTRACT DOES NOT ACHIEVE A PERFECT OVERSIGHT PROCESS.
HOWEVER, TOGETHER WITH THE PROPOSED OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT ORDINANCE AND POLICIES GETS US CLOSER TO MORE OVERSIGHT IN A WAY THAT IS LEGAL.
I AGREE WITH THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE REVERTER CLAUSE, UM, IN VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.
HAD WE MOVED FORWARD WITH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE 23RD, I WOULD'VE PUT FORTH DIRECTION TODAY THAT THE REVERTER CLAUSE BE MODIFIED TO PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION TO THE CITY AND TO OVERSIGHT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN ORDER AND NECESSARY.
THEN WE HAVE OPTION THREE, A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
THE ITEM BEFORE US WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY ACHIEVE MORE OVERSIGHT THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.
IT IS PURELY AN EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT TERMS WITH NO MORE OVERSIGHT AND WITH NO MORE MONEY, WITH MORE MONEY ADDED TO IT.
AS WE KNOW, DUE TO STATE LAW, WE CANNOT REDUCE THE BUDGET OF A P D ONCE WE'VE ADDED FUNDING TO IT.
EVEN IF THE FUNDING WE ARE ADDING IS IN A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE AND CONTAIN CASCADING FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR A FUTURE MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT.
WHAT IS UNCLEAR TO ME IS WHETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE MORE OVERSIGHT A YEAR FROM NOW THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE TABLE UNDER A FOUR YEAR DEAL.
[04:05:01]
LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS ARGUED THAT THE PASSAGE OF A PETITION WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY RESULT IN STRENGTH AND OVERSIGHT BECAUSE MANY OF THE OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO BE RATIFIED BY APA IN A CONTRACT.SO NEGOTIATING FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT DOES NOT GUARANTEE US STRENGTH IN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT DOES GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL END UP SPENDING MORE MONEY ON A P D FOSTERING TRUST AND PREVENTING MISCONDUCT IS NOT JUST A FUNCTION OF OUR POLICE CONTRACT.
THERE ARE CRITICAL POLICY CHANGES AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS WE CAN PURSUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE BETTER TRAINED IN DEESCALATION IN BOTH THE ACADEMY AND IN THEIR REGULAR LINE OF WORK.
THAT WAY WE CAN AVOID INSTANCES OF POLICE MISCONDUCT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR OF THE PROGRESS MADE ON THE INTEGRATING COMMUNICATIONS ASSESSMENT AND TACTICS, ICAT TRAINING, AND THE ACTIVE BYSTANDER SHIP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ABLE, I DO HOPE, AND I WOULD IMPLORE THE CHIEF TO ROLL THESE OUT FOR OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND I WILL BE PUSHING FOR THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE ANALYZE ADDITIONAL STAFFING NEEDS, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THAT NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP THE ACADEMY IMPLEMENT THE CROW RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH CHANGE THE TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY.
I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THINKING ABOUT THIS VOTE, AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE WRESTLED WITH MY CONSCIENCE AND MY, IN MY CONSCIENCE AND MY INSTINCTS TELLING ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS.
I HAVE SEEN THIS ROOM FULL BEFORE ASKING US TO DO A PARTICULAR THING OR TAKE A PARTICULAR ACTION, AND I'VE SEEN THE COUNCIL MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT WITH THE DETAILS NOT ALWAYS FULLY THRO THROUGH.
AND THOSE CHOICES HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN PRUDENT, AND WE'VE HAD TO PAY THE COSTS FOR THOSE DECISIONS, WHETHER BY THE VOTERS REJECTING THE CHOICES WE HAVE MADE ARE LOSING THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S TRUST.
I CAN REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY WHEN CHIEF MANLEY WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
TO BE HONEST, I HAD MY RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT DECISION THEN, AND I CAN REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
I STILL REGRET THAT I DIDN'T TRUST MY INSTINCTS IN THE FACE OF WHAT SEEMED LIKE A UNIVERSALLY HELD SENTIMENT, AND I AM NOT GOING TO REPEAT THAT REGRET.
MY PRIORITIES IN THIS CONTRACT PROCESS ARE CODIFYING A LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM AND ADDRESSING THE DEPARTMENT'S SIGNIFICANT VACANCIES FROM THE EVIDENCE I SEE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT DOES NOT ACHIEVE MY PRIORITIES.
I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM TODAY, THOUGH I WILL LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE TERMS OF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT IF IT COMES BACK TO US ON THE 23RD OR ANOTHER DATE NEARBY, SHOULD THAT AGREEMENT ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM ELLIS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS JOINED US AND IS IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
UM, I KNOW THAT SOME OF Y'ALL HAVE VERY DIFFERING VIEWS OF WHAT, UM, OVERSIGHT AND POLICING MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S NO SECRET I'VE GRAPPLED WITH THE VOTE BEFORE US TODAY.
I'M PROBABLY THE ONE THAT HELD OUT AND WANTED PEOPLE TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM ALL SIDES AND TO REALLY WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS.
SO I SEE, I DO SEE POTENTIAL RISKS AND BENEFITS TO ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE ARE PRESENTED WITH TODAY.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT AND REACHING OUT TO ME AND MY TEAM THROUGHOUT THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WHEN THE ORIGINAL A P O A PETITION CAME TO US LAST YEAR, I SUPPORTED ADOPTING IT OUTRIGHT AND I WAS ALSO PROUD TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE PUBLIC PETITION PROCESS, A WORD THAT I'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY IS TRUST.
SOME FOLKS CALLING FOR GREATER TRUST IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OTHERS CALLING FOR GREATER TRUST IN THE RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC TO PETITION AND TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AT THE BALLOT BOX.
I ALSO KNOW THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD PUBLIC TRUST, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITY POLICING, THAT HAS TO GO BOTH WAYS.
AND IT'S CLEAR WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO AS A COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE THAT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THAT VOTERS ARE SET TO DECIDE IN MAY ON WHAT KIND OF OVERSIGHT THEY WOULD SELECT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE MUST ALLOW THE WILL OF THE VOTERS TO BE HEARD.
THIS IS WHY TODAY I WILL BE VOTING FOR THE RESOLUTION AS IT'S BEEN AMENDED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKS, AND I WILL VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.
YES, THAT INDICATES I'M GOING TO GO TO THE MICRO OF THE MOTION TO CLOSE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU HEAD TO, UH, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR VERY CLOSE READING OF THE CONTRACT AND THE DOCUMENTS AND YOUR STAFF'S WORK ON THIS.
THIS IS VERY COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT STUFF.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTERACTION BETWEEN DIFFERENT SETS OF LAWS, BUT I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THE DILIGENCE THAT, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL HAS SHOWN THAT, THAT, UH, OUR STAFF HAS SHOWN IN, UH, IN, IN WORKING ON THIS
[04:10:01]
ISSUE.UM, UH, UH, THOMAS, UH, UH, VIAL MENTIONED THAT WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER NIGHT AND WE HAD A A, A GOOD CONVERSATION.
WE SPOKE VERY, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY AND RESPECTFULLY TO EACH OTHER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO, TO WORK WITH HIM.
AND THE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
HE MADE A COMMENT WHICH REALLY, UH, STAYED WITH ME, WHICH WAS THAT THE A P O A IF PASSED WOULD GO MUCH FARTHER THAN ANY TYPE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IN TEXAS, AND WOULD ARGUABLY BE ONE OF THE, IF NOT THE TOUGHEST, UH, OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IN THE NATION.
UH, I I THINK HE'S, HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I THINK WE HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH THE VOTERS BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE.
LET THEM THINK ABOUT IT, LET THEM VOTE.
AND IF THE CO IF THE, THE, THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN GIVE US A DIRECTION AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DO WANT TO LEAD THE NATION IN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT, THEN SO BE IT.
WE HAVE OUR MARCHING ORDERS AND, AND, AND WE'RE, WE'LL GO OUT AND, AND GET IT DONE.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE SOME, SOME TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS.
AND I KNOW THE OTHER THING THAT I KNOW AND THAT I I I, I DO NOT THINK WE CAN IGNORE IN THAT I THINK THE VOTERS ALSO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WHEN YOU DEMAND THAT, UH, LEVEL OF, UH, UH, UH, OF, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONALISM, WHEN YOU MAKE SUCH TOUGH DEMANDS ON YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOU ALSO HAVE TO PAY 'EM APPROPRIATELY.
UH, AND SO THEY GO HAND IN HAND WHERE IF WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR THIS EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL OF, UH, PROFESSIONALISM FROM OUR POLICE OFFICERS, JUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO REWARD THEM FOR, FOR THAT LEVEL OF EFFORT.
UH, I WANNA CHECK IN WITH THE VOTERS.
I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE, TO THE MAY ELECTION AND TO SEE WHERE THE VOTERS ARE.
AND THEN ONCE THEY HAVE THEIR SAY, THEN WE WILL TAKE IT UP AGAIN AND WE WILL GET IT DONE.
UM, AND, AND WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST, UH, READY TO GO, MAYOR.
THE VOTE WILL BE ON THE MAIN MOTION AS SUBSTITUTED TODAY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, UH, IF I, I CAN MAKE SURE THAT I, I KNOW WHAT YOUR VOTE IS.
THE, THE VOTE IS ON THE MAIN MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I OR RAISING YOUR HAND.
OPPOSED THE VOTE PASSES ON A VOTE OF NINE TO TWO WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ALISON AL ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY BEING SHOWN VOTING, NO MEMBERS, THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE US TODAY.
THIS HAS BEEN, AS I INDICATED IN MY COMMENTS, WAS WE STARTED THIS.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND SOLEMN DAY, UH, IN WHAT WE'VE TAKEN UP TODAY.
AND TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO, WHICH INVOLVES THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU HAVE COME.
AND JUST BEFORE I ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADJOURN, I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UH, I'D BE LYING IF I WASN'T HORRIFICALLY EMBARRASSED RIGHT NOW.
BUT I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE KINDNESS FROM EVERYONE THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.
UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ADJOURNING? HEARING NONE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU ALL.