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[Proclamation – Hispanic Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Members Vanessa Fuentes, José Velásquez, and José “Chito” Vela and to be accepted by Paul Saldaña on behalf of HALBA and the Austin Latino Coalition]
AM COUNCILMAN JOSE VELAZQUEZ, AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF READING A PROCLAMATION FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.UM, OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, UH, VANESSA FUENTES IS OUT ILL TODAY.
SO WE ARE SENDING HER ALL OF OUR GOOD GRACES AND LOVE FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE THIS, I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND SO MANY AMAZING LATINO COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT LATINOS MAKE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE'VE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE CITY'S FOOD, ART, CULTURE, HISTORY, AND SO MUCH MORE.
WE'RE ALSO HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARDSHIPS AND BARRIERS EXPERIENCED AND THAT HAVE BEEN OVERCOME BY OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHILE THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF WORK TO DO TO CLOSE THE GAPS IN INEQUITY, I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO BE HERE ALONGSIDE THIS AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE AND PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION.
I WANT TO THANK MY BIG BROTHER, DEAR FRIEND, MENTOR PAUL SALDANA FOR REACHING OUT TO US AND HELPING US GET THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE AUSTIN LATINO COALITION WHO I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF, AND ABLA WHO I USED TO SERVE ON, UH, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DO IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS TO SAY THAT I WOULDN'T BE BE HERE AT CITY HALL IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE SHOULDERS THAT I STAND ON BEHIND ME, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH KNOWN AS METE IS CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH EACH YEAR.
AND WHEREAS LATINOS REPRESENT 33% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION AND CONTINUE TO PLAY A, A SIGNIFICANT ROLE ON THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING HISPANIC LATINO, LATINX CULTURE AND HERITAGE AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY AND ITS STRONG, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY IN RECOGNITION OF THE CRITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ITS CELEBRATION OF THE HISPANIC HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF
AND NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, 2023 AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE ALL OF, NOT JUST OUR LATINO COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALL 11 PEOPLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE, UH, OF OUR LATINO COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST CENSUS IN AUSTIN TOOK PLACE IN 1875, AND THE VERY FIRST TWO NAMES ON THAT CENSUS WERE JOSE AND LIZZIE LOPEZ.
THEY, ALONG WITH OTHER, WITH ANOTHER 295 MEXICAN AMERICANS, LIVED IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
JUST A BLOCK FROM HERE, UH, WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS SEA HOME POWER PLANT SITE.
OUR ANCESTORS WERE VERY COURAGEOUS PEOPLE THAT EXEMPLIFIED STRENGTH, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, GRACE, AND STRONGLY INFLUENCED THE BIRTH OF AUSTIN.
AND SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING OUR WAY.
THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN LATINO ON THE BALLOT FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WAS A BRAVE MANO NAMED PATRICIA JAY MENDEZ.
HIS NAME APPEARED ON THE BALLOT FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 2ND, 1951.
ON MAY 3RD, 1975, JOHN TINO BECAME THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN LATINO ELECTED TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER, 2021, MY GOOD FRIEND AND MENTOR GUS GARCIA BECAME THE FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN LATINO ELECTED AS MAYOR OF AUSTIN, 161 YEARS AFTER THE VERY FIRST ELECTION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND THEN OUR GOOD FRIEND DELIA GARZA IN 2014 BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN LATINA ELECTED TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, 174 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL ELECTION OF 1840.
AND AS WE KNOW, LATINOS IN THE US ARE NEARLY 63 MILLION STRONG.
AND IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY WORTH 460,000 STRONG ONE IN THREE AUSTINITES ARE LATINO.
ONE IN TWO CHILDREN IN AUSTIN ARE LATINO.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW EARLIER THIS YEAR, LATINOS NOW BECAME THE LARGEST SINGLE DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE STATE OF TEXAS REPRESENTING 44% OF AL TEJANOS.
THE STORIES OF OUR LATINO HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE AND HOW WE'VE INFLUENCED THIS COUNTRY IN AUSTIN IS SO INSPIRING.
LATINOS COME IN MANY SHADES AND IN MINI URAS WE HAVE AT LEAST 25 LATINO SUBCULTURES IN AUSTIN.
AND OUR DIVERSITY SIMPLY ADDS TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR CULTURE.
THE NUMBER OF HISPANIC WORKERS
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IN THE LABOR FORCE HAS GROWN FROM 10.7 MILLION IN 1990 TO NEARLY 30 MILLION IN 2020.AND BY THE YEAR 20 30, 35 0.9 MILLION HISPANIC WORKERS WILL BE WORKING IN THE US AND WE'RE PROJECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR 78% OF ALL THE NEW WORKERS BY THE YEAR 2030.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS REALLY A TIME FOR US TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY, CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN AUSTIN.
IT'S A TIME FOR US TO SHARE OUR STORIES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEAN INTO OUR RE LATINO, OUR HISPANIC EMPOWERMENT, OUR LATINO EMPOWERMENT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE FUTURE OUTLOOK IS FILLED WITH DELORES AS WE CONTINUE TO STRONGLY INFLUENCE THE LANDSCAPE IN THE US AND HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
BUT AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH WORK TO DO AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF LATINOS IN THIS COUNTRY AND OUR CITY.
SO AS WE JOIN THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION, LET'S ASK OURSELVES, WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COMMUNITY TO NOT ONLY MOVE OUR LATINO COMMUNITY FORWARD, BUT TO MOVE THE AUSTIN LATINO COMMUNITY FORWARD? SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, RITO
OH, AND, AND BY ALL MEANS, WE'RE HAVING OUR AB NOO CELEBRATION TONIGHT.
SO PLEASE JOIN US WHILE WE'LL BE CELEBRATING SCO.
AND LET, AND ONCE AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER CHITO VELA IS ONE OF OUR FINALISTS AND HONOREES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, AND OF COURSE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ IS A PREVIOUS HONOREE AS WELL, BUT YOU'RE ALL INVITED.
AND I CAN SPEAK THE QUEEN'S ENGLISH, BUT I CAN ALSO SPEAK SPANISH GRA BECAUSE I STUDIED IT.
IT'S LIKE ENGLISH, YOU HAVE TO STUDY IT.
WE LIKE TO PARTY
YOU ARE IN THE AMERICAS, MY DEAR.
IT'S MANIFEST DESTINY THE OTHER WAY.
UH, SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, UH, WITH US AND LET'S CELEBRATE.
SHOULD GET A PHOTO PICTURE TIME.
SHOULD WE DO A PHOTO? PHOTO? I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO A PHOTO OUTSIDE TOO.
WE CAN HAVE Y'ALL EXIT THIS WAY AND WE'LL GET THE NEXT THANK YOU GUYS.
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GOOD MORNING[Proclamation – Suicide Prevention Month – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
EVERYONE.I'M THE DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I REPRESENT FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'M JOINED HERE BY MANY SPECIAL PEOPLE.
UM, BUT BEFORE I MENTION WHO THOSE ARE, I WANNA SAY THAT TODAY WE GATHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SEPTEMBER AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
BEFORE I BEGIN MY REMARKS AND GET A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO WHAT THAT MEANS, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC FOR MANY OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OR GENERALLY MAY NEED MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL 9 8 8 THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE.
YOU CAN ALSO CALL 9 1 1 AND REQUEST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN LIEU OF THAT.
HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THIS MONTH SERVES AS A VITAL PLATFORM FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF SUICIDE, IDENTIFYING ITS WARNING SIGNS AND HIGHLIGHTING RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR PREVENTION AND SUPPORT.
ALLOW ME TO SHARE A SHORT STORY ABOUT SOMEONE I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING RECENTLY WHO SURVIVED A DEEPLY CHALLENGING BATTLE WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
THIS YOUNG WOMAN, AT HER LOWEST POINT, FELT ISOLATED, BURDENED BY THE WEIGHT OF HER OWN THOUGHTS AND UNSURE OF HOW TO ASK FOR HELP.
HER JOURNEY WAS MARKED BY PAIN, BUT ALSO BY THE STRENGTH SHE FOUND WITHIN HERSELF.
WHEN SHE TOOK THE COURAGEOUS STEP TO REACHING OUT TO A FRIEND FOR HELP, THAT CONVERSATION BEGAN BECAME HER LIFELINE, LEADING HER TO PROFESSIONAL HELP AND SUPPORT GROUPS.
TODAY, SHE'S A LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTION, RESILIENCE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
SUICIDE DEATHS INCREASED IN 2022, RISING FROM 48,183 DEATHS IN 2021 TO AN ESTIMATED 49,449 DEATHS IN 2022.
AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 2.6% ON AVERAGE, THERE IS ONE DEATH EVERY 11 MINUTES DUE TO SUICIDE.
AND FOR EVERY SUICIDE THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 25 ATTEMPTS.
SUICIDE EFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND WALKS OF LIFE, MAKING IT A UNIVERSAL CONCERN.
BUT BEHIND THESE NUMBERS, THERE ARE STORIES OF REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL CHALLENGES.
AND BY OPENLY DISCUSSING SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, WE CAN BREAK DOWN THE STIGMA THAT OFTEN SURROUNDS THEM.
THIS, IN TURN, ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS LIKE THE YOUNG WOMAN I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO SEEK HELP WITHOUT FEAR OF JUDGMENT.
ULTIMATELY FOSTERING A COMPASSIONATE AND UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY NETWORK.
DURING SEPTEMBER, SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR THIS CAUSE.
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS COLLABORATE ON INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE SUPPORT NETWORKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
TODAY, I'M PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND CITY LEADERS WITH ME HERE TODAY, SUCH AS CROSS CREEK HOSPITAL, THE GRANT HALLIBURTON FOUNDATION FROM DALLAS, TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION.
FROM HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, E M S, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER.
MADISON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
IN CLOSING, THE SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH PROCLAMATION IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION.
IT SERVES AS A MOMENT FOR AWARENESS, EDUCATION, STIGMA, REDUCTION, AND IT SERVES THE GOAL OF HELPING THOSE IN NEED.
WE WANNA SAVE LIVES AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL RESIDENTS HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
NOW, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS SEPTEMBER WAS FIRST DECLARED NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH IN 2008, AND THIS TIME OF YEAR HAS BEEN A TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE, RAISE AWARENESS, AND CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION AND TREATMENT SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE C D C, EACH YEAR, THERE ARE MORE THAN 41,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE DIED BY SUICIDE, LEAVING BEHIND FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO NAVIGATE THE TRAGEDY OF THEIR LOSS.
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AND WHEREAS SUICIDE IS A 10TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG PEOPLE AGED 10 TO 24, AND THESE RATES CONTINUE TO INCREASE.AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT MENTAL HEALTH HAS ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS SUICIDE IS A TRAGIC AND PREVENTABLE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, GENDER, OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.
AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION, ELIMINATE STIGMAS SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING AND ACT AS SUPPORT SYSTEM.
AND WHEREAS ORGANIZATIONS, NON-PROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN AUSTIN TIRELESSLY WORK TO INCREASE AWARENESS, PROVIDE EDUCATION, AND OFFER VITAL RESOURCES TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND THOSE AFFECTED BY IT.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA SHA HARPER MADISON, AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER, 2023 IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
MR. MEMBER AL ALTER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? NO.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? NO.
WELL, WE WILL TAKE THE GROUP PICTURE NOW.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
WE WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE FIRST, RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT.
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GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.[Additional Item]
THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT OUT HERE TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE TODAY.UH, I AM, I'M ZOE RI AND I PROUDLY REPRESENT DISTRICT NINE, UH, ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR EVEN ACCESS TO A SMARTPHONE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EASILY TAKE FOR GRANTED.
AND TO DEMONSTRATE THIS, I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
UH, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE ACCESSED THE INTERNET TODAY.
SO NOW KEEP YOUR HAND RAISED IF YOU'VE ACCESSED THE INTERNET WITHIN YOUR FIRST HOUR OF WAKING UP.
I THINK WE'RE, SOME OF US ARE, ARE GUILTY OF THAT.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY DIGITAL INCLUSION MATTERS SO MUCH.
THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH IS THAT NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO ACCESS, EASILY, ACCESS THE INTERNET, LOOK UP RESOURCES, CONTACT LOVED ONES, OR SIMPLY HAVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL ERA, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT, ABOUT THAT.
SO IT'S UP TO US, OUR LOCAL COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
IMAGINE NOT HAVING INTERNET ACCESS IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY.
THAT WAS THE REALITY OF MANY DURING LAST YEAR'S ICE STORM.
IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO TRANSLATE YOUR SPEECH ON THE FLY AFTER MOVING TO A NEW COUNTRY.
THAT'S THE REALITY OF MANY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES HERE IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY ALONG OUR EASTERN CRESCENT.
DIGITAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS CRITICAL, YET OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
THAT'S WHY THE DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK WE'RE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AND CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
UH, I WANNA THANK THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF THIS COHORT OF DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY TRAILBLAZERS KNOWN AS THE DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, OR, OR DECA.
UH, FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS IN PLANNING THIS YEAR'S DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK IN AUSTIN, UH, AND I WILL NOW PRESENT, UH, THESE PROCLAMATIONS TO, UH, THE FIRST WE'LL GO TO JUST ROSS AND KATE THORNTON WITH AUSTIN FREE NUT.
I'M GIVING YOU GUYS THE WRONG THING.
UH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THE DIFFERENCE.
LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE'S GETTING A PROCLAMATION.
YEAH, I THINK SHE HAS THAT AT THE END.
WITH AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT.
WANT BE IN IT AS WELL? THERE YOU GO.
WE'LL GET A PICTURE WITH ALL OF THEM AT THE END.
OKAY, SO I'LL JUST RE PASS AGAIN.
UH, NEXT ONE, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCED THE NAME.
NEHEMIAH NEHEMIAH MAY PITTS THE THIRD.
CHRISTINA GARZA, STEVEN ACA WITH COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.
UM, NEXT IS CHRISTINA TAN AND LAUREN MORROW WITH DELL DID NOT HEAR.
UH, NEXT IS LINDSAY MC TON AND DANIEL, UH, DANIELLE GONZALEZ WITH GOODWILL OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
UM, AND NEXT IS JOHN MICHAEL CORTEZ WITH GOOGLE.
UH, NEXT IS CATHERINE KRAGO WITH HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS BEATRICE CASTILLO
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AND GABRIELA KAIN WITH LATINAS.I APOLOGIZE FOR BUTING, EVERYONE'S NAME.
THAT HAPPENS TO ME A LOT AND I, I FEEL EVERYONE'S PAIN, SO I, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE.
UH, I WILL NOW READ OUT THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY IS SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR ALL AUSTIN RESIDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, HIGH SPEED INTERNET AT HOME, AND THE TOOLS AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO USE IT, SINCE IT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AT-HOME INTERNET DEVICES AND SKILLS SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS DIGITAL EQUITY IS NECESSARY FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION, ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY CREATED ART CONNECT A YOUTH ART CONTEST DURING COVID AND CELEBRATION OF DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK TO DRAW ATTENTION TO AUSTIN HOUSEHOLDS THAT STILL DID NOT HAVE RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE INTERNET AT HOME.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO KEEP THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE GREAT NEED THAT STILL EXISTS TO FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO HELP OVERCOME THE PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL AND EDUCATION, UH, BARRIERS THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACE TO REACH DIGITAL EQUITY ON A REGIONAL LEVEL.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER CORY, ON BEHALF OF COUNCILOR FUENTES AND ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MI OF AUSTIN, UH, TEXAS, AND, AND MY COLLEAGUES, UH, HARPER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 1ST, SEVENTH, 2023 AS DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO, DOES ANYONE SPEAK? RON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU GUYS, DID YOU WANT, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? OH, JUST SAY A FEW WORDS.
I'LL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT REALLY VERY BRIEF.
I'LL JUST SAY JUST A COUPLE WORDS.
HI, RON DELLA HAWKINS WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WE ARE REALLY HONORED, UH, TO, TO CELEBRATE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE EFFORTS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE HERE THAT PROCEED A PROCLAMATION, BUT THERE'S MANY, UM, THAT, UM, AREN'T HERE BUT ARE ALL CELEBRATING DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK.
AND I WANNA THANK OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING OUR LONG-TERM, LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT AND FUNDING AND PROGRAMS TO REALLY MAKE, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL ACCESS MORE EQUITABLE AND, AND CONTINUING THE, YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS THIS ONGOING NEED.
YOU COULD HOLD IT UP IF YOU WANT.
YOU GET 3, 2, 1, 3, LOOK OVER.