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WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME.[ATP Awards Ceremony]
A, A REALLY PLEASANT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.UH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO IS, UH, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM PAIGE JEALOUS.
UH, I, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE HER AND HER ADVOCACY, UH, FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, I, I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE.
WHAT THIS, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW IT IS, IS TO SAY THANK YOU AND PROVIDE SOME DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS TO THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR WHAT MANY OF US HAVE, UH, ALWAYS REFERRED TO AS THE CAC.
AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING WILLING TO, TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME RECOGNIZING THE GREAT SERVICE THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED BY THE CAC IN THESE FIRST FEW YEARS OF US WORKING TO DELIVER PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, ALL OF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM PROBABLY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF BEING CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE PROGRAM TO KNOW THIS, BUT THE CAC HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE EARLY SUCCESS OF PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, WE WOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL THE WAY WE ARE, BUT FOR THE CAC AND THE EFFORT THAT'S GONE INTO ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED AND HAS A REAL SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE HERE TODAY THAT ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE CAC, THE MISSION OF THE CAC IS TO ADVISE THIS TRI-PARTY PARTNERSHIP, AND I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THE OTHER PARTNERS IN A MINUTE, BUT, BUT AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAPITAL METRO, REPRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER JEFF ILIAN HERE AS, UH, THE CHAIR OF CAPITAL METRO, AND OF COURSE, UH, A TP AND THE CHAIR OF A TP.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE HER SAY A FEW WORDS IN JUST A MINUTE.
UH, THESE, THESE TWO GREAT LEADERS, BUT THIS TRI-PARTY PARTNERSHIP HAS TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING GOOD ADVICE AND COUNSEL ON THINGS SUCH AS ANTI DISPLACEMENT THINGS RELATED TO EQUITY MATTERS AND ALL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH PROJECT CONNECT.
THE CAC WAS FORMED IN EARLY 2021, AND THAT'S JUST AFTER THE VOTE IN 2020.
AND, AND THEY DIDN'T LET ANY GRASS GROW.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY GOT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY.
UM, THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO WORK.
THEY'VE ADVISED US, UH, AT PROJECT CONNE AT A TP AND CITY AND, UH, CAPITAL METRO ON GOVERNANCE ADVISED US ON WORKFORCE POLICIES PLANNING HOW WE SHOULD INVEST THE HISTORIC $300 MILLION IN ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDS.
AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON OF WHAT WE, UH, WE RELY UPON THEM FOR.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CAC HAVE TAKEN ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GUIDING THE ENTIRE TRANSIT EXPERIENCE.
UH, AS REGULAR TRANSIT RIDERS THEMSELVES, THEY KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO MAKE THAT EXPERIENCE A VERY POSITIVE ONE, AND HOW TO BETTER SERVE THOSE WHO DEPEND ON THE BUS OR THE TRAIN.
THEY'VE HEARD FROM CAP METRO, A TP AND CITY STAFF, AS WELL AS OUR CONSULTANT PARTNERS ABOUT DESIGN, ABOUT OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY'VE OFFERED THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, HOW MUCH A TRANSIT RIDE SHOULD COST, AND HOW WE OUGHT TO GO ABOUT COLLECTING THOSE FARES.
THEIR JOB PUT IT SIMPLY IS TO KEEP US HONEST, CALL US TO ACCOUNT, AND ALWAYS HAVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN FRONT OF MIND WHILE WE'RE PLANNING, DESIGNING, AND BUILDING OUT THIS SYSTEM.
THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS SO CONSISTENTLY AND RELENTLESSLY SUPPORTED PROJECT CONNECT IS TRULY A SOURCE OF POWER FOR THIS PROGRAM.
IN FACT, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE AWARDED THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE BEST CIVIC VOLUNTEERS IN 2022, AND I AGREE WITH THAT.
WHEN THEY DID THAT, THE CHRONICLE NOTED THAT THE CAC HAS QUOTE, CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF PROJECT CONNECT IN WAYS THE PUBLIC SHOULD CELEBRATE.
AND, AND AS I'VE INDICATED, I AGREE WITH THAT, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CAC COULD AGREE ANYMORE, FOLKS, THIS GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT IN OUR CITY WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.
IT WILL CHANGE AUSTIN, BUT WE COULDN'T DO IT THE RIGHT WAY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GUIDANCE AND THE WISDOM OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE HERE, MANY OF WHOM USE TRANSIT EVERY DAY.
AND THE TRUTH IS, WE WON'T ACHIEVE OUR ULTIMATE GOALS
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OF HAVING A SYSTEM THAT IS TRULY ACCESSIBLE AND CONVENIENT, AND THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO THE PLACES THEY WANT AND NEED TO GO WITHOUT HAVING A GROUP LIKE THE CAC, MAKING SURE WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE THINGS.SO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE CAC FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROJECT CONNECT AND FOR SHARING YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH US.
YOU MAKE THIS PROGRAM BETTER, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND WITH THAT, IT'S MY HONOR TO TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO MY GOOD FRIEND, UH, COMMISSIONER JEFF ILIAN OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND THE CHAIR OF CAPITAL METRO.
OKAY, SO FIRST THING OUT OF THE BOX, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, SINCE AMIR WATSON HAS BEEN GOING TO BAPTIST CHURCHES, HE'S LEARNED TO TALK LOUDER, TO BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE LICENSING AT A COUPLE CHURCHES THIS WEEKEND.
SO IF, IF YOU LET US ALL SAY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA SAY THE CROWD, SAY AMEN.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS, UH, LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT THE ROOM.
JUST TAKE A SECOND AND LOOK AROUND THE ROOM.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE TYPE OF US, IT'S ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WILL CHANGE NOT ONLY THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHOICE RIDERS, BUT FOR TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS AS WELL, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ALL AT THE TABLE.
I WOULD BE REMISS IN, UH, NOT RECOGNIZING, UH, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, MY COLLEAGUES AT CAP METRO, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, IF YOU'LL WAVE ONE MORE TIME, AND THEN BOARD MEMBER DIANE BENGAL IS HERE AS WELL.
YOU, YOU KNOW, UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR COLLEAGUES CLOSE.
AND, AND AS I RECOGNIZE MY BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE BEST TRANSIT EXECUTIVE IN THE COUNTRY, DOTIE WATKINS, WHOSE, WHOSE CAREER TELLS US THAT YOU CAN GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY, THAT YOU CAN START WORKING IN A PLACE THAT YOU CAN CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, AND DEDICATE YOURSELF TO THAT AND FIND YOURSELF AS CEO OF THAT COMMUNITY.
ONE DAY SHE DROVE BUSES IN COLLEGE.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? UH, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE WAY THAT SHE HAS WON THE TRUST OF OUR WORKFORCE, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN A PART OF THAT WORKFORCE FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WE APPRECIATE, UH, NOT ONLY THE SKILL, BUT THE CANDOR THAT SHE BRINGS TO HER POSITION.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, AND I WAS HERE IN, IN, RIGHT IN THE, THE 1999, 2000 YEAR WHERE, UH, WHERE WE WERE SEEKING LIGHT RAIL THE FIRST TIME.
AND I, I WAS IN, I WAS, UH, JUST LEAVING MY POST AS AT THE NAACP AT THE TIME, AND I SAID, LOOK, UH, TO, TO THE FOLKS THAT WERE MAKING THE DECISIONS AT THE TIME, SAID, IF YOU TREAT COMMUNITIES LIKE A MONOLITHIC COMMUNITY, IF YOU DON'T TALK TO EVERYBODY, IF YOU DON'T GO OUT AND WORK WITH THEM, UH, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO CRITICIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THEY'RE GONNA FIGHT E EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TOOTH AND NAIL, AND YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY LOSE THIS ELECTION.
THAT MESSAGE WAS IGNORED, AND WE LOST BY ONE 10TH OF 1%.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS TIME THAT I THINK HAS CHANGED OUR TRAJECTORY IS, UH, WE DIDN'T ASK PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR IVORY TOWER.
WE WENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
WE WENT TO PTAS, UH, WE WENT TO FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES.
WE WENT TO CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.
WE WENT TO A LOT OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO SIT DOWN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ISSUES WERE.
AND I THINK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, UH, WE PUT TOGETHER, UH, AND, AND, UH, AND I SHOULD SAY DOTTIE AND HER TEAM PUT TOGETHER MORE THAN 18 PROJECTS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT FOR OUR TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS.
THAT VALUE, THAT HAD A VALUE OF MORE THAN 26 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THEY TOOK, UH, THEY WENT TO PLACES LIKE WALMART AT 180 3 AND 35, AND A PLACE, A BUS STOP THAT USED TO BE A PILE OF RUBBLE.
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STREETLIGHT HAS SEVEN BAYS NOW, AND FOUR OF THEM HAVE BUSES THAT LEAVE EVERY 15 MINUTES.IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT IT WANTS.
THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT IT NEEDS.
NOW, UH, WE CAN NEVER DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE ALL AT ONCE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN THE POSTURE OF LISTENING AND OF ADDRESSING THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I I, I ALWAYS TELL MY FRIENDS, LIKE, LIKE JP, I ALWAYS TELL 'EM NOTHING PERFECT UNDER THE SUN.
HOWEVER, UH, WE CAN MOVE IN A DIRECTION WHERE WE ARE BRINGING THE THINGS, UH, THAT, THAT PEOPLE WANT, WHETHER THEY'RE TRANSIT DEPENDENT OR, OR WHETHER THEY'RE CHOICE RIDERS.
ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE OTHER.
WE CAN IDENTIFY THE PRIORITIES IN EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND DELIVER A SYSTEM THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF, BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW A CITY THAT WE CALL A GREAT CITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU GO TO NEW YORK, WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT? WHEN YOU GO TO CHICAGO? WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT? IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO KNOW THAT AS, AS A MODERN, NEW, BUSTLING CITY THAT IS GROWING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES, THAT WE MIGHT PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT NOT ONLY WILL SERVE US, BUT WILL SERVE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S, IT'S SUCH A NECESSITY TO BUILD A TEAM, AND NOT JUST A TEAM INTERNALLY, BUT TO BE OUTWARD FACING AND TALK TO COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR TRUE PRIORITIES ARE.
SO, I'M JUST SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF, OF A TEAM THAT IS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND DELIVERING IT.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO BE ABLE TO, TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, TO DO THINGS THAT COMMUNITIES WANT, BUT TO BUILD A TEAM THAT SAYS, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT US AND THEM, IT'S US WORKING TOGETHER.
AND I'VE BEEN, UH, REALLY IMPRESSED WITH, AND REALLY PLEASED BY THE WAY THAT WE'VE BECOME US.
SOMETIMES WE ARE LIKE SIBLINGS, WE PUSH AND PULL A LITTLE BIT.
UH, YOU KNOW, I, I MIGHT HAVE A BIGGER PRIORITY, UH, OR A PRIORITY THAT I WANT TO HAVE LOOKED AT.
SOMEONE ELSE MAY HAVE ANOTHER PRIORITY, BUT I'M A MIDDLE CHILD.
AND, AND THIS IS, AND THIS IS HOW I APPROACH LIFE, AS I HAD THREE BROTHERS GROWING UP, AND I SAID, NOW, MOM, NOW I DON'T HAVE TO EAT FIRST.
YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN MIND EATING FOURTH, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET MY FIRST SERVANT BEFORE HE GETS HIS SECOND.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE HEARD, OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE LISTENED TO.
MAYBE WE CAN'T GET IT TO GET TO IT FIRST.
MAYBE WE CAN'T GET TO IT SECOND, BUT IF WE, IF WE STAY THE COURTS, WE CAN GET TO THEM ALL.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD HERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO WONDERFUL ABOUT IT.
NOW, I GREW UP IN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND IT'S REAL HARD FOR ME TO STAY AT THREE MINUTES.
I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT IN THE CAR, I'M JUST SAYING.
BUT, UM, BUT I WANT, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE, THIS IS THE TYPE OF WORK, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY MEANINGFUL.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN YOU COME FROM A COMMUNITY, UH, THAT, THAT WASN'T INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING, UH, WITHIN MY LIFESPAN.
WHEN YOU COME FROM A COMMUNITY WHERE, UH, BECAUSE OF ONE THING OR ANOTHER, MAYBE I WASN'T INCLUDED, SURE.
FEELS GOOD TO BE A PART OF A TEAM WHERE WE ARE VALUED FOR WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE, NOT WHAT WE LOOK LIKE, NOT WHAT WE TALK LIKE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD HERE.
HOW DO WE WORK WITH AUSTIN AS US, ALL OF US WHO WANNA MAKE THINGS BETTER, NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR EVERYBODY.
AND I THINK PUBLIC TRANSIT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO IN PUBLIC TRANSIT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FOCUS ON DELIVERING FOR A COMMUNITY THAT DESERVES WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD.
SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE A, A BRIGHT FUTURE.
UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROJECT.
I THINK THAT, UH, IT'S ONE, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE VOICES THAT HAVE COME TO THE ROOM AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, UH, SOMETIMES NOT ONLY COMING TO THE ROOM, BUT NOT BEING SCARED TO SAY WHAT IT IS THEY REALLY FEEL ABOUT THINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SPEAK OUR TRUTH TO EACH OTHER, BUT, BUT THAT EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE THAT WE'RE NOT DISAGREEABLE, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE WANNA PUT IT ON THE TABLE.
WE GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW
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WE GET IT THERE EFFECTIVELY, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE EVERYBODY IN THE PROCESS.SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND, AND I, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE ROUTE THAT WE'VE TAKEN, AND AS WE, AS WE CALL OUR, OUR, UH, OUR A TP CHAIR UP, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, WHAT WE, AS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A TEAM, UH, THAT WE REMEMBER THAT THESE THINGS AREN'T BUILT IN A DAY, UH, THAT, UH, WHEN WE ARE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING LISTENED TO, AND WE ASSURE THAT WE'RE BEING INCLUDED, UH, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD MIDDLE CHILDREN, AND WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SECOND SERVING ISN'T MADE BEFORE YOUR FIRST IS MADE.
SO, UH, VERONICA CASTRO, UH, DE DEERA, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD AND THANK, APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS.
I PROMISE YOU, WE DID NOT REHEARSE USING THIS MIDDLE CHILD, YOUNGEST CHILD, BUT YOU JUST INSPIRED ME TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE.
AND I SAY THAT MY PARENTS TRUSTED THE CITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR YOUNG.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO ME TO HAVE A FREE RANGE CHILDHOOD, BECAUSE I'M THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE, AND MY PARENTS BOTH WERE WORKING, THE CITY WAS OURS, AND THEY TRUSTED THAT CITY FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE THAT I COULD GO OUT AND PLAY, GO PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS, GO GRAB A, A SNACK OR AN ICE CREAM.
AND HOW HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT CITY COULD BE FOR OUR CHILDREN? SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE CAC AND WHAT INSPIRES ME THE MOST ABOUT THE CAC IS THAT THEY ARE OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M STANDING HERE ON THIS PODIUM BECAUSE THEY HELP SELECT A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO SIT ON THIS POSITION.
AND THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN A CAMPAIGN LIKE YOU GUYS DID, BUT THE COMMUNITY SELECTED ONE OF US TO HELP IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY MATTERS BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING THE SYSTEM.
WE USE THE SYSTEM, AND WE USE THE SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
I LOVE WALKING FOR ALL MY ERRANDS AS MUCH AS I CAN, AND I EXPECT THAT OF MY CHILDREN AS WELL.
BUT THAT IS A PRIVILEGE TODAY, IT'S A LUXURY TO THINK THAT I HAVE THE ABILITY TO WALK, TO TAKE CARE OF MY NEEDS, AND THAT MY CHILDREN HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE ZONED OUT OR SEGREGATED OUR USES, OR WE'VE SEGREGATED EACH OTHER? AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT.
AND WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT IS THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
LET'S MAKE THE CITY EVERYONE'S PLAYGROUND.
LET'S MAKE THE CITY EVERYONE HAVING THE ABILITY TO REACH THEIR SCHOOL, TO REACH THEIR JOBS.
AND I LOVE SO MUCH THAT THE CAC HAS THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
I CALL IT THE HEARTBEAT OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND MANY TIMES WHEN THEY SAID, WHEN THE INITIATION OF THE CAC IS, AND I, I MUST GIVE CREDIT TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND KITCHEN, BECAUSE THE CAC WAS HER VISION.
AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE TO KEEP YOU GUYS ACCOUNTABLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN, IN ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST MEETINGS, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CAC WERE TO BE A WATCHDOG.
AND AS Y'ALL KNOW, ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT TERM WAS A BIT INTERESTING.
SO I LITERALLY LOOKED UP WHAT THE MEANING OF WATCHDOG IS, RIGHT?
THE HEART ISSUES HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, BUT IN MANY WAYS, YOU HAVE BEEN MORE OF A THERAPY DOG AND AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG.
AND I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, CAN WE CHANGE THE PARADIGM OF WHAT WATCHDOG IS? BECAUSE AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT OF EACH OTHER, AND WE NEED TO HEAR EACH OTHER'S STORIES.
AND NANCY JUST INSPIRED ME JUST AT THE SUMMIT THIS WEEK, BECAUSE SHE WAS SHARING SOME STORIES AT THE, AT THE VISION ZERO SUMMIT AT THE LIBRARY,
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AND SHE HAD 40 YEARS OF NARRATIVES AND 40 YEARS OF ANECDOTES.AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, CAPITAL METRO WAS THE FIRST AGENCY IN TEXAS THAT HAD A FULL FLEET OF ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES.
I KNEW THAT THEY WERE THE FIRST AGENCY WHO HAD BICYCLE RACKS IN THE FRONT, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT CAPITAL METRO WAS THE FIRST AGENCY IN TEXAS THAT HAD DEPLOYED AN INVESTED IN PUTTING RAMPS ON THEIR VEHICLES BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE OUR MOBILITY MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL IT MATTERS.
IT REALLY MATTERS FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FOR THE ELDERLY, WHICH I HOPE ALL OF US GROW TO BE VERY OLD AND DON'T NEED A CAR.
AND I HOPE THAT OUR LICENSES GET REVOKED,
I HOPE SO, BECAUSE NO, WE DON'T WANT ANYONE BEHIND THE WHEEL, BEHIND A WEAPON THAT COULD INJURE OTHERS.
SO I, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD HERE.
WE ARE REALLY HOPING TO BUILD A SYSTEM WHERE EVERYONE CAN CONNECT, EVERYONE CAN ACCESS.
AND WE NEED ALL OF US, ALL OF US, ALL OF US, TO HELP US GET THERE AND TO SAY THANK YOU AND SAY GRACIAS AND SEE WITH EVERY PART, AND, UH, PORE OF MY SKIN DOESN'T DO JUSTICE TO THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND DEDICATED TO THIS.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE CRIED TOGETHER.
AND WHEN I SAY THE WORD, THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, THEY WERE THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR ME PARTICULARLY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, AND ON BEHALF OF THE A TP BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE BOARD MEMBER LANGOR, WHO'S HERE IS BOARD MEMBER LANGOR HERE TOO.
MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER ILIAN, WE'RE DOING THIS TOGETHER, AND YOU'RE LEADING BY EXAMPLE ON WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS A, AS A CITY.
AND WE CELEBRATE YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THROUGH YOUR SERVICE, YOU HAVE CREATED AN IMPORTANT PATHWAY FOR OTHERS TO SERVE AND HELP POSITIVELY SHAPE HOW FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL EXPERIENCE.
AUSTIN, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL WAS ALWAYS ENVISIONED TO ENSURE THE VOICE OF COMMUNITY WAS NEVER AT A DISTANCE MILE MARKER ON THE JOURNEY TO TRANSFORM TRANSIT.
WE KNEW THE RIGHT WAY TO INVEST IN TRANSIT WAS TO INFORM DECISIONS THROUGH DIVERSE THOUGHT, VARIED PERSPECTIVES, SHAPED BY LIFE, BY LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND IDEAS AND EXPERTISE THAT BROADLY REPRESENT ALL OF AUSTIN.
THE COMMITTEE WAS CREATED TO ADVISE ALL THREE PARTNERS.
AS YOU, AS YOU HAVE HEARD ON TOPICS RELATED TO EQUITY AND ISSUES AS THIS OF DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION ALONG THE ENTIRE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM, THE CALL TO THIS SIGNIFICANT ACTION WAS MET BY FORCE OF RESOLVE AND COMMITMENT TO PURPOSE.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN RELENTLESSLY PRESENT, AND I LOVE THIS WORD, FORENSICALLY FOCUSED.
THIS HAS BEEN A SURGERY, WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE HELPED US ACHIEVE TO OFFER YOUR EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT THE PAST THREE YEARS.
YOU KNOW, AT A RECENT PANEL THAT WE WERE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, WHO REPRESENTED WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER AVE AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, COMMISSIONER AVE MENTIONED SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN THE OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY KNEW THAT SOME HAD ALREADY BEEN DISMISSED, SOME OPTIONS, BUT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THEM.
AND SO THEY QUESTIONED AND THEY BROUGHT THE TEAM TO TASK AND THE CONSULTANTS TO TASK AND SAID, I WANT YOU TO TEST THIS OTHER IDEA.
THEY SAID, NO, BUT WE ALREADY TESTED IT AND IT DOESN'T WORK, BUT WE WANNA SEE IT.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TEACHING AND HOLDING EACH OTHER'S HANDS, THEY DID THAT.
AND THEY CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT SURE ENOUGH, OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS, THE CONSULTANTS WERE CORRECT, BUT THEY ALSO BROUGHT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF SOME ISSUES THAT THE, THAT WE HAD MISSED THAT BUILDS TRUST.
AND IT'S TRUST THAT WE DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED.
AND WE RESPECT THAT TRUST BECAUSE WE NEED TO EARN IT AND WE NEED TO TREASURE IT.
SO I WANT YOU TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY, OF MY HEART FOR HELPING US ARRIVE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME
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AND WHAT WE HAVE ALL APPROVED THIS PAST JUNE AT THE JOINT PARTNERSHIP MEETING.SO I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE SPECIFICALLY MY, UM, FELLOW MEMBER, CAC CHAIR OF SSR.
YOU'RE KNOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR YOUR FEARS, ADVOCACY FOR EQUITY, AND YOUR HARDEST REGARD FOR HUMANITY.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US HUMANIZE OUR CITY.
UM, OF COURSE, CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, I REALLY WANNA THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BOTH WHO HAD FORMERLY SERVED ON IT, WHO CURRENTLY SERVE ON IT, WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE FUTURE.
FOLKS HAVE PUT IN HUNDREDS OF HOURS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE WE HAVE THESE SPRAWLING WORKING GROUPS WHERE WE HAVE DONE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK AND TASKS AND WORK WITH CONSULTANTS AND STAFF.
AND WE'VE ACHIEVED A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR, UM, MENTIONED A LOT OF THEM AND IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING SORT OF PART OF GETTING THAT WORK DONE.
ALSO, ANOTHER PART OF THAT IS HONESTLY JUST THE BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT FOLKS BROUGHT TO THE CACI HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THESE TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS FROM EVERYTHING FROM FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING ON RACIAL JUSTICE, FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING ON DISABILITY JUSTICE, FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ANTI DISPLACEMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS, YOU NAME IT, FOLKS, WERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS, EDUCATING EACH OTHER AND WORKING TOWARDS A BETTER VISION FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
AND I REALLY HAVE TO THANK THE FOLKS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROJECT CONNECT, RIGHT? THEY'VE PUT IN SO MANY HOURS AND HAVING SOMETHING THAT THEY THOUGHT WE CAN ENVISION SOMETHING BETTER, RIGHT? WE CAN ALWAYS BE OPTIMISTIC AND BELIEVE WE CAN DO BETTER.
AND WE PUSHED OURSELVES AND WE PUSHED ALL THE DRY PARTY PARTNERSHIP TO DO MORE.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO HONESTLY THANK ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, CAP METRO.
I FEEL LIKE WE CHALLENGED THEM AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO HOLD THEM TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
AND I REALLY HAVE TO SAY THEY ROSE UP TO THE CHALLENGE.
AND I'M NOT GONNA STAND HERE AND PRETEND IT'S ALL BEEN LIKE FUN AND GAMES.
I HAVE
UM, BUT I REALLY HAVE TO ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT FOLKS HAVE PUT IN, BOTH FROM THE COMMITTEE AND ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO WORKED WITH US OVER LIKE ALL THESE YEARS, BUT ALSO ALL THE STAFF AND THE BOARDS AND CITY COUNCIL FOR REALLY ASKING US THAT WE CAN BUILD A BETTER VISION FOR WHAT PROJECT CONNECT CAN BE.
AND I REALLY DO WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMISSIONER TRILLIAN AND THE CAP METRO BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIR CASTRO DERE, AND OUR A TP BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.
I CERTAINLY WOULD THANK GREG CANALI, UM, FOR LEADING THIS ON ADP DOTIE WATKINS FOR LEADING US THROUGH CAP METRO AND ROBERT GOODE AND THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA FOR THEIR WORK AS WELL.
AND I CERTAINLY WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WE WORK WITH SORT OF EVERY DAY.
THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO I TEXT AND CALL AND BADGER ALL THE TIME, SO I DO OWE THEM A THANK YOU.
'CAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES TO THIS WORK, GIVEN THEMSELVES TO THE CAC TO REALLY HELP US DO THE WORK THAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND I REALLY WANNA THANK, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE CITY NE JACKMAN AND HER TEAM, AND ANIQUE BODE AND HER TEAM.
I WANT TO THANK FROM, UM, A DPI REALLY WANNA THANK COURTNEY CHAVEZ AND GIANNIS BANKS, AND FORMERLY LONNIE STERN.
I REALLY HAVE TO THANK EDNA BARRA AS WELL, AND THE WORK THAT THESE FOLKS WERE TECHNICALLY JUST OUR SORT OF LIAISONS FOR THE CAC, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE TRULY HELD OUR HANDS, AND I KNOW WE'LL GET TO SORT OF RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CSE MEMBERS, UM, YOU KNOW, BY NAME IN A SECOND HERE.
AND I, AND I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO SORT OF GO INTO THAT.
BUT I CANNOT THANK THESE FOLKS ENOUGH FOR THE DEDICATION AND TIME THAT THEY'VE PUT IN.
AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK, UH, VICE CHAIR PLATEAU AND FORMERLY VICE CHAIR ALMANZA, AND ALSO FORMERLY SECRETARY SCHIDLER, AND CURRENTLY SRI SUMMERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AS WELL.
'CAUSE CERTAINLY, I HAVE TO SAY, IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN ME TO DO THIS, BUT I CANNOT DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THEM.
SO REALLY, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE ALL COMMITTED AND EXCITED ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT.
AND AS COMMISSIONER TRILLIAN SAID, THIS
[00:30:01]
IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA ACHIEVE QUICKLY, BUT IT'S GONNA BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY.
I FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THIS MIRROR, DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.
SO FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN, I, I DEPEND ON TRANSIT.
SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE ADMITTING WHAT, I'LL ADMIT IT HERE.
I ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.
I HAD A REALLY BAD BALANCE AS A CHILD AND I GAVE UP AT SOME POINT.
SO WHAT IS PROJECT CONNECT FOR ME? WHAT IS OUR TRANSIT AGENCY AND THE TRANSIT WORK FOR US? IT'S MY FREEDOM.
IF YOU TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME, MY LIFE WOULD BECOME ESSENTIALLY A ONE MILE CIRCLE AROUND MY HOME AND ME DEPENDENT ON THE PEOPLE AROUND ME TO GET ME TO PLACES.
IT'S TRANSIT AND FUTURE PROJECT CONNECT THAT MAKES SURE THAT I GET TO HAVE HAPPY HOURS WITH FRIENDS, GO TO DINNERS, WITH FRIENDS, GO TO RALLIES AND EXCITING EVENTS.
NONE OF THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE.
SO REALLY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSIT, IT'S FREEDOM FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT.
YES, WE WANNA CONNECT PEOPLE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET TO THEIR JOBS AND CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION.
AND THOSE ARE REALLY CRITICAL THINGS, AND THOSE WILL ALWAYS BE PRIMARY FOR US.
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
AND THIS INCLUDES FOLKS WHO MIGHT NEED HELP WITH ACCESSIBILITY, FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE OLDER, FOLKS WHO MIGHT HAVE LANGUAGE ACCESS ISSUES.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, IS REALLY HELPFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN WITH THAT VISION OF CREATING A SYSTEM THAT CAN SERVE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE, AND GIVE US ALL THAT FREEDOM.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL TO MY COLLEAGUES, BUT THANK YOU ALSO TO ALL THE STAFF AND LEADERSHIP IN ALL OF THIS WORK.
ALL RIGHT, I GET THE FUN PART.
I'M SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF EQUITY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP HERE AT AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, BUT I'M ALSO CONSIDERED THE EXECUTIVE LIAISON TO THE CAC.
AND I RECOGNIZE 'CAUSE UH, CHAIR, ZARA MENTIONED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH.
AND I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS TO SAY I'M ONE PERSON STANDING HERE.
IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT TO PUT ON THIS COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF CAP METRO TEAM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION AND, UH, PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH US EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, SO I AM GOING TO BE THE ONE PASSING OUT CERTIFICATES.
I'M GONNA ASK GIANNIS BANKS TO COME UP HERE AND JOIN ME.
GIANNIS HAS TAKEN OVER THE ROLE FROM LONNIE STERN SINCE HE DEPARTED US, AND SO I'M VERY SAD ABOUT THAT.
BUT VERY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE, ANYONE WHO IS.
SO, FOR PICTURES, WE'RE GONNA TAKE PICTURES OVER HERE IN THE CORNER.
IF YOU ARE AN A TP BOARD MEMBER, A CAT METRO BOARD MEMBER, OR A CITY COUNCIL, IF YOU'D COME OVER AND JOIN US FOR THE PICTURE, WE'D LOVE THAT.
NOT EVERYBODY ELSE, WE, YOUR NAMES WERE CALLED SO WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN THE ROOM.
SO BEFORE I PRESENT THE FIRST CERTIFICATE, WE'LL GET EVERYONE ARRANGED.
BEFORE I PRESENT THE FIRST CERTIFICATE, I AM GOING TO READ WHAT IT SAYS, BECAUSE WE VALUE THE WORK AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT IN THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED.
YES, OUR CONVERSATIONS, UH, HAVE BEEN TOUGH, BUT WHENEVER WE'VE MISTEPPED YOU'VE BEEN THERE TO GUIDE THE WAY BACK.
I'M GONNA READ THE CERTIFICATE INFORMATION.
SEE, I, I CALLED YOU ALL UP HERE A LITTLE EARLY, DIDN'T I? THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS,
OKAY, SO THE CERTIFICATE READS, THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IS IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP TO ADVANCE THE EQUITY AND ANTI DISPLACEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL AND PROJECT CONNECT AS PART OF THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IN PROVIDING YOUR EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE HAS SHAPED AUSTIN'S TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT AND WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO FIRST, UM, ZAZA YES, THANK YOU.
IT WON'T TAKE FOREVER, I PROMISE.
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PASSION.ALL RIGHT, GRETCHEN FLATOW, THANK, SAY THEODORE TEDDY FONG.
AND EFRIN TAYLOR, WHEREVER YOU WANNA BE.
AND SO, AND BEFORE I STEP OFF, THERE ARE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR CAC WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
SO I'M, I WILL READ THEIR NAMES.
CATHERINE BROADWATER, NO, ELIAS O MARNER.
BRIANNA LER AND SUSAN SUMMERS.
SO THANK YOU TO THE CAC MEMBERS.
AND NOW I'LL ASK MY CHAIR TO COME BACK UP FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
NO, SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING US, FOR TAKING THIS AFTERNOON OF A FRIDAY, UM, TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATION OF THE MILESTONES OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
SO WITH THAT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR AMAZING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GREG CANE, BECAUSE YOU'RE, DO AN AMAZING JOB OF INSPIRING ALL OF US AND GATHERING THE COMMUNITY WITH OPEN ARMS TO DO THIS WORK.
AND I KNOW YOUR SUPERPOWERS ARE SUPERPOWERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING STAFF AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU, MR. GOOD.
AND, AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO TAKE TRANSIT OR DON'T TAKE TRANSIT, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE THE WORK THAT THE CAC IS DOING REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE A PIPELINE OF PEOPLE.
AND I LOVE, AGAIN, NANCY SAID, THE BEST THING TO DO IS RECRUIT OTHERS.
RECRUIT YOUR FRIENDS, RECRUIT YOUR FAMILY TO SERVE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA SUSTAIN US.