[Proclamation – Business Skills Certification Day – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department]
[00:00:05]
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
UH, WE'RE GETTING READY TO START THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF, UH, THIS YEAR.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE TODAY, UH, CONGRATULATING AND, AND TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I GET TO KICK OFF THIS DAY, UH, BY MAKING THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTANCE LEARNING MEDIA HAS ESTABLISHED A VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR FALL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN AUSTIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE DISPLAYED EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT BY COMPLETING SIX OR MORE TRAINING CLASSES RESULTING IN ATTAINING THE BUSINESS SKILLS CERTIFICATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 14TH, 2023 AS BUSINESS SKILLS CERTIFICATION DAY IN AUSTIN.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION AND TO PRESENT IT TO ANOVIA HOLT ROBB, THE DIRECTOR OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I AM SOVIA HOLT, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND AS HE STATED THIS MORNING, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE 36 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED SIX OR MORE CLASSES, UH, TO RECEIVE THEIR BUSINESS SKILL CERTIFICATION.
I WANNA THANK THE SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM CONTRACTOR, DISTANCE LEARNING MEDIA WHO TRAINS AUSTIN, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, CREATIVES, AND NONPROFITS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS REPRESENT OUR INAUGURAL GRADUATING CLASS.
UNDER THIS NEW CONTRACT, THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS HAVE SHOWN THEIR COMMITMENT TO TAKING BUSINESS OR NONPROFITS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR GRADUATES WITH A CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION IN THE ATRIUM FOLLOWING THIS PROCLAMATION.
AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMY.
LET'S GET A, LET'S GET A PICTURE WITH ALL OF US.
LET'S JUST TRY TO DO IT OVER HERE.
YEAH, IF YOU CAN MOVE OVER A LITTLE BIT.
I'M TRYING TO GET YOU IN FRONT OF SURE.
[Proclamation – Austin Allies Day – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis]
[00:06:04]
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.I AM MAYOR PRO TEM PAIGE ELLI, AND I AM HERE TO AWARD A PROCLAMATION FOR AUSTIN ALLIES DAY.
I'M PROUD TO HONOR A GROUP THAT BEGAN AROUND A KITCHEN TABLE IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN.
MOMS DETERMINED, DETERMINED TO DO WHAT THEY COULD TO MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE IN A TIME WHEN OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE DESPERATE FOR HANDS-ON VOLUNTEERS.
AUSTIN ALLIES WORKS TIRELESSLY TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN TO OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY FROM FILLING BOXES AT FOOD BANKS, TO PACKAGING SUPPLIES FOR DIAPER BANKS, TO COLLECTING BOOKS AND CLOTHES FOR THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.
AUSTIN ALLIES IS THERE READY TO RESPOND AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
AUSTIN ALLIES BELIEVES WE SHOULD BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY BY EXERCISING OUR EMPATHY MUSCLES FROM DAY ONE.
SO TODAY, I HONOR AUSTIN ALLIES AND ITS VOLUNTEER FAMILIES FOR REMINDING US THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN A CARING AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY BY LEADING WITH KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING.
AN EXAMPLE SHOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I'M ERICA NOWLAN, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ALLIES.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MAYOR PROTON ELLIS.
FOR THIS HONOR TODAY, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE VOLUNTEERING EASY, MEANINGFUL AND FUN FOR FAMILIES ALL OVER CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE LOVE BEING PART OF THE VOLUNTEER JOURNEY FOR THE OVER 1500 AND COUNTING FAMILIES THAT ARE PART OF AUSTIN ALLIES.
AND OFTEN WE GET TO INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO VOLUNTEERING FOR THE FIRST TIME TOGETHER, AND IT'S REALLY REWARDING TO SEE THEM FIND A LOVE FOR HELPING OTHERS AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO KEEP COMING BACK AND DOING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF SUCH A GIVING COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH NEARLY 100 OTHER NONPROFITS, UM, WHO ARE DOING SUCH AMAZING WORK IN THE CITY, AND WE LOVE SUPPORTING THEM ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
UH, THIS RECOGNITION IS SHARED WITH OUR CO-FOUNDERS, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT, OUR STAFF, TEAM ALLY, CA, UH, OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, DONORS, CORPORATE SPONSORS, LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND MOST ESPECIALLY WITH OUR VOLUNTEER FAMILIES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND YOUR BIG SUPER HEARTS.
UM, AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, REMEMBER THAT THERE IS NO ACT OF KINDNESS OR VOLUNTEER THAT IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, MAYOR PROTO ELLIS.
AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN ALLIES IS A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT FOUNDED IN 2016 BY SOUTH AUSTIN, PARENTS SEEKING TO PROMOTE PUBLIC GOOD RESTORE HOPE AND BUILD EMPATHY ACROSS GENERATIONS.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN ALLIES SEEKS TO PROMOTE LIFELONG EMPATHY, EQUITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING ITS MONTHLY BOOK CLUB MEETINGS FEATURING THE WORKS OF LOCAL AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTHORS.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN ALLIES SEEKS TO CONNECT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO A VARIETY OF AT HOME AND ONSITE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, MANAGED BY A DIVERSE NETWORK OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BELIEF THAT NO PERSON OR GESTURE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN ALLIES IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MOBILIZING A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 1400 FAMILIES ACROSS THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA, SUPPLYING LOCAL NONPROFITS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 5,500 VOLUNTEER HOURS EACH YEAR.
NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS, IN ADDITION TO MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND VANESSA FUENTES ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, KIRK WATSON, I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 14TH, 2023 AS AUSTIN ALLIES DAY.
DO Y'ALL WANT PICTURES? DO YOU WANT US TO SCOOT TOGETHER? OKAY.
[00:10:05]
THANK YOU.[Proclamation – Rescue Task Force Day – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
YOU.GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO CITY HALL.
I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND I'M JOINED HERE BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY.
IN FACT, I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF BEING WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, POLICE, FIRE, AND EMS AS WE RECOGNIZE THE RESCUE TASK FORCE.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THE RESCUE TASK FORCE IS AN INTER-AGENCY TEAM OF POLICE, FIRE AND EMS, WHOSE MISSION IS TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO CRITICAL AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS
[00:15:01]
AND SAVE LIVES.FIRST FORMED IN 2016, THE RESCUE TASK FORCE PROGRAM SOUGHT TO FIND A WAY TO INTEGRATE THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS TO GET TO VICTIMS FASTER.
IN TIMES OF CRISES, THE RESULTS ARE INDISPUTABLE.
WHEN THE RESCUE TASK FORCE IS DEPLOYED, THERE ARE FEWER TRIPS TO THE HOSPITAL.
THERE'S A REDUCTION IN THE NEED FOR AMBULANCES.
THERE ARE QUICKER RESPONSE TIMES AND MORE LIVES ARE SAVED.
THE, THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN BEHIND US TODAY ARE HEROES.
THE RTF AND THE GREATER CAST TEAM HAVE BECOME A MODEL THAT OTHER CITIES LOOK TO IN RESPONSE TO POTENTIAL MASS CASUALTY INCIDENCES.
THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE A CRITICAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY IN OUR BAR AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS, WHERE THEIR RAPID RESPONSE HAS SAVED LIVES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE AT GREATER RISK.
IN A RECENT PROCLAMATION OR PRESENTATION TO THE TASK FORCE, A DOCTOR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE DOING IT.
WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, KEEP DOING IT.
THAT'S A VERY PROFOUND THING THE DOCTOR SAID, AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE.
IN FACT, LAST YEAR I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A RESCUE TASK FORCE TRAINING.
AND THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS JUST LIKE THE ONES BEHIND ME THERE AT THAT TIME, THEY ALL WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE SAME GOAL.
AND THEY ASKED ME RANDOMLY TO GIVE A FEW WORDS TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE TRAINING.
I TOLD THEM, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT WHEN WE WORK IN PUBLIC SAFETY TOGETHER, WE TRAIN TO TRY TO OVERCOME THE UNKNOWN.
AND WHEN YOU TRAIN TIME AND TIME AGAIN OVER AND OVER WITH YOUR PARTNERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN YOU OVERCOME THOSE UNKNOWNS.
AND WHEN YOU GO INTO A DANGEROUS OR UNKNOWN SITUATION, YOU WILL MORE EASILY OVERCOME THOSE PROBLEMS AND HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.
I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING THAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS ARE FACING MANY CHALLENGES AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO STAND HERE KNOWING THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE LOST A TEAMMATE, BUT THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO CELEBRATE YOU, YOUR WORK AND YOUR SPIRIT OF, UH, COLLABORATION AND ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I'LL NOW READ THE RESOLUTION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED A COUNTER ASSAULT STRIKE TEAM IN 2010 TO ASSIST FIRST RESPONDERS WITH MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS IN THE CITY.
AND WHEREAS AT THE TIME THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ONE OF THREE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HAVE SUCH A PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS CAST GREW TO INCLUDE THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DEPARTMENT TO CREATE JOINT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE RESCUE TASK FORCE IN 2017.
AND WHEREAS THE CAST AND RTF MODEL IS INSPIRED, UM, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES IN THE AREA TO CREATE SIMILAR PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS RTF AND CAST HAS CONDUCTED SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS THAT HAVE SAVED LIVES.
AND WHEREAS ER DOCTORS HAVE STATED THAT THE RTF HAVE BROUGHT IN VICTIMS WITH SEVERE INJURIES IN SUCH SHORT TIME THAT TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE NOT SURVIVED.
AND NOW THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 14TH, 2023 IS RESCUE TASK FORCE DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S VALUABLE AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO HAVE YOU ALL WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO SAVE LIVES.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE US FOR A PICTURE?
WE CAN ALSO DO IT WHEN THIS IS OVER.
IF YOU WANT A GROUP PICTURE, WE HAVE TO DO THAT NEXT.
I MEAN, WHEN ALL THE CLOCKS ARE OVER, WE CAN DO IT IN THE ATRIUM.
WHEN ALL THE PROS ARE OVER OR WHEN THE PROS ARE OVER, YEAH, WE'LL DO OKAY.
[Certificates of Recognition – Human Rights Campaign 2023 Municipal Equality Index Scorecard Contributing Departments – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter and to be accepted by staff from the Office of Civil Rights, Human Resource Department, Austin Public Library, Equity Office, Intergovernmental Relations Office, Communications & Public Information Office, and Law Department]
[00:21:59]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M ALLISON AL ALTER AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT NORTHWEST CENTRAL AUSTIN ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AS A POLICYMAKER, I AIM TO WORK WITHIN THE CITY TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY THAT WE SERVE.
WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, OUR NATION AND OUR STATE, AND EVEN OUR CITY, IT FEELS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE EMBODY THE VALUES OF INCLUSIVITY AND EQUALITY.
HERE AT HOME AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, TOGETHER WITH STAFF, WE LAUNCHED AN ANTI HATE CAMPAIGN CALLED WE ALL BELONG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS SPONSORED SEVERAL EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR CULTURAL RICHNESS AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY.
HERE AT CITY HALL, WE HELD A PRIDE CELEBRATION CALLED THE PARTY AT THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
IF YOU LOOK UP, WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE AFTER THIS PROCLAMATION, YOU'LL SEE CAMPAIGN BANNERS ASSERTING WE ALL BELONG, AND REMINDING US THAT Y'ALL MEANS ALL HERE IN AUSTIN.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TODAY TO HONOR SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE AS A CITY MAKE THESE VALUES TANGIBLE FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO CELEBRATE THE EFFORTS OF KEY LEADERS AND DEPARTMENTS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT EFFORTS.
I AM SO PROUD THAT BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF OUR CITY STAFF, AUSTIN HAS EARNED A PERFECT SCORE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN 2023 MUNICIPALITY EQUALITY INDEX.
THIS INDEX EVALUATES HOW LAWS, POLICIES, AND SERVICES AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SUPPORT THE LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR CITIES.
SEVERAL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN AUSTIN BE OBTAINING THIS 100% SCORE THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS, BOTH PUBLIC AND INTERNAL TO CHAMPION SAFETY, EQUITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS RESIDENTS, CITY STAFF, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS, THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND IF YOU CAN WAIVE WHEREVER YOU ARE, THAT'D BE GREAT.
THEY'RE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY EQUITY OFFICE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFO OFFICE, AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF NEIL ALGOS IN LAW, REBECCA KENNEDY IN THE HUMAN, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, ROOSEVELT WEEKS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, BRI FRANCO IN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE, JESSICA KING IN THE PIO OFFICE.
TAMELA SANA IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, KELLY COLEMAN AND AMANDA JASSO IN THE EQUITY OFFICE.
EACH OF THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THEIR DEPARTMENTS, ALONG WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN ACHIEVING THIS ROLE.
SO TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I'M JOINED TODAY BY COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER OF VANESSA FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, IT IS OUR HONOR TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK
[00:25:01]
TO MAKE AUSTIN A SAFER, BETTER PLACE TO LIVE FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.I WILL NOW OFFER SOME CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION.
THESE WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT I JUST MENTIONED BEFORE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ATTAINING A SCORE OF 100% ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN.
2023 MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX SCORECARD, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY EQUITY OFFICE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE LAW AND LAW DEPARTMENT ARE DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT THIS 14TH DAY OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR 2023.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
SORRY, I NEVER KNOW HOW TO DO THESE IN, IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WHO ARE WITH, WITH US AS WELL.
IT IS SO, SO VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, FOR ALL OF OUR WORKERS.
UM, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN SUPPORT OF THIS KIND OF WORK HELPS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG AND MAKES US STRONGER AND BETTER AS A CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
SO IF YOU HAVE THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS WANNA COME UP FRONT AND THEN WE CAN HAVE EVERYONE DO A PICTURE WHO'S HERE, WHO WANTS TO BE IN IT? YOU WANT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY TO JUST TAKE A STEP FORWARD.
YOU KNOW WHERE ABOUT THE, OKAY.
LITTLE BIT JUST HERE IN THE BACK.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO TION JUST ONE STEP.
[Proclamation – World AIDS Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
EVERYONE.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES.
JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON.
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO COMMEMORATE 35 YEARS OF WORLD'S AIDS DAY, WORLD'S AIDS DAY.
WE LOOK BACK AND WE REFLECT ON THE PREVIOUS DECADES, DECADES FILLED WITH NOT JUST PAIN AND STIGMA,
[00:30:01]
BUT ALSO BREAKTHROUGHS AND INSPIRING PROGRESS.WE'VE TRULY COME A LONG WAY COMBATING AIDS, AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COUNTLESS ADVOCATES, COMMUNITIES, AND RESEARCHERS WHO WORKED DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND STILL WORKED TO THIS DAY TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND ADDRESS THESE STIGMAS.
I WAS BORN JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST EVER WORLD AID STAY AND GROWING UP IT'S BEEN INSPIRING TO SEE THE SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE AS A SOCIETY.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL PROCLAMATION CEREMONY.
I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR HIV PLANNING COUNCIL.
WHAT'S IN THE MIRROR? DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
YOUR INVALUABLE WORK WILL HELP OUR CITY, OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR WORLD.
FINISH THE JOB OF ERADICATING HIV AND AIDS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I WILL NOW PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO KELLY MARTIN, CHAIR OF THE HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, AND I'LL TAKE IT AND TAKE IT FOR COUNT
OKAY, WELL, AND ALSO RECEIVING IS DR.
DESAR WAZ, WHO IS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY.
AND ROBIN BLACKMAN, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE DELTA SIGMA THETA AUTHORITIES.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL OF ALL OF Y'ALL AND PUBLIC HEALTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS WORLD AIDS DAY BEGAN 35 YEARS AGO ON DECEMBER 1ST, 1990 8, 19 88, EXCUSE ME, THIS IS, I NEED TO GET BIGGER FONT SIZE.
IT CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT WAY TO CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVANCEMENT WE'VE MADE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST HIV AND TO REMIND US THAT HIV HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THAT MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND WHEREAS IN THE AUSTIN AREA, THERE WERE 282 HIV CASES IN 2021 AND AN ESTIMATED 8,262 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AN ADDITIONAL THOUSAND AND 338 ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR STATUS.
AND WHEREAS TO HELP STEER THE RESPONSE TO THE HIV CRISIS AND ENSURE THE BEST CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, ALONG WITH THE AUSTIN ALUMNA CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, WHAT'S IN THE MIRROR INCORPORATED, SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FAST TRACK CITY AND ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC INITIATIVES.
AND WHEREAS THE HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, THE AUSTIN ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA STIGMA THETA SORORITY, WHAT'S IN THE MIRROR, CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, ARE COMMITTED TO ENDING THE AIDS EPIDEMIC BY 2030.
THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL ALLISON VELA, NATASHA HARPER MADISON ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 1ST, 2023 AS WORLD AIDS DAY
MARK, WE COME HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE, UH, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, UH, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MENTIONED, THERE ARE LITTLE OVER 1300 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE, UH, KNOW OF THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS.
AND SO WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT, TO GET TESTED, TO KNOW THEIR DIAGNOSIS.
WE HAVE, UH, WAYS TO TREAT AND PREVENT HIV, UM, WE WANT TO TRULY REACH OUR GOAL OF ENDING THIS EPIDEMIC BY 2030.
AND WE HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO CELEBRATE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTINUE WITH THE FIGHT TO END THIS EPIDEMIC.
WE'LL DO JUST A BRIEF ONE, SQU IN.
YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD JUST A LITTLE BIT.
[Additional Item]
MORNING EVERYBODY.UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TODAY TO REALLY, UH, UH,
[00:35:01]
SING THE PRAISES OF ONE OF OUR, UH, KEY STAFF MEMBERS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.I'VE KNOWN ROSIE TRUELOVE A LONG TIME.
IN FACT, SHE WAS IN MY URBAN MANAGEMENT CLASS AT THE LBJ SCHOOL, UH, WHEN SHE WAS JUST A YOUNGSTER.
AND, UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK I WAS A YOUNGSTER TOO AT THAT TIME,
BUT, UH, THEN WHEN, WHEN, UH, SHE CAME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FIRST, UH, WITHIN, UH, THE, UH, UH, THE, UH, IT DEPARTMENT, THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THEN SHE WENT ON TO WORK IN MY OFFICE, UH, WORKING, HELPING US COORDINATE ISSU ISSUES AND ITEMS THAT COME TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
THEN SHE WORKED 14 YEARS IN THE CAPITAL CONTRACTING OFFICE.
AND THEN FINALLY SHE END ENDS HER GREAT CAREER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
I CAN'T BE MORE PROUD OF OUR, UH, EXECUTIVES WHO PROGRESS THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION AND MAKE HUGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND TR AND ROSIE HAS TRULY DONE THAT.
AND SO IT IS MY PLEASURE TODAY TO QUICKLY READ THIS, UH, RESOLUTION.
IT'S, UH, HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS DURING HER 25 YEAR CAREER AS A DEDICATED CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEE.
ROSIE TRUE LOVE IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFIES THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION WHEREOF ON THE 14TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2023.
AND IT IS SIGNED BY KIRK WATSON AND AFFIXES HIS SEAL OF THE GREAT CITY OF AUSTIN.
LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU WOULD WANT TO COME UP, AND THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO LECTURE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON
YOU ARE, YOU ARE BASICALLY, AS THEY SAY, BULLETPROOF
UM, I, I HAD A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT I WROTE LAST NIGHT AND, UH, I'M SAVING THAT FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE IT'S MAYBE A LITTLE MORE SNARKY THAN WHAT I WOULD WANT MORE, UH, MEMORIALIZED ON A TXN.
UM, SO
UM, AS JESUS MENTIONED, I HAVE, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 25 AND A HALF YEARS.
UM, WHEN I FIRST APPLIED TO THE CITY, I WAS ALSO APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.
AND BY THE TIME THEY CALLED ME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW, I HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
AND I, I WENT INTO THE INTERVIEW AND I SAID, I DON'T REALLY NEED A JOB RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE I'M GONNA GRADUATE SCHOOL.
UM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO COME WORK HERE FOR THE SUMMER.
AND I, I'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY STAFF FROM MY DAYS AT CAPITAL CONTRACTING FROM, UH, PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID THAT THEY APPRECIATE THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A JOB AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IF NOT FOR ME, AND IF NOT FOR ME, BRINGING THEM INTO THE CITY.
UM, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY TO MY HOUSING STAFF.
UM, I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER GROUP OF PEOPLE TO LEAD.
UH, WHEN I REFLECT ON WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, I GET CHOKED UP AND I'M CHOKED UP NOW,
NEFERTITI, WHERE ARE YOU
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF COUNCIL FOR THEIR FAITH IN CALLING FOR BIG SWEEPING BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, IN 2018 WITH 250 MILLION IN 2022 WITH 350 MILLION, UH, FOR THE VOTERS IN AUSTIN WHO APPROVED THEM AND ALLOWED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE THIS LONG, DEEP IMPACT IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S GONNA LAST OUTLAST ALL OF US THAT ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM.
I, I FEEL LIKE I AM PERHAPS THE MOST FORTUNATE PERSON BECAUSE THIS HAS REALLY BEEN MY DREAM CAREER.
UM, WHEN I STARTED AT THE CITY, I WANTED TO WORK IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN.
AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE THAT.
UH, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY PEOPLE AROUND ME TODAY AND ALL OF THE ONES THAT, THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH IN MY 25 YEARS.
IT'S, IT'S THE MOST MEANINGFUL THING THAT I PROBABLY WILL DO.
UM, AND, AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE.
[00:40:01]
SEE YOUR, LIKE YOU GOTTA BE IN THE BLUE, Y'ALL.AND AGAIN, IF YOU CAN'T SEE ME, SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK JUST MOVE AROUND.