[Distinguished Service Award – Rondella Hawkins – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool]
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THANKS EVERYBODY FOR COMING THIS MORNING.
I'M LESLIE POOLE, AND I AM THE MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TODAY TO PRESENT A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO MY GOOD FRIEND, LONGTIME FRIEND, RONELLA HAWKINS.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RON ROND HAS SERVED AS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS OFFICER SINCE APRIL OF 2001.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, RONELLA AND I FIRST WORKED TOGETHER WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.
AND THE REASON WHY I HAD TO LOOK AT HER TO MAKE SURE I WAS SAYING IT RIGHT, IS BECAUSE THAT COMMISSION, AS IT HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, HAS ALSO HAD CHANGES IN ITS NAMING.
UM, THIS WAS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THIS CENTURY, AT LEAST 20 YEARS AGO, IF NOT LONGER.
IT WAS GREAT WORKING WITH HER.
AND I THINK A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT HER.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL PERSON AND GREAT TO WORK WITH.
TO THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ALTHOUGH FRANKLY, IF I TELL YOU ALL OF THEM, WE'LL BE HERE A REALLY LONG TIME THIS MORNING.
SO HOW ABOUT I'LL OFFER A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
HER DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED THE CITY'S FIRST CREDIT ACCESS BUSINESS COMPLIANCE PROGRAM FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A 2011 ORDINANCE TO REDUCE PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES.
SHE OVERSAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S FIRST DIGITAL INCLUSION STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2014, WHERE ALL CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET DEVICES AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY.
AUSTIN HAS BEEN AND IS A TEST BED FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND UNDER RONELL'S LEADERSHIP, HER TEAM HELPED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY BRINGS THE BENEFITS OF COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
RONDELLA NEGOTIATED NUMEROUS RIGHT OF WAY FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING CENTER POINT ENERGY, TEXAS GAS SERVICE, AND GOOGLE FIBER FOR BROADBAND SERVICES, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TYPE OF ITS AGREEMENT.
AS THE TARA OFFICER, HER DEPARTMENT GENERATED OVER $700 MILLION IN FRANCHISE FEE REVENUE FOR THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
OVER THE, OVER THE YEARS, HER LEADERSHIP WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE, AND SHE RECEIVED THE DIGITAL TRAILBLAZERS AWARD EVERY YEAR FOR EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW FROM 2016 TO 2023.
THIS AWARD REALLY SHOULD BE RENAMED THE RONELLA HAWKINS DIGITAL TRAILBLAZERS AWARD.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT AND WONDERFUL CAREER.
RONELLA, YOU WILL BE MISSED AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I NOW PRESENT THE CITY'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO RONDELLA.
AND THEN I HOPE SHE WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO, TO, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS.
HAWKIN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD AND HERE IT IS.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HOLD, I WOULD THANK YOU.
AND READ ALONG FOR HER UNWAVERING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS.
DURING HER MORE THAN 33 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RONELLA HAWKINS IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC CLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
OVER HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER, SHE HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING POLICY AND DRIVING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT IN AUSTIN, RECOGNIZED FOR HER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, RONDELLA LEAVES BEHIND A LASTING LEGACY OF PROGRESSIVE POLICY, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY BETTERMENT.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 29TH
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DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR 2024.AND IT IS SIGNED BY MAYOR WATSON AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO LET'S HEAR FROM RONELLA NOW.
THIS IS VERY, UM, VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME.
UM, TODAY IS ACTUALLY MY OFFICIAL LAST DAY.
AND, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEPO AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, FOR THIS HONOR AND RECOGNITION.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE MY JOURNEY BEGAN HERE ALMOST 34 YEARS AGO.
AND I WAS IN A TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION, AND IT WAS IN FACT, RIGHT HERE ON THIS PROPERTY.
IT WAS A MUNICIPAL ANNEX BUILDING, UM, THAT MY, MY CAREER BEGAN WITH THE CITY.
AND IN THESE THREE DECADES, I'VE HAD THE INCREDIBLE FORTUNE WORKING WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL, PASSIONATE, DEDICATED EMPLOYEES, UM, PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AND I HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP OF SO MANY, SO MANY, UM, OVER THE YEARS.
UM, BEGINNING WITH MY, UH, FIRST MANAGER WHO SAW THE POTENTIAL IN A YOUNG 25-YEAR-OLD, UM, HIRED ME IN MY FIRST FULL-TIME POSITION AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
AND, UM, I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL.
I GOT MY DEGREE, I, I MADE, I WAS, UM, PROMOTED MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND THEN IN 2001, I, UH, I WAS APPOINTED AS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS OFFICER.
AND FOR SOME OF YOU, IT'S TARA, PEOPLE LIKE TARA, WHO IS THAT
UM, AND YEAH, THE CITY HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH.
I'VE GAINED SO MANY PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, LIFELONG FRIENDS AND, AND CONTRIBUTED TO SO MANY PROGRAMS, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND, UM, JUST ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND WE'RE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST AND, UM, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
AND, UM, BUT MOST, I THINK PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT I GAINED FROM THE CITY WAS A ONE, A WONDERFUL PARTNER AND LOVE OF MY LIFE.
AND I'M GOING TO MY HUSBAND, FRED HAWKINS, UM, WHO RETIRED FROM THE CITY
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, AND HONOR MY PARENTS.
HE WAS A MUSICIAN WHO MOVED HERE, UM, TO AUSTIN.
UM, AND, AND MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER, NANCY, NANCY YOAKUM.
AND, UH, SHE DEDICATED A LOT OF HER TIME AND EFFORT RAISING ME AS A SINGLE MOTHER.
UM, AND I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO ED VANU AND TO DIANA.
HERE SHE GOES, DIANA THOMAS, UH, FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF ME AND, AND, AND MY TEAM.
IT'S ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK TO CONTINUE THE WORK AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, MY INCREDIBLE ROCKSTAR TEAM WHO'S GONNA CARRY OUT, UM, CONTINUE THE WORK, UM, THAT WE STARTED TOGETHER.
BUT I MAY BE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN
UM, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE HONOR.
AND, UM, IT'S BEEN A JOY OF MY LIFE TO, TO UM, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY HERE.
OKAY, SOME FOLKS, ANYBODY
IT'S REALLY AWKWARD AND DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
SO LET'S GO OVER HERE BY THE FLAGS.
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GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.[Proclamation – Lupe Garcia Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
HOW Y'ALL DOING? LET'S GET THAT ENERGY UP.HOW Y'ALL DOING? ALRIGHT, UH, TODAY, TODAY I GET TO HONOR A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, A MENTOR, SOMEBODY THAT IS LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND CONTINUES TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IN SANITA.
BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, I HAVE A FEW OF HER PUPILS, COLLABORATORS, FOLKS THAT WANT TO COME UP AND JUST SAY A FEW QUICK WORDS, UM, ABOUT OUR HONOREE TODAY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MELISSA VI.
MELISSA VIAL, VICE PRESIDENT OF EMPLOYEE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAMS. I MET LUPE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, RIGHT ABOUT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND JUST LEARNING ABOUT LUPE AND HER STORY REALLY INSPIRED ME.
UM, AT THE TIME THERE WAS NOT REALLY A LOT OF ACCESS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO PPE OR THE VACCINATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE LIVING IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENCIES.
AND LUPE TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO CREATE A SPACE IN HER OWN APARTMENT THERE AT THE SANTA RITA COURTS TO SEW MASKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE SANTA RITA COURTS WERE KEPT SAFE.
THIS IS JUST ONE THING THAT LUPE DOES.
SHE CONTINUES TO ALWAYS SEEK OUT WHATEVER THE CHALLENGES ARE OR WHEREVER THE GAPS ARE AT, NOT ONLY FOR THE SANTA RITA COURTS, BUT ALSO AT A LOT OF THE OTHER HOUSING AUTHORITY APARTMENTS SUCH AS THE BOOKER T WASHINGTON APARTMENTS.
SHE FINDS OUT WHAT THOSE CHALLENGES ARE AND SHE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHE TRULY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE.
SHE HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE NEEDS ARE MET SO THAT CHILDREN CAN HAVE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO OPEN UP ON CHRISTMAS DAY SO THAT FAMILIES HAVE THANKSGIVING MEALS SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON THANKSGIVING DAY TO ENSURE THAT KIDS ARE CELEBRATED, ARE SEEN AND HEARD.
AND MANY OF THESE CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN OF COLOR, WHICH AS WE KNOW, IT'S NOT A BIG SECRET.
WITH ALL THE GENTRIFICATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN, THESE FAMILIES ARE BEING PUSHED OUT.
LUPE UNDERSTANDS THAT EVERYONE THAT LIVES AT A HOUSING AUTHORITY UNIT HAS THE RIGHT TO STILL STAY IN AUSTIN AND TO HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD A QUALITY OF LIFE.
I'M GONNA STOP TALKING 'CAUSE THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT WANNA CELEBRATE HER, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND ME SUCH AS CONS, UH, CONS MORALES, WHO IS A CHAMPION OF THE WORK THAT SHE DOES.
MS. MATA CORRA, WHO'S IN THE BACK, THAT IS A CHAMPION OF HER WORK OVER HERE.
MS. LEO NOR VARGAS, WHO IS A CHAMPION OF HER WORK.
AND I CAN'T FORGET ALSO MY GREAT TEAM HERE AT AUSTIN SOUTHWEST KEY, WHO ARE CHAMPIONS OF HER WORK.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ, WHO EVEN BEFORE RUNNING, WAS ALSO HELPING AND SUPPORTING AND IS A CHAMPION OF HER WORK IN IDENTIFYING HOW HOT IT WAS DURING THE SUMMER AND PURCHASING WITH THEIR OWN MONEY AIR CONDITIONED WINDOW UNITS TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES WERE KEPT COOL DURING THE SUMMERTIME.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER AND BRING IT UP TO CONSTABLE MORALES, PLEASE.
I'LL START WITH A COUPLE OF WORDS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, COMMITMENT, AND DEDICATION.
THAT IS WHAT LOOP IS ABOUT COMMUNITY, WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE REPRESENT IS SERVICE.
LUPE GIVES SO MUCH WITH HER HEART, SO MUCH TO HER COMMUNITY, AND IF YOU LOOK BEHIND ME, YOU'LL SEE A VICE PRESIDENT, A PROFESSIONAL BOXER, YOU'LL SEE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU'LL SEE A CONSTABLE.
WE ARE ALL, WE HAVE ALL BEEN MENTORED BY LUPE.
THIS IS THE AREA THAT SHE STRIVES IN TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR NOT JUST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT FOR KIDS WHO ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND UNDERREPRESENTED.
SO, WITH A GREAT HEART, I WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO LUPE.
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DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF NOT JUST THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU REPRESENT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE.
HI, DOING, MY NAME IS MANNY ZEPEDA OR MANUEL ZEPEDA.
I GREW UP IN AUSTIN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I LIVED IN MEADOWBROOK HOUSING AUTHORITY AND I WAS ALSO RAISED IN SANTA RITA COURTS.
AND SO AT, AFTER RETIRING FROM BOXING, I OPENED UP THE GYM AND GAVE BACK FOR 15 YEARS OF, OF FREE BOXING LESSONS.
AND, AND FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SHOW THEM THAT SOMEONE ON THEIR LEVEL WAS ABLE TO, TO MAKE IT SOMEONE THAT WAS ABLE TO COME BACK AND GIVE BACK.
UH, WE, WE, I LIKE SANTA READ A LOT 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE I LIVED AT THE MOST.
AND SO WHEN I MET LUPE, UH, IT WAS AWESOME.
I MEAN, NO ONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DESERVE TO, TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND, AND, AND, AND GIVE AN EFFORT, BUT SHE'S ALWAYS THERE.
WE, WE JUST COME IN AND HELP YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAN.
BUT SHE, SHE'S THERE EVERY DAY, UH, ON, ON GROUND ZERO, I WOULD SAY, MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR THE KIDS AND FAMILIES THERE.
SO I'M IN AWE OF HER, UH, MUCH LOVE FOR HER AND WHAT SHE DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO HELP, UH, WITH OUR NETWORKS PUT TOGETHER.
IT'S, IT'S TO ME, WE CAN DO ANYTHING TOGETHER IF WE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND WORK.
UM, I'M GLAD THAT MANNY CLEARED UP THAT HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER, AND I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY ASSUMING THAT THAT WAS ME.
UM, I, I SAID THIS ON THE DAIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND, AND I'LL SAY IT HERE.
I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT I'VE, UH, KNOWN LUPE SINCE 2017, AND SHE LIKES TO TELL PEOPLE THAT SHE'S KNOWN MY MOM SINCE THE EIGHTIES.
UM, LUPE IS THE HEART AND THE GLUE THAT HOLDS SANTA RITA TOGETHER.
THESE, ALL THESE FOLKS BEHIND ME.
ANYTIME LUPE NEEDS SOMETHING, SHE GIVES US A HOLLER AND WE GO, WE GO TO BE OF SERVICE.
BUT SHE'S REALLY THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ALL THAT, WHETHER IT'S VACCINATIONS, ACS, WHEN THOSE, UM, WHEN THE SANTA RITA PROJECTS ARE TOO HOT TOYS, UH, FOOD FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, WHATEVER IT IS, LUPE IS THERE AND ON THE GROUND AND TAKING, MAKING SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF SANITA HAVE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THEY NEED.
AND I'M JUST HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE HER.
UM, SO NOW I GET TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS LUPE GARCIA HAS EXEMPLIFIED SELFLESSNESS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP AND TIRELESS WORK ON INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF SANITA COURTS THROUGH FOOD, CLOTHING, BACK TO SCHOOL, BACKPACK DRIVES, CHRISTMAS TOYS AND THANKSGIVING MEALS.
AND WHEREAS DURING COVID-19, LUPE BEGAN SEWING, SEWING FACE MASKS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS AT SANITA COURTS AND WORKED WITH TRAVIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR, CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES TO ADVOCATE AND ENSURE VACCINE MOBILE UNITS WERE AVAILABLE AT SANITA.
AND WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO INSPIRING, MOTIVATING AND EMPOWERING THE WOMEN OF HAKA TO BUILD THEIR FUTURE THROUGH AN ANNUAL WOMEN'S MINDED EASE CONFERENCE, LUPA HAS SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE IM OMS HAKA WOMEN'S GROUP 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT, WHERE WOMEN CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, SHARE RESOURCES, AND HELP EACH OTHER RISE TO BUILD A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEMSELVES.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH CONTINUED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIPS, AND I WOULD SAY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS ALSO LUPA SUPPORTS AND IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF HAKA RESIDENTS AND CONTINUES TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT FOR THE WOMEN OF AUSTIN.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELAZQUEZ ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024 AS LUPE GARCIA DAY IN AUSTIN.
I, UM, MOVED TO SANTA RITA EIGHT YEARS AGO AND ONE DAY SOMEBODY ASKED MY DAUGHTER, WHY DID I MOVE TO EAST AUSTIN TO SANTA RITA? AND MY DAUGHTER RESPONDED, THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT EVER COULD HAPPEN TO HER.
I CAME THERE NOT KNOWING ANYBODY, NOT REALIZING WHAT I HAD GOTTEN MYSELF INTO.
I SAT THERE FOR SIX MONTHS DOING ANYTHING.
BUT AS TIME WENT ON, I GOT TO KNOW PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS AND DECIDED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE FOR ME.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK JOSE COUNCILMAN JOSE VELAZQUEZ FOR THIS AWARD, AND I'M
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SO HONORED TO BE HERE.SECOND, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FAMILY, THE HAKA FAMILY.
MR. GILBERT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TRUSTING IN ME AND ALLOWING ME TO CREATE ALL THESE PROGRAMS AT SANTA RITA FOR THE BENEFITS OF ALL HAKA PROPERTIES, NOT JUST SANTA RITA.
I STRIVE, I DO EVERYTHING WITH HONOR AND PRIDE.
I CONTINUE TO BE HONESTLY TRUSTWORTHY TO EVERYONE.
I AM HERE TODAY TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MY MOM, MY FAMILY, MY FAMILY AT SANTA RITA AND ALL THE HAKA PROPERTIES.
IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE A RESIDENT AS SANTA RITA AND HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE.
SO MANY GOALS, BUT NOT GOALS FOR ME.
THERE ARE GOALS FOR THE FAMILIES THAT SEEK MY HELP AND TRUST IN ME AND BELIEVE IN ME.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO ALL OF THOSE THAT SUPPORTED ME.
AUSTIN NEW CHURCH, SOUTHWEST KEYS, HAKA, CAPITAL METRO FROST BANK, KENDRA SCOTT, ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVED IN ME SEVEN YEARS AGO AND STILL WITH ME TODAY.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH, SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
[Proclamation – National Week of Prayer for Healing of AIDS – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
EVERYONE.MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN, I'M PROUD TO
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BE JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.WE ARE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS, WHICH IS MARCH 3RD THROUGH THE NINTH.
THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS IS A TIME FOR US TO REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE LOST TO AIDS AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO REMAIN IMPACTED BY AIDS AND HIV.
IT'S ALSO A TIME FOR US TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE SEVERELY MORE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS THAN OTHERS.
IN FACT, IN 2021, THE RATE OF BLACK FEMALES LIVING WITH AN HIV DIAGNOSIS IS 17.1 TIMES HIGHER THAN WHITE FEMALES HERE LOCALLY.
AND SO THOUGH, ALTHOUGH WE AS, AS A SOCIETY HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN COMBATING HIV AND AIDS, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND SUPPORT.
WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THOSE THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY IN SUPPORTING THOSE THAT ARE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS.
WE HAVE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, THE BLACK MEN'S HEALTH CLINIC, THE AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS ALLURE ALLIANCE, AND HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY.
SO NOW I WILL PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF DR. LARRY WALLACE.
THE DIRECTOR OF BLACK MEN'S HEALTH CLINIC IS OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH ADRIAN STREP, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS FROM 2020 FROM 2011 THROUGH 2022 HIV INCIDENT RATES FOR BLACKS HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN HIGHER THAN RATES FOR HISPANICS, WHITES AND OTHERS.
INCIDENT RATES ARE DECREASING OVER TIME, WHICH SIGNIFIES PROGRESS, YET UNDERSCORES THE IMPERATIVE FOR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES AND ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY HIV AIDS.
AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE 2022 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, BLACK WOMEN ARE 9.5% OF THE FEMALE POPULATION HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
HOWEVER, BLACK WOMEN ARE 53.3% OF TRAVIS COUNTY WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV AND WHEREAS ONE IN 277 BLACK WOMEN IN TRAVIS COUNTY ARE LIVING WITH HIV IN NEARLY ONE IN FOUR BLACK WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
LEMME SAY THAT AGAIN, WERE OUT OF CARE IN 2021.
WHEREAS PREVENTION, EDUCATION, TREATMENT, AND CONT CONTINUITY OF CARE AND HAVING A MEDICAL HOME ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF NEW DIAGNOSES AND UNTIMELY DEATH.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEEK FOR PRAYER, FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS OF HIV PLANNING, COLLABORATIVE GROUP AND OTHER LOYAL PARTNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHURCHES TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND ELIMINATE THE STIGMA AND CREATE A SUP COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH HIV AIDS.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH COMMEMORATES THE 2024 NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOYAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATING FOR HEALTH EQUITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN VANESSA FUENTES ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA SHARPER MADISON ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 3RD, EXCUSE ME, MARCH 3RD THROUGH MARCH 10TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
OH, THE CHALLENGES OF BEING TALL.
I REALLY DO HAVE GOOD POSTURE Y'ALL,
UM, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO DO LARRY WALLACE, UH, JUSTICE BY ACCEPTING THIS ON HIS BEHALF.
UM, I WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF PARTNERS THAT YOU READ OFF ON THE LIST AND IT, IT'S A GOOD REMINDER THAT SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE TAKES A VILLAGE AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN PRIVILEGED TO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAVE STOOD ALONGSIDE THEM SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WORKING ON THIS ISSUE NOT GIVING UP BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP UNTIL THE DATA SAYS THAT WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
BUT I'M SO MUCH MORE APPRECIATIVE OF BEING PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT RECOGNIZES THAT SOMETIMES WITH THE STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, YOU NEED THAT SPECIAL SAUCE.
UM, AND SO WHY NOT RIGHT? IN ALL THINGS GIVE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER.
UM, AND I AM SO CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE CHAMPIONS THAT ARE IN THIS SPACE AND THE HEALER OF ABOVE, WE WILL REACH OUR GOAL NOT ONLY FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY, BUT FOR BLACK WOMEN IN GENERAL.
AND SO I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THIS TEAM AND TO THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CONTINUING TO BRING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT.
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THANK YOU.I'M SUPPOSED TO READ THESE DATES OFF.
UM, SO IF YOU HAVE TIME DURING YOUR LUNCH HOUR AND YOU WANNA GET A LITTLE BIT OF JESUS AND, AND BE DOWN FOR THE CAUSE, WE ARE HAVING DAILY NEW, UH, SESSIONS HOSTED BY GREATER LOVE BAPTIST CHURCH ON MAINOR ROAD.
AND THAT'LL BE MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY.
AND ON WEDNESDAY THERE'LL BE A SERVICE AT HOUSTON TILLSON.
AND THEN ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH, IN THE EVENING, THERE IS A CITYWIDE OBSERVANCE WHERE WE'LL HAVE, UM, SHARE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO DATE, UM, COMMEMORATE THOSE THAT, AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE FIGHT.
AND THEN TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
[Proclamation – Southgate-Lewis House – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON.I AM THE VERY PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DISTRICT ONE COVERS NORTHEAST EAST, UH, AND EAST DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
AND TODAY I GET THE, THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE SOME FOLKS AND TO RECOGNIZE SOME PLACES IN MY HOMETOWN.
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A PLACE THAT WE'VE ALL PASSED.
UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN EASTBOUND ON 12TH STREET, YOU PASSED IT.
YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
UM, SO THERE AT THE CORNER OF 12TH AND KOALA AT 1501 EAST 12TH STREET, THERE'S A BUILDING CALLED THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE.
UM, I PASSED IT MYSELF FOR DECADES AND I I JUST WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT ONE SPOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE YELLOW GAS STATION WITH THE BANNERS OF BLACK PEOPLE OUTSIDE
UM, AND I THINK RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PLACES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MOST ESPECIALLY IN THAT SPACE, THE EPICENTER OF WHAT IS, UM, THE HEART OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
THERE ARE PLACES IN SPACES THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET.
UM, AND SO THIS MORNING I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO INTRODUCE FOLKS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR AND
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THEN OFFER SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO FOLKS WHO ARE FAMILIAR BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SPENDING THEIR TIME AND THEIR EFFORT AND THEIR ENERGY AND THEIR TREASURE KEEPING THE SPACE ALIVE.THE SOUTH GATE, SOUTH GATE LEWIS HOUSE STANDS AS A LEGACY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IT'S BEEN SERVING AS A CONSTANT, CONSISTENT, EVEN IF WE DIDN'T KNOW IT YET, REMINDER OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESILIENCE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
THE SOUTH GATE LEWIS HOUSE IS MORE THAN JUST A LANDMARK, WHICH IT IS ACTUALLY, IT IS A CULTURAL ASSET THAT WE CAN INVEST IN AND ENRICH ITS VALUE AND BE ENRICHED BY.
IT'S LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
THE HOUSE PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE PRESERVATION AND THE PROMOTION OF BLACK AUSTIN HERITAGE AND HISTORY.
ALTHOUGH, UM, THE, SOME OF THE FOLKS BEHIND ME OR ONE OF THE FOLKS RATHER BEHIND ME, UH, VIRGINIA APTLY DESCRIBED, UM, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN WITH THESE KINDS OF HISTORIC ASSETS.
SHE SAID, WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A DORMANT ARTIFACT, WHICH REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.
I THINK, UH, FAR TOO FREQUENTLY, UH, HISTORY GETS LOST AND OR SACRIFICED FRANKLY, TO THOSE HISTORY BUFFS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LIVING IN IT.
AND I THINK ACTIVATING PLACES AND SPACES THAT SERVE AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF OUR HISTORY, OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE, UM, ARE MUCH BETTER USE OF SPACES.
AND SO WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS GROUP OF FOLKS THAT HAVE TAKEN OVER AS THE STEWARDS, UM, FOR THIS SPACE, UH, NOW, BUT BUILDING OUT PROGRAMMATIC EFFORTS AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT MAKE IT SO THAT THE SPACE CONTINUES TO EXIST IN PERPETUITY.
UM, REGARDLESS OF WHO THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE, REGARDLESS OF WHO THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS.
UM, AND ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR THAT'S STANDING BEHIND ME, MR. BUTCHER MALAM, WOULD YOU MIND GIVING HIM A WAVE? THIS GENTLEMAN HERE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES HAS OFFERED US HIS TIME, HIS TALENT, AND HIS TREASURE AS THE PRIMARY STEWARD FOR THE SOUTH GATE LEWIS HOUSE.
BUT AS A PART OF THE WH PASSAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THIS SYMBOL OF OUR PRESENCE IN LARGE PART IS DUE TO MR. BERTRAM ALLEN WHO CAME ABOARD, WHICH BY THE WAY, YOU GUYS, IF YOU'RE EVER REALLY CURIOUS TO KNOW EVERY SINGLE DETAIL ABOUT THIS, I'VE NEVER SEEN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WIKIPEDIA PAGE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THAT
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEGLECTS TO TELL YOU IS THAT THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A TRAVELING, UM, BLACK HISTORY LESSON.
UH, AND THAT WAS ONE MR. BERTRAM MALLIN.
UH, AND HE CAME ACROSS THIS ASSET THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS SITTING THERE EMPTY, FRANKLY, UM, AND BREATHE LIFE INTO THE SPACE AND BREATHE CURIOSITY ABOUT THE SPACE.
UM, AND SO WE CAN'T CONTINUE THE DAY AND THE RECOGNITION OF THE SPACE AND THE NEW FOLKS.
WITHOUT RECOGNIZING MR. BERTRAM AND SOME OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE WH PASSAN, UH, HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE HISTORICAL EFFORTS TO SAVE AND RESTORE THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE, HIGHLIGHT HOW VALUABLE THIS HOUSE IS TO OUR CITY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AS A CITY, AS A STATE.
IT IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.
THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE OFFERS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO LEARN ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN AUSTIN AND BEYOND.
IT SERVES AS A REPOSITORY OF OUR STORIES, ARTIFACTS, AND MEMORIES THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE AREA.
THE SUCCESSFUL PRESERVATION EFFORT OF THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE WILL SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER HISTORIC SPACES FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES.
AND THOSE CHALLENGES ARE, FRANKLY, INTENTIONAL DISINVESTMENT, UM, SPACES BECOME DILAPIDATED AND ARE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF VICTIM TO DEMOLITION BY DISREPAIR WHEN WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM.
UM, AND SO OUR EFFORTS TO CARE ABOUT SPACES IS HOW WE PRIMARILY PRESERVE THEM.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO OFFER THIS PROCLAMATION.
UM, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, MS. VIRGINIA CUMBERBATCH TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, GOOD MORNING.
UH, COUNCILMAN HARPER MADISON AND THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CREATING THIS MOMENT FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I THINK A REALLY BEAUTIFUL MOMENT IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, PARTICULARLY THIS LAST DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UM, AND AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE, UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, A BLACK NATIVE AUSTINITE.
THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL, UM, PROJECT TO BE INVOLVED IN.
UM, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE IMPACT OF GENTRIFICATION IS PHYSICAL DISPLACEMENT, BUT WHICH I THINK ITS LESS VISIBILITY, IS ITS ABILITY TO DISRUPT AND FRAGMENT OUR CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS CITY WHERE OUR VISIBILITY AND OUR PRESENCE AND OUR CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AREN'T ALWAYS DOCUMENTED.
AND SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN A SENSE OF OUR OWN
[00:40:01]
CONNECTION AND BELONGING AND AFFIRMATION, UH, TO THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.UM, CONTINUE TO NOT BE AS ACKNOWLEDGED AS IT SHOULD BE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS PROJECT GETS TO BE A PART OF THAT HEALING PROCESS, THAT RECONCILIATION PROCESS.
UM, BECAUSE OUR VISION IS NOT JUST TO RESTORE THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE AS A HISTORIC ARTIFACT, BUT TO REIMAGINE IT TO BE A CONTINUED SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND INNOVATION FOR THE CITY THAT WE CALL HOME.
UH, THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT US TO THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN CULTURALLY, ARTISTICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, AND OFFER SPACE TO CULTIVATE ONGOING CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, PRESERVE OUR STORIES, AND HELP DOCUMENT OUR INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON THE CITY LANDSCAPE.
UM, AND SO AS WE STAND HERE ON THE LAST DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HAS ALREADY SHARED, I THINK IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE AND IMPERATIVE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HISTORY MAKERS, OUR HISTORY, PRESERVER, PRESERVERS, AND OUR CULTURAL NEIGHBORS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WORK OF, UH, MR. BERTRAM ALLEN AND THE ORIGINAL CUSTODIANS AND STEWARDS OF THIS HOUSE, WHICH ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE WH PASSANT SOCIETY.
AND SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE IN ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR WORK TO NOT ONLY BE PRESERVERS, BUT TO BE CO-LABORERS IN BUILDING THE STORY OF AUSTIN.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE THE NEW CUSTODIANS AND STEWARDS OF THIS SPACE.
SOME OF THEM PRESENT, OTHERS I KNOW ARE TUNING IN.
UM, I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, FOR THEIR PASSION, FOR THEIR INTENTION, AND FOR THEIR STEWARDSHIP.
AND SO WE INVITE THE REST OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, UH, TO BE CURIOUS, TO GET CONNECTED, UM, AND TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE NOT ONLY TO THIS SPACE, BUT THE MANY SPACES THAT DESERVE TO BE SEEN AND TO BE DOCUMENTED.
UM, AND SO WE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE WILL INVITE Y'ALL LATER THIS YEAR, UM, TO COME OUT TO THE SPACE ON JUNETEENTH.
WE'LL BE HAVING SORT OF A KICKOFF EVENT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE WELCOME YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR MONEY.
WE DID SAY TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE.
KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF AUSTIN'S AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT IS BOTH A PILLAR OF THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND A WELL MAINTAINED REPOSITORY OF BLACK HISTORY AND AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE HAS STOOD FOR NEARLY 140 YEARS SERVING AS A SYMBOL OF BLACK AUSTIN'S RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF DISCRIMINATION, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, AND DISPLACEMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL FOR A SIGNIFICANCE IN PRESERVING BLACK HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS THE SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE IS TODAY IS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE WH PASANT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED NOT ONLY TO SAFEGUARDING AUSTIN'S BLACK HISTORY, BUT ALSO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC FOR DECADES ON THE ROLE OF BLACK AUSTINITES, UH, AND ON THE ROLE THAT BLACK AUSTINITES HAVE HAD IN SHAPING THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 29TH, 2024 AT SOUTHGATE LEWIS HOUSE APPRECIATION DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M GONNA HAND THAT TO YOU, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY SLIDE AROUND IN FRONT OF THE FLAG.
[00:48:20]
GOOD MORNING,[Proclamation – Black History Month Recognitions – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
AUSTIN, TEXAS.I AM NATASHA HARPER MADISON PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AND TODAY, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A VERY LARGE GROUP OF FOLKS BEHIND ME.
UM, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO OFFER SOME RECOGNITION TO THEM TODAY FOR BEING THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE CITY TOGETHER.
SO ON THIS LAST DAY, THIS LAST LEAP DAY, UH, FOR FEBRUARY FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THESE FOLKS WHO REPRESENT, UH, THE BEST OF BLACK AUSTIN HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO I DO HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER, UM, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST GO DOWN AND MAKE SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE, OF THE FOLKS WHO DO THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.
UM, I THINK SOMETIMES WE MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SURFACE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT ANALOGY ABOUT THE, THE DUCK'S FEET UNDERNEATH THE WATER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FLAPPING FURIOUSLY.
EVEN IF THINGS LOOK COOL AND CALM UP TOP, THAT MEANS THESE FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR JOB, UM, WHICH WE COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR.
SO THIS IS US SAYING THANK YOU.
UM, A CM STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, INTERIM CHIEF OF POLICE, ROBIN HENDERSON, FIRE CHIEF JOE BAKER.
IT IS A REALLY LONG THIS SHOW,
GAIL MCCANN, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
ADRIAN STEER, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, ROOSEVELT WEEKS DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
KEN SNIPES, HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER, DAVID GRAY, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY DEBORAH THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF FLEET AND MOBILITY
[00:50:01]
SERVICES.JENNIFER WALLS, UM, OUR ZONING OFFICER, JOY HARDEN.
JOE DIXON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FLEET AND MOBILITY SERVICES.
ANGELA MEANS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UH, OUR BUDGET OFFICER, CARRIE LANG, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
LAUREN MIDDLETON PRATT, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, HEALTH AUTHORITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
DESAR WALKS DARL ALEXANDER, OUR DIRECTOR OF BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO SOVIA HOLT, OUR DIRECTOR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
TAMALA SALDANA, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, WHICH ACTUALLY I, I'M SORRY, I HAD TO DO IT.
SHE ACTUALLY HAS THREE TITLES CURRENTLY.
UM, SO I SAID INTERIM DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
PLEASE REMIND ME THE OTHER TWO.
INTERIM, UM, DIRECTOR FOR OFFICE OF EQUITY, AND THEN THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, ALL OF YOU.
UM, CAR GALE, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT.
CARRIE OVERTON, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER OF AUSTIN ENERGY, DINEEN BROWN AUSTIN, UH, OR ASSISTANT, SORRY, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
HANNAH TERRELL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
GHISLAINE BADI, DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER.
TRACY ALLEN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
RICHARD JANICE, VICE PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN OF CUSTOMER ENERGY SOLUTIONS AT AUSTIN ENERGY AND SHARIF WASHINGTON, DEPUTY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT.
I KNOW THERE WAS A SNAFU AND BECAUSE I KNOW HER FACE, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD MS. JOY.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WE FORGOT, PLEASE DON'T ASSUME THAT YOUR LACK OF THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF PAPER, UM, IS, IS INDICATIVE OF A LACK OF APPRECIATION.
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, OF THE RESIDENTS, RATHER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS MOVE THIS GROUP OUT INTO THE HALL FOR A QUICK SHOT.
AND THEN, UM, I SEE THE MAYOR SENT MAX IN HERE TO TELL ME TO WRAP IT UP.
UH, THERE'S A COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE VERY MUCH.