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[Proclamation – Senator Judith Zaffirini Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
ALL RIGHT.WHAT AN EXCITING MORNING FOR US HERE AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT HONOR A VERY SPECIAL TRAILBLAZER AMONG US SENATOR.
NO, DEAN ZINI HAS MADE HISTORY TIME AND TIME AGAIN THROUGHOUT HER TENURE IN THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE.
SHE'S AN ADVOCATE, A FIGHTER, A ROLE MODEL FOR MANY OF US HERE IN AUSTIN AND ACROSS THE STATE.
IN FACT, I, OVER 12 YEARS AGO, HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR TO WORK FOR SENATOR ZINI AND GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND HER RELENTLESS WORK ETHICS, WORK ETHIC, HER INTELLIGENCE, AND HER TENACITY FOR GETTING THINGS DONE.
SHE'S AN INSPIRATION, A MENTOR TO ME PERSONALLY, AND SOMEONE WHO I'M VERY PLEASED TO SHARE THE SOUTHEAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY IN REPRESENTING.
SO TO YOU, DEAN, I SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A FIGHTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME AND MANY OTHER WOMEN THAT WE CAN ALWAYS FIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION HONORING DEAN ZINI.
AND BY JOINING ME AS REAL QUICK, WE HAVE OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, GINA NOOSA, DONNA HOWARD, LULU FLORES, ALONG WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR.
AND I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY INVITE REPRESENTATIVE FLORES TO SAY A FEW WORDS SINCE SHE ALSO REPRESENTS SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, UH, FUENTES.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
UH, IT'S MY DISTINCT HONOR TO BE HERE ASIDE A VERY GREAT LADY, UH, WHOM I'VE KNOWN SINCE I WAS A CHILD.
UH, UH, THE SENATOR AND I GO, UH, BACK A LONG WAY.
WE WERE BOTH AT URSULINE ACADEMY.
UH, SHE, UH, IS PART OF OUR FAMILY.
UH, SHE IS ACTUALLY MARRIED TO MY COUSIN CARLOS.
AND SO WE REALLY GO BACK A LONG WAY, AND IT'S MY DISTINCT HONOR TO NOW SHARE PART OF MY DISTRICT WITH HER.
SHE REPRESENTS PART OF SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, AS DO I IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
UH, I, I, YOU KNOW, SHE TAUGHT MY SISTER AT LAREDO JUNIOR COLLEGE.
SHE WAS A VERY, UM, DEMANDING PROFESSOR, AS I RECALL HEARING FROM MY SISTER AND HER FRIENDS.
HOWEVER, HER EXACTING, YOU KNOW, UH, DEMEANOR AND MANNER IS, IS, IS A, IS LEGEND, OF COURSE.
AND, BUT THE NUNS TAUGHT AS WELL.
BUT I WOULD JUST WANNA SAY, I WANNA JUST HAVE A MOMENT TO JUST HONOR HER AND SAY THAT I AM VERY PROUD AND PLEASED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE HER IN THE LEGISLATURE.
AND I, YOU CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER.
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT SHE IS IN FACT A LEGEND IN HER OWN RIGHT.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES, WHO'S WITH US TODAY, WHO ALSO REPRESENTS SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND TO DO THE HONORS, WE HAVE OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON, WHO WILL BE READING TODAY'S PROCLAMATION, WHO IS A COLLEAGUE OF SENATOR ZINI FOR MANY YEARS.
IT'S A, IT'S A REAL HONOR FOR ME.
UM, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, SENATOR ZINI, DEAN ZINI, UM, HAS A NUMBER OF TITLES.
UM, BUT FRIEND IS ALSO A, A KEY TITLE FOR HER.
AND, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED.
TEACHER, UH, I WENT INTO THE SENATE.
UH, SHE, SHE WAS, UH, HAD BEEN IN THE SENATE MANY YEARS AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
UH, AND, AND WHEN I WENT INTO THE SENATE, WE KNEW EACH OTHER.
BUT, UM, I MUST ADMIT, I DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH SHE COULD TEACH, UH, TEACH ME AND, AND HOW OPEN SHE WAS TO BEING WILLING TO DO THAT.
UH, SO I WANNA SAY, SINCE I GET THIS CHANCE TO DO IT, I GET TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.
AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M ESPECIALLY PLEASED THAT SHE NOW HAS THE TITLE OF DEAN.
UH, SHE, SHE IS, UM, SHE'S KEY TO THE WAY THE SENATE OPERATES AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, UH, I, I FRANKLY CAN'T IMAGINE A TEXAS SENATE WITHOUT A SENATOR ZINI.
AND NOW THAT SHE'S THE DEAN OF THE SENATE, UH, IT, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A SPECIAL, SPECIAL THING.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS SENATOR JUDITH ZINI IS THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO THE TEXAS SENATE AND BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN DEAN OF THE SENATE ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2023,
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WHERE SHE SUCCEEDED 24 MEN WHO HELD THE TITLE SINCE 1909.AND WHEREAS DEAN ZINIS LEGENDARY WORK ETHIC IS REFLECTED IN HER HAVING CAST 72,132 CONSECUTIVE VOTES SINCE 1987, THAT'S A LOT.
AND WHEREAS DEAN ZINI IS AN AWARD-WINNING COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST WHO HAS WON MORE THAN 1200 AWARDS AND HONORS FOR HER LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL WORK.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 7TH, 2024, AS DEAN SENATOR JUDITH ZINI DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
AND THANK YOU VERY ESPECIALLY TO MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE MEMBERS OF THE LAREDO OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WELL, WE HAVE A LAREDO ONE ON IT,
SO ALL YOU AUSTINITES, BE AWARE WE HAVE LAREDO ONES EVERYWHERE,
IN FACT, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A LAREDO DAY.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL RECOGNITION BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND TO CELEBRATE THAT WE HAVE FINALLY SHATTERED THAT CEILING, THE FIRST WOMAN DEAN OF THE TEXAS CENTER.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S ME, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A WOMAN.
AND FRANKLY, IF I HADN'T BEEN IN PLACE TO ASSUME THE TITLE AFTER JOHN WHITMEYER LEFT TO BECOME MAYOR OF HOUSTON, THE NEXT THREE SENATORS IN SENIORITY ARE MEN.
BUT WHAT IF SHE WEREN'T THERE WHEN IT GOT TO BE HER TURN? HOW MUCH LONGER WOULD IT HAVE TAKEN? SO BASICALLY TODAY WE CELEBRATE, BUT WHILE WE CELEBRATE ANOTHER FIRST FOR ANOTHER WOMAN, IN THIS CASE, FIRST WOMAN DEAN OF THE SENATE, IT'S ALSO BITTERSWEET BECAUSE FRANKLY, WHY IN THE WORLD DID IT TAKE SO LONG? AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE WE GET THE NEXT ONE? THAT'S VERY SAD.
AND SO WHAT WE NEED IS MORE WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
WOMEN COMPRISE MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CITY AND EVERY STATE IN OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE JUST LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HAVE A MAJORITY OF WOMEN IN SINGLE ELECTED BODY.
BUT LET US NEVER FORGET THAT WOMEN CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
IN THE 1970S, I WROTE A SPEECH TITLED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, WOMEN AND MEN WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A MORE PERFECT UNION.
BECAUSE LET US NEVER FORGET THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY MEN OUT THERE WHO ALSO BELIEVE IN WOMEN'S RIGHTS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR, MAYOR.
AND TO THEM WE SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S ISSUES.
AND WOMEN HAVE PROVEN THAT WE'RE SMART ENOUGH, STRONG ENOUGH, TOUGH ENOUGH.
YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, NOW YOU KNOW WHAT OUR PROBLEM IS? WE NEED TO PROVE THAT WE'RE LIKABLE ENOUGH
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE WOMEN TO BE THE FIRST, IF YOU MUST BE, BUT TO WORK TOWARD THE DAY WHERE WE WILL NO LONGER CELEBRATE THOSE FIRSTS WHERE WE WILL HAVE MANY, MANY WOMEN WHERE PEOPLE WILL NOT REACT TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S A MAJORITY OF WOMEN OR THERE'S ANOTHER FIRST.
BUT TO JUST TAKE IT AS THE WAY BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED IN ANY CITY THE WAY IT IS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
REALLY, AUSTIN IS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
I WISH WE HAD MORE CITIES LIKE THIS.
AND FOR MY PART, I RECOGNIZE THAT GETTING THERE IS THE EASIEST PART OF ALL.
WHAT WE DO ONCE WE ARRIVE IS MORE IMPORTANT.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO PROVE IS THAT WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO REPRESENT ALL WOMEN AND ALL MEN, ALL BOYS AND ALL GIRLS.
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MANY TIMES, I THINK, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR LITTLE GIRLS? I SAY THE SAME ADVICE I HAVE FOR LITTLE BOYS.STAY IN SCHOOL, WORK HARD, STAY OFF DRUGS, STAY AWAY FROM GANGS, AND DREAM HIGH.
AND IT IS THE CHILDREN OF THE OF TODAY WHO WILL CHANGE THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WHOM WE MUST LOOK TO.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 13, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF WHAT I WOULD DO WHEN I GREW UP.
I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF GOING TO COLLEGE UNTIL I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.
BUT MY SON AT THE AGE OF 13 WANTED TO MARRY A DOCTOR AT THE AGE OF 13.
HE WANTED TO MARRY A DOCTOR, NOT BE ONE, MARRY ONE.
NOW, THAT IS HOW THE WORLD IS CHANGING.
THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF TODAY WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.
AND WHAT WE MUST DO ONCE WE ARRIVE IS TO PROVE THAT WE DESERVE TO BE THERE AND THAT WE CAN DO IT.
I NEVER EVER ASK CHILDREN TO BE LIKE ME.
I ALWAYS SAY, IF JUDY PAPAS FROM EL GU LAREDO CAN GROW UP TO BE A SENATOR WITH A PHD, YOU CAN GROW UP TO BE GOVERNOR OR CHIEF JUSTICE OR PRESIDENT OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.
WE WANT OUR CHILDREN NOT TO BE LIKE US, TO BE BETTER THAN WE ARE.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO MATCH OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WE WANT THEM TO SURPASS OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND SO TODAY, I SAY AGAIN TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE WHO WORKED SO HARD, MY STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE WITH ME TODAY, AND ALL OF YOU WHO CAME TODAY TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL DAY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TOMORROW.
BUT AS USUAL IN AUSTIN, WE'RE EARLY.
[Proclamation – International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter]
A WAY TO KICK OFF OUR MORNING OF CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.THANK YOU, UH, DEAN ZINI, UM, FOR ALL THAT YOU MEAN TO OUR COMMUNITY, ALL THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY TO HELP US AND WHAT YOU MEAN FOR US AS WOMEN LEADERS, AS OUR A ROLE MODEL FOR US.
MY NAME IS ALISON ALTER AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING MOST OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE CHAMBER ALREADY.
UM, AND TODAY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS AT CITY HALL.
IT'S THE DAY THAT WE COME TOGETHER AND WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, WHICH IS TOMORROW.
BUT WE FIGURED YOU DIDN'T WANNA COME DOWN DURING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FOR A LUNCHEON, UM, ON A FRIDAY THAT WAY.
SO WE'RE DOING IT TODAY AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE IN CITY HALL.
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL AND PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN MAJORITY OF COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES HARPER MADISON, KELLY ELLIS MAYOR PRO TE POOL, WELCOME TO CITY HALL AND WELCOME TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE GATHER EACH YEAR FOR US AS MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU FOR SERVING OUR CITY.
THIS IS A MOMENT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN MORE WOMEN ENTER LEADERSHIP ROLES, OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THRIVES.
AND THAT'S WHY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY'S THEME THIS YEAR IS INVEST IN WOMEN ACCELERATE PROGRESS.
BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I INVITE YOU TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM.
WE HAVE WOMEN HERE REPRESENTING OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY'S EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE FOLKS REPRESENTING OUR COUNTY, OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, OUR JUDICIAL BENCHES, AUSTIN, ISD, AND AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AS SENATOR ZINI MENTIONED, AUSTIN IS UNIQUE AND EVERY SINGLE ELECTED BODY HAS FEMALE MAJORITIES.
WE HAVE A FEMALE MAJORITY CITY COUNCIL, FEMALE MAJORITY COUNTY COMMISSION, FEMALE MAJORITY, A ISD, FEMALE MAJORITY A CC.
AND EVERY BENCH IS FEMALE MAJORITY.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE OVER 50 PLUS WOMEN
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ELECTEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.AND I WANNA THANK THE ELECTEDS WHO ARE HERE.
EACH OF YOU IS USING YOUR SKILLS TO DO GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, WE CAN REFLECT TOGETHER ON OUR ACHIEVEMENTS.
I WANT US TO ALSO, AS WE DO SO, UPLIFT OTHER WOMEN.
AS SENATOR ZINI MENTIONED ABOUT HER ADVICE, WE EACH IN OUR ROLES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY TO THE NEXT WOMAN OR TO THE NEXT MAN, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MEANS, I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT CHANGE.
UM, WHEN WE GO UPSTAIRS TO THE MAYOR'S BALCONY AND THE WEATHER'S COOPERATING, EVEN IF THE TRAFFIC'S NOT, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONNECT WITH SOMEBODY THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, UM, AND MEET SOMEBODY WHO WILL ADD TO YOUR LIFE IN SOME WAY THAT WE CAN'T PREDICT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I WANT NOW TO RECOGNIZE THE HARDWORKING WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR CITY.
IF YOU LEAD AS A DIRECTOR OR ABOVE, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND NOW? IF YOU PLEASE STAY STANDING NOW, IF YOU LEAD AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OR ABOVE, PLEASE ALSO STAND IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL STAFF.
CAN YOU PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ANOTHER ONE OF OUR AMAZING WOMEN EMPLOYEES WHO'S CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CITY EVERY DAY? CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? NOW BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AROUND.
WE HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, OUR POLICE CHIEF, OUR AUDITOR, OUR CITY CLERK, OUR CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER, OUR PARKS DIRECTOR, WOMEN LEADERS FROM OUR MUNICIPAL COURT, OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC HEALTH PARKS, FLEET FINANCIAL SERVICES.
THERE'S TOO MANY E-D-D-P-I-O LIBRARY, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, FORENSIC SCIENCES, THE LAW DEPARTMENT CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND THEN FROM OUR ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE LEADERS FROM AUSTIN WATER, AUSTIN ENERGY, A-A-R-R-A-R-R, AND MANY MORE.
SO TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT HERE AS WOMEN WHO ARE LEADING OUR CITY WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
YOU TRULY MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
NOW, I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, ALTHOUGH I THINK I HAVE MANY OF THEM UP HERE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE ALL KNOW IT TAKES GUTS TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
WE ARE NEXT GONNA HEAR FROM A CM VERONICA ZENIO.
AND THEN, UM, I'M GONNA COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PHOTO AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO UP TO THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM.
IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A WOMAN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE EXECUTIVE TEAM, MYSELF, STEPHANIE HAYDEN, HOWARD SUSANNA, GABRIEL HALL, AND ANN MORGAN, I BELIEVE IS IN THE BACK.
UM, WE JUST WANNA COMMEND THE WOMEN THAT WORK FOR THE CITY.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYONE THAT'S HERE AND WAS ABLE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT MATTERS AND IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S NOT LOST IN ICE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO WOMEN TO WOMEN, OUR WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION.
I'VE SEEN MANY MEMBERS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING WOMEN IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU FOR BUILDING AND GROWING OUR WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
AND THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL EVENT YESTERDAY THAT I WAS VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF.
SO NOW FOR THE PART YOU'VE BEEN READING FOR THE PROCLAMATION, I'M GONNA OFFER THIS PROCLAMATION WITH THE HELP OF THE MAYOR AND OUR COUNCIL.
AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER OF ALA AND MAYOR WATSON, AS WELL AS THE, THE WOMEN OF COUNCIL THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS MARCH 8TH
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IS RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND MARCH IS CELEBRATED NATIONALLY AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.AND WHEREAS ELECTED WOMEN HOLD A MAJORITY OF SEATS ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THE TRAVIS COUNTY STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AUSTIN, ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OTHER BODIES.
SEE, THAT DOES BEAR REPEATING.
AND WHEREAS WOMEN ALSO SERVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY IN DEPARTMENTAL AND EXECUTIVE ROLES ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND AS APPOINTED STAFF.
AND WHEREAS BY CHAMPIONING EQUAL PAY, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES, HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED WOMEN, ELIMINATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT AND SUPPORTING OUR CHILDCARE ECOSYSTEM, WE CAN BRING MORE WOMEN INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES TO THE BENEFIT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN JOINS WITH WOMEN WORLDWIDE TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, I ALLISON ALTER, ALONG WITH THE FEMALE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL, ALL OF COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, KIRK WATSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 8TH, 2024 AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND MARCH OF 2024 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
SO WE'RE GONNA, UM, INVITE YOU UP TO TAKE A PICTURE IN JUST A SECOND.
UM, BUT I WANNA JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY STAFF, PARTICULARLY CARRIE SMITH, WHO ORGANIZED TODAY'S EVENT AND RECEPTION AS WELL AS KAY GADE WITH LOTS OF SUPPORT FROM MINA, MELISSA, ASHLEY, AND KURT ON MY STAFF, AS WELL AS, UH, FOLKS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES STAFF.
UM, AGAIN, WHEN YOU GO UPSTAIRS, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
PLEASE, IF YOU HAVEN'T MET A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, PLEASE COME UP TO US.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AND TO THANK YOU AND BE TOGETHER SOCIALLY.
WE'LL HAVE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME 'CAUSE THE COUNCIL MEETING WILL START AT 10, AS WE KNOW WITH MAYOR WATSON
UM, AND PLEASE COME JOIN US NOW.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A, A BIG PHOTO FOR WOMEN'S DAY AND THEN GO UP TO THE BALCONY.
UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
[Proclamation – Latino Comedy Project Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez and to be accepted by Adrian Villegas]
HEY EVERYBODY, I AM COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT.FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS IS, UM, THEY ARE A PILLAR IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE WORKED FOR 25 YEARS TO AMPLIFY THE CULTURE, AMPLIFY HUMOR, AND DEFINITELY AMPLIFY LAUGHS.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I WENT TO ONE OF THEIR VERY FIRST SHOWS WHEN I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO THAT WAS ONLY, THAT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN FIVE YEARS AGO, NOT 25 YEARS AGO,
UM, BUT I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO MAKE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS IN THE, IN THE TROOP.
I CONTINUE TO GO TO THEIR SHOWS.
MY DEAR FRIEND, UH, ADRIAN WAS THE MC OF MY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF.
UH, AND WE HAD A LOT OF LAUGHS IN A VERY POLITICAL SETTING, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.
KNOWN THAT THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT, AN AUSTIN FOUNDED AUSTIN GROUNDED CULTURAL ARTS GAME CHANGER, HAS OVERCOME BARRIERS AND WORKED TIRELESSLY SINCE 1998.
TO CHANGE AUSTIN'S CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS, PROMOTE DIVERSITY, OBLITERATE STEREOTYPES, CELEBRATE LATINO CUL CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND AMPLIFY OVERLOOKED STORIES OF COLOR THROUGH THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF RELEVANT, RAW, IRREVERENT, HEARTFELT, REBELLIOUS, PROVOCATIVE, AND ABOVE ALL ELSE HILARIOUS THEATRICAL AND VIDEO PRODUCTIONS BRIMMING WITH LATINO PRIDE.
AND WHEREAS THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT HAS ADVOCATED FOR RESPECT AND INCLUSION FOR LATINOS BY FEARLESSLY STANDING UP TO POLITICIANS, POLITICIANS, INSTITUTIONS, AND SACRED COWS, INCLUDING RICK PERRY, GREG ABBOTT, THE BORDER PATROL, GEORGE W. BUSH, GEORGE P. BUSH, GEORGE LUCAS, DONALD TRUMP, CALIFORNIANS, HIPSTERS AND ABUELA EVERYWHERE WEAR
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THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT HAS BUILT A FIERCELY LOYAL MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAN BASE AND HAS GARED, UH, HAS GARNERED SOLD OUT PERFORMANCES, CRITICAL ACCLAIM, THEATRICAL AWARDS, INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, 14 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS AND AN EMMY NOMINATION AND HAS PERFORMED ACROSS THE CONTINENT AT RENOWNED THEATERS AND FESTIVALS FROM TEXAS TO CANADA.AND WHEREAS THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT WILL CELEBRATE ITS MILESTONE 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024 WITH LCP 25, A SPECIAL REUNION CELEBRATION HONORING THE ONE OF A KIND COMEDIC LEGACY OF CULTURAL AWARENESS AND AWAKENING, OPENING MARCH 14TH THROUGH 23RD AT AUSTIN HYDE PARK THEATER.
AND WHEREAS THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT REMAINS AN ENDURING AND VIVID PRESENCE IN AUSTIN'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND CONTINUES TO CREATE NEW AND MEANINGFUL ART EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH THE LIVES OF AUDIENCES AND PAVED THE WAY FOR NEW AND UNDISCOVERED LATINO TALENT.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELAZQUEZ ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 7TH, 2024 AS LATINO COMEDY PROJECT DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
ADRIAN
I'M GLAD YOU WERE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
OUR ENEMIES ARE NOW YOUR ENEMIES.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MAYOR WATSON AND MY HOMIE AKA COUNCILMAN JOSE VELAZQUEZ.
I'M STILL TRYING TO GET USED TO THAT.
WHAT I MEAN WHAT I CALL YOU YOUR HONOR.
NOW DON'T TELL ANYBODY, DON'T TELL ANYBODY.
UH, FIRST, UM, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ELDER AND MENTOR MARIA ROCHA FOR BEING THE ORIGINAL INSPIRATION TO FORM A COMEDY TROUPE LIKE THIS 1 25 YEARS AGO.
AND SHE WAS GENEROUS ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO TAKE PART IN ITS FOUNDING WITH PERFORMER PLAYWRIGHT ROBERTO REYES.
WE FOLLOWED HER INSPIRATION AND WORKED HARD AT OUR CRAFT.
AND MAGICAL THINGS HAVE FLOWED FOR US AND OUR AUDIENCES EVER SINCE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE TALENTED PEOPLE RIGHT HERE BEHIND ME, JUST A FRACTION, A PAST AND CURRENT LCP WRITERS AND PERFORMERS.
UM, AS JOSE MENTIONED, WE'LL BE REUNITING STARTING NEXT WEEK FOR OUR, UH, LCP 25 RETROSPECTIVE.
UH, IN PREPARATION FOR THAT LAST FEW WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN REVISITING CLASSIC SKETCHES AND RECALLING CRAZY GROUP MEMORIES THAT MANY OF US HAD FORGOTTEN.
AND SOME OF US HAVEN'T SHARED A STAGE IN OVER 20 YEARS.
AND I HAVE BEEN THE LUCKY ONE BLESSED ENOUGH TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND TO HAVE YOUR CREATIVE COLLABORATION AND FRIENDSHIP OVER THE YEARS.
WE ARE ALL PARTS WHO HAVE MADE UP THE WHOLE AND THE LCP COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WHAT IT'S BEEN WITHOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
MOST OF THE SYSTEMS WE INHABIT WEREN'T BUILT FOR THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD EVEN FORM A GROUP CALLED THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS COMEDIC SATIRIST BESIDES HOPEFULLY BEING FUNNY IS TO ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH.
WE COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF PRODUCING OUR OWN SHOWS, CREATING OUR OWN MATERIAL IN OUR OWN VOICES.
AND WE DECIDED AS A GROUP NOT TO WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD NEVER COME FROM COMMUNITIES THAT HISTORICALLY REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE TALENT WHEN IT WEARS A DIFFERENT SKIN COLOR OR SPEAKS IN AN EXOTIC FOREIGN LANGUAGE LIKE SPANGLISH.
AND WE CREATED OUR OWN PLATFORM DOING WHAT WE LOVE SO WE COULD NOT ONLY PROVE AND SHARE OUR TALENT ON OUR OWN TERMS, BUT ALSO REACH OUT TO SHARE THAT PLATFORM WITH OTHERS WHO WOULD FOLLOW AFTER US.
AND WE SAW AS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REFLECT AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY TO SPEAK TO AND FOR OUR CULTURE AND TO ELEVATE OUR PEOPLE THROUGH LAUGHTER AT ABSURD AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL TRUTHS.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT AUSTIN IS A CITY WHERE WE COULD EVENTUALLY BUILD A DIVERSE AND APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE, A RACIALLY DIVERSE AUDIENCE THAT STILL SUPPORTS US AND NOW SPANS MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE AT THE HEART OF OUR WORK WAS NEVER A DESIRE TO EXCLUDE ANYONE, BUT SIMPLY THE DESIRE TO INCLUDE OURSELVES AND ATTEND ONE OF OUR SHOWS.
AND YOU'LL SEE WE INVITE EVERYONE TO SHARE IN OUR CULTURE, TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING AND LAUGHING AT THE RIDICULOUS YET UNIVERSAL THINGS THAT MAKE US ALL HUMAN BECAUSE WE KNOW IN OUR HEARTS AS OUR ANCESTORS DID, LAUGHTER IS MEDICINE.
[00:31:05]
AM COUNCIL MEMBER[Proclamation – Amplify Austin Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez and to be accepted by Piper Stege Nelson, Executive Director of I Live Here I Give Here]
JOSE VELAZQUEZ.AND IT IS MY HONOR TODAY AS WE, UH, STAND HERE AT CITY HALL TO RECOGNIZE, UH, AMPLIFY AUSTIN AND I LIVE HERE.
I GIVE HERE IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE YEAR.
I WAS JUST AT AN EVENT LAST NIGHT THAT I DIDN'T GET TO PARTAKE IN THE TACOS, BUT I MADE A DONATION.
UH, AND SHOUT OUT TO OUR FRIENDS OF, UH, THE NEW PHILANTHROPISTS IN MAN, UM, EXCUSE ME, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY IS CHAIR IS A CHERISHED VALUE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS AMPLIFY AUSTIN DAY, THE BIGGEST GIVING EVENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS HAS EMERGED AS A POWERFUL PLATFORM FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS TO CONNECT WITH DONORS AND AMPLIFY THEIR IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH 24 HOUR ONLINE, UH, 24 HOUR ONLINE GIVING EVENT.
AND WHEREAS THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DILIGENTLY ADDRESS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY SPANNING EDUCATION, HEALTH, THE ARTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHEREAS AMPLIFY AUSTIN DAY UNITES BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUALS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A COLLECTIVE FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, FOSTERING A CULTURE OF GIVING AND MAKING A LASTING DIFFERENCE, DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF FELLOW CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROUDLY ENDORSES AND PARTICIPATES IN AMPLIFY AUSTIN DAY AND ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VIBRANCY AND WELLBEING OF OUR CITY.
AND NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 7TH, 2024 AS AMPLIFY AUSTIN DAY.
UM, SO TODAY IS AMPLIFY AUSTIN DAY.
WE HAVE UNTIL SIX O'CLOCK TODAY.
IT'S THE BIGGEST ONLINE GIVING EVENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
OVER 730 NONPROFITS ARE A PART OF THIS GIVING DAY.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY AND GETTING FOLKS IN CENTRAL TEXAS TO GO ONLINE.
YOU CAN SEARCH BY CAUSE CATEGORY, YOU CAN SEARCH BY LOCATION, YOU CAN SEARCH BY LEADERSHIP.
AND THERE'S INCREDIBLE NONPROFITS ARE PARTICIPATING TODAY.
EVERYTHING FROM THE AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE TO EMANCIPATE TO THE AUSTIN EMPTY BULL PROJECT, THE LILITH FUND, OPEN DOOR PRESCHOOL.
THE RANGE OF NONPROFITS PARTICIPATING TODAY IS INCREDIBLE.
SO PLEASE COME OUT AMPLIFY ATX.ORG UNTIL SIX O'CLOCK TODAY.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS DAY.