Oct 10, 2024 City Council Proclamations

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WE, UH, WE CERTAINLY DON'T DO THIS ALONE.

I HAVE MY TEAM HERE.

THEY'RE A BIG HELP IN KEEPING THE CITY SERVICES SAFE FROM CYBER ATTACKS AS WELL AS, UH, RESIDENT DATA.

AND, UM, WE CERTAINLY WANNA PROMOTE CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

AND THE CITY HAS ALSO PUT HELPFUL INFORMATION, BEST PRACTICES ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THE CITIZENS ARE ALL A PART OF KEEPING THE CITY OF AUSTIN SAFE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR RECORD RECOGNIZING NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS FILE.

I'LL TAKE A PHOTO.

EMPLOYEES WHO MEET THE AGE CRITERIA.

IF WE COULD HAVE Y'ALL STAND IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM FOR THE PICTURE, MAKE SURE WE SEE EVERYBODY IN THE MIDDLE.

[Proclamation – National Retirement Security Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool ]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

I'M MAYOR PROTO LESLIE POOL AND I AM DELIGHTED TODAY TO READ THE PROCLAMATION AND PRESENT IT FOR NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH.

THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS HAS DESIGNATED OCTOBER EACH YEAR AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH.

IN RECOGNITION OF THIS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN SPOTLIGHTS THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE RETIREMENT PLANS AVAILABLE TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

THIS INCLUDES THE CITY'S 4 57 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN, WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY

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THE CITY LAUNCHED THE 4 57 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN, WHICH IS A VOLUNTARY SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN BACK IN 1981.

SINCE THEN, THE CITY HAS SUPPORTED OUR EMPLOYEES IN BUILDING A SECURE FINANCIAL FUTURE WITH TOTAL ASSETS GROWING TO $818.4 MILLION OVER THE PAST 43 YEARS.

IN ADDITION, THE CITY ESTABLISHED THE 4 0 1 A COUNCIL SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN IN 2022.

WITHIN JUST TWO YEARS.

ASSETS IN THIS PLAN HAVE ALREADY REACHED $226,300.

EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN EITHER PLAN PAY A RECORD KEEPING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF 0.079%, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT $7 AND 90 CENTS ANNUALLY, OR ABOUT 66 CENTS A MONTH ON A $10,000 INVESTMENT.

IN RETURN.

FOR THESE MINIMAL FEES, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM TWO DEDICATED ONSITE AND POWER PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE COMPLIMENTARY INVESTMENT ADVICE, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND CUSTOMIZED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE, CONTRIBUTING $25 PER PAY PERIOD OVER 30 YEARS COULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $298 IN MONTHLY RETIREMENT INCOME.

DOUBLING THAT CONTRIBUTION TO $50 PER PAY PERIOD COULD INCREASE MONTHLY INCOME BY CLOSE TO $600 A MONTH, $596 EMPLOYEES CAN ENROLL DURING THE ANNUAL BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD, WHICH BEGAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024, OR ANYTIME BY VISITING THE WEBSITE DC AUSTIN.COM AND THE DC DEFERRED COMP DC AUSTIN ALL ONE WORD.COM.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY IS TO START SAVING NOW.

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS TO BUILD A STRONGER FINANCIAL FUTURE AND FRANKLY, MAKE YOUR RETIREMENT THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION.

I'M GONNA HAND THIS TO MR. BLAKE TO HOLD AND IS ANYONE GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS WHEN WE'RE DONE? YOU SAID IT PRETTY WELL, BUT I CAN.

ALRIGHT, GREAT.

SO THIS LOVELY PROCLAMATION READS AS FOLLOWS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS HAS DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH, WHEREAS PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LIVING LONGER AND THE COST OF RETIREMENT IS INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY, WHEREAS SOCIAL SECURITY REMAINS A KEY RESOURCE FOR RETIREMENT INCOME, BUT MOST FOREMOST, BUT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THEIR SOLE FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

LET ME READ THAT ONE AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS KEY.

SOCIAL SECURITY REMAINS A KEY SOURCE OF RETIREMENT INCOME FOR MOST, BUT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THEIR SOLE FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

WHEREAS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE RETIREMENT SAVINGS, EMPHASIZES PARTICIPATION IN EMPLOYER SPONSORED PLANS AND ENCOURAGES BOTH EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES TO MANAGE THEIR RETIREMENT RESOURCES WISELY.

AND WHEREAS SAVING FOR RETIREMENT IS CRUCIAL TO OVERALL FINANCIAL WELLBEING AND SECURITY IN LATER LIFE, AND PROMOTING FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR RETIREMENT PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL.

WHEREAS CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CREATE PERSONAL BUDGETS AND RETIREMENT SAVING STRATEGIES USING THE TAX ADVANTAGED OPS OPTIONS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION 4 57 PLAN NOW, THEREFORE, ISLEY POOL MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MAYOR WATSON AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2024 AS NATIONAL RETIREMENT SECURITY MONTH IN AUSTIN.

THANK YOU ALL, I GUESS YOUR SURGEON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEFERRED COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US IN THIS PROCLAMATION.

UH, IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT AND, UH, I JUST EMPLOY OUR EMPLOYEES TO TALK TO THEIR COWORKERS, TALK TO YOUR SUPERVISORS ABOUT, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PROGRAM.

SO THANKS AGAIN.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ALL.

WE'LL GET SOME PICTURES.

I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ.

YEAH, IF YOU WANNA STEP IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM, WE'LL GET A PICTURE REAL QUICK.

[00:10:03]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

[Proclamation – Code Compliance Month – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez ]

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT OUR CITY'S CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM PLAYS IN KEEPING US SAFE, HEALTHY, AND LIVABLE THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND ENFORCEMENT.

OUR DEDICATED COMPLIANCE TEAMS WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO ENSURE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC SPACES THRIVE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL CODE COMPLIANCE AND TO STAY INFORMED.

OUR COLLABORATION IS ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US CONTINUE BUILD, UH, CONT TO HELPING US CONTINUE BUILDING A COMMUNITY WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF TOGETHER.

AND WITH THE IMPORTANT WORK OF OUR CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM, WE CAN MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY.

AND I NOW, NOW HAVE THE HONOR ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE HERE, UH, TO READ A PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM PROVIDES FOR SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELFARE OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING, ZONING, HOUSING, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

AND WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS AND PROVIDES FAIR AND EQUITABLE ENFORCEMENT AVERAGING MORE THAN 31,000 CASE INVESTIGATIONS AND MORE THAN 75,000 TIMELY CODE INSPECTIONS ANNUALLY DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM WORKS PROACTIVELY TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CODE VIOLATIONS, IN TURN REDUCING RISK TO RESIDENTS IN THE, AROUND, IN AND AROUND HIGH RISK AREAS.

AND WHEREAS WITH A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND AWARENESS, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM ATTENDS AND ORGANIZES MORE THAN A HUNDRED EVENTS EVERY YEAR TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT OUR CITY'S CODES AND OTHER REGULATIONS.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES HELP PROTECT PEOPLE, PROPERTY, TREES, WATER, WATER QUALITY, AND OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY REMAIN SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND RESILIENT.

AND WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN IS CALLED UPON TO JOIN, TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING AND EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATION AND SERVICE BY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE IN CODE COMPLIANCE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSE VELAZQUEZ, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER QRI, THE REST OF THE DIOCESE, AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 24TH AS CODE COMPLIANCE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

DO YOU WANT US IN FRONT OR BEHIND YOU? OH, IN FRONT OF THE POLICE.

DO YOU WANT JUST SAY IT? YOURS? YEAH.

LEMME SAY, LEMME YOUR WORDS.

I'LL KEEP A, I KEEP A SHORT, UH, MY NAME IS JOSE ROY, I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND WE OVERSEE THE CO COMPLIANCE DIVISION.

I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CAL, AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING THIS MONTH AS CO COMPLIANCE IS ACTUALLY MOTIVATES THE STAFF THAT GOES OUT EVERY DAY, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THESE NUMBERS, TO KEEP A COMMUNITY CLEAN, SAFE, HEALTHY.

I MEAN, FROM EVENTS TO MAYBE A COLD CASE.

WE ARE OUT THERE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE ALWAYS CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S, THAT'S OUR MAIN GOAL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT RECOGNITION AND I'M SURE THIS WILL MOTIVATE STAFF TO CONTINUE GOING OUT THERE AND DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

[Proclamation – National Women’s Small Business Month – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes ]

UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ACHIEVING A MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND CONTRIBUTES TO OUR SHARED PROSPERITY.

MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES.

I PROUDLY REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

THIS MORNING I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER ZO CADRE, COUNCILOR CHITO VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ.

AND WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS MONTH.

EVERY DAY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS THE CITY ARE BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS AND DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR ALL.

TODAY WE RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLAYS IN PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING THE MANY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS OUR CITY.

IN HONOR OF NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS MONTH, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT AUSTIN'S WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF INCREDIBLE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.

AND I'M THRILLED THAT, UM, WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM.

SO WITH THIS PROCLAMATION THAT I WILL PRESENT TO OUR DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SYNOVIA RAB HOLT, WAIT, THAT, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

HOLT RAB ,

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AND WHEREAS WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CREATING JOBS, DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CREATING JOBS.

I THINK I JUST READ THAT ONE, DIDN'T I? JUST YES.

I JUST READ THAT.

WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE CAN RAISE AWARENESS FOR THIS UNIQUE CHALLENGE THAT ARE FACED BY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEIR SUCCESS AND TO ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONGSIDE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2024 AS NATIONAL WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS MONTH WELCOME .

UM, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, OCTOBER.

WE RECOGNIZE WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS IN AUSTIN AND AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR THEIR RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION TO SHAPING AND UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

THIS PROCLAMATION HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, COMMUNITIES, AND SOCIETY.

ACCORDING TO YELP, SHE'S ECONOMY REPORTS AUSTIN RANKS FIRST AMONG FOUR OTHER MAJOR CITIES FOR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

IN 2023, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN AUSTIN HAS SEEN A REMARKABLE GROWTH.

34%, WHICH IS AMAZING.

BETWEEN 2022 AND 2023, THESE BUSINESSES ARE LEADING IN INDUSTRIES SUCH AS TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, FOOD SERVICES, AND RETAIL.

WOMEN IN AUSTIN ARE DOING THINGS, THEY'RE INNOVATIVE, THEY'RE CREATING JOBS AND DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND SO WITH THAT, I INVITE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR WOMEN BY WOMEN CELEBRATING WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR BREAKFAST ON OCTOBER 16TH AT 9:00 AM AT THE NORRIS CONFERENCE CENTER, WE HAVE AN AMAZING PANEL FOR YOU OF AUSTIN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WHO WILL SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHT OF THEIR BUSINESSES.

WE PROMISE THAT IT WILL BE INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING.

THIS EVENT, AGAIN, IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED WOMEN, BUILD VALUABLE RELATIONSHIPS AND FOSTER THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPS WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS THRIVE.

SO, VISIT OUR WEBPAGE, WWW.SMALLBIZAUSTIN.ORG.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE BECAUSE WHEN WOMEN COME TOGETHER, INCREDIBLE THINGS HAPPEN.

MM-HMM, , THANK YOU.

LATINO HERITAGE AND THEIR ROLE IN US HISTORY, ECONOMY, AND CULTURE.

THEN WE'LL JUST DO A GROUP PHOTO UP HERE.

[Proclamation – Hispanic Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Members Vanessa Fuentes, José Velásquez, and José “Chito” Vela ]

GOOD MORNING, ENO DIAZ.

UH, I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, UH, PROUDLY REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON THE DAAS.

AND, UH, TODAY I'M PROUD 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN SOME OF Y'ALL IN AT LEAST 48 HOURS.

UM, I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH MY FELLOW, MY FELLOW LATINO COLLEAGUES, MY FRIENDS FROM NAAS, UM, TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR LATINO COMMUNITY LEADERS AND TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, A TIME WHEN URA AND THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND CON AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR HISPANIC AND LATINX COMMUNITIES FROM ARTS AND EDUCATION TO BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SERVICE, HISPANIC AND LATINX AUSTINITES, HAVE BUILT AND TOUCHED EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY, EVEN THOUGH HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH COMES TO AN END SOON.

I, I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE HERE, UM, THAT WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND SINCE WE'RE USUALLY LATE, THAT'S WHY THEY GAVE US PARTS OF TWO, TWO MONTHS.

'CAUSE WE COULDN'T START ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.

WE GOT TO, WE HAD TO GO WELL INTO TWO MONTHS.

GOOD.

STANDARD TIME.

YOU GOT IT.

UM, I NOW HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THIS PROCLAMATION BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, VIVA LA IS A NATIONWIDE OBSERVANT, UH, OBSERVANCE FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH, CELEBRATING OUR HISPANIC

[00:20:01]

AND WHEREAS THE ACHIEVEMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND DIVERSE CULTURES OF HISPANICS AND LATINOS HAVE SHAPED OUR CITY IN ENDLESS WAYS.

AND WHEREAS HISPANIC AND LATINO EMPLOYEES ARE HEAVILY REPRESENTED AMONG OUR CITY'S POLICE, FIRE, AND EMS SERVICES SERVING AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK.

AND WHEREAS THE, THE HISPANIC LATINO COMMUNITY FIGHT TIRELESSLY FOR ACCESS TO VOTING RIGHTS, EQUITABLE POLITICAL PROCESSES, AND ADVANCEMENT IN CIVIC PARTICIPATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING, LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WISHES TO MARK THE CONCLUSION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BY HONORING OUR HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, NOW THEREFORE, I, JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE DAAS AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, KIRK WATSON, OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH, 2024 AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

RIGHT.

AND NOW I GET TO TURN IT OVER TO MY DEAR FRIENDS FROM ABLA, PAUL AND ALICIA.

I'LL TRY AND KEEP IT REALLY BRIEF 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO, IN ORDER FOR US TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE VERY FIRST CENSUS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS WAS DONE IN 1875.

AND THE VARIOUS FIRST TWO NAMES ON THAT CENSUS WAS WERE JOSE AND LIZZIE LOPEZ.

AND THEY, ALONG WITH THREE OTHER MEXICAN AMERICANS, LIVED IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

AND SO OUR ANCESTORS OBVIOUSLY WERE VERY COURAGEOUS AND EXEMPLIFIED STRENGTH, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, GRACE, AND REALLY HELPED TO INFLUENCE THE BIRTH OF AUSTIN.

AND SINCE WE'RE HERE AT CITY HALL, WE WANT TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE TRAILBLAZERS THAT CAME BEFORE US.

LIKE JEAN TINO, WHO WAS THE FIRST MEXICAN AMERICAN ELECTED CITY COUNCIL IN 1975.

AND THEN MY HERO, MY FORMER BOSS, UH, UH, MAYOR GUS GARCIA, WHO WAS THE, AND REMAINS THE ONLY LATINO, THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR TO BE ELECTED IS MAYOR OF AUSTIN IN 2001.

AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T FORGET OUR GOOD FRIEND, UH, FORMER MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DELIA GARZA, THE FIRST LATINO ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL, UH, IN, UH, 2014.

AND SHE WAS THE FIRST LATINA ELECTED AFTER 174 YEARS OF CITY COUNCIL ELECTION TO BE THE FIRST LATINA.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE TRAILBLAZERS THAT CAME BEFORE US.

AND LAST, I'LL JUST SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RISE TOGETHER AND LIFT EACH OTHER UP, NOT JUST DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, BUT EVERY DAY.

SO THANK YOU GUYS.

AND I'M GONNA INTRODUCE, UH, CYNTHIA ADES WITH LULAC.

MM-HMM.

, OOPS.

THERE WILL BE NO TRANSLATION.

, JUST READ THE CLOSE CAP A TRUISM.

MY NAME IS CYNTHIA VALADE AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING LULAC LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS DISTRICT SEVEN, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

UH, WE HAVE HISTORICALLY FOUGHT VERY HARD, UH, WITH OUR COMMUNITIES FOR EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS, FOR EDUCATION, FOR ACCESS TO, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMICS, UH, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE YET TO ATTAIN.

AND EVEN REPRESENTATION OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HIRED TO WORK NOT ONLY HERE AT THE CITY AS THE COUNTY AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, WE HAVE YET TO ATTAIN THAT.

SO THIS IS A CONTINUING FIGHT THAT WE ASK FOR YOU TO JOIN US IN AS WE SEEK EQUITY, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SPEAK FOR.

AND WE ASK THAT YOU JOIN US AS WE CONTINUE THE FIGHT.

DO NOT, DO NOT

[00:25:02]

MISS GOING TO VOTE.

EVERYBODY HAS TO VOTE AND DRAG YOUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND TO GO VOTE.

UH, THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY FOR US RIGHT NOW, EXCEPT I APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, MY COUNTY, MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS JOSE VELAZQUEZ, VANESSA FUENTES AND CHITO VELA.

I APPRECIATE THEIR PRESENCE ON OUR BOARD ON THE CITY COUNCIL, SO AS THEY DO JUSTICE TO FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT FOR NOES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT.

OH, ONE LAST THING.

I'M HERE TO, TO ANNOUNCE OR, UH, INTRODUCE MONICA.

MONICA, UH, RODRIGUEZ OZ , WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T CARE FOR THE WORD HISPANIC.

UH, AND I DO NOT LIKE LATINX SOMOS MEXICAN SOMOS MEXICANOS.

UH, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THAT WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL US, , , WHATEVER, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL US, CALL IT TO US.

JUST DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON US AND STAB US.

THANK YOU .

THANK YOU TO ALA LULAC AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES VELAZQUEZ VELA FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER THIS MORNING TO CELEBRATE THIS.

OUR COMMUNITY, THE LATINO COMMUNITY, IS STRONGEST WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

AND TODAY IS A TESTAMENT OF THAT STRENGTH AND THAT CONNECTION.

UH, LATINOS CONTRIBUTE OVER $12.4 BILLION TO THIS CITY.

WE ARE 32% OF THE POPULATION.

AND WHILE THESE STATISTICS SHOW THE SIZE OF THE COLLECTIVE POWER, IT'S NOT ENOUGH WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

AND SO, UH, REPRESENTATION MEANS EVERYTHING.

YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF OUR LATINO LEADERS HERE IN THIS ROOM.

IT'S HAVING AN ACTIVE VOICE IN HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE THAT REALLY ALLOWS US TO THRIVE, UH, AND CONTRIBUTE.

AND SO THE WORK DOESN'T END WITH HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

IT'S AN EFFORT THAT REQUIRES THE DAILY COMMITMENT.

AND EVERYONE HERE.

SO THANK YOU.

THE HISPANIC CHAMBER WELCOMES YOU AND I APPRECIATE THE CELEBRATION TODAY AND EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT PRESENCE.

UH, SO MANY, UH, GOOD PEOPLE HERE IN THE ROOM.

UH, AND THANKS TO PAUL FOR TOUCHING ON THE HISTORY OF, UH, UH, THE CHICANO HISTORY, THE LATINO HISTORY HERE IN AUSTIN.

BUT THE ONLY THING, I'LL KEEP YOU VERY SHORT, THE ONLY THING I I, I, I WANNA SAY IS THAT THE, THE HEYDAY OF, UH, LATINO LIFE IN AUSTIN IS AHEAD OF US.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT IS NOT BEHIND US.

RIGHT? THIS IS A STRONG AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT'S ONLY GROWING IN, IN MANY WAYS.

I MEAN, IN POPULATION AND IN POLITICAL POWER AND, AND ECONOMIC POWER.

UH, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S JUST SUCH A, AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT, UH, A LATINO MAJORITY DISTRICT, UH, AND TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UH, THE OTHER NON-LATINO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALLISON ALTER.

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE PADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, UH, ALSO APPRECIATED, UH, SO MUCH THEIR PRESENCE, THEIR SUPPORT FOR ALL THAT WE DO ON THE DAIS.

AND WE ARE HONORARY LATINOS IN, THAT'S RIGHT.

YES.

YES, WE DO HAVE A LATINO CAUCUS MAYOR AND FRANK ORTEGA FROM THE ROUND ROCK COUNCIL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ROCK.

GO FRANK.

YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO HELP CLOSE THIS OUT TODAY.

SEE HOW PROUD I AM TO BE A LATINA, TO BE PART OF OUR LATINO COMMUNITY.

EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF MY DISTRICT TWO STAFF, OUR LATINOS, SO DEFINITELY DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, BUT I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT PAUL SAID ABOUT OUR 174 YEAR HISTORY AS A CITY.

WHEN I GOT ELECTED, I WAS THE SEVENTH HISPANIC LATINA LATINO ELECTED TO SERVE THE CITY NUMBER SEVEN AND 174 YEAR HISTORY.

CHITO IS NUMBER EIGHT, JOSE NUMBER NINE.

AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS, WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH HOW LONG IT'S TAKEN US TO GET IN THESE POSITIONS OF POWER.

WE'D LOVE TO GET A PHOTO OF THE WHOLE GROUP.

AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR TOP HISPANIC, LATINA, LATINO LEADERS SERVING THE CITY.

WE HAVE VERONICA ENOS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND, AND, AND SUSANNA CARAL, ALSO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SLASH CHIEF OF STAFF.

IS SHE HERE SOMEWHERE? .

UM, AND, AND JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE TODAY'S RECOGNITION AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, OUR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE, IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BOTH IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND NONPROFIT.

AND, UH, WITH THAT, LET'S GO HAVE SOME GOOD .

ALRIGHT?

[00:30:02]

THAT'S A HUGE GROUP.

EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY COME ON.

[Proclamation – Filipino American History Month – To be presented by City Manager T.C. Broadnax]

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND REPRESENTING THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN.

WE CHECKED WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO SEE HOW MANY PROCLAMATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN THE PAST FOR FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.

AND I DO BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST ONE EVER.

THERE YOU GO.

WOO.

BEAUTIFUL AND IN HONOR, AND IT IS MY HONOR TO READ THIS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS OCTOBER IS RECOGNIZED AS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATING THE RICH HERITAGE CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FILIPINO AMERICANS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS THE 2024 THEME OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH STRUGGLE, RESISTANCE, SOLIDARITY, AND RESILIENCE REFLECTS THE ENDEARING SPIRIT OF FILIPINO AMERICANS IN OVERCOMING SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION AND SOLIDARITY.

AND WHEREAS THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY TODAY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE WITH THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO ADVANCING RACIAL JUSTICE, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION, ALL WHILE STRENGTHENING TIES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROUDLY HONORS THE CON CONTRIBUTIONS, STRUGGLES AND VICTORIES OF FILIPINO AMERICANS RECOGNIZING THEIR INTEGRAL ROLE IN SHAPING A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR ALL.

NOW, THEREFORE, I TC BROADEN ACTS CITY MANAGER ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2024 AS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WOO.

AND I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO VINCE CABAL.

YES, MA'AM.

I WELL, I'M GONNA GIVE THE PRESENTATION THERE AND I'LL ALLOW YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

OKAY? YEAH.

MY NAME IS VINCE KAL AND I'M THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE NETWORK OF ASIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS.

UH, A FAA, UH, IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR NETWORK.

THE ASIAN COMMUNITY HAS GROWN SO FAST.

IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION IN TEXAS AND IN AUSTIN AND DOUBLING ITS POPULATION.

AND THIS IS A NETWORK OF MANY, UH, ORGANIZATIONS IN INCLUDING, UH, A FAA AND HE'LL INTRODUCE, GO AHEAD, LERO.

AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT, UM, THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW HERE.

DID YOU HAVE, THANK YOU.

UM, I'M LEROY CALDERONE, UM, WITH THE FILIPINO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF AUSTIN.

UH, AND WE ARE JUST SO THANKFUL AND WE WANNA THANK THE CITY.

WE WANNA THANK YOU MR. CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR FOR, FOR THIS INCREDIBLE PROCLAMATION.

UM, THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN IS, IS HERE AND WELL, AND WE'RE DOING WELL AND THRIVING.

AND, UM, OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION, FYP, THE FILIPINO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, UH, IS A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION THAT HOPES TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE RICH CULTURE OF, OF FILIPINOS AND, AND JUST BRING US TOGETHER TO, TO EMBRACE THE, THE, THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING WITHIN THE CITY.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO EVERYBODY TO ATTEND OUR, UH, FILIPINO DAY MARKET IN HONOR OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.

IT'LL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 12:00 PM TO 5:00 PM AT THE AUSTIN BEER WORKS LOCATION AT SPRINKLE VALLEY.

THERE'LL BE A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT VENDORS, FOOD VENDORS, CRAFTS MAKERS, ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES AND, AND KIDS.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT AND IT'LL BE A WONDERFUL SHOWCASE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL FILIPINO COMMUNITY IS DOING HERE IN AUSTIN.

SO, AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO ATTEND.

IT'S FREE TO ATTEND.

UH, THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

OCTOBER 19TH IS A VERY BUSY DAY.

THERE'S A UT FOOTBALL GAME AGAINST GEORGIA THAT'S ALSO THE F1 WEEKEND, BUT IT'S FROM 12 TO FIVE.

SO YOU'LL STILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND STILL MAKE IT OUT TO ALL OF THOSE FUN EVENTS, UH, LATER THAT EVENING.

SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ATTEND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING YOU THERE.

AND, UH, AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY

[00:35:01]

AUSTIN IS SUCH A WELCOMING AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE, UM, THAT EMBRACES ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND WE'RE VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

SO, THANK YOU.

YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? DID YOU WANNA GO? I'D LIKE TO, YES.