Oct 24, 2024 City Council Meetings

I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW THRILLED I AM TO SEE ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS PART OF WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, WE OFTEN DON'T TALK ABOUT OR CELEBRATE ALL THAT THE CITY DOES IN ENSURING THAT, THAT WE'RE PRESERVING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND SO THIS ITEM DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY.

SO JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND TO ALSO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON, ON THIS PIECE.

UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, UH, MEMBERS? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SHOWN BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON? WELL, LET ME GET A MOTION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ, UH, BOARD MEMBER FUENTES SECOND BY A BOARD MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO ADOPT AND, AND SECOND, THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO MAYOR? YES, APOLOGIES.

WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE SIGN UP TO SPEAK.

MS. JOSEPH, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

I, WELL, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD BE FIVE MINUTES, SO, UM, PLEASE CALL ON THOSE FOLKS.

UM, A HFC ITEM ONE.

LINDA NUNO ON HFC, ITEM TWO, LINDA NUNO AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED ON TOP OF, UH, THE PLAN THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IS A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL URGENTLY.

MANY OF OUR, UH, CONSTITUENTS REALLY TRULY SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEY END UP IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, TRAP IN THE PIPELINE THAT TAKES THEM FROM THE STREETS ALL THE WAY TO, UH, JAIL.

RIGHT? UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM THE TOOLS, THE PSYCHOTROPICS, THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE THAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED.

IT'S NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH POVERTY, IT'S A PROBLEM OF EDUCATION, LACK OF COMPASSION, AND WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU.

IT'S TO ACTUALLY TAKE A STEP FORWARD INTO THIS MATTER.

CLINICAL PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONALS SHOULD HAVE A SAYING ON THIS MATTER.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH, YOU WANT ANYONE? WHEREVER YOU WANT BE.

I AM JUST WAITING FOR THE STAFF TO PULL UP THE PRESENTATION.

IT'S JUST TWO SLIDES.

THERE YOU GO.

UH, IT IS ZERO FOUR MAYOR, 0 0 4 S PROJECT CONNECT.

AND MAYOR, JUST AS A TECHNICALITY, I DON'T SEE THE SLIDES IN FRONT OF ME LIKE NORMAL.

[00:10:03]

I, I I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU CAN, YOU SEE IT THERE? OKAY.

PLEASE BEGIN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS PROJECT CONNECT.

I'M HAVING A LITTLE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING HOW THE DELL VALLEY COALITION RECEIVED FUNDING FOR PROJECT CONNECT.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, THAT'S IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

IT'S NOT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SPECIFICALLY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS ACTUALLY LOOKS AT A HALF MILE WITHIN THE CORRIDOR.

SO ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE DEFRAUDING THE TAXPAYERS.

FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILL FOR MISREPRESENTATION AS THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE DEFINITION 2017.

I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT EL WIN SAMANO IS DOING GOOD WORK, BUT YOU'VE ONLY ALLOCATED $1 MILLION.

SO, WHICH PROBLEMATIC ABOUT THIS $10 MILLION MAYOR, IS THAT THERE ARE NO MEASURABLE OUTCOMES IN BACKUP FOR TAXPAYERS TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL THAT GOODWILL, I ACTUALLY ASKED THEM ABOUT THE FUNDING THEY RECEIVED AND YOU CAN'T JUST WALK INTO THAT FACILITY AND GET INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

SO THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AS IT RELATES TO TEXAS REAL GRAND LEGAL AID.

I'M NOT SURE WHO THEY'RE SERVING.

THEY DON'T EVEN TELL THE POTENTIAL CLIENTS THAT THEY CAN FILE A MOTION FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME SO THAT THEY CAN SEE IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THE CASE.

AND SO ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

AND THEN LASTLY, IT SAYS RENTER TENTER, TENANT STABILIZATION, BUT THAT PROCESS IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

THE ONLY THING THAT IS ONLINE IS A LOTTERY THROUGH ELBOW AND SAMARI TO, SO I OPPOSE THIS ITEM.

I'M NOT SURE YOU WANTED ME TO SPEAK ON ALL THREE OF THE ITEMS AT ONE TIME.

MAYOR, DID YOU SIGN UP ON MULTIPLE ITEMS? SO IT'S ITEM FOUR WAS PROJECT CONNECT.

ITEMS TWO AND THREE ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO 12 100 METRIC BOULEVARD.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO SPEAK ON THE DID DID SHE SIGN UP ON ALL THREE ITEMS? YES.

WE HAVE MR. JOSEPH AND SPEAK THOSE ITEMS IF YOU'D LIKE.

OH, I'M SORRY.

CORRECTION, WE HAVE MR. JOSEPH SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR FOR A HFC, NOT ONE CERTAINLY.

SO ITEM TWO AND THREE SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S THE NEXT SLIDE.

IF THE STAFF PULLS IT UP, I'LL SHOW YOU SPECIFICALLY I'M LOOKING AT THE BYLAWS FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR 12,100.

THAT IS SPECIFICALLY IN THE VICINITY OF 1 2 0 4 1 HOLLOW, WHICH IS ST.

ALBERT THE GREAT CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IT'S THE PROPERTY THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, 384 UNITS.

I HAVE OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT'S 50 TO 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE WHO ARE 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THE AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO ARE ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.

I'LL REMIND YOU, MAYOR, THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN AUSTIN THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS AT SPECIFICALLY THE JULY 1ST, 2022 ECHO REPORT.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I FIND MOST PROBLEMATIC ABOUT THIS IS MANDY DE MAYO.

SPECIFICALLY, YOU'LL SEE ON IN SECTION TWO OF THE BYLAWS THAT THE MEETINGS DON'T HAVE TO BE POSTED.

THAT THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS FOR THERE TO BE A RESOLUTION.

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT ON JULY 18TH, 2024, YOU ACTUALLY SUBMITTED THE FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE $70 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS FROM HUD, AND THAT WAS ALSO SPECIFICALLY A A CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TELL MANDY DE MAYO, IT IS TIME FOR HER TO RESIGN.

THIS IS COUNTERACTIVE COUNTERINTUITIVE TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT TO HUD.

SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT SOME TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THEIR INTERIM CHARGE.

SO IF YOU'LL MAYOR ON IN SECTION TWO OF THE BYLAWS FOR THIS AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, THIS 12 100 NONPROFIT THAT YOU ARE CREATING WITH MANDY DE MAYO AND TWO OF THE STAFF, I WOULD ASK YOU TO STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE AND TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE TAXPAYERS.

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EVEN KNOW WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD? IF YOU PASS THIS TODAY AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE'LL BE A RESOLUTION.

WHERE WILL WE FIND THE RESOLUTION? HOW WILL WE KNOW THE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD? WHAT TIME WILL THEY BE HELD? NONE OF THAT WILL BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, AND SO IT WILL VIOLATE THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO STRIKE THAT LANGUAGE AND TO DO RIGHT BY THE TAXPAYERS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND WOULD ASK YOU TO FIX THE TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A LONG MEETING.

ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON ITEMS TWO AND THREE? THE MAYOR WILL BE SHOWN AS RECUSING HIMSELF ON ITEMS TWO AND THREE, AND I HAVE FILED THE PAPERWORK IN REGARD TO THAT.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE HFC ITEMS. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING

[00:15:01]

UH, BOARD MEMBER VELA WILL BE SHOWN RECUSING HIMSELF ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN RECUSING THEMSELVES ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? COUNT, UH, BOARD MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR DISCUSSION.

I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK REALLY BRIEFLY TO ITEM FOUR, WHICH, UM, ALLOCATES $10.9 MILLION TO OUR ANTI DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS AS PART OF, UM, THE PROJECT CONNECT FUNDING.

THIS IS GOING TO EIGHT NONPROFITS TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

UM, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THE FOLKS WHO'VE WORKED ON THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE APPROACH THAT WE TOOK, UM, WHEN WE LAUNCHED PROJECT CONNECT TO ADDRESS, UM, SOME OF THE DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES.

UM, AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A, A SECOND TRANCHE OF YEARS, THREE TO FIVE AND, AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS READ WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH THE MAYOR RECUSING HIMSELF ON ITEM TWO, THE MAYOR RECUSING HIMSELF ON ITEM THREE AND BOARD MEMBER VAYLOR RECUSING HIMSELF ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

WE ARE GOING TO GO TO ITEMS 47 AND 48.

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

UH, WE WILL ADJOURN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AT 1114.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND IT IS 11:15 AM MEMBERS,

[47. Discussion and possible action to ratify a proposed five-year Meet and Confer Agreement with the Austin Police Association relating to wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment for police officers of the Austin Police Department. Related to Item #48. (Part 1 of 2)]

WE WILL CALL, UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 47 FIRST AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO, UH, HELP US NAVIGATE THROUGH ITEM NUMBER 47.

OKAY, WE'LL BEGIN WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS.

FIRST WE HAVE ROLA DABUL, AND ITEM 47.

GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS ROLA DABUL.

I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I WANTED TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS, UH, THE FUNDS ALLOCATIONS, UH, TOWARDS THE POLICE UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM SPECIFICALLY, UH, IF YOU WOULD NOTICE THAT HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE CITY IS ON THE RISE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH FUNDS BEING ALLOCATED TOWARDS THESE THREE ISSUES.

IF YOU WOULD GO DOWN TO, UH, THE CORNER OF RF AND PARKER LANE AND THE RIVERSIDE AREA, YOU WOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS AN ACCUMULATION OF, UH, HOMELESS, UH, PEOPLE, UM, WHO SUFFER FROM, UH, BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, AND THE POPULATION IS INCREASING ON A DAILY BASIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN ATTENDING TO, AND I BELIEVE, EXCUSE ME, THE FUNDS ARE BETTER ALLOCATED TOWARDS, UH, CURING THESE THREE CRISES, HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS FROM FURTHER SPREAD.

IN ADDITION, YOU WOULD NOTICE AS WELL THAT CRIME IN THIS AREA IS RISING.

UM, SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I BELIEVE THERE WERE FOUR MURDERS ON ONE, UH, STREET, WHICH IS BURTON DRIVE, WHICH IS IN THAT AREA.

UH, THESE THREE ISSUES, HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

IF, IF THOSE ISSUES AREN'T ATTENDED TO, THEN CRIME WILL CONTINUE TO RISE.

SO, UH, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY CHANNEL FUNDS TOWARDS CURING THESE UNDERLYING ISSUES SO THAT CRIME DOESN'T RISE AND, UM, AND SO, UH, THERE IS LESS NEED FOR RESOURCES TO BE EXPENDED TO THE POLICE.

COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MUCH NEEDED ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

NELLY.

PAULINA RAMIREZ.

HELLO, UM, MY NAME IS NELLY PAULINA RAMIREZ AND OUR FAMILY CHOSE AUSTIN AS A HOME 18 YEARS AGO.

WE LIVE IN SOUTH AUSTIN, RUN A SMALL BUSINESS AND RAISED AND EDUCATED ARE NOW 20, 21-YEAR-OLD IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS SCHOOLS.

I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, BUT I'M HERE SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL TODAY.

I'M REQUESTING THAT COUNSEL EITHER POSTPONE OR VOTE NO ON THE POLICE CONTRACT SO THAT THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE AND MONEY CAN BE REVISITED WITH A LENS THAT WOULD REMOVE ANY AMBIGUITY FROM THE GFI LANGUAGE AND A BUDGET CEILING THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS

[00:20:01]

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CONTRACT WILL FIX THE UNDERLYING STAFF MANAGEMENT AND WORKPLACE CLIMATE ISSUES, EXCUSE ME, THAT ARE AT THE ROOT OF A CADET ACADEMY.

COMPLETION AND RETENTION RATES MORE MONEY WILL NOT MAKE MORE POLICE OFFICERS MAGICALLY APPEAR, NOR WILL IT IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMPLETING THE ACADEMY SO WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR 30 BY 30 GOAL, AND IT CERTAINLY WON'T FIX THE SYSTEMIC WORKPLACE CLIMATE ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO FOSTER DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND UNHEALTHY WORK CONDITIONS FOR OFFICERS.

AS FOR THE GFI LANGUAGE, I WANT A CONTRACT THAT WILL FULLY EMPOWER OUR OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT TO DO THEIR WORK.

THEY'VE BEEN WAITING ON THE SIDELINES FOR YEARS TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION AND HAVE JUST IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A WORLD WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MORE OF WHAT THEY NEED.

WE NEED LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT THAT WILL SURVIVE ARBITRATION, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IF LEFT TO STAND ON ITS OWN THAT THE CURRENT LANGUAGE WOULD DO THAT.

I ALSO ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THE ACCOMPANYING ITEM 48 TO INCREASE AD'S BUDGET BECAUSE DOLLARS SENT TO A PD ARE FOREVER A PD DOLLARS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS NEEDS BOTH WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL DEFINITIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND BEYOND.

THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.

THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT TOOK TIME TO CONNECT THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND A WHOLEHEARTED THANK YOU TO THE ADVOCATES PRESENT TODAY FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE INVESTED IN REIMAGINING WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY CAN BE.

THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES A BUDGET TO SEE ALL THOSE IMAGINED CHANGES THROUGH.

THANK YOU, MATTHEW FOX.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MATTHEW FOX AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE HERE IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE NEW POLICE CONTRACT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

UM, THE CONTRACT GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY 80% OF VOTERS, AND THAT ACT AFFIRMED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE FUTURE CONTRACTS EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE.

UM, WE'VE ALSO SEEN THAT THIS YEAR ALONE, THE CRIME RATES ARE NOT ALIGNING WITH POLICE STAFFING.

NEW STATISTICS SHOWED THAT EVEN THOUGH AUSTIN'S POLICE STAFF IS DECREASING, THE CRIME LEVELS ARE STILL GOING DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD.

UH, WHETHER THE CITY FINDS THE DOLLARS FOR THIS CONTRACT THROUGH ITS RESERVES, THROUGH CUTS TO CORE SERVICES, OR THROUGH ADDITIONAL TAXES, THE $218 MILLION PRICE TAG FOR A NEW POLICE CONTRACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF AUSTINITE DON'T EVEN WANT, SYMBOLIZES A CLEAR DISREGARD FOR THE ACTUAL WELFARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR CITY.

UH, BECAUSE OF THESE ITEMS IN A BUNCH THAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, I REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL VOTES NO ON THE CONTRACT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

TRAVIS ROCHA.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND RESPECTED CITY COUNSELORS.

MY NAME IS TRAVIS ROCHA AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND CONSTITUENTS THAT RELY ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

TODAY, I PLEAD WITH YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND LOCAL POLICE ASSOCIATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THE LEADERSHIP FROM MAYOR KIRK WATSON, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, AND ALL RESPECTED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO COMPOSE A LONG-TERM POLICE AGREEMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS A PROPERTY MANAGER, I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH A LITANY OF CRIMES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT MY RESIDENTS, EVEN WITH CONTRACTING OUT SECURITY SERVICES.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS IS UN THIS IS COUNTERINTUITIVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS OPERATOR COSTS ARE BEING ALLOCATED FOR MITIGATING CRIMES DUE TO REDUCED POLICE PRESENCE, HOMICIDE, RAPE, ASSAULT, CAR THEFT, AMONG THE MANY CRIMES I'M NOW LEFT WITH TO MANAGE.

TO BE CANDID, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN ESSENTIAL RIGHT THAT WE PAY FOR WITH OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

AND CONSIDERING THAT MY PROPERTY ALONE CONTRIBUTES OVER $2.3 MILLION IN REGARD TO THIS, I HAVE TO SEE FAVORABLE CHANGES.

TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT 300 VACANCIES WITH A PD, WHICH GREATLY IMPACTS THE BANDWIDTH AND OPERATIONS FOR OUR OFFICERS TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS EFFECTIVELY, EVEN WHEN CALLS ARE BASED ON PRIORITY.

YEAR TO DATE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS REPORTED OVER 54 HOMICIDES, A PUBLICATION FOR THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH STATES.

LARGER POLICE FORCES SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE SERIOUS CRIMES.

IN ADDITION, THAT A 10% INCREASE IN POLICE FORCE IS EQUIVALENT TO A 10% CRIME REDUCTION.

TODAY YOU WILL HEAR TESTIMONY FROM THE OPPOSING PARTY CLAIMING THAT THIS CONTRACT IS UNFAVORABLE BASED ON POOR ANECDOTAL MATERIAL.

MY HOPE IS THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE A FRESH AND TRUE PERSPECTIVE FOR KEEPING AUSTIN SAFE AND AFFORDABLE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

PLEASE PASS THIS CONTRACT, REESE ARMSTRONG.

[00:25:01]

UM, HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, I AM REESE ARMSTRONG, A MEMBER OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE LASA YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA, UM, LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE.

UM, I DO JUST SORT OF, UM, COUNTERBALANCE THE CORPORATE INTERESTS THAT JUST SPOKE.

WE ARE A MEMBER OF MEMBERSHIP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, REGULAR PEOPLE, AND WE ARE HERE TO OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT INCREASING THE CITY, UM, POLICE BUDGET WILL ACTUALLY REDUCE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AS POLICE ONLY RESPOND TO CRIMES AFTER THEY ALREADY HAPPEN.

SUPPORT SUPPORTS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, UM, INTEGRAL CARE, UM, AND OTHER TYPES OF PREVENTATIVE SERVICES ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AT, UH, TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME.

AND WE MUST TACKLE POVERTY BEFORE WE CAN SAY THAT A POLICE FORCE IS REALLY OUR BEST SOLUTION.

RESPONDING CRIMES AFTER THE FACT ISN'T WHAT WE NEED.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, POLICE FORCES, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, UM, HAS KNOWN TO TARGET INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE IN PROTESTS AND OTHER VARIOUS, UM, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, AND WE DON'T NEED MORE OFFICERS, UM, SHOOTING MY FRIENDS IN THE EYE WITH BEANBAGS.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, AS AS DISCUSSED BEFORE, UM, THESE RAISES ARE PERMANENT AND ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, WE WE CANNOT REMOVE THEM IN THE FUTURE AND WE HAVE OTHER SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO PAY FOR.

AND SO I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

THANK YOU MARINA ROBERTS.

HI Y'ALL.

I'M A MOM AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, DISTRICT FOUR CALLING TO OPPOSE THE POLICE CONTRACT.

I'VE BEEN PREOCCUPIED, AS I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE WITH THE PROSPECT OF A TRUMP PRESIDENCY AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU SHARE THE ANXIETIES I FEEL ABOUT HOW AWFUL THAT WOULD BE.

I'M LESSER FOR SURE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS THOUGHT THROUGH THE REAL IMPLICATIONS OF A SCENARIO WHERE TRUMP IS PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS HAVE A TRIFECTA WITH REGARD TO THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

IF TRUMP WINS, WHO'S GONNA ENFORCE HIS AGENDA? IF THEY PASS A BILL CRIMINALIZING PREGNANT PEOPLE WHO SEEK ABORTIONS, WHO IS GOING TO CATCH THEM IF THEY ATTEMPT TO EXECUTE MASS DEPORTATIONS? DO YOU REALLY DOUBT THAT POLICE WILL BE PULLED INTO THAT EFFORT AS THEY ALREADY HAVE BEEN IN TEXAS? WHEN YOU PICTURE THE MOST HEINOUS ASPECTS OF PROJECT 2025, WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU THINK THE POLICE WILL BE DOING AS THAT PROPOSAL IS REALIZED? I DON'T THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED THE WISDOM OF PERMANENTLY SUPERFUND A POLICE FORCE IN SUCH A SCENARIO, IT SEEMS CONTRADICTORY TO FIRST EMPLOY RHETORIC ABOUT THE DYSTOPIAN FUTURE THAT AWAITS US.

SHOULD TRUMP BECOME PRESIDENT IN ORDER TO MOBILIZE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS AND SECOND RESOURCE, THE FORCE THAT HE WILL DISPATCH TO EXECUTE HIS AGENDA WITH CUTTING EDGE EQUIPMENT, YOU CHEER KAMALA HARRIS AND CALLING TRUMP A FASCIST WHILE YOU COLLEGIALLY READY AND ARMY OF MILITARIZED POLICE TO DO HIS BIDDING.

IT SHOULD TROUBLE YOU THAT TRUMP ENJOYS SO MUCH SUPPORT AMONG OUR NATION'S OFFICERS TO WHOM HE HAS PROMISED.

AND I QUOTE IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? DON'T MORTGAGE OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES WITH THE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE POLICE CONTRACT AND DON'T BE SWINDLED INTO RESOURCING EVERYTHING YOU CLAIM TO HATE AS A LEADER OF THIS CITY.

SEND THE CONTRACT BACK.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE CHIVES AND I AM A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS AND EMPLOYED WITHIN DISTRICT NINE.

I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM 47 AND WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR VOTE VOTE YES ON THIS CONTRACT.

I THINK THAT IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UM, COMING FROM THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WITH TOURISM.

A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO COME IN AND STAY WITHIN OUR HOTELS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY, UH, WITHIN THE CITY.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT EVERYBODY VOTE YES ON THESE CONTRACTS.

THANK YOU DOMINIC PADILLA.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS DOMINIC BARILLA AND I REPRESENT A COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

OVER 43 YEARS, OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE BUILT SOME OF AUSTIN'S MOST TREASURED PLACES.

ALL OF THESE PROJECTS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS. THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THOSE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITES WERE PARAMOUNT TO THEIR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION.

IN ADDITION, I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN'S BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION COUNCIL.

THIS COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF MANY OUTSTANDING BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OUR MISSION IS TO MEET WITH BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LEARN WHAT SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO EXPAND AND ATTRACT COMPANIES TO CENTRAL TEXAS, INCLUDING AUSTIN.

[00:30:01]

ONE PRIMARY CONCERN I CONTINUALLY HEAR FROM THOSE COMPANIES OUTSIDE OF OUR GREAT REGION AND WITHIN AUSTIN IS THE STATE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

GIVEN OUR TREMENDOUS GROWTH, MANY ARE CONCERNED WITH THEIR WORKFORCE'S WELLBEING AND ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ONE COMPANY I MET WITH RECENTLY IS CONSIDERING RELOCATING AWAY FROM AUSTIN OR TO A PERCEIVED SAFER LOCATION WITHIN AUSTIN BECAUSE THE CURRENT LOCATION HAS BECOME UNSAFE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM A VERY PROUD FATHER OF A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL.

I HOPE SHE'LL BE RAISED IN A CITY TO SUPPORT THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT WHERE SHE CAN PLAY SAFELY WITHOUT WORRY OF CRIME AND EVENTUALLY RAISE HER OWN FAMILY IN OUR STATE COMMUNITY.

PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND MY LITTLE GIRL ARE GRATEFUL YOU WILL DO RIGHT BY SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTING OUR CITY.

THANK YOU BEVERLY LAZAR.

MY NAME IS BEVERLY LAZAR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, ALL.

I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH COULD ROLL BACK REFORMS LAID OUT BY THE VOTER APPROVAL THE VOTER APPROVED AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

IT WAS APPROVED 80% TO 20%.

THIS CONTRACT WOULD SURELY OVERWHELM THE CITY BUDGET.

ONE ASPECT OF THIS CONTRACT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO PRESERVE THE G FILE.

WE ACTIVISTS INTERPRET THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE AS PRESERVING CONFIDENTIALITY FOR CERTAIN MISCONDUCT RECORDS CREATED BEFORE THE CONTRACT.

EVEN THOUGH A TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE RECENTLY RULED THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR THE CITY TO MAINTAIN A G FILE DUE TO THE OVERSIGHT ACT IF THE CONTRACT IS APPROVED, THIS COULD ALLOW THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION TO WEAKEN THE OVERSIGHT ACT THROUGH CONTRACT ARBITRATION.

A PA COULD FILE GRIEVANCES ALLEGING THE CITY IS VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT BY DISCLOSING MISCONDUCT RECORDS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY CONFIDENTIAL DUE TO THE G FILE.

THE APAS REAL GOAL IS TO UNDO THE OVERSIGHT ACT THROUGH CONTRACT GRIEVANCES.

THIS IS HOW THEY GUTTED THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM AND ESTABLISHED IN THE, THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 2018 POLICE CONTRACT.

I CAN'T EVEN WRAP MY MIND AROUND THE AMOUNT, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, IN THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT.

HOW WILL THE CITY PAY FOR THIS? WILL THEY CUT MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH EMS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, ET CETERA? WILL THEY GUT THE CITY'S EMERGENCY RESOURCE FUNDS? WILL THE CITY RAISE TAXES? ALL OF THESE FOLKS, ALL OF THESE, THE 10 YEAR CONTRACT COST OF THIS CONTRACT COULD BE GREATER THAN $500 MILLION.

I WAS AROUND FOR THE 2018 VOTE ON THE POLICE CONTRACT.

I SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL IN PERSON AND WAS OVERJOYED AT THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE.

I TURNED TO A FELLOW ACTIVIST.

WHY AREN'T YOU AT LEAST SMILING? I ASKED.

HE RESPONDED WITH THE COMMENT, WE SHALL SEE WHAT WE SHALL SEE.

HE WAS ASTUTE AND UNFORTUNATELY I WAS NAIVE AND AS A FORMER SPEAKER MENTIONED, THIS HAS BEEN LANGUISHING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SPEAKER TIME HAS EXPIRED.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER MEREDITH.

BRIAN.

LARGER POLICE FORCE IS NEEDED.

I AM MEREDITH BRYAN AND I AM IN FAVOR OF ITEM 47 AS A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.

I CURRENTLY WORK IN A HOTEL IN DISTRICT NINE.

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT SOME STATES THAT CRIME IS GOING DOWN AS WE ARE NEEDING TO CALL THE POLICE AT OUR HOTEL MORE AND MORE DRIVING HOME, ENTERING I 35 FROM CAESAR CHAVEZ.

THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS LIVING UNDER THE STREET FLAGRANTLY USING DRUGS AND WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

[00:35:01]

WE CANNOT TURN INTO ANOTHER PORTLAND OR SAN FRANCISCO AFTER CALLS TO REDUCE POLICE BUDGETS IN CITIES LIKE MINNEAPOLIS AND SEATTLE IN 2020, BOTH CITIES SAW SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

IN FACT, IN MINNEAPOLIS, HOMICIDES JUMPED BY 70% BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021.

I PERSONALLY WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN LAST WEEK.

I CALLED 9 1 1 AND WAS TOLD THAT AN OFFICER WOULD BE AT THE SCENE IN THREE TO FIVE HOURS.

IF WE WANNA KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND CONTINUE ITS VIBRANT TOURISM, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT.

MICHAEL LUXEMBURG.

HELLO, I AM, UH, MICHAEL LUXEMBURG.

I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, UH, AND ARTIST AND RESIDENT AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE CONTRACT AND THE BUDGET INCREASE FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'VE DONE NOTHING TO EARN IT.

ALL STATISTICAL INDICATORS OF THEIR CRIME IS DOWN NOW DESPITE A DECREASE IN POLICE PRESENCE.

EARLIER, A SPEAKER MENTIONED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 54 HOMICIDES THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE 73.

IT'S DOWN BY NEARLY 25%.

UM, IT SEEMS VERY DISINGENUOUS TO ACT AS THOUGH CRIME RATES ARE RISING WHEN ALL PHYSICAL INDICATORS ARE THAT THEY'RE NOT DESPITE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE FROM OTHER SPEAKERS.

BUT IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, I HAVE MY OWN, WHICH THE 2020, UH, PROTEST I WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST WHILE HELPING AN INJURED WOMAN OFF THE GROUND BY AN A PD OFFICER WITH A LESS LETHAL ROUND THAT HAS LEFT ME WITH LONG-TERM CHEST AND ARM DAMAGE THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO HOLD MY RIGHT ARM UP FOR TOO LONG OR STAND CLOSE TO A LOUD SPEAKER, WHICH IS DIFFICULT DOING HARD THINGS.

UM, THE THE PREMISE THAT WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY AND MORE INVESTMENT INTO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO BE UNWORTHY OF THAT COMMITMENT IS CLEARLY FAULTY.

THEY, THERE'S A RECURRENCE OF, UH, MISCONDUCT OF VIOLENCE AND OF GENERALIZED FAILURE ACROSS THE A PD THAT DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE INCREASED FUNDING.

WHEREAS I'VE HEARD IN CITY COUNCIL A NUMBER OF PLANS THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO FUND IF WE INVEST $500 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS INTO OUR FAILING POLICE DEPARTMENT.

INVEST THAT MONEY INTO THINGS LIKE HOMELESS SHELTERS, MEDICAL, UH, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS, SCHOOLS, PARKS, ACTIVITIES.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT'LL MAKE OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE, NOT AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE IN A CITY WHERE CRIME IS ALREADY ON THE DECLINE.

A PD HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY WHILE PARKS AND REC, THE DEPARTMENT THAT HOUSES ALL OF OUR MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL CENTERS ARE BARELY HANGING ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM.

PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THE CONTRACT AND AGAINST THE ALLEGED INCREASE ON 47 AND 48.

CATHERINE CTO.

HI, CATHERINE CHITO.

UM, I LIKE FOLKS WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE.

I'M NOT AN ACTIVIST.

I'M .

I'M JUST A RESIDENT FROM DISTRICT NINE AND I'M CALLING TO URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST 47 TO 48.

I THINK THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF OUTLINING THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT UNDERMINES OVERSIGHT VOTER APPROVED OVERSIGHT VIA THE POLICE ASSOCIATION INTERPRETATION OF THE LANGUAGE, WHICH IS PROBABLY CORRECT, BUT, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BUT I'M EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF THE CONTRACT AND HOW WE'LL UNDERMINE OUR ABILITY TO FUND CITY SERVICES.

THE OPPOSITION FROM OTHER CITY UNIONS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND ALARMING AND HENCE THAT THE REAL DEEP, UM, QUESTIONS IT RAISES ABOUT SOLVENCY AND WHAT WILL HAVE TO CHANGE TO PAY FOR THIS.

I ALSO REMEMBER THE DEFICIT THE CITY WAS PROJECTED TO FACE IN COMING YEARS AND RESPECTFULLY, WE CANNOT RESPONSIBLY ACCEPT THIS DEAL.

I'M SOMEBODY I MOVED BACK TO AUSTIN, UM, I MOVED BACK HERE TO RAISE MY OWN FAMILY HERE, CLOSE TO MY EXTENDED FAMILY, AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO FUND OUR CITIES AND TO SEND THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS AND CARE ABOUT CARES ABOUT, WHICH I THINK THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS DID A GREAT JOB OF MENTIONING WE'LL HAVE THIS HUGE FINANCIAL MILLSTONE WITH THIS CONTRACT.

SO, AND, AND WE ALL KNOW WE CAN'T TAKE IT BACK.

UM, SO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST 47 48.

I SEE THE REST OF MY TIME.

TAMMY TOPE.

GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON.

I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT SEVEN AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48 BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP LETTING A PD LEACH THE LIFE THAT IS IN OUR OTHER CITY SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY FINDS WAY MORE USEFUL.

[00:40:02]

JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE, HAVE ALREADY FACED BUDGET CUTS THAT HAVE CAUSED THEM TO FURLOUGH MUCH NEEDED STAFF AND CANCEL PROGRAMMING.

THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET IS A MEASLY 1.8 MILLION THAT'S EVEN LESS THAN THE 2.5 THAT THE CITY WASTED AWAY ON THEIR DEAL WITH RAMPAGE LAW.

PLACES LIKE THE CARVER HAVE MADE A MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT IN MY LIFE WITHOUT THEIR ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM, WHICH IS AT RISK OF BEING ELIMINATED DUE TO BUDGET CUTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.

AND THAT'S ALREADY I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE BOOST THAT I NEEDED TO BREAK INTO THE ART WORLD.

THESE CITY SERVICES ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT CITY COUNCIL.

I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO SIGN THEIR DEATH WARRANT BY ACCEPTING THIS CONTRACT WITH A PD STOP MESSING WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

SAMANTHA MCCOY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SAMANTHA MCCOY AND I AM SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY AS A SURVIVOR OF RAPE AND AGAINST THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT LANGUAGE, SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE G FILE, UH, LANGUAGE.

I HAVE PREVIOUSLY TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE RESPONSES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

HOWEVER, TODAY I AM HERE TO ADDRESS A GRAVE ISSUE, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COMMIT SEXUAL CRIMES THEMSELVES.

IT'S A HARSH REALITY THAT OFFICERS CAN AND DO ABUSE THEIR POSITIONS OF POWER TO COMMIT VIOLENT OFFENSES.

MY RAPIST AND ATTACKER WAS A POLICE OFFICER.

I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE BIAS INVESTIGATIONS AND SILENCING TACTICS USED TO PROTECT THEIR OWN LEAVING SURVIVORS WITHOUT JUSTICE.

THE OFFICER IN MY SITUATION WAS FORCED TO QUIETLY RESIGN FROM HIS POSITION, BUT DUE TO A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE SECRECY AROUND THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, HE WAS PERMITTED TO OBTAIN A POSITION AS AN OFFICER IN A DIFFERENT CITY SHOULD HE SO CHOOSE.

THIS EXPOSES THE COMMUNITY TO DANGER AND PERPE PERPETUATES THE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS WHO ARE IN UNIFORM.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE SUED FOR THEIR PROFOUND FAILURES IN SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

DESPITE PROMISES TO DO BETTER, THE CITY AND A PD CONTINUE TO FALL SHORT.

TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRES HONESTY AND OPENNESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN POLICE OFFICERS COMMIT SERIOUS MISCONDUCT.

INSTEAD, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE POLICE UNION ARE TAKING EXTREME MEASURES TO KEEP OFFICER MISCONDUCT.

HIDDEN.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING CLOSED, QUOTE ADMINISTRATIVELY, ALLOWING OFFICERS TO QUIETLY RESIGN OR RETIRE WITHOUT FACING DISCIPLINE.

OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES TRANSPARENCY AND OUR SURVIVORS DESERVE JUSTICE.

ACCOUNTABILITY MUST PREVAIL OVER SECRECY WHEN SURVIVORS, WHEN OFFICERS WHO COMMIT SEXUAL CRIMES ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THEY'RE EMBOLDENED TO OFFEND AGAIN.

WE MUST DEMAND HIGHER STANDARDS FROM OUR OFFICERS, NOT LOWER.

THE PROPOSED CONTRACT AS IT STANDS, WILL FAIL SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

ONCE AGAIN, IT ALLOWS PAST OFFENSES OF OFFICERS TO BE HIDDEN INDEFINITELY.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO STAND WITH SURVIVORS AND REJECT THIS CONTRACT.

IT'S, IT'S GETTING RIDICULOUS.

LARISSA RNO.

HI, MY NAME IS LARISSA AND I'M A A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.

UM, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON 47 AND 48.

UM, I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, SPEAK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR THE SAME THINGS.

UM, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I AGREE WITH, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY'VE SAID.

UM, JUST TO SORT OF RECAP THAT, UM, THAT THIS, UH, THIS PRICE TAG FOR THIS CONTRACT IS JUST TOO BIG.

UM, DURING BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE WERE TOLD THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND OTHER CITY SERVICES AND NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE LIKE AN EXTRA 218 MILLION FOR THE POLICE.

UM, I THINK IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED TO FUND MORE THAN JUST POLICE.

UM, THE THINGS LIKE INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONSE.

UM, THIS, UH, POLICE PAY IN AUSTIN IS ALREADY HIGH COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE CITIES, AND THE CRIME RATE IS LOW COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE CITIES.

UM, DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD NEED TO INCREASE IT MORE.

UM, THIS ALSO IMPORTANTLY UNDERMINES THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT THAT I, ALONG WITH 80% OF THE POPULATION OF AUSTIN VOTED FOR.

UM, THESE ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

UH, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS WE HAVE TO SAY THAT A PD NEEDS MORE OVERSIGHT.

UH, SO LASTLY, I'M JUST ASKING YOU SIMPLY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

UH, DON'T LET OTHERS AT CITY HALL

[00:45:01]

BULLY YOU.

LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, UH, THE ONES WHO YOU REPRESENT AND PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.

CRAIG STALEY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS CRAIG STALEY.

I'VE BEEN AUSTINITE FOR THE LAST FOUR DECADES AND RESIDE AND WORK IN DISTRICT NINE.

I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE MORE THAN 75 FRONTLINE WORKERS IN MY BUSINESSES WHO RELY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY WOULDN'T HAVE JOBS AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE A BUSINESS IF IT WORKED FOR THE POLICE.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU APPROVE THIS CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WAY TOO LONG AND EVERYONE HAS HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO PROVIDE INPUT THAT OUR CITY HAS BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A POLICE CONTRACT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF IS EMBARRASSMENT TO AUSTIN.

THE ONLY REASON WE DON'T IS POLITICS.

THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OFFICER SHORTAGE WE HAVE TODAY.

THAT'S NO SECRET.

THIS CURRENT CITY COUNCIL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT RIGHT AND PUT GOOD MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT AHEAD OF POLITICS ING THE CITY NEEDS TO BE THAT WE PUT AUSTIN FIRST, NOT POLITICS.

THE DIVISIVE, OBSTRUCTIONISTS AND DESTRUCTIVE POLITICAL ACTIONS HAVE NO PLACE HERE.

THIS IS AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE EMS AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT VOTING TO RATIFY THE POLICE CONTRACT.

AND PUTTING AUSTIN FIRST IS A NO-BRAINER FOR US.

AUSTINITES AS IT IS SIMPLY GOOD CIVIC MANAGEMENT.

LET US ALL GET BACK TO BEING AUSTINITES IN THE CITY WE LOVE AND AS A CITY, LET'S GET TOGETHER AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE THE HARDEST JOB POSSIBLE, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EVERY DAY.

PLEASE VOTE YES TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT.

I'LL YIELD MY TIME.

KRISTEN DURHAM.

HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

WORKING TO HIRE NEGOTIATORS WHO WILL STAND UP TO THE A PAI.

MY NAME IS KRISTEN DURHAM.

I'M A VOTER AND A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF OF DISTRICT FOUR.

I'M ALSO A FORMER STATE OF TEXAS EMPLOYEE AND STILL PAY DUES TO THE TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEES UNION IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY FORMER COLLEAGUES AND MY SPOUSE, WHO IS ALSO A STATE EMPLOYEE COUNCIL MEMBER.

VELA, I MET YOU AT OAKWOOD BARBECUE LAST WEEK AND VOICED MY OPPOSITION TO THIS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND OVERSIGHT INADEQUATE POLICE CONTRACT.

I THINK WE SHARE MANY BELIEFS AND PRIORITIES RELATED TO THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I SUPPORTED YOUR PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.

I APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE WORKED TO ACCOMPLISH, ESPECIALLY GETTING FUNDING, FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MY VOTE FOR YOU DEPENDS ON YOUR VOTE AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.

AND I KNOW OTHERS IN DISTRICT FOUR FEEL THE SAME BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE IN DISTRICT FOUR.

WE CANNOT CAVE TO THE PRESSURES OF MONEY, MONEY TO INTEREST.

WHEN THE WELFARE OF SO MANY AUSTINITES IS AT STAKE, GIVING A MASSIVE RAISE TO A CORRUPT AND INEPT POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE LITERALLY LYING ON THE SIDEWALKS DOWNTOWN ISN'T JUST IRRESPONSIBLE, IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.

PEOPLE LIKE THE WOMAN WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER ABOUT NOT WANTING TO SEE HOMELESS PEOPLE AROUND WHEN SHE'S DRIVING, THINK OF THESE AS NOT HUMAN BEINGS, BUT THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS THAT NEED HELP.

A VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT TELLS ME THAT YOU JUST WANT MORE COPS TO SWEEP THESE PEOPLE INTO HIDING AND TAKE THEIR BELONGINGS INSTEAD OF HELPING THEM GET HOUSING JUST LIKE THOSE COPS SWEPT AND TOOK THE TENT OF THE WOMAN WHO SPOKE DURING THE SESSION ON TUESDAY.

THAT IS NOT THE CITY I WANT TO LIVE IN, AND IT'S NOT THE CITY.

A MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN AUSTIN WANT EITHER.

ALMOST 80% OF VOTERS HAVE MADE THIS VERY CLEAR AUSTIN NEEDS TO FUND HOUSING, SOCIAL SERVICES, HEALTHCARE AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE LIKE THE KIND PROVIDED BY MY FRIEND COLE WEAVER WHO HAS TESTIFIED ON THIS ISSUE AND THE OTHER WONDERFUL WORKERS AT, UM, SORRY, MY SON'S CUTTING OUT INTEGRAL CARE.

THEY NEED THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SOME, SOME OF YOU ARE SO READY TO JUST HAND OFF TO THE A PD DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE DONE LITTLE TO NOTHING TO COMPLY WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT TO DATE.

I URGE YOU ALL TO PUT THE WELFARE OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES FIRST BY VOTING AGAINST THIS CONTRACT TODAY AND TOMORROW

[00:50:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK RA K HI, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALLOWING US THIS TIME TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.

UM, I'M DEFINITELY OPPOSED TO, UH, PASSING THIS CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I DON'T WANNA GO OVER ALL OF THE POINTS THAT SOME OF THE MOST, THE AMAZING SPEAKERS BEFORE ME HAVE GONE OVER REGARDING THE ABSOLUTE NON-COMPLIANCE OF THIS WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, WHICH I VOTED FOR AND WHICH MANY OF MY FRIENDS VOTED FOR AND TRUSTED.

UM, PERHAPS NAIVELY THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WERE REALLY TAKING SERIOUSLY.

I DEFINITELY DO NOT FEEL SAFER WITH MORE POLICE PRESENCE.

I WOULD RATHER SEE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

I WOULD RATHER SEE PEOPLE WORKING ON THE HOUSELESSNESS ISSUES.

I THINK THAT THERE'S MUCH MORE IMPORTANT WAYS TO USE $218 MILLION IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SO SORELY NEED FUNDING FOR THAN TO HAND OVER THIS MONEY TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SHOWN NO, I WANNA SAY I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACTUALLY BE TRANSPARENT WITHOUT HAVING THAT BE WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT EXPLICITLY.

AND I THINK THIS CONTRACT REALLY DOES US AS VOTERS A DISSERVICE BY GOING AGAINST THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

AND IT ALSO DOES THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO SERVICE BY PLACING FUNDING IN PLACES THAT DO NOT REALLY MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.

UM, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP ANY MUCH MORE OF YOUR TIME.

I THINK YOU'VE HEARD AMAZING STORIES, UM, FROM SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN, SO I'LL SEE THE REST OF MY TIME, BUT I REALLY DO WANT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO KNOW WE ARE WATCHING YOUR VOTES ON THIS AND WE WILL VOTE ACCORDINGLY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

WE NEED US TO REALLY CENTER THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY AND NOT THE BUSINESSES ONLY, AND NOT THE A A PA.

UM, SO PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOSEPH YAMAS.

GOOD.

DAN, MY NAME IS JOE LAMAS.

I LIVE AND INVEST IN THE AUSTIN REGION.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CONTRACT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES FOR 47 AND 48.

WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE ALL MEANS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE WITH ANY PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTION.

POLICE OFFICERS HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT AND STRESSFUL ROLE PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A TIRELESSLY AND OFTEN THANKLESS JOB.

OUR OFFICE OFFICERS DESERVE OUR SUPPORT, I HOPE AND ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CONTRACT.

TO THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP.

AND I YIELD MY TIME, ANAN RAM.

UH, HI.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES.

UH, MY NAME IS ANAN AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.

I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48, AND I'M URGING CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT BECAUSE I WANT TO PRIORITIZE ACTUAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS CONTRACT PASSES.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS APPROXIMATELY $3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN SPENDING DUE TO THE POLICE, BE IT THIS POLICE CONTRACT, A PD EXPENSES YEAR OVER YEAR AND PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND POLICE BRUTALITY.

THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WHATSOEVER.

THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION PURPOSEFULLY MISLED THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN SPENDING $287,000 TO CREATE A FRONT GROUP VOTERS FOR OVERSIGHT AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY TO GET PROP B ON THE BALLOT.

THE CITY'S NEGOTIATING TEAM CONSISTS OF LAWYERS FROM RAMPAGE LAW, SARAH GRIFFIN, LAWAL DENTON, AND ROXANNA PEREZ.

RAMPAGE LAW DEFENDS POLICE AGAINST VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND POLICE BRUTALITY, AS WELL AS DEFENDING THE POLICE TO THE CITY OF UVALDE.

AFTER 19, KIDS WERE MASSACRED IN A SCHOOL SHOOTING WHILE THEIR COPS STOOD BY AND DID NOTHING.

THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE FOOLISH TO BELIEVE THE LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF THE OVERSIGHT LANGUAGE BY THESE ROGUE NEGOTIATORS.

MEANWHILE, A CBS POLL SHOWED 79% OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT.

THE EXACT SAME PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONTRACT UNDER MY UNDERMINE POLICE OVERSIGHT, BUT THE ENORMOUS COST WOULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF AUSTIN FIRE, EMS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS THE BOARD.

I URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REMEMBER THAT THE A PD BUDGET INCREASES ARE PERMANENTLY LOCKED IN.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE SHORTAGES OF PARAMEDICS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.

AND ALSO YOU MADE PROMISES

[00:55:01]

YOU ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THERE'S SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

THE A RPA CLIFF IS JUST ON THE HORIZON.

THE I 35 MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL HIT HARD AND AUSTIN ENERGY CREDIT TRANSFERS ARE UNSUSTAINABLE AND WOULD HURT OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES CREDIT RATING IF CONTINUED INDEFINITELY.

THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS YET TO PROVIDE REALISTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS TO VARIOUS SERIOUS PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE ESTIMATED POLICE OVERTIME COST AND THE PROMISES AND PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL.

VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

FIRE RAMPAGE LAW AND HIRE NEW NEGOTIATORS WHO WILL STAND UP TO THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, NOT WORK ALONGSIDE THEM.

IF YOU'RE UNWILLING TO DO THAT, THEN AT LEAST VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT AND ONLY COMMIT TO SIGNING ONE, WHICH ENSURES A CLEAR FISCAL BALANCE TO THE BUDGET AND TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS ENSURING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FULL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU CANNOT EXPECT VOTERS TO SUPPORT ANNUAL TAX RATE INCREASES TO PAY FOR POLICE WHEN VOTERS IN AUSTIN HAVE MADE THEMSELVES EXTREMELY CLEAR.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN, VOTING FOR THIS POLICE CONTRACT IS UN, IS ABSOLUTELY UNDEMOCRATIC AS THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

NOT SUPPORT THE CONTRACT.

MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS THE IMPORTANT ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY.

UH, MY NAME'S CATHERINE SASSER AND I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE.

I GREW UP HERE, ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM ALL A ISC SCHOOLS AND NOW HAVE THE PLEASURE TO WORK HERE.

AND I'VE SEEN AUSTIN GROW TO THE PLACE WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.

AUSTIN'S QUALITY OF LIFE HAS DRAWN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WHICH MAKES US A HUB OF INNOVATION AND UNIQUE CULTURE.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS A CORNERSTONE OF MAINTAINING AND ATTRACTING THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GAINED ATTENTION FOR POLICE VACANCIES AND RESPONSE DELAYS.

WE MUST RESTORE TRUST IN OUR CITY'S SENSE OF SECURITY BY GIVING OUR OFFICERS THE STABILITY AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SERVE.

THIS AGREEMENT YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE POLICE, IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING AUSTIN AS A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES FEEL SECURE.

PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN AUSTIN AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AUSTIN'S NARRATIVE ON SAFETY AND WELLBEING, AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS CONTRACT TO KEEP AUSTIN A SAFE, VIBRANT PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK AND LIVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, BRYSON GIL.

UH, HELLO.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

UH, HI.

I'M ZONA OR BRYSON.

UH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I OPPOSE ITEMS 47 AND 48.

I'VE LIVED IN TEXAS MY WHOLE LIFE.

GROWING UP I ALWAYS KNEW I WAS GOING TO MOVE TO AUSTIN AS SOON AS I COULD, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

15 YEARS LATER, I'VE FINALLY BECOME LUCKY ENOUGH TO OWN A HOME HERE.

THE REASON I STAYED IN AUSTIN, DESPITE THE RISING COST AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP IS BECAUSE OF AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY.

GOOD.

OUR INVESTMENTS IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND PROJECT CONNECT ARE SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.

THESE MAKE A CITY SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A MOVEMENT TOWARDS MORE JUST SOLUTIONS TO THE STRUGGLE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS FACE TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS AND A SHIFT TOWARD MORE COMPASSIONATE AND DIVERSE RESPONSES TO THE CRISIS SITUATIONS THAT SO OFTEN RESULT IN TRAGEDY THAT SO RARELY NEED TO, MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO LIVE.

THESE THINGS OFFER VISION OF A FUTURE, A CITY MOVING AGAINST THE CURRENT OF FEAR AND ISOLATION SHAPING SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD, ESPECIALLY OUR STATE.

IT'S ABSURD THAT WE'D CONSIDER JEOPARDIZING ANY OF THIS IN ORDER TO INCREASE AN ALREADY MASSIVE POLICE BUDGET, WHICH IS NEVER ALLOWED TO DECREASE.

I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET FOR GOOD THINGS LIKE THE I BELONG IN AUSTIN PROGRAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO DECREASE WHEN THE BELT HAS TO TIGHTEN.

NOT IF, WHEN WE'RE TOLD THAT THIS PAY PACKAGE IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE A PDA COMPETITIVE RECRUITER.

THEY'RE ALREADY SOME OF THE HIGHEST PAID POLICE IN THE STATE.

THE MORE SO THE LONGER AN INDIVIDUAL REMAINS ON THE FORCE, IF RECRUITMENT OR RETAINMENT ARE LOW, IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THIS IS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF PAY.

IT IS SURELY ALSO INFLUENCED BY THE NOTED CULTURE OF HAZING AND ABUSE.

IN APDS ACADEMY WE HEAR THE VERY IDEA OF CADETS JOINING THE POLICE IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE IS RIDICULED BY INSTRUCTORS.

THE CITY IS CURRENTLY SPENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DEFENDING THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST ACCUSATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION.

WE'RE BEING ASKED TO SACRIFICE CITY RESOURCES WITH CLEAR POSITIVE VALUE AFTER YEARS OF REPORTS OF A GENERALIZED HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WITHIN A PB, THE EVIDENCE OF WHICH WE'VE SEEN IN THE APAS UNDERHANDED STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING THE REFORMS, WE'VE WON TO SAY NOTHING OF THEIR DOGGED COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING THOSE REFORMS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DEFUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO THINK RATIONALLY ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS REALLY THE BEST DEAL THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN CAN GET OR WHETHER A SLIGHTLY MORE ADVERSARIAL NEGOTIATING TEAM MIGHT DO BETTER FOR OUR CITY AND FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ITSELF TOO.

IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN IMPROVING

[01:00:01]

PLAZA II.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS S PLASA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF AME 1624.

I'M USING VACATION TIME TO MAKE THIS TESTIMONY STAY.

I'M AGAINST ITEM 47 AND 48 AS I BELIEVE IT IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED DOMINANCE OF EIGHT BY A PD OF THE GENERAL BUDGET AND IS REINFORCING MODES OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT ARE OUTDATED AND PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE.

I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO POSTPONE THIS VOTE OR VOTE NO ON THESE ITEMS SO THAT THEY CAN REVISIT THE FUNDING TOWARDS THIS CONTRACT UNDER STATE LAW PASSED BY THE TEXAS LEG LEGISLATURE.

SHALL YOU VOTE IN THIS CONTRACT? YOU'RE CEMENTING BOTH INCREASED FUNDING LEVELS FOR A PD AND LIKELY CUTS TO ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES SUCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH HOUSING, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES.

THIS CONTRACT ALSO JEOPARDIZES FUTURE WAGE INCREASES FOR OTHER CITY WORKERS.

DO Y'ALL PLAN TO CONTINUE TO RATE AUSTIN ENERGY? HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK VOTERS WILL APPROVE TAX INCREASES TO CONTINUE FUNDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT CURRENT OR HIGHER LEVELS? WHAT IS THE PLAN TO PREVENT A PD FROM EATING UP LARGER PERCENTAGES OF THE BUDGET IN THE LONG RUN BECAUSE OF THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE? THAT IS WHAT THIS CONTRACT SITS INTO.

ACTION.

IF IT IS TAXED, DO NOT HELP THEM INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES AND THE WORKERS THAT DO THAT WORK.

THAT'S WHAT EFFECTIVE IN BUILDING STRONG AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, INVESTING IN HOUSING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU ALL WANT TO DO THIS AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS.

THIS CONTRACT JEOPARDIZES THE ABILITY OF YOU AND FUTURE COUNSELORS TO DO IT.

I'M SORRY FOR THE POSITION THE ALLEG HAS PUT YOU INTO.

HOWEVER, IN MY ROLE, I'M HIGHLY AWARE OF HISTORICAL DECISIONS BY THE CITY THAT HAS HURT COMMUNITIES.

DO NOT LET THIS BE ANOTHER ONE.

INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD.

YOU GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, UH, IT'S 12 O'CLOCK.

BEFORE

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, UM, SHIFT FOR A MINUTE TO OUR 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, AND WE WILL IMMEDIATELY AT THE END OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IMMEDIATELY GO BACK TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.

UH, THAT'S IN LINE, UH, FOR, UH, ITEM NUMBER 47.

SO WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF YOU'RE, IF YOU, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE LISTED, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE LISTED IN TERMS OF THE ORDER.

SO WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IS THAT SHE CALLS YOUR NAME AND SHE'LL CALL YOUR NAMES IN, IN ORDERS OF THREE.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT HERE ON THE FRONT ROW.

WE HAVE TWO PODIUMS, SO WE CAN MAKE IT EFFICIENT FOR YOU TO COME DIRECTLY TO EITHER ONE OF THOSE PODIUMS, BUT MAKE YOUR, IF YOU'RE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A, OF AN AISLE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY, UH, TO THE FRONT.

SO IF YOU'LL PLEASE GO AND, AND BEGIN CALLING THE 12 O'CLOCK PUBLIC, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

THEY'RE OUTSIDE, THEY WON'T LET THEM IN.

WELL, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

UM, THEY'RE COMING.

THEY'RE COMING IN.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING THAT TO MY ATTENTION.

MY, WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, WE, UH, WE HAVE FIRE MARSHAL AND, AND, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

SO THE FIRST PERSON WILL BE MAYA ES SHELL, FOLLOWED BY NAVA BERG AND NARE BARAKAT.

THE VIOLENCE THAT YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WITNESS EACH WEEK IN THESE MEETINGS IS JUST A SMALL TASTE OF WHAT COULD BECOME IRREGULAR OCCURRENCES IF THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED.

UM, SORRY TO MAKE YOU RUN IN HERE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY.

MY NAME IS MAYA AND I MOVED TO, I MOVED FROM ISRAEL TO AUSTIN TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO WITH MY FAMILY.

I'M RAISING TWO CHILDREN IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY AND WE'VE FOUND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY HERE.

HOWEVER, MY CHILDHOOD IN ISRAEL WAS MARKED BY VIOLENCE MISSILES TARGETING US KNIFE AND BOMB ATTACKS IN CROWDED PLACES AND SUICIDE TERRORISTS.

IT BECAME NORMAL FOR ME AS A CHILD TO LIVE UNDER CONSTANT THREAT.

THIS WAS MY REALITY AND IT A REALITY NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE.

I AM ALSO A THIRD GENERATION HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.

MY FAMILY'S HISTORY HAS TAUGHT ME HOW FRAGILE PEACE CAN, CAN BE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT IT.

WHILE I AM DEEPLY RELIEVED THAT MY CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO GROW UP IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT, THE EVENTS SINCE OCTOBER 7TH AND THE VIOLENT PROTESTS THAT FOLLOWED HAVE MADE ME FEEL LESS SAFE HERE TOO.

I NOW HE, I NOW HESITATE TO OPENLY SAY THAT I'M FROM ISRAEL AND IT SADDENS ME TO FEEL THIS WAY IN A CITY THAT I LOVE.

I FEAR THAT PASSING THIS RESOLUTION COULD LEAD TO EVEN GREATER TENSION AND DIVISION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AT A TIME WHEN UNITY AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDINGS ARE WHAT WE NEED MOST.

[01:05:02]

WHEN WE TAKE SIDES IN SUCH A DEEPLY COMPLEX CONFLICT WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING ITS NUANCES, WE RISK OPENING THE DOOR TO GREATER DIVISION AND POTENTIAL HARM IN OUR OWN CITY.

I KNOW EACH, I KNOW EACH OF YOU IS DEDICATED TO MAKING AUSTIN A SAFE AND THRIVING PLACE FOR ALL, BUT WITH CRITICAL ISSUES LIKE THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE WATER WE DRINK, WE MUST FOCUS ON WHAT TRULY AFFECTS US ALL.

EVERY DAY.

RAS POLLUTER SKIES FILLING AIR WITH TOXIC METALS, AND OUR WATER IS CON CONTAMINATED WITH FLUORIDE, HEAVY METALS, CHLORINE, AND OTHER HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.

THESE ARE MATTERS THAT HARM US ALL REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, RACE, OR GENDER.

THESE ARE ISSUES THAT DEMAND OUR ATTENTION.

PASSING A RESOLUTION FOCUSED ON A DISTANT CONFLICT RISKS, CREATING UNNECESSARY DIVISION HERE WHEN OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON WELLBEING OF ALL AUSTINITE.

I BELIEVE IN OUR SHARED CAPACITY TO FOSTER PEACE, UNDERSTANDING, AND UNITY HERE IN AUSTIN.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THIS CITY CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND FOCUS ON ISSUES THAT UNITES US.

I SPEAK FROM A PLACE OF LOVE AND CARE FOR THE CITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR LISTENING AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO AUSTIN.

SIR, THE RULES REQUIRE THAT YOU BE SEATED.

IF YOU WILL PLEASE FIND A SEAT.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE IT, THE POLICY.

SO I NEED TO SEE THE POLICY.

WELL, IF YOU, I'M JUST GONNA STAND UP HERE.

I AND DISTRICT, UH, ONE, WELL, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO THAT FROM A SEAT.

OTHERWISE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE AND IT'LL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU.

PLEASE TAKE A SEAT.

NO, NO.

WELL, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE.

SIR, YOU'RE GONNA BE ESCORTED OUT.

I'M NOT SURE WHY.

I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU'RE MAKING THIS PROBLEM.

AND I HAVE A, YOU'RE, YOU'RE BLOCK, YOU'RE BLOCKING THERE.

THERE'S A SEAT RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

I'M SITTING.

PLEASE TAKE A SEAT, SIR.

WELL, THAN STAND IN THE BACK.

I'M NOT SPEAKING.

I YES, SIR.

THAT I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

ONE SECOND.

I'M DO THIS.

I'M JUST STANDING UP.

I'M JUST STANDING UP HERE.

WHERE'S THE POLICY? I, WHERE'S THE POLICY? I'M NOT DISRUPTED THE HE DISRUPTED ME.

I AM JUST STANDING UP HERE.

I'M JUST STANDING UP HERE.

PERSONNEL.

I CAN'T STAND UP HERE.

STAND.

IT'S WHAT'S, I JUST WANT STAND UP HERE.

YOU, YOU MAY STAND IN THE BACK IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

THERE'S A SEATS RIGHT THERE, AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF SEATS FOR YOU.

Y'ALL KNOW THIS WRONG.

I, I I JUST WANT TO STAND UP HERE.

APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

UM, PLEASE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO START.

IN 2015, MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO GERMANY.

HI, MY NAME IS NAVA BERG AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE INVALUABLE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU ALSO TO THE POLICE OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS CHAMBER AND BUILDING FOR KEEPING US SAFE.

I AM AN ISRAELI AMERICAN, CANADIAN.

I WAS BORN IN JERUSALEM AND GREW UP IN HAIFA.

HAIFA IS KNOWN AS THE CITY OF COEXISTENCE HOME TO MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, BAHAI JEWS AND JEWS.

WE HAVE HAD BOTH JEWISH AND ARAB MAYORS.

EVERY WINTER, THE CITY CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, AND RAMADAN TOGETHER DESPITE THE RESIDENT'S DESIRE TO LIVE IN PEACE.

THE SECOND INTIFADA BROUGHT SHOCKING, VIOLENT ATTACKS, THE WORST OF WHICH IN 2003, A SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATING HIMSELF.

AT THE BUS STATION I USED EVERY DAY WERE 17 PEOPLE, MAINLY TEENAGERS, SOME OF WHOM I KNEW WERE KILLED.

IN 2006 CAME THE SECOND LEBANON WAR WITH CONSTANT AIR RAID AND RUNNING FOR SHELTER FROM ROCKETS.

[01:10:01]

IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD IN ISRAEL.

EVERY DAY THERE WAS AN ATTEMPTED STABBING OR HIT AND RUN ATTACK.

TOO MANY TIMES WE HAD JUST BEEN WHERE SOMEONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED.

THREE YEARS LATER, WE MADE THE BEST CHOICE OF MOVING TO AUSTIN.

WE LOVE THE LIFE, MUSIC, FESTIVALS, NATURE, TRAILS, AND SO MUCH MORE.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WERE AMAZED AT THE FRIENDLINESS AND KINDNESS WITH WHICH WE WERE WELCOMED.

THE WARM HOSPITALITY MADE US FEEL INSTANTLY AT HOME, WE JOINED THE SYNAGOGUE, WHICH I NOW SIT ON THE BOARD OF AND ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF THE ACTIVE, VIBRANT TO WHICH COMMUNITY THROUGH MY SYNAGOGUE.

I'M ACTIVE IN THE I ACT INTERFAITH OUTREACH PROGRAM.

WE WANT TO KEEP LIVING THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE HERE.

BUT SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, SOMETHING HAS CHANGED.

I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS FOR TOO LONG.

THE REASON I PERSISTENTLY SHOW UP EVERY OTHER WEEK DESPITE BEING AVERSE TO CONFLICT AND CONFRONTATION IS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.

IF I DON'T, BEING QUIET AND NOT ROCKING THE BOAT IS NO PROTECTION FROM HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION.

THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM IS TYRANNICAL, DEHUMANIZING, AND MALICIOUS.

COMING HERE IS THE WORST PART OF MY WEEK.

I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF ANTISEMITISM IN MY LIFETIME.

HOW NAIVE OF ME, I FEEL LIKE THE VIOLENCE AND HATE I RAN FROM ARE FOLLOWING ME HERE.

THE YELLING, SCREAMING, SHRIEKING, HISSING, FINGER SNAPPING, MAKE A MOCKERY OF THIS SESSION.

I WISH MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT WE COULD RESTORE THE CIVILITY AND RESPECT WE ALL DESERVE, AND I AM HORRIFIED BY THE WAY IN WHICH HATE SPEECH HAS BEEN NORMALIZED AT THIS PULPIT.

I DON'T WANT THE POISON IN THIS ROOM TO INFECT THE REST OF THE CITY.

I SEE AUSTIN AS A CITY EXEMPLIFYING TOLERANCE AND DIVERSITY.

LET'S PLEASE KEEP IT THAT WAY.

NASRY BARAKAT, HANNAH BARAKAT, RENA LEARNER.

WELCOME.

MY NAME IS NASRY BARCA.

I'M A LEBANESE IMMIGRANT.

I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1975.

I AM ALSO A SEMIT.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT GAZA AND ABOUT LEBANON AND TO SHOW YOU THAT THIS WAR DID NOT START ON OCTOBER 7TH BY HAMAS.

I AM GOING TO LIMIT MY COMMENTS TO A PARTICULAR CASE THAT I'M INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH.

MY AUNT RENEE WAS MARRIED TO A PALESTINIAN WOODWORKER.

HIS NAME WAS YUSEF HEU.

HE HAD AN INFANT.

HIS NAME WAS RABIA.

THE YEAR WAS 1948.

THEY WERE A CHRISTIAN FAMILY LIVING IN PALESTINE.

THEY OWNED A MODEST HOME IN YFA, WHICH IS NOW KNOWN AS DEL AVIV.

THE HOME THEY LIVED IN WAS INHERITED BY YUSEF FROM HIS FATHER WHO HAD BUILT IT OVER THE YEARS.

WHEN THE JEWISH REFUGEES STARTED DOCKING IN YAFFA FROM EUROPE AFTER WORLD WAR II, THEY WERE WELCOMED BY FAMILIES LIKE MY AUNT'S FAMILY WHO EACH TOOK A REFUGEE FAMILY IN THEIR HOME.

MY AUNT'S FAMILY OFFERED A PART OF THEIR HOME TO A JEWISH REFUGEE FAMILY WHO CAME ON A BOAT FROM EUROPE DURING THE NAKBA OR THE CATASTROPHE.

THESE SO-CALLED REFUGEES WERE ORGANIZED INTO GROUPS OF ARMED GANGS.

THESE ARMED GANGS WERE KNOWN AS THE GON THE STERN GANG, THE VAR, THE HAGANA, AND THE PALAC.

YOU SEE, THE MIDDLE EAST DID NOT HAVE ANY TERRORISTS AT THAT TIME.

THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WERE PEACEFUL PEOPLE.

ISRAEL WITH ITS OWN GANGS INTRODUCED TERRORISM TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

FOR EXAMPLE, HEIM BE A FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL, WAS ACTUALLY THE LEADER OF THE ERGO GANG, AND WE KNEW HIM AS THE BUTCHER OF ENE BECAUSE THE NIGHT OF APRIL 9TH, 1948, HEIM BE AND HIS IUN GANG MEMBERS ATTACKED, INE A SMALL TOWN IN PALESTINE AND MASSACRED EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD WHO WERE THERE THAT FATEFUL NIGHT.

SEVERAL DAYS LATER, MEMBERS OF THE SAME GANG CAME TO MY AUNT'S HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND GAVE HER HER HUSBAND AND THEIR INFANT 30 MINUTES TO LEAVE THEIR HOME OR RISK BEING MASSACRED.

THEY TOLD THEM THAT THEY COULD NOT

[01:15:01]

TAKE ANYTHING WITH THEM.

MY AUNT SAID THAT SHE CARRIED HER INFANT RABIA IN HER ARMS. MY UNCLE YU AND HER HER WALKED OUT OF THEIR YAFFA HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

THEY WALKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL THEY REACHED , WHICH IS A TOWN ON THE SOUTHERN LEBANON BORDER.

THEY WERE THERE.

THEY ARRESTED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN TOOK TO, THANK YOU, SIR.

A BUS.

SORRY.

LEMME LET ME.

NO, I'M SORRY.

SIR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I'M GONNA CONTINUE HIS MESSAGE.

MY NAME'S HANNAH BARAKAT.

MY DAD WAS SPEAKING ABOUT MY, HIS GREAT AUNT.

HIS AUNT ESCAPING PALESTINE AND GOING THROUGH MARJA, WHICH IS OUR TOWN IN SOUTHERN LEBANON.

THERE THEY RESTED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN TOOK A BUS TO BEIRUT.

THEY ENDED UP IN THE DE DEWANE PALESTINIAN FOR REFUGEE CAMP IN BEIRUT.

700,000 PEOPLE, LIKE MY AUNT AND HER FAMILY, WERE DISPLACED DURING THE SAME EVENT.

THIS THEY CALLED THE NAKBA OR CATASTROPHE.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT TERRORISTS.

THEY'RE SIMPLE PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMIZED AND ARE FIGHTING TO TAKE BACK THEIR HOMES AND THEIR LAND.

THEIR SONS, DAUGHTERS AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND RAFA BEING SUBJECTED TO THE ONGOING GENOCIDE BEING COMMITTED BY ISRAEL AND SUPPORTED BY THE US GOVERNMENT.

THESE PEOPLE SUFFERED DURING THE NPA AND HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR MORE THAN 76 YEARS NOW.

SO TELL ME AGAIN WHY YOU DO NOT WANT US TO SUPPORT A CALL FOR A DEMAND FOR A CEASEFIRE FOR LEBANON AND GAZA OR AN ARMS EMBARGO OR BOTH.

AFTER THE DARIUS SCENE MASSACRE, THE STERN GANG LED BY AK SHAIR, ANOTHER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, ASSASSINATED COUNT BERNADO, WHO WAS THE N PEACE'S ENVOY IN CHARGE OF HELPING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES BETWEEN THE NEW STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN PALESTINIANS, NOW REFUGEES ACROSS THE PLANET.

THE AUN GANG HAD ALSO BLOWN THE KING DAVID HOTEL UP IN 1946 IN ORDER TO PRESSURE THE UK TO LEAVE THAT LAND SO THAT THE NEW REFUGEES SETTLERS COULD TERRORIZE MORE PALESTINIANS AND OCCUPY THEIR LAND.

SINCE THAT TIME, MANY MASSACRES TOOK PLACE TO NAME ONE MORE BECAUSE THE TIME IS SHORT.

IN 1982, THE SO-CALLED IDF INVADED LEBANON AND MASSACRED UP TO 3,500 REFUGEES IN A, IN TWO CAMPS IN BEIRUT, THE SUBRA AND SHATILA PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMPS, GENERAL ARIEL SHARON LED THAT MASSACRE.

HE THEN AS MANY AS MEN, OH, OKAY.

AS THESE, I WANNA CALL 'EM F*****S.

THESE GUYS BECAME PRIME MINISTERS OF ISRAEL.

TO US AND TO MANY OTHERS, WE WILL ONLY REMEMBER THEM AS THE BUTCHERS OF DI OF SABRA AND SHATILA SHAILA.

TODAY WE HEAR FROM THE MANY ZIONISTS THAT PALESTINE DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THE JEWS CAME TO THE LAND AFTER WORLD WAR II, THAT THIS LAND BELONGS TO ISRAEL BECAUSE OF SOME RELIGIOUS MUMBO JUMBO TELLING US THAT SOME GOD DISTRIBUTOR OR REAL ESTATE AGENT PROMISED THEM THE LAND OF THE PALESTINIANS.

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT IF AN ALL LOVING, ALL JUST GOD AND ALMIGHTY GOD CREATED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, HE WOULD GIVE SOMEONE ELSE'S LAND TO A GROUP OF GANG SETTLERS BECAUSE ANOTHER THUG WAGED WAR AGAINST THEIR PEOPLE.

IN YOUR JUDGMENT DAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PALESTINIANS WILL SAY TO YOUR GOD? VENGEFUL GOD? IN THE WORDS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT MEMBERS, THEIR RABBIS, AND MANY OTHER ZIONISTS ORDERED THEM AS HE DID IN AMALEK TO KILL EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND ESPECIALLY INFANT, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T, THEN THESE INFANTS WILL GROW UP AND WILL SEEK REVENGE FROM YOU.

THIS DEITY IS NOT MY GOD.

IN CLOSING, LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HEZBOLLAH OR THE PARTY OF GOD.

OUR GOVERNMENT, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND THE OTHERS REFERRED TO THEM AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY IRAN, AND THEY ARE THAT THEY ARE A FUNDAMENTAL MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT HEZBOLLAH THE GREATEST, I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

FREE PAL.

WE HAVE RENAT LERNER, ILANA, CHER, TAHO, TMI.

CITY COUNCIL INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING REPEATEDLY AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS.

THIS FAMOUS QUOTE BY ALBERT EINSTEIN IS MORE RELEVANT TODAY THAN EVER.

MY NAME IS RENAT LERNER.

I GREW UP IN ISRAEL AND PROUDLY SERVED IN THE IDF, MY HUSBAND, OUR FOUR CHILDREN, AND I MOVED TO AUSTIN SEVEN YEARS AGO, AND NOW I'M A PROUD BUSINESS OWNER AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, WHICH I DEEPLY LOVE.

FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE SAT HERE HEARING THE SAME VOICES, TELLING THE SAME LIES, TWISTING HISTORY, CURSING,

[01:20:01]

AND MAKING THREATS.

SO THIS TIME, INSTEAD OF ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO END THE CIRCUS, I DECIDED TO GIVE A SHORT HISTORY FRESHER.

FIRST, THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE INDIGENOUS TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND HAVE LIVED THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS LONG BEFORE ANY OTHER RELIGION DID.

JUST DIG ANYWHERE IN ISRAEL, AND YOU'LL FIND TRACES THAT GO BACK 3000 YEARS.

SECOND IN 1948, FOLLOWED BY A UN RESOLUTION THAT SPLIT THE LAND INTO TWO PARTS.

ONE FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND ONE FOR THE LOCAL ARABS.

THERE WERE NO PALESTINIANS BACK THEN.

THE YOUNG ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DECLARED THE FORMATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

THE NEXT DAY, FIVE ARAB COUNTRIES TRIED TO ELIMINATE THIS YOUNG STATE AND LAUNCHED A WAR IN WHICH THEY LOST.

SINCE THEN, EVERY DECADE OR SO THEY TRY AGAIN.

NEVERTHELESS, THE ARAB PEOPLE WERE OFFERED A STATE OF THEIR OWN.

MANY TIMES, 1948 IN OSLO ACCORDS DURING THE CAMP DAVID SUMMIT AND MORE AND EVERY TIME THEY CHOSE WAR AND VIOLENCE OVER PEACE EVERY TIME.

DEEP DOWN, THEY STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A REALITY IN WHICH ISRAEL, THE HOME OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WILL VANISH.

WHICH BRINGS ME BACK TO EINSTEIN'S QUOTE.

AS LONG AS THE PALESTINIANS BELIEVE THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE THAT THE STATE OF ISRAEL WILL STOP BEING AND KEEP ON TEACHING THEIR KIDS THAT THE LAND CAN BE JEWS FREE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.

THERE IS NO CHANCE FOR PEACE AND NO PEACE UNFORTUNATELY MEANS WAR.

ISRAEL DOESN'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LOSE ANY WAR.

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THE CEASEFIRE TO STOP FUELING THIS FALSE NARRATIVE.

ADDRESS THE FACTS, DEMAND HAMAS TO DISARM, SURRENDER, AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST STEP TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.

HATEFUL SPEECHES CARELESSLY HURLED AROUND WITH NO REPERCUSSIONS, NORMALIZING ANTISEMITISM.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ILANA ESHER.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK OUR MAYOR AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME SERVICE, AND EMPATHETIC EARS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SECURITY GUARDS AND POLICE OFFICERS WORKING HARD TO KEEP US ALL SAFE.

I'M SPEAKING HERE TODAY AS AN AMERICAN ISRAELI, A JEW, THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, AND NOW ALSO A PROUD TEXAN AND AUSTINITE.

I HAVE ATTENDED A NUMBER OF THESE SESSIONS THIS PAST YEAR AND INITIALLY WASN'T MOVED TO SPEAK.

TO BE HONEST, I WASN'T SURE OF MY OWN POSITION.

I HAVE LONG BEEN A PART OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED THE PEACE MOVEMENT IN ISRAEL.

I HAVE SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PEACE NOW, EM BREAKING THE SILENCE.

I DON'T FIND THE PALESTINIAN FLAG OFFENSIVE, AND I'M NOT THREATENED BY A KAFI.

I PAR PROUDLY MARCHED WITH PALESTINIAN ALLIES, DEMANDING AN END TO THE OCCUPATION, AND I HAVE BEEN BOYCOTTING PRODUCTS FROM THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES SINCE WELL BEFORE IT BECAME FASHIONABLE.

I AM ALSO A PROUD ZIONIST WHO VIEWS THE STATE OF ISRAEL AS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE, WHO IS PROUD OF MY HOMELAND AND ITS INNUMERABLE ACHIEVEMENTS.

AS I CONTINUED TO ATTEND THESE PROCEEDINGS, IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME HOW HARMFUL THEY ARE.

EMOTIONS RUN, WILD PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE.

WHEN ATTENDING, YOU CAN EITHER HOLD A PALESTINIAN FLAG OR AN ISRAELI ONE.

YOU CAN EITHER BE ONE OF US OR ONE OF THEM.

MY SON ATTENDS A JEWISH DAY SCHOOL, AND TODAY IS A JEWISH HOLIDAY RAH CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE ANNUAL CYCLE OF BIBLE READINGS AT SYNAGOGUE.

THIS IS THE JEWISH HOLIDAY THAT THE OCTOBER 7TH MASSACRES OCCURRED ON.

SO MY SON HAS NO SCHOOL TODAY.

INITIALLY I THOUGHT I WOULD BRING MY SON.

HOW GREAT WOULD IT BE FOR HIM TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROCEEDINGS, WITNESS CIVIC LIFE IN ACTION? BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS IS NO PLACE FOR A CHILD TO BE.

THIS PLACE IS NOT SAFE.

MY SON SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WITNESS THE TOXIC ATMOSPHERE IN THIS ROOM.

I PRAY THAT THE VIOLENT RHETORIC AND BLATANT ANTISEMITISM HERE NEVER FIND THEIR WAY TO OUR CITY TRICKLING DOWN TO OUR SCHOOLS.

YOU SEE, WE ARE ALL LUCKY.

WE, ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, IN THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD, AND DARE I SAY, IN ONE OF THE FUNKIEST AND LIVELIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD.

THIS IS NOT THE MIDDLE EAST.

WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THIS IS NOT WHERE AMERICAN F FOREIGN POLICY IS MADE.

LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

THANK YOU,

[01:25:08]

CITY OF BOSTON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU AS A TEXAN, AS ONE TEXAN TO ANOTHER.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS SITTING ON A LAND TAKEN FROM MEXICAN WHO TOOK IT FROM SPANIARDS, WHO TOOK IT FROM THE APACHE AND COMANCHE NATIVES.

WE ALSO HOST A GREAT MUSIC FESTIVAL IN AUSTIN EVERY YEAR, ACL.

HOW WOULD WE REACT IF ONE OF THE GROUP WHO HAD HISTORICAL CLAIM CAME TO OUR CITY AND KILLED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IF THOUSANDS OF OUR GIRLS WERE RAPED AND MURDERED IN ACL? IF HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE ON DECEMBER, 1941, WE WERE ATTACKED BY THE JAPANESE.

OUR AMERICAN RESPONSE KILLED 3 MILLION JAPANESE, INCLUDING DROPPING TWO NUCLEAR BOMBS.

I ASK YOU, IS IT A GOOD IDEA FOR A CITY THAT HOSTS A MUSIC FESTIVAL TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORT HAMAS? IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THE WAR IN UKRAINE HAD A MILLION PEOPLE KILLED A NINJA, NO CITY RESOLUTION, THE WAR IN YEMEN, HALF A MILLION MUSLIM KILLED NO CITY RESOLUTION WAR IN SYRIA, THE CIVIL WAR IN THE POOR.

AGAIN, NO CITY RESOLUTION.

WHEN MUSLIM AND CHRISTIANS KILL NO RESOLUTION, ONLY WHEN THE JEWISH STATE KILLS, THEN WE CONSIDER A RESOLUTION PASSING A RESOLUTION ON ONLY AGAINST THE JEWISH STATE.

IS THAT WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ALL ABOUT? AND WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE RESOLUTION? THE WAR IS ALMOST OVER ANYWAY.

GAZA STARTED THE WAR ON OCTOBER 7TH.

ISRAEL FINISHED IT.

HAMA TERRORISTS ARE ALL KILLED OR CAPTURED.

SIN NOIR, THE MASTERMIND OF THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK WAS KILLED.

GAZA IS DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR.

ALL THE KEEN MEN AND ALL THE KING HORSEMEN CAN PUT GAZA BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

THERE IS 2 MILLION GAZEN SITTING ON THE BEACH TODAY WITH NO HOMES, NO SEWAGE, NO ELECTRICITY, NO FOOD, NO RUNNING WATER, NOTHING.

A MEES FIRE NOW WILL LEAVE THEM DEPENDING ON UN HANDOUTS FOREVER, A MUCH BETTER RESOLUTION TO BE TO CALL ON EUROPEAN ARB COUNTRY TO SUPPORT THEM AND GIVE THEM SHELTER TODAY, RESOLUTION AS DRAFTED, SINGLE OUT THE JEWISH STATE.

IF IT'LL PASS, IT'LL MAKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN SEEM ANTI-SEMITIC, THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT I KNOW IS ABOUT INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY, WHERE EVERYBODY'S WELCOME.

LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.

THANK YOU, ROCHELLE WILSON.

MARSHA FEE, EATON LUIN.

PLEASE START THE MEDIA I PROVIDED BEFORE STARTING MY TIME.

DESPITE APACS INSISTENCE.

THIS MONTH WE WITNESSED HURRICANE HELENE'S FIERCE ASSAULT ON THE APPALACHIA MOUNTAINS, WHICH ARE OVER 300 MILES INLAND AND RISE TO MORE THAN 2000 FEET IN ELEVATION.

THE DEVASTATION WROUGHT BY HELENE WAS STAGGERING, TEARING THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE, UPROOTING TREES AND HOMES, DISMANTLING HIGHWAYS, AND FOREVER ALTERING LIVES.

HELENE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED USING WORDS LIKE UNIMAGINABLE, UNPRECEDENTED, DEVASTATING, UNTHINKABLE, CATASTROPHIC, ALL WORDS THAT BRING MY MIND BACK TO GAZA.

BEFORE HELENE EVEN MADE LANDFALL, FEMA HAD REPORTED A STAGGERING $9 BILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL.

COINCIDENTALLY, DURING THAT SAME WEEK, THE US DISPATCHED AN ADDITIONAL $8.7 BILLION TO ISRAEL TO CONTINUE COMMITTING ECOSIDE AND GENOCIDE.

THE DAY AFTER HELENE HIT OVER 700, TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WERE DEPLOYED, BUT NOT TO THE HURRICANE STRICKEN APPALACHIAS.

INSTEAD, THEY WERE SENT TO SUPPORT ISRAEL.

THESE DEDICATED SERVICE MEMBERS WERE RENDERED UNABLE TO ASSIST IN RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE VERY COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE.

IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA, MORE THAN 281,000 METRIC TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE WAS ADMITTED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

A STAGGERING 99% OF THIS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO ISRAEL'S RELENTLESS AERIAL BOMBARDMENT AND GROUND INVASION IN GAZA.

THIS YEAR ALONE, THE US HAS FUNNELED ALMOST $27 BILLION IN LETHAL AID TO ISRAEL.

ILLUSTRATING YET AGAIN THE PRIORITIZATION OF GENOCIDE OVER THE URGENT NEEDS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.

TO THE CONTRARY, WE ARE NOT YET, AT LEAST TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE UNITED STATES OF ISRAEL, NOT OFFICIALLY ANYWAY.

SO WHY ARE WE LETTING OUR LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS PRIORITIZE THE GENOCIDAL VENDETTA OF ISRAELIS OVER OUR OWN COMMUNITIES? OVER 70,000 TONS OF EXPLOSIVE MUNITIONS HAVE BEEN DROPPED ON GAZA.

WHITE PHOSPHORUS HAS RAINED DOWN ON TENTS FULL OF CIVILIANS BURNING THROUGH THEIR FLESH AND LEACHING ITS WAY INTO THE EARTH.

ALLEGATIONS HAVE SURFACED THAT ISRAEL HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY DUMPING TWO TOXIC NUCLEAR WASTE INTO THE OCEAN.

THE RELEASE OF ASBESTOS INTO THE AIR, LAND, AND WATER BEARS A CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCE BOTH FOR PALESTINIANS AND THEIR OCCUPIERS.

THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THESE ACTIONS WILL IMPACT GENERATIONS TO COME THROUGH ELEVATED RATES OF BIRTH DEFECTS AND CANCER.

WE LIVE IN A TIME OF CLIMATE CATASTROPHE WITH MILITARY ACTIONS PLAYING A DISPROPORTIONATE ROLE.

IN EXACERBATING THIS CRISIS A FACT, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO OVERLOOK ISRAEL'S PROPO, PROFOUNDLY DISPROPORTIONATE MILITARY ACTIONS,

[01:30:01]

AND BY EXTENSION, THE UNITED STATES ARE WREAKING HAVOC NOT ONLY ON THE CLIMATE, BUT ALSO ON OUR SHARED GLOBAL FUTURE.

MEANWHILE, CITIES LIKE AUSTIN READILY WELCOME COMPANIES LIKE BAY INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES THAT PROFIT FROM VIOLENCE AND DEGRADATION OF PEOPLE AND PLANET WHOSE INNOVATIONS PERPETUATE THIS CLIMATE CRISIS.

FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS TO PALESTINE, WE SHARE A SINGLE ATMOSPHERE, THE UNFATHOMABLE AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE, HEAVY METALS, AND TOXIC CHEMICALS RELEASED DURING THE GENOCIDE AND GAZA WILL NOT MAGICALLY REMAIN CONTAINED IN GAZA, THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CATASTROPHE.

MY NAME IS MARSHA FINE.

I'M A PROUD TEXAS BORN JEWISH WOMAN WHO HAS MADE AUSTIN MY HOME.

WHILE I HAVE FACED ANTISEMITISM BEFORE, AT NO OTHER POINT IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN THIS SICK AND TIRED.

I AM SICK AND TIRED BECAUSE ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, 1200 PEOPLE WERE BRUTALLY MURDERED BY TERRORISTS.

I AM SICK AND TIRED BECAUSE 101 HOSTAGES ARE STILL BEING HELD FOR OVER A YEAR IN HORRENDOUS CONDITIONS BY THESE TERRORISTS.

I AM SICK AND TIRED BECAUSE THESE SAME TERRORISTS ARE CELEBRATED AROUND THE WORLD BY PROTESTORS PROUDLY EXPRESSING THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH MURDERERS.

I AM SICK AND TIRED BECAUSE THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING THESE TERRORISTS RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND THEN IN THIS VERY CHAMBER.

TWO WEEKS AGO, TWO SPEAKERS AT THIS PODIUM PROUDLY EXCLAIMED DEATH TO ISRAEL, ONE ALSO ADDING DEATH TO AMERICA AND GLORY TO OUR MARTYRS.

TWO MONTHS AGO, ONE SPEAKER AT THIS PODIUM TURNED TO MY COMMUNITY POINTING TO US SAYING SHE HOPES WE NEVER KNOW PEACE.

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THESE PEOPLE CALL FOR VIOLENCE.

WHILE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS AN AMERICAN FOUNDATION, HATE SPEECH CANNOT BE TOLERATED.

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD WEAR MY STAR OF DAVID NECKLACE, OR IF MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE TO WEAR T-SHIRTS WITH HEBREW WRITING.

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF WITNESSING THE VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ASSAULTS AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE, THE VANDALISM OF JEWISH PLACES OF WORSHIP, THE INTENTIONAL BLOCKING OF JEWISH STUDENTS FROM THEIR OWN UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

ALL OF THESE OCCURRING WITH ALMOST NO CONSEQUENCES.

LAST SPRING IN THESE CHAMBERS, I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE SECURITY GUARDS TO STOP LOOKING AT A PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTOR BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T LIKE IT, AND WE SHOULDN'T GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO BE ANGRY ABOUT.

WHY AM I BEING TOLD WHERE I CAN AND CANNOT LOOK? WHY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY BEING PLACED ON ME? WHERE TO MAKE SURE THEY KEEP THEIR COOL IN MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE? MY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LET OUT THE BACK DOOR AFTER SESSIONS BECAUSE OF SECURITY FEARING FOR OUR SAFETY AS THE PRO-PALESTINIAN MOB HUDDLES TOGETHER AT THE ACTUAL EXIT, YELLING AND USING THEIR USUAL INTIMIDATION TACTICS.

WHY ISN'T THAT MOB TOLD TO BETTER CONTROL THEMSELVES? I AM SICK AND TIRED THAT MY COMMUNITY IS TOLD TO BE RESPECTFUL, CIVIL, CALM, AND PEACEFUL AS WE HAVE BEEN.

WHILE WE ARE INTIMIDATED, ATTACKED, AND THREATENED, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE OF YOU IN FRONT OF ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE STOOD BY MY COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE BEEN CURSED AT AND THREATENED, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT PASSING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION HERE IN AUSTIN WILL ONLY BRING MORE OF WHAT I'VE DESCRIBED ABOVE, ADDING FUEL TO THE ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL, FIRE OF CHAOS.

I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS MOB TO STIFLE MY VOICE BECAUSE IN BACKING DOWN, WE WILL BE DOING A GRAVE INJUSTICE TO OUR CITY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO THIS GREAT CITY.

WOO.

THANK YOU MARY WATSON, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS HONORABLE ASSEMBLY.

MY NAME IS ATON LUAN.

AS AN AMERICAN, I WAS RAISED UNDER THE IDEALS OF WESTERN SOCIETY.

I WAS TAUGHT THAT DECENCY WAS A VIRTUE I LIKE MOST OF THE AMERICAN YOUTH WAS VEILED FROM THE REALITIES OF THIS WORLD.

I WAS RAISED IN A BUBBLE.

I LIVE IN AUSTIN NOW, BUT IN 2005, MY FAMILY MOVED TO ISRAEL.

I SERVED IN THE IDF PROUDLY.

I WENT TO COLLEGE AND I STARTED A CAREER IN TECH.

I MET A BEAUTIFUL ISRAELI GIRL AND HAD TWO GORGEOUS CHILDREN.

LIFE WAS PERFECT, BUT IT WAS OCTOBER 6TH, 2023.

THE VERY NEXT DAY STARTED WITH SIRENS AT AROUND SIX 30 IN THE MORNING.

NOTHING SPECIAL.

THE BARBARIANS AND GAZA SHOOT ROCKETS AT CIVILIAN POPULATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFERENT.

NEWS SLOWLY STARTED POURING IN THAT THERE HAD BEEN BREACH AT THE BORDER WALL.

AN HOUR PASSED, AND WE STARTED HEARING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF TERRORISTS INFILTRATING OUR SOVEREIGN NATION.

AN HOUR LATER, IT WAS THOUSANDS.

THEN WE STARTED HEARING RUMORS THAT TERRORISTS WERE WANDERING THE STREETS WITH RPGS, AND THEY WERE BREAKING INTO HOMES AND KILLING ENTIRE FAMILIES AND COLD BLOOD.

I LIVED 40 MILES FROM THE BORDER.

I HAD A BABY AND A TODDLER SLEEPING IN THEIR BEDS.

THE NEWS WAS GETTING WORSE BY THE MINUTE.

IT TOOK A FEW DAYS FOR REALITY TO SINK IN, BUT IT TOOK MONTHS TO FIND THE BODIES.

WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WERE TERRORISTS SLEEP

[01:35:01]

OURSELVES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

EVERY SINGLE ISRAELI KNOWS SOMEONE WHO WAS KILLED, KIDNAPPED, RAPED, BEHEADED, STRANGLED, OR SET ON FIRE.

DECENCY WAS DEAD, BUT DECENCY DIED TWICE.

FIRST ONE, HAMAS, AS WELL AS PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AND JOURNALISTS INVADED ISRAEL AND KILLED 1200 INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND BABIES.

THE SECOND TIME WAS IN GROUPS OF YOUNG, FOOLISH HATE-FILLED ANTI-SEMITIC AMERICAN YOUTH TOOK OVER COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND SPEWED LIES ABOUT ISRAEL.

I WAS RAISED IN A DIFFERENT AMERICA BACK THEN.

WE HAD HOLOCAUST DENIERS, BUT THEY WERE FEW, AND THEY WERE IN HIDING.

NOW, THE HOLOCAUST DENIERS HAVE TAKEN OVER OUR CENTERS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THEY LIE NOT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF 1939, BUT OF 2023.

AMERICA IS A FORCE FOR GOOD IN THIS WORLD, AND WE HAVE TO EMBRACE OUR VALUES AND STAND PROUD.

WE GET TO DECIDE WHO WE ARE.

ANY RESOLUTION DENOUNCING ISRAEL IS A PRICE FOR HAMAS.

ANY CALL FOR A UNILATERAL UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE WITHOUT THE RETURN OF ALL OF OUR HOSTAGES PLAYS RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE TERRORISTS.

I BROUGHT MY FAMILY BACK TO UNITED STATES IN HOPES THAT MY CHILDREN COULD GROW UP IN A WORLD WITHOUT ROCKETS RAINING DOWN ON THEM WITHOUT SUICIDE BOMBERS AND WITHOUT THE HORRORS OF TERRORISM.

I WANNA SAVE AUSTIN FOR MY CHILDREN.

WE DO NOT NEED AN OCTOBER 7TH IN TEXAS.

MY HOPE IS THAT THIS COUNCIL REMAINS FIRM IN ITS RESOLVE AND CONTINUES TO DENOUNCE ANY ATTEMPTS BY EXTREMIST GROUPS TO DENY JEWS THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES, MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN THE, UH, 12 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE WILL NOW

GO NOW GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 47 AND, UM, I, I'LL TURN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO BEGIN, UH, CALLING THE NAMES AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 47.

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS, TESS ORTEGA.

UH, HELLO.

UM, MY NAME IS TESS ORTEGA.

UH, I'M A MEMBER OF, UH, CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT FOUR.

UM, I'M SPEAKING TODAY, UH, IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED, UM, CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

UM, THE CONTRACT IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE, UH, AND WILL DO, UM, INCREDIBLE DAMAGE TO THE QUALITY OF CITY SERVICES IN THE CITY.

UM, I, I THINK ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, UM, HAVE NEVER FELT MORE SAFE WHEN POLICE ARE AROUND.

IN FACT, IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

UM, WHEN POLICE ARE AROUND, UH, I FEEL, UH, MORE IN DANGER, UH, AND MORE SCARED AND ANXIOUS.

UM, I DO NOT THINK THAT EXPANDING, UH, THE POLICE BUDGET IN THIS WAY WILL, UH, MAKE US ANY MORE SAFE AS A CITY, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE US, UM, AUSTIN IS PRETTY LOW IN CRIME.

UM, THERE ISN'T A NEED FOR SUCH A HUGE, UH, POLICE BUDGET, UH, ESPECIALLY AT THE, UH, COST AND DETRIMENT TO OTHER CITY SERVICES.

UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDGET CUTS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO PAY FOR THIS POLICE PAY INCREASE.

WE ALREADY STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS, UM, AND EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE PREVENTS MORE AUSTINITE FROM BECOMING UNHOUSED.

UM, BUT THIS WILL THREATEN THOSE FUNDS.

WE NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSES, UM, AND MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSES THAT DO NOT INVOLVE, UH, THE POLICE, UH, TO GET ACTUALLY SAFER OUTCOMES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN CRISIS.

UM, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE US MORE SAFE AS A CITY, INVESTING IN, UM, HOUSING, UH, IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO, UM, HEALTHY FOODS, UM, ARTS, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT LIKE HELP US TO BE BETTER, UM, AS A CITY AND TO LIFT UP THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THIS CITY.

UH, POLICE DOES NOT DO THAT.

UM, AND I, I THINK IT WOULD BE A REAL, UH, MISTAKE, UH, AND GO AGAINST, UM, THE VALUES THAT AUSTIN CLAIMS TO HOLD, UH, IF WE WERE TO GO FORTH WITH THIS.

UM, SO PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, VOTE NO AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.

UH, THANK YOU AND FOLLOW MY TIME.

GREG BOLEY.

GREG BOLEY, PLEASE UNMUTE.

[01:40:01]

HI, MY NAME'S GREG BOSLEY.

YEAH, MY NAME'S GREG BOSLEY.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.

I'M A TECH WORKER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND I PROUDLY REPRESENT THE TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEES UNION.

I'M THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.

I'M CALLING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 47.

UM, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS CONTRACT WAS PUT TO A VOTE.

UM, 70% OF VOTERS VOTED AGAINST ADDING A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO THE BUDGET, UH, FOR A PD IN 2021.

80% VOTED IN FAVOR OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, AND A RECENT CBS POLL SHOWS THAT 80% OF RESPONDERS OPPOSE THIS CURRENT CONTRACT.

UM, SO I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A VAST MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES, UM, WHO WANT TO PLAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT GOES BEYOND POLICING AND JAIL CELLS.

UM, JAIL HELD, UH, WE INHUMANELY FILL WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE AUSTINITES.

NOT ONLY THAT, WITH, WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTORS, WITH STUDENTS ON OUR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, WITH MY COWORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY.

UM, WE INSTEAD WANT TO FULLY FUND HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, FIRE, EMS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, OVERDOSE PREVENTION, ALL THESE, UH, PROGRAMS WHICH ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IF THIS, UH, IF THIS CONTRACT GETS PASSED.

UM, SO VOTING AGAINST THE WILL OF A BIG MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES, UM, IS CLEARLY, CLEARLY SHOWS, UH, WOULD SHOW HOW OUT OF TOUCH THE COUNCIL, UH, WOULD BE IN THAT CASE.

IT'S, IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO LEAVE THESE, UH, SAFETY PROGRAMS UN UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERSTAFFED.

UM, ESPECIALLY THE 200 MILLION PLUS THAT WOULD BE FUNDED BY, UH, ARPA FUNDS THAT ARE EXPIRING AND WITH ONE ONE-TIME CONTRACTS.

UM, I'VE HEARD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HERE CALLING IN, UH, WHO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAX.

UH, THOSE PEOPLE ARE USED TO BEING LISTENED TO.

SO INSTEAD, I IMPLORE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES OF US WHO, WHO CARE FOR OUR CITY, LISTENED TO THE CITY WORKERS WHO ARE REPRESENTED BY AFME 1624 BY THE UNI UNITED WORKERS OF INTERVAL CARE.

AND, UH, THINK ABOUT THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO FIREFIGHTERS AND TO EMS. AND PLEASE, UH, LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SLEPT OUTSIDE, WHO ARE UNABLE TO, UH, UH, BE HOUSED IN SHELTERS THAT ARE OVER FULL, UM, SHELTERS WITH NO HOT WATER, WITH NO WORKING TOILETS.

AND PLEASE IMAGINE THE SERVICES THAT, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE CITY SAFE AND VIBRANT.

SO VOTE AGAINST THE CONTRACT, PLEASE.

EDWIN BATISTA.

GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME'S EDWIN BATISTA.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE DEEPLY TROUBLING CONTRACT BEFORE US.

ONE THAT THREATENS NOT JUST OUR BUDGET, BUT THE VERY TRUST BETWEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANT AND DIFFICULT WORK DONE BY OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS FOUNDATIONAL AND I RESPECT THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

HOWEVER, THIS RESPECT DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE PROCESSES THAT HAVE LED US TO THIS CONTRACT.

A CONTRACT RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS WRAPPED IN CY AND LIKE LIKELY TO LEAD US INTO FURTHER FINANCIAL AND LEGAL JEOPARDY.

I SPEAK BEFORE YOU WITHOUT MENTIONING THE ONGOING TRIAL OF, OF CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR WHO FACED HIS CHARGES FOR THE KILLING OF MICHAEL RAMER RAMOS.

AN UNARMED MAN ATTEMPTED TO FLEE IN HIS CAR WHEN HE WAS SHOT BY TAYLOR IN 2020.

THIS INCIDENT SHOOK OUR CITY TO ITS CORE, AND RAMOS' DEATH HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF THE URGENT NEED FOR POLICE REFORM IN AUSTIN.

BUT SADLY, THIS IS JUST ONE CHAPTER IN A LONG HISTORY, THE 2021 KILLING OF ALEX GONZALEZ, THE 2016 SHOOTING OF DAVID JOSEPH, AN UNARMED TEENAGER IN THE 2005 KILLING OF DANIEL ROCHA.

ALL POINT TO SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT WE HAVE YET TO FULLY ADDRESS.

WHAT IS PERHAPS MOST CONCERNING IS THAT IN MANY OF THESE CASES, ACCOUNTABILITY HAS BEEN LIMITED IN TRANSPARENCY.

TRANSPARENCY EVEN MORE SO.

THE CLOSED DOOR NATURE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE LEFT TOO MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED.

THE G FILE ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE, REPRESENTS A PROFOUND BETRAYAL OF THE TRANSPARENCY THAT AUSTIN VOTERS DEMANDED WHEN THEY OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

WHY ARE WE CONSIDERING A CONTRACT THAT MAY UNDERMINE THE VERY REFORMS THE PUBLIC VOTED FOR? AS SOMEONE WHO STOOD ALONGSIDE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS DURING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST OF 2020, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE CHRIST FOR JUSTICE, TRANSPARENCY AND REFORM GET THIS PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT REPRESENTS A STEP BACKWARD FOR THE, FROM THE VERY ACCOUNTABILITY OUR CITY HAS FOUGHT FOR, WE CANNOT MOVE BACKWARD ON THIS ISSUE.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE TIMING FEELS POLITICAL, NOT PRINCIPLED.

THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN MADE IT CLEAR THEY WANTED FULL TRANSPARENCY.

YET HERE WE ARE CONSIDERING A DEAL THAT

[01:45:01]

UNDERMINES THEIR WILL.

THIS COUNCIL CANNOT AFFORD TO BETRAY THE TRUST, THE PUBLIC TRUST BY REVERTING TO THE SAME OPAQUE PRACTICES THAT HAVE ERODED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR YEARS.

I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS CONTRACT, NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR CITY.

AUSTIN VOTERS TRUSTED YOU TO REPRESENT THEIR INTEREST AND HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

NOW IT'S TIME TO UPHOLD THAT TRUST.

WE DEMAND A DEAL THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF TRANSPARENCY, FINANCIAL, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND FAIRNESS.

FOR ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DESERVE NOTHING LEFT.

THANK YOU, ALYSSA ELISA, RAY, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

THIS IS ALYSSA REE.

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF D FOUR AND A STATE EMPLOYEE, THOUGH I AM HERE REPRESENTING MY OWN BELIEFS.

UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT USING YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A LANDLORD OR HOTEL EMPLOYEES, IN FACT UNRELIABLE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING IN TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS INTERESTS.

THERE ARE OTHER JOBS AND OTHER WAYS YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY.

UM, WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE CITY'S DATA, ACCORDING TO THE CITY DATA PORTAL, IS THAT VIOLENT CRIMES HAVE DECREASED IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM, WHILE THE RENT BURDEN HAS INCREASED BY 22%.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AS AN ORGANIZER IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND KNOW THAT THE DEMAND FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS FAR OUTPACING THE SUPPLY.

AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR CITY'S BIGGEST PROBLEMS. SO WHAT CRIME ARE FOLKS FEARMONGERING ABOUT IS THE UNHOUSED, UM, PEOPLE EXISTING ON THE STREETS.

WE HEARD THAT IT IS FOR SOME PEOPLE.

UM, AND THIS CITY HAS ONLY TAKEN CONTINUED MEASURES TO CRIMINALIZE CAMPING, TO CRIMINALIZE BEING UNHOUSED WHEN THESE FOLKS LITERALLY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED $218 MILLION, UH, AUSTIN POLICE UNION CONTRACT.

GIVING THOSE OFFICERS A 28% PAY INCREASE THROUGH THIS CONTRACT IS NOT THE ANSWER TO CREATING SAFER COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN.

NOT TO MENTION THE G FILE ONLY FURTHERS THE ABSENCE OF TRANSPARENCY, RICE AND A PD.

AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN EDUCATION, I KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE FIGHTING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD LIVING IN THE CITY, YET, UM, WE HAVE A STATEWIDE DO NOT HIRE REGISTRY FOR TEACHERS.

SO WHY ARE WE AS A SOCIETY WILLING TO MORE HEAVILY REGULATE EDUCATORS THAN OUR POLICE? WE NEED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

HOUSING THAT IS TRAUMA AND SYSTEMICALLY INFORMED AND JOB SECURITY, UH, AND TRAINING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE AND HARM REDUCTION RESOURCES AMONG COUNTLESS OTHER CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING THE CITY'S ANIMAL CENTER, PARKS, LIBRARIES, CULTURAL CENTERS, FIRE AND E NEST, WHICH ARE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED.

I YIELD GROSS OF MY TIME.

ROBERT LILY, CAN YOU? GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, DISTINGUISHED MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ROBERT LILY.

I'M WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP.

I'M A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ORGANIZER, AND I'M JUST AS IMPACTED.

I'M ON PAROLE UNTIL THE YEAR 2049 AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION AGAINST THE ITEMS 47 AND 48.

AND FOR THESE REASONS, ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF PRISON, JAILS AND PRISONS HAVE NEVER BEEN.

AND COPS WHICH ARE THE FRONT GUARD OF THAT SYSTEM, HAVE NEVER BEEN THE CATALYST OF CHANGE IN MY LIFE.

THE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THE MOST PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE ARE MENTORS.

INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES LIKE REENTRY SUPPORTS, UH, COUNSELING AND TREATMENT.

THESE ARE THE RESOURCE.

THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT I BELIEVE OUR RESOURCES SHOULD BE EXPENDED FOR.

AND ANY FURTHER ALLOCATION OF FUNDING TO POLICE IS AN INDICATION OF A MISPLACED VALUE.

EITHER WE'RE GONNA VALUE HUMANITY OR WE'RE GONNA VALUE THE CONTROL OF HUMANITY AND THE ISOLATION AND PUNISHMENT OF HUMANITY.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE NOT THE, THE BASIS FOR CHANGE.

THE BASIS FOR CHANGE IS SUPPORTING AND CARING FOR THE LEAST OF THOSE IN OUR SOCIETY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE WORDS THAT I SHARE PENETRATE YOUR HEARTS AND HELP YOU TO THINK MORE CREATIVELY ABOUT THIS SOCIETY THAT YOU SAY YOU WANT WHEN YOU USE THE WORD EQUITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRISH N GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS TRISH NEANDER.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE AND THE CITY VICE PRESIDENT OF AFME 1624.

THE UNION REPRESENTING CITY AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES ACME 1624, OPPOSES THE PROPOSED $218 MILLION POLICE CONTRACT.

AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48.

IF THIS CONTRACT PASSES, WE WILL SEE OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET ERODE.

CITY SERVICES DIMINISH AND UTILITY BILLS RISE.

THE WORKING CLASS WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THESE COSTS.

THE CONTRACT

[01:50:01]

PUSHES US TOWARDS AUSTERITY AND PRIVATIZATION, THREATENING ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES.

SOME SAY THIS POLICE CONTRACT IS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO FEEL SAFE, BUT SAFETY COMES FROM REAL MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR THE WORKERS WHO BUILD.

OUR CITY.

TEXAS RANKS 49TH PER CAPITA IN MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING, FORCING CITIES LIKE OFTEN TO FILL IN THE GAPS.

MEANWHILE, THIS CONTRACT ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL REQUIRE A TAX RATE ELECTION.

AND WITH INFLATION ALREADY HITTING HARD, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT VOTERS WILL APPROVE IT.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF THOROUGH BUDGET ANALYSIS FROM OUR CITY LEADERS.

ONE FUNDING SCENARIO WAS PRESENTED TUESDAY AT THE WORK SESSION, AND IT IS INSUFFICIENT FOR SUCH A MAJOR DECISION.

ALSO, DRAWING FUNDS FROM AUSTIN ENERGY COULD EVEN RISK A BOND RATING.

DOWNGRADE, COMPROMISING LONG-TERM CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, WHICH WE KNOW WE NEED.

WE'RE IN A FLASH DROUGHT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE REALLY SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

LASTLY, PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN CITY HALL IS BEING NEGLECTED.

X-RAY MACHINES HAVE BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR FAR TOO LONG AND IT IS CREATING HAZARDS FOR BOTH THE STAFF AND THE VISITORS.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT EVEN GONNA BE ADDRESSED BY THIS CONTRACT THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.

CLOSER TO HOME.

WE MUST PRIORITIZE THE BALANCED APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND INVEST IN PROGRAMS TO MAKE AUSTIN EQUITABLE AND LIVABLE LIVABLE.

FOR EVERYONE, PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS CONTRACT AND PUT OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS FIRST.

BENNETT BURKE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS BENNETT BURKE.

I AM A MEMBER OF CWA LOCAL 6 1 8 6, AND I'M CALLING IN ON MY LUNCH BREAK.

UM, I'M ALSO A LIFELONG TEXAN AND I MOVED FROM DFW TO AUSTIN NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO.

UH, I REALLY BELIEVE AUSTIN'S THE BEST PLACE IN TEXAS.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE WONDERFUL LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE BEAUTIFUL PARKS, BIKE PATHS, SWIMMING POOLS, UH, AND THE DIVERSE POPULACE THAT GIVES THE CITY LIFE AND COLOR.

UM, BUT ONE GROUP THAT'S A BLIGHT ON THIS CITY IS A PD.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE WATCHED THEM ENGAGE IN BRUTALITY AND MISCONDUCT AND THEN THROW A TANTRUM AT THE FIRST INKLING OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT GOT POPULAR APPROVAL IN THE FORM OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

UM, FRANKLY, A PD DOESN'T DESERVE MORE FUNDING.

THEY HAVEN'T EARNED IT.

UM, I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT AMERICAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS FREQUENTLY TRAIN WITH ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES AND THAT MILITARISM ABROAD IMPACTS US HERE AT HOME.

UM, I PRAY FOR PEACE, THE WHOLE WORLD OVER AND INCREASING FUNDING FOR A PD WILL NOT INCREASE PEACE IN OUR CITY.

PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS CONTRACT AND RESPECT THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE CITY.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T COME.

BRIDGET TOBIN.

HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS BRIDGETTE TOBIN.

UM, I'M AN AUSTIN NATIVE.

I GREW UP IN DISTRICT SEVEN IN THE BRENTWOOD CRESTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE 1990S.

UH, SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK THAT OF THAT AS THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

UM, AND IN SOME WAYS IT WAS, BUT THINGS WEREN'T PICTURE PERFECT THEN EITHER.

WE HAD VERY HIGH RATES OF HOMICIDE AND CRIME.

THE SIDE OF TOWN I LIVED ON FELT VERY SAFE.

I HAD A PERCEIVED SAFETY, UH, BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE FOR THE CITY AT LARGE.

THEY ARE IN CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN, LARGELY, UM, WORKING THERE AND NOT LIVING THERE.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THEY FEEL UNSAFE, FEEL UNSAFE WHEN THEY WERE IN A SPECIFIC PART OF TOWN.

UM, PERHAPS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHY THERE ARE SO MANY DRASTIC DIFFERENCES OF PERCEPTION OF SAFETY IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN AND HOW THAT MIGHT CORRESPOND TO THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, INCOME INEQUALITY.

UM, TO NAME ONE POSSIBLE EXAMPLE.

UM, AS A WORKING CLASS ADULT, I OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

SO I'VE LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE NOW IN DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT THREE.

UM, I'VE LIVED ALONE AS A WOMAN IN BOTH BUSY DISTRICTS.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETHING THAT IS A CONCERN OF MINE, BUT IS NOT, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SOLVED BY THE POLICE ALONE.

UM, I SPOKE BACK IN AUGUST AT ADVISING AGAINST THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND A LARGE ALLOCATION TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM THE UK AUSTIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.

AND ONE THING THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT IF WE DO HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION, TWO GRADES, TAXES, THIS IS GOING TO BE YET ANOTHER CONVERSATION WHERE SOCIAL WORKERS AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER AS IF WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE.

AS IF ANYONE ON THIS PHONE CALL OR ON THIS MEETING HAS BEEN SAYING THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE POLICE ENTIRELY, THAT THE POLICE DON'T HAVE A ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

OF COURSE, THE POLICE HAVE A ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT ALL ON THEIR OWN.

WHEN PEOPLE CALL THE POLICE, THEY COME TO RESPOND.

[01:55:01]

BUT THE CRIME HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

EITHER WAY.

THE CRIME HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

I'VE WALKED MOST NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS OF, OF THE CITY ARE.

UM, CAN I ASK, IN ALL THESE MILLION DOLLAR HIGH STATE CONVERSATIONS, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE VACANCIES OF ANYBODY ELSE BESIDES THE POLICE? DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATION ON HOW MANY VACANCIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW FOR SOCIAL WORK POSITIONS? I NO, NO ESTIMATION ON THAT.

YOU SEE, WE DON'T HAVE A UNION FOR SOCIAL WORKERS THAT GOES AND LOBBIES FOR US IN MANY CASES.

WE DON'T HAVE UNION COVERED POSITIONS AT ALL.

I WAS ALSO A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN AUSTIN.

I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE HIGH RATES OF TURNOVER IN BOTH EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK, BUT NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT IN MILLION DOLLAR CON.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL WARD JR.

HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL WOOD JR.

AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AT AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT.

I WAS JUST HERE ON TUESDAY TO VOTE AGAINST AND TO URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

GIVEN THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT ALSO OTHER PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF INCREASED SAFETY, INCREASED PROTECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF GREAT EDUCATION, GREAT HOUSING, GREAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS AND GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I ENCOURAGE AND URGE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE EQUITY ACTION TEAM 'CAUSE I AM A MEMBER OF THE COALITION.

SO SHOUT OUT TO MY TEAM IN THE ROOM HERE.

BUT LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES THAT WAS SENT BY THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TEAM LOOKING AT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

ALRIGHT, LOOK AT THE NEEDS AROUND JOB PLACEMENT, THE NEEDS AROUND INCREASED INCOME, THE NEEDS AROUND, UH, REENTRY SERVICES, NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND ALSO REQUEST TO FUND OUR EQUITY OFFICE AND OUR RESILIENCE OFFICE TO PUT THESE PRIORITIES INTO PRACTICE.

UM, SO PLEASE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND LET'S SPREAD THE WEALTH.

RIGHT? THERE'S $218 MILLION ALLOCATED JUST FOR SAFETY OR FOR WAGES OR FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

REALLY MAKES US THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT OUR EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN? WHAT ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTS FOR OUR FAMILIES AND WORKING PARENTS? WHAT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE? AND IN PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THE RESILIENCE OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN PUT PLANS IN PLACE THAT SUPPORTS ALL ZIP CODES IN AUSTIN, RIGHT? AND ALL SERVICES.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR TIME COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I LOOK VERY, VERY EXCITED TO HEAR YOU ALL VOTE NO AND VOTE AGAINST THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

IN THEIR CAREERS WHERE THEY'RE DECIDING WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF IT.

WHITNEY LOSS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS WHITNEY LOSS.

I'M A HOME OWNER IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 18 YEARS, SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT, IN PARTICULAR, HOW IT WILL BE FUNDED WHEN THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED LAST YEAR.

I WAS SO PROUD TO KNOW THAT 80% OF THE PEOPLE IN MY CITY ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAT POLICE HAVE TO ANSWER TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY AREN'T ALWAYS THE BEST SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS. THIS CONTRACT FLIES IN THE FACE OF ALL OF THAT AND IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY TO HAVE TO BE HERE TO ARGUE FOR WHAT WE, THE VOTERS ALREADY MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR IN 2023.

WE ARE NOT THIN BLUE LINERS.

YOU'VE HEARD IT COUNTLESS TIMES.

NOW THE RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY SHOWS THAT AN INCREASE IN POLICE SPENDING DOESN'T PREVENT CRIME.

WHAT DOES INSTEAD ARE SOCIAL PRO PROGRAMS. TENANT STABILIZATION FUNDS, LEGAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

SO IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE EVIDENCE-BASED CHOICE AND REJECT THIS CONTRACT THAT WOULD GUT THESE OTHER PROGRAMS. NOT ONLY THAT, YOU MUST MAKE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE CHOICES FOR US, AND IT'S CLEAR THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WOULD MAKE THAT IMPOSSIBLE.

THE PROJECTIONS DISCUSSED DURING TUESDAY'S WORK SESSIONS SEEMED BASED ON UNREALISTIC NEVER ENDING GROWTH.

AND YOU CAN'T EXPECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO TOLERATE MULTIPLE TAX REELECTIONS TO SUPPORT AN ALREADY OVERFUNDED POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WILL LEAVE A CITY I LOVE BEFORE I WILL EVER VOTE FOR THAT FOR MYSELF AND MANY OF MY PEERS WHO ARE REACHING THE POINT

[02:00:01]

IT CAN'T BE OVERSTATED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THIS REMAIN, THAT THIS REMAIN A PROGRESSIVE CITY THAT MATERIALLY REFLECTS OUR VALUES.

MEMBER VELA, AS ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, I NEED YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

I NEED YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF OUR TRULY ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE EMS AND FIRE AND SOCIAL SERVICES AREN'T CUT.

AND THAT RAISES GO TO THOSE WORKERS INSTEAD.

GET US SOME NEGOTIATORS THAT AREN'T, THAT AREN'T ALREADY IN BED WITH THE POLICE.

STAND UP FOR ME AND FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

AMANDA MULLEN, APOLOGIES.

NEXT SPEAKER.

NEXT SPEAKER ONE, ONE MOMENT.

AMANDA MULLEN.

OH, THIS IS AMANDA MULLEN.

UM, I AM A PROPERTY MANAGER IN DISTRICT NINE MANAGING SEVERAL BLOCKS OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL.

I AM CALLING IN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS.

HAVING A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS FULLY STAFFED IS IMPERATIVE TO THAT OBJECTIVE.

AND OFFICERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY SINGLE DAY DESERVE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.

OFFICERS AT AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

THIS HAS ACTUALLY LED TO THE HIGHEST ATTRITION RATE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NEARLY 340 SWORN VACANCIES.

THE STAFFING SHORTAGE HAS FORCED A PD TO PULL OFFICERS FROM INVESTIGATIONS OUT OF NARCOTICS, OUT OF DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, WE'VE GONE FROM 16 TO TWO.

DOWNTOWN.

STREET RESPONSE SOMETIMES IS NOT EVEN A THING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE OFFICERS AND OTHER SPECIALIZED UNITS THAT ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT AND SOLVE CRIMES.

WE DON'T HAVE A DRUNK DRIVING DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.

WE LITERALLY DO NOT HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.

DESPITE EFFORTS TO BACKFILL PATROLS WITH OVERTIME, OFFICERS A PD HAS INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO PROPERTY CRIMES AND SOME VIOLENT CRIMES.

EVEN A QUALITY OF LIFE MISDEMEANOR ORDINANCE IS RARELY ENFORCED DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

AS A WOMAN, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DOWNTOWN.

AS A RESULT, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN IS EXPERIENCING AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF NEGATIVE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THAT INCLUDES UNADDRESSED ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS, DRUG CRIMES, SEX CRIMES, EXTREMELY VIOLENT ATTACKS ON EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, VISITORS.

THE PERCEPTION AMONG THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK DOWNTOWN IS THAT THE POLICE ARE JUST NOT HERE AND THEY'RE NOT COMING.

WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT TO KEEP OFFICERS FROM RETIRING OR LEAVING.

SO WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT THE CITY APPROVE THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO GO TO THE ACADEMY.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO BE A POLICE OFFICER OR ELSE WE'RE GONNA GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE NONE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS AGREE, BUT I DON'T THINK A CITY CAN OPERATE WITHOUT A POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT CONCLUDES REMOTE SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47.

WE WILL NOW BEGIN IN PERSON.

AS THE CLERK CALLS YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT SO THAT YOU'RE NEXT TO THE PODIUM SO THAT YOU CAN SPEAK.

CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

WE HAVE WHITNEY KNIGHT, EMILY BLAIR, MATT CREEL.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

I CURRENTLY EMPLOY ABOUT 34 EMPLOYEES IN A DOWNTOWN LAW FIRM.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON ON THIS IMPORTANT ITEM.

MY NAME'S WHITNEY KNIGHT AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF ITEM 47.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.

[02:05:01]

AND I ALSO AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.

I'M ALSO A MOTHER AND I CHOSE AUSTIN AS A PLACE TO RAISE MY FAMILY.

AUSTIN'S AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT.

WE KEEP HEARING STORIES FROM OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ABOUT ENCOUNTERS WITH THEFT, VIOLENT CRIME, HARASSMENT, OR LACK OF RESPONSE TIME.

AND IT HAS MADE THEM DOUBT THE SAFETY IN AUSTIN.

I FREQUENTLY HEAR FROM MY EMPLOYEES AND COLLEAGUES ON THEIR WAY TO MAIL RUNS AT THE DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE ABOUT ISSUES OF HARASSMENT AND EVEN VIOLENT ATTACKS.

AND JUST THIS WEEK WHILE WALKING TO THE CAR WITH MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME AT HOUSE PARK, I WATCHED THE INNOCENCE AND INC EXCITEMENT DISAPPEAR FROM HER FACE AS I TOLD HER SHE COULD NOT SKIP AND SQUEAL ENJOY.

AS WE CROSSED THE CROSSWALK DOWN TO SHOAL CREEK, I TOLD HER WE DIDN'T WANNA DRAW ATTENTION TO OURSELVES AND THAT SHE NEEDED TO TO WALK AS CLOSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE CAR WITHOUT DRAWING ATTENTION TO OURSELVES.

AND SHE SAID, WELL, WHY WOULDN'T THE POLICE JUST COME AND HELP US? AND I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

AND I DON'T FEEL GREAT ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED.

I LOVE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT RAISING A FAMILY IN AUSTIN, AND I HATE THAT WE CAN'T FEEL SAFE IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

A PD IS FACING A SEVERE CHALLENGE WITH OVER 300 OFFICER VACANCIES.

THEY'VE HAD TO STRETCH LIMITED RESOURCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

RESPONSE TIMES HAVE SLOWED, SOMETIMES TAKING HOURS, AND IN SOME CASES, A PD IS UNABLE TO RESPOND AT ALL.

IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS PARTICULARLY URGENT.

THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND VISITORS CREATES ADDED PRESSURES FOR ALL OF US.

THE LACK OF SAFETY RESOURCES POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE LIVABILITY IN ECONOMY OF AUSTIN.

IMPORTANTLY, THIS CONTRACT COMPLIMENTS THE CITY'S RECENT INVESTMENTS IN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES.

PROGRAMS LIKE THE HOMELESS ENGAGEMENTS ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM OR HEART AND THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PILOT ARE ESSENTIAL, BUT THEY CANNOT TAKE THE PLACE OF A FULLY STAFFED POLICE FORCE.

I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

THE TIME TO MOVE AUSTIN FORWARD IS NOW.

COMMUNITIES ACROSS AUSTIN ARE SUFFERING.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS EMILY BLAIR.

I'M HERE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND OUR THOUSANDS OF RENTAL HOUSING PROVIDER MEMBERS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SECURE HOUSING FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS.

WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES FOR THE LONG-TERM POLICE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

THIS COUNCIL DESERVES PRAISE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT OVER, PUT IN OVER THE PAST WEEKS AND MONTHS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT AND IT HAS FELT LIKE IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY NEGLECTED IN AUSTIN.

THE CITY CONTINUES TO FACE HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES AS WE WELL KNOW.

AND EVERY DAY THERE ARE VACANCIES ARE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE PUTTING AUSTINITES IN HARM'S WAY.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE VACANCIES ARE FELT REGULARLY IN APARTMENT COMMUNI COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

I SPEAK WITH PROPERTY MANAGERS REGULARLY AND I HEAR THEIR STORIES AND THEY ARE NUMEROUS.

POLICE STABILITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN AFFORD TO DELAY ANY LONGER.

IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND ACT.

THE COST OF INACTION IS TOO GREAT.

EVERY UNANSWERED CALL, EVERY THEFT, EVERY ROBBERY, EVERY VIOLENT CRIME HARMS SOMEONE.

THESE AREN'T JUST STATISTICS ON A DASHBOARD OR HEADLINES ON THE NEWS.

THERE ARE NEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR PROPERTY MANAGERS, AND COMMUNITIES WHO BEAR THE COST APPROVING THIS CONTRACT IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO FILL THESE VACANCIES.

SO WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND WISH YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN IS SAFER FOR ALL.

THE HIGHEST QUALITY OFFICERS POSSIBLE.

OF CITY MANAGER OF BROAD ACTS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MATT CREEL.

I'M HERE WITH OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN, BUT ALSO AS A 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.

UH, AND I WANNA SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT AND GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION YOU ALL HAVE SPENT TO GET TO THIS POINT, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL FOR A THRIVING CITY.

EVEN THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY ISSUES HARM THE SUCCESS OF A COMMUNITY.

IN THE WORK SESSIONS, YOU HEARD HOW FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES OFTEN DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES, AT THEIR JOBS, OR WHEN THEY'RE OUT ENJOYING OUR GREAT CITY.

IT'S TOO COMMON, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, AND IT'S PREVENTABLE.

THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES IS BY HAVING THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO FILL THE 300 OFFICER VACANCIES.

AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO FILL THE VACANCIES IS TO PASS THIS FIVE YEAR CONTRACT AND GIVE A PD THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN

[02:10:01]

PUBLIC OPINION DATA SHOWS THAT STRONG MAJORITIES OF AUSTINITES SAY RESPONSE TIMES ARE TOO LONG.

AUSTIN HAS TOO FEW OFFICERS, AND BEING UNDERSTAFFED WILL PREVENT A PD FROM RECRUITING AND RETAINING QUALITY PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THIS COUNCIL DESERVES GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT IN OVER THE PAST WEEKS AND MONTHS TO REACH THIS NEGOTIATION.

SO I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE CONTRACT AND TELL AUSTIN, UH, THE AUSTIN PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

CONSTANT THREATS, CONSTANT ASSAULTS.

NEXT WE HAVE RUDY GARZA, WITH TIME DONATED BY CLIFFORD JACOBIS.

RUDY AND CLIFFORD, ARE YOU HERE? IF CLIFFORD IS NOT HERE ANYMORE, JUST THREE MINUTES FOR YOU, SIR.

UM, WE HAVE STACEY SCHMIDT, BILL, BRYCE, MANDY BLOTT, AND PAMELA MADE ON DECK.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MARY COUNCIL.

I'M RUDY GARZA, THE CHAIR FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT AND APPROVE ITEMS NUMBER 47 AND 48.

AND I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT WHEN I STAND HERE REPRESENTING OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OUR MEMBERS, OUR MEMBERS ARE THE FRONTLINE WORKERS OF THE CONVENIENCE STORES, THE RESTAURANTS, THE OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE NEED YOU TO PLEASE HELP SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

SO ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT AND APPROVE ITEMS 47 AND 48.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER.

I'M BILL BRYCE WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 47 AND 48.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DUE DILIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND AND FULLY VET THIS IMPORTANT CONTRACT AND VOTE TODAY.

THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE REPRESENTS 1100 PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEIR RESIDENTS, OFFICE TENANTS AND VISITORS WHO PAY A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A PLACE THAT IS SAFE AND WELCOMING AND VIBRANT FOR EVERYONE.

ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS IS THE DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS, A TEAM OF 90 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO REMOVE LITTER, TRASH AND GRAFFITI PRESSURE WASH SIDEWALKS, AND PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY RESOURCES TO ASSIST VISITORS AND CITIZENS IN AUSTIN.

WE ARE PROUD THAT 70% OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD BARRIERS TO GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

AND HALF OF OUR TEAM ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMALLY HOMELESS.

WITH ME TODAY ARE A NUMBER OF AMBASSADORS, INCLUDING ISAAC, LAUREN, AND CRYSTAL, WHO HAD ASKED TO STAND MOMENTARILY.

THESE THREE AMBASSADORS AND MANY MORE ON OUR TEAM AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND I HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.

ISAAC HAS WORKED WITH US FOR 15 YEARS, CLEANING THE STREETS DOWNTOWN, AND WAS RECENTLY ASSAULTED AT FOURTH AND CONGRESS AVENUE IN THE MORNING.

HE WAS PUSHED TO THE GROUND WHILE PICKING UP LITTER AND THE ASSAILANT SMASHED HIS DUTY PHONE BEFORE RUNNING OFF.

LAUREN HAS WORKED WITH US FOR, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS AND LAST THURSDAY WAS ASSAULTED AND INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHED WHILE DOING HER JOB.

CRYSTAL HAS BEEN A CLEANING AMBASSADOR FOR 15 MONTHS.

SHE TOO WAS ASSAULTED WHILE DOING HER JOB CLEANING THE SIDEWALKS.

IN EACH OF THESE CASES, 9 1 1 WAS CALLED, BUT POLICE DID NOT RESPOND.

INCIDENTS LIKE THESE OCCUR EVERY DAY TO OUR AMBASSADOR TEAM, HARASSMENT THREATS AND TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF, BUT NOT ONLY TO OUR TEAM MEMBERS, BUT ALSO RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND EMPLOYEES.

IN AUSTIN.

IN SEPTEMBER, I RECEIVED SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF AN ELDERLY COUPLE STROLLING UP CONGRESS AVENUE AT NINE O'CLOCK LABOR DAY MORNING.

AS THE COUPLE STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE THEATER MARQUEE, A MAN RAN UP FROM BEHIND AND BLUDGEONED THE EL ELDERLY WOMAN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, CAUSING HER TO FALL FORWARD FACE FIRST INTO THE TICKET COUNTER AT THE THEATER BEFORE CRUMBLING TO THE GROUND NINE O'CLOCK LABOR DAY MORNING.

SEEING THIS UNPROVOKED ATTACK TAKING PLACE IN THE SHADOW OF OUR CAPITOL ON A WEEKDAY MORNING IS ENOUGH TO TURN YOUR STOMACH AND IT SHOULD.

IN ADDITION TO INCREASED ASSAULTS AND VIOLENT ATTACKS, WE SEE OPEN DRUG DEALING AND DRUG USE, UNCHECKED PUBLIC ORDER VIOLATIONS DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY THAT HAVE EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS QUESTIONING WHETHER AUSTIN AND DOWNTOWN ARE SAFE IN A PLACE THEY WANT TO BE.

IT'S YOUR DUTY TO TURN THIS AROUND, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITH POLICE STAFFING LEVELS AT 72% DOWNTOWN AND IN MANY OTHER A PD SECTORS AT 50% OR LESS.

AS OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS MORNING, POLICE ALONE, DON'T MAKE A COMMUNITY SAFE.

FOR THE MUCH, MUCH, MUCH NEEDED WORK DONE ON THIS VERY CRITICAL ISSUE.

THANK YOU, SPEAKER.

I AM STACY SCHMIDT.

I'M WITH OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN, BUT I'M ALSO A WIFE AND A MOTHER AND A PROUD AUSTIN KNIGHT.

THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF

[02:15:01]

YOU HAVE SPENT HOURS TO WORK SESSIONS, YOU'VE LISTENED TO OUR CONCERNS, OUR PHONE CALLS, OUR EMAILS, OUR TEXT MESSAGES.

YOU HAVE ASKED IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO GET TO THIS PIVOTAL MOVEMENT.

65% OF AUSTINITES SAY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS.

YOU HAVE HEARD THE MANY STORIES OF LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS FROM BUSINESSES THEIR EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING MY OWN PERSONAL STORY OF MY 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CALLING 9 1 1 AND NO ONE BEING ABLE TO RESPOND.

AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS URGENT.

THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS CREATE ADDED PRESSURES.

THE LACK OF SAFETY RESOURCES POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO AUSTIN'S ECONOMY AND LIVABILITY.

THE PERCEPTION OF DOWNTOWN AS A SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACE IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO ATTRACTING VISITORS AND EVENTS THAT FUEL OUR CITY'S ECONOMY.

FOR EXAMPLE, LAST WEEKEND WE HAD F1 UT VERSUS GEORGIA AND AUSTIN FC SOCCER.

BUT ON A LOT OF THOSE MESSAGE BOARDS WHERE PEOPLE WERE COMING INTO OUR TOWN, PEOPLE WERE SAYING, DON'T GO DOWNTOWN.

IT'S NOT A SAFE PLACE.

THEY DON'T HAVE POLICE OFFICERS.

OUR OWN EMPLOYEE WENT TO ACL AND WAS ASSAULTED ON HER WAY BACK TO HER CAR.

MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY IS CRITICAL TO KEEPING AUSTIN AN APPEALING DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS BUSINESSES, VISITORS, AND EVERYONE WHO CALLS AUSTIN HOME.

THIS CONTRACT IS NOT JUST ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY FEELS SAFE AND SUPPORTED.

BY PASSING THIS CONTRACT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE A CRITICAL STEP TOWARD ADDRESSING STAFFING SHORTAGES, REDUCING OFFICER BURNOUT, PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE.

THIS POLICE CONTRACTS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD FORD THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT CITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COURAGE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY SUPPORT SERVICES AND THIS CONTRACT FOR ALL OF US AND BUILD BACK THE TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CITY MANAGER, MAYOR COUNCIL, PAM MEIER.

I'M A PRODUCT OF WEB MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MARTIN JUNIOR HIGH.

AND RARELY DO I EVER WAKE UP EXCITED ABOUT A COUNCIL MEETING, BUT THIS MORNING I ACTUALLY THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY IF THE CITY COUNCIL WERE TO PASS THE CONTRACT TODAY.

I FEEL LIKE IT IS THE FIRST STEP IN ALLOWING THIS COUNCIL, UH, AND THIS COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COLLABORATE, TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE START REALLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

HOW DO WE START COMING TOGETHER INVOLVING THE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVING THOSE THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HEARD, INVOLVING THOSE THAT DO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HEARD.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT REALLY CAN BE, UM, AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY IN HISTORY, UH, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN OF MOVING FORWARD.

SO PLEASE, UM, CONSIDER PASSING THE CONTRACT TODAY.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, YOU CAN, BUT IF YOUR NAME HASN'T BEEN CALLED NO SIR.

WHEN WHEN MY NEXT BE CALLED THOUGH.

WELL, WE, WE IMPORTANT TOO.

IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THOSE CHAMBER MEMBERS.

AND WE, IT SEEM LIKE Y'ALL, Y'ALL GOT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO, BEFORE WE GOT, WE GOT A LOT OF STUFF WE CAN TALK ABOUT RIGHT HERE.

DID WE IMPORT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE THINGS Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT? DID YOU, THE OTHER STUFF THEY TALK ABOUT CONGRESS STUFF THAT COME ON THAT'S JUST BE THE LAST PERSON.

THEY, THEY CALLED, THEY WE CALL IN THE ORDER THAT YOU'VE SIGNED UP AND HOWEVER YOU SIGNED UP, YOUR NAME WILL BE, IF YOU SIGNED UP, YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED.

THAT WAY IT'S FAIR TO THE WHAT WE HAVE A FAIR PROCESS.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR WATSON CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER OF BROAD ACTS.

MY NAME IS TREY SALINAS AND I'M HERE TODAY AS THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I'M A PRODUCT OF DISTRICT FIVE, UH, BUT I RESIDE NOW IN DISTRICT NINE.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CONTRACT ITEMS 47 AND 48.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS INSIDE OUR CITY, LARGE AND SMALL.

HOWEVER, AS WE LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE, THE LARGEST BUSINESS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IS SMALL BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S WHO WE'RE REPRESENTING TODAY.

THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY MOVING, KEEP OUR BUSINESSES GOING, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

[02:20:01]

WHETHER IT'S IN MEMBER SURVEYS, PHONE CALLS, CONVERSATIONS, OR EMAILS, THE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS THE SAME.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

NOW, QUICKLY, A FEW BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.

THIS CONTRACT REPRESENTS THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND IT IMPLEMENTS THE AUSTIN POLICE SITE OVER ACT OVERSIGHT.

ACT.

POLICE OVERSIGHT IN THIS CONTRACT IS GAME CHANGING.

YOU WILL BE SETTING A NEW BAR FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS CONTRACT BRINGS BACK, BRINGS BACK RECRUITING ABILITY ABOVE THE STATE LAW.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT GIVES THE DEPARTMENT THE FLEXIBILITY TO RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS THAT LOOK LIKE OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WITHOUT A CONTRACT, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT TOOL.

YOU BASICALLY TAKE A TEST AND THAT'S IT.

THE FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE IN THIS CONTRACT WILL MAKE OUR DEPARTMENT LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE AUSTIN.

LASTLY, THIS CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE PAY AND BENEFITS THAT WILL HELP RETAIN CURRENT AND EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, MANY OF WHOM COULD RETIRE TOMORROW, WHILE ALSO HELPING DRAW NEW RECRUITS TO AUSTIN.

IN SHORT, THIS CONTRACT IS GOOD FOR AUSTIN.

WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE IS ASHLEY SPENCE, CORBY GASTRO, BEN SOTHEBY, JOE BLAND, ARCHBISHOP STERLING LANDS.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO A PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ASHLEY SPENCE AND I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 47.

I STAND HERE, NOT JUST AS A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT AS A SURVIVOR.

WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD, I WAS A VICTIM OF A BRUTAL HOME INVASION, RAPE THAT NEARLY KILLED ME.

I WENT TO BED AS A COLLEGE STUDENT THINKING THAT I WAS SAFE IN MY APARTMENT ONLY TO BE AWOKEN BY A STRANGER, RAPING, BEATING, AND NEARLY KILLING ME.

I WAS FORCED TO ENDURE THIS TORTURE FOR HOURS AND I WAS NEVER ABLE TO SEE THE FACE OF THIS MONSTER THAT WAS COMMITTING THESE HORRIFIC CRIMES AGAINST ME.

BUT I AM SO FORTUNATE.

NOT ONLY DID I SURVIVE, I NOW HAVE JUSTICE, BUT JUSTICE FOR ME WAS NOT AN EASY PATH.

MY PERPETRATOR WAS ON THE LOOSE FOR SEVEN YEARS, TERRORIZING HIS NEXT VICTIMS. BUT NOW THROUGH FORENSIC DNA AND A DNA MATCH IN OUR DATABASE, HE IS IN PRISON FOR 137.5 YEARS.

ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE JUSTICE IS NOT JUST FORENSIC DNA, BUT IT'S BECAUSE THE INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT WORKED MY CASE AND MOST OF ALL, THE FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER, OFFICER WILLIAMS, I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM BEFORE MY PERPETRATOR LEFT.

HE TOLD ME, DO NOT TELL ANYBODY 'CAUSE I WILL COME BACK AND I WILL KILL YOU.

BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER I CALLED 9 1 1, I PACED THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT AND WAITED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR WHAT FELT LIKE DAYS.

IT WAS PAINFULLY AND HORRIFICALLY SLOW.

BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET THE MOMENT THAT THE CAR DRIVES UP AND WE LOCK EYES AND HE MOUSE THE WORDS, OH MY GOD, WHEN HE SEES ME STANDING THERE WITH BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN MY ENTIRE BODY.

THE POLICE OFFICER THOUGH, WAS KIND AND GENTLE.

HE SAVED MY LIFE.

OFFICER WILLIAMS EXPLAINED THAT WE NEED TO GET TO THE CLINIC TO HAVE MY BODY EXAMINED FOR EVIDENCE FOR THE RAPE KIT.

AND THE FIRST THING I SAID WAS, I HAVE TO BRUSH MY TEETH AND SHOWER.

I FEEL DISGUSTING.

AND HE JUST SAID, NO, YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

I'M SO SORRY, BUT YOU WILL BE SAFE.

AND BECAUSE OF HIM, ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM, I TRUSTED HIM.

I GOT IN THAT VAN.

IF THE RESPONSE TIME HAD BEEN ANY LONGER, I WOULD HAVE SHOWERED AND BRUSHED MY TEETH WASHING AWAY EVERY BIT OF EVIDENCE AND HOPE THAT FINALLY PUT MY SERIAL RAPIST BEHIND BARS.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIM THAT I FOUND THE COURAGE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

MY HOPE IS THAT ONE DAY EVERY SURVIVOR WILL MEET AN OFFICER WILLIAMS, A PROTECTOR WHO SEES THEM AND BELIEVES THEM AND TAKES CARE OF THEM TO THE NEXT STEP THEY HEAR.

WE HEAR SO MUCH NEGATIVITY ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I GET THAT, BUT WHAT WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH ARE THE STORIES OF THE HEROES LIKE OFFICER WILLIAMS. WE MUST SUPPORT THE AUSTIN POLICE CONTRACT AND I PRAY THAT MY DAUGHTER, HER FRIENDS NEVER HAVE TO ENDURE WHAT I DID OR WORSE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES DARKNESS COMES KNOCKING AT YOUR THE DOOR AND IT'S YOURS.

I BELIEVE WITH THIS CONTRACT, WE CAN BETTER ENSURE THAT WE CAN HIRE QUALITY, HIGHLY TRAINED IN JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE RESPONSE TIMES TO VIOLENT CRIMES ARE NOT ONLY MADE, BUT ARE MADE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT VICTIMS EVERY SINGLE MINUTE COUNTS.

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CORBY GASTRO.

I'M A LIFELONG AUSTINITE RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CONTRACT.

THIS CONTRACT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

THIS CONTRACT BRINGS BACK THE RECRUITING ABILITY ABOVE THAT OF STATE LAW AND GIVES THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT A PATHWAY

[02:25:01]

TO RECRUIT MORE QUALIFIED OFFICERS TO ASSIST IN FIXING OUR STAFFING CRISIS.

I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE PAY AND BENEFITS WITH THIS CONTRACT WILL HELP WITH THE OFFICER RETENTION AND GIVE A ROBUST PROMOTION PROCESS FOR THE HIGHEST RANK TO ENSURE QUALITY LEADERSHIP AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN ESSENTIAL FOR A THRIVING CITY.

THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS HARMS THE SUCCESS, THE SUCCESS OF A COMMUNITY.

AND I CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS C THIS COMMUNITY IN WHICH I WAS RAISED TO NOT TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND SUPPORT THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

I HAVE SAT IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER DURING BOTH WORK SESSIONS AND I'VE HEARD HOW FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES OFTEN DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES AND AT THEIR JOBS OR WHEN THEY'RE OUT ENJOYING ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THIS CITY HAS TO OFFER.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND COUNSELOR FOR ALL YOU ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT IN OVER THE PAST WEEKS AND MONTHS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH.

MY THANKS TO MICHAEL BULLOCK AND THE TEAM AT THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION FOR ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO GET TO GET HERE TODAY AND YOUR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP DO NOT GO UNNOTICED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

BOTH SIDES HAVE ASKED ALL THE NECESSARY QUESTIONS TO CONFIRM THIS CONTRACT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT AND IS REASONABLY AND IS REASONABLE WITHIN THE CITY'S BUDGET STANDARDS AND NEEDS.

THE CONTRACT FULLY SATISFIES THOSE CONCERNS.

IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND TIME TO PASS THE CONTRACT FOR OUR CITY AND FOR THOSE SPEAKING AT THE WORK SESSION TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK, STATING THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOTHING, I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE BRAVE WOMAN THAT SPOKE JUST BEFORE ME.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS SUIT UP AND THEY SHOW UP EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR US, IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND PASS THIS CONTRACT FOR THEM.

AGAIN, MAYOR WATSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MANAGER, UH, , I'M HERE TO SUPPORT BOTH.

HELLO, MY NAME IS BEN SOTHEBY.

I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, UH, ACTIVE IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

I AM A DELEGATE OF AFSCME 1624 TO THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.

I'M HERE SPEAKING IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY.

UH, I WANNA DISAGREE WITH THE SPEAKER BEFORE ME.

HE SAID THAT ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED, BUT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT HOW THE PROCESS FOR THIS HAS DEVIATED FROM WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY HAVE COME TO EXPECT AND COME TO DEMAND FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.

WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET PROCESS FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE HEARINGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE GO DOWN TO THE LIBRARY, GO TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WE DO THIS, THE POST-IT NOTES, RIGHT? WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? WHAT ARE YOUR RANKINGS? THAT HASN'T HAPPENED WITH THIS PROCESS.

THIS WAS A CLOSED DOOR THING.

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SCHEDULE TO VOTE FOR THIS ON THE 10TH WHEN WE HAD NO FISCAL NOTES ON IT.

WE ARE AT A WORK SESSION TWO WEEKS AGO WHERE THEY HAD A SLIDE OVERVIEW, BUT THE DETAILS WEREN'T THERE.

THEN AT THE WORK SESSION THIS WEEK, THEY WERE ANSWERING QUESTIONS ASKED AT THAT PREVIOUS WORK SESSION, BUT THERE WERE STILL QUESTIONS THAT HAD YET TO BE ANSWERED.

LIKE, WHAT'S THE GRADUATION RATE OF THE ACADEMY? NO ONE KNOWS.

SOME OF THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS ON THIS HAVE YET TO BE ANSWERED.

EVEN WITH THE MOST ROSY PROJECTIONS, IT'S STILL PROJECTING FISCAL DEFICITS.

ONE'S HITTING US NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT PROCESS HAS NOT INCLUDED WHAT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME TO EXPECT.

HAVING A TIME WHERE THEIR QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED.

AND IF YOU THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS GOT IT WRONG, YOU'RE HEARING OVERWHELMING CALLS AND EMAILS AND SPEAKERS.

IF YOU THINK WE'VE HAD IT WRONG, THAT'S ALSO A SIGN THAT YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH YOUR DISTRICT MEMBERS TO EXPLAIN THEM AND, AND WALK THEM THROUGH YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

I KNOW IT'S A BUSY TIME.

IT'S ELECTION SEASON.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET EARLY VOTE OUT.

UH, THAT IS ALSO PROBABLY WHY, UH, MANY PEOPLE HAVE YET TO HAD THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO VOTE NO IF YOU MUST VOTE, BUT TO DELAY THE VOTE, UH, SO WE CAN HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS PROPERLY.

WE'RE FACING SOMETHING THAT COULD BLOW A HOLE IN OUR BUDGET.

WE HAVE ONGOING OBLIGATIONS.

WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE NEED TO FUND, AND THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE RUNNING OUT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ONGOING MONEY FOR THAT.

THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AND DELIBERATE TAKE OUR TIME AND NOT DECIDE THIS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE TO ACT QUICKLY.

AGAIN, WE HAVE MANY WORKERS WHO HAVE JOBS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE DANGEROUS, WHO DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTION OF A CONTRACT.

THE, THE NATIONAL, UH, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS RANKS THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S VERY HIGH RANKED ON THERE? PEOPLE WHO PICK UP THE GARBAGE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO PICK UP THE TRASH.

THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS JOB IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE NOT GIVEN GUARANTEED RAISES FIVE YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRADE-OFFS THAT WE MAKE WHEN WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[02:30:07]

UH, YOU NEED TO STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

I'M SORRY, JOE BLAND.

I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT HERE OF AUSTIN AND A BUSINESS OWNER.

I HAVE A, UH, OVER 400 EMPLOYEES THAT LARGELY LIVE WITHIN YOUR CITY AND I'M HERE TO, ON THEIR BEHALF TO ASK THAT YOU WOULD VOTE FOR THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

ITEMS 47 AND 48.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS, I THINK WE LOSE THE CONTEXT THAT THEY ARE HUSBANDS AND AND WIVES AND FATHERS AND MOTHERS.

THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.

THEY'RE PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT THE POLICE.

AND THESE PEOPLE DESERVE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND THEY DESERVE A PAY RAISE SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

I WOULD BE PROUD TO THINK I WAS A MEMBER, A CITIZEN OF A, OF A CITY THAT, THAT PAID ITS OFFICERS THE HIGHEST PAY PER CAPITA.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT DISTINCTION.

WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT.

SO I'M, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF VOTING FOR ITEMS 47 AND 48, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE SAM KIRSCH, PETE INMAN, JIMMY GREGORY, MAX MILLS AND SAGE WEST.

YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, SHE'S ASKED YOU TO COME FORWARD, SO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

UH, MY NAME IS SAM KIRSCH.

UM, I WAS SHOT IN THE EYE WITH THE BEANBAG GROUND IN 2020 WHEN I WAS PEACEFULLY PROTESTING WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER.

I WANNA CONTEXTUALIZE JUST SORT OF WHERE WE'RE AT ONCE AGAIN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

WHO IS THIS IN AGREEMENT BETWEEN? UM, I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW WHO RAMPAGE LAW REALLY ARE.

UM, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S DENTON NAVARRO, ROCHA BURN SANTEE AND Z.

THAT'S RAMPAGE LAW.

GO TO THE WEBSITE, RAMPAGE LAW.COM.

THAT'S WHO THEY ARE.

UM, SOME OF THESE CASES, IT'S NOT JUST THE STATE OF VALDI THAT THEY DEFEND.

I'M GONNA GO THROUGH A COUPLE HERE 'CAUSE THEY'RE JUST REALLY DISGUSTING.

UM, OKAY.

UM, BARON KUIA, UM, COPS ALLEGEDLY MADE AN ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO PLAINTIFF'S HOME FIRING DOZENS OF SHOTS INTO HIM WHILE TAKING BREAKS TO RELOAD, KILLING HIM.

ANOTHER CASE OF LOLA DENTONS IS DEFENDING, UH, BEXAR COUNTY, A SHERIFF AND FOUR SHERIFF DEPUTIES FIRED BETWEEN 18 TO 20 ROUNDS INTO THE MOBILE HOME OF THE PRESCOTT FAMILY, KILLING A 6-YEAR-OLD CAMERON DEN.

DENTON AND RAMPAGE LAW WERE ALSO ATTORNEYS FOR FORMER A PD OFFICER BRIAN RICHTER, WHO IN 2016 THREW BREON KING TO THE GROUND AT A TRAFFIC STOP.

AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN PAID $425,000 AS A SETTLEMENT.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS LOLA DENTON, THIS IS SARAH GRIFFIN.

THIS IS ROXANNA PEREZ, AND THIS IS WHO NEGOTIATED THIS CONTRACT FOR Y'ALL ON OUR BEHALF.

RIGHT? AND THIS IS WHO Y'ALL ARE LISTENING TO, TO INTERPRET THE LANGUAGE OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

BUT THESE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE FUTURE ATTORNEYS OF COPS WHO UNDOUBTEDLY WILL GO ON TO COMMIT ACTS OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, KILLING MORE PEOPLE AND MORE CASES OF POLICE BRUTALITY.

LIKE WE HAVE SOME PROBLEMS STILL AT THE OPO.

UM, I GET THAT THERE'S SOME ASPECTS OF A POA THAT ARE INTO LAW.

UM, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT STEPS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP THE POLICE ENTIRELY FROM COMMITTING ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

RIGHT? AND THEN ON THE BUDGET QUESTION, I MEAN, LIKE, I, I DON'T THINK Y'ALL EVEN BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN PAY FOR IT AND $50 MILLION LAST YEAR IN OVERTIME PAY AND THESE PROJECTIONS OF 20 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR WHILE ALSO GIVING RAISES IN A CONTRACT.

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST DO TAX RATE ELECTIONS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WHAT WILL YOU DO? IF ONE OF THEM FAILS, WHAT WILL YOU DO? YOU'LL HAVE TO CUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE A CHOICE.

YOU CANNOT EXPECT TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR A TAX RATE ELECTION TO PAY FOR COPS AND EXPECT THEM TO WIN.

THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD THESE VOTES YOU LIKE, IT'S JUST COMPLETELY DELUSIONAL.

SO YOU HAVE A FEW OPTIONS HERE, BUT VERY SIMPLY, FIRE RAMPAGE LAW, VOTE NO ON THE CONTRACT.

THANK THE, THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS COLE WEAVER.

J POPHAM LEOLA.

I WAS MAX MILL.

WELL,

[02:35:01]

YEAH, CITY.

OKAY, EVERYONE, I'M SORRY FOR THE TROUBLE.

OH, OKAY.

SO A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS A REGULAR VOTER, BUT I WASN'T AN ACTIVIST.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I COULD SPEAK AT CITY HALL.

UH, I KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO VOTE.

I WAS RAISED BELIEVING IT WAS MY PATRIOTIC DUTY, BUT I HADN'T REALLY BEEN, I I'M SORRY, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? OH, I'M SORRY.

NOW THAT WE'VE GOT YOU HERE, SAY, I AM WHO YOU ARE.

ABSOLUTELY.

MY NAME IS MAX MILLS.

LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UH, I'M A LIFELONG TEXAN.

AND, UH, YEAH, ANYWAYS, BACK TO MY TALE.

UH, I LIVED OVER HERE NEXT TO TRADER JOE'S AND ONE DAY I WAS OUT THERE AND THIS GENTLEMAN ASKED ME IF I WOULD SIGN A PETITION TO GET A POLICE OVERSIGHT BILL ON THE BALLOT.

HE MADE A GREAT CASE FOR HOW IMPORTANT POLICE OVERSIGHT IS AND HOW URGENT IT IS THAT WE, THE PEOPLE CREATE A LAW TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE, UM, HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND SO OF COURSE, I SIGNED THAT PETITION LATER THAT DAY.

I FOUND OUT THAT THAT PETITION WAS ACTUALLY SPONSORED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND THAT IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL DECEIT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO GET A SECOND PETITION, A SECOND ITEM ON THE BALLOT WITH THE SAME NAME, MUCH OF THE SAME TEXT JUST TO CONFUSE VOTERS.

I, I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

I BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THINGS THAT MADE ME MAD OR I'M SITTING IN MY CHAIR AND, BUT I I, I LOVE THAT THEY CAN DO THAT.

I LOVE THAT I CAN DO THIS.

AND IF THE POLICE HAD, IF THE ALSO POLICE ASSOCIATION HAD SPONSORED A BILL THAT A BALLOT RATHER, THAT THEY SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GOING A LITTLE HARD ON US, LIKE MAYBE WE SHOULD GO DIFFERENTLY.

I I WOULD NOT HAVE EVER BECOME AN ACTIVIST.

I WOULD NOT EVER BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

WHAT THEY DID DO INSTEAD WAS A DIRECT ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY.

LIKE IT WAS UNDERMINING THE VOTERS AND OUR ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF CITY WE WANT TO BE IN.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT OF ANY KIND.

AND I AM OUTRAGED.

IT IS DESPICABLE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING AND SERVING US FOR MONTHS DURING AND AFTER THIS EVENT, I WOULD GOOGLE TO SEE WHETHER ANY POLICE OFFICERS HAD SPOKEN OUT AND SAID, HEY, IN OUR NAMES WITH OUR MONEY THAT WE'D GIVEN TO THE A PA, THIS HAD HAPPENED, BUT IT WAS WRONG AND ZERO ZERO OF THEM EVER DID.

AND I JUST, I CAN'T, I I, I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE GOODS OF, OF THE POLICE STANDING UP HERE TALKING ALL THE, BUT THAT WAS EVIL.

LIKE THAT WAS WRONG.

I, I HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION.

I'VE HELD A LOT OF OPINIONS IN MY HEART, UH, IN MY LIFE, AND I HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THEIR BEST.

MAYBE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DATA THAN I DO, AND THEY'VE REACHED DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS.

BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS WHERE IF YOU DO THEM, THEY ARE SO ON THEIR FACE WRONG THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW THEY'RE WRONG.

AND TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OBVIOUS THINGS.

AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAISING THEIR BUDGET AND GIVING THEM MORE MONEY.

WHAT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES? WHY ARE WE ENABLING? WE KNOW WHAT THEY DO WITH THIS MONEY.

THEY PAY PEOPLE.

I SPOKE TO PEOPLE FROM WASHINGTON DC PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA WHO HAD FLOWN IN WITH A PA MONEY TO GET THIS FAKE BALLOT ON THE THING TO CONFUSE VOTERS.

I JUST, I I, I'M SO FRUSTRATED AS YOU CAN HEAR IN MY VOICE, AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I OPPOSE THIS MEASURE.

I OPPOSE ALL MEASURES.

LIKE I, I, IF IT WERE UP TO ME, WE'D STOP PAYING THEM UNTIL THERE WAS A FORMAL APOLOGY AND SOME KIND OF LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.

LIKE, THIS IS DISGUSTING.

I, I, I, I, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND YEAH, I MEAN, ANYWAYS, CONCLUSION.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY MANAGER.

WOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT.

UH, MY NAME IS PETE INMAN.

I GREW UP IN AUSTIN, LIFELONG RESIDENT, CAME UP THROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STAYED AT UT AND RAISED A FAMILY HERE.

AND NOW I DO BUSINESS HERE.

AND, UM, I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE CHRIST TOGETHER AMBASSADORS.

AND AS WE WORK WITH FAITH LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND CHURCH LEADERS, WE REPEATEDLY HEAR, PLEASE PASS THIS AGREEMENT.

LET'S USHER IN A NEW SEASON.

AND SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT AS PART OF, UM, UH, MY DEAL TODAY.

THERE'S A VIDEO THAT I THINK WE'RE GONNA RUN IS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE DANIEL'S HERE.

IT'S PETE INMAN.

I'M TREY KENT, PASTOR NORTHWEST FELLOWSHIP IN AUSTIN, AND I SUPPORT THE POLICE CONTRACT.

MY NAME IS ALI AU.

PLEASE PASS THE CONTRACT AND FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

MY NAME IS SEAN CRANSON AND AS A FIRST RESPONDER IN BOTH THE FIRE AND SECURITY ARENAS, I SUPPORT THE POLICE CONTRACT.

BUT HI, MY NAME IS CHRIS ZO.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE POLICE CONTRACT AND FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

HI, MY NAME IS SCOTT FLACK AND I SUPPORT THE POLICE CONTRACT.

HI, MY NAME IS AMY WILKE AND I SUPPORT THE POLICE CONTRACT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS FRED FRIGHT, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BOSTON, TEXAS.

I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR CITY.

THANKS.

HI, MY NAME IS RODNEY RIDLEY AND I SUPPORT PASSING THE POLICE.

HI, I'M RICK RHODES.

LET'S PASS THE CONTRACT AND INCREASE THE POLICE STAFFING IN OUR GREAT CITY.

MY NAME IS ELIZABETH HORN.

I'M A

[02:40:01]

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RATIFY THE CONTRACT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE NEED A WONDERFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS WHO LEXANDER, THE STEWARD OF ERS, COOKIE RESIDENT AND NATIVE OF EAST AUSTIN.

I REALLY SUPPORT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COMMUNITY AND APPROVE THE POLICE RESOLUTION.

ESTEEMED MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, I'M TIM HAWKS.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE POLICE CONTRACT AND PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY.

HI, MY NAME IS DEANNE VICKERY AND LET'S PASS THIS CONTRACT AND FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

HI, MY NAME'S JOHN MALDONADO AND I SUPPORT PASSING THE POLICE CONTRACT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ED HORN AND I AM, UH, SENDING THIS VIDEO IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTRACT AND INCREASING THE STAFFING OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE MUST HAVE THIS LEVEL OF STAFFING IN ORDER FOR US TO BE SAFE IN THE CITY.

IF THERE'S ONE THING WE HAVE TO HAVE AND THAT IS AN ADEQUATE POLICE FORCE, PLEASE PASS THIS CONTRACT.

SO THOSE ARE JUST OF THE FEW VOICES WE HEAR.

I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, AND HERE THE LAST TIME A LOT OF US WERE HERE WERE TO SUPPORT A TX PEACE.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THIS IS THE ONLY ANSWER, BUT IT'S A BIG PIECE OF IT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

GOD BLESS YOU.

THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE IS COLE WEAVER, J POPHAM, LEOLA MAXEY, NICK HAYNES AND CHRISTOPHER GUS.

TAKE A SEAT HERE ON THE FRONT AND THEN IF THERE'S AN EMPTY MICROPHONE, IT'S ALL YOURS.

MY NAME IS OLA MAXEY.

I WAS AN AMBASSADOR AS WELL AS OPERATIONS MANAGER WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

AS WELL AS A FORMER RESIDENT, OBVIOUSLY OF AUSTIN, I NOW SERVE AS PROJECT MANAGER WITH BLOCK BY BLOCK, WHERE I CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD DOWNTOWN, KEEPING DOWNTOWN SPACES SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE.

OUR DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS CONTINUE TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN KEEPING AUSTIN CLEAN, SAFE, AND WELCOMING WITH THE TEAM OF OVER 90 PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO WORK DAILY FROM 6:00 AM TO 11:00 PM REMOVING TRASH CLEANING STREETS AND ASSISTING LOCALS AND VISITORS.

HOWEVER, WITHOUT PROPER SAFETY MEASURES, PROVIDING THESE SERVICES CONTINUES TO BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, WHICH YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM A FEW OF OUR DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS.

THE LACK OF SAFETY HAS LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN PEOPLE CALL FOR HELP, A TIMELY POLICE RESPONSE IS CRUCIAL.

HOWEVER, DUE TO A PD VACANCY RATES, DELAYED RESPONSE TIMES HAVE ESCALATED SITUATIONS, PUTTING BOTH AMBASSADORS AND THE PUBLIC AT GREATER RISK.

CURRENTLY, THERE'S A LACK OF PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE DOWNTOWN LEAVING OUR AMBASSADORS, VISITORS, AND RESIDENTS VULNERABLE TO PREVENTABLE CRIMES THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED WITH MORE OFFICERS ON PATROL INSURANCE.

SAFETY IS THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING DOWNTOWN A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE SHOPPING, DINING, AND DOING BUSINESS.

INCREASING POLICE PRESENCE DOWNTOWN IS NOT JUST ABOUT RESPONDING TO CRIME, IT'S ABOUT PREVENTING IT.

WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN GET HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT, THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT, ENCOURAGING THEM TO VISIT MORE OFTEN AND BOOSTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

TO CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY, WE MUST PRIORITIZE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE, RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND THOSE OF US WHO WORK DOWNTOWN.

MORE POLICE OFFICERS DOWNTOWN, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY FOCUSED POLICING WILL HELP ENSURE THAT DOWNTOWN AUSTIN REMAINS A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR US ALL.

SO I IMPLORE YOU, PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD PASS ITEMS 47 AND 48.

HI, MY NAME IS CHRIS GUZZI, UM, AND AS AN AUSTIN RESIDENT AND SOMEBODY WHO WORKS DOWNTOWN, I ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 47 AND 48, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT STATISTICS PEOPLE ARE PULLING, THE RESOUNDING PERCEPTION BASED ON FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES IS THAT AUSTIN AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ARE NOT SAFE.

IT'S TIME WE STOP DELAYING THIS CONTRACT AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO PUSH THEM AWAY.

WE KNOW WHAT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE, THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING LIKE THAT HAVE TAKEN THIS LACK OF A FUNDING STANCE.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PASS THIS.

THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION.

THIS IS A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO GET OVER THE FINISH LINE.

HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[02:45:04]

UH, MY NAME IS JAY POPHAM.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.

UH, HAPPY TO BE HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK TO SPEAK ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

UH, I WANTED TO GIVE, UH, SOME PERSONAL HISTORY ON TUESDAY TONIGHT.

UH, I'M GONNA DO POLITICAL MATH AND THEN FREE ADVICE FOR Y'ALL.

UH, FIRST PORTION, UH, 80 20.

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A BAD BEAT.

IT MEANS THAT ON A GIVEN DAY IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, WE TOOK A STATISTICAL SAMPLE.

UH, IMAGINE FIVE VOTERS IN A ROOM, FOUR OF THEM ON THAT DAY WOULD'VE BEEN AGAINST THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.

WHAT DO THESE FOUR PEOPLE LOOK LIKE IN YOUR MIND'S EYE? WHAT DOES THE ONE PERSON IN FAVOR LOOK LIKE? MAYBE IT LOOKS LIKE MATT KOYAK, THE DISGRACED FORMER AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT WHO'S SEEN FIT THE SHOW IS FACED TODAY IN CHAMBERS.

I'VE LOST SOME POLITICAL FIGHTS THAT HURT, BUT I HAVE COME BACK TO THE FACT THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN CLOSE ELECTIONS OR FIGHTS THAT WERE STOPPED BY THE ONSET OF THE NOVO CORONAVIRUS COVID-19.

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT DESPITE MY REGRETTABLE POLITICAL COMMITMENTS AND FACIAL HAIR, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE LOSING SIDE THAT BAD.

I DON'T KNOW WHY ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD TAKE A STAND AGAINST FOUR OUTTA THE FIVE VOTERS IN THIS CITY AND EXPECT NOT TO GET RETURNED TO PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT.

AS WE SAY, AS WE WERE WAITING FOR COUNCIL TO START, WE DISCUSSED HOW IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT Y'ALL HAVE YOUR NAMES AND FACES DISPLAYED AT THE BEGINNING OF MEETINGS ALONG WITH YOUR TERM LIMITS.

MAKES IT EASY TO REMEMBER WHEN YOUR PERFORMANCE REVIEW IS SCHEDULED.

ALSO FASCINATING TO SEE WHO HERE IS UP FOR REELECTION THIS YEAR AND MAYBE TRYING TO SELL US A REAL LEMON OF A USED CAR IN THE HOPE THAT WE DRIVE IT OFF THE LOT AND IT'S OUR PROBLEM.

WHAT WILL THESE MEMBERS SAY WHEN THE MONEY GOES OUT THE DOOR, BUT THE PROMISED COMPLIANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY DON'T COME IN.

WHAT WILL THIS DO TO THE KNOWN PROBLEMS OF THE TRAINING ACADEMY? WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO OFFICERS WHO LEAVE THE A PD BECAUSE OF ITS CULTURE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ABUSE OR CRIMINATION AND IMPUNITY? WHAT HAPPENS IF THE NEXT TRE FAILS? WHAT EXACTLY WILL YOU BE WILLING TO CUT FROM CURRENT SPENDING IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY? IS IT THE $3.2 MILLION WE'RE SPENDING RIGHT NOW ON RAPID REHOUSING? IS IT THE $2.2 MILLION THAT WE ARE SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES? IS IT 1.5 MILLION IN EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM COVERAGE? IS IT $1.3 MILLION IN FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANTS IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY? SAY WHAT YOU WILL, BUT DON'T SAY WE DIDN'T TOLD YOU SO.

I DOUBT YOU'LL HAVE MUCH TO OFFER THE VOTERS ON THESE QUESTIONS, BUT I PROMISE YOU THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WILL HAVE PLENTY TO SAY TO OUR NEIGHBORS, REAL PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN WHO GO AND VOTE AND HAVE FINAL SAY IN WHETHER YOU MISLED YOUR COMMUNITIES AND BETRAYED OUR TRUST TO THOSE OF US SPEAKING AGAINST.

I'LL SAY SOMETHING FOR YOU TO REMEMBER.

REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME TODAY, YOU'RE GETTING OUT THERE FOR THE PEOPLE WE SAW AT WORK SESSIONS AND AT MEETINGS EARLIER THIS WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT COUNCIL AT LEDGE ON CAMPUS WHO HAVE DONE EVERY LAST THING WE CAN TO ALERT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ON THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS THAT THEY ARE MAKING HISTORIC CATASTROPHIC MISTAKES, WHOSE HORRIFIC LEGACIES WE WILL CARRY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

EVERYONE ELSE SPEAKING AGAINST THIS, YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND WILL NOT BE BURIED.

MICHAEL KAIN.

THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS MICHAEL KAIN, NUEVA, ANGEL FIRO, MARIE REYES, CHRIS FISHER, AND KIMBERLY FAULKNER.

EXCUSE ME.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS NICK HAYNES.

I'M A REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR BLOCK BY BLOCK, WHICH PROVIDES AMBASSADOR SERVICES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

UM, I ACTUALLY MANAGE ALL OF TEXAS AND TENNESSEE AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE SPEAKING ON, UM, SPEAKING PERSONALLY, UM, AS A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND ALSO, UM, HAVING WORKED HERE FOUR YEARS FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AMBASSADORS BEFORE MY CURRENT ROLE.

AND I SUPPORT ITEMS 47 AND 48.

AND THE REASON IS, UM, THE PRACTICALITY, THE SAFETY OF OUR AMBASSADORS.

WHEN I STARTED, UM, YOU KNOW, I SAW THE VIBRANCE OF THE CITY, UM, AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO WORK DOWNTOWN.

AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY, JUST THE DWINDLING AMOUNT OF OFFICERS HAVE JUST PUT AN INCREASING BURDEN ON OUR AMBASSADORS.

AND WITH THAT, THERE'S BEEN AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE ASSAULTS ON OUR TEAM.

AND WHILE I'VE SEEN INCREASES ALL OVER IN MY ACCOUNTS, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE AUSTIN, UM, IN IN THAT REGARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THE VIBRANCE OF OUR CITY AND OUR DOWNTOWN, BUT I AM ALSO INCREASINGLY ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES AND JUST LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND MY HOPE IS THAT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF VOICES, A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, BUT THE PRACTICAL DECISION IS TO SUPPORT THE OFFICERS, HELP WITH THE MORALE, GET THE NUMBERS UP JUST BECAUSE THAT, JUST SIMPLY THAT NUMBER, THE THE RATIO OF OFFICERS TO, TO OUR POPULATION IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

AND I SPEAK FOR MY AMBASSADORS JUST FOR THEIR SAFETY AND I HOPE THAT YOU MAKE THAT DECISION TO SUPPORT THEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

[02:50:02]

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS MARCO CAST.

I'M A LOCAL PASTOR HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE BACKBONE OF ANY TRIBE CITY.

WE KNOW THAT EVEN THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY CONCERNS CAN HARM A COMMUNITY'S SUCCESS.

WE HEAR IN THE WORK SESSIONS HOW FAMILIES, EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS OFTEN DON'T FEEL SECURITY IN THEIR HOMES AT WORK OR WHILE ENJOYING OUR GREAT CITY.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT IS PREVENTABLE.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE URGENT NEED TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES.

I HAVE PERSONALLY HEAR STORIES FROM RESIDENTS WHO WAITED IN FURTHER DURING EMERGENCIES, WONDERING IF HELP WILL ARRIVE ON TIME.

THESE MOMENTS LIVE LASTING IMPACTS ON FAMILIES, AND IT IS CLEAR THE FASTER RESPONSE TIMES COULD HAVE MADE A ROLE OF DIFFERENCE IN THEIR OUTCOMES.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE THESE RESPONSE TIMES IS TO FILL THE 300 OFFICERS VACANCIES WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS AGREEMENT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BY PASSING THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE EQUIPPING, UH, EQUIPPING OUR OFFICERS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT.

NOT ONLY WILL THIS IMPROVE MORALE WITHIN DEPARTMENT, BUT IT ALSO HELP RESTORE TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

THIS CONTRACT REFLECTS THE HARD WORK AND GOOD FAITH THAT BOTH YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE INVESTED IN FIGHTING A SOLUTION.

NOW LET'S GIVE OUR CITY THE SAFETY IN DESERVES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT YOU KNOW THAT AS A PASTORS, UH, AS A PASTOR, I KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

GETTING THIS CONTRACT APPROVED.

MY NAME IS .

HELLO, UM, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER.

UM, I'M HERE TODAY AS A MOM, A PARENT, AND AS A MEMBER OF MY CHURCH, AUSTIN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTRACT.

I IMPLORE YOU TO PASS THE CONTRACT.

PLUS I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE NUMBER OF HOURS AND DAYS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN INTO EVERY DETAIL THAT YOU'VE LOOKED INTO, ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE ASKED THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THAT YOU HAVE SATISFACTORY, ASKED ALL THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT ANSWER AND THAT DECISION.

SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I HEARD TODAY I LISTENED TO WAS A LOT OF IT OPPOSING THE CONTRACT.

HOW WILL PROVIDING AN INCREASED BUDGET HELP PUBLIC SAFETY IS A LOT OF WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.

WELL, THEY'RE SPEAKING ON THINGS SUCH AS POLICE BRUTALITY, MISCONDUCT, SOME FALSE NARRATIVES ALSO, BUT THE CONTRACT DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT THE CONTRACT SUPPORTS THE WRONG THAT WAS DONE.

IT'S THE CONTRACT THAT IS NOT A REWARD.

IT'S NOT A REWARD.

THE CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE STABILITY RESOURCES THAT THEY DESERVE TO DO A JOB AND DO IT BETTER.

COMPARING THE APPLES TO APPLES AS LIKE SAYING CUTTING DOWN A TREE BECAUSE IT WAS ONE BAD APPLE AND THAT TREE WAS SUPPOSED TO FEED A THOUSAND.

FEAR IS THE ENEMY MAKING IT WORSE? AND THEY ALSO SPOKE ABOUT INCREASING PEACE.

WELL, IT'S NOT JUST THE, UH, RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S EVERYBODY.

IT'S ALL OF OUR JOBS AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT'S JOBS, THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL.

IT'S RETAINING THE OFFICERS, THE PROGRAMS TO HIRE THE BEST OFFICERS THEY CAN TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND TO FILL THE, FILL THE VACANCIES FOR ALL POSITIONS.

THOSE OFFICERS THAT HAVE STAYED WANT MORE HONORABLE OFFICERS TOO.

THEY NEED THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL, THEY NEED THE SUPPORT FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITIZENS THAT THEY SERVE.

THEY WANNA BE EVERY OFFICER WANTS TO BE THAT OFFICER WILLIAMS THAT THAT BRAVE WOMAN SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER.

THEY COME TO WORK WANTING TO BE THAT PERSON.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING AND APPROVING THE CONTRACT AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS, UH, MARYBEL REYES.

I'M A SENIOR PASTOR OF EL SHADI CHURCH RIGHT HERE IN NORTHEAST, UH, AUSTIN.

I'VE BEEN PASTORING FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

I REPRESENT AT LEAST A HUNDRED FAMILIES OR WHEN I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE CONTRACT.

IT'S JUST THAT, UM, TWO DAYS AGO, OCTOBER THE 22ND, WE HAD A

[02:55:01]

CASE THAT IT WAS BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH CASE.

IT WAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND, UM, THE FAMILY CALLED THE CHURCH.

THEY CALLED 9 1 1 FIRST AND THEN THEY CALLED THE CHURCH.

TWO OF OUR, UH, PERSONAL WENT AND, AND, AND RESPOND TO THE SITUATION AND THEY HELPING THEM.

AND THEN, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOOK 45 MINUTES TO HAVE TO BE THERE ON, ON THE SCENE.

THE, THE, IT WAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE AND, UM, THE, THE AGGRESSOR, HE LEFT THE, THE, THE PREMISE AND THEY STILL LOOKING FOR HIM.

BUT I'M IN FAVOR OF THE CONTRACT BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE WILL EVER REDUCE THE RESPOND TIME IS FILLING THOSE POSITIONS, 300 OFFICER VACANCIES.

AND THE ONLY WAY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PASS THIS CONTRACT.

I REMEMBER THE TIMES WHEN WE USED TO CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WERE LIKE RIGHT THERE ON THE SCENE, UH, CASHING ALL THE BAD GUYS.

BUT NOW WE DON'T FEEL THAT SAFE.

I KNOW THAT A PT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT WE NEED MORE, MORE OFFICERS.

SO THANK YOU.

UH, MICHAEL SHAHEEN VILLANUEVA.

GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, I'VE BEEN A LIFELONG TEXAN AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR 20 PLUS YEARS WORKING AND, UH, LIVING HERE.

AND, UH, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ITEMS 47 AND 48, UH, AS ONE OF THE HOTEL DIRECTORS OF A LUXURY HOTEL IN DISTRICT NINE, UH, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

IT'S ONE OF MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL MY 225 ASSOCIATES THAT WE HAVE THERE.

UH, THE SEVERE LACK OF POLICE COVERAGE IN OUR AREA, WHICH IS A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING.

WHILE WE DO OUR BEST TO MAINTAIN THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR GUESTS AND MAINTAIN OUR, UH, THE SAFETY FOR OUR STAFF, UM, WE RELY ON THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE IN ORDER TO UPHOLD THE PEACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, HAVING EXPERIENCED WAIT TIMES OF OVER TWO PLUS HOURS WHEN WE DO NEED POLICE ASSISTANCE.

UM, SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S LATE AT NIGHT, WE NOT ONLY RISK, UM, THE LOSS OF POTENTIAL FUTURE GUESTS THAT ARE COMING IN, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, WE LOSE THE, THE TRUST THAT WE HAVE OF OUR ASSOCIATES OF COMING TO A WORKPLACE WHICH IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN OUR WALLS.

WE DO FEEL SAFE, HOWEVER, IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING OUT, THEY WON'T COME TO US.

SO AGAIN, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ITEMS 47 AND 48.

UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KIMBERLY FAULKNER AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 47.

I'M A SENIOR REGIONAL PROPERTY MANAGER AND PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION.

I'M FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND MY TEAM MEMBERS.

WE ARE NOT JUST DISCUSSING CONTRACTS OR BUDGETS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS LIVES ABOUT AUSTIN CITIZENS WHO DESERVE TO FEEL SECURE IN THEIR HOMES AT A BRAND NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTY IN DISTRICT THREE THAT SERVES ALMOST 500 RESIDENTS AND 29,000 APARTMENT HOMES IN THE SUBMARKET.

WE HAVE HAD A MAN WALK WITH A RIFLE THROUGH OUR PARKING GARAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, AND ON A DIFFERENT AFTERNOON A WOMAN WALK WITH A BLOWTORCH IN THE GARAGE AND IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE.

IN BOTH INSTANCES, IT TOOK OVER TWO HOURS FOR THE POLICE TO GET TO OUR PROPERTY.

THIS SAME PROPERTY HAS ALSO HAD TWO CASES OF INDECENT EXPOSURE IN FRONT OF OUR LEASING OFFICE.

WHEN TEAM MEMBERS, WHEN TEAM MEMBERS ARE ARRIVING TO WORK AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO LEAVE FOR WORK AT ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTY IN DISTRICT THREE WITH OVER 400 RESIDENTS AND IN A SUBMARKET OF OVER 20,000 OF APARTMENT HOMES, WE HAD A HOSTILE MAN BARRICADE HIMSELF IN THE CLUB ROOM BATHROOM WHO THEN GOT HIGH AND TATED ALL OVER THE BATHROOM.

IT TOOK THREE HOURS FOR THE POLICE TO RESPOND SO THAT WE COULD FILE CRIMINAL TRESPASS CHARGES AGAINST THIS PERSON WHO HAD HAD MULTIPLE INTERACTIONS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIZENS, AND THE POLICE AT THE SAME PROPERTY.

WE HAD A RESIDENT, A SINGLE FEMALE WHO CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE A MAN CRAWLED ONTO HER PATIO AND TOOK HER BELONGINGS.

IT TOOK THE POLICE SEVERAL HOURS TO RESPOND TO HER CALL.

SHE REQUESTED TO TERMINATE HER LEASE CONTRACT IN THAT APARTMENT HOME BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED WITH HER SAFETY DUE TO THE POLICE RESPONSE TIME.

I URGE YOU TO PASS THE LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH THE A PA.

JUST AS YOU EXPECT US TO ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS LIVE IN SECURE ENVIRONMENTS, WE EXPECT YOU TO DO THE SAME.

FOR OUR CITIZENS SAFETY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.

TOGETHER WE MUST COMMIT TO PRIORITIZING SAFETY FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK RAMER, WITH TIME DONATED BY JEREMY MARTIN AND DAVID AUER.

ARE YOU BOTH HERE? JEREMY AND DAVID? THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES.

UM, MARK FEY AND TASHA MOR ON ON DECK.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR COUNSEL, CITY MANAGER.

I WON'T TAKE NINE MINUTES.

SO, UM, I'M HERE, UM, AS THE INCOMING CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS A RESIDENT AND AS AN

[03:00:01]

EMPLOYER HERE IN AUSTIN.

UM, I, IN ALL THESE POSITIONS, UM, I'VE SEEN AND TALKED TO VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT, THAT DEFINITELY HAVE SEEN PUBLIC SAFETY DECLINE IN AUSTIN AND IT SADDENS ME AT, AT, AT THE CHAMBER.

WE REGULARLY HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LACK OF POLICE RESPONSE TIMES AND EVEN RESPONSE AT ALL TO SOME CRIMES.

YOU'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF THOSE, UM, JUST BEFORE ME.

MY EMPLOYEES FAMILY AND UM, AND FRIENDS ALL HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED THESE CONCERNS.

I THINK IT IS TIME NOW TO ACT AND SUPPORT THE CONTRACT.

THE LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICER VACANCIES HAS CAU CAUSED THESE EXTENDED RESPONSE TIMES AND EVEN OFFICERS NOT BEING ABLE TO SHOW UP FOR SOME CRIMES.

PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE A BASIC GOAL OF THE CITY AND I THINK WE'VE FALLEN SHORT OF THIS BASIC GOAL.

GETTING THIS NEW FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE STABILITY AND ALLOW US TO, TO SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HIRE AND FILL THESE VACANCIES.

I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AND APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR WATSON, UH, CITY MANAGERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TASHA MORA AND I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE OF MORE THAN 48 YEARS.

I AM A PRODUCT OF D ONE AND D FOUR AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN D FOUR AND I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN D ONE FOR OVER 22 YEARS.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE A PA CONTRACT.

I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A CONSTITUENT IN YOUR DISTRICT, AS A BUSINESS OWNER IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND ALSO AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION.

I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF POLICE SHORTAGES ON OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING.

AS THE OWNER OF A NA WRECKER, I EMPLOY 2017 MEMBERS AND MY COMPANY PROVIDES TOWING SERVICES IN AUSTIN.

THE FIRST TYPE OF TOWING IS WE PROVIDE EMERGENCY TOWING SERVICES FOR THE CITY'S INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WORKING ALONGSIDE FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING AUSTIN'S POLICE OFFICERS TO CLEAR OUR CITY'S, UH, HIGHWAYS OF COLLISIONS.

WE WORK ON THOSE HIGHWAYS AND IT'S A HIGH LIABILITY ROLE AND ONE FIRST RESPONDER AND TOW IS KILLED ACROSS THE NATION EVERY SIX DAYS.

IT'S ONLY LOGICAL TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE COMP COMPENSATION TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO COMPENSATE FOR SUCH RISK TO THEIR SAFETY.

AND SECOND, WE PROVIDE TOWING SERVICES TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COMMUNITIES, THE RENTAL HOUSING COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND I AND MY TEAM HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE RISE IN, IN UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITY AND CRIME IN AUSTIN.

SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, MY TEAM HAS BEEN ASSAULTED.

WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIMES, ASSAULTS, DISTURBANCES, AND UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITY IN OUR CITY.

AND MUCH OF THIS GOES UNREPORTED EVEN BY US, EVEN WITH THE ASSAULTS.

WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE SIMPLY DEAL WITH IT.

EVEN THE ASSAULTS AS OUR CITY IS NOT PROPERLY STAFFED TO HELP.

22 YEARS IN TOWING HAS SHOWN ME THAT PATROL PRESENCE IS IMPERATIVE.

PROACTIVE PATROL IS NEEDED.

EXPERIENCED OFFICERS ON PATROL ARE NEEDED.

WITH 300 VACANCIES IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SAFETY OF AUSTIN'S RESIDENTS AND WORKFORCE IS JEOPARDIZED.

SLOWER RESPONSE TIMES HAVE ENDANGERED MYSELF, MY EMPLOYEES, AND THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.

AND WHEN BUSINESSES CAN'T PROTECT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS FEEL UNSAFE, THE CONSEQUENCES RIPPLE THROUGH US ALL.

IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE PRIORITIZE THE WELLBEING, BILL, EXCUSE ME, THE WELLBEING OF ALL CONSTITUENTS.

AND BY APPROVING THE A PA CONTRACT, YOU ARE INVESTING IN THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENT AND SUPPORTING THE HARDWORKING BUSINESS OWNERS AND WORKFORCE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT CITY.

THANK YOU SINCERELY TO EACH OF YOU, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THANK YOU FOR MY TIME.

THE NEXT GROUP WILL BE AMANDA WEEMS, JENNIFER SHAW, REGINALD DIGGINS, RANDALL WASHINGTON, AND LUIS TREVINO.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO AN OPEN PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS JENNIFER EARNSHAW AND I AM, UH, SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 47.

I'M A PROPERTY MANAGER AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND A DEDICATED CITIZEN OF AUSTIN WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING.

TODAY I AM HERE TO VOICE CONCERNS THAT KEEP ME AWAKE AT NIGHT.

THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND MY TEAM MEMBERS.

WE ARE NOT JUST DISCUSSING CONTRACTS OR BUDGETS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIVES, ABOUT FAMILIES WHO DESERVE TO FEEL SECURE IN THEIR HOMES.

LET ME SHARE A

[03:05:01]

I OVERSEE A PROPERTY IN DISTRICT THREE AND SINCE FEBRUARY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ALARMING SURGE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

OUR RESIDENTS AND STAFF ARE BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THREATS, BREAK-INS AND PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS.

PEOPLE HAVE BROKEN INTO VACANT APARTMENT HOMES, TAKING CONTROL OF THESE SPACES AND RETALIATED WITH AGGRESSION.

WHEN WE'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, MY STAFF AND RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED THREATS.

AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, INDIVIDUALS HAVE FLOODED UNITS BY DELIBERATELY SABOTAGING PLUMBING, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND CREATED UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR OUR OTHER RESIDENTS.

THE SITUATION HAS ESCALATED TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ALTERCATIONS IN THE HALLWAYS AND COMMON AREAS CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR.

AND ONE INCIDENT, AN INDIVIDUAL STORMED INTO OUR LEASING OFFICE AND AGGRESSIVELY DESTROYED PROPERTY, FORCING MY TEAM AND A FEW RESIDENTS TO LOCK THEMSELVES INSIDE OF AN OFFICE WHILE THE CHAOS UNFOLDED, THEY WERE LEFT HELPLESS WATCHING THROUGH THE GLASS AS THE DESTRUCTION OCCURRED.

OUR RESIDENTS AND STAFF ARE GENUINELY AFRAID FOR THEIR SAFETY.

AND THIS IS SIMPLY JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

WE'VE CALLED 9 1 1 NUMEROUS TIMES OVER 15 TIMES TO BE EXACT, BUT THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN SLOW OR NON-EXISTENT.

THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO HELP, BUT THEY ARE STRETCHED TOO THIN DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO THE GROWING THREATS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE MET WITH CITY COUN COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ'S STAFF REGARDING THIS ONGOING ISSUE AND HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL TAKE THE TIME TO MEET WITH US IN PERSON TO COLLABORATE ON FINDING VIABLE INTERIM SOLUTIONS.

ADDRESSING THE SERIOUS AND ONGOING ISSUE IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR MORE THAN 500 RESIDENTS.

WHILE THESE VACANCIES ARE BEING FILLED, OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER.

THEY DESERVE TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY CALL FOR HELP, SOMEONE WILL COME.

THEY DESERVE TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE THEIR SAFETY IS PRIORITIZED.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE COMPROMISED OR DELAYED.

IN OUR DAILY OPERATIONS, WE MAKE SAFETY A TOP PRIORITY AND WE EXPECT THE SAME FROM OUR CITY LEADERS.

THIS CONTRACT IS A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENT CAN LIVE WITHOUT FEAR.

KNOWING THAT HELP IS THERE WHEN THEY NEED IT.

I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS CONTRACT AND MAKE PUBLIC SAFETY THE PRIORITY IT SHOULD BE.

OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE NOTHING LESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TODAY? UH, MY NAME IS REGGIE DIGGINS.

I WORK FOR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE SAFETY TEAM AROUND HERE IN AUSTIN.

UM, I'VE BEEN AMBASSADOR HERE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS NOW AND, UM, AT MY TIME AS AN AMBASSADOR IT IS AMAZING.

BUT, UM, WE DO NEED MORE POLICE OUT HERE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED, CHASED WITH PEPPER SPRAY, CHASED WITH KNIVES AND SPAT ON AS WELL OUT HERE.

UM, WHEN WE DO CALL THE POLICE, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THEM TO COME OUT HERE AND, WHICH IS A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND EVERY SINGLE MORNING WE GETTING CHASED OR SOMEBODY TRYING TO COME AT US.

UM, MY JOB DOWN HERE IN UM, DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE REQUIRES THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, THE BUSINESSES.

SO WE ARE HERE TO HELP EVERYBODY OUT.

UH, WE NEED MORE POLICE TO HELP THE CRIMES.

UM, STOP.

AND UM, ALSO PLEASE PASS THE 48 LAW.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, I'M PART OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE TWO.

MY NAME IS RANDALL WASHINGTON.

I HAVE BEEN AMBASSADOR OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOR 15 MONTHS WHERE I CURRENTLY SERVE, SERVE AS THE TEAM LEADER OVER HERE AT REPUBLIC SQUARE PARK DAILY.

I HAVE EITHER EXPERIENCED PERSONAL OR WITNESS SITUATIONS WHERE I HAVE FELT UNSAFE WHILE PERFORMING DUTIES AT THE PARK.

UH, SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE WITNESSED WAS, UM, A MAN PULLED OUT A GUN AND THREATENED TO SHOOT SOMEONE ELSE OVER AN ARGUMENT RIGHT ON THE OAK DECK.

UH, A YOUNGER MAN ATTACKED AN AN ELDERLY MAN AND BUSTED HIS HEAD OPEN, UH, BEING CURSED AT NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR, FOR ASKING PEOPLE TO COME OUT OF THE RESTROOM, LET OTHER PEOPLE USE, UM, JUST WITNESSING AND DECENT EXPOSURE AROUND KIDS AND EVERYTHING.

HYPODERMIC NEEDLES JUST LAID ACROSS, UH, WELL SUMMER CAMP WHERE KIDS COME OUT AND PLAY IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO CALL 9 1 1, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THE THE SALINE'S GONE AND THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND AS A RESULT, I TRULY BELIEVE THE NEED FOR MORE POLICE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA, ESPECIALLY WITH REPUBLIC SQUARE PAR REPUBLIC SQUARE PARK AREA, IS PARAMOUNT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

NAME IS AMANDA CAVASSO WEEMS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND A TRUSTEE ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.

UH, HOW DO Y'ALL, UH, MY

[03:10:01]

I ALREADY SPOKE TO Y'ALL ON TUESDAY ABOUT THIS STUFF, BUT TODAY I'LL BE READING A STATEMENT FROM MY UNION SISTER AKI, UH, SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.

UM, SO YEAH, UH, Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.

THEY'RE A UNION OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

UH, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE TENTATIVE POLICE CONTRACT AND URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 47 AND 48 TODAY.

CITY COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU, DO YOU STAND WITH YOUR RESIDENTS, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, OR YOU? DO YOU STAND WITH THE CORPORATIONS, THE DEVELOPERS, AND THE HOTEL OWNERS? BECAUSE BASED ON THE TESTIMONIES HERE TODAY, I THINK YOU SEE WHERE THE LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN BEYOND THE URGENT NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY.

STARTING WITH THE RELEASE OF THE SECRET POLICE FILES, THIS CONTRACT REPRESENTS A MAJOR MISSTEP IN BUDGET PRIORITIES.

THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WOULD ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 220 MILLION AT LEAST, TO THE POLICE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WORSENING AN ALREADY DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THIS DECISION COMES AS MOST OF THE CRIMES PEOPLE ARE BEING IN CHARGE CHARGED WITH IN AUSTIN, STEM FROM DESPERATION, ROOTED IN POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, AND UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR.

INCARCERATION IS NOT A SOLUTION.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THESE BEHAVIORS THROUGH REAL SOCIO SOCIAL SAFETY NETS LIKE HOUSING, FOOD SECURITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, PREVENTS CRIMES FAR MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN PUNITIVE APPROACHES.

BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT THESE ARE NOT CRIMES.

THEY'RE SYSTEMATIC PROBLEMS CHANGE THE SYSTEM AND YOU CHANGE THESE OUTCOMES.

YET WITH THIS BLOATED CONTRACT, THERE WILL BE LITTLE LEFT TO FUND THESE MORE APPROPRIATE SERVICES.

THE POLICE ARE TASKED WITH HANDLING SITUATIONS THEY AREN'T TRAINED TO RESOLVE AND SEE PEOPLE IN CRISIS AS MORALLY DEFICIENT RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF SUPPORT.

INSTEAD OF PROVIDING CARE, THEY OFTEN TURN TO PUNISHMENT, REINFORCING THE CYCLE OF HARM.

THE PROBLEM ISN'T JUST TRAINING, IT'S CULTURAL.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NEEDED THE SKILLS NOR THE MINDSET TO PROVIDE THE COMPASSIONATE CARE THAT'S REQUIRED.

PROGRAMS AND PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE THESE SKILLS LIKE INTEGRAL CARE C3 AND OTT TEAMS ALREADY EXIST, BUT THEY'RE SO UNDERFUNDED THAT MANY FRONTLINE WORKERS IN THESE PROGRAMS CAN BARELY AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN THEMSELVES.

MEANWHILE, THE POLICE WHO ALREADY MAKE WELL ABOVE THE COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE PRIORITY FUNDING.

HOW CAN WE JUSTIFY THIS WHEN CRITICAL SERVICES LIKE HARM REDUCTION HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE ARE STARVED FOR RESOURCES? SERVICES LIKE THOSE PROVIDED BY INTEGRAL CARE OFFER REAL SOLUTIONS, COMPASSIONATE EVIDENCE-BASED CARE THAT REDUCES HARM AND PROMOTES LONG-TERM STABILITY.

THESE SERVICES PREVENT CRISES BEFORE THEY START DIVERTING INDIVIDUALS FROM INCARCERATION, HOSPITALIZATION, AND PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY DETENTION, ALL THREE OF WHICH ARE COST BURDENS TO THE CITY.

YET THE TEAMS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ARE BEING UNDERCUT BY INADEQUATE WAGES AND INSUFFICIENT STAFFING.

FOR EXAMPLE, CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY AWARDED 1.5 MILLION IN ONE TIME FUNDING TO EXPAND OUR CRISIS TEAMS AFTER OUR UNION.

ANOTHER CON UH, NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS TONY CASTILLA, JUAN ANTONIO SALANA, JOE DE, SUSAN SPATARO, AND BRIAN TEPO.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE ANYTHING CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD, TAKE A SEAT ON THE FRONT ROW, BUT IF THERE'S AN OPEN MICROPHONE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO APPROACH IT AND START TALKING.

GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

UM, REALLY SO MANY ISSUES ARE COMING UP, BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT IS PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT HOW THIS COMES TOGETHER, EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AND THEIR CLIENTS, THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION.

PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL SAFE.

IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE ARGUMENT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL NOT REALLY A VERY DANGEROUS CITY.

AND THAT'S TRUE WHEN YOU TAKE CRIME AND YOU DIVIDE IT BY THE POPULATION.

HOWEVER, THE INCREASE IN CRIME HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE BETWEEN 20 AND 21.

THE MURDER, THE, THE INCREASE IN MURDERS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS WAS THE HIGHEST OF ANY LARGE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WAS IT PER HUNDRED? NO.

BUT AT THAT KIND OF ESCALATION AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CRIME, WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING, IT'S COMING DOWN HERE, WERE MURDERS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN HERE ARE MURDERS, AND NOW YOU KNOW THE INCH DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

PEOPLE ARE DYING.

SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AND IT'S OVERDOSES, IT'S MURDER, FATALITIES, ROBBERIES.

AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MONEY.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE YOU'VE HEARD HERE TODAY ARE TELLING YOU WHAT RESIDENTS IN THIS TOWN THINK, AND IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, THEY WILL NOT KEEP

[03:15:01]

COMING TO CONVENTIONS IF THEY'RE NOT SAFE.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA KEEP RENTING DOWNTOWN.

IF THEY'RE NOT SAFE, THEY DON'T WANNA WORK DOWNTOWN.

NOW WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE? THAT MEANS THEY, THERE IS AN OUT-MIGRATION AND PROPERTY TAXES GO DOWN AND THERE'S LESS MONEY FOR EVERYTHING.

SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS LIFE LIKE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY? Y'ALL, THIS COUNCIL, YOU REALLY INHERITED A MESS.

I HATE TO SAY THAT, BUT YOU INHERITED A MESS.

UM, WE HAD THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AND THESE THINGS AREN'T SOLVED IN A SECOND.

I KNOW THAT.

BUT I THINK THIS IS THE TIME, IT'S THE TIME FOR US TO START A NEW, WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE A NEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE'VE GOT A NEW CHIEF.

WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE THIS TOWN THE WEIRD AUSTIN, IT WAS BEFORE WHERE YOU COULD GO TO MUSIC, YOU COULD GO DOWNTOWN AND EAT.

YOU COULD GO OUT AFTER DARK, YOU COULD GO TO YOUR GROCERY STORE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT BEING ASSAULTED.

I URGE YOU TO SIGN THIS CONTRACT FOR ME.

WHAT WE, IF THERE ARE BAD POLICE AND THERE PROBABLY ARE, EVERY PROFESSION HAS THEM.

THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO SOLVE THAT.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

GIVE THE NEW CHIEF A CHANCE TO, TO, TO DO THAT.

BUT COMMUNITY POLICING, EVERYONE WANTS COMMUNITY POLICING.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE POLICE TO HAVE COMMUNITY POLICING.

AND THANK THANK YOU MR. P.

PLEASE ADOPT THAT CONTRACT.

HI, MY NAME IS, UH, JUAN ANTONIO SALDANA, JUNIOR PRESIDENT ELECT OF ALMA, THE ALLIANCE FOR LATINO MINISTRIES AND PASTORS HERE IN AUSTIN.

I'M A PASTOR AND BUSINESS OWNER IN DISTRICT FOUR AND NINE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE A QUICK QUESTION.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU LOVE AUSTIN.

I FEEL THAT WE ARE ALL HERE AND I'M GONNA RAISE MY HAND EVEN THOUGH WE ALL HAVE OPPOSING VIEWS.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AUSTIN GREAT AND I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN, CURRENTLY STILL AM LIVING IN DISTRICT SEVEN IN THE CRESTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD DAYS? UH, BACK WHEN TRAFFIC WASN'T A COMPETITIVE SPORT AND YOU COULD FIND PARKING DOWNTOWN WITHOUT DIVINE INTERVENTION? WE HAVE ALL WATCHED THE CITY GROW FROM A HIDDEN GEM TO A BUSTING METROPOLIS.

AND WHILE WE'RE ALL PROUD OF THAT GROWTH, IT'S CLEAR THAT SOME THINGS DO NEED ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOW WE ALL LOVE AUSTIN, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONTINUING TO BE CONCERNS.

PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE WHETHER THEY'RE WALKING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WORKING LATE OR HEADING OUT TO ONE OF OUR GREAT LOCAL SPOTS OR DURING THE CITYWIDE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, WHICH SEE VAST AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE FLOOD THE CITY.

AND RIGHT NOW I FEEL THAT WE STILL ARE FALLING SHORT RESPONSE TIMES ARE SLOW.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE, BUT IT'S A REAL DANGER.

AND THE A PD DOES NEED THAT HELP.

I SEE THAT THIS PROPOSITION IS A CHANCE TO FIX THAT.

IT ADDRESSES THE MORE THAN 300 VACANCIES IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE STRETCHING OUR RESOURCES.

THEN THIS CONTRACT DOES THAT, AND IT DOES IT IN A WAY THAT MEETS SOME BUDGET AND OVERSIGHT STANDARDS THAT WE EXPECT.

RECENTLY MY HOME WAS BROKEN INTO.

THANKFULLY THE RESPONSE TIME FROM THE POLICE WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT, AND THEY APPREHENDED THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE WHO FLED THE SCENE ON BIKE.

THIS EXPERIENCE THOUGH, GAVE ME FIRSTHAND INSIGHT INTO JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

BUT THIS QUICK RESPONSE ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF WE FAIRLY FUND AND STAFF OUR POLICE ACROSS THE CITY, WE CAN MAKE SURE, UH, THAT EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENTS, UH, RESIDENT GETS THE, UH, PROTECTION THAT THEY DESERVE.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS CONTRACT, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

AS SOMEONE WHO'S SEEN AUSTIN GROW AND CHANGE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING WE LOVE ABOUT THIS CITY.

SO I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN, UH, IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSITION AND LET'S FILL THOSE VACANCIES, UH, IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES AND ENSURE THAT AUSTIN REMAINS NOT ONLY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, BUT A SAFE ONE.

AUSTIN'S HEART IS ITS CREATIVITY AND CULTURE.

SO LET'S CONTINUE TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TEM POOL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

PLEASE.

[03:20:01]

MY NAME IS JOE DETEL AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, REPRESENTING NEARLY 2000 MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTION OF A FIVE YEAR POLICE CONTRACT.

POLICE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS A CRITICAL CITY SERVICE AND IT'S VITAL TO AUSTIN'S SUCCESS AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK, AND DO BUSINESS.

OUR GROWING POPULATION HAS PUT PRESSURE ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES AND THE CURRENT STAFFING SHORTAGES AT A PD ARE EVIDENT.

RESPONSE TIMES ARE LONGER, AND THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE AND STATURE.

APPROVING THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW A PD TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND RETAIN THE OFFICERS NEEDED TO KEEP UP WITH AUSTIN'S GROWTH AND ENSURE SAFETY ACROSS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE CONTRACT IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST POLICE STAFFING.

IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING AUSTIN'S REPUTATION AS A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND BUSINESSES ALIKE.

YOUR VOTE TODAY CAN PROVIDE THE CERTAINTY OUR OFFICERS NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS EFFECTIVELY, WHILE ALSO ASSURING THE PUBLIC THAT SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REMAIN TOP PRIORITIES FOR OUR CITY.

FOR THOSE REASONS, I URGED YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CONTRACT AND HELP US CONTINUE BUILDING A VIBRANT AND SECURE FUTURE FOR AUSTIN.

DETECTIVE VIAL CONTINUED.

THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS WILL BE CARLOS PINON, MARIANNE SANCHEZ.

TYLER LATHAM.

TYLER LATHAM HAD TIME DONATED BY SCOTT ASKEW.

TYLER AND SCOTT, ARE YOU BOTH HERE? OKAY.

UH, GREG NAZER.

ERIC LEONARD.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO AN AVAILABLE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

I AM CRAIG NASER, A MEMBER OF THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE SIERRA CLUB AUSTIN REGIONAL GROUP.

WE OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.

IN MY 37 YEARS OF LIVING IN AUSTIN, I HAVE WITNESSED A DECREASING CRIME LEVEL.

STATISTICS SHOW THIS TO BE TRUE.

AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE LOWEST CRIME LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS, SECOND ONLY TO EL PASO.

AND THAT IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

I RARELY INTERACT WITH THE POLICE AND ALL OF THOSE PERSONAL ACTIONS HAVE BEEN REASONABLE.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT AUSTIN NEEDS A GOOD WELL-STAFFED POLICE FORCE, WHICH WILL COST MONEY.

HOWEVER, WE ALSO NEED EQUITY IN POLICING.

IN THE PAST 12 YEARS IN AUSTIN, I'VE WITNESSED AND ACTED TO PREVENT TWO OVERTLY RACIST INTERACTIONS BY THE A PD ONCE BEHIND THE CARVER CENTER AND ONCE ON MY STREET IN GRACIE WOODS IN NORTH AUSTIN, I'VE WITNESSED A MUSLIM NEIGHBOR WHO IS A LONGTIME AUSTIN RED RESIDENT, BE AFRAID TO CALL THE POLICE TO INSPECT A SUSPICIOUS FIRE AT HIS HOME FOR A ARSON.

I OFFERED TO CALL THE POLICE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID TO CALL.

IT TURNED OUT IT WAS ARSON.

I ALSO TALKED AT LENGTH WITH A CITY EMPLOYEE WHO WAS CHARGED WITH GIVING CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING TO POLICE ABOUT HOW FRU, AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW FRUSTRATING THE JOB WAS.

THIS IS WHY I VOTED IN THE 2023 POLICE OVERSIGHT CITIZENS INITIATIVE, AS DID 80% OF AUSTIN VOTERS.

ON JUNE 4TH, 2023, I ATTENDED AND TESTIFIED AT A HEARING OF THE TEXAS SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE WAS TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON A BILL TO MAKE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE IN TEXAS CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF OVER 700,000 ILLEGAL.

SENATOR SARAH ECKER ASKED THE THEN PRESIDENT OF THE A PA THOMAS VILLAREAL, WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF POLICE MISCONDUCT.

HIS RESPONSE WAS QUOTE, SO IF YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT ROLE DO I THINK CIVILIANS SHOULD PLAY IN THE INVESTIGATION OF POLICE OFFICER MISCONDUCT, SENATOR ECKER SAID, CORRECT.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS, RIGHT? IF THAT WASN'T A THING, I WOULD SAY THEY HAVE NO ROLE IN THERE.

MY LIVED EXPERIENCE COUPLED WITH THE UNCERTAINTY SWIRLING AROUND THE WORDING OF THIS CONTRACT, LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN MAY BE SUBVERTED AND A RIGHT THAT AUSTINITES ONCE HELD WILL BE REMOVED FROM THEIR GRASP.

IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT AND THAT RIGHT IS LOST, YOU'LL LEAVE CITIZENS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE.

THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN DESERVE REAL CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF AN EXCELLENT POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AFTER ALL, ISN'T THE LACK OF CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE A PART OF THE DEFINITION

[03:25:01]

OF A POLICE STATE? THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S ERIC LEONARD AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION.

WE WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR WATSON, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED DI DILIGENTLY ON THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.

YOUR EFFORTS HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED.

I OWN A TRASH AND RECYCLING COMPANY AND WE SERVE AS HUNDREDS OF APARTMENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING AUSTIN.

AND AS ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS MENTIONED, OUR JOB CAN BE DANGEROUS AT TIMES.

UM, I WOULD NEVER COMPARE OUR JOB AS DANGEROUS AS THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT PUT ON THE BADGE THAT SUPPORT US EACH NIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORTING THIS.

HAVE A GOOD DAY AND MR. LATHAM WILL GET SIX MINUTES.

I'LL HOPEFULLY BE MUCH FASTER THAN THAT.

UH, MAYOR WATSON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, ASSIST, UH, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FORTUNE.

MY NAME IS TYLER LATHAM AND IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE FOR 15 YEARS AS AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER.

AND I HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE AS THE CHIEF, AS THE CHAIR OF THE A PA BARGAINING TEAM WHEN ASKED BY, UH, OUR PRESIDENT MICHAEL BULLOCK.

UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK MY TEAM WHO WORKED DILIGENTLY, UH, FOR PUTTING IN COUNTLESS HOURS NEGOTIATING THIS CONTRACT.

BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CITY TEAM WHO ARE, UH, WERE FIERCE NEGOTIATORS.

THIS WAS NOT AN EASY PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, UH, AND THEY DEDICATED THOUSANDS OF HOURS WITH THEIR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY.

I THINK MY WIFE MAY BE THE MOST EXCITED, UH, WHEN THIS PASSES SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO HEAR ME TALK ABOUT BARGAINING AT THE DINNER TABLE ANYMORE.

WHAT THE A PA AND CITY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER WAS SEEN AS IMPOSSIBLE JUST SIX MONTHS AGO.

NO ONE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO A DEAL THAT MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE A POA, HOWEVER IMPOSSIBLE THE TASK SEEMED.

THE CITY AND A PA ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOAL.

ITEM 47 IS A CULMINATION OF THE COMMITMENT OF AUSTIN PO.

THE AUSTIN POLICE HAVE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OF BOTH SIDES AT THE BARGAINING TABLE AND A TESTAMENT TO THE BEAUTIFUL, CHAOTIC AND COLLECTIVE NATURE OF THE PROCESS.

I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE BODY OF OUR COLLECTIVE WORK AND VOTE YES ON THE NEW AGREEMENT THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH PARTIES.

NO ROADBLOCKS TO A POA IMPLEMENTATION CHECK CERTIFICATION BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AS REQUIRED BY THE A POA CHECK COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS CHECK IN INVESTMENT IN RECRUITING NEW AND RETAINING CURRENT OFFICERS.

CHECK.

THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF THE CONTRACT THAT ARE OVERSHADOWED BY THE A POA AND PAY.

IN MY OPINION, THEY ARE JUST AS CRUCIAL TO GETTING BACK UNDER CONTRACT.

AND THOSE ARE RECRUITING AND PROMOTIONS WHEN OUT OF CONTRACT.

OUR RECRUITING AND PROMOTION PROCESS FALLS BACK TO THE BASIC CIVIL SERVICE RULES THAT DO NOT PROVIDE THE OPTIONS.

ALL PARTIES INVOLVED NEED TO RECRUIT THE BEST OF THE BEST TO AUSTIN AND A ROBUST PROMOTION PROCESS DEVELOP TO DEVELOP GREAT LEADERS AT A PD EVERY DAY OUR OFFICERS LEAVE THEIR FAMILY AND SHOW UP FROM EVERY PART OF CENTRAL TEXAS, FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE, EVERY DAY.

THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS TAKE ON ONE DEFINING ROLE, THE UNIFORM AND BADGE OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS ONE OF THE PROUDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE WHEN MY WIFE PINNED MY BADGE ON FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND EVERY DAY I PUT ON THAT UNIFORM, I STILL FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE WHEN I SIT HERE AND I LISTEN TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COME UP AND SAY THAT THEY CALLED THE POLICE AND THEY WERE TOLD THEY WEREN'T GONNA COME.

IT BREAKS MY HEART.

WHEN I STARTED AT THIS DEPARTMENT, WE HAD 1600 OFFICERS.

WE GREW TO ALMOST 1900, AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO LESS THAN 1500, AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT THEY DESERVE.

THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A TIME THAT SOMEONE CALLS THE POLICE AND NEEDS THE POLICE FOR WHATEVER CRIME IT IS AND THEY'RE TOLD THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE FOR FOUR HOURS.

IT BREAKS MY HEART WHEN I, WHEN I GO TO THOSE CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN HOLDING FOR 2, 4, 8 HOURS OR MORE, AND I HAVE TO TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THIS CITIZEN WHY WE WEREN'T THERE AND WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FOR US TO GET THERE.

THIS CONTRACT CAN HELP GET US BACK ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY AND GET US BACK ON THE ROAD TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, NEEDS TO PROVIDE AND THE CITIZENS OF DESERVE.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

I WAS AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.

I CAN, I CAN TELL YOU WITH UTMOST CERTAINTY, A YES VOTE ON THE CONTRACT DOES NOT FLY IN THE FACE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

[03:30:01]

AND TRANSPARENCY, YOU CAN SUPPORT THE POLICE AND SUPPORT OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE.

AT THE SAME TIME I DO THAT, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION DOES THAT.

THIS CONTRACT DOES THAT, AND YOU CAN DO THAT AS WELL WITH YOUR YES VOTE TODAY.

THIS CONTRACT IS PRO IS A PROFOUND, REMARKABLE AND PRECEDENT SETTING STEP FORWARD FOR AUSTIN.

IT'S OFFICERS AND CITIZENS WHO EXPECT AND DESERVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF A PD.

TOGETHER, THIS CONTRACT CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAYS OUT A NEW DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.

THIS CONTRACT AND YOUR YES VOTE SHOW EVERYONE WHO IS HERE AND WHO WILL LISTEN THAT THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WANTS A STRONG, PROFESSIONAL AND VIBRANT POLICE FORCE.

THIS IS A GOOD CONTRACT AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT.

I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT BY VOTING IN FAVOR OF ITEMS 47 AND 48.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU, THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE TO PROTECT IT.

DENNIS FERRIS, ROSE ZIGLER, JOHN DIAL, ROBERT CLARK, CAITLYN RYAN.

YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS DENNIS FERRIS.

I'M A, UH, HONORABLY RETIRED 30 YEAR VETERAN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE LAST 25 OF THOSE WAS AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE THE HONOR SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

I REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 1,150 RETIRED MEN AND WOMEN WHO COMBINED GAVE THIS CITY OVER 30,000.

I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN.

30,000 YEARS OF SERVICE.

I DON'T THINK ANY ORGANIZATION THAT'S WALKED IN HERE TODAY CAN STATE THE SAME THING.

I'M ALSO THE PARENT, EXCUSE ME, OF AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER.

I HAVE IMMENSE PRIDE IN MY SON, WHAT HE DOES AND THE FACT THAT HE CHOSE THIS PROFESSION AND TO FOLLOW IN HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS.

HAVING GROWN UP, SEEING WHAT HE SAW.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SAID ABOUT THE WHETHER THIS CONTRACT APPLIES WITH THE, UH, PROP A WELL, I THINK YOUR LEGAL TEAM HAS TOLD YOU IT DOES.

THEY ARE YOUR LAWYERS.

THEY'RE THE ONES YOU PAY TO TELL YOU THOSE THINGS.

THEY'VE SAID IT COMPLIES.

IT MUST.

I HAD A LONG THING SPREAD OUT THAT I WAS GONNA SAY, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IN THIS IS IT'S TIME TO SHOW THE POLICE IN THE CITY YOU VALUE THEIR SERVICE.

YOU VALUE THEIR COMMITMENT.

SHOW THEM THAT YOU ARE PROUD TO HAVE THEM WORK FOR YOU.

APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.

LET'S PUT A PD BACK TOGETHER AND LET'S RECRUIT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST SO THAT THIS CITY CAN HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IT DESERVES.

MORE EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE SERVICES FOR THE CITY.

MY NAME IS ROSE SIGLER.

I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND A GRADUATE STUDENT AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

MAYOR WATSON, I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOUR REACTIONS AND I CAN TELL HOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE, BUT I'M HERE TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE REST OF YOU GUYS HERE.

IF NOT, AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDE A STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD.

AUSTIN HAS A LONG HISTORY OF DECEIVING ITS RESIDENTS.

WHILE PEOPLE ARE MADE TO BELIEVE THAT PROGRESSIVE STRIDES ARE BEING MADE TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS, THE PRIORITIES OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE INSTEAD TO UPHOLD AUSTIN AUSTERITY AND ITS STATUS QUO AT ANY COSTS.

FURTHER, STRENGTHENING SYSTEMS OF SUBJUGATION INSTEAD OF ESTABLISHING STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES HAS COME AT SEVERAL COSTS.

LIKE HAVING ONE OF THE WORST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED, WIDESPREAD FOOD INSECURITY AND, AND A LACK OF ANIMAL SERVICES.

THIS CITY PRESENTS ITSELF AS A PEP, UH, AS PET FRIENDLY, BUT IN REALITY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE ANIMALS IN THIS CITY.

AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER CONTINUES TO BE SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED, LEAVING COMMUNITIES TO SCRAMBLE, TO HELP DUMP AND DYING ANIMALS.

WHILE WE ARE, WHY ARE WE PRIORITIZING AND INCREASE IN THE A PD BUDGET WHEN THIS POLICE FORCE HAS PROVEN TO BE VIOLENT AND COMBATIVE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN DURING THEIR RIGHT TO PROTEST INSTEAD OF PROVIDING A SAFE AND PROTECTED SPACE? WHY ARE WE GIVEN RACISTS TO OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO STOP RESPONDING TO CERTAIN CALLS BECAUSE THEY DON'T QUOTE, FEEL RESPECTED? TO ME, THAT FEELS LIKE A MANIPULATION TACTIC.

WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS IS A RESTRUCTURING OF ITS POWER SYSTEMS TO ENSURE

[03:35:01]

I ASK THE COUNCIL IN FRONT OF ME TODAY TO VOTE AGAINST THE, UH, A PD CONTRACT INCREASE AND INVEST IN SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GUYS REPRESENT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, BROAD NECKS, AND CITY STAFF.

MY NAME IS JOHN DIAL AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ST.

EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXTENDING MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO CITY MANAGER BROAD NECKS AND ALL CITY STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO BRING US TO THIS MOMENT.

I ALSO WANNA GIVE THANKS TO THIS COUNCIL FOR ALL THE POSITIVE STRIDES WE HAVE MADE IN THE REALM OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ARE PROVEN TO HAVE BEEN WOEFULLY UNDER-PREPARED FOR THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT CHANGES LIKE THE SHARP DECREASE IN 9 1 1 RESPONSE TIMES HAVE GONE A HELL OF A LONG WAY IN FIXING THAT.

I'M HERE TODAY ADVOCATING FOR THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TURN A CRITICAL CORNER.

FOR FAR TOO LONG, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN STRAINED.

THIS CONTRACT OFFERS A PATH TOWARD MENDING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DESPERATELY NEED.

WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE THAT WE TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP US SAFE AND THAT WE ARE UNIFIED IN OUR VISION FOR THE CITY.

WELL, LET'S PUT THINGS INTO A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN AUSTIN IS MAKING LIFE VERY EXPENSIVE AND VERY HARD FOR THE MAJORITY OF US.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO RISK THEIR LIVES DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR PAY THAT FAILS TO MATCH THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

TO BE A CITY THAT CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN TOP TIER TALENT WITH WELL-ROUNDED TRAINING, WE MUST OFFER COMPETITIVE PAY AND BENEFITS TO ENSURE OFFICERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE, WORK AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.

IN MY HONEST BELIEF, BY ACCEPTING THIS CONTRACT, WE GIVE OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CREATE A WELL-STAFFED, WELL-TRAINED FORCE THAT PRIORITIZES ACCOUNTABILITY, OVERSIGHT, AND THE WELLBEING OF BOTH OUR OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

IF WE TREAT OUR PEOPLE WELL, THEY'LL TREAT US WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

HI EVERYONE.

UM, HI CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CAITLIN RYAN AND I GREW UP IN AUSTIN, SO LIFELONG AUSTINITE PROUD TO BE.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE SECONDS AND SAY I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM NUMBER.

I WORK IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN, AND I CANNOT TELL YOU THE CONVICTION AND THE DETERMINATION I SEE IN THESE A PD OFFICERS EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO CONSTANTLY EVERY DAY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR OUR SAFETY.

SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT THEM EVEN WITH THEIR LIMITED RESOURCES AND HELP MAKE THEM AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, I'M IN HUGE SUPPORT OF.

SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THIS.

OF OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF BEEN HERE ABOUT AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS.

WELL, .

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

ROBERT CLARK'S, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.

BUT IF YOU ALLOW ME A POINT OF PRIVILEGE, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU, NOT JUST AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUT AS THE SON OF A MURDERED FATHER.

WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD, MY FATHER WAS MURDERED.

AND YOU MIGHT ASK, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE POLICE CONTRACT? THE POLICE CONTRACT REPRESENTS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST DOLLARS AND CENTS.

IT REPRESENTS SO MUCH MORE THAN TOOLS AND RESOURCES AND IT REPRESENTS SO MUCH MORE THAN CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUITY.

IT REPRESENTS HOPE FOR OUR CITY, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT TURNED MY LIFE AROUND.

IT WAS A POLICE OFFICER THAT CAME ALONGSIDE OF ME AT A, AT THE MOST TRAGIC MOMENT IN MY YOUNG LIFE AND MADE ME AND MY MOTHER FEEL SAFE.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR OFFICERS DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY MAKE OUR RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE.

YES, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STORIES TODAY, A LOT OF TESTIMONY TODAY ON TUESDAY ABOUT PAIN AND SUFFERING AND FRUSTRATION AND ANGUISH.

BUT THIS CONTRACT REPRESENTS HOPE.

IT REPRESENTS HOPE IN HOW THIS CITY WILL MOVE FORWARD IN SUPPORT OF ITS WOMEN AND MEN WHO SERVE US EVERY SINGLE DAY AND FACE UNTOLD DANGERS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WILL GO HOME EVERY DAY, BUT THEY STILL HAVE HOPE TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY.

I SHARE WITH YOU THAT I APPLAUD YOUR COURAGE AS I'VE STOOD BEFORE YOU BEFORE AND SAID, I APPLAUD YOUR COURAGE TO BE HERE, TO LISTEN TO ALL THE STORIES, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, ALL THE PAIN, THE ANGER, THE FRUSTRATION, BUT LOOKING FORWARD, THIS CONTRACT REPRESENTS HOPE.

THE APPOINTMENT

[03:40:01]

CHIEF DAVIS REPRESENTS HOPE TO THE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THINGS WILL BE BETTER AND TO PROVIDE HER WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT SHE NEEDS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT HOPE TO OUR RESIDENTS, PROVIDE THAT HOPE TO OUR OFFICERS.

YOU NOW ARE THE GATEKEEPERS OF THAT HOPE, AND WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU AND APPLAUDING YOUR COURAGE AND APPLAUDING YOUR LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE THAT HOPE TO OUR RESIDENTS WHILE HEARING EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE HEARD THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION BEGINNING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WHO'S INCOMING OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF, AND REESTABLISHING WHAT HOPE MEANS IN ACTUALIZATION, NOT JUST IN THEORY, BUT IN APPLICATION IN THE LIVES OF OUR WOMEN AND MEN WHO SERVE US EVERY DAY AND TELLING THEM THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE HOPE AND FAITH IN YOU, BUT WE SUPPORT YOU AND WE STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH YOU AS YOU PROVIDE US WITH A BETTER, SAFER, AND HOPE FILLED AUSTIN.

NEXT WE HAVE PETER KIM, JENNIFER STEVENS, AND MICHAEL BULLOCK WITH TIME DONATED BY CHRISTOPHER IRWIN.

CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL, ARE YOU PRESENT? OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES WHEN YOU SPEAK MR. BLOCK.

UM, I'M PETER KIM, UM, AND I'M FROM DISTRICT ONE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM 47 AND 48 BECAUSE, UH, FRANKLY, I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING SCAMMED HERE AND I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO FEELS THIS WAY.

I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE EARLIER THERE WAS A CBS POLL SHOWING THAT 80% OF AUSTINITES ARE OPPOSED TO THIS POLICE CONTRACT AS IT IS WRITTEN.

AND THIS IS NOT A POLLING ERROR BECAUSE WE HAD AN ACTUAL POLL ON THIS.

WE HAD AN ACTUAL VOTE ON THIS LAST YEAR IN WHICH 80% OF PEOPLE LIVING IN AUSTIN VOTED TO PASS BOSTON POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND YOU ASK PEOPLE, HEY GUYS, WHAT DO YOU WANT? AND THE PEOPLE ANSWER.

WE WANT POLICE OVERSIGHT.

WE WANT STRONG POLICE OVERSIGHT.

WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE POLICE.

I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY DEFENDING THIS, SAYING, THIS CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH.

AND I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THE, THAT THE PEOPLE NEGOTIATING THIS CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WERE FORMER EMPLOYEES OF A LAW FIRM CALLED RAMPAGE LAW.

AND YES, AGAIN, THIS FIRM IS CALLED RAMPAGE LAW.

WHAT DO THESE GUYS DO? THESE GUYS DEFEND POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY DEFEND POLICE OFFICERS AGAINST VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY, OF, OF LETHAL USE OF FORCE WHEN IT'S NOT CALLED FOR.

THESE WERE THE SAME POLICE OFFICERS WHO ALSO REPRESENTED THE OFFICERS WHO DID NOTHING DURING THE UVALDE MASSACRE.

IS THESE PEOPLE, THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT NEGOTIATED THIS CONTRACT, AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TELLING US, YES, THIS IS COMPLIANT WITH THE A POA.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE THIS ASSESSMENT COMING FROM THEM.

THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF OUR CITY.

AND I THINK THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING WHEN AGAIN, AFTER THE, AFTER THE TEXAS CONTRACT WAS RELEASED, THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WAS RELEASED AGAIN, 80% OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT.

I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UM, THE COMPOSITION OF THE PEOPLE COMING OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS CONTRACT.

YOU GOT A LOT OF, YOU GOT A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU GOT A LOT OF REAL ESTATE INTERESTS, YOU GOT A LOT OF LANDLORDS.

UM, THESE ARE NOT REGULAR PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH MONEY.

UM, AND UNLIKE THESE PEOPLE, UH, I HAVE TALKED TO NORMAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

I INTERACT WITH THEM.

I GO TALK TO THEM WHEN I, UH, WHEN I'M OUT CANVASSING.

I'VE TALKED TO NORMAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO WORK FOR A LIVING AND THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF 'EM HATE THIS.

WE KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO TO OUR PUBLIC SERVICES.

WE KNOW WHAT IS GONNA SUCK DRY FROM THE REST OF OUR CITY.

WHY WOULD WE WANNA SACRIFICE EVERYTHING THAT WE LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN ON THE ALTAR OF PUBLIC SAFETY? AND I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF JUST REGULAR PEOPLE.

SO UNLIKE THOSE GUYS, I DON'T, I I STAND WITH ASK ME 1624 UNITED WORKERS MANUAL CREDIT.

SORRY, I'M VERY SHORT.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY CAN DO THAN TO FUND OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE AND OUR EMS PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY.

I'M JENNIFER STEVENS.

I'M HERE TO, UH, ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 47 AND 48.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF FOR THEIR TIME THAT YOU HAVE DEVOTED TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

[03:45:01]

I STAND HERE TODAY AS AN AUSTINITE OF MORE THAN 30 YEARS, A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN AND AN EMPLOYER, A SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYER WITH 12 FEMALE EMPLOYEES, ALL OF WHOM WHO ARE CURRENTLY SCARED, SCARED TO COME TO WORK DOWNTOWN AUSTIN USED TO BE A VERY SAFE, FUN, VIBRANT AND WEIRD CITY.

IT IS NOT ANYMORE.

THIS POLICE CONTRACT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO MOVING US ALL FORWARD, BACK TO BEING WHAT WE USED TO TAKE SUCH PRIDE IN BEING.

IT'S TIME FOR AUSTIN TO TURN THE CORNER.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF US.

THEY ANSWER THE CALL AND THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY ANSWERED THE CALL WORKING WITH NO CONTRACT IN PLACE, AUSTIN AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE THE BEST PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, AND THIS CONTRACT WILL MOVE US IN THAT DIRECTION.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ENERGY ON THIS AND I WANNA CLOSE BY TELLING YOU A STORY.

I GOT A CALL FROM A FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL THE OTHER DAY.

SHE LIVES IN LOS ANGELES.

SHE HAS TWO TWIN GIRLS WHO ARE APPLYING TO COLLEGE, AND SHE CALLED AND ASKED ME IF I THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE FOR HER GIRLS TO APPLY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

SO I TOLD HER THE SAME STORY I TOLD ALL OF YOU WHEN I WAS HERE LAST TIME, MY OWN DAUGHTER WAS ACCEPTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND ALMOST DIDN'T ACCEPT THE, UH, ADMITTANCE OUT FEAR FOR THE CRIME IN OUR CITY.

AND I TOLD HER WHAT I TOLD MY DAUGHTER, GET YOUR GIRLS SOME TASERS AND SEND THEM TO UT IT'S THE BEST SCHOOL THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY ATTEND.

BUT I TOLD HER, THIS COMMUNITY IS DOING WHAT WE CAN TO COME TOGETHER, HEAL THE WOUNDS OF THE PAST AND MAKE OUR CITY SAFE AGAIN.

SHE SAID, WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, THE MEDIA IN CALIFORNIA DOESN'T TELL US THAT THE MEDIA IN CALIFORNIA TELLS US AUSTIN IS NOT SAFE FOR OUR KIDS, NOT SAFE FOR US FOR TOURISM AND NOT SAFE FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

SO WE'RE EARNING A REPUTATION THAT WE DON'T WANT.

AND I SHARE THAT FOR YOU TO YOU ONLY TO SAY, NOT ONLY IS THIS THE RIGHT STEP FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE NOW, BUT THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING COMING.

UH, I'M MICHAEL BULLOCK, THE PRESIDENT FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, MAYOR COUNCIL DCM FORTUNE.

UH, I'M CONFIDENT THAT 10 MONTHS AGO WE ALL WONDERED IF THIS DAY WOULD EVER COME.

GETTING BACK TO A CONTRACT SEEMED AN ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE TASK BA BACK IN JANUARY.

A BRIEF HISTORY LESSON SHOWS US THAT IT'S NO SECRET THAT IN 2017 PREVIOUS VOTES TAKEN BY OTHER COUNCILS HAVE BEEN A DETRIMENT TO CONTRACTUAL STABILITY AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE STAFFING AND MORALE CRISIS.

OUR DEPARTMENT NOW FACES DESPITE THESE OBSTACLES.

IN MARCH, WE WERE ABLE TO COME BACK TOGETHER TO BEGIN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND TO OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES.

AFTER NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, WE REACHED AGREEMENT.

TODAY IS A NEW DAY.

TODAY IS THE DAY WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE PAGE.

TODAY IS THE DAY WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE BEYOND THE ILLS OF THE PAST.

THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THIS CITY MATTERS, AS DO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THAT IN RECENT WEEKS WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD EXTENSIVE TESTIMONY ON THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY AND THERE'S STILL MORE TO COME.

BUT KNOWING THAT I KIND OF WANNA SET SOME OF THE CONTEXT.

IN A FEW FEW WEEKS WE'LL BE MARKING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN A PD OFFICER, GEORGE PASTOR WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHILE SERVING OTHERS AND WHILE TRYING TO SAVE OTHERS.

GEORGE WAS A PASSIONATE OFFICER.

HE DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THIS PROFESSION, TO IMPROVING HIMSELF AND TO HELPING OTHERS.

HE REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF THIS DEPARTMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A PROFESSION, A PD OFFICERS DO AMAZING WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH INCREASING POLITICAL VOLATILITY, PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND FEWER OFFICERS.

THEY STRIVE TO KEEP THIS CITY SAFE AND KEEP AUSTIN A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND ENJOY LIFE.

THE SACRIFICE OF OFFICERS LIKE GEORGE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TYPE OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING THIS CITY.

AND THAT'S WHO WE TALK, WHO WE ARE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, SOME ATTEMPTED TO DISSUADE YOU FROM SUPPORTING THIS CONTRACT BY TRYING TO DEHUMANIZE OUR OFFICERS.

THEY READ OFF ONE SIDED OPINIONS ON CERTAIN DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS THAT DIDN'T CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION.

THEY TRY TO PAINT OFFICERS AS VILLAINS WHO GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING, WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH, WHETHER SOME CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

A PD IS THE MOST PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENT IN TEXAS,

[03:50:01]

IF NOT THE COUNTRY.

AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ACCOUNTABILITY HERE.

WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE, BUT WE DON'T GET THERE BY DEHUMANIZING PEOPLE.

OFFICERS MAKE MISTAKES.

THEY HAVE BAD DAYS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE HUMAN.

WHEN WE LOOK AT ACCOUNTABILITY, ALL WE WANT AS OFFICERS IS TO BE TREATED FAIRLY.

NOT TO BE VILLAINIZED FOR MAKING A MISTAKE, NOT TO BE DRUG THROUGH THE MUD FOR SOMEONE'S POLITICAL AGENDA.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE DON'T WANT BAD OFFICERS HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT, AND WE WANT TO HOLD THOSE INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE BAD OFFICERS HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT MAKE OUR JOB EVEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT ALREADY IS.

BUT THE BAD ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM NUMEROUS FOLKS TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THEY TALK AS IF THEY THINK OFFICERS ARE THE ONES CLAIMING WE SHOULD BE THE ONES AND THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE HANDLING THESE CRISES.

THE REALITY IS THE OPPOSITE.

WE HAVE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE THE EXPERTS, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE THE ONES WHO PRIMARILY RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

BUT THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED OF US AND EXPECTED OF US.

SO WE GO, IT'S TIME TO PUSH PAST RHETORIC AND MISINFORMATION.

WE ARE IN A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED LONG-TERM STABILITY IN ORDER TO GET OUR CITY BACK ON TRACK.

SAFETY IS THE CORE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.

IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE, IT MAKES ATTRACTING BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE TO OUR CITY EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

WITHOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE WILL NOT BE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

THE TWO ARE CONNECTED, AND RIGHT NOW WE SEE THE STRUGGLES OF OUR CURRENT DISCONNECT.

TODAY IS A NEW DAY AND I'M THANKFUL TO EACH ONE OF YOU FOR HEARING US OUT, FOR CONSIDERING THESE ISSUES CAREFULLY AND EVEN MORE SO.

I'M GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SHOWN UP, THAT HAS MADE THEIR VOICE HEARD, AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN UP TO SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, I AM ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT AND FOR WHAT WE HAVE ALL ESPOUSED AND THAT'S MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD.

THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE PAUL BOMAN, REBECCA BERNHARDT, JOSEPH PAONE, CLEO PAT TRIC.

SCOTT BLAYLOCK.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO A PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD AFTERNOON, PAUL BOATMAN.

UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AS SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING TO BRING BUSINESS BACK TO DOWNTOWN, I THINK THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY PERCEPTION ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN.

SO I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU VOTE YES FOR THE EXTENSION OF POLICE CONTRACT.

UH, I THINK IT'S VERY CRITICAL FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TO CON CONTINUE TO HAVE A ROBUST AND SAFE DOWNTOWN.

UM, I CONTINUE, I'M CONTINUOUSLY TOLD BY PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEOPLE VISITING DOWNTOWN THAT THEY WISH NOT TO COME TO DOWNTOWN AND OPEN BUSINESSES DUE TO THIS PERCEPTION.

UM, AND SO PLEASE VOTE YES IN THE EXTENSION OF THIS CONTRACT.

AND UNSAFE LEVELS MEANING OFFICERS ARE NOT RESPONDING QUICKLY TO PRIORITY ONE CALLS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CLEO PATRICE.

I'M HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE POLICE CONTRACT.

I KNOW WHAT CRIME AND NEGLECT DO TO COMMUNITIES.

I WITNESSED MY BEST FRIEND GET SHOT AND KILLED IN FRONT OF ME.

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER IN SOUTH DALLAS, I BECAME A PROBATION OFFICER WORKING WITH AT-RISK COMMUNITIES AND ALSO WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS.

AND CURRENTLY MY HUSBAND AND I, WE STILL MENTOR YOUNG MEN WHEN NOT IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES.

AND ONE OF THEM IS ATTENDING UT DALLAS.

RIGHT NOW HERE IN AUSTIN, WE ARE FACING A SEVERE STAFFING CRISIS.

PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN.

PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO THE LOUD ANTI-POLICE, PROCR PRO CHAOS ACTIVIST NATIONWIDE, WE SEE A REJECTION OF THE FAILED AND FOOLISH DEFUND POLICE NARRATIVE.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE RAISING FAMILIES IN THIS CITY, WORKING FOLKS FROM ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN.

MANY TRYING TO RUN BUSINESSES IN HIGH CRIME AREAS ARE JUST TRYING TO MOVE AHEAD IN THEIR LIVES.

AND IT IS YOUR DUTY TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY CAN THRIVE.

FOR OVER A YEAR, OFFICERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW CONTRACT.

THE COUNCIL'S FAILURE TO APPROVE A CONTRACT HAS INCREASED RESIGNATIONS AND REDUCED APPLICATIONS TO A PD.

THERE IS 100% CERTAINTY THAT MORE RESIGNATIONS WILL COME.

IF THIS COUNCIL CONTINUES TO STALL ON THIS CONTRACT, THE COUNCIL'S INABILITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SIGN A CONTRACT THAT ESTABLISHES THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF POLICE OVERSIGHT IN THE STATE ONLY EXACERBATES OUR PROBLEM.

IT IS COMPLETELY COUNTER TO THE STATED OBJECTIVE OF THOSE WHO CLAIM THEY WANT OVERSIGHT.

FAMILIES DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT AUSTIN IS SAFE WHEN POLICE RESPONSE TIMES ARE UNACCEPTABLE

[03:55:01]

THERE WAS A DOUBLE HOMICIDE THREE WEEKS AGO IN SOUTH AUSTIN, AND DESPITE MULTIPLE 9 1 1 CALLS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE, IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR FOR POLICE TO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

OUR CITY'S SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE HAS CRUMBLED.

WE LACK VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE AROUND OUR LAKE AND IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CRIME CAN FLOURISH.

CRITICAL UNITS LIKE VIOLENT CRIME, HOMICIDE TRAFFIC UNIT DWI UNIT ARE UNDERSTAFFED OR HAVE BEEN DISBANDED SINCE THE DEFUNDING DETECTIVES ARE OVERWHELMED.

JUGGLING DOUBLE CASELOADS WHILE ALSO BEING PULLED TO COVER PATROL SHIFTS.

THIS COMPROMISES THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE FOCUSED ATTENTION OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES FOR SERIOUS INVESTIGATIONS.

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DEMORALIZATION IS NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A PAGE.

IT AFFECTS THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO SERVICE OFFICERS ARE LEAVING AND FEWER INDIVIDUALS ARE WILLING TO JOIN THE FORCE.

THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT BEING A POLICE OFFICER IS UNDESIRABLE.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

MY NAME IS JOE POGO.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE MARKET OR IN AUSTIN SINCE 2014 AND I OVERSEE A PORTFOLIO HOTELS AND MY TEAM HERE WITH ME TODAY.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, WE HAVE GROUPS THAT USED TO LOVE US.

THOSE GROUPS DON'T WANT TO COME BACK.

THEY'LL SIMPLY TELL US WE'RE SORRY, WE HAVE TO TAKE YOU OFF THE LIST.

AND THAT ALL REVOLVES AROUND SAFETY.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF ASSOCIATES THAT WORK HERE.

THEY FEEL UNSAFE.

THEY'RE BEING INTACT.

WE HAVE OUR SECURITY FORCES TRYING TO PROTECT THEM, ALSO BEING ATTACKED.

UM, IT'S A DIRE SITUATION FOR US, FOR OUR GUESTS AND FOR OUR ASSOCIATES.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I ALWAYS LOVED TO BRING MY FAMILY DOWN HERE.

I DON'T ANYMORE.

IT'S NOT SAFE.

I HAVE A 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO DOES NOT WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN TO SEE A CONCERT.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE THIS.

I DON'T SEE ANOTHER WAY TO IMPROVE SAFETY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S SCOTT BLAYLOCK AND I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE JW MARRIOTT AT CONGRESS IN SECOND STREET HERE IN DOWNTOWN.

AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 47 AND 48.

UH, WE ALL KNOW CONVENTIONS AND TOURISM IS A VITAL PART OF WHO WE ARE IN AUSTIN AND, UH, NOT JUST TO OUR ECONOMY, BUT UH, ALL AROUND CENTRAL TEXAS.

THERE'S 130,000 AUSTINITES THAT WORK IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.

SO THIS SITUATION WITH THE, THE, THE POLICE OFFICERS AND GETTING THE CONTRACT DONE AND BEING SHORT STAFFED, IT'S GROWING MORE AND MORE CONCERNING ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE GET SIGNIFICANT FEEDBACK FROM OUR, OUR GUESTS, OUR MEETING PLANNERS, BUT IT HAPPENS IN OUR BUILDING TOO.

UH, JUST RECENTLY, LIKE UH, ON MONDAY, WE HAD SOMEONE AT OUR BURGER BAR ON CONGRESS AVENUE THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UH, WAVING AND THREATENING OUR GUESTS AND ASSOCIATES WITH A A LARGE PIPE.

UH, JUST LAST MONTH THERE WAS AN UNHOUSED INDIVIDUAL THAT CAME INTO THE HOTEL UP TO THE MEETING SPACE AREA.

AND WE HAD TO ASK THE INDIVIDUAL TO LEAVE BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONFERENCE GOING ON AND, UH, THEY DIDN'T COMPLY.

SO WE CALLED 9 1 1.

THEY BECAME ACTING, UH, ERRATIC AND, UH, BEFORE THE A PD OFFICERS COULD GET THERE, 45 MINUTES LATER THEY HAD PEPPER, PEPPER SPRAYED TWO OF OUR ASSOCIATES IN THE FACE AND EYES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL GUESTS THAT ARE HAVING COMMENTS, IT'S MEETING PLANNERS, THE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND, AND WORD TRAVELS FAST IN THIS INDUSTRY.

YOU KNOW, WE HOSTED THE NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL AND THE PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION WROTE US A LETTER AFTERWARDS AND SAID THE HOTEL WAS EXCELLENT, BUT A GROUP OF ATTENDEES HAD AN UNPLEASANT INCIDENT AT THE CORNER RESTAURANT WHERE SOMEONE CAME OUT TO THE UP TO THE TABLES OUTSIDE CUSSING AT THEM AND FITTING OTHER ATTENDEES EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT SIMPLY WALKING A SHORT DISTANCE TO ANOTHER RESTAURANT AND DUE TO HARASSMENT FROM A HOMELESS PERSON.

DUE TO THESE CONCERNS, WE HAVE REMOVED AUSTIN FROM ANY CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE MEETING LOCATION.

SO THIS IS REALLY, IT CAN HAVE A LONG LASTING IMPACT ON, UH, THIS SAFETY CONCERN.

UH, THE CONVENTION BUREAU DOES SURVEYS TO MEETING PLANNERS AFTER THE EVENTS AND ASK HOW WAS THE, THE AIRPORT AND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HOTELS AND THE RESTAURANTS AND ASK THEM TO RATE.

THEY ALSO

[04:00:01]

ASK ABOUT SAFETY.

AND THE LOWEST, UH, SCORING, UH, QUESTION IS SAFETY IN THOSE SURVEYS.

SO I URGE YOU TO AND, UH, TO, UH, APPROVE THIS CONTRACT AND, UH, LET'S GET THESE PHYSICIAN STAFF SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE CITY FEEL EVEN MORE SAFE.

NEXT SPEAKERS ARE TRINITY AUTO, THOMAS HOFFMAN, SARAH GORE, ROXANNA CASTILLO, AND SHARON TAMAN.

AND YOUR NAME'S CALLED.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT HERE ON THE FRONT ROW AND, AND MOVE UP TO THE MICROPHONE IF IT'S OPEN.

UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME IS THOMAS HOFFMAN.

I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE AUSTIN MAYOR DOWNTOWN AND ALSO BOARD MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN TOWN LODGING ASSOCIATION.

UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND I HAVE THREE WONDERFUL CHILDREN AND I'M TRY TO RAISE THEM HERE SAFELY IN THE CITY.

UM, AND I DO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR APPROVING THIS CONTRACT.

NOW WE DO SEE A LOT OF HOT TELL YES IN THIS CROWD TODAY, AND THAT'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT BECAUSE WE, WE DO EMPLOY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

WE ARE DOWNTOWN.

WE ARE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT THINK THIS CONTRACT WILL FIX EVERY SINGLE CHALLENGE IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS A CRITICAL AND NECESSARY STEP TO ENSURE OUR CITY REMAINS SAFE WHILE ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE WEST MARY DOWNTOWN, MY TEAM ON, I ARE FACED EVERY DAY WITH A NUMBER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY CHALLENGES.

HAVE WE HEARD SOME OF THEM JUST FROM SCOTT BLALOCK? AND WE DO FEEL THAT WE ARE TOO OFTEN LEFT ON OUR OWN TO DEAL WITH THOSE PROBLEMS. WE ARE ALSO HEARING FROM OUR GUESTS, AS YOU CAN TELL, OUR GUESTS REALLY MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THE BUSINESS THEY BRING BACK TO THE CITY.

I HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE COST OF THIS CONTRACT, WHAT IT'S GONNA DO TO THE BUDGET.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IF WE DO NOT MOVE FORWARD NOW, WE DEFER THIS COST IN THE FUTURE AND THE COST IS GONNA BE WAY, WAY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW.

A WELL-RESOURCED, WELL-TRAINED AND SUPPORTED POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR KEEP OUR STREETS AND SAFE, PREVENTING CRIME, RESPONDING QUICKLY TO EMERGENCIES.

A PROVEN THIS CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ADDITIONAL TOOLS, RESOURCES TO RETAIN AND FILL MORE THAN 350 OPENINGS.

I THEREFORE, IT IS THEREFORE CRITICAL, IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL.

WE DESERVE, THEY DESERVE A FAIR COMPENSATION BENEFITS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND THIS CONTACT WILL SUPPORT THOSE THINGS.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT AUSTIN IS A GREAT CITY AND A VERY SPECIAL PLACE AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST PLACES WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOSPITALITY.

WE HAVE A GREAT HOSPITALITY CULTURE HERE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING IF IT DOES NOT PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT.

SO I THEREFORE SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE AND URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTACT.

WE COULD SPEND THEIR MONEY.

HELLO, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS SARAH GORE.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON 47 AND 48.

I'M A LONG-TERM DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENT AND MY OFFICE IS HERE DOWNTOWN.

I WAS VERY PROUD IN 2020 TO WATCH MY COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE, VOTE FOR ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC SAFETY TO SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY CENTERS, PUBLIC SCHOOL, UM, LIBRARIES, PARKS, UM, AND TO NOT DEFUND ALL OF OUR OTHER CITY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE.

I GET THE IMPRESSION TODAY THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TIM LESLIE POOLE INTENDS TO VOTE YES ON THIS CONTRACT.

AND I HAVE TO WONDER WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND WHY NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO GIVE AWAY THE FORM, SO TO SPEAK.

I FEEL SAFE IN AUSTIN, BUT I ALSO DO BELIEVE THE SPEAKERS TODAY WHO, WHO SAY THAT THE PERCEPTION IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, BUT WE KEEP USING THE TERM PERCEPTION BECAUSE WE KNOW STATISTICALLY IT IS ACTUALLY A VERY SAFE CITY.

UM, WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO CLAIM THAT THEY FEEL UNSAFE IN THEIR $5 MILLION CONDOS.

AND I DO, I DO BELIEVE THEM.

WE'VE HAD CALIFORNIAN BILLIONAIRES POURING MONEY IN TO MAKE THE CITY SEEM UNSAFE 'CAUSE THEY WANNA TAKE DOWN DA JOSE GARZA.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS MAGA TALKING POINT NATIONALLY THAT ALL CITIES ARE JUST UNSAFE HELLHOLE, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT TRUE.

WE KNOW AUSTIN'S ACTUALLY VERY GREAT AND WE KNOW THAT YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE 2020, THE POLICE HAVE BEEN GETTING PAID MORE AND MORE.

AND YET THE PERCEPTION OF UNSAFETY GROWS.

WHY IS THAT? WHY THE MORE WE FOUND THE POLICE, THE MORE UNSAFE WE FEEL.

WE SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT OTHER WAYS

[04:05:01]

I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THE REASON Y'ALL WANNA PASS THIS IS BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE TIRED AND I AM TOO.

EVERY YEAR THERE'S ANOTHER WACKY SCHEME BY SAND THAT COSTS THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY IN AN ELECTION AND A LOT OF TIME AND HEARTACHE FOR EVERYONE.

UM, EVERY DAY THERE'S MORE, YOU KNOW, ATTACK ADS ON THE CITY AND ITS SAFETY.

IT'S REALLY ANNOYING.

I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL FEEL BURNOUT, BUT IF Y'ALL STAMP THIS AND APPROVE IT, IT WON'T BE THE END.

YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT IT WHENEVER WE HAVE TAX REELECTIONS.

YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT IT WHENEVER PEOPLE FIND OUT THAT YOU RAISED OUR SALES TAX.

WHENEVER WE HAVE TO CLOSE PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC POOLS IN THE SUMMER 'CAUSE OF LACK OF STAFFING, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IT WHENEVER WE HAVE INCREASED PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREET BECAUSE WE TOOK AWAY THE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE POVERTY.

YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT IT.

IT WON'T GO AWAY APPROVING THIS CONTRACT IS JUST HAMPERING THIS PERMANENTLY BECAUSE OF STATE LAW THAT WE CAN NEVER BACK DOWN.

THIS WILL JUST LEAD TO DECADES MORE OF HEARING ABOUT THIS FIGHT.

I GET THAT THEY NEED A CONTRACT, BUT THEY DON'T NEED THIS CONTRACT.

THE NEXT GROUP IS UNA HASANI, MARY CHISHOLM, MORGAN WHIT, MAGGIE DEZA, CRYSTAL TRAN.

SENECA SAVOY, LINDA NUNO, SHELBY EVANS, JOCELYN SANCHEZ.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO AN OPEN PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS SHELBY EVANS.

I'M FROM DISTRICT ONE.

I'M A GRADUATE OF THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

UH, I'M A FORMER OPO EMPLOYEE AND I CURRENTLY WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48.

I OPPOSE THESE BECAUSE OF THEIR FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY AND THEIR UNDERMINING OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND I WANNA FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS NEW CONTRACT HAS MUDDY LANGUAGE AROUND GRIEVANCES IN THE G FILE, WHICH THREATEN AUSTIN'S ABILITY TO HOLD POLICE RESPONSIBLE FOR MISCONDUCT.

RECENT POLICE OVERSIGHT HISTORY AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TELLS US HOW DETRIMENTAL AMBIGUITY IS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT.

SHIELDING OUR EYES FROM INJUSTICE DOES NOT END IT RATHER IT EMBOLDENS IT.

DURING 2020 TO 2021, WE SAW AN UPSWELL IN COMMUNITY ACTIVISM AROUND POLICING.

AND THIS WAS LARGELY BROUGHT ABOUT BY A HORRIFIC VIDEO OF A MAN'S LAST MOMENTS UNDER THE KNEE OF A POLICE OFFICER CIRCULATING THE INTERNET.

REASONABLE PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVISTS CALLED FOR REFORM ACROSS THE NATION, THE STATE, AND HERE IN AUSTIN, THOROUGH RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUBSTANTIATED THAT THIS AWFUL VIDEO WAS NOT A FLUKE, BUT RATHER A VERY VISIBLE SYMPTOM OF A DEEPLY ROOTED PROBLEM.

AND I EMPHASIZE VISIBLE BECAUSE FOR SOME OF US THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN NEWS FOR, BUT FOR MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU TODAY AND ON TUESDAY AND BEFORE, IT IS THEIR REALITY WITH POLICING.

AND I THINK THAT HAS VALIDITY.

SO, UH, SORRY.

VISIBILITY, UH, DID NOT CREATE THIS PROBLEM.

IT ALLOWED US TO ADDRESS IT.

AND WE DID.

WE GATHERED, WE GATHERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, POLICY MAKERS, AND EVEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO SEE THEMSELVES AS THE PUBLIC SERVANTS, THAT THEY ARE USING THE RESOURCES SUPPLIED BY CITY COUNCIL.

AND TOGETHER WE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO WHY ARE WE STILL IMAGINING WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED? WHEN IT'S TIME FOR ACTION, PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS CONTRACT AND REVERSE WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

DO NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT HEARTBREAKING CRIES OF DESPAIR FROM THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US WHEN THE STAKES OF TURNING AWAY FROM THOSE VOICES IS A TERRIBLE IRREVERSIBLE SILENCE.

INSTEAD, GIVE THOSE RESOURCES TO THE ONES I'M A DATA GIRLY.

I LOVE DATA.

WE KNOW WHERE THESE RESOURCES ARE BETTER SPENT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T STRAPPED.

THE THE COPS ARE NOT STRAPPED, THEY'RE PAID WELL.

WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE FROM INTEGRAL CARE.

WE KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT, PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, EMS AND FIRE EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, TREATMENT AND DISABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.

SO LET'S STOP IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUST ENACT THE CHANGES THAT THIS CI CITY COMMITTED TO JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

ALL RIGHTY.

SO I THINK THAT WE KNOW EACH OTHER.

I AM, UH, LINDA NUNO, FIRST WOMAN IN 244 YEARS TO PLACE HER NAME ON THE BALLOT, A WOMAN OF COLOR.

OF COURSE, I WAS PLACED IN THIS DISGUSTING SITUATION, NOT BECAUSE I WANTED TO, TO BE TRUSTED INTO PUBLIC SERVICE LIKE MANY OF YOU, BUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE, MY DAUGHTER WAS KIDNAPPED, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, AND THEN TAKEN

[04:10:01]

AWAY FROM ME.

THANKS TO MANY, UM, JUDGES.

THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, LOBBY BY THE POLICE UNION THAT ALLOWED A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS NOT THE FATHER, BIOLOGICAL FATHER OF MY CHILD.

I PRESENTED A DNA TEST SELF ADJUDICATED TWICE, AND STILL THIS POLICE OFFICER THAT RAPED ME IN 2013, WAS ALLOWED AND GRANTED CUSTODY.

NOT ONLY THAT, THE COURT REPORTER STOLE FROM ME SOME MONEY INSTEAD OF GIVING ME THE, UH, COURT REPORT DOCUMENTS.

NOW SINCE THEN, A LOT HAS HAPPENED.

I HAD 158 MILLION VIEWERS ON TWITTER WHEN I WAS UNLAWFULLY ARRESTED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHILE DEFENDING PEOPLE THAT WERE PROTESTING, OKAY, GIVING MEDICAL SUPPORT BECAUSE NONE OF YOU WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE A PERMIT SO WE CAN HAVE THE EMS SERVICES THAT WE REQUIRED.

THAT HAPPENED IN, UH, JULY 4TH, 2020, AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME A PUBLIC FIGURE.

NOW, UH, SINCE THEN A LOT HAS HAPPENED.

OBVIOUSLY, UH, I BECAME ALSO, UH, THE FACE OF TEXAS TRANSPORTATION WORKERS UNION WITH 10,000 UH, MEMBERS, AND ALSO I GOT, UH, DURING THE LAST ELECTION, UH, 86,404 VOTES ALLOW ME TO REPEAT THAT.

IT WAS 86,404 VOTES.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM USING THOSE AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE VOTES AND PLATFORM TO MOVE AGAINST EITHER MY CITY COUNCIL LESLIE POOLE.

ON NUMBER SEVEN, OBVIOUSLY, I WILL ENDORSE MIKE SIEGEL, MY PREDECESSOR, AND ANY ONE OF YOU WHO DARE TO SAY THAT YOU SPEAK FOR ALL OF US.

YOU DO NOT.

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN DERAILED OVER AND OVER AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN PLACE TO DEFEND US.

WE HAVE LEARNED YOUR GAME WITH THE CED DEPARTMENT AND LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF YOURS.

NOW, WE KNOW THAT YOU OWN NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT COURTS, BUT ALSO THE APPEAL COURTS IN NEW ORLEANS, BUT THE CRIMES AGAINST, UH, COMMITTED AGAINST HUMANITY IN THIS CITY DO NOT EXPIRE.

AND I WILL TAKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT ARE ALLOWED TO THANK YOU THAT YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOUR TIME'S UP.

PLEASE VOTE ACCORDINGLY.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

I'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU.

HELLO, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.

FOR THE PURSUIT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IS RACIST.

I CAN.

UM, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL TRAN.

I AM A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW AND THE LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WHICH MEANS I OH, HAVE A JD AND A MASTER'S IN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

SO I'M ACUTELY AWARE OF THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A STATE AND WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE TO BE A CITY THAT THREATENS TO CRUSH ANY KIND OF MEANINGFUL FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND CITIZEN CENTERED WELLBEING FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE.

I RESPECTFULLY WANT TO ASK WHY THE MATH IS NOT MATH THING.

Y'ALL AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE HAS FAILED TO MAKE ANY SENSE OF THE MATH.

WE KEEP TELLING Y'ALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE $218 MILLION PRICE TAG DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

QUITE FRANKLY, THE, THE TRAIN OF SUPPORTERS HAVEN'T REALLY EXPLAINED THAT EITHER.

218 MILLION TA PRICE TAG FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF ASSISTING FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH HOUSING AND JOBS, PAYING EMS RESPONDERS, THEIR ACTUAL WORTH AND FUNDING THE EMS ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONSE PROGRAM TO ACTUALLY RESPOND TO CALLS.

AND REALLY, WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR? STAFFING WHEN THE CONTRACT HASN'T, ISN'T ACTUALLY GOING TO INCREASE POLICE STAFFING.

THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE IN POLICING.

IT'S NOT JUST AUSTIN.

AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH Y'ALL THINK IS SPECIAL, AND Y'ALL WANNA KEEP IT WEIRD, A PD IS ALREADY ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

LAST TIME I CHECKED, THROWING MORE PROB MONEY AT A PROBLEM ISN'T GONNA RESULT IN MORE OFFICERS.

AND TO QUOTE SOMEONE WHO HAD TESTIFIED BEFORE, PERCEPTION OF LESS PUBLIC SAFETY SEEMS TO GROW MORE THAT WHEN WE FUND THE POLICE.

AND I WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET.

IT IS VERY DISTURBING TO SEE THE BUSINESS INTEREST PREDOMINANTLY TAKING UP THE AIR IN THIS ROOM WITHOUT ANY REMORSE AND UNDERSTANDING TO PUSH THIS CONTRACT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR BODIES TO FURTHER SO-CALLED ECONOMIC GROWTH TO PUSH US OUT, PUSH US FURTHER OUT, AND OTHER UNDESIRABLES TO ENT ATTRACT, QUOTE UNQUOTE OUTSIDERS AND TOURISTS WHO AREN'T EVEN FROM HERE.

CALIFORNIANS, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, THE SACRIFICE OF PEOPLE'S BODIES AND BLACK AND BROWN BODIES

[04:15:01]

AND THE BLATANT TESTIMONIES THAT PRIORITIZE ECONOMIC INTEREST FURTHER TO UPHOLD THE SYSTEM OF WHITE SUPREMACY THAT UNDERGIRDS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT TREATS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL LIKE PUPPETS.

LAST TIME I CHECKED, I AM A RESIDENT OF THIS CITY AND I INTEND TO HAVE A FAMILY HERE AND TO LIVE HERE.

I WILL NOT BE PUSHED OUT BY FOLKS WHO JUST HAVE MORE DOLLAR SIGNS THAN I DO.

LAST TIME I CHECKED Y'ALL REPRESENT US.

Y'ALL REPRESENT ME.

QUITE FRANKLY, I ACCIDENTALLY VOTED FOR YOU.

SOME OF Y'ALL, Y'ALL WANT MY TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE SAID NOT TO USE.

BUT WE TOLD YOU GUYS NO.

AND YOU GUYS, JUST LIKE THE POLICE, LIKE TO VIOLATE OUR CONSENT TO DO WHAT WE GIVE Y'ALL.

LAST TIME I CHECKED, Y'ALL COME FROM US.

VOTE NO.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MAGGIE DEZA.

I AM A UT STUDENT, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE, AND THE CENTRAL TEXAS ADVOCACY AND FIELD ORGANIZER FOR TEXAS RISING ACTION.

I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THE TENTATIVE $218 MILLION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

NOT ONLY DOES THE TENTATIVE CONTRACT GIVE POLICE OFFICERS A COSTLY 28% RAISE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, BUT IT VIOLATES THE WILL OF AUSTIN VOTERS FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OVERSIGHT OF OUR POLICE AFTER DECADES OF IMPUNITY AND SECRECY.

OUT OF OTHER VITAL DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS OUR EMS, OUR LIBRARIES, OUR PARKS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THE PROPOSED $218 MILLION INCREASE IN POLICE SPENDING IS FAR MORE THAN THE CITY CAN REASONABLY AFFORD.

IT WOULD REQUIRE TAX INCREASES, CUTS TO COURT SERVICES, AND EVEN CUTS TO THE RESERVE BASED ON YOUR OWN FINANCIAL FORECASTS.

AUSTIN POLICE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE.

WHILE OTHER CITY WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING HERE, CONTINUING TO INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET IS NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, BUT IT'S TAKING VALUABLE COMMUNITY DOLLARS AWAY FROM OTHER RESOURCES.

CITY LEADERS HAVE WARNED THAT WHEN FEDERAL ARPA DOLLARS RUN OUT, AUSTIN WILL BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET NET WE'VE BUILT FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED AMONG US.

I AND COUNTLESS OTHER FOLKS HERE TODAY HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS IN THESE CHAMBERS ADVOCATING FOR A CITY BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE URGENT NEEDS OF ALL AUSTINITES.

THESE NEEDS ARE AS BASIC AS ENSURING THAT UNHOUSED FOLKS ARE HOUSED, PREVENTING FAMILIES FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES, ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT ACTUALLY RESULT IN 9 1 1 CALLS, BUILDING COMMUNITY SAFETY FOR ALL AND PREPARING AUSTIN TO BE RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

YET JUST THIS PAST SUMMER, THE CITY WAS APPARENTLY UNABLE TO FIND JUST $300,000 FOR TENANT EDUCATION AND STABILIZATION SUPPORT.

Y'ALL WERE UNABLE TO FIND JUST OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP FORMERLY INCARCERATED FOLKS REENTER JOBS AND HOUSING, UNABLE TO FIND JUST $900,000 FOR LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS, UNABLE TO FIND JUST $250,000 FOR IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

WHY ARE WE WILLING TO SPEND $218 MILLION ON AN ALREADY INFLATED POLICE BUDGET, BUT UNWILLING TO INVEST IN EVEN A FRACTION OF THOSE RESOURCES INTO THE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT HELP ALL AUSTIN KNIGHTS THRIVE? FRANKLY, APPROVING A $218 MILLION INCREASE IN POLICE SPENDING IS AN INSULT TO ALL OF US HERE AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR SCRAPS OF THE CITY BUDGET TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT WE NEED.

RIGHT NOW, ALL AUSTIN KNIGHTS DESERVE TO THRIVE, AND IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY KEEP US SAFE.

I URGE YOU REJECT THE TENTATIVE POLICE CONTRACT.

THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE NICK MACHADO, CHRISTOPHER PITTS, SANDY FREDERICKSON, REBECCA WEBER, GLENDA MCKINNEY.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT AND SEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UM, MY NAME IS CHRIS PITTS.

UM, I'M A LIFEGUARD AT BARTON SPRINGS AND A MEMBER OF ASME LOCAL 1624.

UM, YOU'VE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE COME UP TO THIS PODIUM, UM, CLAIMING TO, UM, SPEAK FOR, UH, FRONT FOR, UH, FRONTLINE WORKERS.

UM, I AM COMING HERE AS A FRONTLINE WORKER, UM, ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS AGREEMENT.

UM, AS YOU'RE AWARE, UH, THE $118 MILLION FOR THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT COME OUT OF THIN AIR.

IT, IT WILL COME EITHER BY INCREASED TAXES OR BY TAKING MONEY

[04:20:01]

AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE WILL HAVE IN THE, UM, IN PARKS SPECIFICALLY AT BARTON SPRINGS.

UM, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 600 AQUATIC EMERGENCIES AT BARNES SPRINGS, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT, UM, OF THOSE 600 AQUATIC EMERGENCIES, WE HAVE HAD ZERO THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITY.

UM, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS RECORD, BUT THIS IS A RECORD THAT IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO MAINTAIN EVERY YEAR.

UM, THERE IS, UM, THERE IS A RAILING AT BARTON SPRINGS THAT HAS BROKEN OFF ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT HAS STILL YET TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.

UM, AND I PERSONALLY HAD TO SAVE SOMEONE WHO, UM, WHO STARTED DROWNING BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GRAB ONTO THIS RAILING.

AND DURING, UH, EMER, DURING EMERGENCIES, UM, WE OFTEN RELY ON OUR RADIOS TO COMMUNICATE, UM, LIFESAVING INFORMATION TO EACH OTHER.

AND RECENTLY WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH OUR RADIO BEING STATICY AND OF OFTENTIMES EVEN CUTTING SOME PEOPLE OUT, JUST DELAYING, UH, LIFE SAVING INFORMATION FROM BEING, UH, DELIVERED TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE.

UM, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING AT BARTON SPRINGS AND, UM, THROUGHOUT OTHER AREAS OF THE PARTS DEPARTMENT DUE TO OUR LACK OF FUNDING, UM, WHICH WOULD BE MADE EVEN WORSE BY THIS CONTRACT.

UM, AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE A AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION CAME UP HERE AND SAID EARLIER, HE MADE THE CLAIM THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION HAS NO PROBLEM WITH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WHY DOES THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION TRY TO UNDERMINE ACCOUNTABILITY EVERY TIME THE VOTERS ASK FOR IT? WHY DID, WHY DID THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION SPONSOR A FAKE BALLOT INITIATIVE? THANKS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS NICK MACHADO.

I USE THEY THEM PRONOUNS AND I'M A SECOND YEAR SOCIAL WORK STUDENT AND DOUBLE MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRE-LAW AT ST.

EDWARDS UNIVERSITY.

AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN DISTRICT NINE.

I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, WHICH WOULD INCREASE POLICE SPENDING BY $218 MILLION.

THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN POLICE SPENDING IS FAR MORE THAN THE CITY CAN REASONABLY AFFORD AND WILL REQUIRE TAX INCREASES AND CUTS TO CORE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH BASED IN OR BOTH BASED IN THEIR, UH, CITY'S OWN FINANCIAL FORECAST.

AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE, I AND SO MANY OTHERS WORRY ABOUT BEING DISPLACED FROM THE CITY.

WE ALL CALL HOME BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING, INCREASING OUR CITY TAXES TO INCREASE POLICE SPENDING IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALREADY SOME OF THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE, WHILE OTHER CITY WORKERS AND TAXPAYERS CONTINUOUSLY STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST, THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

IF THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THE COST OF LIVING DOWN AND TO BE AFFORDABLE, WHY INCREASE TAXES TO FUND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN WE COULD INVEST BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY? WE ALL KNOW WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE IN A HEALTHY, SAFE, AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT HIGHLY CONTRADICTS THAT VISION INITIATIVES OUTLINED IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, LIKE HARM REDUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLEMENT WEATHER RESPONSE, MENTAL HEALTH, FIRST RESPONDERS, DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION NAVIGATORS, COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE, AND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES ARE SERVICES THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY FAIR.

POLICE PRESENCE IS NOT A CRIME DETERRENT.

PROGRAMS LIKE THESE ARE WHAT ACTUALLY IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY BY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT PREVENT 9 1 1 CALLS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE INITIATIVES OUTLINED IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET WILL DO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WORK TOWARD MAKING THE CITY OF AUSTIN EQUITABLE AND FAIR FOR ALL CITIZENS.

INSTEAD OF OVERFUNDING THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, I URGE YOU ALL TO THINK OF YOUR RESIDENTS, INVEST IN THEM, YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE SELECTED TO REPRESENT.

INVEST IN GIVING PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES THROUGH HARM REDUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE.

INVEST IN KEEPING YOUR RESIDENTS HOUSED THROUGH DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION NAVIGATORS, AND ABSOLUTELY INVEST IN THE INCLEMENT WEATHER RESPONSE TO KEEP AUSTINITES ALIVE THIS WINTER.

THINK OF YOUR DISTRICTS, THE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE AUSTIN WHAT IT IS.

LET'S PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE AND WORK TOWARD A BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE CITY THROUGH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT INITIATIVES.

AGAIN, I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

INSTEAD, CHOOSE US YOUR CITIZENS INSTEAD.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SANDY F FREDRICKSON.

[04:25:03]

I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MOXIE HOTEL ON THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUS.

UM, I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE, UM, SUPPORT OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, SUPPORT OF THE CONTRACT.

UM, TOURISM IS A HUGE DRIVER AS OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMY, AS WE ALL KNOW, UM, AND BRINGS ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS THAT SUPPORT NOT JUST THE WAGES OF OUR HARDWORKING HOURLY ASSOCIATES IN THE HOTEL, BUT ALSO, UM, SM SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO, UM, WE WANT TO BE TOURISM FRIENDLY.

WE WANT TO PROJECT AN IMAGE, UM, THAT IT IS SAFE FOR OUR GUESTS TO COME HERE.

UM, IT IS, UH, THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE PUBLICITY AROUND IT THAT WE WANT TO TRY AND CURB, AND THIS BILL WILL HELP THAT.

UM, IT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE UNDERSTAFFING SITUATION, UM, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, OUR HOTEL HAS CALLED 9 1 1 TWICE.

UM, AND THE SAME OFFICER CAME BOTH TIMES.

AND I THOUGHT AT FIRST MAYBE THAT'S A COINCIDENCE, JUST HAPPENED TO BE THAT WAY.

BUT IN TALKING TO HIM, I LEARNED THAT HE IS ACTUALLY A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE THAT IS DOING OVERTIME SHIFTS ON THE SIDE DOING REGULAR STREET CALLS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSTAFFED.

SO IT WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE.

HE'S REALLY ONE OF THE ONLY OFFICERS THAT IS THERE TO RESPOND.

SO, UM, WE, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND, UM, AND OF TOURISM, UM, AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.

THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, RUI MARTINEZ, AMY REMAN, MATT MACAU, VAK.

UH, MY NAME IS DREW MARTINEZ.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.

UH, YOU KNOW, I'M A VOTER.

I TALK TO MY NEIGHBORS AND MY FAMILY ARE HOMEOWNERS AND WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR A WHILE.

UM, AND I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48, THIS, UH, POLICE CONTRACT.

BOTH OF THESE, I REALLY WANTED TO ADDRESS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SALIENT POINTS THAT THE PEOPLE FOR THIS CONTRACT HAVE MENTIONED, WHICH IS THIS IDEA OF SAFETY AND LONG, UH, RESPONSE TIMES.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST SALIENT POINTS, AT LEAST.

UM, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP, BUT THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2024 ABOUT A FORMER OFFICER A SAMANTHA IKA.

AND IN THIS ARTICLE, THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING ALLEGATION MADE ABOUT WHAT THESE OFFICERS ARE DOING WITH THEIR TIME, WHICH MAKES, SO THAT THEY CANNOT RESPOND TO 9 1 1 CALLS.

AND THE IDEA IS, IS THAT WHAT THIS SAMANTHA LEEKA WAS HARASSED FOR ACTUALLY DOING IS ADVOCATING TO GO AFTER THESE CALLS.

UM, BUT MANY OF THE OFFICERS, MOST OF WHOM WERE MEN, WANTED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THEY WANTED TO DO WHAT'S CALLED A HUNT.

WHAT IS A HUNT? A HUNT IS WHEN AN OFFICER WOULD DO A CODE FOR, THEY WOULD SAY THEY'RE RESPONDING TO SOME EMERGENCY AND THEY DON'T NEED BACKUP.

THEY GO AND TAKE THEIR CAR TO A PARKING LOT, THEY WAIT AROUND FOR A QUOTE UNQUOTE SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE.

THEY THEN SPEND HOURS TAILING THAT VEHICLE TO FIND A TRAFFIC VIOLATION TO STOP THEM.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S APPARENTLY ALLEGEDLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

FORGET 9 1 1 CALLS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THESE HUNTS, AND I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WHAT I WOULD BET A LOT OF MONEY, AND I WOULD ONLY BET IT BECAUSE I KNOW I WOULD WIN, I'D FEEL BAD IF YOU TOOK IT, UM, IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THESE OFFICERS WILL NOT GO AND BE RESPONDING TO 9 1 1 CALLS.

THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR LITTLE HUNTS, UM, IN THEIR CARS SITTING AROUND.

FURTHERMORE, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF THE G FILE THAT IS GOING TO ONLY APPLY TO UPCOMING, UH, FOR FUTURE TIME PERIODS.

NOW, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THE G FILE IS, IS BASICALLY IT'S A PRIVATE FILE THAT IS KEPT ON AN OFFICER.

IT HAS, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL INFORMATION TO SOME DEGREE OR IT HAS, UH, OBSERVATIONS AND SO ON.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT THIS CONTRACT WOULD ALLOW IT TO BE OPEN IN CERTAIN CASES.

NOW, THE THING IS, I WOULD BE MOST INTERESTED IF SOMEONE, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS FILE IS GOING TO BE CHECKED IN THE FUTURE, WELL SHOOT, I'M GONNA CONSIDER WHAT I PUT IN THERE.

UM, I'M MOST INTERESTED IN WHAT'S IN THE PAST.

IF AN OFFICER HAS COMMITTED A CRIME OR HAS BEEN ALLEGED A MISCONDUCT, I THINK WHAT WE WANNA SEE IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST BEFORE IT IS NOW OPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AS A IMPACTFUL, IF YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THE FUTURE DATES WHEN EVERYONE KNOW IT MAY BE OPENED.

AND SO IF WE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, ONE LAST POINT I REALLY WANT TO HIT ON IS THIS IDEA OF, UM, THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY AND CODE VIOLATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED.

I I REALLY THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWELL, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE WANNA DO? WELL, THEY WANT 'EM TO BE CLEARED AWAY.

THEY DON'T WANT POLICY VIOLATIONS ANYMORE.

I DISAGREE.

OVER IN EAST AUSTIN AROUND LBJ HIGH SCHOOL.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD HI, MY NAME'S AMY KREISMAN.

I'M A NURSE IN AUSTIN.

I'VE WORKED AT ASH, I'VE WORKED AT LBJ HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE WORKED AT TEXAS SCHOOL FOR BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED INTEGRAL CARE.

I WANTED JUST TO DOVETAIL ON HIS NOTE OF THE HUNT.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE HUNT IS PROBABLY NOT HAPPENING UP IN WESTLAKE.

IT'S HAPPENING

[04:30:01]

AND I, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

I WISH KIRK WATSON, I SAW HIM AT L BJ HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS A SCHOOL NURSE THERE.

I WISH I HAD BEEN ABLE TO ASK HIM TO COME INTO THE NURSE'S OFFICE, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE, WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE DEALING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, SEE WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT WHAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY TO THEM.

THEN WE WANNA ASK WHO ARE THEIR OPS? YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THEIR OPS? DO THEY FEEL SAFE WHEN A POLICEMAN'S AROUND? NOT NECESSARILY, NOT NECESSARILY.

SO, AND I'M NOT SAYING I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD FEEL SAFE.

THAT'S, THAT'S, YES, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE 5 MILLION DESIGNATED YEARLY TO MENTAL HEALTH AND JUXTAPOSED TO 500 MILLION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S HUGE.

THAT GAP IS HUGE.

AND GRANTING INTEGRAL CARE 1.51 TIME WITHOUT THE TALK OF A YEARLY INCREASE, SIT WITH THAT.

I MEAN, SIT, SIT WITH THAT.

WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU, ANY OF, YOU'VE BEEN TO AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE STEPPED INTO LBJ HIGH SCHOOL.

HAVE YOU BEEN HOMELESS? HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED LIVING ON THE STREET? AND THIS IS LIKE, WHO ARE WE HO BEING HOSPITABLE TO WHEN, WHEN THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE HOTELS SAY, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED ABOUT HOSPIT, YOU KNOW, BEING HOSPITABLE, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT, IT, IT, WHY DO WE DEFAULT THINK THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MEAN PUBLIC SAFETY? NO, THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY BE NURSES, WHETHER IT BE SOCIAL WORKERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE PUBLIC SAFETY FIGURES, WANNA TALK TO SOMEONE AT ASH WHO'S A, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIORAL TECH TECHNICIAN WHO TAKES OVER TIME TO MAKE THEIR BILLS, YOU TO MEET THEIR BILLS.

THEY'LL TAKE OVERTIME, THEY'LL JEOPARDIZE THEIR SAFETY, THE SAFETY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, PATIENTS ON A ACUTE, ACUTE FORENSIC FLOOR TO TAKE OVERTIME.

SO LET'S LOOK AT SALARIES.

I MEAN, I JUST, I JUST THINK, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND, AND IT, IN MY MIND IT IS LIKE, HOW DO WE VALUE ONE ANOTHER? DO YOU CARE? AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

I, AND I'M HUNGRY AND I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED, YOU'VE HEARD IT ALL.

BUT THESE ARE BIG DECISIONS AND THEY'RE DECISIONS THAT I KNOW THAT HAPPEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

SO I WANT THERE TO BE, YOU KNOW, TRANSPARENCY.

AND AS MUCH AS I'M HERE TALKING AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE HERE TALKING, WE'RE NOT THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS.

WE DON'T MAKE THE DECISIONS.

BUT I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE HEARD PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WHO HAVE DEEP CONCERNS.

IF Y'ALL COULD PUT THAT UP WHILE I'M TALKING.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ABDUL NAS ABDUL HAS HAD TIME DONATED BY CHAZ MOORE AND GABRIELA ZAN.

ARE YOU BOTH HERE? OKAY.

YOU'LL GET NINE MINUTES ON DECK.

WE HAVE BRANDI ASTRON, DARREN THORNHILL, AND CATHERINE MCARDLE.

MR. MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE IN AUSTIN.

I'M JUST GONNA, BEFORE I GO INTO MY NAME AND MY BACKGROUND, I JUST WANT US TO GROUND OURSELVES FOR A SECOND.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

I WANT ALL OF US TO CLOSE OUR EYES FOR JUST 10 SECONDS AND I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOU TOO, MR. MAYOR, I'M LOOKING AT YOU TO THINK ABOUT A PLACE WHERE YOU FELT HAPPY.

CLOSE YOUR EYES.

Y'ALL SAFE AND CALM AND OPEN YOUR EYES.

WE'RE POLICE THERE.

MY NAME IS ABDUL NASRA.

I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND DATA AT CAMPAIGN ZERO.

WE'RE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON ENDING POLICE VIOLENCE WHILE ADVANCING RESTORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WE WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT IS ON THIS ROOM AND HOW IT WILL VOTE TODAY.

AUSTIN CAN CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN WORKING TOWARDS ADOPTING PROGRAMS THAT BUILD MORE RESILIENT AND SAFER COMMUNITIES.

AND WE COME HERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AUSTIN ORGANIZATIONS TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

IN A TIME WHERE VIOLENT CRIME HAS CON DROPPED FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN AUSTIN, THERE IS A NEED TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING TO INVEST IN SOCIAL SAFETY NETS.

THAT IS GOOD NEWS THAT Y'ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR WHERE VIOLENT CRIME HAS DROPPED IN AUSTIN.

AND WHAT I'LL GO OVER TODAY IS SOME OF THE RESEARCH AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS BUDGET.

AND ONE, IT WILL NOT RESOLVE THE STAFFING CONCERNS WITH A PD OR IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES TWO, IT WILL NOT IMPROVE OFFICER ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND FINALLY, I'M TAKING A DIFFERENT FRAMING FROM THAT BEGINNING.

THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR SAFETY AND INCREASING CRIME IN THE LONG TERM, AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING PUT UP, UM,

[04:35:01]

APPRECIATE IT.

SO QUICKLY ON MY BACKGROUND BEFORE I DISCUSS HOW IT REDUCES SAFETY AND FAILS TO ADVANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION.

UH, I'VE WORKED AS A PUBLIC SAFETY RESEARCHER, BOTH IN PUBLIC AND THE NON SECTOR AND THE NONPROFIT SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT.

I WORKED AT THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHERE I LED THE RESEARCH AND DATA EFFORTS FOR, UH, THE OFFICE OF NE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE OFFICE TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE AND THE MAYOR'S ACTION PLAN FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

UH, BEFORE THAT I WORKED AT THE VERE INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANTS ON COMPREHENSIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE CRIME, WORKING WITH AGENCIES ACROSS THE US RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS AS WELL.

HOWEVER, MOST RELEVANT TO SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION IS MY DOCTORAL RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, WHERE I FOCUS MY RESEARCH ON POLICE UNIONISM IN THE US, SPECIFICALLY POLICE UNION CONTRACTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

I'M HERE TO PROVIDE FACTS AND GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH AND I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.

SO FIRST, IN TERMS OF THE OFFICER STAFFING, THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT RESOLVE THE CONCERNS WITH A PD VACANCIES.

THIS DOES NOT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS.

THE VACANCIES HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RECRUITMENT AND STAFF RETENTION ON THE AGENCY AND THE AGENCY EXECUTIVE.

AND DESPITE SOME NARRATIVES THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH RECRUITMENT IS THAT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE POST 2020 CLIMATE, LUCKILY A RESEARCH STUDY JUST CAME OUT BY DUKE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER FINDING THAT THE INCREASE IN SEPARATIONS FOR AGENCIES, AND HE LOOKED AT SEVEN, ALMOST 7,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE SMALLER POST 2020 LATER, LESS SUDDEN AND POSSIBLY LESS PERVASIVE.

ALL TOLD THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ON THE LABOR FORCE BY THE END OF 2021 WAS JUST 1%.

HOWEVER, RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

INTERESTINGLY, YOU HAD AN OFFICER EARLIER, UH, NOT MICHAEL FROM AP, BUT ANOTHER OFFICER FROM A PA WHO TALKED ABOUT ONE OF HIS CONCERNS WITH THE CONTRACT WAS THE RECRUITMENT ISSUE.

THIS DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS STAFFING PROBLEM.

THIS WILL NOT IMPROVE 9 1 1 RESPONSE TIMES AND THE RAN CENTER ON QUALITY OF POLICING.

THEY PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF POLICE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ADOPTING PROACTIVE STRATEGIES TO AWARD THE DEPARTMENT.

ADDITIONAL MONDAY INDICATES THAT THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT TO HOLD AGENCY, GET EXECUTIVES RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS STAFFING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONCERNS.

AND WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT IS BEING SENT IF THE CITY CONTINUES TO AWARD THE POLICE MORE MONEY FOR RAISES WHEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE INTERNAL ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES? THERE'S PLENTY OF BUSINESS OWNERS HERE I'VE NOTICED.

WOULD YOU DO THAT WITH A ISSUE WITH, WITH A PROBLEMATIC DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION NEXT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THE G FILE, I'LL DEFER TO THE AUSTIN RESIDENCE.

BUT FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND TO, YOU KNOW, UH, TO MICHAEL BULLOCK'S POINT AROUND THAT, IT DOESN'T CONCERN ISSUES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE'S TWO SECTIONS THAT NO MATTER WHAT PROTECT AUSTIN RESIDENTS, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN IN, THAT'S NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE FOR THIS CONTRACT.

SO THE QUESTION THAT IT'S GONNA IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY EVEN WITH THE G DRIVE, IS SILLY.

ARTICLE 16 SECTION THREE PREVENTS INVESTIGATORS FROM EXTERNAL OVERSIGHT FROM HAVING SUBPOENA POWER, SOMETHING THAT RESEARCHERS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY SAID IS CRITICAL.

AND ARTICLE 16, SECTION FIVE IN INCLUDES, UH, INTERROGATION DELAYS, WHICH LEGAL SCHOLARS FROM U CHICAGO HAVE CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT THE SERIOUS IMPACT THAT HAS ON INVESTIGATIONS.

AND FINALLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT SAFETY.

THE CONTRACT CREATES ISSUES FOR SAFETY AND CRIME TIME.

I'M JUST GONNA SPEND SOME TIME DOING SOME DISPELLING OF CRIME DATA THAT WE PUT UP THERE.

AND THIS IS A BIG THANK YOU TO COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR, CITY MANAGER FOR RUNNING THE AUSTIN DATA PORTAL.

BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THAT DATA AND DO AN ANALYSIS.

SO THANK YOU.

BUT HERE ARE THE FACTS AND I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE TRAUMA, THE HURT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON EVERY LIFE IS IMPORTANT AND THE IMPORTANCE IS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING TO PREVENT CRIME, REDUCE IT IN THE LONG TERM.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA FROM CHICAGO, UH, FROM AUSTIN'S, UH, OPEN DATA PORTAL, NOT CHICAGO, SLIP UP VIOLENT CRIME HAS CONTINUED TO DECREASE NEARLY 10% FROM AUGUST 23 TO AUGUST 24 COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND 15% WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO AUGUST 22.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS AN INCREASE FROM 20 TO 21 AND THAT WAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THE, WHILE THERE'S SLIGHT UPTICK IN HOMICIDE DURING THIS PERIOD IN QUESTION, EXAMINING DATA FROM 2022 SHOWS THAT HOMICIDES HAVE DROPPED 13% FROM 2022 TO AUGUST 24.

[04:40:01]

AND Y'ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT.

AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO AND THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST PROPERLY.

THE RESEARCH IS ALSO CLEAR ON WHAT ARE CONTRIBUTORS OF CRIME.

AND ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL ONES THAT KEEP COMING UP IS FINANCIAL STRESS.

HOW DO YOU MITIGATE FINANCIAL STRESS? HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL STRESS IN A TIME WHEN COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO INCREASE? THIS WILL CREATE ISSUES FOR CRIME.

AND THE ONLY WAY THIS CONTRACT IS BEING, UH, PAID FOR IT IS SEEMS TO BE BY INCREASING TAXES ON TAXPAYERS, UH, INCREASING I BELIEVE THE UTILITY, ELECTRIC UTILITY COSTS AND ALSO CUTTING THE SAFETY NET BUDGET.

I REALLY HOPE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT YOU DO VOTE TO REJECT THIS BUDGET BECAUSE NOT IN A FEW YEARS WE'RE GONNA BE EXPERIENCING A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH CRIME.

AND I AGREE WITH MICHAEL BULLOCK, NO ONE SHOULD BE DEHUMANIZED, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN THIS MASSIVE GDP GROWTH IN AUSTIN SEEM TO BE DEHUMANIZED.

AND IT'S ALL RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO DEFAULT TO A PUNITIVE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS.

SO, RAY SAFETY, THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT'S MOST EFFECTIVE.

WE HEARD SOMEONE EARLIER TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH PAPER THAT A, AN ADDITIONAL OFFICER OF A HIRING OF AN OFFICER RESULTS IN A 0.1 REDUCTION IN HOMICIDES PER A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

WELL, THERE'S ANOTHER STUDY THAT AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 RESULTS IN A 0.87 RESULT REDUCTION IN HOMICIDE.

NOW, I WOULD ASK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WILL SAVE YOU IN TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE LONG TERM.

AND, AND NOW IT'S CLEAR WHAT THE BUSINESS LOBBY WANTS.

THEIR INTERESTS ARE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY.

BUT HERE'S A BETTER PITCH FOR EVERYONE.

'CAUSE I BELIEVE EVERYONE WANTS THE SAME THING.

YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR 9 1 1 RESPONSE TIMES.

BUT WHAT IF YOU COULD HAVE TAXPAYER FUNDS BE USED IN A WAY WHICH PREVENTS CRIME AND IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND IT DOES IT ALL WHILE TREATING PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE? THANK YOU.

SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN I GET AN ADDITIONAL NO, SIR.

NO, YOU'VE HAD NINE MINUTES.

NO, YOUR TIME IS UP.

APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS ARTHUR PETERS, NOE ELIAS, RICHARD BOLAND, ANDREA BLACK.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

FEEL FREE TO STEP UP.

UH, MY NAME IS ARTHUR PETERS AND I AM IN DISTRICT TWO.

UM, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS NOW.

I, I, YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

I REALLY LIKE IT HERE.

UM, HONESTLY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT AS EVERYONE ELSE TALKED, AND SO I'M THROWING OUT SOME OF MY NOTES AND PEOPLE HAVE SAID SOME AMAZING STUFF AND I WANTED TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I AM HONESTLY PROUD ABOUT, AND I ACTUALLY BRAGGED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, IS THAT AUSTIN HAS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE THAT IS NOT SUPER COMMON.

LIKE THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF CITIES.

SO LET'S, LET'S LEAN INTO THAT.

LET'S DO THOSE THINGS.

LET'S BE THE CITY THAT SAYS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

LIKE, LET'S COME TO YOU WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY AN EXPERT IN THIS AND BRING THAT HELP TO YOU.

I WOULD LOVE TO THINK THAT IF I WERE, YOU KNOW, BREAKING DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, IF WHATEVER WERE HAPPENING, SOMEONE WOULD CALL AND SOME AND SOMEONE WOULD SHOW UP WHO'S LIKE, OKAY, WE SEE THAT YOU ARE IN DISTRESS.

HOW DO WE HELP YOU? NOT, WE NEED TO GET YOU OFF THE STREET.

WE, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING WHERE WE WANNA PRIORITIZE ACTUALLY USEFUL SERVICES AND NOT JUST SPEND THE TAX DOLLARS THAT I PAY, UM, TO PUT IT INTO WHAT'S LOOKING AT $3 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

AND AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID, YOU CAN'T LOWER THAT.

SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT EVEN PAST THOSE FIVE YEARS.

SO REGARDLESS OF ANY OF THIS, WE NEED TO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.

WE CAN'T JUST PUT MONEY INTO THIS AND PRETEND IT'S OKAY.

SO WHERE DO YOU TAKE THE MONEY FROM? UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BARTON SPRINGS.

I DON'T WANNA DROWN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE OVERFUNDED POLICE AND UNDERFUNDED, YOU KNOW, OUR LIFEGUARDS.

AND I WANT TO SEE, I WANT TO SEE SOMEWHERE WHERE I FEEL SAFER.

AND THAT MEANS, THAT MEANS HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING, LIKE I SAID, INSTEAD OF ARRESTING PEOPLE.

THAT MEANS HAVING OUR COPS FEEL SAFER BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO THINGS THEY'RE NOT EXPERT IN.

I WANT THEM TO RESPOND WHEN THAT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED AND OTHER PEOPLE TO SHOW UP WHEN THEY'RE MORE USEFUL, WHETHER THAT BE CRISIS RESPONSE, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER SERVICES, THE CONTRACT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED IN BAD FAITH AS WELL.

THERE PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE TEAM THAT NEGOTIATED FOR THE CITY IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE POLICE.

[04:45:01]

AND SO HOW CAN WE VIEW THAT, LOOK AT THAT AND GO, WELL, CLEARLY THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THE CITY WHEN THEY CLEARLY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

80% OF US VOTED TO HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT ABOUT THE POLICE.

80% OF US BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH.

SO THAT TELLS US SOMETHING.

80 20 IS NOT A SMALL DIFFERENCE.

SO I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

UM, I ALSO REMIND YOU THAT EARLY VOTING HAS ALREADY STARTED.

THERE'S SIGNS OUTSIDE.

UM, SO PLEASE VOTE NO AND WE WILL REMEMBER.

MY NAME IS DARREN THORNHILL.

I WORK OVER AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.

I'M A REENTRY OUTREACH WORKER.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS I'M ON THE FRONT LINES, SO I SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.

WHAT WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS NOT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING HOME TO A MANSION WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE, THE ONES THAT ARE SLEEPING OUTSIDE IN TENTS, THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES AND, AND I I CAN GUARANTEE YOU CAN GUESS HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE HAD TO CALL THE POLICE, BUT I'LL TELL YOU IT'S BEEN ZERO AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE DEESCALATION SKILLS.

I'M NOT SURE THE TYPE OF TRAINING THAT POLICE OFFICERS WOULD RECEIVE BECAUSE I'M NOT A POLICE OFFICER, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME AS IF POLICE OFFICERS WERE LEFT OUT ON DEESCALATION TRAINING AND THEY WERE TAUGHT ESCALATION TRAINING.

AND I'M GONNA SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

I'VE BEEN ARRESTED, I'VE BEEN TO JAIL BEFORE.

I'VE HAD MANY INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE.

I'VE CHANGED MY LIFE BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

IF I FEEL AS IF A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN FOR THIS CONTRACT HAVE NEVER INTERACTED WITH THE POLICE, UNLESS IT WAS AT LUNCH, MAYBE AT CHILI'S OR SOMETHING .

THAT'S NOT HOW, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS WITH EVERYONE IN MY COMMUNITY.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VOTING FOR THIS ARE SITTING BEHIND THESE MANSIONS AND THEY HAVE PRIVATE SECURITY, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE SLEEPING IN THE TENTS WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING TO JAIL? THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY SHOULD BE GOING.

AGAIN, WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES.

WE SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TRYING TO GET THEM HOUSING ONLY FOR THEM TO BE EVICTED BECAUSE THE LANDLORD KNOWS THEY WILL STILL RECEIVE THEIR MONEY.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

IT'S NOT RIGHT AT ALL.

I'M HERE TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM 47 AND ITEM 48.

PLEASE DO NOT GRANT THAT.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THE EVIDENCE, GETTING THE AUTOPSY, THE REVEALS.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY NAME IS BRANDI TRON.

I AM CHRISTIE GIL TRON, BADGE NUMBER 4 7 2 9.

ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2023, MY SISTER WAS MURDERED, BUT IT WAS WRONGFULLY RULED A SUICIDE.

PRIOR TO THAT AWFUL EVENT, SHE WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON A JOB AND HER MEDICAL NEEDS WERE NEGLECTED.

HER HOURS WERE CUT.

HER EMPLOYER REFUSED TO PAY FOR HER MEDICAL TREATMENT.

SHE DESPERATELY NEEDED.

SHE WAS BULLIED, HARASSED, AND MADE A JOKE OF EVEN AFTER HER DEATH.

I SPENT THE LAST 11 OF MY MONTHS OF MY LIFE BEING LIED TO BY DETECTIVES AND POLICE OFFICERS ON BOTH DEPARTMENTS, AUSTIN AND PFLUGERVILLE PD.

PEOPLE ASKED ME ALL THE TIME, WHY AND HOW DID ALL THIS HAPPEN? MY SIMPLE ANSWER IS CORRUPTION AND MONEY.

THOSE ARE THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

THE G FILES ARE IMPORTANT, NOT JUST TO MY FAMILY, BUT TO THE MANY FAMILIES WHO JUST WANNA SEEK JUSTICE AND THE TRUTH.

THIS IS HOW THIS JOURNEY BEGAN, AND NOW I'M BEING FORCED TO PLACE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU ALL.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ME AND MY SISTER.

THERE ARE AND WILL BE MANY OTHER FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS DECISION.

YOURS COULD BE ONE OF 'EM.

SINCE I KNOWN HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RICOH STATUE, I WANNA THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED ME TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH.

I PRAY OFTEN FOR GOD'S FAVOR, NOT ONLY FOR MINE AND MY SISTER'S CASE, BUT ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

IF GOD ISN'T YOUR THING, WE ALL HAVE A MORAL COMPASS.

UNLESS THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVED UNTIL I HAD TO ENCOUNTER ALL OF YOU, I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

ALWAYS DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING, EVEN IF IT MEANS EXPOSING THE UGLY TRUTH.

I AM MY SISTER'S KEEPER.

SOMEONE TOLD ME NOBODY KNOWS OR REMEMBERS YOUR SISTER.

I CAN ASSURE YOU WHEN I'M DONE, THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGET HER IN AUSTIN.

HERE'S THE LAST PICTURE TAKEN OF MY SISTER WHO WAS MURDERED.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT A COPY.

SURE.

I WANT BRIAN O'QUINN OFF OF A PD STREETS.

HE IS CORRUPT AND I WANT LINDA NUNO TO GET HER DAUGHTER BACK.

A PD AND PFLUGERVILLE PD COVERED UP MY SISTER'S MURDER.

THIS IS ONE OF 350 PHOTOS.

THIS IS A NICE ONE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY NIECE AND MY NE NEPHEW TO SEE WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE.

I HAVE FOUGHT FOR 11 MONTHS ALONE GETTING ALL

[04:50:01]

IT WASN'T HER BODY GETTING THEIR GUN REPORT THAT PROVES THAT THEY DIDN'T TRY TO DO A TEST ON THE OTHER PERSON IN THE OTHER HOUSE.

MY SISTER'S NOT MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE SHE WAS A COP.

ALL THESE FAMILIES DESERVE JUSTICE.

THOSE G FILES HIDE THINGS AND WE DON'T HIDE THINGS.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH AND FOR JUSTICE, YOU HAVE FELT NOT ONLY ME, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, ALSO THE PEOPLE OF PFLUGERVILLE.

MAY GOD BE ON YOUR SIDE.

NEXT SPEAKERS, GEORGE SCARANO.

JESUS, LAURA JULIAN REYES, MIRA ROS, KID O'CONNELL.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEING CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN FRONT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON SUCH A CRITICAL ISSUE.

MY NAME IS GEORGE SCARANO, ALONG WITH MY PARTNER CRAIG STALEY AND I HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED SEVEN ROYAL BLUE GROCERY STORES IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN.

FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, I'VE BEEN AN A TX RESIDENT FOR TWICE AS LONG.

WE ARE INDEPENDENT FIERCELY LO LOCAL, AND FIERCELY LOYAL TO THE CITY CORE.

AND WE TRULY LOVE SERVING EVERYONE, LIVING, WORKING, AND PLAYING DOWNTOWN.

THE DEGRADATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS CORE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN SHOCKING.

OUR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS AND MANY NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN UNDER RELENTLESS ASSAULT SINCE WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DEMORALIZING IT IS TO NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO COACH THEM TO STEP ASIDE IN THE FACE OF CONSTANT ABUSE AND CRIMINAL ACTS.

NOT TO MENTION THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WE LOSE ANNUALLY DUE TO STAFF TURNOVER, CRIPPLED SALES, AND STOLEN PRODUCT DOLLARS.

WE'D RATHER GIVE BACK TO OUR INCREDIBLE EMPLOYEES ON THE FRONT LINE.

INTENTIONALLY OR NOT.

THE REVOLVING DOOR AT THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICES HAS CREATED A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS DOWNTOWN AND ARGUABLY CITYWIDE ONE IN WHICH SHOPLIFTING DRUG DEALING AND USE VIOLENCE AND A LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAS NOW BECOME THE NORM.

WE'VE BEEN ASSAULTED.

I'VE BEEN ATTACKED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE BRAZENNESS OF CRIMINALS, MENTALLY CHALLENGED OR NOT, HAS OVERWHELMED US FOR YEARS.

IT'S HARD TO WITNESS, IT'S HARD TO ADMIT IT.

IT SURE AS HELL SHOULDN'T BE AS HARD AS IT IS TO OPERATE A BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.

AS THINGS STAND NOW DAILY, WE ARE IN THE TRENCHES, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH A PD AS WELL AS THE AMAZING DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE AMBASSADORS AND SAFETY OFFICERS.

CONVERSELY, BANKS, GOVERNMENT OFFICES SUCH AS THIS ONE, HOTELS AND DEVELOPERS ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A DEPRESSING AMOUNT OF PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES.

SO MANY LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES UNDER DURESS HAVE NO SUCH LUXURY, AND WE'RE THE ONES WHO, WHO MAKE THIS CITY UNIQUE, VIBRANT, AND INCREDIBLE.

IT'S A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE LOOK FOR THIS CITY.

OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS NEED HELP.

PERMANENT HOUSING AND DIVERSION CENTERS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, BUT THOSE ARE REALISTICALLY STILL QUITE A WAYS OFF.

A PD IS SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED AND REBUILDING IT TO APPROPRIATE LEVELS SIMPLY CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT STABILIZING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH A NEW CONTRACT.

HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY RECRUIT FOR AND REBUILD A PD WITHOUT IT? AS HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO ALREADY TODAY, WHEN CRIMES COMMITTED AREN'T PROSECUTED, IT ONLY EMBOLDENS THOSE COMMITTING THE CRIMES TO HIDE BEHIND THE QUOTE THAT FOR A BIG CITY, AUSTIN IS SAFE AND CRIME STATISTICS SHOW DECLINES IN OVERALL CRIME.

NUMBERS IS A COP OUT.

AND IT ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T ADDRESS THE FACT THAT MANY OF US ARE SIMPLY NOT REPORTING THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF CRIMES BEING COMMITTED WITH IMPUNITY.

LET'S ALL SET THE BAR HIGHER THAN GOOD ENOUGH.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WEEKLY I HEAR, OH NO, I DON'T GO DOWNTOWN ANYMORE.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

OR WHY WOULD I COME BACK HERE IF THIS IS WHAT COUNTS AS NORMAL? I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH OUR NEW CHIEF OF POLICE AND DOWNTOWN COMMANDER EMPHASIZING HOW CRITICAL COMMUNITY FO FOCUSED PRO POLICING IS.

SOCIAL WORKERS AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS THE BOARD.

OOH, THIS IS REALLY DAUNTING.

OKAY, UM, HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS JESUS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, UM, AND SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO BOTH ITEMS 47 AND 48, AS I BELIEVE THEY DO NOT SERVE THE INTEREST OF GENUINE PUBLIC SAFETY NOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IF PASSED.

THE POTENTIAL OF $500 MILLION OR MORE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN SPENDING DUE TO POLICE IS EXPECTED TO BE SEEN VIA THE POLICE CONTRACT VARIABLE AP A DP EXPENSES.

AND AS WE'VE SEEN PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY, THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS ALSO NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC WILL, UH, OF THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.

AS STATED PREVIOUSLY BY THE, BY OTHER AUSTINITES, TODAY, A CBS POLL SHOWED 79% OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT.

THE EXACT SAME PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, NOT ONLY, SORRY, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

UM, NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONTRACT UNDERMINE POLICE OVERSIGHT AUSTINITES VOTED FOR, BUT THE ENORMOUS COST WOULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES SUCH AS FIRE, EMS, PARKS AND REC LIBRARIES,

[04:55:01]

I URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REMEMBER THAT A PD BUDGET INCREASES ARE PERMANENTLY LOCKED IN.

ALL OF ALL OUR PARAMEDICS AND SOCIAL WORKERS CONTINUE TO REMAIN UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERFUNDED.

NOT TO MENTION YOU ALL HAVE MADE PROMISES THAT NEED TO BE KEPT TO, UH, TO THE FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL.

YOU ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THERE'S SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS IN TURN WOULD HELP HOLISTICALLY ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE BANDWIDTH ISSUES THE A PD CLAIMS TO HAVE.

FINALLY, THE BUDGET OF THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS YET TO PROVIDE REALISTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS TO VERY SERIOUS FISCAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE ESTIMATED POLICE OVERTIME COSTS AND THE OTHER PRI PROMISES AND PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL.

SO I REQUEST TO YOU ALL VOTE NO.

IF YOU'RE UNWILLING TO DO THAT, THEN VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT AND ONLY COMMIT TO SIGNING ONE WHICH ENSURES A CLEAR FISCAL BALANCE TO THE BUDGET AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

YOU CANNOT EXPECT VOTERS TO FOOT THE BILL VIA ANNUAL TAX ELECTIONS TO PAY FOR POLICE WHEN VOTERS IN AUSTIN HAVE MADE THEMSELVES CLEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AS SUCH, I STAND WITH ACME 1624 UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE, IBW FIVE 20 WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT AND AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL AND THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF AUSTINITES IN OPPOSING THE POLICE CONTRACT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT SPEAKERS ARE HANNAH BARAKAT, HEIDI SLOAN, NRI BARCA, SHARON BLYTHE AND JEN RAMOS.

YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.

PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS HEIDI SLOAN.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR.

FIRST, I'M DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS CONTRACT, WITH THE GRIEVANCE, UH, LANGUAGE AS IT IS.

I THINK IT MAKES THE G FILE VULNERABLE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

I ASK THAT YOU WOULD GO BACK AND GET WHAT YOU THINK IS TRUE IN WRITING.

JUST GET IT IN WRITING BECAUSE WHEN I TALK TO UNION STEWARDS AND AND LABOR LAWYERS, THEY DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS FOOLPROOF AGAINST GRIEVANCES.

THEY DON'T, THEY THINK THAT IT LEAVES US SO VULNERABLE TO GOING BACKWARDS.

AND IF A PA WON'T WRITE IT DOWN, THAT SHOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU SOMETHING.

LIKE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BE OBSTINATE OVER HERE.

WE'RE REALLY NOT TRYING TO BE STUBBORN.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS LOOK AT THE PAST AND LEARN FROM IT AND RECOGNIZE THE THE FAILURES THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE.

THIS IS VERY FAMILIAR LANGUAGE, RIGHT? THIS GRIEVANCE LANGUAGE IN PARTICULAR IS INCREDIBLY FAMILIAR AND Y'ALL, WHY ARE WE SO INSISTENT ON THIS GILE THING THAT WE GET REALLY PRECISE AND NITTY GRITTY? YES, DEMOCRACY, ALL OF THESE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT WHEN I WAS STALKED AND ASSAULTED, I DIDN'T CALL A PD BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHIEF FILE AND IF THEY DO MORE HARM, THEN THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY COVER IT UP.

I DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO THAT WORLD.

WE HAVE MOVED PAST THAT.

WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU JUST DOUBLE CHECK THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR.

I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE AND I'M NOT ALONE IN THAT.

SECONDLY, I MEAN, WE KNOW WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS RIGHT NOW.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LIKE EXCITED ABOUT THE TRE AND ALL OF THIS STUFF AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU, I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY WANNA CUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD PRIORITIES, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SELLING YOURSELF INTO THIS DREAM THAT WE CAN HAVE A TRE AND YOU'RE, YOU'LL, YOU'LL AUTOMATICALLY BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH THIS HUGE CONTRACT AND YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, YOUR RAPID REHOUSING, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, YOUR BUDGETS TO EMS, YOUR HOMELESS NAVIGATION SERVICES.

BUT Y'ALL, WHAT IF SALES TAX GOES DOWN AS WE KNOW IT CAN AND IT HAS BEFORE AND, AND IN YEAR TWO, COSTCO UPSTATE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF, I DON'T KNOW, POLICE BRUTALITY THAT COMES AGAINST THE CITY.

SAY THE GAP BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND WHAT YOU NEED TO PAY THIS CONTRACT AND PURSUE YOUR PRIORITIES GETS BIGGER, BUT YOU GET TALKED DOWN AGAIN, THE TRE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK FOR IS TOO HIGH.

VOTERS WON'T GO FOR IT.

THINK ABOUT THOSE CONSEQUENCES.

TESTIMONY TODAY, BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY SIMPLE, SIMPLE DECISION TODAY.

MY NAME IS SHARON BLYTHE AND I'M AT RESIDENT DISTRICT SIX.

I'VE HEARD ALL THIS

[05:00:01]

THE SUGGESTION IS ALL THESE FOLKS THAT ARE AGAINST THE POLICE CONTRACT, PUT THEM ON A LIST, LET THEM GO HOME, AND WHEN THE POLICE CALL, THEY DON'T RESPOND TO THEM.

PASS, PASS THE CONTRACT AND PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY FAMILY AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THAT IS, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE UP AGAINST IT.

THEN THEY DON'T GET POLICE, THEY DON'T GET POLICE PROTECTION.

AND THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S YOUR SOLUTION.

PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? PLEASE, MS. RAMOS, YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

MY NAME IS JOHN RAMOS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT MATTERS.

I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT.

BEFORE I GET INTO MY TESTIMONY, I'D LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT IN 2021 HOUSE BILL 1900 PASSED INTO LAW.

THIS MEANS THE BILL FUNDS, UH, FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT OR SORRY FOR OUR POLICE BUDGETS CANNOT BE DECREASED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND AT PRESENT TIME, LAW ENFORCEMENT RECEIVES THE MOST MONEY IN OUR BUDGET.

IF THEY CAN'T FILL THEIR VACANCIES AND DO THEIR JOBS WITH MILLIONS IN THE COPPERS, THEN THAT SPEAKS TO THE POOR MANAGEMENT OF A DEPARTMENT THAT SHOULDN'T BE REWARDED WITH MORE.

THE STORY THAT I'M ABOUT TO SHARE IS ONE THAT I HAVE NOT SHARED PUBLICLY BEFORE BECAUSE I FELT NOTHING BUT SHAME, ANXIETY, AND IMMEDIATE TRAUMA.

BUT FEEL IT IS PERTINENT FOR THIS COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE JUSTICE IS BLIND, LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT THE CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY WE ASK IS DANGEROUS.

ON THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, I WAS DRIVING TO VISIT MY MOTHER AT HER APARTMENT IN DISTRICT 10, I WAS PULLED OVER BY AUSTIN POLICE FOR HEADLIGHTS THAT WERE OFF.

I PULLED INTO MY MOTHER'S APARTMENT COMPLEX IN A WELL LITT AREA OUT OF TRAFFIC IN THE JOLLYVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DID NOT RESIST THE OFFICER AND ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION, PRESENTED ALL DOCUMENTS REQUESTED, AND WAS NOT HOSTILE.

I DIDN'T EVEN RAISE MY VOICE BECAUSE THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO WONDER IF I, LIKE SANDRA BLAND, WOULD NEVER GET TO SEE MY FAMILY ALIVE AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING WHILE BROWN, THE OFFICER PROCEEDED TO CALL FOR BACKUP, ASKED ME TO GET OUTTA THE CAR AND DETAIN ME IN CUFFS AND PUT ME IN A POLICE VEHICLE UP TO FIVE OFFICERS AND A PERSON DOING A RIDE ALONG WERE THERE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A WARRANT FOR MY ARREST.

I REPEATEDLY ASKED TO CONTACT MY FAMILY AND REPEATEDLY ASKED WHY THERE WERE SO MANY OFFICERS FOR A NONVIOLENT TRAFFIC STOP.

I EXPERIENCED A PANIC ATTACK IN HANDCUFFS AND AFTER AN HOUR, OFFICERS WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ON MY WARRANT AND I WAS RELEASED.

WHILE THIS WAS JUST A CASUAL NIGHT FOR OFFICERS WHO JOKED WITH EACH OTHER WHILE I WAS DETAINED.

FOR ME, IT CAUSED A SEVERE FLARE UP IN THE TRAUMA AND PTSD THAT I HAVE AS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR.

WHEN I CALLED MY ATTORNEY THE NEXT DAY, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE WARRANT IN QUESTION WAS FOR A TRAFFIC TICKET THAT WAS FORGIVEN UNDER TICKET AMNESTY.

THE ACTIONS FROM MY TRAFFIC STOP WERE UNWARRANTED.

IN JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF OUR UNCHECKED POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CULTURE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RAMPANT AND POWER HUNGRY.

AND THIS IS APPARENT IN THE AUDACITY OF A DEPARTMENT THAT ASKED FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET YEAR AFTER YEAR TO ASK FOR FUNDS TO BANKRUPT AN ENTIRE CITY.

NOW, THE FACT THAT THEY WILL NOT NEGOTIATE IN PUBLIC VIEW EXEMPLIFIES THE BELIEF THAT THEY ARE ABOVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT.

I SPEAK NOW DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND CANDIDATE WHO IS UP FOR REELECTION WITH THOUSANDS OF VOTERS WAITING TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS ON THIS ONE DECISION THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE VOTE YOU SOLD OUT YOUR COMMUNITY ON THAT INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL BE DEPORTED BECAUSE YOU DECIDED POLITICAL COURAGE WAS TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN TO BEAR TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WILL NO LONGER BE IN OFFICE BECAUSE THEY'RE TERMED OUT.

IS THE LEGACY OF BANKRUPTING YOUR CITY, RAISING TAXES AND ASSAULTING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WORTH THE VOTE THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE CONSEQUENCES OF I AM ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT TO FIND THE POLITICAL COURAGE SEVERELY LACKING THAT OUR CITY IS ASKING FOR, NOT JUST FOR ME EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMA I DID AT THAT TRAFFIC STOP, BUT FOR EVERY AUSTINITE WHO WILL NEVER BE IN THIS CHAMBER TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN JUSTICE.

NEXT SPEAKERS ARE WILLIAM BUNCH, KELLEN GILDERSLEEVE, JACKIE WHITLEY, SONYA LES, YASMINE SMITH, TANIA KAREEM, APRIL BROWN, ASHLEY COPELAND, LAKE THOMPSON, DAVID, ROY, ALANA, GUY.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN MAKE YOUR WAY, PLEASE JUST MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PO PODIUM.

HAS EVEN BEEN A CONCERN, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT MY FAMILY WHO HAS VISITED.

MY NAME IS SONIA VALISE.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING ALL THE FAMILIES HERE, I GUESS.

UM, I LOVE AUSTIN.

I LOVE THE THE CITY AND I'M JUST SO HONORED TO BE REPRESENTING ALL THE YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL LADIES THAT LIVE HERE.

UM, I WANNA PROPOSE THAT WE APPROVE THIS BECAUSE I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, LOVE WALKING AROUND THE AREA OF AUSTIN AND SOMETIMES I HAVEN'T FELT SAFE TO BE HONEST.

AND THE LACK OF POLICE AROUND, UM,

[05:05:01]

UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA, AND I HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE.

UM, I'M A CITIZEN.

I THINK THAT WE AS CITIZENS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO I JUST PRAY THAT, UM, THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE POLICE OFFICERS THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE CAN FEEL SAFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

GOD BLESS YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BLAKE THOMPSON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 47, THE NEW POLICE CONTRACT IN 2020 WHEN OUR CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REALLOCATE OVER $150 MILLION FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MANY OF US KNEW THIS WAS AN AWFUL DECISION, BUT NONE OF US TRULY KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES.

WE NOW CAN UNEQUIVOCALLY STATE THIS ACTION WAS VERY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CITY, AND I HOPE WE DON'T MAKE THOSE SAME MISTAKES.

I HAVE BUSINESS INTEREST IN EIGHT OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND IN EACH DISTRICT I'VE EXPERIENCED A RAPID INCREASE IN CRIME AND REDUCTION IN PERSONAL SAFETY.

I COULD HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM AUSTIN, UM, AS AN EASY SOLUTION AND JUST SAID GOODBYE.

UH, BUT I HAVE A WIFE AND THREE KIDS HERE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND AUSTIN IS MY HOME.

I WAS RAISED HERE AND, UH, SO I GOT TO WORK.

DURING THIS TIME, I WITNESSED CRIME OCCUR IN AREAS, IN WAYS I NEVER THOUGHT IMAGINABLE IN THE CITY.

I WAS RAISED THE HEARTBEAT AND CULTURAL ICON OF OUR CITY.

SIXTH STREET IS AN OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET.

IT'S A WAR ZONE RIFE WITH ASSAULT, MURDERS, STABBING DRUG OVERDOSES, RAMPANT PROPERTY CRIME COUNSEL.

CRIME IS NOT DOWN, IT'S JUST SIMPLY UNDER UNREPORTED.

I'VE ENDURED HARASSMENT, I'VE WITNESSED DEATH.

I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS ON REMEDIATING PROPERTY DAMAGE.

I'VE, I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS ON PRIVATE SECURITY COSTS, ATTENDED COUNTLESS MEETINGS TO PROBLEM SOLVE.

ALL OF THIS FELT SO UNNECESSARY AND IS JUST AS A CONSEQUENCE OF BAD PUBLIC POLICY DURING MY WORK ON THE STREETS.

THE REAL BENEFIT THAT I THINK I GA GAINED OUT OF THIS, UH, WAS REALLY GETTING TO KNOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

PRIOR TO 2020.

I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH THEM AND I DIDN'T HAVE NEED TO HAVE INTERACTION WITH THEM.

BUT WHAT I GOT TO, UH, WHAT I GOT TO KNOW IS THAT THEY NEVER SAID NO.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE ANYTIME I PICKED UP THE CALL FOR A NINE ONE ONE CALL, THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THAT LINE, THAT PERSON, HE OR SHE DIDN'T GET TO SAY, NO, I GOTTA GO.

THEY TOOK THAT CALL AND THEY PLACED THAT DISPATCH AND THEY RESPONDED TO SO MANY NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY.

AND I WATCHED HAND IN HAND WITH THE POLICE.

THEY NEVER SAID NO.

THESE INCREDIBLE MEN AND WOMEN WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROTECT OUR CITY.

SO WHILE I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT, I'M ALSO HERE TO PUBLICLY STATE TODAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2024 AS A DAY THAT IT'S A NEW CHAPTER FOR HOW WE AS CITIZENS AND OUR GOVERNMENT, UM, LOOK AND TREAT OUR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

THE TOXIC RHETORIC, THE ACCUSATORY NATURE, THE GUILTY AND PROVE UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT MINDSET MUST STOP.

AND YOU AS CITY LEADERS, YOU NEED TO BE THE FIRST TO HELP CHAMPION THIS HEALING OF THIS MORALE.

FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS APPROVING THIS CONTRACT IS THE FIRST STEP.

A PUBLIC APOLOGY IS WARRANTED BECAUSE WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ENDURED THESE PAST FOUR YEARS IS NOTHING BEYOND HEROIC.

I KNOW MY COMMENTS ARE UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ANY OF YOUR VOTES, BUT MY HOPE FOR TODAY IS A NEW STEP FORWARD TO PAY, EQUIP AND APPRECIATE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ALL VOTE YES FOR THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A SAFER AUSTIN IN A SAFER COMMUNITY.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL AND GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS ASHLEY COPELAND AND I'M HERE ON TWO FRONTS, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS A MOM OF FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

SECONDLY, AS A CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, AND TODAY I'M IN SUPPORT OF PASSING THIS CONTRACT.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TO ME IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.

I SPEND MY EVERYDAY WORKING NOT ONLY TO KEEP MY FOUR CHILDREN SAFE, BUT I WAKE UP DRIVE TO MY OFFICE HERE DOWNTOWN TO SHOW SUPPORT TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE I CAN DO THAT FOR MY CHILDREN.

TO MAKE SURE YOU AND I ARE SAFE, THE POLICE CONTRACT IS CRUCIAL.

PASSING THIS CONTRACT WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE IN BUSINESS OR NOT, PA SORRY, NOT PASSING.

THIS CONTRACT WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES FROM MOVING HERE LEADING TO LOWER TAX REVENUE, FEWER RESOURCES THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE HEARING ALL DAY LONG THAT WE'RE DESPERATELY NEEDING BY APPROVING THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE INVESTING IN A POLICE FORCE THAT IS MORE EQUIPPED TO PROTECT AND SERVE ALL MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY PASSING IT.

WE WOULD BE ENSURING THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

AND I BELIEVE TOGETHER TODAY, IF WE

[05:10:01]

WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONAL SECURITY.

UH, BILL BUNCH, DISTRICT FIVE, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

WE'RE HERE, UH, ARGUING AGAINST THIS ON BOTH THE GROUNDS OF IT COSTS TOO MUCH, UM, DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY THE WAY WE NEED TO SPEND OUR MONEY.

UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE, UH, GAMESMANSHIP ON THE BEHALF OF THIS COUNCIL, AND PARTICULARLY THIS MAYOR, WE WERE HERE WITH THE COMMUNITY IMPACT BUDGET JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, URGING A WHOLE RANGE OF SPENDING THAT WOULD ADDRESS REAL PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, AND CRITICAL INVESTMENTS FOR, UH, PROTECTING OUR CLIMATE.

AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'VE HAD HEAT DEATHS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE OF THOSE.

UH, THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR THAT.

UH, NO FUNDING FOR PARKS AND RESTORING REWILDING, OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECTING OUR TREE CANOPY SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T DYING IN THE HEAT.

THOSE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES.

UH, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HERE WE ARE A COUPLE MONTHS LATER AND WE, OUT OF NOWHERE, COMES $218 MILLION TO PAY OUR COPS WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY EXTREMELY WELL PAID.

I HATE THAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE THAT.

OH MY GOD.

JESUS, MAN.

IT'S, IT'S OBSCENE.

UM, AND THEN YOU PACKAGE IT WITH BUYING BUILDINGS FOR A NEW SAFETY CENTER OUTTA MOPAC THAT HAS NO ACCESS ON THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS RE AFER RECHARGE ZONE, WHICH NOBODY MENTIONS EVER, AND WHICH NO PREVIOUS COUNCIL WOULD E EVEN DREAM OF DOING THAT.

YOU PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MORE THAN A THIRD OF A BILLION DOLLARS THAT SOMEHOW JUST SHOWS UP OUT OF NO THIN AIR.

AND YOU CAN'T TELL US HOW YOU'RE GONNA PAY IT.

THE LITTLE BIT THAT YOU DO TELL US HOW YOU'RE GONNA PAY IT IS FROM AUSTIN ENERGY TRANSFER TO THE COMMUNITY FUND.

WELL, THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT GONNA GET RID OF OUR COAL FLOWERED POWER PLANT ANYTIME SOON.

THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO INVEST IN THE OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

I HEAR THE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY DOWNTOWN.

I'VE EXPERIENCED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT MYSELF.

MOSTLY.

IT'S INCREDIBLY SAFE WHEN I'M DOWNTOWN, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT BUSINESSES, TOURISTS, THE PUBLIC, ARE GONNA LEAVE IN, IN SWARMS WHEN IT'S 125 DEGREES FOR MONTHS ON END.

BECAUSE THE ONLY THING WE HAVE DOWNTOWN IS PAVEMENT AND MORE PAVEMENT.

AND OUR URBAN TREE ACADEMY IS BEING DECIMATED IN SENT DOWNTOWN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF YOUR POLICIES.

PLEASE.

WE HAVE TO WAKE UP.

WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY AND SPENDING OUR MONEY ON PAYING ALREADY.

WELL-PAID PUBLIC SERVANTS WHEN THEY REFUSE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE IS NOT EXCEPTION.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JACKIE WHITLEY.

I'M HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND A PROPERTY MANAGER IN DISTRICTS TWO AND EIGHT.

I'VE MANAGED COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS.

MY TWO DAUGHTERS WERE BORN AND RAISED IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE LONG-TERM CONTRACT FOR A PD ITEM 47.

I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE TOLL THAT CRIME HAS TAKEN ON BOTH RESIDENTS AND ONSITE TEAMS CRIMES, INCLUDING PERSONAL PROPERTY THEFT, VEHICLE BREAK-INS, VANDALISM, AND BREAKING AND ENTERING WHILE THE A PD DOES WHAT THEY CAN.

POLICE RESPONSE TIMES HAVE BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER IF THEY ARE ABLE TO AT ALL DUE TO STAFFING CONSTRAINTS, THESE INCIDENTS ARE DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

MORE RESIDENTS ARE MOVING OUT CITING SAFETY CONCERNS.

PROPERTY MANAGERS LIKE MYSELF AND MY PEERS, ARE LEFT TRYING TO MITIGATE THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

I STARTED AND MANAGE A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP IN DISTRICT EIGHT CONSISTING OF PROPERTY MANAGERS WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF OUR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ALSO ABOUT DISCOURAGED ONSITE TEAM MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE EXPERIENCING BURNOUT DUE TO CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADDRESS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL ISSUES WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND TRAINING.

THERE'S ALSO A DIVIDE AMONG OUR COMMUNITIES

[05:15:01]

SOME RESIDENTS CAN AFFORD ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES LIKE HIGH QUALITY LOCK SYSTEMS, 360 DEGREE DASH CAMS, EVEN CAMERA RING DOORBELLS, BUT MANY CANNOT.

WHEN A PERSONAL SECURITY BECOMES A FINANCIAL BURDEN, IT UNDERMINES THE BROADER GOAL OF CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN.

THOSE WITH FEWER RESOURCES ARE LEFT VULNERABLE, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO A VISION OF AFFORDABILITY AND INCLUSIVITY.

WE NEED APDS PRESENCE TO BE RESPONSIVE.

FILLING THE VACANCIES AND IMPROVING OFFICER PAY WILL ALLOW POLICE TO RESPOND MORE QUICKLY TO INCIDENTS, REDUCE THE BURDEN ON PROPERTY MANAGERS, THEIR ONSITE TEAMS, AND THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE HERE FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS, SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR PROPERTIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AN EQUITABLE E EQUITABLE SENSE OF SECURITY ACROSS COMMUNITIES.

I DO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS LONG-TERM CONTRACT FOR THE A PD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

YASMIN SMITH, BORN AND RAISED AUSTIN KNIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT OF JUSTICE ADVOCACY FOR THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE, AND EXTREMELY TRIGGERED CONSTITUENT.

UH, TODAY'S WORK AT TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION.

I SPOKE TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF A $218 MILLION ALLOCATION, REPRESENTING A 28% INCREASE TO ONE OF THE HIGHEST POLICE BUDGET DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE WHO ALREADY HAVE THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR GENERAL FUND AND HOW THAT WOULD HARM OUR CITY NOW BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD SERVICES.

AND HOW WOULD IT HARM OUR CITY IN THE FUTURE? BECAUSE DUE TO STATE LEGISLATION, UH, ONCE WE ALLOCATE INTO THE POLICE BUDGET, WE CAN NOT USE IT FOR ANY OTHER REASON.

TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO HYPERFOCUS ON THE AMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE REGARDING THE G DRIVE.

AS YOU WERE MADE AWARE, THE SECRET FILE OF POLICE MISCONDUCT BURIES THE BODIES OF MISDEEDS PERPETRATED BY YOUR POLICE OFFICERS AND SILENCES VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

I STAND BEFORE YOU HEAR TODAY AND ADVOCATE FOR AND WITH THOSE VICTIMS. VICTIMS WHO DUE TO A SYSTEM OF CONTROL AND SECRECY, ARE LEFT TO DEAL WITH THE INTERNAL TRAUMA.

THE INTERNAL TRAUMA OF BEING VIOLATED.

WHILE THE CITY AND THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION HAVE SEEMINGLY COME TO A MEETING OF THE MINDS AFTER THE NEGOTIATION THAT WAS ALREADY BROKERED.

THIS DOES NOT MODIFY THE LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU.

HONESTLY, MY TESTIMONY ISN'T ABOUT ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE BAD, AND I WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR.

I ACTUALLY DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THAT NOTION.

HOWEVER, TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME.

AND WHILE POLICING IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS A NEC IS NECESSARY, YOU SHOULDN'T MAKE IT A NECESSARY EVIL.

YOU HAVE THE CHOICE IN YOUR HANDS TO ENSURE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE SIGNING ONTO IS UNAMBIGUOUS TO NOT DO SO, IS NEGLIGENT.

AND I'VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK SO I CAN FEEL THE TODD.

SO AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD ASK FOR A COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, A COMMITMENT FROM YOUR CHIEF THAT THOSE FILES PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION, BECAUSE THAT AMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE LEAVES AN EXCEPTION, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IMPLICATES, UM, THE G DRIVE STILL BEING IN, IN EFFECT, I WOULD ASK FOR AT LEAST A COMMITMENT, A PUBLIC COMMITMENT FROM YOUR CHIEF THAT THOSE FILES PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT ARE RELEASED TO A THIRD PARTY.

DO NOT BE UPON.

DO NOT LET YOURSELVES PLAY THE ROLE OF VICTIMIZING YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS.

DEMONSTRATIONS LED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXERCISING THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH? WILL IT BE MORE BRUTALIZING, PEPPER SPRAYING AND VIOLENTLY PUMMELING HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TO THE GROUND THAT I PERSONALLY HAD WITNESSED AND THAT YOU MR. WATSON HAD ALLOWED HOARDING FUNDS FOR A PD FEELS LIKE A DELIBERATE ACT OF AGGRESSION TOWARDS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY AS WE WITNESS THE INCREASED, UH, MIL MILITARIZATION OF SIMILAR CITIES SUCH AS ATLANTA AND DALLAS.

HI, MY NAME IS TANIA.

I AM WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS NEW HIRE.

UM, I'M HERE TO OPPOSE ITEMS 47 AND 48.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY POINTING OUT THAT MANY OF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

I'M PLATFORMS THAT PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY.

SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY ARE WE NOT SEEING MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEHE STAND AGAINST THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT? IT SEEMS THAT THIS INCREASED SPENDING FOR A PD IS BEING JUSTIFIED BY DISTORTING THE TRUE MEANING OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I'M CURIOUS, HOW WILL A PD ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AS WE FACE INCREASINGLY FREQUENT AND SEVERE CLIMATE CRISES? WILL IT BE THROUGH THE GUARDING OF DUMPSTERS FULL OF FOOD THROWN OUT BY GROCERY STORES WHILE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS STRUGGLE TO FIND SHELTERS AND ALREADY OVERWHELMED RESILIENCE HUBS? HOW WILL A PD ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF THE MOST WORST MENTAL HEALTH CRISES IN MODERN HISTORY THAT I'M PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING? WILL THERE BE MORE FATAL SHOOTINGS TO ANYONE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY LIKE THEY DID WITH MA UH, MAURICE, STILL SILVA AND SO MANY OTHERS, WHILE CUTTING OTHER FUNDS TO SOCIAL SERVICES? HOW WILL A PD ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY DURING PEACEFUL

[05:20:01]

IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE REPUTATION OF THIS SPECIFIC LEADERSHIP IS ABYSMAL BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY THAT HAS BECOME SECOND NATURE TO MANY OF YOU.

AND TO ADD INSULT TO ENTRY, EACH OF YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING OUR TAXES AND RAISING OUR UTILITY BILLS, ALL WHILE DEFUNDING OTHER ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR LIVELIHOODS.

THIS WILL BE YOUR LEGACY BY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS CONTRACT.

EACH OF YOU WILL DEMONSTRATE YOUR DESENSITIZATION AND LACK OF EMPATHY FOR THE REAL SUFFERING AND FEAR EXPRESSED BY THE DROVES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE STOOD BEFORE YOU.

SO I URGE EACH OF YOU TO REASSESS THIS CONTRACT AND PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT HAVE PROVEN TO ENSURE ACTUAL PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, PARKS AND REC PROGRAMS, AND CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE.

PLEASE ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

CITY MANAGER.

UH, CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS APRIL BROWN AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.

AS YOU WELL KNOW, SOUTH BY IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.

EACH YEAR, WHEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS COME TO OUR CITY TO ENJOY THE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON AND TO BOOST OUR ECONOMY, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS COME TOGETHER TO PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE, INTEGRAL ROLE IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

THE SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, COLLABORATION, AND PROTECTION.

WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SPENT HOURS LISTENING TO TESTIMONY AND OUR EARNESTLY CONSIDERING THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU TODAY SOUTH BY APPRECIATES THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT THAT IT TAKES TO GET A CONTRACT TO THIS STAGE AND KNOWS THAT AS WITH ANY NEGOTIATION, CONCESSIONS AND COMPROMISES MUST BE MADE ON MOST SIDE ON BOTH SIDES.

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST BELIEVES IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY TO FEEL MUTUALLY RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED AND EXPECTS THAT THE PARTIES WILL FOLLOW ANY COURT DECISIONS AFFECTING THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT, UH, ENCOURAGES YOU TO UPHOLD THE COURT'S INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW AND ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.

THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS GRACE FA, JJ RAMIREZ WITH TIME DONATED BY JAMES MCWILLIAMS. JJ AND JAMES, YOU'RE BOTH HERE.

CAROLYN WILLIAMS. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

JJ UH, ANNA DUNCAN.

LAURA ANN MARTINEZ.

UH, I BELIEVE MY NAME IS DIG RAMIREZ.

FIGURE OUT MY OWN WAY, MY OWN PATH TO GETTING THOSE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

HANG ON ONE SECOND.

I'LL MAKE SURE HE GAVE YOU SIX MINUTES.

HE HAS SIX MINUTES.

JAMES, YOU STILL WANNA SPEAK? MM.

OKAY, GOOD.

MY NAME IS JJ RAMIREZ.

I'M AN ORGANIZER AT VOCAL TEXAS.

UH, I'M NOT A BUSINESS OWNER.

I'VE NEVER OWNED A BUSINESS, UM, THAT SHOULDN'T MATTER, SHOULDN'T BE PRESENTED LIKE, LIKE AS EXTRA SPECIAL SHINY BADGE.

UM, I'VE BEEN HOMELESS IN THIS CITY.

I USED TO USE DRUGS IN THIS CITY.

I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP OUTTA THIS CITY.

I JOINED THE NAVY OUTTA THIS CITY.

I, UH, HONORABLY SERVED OUT THIS CITY.

I GOT TWO BACHELOR'S DEGREES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OUTTA THIS CITY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHICH, LIKE MORAL COMPASS LIKE MAKES YOU A BETTER PERSON, BUT LIKE, UM, MAN, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF REALLY, LIKE, I WASN'T INFURIATED EARLIER, BUT NOW I'M LIKE REALLY DEPRESSED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU THAT THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN.

AND YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HEARING TODAY, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT NOBODY'S, NONE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALLY MENTIONED VIOLENT CRIME, RIGHT? THEY, THEY MENTIONED, UH, PROPERTY, PROPERTY VALUE, PROPERTY CRIME.

UM, ESSENTIALLY JUST LIKE HOMELESS PEOPLE, RIGHT? HOMELESS PEOPLE STEALING S**T.

WE'RE HUNGRY.

WE GOTTA STEAL SOME STUFF.

I'VE BEEN TOLD NO ALL DAY.

I GET TREATED LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN.

I DON'T GET ACKNOWLEDGED AS A HUMAN BEING.

I DON'T GET TREATED WITH DIGNITY OR RESPECT, AND I HAVE A AND THEN I END UP, UM, ACTING OUT AND I'M CRAZY.

I'M DANGEROUS OR I'M SC I'M, I'M, I'M NOT SAFE, RIGHT? BUT 'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE, YOU HAVE TO BE 10 TOES DOWN PERFECT ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO THROW YOUR TRASH IN THE TRASH CAN.

THERE'S NO TRASH CANS.

YOU CAN'T TAKE A PIC.

YOU CAN'T USE THE RESTROOM OUTSIDE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S,

[05:25:01]

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

BUT YOU CAN'T GO INTO NOWHERE TO USE THE RESTROOM.

THE, THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE LIKE THAT.

LIKE WHY IS, WHY ARE THEY BEING MET WITH AGGRESSION? WHY ARE THEY BEING MET WITH ANGER? WHY IS IT NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO WAKE SOMEBODY UP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING? IS IT BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S BEEN KICKED AROUND ALL NIGHT LONG? DON'T GET HERE.

DON'T SLEEP HERE.

DON'T GO THERE.

GET UP FROM OVER HERE.

MOVE AROUND, MOVE AROUND, RIGHT? AND THEN HERE.

AND THEN AT FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING, YOU FINALLY GET TO GO TO SLEEP AT THE ONLY FEDERAL BUILDING THAT WON'T 'CAUSE IT'S NOT, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT STATE GROUND LET YOU SLEEP THEN BECAUSE IT'S THEIR JOB, RIGHT? THEY HAVE TO COME AND WAKE YOU UP AND LEAVE.

'CAUSE THAT'S THE LAW.

AND THEN YOU'RE MAD.

OH YEAH.

RIGHT? HOW DOES, HOW DOES POLICE, LIKE THE DUDE SAID EARLIER, RIGHT? WE NEED PERMANENT HOUSING.

WE NEED HOMELESS AND SERVICE, BUT WE GOTTA HAVE POLICE FIRST.

WHAT ARE WE PUTTING A CART BEFORE THE HORSE, RIGHT? JOHN IS BACK THERE, CAN'T HEAR.

HE TOLD ME A STORY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

SOMEBODY'S DEAF SLEEPING IN THEIR TENT.

A PD COMES WITH A KNIFE.

'CAUSE I'M SURE THEY CHECKED FIRST, RIGHT? I'M SURE THEY SAID VERBALLY, AS YOU KNOW, ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE.

HEY, SOMEBODY IN THERE.

NO.

TAKE A KNIFE.

CUT THE TENT, THROW THE TENT AWAY.

PEOPLE ARE IN THERE, CAN'T HEAR DEAF, HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING? TALKING, I DON'T WANNA RECREATE HOW HE TOLD ME, RIGHT? BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHAT'S HAPPENING? GET ON THE PHONE.

USE MY TRANSLATOR.

TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING WHILE THE WHOLE TIME THEY'RE JUST THROWING THEIR STUFF AWAY, RIGHT? IT IS ILLEGAL.

IT'S ILLEGAL TO BE HOMELESS.

YOU CAN'T, CAN'T, LET'S NOT FUND THOSE SERVICES.

LET'S GET A PD, RIGHT? WE NEED, THEY NEED MORE MONEY FIRST.

WE GOTTA ENFORCE THE CRIMES FIRST.

NOT THE WHY THE CRIME IS HAPPENING.

WE CAN'T SOLVE THAT ISSUE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE ARE NOT NINE ONE ONE'S NOT COMING.

WE HEARD PLENTY PEOPLE, THE PREDATORY THE PREY ON CARS, RIGHT? THERE'S, THERE'S STAFFING ISSUES.

THEY'RE NOT NOBODY, NOBODY'S JOINING THE FORCE.

THEY HAVE HOW MANY VACANCIES? THAT'S NOT OUR FAULT.

THAT'S NOT THE BUDGET'S FAULT.

THAT'S THEIR FAULT, RIGHT? THEY, LIKE YOU HEARD, THAT'S PLENTY OF MONEY.

THEY HAVE THE MOST MONEY OR WHATEVER.

HOWEVER MANY COPS THEY HAVE THE MOST MONEY MO ONE OF THE MOST, UH, UH, SALARY WISE IN, IN, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THAT'S NOT Y'ALL'S FAULT.

THAT'S NOT THE BUDGET.

THAT'S NOT Y'ALL TELLING ON THEM.

THAT'S THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO HIRE PEOPLE.

MAYBE THAT'S NOBODY WANTING TO BE A COP, BECAUSE THEY DON'T TREAT NOBODY, RIGHT? SO, AND WE'RE NOT CONFUSED EITHER, BY THE WAY.

WE KNOW HOW THE MONEY WORKS.

WE HAD A BUDGET CYCLE.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

THIS EXTRA THAT'S COMING OUTTA NOWHERE THAT WASN'T PUBLICLY TALKED ABOUT.

THE TAXES THAT MIGHT HAVE TO GO UP.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN ENERGY.

AUSTIN ENERGY.

LIKE WHY, HOW CAN WE CAN, HOW CAN WE CAN SCROUNGE UP MONEY, FIND A WAY TO, TO CHARGE OTHER PEOPLE TO, TO, TO DO HOW WE CAN FIND MONEY FROM THE, FROM THE ENERGY COMPANY, FROM PROPERTY TAXES TO GO TO A PD FIRST, BUT NOT TO HOUSING.

WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO FIND HOUSING.

WE'RE NOT BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO FIND HARM REDUCTION.

WE'RE NOT BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO FUND THE, THE MARSHALING YARD, WHICH IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

THEY, THEY AIN'T TAKING NOBODY, LIKE WE SAID ON TUESDAY, NO SHELTERS ARE TAKING ANYBODY IN THE CITY THAT AIN'T RIGHT.

BUT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET CREATIVE WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT TO THEN RAISE THE BUDGET AGAIN.

THEY CAN'T GO DOWN.

IT CAN NEVER GO DOWN.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

LIKE IT'S SET, SET TWO 18, SET.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE? WHAT HAPPENS? LIKE, IS WHEN, IS IT ENOUGH? 50%? I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE TOO, LIKE, WHEN IS IT ENOUGH? IT'S NOT TRUSTING THE POLICE.

THEY'RE JUST NOT, THEY DON'T HAVE, THAT'S ON THEM.

THEY GOT THE OPEN POSITIONS.

YOU WANT PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO 9 1 1.

HEY, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIGURE OUT HOW TO, TO HIRE PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE MUCH MORE POWERFUL STORIES THAN ME.

I'M JUST LIKE, REALLY SAD, ANGRY, AND DEPRESSED TO JUST HEAR PEOPLE JUST, JUST ESSENTIALLY S******G ON HOMELESS PEOPLE.

IT'S, THERE'S, I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED.

BE BE HUNGRY MAN.

BE HUNGRY FOR REAL.

BE TREATED LIKE A, LIKE, NOT EVEN A HUMAN BEING.

AND THEN SEE, SEE HOW YOUR MOURNING IS WHEN SOMEBODY'S YELLING AT YOU.

GET OUTTA HERE.

ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL HONESTLY, THANK YOU.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BEGIN.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M LAURA ANN MARTINEZ.

UM, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN ON THE SUBJECT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T GET COMPLETELY DONE WITH WHAT I HAD TO SAY THE LAST TIME.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T GET TO SAY WAS THAT I FELT LIKE, UM, BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GET HOUSING WITHOUT THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, I WAS KIND OF RIPPED OFF BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT I'D NEED.

AND I'VE HAD TO

[05:30:01]

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED MORE FUNDS IN THE BRIDGE TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

WE NEED MORE FUNDS IN THOSE AREAS.

AND IT DOESN'T, IT, THE, THE, THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT IF YOU MAKE, IF YOU SPEND ALL THIS MONEY ON THE, THE POLICE AND THE POLICING OF THE, THE HOMELESS POPULATION, YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

WHEN YOU RELEASE THEM FROM THE HO FROM THE JAILS, THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

AND THEY LOST THEIR PLACE ON THEIR LIST BECAUSE THEY WENT TO JAIL.

THEY HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.

AND THAT'S, THAT AIN'T FAIR.

IT AIN'T RIGHT.

AND THAT'S, BUT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

AND I KNOW THAT FOR ME, IT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO PLACE THESE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT.

AND WE, THAT'S VERY SAD.

UH, THE MINUSCULE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GIVEN TO THE HOUSING MARKET FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS IT'S JUST MENISCULE.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE 35% THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY GETS.

AND THAT'S JUST, IT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE HAVE NO, UM, NO BACKING UP OF WHAT, WHAT, WHAT PROGRAMS WE'RE USING FOR THE HOMELESS TO TRY TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET.

6,000 PEOPLE DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T TAKE A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS TO HOUSE 6,000 PEOPLE.

IT TAKES A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

AND WE, AND WE HAVE TO KEEP, UM, KEEP, UH, IN MIND AS WE'RE MOVING ALONG AND TRYING TO HOUSE THESE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, UM, SOMETHING WE, AND WE NEED YOU TO SAY NO FOR THIS BILL, THIS, UM, THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE VOTING ON TODAY.

BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY BE SPREAD OUT TO THE, UM, TO THE, TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT MORE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANNA DUNCAN AND I WAS HERE TUESDAY JUST AS WELL AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE ME.

UM, ON TUESDAY I TALKED ABOUT THE WASHING YARD.

TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ABOUT AN INCIDENT WITH MY JOB THIS PAST SATURDAY WHERE I HAD TO CALL EMS ON A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WAS ON SOME TYPE OF DRUGS.

I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T HONESTLY FOR SURE ABOUT THAT.

AND IT TOOK THEM QUICK, VERY QUICKLY TO GET WHERE I WAS AT.

AND I'M A SECURITY GUARD AT NIGHT.

UM, AND HONESTLY, I THOUGHT THE YOUNG LADY WAS, WAS DEAD.

AND IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THAT 218 MILLION CONTRACT FOR A PD TO WHERE IN THAT, THAT TWO POINT, I'M SORRY, 218 MILLION CAN USE, BE USED BEFORE HARM REDUCTION MENTAL HEALTH, EMS FIRE DEPARTMENT IN SERVICE PROVIDERS.

UM, ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP US, UH, WITH OUR MENTALITY AND HOW WE PERCEIVE STUFF AND, AND, AND NOT WASTE IT ON A PD.

AND I, I REALLY DO STRONGLY FEEL THAT A PD IS GONNA WASTE IT FOR WHATEVER.

AND TO MY, MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER OVER HERE.

I DO APOLOGIZE.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

I HAD A COUSIN WHO WAS KILLED BY A OFFICER.

I KNOW HOW SHE FEELS.

AND SO THE, THE, THE, THE MONEY THAT A PD IS GETTING OR SHOULD BE GETTING, SHE GOES TO PARAMEDICS, FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND MANY OTHERS INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS.

TIME, AND DONATED BY ANGELA PRIES.

THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE SHAMAN PERKIN, BARRY JONES, CHRIS TORRES WITH

[05:35:01]

UH, CHRIS AND ANGELA, ARE YOU BOTH HERE? YES.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, CO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, THIS AFTERNOON.

UH, MY NAME IS BARRY JONES.

I'M A LEADER WITH VOCAL TEXAS.

UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICE, UH, BUDGET TODAY.

UM, LAST SUMMER I WAS HERE FOR THE, UH, COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET.

AND AT THAT TIME, WE WERE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS LESS, UH, THE CITY HAD LESS INCOME THAN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WAS A BUDGET DEFICIT.

UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO, I FOUND OUT THAT SURPRISE $218 MILLION HAD BEEN FOUND SOMEWHERE $218 MILLION.

I GUESS IT JUST SLIPPED UNDER THE DESK OR SOMETHING.

UH, THIS HAPPENED, UH, JUST BEFORE AN UPCOMING VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION.

AND I GOTTA SAY, I GOTTA SAY FROM AN ORDINARY GUY'S PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS A VERY BAD LOOK FOR A CITY COUNCIL.

IT REALLY IS.

IT JUST IS.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING THAT, THAT PEOPLE WANT OUTTA THEIR GOVERNMENT IS OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THEY WANT THAT NO MATTER WHICH SIDE OF THE ISSUES THEY'RE ON.

UH, I HAD A, THE, THE CHANCES OF TRAVEL TO DENVER RECENTLY WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE DATES RIGHT NOW.

AND, UH, WE TOOK A LOOK AT HOW THEY WERE DOING THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS THAT THEIR LAST POINT IN TIME COUNT, THEY MEASURED ABOUT 1400 HOMELESS PEOPLE.

UH, THEY HAD GOTTEN OVER 1000 PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION.

UH, THAT'S 71%, BY THE WAY, 71% OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.

I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSE FROM THE DENVER RIGHTS WAS TO THIS SITUATION.

SO I ASKED, AND SHE SAID IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

THEY REALLY NOTICED A DIFFERENCE.

THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE.

BUT AT THAT TIME, THE MAYOR MADE THIS HIS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND HIS NUMBER ONE PUSH, AND HE MADE SURE IT HAPPENED, AND THAT'S WHY IT HAPPENED.

UH, I'M NOT TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD GUT THE POLICE BUDGET, NOT AT ALL.

BUT IF A PROBLEM HAS TWO PARTS AND YOU ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO ONE PART, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

THE, THE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BETTER PARITY BETWEEN THE POLICE BUDGET AND THE HOMELESSNESS BUDGET.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT LACKING.

NOW, UM, IN FACT, I WAS LOOKING AT A CHART FROM LAST SUMMER OF THE BUDGET WHERE IT WENT.

I NOTICED THAT, UH, HOMELESS SERVICES WAS 0.2%.

ANIMAL SERVICES WAS 1.6%, EIGHT TIMES EIGHT TIMES.

AND I'M THINKING, IS THIS AUSTIN? IS THIS REALLY? IS THIS AUSTIN? I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WANNA WEAR, YOU KNOW, A A THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO A MICROPHONE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CAROLYN WILLIAMS AND I'M A LEADER OF VOCAL TEXAS.

I AM ANGRY.

THE EXTRA MONEY BEING ALLOCATED TO THE POLICE NEEDS TO BE PUT TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THE POLICE HAVE DONE ME AND MY FAMILY SUCH AN INJUSTICE.

LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, MY SON HAS SCHIZOPHRENIA.

MY SON WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES, ALL UPPER BODY SHOTS TO KILL HIM.

I AM, I, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY.

MY SON WAS IN A, A CRISIS FOR FIVE MONTHS.

WE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL MULTIPLE TIMES.

HE COULDN'T AFFORD HIS MEDS.

I COULDN'T AFFORD HIS MEDS.

I TOLD HIM, I TOLD THEM NOT TO LET HIM OUT.

I BEGGED THEM TO STABILIZE HIM.

BUT THEY, THERE WAS, THAT WASN'T THE CASE.

IT ESCALATED.

THANK GOD HE'S ALIVE TODAY, BUT NOW HE'S DISFIGURED.

HOW HE WOULDN'T HAVE LOST HIS EYE.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE BRAIN SURGERY IF MENTAL HEALTH WOULD HAVE STEPPED IN.

BUT NO, THE POLICE WERE CALLED, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK POLICE SHOULD BE THE ONES TO RESPOND TO THE MEDICAL CRISIS.

[05:40:01]

SO WHY ARE THEY, WHY SO WHY ARE YOU GIVING THEM EVEN MORE MONEY WHEN WE HEAR MENTAL SERVICES ARE STRUGGLING FOR FUNDING? I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS THIS HAPPENED TO.

SO I'M PLEADING WITH YOU NOT TO GIVE THIS MONEY TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT TO ACTUAL SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY BE SAFE.

WHY NOT GIVE IT TO MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY? OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE SAFE.

JUST LIKE BARRY SAID, I'M NOT AGAINST THAT G GIVEN MONEY, BUT THAT MUCH MONEY THAT JUST APPEARED FROM NOWHERE.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST LUDICROUS.

MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT.

MENTAL HEALTH IS A VITAL PART OF HOMELESSNESS.

WE NEED MORE MENTAL HELP SERVICES.

WE NEED MORE HARM REDUCTION.

I AM REALLY ASHAMED TO SAY THAT THIS CITY IS DOING WHAT IT IS DOING BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

CRIMINALS AND POLICE OFFICERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC.

MR. TORRES WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

SO MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER TORRES.

I'M AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST AND MY AREAS OF PROFICIENCY ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX.

ALSO, UM, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY.

SO I'VE BEEN IN EVERY CITY, IN EVERY, UH, CITY, IN TOWN IN TEXAS.

AND I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT, UH, AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS ARE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS.

AND THEY HAVE AN EARNEST, UM, THEY HAVE AN EARNEST DESIRE TO KEEP THE PEACE AND, AND PROTECT THE SAFETY.

AND WHATEVER WE'RE SAYING IS NOTHING AGAINST THEM PERSONALLY.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE BAD PEOPLE, RIGHT? IT'S THAT THEY DON'T, UH, PERPETUATE AND THEY DON'T ENFORCE, UH, POLICIES THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL.

THEIR POLICIES ARE FAILED.

THEY DESERVE TO BE ENFORCED.

THEY, THEY DESERVE TO ENFORCE POLICIES THAT ARE BUILT TO SUCCEED.

RIGHT? AND SO THERE ARE INHERENT DESTRUCTIVE FLAWS IN THE CONFIGURATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, RIGHT? BY INVESTING IN NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT, YOU'RE INVESTING IN THE DESTRUCTION OF FAMILY AND THE DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY.

I IF CRIME IS DOWN, THAT'S A URGENT, UH, THAT, THAT JUST MEANS IT'S NOT AN URGENT CONCERN AT THE MOMENT, RIGHT? AND SO THE EARNED INCOME WORKER, HE PAYS MOST IN TAXES.

HE PAYS 30%.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE INVESTOR.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE BUSINESS PERSON WHO'S, WHO'S ONLY PAYING 15 OR 20%.

SO THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY OUR VOICES, UH, SHOULD BE HEARD.

'CAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T MAKE THE MOST MONEY, WE'RE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE TAX BRACKET, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, WHEN APARTMENTS, HOMES, AND BUILDINGS SIT VACANT WHILE THE HOMELESS FILL THE STREETS, THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW THAT SOCIETY IS FAILING, RIGHT? AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS JUST A, A RERUN OF SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE THIS HAS HAPPENED.

BEFORE IT WAS CALLED THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

IF YOU TAKE A A, A A STROLL, IF YOU TAKE A DRIVE DOWN ANY STREET IN AUSTIN, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS A BUNCH OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE CLOSED DOWN.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF A HUGE DEPRESSION.

SO THE WAY THAT YOU SPEND THIS MONEY IS VITAL TO OUR SURVIVAL.

AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC RIGHT NOW.

SO THE WHAT, THE IDEAL WAY TO SPEND THIS MONEY, AND THE REASON WHY A LOT OF THESE JOBS ARE BEING, UM, ELIMINATED IS BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY AND AI, RIGHT? TECHNOLOGY AND AI ARE ELIMINATING JOBS AT AN ALARMING RATE.

SO THERE'S, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH JOBS TO GO AROUND, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU TAKE THE JOBS OUT OF THE EQUATION, NOW THAT MEANS YOU'RE ALSO TAKING TAXES OUT OF THE EQUATION.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR EVERYBODY.

'CAUSE THE JOBS ARE BEING ELIMINATED.

SO THE BEST WAY TO SPEND THIS MONEY IS TO, UH, FOSTER THE, THE BUSINESS GROWTH, MAKE STABLE BUSINESSES.

IF YOU MAKE STABLE BUSINESSES, IT CREATES MORE JOBS THAT WAY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT SO HARD FOR THE LITTLE SCRAPS THAT WE HAVE OF TAX MONEY, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, THE DISRUPTION, THE DISRUPTION OF A TRILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS IS PROFITING OFF THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS.

THE BLOWING THE WHISTLE IS A LIFE THREATENING ACT.

JUST TO GIVE YOU THIS INFORMATION, I'M LITERALLY RISKING MY LIFE TODAY TO TELL YOU THIS, IN HOPES OF REVERSING THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING TODAY.

RIGHT? AND SO THE REASON, THE REASON WHY, UH, THEY HAVE FAILED POLICIES IS, UH, THERE'S 1% OF THE POPULATION THAT'S, THEY'RE PROFITING FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF SOCIETY AND THE DEGRADATION OF SOCIETY.

UH, SO THEY WANNA DIVIDE US INTO AS MANY FACT AS POSSIBLE.

THEY WANNA DIVIDE

[05:45:01]

THEY WANNA DIVIDE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

THEY WANNA DIVIDE SOCIALISTS AND, UH, REP AND, AND CAPITALISTS.

THEY WANNA DIVIDE, UH, RACIAL DIVIDES, RIGHT? ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

AND SO THAT'S HOW THEY KEEP US DEFEATED.

THAT'S HOW THEY KEEP US WEAK, RIGHT? AND SO THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THE IDEAL OF WE STAND AS UNITED AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN STAND.

AND WE WERE FOUNDED ON THE IDEAL OF TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION, NOT WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD TODAY.

SO WE HAVE TO INVEST IN HOUSING, JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT DISPLAY A TRUE, A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS AND NOT FAILURE, RIGHT? AND SO, UH, IT'S A MUST THAT WE IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS, THAT CREATE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND DON'T ADDRESS THE SYMPTOMS, UH, WHICH IS WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES.

IT ADDRESSES THE SYMPTOMS. SO WHEN THEY GO TAKE A CRIMINAL TO PRISON, THERE'S THE, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT CREATED THAT CRIMINAL HAS NOT CHANGED, RIGHT? AND SO THE, THE, THEY MIGHT CATCH ONE OF THE CRIMINALS, BUT THERE'S STILL, UH, THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE MORE BEING, UH, CREATED IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT CREATED THE, THE PERSON THAT THEY TOOK TO PRISON.

THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CHANGE THE CONDITIONING THAT CREATES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

AND THAT'S WHAT IS MOST ALARMING.

THAT'S WHY THE, THAT'S WHY IN 30 YEARS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU THROW AT THIS THING, THERE'S STILL AS MOUNT AS AS MANY DRUGS AS THERE WAS ON THE STREET NOW AS THERE WAS 30 YEARS AGO, THERE'S STILL AS MANY CRIMES, UH, THAT ARE HAPPENING.

SO, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN COMMUNAL WELLNESS AND, AND POLICIES THAT ARE BUILT TO SUCCEED.

THINK LIKE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND SHOWERS.

UH, I MEAN, 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S GETTING TO BE THE, LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA GET A JOB, RIGHT? IF THERE'S NOWHERE TO TAKE A SHOWER, THERE'S NOWHERE TO USE THE BATHROOM.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE BASIC NECESSITIES.

THERE'S NO WAY.

NO, NOBODY'S GONNA HIRE YOU LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NOWHERE TO PUT YOUR CLOTHES, RIGHT? AND SO THIS IS A, A PROBLEM THAT IS GETTING WORSE.

IT'S GETTING WORSE.

AND, UH, THROWING MONEY AT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT GONNA HELP IT, RIGHT? IT'S NOT GONNA STOP PEOPLE FROM FILLING THE STREETS.

AND THAT'S WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES IN THE FIRST PLACE? THEY CAN'T FIND A JOB.

WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO? THEY'RE GONNA SELL DRUGS, THEY'RE GONNA STEAL SOMETHING.

THEY'RE GONNA, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BREAK THE LAW, RIGHT? SO ANY CONSIDERATION, THESE MATTERS THAT YOU GIVE US IS, UH, THANKFULLY APPRECIATED.

AND I REALLY DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I'M RICHARD BOLAND, MY FRIEND'S TELLING ME YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED MY NAME.

IS IT? WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

UH, DON'T HAVE I MISSED MY TIME.

WE CALLED HIS NAME RICHARD BOLAND.

OPPOSE THE CURRENT CONTRACT.

YES, WE'VE CALLED YOU.

I AM OPPOSED TO BOTH RATIFYING THE CONTRACT AND THE EXTRA FUNDING FOR THE POLICE.

I'VE, I WAS ABLE TO LISTEN ON AND OFF.

I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR A LIVING SO I DIDN'T GET TO LISTEN FULL TIME.

BUT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, SINCERE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CRIME IN AUSTIN AND WANTING A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE CRIME IN AUSTIN.

I WANT A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT TOO, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE.

ROBERT PEELE FAMOUSLY SAID THAT THE EFFICIENCY OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT CAN BE DETERMINED BY THE ABSENCE OF CRIME, NOT THE VISIBILITY OF POLICING.

AND WE DON'T HAVE AN ABSENCE OF CRIME HERE.

I TOO ALSO BELIEVE THAT MOST, MAYBE NOT ALL CRIME IS BASED ON THINGS LIKE POVERTY, MENTAL HEALTH, THE DESPERATION THAT COMES TO BOTH OF THEM, AND PROBLEMS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN'T SOLVE THEMSELVES, THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE COULD HELP THEM.

IDEALLY IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE THE GOVERNMENT, BUT THE GOVERNMENT CAN HAVE SOME RESOURCES TO BE OF ASSISTANCE INSTEAD OF BEING OF HARM.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT IF THE POLICE REALLY WANTED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CRIME THEY WOULD FUND ANTI-POVERTY INITIATIVES OUT OF THEIR OWN POLICE BUDGET, THAT WOULD REDUCE CRIME MORE THAN THEM BEING OUT ON THE STREET.

I BELIEVE THAT, UH, ANYWAY, I WANT A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE WE START GIVING THEM MORE MONEY AND BETTER CONTRACTS TOO.

THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS. I'M NOT GONNA LIST 'EM ALL.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE, AND THERE'S PLENTY MORE.

I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF THEM.

WE NEED A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT REPRESENTS AUSTIN, WORKS WITH AUSTIN, DOESN'T TREAT AUSTINITES LIKE ENEMIES, DOESN'T PUT BARS IN FRONT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, , YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE THEY'RE THE ONES IN JAIL, STRANGELY APPROPRIATE SOMETIMES AND ARE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITY AND THAT, OR TO THE CITIZENS.

AND I REALIZE THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTRACT, BUT I STILL, AS OF RIGHT NOW,

[05:50:01]

MARIKA SMITH, MARGARET RICHARDSON, JUAN CRUZ, ANDY, PASTOR GRACIE PINKEL.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND IF THE MICROPHONE IS EMPTY, PLEASE MOVE TO THE MICROPHONE.

ANY ONE OF YOU.

OKAY, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE PODIUM.

I THINK IT'LL BE EASIER FOR YOU TO BE HEARD.

SAY, OH, GO TO THE PODIUM.

GO TO ONE OF THE PODIUMS. YES, THERE YOU GO.

HI, MY NAME IS GRACIE.

I'M A MEMBER OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 47 AND 48 BECAUSE IT HONESTLY FEELS INSANE TO ME THAT A PT IS ASKING FOR MORE MONEY WHEN THEIR BUDGET IS ALREADY ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.

IF THEY'RE FEELING THAT THEIR CURRENT RESOURCES ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DO THE JOB, THE ANSWER'S SIMPLE.

WE NEED TO LESSEN THEIR WORKLOAD.

WE SHOULD USE THAT MONEY TO CREATE SERVICES THAT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE STUFF OFF THEIR PLATE.

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT FACTORS AS TO WHY APPROVING THIS CONTRACT IS A TERRIBLE AND DANGEROUS IDEA.

SO I WILL FOCUS ON SOME PERSONAL EXAMPLES HERE IN AUSTIN, WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE WAS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND HIS GIRLFRIEND CALLED THE COPS BECAUSE SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIM HURTING HIMSELF WHEN THEY CAME TO THE DOOR AND KNOCKED WITHOUT ANNOUNCING THEMSELVES.

AND I OPENED THE DOOR JUST TO BE MET WITH A GUN POINTED DIRECTLY AT MY FACE.

IS THAT WHAT WE THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS? IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT BEING SAID THAT A GUN SHOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE NEAR SOMEBODY HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY.

AT MULTIPLE OF MY SCHOOLS GROWING UP, WE HAD TO WALK THROUGH METAL DETECTORS EVERY DAY TO GET TO OUR CLASSROOMS. THESE CLASSROOMS WERE UNDERFUNDED, OUR TEACHERS WERE OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID.

AND I PROMISE YOU THAT CARCERAL ATTENTION IN EVERY HALLWAY, THAT POLICE PRESENCE AT THE BUS STOPS DID NOT MAKE ANY OF US FEEL SAFE.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW A COP TACKLE ONE OF MY FRIENDS AT THE BUS STOP IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, A CHILD BECAUSE HE WAS BEING TOO RAMBUNCTIOUS.

AND WE'RE SAYING, SORRY.

AND WE'RE SAYING THAT THAT WOULD KEEP US MORE SAFE THAN INVESTING THAT MONEY INTO A WELL-MAINTAINED PARK TO GO HANG OUT AT AFTER SCHOOL OR A LIBRARY TO DIVE INTO ANOTHER WORLD BEFORE GOING HOME.

I GREW UP IN A HOME WITH ADDICTION AND VIOLENCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE WASN'T EVER A COP CALL THAT HELPED THAT SITUATION.

THOSE FEW TIMES ONLY EVER MADE THE SITUATION FEEL MORE INTENSE.

THE SLEEP WAS MORE LOST.

AND WHAT ACTUALLY STARTED TO HELP HIM WAS FINDING COMMUNITY WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES SO THAT THEY COULD HELP LIFT EACH OTHER UP IN A REAL WAY THROUGH CARING FOR EACH OTHER WITHOUT JUDGMENT.

SO WHY DON'T WE DIRECT THAT FUNDING TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST, UH, WORKING TOWARDS THIS TYPE OF HEALING AND REPAIR.

OUR BUDGETS ARE OUR VALUES AND INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET DOES NOT EQUATE THAT WE AS A CITY VALUE OUR SAFETY.

IT IS SAYING THAT WE DO NOT TRUST OUR NEIGHBORS.

AND THAT RESPONDING TO CONFLICT WITH VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY ANSWER.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN.

AND THEN THESE COPS GET USED TO ARRESTING OUR CHILDREN, CHILDREN AND ISOLATING THEM IN PRISON CELLS, MORE COPS WILL MEAN MORE ARRESTS, WHICH ONLY LEADS TO FURTHER ISOLATION, WHICH I DON'T KNOW A LOT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW FOR CERTAIN IN THIS LIFE IS THAT ISOLATION IN CAGES DO NOT AND WILL NOT EVER SOLVE A DAMN THING.

FREEDOM FROM OCCUPATION BY RACIST POLICE HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND MY OPINION IS ABSOLUTELY CONNECTED TO RESISTING RACIST OCCUPATION FROM THE SAME OPPRESSIVE FORCES OVERSEAS.

AGAIN, THESE CITY BUDGETS ARE OUR VALUES AND THOSE BUDGETS AGGREGATE AND ADD UP CITY BY CITY TO REFLECT OUR NATION'S VALUES.

THEY DO NOT LISTEN TO US AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THEY CAN BLOCK US OUT, BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT US AND HEAR US.

WE ARE TOLD TO ACT LOCALLY AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE IF WE CAN RESIST FURTHER INVESTMENT IN VIOLET FASCISM HERE IN OUR CITY, THEN WE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO RESISTING IT OVER THERE.

MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS.

I ALMOST SAID GOOD MORNING.

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS MORNING.

GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I YOU, UM, AFTERNOON.

I'M MARGARET RICHARDSON.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT ALL OFFICERS ARE NOT BAD.

THE BAD ONES ARE MAKING, MAKING THE GOOD ONES LOOK BAD.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PAID OUT TO CITIZENS BECAUSE OF A PD MISCONDUCT OVER THE YEARS.

IF THEY DID THINGS THE PROPER WAY TO BEGIN WITH, THEY WOULDN'T KEEP GETTING SUED TO NEED MORE MONEY.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT PLENTY OF THE MISCONDUCTS AND ABUSES OF POWER.

HERE'S ANOTHER, MY HUSBAND'S CONVICTION JUST GOT OVERTURNED AFTER BEING IN PRISON FOR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE OF THE RACISM AND SHODDY WORK OF A PD.

NO REAL INVESTIGATION.

TWO OFFICERS, ONE WHOSE BODY CAM SUPPOSEDLY MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE OTHER ONE THAT FORGOT TO TURN THEIRS ON.

NOT ONE PERSON'S STORY MATCHED.

HE'S BLACK, SO AUTOMATICALLY HE WAS GUILTY ACCORDING TO HIS COLOR.

THE CADETS NEED PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN THE ACADEMY AND CLASSES ON HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE WITHOUT JUDGMENT.

THE RACISM HAS GOT TO STOP.

THE RACISM INCLUDES AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PROBLEMS WITH ADDICTION,

[05:55:01]

WE'VE ALL DONE BAD THINGS AS WELL AS SOME OF YOU, I'M SURE.

AND THIS WILL BE VERY VOTE TO YES, SAY, YES TO DO NOT REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR, GIVE CONSEQUENCES INSTEAD, PLEASE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HELP YOUR COMMUNITY FIRST WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

AND THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE GIVING A PD MORE MONEY.

YES, SIR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS JUAN CRUZ, 6 6 76.

UH, ALL MY LIFE I LIVED IN THE STREETS, IN AND OUTTA JAIL.

AND UM, I WAS IN PRISON ONE DAY AND UH, I LOOKED AT THE TV ON THE MURRAY PUL SHOW.

IT WAS SAYING AS A JOKE, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FALL ASLEEP AT A BUS STOP IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

AND I LOOKED UP AND IT WAS MY BROTHER GETTING BEAT UP AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HE WAS PUT IN A COMA AND I COULDN'T DO NOTHING BUT SIT THERE AND LOOK AT HIM.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP.

HIS NAME IS JOSEPH CRUZ, 8 17 82.

AND IT HAPPENED IN 2007 AND I COULDN'T DO NOTHING BUT JUST SIT THERE AND LOOK AT IT HAPPENED.

AND THEN RECENTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IS, I CAN'T REMEMBER NO MORE, BUT I WAS TASERED BY THE POLICE IN MY BACK AND IT FELT LIKE MY WHOLE CHEST CAME OUT AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE AMBULANCE AND THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A COP PULLING THE, THE TASERS OUTTA MY BACK, YANKING 'EM OUT.

AND I WAS LIKE, NOW I'M IN THE HOSPITAL AND I'M WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON? AND UM, I CAN LOOK UP AND I CAN SEE THE COP AND THE NURSE HIGH FIVE EACH OTHER AND SAY, GOOD JOB.

AND I'M LIKE, I'M LOOKING AT HIM.

I CAN SEE HIM AND I CAN HEAR HIM.

AND THE NEXT THING KNOW, I WAKE UP DOWNTOWN AT THE CITY, I WAKE UP AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I GOT THERE.

AND THEY TAKE ME IN.

AND THE WHOLE TIME I WAS IN JAIL, I COULD BARELY WALK AND I COULD BARELY BREATHE.

AND EVERY DAY I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE.

AND I'M THANKFUL TODAY THAT I'M HERE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK OUT, YOU KNOW? AND I'M THANKFUL MY BROTHER'S STILL HERE TOO, BUT HE'S HOMELESS IN THE STREETS.

HE NEEDS HELP.

HE DON'T HAVE HIS.

AND WHEN HE WAS IN A COMA, HE DON'T, HE DON'T HAVE HIS BRAIN TOO MUCH, SO HE DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE.

SO ALL HE DOES IS LIVE IN THE STREETS.

BUT I'M THANKFUL THROUGH MY, MY INCIDENT.

THEY GAVE ME A PLACE TO LIVE, BUT I CAN'T GET HIM OVER THERE.

BUT I'M BEING WATCHED, I'M BEING MONITORED BECAUSE THEY STILL TREAT ME AS A STREET PERSON.

THEY DON'T EVEN LET ME LIVE IN, IN THEIR LITTLE COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN HAVING THE COPS CALL ON ME ALL THE TIME.

I'M SITTING THERE PRAYING FOR IT TO STOP AND THEY CALL THE COPS ON ME EVERYWHERE I'M AT.

AND I'M LIKE, WHY? WHAT'S GOING ON? I'M TRYING TO PRAY FOR THIS TO STOP AND YOU WANNA CALL THE COPS ON ME FOR NO REASON AT ALL.

JUST LABEL ME AS A TARGET.

THAT'S HOW I FELT.

YOU KNOW, DON'T EVEN GIVE NOBODY A CHANCE TO EVEN LIVE AND LEARN HOW TO LIVE.

I STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW EVERY DAY I WAKE UP I STILL GOTTA HELP MYSELF REMEMBER HOW TO LIVE, HOW TO WALK, HOW TO GET UP, YOU KNOW.

BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT I'M STILL HERE LIVING AND BREATHING.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER.

WHEN OTHER LAWYERS CAN EASILY POINT OUT HOW THE CONTRACT'S LANGUAGE VIOLATES.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE MCCARDLE.

MY NAME WAS CALLED OF IT EARLIER.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 40 RELATED TO THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT.

I SPOKE BEFORE YOU ON TUESDAY TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, WHICH REMAIN UNCHANGED FOLLOWING TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION.

BEFORE I GET BACK INTO THAT, I WANNA ADDRESS THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SPOKE EARLIER TODAY, FEARMONGERING ABOUT THE STAFFING SHORTAGES AT A PD.

THERE ARE NATIONWIDE SHORTAGES IN POLICING.

THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT'S SPECIFIC TO AUSTIN.

AND SINCE A PD OFFICERS ARE ALREADY AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE COUNTRY, THE ISSUE IS NOT THE PAY AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THEM EVEN MORE.

WE ALSO KNOW FROM THE RECENT CORAL REPORT THAT IT'S THE CULTURE IN THE DEPARTMENT CAUSING OFFICERS TO LEAVE.

AND THIS CONTRACT IS NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THAT.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S THE CULTURE IN THE DEPARTMENT CAUSING THE SLOW RESPONSE TIMES TO CALLS.

PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR EVERYDAY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NOT WEALTHY BUSINESS OWNERS LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR CAPITALIST INTERESTS.

BUT I MAINLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS.

FIRST, THE G FILE.

THIS CONTRACT KEEPS PAST POLICE CONDUCT RECORDS SECRET IN VIOLATION OF THE A POA.

I KNOW THAT IN TUESDAY'S WORK SESSION CITY STAFF CLAIMED THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE.

BUT THIS IS THE SAME CITY STAFF THAT CLAIMED FOR A YEAR THAT THE A POA WAS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW AND THE CITY JUST RECENTLY LOST A LAWSUIT OVER THIS.

SO IT'S VERY HARD TO TRUST THEIR CLAIMS TODAY

[06:00:01]

THE A-P-O-A-I STRONGLY URGE YOU ALL TO AT THE VERY LEAST, POSTPONE THE VOTE ON THE CONTRACT UNTIL AFTER THE CURRENT COURT ORDER ON THIS MATTER GETS RESOLVED BASED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE LAST LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OVER THE A POA.

IT SEEMS WISE, I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT HAVING THE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE A POA.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ME.

IT'S WORTH REPEATING AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THE A POA WAS PASSED WITH NEARLY 80% OF THE VOTE.

LIKE, UM, THE CONSENSUS AMONG AUSTINITES IS VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THESE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS IN THE A POA.

THIS STUFF IS SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE A POA HAS PASSED AND THE CITY HAS MOSTLY JUST DRAGGED ITS FEET IN IMPLEMENTING IT.

WE FINALLY HAVE GFI ACCESS.

PLEASE DON'T LET THAT BE JEOPARDIZED BY THIS CONTRACT.

CITY STAFF CAN CLAIM THAT THE CONTRACT DOESN'T LIMIT THE G FILE AND YOU CAN POINT TO NON-LEGAL BINDING COMMUNICATIONS TALKING ABOUT THAT.

BUT ULTIMATELY THIS CONTRACT IS WHAT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

AND ITS LANGUAGE HAS TO BE BULLETPROOF AND AIRTIGHT.

WE'VE SEEN FROM THE HISTORY OF THE POLICE ASSOCIATION THAT THEY WILL TURN THEIR BACK IN AN INSTANT ON ANYTHING NOT LEGALLY BINDING.

AND THEY WILL USE ANY LANGUAGE THAT'S REMOTELY AMBIGUOUS TO CHIP AWAY AT THE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS.

SO ON THE GROUNDS OF THE G FILE PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT, I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES IN THE CONTRACT.

THE PETTY GRIEVANCES PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THE LANGUAGE HAS TO BE AIRTIGHT SO THAT THE POLICE ASSOCIATION CAN'T CHIP AWAY AT THE A POA THROUGH GRIEVANCES AS THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST WITH PREVIOUS OVERSIGHT.

YOU'LL NOTICE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF THIS CONTRACT REPRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS, NOT HUMAN INTERESTS.

AND THEY'RE PART OF A NATIONAL CONCERTED EFFORT TO FEAR MONGER AND EVENT A FALSE SENSE THAT AUSTIN AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNSAFE AND HIGH BUYING ANECDOTES AND BAD ACTORS TO TRY AND CONVINCE US THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN ONE OF THE SAFEST BIG CITIES IN THE WORLD.

YOU ALL CHAMPION SUCH GREAT IDEAS AND POLICIES ALL YEAR FROM HOUSING, CHILDCARE TO PARKS AND TRANSIT.

PLEASE DON'T SULLY YOUR GOODWILL HARD WORK IN OUR CITY FOR THE SAKE OF A CONTRACT THAT WILL NOT IMPROVE A PD RECRUITING AND RETENTION AND KILL THE CITY'S STRIDES AND TO MAKING IT THE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY THAT WE KNOW.

UM, IT'S CLEAR THE PUBLIC NO LONGER BELIEVES THE POLICE ARE THE REASON FOR OUR SAFETY.

PLEASE VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND VOTE NO THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47.

UH, PLEASE GO TO ITEM 48 MEMBERS.

I I WHAT I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD TAKE UP THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'D TAKE UP BOTH ITEMS 47 AND 48.

WE AT THIS TIME DO NOT HAVE ANY REMOTE SPEAKERS, SO WE WE WILL MOVE INTO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 48.

FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE WHITNEY KNIGHT, FOLLOWED BY BILL BRYCE, EMILY BLAIR.

MATT CREEL.

ALRIGHT, MR. BRYCE YIELDS HIS TIME.

KIMBERLY KIMBERLY FAULKNER.

YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED WHEN ON ITEM NUMBER 47 AND NOT FEEL THE NEED ON 48, BUT WE WILL CALL YOUR NAME IN ANY EVENT.

SO NEXT SPEAKERS ARE RUDY GARZA.

STACEY SCHMIDT, MANDY BLOTT, PAMELA DEAR, PLEASE GO WITH THE NEXT LIST.

TREY SALINAS.

ASHLEY SPENCE.

CORBY JARO, BEN SOTHEBY, JOE BLAND, ARCHBISHOP STERLING LANDS, SAM KIRSCH, PETE INMAN, JIMMY GREGORY MAX MILLS SAGE, WEST COLE WEAVER, JAY POPHAM, ALAN RAMIREZ, LILA MAXEY, NICK HAYNES, CHRISTOPHER GOOSE, MICHAEL CHAHEEN, VILLANUEVA.

ANGEL FIGARO.

MARIE VALE RES.

CHRIS FISHER.

MARK RESOUR.

MARK LEY, TASHA MORA, AMANDA WEEMS, JENNIFER SHAW, REGINALD DIGGINS, RANDALL WASHINGTON, LOUISE LOUIS TREVINO.

TONY CASTILLO.

CLIFFORD JACOBIS.

JUAN ANTONIO SANA, JOE DESHOTEL.

SUSAN, SUSAN SPATARO.

BRIAN TEPO, CARLOS PINON.

MS. RO, COME.

I THINK THEY'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A VERY BRIEF COMMENT.

A LOT OF COMMENTS WERE MADE IN YOUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT.

[06:05:01]

I THINK THEY DID THROUGH THE ENTIRE AREA, UH, BUDGET PERIOD.

THEY'VE ANALYZED THINGS, THEY PUT A, A PLACEHOLDER, UH, IN THIS AND SOMEONE MENTIONED, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW COME THE, AS THE REVENUE ESTIMATE CHANGED AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PROPERTY TAXES, IT DOES CHANGE BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET THE FINAL NUMBER FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TILL LATE.

AND SO UNTIL YOU GET THAT, AND YOU KNOW, USUALLY YOU MAKE A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE SO THAT WHEN YOU FINALLY GET IT, YOU HAVE A LITTLE MONEY EXTRA RATHER THAN THAN SHORT.

SO, UM, I'M FOUR, UH, 48, BUT I DID WANNA SAY, I, I THINK YOUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT DID A GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU, MR. ONE MOMENT.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR MY SPOT.

SURE.

BRIAN PLE, CARLOS PONE, MARYANNE SANCHEZ, TYLER LHAM, CRAIG NASER, ROSE SIGLER, JOHN DIAL, ROBERT CLARK, TIFFANY NEY, PETER KIM.

MR. NASER WISHING TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS CRAIG NASER, CONSERVATION CHAIR, LONE STAR CHAPTER SIERRA CLUB.

WE OPPOSE THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THIS CONTRACT.

AUSTIN HAS HAD NO APPRECIABLE RAIN SINCE EARLY SEPTEMBER.

THE AVERAGE HIGH IN OCTOBER HAS BEEN OVER 91 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

THIS WILL BE THE HOTTEST OCTOBER EVER IN AUSTIN.

LAKE TRAVIS IS LESS THAN HALF FULL.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND IS GROWING WORSE NOW.

AUSTIN ENERGY WANTS TO BUILD A NEW GAS POWER PLANT.

NOW YOU PROPOSE TO TAKE SOME AUSTIN ENERGY MONEY TO PERMANENTLY FUND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AS YOU KNOW, POLICE FUNDING BY STATE LAW WILL NEVER GO DOWN.

IT WILL ONLY GO UP.

THIS WILL PUT FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON AUSTIN ENERGY.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY THINKS THIS IS A BAD IDEA.

A FEW MONTHS AGO WE ASKED YOU TO FUND AUSTIN'S CLIMATE INVESTMENT PLAN AND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN.

WE ASKED FOR MORE PARK LAND TO AID OUR NATURAL SYSTEMS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO SEQUESTER CARBON.

WE'VE ASKED FOR MONEY TO ADDRESS UNMET LOCALIZED FLOODING NEEDS.

WE'VE ASKED TO EXPAND RENEWABLE ENERGY AND BATTERY POWER.

WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR MOST OF THIS, BUT NOW OUR CITY OFFICIALS TELL US THAT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS NEW POLICE CONTRACT.

BOTH OF THESE THINGS CANNOT BE TRUE.

I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE YOU HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE COST OF POLICE LAWSUITS WELL OVER $20 MILLION IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS AS A COST OF POLICING.

AS I SAID EARLIER, AUSTIN IS NOT AN UNSAFE CITY BY JU BY JUDGING BY MUCH OF THE TESTIMONY I'VE HEARD AND BY WHAT I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN.

WE HAVE AN UNHOUSED CITIZEN PROBLEM, WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WE ALSO HAVE AN EQUITY PROBLEM, AND THESE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING WORSE.

THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS IS NOT THROUGH MORE POLICING.

FROM WHERE WILL THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THESE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS? COME.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEELING SAFE AND ACTUALLY BEING SAFE.

CLIMATE CHANGE WILL AFFECT THE UNHOUSED POPULATION THE WORST.

IT WILL MAKE AUSTIN FAR LESS AFFORDABLE.

IT WILL SEVERELY DAMAGE THE NATIONAL NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

IT'LL CAUSE A WATER CRISIS.

IT WILL BE A CATASTROPHE.

IT'LL MAKE US ALL LESS SAFE.

I HAVE SEEN YOU ALL, I'VE SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL ABOUT WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

PLEASE READ IT.

THIS DATA WAS GATHERED LAST TUESDAY AT BARTON SPRINGS UNIVERSITY.

I LOOKED ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE EYE AND SAW THEIR CONCERN.

I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT IT.

I TRIED TO OFFER THEM HOPE.

MAYBE YOU'LL LOOK AT THIS EMAIL.

I HOPE YOU DO.

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AUSTIN'S FUTURE.

WE WANT GOOD EQUITABLE POLICING, BUT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CONTRACT AS IT IS NOW WRITTEN, WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS.

MY NAME IS TIFFANY PNE AND I'M FROM DISTRICT TWO AND I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, FEEL FREE TO STEP TOWARD THE MICROPHONE.

[06:10:03]

SO WE KEEP HEARING HOW WE'RE SHORT POLICE OFFICERS SINCE I LIKE TO GET TO THE HEART OF PROBLEMS. MY FIRST QUESTION WAS WHY IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE AT FULL CAPACITY AND AUSTIN IS SUCH A CRIME RIDDEN HELLHOLE THAT YOU NEED MORE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S HIGH TURNOVER IF, UH, IT'S UH, IF IT'S LIKE WHERE I'VE WORKED BEFORE, HIGH TURNOVER IS USUALLY A RESULT OF TERRIBLE TRAINING.

TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT, NEPOTISM, HIRING AND PROMOTIONS AND BULLYING.

THE POLICE ALREADY HAVE NEARLY 40% OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.

THEY DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET ISSUE.

IF EVERY OFFICER WAS LIKE OFFICER WILLIAMS, THEN THEY WOULDN'T WANT A G FILE.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BREEDS A SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENT.

INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM 50, 60, 70% OF OUR TAXES IRREVERSIBLY TO THE POLICE, YOU SHOULD BE CLEANING HOUSE AND MAKING, BEING A POLICE OFFICER A GOOD PLACE TO WORK.

UM, I'M PETER KIM.

I'M FROM DISTRICT ONE AND I'M BACK AGAIN TO JUST TALK ABOUT MONEY AS WELL.

UM, AS TIFFANY BEFORE ME MENTIONED, A PD ALREADY TAKES IN $500 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH IS 35% OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.

AND SINCE WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY HERE, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT'S MORE THAN FIRE.

EMS, PARKS AND REC AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMBINED.

AND NOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT COMMITTING A PERMANENT $44 MILLION A YEAR INCREASE BECAUSE LEMME REMIND EVERYONE.

TEXAS STATE LAW PREVENTS US FROM EVER REDUCING POLICE BUDGETS ONCE THEY'RE INCREASED LIKE THIS.

SO HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE ACTUALLY GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS? IN 2024, THE CITY MADE $7.2 BILLION IN REVENUE AND SPENT $7.6 BILLION.

SO WE ALREADY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS.

AND NOWHERE IN THE CONTRACT HAS THE A PA OR THE CITY PROVIDED A SOLID PLAN FOR HOW THEY'RE GONNA PAY FOR THIS.

HOW IS IT EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLE TO COMMIT ALL OF US TO A PERMANENT $44 MILLION EXPENSE WITHOUT ANY SOLID PLAN TO PAY FOR IT? ARE WE JUST GONNA TAKE THE GUYS AT RAMPAGE LAW AND THE A PA GONNA TAKE THEIR WORD FOR N SAY, TRUST ME BRO, I CAN AFFORD IT.

WHEN I APPLIED FOR A MORTGAGE TO BUY MY HOUSE, I HAD TO PROVE TO THE BANK THAT YES, I HAD A JOB.

AND YES, THAT IT PAID ME ENOUGH FOR ME TO KEEP UP WITH MY MONTHLY PAYMENTS AND TO, AND I HAD TO GIVE THEM PROOF OF THESE CLAIMS. I HAD TO GIVE 'EM RECEIPTS.

I HAD TO GIVE 'EM PAY STUBS, ALL OF THIS.

I HAD TO GIVE 'EM CONTEXT TO MY JOB, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO VOUCH THAT I INDEED WORK THERE, ET CETERA.

AND IT TOOK ME MORE THAN A MONTH, UM, FOR ME TO FINALLY CLOSE AFTER I FIRST APPLIED.

BUT I GUESS IF YOU'RE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND YOU WANNA GIVE THE POLICE $44 MILLION PER YEAR, UH, THREE WEEKS, AND NO CONCRETE PLANS FOR PAYMENT ARE GOOD ENOUGH, I GET THAT THE POLICE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR A WHILE NOW, AND I GET THAT IT'S FRUSTRATING.

BUT TO BLAME REGULAR CITIZENS FOR THE LACK, LACK OF A CONTRACT IS LIKE BLAMING PASSENGERS IN A BUS CRASH FOR GETTING HEADACHES.

WE SHOULD NOT BE SCOLDED OR REPRIMANDED FOR NOT WANTING TO PAY AN EXTRA $44 MILLION A YEAR.

IF WE HAVE SAID VERY CLEARLY BY VOTING THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO.

THE PEOPLE HOLDING UP THIS WHOLE NEGOTIATION PROCESS IS THE A PA AND THE CITY'S CONTRACT NEGOTIATORS FROM RAMPAGE LAW.

THEY WANNA WEAR US ALL DOWN BY NEGOTIATING UNTENABLE GARBAGE CONTRACTS LIKE THIS IN SECRET, THEN THROWING THEM OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY NOISY GENERAL ELECTION CYCLE AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE REST OF THIS COUNCIL.

SOME OF THEM ARE UP FOR REELECTION.

THIS ISN'T SERVING AND PROTECTING.

THIS IS JUST BULLYING.

THIS IS NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER AFTER BEING REPEATEDLY TOLD BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

NO MEANS NO.

THIS IS NOT HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.

AND TRYING TO SUBVERT POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF CITIZENS VOTED FOR IN 2023.

THE PEOPLE DO NOT EXIST TO FUND THE POLICE.

THE POLICE EXIST TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE.

VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.

FIRE THESE NEGOTIATORS.

I STAND WITH ASPEN 1624, UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.

UM, DOES THIS WORK? ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL.

JENNIFER STEVENS, REBECCA BERNHARDT, JOSEPH PAONE, THOMAS HOFFMAN, DANIEL CHAMBERS, CHAZ MOORE, CHAZ MOORE HAD TIME DONATED FROM HEIDI SLOAN.

ARE YOU BOTH PRESENT? OKAY.

CHAZ MOORE WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

[06:15:10]

UM, MAN, THE, THE THOUGHTS IN MY MIND HAVE BEEN CHANGING SO MUCH, UM, ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE, THE VOTES ON THIS .

UM, UM, WHILE WE'VE BEEN WORKING.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT, THAT THE CLERGY HERE IN AUSTIN ARE SUPPORTING, UM, A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS FAILED SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. I'M, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THE CLERGY AND THE BUSINESS FOLKS HERE IN AUSTIN ARE SUPPORTING A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SHOWN ITS INCOMPETENCE AND, AND TREATING MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, REST IN PEACE.

RAJAN MOONING.

REST IN PEACE, MRS. SILVA.

UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THE CLERGY AND THE BUSINESS FOLKS, THE DOWNTOWN FOLKS ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH TOURIST DOLLARS, UM, THAN THEY ARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE AND MAKE THIS CITY WHAT IT IS.

UM, I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED THAT AS MUCH AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID, Y'ALL CONTINUE TO HAVE, UM, THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL IN A PD BE THE FIRST PERSON PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY COME INTO THE CHAMBER, WHICH I THINK IS JUST CRAZY TO ME.

UM, I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED THAT, UM, ALL THIS CRIME THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, BUT WE HAVE FIVE TO SIX TO 10 OFFICERS JUST STANDING AROUND CITY HALL TODAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD BE OUT FIGHTING ALL THIS CRIME THAT PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED.

UM, I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED.

UH, I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THESE BUSINESS FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE INCREASING THE WAGES OF, OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE MOST, AGAIN, HIGHEST PAID POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY PROBABLY DON'T PAY THEIR STAFF AT THEIR HOTELS AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.

RESPECTABLE LIVING WAGES.

UM, I'M, I'M, I'M ALSO, I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED THAT THE MAYOR THAT COULDN'T WIN LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE AUSTIN, UM, AND ONLY WON IT BECAUSE OF SIX 700 PEOPLE IN WE SOME COUNTY.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT HE'S BUILDING A BASE OF BUSINESS PEOPLE AND RICH PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN PEOPLE.

'CAUSE HE KNOW HE CAN'T WIN THE PROGRESSIVE BASE IN AUSTIN.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT HE'S DOING THAT.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT KURT WASHINGTON IS TEXTING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AND BILL BRYCE AND THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN LINE SAY, HEY, I NEED YOU TO COME BECAUSE I CAN'T WIN THE ARGUMENT.

RIGHT? BECAUSE THE ARGUMENT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

AGAIN, LIKE CHRIS SAID, LIKE KATHY SAID, EVEN IF SOME OF THE COPS ARE BEING HONEST ABOUT THIS, NOBODY IS SAYING DON'T PAY THESE OFFICERS.

WE ARE JUST SAYING WE THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY IN IN ORDER TO DO THIS TO WHERE WE'RE NOT BANKRUPTING THE CITY AND CITY SERVICES MOVING FORWARD.

RIGHT? AND I THINK THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION IS VERY ANNOYING BECAUSE I'VE SEEN YOU ALL, THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL, ABOUT 80% OF YOU KICK THINGS DOWN THE ROAD FOR LIKE SMALLER THINGS.

LIKE NO BIGGER THINGS.

LIKE I'VE SEEN YOU KICK THINGS DOWN THE ROAD TWO, THREE WEEKS, SIX MONTHS AT A TIME.

AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT LOOK AS, YOU KNOW, GOOD AS BILL BRYSON, A SUIT ON A THURSDAY AT 12 NOON, RIGHT? LIKE, THERE ARE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE HERE, BUT THEY CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET PAID TO BE HERE, RIGHT? SO, SO LIKE WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM ALL THESE BUSINESS INTERESTS AND WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF KIRK'S FRIENDS THAT HE'S TEXT TO COME HERE AND MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE HE'S REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE WHEN HE IS ONLY REPRESENTING A VERY SMALL GROUP OF THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE YES, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT BILL BRYSON, ALL HIS RICH FRIENDS FROM DOWNTOWN AND ALL THE JW MARRIOTTS, WHICH I'LL NEVER SLEEP AT, OR GO TO OR BUY DRINKS AT THAT JW ON CONGRESS AGAIN, UM, LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

BUT LIKE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE TO BE, I I I WOULD LIKE TO ASSUME THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE PUBLIC, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MS. GONZALEZ, WHOSE SON WAS KILLED BY A PD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS THAT COME UP HERE AND LAY THEIR HEART OUT.

AND THEN I ALSO FEEL BAD BECAUSE WE ASK PEOPLE TO COME AND, AND TELL THEIR STORIES WHEN YOU ALL HAD THIS VOTE FROM LIKE NOON, RIGHT? THESE PEOPLE LAY THEIR HEARTS OUT, THEY TELL THEIR STORIES, AND NONE OF YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE YOUR MIND, WHICH IS FINE.

I RESPECT THAT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT LIKE, I THINK ALL, ALL, ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST IS WHEN YOU TAKE THIS VOTE AND IT PASSES 10, ONE OR NINE, TWO, I'M HOPING FOR TWO, UM, THAT YOU AT LEAST TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU HONESTLY DID THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF KURT WATSON AND YOU'RE AFRAID OF THE POLITICAL BACKLASH.

IF YOU TELL THE POLICE, POLICE, NO, SARAH GORE, UH, SARAH GORE, SARAH AND TOTMAN,

[06:20:01]

UNA HUI, ANGELA PYRES, MARY CHISHOLM, MORGAN WOFF, MAGGIE DEZA, CRYSTAL TRAN, SENECA SAVOY, LINDA NUNO, SHELBY EVANS, JOSLYN SANCHEZ.

MS. NUNO IS HERE.

OH, ALL RIGHTY.

JUST ONE SECOND.

'CAUSE I THINK I'M GETTING COURT, UH, SHORT.

OKAY? SO YOU HAVE AROUND 6,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ON HOUSE.

YOU DON'T CARE.

IT'S OBVIOUS YOUR LACK OF EMPATHY AND RESPECT, BUT I WISH, I WISH YOU KNEW WHAT IS TO SEE YOUR OWN DAUGHTER, YOUR ONLY DAUGHTER SCRATCHING HER PRIVATES NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE SHE'S AT THE HANDS OF A SOCIOPATH.

NOW YOU HAVE HERE FROM ALL THESE GOOD PEOPLE, RIGHT? BUT WE DON'T, WE DON'T HEAR HERE, UH, THERE'S NOT 640 DEAD KITS THAT CPS HAS KILLED.

RIGHT? NOBODY'S HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT EVEN IF THEY COME TO SPEAK TO YOU, YOU ARE NOT LISTENING.

WE HAVE ONE IN FOUR WOMEN BEING SEXUALLY HARASSED, BUT WHO CARES? MANY OF THIS IN THIS CHAMBER HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WE HAVE 300 PEOPLE KILLED BY THEIR PARTNERS LAST YEAR.

YOUR NUMBERS, WE HAVE 30,000 KIDS AND CHILD CARE AND FOSTER CARE HAS A FORMER FBI MISSING CHILD PLACED IN THE HUGHES CONVENTION AT AGE THREE.

I SAY YOU HAVE NO SOUL NOR TO SERVE A CHILD.

NOW WE HAVE 2000 AND, UH, 100 KITS.

THEY'RE STILL MISSING IN TEXAS.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE PHONES BEING ALLOCATED IN TEXAS.

WE HAVE ONE MINOR, BUT ALL OR SOLD EVERY SIX MINUTES.

BARRIERS CAN COME OVER HERE AND SAY THAT THEY'RE COMMITTING SUICIDE ALREADY.

THERE IS UNPROPORTIONATE YEAH.

EVERY 22 SECONDS.

NOBODY CARES ABOUT THAT HERE UNLESS THERE'S AN ELECTION.

ELECTION RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE IN YOUR NUMBERS, AND WE ARE NOW ALL KNOW THAT TRAVIS CORONER, CORONER IN 2019 WAS SUE FOR BODY PARTS, ILLEGAL CELL OR BODY PARTS.

AND NOW WE HAVE 213 PEOPLE COMMITTING SUICIDE IN TRAVIS COUNTY WITHOUT THE HELP THAT THEY DESERVE A NEED.

I VOTED FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU PROMISED ME BETTER.

TIFFANY, IF SHE SURVIVES TO THE PERSON WHO HAS HER HOSTAGE WILL COME 20 YEARS FROM NOW IF SHE SURVIVES THE STARVATION.

BON APPETIT CHITO, MY DAUGHTER CANNOT EAT AT A NORMAL RATE AND HER BODY SHOWS.

MAY YOU ALL THANK YOU, MA'AM.

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A SOUL TO REST IN HELL IF YOU VOTE OTHERWISE.

MR. WHI OFF IF YOUR, IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

MORGAN RUDOF IN DISTRICT THREE, UH, EXCUSE ME, FIVE, UH, HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST 47 AND 48, WE HAD A, UH, VOTE CITY REFERENDUM IN WHICH THE CITIZENS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO INCREASE POLICE OVERSIGHT EVEN WHILE THE POLICE RAISED A DECEPTIVE SECOND REFERENDUM ITEM TO TRY TO SABOTAGE POLICE OVERSIGHT.

PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY DON'T NEED OVERSIGHT ARE TELLING YOU THEY NEED OVERSIGHT.

, WE HAD A BIG ISSUE ABOUT ZILKER PARK EARLIER THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR, I FORGET WHICH THE CITY WAS SO SHORT OF MONEY, WE COULDN'T MAINTAIN ZILKER PARK AND WE'RE GONNA SELL THE DARN THING TO TICKETMASTER.

NOW WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY TO TRY TO GET MORE POLICE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT MONEY.

WE THINK WE'RE GONNA GET MORE POLICE, SO WE'RE GONNA SOLVE HOMELESSNESS.

YOU CAN THROW A GUY IN JAIL 10 TIMES AND HE'S STILL GONNA BE HOMELESS.

YOU'RE GONNA SOLVE DRUG USE BY HAVING MORE COPS.

[06:25:01]

HAVING COPS DOESN'T SOLVE DRUG USE.

TREATING PEOPLE FOR DRUG ADDICTION HELPS.

GIVING THEM A SAFE, STABLE LIFE HELPS.

IF YOU TRASH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WITH THIS HUGE PRICE INCREASE, WE CAN'T BACK DOWN BECAUSE THIS STATE LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T REDUCE A POLICE BUDGET, WE ARE GONNA BANKRUPT THE CITY THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER THAT, THE DECADE AFTER THAT.

DON'T DO IT, PLEASE.

JOCELYN SANCHEZ, NICK MACHADO, CHRISTOPHER PITTS, SANDY F FREDRICKSON, REBECCA WEBER, RUI MARTINEZ, AMY CRESSMAN, MATT KOYAK, ABDUL NASSAR, ROD, BRANDY, ASHTON, DARREN THORNHILL, I, WE WILL KEEP TRACK THIS TIME.

UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL, I, I ACTUALLY MY SORT OF IN A CHASS MODE WHERE I HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THOUGHTS COMING THROUGH, BUT THE STATISTIC JJ BROUGHT UP THAT WE HAVE 0.2% OF YOUR BUDGET FOR HOMELESS STRATEGY AND 1.8 FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.

JUST TAKE A MOMENT.

IT IT, THAT IT REMINDED ME OF THIS, UM, JAMES BALDWIN QUOTE WHEN HE WAS TALKING, JJ, THAT WE HAVE YET TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF I AM STARVING, YOU ARE IN DANGER.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT CONNECTION IS THERE BECAUSE YOU DON'T.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN DEHUMANIZED.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK EVEN LOOKING AT YOU, MR. MAYER, I SEE NOTHING.

NO, NO MOVEMENT AT ALL.

BUT I'M PRAYING FOR ALL OF Y'ALL AND ALL OF US.

UM, THE BIG THING TO REMEMBER JUST ON A DATA PERSPECTIVE IS THAT RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAD A 22% INCREASE FROM 2008 TO 2022 IN RENT BURDEN.

THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUR INCOME THAT YOU SPEND ON YOUR RENT.

IT'S IRONIC THAT THE REAL ESTATE LOBBIES HERE TO BRING UP ISSUES AROUND HOMELESSNESS.

WHEN THE RENT BURDEN HAS BEEN INCREASING FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS, THEY'VE CREATED THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOW VICTIMIZED THEMSELVES.

I'M JUST GONNA END IT REALLY SHORTLY.

AND I I AM, I COME HERE WITH AS MUCH OPENNESS AND, YOU KNOW, LOVE AND PRAYERS AS I CAN THAT THERE'S BEEN EXAMPLES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THAT HAVE PUSHED FOR, UH, PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE YET, UH, AND I'VE HEARD OF COUNCIL MEMBER OF VELASQUEZ HAS PUSHED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THESE ARE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY, UM, RESILIENCE.

BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN CONTINUE BEING A LEADER BY INVESTING MORE IN PROGRAMS, STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTIONS OR, OR NOT.

THE MOMENT THIS BUDGET'S PASSED, THOUGH YOU WILL NOT, NOT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SIPHON OFF FUNDING FOR THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL.

AND WHEN THE HOMELESS PROBLEM BECOMES EVEN TO ANOTHER DEGREE, WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE.

NO, THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT IS ON Y'ALL TODAY.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN A FEW YEARS, WHEN WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES, IT'LL SIGNAL THAT VOTING NO WILL SIGNAL THAT IT DOESN'T, THAT THE ITY OF AUSTIN DOESN'T WANT TO INCREASE FINANCIAL STRESS ON RESIDENTS.

THAT IT DOES WANT TO HOLD A PD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES, AND THAT IT IS SERIOUS ABOUT INVESTING EVERY DOLLAR INTO PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND ACTUALLY REDUCE CRIME.

I, I, I'M, YEAH, IT WAS, IT, IT'S, IT WAS HARD TO SIT AND LISTEN TO EVERYTHING.

I AM ASKING ALL OF Y'ALL TO LOOK INTO YOUR HEARTS, BUT WITH YOUR HEARTS, YOU KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS.

SHE WANTED TO HELP OTHERS BE THE HELP THAT WE DIDN'T GET GROWING UP.

CATHERINE MCCARDLE, ARTHUR PETERS, NOE ELIAS, RICHARD BOLAND, GEORGE SCARANO JR.

JESUS LARA JULIAN REYES.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE THE PODIUM.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STEP TO THE PODIUM.

MIRA VES GABRIELA ZAN LOGAN.

MY NAME IS BRANDY TRAN.

MY SISTER'S NAME WAS CHRISTY TRAN.

HER BADGE NUMBER WAS 4 7 2 9.

I WANNA EXPLAIN TO YOU GUYS HOW I GOT HERE TODAY.

MY SISTER WAS RAISED WITH A SERVANT'S HEART.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THINGS EASY.

WE GREW UP REALLY, REALLY POOR.

[06:30:01]

SHE WAS A GOOD COP.

SHE HAD A HEART OF GOLD.

THERE'S NOT ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY ASKED HER FOR THAT SHE WOULDN'T DO.

WHAT I GET CONFUSED ABOUT IS, UM, THE POLICE ASSOCIATION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP HER, THE PEOPLE THAT SAW THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH MANY TRAGIC ACCIDENTS WHILE ON THE JOB.

SHE HAD A PURPLE HEART.

MANY ACCLIMATE.

YOU COULD LOOK THIS UP.

THIS IS NOT HARD TO DO.

BUT WHEN SHE DIED, ALL THAT CAME UP WAS IA INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE AT THE END OF HER CAREER THAT I BELIEVE ARE FRIVOLOUS.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET INFORMATION FROM PPD.

I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THE DOCUMENTATIONS THAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY MY SISTER WAS BULLIED, HARASSED HOURS CUT WITH NO HELP.

I LIVE WITH HER.

SHE HAD PTSD.

I HEARD THE STORIES.

THEY GO OUT THERE, PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE.

THEY GOTTA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING.

QUICK, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK.

SHE DID IT FOR Y'ALL FOR 15 YEARS.

SO WHY WAS THERE NO OUTRAGE? THERE WAS DUCT TAPE NEXT TO HER BED IN THE PICTURES THAT I HAVE TO PROVE THAT SHE WAS NOT ONLY BEATEN, TORTURED THAT NIGHT AT 16 200 GLORIOUS LANE IN PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS.

I PRAY THAT HOUSE NEVER GETS SOLD AND THAT WE GO IN THERE AND ACTUALLY DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

I HAVE EMAILS WITH BRANDON WOODARD GOING TO EVERY SINGLE LEAD POSSIBLE.

I FOLLOWED UP WITH WITNESSES THAT SAID THAT THEY SAW LIGHT IN THE BACKYARD.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IF YOU'RE INSIDE OF A HOUSE AND A GUN IS CLOSE, ARRANGED TO YOU.

WHAT MORE DO Y'ALL WANT ME TO DO? THE ONLY THING THAT I ASKED FOR IN THE VERY BEGINNING DECEMBER WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS NOT A SUICIDE.

GIVE MY SISTER AN END OF WATCH.

GIVE HER KIDS WHAT SHE WAS ENTITLED TO FOR GIVING Y'ALL 15 YEARS OF MISSING BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL DAYS, MY WEDDING.

GIVE HER THE RESPECT THAT SHE EARNED.

SHE WAS NOT ON THE TV.

THE OTHER TWO MALE OFFICERS WERE SO DO WE ONLY PROTECT WHITE MALE COPS? MM-HMM, .

NO.

MY SISTER GAVE THE BEST YEARS OF HER LIFE FOR Y'ALL.

YOU CAN GO LOOK.

SHE WENT TO GO DO CANCER KIDS WHERE THE HEROES COME AND SHE'S WONDER WOMAN.

AND Y'ALL WANTED HER FACE EVERYWHERE TO ADVERTISE FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP, TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE WHILE US WE'RE HOME PRAYING THAT SHE WOULD MAKE IT HOME SAFELY.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

FOLLOW UP WITH HER CASE.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHE'S EVERYWHERE.

SHE'S ALREADY GONE.

VIRAL TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ASK GOD, WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? THANK YOU.

IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS BEING ADDRESSED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, UM, OR ESCALATING INTO TRAGEDIES THAT THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE ILL-EQUIPPED FOR THE JOB.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME TO A PODIUM.

MY NAME IS GABRIELA ROSE IDAN.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, NOT SIMPLY TO OPPOSE ITEM 48, BUT TO DEMAND THAT OUR CITY LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISE OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THE VALUES WE PROCLAIM AS A CITY ARE IN TRIAL JUST NOW.

THE $218 MILLION CONTRACT IS MORE THAN A FINANCIAL BURDEN.

IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHO HAVE SPOKEN CLEARLY FOR YEARS, DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND JUSTICE.

BUT THIS CONTRACT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THAT DEMAND.

IT PRESERVES A SYSTEM OF SECRECY AND IMPUNITY WHILE SIPHONING CRUCIAL RESOURCES FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES DESPERATELY NEED SYSTEMS OF CONTROL EVOLVE TO MAINTAIN RACIAL AND SOCIAL HIERARCHIES.

AND IN AUSTIN, WE SEE IT AS A FORM OF BLOATED POLICE BUDGETS AND CONTRACTS SUCH AS THIS ONE, WHICH CONTINUE TO PROTECT OFFICERS FROM ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, WHICH INSULATES OFFICERS FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTS.

WHILE FAMILIES ARE LEFT GRIEVING, TRAUMATIZED, AND WITH LITTLE TO NO RESOURCES, THIS CONTRACT REINFORCES THAT SHIELD AND FAILS TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE HARMED AND PUTS POLICE ABOVE THE LAW.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE POLICE ARE EMPOWERED ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

JUST THIS YEAR WE SAW THE HEAVY HAND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FALL ON ANTI GENOCIDE, PEACEFUL PROTESTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

STATE TROOPERS AND LOCAL POLICE WERE CALLED IN SURROUNDING THESE STUDENTS NOT TO PROTECT THESE STUDENTS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUT TO SILENCE 'EM.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE INVEST IN FORCE OVER COMMUNITY.

THE 200 MILLION ISN'T JUST A NUMBER.

IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAMILIES RECEIVING RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR FACING EVICTION.

[06:35:01]

IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INVESTING IN PARKS, FOOD PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, AND CLIMATE INITIATIVES.

TRUE SAFETY WILL NEVER COME FROM SPENDING MORE ON A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS CONTINUOUSLY RESISTED ACCOUNTABILITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

SO WE ASK YOU TO REJECT THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT MORE MONEY FOR POLICE EQUATES TO MORE SAFETY.

REJECT A SYSTEM THAT SHIELDS OFFICERS FROM ACCOUNTABILITY WHILE THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US CONTINUE TO SUFFER, ARE RACIALLY PROFILED AND ARE ALWAYS MADE ACCOUNTABLE.

I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS CONTRACT, SEND IT BACK TO THE TABLE AND CRAFT AN AGREEMENT THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF OUR CITY.

BELIEVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, EQUITY, AND REAL SAFETY FOR ALL.

AND AS MICHELLE ALEXANDER SAYS, WE IN FACT HAVE NOT ENDED THE RACIAL CASTE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE MERELY REDESIGNED IT.

LET'S TRY TO NOT BE PART OF THAT.

HELLO AGAIN, GEORGE FROM ROYAL BLUE GROCERY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL, APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME TONIGHT.

I'M EXHAUSTED.

MEETING FATIGUE HAS SET IN.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DECRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT THOSE ELECTED ON THAT PLATFORM HAVE NO ANSWERS OR PLAN B TO ADDRESS THE DANGEROUS REALITY IN THE STREETS FOR OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.

NOR ARE THEY POLITICALLY WILLING TO ADMIT THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND FURTHERMORE, TROT OUT THE TIRED OLD WARHORSE.

THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED THEM.

OUR HANDS ARE TIED.

IT'S B******T.

AND BETTER SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT A VIBRANT POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH ACCOUNTABLE ACCOUNTABILITY TOGETHER WITH ALL OF US AS A SHOPKEEPER IN DISTRICT NINE, I FEEL COMPELLED TO DISCLOSE THAT.

18 MONTHS AGO, MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I REACHED OUT PERSONALLY TO DOWNTOWN REP ZOE CADRE TO WELCOME HIM, DISCUSS IN DETAIL OUR MYRIAD CHALLENGES, FORGE A PARTNERSHIP WITH HIM AND IN GOOD FAITH, BEG HIM TO LEAD THIS DOWNTOWN OR RESPECTFULLY GET OUT OF THE WAY.

WE TOLD HIM MURDER WEAPONS HAVE BEEN FOUND UNDER OUR DECK AT SIXTH IN CONGRESS, AND THAT WE ARE SITTING DUCKS DAILY TO THE MAYHEM CONSTANT IN HIS DISTRICT.

HE'S TAKEN A LOT OF NOTES.

HE'S BEGRUDGINGLY ADMITTED TO US THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS DOWNTOWN IN HIS DISTRICT, BUT PUBLICLY SAYS THAT AUSTIN IS SAFE AND THAT OUR URGENT PROBLEMS ARE A BUMP IN THE ROAD.

FURTHERMORE, HE HAS MOVED HIS FAMILY OUT OF, OUT OF DOWNTOWN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS.

JUST THREE BLOCKS FROM HERE IN AN APARTMENT TOWER THAT HOUSES ONE OF OUR STORES, ONE IN WHICH HE'S WITNESSED THE MAYHEM AND CRIMES IN THE BUILDING.

HE USED TO CALL HOME CM CADRE TO VOTE NO.

OR ABSTENTION FROM THIS POLICE CONTRACT IS TO SPIT IN THE FACE OF THE POLICE THAT PROTECT THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.

DO THE RIGHT THING AND HELP US FIX YOUR DISTRICT.

I'M SORRY YOU'RE NOT HERE IN ATTENDANCE AND ARE FEELING POORLY AS I'D MUCH RATHER SAY THESE THINGS TO YOUR FACE.

PLEASE APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.

WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO DO OUR JOBS AND LIVE PEACEFULLY IN THIS CITY.

TO THOSE WHO ASSUME THAT I REPRESENT BIG BUSINESS BECAUSE I WORK DOWNTOWN.

TO CLARIFY, MY ONLY CONSTITUENTS ARE MY EMPLOYEES AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

I'M NO RIGHT WINGER, NOR WILL I EVER BE.

I JUST, I'M JUST SOMEONE WHO EMPLOYS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SCARED TO COME TO WORK.

AND THAT'S NO MIRAGE.

I HOPE THAT COUNTS AS BEING A REGULAR PERSON, NOT AS SOME RIGHT WING NUT JOB.

I'M SURPRISED THAT I'M BEING LUMPED IN WITH CORPORATE RAIDERS, ONLY CONCERNED WITH TOURISTS DOWNTOWN.

IF THAT MAKES YOUR NARRATIVE EASIER THAN HOLDING MANY COMPLEX ISSUES AND TENSION, THEN SO BE IT.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

YOU DON'T HAVE CONSTITUENTS NOT ELECTED.

KIT O'CONNELL, HANNAH BARAKAT, NASRIE BARAKAT, SHARON BLYTHE, JEN RAMOS, KELLEN GILDERSLEEVE, JEFFREY CLEMONS, SONYA VALISE, JEREMY MARTIN, YASMINE SMITH, TANZIA KAREEM, APRIL BROWN, ASHLEY COPELAND.

I'VE CALLED YOUR NAME.

PLEASE MOVE FORWARD TO AN OPEN PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.

MY NAME'S JEFFREY CLEMONS.

GOOD EVENING Y'ALL.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, UM, AND I'M ALSO AUSTIN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER.

BUT I'M HERE SPEAKING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY.

UM, I'D LIKE TO URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL NOT ONLY DESERVE TO BE SAFE, UM, THAT WE, NOT ONLY THAT NOT ONLY DO WE ALL DESERVE SAFETY, BUT ACTUALLY SHOULD BE SAFE.

UM, THAT BEING SAID, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CITY BEING HANDCUFFED TO A A DEPARTMENT CONTRACT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IN THE LONG TERM WHILE WE LEAVE TO QUESTION MANY OF THE ONE-TIME COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT WERE ONLY FUNDED JUST RECENTLY.

WITHIN THE LAST HALF DECADE.

I WOULD LIKE OUR CITY TO BECOME STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR VALUES OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, FAIRNESS, AND SOLIDARITY WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AS A COMMUNITY, POLICE ALREADY MAKE UP 30%, 36% OF OUR CITY BUDGET.

[06:40:01]

AND I THINK THROWING MORE MONEY AT THIS PROBLEM WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE NOW, BUT IT CLEARLY HAS NOT.

CRIME RATES DO NOT TRACK WITH MORE POLICE FUNDING.

AND AT THE CURRENT RATE OF ATTRITION FROM THE DEPARTMENT, IT DEMONSTRATES THERE ARE DEEPER ISSUES THAN DOLLARS AND CENTS.

SOME HAVE RECENTLY SAID THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO THE BUDGET, UH, ABOUT VACANCIES IN MANY DEPARTMENTS, ABOUT WHETHER WHERE WE SHOULD MAKE CERTAIN CUTS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT APPLIES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

CLEARLY THERE ARE DEEPER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND SO WHILE I CERTAINLY AGREE AND BELIEVE WE CAN ADDRESS A VARIETY OF ISSUES GROWN FROM POVERTY AND POOR ENVIRONMENT WITH SOLUTIONS WHICH DON'T INVOLVE KEEPING OUR POLICE BUDGET ARTIFICIALLY HIGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN PROPERTY CRIME IS OUR LARGEST CRIME OVER VIOLENT, ASSAULT, MURDER, AND NARCOTICS, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES HERE.

AND I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE US LOCKED IN WITH A FEW TOOLS TO FIGHT THESE ISSUES FROM THE COMMUNITY UP.

I URGE YOU TO VOTE DOWN THIS CONTRACT OR PROVIDE AMENDMENTS, WHICH AREN'T JUST A GIVEAWAY, BUT A PROMISE THAT CERTAIN VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS WILL BE UPHELD HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

LONG DAY.

I KNOW.

UM, SO LAST TIME I SPOKE TO YOU, I'M 47.

I HYPERFOCUSED ON THE AMBIGUITY OF THE G DRIVE.

I'M GONNA CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO THAT.

BUT I WANTED TO DIAL INTO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THOSE THAT ARE SAYING VOTE YES.

PARTICULARLY THAT WE NEED MORE OFFICERS AND THE WAY WE GET MORE OFFICERS IS BUY.

AND THROUGH THIS CONTRACT, THIS DEAL ASSUMES THAT OFFICER PAY IS THE MAIN PROBLEM CREATING VACANCIES AND LIMITING NEW RECRUITS.

BUT PAY IS ALREADY DESIGNED FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BASED ON A BENCHMARK ANALYSIS OF EIGHT, THE EIGHT LARGEST CITIES IN BY POPULATION IN TEXAS, INCLUDING AUSTIN.

AUSTIN RANKS FIRST AT MULTIPLE CAREER JUNCTURES FOR POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS AT THE PAY RANGE MAXIMUM FOR LEAD AND SUPERVISORY RANKS.

OFFICERS GET RAISES WITHOUT A CONTRACT THANKS TO LONGEVITY PAY AND STEP PAY.

MOST CITIES PAY $48 A YEAR A SER FOR SERVICE FOR LONGEVITY.

48 AUSTIN PAYS 107.

PAY IS STRUCTURED TO RETAIN SEASONED OFFICERS.

UNLIKE OTHER WORKERS OFFICERS GET STEP UP INCREASES AT GRADUATION, 38, 30 0.8% AT ONE YEAR, 12.2% AT TWO YEARS, 10.4% AT SIX YEARS, 7% AT 10 YEARS AT 7% AT 14 YEARS AT 7% AT 16 YEARS FOR 7% FROM FROM YEAR 10 TO YEAR 16, OFFICERS GET A 21% INCREASE OR ABOUT 3.5% A YEAR, AND ANY ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASES IS ON TOP OF THAT.

AUSTIN ACADEMY PAY RANKS THIRD OF EIGHT IN COMPARISON GROUP, UH, FROM 2022 AND SIXTH OF EIGHT IN THE COMPARISON GROUP FROM 2024, WHEN CURRENT INCENTIVES GRANTED UNDER COUNCIL ORDINANCES ARE INCLUDED, ACADEMY PAY IS AGAIN RANKED THIRD IN 2024 FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM THE ACADEMY DURING THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

AUSTIN BASE PAY IS MORE THAN 11% ABOVE THE MEDIAN IN 2022 AND NEARLY 8% HIGHER IN 2024.

THE ANSWER ISN'T MONEY.

THE ANSWER IS YOUR CULTURE AND YOU HAVE YOUR CHIEF MERE STEPS AWAY IF YOU WANNA GUARANTEE EVEN THROUGH THE AMBIGUITY, HAVE HER COMMIT TO RELEASING THE G FILE MATERIAL MATERIAL THAT IS PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT.

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS CONTRACT DOESN'T DO WHAT THE AL POLICE ASSOCIATION AND THE STATESMAN ARTICLE OMITTED TO IT DOING GRANDFATHERING IN THE G FILE, THEN WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IS TO, ON TOP OF THIS UNFORTUNATE YES TO AT LEAST GUARANTEE THAT THE G FILE IS SEEN BY THE LIGHT OF DAY.

A PROBLEM AND NOT REALLY REINFORCING THE CULTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

THANK YOU, MS. RAMOS.

YOUR NAME WAS CALLED IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBERS EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, I SHARED MY PERSONAL STORY IN EXPLAINING HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY TRAUMA AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS DETAINED IN A TRAFFIC STOP.

AND I MENTIONED THIS STORY BECAUSE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE WAY THAT OUR CULTURE HAS BEEN HANDLED AND THE REASON WHY WE SHOULD GO BACK AND RENEGOTIATE THIS CONTRACT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EDUCATORS YEAR AFTER YEAR MUST GO THROUGH AN EVALUATION TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE STAYING ON TOP OF THEIR JOB, THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.

ANYBODY WHO WORKS IN AN OFFICE FROM NINE TO FIVE ALSO GO THROUGH A PERFORMANCE REVIEW.

THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE DETERMINE THEIR RAISES.

THAT IS THE WAY WE DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EMPLOYED OR NOT RIGHT NOW, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT BY SUPPORTING THIS CONTRACT, YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE FUNDS TO AN ORGANIZATION AND A CULTURE THAT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH THE PROPER STEPS TO BE ABLE TO ASK FOR THIS OVERSIGHT.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE THROWING MONEY AT

[06:45:01]

AND SO BY DOING THIS, YOU ARE EARNING THE DISTRUST AND THE FEAR OF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN DETAINED BY OVER FIVE COPS, BUT ALSO HEARD FROM MY MOTHER THAT IT TAKES THREE HOURS TO GET A CALL AT HER OFFICE WHEN SHE NEEDS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE IS A SEVERE DISPARITY IN THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE THIS.

AND I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO REALLY VOTE ON THIS CONTRACT, WE NEED TO DO AN AUDIT OF HOW THIS IS BEING HANDLED.

AND BECAUSE OF HB 1900, ONCE WE VOTE ON THIS, WE CAN'T TAKE THE MONEY BACK.

AND WITH THAT, WE LOSE THE TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO EVER FIGHT FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SO BY HOLDING SOCIAL SERVICES HOSTAGE AND BY TELLING OUR COMMUNITIES THAT THEIR VOICES DON'T MATTER, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING HERE SINCE 10:00 AM TO TESTIFY ALL DAY, YOU ARE TELLING US WHAT MATTERS TO YOU.

THAT LISTENING TO BULLIES AND LISTENING TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES NOT WANNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, THAT THEIR VOICES MATTER MORE THAN THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU INTO THIS DAIS.

SO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT AND CONSIDER THE RAMPING CULTURE THAT'S AT STAKE.

I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT EVERY TIME I SEE A POLICE CAR, NOW I'M TERRIFIED.

I CALL MY MOTHER TRYING TO GET HOME.

I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY BROTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT HE ALSO DOESN'T GET PULLED OVER.

AND NOW I COME AND BEAR MYSELF IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL AS I DID IN 2018 WHEN I ASKED FOR Y'ALL TO NOT CONSIDER THIS CONTRACT.

I URGE YOU TO THINK AS HUMANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE HUMANS WHO ARE UP FOR ELECTION, ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE VOTE THAT, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE TODAY.

CAROLYN WILLIAMS, SHAMAN PERKIN.

LAUREN, ROSS, DAVID, ROY, GRACE, FAWN, JJ RAMIREZ, ANNA DUNCAN, LAURA AND MARTINEZ.

IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

YEAH, ME, JJ AGAIN.

UM, JUST REALLY QUICK, OBVIOUSLY I'M SAYING VOTE NO.

UH, WE HAD A YOUNG MAN HERE, IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME HERE TODAY.

HIS NAME IS CURRY.

UM, HE HAD HIS BAG ON HIM.

HE HAD FOOD IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, HE CAN'T BRING FOOD IN HERE, SO, UH, HE LEFT IT OUTSIDE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

IF YOU SEE ME LEAVE A LOT, IT'S 'CAUSE I'M GOING TO THE GARAGE, LIKE PEOPLE'S CAR BAGS OUTTA MY CAR.

AND SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, COME AND GO.

UH, SOMEBODY JACKED HIS STUFF OUT FRONT, MY BAD.

OH, THERE'S NOBODY THERE.

AND, UH, HE WENT TO THE SECURITY.

THEY SAY, OH, I DON'T KNOW, IT WAS OUTSIDE.

UM, SHOULD I CALL 9 1 1 SO I CAN GET THE POLICE TO SEND HIM TO THE SHELTER? OR SHOULD I CALL 9 1 1? UM, SO THEY CAN COME AND HELP HIM GET SOME NEW CLOTHES OR HIS SOCIAL SECURITY CARD THAT'S NOW GONE.

UM, YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK SO.

RIGHT.

UM, BUT ONE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS, IS, UH, AS THE, SOME OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE HAS NOW KIND OF SAYING, WELL, YEAH, HOMELESSNESS IS A PROBLEM.

UM, YOU KNOW, I GET THE FRUSTRATION, RIGHT? I'M I I'M OUT THERE, RIGHT? PEOPLE WILL, PEOPLE HIDE SIDE ME ALL THE TIME.

AND, AND, BUT I'LL NEVER CALL THE COPS BECAUSE I JUST TALKED THEM OUT.

BUT THEY AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THAT.

THAT'S NOT THEIR, THAT'S NOT THEIR WORLD.

THEY AIN'T FROM THIS WORLD.

UM, AND THEY JUST WANT A RESPONSE.

UM, BUT MAYBE, UH, AGAIN, WORKING TOGETHER, RIGHT? YOU CAN HELP US TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN COME TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE US WHO HAVE IN THIS WORLD AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE, UM, IS NOT LIKE GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'LL JUST BE MOVED AROUND.

AND THEN THERE, THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER GROUP COMING HERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND TERROR AND IT'S UNSAFE AND PROPERTY VALUE.

UM, LIKE, LIKE SUNRISE, RIGHT? THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE SUNRISE.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S TRYING TO PASS THE BILL OR CAN'T BE CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL.

UM, OR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE.

CAN'T BE CLOSE TO SCHOOL, RIGHT? JUST 'CAUSE IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, NIMBY RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST BE AROUND YOU, RIGHT? WE'RE, WE'RE NOT LIKE, WANTED.

UM, WE DO GET ANGRY.

WE DO GET VIOLENT, LIKE I SAID, LIKE I LITTLE THING I SAID EARLIER, RIGHT? EVERY DAY IT'S, IT'S A NIGHTMARE EVERY DAY.

NOBODY LOOKS AT YOU LIKE A HUMAN BEING.

EVERY DAY YOU'RE HUNGRY EVERY DAY.

UM, YOU KNOW, OR IF YOU DO, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW.

UM, YOU'RE IN FOR ELECTION.

I, I LOVE TO, TO TAKE YOU AFTER ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, COME ON, OUTREACH WITH ME.

LOVE TO TAKE ALL Y'ALL IN, OUTREACH WITH ME, PUT SOME CLOTHES ON AND NOBODY RECOGNIZE YOU.

YOU WALK AROUND, SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

I MEAN, YOU'LL NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

'CAUSE EVEN IF YOU ARE LIKE THOSE OTHER POLITICIANS WHO PRETEND TO BE HOMELESS BY GOING ON CAMPING TRIP OUT IN THE STREET, YOU'LL NEVER REALLY KNOW MENTALLY WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE WITH NOBODY AND NOWHERE TO GO.

BUT, UH, YEAH.

SO BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IF YOU'RE UPSET, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE HAPPENING CRAZY.

UH, LIKE THE COPS AIN'T GONNA HELP THEM.

IT'S JUST GONNA ARREST THEM OR MOVE THEM AROUND.

KICK THEM OUT.

I KNOW YOU WANT AUSTIN TO BE THE NICE DRINKY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HANG AROUND DOWNTOWN AND GET DRUNK AND, AND BE COOL.

BUT COME ON.

BARRY JONES,

[06:50:01]

JAMES MC MCWILLIAMS, CHRIS TORRES, MARIKA SMITH, MARGARET RICHARDSON, JUAN CRUZ, GRACIE PINKEL, JULIANNE NICHE, ROY WHALEY, ROWAN IRELAND, BOBBY LEVINSKY, YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.

HELLO, I'M GRACIE AGAIN.

UM, FROM DISTRICT NINE.

I ALREADY SAID MY PREPARED SPEECH FOR ITEM 47.

UM, SO I JUST WANNA LIKE, ANSWER TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WORKING DOWNTOWN.

I'VE WORKED DOWNTOWN SINCE OH NINE AT DIFFERENT, ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS.

AND I DON'T DRIVE.

I WALK EVERYWHERE.

I WORK TWO JOBS DOWNTOWN.

I WALK BETWEEN THEM.

IT'S LIKE A 30 MINUTE WALK.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, IT IS NEVER THE UNHOUSED, UH, NEIGHBORS THAT MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE.

IT IS THE MEN IN SUITS WHO THINK THEY CAN GRAB YOU.

THEY CAN TOUCH YOU, THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO YOU BECAUSE THEY SEE YOU AND THEY KNOW THAT YOU'RE LESS THAN IN THEIR WORLD.

AND THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE AREN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING OR DO ANYTHING.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT.

UM, AND I ALSO WANNA INVITE THOSE PEOPLE.

I'VE, AGAIN, I'VE WORKED DOWNTOWN AT MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS.

UH, THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

LIKE, HAVE THEY TAKEN THE TIME TO ASK THEIR NAMES, ASK HOW THEIR DAY IS GOING, ASK WHAT THEY NEED, WHAT THEY MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH.

UM, NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, NINE TIMES OUTTA 10.

IT'S JUST A NORMAL, SORRY, NOT GONNA CURSE.

JUST A NORMAL CONVERSATION.

UM, AND I REALLY WANT US TO THINK ABOUT LIKE WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES US SAFE.

AND IT IS SOMEWHERE TO GO WHEN IT'S DARK, SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP WHERE YOU CAN SHOWER, WHERE YOU CAN, EVERYBODY DESERVES THAT TO BE, TO BE CLEAN, TO BE, UM, TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.

I JUST FEEL LIKE IT IS INSANE.

THAT GENTLEMEN, EARLIER, EARLIER SAID THIS, IT'S INSANE THAT THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY IS COMING OUT TALKING ABOUT HOW UNSAFE ALL THIS HOMELESSNESS IS.

WHEN THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE ALL WORKING TWO, THREE JOBS IS BECAUSE OUR RENT LITERALLY GOES UP AND UP AND UP AND UP AND UP.

WE'RE ALL ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS.

AND I HEARD EARLIER SOMEBODY SAY, AND I HOPE THIS ISN'T TRUE, THAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY MADE YOUR DECISION.

AND IT JUST FEELS, I'M REALLY ANGRY.

'CAUSE IT FEELS, WHAT IS THIS DOG AND PONY SHOW THEN? IF WE ARE JUST OUT HERE LIKE GIVING OUR TRAUMA TO YOU, TALKING ABOUT WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO US AND HOW WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BRUTALITY THERE.

A MOTHER COMING HERE TALKING ABOUT HER SON BEING MURDERED, YOU COULDN'T GIVE HER MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO, THIS IS OUR ONE CHANCE TO TALK TO Y'ALL.

LIKE, AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY MADE YOUR CHOICE, I REALLY HOPE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I HOPE YOU'RE REALLY SITTING WITH THESE TESTIMONIES AND CONSIDERING WHAT, WHAT THIS VOTE WILL DO.

BECAUSE AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THIS IS NOT A LIKE SOMETHING WE CAN GO BACK ON.

LIKE IF THIS MONEY'S GONE, IT'S GONE.

AND WE'VE SEEN HOW THE STATE IS, THEY, THEY ARE NOT GONNA CHANGE THAT LAW.

THEY'RE LITERALLY MAKING, THEY'RE GONNA CONSIDER IT A LAW TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO HAVE MASKS DURING PROTESTS.

SO THAT'S THAT MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING TO THESE POLICE IS NOT GONNA BE GOING TO MAKE ANYBODY SAFE.

IT'S GONNA BE GOING TO HARASS AND PROFILE PROTESTORS BECAUSE THEY'RE WEARING A MASK BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO BE SAFE.

SO IT IS JUST PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE NO OR EXTEND IT.

JUST DON'T VOTE YES TODAY, PLEASE.

NO, JULIAN, MICHIGAN.

SO Y'ALL KNOW THAT I'M A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR AND THAT I SUED A PD.

Y'ALL KNOW THAT A PD BROKE DOWN MY DOOR, UH, POINTED GUNS AT ME, SCREAMED AT ME, REFUSED TO LET ME PUT ON CLOTHES, MADE ME SIT IN MY LIVING ROOM NAKED, ASKED ME WHY I LIVED IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD.

ASKED ME WHY I SOLD DRUGS.

Y'ALL KNOW THAT A PD ALSO REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE MY CASE.

Y'ALL KNOW THAT AFTER I SUED THEM, I FOUND OUT 10 YEARS LATER THAT THERE WAS DNA ON MY BODY.

THEY COULD HAVE INVESTIGATED IT.

THEY DIDN'T.

Y'ALL ALSO KNOW THAT I'M A TRUSTEE AT A CC.

DO YOU KNOW THAT 24% OF MY STUDENTS ARE UNHOUSED OR HOUSING INSECURE? DO Y'ALL KNOW THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING POLLING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THAT HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS DID NOT SAY THAT AFFORDABILITY WAS THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS AND WHY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COLLEGE? Y LET ME TELL YOU, MENTAL HEALTH, DID Y'ALL KNOW THAT I WAS UNHOUSED? Y'ALL KNOW THAT I WAS THE LIAISON TO THE UNHOUSED FOR TRAVIS COUNTY, RIGHT? 'CAUSE MOST OF Y'ALL HAVE CALLED AND ASKED ME FOR HELP AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER REGARDING AN UNHOUSED INDIVIDUAL.

WHILE I WAS DOING THAT WORK, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU HOW A PD HELPED A PD WOULD CALL ME WHEN ONE OF THE WOMEN WERE RAPED.

I WAS NOT PAID TO DO THIS WORK, OF COURSE, BUT I SHOWED UP.

A PD WOULD PEPPER SPRAY SCHIZOPHRENIC WOMEN THAT HAD WERE COMPLETELY IN PSYCHOSIS AND BEAT THEM UP AND STOLE THEIR BELONGINGS.

I WATCHED HIS A PD BROKE STATE LAW AND TOOK PEOPLE'S SURVIVAL GEAR.

I WATCHED HIS A PD

[06:55:01]

SET BACK AND LAUGHED AT PEOPLE FOR BEING UNHOUSED.

I WATCHED THEM IGNORE WOMEN THAT WERE RAPED ON THE STREET AND CALM ME SO THAT THEY COULD STRESS ME OUT AND SEE HOW THIN THEY CAN STRETCH ME.

DO Y'ALL KNOW THAT? NEVER DURING THE TIME OF ANY OF THIS WORK HAVE I MADE ENOUGH MONEY TO EVEN QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY.

I DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY NOW AND I DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY THEN.

AND WHEN I SIT ON MY DIETS, I DON'T MAKE A DIME FOR IT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I DO? I VOTE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

Y'ALL KNOW THAT MORE POLICE WILL NOT MAKE US SAFE.

Y'ALL KNOW THAT POLICING DOES NOT MAKE US SAFE.

SOCIAL PROGRAMS MAKE US SAFE.

EDUCATION THAT WILL MAKE US SAFE.

ALL OF THESE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON RIGHT NOW, I KNOW 'CAUSE I WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH Y'ALL, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH.

THAT'S WHY THERE ARE SO MANY UNHOUSED PEOPLE.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT I WAS OFF ALSO THE OVER IN CHARGE OF THE OVERSIGHT FOR THE CENSUS, FOR THE FEDERAL CENSUS FOR THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN SOMEONE GETS UP HERE AND THEY SAY, WE HAVE 6,000 UNHOUSED PEOPLE, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY.

BECAUSE I OVERSAW THE CENSUS FOR THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY AND I COULDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM A PD.

SO EVERYBODY KEPT QUITTING.

SO WE DIDN'T COUNT ALL THE UNHOUSED PEOPLE.

I ESTIMATE IT TO BE CLOSER TO 11,000.

BUT YOU KNOW WHY YOU DON'T SEE THEM? BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT IN THE WOODS AND WAIT TILL IT GETS HOLD AND THEY START SETTING FIRES.

AND WE ALL KNOW WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND ANYTHING TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT'S JUST GONNA BE DRY AS HELL.

SO WE'LL JUST WATCH THE CITY BURN WHILE POOR PEOPLE SET OUT IN THE FIELD AND TRY TO STAY WARM ANY WAY THEY KNOW HOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT.

DON'T DO THIS.

HOWDY Y'ALL.

MY NAME IS ROY WHALEY AND I AM NOT HERE SPEAKING FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION TODAY, ALTHOUGH I'M A LONG TIME ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE, I AM SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND I I TRY TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING, BE A SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET KIND OF GUY TOO OFF.

AND I FIND MYSELF PULLED INTO DARK DESPAIR OF CYNICISM.

UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY I'M NOT SPEAKING AGAINST COPS.

I'M NOT THERE.

THERE ARE BAD APPLES AND BAD APPLES MAKE THE WHOLE BUNCH LOOK BAD.

AND I DON'T HAVE THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, UH, EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED HERE TODAY.

MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE I'M AN OLD WHITE GUY AND I, I, THEY CUT ME SOME SLACK.

UH, THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T WHEN I WAS A YOUNG WHITE GUY WITH DARK HAIR.

BUT, BUT THAT WAS BACK THEN.

UM, BUT I'M NOT TALKING AGAINST COPS.

WHAT I WOULD ASK, I AM TALKING AGAINST THIS CONTRACT THOUGH.

I THINK THIS CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE RENEGOTIATED.

I THINK Y'ALL NEED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON IT TONIGHT AND RENEGOTIATE THIS.

WE'VE GOT A CONTRACT.

LET'S NOT THROW MORE MONEY AT A PROBLEM.

LET'S, IT'S LIKE ME GOING TO MY DOCTOR AND THEY'RE PRESCRIBING DRUGS TO TREAT THE SYMPTOMS INSTEAD OF CURING THE DISEASE.

LET'S CURE THE PROBLEM.

LET'S NOT JUST THROW MORE MONEY AT IT.

WE HAVE MONEY NOW TO HIRE MORE COPS, BUT WE CAN'T BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT.

THIS IS WHAT SOME OF THE OFFICERS HAVE EXPLAINED TO ME TODAY.

UM, AND SO IF WE NEED MORE POLICE, AND I BELIEVE WE DO, BUT WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TOO, TO WORK WITH THE POLICE SO THAT WHEN THEY SHOW UP AT THAT SITUATION, THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

UM, ONCE AGAIN, I, I'LL ALSO, I I'M IN AN INDUSTRY AND I WON'T GO INTO WHAT IT IS A BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF OVERSIGHT.

I DON'T FIGHT AGAINST THAT OVERSIGHT.

I SAY PUT THAT G FILE OUT THERE.

IT'S GOOD.

AND MY INDUSTRY WHEN THE BAD APPLES ARE EXPOSED.

AND SO OVERSIGHT MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S GOOD.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

AND I WANNA SAY ONE MORE THING.

IT IS VERY OFFENSIVE TO HEAR A SPEAKER SAY THAT WE ARE PROCR AND PRO CHAOS JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO RENEGOTIATE A BETTER CONTRACT HERE.

THAT IS TO HEAR A, A VERY INSULATED UPPER MIDDLE CLASS WHITE WOMAN.

SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST SAYS THE BLOOD A BOIL.

UM, ANYWAY, I WOULD ASK THAT Y'ALL POSTPONE THIS TONIGHT.

THANK YOU MR. WILEY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL.

THANK YOU, SIR, IN A LITTLE WHILE.

MY NAME IS, UH, CHRISTOPHER TORRES.

[07:00:04]

THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR YOUR TIME TODAY.

SO I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SUBJECT.

UM, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT EUGENICS, RIGHT? SO EUGENICS IS THE SYSTEMATIC, UH, OPPRESSION AND EXTERMINATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHITE MINORITIES.

AND UH, HITLER WAS SOMEBODY WHO USED EUGENICS ON JEWISH PEOPLE.

AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, EUGENICS IS ACTUALLY AN AMERICAN IDEA.

HITLER GOT THE IDEA OF EUGENICS FROM AMERICA.

SO EUGENICS IS BUILT INTO AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S BEING PERPETUATED THROUGH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, INSTITUTION, THROUGH THE INSTITUTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THERE'S A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF WHITE MINORITIES AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, PEOPLE FROM SOUTH AMERICA, MEXICO THAT ARE BEING TARGETED BECAUSE OF, UH, BECAUSE OF DRUGS.

AND SO THESE ARE THE FACTS, RIGHT? THE FACTS ARE THAT THE OPIATES OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE THE SAME AS WHAT THE ILLEGAL DRUGS.

THEY USE THE POPPY SEED.

THEY USE THE POPPY SEED TO MAKE HEROIN.

THEY USE THE POPPY SEED TO MAKE, UH, PAINKILLERS.

SO THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS KILLED JUST AS MANY IF NOT MORE PEOPLE THAN THE ILLEGAL DRUGS.

NOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THE WAR ON DRUGS IS NOT JUST CREATING OVERDOSES, IT'S ACTUALLY CREATING MURDERS.

IT'S CREATING PEOPLE, GETTING STATE SYSTEMS. AGAIN, I KNOW THAT CITY STAFF SAID ON TUESDAY THAT THE CONTRACT CAN ONLY COVER GRIEVANCES ABOUT THINGS ARE IN THE CONTRACT, BUT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT IS NOT THAT STRAIGHTFORWARD.

IT, THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE JULIANNE NICHE.

JULIANNE HAD TIME DONATED BY LAUREN ROSS OR JULIANNE AND LAUREN BOTH HERE STILL.

OKAY, ON DECK I HAVE ROWAN IRELAND, BOBBY LAVINSKY, KABA WHITE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

YEAH, SURE YOU GOT IT.

BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF ONE OF THE OTHER PLAINTIFFS THAT WENT TO THE A PD CANDIDATES WATCHING.

UM, JULIANNE NICHE, MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT I WAS A PLAINTIFF IN THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST A PD UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT THAT DRUG ON MANY OF YOU EXPRESSED, UM, HOW SHOCKED YOU WERE AT WHAT HAD GONE DOWN IN THAT LAWSUIT.

YOU HEARD ABOUT HOW A PD HAD A WALL THAT THEY PUT RAPE SURVIVORS PHOTOS ON WHEN THEY COULD BULLY THEM OUT OF TESTIFYING.

UM, Y'ALL WERE SHOCKED ABOUT THE CLIMATE, UM, AND THE USE OF EXCEPTIONAL CLEARANCE, UM, WHERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RAPE CASES WERE ILLEGAL CLEARED AFTER THEY BULLIED THOSE SURVIVORS OUT OF PURSUING CHARGES.

UH, IT WASN'T A YEAR AGO THAT RIGHT OVER HERE, A PD HAD TO ISSUE A PUBLIC APOLOGY.

AND NOW HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

A PD IS HOLDING THIS CITY HOSTAGE AND DEMANDING THAT THIS COUNCIL IGNORE THE LAW AND THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

THE SAME VOTERS THAT ELECTED THIS COUNCIL ELECT VOTED ONE FOUR TO 180%.

AND Y'ALL, NONE OF Y'ALL GOT 80% FOR THESE REFORMS. THAT IS WITH THE POLICE UNION AND REPUBLICANS SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS AND PETITIONS THAT WERE OUT OUTRIGHT FAULTS.

OKAY? IN THE RULING THAT JUDGE MARIA HEEL SAID THAT A PD UNLAWFULLY FAILED TO PERFORM THEIR MANDATORY DUTY TO END THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S USE OF THE G FILE, THE CITY HAD TO BE SUED TO FOLLOW THE CLEAR TERMS OF THE VOTER MANDATE ON THIS ISSUE.

THE LANGUAGE IN THIS CONTRACT APPEARS TO EITHER AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO REINSTATE THIS G FILE OR OF ALL, ALL EXISTING RECORDS.

THIS IF THE CITY CHOOSES TO EITHER TO KEEP DOING THIS , IT EITHER SAYS THAT, OOPS, SORRY, GOT LOST IT.

I'M GONNA SKIP THAT.

WHEN HAS IT EVER BENEFITED THE PUBLIC TO HAVE NO TRANSPARENCY REGARDING AN ARMED AND SHIELDED AGENCY WITH A LONG HISTORY OF CORRUPTION AND VIOLENCE? IT BENEFITS THE POLICE AS IT DID IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, WHERE SEVERAL SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SHERIFF'S OFFICERS WERE FOUND, FOUND TO BE RAPING LITTLE GIRLS FOR YEARS ON END AND COVERING FOR ONE ANOTHER.

IT'LL ALSO BENEFIT THE 40% OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT COMMIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT ONLY 16% OF THE GENERAL POPULATION COMMITS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO THAT'S A PRETTY LARGE GAP.

IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE, THE ONE IN 20 HOMICIDES THAT ARE COMMITTED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND IT'LL BENEFIT Y'ALL 'CAUSE YOU'LL GET TO GO HOME.

BUT IN THE LONG RUN, HOW, WHEN POLITICAL EXTREMISM IS AT ITS HEIGHT AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE OFFICERS SWORN TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION ARE VOTING FOR A MAN THAT HAS MADE IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, IT CLEAR THAT HE INTENDS TO SUSPEND ELECTIONS AND BECOME A DICTATOR.

HOW DOES IT BENEFIT US TO COWER? NOW, I'VE

[07:05:01]

THEY, THEY'RE NOW FORCED TO VIEW THANKS TO AND ALTER THE UM, DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS MADE ABOUT OUR LAWSUIT.

THESE CADETS THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY.

THEY LAUGHED.

THEY PLAYED ON THEIR PHONES, THEY MOCKED THIS WOMAN.

THEY SHOWED HER NO RESPECT AND SHE LEFT CRYING AND I HAD TO TALK TO HER FOR THREE HOURS THAT NIGHT.

SO WHEN I TELL YOU IT IS NOT A LACK OF HOURS, IT IS NOT A LACK OF FUNDING.

IT IS A CULTURE, A CULTURE THAT IS TOXIC.

THAT IS WHY A PD CANNOT KEEP ITS STAFF A TO A CULTURE THAT IS CORRUPT, THAT IS RACIST, AND THAT IS FILLED WITH MISOGYNY.

AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS OF THOSE TESTIFYING TODAY FOR A PD, THEY'RE NOT GOOD AT THEIR JOB.

WE HAD A MOM SAY THAT SHE WAS AFRAID FOR HER DAUGHTER TO SKIP ACROSS A CO A CROSSWALK, BUT IT MIGHT BE NOTED THAT THE ONLY TIME SOMEONE GETS IN GETS HURT.

SKIPPING ACROSS A CROSSWALK IS NOT WHEN A COP ISN'T THERE TO PROTECT YOU.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HEADPHONES ON AND ONE TACKLES YOU AND SEVERELY INJURES YOU, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A PD HAS DONE, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT Y'ALL KNOW AS WELL AS WE ALL DO THAT MORE POLICE WILL NOT PREVENT CRIME.

WHAT DOES PREVENT CRIME? ARE THE SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT THE, THAT THE POLICE BUDGET IS SUFFOCATING 80, THE RESOURCES THAT THEY STEAL FROM ALL OF THESE OTHER, OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP US.

IT'S ABSURD TO THINK THAT SOMEHOW WE CAN JUST CONTINUE TO, TO FUND A PD UNTIL WE HAVE A POLICE OFFICER ON EVERY BLOCK, EVERY BLOCK.

AND HONESTLY, STATISTICALLY, THAT WOULD MAKE US MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE POLICE ARE DANGEROUS.

WHY WOULD WE ALLOW AN AGENCY TO WORK AGAINST US AND IN THE SHADOWS? THE VERY BEST EXAMPLE THAT I CAN GIVE THAT THEY ARE NOT FOR US IS THAT NOT ONE SINGLE A PD OFFICER HAS SHOWN UP TODAY.

NOT ONE SINGLE OFFICER CAME TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE VOTERS.

TRANSPARENCY, NONE OF IT.

NOT ONE OFFICER HAD THE COURAGE TO COME.

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY'LL HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT WHEN A FELLOW OFFICER MURDERS A CHILD FOR BEING BLACK? ARE THEY GONNA PLAN ANOTHER GUN ON THEM? WILL THEY HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT WHEN DRUGS ARE PLANTED ON A POLITICAL ENEMY, WHICH Y'ALL ARE BY THE WAY.

SO AM I.

WILL THEY HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT WHEN OFFICERS ARE SEX TRAFFICKING LITTLE GIRLS? THEY DIDN'T IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND WITH VOTERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND WITH THE LAW.

HOW CAN Y'ALL POSSIBLY THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING? NOW WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN REGARDS TO POLICE REFORM, AND WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO IS IT'S GONNA TAKE ABOUT THREE STEPS BACK.

IT'S GONNA BANKRUPT THE CITY.

IT'S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN THE SHADOWS WITH NO OVERSIGHT.

ALLOW THEM TO COVER FOR ONE ANOTHER AND KEEP ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE A DECENT HUMAN BEING OUT OF A PD.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO DO IS SIMPLE.

JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.

Y'ALL AREN'T STUPID.

YOU KNOW HOW TO READ.

THE STATISTICS ARE THERE.

MAYOR HEALTH MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BOBBY LEVINSKY.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

UH, WE WERE PART OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THAT BUDGET.

BEFORE THE BUDGET ADOPTION, MAYOR WATSON PAINTED A GLOOMY PICTURE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN GENERAL FUND, PUTTING IN HIS JULY 17TH, 2024 NEWSLETTER.

THE BOTTOM LINE, THERE USED TO BE A LOT MORE WIGGLE ROOM IN THE GENERAL FUND THAN THERE IS NOW.

THAT IS OF COURSE, DURING THE TIME WHEN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE SEEKING FUNDING TO ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS FOR FAMILIES.

AND WHEN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ADVOCATES WERE ADVOCATING TO REBALANCE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS FOR DETERIORATING PARKLAND, INCLUDING THE FAILURE TO ADDRESS CLOGGED AND MISTREATED CAVES ON CITY PARKLAND THAT AFFECT WATER QUALITY.

NOW THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO INCREASE THE ITS PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND, THERE IS THE MAGIC AVAILABILITY OF $16 MILLION AND EVEN MORE IN FUTURE YEARS.

THE WIGGLE ROOM IS BACK.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE AUSTIN ECONOMY SINCE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE LEGISLATURE'S CONSTRAINTS ON THE ALLOCATION OF TAX DOLLARS.

BUDGETING TO ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS IS AND WILL REMAIN DIFFICULT.

FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS OF COURSE IMPORTANT, BUT I WANNA REMIND CITY MA, CITY MANAGER, BROAD KN OF SOMETHING HE TOLD ADVOCATES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE GUYS, BUT LOOK AT THE BOOKS.

HE NOTED THAT THE BUDGET MUST ADJUST TO REALITY.

RECOGNIZING THAT BUDGET SHORTFALLS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET AND PROBABLY THE ONES THEREAFTER, WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST UNTIL THERE

[07:10:01]

IS AN HONEST AND TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE PROPER BALANCING OF THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.

THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE VOTING ON A CONTRACT THAT WILL TIE UP TWO THIRDS OF THE FUTURE GENERAL FUND TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE OUTFALL OUTFALL OUTFLOW OF THIS DECISION WILL AUTOMATICALLY IMPACT OTHER GENERAL FUND NEEDS AND TIE THE HANDS OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY MIGHT BE THE INTENT OF THIS TIMING OF THIS ITEM.

JUST OUTSIDE THE DOORS, UH, OF WHERE I WORK, AND SOMEONE WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE JUST BEFORE THAT SOMEONE WAS STABBED WITH A THREE FOOT SWORD ON CONGRESS AVENUE.

NEXT SPEAKERS ARE KEVIN HIGGINS, JENNY GRAYSON, LILLIAN ORTIZ, SUSAN MORRISON, ALFREDO REYES JR.

RA VIC.

JANICE BOOKOUT.

YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARDS THE FRONT.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.

IF YOU'VE HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WELCOME, MS. MORRISON.

HI, MY NAME'S SUSAN MORRISON.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

HERE'S WHY I ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THE VOTE AND FIX THIS CONTRACT.

I SUPPORT MOST OF THE POLICE.

I SUPPORT ALL THE GOOD COPS AND I ALSO SUPPORT POLICE OVERSIGHT EFFORTS.

WHEN I SAW YOUNG AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS FIRING RUBBER BULLETS AT PEACEFUL PROTESTORS DURING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS IN FRONT OF CAMERAS AND IN FRONT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS, I WAS SHOCKED AT THE POOR JUDGMENT EACH OF THEM DEMONSTRATED, AND I KNEW THAT IT REFLECTED THE SAME POOR JUDGMENT OF THEIR SUPERVISORS WHO TOLD THEM TO SHOOT A FEW PROTESTORS WERE JUST TRYING TO GET MEDICAL HELP FOR THE WOUNDED NAIVELY BRINGING THESE PEOPLE, CARRYING THEM TOWARD THE POLICE TO GET HELP.

AND THEY WERE SHOCKED.

SOME OF THEM WERE PERMANENTLY DISABLED.

I BLAME THE POLICE UNION FOR THIS BECAUSE THE MEN IN BLUE KNOW WHO THE RACIST AND THE SEXIST COPS ARE, AND THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

WE NEED AN ETHICS CODE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THIS CONTRACT.

WAS IT EVEN DISCUSSED? IT'S BEING DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED.

IT'S NEEDED.

SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE POLICE OFFICERS.

MY BLACK FRIENDS REPORTED TO ME THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAD MARCHED FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER THAT DAY AND WERE GUIDED BY POLICE OFFICERS TO MARCH TO A BRIDGE IN AUSTIN THAT WAS BLOCKED AT THE END BY OTHER OFFICERS.

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED.

THEY WERE TOLD TO GET DOWN AND LIE FLAT ON THE HOT PAVEMENT FACE DOWN.

THIS WAS TO PUNISH THEM FOR MARCHING AND EX EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

I'M AFRAID OF THOSE OFFICERS WHO GO THROUGH TRAINING AND THINK THAT THIS CONDUCT IS APPROPRIATE JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT.

THEY DO IT.

THE STANDARDS AND RESPONSES TO WEST AUSTIN ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE TREATMENT GIVEN TO CHURCHGOING EMPLOYED BLACK AND BROWN AND ASIAN CITIZENS IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY.

MY BLACK FRIENDS WHO KNOW GOOD AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICERS IN AUSTIN HAVE SAID THEY HAVE TOLD, BEEN TOLD BY THESE COPS THAT THE COPS FEEL THREATENED BY THE RACIST, UNETHICAL OFFICERS.

SO THEY HAVE TO KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT.

THIS IS PART OF THE DIFFICULTY IN RECRUITMENT.

GOOD PEOPLE DON'T WANNA WORK ALONGSIDE RACIST COPS.

AND IT SEEMS THE POLICE JUST WANNA MAKE OVERTIME.

TODAY YOU'VE HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CASES, PE THESE PEOPLE NEED HOSPITALIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THEY'RE NOT A POLICE PROBLEM, THEY'RE A FUNDING PROBLEM.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AND THANK YOU TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.

UH, MY NAME IS KEVIN HIGGINS.

I LIVE IN AUSTIN.

I'M ALSO A HOTEL GENERAL MANAGER OF TWO HOTELS ON CONGRESS.

UH, AND I DO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN VOTING.

YES FOR ITEMS 47 AND 48.

UM, THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS AND OF THE CITY IS PEOPLE.

AND, UH, HOSPITALITY IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS.

AND, UH, IT'S FILLED WITH YOUR RESIDENTS.

UH, THESE PEOPLE DESERVE MORE AND THEY DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND THEY DESERVE TO FEEL PROTECTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY THAT THEY COME TO WORK.

AND WE ALL DESERVE THE ABILITY TO ENJOY OUR CITY, UH, IN A SAFE CAPACITY.

THE FACT THAT OUR PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY COME TO AND FROM WORK IS A PROBLEM.

UM, JUST IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I'VE HAD A PHYSICAL ALT ALTERCATION

[07:15:01]

JUST BEFORE THAT, UH, I WAS PERSONALLY THREATENED TO HAVE MY GLASSES PUNCHED INTO MY EYES WHILE I WALKED INTO WORK.

UH, AND JUST LAST MONTH I WATCHED A FIST FIGHT HAPPEN, UH, ON CONGRESS BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE ANYONE WAS ABLE TO RESPOND FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN FACT, ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE THERE, THE PEOPLE, UH, WERE WORKING TO, UH, RESOLVE THAT AND NOT HAVE ANYBODY INJURED.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, BY THE TIME THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND DUE TO LIMITED RESOURCES, EVERYONE HAD DISBAND, ALL THE WITNESSES WERE GONE, AND JUST BLOOD WAS LEFT ON THE SIDEWALK.

THIS IS A PROBLEM.

THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE OVERWHELMED WITH OTHER CALLS BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED.

AND WOULD THIS BE LOGGED AS A CRIME IF NO ONE'S THERE TO WITNESS IT OR THE POLICE DON'T RESPOND TO IT? I'M NOT SURE.

I DON'T TRACK THE CRIMINAL RECORDS EVERY DAY, BUT PERHAPS THAT'S ONE REASON WHY OUR CRIME RATE IS DOWN.

UH, ALL THIS HAPPENING JUST OUTSIDE THE BUSINESS OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, WHICH IS A CRIME IN ITSELF.

THESE SORTS OF CRIMES ARE RESULTING IN LESS REVENUE FOR THE CITY AND RESULTING IN LESS REVENUE FOR PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING.

BUT EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE EITHER FOR OR OPPOSED TO, UH, WHAT'S BEING VOTED ON, UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON REVENUE FOR THE CITY AND THE ABILITY TO FUND THOSE, UH, INITIATIVES.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'M A FATHER, UH, OF A 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL, AND I WAS RECENTLY, UH, MADE THE DECISION TO RELOCATE FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER, UH, BASED ON THE CRIME THAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AFTER MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF TRESPASSING TO MY OWN FRONT DOOR, DRUG USE IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY, OTHER CRIMES HAPPENING JUST FEET FROM WHERE I SLEEP AND WHERE MY 4-YEAR-OLD SLEEPS, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PACK UP EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD SETTLED INTO IN AN AMAZING NEIGHBORHOOD AND MOVE TO A DIFFERENT AREA.

UM, THAT'S, THANK YOU.

I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU.

SO HELLO MAYOR WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

HOW YOU DOING TODAY? HEY, MY NAME IS ALFREDO.

I'M, UH, REYES.

I'M A DISTRICT FIVE.

UM, I'M A VOCAL TEST ORGANIZER.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 47 AND 48.

WE DO NOT NEED TO HIKE UP THE TAXES TO PAY FOR POLICE, UM, WHEN 6,000 ARE HOMELESS IN THE STREETS AND WE NEED, UH, WE DON'T HAVE NO SHELTERS FOR THEM OR ANY BEDS.

WE ACTUALLY, UH, NOT ALLOWING ANYBODY TO GO INTO SHELTERS NOW.

WE NEED THAT EXTRA MONEY FOUND IN THE BUDGET TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY, HARM REDUCTION, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS WHERE WE ARE IN HIGHLY NEED.

IT'S HIGHLY NEEDED.

I'M SORRY.

PEOPLE ARE DYING AND SUFFERING IN THE STREETS AND BEING CRIMINALIZED.

WE NEED HOUSING AND WE NEED IT NOW.

NO MORE, NO MORE POLICING.

UM, I HAD MYSELF EXPERIENCE, UM, A LOT OF TIMES WITH POLICE.

UM, BACK IN 2003, I WAS, UM, A VICTIM OF HATE CRIME.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT TOOK SIX HOURS FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO EVEN SHOW UP WHEN I WAS, THEY WERE CALLED, UM, WHICH WAS RIDICULOUS.

NOT JUST THAT, BUT, UM, BEING IN THE FRONTLINE HERE WITH VOCAL TEXAS, I HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE EXPERIENCE, UM, PEOPLE BEING HARASSED TO INCLUDE MYSELF, UM, ESPECIALLY HERE AT REPUBLIC SQUARE, UM, BEING TOLD TO MOVE AROUND, BEING FINED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT REALITY IS WE DO NOT NEED THAT MONEY TO GO INTO POLICING.

WE DO NEED POLICING, BUT WE DO NOT NEED THAT MONEY TO GO THERE.

WE NEED IT TO GO SOMEWHERE.

WE NEED TO BE, WHICH IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE SHELTERS, MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS TAKEN CARE OF, IN WHICH I, MY UNDERSTANDING I'M JUST LEARNING ABOUT, UM, CITY HALL AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S WHAT YOUR JOB WAS, TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IF I'M RIGHT, I WOULD EXPECT THAT FROM YOU GUYS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE WE GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND MAKING SURE IT GOES TO THE RIGHT PLACE WHERE THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE AND DESERVED.

IT WILL BECOME A MAJOR LIABILITY AND MAY COST YOU INDIVIDUALLY YOUR SEATS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS RA TOM LOVICH.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR ABOUT THREE, FOUR YEARS NOW.

I'M A CURRENT STUDENT AT THE UT SCHOOL OF LAW, AND I GRADUATED IN 2017 WITH A DUAL DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS FROM SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY.

I'M HERE TO REGISTER MY OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT CONTRACT BECAUSE I BELIEVE AMONGST THE MANY WELL STATED REASONS EXPLAINED BY ACTIVISTS TODAY, THAT IS A BAD CONTRACT AND IT IS A POLITICAL MISCALCULATION FOR THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW IT.

[07:20:02]

HERE'S WHY.

THE A PA PRESIDENT SAID TODAY THAT WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.

IN MAY OF 2023, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION TWEETED THE A PA IS AWARE OF THE ELECTION RESULTS, PROP A AND B, AND IS TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO DETERMINES THE CITY'S INTENTIONS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE ILLEGAL PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN PROP A.

THE A PA SIMPLY WILL NOT STAND BY THE A PA AND THE OTHER POLITICAL FORCES WHICH ARE DEMANDING YOU RUSH AND SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT ARE THE SAME POLITICAL FORCES WHICH EXECUTED THE 2018 SWITCHEROO ON POLICE OVERSIGHT WHO FUNDED THE ASTROTURFING CAMPAIGN TO CREATE A CONFUSING PROP A AND B MEASURE, AND WHO ALONG WITH THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT, HAVE BEEN GETTING THEIR BUTTS KICKED IN COURT BY ACTIVISTS OVER THE PAST YEAR ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE A POA.

AND YET, YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, ARE BEING ASSURED BY THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE A PA THAT THERE ARE NO POISON PILLS, AND THIS WILL NOT WEAKEN OVERSIGHT.

I FIND THIS POLITICALLY NAIVE, OKAY? IF YOU'RE LOSING IN COURT, NO DISRESPECT TO THE LAWYERS THAT ARE WORKING FOR THESE FOLKS, BUT IF YOU'RE LOSING IN COURT AGAIN AND AGAIN ON THIS ISSUE, AND YOU'RE SEEN TO BE SUBVERTING THE WILL OF THE A POA BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID TO RENEGOTIATE THIS CONTRACT, YOU'LL BE LABELED POLITICALLY AS SUCKERS.

THE TRUTH IS, YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS POLITICAL APPARATUS WILL BE UNABLE TO CHANGE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN MADE THROUGH INFORMAL, QUIET QUITTING PRACTICES BY POLICE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL OR THROUGH CREATIVE LITIGATION UP THROUGH THE FIFTH CIRCUIT.

THE C'S LEGAL ANALYSIS LACKS THIS REALIST VISION THAT THERE ARE FORCES BEYOND THIS CONTRACT WILL, WILL, WHICH WILL AFFECT ITS ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE WILL OF AUSTIN VOTERS, WHICH A PA HAS BEEN ON RECORD AS SAYING IS ILLEGAL.

COPS DON'T JUST DECIDE THINGS ARE LEGAL ALL OF A SUDDEN.

THE TRUTH IS THE CITY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE LEADERSHIP OR POSITIONS OF THESE POLITICAL OPERATIONS WILL CHANGE AND NEVER BUCK.

YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT STATE LAW WILL NOT CHANGE OR WEAKEN THE CONTRACT.

I URGE YOU TO DELAY.

IS IN YOUR HANDS NOW TO USE THIS TOOL.

JANICE BOOKOUT, D FOUR OPPOSING 47 AND 48 TRIGGER WARNING.

IT WILL NOT TAKE ME THREE MINUTES TO TELL MY STORY.

WHEN I AM DONE, I'M GOING TO STAND IN SILENCE AND LOOK YOU IN THE EYE AND I REQUEST THAT YOU LOOK BACK.

WHILE IN COLLEGE IN SAN ANTONIO, I ATTENDED A CONFERENCE FOR STUDENT LEADERS IN AUSTIN.

I WAS SO EXCITED AND HONORED.

I FELT SO IMPORTANT WHILE I WAS THERE, I WAS DRUGGED, BOUND AND RAPED BY A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN.

I HAD JUST MET FOR YEARS.

I HAVE QUESTIONED MYSELF FOR NOT REPORTING IT.

WE ALL KNOW NOW THAT IF I HAD HAD THE TREMENDOUS COURAGE, IT WOULD'VE TAKEN TO GET THROUGH MY SHOCK AND CONFUSION AND SHAME TO TAKE MYSELF IN A CITY THAT WAS NOT YET MY HOME, TO GO THROUGH THE INVASIVE AND HUMILIATING PROCEDURES IN ORDER TO PROVE THE DRUG WAS IN MY BODY AND THAT HE HAD BEEN THERE TOO.

MY EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE WOULD'VE BEEN MET WITH COWARDICE, APATHY, LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, NON-TRANSPARENCY AND SELF-PROTECTION AS MY KIT SAT ON A SHELF FOR YEARS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HELD A PD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.

JUST YESTERDAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A GIRL SCOUT TROUPE FOR A TOUR OF CITY HALL THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE D ONE STAFF.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON FOR THAT.

I WATCHED THOSE LITTLE GIRLS WHERE SITTING UP THERE WHERE YOU ARE NOW IN A MOCK UH, COUNCIL MEETING.

THEY WERE BRILLIANT AS THEY LEANED INTO THEIR POWER.

BUT I WONDER, WILL THEY BE PROTECTED? WILL THEY BE SERVED? THIS CONTRACT IS THE BIGGEST TOOL IN YOUR TOOLBOX FOR ENSURING THAT BLACK AND BROWN BOYS ARE NOT TARGETED FOR DISCRIMINATORY ENGAGEMENT BY OVERLY REACTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE LITERALLY ON STEROIDS.

LOOK IT UP THAT OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ARE NOT HARASSED, BUT TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT ARE FEMALE AND NON-BINARY OFFICERS AND BLACK OFFICERS ARE NOT HARASSED OR ASSAULTED WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, AND THAT A 20-YEAR-OLD GIRL TAKING THOSE COURAGEOUS STEPS IS ACTUALLY SERVED AND PROTECTED.

THE POWER

[07:25:01]

PLEASE DO.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS LILLIAN ORTIZ.

I'M A LOCAL ACTRESS AND ACTIVIST HERE IN AUSTIN.

I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS CONTRACT.

I WISH MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT BY ATTENDING TO THE ROOT CAUSES AND TRAUMAS OF OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, WE COULD ACTUALLY MAKE OUR CITY SAFER.

MAYBE ONE DAY I COME FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY.

I LOVE A PD.

I UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY AND THE URGENCY OF A POLICE CONTRACT.

I DO.

BUT DID THIS CONTRACT HAPPEN WITH THE TRANSPARENCY, TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT IS REQUIRED AND EXPECTED OF OUR PUBLIC, OF OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS? IT DID NOT.

IS IT REFLECTIVE OF WHAT TRAVIS COUNTY HAS VOTED FOR? IT IS NOT TO MY CITY COUNCIL REP, MR. VELA.

I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME NOW IN DISTRICT FOUR.

I WITNESSED THE OVER POLICING HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS, SIR, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PLACES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

I WITNESSED IT ONE DAY.

I COUNTED FIVE STATE TROOPERS THAT WERE PATROLLING MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

FIVE.

IT IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE BECAUSE I KNOW THE RAMIFICATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE CHILDREN, THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE FAMILIES.

SIR, WE ALL KNOW WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED WHEN 90% OF ARRESTS EVERYONE ARE BLACK AND BROWN.

I'M USING THE WORD TARGETED BECAUSE I DID LIVE IN LAKEWAY.

I DID LIVE IN WESTLAKE.

IT IS NOT THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

I WONDER IF WE COULD DIRECT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THESE OTHER WEALTHIER, LESS COLORED NEIGHBORHOODS MAY BE ALL THESE PEOPLE WANTING MORE POLICE CAN GET THEIR PATROLLING AND NOT JUST MY DIVERSE, HIGHLY IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HUMBLY BEG YOU, SIR, I BEG YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART TO VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

WHEN THE VERY AUTHORS OF THE OVERSIGHT ACT ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.

DON'T WE THINK SOMETHING IS AMISS? IT'S OUR JOB TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE, SIR.

IT'S NOT JUST THE POLICE'S JOB.

THEY DON'T KNOW ALWAYS HOW TO DO IT.

IT'S OUR JOB TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND IT MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE MAKE CHOICES THAT BENEFIT THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

OUR DISTRICT, SIR, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, DISTRICT FOUR IS ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

IT'S OURS.

PLEASE VOTE NO.

THIS CONTRACT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH YET.

HELP YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT DESPERATELY NEEDS IT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY MITCHELL WITH TIME DONATED BY ROY WHALEY.

KATHY AND ROY, ARE YOU PRESENT? THEY ARE, YES.

I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH KATHY.

YES, I AM HERE.

KATHY WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES ON DECK.

WE'LL HAVE DANIELLA SILVA, THERESA EBNER, RAPHAEL SCHWARTZ, AND MONICA GUZMAN.

NOW WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF THE A POA.

KATHY MITCHELL WITH EQUITY ACTION.

I IMAGINE IN YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS MORNING, CITY LEGAL TOLD YOU ITS ACTIONS ARE DIRECTED BY THE A POA AND THE CITY HAS NO G FILE, BUT ALMOST NO DOCUMENTS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN RELEASED AND NO REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR DETERMINATIONS ON APPLICABLE EXCEPTIONS TO DISCLOSURE, AS I WOULD EXPECT TO HAPPEN UNDER THE TERMS OF OUR ORDINANCE, THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE THE CITY'S FIRST STEP WHEN THOSE REQUESTS WERE FILED.

WHAT IS GOING ON THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE USUAL APPROACH TO THESE REQUESTED FILES? THIS CONTRACT, THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION, HAS YET TO BE CREATED.

I KNOW MEMBERS APPLIED AND WERE VETTED.

WHAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM GETTING TO WORK THIS CONTRACT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE GFI ANALYSIS? I UNDERSTAND THAT CITY LEGAL WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE GFI ARE NOT SERIOUS, BUT CITY LEGAL HAS BEEN MORE INTERESTED IN KEEPING THE G FILE IN PLACE THAN GIVING YOU GOOD LEGAL ADVICE, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD TO SUE YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE.

ONCE THE A PA HITS 50% SUPPORT FOR THIS CONTRACT, THEN I DO NOT EXPECT THAT TO TAKE LONG AFTER A YES VOTE TODAY, IT WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY BINDING ON THE CITY.

CHAPTER 1 43 IS EXTREMELY CLEAR ON THIS POINT THEN THE DEBATE CHANGES.

[07:30:01]

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SCOPE OF PREEMPTION, WHICH BOTH SIDES THROUGH THIS CONTRACT HAVE ALWAYS SAID IS VAST.

DOES THE DIRECTION GIVEN TO THE CITY BY OUR ORDINANCE CONFLICT WITH THE CONTRACT? THERE IS THE HEART OF THE AMBIGUITY.

IT CLEARLY WOULD NOT.

IF THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE G FILE PROVISION REFERENCED TO OUR LOCAL LAW CHETO, YOU WERE THE FIRST ONE TO REALIZE THE FIX WAS THAT SIMPLE.

IF THE CITY AND THE A PA HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS THAT THE GFI IS IN FACT NO MORE, THEN PUT THAT CHANGE INTO THIS CONTRACT AND ELIMINATE THE AMBIGUITY AT THE MOMENT OF PREEMPTION.

NOW DO IT NOW BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE A POA ACTUALLY SAYS AFTER THIS CONTRACT IS PASSED, IT WILL BE ABOUT WHAT THIS CONTRACT SAYS, AND THE WORDS ARE NOT THE SAME.

THAT CHANGE WOULD CREATE CERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE G FILE THAT BOTH SIDES ARE CLAIMING WE HAVE.

IF THIS IS A NON SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE, WHY WOULD YOU NOT SUGGEST IT AND WHY WOULD THE A PA NOT ACCEPT IT WITH NO INCREASE IN COST? I'M SURE I SOUND NAIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THE A PA WON'T COME BACK TO THE TABLE, BUT I AM OLD.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE EXACTLY HERE BEFORE.

AFTER THE STORM, THEY GENERATE THE A PA COMES BACK.

I UNDERSTAND YOU THINK THERE IS NO END GAME IF YOU SAY NO.

TODAY, I FIND THAT BAFFLING.

YOU SAY NO TODAY AND YET, AND YET YOU SAY NO TODAY.

AND YES, A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS WILL BE MAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING, ELECTING MORE CONSERVATIVES AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

A YES VOTE WILL NOT WILL CHANGE.

EXACTLY NONE OF THAT.

THE A PA AND CLEAT WILL GET BILLS FILED TO AMEND CHAPTER 1 43, EXPAND CHAPTER 1 43.

ELIMINATE THE DA'S ABILITY TO PROSECUTE OFFICERS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF FORCE AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR KEN PAXTON TO REMOVE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY JUST LIKE LAST SESSION, JUST LIKE THEY WILL DO IN 2027.

A YES VOTE WILL CHANGE EXACTLY NONE OF THAT.

A NO VOTE CHANGES.

ONE IMPORTANT THING.

IT SETS PARAMETERS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATION BECAUSE A PA WILL COME BACK.

YOU GET BETTER NEGOTIATORS.

YOU HAVE MADE CLEAR WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, AND YOU HAVE CLEARLY SAID THAT THE OFFICER WAGE INCREASES CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO DEFUND EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU'LL BE GIVING YOUR OWN BUDGET PEOPLE THE BACKING THEY NEED TO HOLD THE LINE, WHICH I HAPPEN TO KNOW THEY TRIED TO DO.

ALL THIS ARGUMENT THAT WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THOSE, THOSE RAMPAGE LAW PEOPLE RAILROADED AND BULLIED YOUR BUDGET STAFF THAT YOU TRUST INTO ALLOWING THEM TO GO HIGHER THAN WAS REASONABLE TODAY.

A STARK CONTRAST HAS BEEN DRAWN FOR YOU BETWEEN THE TESTIMONY FOR AND AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.

THE CHAMBER, ITS BUSINESS VOICES, RICOH AND THE POLICE ASSOCIATE RICOH AND THE POLICE ASSOCIATION FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

LABOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS, CRIME SURVIVORS, PARENTS, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AGAINST THAT IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE VOTERS WANT TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT, MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE COST.

THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS DEAL SAY THEY WANT FILLED VACANCIES FROM WHICH THEY EXPECT SHORTER RESPONSE TIMES.

THAT IS A REASONABLE THING TO WANT, BUT THIS CONTRACT DOESN'T DO THOSE THINGS.

YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT ITEMS LIKE YOUTH MENTORSHIP.

IT'S NOT IN HERE.

A PD OFFICERS CAN MENTOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT A CONTRACT AND A PD HAS ALREADY LAUNCHED THAT PROGRAM.

THE CITY CAN ALSO CREATE NEW INCENTIVES FOR RECRUITMENT WITHOUT A CONTRACT.

THE INCENTIVE PROVISION IN THIS CONTRACT SAYS EXACTLY THIS.

THE CITY IS AUTHORIZED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT RECRUITMENT AND OR RETENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF THIS AGREEMENT.

THANK YOU, MS. MITCHELL.

COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I KNOW IT'S A LONG ONE, SO I WILL KEEP MINE SHORT.

UM, MY NAME IS THERESA ABNER AND I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION.

THE COMMUNITY.

I, UM, THE COMPANY I REPRESENT, OWNS AND MANAGES 16 AFFORDABLE

[07:35:01]

UM, WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE CONTRACT.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE STAFFING AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PROTECT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES, A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.

YOU HEARD ME SPEAK THE OTHER DAY AT THE WORK SESSION ABOUT WHY I AM OPPOSED.

I'M GONNA ADD TO THAT.

I STAND AS A TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEE UNION MEMBER FOR 15 YEARS.

I STAND WITH AFSCME AND WITH LABOR UNIONS IN OPPOSITION.

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A BALANCED BUDGET THAT INCLUDES ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

THE STAFF'S PAY THE PROGRAMS, THE SERVICES.

I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEFORE ME TODAY.

THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS AND TAKE THINGS OFF OF THEIR PLATE.

THEY ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO HOUSING INSTABILITY.

THEY'RE NOT THE ANSWER TO HUNGER OR TO HOMELESSNESS, BUT TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR CARITAS OF AUSTIN AND OTHER NONPROFITS TO DO THEIR JOBS.

AND THEY WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT IF THERE'S NOT FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THEM THROUGH THE CITY OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT LEVEL FOR THAT MATTER.

YOU NEED TO ALSO CONSIDER ON ITEM 48.

I ONLY JUST TODAY FINALLY GOT MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND WHAT THAT WAS.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, CLEAN ENERGY.

YOU DON'T ACCOMPLISH THAT WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, MAINTAINING FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS OR BUILDING NEW ONES.

THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER TO OUR ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT KEEP OUR AIR CLEAN OR MAKE IT CLEANER.

WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT PLANNING TO PREVENT FLOODING LOT TO LOT FLOODING.

WHILE THAT'S NOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE, IT'S STILL A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS HOLISTIC.

YOU NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS.

TAKE IT BACK TO THE TABLES.

NOW.

I UNDERSTAND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEED THAT CONTRACT.

I'M, I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST THE EXISTENCE OF A CONTRACT.

I'M ARGUING AGAINST WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU NOW.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S BEEN 20 YEARS OF TRANSPARENT NEGOTIATION PROCESS UNTIL THIS ONE, AND THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF ALL THAT TRANSPARENCY THIS YEAR.

THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD WHERE THIS COUNCIL HAS CONCERNED WE NEED TO HAVE A TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT AND DOES NOT START WITH APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT.

HI, UH, RAEL SCHWARTZ, UH, SPEAKING FOR AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB.

I LIVE IN D TWO.

I WON'T REPEAT ALL THE POINTS THAT MANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS JUST MADE, BUT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

UH, LIKE MONICA MENTIONED, I THINK THAT COUNCIL HAS A REALLY TOUGH POSITION ON THIS AS FAR AS WHERE IS THE $45 MILLION A YEAR GONNA COME FROM IN ADDITION TO AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN AUSTIN.

WE'RE ALL COLLECTIVELY LIVING THROUGH A CLIMATE CRISIS AND A MASSIVE ENERGY, ENERGY TRANSITION IN TEXAS.

AS FAR AS CITY FINANCES, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE TRUE.

THE CITY ALREADY HAS A STRAINED IMBALANCED BUDGET.

TAX RATE INCREASES ARE SERIOUSLY LIMITED WITHOUT AN ELECTION, WHICH ISN'T A GUARANTEE.

AND SALES GR SALES TAX GROWTH IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE.

ANOTHER AREA WITH NO REAL FLEXIBILITY RIGHT NOW IS AUSTIN ENERGY UTILITY HAS STRAINED ITS FINANCES TO PROVIDE THE CITY $115 MILLION THIS YEAR.

IN GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS, DESPITE CURRENTLY OPERATING A NET LOSS, THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE UTILITY CAN SAFELY CONTINUE PAYMENTS AT THIS LEVEL INTO THE FUTURE WITHOUT BURDENING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH HIGHER RATES OR ABANDONING CLIMATE COMMITMENTS.

THE CONTRACT DECISION CAN NEVER BE REVERSED AND WILL CEMENT PERMANENT PRESSURE ON AUSTIN ENERGY FOR YEARS INTO THE FUTURE TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE GENERATION WITH EVERY DECISION AT EVERY FORK IN THE ROAD.

THE EFFECT OF THIS DECISION WILL OF COURSE BE FELT AS SOON AS THIS FALL WHEN COUNCIL VOTES ON THE RESOURCE PLAN.

AND AUSTIN ENERGY MAKES THE CASE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY, UH, GENERAL, GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS IS WITH A NEW GAS PLANT.

THERE IS TREMENDOUS VALUE IN NOT STRAINING OUR BUDGET TO FORCE OUR PUBLIC ELECTRIC UTILITY TO OPERATE LIKE A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

PLEASE CONSIDER THE GENUINE RISK HERE OF THROWING AWAY OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND OUR COMMUNITY'S CLEAN AIR TO GIVE A RAISE TO A DEPARTMENT THAT IS ALREADY THE HIGHEST OR BEST PAID IN TEXAS.

WITH TIME DONATED BY NATALIE HOUCHENS AND JEFFREY CLEMENS.

NEXT SPEAKERS ARE CAMILLE COOK, SHANE JOHNSON, UH, CHRIS HARRIS

[07:40:01]

NATALIE AND JEFFREY, ARE YOU STILL PRESENT? WE CAN CHECK IN AFTER CAMILLE COOK AND SHANE JOHNSON HAVE SPOKE.

UM, RICHARD SETTLE.

ALICIA'S BEEN CALLED.

UH, I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW WHO I AM BY NOW.

D SEVEN, AS ARE MY PARENTS AND BROTHERS.

UM, I I WANT TO REPEAT A LITTLE BIT WHAT I SAID ON TUESDAY AT THE WORK SESSION TO EMPHASIZE THAT AND, AND PUT IT MORE IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

OF COURSE, FIRST VOTE NO ON THIS ATROCIOUS CONTRACT THAT WOULD VARIABLY BANKRUPT THE GENERAL FUND AND AUSTIN ENERGY AND THE NUMEROUS CITY DEPARTMENTS YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEFUND TO AFFORD THIS.

I'LL LEAD WITH THE QUICK HISTORY LESSON THAT THIS DIOCESE AND THE PUBLIC NEED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE LARGE TODAY IN LARGE PART, UH, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT BECAUSE OF MAYOR WATSON'S FIRST TERM.

UH, IN 2001 OR SO, WHEN THE FIRST AWESOME POLICE CONTRACT WAS CRAFTED, WATSON REMOVED THE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY, UH, MEASURES IN A BACKROOM CLOSED DOOR DEAL.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR THOSE MEASURES TODAY.

UM, WE'VE ONLY MADE SOME PROGRESS BECAUSE THANKS TO ORGANIZING MANY OF US DID IN 20 17, 20 18, WE DEFEATED THAT POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH ALLOWED US TO PASS THE A POA AND THEN NOW HAS GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, IN ON PAPER SOME OVERSIGHT IN, UM, AND NOW IT SEEMS Y'ALL ARE OPPOSED TO UNDO ALL OF THAT AND PASS THIS CURRENT CONTRACT.

UH, THAT WOULD OF COURSE SUPERSEDE CITY LAW, SUPERSEDE STATE LAW.

LOOK, WE KNOW FROM MAYOR WATSON'S ACTIONS OF PARTNERING WITH GREG ABBOTT AND BRINGING IN DPS TO HARASS AND TARGET BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

AND THESE ARE POLICE WHO HAVE ESSENTIALLY NO OVERSIGHT WHATSOEVER.

HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN OR WANT POLICE OVERSIGHT.

AND VOTING TODAY IS TO ELIMINATE ACCOUNTABILITY LIKE KATHY MITCHELL WAS SAYING, PRESSING UH, PASSING THE CREEK POLICE CONTRACT TODAY, AS I SAID A SECOND AGO, UH, WILL ELIMINATE WILL, WILL OVER, UH, WILL PREEMPT THE A POA AND WILL ELIMINATE REAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT.

THAT SHOULD BE BAD ENOUGH.

UM, BUT ON TOP OF THAT, THIS DI SEEMS POISED TO, UH, OR ON TOP OF THIS, THIS DI UH, IT NOT CARING ABOUT THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, YOU ALL NORMALLY SEEM TO CARE ABOUT FINANCIAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, BUT INSTEAD WANT TO PRACTICE THE WORST FINANCIAL, UH, MISMANAGEMENT OF A CITY BUDGET.

I WOULD, I'LL EVER SEE IF YOU PASS THIS, UM, YOU WANT TO RAISE OUR UTILITY BILLS.

ULTIMATELY, YOU WANT TO RAISE OUR TAXES SIGNIFICANTLY.

YOU WANNA LOCK US INTO POLLUTING FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE AND POSSIBLY BUILDING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TO AFFORD THIS WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SO ARE YOU GOING TO REPEAT HISTORY AND TAKE US BACK TO 2001, OR ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE BOLD LEADERS? WE NEED YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT, OR AT LEAST IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA VOTE, NO, POSTPONE IT OR ABSTAIN.

ARE YOU GONNA BE LEADERS OR ARE YOU GOING TO SELL OUT OUR COMMUNITIES? SELL OUT, UH, ANY YOUR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.

IS NATALIE HOUCHENS HERE? USE THE OTHER ONE AFTER ME.

UH, MR. HARRIS, ARE PEOPLE A DONATED TIME HERE? YES.

JEFF'S HERE NOW.

THE SAME ARGUMENTS BEING MADE TO YOU BY, YOU KNOW, PRESUMABLY SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MINDS RIGHT IN, IN, IN THE STATE, UH, BUT WITH RELATION TO THIS POLICE CONTRACT.

OKAY, MR. HARRIS, WE'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

UH, COUNCIL MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, UH, THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU, UH, YET AGAIN TODAY.

UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS.

I'M HERE, UH, REPRESENTING EQUITY ACTION AS A BOARD PRESIDENT.

UM, I FIRST WANNA ADDRESS, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT WE HEARD A LOT FROM FOLKS THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS CONTRACT.

AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS HERE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE, THE CHARACTERS, UH, OF THE UNDERPANTS GNS, BUT, UM, I EQUATE, UH, THEIR THE FEEDBACK TO, TO THE BUSINESS PLAN OF THOSE FOLKS.

I, I SEE A COUPLE CHUCKLES.

UM, THOSE FOLKS, THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA COLLECT UNDERPANTS AT STEP ONE.

IN STEP TWO, THERE WAS A BIG QUESTION MARK, AND IN STEP THREE THERE WAS PROFIT.

AND THE JOKE WAS, WELL, WHAT IS STEP TWO? WELL, THEY NEVER FIGURED THAT OUT.

AND, AND YOU HAVE

[07:45:01]

AND THAT IS, YOU SHOULD INVEST $218 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS IN POLICE AND SUDDENLY THEY WILL FEEL SAFE.

BUT WHAT IS STEP TWO AND HOW'S THAT GONNA HAPPEN? UH, I, I ACTUALLY REALLY HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR, AND COMPASSION FOR, UH, THE FOLKS THAT CAME UP HERE WITH STORIES OF, OF HARM, OF, OF ASSAULT, OF, OF FEAR.

UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO FEEL FEAR.

UM, AND, UM, I THINK YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT, UH, THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING THAT'S BEEN EXPLAINED TO YOU AND NOTHING THAT EXISTS IN THIS CONTRACT THAT IS GOING TO ELIMINATE THE FEAR, THE FEAR THAT THEY FEEL.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE STAFFING IS GOING TO INCREASE BY VIRTUE OF THE RAISES INCLUDED IN THIS CONTRACT.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE RESPONSE TIMES ARE GOING TO IMPROVE.

UM, AND, AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THAT POLICE NEITHER REALLY ENJOY OR ARE VERY GOOD AT DEALING WITH THE PRIMARY THING THAT MANY OF THEM ARE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, RIGHT? UH, THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.

THIS IS, AT BEST A BANDAID, AND AT WORST, A REALLY HARMFUL THING THAT KEEPS A LOT OF PEOPLE UNHOUSED BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH TICKETS AND ARRESTS AND, UH, ALL OF THE HARM THAT COMES WITH, UH, POLICE AND JAIL INTERACTIONS.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE I, I GATHER THAT THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE INCREASES TO THEIR STAFFING AND DECREASES TO, UH, TO THE RESPONSE TIMES, UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU AS A POLICYMAKER HAVE TO ACTUALLY DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE PIECE OF POLICY IN FRONT OF YOU IS ACTUALLY GONNA DO THAT.

AND, AND AGAIN, I I'VE NOT HEARD ONE BIT OF EVIDENCE, UH, THAT IT WILL, UH, MUCH LESS ADDRESS THE, YOU KNOW, BALLOONING OVERTIME BUDGET.

UH, ALL OF THE CULTURAL AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT AT A PD.

UM, THESE ARE NOT PART OF THIS.

THE OTHER THING I REALLY WANNA POINT OUT HERE IS THAT THESE SAME VOICES, A LOT OF THEM, UH, HAVE BEEN UP HERE TO, TO ADVOCATE FOR EACH AND EVERY CONTRACT, EACH AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE COMES UP.

AND, AND THAT'S FINE.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THEIR PREROGATIVE AND, AND THEY CAN DO THAT.

BUT WHAT IT SHOWS TO ME IS THAT THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY GONNA REFLEXIVELY SUPPORT WHATEVER THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, MAYBE THE, THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, TELL THEM TO SUPPORT, RIGHT? UH, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS DEAL.

THAT'S FOR YOU TO KNOW AND TO PARSE AND TO TELL, AND TO COMMUNICATE, UH, BACK OUT.

AND OF COURSE, WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO, AND, AND YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE WHO GET THAT, WHO UNDERSTAND, UH, THESE DYNAMICS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH RESPECT TO THE FACT THAT MANY OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE WERE, WERE HERE LAST YEAR TELLING YOU TO VOTE FOR THE CONTRACT, THEN I'LL POINT OUT AGAIN THAT THAT CONTRACT LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR WAS FOR $74 MILLION.

AND SO THESE SAME FOLKS CAME TO YOU THEN AND SAID, THIS $74 MILLION DEAL THAT'S GONNA FIX THESE VACANCIES, THAT'S GONNA MAKE ME FEEL MORE SAFE.

WELL, AGAIN, WHY ARE WE NOW TALKING ABOUT A $219 MILLION DEAL, UH, ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER? UM, AND SO THEN THE, THE, THE, THE QUESTION IS, OKAY, THEY WANT A DEAL.

UM, AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE UP HERE TELLING YOU THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS DEAL.

OKAY? NOT ANY DEAL.

YOU'VE HEARD NO ONE SAY, NEVER HAVE A POLICE CONTRACT, NEVER ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

I TOLD YOU LAST ON TUESDAY ABOUT HOW I WAS HERE IN 2018 SUPPORTING THE CONTRACT THAT WAS IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT THEN, UM, SO THERE IS A PATH FORWARD.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PATH FORWARD.

AND, AND, AND I'M JUST REALLY STRUCK BY THE CONTRADICTIONS IN THESE MOMENTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, FIRSTLY ABOUT OFFICER MORALE, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN FOR OFFICER MORALE THAT'S BEEN EXPRESSED IN THIS ROOM, EXPRESSED BY FOLKS UP HERE.

UM, AND, AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT NOTHING HURTS OFFICER MORALE MORE THAN HEARING 10, 12 HOURS OF TESTIMONY, UH, RECITING EVERY POLICE CRIME THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, UH, OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THIS MOMENT.

WE'RE NOT HERE DOING THAT IF YOU'RE NOT PUTTING IN FRONT OF US A PATENTLY BAD DEAL AND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY UNPOPULAR.

SO IF YOU CARE ABOUT OFFICER MORALE, MAYBE WORK TO PUT THINGS IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, UH, RELATED TO THE POLICE THAT AREN'T GOING TO INSPIRE, UH, UH, FOLKS TO TURN OUT AND TO DO THIS.

AND, AND BELIEVE ME, I, I'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP TODAY.

UM, ANOTHER CONTRADICTION, OF COURSE, IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED ARE ABOUT VISIBLE POVERTY.

UH, PEOPLE REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE IT.

AND, AND I GET THAT AGAIN, I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR THAT.

UH, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THAT I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE'S SO MANY FOLKS THAT ARE STRUGGLING SO BADLY AND DON'T HAVE HELP, DON'T, CAN'T GET HELP, DON'T, UH, KNOW WHERE TO

[07:50:01]

GET HELP.

AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP THEM.

LIKE, THAT MAKES ME FEEL BAD.

AND I GET WHY, FOR SOME FOLKS IT MAKES THEM FEEL UNSAFE AS WELL.

UH, BUT AGAIN, THE CONTRADICTION.

HOW IS YOU, YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH A BUDGET THAT'S GONNA ENSURE WE HAVE A LOT MORE POVERTY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MR. HARRIS.

MY NAME IS ALICIA CASTILLO.

I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.

UM, AND I'M HERE OPPOSED TO ITEMS 47 48, UM, AND ASKING Y'ALL TO REJECT THIS CONTRACT AND HEAD BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH A NEW LAW FIRM TO CLARIFY THE A POA LANGUAGE WITHIN THE CONTRACT AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BANKRUPT US.

UM, AND I'M ALSO STILL JUST LIKE CRINGING FROM THE OPTICS OF TODAY.

UH, LIKE JUST KEEP IMAGINING IF THIS WAS 2020 AND WE PITTED BIG BUSINESS AND LANDLORDS AGAINST THE COMMUNITY AND POOR AND WORKING CLASS AUSTIN, IT'S JUST SUCH A BAD LOOK.

AND IT'S JUST, UM, KIND OF ASTOUNDING HOW FAR WE'VE STRAYED FROM WHERE WE ONCE WERE, UM, LIKE IN 2020.

UM, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITHIN THAT, THAT OUR EXPERIENCES IMPACT OUR PERCEPTIONS AND THE WAY, YOU KNOW, WE OPERATE IN THIS WORLD AND WHAT WE EXPERIENCE.

AND FOR ME, I FOR ONE, WAS FIRST SEXUALLY HARASSED BY A POLICE OFFICER WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD ON MY WAY TO CHURCH.

UM, I WAS LAST, UH, THREATENED AND YELLED AT BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LAST NIGHT ON MY WAY TO A COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.

SO, UM, VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT I FEEL, I DO FEEL SAFE IN MY DISTRICT THREE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DO FEEL SAFE AROUND MY, UM, HOMELESS NEIGHBORS LIKE FRED, WHO KNOWS MY CHILDREN'S NAMES, WHO, UM, PREFERS TURKEY TO PBJ SANDWICHES.

UM, UH, FRED ALWAYS ASKS ABOUT MY KIDS WHEN THEY'VE BEEN SICK AND, AND CHECKS UP ON THEM.

OR RICHARD, WHO LIVES IN HIS CAR ON MY STREET, UM, WHO COMES BY ON HOT AFTERNOONS AND GETS A CUP OF ICE AND MAKES JOKES ABOUT MY FUNNY LOOKING THREE-LEGGED DOG.

UM, I DO FEEL SAFE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WEALTHY, MOSTLY WHITE PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN AUSTIN HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE, AND THAT MAYBE THEY DO FEEL SAFER, UNLIKE ME WHEN THEY WALK INTO A ROOM FULL OF POLICE.

UM, BUT I WANNA DO A QUICK LEGAL WALKTHROUGH OF, UM, IF, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THIS CONTRACT WERE TO BRING ABOUT MORE POLICE, A BIGGER POLICE FORCE, WHICH IT, IT WON'T, UM, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AS A RESULT, RIGHT? THESE COMPLAINTS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE PUBLIC INDECENCY OR TRESPASSING, THAT'S A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.

UH, YOU KNOW, UNLESS FOLKS WANT US TO CHANGE STATE LAW TO MAKE IT A LIFE SENTENCE, TO THROW SOMEONE AWAY IN PRISON FOR BEING MENTALLY ILL ON THE STREET, THE WAY THE LAW IS RIGHT NOW, THAT'S A $2,000 FINE OR 180 DAYS IN JAIL.

LIKE, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE CHURNED BACK OUT ONTO THE STREET WITH NOTHING WITH WORSE OUTCOMES, ANOTHER, ANOTHER CRIMINAL CONVICTION ON THEIR RECORD.

UM, AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST NOT A SOLUTION IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

AND IT ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE.

AND THEN JUST LASTLY, I'LL NOTE TO THE SPEAKER THAT WANTS TO PUT ACTIVISTS ON A POLICE WATCH LIST.

JUST WANNA NOTE THAT WE ALREADY ARE ON ONE.

UM, THEY INTERCEPT REVEAL THAT IN 2020.

SO AUSTIN FUSION CENTER, CURRENTLY, OUR TAXPAYERS GO TO MONITOR MANY OF THE ACTIVISTS IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.

SO ALREADY DONE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL REJECT THIS CONTRACT.

NEXT SPEAKERS, ALEXIS WILLIS.

ANGEL GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, ELIZABETH GONZALEZ, LISA LANDRY, GERDA RAY.

GOOD.

MY NAME IS PROFESSOR GERDA RAY.

GOOD MORNING.

STRENGTHENS THE PERCEPTION THAT IS THE POLICE WHO ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

I MEAN MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF, THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE EX CONTRACT THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED.

I LIVE AND GARDEN IN DISTRICT THREE.

I'M SAFE BECAUSE OF MY NEIGHBORS, BOTH HOUSED AND UNHOUSED.

I SPENT MY CAREER AS A PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF HISTORY AND CRIMINOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI IN ST.

LOUIS.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS.

I'VE BEEN HELPED BY THEM AND I'VE BEEN TREATED COURTEOUSLY ABOUT BY THEM MOST OF THE TIME.

I BOTH OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT AND WANT THE BEST FOR AUSTIN'S POLICE OFFICERS.

THAT'S WHY I'M URGING AN EVEN CLOSER LOOK AT POLICE PROFESSIONALISM AND REFORM.

THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT DOES NOT BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN OR THE AUSTIN OFFICERS THEMSELVES.

THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

[07:55:01]

WHENEVER SOMEONE IS ASSAULTED OR HOME BURGLARIZED, IT'S CHALKED UP TO POLICE FAILURE.

SOMETIMES THE POLICE ARE CALLED UNCARING OR VERY MUCH WORSE.

OTHER TIMES THERE'S A DEMAND FOR MORE POLICE.

NEITHER EXPLANATION IS ACCURATE.

MOST POLICE ARE CARING.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE MAGICIANS.

ADDING POLICE DOES NOT RESULT IN FEWER CRIMES, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.

POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT PRIVATE POLICE.

POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT SECURITY GUARDS TASKED WITH WATCHING SPECIFIC MONITORS OR GATES.

BUSINESSES.

HOTELS THAT NEED MORE PRIVATE POLICE SHOULD HIRE MORE PRIVATE POLICE.

MOST POLICE WORK BY CONTRAST, REQUIRES VERY GOOD JUDGMENT AND EXCELLENT TRAINING IN RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.

DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF OFFICERS TO RESPOND.

AND THERE IS SOME CORRELATION BETWEEN RESPONSE TIME AND STAFFING LEVELS, BUT AT LEAST THREE OTHER FACTORS IMPACT RESPONSE TIME, THE NUMBER OF CALLS, THE EFFICIENCY OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION, AND THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC COOPERATION.

THAT'S WHY THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROMOTES COMPETENT, STRONG CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE HALLMARKS OF PROFESSIONAL POLICING.

STRONG CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT POLICING IS A TWO-WAY STREET POLICE NEED TO BE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU SIR.

MY NAME'S ELIZABETH GONZALEZ.

AND I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW WHO I AM.

I'M A VICTIM OF TWO POLICE OFFICERS THAT MURDERED MY SON, MURDERED WITH.

THEY SAID IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE, BUT 1918 BULLETS.

AND YOU TELL ME IF THAT'S JUSTIFIABLE.

YOU TELL ME IF THAT'S JUSTIFIABLE AND HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE BODY OF MY SON BECAUSE YOUR COPS, THEY DIDN'T DO, THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB.

THEY'RE STILL HAVEN'T DONE THEIR JOB.

I'M STILL HERE.

A VICTIM CAN'T EVEN REALLY SPEAK RIGHT OR TALK RIGHT, BECAUSE I'M STILL ANGERED.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET JUSTICE IF Y'ALL CAN'T EVEN HELP ME? AND Y'ALL SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

WE PUT Y'ALL UP THERE AND BEST BELIEVE WE COULD TAKE DON THERE.

ELECTIONS COMING UP.

BEST BELIEVE SOME OF Y'ALL AIN'T GONNA MAKE IT UP THERE BECAUSE ALL OF Y'ALL LIED TO US OR, OR TRYING TO HIDE WHAT THE COPS ARE HIDING EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL TRYING TO DO.

IN MY CASE, I AIN'T GOING AWAY.

Y'ALL TRYING TO TALK ME OTHER TODAY.

I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE.

I'M NOT GONNA GO.

I'M NOT GONNA ACCEPT NOTHING UNTIL I GET MY JUSTICE OR WHAT I WANT BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT WHAT THEY DID.

THEM COPS MURDERED MY SON FOR NO REASON.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN CALL ONCE OR NOT, NO OFFICER WENT OVER.

NOT EVEN TO TO THIS DAY.

HAVE ANY OF Y'ALL GONE TO MY HOUSE? GAVE ME MY CONDOLENCES OR ANYTHING? KEEP YOUR F*****G CONDOLENCES.

'CAUSE I DON'T NEED 'EM NOW.

IT'S TOO LATE NOW.

TOO LATE NOW.

I'M AN ANGRY MOTHER BECAUSE Y'ALL CAN, Y'ALL THINK Y'ALL DOING RIGHT? OR THE POLICE, THEY AIN'T DOING S**T.

BUT MAKING ME HURT.

I HEARD EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY I MISS MY SON.

UH, IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYONE'S YESTERDAY.

YOU DUNNO.

AND WHY DID THEY HANDCUFF HIM WHEN HE WAS ALREADY DEAD? YOU GO, HOW ABOUT IF THAT WAS Y'ALL SON, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I'M STILL LOST.

IN MY MIND, COUNSELING IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S KEEPING ME ALIVE RIGHT NOW IN THERAPY BECAUSE Y'ALL CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME OR HELP ME OUT OR TELL ME WHERE TO GO.

WHEN MY SON GOT MURDERED, NOT ONE OFFICER.

AND I'VE GONE TO, I'VE SEEN TV, ALL, ALL DETECTIVES, THEY ALL GO CHECK ON FAMILY MEMBERS.

BUT GUESS WHAT? NOT AUSTIN, BUT Y'ALL WANT THE MONEY.

REALLY? COME ON.

LIKE RIGHT NOW, NONE OF Y'ALL ARE.

YEAH, Y'ALL LISTENING TO ME NOW, BUT NOW ALL OF Y'ALL ARE LIKE, LIKE Y'ALL DON'T CARE.

THAT'S SHOWING THE COMMUNITY.

Y'ALL DON'T GIVE A F**K.

BUT Y'ALL SHOULD.

Y'ALL SHOULD BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT PUT YOU UP THERE, OKAY? THE COMMUNITY, NOT THESE OFFICERS OR WHATEVER THEY WANT, BUT Y'ALL DON'T SEE VICTIMS LIKE ME WHO ARE STILL HURTING.

Y'ALL AIN'T DONE NOTHING FOR ME, BUT I'M STILL HURTING.

AND I'M HERE GONNA ALWAYS SPEAK FOR POLICE BRUTALITY BECAUSE MY SON WAS INNOCENT, DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A GUN IN HIS HAND, AND THEY STILL SHOT HIM 18 TIMES.

AND YOU TELL ME THAT'S JUSTIFIABLE.

YOU TELL ME, IS THAT JUSTIFIABLE? AND THE COPS ARE STILL WALKING AROUND LIKE THEY'RE ALL HAPPY.

AND THE GUY THAT WAS KILLED, MY SON WAS ON STEROIDS AND I COULD SEE IT MYSELF.

'CAUSE I SAW THE VIDEO FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

AND WHAT DID THE COPS DO? THEY CHOPPED OFF ALL THEIR TICKETS.

THEY CHOPPED OFF ALL THEIR VIDEOS.

[08:00:01]

BUT GUESS WHAT, WHEN I WAS THERE, I KEPT ON TELLING EACH OFFICER, WHERE'S THIS PART AT? THANK YOU.

WHERE'S YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

IT'S A LIE.

LIE.

AND THEY, I S**T, PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE NEVER GONNA GO AWAY.

AND YOU REMEMBER THAT.

AND I'LL REMEMBER THAT TOO.

YOU REMEMBER THAT? OKAY.

BUT YOU TWO SERVE CITY MANAGER, OKAY? YOU REMEMBER THAT? NOT ONE OF Y'ALL, MA'AM, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

NO, NO, NO.

AT THIS TIME, ALL IN-PERSON, SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 47 HAVE BEEN CALLED.

BUT WE DO HAVE ONE REMOTE.

NATHAN FERNANDEZ.

HI COUNSEL.

UM, THIS IS NATHAN FERNANDEZ.

I'M A DISTRICT OF RESIDENT TWO AND I'M CALLING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48.

UM, I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND I GREW UP IN THE SUBURBS.

DISTRICT SIX WENT TO U AND DISTRICT NINE.

I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE CITY FEELING SECURE AND SAFE WITHOUT THE HELP OF A PD ORS EXPLODED.

BUDGET IWO.

I WORK IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF AFSCME LOCAL 1624.

WE CAN ONLY WISH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE OURSELVES SUCH A MASSIVE RACE THAT WOULDN'T BE POLITICAL SUICIDE AS THIS VOTE MAY MAYBE FOR ALL OF Y'ALL TODAY, POCHARD.

AND THIS IS A WAR THAT IS BEING WAGED ON AMERICAN SOIL, RIGHT? SO AMERICA'S NEVER HAD A WAR THAT'S BEING WAGED ON IT.

SO WE GO FIGHT WARS IN JAPAN, WE GO TO KOREA, WE'LL GO TO, UH, IRAQ, RIGHT? SO THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS POWDER KEG THAT'S READY TO EXPLODE RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, BECAUSE THERE'S 20 MILLION, UH, PEOPLE WHO JUST CAME FROM THE SOUTH AND THEY'RE, THEY BROUGHT THEIR PRODUCTS WITH THEM, RIGHT? AND SO WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED WITH THE DRUG WAR, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA, UH, IF IF YOU CRIMINALIZE THESE THINGS, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME UP DEAD AND DYING.

UH, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, DEPRESSION, YOU KNOW, THE DEPRESSION IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S, IT'S AFFECTING EVERYBODY AT AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL.

HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER, UH, HAD TO LIVE IN, IN DESTITUTION OR SOMEWHERE WHERE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH JOB OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT? AND THERE'S YOUR FAMILY IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR CHI YOUR CHILDREN, THERE'S NOTHING TO FEED YOUR CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S, AND, AND THEN YOU COULD FILL OUT JOB APPLICATIONS ALL DAY, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH JOBS.

AND I HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, RIGHT? AND SO THERE'S JUST, IF YOU, IF SOMETIMES I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS AND WHEN I GO TO PUT OUT, UH, WHEN I GO TO PUT OUT, I'M LOOKING FOR WORKERS THAT I MIGHT PUT OUT A, A AD FOR A JOB AND THERE'S A A 50 50 PEOPLE.

HIGHER PAY IS GOING TO FILL THOSE EMPTY CHAIRS DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY BASIS IN DATA.

KABA WHITE, KEVIN HIGGINS, JENNY GRAYSON, SUSAN MORRISON, DAVID JABOR, ALFREDO REYES, JR.

REISH TEVI, JANICE BOOKOUT, KATHY MITCHELL, DANIELLA SILVA, RAPHAEL SCHWARTZ, CAMILLE COOK, SHANE JOHNSON, CHRIS HARRIS, MS. MITCHELL, MR. HARRIS, ARE YOU GOING TO COMMENT? I WILL JUST FINISH WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.

HOPEFULLY I CAN REMEMBER 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES ANYMORE.

UM, I THINK WHERE I GOT CUT OFF WAS THAT NOTHING IN THIS CONTRACT, AND YOU'VE HEARD THIS FROM A NUMBER OF WITNESSES, UH, ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THE REASON THAT WE HAVE A VACANCY PROBLEM.

THE VACANCY PROBLEM HAS BEEN CLEARLY, UH, YOU KNOW, FOUND TO BE A, AN ATTRITION PROBLEM AT THE ACADEMY AMONG FIRST YEAR AND SECOND YEAR OFFICERS.

SO OFFICERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE FROM THE ACADEMY, BUT THEN LEAVE ALMOST BEFORE THEY, EVEN DURING THAT WINDOW WHEN WE ARE DOING A LOT OF INCENTIVES, VERY HIGH INCENTIVES, THEY SEE RAPID PAY INCREASES AND YET THEY STILL LEAVE.

AND THEN THERE'S A BUNDLE THAT HIT AT 16 YEARS, AND THAT IS ADDRESSED WITH THE STRUCTURE OF OUR STEP PAY.

SO THE THEORY THAT

[08:05:01]

SO IF THE GOAL OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO FILL THOSE EMPTY CHAIRS, THEN EVEN FOR THAT ALONE, YOU SHOULD SEND IT BACK FOR SOME ANALYSIS ABOUT HOW WE FILL THOSE EMPTY CHAIRS AND HOW WE BUILD AND STRUCTURE A CONTRACT THAT WILL ACTUALLY DO THAT.

MEANWHILE, THE OPEN SOAR, THAT IS OUR, AS YET, UNRE REFORMED POLICE ACADEMY HAS GOT TO BE A PRIORITY.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW THAT EVERYTHING, IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE, IT'S BEING DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH NO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

AND SO GIVEN THAT WE TRIED A PUBLIC PROCESS AND IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT WHAT WE COULD SEE WAS THE LEVEL OF RESISTANCE TO REFORM THAT PREVENTED US FROM MAKING THIS THE NECESSARY STEPS.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO HAVE FAITH THAT NOW THAT WE'VE PUT THAT BACK IN A BLACK BOX, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING MORE PROGRESS THAN WE WERE BEFORE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR POLICE ACADEMY BE BETTER THAN IT IS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CURRICULUM IMPROVE, AND MOST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY SEE IT.

SO IF WE ARE GONNA FILL THE EMPTY CHAIRS, AND IF THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTERS ALL DAY LONG, THEN WE NEED TO ANALYZE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FIX THAT PROBLEM ARE ACTUALLY EITHER IN THIS CONTRACT OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THANK YOU MS. MITCHELL.

MR. HARRIS HAD HIS TIME.

DON, OR TIME DONATED FROM RICHARD BOLAND.

UH, THIS IS LIKE THE OLD DAYS.

ALLISON, ASSUME YOU WERE THERE.

LESLIE, THIS IS PRETTY EARLY .

YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.

ACTUALLY, UH, I NEED, I NEED ABOUT ANOTHER TWO HOURS DONATED.

UH, I'M KIDDING.

I'M KIDDING.

UM, YOU KNOW, UM, A LOT OF TIMES, A LOT OF TIMES I'M UP HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT'S RIGHT.

UH, BUT, BUT MAYBE IT'S, WE DON'T KNOW HOW POPULAR IT IS.

UM, AND, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP 'CAUSE OF THAT.

'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT, TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, UH, TALK TO THE PRESS ABOUT AND, AND MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE MAYBE NOT ALL OF THEM DO THAT YET.

UM, TONIGHT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS.

UM, YOU HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, UM, BUT IT'S THE POPULAR WAY TO GO.

OKAY? UH, SINCE EQUITY ACTION, UH, WAS FORMED IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, YOU'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MOMENTS, UH, WHERE THE PUBLIC'S GOTTEN THE WAY IN ON THE ISSUE OF POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOTABLY, OUR VERY FIRST PROJECT, NOVEMBER OF 2021, UH, WHERE A POLICE STAFFING MEASURE WAS PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS, AND IT WAS DEFEATED ROUNDLY 68 TO 32.

UH, YOU HAD, UH, THE ELECTION OF, UH, MR. GREG CASSAR, UH, IN HIS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AGAINST EDDIE RODRIGUEZ THE FOLLOWING, UH, MARCH.

AND HE WON 61 TO 16.

UM, YOU HAD THAT FOLLOWING YEAR OF 2022.

THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION COULDN'T USE THEIR OWN NAME TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT.

THEY HAD TO LIE TO THIS COMMUNITY TO TRY TO PUT AND SAY, AND USE OUR NAME TO TRY TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT, UH, WHICH ULTIMATELY FAILED THAT FOLLOWING MAY.

OF COURSE, WHEN OUR MEASURE PROP A, THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT PASSED 79 21, AND THEIR MEASURE, UM, THE THE FAKE ONE, UH, FAILED EVEN WORSE, 80 TO 20.

I'LL ALSO NOTE, UH, JUST THIS LAST MARCH, YOU HAD ANOTHER PRIMARY, UH, MR. JOSE GARZA, WHERE A LOT OF THE FOLKS YOU HEARD TODAY, UH, WERE IN OPPOSED.

AND NOT JUST THEM, UH, FOLKS LIKE ELON MUSK, FOLKS LIKE THE KIND BAR GUY, UH, REAL BIG MONEY CAME OUT, UH, AND, AND PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO HIM.

AND GUESS WHAT? IT DID NOT MATTER.

UH, HE STEAMROLLED 67 TO 33.

SO WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING HARD TONIGHT.

WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU

[08:10:01]

TO DO SOMETHING UNPOPULAR.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

UH, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

UH, BECAUSE THIS CONTRACT, UH, DOESN'T DO WHAT THE SUPPORTERS SAY IT WILL DO, OR AT LEAST THEY'VE PROVIDED NO PROOF THAT IT WILL.

AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO THE POPULAR THING, THE THING THIS COMMUNITY HAS WEIGHED IN ON OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OVERWHELMING MARGINS, AT LEAST TWO TO ONE IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE VOTES.

AND SO, UH, AGAIN, YOU HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY AND, AND, AND I'M, AND I'LL, AND I'LL ALSO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS THING.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO TAKE IT BACK.

AND OF COURSE, WE, WE'VE BEEN ASKING YOU, UH, TO PUSH BACK ON THOSE NEGOTIATORS.

THIS ISN'T WHAT'S COMING FOR YOU ISN'T GOOD.

THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

TELL THEM TO, TO FIX THIS.

TELL 'EM TO FIX THAT.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE HERE.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE.

UH, WE TRIED TO AVOID THIS MOMENT.

UM, BUT WE ARE HERE NOW.

AND, AND, AND NOW YOU DO HAVE, AGAIN, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO BOTH THE POPULAR THING AND THE RIGHT THING AND PUSH THIS BACK AND, AND, AND TO RENEGOTIATE A DEAL, UH, THAT NOT ONLY, UH, HONORS ALL THOSE VOTERS WHO HAVE SHOWED UP YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR IN SUPPORT OF ONE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.

IT IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TWO, UH, FOR OUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND AGAINST RUNAWAY POLICE SPENDING.

UM, AND, AND I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I I JUST REALLY WANT TO HYPERFOCUS ON THIS NOVEMBER, 2021 VOTE, UM, BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY DID OR PROPOSED TO DO THE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS POLICE CONTRACT ARE SAYING THAT IT DOES, AGAIN, WITHOUT EVIDENCE, WHICH IS PUT MORE STAFF AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN FACT, IT WAS A DIRECT MEASURE TO ADD STAFF TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.

THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

YOU DO NOT HAVE A STAFFING MEASURE IN FRONT OF YOU.

YOU HAVE A RAISE MEASURE IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND, AND THE VOTERS SHOWED UP AND THEY VOTED THAT DOWN 68 TO 32.

AND, AND I, AND I'LL CLOSE BY JUST SAYING, IF YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS THE POPULAR THING TO DO, UH, RATHER THAN PUT OUR SOCIAL SERVICES UP FOR A TAX REELECTION IN THE YEARS TO COME, YOU'D PUT THIS UP FOR A TAX REELECTION.

UH, AND YOU DO IT, YOU, YOU DO IT IMMEDIATELY.

BUT, BUT YOU WON'T BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IT WOULDN'T PASS.

AND, AND, AND, AND WITH THAT, REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT A POPULAR THING TO DO AND, UH, BUT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

LILIAN ORTIZ, RICHARD SETTLE, ALICIA CASTILLO, ANGEL GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, JIM LARSON, ELI ELIZABETH GONZALEZ.

MUCH LESS INSPIRING, BUT I JUST, UM, MY NAME'S ALICIA, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT, UM, ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF EQUITY ACTION.

AND JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, UH, THE RAMPAGE LAW REPRESENTATIVE BROUGHT UP IN THE TUESDAY WORK SESSION THAT, UH, JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMED TO QUAIL QUELL THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY SOME OF YOU, UM, ABOUT THE CONTRACT.

BUT, UM, THERE'S, THOSE WERE NOT ACTUALLY SUFFICIENT ANSWERS FOR US.

UM, NUMBER ONE, I KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA BROUGHT UP THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE NEGOTIATION WHERE A PA SAID, OH YEAH, WE AGREE.

THE CONTRACT SAYS THE SAME THING THAT YOU THINK IT SAYS.

UM, JUST WANNA NOTE THAT A TRANSCRIPT FROM THE NEGOTIATION IS NOT CONTRACTUALLY BINDING.

A CONTRACT IS CONTRACTUALLY BINDING.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT SAYS WHAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE TRANSCRIPT SAYS WOULD MAKE US FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE IN, IN THE NEXT ROUND OF, OF CONSIDERING A CONTRACT.

UM, AND THEN ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, THE DRJ.

THE DRH, UM, THOSE, UH, OH MY GOSH, I'M FORGETTING WHAT IT IS, THE DETERMINING REVIEW HEARING.

UM, I WANTED TO, SO THERE WAS THIS QUESTION ABOUT HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO NOT INCLUDE ANY QUESTIONING OR TYPES OF INVESTIGATION FROM THE OPO DURING THE DRH, BUT, UM, THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN ANOTHER PLACE IN THE CONTRACT, THE DRH WAS EXPANDED TO BE ANY PREDETERMINATION MEETING THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE EVENT, WHICH MAKES IT REALLY TRICKY BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WHEN IS THE OPO GONNA GET TO DO ANY QUESTIONING IF THERE IS NO OTHER MEETING? UM, SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S OF CONCERN TO US.

UM, I'LL ALSO JUST MENTION THAT THOSE IMPORTANT ITEMS, JUST WANNA BRING THOSE UP.

AGAIN, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THE MARSHALING YARD, THE FOOD PLAN.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE A PLAN ON PAPER FOR WHERE THAT MONEY IS GONNA COME FROM.

AND THAT'S DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONCERNING.

ALONG WITH THE OTHER THINGS THAT I, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, UM, AND REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT FUNDED TO THE FULLEST.

UH, UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GO ON, THROW MORE MONEY

[08:15:01]

AT THE POLICE.

LASTLY, SINCE I HAVE A LITTLE THINK MAYBE SECONDS LEFT, THIS EXCESSIVE SECURITY OUT THERE IS REALLY, REALLY OPPRESSIVE.

I HAD TO REVEAL LIKE A MEDICAL CONDITION AND ARGUE WITH THE SECURITY GUARD ABOUT WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR MY MEDICAL CONDITION FOR ME TO HAVE WATER IN HERE AFTER THIS, HOWEVER MANY HOURS IT'S BEEN NOW.

AND LIKE, THAT'S SO DEHUMANIZING AND LIKE, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO ARGUE ABOUT MEDICAL CONDITIONS WITH SECURITY GUARDS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BRING WATER IN HERE.

SO HOPE THAT THAT CAN LIKE SETTLE DOWN, UM, WOULD REALLY URGE THAT.

LISA LANDRY, GERDA RAY, YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.

CITIES WITH ROBUST INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE IMPROVED POLICING OUTCOMES.

MY NAME IS GERDA RAY.

UM, IT'S HARD TO HAVE A LOT OF NUANCE IN THIS SHORT PERIOD.

UM, EARLIER I TRIED TO STRESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAINED PUBLIC POLICE OFFICERS AND PRIVATE POLICE.

I RESPECT BOTH.

I HAVE NEPHEWS AND FRIENDS IN BOTH POSITIONS.

UM, I WANT TO SUGGEST ANOTHER DIFFERENCE IN THIS PART OF IT, WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE POLICE UNION.

LEMME START BY SAYING THAT I SUPPORT POLICE UNIONIZATION.

MOST OF WHAT I KNOW ABOUT POLICE IS FROM THE PRE UNIONIZATION PERIOD, AND POLICE NEED UNIONS, AND I RESPECT THAT.

BUT STRONG CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT POLICING IS A TWO-WAY STREET.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICERS AS TALENTED PROMISE, AS TALENTED PROBLEM SOLVERS WHO CAN ENLIST COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND TRUST.

OFFICERS DESERVE AN EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION THAT LETS THEM FOCUS ON THE JOB.

LIKEWISE, COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS NEED TO BE REALISTIC.

IN THIS RESPECT, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE MORE REALISTIC THAN THE A PA.

THERE APPEARS TO BE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE NUMBER OF CALLS RELATE STRONGLY TO THE AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS THAT THE POLICE, IN ANY CASE, ARE NOT EQUIPPED, NOR TRAINED, NOR RESPONSIBLE TO ALLEVIATE.

THE PROPOSED CONTRACT UNDERMINES THE INTERESTS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND OF THE COMMUNITY, THE CITY, BECAUSE IT TRANSFERS EXCESSIVE AUTHORITY FROM THE CITIZENS, FROM THE CITY LEADERSHIP, AND FROM THE POLICE ADMINISTRATION TO THE A PA.

AT THIS TIME, ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR 48.

WE DO HAVE ONE REMOTE SPEAKER, KRISTEN DURHAM.

HI, LET ME JUST GET MY NOTES TOGETHER HERE.

THIS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE CONTRACT, NOTICE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CONTRACT USE THE WORD FEEL, UH, THAT MORE POLICE WILL MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE.

MY NAME IS KRISTEN DURHAM.

I'M A VOTER AND A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.

I HAVE NOT VOTED IN THE CURRENT ELECTION YET, AND, AND CITY HALL'S DECISION TODAY WILL INFORM WHO I VOTE FOR.

FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I EXPRESS HOW SAD AND ANGRY IT MADE ME TO HEAR SOME OF THE PEOPLE GIVING TESTIMONY EARLIER TODAY SAY SUCH DEHUMANIZING THINGS ABOUT UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN AUSTIN OR IN OR ABOUT PALESTINIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT EXPENDABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, NO MATTER HOW THEIR PRESENCE MAKES YOU FEEL, OR HOW THEIR PRESENCE INCONVENIENT TO YOU OR AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT EXPENDABLE BECAUSE YOU PERSONALLY BELIEVE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A CERTAIN PIECE OF LAND.

WHEN I WALKED PAST A MAN PASSED OUT ON THE SIDEWALK LAST NIGHT ON MY WAY TO THE PARAMOUNT THEATER, I FELT SADNESS.

I WONDERED ABOUT HIM.

I WORRIED ABOUT HIM.

HOW CAN THAT HOTEL WORKER EARLIER TODAY SPEAK WITH SO MUCH DISGUST ABOUT THE HUMAN BEING SHE SEES ON THE STREET EVERY DAY EXPECTING SYMPATHY FROM YOU AND OTHERS, THAT SHE A WEALTHY, PRIVILEGED WHITE WOMAN, HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING LACK OF SAFETY EVERY DAY.

IT IS THE COUNCIL'S DUTY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FUND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES NEEDED TO KEEP ALL AUSTINITES HEALTHY, SAFE, AND LIVING LIVES WITH DIGNITY AND OPPORTUNITY, NOT TO HIRE MORE POLICE, TO PUSH THEM OUT OF SIGHT, ARREST THEM OR OTHERWISE MAKE THEIR SITUATIONS WORSE.

YOU ALL KNOW VERY WELL THAT THIS POLICE CONTRACT WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT AUSTIN'S BUDGET AND THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OTHER PROGRAMS WILL BE MAINTAINED AT THEIR CURRENT LEVELS, NOT TO MENTION GETTING MUCH NEEDED INCREASES OF THEIR OWN.

IF YOU AGREE TO

[08:20:01]

THE GENTLEMAN THAT IS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS EMPLOYEES WORKING DOWNTOWN, HE WANTS THE AREA TO BE SAFE FOR HIM AND HIS WORKERS.

BUT HOW DOES THIS POLICE CONTRACT DO THAT? AS CHRIS SAID, WHAT IS STEP TWO? I MEAN, WHAT'S STEP THREE OR FOUR? THIS CONTRACT WON'T ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE SAFER BECAUSE IT WILL DEFUND PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.

FEELING SAFE BECAUSE OF HAVING MORE POLICE IS A PERCEPTION, NOT A REALITY.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL VERY THREATENED BY POLICE AND WITH GOOD REASON.

MY FRIEND COLE WEAVER, WHO HAD TO LEAVE BEFORE TESTIFYING TODAY TO RETURN TO WORK AT INTEGRAL CARE DOESN'T FEEL SAFE AT THE IDEA OF MORE POLICE, AS HE HAS TESTIFIED PREVIOUSLY.

HE FEELS TERRIFIED BECAUSE HE IS A BLACK MAN WITH AUTISM, WHICH MAKES HIM VERY VULNERABLE TO RACIST AND ABLEIST POLICING PRACTICES.

NOT TO MENTION COMPLAINTS LEVERAGED BY SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS CONTRACT TODAY MIGHT MAKE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL SUCH AS HIMSELF AND PUT HIM AT RISK.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER NATIONALLY IN PILOTING ALTERNATIVE AND SUBJECTIVE.

YOUR NAME IS PREVIOUSLY CALLED, SO FEEL FREE TO TESTIFY, BUT STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

HELLO, COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS BEN SOTHEBY.

UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MANNER THAT I RUSHED INTO THESE CHAMBERS.

I'M A PROUD AFSCME 1624 MEMBER, AND I DO NOT MISS MY UNION MEETINGS.

WE JUST ADJOURNED UP THE STREET AND I RUSHED DOWN HERE .

UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY ON THIS, ITEM 48, ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF THESE FUNDS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MOUNT IS EYE POPPING FOR MOST AVERAGE AUSTINITE $16.583 MILLION MOVING JUST FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, JUST FOR THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED.

AND FROM THE SLIDES THAT BUDGET PRESENTED AT WORK SESSION THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT, UH, SLIDE EIGHT, THERE WAS A LISTING OF 20 25 1 TIME CONTRACT FUNDING, LONG LISTING OF THINGS LIKE, UH, 3.2 MILLION FOR RAPID REHOUSING, 2.2 FOR HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES, ONE AND A ONE AND A HALF MILLION FOR EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM COVERAGE, AND A LONG LIST.

IT GOES ON AND ON, UH, YOU KNOW, 0.1 MILLION, SO NOT EVEN A MILLION DOLLARS A 10TH OF THAT FOR FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUM SUBSIDIES.

SO MANY THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DEEPLY NEEDS, AND THESE ARE ONE-TIME FUNDINGS NOT ONGOING OBLIGATIONS.

I DON'T ENVY YOU IN THE, IN THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE PLACE THAT THE STATE HAS PLACED US PAINTED INTO A CORNER WITH CAPS AND WITH, YOU KNOW, UNFUNDED DEMANDS THAT ARE LOADED UPON OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

UH, THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT I REALLY ASK YOU TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE CRISES THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S FACING AND REALIZE THAT THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF TRANSFER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS PERMANENT BECAUSE OF THAT LEGAL RATCHET EFFECT, IS NOT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING FOR.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ACTUALLY LIE.

UH, THESE PROCEEDINGS, UH, WHILE VERY WELL ATTENDED IN MY EXPERIENCE, UH, IS NOT, IS NOT GOING TO ACCURATELY CAPTURE EACH AND ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS.

THE PROCESSES THAT DO THAT ARE OUR, OUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THE ONES WHERE WE MEET IN THE LIBRARY, IN THE REC CENTER, AND GET TO HEAR FROM EACH OTHER AND WHERE YOU GET A CHANCE TO, TO INFORM US.

AND SOMETIMES WE GET NUANCES THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE ART OF BUDGETING.

UH, MY FAVORITE PHRASE OF THE WEEK, IT IS, UH, ART AND NOT A SCIENCE.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IF WE CONTINUE ON TO SLIDE TWO FROM THAT SAME PRESENTATION IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF COSTS THAT ARE GONNA BE LOCKED IN ONGOING.

AND WE'RE FACING A ARPA CLIFF, YOU KNOW, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WERE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ARE NOT GONNA BE THERE.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S 16 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THIS ITEM.

THAT COULD BE THE 15.4 MILLION NEEDED FOR THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.

UH, IT COULD INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, JUST THE 3 MILLION THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, 12 MILLION.

I, AGAIN, ASK YOU TO VOTE NO, OR AT LEAST POSTPONE THIS.

WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT SIGNED UP REMOTE, BUT THEY'RE HERE.

TRISH NIWAN.

NICE WONDER.

SORRY IF I PRONOUNCED THAT WRONG.

WHY, WHY DON'T YOU STEP TO A PODIUM? OKAY.

BE EASIER FOR YOU.

ALRIGHT.

HI.

THANK YOU EVERY THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE.

UM, I WAS ABLE TO CALL IN EARLIER ON MY LUNCH BREAK.

UM, MY NAME IS TRISH

[08:25:01]

WAN.

I AM A CITY VICE PRESIDENT WITH AFME 1624 AND, UH, A PROUD CITY EMPLOYEE FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

AND, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS GIANT BUDGET INCREASE THAT CAN NEVER DECREASE FOR THE POLICE AND THE EFFECT THAT THAT WOULD HAVE ON YOUR CIVILIAN WORKFORCE AND THE CITY SERVICES.

UM, I I BELIEVE THAT MAYBE WE NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME LOOKING AT WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS MIGHT BE.

UM, IT, IT, UH, IT SEEMS A LITTLE RUSHED.

UM, THE ONE BUDGET PROJECTION THAT WAS PUT OUT, UH, EARLIER THIS WEEK, UM, WAS BASICALLY EXAMINING ONE SCENARIO.

AND, UH, I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AROUND SALES TAX, REVENUES AND, UM, POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNDING.

UM, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE ANOTHER PANDEMIC? UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE ONCE WE COMMIT TO THIS LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR THE POLICE, IT CAN NEVER CHANGE.

IT CAN NEVER GO DOWN.

AND I AM NOT SAYING POLICE DO NOT NEED A RAISE, I AM SAYING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE BUDGET AND WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS WILL BE GOING FORWARD.

I DO NOT KNOW THAT A TAX RATE ELECTION IS GOING TO BE THE MOST PRACTICAL SOLUTION FOR, UM, THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.

THE WORKERS ARE OVERTAXED, YOU KNOW, THE WORKERS OF THE CITY, THE WORKING CLASS OF THE CITY ARE VERY STRETCHED, STRETCHED THIN THROUGH, UM, INFLATION RISING COSTS OF LIVING ALL THE EXPENSES OF DAILY, DAILY LIFE.

THE ODDS THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO CONTINUALLY VOTE TO INCREASE THEIR TAXES, TO INCREASE TO IN TAX, TO INCREASE TAXING THEMSELVES SEEM KIND OF LOW TO ME AT THIS POINT.

I'M OUT THERE WITH THE WORKERS, I TALK TO THEM REGULARLY.

EVERYBODY IS VERY STRESSED ABOUT THE COSTS OF LIVING TODAY.

SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND MAYBE JUST THINK ABOUT THE LARGER RAMIFICATIONS OF TAKING ON A BUDGET THIS LARGE THAT CAN NEVER, NEVER BE REDUCED.

AND WHAT IS THAT GONNA MEAN FOR THE REST OF YOUR CITY WORKFORCE AND THE REST OF YOUR CITY SERVICES.

JULIAN REYES AND THEN CHRISTOPHER PITTS.

I'M JUST GONNA PLAY THIS VIDEO.

THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO THESE DISCUSSIONS.

WE HAVE VOLUME, SORRY, TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.

MY EYES ARE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BLURRY.

I CAN'T SEE YOU GUYS THAT WELL 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN EDITING THIS VIDEO ALL DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD A RESPONSE AND IT JUST, UH, IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR ME TO EDIT A BUNCH OF VIDEOS TOGETHER, CURRENT VIDEOS TO SHOW YOU THE STATUS OF A PD.

MAYBE YOUTUBE'S MUTED THE PAGE.

NO, WE HAVING PROBLEMS. ONE SECOND Y'ALL.

IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK? YEAH, THAT'S FINE.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE OTHER PERSON SPEAK WHILE THEY WORK ON THAT.

MR. PITTS? GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UM, AS YOU, Y'ALL HEARD ME SPEAK EARLIER, MY NAME IS, UH, CHRIS PITTS.

I AM, UH, I'M A LIFEGUARD BARTON SPRINGS AND A MEMBER OF ESME LOCAL 1624.

Y'ALL HEARD ME SPEAK EARLIER ABOUT HOW, UM, THE CUTS TO THE, TO, UM, OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE IMPLEMENT THIS CONTRACT WOULD AFFECT THE PARK DEPARTMENT IN BARTON SPRINGS.

BUT I WAS, UH, I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THE AUSTIN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION EARLIER TODAY, WHERE HE

[08:30:01]

SAID THAT HE, WHERE HE SAID THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION HAS NO PROBLEM WITH, UH, WITH THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WHY HAS THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, UH, STOOD IN THE WAY EVERY TIME VOTERS TRY TO IMPLEMENT, UM, ANY SORT OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY? WHY DID THE POL AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION CREATE A FAKE BALLOT INITIATIVE IN ORDER TO CONFUSE THE, THE VOTERS AND, UM, DISRUPT THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, WHICH WAS, UM, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE MAJOR, THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN.

WHY DOES THE COM WHY DOES THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION STILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO, UM, TRY TO KEEP THE G FILE CONFIDENTIAL, WHICH THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN HAVE VOTING THAT THEY WANT TO DECLASSIFY THE G FILE? UM, CITY MANAGER.

BROAD NEXT, UM, WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE CITY B THE CITY BUDGET THIS YEAR, YOU, UH, ENCOURAGED US TO EXERCISE DISCIPLINE.

I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL DO THE SAME WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE CONTRACT, AND I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO BECAUSE, UM, THIS POLICE CONTRACT WOULD, WOULD COST $118 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THIS IS MONEY THAT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND IT WOULD BE INCREASING OUR TAXES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF OUR, OF OUR SAVE FUNDS.

SO FOR THIS REASON, I ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE POLICE CONTRACT.

HAVE WE, HAVE WE GOT THE SOUND WORKING MAYOR, WE HAVE A REMOTE SPEAKER.

SHOULD I GO AHEAD AND TAKE THEM? IT SOUNDS, IT LOOKS LIKE RE SOUND ISN'T TAKING, I MEAN, OKAY.

PLEASE DO MARINA ROBERTS THERE.

DISTRICT FOUR, IT IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED FACT SUPPORTED BY AN ENORMOUS BODY OF RESEARCH THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CRIMES ARE COMMITTED BY PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE BEING RAVAGED BY POVERTY, A LACK OF GOOD HOUSING, A LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, A LACK OF EMPLOYMENT, OR BEING EMPLOYED BY BOSSES WHO STEAL THEIR WAGES, WHICH IS THE SINGLE MOST PREVALENT FORM OF THEFT AND WHICH DWARFS ALL OTHER TYPES OF THEFT COMBINED AND ABOUT WHICH POLICE DO NOTHING.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE I WANT MY SON TO HAVE, I THINK ABOUT PARKS, LIBRARIES, PRINCE AT SCHOOLS WHO CAN SEE A DOCTOR WHEN THEY'RE SICK, AND WHOSE PARENTS WHO CAN SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN THEY SUFFER VIOLATIONS OF THEIR LABOR RIGHTS, WHICH IS A REAL CRISIS IN OUR CITY.

IT'S BIZARRE FOR COUNSEL TO HAVE TO ENTERTAIN TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE WHO LACK THIS BASIC UNDERSTANDING AND WHO MOVE THROUGH THE WORLD AS THOUGH THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IS LOCKING PEOPLE IN CAGES, WHICH AGAIN, RESEARCH SHOWS IS NOT EVEN THE MOST COST EFFICIENT WAY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I EXPECT ELECTED CITY LEADERS TO KNOW BETTER AND TO DO BETTER AND TO BASE ON RESEARCH SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS.

I WANNA ECHO RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN SHARED SHOWING THAT THIS CONTRACT WON'T ADDRESS A PD STAFFING SHORTAGES.

YOU ALREADY GET A $15,000 SIGNING BONUS IF YOU JOIN A PD AND THEY'RE ALREADY THE HIGHEST PAID COPS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT YOU COULDN'T GET ME TO BECOME A COP.

NO, YOU KNOW MUCH.

YOU PAID ME BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THE ROLE IN SOCIETY THAT COPS PLAY.

I DON'T WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WITH CAGES.

I WANT TO DO THINGS THAT WORK.

MAYBE THAT'S AT THE HEART OF APDS TROUBLE.

IF THE HELL OF A GAMBLE FOR COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THIS CONTRACT, KNOWING YOU COULDN'T GET SUCH CONTRACT APPROVED IF YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND KNOWING THAT WHEN THIS FAILS TO SOLVE ALL THE CRIME, WE WILL BE UNABLE TO CHANGE COURSE ON OUR BUDGET.

I WON'T SUPPORT ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS THIS CONTRACT WITH MY VOTE.

AND Y'ALL HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS TODAY WHO FEEL THE SAME.

YOU'VE ALSO HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS WHO SUPPORT THE CONTRACT, WHO LIKELY WOULDN'T VOTE ON A PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE IF YOU WERE RUNNING AGAINST A HARD BOILED EGG.

SO CHOOSE YOUR BEDFELLOWS AND KNOW THAT APPROVING THIS CONTRACT MEANS KNEE CAPPING YOUR ABILITY TO SOLVE EVERY OTHER PROBLEM, AND HANDING YOUR FUTURE ELECTION CHALLENGER A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO ATTACK YOU IN YOUR NEXT RACE.

GOODNIGHT, MAYOR.

THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THE EXCEPTION OF MR. REYES.

I'M NOT SURE AUDIO WE HAVE WE FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM OR ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO, UM, WE STILL SURE.

STILL WORKING ON IT.

MR. RES, CAN YOU, REYES, WOULD YOU LIKE AWAY THE, BECAUSE GOOD.

GO AHEAD AND PLAY THAT.

NOW THAT WE HAVE AUDIO, JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.

I'M JULIAN REYES.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE PRESS.

I'VE BEEN FILMING THE POLICE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 12 YEARS.

GARVEY BEAT YOU UP, RIGHT? YEAH, HE DID.

AND NOW WE'LL PLAY YOUR, WE PUT AWAY IN THE TENT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T LET ME GET NOTHING OUTTA THE TENT.

CERTIFIC PAPERWORK.

I GET MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL MEDICINE.

THEY DON'T CARE.

THEY'RE JUST THROWING IT AWAY.

GET IT CLEANED, WE DON'T CARE.

AND THAT

[08:35:01]

YOU WERE ASLEEP WITH YOUR DOGS? YEAH, HE ENDED UP BRAGGING ME OUT OF MY BED LIKE I WAS ASLEEP, GRABBING MY ANKLE AND RUB ME OUTTA BED.

AND I'M LIKE, FORCE TOUCHING WEIRD BRO.

WHEN I DID THAT, HE SAID, WANNA GET HIM SLAM ME ON THE GROUND.

HIM AND HIS HEAD LEAVE TO JAIL FOR CAMPING.

WHAT DO YOU DO? ANYTHING THE CITY COUNCIL TELLS YOU TO DO AND YOUR MASTERS WILL TELL YOU TO DO.

WILL YOU DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY? WHAT WON'T YOU DO? THE REGULAR TRAFFIC.

IT'S NO LONGER SAFE.

CAN'T BE ON THE STREET.

DO NOT TOUCH THE HORSES.

GET ONTO THE SIDEWALK THROUGH THE CALGARY.

OH MY GOD, SIR.

OH MY GOD.

GETTING NO NINE WHILE RIGHT UP IN HIS EAR WITH THE WHISTLE.

WHAT'S THE DECIBEL LEVEL AT THAT, AT THAT DISTANCE? HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T CARE, DO YOU? WHY DON'T YOU REPORT YOURSELF AS BEING A BAD COP? WELL, 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK I DID ANYTHING WRONG, BUT IF YOU THINK I DID SOMETHING WRONG, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY GO GO TO THE OFFICE OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT.

WHY DON'T YOU REPORT YOURSELF 7, 7, 8.

ANYWAY, I'LL SEE YOU ON THURSDAY.

YEAH, YOU'RE A SELL OUT MAN.

GO BACK UP OR I WILL.

BUT HE SEES IT.

YEAH, WE HAD TO TAKE DOWN THAT F*****G CAMERA, MAN.

LIKE I SAID, I HAD HIS F*****G WRIST UP HERE ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

I DIDN'T CARE IF HE WAS GONNA SNAP HIS F*****G SHOULDER OUT, BUT I LITERALLY HAD THE HANDCUFF ON THERE WHEN WE ALL SPUN AND WENT TO TOWN.

I WAS LIKE, I WAS HOLDING HIS ARM RESISTING THE POLICE.

WHO'S MISSING A MAG? I OKAY.

THANK YOU MEMBER.

HEY.

NO, DON'T RESIST.

RESIST SEEM TO BE BUFFERING A LITTLE BIT.

I'M NOT RESIST, I'M DEFINITELY AFRAID TO BE A MEMBER OF THE PRESS IN AUSTIN.

PLEASE GIVE THEM A RAISE SO THAT I CAN BE LESS SAFE.

PERSONNEL RECORDS FOR THE ENTIRE, UM, EVERY OFFICER THAT'S CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

UH, I CAN'T.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SPEAKERS ON 47 AND 48.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK MEMBERS.

THAT, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS ON ITEMS 47 AND 48.

SO WE WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEMS 47 AND 48.

UH, THE WAY WE'LL DO THIS IS I'LL GET A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND THEN WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION RELATED, UH, TO THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO THE MAYOR PRO TIM MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 48? IT IS SECOND BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, WE'LL NOW OPEN, UH, THE MEETING FOR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 47.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

UM, THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION.

UM, I NOT QUITE READY FOR REMARKS, BUT, UM, I WANTED TO ASK IF THE CITY MANAGER OR THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UM, COULD SPEAK, UH, PUBLICLY TO THE PLANS FOR TRANSPARENCY WITH REGARDING THE EXISTING G FILE AND THE TIMING AS IT'S BEEN, UM, SHARED WITH COUNSEL.

THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN.

DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JOHN FORTUNE WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND.

DEPUTY JOHN FORTUNE, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

I'M HAPPY TO, UM, PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR, UM, THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN ALTER.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY MADE IT VERY WELL PUBLIC THAT WE ARE NO LONGER KEEPING A G FILE.

AND SO AS WE RECEIVE REQUESTS FOR GFI MATERIAL, UM, WE ARE HANDLING THEM AS OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE AND THEY'RE BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OPEN RECORDS DIVISION.

AND, UM, AS THOSE REQUESTS BECOME, UM, READY, THEY'RE RELEASED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAKING THEIR REQUESTS.

NOW, I WILL TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE OF A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR THE G FILE MATERIAL, THERE'S A LOT OF VOLUME ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THE MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE TO, TO, UM, PROVIDE.

AND SO IN SOME INSTANCES, WE'VE A, WE'VE BEEN ASKED FOR

[08:40:01]

AND SOME OF THOSE RECORDS GO BACK SEVERAL YEARS, 20 PLUS YEARS.

AND MANY OF THOSE RECORDS ARE, UH, IN WAREHOUSES AND THEY ARE ARCHIVED.

AND SO SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT WE RECEIVE WILL OBVIOUSLY TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO COMPLY WITH THEN SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ONES OR MAYBE SOME OF 'EM THAT ARE MORE SIMPLE.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE REQUESTERS TO SEE HOW WE CAN NARROW DOWN THEIR REQUEST TO SEE IF THERE'S A, A, A WAY OF EXPEDITING THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE COMPLIANCE AS QUICKLY AND AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS WE CAN.

UM, SO, UM, THAT IS OUR INTENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

AND, UM, IN TERMS OF RESOURCES THAT YOU'RE MARSHALING TO GET THIS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

UM, YES, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS, PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE, WE'VE, WE HAD QUITE A VOLUME OF OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND WE HAVE A STAFF THAT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, BARELY ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE LEVEL OF REQUESTS THAT WE HAD PRIOR TO THE G FILE BECOMING OPEN.

AND SO AS WE'VE LOOKED AT THE, THE LEVEL OF REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME IN, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF STAFFING SO THAT WE COULD ALSO PROVIDE A MUCH MORE EXPEDITED REVIEW OR RELEASE OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

AND SO, UM, THAT MAY BE A MORE STAFFING, WE MAY ALSO BE LOOKING AT SOME ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL OR DIGITIZING OF SOME OF THOSE OLDER ARCHIVE RECORDS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM MORE READILY AVAILABLE.

BUT THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.

I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'LL HAPPEN, UM, BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING INVOLVED.

UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN OVERNIGHT BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING INVOLVED AND THE LEVEL OF, OF COMPLEXITY ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THE REVIEW OF THE MATERIAL.

MATERIALS BASED ON THE REQUEST THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

MM-HMM, , CAN I FOLLOW UP IF YOU DON'T MIND? I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD IS CLEAR AND I, AND I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN ER JUST DID SOME OF THAT.

BUT I WANT, I'M GONNA PUT A FINE POINT ON A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE IS I, BECAUSE WE HAD, UH, AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES TODAY, UH, A REQUEST FOR US TO, UH, PUT ON THE RECORD, UH, AND, AND OF COURSE THE, THE WAY IT WAS SUGGESTED EARLIER TODAY WAS THAT, WAS THAT THE CHIEF WOULD SAY IT, BUT THE CHIEF IS RESPONSIVE TO THE MANAGER AND, AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IN, IN, IN THIS CASE, BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS, IT IS NO LONGER MAINTAINING G FILES.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

AND WHEN SOMEONE MAKES A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY, UH, SHIELDED BY IT BEING QUOTE IN A G FILE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NO LONGER TAKING THE POSITION, UH, NO LONGER OBJECTING TO A REQUEST OR SEEKING TO SHIELD INFORMATION THAT'S IN A REQUEST BASED UPON THE FACT THAT IT MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN A G FILE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

NOW, THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER REASONS THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT ASK FOR SOME INFORMATION AND IT NOT, AND, AND MAYBE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN A G FILE, BUT SOMEBODY ASKED FOR A PIECE OF INFORMATION.

LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, XA PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT WOULD'VE BEEN SHIELDED IN A G FILE PRIOR IS NO LONGER SHIELDED BECAUSE OF A G FILE BECAUSE IT WAS IN A G FILE.

BUT IT MAY BE OTHERWISE, UH, SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE TURNED OVER, FOR EXAMPLE.

UM, IF IF THERE'S AN ONGOING CURRENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION THAT TURNING OVER THE INFORMATION AND WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE'S FEAR THAT TURNING OVER THAT INFORMATION WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE INVESTIGATION.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THAT, THAT DOES HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY.

AND SO THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS, OF A TIME IN WHICH, UM, WHILE THERE'S NO PROHIBIT, YOU KNOW, PROHIBITION ON RELEASING THE GFI MATERIAL IN THE MERITS OF IT BEING A G FILE, THE CRIMINAL ASPECT OR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COMPONENT OF THAT TO IN INTER TO, UH, ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THAT INVESTIGATION, THAT NEEDS TO BE WITHHELD FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW, WHEN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED AND IT'S CONCLUDED AND THAT MATERIAL WOULD BE AVAILABLE, BUT I, AND I KNOW I'VE, I'VE SAID IT, BUT I WANNA SAY IT AGAIN.

THE POSITION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS TAKING IS THAT THERE IS NO G FILE AND THERE WILL BE NO OBJECTION TO A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO BE TURNED OVER ON THE BASIS THAT IT WAS, THAT IT WAS SOMEHOW SHIELDED BECAUSE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN A G FILE.

THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR.

IN FACT, WE'VE ALREADY PROVIDED SOME RELEASE OF

[08:45:01]

IF I CAN PLEASE FOLLOW UP.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE, AND THIS MAY END UP BEING MORE OF A, A LEGAL QUESTION, BUT IT'S FROM THE SAME TYPE OF CONVERSATION.

UM, THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE BECAUSE SOMEONE WORKS FOR THE CITY, THEY'RE COMPELLED TO MAKE TESTIMONY THAT IF IT WERE IN A CRIMINAL SITUATION, UM, THEY WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO, TO PLEAD THE FIFTH OR NOT TESTIFY.

UM, FOR THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEBODY WAS COMPELLED TO TESTIFY, IF THERE IS NOT AN ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MATERIAL WILL BE RELEASED.

IT STILL MIGHT NOT BE ADMISSIBLE IN COURT BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT WAS, UM, PROVIDED, BUT THAT, THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE RELEASED IF THERE IS NO ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

SHE'S REFERRING TO THE GARRITY.

I'LL LET, I'LL LET THE CITY, UH, ATTORNEY ANSWER THAT.

UM, THAT'S MY QUESTIONS FOR RIGHT NOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER, OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 47? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

AND THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

YOU KNOW, AFTER YEARS OF SETBACKS AND CHALLENGES, I REALLY FEEL WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY WITH THE VOTE ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY TOGETHER APPOINTING A NEW CITY MANAGER, RATIFICATION OF A NEW POLICE CHIEF, AND CELEBRATING OUR LARGEST CADET CLASS GRADUATION YEARS.

THIS CONTRACT IS THE CRITICAL MISSING PIECE TO FURTHER EMPOWER OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA, IT'S A DECISIVE MOVE TO SOLIDIFY THE PAY AND BENEFITS FOR OUR OFFICERS AND TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE STAND BEHIND OUR OFFICERS.

THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED, AND I WANNA BE CLEAR.

EVERY TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OVERSIGHT OVERSIGHT MEASURE DEMANDED BY OUR VOTERS HAS BEEN INCORPORATED.

BOTH CITY STAFF AND THE POLICE ASSOCIATION HAVE CONFIRMED THIS.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT A CONTRACT, IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING OUR OFFICERS, OFFICERS WITH THE SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS BY APPROVING IT.

WE ESTABLISH LONG-TERM STABILITY WITH THE FIVE-YEAR FRAMEWORK THAT WILL ALLOW FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EFFECTIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

IT ENSURES THAT PAY INCREASES FOR OFFICERS ALIGN WITH THOSE OF OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES, MAINTAINING FAIRNESS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, AND WILL HOPEFULLY BOOST MORALE.

AT ITS CORE, THIS CONTRACT REPRESENTS OUR COMMITMENT TO REBUILDING TRUST AND CREATING A MORE EFFECTIVE, RESPONSIVE DEPARTMENT.

IT EMPOWERS OUR OFFICERS TO ENGAGE MORE MEANINGFULLY, MEANINGFULLY, AND TO PURSUE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES.

I HOPE TODAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW OUR OFFICERS, OUR COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ENSURING THEIR LONG-TERM STABILITY WITH PAY AND BENEFITS.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING ITEMS 47 AND 48 TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

NO, NO, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.

WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN ORDER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

UH, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BEING VIRTUAL TO ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE, UH, CAN, CAN HEAR ME.

WE CAN.

UH, GREAT.

UM, I I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME TODAY.

UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, UM, HERE IN THIS ROOM.

IT'S BEEN, UH, OBVIOUSLY A MUCH LONGER DAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE THERE.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS, I'VE, I'VE TALKED WITH MANY CONSTITUENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND CITY STAFF SINCE THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT WERE RELEASED.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF THE MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES.

AND AGREEING TO THE CONTRACT IS PRIORITIZING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER ALL OTHER CITY SERVICES AND EMPLOYEES FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

WHEN I SWORE MY OATH OF OFFICE, I PROMISED TO MYSELF AND TO MY CONSTITUENTS, I WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN IF IT'S ON THE POLITICALLY BENEFICIAL OR EASY DECISION.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TONIGHT WITH EXPEDIENCY OF THIS CONTRACT, THE DETRIMENTAL BUDGET IMPACTS AND THE UNCLEAR TIMELINE FOR THE RELEASE OF PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED G FILE INFORMATION, WHICH SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

PROGRESS DOES NOT COME EASILY.

IT OFTEN REQUIRES SLOWLY CHIPPING AWAY AT A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT SET UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO SUCCEED.

THOSE WHO WE SAW AT, AT CENTER STAGE TODAY.

UH, TONIGHT I WILL VOTE NO ON ITEMS 47 48 AND THAT'S IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, PLEASE LET US HAVE ORDERS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

THE MOMENT THE REVENUE CAP WAS PASSED.

UM, I WANNA START BY THANKING EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US TODAY TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND YOUR PERSPECTIVES.

I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY TO GET UP HERE, IT'S NOT EASY FOR YOU TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY HERE, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, UM, AND SHARING,

[08:50:01]

SHARING YOUR VIEWS.

LIKE MANY OF YOU, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO PAY OUR OFFICERS WELL AND CREATE A CULTURE AND SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND SERVICE.

WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, INVEST IN THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS AUSTIN.

AS WE CONSIDER THIS DECISION BEFORE US TODAY, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE CONTRACT IS JUST ONE OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS GOVERNED BY STATE LAW.

A MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT BY NATURE IS AN IMPERFECT TOOL.

AND THE COMMUNITY HAS RIGHTLY RAISED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, MANY OF WHICH I SPOKE TO IN MY COMMENTS ON TUESDAY.

I DON'T WANNA REPEAT MYSELF NOW, BUT I DO WANNA SIMPLY SAY THAT THE FINANCIAL TRADE-OFFS ARE REAL AS PEOPLE ELECTED TO OVERSEE THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE FISCAL HEALTH OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

THOUGH WE DON'T GET TO STOP THERE, WE ALSO MUST ASK WHETHER DECLINING THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE ANY LESS EXPENSIVE OR DELIVER MORE OVERSIGHT.

AS WE SAW SINCE FEBRUARY, 2023, IT DOES NOT REDUCE THE PRICE TO DATE IN OUR DELIBERATIONS.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT FINANCES AND OVERSIGHT, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT I LIKE THE REST OF THE ES CARE ABOUT AS I VOTE TODAY, THOUGH, AT LEAST AS CRITICAL, ARE THE PROVISIONS GOVERNING PROMOTIONS, LEADERSHIP CHOICES, AND RECRUITING.

WE RECENTLY ENTRUSTED LISA DAVIS WITH THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF POLICE CHIEF.

FOR HER TO SUCCEED, SHE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HER TEAM TO ALIGN WITH THE VISION AND VALUES FOR HOW OFFICERS SHOULD COMPORT THEMSELVES AT WORK AND OFF DUTY.

ABSENT THIS CONTRACT, I BELIEVE HER HANDS WILL BE TIED OVER THE YEARS, AND I'M FINISHING EIGHT YEARS NOW, I'VE SEEN HOW MUCH OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP MATTERS BOTH FOR OUR OFFICERS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

CULTURAL CHANGE SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT A CHIEF WHO PRIORITIZES IT.

FOCUSED LEADERSHIP IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN TURN THE PAGE TO CREATE THE POLICE FORCE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ASKED FOR AND WHERE OUR OFFICERS THRIVE TODAY, I'M VOTING FOR THE CONTRACT.

I HAVE WEIGHED THE CHOICES AND OPTIONS BEFORE US, AND IT IS MY ART AND HOPE THAT OUR NEW LEADERSHIP WILL TAKE THE TOOLS AND INVESTMENT WE ARE MAKING AND LEAD US TO AN AUSTIN WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE, OUR OFFICERS CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VALUED, AND WE HOLD THOSE WHO COMMIT MISCONDUCT TO ACCOUNT.

TODAY I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.

THIS CONTRACT IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT IN AUSTIN.

I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN POLICE REFORM AND HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED, THE INCARCERATED, AND THE MARGINALIZED FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I DO NOT MAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY.

I HAVE SPOKEN AT LENGTH WITH MANY OF THE ADVOCATES IN THIS ROOM TODAY, AND MY TEAM AND I HAVE DONE HOURS OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE THE CONTRACT IMPLEMENTS ALL ASPECTS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT THAT WE CANNOT ACHIEVE VIA ORDINANCE.

THIS CONTRACT ACCOMPLISHES EVERYTHING THE A POA REQUIRES.

THIS CONTRACT COMPLETELY OPENS UP THE G FILE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF ITS TERM.

IT PERMITS ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS FROM EVERYONE INCLUDING A PD OFFICERS THEMSELVES.

IT MORE THAN DOUBLES THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR DISCIPLINE, AND IT MAKES SURE THE CLOCK ONLY STARTS ONCE A COMPLAINT IS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT VICTORIES AND I WANT TO CELEBRATE THEM.

ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, THIS COUNCIL VOTED TO STOP A DIFFERENT POLICE CONTRACT, ONE, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT AUSTIN VOTERS DEMANDED.

I LED THE CHARGE TO KILL THAT CONTRACT BECAUSE I BELIEVED IT WAS POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE ONE WHICH MET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE VOTERS.

THIS MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL JOINED ME TO BLOCK THAT CONTRACT.

I STOPPED THE 2023 POLICE CONTRACT BECAUSE WE HAD A BETTER ONE IN OUR SITES TODAY, A BETTER CONTRACT IS BEFORE US.

EVEN WITH THIS CONTRACT, A PD FUNDING WILL STAY AT ABOUT 36% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, A LOW LEVEL COMPARED TO YEARS PAST.

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF THE STRONGEST ECONOMIES IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH A GROWING POPULATION AND A VIBRANT ECONOMY.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FUND THIS CONTRACT AND INVEST IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS. TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE IS TO BUY INTO THE RIGHT WING NARRATIVE OF AUSTERITY POLITICS.

I REJECT THIS AUSTERITY NARRATIVE.

THE ONLY OBSTACLE IN OUR WAY IS A REVENUE CAP PLACED ON CITIES BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

IF WE ACCEPT THIS NARRATIVE THAT WE ARE SOMEHOW BOUND BY THESE FISCAL HANDCUFFS, THEN WE WILL STARVE OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.

JUST AS A REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATURE INTENDED, I REJECT THAT PREMISE FROM

[08:55:01]

WE KNEW WE WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO BUST IT FEDERAL MONEY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BOOMING SALES TAX COLLECTIONS AFTER THE PANDEMIC HELPED US DELAY THOSE ELECTIONS.

BUT IT IS TIME, WHETHER THIS CONTRACT PASSES OR NOT, WE WILL NEED A TAX RATE ELECTION TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF CITY SERVICES, MUCH LESS, MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET.

WE WILL EVENTUALLY, SOONER THAN LATER NEED A TRE AND UH, UH, AND I WILL SUPPORT IT WHEN, UH, WHEN WE GET THERE.

BUT I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS CONTRACT.

I THINK IT'S A MAJOR STEP FORWARD, UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO TURNING THE PAGE ON A, ON A LONG AND AND DIFFICULT, UH, UH, PERIOD OF, OF, OF TIME WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'M EXCITED AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MENTIONED TO GIVE CHIEF DAVIS A CLEAN SLATE WITH WHICH TO START HER TENURE AS AUSTIN POLICE CHIEF.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.

THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.

MAYOR.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS CONTRACT, AND I THINK ABOUT IT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED AFTER THE VOTERS APPROVED A POA, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME AT THAT POINT TO ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS DISTRICT EIGHT ASKING FOR? WHAT IS IT THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ROUTINELY REACH OUT ABOUT? AND ONE OF THE MOST MAJOR THINGS THAT I HEAR ABOUT IS RESPONSE TIME.

THEY THINK IF SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE, THEY'RE GONNA CALL 9 1 1 AND AN OFFICER WILL BE WAY TOO FAR AWAY.

UM, I'VE ALSO BEEN AN ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE THINGS LIKE RACIAL PROFILING TELLING, YOU KNOW, TELLING OFFICERS TO RECALIBRATE WHERE THEY ARE AVAILABLE AND AND HOW THEY'RE PLANNING, UH, THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE 9 1 1 CALLS THAT COME IN.

BUT RESPONSE TIME IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG, UH, DEAL IN DISTRICT A AND I DO THINK THAT FILLING VACANCIES IS A BIG STEP FORWARD IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT RESPONSIVENESS.

UM, MY CONSTITUENTS ALSO CARE ABOUT OVERSIGHT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN THAT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE STUCK WITH AN EITHER OR AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT FEEL LIKE YES.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE ALL PROUD OF BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EVERY DAY.

I THINK THIS CONTRACT IS IMPROVING RECRUITMENT BY WAY OF PREDICTABILITY FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.

UM, THE OFFICERS THAT I'VE SEEN WHEN I ATTEND A PD GRADUATIONS, THEY'RE YOUNGER, THEY'RE MORE DIVERSE AND THEY'RE MORE OPEN TO ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND HOMELESSNESS.

AND I THINK THAT IS A PROMISING, UM, THAT'S A PROMISING STEP FORWARD FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, PEOPLE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WERE VERY OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOOK AT WHEN I SEE PEOPLE IN THEIR YOUNG TWENTIES DECIDING TO STEP UP AND PER AND SERVE THE PUBLIC.

WHETHER THAT IS IN POLITICS, WHETHER THAT IS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANNA BE A PART OF BUILDING THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND THAT THEY CAN BE PROUD OF.

AND I KNOW THAT THIS DUS, I'VE BEEN VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS DUS HAS STEPPED UP AND PROVIDED A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT MARKET RATE HOUSING IS MORE AFFORDABLE, UM, RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THESE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT THIS DIOCESE CARES VERY DEEPLY ABOUT.

UM, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED PREDICTABILITY IN THE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN RECRUIT THE NEW YOUNG, EXCITED PEOPLE WHO WANNA BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND TO SHOW US HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING IT RIGHT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE CONTRACT TODAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF HARM THROUGH MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING AND LIVABLE WAGES, EDUCATION, AND OTHER PREVENTABLE MEASURES.

UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME OUTTA THEIR DAY TO DAY TO JOIN US.

UH, TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD.

WE HEARD HOURS OF PASSIONATE TESTIMONY FROM AUSTINITES DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE SAFETY IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR VOICES HAVE NOT FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.

WHILE THIS VOTE IS NOT AN EASY DECISION, I DID NOT COME TO THIS VOTE LIGHTLY AUSTINITES TODAY HAVE SENT A VERY LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE A MUST WITHOUT A CONTRACT, OUR COMMUNITY HAS LESS OVERSIGHT.

AND WHILE WE'VE HEARD DOUBTS, I BELIEVE TODAY'S VOTE MARKS A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY DESERVES.

IT'S WORTH EMPHASIZING THAT OUR OWN LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS CERTIFIED THAT THIS CONTRACT IS IN FULL ALIGNMENT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.

AND SHOULD A COURT DETERMINE OTHERWISE, I'M FULLY COMMITTED TO ENSURING ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

AND I ALSO EXPECT THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION TO RETURN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE IN GOOD FAITH TO MAKE SURE THIS CONTRACT MEETS EVERY SINGLE MEASURE OF THE A POA.

TODAY'S AGREEMENT WILL INVEST IN ADDRESSING APDS LONGSTANDING CHALLENGES SUCH AS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

BUT WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT POLICING IS JUST BUT ONE FORM OF SAFETY.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE MAKING INVESTMENTS BEYOND TODAY'S CONTRACT IN ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE THE MEANS TO

[09:00:01]

AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, DURING THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS THAT THIS DIOCESE HAD JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, SOME OF US ON THIS DAAS WOULD NOT AGREE TO SUPPORT A MODEST INVESTMENT IN WAGE INCREASES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICE, SOCIAL WORKERS FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, SERVICES AND PREVENTION FOR THE EXPANDED MCO T TEAM, WHICH IS THE EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM, ALL IN THE NAME OF FISCAL RESTRAINT.

SO TODAY I AM ENCOURAGED TO SEE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WILLING TO INVEST IN WHAT WE AGREE ARE THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION AND TO SEE THAT SUPPORT FOR INVESTMENTS THAT THAT SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.

AGAIN, I WANNA THANK OUR ADVOCATES WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS ISSUE.

THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PROGRESS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO, UH, I'VE COME TO LEARN IN MY SIX YEARS IN THIS ROLE THAT WHEN YOU VOTE A CERTAIN WAY, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU WANT ME TO VOTE, I GET YOUR SUPPORT AND I LOSE THE SUPPORT OF OTHERS AND VICE VERSA.

SUPPORT IS FLUID AS I'VE COME TO LEARN, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT HAS BEEN IMPLIED THAT WE ALL KNEW HOW WE WERE GONNA VOTE WHEN WE CAME INTO THESE PROCEEDINGS.

SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I HAD TALKING POINTS PREPARED FOR AND AGAINST BECAUSE I KNEW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A DIFFICULT DAY TO COME TO A DECISION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

UM, I HAD A A YES TALKING POINTS, A NO TALKING POINTS AND ABSTENTION TALKING POINTS.

BUT LIKE BIGGIE SAID, MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS I'VE DISCOVERED MORE WORDS, MORE WORRIES.

SO I'M GONNA KEEP IT SIMPLE.

I'M GONNA SCRAP MY TALKING POINTS.

I'M GONNA SAY THIS, YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.

I'M EMOTIONAL AND MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS THROUGH THE ROOF.

NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROCESS OR THIS VOTE HAS BEEN EASY.

I'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT ABOUT MY CHALLENGES WITH BOTH MY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS.

THIS PROCESS, THIS JOB, THIS ROOM HAS TAXED THEM ALONE.

THIS IS NOT MY BIR MY FIRST BIG CHALLENGE, NOT IN THIS ROLE, AND FRANKLY NOT AS A DARK SKINNED BLACK WOMAN IN CENTRAL TEXAS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.

THAT DOESN'T MATTER TO SOME OF Y'ALL.

ALL YOU SEE IS ME UP HERE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT I'M YOUR FRIEND, YOUR LITERAL FAMILY, THAT OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THIS WON'T BE MY LAST BIG CHALLENGE.

I WANNA THANK MY UNCLE ROGER, WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, OFFERING ME ENCOURAGEMENT AND ENCOURAGING ME NOT TO CRY.

I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS 27 YEARS OF LONG, HARD FOUGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE.

HIS CONSISTENT LOVE AND SUPPORT AS I'VE STRUGGLED TO FIND AND MAINTAIN MY FOOTING IN LIFE AND IN THIS DIFFICULT ROLE.

I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 47 AND 48 THIS EVENING.

ME.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NUMBER 47? THAT BEING THE CASE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 47.

RAISE YOUR HAND.

OPPOSED? RAISE YOUR HAND.

THERE BEING 10 VOTES IN FAVOR.

ONE VOTE IN OPPOSITION.

COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAS SHOWN VOTING NO.

ITEM NUMBER 47 IS ADOPTED MEMBERS AFTERTHOUGHT MEMBERS, WE WILL NOW

[48. Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Operating Budget (Ordinance No. 202408014-007) to increase appropriations in the Austin Police Department Operating Budget by the amount of $16,583,833 and decrease the General Fund Operating Budget Other Requirements by $16,583,833 to provide additional funds to cover sworn personnel expenditures related to wages and benefits. Related to Item #47.]

GO TO ITEM NUMBER 48.

THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE A MOTION.

THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM, MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 48.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 48.

THAT BEING THE CASE? ANYBODY WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NUMBER 48? ALL THOSE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED.

AND ITEM 48.

I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT WE HAVE TO DO 48 BECAUSE THERE WAS PLANNING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FACT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT MOVES MONEY.

FROM ONE PART OF THE BUDGET TO ANOTHER PART.

THAT TAKES US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT INDICATES THAT THE MONEY WAS IN THE BUDGET.

YOU'RE CORRECT.

AND IT IS BALANCED FOR THIS HERE.

THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

AND THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE IN SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 48.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND THERE.

THERE'RE BEING ONE VOTE NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER CODRE WILL BE SHOWN.

VOTING NO.

[09:05:01]

THERE BEING 10.

AYE AND ONE NAY.

ITEM NUMBER 48 IS ALSO ADOPTED.

UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME AND TESTIFIED TODAY AND PROVIDED YOUR COMMENTS.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE COUNSEL FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, UM, AND THE NEGOTIATION TEAM AND ALSO TO THE A PA FOR ITS COMING TO THE TABLE.

UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE APAS VOTE ON THIS CONTRACT AND MOVING THINGS FORWARD.

UH,

[Consent Agenda]

THOSE ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH, UH, 45 AND ITEMS 83 THROUGH 85 MEMBERS.

I INDICATED EARLIER TODAY THAT ITEM NUMBER 46 HAD BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THE PRIMARY SPONSOR OF ITEM NUMBER 46.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS ASKED THAT THAT ITEM BE WITHDRAWN FROM THIS AGENDA.

UH, THERE SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 46.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER 46 WILL BE WITHDRAWN.

SO WE WILL NOW GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I WILL ENTERTAIN THE CHAIR, WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND A MOTION IN A SECOND.

AND THEN WE WILL GO TO SPEAKERS.

IS THAT MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO THE CLERK AND ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE, UH, NAVIGATE US THROUGH THE, UM, SPEAKERS.

OKAY, MAYOR, FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO.

EVA WHITE.

MS. WHITE.

MS. WHITE, PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.

ITEM NUMBER THREE, SCOTT WHITMORE AND HAROLD SCHUMACHER.

MR. WHITMORE.

MR. SCHUMACHER WHITMORE.

SORRY FOR ITEM, LET ME, LET ME CALL AT LEAST TWICE IN CASE THEY'RE OUT IN THE, UH, LOBBY.

MR. WHITMORE OR MR. SCHUMACHER? OKAY, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, BILL BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH.

MR. BUNCH IS WAIVING HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.

ARE YOU WAIVING THAT ONE TOO? YES.

ITEM NUMBER 13, FERRIS.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE HOW MANY? WE HAVE A FEW MORE FOR 13.

IS SUPPORTING THE MAYOR'S CANDIDACY, HAS RAISED ABOUT A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS, PRIMARILY FROM DEVELOPERS, PRIVATE EQUITY AND OIL AND GAS.

CALL, CALL ALL OF 'EM ON 13.

AND THEN IF YOU, IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN FRONT AND, AND IF THERE'S AN OPEN MICROPHONE, FEEL FREE TO STEP UP TO IT.

MR. GRECO, AFTER MR. GRECO, TANYA PAYNE, NATALIE RESLEY, LAUREN ROSS, ROY WHALEY, BOBBY LAVINSKY, ENOVIA JOSEPH, IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED AND YOU WISH TO BE HEARD, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MR. GRECO, YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE.

I'M DOUG GRECO.

I AM A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.

SPEAKING AGAINST THIS ITEM.

TWO WEEKS AGO, MAYOR WATSON ANNOUNCED A SECRETLY NEGOTIATED $107.6 MILLION.

CITY OF AUSTIN PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE FROM BRANDYWINE REAL ESTATE TRUST.

THE SAME COMPANY THAT RECENTLY MADE A DONATION OF $10,000 TO THE MAYOR'S POLITICAL COMMITTEE.

THE PAC PUBLICLY DISCLOSED ITS DONORS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, AND ON THAT FRIDAY OF THAT WEEK, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE DEAL.

WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD HAVE A COMBINED PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

AND THE FACT THAT IT IS OVER AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

BUT MAYOR WATSON'S FAILURE TO DISCLOSE THIS RELATIONSHIP HAS ALREADY TAINTED THE PROCESS AND FITS A PATTERN OF BEHIND THE SCENES UNILATERAL DECISION MAKING AND LACK OF CONCERN FOR PUBLIC TRUST.

OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS DESERVE THE BEST FACILITIES, BUT OUR CITY DESERVES A MAYOR WHO FEELS ACCOUNTABLE TO TAXPAYERS AND AVOIDS EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY OR A PAY FOR PLAY DEAL.

THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT APPROVE THIS RUSH DEAL TODAY.

ITEM 13, A CANDIDATE MAY KNOW WHO HAS DONATED TO THEIR PACS ONCE IT IS PUBLICLY DISCLOSED AND IS, IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

A MAYOR SHOULD BE AWARE AND DISCLOSE ANY PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND TAXPAYERS SHOULD KNOW WHO MAY BE TRYING TO INFLUENCE AND BUY INFLUENCE.

AT CITY HALL.

THE AUSTIN LEADERSHIP PAC, WHICH

[09:10:01]

THESE DONORS INCLUDE BRANDYWINE REALTY, $10,000 KILROY REALTY, AN LA BASED DEVELOPER, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HPI REALTY, TWO DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS, $25,000 AERIAL CAPITAL HEDGE FUND, $25,000 PROFIT CAPITAL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES, $5,000.

AND BRIAN SHEFFIELD OIL AND GAS, BILLIONAIRE TRUMP AND AVID SUPPORTER DONATED 75,002 YEARS AGO TO THE MAYOR'S PAC MAXED OUT TO HIS CAMPAIGN AND HAS AGAIN DONATED $47,499.

INTERESTING AMOUNT.

AND I ASKED, YOU KNOW, HE HAS, HE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EXPOSES THIS YEAR FOR TRYING TO SLOW THE TRANSITION TO RENEWABLES.

AND I ASKED BEFORE IN THE SUMMER, AND I ASKED NOW, IS THAT WHY THE MAYOR PUNTED ON THE CLIMATE BOND? YESTERDAY I RETURNED OVER 60 GRASSROOTS DONATIONS FOR OVER $6,000 BECAUSE OF A CITY ROLE LIMITING OUTSIDE DONATIONS FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY TO $47,000.

THEN I LOOK AT THIS CAST OF CHARACTERS ALL AT THE PUBLIC TROUGH, AND IT'S SHAMEFUL.

THANK YOU MR. G ASK YOU TO VOTE.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 14.

WELL, HANG ON.

UM, MR. LAVINSKY WAS SIGNED UP ON 13.

13.

ITEM, UM, MY NAME IS BOBBY LAVINSKY.

AVER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

ITEMS 13, 14, AND 26 ARE ALL RELATED.

THEY ARE THE RELOCATION OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS TO MOFA SOUTH.

ACTIONS LIKE THIS USED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY POLICY PORT SUPPORT FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S PLANS IF THEY, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS MEANT TO GUIDE THE CITY COUNCIL'S ACTIONS.

IF YOU NOTICE THE ITEMS LACK ANY OF SUCH POLICY, UM, JUSTIFICATIONS BECAUSE THE LOCATION OF A MAJOR CITY FACILITY LIKE THIS ON A, ON A HIGHWAY SERVICE ROAD DEFIES ALL URBAN PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SET OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AUTOCENTRIC LOCATIONS THAT YOU CAN SELECT.

THINK ABOUT THE MANY REASONS THAT AUSTIN RESIDENTS NEED TO ACCESS THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

THIS IS, UH, A SITUATION, UH, WHEN THE PE WHEN FAMILIES NEED TO GO TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

IT'S, THEY'RE FACING SERIOUS SITUATIONS AND THEY DON'T NEED TO BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THERE WITHOUT A CAR.

SINCE THE BACKUP FAILED TO REFERENCE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, LET ME HELP WITH SOME OF THE, UH, POLICY DIRECTIVES THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN BY THE PUBLIC.

IMAGINE AUSTIN POLICY, LUT UH, POLICY NINE.

IT DIRECTS CITY COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN CONSISTENT FISCAL POLICIES TO DIRECT PUBLIC INVESTMENTS WITH, WITH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT TO IMPLEMENT.

IMAGINE AUSTIN, INCLUDING ITS GROWTH CONCEPT PLAN, CFS UH, P 3 36 IMPROVE MULTIMODAL, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS TO THE CITY'S BUILDING, UH, BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES INCLUDING ACTIVE, WALKABLE, MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMPLETE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

UH, POLICY SP THREE LOCATE PUBLIC CITIES, UH, FACILITIES IN OR NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND CONTRIBUTE TO AND IMPROVE SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, POLICY 62, SELECT CITY OF AUSTIN FACILITIES AND PROACTIVELY DEVELOPED CITY LAND ASSETS IN A TRANSIT RICH LOCATIONS WITH THE GOALS OF SUPPORTING MULTIMODAL COMMUTER COMPUTER OPTIONS, CONSOLIDATE CITY FUNCTIONS AND IMPROVED ACCESS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THIS IS THE SAME MISTAKE THAT WE ALMOST MADE ABOUT A DECADE AGO WITH THE HOME DEPOT SITE NEAR ST.

JOHN'S.

IT WAS A BAD DECISION THEN.

IT'S A BAD DECISION NOW.

UM, THIS SITE JUST HAS SOME ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.

IT'S ON THE RECHARGE ZONE, SO YOU CAN'T EXPAND IT WITHOUT VIOLATING THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES.

THE BACKUP SUGGESTS THAT THERE'S RENOVATIONS, UH, OF THE SITE.

RENOVATIONS TYPICALLY, UH, RELATE TO THE INTERIOR OF BUILDINGS.

SO WE WANT A COMMITMENT THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE EXPANDING THE FACILITY ANY FURTHER.

WHAT'S GONNA BE INCLUDED IN THIS FACILITY? THE CURRENT FACILITY HAS VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.

ARE WE GONNA BE PUTTING AUTO REPAIR ON BARTON CREEK? IS IT GONNA HAVE A HECA? HE HELIPAD? ARE WE GONNA ALLOW A HELICOPTER TO GO INTO GOLDEN CHIEF GORBEL HABITAT? THIS, WE NEED TO MORE INFORMATION.

THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BACKUP FOR US TO EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE CONTEMPLATED AT THIS SITE.

THE BACKUP GIVES THE, UM, UH, I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO GO QUICK BECAUSE I KNOW MIGHT BE THE BUZZ.

UM, THE LAST TOPIC I WANNA RAISE AND I MIGHT HAVE TO GET TO IT.

THE NEXT ITEM.

I WANT MONEY.

THANKS LAVINSKY.

ANYONE ELSE ON ITEM 13? MS. JOSEPH? THANK YOU.

YOU MAYOR.

COUNSEL, I'M OPIA JOSEPH.

MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.

THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE BACKUP, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE TWO OTHER RELATED ITEMS. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT SHOWED $107 MILLION FOR THE

[09:15:01]

APPRAISAL.

I DO RESPECT THAT THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE A BENEFIT TO HAVING FIRE EMS AND THE POLICE TOGETHER.

I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN ANECDOTE TO SAY WHY I DO SUPPORT THAT PART OF THE ITEM THAT'S BEFORE YOU ON FRIDAY, AND THIS IS MY EDUCATOR HAT.

I HAVE A DUTY TO REPORT ANY TIME I WORK WITH STUDENTS.

IT WAS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD THAT EXHIBITED SEXUAL BEHAVIOR THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE IN THE CLASSROOM.

EXPOSED HIMSELF WASN'T THE NORMAL THING THAT YOU WOULD SEE IN A CLASSROOM.

SO I CALLED THREE ONE ONE THREE ONE ONE TOLD ME TO CALL 9 1 1.

NINE ONE ONE SAID THE POLICE WOULD COME.

I WAITED TWO HOURS IN THE PARKING LOT AT HEB HANCOCK.

THE POLICE NEVER CAME.

I WENT BACK, I CALLED THREE ONE ONE THREE ONE ONE TOLD ME TO CALL 9 1 1 9 1 1.

COULDN'T FIND THE REPORT.

I TOLD THE LADY THAT I GAVE MY DESCRIPTION WHAT I WAS WEARING.

COULD SHE PLEASE JUST LOOK BY MY NAME? SHE EVENTUALLY FOUND THE REPORT, SAID THE POLICE CAME AT 1130 AND THAT SHE WOULD SEND THEM AGAIN.

I WENT BACK TO HEB HANCOCK, SAT ON THE, THE BENCH AND WAITED TWO HOURS FOR THE POLICE.

THE POLICE NEVER CAME.

I CALLED 9 1 1 AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS A 5-YEAR-OLD WHO MAY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR BEEN EXPOSED INAPPROPRIATELY.

I FELT IT MY DUTY TO STAY THERE UNTIL THE POLICE CAME.

THE POLICE OFFICER CLOSED THE REPORT BECAUSE HE SAID THAT A 5-YEAR-OLD WAS NOT CULPABLE.

HE NEVER GOT THE FACTS RIGHT.

BUT LATER THAT NIGHT, ABOUT NINE 30, THE FRIEND WHO HAS TAKEN ME IN CAME TO WAKE ME BECAUSE THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER, OFFICER TAYLOR, WHO WAS THERE, WHO TOOK THE REPORT AND WILL SEND IT DOWN TO THE CHILD ABUSE UNIT.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GOOD PEOPLE AND BAD SYSTEMS. YES, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A CENTRALIZED LOCATION SO THAT SOME REPORT LIKE THIS COULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN ONE LOCATION.

BUT THIS COST MAYOR UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

THE $120 MILLION, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS TO TELL US IF YOU LOOKED AT OTHER SITES WHAT THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS.

BUT I DO AT LEAST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

I APPRECIATE OFFICER TAYLOR COMING TO TAKE THAT REPORT.

ONTO ITEM NUMBER 14, DENNIS FERRIS, TANYA PAYNE, NATALIE RESLEY, ROY WHALEY.

BOBBY LAVINSKY HAS TIME DONATED BY LAUREN ROSS.

IF MS. IS MS. ROSS HERE.

I HAVE NOT SEEN DR. ROSS, BOBBY LAVINSKY SAVE SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

I'M GONNA CONTINUE MY THOUGHTS.

SO AGAIN, WHAT MONEY IS THIS ITEM? UH, WHAT, WHAT MONEY IS YOU BEING USED HERE? THIS WASN'T ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUTTING IN, UH, AN ALLOCATION FOR $107 MILLION FROM SOME FUTURE GO BOND.

THE BILL THAT JUST, IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S, IT DEFIES LOGIC AND THE THE VOTERS HAVE NOT VOTED ON A GEO BOND AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD AN ITEM SAYING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE PAYING FOR THIS WITH THE FUTURE GEO BOND.

IN 2018, THERE WAS, UH, $38 MILLION IS ALLOCATED FOR RENOVATIONS FOR FIRE AND EMS STATIONS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS ITEM IS.

SO IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR TO US, WHAT, WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM? ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU'RE INCURRING THE EXPENSES BEFORE YOU HAVE VOTER AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FUNDS? ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU ARE AMENDING THE FISCAL BUDGET WITHOUT REAL MONEY BACKING UP THAT EXPENDITURE? THESE ARE BEING CLOSED AS, UH, THESE ARE BEING POSED AS QUESTIONS BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS ITEM.

THERE'S NO FISCAL ANALYSIS UNLESS THERE IS A $120 MILLION BALLOT INITIATIVE TO APPROVE GEO BONDS THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THIS ACTION IS ANYTHING BUT AN ILLEGAL EXPENDITURE OF, OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

THE ITEM, UH, REQUIRES AN ELECTION.

AND KNOWING HOW LONG IT TAKES TO NEGOTIATE A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION LIKE THIS, IT'S LIKELY BEEN DISCUSSED PRIVATELY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THERE'S AN ELECTION GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

WHY WAS THIS NOT JUST PUT ON THE 20, UH, THE 2024 BALLOT? I AM GONNA GO BACK TO THIS ALSO, THE SITE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY ACCESS.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR FACILITY LIKE THIS, WHY ARE YOU PUTTING ON A SERVICE ROAD WITH A HIGHWAY? THAT ONE DOESN'T REALLY SUPPORT IT.

IT'S, IT GOT LIMITED, UH, ACCESS FROM EAST TO WEST.

THE CLOSEST EAST WEST ACCESS IS THROUGH A REGIONAL PARK, KER PARK, THE NEXT CLOSEST YOU HAVE TO TAKE THREE LEFT TURNS AND CROSS ALL THE WAY ACROSS HIGHWAYS, UH, THE HIGHWAY TO GET OVER TO THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS.

IT REALLY JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AS A FACILITY.

SO WE ARE ASKING YOU DON'T

[09:20:01]

DO THIS.

AT LEAST GIVE SOME DETAILS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

IMPROVE YOUR BACKUP MATERIAL PLEASE.

BECAUSE THIS IS ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE, YOU'RE HAVING THESE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT.

I REMEMBER, UH, A ROBUST DEBATE AT THE END OF, UH, 2022 OVER THE NEED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY OVER THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.

HAD THAT ITEM PASSED, THIS PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

SO PLEASE START WORKING ON TRANSPARENCY SO THAT THE, THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE A BETTER SAY IN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR PUB, THEIR DOLLARS.

THIS IS PROBABLY GONNA BE HEADED TO ANOTHER LAWSUIT AND THAT'S JUST SUCH A SHAME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THIS ANY, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

JUST START WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC, START BEING MORE TRANSPARENT BEFORE MR. WHALEY STARTS SPEAKING.

LET ME ANSWER THE QUESTION.

UH, THE, THE PRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE, THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM, INCLUDING IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, LAID OUT THAT THIS WOULD BE PAID FOR THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, WHICH UNDER TEXAS LAW, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY, ALLOWS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF COS OR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT WOULD BE PAID FOR.

THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL, UH, HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THE PUBLIC BRIEFINGS RELATED TO THIS ITEM, MR. WHALEY, YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE.

GOOD, BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING WHERE THAT MAGIC PIGGY BANK WAS.

WELL, YOU NOW KNOW, WELL, I GUESS I DO.

YOU JUST RATTLE IT AND MONEY COMES OUT.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I CAME DOWN TO SEE WHERE THAT WAS.

WELL, THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE WE JUST, WE LAID IT OUT.

BUT GO AHEAD.

OH, OKAY.

WELL, THANKS.

IT'S GOOD ALWAYS TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH YOU.

UM, I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR ONE THING.

AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS MONEY.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE SPEND THAT WE DON'T HAVE? I WISH I HAD THAT MAGIC PIGGY BANK THAT I COULD RATTLE.

UM, I'M AGAINST THE, THE EXPENDITURE BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THE LOCATION AND I'M AGAINST THE LOCATION FOR MANY REASONS.

I DON'T MENTION THIS VERY OFTEN, BUT I AM A REALTOR AND I KNOW A LOT OF COMMERCIAL REALTORS.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE TITLE BUSINESS.

AND WHAT SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND GET IT FOR HALF THAT PRICE.

OTHERS ARE SAYING THERE ARE ENOUGH PROPERTY CLOSE TO THE CITY HALL AND CLOSE TO THE EXISTING FACILITY THAT IS HAD FOR A SONG RIGHT NOW.

AND AGAIN, WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR BECAUSE REAL ESTATE IS PRETTY MUCH IN THE TANK HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS RIGHT NOW.

THAT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER, BUT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

IF THIS GOES FORWARD, AND I MAY NEED TO SAVE THIS FOR LATER, BUT AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE THE MOST ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

WE SHOULD HAVE OUR SOLAR PANELS ON TOP OF ALL THESE BUILDINGS.

WE SHOULD HAVE STORAGE.

WE SHOULD HAVE PURPLE PIPE, UH, REUSED RAINWATER COLLECTION, REDO THE LANDSCAPING, MAKE IT ALL ZEROSCAPING.

I SO APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL BEING RIVETED BY WHAT I HAVE TO SAY OR WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING ONLINE RIGHT NOW.

I DO HOPE THAT YOU'LL LISTEN WHEN WE COME BACK TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS LATER.

IT'S THE WRONG LOCATION ON SO MANY LEVELS.

BOBBY LAID IT OUT SO WELL.

IT WE SPENT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SAYING STAY OFF OF THE AQUIFER, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SAYING, NOW WE'RE GOING TO IGNORE WHAT WE'VE DONE AND PUT IT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE RECHARGE AREA.

THERE IT IS.

IT IS.

WE'RE ALL HYPOCRITICAL.

I'M A HYPOCRITE.

WE'RE ALL HYPOCRITES.

IT'S ONE THING WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON, BUT THIS IS GROWTH HYPOCRISY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY ON THIS LOCATION.

IT'S NOT, IF IT'S BEEN FOR NINE YEARS, IT'S STILL NOT AN EMERGENCY.

SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

ON US ON THE ACQUISITION OF FACILITIES LIKE THIS.

FOR ITEM 26, DENNIS FERRIS, ROY WHALEY.

TANYA PAYNE.

NOW THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT, COME ON, MR. WHALEY.

BOBBY LAVINSKY.

BOBBY GO FIRST.

BOBBY LEVINSKY SAVED SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

I APPRECIATE THE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT IT'S GONNA BE FROM CO BONDS.

IT'S STILL FUNNY MONEY.

UM, YOUR BACKUP SAYS IT'S GONNA BE FOR GEO BONDS.

JUST TO CLARIFY FOR YOU, THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC VOTE

[09:25:01]

I'LL READ IT FOR YOU.

THE CITY SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO BORROW MONEY ON THE CREDIT OF THE CITY AND TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR PERMANENT AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND FOR ANY OTHER PUBLIC PERSONS NOW ARE HEREAFTER PROHIBITED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, EXCEPT FOR THE REFUNDING OF BONDS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED.

ANY PROPOSITION TO BORROW MONEY AND TO ISSUE SUCH BONDS SHALL HAVE BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED VOTERS VOTING ON AN ELECTION CALLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH INDEBTEDNESS.

YOU WILL NOT FIND ANY CASE LAW THAT SAYS THAT OTHERWISE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ARGUMENT FROM AN OLD CITY ATTORNEY THAT SAID THAT, UH, IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A, UM, UH, A, A NON-BINDING REFERENDUM IF YOU PUT IT UP TO THE VOTES.

THE CHARTER DOES NOT GIVE THE COUNCIL THE OPTION TO NOT PUT IT UP FOR THE VOTES.

THAT, UH, IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE CITY CHARTER.

THE STATE LAW DOES NOT CLEARLY PREEMPT YOU ON THIS EITHER.

UH, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FOR A PUBLIC VOTE.

THANK YOU, ROY.

AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY.

UM, BUT BY GOLLY, I SURE DO RESPECT THE ONES THAT WE HAVE.

AND I HAVE READ SOME OF THE LAW ON THIS.

AND LIKE I SAY, I COUNT ON THE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS PROFESSIONALLY TO SAY WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I AGREE WITH WHAT BOBBY JUST SAID, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THAT KIM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER.

SHE SAYS THAT THE SEARCH HAS BEEN DONE.

I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT, LIKE I SAY, I DON'T LIKE BEING CYNICAL, BUT THERE, THERE, WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF HERE, THERE ARE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ABOUT TO GO BELLY UP THAT THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE LOOKING AT FOR THESE FACILITIES.

WE NEED TO HAVE IT ALL IN ONE LOCATION, BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE ALL IN ONE AREA AND NOT ON TOP OF THE AQUIFER AND AT A CHEAPER PRICE.

I MEAN, THIS IS PRETTY BASIC.

WE DON'T HAVE, AND AND KIM DID SAY THEY NEGOTIATED DOWN SOME PRICE ON THIS.

IT'S GONNA GO LOWER WEIGHT.

WAIT, WAIT.

IF WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AS THEY SAID IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR NINE YEARS, WE'VE KNOWN THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

WHY HAVEN'T WE DONE SOMETHING BEFORE? NOW IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY NOW, WHY IS IT EMERGENCY? AFTER NINE YEARS, WE CAN WAIT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER GET A BETTER DEAL.

IF WE WAITED NINE YEARS, WE CAN WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND GET A BETTER DEAL.

PLEASE DO THAT.

I REALLY COUNT ON Y'ALL TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

I'M NOT ANTI-COP.

I'VE GOT TWO FIREFIGHTERS IN MY FAMILY.

THANK GOD FOR EMS. BUT THIS IS JUST THE WRONG LOCATION.

HOPEFULLY, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND DO THIS, YOU CAN MAKE IT THE GREENEST FACILITY IN AUSTIN.

IT WILL STILL BE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

BUT YOU CAN MITIGATE THAT WITH THE SOLAR, WITH THE PURPLE PIPE, WITH RAINWATER COLLECTION, WITH CHANGING THE LANDSCAPING, WITH CHANGING THE, THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF WITH THE SWELLS TO DIVER WATER AWAY FROM BARTON CREEK WHERE WE HAVE SPENT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF TIME PRESERVING BARTON SPRINGS AND BARTON CREEK.

IT IS SO HYPOCRITICAL TO, FOR THE CITY TO SAY WE'RE DOING THIS AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT FOLKS.

LET'S TAKE OUR TIME.

LET'S, LET'S, NINE YEARS IS A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GO BACK.

AS MY DAD, MY OLD PAPA USED TO TELL ME, NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU'VE GONE DOWN THE ROAD, TURN AROUND AND GO BACK WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO GO ON.

THE NEXT, UM, MR. MR. MAYER.

I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE SYSTEM IS NOT SHOWING.

I SIGNED UP ON THE EARLIER ONES.

I WAS CALLED I'M, IT'S SHOWING ME SIGNED UP ON THE OTHERS.

UH, I'D LIKE A RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

TRY TO KEEP A RECORD OF HAS HE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NO, SIR.

HE IS NOT.

ALRIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MR. MU.

I'M SORRY, BUT WE WE HAVE NO WAY OF THE SAME TIME I DID THE OTHER ONES.

I DUNNO WHY IT'S NOT SHOWING.

I DON'T EITHER.

IF IF YOU DID, THEN I DON'T KNOW EITHER.

BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO GO ON IS, IS WHEN YOU SIGN UP AND IF IT SHOWED YOU SIGNING UP ON OTHER ONES, YOU WOULD THINK IT SHOWED YOU UP SIGNING UP ON THESE IF IN FACT YOU DID.

SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA LEMME SPEAK.

NO SIR.

'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT SIGNED UP ON IT.

ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS.

[09:30:01]

ENOVIA JOSEPH IS REGISTERED FOR ITEMS 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 AND 33.

IS MS. JOSEPH HERE? MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU STILL HERE? MS. JOSEPH ANOVIA JOSEPH FOR ITEM 34.

RICHARD, WE THANK YOU.

35 GIDA RAY, NOT A CONFLICT.

PLEASE COME FORWARD MS. PUTMAN.

SO SORRY, .

YEAH, I WAS DRESSED EARLIER THIS MORNING, BUT I WENT AWAKE BECAUSE, UM, BUT I AM KELSEY PUTNAM.

I AM JUSTIN PUTNAM'S LITTLE SISTER.

AND I JUST WANNA START OFF, THIS IS SUCH AN HONOR.

UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO SAY HOW TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED MY BROTHER JUSTIN WOULD BE.

HE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY BACK WHEN HE WAS AN AR, A ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENT.

JUSTIN CREDITED A LOT OF WHO HE WAS TO WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.

MANY TEACHERS, COACHES, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS SHAPED JUSTIN INTO WHO HE BECAME AS A POLICE OFFICER.

AND HUMAN.

JUSTIN HAD AN IMPACT ON SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SOME WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW UNTIL AFTER HE PASSED.

HAVING A STREET NAMED AFTER HIM AND THE PLACE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED, THE PLACE THAT SHAPED HIM INTO THE HUMAN HE WAS, WOULD BE SUCH AN HONOR AND AN AMAZING WAY TO KEEP HIS MEMORY AND LEGACY ALIVE.

I BELIEVE JUSTIN HAD CHARACTERISTICS THAT EVERY PERSON SHOULD STRIVE TO EMBODY.

HE WAS THE GUY WHO WOULD ENSURE EVERYONE IN THE ROOM FELT INCLUDED AND LIKE YOU WERE HIS BEST FRIEND TO HAVE.

HIS NAME WOULD BE SO INFLUENTIAL TO ALL STUDENTS AND PEOPLE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND JUSTIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY IN HELPING US KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

I RESPECT DR. VALENZUELA.

AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

YOU WERE CALLED ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH.

DON'T WORRY, MAYOR, I'M NOT SPEAKING ON ALL THE ITEMS. I'LL DO A THEMATIC FOR YOU, .

FAIR ENOUGH.

SO 28 THROUGH 33, THEY'RE ALL SPECIFICALLY ARE TH THROUGH 32 ARE ALL THE RAPID REHOUSING ITEMS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY BROADLY THAT DAVID GRAY, YOUR HOMELESS, UH, STRATEGY OFFICER ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY.

SO MY OPPOSITION TO ALL OF THESE ITEMS IS TO ASK INSTEAD THAT YOU HAVE SOME TYPE OF MORATORIUM ON THE RAPID REHOUSING AND TO ACTUALLY FIND BEST PRACTICES.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE SPECIFICALLY HE MADE THESE COMMENTS SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2024, UH, DURING THE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING.

AND SO THOSE MEMBERS, IF NOBODY ELSE, UH, SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THIS IF YOU DO DECIDE TO GO FORWARD, BUT HE ALSO MENTIONED IT'S APPROXIMATELY $35,000 THAT YOU'RE USING TO REHOUSE THE INDIVIDUALS.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS IN ORDER TO BE ON THAT LIST TO GET THE RAPID REHOUSING.

AND THEN THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PLACED IN THE HOTELS, BUT ONCE THAT TIME PERIOD IS UP, THEY'RE NOT MOVING INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE SITES AND TO LOOK ONCE AGAIN FOR SITES THAT ARE IN WEST AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY TO REMIND YOU THAT THE BUSES RUN FREQUENTLY SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST AND TO, UH, CONVICT HILL.

THEY, IT'S ONLY 2.9 BOARDINGS AN HOUR.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE ELLIS HAS IGNORED THAT FACT.

IT'S IN A WATERSHED RESTRICTED AREA, SO IT'S NEVER GOING TO GROW RIDERSHIP.

SO THERE ARE BETTER EFFICIENCIES AND BETTER USES OF THE RESOURCES.

AND SO THAT'S ALL I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY IS JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT BEFORE YOU INVEST MORE MONIES IN IT.

AS IT RELATES TO THE ITEM THAT'S BEFORE YOU, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE ITEM 33 AS TO FUND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS.

SO I'VE JUST PUT UP ON THE SCREEN AN EFFECTIVE FIVE YEAR OLD'S WRITING TO ASK THAT YOU USE SOME PARODY HERE.

SO MY COMMENTS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THIS WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT, THE HISPANICS WERE PREDOMINANTLY TALKING ABOUT WORK THAT WOULD BE DONE IN THE FACILITIES AND THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE

[09:35:01]

ANY TIES TO THE FUNDING.

AND IF YOU FAST FORWARD FROM 2014 TO 2018, THERE WAS STILL NO FUNDING FROM THE CITY.

IT WAS JUST THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE MAC, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER THAT WAS USING THE SPACE.

SO THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

THERE IS NO DOLLAR FIGURE IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT DR. ANGELA VALENZUELA ACTUALLY REQUESTED $550,000 WHEN SHE TESTIFIED AUGUST 1ST, 2023.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROFESSORS I HAD IN A PHD CLASS THERE.

BUT THIS FUNDING ISN'T PARODY BECAUSE THERE'S NO FUNDING EARMARKED FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT FAIL THE MOST.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE MORE DETAILS.

SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY IS BEING ASKED TO FUND.

YOU'RE NOT ONLY COORDINATING, BUT YOU'RE PLANNING WITH A ISD AND YOU'RE FUNDING THE FIELD TRIPS, THE MATERIALS, ALL THE FOOD, THE SATURDAY SCHOOL TWO INTERNS AND THE PART-TIME PERSON OR TWO PEOPLE FOR THE SUMMER SCHOOL.

AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR MONIES FOR A FIVE YEAR, ONE YEAR EXTENSION.

BUT IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS, IT SAYS THAT THERE'S NO FISCAL NOTE.

SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE RENEWAL IS.

IF IT'S JUST FOR FACILITIES, THEN WHY WOULD THEY BE ASKING FOR THIS RENEWAL FOR FIVE YEAR? SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND TO GET THE DOLLAR FIGURE IF THERE IS ONE.

I CAN ONLY GO BACK IN THE HISTORY AND KNOW THAT IT WAS $550,000 THAT WAS ASKED.

NEXT SLIDE.

I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE SPECIFICALLY THERE'S A $826,000 CONTRACT THAT'S ACTUALLY THERE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR OR STUDENTS OF COLOR.

UM, I THINK THIS CONTRACT IS ACTUALLY PROBLEMATIC.

IT'S THROUGH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT'S FOR LIFE ANEW RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

AND SO MY REQUEST IS SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU TO FUND EDUCATORS WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND I WILL JUST BE THE CHANGE THAT I WANT TO SEE.

YOU CAN PAY ME , I'LL DO THE SOLE SOURCE NO BID CONTRACT UNDER $50,000 AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK WITH BLACK STUDENTS.

I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD AND YOU CAN LOOK UP MY RESEARCH IN HARVARD JOURNAL OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT THE I 35 DIVIDE CONUNDRUM.

CAN A TRUE COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP, GRANT AUSTIN'S K 12 GIFTED TALENTED AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES ACCESS TO COLLEGE.

THAT'S THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE OUTSIDE OF POLICY AND COMING BEFORE YOU.

SO, UM, I WOULD GLADLY WORK WITH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SPECIFICALLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LOTS OF MONEY FOR THE POLICE TODAY, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY THE RE-IMAGINING POLICE MONEY.

AND SO IT'S SOMEWHAT PROBLEMATIC ABOUT HOW THAT GOT FUNDED.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE REQUESTED A MILLION DOLLARS FOR BLACK LITERACY AND THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT FUNDING FOR THAT PURPOSE.

AND IF YOU CAN FIND THE MONIES FOR THE POLICE, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIND MONEY FOR BLACK STUDENTS FOR LITERACY TOO.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, MAYOR, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GOLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU MS. JOSEPH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

FOR ITEM NUMBER 45, WE'LL GO, WE'LL TAKE REMOTE SPEAKERS.

THERESA EBNER.

THERESA, PLEASE UNMUTE.

GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, MY NAME IS THERESA EBNER AND I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND THE COMPANY I REFER, I, UM, WORK FOR OWN THE MANAGES 16 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.

I AM SPEAKING TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM NUMBER 45, THE RESOLUTION THAT WOULD INITIATE AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING PROPERTY MANAGERS TO DISCLOSE ALL FEES AT THIS TIME.

I MEAN, AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION TO A TENANT TENANT AS PROPERTY MANAGERS, WE HAVE PRIORITIZED TRANSPARENCY IN THE LEASING PROCESS WITH THE GOAL THAT THE RENTERS ARE FULLY INFORMED ABOUT TOTAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR RENTAL AGREEMENTS AT THE TIME THEY LEASE.

THIS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR BUSINESS AND OUR RENTERS SO THAT THEY CAN QUAL HAVE A QU CAN QUALIFY TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT PRACTICAL CHALLENGES AROUND DISCLOSURE OF FEES AND OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE AT TIME OF APPLICATION AND IN ADVERTISING.

RENTAL HOUSING FEES ARE FOR SERVICES.

OUR RESIDENTS AND PROPERTIES RECEIVE AND ARE LARGELY FROM THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS LIKE TRASH SERVICE, PEST CONTROL, AND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS.

IT IS STANDARD PRACTICE IN INDUSTRY TO OFFER GENERAL COST SUMMARIES, BUT REALTIME FEES CAN FLUCTUATE DUE TO THE CHANGE

[09:40:01]

IN THE THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS.

REGULATING ADVERTISING IN THE CONTENTS CAN CREATE COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES DUE TO THE FLUCTUATION .

EXACT FEES IN ADS COULD LEAD TO DISCREPANCIES AND POTENTIAL LIABILITIES AND ADVERTISED FEES DIFFER FROM ACTUAL COSTS AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.

AGAIN, THESE CHALLENGES AND FEES ARE OFTEN BEYOND THE CONTROL OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND CAN VERY FREQUENTLY MAKE STRICT ADVERTISING REG REGULATIONS IMPRACTICAL AND BURDENSOME.

ADDITIONALLY, PURSUING AN ARGUMENT ON FEE DISCLOSURE TO UNINTENTIONALLY LEAD TO MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS IN THE FUTURE, THE WORD UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASES LIABILITY LIABILITIES, IN OTHER WORDS, COSTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY IMPACT RENTERS.

WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO FINDING BALANCED SOLUTIONS THAT SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF BOTH THE RENTERS AND THE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN AUSTIN.

NOT ONLY THE FEDERAL LAW, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN.

NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY BLAIR.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, EMILY BLAIR, AGAIN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND IN OPPOSITION ALSO TO ITEM 45.

I JUST WANTED TO RAISE A FEW POINTS ON THIS ITEM AND I'LL TRY AND MAKE IT BRIEF.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

UH, SO FIRST A COUPLE OF CONCERNS.

UM, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION HAS PRIORITIZED TRANSPARENCY IN THE LEASING PROCESS WITH THE INTENT THAT TENANTS ARE FULLY INFORMED ABOUT CONTRACTED COST.

AND IN FACT, HUD HAS RECOGNIZED THE TEXAS APARTMENT ASSOCIATION LEASE AS A MODEL APPROACH FOR TRANSPARENCY OF RENTAL FEES AND FEES DUE UNDER THE LEASE.

AND THAT LEASE HAS BECOME THE INDUSTRY STANDARD AS OF 2022.

UM, SECONDLY, THE RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE TO MANDATE FEE DISCLOSURES WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL LIABILITY ISSUES, WHICH YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT, AND THEY'RE PARTICULARLY HARMFUL TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OPERATIONS.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, THE RESOLUTION CALLS OUT STATE LEGISLATION THAT SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TICKET OR COMPANIES SUCH AS TICKETMASTER AND TRANSACTIONS SUCH AS A CONCERT TICKET PURCHASE.

AND COMPARING THESE INDUSTRIES FRANKLY, IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

UM, RENTING A HOME IS A LONG-TERM CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT, UNLIKE A ONE-TIME TICKET PER PURCHASE.

SO THESE TWO SITU SITUATIONS SIMPLY DO NOT CORRELATE.

LASTLY, THE RESOLUTION, UM, MAY RESULT IN A CITY ORDINANCE ON FEE DISCLOSURES THAT IS POTENTIALLY IN CONFLICT WITH TEXAS STATE LAW.

SO WE URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION AND THAT AS WAS MENTIONED, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS IF THAT TRANSPIRES.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION ON THIS.

GOING TO ITEM 45, XENOBI JOSEPH.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, THERE'S JUST ONE SLIDE.

I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M NEUTRAL ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT GOES FAR ENOUGH.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE, UH, IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACK, I'VE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE BRIDGE AT HERITAGE WOODS.

THAT'S A HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROPERTY.

AND YOU MIGHT THINK OF HAKA AND PUBLIC HOUSING, AND THAT IS TRUE, BUT THEY HAVE AN UMBRELLA, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY THEIR AUSTIN, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORPORATION.

THEY'VE DONE 19 DEALS WITH BELRON, SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S AN INVESTOR FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

SO YOU MIGHT THINK IT WOULD BE EASY ENOUGH TO MOVE IN HERE.

I ACTUALLY HAD A NONPROFIT SAY I WE WILL PAY THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT, BUT WHAT'S NOT DISCLOSED IS HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO EARN IN ORDER TO LIVE AT THESE PROPERTIES.

SO YOU HAVE TO EARN 2.5, TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE RENT.

SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE ORDINANCE WHEN YOU GO FORWARD TO ACTUALLY REQUIRE THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY STIPULATED.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE FEES THAT ARE ON THE LEFT SIDE, THERE ARE ONE TIME FEES.

YOU'RE GOING TO END UP PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS JUST TO MOVE INTO THE PROPERTY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ABOUT $40 THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY ON A RECURRING BASIS.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY A PROPERTY THAT'S IN DISTRICT SEVEN ON NORTH LAMAR, BUT IT'S CALLED SILICON HILL FOR BRANDING PURPOSES.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACK, THERE'S ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY A REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AND HEATHER WAY IS THE SAME.

ARTHUR FROM THE UT LAW SCHOOL THAT DID THE UPROOTED STUDY, HER STUDENTS HAVE DONE A REPORT, IT'S CALLED JUNK FEES, IS WHAT THEY CALL IT.

THESE ARE REALLY JUST HIDDEN FEES.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THAT THERE'S BEEN A LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED BY MERRI GARLAND.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY EIGHT STATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY THERE.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT LINES 10 TO 15, I WOULD ASK YOU TO INCLUDE

[09:45:01]

I WOULD ASK YOU TO INCLUDE THIS LAWSUIT AND TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SPECIFICALLY.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THESE JUNK FEES ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN AUSTIN.

AND I THINK YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THE, THAT, SURE, THE LANDLORDS DON'T WANT THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT WAS THE TEXAS APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF COUNCIL THAT THEY HIRED TO FIGHT AGAINST ME.

SO YES, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE HAVING THE SAME VIEWS AS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM WHO LIVE IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS.

AND LASTLY, I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS THE STANDARD FOR THESE BELRON DEALS.

AND YOU HAVE TO EARN $70,000 PLUS IN ORDER TO LIVE THERE.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE TENANTS TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE RENT WILL BE PLUS THE FEES, AND IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO OPT IN AND OUT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL BECAUSE USUALLY THESE RECURRING FEES ARE SOMETHING THAT YOU, YOU CAN'T OPT OUT OF.

AND LASTLY, I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY REQUIRES $300,000 WORTH OF RENTAL INSURANCE.

SO YOU MAY WANNA TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE STIPULATING BECAUSE IN MY CASE, MY ITEMS WENT TO THE LANDFILL, SO I DON'T NEED $300,000, BUT IF I WANTED TO LIVE THAT, I'D HAVE TO GET THAT INSURANCE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, MAYOR.

YOU TOO.

ITEM 84, SUSAN SPATARO, AND SHE HAS TIME DONATED BY SHARON BLYTHE.

I DON'T SEE EITHER ONE OF THEM.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.

UM, BEFORE WE GO TO DISCUSSION, LEMME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

I WANTED TO JUST, UM, INVITE MR. BUNCH TO SPEAK FOR HIS THREE MINUTES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT IT'S IN A CRAZY DAY.

UM, SO THAT OBJECTION WILL ALLOW MR. BUNCH TO SPEAK.

WELL, IT JUST TO PLEASE YOU, MR. WHALE .

PLEASE STEP BACK AND DO THIS.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS ALTER, UH, MAYOR WATSON, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.

UH, I'LL SAY A FEW THINGS THAT I SAID AT THE, UH, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHERE THE, YOU ACTUALLY HAD MORE BACKUP THAN WAS POSTED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE REST OF THE COUNCIL DIDN'T GET THAT.

UM, AND WHERE THERE WAS NO MOTION MADE TO RECOMMEND THIS TO YOU.

UM, NO COUNCIL BEFORE THIS ONE WOULD EVER DREAM OF BUYING BIG OFFICE BUILDINGS ON THE BARTON SPRINGS RECHARGE ZONE JUST WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

BE LIKE INCONCEIVABLE.

UH, AND IT SHOULD BE FOR YOU TOO, UH, FOR THAT REASON ALONE.

BUT TO ELABORATE ON MR. LACI'S POINT THERE, THIS IS ALMOST THE, THE LEAST ACCESSIBLE SITE YOU COULD FIND IN THE ENTIRE CITY.

THE BARTON CREEK GREENBELT COMPLETELY ISOLATES THIS STRETCH OF MOPAC, THE EAST SIDE OF MOPAC BETWEEN 360 AND, UH, BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.

I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS IS A GOOD PLACE FOR ONE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, MUCH LESS ALL THREE OF THEM.

UH, BUT THE MOST OFFENSIVE THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING, ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM, AND YOUR BACKUP CONFIRMS THIS.

THERE WAS NO COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON THIS.

WE HAVE LIKE 3 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF EMPTY OFFICE BUILDING IN THIS CITY.

THE, THE MARKET'S TANKING AND IT'S GONNA KEEP TANKING FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO.

THERE SHOULD BE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL SO THAT YOU CAN FIND A PLACE THAT'S BETTER LOCATED FOR ONE AND THAT'S A BETTER DEAL FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

UH, BUT AGAIN, THE MOST OFFENSIVE THING HERE IS STEP ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE CITY TO MAP WHERE YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EXPECTED TO WORK IN THIS FACILITY ACTUALLY LIVE.

AND LOOK AT THAT AND CALCULATE WHAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ASKING TO WORK IN THIS FACILITY.

AND I BET YOU FIVE BUCKS IF YOU HAD THAT MAP HERE, ALMOST NONE OF THOSE DOTS SHOWING WHERE YOUR PEOPLE LIVE THAT YOU WANT TO WORK HERE LIVE SOUTHWEST, THEY LIVE ON THE I 35 CORRIDOR, OR THEY LIVE EAST OF I 35.

SO YOU'RE CREATING A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON MOPAC ALREADY, YOUR CONSTITUENTS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, THIS IS, THIS IS INSANE.

IT'S BRAIN DEAD.

YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND FIND A LOCATION THAT WORKS FOR YOUR PEOPLE THAT PROTECTS THE BARTON SPRINGS EDWARDS AQUIFER.

AND, UM, THAT IS NOT ISOLATED.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT YOURSELVES IN THE MIRROR AND SAY YOU SUPPORT DENSE, WALKABLE.

THIS IS THE MOST UN WALKABLE PLACE YOU CAN IMAGINE.

[09:50:01]

RIGHT.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UM, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I'M GONNA CALL FOR DISCUSSION.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.

I I HAVE A QUESTION OF STAFF.

COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER.

I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEONE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, QUICK QUESTION ABOUT ITEM 34.

JUST A, AND THIS IS THE UMOFF.

UM, I'M JUST SAY MASTER PLAN.

IT HAS A, A FANCIER NAME, BUT MAZE OR PACMAN DID YOU SAY? YEAH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

CAN MCKNIGHT WITH THE AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF IT IS THE PARK DE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S INTENTION TO INCLUDE THIS PLAN AS PART OF THE REQUEST, UH, TO THE BOND ADVISORY TASK FORCE SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO SEE THIS EFFECTUATED.

IT IS.

SO PARKS AND RECREATION IS DEVELOPING OUR ROLLING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND PHASE ONE WILL BE IN THE, IN THE LIST, UM, THAT WILL BE PRIORITIZED.

THAT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY.

SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHERE IT WILL FALL IN THAT PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT AS WELL.

SO I EXPECT THERE'LL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

WELL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE DEPARTMENT TO PUSH IT FORWARD AS PART OF THAT REQUEST.

I THINK FROM THE FLOODING PERSPECTIVE ALONE, YOU, THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS IN NEED OF SOME UPGRADES, ACCESSIBILITY AND OTHERWISE.

AND SO I REALLY LOVE WHAT THIS PLAN IS GONNA DO AND, AND HOPE TO SEE THE FUNDS PUT BEHIND IT TO, TO MAKE IT A REALITY.

SUSTAINABILITY IS, IS ONE OF THE FACTORS AND, AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE AS WELL AS EQUITY AND OTHER ISSUES.

SO I IMAGINE THAT IT'LL SCORE QUITE HIGH THERE.

FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA CA, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

PURCHASE AND I WANNA THANK OUR STAFF, UM, KIM OLIVAR IN PARTICULAR FOR THE CAREFUL ATTENTION THAT YOU PAID TO PULLING THIS WHOLE REAL ESTATE SITUATION TOGETHER.

UM, AS NOTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, I HAVE DIRECTION TO ADD TO ITEM 26.

SO FOR THE RECORD, I WAS JUST GONNA, UM, SHARE THAT THIS RELATES TO ITEMS 13 AND 14 AND SURROUNDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIVE CAMPUS.

UM, THE DIRECTION WAS DISTRIBUTED, AND I OFFER IT ON ENT AS FOLLOWS.

UM, ONE, THE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE FACILITY TO BE ACQUIRED FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SOLAR INSTALLATION, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, RESILIENCE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

TWO, THE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO ASSESS WHICH IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING CITY FA FACILITIES AND ASSOCIATED COSTS COULD BE AVOIDED DUE TO THIS PURCHASE AND TO PRIORITIZE THOSE SAVINGS TOWARDS IMPROVEMENTS AT OTHER CITY FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF CITY CLIMATE GOALS.

SO CURRENTLY, UM, ALL THREE OF THESE, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS ARE HOUSED IN FACILITIES THAT ARE IN DEEP NEED OF REPAIR, THAT WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO KEEP THEM UP TO DATE OR WE SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY IF THEY'RE GONNA, PEOPLE ARE GONNA STAY THERE AND THAT MONEY WILL BE SAVED AND WE WANT THAT TO BE REINVESTED IN OTHER BUILDINGS, UM, FOR CITY CLIMATE GOALS.

AND, UM, FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE JUST TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN FOR THIS BUILDING.

IT'S PRIME FOR SOLAR.

AND THERE ARE OTHER, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE THINK COULD BE, UM, DEPLOYED IN THIS, IN THIS AREA.

MEMBERS.

UM, SO THAT WE HAVE CLARITY ON THE MOTION, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE THAT AS A MOTION TO AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT APPLIES TO ITEM NUMBER 26.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, THE VOTE WILL BE, I'M GONNA CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE CONSENT AGENDA TO ITEM NUMBER 26.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER? YEAH, I I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS DIRECTION INCLUDED ON HERE AND, AND I, I RESPECT THE, THE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, THE CONCERNS HERE TO, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, SOMEONE IS GOING TO OCCUPY THIS OFFICE BUILDING.

IT EXISTS TODAY.

AND SO BY THE CITY OWNING THIS IN AN AREA THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND DEPLOYING THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT IS RAINWATER CAPTURE OR OTHER THINGS TO HELP PROTECT ANY KIND OF RUNOFF OR HARM TO THE CREEK, WE ARE ABLE TO BETTER ENSURE THAT HAPPENING THAN SOME THIRD PARTY WHO DOESN'T HAVE, UH, THAT INTEREST OR REALLY, UM, DEMAND FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO I, I THINK IT, IT WITH, WITH THIS DIRECTION MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN ALLISON ALTER'S DIRECTION.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND MAYOR PRO TEM.

I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS

[09:55:01]

I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES HAVING A REALLY GREAT PLACE, UH, TO WORK FROM.

NOT ALL OF THEM WILL BE LOCATED IN THIS SITE, OBVIOUSLY.

UM, BUT WHAT A GREAT WIN FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE, FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.

THANKS MAYOR.

COMMENT TIME.

IT IS COMMENT TIME ON THE MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MOTION TO AMEND IS ADOPTED.

SO WE'RE BACK NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED BY, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 26.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE YOU FOR DISCUSSION.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AFTER THAT.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

I AUTHORED AND BROUGHT FORWARD ITEM 44 TODAY, WHICH SEEKS TO HONORABLY RENAME A PORTION OF MELLOW MEADOW DRIVE BETWEEN HIGH MEADOW AND LAKE CREEK PARKWAY IN DISTRICT SIX IN HONOR OF OFFICER JUSTIN PUTNAM.

THIS PROPOSAL HOLDS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME, AS IN 2005, I GRADUATED FROM WESTWARD HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME AS JUSTIN PUTNAM BEFORE HE FOUND HIS LIFELONG CALLING AS A POLICE OFFICER AT THE SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

JUSTIN WASN'T JUST A FELLOW STUDENT, HE WAS A FRIEND TO MANY.

HE GRADUATED IN 2007 THE SAME YEAR AS MY YOUNGER SISTER.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HE PURSUED HIS CALLING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVING WITH BRAVERY AND INTEGRITY WITH THE SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2020.

JUSTIN TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE WHILE RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL, AN ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT DEEPLY IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY.

EARLIER TODAY, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE JUSTIN'S FAMILY PRESENT, INCLUDING HIS SIBLINGS AND MANY FRIENDS WHO ACTIVELY UPHOLD HIS LEGACY, DEMONSTRATING THEIR COMMITMENT TO A CAUSE THAT REFLECTS HIS VALUES.

SOME OF THEM WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM, BUT WERE UNABLE.

THANK YOU TO HIS SISTER KELSEY, WHO CAME BACK TODAY AND SPOKE WITH US.

THIS HONORARY STREET DESIGNATION IS A SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL WAY TO ENSURE JUSTIN'S LEGACY LIVES ON, NOT JUST IN OUR HEARTS, BUT IN THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE GREW UP.

I BELIEVE THIS GESTURE WILL REMIND THE COMMUNITY DAILY OF JUSTIN'S COURAGE, SELFLESSNESS, AND DEDICATION TO SERVING OTHERS.

I WANNA EXTEND GRATITUDE TO MY CO-SPONSORS, TO JUSTIN'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TO KELSEY FOR COMING BACK AND NOT GIVING UP.

AND TO BEN ABEL AND, AND JUSTIN'S FRIENDS FOR THE STRONG SUGGESTION TO ME BY HIS CLASSMATES ASKING FOR MY SUPPORT AND TRUST TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

AN HONORARY RENAMING OF THE STREET RIGHT OUTSIDE THE HIGH SCHOOL IN DISTRICT SIX, WHERE JUSTIN SHARED COUNTLESS MEMORIES IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN HERO.

AND I HOPE IT BRINGS SOME MEASURE OF COMFORT TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, HIS FIANCE, AND ALL THOSE HE TOUCHED THROUGHOUT HIS SERVICE.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS ITEMS. I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE GETTING THESE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TODAY TO GET THESE, UM, THIS NEW STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY IT BETTER THAN THE MAYOR DID DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT I THINK YOU CALLED THE EXISTING FACILITIES DIRT.

I'M NOT SURE IF I'VE HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE, BUT I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE TO USE IT IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

UM, HOPEFULLY NOT TOO OFTEN, BUT THIS, THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING PURCHASED, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY READ LIKE FOUR BUILDINGS AND I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOMETHING THIS CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, UM, IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THIS AREA.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SAFETY TOP BRASS THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

I WON'T OUT YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF FOLKS THAT I'VE MET WITH OVER THE YEARS THAT THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE VERY PROXIMATE TO THEIR HOMES.

IT IS AN EXISTING OFFICE BUILDING.

IT IS ALREADY BUILT.

UM, IT DOES NEED TO BE RETROFITTED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICES, UM, AS ANY NEW TENANT WOULD HAVE TO DO.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN ROUTINELY WHEN PEOPLE MOVE INTO NEW BUILDINGS.

UM, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS INTO DISTRICT EIGHT.

UM, I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I WANNA SEE IT, UH, IF AND WHEN IT'S COMPLETE AND MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I'LL GIVE PEOPLE MY TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF THIS AREA.

UM, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE IMAGINE AUSTIN CENTER THAT IS THE BARTON CREEK SQUARE MALL.

UM, IT IS IN MY BACKYARD AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT'S GONNA SERVE, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE DEPARTMENTS REALLY, REALLY WELL IN THE FUTURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.

PRETTY SIGNIFICANT WAY, OUR LOCAL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP, SOLAR AND ONSITE BATTERY STORAGE FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS AND THE FINANCIAL SAVINGS AND ENERGY RESILIENCE THAT THAT WILL PROVIDE.

I WANNA JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK TO ITEM TWO AND CONGRATULATE AUSTIN ENERGY AS A COALITION RECIPIENT OF THIS EPA GRANT.

THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE GONNA EXPAND IN A

[10:00:01]

I'M ALSO VERY PLEASED THAT AUSTIN ENERGY RECOGNIZES THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT SOLAR FOR ALL PROVIDES.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT AUSTIN ENERGY AND OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT COME UP WITH THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AND, AND REALLY, UM, HELP SUPPORT WORKFORCE TRAINING IN THESE GREEN JOBS.

UM, I REALLY DO SEE THIS AS A GOOD FIT FOR THOSE OTHER, UM, PRIORITIES AND I THINK THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO GET, GET THIS WORK DONE.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE WORK OF, UH, KIM OLIVAREZ AND HER TEAM, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS.

UM, I'VE BEEN CHAIR OF AUDIT AND FINANCE AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE FACILITY STRATEGIC PLAN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS.

WE HAD TALKED, UM, ABOUT SEVERAL CITY LOCATIONS AND WHETHER WE COULD MAKE IT WORK TO DEVELOP THOSE.

UM, BECAUSE WE WILL BE MOVING FROM THREE LOCATIONS OR SEVERAL LOCATIONS TO THIS ONE, WE WILL BE ABLE THEN TO REDEVELOP THOSE LOCATIONS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING POTENTIALLY INTO OUR SYSTEM DEPENDING ON HOW WE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD.

IF THERE ARE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, THE, WHETHER THERE IS SOME RETROFITTING, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS NOT A MAJOR RENOVATION AND THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY MUCH MORE COSTLY TO BUILD THIS ON ANY OF OUR EXISTING SITES.

UM, AND I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS WHERE THEY HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALREADY, UM, AN EXISTING SET OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN VERY, VERY GOOD SHAPE.

UM, SO I'M PLEASED ALSO TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

JUST BITE MY PHONE TELLING ME I'M SHOULD BE GETTING READY FOR BED RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA TAKE 10 SECONDS.

, UH, JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, CADRE, VELA AND VELAZQUEZ AND, AND THE REST OF THE DIOCESE SUPPORTING ITEM 45.

YOU KNOW, MAYOR, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FIRST, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PRICE OF A HOME.

UH, FOR RENTERS, IT'S ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE PAYING MONTHLY AND THEY DON'T CARE IF THAT'S A FEE OR RENT, IT'S HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO PAY EVERY MONTH.

AND WHEN THESE FEES ARE HIDDEN, WHETHER IT'S AT THE LEASING STAGE OR UH, POPPED ON SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, MONTHS IN, THAT'S UNFAIR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND SO WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT HERE.

UH, AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED, UH, BY THAT AND, AND LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING WITH THAT ORDINANCE, UH, TO PROTECT OUR RENTERS ACROSS THE CITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THAT'S FAST.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT TODAY.

UM, REGARDING ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, EXTENSION OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, UH, WITH A ISD FOR A FULL PRE-K PROGRAM.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS IN THE ROOM HAVE LITTLES, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT ANY MORE EMPHASIS ON, UM, ACADEMIC SUCCESS THAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

SO PRE-K IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

THIS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUNG STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING MORE ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR KINDERGARTEN PREPAREDNESS AND BEYOND.

ADDITIONALLY, REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 33, I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SATURDAY ACADEMY AND SUMMER CAMP TO SUPPORT LITERACY, ADVANCEMENT AND ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR OUR A-S-A-I-S-D CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND THEIR PARENTS, WHICH IS CRITICAL.

UM, FAMILY IS CRITICAL.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, JUST A MOMENT, I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL EVERYONE HERE TO VOTE.

THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A PIVOTAL NATIONAL ELECTION.

CHANGE STARTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

I URGE EVERYONE HERE TO INFORM YOURSELVES AND MAKE SURE TO VOTE IN YOUR LOCAL AND STATE RACIST TOO.

YOU CAN VOTE RIGHT OUTSIDE CHAMBERS.

UM, THIS WAS PREPARED FOR IF WE WERE TALKING EARLIER.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOBODY IN THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU CAN VOTE RIGHT OUTSIDE CHAMBERS HERE AT CITY HALL.

UM, FOR THE FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICT ONE, YOU CAN VOTE EARLY AT THE MILLENNIUM, THE DELCO CENTER, THE CARVER BRANCH LIBRARY, THE GUS GARCIA REC CENTER AND MAINOR ISD ADMIN BUILDING.

UM, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, CITY STAFF, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THIS YEAR'S ELECTION WORKERS.

I, UH, I RECENTLY WATCHED A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A BLACK MAN IN MISSISSIPPI WHO LOST HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE HAD THE GALL TO ENCOURAGE BLACK PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND I JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK HOW, WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER, I'M NOT GONNA DO IT.

AND I, UH, NO SHAME TO THEM, BUT I JUST WANNA REMIND THEM THAT IT DIDN'T COME EASY, SO DON'T WASTE IT.

UM, HIS WIDOW NOW

[10:05:01]

IN HER EIGHTIES IS A POLL WORKER BECAUSE SHE RECOGNIZES HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

AND I JUST THOUGHT THE SYMBOLISM THERE WAS REALLY IMPACTFUL.

AND AS YOU SAW ME CRY EARLIER TONIGHT, I'M SENSITIVE, SO I CRIED.

UM, AND IT WAS JUST REALLY SPECIAL TO SEE HER CARRY ON THAT LEGACY.

SO I JUST STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY NO MATTER HOW YOU DO IT.

R-D-L-G-I DON'T CARE.

JUST DO IT.

'CAUSE THAT'S HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS WITH ALL OF OUR PARTICIPATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MEMBERS, UM, I, I, I'LL SPEAK TO THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS, UH, BECAUSE, UH, AN OPPONENT OF MINE IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR DECIDED TO MAKE AN ATTACK ON ME, UH, HERE TODAY.

UH, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT WHAT HE WAS, WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS THAT THERE'S AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY PACK OUT THERE THAT RECEIVED A CONTRIBUTION, UH, FROM THE OWNERS OF THAT BUILDING THAT IS NOT MY PACK.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY UNAWARE OF ANY DONATION THAT HAD BEEN MADE BECAUSE IT'S AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY PACK AND I JUST DON'T GO, I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO TO WHO DONATES TO THAT.

UH, I'VE CHECKED WITH THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS POINTED OUT THAT IT IS NOT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

UH, MAKES FOR A GOOD POLITICAL ATTACK, BUT, UH, MAYBE NOT, BUT IT, IT CERTAINLY MAKES FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A POLITICAL ATTACK, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, BUT I WANNA POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.

MEMBERS, THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.

UM, THE MO MAYOR, NUMBER 61, I'M BEING TOLD NEEDS TO COME AFTER.

NUMBER 61 IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALRIGHT, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

NUMBER 61 IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NUMBER 61 WILL COME AFTER WE TAKE UP NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER 81 IN OUR ZONING MATTERS.

UM, SO THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, HAS, THE MOTION WAS MADE SECONDED, THERE WAS A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER 26 BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT PASSED IT, BUT THAT PASSED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED IS APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE OFF THE DAIS.

UM, UNLESS HE APPEARS THERE HE IS.

ARE ARE YOU IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER? HE'S IN FAVOR.

I I'M GOOD WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.

GOOD DEAL.

SORRY, I, I DON'T KNOW WHY I WASN'T SHOWING MY VIDEO ON.

I GOT, I GOT NERVOUS WHEN YOU NO, NO PROBLEM.

UH, THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I STUTTERED AND PAUSED THERE FOR A MINUTE SO THAT YOU'D HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO,

[Items 50 - 53]

UH, THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, WHICH ARE NON-CONSENT ITEMS. THOSE ARE, UH, LABELED ITEMS 49 50, 51, 52 AND 53.

HOWEVER, ITEMS 49 AND 52 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN, SO THAT MEANS THAT THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS WILL BE 50 51 AND 53.

I'M GOING TO ASK IF WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 50 51 AND 53 AND, AND THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION ONCE I KNOW THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.

MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UH, WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 50 51 AND 53, THOSE ALL BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS, UH, THE MOTION THAT I WILL ACCEPT IS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.

FOR THE, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED THEREIN, THE MAYOR PRO TIM MAKES THAT MOTION FOR ITEMS 50 51 AND 53.

IS THERE ANY, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE ITEMS AND THAT MOTION WITHOUT, UH, WITH HEARING NONE, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEMS 50 51 AND 53 BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS ARE ADOPTED MEMBERS,

[55. Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20240814-006 to revise Fiscal Year 2025 Electric Tariff to enable locally sited solar generation, including local distributed community solar (Solar Standard Offer Rider - Solar Integrator); to remove the maximum capacity limits for on-site renewable generation for High Load Factor Primary Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 3,000 kW and less than 20,000 kW), High Load Factor Primary Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20,000 kW), and High Load Factor Transmission Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20 MW); and to correct terms and conditions for High Load Factor Transmission Voltage (Demand greater than or equal to 20 MW).]

WE WILL NOW GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 55.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 55.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY, SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 55.

KABA WHITE.

MS. WHITE.

KABA WHITE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NOT FOR 55.

THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE TO SIGN UP.

SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 55.

ITEM OBJECTION.

WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 55.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION OR DO YOU WANT TO? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER MOVES TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 55.

IT IS SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM, IS THERE.

DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.

I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M

[10:10:01]

I'M PLEASED THAT AUSTIN ENERGY WAS ABLE, UM, TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME, TO COME UP WITH A FORMULA THAT I THINK IS GONNA HELP US TO SPREAD SOLAR FURTHER AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BUILD ON THIS SUCCESS AS WE MOVE INTO THE GEN PLAN CONVERSATION.

WE'VE TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IN PARTICULAR, UM, WITH RESPECT TO OUR SOLAR, UM, INVESTMENTS.

AND, UM, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE SOLAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR, UH, STAFF ON, ON THIS ONE.

YOU MEAN BOB CON? UH, UH, UH, THANK YOU.

UH, MR. CONN, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE HERE WE'RE JUST SETTING THE RATES ON THIS ITEM.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR STAFF ABOUT, UH, SOME OF MY LABOR STANDARDS THAT WILL BE, UH, A PART OF THE, THE PACKAGE AND I JUST WANTED TO, UH, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT, OR I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHERE THOSE, UH, ARE.

YEAH, SO THIS, THIS JUST SETS THE RATES AND THE TARIFF, BUT WE'LL BE SETTING UP PROCEDURES UNDERNEATH THOSE TO MAKE SURE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT AS FAR AS UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE FOLLOW ALL THE STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAWS IN, IN FACT, IN THE PROCEDURES IT, THERE WILL BE A PROVISION THAT SAYS IF THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING ALL THE STANDARDS, THEN WE CAN TAKE THEM OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

ALRIGHT, UH, UH, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING THOSE DETAILS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.

COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER THANK YOU MUCH.

AND MR. GENERAL MANAGER, JUST WANT TO ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU, I'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH AUSTIN, ISD, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FACILITIES, WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS AND AT A TIME WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING POTENTIALLY TO INCREASE REVENUE GIVEN THE, THE SHORTFALLS THEY HAVE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE ON YOUR TEAM COULD REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SEE IF THEY MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR THIS PROGRAM, WE WILL CERTAINLY CHECK INTO THAT.

ITEM NUMBER 56 IS POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 7TH.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 55? HEARING NONE WITH THE ITEM OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 55 IS ADOPTED.

[56. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create a new combining district, to be known as Planned Development Area 2, that will apply in industrial base zoning districts and allow for modifications to site development regulations, including height, off-street parking design, loading regulations, sign regulations, landscaping or screening regulations, and additional non-residential uses; and ending the acceptance of zoning and rezoning applications to combine planned development area combining district with certain base zones.]

ITEM

[57. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 (Land Development) to create a new density bonus combining district for commercial highway and industrial base zoning districts that will modify uses, including allowing residential uses, and modifications of site development regulations, including height, off-street parking design and loading regulations, sign regulations, and landscaping and screening regulations in exchange for providing community benefits, including income restricted units or providing a fee-in-lieu.]

NUMBER 57 IS POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 7TH.

ITEM NUMBER

[58. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Roers Austin Apartments Owner IV LP, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for the construction of a multi-family development to be financed through the private activity bond program to be known as Payton Gin Apartments, located at or near 1706 Payton Gin Road, Austin, Texas 78758.]

58.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 58.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPENED.

MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU TELL US IF ANYONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO ONE IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, MEMBERS, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 58.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, ITEM NUMBER, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 58 IS CLOSED.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION? MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 58 IS ADOPTED.

ITEM NUMBER 59,

[59. Conduct a public hearing and consider a resolution related to an application by Decker Lake Apartments Limited Partnership, or an affiliated entity, for housing tax credits for the construction of a multifamily development to be financed through the private activity bond program to be known as Decker Lake Apartments, located within the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction at or near 6200 Blue Bluff Road, Austin, Texas 78724.]

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 59.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON 50.

THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ON ITEM NUMBER 59.

SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 59, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OF ITEM NUMBER 59? MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 59? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 59 IS ADOPTED.

ITEM NUMBER 60

[60. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request by Wheatsville Food Co-op, located at 4001 S. Lamar Blvd. Unit E, for a waiver of the distance requirement of City Code Section 4-9-4(A) which requires a minimum 300-foot separation distance between a business selling alcoholic beverages and a school.]

IS POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER 7TH.

ITEM NUMBER 61 IS INDICATED PREVIOUSLY WILL BE TAKEN UP WHEN WE TAKE UP I, AFTER WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 81, THAT WILL TAKE US TO OUR

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN OH, SORRY.

SORRY.

I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY I COULD BLAME THIS ON MS. HARDEN, BUT, UM, MS. HARDEN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZ.

YOU ARE REC COMMISSIONER MAYOR, UH, JOYCE SAID SHE WASN'T GONNA GO ON UNTIL 2:00 AM NO, YEAH, SHE WAS CONFUSED.

SHE WAS, I THINK WE SHOULD HOLD HER OVER.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

ALRIGHT, MS. HARDEN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

OH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

I'M JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 62 NPA 20 23 0 0 0 5 0.01.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED AS AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT.

AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT.

ITEM 64 C FOUR H 20 24 0 1 0 0.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT AT ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 65 IS C ONE FOUR H 20 24 0 9 4.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 66 IS C ONE 14 H 20 24 98.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

FIRST READING ONLY.

ITEM 67 IS

[10:15:01]

C 8 14 20 23 0 0 5 7.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED AS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY STAFF TO YOUR NOVEMBER 7TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 68 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 1 0 8.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 69 IS NPA 20 24 0 0 2 6 0.01.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA REQUESTS TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION ON THE PLUM FROM NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE TO MIXED USE LAND USE.

AND WITH THAT, THIS CASE CAN BE OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

FIRST READING ONLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER VALAR REQUEST TO REZONE TO C-S-C-S-M-U-C-O-N-P TO CHANGE CONDITIONS OF ZONING WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVICES USE IS A CONDITIONAL USE AND AUTOMOTIVE SALES USE IS A CONDITIONAL USE.

THE CONDITIONS ALSO INCLUDE ALL CONDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES LISTED IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 1 0 0 6 2 4 DASH 1 1 1 THAT APPLY TO THE PROPERTY UNLESS SPECIFICALLY MODIFIED.

AND AGAIN, THIS CASE IS OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND STAFF WILL BE BRINGING THESE ITEMS BACK, BOTH 69 AND 70 FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NOVEMBER 7TH COUNCIL MEETING.

UM, ITEM 71 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 9.

THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND STAFF WILL BE BRINGING BACK THIS ITEM FOR SECOND, THIRD READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NOVEMBER 7TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM NUMBER 72 IS NPA 20 23 0 0 1 3 0.01.

THIS SOUNDS BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR DECEMBER 12TH COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR DECEMBER 12TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM NUMBER 74 C 1 4 20 23 0 1 3 9.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

ITEM 75 C 4 20 24 0 0 7 1.

THIS ITEM BEING OFFERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR NOVEMBER 7TH COUNSEL MEETING.

ITEM NUMBER 76 A C 1 4 20 24 0 0 9 0.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 77 IS C 4 5 51 R CT.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

ITEM 78 IS C 4 20 24 81.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 79 IS C 1 4 20 24 0 0 7 5.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS WITH THE FOLLOWING MOTION.

PART THREE OF THE ORDINANCE IS AMENDED TO REMOVE THE EXCEPTION TO DB 90 RELATED TO GROUND FLOOR, COMMERCIAL OR CIVIC USE REQUIREMENTS.

AND AGAIN, WITH THAT, THIS ITEMS OFFERED FOR CONSENT.

SECOND AND THIRD READING.

ITEM NUMBER 80 IS C 1 4 20 23 0 1 1 0.

THIS BEING OFFERED AS AN APPLICANT REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNSEL MEETING ITEM 81 C 8 4 24 0 0 8 3 0.01.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

AND ITEM 82 IS C 8 14 20 23 0 2 7.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY, AND STAFF WILL BE BRINGING THIS ITEM BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.

CONSIDER WE'RE SECOND AT THE READING CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NOVEMBER 7TH, UM, COUNCIL MEETING.

AND I'LL JUST LIKE TO, UM, NOTE THAT A VERSION TWO OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, I'M TALKING ABOUT 82, A VERSION TWO OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE WAS PROVIDED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

VERSION TWO MODIFIES PAGE TWO OF EXHIBIT B, LAND USE PLAN BY REMOVING DUPLICATE REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER NOTES CONFLICTING WITH THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.

NO OTHER CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE LANGUAGE IN VERSION TWO, BUT THIS IS OFFERED FOR, UM, FIRST READING AND WE'LL BRING BRINGING THIS BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.

AND THIS CONCLUDES THE READING OF THE NPA AND ZONING AGENDA.

AND OF COURSE THIS IS AT YOUR DISCRETION.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HARDIN? UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GET A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA AND I'LL READ, I'LL READ IT IN JUST A SECOND AND THEN, UH, WE'LL, I'LL CALL TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS. UH, MEMBERS THOUGH THE MOTION WILL BE ON ITEM 62 AND 63, AN INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT 64 3 READINGS 65, ALL THREE READINGS 66.

FIRST READING ONLY 67 WAS POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 7TH, 68.

ALL THREE READINGS 69.

[10:20:01]

74.

CONSENT ON DECEMBER 12TH.

MAYOR WHAT, I'M SORRY, 72 AND 73 IS DECEMBER 12TH.

UH, I'M SORRY, I JUST WROTE THAT DOWN WRONG.

VERY GOOD.

UM, MEMBERS, YOU HEARD THAT DECEMBER 12TH ON 72 AND THE RELATED ITEM NUMBER 73 74 IS CONSENT ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS 75, UH, POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 7TH, 76.

ALL THREE READINGS 77 REQUIRES ONLY ONE READING AND IT WILL BE ON CONSENT ON THAT ONE.

READING 78 IS ALL THREE READINGS.

79 WILL BE ON SECOND AND THIRD READING AS AS THE MOTION THAT MS. HARDIN READ INTO THE RECORD.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 80 IS POSTPONEMENT TO NOVEMBER 21ST.

ITEM NUMBER 8 81.

ALL THREE READINGS.

AND REMEMBER, WE WILL COME BACK FOR ITEM NUMBER 61 AFTER WE HAVE, IF, IF THIS IS ADOPTED.

ITEM NUMBER 82 IS ON FIRST READING ONLY.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IT'S MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, MAYOR, THERE ARE FOR ITEM 62 AND 63, THERE ARE SPEAKERS, UM, FOR THE POSTPONEMENT.

DO I GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM PLEASE? YES.

SO FOR ITEM 62 ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, ELIAS, NOAH, ELIAS, AND BRAD MASSENGILL ITEM 63, NOAH ELIAS AND BRAD MASSENGILL, JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS, PAGE ITEM.

I THINK MR. MASSENGILL WISHES TO SPEAK, SPEAK ON 62 AND MAYBE 63.

IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

I'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY TOO, SO I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, THE, THESE TWO ITEMS ARE, UH, ARE, ARE PRETTY SCARY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

UM, A LOT.

AND, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF 'EM ARE BEING POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.

INDEFINITELY, YES.

OH, THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

UM, I, I'LL, I'LL, UH, I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS LATER, BUT THANK, THANKS FOR, FOR THAT.

I HOPE THAT THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE REALLY, UH, KNOCKED OFF THE TABLE INDEFINITELY AS WELL.

WELL, THEY, THEY'RE CERTAINLY FOR NOW BEING POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.

GOOD NEWS.

68, SUSAN MORRISON, 69, SUSAN MORRISON, 70 SUSAN MORRISON.

SPEAKING ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT, WILLIAM BUN ON ITEM 67, BILL BUNCH, ROY WHALEY, TANIA KAREEM, BOBBY LAVINSKY, SUSAN MORRISON.

MR. LAVINSKY IS WAIVING HIS, UH, DESIRE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 67, MR. BUNCH, IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD.

UM, ITEM SIX, BILL BUNCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE, UM, THIS POSTPONEMENT, UM, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOU READ A NUMBER, YOU'RE NOT TELLING ANYBODY ANYTHING.

YOU'RE BEING AGGRESSIVELY HOSTILE TO THE PUBLIC EVEN UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT YOU'RE ALSO VIOLATING THE LAW BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A READING IN THE PAST FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

YOU WOULD AT LEAST HAVE THE STAFF READ THE ADDRESS, THE LOCATION, WHAT THE ZONING CHANGE IS, A SUMMARY OF WHAT IT IS, INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING A NUMBER WHERE PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION, HAVE NO IDEA UNLESS THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, ACCESS A COMPUTER HANDILY AND FOLLOW THAT ALONG.

SO LET'S HAVE SOME BASIC RESPECT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS. THOSE NUMBERS SHE'S READING ARE ABSOLUTELY MEANINGLESS ON THIS ONE.

IT'S 200 EAST RIVERSIDE, RIGHT? 3.9 ACRES P TO GO TO 500 FEET HEIGHT, VERY CLOSE TO HOMES IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS.

UH, A RAFT OF OTHER CHANGES THAT AREN'T CLEAR.

UM, I SUPPORT A POSTPONEMENT, BUT THAT POSTPONEMENT SHOULD BE IN PERPETUITY.

THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

UH, WE SHOULD HAVE THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN FROM 2016 APPLY TO ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES, UH, THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY A CONSENSUS COMMUNITY PROCESS THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

AND, UH, INSTEAD OF 500, I BELIEVE IT WAS LIKE 160 FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT.

SO YES, POSTPONED FOR ITEM

[10:25:01]

I DON'T SEE HER HERE.

BUT LET ME JUST ASK, IS, IS MS. MORRISON IN THE MS. MORRISON? ARE YOU AVAILABLE, MS. MORRISON? OKAY, PLEASE CONTINUE.

72 ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

BRAD MASSING SUSAN MORRISON, AGAIN, ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.

MR. MASSING, THIS IS BEING, UH, THIS IS RECOMMENDED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT, BOTH 72 AND 73 TO DECEMBER 12TH.

YEAH, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY I, I, I KNOW THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD APPRECIATES THIS POSTPONEMENT 'CAUSE THE, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE, UH, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO BE HERE ARE OLDER THAN ME, AND THIS IS WAY PAST THEIR BEDTIME.

SO, UM, THANKS FOR, THANK YOU, SIR.

ITEM 74, SUSAN MORRISON ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR 75.

KIM TRE LAURALYN JOHNSON, BRAD MASSENGILL, JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS PAGE.

IS ANYONE HERE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM? MR. MASSENGILL? WHICH ONE ARE YOU? WHICH ONES HE, THESE ARE THE, THIS IS BASICALLY, WE'RE IN THE DB DB 90 TERRITORY, WHICH IS SOMETHING I'M WANTING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THIS IS 75.

IS THIS 75? YES.

AND AGAIN, OH, WE'RE STILL ON 75.

WELL, I JUST TALKED ABOUT, OKAY, WELL NO, YOU, YOU, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT 72 AND 73, BUT 75, I'M SORRY, IS ALSO A POSTPONEMENT.

OKAY, WHEN WE GET TO 70, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT WE WERE ITEM 77.

SUSAN MORRISON, 78.

BRAD MASSENGILL, JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS PAGE, SUSAN MORRISON.

THAT'S FOR ITEM 78.

ITEM 78, MR. MASSENGILL.

UM, I CAN FIND MY EYEBALLS HERE.

UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR RECOGNIZING DB NINETIES AND THE WHOLE DENSITY BONUS SCHEME FOR WHAT IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD KILLER.

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL MOVING THIS OFF.

I MEAN, IT'S TRUE.

UH, THESE NEED TO BE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.

ALL OF THEM.

UH, MR. MAYOR, YOU'VE UNL UNLEASHED A MONSTER IN OUR TOWN, A GODZILLA STOMPING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, JUST LIKE THOSE OLD JAPANESE MOVIES, EXCEPT IT'S NOT SOME DUDE IN A GREEN MONSTER SUIT.

AND THOSE AREN'T A BUNCH OF CARDBOARD PROF HOUSES.

THOSE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE I KNOW ACTUALLY LIVE.

THAT'S WHERE I LIVE.

YOU'VE TURNED OVER THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM HANDED DEVELOPERS, A HUGE PAIR OF RED TAPE CUTTING SCISSORS, AND THEY'RE USING THEM TO STAB US RIGHT IN THE HEART, CHOPPING OUT HUGE SECTIONS OF AUSTIN'S SOUL PROPERTIES.

LIKE THIS BEING CASE IN POINT, WE FIND OURSELVES HAVING TO DEFEND THE THINGS THAT WE, MANY OF US HAVE CONSIDERED TO BE INTEGRAL TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND FROM OUR OWN CITY.

AT THAT, EVERY STEP THESE MONSTERS TAKE IS DESTROYING OUR WAY OF LIFE.

STOMP OUR INSTITUTE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRUNCH CRUNCH.

THERE GOES ANOTHER BLOCK OF OLD SCHOOL AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS, STOMP, THERE GOES A CREEK, A CASUAL SWISH OF THE MASSIVE TAIL.

AND OOPS, THERE GOES A HALF A DOZEN HERITAGE TREES.

CAN'T Y'ALL SEE THAT? YOU'RE IGNORING THE COMMUNITY.

YOU'RE IGNORING OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THESE PROJECTS AND THEIR CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

OUR OBJECTIONS TO THE PATHETIC SETBACKS AND NON-EXISTENT COM COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS FALL ON DEAF EARS.

YOUR REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COMBINED MUNICIPAL EXPERTISE HAS NOT ONLY UNLEASHED A MONSTER, BUT A BLIND MONSTER WITH NO CLUE WHAT OR WHO IT'S STEPPING ON.

I'VE BEEN HERE AND AT PLANNING COMMISSION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS HAVE LAID OUT SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS UP FOR THEM AT, OF THESE PROPOSED PROJECTS, DETAILED WELL THOUGHT OUT AND INFORMATION, FRANKLY, BETTER INFORMATION THAN OVERSTRETCHED STAFF HAS TIME TOGETHER.

THE CITY LITERALLY CAN'T PAY FOR THIS KIND OF INTEL.

IT'S THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BEST, US THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, TIME AFTER TIME, THESE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES OVERRIDDEN AND THE DB 90 DESIGNATION BEING AWARDED.

ANYWAY, STATISTICALLY, THIS COUNCIL HAS AWARDED DEVELOPERS OVER 90% OF WHAT THEY'VE ASKED

[10:30:01]

FOR.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF EVERYTHING THAT'S PASSED ACROSS Y'ALL'S DESK AS FAR AS ZONING GOES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I DON'T DETECT MUCH CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THESE PROJECTS BY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MR. MASSENGILL FOR ITEM 79, JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS PAGE, AND SUSAN MORRISON ON THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 80, WE'VE GOT CYNTHIA LYON, GERARD KINNEY, JIM WALKER, CATHERINE MCCARDLE, MR. WALKER'S HERE, BUT HE'S WAIVING HIS RIGHT TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM.

THAT'S NOT BEING FOLLOWED.

ROBERT SCHMID, JENNY GRAYSON, CHRIS PAGE, AND SUSAN MORRISON, ITEM 81.

SCOTT WHITWORTH, SUSAN MORRISON, ITEM 82, BILL BUNCH, ROY WHALEY, TANIA KAREEM, BOBBY LAVINSKY, AND SUSAN MORRISON.

ARE WE NOT GONNA HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION AND FOR AND AGAINST AND THE PROPER ORDER OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS? WELL, MR. BUNCH, THIS IS AN ITEM ON CONSENT, AND THERE'S NOT SOMEONE THAT, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON IT.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO MAKE A PRESENTATION IF YOU WANT, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK AGAINST IT.

SO I GUESS THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IS NO ANSWER.

YOUR QUESTION IS NO.

THIS IS NOT ONE THAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THAT DI THAT WAY.

OKAY, SO, UH, SINCE Y'ALL HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, I'LL TAKE UP SOME OF MY TIME DOING THAT.

UM, THIS IS, UH, THREE 11 SOUTH CONGRESS.

IT'S THE FIRESTONE TIRE STORE ON THE EAST SIDE OF CONGRESS, UH, VERY CLOSE TO LADY BIRD LAKE AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE STATESMAN POD, UH, RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, CURRENTLY DEAD ENDS, UM, IT'S 0.8 ACRES.

OUR ORDINANCE SAYS A PUD SHOULD BE 10 ACRES OR MORE.

SO IT'S A ORDER OF A MAGNITUDE SMALLER THAN WHAT A PUD IS SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSING.

UM, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SUPERIOR.

THIS IS INFERIOR IN EVERY WAY.

UH, IT'S 95% IMPERVIOUS COVER.

SO THAT'S TERRIBLE FOR FLOODING, TERRIBLE FOR WATER QUALITY.

AND THESE DAYS, ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IS TERRIBLE FOR URBAN HEAT ISLAND.

UM, IT'S IN THE WATERFRONT OVERLAY FOR PROTECTING LADY BIRD LAKE AND FOR DESIGN STANDARDS FOR LADY BIRD LAKE, THOSE REGULATIONS ARE BEING THROWN IN THE TRASH CAN HERE.

UM, THIS INCLUDES THE PROVISIONS THAT SAY THAT IF YOU'RE WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OF CONGRESS AVENUE, UH, YOU SHOULD NOT GO UP MORE THAN 60 FEET.

UH, THE IDEA HERE IS OBVIOUSLY TO PROTECT THE VIEW CORRIDOR ALONG CONGRESS, WHICH RUNS FROM THE CAPITOL, UH, PRETTY MUCH ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO OLTORF, NOT QUITE THAT FAR.

YOU HAVE THAT BEND THERE.

UM, BUT WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWING HERE IS ENCROACHMENT UP TO THE VERY EDGE OF THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD, UH, NOW GO INSTEAD OF 60 FEET LIMIT WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET TO GO UP TO 480 FEET.

THIS IS OVER TWICE THE HEIGHT OF ANYTHING ELSE IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW, AND CLOSE TO THREE FEET, THREE TIMES TALLER THAN THE HYATT.

UH, FOR PERSPECTIVE, UM, THERE'S NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS PUD AS IT'S CURRENTLY CONFIGURED.

UM, IF SOMETHING GETS BUILT LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.

CAN YOU LIKE, TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT IT ACTUALLY WILL LOOK LIKE FROM ALL OVER AUSTIN AND YOU WANT THAT TO BE YOUR LEGACY? UM, I WOULD HOPE NOT.

PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

UM, AND PLEASE, LIKE ACTUALLY READ THE ORDINANCE LIKE I ASKED FOR EARLIER.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, BOBBY LEVINSKY, XAVIER SPRINGS ALLIANCE FOR THE RECORD, WHAT MR. BUNCH IS REFERRING TO IS THE CONDUCT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS UNDER 25 1 1 91

[10:35:03]

ITEM 80 82 AT EIGHT 0.81 ACRES ABOUT, UH, 35,000 SQUARE FEET.

THIS SITE DOES NOT MATCH THE LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS UNDER LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 25 2 1 44, WHICH REQUIRES THAT A PUD MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST 10 ACRES IN SIZE UNLESS THE PROPERTY IS CHARACTERIZED BY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING UNIQUE TOPOGRAPH TOPOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS.

THIS IS ALREADY A DEVELOPED SITE FLAT AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF TOPOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS.

RATHER, THE ONLY JUSTIFICATION INCLUDED IN THE BACK OF MATERIAL IS PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN.

THAT IS HARDLY A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SITE BY SITE HORSE TRADING AND CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR THE AREA.

WHAT DOES THIS PUD DO? YOU WOULDN'T KNOW BY THE POSTING LAND LANGUAGE, WHICH INCLUDES VAGUE REFERENCES TO FEE WAIVERS AND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING METHODS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

AND THEN YOU GO TO THE ORDINANCE, IT DOESN'T TRACK THE CODES REQUIREMENTS FOR PUDS UNDER, UH, 25 2.

ARTICLE TWO, DIVISION FIVE, SECTION 2.5 0.1.

THE HEIGHT FAR AND MAXIMUM BUILDING COVERAGE FOR A PUD MAY NOT EXCEED THE ESTABLISHED BASELINE UNLESS YOU COMPLY WITH THE DENSITY BONUS PRO, UH, PROVISIONS UNDER 2.52.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE UNDER SECTION 1.2 OF THE PUD CODE, IT REQUIRES THAT THE ORDINANCE INCLUDE A LAND PLAN SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 1.41, WHICH REQUIRES THAT A LAND PLAN APPENDIX B IN THE ORDINANCE INCLUDE THE BASELINE FOR DETERMINING DEVELOPMENT BONUSES, THE DESCRIPTION OF ANY BONUSES REQUESTED UNDER 2.5, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE BONUS REQUIREMENTS ARE TO BE SATISFIED.

THE REASON I'M RAISING THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE LAND PLAN AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS THE, THE PUDS ARE STRUCTURED TO REQUIRE ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT IS THE DEFAULT.

IF THERE'S NOT THOSE PROVISIONS, UH, YOU RISK IT EXPIRING UNDER THE 36 MONTH PROVISION IF THE DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T GET INITIATED.

UH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF REQUIREMENTS THAT AREN'T BEING FOLLOWED HERE ABOUT RE UH, REPORTS REQUIRED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO REQUIRE, UM, AN ANALYSIS FOR, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THAT ALTERNATIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLIANCE IS APPROPRIATE.

UM, AND IF YOU AREN'T TYING THE HEIGHT AND THE FER INCREASES CLEARLY TO A DENSITY BONUS PROVISION, WHAT HAPPENS? NONE OF THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE.

IF INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE PUDS TO OPT OUT OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING LIKE THE UH, WATERFRONT OVERLAY AND THE SOUTH SHORE VISION PLAN, YOU ADOPT ZONING IN A MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THESE PLANS IN THE CODE.

DO ANY OF YOU EVEN KNOW THAT THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT CALLS FOR 20% INCOME RESTRICTIVE HOUSING IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT? YOU GET ZERO ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE.

WHEN IS THE CITY GOING TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS COMMITMENT FOR ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANYWHERE OTHER THAN, UH, BASICALLY EAST AUSTIN? WE NEED TO INCLUDE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING ALL ACROSS AUSTIN.

OTHERWISE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ENCLAVES FOR THE RICH.

UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, MAYOR MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLY MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN FROM 78 AND 79 PLEASE.

ALRIGHT, YOU'LL BE SHOWN AS ABSTAINING ON 78 AND 79.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORALES AND ALTER I WANTED TO ABSTAIN ON 69 AND 70 AND ON 82 PLEASE.

YOU'LL BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON 69 70 AND 82.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING OR RECUSING ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE SHOWN VOTING NO ON AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM 78 AND 79 AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER BEING SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM 69 70 AND 82 MEMBERS.

THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 61.

[61. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance adopting the Second Amendment to the Agreement Concerning Creation and Operation of Sunfield Municipal Utility District Nos.1, 2, 3 and 4. This amendment impacts Sunfield Municipal Utility District No. 2, which is located in Austin's Limited Purpose jurisdiction and includes approximately 575 acres located east of IH 35 along the Travis and Hays County line, south of Turnersville Road on both sides of the proposed extension of Loop 4 in Council District 5. Case number: C12M-2024-0015.]

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

I'LL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

SCOTT WITTER.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS, UH, MEMBERS, UH, THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 61.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 61.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE OF ITEM NUMBER 61.

THE MAYOR PER TIM MOVES ADOPTION.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION? HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE MOTION IS ADOPTED ON ITEM NUMBER 61 MEMBERS.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

IT IS 9:38 PM

[10:40:01]

MEMBERS, CONGRATULATIONS ON A LONG BUT SUCCESSFUL DAY.

MR. MANAGER.