[Distinguished Service Award – JuanRaymon Rubio – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes ]
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MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, TODAY I AM BOTH HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE JOINED HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JUAN RAMAL RUBIO, WHOSE IMPACT HAS MADE A LASTING MARK ON OUR CITY.
AS AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER AND DEDICATED COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO, THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT ON COUNCIL, ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, JR.
WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PRESERVE STORIES AND STRUCTURES THAT DEFINE OUR CITY, HIS LOVE FOR LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND SERVICE, UPLIFTED MANY AROUND HIM.
THOUGH HE'S NO LONGER WITH US, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.
HIS LOSS WAS TRULY A TRAGEDY ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ONE, A FEW DAYS BEFORE HIS PASSING, HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE OUR COUNSEL.
AND WHAT WAS A, UH, A HISTORIC, UH, ZONING CASE THAT WE HAD, UH, A VICTORY THAT JR.
AND HIS TESTIMONY TO COUNSEL WAS ONE FULL OF PASSION AND DEDICATION AND FACT-BASED.
AND I JUST REMEMBER VERY VIVIDLY, UH, HIS TESTIMONY, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT MEMORY OF HIM AND HIS ADVOCACY AND HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WANNA THANK JR'S FAMILY, RAY NORMA, JANAE, EMILIO DELIA, LUCIO ALO, AND LUCY RUBIO FOR ALL BEING HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FROM HIS PERSONAL LIFE, MEMBERS OF PRESERVATION, AUSTIN AND ARCHIE, TEXAS.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE PRESENT THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IN, IN DEEP GRATITUDE FOR HIS IMPACT AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO AUSTIN.
I WILL NOW PRESENT THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO RAY NORMA AND JANAE JR'S FATHER, MOTHER, AND SISTER.
AND I WANNA INVITE, UH, ANY, IF ANYONE IN THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW REMARKS, BUT PLEASE JOIN ME IN A, I HAD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, MAYOR
UH, I WILL SAY THAT JR LOVED THE SKYLINE.
HE LOVED BUILDINGS, HE LOVED MURALS, AND HE WAS JUST HAVING A BLAST HERE IN AUSTIN.
LET ME TELL YOU, UM, AS A YOUNG BOY, HE GREW UP WITH THE SKYLINES OF CHICAGO, AND HE JUST, UH, ALWAYS, UH, GREW UP LOVING ARCHITECTURE, UH, IN THE CITY UP THERE.
AND THIS IS WHERE HE CAME TO LAND, AND, UH, HE DEFINITELY WAS DOING SOMETHING THAT HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT.
UH, JUST WANNA THANK THE ENTIRE, UH, UH, MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CITY FOR, UH, FOR THIS THANK YOU.
I AS WELL, LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALL THE SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND EXTENDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MY BROTHER.
I KNOW HE WAS ON HIS PATH TO GREATER THINGS.
UM, AND I HAVE A STORY, AND IT'S REALLY WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE BACK IN OUR SUBURB TOWN FROM THE SOUTH SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, HE WAS ENCOURAGING, AND WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT HE WOULD BE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE DISTRICT OUT THERE OF A POPULATION OF 20,000 PEOPLE.
AND SO, AGAIN, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE WAS ON THAT PATH HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, MAKING HIS WAY TO INTEGRATE HIS PASSION, BUT ALSO JUST STANDING FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PIECE THAT, UM, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE AND ALL OF US TO EMBODY THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO, AND IT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, BUT ALSO PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF WHAT IT IS, UM, AND HOW THAT'S GONNA PREPARE US FOR THE FUTURE.
SO EVERYTHING, AGAIN, I KNOW JR HAS, UH, MADE HIS IMPRINT IN MANY PLACES AND SPACES AND PEOPLE, AND I JUST ENCOURAGE US ALL TO EMBODY THAT ENERGY AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS HE'S NO LONGER WITH US.
IS THERE ANYTHING, SHOULD WE DO?
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DAMN[Distinguished Service Award – Karla Taylor – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes ]
IT'S THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OVER YEAR.
IT IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT HERE AT CITY HALL, AS WE SAY FAREWELL TO CARLA TAYLOR, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
MS. CARLA TAYLOR JOINED THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN 2009 AS A MEMBER OF THE NEWLY CREATED AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
CARLA PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN DEFINING THE SCOPE AND MISSION OF A TD AND APPLIED HER SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE TO HELP PAVE A SUCCESSFUL PATH FOR A FLEDGLING DEPARTMENT.
FOR 16 YEARS, CARLA PROVIDED VALUABLE SUPPORT, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT HELPED MAKE THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND LATER THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT INTO THE SUCCESSFUL DEPARTMENT THAT IT IS TODAY.
CARLA HAS SERVED AS A GREAT MENTOR TO MANY PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS THAT ARE NOW WORKING IN PARTNER AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.
CARLA'S BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE INITIATIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INCLUDING THE INITIAL 2010 BOND PROGRAM AND THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR MOBILITY BOND PROGRAMS THAT FOLLOWED.
WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW SINCE THEN, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN RAIL PROPOSAL, THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, VISION ZERO REGIONAL PROJECTS, AND THE SMART CITIES INITIATIVE AND ROADMAP.
JUST TO NAME A FEW THOUGH, CARLA'S LEADERSHIP.
THROUGH CARLA'S LEADERSHIP, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING OVER $200 MILLION AND FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL THE I 35 CAP ANDIT PROGRAM, THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, THE CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM, AND THE METRO BIKE EXPANSION GRANT THROUGH TECH STOP.
THE IMPACT OF HER MENTORING CAN BE FOUND IN THE LEADERSHIP RANK OF ALL OF THESE PUBLIC AGENCIES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS, AND THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL SECURING OF THOSE GRANTS.
PRIOR TO COMING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CARLA WORKED ON MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSIGNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
EARLIER IN HER CAREER, SHE SERVED AS STAFF FOR SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING TEXAS STATE SENATOR JUDAS SINI, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRUCE TODD, AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY SHIPMAN.
WE WILL MISS HER, BUT WE WISH HER ALL THE BEST IN HER NEW CHAPTER OF LIFE.
I ALSO WANNA THANK A CM MIKE ROGERS, UH, TPW DIRECTOR, RICHARD MENDOZA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR JIM DALE, INTERIM DIRECTOR ROBERT GOODE, INTERIM DIRECTOR ANTHONY SEGURA, TPW STAFF.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, JOHN SMITH, CARLA HUSBAND FOR ALSO BEING HERE.
AND I WILL NOW PROUDLY PRESENT YOU WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
UM, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HONORED HERE BY AND, AND SURROUNDED MY, BY MY COLLEAGUES AND MY FRIENDS.
UM, IT'S BEEN A, A TERRIFIC, UH, EXPERIENCE WORKING AT THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL MISS THE WORK
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, I'M GONNA MISS IT.
I'M GONNA TRY HARD TO UNPLUG, BUT, UM, UH, I KNOW THAT I'M, I'M BOYED BY THE SPIRIT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL, TALENTED PEOPLE AROUND THAT CAN CARRY ON THE MISSION FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, AND THE TAXPAYERS AT LARGE.
AND, AND SO I'M, I'M, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT IT'S IN GREAT HANDS, SO THANK YOU.
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GOOD[Proclamation – Craig Stewart Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Day – To be presented by Council Member Ryan Alter ]
MORNING.WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT CRAIG STEWART, SOMEONE WHO REALLY EMBODIES WHAT IT IS, UH, TO BE IN AUSTINITE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, KEEPING AUSTIN WEIRD, UH, OFTENTIMES WE'RE TALKING, UH, ABOUT SOME OF THOSE MUSICIANS THAT HELP REALLY SHAPE WHAT I THINK WE ALL KNOW MAKES AUSTIN SO SPECIAL.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, CRAIG WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DISEASE THAT IS REALLY NOT AS WELL KNOWN AS SOME OTHER, UH, NEUROGENERATIVE DISEASES, UH, FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION, FTD.
AND SO WE ARE JOINED HERE BY HIS FAMILY TO NOT ONLY CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, BUT TO ALSO HELP BRING SOME AWARENESS, UH, TO THIS DISEASE.
SO AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE HIS MOTHER, AND WE'RE, UH, WE'LL HAVE ONE SPEAKER AFTER THAT.
CRAIG WAS REALLY A SPECIAL GUY, SAID HE WASN'T GONNA CRY UNTIL I SAW ALL THE SO BY SOUTHWEST GUYS HERE.
HE USED TO TELL ME WHEN HE'D DRIVE TO SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MOM.
DAVID'S HOSPITAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WAS BORN.
UM, HE LIVED A LIFE OUT IN THE SUBURBS, DID ALL KINDS OF THINGS, SCOUTS, UH, BASEBALL, UM, AND HE HAD A LOVE FOR MUSIC EARLY ON.
AND I FEEL LIKE HE WAS SO LUCKY AND BLESSED TO BE IN THE PLACE HE WAS SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST THAT ALLOWED HIM TO CHAMPION THE UNDERDOG THAT ALLOWED HIM TO SAY, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND YOU CAN STAY AND LIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND WORK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF HIM.
WE LOST HIM DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 AFTER A 10 YEAR BATTLE WITH FTD.
AND WE HAVE LADIES HERE FROM THE FRONTAL TEMPORAL DEGENERATION SUPPORT GROUP, AND WE HAVE, UH, FOUR HERE FROM SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT ALL OF THEM CAME.
THANK, SO, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR RECOGNIZING NOT ONLY CRAIG, BUT UM, TEMPORAL, FRONTAL TEMPORAL DEMENTIA.
THE HEROES IN THIS ARE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE SUPPORT GROUP, BUT THEY'RE THE CAREGIVERS.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT THERE ARE OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA BESIDES, BESIDES ALZHEIMER'S.
SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING US.
WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK Y'ALL DO, AND, UM, HOPEFULLY TODAY WE CAN RAISE A LITTLE MORE AWARENESS OF NOT ONLY THIS FORM OF DEMENTIA, BUT THE CARE, UH, SUPPORT TEAM AROUND, UH, THOSE WHO HAVE THAT DISEASE.
SO NOW I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CRAIG AND, AND A PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CRAIG STEWART GREW UP IN AUSTIN, ATTENDED ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AND WHEREAS CRAIG LOVED MUSIC AND HE OPERATED THE AUSTIN BASED T SYNDICATE MUSIC LABEL WITH HIS HUSBAND, B******E, SURFER DRUMMER, JEFF KING COFFEE, I, I WAS GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH WITHOUT LAUGHING, BUT JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
UH, AND WHEREAS CRAIG FOUNDED EMPEROR JONES RECORD LABEL IN 1995, CONNECTING AUSTIN ARTISTS LIKE ROCKY ERICKSON WITH ART, WITH AUDIENCES ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND WHEREAS CRAIG ALSO WORKED WITH SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, WHERE HE ROSE TO BECOME THE SHOWCASE MANAGER AND SHARED HIS TASTE FOR ECLECTIC ARTISTS AND GENRES WITH COUNTLESS FANS, KEEPING IT WEIRD.
AND WHEREAS CRAIG WAS INDUCTED INTO THE AUSTIN MUSIC INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME IN 2018, AND WHEREAS CRAIG WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION, FTD AT AGE 44, BUT HIS PASSION DRIVE AND THE SUPPORT OF HIS LOVING HUSBAND AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST ROLAND SWENSON ALLOWED HIM TO CONTINUE TO WORK FROM HOME AS HIS CONDITION ADVANCED.
AND WHEREAS CRAIG PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 AT THE AGE OF 53, LEAVING BEHIND HIS HUSBAND JEFF, MOTHER MISSY, BROTHER, BROTHER RETIRED SERGEANT JOHN DAVID STEWART, STEPFATHER,
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DAN STANWOOD, AND COUNTLESS FRIENDS AND FANS.AND WHEREAS FTD IS AN UNDERDIAGNOSED NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE THAT AFFECTS MORE THAN 60,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, IT AFFECTS AGES AS YOUNG AS 21 AND AS OLD AS 80 WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THOSE AFFECTED UNDER 65.
IT CAN IMPACT BEHAVIOR, DECISION MAKING, PERSONALITY, LANGUAGE, AND MOVEMENT.
THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY IS SEVEN TO 13 YEARS.
THERE IS CURRENTLY NO CURE AND NO TREATMENTS TO SLOW THE PROGRESS OF THIS DISEASE.
AND WHEREAS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES LIKE THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH FTD IS CRITICAL THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE.
AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AUSTIN FTD SUPPORT GROUP PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES TO THOSE IMPACTED AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
AND WHEREAS RAISING AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE AND THE WORK OF AUSTIN FTD SUPPORT GROUP IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL HELP CURRENT AND FUTURE AUSTINITES IMPACTED BY FTD.
SO NOW, THEREFORE, I RYAN ALTER ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 30TH, 2025 AS CRAIG STEWART FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION AWARENESS DAY.
AND WE CAN, UH, TAKE A QUICK PICTURE HERE.
AND SO APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING OUT.
[Proclamation – Bi-polar Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison ]
GOOD MORNING.I AM NATASHA HARPER MADISON PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND TODAY WE ARE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION, UM, STARTER I HOPE ABOUT BIPOLAR DISORDER.
UM, I PERSONALLY, UH, DEAL WITH, LIVE WITH AND THRIVE WITH, FRANKLY, BIPOLAR DISORDER.
AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
UM, THE THING IS THOUGH, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, AND SO MY HOPE IS THROUGH PLATFORMS LIKE THIS AND PEOPLE LIKE ME AND SOME OF THE FOLKS STANDING BEHIND ME, MANY OF THE FOLKS OBSERVING, UH, ON CAMERA TODAY, WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THROUGH MANAGEMENT, UM, AWARENESS AND THE REMOVAL OF STIGMA BY WAY OF SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION, UM, THAT YOU CAN THRIVE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER AS A PART OF WHO YOU ARE.
UM, SO THAT SAID, WE ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY WITH, UM, SEVERAL FOLKS, SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTED, UH, THE BIPOLAR DISORDER CENTER CENTER AT THE DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL.
AND WE ALSO HAVE NAMI CENTRAL TEXAS JOINING US TODAY AS WE PREPARE TO DELIVER A PROCLAMATION.
UH, AUSTIN BIPOLAR DISORDER AWARENESS DAY PROCLAMATION TODAY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS BIPOLAR DISORDER DISORDER IS A MENTAL CONDITION THAT CAN CAUSE UNUSUAL SHIFTS IN MOOD, ENERGY, ACTIVITY LEVELS, AND CONCENTRATION, WHICH CAN MAKE EVERYDAY LIFE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULT.
AND WHEREAS BIPOLAR DISORDER, ALONG WITH OTHER MENTAL DISORDERS HAS BEEN INACCURATELY STIGMATIZED IN SOCIETY AS SOMETHING INSURMOUNTABLE AND INESCAPABLE, WHEN IN FACT PROPER TREATMENT CAN DRASTICALLY IMPROVE AN INDIVIDUAL'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND WHEREAS IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT AUSTIN AS A COMMUNITY TAKE THE TIME TO NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRUGGLES THAT THOSE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER FACE, BUT CELEBRATE THEIR PERSEVERANCE DESPITE THOSE STRUGGLES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM TODAY JANUARY 30TH, 2025 AS AUSTIN BIPOLAR AWARENESS DAY.
I WAS REMISS IN ACKNOWLEDGING ONE ORGANIZATION THAT'S WITH US HERE TODAY, AND THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE MIRROR.
AND I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT WHY I WANTED THEM TO BE INVOLVED AND INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION.
UM, I THINK OFTENTIMES YOUNG FOLKS, UH, DON'T
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RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR STRUGGLES ARE DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THEIR ELDERS AND THOSE YOUNGER THAN THEM.AND SO YOUNG ADULTS HAVING A PLACE, UH, WHERE PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THEM, THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE SIMILAR TO THEIRS, IS CRITICAL.
AND I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TARIQ IN THE HOT SEAT, UM, SINCE I MENTIONED YOU LAST, AND JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE POPULATION OF FOLKS YOU SERVE.
AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE IT OUT WITH A PHOTO WHERE YOU AT DON'T HIDE
UM, I WOULD SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO NATASHA AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TODAY TO, UM, GIVE, UM, BIPOLAR AWARENESS IS DUE JUSTICE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IN WESTERN AMIRA.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ARE THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CLINICIANS.
I HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY I'M A PART OF, WHICH IS THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV PEOPLE LIVING WITH OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
AND, UM, WE SAY, COME AS YOU ARE.
WE HAVE A SPACE WHERE WE PROVIDE ART.
THIS MONTH IS, YOU KNOW, AS MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW, THIS YEAR IS LEGISLATION.
AND SO WE ARE OUT HERE ADVOCATING FOR ENDING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMAS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE SERVING AND COMMUNITY THAT SOMETIME GET LEFT OUT IN SPACES LIKE THIS.
SO AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO RECOGNIZE THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT DAY.
I PRESENT ONE FOR YOU ALL FOR THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
YOU WANNA GRAB A HOLD OF THAT? I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE CAMERA, MY END IN THE CORNER REAL QUICK.
[Proclamation – Matilda Day – To be presented by Council Member José “Chito” Vela ]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M CHITO VELA, UH, AUSTIN, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR, AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE A VERY SPECIAL DOG, UH, MATILDA, AND TO ALSO CELEBRATE MATILDA DAY IN AUSTIN.
UH, I'M HERE WITH, UH, AMANDA RONZA.
UH, AMANDA AND MATILDA WE'RE INSEPARABLE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
MATILDA WAS A BELOVED RESCUE DOG IN AUSTIN.
HER OWNER, UH, AMANDA TOOK HER ON MANY ADVENTURES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND SHARED THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, GAINING A MAJOR FAN FOLLOWING.
SHE PASSED AWAY JANUARY 17TH, 2023, AND HER OWNER AND A PA THE, UH, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE DECIDED TO CELEBRATE HER WITH A DAY TO RAISE MONEY AND ENCOURAGE THE ADOPTION OF SENIOR DOGS.
THE FIRST MATILDA DAY WAS CELEBRATED LAST YEAR IN JANUARY, 2024, WITH OVER $40,000 RAISED TO SUPPORT SENIOR DOGS IN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
THIS YEAR, AMANDA HAS SET A GOAL OF RAISING $20,000.
AS OF TUESDAY, ALMOST $12,000 HAS BEEN RAISED, UM, HONORED.
UH, I WAS HONORED TO ORIGINALLY PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION EARLIER THIS MONTH ON JANUARY 7TH, WHICH WAS, IS THE ACTUAL DAY OF, UH, OF HER PASSING, RIGHT? IT WAS JANUARY 17, BUT WE HAD THE TIME ON THE SEVENTH, SO GOT IT.
UH, AND I WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE MATILDA AND HONOR AMANDA FOR HER WORK AT OUR FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR.
AND I, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER TO AMANDA TO, TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME THAT, UM, MY DOG MATILDA WOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MATILDA WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A DOG.
SHE HAD A WAY OF REACHING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND MAKING THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH HER AND RAISING ATTENTION, UM, TO THE PLIGHT OF HOMELESS DOGS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND, UM, MATILDA LIVED A LIFE OF GREAT ADVENTURE FOR 18 YEARS.
UM, SHE WAS AN INTERNET CELEBRITY.
HER FANS, UH, TENDED TO CALL HER THE BETTY WHITE OF DOGS.
SHE HAD SUCH A LONG LIFE AND SHE HAD THIS JOYFUL SPIRIT.
AND BETTY WHITE WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF SUPPORTING DOGS AND SHELTERS AS WELL.
SO WHEN MATILDA PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 17, SPONTANEOUSLY, HER FAMILY OF FANS AROUND THE WORLD
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DONATED OVER $20,000 TO AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND MATILDA'S MEMORY IN WANTING TO SUPPORT, UH, HOMELESS DOGS.THE IDEA OF MATILDA DAY IS TO HONOR ESPECIALLY THE SENIOR DOGS IN SHELTERS.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT SOMEDAY MATILDA DAY CAN EXPAND BEYOND AUSTIN AND BE SOMETHING LIKE A GIVING TUESDAY, BUT FOR DOGS.
AND SO AS, UM, UH, AS, AS CHEETO SAID, WE'VE RAISED 12,000 THIS YEAR AND I'M VERY EXCITED AND HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL REACH THE GOAL OF 20,000 AND THAT EVERY YEAR WE'LL DO THE SAME.
AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UH, READ THE, UH, THE, THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITS CITIZENS SUPPORT SAVING THE LIVES OF HOMELESS ANIMALS AND ENSURING THEIR LONG-TERM SHELTER AND CARE.
AND WHEREAS SENIOR DOGS AND SHELTERS REQUIRE EXTRA CARE AND TEND TO BE OVERLOOKED BY POTENTIAL ADOPTERS.
AND WHEREAS MATILDA WAS A HOMELESS CATTLE DOG WHO WAS HIDING UNDER A HOUSE IN IOLA, TEXAS SHORTLY BEFORE SHE FOUND HER FOREVER HOME AND MOVED TO AUSTIN WHERE SHE LIVED FOR 18 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS MATILDA WAS AN ADVENTUROUS PUP WHO TRAVELED ACROSS DESERTS, FORESTS, AND MOUNTAINS IN THE US AND AFRICA, SHARING HER ADVENTURES ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH MORE THAN 50,000 FOLLOWERS AND ATTRACTING THE LOVE OF MANY MORE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHEREAS MATILDA LEVERAGED HER INTERNATIONAL FAME TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO SAVE HOMELESS DOGS IN HER HOME CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS MATILDA DIED ON JANUARY 17TH, 2023, HER FOLLOWERS AROUND THE WORLD DONATED $21,000 IN HER MEMORY FOR SENIOR DOGS AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
AND WHEREAS ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HER DEATH, JANUARY 17TH, 2024, MATILDAS FANS DONATED AN ADDITIONAL $20,397.
AND WHEREAS EVERY JANUARY 17TH, MATILDAS FANS ARE COMMITTED TO DONATING FUNDS AND ARE HONORED TO SUPPORT SENIOR DOGS IN AUSTIN'S ANIMAL SHELTERS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, UH, CHITO VELA, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEAR BY PROCLAIM JANUARY 17TH, 2025 AS MATILDA DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[Proclamation – Holocaust Remembrance Day – To be presented by Council Member Marc Duchen ]
EVERYBODY.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 AND WEST AND NORTHWEST AUSTIN THIS MORNING.
BEFORE OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING THIS YEAR, WE'RE TAKING A SOMBER MOMENT TO REMEMBER HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY REMEMBER THE LESSONS OF THE PAST AND PAY RESPECT TO THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND HATE.
I'M JOINED BY MANY MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN, RABBIS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DESCENDANTS OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.
I'M ALSO JOINED BY A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO REPRESENT THE VIBRANT DIVERSITY OF CULTURES AND RELIGIONS THAT MAKE AUSTIN SUCH A SINGULAR CITY.
AS A JEWISH IMMIGRANT, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FIND A SAFE HARBOR FOR YOUR FAMILY.
MY FAMILY FLED EASTERN EUROPE TO THE ONE PLACE THEY COULD ESCAPE TO AND EVENTUALLY MIGRATED TO AMERICA.
AND THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN THAT SAFE HARBOR FOR US.
AND I WANT EVERY RESIDENT AND EVERY FAMILY TO FEEL WELCOMED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR BUSINESSES.
AND OF COURSE, HERE AT CITY HALL ANTISEMITISM, HATRED AND VIOLENCE HAVE NO PLACE IN A HEALTHY SOCIETY.
AS FEAR AND ANGER BLOOM IN THIS COUNTRY, WE MUST SEEK OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR AND STAND WITH, PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP, OUR HOMES, AND OUR BUSINESSES.
AUSTIN IS CELEBRATED FOR ITS QUALITY OF LIFE, ITS BOOMING ECONOMY, ATTITUDE OF INNOVATION AND ARTISTIC CULTURE.
OUR CITY SHOWS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES AND RESPECT THE CULTURES AND RELIGIONS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
ONE THING I ALSO WANNA STRESS, WE REMEMBER THE HOLOCAUST BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS HATE AND VIOLENCE INFLICTED ON MORE THAN JUST JEWS, TRADE UNIONISTS, DISABLED PEOPLE, POLITICAL DISSENTERS, AND SO MANY MORE.
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT HISTORY SEEMS TO BE REPEATING ITSELF AND WE ARE SEEING MORE HATE SPEECH AND GESTURES NORMALIZED RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES, ESPECIALLY ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
SO NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST STRIVE TO ACT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, AND DEFEND OUR COMMON HUMANITY.
I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION AND PRESENT PRESENTED TO RABBI DANIEL
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SEPTUS.WHEREAS JANUARY 27TH IS DESIGNATED AS UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY SINCE 2005, THE UNITED NATIONS AND ITS MEMBER STATES HAVE HELD COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ BIRKENAU AND TO HONOR THE 6 MILLION JEWISH VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND MILLIONS OF OTHER VICTIMS OF NAZISM.
AND WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY IS TWOFOLD TO SERVE AS A DATE OF FOR OFFICIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTIMS OF THE NAZI REGIME, AND TO PROMOTE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 2010, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DESIGNATED SPECIFIC THEMES FOR THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATIONS THAT FOCUS ON TOPICS SUCH AS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES AND UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS.
ACKNOWLEDGING THE MILESTONE YEAR, THE HOLOCAUST, AND THE UNITED NATIONS OUTREACH PROGRAM HAS CHOSEN HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE AND EDUCATION FOR DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AS ITS GUIDING THEME FOR 2025, REFLECTING THE CRITICAL RELEVANCE OF HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOR THE PRESENT.
WHILE THE DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF OUR INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND LOCAL NEIGHBORS ARE THREATENED, WHEREAS ANTISEMITISM, HATRED AND VIOLENCE AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE REMAIN A REAL THREAT TO OUR SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN JOINS WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ON JANUARY 27TH, 2025, TO REMEMBER THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND TO PAY TRIBUTE TO ITS VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, IT IS CRITICAL NOW MORE THAN EVER FOR US AS A CITY TO ACT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, AND DEFEND OUR COMMON HUMANITY.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 27TH, 2025 AS HOLOCAUST FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY.
AND I'D LOVE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE RYAN TO SPEAK FOR A FEW SECONDS.
UH, LIKE MARK'S FAMILY, MY FAMILY, UH, FLED WHAT IS NOW UKRAINE AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY HAD THEY NOT SUCCESSFULLY AND SAFELY DONE SO.
BUT YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE TODAY, RIGHT? WE HAVE REMEMBRANCE DAYS LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE MUST LEARN FROM HISTORY.
HOLOCAUST DON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THEY HAPPEN BECAUSE WE TAKE A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SOMEHOW OTHERWISE AND LESSEN THEM.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SADLY CONTINUES TO HAPPEN DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND UNLESS WE ARE VIGILANT, WE WILL NOT LEARN THE LESSONS OF HISTORY.
SO I HOPE TODAY AND EVERY DAY WE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER WHAT HUMAN HUMANITY IS CAPABLE OF, BOTH THE HORRORS AND THE GOOD.
AND TODAY WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES.