[Proclamation – Austin Energy Week – To be presented by Council Member José “Chito” Vela]
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UH, I AM, UH, CHITO VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR HERE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES.
TO CELEBRATE A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION, THE HUNDRED 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTIN ENERGY.
LOOKING BACK AT AUSTIN'S HISTORY, ONE THING IS CLEAR.
OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE ALWAYS HAD VISION, TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
THEY'VE BACKED BOLD PUBLIC INVESTMENTS THAT DELIVER BIG RETURNS.
MORE THAN 130 YEARS AGO, AUSTINITES VOTED TO CREATE A CITY OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITY.
JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, WE BUILT A DAM, AND IN MAY, 1895, THE VERY FIRST MOONLIGHT TOWER LIT UP THE NIGHT SKY.
THAT MOMENT DIDN'T JUST LIGHT THE CITY, IT BIRTHED OUR PUBLIC POWER UTILITY.
SINCE THEN, AUSTIN ENERGY HAS REMAINED DEDICATED TO SAFELY DELIVERING CLEAN, AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE ENERGY, AND PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICE TO TODAY, IN HONOR OF THEIR HUNDRED 30TH ANNIVERSARY, THIS HISTORY OF AUSTIN ENERGY LIGHTING, A BRIGHTER FUTURE IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR, UH, LOCAL LIBRARY.
UH, AND BE SURE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE REPLICA OF THE MOONLIGHT TOWER THAT'S IN CITY HALL TODAY.
IT WAS BUILT BY AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEES, AND WHEN NOT ON DISPLAY IS LOCATED AT AUSTIN ENERGY'S HEADQUARTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ROOM, ALONG WITH OTHER UTILITY, UH, MEMORABILIA.
BEING A PUBLIC POWER MEANS AUSTIN ENERGY DOES MORE THAN KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IT REINVESTS IN OUR PEOPLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR FUTURE.
AS YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE PROVIDE OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE AUSTIN ENERGY STAYS FOCUSED ON THE PUBLIC GOOD, KEEPING POWER, RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND MAKING DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT SHAREHOLDER PROFITS.
AUSTIN ENERGY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE DYNAMIC NEEDS OF OUR GROWING REGION.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE WANT AUSTIN ENERGY TO CONTINUE PIONEERING TECHNOLOGIES THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ENERGY GENERATION AND CONSUMPTION, WHILE MAINTAINING OUR FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.
WITH ME TODAY ARE LEADERS FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, ALONG WITH A FEW OF THEIR LONGEST SERVING EMPLOYEES TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THEIR HUNDRED 30TH, UH, ANNIVERSARY WE HAVE TODAY.
AUSTIN ENERGY'S INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER, STUART RILEY, ALONG WITH SOME OF AUSTIN ENERGY'S LONGEST SERVING EMPLOYEES.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AS I CALL YOUR NAME, SAM LOPEZ.
SURVEY TECHNICIAN, ALMOST 40 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR SAM JOHN SANTOS, ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION DESIGNER S SENIOR 39 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UH, LAURA ANDERS, UTILITY SERVICES SPECIALIST, SENIOR, RIGHT, 38 YEARS OF SERVICE.
ALONSO RODRIGUEZ, POWER PLANT SPECIALIST, 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND, UH, JOAN WILHITE, ELECTRIC SYSTEMS FIELD OPERATIONS MANAGER.
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.
WHEN SAM STARTED ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO, I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON AUSTIN ENERGY UTILITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR PROM PUENTES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ECHO YOUR THANKS FOR OUR FIVE LONGEST SERVING EMPLOYEES WHO GET THIS COLLECTIVELY HAVE 189 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND.
SO, THANK YOU, JOHN, SAM, LAURA ALONSO, AND JOAN FOR YOUR DECADES LONG DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO POWERING AUSTIN.
THIS SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE ESSENTIAL WORK THAT OUR EMPLOYEES AT AUSTIN ENERGY PERFORM 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
WHETHER IT'S REPAIRING POWER LINES DURING A STORM, KEEPING OUR POWER PLANTS RUNNING, ENABLING NEW DEVELOPMENT, OR ANSWERING THE CALL FOR CUSTOMERS IN NEED.
AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEES ARE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE COLLECTIVE SUCCESS OF AUSTINITES AS A WHOLE.
AND, AND IT'S ON BEHALF OF THIS ENTIRE AUSTIN ENERGY FAMILY THAT I'M, I'M VERY PROUD TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE FIRST HYDRO, THIS HYDROELECTRIC DAM THAT CO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA MENTIONED, POWERED OUR FIRST MOONLIGHT TOWERS IN 1895.
UM, BUT THAT WAS INNOVATIVE AT THE TIME, AND WE'VE CONTINUED THAT SPIRIT OF INNOVATION.
WE WERE BEHIND THE FIRST WIND FARM AND THE FIRST UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECT IN TEXAS.
WE WERE BEHIND THE FIRST GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY MM-HMM
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BEHIND INDUSTRY LEADING NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CUSTOMER PROGRAMS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, SOLAR CUSTOMER BILL ASSISTANCE, UM, ALL KINDS OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT WE INTEND TO CONTINUE, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, UH, TO COME.AND WE ARE NOW LEADERS STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY IN DELIVERING CARBON FREE ENERGY.
UM, AS WE'VE CONTINUED TO INNOVATE AND, AND AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 130 YEARS OF PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON THE PAST, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON DELIVERING AUSTIN ENERGY'S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.
AND SO HERE'S TO AUSTIN'S NEXT 130 YEARS OF PUBLIC POWER.
AND, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I, IF, IF I REMEMBER MY AUSTIN ENERGY HISTORY CORRECTLY, THAT FIRST DAM WAS DESTROYED IN THE FLOOD, UH, AND THEN A A FEW YEARS LATER REBUILT, WHICH REALLY SPEAKS TO THE TENACITY AND DEDICATION OF, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND, AND ITS RESIDENTS TO, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS A DISASTER THE FIRST TIME WE KEPT AT IT, AND, AND THE RESULTS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.
SO, WELL, LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UH, READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS IN MAY, 1895, THE CITY OF AUSTIN LIT 31 MOONLIGHT TOWERS, PROVIDING THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A CITYWIDE ELECTRIC STREETLIGHT SYSTEM.
AND WHEREAS THAT IGNITED A LEGACY OF PUBLIC POWER THAT HAS GROWN FROM A SINGLE GENERATOR LIGHTING STREET LAMPS TO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED UTILITY, SERVING MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS A 437 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA IN TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HISTORY, FROM THE MOONLIGHT TOWER ERA TO THE TECH BOOM, AUSTIN ENERGY HAS POWERED HOMES, BUSINESSES, LIVE MUSIC VENUES AND DREAMS, WHILE PIONEERING PROGRAMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY, GREEN BUILDING AND RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT HAVE INSPIRED CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN ENERGY CONTINUES TO DELIVER MORE THAN JUST ELECTRICITY BY INVESTING IN PEOPLE AND PLACES, SUPPORTING PARTS, LIBRARIES, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND COMMUNITY TRADITIONS LIKE THE ICONIC ZILKER HOLIDAY TREE AND THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING, ONE OF MY FAVORITE, UH, EVENTS OF THE YEAR, UM, WHEREAS AUSTIN ENERGY'S 130 YEARS OF SERVICE REFLECTS NOT ONLY THE RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION OF THE UTILITY, BUT ALSO THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF AUSTIN COMMITTED TO RELIABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE EQUITABLE WELLBEING OF ITS PEOPLE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA ALONG WITH MAYOR PROTE, VANESSA FUENTES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTA LANE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4TH THROUGH 10TH, 2025 AS AUSTIN ENERGY WEEK IN CELEBRATION OF 130 YEARS OF POWERING AUSTIN, AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE VISIONARIES WHO FOUNDED OUR UTILITY, THE GENERATIONS OF EMPLOYEES WHO CARRY ITS MISSION FORWARD, AND THE COMMUNITY WHO HELPED MAKE THIS PUBLIC POWER A TRUE PUBLIC TREASURE.
IT'S A, A, A PLEASURE TO HONOR FOLKS AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE SUCH LONGSTANDING EMPLOYEES AND, AND ALL OF THE OTHER AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEES WITH US, UH, HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO A, A LONG, UH, PROSPEROUS AND, UH, A CLEAN FUTURE, UH, FOR, UH, FOR AUSTIN ENERGY.
LEMME GRAB ONE OF THE ATIONS HERE RIGHT QUICK.
[Proclamation – Older Americans Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM JOINED HERE ALONGSIDE BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.
IT IS AN ALL OF THE MANY POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT COME ALONGSIDE IT.
AGING IS A WORD THAT OFTEN SCARES MANY OF US.
WHEN WE'RE YOUNG, IT'S ALL WE WANNA DO, BUT ONCE WE REACH A CERTAIN POINT, WE JUST WANNA BE YOUNG AGAIN.
BUT THIS MONTH GIVES US A CHANCE TO STEP BACK AND APPRECIATE HOW OLDER ADULTS BRING US NEW EXPERIENCE.
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US NEW INSIGHTS, TALENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THAT WISDOM TO THE NEXT GENERATION.AGING IS GROWING NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO EMBRACE.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR COMMISSION ON AGING, THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND OUR EQUITY OFFICE, AS WELL AS OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES WHO ARE WORKING TO MAKE AUSTIN A MORE AGE INCLUSIVE CITY.
ALSO, AS PART OF THAT COMMITMENT, I WANT TO INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN AT OUR UPCOMING TOWN HALL, FOCUSED ON, YOU GUESSED IT, OLDER ADULTS HAPPENING ON TUESDAY, MAY 14TH, FROM THREE TO 5:00 PM AT GALAXY CAFE.
IT'S A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY, ELEVATE CONCERNS AND KEEP PUSHING FOR AN AUSTIN WHERE OLDER ADULTS CAN AGE WITH DIGNITY AND SUPPORT.
SO, I'M NOW PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO RICHARD BONDI, CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN COMMISSION ON AGING.
WANNA HOLD THAT REAL QUICK? THANK YOU.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS OBSERVED NATIONALLY AS A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OLDER AMERICANS HIGHLIGHTING AGING TRENDS AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING OLDER ADULTS.
AND WHEREAS THE 2025 THEME FOR OLDER AMERICAN MONTHS IS FLIP THE SCRIPT ON AGING, FOCUSING ON TRANSFORMING HOW SOCIETY PERCEIVES TALKS ABOUT AND APPROACHES AGING.
WHEREAS AUSTIN'S GROWING POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY WITH THEIR STRENGTH, THEIR WISDOM, AND THEIR DIVERSE LIFE EXPERIENCES.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO HONORING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO STAY ACTIVE AND ENGAGED, AND HIGHLIGHTING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PURPOSE, EXPLORATION AND CONNECTION THAT COMES ALONG WITH AGING.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S AGE FRIENDLY AUSTIN PROGRAM AND THE COMMISSION ON AGING IN ALIGNMENT WITH 2025 OLDER AMERICANS MONTH THEME ARE DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING AGING AND ED, EDUCATING AND ENCOURAGING OLDER ADULTS TO PREPARE AND PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE WHILE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE PRESENT.
THEREFORE, I MAYOR PROTE VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS LANE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
MY NAME IS RICHARD BONDY AND I'M HERE AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING.
EACH MAY, WE OBSERVE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH TO HONOR THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE OLDER AMERICAN MONTH THEME FOR 2025 FLIP THE SCRIPT ON AGING, ENCOURAGES US TO CHALLENGE OUTDATED STEREOTYPES AND EMBRACE THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT LONGER LIVES AFFORD US.
AGING IS NOT A DECLINE, BUT A JOURNEY FILLED WITH GROWTH, RESILIENCE, AND CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS.
IT'S A TIME TO SHIFT OUR PERSPECTIVE AND RECOGNIZE THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE VIBRANT, VALUABLE, AND INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.
LET'S HONOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH AGING.
LET'S CELEBRATE THE STRENGTH, PURPOSE, AND CONNECTION THAT OLDER ADULTS BRING TO OUR LIVES.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET'S COMMIT TO COMBATING AGEISM AND FOSTERING A SOCIETY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF AGE, IS VALUED AND EMPOWERED.
TOGETHER WE CAN FLIP THE SCRIPT ON AGING AND CAN CREATE A WORLD WHERE GROWING OLDER IS SEEN AS A JOURNEY OF GROWTH, OPPORTUNITY, AND JOY.
I CHALLENGE EACH OF US TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK AND TALK ABOUT OLDER ADULTS AND AGING, AND TO INTEGRATE THAT CHANGE INTO OUR DAILY LIVES.
[Proclamation – Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri]
GREAT.UH, MY NAME IS COUNCIL MEMBER ZORE, UH, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VELA AND MAYOR PRO TEMP VANESSA ENTENTES, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE DO A PROCLAMATION ON A API, UH, HERITAGE MONTH.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THOUGHT I WAS TALKING TO MY STAFF LAST NIGHT ABOUT REMARKS, BUT I'M LIKE, LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JUST SPEAK FROM THE HEART.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I SEE THE FOLKS WHO ENTERED, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE INVITE LIST AND FOLKS WHO CAME TODAY, YOU KNOW, YOU REALIZE HOW DIVERSE THE API COMMUNITY
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HERE, UH, IS NOT ONLY HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT IN GENERAL, RIGHT.WE'RE NOT A MONOLITH, AND I THINK THAT'S OFTEN FORGOTTEN.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S FOLKS BEHIND ME FROM ALL DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, WALKS OF LIFE FROM ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS, UH, TO, TO EMS, TO TO, TO SCHOOL BOARD.
UH, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS AND, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT APIS HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE PLACES THAT, THAT THEY TAKE UP, THE SPACE THAT THEY TAKE UP.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE LIVE IN A REALLY TROUBLING TIME, UH, WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT HERE TODAY, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTTA THE CAPITAL.
UH, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S SEVERAL ANTI A API BILLS, UH, THAT, THAT ARE BEING HEARD OF THE LEDGE.
UH, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN STUFF AT THE, AT THE STATE ISN'T GOING OUR WAY AND STUFF AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS NOT, UH, THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, WE STAND WITH OUR API COMMUNITY MM-HMM
UH, AND WE'LL, WE'LL ALWAYS BE A SAVING GRACE.
AND WE'LL ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE PUSH FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION, UH, AND, AND WE PUSH FOR VOICES, UH, ALL VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD.
UH, SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION ITSELF, UH, TRUSTEE EARTHY SINGH FROM AUSTIN, A ID FOR JOINING US TODAY, HANNAH WONG FROM AA FILM FEST FOR JOINING US TODAY.
SHE'S RIGHT THERE, UH, MARK DEVAL FROM THE GREATER AUSTIN, GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FROM JOINING US TODAY.
UH, SELENA SHIA FROM THE, SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN EM ASSOCIATION, UH, PAULINE, UH, KAVA CABAGE, UH, FROM THE FILIPINO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF AUSTIN, UH, PIERRE WYNN FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSION.
UH, AND THEN TWO SPECIAL GUESTS.
UH, WE HAVE RAYMOND CO, UH, FROM COUNCILOR RIVERA'S OFFICE.
UH, THERE'S RAM AND THEN WE HAVE KATHERINE HONG FROM CM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, NATASHA HOPPER, MADISON'S OFFICE.
UH, AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, I WILL READ THE P PRO AND I WILL PRESENT THE P PROC, UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THAT ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CITY'S CULTURAL VIBRANCY, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND CIVIC LIFE.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 2010 APIS HAVE BEEN THE FASTEST GROWING RACIAL GROUP IN AUSTIN, DOUBLING IN NUMBER BETWEEN 2010 AND 2021, A GROWTH THAT HAS MATCHED BY INCREASING CIVIC PARTICIPATION, CULTURAL CELEBRATION, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN CELEBRATES AND SUPPORTS THE A API COMMUNITY THROUGH INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER, THE AUSTIN AMERICAN EMPLOYEE NETWORK, AND THE A A N AND HPI COMMUNITY ARCHIVES PROGRAM AT THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER, AND PROUDLY HOSTED THE 25TH ANNUAL CITYWIDE A-A-N-H-P-I HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION ON MAY 6TH, 2025.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S A API COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO THRIVE IN THE FACE OF HISTORIC AND ONGOING CHALLENGES SHOWING RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTING TO ALL FACETS OF AUSTIN'S CIVIC, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC LIFE.
AND WHEREAS AS WE CELEBRATE A API HERITAGE MONTH, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT REPRESENTATION IS NOT THE FINISH LINE.
IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED EQUITY, VISIBILITY, AND BELONGING ACROSS AUSTIN.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER ZO ARI, UH, ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 AS ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT, THAT I WANNA SAY BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, DO A PICTURE ON THIS, UM, IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOT ELECTED, I WAS THE SECOND API ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT WAS THE WORK OF JENNIFER KIM WAS THE, THE FIRST API ELECTED TO COUNCIL.
BUT THERE WAS ALSO CANDIDATES WHO CAME AFTER THAT WHO HAD RUN FOR OFFICE, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL.
BUT I JUST WANNA REALLY GIVE FLOWERS TO EVERYONE WHO'S, WHO'S MADE ME BEING IN OFFICE POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO FOLKS LIKE ARTIE SINGH, UH, UH, SOMEONE WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT THE, UH, THE, I GUESS WHO'S THE FORMER CHAIR OR MY CURRENT CHAIR OF THE, OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY POO JUST AT THE, LIKE, SEEING FACES THAT LOOK LIKE OURS, UH, IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO HOPEFULLY WHEN I, WHEN I AM LONG GONE FROM THIS, THIS BUILDING, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE APIS, UH, WHO ARE HOLDING POSITIONS OF, UH, WHETHER IT BE ON THE DAES OR, OR MAYBE MAYBE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER AND ONE DAY WILL BE API.
SO, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND MAKE SURE I CAN SEE EVERYONE RIGHT BEHIND.
[Proclamation – Bessy Martinez Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
GOOD MORNING.I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, AND IT IS A GREAT DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I HAVE THE BLESSING OF RECOGNIZING ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS,
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MY FRIEND BESSIE.SHE IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.
HER MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER HER COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY HER FELLOW LATINAS, TO REACH THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS TO UNLOCK THEIR FULL HEA POTENTIALS.
AS SHE LIKES TO SAY, SHE'S CREATED A POWERFUL NETWORK OF LATINAS HERE IN AUSTIN AND IS EXPANDING IT EVERY DAY.
THERE ARE JUST A FEW ACCOLADES THAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION.
SHE'S THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE LATINA FOUNDATION, A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING LATINAS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
AND THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION, BESSIE LEADS INITIATIVES SUCH AS AUSTIN LATINAS WHO NEED US AND HFA ON THE MOVE, AND THE HFAS ON THE MOVE ACCELERATED PROGRAM, HELPING LATINA ENTREPRENEURS BRING THEIR IDEAS TO LIFE.
SHE ALSO PRODUCES THE HOUSE OF ANA'S, AN IMMERSIVE EVENT THAT IS FILLING THE GAP WHERE OTHER MAJOR CONFERENCES AND FESTIVALS ARE FAILING BY CREATING A VERY NECESSARY SPACE FOR LATINAS TO TELL THEIR STORIES, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FILM AND MEDIA.
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF AUSTIN'S 2024, UH, AUSTIN WOMEN'S CHANGE MAKERS, SHE CREATED HER OWN PA PODCAST, THE EVERYDAY HEA, WHICH I HAVEN'T BEEN INVITED ON YET, BUT WHATEVER
SHE'S ALSO A PHENOMENAL SPIRIT BRINGING SO MUCH CULTURE AND BEAUTY TO OUR CITY.
AND IT IS MY HONOR, AS, AS AS, UH, JUST A, A PERSON LIVING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND A COUNCIL MEMBER TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS BESSIE MARTINEZ IS A MULTIFACETED SALVADORIAN COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, VISIONARY LEADER, AND CREATIVE OPPORTUN, UH, ENTREPRENEUR, WHO HAS TRANSFORMED CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES PROVING THAT AUTHENTICITY, PASSION, RESILIENCE, AND THE RIGHT COMMUNITY AND THE RIGHT COMMUNITY, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
AND WHEREAS AS THE FOUNDER OF THE LATINA FOUNDATION, SHE IS COMMITTED HERSELF TO EMPOWERING LATINAS THROUGH COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVES, ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE.
AND WHEREAS A DEVOTED WIFE, MOTHER, FRIEND, AND ALLY BESSIE LEADS BY EXAMPLE, PROVING THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH AN OPEN HEART AND AN OPEN MIND THROUGH EVERY ROLE, SHE HAS SHOWN THAT SUCCESS IS BUILT ON LOVE, PURPOSE, AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS BESSIE MARTINEZ IS DEDICATED TO HELPING BUILD LEGACIES THAT HONOR THE LATINA COMMUNITIES, DIVERSE IDENTITIES, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE SEEN, VALUED, AND ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, AND WHEREAS A TRUE FORCE FOR CHANGE, BESSIE MARTINEZ'S UNWAVERING DEDICATION CONTINUES TO BREAK BARRIERS, UPLIFT COMMUNITIES, PUSH BOUNDARIES, AND INSPIRE LATINAS EVERYWHERE.
NOW, UH, NOW THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR PROTE, VANESSA FUENTES, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, KIRK WATSON, AND THE ENTIRE DAAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 8TH, 2025, AS BESSIE MARTINEZ DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
OOH, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO THIS WITHOUT CRYING.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU BOTH VANESSA AND JOSE.
UM, YOU ALL HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THE REASON WHY I'VE CONTINUED TO DO THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE.
YOU GUYS HAVE LED BY EXAMPLE AND SHOWN WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE HERE IN AUSTIN.
FOR MYSELF AS AN IMMIGRANT FROM EL SALVADOR, IT IS VERY MUCH MY PLEASURE AND MY HONOR TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY AND BE ABLE TO STAND NEXT TO MY MOM AND SHOW HER THE WORK AND THE SACRIFICES THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR SO LONG.
I'M ALSO STANDING HERE AND HUMBLED BY SO MANY LATINA WOMEN THAT I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST WALK HAND IN HAND WITH AND SIDE BY SIDE, BUT UPLIFT, INSPIRE, AND HOPEFULLY GIVE THEM THE TORCH TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE LEADING ON AS THE POWERFUL CHIN LATINA WOMEN HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM TODAY, MAY THE EIGHTH AS BESSIE MARTINEZ DAY.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, IT'S ALSO FOR THE GENERATIONS THAT COME BEHIND ME, THE ANCESTORS THAT I'M MAKING PROUD TODAY, AND MY CHILDREN, MY MOTHER, MY HUSBAND, AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY THAT JOINS ME TODAY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THIS DAY.
IT MEANS MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.
YOU WANNA JUMP IN FROM THE PODIUM? YES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SO PROUD OF YOU IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM.
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GOOD[Proclamation – Building Safety Month – To be presented by Council Member José “Chito” Vela]
MORNING.I'M CHIEF VELA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, A TIME TO HONOR THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUILDINGS AND SPACES IN OUR CITY ARE SAFE, RESILIENT, AND BUILT TO LAST.
BUILDING SAFETY IS SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT BEHIND EVERY SECURE STRUCTURE IS A TEAM OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.
THEIR EFFORTS PROTECT OUR HOMES, WORKPLACES, AND PUBLIC SPACES, OFTEN WITHOUT RECOGNITION.
TODAY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING TEAM AT OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THIS VITAL WORK.
THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR JOSE ROIG FOR YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP TO ASSISTANT DIRECTORS KEITH MARS, BRENDA DE LA GARZA, DANIEL WORD, ELAINE GARRETT, AND TRACY ALLEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND DEDICATION.
WE ALSO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, JANET, HE AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, UH, MARIE SANDOVAL, FOR YOUR IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT SUCCESS, YOUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SAFETY.
INNOVATION AND PUBLIC SURFACE MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER, SAFER, AND MORE RESILIENT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, DISTRICT FOUR, WE'VE, I'VE CALLED UPON THE, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND CODE ENFORCEMENT AND, AND, AND DIFFERENT, MANY TIMES THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO HELPFUL.
THEY WORK SO HARD, THEY TRY THEIR BEST TO RESOLVE VERY TRICKY SITUATIONS INVOLVING PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AND WE'VE GOTTA RESPECT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, BUT WE'VE GOTTA KEEP THINGS SAFE.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE ALL OF THE STAFF INVOLVED IN BUILDING SAFETY.
SO, SO MUCH, UH, UH, THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH.
UH, DIRECTOR ROY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE.
SO GOOD MORNING, UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, UH, THE MAJOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS, UH, HONOR AND FOR RECOGNIZING BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, UH, THIS YEAR AND JOINING THE INTERNATIONAL CO-COUNSEL IN THIS, IN THIS CELEBRATION, UH, THIS YEAR, TEAMS IS GAME ON, AND IT'S NOT A GAME, BUT IT SHOWS THE WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AS A TEAM, UH, RELIED ON EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW, POLICY MAKERS, UH, TEAM MEMBERS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
UH, BUILDING SAFETY FOR ME IS NOT JUST A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I THINK IT'S A SHARED COMMITMENT TO, TO THE WELLBEING OF EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, THOSE THAT LIVE HERE, THAT WORK HERE, THAT VISIT OUR CITY.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A TEAM COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE AND WE ARE PROUD OF THE, THE TEAM THAT THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN EVERY, EVERY DAY.
UH, WHETHER WE TRANSFORMING THE SITE PLAN, REVIEW PROCESS, WHETHER WE ADOPTING NEW TECHNICAL CODES, RIGHT? UM, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, MAKING IT EASIER TO, TO ADD THE MUCH NEEDED HOUSING THAT WE NEED IN THIS CITY.
AND OUR TEAM IS WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
SO THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION IS, UH, SOMEWHAT BITTERSWEET FOR ME.
UM, AS I PREPARE TO, UH, TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN MY JOURNEY AND, UH, AND FOCUS ON THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING SAFETY, UH, CHALLENGES, I WILL TAKE MANY LESSONS FROM AUSTIN AND WHAT I HAVE SPENT MOST TIME IN MY CAREER AND REALLY, UH, UH, TAKE, TAKE WHAT I LEARNED HERE TO, UH, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN OTHER PLACES.
SO I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SAFETY.
UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK WITH SO MANY DEDICATED PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT, MY TEAMS, AND, UH, THEY NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE, OF THE GOAL, WHICH IS KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE, UH, IN AUSTIN.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR SERVICE.
I KNOW YOU'LL BE, UH, LEAVING SOON, BUT, UH, YOU'VE DONE A, A WONDERFUL JOB.
I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.
UH, AND I KNOW YOU, YOU HAVE A, A DEEP, UH, COMMITMENT TO, UH, TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TO, TO BUILDING SAFETY, AND YOU'RE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
LEMME GO AHEAD AND, UH, READ THE, UH, RESOLUTION BUILDING SAFETY MONTH PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS OUR CITY IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GROWTH AND STRENGTH DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY AND ESSENTIAL ROLE, OUR HOMES, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY, BOTH IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE.
AND WHEREAS OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE RESILIENCE OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVOTION OF VIGILANT GUARDIANS, BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION OFFICIALS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, TRADESPEOPLE DESIGNED PROFESSIONALS, LABORERS,
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PLUMBERS, AND OTHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.AND WHEREAS THESE MODERN BUILDING CODES AND STANDARDS INCLUDE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDS SUCH AS HURRICANES, SNOWSTORMS, TORNADOES, WILDLAND FIRES, FLOODS, AND EARTHQUAKES.
AND WHEREAS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IS SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL TO REMIND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S LARGELY UNKNOWN PROTECTORS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR CODE OFFICIALS WHO ASSURE US OF SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PROSPERITY.
AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR IN OBSERVANCE OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE BUILDING SAFETY, RESILIENCE, AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US BY LOCAL, STATE, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, AND FEDERAL BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION DEPARTMENTS IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 AS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND YEAH, LET'S GET A LITTLE, UH, PHOTO ATION.
[Additional Item.]
WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD AN, HAD AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATION OVER THE PAST 18 YEARS.
JOSE IS DEDICATED AND A PASSIONATE PUBLIC SERVANT, PASSIONATE, HARDWORKING, AND ALWAYS FOCUSED ON BUILDING A SAFE AND SAFER COMMUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN THE VIBRANT AUSTIN AREA.
STARTING HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN 2007, HE WAS A BUILDING INSPECTOR.
JOSE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS, ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF BUILDING SAFETY.
HE WAS THE CITY'S FIRST EVER BUILDING OFFICIAL, LEADING THE WAY FOR A ROLE THAT IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT ALL CONSTRUCTION WORK IS PERFORMED SAFELY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CODES.
BUT JOSE'S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SAFETY DIDN'T STOP IN AUSTIN.
HE'S ALSO SHARED HIS KNOWLEDGE INTERNATIONALLY TEACHING FIRE AND BUILDING CODES IN COLUMBIA AND MEXICO.
MOST RECENTLY, HE'S BEEN SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AFTER ALSO LEADING AUSTIN CODE.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, BOTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE EVOLVED AND GROWN FOCUSING ON BUILDING MORE RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY-FOCUSED SERVICES THAT REFLECT OUR CITY'S CORE VALUES.
IN 2024, HIS IMPACT WAS RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE STATE WHEN HE WAS NAMED ONE OF TEXAS 100 BY THE BUSINESS JOURNAL.
AND THROUGH IT ALL, HE HAS LED WITH FORESIGHT AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERY AUSTINITE.
JOSE'S LEGACY ISN'T JUST IN THE PROGRAMS OR POLICIES HE HELPED CREATE.
IT'S THE WAY HE HAS APPROACHED EVERY CHALLENGE WITH HEART, WITH PURPOSE, AND WITH DEEP CARE FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
JOSE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AS YOU BEGIN YOUR NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR CAREER WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT, AND WE KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEREVER YOU GO.
AND WITH THAT, I WANTED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FROM THE CITY, AND I'LL READ IT FOR THE UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING YOUR 18 YEAR CAREER.
AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, JOSE ROY IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS EIGHTH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR 2025, SIGNED BY MAYOR KIRK WATSON ON BEHALF OF MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT REPRESENT THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS
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ON YOUR SERVICE.AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO, I WANNA THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE GRACE AND THE ON THE STRENGTH TO BE HERE.
AND IT'S BEEN A BLESSING FOR ME TO WORK IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I I LOOK AT MY JOURNEY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A, AS A BLESSING, AND I CALL IT FOR INSPECTOR, FROM INSPECTOR TO DIRECTOR.
AND IT'S, I NEVER IMAGINED THAT WHEN I STARTED BACK IN 2007, I'LL BE ABLE TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT.
I WANNA THANK MY FAMILY THAT IS HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE.
SHE, UH, SHE DEALT WITH ALL THE STRESS AT HOME AND
AND, UH, SHE ALWAYS, ALWAYS BELIEVED IN ME AND ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME TO ACTUALLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
I GOT MANY MENTORS ALONG THE WAY.
UM, BUT ONE THING I REMEMBER FROM ONE OF THEM, ESPECIALLY THAT IMPACTED MY LIFE IS I ASKED HIM WHY WE DO THIS.
AND THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT I TAKE.
WE CARE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITIES.
WE CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, AND I'LL TAKE THAT WITH ME.
I WILL BE MOVING FROM THE AREA.
I'LL BE AROUND HERE ENJOYING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT I'LL BE, UM, I THINK I'M LIVING A BIGGER FOOTPRINT AND, AND CONTINUE MY PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, HELPING COMMUNITIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, UH, TO LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS THE WAY WE DO IT HERE AND, UH, AND SHARE THE BEST PRACTICES.
SO THANK YOU TO MY TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE AND MY MY DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS AMAZING.
YOU GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE THERE.
THEY'RE DEDICATED AND ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I TAKE THAT WITH ME.
THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILT, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL TAKE THAT WITH ME.
SO THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.