[National Procurement Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela]
[00:00:05]
I'M MAYOR PRO TEM CHITO VELA HERE FOR A PROCUREMENT MONTH PROCLAMATION.
UH, VERY EXCITED TO HONOR AND THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE PROCUREMENT DIVISION OF, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UH, WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF AUSTIN FINANCIAL SERVICES CENTRAL PROCUREMENT DIVISION, AS WE RECOGNIZE MARCH AS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH.
FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS, THIS TEAM HAS RECEIVED THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE IN PROCUREMENT FROM THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT INSTITUTE, A NATIONAL RECOGNITION THAT REFLECTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN INNOVATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT.
EVERY YEAR, OUR PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS FACILITATE HUNDREDS OF SOLICITATIONS AND SOURCE SELECTIONS RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF CONTRACTS TO KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING.
AND INSURED DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SERVE AUSTIN RESIDENTS JUST AS IMPORTANT, THEIR WORK REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES.
THE CENTRAL PROCUREMENT DIVISION HELPS ADVANCE KEY CITY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS PARTICIPATION, LOCAL AND SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES, AND LIVING AND PREVAILING WAGE EFFORTS.
MUCH OF THIS WORK HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT IT TOUCHES NEARLY EVERY SERVICE THE CITY PROVIDES.
I WANNA THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM AND FOR THE VITAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN SUPPORTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MATT DERI, DIVISION CHIEF OF THE PROGRAM DIVISION AT THE AUSTIN FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
MATT, I, I'LL BE HONEST, NO ONE PREPPED ME FOR THIS.
I'M NOT
I'M SUPPOSED TO FINISH READING, SO I APOLOGIZE.
BUT, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY REMARKS, ANY THOUGHTS, UH, ABOUT THE DIVISION, ABOUT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO? UH, OH, NO, ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH, SO WE'VE GOT A SMALL REPRESENTATION HERE, UH, OF OUR MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ANOTHER 80 TO A HUNDRED STAFF THAT WORK VERY HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT AREN'T HERE.
SO JUST REAL QUICKLY, LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS TO THEM AND APPRECIATE OUR HARD WORK AND THEIR HARD WORK, SO, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND, AND WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE, THE KIND OF THE, THE PARK, YOU SEE THE, THE, THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL OUT THERE, BUT BEHIND THAT IS JUST A WHOLE NETWORK OF CONTRACTS AND SUPPLY CONTRACTS AND EQUIPMENT AND ALL THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
AND IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN AN A, AN EFFICIENT, UH, WAY, UH, UH, A VERY, WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, UH, AND, AND GET GOOD CONTRACTS OUT THERE, AND I KNOW Y'ALL DO THAT, AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU, UH, MOST OF THE TIME Y'ALL ARE BEHIND THE SCENES TODAY.
Y'ALL ARE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA
AND WITH THAT, LET ME GO AHEAD AND, AND READ THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH PROCLAMATION.
I'M GONNA TRY TO DO THIS WITHOUT MY GLASSES.
UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CITY OF AUSTIN PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS EMBODY THE VALUES REQUIRED TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROCUREMENT PROFESSION IN TEXAS, AND WHEREAS THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE EFFICIENCY AND ETHICAL COMPETITION OF PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT IN AUSTIN, ENSURING THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THROUGH TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE PROCESSES.
AND WHEREAS PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS SERVE AS STEWARDS IN THE PIVOTAL PROCESS OF ENSURING QUALITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION ARE PRIORITIZED IN THE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS, SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO THE PROCUREMENT OF GOOD SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED CONTRACTS, PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS ADD VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION BY DEVELOPING STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES AND CULTIVATING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEREAS THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT HAS PROCLAIMED THE MONTH OF MARCH AS PROCUREMENT MONTH TO FURTHER EXPAND AWARENESS OF THE PURCHASING PROFESSIONAL'S ROLE TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE PUBLIC BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LEADERS, AND WHEREAS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE VITAL FUNCTION THAT PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS SERVE WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2026 AS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
SO, WELL, UH, THANK Y'ALL, UH, UH, VERY MUCH, UH, GREAT TO BE HERE WITH, UH, OUR PROCUREMENT STAFF AND JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK, UH, AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[Protect Austin Kids Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
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GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, AND TODAY I AM HONORED TO BE JOINED BY THE CENTER OF CHILD PROTECTION AND MANY OF OUR AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTION ADVOCATES.
TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE, PROTECT AUSTIN KIDS DAY, A CHANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OFTEN DIFFICULT BUT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE BY ADVOCATES TO PREVENT HARM AND TO HELP CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE.
TODAY IS ALSO A REMINDER THAT THIS WORK IS NEVER DONE ALONE.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO PRO TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
WE CAN DO THIS BY REMEMBERING FIVE STEPS TO PROTECT AUSTIN'S KIDS, LEARNING THE FACTS, MINIMIZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABUSE, TALKING OPENLY AND HONESTLY ABOUT IT, RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS AND REACTING RESPONSIBLY ON THE HEELS OF NATIONAL ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
TODAY AS A COMMUNITY, LET'S MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND HELP AND CHILD ABUSE, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS EVERY CHILD IN AUSTIN DESERVES A CHILDHOOD FREE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT IN TEXAS, ONE IN SIX HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORT HAVING BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED IN THEIR LIFETIME.
AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF APRIL, APRIL IS RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, A TIME TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE AND EDUCATION REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE.
AND WHEREAS THE CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION SERVES AS THE ONLY NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER IN TRAVIS COUNTY, PROVIDING A SPECIALIZED CHILD FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF, OF CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS IN 2025 ALONE, THE CENTER PROVIDED FORENSIC INTERVIEWS TO 856 CHILD VICTIMS OFFERING THEM A SAFE SPACE TO BE HEARD AND A CRUCIAL FIRST STEP ON THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD HEALING.
AND WHEREAS THIS MONTH, THE THE MISSION TO REDUCE TRAUMA IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM, A DEDICATED MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT INCLUDES LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER, AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND WHEREAS PROTECT AUSTIN KIDS SERVES AS A, AS A COMMUNITY EDUCATION HUB, PROVIDING PREVENTATIVE TOOLS AND AWARENESS NEEDED TO STOP THE ABUSE BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
AND WHERE ESTABLISHING PROTECTING KIDS AUSTIN KIDS DAY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITS CITIZENS CAN RALLY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM AND WHILE ADVOCATING FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERY CHILD IN TRAVIS COUNTY FOR SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERY CHILD IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE DO HEREBY AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 8TH, 2026 AS PROTECT AUSTIN KIDS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION.
AS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, THE ONLY NONPROFIT IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT WORKS ALONGSIDE, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, DFPS, TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, DA'S OFFICE AND DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN THE INVESTIGATION, UM, AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE CASES.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR APRIL BEING, UM, PREVENT, UM, AWARENESS.
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UM, APRIL IS THE THE MONTH THAT WE WANT TO, UM, SHARE INFORMATION REGARDING PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND UM, PROVIDING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION.AND YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, UM, AT THE CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION.ORG TO GET MORE INFORMATION REGARDING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE.
[Latinas Run ATX – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, PROUDLY REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE.
AND TODAY WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, SUPPORTERS, AND A WHOLE LOT OF ANA, WE CELEBRATE LATINAS RUN A TXA COMMUNITY THAT IS REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN INCLUSIVE WELLNESS SPACE.
THEY'RE AMPLIFYING EVERY PATH, EVERY VOICE LIFTING UP AND LIFTING UP ANA'S IN THE PROCESS.
I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THEIR IMPACT AND CELEBRATE THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.
ALSO, I WANT TO EXTEND THEM A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE CITY OF AUSTIN OPEN THE WISHBONE BRIDGE IN EAST AUSTIN AND DISTRICT THREE.
THEY WERE SOME OF THE FIRST TO ACTUALLY RUN ACROSS THAT BRIDGE WITH US A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, EXCUSE ME, UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS SUZETTE ROMAN, FOUNDER OF LATINAS RUN A TX CREATED THE ORGANIZATION WITH THE INTENTION OF EMPOWERING LATINAS IN AUSTIN WHILE ULTIMATELY INSPIRING EVERY WOMAN TO RUN HER OWN PATH.
AND WHEREAS LATINAS RUN A TX IS A WOMAN LED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BASED IN AUSTIN, LEMME RUN THAT BACK AGAIN.
A WOMAN LED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BEST, UH, BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, COMMITTED TO EXPANDING REPRESENTATION IN WELLNESS SPACES AND CULTIVATING CONFIDENCE, BELONGING AND AUTHENTIC CONNECTION THROUGH MOVEMENT.
AND WHEREAS LATINAS RUN A TX WORKS ALONGSIDE LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVIC PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY.
AND THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS MILES OF HOPE AND RUN TO THE POLLS, TRANSFORMS MO MOVEMENT INTO MEANING MEANINGFUL ACTION THAT UPLIFTS AND MOBILIZES THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY RUNS AND WELLNESS GATHERINGS, LATINAS RUN A TX CULTIVATES ENVIRONMENTS WHERE LATINAS IN AUSTIN FORM AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY BONDS, AND ARE REMINDED THAT THEY RIGHTFULLY BELONG IN SPACES OF HEALTH, MOVEMENT AND WELLBEING.
AND WHEREAS LATINAS RUN A TX REMAINS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING AND CELEBRATING LATINAS WHILE AFFIRMING THAT EVERY WOMAN HAS A VOICE AND THAT RUNNING IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF SPACE, EXPERIENCE, LEVEL OR BACKGROUND.
AND THAT WELLNESS SPACES ARE MEANT TO BE INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING TO EVERYBODY.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DAAS AND THE MAYOR, UH, AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 12TH, 2026 AS LATINAS RUN A TX DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND WE'LL INVITE THE FOUNDER SUZETTE TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FIRST OF ALL THE COUNSELOR AND EVERYONE FOR GIVING US THIS HONOR.
I STARTED THIS ROUND CLUB BACK IN AUGUST AND IT HONESTLY MEANS SO MUCH THE WAY IT HAS GROWN LIKE IN THIS PAST COUPLE MONTHS.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT LIKE, ULTIMATELY THE WOMAN THAT INSPIRE ME EVERY DAY.
LIKE I FEEL LIKE I'M CONSTANTLY INSPIRED BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LIKE THE WOMEN AROUND ME.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY MY GOAL IS JUST TO LIKE, CONTINUE TO EMPOWER WOMEN.
AND AGAIN, LIKE REMIND EVERYONE THAT WELLNESS AND HEALTH IS AN INCLUSIVE SPACE WHERE EVERYONE AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO LIKE, BE ABLE TO LIKE RUN AND ALSO LIKE JUST BUILD FRIENDSHIPS WITHIN THE ROCK CLUB ITSELF.
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HERE WE CAN TAKE[Long COVID Awareness Day - To be presented by Council Member Marc Duchen]
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.AS YOU KNOW, AWARENESS IS KEY IN SUPPORTING THOSE EXPERIENCING LONG COVID.
AS SOMEONE WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS, I UNDERSTAND THE DAILY STRUGGLES AND THE FRUSTRATION THAT COMES WITH A COMPLICATED MEDICAL SITUATION.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES AROUND EVERYTHING FROM GETTING AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, WHICH COULD IN SOME CASES TAKE YEARS, AS WELL AS NAVIGATING COMMON DEBUT DEBILITATING SYMPTOMS LIKE CHRONIC FATIGUE AND PAIN.
THESE SYMPTOMS AND CHALLENGES IMPACT ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES, OUR WORK, OUR RELATIONSHIPS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH, EVEN OUR ABILITY TO REMAIN HOPEFUL IN A FUTURE THAT HAS TREATMENTS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM CLEAR THE AIR A TX AND FROM THE LONG COVID COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMERGE FROM THE FOUNDER'S OWN EXPERIENCES WITH LONG COVID.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR LONG COVID PATIENTS.
I ESPECIALLY WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF DR. MICHAEL BROAD AND THE TEAM IN THE POST COVID-19 PROGRAM BASED AT THE DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE OF 2021.
AND SINCE THEN, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED SPECIALIZED CARE TO NEARLY 1300 PATIENTS ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
THE PROGRAM ACCEPTS PATIENTS THROUGH THE MEDICAL ACCESS PROGRAM MAP GUARANTEEING THAT UNINSURED RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SPECIALIZED CARE.
THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IS MADE UP OF MEDICAL DIRECTOR DR.
BROAD NEURO, NEURO IMMUNOLOGIST AND RESEARCH DIRECTOR DR.
ED ESTHER MELAMED, INTERNIST, DR.
JOHANNA BUSH, AND NURSE PRACTITIONER JEFFREY SANDWICK.
THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES CLINICAL CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT, SOCIAL WORK AND DIETICIANS.
THE TEAM HAS WORKED TO CONDUCT CLINICAL TRIALS AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE AND FINDING EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK DR.
BRODY'S TEAM, PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS AND THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM WHO ALL WORK TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND, AND SO I, I WANNA JUST RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY HERE WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, UH, BECAUSE WE NEED THAT KIND OF AWARENESS ON THESE ISSUES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, UH, FEEL EVEN COMFORTABLE BRINGING FORWARD THOSE ISSUES AND SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION.
SO I'D NOW LIKE TO PASS THE BATON ON AND WELCOME THE CLEAR FOR THE AIR A TX TO SHARE THEIR STORY AS WELL.
HELLO? UM, MY NAME IS KATIE DRER.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF CLEAR THE AIR A TX.
AND UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IT HAS BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DEC DECLARED COVID-19 A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
AND IN THAT TIME, THE DESIGNATION HAS REMAINED DESPITE WHAT THE MAJORITY US, MAJORITY OF US HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE.
THE PANDEMIC NEVER ENDED AND COVID NEVER WENT AWAY.
AND FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ALL, ALL OVER THE WORLD, THE EFFECTS OF THIS VIRUS ARE INESCAPABLE AND DEVASTATING.
IN DECEMBER, 2021, A POSITIVE COVID TEST CHANGED MY LIFE AND I NEVER MADE A FULL RECOVERY.
BY JULY, 2022, I QUIT PERFORMING AFTER NEARLY A DECADE AND DROPPED OUTTA SCHOOL IN EARLY 2023.
BY 2024, I LOST MY JOB AND ALMOST LOST HOUSING AFTER I WAS NEARLY HOSPITALIZED.
SINCE 2021, I'VE HAD MULTIPLE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS IN ORDER TO STAY HOUSED AND TO SEEK ACCURATE MEDICAL CARE.
WHILE COVID IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS MILD, I'D SAY THAT MILD IS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTOR FOR TACO SAUCE, BUT NOT AN AIRBORNE ILLNESS THAT HAS CATALYZED A MASS DISABLEMENT AND UPENDED COUNTLESS LIVES.
TRULY COUNTLESS LONG COVID HAS OVER 200 DOCUMENTED SYMPTOMS AND NO APPROVED TREATMENTS.
LONG COVID DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, THE LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY AND WOMEN.
THE LACK OF AWARENESS AMONG MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
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AND THE GENERAL POPULATION MEANS THAT THERE'S, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID WHO PROBABLY DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THEIR NEW HEALTH ISSUES ARE FROM A COVID INFECTION.I NOTICED A GLARING LACK OF EDUCATION AND PREVENTION MEASURES IN AUSTIN.
SO WITH MY LIMITED ENERGY, I STARTED CLEAR THE AIR A TX IN DECEMBER, 2023 CLEAR THE AIR A TX STRIVES TO MAKE EVENTS IN PUBLIC SPACES IN AUSTIN MORE ACCESSIBLE BY MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF AIRBORNE ILLNESSES SUCH AS COVID-19.
OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM IS A LENDING LIBRARY OF HEPA GRADE AIR PURIFIERS THAT ANYBODY IN AUSTIN CAN BORROW FOR FREE.
WE CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON AIR PURIFIERS BECAUSE COVID IS AIRBORNE.
THE RISK OF EACH INFECTION IS CUMULATIVE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING LONG COVID.
AND THE ONLY SUREFIRE WAY TO PREVENT LONG COVID IS TO PREVENT COVID.
I CLEAR THE AIR IS AN INVITATION TO LEARN, BUT IT'S ALSO A CALL TO ACTION BECAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIRES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF BEING SILENCED, IGNORED, AND LEFT TO FIGURE OUT, FIGURE IT ALL OUT FOR OURSELVES, IT IS INCREDIBLY PROMISING TO SEE CITY HALL FULL OF PEOPLE WEARING TEAL TODAY.
PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITIES DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT NOW WITH THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, FUENTES, UH, EXCUSE ME, FUENTES AND CHEN AND THE CITY CITY'S PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF LONG COVID, THE REAL WORK CAN FINALLY BEGIN.
AND FOR AUSTINITES WITH LONG COVID, THIS PROCLAMATION IS THE FIRST STEP TO BEING HEARD, BELIEVED, AND SUPPORTED.
DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WAS INTERESTED IN SAYING A COUPLE OF WORDS? DR.
RACHEL WITH RACHEL? YEAH, PLEASE.
ALL THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME.
MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MY NAME IS RACHEL AND I'M THE CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIR OF THE LONG COVID COLLECTIVE.
AT LEAST ONE IN 19 ADULTS HAVE LONG COVID THAT TRANSLATES TO OVER 42,000 AUSTINITES.
LONG COVID FORCED HER TO LEAVE THE FIELD SHE LOVED.
25-YEAR-OLD MASON HAD TO LEAVE HIS ORGANIC FARM IN MAINE TO MOVE BACK IN WITH HIS PARENTS.
DAVE RAN HIS FAMILY'S 100-YEAR-OLD RANCHING BUSINESS AND LONG COVID TOOK THAT AWAY FROM HIM.
THE MEDICAL COSTS HAVE FORCED THEIR FAMILY INTO BANKRUPTCY.
CINDY BEHIND ME,
THREE YEARS AGO, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF LONG COVID.
I TOOK ALL THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, GOT MY VACCINES, AND FELT LIKE MOST OTHER 22 YEAR OLDS.
INVINCIBLE LONG COVID O FORCED ME TO QUIT MY NEW JOB, ABANDONED MY DREAMS OF MOVING ABROAD AFTER COLLEGE AND MOVED BACK IN WITH MY FAMILY.
THESE STORIES ARE ALL DIFFERENT, BUT THE PATTERN IS THE SAME.
THIS DISEASE BRINGS REAL SUFFERING.
IT BRINGS ISOLATION, FATIGUE, INTOLERANCE, CRITICISM, JUDGMENT, AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
IT DESTROYS STABILITY, IT STRAINS RELATIONSHIPS.
IT STEALS JOY, IT DEVASTATES LIVES.
PLEASE BELIEVE US WHEN WE SAY WE DID NOT CHOOSE THIS.
WHEN WE WERE SICK, THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR US TO TURN TO FOR SUPPORT.
SO IN 2024, WE FOUNDED THE LONG COVID COLLECTIVE, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO FOSTERING COMMUNITY, SHARING RESOURCES AND OFFERING PATHWAYS TO RECLAIM LIVES AND REBUILD FUTURES WHILE NAVIGATING CHRONIC ILLNESS.
THE WORK ISN'T EASY, BUT WE FIND A WAY BECAUSE GIVING BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE LIVE FOR NOW.
WE THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THOSE AUSTINITES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THIS DISEASE.
WE HOPE THAT THE EFFORT DOESN'T STOP HERE AND THE AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF THE LONG COVID COMMUNITY INTO THE FUTURE.
EMPATHY MATTERS, PUBLIC AWARENESS MATTERS.
SIX YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, MOST PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN, BUT WE CANNOT FORGET, OUR BODIES WON'T LET US.
AND WE ARE DONE HIDING IN THE SHADOWS.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? THAT WAS DR.
I'LL JUST SAY REAL QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, AND JUST, UH, BEING INSPIRED BY THE PATIENTS GOING THROUGH THIS.
THE PEOPLE LIVING WITH LONG COVID, UM, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED OUR POST COVID TO 19 PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL, REALLY ON THEIR SHOULDERS RECOGNIZING FIRST AND FOREMOST THEY ARE THE EXPERTS IN THE DISEASE AND LEARNING FROM THEM TRYING TO HARNESS THEIR CAPACITY TO WANT TO BE PART OF THE RESEARCH ADVOCATE FOR BETTER TREATMENTS.
AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, WE'RE TRYING TO
[00:25:01]
DO OUR JOB AND WHAT WE DO BEST TO FIND THOSE CURES, TO SUPPORT THEM AND REALLY, UH, TREAT THIS ILLNESS IN ANY WAY WE CAN.BUT IT'S SO INSPIRING AND SO IMPORTANT TO RAISE AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN GOING THROUGH THE ILLNESS AND MILLIONS THROUGH THE UNITED STATES.
IT HAS THE NAME COVID IN IT, BUT I REALLY HOPE, UM, WE'VE MOVED PAST THAT TRAUMATIC TIME IN OUR HISTORY AND REALLY, UH, THIS DISEASE WILL BE, UH, THOUGHT ABOUT WITH CURIOSITY AND EMPATHY, UH, FOR THE REAL EFFECTS OF, OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OUR NEIGHBORS GOING THROUGH THIS ILLNESS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY, UM, HERE WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD TO BRING THIS CONDITION TO LIGHT.
UM, SIX YEARS AGO YESTERDAY, OUR WORLD'S CHANGED AND WE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, AND WE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER TO, UM, PUT A DIS A VACCINE TOGETHER TO DEPLOY A VACCINE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY MOVING, UM, FORWARD, UM, TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY HEAL.
BUT AS HAS BEEN SAID, THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.
THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE DAY AFTER DAY WHO ARE CONTRACTING COVID-19.
UM, THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR VACCINES TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FROM DEVELOPING SEVERE COVID.
UM, AND ALSO TO HELP PEOPLE LESSEN THE CHANCES OF THEIR GETTING LONG COVID.
THIS IS A VERY DEBILITATING, UM, CONDITION.
AND AS HAS BEEN SAID, MANY PROVIDERS, UM, DO NOT RECOGNIZE IT AT FIRST WHEN IT PRESENTS ITSELF BECAUSE IT IS COMPLEX AND IT HAS MANY ME MANY WAYS OF PRESENTING ITSELF.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND DR.
BRODY'S GROUP FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE TO SHED LIGHT ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THIS CONDITION.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH EVERYBODY HERE AND WITH CLINICIANS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY TO ADDRESS THIS, TO FIND CURES AND TO, UM, CONTINUE TO SHED LIGHT ON THE THE CONDITION BECAUSE IT ISN'T GOING AWAY AND IT IS LONG LASTING AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T FORGET.
AND SO NOW WE'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'D LIKE TO HELP HOLD THIS WITH, UH, ANYBODY ELSE FROM ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS I HAVE.
VIOL TOLD AGAIN, AND I'M GONNA, I'M JUST GOING TO READ THROUGH THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN WE'RE GONNA JUMP IN FRONT FOR I THINK A PHOTO PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS LONG COVID IS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 200 ONGOING SYMPTOMS PERSISTING LONGER THAN THREE MONTHS FOLLOWING COVID-19 INFECTIONS.
WHEREAS DEBILITATING SYMPTOMS CAN AFFECT ALL BODY SYSTEMS RANGING FROM FATIGUE AND RAPID HEARTBEAT TO COGNITIVE FOG, GASTROINTESTINAL ISSUES, RESPIRATORY DISCOMFORT, AND IMMUNE DYSREGULATION.
WHEREAS LONG COVID IMPACTS AT LEAST ONE IN 19 ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AN ESTIMATED 24 MILLION WORKING AGE ADULTS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE US LABOR FORCE.
WHEREAS DESPITE THE HIGH PREVALENCE, THERE IS NO VALIDATED DIAGNOSTIC TEST CAUSING MISDIAGNOSIS, DELAYED CARE, A LACK OF INSURANCE COVERAGE.
AND WHEREAS INFECTION PREVENTION IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP LONG COVID AS THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FDA APPROVED TREATMENTS FOR LONG COVID, WHEREAS THERE IS LITTLE TO NO PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE POTENTIAL LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF A COVID INFECTION.
AND ONE THIRD OF AMERICANS HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD OF LONG COVID.
AND WHEREAS THE LACK OF RECOGNITION AND UNDERSTANDING LEADS TO ISOLATION IN LONG COVID PATIENTS AND RELATED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES.
WHEREAS AUSTIN RESIDENTS LIVING WITH LONG COVID REPORT, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING INSTABILITY, LACK OF SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT, AND REDUCED ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, WHEREAS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CLEAR THE AIR A TX AND THE LONG COVID COLLECTIVE WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO PROVIDE AND PROTECT AND UPLIFT RESIDENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES LEADING TO AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
I'M MARK UCHIN, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE NATASHA.
COUNCIL MEMBER NA NATASHA SHOPPER MADISON ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, DO HEAR ABOUT PROCLAIM MARCH 15TH AS LONG COVID AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN 2026.
AND I'M GONNA INVITE EVERYBODY TO JUST MOVE IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM IF YOU CAN FOR JUST A MOMENT SO WE CAN GRAB A QUICK COUPLE OF
[DSA/Proclamation – Deborah Duncan – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison and Assistant City Manager Stephanie Hayden-Howard]
[00:30:51]
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS.MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON AND I GET THE PROUD HONOR OF REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I ALSO GET THE PROUD HONOR OF STANDING UP REAL TALL, UM, WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE WORK THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE'S A SCRIPT THAT I FOLLOW, UM, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE FOLKS THAT I DON'T KNOW PERSONALLY BUT ADMIRE, UM, THIS TIME AROUND.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I UH, I GET TO VERY MUCH KNOW THE PERSON THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING AND COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPY TO BE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY IN THE CAPACITY OF ADMIRER EXCLUSIVELY.
FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS, YOU HAVE BEEN A STEADY LIGHT IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND IN MY ROLE AS THE PROUD REPRESENTATIVE FOR D ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, I'VE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO WATCH YOU LEAD WITH COURAGE, SERVE WITH HUMILITY AND POOR YOUR HEART, AND IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE WATCHED YOU NAVIGATE COMPLEXITY, TRUE COMPLEXITY WITH GRACE.
ADVOCATE FIERCELY FOR THOSE TOO OFTEN ARE UNHEARD AND SHOW US ALL WHAT DEDICATED, SELFLESS LEADERSHIP TRULY LOOKS LIKE.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, DEBORA HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVANCING COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT HEALTHCARE REACHES OUR POPULATIONS WHERE THEY ARE, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM UNDERSERVED AND HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
HER WORK HAS CONSISTENTLY CENTERED ON IMPROVING HEALTH ON AND OUTCOMES FOR INDI INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS DURING SOME OF OUR MOST CHALLENGING TIMES, INCLUDING THE WINTER STORM AND THE COVID PANDEMIC, WHICH HAS COME UP THIS MORNING.
ALSO, UH, WE RECOGNIZE LONG COVID THIS MORNING, SO, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING TO TODAY, 'CAUSE COVID DID NOT GO AWAY.
AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MORNING, D BO'S LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED NAVIGATE UNCERTAINTY WITH CLARITY AND WITH PURPOSE.
SHE STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS, RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT CRITICAL SERVICES REMAINED ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED IT THE MOST.
DEBO HAS BEEN A BUILDER PROGRAMS OF SYSTEMS OF LASTING COMMUNITY AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE OF HER VISION.
COLLABORATION HAS NOT JUST BEEN ENCOURAGED, IT'S BEEN EMBEDDED INTO THIS WORK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BEYOND HER, HER PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, DEVOR STANDS AS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE LEADERSHIP.
SHE HAS INSPIRED COLLEAGUES, PARTNERS, AND FUTURE LEADERS ALIKE, MYSELF INCLUDED, DEMONSTRATING THAT INTEGRITY, RESILIENCE, AND COMPASSION ARE NOT JUST VALUES THAT WE TALK ABOUT, BUT VALUES THAT WE LIVE.
IT IS TRULY A PLEASURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEBORA, OUR DUNCANS EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION IN THIS WAY.
WE THANK HER FOR HER DECADES OF SERVICE.
WE WISH HER A HAPPY AND WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD WITH OPTIMISM TO THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF THE FOUNDATION THAT SHE HAS HELPED BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WITH THAT, BEFORE OUR PRESENT, A PROCLAMATION AND DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HER DEDICATED SERVICE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. DUB BO DUNCAN TO SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US.
I AM DUB BOOR DUNCAN AS MENTIONED.
AND I HAVE TRULY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR 35 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TIME WENT
I CAME TO WORK AND WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I WORKED.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HELP EACH PERSON THAT'S NEXT TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO GETS DONE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY GETS WHAT THEY NEED.
[00:35:02]
I KNOW THAT PUBLIC HEALTH WILL ALWAYS REMAIN IN MY HEART AND THAT I WILL NEVER STRAY THANK AWESOME PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THESE YEARS.I WANNA THANK ALL OF MY MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS, DIRECTORS, CITY MANAGERS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS.
I CAN'T CALL EVERYBODY BY NAME OR I'LL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 35 YEARS,
SO I, AT THIS POINT, I'M JUST REALLY SO FULL AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID THIS MORNING ARE THINGS THAT I ENJOY DOING THROUGH ALL OF THE FLOODS, ALL THE HURRICANES, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF, OF DISEASE INTERVENTION, PREVENTION THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH.
I THINK I, I NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME WRITING A BOOK ON MY LIFE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND IT'S BEEN A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THROUGH IT ALL, I LEARNED TO TRUST MY GOD WHO HAS SUSTAINED ME THROUGH THIS TIME.
'CAUSE I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT.
SO THAT'S MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TODAY.
AND JUST KNOW THAT I LOVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU AND YOU'LL BE WITH ME FOREVER.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE YOU HAVE A FOLDER.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH US THIS MORNING? ALSO? GOOD MORNING.
UM, I WOULD LIKE KIND OF TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE JUST TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT MS. DEBORA DUNCAN.
I MET MS. DEBORA 25 YEARS AGO AND AT THAT TIME SHE WAS ONE OF THE MANAGERS AT ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
HER ATTITUDE AND HER HARD WORK AND HER SPIRIT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WAS JUST AMAZING.
SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SO MANY AREAS.
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HER WITH US FOR 35 YEARS.
AND AS SHE MOVES INTO RETIREMENT, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE WORKED WITH A LEGEND.
AND SEE, WE, WE, WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE, ALL THE LIVES THAT SHE HAS TOUCHED, BECAUSE SHE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.
MS. DEBORRA, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH AND AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND DEBO, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO READ, UH, THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR MR. BORA DUNCAN, FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO A, TO THE AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY.
DURING HER 35 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DEBORAH BORA DUNCAN IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CER CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 12TH DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR 2026.
AND WITH THAT I ALSO GET TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION.
UM, I'LL GO OFF SCRIPT MOMENTARILY JUST TO SORT OF EXPAND ON.
'CAUSE YOU CAN NEVER BELABOR, UM, THE HARD WORK OF SOMEBODY WHO'S TRULY A, A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
MR. BORA AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK, UM, IN AN EVENT CALLED ART BRA, THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH CENTER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
Y'ALL SHOULD SEE HER ON THE RUNWAY.
UM, BUT BEFORE THAT, AND THE ONLY REASON I EVEN KNEW ABOUT THE BREAST CANCER, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T NEED THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER YET.
WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, IT WAS YOU AND I HAVING A DISCUSSION.
THIS IS A STRANGE WOMAN I NEVER MET MR. BORA.
AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE.
AND SHE GOES, YOU KNOW, THEY TOOK OUR PINK BUS
THE PINK BUS WAS A RESOURCE THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET REALLY NECESSARY, REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAMMOGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HENCE THE POINT OF MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY WERE.
I TELL YOU WHAT, AFTER THAT FIRST CONVERSATION, ALL I KNOW IS 96 DAYS LATER, THAT PINK BUS WAS ON THE STREET AGAIN.
AND THAT'S JUST SYMBOLIC OF THE KIND OF WORK THAT MR. BORA DID AND DOES.
YOU KNOW, AND WHEN WE MAKE REFERENCE TO THESE RELATIONSHIPS, BOTH AS A PART OF YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND YOUR PROCLAMATION AND COMMUNITY WORK AND, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S NOT HYPERBOLE WITH YOU, RIGHT? SOMETIMES WE MAKE THESE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IT'S WORDS ON A PIECE OF PAPER ON A
[00:40:01]
A Q SCRIPT THINGY.I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE 'CAUSE I DON'T NEED 'EM.
I CAN SAY IT FROM MY HEART AND THE FOLKS BEHIND ME KNOW IS TRUE.
AND WITH THAT, WE ARE GONNA PROCLAIM, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE GONNA MAKE THESE EYEBALLS WORK TODAY.
WHEREAS DEBORA R DUNCAN HAS FAITHFULLY AND HONORABLY DEDICATED 35 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER, MS. DUNCAN HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS HER CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORTED THE MISSION OPERATION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, POSITIVELY IMPACTING COLLEAGUES, RESIDENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND WHEREAS MS. DUNCAN HAS SERVED AS A RESPECTED COLLEAGUE, MENTOR, AND ROLE MODEL LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY THROUGH HER DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE DIOCESE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 12TH, 2026 AS DEBORAH R. DUNCAN DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE SHOULD GET IN THE FRONT SO THEY CAN SEE YOU.
YOU GUYS WANNA ALL COME IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE YOU AND WE'LL COME UP HERE.