Apr 09, 2026 City Council Proclamations

[00:00:04]

GOOD MORNING

[Child Abuse Prevention Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela]

I AM CHITO VELA MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HERE TO, UH, WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH WITH A GREAT ORGANIZATION, UH, UPBRINGING.

AUSTIN.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU, RECOGNIZING APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, UH, AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK UPBRINGING AUSTIN DOES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

WHILE AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT, AWARENESS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.

CHILD ABUSE IS PREVENTABLE, UH, WHEN FAMILIES RECEIVE SUPPORT EARLY BEFORE STRESS TURNS INTO CRISIS.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT UPBRINGING DOES.

UPBRINGING CHILD WELLBEING ZONES FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE FAMILIES FACE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES AND BRING SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO THEM.

USING DATA TO IDENTIFY HIGH RISK AREAS AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRUSTED PARTNERS.

UPBRINGING MAKES SURE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

EACH FAMILY RECEIVES PERSONALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, UH, PARENT COACHING, EMOTIONAL HEALTH SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, HOUSING, AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND WORKFORCE READINESS.

THIS SUPPORT STABILIZES FAMILIES AT CRITICAL MOMENTS AND SETS CHILDREN ON A PATH TO LONG-TERM WELLBEING.

HERE IN AUSTIN, THE CITY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS WORK THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE GENERATION A TX.

LAST YEAR, MAYOR WATSON DECLARED AUGUST 7TH AS CHILD WELLBEING ZONE DAY TO HONOR THE IMPACT THIS MODEL HAS ON NEIGHBORHOODS AND FAMILIES IN THE RUNDBERG CHILD WELLBEING ZONE.

IN MY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT, FAMILIES ARE ALREADY SEEING CHANGE.

CHILDREN ARE SAFER, FAMILIES ARE STRONGER, AND OUTCOMES ARE IMPROVING BECAUSE SUPPORT ARRIVED EARLY AND STAYED CONSISTENT.

UPBRINGING COMBINES EXPERIENCE, DATA AND INNOVATION TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAFE, STRONG AND CONNECTED.

PREVENTION STARTS BEFORE CRISIS, AND IT STARTS WITH ALL OF US.

WHEN WE CHANGE BEGINNINGS, WE CHANGE EVERYTHING.

UH, AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN LEADING THIS WORK WITH VISION AND HEART.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MIKE LUU, CEO OF UPBRINGING, MR. LUU.

THANKS, COUNCIL.

SO GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

UH, AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS MICHAEL LEO.

I'M THE PRESIDENT, CEO OF UPBRINGING, AND WE'RE VERY HONORED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.

WE WANTED TO THANK MAYOR PRO TEM VELA.

WE WANTED TO THANK MAYOR KIRK WATSON.

WE WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT ALL OF AUSTIN.

AND WE THOUGHT WE'D JUST SHARE SOME WORDS WITH YOU THAT WE THOUGHT WERE RELEVANT, THAT WE ACTUALLY POSTED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.

AND IT'S ABOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL BEING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

AND WE ARE HOPING THAT WITH THE WORDS WE CAN SHARE, AND WHAT WE DO, I LIKE TO DO IS TO TRY TO DISTINGUISH THE MONTH FOR YOU COMPARED TO ALL OF THE OTHER MONTHS THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT.

AND WITH THAT, WITH SOME ASSESSMENT AND, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT CAN LEAD TO ACTION.

BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THE STORIES.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN BEATEN.

YOU'VE BEEN HEARD, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE ABANDONED AND STARVED.

YOU HEAR ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE BARTERED AND SOLD.

BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD SOMETHING THAT EFFECTIVELY CHANGED YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE SITUATION? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU ACTUALLY THOUGHT MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, THERE HASN'T BEEN A C SHIFT CHANGE IN THE APPROACH TO CHILD ABUSE IN AGES.

THE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO TRY TO HELP CHILD ABUSE ARE RATHER LONG IN TOOTH, AND THEY'RE OVERWHELMED, WHICH IS WHY IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, UPBRINGING STEPS OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND ENTERS INTO THE FIGHT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE NOT ONLY WANT TO END THE ABUSE, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEMS, WE WANT TO END THE PAIN.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS FOR US WAS ENTERING INTO THE COMMUNITY OF RUNDBERG.

WE CALL THAT THE CHILD WELLBEING ZONE.

YOU SEE, UPBRINGING HAS AN UNPARALLELED COMBINATION OF MEGA PROGRAM EXPERIENCE.

WE DO DATA ANALYTICS THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES.

WE'VE DEVELOPED OUR OWN TECHNOLOGY TOOLS WITH PATENTS PENDING THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS.

WE HAVE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN INVENTIVE WAYS TO TRY TO HELP THE ABUSE.

[00:05:01]

EVERYBODY CAN JOIN THIS MOVEMENT TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

THIS IS UPBRINGINGS WAY TO TRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE SURE THAT AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES FOR A CHILD TO GROW UP IN.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS MORNING FOR YOU, FOR THE PROCLAMATION.

YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THIS FIGHT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN STANDING WITH US FOR THE CHILDREN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

THIS IS A POWERFUL WORDS AND, AND GREATLY, UH, APPRECIATED.

UH, IT'S A LOT OF, UH, GREAT PEOPLE IN THE ROMBERG AREA, BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES.

UH, THERE'S A LOT OF POVERTY TOO, AND A LOT OF, UH, PEOPLE STRUGGLING.

UH, THEY CAN MAKE IT.

THEY NEED RESOURCES.

THEY NEED SOME LOVE, THEY NEED SOME SUPPORT, UH, AND JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR, UH, UPBRINGING BEING THERE, UH, PROVIDING THE, THE SUPPORT THAT THAT FAMILIES NEED.

SO, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UH, GET TO THE, THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE SERIOUS ISSUES IMPACTING THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND FUTURES OF CHILDREN, AND PREVENTION IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING SAFE, THRIVING COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS UPBRINGING, A STATEWIDE LEADER IN CHILD WELLBEING AND INNOVATION HEADQUARTERED IN AUSTIN, HAS BEEN SERVING CHILDREN IN FAMILIES FOR OVER 150 YEARS.

CONTINUAL, CONTINUALLY ADVANCING INNOVATIVE DATA-DRIVEN AND COMMUNITY ROOTED APPROACHES TO PREVENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT, GUIDED BY ITS CHILD WELLBEING, TRIFECTA, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ARE STRONG, SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED.

WHEREAS UPBRINGINGS PIONEERING CHILD WELLBEING ZONES MODEL IS A HIGHLY TARGETED PLACE-BASED APPROACH THAT SURROUNDS CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS WITH HOLISTIC, COORDINATED SUPPORTS, RIGHT WHERE THEY LIVE, BEGINNING WITH A SINGLE FAMILY AND SCALING TOWARD COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION, HARNESSING REAL-TIME DATA AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS TO PREVENT HARM BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROVIDES TOOLS, MEDIA RESOURCES, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF ABUSE AND ENGAGE IN PREVENTION STRATEGIES.

AND WHEREAS COLLABORATION AMONG CIVIC AND CORPORATE PARTNERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, PUBLIC AGENCIES AND GRASSROOTS LEADERS, IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD HAS ABILITY TO GROW UP IN A NURTURING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHEREAS APRIL IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, PROVIDING A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE UPBRINGINGS INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS IN PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHIEF VELA MAYOR PRO TEM OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2026 AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THANKS SO MUCH, UH, TO UPBRINGING FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND THANKS, UH, TO, FOR COMING BY CITY HALL AND, AND SHOWING US IT'S, UH, BEEN A, A, A PLEASURE.

AND, UH, AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UH, TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU.

[00:12:28]

[Undergraduate Research Forum Day 25th Anniversary – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri]

UH, AND JUST SO THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO MAKES THIS POSSIBLE FROM FACULTY TO STAFF, YOU KNOW, WANT TO GIVE ALL THE FLOWERS TO STUDENTS.

UH, I WAS A COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE STUDENT AT ONE POINT.

UH, I DID NOT SAY A COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE STUDENT , SO SHOCKER.

UH, BUT I, I HAD SO MUCH JUST RESPECT, AND IT WAS ALWAYS IN AWE OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AND, AND SO APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE, UH, BOTH FROM FACULTY AND STAFF ALIKE.

UH, THOUGH I DIDN'T F THOUGH I DIDN'T GRADUATE FROM THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES, THAT'S WHERE I STARTED, AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT A LOT OF MENTOR MENTORSHIP AND, UH, A LOT OF FRIENDSHIPS THAT HONESTLY, EVEN AFTER I WENT TO COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, UH, AND ULTIMATELY GRADUATED AND, AND HAVE GONE FROM THERE, HAVE STILL KEPT IN TOUCH WITH A LOT OF FOLKS, UH, FROM MY TIME IN THE, IN THE SCIENCES.

SO, UH, WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO'S HERE, UH, THE, THE STUDENTS, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT DO THE WORK AND JUST THE, LIKE I SAID, THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM, UH, FOR PUTTING SO MUCH LOVE, UH, IN COMMUNITY AND IN, IN THE UNIVERSITY.

UH, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S AT TIMES BEEN THIS DARKNESS OVER, OVER THE UNIVERSITY, AND I SAY THAT AS A PROUD ALUM WHO'S WEARING MY CLASS RING RIGHT NOW.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT THE BRIGHT SPOTS AND THE JOY, AND THE HOPE IS FROM, FROM FACULTY AND STAFF.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND I'LL HAVE YOU HOLD THE PROCLAMATION.

UM, SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES HAS LONG BEEN DEDICATED TO FOSTERING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY AMONG ITS, AMONG ITS STUDENTS.

AND WHEREAS THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM HAS FOR 25 YEARS PROVIDED A VITAL PLATFORM FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR SCHOLARLY WORK, ENGAGE IN CRITICAL INQUIRY, AND CONTRIBUTE TO ADVANCEMENTS ACROSS THE NATURAL SCIENCES.

AND WHEREAS PARTICIPATION IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CULTIVATES INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY STRENGTHENS ANALYTICAL AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND PREPARES STUDENTS TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS.

AND WHEREAS THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM REFLECTS THE COMMITMENT OF FACULTY, MENTORS, STAFF, AND, AND INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP WHO HAVE GUIDED AND SUPPORTED GENERATIONS OF STUDENT RESEARCHERS.

AND WHEREAS THIS MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATES NOT ONLY THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PAST AND PRESENT, UH, PARTICIPANTS, BUT ALSO ENDURING IMPACT OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ON THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY BEYOND, BEYOND AND LAST, WHEREAS , AND WHEREAS THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND

[00:15:01]

NOW, THEREFORE, I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZORE, UH, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 9TH, 2026 AS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM DAY HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

YAY.

SO CONGRAT ONCE TO SPEAK, RIGHT? OKAY, COOL.

YEAH, WE COULD DO PICTURES ABOVE THE GREAT, UH, GOOD MORNING, Y'ALL.

[Austin Housing Coalition Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]

UH, WHAT AN EXCITING COUNCIL MEETING, UH, MEETING THAT TODAY WILL BE AND, AND HOW EXCITING THAT TODAY WE, WE GET TO PROCLAIM AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

MM-HMM .

UH, MY NAME IS COUNCIL MEMBER ZARI, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THIS ORGANIZATION, UH, THAT HAS, UH, THAT HAS SPENT MORE THAN TWO DECADES WORKING AT THE HEART OF ONE OF AUSTIN'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES, WHICH IS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.

THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION IS A NONPROFIT COALITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, POLICY EXPERTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS UNITED BY SHARED BELIEF THAT'S SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD, SHOULD BE WITHIN REACH FOR ALL AUSTINITES FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THE COALITION HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN EDUCATING POLICY MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE REALITIES OF, OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.

THEY HAVE NOT SIMPLY IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE CHAMPIONED DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.

THEY HAVE ELEVATED AND BROUGHT HUMANITY INTO POLICY DISCUSSIONS, AND THEY HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE LOCAL AND STATE FRAMEWORKS THAT MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING POSSIBLE.

WE KNOW THAT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT REMAIN AMONG THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING OUR CITY FAMILIES, SENIORS, VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.

THESE CHALLENGES CANNOT BE ADDRESSED IN SILOS.

THEY REQUIRE COORDINATED COMMUNITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS.

AND THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION HAS BEEN A STEADY VOICE IN ADVANCING THOSE SOLUTIONS FROM SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCING MECHANISMS TO FACILITATING, TO FACILITATING OPEN DIALOGUE WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, TO WORKING TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS THAT SLOW THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.

THEIR LEADERSHIP REFLECTS A DEEP ENDURING COMMITMENT TO

[00:20:01]

THIS WORK IS NOT EASY.

IT REQUIRES PERSISTENCE, IT REQUIRES COLLABORATION, AND IT REQUIRES A BELIEF THAT OUR CITY IS STRONGER THAN, UH, STRONGER WHEN EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

TODAY, WE HONOR THE MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND SUPPORTERS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, THEIR ADVOCACY, AND THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING HOUSING OPPORTUNITY IN AUSTIN.

BECAUSE HOUSING IS MORE THAN A STRUCTURE.

IT IS STABILITY, IT IS DIGNITY, IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC, MOBILITY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY.

AND AT THIS TIME, UH, BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO YOU, UM, OH, ACTUALLY, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION AFTER COMMENTS.

IS THAT FINE? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO, TO ABBY.

OH, SORRY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ESTEEMED RECOGNITION.

FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, THIS COALITION HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER DEVELOPERS, ADVOCATES, POLICY MAKERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND A SHARED GOAL, EXPANDING ACCESS TO SAFE, STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AUSTINITES.

AS THIS PROCLAMATION NOTES THAT WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROOTED IN COLLABORATION, ADVOCACY, AND A BELIEF THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS WHEN WE USE OUR SHARED EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES IN HOUSING.

WE STAND HERE PROUD OF THE THOUSANDS OF INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS WE AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE PUT ON THE GROUND.

IN FACT, BECAUSE OF THIS WORK, CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE ARE LOOKING TO AUSTIN AS A MODEL FOR TACKLING HOUSING UNAFFORDABILITY.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, WE DO NOT GET TO PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK AS THOUGH WE'VE SOLVED HOUSING INSECURITY.

AS THE LEGISLATURE TIGHTENS ITS REIGNS ON OUR ABILITY TO BEST SERVE AUSTIN TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS.

AS THE HEADLINES READ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, AND AS RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING AND PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECOME SPARSE, WE HAVE TO KEEP INNOVATING AND INVESTING LOCALLY.

THE SOLUTIONS MAY NEED TO EVOLVE, BUT OUR LOWEST INCOME NEIGHBORS REMAIN COST BURDEN.

AND SO OUR WORK CONTINUES TODAY.

WE ACCEPT THIS HONOR, NOT JUST AS THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION, BUT ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS, PARTNERS, SUPPORTERS, AND THE MANY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS WHO CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE HOUSING A REALITY.

FROM, FOR AUSTIN, FROM HANGING A LEASING SIGN TO CAREERING A DOCUMENT, TO A CLOSING, THE WORK THAT GOES INTO OPERATING AND BRINGING THESE DEVELOPMENTS TO FRUITION REQUIRES ENDLESS UNSEEN CONTRIBUTIONS.

AND AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION DAY IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE THEM ALL.

THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK TOGETHER TO EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN REMAINS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL INCOMES TO CALL HOME.

UH, AND THEN BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, UH, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UM, ISSUES THAT WEIRDLY BECAME A TALKING POINT, UH, YOU KNOW, DURING, DURING ELECTIONS WAS KATIE LOFTS, UH, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT NINE.

AND I REMEMBER BEING NOT ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME AND JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SO SHOCKING THAT IN A COMMUNITY THAT I'VE CALLED HOME FOR SO LONG, UH, THAT I BELIEVE HAS SO MUCH EMPATHY AND KINDNESS, AND THAT WE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS, THAT THERE WERE FOLKS FIGHTING, UH, THE KATIE LOFTS DEVELOPMENT.

AND AFTER KATIE LOFTS OPENED AND HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THERE A FEW TIMES AND, AND MEET WITH NEIGHBORS, UH, I, I REALLY THANK EVERYONE HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, ON SEEING THE HUMANITY, UH, IN, IN ALL OF US, UH, AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN AUSTIN.

AND, AND, AND I THINK IT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THESE AMAZING NOTES THAT, UH, COUNCILOR HARPER MADISON WAS GONNA GONNA READ ABOUT.

JUST SEEING THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POLICY THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, YOU KNOW, NOT FORGETTING THE HUMANS THAT ARE BEHIND IT.

SO WANNA REALLY THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT.

UH, AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION AND I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO YOU TO HOLD IT.

UH, SO BE KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION IS A NON-PROFIT COALITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, HOUSING AND POLICY EXPERTS, AND OTHER INTEREST IN ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR AUSTINITES.

AND WHEREAS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN EDUCATING POLICY MAKERS IN THE PUBLIC ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES AND CHAMPIONING DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.

AND WHEREAS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT REMAIN AMONG THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING FAMILIES, SENIORS, VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND REQUIRE COORDINATED COMMUNITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS.

AND WHEREAS THE COALITION'S LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING LOCAL AND STATE HOUSING POLICY, SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCING MECHANISMS AND FACILITATING OPEN DIALOGUE WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS REFLECT A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ECOSYSTEM AND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND SUPPORTERS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION

[00:25:02]

NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ZOGA, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM CHE VILLA, UH, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT THIS DAY IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED IN HONOR OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING COALITION AND APPRECIATION OF ITS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP ADVOCACY AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY ON APRIL 9TH, 2026 HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, GO, GO.

GOOD MORNING.

[Additional Item]

I AM JOINED HERE TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES.

AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE IT'S ADRENAL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH, WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH THESE DISEASES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ADRENAL DISEASES, INCLUDING ADDISON'S DISEASE, CUSHING'S SYNDROME, AND OTHERS AFFECT AT LEAST ONE IN 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL DISEASES VARY SIGNIFICANTLY AND CAN INCLUDE FATIGUE, WEIGHT LOSS, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, AND MORE.

THE NATIONAL ADRENAL DISEASE FOUNDATION WAS FORMED IN 1985 TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION ABOUT LIFE WITH ADRENAL DISEASES.

AND TODAY THE NAF REMAINS THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR INFORMATION.

AS MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY FACE THESE DISEASES, WE ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME, SOME ACTION TO RAISE AWARENESS EACH APRIL.

SO TODAY I WANNA RECOGNIZE VANESSA ROARKE WITH THE NATIONAL ADRENAL AWARENESS FOUNDATION TO SAY A FEW REMARKS.

THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ADRENAL DISEASES FOUNDATION AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH ADRENAL DISEASE, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS FOR ADRENAL DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ADRENAL DISEASE AFFECTS PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT IT'S OFTEN UNDER RESEARCHED, UNDERFUNDED, UNDERDIAGNOSED, AND MISUNDERSTOOD.

WITHOUT PROPER RECOGNITION, IT CAN BE FATAL.

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ADDISON'S DISEASE 10 YEARS AGO, RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.

ADDISON'S DISEASE IS THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS, PREVENTING THEM FROM PRODUCING THE NECESSARY HORMONES YOUR BODY NEEDS TO LIVE TO SURVIVE.

I'M NOW STEROID DEPENDENT AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO AN ADRENAL CRISIS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHICH CAN BE FATAL UPON MY DIAGNOSIS.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ADRENAL GLANDS, LET ALONE MY NEW CONDITION.

THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THE NATIONAL ADRENAL DISEASES FOUNDATION, AUSTIN LOCAL SUPPORT GROUP.

AND IT WAS WITH THAT, THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME CLARITY AND ANSWERS UPON MY NEW CONDITION.

UM, AT MY FIRST MEETING, I DISCOVERED THAT MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST HAD ONLY PRESCRIBED HALF OF THE LIFESAVING MEDICATION I NEEDED AND DID NOT PROVIDE ME AN EMERGENCY INJECTION KIT.

THIS IS DUE TO THE LACK OF RESEARCH AND LIMITED EDUCATION IN THE MEDICAL FIELD REGARDING ADRENAL DISEASE AND ITS SEVERITY.

[00:30:01]

SINCE THEN, I'VE BECOME A PATIENT ADVOCATE AND AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER FOR NADF, I GET TO HELP INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH ADRENAL DISEASE AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

EVERY DAY, PEOPLE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE TO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS, PROPER CARE AND TREATMENT DURING EMERGENCIES LEADING TO MANY UNNECESSARY DEATHS, INCLUDING A YOUNG MAN, A YOUNG MAN FROM SAN ANTONIO JUST THIS LAST YEAR.

THIS IS WHY CREATING AWARENESS, STARTING A CONVERSATION AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT ADRENAL DISEASE IS SO IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU AUSTIN, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION FOR ADRENAL DISEASE AWARENESS, WHICH WILL HELP SAVE LIVES RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND NOW WE WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION HERE.

I'M GONNA HAVE YOU HOLD IT.

I DID THE SMALL TEXT VERSION TODAY.

.

ALRIGHT, WELL WHERE BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS ADRENAL DISEASES AFFECT MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE IMPACTING THEIR HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS THESE DISEASES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ADDISON'S DISEASE, OTHER FORMS OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY, CUSHING'S DISEASE OR SYNDROME, CONGENITAL ADRENAL, HYPER HYPERPLASIA, HYPERPLASIA.

THERE WE GO.

ADRENAL CANCER AND OH, YOU'RE GONNA HELP PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WHEREAS ADRENAL GLANDS SITUATED ATOPTIC KIDNEYS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PRODUCING HORMONES SUCH AS CORTISOL, ALDO ALDOSTERONE, AND EPINEPHRINE, WHICH REGULATE CRUCIAL FUNCTIONS NECESSARY FOR LIFE, INCLUDING METABOLISM, IMMUNE RESPONSE, BLOOD PRESSURE REGULATION, AND STRESS MANAGEMENT.

AND WHEREAS MOST ADRENAL DISEASES ARE RARE, DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AND REQUIRE LONG LIFETIME, LONG LIFELONG TREATMENT.

AND WHEREAS MANY HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY FACILITIES, DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPER CARE TO TREAT AN ADRENAL CRISIS.

AND MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDISON'S DISEASE DIE REGULARLY DUE TO THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND TREATMENT.

AND WHEREAS RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ADRENAL DISEASES IS CRUCIAL TO PROMOTING EARLY DETECTION, PROPER DIAGNOSIS, AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ADRENAL DISEASE FOUNDATION, OR NADF IS COMMITTED TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY ADRENAL DISEASE TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS NADF OPERATES IN AUSTIN SUPPORT GROUP TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY ADRENAL DISEASES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO THIS PROCLAMATION, AUSTIN CITY HALL WILL BE ELIMINATED BLUE ON APRIL 25TH TO HELP SIGNIFY APRIL AS A REGIONAL ADRENAL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH.

AND WHEREAS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADRENAL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH, YOU CAN VISIT THE NATIONAL ADRENAL DISEASES FOUNDATION AT NAF US AND EMAIL N NAF SUPPORT@NAF.US.

SO NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 26TH AS ADRENAL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

YAY.

ALRIGHT, WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE.

OKAY.

[00:35:49]

[Additional Item]

I'M COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA FUENTES REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO.

JOIN HERE TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER OF DISTRICT FIVE.

AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE TO ANNOUNCE AND TO CELEBRATE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD.

THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD IS A TIME TO REFLECT AND PLAN HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN AND WILL BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE IS CRITICAL FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL READINESS, AND FAMILY ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF A CITY COUNCIL THAT PRIORITIZES THE SUCCESS OF ALL YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY SUPPORTING EDUCATORS.

SCHOLARSHIPS, ELIMINATING ZONING BARRIERS, INVESTING IN CHILDCARE GRANT PROGRAMS, SPONSORING PRE-K CLASSES AND MORE.

WE ARE BETTER PREPARING OUR YOUTH FOR THEIR FUTURE.

WE CANNOT MAKE ANY OF THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL, UNITED WAY OF GREATER AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, THE SUCCESS BY SIX COALITION, GO AUSTIN, BAOS AUSTIN, AND THE CITY'S VERY OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT ALSO WORK IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPACE.

AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO AUSTIN PBS AS WELL, .

I WANNA THANK OUR WONDERFUL CITY STAFF FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND DEDICATION FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

I'M THRILLED TO PRESENT THIS YEAR'S PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING APRIL 11TH THROUGH 17TH AS WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD, AND ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION WE HAVE WITH US CINDY RAZ, WITH AUSTIN PS YOU WANNA HOLD THIS? THANK YOU.

BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE FIRST YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE THE PERIOD OF THE MOST RAPID BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL FUTURE LEARNING AND HIGH QUALITY, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION HELP PREPARE CHILDREN TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES IN SCHOOL.

AND WHEREAS THERE ARE ROUGHLY 56,375 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX IN AUSTIN, 30% OF WHOM LIVE IN FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOME AND LACK ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING FAMILIES OF COLOR.

AND WHEREAS WORKING FAMILIES NEED SUFFICIENT HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE SPACES BEGINNING AT BIRTH, AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOUNG CHILDREN NEED SKILLED, COMPETENT, CONSISTENT, AND COMPENSATED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE RICH DIVERSITY OF LINGUISTIC, RACIAL, AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S GENERATION, A TX MOVEMENT AIMS TO MAKE AUSTIN THE BEST PLACE IN AMERICA TO BE A KID, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS A PARTNER TO, TO THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY SUCCESS BY SIX COALITION.

THE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT SUPPORT ALL YOUNG CHILDREN ARE CRUCIAL TO AUSTIN'S FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMY.

NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN VANESSA FUENTES WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 11TH THROUGH 17TH 2026 AS WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS DR.

CINDY CAR AND I AM HERE AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN SHAPING CHILDREN'S LIFELONG LEARNING AND SUCCESS.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS IN FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THEIR BACKBONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE, SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT DURING A PERIOD OF RAPID BRAIN GROWTH THAT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE LEARNING.

THROUGH RESPONSIVE INTERACTIONS WITH CARING ADULTS, CHILDREN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND DEVELOP THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAT MAKE LEARNING POSSIBLE.

THIS WORK SHAPES MORE THAN CHILDREN'S EARLY DEVELOPMENT.

IT INFLUENCES EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND LONG-TERM STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

HIGH QUALITY EARLY

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF FOR ORGANIZING THIS PROCLAMATION TO COUNCILMAN, UH, VANESSA FUENTES AND RYAN ALTMAN FOR YOUR ADVOCACY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND OUR PARTNERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

NOW I'LL READ IT IN SPANISH.

, DID I GET YOUR LAST NAME CORRECT? IT'S ALTER, BUT ALTER.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

OKAY.

BUENO ENTENTES.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

SO WITH THAT WE'LL JUST TAKE A LITTLE GROUP PHOTO.

AWESOME.