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[1. Opening Prayer: Christopher Bozeman, Colon Cancer survivor]
MORNING.WELCOME TO COMMISSION'S COURT MEETING OF TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH, 2026.
UH, COMMISSIONER REBECCA CLAY FLORES, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR OPENING PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MARCH IS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
AND, UM, BEFORE I INTRODUCE MR. BOZEMAN, WHO'S GONNA BE HAVING THE PRAYER, I WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO WORE BLUE ON FRIDAY, NATIONAL WEAR BLUE DAY, AND POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE TEAMS WHO GOT TOGETHER TO DO THAT.
UH, MANY OF YOU RECEIVED A LITTLE BLUE LAPEL PIN.
I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU COULD PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR THAT THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
AND I WANNA THANK OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO SAT THERE AND PUSHED THROUGH 15,000 PINS.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU THINK HE'S MEAN, HE'S REALLY NOT EVEN DAVID SMITH CAME AND HE WAS PUSHING THROUGH.
SO I WANNA THANK THE OFFICE OF, UM, THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THE DA STAFF, UH, FROM THE DA CIVIL DIVISION WHO CAME UP TO HELP THE BEAR HERITAGE CENTER, WHO CAME UP TO HELP.
AND MINNIE ON THE 10TH FLOOR IS STILL SITTING THERE PUSHING THROUGH AS SHE'S ANSWERING PHONES AND DIRECTING YOU ALL WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
SO AT THIS TIME, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO INTRODUCE CHRISTOPHER BOMAN, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
CHRISTOPHER BOMAN ATTENDED IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EARNING A DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
MR. BOMAN HAS SERVED AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND A DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL BEFORE RETIRING AFTER 25 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IN 2021, MR. BELMAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR COLORECTAL CANCER.
THROUGHOUT HIS JOURNEY, HE HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH SUPPORTED BY HIS FAITH, HIS FAMILY, AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THRIVE CANCER FOUNDATION, WHO'S ALSO HERE THIS MORNING.
DESPITE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER, MR. BOZEMAN CONTINUES A VERY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE THAT REFLECTS A LIFE OF RESILIENCE AND FAITH IN GOD.
MR. BOZEMAN, THE TIME IS YOURS.
I JUST WANNA START OUT BY SAYING, UH, THANK YOU TO JUDGE SECAI AND ALSO COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORIDA'S FULL, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PUBLICLY HONOR OUR FATHER GOD IN HEAVEN, AND ALSO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
MY DIAGNOSIS, AS WELL AS THE JOURNEY WITH CANCER HAS SHOWN ME THAT THIS IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ME, IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN WHAT WE ENDURE AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT.
AND SO I'M JUST THANKFUL, AND, AND I'M, I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW, AND I ACTUALLY, WE ALL BOW OUR HEADS AND WE GO INTO PRAYER.
FATHER GOD IN HEAVEN, WE CAN JUST COME TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
HUMBLY, WE COME TO YOU WITH OPEN MINDS AND OPEN HEARTS, AND WE JUST WANNA, FIRST OF ALL, JUST GIVE YOU ALL THE HONOR AND THE PRAISE BECAUSE YOU ARE SO DESERVING OF IT.
WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR NEW GRACE AND MERCY THAT YOU BESTOW UPON US EACH AND EVERY DAY.
ALSO, THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE TO US, EVEN AT TIMES THAT WE ARE NOT DESERVING.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE, AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE RECOGNITION TO COLON CANCER AWARENESS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE TO KNOW, TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TESTED.
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS JOURNEY TO NOT ONLY BE TREATED, BUT TO BE CURED.
I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS JOURNEY RIGHT NOW.
AND WE ARE CONSIDERED CANCER SURVIVORS.
BUT I SAY THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, MY LORD AND SAVIOR, WE ARE CANCER WARRIORS.
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY WE BATTLE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS JOURNEY, WE BATTLE SOMETIMES JUST TO EVEN GET OUTTA BED IN THE MORNING.
WE BATTLE AT TIMES TO BE ABLE TO GO TO CHEMOTHERAPY AND GO TO RADIATION AND KNOWING WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE GONNA BE.
WHEN WE GET DONE WITH THIS TREATMENT, WE BATTLE WITH THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS THAT WE THINK ABOUT.
HOW LONG ARE WE GONNA STILL BE HERE TO BE WITH OUR FAMILY MEMBERS? HOW LONG ARE WE GONNA STILL BE HERE TO BE WITH OUR FRIENDS? WE BATTLE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BE STRONG AND TO PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACE FOR OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FOR OUR FRIENDS AND FOR OUR LOVED ONES
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SO THEY CAN FEEL SAFE AND THEY CAN BE, FEEL SECURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO THIS BATTLE.AND RIGHT NOW, I JUST ASK THAT, FATHER, YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE US NOT ONLY YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR POWER, BUT YOU ALSO CONTINUE TO GIVE US HOPE.
HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENDURE AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE NEXT DAY.
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED AND THAT WE SHOULD LIVE IN THE MOMENT.
AND FATHER GOD, WE ALSO PRAY FOR OUR LOVED ONES WHO ARE ALSO GOING THROUGH THIS JOURNEY WITH US.
THERE'S TIMES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT US.
THERE'S TIMES TO WHERE THEY, THEY JUST WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN AND FRUSTRATION AND THE SUFFERING THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
AND FATHER GOD, I ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING, KNOWING THAT AT TIMES THEIR PRESENCE IS ENOUGH TO HELP US GET THROUGH OUR DAY TO DAY.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE COME TO YOU SO HUMBLY AND WE ASK ALL OF THESE PRAYERS AND OUR REQUESTS IN A MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AND GOD'S PEOPLE SAID, AMEN AND AMEN.
THE UNITED STATES, AMERICA, AND TO REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS ONE INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUST COMMISSIONER CLIFF FLORES, I JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, I'M WEARING YOUR PURPLE PIN FOR COLON CANCEL AWARENESS.
[3. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items.]
ITEM THREE, GOT A LITTLE REVERB, TURN IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.UH, REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION TO PROVE REMAIN CONSENT.
AGENDA ITEMS, KATE, I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME ITEMS TO PULL, AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE A COUPLE ITEMS THAT NEED AMENDMENTS.
SO WOULD YOU PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD? YES, SIR.
ITEM 23 UNDER PUBLIC WORKS IS BEING PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.
23 IS PULLED, AND ITEMS NUMBER 25 AND 26 UNDER DA'S HEADING, UM, THOSE NEED A FEW AMENDMENTS.
ARE THE DAS HERE? CORRECT? I THINK, CAN Y'ALL COME FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN JUST MAKE SURE WE GET THE CORRECT? I UNDERSTAND WE'RE JUST CORRECTING THE AMOUNT THAT THE COUNTY'S GOING TO PAY.
SO KATE OR JAMA, DO YOU WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD? LET'S AMEND ITEM NUMBER 25.
THE OVERHEAD COSTS TO BE PAID BY THE COUNTY IS $4,829.
AND UNDER NUMBER 26, THE OVERHEAD COSTS TO BE PAID BY THE COUNTY IS $3,754.
DO WE NEED A MOTION ON THAT? IS THERE A MOTION TO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES ON THE AMENDMENTS OF 25 TO THE AMOUNT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SINGLE BY SAYING AYE.
ALRIGHT, ARE THERE ITEMS TO PULL? COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES FOR INDIVIDUAL? NO, I DON'T HAVE TO POLL AN INDIVIDUAL.
JUDGE COMMISSIONER MOODY, WHO I BELIEVE IS PARTICIPATING BY ZOOM.
WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE? WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE? 55.
APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:]
CALVARY.SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ON THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES.
LET US NOW, LET'S GO TO CEREMONIAL.
[4. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)]
IF WE WILL.WE'LL COME BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
UM, PLEASE NOTE THE AMENDMENTS ON ITEMS 25 AND 26 AS AMENDED AND APPROVED BY MOTION.
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OKAY.WE'RE GONNA GO TO, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, BUT ON FOUR, A PRESENTATION OF SERVICE PEN.
RECOGNIZE THE EMPLOYEES FOR 25 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE.
LET US, WE HAVE MARIA LINDA MURDA FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE 25 YEARS.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR COLLEAGUES, YOUR CHIEF.
AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF OVER THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION, ALONG WITH LINDA MIRANDA AND OUR SVU SPECIAL VICTIM UNIT.
INVESTIGATORS ARE ALL HERE ALSO.
UH, IF I CAN JUST FOR A MOMENT, REID, UH, LINDA'S BIO TO DATE, WE GATHER TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF MARIA HERLINDA MIRANDA, KNOWN TO MANY OF US AS LINDA MIRANDA, AS SHE RETIRES.
AFTER 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LINDA BEGAN HER CAREER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2000 AS A CRIME VICTIM LIAISON.
SHE OFFICIALLY RETIRED ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026.
LINDA EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN 1984 FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.
THROUGHOUT HER TIME WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LINDA WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHENED VICTIM ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS.
SHE SERVED ON THE VICTIM'S ADVOCACY COUNSEL, LED THE TREE OF ANGELS EVENTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND PARTNERED WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DURING NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM RIGHT SUITE.
SHE ALSO WORKED WITH FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES AS PART OF THE DART DEATH ANALYSIS, DEATH ANALYSIS REVIEW TEAM, AND HELPED LAUNCH BEXAR COUNTY'S COMMUNITY AWARENESS EFFORTS FOR NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH EACH OCTOBER.
DURING HER CAREER, LINDA SUPPORTED VICTIMS IN COUNTLESS CASES, INCLUDING HOMICIDES, TRA, TRAGIC TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES RECEIVED CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING SUPPORT, FOOD VOUCHERS, CAMERAS, AND EVEN FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WHEN FAMILIES HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN.
SHE ALSO STOOD BESIDE MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FAMILY DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, ASSISTING THE FAMILIES OF DEPUTIES, INCLUDING JOSEPH CANALES, MIKE GONZALEZ, AND MARTIN MORENO.
LINDA IS SUPPORTED BY HER LOVING FAMILY, INCLUDING HER HUSBAND, ALFREDO ABREGO, AND HER DAUGHTER VICTORIA GARCIA.
LINDA, ON BEHALF OF THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY OF BEAR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, COMMITMENT AND COMPASSION.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN THE NEXT CHAPTERS OF YOUR LIFE.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, JUDGE
YES, WE DID CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES BACK TO CHILDREN'S COURT.
AND SO I KNEW AND I WAS PRETTY TOUGH ON YOU, WASN'T I? YES, YOU, I WAS.
I AND YOU'VE DONE WELL, LINDA.
YOU WERE, BUT THAT MADE ME THE WORKER THAT I WAS.
AND TO BE DETAILED AND TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE AND TO LET, UM, THE INVESTIGATORS THAT I WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING ALWAYS PUT.
AND I APPRECIATE, UH, DURING THE TREE OF ANGELS.
I KNOW I ALWAYS CONTACTED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT I WAS A PART OF AND YOU ALWAYS PARTICIPATED.
UM, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK MY BLUE FAMILY.
EVEN THOUGH I'M A CIVILIAN, I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE I ALWAYS PART OF THE BLUE FAMILY AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID FOR ME AND SUPPORTED ME AND REALIZED THAT I WAS THERE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AS WELL.
AND THEN MY, DEFINITELY MY FAMILY.
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HUSBAND IS.GET 'EM UP HERE, BRING 'EM UP, DOWN.
HOW HE WAS DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS WORKING CPS AND THEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL.
AND THEN ALSO I HAVE THE TU WHO'S ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT INTERVIEWED ME.
AND THEN, UH, LINDA SILVA, WHO IS FROM CPS AND THEN ROXANNE MATA, WHO USED TO BE WITH OKAY.
SO DURING MY TENURE, I DEFINITELY WAS ABLE TO NETWORK TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE.
WELL, LINDA, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT DONE.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD EXCEPT YOUR 25 YEAR PEN AND COME EVERYBODY, COME FORWARD, EVERYBODY'S INVOLVED.
GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YOU KNOW THAT THAT WAS LONG TIME AGO WHEN SHE WAS A CASEWORKER.
UH, PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSION COURT RECOGNIZING APRIL 6TH TO APRIL 12TH, 2026.
IT'S NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN BEXAR COUNTY.
I'LL TAKE THAT FOR ALL THOSE ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK COME FORWARD AS I READ OUT YOUR PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, NPHW COMMEMORATES THE NATIONAL WEEK OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY HEALTH.
AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION DESIGNATED APRIL 6TH THROUGH APRIL 12TH, 2026, ITS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.
AND WHEREAS BEX COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT CREATED THE PUBLIC BEAR BEAR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN 2022 TO FACILITATE THE SIGNS AND PRACTICE OF PROTECTING AND PROVING THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE LIVING IN BEXAR COUNTY AND BEYOND.
AND WHEREAS THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONSISTS OF FOUR DIVISIONS, PREVENTIVE HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, TEXAS A AND M, AGRI, AGRILIFE, EXTENSION, AND ANIMAL CARE.
THE DEPARTMENT PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS.
AND WHEREAS PUBLIC HEALTH, BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ADVANCING TRAUMA INFORMED AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE APPROACHES, AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT SUPPORT PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.
AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY WILL COMMENCE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH SUMMIT, CO-HOSTED WITH THE KATE MARION SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, PART OF UT SAN ANTONIO, AND PARTNERING WITH UT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE OF HEALTH COMMUNITY AND POLICY UT HEALTH, SAN ANTONIO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE, METHODIST HEALTH MINISTRIES, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO METRO HEALTH, SAN ANTONIO VASCULAR ENDOVASCULAR CLINIC, TEXAS A AND M, UNIVERSITY OF SAN ANTONIO, COMMUNITY HEALTH, UNIVERSITY HEALTH, UT HEALTH, SAN SAN ANTONIO CENTER FOR MEDICAL HEALTH AND FITNESS ETHICS AND UT HEALTH.
HOUSTON HOUSTON, UH, SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL CAMPUS, WHERE BEAR COUNTY JUDGE PETER AKA.
WILL ISSUE THE WELCOME ADDRESS NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSION'S COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS APRIL 6TH THROUGH 12 20 26 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SIGNED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT, DR.
FOR THE RECORD, I AM DR. ANDREA GUERRERO, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR BEXAR COUNTY.
AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE JOINED BY MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES BEHIND ME HERE WHO WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY.
TODAY'S PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IS A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, PROGRAMS,
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COLLABORATION, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE WELLNESS FOR ALL PEOPLE OF BEXAR COUNTY.OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ELIMINATE ILLUMINATED VITAL WORK AS EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WORK TO IDENTIFY THE VIRUS, TREAT DISEASE, AND PREVENT TRANSMISSION THROUGH SIMPLE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES LIKE HANDWASHING AND MASKING.
AND FINALLY, THROUGH POPULATION LEVEL IMMUNIZATION, PUBLIC HEALTH WAS VERY VISIBLE DURING THAT TIME.
WE COULD SEE IT IN ACTION, BUT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS CAN GO UNNOTICED IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTS SAFE DRINKING WATER PROVIDES GREEN SPACES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY GATHERING.
IT IS THE PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION OF OUR FOOD.
PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABOUT PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION.
IT IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PUBLIC HEALTH IS PREVENTATIVE SCREENING FOR DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND MANY TYPES OF CANCER.
AS COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES REMINDS US, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW PUBLIC HEALTH SHOWS UP IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
BUT MOST OF ALL, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT EVERYONE, EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES REGARDLESS OF THE ZIP CODE IN WHICH THEY WERE BORN.
AND ESPECIALLY IN A COUNTY WHERE HISTORICAL INEQUITIES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO POOR HEALTH, HEALTH OUTCOMES.
AMONG POPULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THE MOST VULNERABLE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK EXISTS TO REMIND US THAT HEALTH DOES NOT ONLY HAPPEN IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE OR IN A HOSPITAL, BUT PUBLIC HEALTH IS BUILT INTO ALL THE WAYS THAT WE LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND PRAY TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE.
THE HEALTH OF ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AFFECTS THE WELLBEING OF OUR ENTIRE COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR THIS PROCLAMATION FOR RECOGNIZING EVERYONE, BOTH PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND FOR OUR NEIGHBORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WELLNESS EVERY DAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SUMMIT.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO, UM, TO BRING TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS TYPE OF EVENT.
UM, THE THEME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SUMMIT IS COLLECTIVE ACTION, COLLECTIVE WISDOM.
AND OUR INTENT WAS TO, UM, GATHER AND SOLICIT ABSTRACTS ABOUT, UM, COMMUNITY DRIVEN STRATEGIES, ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO DO THE WORK OF PUBLIC HEALTH EVERY DAY AND PROVIDE SERVICES EVERY DAY.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE A FULL DAY ON APRIL THE SIXTH, THE FIRST DAY OF NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, AND REALLY PROUD TO HAVE OUR PARTNERS.
CARMEN VALDEZ, WHO'S FROM THE CAPE HARMONY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ASK HER TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP.
MY NAME IS CARMEN VALDEZ, AND I AM A PROFESSOR AT THE CAPE MARION SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ALSO ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH AND PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE, UH, TODAY AND TO, UH, REQUEST THAT THE COURT RECOGNIZE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SUMMIT.
AS, UM, MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY IS THE NUMBER OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH.
AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH SUMMIT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER TO SHARE ON THEIR WORK AND TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND, UM, SHARING OF RESOURCES.
SO, UM, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UM, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, UM, JUDGE SAKA.
UM, CAN I ALSO RECOGNIZE DR. CAROL HUBER? SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH.
UM, UH, UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND COMMUNITY FIRST HEALTH PLANS HAS, UM, MADE A GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP TO SUPPORT THE SUMMIT AS WELL.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK HER TO SAY SOMETHING.
IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO BE PART OF THIS COALITION, BRINGING THIS SUMMIT, UH, TO LIFE.
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE THERE ON APRIL 6TH.
UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TODAY FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT LANDMARK THAT WE MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR THROUGH DATA, THROUGH COLLABORATION.
UH, AND I HAVE NOTED IN THE PAST THAT, UH, SAN ANTONIO BE COUNTY HAS NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
ITS IN ITS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET TOGETHER.
I WANT DR. VALDEZ, I WANT, UH, SAY THAT I'D LOVE TO CONVENE, UH, A POLICY, UH, MONTHLY LUNCHEON WHERE THE COMMUNITY OF, OF HEALTHCARE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, WORKERS AS WELL AS POLICY LEADERS GET IN A LUNCHEON AND DO A LUNCH AND LEARN SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THE DATA OF THE VARIOUS ENTITIES WORKING ON PUBLIC
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HEALTH AND ACTUALLY FOLLOW IT THROUGH WITH POLICY.I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE SEEN LOS ANGELES DO AND OTHER BIG CITIES.
AND WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT WE'RE CATCHING UP.
WE'VE GOT OUR, UH, VITA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRECINCT ONE.
WE'VE GOT, UH, THINGS GOING ON IN UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.
WE'VE GOT A DEPARTMENT NOW AT THE COUNTY IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
ALL OF THAT IS SHOWING THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN BE, UM, VERY MUCH IMPLEMENTERS AND NOT JUST HAVE IT SIT ON A SHELF.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, ALL OF YOU.
LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND.
WHAT'S GOING ON, BROTHER ALBERT? YES.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, BROTHER.
PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RECOGNIZING AND PROCLAIMING MARCH, 2026 AS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, THIS IS YOURS.
UM, ELENA AND, UH, MR. BOZEMAN, IF YOU WANNA COME UP FOR COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
I, UH, MR. BOWMAN, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOUR WIFE WAS HERE EARLIER, SO I WOULD'VE RECOGNIZED YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY HERE WITH YOU TOO.
WHEREAS COLON CANCER IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS EARLY DETECTION THROUGH ROUTINE SCREENINGS HAS BEEN PROVEN TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE MORTALITY RATE OF COLON CANCER.
A COLONOSCOPY IS A PROCEDURE IN WHICH THE ENTIRE COLON CAN BE VISUALIZED AND PRECANCEROUS POLYPS CAN BE REMOVED.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, CANCER RISK IS REDUCED BY 90% AFTER COLONOSCOPY AND POLYP REMOVAL.
COLORECTAL CANCER RATES HAVE INCREASED IN PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 50 AND THE RECOMMENDED AGE TO BEGIN COLON NOSIES LOWER TO 45.
THE RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE IN THEIR TWENTIES AND THIRTIES.
AND WHEREAS A HEALTHY DIET THAT INCLUDES VEGETABLES, FRUITS, AND WHOLE GRAIN FIBER AND IS LOW IN FAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER RISK OF COLON CANCER.
AVOIDING TOBACCO AND HEAVY ALCOHOL USE CAN DECREASE THE RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER, REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MAINTAINING NORMAL BODY WEIGHT AND BENE IS BENEFIT ARE BENEFICIAL AS WELL.
AND WHEREAS OBSERVING COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH DURING MARCH PROVIDES A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND OFFER EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION AND SCREENING.
THE COLOR BLUE IS USED TO SYMBOLIZE COLON CANCER AWARENESS.
AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY-LED INITIATIVES ARE WORKING TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE THAT COLON CANCER IS ONE OF THE FEW CANCERS THAT CAN BE PREVENTED WITH TIMELY SCREENINGS.
AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY CALLS UPON RESIDENTS TO SEEK REGULAR SCREENINGS AND CON CONSULT WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS REGARDING THEIR RISK FOR COLON CANCER AND URGES ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL PREVENTIVE INITIATIVES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THE INCIDENTS AND MORTALITY RATES OF COLON CANCER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZING PROCLAIMS MARCH, 2026 AS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
SO I WANNA THANK ON TH THRIVE FOR BEING HERE.
TH THRIVE IS ONE OF THE, A FEW LOCAL CANCER ORGANIZATIONS WHEN I GOT DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER THAT I WAS ABLE TO, UM, REACH OUT TO FOR RESOURCES AND ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
UH, MY NAME'S ELENA WINE, AND I'M THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WITH RIVAL CANCER FOUNDATION.
AND WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE WITH THINGS AS, AS SIMPLE TO US AS TRANSPORTATION.
JUST MAKE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN GET TO ALL OF THEIR TREATMENT, COMPLETE THEIR TREATMENT.
WE ALSO PROVIDE FREE COUNSELING SERVICES, NOT ONLY FOR THE PATIENT, BUT FOR THEIR CAREGIVERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR SUPPORT COMMUNITY.
UM, WE DO A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND WE ALSO, OUR, OUR FLAGSHIP IS OUR DIVA AND DUKE PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHERE THE, UM, COUNSELING PROGRAM FALLS UNDER, AS WELL AS, UM, PROVIDING NUTRITION AND FREE EXERCISE FOR ANYONE WHO'S EVER FACED ANY DIAGNOSIS IN PARTICULAR.
THIS MONTH, WE, UM, WE PUT FORWARD, UH, AWARENESS ABOUT COLON CANCER, UM, CRC, UH, JUST THAT IT'S A HIGHLY, HIGHLY PREVENTABLE DISEASE
[00:30:01]
WITH EARLY DETECTION.AND DO NOT IGNORE YOUR SYMPTOMS. CHECK YOUR COLON, CHECK YOUR COLON COLS, COLONOSCOPY.
YOU WANNA COME FORWARD FOR A PICTURE? YES.
WHO? ONE PERSON SHE WANTED? EXPLAIN.
OH, WHAT'S THE PHOTO? I WAS, I HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.
THE COLORECTAL CANCER ARE YOU WITH, WITH UT HEALTH? OKAY.
IF Y'ALL WOULD STAY AFTER AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY, DR. GUERRERO.
THE NEXT CEREMONY ITEM WILL BE PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION OF BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER COURT, RECOGNIZING BIOMED ESSAYS, BIO COMMISSIONER CLIFF FLORES.
UM, OUR NEXT PRO PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS BIOMED ESSAY IS A NON-PROFIT MEMBERSHIP BASED ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES AS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONVENER OF ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, PROMOTING GROWTH OF THE HEALTHCARE AND BIOSCIENCE SECTOR IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE SURROUNDING REGION.
AND FEST DAYS IS A SERIES OF EVENTS.
COORDINATE AND PROMOTE IT BY BIOMED SA, AIMING TO FOSTER CONNECTIONS, SHOWCASE INNOVATION, AND SOLIDIFY THE SAN ANTONIO ERAS POSITION AS AN INNOVATION HUB WITHIN THE NATIONAL BIO SCIENCE LANDSCAPE.
AND WHEREAS BIO FEST DAY SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR SECURING NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAN ANTONIO BASED BIOSCIENCE STARTS FACILITATING OVER $65 MILLION IN NEW INVESTMENTS IN OUR AREA SINCE 2021.
AND WHEREAS BIO FEST DAYS' PROGRAMS AND EVENTS INCLUDE BIO FEST INVEST AND INVESTOR PITCH COMPETITION FOR STARTUPS, TOURS OF KEY COMMUNITY ASSETS, NETWORKING EVENTS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP MEETINGS, AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEARER COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES BIOMET ESSAYS BIO FEST DAYS.
AND COMMISSIONERS, WE APPRECIATE IT.
I WAS GONNA INTRODUCE EVERYONE HERE WITH ME TODAY ON BEHALF OF BIOMED SAY, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD TAKE A WHILE.
SO, UM, I WANNA POINT OUT OUR CHAIR.
LARRY SCHLESINGER, UM, FROM TEXAS BIOMED IS HERE, AS WELL AS WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM RESEARCH COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES, STARTUPS, CONSULTANTS, SUPPLIERS AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, MEMBERS FROM RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, AND REAL ESTATE BECAUSE THE, UM, BIOMEDICAL SECTOR IS THE LARGEST SECTOR IN SAN ANTONIO AND CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH TO OUR ECONOMY THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL.
UM, SAN ANTONIO IS AT A TURNING POINT.
OUR REGION IS GROWING FAST, AND WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A NATIONAL BIOSCIENCE HUB IF WE CONTINUE INVESTING IN RESEARCH, TALENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE INNOVATION POSSIBLE.
BIO FESTS DAYS IS ONE OF THE CLEAREST EXAMPLES OF HOW WE SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SINCE THE START OF BIO FESTS INVEST IN 2021, BIO FEST DAYS HAS BECOME A POWERFUL INDUSTRY DRIVEN 12 DAY SERIES OF EVENTS THAT BRINGS INVESTORS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE SAN ANTONIO'S CAPABILITIES FIRSTHAND.
BIO FEST INVEST STANDS OUT AS A SIGNATURE EVENT TO THE SERIES, BRINGING IN 60% OF IT, ITS ATTENDEES FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION, AND HELPING SAN ANTONIO STARTUPS THAT HAVE PITCHED THERE SECURE MORE THAN 65 A MILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT.
THIS IS THE KIND OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT RAISES INCOMES, EXPANDS OPPORTUNITY AND STRENGTHENS MOBILITIES FOR FAMILIES ACROSS OUR CITY.
OUR HEALTHCARE AND BIOSCIENCE SECTOR ALREADY CONTRIBUTES OVER $44 BILLION A YEAR AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 180,000 HIGH PAYING JOBS.
BIO FEST DAYS AMPLIFIES THESE STRENGTHS BY GIVING COMPANIES, STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND INVESTORS A HIGH VISIBILITY PLATFORM TO ENGAGE WITH OUR ASSETS AND SEE WHAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO A CITY OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH.
WE'VE SEEN WHAT'S POSSIBLE COMPANIES LIKE PAST BIO FEST WINNER VASCULAR PROFUSION SOLUTIONS ARE ADVANCING LIFESAVING TECHNOLOGIES AND ATTRACTING NATIONAL RECOGNITION.
BUT WE MUST KEEP BUILDING WITH SUSTAINED INVESTMENT AND STRONG PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION, SAN ANTONIO CAN SECURE ITS PLACE AS A LEADER IN BIOSCIENCE INNOVATION AND A BEACON OF SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL EXCELLENCE.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU.I WANNA, UH, THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, UH, AND FOR BOTH OF THE LAST TWO RESOLUTIONS, AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, CAN YOU JUST REMIND US, UH, WHAT ARE THOSE DAYS THAT WE HAVE THE FEST AGAIN? ONE MORE TIME? YEAH.
BIO FEST INVEST IS ACTUALLY APRIL 14TH, BUT BIO FEST DAYS RUNS APRIL 6TH THROUGH THE 17TH, AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT EVENTS GOING ON, AND YOU CAN LOOK@BIOFEST.NET TO FIND OUT WHICH ONES YOU WANNA ATTEND.
WELL, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UH, OBVIOUSLY IT'S MAKING AN IMPACT AS BEXAR COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER IS IN THIS SECTOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE CAN COLLABORATE ON IN THE FUTURE IS REALLY MAKING THIS KIND OF, UH, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST KIND OF FEEL.
UM, AND, AND THAT COMES THROUGH SPONSORSHIP, UH, THROUGH, UH, ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLIFE.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BROAD PANEL OF INVESTORS AND TO GROW THE PANEL OF INVESTORS FOR THESE BIO, UH, HEALTH, UH, BUSINESSES.
AND WE'VE GOT SO MUCH MONEY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH AUSTIN MONEY? HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH HOUSTON MONEY, WITH DALLAS MONEY? UM, AND PART OF THAT CAN BE WE BRING THOSE, UH, VARIOUS INVESTMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO SAN ANTONIO.
UM, YOU MAY BE DOING SOME OF THIS ALREADY, BUT WE JUST WANT TO REALLY HELP YOU, UM, PUT THIS MORE ON THE MAP AND REALLY HERALD THE DIVERSITY OF OUR ECONOMY IN SAN ANTONIO BAYAR COUNTY, SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T JUST SING ABOUT BOSTON OR SOME OTHER CITY AS A PLACE TO INVEST IN THESE, IN THIS INDUSTRY.
UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING UP.
I KNOW CARLOS, MY WHO SERVED A GOOD TOUR OF DUTY HERE AT BEAR COUNTY IS WITH YOU.
AND, UH, HE CAN HELP US LIAISE A A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HELP MAYBE UNDERWRITE, UH, SOMETHING TO TAKE YOUR NEXT YEARS TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE? I'M SORRY.
TELL ME SOMETHING NEW THAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.
WELL, FIRST LET ME SAY HOW HONORED I AM TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, WITH HEATHER AND BIOMED SA TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT PUBLIC HEALTH WAS HERE TODAY AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE AN ENTIRE SPECTRUM HERE TODAY.
UM, I'M EXCITED BECAUSE I THINK SAN ANTONIO IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND HAVE IMPACT.
AND AS THE COMMISSIONER STATED, OUR IMPACT NEEDS TO GO BROADER.
UM, AND I THINK ALL OF US WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THIS SECTOR ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADVANCE, UM, THE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE R AND D UH, THAT LEADS TO MORE MANUFACTURING.
SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE A PROMISE AHEAD FOR ALL OF US, UH, AND I WANNA BE PART OF THAT CLEARLY.
UH, AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER FLORES FOR HER SUPPORT, UM, AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF TEXAS BIOMED AND A BIOMED ESSAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTATION ON PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER COURT, RECOGNIZING CLARENCE ARROW, GIDEON DAY, RECOGNIZED AS 63 60 THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDMARK DECISION OF GIDEON VERSUS RAIN WHITE.
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THOSE THAT ARE HERE, I, I THINK I SAW JIM BETH E WHOEVER'S HERE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, IF WE STEP FORWARD.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY YEAR, UH, TO COMMEMORATE AND, UM, UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M GONNA READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, JIM.
UH, THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY VALUES ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS AND RECOGNIZES THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS CANNOT AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
AND WHEREAS IN 1963, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HELD IN GIDEON VERSUS WAIN WRIGHT, THAT THE CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS STATES FROM IMPRISONING INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT AFFORD A LAWYER WITHOUT PROVIDING COUNSEL AFFIRMING THAT FAIR TRIALS REQUIRE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
[00:40:02]
AND WHEREAS THIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL WAS EXTENDED IN 1967 THROUGH, IN RESULT, ENSURING THAT JUVENILES FACING DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS ARE ALSO GUARANTEED LEGAL REPRESENTATION.AND WHEREAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES, BEXAR COUNTY FUNDS AND MAINTAINS BOTH A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND A MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL OFFICE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT ADULTS AND CHILDREN FACING LOSS OF LIBERTY.
AND WHEREAS THE ANNIVERSARIES OF THE GIDEON AND GAULT DECISIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, HEREBY RECOGNIZES CLARENCE EARL GIDEON DAY SIGNED THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BY YOUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
UH, LET'S GIVE ALL OF OUR DEFENDERS OF JUSTICE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND JIM, JIM, WOULD YOU SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP? YES.
COMMISSIONER JIM BETHKE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BE COUNTY MANAGED TO SIGN COUNCIL PROGRAM.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SPONSOR.
GIDEON VERSUS WAYNE WRIGHT AFFIRMED THE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL PRINCIPLE THAT JUSTICE IN AMERICA SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY FOR A LAWYER.
THAT DECISION RECOGNIZED THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL AS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROMISE OF EQUAL JUSTICE AND FAIR TRIALS.
TEXAS REINFORCED THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROMISE THROUGH THE T THE PASSAGE OF THE TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE ACT IN 2001, CALLING UPON ALL 254 COUNTIES TO BUILD SYSTEMS THAT ENSURE PEOPLE RECEIVE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION.
BEAR COUNTY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTIES TO ANSWER THAT CALL A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS AGO.
THE COURT INVESTED IN ESTABLISHING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE, AND MORE RECENTLY, IN 2021, Y'ALL MOVED FORWARD WITH ESTABLISHING THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL PROGRAM.
BEAR COUNTY, SINCE THAT TIME, HAS BECOME RECOGNIZED AS STATEWIDE LEADER IN INDIGENT DEFENSE.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RECEIVE QUALIFIED REPRESENTATION EACH YEAR.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR CLIENTS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S CLIENTS BENEFIT FROM STRONGER ADVOCACY ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
PADILLA ADVISE ADVISES SPECIALIZED LEGAL RESOURCES FOR JUVENILES MAKING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM FAIR, STRONGER, AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE.
THAT WORK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY.
THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND THE HUNDREDS OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WHO ACCEPT COURT APPOINTMENTS CARRY OUT THE PROMISE OF GIDEON EVERY DAY IN OUR COURTROOMS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR JUDICIARY, THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS, THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS, AND THE JUVENILE COURTS WHOSE COORDINATION AND COMMITMENT HELP ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL IS MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE IN EVERY CASE.
GIDEON REMINDS US THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS MEASURED NOT BY HOW WE TREAT THE MOST POWERFUL, BUT HOW WE TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE WITH THOSE WITH THE LEAST RESOURCES.
JUSTICE SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON WEALTH.
BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR INDIGENT FENCE, BERK COUNTY CONTINUES TO MAKE THE PROMISE OF GIDEON REAL FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
FOR THAT, MY TEAM AND I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORTMENT SUPPORT COMMITMENT TO EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW IN ENSURING FAIR TRIALS.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA, UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, TO COURT EVERY YEAR.
ALSO, JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE SO MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE.
UM, OF COURSE, JIM BETHKE AT MACK, BUT ALSO, UM, JUSTIN ON HIS STAFF.
JUSTIN, WAVE YOUR HAND IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOU.
UM, WHO WORKS WITH OUR, OUR, UM, NON-PROFITS WHO WORK WITH THE IMMIGRATION DEFENSE FUND.
NORMA, OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER IS HERE, AND DR.
PIPER, UM, FORMER CHAIR OF TOP NOW A TOP MEMBER, NO STAFFER.
AND I RECOGNIZE OTHER TOP MEMBERS AND OTHER TOP STAFF WHO ARE BEING HERE.
SO IT TAKES ALL THE WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO, ESPECIALLY, UM, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO REITERATE, BUT ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS, UH, THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA BEFORE OUR EYES AS WE, AS WE USED TO KNOW IT.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND LET'S KEEP FIGHTING.
WE, YEAH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR POINTING OUT ALL OF THE, UH, FOOT SOLDIERS, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, I KNOW LAWYERS GET A BAD RAP SOMETIMES, BUT I THINK THIS IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE, UM, THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
JIM, IN COORDINATION WITH OUR CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER, CARRIE MALLON, THANK YOU, CARRIE, FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
UM, I THINK REALLY SET, UH, AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, TO MAKE SURE.
[00:45:01]
JIM, UM, ACCESS TO THE COURTHOUSE OR JUST TO THE, A SIMPLE DEFENSE SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR WALLET OR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.UM, IT SHOULD BE EQUAL, UH, FOR EVERYBODY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
PLEASE COME UP AND, AND HAVE A PICTURE.
LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, DR.
HOW ARE YOU? JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF Y'ALL WHO, AS, AS COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ SAYS, YEAH, I'M A LAWYER TOO, JUDGE TOO.
SO, YEAH, SOMETIMES WE GET A BAD RABBIT.
I WANT TO JUST PUT ON RECORD, AS I STATED DURING MY CAMPAIGN, THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT DEFEND ITSELF AND IT TAKES OFFICERS OF THE COURT, JUDICIARY, THE LAWYERS, THE PEOPLE THAT TRULY WANT TO PROTECT THIS CONSTITUTION.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND LET'S NEVER TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED.
COME FORWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE.
CAN WE GET SOME OF THIS, OF THIS SIDE? CAN, CAN SOME OF Y'ALL GO ON THIS SIDE TO THE RIGHT? CAN SOME OF Y'ALL GO ON THIS SIDE TO EVEN IT OUT? YEAH, LET'S EVEN IT OUT.
[69. Discussion and appropriate action related to granting an exception to Administrative Policy 1.2 to authorize the consideration of the following late filed Agenda Item #69a. a. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of a request from Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores to allocate outside agency funding in the total amount of $49,999 for the agencies and amounts listed; as part of Precinct 1 's Contributions to Outside Agencies from the General Fund.]
A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FOR COMMISSIONER REBECCA CLAY FLORES TO ALLOCATE OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 49,999 FOR THE AGENCIES AND AMOUNTS LISTED AS PRECINCT ONE'S CONTRIBUTION TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.THRIVE WELL, CANCER FOUNDATION, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, THE OTHER FLOOR.
WELL, WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD? THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKA, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, THRIVE WELL WAS ABLE TO GIVE BACK.
UM, WHEN YOU WORK WITH CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS, THERE'S AN URGENCY OF THE WORK THAT, THAT THEY ARE DOING.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO GET BACK TO DOING THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THIS.
WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE ALMOST $50,000 FOR A SPONSORSHIP FOR A ZOOMBATHON FUNDRAISER BECAUSE EXERCISE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR CANCER SURVIVORS.
UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO RECOVER AND SO, SO HAPPY, UM, ALMOST $50,000 FOR THE ZOOMBATHON FUNDRAISER.
AND THIS FUNDING SPECIFICALLY GOES TO THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH CANCER, UM, AS I REALIZE CANCER DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THE ORGAN, BUT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE BODY.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS FUNDING AMOUNT, UM, AND JUST THE WORK THAT THE COURT HAS BEEN DOING TO SUPPORT THRIVE WELL IN CANCER PATIENTS.
NO, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
SLASH AS YOU MENTIONED, CANCER DOES NOT JUST AFFECT THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE ACTUAL ART OF GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IT'S MIND, IT'S BODY, IT'S CHANGING YOUR LIFESTYLE.
IT IS SO MANY THINGS BEYOND, UM, CHRIS CAN SPEAK TO THAT BETTER THAN I CAN AS A SURVIVOR AND A WARRIOR.
UH, DEFINITELY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO, UH, THIS CANCER JOURNEY, WE DO GO THROUGH A LOT.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH CHEMOTHERAPY, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH RADIATION.
THERE ARE GONNA BE CERTAIN SIDE EFFECTS THAT ARE GOING TO, UH, PRETTY MUCH TAKE OVER NOT ONLY OUR BODIES, BUT ALSO OUR MINDS.
UH, BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN THIS CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT, HOW CAN THIS RADIATION REALLY HELP US TO GET BETTER AND TO REALLY KILL THE CANCER THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BODIES? AND A LOT OF TIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE CANCER PATIENTS THAT HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN TREATMENT AND PAYING THEIR RENT.
THEY HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN RADIATION AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AT HOME.
[00:50:01]
DOWN TO THE FUNDING THAT THRIVE OIL CANCER FOUNDATION RECEIVES, ALL OF THIS MONEY GOES TOWARDS THE PATIENTS THAT ARE A PART OF THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION.AND SO, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT AS A CANCER SURVIVOR, AS A SURVIVOR AND A WARRIOR, I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THRIVE WORLD CANCER FOUNDATION HAS GIVEN ME OVER THESE YEARS.
AND JUST IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CAME OUT WITH THE NEW STAT THAT, UM, AMONGST CANCERS COLON CANCER IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER, KILLER FOR PEOPLE UNDER 50.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, EVEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KELLY FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SECOND BY SAYING AYE.
LET'S CONTINUE THE SPECIAL PRESENTATION
[5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM(S)]
ITEMS FIVE.A PRESENTATION BY REPRESENTATIVE OF JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS TO RECOGNIZE AND FORMERLY COMMEND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AT COUNTY JUDGE PETER, AKA FOR HIS CONTINUED LEADERSHIP SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE WELLBEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT BEAR COUNTY.
AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING THE CHAIR OF THE JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS.
I WANT TO EX EXTEND MY SINCERE THANKS TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND TO JUDGE SAKAI AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN OPENING THE DOORS TO THE SOUTH ENTRANCE AND ENSURING THAT IT IS FULLY A DA ACCESSIBLE PROJECTS LIKE THIS REQUIRE COLLABORATION, COMMITMENT AND A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO FIRST RECOGNIZE ALL THE WORK AND CARE THAT WENT INTO MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR MANY OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES AND ACCESSIBILITY CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE IN BETWEEN PARTICIPATING AND ISOLATION.
AND IN THESE CASES, ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SERVICE SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON MOBILITY, STRENGTH, OR CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN MY ROLE ON THE JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICY IMPROVEMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF OUR OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WORK IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO ME, NOT ONLY IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY, BUT ALSO ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.
MANY OF US HAVE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND LOVED ONES WHOSE MOBILITY CH CHANGES AS THEY AGE.
WE SEE THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW MEANINGFUL IT IS WHEN COMMUNITIES TAKE THOUGHTFUL STEPS TO REMOVE THESE BARRIERS.
THE JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS EXISTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS BY ADVOCATING FOR EQUITY, DIGNITY, AND COMPASSION.
TODAY'S REOPENING REFLECTS WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE LISTEN, ACT, AND LEAD WITH INCLUSION.
A COMMUNITY IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS HOLINESS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN FULLY BELONG, PARTICIPATE, AND BE SEEN.
I'M PROUD OF THIS COMMUNITY AND GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT MADE THIS IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE AND HOPEFUL FOR THE PROGRESS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TOGETHER.
UM, I JUST, I JUST WANTED, UH, TO RECOGNIZE FERNANDA, WHO'S MY CONSTITUENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR, FOR THE ELDERLY AND ALWAYS, UM, ASKING ABOUT MY MOM AND EVERYTHING AND, AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR, FOR SO MANY MOMS AND SO MANY ELDERLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MAYA APPOINTEE, UM, JAY VALENZUELA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
UH, FERNANDA, I KNOW YOU DO SO MUCH WORK OUTSIDE OF, UH, THIS BODY, BUT ALSO WITH, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE NONPROFIT AND THE GONZAGA FAMILY.
UH, SO MANY, UH, PEOPLE THAT, THAT DO GREAT WORK THERE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT I, I THOUGHT I SAW TERRY KILMER, UH, SOMEWHERE BACK THERE.
ONE OF MY, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
TERRY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, AND OF COURSE, JERRY, MY APPOINTEE.
JERRY, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOOK TO YOU ALL AS, UH, LEADERS ON THIS COMMISSION.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND WE APPRECIATE EVERY DAY, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UH, NOT JUST AT, UH, YOUR, YOUR SPECIFIC, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY, BUT, BUT COUNTYWIDE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS RECOGNITION'S ABOUT.
THANK YOU JUDGE COMMISSIONER COVER.
I WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND THANK THE JUDGE FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO US.
UH, I THINK THE, THE, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD FOR YOUR SERVICE, BETTY ECKERT, MY LONGTIME APPOINTEE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONGTIME SERVICE, UH, DATING BACK TO COMMISSIONER ATKINSON, ACTUALLY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
SO I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT TOGETHER, WE NEED TO WORK TOWARDS MORE HOME HEALTHCARE HELP FOR OUR SENIORS, UH, THE, AND, AND PAYING THOSE HOME HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT A WAGE THAT IS, UH, COMMISERATE WITH THE CARE THAT'S NEEDED.
THINKING ABOUT HOW UNIVERSITY HEALTH CAN ENTER THAT SPACE.
THINKING ABOUT HOW UNIVERSITY HEALTH CAN CREATE HOUSING FOR SENIORS THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND CLOSE TO MEDICAL DOCTORS
[00:55:01]
AND MEDICAL CARE.THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN PLACES LIKE FLORIDA THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE COOPERATION, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
UM, AND SO WE'VE MADE PROGRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER THE YEARS, I WANNA THANK THE, THE, THE COMMISSION FOR MAKING PROGRESS ON ELDER FRAUD ABUSE.
WHEN I STARTED, I WAS THE FIRST COMMISSIONER TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF FINANCIAL CRIMES BEING COMMITTED AGAINST OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
UH, I KNEW BECAUSE MY FAMILY WAS AWARD FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN, UH, WHO HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN HER RETIREMENT TAKEN BY A JAMAICAN ORGANIZED CRIME NETWORK.
WE NOW HAVE, UH, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS INVESTIGATORS FOR THAT.
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NOW HAS INVESTIGATORS FOR THAT.
SO I, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR MAKING PROGRESS TOGETHER, ADVOCATING FOR THE HEALTH NEEDS, THE FOOD NEEDS, THE HOME HEALTHCARE NEEDS, THE ACTIVITY AND CONNECTIVITY NEEDS.
YOU ALL HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND WE WILL CONTINUE AS YOU'RE THE CHAIR.
LET ME ALSO RECOGNIZE MY APPOINTEE.
LAUREN JIMENEZ, UH, WHO I'VE PUT POINTED ON THERE.
SHE, I THINK WAS FORMERLY WITH ACOG ON THE ELDERLY COMMITTEE OVER THERE.
JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF Y'ALL.
UH, Y'ALL HAVE BROUGHT ISSUES TO THIS COURT.
I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR THE COMMITMENT IN THIS REGARDS TO THE ACCESS TO THE COURTHOUSE AND THEN OPEN UP AND THE EXPENSES THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT.
WE ALSO, AS YOU COULD SEE ON OUR MONITORS, WE HAVE SIGNED INTERPRETERS NOW GIVING ACCESS TO THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED.
AND THE, ALSO THE CREATION OF THE SENIOR JUSTICE CENTER, WHICH WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF JUDGE VERONICA VASQUEZ OUT OF PROBATE COURT, WILL SEE THAT OUR COMMITMENT OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL CONTINUE.
AND FERNANDA AND WHOEVER SUCCEEDS YOU AS THE CHAIR UNDERSTAND THAT'S ONE ONE OF THESE PAR COMMITTEES HAS BEEN VERY POWERFUL IN BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE, TO THE LEADERSHIP HERE.
AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT, BUT WHEN WE POINT IT OUT, I EXPECT THIS COURT TO ALWAYS RESPOND TO Y'ALL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF Y'ALL AND WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
CAN WE GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE? COME TAKE A DO.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I ALL HAVE SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS AND I'LL ASK THAT IT BE FILED.
LUCY, WE GOT A RESOLUTION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILED.
[6. TIME CERTAIN ITEM(S)]
TIME CERTAIN, WE'RE RIGHT ON TIME HERE.WE'RE GONNA GO 10:00 AM PRESENTATION DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RE RELATED TO THE ETT THEATER.
ONE UPDATE ON DESIGN CONSTRUCTION, AUTOMATED THEATER, AND TWO APPROVAL AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ALAMEDA THEATER CONSERVANCY TO REFURBISH, RESTORE THE ICONIC NEON BLADE SIGN AND MARQUIA THE HISTORIC ALAMEDA THEATER IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO $2,500,000.
I'M WITH THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE, UH, COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ALAMEDA THEATER CONSERVANCY BOARD.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE AN ITEM TO PROVIDE EXCITING UPDATES, UH, ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE RENOVATION TO THE HISTORIC ALAMEDA THEATER.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY MR. TRADE JACOBSON, WHO IS THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CONSERVANCY.
WE ALSO HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, UH, MR. PETE CORTEZ, WHO'S CHAIR OF THE BOARD, AND LINDSEY HOLLAND, OUR VICE CHAIR.
UM, AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY CHRISTINA AND EDDIE ALTI, WHO HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, INCREDIBLE PARTNERS FOR US, UH, HELPING US WITH FUNDRAISING.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO TREY.
LET HIM, UH, PRESENT YOU THE, UH, UPDATES.
AND THEN WE WILL, UH, UH, STOP FOR QUESTIONS.
[01:00:04]
HELLO, MR. TRE, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.UH, AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS TRE JACOBSON.
I'M, UH, SERVING AS THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ALAMEDA THEATER CONSERVANCY.
UH, WE HAVE A BRIEF ITEM, UH, I WANT TO COVER AT A VERY CURSORY LEVEL.
'CAUSE WE, WE'D GO ON FOR HOURS AND TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ANIMATED THEATER.
SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ANIMATED THEATER.
SO I WANT TO COVER THAT BRIEFLY AS WE LEAD INTO WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
SO THE ALAMEDA THEATER OPENED IN MARCH OF 1949 WITH OVER 2,500 SEATS.
UH, AT THE TIME, IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST THEATERS.
UH, BUT WHAT DISTINGUISHED THE ALAMEDA FROM ITS OTHER THEATERS AT THE TIME IS THAT IT PROVIDED SPANISH LANGUAGE, MOVIES AND ENTERTAINMENT TARGETED TO THE MEXICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT WAS FLOURISHING AND CONTINUES TO FLOURISH.
BUT WHAT IT REALLY MADE IT UNIQUE WAS THAT AT THAT SAD TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, MANY OF THE THEATERS IN SAN ANTONIO WERE SEGREGATED, AND THEY DISCOURAGED AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MEXICAN AMERICANS FROM BEING CUSTOMERS.
DURING THE 1950S AND SIXTIES, THE THEATER FLOURISHED.
IT WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF MEXICAN CINEMA.
UH, AND ALL OF THE FAMOUS MEXICAN ACTORS, SINGERS, COMEDIANS, FLOCKED SAN ANTONIO AND PERFORMED AT THE ALAMEDA.
AND DURING THE 1960S AND EARLY SEVENTIES, THERE WAS EVEN A SPANISH LANGUAGE VARIETY SHOW THAT WAS HELD THERE.
BUT IT WASN'T THE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS THAT WOULD HELP MAKE THIS BUILDING PARTICULARLY SPECIAL AS WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE OFFICE BUILDING THAT SURROUNDED IT.
THOSE, THERE WERE HISTORICAL TENETS, HISTORICAL THINGS GO ON THERE.
THE MEXICAN CONSULATE WAS IN THE COSTA DE MEXICO BUILDING, WHAT WE NOW CALL THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WAS IN THAT BUILDING.
CIVIC LEADERS LIKE HENRY B GONZALEZ'S EARLY OFFICES WERE THERE.
THE FIRST SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO STATION.
ULTIMATELY THE FIRST, UH, SPANISH LANGUAGE MEXICAN AMERICAN AND UHF CHANNEL IN THE, IN THE NATION WAS THERE.
AND MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS WERE FOUNDED, INCLUDING MALDEF.
HOWEVER, A 2,500 SEAT MOVIE HOUSE COULD NOT COMPETE IN THE 1980S AGAINST THE MEGA PLEXES THAT WE ALL KNOW TODAY.
SO SADLY, IN 1990, THE ALAMEDA CLOSED ITS DOORS FOR GOOD.
AND EVER SINCE THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLOSING, THERE WAS EFFORTS TO REVIVE THE THEATER.
HOWEVER, IN FIVE YEARS LATER, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN AN EFFORT JUST TO PRESERVE THE BUILDING, THAT'S IMPORTANTLY RICH CULTURALLY IMPORTANT BUILDING, THEY ACQUIRED IT IN 1995.
THERE WERE SEVERAL FAILED EFFORTS BY OTHER NONPROFITS TRYING TO RESTORE IT.
HOWEVER, IN 2017, BEAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, OR ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE ALAMEDA THEATER CONSERVANCY, ALONG WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, LA FAMILIA CORTEZ, AND TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO, WHO'S ONE OF OUR TENANTS, THEY WERE GETTING SERIOUS.
THEY PUT SOME MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT TO GET GOING.
AND THEN IN THE INTERVENING YEARS FROM 2017 TO 2026, UH, THE CONSERVANCY, EVEN DURING THE PERIOD OF COVID STRATEGICALLY PLANNED THE RESTORATION.
WE HAVE FULLY DESIGNED AND IN FACT ENHANCED THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.
WE HAVE CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
WE HAVE PERFECTED $22 MILLION WORTH OF STATE AND FEDERAL TAX CREDITS.
WE'VE ADOPTED A SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN.
WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY PERFORMING, UH, WITH A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, AND WE PROVIDED FOR THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THAT THEATER.
WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH AMBASSADOR THEATER GROUP, UH, UM, WHICH YOU MAY NOW LOCALLY KNOW, IS RUNNING THE MAJESTIC AND THE EMPIRE THEATER.
YOU KNOW THEM LOCALLY, BUT THEY ARE GLOBALLY A TOP TIER THEATER MANAGEMENT COMPANY WITH TICKETING PLATFORMS AND THE SPAN TO BE ABLE TO BRING SHOWS, UH, TO SAN ANTONIO.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE CONSERVANCY, THEY HAVE HONORED OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE FOR LATINO FOCUSED ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH AGAIN, REFLECTING THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF THIS IMPORTANT THEATER.
THEY ALSO HAVE A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND EDUCATORS THAT TRIED THAT IN TERMS OF HOW THEY SUPPORT THOSE GROUPS.
WE'VE FURTHER BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH AMBASSADOR TO PROVIDE FOR 14 RENT-FREE DAYS FOR COMMUNITY USE OF THE THEATER.
THIS COURT WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOCATE FIVE OF THOSE FREE DAYS AS IT SEES FIFTH EACH YEAR TO COMMUNITY GROUPS.
THE CITY WILL ALSO HAVE FIVE DAYS, AND THE CONSERVANCY WILL PROVIDE FOR FOUR OF THOSE DAYS, AGAIN, FOCUSING ON THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE THEATERS.
SO YOU MIGHT REALIZE THAT WE'RE NOT SIMPLY FOCUSED ON RESTORING THE THEATER.
WE SEE THE CONSERVANCY AS A VITAL PRESENTER OF LATINO ARTS CULTURE AND EDUCATION, AND USING THE
[01:05:01]
THEATER AND THE ORGANIZATION AS A PLATFORM TO DO IT, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE'RE DELIVERING ON A PROMISE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NONPROFITS, SUCH AS AROUND MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE, BUT ALSO PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES.WE ALSO ARE CO-LOCATED AGAINST TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO.
AND USING THEM AND THEIR BROADCAST OPPORTUNITIES AS A PLATFORM PROVIDES AN IMMENSE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
JUST TO KIND OF, WELL, SO JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY USES THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT IS THAT ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS ACCESSIBILITY FOR EDUCATION AND, AND, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, CHILDREN WHO ARE K THROUGH 12, PARTICULARLY IN S-A-I-S-D AND OUR OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO ENJOY AND, AND BE INTRODUCED TO CULTURAL PERFORMANCES.
AND IT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, ALSO WE WERE, WE'VE BEEN RECENTLY APPROACHED BY A, A LARGE COMPANY, I WON'T DESCRIBE WHO THEY ARE, BUT HAS AN INTEREST IN MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS, AND HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM TO PROVIDE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES OR DISCOUNTED RENT, UH, DISCOUNTED, UH, PROGRAMS FOR, UH, MILITARY FAMILIES.
SO WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT? IN SHORT, WE'RE READY TO GO.
WE'VE HAVE FULLY DESIGNED, FULLY COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION DESIGNS.
WE ARE COORDINATING RIGHT NOW WITH THE CITY ON OUR, UH, UPDATED PERMITS.
WE HAVE ALL OF OUR HISTORICAL APPROVALS.
WE'RE ESTIM OUR CONSTRUCTION, UH, BIDS LATER THIS SPRING.
WE, WE ARE WORKING WITH HI HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.
WE'RE WORKING ON OUR BRIDGE FINANCING THAT WE NEED.
AND OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IS FINALLY SHOWING SUCCESS.
AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL CLOSE ON OUR FINANCING AS EARLY AS JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY OPEN THE THEATER AND THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE SPRING OF 2028.
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.
BUT WHAT IT ALSO TAKES TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT IS $64 MILLION, WHICH THROUGH THE CITIES AND COUNTIES, GENEROUS SUPPORT AS WELL AS THE TAX CREDITS AND CAPITAL AND OUR, AND OTHER PRIVATE DONATIONS WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARD.
BUT EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE TODAY, IS TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEAR COUNTY FUNDING AGREEMENT.
UM, THERE ARE FUNDS, UH, I BELIEVE YOU KNOW, FROM THE COURT THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED OF $2.5 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ENTER INTO A FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS, THIS UNIQUE AND ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION BY THE COUNTY SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE NEON BLADE SIGN AND THE MARQUEE THAT IS CLEARLY AND WILL EVER BE THE MOST VISIBLE ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT, IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SINGLE ELEMENTS OF THIS BUILDING AT $2.5 MILLION.
IT REQUIRES A COMPLETE RESTORATION INSIDE AND OUT.
WE INTEND, IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL LARGE REC APPRECIATION RECOGNITION FOR BEXAR COUNTY, WE WANT TO HONOR THROUGH THIS FUNDING AGREEMENT, A GIFT RECOGNITION FOR BEARER COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE, THE BLADE SIGN, AND PROVIDE CEREMONIES IN THE FUTURE BY WHICH BEXAR COUNTY COULD ACTUALLY FLIP THE SWITCH AND TURN IT ON.
UH, FURTHER, THIS PROJECT'S BEEN GOING A LONG TIME.
WE WERE PROPOSING THAT ANY FUNDS THAT, UH, ARE ALLOCATED TO THIS FUNDING AGREEMENT ONLY BE RELEASED TO BACK TO THE PROJECT WHEN WE'RE FINANCIALLY CLOSED AND READY TO GO.
SO, THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND AN UPDATE ABOUT THE PROJECT.
AND, UM, IF THE COURT WILL INDULGE US FOR A MINUTE, I, IT'S HELPFUL FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT THIS THEATER PROJECT IS GOING TO BE.
AND SO WE HAVE A VIDEO, A FLAT THROUGH VIDEO BASED UPON THE ACTUAL DESIGNS OF THE THEATER THAT WE'RE GONNA RUN NOW.
AND, UH, AND THEN AFTERWARDS, PETE CORTEZ, OUR CHAIR, WILL MAKE SOME JUST CLOSING REMARKS.
[01:11:51]
GOOD MORNING.MORNING JUDGE AKAI, MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
UM, I HAVE THE PURPOSE OF KNOWING MOST OF YOU, BUT FOR THE RECORD, I'M PETE CORTEZ.
UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MY VICE CHAIR, LINDSEY HOLLAND AND OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS, UH, CHRISTINA NET ALTE.
SO, IN ADDITION TO, UH, RUNNING MI TIERRA SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UM, AT OUR OTHER FAMILY RESTAURANTS, I SERVE AS BOARD CHAIR OF THE ELEMENTAL THEATER.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COURT FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED OVER MANY, MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, ONE OF OUR FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS, DAVID SMITH.
HOPE THE VIDEOS COME A LONG WAY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TONY CANES, UH, WHO'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, UM, BOTH AS A BOARD MEMBER AND A SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.
FOR MY FAMILY AND I, THE PRESERVATION AND REACTIVATION OF THE ALAMEDO THEATER HAS BECOME A MULTI-GENERATIONAL ENDEAVOR.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, MY LATE FATHER, JORGE CORTEZ, WAS A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVING LATINO CULTURE ON THE WEST END OF DOWNTOWN.
CURRENT AND PAST MEMBERS OF THIS COURT WILL NO DOUBT REMEMBER HIS PASSION, WHICH LED TO MANY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, SO, AND SAN PEDRO CREEK, AND THE BOND PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST NOW WRAPPING UP AMONGST HIS MANY PASSIONS.
HOWEVER, NONE WERE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ELEMENT OF THEATER.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE CULTURAL IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ICONIC THEATER, AND HE FOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT IT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE RESTORED TOWARDS HISTORIC GLORY.
HE OFTEN REFERRED TO THIS THEATER AS THE CROWN JEWEL.
AS THIS COURT HAS LONG SHARED, THAT COMMITMENT AND IS, ALONG WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
TO INVOKE A FOOTBALL METAPHOR, WE HAVE ADVANCED THE BALL INTO THE RED ZONE, WHICH IS FURTHER THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE.
AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, WE HAVE FULLY COMPLETED DESIGNS, THE REQUIRED PERMITS, SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC TAX CREDITS, BRIDGE FINANCING, A WORLD-CLASS THEATER MANAGER, AND WE CONTINUE TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.
IN SHORT, ALTHOUGH IT'S TAKEN A LARGE PART OF MY ADULT LIFE TO GET TO THIS POINT, WE ARE FINALLY READY TO GO.
WE ARE INSIDE THE FIVE YARD LINE, BUT WE NEED THE COUNTY SUPPORT TO HELP US GET OVER THE GOAL LINE.
THIS FUNDING WILL GENUINELY MOVE US FORWARD IN MEANINGFUL WAYS, AS TREY OUTLINED.
SO, ON BEHALF OF THE CONSERVANCY BOARD, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND DIVISION AND OUR EFFORTS TO BRING THE PSYCHOTIC BUILDING BACK TO LIFE.
UH, PETE, TONY, TREY, EVERYBODY.
EDDIE AND CHRISTINA, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP TOO? 'CAUSE I, I WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE YOU ALL AS WELL.
THI THIS HAPPENS TO BE IN PRECINCT TWO, THE WESTERN EDGE OF DOWNTOWN.
BUT THIS IS A PROJECT, A THEATER, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, PDAY LABOR OF LOVE, UH, THAT'S COUNTYWIDE.
AND, AND IN IN PARTICULAR, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, UH, COME FROM THE WEST SIDE, UM, WHO HAVE, UH, COINCIDENTALLY YESTERDAY, I THINK WAS THE 77 YEAR, UH, ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THE THEATER OPENED.
[01:15:01]
UM, I KNOW THAT FOR A COUPLE REASONS.ONE, IT'S IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT TWO, UH, MY MOM ALSO TURNED 77 THIS WEEK.
UH, SO, UH, SHE GREW UP ON, UH, THE WEST SIDE.
UH, MY GRANDPARENTS, UH, BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS, UH, WENT TO THE THEATER WHEN IT WAS A MOVIE THEATER INITIALLY.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THEY'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS PROJECT FOR SOME TIME.
I WANNA POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE, UM, THIS IS NOT NEW MONEY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER ELIZONDO CHAMPIONED, UH, GOSH, PROBABLY 15 YEARS AGO.
UH, SO IT'S BEEN IN THE BUDGET, AND THIS COURT'S ACTUALLY, UH, VOTED ON THIS ALREADY THE LAST FEW YEARS TO CARRY IT OVER.
WE'RE FINALLY AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN, UH, APPROPRIATE THESE FUNDS AND, AND GET THE, THE, UH, SIGN LIT.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE COURT SUPPORT ON THAT.
I, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT.
AND, UH, TO THAT END, I WANTED TO HAVE EDDIE AND CHRISTINA JUST SAY A FEW WORDS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE DOING SOME OF THE HEAVY LIFTING WITH RESPECT TO LEVERAGING PRIVATE SECTOR DOLLARS.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THESE, UH, PUBLIC DOLLARS CAN HELP YOU, UH, LEVERAGE THAT, SO TO SPEAK.
BUT IF YOU WANNA JUST GIVE A QUICK WORD ON HOW THAT'S GOING.
MAKE A PLEA MAYBE TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UH, TO HELP SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR, UH, NOT JUST THE LEGACY OF THE THEATER, BUT THE LEGACY OF OUR CITY.
UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN BIG FANS OF THE ALAMEDA FOR YEARS, AND HAVE, UH, OVER THE YEARS LOOKED FOR WAYS TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY WITH SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUE.
AND THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE, UH, TO THE PRIVATE DONOR COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS WHAT LOOKED LIKE AN INSURMOUNTABLE HILL TO CLIMB, TO GO RAISE THE PRIVATE DOLLARS.
WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED OVER TIME IS THAT WHEN ONE PERSON FINDS THAT ONE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES OR PEERS GIVES, THEN THEY DECIDE, OKAY, I'M GONNA STEP UP AS WELL.
JUST THE OLD FASHIONED PEER PRESSURE, IT IS
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH, UH, THE REACTION THAT WE'VE HAD.
UM, IT HAS TAKEN A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AND WITH EACH, UH, CONTRIBUTION, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE START OUT AS PLEDGES.
UM, AND THAT MAY BE AN UNNAMED PLEDGE, UN WITHOUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT.
UM, AND THEN THEY LEARN MORE AND THEY SEE MORE, AND THEY SEE THE PROGRESS.
AND THEN THE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT GIVES, UH, COMES IN, UH, AND THEN A LITTLE MORE TIME PASSES BY.
AND THEN THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, UH, INCREASES.
UM, AND ALONG WITH, UH, WHAT THE OTHER, UH, FRIENDS AND PEERS AND COLLEAGUES ARE DOING.
SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT, AND WE ARE REACHING, UH, PEOPLE, UH, HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, UM, INDIVIDUALS, PHILANTHROPISTS, AS WELL AS OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WHO TRULY SEE THE ALAMEDA AS A REGIONAL ASSET AND NOT JUST A SAN ANTONIO BARAR COUNTY ASSET.
I KNOW FOR A LOT OF YOU, UH, THIS IS, UH, NOT YOUR FULL-TIME JOB, BUT YOU'RE SPENDING SOMETIMES FULL-TIME HOURS, UH, AS, AS A HOBBY AND A LABOR OF LOVE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SO WE THANK YOU EDDIE AND CHRISTINA FOR, FOR BEING PARTNERS WITH US.
AND AGAIN, WE, WE WELCOME, UH, ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE INTEREST.
WE WELCOME A CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION AND THE PLANS AND THE TIMETABLE.
UM, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NAMING RIGHTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS.
UH, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
WELL KEEP US POSTED AND, AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BE HELPFUL IN THOSE ENDEAVORS AS WELL, UM, WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL TIES TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, LET ME ASK TREY REAL QUICK TO COME BACK UP.
UH, TREY, I WANTED TO JUST MENTION, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, PROGRAMMING.
UH, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THEATERS WHEN IT'S DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, SO THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF INTEREST.
UH, BUT I WANTED, UH, TO ASK YOU TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, AND NOT JUST FROM A PHYSICAL POINT, BUT A, UH, COMMUNITY POINT, RIGHT? WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, UH, FROM THE WEST SIDE, NONPROFIT GROUPS, UH, PERFORMANCE, UH, GROUPS HAVE ACCESS TO THIS THEATER.
UH, SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THIS POINT AND, AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO FRAME THAT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT? FOR, FOR COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S IN FACT, IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS AN ORGANIZATION,
[01:20:01]
WE'VE HAD, UH, ONGOING AND EARLY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THIS THEATER CAN PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, UH, IN, IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.UH, I, I MENTIONED BRIEFLY IN MY REMARKS THAT WE, UH, ARE, ARE LOOKING FOR AND ANTICIPATING PROGRAMS AS, AS THE THEATERS OPENS TO BE ABLE TO, TO PROVIDE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR YOUTH IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT PARTICULARLY THOSE IN SAID, WHERE THEIR ARTS FUNDING HAS BEEN LARGELY OBLITERATED AS A RESULT OF STATE FUNDING.
PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED OR FREE SHOWS, BRINGING THEM TO THE THEATER WHEN WITH A RELEVANT PROJECT FOR THEM.
UH, AT, AT, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGEST YOUTH, BUT SENIORS, THERE'S SENIOR, UH, UH, GROUPS THAT ARE DOING ACTING.
UH, UTSA HAS PROGRAMS WHERE LITERALLY IN THEIR BACKYARD AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM US, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT.
WE'VE EVEN TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR THEATER MANAGER AS A SHOW IS COMING IN AND BEING ABLE TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE PERFORMERS OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THEM SOME INTRODUCTIONS TO THAT.
UM, WE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIPS FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND MUSICAL EDUCATION OURSELVES.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED INTERNALLY ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, MARIACHI GROUPS, MARIACHI COMPETITIONS AND, AND OTHER THINGS WITH SCID.
UH, THERE ARE NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.
THEY, UM, HAVE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE, ARE BECOMING SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THEY'RE OUTGROWING THEIR OWN FACILITIES.
WE'VE HAD EARLY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HAVING THEM COME IN AGAIN AS PART OF THOSE FREE COMMUNITY USE DAYS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE THEATER AND BENEFIT AND PROFIT FROM THAT AS WELL.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME EARLY, I MEAN, BROAD CONCEPTS, BUT WE ARE OPEN TO ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY PRESENT THEM.
AND, AND CERTAINLY NOT LOOKING FOR A, UH, HARD COMMITMENT TODAY, BUT I THINK A, UH, COMMITMENT IN SPIRIT, UH, GOING FORWARD, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE, UM, THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD.
AND, AND, UM, I KNOW THAT, BUT I WAS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR THAT AS WELL.
UH, PETE, LET ME JUST CALL YOU BACK UP AND JUST THANK YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T THINK A DAY GOES BY WHEN I, UH, COME THROUGH MICRA, UH, AND I SEE YOU THAT YOU DON'T MENTION THIS PROJECT.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S COMMITMENT TO THIS.
UM, I KNOW, UH, NOT JUST THIS, BUT YOU'VE DEALT WITH, UH, A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION IN AND AROUND THE RESTAURANT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S OPENING UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT I REMEMBER VISITING YOU DURING COVID WHEN YOU TURNED IT INTO A BODEGA, UM, JUST TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND KEEP EMPLOYEES.
A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES DID THAT DURING COVID.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY FLIPPING THIS SWITCH WITH YOU.
UH, BUT AGAIN, PETE, MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR SAN ANTONIO.
ALSO, WE COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT ALL OF THE SUPPORT FROM THIS COURT.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE JUDGE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU ON THE FLOOR.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ON MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER ELIZONDO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS AS A ENTERTAINER, UH, WHO WAS A BAND LEADER.
HE CERTAINLY, UH, HAD MANY MEMORIES THAT HE TALKED ABOUT, UH, AROUND THE ALAMEDA.
I WANTED TO ASK, UH, WHOEVER CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION, AND, AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO IS PART OF THIS FUNDRAISING EFFORT'S.
A VERY IMPORTANT CULTURAL, UH, HERITAGE SAVINGS THAT WE ARE GETTING AND AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT.
UM, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE SIZE OF THE THEATER COMMISSIONER? UM, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT, UH, THE, WHEN IT WAS A MOVIE HOUSE, IT SEATED 2,500 PEOPLE.
UH, THIS THEATER, UM, IS GONNA BE 1200 SEATS IN A FULLY SEATED CAPACITY.
UH, THE LOWER FLOOR RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE, ALL THOSE CHAIRS CAN BE EASILY REMOVED.
AND, AND, AND IN THOSE TYPES OF CAPACITIES, WE COULD DO DANCE FLOORS, PARTIES, OR GENERAL ADMISSION CONCERTS, WHICH PUSH THE, UH, TENANTS UP TO 1400.
UH, YOU'RE WONDERING WHY WE'VE GONE FROM 2,500 TO 1200.
IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE FACTUALLY TALLER AND WIDER THAN WE WERE IN 1949.
AND, UH, AS AND SUCH, WE HAVE VERY COMFORTABLE NEW SEATS, UH, THAT WOULD, WOULD TAKE UP A LOT OF SPACE.
WE'VE ALSO CREATED SOME DIFFERENT RELAXED SEATING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE THEATER.
OH, AND FULLY ACCESSIBLE, I SHOULD ADD.
SO, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MAYBE FIVE YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY, UH, PUT ABOUT $18 MILLION.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS 18 FROM THE COUNTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF DAVID REMEMBERS, BUT, UH, DAVID, WAS IT 18 OR NINE I
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NINE? IT WAS NINE NINE FROM EACH.UM, SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE FROM THAT EXPENDITURE, OR, OR WERE YOU HOLDING IT FOR, UH, LARGER TRANCHE TO DO MORE CONSTRUCTION? UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, YOU ALMOST ANSWERED THE QUESTION WITH YOUR FINAL COMMENT.
SO, DURING, UH, COVID WITH, UH, CITY AND COUNTY FUNDS IN THE BANK, UH, THE BOARD AT THE OP TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRATEGICALLY START SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE BUILDING.
SOME OF THE RISKIER, UH, TYPES OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
FOR EXAMPLE, ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, UTILITIES.
AT THE TIME, SAN PEDRO CREEK WAS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO IT WAS AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR US TO SAVE MONEY, UH, AND BE ABLE TO EMPLOY CONTRACTORS AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD WAS LARGELY SHUT DOWN.
UH, SO WE DID A LOT OF THAT WORK.
WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF THE RISK OUT OF THE PROJECT.
'CAUSE WE'VE FINISHED THOSE THINGS.
WE DID TWO PHASES OF PROGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION.
WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BANK.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED, AND I THINK REALLY THE COUNTY HAS SEEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH COST INFLATION, THAT MONEY SITTING IN THE BANK ACTUALLY LOSES VALUE FROM A CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT WORTH AS MUCH.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO, TO EXECUTE A GOOD PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
WE DID GET TO, AS YOU JUST DESCRIBED, A POINT WHERE WE NEEDED TO JUST DO THE FINAL RUN.
AND SO WE'RE, THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TODAY, ALONG WITH THE TAX CREDITS AND THE MONIES THAT WE'RE RAISING THROUGH THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED BY OUR LOCAL BANKS AND BRIDGE FINANCING, WILL ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO EXECUTE TO COMPLETION.
SO, WELL, THAT, THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.
I'M, I'M EXCITED AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET THAT OPEN.
UM, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, I KNOW THE, A THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECT, UH, ALSO HELPED BUILD TEMPLE BETH EL, UH, VERY WELL KNOWN, RENOWNED ARCHITECT IN THE FORTIES.
UM, AND THERE WERE ARTISANS, MR. TRAN HELPED WITH, UH, SOME OF THE MURAL WORKS.
UM, HOW ARE LATINO ARTISANS CONTRACTORS, HOW ARE THEY BEING INCORPORATED IN ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION? JUST TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT IS WORKING.
YEAH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
SO, AS PART OF OUR FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, WE, WE HAVE, UH, GOALS AND CONSTRUCTIONS AROUND, AND EVEN AROUND THE DESIGN AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE, UH, LOCAL MINORITY WOMEN CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.
THAT IS A GOAL THAT WE'VE BEEN EXECUTING THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT, UH, TO DATE, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN ALSO KIND OF GIVE YOU A, AN ACCOUNT ACCOUNTING OF WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT.
BUT THUS FAR, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET AND EXCEED THOSE GOALS.
I, I, I, I CAN LET PETE SPEAK FOR THE BOARD.
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UH, THE, THE, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS BUILDING, PARTICULARLY TO THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
SO WE'VE NEVER REALLY LOST SIGHT OF THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT, NOT JUST AS THE BUILDING AND WITH ENTERTAINMENT, BUT DURING ITS DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
SO, FINAL THING, UM, I WILL SAY, UH, AS A POINT REALLY FOR ALL OF US, NOT, NOT JUST YOU ALL, IS, YOU KNOW, SEEING ANTONIO HAS, AND SO MY FATHER WAS A CONCERT PROMOTER AND PRODUCER FOR MANY YEARS.
I GREW UP AROUND THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.
I THINK THE COURT HAS PROBABLY HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE BRANDED IN THE PROMOTER'S WORLD AS A WALK UPTOWN.
AND PEOPLE OFTEN WONDER, WHY DO CONCERTS PASS US BY? UM, IT'S THE SAME REASON THAT WE DON'T GET AIRLINE FLIGHTS.
WE'VE GOTTA IMPROVE THE DISPOSABLE INCOME OF THE FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, WHETHER THAT IS, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTRACTING OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR UPSKILLING THEIR, UH, PARTICULAR WORKFORCE SKILLS, UH, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ECONOMICALLY ON GETTING FOLKS WHO CAN BUY TICKETS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE DISPOSAL INCOME.
BUT THEY CALL US A WALK UPTOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE MAKE THE DECISION THAT DAY WHETHER THEY CAN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A TICKET FOR THAT PARTICULAR CONCERT.
SO THE MACRO LEVEL, UH, HOPE THAT CAN ONLY BE SIMULATED BY A COALITION OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, IS THAT WE REALLY LOOK AT POLICIES THAT CAN ELEVATE.
THAT'S WHY I'M RAISING THIS POINT.
BECAUSE YOUR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IS BASED UPON YOUR TICKET SALES.
AND WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS FACING A LOT OF, UH, WINS AGAINST THEM, UH, IN TERMS OF WAGES AND ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN AMERICA.
SO, UH, IF THAT'S THE FOCUS, I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SUBSIDIARY CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT CAN THE ALDA, THROUGH THE ARTS, THROUGH CONNECTION WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO RAISE WAGES FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING TO SUSTAIN THIS PARTICULAR INVESTMENT? AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE AS A COUNTY ARE
[01:30:01]
AN INVESTOR, RIGHT? AND WE CAN BE ONE OF THOSE, UH, INVESTORS NOT ONLY IN THE ALAMEDA, BUT IN, IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY THAT WILL, UH, AND BY AND LARGE, UH, BE ONE OF THE, UH, GREAT, UH, PARTICIPANTS IN THE SHOWS THAT HAPPEN.SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT AS A POINT, UH, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE MISS THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE LIVING IN SOME AWFULLY FASCIST TIMES.
AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN THE POLICY OF FASCISM ROLL OUT.
UM, AND IT IS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE TARIFFS CREATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT WENT UP.
AND THEN THE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AT THE STATE LEVEL HAVE TO STOP ALL THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 'CAUSE THERE'S COST OVERRUNS.
AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE YOU MADE THAT KIND OF POLICY.
I, I'M SO PROUD THAT YOU'VE GOT A COMMUNITY GROUP THAT IS HELPING THIS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
SO LET ME SAY THE FINAL WORD HERE.
SO LET ME JUST THANK THE ENTIRE ALAMEDA TEAM AND TONY CONES AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, I THINK YOU SIT ON THE BOARD.
SO YOU'VE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF MAKING SURE THAT MAY REST IN PEACE.
COMMISSIONER ONS DREAM CAN FINALLY BE FULFILLED WITH THE COMPLETION REVERBERATION RENOVATION AT ALAMEDA THEATER.
LET ME THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EDDIE AND CHRISTINA ETTE TO THANK YOU FOR, I THINK Y'ALL WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION.
AND ALL I'LL SAY IN CLOSING IS IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME THAT WE GOT THIS THING DONE.
SO I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS AND ASK THAT Y'ALL MOVE FORWARD.
UH, Y'ALL STILL HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO, BUT I HOPE AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, THAT Y'ALL CAN LEVERAGE AND THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS TRULY A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL BE A CERTAIN ADDITION IN, UH, FILLING THE SOUL AND SPIRIT OF THE DOWNTOWN, UH, SAN ANTONIO, ESPECIALLY FROM THE HISPANIC WEST SIDE CULTURE.
SO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ARD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK IT'S MOODY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, ECHO, UH, SOME OF THE COMMENTS, UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE LEADERSHIP OF, UH, PETE AND EDDIE AND CHRISTINA AND OTHERS, UH, WITH THIS PROJECT.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE PUBLIC ACCESS PART OF IT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT, BUT AGAIN, JUST REITERATING THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A PROMISE THAT WAS MADE, UH, BY PREVIOUS COURTS AND, AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON IT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH NEW PROMISES AND NEW COMMITMENTS GIVEN OUR CURRENT, UH, DEBT LOAD.
BUT THIS WAS A PROMISE THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND, AND WE'RE KEEPING IT HERE TODAY.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONER CLIFF FLOORS? YEAH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE WEST SIDE CULTURE AND WEST SIDE THIS AND WEST SIDE THAT, BUT SOUTH SIDE WILL BE THERE REPRESENTED AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT, WELL I'M CALLING FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SECOND BY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ATTENTION? MOTION? YOU ABSOLUTELY CONSENT.
ALRIGHT, I, UH, FOX SIX B IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SIX, A PRESENTATION DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 200,000 TO THE TECH BLOCK IN SUPPORT OF THE 2026 TECH FIELD COMPETITION.
MS. DEBRA CARTER, IS MR. BETO HERE TODAY? THERE HE IS.
MR. BEANO AND MR. BETO GOMEZ? NO, COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
SO AGAIN, I'M DEBORAH CARTER, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE AT BEAR COUNTY.
UH, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
BEAR COUNTY CREATED THE INNOVA INNOVATION FUND TO ENTICE SMALL INNOVATIVE COMPANIES TO MOVE THEIR OPERATIONS TO BEXAR COUNTY ASSIST LOCAL INNOVATORS TO TAKE THEIR IDEAS TO MARKET AND THEN SCALE THEM IN BEAR COUNTY.
AND THEN TO FUND TALENT DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIONS, PROFESSIONAL AND, UH, TECHNICAL TRAINING AND BRAND BUILDING.
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE TALENT COMPETITION.
SO I WILL HAND IT OVER TO BETO, THE CEO OF TECH BLOCK.
COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BERRY COUNTY ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM, DEBORAH CARTER, NICOLE GALINDO, AND MARSHALL HOKE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE IMPACT AND THE FUTURE OF THE TECH FUEL PITCH COMPETITION.
AN INITIATIVE POWERED BY THE BAR COUNTY INNOVATION FUND.
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, TECH FUEL HAS EVOLVED
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FROM A SIMPLE STARTUP CONTEST TO A REAL ECONOMIC ENGINE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.OUR MISSION IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
USE EARLY STAGE COUNTY CAPITAL TO HELP PROMISING COMPANIES STAY HERE, SCALE HERE, AND HIRE HERE IN BARETT COUNTY.
BEFORE WALKING THROUGH THE PROGRAM ITSELF, WHICH IS THE DECK THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, I WANT TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE RESULTS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY PRODUCED SINCE 2019.
TECH FUEL FINALLY HAVE COLLECTIVELY RAISED MORE THAN $12.3 MILLION IN FOLLOW ON PRIVATE FUNDING.
TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE COUNTY HAS HISTORICALLY INVESTED IN PRIZE FUNDING, THE PROGRAM HAS HELPED CATALYZE MORE THAN $20 IN PRIVATE CAPITAL FLOWING INTO COMPANIES CONNECTED TO BEXAR COUNTY.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
SMALL PUBLIC INVESTMENTS UNLOCKING MUCH LARGER PRIVATE ONES.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING GLOBAL VALIDATION FROM HOMEGROWN TALENT.
A COMPANY WITH ROOTS AT UTSA HAS RAISED MILLIONS AND DISRUPTING THE PROSTHETICS INDUSTRY WITH MORE AFFORDABLE BIONIC TECHNOLOGY.
OR ACES, WHICH IS NOW PARTNERING WITH COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE AND TESLA.
THESE ARE NO LONGER JUST STARTUPS.
THEY ARE EMERGING GLOBAL COMPANIES WITH STRONG TIES TO BEAR COUNTY.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT REFLECTS A DIFFERENT BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT DIMENSION OF THE PROGRAM.
I MYSELF, IN 2017 STARTED AS A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR, MEANING THAT YES, THROUGH BUSINESS YOU CAN CREATE SOCIAL IMPACT.
ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE TECH FUEL COMPETITION WAS BETTY'S CO A SAN ANTONIO STARTUP FOCUSING ON WOMEN'S HEALTH AND PREVENTATIVE CARE.
THEIR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE AWARENESS AND EARLY SCREENING AROUND CRITICAL HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS COLON CANCER AND BREAST CANCER.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PROBLEMS WHERE EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.
AND COMMISSIONER REBECCA CLAY FLORES, I KNOW YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING THE AWARENESS MONTH OF COLON CANCER.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THAT FRONT.
SUPPORTING COMPANIES LIKE BETTYS CO MEANS SUPPORTING INNOVATION THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY WHILE BUILDING COMPANIES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S THE KIND OF IMPACT WE WANT TECH FUEL TO HAVE.
BEYOND INVESTMENT, THE PROGRAM IS ALSO CREATING JOBS IN HIGH GROWTH SECTORS.
COMPANIES IN TO TECH FUEL NOW EMPLOY MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE ACROSS INDUSTRIES LIKE AEROSPACE, BIOTECH, CYBERSECURITY, AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.
LOOK AT APORT SPACE TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH NOW EMPLOYS MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE WORKING ON LUNAR INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGIES.
OR AMGENS, A BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT GREW ITS WORKFORCE BY 60% LAST YEAR, WHILE ADVANCING LIVESTOCK REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT IMPROVED GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION.
THESE ARE HIGH SKILL HIGHWAYS JOBS THAT HELP STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS IN OUR REGION.
NOW LET'S JUMP INTO THE STARTUP, UH, COMPETITION.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE EACH YEAR, WE LAUNCH AN OPEN CALL FOR STARTUPS APPLICATIONS.
WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE GEEK, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY CHARLES WOODEN TODAY.
HE'S THE CEO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CAPITAL FACTORY.
WE WORK WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE REACH OUT TO EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY FROM THE POOL.
THOSE FOUNDERS PARTICIPATE IN WHAT WE CALL FOUNDER PREP LABS, WHERE THEY REFINE THEIR PITCH AND PREPARE TO RAISE VENTURE CAPITAL, MEANING THAT THEY DO NOT JUST DEPEND ON THE FUNDING THAT IS COUNTY COMING FROM THE COUNTY.
AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH GTAM, A KNOWN ENTITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR LAUNCHING MULTIPLE STARTUPS, WHICH I MYSELF LAUNCHED MY COMPANY.
FROM THERE, FROM THE ACCELERATOR, WE HAVE A PANEL OF VENTURE INVESTORS THAT EVALUATE COMPANIES AND SELECTS FIVE FINALISTS WHO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL PITCH COMPETITION.
THIS STRUCTURE ENSURES THAT THE COMPANY THAT WIN ARE NOT JUST GOOD AT PITCHING.
WE KNOW WE'VE SEEN THEM ALL RIGHT, BUT THAT ARE ALSO PREPARED TO ATTRACT LARGER INVESTMENT THAT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR SERVICES AND PRODUCT AND CONTINUE GROWING AFTER THE COMPETITION HERE IN BEAR COUNTY.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING TECH FUEL TO INCLUDE A FULL DAY OF PROGRAMMING CALLED TECH DAY.
THE GOAL IS TO BRING TOGETHER THE ENTIRE REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM, THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM THAT IS DRIVING TECHNOLOGY AND THE EMERGING INDUSTRIES FORWARD IN SAN ANTONIO.
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COUNTY SPONSORS AND PARTNERS ALREADY INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ACTIVE CAPITAL, A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT JUST HAD THEIR FIRST MAJOR EXIT.WE ALSO HAVE FOLKS LIKE WELLS FARGO, ALAMO ANGELS, AND MY COMPANY, IRIS TECHNOLOGIES SPONSORING AS WELL.
TECHDAY HELPS MAKE ENTREPRENEURSHIP VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, WHILE CONNECTING FOUNDERS DIRECTLY WITH INVESTORS, MENTORS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS.
IT ALSO HELPS POSITION BEAR COUNTY AS A PLACE WHERE INNOVATIVE CO COMPANIES CAN IMAGINE THEMSELVES BUILDING A COMPANY, GROWING AND SCALING AND HIRING.
NOW LET'S JUMP INTO THE BUDGET REAL QUICK.
HALF OF THAT FUNDING GOES DIRECTLY INTO STARTUP AWARDS.
THE REMAINDER SUPPORTS WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMMING, DATA COLLECTION, EVENT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PREPARES FOUNDERS TO RAISE LARGER INVESTMENT ROUNDS AND SCALE THEIR BUSINESSES HERE IN MAY COUNTY.
THE WAY THAT THE AWARDS WORK IS THAT THE GRAND PRIZE IS $50,000, FOLLOWED BY ADDITIONAL AWARDS TO OTHER FINALISTS FOR MANY EARLY STAGE FOUNDERS, THAT EARLY CAPITAL CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTINUING TO GROW LOCALLY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY OR RELOCATING TO ANOTHER MARKET.
I KNOW THIS THE POWER OF VALIDATION FIRSTHAND.
MY OWN COMPANY, IRIS TECHNOLOGIES, AS I MENTIONED, WE STARTED IN A SMALL OFFICE SPACE AT TUM IN 2017, LAUNCHING THE 3 1 1 SAN ANTONIO MOBILE PLATFORM.
WE PARTICIPATED IN TECH FUEL IN 2019.
TODAY WE HAVE 87 EMPLOYEES, AND WE WORK WITH OVER 10 15 CONSULTANTS IN BEAR COUNTY, TOTALING OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT WE ENGAGE WITH AS A COMPANY.
20 OF THOSE EMPLOYEES LIVE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, EARNING AN AVERAGE SALARY OF ABOUT $80,000.
THAT REPRESENTS ROUGHLY 1.6 MILLION IN ANNUAL LOCAL PAYROLL FROM JUST ONE COMPANY ALONE THAT INTERACTED WITH THIS PROGRAM.
AND BY THE WAY, I, I DID NOT WIN THE, THE PITCH COMPETITION.
I WAS A SEMI-FINALIST, BUT I MET INVESTORS, ADVISORS, AND CLIENTS THROUGH THAT PROGRAM THAT NOW ENABLE ME TO EMPLOY A HUNDRED PEOPLE HERE, NOT JUST IN BEXAR COUNTY ACROSS THE US BUT WITH 20 EMPLOYEES BASED OUT OF BEXAR COUNTY.
TECH FIELD IS MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE PROGRAM IS HELPING FOUNDERS ACCESS CAPITAL BUILD COMPANIES IN GREAT JOBS IN BEAR COUNTY.
AND $200,000 IS THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE SEEKING.
AND I THINK WE NEED MUCH MORE INVESTMENT INTO THE WORLD OF INNOVATION IN SAN ANTONIO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EMERGING TRENDS THAT WE SEE IN TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE AI TAKING OVER SO MANY JOBS.
AI LITERACY HAS BECOME A PRIORITY.
AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENT THAT HAS TO BE DONE SO THAT EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY, THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, THE WEST SIDE, THE EAST SIDE, THE NORTH SIDE, DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO CAN GET ACCESS TO AI LITERACY, THE TOOLS, THE ROLE-BASED RESKILLING FOR SENIOR WORKERS AND PATHWAYS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO USE THESE TOOLS.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE NOT GONNA STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE NEXT MAJOR, MAJOR COMPANY THAT EMERGES FROM OUR REGION STAYS HERE AND GROWS HERE.
AND NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, OUR CHAIR FROM TECH BLOCK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, GUYS.
IT'S SO COOL THAT YOU GUYS COME TOGETHER TO DO THIS.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE, UH, HOPEFULLY WON'T BE MY LAST.
UH, I WENT TO UTSA IN 2003 TO 2007, RACKSPACE IN 2008.
UM, AND THEN 2017 WE SPUN A COMPANY OUT OF RACKSPACE THAT HAD ACQUIRED CALLED MAIL GUN.
UM, THAT COMPANY WAS BOUGHT BY TURN RIVER CAPITAL FOR 50 MILLION.
AND THEN IN ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS LATER, WE SOLD IT FOR 2 BILLION TO A COMPANY CALLED CINCH.
SO, SUFFICE IT TO SAY, TECHNOLOGY CHANGED MY LIFE.
UM, AND IT'S CHANGED LIFE OF A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE TOO.
UM, AS BETO MENTIONED BEFORE, TECH FUEL IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET OUT THERE AND ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU'RE PROBABLY ASKING YOURSELF LIKE, DO YOU GUYS NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN ORDER FOR FUNDRAISING TO HAPPEN FOR ENTREPRENEURS? PROBABLY NOT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN THE FEEDBACK LOOP OF SOME COMPANIES IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, IT USED TO BE THAT TO START A TECH COMPANY, IT TOOK YEARS AND HUNDREDS, OR NOT HUNDREDS, IT TOOK MILLIONS OF THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UM, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN AI.
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AI.YOU CAN START COMPANIES IN TWO TO FOUR MONTHS AND FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE FUNDING, THAT MAY BE ALL YOU NEED TO GET TO PRODUCT MARKET FIT.
SO FOR US RIGHT NOW, IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO STAY IN THE FEEDBACK LOOP OF THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT COMPANIES ARE BEING STARTED, WHERE ARE THEY GETTING BOGGED DOWN, WHERE CAN WE GO AND, AND HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING THROUGH THE, UH, HURDLES THAT THEY NEED.
SO BY US PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY, THIS ALLOWS FOR ALL OF US TO GET THAT VISIBILITY.
WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT COMPANIES ARE, UH, UP AND COMING AND THRIVING.
WHAT ARE THE PRODUCTS OF THOSE COMPANIES COMING DOWN THE PIKE FIVE TO SIX YEARS LATER.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE WAY FOR US TO GET TOGETHER.
AND NOW THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMMING THAT'S GOING INTO TECH FUEL AS WELL, WE'RE NOT JUST GOING AND HEARING PITCHES.
WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS WHAT WE THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GETTING THESE ENTREPRENEURS FUNDED AND THEN HAVING 'EM TO GO AND SCALE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PARTNERED WITH US IN THE PAST.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
I JUST WANNA, UM, CONGRATULATE BETHEL AS THE NEW, UM, HEAD OF THE HELM HERE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SO I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UM, THE GOOD WORK THAT MARSHALL AND UM, DEBORAH ARE DOING.
THANK SO I'D TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
JUST, JUST BRIEFLY, JUDGE, UH, BETO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I KNOW WE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT RECENTLY.
UH, SO, UH, I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS OR ASK A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS PUBLICLY, BUT, UM, I, I THINK THIS COURT HAS SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING, UH, THE ECOSYSTEM, UH, THERE, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH RESPECT TO, UH, GROWING EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UH, HOPEFULLY I CAN, I CAN MAKE IT OUT THIS YEAR, UH, TO SEE SOME OF THESE AMAZING, UH, COMPANIES BECAUSE I WE WOULD LOVE TO.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT, IT IS, UH, I, I I, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, UH, NUMBERS YOU JUST, UH, KIND OF TICKED OFF JUST, UH, AMAZES ME WITH RESPECT TO THE POTENTIAL FOR, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WITH AI, BUT JUST IN GENERAL GROWING, UH, BUSINESS AND THE TECH SECTOR HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
I, I THINK WE'RE JUST AT THE, THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.
UH, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE TO GO.
SO THANK YOU FOR VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU.
AND, AND IT'S THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, RIGHT? IT'S THAT LONG-TERM MENTALITY ABOUT HOW WE CAN INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO AND OUR ENTREPRENEURS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BETO, FOR A REALLY GREAT PRESENTATION.
LET ME START AT THE BASIC LEVEL.
TELL US, WHERE WILL THE COMPETITION BE? WHAT DAY WILL IT BE? YES,
SO WE HAVE TECH FUEL IS GONNA TAKE PLACE AT UTSA, SAN PEDRO, THE BUILDING HERE NEXT DOOR.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE COMPETITION WHERE WE'RE GONNA SELECT THE FIVE FINALISTS AND THEY'RE GONNA PITCH, AND I WELCOME EVERYONE TO JOIN US.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S DURING FIESTA, BUT WE DID IT ON PURPOSE SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE ALSO FOLKS THAT ARE ENGAGING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR THAT ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE BARAR COUNTY REGION.
SO THAT TAKES PLACE ON THE 20TH, THAT'S MONDAY.
AND YOU'RE BASICALLY GETTING LIKE A TV COMMERCIAL THROUGH THIS BROADCAST, RIGHT?
SO HAS THE DEADLINE IF YOU WANT TO PITCH, HAS THAT PASSED ALREADY? IT HAS NOT.
COMMISSIONER MARCH 22ND IS A DEADLINE.
IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.
WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 30 APPLICANTS.
SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOUR APPLICATION IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, UH, IN JOINING THIS PROGRAM.
YEAH, WHY NOT? MAYBE I SHOULD MAKE AN APPLICATION.
YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS COOKING UP SOMETHING AROUND HERE.
NO, BUT I THINK FOR THE BROADER PUBLIC, THEY NEED TO KNOW MARCH 27TH IS THE APPLICATION.
WHY? BECAUSE, UH, TECHNOLOGY CAN HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR INCOME AND THE TRAJECTORY OF POVERTY IN OUR CITY.
AND WE'VE DEFINITELY, UH, I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION THAT YOU TALKED WITH ME ABOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING, UH, LEADERS TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR TECH AI INFRASTRUCTURE FOR, UM, THE FUTURE COMPETITIVE, UH, MARKET.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS AT THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE, UH, EVENT AT THE TOBIN, AND THE STATISTICS INDICATED THAT WE HAD DROPPED SOMEWHAT IN TERMS OF, UH, INVESTMENT IS MAINLY ON THE REAL ESTATE SIDE.
BUT I IMAGINE IT COINCIDES WITH A LOT OF OTHER SECTORS.
AND WE DROPPED TO LIKE NUMBER 19 IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, I THINK WE WERE AT SOME POINTS IN THE TOP 10.
UH, AND SO THINGS HAVE SLOWED DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME TALK ALL MORNING ABOUT ABSOLUTELY.
HOW CAN WE HELP GET THIS SECTOR STIMULATED? HOW CAN WE PARTNER TO DO X, Y, AND Z? SO I JUST WANNA SAY, I THINK WE'RE IN SYNC.
I THINK WE ARE, UH, GOING TO HAVE, UH, NEW ENERGY THAT WILL HELP OUR
[01:50:01]
ECONOMY STRENGTHEN AND AI WITH ITS DISRUPTIVE NATURE, WE REALLY HAVE TO BE VERY ON TOP AS A COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATIONAL LEVELS OF OUR COMMUNITY.BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF POTENTIAL CUTS.
UH, AND HOW CAN WE GET AHEAD OF THAT HOMELESSNESS THAT, UH, THAT JOBLESSNESS THAT COULD BE AS A RESULT OF THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF JOB POTENTIAL CUTS.
BUT THERE ALSO COULD BE A TREMENDOUS GOLD RUSH IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT'S, UH, I THINK A SHARED GOAL THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY, UH, BECOME DEPRESSED.
UH, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATING WHERE THE WORLD WAS GOING.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRATION.
WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THROUGH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALSO, UH, APRIL 20TH.
IT'LL BE JUST AFTER TAX DAY, SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING RICH.
AND, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, APRIL 21ST, WE HAVE TECH DAY TAKING PLACE AT BOEING CENTER AND SPOT ON COMMISSIONER, IN TERMS OF INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT, UH, ORG, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRIES LIKE CYBERSECURITY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AEROSPACE AND BIOTECH, I THINK THERE'S A BIG POSSIBILITY FOR UPWARD MOBILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I SEE THEM AS THE MODERN TRADES.
THEY DON'T REQUIRE YOU TO GO TO A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THOSE SPACES.
I, IN MY COMPANY, HAVE EMPLOYED PEOPLE THAT HAVE A CERTIFICATE THAT TAKES A YEAR TO ACCOMPLISH, AND THEY GET PAID OVER $75,000.
SO WE NEED TO INVEST IN THOSE INDUSTRIES.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN AI LITERACY IF WE WANNA BE COMPETITIVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
SO, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR WORDS.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INNOVATION WITH YOUR OWN STARTUP COMPANY.
AND YOU'RE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A TRUE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CAN BE.
AND YOU WEREN'T ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I TALKED TO WHEN I FIRST BECAME COUNTY JUDGE.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT JOURNEY TO SEE HOW THE TECH INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY THE TECH FUEL, THE TECH BLOCK, AND DEBORAH CARTER AND MARSHALL OAK, THANK YOU.
FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BETO, WE'RE BOTH VALLEY GUYS.
THAT DONE GOOD, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD ASK THE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY IS TO ALWAYS LOOK FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
AND LET'S LOOK AT THE COMMON TIES WITH OUR REGION, ESPECIALLY SOUTH TEXAS, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE VALLEY.
'CAUSE I THINK YOU, YOUR COMPANY AND YOUR OUTREACH HAS GONE DOWN TO THE VALLEY AND THEY'RE DUPLICATING, SO TO SPEAK, MANY OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE STARTED HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HELP SUPPORT YOU AND MAKE SURE US VALLEY GUYS, WE'VE DONE GOOD.
THANK YOU JUDGEY MOODY SUPPORT.
UM, UH, AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, I KNOW, UH, BETO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, WORK AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS INTO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNER DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE INCREASED THE FUNDING OVER TIME FOR THIS, AND YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, THE NEED OR THE DESIRE TO EXPAND IT FURTHER.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, TO LEAN ON OTHER PARTNERS, WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, TO, UH, TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THIS IN THE FUTURE.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, UH, AND THAT'S THE GOAL, RIGHT? I I I'M MEETING WITH, UH, NONPROFIT LEADERS AND, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THIS PROGRAM BEYOND THE $200,000, RIGHT? UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR US IS HOW DO WE LOOK AT IT FROM A, AN AN, AN APPROACH OF, OF MEASURING THE OUTCOMES, RIGHT? SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT AI LITERACY, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST IN BEXAR COUNTY, BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT WE CAN BRING, UH, TO SAN ANTONIO.
SO YES, COMMISSIONER MOODY, WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA DEPEND ON THESE $200,000 TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS AND MEASURE THOSE OUTCOMES THAT, THAT WE REALLY WANT BRING TO, TO BEAR COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
AND, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT ABOUT MEASURING OUTCOMES.
YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU COMING FROM THE, UH, PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMANCE METRICS AND MEASURING OUTCOMES AND, UH, SO, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SELL THIS, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO JOBS, WHEN IT COMES TO CAPITAL INVESTMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I REALLY DO THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S A IMPORTANT ROLE FOR, FOR BEXAR COUNTY TO PLAY IN ALL THIS IN TERMS OF SETTING THE STAGE AND CREATING A FERTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR, FOR BUSINESSES TO FLOURISH HERE.
UM, SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS.
UM, I THINK AS, AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE
[01:55:01]
THE BEST INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNTY, AS A COMMUNITY, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE SEE THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE A, UH, A FERTILE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN CONTINUE TO, UH, TO GROW AND CREATE JOBS.THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
AND, AND, AND I AGREE, RIGHT? I, I THINK WHAT IT'S IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, A STREAMLINE OF COMMUNICATION AND THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY.
SO ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE, I SEEK YOUR, YOUR MENTORING IN TERMS OF IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR DISTRICTS, UH, FROM COMING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND WE CAN IMPLEMENT THEM THROUGH TECH BLOCKS.
SO FEEL FREE TO ALWAYS REACH OUT TO ME.
YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER, MY EMAIL ADDRESS.
LET'S COLLABORATE, LET'S BUILD CONSENSUS.
LET'S MOVE BEXAR COUNTY FORWARD.
I, I APOLOGIZE FOR, UH, TAKING THE MIC AGAIN, BUT I, I HAD SOME TEXT MESSAGES FROM FOLKS WATCHING.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING ACTUALLY, UH, GOOD, UH,
UH, AND, AND THEY SAID YOU FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN WE TALKED, THAT WAS A CENTERPIECE OF OUR CONVERSATION RELATED ABSOLUTELY.
I RECENTLY SPOKE IN MIAMI AT A CONFERENCE TALKING ABOUT AI AND WATER.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, I LET THE TECH COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT THE VERY, UH, GROWING OPPOSITION TO AI BASED UPON ITS WATER CONSUMPTION COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE INTEGRATION OF AI WITHIN OUR ECONOMY AND WITHIN OUR SOCIETY.
AND, AND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT AI CAN BE USED TO, UH, IMPROVE, UH, WATER SAVINGS.
AND, UM, AND, AND I ALWAYS BELIEVE, UH, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT AND BRINGING PEOPLE ALONG STANDPOINT THAT THE, THE, THE USE AND THE CON CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AIR, POLLUTANTS, WATER, THOSE THINGS, IF WE CAN SOLVE BETTER WITH AI TECHNOLOGIES, PHYSICAL AI, EVEN DETECTING LEAKS IN SYSTEMS AND, AND, AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER APPLICATIONS, IT WILL HELP SMOOTH THE WAY.
BUT WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS DIFFERENT WAYS TO COOL.
WE MAY BE USING ABSOLUTELY THE WORST, MOST EXPENSIVE WAY.
HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS, BY THE WAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST STAY AT A HOLIDAY EXPRESS, AND EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING GOOD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT SPACE AND HOW, UH, THERE ARE CERTAIN APPLICATIONS.
WE KNOW THERE'S A LATENCY, LATENCY IN SPACE, BUT THERE ARE APPLICATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE AS I SAID, IF I DO A SEARCH ON A, I DON'T NEED IT IN INSTANTLY.
UM, I DON'T MIND WAITING FOR A SATELLITE OR LATENCY DELIVERY FROM, FROM SPACE.
UH, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DEEP WATER.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NEEDS FOR DESALINIZATION, BUT HOW THAT CAN BE, HOW THAT CAN BE CLEANLY USED WITHOUT RAISING THE TEMPERATURES OF THE EARTH.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE PART OF THE DISCOVERY THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN OUR BACKYARD WITH, UH, UH, UH, SWRI AND MANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PART OF SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION.
SO, UM, UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I TALK ABOUT, UH, THIS NEW AI ECONOMY, IT IS COMPREHENSIVE.
UM, AND I THINK YOU SHARE THAT SAME, UH, DESIRE.
'CAUSE WE, WE BOTH, UH, HAVE A LOT OF LIVING TO DO.
AND YOU GOT A LITTLE ONE NOW, A COUPLE.
SO, SO THOSE, THOSE LITTLE ONES NEED TO HAVE AN EARTH THAT IS SUSTAINED FOR THEM AS WELL.
UH, SO I, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.
I MEAN, WE HAD A, A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, DATA CENTERS, RIGHT? WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY CAN COEXIST ABSOLUTELY.
BUT I THINK IT ALSO TAKES, UH, REGULATION, IT TAKES GOVERNMENT BODIES TO DEMAND AND PUT PRESSURE TO COMPANIES TO EVOLVE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES.
THEY DO HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, THEY DO HAVE THE KNOW-HOW.
IT'S ABOUT HOW SOON THEY CAN DEPLOY THOSE SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES, INCLUDING RECYCLING, DESALINATION, AND SO MANY MORE THAT THEY'RE COMING UP WITH THAT WILL ENSURE THAT WE BUILT A SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE ACROSS THE FIELD OF AI THAT INCLUDES DATA CENTERS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, RIGHT? BUT THAT TAKES ALL OF YOU.
IT TAKES THE JUDGE, IT TAKES THE CITY, IT TAKES THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THE INTEREST IN WORKING AND COLLABORATING WITH THESE ENTERPRISES THAT ARE SETTING UP IN SAN ANTONIO, IN BEAR COUNTY, AND DEMAND THOSE, UH, SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES.
'CAUSE I KNOW ACROSS THE AISLE, ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE OPEN TO THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION, AND THEY WANNA ENSURE ALSO THAT THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVE A BETTER EARTH IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
BUT I THINK COMMUNICATION IS KEY AND COLLABORATION IS KEY, AND HAVING A STRONG FIST IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU EXPECT AS A GOVERNING BODY.
[02:00:01]
I'M, I'M, YOU'RE SPOT ON.AND TECH BLOCK SUPPORTS THE SUSTAINABILITY, UH, OUTCOMES.
AND OF COURSE, UM, AS AI GROWS, MORE USAGE OF THOSE DATA CENTERS WILL BE NEEDED.
SO THINGS OF, YES, LUNAR EXPLORATION IS AN IDEA THAT IS BEING, UH, THROWN AROUND SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES.
WATER DESALINATION IS ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED.
WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE, BUT WE HAVE TO RUSH.
WE HAVE TO HURRY UP IN ORDER TO CREATE THOSE SUSTAINABILITY PATHWAYS.
IT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE DEMANDING FROM THEIR LEADERS AND DEMANDING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT WE ENSURE, UH, PROSPERS, UH, FUTURE AND, UH, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FUTURE.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLOORS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY EXTENSION MOTION? YOU UNANIM THE CARRIES.
COUNT, UH, COURT, LET ME JUST TRY TO, WE, WE, LET'S TRY TO GET THROUGH THE REST, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, PLUS WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM
[7. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary]
NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS FILING FOR THE RECORD, THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS DIRECTED THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ACTION, TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY, A THROUGH MOVE FOR APPROVAL.[8. Approval of the Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, February 17, 2026.]
WE GO TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026.MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNAL BY SAYING, AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? NATI? MOTION CARRIES.
[9. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak. (Part 1 of 3)]
ITEM NINE.AND I, I'M ASKING FOR SOME INPUT FROM THE COURT.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, AND I, I'M GOING TO YIELD TO THE COURT BECAUSE SOME OF THIS, I BELIEVE I HAVE ITEM 65, WHICH IS OVER 30 PEOPLE I BELIEVE ARE SIGNED UP.
I GOT ITEM 70, WHICH I HAVE ABOUT 15 PEOPLE SIGN UP.
AND THEN WE JUST HAVE ITEM NINE, WHICH IS THE GENERAL COMMENTS THAT WILL, PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP THERE ABOUT, THERE'S ABOUT FIVE OF THEM THERE.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE NOTE? SO TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THE COURT TO BE HEARD, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, BE RESPECTFUL TO THEM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE THERE'S A MATTER THAT, UH, I BELIEVE YOU AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON RECORD.
UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, RODRIGUEZ AND I WORKED TOGETHER TO GET CONSENSUS ON THE COURT TO ADD LEGAL OPTIONS FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, SPECIFICALLY WE ADDED IT TO THE RESOLUTION ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND STANDARDS.
AND, AND, AND SO FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, UH, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT NOW THE COUNTY HAS BOUGHT INTO EXERCISING LEGAL OPTIONS.
UM, AND SO I, WE DID EMAIL THAT LAST NIGHT, UH, TO, TO GET A, A REVISED VERSION.
BUT THAT MAY MODIFY SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS OR MAYBE YOU WANNA PASS.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR THE COUNTY TO WORK WITH LEGAL INSTITUTIONS.
UM, THERE MAY BE OTHER COMMENTS, IT'S ALL HEALTHY.
WE WANT, WE WANT TO HEAR FEEDBACK FROM YOU.
BUT I DID WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE TO ADD THE LEGAL LANGUAGE BACK INTO THE RESOLUTION.
AND, AND I MEAN, I WOULD SAY WE SHOULD JUST BRING IT UP.
I THINK WE CAN DISPENSE OF THE RESOLUTION.
UM, AND IF, IF WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE CAN DO ITEM 65 AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF THOSE STILL WANNA SPEAK, THEY CAN SPEAK.
AND, AND WHAT, WHAT I WOULD JUST ADD IS, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO'VE SIGNED UP.
UH, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
AND IF YOU, YOU DESIRE TO STILL SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
BUT I THINK IN, IN, UM, UH, I GUESS IN BACKING UP WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT SAID, SOME OF THE CONVERSATION AND THE EMAILS I RECEIVED, UH, WERE RELATED TO LANGUAGE, UH, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN A, A, UH, EARLY COPY OF THE RESOLUTION.
UM, AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND I WORKED THROUGH LAST NIGHT TO GET IN A CLAUSE THAT ESSENTIALLY, AND I'LL READ IT JUST FOR THE RECORD, IT'S ITEM, IT'S, IT'S UNDER NUMBER FOUR OF THE RESOLUTION.
AND IT READS, THE COUNTY MAY EVALUATE, UH, POTENTIAL LEGAL AND POLICY OPTIONS THAT ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS AND IMMIGRANTS ARE, ARE MAINTAINED, WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, LEGAL, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE COUNTY, FURTHER FURTHER URGES, DHS ICE, AND ALL RELEVANT FEDERAL ENTITIES TO ENSURE THAT ANY FACILITIES OR OPERATIONS ULTIMATELY LOCATED WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY ARE CONDUCTED IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL STATUTES, CONSTITUTIONAL
[02:05:01]
PROTECTIONS, AND GOVERNING DETENTION STANDARDS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO DETAINEE HEALTH, SAFETY DUE PROCESS, AND ACCESS TO COUNSEL.SO, SO SOME OF THE, UH, FEEDBACK WE HAD GOTTEN ON AN EARLY VERSION WAS, UH, THAT, UH, WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE OR THE, THE CONSTITUENTS COMMUNITY WANTED TO INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE THAT GAVE US SOME LEGAL OPTIONS, SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO PURSUE THAT.
SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CALVERT FOR WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, JUDGE, IF, IF YOU WANNA TAKE UP THAT ITEM NOW AND, AND HEAR FROM THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE.
UH, BUT JUST KNOW AS YOU COME UP WITH YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS, IF THEY'RE RELATED TO THAT LANGUAGE MISSING.
WHAT'S YOU WANT? TAKE IT UP, COMMISSIONER CA, ARE YOU ASKING 65, 65 TO BE TAKEN UP? IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS I WILL NOW TAKE UP AND THEN CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? WE'RE GONNA COME BACK TO YOU.
IN LIGHT OF YOU WANNA HEAR HIM OR, YEAH, WHY DON'T WE HEAR HIM? OKAY.
SO IN LIGHT OF THAT, LET US GO DOWN THE LIST THEN.
CHERYL GONZALEZ, CHERYL, AND THEN ROBERT PAGET.
YOU HAVE YIELD YOUR TIME TO CHERYL GONZALEZ.
SO CHERYL, YOU HAVE ROBERT PAGET.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HAS YIELDED TIME TO CHERYL GONZALEZ? WHO, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? RE WHAT WAS THE FIRST RODRIGUEZ BAR? BAR? RE YEAH, RE PEDRO.
PEDRO, YOU'RE YIELDING YOUR TIME TO CHERYL.
ANYBODY ELSE YIELDING TIME TO CHERYL? ALRIGHT, CHERYL.
WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE PHRASE, LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE.
MANY OF US LEARNED IT AS CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, BUT TODAY I WANNA PAUSE AND ASK WHAT DOES THE WORD FREE TRULY MEAN? IF WE LOOK IT UP, FREE MEANS NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF ANOTHER, NOT CONFINED, NOT IN PRISON.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DETENTION CENTERS, HOLDING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, ARE THOSE CHILDREN FREE FACILITIES DESIGNED FOR 2,400 PEOPLE HAVE REPORTEDLY HELD THOUSANDS MORE.
AMONG THEM ARE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN, TODDLERS, ELEMENTARY, SCHOOL AGE, KIDS, BABIES, BURLEY OLD ENOUGH TO SPEAK.
THEY HAVE NAMES, THEY HAVE FAVORITE COLORS, THEY HAVE DREAMS. THEY ARE NOT STATISTICS.
ON JANUARY 28TH, 2026 CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY TRAVELED TO DILLEY TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH DETAINED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THERE WERE CHILDREN, WHISTLES AND BUBBLES, REMINDERS THAT WE WERE ADVOCATING FOR KIDS.
WE LOCKED ARMS AND SAID, WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
AND YET WE WERE MET WITH FORCE CS.
GAS WAS DEPLOYED ON CIVILIANS.
MANY OF US SUFFERED SEVERE HEADACHES, NAUSEA, DIZZINESS, AND SKIN IRRITATION.
SOME OF THOSE SYMPTOMS LASTED FOR DAYS.
BUT BEYOND THE PHYSICAL IMPACT WAS SOMETHING DEEPER.
A GROWING FRACTURE IN TRUSTS BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THOSE SWORN TO PROTECT THEM.
WHEN PEACEFUL PROTESTS IS MET WITH CHEMICAL AGENTS, IT SENDS A MESSAGE.
WHEN CHILDREN ARE DETAINED BEHIND FENCES, IT SENDS A MESSAGE.
WHEN HUMAN BEINGS ARE REFERRED TO AS BODIES, IT SENDS A MESSAGE AND THE MESSAGE IS, THIS CONTROL MATTERS MORE THAN COMPASSION.
NOW WE ARE HEARING CONCERNS THAT A WAREHOUSE NEAR HOUSTON STREET AND LOOP FOUR 10 MAY BE CONVERTED INTO A ICE DETENTION FACILITY.
THIS IS NOT JUST A POLICY DEBATE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE MORAL DIRECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AS A BEAR COUNTY RESIDENT AND AS A LATINA ONE WOMAN, I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF ALLOWING SUCH A FACILITY IN OUR BACKYARD.
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA IS NOT TEMPORARY.
WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD, MY 8-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WAS SHOT.
WHILE HE WAS ASLEEP, I WAS NEXT DOOR PLAYING.
AND IN THE AFTERMATH, I ENDED UP IN A STRANGER HOME FOR MONTHS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF MY FAMILY WAS ALIVE.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD EVER SEE THEM AGAIN.
[02:10:02]
I KNEW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO CRY CONSISTENTLY.I KNEW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO FEEL ALONE.
I KNEW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO HAVE MY SENSE OF SAFETY RIPPED AWAY OVERNIGHT.
CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND PLACED IN DETENTION CENTERS WILL REMEMBER THOSE MOMENTS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
THEY MAY GROW UP WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, NIGHTMARES, AND DISTRUST OF AUTHORITY.
THEY MAY CARRY THAT TRAUMA INTO ADULTHOOD.
AND TRAUMA DOES NOT JUST AFFECT INDIVIDUALS, IT AFFECTS COMMUNITIES.
SO THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU IS NOT ADMINISTRATIVE.
WHAT KIND OF COUNTY DO WE WANT TO BE? ONE THAT NORMALIZE DETAINING CHILDREN, OR ONE THAT PRIORITIZE DIGNITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND HUMANITY.
WE CANNOT CALL OURSELVES FREE WHILE ACCEPTING SYSTEMS THAT CAN FIND CHILDREN.
WE CANNOT BUILD TRUST WHILE EXPANDING DETENTION.
WE CANNOT HEAL COMMUNITY DIVIDES WHILE CREATING NEW SOURCES OF TRAUMA.
JU TODAY I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO STAND WITH THE RESIDENTS OF BEAR COUNTY, COMMIT PUBLICLY TO OPPOSING THE CREATION OF AN ICED D DETENTION FACILITY IN SAN ANTONIO.
CHOOSE TRANSPARENCY, CHOOSE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CHOOSE HUMANITY BECAUSE FREEDOM MUST APPLY TO ALL OF US, OR IT MEANS NOTHING.
I, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY GONZALEZ MINUTE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, MRS. CLAY, MR. RODRIGUEZ, MR. CALVERT, UH, WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE, THE, UH, RESOLUTION.
SO NOT ONLY HERE, BUT YOU, YOU'RE LEADING, UH, AS AN EXAMPLE SO THAT WE CAN GO ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS ISSUE'S NOT JUST IMPACTING BEXAR COUNTY, IT'S, IT'S IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE LULAC MEMBERSHIP, OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT, PALAMAS, TO STAND UP IN HUTCHINSON, TEXAS.
WE'RE MOVING ACROSS TO HOUSTON TO, UH, MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, SO WE DO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, AND THIS RESOLUTION BEING PASSED HERE CAN SET THE EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITIES, THE REST OF OUR STATE, TO GO FORWARD.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST TEXAS.
SO WE NEED TO STAND UP AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND STAND AGAINST WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THESE, THESE CONCENTRATION CAMPS, RIGHT, HAVE DONE HORRIBLE DAMAGE AS IS IS IT GONNA DO DAMAGE? NO, THEY ALREADY ARE.
SO WE NEED TO STAND UP AND THEY CONTINUE TO EXPOSE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE CAN DO VERY LITTLE.
WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU.
OUR NATIONAL LAWYERS UP IN WASHINGTON, DC ALONG WITH MY LOCAL LAWYERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR AVENUES TO SLOW THIS DOWN, BECAUSE THAT PATHWAY RIGHT IS COMING IN NOVEMBER.
WE NEED TO VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT.
WE NEED TO STOP THE INJUSTICES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR US.
IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S TAKING ME THROUGH AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER IN, IN HAVING TO TAKE AND INTAKE CALLS.
THEY'RE PICKING CHILDREN UP AT YOUR SCHOOLS IN THE HARLANDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEY'RE PICKING CHILDREN UP AT, IN, IN, IN SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE I'M GETTING PHONE CALLS AND FEEL VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S WHERE'S THEIR RELIEF? AND SO, SO PASSING A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT THIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER COURT CARES.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, TOO.
THANK YOU TO, UM, ALL OF OUR, UM, COMMISSIONERS FOR, UM, LETTING US SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
UM, MY NAME IS CLAUDIA SANCHEZ.
I'M THE TEXAS, UH, LULAC IMMIGRATION CHAIR.
[02:15:01]
YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING REPORTS ACROSS THE STATE OF A LOT OF CASES HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.JUST YESTERDAY, I GOT A CALL ABOUT A FAMILY OUT IN THE SAN PEDRO AREA THAT THEY WENT INTO THEIR HOUSE AND ARRESTED, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS FROM THAT COMMUNITY, THAT AREA.
AND SO WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS DETENTION CENTER, WE'RE HEARING THAT THERE'S GONNA BE 1,500 BEDS IN THE FACILITY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE NINTH, UH, NINTH AND CITY OF IN THE NATION, UM, WITH THE MOST ICE ARREST.
SO HOW IS THAT GONNA IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN THE REPORTS OF U UNITED STATES CITIZENS BEING ARRESTED, BEING INCARCERATED FOR DAYS, THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE LEGAL PROCESS, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK IN THERE, THE CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN.
I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA BE, GOD FORBID, SEEING THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES, HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR CHILDREN.
AS YOU HEARD BEFORE FROM OUR OTHER, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
HOW IS THAT GONNA IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES? THE LEGAL ASPECTS? UM, TERRORISM, AS WE'VE SEEN, IS ALREADY DECLINING.
PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA WANNA COME TO SAN ANTONIO, UM, TO, FOR FEAR THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE QUESTIONED OR DETAINED JUST SIMPLY BY THEIR PHYSICAL ASPECTS, THEIR LOOKS.
SO WE'RE ASKING OUR, OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE'RE WORKING.
WE'RE CALLING, WE'RE SPEAKING TO THE MEETING WITH THEM RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS BEING PROTECTED OF THEIR RIGHTS, WHETHER THEY'RE UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT.
UM, WE KNOW HUMAN, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE UNDOCUMENTED DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS.
YOU STILL HAVE RIGHTS AS A HUMAN BEING.
UM, YOU ARE NOT GONNA BE TREATED WITH, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT RESPECT, WITHOUT, UM, DIGNITY NOT BEING ALLOWED TO SEE DOCTORS.
CHILDREN ARE BEING, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE DOCTORS FOR UP TO FIVE DAYS WITH THE FEVER.
I MEAN, JUST PUT, WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES IN THEIR SHOES.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR CHILDREN WERE RUNNING A FEVER FOR FIVE DAYS, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE A DOCTOR? AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE CASES OVER AND OVER, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S OUR CONCERNS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE ASKING EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LAWS AND THE LAWS ARE BEING APPLIED CORRECTLY.
AND, UH, WE THANK YOU'ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY JUDGE, AKA AND THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I THINK YOU HAVE A COPY OF MY COMMENTS AND I REALLY WAS HERE MAINLY TO SPEAK ABOUT PUTTING THE TEETH BACK INTO THE RESOLUTION.
AND, UH, SO I'M NOT GONNA TAKE UP ALL OF YOUR TIME, BUT ATTACHED TO MY COMMENTS IS MY, UH, UH, BIO THAT SHOWS INDICATES SOME WAYS THAT I CAN HELP.
I HAVE A LOT TO OFFER, I THINK, IN THIS AREA.
AND SO I HOPE YOU'LL CALL ME OR TEXT ME OR EMAIL ME, UH, AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW I COULD HELP.
BUT AGAIN, I WANNA COMMEND YOU FOR PUTTING THE TEETH BACK INTO WHAT, WHAT WAS THERE? ARE YOU ASKING THAT THIS MAY BE PART OF THE RECORD? YES, I WOULD.
PIPER, YOU WERE HERE A WHILE AGO.
DOC DOSHI, OR SHE YIELDED HER TIME TO ME.
UM, EITHER GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
UM, I AM, UH, I HAVE LISTENED TO OR SPOKEN TO, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, CALVER.
AND I'VE WRITTEN TO, UH, MY PRECINCT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, REBECCA CLAY FOREST.
AND THAT EMAIL WAS SENT TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW YOUR STAFF, I THINK I ALSO SENT IT TO YOUR STAFF, FRANKIE.
[02:20:01]
SO I WOULD LIKE THAT ENTERED INTO THE RECORD AS WELL, IF POSSIBLE.BUT, UM, I'M HERE TO ALSO SHINE A LIGHT.
I THINK BECAUSE DHS HAS DONE THIS IN A VERY UNDERHANDED MANNER IN THE DARK, AND THEY'VE DONE IT ACROSS THE NATION.
UH, I'VE RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM, UH, THE SAVE AMERICA MOVEMENT FROM, UH, ARIZONA.
MARICOPA COUNTY IS ALSO, UH, DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THE, THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
UH, GEORGIA IS ALSO DEALING WITH THIS.
UH, NEW JERSEY I THINK WAS ANOTHER, WELL, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SHINE A LIGHT AS WELL.
'CAUSE THEY'RE OPERATING IN THE DARK AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE, I DON'T KNOW, UH, HOW THEY PURCHASED THIS THING, HOW THEY PURCHASED THE EXISTING WAREHOUSE ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.
UM, BUT I THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE DETAILS.
HOW DID THEY DO THIS? WHERE'S THE MONEY TRAIL? WHO OWNS THIS? WHERE'S THE MONEY GONNA GO TO? BECAUSE THAT, UH, CONCENTRATION CAMPUS GOING TO BE OPERATED.
WHAT? IN, IN, BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR? WHERE ARE THOSE MONIES GOING? SO I, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK WE DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUALLY AUTHORITY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS, BUT AS A GROUP, AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A VOICE, A STRONG VOICE TO SAY, HEY, WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE? AND IT IS, IT'S AN AFFRONT TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE ME AND HAS A NAME OF DEBRA EZ AND MY MARRIED NAME FELDER, THAT YOU'RE PUTTING THIS CONCENTRATION CAMP IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HOUSE AND DETAIN AND IMP PRISON PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, WHO ARE HARDWORKING PEOPLE FOR THE MOST PART, THE MAJORITY.
AND THEY'RE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
THEY SEND THEIR KIDS TO, UH, ENLIST IN THE ARMY, UH, THE AIR FORCE, THE MARINES, WHATEVER, TO FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AND THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE INSULT.
AND I CAN CLEARLY TELL YOU, UH, I'M, I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT I THINK ICE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
THEIR MALICIOUS HATE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AUTHORITIES THAT ARE ALLOWING THEM THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.
AND I, I JUST THINK IT'S AN INSULT.
SO WHILE YOU MAY HAVE, UH, ADDED TO YOUR RESOLUTION, BACKS OF LEGAL AUTHORITY IN THERE TO EXTEND YOUR REACH AND, UH, OF, UH, OPTIONS, BUT THE REALITY IS YOU, I THINK TIME HAS EXPIRED.
COMMISSIONER'S COURT NEEDS TO TAKE A STAND AND SAY, THIS IS WRONG.
WE DON'T NEED CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
NOW, WHAT WE NEED CONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR MAYBE WOULD BE FOR PEDOPHILES, PEDOPHILES OR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKERS.
WE NEED THOSE KIND OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
AND ANYONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN THAT, WE NEED THOSE BIG CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
AND WE NEED A LIGHTS SH SHOWN UPON THAT WHOLE ISSUE.
AND FROM WHOEVER IS INVOLVED FROM THE VERY TOP, FROM THE OVAL OFFICE ON DOWN, UH, NEEDS TO BE DETAINED AND, UH, EVALUATED AND QUESTIONED.
SO THAT'S MY TAKE ON THIS AND I HOPE, UM, COMMISSIONER COURT WOULD, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXERCISE THEIR AUTHORITY AND POWER 'CAUSE ON OUR OWN.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE IT, BUT WE ALL CAN JOIN IN THIS.
THERE, SHE'S, I DUNNO, IS THAT, HELLO JUDGE COMMISSIONERS IN COURT.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.
I AM A CONSTITUENT IN PRECINCT FOUR.
I HAVE TWO POINTS TO BRING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
FIRST, I DO NOT SUPPORT ICE DETENTION CENTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I AGREE WITH AGENDA ITEM 65, FORMERLY EXPRESSING OUR STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DETENTION FACILITY CENTER IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SECOND, I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ON YOUR UPCOMING AGENDA
[02:25:01]
AND PLAN HOW YOU CAN RENEW THIS FUND TO PROVIDE VITAL LEGAL SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.AND I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON IT SO FAR.
AS CONTEXT FOR BOTH OF THESE POINTS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A RECENT QUOTE BY ACTING ICE DIRECTOR TODD LYONS DISCUSSING DETENTION CENTERS RECENTLY.
HE SAID, QUOTE, WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT TREATING THIS LIKE A BUSINESS LIKE AMAZON PRIME, BUT WITH HUMAN BEINGS.
THIS IS A DISGUSTING WAY TO VIEW HUMAN LIFE.
WE HAVE BUILT INTERNMENT CAMPS HERE IN TEXAS IN OUR SHAMEFUL PAST.
WE CAN'T CHANGE THIS, BUT WE CAN PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
I BEG YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
A GREAT PLACE TO START IS TO RENEW THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AND OPPOSE ICE DETENTION FACILITIES IN OUR CITY USING ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE TOOLS.
JUDY AUSTIN, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME? CHUY.
I RESIDE IN DISTRICT 10, PRECINCT THREE.
I'VE COME HERE THIS MORNING TO HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT MY PEERS HAVE DONE AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE BEFORE ME.
AND THAT IS TO CONTINUE TO IGNITE THE SPARK OF HOPE, THE LIGHT OF THAT TORCH THAT BURNS WITHIN US ALL THESE DAYS.
MY OWN TORCH HAS GROWN DIM AT THE ABSURD SITE OF WHAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND ARE GOING THROUGH.
NOW, I THINK BACK TO THOSE LESSONS OF AMERICA WHERE I WAS TAUGHT THAT WE ARE ALL ONE BIG MELTING POT.
I THINK BACK TO THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND HOW SHE CRIES OUT WITH SILENT LIPS.
GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE.
THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEAMING SHORE.
SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS TEMPEST TOSSED TO ME.
I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR.
32 PEOPLE DIED IN ICE CUSTODY LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED TO US.
11 PEOPLE HAVE DIED SO FAR THIS YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN MEASLES OUTBREAK IN THE DAILY DETENTION CENTER FOR GODS SAKES.
WE OWE ALL OF THEM A DIGNIFIED PROCESS TO CITIZENSHIP, NOT A CONCENTRATION CAMP.
WE ARE A NATION OF AND FOR IMMIGRANTS.
PLEASE USE ALL OF THE POWERS WE HAVE GIVEN YOU TO STOP THIS DETENTION CENTER FROM OPENING.
AND PLEASE USE ALL THE POWERS WE HAVE GIVEN YOU TO RENEW THE ILDF TO ENSURE THAT WE PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE KIDNAPPED BY ICE, ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
HELLO JUDGE SAI AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
APPRECIATE YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
UH, I'M GONNA KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET, JUST HERE TO SUPPORT.
IF ANY OTHER 23-YEAR-OLD WENT THROUGH THE STREETS SHOOTING PEOPLE IN THE FACE, THEY'D BE ARRESTED AND PUT THROUGH PRISON.
UM, PLEASE ADD THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO THE AGENDA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND VOTE YES ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
MY NAME IS PRISCILLA OLIVAREZ WITH THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER.
OUR ORGANIZATION IS A MEMBER OF SA STANDS.
I'M ASKING COMMISSIONERS TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO STOP ICE FROM OPENING THE WAREHOUSE.
ICE IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A PERMANENT INVESTMENT IN DETAINING AND DEPORTING OUR COMMUNITY.
IF THIS WAREHOUSE OPENS, IT WILL MEAN MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS TARGETED, MORE UNLAWFUL DETENTIONS AND MORE DEPORTATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
ICE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO FILL THIS FACILITY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DO.
DETAINING AND DEPORTING FAMILIES IS A BUSINESS TO THEM.
CURRENTLY, ICE IS DETAINING MORE THAN 70,000 PEOPLE IN ITS EXISTING NETWORK OF DETENTION CENTERS, AND IT IS SEEKING TO DETAIN MORE, INCLUDING HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SO IF BEXAR COUNTY DOES NOT DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO STOP THIS FACILITY FROM OPENING, IT WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
YOU MENTIONED THE RESOLUTION IS LOOKING TO PURSUE ALL LEGAL OPTIONS.
ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS SHOULD INCLUDE RENEWING THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
THE OPENING OF THE WAREHOUSE WILL ALSO MEAN MORE ARRESTS OF RESIDENTS AND MORE INDIVIDUALS WILL NEED LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
[02:30:01]
MORE DENIED DUE PROCESS.MORE BEAR COUNTY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DENIED THE BENEFITS OF FAMILY UNITY, THE BENEFIT OF A FAMILY BREADWINNER AND THESE BENEFITS, UM, AND THE BENEFITS THESE INDIVIDUALS BRING TO OUR COUNTY.
THE WAREHOUSE HIGHLIGHTS THE URGENCY TO RENEW THE COUNTY'S IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
WE CANNOT LET PAXTON'S BASELESS LAWSUIT, WHICH A LOCAL JUDGE ALREADY RULED AGAINST, STOP OR DELAY THE FUND'S RENEWAL.
TODAY, YOU JUST CELEBRATED GIDEON V WAIN WRIGHT AND ISSUED A PROCLAMATION SAYING, THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL IS FOUNDATIONAL TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS THEIR DAY IN COURT.
THERE IS NO RIGHT TO APPOINTED COUNSEL ON IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS.
SO IT FALLS TO OUR LEADERS TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLE OF DUE PROCESS.
BEXAR COUNTY DID THIS IN 2022 WHEN YOU CREATED THE HISTORIC IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
AS OF LAST MONTH, THE FUND HAS EXPIRED.
EVEN THOUGH IT IS CLEAR THE LITIGATION IS GOING IN THE COUNTY'S FAVOR, THIS MEANS MORE FAMILIES ARE AT RISK OF BEING DEPORTED.
THIS MEANS WE ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THE BENEFITS THESE IMMIGRANTS PROVIDE.
AS ENFORCEMENT INCREASES, WE ARE AT RISK OF LOSING SO MUCH.
AND SO I'M ASKING THE COUNTY TO REMAIN STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO DUE PROCESS FOR ALL.
DO NOT BACK DOWN BE COURAGEOUS AND STAND FIRM TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.
I'M ALSO ASKING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DEMAND A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW THE ICE WAREHOUSE WILL HAVE ON OUR COUNTY BEFORE IT OPENS.
INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSES DO NOT HAVE THE SEWAGE AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE BASIC HEALTH.
FOR THE 1500 PEOPLE WHO WILL BE DETAINED AT THIS FACILITY, THE WAREHOUSE WILL THREATEN TO OVERWHELM LOCAL WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE LEADING TO HARMFUL POLLUTION INTO OUR WATERWAYS.
THE WAREHOUSE WILL RESULT IN THE DIVERSION OF LOCAL RESOURCES.
OUR COMMUNITIES NEED TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
RESOURCES YOU HAVE ALL PROMISED YOUR CONSTITUENCY WILL FIGHT FOR RESIDENTS DEMAND ANSWERS FROM ICE.
THE COUNTY SHOULD PURSUE ALL LEGAL OPTIONS TO COMPEL ICE TO PROVIDE THESE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS WE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY AND ICE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, YOUR HONOR, I SIGNED UP ON NINE ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC AND ALSO SIX FIVE.
WHAT SHE SHE SIGNED UP ON NINE TEN SIX FIVE SIXTY FIVE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT OKAY.
TOPICS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT MOLLY.
WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MOLLY.
YOU WANNA SPEAK NOW OR YOU WANNA SPEAK ON BOTH TOPICS? OH, JESSICA.
WELL, YOU, YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS.
UM, JUST QUICK POINT ON NUMBER 65.
IF YOU TELL ME THAT ICE AGENTS IS NOT RACIAL PROFILING, THAT IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY FALSE.
UM, I MYSELF HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT, BUT, UM, THEY, I MEAN I MYSELF HAD EXPERIENCED ICE AGENTS THAT WERE FOLLOWING ME ONE NIGHT AND THEY WERE TRAILING ME.
AND YEAH, I WAS SH I MEAN SCARED.
I WAS VERY SCARED AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I CHOSE TO GO TO A POLICE STATION NON SAPD.
AND AS SOON AS I RODE UP ON THAT POLICE STATION PROPERTY, I SAW THE TWO UNMARKED SUVS THAT WERE FOLLOWING ME.
THEY WERE, ONE WAS STILL PARKED OVER HERE AND THE OTHER ONE LIKE TOOK OFF.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE OTHER ONE FINALLY LEFT WHEN I, THEY REALIZED I WAS GETTING HELP FROM THAT NON SAPD POLICE STATION.
SO YEAH, ICE AGENTS DO RACIAL PROFILING.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT WE NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND UP IN ISRAEL WHEN I RAN GHOST IN THE ICE AGENTS OVER THERE, SEND THEM THERE.
WE DON'T NEED THEM HERE IN BEAR COUNTY, BUT I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT NUMBER NINE WHEN YOU CALL IT SARAH RAMIREZ.
MY NAME IS SARAH RAMIREZ AND I OPPOSE THE OPENING OF ANY ICE PROCESSING AND OR DETENTION CENTERS IN BEXAR COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR 11 YEARS AND MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WITH KIDS.
HEARING ABOUT HOW THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TREATED OR LACK THEREOF AT DILI IS ABYSMAL.
PUTTING CHILDREN THROUGH ANY SORT OF DETAINMENT IS TRAUMATIZING.
TAKING PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AWAY FROM CHILDREN IS TRAUMATIZING.
BESIDES THE TRAUMA THESE CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE GOING THROUGH, THEY'RE GETTING SICK AND THERE'S A LACK OF ADEQUATE, ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE BEING PROVIDED.
THE AMOUNT AND QUALITY OF FOOD ISN'T GREAT.
LIVING CONDITIONS ARE FAR FROM SUFFICIENT AND THEIR HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF AGENTS ON DETAINEE ASSAULTS WITHIN THE FACILITIES.
[02:35:01]
OF SAN ANTONIO ARE ALREADY NERVOUS ABOUT GOING OUT IN PUBLIC TO SHOP TO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO CONTINUE GOING TO SCHOOL DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING DETAINED REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.MY MOM AND BROTHERS WHO LIVE IN OASIS COUNTY VISIT ME FREQUENTLY.
SHE OPTED TO TAKE ONE OF MY BROTHERS WHO IS DARKER SKINNED OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AND HOMESCHOOL HIM INSTEAD, SHE WHO IS ALSO DARK SKINNED, DOESN'T SHOP IN STORE.
SHE DOES CURBSIDE OR SENDS ONE OF MY OTHER BROTHERS WHO IS LIGHT SKINNED LIKE I AM IN TO DO THE SHOPPING.
IF AN ICE PROCESSING AND OR DETENTION CENTER OPENS IN BEXAR COUNTY, SHE WILL NO LONGER FEEL SAFE VISITING ME.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO HAPPEN.
I DON'T WANT SAN ANTONIO THE PLACE THAT I HAVE CALLED HOME FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS TO BE KNOWN AS A CITY WITH AN ICE FACILITY.
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WITH AN ICE FACILITY.
WHY DO WE NEED SO MANY ICE FACILITIES? OVER 200 NOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY? I KEEP HEARING THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO RESTRICT VOTING FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO BLOCK VOTING THAN TO ARREST PEACEFUL CITIZEN PROTESTORS BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTS, THEN BUST THEM IN CHAINS TO A DETENTION CAMP OUT OF TOWN, MAYBE TO DILI, THEN HOLD THEM UNTIL VOTING IS OVER SO THEY CAN'T VOTE.
THEN ICE CAN PURSUE CHARGES OR DROP CHARGES.
AS LONG AS THE PEACEFUL CITIZEN PROTESTORS RIGHT TO VOTE WAS BLOCKED.
AND IF YOU THINK HOLDING PEACEFUL CITIZEN PROTESTORS SO THEY CAN'T VOTE IS JUST CRAZY TALK.
IT'S NO CRAZIER THAN SOME POLICIES COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON.
I AM A FREQUENT PEACEFUL CITIZEN PROTESTOR.
I DON'T HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY RIGHT NOW IN IMMEDIATE DANGER OF DETENTION.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL TAKE ON CREATING EVEN MORE DETENTION CAMPS, WHICH CAN LATER BE USED TO HOLD CITIZENS WHO OBJECT.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RACES,
UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND UH, FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU INTRODUCED AND OF COURSE THE CHANGES THAT I THINK SOME OF YOU WORKED ON TO MAKE IT STRONGER.
UH, BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO MAKE IT STRONGER AND WE HAVE TO USE ALL THE FORCE THAT WE HAVE, ALL THE POWER THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WEST SIDE, THAT THE EAST SIDE DETENTION CENTER IS, DOES, DOES NOT SEE THE, THE LIGHT OF DAY.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE SINCE 2014.
THE PROCESSING PLANTS THAT EXISTED IN THE BORDER OR HORRENDOUS, THEY CALLED THEM ICE HOUSES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING HERE, WHERE THEY KEEP PEOPLE IN ICE COLD SITUATIONS WITH NOTHING TO COVER THEMSELVES.
THEY KEEP CHILDREN IN THOSE SAME SITUATIONS IN CAGES.
DO WE WANT TO SEE THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? I DON'T THINK SO.
AND THEY CONTINUE TO EXIST IN THE VALLEY IN MCALLEN.
WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
I FRANKLY AM SHOCKED TO HEAR, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, YOU SEE THE MEDIA AS MUCH AS I DO.
BUT IN THE ISA, THE IMMIGRATION COURTHOUSE ON THE ON, ON EVA IN OSA, THEY PICK UP PEOPLE WHO GO INTO TO CHECK IN.
THEY SAY, WELL, IT'S TIME TO CHECK IN.
COME ON IN, CHECK IN WITH YOUR CO AT THE COURT.
AND THEY PICK 'EM UP THERE, THERE IS A BIG BUS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE, OF THE PARKING LOT WHERE THEY FORCE THESE, THESE FOLKS WHO ARE CHECKING IN, UH, INTO THOSE BUSES AND ON OVER TO DETENTION CENTERS.
AND THAT'S WHO IS NOW IN DILI AND EVERY OTHER DETENTION CENTER IN IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY.
THOSE FOLKS WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE ASKED TO GO AND REPORT IN AND THEY DID SO AND THEN THEY WERE SENT TO DETENTION CENTERS.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DETENTION CENTERS HAVE NOT COMMITTED ANY CRIMES.
IF THEY, THEY MISSED, THEY DIDN'T PAY A PARKING TICKET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO I AM PERSONALLY SHOCKED THAT THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND HAS NOT BEEN RENEWED.
[02:40:01]
I GUESS THEY'VE BEEN OUT OF FUNDS NOW FOR TWO MONTHS.AND I GUESS I WANNA ASK THE QUESTION, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RENEWED WITH THE, THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING IN THESE DETENTION CENTERS HERE IN THE, THE STATE OF TEXAS, MANY OF THEM FROM SAN ANTONIO.
WHY HASN'T THAT FUND BEEN RENEWED? I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHEN IT'S GONNA BE RENEWED.
WE ARE SITTING IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION AND WE HAVE GOT TO GET ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ELECTED AND CAN DO THIS.
I JUST WATCHED TWO, $2.5 MILLION BEING GIVEN FOR SOME SIGN ON THE WEST SIDE TO ATTRACT TOURISTS.
AND WHY CAN'T WE DO THE SAME THING ON THIS ISSUE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US? I REALLY WANNA HEAR A GOOD RESPONSE ABOUT THAT FUNDING BEING RENEWED AND IMMEDIATELY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I UNDERSTAND ROSE SANCHEZ REVEALED YOUR TIME TO VOX ROSE.
ARE YOU VOX? UH, MY NAME'S RES AND I'M GONNA BE SEATING MY TIME TO VOX ROSE.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? UH, EN RES E-N-J-O-L-R-A-S.
WHAT WAS THE LAST NAME? SAY WHAT? SAY YOUR NAME AGAIN.
CAN YOU SPELL IT? E-N-J-O-L-R-A.
YOU YIELDING TIME TO VOX? YEP.
YIELDING TIME TO VOX AND ROSE, ARE YOU YIELDING TIME? YES.
I'M YIELDING MY TIME TO VOX ROSE.
ANYBODY ELSE YIELDING TIME TO VOX? ALRIGHT, VOX, NINE MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE SAKA AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS VOX ROSE OF DISTRICT EIGHT, BUT I GREW UP ALL MY NIGHT LIFE IN DISTRICT TWO AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN UNCOMPROMISING SUPPORT OF ITEM 65.
BARROW COUNTY SAID CATEGORICALLY REJECT ANY FORM OF DETENTION CENTER INTERNMENT FACILITY, OR SO-CALLED PROCESSING CENTER FOR MIGRANTS AND OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
LET'S STOP HIDING BEHIND SOFT LANGUAGE.
WHAT WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT ARE PEONAGE CAMPS AND INTERNMENT CAMPS PLACED WHERE HUMAN BEINGS ARE CAGED SORTED AND EXPLOITED UNDER COLOR OF LAW.
THESE FACILITIES DO NOT HAVE THE SEWAGE CAPACITIES TO HOUSE HUMANS, AND WE ALSO ASK TO RENEW THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
THESE ARE NOT NEUTRAL BUILDINGS, THESE ARE ENGINES OF TRAUMA.
THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DISAPPEAR PEOPLE, TO ISOLATE THEM FROM THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR RIGHTS.
WHEN YOU BUILD A PNH CAMP, YOU ARE NOT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.
YOU ARE INSTITUTIONALIZING CRUELTY.
I ALSO WANT TO UPLIFT AND SECOND, THE POSITION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JAYLEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ HAS TAKEN IN THE CITY CONTEXT.
THE CALL FOR A MORATORIUM RATHER THAN A SIMPLE CODE CHANGE.
A MINOR CODE TWEAK IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANNA SAY YOU DID SOMETHING WITHOUT ACTUALLY CHANGING THE POWER DYNAMICS.
A MORATORIUM IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE THE HARM IS SO SERIOUS.
YOU MUST STOP FULL STOP AND GIVE THE COMMUNITY TIME AND SPACE TO REWRITE THE RULES.
I'M ASKING THIS COURT TO MATCH THAT LEVEL OF COURAGE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
TAKE THE MORATORIUM APPROACH SERIOUSLY, PUT A HALT TO NEW DETENTION RELATED FACILITIES OF ANY KIND WHILE A REAL WHILE REAL COMMUNITY LED PROCESS BUILDS LASTING PROTECTIONS.
NOW I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHO THESE PH CAMPS ACTUALLY TARGET CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
WE LIKE TO PRETEND THIS IS ABOUT DANGEROUS CRIMINALS AND NATIONAL SECURITY.
BUT IN PRACTICE IT'S KIDS WATCHING THEIR PARENTS DRAGGED AWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
IT'S TEENAGERS LOCKED IN CAGES FOR MONTHS, MISSING SCHOOL, LOSING LANGUAGE, LOSING FAITH IN ANY IDEA OF JUSTICE.
IT'S TODDLERS LEARNING THE SOUND OF A GUARD'S BOOTS ON CONCRETE BEFORE THEY EVEN LEARN TO READ.
EVERY TIME WE ALLOW ANOTHER CARCERAL FACILITY TO OPEN, WE ARE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHAT CHILDHOODS IN BEAR COUNTY, WHAT CHILDHOOD LOOKS LIKE IN BEAR COUNTY.
DO CHILDREN HERE GROW UP BELIEVING THAT THEY BELONG OR THAT THEY'RE ONE MISTAKE? ONE RAID, ONE DATABASE MATCH AWAY FROM BEING LOCKED IN A METAL ROOM.
WHEN YOU PROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF DETENTION, YOU ARE SIGNING OFF ON CHILDHOODS UNDER SIEGE.
IT DOESN'T JUST STOP AT PHYSICAL CAGES.
WE ARE TALKING, WE ARE BUILDING DIGITAL ONES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, FACIAL RECOGNITION CAMERA, AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS, FUSION SENSOR DATABASES, PREDICTIVE POLICING SOFTWARE, DATA SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH DPS, ICE AND PRIVATE VENDORS.
THESE TOOLS CONSIST ARE CONSISTENTLY INACCURATE AND DISCRIMINATORY, ESPECIALLY AGAINST BLACK, BROWN AND INDI INDIGENOUS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
THEY MISIDENTIFY PEOPLE OF COLOR AT HIGH RATES.
THEY FLAG SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR.
THAT'S JUST ORDINARY LIFE IN A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IMAGINE A KID WALKING HOME IN A HOODIE, A MOM DRIVING AN OLD CAR WITH AN OUT-OF-STATE PLATE, A FAMILY GATHERING IN A PARKING LOT AFTER WORK.
THESE BECOME DIGITAL RED FLAGS THAT FEED BIASED ALGORITHMS,
[02:45:01]
WHICH THEN JUSTIFY MORE STOPS, MORE QUESTIONING, MORE ARRESTS, AND MORE SEPARATION.IT'S A FEEDBACK LOOP OF CRIMINALIZATION DRESSED UP AS INNOVATION.
SO I'M GONNA ASK THE COURT TO DO TWO THINGS.
DRAW A HARD LINE AT PEONAGE CAMPS.
DRAW A HARD LINE AGAINST DIGITAL PEONAGE, MASS SURVEILLANCE WITHOUT CONSENT, OVERSIGHT, OR EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS.
THIS MEANS REAL DATA PROTECTION RULES, STRICT LIMITS ON COLLECTION.
REAL TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHAT SYSTEMS. WE USE.
INDEPENDENT AUDITS FOR RACIAL BIAS.
CLEAR BANS ON CERTAIN TECH, LIKE FACIAL RECOGNITION AND SENSITIVE SPACES AND ABSOLUTELY NO BACKDOOR POP, UH, DATA PIPELINES TO ICE JUDGE SAKA.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU DIRECTLY.
YOU HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT YOUR OWN FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE WITH WORLD WAR II INTERNMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A GOVERNMENT DECIDES AN ENTIRE GROUP OF PEOPLE AS A SUSPECT.
YOU KNOW IN YOUR BONES WHAT A CAMP LOOKS LIKE, THE LOSS OF A HOME, THE HUMILIATION, THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
THAT LEGACY, THAT LEGACY SHOULD NOT JUST BE A STORY FOR SPEECHES OR COMMEMORATIONS.
IT SHOULD BE A COMPASS FOR HOW THIS COMMUNITY TREATS MIGRANTS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
RIGHT NOW, I ASK YOU AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO TURN EVERY STONE TO ENSURE THIS CAMP AND ANY FUTURE ONES ARE NOT POSSIBLE.
FOR THE FOLKS OBSESSED WITH THE ECONOMIC STATE FOR SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC STATE, IT'S A DAMN SHAME YOU BACKED PROJECT MARVEL AS SOME JOBS SAVIOR YOU CLAIMED.
IT BRINGS OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT FUNNELS PUBLIC RESOURCES INTO LOW WAGE MENIAL POSITIONS WHILE HIGHER PAYING COMMUNITY ROOTED WORK GETS IGNORED.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT, I WON INDUSTRIAL ZONING BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE REAL GAMES GET PLAYED.
THIS SITS WITH THE CITY, NOT WITH THIS COURT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T LET YOU OFF THE HOOK.
YOU CAN EITHER SIT QUIETLY WHILE THIS I WON WHILE I WON, GETS USED AS A DUMPING GROUND FOR LOW WAGE INDUSTRY AND P AND H STYLE LOGISTICS SITES.
OR YOU CAN USE YOUR PLATFORM TO DEMAND BETTER OPPOSE CONTRACTS, OPPOSE COUNTY PARTICIPATION AND OPENLY LOBBY FOR I ONE LAND, UM, NEAR OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE CONVERTED TO C ONE AND C TWO COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR COMMUNITY BUSINESS AND HIGHER WAGE WORK, NOT CAGES.
IF YOU CLAIM YOU CARE ABOUT ECONOMY, THEN STOP HIDING BEHIND JURISDICTION AND USE THE POWER YOU DO HAVE TO KEEP HE AND HISS INFRASTRUCTURE OUT OF BEAR COUNTY.
YOU HAVE SHOWN THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRIPS AND HIGH PROFILE INITIATIVES THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT BEAR COUNTY ON THE MAP FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT IN BIG PROJECTS.
I'M HERE TO SAY IF WE CAN MOBILIZE THAT LEVEL OF ENERGY AND FUNDING TO COURT CORPORATIONS, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MOBILIZE IT TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM LEGAL SERVICES TO INVEST IN HOUSING, TO CREATE REAL ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION SURVEILLANCE.
IF WE CAN FLY ACROSS OCEANS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS FOR INDUSTRY, WE CAN CERTAINLY WALK ACROSS TOWNS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE COMMUNITIES TARGETED BY THESE POLICIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT THIS COUNT COUNTY HAS ENTERTAINED OR SUPPORTED SIGNAL A DANGEROUS COMFORT WITH CARCERAL AND SURVEILLANCE LOGIC.
IF WE CAN FIND MILLIONS FOR NEW TECH TOYS, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR ARMORED VEHICLES, FOR WATCH TOWERS AND CAMERAS, INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS, THEN DON'T TELL US THERE'S NO MONEY TO KEEP KIDS OUT OF CAGES.
NO MONEY FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS, NO MONEY TO KEEP FAMILIES HOUSED IN TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE STATE LEVEL MACHINERY DRIVING THIS GOVERNOR, GREG ABBOTT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON HAVE TURNED THE BORDER AND MIGRATION INTO A PERMANENT CAMPAIGN STUNT OPERATION.
LONE STAR IS A PIPELINE OF CRIMINALIZATION ARRESTING ASYLUM SEEKERS FOR TRESPASSING, STAGING SOCIAL FORCE PATROLS REROUTING PUBLIC FUNDS INTO MILITARIZED THEATRICS.
THEY CALL IT SECURITY, BUT FAMILIES ON THE GROUND.
BUT FOR FAMILIES ON THE GROUND, IT LOOKS LIKE FEAR HARASSMENT AND THE CONSTANT THREAT OF SEPARATION.
AND AS ABBOTT SAID, TEXAS IS THE BLUEPRINT.
THIS COUNTY CAN EITHER BE A WILLING PARTNER IN THIS AGENDA OR A LINE OF RESISTANCE.
YOU DON'T CONTROL AUSTIN, BUT YOU DO CONTROL WHAT YOU LEGITIMIZE HERE.
YOU CONTROL WHETHER DATA FROM OUR COMMUNITY ENDS UP IN STATE, IN STATE AND FEDERAL DRAGNETS.
YOU CONTROL WHETHER WE ADD MORE JAIL BEDS, CONTRACT, UM, WITH MORE PRIVATE DETENTION PLAYERS OR PRIVATELY ACCOMMODATE NEW P AND H INFRASTRUCTURES UNDER THE GUISE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
SO HERE IS MY ASK AND MY WARNING AS SOMEONE WHO CARES DEEPLY AND WHO WILL REMEMBER THIS VOTE, VOTE YES ON ITEM 65 AND MAKE CLEAR THAT BEAR COUNTY WILL NOT HO WILL NOT HOST P AND H CAMPS.
NOT NOW, NOT LATER, NOT UNDER SOME REBRANDED EUPHEMISM.
MOVE TOWARDS A POLICY FRAMEWORK THAT FREEZES NEW DETENTION, UM, RELATED FACILITIES AND OPENS A REAL COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS FOR LONG-TERM PROTECTIONS.
DO NOT CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANIES THAT RUN THESE CAMPS, HAVE PRIVATE OR HAVE PRIVATE EQUITY IN THESE CAMPS.
COMMIT TO STRONG DATA AND SURVEILLANCE PROTECTIONS.
NO FACE RECOGNITION, NO SECRET DATA SHARING, NO UNCHECKED DIGITAL EXPANSION, NO UNCHECKED DIGITAL POLICING TOOLS THAT TARGET BLACK, BROWN AND IMMIGRANT AND POOR COMMUNITIES.
REDIRECT ENERGY AND FUNDING AWAY FROM CAR.
SO SOLUTIONS TOWARDS HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMS, UM, REINSTATING THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
AND, UM, COMMUNITY BASED, UM, THINGS THAT REINSTATE COMMUNITY BASED SAFETY.
THINGS THAT ACTUALLY KEEP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAFE.
I'M NOT HERE TO BEG FOR DECENCY, I'M HERE TO DEMAND IT.
IF YOU BUILD P AND H CAMPS, PHYSICAL OR DIGITAL, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THAT.
[02:50:01]
IF YOU CHOOSE TO PROTECT CHILDREN TO SHIELD FAMILIES FROM CAGES AND RAGE AND CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THAT TOO.BE THE LINE THAT CAN'T BE CROSSED.
BE THE HOT IRON THAT BURNS P NAGE OUT OF OUR FUTURE BRAND, OUT OF OUR FUTURE INSTEAD OF BRANDING IT INTO THE NEXT GENERATION.
NOW I'VE GOT PEOPLE YIELDING, SO I HAVE FRED HOFSTRA.
YOU ARE YIELDING RONALD FARNSWORTH, ARE YOU YIELDING? YES.
AND SHARE MCGRATH MCRAY? YES, YOUR HONOR.
ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE YIELDING TO MARTHA? YOUR HONOR, I'M FRED HOFSTEDER.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE ONE OF MY MINUTES AND THEN LEAVE THE REST TO MARTHA IF THAT'S OKAY.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? FRED HOFSTEDER.
ALRIGHT, FRED, WE'LL LET MARTHA GO AND THEN WE'LL LET YOU GO.
WHO ELSE IS WANTING TO YIELD? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I YIELD MY TIMES TO MARTHA.
I BELIEVE KATE, WE GOT FOUR MARTHA AND THREE PEOPLE.
SO MARTHA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
BEFORE I BEGAN, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW MUCH I HAVE ENJOYED THE HOUR AND A HALF, TWO HOURS WE'VE SPENT THIS MORNING BEFORE.
LISTENING TO EVERYBODY WHO'S TALKING RIGHT NOW TO ALL THE MAGNIFICENT THINGS THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED IN THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH CULTURE AND INDUSTRY, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE, I'M SORRY THE ALLERGIES ARE GETTING ME.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND ATTENTION THAT YOU GAVE TO ALL OF THE PRESENTERS.
THE FRIENDLY AND POSITIVE INTERACTION WHERE YOU ENVISION TOGETHER AT GREAT LENGTH WITH MANY PEOPLE WHAT THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY COULD BE.
HAVING BEEN ON THAT OTHER SIDE OF PROMOTING NONPROFITS TO GOVERNMENT, I KNOW ALL ABOUT THOSE SLICK PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY BROUGHT AND I THINK THEY'RE WONDERFUL.
AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT BEING SARCASTIC ABOUT THAT.
I'M FULL IN ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
HOWEVER, I WISH THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING BEHIND ME TODAY DISCUSSING 65 HAD THE SAME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY AS ALL OF THE IN INDUSTRY AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE SAW EARLIER TODAY, WHERE THERE IS THIS INTERCHANGE AND INTERACTION WITH YOU AND WE TALK TOGETHER ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS CITY GREAT.
SO IF I HAD MY WISH, THIS WOULD ALL KIND OF BE REDONE AND WE'D HAVE A REAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.
BUT THE QUESTION AT HAND IS NOT ALL OF THE OBSCENITIES THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED BY THE PRESENCE OF ICE AND THE SUGGESTION OF HAVING A CONCENTRATION CAMP, A DETENTION CENTER, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, THOSE OBSCENITIES HAVE BEEN VERY WELL DOCUMENTED LONG BEFORE WE GOT HERE AND REITERATED TODAY WITH THE EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU.
AND I, I HOPE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.
BUT HERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T GET TO DROP IN CONVERSATIONS AT COCKTAIL PARTIES VERY OFTEN I HAVE A PHD IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY FROM AN IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY.
AND MY RECOMMENDATION, HAVING REMOVED THE, REVIEWED THE THREE ITERATIONS OF YOUR POLICY, THAT IS THE RESOLUTION YOU'VE PROPOSED TODAY IS THAT YOU NOT APPROVE IT TODAY FOR THE MOST BASIC REASON.
AND THAT IS JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, I GOT TO SEE THE, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON TODAY.
I SAW COMMISSIONER CALVERTS, THAT WAS A GOOD TRY.
I SAW JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ'S, UH, VERSION OF THAT COMPLETELY DEFAMED IT.
NOW YOU'VE COME TO SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT US TO GIVE OUR APPROVAL TO, AND MAYBE WE SHOULD, BUT WE SHOULD NOT DO THAT UNTIL WE'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT.
AND IT WASN'T AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT.
BUT GOING ON AND, AND SHOWING OFF MY, UH, MY PHD IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU THAT THIS IS NOT A RESOLUTION.
THIS THING THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN, A RESOLUTION EXPRESSED SOME KIND OF RESOLVE, A POSITION, A PLAN, A DETERMINATION TO GUIDE OR DIRECT US TOWARDS SOMETHING AT THE VERY MINIMUM TO HOLD FAST TO AN ETHICAL POSITION.
THIS DOCUMENT, AFTER ALL ITS WAREHOUSES AND THEREFORES SAYS THIS.
AND I'M GONNA PARAPHRASE FOR YOU WHAT IT SAYS.
SINCE I'M AN INTELLECTUAL AND I HAVE A PHD, DEAR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR WHOEVER IS BOTHERING TO READ THIS DOCUMENT, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT YOU HAVE DISREGARDED ALL LAWS AND CUSTOMS RELATED TO THE PURCHASES OF A PROPERTY IN BEXAR COUNTY.
[02:55:01]
REALLY WISH YOU WOULD SHOW US A LITTLE RESPECT BECAUSE THERE ARE LAWS ABOUT THIS AND WE THINK IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC.QUOTE, IT RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS RELATED TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY, INCLUDING IMPACTS EMERGING FROM EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, WATER AND SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRICITY USAGE, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.
HMM, LET'S SEE WHAT'S MISSING? OH, HUMAN ATROCITY.
I GUESS THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH THAT I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE FOR YOU SUMMARIZES WHAT YOUR RESOLUTION IS.
AND HERE'S WHAT PARAGRAPH SIX SAYS, INTERGOVERNMENT DIALOGUE QUOTE, DESPITE OPPOSITION BEAR COUNTY SUPPORTS CONSTRUCTIVE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMUNICATION AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO FACILITATE INFORMED DECISION MAKING REGARDING SIGNIFICANT MATTERS AFFECTING THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY.
NOW LET ME PARAPHRASE THAT ONE FOR YOU.
DEAR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR WHOEVER IS BOTHERING TO READ THIS DOCUMENT, LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE TIME TO GET TOGETHER FOR A CHAT.
WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS WE ELECTED YOU.
AND I KNOW YOU DON'T NEED TO BE REMINDED THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE LEADERS WHO REPRESENT THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
I WAS HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND ALL OF YOU ASSURED ME THAT YOU UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU TAKE AN OATH TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, WHAT I SEE IS SOMETHING THAT IS WEAK AND PASSIVE.
IT NOT ONLY JEOPARDIZES THE FISCAL AND HEALTH STANDARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE RESOLUTION'S, WEAKNESS AND PASSIVITY JEOPARDIZES DEMOCRACY, WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, THE STATEMENT.
IT'S NOT A RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT SHOWS NO RESOLVE DOES NOT BEGIN TO DO THAT.
IT DOES NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.
SO I RECOMMEND MY COLLEAGUES BACK HERE THAT THEY DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR RESOLUTION, AT LEAST UNTIL THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT.
BECAUSE WHAT I READ A FEW MINUTES AGO IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE TWO ITERATIONS THAT I SAW.
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY WE COULD RESPONSIBLY SUPPORT YOU IN APPROVING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN.
AND THEN AGAIN, IF IT HAS NO TEETH, IF IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION AND NOT A RESOLUTION, WHY BOTHER APPROVING IT? THANK YOU.
AND JUDGE ZAKA, YOUR FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT THIS FROM A PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW.
MY FATHER WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, WENT OFF TO WORLD WAR II AND WAS IN THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL CORPS.
HE INVESTIGATED WAR CRIMES IN EUROPE AND HE SERVED IN THE WAR CRIMES COMMISSION, PROSECUTING WAR CRIMINALS AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ALLOWED CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THEIR CITIES.
AFTER WORLD WAR II, HE WATCHED OR HE HEARD OF ALL THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE POPULATIONS WHO TURNED A BLIND EYE TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.
THEY JUST ACTED LIKE THEY WEREN'T THERE.
NOW WE FIND OURSELVES CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND YOU, OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AT THE SAME DECISION POINT.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE 18 HUNDREDS.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF LULAC.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS GREAT.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS A MEMBER EARLY ON IN ACOG.
SHE WAS ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE CARVER CULTURAL CENTER.
THIS CITY AND MY FAMILY HAS A LONG STORY TRADITION OF PROTECTING THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED.
AND NOW, NOW ICE WANTS TO BUILD A DETENTION CITY ON THE, ON THE
[03:00:01]
STREET THAT MY FAMILY LIVES ON.MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS A PRINCESS FOR LULAC IN HER EARLY LIFE, LIVES ON CLARK STREET.
MY COUSIN AND HIS WIFE AND HIS BABY LIVE ON RIGSBY.
MY T AND MY TS, THEY LIVE ON RIGSBY.
MY OTHER TIO AND TS LIVE ON RIGSBY.
AND NOW YOU WANNA PUT THIS, AND NOW WE ARE ALLOWING THIS CONCENTRATION CAMP TO BE BUILT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, PASSING THE, UM, IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND BACK IN 2021.
AND AS A AND AS A BOARD OF MINORITIES, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST BE GOOD ONE TIME.
YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND HISTORY HAS A LONG MEMORY.
AND IT WILL NOT JUST REMEMBER THE ONE TIME THAT YOU SHOWED UP, BUT IT WILL REMEMBER EVERY WAY THAT YOU FAILED.
AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT OPTION.
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO NOT BE ADEQUATE.
NOT WHEN YOUR CITY IS IN DANGER, NOT WHEN MY FAMILY'S CITY IS IN DANGER.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE STRAIN AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF ANY EFFORTS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO PREVENT THE OPENING OF ICE DETENTION CENTERS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
CURRENT CONDITIONS AT ICE PROCESSING AND DETENTION CENTERS ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING HEADLINES.
9 1 1 CALLS FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION NOT BEING PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE.
FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES LIKE CORECIVIC AND GEO GROUP WILL INCREASE STRAIN ON AN ALREADY OVERBURDENED SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION TO THE STRAIN ON OUR EMS SYSTEM, WE CAN EXPECT IMPACT ON EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS THE ROADS SURROUNDING THE FACILITY.
OUR ALREADY QUESTIONABLE ELECTRIC SERVICES AND RAPIDLY DWINDLING WATER SUPPLY.
THANKS TO AI DATA CENTERS, I HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN DURING MY WORK AFTER THE JULY 5TH FLOOD AND IN THE WAKE OF ICE KIDNAPPINGS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOW THE COMMUNITY STEPS UP AND SHOWS UP WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FAILS.
I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FAILS US AGAIN.
I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THE SAME QUESTION I POSED TO MAYOR JONES.
HAVE YOU ALREADY BEGUN YOUR STATEMENT FOR WHEN THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEMBER IS UNJUSTLY MURDERED BY UNTRAINED AGENTS IN THE STREET? WHAT ABOUT FOR WHEN THE FIRST REPORTS ARE RECEIVED FROM THE DETENTION CENTER ABOUT DETAINEES BEING RAPED, STRANGLED, OR DENIED MEDICAL CARE IN THE FACILITY, OR WHEN IT BECOMES A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT DUE TO THE OUTBREAK OF A HIGHLY COMMUNICABLE DISEASE? I HAVE BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE SEVERAL AMAZING GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO I KNOW WILL NOT SIT IDLY BY AS THIS FACILITY IS OPENED AND THE PRESENCE OF ICE INCREASES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SITTING, SITTING IDLY BY NOW.
IF TODAY'S TESTIMONY IS ANY INDICATION.
SO PERHAPS WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME SAFELY, AT THE END OF THIS LONG DAY OF TESTIMONY, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'LL SAY.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THESE DEATHS, THESE THIS HARM TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES? BECAUSE IF THIS FACILITY OPENS, IT'S NOT AN IF BUT A WHEN.
YOU'LL NEED TO RELEASE THAT STATEMENT.
WHAT'S THAT? HE GAVE ME HIS TIME.
SO DEANNA, THAT'S YOU RIGHT? WHAT'S THAT? ANTONIO? IS ANTONIO HERE? YEAH.
ANTONIO'S GIVING HIS TIME TO DEANNA.
ALRIGHT DEANNA, THEN LET'S GO.
I WANNA THANK GOD BECAUSE THIS LAND BELONGS TO HIM.
I WANNA UH, SAY WE'RE NOT ILLEGAL HERE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE, WE WEREN'T DISCOVERED.
I, UH, WE'VE BEEN OPPRESSED SO MUCH AND YET WE JUST GOT RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY AND YOU ALL THAT WE'RE HERE.
'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER.
MY ANCESTORS WERE KEPT AT THE SAN JOSE MISSION.
MY ANCESTORS FROM MY DAD ARE FLORESVILLE.
[03:05:02]
BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF, A LOT OF CHAOS.LOT, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, STUFF IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH IT.
YOU ARE A HUMBLE MAN, PETER SAKA.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER ICE, UH, FACILITY WAREHOUSE OR WHATEVER HERE.
I DON'T WANNA BE SCARED BECAUSE I, I WENT TO THE STORE SOMEWHERE AND I FORGOT MY ID OR MY PAPERS.
IF YOU WANT, WE SHOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH THAT.
I COME TO YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THOSE WAREHOUSES.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY WITH THE PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD ALL BE A ONE TEAM, ONE RACE, ONE HUMAN RACE.
YOU ARE ELECTED TO THESE SEATS.
ALL YOU GOVERNMENT PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE.
AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE SET YOU IN THOSE SEATS.
YET YOU DON'T WANT US TO MARCH.
YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR FROM US AND YOU IGNORE US A LOT.
BUT YET, YES, WE SET YOU IN THOSE SEATS TO DO JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE.
WE SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT PLEDGE? OR YOU ARE JUST SAYING IT AND JUST GET ALONG WITH WHATEVER.
BECAUSE EITHER WAY, YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT YOU CHOOSE.
YOU DON'T CHOOSE FOR THE PEOPLE, YOU CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR ALL OF US.
AND THERE'S ONLY ONE GOD FOR EVERYONE.
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE OR YOU DON'T, THERE'S STILL ONE GOD AND HE'S STILL IN CONTROL.
YAKI, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND THIS, THIS WAREHOUSE WE ALREADY HAVE.
TWO, HAVE Y'ALL CHECKED UPON IN THOSE, THOSE BUILDINGS, SEE HOW THEY'RE TREATING THE PEOPLE IN THERE? THEY'RE ALL HUMAN.
WHEN WE DIE, WE ARE NOT GONNA TAKE NOTHING.
MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL, BUT YET WE STILL NEEDED TO SURVIVE, RIGHT? TO PAY OUR BILLS AND EVERYTHING.
IF YOU DON'T DO JUSTICE FOR US, WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO OUR HANDS AND MARSH FOR JUSTICE BECAUSE YOU DON'T GIVE US JUSTICE.
I I ATTENDED THE MARSH WOMEN'S MARCH BECAUSE IT WAS WOMEN'S MONTH BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE UPON, UH, OURSELVES TO HELP OUR, OUR FAMILIES.
SOME OF 'EM HAVE TO TAKE THE ROLE OF BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER.
IF YOU'RE SEPARATED, THEN YOU'RE DIVIDED, AND THEN IT'S, IT'S NOT GOOD.
WE ALL NEED TO UNITE ALL OF US.
[03:10:01]
CHRISTINE, ARE YOU HERE? NO.OH, CHRISTINE, IS SHE HERE LOOKING RIGHT? WHAT? CHRISTINE WELD.
OR IS IT AFTERNOON NOW? SO MY, YES,
UM, I, I INITIALLY, UH, WAS GOING, WAS RELYING ON MY COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ON WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY VOTING ON.
SO LET ME, LET ME, UH, ASK FOR CLARITY.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN VERY, VERY PASSIONATELY, UM, ABOUT NOT VOTING NO FOR AN ICE DETENTION FACILITY IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO IS THAT WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA? BECAUSE, SO WHEN THEY GAVE THEIR VOTE AND SAY, I VOTE NO FOR AGENDA ITEM 65, THAT'S WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD WAS THE AGENDA.
I TRIED TO GET CLARITY OUT IN THE HALL WITH THE STAFF AND THERE WAS, UH, AGAIN, SOME CONFUSION.
I BELIEVED COMING INTO THIS MEETING THAT WHAT ITEM 65 WAS, IS DO WE SUPPORT THE RECENTLY REWRITTEN RESOLUTION? UH, AND ARE WE VOTING YES ON THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN OR ARE WE VOTING NO BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN BECAUSE IT'S TOO WEAK.
SO THAT'S, THAT WAS WHAT MY POSITION WAS.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN.
THE LANGUAGE IS TOO WEAK FOR ALL THE REASONS MARTHA SPS MENTIONED.
BUT LET ME JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR SOME CLARITY HERE.
SO THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION SAID WE WILL EXERCISE EVERY LEGAL ACTION WE CAN TO ENSURE CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED PROCESSES ARE FOLLOWED, ENCOURAGED, AND IT GOES ON FROM THERE.
RIGHT? THE NEW ONE SAYS THE COUNTY MAY EVALUATE AS APPROPRIATE POTENTIAL LEGAL AND POLICY OPTIONS.
OKAY, THIS FOR ME SAYS IT ALL.
THAT PARAGRAPH MUST BE STRENGTHENED.
WE MUST TIE THEM UP IN LITIGATION BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY RED FLAGS RELATED.
SO NOT, I'M NOT, I'M GOING BEYOND JUST THE OBVIOUS MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING A DETENTION CONCENTRATIONS CAMP IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE, THE, THE, THE, THE, OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS PAID 66 MILLION FOR A FACILITY THAT SAT VACANT, I AM TOLD FOR THREE YEARS AND WAS VALUED AT 37.6 MILLION.
REALLY? WE PAID 28 MILLION MORE.
AND DOES, ISN'T THAT LIKE A HUGE FLASHING RED FLAG? RED FLAG? WE PROBABLY SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION CALL FOR LEGAL ACTION ON WHY THAT HAPPENED.
THEN WE GET INTO THE ACQUISITION PROCESS WHERE THEY USE THIS VERY NEBULOUS NAVY CONTRACT AND ACQUISITION PRO, UH, PROCESS.
AS SOMEONE WORKED FOR DODI KNOW ABOUT CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS, WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THAT.
WE SHOULD CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THAT WE SHOULD DEMAND LEGAL ACTION THAT LOOKS INTO THAT WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THE OPENING OF THIS ICE DETENTION FACILITY.
UM, THERE WAS TIME IS EXPIRED.
LA LANGUAGE ABOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY.
THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED.
MY NAME IS JESSICA SOLIS AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE RAPID RESPONSE HOTLINE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON TWO URGENT DEMANDS.
ONE TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO STOP THE ICE DETENTION WAREHOUSE THAT IS BEING, UH, LOOKED AT ON THE, ON THE EAST SIDE AND TO RENEW, BUT ALSO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THE IMMIGRANT AND LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
SO AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE HOTLINE, I GET TO SEE HOW WE GET OVER A HUNDRED PHONE CALLS A MONTH.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT SOME OF THOSE STORIES SOUND LIKE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU EACH ONE, ONE BY ONE.
BUT THEY'RE ALL A DIFFERENT VERSION OF A NIGHTMARE BEING LIVED BY YOUR RESIDENCE.
I HAVE WIVES SOBBING BECAUSE THEIR HUSBANDS WERE GRABBED ON THEIR WAY TO WORK.
[03:15:01]
CAN I GET MY MOM TO COME HOME? I HAVE FATHERS ASKING ABOUT GETTING THEIR PARTNERS OUTTA JAIL.THEY'RE ALONE, STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER.
PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES.
PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO SEE THEIR BABIES.
PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST BREADWINNERS OR THE DUAL INCOME.
THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR RE THEIR NEEDS MET AND THEY'RE ALL SEARCHING FOR DUE PROCESS.
THEY CALL US ASKING FOR RESOURCES.
HOW CAN I FIND A LAWYER TO GET MY PARTNER OUT SO WE CAN KEEP OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER, OUR LIVES TOGETHER, OUR BUSINESS TOGETHER.
AND THERE'S HARDLY ANYONE I CAN TURN THEM TO BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS VERY LIMITED.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT CALL US ARE TELLING US THAT THEIR LOVED ONES WERE TAKEN WHILE NOT, WHILE THEY WERE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE LAW.
THEY WERE DRIVING TO WORK, THEY WERE RIDING TO SCHOOL, THEY WERE DOING A GROCERY RUN AND ICE KIDNAPPED THEM ON THE STREETS.
DHS IS WORKING WITH ICE TO TURN OUR STREETS INTO HUNTING GROUNDS.
AND THIS IS AFFECTING OUR CITY.
JUST THIS MORNING WHILE I WAS SITTING RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE ON THESE BENCHES, I TOOK A CALL FROM A MAN TRYING TO GET HIS WIFE OUT OF DETENTION.
HE SAID THAT SHE'S BEEN THERE TWO MONTHS.
HE'S HOME ALONE WITH THEIR BABIES.
AND HE TOLD ME SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SHOULD ALREADY KNOW.
AND IF WE DON'T KNOW, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
HE LIVES AND WORKS NEAR THE AIRPORT AND HE TELLS ME THE STREETS ARE EMPTY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSING EARLY OR CLOSING DOWN COMPLETELY.
HIS KIDS AND THEIR FRIENDS, THEY DON'T PLAY IN THE PARK ANYMORE.
EVERYONE'S AFRAID TO GO OUTSIDE.
PEOPLE ARE LOCKED UP INSIDE THEIR HOMES FOR MONTHS ONLY COMING OUT WHEN THEY NEED TO GET GROCERIES.
I AND DHS AGAIN HAVE TURNED SAN ANTONIO STREETS INTO HUNTING GROUNDS AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOME.
THIS IS THE COMMUNITY PICTURE THAT IS NOT JUST IN THIS AREA NEAR THE AIRPORT, BUT ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND WHO IS DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT OF THIS TERROR CAMPAIGN? IT'S NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NOT DHS AND IT'S NOT ICE.
IT'S THE UNPAID VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZING, TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN.
IT'S THE OVERWORKED ADVOCACY GROUPS AND THE UNDERFUNDED LEGAL AID GROUPS LIKE AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER.
WE'RE ALL TRYING OUR BEST TO HOLD OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
WHILE THIS FEDERAL AGENCY IS TEARING OUR, OUR COMMUNITY APART, THE ILDF IS THE ONLY LEGAL LIFELINE THESE FAMILIES HAVE.
OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, LET'S STOP THE 1500 DETENTION WAREHOUSE 'CAUSE IT'S ONLY GONNA LEAD TO MORE DETENTIONS, MORE DESTRUCTION, AND WE NEED A FIGHT LIKE CITIES ALL AROUND THIS COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO FIGHT BACK.
HASHI POOL LUTHERAN, DID I PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT? UH, NO, IT'S, UH, LITHIUM.
EXCUSE ME, LITHIUM, SORRY, GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS LUTHERAN NICOLE HASHIM LEDESMA.
I AM A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANTS AND AS AN IMMIGRANT, I KNOW THAT UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
THEY'RE SIMPLY PEOPLE WHO WANT A BETTER LIFE.
AND IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL, AS OF 20 26, 73 0.6% OF THE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN DETENTION CENTERS HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD.
PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THESE FACILITIES.
AND AS A CITIZEN, THIS DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL SAFE.
THESE FACILITIES DON'T PROTECT CITIZENS.
MORE THAN 170 CITIZENS HAVE BEEN DETAINED AS OF THIS YEAR.
IF YOU WANT CITIZENS TO BE PROTECTED, DON'T BILL CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
IF YOU WANT US TO BE SAFE AND PROTECT US FROM OUR COMMUNITIES AND STUFF, RENEW THE LEGAL, UH, DEFENSE FUND.
AND I IMPLORE YOU TO SEE THE INJUSTICE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BROUGHT UPON US.
WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER DEATH CAMP.
WE DON'T WANT MORE DEATH AS KORA.
I ASK ALL OF YOU FROM ONE HUMAN BEING TO ANOTHER, I IMPLORE YOU TO USE EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO STOP ICE DETENTION CENTERS, UM, WAREHOUSE FROM OPENING ON THE EAST SIDE, AS WELL AS RENEW THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
DID I PRONOUNCE THAT RIGHT? HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE
UM, I HAVEN'T PREPARED A STATEMENT, BUT, UM, JUST LIKE MANY HERE, UM, I'VE COME TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65.
[03:20:01]
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE LANGUAGE, UH, FOR THE RESOLUTION IN DEFENSE OF THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE IS STRENGTHENED TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT, IT HONORS THE DEMANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE OVER OVERWHELMING DEMANDS.UM, YOU KNOW, OUR POSITION, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TAKING TO THE STREETS.
WE'VE SHOWED, WE'VE SHOWN UP AT COUNCIL SESSIONS, YOU KNOW, SESSION AFTER SESSION STUDENTS HAVE WALKED OUT OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
CONSTRUCTING, ALLOWING ICE WAREHOUSES IN SAN ANTONIO WOULD BE A BLIGHT ON THE CITY'S HISTORY.
AND IT'S SENDING A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH IN THIS CITY.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER, EVERYTHING IN YOUR CREATIVITY TO, TO BLOCK THESE WAREHOUSES.
IS IT ELSIE OR ELISE MARTINEZ.
I, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT? I, ISIS.
I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON TWO THINGS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID.
UM, THE IMMIGRANT, THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND EXPIRED.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU YOUR THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND CREATING IT AND FUNDING IT.
UM, BUT IT'S EXPIRED AND IT NEEDS TO BE RENEWED.
IT NEEDS TO BE RENEWED ASAP BECAUSE LIKE, UH, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, UM, THE CALLS THAT WE GET FROM THE IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER ARE AWFUL.
WE HAVE PEOPLE DESPERATE, UM, FOR THEIR PARENTS, FOR THEIR PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN LOCKED OFF FOR MONTHS THAT WANT THEIR, UH, FAMILIES TO BE, UH, REPRESENTED BY LEGALLY.
UM, BECAUSE I'VE DEALT WITH THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, I KNOW HOW UNFAIR IT IS.
I KNOW THAT, UM, ICE IS JUST GETTING PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH NO LEGAL JURISDICTION.
THEY'RE JUST GRABBING PEOPLE IN THE STREET.
THEY'RE GRABBING CITIZENS, AND THEY'RE PUTTING THEM IN THESE INHUMAN CONDITIONS.
UM, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE THESE CONCENTRATION CAMPS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OR EVER.
THEY'RE NOT TO SIGN FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST TORTURING IMMIGRANTS, TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES LIKE THEY'VE DONE FOR DECADES.
UM, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE THIS IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, BECAUSE LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, ONCE IT'S CREATED, IT'S GONNA STAY CREATED.
AND ALL IT'S GONNA DO IS JUST CREATE A DEMAND TO FILL THOSE BEDS.
AND IT'S GONNA BE TERRORIZING SAN ANTONIO MORE THAN THEY'VE ALREADY DONE.
ICE IS ALREADY GOING TO GROCERY STORES.
IN CASE YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW, I WORK WITH IMMIGRANTS AND THEY'VE TOLD ME HOW THEY'VE GONE INTO THE VIA BUS, LOOKED AROUND AND THEN LEFT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE THERE.
THEY'RE AFRAID TO DRIVE, THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE, UH, SHOP.
AND, AND SO PEOPLE THAT ONLY CARE ABOUT THE ECONOMY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S AFFECTING THE ECONOMY IN SAN ANTONIO.
PEOPLE AREN'T GOING, UH, TO OUT TO EAT IN RESTAURANTS.
UM, AND SAN ANTONIO'S BUILD OF IMMIGRANTS.
YOU GUYS GO TO THE RESTAURANTS, YOU GUYS GO SHOP THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR SERVICES, AND THERE'S NO NEED FOR THEM TO BE TERRORIZED TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE COMMUNITY THAT IT IS, AND MAKE THE CITY THE BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT IT IS.
AND HAVING THIS DISCUSSING DETENTION CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO IN THE EAST SIDE, IS GONNA BE A STAIN ON ALL OF Y'ALL'S LEGACY.
SO I ASK YOU GUYS TO PLEASE DO EVERYTHING THAT'S IN YOUR POWER, EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN MAKE, ALL THE STUDIES, MAKE DELAY, THIS, JUST DO NOT ALLOW THIS INTENTION CENTER TO BE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IF YOU, IF I FAILED TO CALL YOU, YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP, WE'RE NOW, I'M GONNA GO TAKE BACK TO THE MOTION OF 65.
I'M THE SECOND PERSON THAT SIGNED IN.
YOU SIGNED UP FOR NUMBER NINE.
LYDIA HAS SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
DID YOU WANT US SEEK ON 65? YES.
OR YOU WANNA SPEAK ON SOMETHING ELSE? OH, I'M NOT.