[INVOCATION]
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WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THOSE THAT ARE JUST THANKFUL FOR THAT SACRIFICE THAT THEY MADE.
AND WE'RE ALSO MINDFUL OF THE PAIN THAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING AND HAS JUST FLARED UP AGAIN BUT WE WERE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE PRINCE OF PEACE AND WE KNOW THAT ONLY THROUGH MUTUAL RESPECT AND TURNING OUR EYES TO YOU THAT CAN WE BRING HEALING TO THIS LAND.
AND WE DO PRAY FOR HEALING. WE PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL HEALING P WE PRAY FOR NZ HEALING.
THIS MORNING WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY FOR THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY, LEADERS OF THE STATE, LEADERS OF THE CITY, THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OUT THERE PROTECTING OUR LIVES.
IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY. >> AMEN. PLEDGES.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE
AND INDIVISIBLE. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME REMARKS ON THIS MORNING AND THEN
[Additional Item]
WE'LL ADDRESS THE ONE AGENDA ITEM THAT WE HAVE. >> I THINK CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST WEEK THAT ABILENE, LIKE OUR NATION, HAS BEEN CHALLENGED. I RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS IN RECENT DAYS, AND I HAVE RESPOND TO SOME BUT NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO EACH ONE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT TODAY IN REGARDS TO RACE AND RACE RELATIONS IN ABILENE AND TALK ABOUT THE COUNTRY, TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TALK ABOUT ABILENE, TEXAS. THERE WAS A PEACEFUL PROTEST THIS PAST SATURDAY A PROTEST THAT I SUPPORT, SOME THINGS THAT WERE SAID AND THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE COMMUNICATED AND SAID. ONE THING THAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT ABILENE, I WILL CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY, IN THE MIDST OF THIS PROTEST ABOUT MISTREATMENT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OUR NATION, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS NOT ONLY PARTICIPATE BUT LED OUT, IN FACT, THE CHIEF WAS ACTUALLY ASKED TO SPEAK, AND THEN ON THE WAY OF PROTESTS, THE ABILENE PD LED EFFORTS.
YOU'VE SEEN OFFICERS MAKE COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA CONDEMNING WHAT HAPPENED.
WELL, THAT JUST WASN'T BY ACCIDENT. THAT'S BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS HAS HAD AN EXPECTATION OF HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER.
AND BY THE WAY, I AM NOT SAYING THAT ABILENE DOES NOT HAVE RACIAL ISSUES.
WE CERTAINLY DO. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE CERTAINLY DO. I AM NOT SAYING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT MISTREATED.
I'M NOT SAYING THOSE THINGS. BUT WHAT I AM SAYING, A NUMBER OF CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE ABILENE DIFFERENT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MINNESOTA AND NEW YORK, BUT THERE'S LITTLE THAT I OR WE CAN DO ABOUT PLACES ELSEWHERE. HOWEVER, WE CAN MAKE ABILENE DIFFERENT.
AND ABILENE, IN MY OPINION, HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. AND BACK IN '89 WE HAD SIGNIICANT RAISH ISSUES THAT ROSE UP IN THIS -- RACIAL ISSUES THAT ROSE UP IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND AT THE TIME THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AT THE TIME FORMED WHAT WE CALLED THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. THAT COMMITTEE WAS COMPRISED OF A PROFESSOR FROM HARDIN SIMMONS DR. JULIAN BRIDGES, THE LATE PINEY SCOTT, THE LATE KATHIE MURRELL, LINDA CALCOAT, A NUMBER
[00:05:04]
OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE DIVERSE IN BOTH ETHNICITY AND GENDER BUT WORKED AS A CONDUIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FOR 13 YEARS THEY MET MONTHLY AND DISCUSSED ISSUES IN ABILENE IN REGARDS TO RACE. IT WAS THAT COMMITTEE THAT LED OUT, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MLK BANQUET. IT WAS THAT COMMITTEE THAT ADDRESSED ISSUES WITH POLICE AND OTHER ENTITIES IN OUR CITY. IT WAS THAT COMMITTEE THAT ADDRESSED HOW WE SEPARATE MK HOLIDAY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY DID GREAT WORK.THAT COMMITTEE HAD A SUNSET IN 2002. IN OTHER WORDS, THAT COMMITTEE WAS DEE MOORE, KENNY SCHULER, LEADERS TODAY, A NUMBER, AND WHERE REALLY I HAD MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY OF SERVING IN THIS COMMUNITY. IN 2008 WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT. MAYOR ARCHIBALD AT THE TIMAL LEWD ME HAD TO HEAD AB ANY, A ABILENE INITIATIVE THAT LOOKED AT OUR MOST TROUBLED NEIGHBORHOODS AND ASKED NOT WHAT WE COULD DO NECESSARILY AS MUCH AS WHAT THINGS ARE NEEDED, WHAT RESOURCES NEED TO BE PROVIDED, HOW CAN WE BE DIFFERENT. AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT INITIATIVE WAS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN FACT, THEN ASSISTANT CHIEF STAN GAVE THE NAME ANY TO THE INITIATIVE AND EVERYTHING FROM CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO BARBECUES TO HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE BUT THE INTENT WAS TOME BED OURSELVES IN WAYS WHERE EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN BE HEARD. AGAIN, WE ARE NOT A UTOPIA.
ABILENE IS NOT A PERFECT COMMUNITY. BUT WHEN I WAS ASKED THE QUESTION, WHY NOT ABILENE? WHY AREN'T WE LOOTING IN ABILENE OR RIOTING IN ABILENE IS BECAUSE WE'VE MADE AN INVESTMENT IN REGARDS TO RELATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, ON THE FAR RIGHT, ON THE FAR LEFT, THAT DO NOT WANT US TO HAVE HARMONY, THAT REALLY CANNOT GET PAST THE TABERNACLE THAT WE LIVE IN.
WE HAVE SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO EVEN RECENTLY AS THIS WEEKEND USED THIS WHOLE EVENT AS A CONVERSATION TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES AND THEIR AGENDA. THAT'S DANGEROUS.
AND AS YOUR MAYOR, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED 30 YEARS IN THIS AREA, SOMEONE THAT LOVES ABILENE, ABILENE IS DIFFERENT, NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'RE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR CITIZENS WANT TO BE AN EXAMPLE. I AM DISGUSTED AND DISAPPOINTED OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT WE AS AMERICANS HAVE TO LIVE WITH AS A RESIDUE OF SIGNIFICANT RACIAL DIVISION THAT CAUSES DIVIDE. AND I'M TROUBLED BY THAT, BUT MY FOCAL POINT IS NOT MINNESOTA.
MY FOCAL POINT IS NOT NEW YORK CITY. MY AND OUR FOCAL POINT IS ABILENE. ABILENE CAN BE DIFFERENT. SO I WANT TO SAY THOSE THINGS TO YOU. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ADDRESS THOSE MEELTS AND PHONE CALLS THAT I -- EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS THAT I RECEIVED AND ANSWERS ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF WHERE I AM AND WHERE ABILENE IS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHERE ABILENE NEEDS TO GO.
>> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T GIVE MY COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE REMARKS IF WE CHOOSE TO.
DON'T HAVE TO, BUT BEFORE WE ADDRESS THE ONE AGENDA ITEM BEFORE US, I'LL ALLOW MY PEERS
ON THE COUNCIL TO SAY ANYTHING IF THEY CHOOSE TO. >> HAVE A FEW REMARKS.
I WANT TO REMIND THE WHOLE REASON THAT THIS SHUT DOWN WAS TO LOWER THE CURVE AND NOT OVERWHELM HOSPITAL CAPACITY, AND WE'VE GOTTEN NOWHERE CLOSE TO OVERWHELMING HOSPITAL CAPACITY.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS PROTECT THE VULNERABLE, BUT YOU DON'T DO THIS BY ISOLATING THE HEALTHY.
ALL BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIAL. I'M ALWAYS GOING TO SAY THAT. ALL BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIAL.
WE GET OBSESSED WITH THE NUMBERS. THE NUMBERS HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THOSE THAT WERE PREDICTED. I'M BECOMING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW PROGRAMMABLE WE ARE, ABOUT HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HAS TAKEN OVER OUR LIVES AND WE'RE PROGRAMMABLE. I STILL AGREE WITH THE WAY THE REOPENING HAS STARTED, AND
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HERE'S MY LATEST EXAMPLE. I CAN GO TO A GYM AND WORK OUT AND TOUCH THE EQUIPMENT BUT I CAN'T GO IN THERE AND USE THE SHOWER WITH DISINFECT SOAP. THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.THE OTHER THING IS WE NEED TO STAND WERE OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED SO FAR, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO OPEN, TRYING TO KEEP CHILDREN IN THESE WAYS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THEM THERE IN THE BUSES OUR SCHOOL BOARDS ARE ELECTED, AND THEY HIRE EXCELLENT ADMINISTRATORS. OUR ADMINISTRATORS KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR OUR CHILDREN. SO WE NEED TO TO BACK OUR SCHS RIGHT NOW SO WE CAN GET OUR SCHOOLS BACK OPEN. ALSO, EARLIER I HAD MADE COMMENTS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND ONE OF THE NEWS STATIONS HAD SAID THAT I WAS CYST RESPECTFUL TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER WITH,, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I MEANT NO DISRESPECT EVER TO THE MAYOR, THE CITY MANAGER, ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL. THERE ARE NO TWO PEOPLE THAT I WOULD HAVE RATHER HAVE IN THOSE POSITIONS THAN MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS AND CITY MANAGER ROBERT HANNA. THEY HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AND I'M BEHIND THEM 100% ALWAYS AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN DISRESPECTFUL TO THEM. THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT, BUT WE SHOULD ABLE TO DISAGREE. WE HAVE RIGHT TO DISAGREE, BUT WE SHOULD ABLE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT SPEWING HATRED P. AT THIS TIME WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE MORE CARING. WE NEED TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE, AND WE NEED TO
LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU. >> SO BEFORE US, AND I'M GOING
TO ASK -- I'M SORRY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR WILLIAMS, FOR SAYING SOMETHING FOR OUR PUBLIC TO HEAR, AND I THINK -- I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING PRETTY BRIEF.
I KNEW YOU, MAYOR WILLIAMS, WERE GOING TO SPEAK, AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO SAY TOO MUCH, BUT I WANTED TO SAY JUST A SHORT MESSAGE, A MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO SHARE TODAY IS MORE OF COMPASSION OF ALL WHO LIVE IN FEAR, AND I THINK MANY OF US TODAY SEE WHAT FEAR CAN DO.
WE UNDERSTAND THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF WHAT FEAR CAN BRING. AND SO I WANT TO SAY I'M COMMITTED, I HOPE WE ALL ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MOVE US FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND NOT JUST -- PROTESTING IN PEACEFUL WAYS, BUT ENACTING TRUE ACTION THAT BRINGS ABOUT CHANGE THAT BRINGS ALL OF US TO THE TABLE SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL ARE NEIGHBORS AND WE ALL HAVE TO BE AS AFFECTED. AS A A FATHER OF A YOUNG BLACK BOY, MY HEART BREAKS, AND MY HOPE IS THAT ALL OF OUR HEARTS BREAK FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR NATION AND THAT WE CAN MOVE IN THE DIRECTION THAT BRINGS ABOUT JUSTICE AND PEACE AND UNITY.
SO THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE? I WANT TO INVITE STANLEY SMITH
[2. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Modifying and Extending the Declaration of Local Disaster Issued May 15, 2020]
TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THIS ITEM IS AN UPDATE OF OUR DECLARATION.BY THE WAY, IF PURPOSE AND E INTENT OF DECLARATION IS TO ALLOW THE CITY TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDS IF THEY COME AVAILABLE, AIVET A DECLARATION DOES NOT ALLOW THE CITY TO BE A CONDUIT FOR FUNDS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE. CERTAINLY ABILENE HAS BEEN AFFECTED FINANCIALLY BY COVID-19, AND NO FUNDING WILL HAVE A COMPLETE OFFSET OF THE OF THOSE LAWS, BUT IT COULD BE HELPFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK BEFORE YOU AGAIN. GA-23 THE CURRENT ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR EXPIRES ON WEDNESDAY, THE 3RD, AND SO THIS IS AN UPDATE, AND YOU'LL FIND THAT THE LANGUAGE IS JUST CONSISTENT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTION. I ANTICIPATE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL COME BEFORE US BEFORE WEDNESDAY WITH THE NEW ORDER AND THE NEW OPENING OF TEXAS. THIS WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, AND SO AFTER COUNSELOR SMITH PRESENTS THE ITEM, THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN IF YOU CHOOSE TO AND THEN WE'LL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A CHANCE.
I WEAR A MASK WHEN I CAN. I CHOOSE TO DO THAT. MICHAEL POTTER CHOOSES NOT TO.
ONE IS NOT CORRECT OR BAD. IT'S JUST WHAT WE THINK IS BEST. AND I THINK ONE THING ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISIOS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK IS BEST, AND SO I WANT TO
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INFRINGE UPON AND YOU VIS VERSA. WELDON DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB. BY THE WAY, COUNCILMAN, NO OFFENSE TAKEN AT ALL. WE LIVE IN A MEDIA ENVIRONMENT WHERE THIS MEDIA WANTS TO CREATE A STORY WHERE THERE'S NOT A STORY. BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION FOR A DIFFERENT TIME. BUT NO OFFENSE TAKEN.I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WORK AND YOUR PASSION TOO. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> SO STANLEY SMITH, PRESENT THIS ITEM FOR US. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AS YOU SAY, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND OUR DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER FOR THOSE PURPOSES OF RECEIVING FEMA FUNDS IF THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE IN PLACE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND WHAT THIS EXTENSION DOES TODAY IS WE'RE JUST ADOPTING THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER GA-23 AS IT STANDS NOW. IF WE MODIFIES THAT OR CREATES NEW ONES, WHICH HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO DO IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, THEN WE'RE JUST ADOPTING THOSE FUTURE EXTENSIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING. SO THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE EXTENSION TODAY.
IT WILL EXTEND UNTIL THE SECOND REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IN JUNE. AND WE'RE REMOVING SOME PROVISIONS THAT TALKED ABOUT SUSPENDING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS GOING TO START MEETING AGAIN.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. >> VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. ANY QUESTIONS OF STANLEY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE, WHICH IS THAT THE NEXT TIME WE'LL CONSIDER THIS WILL BE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. UP TO THIS POINT IT'S BEEN BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE, AND WHEN HE WAS HAS HAD SOMETHING EXPIRE, WE HAVE EXPIRED OURS AS WELL AND IT'S TRIGGERED SPECIAL MEETINGS. TO MAKE IT EASIER TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKE IT EASIER ON STAFF AND EVERYBODY, IT WILL BE JUST A REGULAR MEETING.
IF THERE NEEDS TO BE AN TECHS WE'LL HAVE IT AS ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WITH
MULTIPLE THINGS. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR
THE RECORD. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. DAVID SWART.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR, MAYOR WILLIAMS REMARKED ON THIS IS A NEW DECADE AND A NEW YEAR. LITTLE DID WE KNOW WHAT WAS IN STORE FOR OUR CITY, STATE AND NATION, AS THE WORLD. EVEN THOUGH TODAY IS JUNE 1ST, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THIS, AND LIKE MR. SMITH SMITH SAID, IT'S BASICALLY WE KEEP THIS IN PLACE SO IF THERE IS ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT WE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT, BUT IT'S LIKE THE MAYOR PRO-TEM SAID, THE LAST TWO BUSINESSES I WAS INVOLVED WITH, ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN WITH ALL THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENT AND EVEN THE LOCAL, WOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN, THE OTHER ONE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED.
IF YOU'RE A MOM AND POP BUSINESS, YOUR BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S TERRIBLE TO SAY, WELL, THE GOVERNMENT CAN TELLING YOU WE'RE GOING TO SHUT YOU DOWN, AND THEN YOUR LIVELIHOOD IS GONE. BUT TODAY, AS MR. SMITH SAID, IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT EXTENDING THE DECLARATION JUST TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY FEDERAL FUNDS. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE REMARK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. THERE WAS A POST THAT WAS SEEMED SO INTERESTING IT SAYS, IF A MASK WORKS, WHAT DO YOU NEED SIX FEET? AND IF SIX FEET WORKS, WHAT DO YOU NEED A MASK? AND THEN IT SAYS, IF YOU HAVE A MASK AND SIX FEET, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO STAY AT HOME? SO IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
IN THESE TIMES AND EVERYTHING, AND TODAY BEING THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON, OUR NATION AS WELL AS OUR STATE MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.
AS FAR AS THE OATH THING, THE MAYOR'S REMARKS ON THE SITUATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT TENTATIVELY AND I THOUGHT THERE'S NO I RETAILER IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAUSED THIS SITUATION. THERE'S NO MEDIA OUTLET THAT CAUSED THIS SITUATIONTHE ONLY SD BY WAS FOUR OFFICERS FROM MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, THE CHURCH ACROSS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE SURE DID NOT AS CAUSE THIS SITUATION. SO IT'S A SAD DAY IN AMERICA THAT WE HAVE TO SEE THIS GOING ON. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN PROTEST AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A SITUATION. IT'S LIKE THEY SAID BACK THE IN '60S WHEN DR. KING HAD HIS PROTESTS, THERE WAS NEVER A BUILDING BURNED, NEVER A PLACE
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LOOTED, AND NOWADAYS PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE.IT WAS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE PRESIDENT SAID THEY'RE ON IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL, FOR LETTING ME SPEAK THIS MORNING.
>> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR
OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> I'D LIKE TO KNOW -- >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
>> ROSANNA. >> REECE AN A. >> DEPRANG.
OKAY. MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY YOU ALL ARE NOT WEARING MASKS TODAY.
>> FIRST QUESTION IS, SO WE EARLY -- AND I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
EARLY ON WE TRIED TO WEAR MASKS AND IT WAS MUSCLED AND MUD IT IS INDEED A RISK, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'VE CHOSEN NOT TO. I TRY TO WEAR MY MASK IN PUBLIC AND ELSEWHERE.
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WAS AT THE PROTEST ON SATURDAY, AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE NOT WEARING MASKS.
WE ALL HAD MASKED. WE PROFDED MASKS AND I KNOW FROM WHAT I'VE READ THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENY ARE HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT US, AND THAT WAS VERY DISTURBING, TO BE THERE AND EXPECTING TO BE PROTECTED, AND WE'RE PROTECTING -- YOU KNOW HA THAT A MASK IS TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE. I DON'T WEAR THIS TO PROTECT MYSELF. I WEAR THIS TO PROTECT YOU AND THE PEOPLE AT RISK.
I'M A NURSE. MY DAUGHTER IS A CNA AT A -- SHE'S 17 YEARS OLD.
SHE WORKS AT A NURSING HOME, AT CORONADO. IT IS VERY DISTURBING.
I MEAN, SHE LOVES HER RESIDENTS, AND SHE GETS VERY UPSET WHEN SHE SEES PEOPLE WALK AROUND WITHOUT MASKS AND EXPOSING HER AND HER -- AND SHE'LL EXPOSE HER RESIDENTS, AND SHE WEARS A MASK TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE, SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO WATCH OTHER PEOPLE NOT CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND A FAMILY FULL OF MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS. >> MS. PRANG, YOU I DON'T WEAR A MASK BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WEARING MASKS IS TO PROTECT YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE IT. ALSO I'VE COUNTED ABOUT SEVEN
TIMES WHAT YOU HAVE TOUCHED YOUR FACE TO READJUST YOUR MASK. >> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE?
I HAVE A FILTER. >> BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU ASKED WHY I DON'T WEAR A MASK.
IF I WEAR A MASK, I TOUCH MY FACE MORE. AND ALSO, AND ALSO I DO NOT HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS, I HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND ANYBODY WITH SYMPTOMS. THE MASK PROTECTS ME FROM TRANSMITTING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. AND I DON'T HAVE THE SYMPTOMS, AND I CHOOSE NOT TO.
>> THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. >> I WANT TO BE SURE WE ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I BELIEVE IN WEARING A MASK. HOWEVER, SOME WOULD ARGUE ON THE FLIP SIDE THERE'S NOT THE SAME BENEFIT. I DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT I JUST MAKE MY OWN DECISION IN THAT
REGARDS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND RESPECT YOUR OPINION. >> YES.
AND IT'S NOT AN OPINION. IT'S A FACT. THE CDC RECOMMENDS MASKS.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS, AND THAT'S NOT AS THEIR PLACE, ARE SAYING IT'S AN OPINION BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN OPINION. IT'S CALLED SCIENCE, AND I'M A
BELIEVER IN IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK
FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM BEFORE US? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
GOOD AFTERNOON OR MORNING. IT'S BEEN CRAZY IN MY LIFE AS I'M SURE IT'S BEEN CRAZY IN YOU GUYS' LIFE. IING RAU. HERE REAL QUICK SO I'M KIND OF OUT OF AIR. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS SOME COMMENTS MADE BY MR. WILLIAMS
RECENTLY IN REGARDS TO THE PROTESTS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEE. >> FIRST OF ALL, WHO ARE YOU?
>> CYNTHIA. SORRY, MA'AM. IT WAS UNIVERSITIES UU WERE NOT IN ATTENDS. A LOT OF THE REASON YOU WERE EVEN VOTED IN IS BECAUSE YOU ARE A MINORITY, AND AS A MINORITY MYSELF I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE
[00:25:06]
REPRESENTATION YOU HAVE GIVEN ON THE COUNCIL. AND I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT YOU WOULD SAY WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND A COUNCILMEMBER WHO MADE RACICS REMARKS IN REGARDS TO HISPANICS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL. I FIND IT EVEN MORE DISTURBING THAT YOU AS A MINORITY WOULD NEVER USE YOUR POSITION OF POWER TO ASK HIM TO RESIGN.AND YOU KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND HE'S STILL SITTING THERE.
AND WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT. YOU MIGHT BE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND YOU MIGHT BE A MINORITY, BUT YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT. YOUR REPRESENTATION IS HORRIBLE.
YOU DON'T REPRESENT ABILENE. YOU DON'T REPRESENT THE NORTH SIDE.
YOU DON'T REPRESENT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. YOU DO NOT REPRESENT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. YOU REPRESENT YANTSDZ WELCOMES. ANTHONY WILLIAMS. OUR TOWN DOES NOT NEED YOU ANYMORE. I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL.
YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT. YOU ARE OF NO SERVICE TO US ANYMORE, SIR.
AND, YEAH, I DID, THIS WEEKEND, I DIDN'T IT'S FOR PERSONAL GAIN. IT NEEDED TO BE SAID.
AND AM I PUSHING AN AGENDA? I AM. I AM PUSHING AN AGENDA.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? IT'S AN AGENDA OF EQUALITY. ANTI-CORRUPTION.
SO WHEN YOU GO HOME TONIGHT, I WANT YOU TO PRAY TO YOUR LORD FOR FORGIVENESS FOR THE WAY THAT
YOU HAVE REPRESENTED THIS TOWN. >> THANK YOU. AND I'LL SAY THAT.
I THINK THAT I AM PROUD OF MY ETHNICITY. I AM PROUD OF WHO I AM.
HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T DEFINE WHAT I AM. WHAT I AM, FIRST OF ALL, IS A PROUD CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY AND OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND IT ASTONISHES ME HOW INTELLIGENT PEOPLE SPEAK WITH JUST IGNORANCE, AND I WANT TO ELABORATE MORE.
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DIALOGUE ABOUT SERVICE AND ABOUT COMMUNITY AND ABOUT HOW WE GO MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT I WAS TAUGHT A LONG TIME AGO, YOU PAY ATTENTION LONG ENOUGH, PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS SHOW YOU WHO AND WHAT THEY ARE.
AND I THINK THAT'S EASY. I'M PROUD OF MY RECORD. I'M PROUD OF WHAT I'VE DONE WORKING WITH THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK EACH ONE OF US HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO THE BALLOT AND VOTE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS VOTE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR CORE VALUES, THAT REPRESENTS YOUR IDEALS, AND I CAN STAND BEFORE THIS COMMUNITY AND I DO SO IN A VERY PROUD WAY, AND I'M PROUD OF THE WAY I'VE SERVED AND I'M ALSO PROUD OF OF WHO I HAVE SERVED WITH. BUT YET THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION FOR US. WE HAVE TO APPROVE THIS DECLARATION BEFORE US FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL OR
DISCUSSION? >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'M SORRY.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT'S OFFENSIVE TO ME TO SAY THAT YOU WERE ELECTED BECAUSE OF YOUR COLOR, BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF OVER A LONG TIME AS A TRUE LEADER IN
THIS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE VOTED FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PRICE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE THE VOTE. >>
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I REALIZE THIS IS ABOUT GETTING FEDERAL MONEY BUT I'VE GOT A BETTER WAY TO MAKE MONEY AND THAT'S TO OPEN UP, HAVE COMMERCE, TRADE, HAVE TAX MONEY.
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET MONEY FOR OUR CITY. >> AGREED.
ANY MORE COMMENTS BEFORE THE VOTE? >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS VERY EVENTFUL CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING TODAY?
IF NOT, MADAME SECRETARY, WE'RE READY TO ROTE. >> MAYOR PRO-TEM HURT.
SORRY. >> THAT'S OKAY. MAYOR PRO-TEM ALBUS.
>> YES. >> COUNCIL PRICE. >> YES.
>> COUNCIL SPHRENTS JE. >> COUNCILMEMBERS. >> YES.
>> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES. >> MOTION CARRIES.
HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> WE'RE ADJOURNED. >> IT IS 11:44.
>> 11:44 AND T
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.