[00:00:02]
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING ORDER.
WE HAVE ONLY ONE AGENDA ITEM TODAY, SO I WILL CALL THAT.
BUT SO FIRST ITEM ID TWO, 2244, SEVEN.
[A. Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton canvassing election returns and declaring results of the Special Elections held on November 8, 2022; and providing an effective date.]
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON CANVASING ELECTION RETURNS.DECLARING RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER EIGHT, 2022, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ROSA RIOS AND I AM YOUR CITY SECRETARY.
AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER EIGHT, 2022 SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
SO THE ELECTION WAS ORDERED ON JUNE 28 FOR THE PROPOSITION OF DETERMINING WHETHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON MAGUIRE SHALL BE REMOVED FROM DISTRICT FOUR SEAT OF THE CITY COUNCIL BY RECALL.
THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTION ORDERED ON JULY 26 FOR THE PROPOSITION OF DETERMINING WHETHER AN INITIATIVE ORDINANCE WOULD BE APPROVED TO ELIMINATE LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS LISTED AS PROPOSITION B ON THE BALLOT.
AND THE RESULTS WAS THAT IT RECEIVED A FAVORABLE MAJORITY VOTE AND THEREFORE CARRIED.
THERE WERE UPDATED REPORTS PROVIDED BY DENTON COUNTY YESTERDAY.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, FOR PROPOSITION A, THE VOTES IN FAVOR WERE AT 8683 AND AGAINST WAS 4898.
THIS IS THE CUMULATIVE BY PRECINCT.
AND OF COURSE, THE BACKUP DOCUMENTATION HAS IT BROKEN DOWN INDIVIDUAL BY PRECINCT FOR PROPOSITION B, THE CUMULATIVE WAS THAT THERE WERE 32,673 VOTES FOR THE ORDINANCE, WITH 13,128 VOTES AGAINST THE ORDINANCE.
AND THIS HERE IS THE CUMULATIVE BY PRECINCT.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND FLASH THROUGH THESE SNAPSHOTS.
AGAIN, THE DETAIL REPORT BY PRECINCT ARE AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE BACKUP OF THE ORDINANCES.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? AND I GUESS JUST GIVE A HAND INDICATION BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE REMOTE SEEING NONE.
SO WE HAVE COLLARS AND A FEW CARDS.
WE'LL GET TO THOSE AND WE'LL VOTE.
IF WE COULD PULL UP THE CALLER FIRST TO JUST ADDRESS THAT.
IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES.
GO RIGHT AHEAD. YEAH, YOU'RE IN THE MEETING LIVE.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES.
[00:05:04]
AWESOME. I WAS JUST CALLING IN BECAUSE SOME OF MY FRIENDS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO GOT PROPOSITION B ON THE BALLOT WERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS MEETING AND JUST EXPRESS THAT WE THINK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND PASS PROPOSITION B.WITH OVER 70% OF THE VOTE WHY WE'RE EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
OKAY. YOU STILL HAVE 3 MINUTES OR IS THAT DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS? THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENT.
OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN JUST TO CONFIRM, STAFF NICHOLAS NOR AUSTIN ARE ON THE LINE JUST TO.
JUST NEITHER OF THEM ARE ON OK.
THANK YOU. AND THEN TAKING THE BLUE CAR TO HAVE LEANNE.
TODD, IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE 4 MINUTES.
I'M LEANNE TODD. I LIVE AT 3316 ROSELAWN DRIVE.
TAXPAYING CITIZEN OF DENTON, PROPOSITION B, 71% OF THE CITIZENS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSITION.
I'M AGAINST USING TAX DOLLARS FOR ARREST OR TICKETS FOR A MISDEMEANOR FOR MARIJUANA.
AND MY OPINION, THERE'S A LOT MORE SERIOUS CRIMES OUT THERE AND DRUG ABUSE AND USES AND NOT TO WASTE OUR TAX DOLLARS ON A MISDEMEANOR.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT MARIJUANA IS LEGAL, BUT THAT WE'RE NOT WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON ARREST.
AND I SEE IT AS A MORE SERIOUS DRUG IN RELATION TO PROPOSITION A.
ALISON MAGUIRE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MY DISTRICT BEFORE JESSIE DAVIS.
SHE WAS VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE.
SHE WAS ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS, SHE WAS PEOPLE OVER DEVELOPMENT.
AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN UNFAIR ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL BALANCE IN CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THEN EVA GRECO, YOU CAN COME DOWN, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES. EVA GRECO, 802 WEST OAK STREET.
DENTON VOTERS EXERCISED THEIR PRIVILEGE AND THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, WHICH THEY DID.
AND THEY MADE PROBABLY LAW PROBABLY WAS ENACTED BY THOSE SAME VOTERS VIA THE AUTHORITY PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND THE CITY'S HOME RULE CHARTER.
UNDER THAT CHARTER, THERE ARE ONLY TWO POLICY MAKERS, THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT BEING SAID, YOU AND CITY MANAGER SARA HENSLEY ARE REFUSING TO ENFORCE LAW.
YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO TAKE SUCH ACTION.
YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT GIVE YOU THAT AUTHORITY AND AS SUCH YOU ARE OVERSTEPPING.
AND THE OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DENTON DEMAND THAT CITY MANAGER AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COUNCIL FULLY ENFORCE PROPOSITION B.
ALISON MCGUIRE YOU HAVE WON THE HEARTS OF MANY, MANY OF US.
OK. WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE DONE.
TO THIS WOMAN IS DEPLORABLE, IS ATROCIOUS.
THIS ALL STARTED WITH CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT GETTING THEIR WAY.
AND REDISTRICTING NOT GOING THEIR WAY.
YOU ALL USED ALISON MCGUIRE AS YOUR SCAPEGOAT.
EVERYTHING THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID I BACK 100%.
AND JUST KNOW THAT YOUR DAYS OF RECKONING ARE COMING SOON.
WHICH YOU HAVE DONE TO ALLISON MAGUIRE.
IS ABSOLUTELY DEPLORABLE AND DISGUSTING.
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THANK YOU. OKAY.JENNIFER LANE, YOU CAN COME NOW, YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
JENNIFER LANE DENTON, TEXAS 76205I LIVE IN THE DENNY AREA.
ALLISON IS MY REPRESENTATIVE, SO I WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ON THE PROP ORDINANCE AND IT URGE YOU TO CANVAS THAT AND MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WAS VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC, JUST AS WAS THE RECALL.
HOWEVER, IN 2016 WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN.
WHAT I NOW REALIZE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE OUTCOME BEEN THE SAME AS THIS ONE, IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE NUKED IT ON THE BASIS OF THERE BEING A REQUIREMENT IN THE CHARTER THAT THERE BE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO I CALL UPON YOU TO OBSERVE THE CHARTER AND NUKE THIS RECALL BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION AND WOULD HAVE USED IT BACK THEN. THAT'S HOW THE EFFORTS THAT WERE MADE IN DISTRICT FOUR IN 2016 WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY THIS BODY AND SHOULD BE HANDLED TODAY.
AS FOR THE PROP B ORDINANCE, THIS IS A PUBLIC ORDINANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE IT NEEDS TO BE RESPECTED.
IT'S A PLEBISCITE, NOT A REPRESENTATIVE.
AND TO ALLOW THIS SORT OF RESPONSE TO IT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IS NOT REALLY THE BEST PRACTICE.
WHAT OTHER CITIES AND OTHER AREAS HAVE DONE IS MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO WORK BETWEEN STATE LAW AND CITY LAW AND COUNTY LAW TO OBSERVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHAT DENTON NEEDS TO DO WITH THAT PLEBISCITE.
BACK AGAIN TO THE RECALL PETITION HAD THE JOEY HUDSON JOEY HAWKINS RECALL PETITION PASSED, YOU ALL WOULD HAVE NUKED IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, BECAUSE THE CHARTER SAYS YOU HAVE TO. SO YOU MUST DO THAT TODAY AND THEN YOU MUST CHANGE THE CHARTER SO THAT RECALL CAN BE ALLOWED.
YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES. GOOD MORNING.
SO I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM REGARDING PROPOSITION B, WHICH WAS VOTED INTO EFFECT BY THE CITIZENS OF DENTON EARLIER THIS MONTH.
IN THAT CASE, WHAT IS THE POINT OF BEING THIS COUNTRY AND THIS CONSTITUTION WERE FOUNDED ON THE BASIS OF DEMOCRACY AND THE PEOPLE'S POISE AND MATURITY DECIDE THINGS.
WE WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE AND THINK AND VOTE IN LAW BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE FOR OURSELVES WHAT WE WANT TO BE GOVERNED BY.
YOU PROMISE AND AGREE THAT YOU UPHOLD THE WISHES AND LAWS OF THE CITY AND THE CITIZENS.
DEB OMETER. IF YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES.
HI, MY NAME IS DEB AUMENTAR AND MY ADDRESS IS 2003, MR. WOOD LANE. I'M SPEAKING AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND ALSO AS A BOARD MEMBER OF DECORUM DENTON.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU APPEAR TO BELIEVE THAT PROPOSITION B IS IN CONTRADICTION WITH STATE LAW.
YOU'RE ENTITLED TO THAT OPINION.
OBVIOUSLY, THE LAWYERS WHO WROTE PROPOSITION B DISAGREE.
AND IN FACT, YOU CAN I HOPE YOU CAN AT LEAST ADMIT THAT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR FROM THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN THAT STATE LAW WOULD FORM THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK FOR THE LIMITS TO PROPOSITION B, WHICH, IF IT WAS WHAT THE PUBLIC REALLY WANTS, WOULD BE A LOT STRONGER THAN IT IS. SO YOU'RE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION.
[00:15:06]
DECISION OF A COURT OF LAW THAT HAS THE ACTUAL AUTHORITY TO SAY THAT PROP B CONTRADICTS STATE LAW. THAT IS NOT UP TO YOU.FOR NOW, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.
THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS SAID A CITY MAY AS A VALID EXERCISE OF ITS POLICE POWER, ENFORCE REASONABLE REGULATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT B AND 32,673 DENTON RESIDENTS VOTED ON.
NUMBER TWO, TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS ALSO SAID THAT UNDER THE 2019 TEXAS STATE HEMP REFORMS, THE CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT AND ITS PARTS AND DERIVATIVES THAT HISTORICALLY WERE ILLEGAL, INCLUDING FLOWERS, BUD LEAVES AND STEMS, CAN NOW BE LEGALLY CULTIVATED IN TEXAS SO LONG AS THEY CONTAIN A THC CONCENTRATION OF NO MORE THAN 0.3%.
FARMERS CAN PRODUCE HEMP BY CONTROLLING A PLANT'S THC LEVEL IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
THE ONLY WAY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A LEGAL HEMP PLANT, PART OR PRODUCT AND AN ILLEGAL MARIJUANA PLANT PART A PRODUCT IS TO TEST ITS THC CONCENTRATION. FORENSICALLY, THEY ARE VIRTUALLY INDISTINGUISHABLE BY SIGHT OR SMELL ALONE.
THIS MATTERS BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER RELIES ON TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 370.003.
THAT SECTION SAYS THE CITY MUST FULLY ENFORCE CHAPTER 41 AND 43 OF TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.
AND SO NOW POLICE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE SMELLING OR SEEING SOMETHING ILLEGAL OR ILLEGAL.
SORRY, ILLEGAL OR LEGAL FULLY ENFORCED DOESN'T MEAN LOCK UP PEOPLE FOR LEGAL CONDUCT.
IT IS CERTAINLY YOUR DUTY TO COMPLY.
IF, AGAIN, IF YOU FEEL IT CONTRADICTS STATE LAW, YOU CAN YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE SUE THE CITY.
YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT EXCEPT OVERRULE 32,673 VOTERS.
I'M A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS WITH STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY.
SO WE ALL KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN A TIME OF INCREASING DIVISION IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF DENTON HAS SHOWN THAT ONE THING THAT WE DO AGREE UPON IS PROPOSITION B.
SO I UNDERSTAND THIS CREATES CONFUSION BETWEEN DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHICH OPERATE IN DENTON.
IN MY OWN VIEW, THIS IS A GOOD THING.
SINCE THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR IT, IT SHOULD BE ENACTED AND THE DUTY TO ENFORCE IT.
AND IF IT CREATES CONFUSION, THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FURTHER UP AT THE.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND I YIELD MY TIME.
YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
MY ADDRESS IS 1721 WEST OAK STREET.
AND I AM A UMD ALUMNI AND A MEMBER OF DECRIMINALIZE DENTON.
PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF PROPOSITION B, 70%.
71%, I BELIEVE, IS WHAT IT PASSED WITH.
WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF PROP B, WHICH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IS MORE THAN ANY SINGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR HAVE EVER RECEIVED VOTES IN FAVOR IN THEIR ELECTION.
WE HAD RECORD BREAKING TURNOUT AND.
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WHEN IT WAS STILL AT THE PETITION LEVEL, THE LARGEST BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT THE CITY OF DENTON HAS EVER RECEIVED.THIS PROPOSITION WAS SOMETHING THAT DROVE VOTER TURNOUT AND THAT.
WHETHER THEY VOTED RED, BLUE OR AN INDEPENDENT LIBERTARIAN.
THERE WAS ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY AGREED ON AND IT WAS PROPOSITION B AND JUST LIKE.
DEB PARMENTER SAID IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH ILLEGAL HEMP.
AND ILLEGAL HEMP FROM ILLEGAL MARIJUANA BY SMELL ALONE.
AND. AND WE SHOULD BE MINIMIZING THAT RISK.
AND. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY IN TEXAS THAT HAS ENACTED DECRIMINALIZATION ORDINANCES, INCLUDING OUR STATE CAPITAL, AUSTIN.
I THINK IT'S THE STATE CAPITOL HAS ENACTED DECRIMINALIZATION MEASURES IN THE PAST THAT THAT SETS A PRETTY CLEAR PRECEDENCE THAT THE REST OF THE STATE, CITIES WITHIN THE STATE MAY FOLLOW SUIT.
AND HERE AS A TAXPAYING CITIZEN AND AS.
ASKING ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT WHAT 71% OF THE VOTERS OF THIS ELECTION, 32,000 RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DENTON.
CLEARLY VOTED IN SUPPORT OF AND PASSED PROPOSITION B IN FULL.
I LIVE AT 2055 STOCKBRIDGE ROAD AND I JUST TURNED 70 YEARS OLD ABOUT A WEEK AGO. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
YES. I NEVER DYED MY HAIR IN MY LIFE.
I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO MARIJUANA AT A YOUNG AGE.
THEN I SAW WILLIE NELSON, AND SO I KIND OF CHANGED THINGS, BUT I JUST.
IF YOU CAN TELL SUPPORT THE PROPOSITION BE AND OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE DID AND I DON'T THINK YOUR JOB IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO BUT HOW TO ENFORCE THAT.
I WAS A HIPPIE IN THE SIXTY'S AND IN TEXAS, SO I'M KIND OF HARD CORE ABOUT STUFF LIKE THIS.
I'M A LITTLE TOO OLD TO BE DOING THIS, AND YET HERE I AM STILL DOING IT.
I'M SO OLD THAT I NO LONGER SUCKING MY GUT WHEN I SEE A PRETTY GIRL BECAUSE MY PANTS WILL FALL DOWN.
BUT I JUST WANT TO TO SPEAK MY MIND ONE LAST TIME ABOUT THIS.
AND BY GOLLY, I'M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE I'M DYSLEXIC BECAUSE MY RIGHTS LEFT.
SO DO THE THING AND GET IT OVER WITH.
IF IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE LAW, THEN WORK ON IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR.
TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, TAKE CARE OF THE VOTERS.
WE WE ONCE VOTED NOT TO HAVE FRACKING HERE.
AND OUR GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE IN TEXAS DECIDED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.
WELL, WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE? WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.
AND I EXPECT YOU GUYS TO DO BETTER THAN THEY DID.
YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS NICK STEVENS, 417 AMARILLO STREET, DENTON, TEXAS.
[00:25:01]
AND I'M COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF DECRIMINALIZE DEBT AND AS WELL AS THE OTHER 32,672 VOTERS THAT SUPPORTED PROPOSITION B THAT NIGHTS DON'T AGREE ON MUCH.AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH AN ECLECTIC GROUP OF VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE UP HERE.
BUT I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE WHAT A FEW OTHER PEOPLE SAID, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MAYOR HUDSPETH, MR. WATTS, YOU ALL RECEIVED A LOT OF VOTES THIS LAST TIME AND ARE VERY POPULAR.
PROP B RECEIVED TWICE AS MANY VOTES AS YOU ALL.
AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S UNIFYING.
I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME DURING THE CAMPAIGN UP IN ROBESON RANCH TALKING TO THOSE VOTERS.
AND SO I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.
I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT I'M A LITTLE PISSED OFF AND DISHEARTENED BY WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE 12 HOURS AFTER THAT NIGHT, 72% OF US WHO VOTED SPOKE OUR MIND.
THE CITY RELEASED A PRESS RELEASE.
ANTAGONIZING US, ANTAGONIZED US AS A BOARD MEMBERS.
THEY ANTAGONIZED, DECRIMINALIZED DÉTENTE.
THEY ANTAGONIZED 72% OF THE VOTING POPULACE BY SAYING, WELL, WE REALLY CAN'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING.
AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, AT THE END OF THAT STATEMENT, THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE WHO IS NOT FROM HERE, DECIDED TO SAY THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO NOT STOP AND FRISK PEOPLE, HE'S GOING TO DO IT ANYWAYS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO FIND MORE VIOLENT CRIME.
AND SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SO UPSETTING THAT I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE HERE AT 830, 9:00 IN THE MORNING TO TALK ABOUT A CERTIFICATION, BECAUSE I DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING TO CHANGE TODAY.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS.
I'M HERE FOR THE SAKE OF ASKING YOU ALL TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT.
BUT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THINK, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST MY PERCEPTION.
I THINK THAT YOU'RE PUTTING THE CITY MANAGER BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
TELL HER WHAT YOU WANT HER TO DO.
BUT THAT'S MY LAST ASK OF Y'ALL TODAY.
AT LEAST GO ON THE RECORD SO THAT EVERYONE HERE AND EVERYONE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN HEAR THAT YOU WANT HER TO ENFORCE THIS FULLY? I THINK THAT THAT'S ONLY RIGHT.
IF YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS MARIJUANA, WHAT IS DELTA EIGHT AND WHAT IS HEMP.
IF YOU CANNOT DO THAT, THEN YOU CAN'T STOP AND FRISK PEOPLE.
YOU JUST CAN'T. IT DOESN'T MAKE IT.
THAT'S NOT PROBABLE CAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS LEGAL OR ILLEGAL.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THAT'S NOT AN ANTI COP POLICY ON MY.
AND I HAD COPS AT MY HOUSE JUST TWO WEEKS AGO FOR A BREAK IN.
OUR COPS DON'T WANT TO BE DOING THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND SO LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS BY ENFORCING PROPOSITION B AND HANDLING THE WILL OF THE PUBLIC.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
I DO REALLY ENJOY IT AND I HOPE YOU'LL MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT TODAY.
JUST. OK CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
AND I WAS JUST PROPOSITION B AND THEY CALL ME DELTA NINE ONE WAY.
BUT MY POINT IS THIS WEEKEND THERE WAS AN EVENT RIGHT HERE ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, A PATCHOULI JOE'S BOOKSTORE, WHERE THERE WAS LITERALLY AND I JUST GAVE YOU THE HANDOUT ARMED ANTIFA.
THEY'RE OUT, MR. MAYOR. POINT OF ORDER. AND THEY WERE GUARDING.
GIVE ME GIVE ME JUST ONE. JUST.
JUST ONE MINUTE. NO, NO, NO. YOU'LL CONTINUE.
[00:30:06]
MAYOR PRO TEM I THINK, MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE IT'S OUR POLICY THAT THAT SPEAKING BEFORE SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS AND IT WORK SESSIONS, YOU HAVE TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.IS THAT NOT THE CASE? THAT THAT IS AND THAT'S THAT'S BEEN VIOLATED TWICE OR THREE TIMES TODAY ALREADY.
YOU DID NOT RAISE THAT ISSUE THEN.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONTENT NOW IS WHY YOU'RE RAISING THE ISSUE.
I'M NOT GOING TO INTERRUPT HIM.
SO IF WE CAN PUT THREE, I THINK WE'RE THREE 4320 OK GIVE ME JUST ONE MINUTE.
READY? OK AND THIS IS WHY THIS ISSUE IS SO SERIOUS RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.
NOW, LISTEN, I AM PRO TRANS, I AM PRO GAY.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE LGBT COMMUNITY 100%.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ADVERTISING RULES THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES THAT WE CANNOT EVEN ADVERTISE TO YOUNG CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE SO IMPRESSIONABLE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GAY PERSON AND A STRAIGHT PERSON IS THEIR SEXUAL PREFERENCE.
BUT INSTEAD, RIGHT HERE, LESS THAN A MILE AWAY, A CUTE SHIRLEY JONES.
THESE ARE CHILDREN THAT CANNOT CONSENT TO IT.
THIS IS INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THERE IS AN INDOCTRINATION OF YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE IMPRESSIONABLE, BECAUSE EVEN PEOPLE AT BOSTON'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THEY SAID ONCE A CHILD IDENTIFIES AS TRANS, THEY ARE A LIFELONG PATIENT.
AND OFTENTIMES PEOPLE SAY THAT THESE TREATMENTS ARE REVERSIBLE.
THEY ARE NOT NO, THEY ARE NOT REVERSIBLE GENDER IDEOLOGY.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. GENDER HORMONE THERAPY IS NOT REVERSIBLE.
THAT IS EVIL, THAT IS CHILD ABUSE.
AND THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT DOWN THE STREET RIGHT HERE IN DENTON, TEXAS.
THAT IS ACTUAL CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.
AND LISTEN, I TELL YOU THIS ALL DAY LONG, I LOVE TO JOKE, I LOVE TO CLOWN AROUND, BUT THIS IS NOT FUNNY WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH ACTUAL GUNS THAT WANT TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN CITY. THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
THEY'RE NOT HOLDING THESE BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A LITTLE FUN EVENT.
IT'S GONE UP AN ABSOLUTE ALARMING RATE.
SO THEY FIT IN. BUT THAT IS BECAUSE OF A BIRTH DEFECT.
WHY ARE WE TEACHING KIDS ABOUT THEIR SEXUAL PREFERENCE BEFORE THEY CAN LEGALLY CONSENT TO SEX? THIS IS COMMON SENSE STUFF.
AND THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER THAT.
I MISSED JAVIER WEEMS. FORGIVE ME FOR MISSING THAT.
ALL RIGHTY. MY NAME IS JAVIER WILLIAMS. I LIVE AT 500 INMAN STREET.
NOW, WHAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HERE TODAY IS PROPOSITION B.
ON NOVEMBER 8TH, OVER 32,000 DEAD NIGHTS VOTED IN FAVOR OF PROP B.
IT'S ABOUT FOUR TIMES AS MANY AS VOTED FOR MAYOR GERARD HUDSPETH LAST YEAR.
[00:35:05]
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS PAST YEAR, WORKING WITHIN DENTON POLITICS AS A CANVASSER FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND A PETITION GATHERER FOR PROPOSITION B HAS BEEN A DELIGHTFUL EXERCISE IN CIVIL SERVICE AND THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN DENTON.I HAVE A MUCH GREATER APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
AS CITY COUNCILORS, I SAID HERE LAST TIME I WAS GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK POSSIBLE IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY MAKE AND ENACT THE LAWS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S DAY TO DAY LIVES.
AND I MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THAT PROP B WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BALLOT MEASURES IN THE CITY OF DENTON'S HISTORY, WE GOT MORE VOTES BY PRECINCT THAN EITHER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN A YEAR WITH RECORD TURNOUT.
HOW FEW PEOPLE EVEN KNEW WHERE CITY HALL WAS.
AND I CAN SAY FOR A FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED BECAUSE OF THIS PROPOSITION.
THIS HAS GOTTEN STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER VOTED, AND THEY'RE ON CAMPUS BEFORE TO VOTE ON CAMPUS, STUDENTS WHO DON'T VOTE AT ALL TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. AND IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME.
I WANT TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT A WOMAN WHO I TALKED TO TO GATHER PETITIONS FROM BACK IN FEBRUARY.
I WAS SITTING IN THE GATEWAY CENTER AT UNT.
IT WAS PRETTY COLD OUT. IT WAS FEBRUARY.
AND I ASKED THIS WOMAN LIKE, HEY, WOULD YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THIS PETITION, MAYBE SIGN IT? AND SHE WAS A BIT OVERWHELMED AT FIRST.
SHE WENT AND VOTED FIRST AND CAME BACK AND TALKED TO ME, LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WAS AN IMMIGRANT.
SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN HER CITIZENSHIP AND HER ABILITY TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SHE CAME FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROPOSITION, SHE SAID, NOW, IF I WRITE MY NAME DOWN ON HERE, AM I GOING TO BE ON A LIST? IN THE PHILIPPINES, DRUG POLICIES ARE FAR MORE HARSH THAN THEY ARE IN AMERICA, AND ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS.
FILIPINOS HAVE BEEN MURDERED FOR THEIR DRUG USE.
AND SHE TOLD ME IT WAS LIBERATING.
SO I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU TODAY TO PLEASE CERTIFY PROPOSITION B SO THAT WOMAN, A DENTON RESIDENT, JUST LIKE YOU AND ME, CAN STILL HAVE THAT FEELING OF LIBERATION. OR IF YOU DO NOT CERTIFY IT, YOU CAN BE IN HER EYES, I GUESS, THE SAME AS THOSE DICTATORS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND DISCUSSION.
THIS ELECTION CYCLE, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH AN ALMOST A FAIRY TALE STORY, STARKLY CONTRASTING TWO CITIZEN LED INITIATIVES.
IT WAS STARTED BY A CITIZEN LED GROUP THAT NOTICED POLICY GAPS THAT WERE HURTING DEAD KNIGHTS.
THEY DEVELOPED A SOLUTION, INCLUDING PRESENTING SCIENCE AND LEGAL BASE PRINCIPLES.
IT PERFORMED RIDICULOUSLY WELL, AS THE SPEAKERS HAVE SAID.
IT CARRIED NEARLY 72% OF THE CITY, 43 TO 45 PRECINCTS, ALMOST 33,000 VOTERS.
IT CARRIED ALL PARTIES, ALL GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHIC AND INCOME LEVELS.
AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT DENTON OVERWHELMINGLY WANTS THIS POLICY.
YET THIS CLEAR AND OVERWHELMING DEMOCRATIC MANDATE BY THE PEOPLE HAS BEEN MET WITH RESISTANCE.
THE OTHER PETITION DID NEARLY EVERYTHING WRONG.
IT WAS FAULTY FROM THE OUTSET.
IT WAS BASED ON THE WRONG CONSTITUENCY USING THE WRONG MEDICATION THRESHOLD POINT OF ORDER.
[00:40:01]
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION REGARDING THIS WHOLE ISSUE, AND SO HAS MAYOR PRO TEM, HAVE YOU BEEN ADVISED AS TO WHAT ANY TYPE OF COMMENTS YOU MAKE HERE TODAY COULD AFFECT THE CITY'S POSITION IN THAT LAWSUIT BY ANYONE? OH, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN SPEAK FIRST AND THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF, HE'S NOT SPEAKING FOR THE CITY. THE CITY'S POSITION IS NOT IN SYNC WITH WHAT HE'S SAYING CURRENTLY RELATED TO THE LITIGATION, BUT HE'S ENTITLED AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO SPEAK HOW HE WANTS TO IS RELATED TO THIS ITEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE IN LITIGATION.HIS HIS COMMENTS HERE DO NOT REPRESENT THE CITY'S POSITION IN THE LITIGATION, AND THAT'S FINE.
AND THE NEXT CLOSED SESSION ON THIS ISSUE, I WILL ASK THAT MAYOR PRO TEM BE CONSIDERED POTENTIALLY ADVERSARIAL TO THE CITY POSITION, DEPENDING ON WHAT HE SAYS, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HE'S HERE IN HIS HE'S HERE IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WHICH IS ALSO A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED.
AND HE IS A PARTY ON THE DEFENSE SIDE OR THE RESPONDENT SIDE, NOT THE PLAINTIFF SIDE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR ON THE RECORD DOES HAVE TO DO WITH THE POINT OF ORDER.
IT'S IT'S ALL IN THE LEGAL QUESTION.
THE POINT OF ORDER SHOULD BE ABOUT MY ABILITY TO HAVE THE FLOOR.
MR. CITY ATTORNEY. POINT OF ORDER RELATE TO A RULE BEING VIOLATED.
I THINK THE CONCERN OF THE QUESTION WAS, IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THE COMMENTS BEING MADE AND DOES THAT PUT US IN A POSITION IN OUR LITIGATION THAT'S ADVERSARIAL TO WHAT OUR POSITION IS IN LITIGATION? SO I'VE GIVEN THE OPINION ON THAT.
I THINK AT THIS POINT THE POINT OF ORDER HAS BEEN RESOLVED UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER ADDRESSING IT.
GREAT. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR PRO TEM.
IT HAD COMPLETELY SPECIOUS RATIONALE BASED ON POLITICAL IDEOLOGY AND GAMESMANSHIP.
THIS RECALL, AS WAS JUST SAID, IS IS UNDER COURT CHALLENGE IS UNDER APPEAL.
SO. SO WHAT DO WE DO TODAY? HOW DO WE KEEP PLAYING THE GAME WHEN DEFLATED FOOTBALLS ARE BEING USED? WELL, WE HAVE NO CHANCE BUT OUR CHOICE BUT TO TRY TO UNTANGLE THE BUREAUCRATIC KNOTS AND INCREASINGLY, AS WE JUST ALLUDED TO THROUGH COURT ACTION, THAT SEEMS AND WHILE THAT PLAYS OUT, WHAT IS IT THAT COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO DO TODAY? WELL, WE'RE FORCED TO FALL BACK ON ONE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT THAT WE STILL SEEM TO SHARE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LEADERSHIP FEELS ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
SO. YOU KNOW, FOR THE RECORD, I THINK THAT THE THE THE THE PARAMETERS AND PROCESS BY WHICH THE RECALL TOOK PLACE WERE FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED.
HOWEVER, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A COURT CAN RECTIFY THIS UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE, I WILL VOTE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE COUNTY HAS GIVEN US THESE NUMBERS. ALL RIGHT.
AND HER VOICE WILL NOT BE LOST TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR.
ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS.
TRADITIONALLY, THESE MEETINGS, THEY HAPPEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER AN ELECTION.
WE HAVE A NICE LITTLE RECEPTION FOR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY'RE NOT OFTEN VERY POLITICIZED.
[00:45:03]
WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COME AND SPEAK TODAY ON MOSTLY ON ONE PROPOSITION.SOME SPOKE ON ANOTHER PROPOSITION.
AND I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH WITH MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS ON PROPOSITION B, THAT THEY ORGANIZED THEY DID EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE IN DENTON DO BEST, WHICH IS TO GET TO GET SUPPORT BUILT AROUND THEIR ISSUE AND BUILD A COALITION.
IT'S SOMETIMES VERY SCHIZOPHRENIC TOWN.
THERE WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR A DECEMBER 14TH.
IMMEDIATE ENACTMENT OF YOUR REDISTRICTING MAP.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GAMESMANSHIP, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT FAIRY TALES, THE FAIRY TALES THAT WE'RE SITTING UP HERE VOTING TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF A RECALL. THROUGH.
THROUGH NO ONE'S FAULT, THROUGH SOME DIRTY POOL, THROUGH SOME VOTERS WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW THE RULES.
THE NARRATIVE YOU'RE ADVANCING THIS MORNING IS THE FAIRY TALE.
THE GAMESMANSHIP WAS THE WAY THAT THAT MAP WAS ADOPTED.
THE GAMESMANSHIP WAS THE WAY THAT THAT MAP WAS STUFFED DOWN THE THROATS OF 250 PEOPLE WHO EMAILED, CALLED OR CAME UP HERE AND SAID EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT IF THAT MAP PASSED.
WE HAVE TWO YEAR TERMS. THERE'S NO POINT IN A RECALL.
I SET IT TO THE FOLKS WHO ORGANIZED THIS RECALL.
I DIDN'T THINK THEY'D GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES, BUT THEY DID.
AND THEN EVERY SINGLE PRECINCT AND DISTRICT FOR THE DISTRICT FOR YOU, DREW VOTED TO RECALL.
WE TAKE OUR LUMPS, WHATEVER SIDE OF THE BALLOT WE'RE ON.
AND I DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE YOU AS PART OF ANY FUTURE CONVERSATION ABOUT LITIGATION.
YOU JUST MADE YOUR POSITION VERY CLEAR.
IT'S ADVERSE TO THE CITY AND IT'S ADVERSE TO THE VOTERS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
FIRST OF ALL, I TRUST THE PROCESS, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME PEOPLE UP HERE DO NOT.
WHAT I HEARD FROM MANY OF THE SPEAKERS AND PROPOSITION B WAS PERSONAL OPINION NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE.
YOU BASE IT UPON THE FACTS, YOU BASE IT UPON THE VOTERS.
WELL, MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
NOW, YOUR PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH IT.
OK I RESPECT THAT, BUT I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE FACTS.
NUMBER ONE, I TRUST THE PROCESS THAT YOU PUT FORTH A MAP.
YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AT THAT TIME, BUT NOW YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE VOTERS.
YOU PUT IT FORWARD. THERE WAS NO COMPROMISE.
ONE THING I'VE LEARNED FROM 12 YEARS OF SERVICE ON COUNCIL, WHEN YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC COME OUT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS, YOU REALLY TRY TO FIND A WAY TO MEET AS MANY INTERESTS AS YOU CAN. THAT DID NOT OCCUR.
NUMBER THREE, SOMEONE WORKED HARD TO GET BASED UPON THE CHARTER.
THE PRESIDENT'S OF THE CHARTER.
PETITION SIGNATURES IN ORDER TO SUBMIT.
THEY DID IT. IT WAS CERTIFIED.
NOW, SOME PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH HOW THAT HAPPENED.
EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO GO SEEK REDRESS IN THE COURT SYSTEM IF THEY THINK THAT SOMETHING HAS OCCURRED THAT THEY DON'T AGREE WITH OR THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW, I SUPPORT THAT. ONE COURT, THE DISTRICT COURT SAID DISMISSED IT.
IT WAS APPEALED. I SUPPORT THAT PROCESS.
THERE WAS ANOTHER APPEAL AT THE COURTS, AT THE APPEALS COURT, A NEW LAWSUIT CLAIMING SORT OF AN EMERGENCY KIND OF INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THAT WAS DENIED. AND SO HERE WE ARE.
SO YOU'RE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION ON IT.
THE PROCESS WORKED AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN IF DURING THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, SOMEHOW SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT, I'LL TRUST THAT PROCESS, TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT HERE.
YOU'RE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINIONS, SIR, BUT YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO YOUR FACTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS VERY PERSONAL TO YOU.
[00:50:06]
NO ONE.AND I TRUST THAT PROCESS, TOO.
THAT'S ONE THING WE KNOW ABOUT THE VOTERS, THAT THEY DON'T LIKE SOMETHING OR THEY DO LIKE SOMETHING.
THEN THEY GET OUT AND THEY EXPRESS THEIR SENTIMENT.
SO I'M WITH COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
WE'D HAVE VERY MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROBABLY IN THE FUTURE.
BUT MY MY INTENT WAS NOT TO INTERRUPT YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING.
COUNCILMAN BURT. THE INTERESTING THING BEING OUTSIDE.
IT'S OFF. OFF. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT SITTING ON THIS DAIS IS THAT IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THE BIG PICTURE I'M A BIG PICTURE THINKER AND DON'T DO VERY, VERY WELL WITH SMALL DETAILS OF THINGS, I GUESS BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF IN A LEADERSHIP TYPE ROLE.
SO THAT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE.
AND SO IN SUCH A FASHION THAT THEY'RE LITERALLY TELLING US WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT. BUT FROM PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES, I DO NOT I'M NOT FOND OF EITHER ONE OF THESE PROPOSITIONS.
THE PROPOSITION A THAT CAME IN I HAD ALREADY NOTED BEFORE WE SENT IT TO THE VOTERS THAT I WAS NOT IN SUPPORT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND.
I JUST COULD NOT HELP BUT TO SAY NO IN MY HEART AND SPIRIT FOR THAT, BECAUSE I PROMISED EVERYONE HERE THAT I WOULD TAKE. I WOULD BE MINDFUL OF POLICE OFFICERS.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIAL TO YOU TO MAKE YOU EVEN WANT TO DO THAT.
WHO WANTS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER? IT'S NOT.
IT'S REALLY BAD AND IT'S REALLY GOOD.
WE DO HAVE SOME BAD SEEDS, BUT THEY'RE IN EVERY PROFESSION.
THEY'RE JUST IT'S JUST PART OF WHO WE ARE.
SO I'M PERSONALLY I'M NOT FOND OF A AND.
I THINK I'M GETTING THEM TURNED AROUND.
BUT B. BUT THEN, A, I AM JUST SO DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH MS..
MAGUIRE. I THINK VERY MRS. MAGUIRE. I THINK VERY HIGHLY OF HER.
SHE'S A VERY INTELLIGENT WOMAN, AND SHE'S BROUGHT MANY THINGS TO THE TABLE.
SO PERSONALLY I AM JUST OVERWHELMED.
I'M VERY EMOTIONALLY OVERWHELMED WITH SEEING HOW WE AS A SOCIETY, AS A CITY, AS A CITY, AND CITIZENS HERE COULD LET HER GO LIKE THAT.
SHE'S ONLY BROUGHT TO US THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR US.
YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU.
I CAN. I'M GOING TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU, I PROMISE YOU THAT.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST FELT THE NEED TO SAY THAT.
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GROWING UP HERE TO DO.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT WE ARE NOT A BIG, BIG TIMERS.
SO WE'RE HAVING TO WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS THAT OTHER LARGE CITIES AND CITIES THAT HAVE SETTLED THEMSELVES INTO WHO THEY ARE, THEIR THEIR, THEIR REPUTATION, HOW WE'RE GOING TO GROW.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE TIME.
THANK YOU. AND THEN, CITY MANAGER, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHARE.
JUST REAL QUICK, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION AS A CITY MANAGER, AS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, I TAKE AN OATH I TAKE AN OATH TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TO BE HONEST AND TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY LAW.
[00:55:02]
THE STAFF HERE RECOGNIZES AND RESPECTS THAT PROPOSITION B PASSED BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN OF VOTERS SHOWING STRONG SUPPORT IN A COMMUNITY REGARDING THIS ISSUE.AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY OF DENTON WILL CONTINUE TO TREAT MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT AS A LOW PRIORITY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON CITATIONS, NOT ARREST, AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED IN MY MEMO.
MY HOPE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, IS PEOPLE WILL BE VERY CAREFUL SINCE MARIJUANA LAWS CAN STILL BE ENFORCED BY PEACE OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENTS ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN DENTON, NOT NECESSARILY THE CITY OF DENTON POLICE OFFICERS, BUT BY ANY OTHER POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF DENTON CAN ENFORCE THESE LAWS.
THANK YOU. AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN MCGEE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. HE WAS THERE.
DID WE? DO WE LOSE THEM? YES. COUNCILMAN DAVIS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO GET COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE BACK, COULD COULD I ASK THAT IF WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE, THE PROPOSITION BE BALLOT LANGUAGE, NOT THE WHOLE ORDINANCE, BUT THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ON PEOPLE'S BALLOT.
I GOT IT. IF AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AFTER.
LET ME LET ME LET ME. THIS IS LET ME GET THIS OUT.
GET THIS GOING WHILE HE'S THERE.
COUNCILMAN MCGEE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? GO RIGHT AHEAD. RIGHT.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.
I'M VERY SORRY THAT I COULD NOT BE THERE.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WORKING PEOPLE GO TO WORK.
AND IN PARTICULAR, I'M I SHARE THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE.
AND YOU ALL KNOW I LOVE POLITICS.
I'M VERY SORRY I CAN'T BE THERE TO DO THIS IN PERSON.
AT THE OUTSET, I WANTED TO SAY IN PARTICULAR THAT, MR. MAYOR, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR LEADERSHIP IN RUNNING THIS MEETING TODAY BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HEAR MAYOR PRO TEM POINT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALLOWED THIS MEETING TO GET OFF TRACK.
AND IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.
TO THE SUBJECT OF WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
I RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
I AM VERY SORRY TO SEE MISS MCGUIRE TO GO.
THAT THIS WAS A POLITICAL HIT JOB.
THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO FLIP THE COUNCIL AND A CONSERVATIVE TILT.
COMING BACK UP. SO I WANT EVERYONE IN PAYING ATTENTION OUT THERE AND EVERYONE SITTING IN TO MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN IN THE COMING MONTHS BECAUSE REDISTRICTING WILL BE REVISITED, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN TOWN WHO ALREADY RULE.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.
THIS IS NOT APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.
I'M VERY SORRY TO SEE THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO GO.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I GUESS WE'RE GOING THERE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK OF DECRIMINALIZED DEBT.
IT'S VERY PROUD TO SIGN THE PETITION AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF DECRIMINALIZE DENTON.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SIGNED.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR THIS.
Y'ALL KNOW MY POSITION ON THIS HAS BEEN CLEAR FROM JUMP.
MARIJUANA PERSONALLY AFFECTS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, AND IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE, WE WOULD BE ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS.
WE ARE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE LITIGATION PROCESS PLAY OUT.
NOW I'M SPEAKING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY.
DO THAT AS WELL. I HOPE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND HAVE A BIT OF A HOLIDAY BREAK THAT WE ALL CAN COME BACK READY TO DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AND TURN DOWN THE POLITICAL RHETORIC.
[01:00:02]
I HAVE MET WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO ENCOURAGE US TO OPERATE IN A NON PARTIZAN WAY AND LAST TIME I CHECKED, THERE ARE NO D'S OR R'S OR I'S NEXT TO OUR NAMES ON THE BALLOT.WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE.
SO I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TURN DOWN THE POLITICAL RHETORIC.
IT'S NOT NEEDED. IT'S THE CITY COUNCIL, Y'ALL.
LET'S JUST DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
BOTTLE RIGHT THE PEOPLE AND THEN GO HOME.
WE'RE ALL NEIGHBORS. WE GOT TO LIVE HERE.
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT FIRST, LAST, AND EVERY TIME WE DO AND SAY SOMETHING.
COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I CAN READ IT. MACK THE LANGUAGE ON THE THE BALLOT SAID SHALL AN INITIATIVE ORDINANCE BE APPROVED TO ELIMINATE LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT? THANK YOU. SO MR. STEVENS ASKED FOR OUR PUBLIC STATEMENT ON PROPOSITION B.
I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR IN THE PAST, BUT I'LL.
I'LL BE EVEN MORE CRYSTAL CLEAR TODAY.
THE VOTERS SUPPORT THAT STATEMENT.
BUT I DO AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT.
YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I DO AS A DAY JOB.
WE ARE SPEAKING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY.
ANYONE ELSE I'M GOING TO SUM UP AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO VOTE.
SO I COULD STATE MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? I'LL JUST SAY THIS BRIEFLY TO MY MY PEER THAT TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO.
I ACCEPT THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HANDLED IT BETTER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT, JUST LIKE I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I THAT YOU DO LESS THAN GREAT THAT I WOULD. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT TODAY.
SO I AGAIN, IT'S WE IT'S YOU RECEIVE FEEDBACK, YOU PROCESS THROUGH THAT.
YOU DO BETTER EACH AND EVERY OTHER TIME.
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M COMMITTED TO DOING.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE FEEDBACK.
I JUST THINK YOU DELIVERED IT POORLY AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SHARE THAT.
I THINK ALSO TO TO NICK, I THINK YOU DID A MASTERFUL JOB.
I THINK YOU DID. AND I WANT THAT TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
I WANT YOU TO ALSO WORK WITH ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT NEW FOR ME.
IF ANYONE'S BEEN VOCAL, I'VE BEEN VOCAL EARLY ON.
SO THE FIRST MEETING I SAID IT WAS SEVEN 1922.
IT'S NOT NEW. THE SECOND TIME I SAID IT WAS SEVEN 2622.
SO I'VE SAID IT REGULARLY AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN TODAY JUST SO WE CAN BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
THINK AGAIN. MASTERFUL JOB VERY WELL, COMMUNICATING VERY WELL, REACHING OUT.
I THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT YOU SEPARATE THESE THIS BODY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GO AND DO THEIR JOB.
I SUPPORT THAT. WE MAKE ORDINANCES.
WE DON'T GET OVER THEIR INVESTIGATIONS OR POLICE WORK.
ALL THAT THING HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW SO THAT WE DON'T CORRUPT THAT PROCESS.
IT IS PRISTINE. IT IS CLOSED OFF FROM US, AND THAT'S RIGHTFULLY SO.
SO THE CHARTER GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO COLLECT THE SIGNATURES.
THAT DICTATES HOW MANY SIGNATURES WHEN YOU GOT TO HAVE THEM.
ALL THOSE THINGS, CHARTER SUPREME THERE, IT'S LOCAL.
WE'RE TALKING LOCAL ORDINANCES, LOCAL LAWS, LOCAL CONTROL.
[01:05:08]
COUNCIL AND THEN AS A COMMITTEE OR AS A AS A PETITION, YOU TAKE THE PLACE OF COUNCIL.SO YOU AS COUNCIL, THE PEOPLE AS COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE CANNOT INFLUENCE INTERFERE WITH DIRECT REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER BEING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S A CHARTER PROVISION, THE SAME CHARTER THAT GIVES YOU THE AUTHORITY, LIMITS THE AUTHORITY OF THIS BODY.
AND THEN I ALSO JUST STAND BY BECAUSE I WANT TO QUOTE NICK AGAIN.
AND HE ASKED US ON 719, 20, 22 AND PUT UP THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I THINK THE COMMENT ENDS AT 4 HOURS, 43 MINUTES AND 24 SECONDS.
FOUR 4324 HE SAYS GET OUT OF THE WAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
I'M GOING TO VOTE TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO FOLLOW NICK'S DIRECT REQUEST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.
AND THEN THE POLICE, THE CITY MANAGER CAN DO THEIR JOB.
UNDER STATE LAW, UNDER CITY CHARTER AND EXECUTE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO INFLUENCE THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO INFLUENCE HOW THEY INTERPRET WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR JOB.
I'M GOING TO EXPECT THEM TO EXECUTE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS WE HAVE TO DO.
SO THAT'S THE LOCAL COMPONENT.
AND THEN I'LL JUST TELL YOU, YOU CAN GO ANYONE? PULL UP THE APPLICATION.
THEY'LL RUN FOR THIS SEAT FOR ANY OF THESE SEATS.
AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT APPLICATION BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN APPLY TO RUN, IT SAYS YOU ARE UPHOLDING THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CHARTER PROVISIONS THAT'S THAT'S REQUIRED TO TO RUN.
BUT THE APPLICATION AT THE VERY BEGINNING MAKES IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHAT WE'RE TASKED TO DO.
BUT THE NEXT STEP IS A REPORT IN THREE MONTHS ON WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND SO THAT CONVERSATION WILL BE HAD.
I TRUST THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO TO DO THEIR JOB.
I JUST TRUST THE CITY MANAGER TO DO HER JOB.
SHE CERTIFIED, SHE'S TRAINED, HE'S GONE TO SCHOOL FOR THIS.
BUT THAT'S WE'RE WE'RE SPENDING THAT ON LEGAL FEES ON VARIOUS ITEMS. AND SO JUST PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOUR TAX MONEY IS GOING.
EVERYONE COULD HAVE $0.01 OFF THEIR TAX RATE ABSENT LAWSUITS.
SO JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING.
HOW SAY YOU? I COUNCILWOMAN BIRD.
HOW SAY YOU COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S.
ALL RIGHT. AND THAT AND THEN WE HAVE ONE ONE RECUSAL THAT PASSES SIX ZERO TAKES US TO OUR NEXT ITEM.
[B. Proclamation in appreciation of service to the City of Denton as a City Council Member to Alison Maguire.]
ITEM B, ID 222452456.IS THAT DOES DOES THAT JUST ME? IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING.
WE HAVEN'T. THAT'S OKAY, THEN.
IF YOU COULD JOIN ME, I HAVE A PROCLAMATION.
CAN WE OK? YEAH. SO I'LL GIVE YOU THE.
BUT I WANT TO IF YOU'D PREFER TO DO IT THE OTHER WAY, THEN.
HAPPY TO DO IT. NO PREFERENCE.
OKAY. WELL, IF WE CAN READ THAT.
I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER.
[01:10:05]
2022. AND.WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DENTON HAS ENJOYED THE DEDICATED AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALISON MAGUIRE AND HER EFFORTS TO MAKE DENTON A BETTER, BETTER CITY. AND.
WHEREAS, ALISON MAGUIRE AMONG HER MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE, THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE DENTON COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM DENTON COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY DENTON TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, DISCOVER DENTON ADVISORY BOARD AND THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL.
AND. WHEREAS, ALISON MAGUIRE HAS ALWAYS SERVED DUTIFULLY AND BEYOND THE EFFICIENT DISCHARGE OF HER DUTIES IN PROMOTING THE WELFARE AND PROSPERITY OF THE CITY, AND HAS EARNED THE RESPECT OF THE CITY OF HER FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, CITIZENS OF DENTON, AND THE LOSS OF HER PRESENCE WILL BE KEENLY FELT.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THE SINCERE WARM APPRECIATION OF ALISON MAGUIRE FELT BY THE CITIZENS AND STAFF OF THE CITY OF DENTON BE FORMALLY CONVEYED TO HER IN A PERMANENT MANNER BY READING THIS PROCLAMATION INTO THE OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DENTON AND FOREVER FOR FORWARD TO HER.
A TRUE COPY, THEREFORE THEREOF, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF DENTON DOES HEREBY, OFFICIALLY AND SINCERELY EXTEND ITS THANKS TO ALISON MAGUIRE FOR HER SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE CITY OF DENTON PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2022.
YOU KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR FOR THE SUPPORT.
AND WHILE IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT MY MY TERM HAS ENDED IN THIS WAY, I.
I AM READY FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
AND I PROMISE THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME.
I'M GOING TO STILL BE STICKING AROUND AND SPEAKING AT MEETINGS, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN RIGHT NOW THAT I'M GOING TO APPLY TO BE ON THE BOARD OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
THERE YOU GO. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
OK. THERE ARE THREE SPEAKERS I CALL THEM AND THEN WILL BE DONE FOR THE DAY.
JENNIFER. JENNIFER LANE YOU CAN COME DOWN AND GIVE YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I HAD TO STEP OUT BECAUSE THIS IS A WORKDAY, SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED.
ASIDE FROM CANVASING THE VOTE, IN OTHER WORDS, ACCEPTING THE ELECTION, IT WOULD BE MY IMPRESSION THAT AT THIS POINT NOW ON YOUR PLATE IS TO DETERMINE HOW TO ENFORCE THE PROP B AND HOW TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT ELECTION.
REGARDING OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISON MAGUIRE.
AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE GOING TO REMOVE HER.
[01:15:07]
THANK YOU. OK COUNCILMAN ARMATURE.RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO ADDRESS MY REMARKS TO ALLISON, AND I'M GOING TO TRY REAL HARD NOT TO CRY.
SO IF I TURN AWAY FROM YOU, IT'S BECAUSE SO I CAN TRY TO STOP CRYING.
ANYWAY, SO IT WAS REALLY AN HONOR TO SERVE UP THERE.
OKAY. TURN AWAY AND LOOK AT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO SIT UP THERE WITH YOU AND SERVE.
I ADMIRE MANY THINGS ABOUT YOU.
I THINK YOU'RE THE SMARTEST PERSON UP THERE.
AND THAT WAS TRUE WHEN I WAS UP THERE, TOO.
SO JUST HAVING THAT DEGREE OF INTELLIGENCE, AND BY THAT, I DON'T MEAN HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION AND DEGREES, BUT JUST.
EVERY TIME YOU SPOKE, EACH WORD WAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THAT TURNED OUT TO BE IN THE FORM OF A REALLY BRILLIANTLY WITTY JOKE THAT SOME OF WHICH I STILL CHUCKLE ABOUT AND AND SOME, I THINK, WERE DELIVERED IN SUCH A STRAIGHT, DEADPAN KIND OF MANNER.
I THINK IT WENT OVER A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEADS, INCLUDING SOMETIMES MY OWN.
SOMETIMES I DIDN'T GET THE JOKE UNTIL LIKE A MINUTE AFTER.
ANYWAY, SO THESE PAST FEW A COUPLE OF DAYS, JUST SINCE THIS HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA, LOOKING AT THIS ON THE AGENDA, I'VE HAD THAT STUCK IN MY HEAD.
THAT OLD ELVIS COSTELLO SONG THAT I'M SURE PEOPLE ANNOY YOU WITH, BUT.
AND I CAN'T REALLY A TERRIBLE SINGER.
BUT YOU KNOW, ALISON, I KNOW THIS WORLD ANYWAY.
I CAN'T SING EVEN WHEN I'M NOT CRYING.
BUT I'VE JUST BEEN EVEN AS I WAS GETTING READY THIS MORNING, IT JUST STUCK IN MY HEAD AND, YOU KNOW, NOT SO MUCH THE WORDS OF THIS SONG, BUT JUST THE NAME AND THAT THAT JUST WISTFULNESS, THAT SENSE OF BITTERSWEET, OF SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, MUCH BIGGER AND LONGER GETTING NIPPED IN THE BUD.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, LIKE YOU SAID, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
AND SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU GO ON TO DO.
I WAS THERE WITH YOU WHEN WE VOTED ON THE REDISTRICTING, AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO AND WATCH THAT MEETING AND TO SEE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY HOW DIPLOMATIC ALISON WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAID SHE WAS BEING ATTACKED UP THERE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WERE AGAINST THE THE REDISTRICTING.
I NEVER FELT SHE WAS ATTACKED.
I FELT THAT WAS PEOPLE SPEAKING HER MIND AND SHE WAS LISTENING AND DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB OF IT.
AND ALISON AND NEVER AND NONE OF US, I DIDN'T ANYWAY THINK THAT I WAS VOTING TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU TO TO VOTE ON YOUR RECALL.
SO I SUPPORT THE LAWSUIT AND I HOPE THIS IS FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE OPENLY SAID THAT YOU THINK THAT BE IS IS ILLEGAL AND IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW SHOULD RECUSE YOURSELVES FROM ANY CLOSE MEETING IF THERE IS EVER A LAWSUIT OVER PROP B, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PUBLICLY SAID IT'S AGAINST STATE LAW SHOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION THAT'S DEFENDING SOMETHING THAT YOU.
THANK YOU. AND THEN NEXT UP WOULD BE CHRISTIAN BRAY.
[01:20:08]
TO AND HOW PEOPLE GET AROUND IN THIS CITY AND MOBILITY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A VERY FUNDAMENTAL PART OF PARTICIPATING IN SOCIETY.AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TIME GIVEN HERE DEEPLY.
WITH THAT SAID, I WAS HOPING THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
I'M USED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS BEING ENDING WITH A CALL FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
SO, MR. MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ME THE LEEWAY TO ADDRESS A TOPIC OFF OF THIS.
AND WE'LL SEE WHAT CRITICISM I GET AFTER IT.
BUT GO RIGHT AHEAD. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. I WANTED TO ADDRESS WHAT THE SPEAKER WHO CLOSED OUT THE SESSION SPOKE ON, AND THAT IS THE STORY TIME AT PETULA JOE'S THIS SATURDAY.
I ASSUME THAT THE PICTURE THAT HE GAVE YOU HAS ME IN IT.
IT MIGHT NOT, BUT I WAS OUT THERE IN FRONT FOR THE WHOLE 2 HOURS AND SKIPPING PAST ALL OF THE MISSTATEMENT OF MEDICAL FACTS, MOST OF WHICH WERE NOT TRUE OR WERE CONTEXTUALIZED.
I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING THERE.
THERE WERE PEOPLE CARRYING GUNS ON THE SIDE OF FASCISTS.
NOT AS MANY PEOPLE DO WHERE THEY LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T LIKE AND THEY CALL IT FASCIST.
I'M SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO OPENLY IDENTIFY AS FASCISTS.
THERE WAS A FORMER UNC STUDENT WHO OPENLY IDENTIFIES AS A CHRISTIAN FASCIST AND BROUGHT CHRISTIAN FASCISTS WHO SAID, WHAT'S WRONG WITH CHRISTIAN FASCISM ONTO UNT CAMPUS? THERE WAS A AN INTERNET STREAMER THERE WHO HAS SAID THAT HIS ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE JEW MONEY.
THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION THERE THAT WAS FLYING ADAPTED SWASTIKAS.
IT WAS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CARRYING GUNS WHO WERE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I AM NOT SOMEBODY WHO LIKES GUNS.
I AM NOT SOMEBODY I, I CAN READ STATISTICS.
I KNOW WHAT THE PROPAGATION OF ASSAULT RIFLES DID TO MASS SHOOTINGS IN AMERICA.
I AM NOT A FAN OF GUNS PROPAGATING THROUGH OUR SOCIETY.
HOWEVER, THERE WERE GUNS THAT ARE BEING CARRIED BY FASCISTS AND TO POINT AT PEOPLE WHO ARE MASKING UP AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE FLYING ADOPTED SWASTIKA FLAGS AGAINST PROUD BOYS AND WHO ARE CARRYING WEAPONS TO A CHILDREN'S EVENT CALLING EVERYONE THEY'RE PEDOPHILES AND CHILD ABUSERS AND TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE EVENT, TO FILM CHILDREN, SNEAKING INTO THE EVENT, FILMING CHILDREN AGAIN, CARRYING ADAPTED SWASTIKAS.
THERE WAS AN OPEN FASCIST MOVEMENT.
THEY WERE CARRYING ADAPTIVE SWASTIKAS.
AND I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE A NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE AS A CITY.
IT IS TIME TO HONESTLY EXAMINE THE THREATS TO THE QUEER COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF A SHOOTING IN COLORADO SPRINGS WHERE FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED, TWO OF WHOM WERE TRANSGENDER, AND TO BE HONEST AND NOT BE MISLED BY RHETORIC LIKE THAT SPEAKER BROUGHT INTO THIS ROOM.
[2. CONCLUDING ITEMS]
SEE NONE. I'LL JUST SAY ACROSS THE BOARD IT IS IMPORTANT.AND I DON'T THINK THIS CITY SHOULD STAND WITH OR SUPPORT ANY TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION AT ANY LEVEL FOR OR AGAINST ANYONE. AND I THINK THAT I THINK THOSE THAT ARE CHARGED WITH KEEPING US SAFE UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE DOING THEIR LEVEL BEST. WE'RE HIRING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAFF, TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE JUST HAVE TO AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET BETTER ABOUT CHOOSING WORDS ACROSS THE BOARD. I'LL I'M GOING TO BE COMMITTED TO THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE BE MORE ACTIVE IN POINTING OUT WORDS THAT CAN BE MISCONSTRUED. AND I THINK I BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO THAT, HOPEFULLY.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU KNOW, AND IT DIDN'T RECORD CHRONICLE FIRST COMMENT.
MAYOR HUDSPETH IS AN UNCLE TOM.
I DON'T NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN TO ME.
AND I'M NOT. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.
[01:25:10]
AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY BETTER AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE FEELS COMFORTABLE HERE.AND AGAIN, IF YOU THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO DO IT, LET ME KNOW.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY I KNOW IN THE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.
HIS 21 YEARS OF PROTEST IN THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT.
HE WAS ALWAYS CIVIL. HE HAD PEOPLE COME UP WITH LONG RIFLES.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT'S MY APPROACH TO TO PROBLEM SOLVING AND ALWAYS LOOKING TO GET BETTER.
AND AT 1026, WE'LL IN TODAY'S MEETING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.