Travis County Commissioners Court
June 27, 2006
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next and once citizen has signed in. Gus and lucio pena, two citizens. And -- and this item is designed to give residents an opportunity to address the Commissioners court on any matter not on the agenda.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, my name is guess pena, to my right is my handsome child lucio who will be a ninth grader this year. First of all, I would like to graduate my good friend comal and his family and his wife on their birth of their precious daughter, and the reason I congratulate comal is because he's a good friend of ours, but also a capital metro bus driver, doing a good job over there, great interpersonal skills, we need to support our drivers, also. I graduate comal, god bless you all. One of the things that I do have a pet peeve about is this affordable housing statement. Let's have a clear cut definition of what affordability is, not say well, affordable housing is 150 to $200,000 homes. Let's say affordable housing, 78,000 and cheaper than that because a lot of the people here in Austin cannot afford what is affordable housing, 100,000 on up. Affordable for whom, I've been saying that to the city council for many years. Military veterans near housing, transitional housing for homeless and their families, vets need comprehensive, job training, jobs that are supposed to be offered to them, not only at the federal system, but I'm sure here at the county government, also. Family elder care needs more monetary donations to purchase fans for the needy, seniors, people that do not have air conditioning. Anybody can call and find the telephone number for a family elder care in the phone book. Continue to fund summer youth program for youth, keep these youth out of the streets. I have seen a lot of kids and youth on the streets, gangs are coming back up. I spoke to you all about this last time. Can't have them in gangs. This is counter productive. Around keep them off the streets -- and keep them off the streets, also. Keep Austin affordable, I hate that term keep Austin weird. I hate it with a passion. I told the city council that. The gap continues to widen between the haves and have nots. I'm sure you all read the article in the paper. More kids in poverty. Texas has a higher percentage of children living in poverty than 41 other states that's a disgrace to the united states of america, the people -- the richest country in the word, we have poverty, we have homeless people, homeless families. I would -- we would like to see mr. Warren buffet and bill gates send some of those billions to Austin to help the poor over here. With all honesty and since seater, send them over here -- sincerity, since them over here. Society is measured by its treatment of the less fortunate. Don't look down on people. When we are looking at the budget, it's clear cut, comprehensive study and remember our senior citizens and our children. The seniors paved the way for us, the children are our future and I will say that, I will wrap it up. I said for many years, city council is off for about a month. Thank you all, appreciate you all being here, week after week after week, more budgetary sessions in the city council and friends on the city council by the way, I know the mayor very well, city council members, I do appreciate you all being here week after week after week. The city council learn about -- you know, something from you all, have a budgetary session. Keep up the good work, going to -- going to monitor my child lucio to become a good ninth grader, god bless you all.
>> lucio anything to say today.
>> no.
>> he's a quiet -- the quiet one in the family [laughter]
>> judge, also.
>> I have something to say if no one else is here. This 24th, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony on colony loop, right off of -- off of -- of decker lane and in those areas over there. Loyola that area. This weekend there was a ribbon cutting to name a new elementary school after velma roberts, the recreation facility named after velma roberts, also dorothy turner. The name was named after overton. Those persons have been great leaders in the community. We want to thank the -- the aisd, the city of Austin, the neighborhoods out there for -- for bringing very educatal opportunities -- educational opportunities for this community and another strong push for this area that's really, really growing and at a real rapid pace, so we do have an elementary school coming online. Real well attended ceremony, we just appreciate those folks for doing what they did, naming those particular facilities after those dynamic persons, dorothy turner, velma roberts and also velma overton, very well attended.
>> outstanding Austinites and americans.
>> yes, yes.
>> speaking of americans, since next Tuesday, our regular meeting day, is independence day, the Commissioners court will be celebrating independence day for the rest of the nation, we will not have a Commissioners court meeting, we will have claims, expenditures, a consent item agenda this Friday, June 30th, at 2:30. For county managers who have missed yesterday's 5:00 p.m. Deadline, the county judge is now extending it until 1:00 today. Claims, expenditures, and consent items only. 7 and that will be rig -- and that will be rigorously adhered to because we will have only three here on Friday for a quorum and we hope that our meeting is five minutes or less.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:13 AM