Travis County Commissioners Court
November 21, 2006
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next. Two citizens have signed in. Tomas ybarra is first.
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic] representing today in an official capacity
>> [indiscernible] inc., for those of you who may not be familiar with us, we are incorporated in the state of Texas, may 31st, 1978, if I may, permission of the court, the articles of the incorporation, we the undersigned national persons of the age of 21 years or more, at least two of whom are citizens of the state of Texas, acting as I think operators of the corporation under the -- incorporators do hereby adopt the following
>> [indiscernible] a period of duration is purposeul and the purpose is -- is orlged to act as a clearinghouse on the arts to do research on artistic techniques, to promote art throughout Austin and encourage through preservation and development a minority artistass in all fields and sponsor projects designed to communicate, educate and entertain the public about the black and mexican american community and experience. And -- and you know being -- that's what that has been about. We had one funding source, city of Austin one time. We did one before them. I think the same year that we were incorporated for a period of 1979. I would like for --
>> [indiscernible] because of my background being in non-profs, especially in cultural arts, we tend to become co-dependents. We as non-profit cultural art organizations that once -- we get spoiled. Once we get a funding source, we tap into it, and, you know, like anything else we tend to abuse that privilege. Having known that and having been a long time member, the players in the 70s, I saw what happened there. When Monday started rolling in. And the dreams and aspirations that we had as a total multiple they cultural triethnic organization fell by the wayside because that's what happens when people --
>> [indiscernible] that was esther williams and former
>> [indiscernible] said, we as americans must learn how to say no to money when we don't have it. That way we know how to say no to money when we do have it. In other words -- in I am here today I respect you all tremendously, my father and my mother were staunch democrats and voted for you all. My father died three years ago, if I ever find myself with my back to the wall facing a firing squad that I could come here. Look into the policy and procedures what's happening at the Austin research center for the homeless at the arch. I'm not allowed to go into the arch. I am -- I am a staff member. How do I define being a staff member? I sell the Austin advocate newspaper that's printed and worked on by the homeless and the offices of the second floor. How are you going to ban me from a facility in which, one, technically right now by law it's my homestead, two, I work there. Practically 24/7. If I'm not at the hybrid breaker doing research on plays and things that are going on. Library. Things -- the disrespect for myself and several other
>> [indiscernible] when I use that world, served the military combatively, some who did not serve but have been incarcerated since 1926 when this country found itself in the deepest depression after the first world war and the prisons were being filled with -- with veterans who have fought, those got together and said we need to
>> [indiscernible] federalis. I'm talking about people who serve this country. Please into into the policy and procedures. You know I come here as far as major, major housing, mental health, the budget, how is the budget coming along that kind of thing.
>> thank you, mr. Ybarra.
>> thank you sir.
>> gus pena is next.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, gus pena. I want to thank mr. Ybarra for eloquently putting the issues out in regards to the arch and I'll include the salvation army, also. I will be honest with you. In working with a lot of the homeless on the streets, veterans and -- and non-veterans, I would not personally send anybody over there. It's too dangerous. Obviously you see all of the police officers out there. They are there for a reason. I have taken some -- some congressional delegates from washington to tour that area and they said, I don't know how in the heck this came about to be, but it is not safe, it is not appropriate, it is not good. Anyway, I thank mr. Ybarra because he put it eloquently. Go out there yourself, go with me. If you are scared, I'm not scared. I will go up there and give you a tour, then the times where it's highly volatile. They are selling drugs. Anyway, I want to thank, I should have said this first, I want to thank and give praise to our lord jesus christ for the many blessings bestowed on us, not only us, the pena family, all of you all. I know you all are blessed, you are here where my brother veterans didn't make it out of vietnam. We would like to thank the following individuals and businesses that have made it possible for the poor, less fortunate to have a thanksgiving dinner, turkey, ham, all of the rest of the food that goes with it. John butler, criminal defense attorneys. Many attorneys who said I don't want my name mentioned, I respect that. Balcones resources, inc., thank you for many years that you have given to the community, youth, needy, less fortunate. Mr. Karl tipper, a good friend of mine, mr. Tom winkly, an engineer, thank you, these two individuals I will make it public, I have seven brothers and three sisters, I love these two individuals like a brother because they have never said no to us when a child needed help or school supplies or clothes or a person needed help with their rent, utilities, whatever. They are there for us. Never said oh,, you know, from this part -- from this party they never said this is something that we won't do. They have always been there for us, these are the type of individuals that the lord blesses. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't have to say this, by I'm going to say it anyway, judge. The gap continues to widen between the haves, have nots. You see it daily, on the news, in the streets. How much longer can our american people to allow this type of situation to occur. It's not acceptable. The richest country in the world and we have these homeless people in the streets, we have people suffering. They pay taxes even if they are homeless. Senator elect jim webb, marine corps captain, returns now is the time to look back to regroup and help those who are less fortunate and make the appropriate decisions to make this an equal country for all and not just for some. He was talking about the rich.
>> I will leave it to this. A society's worth is measured by its treatment of its less fortunate. I don't have to give you the imings of what I mean -- the definition of what I mean by this. I thank god people like marietta over here. I thank you, I love you for doing that, you are a good christian. Good, I wish you all a happy thanksgiving, keep up the good work.
>> same to you.
>> thank you, gus.
>> thank you.
>> anybody else for citizens communication?
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 10:29 AM