Travis County Commissioners Court
November 13, 2007
Citizens communication
Citizens communication is next and one citizen has signed in, gus pena. This item gives residents an opportunity to address the Commissioners court on any matter not on the agenda for up to three minutes. Good morning.
>> good morning, judge Biscoe, Commissioners, gus pena, proud marine corps veteran of the marine corps era. I want to thank all the people who participated in the veterans day parade Sunday. You don't know how good it makes us veterans feel when we see the public acknowledging and thanking the efforts that our military veterans have done throughout the war and in peace time. Training is tough. I love my tour in the marine corps. I would gladly do it again if as old as I were they needed bodies, I would serve any time. Anyway, it is a trying time for -- excuse me. It is a trying time for our youth today. Anger, psychological problems for a lot of students not only in aisd, but other districts, even west lake and eanes district. We met with the chief and several city officials Thursday right after the city council meeting to see what we could do to address and correct behavioral problems and issues about gang involvement. I’ve told you again here at the county, the city council, the school district and the legislature that gangs have infiltrated our schools. They are trying to win the hearts and minds and consciences of our students and youth. That's not acceptable. I’m asking here public luckily as I’ve done elsewhere to the Travis County bar, engineers, architects, anybody that can help provide mentors and tutors for our students. They need help. They are failing reading and math. These are two core curriculum issues that are hurting our students because they can't grasp the structure of what math calls for. Algebraer, increase in years in order to graduate. I’m asking everybody specifically to help johnston high school, my beloved alma mater. We stand to close johnston if we don't get our test scores up by April of next year. I’m asking also anybody and anybody to help provide youth for our youth to stay in school. Homeless vts. Very good article in the paper. It says more united states veterans returning home to face enemies. When we came back from the vietnam war, we didn't have counseling, we didn't have any reentry training to enter society. Our veterans need help coming back. A lot of homelessness, a lot of psychological problems. I referred three veterans that have been to iraq four years to dave evans and mhmr. We have homeless veterans on the streets. This is not acceptable to this country and former veterans. I want to thank judge muehr, she has been a friend many years before I was a bay live, but I thank her for her and the other judges helping our kids stay out of trouble, but only in on the that, looking at the full broad picture and sometimes going outside the box and helping the kids and their families. Anyway, thank you all very much. Remember the efforts that the veterans made and we need mentors and tutors to help our students. Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Pena.
>> thank you, gus.
>> anybody else for citizens communication whether you are signed in or not?
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 18:30 AM