Travis County Commissioners Court
December 23, 2008
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next and this item gives residents an opportunity to address the court on any matter not on the agenda for up to three minutes.
gus pena has signed in as has roner reeferseed and the third speaker will be vicky carp.
and I think fourth we have a sort of recognition.
>> yeah, I'll call it out at the appropriate time.
>> mr. Pena.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, gus pena.
I'm here to speak on various issues.
a gentle giant is now one of our guardian angels in heaven, jennifer gail.
I know you are going to have a memorial in remembrance of jennifer's life.
I like to think of her life not passing.
a strong advocate for to poor, the needy, the have nots, military veterans, a united states marine corps, proud military veteran, may she rest in peace.
did a lot of things for the community.
had a lot of respect for you all and it was evident all the time she came over here and your gentle smile, Commissioner eckhardt, brought a lot of smiles to her face too.
I won't forget that.
there's a new v.a.
clinic for female veterans dedicated, dedication today.
I would like to mention a couple of people that have been instrumental bringing about the needs and problems of the female veterans.
I hate to distinguish female veterans from male veterans because we're all veterans but nonetheless we have not been supportive enough of our counterparts, our female veterans that have given a lot of sacrifice in service of our country's freedom, democracy and safety.
susan lewis, dawn crane, dr. Esparza, the vets center.
these a.
>> few that have been instrumental bringing about the clinic and have been strong advocates of the veterans.
it's going to be a dedication today, I'm not going to be able to make it, but thank god it's being done.
Commissioner Daugherty, I want to thank you for your service to the public not only to your precinct because the decisions you make impacts everybody in the county and city of Austin.
thank you for serving.
godspeed.
whatever you do, I know it's going to be successful in your life and thanks for your service.
I want to thank you, judge, for your leadership.
and thinking outside the box about helping people.
you have a kind heart.
I know the lord is blessing you, all the Commissioners especially, all of you all that have been helpful bringing about the services and needs to the community.
there are a lot of needs and we're going to need your help in the upcoming budget.
remember the budget.
increase in social service funding.
this is a bad economic time.
I'm asking to you think before the budgetary process to increase the funding in social service agencies, it's going to be needed.
city of Austin, Travis County and central Texas are so generous, caring and giving.
we are second to none in helping those less fortunate not only at thanksgiving and christmas but throughout the year.
thank you all very much for helping those in need.
I never have slam dunked or disrespected west Austin because a lot of friends of mine live in west Austin.
please, please again volunteer to mentor and tutor the youth.
we need help to help our youth and students master algebra which is a four-year commitment in the schools.
merry christmas, may the lord continue to bless you and keep you safe, healthy and have a good day.
>> thank you, mr. Pena.
ronnie reeferseed is next.
>> okay.
thank you, gentlemen.
sadly today I must share with posterity the story of a lost champion of love who blessed the streets of Austin for years with selfless devotion through her version of political love.
jennifer gale exercised her powerful mind and spirit of love all day every day on the streets of Austin, Texas.
and in the halls of political power here.
jennifer's playful sense of humor and thoughtful ideas helped illuminate the depth of her sometimes provocative, always constructive contributions to all of our lives.
jennifer gale was already waging her sixth campaign to become mayor when she would have served with honor and distinction.
for example, jennifer has been the tireless citizen advocate for years, countless Austin city council meetings and elsewhere.
my relationship with jennifer had deepened only recently with my own more or less regular attendance to these Travis County Commissioners court sessions.
but citizens there as you know are granted about three minutes to make a statement, sing a song, make an announcement and/or just try to help save our world and jennifer gale sincerely and passionately did all of those things here.
jennifer will always be a hero of mine and role model.
week after week, year after year she personified a true level of devotion that frankly puts us all to shame.
born male, jennifer lived her life as a woman who just happened to be homeless.
the countless challenges were encountered daily were never the source of complaint or excuse for her to try to help make life better for all of us.
in tribute to jennifer gale, I'm here to sing an abbreviated version of a son I think she would have enjoyed.
from one of my other heroes, the late george carl lynn.
>> [singing] jennifer, I love you and your presence in all of our lives will be cherished by all of us.
thank you so much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> vicky carp is next.
>> good morning, Commissioners and judge and happy holiday days.
I'm here to echo the sentiments of ronnie and gus.
just here for vote rescue and probably a number of other citizens from the Austin area to remember jennifer gale and to thank her for her dedication and her commitment to trying to make Austin and Travis County a better place to live.
I wish I had known herbert.
I didn't realize until I found out that she had passed just what a -- what a strong impact she had on me.
and I think a lot of people felt that way.
I went to her memorial service.
Karen and I went and so many people lined up to speak for two or three minutes about her memory and about what they -- you know, what they treasured in her.
as ronnie said, she set such a great example.
I was embarrassed to realize I didn't know she was homeless until she passed and I think that the irony of her dying on the steps of a church that could have given her some shelter, but I think it was because of her being a transgender person she was not comfortable there, nobody knows for sure, but I think the lesson for us is that we do need to as a community find ways to help people in her situation so that this is never repeated again.
but I just want to thank jennifer for all of her service and to just state that I think her kindness, overall her kindness and her loving attitude was a great lesson for all of us, even in the face of adversity.
so just wanted to state that for the record.
happy holidays.
>> thank you too.
>> thank you, ms. Carp.
>> if there's no one else for citizen communication, judge, I would like al to maybe run the last appearance that jennifer gale had in this world as far as Commissioners court.
she appeared before the Commissioners court the last elected body that she appeared before and she was an amazing person.
and, of course, there may be others that may want to speak to that before we go to that, judge.
I don't really know.
as far as citizens communication is concerned.
>> I think that would be good.
let jennifer have the last word.
>> and again, jennifer has done a lot for this community.
I mean jennifer was not afraid to tackle any issue.
whatever issue was out there, if it was something that she felt she could overcome, jennifer did those things.
and, of course, it saddens me to lose such a warrior.
it saddens me to lose such a public servant that was not an elected official but that was not her way of -- just kind of get a loss for words.
jennifer was a very special person and even though she wasn't elected, she word on issues as if she was an elected official.
and because of that I just think we should recognize jennifer for the person.
so at this time if al, if you would just run the last version of jennifer speaking before the Travis County Commissioners court on the 23rd of --
>> 16th.
>> 16th of this month.
like I said, it kind of get shook up.
she was a very special person.
but anyway, the 16th of this month, if you don't mind running it, we appreciate it.
>> hi travis.
trail of lights.
happy hanukkah.
Commissioners Margaret Gomez, I'm sorry, the --
>> capital metro.
>> that's right.
the chairwoman of the capital metro met poll ton transportation authority.
Gerald Daugherty, one of the finest leaders we've had in our county.
I agree about the good job that you've done.
judge Sam Biscoe, Commissioner sara eckhardt and my Commissioner Ron Davis.
hope you are enjoying the holidays.
merry christmas.
gus pena brought up a -- the need to have tutors, our children are falling behind and aren't able to catch up.
so if we can provide tutors, especially these being the last days of the semester for our students that are coming home, so we need to slow down in our cars and our trucks.
with all that horsepower, it's dangerous.
but all the students in the Austin independent school district after they've left, if they've dropped out or have left, the Austin independent school district has two years to go back and finish their education and get their high school diploma.
so any students out there that have not completed high school may go back to Austin independent school district and finish their education.
saying that sensible voters may end up voting for me and that's very promising.
I'm interested in the county creating a plan where we can do single stream recycling so we have manufactured grade recycling where we separate out the white glass so that when companies look for our recycled goods they can go right here in Travis County.
all businesses should have a dumpster behind them to get all that cardboard, glass, styrofoam, we don't even recycle styrofoam in Austin.
so let's build a plant and let's do that.
let the county take the initiative.
I'd like to thank the league of womens voters for posting those voter guides.
and I'm asking as a candidate for mayor that all people during these hard times carry quarters around with them and dollar bills so that the homeless don't have to ask you for money.
simply give them a quarter or a couple dollars.
thank you very much.
merry christmas everyone.
>> thank you, judge.
thank you, court.
I want to thank jennifer for the service that she rendered in Travis County.
>> [applause]
>> yes.
>> good morning, judge and Commissioners.
as the county service officer, it's my -- one of my responsibilities to attend the funerals of
>> [inaudible] to make sure that they are intender with honor and dignity and respect.
I knew jennifer was a
>> [inaudible] but I did not know the details of jennifer's service.
been in contact with the funeral director in madison, wisconsin.
jennifer will be interred in wisconsin.
with the respect of the family, they have requested that no information should be released to the public concerning the services, but information directly between myself and the funeral director tried to make the proper arrangements with the military, the v.a., that has been accomplished.
verification of service has been accomplished.
so at least I wanted to pass that on.
and with respect to Commissioner Davis' -- jennifer's last words, I hope that doesn't interfere with that little memorial service.
thank you.
>> thank you.
>> she will be missed.
anybody else for citizens communication whether you are signed in or not?
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 4:27 PM