Travis County Commissioners Court
September 22, 2009,
Citizens Communication
Citizens communication is next, this item gives residents an opportunity to address the court on any matter not on the agenda for up to three minutes.
morris priest is first, he will be followed by jimmy castro, followed by gus pena.
>> good morning.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, morris priest for the record, speaking on my own behalf.
i want to invite people to the next campo meeting in October.
you can call campo at 974-2275, their website is campotexas.org.
they are located at 505 barton springs road, suite 700 here in Austin, Texas.
many of us are going to go there and ask campo to vote on a resolution to boycott txi from what they are doing out in Travis County, we are hoping to get some work from the campo board on that matter.
also there's been the -- the 130 toll ramp that's in this t.i.f.
is funded by gas tax dollars.
that's documented firm.
i know there's been reports about the -- about the toll -- their tolling four flyovers on the 290 east toll way and I was at the -- at the March 5th meeting, at txdot, I was also at the March 19th meeting on the federal stimulation fund, there are many issues, as you know, they were going to build a 6.2-mile toll road, now they're saying a little over a mile toll road.
now they're -- but there's been a lot of misinformation put out in the public.
but the market evaluation and things have changed and what they have told us wasn't what they -- what they are now doing, they were going -- they were going to give $130 million instead of this 90 million that they talked about in this document dated September the 18th.
the ctrma was going to kick in $30 million, but basically when -- when campo voted for the 20 signals, txdot did have a map, there were 20 locations on that map.
and then they had already built 8 of them, when they brought it back to campo, campo said well we didn't actually vote for those, we just actually voted for 20 signals.
now, we know where two of those signals are going to go in.
they are -- which are going to be paid for by the city of Austin out of that money.
those are going to go in at springdale road and tuscany way.
so they are tolling four direct connects and about a little over a mile of road.
and here's the documents.
and then when we hear that we don't know what we're talking about, but don't listen to an agency that lost track of $1.1 billion.
okay.
keep that in mind.
when we have these people like take on traffic, they tell us -- like they told us down at the capitol, I'm tired of hearing about freeways.
that's what they said, I'm tired of hearing about freeways.
freeways are built with our tax dollars, but toll roads are built with our toll revenue.
all roads are built with gas tax dollars.
all roads are built with tax dollars.
so -- so this misinformation by take on traffic, txdot, the ctrma, campo, if you want to listen to people, I'm not some black helicopter guy up here telling you identify got the documents, I'm in the documents, thank you very much, judge.
>> thank you, mr.
priest.
>> mr.
castro?
>> thank you, judge, good morning judge Biscoe, Commissioners, I'm here to speak on my own behalf, I do have some signs to show you this morning.
there have been over 64,000 people in the Austin area who have lost their jobs.
now is the time to sharpen those skills, polish up that resume.
one field to consider is the pharmacy technician program at Austin community college.
first, Austin community college is the primary trainer of health care professionals and other local workers.
second, Austin community college is a primary trainer and retrainer of central Texas workforce.
many pharmacy technicians work evenings, weekends and holidays, average starting pay is 10 to $12 per hour depending on experience and qualification.
pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other health care products to patients.
technicians usually perform routine tasks to help prepare prescribed medication for patients such as counting tablets and labeling bottles.
the pharmacy technician program is a two semester certificate that combines classroom and laboratory instruction with clinical experiences in local pharmacies.
the program accepts students each fall for evening classes and each spring for morning classes.
upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national pharmacy technician certification exam.
the program may be completed through college credit or continued education.
a certificate of completion is awarded to students who complete all required classes.
for more information, you may contact the Austin community college, pharmacy technician program, health sciences information and admissions office at the eastview campus, at building 8,000, room 8356, at 3401 webberville road and the phone number is (512)223-5700.
finally, Austin community college will get you back on your feet and back on the job.
thank you, judge, Commissioners.
>> thank you, mr.
>> mr.
pena is next, followed by ronnie reefer seed.
>> good morning, judge, as mr.
castro said I'm speaking on my own behalf other than people asking me to address issues with y'all, for y'all, I will do so, I bring forth those issues, rather, excuse me.
capital metro we understand that the Commissioner Gomez did the budget at the capital metro board, was it approved yesterday.
>> it was a public hearing.
>> public hearing only.
because a lot of people I guess heard it was the budget hearing was going to be approved, budget was going to be approved.
>> public hearing.
>> okay.
>> next week, right.
>> end of September.
>> all right.
anyway, we feel that again I'm going to make it brief here.
we need to -- a management change at capital metro.
it's a train without a driver.
there are a lot of issues going on.
we feel that the taxpayer money is not being handled or appropriated correctly and misappropriation has occurred.
that's just not coming from me, coming from feds, also, federal officials.
anyway, second, mental health.
bipolar disease, bipolar affliction, anger management we used to call it, it's increasing out in the community, especially in our youth.
we see a lot of it in students.
a lot more funding is going to be needed for mental health treatment.
this is specifically one affliction that needs to be addressed expeditiously.
comprehension job training, ptsd treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, also intensive case management for veterans returning from afghanistan and iraq, combat veterans, also female veterans have their own specific issue that's are not similar to what the male veteran has.
we need to support our female veterans, also if you see a veteran out there, hug them, shake their hand, thank them for their service to the country.
it's a bad situation in afghanistan and iraq.
mentors and tutors for students everywhere, high school, middle school, it starts in middle school, I say starts at elementary school level.
i'm a former educator, also, we need mentors and tutors.
if you tutor or mentor a student in math, reading.
we need your help.
i'm volunteering as much as I can even with my own situation dropout rate is higher than reported.
judge, you were over there with the aisd and city officials regarding that presentation on dropout rate.
we need to do a better job to retain kids in schools to graduate on time.
if not bring them back to school.
i served in Austin independent school district dropout prevention task force, 1998 to 2000, it was a horror story.
we didn't have enough money to fund any initiatives, only one, that was an issue that we should have never funded.
h1n1, I know there's an item on the agenda regarding this issue.
i want to tell the people in spanish, also.
>> [speaking in spanish] get vaccinations flu shots.
last item, that's it.
anyway the issue, mona gonzalez, thank you for her service to the communities.
thank you.
>> mr.
reeferseed is next.
>> does this work?
>> absolutely.
>> hi.
i'm ronnie
>> [inhale] reeferseed.
saying that there are people in our world who have decided that they are just -- there are just too many people in our world, therefore they have decided to start killing people.
not themselves mind you, but instead all of us.
useless eaters.
these people write books like former senator tom daschle and current science czar for bankster stooge obama john e.
holden.
in this book and several other his, john p.
holden spells out how exactly to achieve population reduction.
satanically by forcing us all to take vaccine that's kill us or at least sterilize us.
the problem is, you see, we are not supposed to read those books.
but how about the -- about how they plan to kill everybody, but oops, eco science population resources and the environment by john p.
holdren is a really good place to start.
in this book he wistfully plans to kill people that he has decided to be "useless eaters" by poisoning the water with fluoride.
and forcing us all to take tainted vaccines that will some day kill us.
whoa.
that's just hard to believe.
yes, I know it's hard to truly face reality sometimes, but now we really have no choice.
wake up, people.
the elite, meaning power brokers, have some of the world -- they have decided years ago to implement their truly evil plans.
fluor dated water, in virtually all processed foods.
monsanto's, genetically modified food organisms for food are just some of the ongoing truly evil schemes that have been killing us.
for years now, it's not just an accident.
how do we fight this madness?
for me it starts with facing reality and thus acting accordingly, my hero and mentor dr.
ron paul has with love and joy successfully delivered over 4,000 texan babies, like dr.
paul, I understand that killing or aborted babies does not solve any problems for anybody.
death is not the answer.
similarly, in my humble opinion, the ideas promoted by this week's news week of killing granny is shockingly horrific and that's what -- what end of life care means.
yes, these are death panels, people.
let us all instead learn to cherish all stages of human life.
and let us stop the killing.
i know from my own personal experience that there's potential value for one's life beyond a coma.
yes, I was in a coma, thankfully my life was not extinguished.
all civilizations should be judged on how they treat the hopeless, very young and very old.
listen to 91.1 f.m.
for alex jones or -- or online for 24/7 info wars.com and www.americanfreepress.net 8882324141 for weekly updates from dr.
paul.
thank you very much.
>> thank you, mr.
reeferseed.
linda thomas wade, please.
i am missing slip number 5.
and if you have slip number 5 and wish to give comments during citizens communication, please come forward.
ms.
wade.
>> good morning,.
>> good morning.
>> my name is linda thomas wade, I'm the president of the sickle cell association of Austin, the mark thomas foundation, on behalf of the numerous families that we serve and myself, I would like to take -- to thank the Commissioners court for your assistance and support by helping us help devastated families living for cycle cell disease, a -- sickle sell disease, a few of which are with me today, including laticia collins, as some of you know I was married to a wonderful man by the name of mark thomas who founded the organization over a decade ago.
he passed away prematurely.
at the age of 46, due to complications of this life threatening blood disease.
if he had lived, on Saturday, September 19th, we would have celebrated 32 years of wonderful marriage.
however, we continue the great work that he began.
september is national sickle cell awareness month.
on this past Saturday, we had a sickle celebration in the park celebrating life for these individuals.
we also recognize and appreciate Commissioner Ron Davis who not only has been a great supporter, but the event was also held in his district at the beautiful east metropolitan park in manor.
we are also thankful to the Austin Travis County health and human services department for helping us in our endeavor.
so on today we would like to present you the Travis County Commissioners court with a certificate of appreciation, as well as a digital photo frame which includes pictures of our families at this great event at the east metropolitan park on Saturday.
it is said a picture is worth a thousand words.
thank you for allowing our families to have a picture perfect weekend and a picture perfect life.
we love you and god bless and the certificate of appreciation just says presented to Travis County Commissioners court in sincere appreciation and gratitude for your continued support and assistance by helping families living with sickle cell disease presented by the sickle cell association of Austin, mark thomas foundation.
thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> [ applause ]
>> ma'am, what's your name?
>> linda collins.
>> when you comment you have got to give your identity to us.
good to see you
>> [laughter] thank you very much.
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:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 1:30 PM
