Travis County Commissioners Court

August 7, 2012 - Citizens Communication
Agenda

Citizens communication.
Two residents have signed in to speak, gus pena the first speaker, second speaker is dr. John k.
Kim.
Good morning.

>> Good morning, judge, Commissioners, gus pena.
This is going to be a -- kind of a cultural shock for me because I've been attending the Commissioner meeting for many years and go to a new facility, so please have the paramedics there for me, please.

>> [laughter] anyway, good to be here.
Number 1, I would like to inform you I've been saying and telling you all about homeless veterans and veterans that need help.
The Texas veterans commission has allocated funding to veterans of foreign wars of state of Texas, vfw.
It takes 30 days when you submit an application, review process, deny it or approve it.
Not good enough.
I spoke with the Texas veterans commission director, colonel retired paladino and we're in the process of trying to streamline that process.
It is too lengthy.
We could die, be on the streets, anything could happen to families.
This is an issue that's coming before senator vanderpute, of course, the senator is chair of the veterans committee at the legislature.
So we have the big guns pulling for us and nationwide we're going to go to washington.
This is not acceptable.
Veterans are not getting their due diligence.
I'm going to say this next item might not -- you all might not like it.
I wanted to say it last week buts I was torn, as they say, between two lovers.
The pay raise.
Commissioner Gomez, I heard you on klbj this morning.
I just disagree with you.
We have people that are homeless, we have people barely making it on the verge of losing their jobs whatever little job they have, so these people are the ones that we should be helping create better jobs, economic development.
Jobs with a future.
And right now is not the time to be voting a pay raise for anybody other than the poor people out there, the homeless people out there.
I can tell you the horror stories even in our precinct, Commissioner Gomez, everywhere, precinct 3, the trailer court over there off 71 and old bee cave road.
This is not the time to be having a pay raise for anybody.
Everybody has expenses, Commissioner Gomez.
You know that.
I'm not picking on you.
I love you.
The issue is this, I have respect for you all, but I think this is not the time to do it.
We have veterans, disabled veterans that can't even go to work.
Their pension and disability takes up two years.
A vietnam veteran just died waiting for his pension and disability.
47 years after he came back from vietnam.
Not acceptable.
We have female veterans that need help.
They are not getting the due diligence.
They don't have jobs.
So I'm voicing my opposition to a pay rise right now.
Pay raise for the other lower paid employees.

>> [buzzer sounding] anyway, don't forget, hire the vet.
No pay raise.
Thank you.

>> Thank you, mr. Pena.
Dr. Kim.

>> Thank you, mr. Gus pena, I really appreciate the comments this morning.
I'm here.
I greatly appreciate america and Texas and Travis County, especially my honorable county judge samuel t.
Biscoe.
I have too many great happy news today for

>> [inaudible].
First of all, let me start with president obama's letter to me.
He asked me to lead washington, d.c., and educate the people and fix what is broken.
So I'm doing what he told me to do.
First, let me start -- the letter, official the letter.
Chapter 5, line 14 or 18.
Be patient with all people.
Give thanks to everything.
Be patient with all people.
I have been patient, wait american government guess how long?ej>s 24 years.
American government wronged my life, my son's life more than 24 years.
Finally I had great news.
U.s.
Home and secretary department changed their mistake last week a couple days ago.
U.s.
Government changes american mistakes to me and my son after 24 years.
I pray to god for america.
I appreciate america.
I don't want to take anyone to jail, no.
All that I want is to pray, appreciate america, and waiting for 24 years.
Finally u.s.
Homeland security department changed their mistake.
But here Texas and Travis County, they wronged my life, my son's life.
For more than six years they lied continuously.
Even today I have a letter, all documentation in front of you.
18, 16 pages.
How u.s.
Government -- no, Texas government, travis common court wronged my life.
Still I pray america, Texas and all of you, without ceasing pray.
So listen to me and listen to jesus christ.
Correct your mistakes.
Thank you very much.

>> Thank you, dr. Kim.

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.

July 3, 2012: Travis County Launches New Video Playback System

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On July 3rd, 2012, Travis County began leveraging free resources by posting Commissioners Court meetings on Youtube. Previously every video clip was edited separately and hosted on the county's video server. The old system also required RealPlayer to view the video clips.

The new systems save time and resources -- and that saves taxpayer dollars!