City Council - Regular Meeting

Can you, can you do me a favor and tell them to let's go? Hey George, can you get me the list of speakers, please? Yeah. Thank you, gang. All council members to chamber. All right. All council members to your chairs, please.

[sighs] For our public hearing, we're going to ask the clerk to um call the roll, please. Ganim Murray Murray, Murray Ganim He's here. Don Newton He's He's in the back.

Okay. Nicole Nelson Present. Denise Taylor Morrison Jorge Cruz Patricia Spell Present. Rolanda Smith Present. Akeem Boyd Present. Loretta Dunbar Here. Michelle Lyons Mary Emma Drayton Richard Ortiz Here. Alfredo Castillo Fred Hodges Present. Aida Morales Present. Maria Valle Keisha Medina Present. Maria Pereira Eneida Martinez Present. Ernest Newton We have a quorum. Okay, our first speaker for the evening, let me set the ground rules. George Councilman Cruz Can you set your clock for 3 minutes so that when it's time, when that clock goes off, they'll know they've exceeded exceeded their time?

[clears throat]

And when I put my finger up like this, that means you got 1 minute left. Our first speaker is Mr. Stevenson. I'm I'm sorry. Hold on 1 second, Mr. Stevenson. I got you. Our first speaker will be John Marshall Lee. Thank you, Mr. Nicholson. John Marshall Lee, 30 Beacon Street, Bridgeport. City Council, last fall 2025, the citizens who were registered as voters elected you to represent them. They also said yes to two proposals from the Charter Review Committee, of which I was a member. That group of 13 citizens understood and agreed that our city's response to ethics violations was a priority. And the consent of the governed showed up in ballot results. Any delay in maintaining the former status quo with no ethics director recruited, selected, and employed as staff to collaborate with the volunteers on the Ethics Commission fails to respond to the hearings, discussions, and the time allowed, as well as the work assigned to Charter Review, and that's sinful. We did our work. We delivered a better written document, shorter, edited for ease and understanding, especially in the areas of civil service and ethics.

Has anybody read it? Since the 2026 budget and appropriation through review of the mayor's budget failed to assign a dollar amount for consideration as a placeholder for future consideration, what plan did the mayor and the council have in mind? Ignoring the voting consent of the governed looks like stalling, creates a looming emergency at this moment. Now, governance structure failures in Bridgeport, which include the Fair Housing Commission by a series of mayors, financial justice is being sought, and Success Village owners could have approached a fair housing group if we had one, but we don't. Fair Rent Commission is a different story, but your oversight over the rest of this body, 3 years of public service, does not show a qualified representative or record of what subject that office management has faced, and how rental questions are managed or reported. You budgeted a position, and monthly it is still not operating. Please look into it. But the District Attorney's Office, established in recent years, serving the council, is staffed, operating, and growing in its services. Time will tell, certainly, but consider a placeholder budget as suggested by councilperson not here, but Fred Hodges, please. The duties of the Charter Review Commission were complete in 2025. Why did it continue to be listed on the city website in 2026? The voters responded to the process. If additional work is necessary for Charter Review members, inform us today with specific instructions. The mayor

and council agreed in January 2024 to do the Charter Review. to set this in motion. We completed our work within 4 months. What are we waiting for? Mr. Marshall

Time I'm wasting. Thank you. Thank you, sir. I see that you did not add anything to it. Mr. Wilson, next. I'm Don Wilson, 56 Fairview Ave. Uh Bridgeport, Connecticut 06606. I'm announcing and LP Care celebration here in the city of Bridgeport. For 5 years, we've been uh helping to reduce the violence uh through our programs here in the city, and I left one of these flyers on your desk there. Uh here we host the culmination of our violence prevention programs. So, we bring all the kids down to Seaside Park, and we have a championship day, and we take care of the kids, we feed them, and it's a great day out there. But we just want to invite all the city council members to come out and support all the activities that we're doing, and I just wanted to share that with you guys. Uh we're going to have uh a peace walk um at Harding High School, and I would encourage all you guys to come out for that. Um I'm also asking for city council members to have I have these Peace Week banners. Um some of you guys have displayed them in your district um before over the years, and I would encourage you guys to again just present um one of these banners in your district just to show the support um for peace and what we're doing here in the city of Bridgeport. So, I really do thank you guys, and I'm looking forward to seeing each and every one of you guys out to see what we're doing in the community, because sometimes when you say something, it's different from when you come and you experience it. So, I would encourage you guys to come out

and experience all the activities that we're that we are hosting, especially the flag raising ceremony that's going to be right here outside at 49 45 Lines Terrace on June 6th. So, thank you guys. I appreciate it, and hope to see you guys everyone here. Thank you, sir.

participate. Thank you. Next speaker, Councilwoman Pereira. Good evening. 80 Grandfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610. I I want to speak about the East End school cuz we generally have this this unspoken rule that we don't interfere in each other's districts. And whenever anybody here is opposed something going into their district, I have stood with that councilperson. Now, there might be sometimes you want something in your district that I'm opposed to, and I'll oppose it because it's related to a bond or something and it affects my constituents, too. But I've never voted for something in any district that the council were opposed to. Now, this new East End school, I'm not necessarily opposed to the East End school. But using it for that purpose I'm opposed to closing my schools. And I'm the only person hours in outside that school drop pick up and I'm those talking to people who matter. And I can tell you not one person at the school wanted that school, not staff, not parents, students, and the same thing. Now, successful for the first time in 10 years, somebody can get a mortgage there. It's the first time in 10 years. So, now young families can it's a great buy. You can get a unit right now between 30 and 80 grand. But they've only been able to have kept full capacity decade. Now, so we give it with one hand cuz we're going to say we're really finding a way to get a home at a reasonable price. But we're the only neighborhood that have Everybody here must know that I'm not going to accept that. Okay? I am organized. I've already found one person to take from this school. We're looking for one cuz the board has an extensive school closing policy. Follow that policy. And they're policy-making board. Their

job is to make policy students. So, we wants everybody else to follow the but they don't want to follow their own policy that they're required to follow. I don't think a judge should take that. And so, I just want you to know I'm organizing. I'm good at it. We this. Joseph Kalavich. Thank you. My name is Joseph Kalavich, 324 Bunts Road Avenue. I'm speaking today as an individual. Bridgeport is about to receive roughly $10 million in one-time state aid. This money is not a bonus. It exists because state aid is finally what it has been for years. Our children have been asked too much with too little for too long. The question is whether Is it whether our students need this money? The only question is whether the council truly matter when difficult choices have to be made. There should be no no debate. Dollars must immediately go into education. The mayor has proposed $5 million to start, but it is not enough. Real commitment lives in the minimum budget requirement. That is where budgets are stabilized and where school systems can plan for the future instead of bracing for another crisis. I am asking the council to take two specific actions. Direct every cent of the $10 million in extra state aid into education in addition to Mayor Ganim's proposed $5 million. Two, close the gap. Continue searching as promised to look for the remaining $14 million of needed to avoid every single cut to our classrooms. Currently, as things stand today, if everything proposed passes as is, our children are still nearly $19 million short of avoiding disaster. We must place this money into the MBR so we aren't back here fighting for our schools' very survival. We must also confront a hard truth. Bridgeport public Bridgeport funds its schools' local local share at the lowest per pupil level level in Connecticut. Dead last.

That matters. It exposes a pattern of education as an expense to be managed rather than an investment in our children's our kids' future. The formula this money was given by designed to respond to season distress. I believe it's especially our children. Sending money was a misrepresentation. We'll be saying one thing in Hartford, our schools need money, get and then telling okay, it's no soup for you. That is not leadership. Some will say this is one-time money, but our schools have absorbed one-time consequences of permanent underfunding for over a decade. 400 positions and funding special education costs. You cannot overfund a system that you have systemically starved. We must also got one more paragraph. We must also continue to ring more dollars from the state to fix this broken system. But right now, the choice is yours. Diverting these funds would be a conscious political choice, which will only increase the priority when you say otherwise. Put the money into education. Put it in MBR. Funding education is an every year recurring responsibility, not a one-shot deal. Thank you very much. Vincent Good evening, members of City Council representatives of the City of Bridgeport. I'm going to have 3 minutes to explain to you how how it feels to be a black man in here America. Being a black man in here America means being shot by the police guns blazing. Constitution means that you have the freedom of speech. So, I'm going to use I'm going to use the Constitution of the United States to have freedom of speech because I'm being shot down and I just turn on the TV and another man be shot by the police.

But we have the right to bear arms, so I have my Glock 19 with the AR-15 cuz I have the right to bear arms. Meanwhile, I pay you as the police chief. While you should be in shot dead in your public schools and our students dying in the streets. I seen B.J. Brown last night. Yeah. President Joe Biden just pardoned Adrian Piller, but she don't even care. Again, I seen B- B.J. Brown last night. Open my eyes, see the blame in my eyes. Again, so I'm going to use the Constitution of the United States and I'm going to plead the Fifth Amendment because I plead the Fifth. You have no expectation of privacy in my house because I plead the Fifth. Again, the Constitution has the right to bear arms, but we have money for war, but we can't feed the poor. Donald Trump just cut the food stamps. He told black people that he had to work 80 hours in order to get food stamps. So, I'm sorry. You never walked in my shoes. You don't pay my bills. So, last time I checked, I'm not going to pray to a white man with blue eyes. You get it? I'm not never going to pray to a white man with blue eyes because you want me to bleach my skin. How black blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. But again, I'm not going to bleach my skin to pray for a white man with blue eyes. Again, it's a contradiction. You see, the situation is the Constitution the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slavery by Abraham Lincoln, but we still have the King with Thurgood Marshall. God forbid if I say Malcolm X.

Again, I turn on the TV last last night and I seen a black man shot by the police with a Glock 14. Again, I have the Constitution. I plead the Fifth, but I have the right to bear arms and I'm going to load my nine rounds with one in the chamber. Again, I'm going to load my with nine rounds with one in the chamber. Call the judge and the prosecutor cuz I got my turn to speak. I'm going to jail. I'm going to hell. Again, that's where Jesus went last night. Jesus but celebrated Christmas. Councilman, wrap it up. Thank you. Our [clears throat] next speaker, Ms. Al.

[clears throat]

Hello. My name is Lynn Mosher Howell. Some of you may know me. Um I am the owner of Rafa Massage and Acupuncture, I do have very good news. The business after 11 years is successful. Yay. It is because I pivoted three times. One of them of course being COVID. Bridgeport was very good to me. They helped me get equipment. I pivoted two years ago to lymphatic drainage massage using some of the equipment I got during COVID. That has made me the premier uh person for uh lymphatic drainage, which by the way saves lives literally. I've had two people almost die and I educated them, got them health care. Anyways, third time I've had to re- The first time I had to pivot my business though was because of the meters. Anyone here 2015? 2015? Yeah, that one. I lost my business and had to start all over again. Now, I understand you want to upgrade the meters. Fine. I'm not against that. But like the last time, you didn't kick the tires on the new equipment first and it created a fiasco. You then had to shut it off for a year just to get downtown back. So, So just bringing down memory lane here. So, what I'm saying is if you wanted to and change out these to these new no meters kiosk things, fine. But have you trouble shooted it and have you asked individuals and businesses how that will affect them? One particular issue. You have a 2-hour moratorium on parking. After 2 hours, you have to reboot. The current system, you can reboot, you can pay by credit card, app, or cash. You can get 6 hours in one parking space. Easy enough. The new system, if it's 2

hours, do they have to leave downtown after 2 hours? That means I want No one can come downtown except for one appointment. They can't go get a massage after. They can't go A lot of times people will leave me and go get something to eat. They can't do that if they can only have exactly 2 hours downtown. Do you see what I'm saying? So that's what I'm trying to say is make sure you kick the tires on it. You can give me a half a million dollars because the meters are losing money. Well, I I hate to tell you, but it's a recession. You want to lose the money right now. Everything downtown is disposable income between restaurants and services. We're off by that term. You can spend a half a million dollars and you won't get your money back. And then it's really is how many times has downtown asked for meter money to advertising to bring business to downtown? Wouldn't spending 10 or 20,000 to advertise downtown get more people using the meters give you your money back faster than spending a half a million dollars? I'm just saying, why don't you be a little bit effective? And also, if you're going to do these kiosks, how is going to be Are you going to have a educational campaign to go with it? And again, this gas and it destroyed downtown and again, just became successful. I'd like to keep it and I appreciate it if you helped me with that. Thank you. Rob Traber. Thank you to the council. I'm here to speak Um I want to sort of celebrate we

achieved a milestone this week uh in the legislature. Not the million dollars that we were hoping for the full of ECS, but we accomplished what nobody thought we could do. In the short session, we got the attention of the governor, and the Um they were not planning to spend big money on school construction. We got them to spend money. The governor proposed nothing. The state did and instead, they were forced to spend big money. Now, it's not enough, as we discussed at the hearing a few weeks ago, but it is a start. And who led that fight was throughout the state. Bridgeport led that fight. Our two our staff, our politicians, our delegates led that fight. And next year, in the long session, the state will be considering a new budget. Bridgeport will be at the forefront of that fight. Now, we got 15 million added to the ECS, another 10.3 million which is to through the Pequot fund for the city to spend on schools. And my any conversation I had with Representative Stafstrom, Speaker Ritter Thursday, uh that that money will not count to the ECS. So that's 25 million, a little over 25 million I came to the public hearing, I asked that the city do the 5 million from this year and the 5 million from next year all at once this year. That'll get us up to the 35 million. Then the state has proposed that we deal with mar uh MARB. And that'll be for the board to decide whether that's the route we want to go or whether we have some other options. But that'll be for the board of Ed to

decide to balance our And that's a big step forward for us. And I think we accomplished a lot this year. It's not what we wanted, but an accomplishment. And I think the city of Bridgeport has put itself on the map. I think the city council has the opportunity this week in making its budget decisions its leadership along with the rest of what we've done. And so I'm here tonight to ask you to take that step with us to establish Bridgeport leader in our state of the fight for equity that our state needs. the state, cities, poor cities and towns that are oppressed by the inequitable system of education funding. Thank you. Our last speaker for the will be former councilman Scott Burns. Good evening, Council. My name is Scott Bridgeport and I'm with Vanessa Lyons, 115 Bassett Avenue. So I want to speak tonight on two matters. One myself and then uh another uh shared between me and Vanessa. Uh one is to say thank you uh for your support uh when we had Jeff Speck in town um in March. Uh I got word his report will be due soon and sharing some of the results with you and again I want to reiterate my thanks for your support in helping to bring him to town to get some fresh perspective on what we can do better for our city particularly. Uh the second matter I want to speak on is about accountability, uh a word we hear often. Uh one of the last actions, I guess you could say, uh I was involved with uh before leaving my term,

uh had to finding out that the tax incentive agreement between the city and the Steel Point apartment development, which as a body we approved uh in 2022, uh had been amended but without our approval. And uh as you may recall, many of you you're on the council at the time, for those who were, um Attorney Anastasia affirmed uh that finding that it needs to be resubmitted and to my knowledge it is not. So I would ask you to continue to hold those who uh should be held accountable to Glynn Oppend um to make sure that that gets done. So on a similar note, um Vanessa Lyons and I have have been involved in discussing uh the prospects for Bassick um in terms of the RFP that was put out um about 13 months ago when we were all in the midst of budget season um and really with almost no input from the local representatives who I know uh are here today and involved Councilman Spellman, Scott. Uh Vanessa to speak as well. Okay, thank you. that in the time that I was here last in about February, we have public input. We had a town hall and we had two site visits where we had a collectively well um give their thoughts. Um last uh site visit at Bassick by Bill Coleman that the um sensing community at that time did not want the front building to come down, that it was on the table. It seems that looking at the package that it's back on the table. that um something among other things, I just don't have time to say it. But um that we're asking that to Dasha and Rolanda for leadership and the direction that the community

want by stopping process and probably doing an RFP. Because we have proven that there are plenty of community give input and really are involved in their community on the side West End and we should honor that because isn't that what we want, right? Thank you. Thank you. Councilman Good evening. Jordan.

Let's call the council back to chambers, please. Okay. Remark uh Okay. This one's going to be Uh this is done options. It's going to table. All right, we um Well, let's the clerk to call attendance, please. Thank you. Okay, let me try. Present. Guillermo Rey? Present. Nicole Nelson? Present. Denise Stallworth? Jorge Cruz? Yeah, I got it. Thank you, Eneida. Dacia Spell? Present. Rolanda Smith? Akim Boyd? Present. Loretta Dunbar? Here. Michelle Lyons? Present. Mary Ann McCrayley? Here. Richard Ortiz? Here. Alfredo Castillo? Present. Fred Hodges? Present. Aide Nieves? Maria Valle? Keisha Medina? Present. Maria Pereira? Eneida Martinez?

Okay, thank you. Thank you for your clarification and your help. [laughter]

Ernest Newton? We will we will Let me Let me just correct my colleague. I I called again the order. I like to call again, so I wanted to make sure all y'all was sitting at your desk. And [clears throat] before we did the pledge And so we will ask We will ask Reverend Lee, will lead us in the Well, no. Representative Ortiz, lead us in the pledge, please. I'm going to get her to do the prayer. Prayer. Prayer now. Father God, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you for this day that you made. We thank you, oh God, because we are rejoicing in it. We thank you, oh God, for bringing us here tonight without hurt, harm, or danger. Thank you for taking us over the highways and the byways. Lord, we thank you right now for everyone that's assembled here today. You know their needs, God. You know their wants, God. We ask you to do it in the name of Jesus. And oh God, we are asking you to bless the city of Bridgeport, bless the United States of America. Lord, do it right now. We bind the hand of the enemy right now that come to hinder, that come to destroy, that come to tear down. We cast them back into the pistols once they come. In the name of Jesus. Lord, we ask you to bless the mayor of this great city, bless every council member, God, in the name of Jesus. Give us an open mind and a pure heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands,

one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Councilwoman um Denise Merrill wanted me to thank those individuals who attended or visited her at the service. So, she said, "Thank you." And she really appreciated those that came by for her husband's cousin who worked for the city, Mr. Gardner. So, she wanted me to pass that on to you. All right, we have some proclamations to give. Um the as you know, the mayor is out of town, and Council President is away on family business. So, that's why they're not here today. Uh but we have a proclamation from the mayor and a citation from the city council honoring Gabrielle Cook Day. As you know, this is um poetry month, and I understand she's an outstanding person who writes poetry. And so, we would like you to come up so we can read the proclamation from the mayor. Those that would like to take a picture can do also. And those council members that want to come up after and honor her for her outstanding work.

Yeah, I will. Yeah. Oh, okay. Okay. Oh, where do you for the flowers in the wheelchair, okay? So, you can pull up right here, okay? Okay. Proclamation, whereas Academy American Poets established the month of April as National Poet Month in 1996. National Poet Month Poet Month seeks to introduce Americans to pleasure and benefits of reading poetry and making it an important part of our children's education. Whereas the city of Bridgeport believes in poetry is an essential part of the arts and humanities poetry reassumes the human spirit can build bridges of understanding among people of diverse backgrounds and voices. Poet Laureate Civit that the practice of writing, reading, appreciating of poetry through example and encouragement. Now, therefore, I'm not Mayor Joe Ganim of the city of Bridgeport recognize Gabrielle Cook exceptional poetry talent to hereby proclaim Monday May 4th as Gabrielle Cook Day. Y'all give her a big hand.

[applause]

We have We have another citation. I'm going to ask the I'm going to ask the majority leader to read the city council citation. Bridgeport City Council official citation, be it hereby known to all that the Bridgeport City Council joins with the Bridgeport Board of Education in celebrating the poetic achievement of Central High Magnet Program student Gabrielle Cook. Bridgeport student Yeah. On this special occasion, I stand our appreciation for reminding us of the integral role of poetry in our lives. Gifted and talented poetry such as further fosters youth in the literary arts. For our colleagues to you, a lot of heartfelt congratulations for your hard work attaining the esteemed honor and title. Given 4th day of May 2020. City of Bridgeport Council, Connecticut by Jeanette Herron, City Council President and the entire city council.

[applause] [applause]

You're welcome. Yeah. I wonder, would you like to like say something or maybe Can you do a poem for us? She's ready. This poem is called The Infinite Squirrel. The thumb provides the rhythm. The algorithm provides the soul. We trade our quiet hours for the bottom of the bowl. Hearts instead of handshakes. Outrage instead of talks. The world is seen through lenses before we even take the walk. We are lonely in the sequence. We are crowded in the feed. A culture built on capture, forgetting how to be.

[applause] Beautiful. Very good. Very nice. All right, let's go to work.

[laughter]

Mr. Rapace I'm sorry. I didn't introduce Shh. I'm sorry. I didn't introduce Mr. Rapace who's doing an excellent job with our young people. This is just a sample. So, I want him to say a few words for us. Thank you so much everyone. And And I'd like to thank the council for supporting this really worthwhile program. We did This is our second year. Last year was our first. And we really hope to continue. And I like I said to many of you at many events, what I our student poet laureate come and speak and share her poetry Just on a quick note, Gabrielle was picked among 17 nominees. We had a really competitive group this year. All wonderful poets in one of our high schools. And Gabrielle had the right combination of poise, talent, and personality. And I think she's going to be a fine representative of the city. So, thank you all for supporting this. I appreciate it. Thank you. And Thank you for our mother and father for being here. Thank you.

[snorts] Okay, the first order of business is to approve the minutes. It's been moved. Is there a second? All those in favor? [sighs] Any opposed? Who second? Who second? Wait a minute.

Hold on 1 second. Who Who made the motion? Anita, who made the second? Okay, Maria second. Two opposed. Hold on Hold 1 second. Three Three people opposed. Okay, there are abstentions. They weren't here. They didn't oppose it. They just abstained. All right, the next order of business is to call for the city council. And Anita moved it. Is there a second? Yes, the one that we have to schedule a public hearing. Anita Anita and Yeah. All those in favor? Any opposed? Thank Next order of business communi- communications to refer to committees. There's been a motion to consolidate. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? Any opposed? All right, going on to the next page. Which is matters to be acted upon by consent calendar and I think one, two, three of those

are asking to be tabled. No, just Does anyone want to take anything off consent? Is there anyone that like to remove anything from the consent calendar before we take it up? Okay, what is What would you like to take off? Off. Which one is it? Hold on one second. Yeah, 5125. It's not on consent. It's not It's not.

It's under matters to be acted upon. All right, call the consent calendar, please. Just those two. Clerk, please read the consent calendar. 1225, economic and community development and environment committee report proposed solution regarding FAA grant for construction analysis and plan withdrawal. 1325, economic and community development resolution regarding a FAA grant for the rehabilitation of taxiway alpha and delta withdrawal. 1425 economic development and environment committee report proposed resolution regarding a FAA grant for an engineering study for the control tower withdrawal. 4125, economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission AARP community challenge. Match grant program placemaking placemaking number 27241. 4225, economic and community development and environment committee report grant submission which license investment to leverage developing built program route 825 connector cap planning study 26908. 4325, economic and community development and

environment committee report grant submission AARP AARP community challenge demonstration grant program pedestrian safe enhancement 27909. 4725, economic and community development and environment committee report grant submissions Southwest Connecticut Agency on Aging SWCA title three funding Older Americans Act program elderly Hispanic outreach program number 27260. 4825 economic and a community development and environment committee report grant submissions Southwest Connecticut Agency on Aging SWCA title three funding Older Americans Act grant program Bridgeport Senior Center recreation activities number 27533. Can I get a motion to accept? All right, let's Who was the second? Who made the motion? Oh, yeah, it's an N. She seconded Okay. You got it? She All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. The last items that we have to address matters to be acted upon now the chair will recognize Councilwoman Dascha Speil.

[clears throat] Good evening, everyone. Before I start, I like to take a point of personal privilege. I didn't have my light on for the longest time and it kept getting shut off. I called You know you to introduce 4825. I will allow you a point of personal privilege before you um bring this forward. It's actually 5125.

5125 5125. Thank you, Chair. Good evening, everyone. Tonight is a very special night, I think, for me and for Rolanda because we have the opportunity of doing something amazing in our district for our community. And the beautiful thing is is that we have the support of our NRSD as well as our historic district behind us in this process. As our president um Vanessa Liles has shared earlier is that we went through a process, right? We had a town hall meeting. We had two tours of the building. And we had some conversation. However, that happened after this project was put together. And I have to say this because this is one of the things that's been bothering me from the get-go with this basic project. Rolanda and I were not at the table at the beginning. We were at the table in the middle. And so for us this is very It's very very hard. Because a lot of people wanted to go one way this way, that way. And what people fail to understand is is that when you're sitting in these seats, the decisions that you make impact a whole bunch of people. And for us it impacts over 7,000 neighbors of ours. And so with that tonight I'm sitting here. This is coming from

me. And I hope that my peers will respect what I'm about to say. I motion to deny item 5125 and accept the negative report from the PR&Z 824 report on basic. Due due to the reason being is that we want to start fresh with us being at the table. Just hold on one second, please. My understanding for tabling it is that you all would go back to the drawing board and decide on what you want to do. Killing this I I think that's not the way we was we looking at going. If you table it, that give you an opportunity to just what you want to do. What did she say? Help me understand. What I said was is that we're going to deny the motion for 5125 and accept I'm sorry. We're going to accept the motion for 5125 and the negative report from the PR&Z. Okay, you're you're losing me. Hold on a second. Hold on. You're losing me. If you're going to do what this says to table So you don't So you making a motion, okay. Basically Help me Help me understand now cuz I'm I'm confused. So the motion is to accept a negative 824 report issued by the Planning and Zoning. Second.

Roll call vote. No, she's accepting this. She's accepting the negative 824 report. No, we don't want to reject it. We want to Reject.

X Excuse. X If you If you speak out like that again

95125 I'm not going to recognize you. Now, you got to go through the chair. You just ain't your free for all. And I had that in the beginning. So, the motion is to deny item 5125. It's been moved and second to do what she asked. All those in favor? I need you to get a copy of what you just said to our clerk. Okay. All right, next item. You're right. You're right. Call the roll call. Roll call. Could you in a few words tell me what it is that we're doing the roll call for? Will you please explain to the clerk again what you're doing the roll call for? Right. Yes is to deny. No is to abstain. I'm not clear yet. All right, let me let me Let me explain again. Shh. Y'all Y'all got to listen. A yes is to deny the committee report. A no is not to deny the committee's report. And could you repeat the community and the the the report of Please re- Please

repeat your motion so that the clerk can have it. Item 5125. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Gallen Moore? Yes. Nicole Nelson? Yes. Denise D'Aguilar is not here. Jorge Cruz? Yes. Natasha Spell? You may have You don't have a right to speak till I recognize you. Natasha Spell? Ronald Smith? Akeem Boyd? Yes. Tandy Velita Dubac? Yes. Robert Cornegy? Yes. Maria del Rio Grillo? Reynoso Ortiz? Yes. Rafael Salamanca Castillo? Frederick Hodges? I Dania Reyes? Maria Valle? Carlos Menchaca? Maria Pereira? Maria Pereira? Darlene Mealy Martinez? Ernest Newton?

Yes. Uh Jorge Cruz? No, we understand. Can we repeat it to him again? You You're already speaking. You can't speak cuz we're in a roll call. So, just roll Call here. You voting yes, no, or abstain? No? No? Okay. Maria? Maria Pereira? Maria. Tiago? Okay. Let me Let me Let's get some clarification.

Okay, one no and the rest are yes. Motion to deny. Next item. Next item. 4625. That's the next item. And the reason I allowed Let me just say this. The reason I allowed her to speak because I was under the impression it was supposed to be tabled and tabled is non-debatable. So, that's why I allowed her to do that. Go ahead, Maria.

[clears throat] Maria. Maria, that's That's more That's more pass. She already said what she

She already said we're not going to We're not going We're not going back over that. Bring your item Maria. Bring your item up. Bring your Bring your item up, Maria. Your It's 25 4625. Bring that up. Oh, you non-debatable Listen, you make a motion to table, there's no discussion on it. So, don't try that. Bring it up to table, there's no discussion on the table. Item 4625, we already voted on the Right. It's been moved second. All those in favor? I know where they are. Which 4625. And then the motion is Maria P and No, you can't end up Maria. Maria. Motion to table. Maria. Maria. Maria. Maria. Just a minute, Reverend Lee. Maria. Maria, let me say this to you. Let me say this to you. You don't run this city council. You just walk to the You're on the second. I thought that was the last item, Tom. That's all right, you can have it, but we're not adjourning. Excuse me. Hold on a second. I need to Are you actually pressing your motion to adjourn?

Listen. Listen. Hold on. Hold on a second. Hold on a second. We have a capital plan that we have to vote on tonight. We have to do that. First of all, Maria, you don't have to do nothing. Ask them to vote down the motion to adjourn. All right. Here's what I need. I need Reverend Lee, I'm going to call you in 1 second. I want y'all to listen up. We're going to take a vote to reject the motion to adjourn because we got business to finish. So, we're going to take a vote. I Let me Let me say this, Maria. I still have a I still have a vote as a council person. As As the chair of the committee, I'm making a recommendation because of the work we have to do to reject that amendment. Reject it. That's right. So, we're taking the vote. That's the Now, we got after we That has to be voted on. I'm not talking to you, Maria. Call the roll. A yes means to stay. To adjourn. No means to stay. And then I'll take you out. So, that's what we're going to do.

No vote is to not adjourn until we finish our business. Shh. Y'all roll call. That's what That's what we're voting on. No is not to adjourn cuz we got work to finish. Capital plan. Call the roll, please. Gail and Morris, yes is to what? A no is not to close, a yes is to close. to God. Adjourn, yep.

Okay. Gail and Morris? Nicole Nelson? Denise Boyd? She's not here. Jorge Cruz? Natasha Spell? Rolanda Smith? Akeem Boyd? Jen Loretta Dubard? Michelle Lyons? Maria McCray Lee? Thank you. Richard Ortiz? Alfredo Castillo? Freddy Hodges? Aida Nieves? Aida? Okay. [clears throat] Maria Valle? Kailyn Medina? Maria Pereira? Elena Martinez? Ernest Newton? I want to put the H in front of the name.

Four four no four Yes, and the rest are no. So All right, back to business of the order. Which I mean Reverend Lee first. I think that is very I think that is very unfair to the wall and and someone is talking while I'm talking, that's what you call disrespect. And all the while the meeting was going on, I heard talking behind here and then how can you tell somebody else what to do when you not doing what you supposed to do yourself? You know, and I believe as a council member, I have a right to raise my hand and nobody should say, "Oh, that's the journey." I've I've never heard that before when a council member want to have something to say. You know, and all of this hollering over each other and talking over each other, that's not the way to do business. We on film, everybody going to be laughing at us because we acting like a bunch of first grade. Some of us. I'm acting like a mature adult myself. So that that you know, and you see, Maria want everybody to listen at her, holler over everybody, but then she don't want to listen at nobody. In order to have respect, you got to show respect. And it's not fair to the rest of us for you all behind me to be talking while I'm trying to listen at what the man is saying. That's not right. That's not fair. And then something should be done about it. I'll be glad when the president come back here because something need to be done about disrespect in this council. Not being disrespectful. You don't say what you want to say when you get ready to say it. And I'm talking. I'm talking. Maria Maria, as far as I'm concerned

Thank you, Reverend Lee. Thank you. I'm finished. There you go. Thank you. I would like to make a motion to add capital plan to the agenda so that it can be approved on tonight's um uh agenda for voting purposes, please. Roll call vote. It's been moved and properly seconded that we suspend the rules. Roll call vote, please. Hold on 1 second, Maria. You see we talking up here.

yeah, you can call off for roll call vote. As you all know, let me just say as the one of the co-chairs, we put a capital plan together. I would ask my colleagues to support it so we can move on with the next phase of our budget process. Clerk, please call the roll. Yes means Roll call I mean call the roll, please. Gail and Morris? Nicole Nelson? Denise Jorge Cruz? Natasha Spell? Rolanda Smith? Akeem Boyd? Loretta Dubard? Michelle Lyons? Maria McCray Lee? Richard Ortiz? Alfredo Castillo? Freddy Hodges? Aida Nieves? Maria Valle? Kailyn Medina? Maria Pereira? Elena Martinez? Ernest Newton? Nine no and I want before you before you called it, I want Ken to come and speak to you all to let you know what you did and what you you going to do.

Go ahead. Where's Ken? Mr. Chair, I just wanted to briefly just to make sure everybody understands, you know, it's less work for me, but it means that all your projects are not going to be done this year. No no new paving, no new capital, no new park system. Everything you wanted. So it's fine fine with me, it's up to you. Thank you. Let me let me say let me say this before she takes the roll I mean the total. We should be ashamed of ourselves. We really should be. This is the first time that we put work into this capital budget trying to take care people's needs. You all come here and vote no after that. You're I'm not going to recognize you, Reverend. I think that this is a shame. And you only hurting your bridge work. You don't hurt nobody sitting around this table but your constituents. And this is a disgrace. If we going to play politics, you all roll your sleeves up. Because that's what you doing wrong. We've never done this. Now, you all are going to have to answer to your constituents. Cuz you know why? You know, first of all I first of all I'm talking. You're not being scored. I'm telling you hold it. I'm telling you to history. Go right ahead. I don't recognize it. It's not going back nowhere. We denied it. So that's it. I'm not bringing it back up.

I would give him the floor chair so he can have a word and then we're going to adjourn. Nicole, yes or no? I'm sorry about that, Nicole. You want to know what it will not or remind you? Not sure if I'm using the right terminology. Point point of information, right? I need I need some clarification. So the no means that we are not approving the capital plan. And if Okay. But this but there is a continuation to Don't get two thirds to add to the agenda, so you can't talk about it. And so it essentially fails, but you have a charter deadline that you're supposed to do this by. Okay. All right. I don't know what happens when you don't follow the charter, but okay.

Let me let me And so I just So point of information um to vote to vote yes is to add it to the agenda does not necessarily mean that you are in full approval of the budget. There is still time to discuss and debate. Yes. Yes. Okay. So with that being said, yes is my vote. Change your vote.

No, I didn't change my vote before. Okay, Nicole, thank you. 9 9. We have a tie. Hold it. Hold it. We have a tie. I break the tie because as president hold it. Hold it. No, will you let me talk? Order.

Order. You're a lawyer. You're a lawyer. Come here. What's the total? What's that? Is there anyone that want to change their vote? You got 9 to 9. It's 9 to 9? need 12. You would need three three people to change their vote. But if you change

The only other choice is somebody to You got 9 to 9. You You You break that tie. You would need 12 votes Have you announced the votes to change their vote towards the mayor? Do I get a vote as a council member? And as council president? If it breaks the tie, but that will only make it 10 to 10. But it's still Miss Council Even if even if it doesn't break the tie, I get two votes. One as a council member from the 139th and one as filling in as council president. No No No, let me tell you I can't let that change. IN THE CHARTER I CAN'T LET THAT No No nobody listened to you today. That's two votes. No no no no no no That's not true. Oh great. So So we're not It's not going to pass. It's not going to pass anyway. It's not going to pass anyway. All right. It's 9