Remarks by Shinica Thomas
64 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
- Play at 2:30:43
“I would love to see workflow come back. If it is possible, David, I don't, to Ben, if it's possible to turn it around between now and the November 8th work session to have a workflow conversation so that we can understand.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:32:10
“And I think that goes back to, for me, the leadership development point that I was making, right? Because as a committee chair, because of my committee in economic development, like Michael James has brought things forward that did have to come to the work session that then did have to go to a meeting. And so it has followed and been a policy process. from committees, but that's also depending on what's happening in the world, right? There are things I know that Cheryl has had to do a lot more health and human service updates because of HR1 and because of Medicaid more so than she's been able…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:36:55
“I agree with Commissioner Evans, but I would ask for the two years, and I'm not to... Single you out, but Cheryl's had a really interesting year this year with the federal impacts and Medicaid and all of those things, as opposed to a previous year that she has chaired, she was able to do a lot more health and human service plans and a lot more health and human service policy. And so while it is up to the chair, sometimes the things that are happening at the state and federal level really do dictate that it has to be more update than policy.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:45:55
“Ben, I just have a question about on the federal priorities. Can you tell me a little bit more about the unfunded mandates that are created by the OMB grant regulations?”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:47:07
“Are there other options for any of the top three for federal priorities?”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:47:25
“Okay. And then the one other thing I would say just right now is that for that state roundtable, just because there are so many more members of the state delegation than there are in the federal delegation, and it's a little bit closer, I would love to, host that over at NCACC in their larger conference area than trying to pack all those people into this room. Just offering thanks.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:47:52
“It's closer for them to walk to as well.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:49:25
“I was just going to ask, based on the information that Michelle gave us earlier, thinking about some of the operational impacts and cuts, was there any, and I know we talked about this already in August, and this is bringing that information back, but were there any changes that staff would have recommended or anything added to the opportunity list based on what we're looking at, since this is for just next year, or next two years, but is there anything from the perspective of the budget impacts that we would add differently to this or that staff would recommend adding differently to this. I…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:58:11
“Thank you for that. I was gonna add that the NCACC has been doing a lot of the work around education and I think that we have, choose my words, We have experienced not favorable outcomes, and so when we have a one pager that we try to use the general guidance, but also advocate with the power of 100 counties, we don't seem to get favorable responses just as one county, though we are the largest county. And so that's one of the reasons that I would think that it wasn't in the top three. And I don't think that we'll talk about the legislative goals as a board this weekend. We will weigh in when…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 2:59:57
“Right. I mean, the three of us will definitely be there. Susan said she'll be there.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 3:00:10
“Well, Susan just said she would do it. Does anybody else want to be the voting delegate?”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 3:09:04
“I would offer, but first I guess let me ask Ben, is there an opportunity for us to add something like that to the opportunity list after legislative goals in November? I know you're doing the one pager, but the one pager only has the top three. And I ask that question because my experience in legislative goals is, just like you talked about very specific language, that there is a lot of wordsmithing that is about to happen. over these next two days from all kinds of counties. And even though they came through committee and they did well, you get to legislative goals and stuff dies. I mean, it…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 3:12:12
“And again, Ben did say that he would, and I guess with Susan being the voting delegate, look at what the draft language says and see if there's any specific things that we might want to offer in that. So that will happen before the 19th, 18th, whatever day that's happening as well. So we still have that opportunity. Again, lots of wordsmithing to be happening.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 3:13:21
“Adding something around education funding for the lottery.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 3:13:42
“And I didn't mean to say, like Commissioner Jackson just clarified, like not adding stuff to the opportunity list, but adding something specific around education after we had some more language from the NCACC, but not a free-for-all later.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 3:18:15
“Okay, cool. I would ask if that does happen, I would love to have guidance from Jennifer about our opportunity list because then she will know what is coming down the pipe about maybe something that we would add as the third thing.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 12, 2026
- Play at 42:43
“Good afternoon, everyone. Please remain standing with me, and I ask you to take a moment of reflection however you wish. Before I offer today's invocation, I'd like to take a brief moment of personal privilege. As the daughter of immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago, I share a deep appreciation for the sacrifices, hopes, and determination that brought my family to this country. And today, my 89-year-old grandmother is here in this room to see me serve for the first time. Grandma, having you here means more than I can put into words. To look out and see you while I sit here as a Wake County…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 45:55
“Chairman, I move approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of September 8th, 2026 and the work session of August 10th, 2026.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 47:05
“I'd love to see it. You all can stand right here. Rebecca, you can stand with me. I love that the young people just keep coming.”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 47:57
“Good afternoon, everyone. It's truly a pleasure to be here today to recognize Youth Confidence Day and to present this proclamation to Rebecca Dixon, Youth Employment Manager with the City of Raleigh's Community Engagement Division. When we talk about preparing our young people for the future, we often focus on education, jobs, skills, and opportunity, and all those things do matter. But there is something just as important that we do not always talk about enough, and that is confidence. Confidence is what helps a young person raise their hand. Apply for opportunity, walk into the interviews,…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 51:48
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 2:00:28
“Thank you, Chairman. Morgan, first I would like to say that I really appreciate your body of knowledge. I appreciate the depth that you know about housing and about community partners and that this work in general. So thank you. You and your team do an excellent job at keeping us informed and understanding and helping community understand and establishing new partnerships. So I just want to start by that. The other thing is that I'm going to try not to cut you off. by asking you more questions or answering the questions that I'm asking you while you're trying to answer them. One, commercial…”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 2:02:32
“Thank you. You mentioned someone else taking advantage or use for the property. What are some of the other, in your professional opinion, some of the other uses or some of the other people that might want to buy it? You said organizations like us, but there could be other organizations. So what could be other uses for this particular piece of property, considering its location and access?”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 2:03:57
“Thank you, two more questions. One, have we ever before had to make an acquisition that was time sensitive because of market conditions like this in the housing department?”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026
- Play at 2:04:56
“Thank you. And then the last thing is, and I think we've kind of talked a little bit about it, but you mentioned white flag options. You talked about the seasons changing. It's getting a little cooler. And so what are the other white flag options for single women in congregate spaces that we have right now as we look at the Farmer's Almanac and consider what this winter is going to look like?”
Board of Commissioners · Oct 5, 2026