[0:02] particularly interested in the

[0:06] right

[0:09] [Music]

[0:19] s

[0:22] [Music]

[1:13] foreign

[1:22] [Music]

[1:54] thank you

[2:02] [Music]

[2:16] [Applause]

[2:16] [Music]

[2:17] foreign

[2:24] [Music]

[2:50] foreign

[2:53] [Music]

[3:32] thank you

[3:34] [Music]

[4:28] foreign

[4:57] like to call to order the city Caucus

[4:58] meeting for Monday February 13 2023

[5:02] we have 26 items for original

[5:04] consideration if the clerk would could

[5:06] please read item number one item number

[5:09] one for final consideration a resolution

[5:11] declaring that the amendment of chapter

[5:13] 264 Article 2 and chapter 264 attachment

[5:16] 2 schedule C

[5:19] use regulations for non-residential

[5:21] districts of the code of the city of

[5:23] Schenectady relating to banquet

[5:24] facilities private clubs or lodges will

[5:27] not have a significant impact on the

[5:29] environment discussed and committed with

[5:30] the objection and on consent item number

[5:32] two item number two for final

[5:34] consideration a resolution declaring

[5:36] that the amendment of chapter 264 the

[5:39] zoning of the administrative code of the

[5:41] city of Schenectady to oh overlay

[5:43] historic district to the existing C4

[5:45] downtown mixed-use district of 308 State

[5:48] Street sbl

[5:52] 39.71-3-15.11 is a type 2 seek Seeker

[5:56] action with no significant impact on the

[5:59] environment discussed in committee with

[6:01] the objective on consent item number

[6:03] three item number three for final

[6:05] consideration an ordinance to amend

[6:06] chapter 183 Article 2 of the code of the

[6:08] city of Schenectady discussed and

[6:10] committee with an objection on consent

[6:12] item number four item number four for

[6:14] original consideration a resolution

[6:15] calling for a public hearing

[6:17] four amendments to chapter 161 of this

[6:20] Schenectady city code regarding the

[6:23] collection of white goods discussed in

[6:25] committee without objection on consent

[6:27] item number five item number five for

[6:29] final consideration an ordinance to

[6:31] amend chapters 264 Article 2 and chapter

[6:34] 264 attachment to schedule C youth

[6:37] regulations for non-residential

[6:38] districts of the code of the city of

[6:40] Schenectady relating to banquet

[6:42] facilities and private clubs or lodges

[6:43] discussed and committed with objection

[6:45] on consent item number six item number

[6:48] six or final consideration an ordinance

[6:49] amending chapter 264 zoning of the

[6:52] administrative code of the city of

[6:53] Schenectady to add oh overlay historic

[6:56] district to to the existing C4 downtown

[6:58] mixed-use district of 308 State Street

[7:01] discussed in committee with objection on

[7:03] consent item number seven item number

[7:05] seven for original consideration a

[7:07] resolution authorizing the revision of

[7:09] fees related to public assembly

[7:10] inspections pursuant to the Schenectady

[7:12] city code subsection 204e discussed in

[7:16] committee without objection on consent

[7:18] item number eight item number eight for

[7:20] original consideration a resolution

[7:21] appropriating American Rescue plan act

[7:23] funds for sidewalk improvements discuss

[7:26] the committee without objection and on

[7:28] consent item number nine item number

[7:30] nine for original consideration a

[7:31] resolution authorized the mayor or his

[7:33] Destiny to apply for budget for and

[7:35] expend funds pursuant to the New York

[7:37] State health care and mental hygiene

[7:38] worker bonus program discussed in

[7:41] committee without objection and on

[7:42] consent item number 10 item number 10

[7:45] for original consideration a resolution

[7:46] authorizing a budget reappropriation

[7:48] within the 2023 general fund budget

[7:51] discussed and committed with the

[7:52] objection and on consent item number

[7:54] eleven item number eleven for original

[7:56] consideration a resolution authorizing a

[7:58] reappropriation to the 2023 capital

[8:00] budget discuss in committee without

[8:02] objection on consent item number 12.

[8:04] for original

[8:06] consideration a resolution authorizing a

[8:08] five-day public comment period for the

[8:10] allocation of two hundred thousand in

[8:12] cdbg CV funds for the small business

[8:15] assistance program discussing committee

[8:17] without objection on consent item number

[8:19] 13. item number 13 for original

[8:21] consideration a resolution authorizing

[8:23] the mayor of his designee to enter into

[8:25] an agreement with Bethesda house for a

[8:27] hundred thousand dollars for

[8:28] neighborhood stabilization rent rehab

[8:30] program discussing committee with the

[8:32] objection and on consent item number 14.

[8:35] for original

[8:36] consideration a resolution authorizing

[8:38] the mayor or his designee to enter into

[8:40] an agreement with the Schenectady

[8:41] Guyanese Community Center for fifty

[8:43] thousand dollars discussed in committee

[8:44] without objection and on consent item

[8:46] number 15. item number 15 for original

[8:48] consideration a resolution appropriate

[8:51] in an American Rescue plan act funds for

[8:53] grout Park improvements discussed in

[8:56] committee without objection on consent

[8:57] item number 16 item number 16 for

[9:00] original consideration and resolution

[9:01] appropriate American Rescue plan act

[9:03] funds for Simon's Park improvements

[9:05] discussed in committee with objection on

[9:07] consent item number 17. item number 17

[9:09] for original consideration a resolution

[9:11] declaring support for the New York State

[9:13] Clean Slate Act

[9:15] roll call by Mr palamini

[9:18] item number 18. item number 18 for

[9:21] original consideration a resolution

[9:23] amending resolution

[9:25] 2022-214 to apply a one-year time frame

[9:28] to the Aquatic Center and Miracle on

[9:30] Craig Street to scare Financial

[9:31] commitments to meet their respective

[9:33] project costs discussed in committee

[9:35] with objection and on consent item

[9:37] number 19. item number 19 for original

[9:39] consideration a resolution authorizing

[9:41] the mayor or his designee to enter into

[9:44] an option agreement with the capital

[9:45] region land bank or Society for various

[9:48] properties on and around Summit Avenue

[9:50] discussed and committed with objection

[9:52] on consent item number 20. item number

[9:54] twenty for original consideration a

[9:56] resolution authorizing the sale of 808

[9:58] Stanley Street for twenty eight thousand

[10:00] five hundred dollars discussed in

[10:02] committee without objection on consent

[10:03] item number 21 item number 21 for

[10:06] original consideration a resolution

[10:08] authorizing the mayor or to execute an

[10:10] agreement with CT mail Associates to investigate the

[10:14] feasibility of physically establishing

[10:16] the paper Street known as Revere Avenue

[10:18] discussed in committee with objection on

[10:20] consent item number 22 item number 22

[10:23] for original consideration a resolution

[10:25] authorizing the settlement of a claim by

[10:27] Maritza Brown discussed in committee

[10:29] without objection on consent item number

[10:31] 23. item number 23 for original

[10:33] consideration a resolution authorizing

[10:35] settlement of a claim by Niagara Monarch

[10:37] power Corporation doing business as

[10:39] National Grid discussed in committee

[10:41] with the objection on consent item

[10:43] number 24. item number 24 for original

[10:45] consideration a resolution authorized in

[10:47] settlement of a claim by Robert DeLuca

[10:49] discussed in committee with objection on

[10:51] consent item number 25 item number 25

[10:54] for original consideration a resolution

[10:56] recognizing Black History Month 2023

[10:58] this item would be taken out of order

[11:00] and presented by council member Farley

[11:05] item number 26. item number 26 for

[11:08] original consideration and resolution

[11:10] recognizing the NAACP Founders Day

[11:13] discussed and committee with objection

[11:15] on consent if there's nothing more to

[11:17] come before the city council caucus I

[11:18] ask for a motion to adjourn moved by

[11:20] Miss Patrick second by Mr mood of Aaron

[11:22] all in favor

[11:24] we are adjourned I'd like to call the

[11:26] city council meeting to order for Monday

[11:27] February 13 2023.

[11:31] and I asked Pastor Brad Jones to offer

[11:34] the invocation

[11:40] let us pray

[11:49] Lord God I may not be as dumb as I look

[11:51] and and we may not be as smart as we

[11:53] think we are but but regardless we look

[11:57] to you for wisdom for the the business of the city

[12:02] wisdom for doing what is right and just

[12:05] in your sight

[12:07] so Lord I do pray your wisdom and

[12:11] guidance

[12:12] for the mayor of Schenectady for the

[12:14] city council of Schenectady and for all

[12:16] who are in positions of authority and

[12:19] responsibility for the care and the the

[12:22] working of the city

[12:24] so that every decision made and

[12:26] considered

[12:29] would accomplish what is best

[12:32] for the people you love the people of

[12:34] this city

[12:37] so that the people

[12:40] can live lives that are are

[12:46] able to to work well and and to be in in

[12:49] safe keeping

[12:52] to to have peace in our streets

[12:56] we pray for First Responders for fire

[13:00] department for the police for those who

[13:03] work in in hospitals for the ambulance

[13:05] uh drivers and EMTs Lord we just pray

[13:09] that you would give them wisdom and

[13:11] discernment to do their work well

[13:15] Lord we pray that you would you would

[13:17] govern this city

[13:19] and for those entrusted with the

[13:21] governance of the people of this this

[13:23] great City we pray that you would grant

[13:26] them that that wisdom and discernment

[13:29] needed for this we ask all this in Jesus

[13:31] name amen amen amen

[13:34] students from the seat Center to lead us

[13:36] in the Pledge of Allegiance

[13:51] one nation under God indivisible with

[13:55] liberty and justice for all thank you

[14:03] if the clerk would please complete the

[14:05] Roll Call

[14:06] Mr motivaran

[14:08] Mr Toro here Mr Farley

[14:11] Mr Williams

[14:13] Miss Patrick Mr polymini Miss

[14:16] Porterfield here

[14:19] item number 26 will be taken out of

[14:21] order and presented by council member

[14:23] Farley

[14:24] it's a resolution to recognize Black

[14:27] History Month

[14:31] before please

[14:33] floor is yours thank you

[14:38] this time I'd like to call up Mr Dennis

[14:41] Richards

[14:55] someone switches I'd like you uh to

[14:58] receive and accept this uh Resolute to

[15:00] recognizing Black History Month for 2023

[15:03] whereas each February we acknowledge the

[15:06] struggles adversity strength and history

[15:08] of Black American Experience in the

[15:10] United States

[15:11] this year's theme is black resistance

[15:15] recognizes African-Americans resistance

[15:17] to Historic and ongoing oppression in

[15:20] all forms and has pursuit of

[15:22] self-determination and equality whereas

[15:25] Black History Month first originated as

[15:27] a part of an initiative by writer and

[15:29] educator Dr Carter G Woodson who

[15:32] launched a negro history week in 1926

[15:34] Wilson chose February for reasons of for

[15:38] tradition and reform as commonly said

[15:40] that Wilson selected February to

[15:42] Encompass the birthdays of two Americans

[15:43] who played a prominent role in shaping

[15:46] black history namely Abraham Lincoln and

[15:48] Frederick Douglass whose birthdays are

[15:50] the 12th and 14th

[15:52] whereas Black History Month remains a

[15:55] powerful symbolic celebration a time for

[15:57] acknowledgment reflection and

[15:59] inspiration despite an inequitable

[16:01] social system

[16:02] African Americans have found ways to

[16:04] survive advance and Thrive black

[16:08] Americans have struggled to protect

[16:09] their physical intellectual

[16:12] autonomy through Innovation lobbying

[16:15] litigation and legislation helping each

[16:18] other as a community these efforts have

[16:21] fueled and their perseverance and hope

[16:23] for our future

[16:25] black resistance strategies have served

[16:27] as a model for every other social

[16:29] movement in our country

[16:31] our nation has benefited from those

[16:32] efforts by progressing towards a more

[16:34] Equitable Society even though we still

[16:36] have a very far way to go

[16:39] African-American spirituals gospel folk

[16:41] music hip-hop rap have all been used to

[16:44] express struggle and hope and calls for

[16:46] solidarity to face racial oppression

[16:49] music has been used to illustrate

[16:51] societal ills and as a motivation for

[16:54] strength against harassment bringing

[16:56] attention to oppression black artists

[16:58] writers photographers and musicians who

[17:01] have participated in the Black Arts

[17:02] Movement the Harlem Renaissance the

[17:05] Chicago Black Renaissance or the

[17:06] soundtrack individual representation to

[17:08] resistance movements

[17:10] these individuals these individuals

[17:12] created art that supported the

[17:14] resistance movements but also provided a

[17:17] space for black people to express love

[17:19] and joy

[17:22] whereas during Black History Month

[17:24] throughout the year we reflect on more

[17:25] than 400 years of black history in

[17:28] America

[17:29] communities across the country paying

[17:31] tribute to generations of African

[17:33] Americans who struggled with diversity

[17:34] to fully achieve life liberty and the

[17:37] pursuit of happiness in American society

[17:39] black history is American history

[17:42] and now therefore be resolved down

[17:44] Schenectady city council our Mayor Gary

[17:47] R McCarthy do hereby pause in their

[17:49] deliberations to recognize the month of

[17:51] February of 2023 Black History Month

[17:54] black resistance in the city of

[17:56] Schenectady

[18:05] why this is so so relevant today for a

[18:08] couple reasons but Mr Richards is a

[18:11] Youth Development excuse me Mr Farley

[18:12] yes you have to move the resolution oh

[18:15] I'm surprised I got excited I can't wait

[18:16] to talk about this young man all right

[18:17] excuse me my I'll entertain a motion no would you like to move the resolution

[18:22] I would like to move the resolution may

[18:23] I have a second second by Mr Williams all in

[18:27] favor

[18:28] aye yay okay all right congratulations

[18:30] again

[18:33] I'm please please again I'm very sorry I

[18:36] get excited anytime I get to talk about

[18:38] extraordinary young people in our

[18:40] community

[18:41] um and Mr Richards is a Youth

[18:42] Development coordinator for the

[18:44] African-American history records project

[18:46] he also serves as an interview of those

[18:48] who hold these records of schenectady's

[18:50] African-American history his primary job

[18:52] is teaching the youth team skills

[18:53] necessary to become effective Warriors

[18:55] recorders and Liaisons of History

[18:58] um I had the absolute pleasure of of

[19:00] attending one of the events uh that Mr

[19:03] Richards and his team of people are to

[19:06] produce

[19:07] um and it was an amazing time it was

[19:10] something where I heard voices from all

[19:13] walks of life speak up against

[19:14] resistance and speak out against

[19:16] oppression and you sir have created not

[19:19] only a platform for that to happen but

[19:21] have inspired so many others to lift our

[19:23] voice so it is with a great great honor

[19:25] that I asked you to receive this

[19:27] resolution on our behalf okay

[19:32] thank you

[19:33] usually we don't do this but I'm going

[19:35] to ask you all to stand for this young

[19:37] man who has done such a beautiful job in

[19:39] our community

[19:43] would you like to say a couple words for

[19:45] you

[19:58] [Applause]

[20:05] uh first and foremost I want to thank

[20:07] councilman Farley for considering me for

[20:09] this resolution and also the rest of the

[20:11] council

[20:13] um to talk to them

[20:15] um

[20:16] I want to give a special shout out and

[20:18] thank you to members of my team uh

[20:21] Kareem to Ray starrkea King and William

[20:23] Rivas who have helped me along my way

[20:25] through this journey through poetry and

[20:27] African-American historic records

[20:28] project

[20:29] um what we do is we like Damani said we

[20:33] give uh we give people a space to share

[20:36] their voice and speak about the things

[20:38] that they are resisting against

[20:40] um I believe myself I am my very

[20:42] existence is a resistance to the

[20:44] establishments that bind us by different identities and I do my best to

[20:49] help people share their experiences as

[20:51] well so I'm very thankful to receive

[20:53] this resolution from the city and I look

[20:56] forward to seeing everybody's faces at

[20:58] our next open mic on February 24th at

[21:00] Electric City Barn

[21:02] thank you

[21:14] and as for approval of the minutes for

[21:16] January 23 2023

[21:21] motion by Mr Williams

[21:24] second

[21:27] by Mr Farley all in favor

[21:30] aye

[21:31] the clerk could please read any

[21:32] Communications and petitions

[21:38] Communications presented to city council

[21:40] for Monday February 13 2023 under

[21:43] official there were none under General

[21:45] from Camille sassanowski two emails

[21:48] dated January January 23rd and February

[21:50] 10th asking each of the council members

[21:52] to look out for the well-being of

[21:54] citizens of Schenectady urging them to

[21:56] vote against the Clean Slate Act

[21:59] from Reverend Nicole Dees Jean Simone an

[22:02] email encouraging council members to

[22:04] support the Clean Slate act to help

[22:06] people gain access to employment housing

[22:08] education and other Essentials as they

[22:11] start start over and re-enter public

[22:13] life after incarceration

[22:15] from David jackaloni an email and letter

[22:18] addressing the arpa funds for sidewalk

[22:20] improvements and the creative Outdoor

[22:21] Advertising presentation he asked that

[22:24] the funds for the sidewalk Improvement

[22:25] not be approved without getting real

[22:27] numbers and cogent explanations because

[22:29] it will cost the city much more than

[22:31] expected and had questions to be

[22:34] thoughtfully considered before the start

[22:35] of the negotiation for the creative

[22:37] outdoor advertisings

[22:39] for Martin Allen Greenberg an email in

[22:41] support of the Clean Slate act there are

[22:43] a variety of safeguards in the

[22:45] legislation to ensure that the

[22:46] community's safety is maintained and

[22:49] that the benefits outweigh any

[22:50] disadvantages

[22:51] under petitions there were none thank

[22:54] you Cloudland council members for any

[22:56] committee reports

[22:59] this time we'll have privilege of the

[23:00] floor related to the legislative agenda

[23:02] so anything that's on the legislative

[23:04] agendas when people will be able to have

[23:05] the opportunity to speak we ask I have

[23:07] two people who they're signed up to

[23:09] speak and I ask that um no one speak on

[23:11] anything that's not on the legislative

[23:13] agenda first person is Claudia Kavanaugh

[23:20] good evening

[23:24] tonight you're going to be voting on The

[23:26] Clean Slate bill that's being

[23:30] proposed in legislature

[23:32] I hope that you consider the employers

[23:35] and Property Owners when you're doing

[23:37] this in reading about your clean slate

[23:41] act I didn't read the categories where

[23:44] you were not going to add you know I

[23:47] could understand like small pot offense

[23:49] or something like that but you have some

[23:50] very serious people who were

[23:52] incarcerated and they've been paroled or

[23:54] in trying to get their lives back

[23:57] together that's fine

[23:59] but I do think that in order to have a

[24:03] society where people you know have

[24:06] informed consent

[24:08] if I have property and I want to know

[24:10] who I'm running my property to

[24:13] and I'm not the only one who feels that

[24:15] way

[24:16] and it's not being mean to anyone or but

[24:20] you you when you make decisions in life

[24:22] you have to live with your decisions

[24:23] even if they do mean incarceration and

[24:26] you are

[24:27] you know freed later or whatever the

[24:30] society needs to know especially

[24:32] employers and people that are renting

[24:36] property to you need to know that

[24:39] I don't think it's wrong at all and I

[24:42] just wanted to also ask

[24:45] with all the other problems in this city

[24:47] would not one eighth grader in this

[24:49] entire city passing a standardized math

[24:51] test

[24:53] this is what you're going to concentrate

[24:55] on trying to pass the Clean Slate you're

[24:58] gonna really you should be working with

[25:00] the city's uh the school district to see

[25:03] what you could do to help these kids

[25:05] a couple of you on this panel always

[25:08] talk about marginalized people what's

[25:10] more marginalized and not being able to

[25:12] pass a math test in eighth grade

[25:15] so something's very wrong

[25:18] I I think you're you're you're

[25:21] Focus needs to be someplace else

[25:24] something that will improve and and pro

[25:27] benefit the entire city if you have a

[25:30] whole population of children who can't

[25:32] write a cogent essay who can't do

[25:35] standardized math

[25:36] you're going to turn you're turning out

[25:38] an entire generation of marginalized

[25:41] people whatever that means

[25:44] and I think that maybe you should

[25:47] um just kind of put out there what you

[25:50] will allow and what you won't allow in

[25:52] your proposal for This Clean Slate bill

[25:55] because I think that the society you owe

[25:58] it to people owe it to society to know

[26:00] who they're dealing with employers need

[26:02] to know

[26:05] I I just hope that at some point that

[26:08] you guys get past and I'm so tired of

[26:10] every single time I read an article

[26:12] about the city council it's black people

[26:15] white black I have never in my life

[26:18] heard so much about race in my life as I

[26:21] have since this Council I I got to tell

[26:24] you I was born and raised in this town

[26:29] think about something that benefits the

[26:31] entire city

[26:33] and that's an educated population

[26:37] thank you

[26:38] Anthony Alexander

[26:48] I'm about to date everybody

[26:51] um

[26:52] can I let you saying about the children

[26:54] but it ain't up to it's a community

[26:58] raised to help raise these kids because

[26:59] when I grew up there was somebody that

[27:01] gave me a hand up to help me

[27:03] we got away from that because we got

[27:05] stuck in our own self it's raising about

[27:07] thinking about ourselves and still

[27:09] thinking about these babies

[27:10] I'm a parent of seven but I raised more

[27:13] than seven of differations different

[27:15] nationalities because that's how my

[27:17] grandmother raised me

[27:18] I give a damn about the people I give a

[27:20] damn about these kids I don't been to

[27:22] prison

[27:23] and I'm in a situation now I'm in that

[27:25] catch 22. if I get an apartment

[27:29] where I'm at they pay the substantial

[27:32] amount of money but DSS only gives 378

[27:36] to get a place to live

[27:38] that still leaves me home as if I get a

[27:40] job

[27:42] see my point so is it for the people to

[27:45] be to get their own place out of the

[27:47] 1500 that you're giving so I want y'all

[27:49] give seven eight hundred dollars to that

[27:51] person so they get a one a bedroom until

[27:52] then get on their feet

[27:54] but like she said I agree with it ever

[27:57] since I've been up here it's more races

[27:59] up here and I'm from the south Florida

[28:01] where it's racing but since I've been

[28:03] here this race dividing we're supposed

[28:05] to be Unified

[28:07] that's where it supposed to be we all

[28:09] here for a common cause guess what I

[28:12] mean it means some of this stuff for a

[28:14] clean stretch for clean slate amend some

[28:16] of this stuff you ain't got to agree

[28:17] with everything but some of the stuff

[28:19] okay one step at a time

[28:22] let's get the foot in the door tell all

[28:24] of us to have a chance to get a job so

[28:25] we ain't got to worry about if I get a

[28:27] job I'm homeless the next day

[28:30] enjoy

[28:32] thank you

[28:36] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[28:39] I declare the public comment on the

[28:40] legislative agenda closed

[28:43] we have one item for roll call

[28:50] item number 12.

[28:53] but the clerk would please read

[29:01] item number 12 for original

[29:03] consideration a resolution authorizing

[29:06] nope it's not 12. that's all no

[29:14] item number 17 item number 17.

[29:22] for original

[29:24] consideration a resolution to clear and

[29:25] support the New York State Clean Slate

[29:27] Act

[29:29] need a motion

[29:33] Mr Mr bear in second

[29:36] Mr Williams any discussion

[29:42] okay if the clerk could please call the

[29:44] roll

[29:46] Mr motiveran yeah

[29:49] Mr Toro

[29:51] no Mr Farley yes

[29:54] Mr Williams

[30:02] I thought it was important to build upon

[30:04] how this meeting started and

[30:06] highlighting the important message of

[30:08] wisdom and discernment truly I felt

[30:10] moved to say a few words and I wanted to

[30:12] highlight that it's important to not

[30:14] allow our fears to be at the detriment

[30:16] of others who have already paid their cost for the transgressions

[30:24] and I would like to be very clear that

[30:25] it's not taking what they did to end up

[30:27] at their current predicament or stance

[30:28] in life lightly that's to understand

[30:30] that there was a cost

[30:32] that the expectation to be eligible for

[30:34] this legislative item is to be paid in

[30:37] full with continued service

[30:40] so for me I wanted to point out a

[30:42] situation that happened with with an

[30:44] individual that just came to the rail

[30:47] where it's an assumption was made about

[30:49] me and what I'm not doing and that's

[30:51] specifically why we're here

[30:53] I have the opportunity to respond or

[30:56] provide more context but how often do

[30:58] individuals

[30:59] who we are highlighting to address have

[31:02] the opportunity to have a similar

[31:03] conversation where they can truly speak

[31:05] to what they've done and how

[31:07] rehabilitative they are

[31:09] more times than not that that

[31:10] opportunity is not given

[31:12] and as individuals that are advocating

[31:14] for the betterment of all individuals in

[31:16] this community

[31:18] if we hear of a process or procedure

[31:20] that is not effective we're not working

[31:22] it is our responsibility it is Our

[31:23] obligation to take a moment to pause

[31:26] deliberate and understand what can we do

[31:28] to improve the functionality of

[31:30] something that is already in place

[31:33] so I'm proud to say that I'm in support

[31:35] of this

[31:36] and I look forward to the efforts that

[31:38] us as a council can continue to do to

[31:40] address the needs of this community

[31:45] yes

[31:46] thank you Miss Patrick

[31:51] Mr palamini

[31:53] where's the Clean Slate for the victims

[31:58] and their families

[32:00] there is none

[32:01] it continues forever

[32:04] even acts that are so-called minor

[32:08] stick with the individuals for the rest

[32:11] of their lives

[32:12] families have been destroyed

[32:15] because of actions of others

[32:19] individuals have had their lives turned

[32:21] upside down and destroyed

[32:24] because of action actions of others

[32:28] there's no clean slate for those

[32:30] individuals

[32:31] there's no making something a little

[32:33] easier for them

[32:35] those people have had their lives turned

[32:38] upside down

[32:40] forever

[32:41] and it's impacted them in ways that

[32:44] cannot be measured

[32:48] this just doesn't make sense

[32:51] how can we look those individuals in the

[32:53] eye and say

[32:56] yeah we're going to give Clean Slate for

[32:58] people that impacted you

[33:05] I just don't see it

[33:07] I vote no

[33:10] it's Porterfield

[33:14] Kavanaugh brought up a few points about

[33:15] what's in the legislation and and I

[33:17] encourage you all to read it because

[33:18] there are some stipulations in them that

[33:20] tell you who and cannot who and

[33:22] um with individuals this will not impact

[33:24] and cannot benefit if you from it so sex

[33:27] offenders are not covered under this I

[33:29] just want to make that clear and also if

[33:31] someone

[33:32] um is working with a vulnerable

[33:33] population they can still have access

[33:35] children and older adults they can still

[33:37] have access to people's uh criminal

[33:39] background so I just wanted to and also

[33:42] law enforcement still has access to this

[33:45] so we just want to make sure that we

[33:46] we're understanding this is not just a

[33:49] carte blanche in everybody and it

[33:50] applies to everyone regardless that is

[33:52] not the case I also want to point out

[33:54] the fact that several months ago we this

[33:57] Council approved funding for a housing

[34:01] in the city where ex-offenders formerly

[34:05] incarcerated people could live and the

[34:07] majority of the people on the that irons

[34:09] Council now were on this Council then

[34:11] and voted in favor of that so it just I

[34:15] find a little puzzling that we're

[34:16] allowing some people to benefit and then

[34:18] when it comes to maybe another for

[34:21] whatever reason

[34:22] um

[34:22] I'm not sure the difference in in folks

[34:25] Minds that we're going to vote

[34:26] differently so

[34:28] um in addition to that we I believe that

[34:31] we need to give people another chance

[34:32] and there's there are things put in

[34:34] place that you have to serve your time

[34:37] and then wait three years after all time

[34:39] is served and everything is done if you

[34:41] had a misdemeanor and then seven years

[34:43] if you've had a felony so that gives you

[34:45] enough and nothing and you cannot within

[34:47] that time

[34:48] have had another offense and been

[34:51] interaction with the law enforcement so

[34:54] there are systems in place there are

[34:55] things put in place it's not just you

[34:57] know you could just get it and you don't

[34:59] have to

[35:00] um I'm going to use the word prove that

[35:02] you um are ready to contribute to

[35:05] society and that you've you know you're

[35:07] sorry for what you did and you're

[35:09] willing to continue to move forward and

[35:10] contribute to society so with that I

[35:13] vote Yes

[35:16] so motion passes four to three

[35:20] [Applause]

[35:25] thank you

[35:29] I'd ask for approval of the legislative

[35:32] agenda

[35:34] moved by Mr mood of Aaron second by Mr

[35:36] Williams all in favor

[35:40] this time we'll have privilege of the

[35:42] floor regarding General City business

[35:44] I have eight people signed up to speak

[35:50] first person is Leonard dimassi

[35:54] thank you

[36:01] [Music]

[36:06] hello everybody I'm here to speak about

[36:09] the swimming pool

[36:11] um when I read in the paper it's like

[36:13] doubled in costs it's 10 million plus

[36:16] I'm asking on the council president or

[36:19] anybody on the council

[36:21] what is going to be done with the

[36:24] existing swimming pool

[36:31] there's no plan for the existing

[36:33] swimming pool

[36:34] you're not going to tear it up you're

[36:37] not gonna you're just going to leave it

[36:38] there you're gonna

[36:40] what what's going to be done with the

[36:42] existing swimming pool so there are

[36:44] plans for the 16 pool but at this point

[36:45] in time you'll we just hear your

[36:47] comments and we can answer your response

[36:49] to you later but not at this moment

[36:51] well it's hard to speak about a subject

[36:53] matter that I can't the paper doesn't

[36:56] discuss either

[36:58] so I'm going to say if you have the

[37:01] existing swimming pool

[37:04] you already have the bathrooms close by

[37:06] you have the picnic areas right there

[37:10] you have the Pavilion there I would fix

[37:13] a filtration system and I think

[37:15] everybody's smart enough on this Council

[37:17] that they can handle a geese problem

[37:20] with all the rest of the money

[37:22] I would say look at the casino

[37:26] and see if you can get some way to

[37:28] operate like you have at the golf course

[37:30] a concession from Memorial Day to Labor

[37:33] Day

[37:34] and if it's not viable tear it down

[37:37] and if you're going to keep the park

[37:39] Administration Building

[37:41] empty tear it down make it a green area

[37:45] that's what a Park's for

[37:47] Greenery we always talk about the

[37:50] environment

[37:51] actually cut down a SWAT the land it was

[37:54] good to knock down the stadium it was

[37:55] never going to be used David's sake

[37:57] against long gone there's nobody that's

[37:59] Savvy or smart in our community we can

[38:01] do a project like he did

[38:04] so let it go back to Forever Wild

[38:08] it's like you know Schenectady is not a

[38:11] rich city when you get all this money

[38:13] you gotta can't think you're rich

[38:16] spend it wisely get the most out of it

[38:21] if you start doing projects and you

[38:23] don't even have to and you're going to

[38:24] leave the old swimming pool there it's

[38:26] going to cause the taxpayers more money

[38:28] down the line

[38:30] so I think of all of you you know you're

[38:33] smart people use your brains and get the

[38:37] most for your money and don't have any

[38:39] costs out occur further down the line

[38:43] that's all I have to say thank you

[38:49] Reverend Nicole John Simone

[38:57] good evening

[39:00] first I want to thank members from the

[39:04] council for attending the NAACP

[39:06] community prayer tonight which was at

[39:08] practice theater thank you for your

[39:10] support of that event we will also be

[39:11] having a black history program at The

[39:13] Bridge Church on the 26th that starts at

[39:16] 2 p.m and you are all invited to attend

[39:20] um I want to say this uh first I want to

[39:22] say thank you for passing to have a

[39:25] resolution to support the Clean Slate

[39:27] Act

[39:29] you know one of the hardest things

[39:31] I've ever had to do was forgive the

[39:35] person who killed my mother's youngest

[39:36] sister

[39:37] her name was Patricia Ann Bowens my

[39:40] favorite

[39:42] who was shot and killed in Philadelphia

[39:45] um and I had to come to terms with the

[39:47] fact that the person who killed my aunt

[39:50] deserved forgiveness

[39:52] and that's something I dealt with

[39:54] um

[39:55] as a Christian it's something I also

[39:56] dealt with mentally emotionally in a

[39:59] whole lot of different ways and our

[40:01] prison system is supposed to be a

[40:02] rehabilitation system at least that's

[40:04] what they say and at some point that's

[40:06] got to work we gotta trust it and we got

[40:08] to give people Second Chances

[40:10] uh one thing that I do

[40:12] appreciate about that legislation is

[40:15] that people do have to

[40:16] you know wait three years or seven years

[40:18] to prove that you know they are willing

[40:21] to be um productive citizens in society

[40:23] and um so I I think that I appreciate

[40:27] you guys seeing the positive impacts

[40:29] that it could have and then

[40:31] um the person has left but that comment

[40:34] about the education

[40:38] 2.3 million New Yorkers are going to be

[40:41] impacted if this legislation is passed

[40:43] and be able to have a fresh start and a

[40:46] good number of those 2.3 are parents

[40:50] how much better could a child do in

[40:51] school if their parent could get a job

[40:54] if their parent could come out of being

[40:57] incarcerated and actually fully be

[41:00] their parent

[41:03] you know so you got to look at the

[41:06] positives of this and stop acting like

[41:08] these kids aren't dealing with the

[41:10] situations that their parents are

[41:12] dealing with in regards to incarceration

[41:15] and so it's

[41:19] and having been a teacher as well

[41:24] um I was an educator that was my first

[41:25] degree before theology

[41:27] so I was a teacher

[41:29] how many

[41:30] children were so excited

[41:35] when their parents were able to go home

[41:36] but did not realize the stress that

[41:38] their parents had to deal with because

[41:39] they couldn't get a job

[41:41] that's a reality

[41:43] for a lot of these children you wonder

[41:44] why these children can't succeed is

[41:46] because they're stressing about things

[41:47] they don't need to stress about

[41:49] and that includes having parents that

[41:52] cannot get jobs because they've been

[41:54] incarcerated and this is the last thing

[41:55] I want to say

[41:57] um

[41:58] there are certain crimes

[42:00] no there are certain things that when

[42:03] they were in my community were a crime

[42:05] but when they went to other communities

[42:06] they became a sickness

[42:09] I think about the number of people that

[42:11] are going to come out of prison who went

[42:12] to jail for having a nickel bag or for

[42:14] selling weed and they're going to come

[42:15] out and find smoke shops smell it

[42:17] smelling marijuana and making lots of

[42:19] money off of marijuana while they still

[42:21] have to have a record

[42:24] so when marijuana and opioids were a

[42:27] problem in my community it was a crime

[42:28] but as soon as it went to other

[42:30] communities it became a sickness

[42:32] people have a right to be free

[42:35] thank you

[42:38] [Applause]

[42:41] Rebecca palova Rebecca

[42:50] thank you

[42:52] um

[43:00] 20 years ago I took in three kids

[43:04] whose parents

[43:06] whose family life would have been very

[43:08] different

[43:10] if this had been afforded to them

[43:19] it's been a tough

[43:21] 20 years

[43:24] a really tough 20 years

[43:27] because all they really wanted were

[43:29] their biological parents

[43:36] I moved up to Schenectady 10 years ago

[43:41] as a single parent of four

[43:46] and it wasn't

[43:50] an easy Journey

[43:54] but I will say

[43:59] that in my time here the greatest

[44:02] support that I had within the school

[44:06] district

[44:07] was Damani Farley

[44:11] I

[44:17] for any one of my children

[44:21] and especially my most challenging who's

[44:24] 22

[44:26] and

[44:28] I pray every day

[44:30] that she

[44:33] stays out of trouble

[44:38] but she'd be a lot worse off

[44:41] if it hadn't been for countless

[44:44] late nights and weekends

[44:48] when I could

[44:50] call the money and ask him to support me

[44:54] with my daughter

[45:00] when I say

[45:02] she wasn't easy

[45:05] I love her with every

[45:08] bone in my body every piece of my being

[45:11] but she

[45:13] has had to overcome a lot of struggles

[45:19] and it

[45:21] offends me

[45:23] the degree to which

[45:27] the newspaper slander that is currently

[45:30] out there

[45:32] on the Integrity of someone who

[45:35] has unmatchable hours in this community

[45:40] with not just my child but so many

[45:44] others

[45:46] and that's all all I've got

[45:51] [Applause]

[45:54] thank you

[45:56] Sean Young

[46:05] uh good evening I'd also like to thank

[46:08] the council the mighty Farley

[46:10] specifically for the resolution of Black

[46:12] History Month that young brother that

[46:13] I've seen him grow a lot in these years

[46:16] and he was

[46:17] as deserving of that award as anyone I

[46:20] could think of so I want to thank you

[46:21] for that I also I want to thank you for

[46:23] the resolution for passing the

[46:24] resolution Around clean slate

[46:26] um I believe that that piece of

[46:28] legislation is uh

[46:30] is a step in the right direction of

[46:32] addressing some historic

[46:34] um some issues that have lasted

[46:35] throughout history I heard a couple

[46:37] things while I I was sitting down

[46:39] listening I was supposed to sign up for

[46:40] the other time to speak but I didn't but

[46:42] you know a couple people got up here and

[46:44] said that they never heard so much about

[46:46] race I find that interesting that they

[46:49] never heard some that never heard so

[46:50] much about race and then the correlation

[46:53] with having the most people of color

[46:54] sitting in our city council ever now

[46:56] races all of a sudden an issue that is

[46:59] being brought to the Forefront is

[47:00] because it's not something that has been

[47:01] talked about before because the people

[47:03] that are representing minions Community

[47:05] who have been out without a voice are

[47:07] now here

[47:08] education is important our kids

[47:11] Reverend Nikki already spoke to that

[47:13] like having people having family that

[47:17] can support their kids that can live in

[47:19] good neighborhoods that can good good

[47:20] jobs that's important to our kids

[47:24] um sanity to their safety their

[47:26] well-being and for them to get education

[47:28] the district has to do a lot better as

[47:30] well but it's important to have our

[47:32] parents at home

[47:34] and I also want to address the fact that

[47:35] we talked about victims and victims and like how does something last forever

[47:39] do you know that most people that

[47:42] incarcerated are victims themselves

[47:45] they have suffered through something

[47:47] they were the kids in broken homes

[47:51] okay they were the kids or the teenagers

[47:54] or the adults who were who were

[47:56] who suffered through violence some of

[47:59] the indicators some of the indicators of

[48:01] violence and incarceration alone the

[48:03] shame and more violence

[48:04] where do we see that more than anywhere

[48:06] but then some of the most impoverished

[48:07] communities in our city

[48:09] so I want you to to think about that and the fact that this goes on forever

[48:15] we want a community

[48:17] that's good for everyone

[48:19] we want a community that holds people

[48:21] accountable

[48:23] holds the individual accountable holds

[48:26] the institutions accountable holds

[48:28] Society accountable when it's been wrong

[48:30] we always we look back we are

[48:31] celebrating Black History Month today

[48:33] and we're acknowledging history

[48:36] how has that history impacted our

[48:38] community we know how it's impacted our community

[48:42] and this is this legislation is doing

[48:45] something about it it is a step in the

[48:47] right direction for the betterment of

[48:49] the entire Community we want people to

[48:52] have good jobs that's Economic

[48:54] Development right we want people to be

[48:56] homeowners

[48:58] right that's Public Safety we want

[49:01] people to be in their families doing

[49:03] what they're supposed to do for their

[49:05] kids for for the other family members

[49:08] that's a community

[49:10] and I am almost you know as sick and

[49:13] tired as everyone else where we're in a

[49:15] situation where we ignore history

[49:17] where we want to just say keep punishing

[49:18] them keep punishing them keep punishing

[49:20] them and so we can get the same thing

[49:22] over and over and over again

[49:26] recidivism rates 40 plus percent right

[49:30] now right people are being left out of

[49:32] opportunity there are there's tons of

[49:34] jobs right now employers are telling we

[49:36] have jobs for people we can't feel we

[49:39] need people in those jobs give them the

[49:41] opportunity this is not about making

[49:42] anyone unsafe

[49:44] seven years for someone with a felony

[49:46] that gets off parole or probation three

[49:48] years for a misdemeanor after probation

[49:51] that's a long time

[49:53] they paid their dues give them the

[49:55] opportunity thank you thank you

[49:58] [Applause]

[50:02] Kelly Williams

[50:13] uh good evening everybody it's actually

[50:16] been a long long time since I've

[50:18] actually attended one of these forgot

[50:20] how fun they were

[50:22] I haven't said that uh the reason I'm

[50:25] here I have a lot going on health issues

[50:26] things like that is we all have various

[50:28] things but I too was troubled last week

[50:32] when I read a couple articles popped up

[50:34] on the phone and the it was almost like

[50:37] one was written by Fox News the other

[50:40] one CNN you know two different stories

[50:43] but a lot of different the same message

[50:45] uh an incorrect message and then just

[50:48] message was being sent the one article

[50:51] pointed out to me because it started

[50:53] with the word Schenectady failed

[50:56] and I read the rest of the article and I

[50:58] started thinking about

[50:59] Schenectady family especially when it

[51:02] came to the school district

[51:04] four years ago our daughter went into

[51:07] seventh grade in the school

[51:09] and within the first week we never saw

[51:11] her again

[51:13] not the daughter we sent

[51:15] because of the conditions the things

[51:18] that were happening The Bullying the

[51:22] constant badgering the aggressive nature

[51:26] the Blind Eye

[51:28] the staff with their hands tied

[51:33] I spent three quarters of that that year

[51:37] seeking parent and parent conferencing

[51:40] seeking mediation

[51:42] seeking any and everything possible

[51:46] but when I sat there at the end of the third quarter right course towards

[51:51] the end of it

[51:53] in the morning the day after my daughter

[51:56] was attacked

[51:58] that I'm in there right there bottom

[52:01] basement school I see three security

[52:03] four teachers a principal and two

[52:05] guidance counselors

[52:07] and there was yet another person new to

[52:10] the whole situation presenting

[52:11] aggression towards my daughter

[52:14] I made the mistake thinking this was

[52:16] their

[52:17] playing field they'll take care of this

[52:21] and in front of me my daughter was

[52:23] attacked

[52:26] that's where Schenectady failed

[52:29] I literally had to pull her out of

[52:31] school and said there's no way you could

[52:34] ever even make me believe that my

[52:36] daughters you can guarantee my

[52:38] daughter's safety

[52:39] principal agreed with me immediately no

[52:41] argument

[52:43] then funny enough the solution to

[52:46] continue the education was to send her

[52:49] to Washington Irving where all the

[52:51] people that were her attacking her were

[52:53] currently at

[52:54] I was beside myself

[52:56] to say I was upset angry

[52:59] I I'm pretty sure most of us here are

[53:02] parents

[53:03] uh nobody here would want any of their

[53:05] children to go through it either today

[53:07] in the past in the future

[53:10] so

[53:11] because of everything you know we're

[53:13] looking at the same school I'm looking

[53:15] at what homeschooling would would do how

[53:19] it would rearrange the family

[53:22] and that was going to be stress within

[53:25] itself I didn't know how I was going to

[53:27] be able to continue efficiently the

[53:29] education of my daughter

[53:31] eighth grade came a lot of speculation

[53:34] no one's really getting back in touch

[53:36] with me uh it took me almost all the

[53:38] fourth quarter just to get a tutor to

[53:40] help her finish her seventh grade year

[53:42] to be able to meet at a public library

[53:44] closer to us I'm going to need you to

[53:45] summarize sir I'll be very quick then

[53:49] what happened was

[53:51] Mr Farley came into the picture

[53:54] Mr Farley his team his his culture

[53:58] brokers

[53:59] they came to the picture they came to

[54:01] our house they spoke with us they spoke

[54:03] with the teachers they spoke with the

[54:05] principal they put in place to allow her

[54:08] to feel safe again

[54:10] to allow her to continue in Prosper in

[54:13] her education to have the plans to have

[54:16] the goals that she has now

[54:19] the very insinuation

[54:22] of any impropriety of this man that has

[54:25] given more than I would say most I have

[54:27] ever seen

[54:29] is not only inappropriate it is

[54:31] downright disgusting

[54:33] and I wanted to make sure that this

[54:35] experience was put into the minds for

[54:38] anyone that has anything to think about

[54:40] it or make decisions in the future

[54:42] this man is a blessing to the community

[54:44] there are pillars in the community when

[54:47] you take down the pillar you're weak in

[54:48] the community

[54:50] I need you to thank you

[54:52] [Applause]

[54:57] Robert Sanders

[55:06] good evening

[55:08] Madam president council members

[55:11] it's been a while

[55:12] I came here to address you

[55:15] um over just by what everybody's

[55:17] addressing you about it's the city and

[55:20] its problems and if anyone believed

[55:23] inequality it's been me I worked in the

[55:26] public defender's office 15 years

[55:29] I'm a disabled person

[55:32] I'm a lobbyist for Fathers and Families

[55:34] of New York State I want everybody to

[55:37] have equality and it's a problem today

[55:41] and uh

[55:43] you know what you just passed I agree

[55:46] with 100 because you know everybody

[55:48] should start at the same starting point

[55:51] an end at the same ending point

[55:54] but what I'm here to say is you know

[55:57] Schenectady the city of Schenectady the

[55:59] county I'll put it in the county too you

[56:02] know we got to have the same

[56:04] distribution level and what I'm getting

[56:07] at is our children

[56:09] and probably Mr Farley knows is better

[56:11] is they're our main goal here and the

[56:14] city I said this council member mood of

[56:18] Aaron and the president

[56:21] we should have uh Children and Families

[56:23] board here or a committee why we don't I

[56:27] don't know

[56:28] I mean I've asked for it and as

[56:31] lobbyists

[56:33] up in Albany you know why don't we have

[56:36] this we see where our problems stem from

[56:38] the group

[56:40] and the gentleman that just spoke he's

[56:43] telling you about his little girl

[56:45] okay you people are passing these well

[56:49] we're going to get 50 000 but that's the

[56:50] house this that this that I want money I

[56:53] want to go back to Greg Fisher my

[56:55] president I want to say my city is going

[56:58] to give Fathers and Families of New York

[57:00] State money Schenectady

[57:02] okay but you know what now I know you

[57:04] know this is new for you actually we've

[57:06] been around for a while

[57:08] but I want to do that but you know our

[57:10] children are our future I said this 30

[57:12] years ago

[57:14] okay but you know what you're not doing

[57:16] that you're not really looking at that

[57:18] no I had people say well you should go

[57:20] to the county

[57:22] well you know what

[57:23] I hate to say the county really isn't

[57:26] taking the lead and when I talk to the

[57:28] council I know the council's listening

[57:30] and I know right here in the city of

[57:32] Schenectady the city of Schenectady is

[57:35] actually going to do something and

[57:37] they're not really looking at me and

[57:38] listening to me I know you don't want to

[57:40] hear from me

[57:41] but this is something like you got you

[57:44] know you got a city review board on the

[57:47] police you got all kinds of committees

[57:48] this is something that needs to happen

[57:52] because you know if you've got a pins

[57:54] problem if you've got CPS we're eating

[57:56] Woodlawn or you got a problem on the

[57:58] hill or you got it over in Bellevue with

[58:01] sex offenders I ran for counsel I know

[58:03] where they're at okay

[58:06] you know why you need to do this because

[58:08] you guys you're running next year this

[58:11] year

[58:12] you know why you need to know this even

[58:14] if it's the county that does it because

[58:17] you know why even the county legislators

[58:20] there's district one in District Two

[58:22] they're running in this area but like I

[58:25] said fat me okay they're going to go to

[58:28] every city council

[58:31] in all of New York because our children

[58:34] and it's just not guys it's women it's

[58:37] grandmothers it's everybody

[58:39] so it's it's like your dad you know I

[58:43] knew your dad well he was a good man

[58:45] great man

[58:46] you know and it's everybody

[58:48] this is what comes first our children

[58:51] are coming first and so they should be

[58:54] you know something that's on the city

[58:55] council's agenda and I want to speak to

[58:58] the mayor about this I've seen him cut

[58:59] out a little early but this this is an

[59:01] important item and I got a lot more

[59:04] talks about I know the timer just went

[59:06] off I don't want to take up too much of

[59:08] your time but this is something that

[59:10] really should be I don't know how the

[59:11] president runs her schedule or anything

[59:13] like that

[59:14] but this is something that really needs

[59:16] to be addressed and come next year you

[59:19] know I'll be a bit a little bit more

[59:22] proactive about how I do things but I

[59:25] appreciate your time your patience have

[59:27] a good day God bless you

[59:29] thank you

[59:34] [Applause]

[59:35] Mark Marva Isaacs

[59:40] she's she was there I guess she's gone

[59:42] okay uh Janice Rouse

[59:47] foreign

[59:54] I wanted to talk a little bit about just

[59:57] the atmosphere of the city council in

[1:00:00] regards to you know the Clean Slate act

[1:00:03] you know thank you for passing it four

[1:00:05] of you who voted for it

[1:00:08] um you know sometimes I think about this

[1:00:10] legislation and I think about America

[1:00:12] because you know America has been given

[1:00:16] a clean slate act

[1:00:18] um you know the crimes that were

[1:00:19] committed through slavery and so forth

[1:00:21] and so on we all realized that that was

[1:00:24] wrong I don't think any of us would

[1:00:26] differ from that that you know that

[1:00:29] slavery was wrong and what has been

[1:00:33] caused as a result of the oppression

[1:00:36] that um people of African-American

[1:00:39] descent had faced in this country you

[1:00:42] passed a resolution this evening

[1:00:45] um on black history month and the

[1:00:48] beginning of that resolution talks about

[1:00:50] and I'll read each February I'm gonna go

[1:00:55] right here where it says the strength

[1:00:57] and history of Black Americans

[1:00:59] experiences in the United States this

[1:01:01] year's theme is black resistance

[1:01:03] recognizing African Americans resistance

[1:01:06] to historical and ongoing oppression in

[1:01:09] all forms in pursuit of

[1:01:11] self-determination equality

[1:01:14] when we started this when you start your

[1:01:17] um session you do the Pledge of

[1:01:18] Allegiance in the pursuit of happiness

[1:01:21] you know for all Americans and you know

[1:01:24] my mother used always told me that for

[1:01:26] much for those that much is given much

[1:01:29] is required

[1:01:31] for those who need more should get more

[1:01:34] and as a result of our historic

[1:01:37] oppression against the people all

[1:01:41] elected officials whether you're black

[1:01:42] white blue green or yellow whether

[1:01:45] you're a Republican or a Democrat or a

[1:01:47] liberal we got to get to a place so we

[1:01:49] need some healing in America we need to

[1:01:52] do the right thing this is enough this

[1:01:53] is not about Republicans Or democrats

[1:01:55] this is about what's right we cannot

[1:01:59] keep holding people down for their

[1:02:01] entire life for mistakes made it does

[1:02:04] affect all affects the children it

[1:02:06] affects families it affects communities

[1:02:08] I need to address their chair I need to

[1:02:10] address the chair yes it affects

[1:02:12] communities it affects us all in many

[1:02:14] different facets just like the

[1:02:16] historical oppression that has happened

[1:02:18] in many different facets so I'm saying

[1:02:21] to you as elected officials let's start

[1:02:24] looking at some empathy y'all let's

[1:02:26] start looking at what's right and stop

[1:02:30] all of this partisan and black and white

[1:02:32] stuff it's got to stop

[1:02:34] we have at-risk Youth and we we know we

[1:02:37] put that on our agenda because there are

[1:02:39] at-risk parents there are parents that

[1:02:41] may have made mistakes early on in life

[1:02:43] and as a result they paid their price

[1:02:45] they went to prison they did whatever

[1:02:46] they had to do everybody is not bad even

[1:02:50] though they may have made some mistakes

[1:02:52] but we as America we want forgiveness

[1:02:55] but we're not willing to give it and I'm

[1:02:58] saying to you it's time as politicians

[1:03:01] that we all voted whether I voted for

[1:03:05] you you you it doesn't matter somebody

[1:03:07] voted for you that's why you're here

[1:03:09] so I'm asking you to stand up do the

[1:03:13] right thing and next time we have a vote

[1:03:16] and something important is this it's not

[1:03:18] going to be four to three it's going to

[1:03:21] be if there's seven people sitting here

[1:03:22] it should be seven

[1:03:24] so I thank you for your time thank you

[1:03:27] [Applause]

[1:03:32] now for Tompkins Alfred Tompkins

[1:03:46] good evening everyone

[1:03:48] thank you for

[1:03:50] your work and

[1:03:53] the things that you do in our community

[1:03:55] and how you Faithfully serve in the

[1:03:59] midst of adversity

[1:04:02] I was thinking about this I was reading

[1:04:07] this article last week

[1:04:09] and about my friend

[1:04:12] Domani Farley

[1:04:14] we've worked together for a while

[1:04:18] and

[1:04:19] when I first started working for the

[1:04:22] school district

[1:04:23] I remember being in a number of

[1:04:26] situations he and I where we were

[1:04:30] out

[1:04:32] after the hours of our work

[1:04:36] and helping families

[1:04:40] and and and I think of

[1:04:43] um how we so easily reached into his

[1:04:47] pocket and

[1:04:49] um I know he'd be a little embarrassed

[1:04:51] me telling you this but these are those

[1:04:55] are some of the things that we don't get

[1:04:58] out of that article those articles that

[1:05:01] were written

[1:05:03] um trying to tear down his character

[1:05:06] I think of Damani in his work as a man

[1:05:10] in the community as a father as a

[1:05:14] husband

[1:05:16] um he's had quite an impact on our

[1:05:19] community he's had quite an impact in

[1:05:23] the in the lives of of you've heard of

[1:05:26] families

[1:05:28] um Untold number of of parents and

[1:05:31] children

[1:05:32] it would be one thing if it was

[1:05:35] something that I read about or I heard

[1:05:37] about but

[1:05:40] um many situations

[1:05:42] we were in the midst of

[1:05:44] and so I watched how this man worked

[1:05:49] and

[1:05:51] um and so from that perspective I could

[1:05:54] see that it was an honorable guy

[1:05:56] a guy with a testimony among people

[1:06:02] um and his testimony of that show that

[1:06:07] revealed that he was a person who cared

[1:06:10] and who cared for people loved this

[1:06:14] community

[1:06:15] and so that that's that was exciting to

[1:06:20] see and encouraging to for me to see

[1:06:22] I've been a resident uh all my life here

[1:06:26] in Schenectady very proud of Schenectady

[1:06:29] all of its challenges and bumps and

[1:06:32] bruises and all of that stuff raised my

[1:06:35] family and so

[1:06:38] my youngest child is is 36 and and as I

[1:06:43] said we have four children

[1:06:45] and so

[1:06:47] um we've been at it a while and to see

[1:06:51] someone rise up in the ranks that was

[1:06:54] that's caring as Mr Farley was really

[1:06:58] encouraging so thank you thank you

[1:07:06] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[1:07:08] I declare the public comment of City

[1:07:10] business closed

[1:07:12] at this time any miscellaneous business

[1:07:14] of the council

[1:07:19] okay seeing none

[1:07:21] oh

[1:07:25] go ahead Miss Patrick

[1:07:29] missed that for a second sorry about

[1:07:31] that I wanted to

[1:07:33] um thank everyone for coming out tonight

[1:07:36] um I wanted to remind folks about the

[1:07:39] programs that we have going now five

[1:07:40] days a week for seniors to find a

[1:07:43] nutritious meal and some socialization

[1:07:45] with one another and you can certainly

[1:07:48] find that that schedule in The Gazette

[1:07:51] on Saturdays actually I wanted to

[1:07:54] congratulate the nine new officers who

[1:07:56] just graduated from zone five and we'll

[1:07:58] be joining our force and wish them the

[1:08:01] best as they move into their roles

[1:08:04] um

[1:08:05] I wanted to say again that our

[1:08:07] Schenectady shares program we had our

[1:08:09] last official sort I thank councilwoman

[1:08:14] detoro for working on that project with

[1:08:16] me

[1:08:17] um as well and this huge volunteer

[1:08:19] committee that we've had we probably our

[1:08:21] goal was fifteen thousand pounds of food

[1:08:23] and personal hygiene items I think we're

[1:08:25] going to probably be at like 19 or 20

[1:08:28] 000 pounds when we get our final figure

[1:08:30] spent a few hours there this morning

[1:08:32] sorting and unloading trucks and loading

[1:08:34] trucks Etc to go to any number of food

[1:08:37] pantries across the county with really

[1:08:39] and the schools with a lot of good food

[1:08:42] and good items so I'm very pleased with

[1:08:47] how that came out and I want to tell

[1:08:48] everybody that there'll be a phase two

[1:08:50] I'm not sure what that will be yet but

[1:08:52] we also will be doing this program

[1:08:54] annually

[1:08:56] I wanted to comment on the housing piece

[1:08:59] that I think that we passed I think

[1:09:01] you're talking about Cara house at

[1:09:03] Bethesda house that I think we supported

[1:09:06] as a council I think that's what you

[1:09:09] were referring to and it is transitional

[1:09:11] housing for uh recently incarcerated

[1:09:14] folks and I think you know Bethesda

[1:09:17] house is choosing to as part of this uh

[1:09:20] Capital project that they have

[1:09:23] um house folks and I think that that's

[1:09:24] uh great and I think that's why we all

[1:09:26] supported that that initiative I think

[1:09:30] we heard a lot tonight

[1:09:33] um I think as I said last time and as I

[1:09:36] heard spoken by many people I think it's

[1:09:39] really imperative that this city council

[1:09:41] continue to do the work that it does on

[1:09:43] anti-poverty anti-hunger on education on

[1:09:47] Workforce Development

[1:09:49] supporting the organizations like safe

[1:09:51] house and ywca's domestic violence

[1:09:53] supporting programs like the homes

[1:09:55] program that allows people to purchase

[1:09:58] houses

[1:09:59] or Habitat for Humanity the support that

[1:10:02] we give there so I think those things

[1:10:04] are very very critical to all of our

[1:10:06] residents that we continue doing the

[1:10:09] work that we can to try to make sure

[1:10:10] that we're supporting people that need

[1:10:12] that help as much as possible

[1:10:15] and that's all I have tonight thank you Mr Farley

[1:10:20] okay so I'll start off by saying uh

[1:10:24] there was no one more surprised than me

[1:10:27] to read a headline that implied I was

[1:10:31] making um six hundred thousand dollars a

[1:10:34] year in

[1:10:37] to that you know the paper who kind of

[1:10:39] wrote the headline I guess you know it's

[1:10:41] going to backfire on you because maybe

[1:10:42] you don't know that my wife and I every

[1:10:45] Sunday buy multiple copies of that paper

[1:10:48] to clip coupons and among this new news

[1:10:51] it seems like honey if you're watching

[1:10:53] you can we can stop clipping coupons now

[1:10:55] because I didn't know that we were going

[1:10:57] to make that uh make that make that

[1:10:59] amount of money

[1:11:00] um I think in all seriousness you know

[1:11:03] uh it's

[1:11:06] a headline and we are people who are

[1:11:09] serving in government and you know being

[1:11:12] in the political Arena uh some things

[1:11:14] just come with the territory uh

[1:11:16] but I want to thank everyone who came

[1:11:19] out tonight in support of the Clean Slate support of me

[1:11:26] um I really appreciate that

[1:11:28] um I also want to oddly thank those who

[1:11:31] might have a different position on clean

[1:11:33] State and me

[1:11:36] specifically

[1:11:37] because even though it might have not

[1:11:39] been what their intention was what they

[1:11:41] did is they opened up a very important

[1:11:43] point of reflection for me

[1:11:45] um sometimes doing the work you're just

[1:11:47] doing it your head's down and there's

[1:11:48] one foot in front of the other but I

[1:11:50] have gotten all these emails and phone

[1:11:53] calls of people and families who have

[1:11:56] reached out you know how can we support

[1:11:57] how can we make sure that we set the

[1:11:59] record straight

[1:12:01] um and as a young man I learned that

[1:12:03] leadership is not about having the

[1:12:05] answers but it's also about having the

[1:12:08] courage to ask the right questions of

[1:12:10] yourself and others

[1:12:12] and the question that was answered

[1:12:16] um when I opposed to people why they

[1:12:17] felt the need to do that

[1:12:19] was

[1:12:21] just a heartwarming and very inspiring

[1:12:24] time for me to reflect on some things I

[1:12:27] even you know personally have forgotten

[1:12:28] uh

[1:12:30] so that was really a great thing for me

[1:12:32] to quite honestly have to experience

[1:12:35] um but it was all variations of the same

[1:12:38] thing and that was the theme of that was

[1:12:41] showing up

[1:12:44] and you know I

[1:12:46] started to think about the first parent

[1:12:48] who reached out when we go back to 2015

[1:12:51] where kids were walking over the bridge

[1:12:52] and there were they were being assaulted

[1:12:55] and it was making its way going viral

[1:12:57] and things like that and parents were

[1:12:59] afraid to have their kids walk home you

[1:13:02] know we showed up

[1:13:04] um you know I think about

[1:13:07] you know some of the times when you know

[1:13:09] when we were dealing with this pandemic

[1:13:11] here

[1:13:12] in the in our we're all afraid we didn't

[1:13:16] know what to expect and we had to stop

[1:13:19] kids from entering the school building

[1:13:21] and everyone had to go learn remotely

[1:13:25] um there were a lot of kids that that

[1:13:26] didn't work for and they needed a place

[1:13:29] that they could be in front of a

[1:13:31] certified teacher so I was a part of the

[1:13:34] collective we that created that space

[1:13:36] for them and multiple Paws around the

[1:13:38] city they needed us and we showed up

[1:13:43] when it was time yeah we showed up when

[1:13:48] it was time for uh we were dealing with

[1:13:51] um neighboring cities and all across the

[1:13:54] country you know where

[1:13:56] almost you know people are feeling

[1:13:58] burning down because there was the

[1:14:01] outrage and the expression of crying for

[1:14:04] justice over George Floyd's uh murder

[1:14:06] and the lack of accountability you know

[1:14:09] our neighboring cities were in a lot of

[1:14:11] trouble and small business owners were

[1:14:13] boarding up their shops here

[1:14:16] um our police were suited in riot gear

[1:14:18] um ready to you know engage a crowd of

[1:14:21] people and we were very concerned

[1:14:24] as people that lived in the community

[1:14:25] and so is our leaders

[1:14:28] um I was a part of that Collective we

[1:14:30] that stood in a breach there that made

[1:14:32] sure that leadership understanding that

[1:14:34] people's voices needed to be heard

[1:14:37] and we could do it

[1:14:39] without causing harm to people in

[1:14:42] property and businesses that lived here

[1:14:45] I was able to do that so once again we

[1:14:47] showed up

[1:14:49] um I just want to say that

[1:14:51] so no

[1:14:52] those words won't tear me down

[1:14:56] and they won't tear us apart

[1:14:59] because people who take that position

[1:15:02] they can't fathom they can't even begin

[1:15:05] to imagine what it is that holds me up

[1:15:07] and holds us together

[1:15:09] that is forged in love our

[1:15:12] responsibility to one another and that

[1:15:14] is reinforced by Time and Time and Time

[1:15:18] Again by showing up

[1:15:21] so I just want to say thank you for

[1:15:22] every everyone who's come out and said

[1:15:24] nice things

[1:15:25] um it was a pleasant thing to hear or

[1:15:28] how we've impacted people's life in a

[1:15:30] positive way and we're going to continue

[1:15:32] to do that and we're just going to

[1:15:34] continue to show up

[1:15:36] [Applause]

[1:15:47] thank you

[1:15:49] okay

[1:15:50] [Applause]

[1:15:52] you can take about the dinner afterwards

[1:15:56] so I just want to thank everyone also

[1:15:57] for coming out tonight speaking to

[1:15:59] whatever your position was on the things

[1:16:01] that were on our agenda tonight or

[1:16:03] anything that impacted City business

[1:16:04] altogether

[1:16:06] um so thank you for coming out and

[1:16:08] always voicing your opinion it's

[1:16:10] important for us to hear from you not

[1:16:12] only when there's things that are

[1:16:14] challenging but also there's things that

[1:16:16] you think that we could do things better

[1:16:18] or ways to improve things or you could

[1:16:21] even come and say hey you did something

[1:16:23] right we're not opposed to that either

[1:16:26] so um as I remind you this is Black

[1:16:28] History Month and there will be a

[1:16:30] program at um

[1:16:33] as the Christian Bridge Christian Center

[1:16:36] on the 26th at 2 p.m everyone's invited

[1:16:39] to come out and it should be very

[1:16:42] um very informative we're actually

[1:16:46] um honoring Educators in the in the

[1:16:49] Schenectady school system and the

[1:16:50] Schenectady school district from we're

[1:16:53] calling them Trailblazers so people like

[1:16:55] the very first president actually or

[1:16:57] African-American person that was um was

[1:16:59] hired by the school district so come out

[1:17:01] it's a wonderful history lesson and

[1:17:03] you'll maybe somebody we could see some

[1:17:04] of your former teachers or at least hear

[1:17:06] something about them so we invite you

[1:17:07] all to be there

[1:17:09] I do also want to offer my condolences

[1:17:12] to the family of Mr palamini and Mrs um

[1:17:15] Patrick for the their loss and their

[1:17:18] families

[1:17:20] and finally I just want to address

[1:17:22] something that was said today it said a

[1:17:24] lot about the you know they're

[1:17:26] constantly hearing about race and race

[1:17:27] and races as it relates to this Council

[1:17:30] I just want to bring up the fact that we

[1:17:32] don't write those articles we don't have

[1:17:34] control of what people say it's clear

[1:17:36] there is where a difference there's

[1:17:38] races different races here but that's

[1:17:40] not what we should be focusing on

[1:17:43] and what anyone should be focusing on

[1:17:45] we are here to do a job for all of you

[1:17:47] regardless you don't have to look like

[1:17:49] me I'm here to serve you and I believe

[1:17:52] that all of us

[1:17:55] I want to believe that all of us feel

[1:17:57] the same way so

[1:18:00] um please if you could help us in that

[1:18:02] and when people start talking about it

[1:18:04] in a very divided way about race talk

[1:18:06] about us as a council of elected people

[1:18:08] as Miss Rouse said

[1:18:11] you somebody elected all of us so we're

[1:18:14] all sitting here and we want to serve

[1:18:16] you

[1:18:16] um the city so keep that in mind and

[1:18:19] let's work together and let's not only

[1:18:21] let

[1:18:22] um

[1:18:23] the US

[1:18:26] honoring people of color during one

[1:18:28] month but throughout the year and let's

[1:18:30] honor all of us all the time we have

[1:18:33] other you know opportunities pup

[1:18:39] so I just wanted to say publicly that we

[1:18:41] really have to work together and let's

[1:18:43] do that and I believe it's possible

[1:18:45] let's put things behind us that have

[1:18:47] happened and let's move forward

[1:18:49] thank you for your time

[1:18:51] and that with that I'll ask for a motion

[1:18:53] to adjourn moved by Miss Patrick

[1:18:56] second by Mr

[1:18:58] Farley all in favor

[1:19:00] we're adjourned thank you have a good

[1:19:02] night

Schenectady City Council Meeting, February 13, 2023

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