[0:00] [Music]

[0:28] yeah

[0:30] [Music]

[1:28] yeah

[1:32] [Music]

[2:58] he

[3:02] [Music]

[4:53] [Applause]

[4:53] [Music]

[4:58] yeah

[5:00] [Music]

[6:28] he

[6:30] [Music]

[6:58] yeah

[6:59] [Music]

[8:08] [Applause]

[8:08] [Music]

[8:58] spe

[9:02] I'd like to call the city Caucus meeting

[9:03] to order for Monday January 22nd

[9:07] 2024 we have 10 items for original

[9:09] consideration if the clerk would please

[9:11] read item number one item number one for

[9:13] original consideration a resolution

[9:15] authorizing the memorandum of

[9:17] understanding between the city of SKC

[9:18] and the Civil Service employees

[9:20] Association Incorporated local 1000 AFS

[9:23] CME AFL CIO CCA connected unit 850 once

[9:29] conc County local

[9:31] 886 discussed in committee with

[9:33] objection and on consent item number two for original

[9:36] consideration a resolution amending

[9:38] resolution 2022 d224 to modify the use

[9:42] of funds for Coco House discuss um Miss

[9:45] yes Mr Toro roll call roll call Mr Toro

[9:48] would like a roll call on item number

[9:51] two item number three item number three

[9:53] for final consideration a resolution

[9:55] amending resolution

[9:58] 2023-24 authorizing the sale of 1507 car

[10:01] street for $90,000 to specify the

[10:04] purchaser discuss in committee with

[10:06] objection on consent item number four for original

[10:09] consideration a resolution amending

[10:11] resolution

[10:13] 2022-23 to modify the use of funds for

[10:15] Better Community neighborhood

[10:16] Incorporated for the Hamilton Hill

[10:18] infill development project discuss in

[10:21] committee with objection on consent item

[10:23] number five item number five for

[10:25] original

[10:26] consideration a resolution authorizing

[10:28] the mayor or is designated to enter into

[10:30] an agreement with the New York State

[10:31] unified court system for a 5-year term

[10:34] from 2023 to 2028 discuss in committee

[10:37] with objection on consent item number

[10:40] five six item number six for original

[10:43] consideration a resolution amending

[10:45] resolution

[10:51] 2021-topcon

[10:54] number seven item number seven for

[10:57] original consideration resolution

[10:59] authorizing the amendment of revocable

[11:01] permit number 636 to the whistling

[11:03] Kettle to include a sign a retra

[11:05] retractable awning and a door that

[11:07] encroaches the city's RightWay at 138 J

[11:10] Street discussed in committee with

[11:12] objection on consent item number eight for original

[11:16] consideration a resolution authorizing

[11:18] the issuance of revocable permit number

[11:20] 678 to the rabbit Lounge for a sign that

[11:22] will overhang the city's RightWay at 158

[11:25] J Street discuss in committee with

[11:27] objection on consent item number nine for a orinal

[11:31] consideration a resolution recognizing

[11:33] Black History Month 2024 this item will

[11:35] be taken out of order and presented by

[11:37] councilman Farley item number 10 item

[11:40] number 10 under contract and Supply a

[11:42] resolution awarding the bid and contract

[11:44] for the police station server monitor

[11:46] room HVAC and Chiller replacement to R&B

[11:50] Mechanical Incorporated in the amount of

[11:53] $174,000 discussed in committee without

[11:55] objection on

[11:56] consent but there's nothing more to come

[11:58] before the city Council caucus I ask for

[11:59] a motion to adjourn motion by Miss

[12:01] Patrick second by Mr Mutan all in favor

[12:04] we are adjourned I'd like to call to

[12:06] order the connected the city council

[12:08] meeting for Monday January 22nd

[12:11] 2024 and I'd like to call on Pandit

[12:13] Rashi for the

[12:19] invocation to

[12:21] our to our mayor elected

[12:25] official the same way we depend upon the

[12:27] air as much as we independent having a

[12:30] nose without oxygen we cannot breathe as

[12:33] much as we say I can see with my eyes

[12:36] without light I cannot see and we the

[12:38] citizens of SKC as much as we say we are

[12:41] this and we are that without you guys in

[12:44] the portfolio of Mayors and elected

[12:46] official we cannot function and we it's

[12:48] a two-way street and today I pray and

[12:50] ask bhagan our God Almighty that

[12:52] whatever decision you're making and

[12:54] you're going to make today going forward

[12:56] May that decision always be positive for

[12:58] the uplift of our community our Citizen

[13:01] and

[13:03] [Music]

[13:13] everyone shant peace and peace and peace thank

[13:23] you thank you I'd like to call on

[13:26] William Rivas to lead us in the Pledge

[13:27] of Allegiance

[13:33] yes

[13:36] you to the flag of the United States of

[13:40] America

[13:41] the stand na God

[13:46] indivisible and justice for all thank

[13:55] you if the clerk would please call the

[13:57] role

[14:01] Mr Toro pres Mr Farley here Mr Mancini

[14:06] here Mr mutar pres Miss Patrick here Mr

[14:10] Williams pres M bfield here thank

[14:15] you we have one item we have one out of

[14:18] order uh resolution item number nine a

[14:20] resolution recognizing Black History

[14:22] Month and I'd like to call on councilman

[14:23] Farley to present this

[14:27] resolution

[14:31] I have everyone here to receive

[14:33] resolution come and join me on this side

[14:34] of the rail

[14:38] please may I have the floor Madam

[14:40] president you have the

[14:42] floor excuse me the young lady are you

[14:44] from the art center yes okay would you

[14:46] join us back here please thank

[14:53] you thank you all for being here as I'm

[14:55] honored to present a resolution

[14:57] recognizing black history history month

[14:59] for 2024 whereas each February we

[15:02] acknowledge the struggles diversity

[15:04] strength and history of the Black

[15:05] American Experience in the United States

[15:08] this year's theme African-Americans in

[15:10] the Arts recognizes African-Americans

[15:12] contributions in the fields of Visual

[15:14] and Performing Arts literature fashion

[15:17] folklore language film music

[15:20] architecture and culinary and other

[15:22] forms of cultural expression and whereas

[15:25] Black History Month first originated as

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

[15:28] educated cator Dr Carter G Woodson who

[15:31] launched negro history week in

[15:34] 1926 Woodson chose February for reasons

[15:37] of tradition and reform it's commonly

[15:39] said that wood Woodson selected February

[15:41] to encourage the birthdays of two

[15:43] African-Americans who played a role in

[15:45] shaping Black History Abraham Lincoln

[15:48] and Frederick Douglas whose birthdays

[15:50] are the 12th and the 14th whereas Black

[15:54] History Month remains a powerful

[15:55] symbolic celebration and a time for

[15:58] acknowledgement ment reflection and

[15:59] inspiration despite an inequitable

[16:02] social system African-Americans have

[16:04] found ways to survive advance and Thrive

[16:07] black Americans have struggled to

[16:08] protect their physical and intellectual

[16:10] autonomy through Innovation lobbying

[16:13] litigation legislation and helping each

[16:15] other and the community as well and

[16:17] African-American artists have used to

[16:19] preserve history and Community memory

[16:22] and empowerment for all as well these

[16:24] efforts have fueled perseverance hope

[16:27] for future and our nation has Ben

[16:29] benefited from those efforts by

[16:31] progressing towards a more Equitable

[16:33] Society even though we still have a long

[16:36] way to go African-American spiritual

[16:38] gospel folk music and Hip-Hop have been

[16:41] used to express struggle hope and calls

[16:43] for solidarity in the face of racial

[16:45] oppression music has been used to

[16:47] illustrate societal issues including

[16:49] white and state sanctioned violence I.E

[16:52] Billy holidays Strange Fruit Marvin Gaye

[16:54] what's going on as motivation for

[16:56] strength against harassment and bring

[16:58] attention to oppression black artists

[17:01] writers photographers and musicians have

[17:03] participated in the Black Arts Movement

[17:05] the Harlem Renaissance and the Chicago

[17:07] Black Renaissance were the soundtrack

[17:10] the visual representation of resistance

[17:12] movements these individuals created art

[17:14] that supported the resistance movements

[17:16] but also provided a space for black

[17:18] people to express love and joy creatives

[17:21] used poetry fiction short stories plays

[17:24] and television to counter stereotypes of

[17:26] Imagine imagine a present and future

[17:29] including black people in it and whereas

[17:32] during Black History Month throughout

[17:34] the year we reflect on more than 400

[17:36] years of black history in America and

[17:38] communities across the country paying

[17:40] tribute to generations of

[17:41] African-Americans who struggled with

[17:43] diversity to fully achieve life liberty

[17:45] and pursuit of happiness in an American

[17:47] society black history is American

[17:50] history now therefore be resolved that

[17:53] the connected city council and Mayor

[17:55] Gary R McCarthy do hereby pause and

[17:58] their deliberations to recognize the

[17:59] month of February 2024 as Black History

[18:03] Month in the city of

[18:06] [Applause]

[18:10] skincity Mr Farley would you move the

[18:12] resolution oh oh I'll intain a motion

[18:16] remove second Mr all in favor

[18:20] congratulations I always do

[18:26] that did you want

[18:29] I just want to thank the council and I

[18:31] want to thank Mayor Gary McCarthy for

[18:32] this resolution it's a beautiful

[18:34] resolution that's well done thank you

[18:36] deanii great

[18:39] job no

[18:41] I'm um I too wanted to say thank you on

[18:44] behalf of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center

[18:46] we've been around for a number of years

[18:47] in the capital region specifically since

[18:50] 1969 and our Jerry Burell art gallery

[18:53] has provided countless opportunities for

[18:55] upand cominging artists while bringing

[18:57] High Caliber black art from throughout

[18:59] the diaspora for all community members

[19:00] to enjoy so we'll continue fostering and

[19:03] we're looking forward to keeping this

[19:05] push

[19:06] you how you doing my name is Prince brav

[19:09] I'm a film director I just want to say

[19:11] thank you for this award um this is

[19:13] great because I'm going to need your

[19:14] support in this new film program that

[19:16] I'm launching at the seat Center uh is

[19:19] actually a Workforce Development program

[19:21] where we have 18 to 24 year olds and

[19:23] they'll be able to work jobs in the film

[19:26] industry I'm going to train them for

[19:27] four months and then I'm going to hire

[19:28] them on my sets so we will be shooting

[19:31] all over the city and I'm going to need

[19:32] your support thank

[19:35] [Applause]

[19:55] you all right

[19:59] so she wants one with her

[20:05] resolution thank

[20:06] you uh ask for approval of the minutes

[20:09] from January 8th

[20:11] 2024 moved by Mr mud and second by Miss

[20:13] Patrick all in favor I the clerk could

[20:16] please read any Communications and

[20:22] petitions Communications presented to

[20:24] the city council for Monday January 22nd

[20:26] 2024 under official from the from Mayor

[20:29] Gary AR McCarthy a list of appointments

[20:31] dated January 22nd 2024 under General

[20:34] there were none and under under

[20:36] petitions there were none thank you any

[20:38] committee reports from Council

[20:41] Members this time we'll have privilege

[20:43] of the floor related to the legislative

[20:45] agenda I see one person signed up to

[20:48] speak William

[20:52] Rivas and you have three minutes

[20:55] sir shouldn't be hard at all uh City uh

[20:58] city council president City Council

[21:00] Members mayor McCarthy um I really want

[21:02] to tell you guys thank you um it's not

[21:05] at all ever in my life that I think that

[21:07] I'd be standing here being able to

[21:08] complete the work that I've been able to

[21:10] do at CoCo house um I thank you guys for

[21:12] the partnership I thank you guys for the

[21:14] collaboration what we've been able to do

[21:16] in the city over the last few years with

[21:18] Coco house has been Monumental I look

[21:21] forward to continue to expand in our

[21:23] program um and again when I took over

[21:25] the program seven years ago you know I

[21:27] had a vision of what it was that I would like to do um and because

[21:31] of the partnership and collaboration

[21:32] we're able to make that true so I want

[21:34] to tell you guys thank you specifically

[21:36] because um you know this is something

[21:37] that cannot go forward I look forward to

[21:39] the work that we're able to do and if

[21:41] we've been able to do this with

[21:42] volunteers this entire time I can only

[21:45] imagine what I'll be able to do with

[21:46] five or six staff members hired for

[21:48] full-time so again I want to thank you

[21:49] guys uh for setting a new president and

[21:52] uh taking coko house to the next level

[21:53] and expanding our program thank you guys

[21:56] thank

[21:57] you

[22:00] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[22:02] I declare public comment on the

[22:05] legislative is this on the legislative

[22:07] agenda sir it's not on the legislative

[22:11] okay then then we can sign you up for

[22:13] the end of um on City business okay all

[22:17] right thank you so I have no one else

[22:18] signed up to speak on the legislative

[22:20] agenda so I declare it

[22:22] closed at this time we'll have approval

[22:24] of the legislative agenda I need a

[22:26] motion please

[22:28] moved by Mr Williams second by Mr

[22:31] Mancini all in favor all right we do

[22:35] have one roll call

[22:38] vote

[22:40] resolution just put on my glasses number

[22:43] uh item number two is a roll call

[22:49] vote so I need a motion for that motion

[22:53] by Miss Patrick second by Mr

[22:56] much any discussion

[23:00] okay the clerk could please call the

[23:03] role Mr

[23:06] Toro Mr Farley yes Mr

[23:10] manini Mr Mutan yes Miss Patrick yes Mr

[23:15] Williams yes Miss pfield yes motion

[23:20] passes 6 to

[23:22] one this time we will have privilege of

[23:25] the floor regarding General City

[23:26] business

[23:28] I again have one C person signed up and the uh well excuse me I have four

[23:32] people signed up and then the um the

[23:34] other gentleman are you Tyrell Williams

[23:36] by any

[23:37] chance okay uh the other person will win

[23:41] was that who is that Mr

[23:44] grantley all right whoever that is with

[23:46] raising their hand back there after

[23:48] these all right after these four people

[23:50] then you will after the fourth person

[23:51] comes up and you'll come up and then

[23:53] state your name and I will write it on

[23:54] the sheet okay thank you

[23:58] uh the first person is treasure

[24:01] Mahia three minutes

[24:04] ma'am okay did the clock start yet it

[24:07] will as soon as you as soon as you start

[24:09] talking okay I know that this court is

[24:11] not the court for this it's city court

[24:14] but um I could have went to an ellic

[24:16] court but I do want you guys to know

[24:17] what's going on in our city and our

[24:19] County uh first and foremost I want to

[24:21] thank you for the privilege to be up

[24:23] here my name is treasure Mahia I live in

[24:25] the city and county of Sky I'm a

[24:27] taxpayer and registered voter I own

[24:29] project hope my issue today as I stand

[24:31] before you and the city council members

[24:33] is that our elected government officials

[24:35] are abusing power and authority so I'm

[24:38] going to bring a little bit of

[24:39] somberness over to our uh agenda which

[24:42] I'm sorry

[24:43] about okay I am talking about

[24:46] specifically the Department of Child

[24:47] Protective Services and judge Mark

[24:51] blanchfield um in the city of SKC Court

[24:54] Family Court my two grandchildren were

[24:56] taken based on domestic violence case

[24:58] upon them being taken it was from 756

[25:02] Hudson Avenue in Saratoga which is

[25:04] Saratoga County still water and H it was

[25:08] out of the jurisdiction of skincity with

[25:11] the city knowing this they refused to

[25:13] let go my two grandsons were removed

[25:17] without cause and without imminent

[25:19] danger being present I filed petition

[25:21] after petition plus orders to show cause

[25:24] my grandchildren are ages 1 and three

[25:26] they have never been hurt injured harmed

[25:29] or hungry in our care the boys were

[25:32] taken on December 14th I filed my

[25:33] petitions on December 15th judge

[25:35] blanchfield never addressed my petitions

[25:37] including the fact that I was present

[25:40] upon removal of the children like I said

[25:43] I own project hope I work with youth and educate and bring awareness to

[25:46] suicide and Drug prevention in the

[25:48] county of skincity I hope for change I

[25:51] have been treated with indifference and

[25:53] intolerance in judge blanchfield

[25:56] Court I am not I have no standing

[26:00] counsel as he continues to ask for

[26:03] attorneys only in the courtroom I have

[26:06] waited for hours outside the courtroom

[26:07] and was refused visits with my grandsons

[26:10] for a month I have not seen them I have

[26:13] been berated and belittled and the only

[26:17] words I have ever said in judge

[26:19] blanchfield court is thank you your

[26:20] honor with

[26:22] backlash I have gone to the Human Rights

[26:24] Commission my case is before them and it

[26:27] will be heard

[26:28] my constitutional rights have been

[26:30] violated my civil rights and my human

[26:33] rights I have contacted Mayor Gary

[26:36] McCarthy's office and we need to address

[26:38] these kinds of issues that are happening

[26:39] in our community expose corruption and

[26:41] conspiracy in order to move forward and

[26:44] have any growth I have tried to contact

[26:47] Jennifer Barnes standing attorney for

[26:48] the Department of Child Protective

[26:50] Services to bring about a resolution and

[26:52] a conclusion to this case I understand

[26:54] no I overand domestic violence is never

[26:57] accept acceptable I filed my petition

[27:00] but was never allowed to be heard as

[27:02] judge blanchfield has never allowed me

[27:04] the right to defend myself against false

[27:06] allegations that and lies that the

[27:08] department has continued to bring forth

[27:11] I have no standing counsel and yet as

[27:13] judge blanchfield holds

[27:16] these am I done I need you to summarize

[27:19] okay as he holds these uh private

[27:21] attorney meetings I have been ignored

[27:23] and I am going to finish here the

[27:25] Declaration of Independence we hold

[27:27] these truths to be self-evident that all

[27:29] men are created

[27:31] equal thank you thank

[27:36] you Tyrell

[27:41] Williams hi my name is Dell Williams

[27:44] your honor oh sorry not your honor uh

[27:46] Council um so pretty much I'm the I'm

[27:49] the father of the two kids that were

[27:50] removed from um Still Water uh the kids

[27:54] were taken from uh Saratoga County and

[27:57] brought disconnected the county when

[27:58] they should the county sh had nothing to

[28:00] do with the kids the case or the mother

[28:04] and I's uh domestic dispute the kids

[28:06] were never in imminent danger um I've

[28:08] been doing everything compliance as far

[28:10] as the system I we've been doing

[28:13] everything that we needed to as far as

[28:15] DSS and doing what they want but they

[28:17] still the last court date that we went

[28:19] to they want to say that was um not in

[28:21] compliance and uh that was the LIE um my

[28:24] kids were harmed in the care of of of at

[28:26] this time uh on the seventh and the 6th

[28:30] um of January there was two Urgent Care

[28:33] um incidents um one of them have have

[28:37] yet to be truly unexplained uh there the

[28:40] first one my son had a bruise over his

[28:41] head um I got pictures and there's not

[28:45] there's I'm asking for them to email me

[28:49] uh information on what's what's actually

[28:51] going on with with the boy's health and his and his well-being and they're

[28:56] making it seem like I'm I'm actually

[28:57] harassing them um they said that on

[28:59] court at court actually another thing

[29:01] that's very important the our family's

[29:03] uh human rights as far as the the 1028

[29:07] hearing where it's a fact finding

[29:09] hearing um it's supposed to be informed

[29:12] by by DSS when you remove the kids and

[29:15] that wasn't done um the removal wasn't

[29:18] actually given to us in the proper time

[29:20] frame that it was supposed to um the

[29:23] 1028 hearing once I actually put in on

[29:25] my own accord after doing research a

[29:28] month after the

[29:30] situation um they TR our our our public

[29:33] attorneys have been trying to tell us

[29:34] that we we've been served the 1028

[29:37] hearing but then we asked the SS the

[29:39] department and they're saying there was

[29:40] no actual 1028 hearing there was no

[29:42] actual 1028 hearing even we were never

[29:44] informed about it and that's what I

[29:45] understand is something like a

[29:46] preliminary preliminary trial for

[29:48] criminals or or something is to prove

[29:50] facts and um the fact that my sons

[29:53] weren't actually even given that and

[29:54] I've been asking for months it's going

[29:56] on months now for why the kids were

[29:58] removed and they won't do that and and I

[30:00] put the hearing in the 1028 hearing and

[30:02] on the 15th or excuse

[30:09] me on the

[30:12] seventh no it was the seventh yes um I

[30:16] actually was in court for the 1020

[30:18] hearing where they kept on doing these

[30:20] attorneys only meetings and it's my

[30:23] understanding that the 1020 hearing

[30:24] should have happened 5 weeks ago um they

[30:26] course me by telling me that if I were

[30:29] to wave my hearing that they would let

[30:30] the kids go to treasure their

[30:32] grandmother um that was the only reason

[30:34] why I didn't demand my fact fact finding

[30:37] hearing um they didn't put that in

[30:39] paperwork though they kind of kept on

[30:41] talking to me outside the courtroom um I was very demanding because they first

[30:44] wanted to move the case to Saratoga

[30:47] which I already told them that they

[30:49] kidna my kids when they came over from

[30:51] conc to Saratoga when it was five adults

[30:53] there's no imminent danger sorry that's

[30:55] pretty much my situation um I've been

[30:57] putting Regional grievances in with the

[30:59] Department um I'm here Dell Williams

[31:02] I've I've done I'm I'm I'm sorry I'm a

[31:05] taxpayer person I I work for 241 Union

[31:08] waterproofers Titan um that's all I have

[31:10] to say thank you guys for for your

[31:12] minute or for your time all right thank

[31:18] you Elizabeth

[31:23] Clayton hi my name is Elizabeth Clayton

[31:25] I just want to talk about the Injustice

[31:28] in the system of the Department of

[31:29] Social Services as well um we're not

[31:32] being treated fairly um I I'm getting

[31:35] like bias and racism from that court for

[31:38] some family court um we have a law

[31:40] Guardian for the children Larry Becker

[31:42] he's not caring about the kids best

[31:44] interest or nothing um the father has

[31:47] came to court trying to fight for his

[31:48] kids as a black man they've been

[31:50] shutting him down not letting him talk

[31:51] which is very disrespectful and I'm

[31:53] seeing um Injustice and constitutional

[31:56] rights and and human rights and all that

[31:58] being violated in this court I'm hearing

[32:00] from other lawyers and other people that

[32:01] these people could do what they want and

[32:03] they have this control or whatever and

[32:05] it just doesn't make no sense because my

[32:07] children are not harmed at home with us

[32:10] they're good they're good kids we're

[32:11] good family we try to stick together and

[32:14] as far as being my rights being violated

[32:17] and my constitutional rights I could

[32:19] feel this and I just don't like what's

[32:21] going on it's Injustice is it's

[32:23] Injustice period they they're violating

[32:25] their own policies they're violating our

[32:27] rights as people to speak to defend

[32:29] ourselves when we have to in a court

[32:31] when their Alle allegations are false we

[32:34] can't even defend ourselves we can't say

[32:36] nothing and this is all with Mark U

[32:39] what's his name mark blanchfield the

[32:40] judge or whatever so it's just it's it's

[32:43] nonsense it's out of control um I do

[32:45] think something needs to be done about

[32:47] it because it's not right um people

[32:49] shouldn't be feeling less than even if

[32:51] the money is not there or lawyers are

[32:53] not there and stuff like that we still

[32:55] should be guided in the right direction

[32:57] to reunite the family because their

[32:59] social services is uh the interest of

[33:01] the best interest of the children

[33:02] they're supposed to be protecting the

[33:03] children my children are being harmed in

[33:06] foster care were never harmed with me

[33:09] and yet they weren't removed from this

[33:11] foster care they're still there my

[33:13] mother's the best person to have my

[33:14] children which they won't let the

[33:15] children go my mother they bought up a

[33:17] old CPS case that my mother had 10 years

[33:19] ago which is crazy she has custody of my

[33:22] daughter and she can't get my sons so

[33:25] they're trying to split up my kids and

[33:26] put two kids in foster care which they

[33:28] weren't supposed to take out of Saratoga

[33:30] and then keep her with my mother so they

[33:32] completely spit split my kids up and

[33:34] they're trying to say my mother is unfit

[33:36] to have the two other kids but she's fit

[33:38] enough to have this one so there's

[33:40] something wrong there and I do think

[33:42] that they need to be looked at and

[33:43] certain things need to be done as far as

[33:45] this company goes because they're doing

[33:46] things privately that's like out of

[33:48] their it's illegal I I feel like it's

[33:50] just not

[33:51] right yeah that's basically it so I'm

[33:54] done thank you

[33:55] guys

[33:58] thank you um as I said at the beginning

[33:59] we the city connecti has no jurisdiction

[34:02] over over the county but if you want to

[34:04] stay afterwards can probably perhaps

[34:07] tell you where you should actually go

[34:09] with your

[34:10] concerns right okay thank you um Kelsey

[34:15] Taylor who would that kelia Taylor

[34:18] they're not GNA go they're not gonna go

[34:20] okay all right sir you can come

[34:22] up and please state your name hi good

[34:24] afternoon my name is Andre Gerard

[34:27] um I'm a CEO as well as a founder and

[34:31] executive director of um two businesses

[34:34] out here mainly one to reduce violence

[34:38] and um the other one is to educate you

[34:41] know the black and the Latino people um

[34:44] about you know the right the you know

[34:46] why why it's important for them to

[34:49] support the GOP genda rather than the

[34:52] Democrat agenda and you know I have been

[34:55] attacked by you know a a whole lot of

[34:57] people a whole lot of of

[34:59] officers and you know I have a business

[35:02] it's called gang affiliated nonviolent

[35:05] guidance I am stopping the Bang from

[35:08] gangs here in skincity by promoting hugs

[35:11] no slugs I work three years I I you know

[35:14] I let me I am reformed from getting high

[35:19] and you know like robbing stealing you

[35:22] know being a menace to society you know what it is to be a menace I

[35:26] know and you know like for me the last 3

[35:28] years I've been home I completed parole

[35:31] and you know I said hey you know what

[35:33] I'm going to give back you know you know

[35:36] something amazing you know what was

[35:38] freely given to me you know like I I

[35:39] have a impact in this community amongst

[35:42] the youth as well as adults I'm

[35:45] constantly uh being badgered and being

[35:47] harassed over there in the Veterans Park

[35:50] and like you know there's a woman that's

[35:52] saying that with DSS there's an issue

[35:55] because you know after the connect uh uh

[35:59] Sheriff uh uh office maliciously lied

[36:03] and said that you know I I had a gun

[36:06] inside of my truck you know Meanwhile my

[36:09] business is to reduce gun violence and

[36:11] gang violence and Nat Madigan you know

[36:14] who was the you know uh rival of the you

[36:17] know the the mayor who who who who beat

[36:20] him who bust him up in in in the

[36:21] elections because I refuse to Lobby the

[36:24] black and the Latino vote for anybody

[36:27] that's racist see n Madigan is racist he

[36:30] made it clear that he's racist and I

[36:32] didn't want to turn around and I refus

[36:34] to say to you know my brothers and

[36:36] sisters in the community to support

[36:37] racism because the problem with racism

[36:40] is exists on the left and it exists on

[36:43] the right and the problem that I have

[36:45] with the Democrats is that they get the

[36:47] black and the Latino votes and they

[36:49] don't turn around and they don't do

[36:50] anything to uplift the people so now you

[36:53] know like since they took my truck now

[36:55] I'm homeless you know even DSS DSS is

[36:59] sending me to Albany they're sending the

[37:01] community activist that's saying give

[37:04] your homie a hug instead of a slug

[37:06] saying oh we don't we don't have

[37:07] services so I don't understand you know

[37:10] like why do I have to leave

[37:12] SKC every single day cuz you know my

[37:14] business isn't ins connected I have a

[37:17] looking clean business and I have

[37:18] another business called black Republican

[37:20] movement you know you got to go online

[37:22] and log on and

[37:24] I was trying to have a grand opening on

[37:27] a social media because I have no

[37:29] awareness of social media you know like

[37:32] with technology and things in that

[37:34] nature because you know like my life

[37:36] consisted of drugs and you know

[37:38] incarceration so but by the grace of God

[37:41] now that I'm able to turn around and

[37:43] stop getting high I'm striving to be a

[37:45] positive productive member of my

[37:47] community but you know like I'm I'm

[37:50] getting harass and I'm I'm getting a

[37:51] mixed message what do I sell drugs am I

[37:54] to Rob is there no hope for me I need

[37:57] you to summarize

[37:59] sir yes um I I would like to for um you

[38:04] know

[38:06] um I would like for the mayor to look

[38:08] into why Gary McCarthy destroyed the

[38:12] black Republican movement you know took

[38:14] something away from the community saying

[38:15] that I had a gun and I didn't have a gun

[38:18] inside that I have a business that says

[38:19] no gun violence I don't appreciate that

[38:22] all right thank you yes I I see the

[38:24] mayor and I don't have anything any any sir sir your time is expired I gave

[38:29] you a little extra thank

[38:32] you I have no one else signed up to

[38:34] speak so I declare public comment of

[38:36] City business

[38:38] closed I ask for miscellaneous business

[38:40] of the council at this

[38:42] time Mr

[38:47] M thank you pres just announcement

[38:51] regard to the Central Park sidewalk City

[38:56] Comm meeting on Central par

[39:00] Improvement Central Park owners are

[39:02] invited to discuss Assessment program

[39:06] and it

[39:08] implementation the city council analy

[39:10] will be a community meeting to discuss

[39:13] the Central Park C Assessment program

[39:16] and its implementation on Monday January

[39:19] 29th at 5:30 p.m. at

[39:23] room9 same

[39:25] room our C engineer will be present

[39:29] to present a

[39:32] proposal on the project and it's

[39:34] Improvement and to answer any question

[39:36] this meeting is open to all interested

[39:39] Community member to discuss project

[39:41] details and all our encour I would like

[39:44] to personally invite the home owners on

[39:46] Central Park where to please attend this

[39:49] meeting if you can it's very important

[39:51] to from our city engineer regarding

[39:53] theam thank you thank you very much Mr

[39:56] mud and glad to see that's starting to

[39:58] move forward any other business of the

[40:01] council

[40:03] mayor thank you madam president

[40:05] appreciate everyone that came out

[40:07] tonight and I just would remind people

[40:09] that uh a week from today we will close

[40:12] down the Kings Road Bridge going into

[40:15] roddam to start the replacement

[40:17] Rehabilitation of that structure uh you

[40:20] it'll create a little bit of uh

[40:23] inconvenience for the residents and uh

[40:26] individuals who use that roadway some of

[40:29] the uh signs are up today starting to uh

[40:32] inform the public of The Detour roots

[40:35] and uh look forward to having it

[40:37] completed and uh it'll be open uh before

[40:39] everybody knows it thank you madam

[40:41] president thank you mayor I'd also like

[40:43] to thank everyone that came out tonight

[40:44] to uh to speak and as those I told you

[40:47] we'll I'll tell you give you Direction

[40:49] hopefully that but those those issues

[40:51] unfortunately are County and they it's

[40:53] not something within the city

[40:54] jurisdiction but I don't want you to

[40:56] misunderstand and think that we did not

[40:57] hear you thank you you're welcome um and

[41:00] I want to thank everyone that came out

[41:02] to the um piie social in in uh honor of

[41:05] Martin Luther King Day More pies than

[41:07] you can even possibly believe so but

[41:11] beyond the pies the company was great uh

[41:13] it was a great time for Community to get

[41:15] together and the theme was the Beloved

[41:17] Community which was something that uh Dr

[41:20] Martin Luther King um promoted and felt

[41:23] like we should all work together so it

[41:25] was great there was various people there

[41:27] so thank everyone that came I want to

[41:28] thank the Electric City Co-Op and this

[41:30] connected NAACP and yoga Bliss for

[41:34] pulling it together so they plan on

[41:36] doing it annually so get ready to bake

[41:38] your pies

[41:40] Joe uh councilman Mancini came and

[41:44] brought a pie we won't say where it came

[41:48] from um so thank you again everyone um

[41:51] and I'd like to also say happy birthday

[41:54] to councilman muin his birthday is on

[41:56] Wednesday so if you want to send them a

[41:57] card take them out to dinner it's up to

[42:00] you um and just a reminder there will

[42:02] not be a meeting next week it's our 5th

[42:04] Monday so we don't meet on the fifth

[42:06] Monday and our next meeting will be on

[42:08] February 5th yes February 5th at 5:30 it

[42:11] will be a committee meeting and I have

[42:14] nothing else so I ask for a motion to

[42:17] adjourn all those in favor we are

[42:19] adjourned have a good

[42:22] night thank you so much for coming

[42:25] really appreciate it

[42:43] to

Schenectady City Council Meeting, January 22, 2024

Transcript