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yeah
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yeah
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he
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[Applause]
[Music]
yeah
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he
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yeah
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spe
I'd like to call the city Caucus meeting
to order for Monday January 22nd
2024 we have 10 items for original
consideration if the clerk would please
read item number one item number one for
original consideration a resolution
authorizing the memorandum of
understanding between the city of SKC
and the Civil Service employees
Association Incorporated local 1000 AFS
CME AFL CIO CCA connected unit 850 once
conc County local
886 discussed in committee with
objection and on consent item number two for original
consideration a resolution amending
resolution 2022 d224 to modify the use
of funds for Coco House discuss um Miss
yes Mr Toro roll call roll call Mr Toro
would like a roll call on item number
two item number three item number three
for final consideration a resolution
amending resolution
2023-24 authorizing the sale of 1507 car
street for $90,000 to specify the
purchaser discuss in committee with
objection on consent item number four for original
consideration a resolution amending
resolution
2022-23 to modify the use of funds for
Better Community neighborhood
Incorporated for the Hamilton Hill
infill development project discuss in
committee with objection on consent item
number five item number five for
original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the mayor or is designated to enter into
an agreement with the New York State
unified court system for a 5-year term
from 2023 to 2028 discuss in committee
with objection on consent item number
five six item number six for original
consideration a resolution amending
resolution
2021-topcon
number seven item number seven for
original consideration resolution
authorizing the amendment of revocable
permit number 636 to the whistling
Kettle to include a sign a retra
retractable awning and a door that
encroaches the city's RightWay at 138 J
Street discussed in committee with
objection on consent item number eight for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the issuance of revocable permit number
678 to the rabbit Lounge for a sign that
will overhang the city's RightWay at 158
J Street discuss in committee with
objection on consent item number nine for a orinal
consideration a resolution recognizing
Black History Month 2024 this item will
be taken out of order and presented by
councilman Farley item number 10 item
number 10 under contract and Supply a
resolution awarding the bid and contract
for the police station server monitor
room HVAC and Chiller replacement to R&B
Mechanical Incorporated in the amount of
$174,000 discussed in committee without
objection on
consent but there's nothing more to come
before the city Council caucus I ask for
a motion to adjourn motion by Miss
Patrick second by Mr Mutan all in favor
we are adjourned I'd like to call to
order the connected the city council
meeting for Monday January 22nd
2024 and I'd like to call on Pandit
Rashi for the
invocation to
our to our mayor elected
official the same way we depend upon the
air as much as we independent having a
nose without oxygen we cannot breathe as
much as we say I can see with my eyes
without light I cannot see and we the
citizens of SKC as much as we say we are
this and we are that without you guys in
the portfolio of Mayors and elected
official we cannot function and we it's
a two-way street and today I pray and
ask bhagan our God Almighty that
whatever decision you're making and
you're going to make today going forward
May that decision always be positive for
the uplift of our community our Citizen
and
[Music]
everyone shant peace and peace and peace thank
you thank you I'd like to call on
William Rivas to lead us in the Pledge
of Allegiance
yes
you to the flag of the United States of
America
the stand na God
indivisible and justice for all thank
you if the clerk would please call the
role
Mr Toro pres Mr Farley here Mr Mancini
here Mr mutar pres Miss Patrick here Mr
Williams pres M bfield here thank
you we have one item we have one out of
order uh resolution item number nine a
resolution recognizing Black History
Month and I'd like to call on councilman
Farley to present this
resolution
I have everyone here to receive
resolution come and join me on this side
of the rail
please may I have the floor Madam
president you have the
floor excuse me the young lady are you
from the art center yes okay would you
join us back here please thank
you thank you all for being here as I'm
honored to present a resolution
recognizing black history history month
for 2024 whereas each February we
acknowledge the struggles diversity
strength and history of the Black
American Experience in the United States
this year's theme African-Americans in
the Arts recognizes African-Americans
contributions in the fields of Visual
and Performing Arts literature fashion
folklore language film music
architecture and culinary and other
forms of cultural expression and whereas
Black History Month first originated as
a part of an initiative by writer
educated cator Dr Carter G Woodson who
launched negro history week in
1926 Woodson chose February for reasons
of tradition and reform it's commonly
said that wood Woodson selected February
to encourage the birthdays of two
African-Americans who played a role in
shaping Black History Abraham Lincoln
and Frederick Douglas whose birthdays
are the 12th and the 14th whereas Black
History Month remains a powerful
symbolic celebration and a time for
acknowledgement ment reflection and
inspiration despite an inequitable
social system African-Americans have
found ways to survive advance and Thrive
black Americans have struggled to
protect their physical and intellectual
autonomy through Innovation lobbying
litigation legislation and helping each
other and the community as well and
African-American artists have used to
preserve history and Community memory
and empowerment for all as well these
efforts have fueled perseverance hope
for future and our nation has Ben
benefited from those efforts by
progressing towards a more Equitable
Society even though we still have a long
way to go African-American spiritual
gospel folk music and Hip-Hop have been
used to express struggle hope and calls
for solidarity in the face of racial
oppression music has been used to
illustrate societal issues including
white and state sanctioned violence I.E
Billy holidays Strange Fruit Marvin Gaye
what's going on as motivation for
strength against harassment and bring
attention to oppression black artists
writers photographers and musicians have
participated in the Black Arts Movement
the Harlem Renaissance and the Chicago
Black Renaissance were the soundtrack
the visual representation of resistance
movements these individuals created art
that supported the resistance movements
but also provided a space for black
people to express love and joy creatives
used poetry fiction short stories plays
and television to counter stereotypes of
Imagine imagine a present and future
including black people in it and whereas
during Black History Month throughout
the year we reflect on more than 400
years of black history in America and
communities across the country paying
tribute to generations of
African-Americans who struggled with
diversity to fully achieve life liberty
and pursuit of happiness in an American
society black history is American
history now therefore be resolved that
the connected city council and Mayor
Gary R McCarthy do hereby pause and
their deliberations to recognize the
month of February 2024 as Black History
Month in the city of
[Applause]
skincity Mr Farley would you move the
resolution oh oh I'll intain a motion
remove second Mr all in favor
congratulations I always do
that did you want
I just want to thank the council and I
want to thank Mayor Gary McCarthy for
this resolution it's a beautiful
resolution that's well done thank you
deanii great
job no
I'm um I too wanted to say thank you on
behalf of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center
we've been around for a number of years
in the capital region specifically since
1969 and our Jerry Burell art gallery
has provided countless opportunities for
upand cominging artists while bringing
High Caliber black art from throughout
the diaspora for all community members
to enjoy so we'll continue fostering and
we're looking forward to keeping this
push
you how you doing my name is Prince brav
I'm a film director I just want to say
thank you for this award um this is
great because I'm going to need your
support in this new film program that
I'm launching at the seat Center uh is
actually a Workforce Development program
where we have 18 to 24 year olds and
they'll be able to work jobs in the film
industry I'm going to train them for
four months and then I'm going to hire
them on my sets so we will be shooting
all over the city and I'm going to need
your support thank
[Applause]
you all right
so she wants one with her
resolution thank
you uh ask for approval of the minutes
from January 8th
2024 moved by Mr mud and second by Miss
Patrick all in favor I the clerk could
please read any Communications and
petitions Communications presented to
the city council for Monday January 22nd
2024 under official from the from Mayor
Gary AR McCarthy a list of appointments
dated January 22nd 2024 under General
there were none and under under
petitions there were none thank you any
committee reports from Council
Members this time we'll have privilege
of the floor related to the legislative
agenda I see one person signed up to
speak William
Rivas and you have three minutes
sir shouldn't be hard at all uh City uh
city council president City Council
Members mayor McCarthy um I really want
to tell you guys thank you um it's not
at all ever in my life that I think that
I'd be standing here being able to
complete the work that I've been able to
do at CoCo house um I thank you guys for
the partnership I thank you guys for the
collaboration what we've been able to do
in the city over the last few years with
Coco house has been Monumental I look
forward to continue to expand in our
program um and again when I took over
the program seven years ago you know I
had a vision of what it was that I would like to do um and because
of the partnership and collaboration
we're able to make that true so I want
to tell you guys thank you specifically
because um you know this is something
that cannot go forward I look forward to
the work that we're able to do and if
we've been able to do this with
volunteers this entire time I can only
imagine what I'll be able to do with
five or six staff members hired for
full-time so again I want to thank you
guys uh for setting a new president and
uh taking coko house to the next level
and expanding our program thank you guys
thank
you
I have no one else signed up to speak so
I declare public comment on the
legislative is this on the legislative
agenda sir it's not on the legislative
okay then then we can sign you up for
the end of um on City business okay all
right thank you so I have no one else
signed up to speak on the legislative
agenda so I declare it
closed at this time we'll have approval
of the legislative agenda I need a
motion please
moved by Mr Williams second by Mr
Mancini all in favor all right we do
have one roll call
vote
resolution just put on my glasses number
uh item number two is a roll call
vote so I need a motion for that motion
by Miss Patrick second by Mr
much any discussion
okay the clerk could please call the
role Mr
Toro Mr Farley yes Mr
manini Mr Mutan yes Miss Patrick yes Mr
Williams yes Miss pfield yes motion
passes 6 to
one this time we will have privilege of
the floor regarding General City
business
I again have one C person signed up and the uh well excuse me I have four
people signed up and then the um the
other gentleman are you Tyrell Williams
by any
chance okay uh the other person will win
was that who is that Mr
grantley all right whoever that is with
raising their hand back there after
these all right after these four people
then you will after the fourth person
comes up and you'll come up and then
state your name and I will write it on
the sheet okay thank you
uh the first person is treasure
Mahia three minutes
ma'am okay did the clock start yet it
will as soon as you as soon as you start
talking okay I know that this court is
not the court for this it's city court
but um I could have went to an ellic
court but I do want you guys to know
what's going on in our city and our
County uh first and foremost I want to
thank you for the privilege to be up
here my name is treasure Mahia I live in
the city and county of Sky I'm a
taxpayer and registered voter I own
project hope my issue today as I stand
before you and the city council members
is that our elected government officials
are abusing power and authority so I'm
going to bring a little bit of
somberness over to our uh agenda which
I'm sorry
about okay I am talking about
specifically the Department of Child
Protective Services and judge Mark
blanchfield um in the city of SKC Court
Family Court my two grandchildren were
taken based on domestic violence case
upon them being taken it was from 756
Hudson Avenue in Saratoga which is
Saratoga County still water and H it was
out of the jurisdiction of skincity with
the city knowing this they refused to
let go my two grandsons were removed
without cause and without imminent
danger being present I filed petition
after petition plus orders to show cause
my grandchildren are ages 1 and three
they have never been hurt injured harmed
or hungry in our care the boys were
taken on December 14th I filed my
petitions on December 15th judge
blanchfield never addressed my petitions
including the fact that I was present
upon removal of the children like I said
I own project hope I work with youth and educate and bring awareness to
suicide and Drug prevention in the
county of skincity I hope for change I
have been treated with indifference and
intolerance in judge blanchfield
Court I am not I have no standing
counsel as he continues to ask for
attorneys only in the courtroom I have
waited for hours outside the courtroom
and was refused visits with my grandsons
for a month I have not seen them I have
been berated and belittled and the only
words I have ever said in judge
blanchfield court is thank you your
honor with
backlash I have gone to the Human Rights
Commission my case is before them and it
will be heard
my constitutional rights have been
violated my civil rights and my human
rights I have contacted Mayor Gary
McCarthy's office and we need to address
these kinds of issues that are happening
in our community expose corruption and
conspiracy in order to move forward and
have any growth I have tried to contact
Jennifer Barnes standing attorney for
the Department of Child Protective
Services to bring about a resolution and
a conclusion to this case I understand
no I overand domestic violence is never
accept acceptable I filed my petition
but was never allowed to be heard as
judge blanchfield has never allowed me
the right to defend myself against false
allegations that and lies that the
department has continued to bring forth
I have no standing counsel and yet as
judge blanchfield holds
these am I done I need you to summarize
okay as he holds these uh private
attorney meetings I have been ignored
and I am going to finish here the
Declaration of Independence we hold
these truths to be self-evident that all
men are created
equal thank you thank
you Tyrell
Williams hi my name is Dell Williams
your honor oh sorry not your honor uh
Council um so pretty much I'm the I'm
the father of the two kids that were
removed from um Still Water uh the kids
were taken from uh Saratoga County and
brought disconnected the county when
they should the county sh had nothing to
do with the kids the case or the mother
and I's uh domestic dispute the kids
were never in imminent danger um I've
been doing everything compliance as far
as the system I we've been doing
everything that we needed to as far as
DSS and doing what they want but they
still the last court date that we went
to they want to say that was um not in
compliance and uh that was the LIE um my
kids were harmed in the care of of of at
this time uh on the seventh and the 6th
um of January there was two Urgent Care
um incidents um one of them have have
yet to be truly unexplained uh there the
first one my son had a bruise over his
head um I got pictures and there's not
there's I'm asking for them to email me
uh information on what's what's actually
going on with with the boy's health and his and his well-being and they're
making it seem like I'm I'm actually
harassing them um they said that on
court at court actually another thing
that's very important the our family's
uh human rights as far as the the 1028
hearing where it's a fact finding
hearing um it's supposed to be informed
by by DSS when you remove the kids and
that wasn't done um the removal wasn't
actually given to us in the proper time
frame that it was supposed to um the
1028 hearing once I actually put in on
my own accord after doing research a
month after the
situation um they TR our our our public
attorneys have been trying to tell us
that we we've been served the 1028
hearing but then we asked the SS the
department and they're saying there was
no actual 1028 hearing there was no
actual 1028 hearing even we were never
informed about it and that's what I
understand is something like a
preliminary preliminary trial for
criminals or or something is to prove
facts and um the fact that my sons
weren't actually even given that and
I've been asking for months it's going
on months now for why the kids were
removed and they won't do that and and I
put the hearing in the 1028 hearing and
on the 15th or excuse
me on the
seventh no it was the seventh yes um I
actually was in court for the 1020
hearing where they kept on doing these
attorneys only meetings and it's my
understanding that the 1020 hearing
should have happened 5 weeks ago um they
course me by telling me that if I were
to wave my hearing that they would let
the kids go to treasure their
grandmother um that was the only reason
why I didn't demand my fact fact finding
hearing um they didn't put that in
paperwork though they kind of kept on
talking to me outside the courtroom um I was very demanding because they first
wanted to move the case to Saratoga
which I already told them that they
kidna my kids when they came over from
conc to Saratoga when it was five adults
there's no imminent danger sorry that's
pretty much my situation um I've been
putting Regional grievances in with the
Department um I'm here Dell Williams
I've I've done I'm I'm I'm sorry I'm a
taxpayer person I I work for 241 Union
waterproofers Titan um that's all I have
to say thank you guys for for your
minute or for your time all right thank
you Elizabeth
Clayton hi my name is Elizabeth Clayton
I just want to talk about the Injustice
in the system of the Department of
Social Services as well um we're not
being treated fairly um I I'm getting
like bias and racism from that court for
some family court um we have a law
Guardian for the children Larry Becker
he's not caring about the kids best
interest or nothing um the father has
came to court trying to fight for his
kids as a black man they've been
shutting him down not letting him talk
which is very disrespectful and I'm
seeing um Injustice and constitutional
rights and and human rights and all that
being violated in this court I'm hearing
from other lawyers and other people that
these people could do what they want and
they have this control or whatever and
it just doesn't make no sense because my
children are not harmed at home with us
they're good they're good kids we're
good family we try to stick together and
as far as being my rights being violated
and my constitutional rights I could
feel this and I just don't like what's
going on it's Injustice is it's
Injustice period they they're violating
their own policies they're violating our
rights as people to speak to defend
ourselves when we have to in a court
when their Alle allegations are false we
can't even defend ourselves we can't say
nothing and this is all with Mark U
what's his name mark blanchfield the
judge or whatever so it's just it's it's
nonsense it's out of control um I do
think something needs to be done about
it because it's not right um people
shouldn't be feeling less than even if
the money is not there or lawyers are
not there and stuff like that we still
should be guided in the right direction
to reunite the family because their
social services is uh the interest of
the best interest of the children
they're supposed to be protecting the
children my children are being harmed in
foster care were never harmed with me
and yet they weren't removed from this
foster care they're still there my
mother's the best person to have my
children which they won't let the
children go my mother they bought up a
old CPS case that my mother had 10 years
ago which is crazy she has custody of my
daughter and she can't get my sons so
they're trying to split up my kids and
put two kids in foster care which they
weren't supposed to take out of Saratoga
and then keep her with my mother so they
completely spit split my kids up and
they're trying to say my mother is unfit
to have the two other kids but she's fit
enough to have this one so there's
something wrong there and I do think
that they need to be looked at and
certain things need to be done as far as
this company goes because they're doing
things privately that's like out of
their it's illegal I I feel like it's
just not
right yeah that's basically it so I'm
done thank you
guys
thank you um as I said at the beginning
we the city connecti has no jurisdiction
over over the county but if you want to
stay afterwards can probably perhaps
tell you where you should actually go
with your
concerns right okay thank you um Kelsey
Taylor who would that kelia Taylor
they're not GNA go they're not gonna go
okay all right sir you can come
up and please state your name hi good
afternoon my name is Andre Gerard
um I'm a CEO as well as a founder and
executive director of um two businesses
out here mainly one to reduce violence
and um the other one is to educate you
know the black and the Latino people um
about you know the right the you know
why why it's important for them to
support the GOP genda rather than the
Democrat agenda and you know I have been
attacked by you know a a whole lot of
people a whole lot of of
officers and you know I have a business
it's called gang affiliated nonviolent
guidance I am stopping the Bang from
gangs here in skincity by promoting hugs
no slugs I work three years I I you know
I let me I am reformed from getting high
and you know like robbing stealing you
know being a menace to society you know what it is to be a menace I
know and you know like for me the last 3
years I've been home I completed parole
and you know I said hey you know what
I'm going to give back you know you know
something amazing you know what was
freely given to me you know like I I
have a impact in this community amongst
the youth as well as adults I'm
constantly uh being badgered and being
harassed over there in the Veterans Park
and like you know there's a woman that's
saying that with DSS there's an issue
because you know after the connect uh uh
Sheriff uh uh office maliciously lied
and said that you know I I had a gun
inside of my truck you know Meanwhile my
business is to reduce gun violence and
gang violence and Nat Madigan you know
who was the you know uh rival of the you
know the the mayor who who who who beat
him who bust him up in in in the
elections because I refuse to Lobby the
black and the Latino vote for anybody
that's racist see n Madigan is racist he
made it clear that he's racist and I
didn't want to turn around and I refus
to say to you know my brothers and
sisters in the community to support
racism because the problem with racism
is exists on the left and it exists on
the right and the problem that I have
with the Democrats is that they get the
black and the Latino votes and they
don't turn around and they don't do
anything to uplift the people so now you
know like since they took my truck now
I'm homeless you know even DSS DSS is
sending me to Albany they're sending the
community activist that's saying give
your homie a hug instead of a slug
saying oh we don't we don't have
services so I don't understand you know
like why do I have to leave
SKC every single day cuz you know my
business isn't ins connected I have a
looking clean business and I have
another business called black Republican
movement you know you got to go online
and log on and
I was trying to have a grand opening on
a social media because I have no
awareness of social media you know like
with technology and things in that
nature because you know like my life
consisted of drugs and you know
incarceration so but by the grace of God
now that I'm able to turn around and
stop getting high I'm striving to be a
positive productive member of my
community but you know like I'm I'm
getting harass and I'm I'm getting a
mixed message what do I sell drugs am I
to Rob is there no hope for me I need
you to summarize
sir yes um I I would like to for um you
know
um I would like for the mayor to look
into why Gary McCarthy destroyed the
black Republican movement you know took
something away from the community saying
that I had a gun and I didn't have a gun
inside that I have a business that says
no gun violence I don't appreciate that
all right thank you yes I I see the
mayor and I don't have anything any any sir sir your time is expired I gave
you a little extra thank
you I have no one else signed up to
speak so I declare public comment of
City business
closed I ask for miscellaneous business
of the council at this
time Mr
M thank you pres just announcement
regard to the Central Park sidewalk City
Comm meeting on Central par
Improvement Central Park owners are
invited to discuss Assessment program
and it
implementation the city council analy
will be a community meeting to discuss
the Central Park C Assessment program
and its implementation on Monday January
29th at 5:30 p.m. at
room9 same
room our C engineer will be present
to present a
proposal on the project and it's
Improvement and to answer any question
this meeting is open to all interested
Community member to discuss project
details and all our encour I would like
to personally invite the home owners on
Central Park where to please attend this
meeting if you can it's very important
to from our city engineer regarding
theam thank you thank you very much Mr
mud and glad to see that's starting to
move forward any other business of the
council
mayor thank you madam president
appreciate everyone that came out
tonight and I just would remind people
that uh a week from today we will close
down the Kings Road Bridge going into
roddam to start the replacement
Rehabilitation of that structure uh you
it'll create a little bit of uh
inconvenience for the residents and uh
individuals who use that roadway some of
the uh signs are up today starting to uh
inform the public of The Detour roots
and uh look forward to having it
completed and uh it'll be open uh before
everybody knows it thank you madam
president thank you mayor I'd also like
to thank everyone that came out tonight
to uh to speak and as those I told you
we'll I'll tell you give you Direction
hopefully that but those those issues
unfortunately are County and they it's
not something within the city
jurisdiction but I don't want you to
misunderstand and think that we did not
hear you thank you you're welcome um and
I want to thank everyone that came out
to the um piie social in in uh honor of
Martin Luther King Day More pies than
you can even possibly believe so but
beyond the pies the company was great uh
it was a great time for Community to get
together and the theme was the Beloved
Community which was something that uh Dr
Martin Luther King um promoted and felt
like we should all work together so it
was great there was various people there
so thank everyone that came I want to
thank the Electric City Co-Op and this
connected NAACP and yoga Bliss for
pulling it together so they plan on
doing it annually so get ready to bake
your pies
Joe uh councilman Mancini came and
brought a pie we won't say where it came
from um so thank you again everyone um
and I'd like to also say happy birthday
to councilman muin his birthday is on
Wednesday so if you want to send them a
card take them out to dinner it's up to
you um and just a reminder there will
not be a meeting next week it's our 5th
Monday so we don't meet on the fifth
Monday and our next meeting will be on
February 5th yes February 5th at 5:30 it
will be a committee meeting and I have
nothing else so I ask for a motion to
adjourn all those in favor we are
adjourned have a good
night thank you so much for coming
really appreciate it
to