[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