[0:00] consent if the clerk would please read

[0:01] item number one item number one for

[0:03] original consideration an ordinance

[0:06] dated March 11 2024 authorizing the

[0:09] issuance of not to exceed

[0:13] 9,998

[0:15] 684 aggregate principal amount of Serial

[0:18] bonds of the city of SKC New York

[0:20] pursuant to the local Finance law to

[0:23] finance a portion of the 2024 Capital

[0:25] plan discussed in committee with

[0:27] objection on consent item number two for final consideration

[0:32] an ordinance establishing a temporary

[0:34] moratorium until June 10th 2024 on the

[0:37] submission and processing of building

[0:39] permits certificate of occupancies

[0:41] certificate of use and land use

[0:44] approvals for smoke shops vape shops and

[0:47] tobacco or vape consumption businesses

[0:49] within the city of

[0:51] SKC discuss in committee with objection

[0:53] on consent item number three item number

[0:55] three for original consideration a

[0:58] resolution supporting this connect

[1:00] food council's advocacy and empowerment

[1:03] working groups requests regarding

[1:05] programs and initiative addressing food

[1:08] and Security in the New York State

[1:10] fiscal year 2025

[1:13] budget discuss committee without

[1:15] objection on consent item number four for original

[1:19] consideration a resolution approving the

[1:20] increase of SKC Municipal Golf Course rates discussed in committee with

[1:25] objection on consent item number five for original

[1:29] consideration a resolution authorizing

[1:31] the 2024 budget reallocation for the

[1:33] municipal golf course discuss in

[1:36] committee without objection on

[1:38] consent item number six item number six

[1:41] for original consideration a resolution

[1:44] authorizing the mayor or his designate

[1:46] to enter into a contract with teram men

[1:48] Incorporated for the maintenance of this

[1:50] connect Municipal Golf Course discussed

[1:53] in committee without objection on

[1:54] consent item number seven item number

[1:57] seven for original consideration a

[1:59] resent a resolution recognizing Navy

[2:01] veteran CB Dominic DeSantis discussed in

[2:05] committee with objection on consent this

[2:07] resolution will be presented this

[2:08] Saturday March 16th at the honor of vet

[2:11] ceremony at St Luke's at 1M item number

[2:14] eight item number eight for original

[2:16] consideration a resolution honoring the

[2:18] John F Kennedy division one of the

[2:20] Ancient Order of Hibernians together

[2:22] with the John F Kennedy division one of

[2:24] the ladies Ancient Order Order of

[2:26] Hibernians and all people of Irish

[2:29] descent throughout the the city of skty

[2:31] on the occasion of the Feast of St

[2:32] Patrick Mark March 17 this item will be

[2:36] taken out of order and presented by

[2:37] council member manini item number

[2:40] nine item number nine for original

[2:43] consideration a resolution authorizing

[2:45] the issuance of revocable permit Number

[2:47] 682 to bundles by Tiara for a sign that

[2:50] will overhang the city's right of way at

[2:52] 447 State Street discuss in committee

[2:55] with objection on consent item number 10 under contract and

[2:59] supplies a resolution awarding the bid

[3:01] and contract for the 2024 SKC chips

[3:04] Paving to Peter louisi and Brothers

[3:06] Contracting Incorporated in the amount

[3:09] of

[3:10] 3,356

[3:14] 18189 discussed in committee with an

[3:16] objection on consent item number 11 item

[3:18] number 11 under contract and Supply a

[3:21] resolution awarding the bidden contract

[3:23] for the crack seiling of city streets

[3:25] 2024 to seal coat USA Incorporated in

[3:28] the amount of $72,500

[3:31] discussed in committee with objection on

[3:34] consent we have one additional item to

[3:36] be placed on the agenda this evening

[3:38] item number 11a if the clerk would

[3:40] please read item number 11a for

[3:42] unanimous consent a resolution

[3:44] authorizing a reappropriation to the

[3:46] 2024 capital budget I need a motion to

[3:50] place this item on the agenda move by Mr

[3:53] Mutan second by Miss Patrick all those

[3:55] in favor

[3:57] I thank you if there's no objection to

[4:01] this

[4:02] item um may I have a motion to place on

[4:05] the consent agenda so second Mr Farley

[4:10] if there okay is there maybe have roll

[4:12] call we need roll call for this should

[4:14] we do a roll call all right everyone's

[4:16] in favor okay all right thank you if

[4:19] there's nothing more to come before the

[4:20] city council caucus I ask for a motion

[4:22] to

[4:23] adjourn motion by Miss Patrick second by

[4:25] Mr Williams all those in favor we are

[4:27] adjourned thank you I'd like to to call

[4:29] the city council meeting to order for

[4:31] Monday March 11th

[4:33] 2024 and I'd like to ask the pastor

[4:35] Tristana

[4:37] Gat Gat to uh lead us in the prayer

[4:47] invocation can we all bow our heads and

[4:50] close our eyes as we pray this afternoon

[4:53] Father in heaven we give you praise and

[4:55] we give you thanks we honor you God for

[4:57] who you are you are the king of of glory

[5:00] and there is none like unto you and so

[5:02] father as We Gather here this afternoon

[5:05] We Gather to to God we come together as

[5:08] a body as one people oh God in making

[5:11] the right decision oh God for our

[5:14] community and father I lift you up in

[5:17] whatever will be said and done I pray it

[5:20] will bring honor and it will bring Glory

[5:22] unto your name I pray God that you will

[5:25] bless every council members I pray God

[5:28] that you will anoint them from the crown

[5:30] of their head to the sole of their very

[5:32] feet and even our mayor I pray God that

[5:35] you will bless him with a double portion

[5:38] of your anointing I pray God that you

[5:41] will always cover him under your blood I

[5:43] speak your blessing I speak your favor

[5:46] over his life uh and I pray God that you

[5:49] will give him the wisdom knowledge and

[5:51] understanding that he needs to lead your

[5:54] people Lord for we understand without

[5:57] you we cannot do anything but through

[5:59] you we can do any and everything who has

[6:02] given us the strength uh and today

[6:04] father I pray as we come together as one

[6:07] people you will help us God to make the

[6:10] right decision for this community I pray

[6:13] God this community will be a place where

[6:15] our people will feel safe uh Lord our

[6:18] needy oh God will be fed um and Lord

[6:21] those evildoers out there God uh Lord

[6:24] Justice will be served uh and so father

[6:27] I pray that you will cover this

[6:28] community oh God's connected as a whole

[6:31] under your blood I pray God that every

[6:34] family Lord will feel your peace joy and

[6:38] happiness in this area in Connected

[6:41] father I give you praise father for

[6:44] every person that is here today I pray

[6:46] God that you going to blend oh God our

[6:48] decisions together and help us God to

[6:51] make the right one I give you praise and

[6:54] I give you thanks Lord give us wisdom

[6:57] knowledge and understanding in Jesus mighty name we pray and all God's

[7:01] people say amen and amen praise the Lord

[7:05] thank you I'd like to ask Dave connley

[7:08] if you would please lead us in the

[7:09] Pledge of

[7:11] Allegiance Al to the flag the United

[7:14] States of America and to the for it

[7:18] stands one nation God indivisible with

[7:23] and justice for all thank

[7:28] you

[7:30] if the clerk could please complete the

[7:32] roll

[7:34] call Mr

[7:36] Toro Mr Farley pres Mr

[7:40] Mancini Mr

[7:42] muan Miss Patrick here Mr Williams Miss

[7:46] Porterfield here thank you we do have

[7:50] one out of order resolution this evening

[7:51] but before that we have um the dancers

[7:55] coming are they

[7:58] ready

[8:00] yes we ready for the

[8:28] dancers

[8:58] here

[9:28] need

[9:34] [Music]

[9:58] begin

[10:12] [Music]

[10:28] for

[10:48] [Applause]

[10:52] [Music]

[10:56] [Applause]

[10:58] he

[11:02] [Applause]

[11:27] w

[11:42] [Music]

[11:57] w

[12:02] thank

[12:05] you this time we will have the the

[12:08] resolution resolution honoring John F

[12:11] Kennedy division one of the Ancient

[12:13] Order of Hibernians together with the

[12:14] John F Kennedy division one of the

[12:16] ladies Ancient Order of H burans and all

[12:18] people of Irish descent throughout the

[12:20] city of skti on the occasion of the

[12:22] Feast of St Patrick and I'd like to call

[12:24] on council member manini to present this

[12:26] resolution thank you like invite the

[12:30] folks from the high burning up here into

[12:31] the

[12:53] well

[12:57] face

[12:59] there we go come on get comfortable

[13:02] thank

[13:10] Perfect all right fantastic Madam

[13:14] president may I have the floor you have

[13:16] the floor

[13:18] sir resolution honoring the John F

[13:21] Kennedy division one of the Ancient

[13:22] Order of Hibernians together with the

[13:24] John F Kennedy division one of the

[13:25] ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and

[13:29] all people of Irish descent throughout

[13:30] the city of SKC on the Feast of St

[13:32] Patrick March 17th whereas St Patrick's

[13:36] Day is the Feast of St Patrick patron

[13:39] saint of Ireland he was born in Roman

[13:41] Britain in the 4th Century he was

[13:43] kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to

[13:46] Ireland as a slave he escaped but

[13:49] returned about 432 CE to convert the

[13:52] Irish into Christianity by the time of

[13:54] his death on March 17th 461 he was he

[13:58] had established monasteries churches and

[14:00] schools and whereas the city of connecti

[14:02] honors its many Irish residents and

[14:04] residents of Irish descent as well as

[14:07] their contributions to the city of skty

[14:09] and whereas the John F Kennedy division

[14:11] one Ancient Order of I burans together

[14:13] with the John F Kennedy division one

[14:16] ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians have

[14:18] in fact contributed to the general

[14:20] welfare of the city of sky for over 143

[14:23] years and 129 years respectively by as

[14:26] many Financial donations and per

[14:28] performance of various Goods works and

[14:31] for worthy causes and deserving

[14:33] organizations whereas in 2023 disc

[14:36] connected hurn and family supported

[14:38] numerous organizations including Street

[14:40] soldiers connected Historical Society

[14:42] Patriot flight Toys for Tots City

[14:45] missioners connec community hospice and

[14:47] the regional Food Bank of Northeastern

[14:49] New York to name a few whereas popular

[14:52] St Patrick's Day recipes include Irish

[14:55] soda bread corn beef and cabbage and

[14:57] even beer in sometime is sometimes die

[15:00] green to celebrate the Day in the United

[15:03] States people often wear green on St

[15:05] Patrick Patrick's Day now therefore be

[15:07] it resolved that the SKC city council

[15:10] and Mayor Gary R McCarthy declar that

[15:12] March 17 2024 St Patrick's Day shall be

[15:16] celebrated throughout the city's

[15:17] connectivity in recognition of the

[15:19] contributions and good works of Irish

[15:21] American people everywhere Madam

[15:23] president I would like to move the

[15:24] resolu may I have a second please second

[15:27] by Miss Patrick all those in favor I

[15:29] motion passes

[15:31] [Applause]

[15:39] congratulations would anyone like to say

[15:41] a few

[15:44] words thank you thank you very much uh

[15:47] we're very honored for this Proclamation

[15:49] and very honored to be part of uh City

[15:52] with such a rich Dynamic history a

[15:55] history which US Irish are extremely

[15:57] proud to be great great contributors to

[15:59] as well Ary Canal many social

[16:03] contributions more than a few

[16:06] Mayors but uh our goal is to continue

[16:09] such contributions into the future and

[16:11] be part of a truly Dynamic and

[16:14] diverse culture and city thank you very

[16:22] much and we hope you'll join us on St

[16:24] Patrick's Day we'll have lots of great

[16:26] food dancers bagpipers all kinds of fun

[16:29] and

[16:31] beer thank you they're welcome thank you

[16:34] thank

[16:37] you good to see

[16:57] you

[16:59] we have two public hearings tonight um I

[17:01] just want to reminder that we've

[17:02] extended the public comment period for

[17:04] public hearings to four minutes and also

[17:06] respectfully ask anyone who has wants to

[17:09] comment on the public hearing so only

[17:10] speaks uh on the subject relevant to the

[17:12] public

[17:13] hearing public hearing number

[17:16] one regarding amending the city code

[17:19] section 936 entitled Civ civilian police

[17:21] review board to modify the manner of

[17:23] appointing vacancies to the civilian

[17:25] police review board I have no one signs

[17:28] up to

[17:29] speak so I declare the public hearing

[17:31] number one

[17:33] closed

[17:34] Public public hearing number two

[17:37] creating an assessment District on a

[17:39] portion of North North College

[17:41] Street I have no one signed up to speak

[17:43] on this public hearing so I declare

[17:45] public hearing number two

[17:48] closed ask for approval of the minutes

[17:50] for uh February 26

[17:53] 2024 move by Mr Farley second by Mr

[17:56] Williams all those in favor

[18:00] I oops one

[18:03] second I ask the clerk to read any

[18:05] Communications and

[18:11] petitions Communications presented to

[18:13] city council for Monday March 11 2024

[18:16] under official there were none under

[18:18] General there was an email from Michael

[18:20] Murphy regarding the Central Park

[18:23] Parkway sidewalk program requesting the

[18:25] dimensions of the Street sidewalk and

[18:26] Island remain the same

[18:29] under petitions there were none thank

[18:31] you ask city council members for any

[18:34] City any uh committee reports committee

[18:38] reports this time we'll have privilege

[18:40] of the floor related to the legislative

[18:44] agenda I have two people signed up to

[18:49] speak well I I have two things sign

[18:52] first is ran

[18:56] artist and you have three minutes sir

[18:59] thank you good evening rayan Artis uh

[19:02] City resident business owner I want to

[19:04] speak about item number 10 uh the

[19:06] contract and supply for the 2024 chips

[19:10] Paving project

[19:12] um nothing bad to say hope you vote for

[19:15] it Peter Louise Brothers is one of the

[19:18] few contractors out there who do do the

[19:21] right thing I've had five conversations

[19:25] with them since January 1st and two of

[19:28] the topics have been this job um I've

[19:32] worked for them

[19:33] before they do what they're supposed to

[19:35] do so please vote for yes on this thank

[19:40] you thank

[19:41] [Music]

[19:43] you the next um is just description and

[19:46] the person signed they want to speak on

[19:48] the moratorium but they did not put a

[19:50] name is there someone here who sorry

[19:53] okay M right Meer please come forward

[19:55] apologize no problem please

[19:58] um Judy R Meer director of The Tobacco

[20:00] free

[20:01] communities and it's 20 plus years of

[20:03] doing this that caused me to do that um

[20:07] so again I apologize but I want to um

[20:10] say that I appreciate that the council

[20:12] is taking the time to consider a

[20:14] moratorium on smoke and vape shops in

[20:16] the city uh I wanted to remind council

[20:19] members that uh the the more tobacco

[20:23] marketing and promotion that youth see

[20:25] the more likely they are to smoke or

[20:27] vape we also know that the majority of

[20:31] the marketing and promotion that youth

[20:34] will see will be in those retailers that

[20:36] are right in their neighborhoods in

[20:38] November of 2023 we did a uh store

[20:41] observations of stores within 1500 feet

[20:44] of schools and 31 of of retailers with

[20:49] were within 1500 feet of schools in the

[20:51] city of skincity and the majority of

[20:54] those sold flavored Vapes 2third of

[20:57] those those had exterior advertising

[21:00] which is in violation of state

[21:02] law

[21:04] um those those licensed tobacco

[21:06] retailers are in disp are

[21:08] disproportionately located near schools

[21:11] in high poverty neighborhoods in the

[21:13] city

[21:15] um and those children that live in those

[21:17] High poverty neighborhoods have the

[21:19] greatest exposure to that tobacco

[21:22] marketing we also know that 52% of those

[21:25] stores sold flavored electronic

[21:27] cigarettes

[21:29] so um I want to just share for you to

[21:33] consider this idea of all tobacco and

[21:36] vape retailers in the city um in

[21:39] addition to those that are um

[21:43] specifically smoke and vape shops so

[21:45] thank you for your time and again I

[21:47] apologize no problem thank

[21:50] you I have no one else signed up to

[21:52] speak so I declare the public comment on

[21:54] the

[21:56] legislative I sign yes sir did you sign

[21:59] up to speak on the legislative agenda

[22:00] what is your

[22:02] name okay sir that you you signed up to

[22:04] speak on the city business is there

[22:06] something on the agenda which you'd like

[22:07] to speak on or is it on the city

[22:09] business I sign it's not a problem so

[22:12] you want to speak on the legislative

[22:13] agenda sure I want to speak on something

[22:16] I'm concerned about is it on the is it

[22:18] on the agenda that's printed that you

[22:19] that's before us if not then you'll be

[22:21] in the next group okay you'll be in the

[22:24] next group we do we still have more okay thank you sir you're quite welcome

[22:28] no problem so I have no one else signed

[22:31] up to speak for a public comment on the

[22:32] legislative agenda so I declare the

[22:34] legislative agenda

[22:36] closed this time I ask for approval of the legislative consent

[22:42] agenda move by Miss Patrick second by Mr

[22:44] M Veron all those in favor

[22:47] I at this time we will have privilege of

[22:50] the floor regarding General City

[22:52] business and I have five individuals uh

[22:55] who are signed up to speak

[22:58] are you read

[23:02] this

[23:07] no this first person sent in their

[23:09] public

[23:12] comment the comment is from AET

[23:16] nagu alolan are you

[23:20] here okay

[23:22] no uh she writes thank you for the O

[23:24] opportunity to introduce our new

[23:26] non-for-profit organization

[23:28] cah Incorporated our mission is to

[23:31] conquer loneliness and social isolation

[23:33] through engagement experiences in the

[23:35] homes and community of older adults in

[23:37] SKC County I have been a nurse for over

[23:40] 24 years working both administratively

[23:44] and directly with many seniors and their

[23:46] care providers the most valuable time

[23:48] for them and selfish selfishly me was

[23:52] the quality moment spent engaging with

[23:54] them on social level senior loneliness

[23:56] and social isolation are un underserved

[24:01] conditions that cost millions in

[24:02] Medicare dollars increased health risk

[24:05] to seniors including early death our

[24:07] organization has been providing social

[24:09] engagement events at senior independent

[24:11] living communities since July 2023 we

[24:14] became an official nonpr nonprofit

[24:17] organization in December of 2023 the

[24:20] success of these events ignites our

[24:22] passion to add more programs and

[24:24] services to better meet the needs of our

[24:26] elderly

[24:28] population we would like the opportunity

[24:30] to introduce ourselves to the government

[24:32] of skti

[24:33] County how much better would we be able

[24:36] to support our seniors by partnering

[24:38] with established social agencies senior

[24:41] providers nursing assisted living

[24:43] facilities veteran agencies and others to co cohesively work toward our

[24:49] mission we are also seeking support and

[24:51] guidance from the mayor's office to give

[24:53] this gift of Engagement to our seniors

[24:56] we would be honored to present our mark

[24:57] marketing plan at a city council meeting

[24:59] thank you for your consider

[25:01] consideration we look forward to hearing

[25:02] back from you thank you Miss P Miss Miku

[25:06] uh this time raan

[25:12] artist good even again I want to I

[25:15] watched the committee meeting last week

[25:17] and uh I just want to thank you for

[25:19] bringing up uh the minority

[25:21] participation during uh these contracts

[25:24] and as I was

[25:25] listening it seemed like uh

[25:29] your questions were getting the same old

[25:30] answer oh it's hard it's hard it's only

[25:33] hard when you don't do anything about

[25:35] it uh I'm going to explain to you how

[25:38] and I'm going use the paving contract as

[25:41] an example I'm a minority contractor

[25:44] non-minority contractor we're both truck

[25:46] and

[25:47] outfits main company Thal and industries

[25:51] in there has to fill their minority

[25:55] participation if I have a truck in here

[25:57] has a truck

[25:59] now I want you to listen to this we do

[26:02] not get to bid the job so money is not

[26:05] the problem it isn't like my number's

[26:08] High his number's

[26:10] low we in the trucking industry we work

[26:13] for what they put out as their Trucking

[26:16] rate for the season rifenburg Newcastle

[26:20] louisi you can go on down that's just

[26:22] how it is I don't get to send in my

[26:25] number and say I need this much money to

[26:27] do the job I got to make it work within

[26:29] there so truck and pay were

[26:32] even now you need minority participation

[26:36] I should be going up a little bit cuz he

[26:37] doesn't have it so I don't understand

[26:41] why it's so

[26:43] hard to fit to

[26:46] fulfill the numbers you're supposed to

[26:48] meet it's only hard cuz nobody's making

[26:51] them do

[26:54] it and another example I want to give

[26:56] you of the games they play I brought my

[26:59] friend Terrell Bell down here and we got

[27:02] t-shirts and hoodies and there's three

[27:04] companies on here because we're three

[27:06] minority companies in the area where

[27:09] they play the game where oh CLA said

[27:12] he'll do it for this he'll do it for

[27:13] cheaper than we want we're standing

[27:16] there having a conversation when his

[27:17] phone rang and they said that he said

[27:20] hang on let me put him on the phone for

[27:21] you these are the games they play and

[27:24] they can only play it if you allow them

[27:29] C and industries last year 4 days the

[27:33] job started in August every day they had

[27:37] trucks Gary I seen you on the job I

[27:40] tried to tell you what was going on I

[27:43] call Ron before the before you guys even

[27:47] vote on it soon as I can when the the

[27:50] bid comes out I'm calling at 2:00 saying

[27:54] do you who who who's the lowest bidder

[27:56] my next call is to Ron Ron so and so got

[27:59] the job we going to get on this you know

[28:01] they're going to you know they're going

[28:02] to play the

[28:03] games what's 4

[28:06] days that's nothing I do it because it's

[28:11] in my city and I want to work in my

[28:16] city if you guys don't ask the

[28:21] questions I don't know what else to say

[28:23] Gary I I to tell you the truth I'm I'm

[28:25] just and I know I'm not supposed to

[28:26] speak directly you but I kind of feel a

[28:29] certain way because I always believed in

[28:31] you even when you first started running

[28:34] and I always told my neighbors and

[28:35] everybody else if it's the law it's in

[28:39] the books he's going to make sure they

[28:42] do it right I and I just feel like it's

[28:45] not being

[28:46] done and the fact that I had a

[28:49] one-on-one with

[28:50] you really just makes me feel like

[28:52] you're not paying attention to what's

[28:54] going on out here that's an insult to

[28:56] what they're doing they're feeding you

[28:58] guys any any o excuses it's not hard

[29:02] okay I need you to summarize sir because

[29:03] your time is expired but I thank you

[29:05] very much get us involved thank you for

[29:11] coming Frank

[29:26] wicks

[29:28] okay okay with respect to our trucker

[29:38] friend uh I think my observation if we

[29:41] have a trucker brought it and trucking

[29:44] is a tough job and it's important that

[29:46] they are treated fairly which means you

[29:49] know don't circumvent the law so I'm

[29:51] totally in support of this

[29:54] trucker Okay so anything you can do to

[29:58] help him it's good for

[30:01] everyone okay okay uh I standing here

[30:05] with my friend uh Larry my name is Larry

[30:09] meerhoff and here's support Frank and we

[30:12] have uh Muhammad

[30:14] Mafi and and just by coincidence here's

[30:18] my my Muslim friend and here's my Jewish

[30:21] friend and my Jewish friend is also a

[30:24] musician who's performing over in G in

[30:30] gway and uh so he appreciates the Dan

[30:33] ancers we had here and okay uh the the

[30:38] uh the proposed way after night might

[30:40] have sounded pretty uh outside the norm

[30:44] a month ago over the last weekend the

[30:47] two United States senators from Vermont

[30:49] came around and saying the same thing so

[30:51] we'd like the uh City connected to be on

[30:54] the record saying the same thing so so

[30:57] the proposal is for the city of the city

[31:00] of skinuti urges the president of the

[31:03] United States and Congress to

[31:05] immediately stop funding and supplying

[31:08] weapons to Israel that are now being

[31:12] used uh to commit Unthinkable crimes

[31:16] against Palestinian people in Gaza and

[31:19] Humanity including genocide by weapons

[31:23] and

[31:24] starvation ethic cleansing destru ction

[31:27] of homes hospitals universities and

[31:31] spiritual and historic sites leaving

[31:34] desperate people with nowhere to go so

[31:37] that's a proposal that I hope you can

[31:39] vote on and the City of skuy can come

[31:42] down on the side and we hope to make the

[31:44] same work with other cities communities

[31:47] villages to do the same thing

[31:51] uh the the the contact is

[31:55] the again the Jews were settled and Palestine had

[32:00] a choice of working in peace and

[32:04] cooperation with the native Palestinians

[32:07] as was envisioned by Albert Einstein and

[32:09] others but chose to forcefully remove

[32:12] Palestinians from homes with a go of an

[32:15] ethically pure Jewish Birthright

[32:19] population extending from the Jordan

[32:21] River to the Mediterranean Sea as prime

[32:25] minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed on

[32:27] the map to the United Nations in

[32:29] September

[32:32] 2023 the pursuit of this Total

[32:34] Domination required a massive amount of

[32:36] the United States tax

[32:38] money uh and weapons with no constraints

[32:41] on the

[32:43] use again see since October 7th on of

[32:50] 2023 Israel could have exercised the

[32:53] right of

[32:54] self-defense by restoring effect

[32:57] effective monitoring on the wall

[33:00] and that keeps Palestinians and Gaza out

[33:04] of the Israel and recovered hostages by

[33:08] exchange with uh what has happened since

[33:13] shows a Total Domination rather than

[33:15] defense is is the goal so I need you to

[33:17] summarize please okay soorry I got three

[33:20] points there sorry one the property

[33:23] damage in Gaza from thousands of United

[33:26] States supplied bomb boms and airplanes

[33:27] exceeds the combined damage to herim and

[33:30] Nagasaki from the atam bombs their

[33:33] deaths and destructions are approaching

[33:35] the many and may surpass the J Japanese

[33:37] deaths that happen from the bombs

[33:40] finally a genocide by starvation is

[33:43] being done by un under by undermining

[33:46] the United Nations based food agencies

[33:49] and blocking uh deliveries by truck the

[33:52] United Station States is feebly

[33:54] responding with humanitarian Aid needs

[33:57] via parachute and telling of a plan to

[34:01] construct emergency Pier to deliver sea

[34:05] the cruel irony is the United States is

[34:07] trying to act heroically to help the

[34:09] victims of the United States supplied

[34:11] bombs being dropped by Israel and the

[34:14] closing thought evil can happen when

[34:16] good things are when good people are

[34:19] silent and also when they're okay with

[34:22] it okay thank you thank

[34:25] you

[34:27] may I have a few may I say a few

[34:30] sentences yeah okay I'll put you down as

[34:32] a separate individual yes sir you may

[34:33] just a few sentences I I listened that

[34:36] initial prayer that you mentioned in

[34:38] that prayer you asked uh help God help

[34:41] us to bring honor and glory to God help

[34:45] us to make the right decisions in the

[34:47] Pledge of Allegiance you said that we

[34:49] want to bring liberty and justice for

[34:51] all within 5 months

[34:55] 31,000

[34:57] people have been killed more than 70% of

[35:00] them children and women the bombs as our

[35:05] tax dollars are thrown they are buried

[35:08] under the uh buildings hungry thirsty

[35:12] and it may not work it may not have any

[35:15] effect but it shows at least some

[35:17] conscientious people say because this is

[35:20] done at our in our names people around

[35:23] the world know this it's only the media

[35:26] here that keeps the American people

[35:28] under informed so it would be nice for a

[35:30] city ofc to say we are not being

[35:33] Bamboozled by what ABC NBC shows this is

[35:36] against the humanity against the

[35:38] consciousness of humans thank you thank

[35:44] you rob Rod

[35:48] Hubert hello everyone it's the third

[35:51] time I've been here and uh nothing's

[35:54] still been done I don't even get a call

[35:57] back maybe one of you guys will call me

[36:00] back I hear about the roads and

[36:01] connecting that are awful why don't we

[36:04] have a plan in place you got all these

[36:06] people that are you know they get voted

[36:08] in and they don't do anything you know I nice people don't get me wrong but uh

[36:15] something's got to happen a plan's got

[36:17] to be in place I guess we're not as

[36:20] important the roads we as

[36:23] taxpayers pay your salary you know where

[36:26] we are when uh you want to run for uh

[36:30] your campaign but uh second time I

[36:33] didn't get a call

[36:35] either but I just don't understand we

[36:37] live in this city and pay the taxes and

[36:40] we ask for services especially in woodl

[36:43] where I live we don't get anything hard

[36:46] let's wake up here and get get moving

[36:49] another thing around the park is paved

[36:52] unit street is paved but no place else

[36:57] hire a contractor get off your butts and

[37:00] do something and I didn't swear but and

[37:02] another thing the park is a mess with

[37:05] leaves they don't do leaves and I went

[37:07] through uh the park and saw that

[37:10] phountain all rusty and paint coming off

[37:13] of it we got summer coming you got that

[37:16] swiming pool we don't want things to be

[37:18] left like that so get moving I don't me

[37:21] to be mean but you sit there and you're

[37:23] look then you don't say nothing get with

[37:27] it I'm sorry but that's how I feel

[37:30] another thing I bought a new truck I hit

[37:32] a pothole $4,000 for a truck you know

[37:37] get going every other week you come here

[37:41] nothing gets

[37:42] done I've had it sorry

[37:47] but just don't get it I'm a former city

[37:49] employee I'm a retired I know what goes

[37:53] on they make deals and there's a lot of

[37:55] Driftwood that does doesn't work and

[37:57] they get big salaries I knew everything

[38:00] so please I'm begging you to can

[38:03] somebody call me and put a plan in

[38:08] place so with that that's all I got to

[38:11] say the third time I'm here I'm not

[38:12] going to

[38:14] bother all right you guys have a nice

[38:16] night thank

[38:21] you uh Andre

[38:25] Gerard

[38:28] um hi uh good evening how you doing my

[38:31] name is Andre

[38:33] Gerard um I'm here over here to discuss

[38:36] you know the issue um matter of fact um

[38:38] my name is Andre Gerard uh I have a AKA

[38:42] they know me as triple OG um I'm the uh

[38:46] founder the CEO as well as the executive

[38:49] director of the Premier business to

[38:51] reduce violence here in SKC which is

[38:54] called gang affiliated nonviolent

[38:57] guidance it is spell gang and you know

[39:00] one of the amazing things about this

[39:02] business is that I am forever promoting

[39:05] hugs no slugs I am forever telling the

[39:08] blood the the lightning Kings all

[39:10] these bangers out here to give their

[39:13] homie a hug instead of a slug and

[39:15] unfortunately you know um I made so much

[39:18] sacrifices throughout my years the three

[39:21] years that I was on Parole uh to do

[39:23] something positive for the community to

[39:25] give back in a way that you know um

[39:28] other other people don't um I don't know

[39:31] why you know uh at this point in my life

[39:35] that God called me um to reduce violence

[39:38] and to uplift the youth but their

[39:40] respect my handle I learned everything

[39:42] in threes and I break everything down in

[39:44] threes and unfortunately I was able to

[39:47] obtain an ice cream truck that was

[39:50] maliciously uh confiscated October 27th

[39:53] by the police in a way to try to

[39:55] discourage me you know there are people

[39:57] out in the neighborhoods you know

[39:59] especially the black and the Latino

[40:01] people that I'm trying to come bring

[40:03] together Unity I go through a lot of

[40:05] problems I go through problems with the

[40:07] community I go through problems with you

[40:09] know the officials there are people that

[40:11] just want to break my spirit and you

[40:13] know like I come from the area of

[40:15] getting high robbing stealing you know I

[40:18] have to put my face on some of the most

[40:20] you know like humiliating things but

[40:22] it's a power to help me in my process to

[40:25] be a better man and you know I'm just

[40:27] grateful that you know like I was able

[40:30] to turn around and put this business

[40:32] together you know and it's just terrible

[40:35] that the summer is approaching and what

[40:38] I provided for the Youth is you know um

[40:41] you know barbecues I provided you know

[40:45] uh different things such as you know

[40:46] ciphers where they can uh bring out

[40:48] their talent I want to turn around and

[40:50] be able to establish cards games clean

[40:54] the park you know like one of the uh

[40:56] initiatives that I initially uh promoted

[40:59] was uh the help of keeping the park

[41:01] clean the park is filthy people you know

[41:05] like I mean it it's just sad that you

[41:08] know like I have the initiative and I

[41:10] have the power and ability to keep

[41:13] skincity safe and clean it's called

[41:15] project SKC safe and clean streets and I

[41:19] can't get no help from the very people

[41:21] that should be grateful because prior to

[41:24] you winning that election seat you know

[41:28] you held up my banner you Pro you know

[41:30] that Banner every official that see that

[41:34] Banner they praise it police praise it

[41:38] fire departments praise it I I you know

[41:40] I just get nothing but praise because

[41:43] it's the only business that's reducing

[41:46] violence and connty I am promoting hugs

[41:50] no slugs and the last thing that I want

[41:52] to talk about the most serious crisis

[41:56] that's happening right now in SKC is a

[42:00] mental illness that is not being

[42:03] addressed there need comprehensive

[42:06] reform for mental illness you know there

[42:09] are there's just too much mental illness

[42:12] just rampant and then you have these uh

[42:16] organizations that are I don't know what

[42:18] you know what they doing with the money

[42:19] or the funding but nobody is helping the

[42:23] mentally ill and if the mentally ill are

[42:27] not going to turn around and be helped I

[42:31] need you later it's going to be a very

[42:34] serious serious problem and you sumarize

[42:37] yes thank you uh please address those

[42:41] people who have meant illness thank you know no justice for those no peace

[42:46] for you no justice sir your time is

[42:55] expired

[43:00] I have no one else signed up to speak so

[43:02] I declare the public comment of City

[43:04] business

[43:06] closed uh at this time any miscellaneous

[43:09] business of the

[43:13] council

[43:18] mayor okay um first of all I just want

[43:21] to congratulate um Carlos kotto as being

[43:25] named the uh new superintendent for the

[43:27] connected City School District so last

[43:29] um this past Friday they made that

[43:31] announcement so I just was uh glad we

[43:33] were most of us were able to attend and

[43:36] I'm glad to see that happen um as we've

[43:39] all heard about the the tragedy of the

[43:43] child that was um that was killed here

[43:46] in the city and uh someone asked me a

[43:49] question uh and saw that thought that we

[43:50] should pass legislation regarding

[43:53] abandoned child act so I just wanted

[43:54] everyone to know uh that there is

[43:57] legislation called the abandoned infant

[43:58] protection act where someone can bring

[44:00] an infant to a c safe place and they

[44:03] there's no questions asked about it so

[44:06] in response to the person who raised the

[44:07] question whether the city council would

[44:09] be passing any legislation there already

[44:11] is legislation in place where um someone

[44:14] can bring an infant if they think

[44:15] they're going to harm them to bring this

[44:17] someone to a like a firehouse uh police department a hospital or

[44:22] someone they feel that can take care of

[44:23] the infant and will take care of the

[44:24] infant but I just want people to know

[44:26] that that is in place and um we uh our

[44:29] hearts go out to the families of the

[44:30] child Halo and just pray for the entire

[44:34] family because it's a tragedy no matter

[44:36] how you look at

[44:37] it if there's nothing further to come

[44:40] before the city council I will ask for a

[44:41] motion to adjourn moved by Mr Farley

[44:44] second by Mr manini all those in favor

[44:48] I we're

[44:54] adjourned

[45:04] for

Schenectady City Council Meeting, March 11, 2024

Transcript