[0:02] [Music]

[0:18] thanks a

[0:28] lot

[0:43] I'd like to call the city Caucus meeting

[0:45] to order for Monday March 11th

[0:49] 2024 we have two public hearings tonight

[0:51] if the clerk would please

[0:53] read public hearing number one regarding

[0:56] amending city code section

[0:58] 93-6 enti titled civilian police review

[1:01] board to modify the manner of appointing

[1:03] vacancies to the civilian police review

[1:08] board public hearing number two public

[1:10] hearing number two regarding creating a

[1:12] special assessment District on a portion

[1:14] of North College

[1:16] Street thank you we have 11 items for

[1:18] original consideration and one for

[1:20] unanimous consent if the clerk would

[1:22] please read item number one item number

[1:24] one for original consideration an

[1:26] ordinance dated March 11 2024

[1:28] authorizing the issuance of not to

[1:31] exceed

[1:34] 9,998

[1:36] 684 aggregate principal amount of Serial

[1:39] bonds of the city of SKC New York

[1:41] pursuant to the local Finance law to

[1:44] finance a portion of the 2024 Capital

[1:46] plan discussed in committee with

[1:48] objection on consent item number two for final consideration

[1:53] an ordinance establishing a temporary

[1:55] moratorium until June 10th 2024 on the

[1:58] submission and processing of building

[2:00] permits certificate of occupancies

[2:02] certificate of use and land use

[2:05] approvals for smoke shops vape shops and

[2:08] tobacco or vape consumption businesses

[2:10] within the city of

[2:12] scenc discuss in committee without

[2:14] objection on consent item number three for original

[2:17] consideration a resolution supporting

[2:20] disconnec food council's advocacy and

[2:23] empowerment working groups requests

[2:26] regarding programs and initiative

[2:28] addressing food andsecurity in the New

[2:30] York State fiscal year 2025

[2:34] budget discuss committee without

[2:36] objection on consent item number four for original

[2:40] consideration a resolution approving the

[2:41] increase of SKC Municipal Golf Course rates discussed in committee with

[2:46] objection on consent item number five for original

[2:50] consideration a resolution authorizing

[2:52] the 2024 budget reallocation for the

[2:54] municipal golf course discuss in

[2:57] committee without objection on consent

[3:00] item number six item number six for

[3:02] original consideration a resolution

[3:05] authorizing the mayor or his designate

[3:07] to enter into a contract with teram men

[3:09] Incorporated for the maintenance of the

[3:11] connect Municipal Golf Course discussed

[3:14] in committee without objection on

[3:15] consent item number seven item number

[3:18] seven for original consideration a resol

[3:21] a resolution recognizing Navy veteran CB

[3:23] Dominic DeSantis discussed the committee

[3:26] with objection on consent this

[3:28] resolution will be presented this

[3:29] Saturday aturday March 16th at the honor

[3:31] of vet ceremony at St Luke's at 1 p.m.

[3:34] item number eight item number eight for

[3:36] original consideration a resolution

[3:39] honoring the John F Kennedy Division 1

[3:41] of the Ancient Order of Hibernians

[3:43] together with the John F Kennedy

[3:45] division one of the ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and all people of

[3:49] Irish descent throughout the city of

[3:51] skincity on the occasion of the Feast of

[3:53] St Patrick Mark March 17 this item will

[3:57] be taken out of order and presented by

[3:58] council member manini

[4:00] item number

[4:02] nine item number nine for original

[4:04] consideration a resolution authorizing

[4:06] the issuance of revocable permit Number

[4:08] 682 to bundles by Tiara for a sign that

[4:11] will overhang the city's right of way at

[4:13] 447 State Street discussing committee

[4:16] with objection on consent item number 10 under contract and Supply

[4:20] a resolution awarding the bid and

[4:22] contract for the 20124 connected chips

[4:25] Paving to Peter louisi and Brothers

[4:27] Contracting Incorporated and the amount

[4:30] of

[4:31] 3,356

[4:35] 18189 discussed in committee with an

[4:37] objection on consent item number 11 item

[4:39] number 11 under contract and Supply a

[4:42] resolution awarding the bidden contract

[4:44] for the crack sealing of city streets

[4:46] 2024 to seal coat USA Incorporated in

[4:49] the amount of

[4:51] $172,500

[4:52] discussed in committee with objection on

[4:55] consent we have one additional item to

[4:57] be placed on the agenda this evening

[4:59] item number 11a if the clerk would

[5:01] please read item number 11a for

[5:03] unanimous consent a resolution

[5:05] authorizing a reappropriation to the

[5:07] 2024 capital budget I need a motion to

[5:11] place this item on the agenda move by Mr

[5:14] Mutan second by Miss Patrick all those

[5:16] in favor

[5:18] I thank

[5:20] you there's no objection to this

[5:23] item um may I have a motion to place on

[5:26] the consent agenda so second

[5:30] Mr Farley if there okay is there maybe

[5:33] have roll call we need roll call for

[5:34] this should we do a roll call all right

[5:37] everyone's in favor okay all right thank

[5:40] you if there's nothing more to come

[5:41] before the city council caucus I ask for

[5:43] a motion to

[5:44] adjourn motion by Miss Patrick second by

[5:46] Mr Williams all those in favor we are

[5:48] ajour thank you I'd like to call the

[5:50] city council meeting to order for Monday

[5:52] March 11th

[5:54] 20124 and I'd like to ask to Pastor

[5:56] Tristana

[5:58] Gat G Pat to uh lead us in the prayer

[6:08] invocation can we all bow our heads and

[6:11] close our eyes as we pray this afternoon

[6:14] Father in heaven we give you praise and

[6:16] we give you thanks we honor you God for

[6:19] who you are you are the king of glory

[6:21] and there is none like unto you and so

[6:23] father as We Gather here this afternoon

[6:26] We Gather to to God we come together as

[6:29] a body as one people oh God in making

[6:32] the right decision oh God for our

[6:35] community and father I lift you up in

[6:38] whatever will be said and done I pray it

[6:41] will bring honor and it will bring Glory

[6:43] unto your name I pray God that you will

[6:46] bless every council members I pray God

[6:49] that you will anoint them from the crown

[6:51] of their head to the soul of their very

[6:53] feet and even our mayor I pray God that

[6:56] you will bless him with a double portion

[6:59] of your anointing I pray God that you

[7:02] will always cover him under your blood I

[7:04] speak your blessing I speak your favor

[7:07] over his life and I pray God that you

[7:10] will give him the wisdom knowledge and

[7:12] understanding that he needs to lead your

[7:15] people Lord for we understand without

[7:18] you we cannot do anything but through

[7:20] you we can do any and everything who has

[7:23] given us the strength uh and today

[7:25] father I pray as we come together as one

[7:28] people you will help us God to make the

[7:31] right decision for this community I pray

[7:34] God this community will be a place where

[7:36] our people will feel safe uh Lord our

[7:39] needy oh God will be fed um and Lord

[7:42] those evildoers out there God lord

[7:45] Justice will be served uh and so father

[7:48] I pray that you will cover this

[7:49] community oh God's connec as a whole

[7:52] under your blood I pray God that every

[7:55] family Lord will feel your peace joy and

[7:58] happiness in this area in Connected

[8:02] father I give you praise father for

[8:05] every person that is here today I pray

[8:07] God that you going to blend oh God our

[8:09] decisions together and help us God to

[8:12] make the right one I give you praise and

[8:15] I give you thanks uh Lord give us wisdom

[8:18] knowledge and understanding in Jesus

[8:20] mighty name we pray and all God's people

[8:23] say amen and amen praise the Lorden

[8:27] thank you I'd like to ask Dave Conley

[8:29] you would please lead us in the Pledge

[8:30] of

[8:31] Allegiance IED Al to the flag of the

[8:35] United States of America and to the for

[8:39] it stands one nation God indivisible

[8:43] withy andice for thank

[8:50] you if the clerk could please complete

[8:53] the roll

[8:55] call Mr

[8:57] Toro Mr Farley pres Mr

[9:01] Mancini Mr

[9:03] Mutan Miss Patrick here Mr Williams Miss

[9:07] Porterfield here thank you we do have

[9:11] one out of order resolution this evening

[9:12] but before that we have um the dancers

[9:16] coming are they

[9:20] ready yes we're ready for the

[9:28] dancers

[9:58] public

[10:10] 18

[10:28] here

[10:55] [Music]

[10:58] you

[11:01] [Music]

[11:27] oh

[11:33] [Music]

[11:57] he

[12:09] [Applause]

[12:13] [Music]

[12:17] [Applause]

[12:27] he

[13:03] [Music]

[13:16] [Applause]

[13:23] thank

[13:26] you at this time we will have have the resolution resolution honoring John

[13:32] F Kennedy division one of the Ancient

[13:34] Order of Hibernians together with the

[13:35] John F Kennedy division one of the

[13:37] ladies Ancient Order of H burans and all

[13:39] people of Irish descent throughout the

[13:41] city of ski on the occasion of the Feast

[13:43] of St Patrick and I'd like to call on

[13:45] council member manini to present this

[13:47] resolution thank you like to invite the

[13:51] folks from the high Buran up here into

[13:57] well

[14:15] face

[14:19] this there we go come on get comfortable

[14:23] thank you

[14:24] perfect

[14:27] get

[14:32] all right fantastic Madame President may

[14:35] I have the floor you have the floor

[14:39] sir resolution honoring the John F

[14:42] Kennedy division one of the Ancient

[14:43] Order of Hibernians together with the

[14:45] John F Kennedy division one of the

[14:47] ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and

[14:50] all people of Irish descent throughout

[14:51] the city of SKC on the Feast of St

[14:53] Patrick March 17th whereas St Patrick's

[14:57] Day is the feast St Patrick patron saint

[15:00] of Ireland he was born in Roman Britain

[15:02] in the 4th Century he was kidnapped at

[15:05] the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a

[15:08] slave he escaped but returned about 432

[15:11] CE to convert the Irish into

[15:14] Christianity by the time of his death on

[15:16] March 17 461 he was he had established

[15:19] monasteries churches and schools and

[15:22] whereas the city of connected he honors

[15:24] its many Irish residents and residents

[15:26] of Irish descent as well as their contri

[15:28] fusions to the city of SKC and whereas

[15:31] the John F Kennedy Division 1 Ancient

[15:33] Order of Hibernians together with the

[15:35] John F Kennedy division one ladies

[15:37] Ancient Order of Hibernians have in fact

[15:40] contributed to the general welfare of

[15:41] the city of sky for over 143 years and

[15:45] 129 years respectively by as many

[15:48] Financial donations and the performance

[15:50] of various Goods works and for worthy

[15:52] causes and deserving

[15:54] organizations whereas in 2023 disc

[15:57] connected h burnian family supported

[15:59] numerous organizations including Street

[16:01] soldiers connected Historical Society

[16:03] Patriot flight Toys for Tots City

[16:06] Mission of connec community hospice and

[16:08] the regional Food Bank of Northeastern

[16:10] New York to name a few whereas popular

[16:13] St Patrick's Day recipes include Irish

[16:16] soda bread corn beef and cabbage and

[16:18] even beer in sometimes is sometimes die

[16:21] green to celebrate the

[16:22] Day in the United States people often

[16:25] wear green on St patri Patrick's Day now

[16:28] therefore be it resolved that the SKC

[16:30] city council and Mayor Gary R McCarthy

[16:32] declar that March 17 2024 St Patrick's

[16:36] Day shall be celebrated throughout the

[16:38] city's connectivity in recognition of

[16:40] the contributions and good works of

[16:41] Irish American people everywhere Madame

[16:44] President I would like to move the res

[16:46] may I have a second please second by

[16:48] Miss Patrick all those in favor I motion

[16:51] passes

[16:57] congratulations

[17:01] would anyone like to say few

[17:05] words thank you thank you very much uh

[17:08] we're very honored for this Proclamation

[17:10] and very honored to be part of a city

[17:13] with such a rich Dynamic history a

[17:16] history which US Irish are extremely

[17:18] proud to be great contributors to as

[17:20] well they Canal many social

[17:24] contributions more than a few

[17:27] Mayors but uh our goal is to continue

[17:30] such contributions into the future and

[17:32] be part of a truly Dynamic and

[17:35] diverse culture and city thank you very

[17:43] much and we hope you'll join us on St

[17:45] Patrick's Day we'll have lots of great

[17:47] food dancers bag Pipers and all kinds of

[17:50] fun and

[17:52] beer thank you they welcome thank you

[17:55] thank

[17:57] you

[17:59] good to see

[18:19] you we have two public hearings tonight

[18:22] U I just want to reminder that we've

[18:23] extended the public comment period for

[18:25] public hearings to four minutes and also

[18:27] respect ask anyone who has wants to

[18:30] comment on the public hearing so only

[18:31] speaks uh on the subject relevant to the

[18:33] public

[18:34] hearing public hearing number

[18:37] one regarding amending the city code

[18:40] section 936 entitled Civ civilian police

[18:42] review board to modify the manner of

[18:44] appointing vacancies to the civilian

[18:46] police review board I have no one signed

[18:49] up to

[18:50] speak so I declare the public hearing

[18:52] number one

[18:54] closed

[18:55] Public public hearing number two

[18:58] creating an assessment District on a

[19:00] portion of North North College

[19:02] Street I have no one signed up to speak

[19:04] on this public hearing so I declare

[19:06] public hearing number two

[19:09] closed ask for approval of the minutes

[19:11] for uh February 26

[19:14] 20124 move by Mr Farley second by Mr

[19:17] Williams all those in favor

[19:22] I oops one

[19:24] second I ask the clerk to read any

[19:26] Communications and petitions

[19:33] Communications presented to city council

[19:35] for Monday March 11 2024 under official

[19:38] there were none under General there was

[19:40] an email from Michael Murphy regarding

[19:42] the Central Park Parkway sidewalk

[19:45] program requesting the dimensions of the

[19:46] Street sidewalk and Island remain the

[19:49] same under petitions there were none

[19:52] thank you ask city council members for

[19:55] any City any uh committee reports Comm

[19:58] comme

[19:59] reports this time we'll have privilege

[20:01] of the floor related to the legislative

[20:05] agenda I have two people signed up to

[20:10] speak well I I have two things sign

[20:13] first is ran

[20:17] artist and you have three minutes sir

[20:20] thank you good evening ran artist uh

[20:23] City resident business owner I want to

[20:25] speak about item number 10 uh the

[20:27] contract and supply for the 2024 chips

[20:31] Paving project

[20:33] um nothing bad to say hope you vote for

[20:36] it Peter Louise Brothers is one of the

[20:39] few contractors out there who do do the

[20:42] right thing I've had five conversations

[20:46] with them since January 1st and two of

[20:49] the topics have been this job um I've

[20:53] worked for them

[20:54] before they do what they're supposed to

[20:56] do so please vote for yes on this thank

[21:01] you thank

[21:02] [Music]

[21:04] you the next um is just description and

[21:07] the person signed they want to speak on

[21:09] the moratorium but they did not put a

[21:11] name is there someone here

[21:13] who Okay m r Meer please come forward

[21:16] apologize no problem

[21:18] please um Judy R Meer director of The

[21:21] Tobacco free

[21:22] communities and it's 20 plus years of

[21:24] doing this that caused me to do that um

[21:28] so again I apologize but I want to um

[21:31] say that I appreciate that the council

[21:33] is taking the time to consider a

[21:35] moratorium on smoke and vape shops in

[21:37] the city uh I wanted to remind council

[21:40] members that uh the the more tobacco

[21:44] marketing and promotion that youth see

[21:46] the more likely they are to smoke or

[21:48] vape we also know that the majority of

[21:52] the marketing and promotion that youth

[21:55] will see will be in those retailers that

[21:57] are right in their neighborhoods in

[21:59] November of 2023 we did a uh store

[22:03] observations of stores within 1500 ft of

[22:06] schools and 31 of of retailers with were

[22:10] within 1500 feet of schools in the city

[22:13] of

[22:13] skincity and the majority of those sold

[22:16] flavored Vapes 2third of those had

[22:19] exterior advertising which is in

[22:21] violation of state

[22:23] law

[22:25] um those those licensed tobacco

[22:28] retailers are in disp are

[22:29] disproportionately located near schools

[22:32] in high poverty neighborhoods in the

[22:34] city

[22:36] um and those children that live in those

[22:38] High poverty neighborhoods have the

[22:40] greatest exposure to that tobacco

[22:43] marketing we also know that 52% of those

[22:46] stores sold flavored electronic

[22:48] cigarettes so um I will want to just

[22:52] share for you to

[22:54] consider this idea of all tobacco and

[22:57] vape retailers in the city um in

[23:00] addition to those that are um

[23:04] specifically smoke and vape shops so

[23:06] thank you for your time and again I

[23:08] apologize no problem thank

[23:11] you I have no one else signed up to

[23:13] speak so I declare the public comment on

[23:15] the legislative

[23:18] agend sir did you sign up to speak on

[23:20] the legislative agenda what is your

[23:23] name okay sir that you you signed up to

[23:26] speak on the city business is there

[23:27] something on the agenda which you'd like

[23:28] to speak on or is it on the city

[23:30] business I signed it's not a problem so

[23:33] you want to speak on the legislative

[23:34] agenda sure I want to speak on something

[23:37] I'm concerned about is it on the is it

[23:39] on the agenda that's printed that you

[23:40] that's before us if not then you'll be

[23:42] in the next group okay you'll be in the

[23:45] next group we do we still have more okay thank you so much you're quite

[23:49] welcome no problem so I have no one else

[23:51] signs up to speak for public comment on

[23:53] the legislative agenda so I declare the

[23:55] legislative agenda closed

[23:58] this time I ask for approval of approval

[24:00] of the legislative consent

[24:03] agenda move by m Patrick second by Mr M

[24:06] all those in favor

[24:08] I at this time we will have privilege of

[24:11] the floor regarding General City

[24:13] business and I have five individuals uh

[24:16] who are signed up to

[24:18] speak are you going to read

[24:23] this

[24:25] no no

[24:28] okay this first person sent in their

[24:30] public

[24:33] comment the comment is from a tet

[24:37] nagu alolan are you

[24:41] here okay

[24:43] no uh she writes thank you for the O

[24:45] opportunity to introduce our new

[24:47] non-for-profit organization cah

[24:50] Incorporated our mission is to conquer

[24:52] loneliness and social isolation through

[24:54] engagement experiences in the homes and

[24:57] community of of older adults in sken

[24:59] County I have been a nurse for over 24

[25:01] years working both administratively and

[25:05] directly with many seniors and their

[25:07] care providers the most valuable time

[25:09] for them and selfish selfishly me was

[25:13] the quality moment spent engaging with

[25:15] them on social level senior loneliness

[25:17] and social isolation are un underserved

[25:22] conditions that cost millions in

[25:23] Medicare dollars increase health risk to

[25:26] seniors including early death

[25:28] our organization has been providing

[25:30] social engagement events at senior

[25:32] independent living communities since

[25:34] July 2023 we became an official nonpr

[25:37] nonprofit organization in December of

[25:39] 2023 the success of these events ignites

[25:42] our passion to add more programs and

[25:45] services to better meet the needs of our

[25:48] elderly population we would like the

[25:51] opportunity to introduce ourselves to

[25:52] the government of ski

[25:55] County how much better would we be a

[25:57] able to support our seniors by

[25:59] partnering with established social

[26:00] agencies senior providers nursing

[26:03] assisted living facilities veter

[26:05] agencies and others others to co

[26:08] cohesively work toward our mission we

[26:11] are also seeking support and guidance

[26:12] from the mayor's office to give this

[26:15] gift of Engagement to our seniors we

[26:17] would be honored to present our

[26:18] marketing plan at a city council meeting

[26:20] thank you for your consider

[26:22] consideration we look forward to hearing

[26:23] back from you thank you Miss P Miss Miku

[26:27] uh this time raan

[26:33] artist good evening again I wanna I

[26:36] watched a committee meeting last week

[26:38] and uh I just want to thank you for

[26:40] bringing up uh the minority

[26:42] participation during uh these contracts

[26:45] and as I was

[26:46] listening it seemed like uh your

[26:50] questions were getting the same o answer

[26:52] oh it's hard it's hard it's only hard

[26:54] when you don't do anything about

[26:56] it uh

[26:58] I'm going to explain to you how and I'm

[26:59] going use the paving contract as an

[27:03] example I'm a minority contractor

[27:05] non-minority contractor we're both truck

[27:07] and

[27:08] outfits main company throw cinan

[27:12] Industries in there has to fill their

[27:15] minority

[27:16] participation if I have a truck and he

[27:18] has a truck

[27:20] now I want you to listen to this we do

[27:23] not get to bid the job so money is not

[27:26] the problem it isn't like my numberers

[27:29] high his numers

[27:31] low we in the trucking industry we work

[27:34] for what they put out as their Trucking

[27:37] rate for the season rifenburg Newcastle

[27:41] louisi you can go on down that's just

[27:43] how it is I don't get to send in my

[27:46] number and say I need this much money to

[27:48] do the job I got to make it work within

[27:50] there so truck and pay were

[27:53] even now you need minority participation

[27:57] I should be going up a little bit cuz he

[27:58] doesn't have it so I don't understand

[28:02] why it's so

[28:04] hard to fit to

[28:07] fulfill the numbers you're supposed to

[28:09] meet it's only hard cuz nobody's making

[28:12] them do

[28:15] it and another example I want to give

[28:17] you of the games they play I brought my

[28:20] friend Terrell Bell down here and we got

[28:23] t-shirts and hoodies and there's three

[28:25] companies on here because were three

[28:27] minority companies in the area where

[28:30] they play the game where oh CLA said

[28:33] he'll do it for this he'll do it for

[28:34] cheaper than we want we're standing

[28:37] there having a conversation when his

[28:38] phone rang and they said that he said

[28:41] hang on let me put him on the phone for

[28:42] you these are the games they play and

[28:45] they can only play it if you allow

[28:49] them C in Industries last year four days

[28:54] the job started in August every day they

[28:58] had trucks Gary I seen you on the job I

[29:01] tried to tell you what was going on I

[29:04] call Ron before the before you guys even

[29:08] vote on it soon as I can when the the

[29:11] bid comes out I'm calling at 2:00 saying

[29:15] do you who who who's the lowest bidder

[29:17] my next call is to Ron Ron so and so got

[29:20] the job we're going to get on this you

[29:22] know they're going to you know they're

[29:23] going to play the

[29:24] games what's four days

[29:28] that's nothing I do it because it's in

[29:32] my

[29:33] city and I want to work in my

[29:37] city if you guys don't ask the

[29:42] questions I don't know what else to say

[29:44] Gary I I to tell you the truth I'm I'm

[29:46] just and I know I'm not supposed to

[29:47] speak directly to you but I kind of feel

[29:49] a certain way because I always believed

[29:52] in you even when you first started

[29:54] running and I always told my neighbors

[29:56] and everybody else if it's the law it's

[30:00] in the books he's going to make sure

[30:03] they do it right I need and I just feel

[30:06] like it's not being

[30:07] done and the fact that I had a

[30:10] one-on-one with

[30:11] you really just makes me feel like

[30:13] you're not paying attention to what's

[30:15] going on out here that's an insult to

[30:17] what they're doing they're feeding you

[30:19] guys any anyo excuses it's not hard okay

[30:23] I need you to summarize sir because your

[30:24] time has expired but I thank you very

[30:26] much for get us involved thank you thank

[30:28] you for

[30:32] coming Frank

[30:48] Wicks okay okay with respect to our trucker

[30:59] friend uh I think my observation if we

[31:02] have a trucker brought it and trucking

[31:05] is a tough job and it's important that

[31:07] they are treated fairly which means you

[31:10] know don't circumvent the law so I'm

[31:12] totally in support of this

[31:15] trucker okay so anything you can do to

[31:19] help him just good for

[31:22] everyone okay okay uh I'm standing here

[31:26] with my friend uh Larry my name is Larry

[31:30] meerhoff and here's sport Frank and we

[31:33] have Muhammad

[31:35] Mafi and and just by coincidence here's

[31:39] my my Muslim friend and here's my Jewish

[31:42] friend and my Jewish friend is also a

[31:45] musician who's performing over in G in

[31:51] gway and uh so he appreciates the

[31:54] dancers we had here and okay uh the the

[31:59] uh the proposed way after night might

[32:01] have sounded pretty uh outside the norm

[32:05] a month ago over the last weekend the

[32:08] two United States senators from Vermont

[32:10] came around and saying the same thing so

[32:12] we'd like the uh City SK to be on the

[32:16] record saying the same thing so the

[32:18] proposal is for the city of the city of

[32:22] skanu urges the president of the United

[32:24] States and Congress to immediate stopped

[32:27] funding and supplying weapons to Israel

[32:31] that are now being

[32:33] used uh to commit Unthinkable crimes

[32:37] against Palestinian people in Gaza and

[32:40] Humanity including genocide by weapons

[32:44] and starvation ethic cleansing

[32:47] destruction of homes

[32:50] hospitals universities and spiritual and

[32:53] historic sites leaving desperate people

[32:55] with nowhere to go

[32:57] so that's a proposal that I hope you can

[33:00] vote on and the City of skuy can come

[33:03] down on the side and we hope to make the

[33:05] same work with other cities communities

[33:08] villages to do the same thing

[33:12] uh the the context is

[33:16] the again the the Jews who settled in

[33:20] Palestine had a choice of working in

[33:24] peing cooperation with the native pal

[33:27] Palestinians as was envisioned by Albert

[33:29] Einstein and others but chose to

[33:32] forcibly remove Palestinians from homes

[33:35] with a goal of an ethically pure Jewish

[33:39] Birthright population extending from the

[33:42] Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea as

[33:45] prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed

[33:48] on a map to the United Nations in

[33:50] September

[33:53] 2023 the pursuit of this Total

[33:55] Domination required a massive amount of

[33:58] United States tax

[33:59] money uh and weapons with no constraints

[34:02] on the

[34:04] use again see since October 7th on of

[34:11] 2023 Israel could have exercised the

[34:14] right of

[34:15] self-defense by restoring effective

[34:18] monitoring on the wall

[34:21] and that keeps Palestinians and Gaza out

[34:25] of the Israel and recover hostages by

[34:29] exchange with uh what has happened since

[34:34] shows a Total Domination rather than

[34:36] defense is is the goal so I need you to

[34:38] summarize please okay soorry I got three

[34:41] points there sorry one the property

[34:44] damage in Gaza from thousands of United

[34:47] States supplied bombs and airplanes

[34:48] exceeds the combined damage to Hiroshima

[34:51] and Nagasaki from the atom bombs the

[34:54] deaths and destructions are approaching

[34:56] the many and may surpass the J Japanese

[34:59] deaths that happen from the bombs

[35:01] finally a genocide by starvation is

[35:04] being done by UND under by undermining

[35:07] the United Nations based food agencies

[35:10] and blocking uh deliveries by truck the

[35:13] United Station States is feebly

[35:15] responding with humanitarian a needs via

[35:19] parachute and telling of a plan to

[35:22] construct emergency Pier to deliver sea

[35:26] the Cru the United States is trying to

[35:28] act heroically to help the victims of

[35:31] the United States supplied bombs being

[35:33] dropped by Israel and the closing

[35:36] thought evil can happen when good things

[35:38] are when good people are silent and also

[35:42] when they're okay with it okay thank you

[35:45] thank

[35:47] you may I have a few may I say a few

[35:51] sentences yeah okay I'll put you down as

[35:53] a separate individual yes sir you may

[35:54] just a few sentences I I listened that

[35:57] initial prayer that you mentioned in

[35:59] that prayer you asked uh help God help

[36:02] us to bring honor and glory to God help

[36:06] us to make the right decisions in the

[36:08] Pledge of Allegiance you said that we

[36:10] want to bring liberty and justice for

[36:12] all within 5 months

[36:17] 31,000 people have been killed more than

[36:20] 70% of them children and women the bombs

[36:26] as are t tax dollars are thrown they are

[36:28] buried under the uh buildings hungry

[36:32] thirsty and it may not work it may not

[36:36] have any effect but it shows at least

[36:38] some conscientious people say because

[36:41] this is done at our in our names people

[36:44] around the world know this it's only the

[36:46] media here that keeps the American

[36:48] people under informed so it would be

[36:51] nice for a city of con to say we are not

[36:54] being Bamboozled by what ABC NBC shows

[36:56] this is against the humanity against the

[36:59] consciousness of humans thank you thank

[37:05] you rob Rod

[37:09] Hubert hello everyone it's the third

[37:12] time I've been here and uh nothing's

[37:15] still been done I don't even get a call

[37:18] back maybe one of you guys will call me

[37:21] back I hear about the roads and

[37:22] connecting that are awful why don't we

[37:25] have a plan in place you got all these

[37:27] people that are you know they get voted

[37:29] in and they don't do anything you know I the nice people don't get me wrong but

[37:36] uh something's got to happen a plan's

[37:38] got to be in place I guess we're not as

[37:41] important the roads we it's

[37:44] taxpayers pay your salary you know where

[37:47] we are when uh you want to run for uh

[37:51] your campaign but uh second time I

[37:54] didn't get a call either

[37:57] but I just don't understand we live in

[37:59] this city and pay the taxes and we ask

[38:02] for services especially in Woodland when

[38:04] where I live we don't get anything hard

[38:07] let's wake up here and get get moving

[38:10] another thing around the park is paved

[38:13] unit street is paved but no place else

[38:18] hire a contractor get off your butts and

[38:21] do something and I didn't swear but and

[38:23] another thing the park is a mess with

[38:26] leaves they don't do leaves and I went

[38:28] through uh the park and saw that phone

[38:32] all rusty and paint coming off of it we

[38:35] got summer coming you got that swiming

[38:37] pool we don't want things to be left

[38:39] like that so get moving I don't mean to

[38:43] be mean but you sit there and you're

[38:44] looking then you don't say

[38:47] nothing get with it I'm sorry but that's

[38:50] how I feel another thing I bought a new

[38:53] truck I hit a pothole $40,000 for truck

[38:57] you know get going every other week you

[39:01] come here nothing gets

[39:03] done I've had it sorry

[39:08] but just don't get it I'm a former city

[39:10] employee I'm a retired I know what goes

[39:14] on they make deals and there's a lot of

[39:16] drip wood that doesn't work and they get

[39:18] big salaries I knew everything so please

[39:22] I'm begging you to can somebody call me

[39:25] and put a plan in

[39:29] place so with that that's all I got to

[39:32] say the third time I'm here I'm not

[39:33] going to

[39:35] bother all right you guys have a nice

[39:37] night thank

[39:42] you uh Andre

[39:48] Gerard um hi uh good evening how you

[39:51] doing my name is Andre

[39:54] Gerard um I'm here over here to discuss

[39:57] you know the issue um matter of fact um

[39:59] my name is Andre Gerard uh I have a AKA

[40:03] they know me as triple OG um I'm the uh

[40:07] founder the CEO as well as the executive

[40:10] director of the Premier business to

[40:12] reduce violence here in SKC which is

[40:15] called gang affiliated nonviolent

[40:18] guidance it is spelled gang and you know

[40:21] one of the amazing things about this

[40:23] business is that I am forever promoting

[40:26] hugs no slugs I'm forever telling the

[40:29] blood the the lightning Kings all

[40:31] these bangers out here to give their

[40:34] homie a hug instead of a slug and

[40:36] unfortunately you know um I made so much

[40:39] sacrifices throughout my years the three

[40:42] years that I was on Parole uh to do

[40:44] something positive for the community to

[40:46] give back in a way that you know um

[40:49] other other people don't um I don't know

[40:52] why you know uh at this point in my life

[40:56] that God called me um to reduce violence

[40:59] and to uplift the youth but their

[41:01] respect my handle I learned everything

[41:03] in threes and I break everything down in

[41:05] threes and unfortunately I was able to

[41:08] obtain an ice cream truck that was

[41:11] maliciously uh confiscated October 27th

[41:14] by the police in a way to try to

[41:16] discourage me you know there are people

[41:18] out in the neighborhoods you know

[41:20] especially the black and the Latino

[41:22] people that I'm trying to come bring

[41:24] together Unity I go through a lot of

[41:26] problems I go through problems with the

[41:28] community I go through problems with you

[41:30] know the officials there are people that

[41:32] just want to break my spirit and you

[41:34] know like I come from the area of

[41:36] getting high robbing stealing you know I

[41:39] have to put my face on some of the most

[41:41] you know like humiliating things but

[41:43] it's a power to help me in my process to

[41:46] be a better man and you know I'm just

[41:48] grateful that you know like I was able

[41:51] to turn around and put this business

[41:53] together you know and it's just terrible

[41:56] that the summer is approaching and what

[41:59] I provided for the Youth is you know um

[42:02] you know barbecues I provided you know

[42:06] uh different things such as you know

[42:07] ciphers where they can uh bring out

[42:09] their talent I want to turn around and

[42:11] be able to establish cards games clean

[42:15] the park you know like one of the um

[42:17] initiatives that I initially uh promoted

[42:20] was uh the help of keeping the park

[42:22] clean the park is filthy people you know

[42:26] like I mean it it's just sad that you

[42:29] know like I have the initiative and I

[42:31] have the power and ability to keep SKC

[42:34] safe and clean it's called project SKC

[42:37] safe and clean streets and I can't get

[42:40] no help from the very people that should

[42:43] be grateful because prior to you winning

[42:46] that election seat you know you held up

[42:50] my banner you Pro you know that Banner

[42:53] every official that see that Banner

[42:56] they praise it police praise it fire

[42:59] departments praise it I I you know I

[43:01] just get nothing but praise because it's

[43:04] the only business that's reducing

[43:07] violence and connec I am promoting hugs

[43:11] no slugs and the last thing that I want

[43:13] to talk about the most serious crisis

[43:17] that's happening right now in SKC is a

[43:21] mental illness that is not being

[43:24] addressed they need comprehensive reform

[43:28] for mental illness you know there are

[43:31] there's just too much mental illness

[43:33] just ramp it and then you have these uh

[43:37] organizations that are I don't know what

[43:39] you know what they doing with the money

[43:40] or the funding but nobody is helping the

[43:44] mentally ill and if the mentally ill are

[43:48] not going to turn around and be helped I

[43:52] need you later it's going to be a very

[43:55] serious serious problem and you summize

[43:58] yes thank you uh please address those

[44:02] people who have mental illness thank you know no justice for those no peace

[44:07] for you no justice sir your time is

[44:20] expired I have no one else signed up to

[44:22] speak so I declare the public comment of

[44:25] City business closed

[44:28] uh at this time any miscellaneous

[44:30] business of the

[44:34] council

[44:39] mayor okay um first of all I just want

[44:42] to congratulate um Carlos kotto as being

[44:46] named the uh new superintendent for this

[44:48] connected City School District so last

[44:50] um this past Friday they made that

[44:52] announcement so just was uh glad we were

[44:54] most of us were able to attend and I'm

[44:57] glad to see that happen um as we've all

[45:00] heard about the the tragedy of the the

[45:04] child that was um that was killed here

[45:07] in the city and uh someone asked me a

[45:10] question uh and saw that thought that we

[45:12] should pass legislation regarding

[45:14] abandoned child act so I just want

[45:15] everyone to know uh that there is

[45:18] legislation called the abandoned infant

[45:19] protection act where someone can bring

[45:21] an infant to a c safe place and then

[45:24] there's no questions asked about it so

[45:27] in response to the person who raised the

[45:28] question whether the city council would

[45:30] be passing any legislation there already

[45:32] is legislation in place where um someone

[45:35] can bring an infant if they think

[45:36] they're going to harm them to bring this

[45:38] someone to a like a firehouse a police

[45:40] uh police department a hospital or

[45:43] someone they feel that can take care of

[45:44] the infant and will take care of the

[45:45] infant but I just want people to know

[45:47] that that is in place and um we uh our

[45:50] hearts go out to the families of the

[45:51] child Halo and just pray for the entire

[45:55] family family because it's a tragedy no

[45:57] matter how you look at

[45:58] it if there's nothing further to come

[46:01] before the city council I will ask for a

[46:02] motion to adjourn moved by Mr Farley

[46:05] second by Mr Mancini all those in favor

[46:09] I we're

[46:24] adjourned

Schenectady City Council Meeting, March 11, 2024 - FULL

Transcript