1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,080 good afternoon everyone again on behal 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,080 of the north chamber executive committee 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,080 bo staff want to thank you for being 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,679 here today I have the priv of serving as 5 00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:14,120 mentioned as the chair of government 6 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,029 Affairs the 7 00:00:17,039 --> 00:00:21,720 year year proud to have at table on 8 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,080 chamber issues in 9 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:27,880 our 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,679 reform polies supported um we supported 11 00:00:31,679 --> 00:00:33,440 and advocated on important issues such 12 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,360 as employee retention tax credits San 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,920 Antonio to DC non-stop lights and 14 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,000 funding for the advanced rapid transit 15 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,079 to name a 16 00:00:42,079 --> 00:00:44,360 few of course we look have look forward 17 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:45,800 to having a great discussion today with 18 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,239 our County Judge Peter Sakai but before 19 00:00:48,239 --> 00:00:50,000 we get started we want to acknowledge 20 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,520 and thank those elected officials who 21 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,879 have joined us here today several of you 22 00:00:53,879 --> 00:00:55,160 have joined us for our government 23 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,160 Affairs meetings and we look forward to 24 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,000 having um those who have not attended 25 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,840 join in the future if you can please 26 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,199 stand and be recognized when your name 27 00:01:03,199 --> 00:01:04,000 is 28 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,400 called obviously the man of the hour be 29 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,320 County Judge Peter 30 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:13,640 [Applause] 31 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,439 Sakai be County Commissioner pring three 32 00:01:16,439 --> 00:01:18,140 Grant 33 00:01:18,140 --> 00:01:21,910 [Applause] 34 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,720 moty May County Commissioner Precinct 2 35 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:26,440 Justin Rodriguez 36 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:31,040 [Applause] 37 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:38,069 city councilman District 9 John 38 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:41,040 courage city council woman District 3 39 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,830 phis 40 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,600 vagan city councilwoman district 7 41 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,530 Marina Alber 42 00:01:51,540 --> 00:01:53,880 [Applause] 43 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,600 garito city councilman District 8 Manny 44 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,620 palas 45 00:01:58,620 --> 00:02:02,590 [Applause] 46 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,020 city councilwoman district 6 Melissa C 47 00:02:07,020 --> 00:02:09,640 [Applause] 48 00:02:09,640 --> 00:02:12,120 hav I believe we also have the bar 49 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,170 County tax assessor Albert weski 50 00:02:15,170 --> 00:02:18,550 [Applause] 51 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,980 here the mayor of the city of Lio Mary 52 00:02:23,990 --> 00:02:26,800 [Applause] 53 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:34,750 Dennis councilman city of Converse Stacy 54 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:39,140 Adams be County Sheriff Javier 55 00:02:39,140 --> 00:02:42,560 [Applause] 56 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,120 salaza representative of the 120th 57 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:51,390 District representative German 58 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,120 Hawkins representative of the 118th 59 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,890 District uh representative Luhan 60 00:02:58,890 --> 00:03:02,149 [Applause] 61 00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:04,200 a newly elected fa County Appraisal 62 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,030 District Board member Naomi 63 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,040 [Applause] 64 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:16,120 Miller and we have uh from the county Manager David Smith and I not 65 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,239 sure if he joined us after all but the 66 00:03:18,239 --> 00:03:20,680 city uh manager Eric supposed to be here 67 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:25,789 so give everybody a round of 68 00:03:25,799 --> 00:03:27,799 applause again thank you all for your 69 00:03:27,799 --> 00:03:30,000 service to our community pleas please 70 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,519 let me know if I miss anybody um one of 71 00:03:32,519 --> 00:03:34,120 our core tenants as a chamber is 72 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,840 advocacy what does that look like for 73 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,760 the north chamber well it looks like 74 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,680 signature programs like this one 75 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,480 leadership programs including Civic 76 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,400 Leadership Academy breakfast with the 77 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,319 Mayors that's coming up in August and 78 00:03:45,319 --> 00:03:47,040 City Vision are just some examples of 79 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:48,760 our efforts to inform our members about 80 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,599 what's going on in our community and 81 00:03:50,599 --> 00:03:53,120 then Advocate on their behalf we also 82 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,439 have our monthly government Affairs 83 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:56,680 meetings where as mentioned prior we 84 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,360 invite Civic or elected leaders to uh to 85 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,280 come inform us about issues and topics 86 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,239 that are important to them and to our 87 00:04:03,239 --> 00:04:05,519 membership so I mentioned the mayor's 88 00:04:05,519 --> 00:04:07,840 breakfast um I I have to give ourselves 89 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,200 the shame shameful plug uh but we're 90 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:11,599 really looking forward to that breakfast 91 00:04:11,599 --> 00:04:13,879 coming up on August 9th information 92 00:04:13,879 --> 00:04:15,400 about the event could be found using a 93 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,560 QR code in the program we have currently 94 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,479 11 Mayors uh committed so far so please 95 00:04:20,479 --> 00:04:22,960 help us get the word out so finally I'd 96 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,479 like to introduce my friend uh and key 97 00:04:25,479 --> 00:04:27,080 member of the north San Antonio Chamber 98 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,720 of Commerce uh board of directors and 99 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,440 executive committee Chris 100 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,440 Coro Chris come up Chris has done an 101 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,360 amazing job chairing our Workforce 102 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,039 committee the past couple years uh but 103 00:04:40,039 --> 00:04:41,600 more importantly for 104 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,639 today um for today at least he's here 105 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:46,320 representing our title sponsors George 106 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,520 General Contractors so let's all give 107 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:50,120 Jorge a big thank you and let's give 108 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:50,850 Chris a 109 00:04:50,850 --> 00:04:54,960 [Applause] 110 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,400 welcome well good afternoon everyone and 111 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,320 on behalf of Gary Jor 50 employees of 112 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,199 George General Contractors were very 113 00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:05,039 pleased to be part of sponsor for 114 00:05:05,039 --> 00:05:08,680 today's event be county has been home GE 115 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,000 contractor since G's father founded the 116 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,280 firm in 117 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:15,160 1967 G's father was very involved in 118 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,600 community very involved in trades sub 119 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,280 trades that we work with and that's 120 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,000 still happening today our 121 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,080 mission is to transform people in places 122 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,840 and we do that by becoming involved in 123 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:32,600 we live I want to tell all of you the 124 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,120 north chamber has been a great partner 125 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,880 from Geor contractors over the years 126 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,600 honored to be serving on the board I'm 127 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,160 sharing Workforce Development bringing a 128 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,240 lot of people to the table there's a lot 129 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:45,720 of great entities trying to do good 130 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,800 things with Workforce right now the one 131 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,280 thing that I've seen that's been lacking 132 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:52,319 to some extent has been bringing 133 00:05:52,319 --> 00:05:54,160 everybody in the room and then bringing 134 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,240 the business community and their HR 135 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,880 directors to provide feedback 136 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,400 program the north chamber has been a 137 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,240 huge advocate for us in past years as I 138 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,000 look out across this room today and look 139 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:11,759 at the relationships that we built over 140 00:06:11,759 --> 00:06:14,360 the past 57 years it's really an honor 141 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,400 to be here to say that whether it's 142 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,759 University Health System University of 143 00:06:18,759 --> 00:06:23,440 Texas San Antonio Texas A&M Credit human 144 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,520 um city of San Antonio they're all 145 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,720 represented here today and we are just 146 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,560 so proud part of this community and on 147 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,240 behalf of Y and employees we are very 148 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,800 pleased 149 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,000 Toons I have the great honor of 150 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,000 introducing our new CEO and chairman 151 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,440 Brett Finley Brett's been on the job all 152 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,160 of seven months he uh is a Texas State 153 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,919 grad he got his BS in kinesiology from 154 00:06:50,919 --> 00:06:53,759 Texas State University got a master in 155 00:06:53,759 --> 00:06:56,759 arts and political science most recently 156 00:06:56,759 --> 00:07:00,039 the past six years he was withan Board 157 00:07:00,039 --> 00:07:02,919 of realtorss where he represented 16,000 158 00:07:02,919 --> 00:07:05,879 reals across be County advocating for 159 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:08,319 public policy for them and I'm really 160 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:10,160 honored to welcome him up to the stage 161 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,639 today it's our president and CEO and he 162 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:16,520 will be moderating with our guest of 163 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:20,360 honor judge Peter Zak Peter speaking of 164 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,000 getting back to the community he has had 165 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,879 a career of Public Service um he was 166 00:07:25,879 --> 00:07:28,599 appointed to uh CH be the children's 167 00:07:28,599 --> 00:07:32,280 judge for years ago he served four terms 168 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:33,280 as a 169 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,879 225th circuit court judge he was elected 170 00:07:35,879 --> 00:07:39,560 to that he joined the office of uh uh 171 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,400 judge of bar County in 20 uh January of 172 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,879 2023 so both of them are relatively new 173 00:07:45,879 --> 00:07:50,000 um he um has a great family story as 174 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,159 well his family Japanese World War II 175 00:07:53,159 --> 00:07:55,520 his dad his family were involved iner 176 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:00,039 camps so he is very very very concerned 177 00:08:00,039 --> 00:08:02,319 about civil rights rightfully 178 00:08:02,319 --> 00:08:05,000 so near and dear his heart he's also 179 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,919 been great about back to community 180 00:08:06,919 --> 00:08:09,720 himself his wife Rachel is an educator 181 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,360 like my wife congratulations 32 years in 182 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,800 Harlandale ISD Rachel will you please 183 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,690 stand 184 00:08:16,690 --> 00:08:20,280 [Applause] 185 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,639 recogniz my wife said be sure and let 186 00:08:22,639 --> 00:08:24,240 everybody know that she's doing God's 187 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,159 work so thank you for what you've done 188 00:08:26,159 --> 00:08:28,599 in Harlandale I noticed we had the 189 00:08:28,599 --> 00:08:30,159 opportunity to BU University Health 190 00:08:30,159 --> 00:08:31,800 System there new Women's and Children's 191 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,880 Tower we had Jim Adams in the audience 192 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,440 today Jim's chairman of board University 193 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,360 Health System he and his wife celebrated 194 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,880 J's 65 years of marriage and you all are 195 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,760 graduates of our Harlandale ISD so 196 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,360 thought I would put a plug in for them 197 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,630 as 198 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,440 well so without further Ado I'm going to 199 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,080 ask judge SC to come up and uh let's get 200 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,080 this thing picked off again we're so 201 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:07,269 grateful to have you all here today 202 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:10,150 thank you 203 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,880 Chris BR how are you come on down all 204 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,680 right thank you we're good okay we made 205 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:18,800 it welcome everybody to uh the state of 206 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,000 business in bear county event as Chris 207 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,959 mentioned I'm Brett Finley president CEO 208 00:09:23,959 --> 00:09:26,839 and we have got a a lofty agenda for 209 00:09:26,839 --> 00:09:29,480 today a lot of topics to to dive into 210 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,079 and I'm really excited and so thankful 211 00:09:31,079 --> 00:09:35,560 that everybody could be here to have a little fireside chat with 350 of 212 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:37,680 your your closest friends and family 213 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:39,000 maybe next year we'll try to work with 214 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,800 AV to get like a a fire kind of going 215 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,800 not not literal fire not in this heat 216 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,279 all right it's bit too hot out there 217 00:09:46,279 --> 00:09:48,480 just missing a glass of scotch and a 218 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,320 cigar or something but we are going to 219 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,360 have a bit of a chat today so U without 220 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:54,839 further Ado judge and I think when when 221 00:09:54,839 --> 00:09:57,240 folks talk about your role as County 222 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,839 judge you were certainly focused on both 223 00:09:59,839 --> 00:10:01,720 Regional investment but also foreign 224 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,480 investment and not just Mexico but also 225 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,519 Beyond and I know overseas you had a 226 00:10:06,519 --> 00:10:09,800 recent travel over to Japan uh trying to 227 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,040 really strengthen international 228 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:12,519 relations with prominent Business 229 00:10:12,519 --> 00:10:14,680 Leaders um you want to touch on that and 230 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:16,440 also maybe a few welcoming remarks for 231 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,880 our Audi sure sure well thank you Brad 232 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:20,959 let me thank the north chamber and the 233 00:10:20,959 --> 00:10:22,440 work yall 234 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,880 do feedback and uh just want to thank 235 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:32,519 all of y'all um y'all are kind of the foundation for our community at 236 00:10:32,519 --> 00:10:34,360 least from the business community so I 237 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,880 want to thank all those that participate 238 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,160 all those that support the north chamber 239 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,880 Brett thank you and and your board and 240 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,079 thank you Gary jores for being the title 241 00:10:44,079 --> 00:10:46,279 sponsor along with all the sponsors that 242 00:10:46,279 --> 00:10:49,360 make this opportunity for me to come and 243 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,399 talk to y'all and really all we're 244 00:10:51,399 --> 00:10:54,240 hoping today was to have a conversation 245 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,000 as to uh what I've been doing where am I 246 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,360 going and what I'm hoping that we can do 247 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,839 in collaboration to make their County a 248 00:11:03,839 --> 00:11:07,000 better place and so Brett thank you for 249 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,440 this op okay so talk a little bit about 250 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,519 your your recent trip to Japan J you 251 00:11:12,519 --> 00:11:13,639 want to talk about maybe some 252 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:15,320 accomplishments what's what's on the 253 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,639 horizon for for foreign investment 254 00:11:17,639 --> 00:11:21,279 potentially here count Well Middle May 255 00:11:21,279 --> 00:11:24,839 uh I made a decision to take a trip to 256 00:11:24,839 --> 00:11:27,880 Japan a delegation over there uh I want 257 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:32,399 to thank my team who went with me uh it 258 00:11:32,399 --> 00:11:35,880 was myself and Rachel along with the bar 259 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,240 County team Matthew palanco was Chief of 260 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,000 Staff David Marquez with the bar County 261 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,800 Economic Development and a staffer 262 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:52,360 Marshall hul we also had great ratx and I want to thank uh Sarah kabus Rush 263 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,160 and Charlie fish for being part of that 264 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,360 team one of the kind of unknown people 265 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,639 that really was a strank that team for 266 00:12:00,639 --> 00:12:02,600 those that are not aware we had a Texas 267 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,560 Japan leason hio 268 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:09,240 wavis and he was very instrumental in 269 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,680 making sure that we were success so in a 270 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:16,839 nutshell Brett I would say we 271 00:12:16,839 --> 00:12:20,199 scored uh we knocked it out of the park 272 00:12:20,199 --> 00:12:25,199 okay and we did very very well uh for 273 00:12:25,199 --> 00:12:27,160 those that and sometimes the public 274 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:28,920 needs to understand why we do these 275 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,120 things 276 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,399 why is because I see those these type of 277 00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:38,199 trips as to help develop and expand the 278 00:12:38,199 --> 00:12:41,000 economic base of Bear County pure and 279 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,360 simple there is a return and investment 280 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,120 for these type of trips also too it was 281 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,920 my opportunity to develop the 282 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:51,959 relationships with the high government 283 00:12:51,959 --> 00:12:55,120 officials in Japan and we met a few and 284 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,279 also to meet the businesses and 285 00:12:57,279 --> 00:12:59,760 industries that are dealing and working 286 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,279 here in bar 287 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:05,000 County and I will tell you in 5 days 288 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,360 five working days we had 22 meetings 289 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,560 five national press interviews and we 290 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:13,959 work from the morning to the evening so 291 00:13:13,959 --> 00:13:17,480 we were very very focused we strategized 292 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,480 and like I said uh some of the outcomes 293 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,000 the return investment on that I will 294 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,440 tell you we have some new manufacturing 295 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,800 companies from Japan that are coming 296 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,360 this year to come see what bar countyy 297 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:39,800 is all about uh I am confident those opportunities are going to become 298 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,639 realities also too I had an opportunity 299 00:13:42,639 --> 00:13:45,639 to meet some high government officials I 300 00:13:45,639 --> 00:13:50,000 met the honorable T Kono who was the 301 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,680 minister of digital 302 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:54,959 Technologies and I believe he may be the 303 00:13:54,959 --> 00:13:57,480 next prime minister of Japan if given 304 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,440 that opportunity and so we had a great 305 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,560 opportunity to discuss the strength and 306 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:06,519 the industry of cyber security I will 307 00:14:06,519 --> 00:14:08,480 tell you it's interesting Japan doesn't 308 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,000 really take a they they really both in 309 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,959 the private and the public sector really 310 00:14:13,959 --> 00:14:18,160 didn't have that uh issue so to speak 311 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,399 with cyber security I don't know if 312 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:22,160 that's because they haven't had issues 313 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,160 or it's not a high concern but I wanted 314 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,680 to make sure they understood that cyber 315 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,519 security was an integral part of our 316 00:14:30,519 --> 00:14:32,680 economic basee in bar County especially 317 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,040 with UTSA being one of the leading 318 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,000 institutions for cyber security and the 319 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,079 education and the two buildings are 320 00:14:39,079 --> 00:14:41,040 building right there by the 321 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,920 courthouse and so one of the things I 322 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,160 think I was able to plant to seed both 323 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,040 in the government and in the private 324 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,639 sector was you better take care of cyber 325 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:53,199 security cyber security is something you 326 00:14:53,199 --> 00:14:55,639 need to integrate into your business 327 00:14:55,639 --> 00:14:59,120 models as you come to the United States 328 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,480 also too had a great conversation with 329 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,800 the governor of aichi prefecture 330 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,880 governor omura and he uh has a great 331 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,320 relationship that's where Toyota Japan 332 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,959 the corporate headquarters is located 333 00:15:13,959 --> 00:15:15,880 and one of the things that we committed 334 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,600 to was to continue a United States Japan 335 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,120 student exchange and so I'm looking 336 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,000 forward working with Rachel to see how 337 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,600 we can become closer in the relationship 338 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,639 obviously this trip by coincidence came 339 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:34,399 after I was invited to the Prime 340 00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:37,279 Minister cida's joint address to 341 00:15:37,279 --> 00:15:40,519 Congress and I also used his address to 342 00:15:40,519 --> 00:15:44,240 tie back to Bear County which is the US 343 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,000 Japan relationship is not as strong but 344 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,800 it's going to need to be stronger and 345 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,199 they're going to really look to link 346 00:15:53,199 --> 00:15:56,759 more so I took that commitment that 347 00:15:56,759 --> 00:15:59,319 prime minister kashida had to take it to 348 00:15:59,319 --> 00:16:02,040 the private sector to say we need to do 349 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,720 even more so I'm excited about the seeds 350 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,440 I planted so to speak the opportunities 351 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,319 that I was trying to let the Japanese 352 00:16:11,319 --> 00:16:12,600 Industries especially in the 353 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,240 manufacturing world and so finally I 354 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,040 think Brett what I really wanted to 355 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,079 accomplish was this I wanted to build 356 00:16:22,079 --> 00:16:24,839 consensus and build an understanding 357 00:16:24,839 --> 00:16:28,720 with our uh Partners there in Japan I 358 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,440 want wanted to deepen that relationship 359 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,079 I wanted to I'll be real blunt I'm a 360 00:16:34,079 --> 00:16:36,360 Japanese American so it gave me 361 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,480 tremendous leverage in having those 362 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,480 conversations with the officials in 363 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,880 Japan and finally I wanted to convince 364 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,360 Japan and the industries there that it 365 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,240 is in their best interest to look to 366 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,279 Bear County and then from a regional 367 00:16:53,279 --> 00:16:55,560 perspective of what Bear County and the 368 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,199 regional including looking South into 369 00:16:58,199 --> 00:17:01,079 Mexico could create for these business 370 00:17:01,079 --> 00:17:03,120 Industries so I think it was a 371 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,400 tremendous success that fantastic Jud 372 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:06,559 and thank you for your I think 373 00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:08,039 intentional leadership I think you 374 00:17:08,039 --> 00:17:09,760 mentioned cyber security we talk about 375 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,319 military City USA but I don't think a 376 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:14,360 lot of folks know we've got over 377 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:16,640 16,500 cyber Security Professionals 378 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,839 right here second largest Hub of cyber 379 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:20,839 security in the United States outside of 380 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:23,079 Washington DC I see Jim herbach back 381 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:25,439 there with Fort San Antonio LED Martin I 382 00:17:25,439 --> 00:17:26,679 know they've got room for growth with 383 00:17:26,679 --> 00:17:29,640 over 15,000 square feet of you know 384 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,760 facility space uh to bring in 385 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,640 potentially new employers they they're 386 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,320 aggressively hiring as we speak USAA I 387 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,160 know they're they're killing off I think 388 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,760 1 million and plus cyber security 389 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,520 attacks in their cyber Center on a 390 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,880 regular basis just to say a few things 391 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,039 there on cyber security I want to 392 00:17:47,039 --> 00:17:49,240 transition let's talk a little bit about 393 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,600 Transportation we've got the Texas 394 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,320 Mexico Automotive super cluster that's 395 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,520 everyone's favorite acronym for this 396 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,480 afternoon the T the TM 397 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,720 ASC initiative uh we've got some top 398 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,200 findings about advancing economic growth 399 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,320 this was a a strategic partnership 400 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,000 between Texas and the four most northern 401 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,159 Mexico States I think in 2013 it was 402 00:18:13,159 --> 00:18:15,000 first started seen a lot of good work 403 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,080 there can you talk a little bit about 404 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,600 that new initiative new isue well one of 405 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,760 the things bear county has focused on 406 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,840 and I give credit to David marz and his 407 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,760 team at our Economic Development shop 408 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,320 was that we have the county has always 409 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:32,640 looked at the regional uh perspective of 410 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,280 growth which means look at the 411 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,799 manufacturing Trail so to speak that 412 00:18:37,799 --> 00:18:39,640 starts and I think we have it up on the 413 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,080 screen that starts in Mexico central 414 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,200 Mexico with the manufacturing plants in 415 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,840 there literally comes to Laro and uses 416 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:51,960 I35 to uh as a trade Corridor throughout 417 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,760 the country and so one of the things 418 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,760 that I think was important about task 419 00:18:57,760 --> 00:18:59,480 and having to study 420 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,520 was that that we were able to give data 421 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,159 driven analysis to the private sector 422 00:19:06,159 --> 00:19:07,760 and even to the public sector for that 423 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:09,960 matter but the private sector really 424 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,919 need to understand what the 425 00:19:12,919 --> 00:19:15,880 opportunities they have to come to Bear 426 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,360 County and then understand that what 427 00:19:18,360 --> 00:19:19,960 we're looking at from a county 428 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:21,960 perspective is how do we tie in the 429 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,360 regional concept and so one of the thing 430 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:28,200 Tass did was give Japan and those 431 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,960 officials data metrics analytics so that 432 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,760 they could make their cost benefit 433 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,400 analysis also too we were big on making 434 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,480 the pitch from a fact based data 435 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,360 perspective and having the Tass report 436 00:19:44,360 --> 00:19:47,080 as an underpinning of that presentation 437 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,159 and that's the reason why I applaud my 438 00:19:49,159 --> 00:19:51,280 team we were very focused we were very 439 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,480 prepared to address the needs of each 440 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,840 company we talked to we were very very 441 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:01,320 intentional with that and then two I 442 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,280 pitched as the County Judge about 443 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,000 collaboration how I am making a special 444 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,400 effort that City County works together 445 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,679 on these type of issues of bringing 446 00:20:13,679 --> 00:20:15,720 corporate opportunities uh to our 447 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,039 community I also told them that I work 448 00:20:18,039 --> 00:20:20,120 with the county judges my counterparts 449 00:20:20,120 --> 00:20:23,080 all in South Texas I'm going to continue 450 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,679 to look at things from a regional 451 00:20:25,679 --> 00:20:28,320 perspective and so what I was want them 452 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,799 to understood is it just wasn't a sales 453 00:20:31,799 --> 00:20:34,159 pitch of Bear County this was an 454 00:20:34,159 --> 00:20:36,880 opportunity that they had to come to 455 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,559 expand and establish a corporate base 456 00:20:39,559 --> 00:20:42,200 ultimately I was also pitching they need 457 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,440 to bring the corporate headquarters they 458 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,200 need to be physically located in our 459 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,960 County and so I'm convinced that the 460 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,200 business growth that this initiative and 461 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,640 this the trip to Japan Bo will increase 462 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,400 the economic base of bear county and so 463 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,640 the Tass was an example of having the 464 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,039 data and I think I'll be honest with you 465 00:21:07,039 --> 00:21:09,520 we didn't go try to pitch them the world 466 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:11,880 we gave him the facts and we left it 467 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,919 saying read it in fact I believe the 468 00:21:14,919 --> 00:21:18,159 Tass report is in all your QR codes I 469 00:21:18,159 --> 00:21:20,760 want to make a a shout out for that to 470 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,360 say if yall want to see that report and 471 00:21:23,360 --> 00:21:26,440 we also put it in Japanese so that there 472 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,720 was no going to be no issue of 473 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,159 interpretation or what I will tell you 474 00:21:31,159 --> 00:21:33,679 in a couple meetings we really did a 475 00:21:33,679 --> 00:21:36,000 deep dive in that t- mask they really 476 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,880 wanted to go what do you mean Mexico to 477 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:43,760 Laredo to San Antonio and on up and so 478 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,080 one CEO literally got on and just 479 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,760 started going on the map going where 480 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,559 does this all go so I'm just telling you 481 00:21:52,559 --> 00:21:54,960 it was again there was a very strategic 482 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,400 process to our presentation there in 483 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,679 Japan also too I think what's important 484 00:22:00,679 --> 00:22:03,559 is to recognize t- mask is the 485 00:22:03,559 --> 00:22:07,240 underpinning of what I call local 486 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,679 regionalism and I call I use the word 487 00:22:09,679 --> 00:22:14,360 Texas Diamond uh the old Texas triangle 488 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:17,720 is been really Dallas Austin San Antonio 489 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,360 Houston right and how all that could 490 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:23,600 develop into an economic generator I 491 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,679 have wanted to create What's called the 492 00:22:25,679 --> 00:22:29,320 Texas Diamond San Antonio at the top 493 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:33,039 Corpus to the east Oro to the west down 494 00:22:33,039 --> 00:22:35,000 to the real Grandy Valley which I grew 495 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,279 up in so I know that Community very very 496 00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:41,159 well and into Mexico more specifically 497 00:22:41,159 --> 00:22:44,880 monter understanding that that is going 498 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:49,200 to be the key to the growth from this 499 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,919 strategy of from an international to a 500 00:22:51,919 --> 00:22:54,640 national to our local community let's 501 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,360 bring in and I've been down to Laredo 502 00:22:57,360 --> 00:22:59,679 I'm going to Corpus right Vic Boer I'm 503 00:22:59,679 --> 00:23:02,000 going to Corpus chity this Friday to 504 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,159 share and all we're doing is not making 505 00:23:04,159 --> 00:23:07,159 any pitch what we're trying to do is 506 00:23:07,159 --> 00:23:09,400 help help them understand that the 507 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,720 projects we have hopefully is going to 508 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:14,799 collaborate with the projects they have 509 00:23:14,799 --> 00:23:17,159 and that we just don't look at silos 510 00:23:17,159 --> 00:23:19,120 that this is all barar County this is 511 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:21,919 all South Texas no how does it all come 512 00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:23,440 together and that was one of my 513 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,559 takeaways in Laredo is we have a lot of 514 00:23:26,559 --> 00:23:28,799 work to do to bring that perspec effect 515 00:23:28,799 --> 00:23:31,360 of collaboration that their projects 516 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:32,840 that they're creating now I will tell 517 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,120 you one thing we learned that I learned 518 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:36,720 was that they've got a tremendous 519 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,200 investment on the bridge and the 520 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,880 capacity of the bridge they have clearly 521 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:44,200 said there is more traffic to come which 522 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,960 means more truck traffic to move 523 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,039 Commerce which means more trucks on I 524 00:23:50,039 --> 00:23:53,159 ag35 which will I'm sure will touch on 525 00:23:53,159 --> 00:23:57,279 other collateral issues and so again um 526 00:23:57,279 --> 00:23:59,039 I think there's a full report report on 527 00:23:59,039 --> 00:24:01,279 t- mask and I want to invite everybody 528 00:24:01,279 --> 00:24:04,440 to use the QR code uh what I believe is 529 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,200 at their table we take a look at that 530 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,559 and again we've got a ton of opportunity 531 00:24:09,559 --> 00:24:11,919 I think by virtue of some some OD you 532 00:24:11,919 --> 00:24:14,880 know 310 plus local suppliers in the 533 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,279 automotive specific side of the industry 534 00:24:17,279 --> 00:24:20,159 50,000 employers here in Texas another 535 00:24:20,159 --> 00:24:23,000 400,000 employees who are living and 536 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,440 working in Mexico um I want to touch on 537 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:26,919 a little bit of Workforce Development 538 00:24:26,919 --> 00:24:28,960 specifically in that space of advanced 539 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:30,799 manufacturing I know the county has a 540 00:24:30,799 --> 00:24:32,399 couple of programs you'd like to shed 541 00:24:32,399 --> 00:24:34,520 some light on how hey we we have 542 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:40,840 eagerness from industry do we have the Willpower the training the trainable 543 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:44,080 Workforce uh to to fill those jobs the 544 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:45,919 short answer is yes I mean obviously 545 00:24:45,919 --> 00:24:48,760 we're fulfilling the needs of Toyota 546 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:53,200 Navar HB Holt uh you know and and more 547 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,440 companies to come one of the things that 548 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,320 I I want the North chamber and everybody 549 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,399 in the room to understand is the county 550 00:25:01,399 --> 00:25:04,000 does have specific programs in the 551 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,480 Workforce Development sometimes it's 552 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,240 mentioned but it I I didn't really 553 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,679 understand till I became County Judge 554 00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:14,200 what work the county is into the 555 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,320 Workforce Development and we have 556 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:19,240 basically two programs and uh we have 557 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,919 Texas Fame and Texas fast sometimes 558 00:25:22,919 --> 00:25:24,919 those programs are kind of interl and 559 00:25:24,919 --> 00:25:26,480 they sound like the same one but they're 560 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,760 not so let me make sure everybody 561 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,399 understands Texas Fame Texas Fame is a 562 00:25:31,399 --> 00:25:34,039 two-year program Advanced manufacturing 563 00:25:34,039 --> 00:25:35,679 program we partner up with the Alo 564 00:25:35,679 --> 00:25:37,840 College District and I believe their 565 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,399 campus right now is down on the Paulo 566 00:25:39,399 --> 00:25:43,200 Alto campus and in the St Phil Philips 567 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:46,559 Southwest Campus and what it is is it's 568 00:25:46,559 --> 00:25:48,440 a joint 569 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,559 venture of the workforce where uh 570 00:25:52,559 --> 00:25:55,919 students are given two days of class 571 00:25:55,919 --> 00:26:01,399 work uh in the on campus with a 3 days 572 00:26:01,399 --> 00:26:04,720 on the job training of a sponsoring 573 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,159 company and let me I'm referring to 574 00:26:07,159 --> 00:26:09,880 notes because I want to be very specific 575 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,919 about our numbers and our success out of 576 00:26:12,919 --> 00:26:17,399 Texas Fame we've gotten 212 graduates 577 00:26:17,399 --> 00:26:21,080 91% placement rate with an average wage 578 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:22,799 rate of 579 00:26:22,799 --> 00:26:25,520 2831 ideally what we're hoping out of 580 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,320 Texas Fame is that people will get a a 581 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,200 associates degree if that's what they 582 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,880 want and they will get a certification 583 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,520 in the advanced manufacturing trade and 584 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:39,080 they got a guarantee for job and I think 585 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,039 it it is a very successful program now 586 00:26:42,039 --> 00:26:46,039 Texas fast is a SE is all part but 587 00:26:46,039 --> 00:26:49,120 separate Texas fast is a 10-week boot 588 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:52,440 camp it's basically getting its entry 589 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,440 level maintenance 590 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,600 technicians and it's people that have 591 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,279 not been in the workforce generally 592 00:26:59,279 --> 00:27:03,000 we're focusing on older uh students 593 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:04,960 we're focusing on people that perhaps 594 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,000 have made bad choices and are coming out 595 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,559 of the criminal justice system if you 596 00:27:09,559 --> 00:27:11,720 know what I'm saying or we're dealing 597 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,559 with people that have really never 598 00:27:13,559 --> 00:27:16,279 engaged in the workforce and what we're 599 00:27:16,279 --> 00:27:19,080 doing in that 10we boot camp Brett is 600 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:20,679 that what we want to do is just get them 601 00:27:20,679 --> 00:27:24,120 to get a skill set and have the employer 602 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:26,600 committed to take that graduate and then 603 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,480 skill them up in other words the company 604 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,320 will really then engage in a full-time 605 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,240 Workforce Development program for them 606 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:39,440 numbers 121 Texas fast graduates 88% 607 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,240 placement rate with an average wirly 608 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:43,720 Rage of 609 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,840 $26.78 cents I will tell you one of the 610 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:48,840 things that we picked up in the trip to 611 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:53,279 Japan was that we got feedback that I 612 00:27:53,279 --> 00:27:55,919 think it was Toyota it was one of the 613 00:27:55,919 --> 00:27:59,080 manufacturers in Mexico that had to shut 614 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,399 down because of the shortage of Labor 615 00:28:02,399 --> 00:28:04,960 and I grabbed that and said you're not 616 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,159 going to have that here one of the 617 00:28:07,159 --> 00:28:08,720 things that I'm committed to and it's 618 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:10,080 something I've committed to from a 619 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,200 pledgees a campaign to what I'm doing 620 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:13,960 now as County Judge is I want to see 621 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,559 public private Partnerships I don't want 622 00:28:16,559 --> 00:28:18,360 to see County having to do everything 623 00:28:18,360 --> 00:28:20,360 and doing the heavy lift I'm looking at 624 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:23,000 you private sector to say hey what can 625 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,880 we do to partner up and then bring in 626 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,120 the other public institutions such as Al 627 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:29,760 College districts such as the public 628 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:33,799 school districts anybody that has infal 629 00:28:33,799 --> 00:28:36,640 people into the skilled Workforce the 630 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,360 other thing is and I'll say it on the 631 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,600 record I want an employer driven program 632 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,760 I want the employers to say what they 633 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:47,720 need and what what are the the 634 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,960 attributes the skills that they need and 635 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,200 then like I said we have a program that 636 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,799 can really put people on a career path 637 00:28:54,799 --> 00:28:57,320 with Texas Fame have an associates 638 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,519 degree I would assume some people may 639 00:28:59,519 --> 00:29:02,120 decide they want to go back into the get 640 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,000 a higher uh degree of a bachelor's or a 641 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,559 master and so that they can move up but 642 00:29:07,559 --> 00:29:09,799 we want to get them into the advanced 643 00:29:09,799 --> 00:29:12,519 manufacturing training programs and so 644 00:29:12,519 --> 00:29:14,320 that's where the Count's at and I think 645 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:16,840 it's very successful and I am committed 646 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,480 to expand that especially from an 647 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,320 employer driven program that is I think 648 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:24,360 from a chamber perspective judge any 649 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,679 employee driven program as it relates to 650 00:29:26,679 --> 00:29:28,640 Workforce Development that's that's our 651 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:30,120 love language so we're we're right on 652 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,039 par there um so you mentioned I35 and I 653 00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:34,000 know you've been strengthening 654 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,120 relationships not only across the seas 655 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,600 but also here with your counterpart 656 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,279 Travis County Judge Andy Brown um and 657 00:29:43,279 --> 00:29:45,919 passenger rail has been a topic of maybe 658 00:29:45,919 --> 00:29:48,039 a little bit of the past but maybe 659 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:49,679 reconstituted we're still trying to work 660 00:29:49,679 --> 00:29:52,559 on some things I want to kind of glean 661 00:29:52,559 --> 00:29:55,519 your optimism uh on a scale of like one 662 00:29:55,519 --> 00:29:57,600 being it's it's a pie in the sky there's 663 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,120 no going to happen to tend being hey 664 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:01,720 look like we we've got some momentum 665 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:03,559 here and it's absolutely a certainty are 666 00:30:03,559 --> 00:30:04,840 we somewhere in the middle right now how 667 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,840 does how does passenger rail what's the 668 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:08,919 Outlook right now on the optimism scale 669 00:30:08,919 --> 00:30:10,960 let let me say this I think it's going 670 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,000 to happen but it's going to be a slow 671 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,799 methodical process uh one of the things 672 00:30:17,799 --> 00:30:19,559 let me kind of give you the background 673 00:30:19,559 --> 00:30:22,399 with judge Andy Brown and I so that you 674 00:30:22,399 --> 00:30:24,640 understand this relationship that we 675 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,320 have uh obviously the Spurs have to come 676 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:28,960 to the commissioner court and I know 677 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,080 commissioner Moody commissioner 678 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,200 Rodriguez yell in the room you know they 679 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:33,039 need 680 00:30:33,039 --> 00:30:35,960 permission for by the way this I'm the 681 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,640 landlord of the Spurs okay and and I 682 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,080 mean that in a a in a in a positive way 683 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:44,399 they had to come to the court to get two 684 00:30:44,399 --> 00:30:47,000 games in Austin and we had to give 685 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,159 permission and we got some push back 686 00:30:49,159 --> 00:30:51,159 there was some public why why are you 687 00:30:51,159 --> 00:30:53,279 giving them permission the Spurs are 688 00:30:53,279 --> 00:30:55,799 leaving they're going to go to Austin 689 00:30:55,799 --> 00:30:58,440 and I had to put the breakes on that 690 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:00,880 so in my conversations with Judge Brown 691 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:03,200 out of this particular incident I told 692 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:06,240 him hey are you taking my Spurs and he 693 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:08,799 goes no okay will you say that publicly 694 00:31:08,799 --> 00:31:11,080 he goes yeah I'll say it publicly okay 695 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,360 we do we have a shake of the hands and 696 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:14,760 I'm I'm going Shake of the hand kind of 697 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,960 guy I also had a conversation with Peter 698 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:18,799 John and Peter John said no we're not 699 00:31:18,799 --> 00:31:21,799 moving so we obviously allowed the first 700 00:31:21,799 --> 00:31:26,159 to go and has allowed this uh I35 701 00:31:26,159 --> 00:31:28,279 relationship and I think it's really 702 00:31:28,279 --> 00:31:31,360 brought uh uh Travis County and Bear 703 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,399 County more together and then and again 704 00:31:33,399 --> 00:31:35,639 in a very collaborative way just with 705 00:31:35,639 --> 00:31:37,960 the fact we started a conversation of 706 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:39,960 common interest so let's get to what 707 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,919 you're asking for about rail Judge Brown 708 00:31:42,919 --> 00:31:45,519 is like I want Rail and I had to 709 00:31:45,519 --> 00:31:48,080 initially say I want rail but I got to 710 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:49,519 say it a little 711 00:31:49,519 --> 00:31:52,799 quietly uh it's been tried and it hadn't 712 00:31:52,799 --> 00:31:54,760 happened and I'm not going to make the 713 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,399 same mistake over he on the other hand 714 00:31:57,399 --> 00:31:59,760 hasn't they got Light Rail in Austin you 715 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:01,440 know I mean they got they they do all 716 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:04,880 kinds of things right bear is bear we 717 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,360 got to go at the pace that the community 718 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:11,159 will Embrace and so in regards to rail 719 00:32:11,159 --> 00:32:14,600 we agreed that we needed to look at 720 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:16,360 multimodal 721 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:18,600 transportation we could not build out 722 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:22,200 more Lanes of 35 it's we're doing it now 723 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:23,559 and I'm going to tell you from my 724 00:32:23,559 --> 00:32:25,240 reports we're going to have too much 725 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:26,720 truck traffic and we're still going to 726 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:29,000 have choke points on 727 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:33,320 35 so rail is going to be a 728 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:35,799 necessity thank y'all very 729 00:32:35,799 --> 00:32:39,519 much now why did Judge Brown and I start 730 00:32:39,519 --> 00:32:41,120 the conversation because there are 731 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:42,600 opportunities and those are the 732 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,080 conversations we continue to have the 733 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:48,639 Biden Administration has $66 billion in 734 00:32:48,639 --> 00:32:51,919 order to uh invest in passenger derail 735 00:32:51,919 --> 00:32:54,000 we wanted a conversation so that we 736 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,039 could make the pitch to the federal 737 00:32:56,039 --> 00:32:57,639 government as you think you can give us 738 00:32:57,639 --> 00:33:01,200 some money and we made the pitch but you 739 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,639 know we didn't get in line a lot of the uh passenger rail was East Coast 740 00:33:05,639 --> 00:33:09,080 West Coast and so we understood that we 741 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:11,080 also understood that Amtrak is a 742 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:13,039 stakeholder partner has to be involved 743 00:33:13,039 --> 00:33:15,880 because they do run a a rail but it's 744 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:17,720 only once in the morning once in the 745 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:19,760 evening and there's there's not good 746 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,159 reports coming out of the service of 747 00:33:22,159 --> 00:33:25,639 Amtrak and so what we have done now is 748 00:33:25,639 --> 00:33:27,840 we have brought stakeholders together 749 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:29,720 bring this conversation bring this 750 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:31,840 collaboration and we've had multi 751 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:33,880 meetings and I want to recognize to give 752 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:36,840 a shout out to councilwoman Melissa Hava 753 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,360 uh who is uh representing the city of 754 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:42,760 San Antonio and has quite frankly is out 755 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:45,919 front of this along with the myself and 756 00:33:45,919 --> 00:33:49,320 behalf of the county and so we have all 757 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:51,519 also two County judges and City 758 00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:54,880 officials in between and so it it it 759 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:56,399 just aligns with the regional 760 00:33:56,399 --> 00:33:58,480 partnership it aligns with the Regional 761 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,519 because I'm also saying why aren't we 762 00:34:00,519 --> 00:34:03,159 also looking from San Antonio to Laredo 763 00:34:03,159 --> 00:34:04,679 because we know that there's been a 764 00:34:04,679 --> 00:34:07,679 study from Monteray to Laredo and that 765 00:34:07,679 --> 00:34:11,399 Mexico is prepared to invest in rail so 766 00:34:11,399 --> 00:34:13,200 my perspective 767 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:16,520 is let maybe we can't make highspeed 768 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:20,280 rail happen but Judge Brown and I says 769 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,800 look what we want to do is we want the 770 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:25,599 opportunity for people to go up and down 771 00:34:25,599 --> 00:34:28,800 35 I see the opportunity and growth of a 772 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,159 commuter rail whatever that could be and 773 00:34:31,159 --> 00:34:33,440 whatever we can create with whatever 774 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,399 resources we have that people would come 775 00:34:36,399 --> 00:34:39,960 from the from s Austin to the Frost Bank 776 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:41,480 Center to come to Spurs gate I mean 777 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,520 they're coming but we want to see that 778 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,119 growth I went to two sellout games in 779 00:34:46,119 --> 00:34:48,399 Austin I'm telling you the the Austin 780 00:34:48,399 --> 00:34:51,359 people embraced the San Antonio Spurs so 781 00:34:51,359 --> 00:34:53,879 why aren't we making it convenient why 782 00:34:53,879 --> 00:34:56,399 aren't we developing and enhancing our 783 00:34:56,399 --> 00:34:59,320 entertainment centers I get it Travis 784 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,680 County Austin has some really great neat 785 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:03,920 events like South by Southwest but why 786 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:06,119 AR we having it here and so private 787 00:35:06,119 --> 00:35:09,200 sector I need you to create these 788 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,560 entertainment districts or entertainment 789 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:14,560 centers or events that will bring people 790 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,040 down obviously we know that there are 791 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:20,480 people that live in San Antonio work in 792 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:23,640 Austin and so we also want to provide 793 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:26,400 for them and so Brett that's the reason 794 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,400 why I am call cautiously optimistic but 795 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,640 I think from my perspective and just my 796 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:35,880 way I lead is I want to be methodical 797 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,560 and so as I have planted seeds in Japan 798 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:40,880 I'm planting seeds in our community that 799 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,359 we must be committed to rail it's great 800 00:35:43,359 --> 00:35:45,119 to hear um I know we're running a little 801 00:35:45,119 --> 00:35:47,079 short on time we've got other questions 802 00:35:47,079 --> 00:35:48,560 to get through and I'm not going to let 803 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:50,599 you off the hook on the county being a 804 00:35:50,599 --> 00:35:53,240 landlord of the S train first I knew I 805 00:35:53,240 --> 00:35:55,359 opened the door on that one before we 806 00:35:55,359 --> 00:35:57,359 get there uh there's a a small ground 807 00:35:57,359 --> 00:35:59,599 break on the south side of Bear County 808 00:35:59,599 --> 00:36:01,440 just this last week 400 Acres was 809 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,880 purchased by JCB some of you probably 810 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:06,520 familiar with him 811 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:10,400 absolutely they've got a 720,000 sare 812 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:13,079 foot facility uh and by Texas math 813 00:36:13,079 --> 00:36:14,880 that's a whole lot of football fields um 814 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:16,440 but they're putting in on the south side 815 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:17,960 of Bear County Judge what is that going 816 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:20,480 to mean for economic development and 817 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:22,680 just you know overall here in in Bear 818 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,160 County why should folks be excited about 819 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:27,040 JCB because I think JCP is well one if 820 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:31,079 youall know Where It's a UK so uh we're 821 00:36:31,079 --> 00:36:33,400 get we've got a one of the largest 822 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:35,720 manufacturing the military and 823 00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:38,400 agriculture equipment uh you see some of 824 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:40,359 their equipment along the roadway on 825 00:36:40,359 --> 00:36:41,599 road 826 00:36:41,599 --> 00:36:43,720 construction I mean you just said it, 827 00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:47,400 1500 new jobs 10 billion billion with a 828 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:51,040 B in 10 years and what that what that 829 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:54,599 goes is what what my strategic plan is 830 00:36:54,599 --> 00:36:56,640 use it to develop and expand the 831 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,599 economic base use it to defeat 832 00:36:59,599 --> 00:37:01,440 generational poverty and the rates of 833 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:03,280 poverty we have in our community by 834 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:06,640 creating really meaningful jobs that pay 835 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:12,720 well uh I see JCB along with also too I 836 00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:14,119 think it's already been announced I got 837 00:37:14,119 --> 00:37:16,200 to be careful on what announcements I 838 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,960 can but Toyota is going to go on an 839 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,240 expansion and they're going to go on a 840 00:37:21,240 --> 00:37:23,200 half billion dollar expansion on their 841 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:25,560 campus and we're really looking forward 842 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,200 to see the economic impact 843 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:30,359 if you just go down to the South Side 844 00:37:30,359 --> 00:37:32,240 along with I think it's zaram more that 845 00:37:32,240 --> 00:37:36,040 turns in Highway 16 and over to 281 846 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,200 you're going to see an explosion of 847 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,599 growth we've got the uh Hospital Jim 848 00:37:40,599 --> 00:37:42,560 Adams Jimmy H Locker thank you for your 849 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:45,240 leadership on the UHS board we've got a 850 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:46,680 new hospital that's going to include 851 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:48,520 mental 852 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,680 health to to meet the underserved needs 853 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:54,200 of that Community you can automatically 854 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:56,280 see that the school districts Southwest 855 00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:58,960 Southside and East Cent control are all 856 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:01,319 getting the effects of an increased tax 857 00:38:01,319 --> 00:38:04,240 base so I you know I'm not not going to 858 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:06,880 touch that public education and finance 859 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:08,760 I let the people in Austin continue to 860 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:11,520 do that debate but what we can do 861 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,680 locally is just kind of keep building up 862 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:19,880 our base and so JCB Toyota and I believe 863 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,000 the other businesses that are yet to 864 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:24,760 come but are coming that we're going to 865 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,800 be able to really increase tax base 866 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,920 which will then allow us as a body and 867 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:32,880 I'm talking to my fellow Commissioners 868 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:35,560 to look at ways to lower the tax burden 869 00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:38,599 on seniors on our veterans our First 870 00:38:38,599 --> 00:38:41,000 Responders that we can hopefully 871 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,079 maintain those tax keep those taxes down 872 00:38:44,079 --> 00:38:47,520 so that we don't overburden our system 873 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,880 and so I'm I'm just so excited about JCB 874 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,560 that as you saw Toyota was a game 875 00:38:54,560 --> 00:38:56,599 changer Toyota manufacturing Texas it 876 00:38:56,599 --> 00:38:59,119 was a game changer for bar County it was 877 00:38:59,119 --> 00:39:01,800 a game Cher for the Southside and now we 878 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:05,400 got a I think we have another game Cher 879 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:07,359 so if you think they scored a lot of 880 00:39:07,359 --> 00:39:09,680 points there's more points to score in 881 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:11,760 this in this game we love hearing that 882 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:13,680 and I know speaking of Game Changers San 883 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:16,000 Antonio is really known for their small 884 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,319 businesses right truly at the heart of 885 00:39:18,319 --> 00:39:20,200 the cause of of what I think us as a 886 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:22,119 chamber really like to lean in on can 887 00:39:22,119 --> 00:39:24,040 you talk about from a county perspective 888 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:25,800 the support the resources that y'all 889 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:28,440 have for small businesses 890 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:30,960 well obviously small businesses and and 891 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:33,079 running for this office I made a 892 00:39:33,079 --> 00:39:35,119 commitment to small business I knew some 893 00:39:35,119 --> 00:39:38,119 of the big projects that we just 894 00:39:38,119 --> 00:39:40,160 mentioned there they were going to 895 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:42,240 happen or we had the we really had 896 00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:45,000 momentum there we need to continue to 897 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,079 focus on small businesses I really 898 00:39:47,079 --> 00:39:48,599 believe they're the heart and soul of 899 00:39:48,599 --> 00:39:51,240 our community including all the mom and 900 00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:55,720 pop operations and so one of the ways I 901 00:39:55,720 --> 00:39:58,599 want to help them is for County 902 00:39:58,599 --> 00:40:01,040 government to be more accessible to be 903 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:03,400 more transparent to be more accountable 904 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:06,720 to be more user friendly because they 905 00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:09,880 need the resources to develop in light 906 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:11,960 of that I will tell you one of the big 907 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:14,520 initiatives I'm doing right now in 908 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,880 regards to County government I really 909 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:19,880 want us a big upgrade in County 910 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:22,800 procurement we're still stuck in a lot 911 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,000 of the old way so to speak in Old 912 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:28,200 systems and so I really am pushing our 913 00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:31,280 County procurement to really be more 914 00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:33,720 streamlined I'm also committed and I 915 00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:36,720 believe Renee Watson who I was with an 916 00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:39,280 event last night we were and let me get 917 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:41,960 my notes with the associated general 918 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:43,960 contractors of America the local San 919 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:46,839 Antonio chapter we had graduates about 920 00:40:46,839 --> 00:40:49,359 over two dozen graduates of small 921 00:40:49,359 --> 00:40:51,920 business being certified in order for 922 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,720 them to enter the job market and be 923 00:40:54,720 --> 00:40:57,000 vendors with Bear County and to 924 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,040 understand the process and so those are 925 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:02,200 the things the County's committed to its 926 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:04,280 small women minority owned business 927 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,839 enterprises with Renee Watson in charge 928 00:41:06,839 --> 00:41:08,839 of uh the San Antonio business 929 00:41:08,839 --> 00:41:12,200 Enterprise Department uh I'm really 930 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:13,720 proud and I don't know if he's here 931 00:41:13,720 --> 00:41:16,000 today but one of our new County 932 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:18,599 department heads is Art Reinhardt uh who 933 00:41:18,599 --> 00:41:20,119 heads up our Public Works County 934 00:41:20,119 --> 00:41:22,040 engineer I was really proud that we 935 00:41:22,040 --> 00:41:24,560 provided really a public input on that 936 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:26,440 appointment and I hope people learn to 937 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:27,800 appreciate I really 938 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:30,680 wanted the community and especially the 939 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:32,680 business Community to tell us who were 940 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:35,319 the best people to become part of be 941 00:41:35,319 --> 00:41:37,319 County government and our really has 942 00:41:37,319 --> 00:41:40,079 really great job of trying to open up 943 00:41:40,079 --> 00:41:42,319 and making Public Works a more public 944 00:41:42,319 --> 00:41:45,960 friendly private sector friendly so uh 945 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:47,680 all I want to do is encourage all of 946 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,680 y'all to go to the county we have our 947 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:53,599 Vendor Portal uh especially for your 948 00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:55,520 commitment or your small business 949 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:57,760 members let them understand understand 950 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:00,760 and perhaps there's more training to do 951 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:02,920 in order to let the small business 952 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:06,480 Community grow I want them to grow along 953 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:08,880 with the large businesses that are 954 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:11,560 coming they both have to be rising up at 955 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:15,240 the same time that to me is going to be 956 00:42:15,240 --> 00:42:17,480 a big accomplishment and I'm I'm 957 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:19,160 confident we're going to get there 958 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:20,240 that's great to hear judge and I know 959 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:21,800 from the chamers perspective there's 960 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,599 been a great deal of receptiveness from 961 00:42:24,599 --> 00:42:26,520 you and the county leadership hearing 962 00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:28,640 and gaining that feedback from from 963 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:30,240 small business owners say hey look this 964 00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:31,680 is where the support we're needing this 965 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:33,680 is where maybe the Mark isn't being hit 966 00:42:33,680 --> 00:42:35,280 and let's let's adjust according well 967 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:37,240 let me let me just quickly follow up I 968 00:42:37,240 --> 00:42:39,599 know that we're short on time but one of 969 00:42:39,599 --> 00:42:41,480 the things that we passed and I want to 970 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:43,720 give credit to the court and to the 971 00:42:43,720 --> 00:42:45,680 commissioner we established a 972 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:48,079 construction bonding assistant program I 973 00:42:48,079 --> 00:42:50,359 think it's the only one in in town so to 974 00:42:50,359 --> 00:42:53,319 speak where we're going to expand 975 00:42:53,319 --> 00:42:56,760 through County Assistance the ability to 976 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,599 assist contractors to build and expand 977 00:42:59,599 --> 00:43:02,520 their bonding capacity which means 978 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:04,400 they'll learn to compete at a higher 979 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:06,520 level that is something I'm really 980 00:43:06,520 --> 00:43:09,200 excited I really want to see the results 981 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:11,760 the ROI on that program because I think 982 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:14,640 that's a game Cher also too and I think 983 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:16,440 some of y'all may be involved especially 984 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:18,720 the public institution is our supply 985 00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:21,359 essay I think mayor former mayor 986 00:43:21,359 --> 00:43:23,960 secretary Saros has head headed that 987 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:26,599 opportunity to look at procurement from 988 00:43:26,599 --> 00:43:28,000 entire 989 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:30,559 Community perspective I think we got 14 990 00:43:30,559 --> 00:43:32,800 plus governmental entities public 991 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:35,880 institutions that have all signed on to 992 00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:38,280 make the procurement process so as I'm 993 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:41,400 working on County we are working and 994 00:43:41,400 --> 00:43:43,559 much and part of that and I think David 995 00:43:43,559 --> 00:43:45,400 Smith our County manager has been the 996 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:47,680 leader on the local level from the 997 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:50,599 county perspective of having how do how 998 00:43:50,599 --> 00:43:52,640 business gets certified how do business 999 00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:55,079 know about the opportunities and so 1000 00:43:55,079 --> 00:43:57,839 again that's that's another exciting 1001 00:43:57,839 --> 00:44:00,119 uh initiative that the county has led 1002 00:44:00,119 --> 00:44:01,559 let's let's go a little bit further down 1003 00:44:01,559 --> 00:44:03,760 the question board here on anything else 1004 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:05,400 that we haven't covered and we've got in 1005 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:07,280 addition to Economic Development your 1006 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:09,160 stated priorities in public safety 1007 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:10,839 Public Health I know you touched on the 1008 00:44:10,839 --> 00:44:12,400 new hospital development we've actually 1009 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:14,319 got Mr George Hernandez the president 1010 00:44:14,319 --> 00:44:16,200 CEO of the University of Health here as 1011 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:17,960 well as Mr James Adam chairman of the 1012 00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:22,630 board of managers for Bear County 1013 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:25,880 Hospital can talk a little bit about on 1014 00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:28,200 the public safety side and public health 1015 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:30,200 aspect some of your your focus points in 1016 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:33,440 that sure one of the things as running 1017 00:44:33,440 --> 00:44:35,200 for this County Judge obviously I 1018 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:37,599 brought a skill set being a judge in the 1019 00:44:37,599 --> 00:44:40,119 court system about our justice system 1020 00:44:40,119 --> 00:44:43,440 and obviously last fall we had a 1021 00:44:43,440 --> 00:44:46,640 situation where we had the media God 1022 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:49,119 bless them uh they covered all these 1023 00:44:49,119 --> 00:44:50,920 situations where there were shootings 1024 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:53,640 between repeat offenders and uh police 1025 00:44:53,640 --> 00:44:56,359 officers which was obviously a danger 1026 00:44:56,359 --> 00:44:58,960 and an issue that needed to be addressed 1027 00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:00,960 I think some of the conversation at that 1028 00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:03,559 time was really finger pointing of well 1029 00:45:03,559 --> 00:45:06,000 it's you're to blame no to you to blame 1030 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:09,200 and this is where my relationship and my 1031 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:11,599 commitment to this community came in I 1032 00:45:11,599 --> 00:45:13,119 called the mayor the mayor called me I 1033 00:45:13,119 --> 00:45:15,440 don't know called first he said look we 1034 00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:17,480 got to stop this we got to stop the 1035 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:19,640 finger pointing and we've got to fix 1036 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:23,160 this and so what I did was con and we 1037 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:25,040 and along with the mayor and he and we 1038 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,240 worked together on this issue we brought 1039 00:45:27,240 --> 00:45:29,480 all the stakeholders together we brought 1040 00:45:29,480 --> 00:45:31,480 the chief of police and the San Antonio 1041 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:32,800 Police Department we brought the sheriff 1042 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:35,240 and the sheriff's deputy we brought the 1043 00:45:35,240 --> 00:45:37,559 court system uh judge Ron ronel 1044 00:45:37,559 --> 00:45:40,000 represented the courts we represented 1045 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:44,599 the um all the other stakeholders that 1046 00:45:44,599 --> 00:45:47,040 are part of Public Safety and what we 1047 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:49,640 did is we broke it down and we analyzed 1048 00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:54,040 it and I had my 18 my staff Cynthia C uh 1049 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:57,520 was really my leader on that initiative 1050 00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:00,119 and we basically put a public safety 1051 00:46:00,119 --> 00:46:03,720 plan together we put I think as I recall 1052 00:46:03,720 --> 00:46:06,960 my notes showed about three dozen uh 1053 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:10,280 dozen steps that we all adopted as a 1054 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:13,599 group to help bring and tighten up the 1055 00:46:13,599 --> 00:46:16,280 criminal justice system and I truly 1056 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:19,160 believe that we as a result we are 1057 00:46:19,160 --> 00:46:22,280 keeping our community safe I know there 1058 00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:25,079 things that happen and I continually 1059 00:46:25,079 --> 00:46:27,000 have conversations with the sheriff I 1060 00:46:27,000 --> 00:46:28,839 have continual conversations with chief 1061 00:46:28,839 --> 00:46:32,280 police what do we need to do and so we 1062 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:35,040 timed up some of the issues of release 1063 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:38,200 of especially repeat offenders we looked 1064 00:46:38,200 --> 00:46:40,200 at whether our magistration system 1065 00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:42,640 needed to be tightened up so to speak 1066 00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:44,640 the use of our personal bonds our 1067 00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:47,359 electronic monitors all that kind of got 1068 00:46:47,359 --> 00:46:49,960 looked at and so what I want the public 1069 00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:51,839 to understand and it's it's it's an 1070 00:46:51,839 --> 00:46:54,359 ongoing issue even right now the public 1071 00:46:54,359 --> 00:46:57,720 is safe because we have committed 1072 00:46:57,720 --> 00:47:00,520 elected and appointed officials who want 1073 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:02,960 to do the very best what we need to 1074 00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:05,160 learn to do is we need to learn on how 1075 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:08,680 to work together and to communicate and 1076 00:47:08,680 --> 00:47:11,720 then and as Commissioner's Court or City 1077 00:47:11,720 --> 00:47:13,760 Counsel and I know we have city council 1078 00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:16,040 how how much do we invest in that 1079 00:47:16,040 --> 00:47:18,400 because it takes tax dollars to make 1080 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:21,480 some of these uh projects and and steps 1081 00:47:21,480 --> 00:47:23,839 work and those are the tough decisions 1082 00:47:23,839 --> 00:47:27,760 we make in light of the tax relief 1083 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:30,000 people are asking for so I want to 1084 00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:32,359 Circle back before we close I want to 1085 00:47:32,359 --> 00:47:34,640 Circle back and touch on I I can't let 1086 00:47:34,640 --> 00:47:35,960 you off the hook as I mentioned I don't 1087 00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:37,119 think anybody's going to let you out the 1088 00:47:37,119 --> 00:47:39,520 door without asking about the world's 1089 00:47:39,520 --> 00:47:41,640 greatest basketball teams Spurs the 1090 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:44,280 Spurs county is the existing landlord 1091 00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:45,599 what can you share with us what can you 1092 00:47:45,599 --> 00:47:47,440 share with the audience give us a little 1093 00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:49,920 bit of perspective and what the role of 1094 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:53,920 the county has been best far those well 1095 00:47:53,920 --> 00:47:57,559 obviously there are conversations 1096 00:47:57,559 --> 00:48:00,720 and and and they're continuing and there 1097 00:48:00,720 --> 00:48:04,640 is nothing concrete to report out and 1098 00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:07,839 even if I had the ability to tell you 1099 00:48:07,839 --> 00:48:10,880 something the group has agreed that we 1100 00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:13,559 need to work in confidence and order to 1101 00:48:13,559 --> 00:48:15,839 accomplish what the Spurs let me make 1102 00:48:15,839 --> 00:48:18,440 these points and I've made it publicly I 1103 00:48:18,440 --> 00:48:20,440 made a commitment to the San Antonio 1104 00:48:20,440 --> 00:48:22,480 Spurs and Peter John Hull and the whole 1105 00:48:22,480 --> 00:48:25,079 family to say I support you I'll do 1106 00:48:25,079 --> 00:48:27,800 whatever I can to and especially keep 1107 00:48:27,800 --> 00:48:31,200 you here in in our community and so the 1108 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:34,800 Spurs know that at the same time I let 1109 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:38,680 the Spurs and the city know that I have 1110 00:48:38,680 --> 00:48:40,760 an investment of the Frost Bank Center 1111 00:48:40,760 --> 00:48:42,440 that was created when I believe County 1112 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:45,839 Judge Cindy CER was on uh court and I 1113 00:48:45,839 --> 00:48:49,000 said it's still a great facility and we 1114 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:52,040 have a lease that goes to 2032 so I have 1115 00:48:52,040 --> 00:48:54,680 a fiduciary duty as a County Judge to 1116 00:48:54,680 --> 00:48:57,400 make sure everybody complies with the 1117 00:48:57,400 --> 00:49:01,520 contract or if we need to 1118 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:03,920 renegotiate and so I've made it very 1119 00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:06,480 clear that I have to protect Frost Bank 1120 00:49:06,480 --> 00:49:08,520 Center I have to figure out and 1121 00:49:08,520 --> 00:49:11,599 repurpose what the Frost Bank Center is 1122 00:49:11,599 --> 00:49:15,079 going to be if the Spurs leave and when 1123 00:49:15,079 --> 00:49:17,799 they leave and I'm telling you right now 1124 00:49:17,799 --> 00:49:20,119 we don't have anything concrete to 1125 00:49:20,119 --> 00:49:22,480 report out and if I did I wouldn't tell 1126 00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:27,319 you but also two also said said this and 1127 00:49:27,319 --> 00:49:30,160 this was a big stipulation I told 1128 00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:33,520 everybody in the room the the whenever 1129 00:49:33,520 --> 00:49:36,000 they created the Frost Bank Center they 1130 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:37,960 made a commitment that they would invest 1131 00:49:37,960 --> 00:49:40,319 in that community in that East Side 1132 00:49:40,319 --> 00:49:42,960 especially around Frost Bank Center and 1133 00:49:42,960 --> 00:49:45,400 that that would the Frost Bank Center 1134 00:49:45,400 --> 00:49:49,160 would create this economic uh center 1135 00:49:49,160 --> 00:49:52,559 with whatever they would create I quite 1136 00:49:52,559 --> 00:49:54,960 frankly told them that that hasn't 1137 00:49:54,960 --> 00:49:57,480 happened that I truly believe in my 1138 00:49:57,480 --> 00:49:59,359 conversations with the community in the 1139 00:49:59,359 --> 00:50:01,280 east side and the leadership in the east 1140 00:50:01,280 --> 00:50:04,200 side will tell you those promises were 1141 00:50:04,200 --> 00:50:07,319 never met they feel that those promises 1142 00:50:07,319 --> 00:50:11,280 were broken and so I have insisted that 1143 00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:14,559 whatever we do to assist to Spurs and to 1144 00:50:14,559 --> 00:50:17,319 figure out how we can negotiate it that 1145 00:50:17,319 --> 00:50:19,920 development in that Frost Bank Center is 1146 00:50:19,920 --> 00:50:23,040 ongoing and I'm expecting an investment 1147 00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:26,880 of all the stakeholders involved now 1148 00:50:26,880 --> 00:50:29,400 what we need to understand is 1149 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:32,480 that that may mean a lot of different 1150 00:50:32,480 --> 00:50:35,160 things so I will tell you that the 1151 00:50:35,160 --> 00:50:37,960 county is at the table but at the same 1152 00:50:37,960 --> 00:50:41,720 time the the conversations really are 1153 00:50:41,720 --> 00:50:43,559 between the city of San Antonio and the 1154 00:50:43,559 --> 00:50:46,960 Spurs and then once they formulate that 1155 00:50:46,960 --> 00:50:49,280 then we're going to put I mean obviously 1156 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:51,400 we're there to make sure all the pieces 1157 00:50:51,400 --> 00:50:53,960 of the puzzle and that's going to be my 1158 00:50:53,960 --> 00:50:56,960 job as the County Judge to make sure the 1159 00:50:56,960 --> 00:50:59,079 County's protected the county investment 1160 00:50:59,079 --> 00:51:01,520 is protected but yet I want to be very 1161 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:04,400 clear I'm committed to the Spurs we know 1162 00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:06,920 that wmy won the Rookie of the Year we 1163 00:51:06,920 --> 00:51:08,520 know that wmy is going to bring another 1164 00:51:08,520 --> 00:51:11,559 championship to our community and so 1165 00:51:11,559 --> 00:51:13,599 what we need to do is we got to make 1166 00:51:13,599 --> 00:51:16,119 things work and that's my commitment to 1167 00:51:16,119 --> 00:51:18,079 the community we'll figure it out we'll 1168 00:51:18,079 --> 00:51:20,480 make it work one of the other things to 1169 00:51:20,480 --> 00:51:21,880 recognize I don't know if they're in the 1170 00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:23,760 room but I've insisted that the San 1171 00:51:23,760 --> 00:51:27,960 Antonio Rodeo uh sale and and the bar 1172 00:51:27,960 --> 00:51:30,920 County Coliseum Advisory Board are at 1173 00:51:30,920 --> 00:51:34,079 the table the rodeo is a very valuable 1174 00:51:34,079 --> 00:51:36,640 partner and the Frost Bank Center and 1175 00:51:36,640 --> 00:51:38,799 that I want them to take advantage of 1176 00:51:38,799 --> 00:51:42,280 whatever opportunities can come in what 1177 00:51:42,280 --> 00:51:46,280 this new uh day will be for the Spurs 1178 00:51:46,280 --> 00:51:48,599 for the city and the county uh we also 1179 00:51:48,599 --> 00:51:50,880 want to look at what we can do to 1180 00:51:50,880 --> 00:51:53,720 enhance the grounds of the Coliseum 1181 00:51:53,720 --> 00:51:56,240 Advisory board that is a crown jewel 1182 00:51:56,240 --> 00:51:58,280 that was created many many years ago and 1183 00:51:58,280 --> 00:52:00,480 I'm committed to make sure that the 1184 00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:02,799 rodeo is also protected they they've 1185 00:52:02,799 --> 00:52:05,640 been a very good partner with the county 1186 00:52:05,640 --> 00:52:06,920 yeah that's great to hear and thank you 1187 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:10,200 for the Insight your pness U ladies and 1188 00:52:10,200 --> 00:52:12,319 gentlemen that concludes our our 1189 00:52:12,319 --> 00:52:14,040 questions for today's program judge 1190 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:16,520 before we let you go though um we wanted 1191 00:52:16,520 --> 00:52:18,760 to just say a bit of a thank you 1192 00:52:18,760 --> 00:52:21,040 financially speaking uh in regards to 1193 00:52:21,040 --> 00:52:23,599 the donation to um the Bear County 1194 00:52:23,599 --> 00:52:25,440 fostering educational success 1195 00:52:25,440 --> 00:52:26,920 organization the North San chamber is 1196 00:52:26,920 --> 00:52:29,559 going to be donating $500 towards those 1197 00:52:29,559 --> 00:52:31,400 charity efforts to make sure that you 1198 00:52:31,400 --> 00:52:33,960 can get foster kids into that that 1199 00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:36,559 successful pathway and possibly uh 1200 00:52:36,559 --> 00:52:38,599 succeeding on the college and bigger 1201 00:52:38,599 --> 00:52:40,119 things let me give a plug for that 1202 00:52:40,119 --> 00:52:43,559 absolutely unless we're judge you got 1203 00:52:43,559 --> 00:52:46,480 let me tell you the bar County uh educa 1204 00:52:46,480 --> 00:52:49,240 fostering educational success is a 1205 00:52:49,240 --> 00:52:51,559 foster care program that I created when 1206 00:52:51,559 --> 00:52:53,440 I was in children's Court along with 1207 00:52:53,440 --> 00:52:56,799 UTSA Texas A&M San Antonio and the 1208 00:52:56,799 --> 00:53:01,200 College District and what and Casa and 1209 00:53:01,200 --> 00:53:04,079 what we did was an example of what I 1210 00:53:04,079 --> 00:53:06,319 tried to do every day as your County 1211 00:53:06,319 --> 00:53:08,280 Judge I brought everybody together and I 1212 00:53:08,280 --> 00:53:10,119 said look we got to take care of these 1213 00:53:10,119 --> 00:53:11,960 kids that have a tuition way they get 1214 00:53:11,960 --> 00:53:13,640 free education but they're not taking 1215 00:53:13,640 --> 00:53:15,319 advantage of it because there's no 1216 00:53:15,319 --> 00:53:17,520 support for them and I just want to 1217 00:53:17,520 --> 00:53:21,119 applaud Dr Amy and more importantly Miss 1218 00:53:21,119 --> 00:53:25,200 Peggy Amy uh the first lady of UTSA that 1219 00:53:25,200 --> 00:53:28,359 we took it and we have a program that is 1220 00:53:28,359 --> 00:53:30,280 I'll be honest people all over the 1221 00:53:30,280 --> 00:53:32,440 country want to know how did you create 1222 00:53:32,440 --> 00:53:35,079 this and we didn't create it by County 1223 00:53:35,079 --> 00:53:37,319 city we created by everybody coming 1224 00:53:37,319 --> 00:53:39,200 together and figuring out what we could 1225 00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:41,160 do it is one of the most successful 1226 00:53:41,160 --> 00:53:43,599 programs I've ever put together it's 1227 00:53:43,599 --> 00:53:45,400 something I'm very proud of and that's 1228 00:53:45,400 --> 00:53:48,640 an example of what I hope to bring to 1229 00:53:48,640 --> 00:53:51,200 the county let's fix things let's sit 1230 00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:53,599 down roll up your sleeves and let's 1231 00:53:53,599 --> 00:53:55,799 figure it out and we come together and 1232 00:53:55,799 --> 00:53:58,599 collaborate and that's that's I continue 1233 00:53:58,599 --> 00:54:01,280 to do that as I serve as your County 1234 00:54:01,280 --> 00:54:03,160 judge so thank you br and more 1235 00:54:03,160 --> 00:54:05,319 importantly thank you for the flowers 1236 00:54:05,319 --> 00:54:07,640 for Rachel I probably would have got a 1237 00:54:07,640 --> 00:54:10,440 little static at home going where did 1238 00:54:10,440 --> 00:54:12,200 how come you didn't give me flowers and 1239 00:54:12,200 --> 00:54:14,880 so thank you for what you do absolutely 1240 00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:16,319 thank you and thank y'all for what y'all 1241 00:54:16,319 --> 00:54:20,280 do thank you very much