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YOU GOT 3, 2, 1.GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2023 AT 3:30 PM FIRST UP, WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM, AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY GODDE, TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF VISIT BATON ROUGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF FOR RECEIVING THEIR RE-ACCREDITATION IN 2023.
MAYOR, PRESIDENT, OR COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROTI AND MEMBERS OF THE, UH, COUNCIL.
UM, I'M HAVING COUNCILMAN ROWDY GODDE.
JOIN ME TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR BELOVED CITY IN JULY, 2023 OF THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, AT THE DESTINATION INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING VISIT BATON ROUGE RECEIVED ITS ACCREDITATION THROUGH DESTINATION INTERNATIONAL'S GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED DESTINATION MARKETING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR 2023.
A SPECIAL NOTE OF GRATITUDE GOES TO JILL KITTER FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP.
HER DEDICATION AND VISION HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GUIDING US TOWARDS THIS ACCOLADE.
I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND APPRECIATION TO THE DEDICATED TEAM AT VISIT BATON ROUGE.
THEY'RE ALL BEHIND ME, RIGHT HERE.
THROUGH THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS, THEY HAVE PASSIONATELY SHOWCASED THE ESSENCE OF OUR VIBRANT AND UNIQUE CITY TO THE WORLD.
THIS ACCREDITATION IS AN HONOR AND A TESTAMENT TO THE COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT THAT DEFINES BATON ROUGE.
AS MAYOR, I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO MAKING OUR CITY SHINE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT, AND HERES TO A FUTURE WHERE BATON ROUGE CONTINUES TO CAPTIVATE HEARTS AND MINDS FROM NEAR AND FAR.
CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO VISIT BATON ROUGE FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
COUNCILMAN, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I, I THINK AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE COUNCIL APPOINTEE TO THE VISIT BATON ROUGE BOARD.
UH, AND IT WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WE WERE HERE, UH, RECOGNIZING THIS GROUP BECAUSE, UH, THE ORGANIZATION BROUGHT ON ITS NEW C E O JILL KITTER.
AND AT THAT TIME WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT WERE AHEAD FOR VISIT BATON ROUGE AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CELEBRATIONS, BUT LET ME SAY, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE RE-ACCREDITATION FOR SURE OF, UH, OUR DESTINATION MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION.
BUT WHAT THAT REALLY IS DOING IS CELEBRATING THE TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE, UH, LINED UP BEHIND ME.
IT IS TRULY THE EFFORTS, THE TIRELESS WORK THAT THIS GROUP PUTS IN, UH, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS THAT ELEVATES OUR COMMUNITY ON A REGIONAL, ON A NATIONAL, AND FRANKLY ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE TO GET TRAVELERS TO COME HERE, TO GET CONVENTIONS TO COME HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HERE.
UH, OUR BOARD CHAIR, MR. CLAUDE RENO, IS HERE.
AND I JUST VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING BEHIND ME.
THIS ACCREDITATION RECOGNIZES THAT VISIT BATON ROUGE.
I'M GONNA READ TO YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE QUALIFICATIONS.
UH, VISIT BATON ROUGE HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED THEY HAVE DEVELOPED STRATEGIES FOR THEIR MARKETING AND SALES EFFORTS, AS WELL AS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT SAFEGUARD THE USE OF PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHINES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, VERY PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH IT.
I WOULD LIKE FOR JILL KIDDER, WHO IS GONNA SAY IT BEST TO COME UP AND SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH YOU.
THANKS, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, ROWDY.
AND IT, IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE AS IT'S BEEN SAID, BUT REALLY IN THIS CASE, IT TAKES A PARISH.
AND WE ARE SO THRILLED TO REPRESENT THIS PARISH.
MAYOR BROOM, MAYOR PROTE COLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I I REALLY DO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, JUST, UH, WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND PRIDE AS WE CELEBRATE A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, BUT ALSO, AS I
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SAID, OUR PARISH AND OUR CITY.THE RECOGNITION BESTOWED ON US BY BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE RE-ACCREDITATION BY DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK, AS ROWDY SAID OF THE ENTIRE TEAM.
AND OF COURSE, THIS BOARD, PLEASE ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.
AND WOULD YOU GIVE THEM ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE? UM, RECEIVING THIS HONOR REAFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING OUR CITY PARISH AS A PREMIER DESTINATION.
AND IT UNDERSCORES THE COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE COUNTLESS HOURS INVESTED BY OUR STAFF, OUR PARTNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO ALL SHARE A COMMON GOAL.
AND THAT'S TO SHOWCASE THIS CITY'S UNIQUE OFFERINGS AND WELCOME VISITORS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD.
AND WE'VE DONE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.
I PLACED A LITTLE CARD, WHICH, UM, IT'S MUCH LIKE OUR, UH, BUSINESS CARDS AND IT OUTLINES THE STATISTICS FROM 2022.
AND I'D REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE JOBS, IT TALKS ABOUT THE TAXES THAT OUR INDUSTRY PRODUCES, AND WE HAD 8.4 MILLION PEOPLE COME HERE LAST YEAR.
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY AN INCREASE FROM 2022, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE FROM 2021.
SO, UH, VERY, VERY GOOD STUFF.
AND, AND AS I SAID, REALLY EXCITING NEWS, UH, THAT WE GET TO SHARE.
BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL USE THIS RE-ACCREDITATION AND YOUR SUPPORT AS A STEPPING STONE.
IT'S A REMINDER OF WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE SHAPING UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE, AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HERE'S TO A FUTURE FILLED WITH CONTINUED SUCCESS AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO OUR CITY, OUR HOME.
THIS YOU TAKE A PICTURE WITHOUT ME.
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY.
LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.
HEY, THEY SHUT THE OFFICE THERE,
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO RECOGNIZE MY, MY DEAR FRIEND VICTOR SMITH, OWNER OF EMPIRE WINGS FOR OPENING THEIR FOURTH LOCATION IN BATON ROUGE IN 10 YEARS OF DOING BUSINESS IN BATON ROUGE.
MAYOR, PRESIDENT, RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
SO, SO, UM, TODAY MARKS ANOTHER REMARKABLE MILESTONE IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY, A CELEBRATION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, DEDICATION, AND THE UNDENIABLE SPIRIT THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
I AM SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE APPLAUD VICTOR SMITH, THE VISIONARY OWNER OF THE FAMOUS EMPIRE WINGS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, AND THE GRAND OPENING OF YOUR FOURTH LOCATION RIGHT HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
VICTOR'S JOURNEY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL THAT LIES WITHIN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UH, A DECADE OF HARD WORK PASSION AND
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UNWAVERING COMMITMENT HAS BROUGHT EMPIRE WINGS TO THIS REMARKABLE POINT WHERE THEY NOT ONLY SURVIVED, BUT THEY HAVE THRIVED IN A COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE.THE STORY OF EMPIRE WINGS IS THE STORY OF BATON ROUGE, A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS ITS OWN, THAT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THAT CHERISHES THE FLAVORS, THE CULTURE, AND THE SPIRIT THAT MAKE OUR CITY UNIQUE.
AND AS WE CELEBRATE THIS GRAND OPENING, LET US NOT ONLY SAVOR THE DELECTABLE TASTE THAT EMPIRE WINGS OFFERS, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION IT TAKES TO TURN A DREAM INTO REALITY.
VICTOR'S SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS AND HIS JOURNEY RESONATES WITH EVERY ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNER WHO ENVISIONS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND OUR CITY.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PATRONIZE AND UPLIFT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
CONGRATULATIONS, VICTOR SMITH AND EMPIRE WINGS ON A DECADE OF EXCELLENCE.
AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE YEARS OF FLOURISHING SUCCESS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION, UH, TO THE TAPESTRY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CUISINE AS WELL.
UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, AND, UM, THE SUPPORT WE'VE GOTTEN OVER THESE 10 YEARS HAS BEEN AMAZING.
AND, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO OPENING UP AN EMPIRE WINGS IN, UM, EVERY DISTRICT OUT HERE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S A BIG, CAN WE GET ONE WITH THE WHOLE ACCOUNT? YEAH.
WE, EVERYBODY'S NOT HERE, BUT WE ALL, ROD, ARE YOU COMING OUT? WELL, YEAH.
VIC, LET ME, UH, LET ME THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS.
YOU, YOU'VE BEEN A SPONSOR FOR SOME YEARS NOW, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR TEACHERS.
I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I USED TO MEET YOU IN THE PARKING LOT TO GET MY WINGS AND NOW YOU GOT FOUR LOCATIONS, SO CONGRATULATIONS MAN.
NOW YOU KNOW, MAYOR PRO TEM, I THOUGHT YOU ALL WERE GONNA ASK HIM.
WERE WE, WERE YOU HAVING EMPIRE WINGS AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING? RIGHT? I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE GONNA UP MEETING
WE GOT IT FOR NEXT MEETING NEXT WEEK.
UH, NEXT WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM TO RECOGNIZE MATTHEW PASCAL, MANSHIP SCHOOL STUDENT AND MAYOR BROOM'S COMMUNICATION INTERN MAYOR BROOM.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, UM, GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IS THAT HAS BEEN REALLY RECIPROCAL, UM, IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE INTERNS FROM OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE AREA.
AND I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, I'M GONNA EVEN SAY VERY BLESSED, UH, TO HAVE SO MANY GREAT INTERNS THAT HAVE, UH, COME THROUGH OUR OFFICE AND MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
AND, UH, ONE OF THEM IS MATTHEW PELLE.
HE WAS A SUMMER INTERN FOR US IN OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, IN THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
AND HE'S A STUDENT AT LSU MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE THAT DOWN THERE, BUT WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION MANY TIMES.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY WE PUT
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HIM IN MANSHIP SCHOOL BECAUSE HE'S AN AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER.AND I THOUGHT WE HAD A CONVERSATION THAT MAYBE YOU WERE THINKING OF TWEAKING THAT A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND BUSINESS PERHAPS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT MATTHEW, HE IS A MAN, A FEW WORDS, BUT HE DOES HIS, UH, HE DOES HIS JOB VERY WELL, AND HE HAS BEEN VERY DEDICATED TO EVERY PROJECT THAT HE HAS UNDERTAKEN.
AND, UH, HIS IMPACT IN OUR OFFICE HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
HIS COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY IS TRULY COMMENDABLE.
UH, HIS HARD WORK EMBODIES THE ESSENCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LEAVING NO DOUBT THAT HIS FUTURE IS FULL OF PROMISE.
INTERNSHIPS LIKE MATTHEWS SERVE AS AN INVALUABLE GATEWAY TO FUTURE CAREER PATHS, OFFERING OUR YOUNG MINDS AND OUR COMMUNITY THE CHANCE TO GAIN FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE IN THE INTRICACIES OF DAILY OPERATIONS WITHIN OUR CITY PARISH.
AND SO WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL, UH, TO THE BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR LOANING YOU TO US, AND FOR FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT EQUIPS, UH, STUDENTS, UH, TO EXCEL IN YOUR CHOSEN FIELD.
WE CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, WE CELEBRATE YOUR TALENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR ENRICHING OUR LIVES AS AN INTERN.
DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING?
MAYOR, PRESIDENT MYRA, COME ON UP IF YOU WILL.
UM, I AM DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AUGUST AS NATIONAL BLACK BUSINESS MONTH RIGHT HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
AND OF COURSE, THIS MONTH HOLDS SPECIAL IMPORTANCE AS WE CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS WHO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ECONOMY.
UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, WE CAME TOGETHER TO WITNESS THE SUCCESS OF THE BLACK BUSINESS MONTH BLOCK PARTY, WHICH IS TURNING INTO AN ANNUAL EVENT.
UH, AND WE THANK YOU MYRA RICHARDSON, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND HARD WORK TO CURATE THIS EXPERIENCE.
UH, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT MYRA RICHARDSON'S LEADERSHIP AND TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE MADE THIS EVENT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
UH, BEYOND THAT, HER COMMITMENT TO PUSHING BATON ROUGE FORWARD IS TRULY COMMENDABLE.
SO WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VISIONARY YOUNG LEADER LIKE MYRA IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL BLACK BUSINESS MONTH AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ENTREPRENEURS, WHICH MYRA IS ONE OF THOSE ENTREPRENEURS, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE DIVERSITY, INNOVATION, AND COLLABORATION THRIVE.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, I WANT TO EXTEND, UH, MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING IN THIS SPACE OF BLACK BUSINESSES, BUT IN THE OVERALL SPACE WHERE YOU ARE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT ALL THE ACTIVITIES, ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON, UH, IN BATON ROUGE WITH YOUR DAILY MESSAGING.
SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU AND I WANT TO GIVE A PROCLAMATION, UH, WHICH CELEBRATES, UH, BLACK BUSINESS MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
YOU KNOW WHAT SHE JUST WANTS TO ANNOUNCE, I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE A VERY LONG AGENDA THIS MORNING ON THE PRESENTATION SIDE, BUT I AM DEFINITELY GRATEFUL, UM, FROM EACH OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
A LOT OF YOU, I'VE WORKED BEFORE YOU WERE A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, OR EVEN NOW SUPPORTING LOTS OF YOU, UM, WORKING IN SEVERAL OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
UM, I'M NOT JUST GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO BRING FORTH LIKE BLACK BUSINESS MONTH, BUT OUR 2 2 5 FEST AND SEVERAL OTHER EVENTS BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE HAVE SUBSTANTIVE PROGRAMMING AND DRIVE DOWN CRIME, IT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO WHETHER IT'S WITH VISIT BATON ROUGE OR JUST EVENTS FROM INDEPENDENT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, I THINK THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.
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SO I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UM, AND ESPECIALLY THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF MAYOR BROOM AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SEVERAL OF YOU TO BE ABLE TO CALL YOU AND HAVE YOU SHOW UP AT THESE EVENTS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.UH, NEXT WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER LAURIE ADAMS TO RECOGNIZE THE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HOMEOWNERS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I THINK THE THE WHOLE CREW IS COMING UP.
WE'RE SO GLAD THAT Y'ALL COULD ALL ALL BE HERE WITH US TODAY.
WHEN I LEARNED THAT IT WAS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE, UH, THE FEDERATION OF HOMEOWNERS, I JUST HAD TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THIS GROUP.
UM, IT'S TAKEN A WHILE FOR US TO ALL GET HERE, BUT I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT CITIES, I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND THOSE FAMILIES LIVE IN HOUSES, AND THOSE HOUSES ARE IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, UM, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE WONDERFUL HOAS AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS THAT HELP STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AT THE STREET LEVEL.
SO WE, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THE PROBLEMS THAT STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITIES DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.
AND, UM, AND THESE, THESE WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS RIGHT HERE ARE ON THE VERY FRONT LINE QUITE FREQUENTLY BEFORE WE GET A PHONE CALL.
THEY'VE ALREADY CALLED YOU AND YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING TO SOLVE, TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I, I LOVE AND ADMIRE ABOUT THE FEDERATION IS NO MATTER WHAT INITIATIVE IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY PARISH, UM, BE IT THE GARBAGE CONTRACT, BE IT THE THE FIVE G CELL, UM, STORM WATER, UM, YOU WILL FIND A MEMBER OF THE FEDERATION OF HOMEOWNERS ON THAT COMMITTEE ACTIVELY ENGAGING, UM, WITH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS CITY.
AND SO THAT ALL NOT ONLY, UM, IS IS THEM BRINGING THEIR WISDOM, THEIR EXPERTISE, THEIR EXPERIENCE, UM, TO SERVICE IN THE CITY PARISH, UM, AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE.
BUT ALSO THEY ACT AS AN IMPORTANT CONDUIT FOR INFORMATION.
UM, BACK TO, UM, BACK TO THEIR HOAS, BACK TO THEIR CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, BACK TO THE, THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THAT, UM, THAT IS A CRITICAL HELP, UM, TO US AS WE TRY AND DO OUR JOBS.
SO LET ME, UM, I'M GONNA READ THIS, THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, THIS, THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO COMMEND THE FEDERATION ON 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE HOMEOWNERS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
THE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS IS A 5 0 1 C THREE NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT WAS INCORPORATED ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 1973, AND CONTINUES TO BE GOVERNED BY AN ALL VOLUNTEER BOARD.
THE FEDERATION'S CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IS 109 CIVIC HOMEOWNER AND CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS REACHING MORE THAN 65,000 HOMEOWNERS ACROSS EAST BATON ROUGE.
THE FEDERATION'S MISSION AND VISION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, ENHANCE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES FOR HOMEOWNERS, AND TO PRESERVE THE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE PARISH.
THE, THE FEDERATION GUIDED BY THEIR MOTTO, NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS EDUCATES MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS ON ISSUES OF CIVIC INTEREST.
AND THE FEDERATION'S HISTORY INCLUDES PROVIDING FUNDING IN 2001 TO TELEVISE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETINGS ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE TELEVISION CHANNEL THERE THEREBY FACILITATING MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE PARISH PLANNING PROCESSES.
AND THE FEDERATION CONTINUES TODAY TO PARTICIPATE ON CITY PARISH COMMITTEES ON IN INITIATIVES THAT IMPACT HOMEOWNERS, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DOES HEREBY COMMEND THE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS FOR THEIR 50 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
NOW LET ME TURN THE MIC OVER TO MR. ED LAKI, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE PICTURES AFTER.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. UM, I WANTED TO GO BRIEFLY AND INTRODUCE THE GROUP HERE BEHIND ME.
YOU KNOW, AFTER 50 YEARS, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TIME THAT, THAT WE PUT NAMES AND FACES TOGETHER.
SO, UH, SHERRY RISCO, SHE REPRESENTS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS.
MARGARET FELLS WITH OAKBROOK, DEBORAH SAMINO WITH SHERWOOD FOREST.
UM, ANDREW KIRO WITH VILLA DEL REY.
MONTY MCNUTT WITH OLD JEFFERSON.
STEVE IKI WITH POLLARD ESTATES.
STEPHANIE VOLLMAN WITH BAYOU ROUGE CONDOS AND ANGELA HILL WITH SOUTHERN HEIGHTS.
ANGELA
AND I GREW UP THERE, ANGELA WHITE WITH SOUTHERN HILLS.
I KNEW THAT SOUTHERN HEIGHTS CAN, CAN WE REWIND THIS THING? 60 YEARS
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OLD.SO IN ADDITION TO THESE MEMBERS WHO ARE BOARD MEMBERS, SINCE THE FEDERATION HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS, WE'VE HAD OVER 20 DIFFERENT LEADERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE TWO OF THEM HERE TODAY, AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
WE HAVE ATTORNEY ELLIOT ATKINSON, WHO, WHO SERVED IN THE LATE SEVENTIES AND THE EARLY NINETIES SINCE HE LIKED IT THE FIRST TIME HE TRIED AGAIN.
AND TO THIS DATE, HE PROVIDES LEGAL COUNSEL FOR OUR, FOR OUR BOARD.
UM, AND HE'S THE INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
GARY WAS, UH, PRESIDENT IN THE LATE NINETIES, EARLY 20, UH, EARLY TWO THOUSANDS, AND HE'S STILL INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES WITH THE FEDERATION TO THIS DATE.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE OUR LONGEST SERVING PRESIDENT SEVEN YEARS AND MY PREDECESSOR, AND THAT WAS MS. NANCY CURRY.
UM, WE'RE AN ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP, AS LORI HAD MENTIONED, OF NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE 111, SO IT'S CHANGED BY TWO SINCE YOU FIRST GOT THAT.
UM, AND THEY RESIDE IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE FEDERATION IS WE REPRESENT OR HAVE REPRESENTATION IN ALL DISTRICTS REFLECTION.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE OBSERVED THAT MOST, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THAT THE FEDERATION HAS IS OUR DIVERSITY OF SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND LEADERSHIP THAT WE'VE GAINED FOR MANY YEARS IN, IN SERVICE TO, IN BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN BATON ROUGE AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND EVEN OTHER STATES.
IN ADDITION TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE STANDING BEHIND YOU, WE HAVE A HUGE NETWORK OF MEMBERS WHO HAVE SKILLS TO ADDRESS ALMOST ANY CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE.
I SAY THIS TO ONE, ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE METRO COUNCIL'S CONFIDENCE IN THE FEDERATION FOR INCLUDING US IN MANY STUDY TEAMS, COMMITTEES, AND INITIATIVES, OR JUST PLAIN CALLING US ON THE PHONE AND CONSULTING.
AND TO ALSO URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE FEDERATION IN THE FUTURE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND I THINK THIS PARTNERSHIP CAN HELP WITH THAT.
SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE BOARDS HERE, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.
WE'LL NOW HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DARRYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE BEATRICE HARVEY FOR BEING INDUCTED TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE HALL OF FAME.
SO I, I WAS INVITED TO THE, UH, SCOTLANDVILLE HALL OF FAME ON SATURDAY AND WAS, UH, UNABLE TO ATTEND, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT FIVE WHO ATTENDED SCOTLANDVILLE AND MADE A MARK ON BATON ROUGE.
BUT THERE'S ONE SPECIAL LADY THAT ANYTIME YOU CALL ON HER, SHE'S GOING TO BE THERE.
ANY EVENT THAT WE HAVE, SHE'S THE FIRST ONE TO VOLUNTEER.
UM, OUR HAIRCUTS FOR BACK THE SCHOOL LAST YEAR WENT WELL BEYOND THE TIME OF THE EVENT.
SHE STAYED THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY KID GOT WHAT THEY NEEDED SO THEY COULD START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT, AND THEN VOLUNTEERED AGAIN THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICE.
SHE NOW, AFTER RETIREMENT AND RAISING HER GRANDSON AS AN AMAZING GRANDMOTHER, UM, SHE WORKS IN THE, UH, PURCHASING DEPARTMENT FOR CITY PARISH AS THE FIRST SENIOR AIDE HIRED THROUGH THE ORDINANCE THAT WE PUT IN LAST YEAR.
UM, AND SO FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND BEING INDUCTED INTO THE SCOTLANDVILLE HALL OF FAME 2023, AND YOUR CONTINUOUS CONTINUED EFFORTS WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED.
AND GIVEN THIS DAY, AUGUST 23RD,
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AUGUST 23RD, 2023, WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE, I PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO MS. BEATRIZ RV.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
DOES HE KNOW IT? YOU WANNA RECOGNIZE HIM AGAIN? AH, CONGRATULATIONS, MS. AOR.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER AARON MO TO RECOGNIZE RECIPIENTS OF PURPLE HEART FOR PURPLE HEART MONTH.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER AARON MO NO, NO, I'LL TAKE THAT SAMPLE.
UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, SO CONTINUING ON WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH WE RECOGNIZED IN PROCLAMATION PURPLE HEART MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE OUR, OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND OUR OUR VETERANS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR, UH, PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS.
WELL, I PUT THE CALL OUT AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE A FEW MEMBERS, UM, OF OUR AREA.
SOME ARE FROM MY AREA, SOME ARE, ARE POSSIBLY FROM YOUR OTHER DISTRICTS.
BUT, UH, MS. TRUDY, COULD YOU COME UP AND JOIN ME HERE? SOME OF THESE WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT, WE WASN'T ABLE TO COORDINATE SOME THINGS, BUT, UH, UH, I DO WANT TO, UH, I WANNA GIVE 'EM MS. TRUDY AND THEN WE CAN GET 'EM TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE MR. ROOSEVELT GIBSON PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT.
FORM MR. RICHARD O'BRIEN PURPLE HEARTS CHAPTER 1 7 7.
HE'S ACTUALLY A SECRETARY, MR. DAVID RAUL, MR. HARRY BRADY, AND MR. ROBERT SHILLING.
SO WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM A, UH, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND, AND, AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY.
NOW IF I COULD HAVE THESE THREE YOUNG LADIES COME UP AND JOIN US.
IS THIS THE NEXT ONE? CORRECT.
ALRIGHT, NEXT, WE'LL, COUNCIL MEMBER AARON MO TO RECOGNIZE GHOST SEVEN BLUE STAR MOTHERS LOUISIANA, CHAPTER SEVEN.
UM, I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF PROBABLY BEING, UH, WHOOPED HALFWAY RAISED BY THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE, UH, WHO, WHO HELPED RAISE ME AND TURN ME INTO THE FINE YOUNG GENTLEMAN.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS I'M STANDING HERE.
UH, BUT, UM, SHE RUNS, SHE RUNS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE BLUE STAR MOMS. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF THE BLUE STAR MOMS, THIS IS THE GO SEVEN CHAPTER.
BUT, UM, THERE'S MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY GUARD OR RESERVE, OR CHILDREN WHO ARE HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS.
THEY, UH, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL THROUGH THE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF CARE PACKAGES, WHICH INCLUDE MUCH OF THE HOME, MUCH INCLUDE A TOUCH OF HOME TO THEIR DEPLOYED TROOPS.
SO THEY'RE COMMUNITY BASED AND THEY'RE LOCAL.
SO AS, AS THEIR, THEIR, THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS AND, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE OVERSEAS, THESE ARE THE LADIES HERE THAT HELP SEND THEM THOSE CARE PACKAGES AND EVERYTHING.
THEY, THEY DO A, THEY HELP WITH THE VETERANS EVENTS OUT IN CENTRAL AND, AND OTHER AREAS, BUT THEY, THE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE, IT JUST KEEPS, HELPS, KEEPS THE MORALE UP AND EVERYTHING.
AND ALSO, THIS IS, THIS YEAR'S Y'ALL'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY ALSO.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS RECOGNIZE THIS ON BEHALF OF THE METRO COUNCIL, RECOGNIZE THE GO SEVEN BLUE STAR MOTHERS LOUISIANA CHAPTER SEVEN.
AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR ACTIVE MILITARY PERS ACTIVE AND, UH, NON-ACTIVE PERSONNEL.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, NO, FIRST TIME.
I WAS WORRIED SHE WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT ME.
YEAH, Y'ALL WANNA GET STAND RIGHT
[00:35:01]
OVER HERE.NEXT WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SHAWNA BANKS TO RECOGNIZE DR.
DONALD ANDREWS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS FOR STUDY ABROAD TO GHANA AND AFRICAN CONSORTIUM COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
ON JUNE 21ST, I TOOK MY FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP AFTER 61 YEARS TO GHANA, AND THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF AN INVITATION WITH THE SCHOOL, UH, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS THAT HAS A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM WITH GHANA.
IT WAS LIKE 14 DAYS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME SINCE, HOW DID YOU LIKE IT OR TELL ME ABOUT, ABOUT IT.
AND I CANNOT TO THIS DAY FIND WORDS THAT WAS SUMMARIZED THAT EXPERIENCE.
THE ONE THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THROUGH ALL OF IT'S A SPIRIT OF, IT'S A, A SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING BECAUSE THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT GHANAIANS MY ANCESTORS IN THE COUNTRY OF AFRICA WENT THROUGH PRIOR TO SLAVERY, SLAVERY, JIM CROW, AND EVEN, UM, UM, WHAT IS IT? SEPARATION SEGREGATION,
I GUESS THE ONLY TESTIMONY THAT I COULD SAY IS THAT I'M STILL HERE.
SO THEY SURVIVED WHAT I COULD NOT GIVE JUSTICE MYSELF OF EXPLAINING THIS TRIP.
SO I HAVE BROUGHT MY COHORTS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THE TRIP THAT ARE MADE UP OF STUDENTS, ACADEMICIANS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE TRIP, IT WAS SEEING HOW THE STUDENTS AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE STUDENTS AT, UM, KAMASI UNIVERSITY, HOW THEY WERE ALL ONE, HOW THEY LIKE LITERALLY HAD A KINSHIP AND A BOND IF THOUGH THEY HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER THEIR ENTIRE LIVES FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, I AM VERY THANKFUL.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS.
THE, UH, STUDENTS THAT ARE GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, THEY'RE HAVING EXPERIENCES THAT I COULD HAVE ONLY WISHED FOR, THAT THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING.
FOR SOME OF THEM, THIS WAS THEIR SECOND TIME VISITING GHANA.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A LONG MEETING AND THEY WANNA GIVE PART OF THE PRESENTATION, I'M GONNA ASK DR.
DONNA ANDREWS, WHO'S THE DEAN OF A COLLEGE BUSINESS, AND HE WILL COME UP.
THERE'S A PRESENTATION THAT ONE OF, UM, THE STUDENTS OR DR.
ANDREWS WHO GIVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE EACH ONE OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO COME TO BE INTRODUCED.
UM, SOME HAVE EVEN COME FROM OTHER AREAS.
SO PLEASE, UM, ALLOW ME THAT PRIVILEGE.
INJURIES, I, IF I COULD GET EVERYBODY TO COME UP.
IN SHORT, I'M GOING TO BE LIKE, UH, ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND SHE TOLD HER SEVENTH WITH HUSBAND, I WON'T BE WITH YOU ALONE.
AND I'M, AND I'M NOT GONNA BE LIKE THE LAST GENTLEMAN WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO CALL EVERYBODY'S NAME OUT OR WHATEVER.
I'M GONNA LET THESE PEOPLE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES RIGHT QUICKLY.
BUT BEFORE THAT, IF YOU COULD JUST GO AHEAD AND CIRCULATE THE, UH, THE SLIDES, UH, SO YOU CAN JUST KIND OF SEE SOME OF THE IMAGES OF THE, OF THE AREAS THAT IS BASICALLY THE EQUIVALENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PALACE THERE.
IN TERMS OF THE GHANA GOVERNMENT, UH, WE, THEY HAVE A PORT JUST LIKE BATON ROUGE, SO THEY ARE INTERNATIONAL PORT AS WELL.
UH, YOU GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
UH, THIS IS THE WEAVERS THE KINTE CLOTH.
SO WE WENT THERE BASICALLY WHERE THEY BASICALLY ORIGINALLY STARTED THE KINTE BUSINESS.
UH, THIS IS MORE OR LESS WITH THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY.
THIS IS KWAME AND CRIMINAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
THEY HAVE OVER 80,000 STUDENTS.
THIS IS THEIR INTERNATIONAL OFFICE.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME TO BATON ROUGE AT SOME POINT, MAYBE START A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP.
UH, THIS MORE OR LESS IS THE INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS.
SO OUR STUDENTS WILL INTERACT WITH THEIR STUDENTS.
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE COUNCILWOMAN BANKS MORE OR LESS, UH, TALKING TO THE VARIOUS STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
UH, THIS IS MORE OR LESS A, UH, CANOPY WALK.
[00:40:01]
ABOVE THE GROUND.UH, IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY U SS A I D.
AND SO BASICALLY YOU GET A CHANCE TO WALK AROUND THE FOREST AND SEE THE CANOPY THERE.
THIS IS A CRADLE LAKE, SO THERE'S A LAKE THERE, MORE OR LESS, A DEEP LAKE HIT BY A CRATER, UH, BY MEDIA.
THIS BASICALLY IS A COMMEMORATION TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME OVER IN, IN DIGIT SERVITUDE.
UH, IN TERMS OF SLAVE RIVER, THIS IS WHERE THEY WERE WASHED BEFORE THEY WERE ACTUALLY SOLD.
UH, AND HERE, MORE OR LESS AS A SLAVE COUNCIL.
THIS WAS BUILT BY THE PORTUGUESE BACK IN THE 15 HUNDREDS.
UH, AND BASICALLY IT NOW HAS TURNED INTO A SHRINE.
SO AFRICAN AMERICANS SEE MORE OR LESS WHERE THEY CAME FROM HERE, MORE OR LESS, WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF, UH, OF SUR MAAL MUNICIPALITY.
HE WOULD LIKE BASICALLY TO COME TO BATON ROUGE AT SOME POINT AND START A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP.
THEY'RE BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN IS EVERYWHERE.
SO YOU CAN COME MORE OR LESS, YOU WON'T FEEL, UH, UH, LEFT OUT.
THIS IS THEIR COUNCIL MEETING SIMILAR TO YOUR COUNCIL MEETING.
SO THEY'RE BASICALLY, THEY'RE DISCUSSING BUSINESSES.
YOU CAN SEE MORE OR LESS CITIZENS THERE WAITING, UH, TO MAKE STATEMENTS.
UH, AGAIN, MORE OR LESS, THEY GAVE US SOME CONTA, UH, CLOTH HERE IN TERMS OF COMMEMORATING.
YOU CAN SEE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS THERE.
UH, AND MORE OR LESS, THIS IS BASICALLY, UH, THE DELEGATION.
SO THERE WERE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE AT THIS PROGRAM.
UH, I THINK IT'S MORE OR LESS SHOWS THAT THE SPIRIT OF INTERNATIONALIZATION IN TERMS OF MAKING BATON ROUGE KNOWN INTERNATIONALLY.
UH, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY US, UH, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO LET THESE PEOPLE HERE WHO ALL WENT THERE WERE 35 OF US, UH, AND WE BASICALLY WENT TO THREE CITIES.
WE WENT TO A CROW, WE WENT TO KAMASA, AND WE WENT TO, UH, CAPE COAST.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO TAKE PEOPLE THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND WE BASICALLY INDICATED THAT BATON ROUGE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WE WANT MORE OR LESS TO CONTINUE TO, UH, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IF YOU GUYS WOULD JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES RIGHT QUICKLY, SO I DON'T FORGET ANYBODY.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST LOUISIANA BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I ATTENDED AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER.
I'M THE ASSOCIATE DEAN IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.
AND THIS REALLY MY HONOR TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AND TO SAY WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.
THIS IS A REALLY, A PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THIS IS OUR FOURTH, UH, PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
DURING THE LAST 25 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE STUDENTS TO SOUTH AFRICA TO UGANDA, LIBERIA, SENEGAL, NOW GHANA AND MANY OTHER PLACES.
SO REALLY HIS OBJECTIVE IS TO INTERNATIONALIZE OUR STUDENTS AND TO ENABLE THEM TO DEVELOP THAT COMPETENCY TO LIVE AND WORK IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND DIFFERENT CULTURES.
MY NAME IS MARY COBB MARSHALL.
I PLANNED THE TRIP TO GHANA WITH THE COUNTERPARTS IN GHANA.
I'M ALSO THE ONLINE PROGRAMS COORDINATOR FOR THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.
I AM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT FOR THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.
I WAS ABLE TO GO ON THIS TRIP FOR A SECOND TIME.
I WAS ALSO ABLE THIS TIME TO GO LAST YEAR AS A STUDENT THIS TIME AS STAFF TO GET ALL THE PICTURES FROM THIS TRIP, WHICH IS, HOLDS A LOT OF MEMORIES FOR US AND BE ABLE TO CREATE THIS PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL THIS MORNING.
I AM A SECOND YEAR M B A CANDIDATE AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, UM, EXPERIENCE IN GHANA BECAUSE AS A MILLENNIAL I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN A WORLD WITHOUT AMAZON.
SO IT WAS, AND AS A SUPPLY CHAIN STUDENT, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
I'M PROFESSOR OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS.
AND THEN I'M ALSO WORKING, UH, ON A RESEARCH RELATED TO INTERNATIONALIZING BATON ROUGE.
I'M OUT OF MONROE, LOUISIANA, AND I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR.
I'M IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND THIS IS MY SECOND TOUR OF AFRICA AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN.
[00:45:01]
I'M SO HAPPY THAT EACH ONE OF YOU ALL CAME.THIS WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
EVERYONE SHOULD SEE AFRICA AND, UM, IT WAS JUST AWESOME.
AND YOU DIDN'T SAY IT WAS THE BEST COLLEGE OF BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
UH, IF Y'ALL WOULD JUST GIVE US A MOM WOULD JUST TAKE PICTURES, PLEASE.
YOU WANT STAND UP HERE? I'LL GET OUTTA THE WAY.
YEAH, DON'T LEAVE ME NEXT TIME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL START OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ON BEHALF OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WATCHING EITHER ON COX AT&T ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, ON YOUTUBE AND STREAMING@VRLA.GOV.
AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
[CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYBODY TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2023.AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO, UH, HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS WHO WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UM, THIS, UH, YOUNG MAN STANDING HERE BESIDE ME, UH, IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE I TAUGHT HIM IN KINDERGARTEN
BUT ANYWAY, BUT UM, I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL RECOGNIZE HIM BECAUSE, UH, RECENTLY THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE, HE WON HIS, UH, RANK OF EAGLE.
EAGLE SCOUT IS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT.
EAGLE SCOUT IS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT ATTAINABLE IN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1911, ONLY 4% OF THE SCOUTS HAVE EARNED THIS RANK.
IT'S NOT AN EASY ROAD TO EARN THE RANK OF EAGLE.
THEY MUST FULFILL LEADERSHIP ROLES, SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OUTDOOR SKILLS.
21 OF THE 134 MERIT BADGES HAVE TO BE EARNED.
AND FINALLY, THE SCOUT HAS TO PLAN AND EXECUTE A SERVICE PROJECT AS WELL AS GO THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.
IT TAKES A LOT OF WILL AND A LOT OF DETERMINATION TO BECOME EAGLE SCOUT.
AND IT TAKES A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM, WHICH I KNOW THAT HE HAD TWO VERY GOOD, UH, PARENTS THAT STOOD BEHIND HIM AND PUSHED HIM.
AND I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME AN EAGLE SCOUT.
IF I SAY ONLY, UM, RANK OR AWARD OR MERIT THAT A YOUNG MAN AND TODAY, EVEN TODAY, A YOUNG LADY CAN EARN THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, LUKE IS GOING TO LEAD US IN OUR PRAYER AND OUR PLEDGE AS WELL.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL 'EM WHAT YOUR UM, SCOUT PROJECT WAS REAL QUICK.
SO MY EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT, I WORKED WITH THE, UH, BURDEN CENTER, MUSEUM AND GARDEN.
UM, I HELPED THEM REFURBISH SOME PLAQUES ALONG A BOARDWALK ON ONE OF THEIR TRAILS.
SO I, UM, I ASSEMBLED NEW PLAQUES AND SANDED AND PAINTED THE PEDESTALS FOR THESE PLAQUES AND THEN INSTALLED THE PLAQUES FOR THEM.
DEAR LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS.
I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THESE ELECTED LEADERS, HELP THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WOULD GLORIFY
[00:50:01]
YOU.I PRAY THAT THEY WILL FULFILL ALL OF THE PROMISES THAT THEY HAVE MADE TO BETTER THIS COMMUNITY.
I PRAY FOR THIS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
I ASK THAT WE BE BROUGHT TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP.
I PRAY FOR THE PROSPERITY OF OUR STATE AND COUNTRY AND THAT ALL OF THE FREEDOMS OF THIS GREAT NATION WOULD BE PRESERVED TO YOU.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE MS. AMARILLO? COUNCIL MEMBER? OKAY, JUST GOING.
ASHLEY, I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING ORDER.
DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ONE, APPROVAL OF THE OPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 19TH, 2023 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF AUGUST 16TH, 2023 BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR AND TREASURER.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? COUNCIL MEMBER? IS THERE A MOTIONS? SO MOVE BY.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKA.
ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[INTRODUCTIONS (Part 1 of 2)]
YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,914 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.LP LOCATED AT 1760 AMERICA STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
AND NUMBER THREE, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,414 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT TWO 11 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER FOUR, GRANTING A FIVE-YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,673 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT TWO 15 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER 15 GRANTING A FIVE-YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,495 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 21 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER SIX, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,423 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 23 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER SEVEN, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,429 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 29 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER EIGHT, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,429 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 37 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER NINE, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,498 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 47 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER 10, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,426 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 49 BRYCE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER 11, GRANTING A FIVE-YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,381 PER YEAR FOR R B R GOVERNMENT LP LOCATED AT 1762 AMERICA STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER 12, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRAN WHARF AND WILL BE USING IN A HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,030,700 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.
NUMBER 13 TO AMEND THE 2023 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO SHOW APPROPRIATE $5 MILLION FROM FUND FUND BALANCE AND ASSIGNED TO PROVIDE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER TO THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS FOR THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
NUMBER 14, AMENDING THE 2023 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $650,000 FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND FUND BALANCE AND ASSIGNED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF TEN FIRST RESPONDER UNITS BY E M SS DIRECTOR CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 15, PAMELA WILSON.
5 0 7 3 STERN STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
NUMBER 16, NADIA L RODS MUNOZ 3 1 5 5 CHARLOTTE DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUNN JR.
UH, 9 5 4 2 WEST WEST JAMAICA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUNN JR.
NUMBER 18 JERMAINE DESMOND O'CONNOR.
1 1 7 6 NORTH 46TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 19, THE ESTATE OF ALBERT BRYCE.
3 4 2 1 BRADY STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE.
NUMBER 20, BERTHA NUNEZ FIGUERA 1 7 4 5 NORTH 46TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 21 BEVERLY AND BROSSARD 8 22 TERRACE STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 22, PHOENIX DEVELOPMENT GROUP, L L C 6 0 2 SOUTH BOULEVARD COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 13, LAWN DIA WEATHERSPOON 2 5 4 5 YAZOO STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCKA ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 24 LOT 23 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH ST.
JARED PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 25 LOT THREE PART FOUR SQUARE AND FIVE PARTS SQUARE 20.
[00:55:01]
SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 26 LOT 180 7 SUBDIVISION COLONIAL HILL COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 27 LOT 180 9 SUBDIVISION COLONIAL HILL COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 28 LOT TWO SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION DAYTON COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 29 LOT 95 SUBDIVISION CASTLE PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE KNOLL NUMBER 30 LOT 39 SQUARE 59 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 31 LOT 10 SUBDIVISION CYPRESS WOODS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 32 LOT 1 63 SUBDIVISION HOLIDAY ACRES COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 33 LOT SEVEN SQUARE 15 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 34 LOT 10 SQUARE 28 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 35 LOT 16 AND 17 PART NORTH HALF SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 36 LOT 1 41 SUBDIVISION NEW FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 37 LOT 38 SQUARE 38 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 38 LOT 39 SQUARE 38 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 39 LOT 17 PART SOUTH HALF AND 18 SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 40 LOT 13 SQUARE 18 SUBDIVISION SOUTH ST.JARED PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 41 LOT V SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GRACIE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 42 LOT SIX SQUARE THREE.
SUBDIVISION WALDRON COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 34 LOT 36 SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 44 LOT 37 SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 45 LOT SEVEN PLUS SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION ZION CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
ALL ITEMS AT CAR RATING HAVE BEEN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ALL ITEMS REQUIRING READING HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
ANY OBJECTIONS, CONDEMN INTRODUCTIONS ARE PASSED.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
GO TO A SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.I'LL READ DP DWS AND PROCEEDINGS AS THEY ARE.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 AND 89.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? JEFFREY MEADE? JEFFREY MEAD? UM, THERE, THAT'S MY, THAT'S THAT'S MINE.
SO I JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM 30 DAYS, PLEASE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS? 30 DAYS ON 87.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ALL RIGHT.
90 DAYS, 84, 90 DAYS AND 86 90 DAYS.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY SEND ME TEXT MESSAGE OF ANY KIND NUMBER? 80 60 80, 60 DAYS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT, LEMME READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 78, 81, 82, 84, EXCUSE ME, 85, 88 AND 89.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
ITEM 83 AND 87 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
ITEM 77, 79 AND 80 DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH? YES, SIR.
UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UH, I TRY TO CATCH AT THE EARLIER PART, BUT, UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A, A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE AND WELL, LET'S APPROVE THIS SINCE WE ON THIS FIRST AND THEN, THEN WE'LL COME TO THAT.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOEY FIRST AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[INTRODUCTIONS (Part 2 of 2)]
MEMBER, UH, MO YES.UH, JUST REQUESTING THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE TO A PERSONAL PARTY OF PRIVILEGE THAT WE RECOGNIZE, UH, CAPTAIN PHILLIP POWDER ASTRO, UH, BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTER THAT PASSED AWAY OF CANCER, UH, THIS WEEK.
SO, UH, MOVE TO CATCH IT IN THE BEGINNING.
BUT, UH, IF WE COULD HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
MAYORS A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER
[01:00:01]
INTRODUCTIONS.UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HURST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER INTRODUCTIONS.
THERE A SECOND TO RECONSIDER INTRODUCTIONS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, RECONSIDER INTRODUCTIONS EXCEPT EXCLUDING 45.
YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE INTRODUCTIONS? THEY ARE, YEAH.
LIKE TO RE YOU GOT, YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE INTRODUCTIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOUR FIVE.
AS A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOUR AND 5 45.
45 45, THERE'S AN MOTION TO INTRODUCE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 45.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, NOR ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS.
ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 45, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 45.
[88. 23-01016]
IF YOU WILL GO TO PAGE 16, ITEM SEVEN, EXCUSE ME.GO TO PAGE EIGHT 17, ITEM 88, RECOGNITION OF COUNCIL MEMBER ERIC MAYS FROM THE CITY OF FLINT, MICHIGAN BY MICHIGAN CITY COUNCIL BY COUNCIL MEMBER DARRELL HURST.
YOU WANNA DO THE RECOGNITION FIRST, THEN HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OR PUBLIC HEARING, THEN RECOGNITION.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER SST, CONSIDER WHICH ONE YOU WANT.
I PROMISE YOU I WON'T BE LONG, BUT, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTRODUCED TO THIS AMAZING MAN.
UM, AND I WANT HIM TO SHARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, ALSO WITH THE CITY AND THE, UH, PEOPLE WATCHING FROM HOME ON, ON, ON, UH, ALL CHANNELS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
BUT, UM, HE IS A TIKTOK VIETNAM.
HE IS HAS BEEN ON RICKY SMILEY'S SHOW AND WORKS WITH DOING SOME STUFF FOR KEVIN HART AND HAS BEEN OFFERED A JUDGE'S SHOW ON SYNDICATED TELEVISION BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF HIS CHARISMATIC WAYS AND, UM, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE GRACED WITH HIS PRESENCE.
YESTERDAY WE DID A WARM WELCOME AT THE AIRPORT.
WE'VE LAUGHED OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS MORE THAN A HAVE PROBABLY IN THE LAST YEAR.
AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ALMOST TACKLED THEM, UM, TODAY AS HE GRACED THEIR CAMPUS.
AND SO TODAY, NORMAL PRESENTATIONS.
UH, I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THIS GUY COMING DOWN AND, UM, TAKING AWAY FROM HIS COUNCIL MEETING TO BE AT OURS.
AND SO I WANTED TO GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND RECOGNIZE, UH, FLINT, MICHIGAN, BUT ALSO TO, UH, TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S SEEN WHILE HE'S HERE.
AND HE WANTED TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO I HAVE A A, I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR HIM, BUT THIS PROCLAMATION SAYS, THANK YOU FOR BLESSING OUR CITY WITH YOUR CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY AND UNWAVERING PURSUIT FOR ENSURING EQUALITY FOR ALL YOUR PERSONALITY IS LIKE A MATCH THAT CREATES A WILDFIRE AND PERMEATES IN EVERYONE THAT YOU ENCOUNTER.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR DIRECT APPROACH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.
AND FOR GRACE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST.
I, I, I THANK THE, UM, LEADERSHIP HERE IN BATON ROUGE, PARTICULARLY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.
I LEARNED A NEW TERM, THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN FLINT, MICHIGAN TO THE COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR, PRO TEM AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
ALWAYS MORE IS LESS AND SO I CAN KEEP MY RECORD GOING.
I'M AT A COUNCIL MEETING ON A WEDNESDAY, NOT IN THE CITY OF FLINT.
I AM THE SENIOR COUNCIL PERSON IN THE CITY OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.
WE GOT A LOT OF RECOGNITION DURING THE WATER CRISIS.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND, UM, COUNCIL PERSON, HURST AND HIS STAFF AND LEGISLATIVE AIDS.
I APPRECIATE YOU INDULGING ME.
AND WHAT I'LL TAKE BACK FROM THIS IS YOU ARE INSPIRING ME.
YOU'VE GOT A NICE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, YOU GOT A NICE COMMUNITY.
Y'ALL BUDGET SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIGGER THAN OURS.
UH, Y'ALL DEALING WITH THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AND MAYBE CLOSE TO A BILLION.
BUT ONE THING I FOUND OUT IS THAT THE
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SOCIAL MEDIA CRAFT PICKED UP ON ME.THEY PICKED UP ON MY WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.
I BECAME FAMOUS FOR SAYING IN A MEETING, MAYOR PRO POINT OF ORDER,
AND SO I'M TOUCHING YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLDER LIKE, AND I'VE HAD CALLS.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND UM, WE'RE DOING A JOB.
SO GOD BLESS YOU AND I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU WITH MY, UM, MOM, SHE PASSING TWO 16, HER FAVORITE SCRIPTURE.
I'VE SEEN IT UNDERLINE AND IT HIT ME.
PROVERBS THIRD CHAPTER, FIFTH AND SIXTH VERSE, TRUST IN GOD WITH ALL THAT HEART MEAN THAT THROUGH THE OWN UNDERSTANDING IT, KNOWLEDGE HIM AND ALL OF OUR WAYS, EVEN IN BATON ROUGE, HE WILL DIRECT THAT PATH.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M GONNA TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE SO WE CAN ALL GET HIM IN THE FRONT AND STAND BEHIND HIM AND TAKE A PICTURE.
LET ME MAKE MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO SIT UP HERE WITH US.
SO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU AT A ACCOUNT NEED IF YOU WANT TO NO, I'M JUST JOKING.
UH, PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE.