TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE
[00:00:06]
NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.
[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]
NOTICE WAS POSTED ACCORDING TO TO OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON DECEMBER 13TH AT 5:00.[3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]
MOVING ON TO ITEM THREE.DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. YES, SIR.
UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A BOARD MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM.
IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO. NO, SIR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OMAR. MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR.
SAMANTHA, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY? OKAY. NOW ITEM FIVE. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR SPECIAL BOARD MEETING HELD ON
[5. AGENDA ITEMS]
[A. Consider approval of Minutes for the Special Board meeting held on November 20, 2024.]
NOVEMBER 2024. THESE MINUTES ARE IN A BOARD PACKET AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN READ.ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES? NO, SIR. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
OKAY. SO WE'RE. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE WE HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'D LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL, RECOGNIZE OUR STAFF FOR.
WE GOT SOME COOKIES TODAY, AND WE GOT SOME SOME COOKIES, SOME MORE COOKIES FROM DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, VERONICA GONZALEZ.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS. IT IS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL. AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR EDC.
THANK YOU. AND I WANTED TO ADD THAT WE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH COOKIES SO YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING COOKIES. JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.
THANK YOU GUYS. WELL AND I WANT TO ADD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
YOU YOU THINK IT GOES UNNOTICED MANY TIMES, BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EVENTS.
AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR FOR BEING THERE ALWAYS AND REPRESENTING US IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. THANK YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY. OKAY.
NEXT ITEM IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS. CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY, EVALUATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE SESSION.SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND.
AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
OKAY. IT IS NOW 538, AND WE'LL BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
PHONES. IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY.
YOU KNOW WHAT? LET ME CHECK MINE TOO. I'LL BE.
SO GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND AND THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT, ONE THAT HIGHLIGHTS BOTH THE POWER OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THEN ALSO COMMUNITY ACTION IN JUST MAKING EDINBURG A SAFER PLACE FOR ALL OF US.
AND TONIGHT, WE ARE SUPER FORTUNATE TO HEAR FROM SHAUN AND JENNY CARTER.
THEY HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO INSPIRING OTHERS TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS BEHIND THE WHEEL. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR
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INCREDIBLE EFFORTS IN PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.THEIR MAKE A PLAN CAMPAIGN HAS REALLY SET THE STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE HERE IN OUR AREA WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AS WE GO THROUGH THIS EVENING, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE BETTER AND SAFER CHOICES LIKE PLANNING AHEAD, USING A RIDESHARE SERVICE, OR EVEN JUST PICKING UP THE PHONE AND CALLING A FRIEND OR A RELATIVE FOR HELP.
HEY, COME AND GET ME, BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN PREVENT TRAGEDIES.
LET US BEGIN TONIGHT IN PRAYER.
DAVID WING OF THE EDINBURG CLERGY AND POLICE PARTNERSHIP WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION.
AND AFTER THE PRAYER, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS OFFICER ARIEL BENEDICT, LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER? HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH HEARTS, MINDFUL OF THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DWI RELATED CRASHES, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES.
GUIDE US FATHER, AS WE STRIVE TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY.
FATHER, YOUR WORD SAYS IN GALATIANS CHAPTER SIX, VERSE SEVEN THROUGH EIGHT, IT REMINDS US THAT WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.
SO. SO PLEASE GRANT US THE WISDOM TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES, CHOICES, AND THE COURAGE TO INTERVENE WHEN NECESSARY.
PROTECT OUR ROADS AND OUR HIGHWAYS FROM DANGERS OF IMPAIRED DRIVING FROM ANY FORM THAT IT MAY COME. WATCH OVER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS THEY WORK TIRELESSLY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DWI RELATED ACCIDENTS.
FATHER, WE ASK FOR YOUR COMFORT FOR THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED WITH INJURIES OR LOSS OF SOMEONE BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
MAY THEY FIND PEACE IN YOUR PRESENCE AND STRENGTH IN THEIR GRIEF.
INSPIRE ALL OF US TO BE VIGILANT AND PROACTIVE IN PROMOTING DWI AWARENESS AND PREVENTION. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO SO.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO SEAN AND HIS MOTHER TO SHARE THEIR STORY SO THAT OTHERS MAY AVOID A LIFE CHANGING EVENT SUCH AS THEIRS. MAY OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS AND A SAFER, HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
WE ASK THIS IN THE HOLY NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
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 MAY BE SEATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ARIEL AND DAVID.
I MENTIONED HIM A LITTLE EARLIER, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE JOHNNY HERNANDEZ, OUR FORMER DPS TROOPER.
HE'S ALSO WITH EDINBURG CRIME STOPPERS AND OUR 2040 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
JOHNNY, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO WALK THROUGH OUR FRONT DOORS HERE AT CITY HALL, YOU PROBABLY SAW OUR POLICE UNIT THAT WAS CLEARLY A BIT MANGLED AND WORSE FOR WEAR.
A DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT HIT IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO HOME FOR US JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
SO IF YOU COULD, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT A SPECIAL VIDEO ON THAT.
SO GO AHEAD. AND TURN UP THE AUDIO.
[00:10:04]
WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT HERE ON THE INTERSECTION OF CHAPIN AND 281 CHAPIN IN 21.IT WAS SCARY. AGAIN, I HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY LIFE.
I REMEMBER I GOT TO THE STOP AND I WAS GOING EASTBOUND, AND I REMEMBER SEEING I WAS LIKE A WHITE CHALLENGER, THE TWO DOOR DODGE CAR, AND THEY WERE STOPPED.
THEY WERE GOING SOUTHBOUND. SO THE CAR GOES AND IT'S MY TURN.
SO I JUST REMEMBER GOING AND THEN JUST LIKE A LIKE A BOMB, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE A BOMB.
HEY HEY, RELAX RELAX RELAX, RELAX.
AND THEN I SEE SMOKE. I GUESS FROM THE AIRBAGS.
I JUST REMEMBER IT WAS LIKE A BOOM, LIKE.
WOW. LIKE I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I'VE BEEN A COP 23 YEARS, AND I'VE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
I REMEMBER ON THIS SIDE IT WAS LIKE IT WAS A FELT REAL WET.
AND IT WAS IT WAS BURNING AND IT HURT, YOU KNOW? I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. SO I FIGURED A PIECE OF METAL FROM EITHER WHOEVER HIT ME OR MY CAR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED. I GO, MAN, SOMETHING STABBED ME. THAT'S WHAT I WAS LIKE. I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I NEVER SAW THE TRUCK, NEVER SAW THE TRUCK. ALL I REMEMBER WAS A WHITE CAR AND THEN THE BOOM.
AND I SEE THE PICTURES, LIKE, WOW.
LIKE I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, HE ACTUALLY WAS, I GUESS A LIKE A 180, I GUESS. AND THEN IT THREW ME ON TOP OF THE CEMENT AREA THERE. AND, AND THEN WHEN I SAW THE WINDOW, PEOPLE WERE LIKE, HEY, DID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD ON THE WINDOW? BUT I THINK IT WAS THAT ONE WAY SIGN THAT'S ON THE UNIT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT BROKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT WINDOW.
BUT YEAH, IT WAS JUST IT'S CRAZY.
I NEVER SAW THE TRUCK. WE'VE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON TRYING TO REDUCE DWI ACCIDENTS.
BUT THE LAST THING THAT I THOUGHT OF JUST BEFORE NOON IS THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A SUSPECTED IMPAIRED DRIVER, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS CAUSED BY A SUSPECTED IMPAIRED DRIVER, WHICH JUST REALLY JUST IT SHOCKS THE CONSCIENCE A LITTLE BIT.
YOU DO HAVE A DWI IN THE MORNING SOMETIMES, BUT ABOUT NOON ON A SUNDAY WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY EARLY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT JAY IS HERE WITH US, ALTHOUGH HE SUFFERED SOME, SOME INJURIES THAT HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OVER. AND SO TO HAVE HIM IN THE RECOVERY STAGES RIGHT NOW IT JUST IT FEELS WONDERFUL.
AND IT'S JUST A MUCH BETTER SITUATION.
SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUDGE HECTOR BUSTOS. I'M GOING TO BE MAGISTRATE TODAY.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BEING CHARGED WITH. THE RANGE OF PUNISHMENTS. THE FINES APPLY TO THE CASE AND THE BOND AMOUNT. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THEM? WITH THAT SAID, SIR, YOU'RE AFFORDED RIGHTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE. IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BEING CHARGED WITH. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE RIGHT TO KNOW YOUR BOND. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL CHOOSING, WHICH YOU HAVE HERE, SIR.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY WITH YOU PRESENT TO PRIOR AND AFTER ANY TYPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT QUESTIONING OR INTERVIEW.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND I REQUIRE TO MAKE A STATEMENT. IF YOU GIVE A STATEMENT, UNDERSTAND THAT STATEMENT CAN AND MAY BE HELD AGAINST YOU AT A LATER COURT DATE. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO END THIS INTERVIEW AT ANY POINT IN TIME. BY INVOKING YOUR RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN EXAMINING TRIAL BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING CHARGED WITH A FIRST DEGREE FELONY. SIR. EXAMINING TRIALS FOR YOUR CHILD'S PROBABLE CAUSE IS THE BASIS OF THE ARREST. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL. IF YOU CANNOT HIRE AN ATTORNEY, YOU'RE BEING CHARGED WITH INTOXICATION, ASSAULT CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO A PEACE OFFICER. THAT IS A FIRST DEGREE FELONY THAT CARRIES A RANGE OF PUNISHMENT OF NO LESS THAN FIVE YEARS, UP TO 99 YEARS, OR LIFE IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND A FINE NOT TO EXCEED $10,000.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SIR. GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BOND AT THIS POINT IN TIME AT $1.5 MILLION.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR MEDIA STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO MAKE A PLAN AND USE THIRD PARTY RIDE SHARES TO PLAN YOUR EVENING. WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO AN EVENT OR COMING HOME, YOU NEED TO MAKE A PLAN. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THERE AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET HOME? IF WE'LL JUST MAKE A PLAN, IF WE'LL HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO SAY, LOOK, YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING TONIGHT, LET'S GET YOU HOME A DIFFERENT WAY THAT YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR.
AND THE MACHISMO IN OUR CULTURE IS, NO, NO, I CAN DRIVE, I CAN DRIVE, AND AND YOU JUST DON'T NEED TO TAKE THOSE RISKS BECAUSE IT MIGHT NOT BE YOU THAT MAKES THE DRIVING ERROR.
YOU COULD BE HIT BY ANOTHER DRINKER, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AS WELL, YOU DON'T GET FREE FROM THE CHARGE.
SO JUST US BEING SMARTER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL IT IS.
THERE'S THE UBER. WE DO HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.
AND I THINK ABOUT IT NOW AND IT IS IT'S CRAZY.
IT'S LIKE, MAN, IF THE GUY WOULD HAVE JUST, YOU KNOW, HIT ME, YOU KNOW, OR I WOULD HAVE GONE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, MY SIDE.
HE WOULD HAVE HIT MY DOOR INSTEAD OF THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. I WOULD HAVE.
YEAH, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IT FOR ME THERE. YOU KNOW, SO LIKE I SAID, I GOT LUCKY, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE, OH, YOU WERE LUCKY. IT'S LIKE, NO, BECAUSE DUDE, GOD WAS THERE, BRO. LIKE THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW,
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THEY HIT THERE INSTEAD OF HERE.SO IT'S LIKE, OKAY. YEAH, I SEE IT.
YOU KNOW, IT IS. I WAS I WAS LUCKY AND DON'T DO IT.
IT'S DON'T DO IT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOT TO BE A FAMILY MEMBER.
HEY, TIA. HEY. WHOEVER YOU KNOW, I DRANK TOO MUCH.
COME PICK ME UP. YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMPLE.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE YOU KNOW ANY FAMILY MEMBER.
AS LONG AS THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO, MIJO. YO VOY DE LEVANTO. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE TO KEEP YOU FROM HURTING SOMEONE OR HURTING YOURSELF, JUST DON'T DO IT. IT'S BECAUSE, YEAH, YOU CAN KILL SOMEBODY AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT.
SO THAT'S SOME PRETTY POWERFUL STUFF.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF OUR OWN POLICE OFFICERS.
BROAD DAYLIGHT WASN'T EVEN NOON YET.
SO IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS ON OUR VALLEY STREETS AT NIGHT.
OVERNIGHT. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KNOW THAT FIRSTHAND.
AND NOW, IF WE COULD PLEASE WELCOME OUR MAYOR, RAMIRO GARZA JR. FOR THE OFFICIAL WELCOME REMARKS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU HERE TONIGHT.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO SHAUN AND JENNY CARTER.
SHE'S IN OUR CITY. TO COME AND MAKE YOUR IMPACTFUL PRESENTATION TO US THIS EVENING.
YOUR MESSAGE IS ONE OF RESILIENCE, HOPE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IT RESONATES DEEPLY HERE IN THE MISSION OF OUR CITY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU DO TO INSPIRE CHANGE AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OUR INCREDIBLE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR EDINBURG POLICE FORCE.
THEIR DEDICATION TO KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE IS A CORNERSTONE IN OUR COMMUNITY STRENGTH, AS WELL AS ALL OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFER AND WE AS RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR LIVES.
THANKS TO YOUR BRAVE BRAVERY OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FROM LAUNCHING THE MAKE A PLAN CAMPAIGN TO REMIND DRIVERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS TO STEPPING UP PATROLS AND CRACKING DOWN ON DWI.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE SAVING LIVES, AND SET AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO TRULY CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
TOGETHER, INITIATIVES LIKE THESE HELP CREATE A SAFER COMMUNITY.
WHEN WILL WE ALL FEEL EMPOWERED TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE? THANK YOU TO CHIEF JAIME AYALA, OUR OFFICERS, AND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR LEADING THE CHARGE IN THIS CRITICAL MISSION.
AS WE HEAR SEAN'S POWERFUL STORY TONIGHT, LET'S REMEMBER THAT EACH OF US HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN MAKING OUR ROAD SAFER.
CHOOSING TO DRIVE RESPONSIBLY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING YOURSELF, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS AS WELL. IF YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING, DON'T GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.
INSTEAD, MAKE THE SMART CHOICE TO USE A RIDE SHARING SERVICE.
CALL A FRIEND OR ARRANGE FOR A DESIGNATED DRIVER.
THESE SIMPLE DECISIONS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND TRAGEDY.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IS IF YOU PLAN TO DRINK, MAKE A PLAN. MAKE A PLAN OF WHAT YOU'D LIKE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
CALL WHOEVER YOU'RE GOING TO CALL.
HAVE THEIR NUMBER WITH YOU SO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CALL THEM IF YOU ARE GOING TO DRINK. LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE SAFETY, RESPONSIBILITY AND COMPASSION REMAIN AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING AND I KNOW WE'RE HERE FOR AN AMAZING PRESENTATION.
I MENTIONED IT. YOU HEARD MAYOR MENTIONED THE MAKE A PLAN CAMPAIGN.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY BEEN MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO TACKLE DRUNK DRIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR MORE ON THAT, PLEASE WELCOME OUR POLICE CHIEF, JAIME AYALA. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. TO OUR FELLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THIS FIGHT WITH US TO TO TRY TO KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE.
I DO WANT TO SHARE JUST MY PERSPECTIVE AND A FEW WORDS WITH YOU.
[00:20:05]
THIS THIS DECISION TO DRIVE IMPAIRED CAN SHATTER SO MANY LIVES, NOT JUST THE LIVES OF THE VICTIMS THAT ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED, BUT THE LIVES OF THE IMPAIRED DRIVER WHO MADE THE DECISION TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND GOING TO PRISON OR POTENTIALLY GOING TO PRISON. AND WHAT IMPACT THAT HAS ON THOSE FAMILIES WHO KNOW THEY HAVE A LOVED ONE IN PRISON? YOU SEE, IF I ASKED ANYBODY AND I WON'T ASK YOU TO RAISE HANDS, BUT IF I ASKED YOU WHO IN HERE HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE ACTIONS OF AN IMPAIRED DRIVER, EITHER OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER, OR AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT YOU KNEW THAT WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER, SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED, OR MAYBE THE DRUNK DRIVER THEMSELVES.THAT WAS PART OF YOUR FAMILY? I'VE EXPERIENCED BOTH.
I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO MADE A DECISION.
HE STRUCK A YOUNG MAN ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY.
BROKE HIS LEGS. FORTUNATELY, HE LIVED.
BUT HE WAS ON A FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY SOCCER, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND MY FAMILY MEMBER WENT TO PRISON FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS ON A SIX YEAR SENTENCE. NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE IN HIS LIFE.
A GOOD MAN. BUT THE DECISION COST HIS FAMILY AND HIS KIDS.
A LOT OF OF OF STRUGGLES THAT THEY WENT THROUGH AS A YOUNG COP.
I WAS WORKING COMING ON MIDNIGHT SHIFT WHEN WE HAD A RADIO CALL GO OUT.
TWO OF OUR OFFICERS HAD JUST DROPPED OFF A A LADY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT HER APARTMENT AND WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE STATION TO TO GO OFF DUTY WHEN A DRUNK DRIVER STRUCK THEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ULTIMATELY KILLING BOTH THE OFFICERS.
THEY EACH LEFT A WIFE AND THREE DAUGHTERS.
IT WAS NOT MY INTENT THAT NIGHT TO GO SIT AT THE MORGUE WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT OUR OFFICERS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE JUST AS MUCH RISK AS OUR CITIZENS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT. AND SO, BY JUST MAKING A PLAN AS TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO YOUR DESTINATION AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO RETURN HOME CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT SO MANY PEOPLE. YOU SEE, LAST JULY, 27TH OF 23.
WE HAD A DRUNK DRIVER CAUSE A CRASH AND A HEAD ON COLLISION AND KILLED A GRANDMOTHER, A MOTHER AND TWO KIDS.
NOT ONLY WERE THEIR LIVES SHATTERED, BUT THE OPERATOR OF THAT VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING DRUNK, HIS FAMILY'S LIVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE REACTED.
IN 2022, WE MADE 342 DWI ARRESTS.
IN 2023, WE MADE 452 DWI ARRESTS.
AFTER THAT ACCIDENT IN JULY OF 23.
WE AS A CITY, AS A DEPARTMENT, INCREASED OUR EFFORTS BY CREATING THIS MAKE A PLAN AND WE ADDED TWO OFFICERS TO OUR DWI ENFORCEMENT.
THOSE TWO OFFICERS ARE HERE TONIGHT, OFFICER AND OFFICER RODRIGUEZ, AND HAVE DILIGENTLY BEEN WORKING EVERY NIGHT THAT THEY'RE ON SHIFT TO FIND AN IMPAIRED DRIVER AND REMOVE THEM.
WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY LIVES OUR OFFICERS ACROSS THIS VALLEY HAVE SAVED BY MAKING THAT ARREST. AND SO IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IN A POWERFUL POSITION THAT'S GOING TO GET YOU OFF OF A DWI, MAYBE YOU THROW THEIR NAME OUT ON THE ROADSIDE, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY.
IF YOU'RE IMPAIRED, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT POSITION IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE A LAW AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE JAIL.
SO WHETHER YOU WANT TO GIVE US A BREATH 365 DAYS A YEAR OR NOT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR BLOOD IF WE DON'T GET THE SAMPLE. AND THAT IS OUR STANCE.
AND THAT'S OUR HARD THAT WE FEEL ABOUT ABOUT THIS CRIME.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE ALL ALL BEEN IMPACTED.
I'M NOT SAYING LET'S DON'T CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS.
I'M JUST SAYING. LET'S BE RESPONSIBLE AND MAKE A PLAN.
THANK YOU. CHIEF. NEXT UP TO THE PODIUM FROM MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, MISS MAURA TORRES.
OFFICERS, YOU ALL ARE HEROES ON OUR STREETS.
YOU KNOW, WITHOUT YOU ALL, OUR COMMUNITY WOULDN'T BE SAFE.
[00:25:02]
SO I AM WITH MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING IS A NONPROFIT LEADER IN A MOVEMENT TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE THERE ARE NO MORE VICTIMS OF IMPAIRED DRIVING.BY WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL, OUR LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO AN UNDERAGE DRINKING AND ALL DRUNK AND DRUNK DRIVING.
MATT HAS HELPED REDUCE DRUNK DRIVING DEATHS BY MORE THAN 50%, SAVING MORE THAN 400,000 LIVES.
MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING PROJECTS THAT DRUNK DRIVING DEATHS MAY SURGE 38% DURING THE COMING HOLIDAY SEASON, BASED ON THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE FROM NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.
THIS COMES ON TOP OF A 27% YEAR ROUND INCREASE IN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUNK DRIVING SINCE 2018, WITH SOMEONE IN THE US NOW KILLED OR INJURED IN A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH EVERY 79 SECONDS ON AVERAGE. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING KNOWS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S JOB IS NOT EASY, SO WE THANK YOU.
AS OUR HEROES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU DEVOTE YOUR TIME, RISK YOUR LIVES, AND DO SO MOST OF THE TIME WITHOUT PROPER APPRECIATION.
ALL IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE KNOW EACH OF YOU SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES ALWAYS WITHOUT PRESIDENTS AND OFTEN WITHOUT THANKS. MATT IS GRATEFUL TO YOU AND WE OFFER A TIRELESS SUPPORT TO YOU ALL.
THIS YEAR, HOLIDAY SEASON, TIME PERIODS AND THE YEAR OF 2022 HOLIDAY SEASON TIME PERIOD IS DEFINED AS DECEMBER 1ST TO 2022, ALL THE WAY THROUGH JANUARY 1ST, 2023.
WITH THAT SAID, NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY PERIODS IN 2022.
NEW YEARS HOLIDAY TIME PREDEFINED 6 P.M.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30TH TO 1159.
MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND DECEMBER 2023.
NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY TIME PERIOD IS DEFINED AS 6 P.M.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, 2023 TO 11:59 P.M.
ALL THE WAY THROUGH MONDAY, JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
IN 2022, THERE WERE 135 TRAFFIC CRASHES IN TEXAS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TIME PERIOD, RESULTING IN 435 FATALITIES AND 1608 SERIOUS INJURIES IN 2023.
THERE WERE 49,970 TRAFFIC CRASHES IN TEXAS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TIME PERIOD, RESULTING IN 379 FATALITIES AND 1566 SERIOUS INJURIES.
THIS IS A 1.7 INCREASE IN TRAFFIC CRASHES IN TEXAS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TIME PERIOD, COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF 2022.
THIS IS A 12.9 DECREASE IN TRAFFIC CRASHES FATALITIES IN TEXAS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TIME PERIOD COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE TIME PERIOD. THERE WERE 2466 DUI ALCOHOL RELATED TRAFFIC CRASHES IN TEXAS, RESULTING IN 108 FATALITIES AND 228 SERIOUS INJURIES DURING THE 22 2023 HOLIDAY SEASON TIME PERIOD. THERE WERE 2460 407 79 DUI ALCOHOL RELATED TRAFFIC CRASHES IN TEXAS, RESULTING IN 106 FATALITIES AND 235 SERIOUS INJURIES.
THEREFORE, WE SHOULD ALL BE SAFE AND REMEMBER THAT WE ALL WANT TO GET HOME TO OUR LOVED ONES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOVED ONES GET HOME.
SO IF YOU SEE THEM, PLEASE REMIND THEM.
WE DO WANT TO KEEP CELEBRATING AND CELEBRATING.
CELEBRATE LIFE, NOT CELEBRATE A DEATH.
AND? AND IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT.
IT'S A CRIME WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.
THEREFORE, WE ONCE AGAIN WITH MADD, WE ASK EVERYONE TO MAKE A PLAN.
BE RESPONSIBLE. ONE MORE THING I'D LIKE TO SHARE IS OUR BENTLEY'S LAW.
ARE YOU ALL FAMILIAR WITH BENTLEY'S LAW? BENTLEY'S LAW IS, LET'S SAY I KILLED SOMEBODY, AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS A BREADWINNER OF THE FAMILY.
WELL, I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL THE LAST CHILD IS 18 YEARS OF AGE. SO I WILL SERVE MY SENTENCE IMMEDIATELY UPON OBTAINING A JOB, I WILL PAY CHILD SUPPORT FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND THEN CONTINUE TO ALSO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
SO IT'S FINALLY SOME FORM OF JUSTICE FOR THOSE VICTIMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE AWESOME.
YOUR ORGANIZATION IS AWESOME TOO.
SO LET'S GET TO OUR MAIN EVENT.
SHAWN CARTER IS A PRETTY UNLIKELY SPEAKER.
[00:30:02]
HOWEVER, LIFE HAS SEEMED TO LAUGH AT HIS OBSTACLES AND DEFICITS AND INSTEAD GIVEN HIM INSPIRATION AND PURPOSE.AT ONLY 22 YEARS OLD, IN MARCH OF 2005, SEAN DREAMED OF HIS FUTURE AS AN ATTORNEY, AND THAT INCLUDED A DRINK OR THREE WITH HIS COLLEGE BUDDIES TO CHILL.
AND HE COULD HAVE, BUT HE CHOSE NOT TO DRIVE, AND EVEN THEN LIFE CHANGED FOR HIM IN AN INSTANT.
SINCE SEAN AND HIS MOM, JENNY, BEGAN THEIR MISSION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING IMPAIRED, THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER 500,000 PEOPLE AT OVER 650 VENUES. SEAN HERE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED ON THE FLOOR OF THE TEXAS SENATE.
HE HAS RECEIVED A PROCLAMATION FROM THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
HE HAS BEEN AWARDED AS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SURVIVOR OF THE YEAR, AS WELL AS RECEIVED NUMEROUS ACCOLADES OVER THE PAST 19 YEARS.
WHEN SHAUN SPEAKS, THE NONPROFIT THAT SHAUN AND JENNY FOUNDED BACK IN 2010, HAS BEEN FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED TO TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE.
FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS NOW AND NOW AT 41, SHAUN IS HERE THIS WEEK IN THE RGV, SHARING HIS STORY WITH MULTIPLE SCHOOLS.
AND TODAY HE AND HIS MOM WILL NOW SHARE THEIR STORY WITH ALL OF YOU.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME MISS JENNY CARTER AND MR. SEAN CARTER. THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU THAT YOU MADE ME CRY.
SO MY NAME IS JENNY CARTER, AND I AM SEAN'S MOM.
I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO BE THAT MOM FOR 41 YEARS.
IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY, I CAN TELL YOU, BUT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE HERE.
NOW, SEAN IS A VERY UNLIKELY SPEAKER BECAUSE HE CAN'T TALK.
HE WAS IN A VERY SEVERE CAR CRASH WHEN HE WAS 22 YEARS OLD AND SUSTAINED A MASSIVE HEAD INJURY, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER INJURIES.
AND I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU LATER, BUT I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE INJURIES.
BUT BEFORE WE START, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SHOW YOU A SLIDESHOW SET TO MUSIC.
IT'S IT. THERE'S PICTURES OF SEAN TRYING TO REHABILITATE HIS BODY AFTER HE WENT THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE CRASH. AND YOU'LL SEE THE STRUGGLES THAT HE HAD.
YOU WILL SEE THE VEHICLE THAT HE WAS RIDING IN.
HE WAS THE PASSENGER. NOTICE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR.
WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES UP, YOU'LL SEE X RAYS OF HIS BODY WITH METAL INSIDE. AND YOU WILL SEE THROUGHOUT.
SEAN SMILES AND THAT SMILE THAT HE HAS, THAT HE WAKES UP WITH EVERY DAY, REALLY HAS SUSTAINED ME AND MADE MY LIFE POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT I DO.
AND THAT SUPPORT THIS YOUNG MAN.
SO NOW IF WE'LL START THAT VIDEO.
WHY DO YOU CRY? THE WORLD IS SOUND ASLEEP AND TOO AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT SHOW UP WHILE YOU'RE DREAMING. NOBODY. NOBODY.
EVERY DAY YOU TRY TO PICK UP ALL THE PIECES, ALL THE MEMORIES.
NOBODY. NOBODY. NOBODY SEES YOU.
NOBODY. NOBODY WILL BELIEVE YOU.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU.
GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW IT'S KILLING YOU.
BUT THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU.
BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS THE REAL YOU.
THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
[00:35:02]
KIND OF LOVE THAT. YOU KEEP A COVER OVER EVERY SINGLE SECRET.SO AFRAID OF SOMEONE SAW THEM, THEY WOULD LEAVE.
BUT SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY SEES YOU.
SOMEBODY. SOMEBODY WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU.
GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW IT'S KILLING YOU.
BUT THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU.
BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS THE REAL YOU.
THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
I GOT NO LOVE. FOR THE LONELY, FOR THE ASHAMED, THE MISUNDERSTOOD. AND THE ONES TO BLAME.
WHAT IF WE COULD START OVER? WE COULD START OVER. WE COULD START OVER.
OH, FOR THE LONELY. ONLY ASHAMED.
THE MISUNDERSTOOD. AND THE ONES TO BLAME.
WHAT IF WE COULD START OVER? WE COULD START OVER. WE COULD START OVER.
CAUSE THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU.
BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS THE REAL YOU.
THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU.
BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS THE REAL YOU.
THERE'S A KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS.
CAUSE I KNOW. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR ME TO WATCH THOSE MEMORIES SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN.
ANYWAY SEAN WILL TALK TO YOU WHILE HE DOES.
WE'RE GOING TO SHARE ANOTHER VIDEO WITH YOU.
IT HAS NO SOUND. IT'S ME TAKING CARE OF HIM ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.
I WAS SO MUCH YOUNGER BACK THEN.
ANYWAY, I'M CHANGING SEAN'S DIAPER.
HE WANTS ME TO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TELL PEOPLE THAT HE HASN'T WORN DIAPERS IN A REALLY LONG TIME. HE. HE ACTUALLY WAS DEEP IN A COMA, SO HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
HIS EYES ARE OPEN. HE DOES TRACK ME AROUND THE ROOM, BUT HE'S NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING.
HE'S IN A SPECIAL REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN DALLAS.
THAT'S FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUSTAINED COMAS.
SO THAT WILL PLAY SILENTLY AS SEAN SHARES HIS STORY WITH YOU.
HEY. HOW YOU DOING? THANKS FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN THAT CHAIR, WILLING TO LISTEN TO MY THOUGHTS.
I GUESS YOU CAN ALREADY TELL THAT I AM A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
NO ONE WOULD CHOOSE TO USE THIS ROBOTIC SYNTHESIZED VOICE TO COMMUNICATE.
I OFTEN WANT TO SAY EVERYTHING WITH THE EMOTION I'M FEELING, BUT THIS TEXT TO SPEECH IS SO MATTER OF FACT.
SO YOU MAY GET BORED OR LULLED TO SLEEP BY THE MONOTONY OF MY VOICE, BUT MAYBE YOU WILL BE INTRIGUED AND DECIDE TO REALLY HEAR THE WORDS THAT I HAVE TYPED.
THANK GOODNESS THAT THERE IS AN APP FOR THAT.
HI, MY NAME IS SHAWN CARTER AND I SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY OR TBI ON MARCH 27TH, 2005 WHEN I WAS 22 YEARS OLD.
CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE IF YOU COULDN'T TALK AFTER 19 YEARS? I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT ON THE SUBJECT, BUT LET'S FORGET ABOUT THAT FOR NOW.
HOWEVER, THIS IPAD SPEAKS WHAT I TYPE, SO I SUPPOSE IT WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE TO SAY I AM A PUBLIC TYPIST. SO IF I SAY SOMETHING FUNNY, YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO LAUGH.
THIS IS A SERIOUS SUBJECT, BUT I LOOK FOR HUMOR EVERYWHERE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE FELT LIKE I WAS PARTICIPATING AND CONTRIBUTING IN
[00:40:02]
THE CONVERSATION, ONLY TO HAVE SOMEONE TAKE THE CONVERSATION AND RIP IT RIGHT AWAY FROM ME. I KNOW IT'S NOT AN INTENTIONAL THING.CONVERSATION IS FLUID AND JUST LIKE THE FLOWING STREAM THAT CHANGES COURSE IF IT HITS AN OBSTACLE, CONVERSATIONS CHANGE COURSE JUST BECAUSE OF AN INFLECTION OR A THOUGHT.
THERE ARE TIMES I COMPLETE TYPING WHAT I WANT TO SAY, AND WHEN I FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK IT, I REALIZE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MOVED ON AND FORGOTTEN THE SUBJECT WE WERE DISCUSSING WHEN I STARTED RECORDING MY THOUGHTS.
AND CAN YOU IMAGINE IF SOMEONE IS GETTING ON YOUR LAST NERVE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL THEM TO BE QUIET? HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIS MOTHER.
MY INABILITY TO SPEAK CAN BE A REAL OBSTACLE TO ME.
I CAN'T ALWAYS RELY ON MY SMILE TO GET ME OUT OF UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS.
AND WHEN I AM WALKING WITH MY WALKER, BOTH OF MY HANDS CONTRIBUTE TO MY FORWARD MOMENTUM. I CAN'T HOLD MY IPAD AND USE IT TO SPEAK WHILE WALKING.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE EXPRESSION CAN'T TALK AND WALK AT THE SAME TIME? WELL, THAT IS ME. LIFE WAS NOT ALWAYS HIS WAY FOR ME.
I GREW UP IN A VERY SMALL NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY WHERE I WENT TO A RURAL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL. COOL.
THE COMBINED POPULATION OF THE TWO TOWNS THAT WERE 13 MILES APART WAS ABOUT 1200.
MY MOM WORKED LONG HOURS AND SHE RAISED ME AND MY BROTHERS TO BE AWARE THAT SCHOOL WAS OUR JOB. SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TO HARP ON US TO DO OUR HOMEWORK.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DID.
WHEN I WAS 15, I BEGAN MODELING.
I HAD AN AGENT IN DALLAS AND LATER ONE IN NEW YORK CITY.
I WAS MODELING TO EARN MONEY TO PAY MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE.
I KNEW THAT MOM WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HELP ME MUCH.
SHE WAS TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH RAISING ME AND MY TWO BROTHERS.
I WAS COMPETITIVE GROWING UP, SO I LIKED TO CHALLENGE MY CLASSMATES TO SEE WHO COULD MAKE THE BEST GRADES.
I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED PLAYING GAMES, AND I WOULD MAKE CHALLENGING THEM A GAME TO HELP ME STAY ENGAGED IN MY SCHOOLWORK.
IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY, BUT WE HAD EVERYTHING WE NEEDED.
WELL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF MY TWIN BROTHER AND I HAD BEEN GIVEN OUR OWN CARS IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ONCE WE HAD OUR LICENSES, WE WOULD OFTEN BORROW MOM'S CAR AND MEET UP WITH OUR FRIENDS. WE LATER GOT JOBS TO BUY CHEAP VEHICLES WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL SO WE DID NOT HAVE TO SHARE. DRINKING WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I SNUCK AROUND AND DID.
MOM ALWAYS TOLD US, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE AND DON'T EVER RIDE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DRINKING. FOR SOME PEOPLE, GETTING DRUNK IS VIEWED AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO WHILE IN COLLEGE.
DID IT HELP ME ACHIEVE MY GOALS? HONESTLY, FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS AFTER THE CRASH, IT MADE EVERY SINGLE GOAL I HAD SET FOR MYSELF SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
I HAD BEGUN MODELING WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I DECIDED TO SPEND MY 21ST BIRTHDAY IN NEW YORK CITY, TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE MODELING INDUSTRY SO THAT I COULD PAY MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. I HAD WORKED SEVERAL MODELING JOBS IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA, AND I HAD A MODELING AGENT IN NEW YORK CITY WHO BELIEVED THAT I WOULD ONE DAY MAKE THE BIG TIME. AFTER LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY FOR FIVE MONTHS, I DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO GET BACK TO TEXAS AND FINISH COLLEGE.
I NEVER ASPIRED TO BE SOME BIG TIME MODEL WHO MADE A CAREER OF IT.
MODELING WAS JUST SOMETHING I HOPED WOULD PAY FOR COLLEGE.
I ENDED UP ATTENDING COLLEGE AT MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY IN WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS. I CAN REMEMBER NOTHING OF WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF MARCH 27TH, 2005, BUT THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD.
I HAD GONE OUT TO A COUPLE OF BARS IN WICHITA FALLS WITH TWO OF MY BUDDIES.
WE WERE CHECKING OUT THE CHICKS AND TRYING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME SINCE I WAS 22.
AT THE TIME, I WAS DOING NOTHING WRONG.
AS LONG AS WE WERE PAYING, THE BAR'S CONTINUED TO SERVE US.
[00:45:04]
THE MISTAKE CAME WHEN I MADE THE DECISION TO WRITE HOME WITH MY FRIENDS, AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF HOW MUCH WE HAD BEEN DRINKING.WE WERE ON THE WAY HOME, NOT FIVE MINUTES FROM MY APARTMENT, WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK AND IT SPUN AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THAT IS WHERE I WAS SITTING.
LUCKILY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSE, SO THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON THE SCENE QUICKLY. THEY HAD TO USE THE JAWS OF LIFE TO CUT ME OUT OF THE TRUCK.
MOM, WILL YOU TELL THEM ABOUT THE INJURIES I SUSTAINED? SO SHAWN WAS RIDING PASSENGER SEAT IN A DODGE RAM, SINGLE CAB PICKUP THAT HAD A BENCH SEAT.
THERE WAS A GUY IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THE DRIVER. WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, IT SPUN AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE THAT WAS IN THE MEDIAN OF THE ROAD.
AND THE DOOR OR REALLY, SHAWN'S BODY MET THAT TREE WITH THE DOOR SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN, AND IT HIT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE TRUCK KIND OF BENT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TREE, SHAWN'S ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE SHATTERED.
HE NOW HAS A NAIL INSIDE THIS LONG BONE RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS YOUR FEMUR. THAT NAIL IS CALLED AN INTRAMEDULLARY NAIL.
AT THE END OF YOUR FEMUR, IT BENDS AND GOES UP INTO YOUR HIP SOCKET.
THAT NECK OF THE FEMUR HAS FOUR LONG SCREWS.
WITH THIS PROJECT, THERE'S GOING TO BE FOR BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND ADULT SOFTBALL FIELDS AND THREE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELDS.
THAT NUMBER FIELDS WILL BE ABLE TO HOST ALL KINDS OF TOURNAMENTS ON THE WEEKENDS, NOT ONLY FOR OUR LITTLE LEAGUE DURING THE WHOLE SEASON.
RIGHT. WE HAD 126 TEAMS IN OUR CITY OF EDINBURG, ITALY, LARGEST IN THE VALLEY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE WE'RE WE HAVE ONE TURF FIELD ALREADY HERE AT MUNICIPAL PARK, BUT WE'RE ADDING SIX MORE THIS THIS YEAR.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS PARTICIPATING IN BASEBALL, SOFTBALL. WE HAVE THE LARGEST LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM IN THE VALLEY. IT JUST PUTS EDINBURG ON THE MAP. AND ANOTHER IN ANOTHER WAY.
ALL THESE TRAVELERS BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, TRAVELING TEAMS, TRAVELING FAMILIES. YOU CAN'T PLAY LIKE THIS IN THIS TYPE OF TURF UNLESS YOU TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN. WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE ADDITION OF THESE TURF FIELDS TO WHERE WE ALREADY PLAY, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE BOYS ONE A HIGHER QUALITY EXPERIENCE AS THEY'RE PLAYING, AND TWO, THE EXPERIENCE THEY NEED FOR WHEN THEY GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE USED TO WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE NORMALLY GOING TO BE PLAYING ON, ON THOSE TURF FIELDS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL KIDS COME OUT HERE AND PARTICIPATE.
WE ALWAYS PUSH FOR GREAT FITNESS IN OUR KIDS AND MAKE SURE THEY GO OUT THERE AND EXERCISE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, INVESTING IN OUR KIDS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS YOU'LL BE MAKING IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT'S ADDED TO THIS COMMUNITY MAKES IT STRONGER AND BETTER.
AND THEN ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE? YES. AND WHO'S SPEAKING? YES. OKAY. RIGHT THERE.
[00:50:01]
YEAH. YES. JUST SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT.RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE? YES. I MEAN, MY MOTHER LIVES HERE.
SO ARE Y'ALL DOING THE WOMEN ON THAT SIDE? YES. YES. ALRIGHTY, EVERYONE.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THE DOOLITTLE DETENTION POND.
NOW, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WILL IMPROVE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN THE AREA.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION ON DOOLITTLE.
NOW, TO GET US STARTED, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP OUR MAYOR PRO TEM DAN DIAZ, FOR THE INVOCATION.
PLEASE RISE. BUENOS DIAS EVERYBODY.
I ASK EVERYONE TO BOW YOUR HEADS.
GOD, WE WANT TO ASK YOU FOR A BLESSING TODAY.
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THIS PLAN IN ACTION, ALL THE PARTNERS. THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO ANY OF THESE THINGS BY OURSELVES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CITIZENS, ALL THE RESIDENTS, ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROPOSED DETENTION POND.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE HERE REPRESENTING YOU AND REPRESENTING THE CITY. HE'S BLESSED. ALL THE HANDS, ALL THE CITY AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY COUNCILMAN JASON DELEON.
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.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
ALRIGHT, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE AND ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
OF COURSE, WE THANK OUR CITY MANAGER, MISS MYRA AYALA AND HER TEAM FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT. ALSO, WE THANK OUR ENGINEER, QUINTANILLA HEADLEY AND ASSOCIATES FOR JOINING US.
AND OF COURSE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE MATERIAL TESTING LAB ON THE PROJECT MILLENNIUM ENGINEERS GROUP. AND WE THANK OUR CONTRACTOR, RBM FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, JOINING US TODAY, AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK HER FOR BEING HERE AS OUR HIDALGO COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR COMMISSIONER, MISS ELLIE TORRES.
AWESOME. SO PLEASE HELP ME NOW IN WELCOMING UP OUR MAYOR, RAMIRO GARZA JUNIOR, FOR THE OFFICIAL REMARKS.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUR COUNCIL THAT IS HERE BECAUSE IT IS A TEAM EFFORT.
ALSO, WE HAVE OUR MAYOR PRO TEM DAN DIAZ.
I KNOW HE ALREADY CAME UP, BUT I WANT TO GIVE HIM A HAND AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DE LEON.
AND WE HAVE TWO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, TWO DAVIDS, DAVID WHITE AND DAVID SALAZAR, ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AS WELL.
AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE I SEE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNNY GARCIA, WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY, AND SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THE THE PLANNING STARTS AS THE COMMISSIONER KNOWS, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THEY START, AND THEN THE PLANS ARE DONE.
AND THEN HERE WE ARE FOR CONSTRUCTION.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
TODAY, AS WE BREAK GROUND ON THIS NEW LITTLE DETENTION POND, IF YOU'RE ASKING YOURSELF, WHY IS IT CALLED DOOLITTLE? WE'RE HERE AT FREDDY GONZALEZ PARK, SO I'LL ANSWER THAT REAL QUICK FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE. THIS IS PART OF A BOND THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED BY THE CITY YEARS AGO.
AND IT'S WHAT IS REFERRED TO DOOLITTLE DETENTION POND.
BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO COVER A CERTAIN AREA OF OUR CITY.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR ENGINEERING STAFF, EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKED TO PLAN THIS, BECAUSE IT SO HAPPENS THAT FREDDY GONZALEZ PARK, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN HERE ARE GOING TO HELP ALL THIS AREA FROM THE EAST SIDE FROM KLAUSNER ALL THE WAY.
IT'S HAPPENING TOGETHER WITH THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT, WITH THE COUNTY. SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COMMISSIONER, ELLIE TORRES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AGAIN. COMMISSIONER, THIS IS JUST US DOING OUR PART.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE A ROLE IN THIS TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONTINUED EFFORTS YOU'RE DOING, BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO HELP AND SUPPORT WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND WHAT THE TEXAS IS GOING TO BE DOING HERE ON ON 107.
WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER PROJECTS JUNIOR AND CHAPIN DETENTION PONDS, THAT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT HERE TO OUR CITY.
[00:55:03]
I KNOW MY HOUSE IS GOING TO COME UP.HE'S GOING TO GO OVER SOME OF THE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH WITH WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN. BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO ASK ALL OUR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE NEAR THIS AREA FOR YOUR PATIENTS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROJECT THAT'S IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THE OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. AND IT'S GOING TO WHEN IT'S COMPLETED, IT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT FOR DRAINAGE PURPOSES HERE TO OUR CITY.
AND THIS PROJECT, THERE'S $7 MILLION THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH THAT YOU, THE RESIDENTS, HAVE ALLOWED US TO UTILIZE TO ADD DETENTION VOLUME.
AND, LIKE I MENTIONED, INCREASE DRAINAGE CAPACITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. WITHIN THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM AREA.
AND THIS PUMP WILL SERVICE OVER 76 ACRES.
THAT IS THE AREA THAT IS GOING TO HELP AND IMPROVE RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY, BENEFITING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDING 8500 LINEAR FEET OF STORM DRAINAGE PIPES IN THE AREA, AS WELL AS AGAIN, THE CONSTRUCTION STARTING NEXT MONTH.
OUR CITY MANAGER KNOWS YOU KNOW, WITH THESE GROUNDBREAKINGS AND EVERYTHING, YOU CAN HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING ANYTIME YOU LIKE.
BUT WE LIKE TO HAVE THEM WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT TO START. SO THE CONTRACTORS HERE, THEY'RE STARTING FEBRUARY 12TH.
812. THAT'S THE OFFICIAL STARTING DATE. SO THIS GROUNDBREAKINGS RIGHT BEFORE THAT AS WAS MENTIONED, I DO WANT TO THANK QUINTANILLA, HEADLEY AND ASSOCIATES, MILLENNIUM ENGINEERING, RBM CONTRACTORS.
THEY'RE THE ONES THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. AND ALL HIS STAFF AND ALL OUR CITY STAFF THAT HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND START THE CONSTRUCTION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS SENDING OUT FLIERS TO ALL THE RESIDENTS. THERE'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT PHASES TO THIS PROJECT.
THAT'S A LARGE AREA, BUT WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS THAT'S HAPPENING. SO WE DO HAVE A DASHBOARD ON OUR CITY WEB PAGE.
I URGE ALL OUR RESIDENTS PLEASE ACCESS THAT.
IF YOU SEE CONSTRUCTION HAPPEN IN AN AREA, YOU WONDER WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO OUR WEBSITE. THERE'S A GIS MAP, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND WHAT THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS AND THE TIMELINE.
AND YOU PROBABLY FIND PICTURES TOO, OF THE LATEST THE INSPECTIONS THAT ARE BEING DONE. SO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE KICKING OFF THIS CONSTRUCTION.
VERY MUCH NEEDED. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ITS COMPLETION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR JACKSON.
NOW, OF COURSE, TO HEAR FROM THE MAN HIMSELF WHO IS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, MR. MARDOQUEO HINOJOSA. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. IT'S NICE TO BE HERE.
ONE MORE PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.
ONE MORE DRAINAGE PROJECT BENEFITING OUR RESIDENTS.
IT IS A 540 CALENDAR DAY PROJECT.
IT DOES COME WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED FROM OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE'RE WORKING IT IN MILESTONES.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? WE'RE TRYING TO DISRUPT AS LEAST AS POSSIBLE WHILE WE'RE WORKING.
SO 540 DAYS ARE GETTING SPLIT.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BEGIN WITH? WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE DETENTION POND BEHIND US.
THE INTENT IS FOR THIS POND TO ALWAYS BE DRY.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT WE'RE ALSO STARTING AT THE SAME TIME WITH BAKER STREET.
LAST WEEK WE ACTUALLY BEGAN WITH FLIERS ADVISING THE RESIDENTS THAT THIS IS COMING UNTIL WE GET DONE WITH THESE AREAS, WE DON'T BEGIN WITH THE NEXT MILESTONE, MEANING BREAKING ANOTHER STREET APART.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A MAJOR CROSSING.
THE MAJOR CROSSING WILL BE THE CROSSING ON VETERANS AND FREDDY, SO THAT MEANS STREET CLOSURES.
WE'RE AIMING AT HAVING THESE DONE DURING THE SUMMER ONCE THE SCHOOL IS OUT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS DISRUPTING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO DISRUPT TRAFFIC. AFTER THAT, WE'LL BEGIN WORKING ON THE INNER STREETS.
WE'LL BEGIN WORKING ON 16 THAT WILL BEGIN WORKING ON EBONY LANE SO THAT WE GET THE FIVE MILESTONES OUT OF THE WAY. OTHER FUN FACTS ON THIS PROJECT.
SO BESIDES THE OVER 8500 LINEAR FEET OF PIPE RANGING BETWEEN 18IN TO 48IN, WE'RE ALSO PUTTING 68 INLETS.
THE WATER'S GETTING OUT, AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE THIRD PROJECT IN THIS AREA.
WE DID A SMALL DETENTION POND NEXT TO SH 107.
AND PART OF THE DRAINAGE BASIN IS THIS PROJECT.
AND THERE'S A FOURTH ONE THAT'S A BIT MORE.
AND THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIE IS WORKING ON WITH THE TEX-DOT, WHICH IS THE SH 107 PROJECT.
IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRING A LOT OF PATIENCE FROM THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT TRAFFIC AND THE WAY WE'RE
[01:00:03]
USED TO DRIVING OUR AREAS.SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE ASK FROM THE STAFF SIDE PATIENTS AND ALSO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. WE HAVE A DASHBOARD ON THE DASHBOARD WE HAVE WITH THE PRODUCT.
THE PROGRESS OF EACH PROJECT IS IF ANY MORE QUESTIONS ARE COMING.
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP WITH THAT.
FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH DETENTION PONDS OR THOSE NEW TO THE CITY, CAN YOU TELL THEM WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES AND HOW IT AFFECTS DRAINAGE? OKAY, SO WHAT A DETENTION POND DOES.
SO THE INTENT IS TO KEEPING THE WATER AWAY FROM THE HOUSES.
SO BEFORE WE EVEN ALLOW FOR THIS WATER TO MAKE IT TO OUR MAIN DRAINAGE DITCHES, WE HOLD THE WATER HERE BEFORE WE RELEASE TO THE MAIN DITCH.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT IT'S DOING.
WE'RE HELPING OUR AREA NOT COMPETE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
AND HOW THE WATER IS GETTING OUT.
SO WE HOLD IT HERE BEFORE WE RELEASE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HINOJOSA. SO THAT CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF TODAY'S CEREMONY.
BUT OF COURSE, WE'D LIKE OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR PARTNERS ON THIS PROJECT TO HEAD OVER TO THE SHOVELS RIGHT BEHIND US HERE BY THE STREET FOR THE TURNING OF THE DIRT ON THE DOOLITTLE DETENTION POND.
RIGHT. WELL, IT'S THERE ALL DAY, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THERE.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU DOING? YES. GOOD WEATHER. SO WE'RE EXPANDING IT OUT.
INSTEAD OF JUST FOCUSING ON THE.
RIGHT NOW. THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.
IT ALLOWS THE WATER TO FLOW OUT FREELY.
THAT WAY. SO NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT BIGGER.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT AN AVENUE TO GET OUT OF OUT OF THE AREA.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONNECT THE AREA TO THE HIDALGO COUNTY.
SO WHAT IS IT? OH, I KNOW THAT ONE.
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY.
IT SHOULD BE DRY AT ALL TIMES.
SO YOU KNOW. WHENEVER YOU GO TO THE POND, THAT'S THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
YOU WANT IT TO BE. IN SOME CASES, THEY TURN IT OVER INTO, LIKE, SOCCER FIELDS. BASEBALL FIELDS.
SO THE IRRIGATION CANAL THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT AREA, THEY HAVE HOMES ON THIS SIDE.
ONCE WE'RE ALL READY TO GO, YOU'LL LOOK OVER AT CAMERON LIKE I MENTIONED.
WOW. OKAY, ON THE COUNT OF THREE.
EVERYBODY OVER HERE! ONE, TWO AND THREE.
YOU'RE IN OUR SHOT. STILL THERE? STILL THERE. RIGHT THERE. YOU GUYS CAN TAKE A LOOK OVER THERE.
OKAY, SO THEN, NOW, ON THE COUNT OF THREE, YOU'RE GOING TO LIFT YOUR SHOVEL AND EVERYBODY TURN IT TO THE RIGHT.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT IS. ALL RIGHT. TO THAT SIDE.
YEAH. READY? EVERYBODY HAS A SHOVEL UP.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN ON THE COUNT OF THREE. ONE, TWO. THREE. TURN!
[01:05:12]
OH, YEAH.CUZ YOU CAN HIT. YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE SPINE AND NECK FOR DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? SO ONCE YOU'RE.
MOVING AROUND. RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THE EVENT HAS BEEN GOING VERY WELL.
WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE ALMOST 50 CAR SEATS THAT WE'VE YOU KNOW, WE'VE SCHEDULED ABOUT TEN PEOPLE IN 30 MINUTE INCREMENTS.
HEY, BUDDY. WHAT'S UP? IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE EVENT.
ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN GETTING VERY, VERY GOOD FEEDBACK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD MORE PARTICIPANTS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT CHECKED IN AND SO FORTH.
BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SCHEDULE THEM FOR A DIFFERENT DATE.
NOW THE TECHNICIAN IS CHECKING ALL THE CAR SEATS.
OF COURSE, IF IF THE CAR SEAT IS IS NOT EXPIRED, THEN EITHER THEY KEEP IT OR IF THEY SEE THAT IT IS EXPIRED, THEN THEY ARE BEING REPLACED WITH A NEW CAR SEAT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S A POSITIVE EVENT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME OTHER AGENCIES HELP US OUT.
WE HAVE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE THE CITY OF PHARR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY PARTNERED UP WITH THEM.
SO IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A VERY GOOD SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
IT'S IT'S SAD TO SAY, BUT WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF FATALITIES THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE DECIDED TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF OF EVENT.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GIVING AWAY THESE CAR SEATS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR SEATS ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPIRED.
AND OF COURSE, THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT IS FOR THERE TO BE ANY FATALITIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE LOSE A CHILD, ONE CHILD IS JUST TOO MANY BECAUSE OF THE POSITIVE RESPONSE THAT WE GOT.
IT IS THE FIRST EVER THAT WE'VE HAD AND WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS EVERY YEAR.
IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE COMING IN, WALKING IN, WALKING OUT.
WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY PEOPLE HERE RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, THERE'S CANDY, THERE'S MOVIES, POPCORN.
WE HAVE ACTIVITIES, WE HAVE GAMES, WE HAVE PRIZES.
AND SO THE PEOPLE GET TO KNOW THIS BIRDING CENTER.
I'VE LIVED HERE ALMOST 40 YEARS AND NEVER KNEW THE BIRDING CENTER WAS HERE UNTIL I JOINED THE ELDERLY SENIOR CITIZEN CLUB, AND THEY BROUGHT US OVER HERE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. AND IT'S AMAZING AND FANTASTIC.
ALL THE TRAILS AND ALL THE BIRDING ACTIVITIES HERE AND NOW.
THE HALLOWEEN FUN FOR THE KIDDIES IS GREAT.
IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT POSITIVE REMARKS COMING FROM COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO DO, YOU KNOW? THE GROUNDS ARE SO BIG AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE, AND IT'S SO FRESH THAT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO DO, YOU KNOW? AND IT'S JUST THEY'RE JUST OUT HERE HAVING A GOOD TIME. I LOVED ALL THE MOVIES FOR THE CHILDREN INSIDE, AND THEY GET LITTLE POPCORN.
THEY GET TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE ACTIVITIES AND FACE PAINTING AND MAKING LITTLE MASKS AND WALKING AROUND GETTING TO KNOW NATURE.
THE TURNOUT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. THIS EVENT IS GROWING, YOU KNOW, BY THE YEAR. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS YEAR THE TURNOUT HAS BEEN AWESOME.
ANY VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING A DEADLY WEAPON AT A DISTRACTED DRIVER.
ANSWERING THE PHONE OR TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.
HELLO? HEY, HOW'S IT GOING, MAN? AND THE CHANCES OF A FATAL INCIDENT INCREASE DRAMATICALLY.
OKAY, WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE MEETING UP AT FIVE.
AND WHEN THAT DISTRACTED DRIVER ENTERS A WORK ZONE, THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FATALITY IS EVEN GREATER.
I BETTER TEXT JODY. DRIVERS WHOSE SPEED OR BECOME DISTRACTED CAUSE FATAL INCIDENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WORK ZONE.
[01:10:04]
GOT ONE COMING THROUGH, ONE COMING THROUGH.MAYBE TODAY YOU WILL FLY THROUGH THE WORK ZONE UNHARMED.
BUT HOW ABOUT TOMORROW? THE NEXT WORKER YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO MAY NOT MAKE IT HOME TODAY.
WILL YOU EVEN REACH YOUR DESTINATION? MANY WORKERS AND MOTORISTS HAVE NOT HAD A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND THAT I GREW UP WITH, THAT DID NOT GET TO SEE HIS CHILDREN GROW UP.
A DISTRACTED MOTORIST PULLED INTO HIS LANE AND STRUCK HIM HEAD ON, TAKING HIS LIFE. AND TO THIS DAY, I LIVE WITH THAT MOMENT AND IT CAUSES ME ALSO TO REFLECT BACK ON OUR 11 TEX-DOT TEAMMATES AND OTHER CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES WHO LOST THEIR LIFE AND WERE UNABLE TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN GROW UP, AND IT ALL CAME DOWN TO A DISTRACTED DRIVER.
TEXAS AVERAGES OVER 3000 DISTRACTED DRIVER CRASHES IN WORK ZONES EVERY YEAR.
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH A WORK ZONE.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ALSO KNOWN AS TXDOT, ALONG WITH CONTRACTORS THAT WORK WITH THE AGENCY, HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING A ROADWAY SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS TEXAS COMMUNITIES AND MOVES PEOPLE AND GOODS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
IT'S YOUR JOB TO REMAIN ALERT AND PAY ATTENTION WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WORK ZONES.
THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE LINE HERE, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
IT TAKES US AS CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GUIDE THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR WORK ZONE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS WATCHING OUT FOR US.
WE'RE WORKERS. WE HAVE FAMILY.
WE WANT TO GO HOME JUST LIKE YOU WANT TO GO HOME.
EACH YEAR. IN TEXAS, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 CRASHES AND MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE KILLED IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE WORK ZONES.
IF YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A WORK ZONE TODAY, CONSIDER THIS ROAD BUILDING IN TEXAS IS YEAR ROUND, AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MAINTAINS ABOUT 200,000 LANE MILES OF ROADWAY. OVER 1000 PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY AT ANY TIME.
TRAFFIC FINES DOUBLE WHEN WORKERS ARE IN SIGHT, AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY, OVER 36,000 WORKERS ARE ON OR NEAR A TEXAS ROADWAY. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS DRIVERS ARE FULLY PAYING ATTENTION.
THINGS CHANGE IN A WORK ZONE, AND THEY'RE NOT THE SAME AS JUST A BASIC OPEN ROAD. AND IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND THAT ONE TIME THAT YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
YOU COULD VERY WELL LOSE YOUR LIFE COMING THROUGH THE WORK ZONE.
WHEN APPROACHING A WORK ZONE, PAY ATTENTION TO ENTRANCE SIGNS AND TRAVEL THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THE AREA.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION IS ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUR VISIBILITY MAY BE LIMITED AND YOUR PATH MAY BE ALTERED.
FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF WORKERS, PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGGERS, CHANNELIZING DEVICES, BARRIERS, WARNING SIGNS, AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS.
THEY ARE THERE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND CLEAR GUIDANCE THROUGH THE WORK ZONE, AND ALERT YOU TO POTENTIAL DANGER.
HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND LARGE EARTHMOVERS MAY BE NEAR THE ROADWAY OR CROSSING YOUR PATH, DEPENDING ON THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
STOPS AND WORK ZONES CAN BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED, SO DO NOT TAILGATE. CREATE A SPACE CUSHION BY KEEPING A FOUR SECOND OR GREATER DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND LOOK AHEAD.
A TRAVEL DISTANCE OF 15 SECONDS OR GREATER TO HELP SPOT HAZARDS BEFORE THEY BECOME AN INCIDENT. AT NIGHT, WORK ZONES LOOK DIFFERENTLY THAN BY DAY.
OVERNIGHT WORK LOWERS THE IMPACT ON PEAK TIME TRAFFIC, BUT VISIBILITY IS FURTHER REDUCED AT NIGHT OR IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS.
WORKERS SEE LESS OF YOU AND YOU MAY SEE LESS OF THEM, AND A DRIVER'S EYESIGHT CAN BE TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY BRIGHT WORK ZONE LIGHTS OR BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. REMEMBER, AS CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES, THE WORK ZONE PATH MAY CHANGE.
WORKERS MUST BE ATTENTIVE, BUT DAY OR NIGHT, ENEMY NUMBER ONE IN A WORK ZONE IS A DISTRACTED DRIVER.
WHEN YOU'RE IN A WORK ZONE, DON'T ZONE OUT.
SILENCE THE CELL. TEXT LATER AND KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE ROAD.
THIS IS NOT TIME FOR CHECKING THE GPS, EATING, GROOMING, CHANGING THE RADIO STATION, MP3 OR CD, DAYDREAMING OR WORRYING ABOUT PERSONAL ISSUES IS ALSO A DISTRACTION IF YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THAT WORK ZONE AND ANSWER THAT CELL PHONE, THAT MAY BE ALL IT TAKES TO CROSS THE BARREL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, STRIKE A WORKER WHO'S STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BARREL WORKING FOR YOU TO TRY TO CREATE A SAFE HIGHWAY SYSTEM WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL.
[01:15:03]
DRIVING IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.AND KEEP IN MIND, TEENAGERS MODEL THEIR PARENTS BEHAVIOR.
IF YOU TEXT, YOUR TEENAGERS MAY TEXT EVEN AFTER TELLING THEM IT'S DANGEROUS.
ACCORDING TO GOV, A TEXTING DRIVER IS 23 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CRASH.
SENDING OR READING A TEXT CAN DIVERT YOUR EYES FROM THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 4.6 SECONDS AT 55MPH. THAT'S SIMILAR TO DRIVING BLINDFOLDED THE DISTANCE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
THE TEEN ACADEMY IS MOSTLY THE COPY THE COMMUNITY POLICING OFFICERS ARE HANDLING.
THIS IS THIS IS THE FIRST RUN, SO IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD FOR THE FIRST GROUP. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOTAL OF 20 TEENAGERS.
THEY ACTUALLY LIKED WHAT THEY'RE DOING. TODAY.
WE DID THE TASER AND NOW WE'RE DOING TRAFFIC STOPS.
SO WE'RE DOING THIS. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHO THAT PERSON IS.
THE TRAFFIC STOP IS A SEVEN POINT CONTACT.
SO AS SOON AS YOU APPROACH YOU WANT, THE OFFICER NEEDS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES TO THE VIOLATOR. THE REASON THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, STOPPED, THEY WERE STOPPED.
THEY WERE STOPPED. YOU KNOW WHAT ACTION THE OFFICERS CAN TAKE? THEY WALK BACK TO THE VEHICLE OR THE PATROL UNIT.
DO THEY HAVE ANY WEAPONS? DO YOU HAVE ANY WEAPONS? OKAY. LET THEM KNOW WHY YOU PULLED THEM OVER. WE LIKE TO DO THE BOTTOM ROCK HERE.
WE DO THIS. WE GIVE YOU THE OTHER HAND.
THE OTHER HAND. WE SHAKE, THIS FINGER GOES HERE, WE SHAKE. YOU WANT TO OPEN IT UP? I REALLY WANTED TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT GOES THROUGH EVERY DAY.
AND JUST GET SOME MORE EXPERIENCE FOR MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING.
I REALLY HOPE TO TO GATHER MORE OF AN IDEA OF JUST HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THEY HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST THE TOUGH DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO MAKE.
AND JUST I WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY HAVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, THE CID AND THE CRIME SCENE.
CRIME SCENE IS HOW TO COLLECT THE EVIDENCE. YOU KNOW.
DON'T JUST GO OVER THERE AND START MESSING WITH IT. YOU GOT TO HAVE PHOTOGRAPH IT.
TAG IT, DWI. WHAT WE LOOK FOR WHEN IT COMES TO DWI, MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE BEEN TRAINED HOW TO HANDLE A MENTAL HEALTH SUBJECT AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
WE'RE ACTUALLY HOPING THAT NOT ONLY DO THEY GATHER THE INFORMATION THEY NEED, THE TRUST AMONG THE OFFICERS AND THE CIVILIAN SIDE, BUT ALSO THAT THEY PASS THE KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE RECEIVED BECAUSE A LOT OF JUVENILES THINK THAT WE'RE HERE, WE'RE THE ENEMY.
NO WE'RE NOT. WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU.
IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I WOULD 100% ENCOURAGE THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO HELP YOU OUT IN THE LONG RUN.
IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A WAY BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
AND IT'S JUST GOING TO TEACH YOU SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO LEARN IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO INTO THIS WORKFORCE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO RECEIVE THIS GEAR.
THIS GEAR WAS AWARDED TO US THROUGH A CDBG GRANT.
[01:20:01]
WE WERE ABLE TO ORDER 50 SETS OF BUNKER GEAR WHICH ENDED UP CLOSE TO $250,000.AND THIS IS GEAR IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED FOR THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO IT MEETS THE SPECIFIC SPECS THAT WE WANTED FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AND IT'S CUSTOM FITTED FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS ALSO.
SO THIS IS THE TOP OF THE LINE GEAR.
AND HERE IN EDINBURG, IN THE CITY, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO PROVIDE THE BEST EQUIPMENT FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS SO THEY CAN BE ABLE TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS GEAR.
EVERY FIREFIGHTER IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG EDINBURGH WILL HAVE A NEW SET OF GEAR AND THEY'LL ALSO HAVE A SECONDARY SET OF GEAR. SO IF THEY GO TO A FIRE, THEY GO TO AN EMERGENCY AND THAT GEAR GETS DIRTY OR DAMAGED AUTOMATICALLY, THEY CAN GET OUT OF THAT GEAR ASAP AND THEY CAN GET INTO THEIR SECOND SET OF GEAR.
SO WE'LL HAVE TWO SETS OF GEAR FOR EVERY FIREFIGHTER IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.
IF WE ORDER GEAR EVERY YEAR, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE GEAR IS ABOUT TEN YEARS. BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, GEAR GETS DAMAGED, IT GETS BURNED AND THAT GEAR HAS TO BE REPLACED.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I WOULD SAY THE GEAR ASKED ABOUT ABOUT FIVE YEARS IS THE LIFESPAN OF A GEAR.
SO EVERY MONTH THE GEAR IS INSPECTED BY THE FIREFIGHTERS.
EVERY TIME THEY COME BACK FROM A CALL, THEY CHECK THE GEAR TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT TORN OR IT'S BURNT. AND ALSO EVERY YEAR THE GEAR IS ALSO SENT TO A COMPANY TO MAKE SURE AND INSPECT THE BY LICENSE COMPANY TO MAKE SURE THE GEAR STILL MEETS ALL THE STANDARDS.
CLEANLINESS IS ALSO A REAL, REAL THING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO, WHEN THEY GET BACK, THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THAT GEAR AND TO PUT IT IN THE WASHING MACHINE AND GET IT BACK INTO SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE IT CAN BE RATED AND MAKE SURE IT MEETS ALL THE STANDARDS.
A NEW TWIST IN THE LAW MAKES IT EASIER THAN EVER TO SAVE ON YOUR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN COSTS. SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO TO SOCIALSECURITY.GOV AND APPLY FOR EXTRA HELP.
IT'S EASIER THAN LEARNING THE TWIST.
HI THERE EDINBURG. INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT? WELL, YOU CAN JOIN US FOR COMMUNITY PLANTING DAY ON SATURDAY.
HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PLANNING YOUR TREE.
I AM THE EDINBURG CITY FORESTER.
TODAY I'LL BE TEACHING YOU HOW TO PLANT A TREE, GIVING YOU SOME HELPFUL TIPS AND TRICKS. SO YOU'RE READY THIS SATURDAY.
SO THE FIRST STEP IN PLANTING A TREE IS DIGGING THE HOLE.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE HOLE IS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIMES WIDER THAN THE ROOT BALL OF THE TREE, AND ABOUT THE SAME DEPTH AS THE BASE OF THE TREE OR THE BASE OF THE TREE MEETS THE SOIL. AFTER THE HOLE IS DUG, WE NEED TO GET THE TREE OUT OF THE CONTAINER.
SO WE WANT TO LAY THE TREE ONTO ITS SIDE AND GENTLY ROLL THE CONTAINER TO LOOSEN UP THE THE ROOT BALL. FROM THERE, WE CAN EXTRACT THE TREE FROM THE CONTAINER AND LIFTING IT UP FROM THE BASE, NOT FROM THE STEM.
ONCE THE TREE IS IN THE HOLE, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO BACKFILL IT WITH THE ORIGINAL SOIL DUG FROM THE HOLE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO USE ANY FILLERS, YOU WANT TO USE THE SOIL FROM THE SITE.
AS YOU'RE FILLING UP THE HOLE, YOU WANT TO STEP ON IT TO COMPACT THE SOIL A LITTLE BIT AND SPRINKLE SOME WATER SO THAT YOU GET RID OF SOME OF THE AIR POCKETS THAT ARE IN THE SOIL THAT WILL KEEP THE ROOTS FROM DRYING OUT.
SO ONCE THE HOLE IS FILLED, YOU WANT TO USE THE EXCESS DIRT TO MAKE A RING AROUND THE HOLE AS A WATER BASIN.
SO WHEN YOU WATER THE TREE, IT'LL KEEP THE WATER IN THE ROOT BALLS AREA.
AFTER THAT WE WOULD WANT TO PUT ORGANIC MULCH OVER THE TOP, AT LEAST A 2 TO 3IN DEEP, AND KEEPING ABOUT AN INCH OR TWO AWAY FROM THE STEM OF THE TREE. YOU DON'T WANT THE MULCH TO BE UP AGAINST THE TREE.
THAT CAN CAUSE LOTS OF PROBLEMS LATER ON.
TREES HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. FOR STARTERS, THEY MAKE THE THEY MAKE THE COMMUNITY LOOK BETTER.
ADDING A LOT OF GREENERY TO TO OUR LANDSCAPE.
THEY CAN BEAUTIFY THE AREA AND RAISE PROPERTY VALUES.
IT'S GETTING HOTTER EVERY DAY, SO HAVING TREES FOR SHADE IS IMPORTANT.
SO HAVING TREES IN CITIES CAN BENEFIT AIR QUALITY CARS DRIVING AROUND.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR. TREES CAN ACTUALLY HELP FILTER SOME OF THOSE POLLUTANTS FROM THE AIR. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE'RE ALL EXCITED FOR.
WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE AT THE COMMUNITY PLANTING DAY AT THE PROMENADE PARK AMPHITHEATER.
YEAH, HE WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND. HE WAS LIKE MY BROTHER TO ME NOW.
ONE, ONE. WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY? IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY BAD COLLISION.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST, BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS I HIT ME.
I THINK THERE MIGHT BE FATALITIES.
HE WAS ALWAYS LAUGHING, ALWAYS PLAYING JOKES ON SOMEBODY.
THOUGHT I MISSED OUT A LOT ABOUT HIM. HE'S BLEEDING PRETTY BAD.
[01:25:01]
YOU KNOW, THIS EVENT IS NOT POSSIBLE IF IT'S NOT FOR OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING IN OUR MILITARY ACTIVELY CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW.SO WITHOUT THIS, OUR FREEDOM, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
HAVING EVENTS LIKE THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A GREAT WAY TO BRING YOUR FAMILY.
YOU BRING YOUR FRIENDS TO ENJOY A FREE EVENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR VETERANS, ALL OUR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SERVING RIGHT NOW.
WITHOUT YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
I'M I'M TRULY BLESSED TO SAY THAT WE CAN HOST THIS EVENT IN OUR GREAT CITY OF EDINBURG PROUDLY. AND NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SERVICE AT THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS A HOMETOWN OF HEROES. IT WAS DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. AND AS A HOMETOWN OF HEROES. WE HONOR OUR VETERANS.
AND WITH THE PARADE, WITH OUR VETERANS BANNER PROGRAM.
AND, OF COURSE, IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE A VETERANS DAY CONCERT.
AS A HOMETOWN HEROES, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT WE MADE THIS EVENT AVAILABLE TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC.
SO WITH EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
BECAUSE YOU CAN HIT YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE SPINE AND NECK FOR DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? SO ONCE YOU'RE.
IN AND AROUND. RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THE EVENT HAS BEEN GOING VERY WELL.
WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE ALMOST 50 CAR SEATS THAT WE'VE YOU KNOW, WE'VE SCHEDULED ABOUT TEN PEOPLE IN 30 MINUTE INCREMENTS.
HEY, BUDDY. WHAT'S UP? IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE EVENT.
ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN GETTING VERY, VERY GOOD FEEDBACK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD MORE PARTICIPANTS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT CHECKED IN AND SO FORTH.
BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SCHEDULE THEM FOR A DIFFERENT DATE.
NOW THE TECHNICIAN IS CHECKING ALL THE CAR SEATS.
OF COURSE, IF IF THE CAR SEAT IS IS NOT EXPIRED, THEN EITHER THEY KEEP IT OR IF THEY SEE THAT IT IS EXPIRED, THEN THEY ARE BEING REPLACED WITH A NEW CAR SEAT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S A POSITIVE EVENT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME OTHER AGENCIES HELP US OUT.
WE HAVE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE THE CITY OF PHARR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY PARTNERED UP WITH THEM.
SO IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A VERY GOOD SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
IT'S IT'S SAD TO SAY, BUT WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF FATALITIES THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE DECIDED TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF EVENT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GIVING AWAY THESE CAR SEATS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR SEATS ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPIRED.
AND OF COURSE, THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT IS FOR THERE TO BE ANY FATALITIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE LOSE A CHILD.
ONE CHILD IS JUST TOO MANY BECAUSE OF THE POSITIVE RESPONSE THAT WE GOT.
IT IS THE FIRST EVER THAT WE'VE HAD AND WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS EVERY YEAR.
[01:36:50]
CHECK CHECK CHECK. MIC CHECK, MIC CHECK AJ.[01:37:09]
SO IT HELPS IF I TURN IT ON.THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
IT IS YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL, SLIGHTLY MUGGY MORNING IN OUR FOUR TIME ALL-AMERICA CITY OF EDINBURG.
I LIKE SAYING THAT IT IS A SUPER GREAT DAY FOR BASEBALL PARENTS, FOR FAMILIES, FOR ATHLETES, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK AFTER TODAY, WE CAN REALLY SAY THAT WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARD IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG. I'D LIKE TO START TODAY BY INTRODUCING OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS A BIG, BIG PROJECT FOR THEM.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR MAYOR, RAMIRO GARZA, JUNIOR.
I LIKE THAT. AUGIE COUNCILMAN, JASON DE LEON.
AND I THINK SHE'S. OH, SHE'S WALKING IN OUR CITY MANAGER, MISS MARIELA. WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS IN THE HOUSE THAT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE.
OUR EDC BOARD PRESIDENT, MISS VERONICA GONZALEZ.
OUR PRECINCT FOUR CREW, TONY AND LAURA.
GOTTA RECOGNIZE OUR BERT OGDEN TEAM.
SLASH. ALEC. WE ALSO HAVE SOME EDINBURG BASEBALL TEAMS THAT ARE JOINING US TODAY.
AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SUPER GREAT NEWS FOR THEM.
BUT SPECIFICALLY WANT TO MENTION THAT THAT INCLUDES OUR TENU ALL STAR TEAM THAT JUST BEAT WESLACO, AND THEY'RE HEADING TO SECTIONALS TOMORROW TO PLAY AGAINST BIG TEAMS FROM LAREDO AND CORPUS.
SO WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR PARKS BOARD, AND JAVI WILL MENTION THEM JUST A LITTLE LATER ON.
WE ALSO COULD NOT DO ANY OF THESE AMAZING UPGRADES THAT WE'RE DOING WITHOUT SOME PRETTY GREAT PARTNERS. BIG THANKS TO OUR ENGINEER OF RECORD, MELDON AND HUNT. AND THE CONTRACTOR, HELLAS CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING COACH JOE FILOTEO.
AND OVERALL SPECIAL THANKS TO THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD WHO HELPED TO FUND THIS AWESOME PROJECT.
AND NOW, IF WE COULD, LET'S BEGIN OUR PROGRAM TODAY IN PRAYER.
PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR PRO TEM DAN DIAZ TO US TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DE LEON TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[01:40:02]
GOOD MORNING. BUENOS DIAS EVERYONE.JOIN ME IN PRAYER. LET US BOW OUR HEADS.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS AS WE BREAK GROUND ON THE TURF FIELD PROJECT HERE AT EDINBURG MUNICIPAL PARK.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY WITH TOP NOTCH FACILITIES.
LORD, WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS ON THIS PROJECT SO THAT IT MAY ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR PROGRESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPROVEMENTS WE WILL ACHIEVE.
WE PRAY FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE FIELDS.
MAY THE RENOVATIONS YOU SEE PROCEED SMOOTHLY AND WITHOUT INCIDENT.
WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM AS WE WORK TOWARDS THE PROJECT'S COMPLETION.
LORD, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE MANY GAMES, PRACTICES AND MEMORIES THAT WILL BE MADE ON THESE FIELDS. WE PRAY THAT THESE NEW FACILITIES WILL PROMOTE WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMONG OUR RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THIS PROJECT A REALITY. AND AS ALWAYS, IN GOD WE TRUST.
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. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
AND NOW, CONTINUING WITH OUR PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE LEADER OF OUR ALL-AMERICA CITY, OUR MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JUNIOR.
I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE HOT TODAY, BUT THIS IS SO EXCITING.
TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE PHASE TWO, I'M GOING TO CALL IT OF THE TURF FIELD PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL. LET'S GIVE A HAND TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED. THIS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS MAYOR AND AS A COUNCIL.
IT GIVES US GREAT PRIDE TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR WITH YOU ALL, MAKING IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO CRITICAL FOR US.
AND OUR THEME AS YOU ALL, IT WAS MENTIONED, WE, WE RECOGNIZED WITH THE ALL-AMERICA CITY DESIGNATION.
PART OF THAT REASON IS THAT EDINBURG IS FOR EVERYONE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? EDINBURG.
WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN SOME CASES, WE'RE ADDRESSING PERHAPS SOME STREET IMPROVEMENTS, SOME DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
TODAY, IT'S ABOUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT'S ABOUT OUR KIDS. IT'S ABOUT OUR PARENTS.
AND REALLY IT'S FOR EVERYBODY. THESE FIELDS ARE FOR EVERYBODY.
I KNOW IT'S FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE PLAYING BASEBALL AND THE ADULTS THAT ARE PLAYING SOFTBALL AND THE PARENTS.
BUT IT'S REALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR CITY IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES HERE IN THE WHOLE REGION, AND WE NEED TO HAVE AMENITIES LIKE THIS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY ENJOYS, BUT SO ALSO WE CAN ATTRACT OTHERS FROM THE REGION.
OUR TEN NEW TEAM ARE GOING TO GO COMPETE IN LOS FRESNOS TOMORROW AND WELL, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND I THINK MONDAY.
AND SO I, I MENTIONED WELL, HOPEFULLY WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THE ALL STAR TOURNAMENTS CAN BE HELD HERE IN OUR CITY.
I MEAN, IT'S SUCH A BIG IMPACT.
YES. NOT ONLY HERE FOR OUR KIDS, YOU KNOW, THE MEMORIES ARE GOING TO HAVE, BUT ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE TO ENJOY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LET ME JUST MENTION REAL QUICK, I KNOW OUR PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR IS GOING TO GO IN DETAIL ON THE PROJECT. LET ME JUST MENTION SOMETHING REAL QUICK. THIS ON THE FIRST PHASE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S AN ALL WEATHER TURF.
IT'S ADJUSTABLE BASES AND A STATE OF THE ART DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
THIS FIRST PHASE PRETTY MUCH SET THE STANDARD OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MOVING FORWARD.
SO WHEN THAT FIRST ONE WAS DONE, THANKS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND ALSO, BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE OUR OUR GREAT PARTNERS. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE FUNDED THROUGH THE HALF CENT SALES TAX AND LARGELY INVOLVED WITH ATTRACTING BUSINESS HERE TO OUR CITY.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO HELP WITH QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM SINCERELY FOR PARTICIPATING IN FUNDING THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR FOR DOING THAT IN THIS NEXT ROUND.
YOU'LL SEE THE CONSTRUCTION'S ALREADY STARTED. IT'S GOING TO BE THREE OF THE FIELDS THAT WILL BE ALSO HAVE TURF FIELDS.
THEY'LL BE RENOVATED. AND THEN THE THREE YOUTH FIELDS ON THE NORTH SIDE WILL ALSO BE CONVERTED INTO TURF FIELDS AT THE END.
THIS THESE ARE GOING TO BE TOP NOTCH FACILITIES.
IT'S A TOTAL OF $2 MILLION THAT ARE BEING INVESTED HERE IN OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH.
WHERE'S THE CONTRACTOR? CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? IS HE BRAVE ENOUGH TO RAISE HIS HAND? OH, THERE'S A CONTRACTOR.
[01:45:01]
AND THEY'RE TELLING US THAT BY FEBRUARY OF 2025, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE DONE TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THESE TURF FIELDS.SO HOPEFULLY SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY, I'M THINKING RIGHT BEFORE FIESTA EDINBURGH.
ALRIGHT. THAT'S THE LAST WEEKEND.
RIGHT? ALRIGHT. WELL RIGHT BEFORE LITTLE LEAGUE I MENTIONED FIESTA, BUT RIGHT BEFORE LITTLE LEAGUE WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE HERE AGAIN CELEBRATING A RIBBON CUTTING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE A BOARD.
MISS VERONICA GONZALEZ, SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. WOULD YOU PLEASE. WE HAVE SABRINA WALKER HERNANDEZ ALSO HERE.
BOARD MEMBER. AND WE HAVE DAN DIAZ, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM.
HE ACTUALLY SITS ON THE EDC BOARD AS WELL.
AND DOUBLE DUTY. AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RODEL GARCIA OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THIS COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THEIR PARTNERSHIP. AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MORE INFORMATION SHARED ON THIS PROJECT, BUT I'M SO EXCITED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE THIS HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
SPREAD THE WORD. I KNOW THOSE OF YOU, ALL THE KIDS AND COACHES THAT ARE HERE YOU INVOLVE IN A LOT OF TOURNAMENT PLAY.
SPREAD THE WORD THAT YOU CAN HAVE TOURNAMENTS HERE FROM HERE ON OUT.
YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS DO NOT NEED TO LEAVE THE AREA. YOU CAN HAVE THEM HERE IN OUR AREA. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 2025.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.
LET'S BRING THOSE TOURNAMENTS BACK TO EDINBURGH.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS PROJECT WITHOUT SOME TREMENDOUS HELP FROM OUR EDC.
AND ON THAT NOTE, PLEASE WELCOME MISS VERONICA GONZALEZ, OUR EDC BOARD PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU ROXANNE. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
GOOD MORNING. SO IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT LINE FROM THE MOVIE FIELD OF DREAMS? I EVEN SEE THAT SOME OF THE CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE MOVIE.
RIGHT? WELL, I'M VERONICA GONZALEZ, AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, AND I HAVE BOARD MEMBER SABRINA WALKER HERNANDEZ HERE AND OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RANDALL, AND ALL THE STAFF. WE ARE SO THRILLED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
WE NOT ONLY BELIEVE IT BECAUSE WE LIKE SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL.
NOBODY LIKES IT MORE THAN MY HUSBAND HERE WHO'S A FORMER BALLPLAYER AND LOVES IT.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE NEIGHBORING CITIES WITH BASEBALL FIELDS THAT THEY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF TOURNAMENTS, AND THAT THEY CAN'T SUPPORT ALL THE TOURNAMENTS THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN. AND WE'VE SEEN THE TOURNAMENTS NOT ONLY BRING OUT THE LOCALS, BUT THEY BRING PEOPLE HERE TO EDINBURG WHO NEED TO STAY HERE, NEED TO SHOP HERE, WHO NEED TO DINE HERE.
RIGHT. AND THAT IS MONEY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR EDINBURG EDC IS THE MAYOR MENTIONED IS IS A UNIQUE TYPE OF EDC BECAUSE WHILE WE SUPPORT, OF COURSE WORKFORCE AND CREATION OF JOBS AND EXPANSION OF BUSINESSES, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO DO QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS.
AND SO WE'VE DONE SOME, LIKE THE AMPHITHEATER THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN TO CONCERTS THERE.
WE PARTICIPATED IN EL TULE WHERE I KNOW SO MANY OF OUR ELDERLY RESIDENTS ARE ENJOYING DOING ZUMBA AND ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THERE.
AND WE'VE GOT, OF COURSE, BASKETBALL COURTS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS AND OTHER THINGS THERE. WE PARTICIPATED IN THE IN THE BEETHOVEN PARK, THE CAPABLE KIDS BEETHOVEN PARK AND THE SERGEANT JACOB DE LA GARZA NORTH PARK, AND THEN THE SOON TO BE ARTS AND CULTURAL AND EVENTS CENTER, THE ACE BUILDING THAT I CANNOT WAIT FOR Y'ALL TO SEE.
TOM REINA. I THINK HE'S HERE SOMEWHERE. HE'S DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH THE ACE BUILDING.
IT LOOKS TERRIFIC. AND WE'LL BE OPENING THAT SOON.
AND NOW, OF COURSE, OUR ASTROTURFS HERE AT MUNICIPAL PARK.
WE CONTRIBUTED $2 MILLION, AS WAS MENTIONED, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.
AND REALLY, IT'S GOING TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, WHEN COMPANIES ARE LOOKING OF WHERE THEY WANT TO SETTLE, THEY WANT A PLACE THAT HAS ROBUST EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY WANT PLACES THAT HAVE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND A GREAT WORKFORCE.
RIGHT. AND I THINK WE WE MEET A LOT OF THAT ALREADY.
I WORK AT UTRGV. WE GRADUATED OVER 50,000 KIDS SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS.
WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE WANT THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO MATCH THAT SO THAT THE COMPANIES WILL WANT TO LOCATE HERE AND FAMILIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO LOCATE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THAT THEY WANT TO LOCATE AND SETTLE IN, IN, IN EDINBURG.
SO BY INVESTING IN THESE IN THESE PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS ONE, WE'RE ENSURING THAT EDINBURG REMAINS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, TO WORK AND TO PLAY. SO TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU TOO WILL COME OUT.
AND THAT YOU WILL WATCH BASEBALL PLAY BASEBALL, AND THAT YOU WILL JUST GATHER WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS, AND THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY THESE NEW AND IMPROVED TURF FIELDS HERE AT MUNICIPAL PARK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS VERONICA.
[01:50:02]
AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US WITH THESE QUALITY OF LIFE FACILITIES.I PROMISE YOU, HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY. AND HE IS WEARING TWO HATS TODAY.
ONE FOR COUNCIL AND ONE FOR EDC SINCE HE SERVES ON THE BOARD.
SO PLEASE WELCOME BACK OUR MAYOR PRO TEM TO SPEAK ON THIS PROJECT THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO HIS HEART. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE ALL THE THE THE PLAYERS, THE COACHES THE STAFF.
I I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT, WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING IN OFFICE? WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE BEST? PROJECTS LIKE THIS MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE.
ALL THE THE COSTS, RIGHT? ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYONE.
AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN HOW WE GOT HERE.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE'S A BIG SOFTBALL COMMUNITY ALL AROUND US. THERE'S SURROUNDING CITIES THAT HAVE TOURNAMENTS EVERY DAY.
I THINK IT WAS TEN IN THE MORNING.
I WAS GOING TO GO FIND MY NEPHEW PLAYING AT A FIELD AT A NEIGHBORING CITY, AND I KEPT GOING IN THE WRONG FIELD, BUT I SAW PACKED PARKING LOTS.
I WENT TO ANOTHER FIELD, PACKED PARKING LOTS.
I WENT TO ANOTHER PARKING LOT. SAME THING.
CITY OF EDINBURG. SUNDAY MORNING AT 10 A.M.
WE'RE EITHER AT CHURCH OR GETTING SOME BARBACOA OR PAN DULCE, RIGHT? OR FOR ANYONE THAT WENT TO A BIG OR BIG PACHANGA RECOVERING FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE. RIGHT? AND I SAID, WELL, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS HERE IN OUR CITY? RIGHT. HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? I WAS LUCKY TO GET AN OFFICE WITH A GREAT TEAM.
I LOBBIED THEM. THE CITY HAS A LOT OF PROJECTS.
WE'RE DOING STREETS. YOU SEE EVERYTHING WE DO. OUR BUDGET IS TIGHT, VERY STRONG, BUT VERY TIGHT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THAT ONE FIELD. EVERYONE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH ONE FIELD? DAN AND I GOT LET ME LET ME BACKTRACK BACK IN PARKS.
I WAS ON PARKS AND REC BOARD BEFORE I WAS IN OFFICE, AND WE TALKED TO THE STAFF AND ALL THEM LIKE, HEY GUYS, WE NEED THIS, THAT THEY'RE ON BOARD.
AND WHAT DO THEY SAY? ALL WE NEED IS FUNDING, RIGHT? LET'S GET THE FUNDING.
WE NEED THE FUNDING BECAUSE WHEN WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET SEASON, THINGS GET CUT OFF AND YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.
SO WHEN I GOT IN OFFICE, I NEVER FORGOT WHAT I WOULD SEE OVER THERE.
AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? HOW DO WE WAKE UP THE WEEKENDS AND WAKING UP THE WEEKENDS IS GOING TO WAKE UP THE HOTELS, THE RESTAURANTS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE BUSINESS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH MORE.
THEY HAVE TO GO BUY ICE AND SODAS AND MEAT FOR THE BARBECUES, AND THEY WANT, IF THEY'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN, THEY WANT TO STAY. HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN? RIGHT. SO WE NEED BETTER FACILITIES.
I GOT THE THE BOARD TO, TO BACK ME UP ON ON DOING ONE FIELD.
AND WHY DO WE DO ONE FIELD? BECAUSE I KNEW IF WE DID ONE FIELD EVERYBODY WOULD SEE IT.
UNDERSTAND? GET THE EXCITEMENT.
SO ONCE WE GOT THAT WE'RE PLAYING EVERYBODY LOVED IT.
LUCKILY I HAPPENED TO SEE IT SIT ON THE EDC BOARD WITH THE HELP OF RODEL.
WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO UTRGV, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY ON WHAT TOURNAMENTS BRING TO AN AREA AND JUST A TOURNAMENT WITH 5 OR 10 OUT OF TOWN TEAMS. THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT IS SO HIGH WITH THAT STUDY, THE EDC, BECAUSE THE YOU KNOW, CITIES ALREADY ARE BUDGETS WAY EARLY.
SO WE CAN'T THROW BIG THINGS IN ONLY ONLY FUNDING LIKE THE EDC.
IF WE CAN FIND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.
CAN WE MAKE THESE THINGS A REALITY? SO THIS WAS A QUALITY OF LIFE, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND BECAUSE OF THE EDC, WITHOUT THE EDC, THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN.
WE'RE ABLE TO GET FUNDING FOR ALL THE REST OF THE FIELDS.
THERE IS NO OTHER CITY, ALL TURF FACILITY SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO.
ALL THESE TRAVELING COACHES AND PLAYERS KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GO UP NORTH TO GET THIS EXPERIENCE. I'LL QUOTE JUDGE BUSTOS, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S HERE, BUT WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST ONE, WE HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING.
HE SAID, IF I HAD THIS WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD HAVE MADE THE PROS, BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU MOVE NORTH IS YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF TURF.
IT'S A DIFFERENT FEEL. IT'S A DIFFERENT BOUNCE, IT'S DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. YOU GET INTIMIDATED BY THESE, THESE FACILITIES.
AND SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG GAME CHANGER FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH ON THE WEEKENDS.
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE A PLAN THAT ANYONE THAT WANTS TO THROW A TOURNAMENT IN THE CITY, THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHAMBER. I SEE THE CHAMBER HERE. ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE CHAMBER PEOPLE I SEE MARIO BOOTS AND THEIR STAFF. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO THROW A TOURNAMENT HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO HOST HOTELS, HOST RESTAURANTS.
KEEP EVERYBODY HERE. WAKE UP EDINBURGH ON THE WEEKENDS.
AND BY THE TIME YOU KNOW IT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE RESTAURANTS, MORE NIGHT FACILITIES. RIGHT. BECAUSE THE PARENTS, THE YOUNGER PARENTS WANT TO LEAVE THE KIDS AND GO, GO, GO OUT AND HAVE FUN.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC SPARK FOR OUR ENTIRE REGION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE KIDS OF OUR CITY WILL ALWAYS GET TO ENJOY.
[01:55:01]
I SEE A COUPLE GUYS I PLAYED SOFTBALL WITH HERE.I STRUCK THAT GUY OUT A FEW TIMES.
THAT OTHER GUY NEVER HIT THE BALL. WHERE'S VIC? WHERE IS HE? WHY ARE YOU HIDING OVER THERE? NO, HE ACTUALLY HIT REALLY WELL.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY LITTLE LEAGUE. EVEN ADULTS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS, RIGHT? FOR TOURNAMENTS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A SENIOR LEAGUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHICAGO BALL.
SO MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH ALL THESE FACILITIES, BUT WE'RE NOT DONE RIGHT. SO NOW I SET THE CHALLENGE.
THERE'S TWO MORE BIG FIELDS IN THE BACK THAT I HOPE TO GET SOME FUNDING FOR.
THERE'S FOOTBALL AND SOCCER IS HUGE.
AND YEAH, COACH, COACH IS LAUGHING AT ME BECAUSE HE WANTS IT, RIGHT? THEY WANT THEY JUST NEED THE FUNDING.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL WE'LL GET SOME SUPPORT TO DO THE ENTIRE FIELD SO WE CAN HAVE FLAG FOOTBALL AND SOCCER IN ALL TURF.
SO NOW WE WOULD HAVE A COMPLETE FACILITY THAT CAN HOST SOCCER, FLAG FOOTBALL, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, LITTLE LEAGUE.
BECAUSE ALSO THE THREE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELDS OVER THERE AND IT MUST BE A GAME CHANGER.
I'M VERY PROUD FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
I'M VERY PROUD FOR EVERYONE THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU EDC, THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS AND THANK YOU FOR PARKS AND REC. ALWAYS BEING ADVOCATE FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
NOW YOU WANT A WHOLE COMPLEX NO PRESSURE.
SO THIS IS CLEARLY GOING TO BE A QUALITY OF LIFE BOOST FOR OUR CITY, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FANS SUPER, SUPER HAPPY. FOR MORE ON THAT, PLEASE WELCOME OUR PARKS DIRECTOR, JAVIER GARZA. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, HOT DAY AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
AGAIN, REGO GRADS ON YOUR TEAM FOR THE VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP.
GREAT. PRESIDENT. ALSO, WE HAVE COACH FRANK ZUNIGA WITH HIS 1112 YEAR OLD GIRLS. THEY'RE ALSO PLAYING FOR THE VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT.
JUST WANT TO THANK OUR OUR OUR CITY LEADERS ON THIS.
OUR MAYOR COUNCIL MANAGEMENT OF COURSE OUR EDC.
THIS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ALREADY BEFORE EVEN CONSTRUCTION STARTED, I HAD CALLS FROM OUT OF TOWNERS SAYING ONE OF THE FIELD'S GOING TO BE READY. AND MAYOR PRO TEM DIAZ, YOU'RE CORRECT. THEY'RE ALREADY ASKING WHEN IS THE FIELD GOING TO BE READY? BECAUSE WE'RE INTERESTED IN COMING TO EDINBURGH. AND WITH THESE FIELDS HERE, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, OF COURSE, AND WE'LL HAVE PLAY HOPEFULLY EVERY WEEKEND.
A LOT OF MONEY COMES IN AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT ON OUR END, OUR PARKS, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE THE FRONT LINE. WE GET, YOU KNOW, CALLS AND BEAT UP AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S PERFECT AND STUFF, WHICH IS I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK OUR OFFICE STAFF OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT.
THEY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB AND THAT.
WE HAVE RONNIE RODRIGUEZ STAFF OUT THE BACK, OUR RECREATION.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ERIC MOLINA. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. AND OF COURSE, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB.
PARKS REC. THEY ARE SO ADAMANT ABOUT MAKING THIS A SUCCESS.
THEY'RE ALREADY LOOKING INTO SCHOOLS, TURF SCHOOLS ON HOW WE CAN ADD ANOTHER LEVEL OF PLAY AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TYPE OF GRASS OUT ON THE FIELD AS WELL.
SO THAT'S COMING FROM OUR PARK STAFF.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A GREAT SUCCESS FOR EDINBURGH, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN HERE AND TALKING ABOUT US ALL ABOUT ABOUT BASEBALL HERE AND ABOUT OUR FIELDS AS WELL.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK OUR PARKS BOARD HERE.
THANK YOU, CARLOS, FOR ALL YOU DO.
AND WE HAVE OUR LITTLE LEAGUE BOARD MEMBER ALSO RUBEN VASQUEZ IN THE BACK.
THANK YOU RUBEN. THIS IS A WONDERFUL EVENT.
WE JUST CAN'T WAIT TO START BOOKING ALL OUR TOURNAMENTS AND HAVING FUN.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS OR CLUB IN THE WHOLE SOUTH TEXAS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR KIDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND COACHES WANT TO SEE HERE, SOMETHING THAT'S A SAFE PLACE TO PLAY.
SOMETHING THAT WILL JUST MAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
AND LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, HAVE SOME PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES COME OUT OF THIS PLACE HERE. SO THANK YOU ALL.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPEAKERS. IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE SUPER FUN PART.
IF WE CAN GET OUR MEDIA CREWS READY, WE'RE GOING TO SHUFFLE OVER TO IN FRONT OF THE GROUNDBREAKING BOXES.
WE NEED OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR PARKS BOARD, OUR LITTLE LEAGUE.
MEMBERS CHAMBER IS GOING TO HELP US, OF COURSE,
[02:00:01]
SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THE PHOTO AND MAKE IT OFFICIAL, OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL, AND WE NEED TO KEEP.TOM'S WAVING HIS HAND IN THE AIR.
PLEASE FOLLOW HIM. PARKS BOARD.
LITTLE LEAGUE MEMBERS EDC BOARD.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE DARK. CAN I TURN YOU GUYS AFTER THIS ONE? ONE. TWO. THREE. CAN I TURN THIS WAY? YEAH. COME ON. OKAY. READY? ONE. READY. GO! ONE. TWO.
ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK TONIGHT, GUYS.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE LITTLE SHOW.
YES, YES. IF Y'ALL CAN JOIN EVERYBODY OVER THERE FOR THE TURNING OF THE DIRT.
OUR GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM IS GOING TO JOIN YOU OVER THERE TOO, TOM. AND SQUISHING ONE BIG EDINBURG FAMILY.
I'M SORRY, GUYS. I GOT TO START AT THE END.
SOMEBODY AT THE END. THERE'S MORE SPACE ON THIS SIDE.
MAYBE I SHOULD. YOU. KNOW? THE ENGINEERING RECORD ON THERE? YEAH.
JUST FIT IN SOMEWHERE. RIGHT THERE. HEY, LAURA.
SO, GUYS, FIRST, EVERYBODY A PICTURE.
ALL RIGHT, CAN I GET YOU ALL RIGHT HERE? PUT YOUR SHOVELS DOWN FIRST.
THERE WE GO. ON THE COUNT OF THREE.
PERFECT. NOW, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO PICK UP THE DIRT, AND THEN ON THE COUNT OF THREE, YOU'RE GOING TO TURN THE DIRT TO YOUR LEFT.
TWO. THREE. TURN! YAY! YAY! HEY, EVERYBODY! STAY, STAY.
STAY, STAY. ALL RIGHT, KIDS COACHES AT THE END, ALL THE KIDS UP FRONT.
BUT THEN WE NEED ALL THE BALLPLAYERS.
SIDE. SIDE. SIDE. GO. GO GO GO GO GO GO GO! GET IN! THERE WE GO WITH THE. GIRLS.
EVERYBODY SMILE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO. YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS PICTURE WHEN YOU GUYS ARE SEVEN YEARS OLD.
HAVE EVERYONE LOOKING AT THIS CAMERA RIGHT HERE ON THE COUNT OF THREE. READY? ONE.
GOOD. THANK YOU. AWESOME PICTURE.
THANK YOU ALL. GOT ALL THE KIDS WILL REPLACE THEM AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE SHOVELS.
THAT'S TODAY'S GROUNDBREAKING.
WE DO HAVE SOME LIGHT REFRESHMENTS, COURTESY, AS ALWAYS, OF OUR EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN AWESOME DAY.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR ALL-AMERICA CITY CELEBRATION TODAY AT 6 P.M..
[02:05:17]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HERE'S THE EDINBURGH RECAP FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH.THE CITY OF EDINBURGH INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY PLANTING DATE THAT IS HAPPENING ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH AT 9 A.M.
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE PROMENADE PARK AMPHITHEATER, LOCATED AT 202 NORTH 10TH AVENUE.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS FOR ALL AGES TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS.
AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, A PROCLAMATION WAS PRESENTED RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 4TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH AS MUNICIPAL COURT WEEK, CELEBRATING THE VITAL ROLE MUNICIPAL COURT PLAYS IN MAINTAINING JUSTICE AND ORDER IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE COUNCIL EXPRESSED HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DEDICATION, ENSURING FAIR AND EFFICIENT SERVICE TO ALL RESIDENTS.
AN UPDATE ON THE ALBERTA ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT WAS PROVIDED AT THE MEETING, WITH THE KEY MILESTONE AHEAD.
THE SECTION BETWEEN SUGAR AND THE DITCH EAST OF THE SUGAR INTERSECTION WILL BE PAVED BY THIS THANKSGIVING. THE AREA EAST OF JACKSON ROAD WILL BEGIN ITS PAVEMENT PROCESS THE WEEK AFTER. THIS PROGRESS MARKS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN THE PROJECT, AND SOON AFTER, WORK WILL BEGIN ON SHALOM AND CLOSNER STREETS.
THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED AS THE PROJECT CONTINUES.
THE CITY OF EDINBURGH INVITES YOU TO BE PART OF EDINBURGH CARES, A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ECISD AND H-E-B, WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING A THOUSAND TURKEYS AND FOOD BASKETS TO PRE-SELECTED FAMILIES ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD. WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING DONATIONS OF NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS CANNED VEGETABLES, BOX STUFFING AND MORE THROUGH NOVEMBER 15TH.
DROP OFF YOUR DONATIONS AT LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING CITY HALL, CENTRAL FIRE, EDINBURG PD, AND ALL OF ECISD SCHOOLS.
TO VOLUNTEER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 9563 81 5631.
OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FALL ON THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE NEXT ONE, YOU CAN JOIN US IN PERSON AT CITY HALL OR TUNE IN LIVE AT CITY OF EDINBURGH.
COM AND ON SPECTRUM CHANNEL 1300.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO THE EDINBURG RECAP.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THIS.
SCIENTISTS CALL IT A MICROSCALE.
A PROBLEM WHEN YOU START TO GET DROWSY.
THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN YOU'LL SLIP INTO ONE OF THESE MICROSCOPES.
YOU TRAVEL OVER 100FT EVERY SECOND.
SO IF YOU NOD OFF FOR EVEN A FRACTION OF A SECOND, YOU COULD END UP HERE OR HERE OR HERE.
SO DON'T IGNORE THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS.
WHEN THEY START, IT'S TIME TO STOP.
PATRIOTISM. THERE'S A WORD THROWN AROUND A LOT.
IT INSPIRES PASSIONATE DEBATE.
IT'S WORN LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR. AND WITH GOOD REASON.
BECAUSE IT MEANS LOVE AND DEVOTION FOR ONE'S COUNTRY.
LOVE FOR A WORD DESIGNED TO UNITE.
IT CAN ALSO BE PRETTY DIVISIVE.
YOU SEE, THERE'S MORE TO PATRIOTISM THAN FLAGS, WITH ONESIES AND RODEOS AND QUADRUPLE CHEESEBURGERS.
PATRIOTISM IS LOVE FOR A COUNTRY, NOT JUST PRIDE IN IT.
BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES UP THIS COUNTRY OF OURS? WHAT IS IT WE LOVE? IT'S MORE THAN JUST A HUGE ROCK FULL OF ANIMALS LIKE COUGARS AND EAGLES. RIGHT? IT'S THE PEOPLE.
DO ME A FAVOR. CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A SECOND.
I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING. PICTURE THE AVERAGE US CITIZEN.
THINK ABOUT IT. HOW OLD ARE THEY? WHAT'S THEIR HAIR LIKE? HOW MUCH CAN THEY BENCH? YOU GOT ONE? OKAY, SO CHANCES ARE THE PERSON YOU'RE PICTURING RIGHT NOW LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT TO THE AVERAGE AMERICAN.
THERE ARE 319 MILLION US CITIZENS.
51% ARE FEMALE. SO FIRST OFF, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS A WOMAN.
[02:10:02]
COOL IS THAT WHAT YOU PICTURED? 54 MILLION OR LATINO, 40 MILLION SENIOR CITIZENS.18 MILLION ARE ASIAN. THAT'S MORE PEOPLE IN THE US THAN PLAY FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL COMBINED. 9 MILLION ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BI, TRANSGENDER.
MORE THAN THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. AROUND 10 MILLION ARE REDHEAD, 5.1 MILLION PLAY ULTIMATE FRISBEE, AND 3.5 MILLION ARE MUSLIM.
TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
ALMOST HALF THE COUNTRY BELONGS TO MINORITY GROUPS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE LESBIAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BI AND TRANSGENDER AND NATIVE AMERICAN AND PROUD OF IT.
WE KNOW THAT LABELS DON'T DEVALUE US.
THEY HELP DEFINE US, KEEPING US DIALED INTO OUR CULTURES AND OUR BELIEFS AND WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS. AFTER ALL, WHAT'S MORE AMERICAN THAN FREEDOM TO CELEBRATE THE THINGS THAT MAKE US US? I MEAN, IT'S STITCHED INTO THE STARS AND STRIPES OF THIS COUNTRY, FROM THE CONSTITUTION TO GETTYSBURG TO OUR MOTTO E PLURIBUS UNUM FROM MANY ONE.
IT'S EVEN IN OUR COUNTRY'S NAME.
PATRIOTISM SHOULDN'T JUST BE ABOUT PRIDE OF COUNTRY.
LOVE BEYOND AGE, DISABILITY, SEXUALITY, RACE, RELIGION, AND ANY OTHER LABELS.
BECAUSE THE SECOND ANY OF US JUDGE PEOPLE BASED ON THOSE LABELS, WE'RE NOT REALLY BEING PATRIOTIC, ARE WE? SO LET'S TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME.
CLOSE YOUR EYES. PICTURE THE AVERAGE JOE, OR JOAN OR JUAN OR JEAN-LUC.
THE REAL PEOPLE WHO MAKE AMERICA, AMERICA.
AND THIS YEAR, WHENEVER YOU FEEL THE URGE TO DON THOSE STAR SPANGLED SHORTS, SET OFF FIREWORKS THE SIZE OF MY BICEPS TO SHOW LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
REMEMBER THAT TO LOVE AMERICA IS TO LOVE ALL AMERICANS.
VERY EXCITED TO COME TO THE VIPERS BASKETBALL COURT.
IT'S AT THE PARKS AND REC BUILDING AND THE BACK TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AS A CITY FOR WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL LEAGUE.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN COLLABORATION WITH DOCTOR MIKE.
OUR. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEURO INSTITUTE AT DAHER.
AND WE WANT TO, AS A CITY, BE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND CHALLENGE THE OTHER CITIES TO GET THEIR TEAMS TOGETHER, TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A LEAGUE NIGHT HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. WE'RE STARTING AN ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL. THEY BROUGHT DOWN 12 CHAIRS FOR THESE ATHLETES TO TO TRIAL.
SOME OF THEM HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A BASKETBALL WHEELCHAIR BEFORE. SO IT'S A IT'S A GOOD COMPARISON FROM A BASIC CAR TO A TO A SPORTS CAR.
THEY TURN FASTER. THEY THEY ROLL FASTER.
THEY'RE LIGHTER. SO IT'S IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO FEEL IT.
WE ORDERED TEN BASKETBALL WHEELCHAIRS, AND WE SHOULD BE GETTING OUR CHAIRS IN IN LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER TO BE ABLE TO START AN ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM HERE IN THE R-G-V, SPECIFICALLY HERE AT EDINBURGH PARKS AND REC.
WE HOPE TO PROVIDE A SOURCE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE AFTER INJURIES LIKE SPINAL CORD, SPINA BIFIDA, AMPUTEE AND OTHERS TO HAVE AN OUTLET TO COME AND BE ABLE TO COMPETE, TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A SPORT SUCH AS BASKETBALL, TO BE ABLE TO TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS OF PEOPLE LIKE THEMSELVES.
AND A COMMUNITY SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY HARD TO PROVIDE IN A CONTROLLED SETTING, LIKE A THERAPY CLINIC. WE DO OUR BEST, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE NOT IN WHEELCHAIRS LIKE THEY ARE, BUT WHEN THEY GET AROUND THEIR OWN, SOME PRETTY EXCITING AND THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW NEVER MET EACH OTHER BEFORE.
AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.
AND SO WE GOT PEOPLE HERE FROM BROWNSVILLE, HARLINGEN, WESLACO, MISSION, EDINBURG, MCALLEN ALL PLAYING HERE RIGHT NOW.
LIKE WE'VE ALWAYS SAID, EDINBURG IS FOR EVERYONE. WE LIKE TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE. WHEN DOCTOR, OUR FIRST CAME TO US, WE'RE LIKE, HEY, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO COLLABORATE AND BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS TO HAVE SPORTS.
WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF INCLUSION ALWAYS GOING ON HERE, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE SURE AND BRING A GREAT EVENT TO THE CITY.
MY NAME IS PAUL. TWO YEARS AGO, I RECEIVED A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT.
[02:15:03]
WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD, I STARTED DIALYSIS, AND FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS I WAS A PATIENT RECEIVING TREATMENTS THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR FOUR HOURS EACH SESSION.AND MAN, IT WAS HARD. MY FATHER HAD KIDNEY DISEASE, SO I KNEW WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED WHEN MY KIDNEYS FAILED.
AFTER RECEIVING MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, I WAS ABLE TO FIND AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SHE'S JUST SOMEONE I CAN JOKE WITH, SOMEBODY I CAN COOK WITH, AND I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO BE THE HUSBAND THAT SHE DESERVES.
WHEN I WAS SICK, I BARELY HAD ENOUGH STRENGTH TO WALK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, GOING TO THE MOVIES WITH MY BROTHERS.
BUT AFTER MY TRANSPLANT, MY STRENGTH AND ENERGY CAME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO RUN AROUND AND PLAY WITH MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DONATE LIFE, BE AN ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONOR. TO FIND OUT HOW, GO TO DAY TO DONATE LIFE.
HEY, IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO PLAY LIKE A KID AGAIN BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE SPINE AND NECK FOR DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? SO ONCE YOU'RE. AROUND FOR.
RIGHT. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THE EVENT HAS BEEN GOING VERY WELL.
WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE ALMOST 50 CAR SEATS THAT WE'VE YOU KNOW, WE'VE SCHEDULED ABOUT TEN PEOPLE IN 30 MINUTE INCREMENTS.
HEY, BUDDY. WHAT'S UP? IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE EVENT.
ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN GETTING VERY, VERY GOOD FEEDBACK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD MORE PARTICIPANTS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT CHECKED IN AND SO FORTH.
BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SCHEDULE THEM FOR A DIFFERENT DATE.
NOW THE TECHNICIAN IS CHECKING ALL THE CAR SEATS.
OF COURSE, IF IF THE CAR SEAT IS IS NOT EXPIRED.
THEN EITHER THEY KEEP IT OR IF THEY SEE THAT IT IS EXPIRED, THEN THEY ARE BEING REPLACED WITH A NEW CAR SEAT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S A POSITIVE EVENT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME OTHER AGENCIES HELP US OUT.
WE HAVE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE THE CITY OF PHARR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY PARTNERED UP WITH THEM.
SO IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A VERY GOOD SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
IT'S IT'S SAD TO SAY, BUT WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF FATALITIES THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE DECIDED TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF EVENT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GIVING AWAY THESE CAR SEATS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR SEATS ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPIRED.
AND OF COURSE, THE LAST THING THAT WE WANT IS FOR THERE TO BE ANY FATALITIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE LOSE A CHILD, ONE CHILD IS JUST TOO MANY BECAUSE OF THE POSITIVE RESPONSE THAT WE GOT.
IT IS THE FIRST EVER THAT WE'VE HAD, AND WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS EVERY YEAR.
ANY VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING A DEADLY WEAPON AT A DISTRACTED DRIVER.
ANSWERING THE PHONE OR TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. HELLO? HEY, HOW'S IT GOING, MAN? AND THE CHANCES OF A FATAL INCIDENT INCREASE DRAMATICALLY.
OKAY, WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE MEETING UP AT FIVE.
AND WHEN THAT DISTRACTED DRIVER ENTERS A WORK ZONE, THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FATALITY IS EVEN GREATER.
I BETTER TEXT JODY. DRIVERS WHO SPEED OR BECOME DISTRACTED CAUSE FATAL INCIDENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WORK ZONE.
GOT ONE COMING THROUGH. ONE COMING THROUGH.
MAYBE TODAY YOU WILL FLY THROUGH THE WORK ZONE UNHARMED.
BUT HOW ABOUT TOMORROW? THE NEXT WORKER YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO MAY NOT MAKE IT HOME TODAY.
WILL YOU EVEN REACH YOUR DESTINATION? MANY WORKERS AND MOTORISTS HAVE NOT AT A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND THAT I GREW UP WITH THAT DID NOT GET TO SEE HIS CHILDREN GROW UP.
A DISTRACTED MOTORIST PULLED INTO HIS LANE AND STRUCK HIM HEAD ON, TAKING HIS LIFE. AND TO THIS DAY, I LIVE WITH THAT MOMENT, AND IT CAUSES ME ALSO TO REFLECT BACK ON OUR 11 TEX-DOT TEAMMATES AND OTHER CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES WHO LOST THEIR LIFE AND WERE UNABLE TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN GROW UP, AND IT ALL CAME DOWN TO A DISTRACTED DRIVER.
TEXAS AVERAGES OVER 3000 DISTRACTED DRIVER CRASHES IN WORK ZONES EVERY YEAR.
EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH A WORK ZONE.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ALSO KNOWN AS TXDOT, ALONG WITH CONTRACTORS THAT WORK WITH THE AGENCY, HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING A ROADWAY SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS TEXAS COMMUNITIES AND MOVES PEOPLE AND GOODS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
IT'S YOUR JOB TO REMAIN ALERT AND PAY ATTENTION WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WORK ZONES.
THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE LINE HERE AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
IT TAKES US AS CONTRACTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GUIDE THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR WORK ZONE.
[02:20:04]
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS WATCHING OUT FOR US.WE'RE WORKERS. WE HAVE FAMILY.
WE WANT TO GO HOME JUST LIKE YOU WANT TO GO HOME.
EACH YEAR IN TEXAS, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 CRASHES AND MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE KILLED IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE WORK ZONES.
IF YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A WORK ZONE TODAY, CONSIDER THIS ROAD BUILDING IN TEXAS IS YEAR ROUND, AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MAINTAINS ABOUT 200,000 LANE MILES OF ROADWAY. OVER 1000 PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY AT ANY TIME.
TRAFFIC FINDS DOUBLE WHEN WORKERS ARE IN SITE, AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY, OVER 36,000 WORKERS ARE ON OR NEAR A TEXAS ROADWAY. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS DRIVERS ARE FULLY PAYING ATTENTION.
AND THEY'RE NOT THE SAME AS JUST A BASIC OPEN ROAD.
AND IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND THAT ONE TIME THAT YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
YOU COULD VERY WELL LOSE YOUR LIFE COMING THROUGH THE WORK ZONE.
WHEN APPROACHING A WORK ZONE, PAY ATTENTION TO ENTRANCE SIGNS AND TRAVEL THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THE AREA.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION IS ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUR VISIBILITY MAY BE LIMITED AND YOUR PATH MAY BE ALTERED FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF WORKERS.
PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGGERS, CHANNELIZING DEVICES, BARRIERS, WARNING SIGNS, AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS.
THEY ARE THERE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND CLEAR GUIDANCE THROUGH THE WORK ZONE, AND ALERT YOU TO POTENTIAL DANGER.
HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND LARGE EARTHMOVERS MAY BE NEAR THE ROADWAY OR CROSSING YOUR PATH, DEPENDING ON THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
STOPS AND WORK ZONES CAN BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED, SO DO NOT TAILGATE. CREATE A SPACE CUSHION BY KEEPING A FOUR SECOND OR GREATER DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND LOOK AHEAD.
A TRAVEL DISTANCE OF 15 SECONDS OR GREATER TO HELP SPOT HAZARDS BEFORE THEY BECOME AN INCIDENT AT NIGHT. WORK ZONES LOOK DIFFERENTLY THAN BY DAY.
OVERNIGHT WORK LOWERS THE IMPACT ON PEAK TIME TRAFFIC, BUT VISIBILITY IS FURTHER REDUCED AT NIGHT OR IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS.
WORKERS SEE LESS OF YOU AND YOU MAY SEE LESS OF THEM, AND A DRIVER'S EYESIGHT CAN BE TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY BRIGHT WORK ZONE LIGHTS OR BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. REMEMBER AS CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES, THE WORK ZONE PATH MAY CHANGE.
WORKERS MUST BE ATTENTIVE, BUT DAY OR NIGHT, ENEMY NUMBER ONE IN A WORK ZONE IS A DISTRACTED DRIVER.
I'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE IN A WORK ZONE. DON'T ZONE OUT.
SILENCE THE CELL. TEXT LATER AND KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE ROAD.
THIS IS NOT TIME FOR CHECKING THE GPS.
EATING. GROOMING. CHANGING THE RADIO STATION, MP3 OR CD. DAYDREAMING OR WORRYING ABOUT PERSONAL ISSUES IS ALSO A DISTRACTION.
IF YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THAT WORK ZONE AND ANSWER THAT CELL PHONE, THAT MAY BE ALL IT TAKES TO CROSS THE BARREL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, STRIKE A WORKER WHO'S STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BARREL WORKING FOR YOU TO TRY TO CREATE A SAFE HIGHWAY SYSTEM WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL.
DRIVING IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AND KEEP IN MIND, TEENAGERS MODEL THEIR PARENTS BEHAVIOR.
IF YOU TEXT, YOUR TEENAGERS MAY TEXT EVEN AFTER TELLING THEM IT'S DANGEROUS ACCORDING TO DISTRACTION. GOV A TEXTING DRIVER IS 23 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CRASH.
SENDING OR READING A TEXT CAN DIVERT YOUR EYES FROM THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 4.6 SECONDS AT 55MPH. THAT'S SIMILAR TO DRIVING BLINDFOLDED THE DISTANCE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
MANY TEENS DRIVE WITH QUICK ACCESS TO A PHONE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THIS HABIT IS THE QUICK RESPONSE EXPECTED FROM FRIENDS.
TEENS AND PARENTS CAN SET A GOOD EXAMPLE BY PLACING THEIR PHONE OUT OF REACH WHILE DRIVING. GLANCING AWAY FROM THE ROAD TO CHECK A MESSAGE OR TO TAKE A CALL COULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE DANGERS, WHAT MEASURES WILL YOU TAKE? YOUR KEEN AWARENESS OF THE ROAD AND TO CHANGING CONDITIONS IS YOUR BEST DEFENSE? WHEN DRIVERS SLOW DOWN, ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS AND ARE PATIENT, THEY REMAIN CALM AND IN CONTROL.
EVERYONE PLAYS A PART IN WORK ZONE SAFETY.
GIVING YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION IN A WORK ZONE SAVES LIVES AND HELPS YOU REACH YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DESTINATION.
[02:25:15]
RIGHT NOW, WE WE'RE MOVING ALL THE OLD CONDITIONER, ALL THE OLD DIRT, AND ADDING FRESH ONE, GETTING IT APART FOR THE LITTLE LEAGUE.SO RIGHT NOW, BEHIND US, IF YOU COULD SEE THE GUYS ARE WORKING, WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WORK.
WE'RE MOVING EVERYTHING TO GET IT APART FOR THESE TOURNAMENTS COMING UP.
I'LL PREPARE ALL THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE GUYS FOR THE NEXT DAYS. AND THEY JUST GO AND GO ON AND HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THEY GET WITH ME.
AND THAT'S HOW WE BREAK IT DOWN.
IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. I LIKE WHEN THEY SAY THEY LIKE OUR BALLPARKS.
WE GET COMPLIMENTS. WE JUST WANT OUR KIDS TO HAVE A BETTER, SAFE PLACE AND ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FOR THE PARKS. THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY IS COMING AND GETTING THE JOB DONE AND SEEING THE PROGRESS WE'RE DOING. THE GUYS LOVE IT.
THEY COME OUT HERE WITH 110% EVERY DAY TO MAKE THESE PARKS.
THESE PARKS AND TREE TRIMMING UP TO TREE TRIMMING, EVERYTHING HERE IN THE BASEBALL PARK. EVERY MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS TO GET THE PARK PARKS LOOKING UP TO PAR. AND WE LEAVE OUT ANY LOW SPOTS, WE IRRIGATE. I JUST HOPE Y'ALL ENJOY THESE BASEBALL PARKS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING UP TO OUR STANDARDS AND AS YOUR STANDARDS AS WELL.
I'M FELIPE FLORES AND I WORK FOR THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
HELLO. LUPE FLORES, HEALTH INSPECTOR FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.
WE CONDUCT DAILY INSPECTIONS FOR FOOD BUSINESSES, FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, DAYCARES, SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS, JUST KEEPING FOOD SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC.
THERE'S A FORM. WE USE 47 ITEMS, WHICH GOES FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT, THE EMPLOYEES, SAFE FOOD HANDLING TEMPERATURES, DISHWASHING, PEST CONTROL, THE LIGHTING, THE THE HOT WATER.
IT COVERS EVERYTHING AND EVERY ESTABLISHMENT GETS THE SAME FORM.
ALL THESE ITEMS ARE COVERED IN THE FORM, AND WE JUST.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, BUSINESS TO BUSINESS.
AND WHAT YOU WANT TO END UP HERE IS A00 DEMERITS.
IF YOU HAVE TEN OR MORE, WE HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN AND DO ANOTHER FORM AND YOU'RE ON A CORRECTIVE ACTION LIST AND WE'LL COME BACK WITHIN A FEW DAYS.
AND THOSE ITEMS NEED TO BE CORRECTED.
TRY TO INSPECT EVERY BUSINESS TWO TIMES A YEAR, A YEARLY INSPECTION, SIX MONTHS, AND ANY COMPLAINTS WE MIGHT GET FROM THE PUBLIC. WE ADDRESS THOSE IMMEDIATELY.
SO THIS IS DONE. TO JUST TO KEEP FOOD ESTABLISHMENT SAFE.
WHERE YOU EAT, WHERE I EAT, WHERE OUR FAMILIES EAT.
WE WANT IT TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION AND SAFE.
WHAT WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT IF AN ESTABLISHMENT IS OPEN IN OUR CITY OR FOR THE MOST PART, IN ANY PLACE IN TEXAS, IF THEY'RE OPEN AND THEY HAVE A PERMIT, THEY ARE INSPECTED AND HOPEFULLY THAT THERE IT'S TO THEIR SATISFACTION.
SOMETIMES A RESIDENT WILL CALL US.
HEY, I SAW THIS OR I SAW THAT, AND THAT HELPS US BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE IN EVERY BUSINESS EVERY DAY.
SO THAT HELPS US BE OUT AND MAYBE VISIT THEM.
AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WE WANT TO GET IT FIXED.
YOU MIGHT EITHER I MIGHT EAT THERE. MY FAMILY, YOUR FAMILY, OUR COWORKERS EAT AT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
SO WE WANT THEM TO BE NICE, CLEAN AND SAFE FOOD.
IF IF YOU VISIT A RESTAURANT AND YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S NOT RIGHT OR YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT, GIVE US A CALL.
THREE EIGHT, EIGHT, 18, 64, WE'LL BE GLAD TO COME OUT THERE AND VISIT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME.
IT'S JUST ANONYMOUS. OR YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME.
WHICHEVER. WE DON'T USUALLY SAY WHO.
SOMEBODY JUST SAW THIS AND WE JUST WANT TO VERIFY IT AND WE'LL COME OUT AND DO IT.
IF WE DO A COMPLAINT, IT'S A FULL INSPECTION AND WE MIGHT CATCH SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS MISSED.
BUT WE ARE OUT HERE DOING OUR JOB EVERY DAY.
THERE'S THREE OF US THAT ARE TRYING TO INSPECT EVERY BUSINESS TWICE A YEAR, AND ANY COMPLAINT IN OUR CITY.
REPORTING A PROBLEM OR CONCERN YOU SEE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH JUST GOT EASIER.
DOWNLOAD THE EDINBURGH 311 APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE TO REPORT ISSUES THAT NEED OUR ATTENTION. THIS CAN INCLUDE POTHOLES, STREET LIGHTS THAT ARE NOT WORKING, LITTERING AND MORE. IT IS AS EASY AS TAKING A PICTURE OF YOUR CONCERN,
[02:30:04]
TELLING US WHERE IT'S AT AND SUBMITTING A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU SEE.SEND IN YOUR REQUEST AND YOU'RE ALL SET.
CITY STAFF WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
THIS INNOVATIVE TOOL ALLOWS OUR RESIDENTS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND HELP KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
WE'RE OUT HERE AT THE FIRST WIDE COMMUNITY PEP RALLY HERE AT RICHARD FLORES STADIUM.
SO EXCITING TO HAVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER.
THANK YOU TO EDINBURGH CISD FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS PEP RALLY TOGETHER WITH THEM AND CELEBRATING ALL OUR FALL SPORTS.
WISHING ALL TEAMS IN EDINBURGH SCHOOLS THE VERY BEST OF LUCK.
ALL THE BAND, THE CHEER TEAM, THE DRILL TEAM WISH THEM ALL THE VERY BEST.
EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THIS HAVE A GREAT SEASON.
JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD, ALL THE BANDS, ALL THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN EDINBURGH HISTORY WE'RE GETTING A COMMUNITY PEP RALLY GOING WITH ALL THE FOUR CATS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED. A LOT OF PARENTS ARE RIGHT HERE.
A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE ENJOYING WHO THEY ARE AND WHY THEY'RE DOING THIS.
THE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE FINE ARTS, THE SPORTS, THE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT CHILDREN THAT COME TO THIS IS TO ENJOY AND PARTICIPATE IN. THIS IS AN EVENT THAT WILL SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THE ALL AMERICAN CITY OF EDINBURGH WILL BE PROUD OF WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ACCOMPLISHING FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY.
HEY! CALM DOWN. HEY. I'M HERE, I'M HERE, I'M HERE, I'M HERE. I HAVE ABOUT TWO YEARS BEFORE HE WENT MISSING.
I LET BOBO STAY BY A FRIEND, AND FROM THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE THIS LONG AND NEVER KNEW THAT.
LIKE I WOULD EVER SEE HIM AGAIN, YOU KNOW? FROM THERE, I JUST. WE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO COME AND GET HIM.
ALL I KEPT THINKING ABOUT EVEN AFTERWARDS WAS HOW DID HE GET HERE? WHERE WAS HE GOING? OR ACTUALLY, HOW DID YOU GET FIVE HOURS AWAY? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
[02:35:01]
THAT'S WHAT MADE ME GO ONLINE AND GO AHEAD AND PUT IN THAT HE WAS MISSING.I SAID, SO WHOEVER HAS HIM, I'LL BE ABLE TO GET HIM BACK SOME KIND OF WAY. I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS, HE'S MINE.
I CAN GET HIM BACK. GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR PET.
MICROCHIP DOESN'T COST THAT MUCH.
WE CAME ACROSS BOTH. WE RECEIVED A CALL FOR FROM A CITIZEN REGARDING A LOOSE DOG, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEND OUR OFFICERS OUT THERE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE ANIMAL AND WERE ABLE TO SCAN THEM AS WELL FOR ANY MICROCHIP.
OUR OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE ANIMAL.
THE ANIMAL'S OWNERS WHICH WERE SEVEN HOURS AWAY FROM HERE IN HUMBOLDT, TEXAS. THE OWNER WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE SHE DID MENTION THAT THE DOG WAS LOST FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS YOU SHOULD DO IS ONE GET A MICROCHIP, GET IT AS VACCINATIONS.
IT NEEDS, YOU KNOW, GIVE IT THE PROPER CARE, THE MEDICAL CARE IT NEEDS BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A CHILD. SO THEY DESERVE THE MOST THE MOST LOVE, THE MOST RESPECT THAT THAT YOU COULD GIVE THEM.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF EDINBURG FOR BEING ABLE TO I MEAN, CONTACT ME, FIND ME. I APPRECIATE IT 100%.
I HELP? IT'S GONNA BE A LONG, LONG TIME. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. NO, NO.
GOOD MORNING. YEAH. LISTEN, WE GOT WE GOTTA BE WITH THE TEAM THIS MORNING, MAYOR. I'M JUST FINE.
PEACE. IT'S FRIDAY. ALWAYS A GOOD DAY.
MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
[02:40:02]
ONE FINAL REMINDER. IF YOU CAN PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES DURING OUR PROMOTIONAL AND LIFE SAVING AWARD CEREMONY.I THINK WE'RE READY TO GET STARTED. GOOD MORNING.
WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE PROMOTION OF ONE OF OUR DEDICATED OFFICERS TO SERGEANT AND THEN HONOR SOME REALLY TRUE HEROES IN EDINBURGH WITH LIFE SAVING AWARDS. WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE BRAVERY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN SERVICE TO OUR GREAT COMMUNITY.
LET US BEGIN THIS MORNING IN PRAYER.
WE, ALFREDO CONTRERAS OF THE EDINBURGH CLERGY AND POLICE PARTNERSHIP, WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND THEN PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AFTER THAT FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS LED BY OUR EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY.
WE JUST THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR ALL THE OFFICERS, ALL THE PEOPLE, FATHER, ALL THE CITY OF EDINBURGH THAT CONTINUE BEING LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD, FATHER.
BUT I THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT EDINBURGH IS LIKE THAT CITY ON A HILL, FATHER. THAT WILL ALWAYS SHINE THE LIGHT, FATHER UPON ALL DARKNESS.
FATHER. AND WE THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN, FATHER, THAT SACRIFICE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
FATHER. THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
FATHER. FATHER. THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.
FATHER. WE CALL THEM BLESSED AND HOLY AND PROTECTED.
FATHER. AND WE AGAIN, THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY, FATHER, TO PROTECT US, FATHER. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
LORD AND FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU CONTINUE BLESSING THEM, FATHER, ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LONG LIVES.
FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE THANK YOU, FATHER.
OH, YEAH. GREAT. PRAISE THAT COLOR.
AND NOW OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF REYNALDO REYES.
I PLEDGE OF 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.
ALL. RIGHT. THANK YOU, LORD MARK.
YOU MAY BE SEATED. BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH OUR PROGRAM, I DO WANT TO TAKE A QUICK SECOND TO RECOGNIZE OUR ENTIRE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL.
OUR MAYOR, RAMIRO GARZA, JUNIOR.
HE IS OUT OF TOWN FOR A CONFERENCE.
BUT HE REACHED OUT TO ME LAST NIGHT AND HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I EXTENDED CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE HONOREES.
ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DE LEON, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE, AND OUR CITY MANAGER, MISS MYRA AYALA. AND NOW, PLEASE WELCOME OUR MAYOR TO THE PODIUM FOR THE OFFICIAL WELCOME REMARKS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WE COME TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE, AS ROXANNE MENTIONED, AND CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE UP OUR EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE BRAVERY, THEIR DEDICATION THAT OUR OFFICERS DEMONSTRATE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
[02:45:04]
ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR CITY COUNCIL.I AM INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE BEST OFFICERS IN SOUTH TEXAS.
IT IS A TRUTH THAT IS EVIDENT IN THE ACTIONS OF THOSE WHO WEAR THE BADGE WITH HONOR.
OUR OFFICERS ARE NOT JUST PUBLIC SERVANTS, THEY ARE TRUE HEROES.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, NO MATTER THE PERSONAL COST.
TONIGHT WE ALSO TODAY, WE ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR OWN WHO HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT WE CELEBRATE THE PROMOTION OF OFFICER MORENO TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT. THIS PROMOTION IS NOT JUST A REFLECTION OF THE HARD WORK THAT HE HAS SHOWN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, BUT ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE CALIBER OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
TO ALL OUR OFFICERS TODAY, KNOW THAT YOUR COURAGE DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.
AND TO ALL THE FAMILIES OF ALL OUR OFFICERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR OFFICERS.
AS I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, SERVING OUR CITY.
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR AND WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SACRIFICES AND THE OFFICERS SERVING OUR CITY. AND FOR THAT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THE SACRIFICES THE OFFICERS MAKE AND THE RISK ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED BY EVERY RESIDENT OF OUR CITY. YOU ALL ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY, AND WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY STRONG AND SAFE.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TODAY'S HONOREES.
THANK YOU. MAYOR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, NONE OTHER THAN THE LEADER OF OUR EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR CHIEF JAIME AYALA.
GOOD MORNING. WHAT A GREAT DAY IT IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE ONE OF OUR OFFICERS INTO A LEADERSHIP POSITION.
SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN ACTING FOR SOME TIME AND VERY, VERY HAS DONE A VERY GREAT JOB AT AT HIS POSITION.
I WANT TO THANK MAYOR GARZA, JUNIOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND MISS MYRA AYALA AS WELL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT YOU PROVIDE, NOT ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY, BUT ALL OF OUR CITY AND ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS ACCEPTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE IS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO, AS FIRST RESPONDERS, STAND BEHIND US, AND THEY WATCH US LEAVE AND GO TO WORK EVERY DAY.
I DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS, BUT I WANT TO TODAY.
I'M HERE SUPPORTED BY MY WIFE, JANET, WHO IS ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF ME THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER AND TRAVELED HERE WITH ME HOME TO BE HERE.
AND I DON'T RECOGNIZE HER MEASURE OFTEN, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER TODAY.
SO THANK YOU, JANET, FOR BEING HERE FOR ME AND SUPPORTING ME AND EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND I SAY KNOWING THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, HAVE SOMEONE AT HOME, WHETHER IT'S A PARENT BECAUSE YOU'RE YOUNG IN YOUR CAREER, A BROTHER OR SISTER OR A SPOUSE THAT IS THERE TO UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT YOU EXPERIENCE AND THE THINGS THAT YOU BRING HOME AND SOMETIMES WEIGHS VERY HEAVILY ON YOU. AND SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPOUSES AND THOSE THAT SUPPORT US EVERY DAY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WE'RE DEALING WITH CHALLENGING TIMES IN OUR PROFESSION.
WE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS OCCURRING AS TIME GOES ON.
WE'VE HAD DECADES OF CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND AS OUR GENERATIONS CHANGE, PERSONALITIES CHANGE.
AND WHAT WHAT OUR YOUNG OFFICERS WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM TO DO THIS JOB.
IT USED TO BE THE THE SWAT AND THE K-9 AND ALL THE FANCY TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT THAT ANYMORE.
IT'S ABOUT PURPOSE. AND WHAT IS MY PURPOSE AND WHAT I DO AT WORK? WHAT WHAT AM I DOING THAT IS BRINGING VALUE HOME TO ME AS A PERSON, AS AN OFFICER? AND HOW AM I SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT PURPOSE DO I HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY? AND SO, SERGEANT, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAN ON YOUR COLLEAGUES, LEAN ON ON THOSE THAT YOU GREW UP IN THE DEPARTMENT WITH AT YOUR PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT IN HERE. AND KNOW THAT WE WE'RE WE SUPPORT YOU.
COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP IS NOT EASY.
DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE RIGHT REASON IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, BECAUSE IT IS WITH THE PEERS THAT YOU GREW UP WITH IN THE DEPARTMENT. BUT IT'S EXPECTED.
IT IS EXPECTED OF OUR LEADERS THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING EVERY DAY AND TREATING OUR PEOPLE THE WAY WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TREATED WHEN THEY ENTER INTO THE WORKFORCE.
WE WANT SOMEONE TO COACH THEM.
WE WANT SOMEONE TO MENTOR THEM. WE WANT SOMEONE TO GUIDE THEM.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE HERE IN EDINBURGH EXPECT OF OUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY IT MANY TIMES, SARGE, BUT AS YOU STEP INTO THIS NEW ROLE, AS YOU WEAR THOSE STRIPES NOW JUST KNOW TO HE WHO MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED.
[02:50:03]
YOU'RE ACCEPTING A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY FAR ABOVE THAT OF THE LINE OFFICER, ONE WHO OVERSEES THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE UNDER YOU.SO KEEP THEM SAFE. I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD, IN YOU AND WHAT YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED TO US THUS FAR.
NOW, TODAY, WE ALSO GET TO RECOGNIZE SOME HEROES, SOME PEOPLE THAT WENT ABOVE AND ABOVE.
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS THEY SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
AS I MENTIONED, POLICING HAS CHANGED IN SO MANY WAYS.
WE LEARN FROM MISTAKES THAT OTHERS MAKE AROUND THE COUNTRY SO THAT WE DON'T MAKE THEM AGAIN. THIS YEAR, 90 OFFICERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
AND SO AS WE AS WE TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT WE DO WHEN WE PUT THIS UNIFORM ON, AND WHEN OUR OFFICERS GO OUT INTO THE FIELD, THEY KNOW THERE'S RISK, BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK TO PROTECT EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN WHO LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY OR IS VISITING OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT IF NOT ME, THEN WHO? SOMEONE HAS TO STEP UP AND DO IT.
TODAY WE WILL RECOGNIZE SOME WHO HAVE SAVED THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
AND IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF AWARDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUT TODAY FOR LIFE SAVING, IT'S REALLY ABOVE THE NORM.
IT'S NOT COMMON TO BE PUT IN A POSITION TO TAKE RISK, TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, WHILE YOU PUT YOURS AT RISK.
I'M PROUD OF US BEING A FOUR TIME ALL-AMERICA CITY.
I'M PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY MEMBER WHO COMES TO WORK EVERY DAY AND SERVES AS LEADERS.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE GOOD WORK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY IN OUR MIDYEAR CEREMONY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT IS MY HONOR TO SERVE IN THIS CITY.
I'M SURE THE FAMILY HAS BEEN ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THIS.
OFFICER JORGE MORENO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN EDINBURG.
OFFICER MORENO GRADUATED FROM EDINBURGH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL IN 2002.
HE PURSUED HIGHER EDUCATION AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE EARNED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THEN DEMONSTRATING A COMMITMENT TO FURTHERING HIS EXPERTISE, HE RETURNED TO HIS ALMA MATER AND COMPLETED A MASTER'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN 2009.
OFFICER MORENO BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WITH THE HARLINGEN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2010 AND IN 2016 HE TRANSITIONED TO EDINBURG PD, AS HE SHOULD, WHERE HE HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE WITH DEDICATION THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
OFFICER MORENO HAS SPENT MORE THAN HALF HIS TIME AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, SO HE'S TEACHING OTHER OFFICERS AS WELL.
HIS PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS INCLUDE A MASTERPIECE OFFICER CERTIFICATION, AND BEYOND HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE, OFFICER MORENO MET HIS WIFE, CLARISSA IN 2013, AND THEY ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO BEAUTIFUL BOYS, AGE TEN AND THREE. CHIEF, IF WE CAN HAVE YOU JOIN US AGAIN IN FRONT TO LEAD US IN THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR OFFICER MORENO, FOLLOWED BY THE OATH OF HONOR THAT WILL BE LED BY ASSISTANT CHIEF CHAD DEFFNER.
STAND RIGHT HERE AND FACE THE AUDIENCE. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
I STATE YOUR NAME. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF POLICE SERGEANT.
THE DUTIES OF POLICE SERGEANT IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS.
HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE.
AND I FURTHER SOLEMNLY SWEAR, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, NOR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED OR PROMISED TO PAY.
[02:55:10]
REMEMBER, GUYS, I HAVE DIBS ON THE COOKIES.I WISH VERONICA WOULD HAVE BROUGHT EVERYBODY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, WE ARE ENTERING INTO OPEN SESSION.
[7. OPEN SESSION]
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER INTO OPEN SESSION.GOT A MOTION TO OPEN A SECOND.
I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM SIX A1, AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THAT DAN LEFT. RIGHT? WELL, OKAY, FOR THE RECORD, DAN DIAZ EXCUSED HIMSELF AT 8:20 P.M..
OKAY. SO GOING BACK CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM SIX A1, AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[.1 Project Cave]
SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE FIRST.WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION CARRIES. WELL I THINK THIS IS IT FOR THIS MEETING.
I THINK WE'RE DONE WITH THIS MEETING.
YEAH, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO AGAIN THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO FOR US. I KNOW THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T SEE YOU TILL TILL NEXT YEAR. AND SO WE WANT TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
FELIZ ANO NUEVO. NOW, CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A FIRST.
WE HAVE A SECOND. SO MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
PASTOR OF THE YEAR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.