we have council president duck Shipman present council member Michael Julian Bond post one at large council member Matt West Morland post two at large council member Isa Collins Post three at large council member Jason H Winston district one here council member Amir foki District Two council member Byron D Amos District three here council member Jason Dozer District Four here member Liliana barer District 5 council member Alex ju District Six council member Howard shook District s council member Mary Norwood District 8 council member Dustin Hillis District nine council member Andre albon district 10 council member Marcy Coler over Street District 11 council member Antonio Lewis District 12 we have 10 members present for Corum Mr President thank you um coun mroi has joined us uh next we'll move to the adoption of the agenda the agenda was sent out ahead of time if there are no changes or updates to the agenda I would entertain a motion to adopt move by council member one seconded by council member Bach tiari any discussion on the motion to adopt the agenda we can do this via unanimous consent without objection any objection the motion to adopt the agenda Madam clerk please sound the count on the unanimous consent 11 y Zer Nays 11 y Zer nay motion to adopt the agenda passes next I have to say it is a personal honor to uh call forward the Reverend Robert Franklin former president of Morehouse College to give our invitation today and my former professor at IM University it is a pleasure to have you here with us Reverend Frankin pleas let us be in a posture of Prayer oh God our help in ages past and our hope for years to come our strength in difficult times We Gather we learn from history we hear the words of Martin Luther King who reminded us that this hour in history needs a dedicated circle of transformed non-conformists and saving our world from pending Doom will come not from a well adjusted majority but from the creative maladjustment of a transformed minority as this great city council gathers today we honor extraordinary public leaders those who have served and elevated Atlanta to be the Envy of the world we thank you for their leadership and their service we thank you for those who serve on this Council now and those who lead it we thank you for the business that will be delibera thereafter and so grant us wisdom and courage in these difficult times and help us to remember the words of Rabbi H who said the world is equally balanced between good and evil and your next ACT will tip the scale amen as we remain in a posture of reflection I would ask if my colleagues have any remembrance says their names they want to bring forward Council doer thank you Mr President I do want to acknowledge um our former uh director of NTI Michael Paul lost his brother yesterday and so hope we keep him in our thoughts and prayers thank you counc RS yes sir Mr President as we um moving to this moment of of of reflection definitely want to send our condolences and prayers to um Anthony Leonard pla aka DJ Unk um Regional National World um Entertainer that um lost this life so definitely sending condolences to the family and friends thank you any others with these and with those unamed would you please join me in a moment of silence thank you would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God IND divisible with liberty and justice for all this time it is uh my pleasure to ask council member Boone to come forward and all of the many who are are here to honor Caesar Mitchell Jr to come forward and join us on the [Applause] Das please come swiftly will all those that are here to honor The Honorable Caesar C Mitchell Esquire please come forward go that way yes you can go you can go up that way and go around you can go either way yeah how you doing I'm good I'm good hey I missed your party I'm sorry that's okay when they when they had rescheduled it yeah [Music] [Music] see how you doing seeing your later okay [Music] uhhuh right here you here Tiffany here you here Tiffany can you come right here sir can y'all come down back here fill all this in right here fill all this in back here Tiffany right here right here come on I was sitting in the back but I we Anton [Music] [Music] now [Music] [Music] [Music] good afternoon Atlanta good afternoon good afternoon Atlanta good afternoon I am Andrea Boon a member of the Atlanta City Council and today we are honoring our Native Son a bridge builder a consensus Builder a man of uncommon Vision a moous man The Honorable Caesar C Mitchell we are so very happy to have members across this region and Native atlantan Sons and Daughters of Atlanta Hank Stewart representative Roger Bruce Tiffany Mitchell wife and children mother mother mother Mitchell thank you for being your mother thank you thank you mother Suzanne and David Mitchell The Honorable Mo Ivory Dr Robert Franklin Susan J Ross photo Grio Cecilia torrent president and CEO of the nature girls Enis Antoine Jackson Memorial Baptist Church James Welch Miss Welch the Boule Stephanie party of Marta Steve leitz Woody Samson Esquire Jennifer Freeman from the office of congresswoman Thea Williams judge The Honorable Christopher Ward and so many others have gathered today we will now see a short video Atlanta thrives on strong leadership and Caesar Mitchell has been a driving force in its progress from Benjamin e may High to Morehouse in ug law and his accomplished professional career he has led with Integrity intelligence and a deep commitment to his community my experience with Caesar Mitchell goes way back as they would say I've known Caesar over 40 years we attended the same uh Elementary School for the duration of uh elementary school he's a nice fellow I remember hearing about him playing ball at at Maze and um in the neighborhood not long after becoming an attorney Caesar knew that he belonged in public service so that he could bring his expertise to the Atlanta City Council where he could Champion policies that could transform communities I can remember specifically when he first expressed an interest in uh politics and his question to me was should I run for city council my reply to him was run Caesar run Caesar won his election and his victory allowed him to drive meaningful change in Atlanta through transformative programs that strengthened communities and expanded opportunities we we cannot think about Caesar Mitchell's uh impact on the city of Atlanta without uh mentioning the college prep series The College Prep series was a an item that Caesar came up with that in nutshell was giving a a opportunity for free sat or ACT practice test he partnered with the scholarship Academy and a number of other nonprofits to bring in Atlanta public schools high school students to expose them to the um sat act all for free Caesar really understood the fact that tests don't measure how smart smart you are they measure how prepared you are as city council president he actually formed a lot of committees and a lot of programs one of the programs he did from neighborhood perspective was around the you know back to business uh conference and that actually gave an opportunity for business people from all walks of life from nonprofit to profit to kind of get together exchange ideas uh and to kind of grow that business so uh he partnered with the SBA and kind of really provide a lot of resources to people Beyond empower in Youth and supporting small businesses Caesar Mitchell laid the foundation for a thriving Atlanta one that continues to grow and flourish today after the Beltline Tad appointment which was a volunteer role uh I then had the opportunity to join a group called the Atlanta Development Authority and Caesar had something to do with that and in fact Caesar and I worked on establishing four of the city's commercial Corridor tads so years ago this was a financing tool to help make certain parts of the city that didn't attract significant investment better fast forward 20 years and you can see the Belt Line tab uh the stadium neighborhoods tab camton Road Metropolitan Parkway those are all phenomenally performing now and encouraging developments in parts of town that wouldn't otherwise get that type of development Caesar Mitchell is a son of Atlanta he's had a huge impact on Atlanta I think Caesar ranks among uh the Elite of attorneys in the city of Atlanta I have known Caesar a long long time as a baby lawyer when my wife had to teach him the ropes my wife Sherry uh in the real estate world I saw him rise through the council and then to become the president and now he's a colleague of mine at Denton what can you say about Caesar he's bright he's Charming he's personable he's smart he's a star Caesar you have worked so hard uh really for your entire life in service to the city of Atlanta uh you are a son of the city uh we're proud of you uh we're proud of the leadership that you have uh exhibited thus far and we know that you still have great things to accomplish as a leader uh here in Atlanta both on the legal side the business side and on the public policy side Caesar Mitchell thank you for helping to build the Atlanta we are all proud [Music] [Applause] of we have also been joined by the honorable Judge Glenda Hatchet Courtney English Office of the mayor Chief of Staff Odie Donald Wayne Martin Shan Norman Nicole Evans Jones Robert James CEO of the Carver Bank and now for the 61st mayor of the city of Atlanta The Honorable Andre [Applause] Dickens councilwoman Boone thank you for bringing us all together today to council president ship and all the members of the at Atlanta City Council all of these elected officials both past and present and to all of these leaders that are here we're all here for you Caesar Mitchell we're all here for you and one of the reasons we're here for you is because you've always been here for us you have been a leader amongst leaders look at all these leaders of some you know variety of capacities up here and out there that are all leading constituencies organizations firms businesses Etc and they look to you for guidance and they have looked to you for guidance for decades for years even as a maze High student I heard of Caesar Mitchell I came in in ninth grade they mentioned about 4 five people and Caesar Mitchell was one of them and I didn't know who he was I got the I got the Little Caesar which is David Mitchell but um not only do you embody leadership and you sound like leadership with that booming voice um your heart is a servant leadership and you've done that over and over and over again throughout your career whether here at the Atlanta City Council or here as the council president or the numerous times you shown up for communities across Atlanta uh everybody looks up to you Caesar and we're thankful for you and all that you do you set a good example for as a family man as a lawyer as a fraternity brother uh for whether it's I saw C quite a few omegas in here uh for y for for that fraternity also for also for us as members of the Boule together and just on and on and on Caesar um I'm thankful for your guidance when I first got to city council the very first day I had to introduce legislation about something and I was nervous and couldn't get it right and all this stuff and then he said you know we voted on he was like welcome to the NFL the big leagues Andre it's the big leagues I was like okay big brother but you got me straight you got me going and um I'm just so proud of you I'm thankful that we're giving you these flowers right now because of what you've done um your name rings out and we want to honor you so that everybody young people everybody gets to know there's a man named Caesar Mitchell Jr in this city and he's given his heart every day so keep doing it season [Applause] The Honorable Doug Shipman president of the Atlanta City Council thank you council member Boon welcome mayor it's always good to see you you I remember very distinctly I don't know if if you do but I remember very distinctly the first time that we met we had breakfast together I was working on the center for civil human rights you were in office and the first thing that struck me about you was that you asked questions and you listened before you started telling me things which is very atypical for an elected official usually elected officials and I fall into the Trap talk start talking before they start listening but you wanted to know a bunch of things before you offered advice you wanted to know who I was before we actually started to talk about the topic it's said that pressure builds character but actually pressure reveals character it reveals what's actually already there it's like water that polishes a stone what's underneath is what's revealed and Caesar Mitchell you have always had a heart that cares you have shown that in your office service you have shown that in your personal relationships and now the entire Community is showing you what that heart looks like on display thank you former president Mitchell thank you Caesar for having an incredible heart for Atlanta and now Mr Wayne Martin today is very special to me it's a full circle moment I was watching Caesar earlier as he was rubbing his son we Fally know him as CC he's rubbing his head and I thought about when I first met you um mayor Jackson had just died very suddenly and tragic tragically to me who was interning him for him that summer and I felt like I was just starting to find my way and then I lose mayard um I had wonderful parents uh but they there were certain Journeys that they couldn't necessarily help me on and I felt like Maynard was sort of this bridge in my life to help me get to where I was supposed to go um but I met you at the wake and we had a conversation and you said call me if you need anything I graduated a year later and I called you to help me get another job but you hired me to work in your office when I got another job out of your office I called you to say hey I'm it a recommendation out of your office so I can go make money and you responded to that call um that's a true story I got another job in the future and I called Caesar again and he helped me get there I don't know if you see her recurring theme but Caesar answers the call he's answered the call to Public Service he's answered the call to being a phenomenal father to his three children and to the thousands of other children's lives that he's impacted across the city and he's answered the call to serving others with all that he has and all that he is so today we answer the call to serve you we salute you sir congratulations and we celebrate you for the many more years of success to come in your life thank you [Applause] The Honorable Mo Ivory fton County Commissioner thank you um when you're in Atlanta you're in Fulton and when you're at City Hall you're in my district district 4 where Caesar lives where Dave Mitchell lives and where we've been friends for a very very long time so today I wear this blue dress as his Spellman sister I wear these red nails as a tribute to our bond um he from side chapter of Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated and I from adappa chapter of Delta sigment Theta Sor Incorporated we've had a very long relationship there and then as my friend uh for I don't know countless decades so in my very first Proclamation as a Fulton County Commissioner it gives me great honor to give it to my friend my brother Caesar Mitchell so pleas yeah yeah wait I just want to everybody knows proclamations are long and I'm not going to read the whole thing but the very first thing I want to read is that it says be it resolved that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners recognize Caesar Mitchell for his tireless dedication to the citizens of the city of Atlanta fton County and the entire state of Georgia and do hereby Proclaim Monday February 3rd 20125 as Caesar Mitchell Appreciation Day in Fulton County Georgia step right here step right here step we also have proclamations um from the congresswoman from the fifth congressional district nikima Williams at this time we will hear from Robert James CEO Carver Bank good afternoon uh Mr Mayor president Shipman members of the Atlanta City Council I met Caesar Mitchell in the summer of 199 3 at the Uptown Comedy Corner on on Peach Tree in what 14 Street uh earthquake was the MC that night and Caesar and I were both summer Associates at Big law firms here in Atlanta and uh they had an event for the African-American summer Associates to get to know each other and this brother was just warm and genuine and wel eling I was born in Atlanta but I grew up in Savannah and I've never really uh had time I didn't go to high school here I didn't have those relationships um Caesar has always been welcoming Caesar as a friend you always ask how I'm doing you always ask what I need you never ask me what I can do for you and best character and that kind of behavior ladies and gentlemen engenders loyalty and so that's why you see all of these people and I'm looking out on the audience and I see more faces Caesar you're selfless you're a true leader the impact that you've had in this city you don't take enough credit those of us who advise you politically always try to tell you to take more credit for what you do because you've impacted this city in ways impacted lives created jobs created educational opportunities in ways that you may never get credit for but those of us who know who were there with you doing the work we know the impact that Caesar Mitchell has had and so I'm just grateful to have a a small part in this and to say thank you as a friend thank you as a brother thank you for everything that you've done for the city and for our future thank you brother congratulations [Applause] we have also been joined by representative Billy Mitchell and The Honorable commissioner Marvin s Arrington Jr at this time we like to hear from some of our colleagues on the Atlanta City Council before we hear from the family our colleagues The Honorable Mary Norwood The Honorable Jason doer The Honorable Matt West Morland I had the pleasure of being a seatmate with Caesar for several years and it was wonderful he was paying attention he was smart he was helpful he was a true leader that did not stand up and pontificate and claim all the credit we've all seen that um but he was he was really really good and then my next seatmate was Andre Dickinson so I've chosen well I got Caesar I got Andre Caesar I'm so glad to be here honoring you today A+ good job so Caesar lives in District 4 we're going to let his council member Jason doer The Honorable D Jason doer of District 4 come next followed by Matt West Morland and Amir foki thank Council boon uh firstly I just want to say uh Caesar I think you owe the people of Atlanta an apology because we're not for Caesar Mitchell I would not be here before you all today so many years ago I participated in a program called new leaders Council and new leaders Council works with young uh professional men and women who have interest in making Progressive change happen in the city of Atlanta and Beyond and Caesar has been uh uh a steadfast supporter of that program for a long time and uh every time you have someone in that program they're assigned a mentor and Caesar was my mentor in that program and so not only did I learn through the program uh how to knock doors how to uh uh raise money but I had Caesar Mitchell uh give me the real real story about how it was done in terms of Atlanta politics which was a big part of my origin story and deciding to run for office myself so I just want to say firstly seizure thank you for helping me embark on this journey and the one that uh I'm I'm continuing to be on today and number two I'm just proud to represent you on alad city council I know that uh I think over the years in my two runs for office I knocked on your door probably about 15 times and that's how hard CRA was working because he was never home whenever I knocked on his door but I appreciate you and your family and all y'all done for the westan community for District 4 and for the city and just want to say thank you for being a a mentor for being a friend and I look forward to continuing uh to honor your legacy and the word they've done for the city with my work on the city council [Applause] so got many stories I'm going to share three quick ones um much like the mayor um when I was a freshman in high school um I was sitting in a room at Georgia Tech on youth service day uh and you came in and spoke to a group of high school students about having just embarked on a career in public service um it's the first time I ever met a member of the Atlanta City Council um and 19 years later due to your guidance and mentorship and friendship and advice support and counsel now get to sit in the seat next to the one that you held in this room the day we met um if you fast forward I have a very vivid memory of standing next to you on the table in the mayor Jackson High School cafeteria during one of your many um SAT prep programs which just influenced over its existence thousands um of the aps students that are so dear to so many of us in this room who are graduates of that school system um and third is that every single time I think about Economic Development on camton road and Martin Luther King and the stadium Tad and along Hollowell I think of you because you wrote that piece of legislation um which is helping thoughtfully bring Economic Development to parts of Atlanta that have not seen it in far too long and that is a legacy that continues to exist far along after you have left this room um and is just one of the many pieces um really meaningful legislation and change that you brought to Atlanta um so finally whether it's the east side or the west side mitals I feel like a adopted member of your family and I'm so I am I incredibly grateful um for all of your support over the years [Applause] The Honorable Amir foki thank you uh Madam chair uh Madam Council uh look I I like many others have had a career that shaped in part by by Caesar I met you um probably around the time of my first run for office in 2009 when I was a naive early 30-year-old and uh you gave me more than the time of day you gave me advice and counsel and patience uh and I look back on it now and I I realized you know I wanted to be a public servant like you were a public servant and I I I say that because we're at a time when we need public servants like Caesar uh at a time of ego and divisiveness and and yelling and shouting uh um Caesar is the antithesis of that and is a model what it means to be a great public servant and um I carry that close to my heart I think there's a Turkish poet whose name I forget but he says in the wind the mountain is still or in the storm the mountain is still and I I think of of you in that way that kind of calm steady thoughtful ability able to get above the noise and think about the greater good and um it is a model that we should all be following it's one I carry uh is a model for myself and I just want to thank you for your your leadership both while you're in office but also Beyond it doesn't matter what your station in life is you've been there to hold out of hand and pull up folks alongside you um not for your benefit or their benefit but for the benefit of the community and so we're very grateful for you um your wisdom and your your uh mentorship for so many uh and this city and state is better for for Caesar Mitchell so thank [Applause] you The Honorable Mary carer over Street District 11 couldn't let this day go by without at at least uh leaning in on something that's truly wonderful about Caesar Mitchell I really believe that um there are some that hold office and it's the office that holds them right Caesar Mitchell win lose a draw of your your actual races that you won or lost he's still answering call and in our communities everyone he says yes to me all the time he is working on so many things in my community in including uh 501c3 that we don't uh use the way we need to at Adams Park he comes to the meetings he is still in our communities he cares about just getting the work done and I think someone said earlier about how he doesn't ask for a lot of fanfare or anything like that and this position any position if you're not telling everyone what you're doing they don't know they don't know this doesn't matter to Caesar Mitchell and for that I just really want everyone to know that I truly view you as a public servant I think that your whole family is just made up of something amazing to be honest like your advocacy for the things that matter in our communities is unbelievable and I'm just glad that we're all friends I don't want to be on the wrong side me neither I don't want to be on the wrong side and guess how you can be their friend for you to be doing the right thing as well that says everything about these families so I just wanted to make that clear Dr Robert Michael Franklin former president Morehouse College to our honorable mayor and city council president council member Boon generously observed that Caesar Mell is a morehous man right may I ask all men of morehous men if you just raise your hands momentarily and to all of you who are products of any of the Atlanta University Center Schools would you raise your hands I say this by way of reminding every one of us that Atlanta has great institutions and great institutions produce great leaders and public servants it is through families that you see here Tiffany and these wonderful children it's through churches and synagogues and Mos it is through the schools of our institution few realize that one young man sitting there in their classroom would someday become president of the city council and a great attorney a great public servant but we thank you Caesar we're proud of you as morous wraps its arms around you as a man who embodies what we teach at morous the five Wells he is well read well spoken well traveled well dressed and well balanced we're proud of you again let's give it up for Caesar's [Applause] mother okay and now our first lady Tiffany let's give it up for Tiffany and the [Applause] kids thank you so much I just wanted to take a short time to say thank you that all those nights when he was out saying because he said yes and multiple times he was there and he didn't just stay for a bit he stayed the entire time so he was getting home really late and my children now get a chance to see the appreciation for those late nights and those saying yes and stepping up and he's done this all throughout his life because he started real young Addy cloan taught him and from there stories from his mother of his father taught him so it's nothing for him to give of service because it's in his DNA and part of that is the fabric interwoven into the special city of Atlanta that keeps it going so thank you Atlanta thank you I would like to ask my colleagues to come on up with me as we present this proclamation to a warrior for the people of Atlanta in honor of Caesar C Mitchell Jr Esquire where Caesar C Mitchell Jr Esquire an Atlanta native and distinguished partner at Denton's us LLP the world's largest Law Firm has dedicated his career to Excellence in real estate finance and public policy and whereas as a two-term president of the Atlanta City Council Mr Mitchell demonstrated Visionary leadership becoming a trusted advisor of general councils of Executives of major corporations and governmental entities and whereas his annual back to business conference connects thousands of small business owners with decision makers in large private and public sector organizations strengthening local business to business opportunities while his semiannual College Prep Series has Ed EMP powered over 8,000 Atlanta students and their parents with college admissions guidance and test preparation and whereas Mr Mitchell has authored legislative measures to Spur economic revitalization in the underdeveloped areas of Atlanta and was a leading legislative sponsor of the nationally recognized Belt Line project understanding the vital connection between Green Space Public Safety Community Health and economic growth he is established Citywide task forces to advance Atlanta's goal of creating a world class Park system and promoting a safer learning environment for college students and whereas recognized for his Integrity fairness and ability to cultivate relationships Mr Mitchell has been named one of Atlanta's 100 most influential people and is listed in Atlanta's Magazine's influential 500 he is a Henry Crown fellow of the Aspen Institute serve on the points of light governing board and held leadership rose with the Georgia Municipal Association and the Atlanta Regional Commission Now whereas Mr Mitchell's extensive Civic activities include chairman of the advisory committee on legislative of the State Bar of Georgia trustee for the Richard B Russell Library Foundation ation and board member for the Atlanta music project and now therefore be it resolv that we the members of the Atlanta City Council do hereby recognize Caesar C Mitchell on Caesar C Mitchell day in the city of Atlanta Georgia [Applause] here go right here go right here and on behalf of the thousands on behalf of the thousands of people in the city of Atlanta this is just a small token thank you Caesar C [Applause] Mitchell if you would come right here let's get a photo only with the city council members and then we will hear from The Honorable Caesar C Mitchell can we get a photo with our colleagues and our president I know where's the proclamation sorry for try come on thank you come on come on hold on hold on wait for Howard [Music] all right [Applause] and now for the man of the hour the honorables the honorable Caesar C [Applause] Mitchell mayor Dickens president Shipman to the members of the Atlanta City Council uh Andrea Boon Andrea Boon Andrea [Applause] Boon you know I want to be respectful of the hour I know that there's a lot of business that needs to be handled here today very important business that needs to be handled I remember standing at that deis and having to preside over the matters of the day so I'll be brief and say just a couple of things uh number one I stand here because of the people who Stand By Me Now folks out there and the people of Atlanta I love this city uh this city made me who I am my mother would tell me stories my brother and me stories as um When We Were Young uh about our father president Shipman you triggered this notion and this thought that I had I came here to serve and I came here to do the best I could to make the city a better place and to improve the lives of Atlanta citizens in any way that I could and that's what I worked on every day but I got an incredible bonus being here duck Shipman said that I was call me caesar C Mitchell Jr my father me and David's father passed when we were n and 10 years old he was an Atlanta police office officer and an ordained minister had I not taken this journey in public service I never would have gotten to know him and to know the work that he did before me and before my brother here at City Hall in the streets of this city pushing the Notions of community policing treating people with respect he carried indeed a gun but also a Bible and that's who he was and so as my mom would tell us these crazy stories about my father who was the founder of the afroamerican patrolman's league who spent God awful time if in the community he would ride around in this baby blue Pinto and every now and again he would take David and me and we'd learn about pal we'd learn about different parts of the city little that he know that we know know David and and I little did we know that he will be gone in a few short years but my journey here was an opportunity to get to know him and I hope I did not waste the opportunity to serve the people of Atlanta in a way that he did and so I am here because I just want to express my gratitude and when I say I'm here because I want to express my gratitude it took Andre a long time to get me to agree to even come down and receive a proclamation she says two years but at some moment in time you have to thank the people who put you where you are and so I'm here to Express gratitude to the people of Atlanta gratitude to my team I mean when I talk about my team I they they suffered me candidly when I think about all the hours we spent Rene [Music] May Jim elgard Kathy Murray I'm going miss names Preston Harden Michelle Wayne so Jennifer so many of us I mean we would come to a moment in time when a lot of talking had been done a lot of talking in City Hall a lot of talking in the community and what we would say to ourselves is it's just time to do something and so what what I will say to the members of the city council what I will say to the members of the administration and what I would say to the people here who are here as Citizens whether you're advocating for an issue that's dear to you or dear to your family or dear to the community or dear to this city we're at a moment in time where we certainly have to speak truth to power but we are also in a moment where we have to do truth to power so let's remember that as we move forward I'm incredibly grateful I thank God and and I'm so glad that my mom is here wherever she is right now she went to sit down she did not spare the rod as we grew up and uh I'm thankful for her and I'm thankful to all of you thank you Andrea thank you to the members of the council thank you for loving me in spite of me God bless you love [Applause] you and now and now we will have a picture Mr Mitchell if you would come here with your family we would like to thank Mr William Stanley for being here a great architect in the city of Atlanta this program will resume in the city hall Atrium in 2 minutes this program will resume in the city Atrium please do not leave please wait photo photo stay where you are okay okay well every sh sh sh picture please stay where you are and take a photo look straight into the photo please look straight into the photo sh if you would turn around and look Sue are we ready photo one two 3 still please move swiftly sh to the City Hall Atrium to my right and my left please move swiftly to the City Hall Atrium this program will resume please move swiftly our the Lord said we must all repent we must all repent our Lord all repent our sins how you doing doing all right yeah [Music] I'm there you go yes yes I am and uh it's all right it's all right I was watching on TV I forgot I saw about [Music] I right okay yeah I am oh you now you got it I was trying to get you [Music] [Music] [Music] well everyone please move to the City Hall Atrium please move to the City Hall Atrium to swiftly City Hall Atrium [Music] swiftly please move to the City Hall atrium [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] all thank you all very much next I would like to invite council member Michael Julian Bond forward and all of those who are here to H celebrate the Life and Legacy of Ben Howard to join us on the Das [Music] thank you Mr President I'd like to ask Mr Raymond Howard to please come forward [Music] Mr Howard yes please come on up [Music] actually I'd like to say good afternoon to everyone it is my pleasure to be here today to honor uh the memory of a great public servant in Atlanta and unlike the great public servant that we've just honored in the personage of Mr Mitchell some public servants aren't appointed some public servants aren't elected but some public servants still answer the call to service for their fellow man and such was Ben Howard I'm joined by his son Raymond Howard and his and family members and friends and I have a proclamation uh from the Atlanta City Council in honor of his life and Legacy but I will say that we did have the fortunate opportunity to honor Mr Howard some years ago in this very chamber and so so that the city could let him know while he was I don't want to say able to to smell his own roses because I believe that when a when a person dies and goes to be with the Lord if you follow the logic if God is everywhere then if they're with the Lord then they are everywhere also so he's just where we can't see with our own eyes and so I have a proclamation that reads in pertinent part celebrating The Life and Legacy of Ben Howard whereas Ben Howard a lifelong advocate for social justice equality and workers rights has passed away leaving behind a legacy of profound service impactful leadership and unwavering commitment to creating a better world born with a calling to serve his community and Country Ben was a proud veteran of the United States Army serving honorably during the Korean conflict before earning a bachelor's degree from California State College in Los Angeles and a master's degree from the University of California at Irvine whereas Ben Howard's career was as dynamic as his Passions during his time in the Aerospace industry with North American Rockwell he served as a Union steward founded a black workers Alliance and played a key role in organizing the first employee Civic rights strikes in Los Angeles during the 1960s his dedication to Justice extended beyond the workplace where he championed labor and civil rights through successful grievances complaints and litigation whereas Ben Howard's commitment to Justice and equality was evident in his service on Boards of the American civil liberties Union of Sal of Southern California the legal aid Foundation of Los Angeles advisory committee and his active involvement with the NAACP in Jackson Mississippi and whereas upon retiring in Atlanta in in 1997 Ben Howard began a new chapter as a senior advocate he held leadership roles in the Fulton County Commission on elderly Affairs the Council on Aging and AARP he was an active member of the ne of neighborhood planning unit R and a tremendous Civic organizations enriching the lives of many atlantans and Beyond and whereas Ben Howard was an active participant in meetings with the Atlanta City Council and had its its committees advancing uh tirelessly for affordable housing transparency public engagement his commitment to progress extended to his involvement with groups such as the policy advocacy Information Network Georgia standup East Point naturally occurring retirement communities among many many others and whereas Ben Howard is survived by his children grandchildren and great grandchildren all of whom continue his legacy of service and success his life serves as a testament to the power of dedication resilience and love for Humanity and one's fellow man and woman now therefore be it proclaims that we the members of Atlanta City Council heal and citizens city of Atlanta hereby uplift The Life and Legacy of Ben Howard we honor his unwavering commitment to Justice his impact for leadership and his dedication to the community his memory will remain a Guiding Light for generations to come I have set my hand and have caused the Seal of the city of Atlanta to be here and two a fixed congratulations Mr Howard Mr Raymond Howard I want to say thank you to the city of Atlanta and also to the council and the members of all the agencies who he has befriended and those who know him know that there was some sarcasm in that statement um thank you for keeping my dad alive keeping him interactive and active thank you for participating in his Legacy and uh most of all thank you for keeping his memory alive and honoring him um I greatly appreciate all those who are here and aren't here who have spent the many decades that he has spent in this city um and I'm appreciative of the time that you spent to let him speak and to hear him and the changes that have come from his presence as an advocate um as a friend as a troublemaker at times and a uh Peacemaker most of the time if not all of the time thank you very much now we'll gather up before the podium to do what the Jim Maddox used to always say the council does best take a picture for thank you so much next I'd like to ask uh council member Jason doer to come forward and all of those who are here for the recognition of Westend development Carl Barnes and handy Johnson to join us on the dice [Music] yeah come on up come on up all right all right and Carl and Han if you can just come on right next to me come on up right right here right come on up uh all right good afternoon y'all I'm council member Jason doer I represent District 4 on Atlanta City Council and what's most important today is that I represent the West in community on Atlanta City Council as well and so I have a button here that says West in talk it up uh this was uh gifted to be by Miss Janet syes where I don't know if where she might have landed uh but the today is such a remarkable day here in the city of Atlanta because all day we've been talking up the West End we did the wonderful Proclamation for Caesar Mitchell who lives in the West End Community and today we get to honor Mr hany Johnson and Mr Carl Webster Barnes for their contributions to the Weston community over the last several decades so just a few weeks ago about late December uh West neighborhood development uh the neighborhood association for the West in community celebrated 50 years and in that celebration we also celebrated the West in community's uh status on the national register of historic places and that only happened that Legacy that that uh that continuity and that celebration only happened because of the work of Handy Johnson and Carl Barnes and so as someone who has been uh doing my best to uh achieve the there's a saying you know keep Atlanta Atlanta standing on the shoulders of these two giants has really helped motivate me to do my part to make sure the seity of Atlanta is supporting communities like Weston and all over Southwest Atlanta uh just uh a couple months ago we uh passed legislation creating a legacy Business program in the city of Atlanta for the first time we'll be launching that next month and n work only happened because of the work that these two gentlemen put in to ensure that businesses and residents and neighbors and Community institutions stood the test of time if you go to West End you see businesses that have been there for 50 years you see neighborhood centers that have been there for decades you see residents who've been here for for several decades as well and it's important that we honor that Legacy and it's important that the city of Atlanta Honors that Legacy as well and so we want to make sure that we bring West in to the front so that you all know what work has gone in to make our city the city that it is today and I just want to say just from the bottom of my heart Thank you Mr Barnes and Mr Johnson for all of your hard work to make the Western Community what it is today um I do want to give uh some of our friends and community members an opportunity to speak on behalf of these two gentlemen before we go into the proclamation itself uh the first I would like to ask Miss M Anderson Fuller with the West Merchant coalition to say a few words thank you well it's been an honor to support this well overdue recognition these gentlemen have been in the trenches of West End the city of Atlanta Georgia and Beyond doing work for the community so it is with deep honor that I say thank you and I also have to mention our other community organizations who may or may not be here because we are a very close-knit Community we have an organization called The Alliance it consists of w Tony mcneel the Westend C the Atlanta University Consortium the Westend rotary and I think I'm missing somebody but anyway on behalf of all of us we want to say thank you and I also want to mention Judy Walker because this was kind of planted by her seed give her a [Applause] hand and you know it goes beyond just documentation that these gentlemen have done it goes beyond legislation it goes beyond it goes beyond the innovative ideas that they have come up with to make Community better it is about Community Building Community preservation and their work will last Way Beyond today's recognition and so I thank you thank you MRA I've also invite uh Terry Ross where'd you go Terry to say some words on behalf of neighborhood planning Unit t thank you Council Mia and most of all thank you handy thank you Carl anybody who's familiar with mpu work knows that it's a lot of heavy lifting some light lifting the pay is terrible the hours are not very nice but it's a lot like family we don't always get along we don't always agree but we know that we have more in common going forward than we have differences and these two here have been steady advocates for the work involved in mput and we are so much better off for the both of them thank you both thank you Terry so for our first Proclamation uh I'm going to uh read off the proclamation for Handy Johnson Jr handy if you could stand next to me so first thing I I'll say before I I read off the proclamation uh Mr Johnson is a son Native Son of South Carolina uh my family is from South Carolina as well I don't think we're Ken um however um you know as a first generation atlon uh I've leaned heavily on my South Carolina roots in terms of making me the band I am today and so I'm very proud that you know you're a fellow veteran uh you're you've done so much for not just our communities but for our our country and so I just want to say thank you for your service and thank you for all you've done for our communities thank you so in recognition of community advocate handy Johnson Jr whereas handy Johnson Jr has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the West End Community of Atlanta where he has resided since 1971 first settling on lton street and later restoring his historic 1885 folk Victorian Cottage and whereas handy Johnson's Journey began in L South Carolina where he excelled academically graduating from South Carolina State College with a Bachelor of Science and agricultural education he served this country with with distinction as a commanding officer in the United States Army stationed in Korea during the Vietnam war pu whereas handy furthered his education by earning a master's degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University followed by a groundbreaking master's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia becoming the first African-American to receive a graduate degree from that program and whereas Handy's thesis neighborhood revitalization and Analysis of neighborhood coalitions in Atlantis West End laid the foundation for the West neighborhood development organization and inspired transformative Community efforts and whereas Handy's professional career span over three decades of public service with the United States Department of Justice the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Outdoor Activity Center Incorporated where he made significant contributions to Statewide planning Environmental Education and development of state parks including Sweetwater Creek and Cloudland Canyon and whereas handy Civic engagement extended to numerous leadership roles including serving as the wind president and Community chair committee chair chair of the Atlanta Urban Design commission and board member of the Pont Park Conservancy his tireless advocacy for historic preservation environmental stewardship and neighborhood beautification has left the lasting impact on the city now I'll just add elastic impact on this country as well whereas a devoted member of eer Baptist Church for over 45 years handy has served as trustee Usher and key contributor to the design and creation of the Horizon sanctuary in Friendship G now therefore be it proclaimed that we the members of the Atlanta City Council on behalf of the residents of Atlanta do hereby declare our heartfelt gratitude and recognition of Handy Johnson Jr for his unwavering dedication Visionary leadership and remarkable contributions to the wesan community and the entire city of Atlanta and this has been signed by all members of the Atlanta City Council Mr Johnson thank you so much for your service once again thank you [Applause] guys but just falling in love with an old neighborhood and an old house and carrying on a life that has made such a difference in our inner city thank you all for being here and may God bless and keep each of you byebye all right Mr Carl Barnes you can join me at the the dayis so y'all I actually met Mr Barnes about a decade and some change ago uh Atlanta Regional Commission used to have trainings for uh folks interested in City Planning and at the time I was a aspiring bureaucrat and PID my enrollment fee and who did I get to meet uh over at Atlanta Regional Commission off of Courtland Street is Mr car Barnes and uh Mr Barnes had a lot to say even though he wasn't the one teaching the class he had a lot of opinions about what it meant to to do City Planning and I learned so much from him then I continue to learn a lot from you now uh and I know uh Mr Johnson and myself are both uh alumnist of GE University of Georgia I'm not going to hold against you that you're a Georg tit yellow jacket so uh but I want to say thank you on also for your service to to this city to your neighborhood to your community and I stand on the shoulders of giants in the work that I do and so I thank you for helping me me uh best articulate all that West in has to offer so with that in recognition of community advocate Carl Webster Barnes whereas Carl Webster Barnes is a distinguished corporate business executive city planner researcher writer and preservationist who has devoted Over five decades to advocating for the growth revitalization and historic preservation of the wesan community and whereas Mr Barnes began his commitment to Weston in 1970s as an early member of the Weston neighborhood development Incorporated contributing his educational expertise and professional experience to design charettes and development strategies positioning the neighborhood for sustainable growth and whereas as a proud part participant in mayor mayor Jackson and the United States Department of Housing and Urban development's Urban homest program Mr Barnes exemplified leadership by renovating and residing in a $1 house for over 20 years further strengthening the Weston community and whereas Mr barnes's tenure as president of when from 1991 1 to 2002 led to numerous historic district designations including res recognition from The National Trust for historic preservation the United States Department of the interior and the state of Georgia ensuring the preservation of West 's Rich cultural and Architectural Heritage and whereas with academic achievements from prestigious institutions such as Georgia Tech with the Bachelor of Science and industrial management Master science and City Planning and hisor preservation and the Wharton graduate school for masters of Business Administration as well as International fellowships Mr Barnes has brought Visionary City Planning perspectives to Atlanta inspired by experiences in Philadelphia Amsterdam and other Global cities and whereas Mr barnes's ongoing advocacy includes his participation on various boards and commissions such as the Atlanta Urban Design commission the Georgia Department of Natural Resources historic preservation division the city of Atlanta zoning review board and more advancing policies to protect West in and its residents now therefore be a Proclaim that we members of the Atlanta City Council on behalf of the residents of Atlanta do hereby declare our heartfelt gratitude and recognition of Carl Webster Barnes for his unwavering dedication Visionary leadership and remarkable contributions to the westan community and this entire city of Atlanta his legacy of leadership advocacy and preservation serves as an inspiration to all and this has been signed by all members of the Atlanta City Council congratulations [Applause] would would you like to say a few words I'll say a few words thank you w this journey is U always a short Journey even though a lot of things happened over a long period of time uh it's just hard to imagine uh my family and my father's side uh South Carolina state and Claflin and on on my mother's side Tennessee and and fish university so we were raised to see a lot of things when I first grew up in Atlanta I lived off a PRI road which is right there in the Old Brownsville area of Atlanta my father and mother built a house out in Kaya Heights so I've seen the breadth and the depth of Atlanta my mother worked at the Atlanta Housing Authority for 20 years as a cashier in University University John hope and she worked at at BO so I've seen a lot of my neighbors in a lot of different and difficult situations my father was a shop steward out at L and and this is not the L that you see today so I have I've grown up seeing a lot of things before this building was built and there are a couple of council members that are still here so I I want to thank everybody I want to thank all of my neighbors particularly my neighbors in West End uh around the Atlanta University Center because it's imperative that we protect our assets we protect the Atlanta University Center we protect Georgia Tech we protect uh Atlanta metro college education is a key and it's extremely critical that we protect those assets for our youth if we don't we are in Dire Straits thank you councilman [Applause] now before we take a picture one thing I do want to say just for the folks in the room and the folks watching the home just look at everyone up here on this behind this day is to celebrate these two wonderful individuals this is the West in community that we all know and love West End is to Confluence the black culture in all of its multifaceted forms where whether you are uh uh in the black Christian faith whether you are Muslim whether you uh are uh uh a a business owner uh Weston has it all and so I want you all to see uh really in my opinion what the heart of Atlanta is and it's right here on this day is and so thank you to Mr Johnson and to Mr Barnes for protecting that preserving that and helping us celebrate that today West in talk it up we're going to keep on talking about it now let's get ready to take a a couple pictures and then we'll be done [Applause] well everything come [Music] [Music] one decate I take I know all how you doing all your design every Sunday how's you been I've been good got a little cold but recer come there as often as I can okay right thank you all so much I'd like to invite council member Marcy caller over Street and all of those who are year for the recognition of national girls and women in sports day to please come [Music] forward yeah i a [Music] [Music] [Music] I did but I don't know if I can stach [Music] I had never been invited to the house never had been okay well we'll get started I want to thank everyone for packing their patience this is our last proclamation of the day but certainly not the least important um I am extremely proud to um be presiding over this Proclamation it means so much to me that you all are allowing me to do this today um let's talk about why it's important for us to recognize National girls and women's in sports day and especially our Atlanta's own volleyball team love it's important because when we recognize uh women we're continuing to support the girls in sports ensuring that they have the re resources the mentorship and the platform to achieve their potential it's really that simple everyone knows when a woman is involved it makes everything better that's a fact you don't have to look that up it's a fact so just take our word for it because we know um and also by celebrating um today we're supporting an organization this organization is certainly worthy of our support this is the volleyball team it's love if yeah if you're this is the city of Atlanta's volleyball team and this is the city of Atlanta's commitment to make sure that they know that they're supported and that we see them and that uh we will be here for them uh I want to make sure that we are speaking to a couple key people here first and then I will read the proclamation our first speaker is going to be Kim kitchen she is the Chief Operating Officer of Youth clubs at League one volleyball thank you councilwoman over Street and to everyone on the Atlanta City Council for extending this honor to League one volleyball as councilwoman over Street mentioned my name is Kim Kitchens I'm a proud Atlanta resident and Chief Operating Officer for youth clubs at League 1 volleyball or as we call it Love on behalf of our entire organization our love Atlanta women's professional women's volleyball team and our LED Junior clubs A5 Rio volleyball and Georgia Beach who serve more than 1,600 young athletes throughout Metro Atlanta we are incredibly proud to be recognized in celebration of national girls and women in sports day and for the work that we do every day to lift up encourage and Empower girls and women through Sport and by creating a community of belonging the idea behind love is championing athletes through their entire volleyball Journey from getting introduced to the sport and developing as young players to supporting their recruitment to College Programs to creating Pathways for athletes to play professional volleyball here in the US and connecting our club athletes and Pros to support the next generation of players we are excited to have up here today all of the members I believe of the and the coaches and staff of the love Atlanta pro team which features an incredible group of women who are not only at the very top of their game but are also committed to advancing opportunities for youth players they're also currently ranked number one in our league two I want to recognize first is Sugar Hill native Tia Jimmerson at she is an Alum of one of our youth volleyball clubs A5 guette and tia is now living her dreams of playing professionally in the US right here at home I'd also like to recognize three-time Olympic medalist Kelsey cook who has been an instrumental member of the love athlete Council which has helped design our proleague to work hand inand with our youth Kelsey also serves as the team captain of Your Love Atlanta volleyball team and I'd like to have Kelsey come up to share a few more words first I want to take a deep pause she said three time Olympic [Applause] medalist a little higher um thank you again for this incredible honor I know on behalf of our team we're honored to be here today if anybody wants to come watch some incredible volleyball and watch all these amazing women compete we play our next home game is February 21st at the Gateway Arena and we'd love to have all the support that's my [Music] birthday and now we're gonna uh have um someone from the mayor's office to speak uh Tasha good afternoon everyone um my name is tajna Spence and I serve as the community of fair manager for the mayor's office of equity diversity and inclusion um just giving recognition to our mayor Andre Dickens and chief Equity officer Candace stanil in her absence um they are the reason under their leadership why we are able to influence Equity the way that we do across all communities in Atlanta as council member over Street mentioned one of Mod's commitments is to advance equity for women and girls by breaking down systemic barriers and expanding opportunities we achieved this through initiatives like the mayor's women of Atlanta advisory Council and sports is one of the unique ways that we get to accomplish this work our partnership with League 1 volleyball aligns with modi's efforts to ensure women have Equitable access to opportunities that thrive in historically male-dominated spaces and so I just want to give a special shout out to Malik Lewis here um she connected with us at our International Day of the girls celebration this past October and we immediately hit the ground running talking about ways that we can engage with the community here in Atlanta and also shared some of love's work with our youth here by hosting their volleyball camps with the Department of parks and recks today I would just like to say thank you and thank you for Monique for this partnership congratulations do I have any colleagues that would like to speak want to make sure that um I don't Overlook my my colleagues okay so seeing n we've been speaking all day I know they're they're all spoken out well we have council member Mary Norwood I am not a volleyball player you can see that pretty clearly but I am in such awe of all you ladies for doing this great work and for being so excellent in your field so go women thank you and also the The Honorable Michael Julian Bond just want to thank Council uh councilwomen Marcy over Street for highlighting this Fantastic Team let's give them another round of applause for everything that they do and just quickly and briefly as a father of two daughters who played Sports all while they were coming up it is important for us to highlight women in sports and that we need to support them at every level at every level some of the most dramatic and exciting games that I ever witnessed were my daughters participating in volleyball participating in basketball and other sports and so it is valuable it it serves as a great example to other young women across our country and it is absolutely needed so we just want to salute you and thank you for what you've done and congratulations and thank you councilwoman over Street so here here I would oh wonderful we're going to bring pins for the um for everyone actually Council pin um and here here my daughter also found a lot of confidence in being on travel volleyball while she was in Middle School but um even with my three to five inch heels on um she is my height so it didn't work out for us but I am strongly a a big advocate of of what you do with so much fun and so good for our communities 100% um the mental aspect of it uh is a whole another conversation in itself the confidence that uh Sports women and sports bring about um and just I I really do believe women make everything better so I'll just say that again uh but let me read the the leg uh the actual Proclamation and then we will take our picture and then we will get about the other business of the people's house um um proclamation in recognition of the national I got to get the font that I can actually read I'm not going to tell you my birthday like I said is on the 21st but these eyes go quickly recognizing National girls and women in sports day and love Atlanta whereas National girls and women sport in sports is a celebration observed annually on the first Wednesday in February to honor their accomplish ments and contributions of girls and women in sports and whereas ngwsd is established was established in 1987 to acknowledge the significant impact of female athletes Co coaches and administrators in Breaking barriers creating opportunities and promoting gender equity in athletics whereas through the efforts of Athletics Advocates and organizations girls and women have made tremendous strides in gaining access to sports leading to improveed physical and mental health leadership development and career opportunities and whereas the city of Atlanta's mayor's office of equity diversity and inclusion recognizes the importance of promoting opportunities for girls and women in sports as a means of empowering resilience and community building and believes that such efforts align with the goals of the mayor's women's of Atlanta ad advisory Council which Champions gender equality opportunity and inclusivity for all women in the city whereas the mayor's office of equity diversity and inclusion supports initiatives that promote in inclusion participation and Leadership for women in all sectors whereas the city of Atlanta is committed to continuing its efforts to uplift and support women and girls in sports ensuring that the Next Generation ation has the re resources mentorship and platform to achieve their dreams and break new barriers in athletics now therefore be it proclaimed that we the members of the Atlanta City Council on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta do hereby acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions that athletes coaches and administrators and organizations such as love make to our community and we commit to advancing their Miss and equality and empowerment through Sports congratulations let's all move forward and take a picture right woo okay [Music] thank you all next we will move to comments from the public uh I would just remind everybody unless you have yielded time on the list you'll have up to two minutes for comments uh we have a number of uh speakers today so we'll try to keep it moving on time first up will be Jay Wesley day you'll have up to two minutes Jay Wesley day next will be Maggie McCullum you have up to two minutes thank you I would like to say happy new year to all of my council members my name is Maggie McCullum and I'm here on behalf of the national Senior Games to come to Atlanta Georgia uh the mayor is on board with me the Fon County Commissioners are on board with me the state of Georgia is on board with me and I wanted to know if my city council members will be on board with me to bring the national Senior Games to Atlanta Georgia I would really appreciate it that you give give the mail a shout that we can make this happen it's been everywhere it's in Birmingham in 29 and I know if it goes to Birmingham it can come to Atlanta Georgia I'm excited I'm waiting for it to actually happen I just need all your support and I want to thank you and council member buns I've been trying to contact you I want to contact you to get a congratulatory letter for my pastor John G burale and I need it before next week thank you so much and you all have a wonderful afternoon I'm not going to hold you I'm glad you are sitting here in front of me and thank you for coming to work today just to listen to me thank you thank you next up will be La pink uh due to yield of time you'll have up to six minutes excuse me officer sh excuse you I bathroom Miss Pink let me he was oh first on the list Jay Wesley day you have up to two minutes thank you I wonder where we would be if MLK had said he has no jurisdic over Chicago when he got hit with a brick in Marquette Park I wonder what would where would we be if he had not gone to Montgomery for the bus boycotts I wonder where we would be if Martin Luther King Jr didn't go to Alabama when the church bombed and all the other places he went see I was beaten in 2018 by five men left me lifeless in a coma I have videos of them through my cell phone you have City footage of them stomping me two people have been indicted but no one's been prosecuted and you all get so upset with me for Seeking Justice I just don't understand it all the leaders here and not one leader has assisted me with bringing Justice in the last meeting Liliana told someone in the audience let me call fton County for you I do understand this is a fton county issue but why can't none of you call fton County for me whether it's calling funny Willis and ask her can she hurry up and expedite and prosecute my as salance why couldn't any of you call Keith gamit because here's the other Injustice you all Keith gamage charged me with a misdemeanor and I got my saors I didn't say nothing to these guys I just I'm just recording them but I got charged with a misdemeanor but Keith gamage took the misdemeanor and sent it to the fullton County District Attorney's office charging me with a felony how do I get charged with a felony when I get my ass beat it just makes no sense to me whatsoever time has expired thank you thank you next will be La pink you do to yield a Time yeld of up to 6 minutes it's not and you've got a lot of time yielded to you actually Tim so you have up to six minutes oh that's fine I don't even need that much but um so of course good evening good afternoon political gang bangers we are back um I know y'all probably miss me however the case may be um we stood outside today and I have brought several homeless before this incident and today um just to talk about the situation that continues to happen if you guys know and if you've done some background on me homeless is a lifestyle for me not a situation not an event not something that we do doing um Martin Luther King holidays or any of that this is something that I have even experience um homeless feeding the homeless and now we stand here today with someone that have their life have been taken I fed Mr Cornelius clothed him so this hits a little bit different with me this is not just me coming down here um to see the the grand stand of things that took place today but you guys these people need homes let's get to the real deal of what's really going on right here in Atlanta these people need real food they need real love they don't need a publicity stunt they don't need a church opening up their doors only when it's funeral time they need a church to open up their doors to help house them to help put them somewhere where they need to be the mental health and with the mental health there's different levels of homelessness everybody is not on the street on drugs everybody is not on um homeless because they can't uh uh stay off drugs some of them have mental health issues and don't know how to get off the streets but it's our job to get to be on foot instead of sitting up here giving proclamations you know what took that man so long proclamations cuz it's so much corruption you don't know even who to accept that Proclamation from no more I get calls all the time I want to give you award I don't want it you know why because I can't even trust who's giving me an award I can't TR I can't even trust that you are doing the work that I'm doing for you to award me for what I do trust me I seek no reward from man mine come from God believe that I might come up here I might talk stuff but if you do history on me do your background check trust me I I I I really do the work we took 179 families from hotel to homes through the pandemic I got faces here that stand with me we feed them every Sunday every Sunday right here across the street from the courthouse at a church that should be open 247 you guys got to wake up and get up out these seats some of you are in the streets I'm not those let me tell you something if the shoe fit wear it whenever I'm up here talking if the shoe fit wear it if don't don't force your feet into it cuz I ain't even talking to you but 90% of the time when I'm talking I'm talking to somebody up there that ain't doing the work and if I call your name then that means I done already did research on you that mean I already did a background check on you that means I already done got a call on you I'm not going to call your name for nothing anybody know if I say your name that means I done got to call that means somebody talking about you so are y'all allowing legacies to be moved and and and and talked about let your legacy be that you've been in these streets that we don't have to continue to come down here and tell you how to do your job tell you how to spend your money and stop spending taxpayer dollars on your own organizations I don't never come down here begging y'all for one dime y'all could do research I ain't never came down here and ask y' for nothing you know why it's cuz I refuse to get in bed with you thank you next will be Margie McLoud you'll have up to two minutes [Music] Love Money by OJs I come down here again again and again again saying the same thing we need to put a cap on this rent we got rent control that's what we need that's your solution and I get tired and tired and tired you tell me you can't do it or you the Stak saying now oh we're going to support rent control you should have did it last year it's not going to get no better it's getting worse I could told you I told you learn from La didn't I tell y'all that guess what we're in the same position and La wait till the last minute to put a cap on the rent the people go on now this what we have to do if you don't rent constantly go say 3% 2% whatever do something if you can't fix fig it out get lawyers that got Bri got can figure this out what you say what Georgia can't do cuz you say you don't want to be lawsuit but if you don't do it sh you ran on this you ran on this okay I'm calling you out so you got to do it don't I don't want to say no I can't do it I don't want to hear that no more because people's crying they hurting and it's in your backyard Rome Georgia also bringing people here other counties bringing people go ahead because everybody got problems the homeless even New York but I tell New York you better stay up there cuz they got resources when you come here you be shocked that's what I'm just saying please please here I go again I'm going to be here somebody else going to take my place also the people going to make y'all do this and they're tired of saying I can't do it we don't have the law Governor you told me so I want to make sure the state got to do it in the city if the city hey the mayor you remember when Trump told the mayor in La use your asess order use your time is expired use your power cuz you got it you could do it stop telling me what you can't do now you tell me what you can't do I can't vote for you have a blessed day thank you next will be sadika mlan [Applause] you'll have up to two [Music] minutes my name is s McLean and I've been homeless for a year and a half and I was wondering when is the homeless people going to get homes I mean it be cold and people dying freezing in the cold got to bundle up in the with a lot of covers and it just I'm sorry I'm nervous and no or at least give us some a a closer restroom to use it so we got to use it outside do something that's all I got to say thank you next will be William Carter William Carter next will be Demetrius brew that be me you have up to good morning boy um again I'm in front of y'all we claim that my wife and I've been home this since 2021 after leaving Smith State Prison had the opportunity to go to the transition Center on P Leon did 13 months there on my last sentence after doing 30 years and I found myself on the streets and the things that I have not seen just outside this building I ain't talking about nowhere else I don't know nothing about nowhere else all I can speak on what went on in front of Presbyterian which is right here can't forget K that just recently happened well he got Nicole who froze Del up here at JJ's right here right across the street from woodro Park so yes you know it's something that I know that y'all can do I'm not trying to step on on toe I ain't trying to miss none either I know it's something y'all could do it houses up on the in the bluff Bank Head North Avenue the houses closed down and I looked at some of the apartments that's over there they been Clos in 13 years before I even came home I went and took pictures of I looked at them me and my wife we talked about it well we know that boy can get these things up and going they can make this out of the whole program ain't nothing wrong with them I'm here for any maintenance so help us out man we getting tired of being FR fro out here on this sidewalk we get tired of getting food we ain't say it nothing about we hungry we said we homeless we need help man we need help and the brothers and the sisters that I'm looking at man I know y'all got that that PE man to make it happen please make it happen man cuz it it messed up that these folks out here like this man hey I might got on whatever but this come from somebody else that that love me time has expired y'all tighten up man I love yall man thank you next will be Dewan Robinson do to yield of time you'll have up to 10 minutes I'm before we can we get a moment of silence for Mr Eric Terell he's a another um Street activist that um passed away um and also a moment of silence for Mr Taylor who was laid the rest today I come here today guys this is very serious today I think this is going to change a lot on what I got to say today um one of my favorite movies of my favorite quote is the time to kill towards the end when Matthew MCC made his closing remarks he asked the allh jur to imagine that the little black girl that was raped um Ed on beat and he said now imagine that's a white girl I mean and the juror convicted Samuel Jackson because he pointed out the wrong doing and made them see hey regardless of our differences we got to go the right direction on this there are some things that I've been knowing for quite a while um but I didn't say anything because I was trying to be The Peacemaker whether you guys agree with me or not down here at Council you know that when I'm wrong I'm the first one to come back down here and apologize to the same person I spoke on so yes I don't like that we have a council member and Miss Batar that got a black man fired called and said that she was being robbed and a part that she shouldn't have been at late night and the man was doing his job asking her to leave then she went to high school and yelled in disrespect to some young black girls who asked that she helped get the man's job back I don't like that am I wrong for telling her to make this right no I'm not playing politics with this man that was killed um and the city is liable but to play politics with people lives I don't like that there a lot of things I don't do I don't play politics with people because I come from the ghetto and I know how it is is to be forgotten and played with and having lack of resources something happened Thursday that it really bothered me all weekend I got a lot of calls and I was at a community meeting at councilman lwis District on Saturday and a lot of people was concerned about this oig going into private citizens bank account when the oig was created by Miss Felicia Mo and Council one thing that you guys were manipulated with that you didn't know her husband Henry block who named she don't take and for why Henry block is a morouse graduate 1992 Mr Block firm does a lot of business with the city of Atlanta so now we are past guard rails he we past guard real CU guess what with the research is we was Bamboozled from the jump Miss Mo thought she was going to win mayor when she ran for mayor she thought she would have the ethics who she have a close relationship with and she thought she would have this oig lady who husband have Atlanta TI who firm does a lot of business with the city of Atlanta so imagine if there is a firm that gets selected that goes up against her husband firm Mr Henry block and they don't get elected would they go on Investigation would they be subpoenaed the City attorney sat here and said that there was about 14 State violations I don't have a contract with the city I'm not a vendor with this city she said the investigation CL when councilman Lewis asked her why would you go into private citizen bank account she said the investigation is closed then why would my bank account be put out there and going into and looked into for what reason as a private citizen I don't care if you don't like what I say and I've said something about your friends you personally I'm a super voter in this town I've run for office I'm a taxpayer I'm a native son are you guys going to really sit here and let her go in my bank account as a private citizen some of you guys live in a glass house and you might be afraid of that that she might go into you I don't live in a glass house man I come and talk all the trash I want can nobody say they ever paid me to speak on something can't nobody say that I am not compromise I speak from the convictions of my heart Mr Shook and to have me being investigated with because I might be friends with the two ladies that was clear Miss Quinn and Miss Amber EPS fine women I too know that I can go up there and if my stuff ain't right Mr Robinson you got to come back man you got to have your eyes Di and teeth crossed see here the thing about me I'm okay with an honest no I just want to get that honest no I don't want to run around and be lied to I can deal with an honest no guess what we can get it right when America scen re hir me at the word for this is no lie I didn't miss a day work for three years and Miss Boom helped get me over there as well you know why I didn't miss a day Mr shook because the mayor called Miss Deborah L and said I'm sending the one Robinson over there I thought I was representing him so why play games and miss a day at work no it's going to look bad on you that's the type of character I have I would never ask nobody do nothing illegal we ain't got to we ain't got to we can do it the right way and get it done we got enough relationships in Atlanta where we can get it done I can go to my Doug High alumni and Mr bun and Miss Boone and say hey man I need some help hey how can we do this I don't have to ask them to compromise they integrity and do nothing wrong and what really hurts me is and it take a lot of people to come here today they say this because in the two years that I thought I befriended our oig I have never gone to her office and never talked less than two hours never talked less than two hours I asked her I said hey I read this report it said expeditor one I think I'm expeditor one she never said yes or no had plenty of time to tell me she done investigated me and went into my stuff never said it and I just been thinking this whole weekend man we dealing with a woman that has a prosecutor mentality I think we've been hook went with her husband having some type of conflict with his firm doing business with the city and we hir her as a oig and we didn't even look into the subpoena power because we had a city council president that wanted to be mayor and didn't care about at the time how they did Amica scene Reed at the time they didn't care about it and it allowed us to be open and Hook when now the city is on the hook for potential losses from a private citizen bank account being going into Viola my Privacy Act I think that we're beyond God real but I'm okay with God real I'm saying at this point because we've been lied to about who her husband is and the firm they work for it and and the back Channel talks that got her here I think we need to scratch the oig and start it over not saying we don't need it because I'm saying we know we need the corruption and all that right but we need to scratch it and start over because we've been hook wink and lied to and then we put the right guard rails in because this is serious man I think it was 50 56 sub penal that were turned in who knows what other private citizen that it was on who bank account she going into now we know that she've gone in some of you guys bank account they can't just produce it because you're council members we know this we know this and we know some of us might not be operating from a 100% ethics ask yourself if she looked into my life in my bank account or my spouses or whomever else wherever the money may be going to if there's a situation am I okay with this how am I okay with this because I'm not okay with this I'm not okay with even speaking on someone I thought was a friend but befriended me to play me like most Out of Towners think you know I was watching this movie Life and Eddie Murphy them said oh we from New York City them country Bo Mississippi we can get over on them it's from New York City most people from New York City and I went to college in Baltimore Maryland they do think that we slow they do think that we slow down here in Atlanta and city council was Hoodwink because most people say y'all don't read everything you don't go through most of y'all wasn't even on here but they said we don't read and we don't look into these things and I think that that was no that was definitely the case with this situation I don't even know if y'all even knew a husband was a mous man had relationship with law firms that do business with this city do y'all even no this even care I'm there saying you guys voted for a HR relator who was still on Investigation of Miami to be over human resource y'all voted for that you could we could have Googled a name that a lawsuit would have popped up but we got the oig Shannon Manar who husband name is you know what I'm saying we got a a different who still who still resign in New York and working in New York there's no telling who doing business with the city of Atlanta who they might be protecting over there at the oig office by saying no we're not going to investigate them we'll investigate these people come on man I'm a private citizen who born and raised say I do so much for the community now I'm saying before my time up I want to give a special shout out you know I'm saying torado and the fam goon Community who do extraordinary work man put your hands up guys do extraordinary work over there in Vine City Mr Barron amus District shout out to you guys man and councel please take this on consider because this is very serious and this is factful information that you guys can look up yourself but I have it for you Custer Lewis Dr Robertson said my name Dr Robertson was at our Pittsburgh neighborhood association meeting this weekend and the questions around the oig did come up I know I was last week I was a paed to know that only thing we know you for is coming to this stand and being loud about Atlanta and proving your love about Atlanta and we were appalled to know that you were investigated and so that's why I asked her specifically did this truly happened and I I hated her answers the statement that were made in my meeting this weekend they told me not to mince words the name that they they used right the name they used was J edar Huger Hoover J ever Hoover was the name you get to choose who you want to investigate personal stuff it came from the East Coast so I I I've never seen this we don't need to be known as a city who's investigating private citizens because they come down and talk bad about us so I just when we talk about what we what we're doing right now I stand on there I stand there and we say I need to investigate the IG that's my request that we can investigate her husband's tires to companies to the city of Atlanta I I heard you make this claim and she said she investigated you because of claims that were said so we need to open up that investigation and make sure we're protecting our city and I think that she needs to resign I'm I'm that far because to in a person standing a citizen the the Pittsburgh Community neighborhood association this a a Layman person at a meeting telling me that she's scared to come down the city hall she's scared to talk about her counc person she scared to hold people accountable this Atlanta we don't move like that she supposed to be able to tell me I mean they can call me every name in the book I mean that's what I signed up for you know what I mean so to to understand that you can be investigated and targeted that's what they did to Dr King they chose what they want to do Dr King that same person so to that that came from the the meeting I try to keep the same words that are used so this weekend that word was used in our in our Pittsburgh neighborhood association meeting and and and I I st with you on that we don't need that in our city we have a few council members that was on here when she was there do you guys know in your interview ask yourself this did she make you guys aware of her husband went the morous and have relationships in Atlanta that his firm he worked for does business just ask yourself that if that wasn't disclose because if I work for the city and my husband and my wife or whoever you're a male or female does business with the city you have to disclose that if not it's a ethical violation thank you Mr Robinson next up will be Jimmy Hill due to yielded time you'll have up to 10 minutes you have up to 10 minutes due to yielded [Music] time hey good afternoon Jimmy here uh I thank God allowing me to be here today really I just thank you for waking me up um you know I try to live by the word of God I ain't perfect but what about how you treat people you treat people the way you want to be treated but the Bible said be careful when entertaining strangers for you never know when you might be entertaining and a what about Cornelius Taylor why has nobody been held accountable rest in peace I pray for his family praying for his family for uh mentally physically and emotionally um when things happen in Atlanta it's always coverable it's about city leaders covering up all the time uh uh scratching each other back watching each other back uh uh uh what about accountability there's never no accountability and I blame uh uh the community for that because we need to hold y'all accountable we need to hold city leaders accountable um you know city councel the city y'all making affecting people lives yall are destroying people lives just by being self-serving and just by being selfless you know it's just time to do something new do you have a conscience even though supporting the truth isn't possible I mean isn't POS popular but it show the capacity for honesty and integrity when will you start supporting the truth you know when I I went to the king on the 20th on on King holiday and it was cold out there but you know me I'm going have my jet for Jimmy I didn't bring it in here today I'm going have my J with Jim Edon son if you don't know this my son he was murdered by Atlanta police six years ago right here I'm going have my sign it was cold and I went to the went to the store on Edgewood and and and and ran into some of the guys and we were talking and they were telling me they was upset about what happened to Cornelius Taylor and I'm hearing it from the horse's mouth from some of the the guy that was in the tent and they said the police officer didn't didn't U he didn't check he supposed to have been patrolling and made sure he checked to make sure everybody the area was Secure and he didn't he didn't do it he fa to do a job and the man got ran over why hadn't why why hadn't he been had a accountable what about the mayor why hadn't he been had a account what about yourself why hadn't you why had you been H account but now let me tell you something now the Kings go to the Kings the king should have been knowing that Homeless encampment been there for years right behind the fif Supreme why had they came to the meil it's like y'all made a spectacle of this man trying to cover up by doing a h and horse and buy and having this funeral at elania Andre Dixon I heard him say uh talking about giving somebody their flowers up here today what about what about con taylor why y'all didn't give him his flowers what about the rest of the homeless encampment why haven't y'all give them their flowers get them people somewhere to stay put them in a program do something come on stop taking that money and wasting trying to make Atlanta a beautiful city a city too busy to hate yeah City too busy to hate to do the right thing and that's what that's what Atlant has been about and it's about accountability so it's about accountability that's what that's what it's about it's a it's it's about accountability we have to start hold and not not just not just a home to any Community y'all are making decision that are affecting these communities um you know I remember several years ago when when when when y'all so y'all didn't have enough fun and close down the YMCA open in Thomasville because Atlanta City Council they but you got enough F to do everything else and so and I was just looking at the che and face it when they said this our home away from home uh where else we going to go now I want to know how many of them children don't got murdered in the streets I want to know how many them children got on drugs I want to know how many them children out here ring around or look for love in all the wrong places come on now y'all got to do better with the decision making you got to do better with the decision making now I'm going to say this about my son Jim Edison January 22nd 2025 it was 6 years my son I'm being murdered now I don't need you to speak cuz you're not going to do that no way so I I've been fighting for my son no wrong is wrong no matter who said or who does it so we wait while we wait on the judge to make a decision a federal judge to make his decision on where this case going to be dismissed or either put in front of a federal jury even though this case was already indicted this man was indicted by P and counter Grand and Char with f aggravated by no why would this case even move to a federal court why would a state officer handing a state case why why why would this case be allowed to be moved to Federal Court why would Atlanta Police Department allow this officer this same officer 26 year veteran at the time of the murder with a trouble pass why would they allow him to be move why why would why would they allow him to loan him out to a federal T Force it's so much corruption and everything going on in Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta need to tighten up and only way they going to tight we shall holding out accountable I want to can you pass can can somebody pass this around I want you to look at this so like I said the decision you're making that affec in the community decision you making uh so many people out here dealing with mental health problems walking around so many people out here in the community with breast cancer prostrate councel uh uh uh some of that money can be used to open up some of these facilities some of these same facilities that that you allowed to close like these hospitals uh uh these mental health facilities you know I say this because I was um I went to Greater hospital I had that large prostrate went to Greater hospital and they was in a rush to put me out discharg me the first day I went they put the capital in Rome and I was bleeding and and that's what that's those pictures what I just passed around and I was bleeding and I told them I put them on put they put it in wrong and guess what they sent me home this told me at 2:00 in the morning while I was in pain I went back up there 12 noon told him I was in pain and and and and and and they gave me a pill and sent me back home 4:00 the next morning don't ain't worri about how I'm going to get home three times and happen again and then that's when I get a call from greater hospital and they tell me Mr H we don't put the capital in wrome this Capital where I was bleeding every day I would have bleeding every day and just like the picture I just had the blood clot I had to go have a surgery at Emy Hospital till in mid time I stayed in there a month and a half when it had surgery November 11th um and I was released 3 days before Christmas uh uh almost 50 days a hell pain I mean they would give me everything from morine to peret to Del us to everything it didn't help I had six blood transfusions and two Sur and which they cut my prostrate but they cut my bladder by mistake and I had blood clots running from my legs to my prostrate to my bladder to my lungs I never have felt like this before and that's why I went live on Facebook and told people told a lot of my friends look y'all y'all don't want this type of fight and I and I and and it got to the point and people know me know I'm a fighter I grew up in the old East Lake Meadow when it was little bit at no so people know I'm a fighter and people know how I've been fighting for my son but I never in a million years thought that I tell God to take my life I told God to take my life I was in so much pain I never have and I had friends calling me from 20 30 years ago and tell them Jimmy here we don't do it like that you know we don't do it like that and I thank people for their prayers and stuff so I just want to let you know decision y'all making you're picking people lives open up some of these mental health get get get get it get these these in these communities uh uh uh even I seen a report the other day about women after a year they give birth a lot of women die and and mostly black most of them is black women you know you have to do something educate come on y'all y'all can do better than what y'all doing you can do better than what y'all doing and you got to do better than what doing it's about time to hold each other accountable you know just about this made until where a have a have night either you have or you have not to have scratch each other back to have watch each other back all this corruption and stuff going on come on now you just treat people the way you want to be treated I'm out am thank you next will be Ken robling you'll have up to two minutes good afternoon 2025 is going to be a very interesting year Elon Musk is looking for fraud waste and abuse in federal government the Atlanta Inspector General is looking for fraud waste and abuse in the city of Atlanta the corruptors in both cases are trying to for thwart their efforts you have a chance to help the Atlanta Inspector General by filing 25109 now it's currently on the hold in the uh committee on council's uh meeting in the agenda today but if you passed it or filed it thank you by the way Wikipedia says the Chick-fil-A peach bow was played in Atlanta if anybody watched that game you know it wasn't in Atlanta who and why is the media saying something that unimportant as a football game is played somewhere where it is not it makes no sense 2025 looks like a strange year in the Twilight Zone thank you thank you next will be Cecilia Houston Torrance you'll have up to two minutes good afternoon president Chipman and the esteamed members of the Atlanta City Council I'm syia Houston torren and I was appointed to the Shirley Franklin committee um commission by sherff Johnson president of the League of Women Voters of Atlanta filton County and I want to ask that each of you support the legislation to rename the Westside Reservoir to the Shirley Clark Franklin Park and rename Central Avenue Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard thank you thank you next will be the kelvan Holmes du to yield of time you have up to four minutes um my name is velian Holmes I'm the mother of Eric Holmes in case you guys are familiar with him he was a 19-year-old murdered out in Clayton County that officer received seven murder charges for murdering my son and he walked free like almost every other officer in this state has done it was Eric Holmes that introduced me to things that were going on in the city of Atlanta um introduce me to the officials in in the capital that I would have never knew it was Eric Holmes that got me standing out here today to say that you will roll over someone sleeping in the street just to be you will roll over someone sleeping just to beautify your streets um seeing that happen it just even when you guys were up there taking pictures to people that are out here experiencing this type of brutality it makes you sick on the stomach I had a high respect for position I thought everyone in these positions um actually cared but when you're looking at a state that has almost zero accountability when you're looking at officers that are out here charged with seven murder charges and when you're looking at individuals that are rolled over while sleeping someone going to have to ask their themselves what are we doing you guys got to make it matter to you I never thought it was be my son I told my children don't come in this house saying no black lives matter because I thought everything they said said on the media was true until I realized my son had a a conversation with an officer that the media said they had an altercation run that video tape back no altercation 10 minutes of a conversation for my son to be shot by a man that wasn't even certified to have a gun how is officers out on the street not even certified to have a gun I met Mr Hill in this fight I seen how he was fighting I didn't know where I was in and up at downtown I'm like it happened in Clayton County but God knows no matter where I have to go I realized it was bigger than Eric life it was only because it was so many lies before Eric that it was allowed to be Eric if you guys do not make any difference in what is going on with these officers and the things they are getting away with it's going to continue to be people you got to make the lives matter I was told sometimes it don't matter to y'all until it happened to one of y'all don't let it happen they do not care Mr Hill mentioned something about health and I sit here with a scarf on my head because I can't afford to take care of my health now I quit my job I work at a chicken restaurant just to fight for my baby I said if I got to go back to what I used to do as a teenager versus going back out here working inside of a corporate world trying to make ends meet paying property taxes and everything else and you just kill my child and I'm just supposed to walk like nothing happened da told me well I'm not going back up for charges I watched Chris Carr disputer case you guys look up justice for the rainbow house and you guys hold Chris car responsible for that that da sat over that rainbow house while those kids were molested why is it no charges see the problem is we are murdered for things that you say we do and you guys get to do things in seats that we're paying for and you just walk like it don't matter you you overlook each other when I see the things that are overlooked and I tell you all I know to do is research all night long I probably went and pulled every old article I can on everybody cuz I said if it's good for my son I want everyone held accountable I've been at everybody Marvin you can ask me he's probably like what happened to this little boy Eric everyone may want to know what happened why she at everyone I feel like if it's good for us in the streets it's good for you guys in the seats don't let it be us and it can't be you my son life matter Jimmy life matter that man sleeping and rolled over while he was sleeping his life matter and until their life matter then no life will matter all I say to you guys is care and hold these people responsible thank you thank next will be Ricky Brown due to you old the time you have up to eight minutes good evening Council my name is Ricky Brown I'm a citizens of this citizen of this city um I'm also a um a business owner in this city um I want to just correct a couple of things and um that um was said earlier uh I believe in holding people accountable I'm very um hard on holding people accountable um I heard someone say that um mayor Dickens did not um um contact the of um the young man that was um accidentally killed in the homeless um encampment that's not true U May Dickens did um contact UM the attorney and that family so I believe in holding people accountable uh but when people uh things are not said right I believe in correcting them is also um my some of my heroes in this city go all the way back um to Hosea Williams uh I moved to this city back in the early 80s um from a small town in North Carolina so I consider myself a um a a person that um is considered I say born and raised here because I've been here so long some of my heroes were um Jose Williams and um Julian bar senior and um Joe Boone and um aathy you know so I go all the way back to those days I um I'm here today as a concerned citizen of this city I sat here in this Council um on last um week and I heard something and I heard some things that very disturbed me um deeply um when I see the oig um Inspector General um when she has the power or tooken the power um to go into uh people's personal bank accounts citizens bank accounts U this is an employee of the city of Atlanta for as I'm concerned she worked for me um and to see and hear that she went into people's personal bank accounts was very very disturbing uh if we got a robe oig in this city um that's doing things like that and um that needs to be dealt with um that needs to be dealt with swiftly and um when I look at um I looked had my office to look up the abuse of office and conflict of interest and ethics of Standards I had my office to look it up and after reading some of the things in this um in this letter I'm trying to figure out why this lady's not in handcuffs um I don't believe in holding back um when you can go into people's accounts um Bishop because you don't like what they say or because you don't uh you feel that you're above and then on top of that to overhear her say that if she don't get her way basically she's going to burn the city down who says that as a as an employee of the city because you don't get your way and people not doing what you want them to do you decide you want to say that you're going to burn the city down well I say to you miss oig you in the wrong City this is Atlanta Georgia this is the city of Dr Martin Luther King junor and we don't play So if you think you're going to burn that City down we got a whole lot of water to put it out and we're going to send you back to New York where you come from so I say today this oig because of what she has done and the ethical violations that she have violated and violated the citizens rights of this city I demand and I'm pretty sure a lot of people demand that this lady needs to be not only um fired resigned that office needs to be closed um until is reinvestigated and we need to cut our email off we need to go through everything and find out how many other citizens accounts has she went in that's none of her my account is none of her business so I don't think my my personal account and anybody's personal account even counsel um it's none of their business and for her to do that is very very disturbing um you've got people in the city employees that are running around scared uh because she's knocking on their doors in the middle of the night walking up into their offices with um with camera pin and Camber glasses I mean she's running around like she's the FBI I mean some of these people thought it was Ice raid way these people this woman was running people's houses so I I'm just I'm just very very disturbed on that and and and as a citizen of this city and as a voter of this city I'm demanding her resignation I'm demanding that as we we we elected you we elected the 61st mayor of the city of Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens we eled elected you as city council and we elected you guys to protect us as citizens of this city so we're going to hold you accountable to hold her accountable in this city nobody's going to burn this city down because there's too many of us in this city in this room that we got fire extinguishers y'all have a good day we're demanding that she be fired today and walked out of here thank you next up will be Dean Bron Dean Bron next will be Dr Robert Franklin due to yield of time you'll have up to six minutes to this honorable Council I Rise to support the recommendation of the commission developed to honor mayor Shirley Clark Franklin the renaming of Street and a park it was my great pleasure to be a part of a very distinguished commission and we all know the extraordinary record of this historic mayor so I need not belabor that I would simply make two simple points such honors should be rare and should be well considered and secondly the due diligence challenge of this commission as I served on it was to find and honor there was high visibility high impact on the consciousness of the city and the world and secondly the least amount of disruption and confusion and I believe that the recommendation of this commission meets those tests I hope that you will support this effort it will speak well to our city and indeed to the legacy of all who currently serve on this Council surely reminds me of a saying by one great Theologian Ry hold neber who said nothing worth doing makes comp nothing worth doing can be completed in a single lifetime therefore we must be saved by hope and nothing that is true or good or beautiful makes complete sense in any immediate context of History therefore we must be saved by faith and nothing truly virtuous can be completed alone therefore we must be saved by love and on behalf of the rest of our commission we thank you for your attention we thank you for your support this is an act of faith hope and love thank you thank you next will be Jim Martin you'll have up to two minutes yes thank you Jim Martin I'm a res of Berkeley Park chairman of neighborhood planning Unit D I'm here to speak to you about the oig legislation you all should have received an email from me expressing my disgust and dismay over both the process of this legislation and the content of the pro proposed legislation I spoke to the content in the committee meeting this morning and so I'm going to speak to you now about the process uh why are we rushing this through um councilman shook said that we all agreed there was something here that needed to be fixed I see nothing here that needs to be fixed um although this legislation proposes subpoena changes it was only last week apparently the City attorney sought information about actual subpoenas and the only issue that was revealed by those seems to have been resolved with a brief exchange of communications no legislation was required as councelor bakari stated this morning time is needed to inform your constituents about what is going on and that is going to be difficult to do because of all of the disinformation that is being circulated in the media by the administration and by speakers before me at this elector in here today the number of doors that were knocked on in the middle of the night was Zero you should know that the number of subpoenas that have been issued for financial records over the entire lifetime of the oig's office was 48 I know this because I filed an open records request we don't need to shut down the office and rifle through the filing cabinets to find this out this is commonly available public information why are we rushing this through the legislation this is formulated seems intended to permit as much um corruption fraud waste and abuse as the public is willing to tolerate each successive round of public meetings has reduced this and thereby improved the legislation more public meetings will make this better rushing forward will only make this worse I admit that in my opinion the best legislation in this regard is no legislation at all all that we need is for um our officials to comply with the spirit and the letter of existing laws and to cooperate with this office in order to achieve our goals thank you thank you next up is uh G jeie due to yield the time you'll have up to four minutes hello regardless of race religion culture Financial ability we all deserve a place to live a place to call home ah we all deserve to be treated as equal we shouldn't be laying on the ground sleeping we shouldn't be feeling like a wild animal turned away from multiple shelters we all deserve respect I'm a domestic violence sexual assault rape SE by deception four attempted murders we all need to wake up and realize that it's about love bottom line where's all this money going there's a huge need for homeless for domestic VI violence for sexual assault for rape for theft by deception for attempted murders and to have a shower once a week come on nobody should feel and stink nobody should have to go to the nearest treer pit to pee and to crap nobody should be sleeping on the sidewalk or in the grass or in the dirt there's all this land where's it all going to all this land to make this area beautiful come on what about the humans what about all these people out here that's been murdered that's been raped that's been sexually assaulted that's been everything stolen you're told to go to a hospital to be to to stay warm a hospital where you have to have all these tests done [Music] I stand here for everybody not only in Atlanta or Georgia or all these states it's not about the states it's about human human rights all countries all humans we all matter we all deserve to be respected we all deserve a home a place to call home not temporary a permanent place and another thing is is I've look searched for so many jobs to to be turned away that's sad turned away from a job because I don't meet their quality which I know for a fact I do time has expired thank you and bl you thank [Music] you next up is Valerie Johnson Valerie Johnson Anderson Anderson uh let me see it says says Johnson with yielded time but I think but yes I think it is I think it is H Anderson I don't know why it's printed that way you have up to six minutes all right thank you um good afternoon my name is Valerie L Anderson Wednesday February 5th will make six months six 6 months that Lawless drunk Melvin Potter murdered my son and he has not been held accountable yet in six months as I stated before the months is going up that's going to turn into years and Melvin is still home collecting a check for murdering my son and hasn't been arrested has not been arrested has not been charged has not been anything since he murdered my son now again why is Melvin poter being treated differently because he's a officer my son was my son my son is my son and what Melvin Potter did was Melvin Potter did this to me my family and his friend but what he wouldn't do is he wouldn't take my son name he wouldn't take my son memories and he wouldn't take the people that loved him Melvin Potter can't take that he took him physically from me but he can't take his name he can't take his heart he can't take his spirit because I don't think Melvin par ever was shown un known about that type of love because my son was greatly and deeply loved so I want to know why Melvin par is still not arrested I want to know why his record show Too Many wrongdoings from 20 from he's an officer from 2015 to 2018 up until he murdered my son August 5th 2024 why is Melvin po home collecting a check why am I getting up every day crying and missing my son why because again if my son did that to Melvin poter my son would be in jail my son probably won't even make it to jail they would beat him why because he killed an officer so what make it different why is it different he's a lawless drunk that murdered my son and that's not a question that's a giving because his record has shown excessive force allegation of domestic violence I mean it goes on and on and on and I realized coming down here today I never really showed you all my son picture you you see it from afar but you never got to look at my son's face so I want you all to see for the first time my son Devon Anderson Jr face you understand what I'm saying my son that Melvin P murdered feel free to open it too thank you that Melvin par murdered my son and I'm going to have him held accountable for murdering my son I don't care how long it takes as I've stated many many times before and I will state many many times again I do not care how long it takes he's a murderer on top of that he's a lawless drunk murderer he was SW on to protect not to murder and he murdered my son and I'm not going to rest it's sad it hurt my heart today to he all these the the two people that son was murdered as a parent how you reconcile with that how do you somebody that was sworn to protect is a murderer a senseless drunk murderer well I'm not going to I'm not going to I'm going to H him accountable because APD is protecting their own so since APD choose to protect a lawless drunk I am here present showing up for my son not going anywhere not going anywhere because like my son was a human being you understand my son was a human being and if you're and if you're swor to protect honor your job honor your job this is what I have to say city council has the power of the parse over APD city council conduct apds allowance for misbehavior shifting spending from Bad officer salary can be used to keep officers honest with alcohol and drug screening to reward good behavior and to bring better officers it need better officers they need better training they need better everything the lawlessness of these police officer is staggering staggering they're not they're doing all this wrongdoing and they not being held accountable and they getting slap on the wrist they're not being held accountable in any way why but if you all won't do it mother is here to do it for Devon Anderson Jr thank you next up is Tim fransen I believe he departed uh next is uh AO Badu AA thank you you'll have up to two minutes [Music] um I'm a first year law student at Georgia State University College of Law and this is my first time making a public comment with the city council and I wish I were doing it under better circumstances and I wish I had a better impression of the city council but I'll be completely honest I don't because I come here with my head covered in my culture when you come with your head covered your morning and I come to you with my head covered today because I was before I was here was at the I was at the funeral of Cornelius Taylor and I marched up here behind his body behind his casket I missed my classes to see him off and my community members have already told you the story of Mr Taylor who was crushed by an Atlanta bulldozer across the street from where MLK preached a gospel about a brown Refugee born without a home who grew up to teach blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven and blessed are those who mourn for they will become Ed and as a law student I grow tired of seeing the law being used as something to stand against the people and then to hide your hands once the law hurts the people it is my first time here and I am already tired of council members who hide behind procedures and nearly 90 minutes of proclamations patting themselves on the back for hours all to wait out of family who are burying their brother their child as we speak a community grieving due to the gross negligence of the city of Atlanta and the initial feeble attempt to cover up the real violence with a story that doesn't make sense about a drug overdose that was clearly clearly fabricated pass a permanent moratorium on on sweeps no exceptions no qualifications indefinitely Long Live Cornelius Taylor I yield my time thank you next will be Sharice Brown Sharice Brown Next will be Matthew nury you'll have up to two minutes hello yes um my name is Matthew nury I'm with the housing Justice League and the justice for Cornelius Coalition some of us had to leave to go uh feed the folks who are still leaving down on Old Wheat Street so that's why some of our speakers had to depart a little early um I'm here to ask that we stop the sweeps permanently no exceptions um no caveats like we won't use the use of heavy machinery and equipment anymore no we can't have people going to these encampments and forcing our neighbors out without having a place for them to go not temporarily but permanently we have to fix this y'all and the only way we're going to do it is by providing housing first wraparound Services next Health Care job placement therapy whatever's needed but first we got to get people and do quality permanent long-term housing and it has to be public this can't be something that we go looking to the private sector to help I know we love our friends that invest Atlanta but this has to be done by the city of Atlanta okay and so we need an investment from yall this is the moment it's an opportunity to do right and as I said before to chart a new Atlanta way that puts its people first because again as has been said just outside this building we have our neighbors living in tents when they could be living in a home in a nice apartment we have the funds to do it I see the budget that y'all come up with 30% for police the mayor wants to talk about giving infrared to Public Works to conduct these s with what money yall need to readjust and reallocate your funds thank you next is Monica Johnson you'll have up to two minutes I have come up here several times to speak um and to honor the name of Cornelius Taylor there is only so many ways to say what needs to be said my colleague here basically already told you guys what's necessary we can't keep doing the same thing and wanting different results we can't keep expressing outrage and dismay and disappointment when people are harmed and killed and continue to put the responsibility elsewhere there's been a lot made of the political situation we're in now a lot of people are afraid a lot of people are condemning Trump Administration but I want to say that the way that people have been experiencing life in Atlanta the way that homeless people workingclass people are discarded and treated as nothing this is the vision of the right it's already come to pass in Atlanta in many cities that there are no services for people that we have to scrape for that money but we have millions upon Millions upon Millions for police and jails this is the the same project of privatization of leaving each and every one of us who have to pay into this system under threat of of jail we have to pay into this but we don't get much back so if you care it's time to try something new it's time to stop pretending like half measures are going to cut it and it's time to recognize that every human being deserves a place to live deserves to be supported and that you are the ones who can make that change thank you next up is Elizabeth Alami next up is a aalami next is Nolan English next is Vera Allen next is jawahir shwani we'll have up to two minutes hello everyone U my name is oh sorry just one moment before you start U we're having a little trouble with our system so the clerk's going to keep time and still ring the bell so you won't be able to see it but we'll keep time okay go ahead hi my name is uh jaah shwani and I came in here a couple of time for the to speak on behalf of Cornelius Taylor and today I went to his funeral this is the first funeral for me to be I've been here for 28 years and was really overwhelming to go see a funeral and I don't know what is the feeling but when I walked in there I saw his soul was everywhere and he was speaking to all of us we need uh to stop the sweep we need permanent houses for and we need justice for all the homeless they have the right to live in a home like all of us we can't maybe maybe we can't afford it like for us but I know you guys in power be able to do that and cut a lot of the police um you know there's a lot of cases is here I heard is all about police brutality or this this uh you know person or this life got taken by a police or by mistake we're not here in a therapy session that we got to come every week and speak we here to make actually a change and I know you guys all of you have heart and you have the power to do that to let everybody homeless or not homeless on a drug dose or not a drug dose the person who pulled the bulldozer down who drove the bulldozer over Cornelius he was not on drugs he was not high he was not whatever is the things is going to be said about Cornelius life instead of honoring his life was trying to make all these lies about why we we made that mistake why the city made that mistake he was not driving the bulldozer 100 miles hour on the highway that he couldn't stop it's just basically it's unjustice everybody has a right to live despite their color their gender their religion their beliefs there which city they have the right to have a home they have the right to speak we are their voice and we're going to be coming in here we're going to keep coming speaking up we're going to be in the street we're going to be speaking for everybody and I know you guys have a heart so please I know that this is in your power please try to make a change to get uh justice for every homeless and every personed thank you thank you our final speaker today is K Marie Presley you'll have up to two minutes yes good afternoon my name is k Marie Presley I am the face of Cornelius lean Taylor 12 years ago I was homeless I came to this very city council acent for help and nobody would help me I thank God for ebena Baptist Church and Reverend Shannon Jones because at the time I was able to go to their benevolent fund and they were able to help me but I have to say something and this is what Dr King says the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moment of comfort and convenience but where he stands in the time of challenges and controversy this is a very challenging and controversial subject and it's not going away we sit and we watch the TV and we are wondering about the airplanes falling but prce for impact brace for impact because this city is going to have a reckoning because it chooses to ignore homeless people like myself and like Cornelius so brace for impact don't sit around and watch just the television and wonder about this airplanes that are colliding we have a collision right here right here in America where the city council and our government is willing to spend money on Wars and to find out if uh mice you know mice in the whatever experiment but they're not willing to invest in their people brace for impact because we have mothers that are crying out right now that have been dealing with police brutality and their children have been shot brace for impact because this is a bad script that has been written by some malfunctioning uh Mal feces director and it's not going to win any Academy Awards praise for impact and do something do something this is why they elected you and this is why we elect you whether you're in New York City or anything I'm shame on America shame on the city council itself brace for impact because the problem is not going away thank you thank you [Music] [Music] we have one more speaker who was called earlier but is here now Desmond Mosley have up to two minutes hey how y'all doing um 24 I be 25 this year uh I've been at Georgia my whole life um plenty times I didn't never knew about martyr but i' been denied to get on the bus had to walk from dorville to Five Points like all type of stuff you know what I'm saying so I didn't seen a lot I didn't been cold had to wear three layer four layers of clothes so I understand homelessness you know what I'm saying and a lot of people don't understand that you are homeless when you are under somebody else's lease temporarily permanently you're under someone else's lease your name is not on the lease you may be paying bills you may be helping but that's not your apartment due to Islamic literature 50% of our religion is marriage knowing how to care for your wife your inheritance your legacy the positivity Deeds that are coming forth due to the economical changes like um natural disasters or even things that's happening in the community homosexuality I don't have no differ about it but it's reality this is what's happening to the generations that are younger than me this is what they've been abused with and I'm just here today to just speak on my behalf about me being homeless and the things that I have experienced through level five prison schmith State Prison hay State Prison sweet dly and then going to a medium security you know what I'm saying having a little things change but like it's not it's not it's not the the the change it's the fact that I'm starting to not like my city due to the experience of my city and I can't leave because I'm on probation due to someone else's mistake [Music] thank you I want to thank everybody who's come to uh today just to sign up and speak before councel we will now move to the report of the journal Madam clerk good afternoon council president and members of council I Karin Lindo municipal clerk of the city of Atlanta do hereby certify that the minutes of the regular meeting held on Thursday January 23rd 2025 are true and correct if there are no additions or edits to the journal I would accept a motion to adopt move by council member one second by Council M shook is there any discussion on the motion to adopt the journal hearing none we do this for unanimous consent is any objection M clerk please sign the count unanimous consent 12a z n 12a z n is the motion to adopt Journal carries next we move to Communications Madam clerk item number one is 25c 00007 Mr a communication from Council president Dr Shipman appointing Miss Jennifer Freeman to serve as a member of the Atlanta commission and woman this appointment is for a term of two years staff recommendation to refer to committee on councel yeah let the item follow that course Mr President if there are no objections if I can take item two to four as a block please proceed item number two is 25c 00008 this a communication from Attorney James Radford submitting the appointment of Miss Sally flocks to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta Americans with disability Disabilities Act advisory committee item number three is 25c 00009 this is a communication from Attorney James Radford submitting the appointment of Miss marus stenov to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta Americans with Disability Act advisory committee and item number 24 is 25 c0010 this is a communication from Attorney James Radford submitting the appointment of Mr Carden woff to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta Americans with Disabilities Act advisory committee on all these items staff recommendation to refer to Transportation committee and committee and Council the items follow that Court Mr President if there are objections if I can takes item five to 10 as a block please proceed item number five is 25c 0011 this is a communication from Mary Shaw strategic benefits advisor Inc submitting the city of Atlanta firefighters pension fund election with results identify Mr Derek hullander as their representative to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta to finded benefits pension plan investment board disappointments for a term of three years and set to expire December 3rd 2027 item number six is 25c 0012 this is a communication from Mary Shaw strategic benefits advisor Inc submitting the city of Atlanta police officers pension fund election results identifying Mr Richard light as their representative to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta Define benefits pension plan investment board this reappointment is for a term of three years and set to expire December 31st 2027 I'm number seven is 25c 0013 this a communication from Mary Shaw strategic benefits advisor in submitting the city of Atlanta General employees pension fund election results identifying Mr Larry Mr Alfred Barry Jr as their representative to ser as a member of the city of Atlanta Divine benefits pension plan investment board this reappointment is for a term of three years and set to expire December 31st 2027 IEM number 8 is 25c 0014 this a communication from Mary Shaw strategic benefits advisor submitting the city of Atlanta Public Schools General employees pension fund election results identifying Mr Quenton Hutchings as their representative to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta defined benefits plan investment board this reappointments for a term of 3 years and set to expire December 31st 2027 20 item number nine is 25c 0015 this a communication from Council Members Jason Winston district one and Mir foki District Two Byron Amos District three Jason Dozer District Four and Michael Julian Bond post one at large appointing Mr Matthew Garber to serve as a member of the artificial intelligence committee item number 10 25c 0016 Mr communication from Mason Rainey vice president of public affairs technology Association of Georgia appointing Mr liar Williams to serve as a member of the artificial intelligence commiss commission all those um items uh Mr President staff recommendation to accept and file let all those items follow that course I have number 11 is 25c 0017 this a communication from Council president Doug Shipman appointing Mr Leo Borland to serve as a member of the Beltline tax allocation advis advisory committee this appointment is for a term of two years staff recommendation to refer to Community Development and un Services committee and committee on Council let the item follow that course item number 12 25c 0018 this a communication from municipal clerk K Lindo submitting a report of administrative corrections made to previously adopted legislation between the regular council meeting dates of January 23rd 2025 and February 3rd 2025 to the Atlanta City Council in accordance with Section 2- 275 of the Atlanta City code of ordinances to correct ordinances 24507 and 24r 3990 staff recommendation to accept and file let the item follow that course that concludes the communication items Mr President is there any veto to legislation there's none thank you we do have one piece of An Unfinished Business 24- r461 which was held in the breast of council at the last meeting uh chair wenton believe that you made that motion so I will turn it back to you as it comes back before us thank you counc president uh I'm still waiting on one piece of information um for a funding stream if we can still table this for the moment are you are you wanting to still consider it at today's meeting do you think you're going to get that piece of information so uh if you move uh unanimous consent if you move sorry to postpone and we get a second we can vote to do that like entertain a motion to postpone like make a motion to postpone there's a motion by for to sorry you have to enumerate at what point until until the C standing committee meeting standing committee reports are over perhaps correct okay I would like to make a motion to postpone at the conclusion of the standing committee report there's a motion by councilman Winston to popone this item until the end of the standing committee reports there a second there a second by Council W there any discussion on the motion to postpone this item we can do this name's consent without objection any objection Madam Clark please sign the county un name's consent on the motion postpone 14 y z 14 y z motion postpone carries we will now move to the consent agenda section one these are items that begin on page six they are items for second reading therefore the appropriate motion will be to adopt but first let me ask are there any items to be remove from the consent agenda council member Mr President this isn't to remove one but I did want to at least acknowledge um that the zoning committee papers are appearing on the first time on the consent agenda I believe from uh guidance from law in terms of the permissibility of that and I just wanted before I make the motion to adopt the agenda I think it's worth hearing from law as to that uh determination La Department like to app on that yes good afternoon city of Atlanta um I mean excuse me Amber a Robinson city of Atlanta Department of Law that's correct the um zoning procedures law would permit this and this is to ensure in agreement with the chair of the zoning committee that the zoning committee procedures are following the procedures as applied to all of the other committees so this is actually making this process comport with the process um as adopted with concerning the rest of the um committees thank Mr President with that acknowledgement and that explanation I'm going to move let me let me first entertain any other items to be removed and then I'll come back is there any are there any items to remove from the consent agenda today section one councelor Winston thank you council president I have two items the first is 25-r d381 it's on page 17 is item number 10 the second item is 25- r-38 6 it's on page 17 also in this item number 13 so we're moving 24r 3081 and 3086 correct thank any other items for removal from the consent agenda section one today hearing none I would entertain a motion to adopt with the two items removed move by Council m one seconded by Council bakari any discussion on the motion to adopt the consented section one with two items removed hearing n move to vote Madam Clerk please open the vote on the motion to adopt the consent agenda section one with two items removed the vote is open will everyone please vote the votes closed 13 Ys one nay 13 y one nay the motion to adopt cons agenda section one with 200 carries Council M Hillis thank you I make a motion to move 24622 item 10 on page n9ine post haste to the mayor there's a motion to move 24-- 1622 post haste we may have an additional friendly addition councilor shook yes I would like to add to that uh item 17 on page 19 can you just read the number real quick uh 25r 3010 3 one0 thank you councilor Hillis do you accept the addition to your motion yes so there's a motion by counc Hillis to move two items to the mayor's office post stat 24622 and 25 r310 is there a second seconded by Council W there any discussion on the motion move post haste these two items we can do this vious consent without objection any oh council member doer you have an additional one yes Mr President my apologies a little slow on the take today uh wanted to also add item 24- o-16 17 24- r r o sorry o o Das what is it 24- o-1 1617 1617 counc Hillis would you accept that addition as well I need to think about it yes okay councelor thank you for generosity councilor Hillis uh sir is a motion by Council M Hillis to move these three items to the P's office post haste do I still have a second from you m Council Juan seconded by Council ran any discussion on the motion to move three items post haste to the mayor's office we do this consent without objection any objection Madam clerk please sign the count unanimous consent on the motion to move these three items post haste 14 y0 nay 14 y0 nay is these three items moved post is approved next we will move to the consent agenda section two these are items on page 24 they are for first reading therefore the appropriate motion will be to refer first let me ask are there any items to be removed from the cons agenda section two hearing none I would entertain a motion to refer move by Council Juan is there a second seconded by council member shook uh any discussion on the motion to refer the consent agenda section two hearing none we move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to refer the vote is open will everyone please vote will everyone please vote Yes the votes closed 14 y Zer a 14 y Zer a is the motion to refer carries we'll now move to the report of standing committees first up today is the zoning committee chair West Morland good afternoon colleagues we have two items um one is an ordinance for second read um 23713 2438 2341 Daniel Road Southwest is to ordinance for a special use permit for a personal care home the recommendation of the committee is to file motion Comm committee to file 24-- 17113 doesn't need a second is there any discussion on the motion to file this item n move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to file the vote is open will everyone please vote the vot is closed 14 yay Z Nays 14 yay Z Nays the motion to file carries thank you um next I'd like to make a motion to to enter in the committee of the whole a motion by Council West Mor enter the committee of the whole is there a second second by Council Amos there any discussion on the motion movement committee hold we do this V unanimous consent without objection any objection mam clerk please on the count on unanimous consent on the motion moving Committee of the whole 14 yay Z nay 14 y z nay the motion carries R now Committee of the whole chair what Morland thank you I will recognize council member Amos yes sir um I'd like to bring a paper off held um on I page 28 item number 8 24-0-11 1645 make a motion to amend sorry restate your motion real quick um to bring it off held I make a motion to amend motion to amend by Council M Amos seconded by council bakari is any discussion on the motion to amend or perhaps you could share the amendment with the body the amendment I don't change the caption it just adds the um recommended recommended conditions by um zoning any discussion on the motion to amend 24-- 1645 very none we can move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to amend the vote is open will everyone please vote all right the vote's closed 14 yay Z nay 14 15 yay Z nay 15 y z nay motion to amend carries I'll now you make a motion to exit Committee of the whole I'll make a motion to adopt as amended second there's a motion by Council West Morland uh seconded by councilor Amos to adopt 24-- 1645 is amended during discussion on the motion to adopt as amended this item he now move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote [Music] Mr President if we can take a roll call though we're having some system issues um sure uh do roll call vote again the motion is to adopt as amended 24645 councelor Winston I Council foki yay Council Amos yay counc doer yay Council bakari Council Juan Council M shook Council Norwood counc M Hillis Council Boon Council over Street council member Lewis Council Bond Council West Morland hi council member Collins what was I didn't hear Mr Juan was that a nay was I I that's 15 yay Zer nay 15 y Zer nay is the motion to approve as amended carries make a motion to exit Committee of the whole there's motion by Council West Morland seconded by Council B tiari to uh exit Committee of the whole uh any discussion on this motion we do this unanimous consent without objection any objection mam clerk please sound the count on unanimous consent on the motion to move out of Committee of the whole 15 y there name 15 y the motion carries we're now back in regular session motion to adopt all actions taken in Committee of all second there's a motion by Council West Morland second by council member Amos to adopt all the actions taken in Committee of the whole is there any discussion we can do this un name's consent without objection any objection mam clerk please s the count on un name's consent on the approval of actions taken in Committee of the whole 14 yay Z 14 yay there a motion to adopt those actions carries Council West Morland chair West Morland are we done with Zing thank you next up we will move to Public Safety legal Administration chair Boon thank you Mr Mr President we do not have a report today thank you next we'll move to City Utilities committee chair Lewis thank you Mr President we do not have a report today thank you next we'll move to cdhs chair Winston thank you council president um colleagues we had two items that were removed uh from the consent agenda uh I'd like to make a motion to amend 25-r d381 um this will correct the language and add the word Conservancy there's a motion by councilman Winston to amend 25-r d381 is there a second seconded by Council Norwood is there any discussion on the motion to amend this item believe to add to work Conservancy is that what you said correct yes uh hearing not I'm comfortable doing this be names consent with objection any objection to the motion to amend mam clerk please s the count unanimous consent on the motion to amend this item 13 y z nay 13 y z n the motion to amend carries thank you uh the next item is 25- r-38 I'm sorry yes like I make a motion to approve as amended there's a motion to adopt 25-r d381 as amended by councilman Winston is there a second seconded by Council Juan is there any discussion on the motion to adopt as amend amended this item hearing n we move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to adopt this item as amended the vote is open will everyone please vote the votes closed 13 y0 nay 13 y0 nay the motion to adopt as amended carries thank you uh the next item is 25-r d386 colleagues this was the homeless task force paper that came out of unanimously out of Community Development Human Services I'd like to make a motion to amend to add three additional organizations to the task force that is American friends service committee concerned black clergy and Spark there's a motion to amend 25-r d386 by councilman Winston is there a second seconded by councilman AR is there any discussion on the motion to amend this item again I'm comfortable doing this VI's consent any objection to the motion to amend Madam clerk please sign the count unanimous consent 13 yay Z nay 13 y z n is the motion to amend carries thank you I'd like to make a motion to approve as amended there's a motion by councelor Winston to adopt 24- r- 386 as amended seconded by council bachari is there any discussion on the motion to adopt as amended this item hearing n move to vote Madam CL please open the V vote on the motion to adopt as amended one [Music] moment the vote is open will everyone please vote the votes Clos 14 yay zero Nays 14 yay zero nay a motion to adopt as amended carries thank you this concludes my report thank you next up today will be Transportation chair Amos thank you Mr President I have two items today ordinance for second reading item number 25- C-5 that's item number one on page 46 a communication from Danielle Hampton chair audit committee submitting the performance audit report moving at line to forward 2024 annual review motion to accept and file motion to accept and file coming out of committee 25- C-5 doesn't need a second any discussion on the motion to accept to file this item given its communication I'll uh comfortable doing this's consent any objection to the motion to accept a file mam clerk please sound the County's consent on the motion to accept a file 13 y 14 y z 14 y0 motion to accept and file carries second item be um item 25- r- 3117 item number two on page 46 a resolution by Transportation committee authorizing the mayor or his Des a need to apply for grant funding from the US Department of Transportation from the US Department of Transportation rebuilding America infrastructure with sustainability and Equity rise Grant and an amount not to exceed two million on behalf of the Atlanta department of transportation for the Centennial yards complete Street project and for other purposes motion is to file motion command committee to file 24-- 3117 it does not need a second any discussion on the motion to file this item hearing now move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to file the vote is open will everyone please vote the votes closed 14 y0 name 14 y z the motion to file carries thank you Mr President and my report thank you 15 y Mr president let me just correct that on the motion to file 24 25 R 3117 15 Ys Zer Nays motion carries next up we Finance exact chair shook uh thank you two items first of which is 25132 this comes forward favorable on condition of receiving a substitute and I would like to uh make a motion to have the substitute come before us it's a motion by council member shook seconded by council member Bach tiari to bring forth The Substitute uh any dis you want to read the caption yes let me read The Substitute caption it's different it's an ordinance by uh members West Morland ju and bacar is substituted by the Landon city council authorizing a donation an amount not to exceed $4,500 to outfront theater pursuant to the section of City Charter indicated here and for other purposes motions to approve on substitute well we have to bring forth any discussion on the motion bring forth The Substitute we do this any consent without objection any objection the motion bring forth the substitute Madam clerk please sound the count on unanimous consent on the motion to bring forth The Substitute 15 y z 15 y z a the motion to bring forth The Substitute carries chair shook you know another 24 years I'll get that part right yeah well there you go um we also need to substitute for I think you need to move to adop that I'd like to now move at this time that we adopt this on substitute there's a motion by council member shook seconded by Council Juan to adopt 25- 01032 as substituted any discussion on the motion to adopt to substituted hearing none move to a vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to adopt to substitute the vote is open will everyone please vote the votes closed 15 y0 a 15 y0 a is a motion to adop substitute carries it's been a long week 25138 um also comes forward favorable on condition of receiving a substitute I would like to move to bring that substitute before us there's a motion by Council Mook seconded by councelor bachari to bring forth substitute for 25138 is there any discussion on the motion to bring forth The Substitute you want to read the caption to change yes is an ordinance by Mr amamos a substitute by the Atlanta City Council authorizing a donation in an amount not to exceed $834 to the Booker T Washington School Legacy Foundation Inc pursuing to the section of the charter indicated here and for other purposes in discussion on the motion to bring forth The Substitute we do this VI's consent without objection any objection to the motion to bring forth The Substitute M clerk please sign the Count's consent 15 y0 and a 15 y0 a is a motion to bring forth The Substitute carries chair shook motion to approve on substitute there's a motion by council member sh seconded by Council Juan to approve 25138 as substituted any discussion on the motion to adopt substituted hearing none we move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to adopt as substituted the vote is open will everyone please vote the vot's closed 14 y one exstension 14 y one exstension uh councelor amamos you like to uh opine yes sir um first of all thank you to all my colleagues who came on board with this paper as we're still celebrating 100 Years of Excellence at B Washington High School this donation will go a long way to the foundation um everyone knows my history with Washington High School and also I am a member of the board so um it is best for me to abstain from this vote but thank you for everyone who donated and thank you for supporting my Al thank you chair shook uh thankfully that concludes my just so I'm 14 y one exstension the motion carries as to approve is amended Thank You Cher shook uh finally today last report of the standing committees will be committee on Council chair Collins [Music] thank you president Shipman we have two items on the report today starting with our Communications resolutions so 20 um item 25-r d308 N1 a resolution by council member Andrea Boone appointing Mr Christopher Brown to the Atlanta citizen review board for a term of three years said turn to begin upon approval of this resolution and for other purposes and the recommendation is to adopt there's a motion coming out of committee to adopt 25-r d389 it does not need a second is there any discussion on the motion to adopt this item hearing none uh we move to vote Madame Clark please open the vote on the motion to adopt the vote is open will everyone please vote will everyone please vote Mr West Morland was your vote put it [Music] in the vote is closed 14 y zero Nays thank you that brings us to our ordinances for second reading item 25- -109 of subsection three and ordinance by council members Howard shook Marc Cara over Street Mary Norwood Andrea Boone Dustin Hillis and Byron Amos as substituted by Finance executive committee and as substituted and amended by the committee on Council to amend the charter of the city of Atlanta Georgia 1996 Georgia law p p 4469 and other sections adopted under and by virtue of the authority of the municipal home rule Act of 1965 ocga section 36-5 D1 and others as amended by amended part one charter and related laws subpart a the charter article 3 the executive section in accordance with the recommendations of the city of Atlanta temporary task force charged with reviewing the processes and procedures of the off Office of the Inspector General the ethics office and the governing board of the office of the Inspector General and the ethics office office regarding the authority oversight and the clarification of respective roles and responsibilities of the oig and the ethics office and to create separate governing boards for the oig and the ethics office and for other purposes the recommendation is to the recommendation for this item is first adoption there's a motion coming out of the COC to adopt 25-19 just as Remer this a charter Amendment so if it's adopted today it'll have to be adopted again it was amended in COC this morning I just want to make sure that all council members are comfortable with the version that we are working on because it was a it was changed in COC so if anybody needs it please let me or let one of the staff know so there's a motion to adopt coming out committee does not need a second is there any discussion councilman West Morland thank you Mr President um I am not a member of the finance executive committee nor the committee on Council I've obviously watched all of those meetings and so I it might be helpful um if someone who is was a part of the conversation this morning can confirm that the substitute currently before us um takes us kind of back essentially to a seven member board for the office of the Inspector General um yes and adds back the Atlanta planning Advisory board appointee and the the the leg of Women Voters the leg of Women Voters appointe yeah just just to pause that is that is cor for yes so today's um at today's committee on council meeting it the legislation was amended to add those two entities back making the office of Inspector General governing board a set back to a seven member board so those two positions that's been restored is the Atlanta excuse me Atlanta plan Advisory board and the Fon County League of Women Voters with the appointment process that we currently utilize yes uh with the appointment that's stated in the legislation but also just want to note for the ethics office that board will remain a five member board counc W Morland yep next question I want to confirm that the language that used to exist around disclosing details of Investigations and requests for city property has been revised as well yes that has been revised to make the distinction between city property and access to that and also the distinction of per of between personal property that requires additional steps to obtain any property and that is notice detailing and those other details as well as about around the concerns of about written updates during ongoing investigations I can't hear you the removal of language about providing written updates during ongoing investigations has also been changed yes uh absolutely okay um so colleagues with all of those changes thank you for the Committees that have made those um I sent to your email um language that have worked with the law department on um and so you can all look at it um while we go through it but section going to make a motion to amend um section 811b to delete all of the words in the the section that says and neither the Inspector General nor the deputies assistants employees and Personnel assigned to the offic of the Inspector General shall have the powers and abilities of Law Enforcement Officers as defined in state law including the ability to conduct criminal investigations so remove that um and amend section 8101 e8b um to delete all of the words herein employees should be informed of their duty to cooperate with the investigation and that while criminal conduct may result in criminal prosecution and the imposition of criminal penalties statements provided during the interview shall be considered compelled and that they therefore shall be entitled to protections from use in subsequent criminal prosecutions amend 816h to restore the language providing the Inspector General shall have the dudan responsibility to report suspected criminal violations of law to appropriate law enforcement agents agencies um which reads reporting as appropriate suspected criminal violations of law rule and regulation internal policy related to the matter under the compliance division to the local state and federal enforcement agency with proper jurisdiction and then finally in section nine 101 e8b um to do the same in the ethics section um that we did in the IG section that I just read and that states employees should be informed of their duty to cooperate with the inves ation and while criminal conduct may result in criminal prosecution and the imposition of criminal penties statements provided during an interview shall be considered compelled and that therefore shall not be entitled to protections for use in subsequent criminal prosecutions to strike that um and in 916a to restore the language that has existed reporting as appropriate suspected criminal violations of a law rule regulation or internal policy related to the matter under jurisdiction of the ethics office to the local state and federal law enforcement agency with proper jurisdiction that is my amendment that is your I'm sorry Amendment what is happening here so we're entertaining a motion to amend the legislation right now yes there's a there's a motion to amend by Council West Morland as he as outlined seconded by council member Juan so let me give everybody a moment and ask is there any discussion on the motion to amend as outlined by Council M Westmore yes there is I do Collins yes um yes I definitely want to make sure that my colleagues have the opportunity to actually review what has been amended I do think it leads us in a right direction but I do think it's extremely important for you all to be informed of what what the actual amendments are at this time so that you can be able to explain to your constituencies so with Amendment so amending section 88-101 B to delete those words please make sure that we're that you under um that you understand what is actually deleting M uh councilman westm did you want to add anything additional to that no ma' Law Department would you please provide any additional context for our colleagues to understand what that entails not admin but Council um member Collins that just means that we're going to rely on existing law and we're not going to just before the purposes of dealing with it in this legislation since that seemed to been bothering some people the uh proposed amendment will won't change the actual status of everything in the state they are not they don't have law enforcement capabilities and deleting a specific reference to that will not change [Music] that any other discussion on the motion to amend one one more yeah counc M Collins please to the well actually the last three um in terms of amending 88-106 to restore the language of the Inspector General having the duty and responsibility to report suspected criminal evalu um criminal violations of law to appropriate law enforcement agencies and to renumber the remainder of the SE subsections just to align with that wanted to make sure that my colleagues do in fact understand that even even if it even if the investigation gets to the criminal gets to a criminal point that the inspector General should and should should actually work with our colleagues and law enforcement agency to make that [Music] happen each we're good there yeah hey hey Council woman over street so you're saying work with I I need to know what work with means um because from where I sit uh once it reaches a criminal case or investigation that that is not that's no longer a purview of our Inspector General so what do you mean by work with yeah yeah to operate with operate with the appropriate author authorities when it gets to the level of a criminal investigation so if you look at the last uh if you look at the bottom of the page restoring the language that says reporting as appropriate sus suspected criminal violations of a law rule regulation or internal policy related to a matter under the compliance division to the local state or federal law enforcement agency with proper jurisdiction so it was initially removed we were putting it back so that when it gets to the criminal criminal nature it she the the office should in fact work with authorities to make work with the appropriate authorities to pursue that okay so I'm fine with that but I I don't think that it is the place of the city's IG to work on anything criminal yeah and that's what we're saying that's what this is okay we're just putting back that absolutely we're putting that back it was stried out we're putting that back in correct to ensure that if it gets to that magnitude the appropriate Authority should be reporting as appropriate not working with and I just want to be clear about that that's all Law Department please yes you're correct it is only reporting she's not working with not empowered to work with any criminal agency she has because if we're being completely clear the office of Inspector General makes recommendations they do no penalties no sanctions they're they're it's it's to recommend so was initially out we're putting it back in to make sure that the appropriate Authority is aware so you I understand okay I just you know the working with and all you know it was kind of ambiguous and that's the problem now I just want to make sure that everyone understands where we are and now when I say everyone I'm really talking about my colleagues right now um that we are not in the business of dealing in criminal cases in the city here on this level okay so I I I appreciate that being put back thanks thank you so customer Collins you saw have the floor uh yeah looking at se section three just morning um amending section 9 101 e8b which strikes through the which strikes through the making sure that it will it will state employees should be fully informed of their rights and responsibilities when enacting with the ethics office and be provided a clear written notice prior to any interview whether that's investig investigation of any magnitude just ensuring that they're aware of their rights and providing written notice please understand that this pertains to the eth office any questions thoughts all right all right the last last piece just an understanding also will put that same language that we just discussed with um section 88-106 also in section 99-106 Section 8 in terms of reporting in any suspected criminal violations to the appropriate uh law law enforcement agencies under the jurisdiction with the understanding you guys that section n is the new section that pertains to the ethics office and well to make it easier Section 8 pertain pertains to the office of Inspector General the new section n of this legislation will pertain solely to the ethics office C over street thank you um so I I I think that since we are still in the business of amendments I also want to continue to uh support our employees by adding another amendment which I actually have not done yet and this is to over stre can I can I just ask that we work through this one and then happy to entertain another just so we're just so we're clear on exactly this can go up or down and then happy to entertain additional amendments but instead getting on top sure yep other discussion of the Amendments offered by Council West Morland NOP hearing none we'll move to a vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to amend the vote is open yes will everyone please vote yeah I'm G come right back to you this right back the vot is closed 14 y0 na 14 y0 na is the motion to amend carries we are now back to the motion to adopt as amended and I'm going to offer up to council member overr who may have another amendment I do have another amendment and I would like um help with um draft in it to make sure that it gets to everyone's email and a print out um I would like to ban surveillance equipment against our employees no spy pins and Nanny cams and and um any kind of detection where someone doesn't know that they're being recorded okay according to our work session we saw invoices uh where that could have possibly uh been the case so my Amendment would say the city of Atlanta would not like to you help me out with this hold on just a second try to get on Madam City attorney yes she's looking over me to side side ey it would be the city of Atlanta uh prohibits the use of any Inspire surveillance equipment um from nonp policing entities against any employees without their knowledge so so Council woman over Street can we will'll get can we capture that on an appropriate Amendment form and get out to every um get out to all council members to review and then we'll embed into the legislation for you yes that'll be great and I don't mind if it's embedded in um it it it travels this is traveling so I don't mind if it's embedded and know it comes to FEC it's probably going to go back to CC um but that is my Amendment okay so so just procedurally we can take we can wait we can take care of it now or my preference is to take care of it right now then we need then we need an amendment form and we need to get out an amendment to the members uh while we're waiting uh council member fori I'm iel let me just let me make sure we've got do I have a second I know that we're sorry who's got the second councilor Amos okay we've got a motion to amend I know that we're getting the language but that way we can go ahead and start conversing about it so is there discussion on the motion to amend offered by council member over Street Council foki yeah not on the merits might I think I was going to Echo what councilor Shipman says we could and this is to the preference of council ersy this could also be done in in FEC as well is that correct it's going to be in COC it's going go okay so so so just just to clarify when we go through a charter Amendment the first time it's offered the council president refers it when it comes back through there's a motion to refer which is today which is today and wherever the motion to refer that is actually carried that can refer wherever but it will be it has to be it will be referred back someplace but that is not my purview that is now council's purview um coun Ro I would also like to add that several of the count members that have an appetite for this amendment are not on either of those committees so this may be the right time to do it other discussion what we wait for the particular language oh yes C Council council member Bond sorry I'm sorry president Shipman C Ron thank you well while we wait I'd like to ask a question of the Law Department is that all right say it again while we wait for the amendment I'd just like to ask a question on the Law Department uh please go ahead thank you uh Madam City attorney I have a question I have watched uh the work session I've heard the testimony and comment from the public I've read many emails that I have gotten uh that have personally uh Disturbed me greatly about the conduct of the current uh Inspector General and so the most disturbing is a repeated thing that I heard today from a private citizen that their personal banking information was accessed by a current city employee my question to you is we have always known that the inspector General does not have subpoena power never had subpoena wasn't contemplated you know to have subin power because I was here and supported the legislation that created the office but my concern is is I think one individual came to the podium today and said that he had done open records requests and that that were 48 inqueries into people's banking information I presume those are all city employees uh there's another uh open records request and said there was 61 inquiries into uh person and entities uh banking information uh so if we if we take the high number that's 61 and I guess my question is the representation of a city employee uh in this case the current IG knowing that they don't have subpoena Power by sending a letter to a financial institution or any institution requesting or representing that they are subp subing uh information is not just a violation of the state banking code but wouldn't that also constitute fraud on behalf of that employee I need to clarify one point one point in the beginning the oi the office of Inspector General always had the power to issue subpoenas the problem from the creation of the legislation that that enabled her the office the problem was that the subpoenas that were issued for financial institutions did not comply with the law because they have an obligation for you to let somebody know at the same time the subpoena is issued so that they can qution so she did have the power to issue subpoenas and that power has not been altered we wanted to make certain that the power to issue it is done pursuant to state law there were violations of state laws with regard to at least we don't know the total number but at least about 48 uh subpoenas issued with the disclosure statement attached and sent to a financial institution um I don't know if I would say that was fraud fraud because fraud um requires you to intentionally try to uh deceive someone uh knowingly and willingly and all of that type of thing but it wasn't in the uh it wasn't consistent with the law the oig that information came to our attention as a result of open records act requests with regards to the details on Mr Martin's open Rec act request and when we reviewed that information prior to the meeting on Thursday came to our attention I did notify the oig to stop doing that and she has acknowledged that she will stop that she sent me an email to say that they had decided to do that on last week as a result of us bringing it to their attention at being in violation of the law so I don't know if fraud is what I would describe that activity is being okay I'll of course accept your explanation on that but I guess my follow-up question is what type of legal exposure are we looking at for these individuals whose rights I believe has been violated and the state banking code has been violated now my understanding is that the maximum penalty for I guess illegally or erently pursuing these records could be as much as $5 million per incident if you don't mind uh council member Bon I would rather have those types of discussions in executive session rather than give information to people in public like this there are there is liability exposure that's correct and I think Mr Robinson did threaten at the microphone today that he was going to investigate filing an action so I'd like to discuss that in executive session provide those details okay I I understand and so I guess just to close out though they have to clarify what the ig's actual subpoena powers are they can subpoena records uh administrative records can you kind of tell us what their powers in this regard actually are yes the oig has the power to subpoena documents and records uh and pursue to any type of investigation if those documents happen to be Financial records they have to provide notice in advance um or simultaneously with the release of the subpoena but before the financial institution responds so that the account holder or the customer of the bank is given an opportunity to file a motion to quash okay so thank you for that Clarity and if if we end up going at some point in into executive session I would like to have further discussions around this CU I I think this is problematic you know uh Abraham Lincoln once famously said if you want to know a person's character give them power and this individual has been given a lot of power they have obviously a great legal resume and coming into this job they had to have known that there were few and little uh boundaries of their Authority and they have clearly abused it and they've abused this office I think as fiduciaries of the city of Atlanta not just elected representatives that we have an obligation to protect the city from any employee who would open us up to gross and expose liability and so I hope that we would consider carefully this legis as it moves to the process and any and all amendments uh and to make sure that going forward that the purpose the original purpose of the ig's office for those of us who were here who voted on it is actually implemented and that it's not used as a tool to abuse or harass or to have employees abuse their offices in pursuit of what they would State as their goals so I'll withdraw than council member Bond council member Lewis thank you again City attorney my my question was surrounding close to the same thing just seeing Dr Robertson and also seeing them at my at meetings this weekend did we hire a or did we create a position and put a person in a position that has opened up us for potential lawsuits I just want to make sure I'm clear and I asked the question to hear from you I would rather discuss this in executive session however the conduct I've already described is in violation of the state banking law and the the reason why my my my entire feelings have changed around this simply because of the attacks on a private citizen and so I wanted to make sure that our legislation that we're putting for is making it to where a whoever is in his oig office or whoever because I stand with oig I understand we need it but whoever is in this office can never do what happened to Dr Robinson because America has a history of doing that to black men and I'm loud I'm a loud black man and that that means they could do what they want to they've been able to confuse media and say what they want to with media and for that to happen to this dwan Robinson if we all of us know he's he yells about everything and so I'm a loud black man and I'm nervous so I want to make sure that the legislation that we put forth that whatever we're putting forth that they can't do this it specifically says you can't attack a citizen because that was a he felt attacked so I just want to make sure that the legislation we're putting forth removes that power the office of Inspector General only has authority over employees of the city and vendors that work with the city thank you thank you president thank you customer w [Music] [Music] council member uh over Street did you receive it in your email do we need to resend it I did and I'm going over it now so in the in the the sake of time I don't mind uh if we go ahead on and accept the Amendments that we've all agreed upon I will put this amendment in the next committee where it's going next I can do that so I would so just to clarify so just a second you're saying every time that I amend it I I would have to go three rounds what are you saying no no all I'm I'm I'm saying that right now you have a motion to amend on the table okay you could withdraw that motion and obviously put that back into the process in one of the Committees that it goes to because it will be referred back or we can go ahead and wait and take up the matter because the your amendment is technically on the floor um right you'll also have next council meeting because this will have to be passed twice because so if so you'll have both committee meetings refers to as well as the council meeting to do this or you have the you have your Amendment on the floor okay um so I just sent it to council members and I mean I'm I'm open I would I would really like to have this in here just so we're clear I would I'm sorry say that again apologize do you all have it do you see it do you want to read it I don't have it I will read it right I think it's over stre would you read your Amendment this my Amendment would be section one Amendment 88-101 C8 to add a new subsection D which shall read as follows the office of Inspector General is expressly Pro prohibited from the use of any covert surveillance technology during the conduct of any investigation conducted thereby Section 3 Amendment 99-101 C8 to add new subsection D which shall read as follows the ethics office is expressly prohibited from the use of any covert surveillance technology during the conduct of any investigation conducted thereby and everyone your copies are coming right now so um I move to make that Amendment there a second so there's so I'm gonna you've already made the amendment I'm GNA we don't have to do it again just clarify the exact language it's been seconded is there any further discussion on on the motion to amend that's been offered by council member over Street Council Mook so I don't know if state law has anything to say that would be Germain here so that's a question for the Law Department I was just answering that question for your other councilman aloki the state law does not govern administrative bodies like this so the state law has surveillance uh conditions and allows surveillance powers for policing entities since you created this entity you create the powers that the entity the office has you're able to say that no one no one that office doesn't have the power to surveil people because you are granting the powers it was not contemplated it was a power that was just used you can Define it not you know granted or not granted but it does not violate any state law thank you other discussion on the motion to amend as offered by Council morover Street hearing none move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to amend the vote is open will everyone please [Music] vote the vot is closed 8 y six Nays eight y six Nays the motion to amend carries we are now back to the motion to adopt as has amended uh the Amendments that came in as well as Council M West Morland Council M over Street any other discussion on the motion to adopt as amended council member Collins nope just a reminder that this legislation is to adoption requires to adoption by the body and so this item will be referred back to committee on councel so um other discussion on the motion to adopt this item as amended okay Madam Clark please open the vote on the motion to adopt as amended the vote is open will everyone please vote the votes closed 14 y zero Nays 14 y z a a motion to adopt as amended carries council member chair Collins yes I also like to make AI make a final motion to refer to refer this um substitution to back to committee on councel there's a motion to refer this item per the code for two adoptions back to COC by Council M Collins is there a second seconded by council member Amos is there any discussion on the motion to refer hearing none move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to refer the vote is open will everyone please vote the vot's closed 14 y z n 14 y z a motion to refer carries thank you all so much I appreciate it this concludes my report great work you all we are thank you going good thank you chair Collins we will now we've now reached the point where we will go back we had a a motion to postpone council member Winston um I will refer back to you are you ready to take up the item that's held in the breast of council that's been postponed to this moment yes I don't know if uh CFO Bala is still in the room um trying to make sure the language that I have is correct just for the finance department sorry I have everything what I need one second to me coming right back in got the email that I need they should it should be in your inbox council member Winston thank you um I'd like to substitute 24- r461 um it does not change the caption but I can read it there's a mo let's go ahead and take the motion the second then you can read there's a motion to bring forth the substitute by councelor Winston for 24-- 4601 is there a second seconded by Council Mar Juan um Council Winston may you want to uh remind us of the item thank you um it's a resolution authorizing the city of Atlanta to donate a total amount not to exceed $1 million and0 cents to Hope Atlanta Inc pursuant to section number listed of the Atlanta Charter to support efforts to prevent displacements homelessness and hunger um this corrected the account stream in discussion on the motion to bring forth The Substitute hearing n move to vote uh I'm going to let because it's fairly straightforward I'm going to allow this to be uh uh without objection un name consent any objection the motion bring forth The Substitute mam clerk please sign the count name's consent on the motion for the substitute 13 y z name 13 y z n motion for substitute carries Council Winston I'd like to make a motion to uh approve that substitute it there's a motion to adopt and substitute by councilman Winston seconded by councilman Juan is there any discussion on the motion to adopt this item as substituted carry none move to vote Madam clerk please s the please open the vote on the motion to adopt 24- r- 4601 as substituted the vote is open will everyone please vote the vote is closed that's 12 y zero nay 12a Z nay one extension the motion carries councilor West Morland would like to explain the exstension thank you Mr President I serve on the board of directors for hob Atlanta thank you um thank you I believe that concludes the business for today we will now move to personal papers we have two items for immediate consideration first up is council member Amos service president AMS um 37307 a resolution by council member Byron D Amos to amend resolution 25-r d3020 adopted by the Atlanta City Council on January 23rd 2025 and approved as per City Charter section 2-43 to correct the not to exceed amount of the contract and for other purposes whereas resolution number 25-r d3020 let legislation adopted by the Atlanta City Council on January 23rd 2025 and approved per City Charter session 2-43 on February 1st 2025 authorized city of Atlanta Aviation to continue Implement implementing the second phase of the plane train Fleet replacement program through the use of contract fc-10 751 plane train tunnel West expansion vehicles with Austin Transport USA Incorporated at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport and whereas the capture of the legislation inly had the incorrect funding amount of 13,490 53 and whereas in the desire of the Department of Aviation to amend resolution 25-r d3020 to correct the not to exceed amount to 13, 49,53 no I didn't get anything now whereas being resolved that by the city council of the city of Atlanta Georgia the resolution 25-r d3020 is amended to correct the not to exceed amount to 13, 49,53 be it finally resolved that all other provisions of resolution 25-r d3020 remain unchanged motion to approve there's a motion to approve Al 37 37307 by Council Amos second by Council M bond is there any discussion on the motion to approve this item appearing none we'll move to a vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to adopt element 37307 the vote is open we looking will everyone please vote councilor Collins how would you like your vote councilor Collins I would you like your vote recorded yes it's an i Council Collins V closed that's 11 y0 11 y0 n is motion to adopt carries Mr President I make a motion to send this to the mayor's office post haste there's a motion by council member Amos to send this item post haste there a second seconded by council member shook any discussion on the motion to move post haste we do this's consent without objection any objection Madam clerk please sound the count On's consent the motion to move this item post haste 11808 11808 is motion to move post haste carries uh we have one more immediate consideration CER Bond thank you Mr President a resolution by Michael J Bond and Antonio Lewis a resolution to express support for the Atlanta City Council for the event Bann books blocked education Dreams Deferred and to recognize the importance of literary access and educational freedom for all and for other purposes whereas the city of Atlanta is committed to fostering education intellectual freedom and the enrichment of its residents through access to literature whereas the event band books blocked education/ Dreams Deferred will be held on Saturday February the 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at the CT Martin recreation center and is co-sponsored by council member Michael Julian Bond the Atlanta alumni chapter of De Delta Sigma Theta and others and whereas the event is in partnership with the Atlanta Public Schools the city of Atlanta and the Fon County Library System seeks to educate families on the impact of books and censorship ensuring that the communities continue to be enriched by the full history and perspective of all cultures our country and our community and whereas access to literature that reflects the diverse experiences and histories of all people is vital to an informed and engaged CI citizenry and restrictions on such access uh undermine the principles of democracy and education now therefore be it resolved that the city council of the city of Atlanta Georgia that the Atlanta City Council is hereby expressed its support for the event banned books blocked education Dreams Deferred and commends uh the like efforts of the event sponsors and partners in promoting literacy intellectual freedom and educational access be it further resolved that the city of Atlanta encourage all residents to read and to engage in discussions on the significance of free access to literature in fostering well-informed and a well-informed and empowered community be it finally resolved that all resolutions and parts and resolutions that are in Conflict here with the terms of this resolution are hereby waved to the extent of the conflict I move approval there's a motion by Council bond to adopt Elm 37313 is there a second second by Council M Hillis any discussion on the motion to adopt this item hearing none we move to vote Madam clerk please open the vote on the motion to adopt Elms 37 313 the vote is open will everyone please vote the vot's Clos that's 10 Z 10 z a motion to adopt carries like to move it to the mayor's office post haste there's a motion by councelor to move this item post haste is there a second second by Council am any discussion on the motion to move post haste who do consent without objection any objection Madam clerk please on the count on n's consent on the motion move Post hastee 10 Z 10 Z is the motion move post haste carries thank you Mr President you're a great American oh well I appreciate that Council Bon you're back up you get the microphone for I well first let me just make sure there are no other items for immediate consideration therefore we'll move to items for referral council member Bond you're you're in oh exciting I have elm's ID number 3728 in ordinance by Julian bond in ordinance authorizing the mayor his designate to execute uh amendment number two to Grant CS May 23091 124 xxxxx number EF SPG Grant cs123 D1 with uh Corner Z LLP on behalf of the mayor's office of international immigrant Affairs to ratify services rendered revive extended uh revive extend the term of the agreement for five months retroactively commencing number 16 November 16 2024 through April 15 2025 and to add additional funding in the amount not to exceed $1 16,849 for the purpose of supporting in the administrative closeout of the emergency food and shelter uh humanitarian program all contracted work will be charged to and paid from the departmental organization account number listed therein and for other purposes El ID 3728 will be referred to the finance EXA committee have elm's ID number 37287 and ordinance by Michael Julian bond in ordinance to wave chapter 2 article 9 Division 1 section 2- 910 Grant applications of the city of Atlanta code of ordinance uh to ratify the city of Atlanta's submission on behalf of the mayor's office of international and immigrant Affairs on the application of the fiscal year 2023 case management pilot program in the amount of 4 million dollar and0 to if awarded be U utilized by providing comprehensive Case Management Services to non- detainee non-citizens known to us Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city of Atlanta to be authorized the mayor or his designate to enter into the required agreements necessary for the implementation of the award and for other purposes El ID 37287 will be referred to the finance exec committee elm's ID number 37 265 in ordinance by Michael Julian bond in ordinance to ratify services rendered in connection with the agreement fc11 90584 record services for abandoned vehicles on private property stolen and non- stolen vehicles with South Metro towing incorporated beginning January 31st 2025 through January 30th 2026 and authorize the mayor or his designation to exercise the second renewal option under the agreement on behalf of the Atlanta Police Department for a term of one year retroactively effective from January 31st 2025 through January 30th 2026 at no cost to the city in accordance with Section 2-11 163 subsection uh C of article 10 procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta ordinance say and for other purposes El ID 37265 will be referred to the pslaa all right I have a resolution by council members Michael Julian Bond council member Winston council member foki council member amus council member uh shook council member ju um council member doer council member Boone council member Hillis Council member uh Lewis and myself a resolution by council member Michael Julian bond to request the mayor and and the necessary administrative staff and departments to conduct a feasibility study to report back to the city council within 90 days concerning homeless affordable transitional housing and the creation of an authority and special Levy District to address Atlanta's homeless and housing needs including a review of all available financing tools and for other purposes MS ID 37295 will be jointly referred to the cdhs and FEC committees thank you Mr President thank you councelor raoon thank you Mr President elm's ID number 37241 3 7241 an ordinance by council member Andrea El Boon an ordinance to ratify services rendered in connection with agreement cps1 122051 e911 Network system administrative services with Mission critical Partners LLC beginning February 2nd 2025 and to authorize the mayor or his designate to exercise the third renewal option under the agreement on behalf of the Atlanta Police Department for a term of one year retroactively effective from February 2nd 2025 through February 1st 2026 in an amount not to exceed $70,000 and0 cents in accordance with Section 21163 subsection of article procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta code of ordinances all contracted work to be charged to and paid from the fund Department organization and account numbers listed here in and for other purposes M ID 37241 will be refer to the public safety legal Administration El's ID number 3 7176s of section 2910 of the Atlanta City code to retroactively authorize the mayor his design including the chief sustainability officer to submit Grant application for the Bloomberg philanthropy's youth climate action fund Grant on behalf of the city of Atlanta to ratify the application submitted to authorize the mayor design to accept the Award of Grant funds in the amount of $100,000 and0 for the purpose of activating youth to design produce and Implement climate action Solutions in Atlanta to authorize the mayor or his design including the chief sustainability officer to execute any necessary Grant agreements to authorize an amendment to the fiscal year 2024 intergovernmental Grant fund budget to anticipate and appropriate the amount of $100,000 0 all grants funds to be charged to and paid from the fund and account numbers listed here and under for other purposes ID 37176197 to wave the sidewalk requirements of section 15- 9.3 a part of 15 land subdivision ordinance of the city of Atlanta code of ordinance to provide that a certain subdivision applicant sd- 24-1 93 943 R Street um deposit a dollar amount of $ 32,5 34 and 39 cents equal to the value of the required sidewalk construction into the designated trust fund account for District 3 and for other purposes MS ID 37058 will be referred to the transportation committee MS ID 37255 a resolution by council members Byron D Amos Michael Julian Bond Andrea L Boone and Marcy car over Street authorizing the mayor or his design need to execute an agreement with so Source purchase purchase number listed of ministerial robe own and worn by Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr for display at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport not to exceed $325,000 for the purpose for the purchase will be charged to and paid from amount numbers listed here in and for other purposes ID 37255 will be referred to the finance exec committee HS 37308 ordinance by council member Byron D Amos amended the Atlanta building code so to asked to create a provision denying new permits to any applicant who carries a unresolved violation of the city code of at Atlanta building code and for other purposes ID 37308 will be referred to the cdhs committee thank you Mr President thank you councelor Juan thank you Mr President Elms ID 37310 an ordinance by council member Alex ju to provide for the annexation of property located at 2020 2231 Glenwood Avenue Southeast Georgia 30316 into the corporate limits of the city of Atlanta Georgia pursuant to the 100% method to extend the boundaries of the Atlanta independent school system to notify the Department of Community Affairs of the state of Georgia of such annexation and for other purposes Elms ID 37310 will be referred to the FEC Elms ID 37311 ordinance by council member Alex wans is zone property located at 22 2231 Glenwood Avenue Southeast Atlanta Georgia 30316 to the C1 low density mixed use zoning district and for other purposes Elms idid 37311 we refer to the zoning committee or uh Elms ID 3731 2 an ordinance by council member Alex Juan to amend the land use element of the 2021 city of Atlanta Comprehensive development plan CDP so as to designate property at 2231 Glenwood Avenue Southeast Atlanta Georgia 30316 to low density mixed use land use designation and for other purposes Elms ID 37312 be referred to the cdhs Elms ID 37297 in ordinance by council member Alex Juan to amend the land use element of the 2021 city of Atlanta Comprehensive development plan CDP so as to designate certain part is located in the Brighton Village subdivision to the low density residential land use designation and for other purposes El's ID 37297 will be referred to the cdhs committee uh Elms ID 37296 in ordinance by council member Alex Juan to provide for the annexation of properties located in the Brighton Village subdivision located in unincorporated EAP County to the corporate limits of the city of Atlanta Georgia pursuant to the 60% method to extend the boundaries of the Atlanta independent school system to notify the Georgia Department of Community Affairs of such annexation and for other purposes 37296 will be referred to the FEC uh elm's ID 37298 in ordinance by council member Alex want is own certain partials located in the Brighton Village subdivision to the mr1 multif family residential zoning and for other purposes Elm 8 37298 will be for to the zoning committee elm's ID 37309 orance by council member Alex Juan authorizing the transfer of $220,000 and0 from the council District 5 carry forward account to the council District 5 distribution account to continue serving the Atlantic Community for the public good and for other purposes home ID 37309 will be refer to the finance EXA committee right 37311 do I do that one oh so 37312 the CDP okay all right thank you thank you customer Hillis Elms number 37303 Ed by council members Dustin Hillis Jason doer Matt West Morland foki Jason Winston Byron Amos Alex Juan Mary Norwood Andrea Boone Marcy call over Street Michael Julian Bond and isay Collins amending the zoning ordinance of the city of Atlanta to require special use permits for data centers to prohibit data data centers in the neighborhood commercial zoning districts to provide certain special use permit applic ation requirements to address a proposed data centers water consumption water conservation energy consumption and other environmental considerations and for other purposes ID 37303 will be referred to the zoning committee complete my items thank you thank you counc over street counc over Street one more M's ID number 37306 a resolution by council member Marcy caller over Street requesting the mayor or his desn't need to install traffic calming devices on Austin Road Southwest between Melvin Road Southwest and Campground Road Southwest in order to reduce speeding and for other purposes ID 37306 will be referred to the transportation committee thank you thank you customer shook Elms 37249 resolution by shook authorizing mayor or designed to issue the task order indicated for the contract RFP indicated Citywide architectural planning and design and engineering and Construction Services with har Smith LLC for Design Services for Mountain Way common Park and Lordan Park on behalf of Department of parks and Reon amount not to exceed $284,500 to be charged to and paid for ETC Elms ID 37254 will be referred to the FEC is all thank you coun Morland Elms ID 37304 ordinance by West Morland Juan bakaran Boon authorizing the donation an amount not to exceed $2,000 to the Atlanta Pride run 2025 pursuant to section 636 of the city of Atlanta's Charter and for other purposes 37304 will be referred to the finance exact committee thank you I believe that's all the papers for referral today we'll now move to General remarks I'll just lead off uh briefly to remind everybody that we have construction going on in our committee room so for the next several weeks all committee meetings will be held in Chambers um council member boom yes thank you Mr President I would like to congratulate AC Wells commissioner Reginal Wells who will be leaving the city of Atlanta going to Decap County as the Director of watershed management AC Wells has been been a diligent and dedicated Citizen and employee a wonderful wonderful worker and we would like to just let him know how much we have appreciated his service to the city of Atlanta congratulations AC Wells thank you councelor Boon uh I'm gonna ask the uh the city clerk Madam clerk if you would make an announcement while council members are here yes good good good evening uh Mr President and members of council just a reminder that the campaign uh contribution disclosure reports was due on um January 31st um so if you haven't filed you are late but the you will not incur a penalty um during the grace period which ends on Friday February um 7th so please uh submit your report it per the state it is late but you will not incur a late fee until Friday so thank you thank you council member over Street thank you president Shipman I just want to invite everyone to our community public safety meeting that's being held tomorrow uh at William Walker wreck on um fabon Road 2405 fabon road we we will start our meeting at 6:30 I want to thank the Heritage Valley Comm Comm Community um their president uh ra raahim rashen Hunter uh for staying so engaged and making sure that um we were able to get this done um so joining us tomorrow would be uh zone four Commander uh C uh major clay as well as Chief sheer bomb and judge ranata Turner myself and also um our post three at large Isa Collins will also be joining us so that's tomorrow Community public safy meeting I also want to say congratulations to the new commissioner Wells for uh Decap County he is a ball of expertise in the Watershed community so I wish you well CC RIS yes sir CC presid back to work anniversaries again we have Dana Holmes one year Nicole Jones three years Michael uler six years Dex Andrews 10 years Jordan km three years um Shante Williams three years and then miss Teresa pay 31 years so congratulations on everyone work's anniversary thank you other announcements from my colleagues with that Madam clerk please call the closing role council president duck Shipman here Council uh council member Michael Julian Bond one large council member Matt W Morin post two at large council member eane Collins Post three at Large council member Jason H Winson District 1 council member Amir Peri District Two council member Byron D Amos District three council member Jason Dozer District Four here council member Liliana bakari District Five council member Alex Juan District Six council member Howard shook District s Council M Mary Norwood District 8 council member Dustin Hillis District N9 council member Andre Alon district 10 council member Mary Marcy caller over Street District 11 council member Antonio Lewis District 12 without objection we will stand a journ thank you everyone [Music]