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[Commission on Disabilities on October 1, 2024.]
EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING.TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND THE CURRENT TIME IS 2:15 PM WE HAVE MET QUORUM AND THIS MEETING IS NOW BEING CALLED TO ORDER A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS TO BE MINDFUL OF PRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH THE AGENDA.
PLEASE NOTE THAT GIVEN THAT WE ARE MEETING OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULAR TIMEFRAME OR MONTHLY MEETINGS, WE WERE ADVISED BY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO CALL THIS MEETING A SPECIAL ONE.
ADDITIONALLY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US REMOTELY, WE KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER FOR US TO COUNT YOU PRESENT.
ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU WISH TO MAKE, WE ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT IN ORDER TO AVOID CONFUSION.
AND LASTLY, WE REALIZE THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE MANY CONCERNS THEY WISH TO SHARE.
WE HEAR YOU, BUT KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AS BRIEF AND CONCISE AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO GIVE OTHERS IN THE ROOM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO, OH, WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE VERY FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS ROLL CALL.
IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING ORDER, I WILL BE CALLING OR ROLL CALL.
ROLL CALL IN, UH, BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT, PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR ATTENDANCE BY SAYING PRESENT WHEN YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT ARE CALLED.
DISTRICT ONE PRESENT, COMMISSIONER ROD H****R.
UH, COMMISSIONER STARLET RAMIREZ.
UH, COMMISSIONER? UM, COMMISSIONER CHRISTOPHER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10.
COMMISSIONER? UM, CHRISTOPHER BALLOU? NOT PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER NANCY IMMERMAN, DISTRICT 11.
COMMISSIONER STEVEN HUKA, DISTRICT 13 PRESENT.
AND THIS IS CHAIRMAN JOHN CAL CONLEY, DISTRICT 15 PRESENT.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICES OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON REVIEWING ALL COMMISSIONER PROCEDURES TO ENSURE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER EIGHT OF A DALLAS CITY CODE, WHICH IS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
FROM TIME TO TIME, I WILL BE REFERRING TO CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CHAPTER EIGHT TO ENSURE THAT WE, IN FACT ARE BEING COMPLIANT AND DOING WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THESE EFFORTS TO BE ESSENTIAL IN ADVANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
YOUR DEDICATION TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND ITS EFFORTS ARE STRONGLY VALUED AND ALWAYS APPRECIATED.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? AS A SIDE NOTE, EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE A COMMENT ON ISSUES RELATED TO DISABILITIES.
UM, MS. LYNN MCMURRAY FROM THE TEXAS FASD NETWORK, YOU ARE WELCOME TO PROVIDE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.
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THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.I'M A RESIDENT OF DALLAS DISTRICT 10 AND REPRESENT TEXAS FASD NETWORK, WHICH IS A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
MY REASON FOR SPEAKING TODAY IS TO INFORM THE COMMISSION OF A LITTLE KNOWN DISABILITY, BUT EXTREMELY COMMON DISORDER CALLED FASD.
FASD STANDS FOR FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER, WHICH IS AN UMBRELLA TERM FOR THE EFFECTS THAT MAY OCCUR IN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS PRENATALLY EXPOSED TO ALCOHOL.
FASD IS ONE OF THE THREE BIG LIFELONG DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS ALONG WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND AUTISM.
FAS OR FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME IS THE MOST WELL KNOWN OF THE PRENATAL ALCOHOL, UH, ALCOHOL EXPOSURE DISORDERS.
HOWEVER, ONLY 10% OF INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY PRENATAL ALCOHOL HAVE FAS, WHEREAS 90% OF THOSE IMPACTED DO NOT HAVE FACIAL FEATURES LIKE FAS AND MANY HAVE NORMAL TO HIGH IQ.
THESE ARE THE CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THEY CANNOT MEET THE DEMANDS OF SOCIETY, YET THEY ARE RARELY DIAGNOSED.
FASD IS AN INVISIBLE BRAIN DISORDER, YET MOST PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT FASD INFORMED OR EVEN AWARE OF THIS SPECTRUM DISORDER.
PEOPLE WITH FASD ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE FOSTER CARE AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. 90% OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.
IF UNDIAGNOSED TEENAGERS ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR TRUANCY DISRUPTIVE SCHOOL EXPERIENCES TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AND HOMELESSNESS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEREIN A IS AN FASD BILL IN CONGRESS THAT WE ARE OPTIMISTIC WE'LL BE PASSED THIS SESSION.
THIS FEDERAL BILL WILL ALLOW HHS TO PROMOTE AND FUND EDUCATION AWARENESS AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH FASD ACROSS COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND STATE SYSTEMS OF CARE.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS PROVIDE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
WITH FASD AWARENESS IS THE FIRST STEP TO ADDRESSING FASD IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THANK YOU THAT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES IS TAKING TIME TO HEAR ME FOR TAKING TIME FOR THIS FIRST STEP OF AWARENESS.
I DO HAVE A HANDOUT THAT CAN BE PICKED UP LATER ON IF YOU WISH FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. MCMURRAY, FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.
I THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE AWARE OF ISSUES LIKE THIS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE DO WORK TO FIND INNOVATIVE AND EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS.
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, OUR NEXT INDIVIDUAL TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT IS MS. MELVA HENDERSON FROM LIVING BEYOND LIMITS.
MS. HENDERSON, THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS TO PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS MELVA HENDERSON AND I'M IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF LIVING BEYOND LIMITS, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY.
OUR MISSION IS TO OFFER VITAL INTEGRATIVE MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, EMPOWERMENT, RESOURCES, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
BLINDNESS DO NOT PREVENT YOU OR STOP YOU FROM LIVING YOUR LIFE BEYOND LIMITS.
IT'S THE NEGATIVE MISCONCEPTIONS, THE BELIEFS THAT BLINDNESS DOES THAT BLINDNESS IS ON A SPECTRUM EVERYONE SEES DIFFERENTLY.
OCTOBER IS BLINDNESS AWARENESS MONTH, AND WE CELEBRATE OCTOBER 15TH, EXCUSE ME, OCTOBER 15TH AS A DAY OF WHITE CANE DAY CELEBRATION.
DID YOU KNOW YEARS AGO MANY PEOPLE DID
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NOT WANNA USE A WHITE CANE? DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS FORBIDDEN TO USE A WHITE CANE? ON OCTOBER 15TH, IT WAS SIGNED IN TO LAW THAT WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY IS GONNA BE OCTOBER 15TH.THIS WAS SIGNED IN IN 1964 FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT LYNDON B JOHNSON.
ALSO YEARS LATER IN 2011, FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ACTUALLY SIGNED LAW ON THAT SAME DAY, THE BLINDNESS AMERICAN INEQUALITY I WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL TODAY, LIVING BEYOND LIMIT IS OFFERING A VITAL INTEGRATIVE MENTORING PROGRAM FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY.
AND THIS YEAR IS OUR THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT WE'LL BE HOSTING ON OCTOBER 4TH, JUST THIS FRIDAY.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND TO ASK YOU TO JOIN US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP OUT IN OUR BLIND COMMUNITY SO WE CAN ALSO GAIN THE SAME ASSETS TO OPPORTUNITY AS OUR PEERS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.LIVINGBEYONDLIMITSUS.ORG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. HENDERSON, FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION.
WE TRULY COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WE STRONGLY APPRECIATE THE VALUABLE INSIGHTS YOU OFFERED GIVEN THAT OCTOBER IS BLIND EQUALITY ACHIEVEMENT MONTH, THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE NOT ONLY CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BUT ALSO HONOR THEIR DIGNITY AND SHARE THEIR HUMANITY.
I WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO OFFER ON BLIND EQUALITY ACHIEVEMENT MONTH IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER THAT WISHES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM THE BETTER BLOCK BICYCLE COALITION.
IMANI LITTLE, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS.
MY NAME'S IMANI, SHE LIDLE, AND I'M REPRESENTING BETTER BLOCK FOUNDATION, ALONG WITH THE DALLAS BICYCLE COALITION.
AND I'M HERE TO TODAY TO SHARE MORE ABOUT A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK, AND ASK FOR YOUR, UH, PARTNERSHIP IN THIS EFFORT.
NEARLY A THIRD OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE, SENIORS, AND PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD CARS OR GAS DO NOT DRIVE.
AND YET OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DOES NOT PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO WALK, ROLL, BIKE, OR TAKE TRANSIT AS THEIR PRIMARY MODE.
WASHINGTON CREATED WEAK WITHOUT DRIVING CHALLENGE IN 2021, SO THAT POLICY MAKERS, ELECTED LEADERS AND TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONALS CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE BARRIERS NON DRIVERS EXPERIENCE IN ACCESSING OUR COMMUNITIES.
AFTER TWO SUCCESSFUL YEARS OF HOSTING THE CHALLENGE IN WASHINGTON STATE WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING, WENT NATIONAL IN 2023 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICA, WATS TOGETHER BETTER BLOCK AND THE DALLAS BICYCLE COALITION.
IN ADDITION WITH OTHER COMMITTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE HOSTING THIS CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK, UH, WHICH STARTED YESTERDAY'S SEPTEMBER 30TH AND GOES THROUGH OCTOBER 6TH.
WE WILL LEAVE OUR PERSONAL VEHICLES AT HOME IF WE HAVE ONE, AND NAVIGATE THE CITY IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DON'T DRIVE.
WHEN WE PRIORITIZE PRIORITIZE ALTERNATIVES LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT, VIKING, AND WALKING, WE CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IN DAILY LIFE ASSESSING JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
THESE OPTIONS REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON CARS, MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I URGE THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES TO JOIN US THIS WEEK, UH, FOR THE DALLAS WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING CAMPAIGN.
TOGETHER WE CAN RAISE AWARENESS AND PROMOTE SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS THE FREEDOM TO MOVE AND THRIVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. S LIDLE FOR PROVIDING THE THESE VALUABLE INSIGHTS.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO INVITE INDIVIDUALS FROM YOUR CIRCLES THAT MAY OFFER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH ALL KINDS OF ABILITIES.
THE MORE COMMENTS WE HEAR, THE MORE, THE BETTER CHANCES THAT WE HAVE OF ACHIEVING OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND THE STRONGER WE WILL BE AS A BODY.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 27TH, 2024 MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE EDITS AT THIS TIME? YES.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER EY, DISTRICT SIX, EXCUSE ME, DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD AFTERNOON
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TO EVERYONE.IT IS BREAST CANCER AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
ON PAGE FIVE OF OUR MINUTES UNDER BRIEFING, ROMAN NUMERAL, UH, I, IT READS AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN.
IEP SHOULD ALWAYS BE DESIGNED AROUND THE STUDENTS' INDIVIDUAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
IT SHOULD READ STUDENTS' INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
ON PAGE SIX, UNDER THE LETTER C NUMBER THREE, IT READS SPED TEXT AS IN TEX, BUT THEN HAS TO BE A T INCLUDED IN THAT.
SO THROUGHOUT THE, UH, MINUTES THAT T NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED FOR AN ACTUAL TEXT MESSAGE.
SO IT'S SPED TEXT FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
AND THEN NUMBER FOUR, WHERE IT READS REPORTED THAT TEXAS SPED FUNDING WAS REDUCED IN JANUARY OF 2024.
IT SHOULD READ THAT IS REPORTED THAT TEXAS SPED FUNDING WAS REDUCED BECAUSE THE LOSS OF THEIR FINAL APPEAL OF A FEDERAL AUDIT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER POEY FOR MAKING THESE EDITS.
AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WISH TO PROVIDE EDITS TO THE MINUTES? IN THAT CASE, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MINUTES FOR AUGUST 27TH, 2024 BE ACCEPTED AS READ WITH THE EDITS.
ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
SO THE MINUTES WITH THE EDITS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS READ.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM, THE OFFICER'S REPORT.
I WILL BEGIN BY PROVIDING THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
ON SEPTEMBER THE SEVENTH, I ATTENDED AN EVENT ENTITLED HARMONIES OF HUMANITY, WHICH WAS ORGANIZED BY THE PEGASUS FILM PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS DALLAS.
THIS WAS A DISTINCT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A LIVELY DIALOGUE ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES THIS WORLD IS GRAPPLING WITH.
TOGETHER WE NOT ONLY BROUGHT A REAL FACE TO THE STRUGGLES RESULTING FROM CONFLICT, BUT ALSO DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFEGUARDING THE DIGNITY AND HUMANITY OF INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE.
IT WAS A TRUE PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO REPRESENT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND SHARE ABOUT THE WORK WE DO WITH INDIVIDUALS.
I HAD THE HONOR OF PROVIDING A BRIEFING TO THE DALLAS TEAM OF THE TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES ABOUT OUR COMMISSION.
THIS AGENCY PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE THROUGH THE SERVICES OFFERED TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TRANSITIONING FROM SECONDARY EDUCATION AND INTO HIGHER EDUCATION, AND EVENTUALLY IN SEEKING, ADVANCING IN AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT.
THE FIELD DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS OFFICE, IN FACT, SHOWED REAL INTEREST AND LOOKS FORWARD TO JOINING ONE OF OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE WAYS IN WHICH VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CAN SUPPORT OUR INITIATIVES.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.
AND I AM NOW GOING TO REQUEST COMMISSIONERS TO PROVIDE THEIR REPORTS.
JUST, JUST LIKE BEFORE WITH CALLING ROLL CALL, I WILL BE CALLING THE NAME AND RESPECTIVE DISTRICT OF EACH COMMISSIONER TO PROVIDE REPORTS OF THEIR OWN.
AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING ORDER.
IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE A REPORT, YOU MAY INDICATE.
SO WHEN YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT ARE CALLED COMMISSIONER REVY, COMMISSIONER GAY REVY FROM DISTRICT ONE, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT YOU'D LIKE TO REPORT? YES, I DO.
VERY BRIEFLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSION MEMBERS, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THIS MONTH FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO WAS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
HE HAS AND USES A PLACARD FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING.
ALL OF THE HANDICAPPED SPACES AT THE CONVENTION CENTER WERE FULL, AND MOST OF THEM WITHOUT BLACKGUARDS OR PLATES, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.
HE HAD HEARD THAT HE COULD PARK
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IN ANY SPACE AT CONVENTION CENTER WITH A HANDICAPPED PLACARD, AND HE WOULD NOT BE TICKETED.I CONTACTED STAFF WHO INFORMED ME THAT IF THERE IS A PARKING METER THERE, THE PARKING IS FREE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ALLOWING FOR THE TIME TOTAL ON THE METER.
SO YOU COULD GET TAGGED FOR AN EXPIRED METER, BUT NOT FOR BEING, UH, A HANDICAPPED PARK IN A REGULAR PARKING SPACE.
AND THE SPACE MUST BE ONE THAT HAS A REGULAR METER.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO EXAMINE THIS AND FIND OUT, UH, MORE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE PARKING PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE IN DALLAS.
NOT ONLY THE COMPLETE LACK OF CONCERN BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE PLACARDS OR PLATES, BUT EXACTLY WHAT THE RULES ARE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IN MY OPINION, OF HOW THIS COMMISSION NEEDS TO DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN GATHERING TO THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
I FEEL THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB IN LETTING THE DISABLED COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE WITH SOME AN ANSWERS.
COMMISSIONER REVY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THAT.
NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER ROD H****R, DISTRICT THREE, BUT HE'S NOT PRESENT.
SO WE'RE JUMPING TO COMMISSIONER NANCY IMMERMAN FROM DISTRICT SIX.
COMMISSIONER STARLET RAMIREZ, DISTRICT SIX.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? I DO NOT HAVE A REPORT AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ.
NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POEY FROM DISTRICT EIGHT.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? YES, I DO.
AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK CHAIRMAN PAUL CONNIE FOR, UM, DOING THE ROLL CALL.
THE WAY WE DON'T HAVE A CONTINUOUS INTERRUPTION WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO AND COMMISSIONER, UH, THEY MAY BE EITHER HAVING A QUESTION, CONCERN AND OR A REPORT.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 14TH AT METHODIST HOSPITAL IN COLORADO, I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATION COMMUNITY SUMMIT, WHERE SENATOR WEST IN REPRESENTATIVE RAPHAEL, UM, AN, I'M HOPING I'M PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY.
UM, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE IMPACT OF VOTING AND JUST, AND, AND DIFFERENT, UM, ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING ACROSS THE BOARD FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND ONE OF MY INQUIRIES WAS IN REFERENCE TO DISABILITIES AS THEY TALKED ABOUT FUNDING AND EDUCATION.
I INQUIRED ABOUT LEGISLATION, BILLS, AND EVEN DISABILITY FUNDING, AND WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT SINCE, UM, AGAIN, JANUARY, 2024, THEY LOST THEIR FINAL APPEAL.
SO I WANNA SEE SOME PROGRESS AND SOME RESULTS IN THAT.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 21ST, I JOINED THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AT UNC DALLAS FOR THEIR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR.
UM, WE HAD DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THERE.
WE ALSO HAD, AGAIN, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY WERE GIVING, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I WANNA SAY, MAKE SURE I SAY THIS CORRECTLY, NARCAN, UM, IN REFERENCE FOR, UM, OUR STUDENTS AND EVEN ADULTS WHO MAY, UH, BE GOING THROUGH, UH, THE CRISES OF, UM, UH, NOT HAVING AN OVERDOSE.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION, UM, DALLAS POLICE OFFICER DARREN L BURKES, WHO WE LOST TO A, UH, TRAGEDY OF, UM, IN OUR DISTRICT FOUR AT FOUR OAK CLIFF.
UM, HIS FUNERAL AND HOME GOING CELEBRATION WAS ON SEPTEMBER THE SEVENTH.
AND WHETHER YOU BACKED THE BLUE OR NOT, UM, OFFICER BURKES WORKED AT SOUTH CENTRAL PATROL DIVISION DEPARTMENT THAT IS IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH IS DISTRICT EIGHT.
UM, HE, UH, A GREAT LOSS, UM, AS A INDIVIDUAL, AS A MAN, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AS A TEACHER, AND AS AN OFFICER OF THE LAW.
SO I WANNA THANK, UM, CHIEF GARCIA, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER POEY FOR YOUR REPORT.
UM, WE ARE, THIS IS, UH, THE TRAGEDY OF OFFICER BURKES.
UM, AND HIS LOSS IS FELT BY ALL OF US.
I THINK THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE, UM, ALWAYS, UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE SACRIFICES THAT THESE POLICE OFFICERS MAKE TO KEEP US SAFE.
SO MAY HIS MEMORY BE A BLESSING TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THOSE WHO KNOW HIM.
NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WHITE, DISTRICT NINE.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? NOT TODAY.
UH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER.
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OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER NANCY IMMERMAN FROM DISTRICT 11.DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? UM, COMMISSIONER NANCY IMMERMAN, DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? DISTRICT 11? I DO NOT HAVE A REPORT AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER EMRAN.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER STEVEN HUSHKA, DISTRICT 13.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? UH, YES.
JUST BRIEFLY, I'D, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MENTION FOR EVERYBODY IN ATTENDANCE THAT, UH, OCTOBER IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.
UH, AND SO I'D LIKE YOU TO KEEP, UH, IN, IN LINE WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE RECEIVED, PLEASE KEEP THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING WITH DISABILITIES IN MIND TO ECHO, UM, THE CHAIR CALLED CONNOLLY'S.
UM, COMMENTS FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
UH, THE ABILITY TO WORK AND TO PROVIDE FOR ONESELF IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE, UM, TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO, UM, REACH OUT AND FIND POSITIVE WAYS TO, UM, RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS AND, AND PARTICIPATE IN ANY LOCAL EVENTS, UM, THIS MONTH TO THAT, TO THAT END.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THESE INSIGHTS.
COMMISSIONER HUKA, THIS CONCLUDES THE COMMISSIONER REPORTS SEGMENT OF OUR AGENDA.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH COMMISSIONER WHO PROVIDED REPORTS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
HONESTLY, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR MEETINGS DO IN FACT RUN SMOOTHLY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE, IS THE BRIEFINGS.
SECTION 2024 IS A CRITICAL YEAR.
IN THAT NEXT MONTH, WE WILL NOT ONLY BE ELECTING A PRESIDENT, BUT ALSO DECIDING ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL REPRESENT US.
BEING ABLE TO VOTE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, AND IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, SHOULD BE ABLE TO FREELY AND INDEPENDENTLY EX EXERCISE THIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS.
IF ACCESSIBLE METHODS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
TODAY, WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR OF THE DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, MS. JAYLA DADE.
SHE WILL PRESENT ON ACCESSIBLE VOTING METHODS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS SHARE INSIGHTS ON, ON OUR RIGHTS AS VOTERS AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN AND WHERE TO REGISTER TO VOTE.
MS. DADE, THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER A BRIEF PRESENTATION, UM, HOPEFULLY ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AS TO HOW TO ENSURE THAT VOTING IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
SO, I ALWAYS LIKE TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION WITH JUST REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE AUDIENCE AND IF YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND OR KNOW WHAT WE DO AS AN ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
UM, IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS TO WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO AS AN ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT? YES, BECAUSE I, I, I WILL BE HONEST, I DIDN'T KNOW
SO I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT EXACTLY, UM, WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT, UM, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS YOU AS A VOTER.
UM, SO ONE OF OUR PRIMARY FOCUS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, YOU COULD PROBABLY MOVE TO THE NEXT SCREEN.
WE OVERSEE ELECTION OPERATIONS.
SO WE ORGANIZE, UM, AND CONDUCT, OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, I DO APOLOGIZE, MISS STATE FOR THE INTERRUPTION, BUT WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE POWERPOINT, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND IN SAYING NEXT SLIDE, THAT WAY WE'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG.
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OKAY.WHAT WE DO, UM, WE OVERSEE ELECTION OPERATIONS.
UM, SO WE ORGANIZE AND CONDUCT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
SO THIS NOVEMBER IS A FEDERAL ELECTION, BUT WHAT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY REALIZE IS WE HAVE ELECTIONS YEAR ROUND
THEY CONTRACT WITH US YEAR ROUND, UM, TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONSTITUENTS VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.
UM, SO WE HAVE 1.4 OVER 1.4 MILLION VOTERS IN DALLAS COUNTY.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THOSE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLES.
SO RECENTLY THERE WAS A, UM, ARTICLE PUBLISHED ABOUT VOTERS BEING REMOVED FROM THE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLE.
UM, WE DID NOT ENCOUNTER THAT HERE IN DALLAS COUNTY BECAUSE WE MANAGE THAT YEAR ROUND.
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACTIVE VOTERS ON OUR REGISTRATION ROLLS.
WE CLEAN THEM UP, WE MAINTAIN THEM PRETTY WELL.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO.
AND THEN LASTLY, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, IS WE ABIDE BY TEXAS ELECTION CODE.
UM, SO TEXAS ELECTION CODE IS WHAT ENSURES THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE.
UM, WE HAVE STANDARDS THAT WE MUST ABIDE BY.
WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE, THEY'RE SECURE, AND THEY'RE TRANSPARENT.
WHICH LEADS ME TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS OUR MISSION.
UM, SO REALLY AS AN ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AND THE VOTERS WE SERVE, UM, ARE TRUSTWORTHY OF US.
UM, OR THAT THEY TRUST US, THEY'RE CONFIDENT IN THEIR VOTING EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
UM, AND THAT WE ENSURE THAT OUR, OUR ELECTIONS ARE ALWAYS ACCURATE, FAIR, ACCESSIBLE, SECURE AND TRANSPARENT.
SO HOW WE DO THAT, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR ME IS WE HAVE THREE KEY DIVISIONS.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO HOUND ON EACH DEPARTMENT, UM, BUT I DO WANT TO REALLY CALL OUT THAT WE HAVE THREE KEY DIVISIONS, WHICH IS OUR ADMINISTRATION DIVISION, OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION, AND OUR TECHNOLOGY DIVISION.
SO WITHIN THESE THREE DIVISIONS, WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS, UM, WHAT THEY ARE, UM, LIVE UP TO WHAT THEY CAN BE, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S ACCESSIBLE, MAKE SURE THAT VOTERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, TO EXERCISE THEIR POWER TO VOTE.
UM, SO I DO WANT TO JUST CALL OUT THAT WE DO HAVE THREE DIVISIONS AND WE, WE ALL WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER.
UM, ONE COULD NOT RELY ON THE OTHER, I'M SORRY, ONE COULD NOT WORK WITHOUT THE OTHER.
UM, SO I'M A PART OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, WHICH MY ROLE IS SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE VOTER EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED TO BE CONFIDENT IN CASTING THEIR VOTE.
NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO CALL OUT THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS TOO MUCH, UM, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION WE HAVE A TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
AND THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT, HOW IT DIRECTLY RELATES TO YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A VOTER IS BECAUSE EVERY JUDGE AND EVERY POLL WORKER WHO ARE THE INDIVIDUALS YOU ENCOUNTER, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GO IN PERSON TO VOTE, THEY DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING.
UM, SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THEY ARE TRAINED TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ACCESSIBLE.
IF A VOTER NEEDS ASSISTANCE, THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR GIS SERVICES, WHICH THEY'RE REALLY FOR THE MAPPING OF OUR VOTE CENTERS.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT VOTE CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN CONVENIENT AREAS WHERE OUR VOTERS TURN OUT, WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE A DA COMPLIANT AND THEY'RE, UM, ACCESSIBLE.
SO THAT'S SPECIFICALLY WHAT OUR GIS DEPARTMENT IS FOR.
THEY HELP US LOCATE VOTE CENTERS AND MAP OUT VOTE CENTERS TO VOTERS' PROXIMITY TO ENSURE THAT VOTERS HAVE ACCESS TO MAKE IT TO THE VOTE CENTER.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR HR AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY'RE REALLY, UM, RESPONSIBLE JUST FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT YOUR, YOUR RIGHTS OR YOUR VOTING RIGHTS, THEY EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE VOTE CENTER.
SO EVERYTHING WE DO AS AN ELECTION DEPARTMENT, IT IS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.
UM, SO OUR HR AND RECORDS DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE PUBLIC RECORDS, UM, AND VOTER INFORMATION THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PUBLISH IS PUBLISHED AND ACCESSIBLE ONLINE.
NOW, IS EVERYONE IN HERE REGISTERED TO VOTE? HOPEFULLY.
OKAY, WE'RE COMING UP ON A DEADLINE.
UM, OCTOBER 7TH IS OUR VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DO KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, I WILL GO
[00:35:01]
OVER WHAT REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO REGISTER.AND I WON'T HANDLE THAT TOO MUCH EITHER, SINCE EVERYONE IN HERE IS REGISTERED.
SO JUST TO REITERATE, UM, YOU DO HAVE TO BE A US CITIZEN IN ORDER TO REGISTER AND IN ORDER TO BECOME A REGISTERED, UM, DALLAS COUNTY VOTER, YOU DO HAVE TO LIVE IN DALLAS COUNTY.
OKAY? UM, ANOTHER KEY, UM, REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 17 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS OF AGE IN ORDER TO REGISTER.
SO TO ACTUALLY VOTE, YOU HAVE TO BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER ON ELECTION DAY.
AND THEN THE LAST TWO IS YOU MUST HAVE NOT BEEN DECLARED MENTALLY INCAPACITATED, UM, BY A COURT JUDGMENT, WHICH AFFECTS YOUR VOTER RIGHTS, OR, UM, YOU MUST NOT HAVE BEEN, OR I'M SORRY, YOU MUST NOT HAVE A FELONY CONVICTION.
OR IF CONVICTED, YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE TERMS OF YOUR, UM, SENTENCE OR RECEIVED A PARDON.
AND NOW, IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, WE DO HAVE A FEW CONVENIENT, UM, OR A LOT OF DIFFERENT METHODS.
PARDON ME FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
UM, I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY ASK COMMISSIONER IMMERMAN.
WE HAVE QUORUM, UM, MISSTATE, SO YOU MAY PROCEED.
NOW IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, UM, THERE ARE A FEW CONVENIENT WAYS IN WHICH THEY COULD OBTAIN A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION.
WE HAVE THEM ACCESSIBLE ONLINE.
YOU COULD DOWNLOAD IT, COMPLETE IT, AND THEN PRINT IT AND RETURN IT TO OUR OFFICE.
YOU COULD ALSO REQUEST AN APPLICATION BY PHONE OR BY EMAIL.
UM, AND THEN YOU COULD ALSO VISIT OUR OFFICE.
WE'RE LOCATED AT 1520 ROUNDTABLE DRIVE.
UM, WE'RE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:30 PM AND THEN YOU COULD ALSO, AT YOUR LOCAL TAX OFFICES OR LOCAL ENTITY ENTITIES, ANY GOVERNMENT OFFICE, YOU COULD OBTAIN A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION.
SO I HAD TO MAKE SURE TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE WE ARE APPROACHING A DEADLINE,
AND YOU COULD ACTUALLY MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
NOW, I KNOW EVERYONE IN HERE SAID THAT THEY ARE REGISTERED, BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ACTUALLY LOOKED UP YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS? TWO WEEKS.
SO ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S ACCESSED OUR WEBSITE HERE, IT'S DALLAS COUNTY VOTES.ORG.
WE HAVE A VOTER LOOKUP TOOL, AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO BELIEVE THEY'RE REGISTERED OR THEY KNOW IN FACT THAT THEY ARE REGISTERED.
BUT YOU JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOUR REGISTRATION IS UP TO DATE AND ACTIVE.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, VERIFY YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS THAT OCTOBER 7TH.
UM, VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE ALSO APPLIES TO UPDATES THAT WE NEED.
SO LIKE, IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY MOVED, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE.
IT'S CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR YOU TO UPDATE, UM, PRIOR TO THAT OCTOBER 7TH VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE AS WELL.
SO WHAT THIS SITE IS SHOWING IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR TOOL LOOKS LIKE.
UM, OF COURSE THE INFORMATION IS KIND OF DARKENED OUT BECAUSE IT'S PERSONAL INFORMATION, BUT IT SHOWS THAT THIS PERSON IS ACTIVE, THEY'RE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
AND THEN I'LL GO ON TO TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER STATUS THAT COULD SHOW ON THIS PAGE AS WELL.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
NOW, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IS ACTIVE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, BUT IF YOU DO UTILIZE OUR VOTER LOOKUP TOOL AND YOU SEE THAT YOUR STATUS IS IN SUSPENSE, THAT MEANS THAT SOMETHING REALLY, MORE THAN LIKELY, A VOTER REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, WHICH WE MAIL OUT EVERY, EVERY EVEN YEAR MAY HAVE CAME BACK TO US.
SO SOMETHING IS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM SAYING THAT YOU PROBABLY NEED TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS, OR WE JUST NEED TO VERIFY YOUR ADDRESS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE SEEING INFORMATION LIKE VOTERS ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE REGISTRATION ROLES, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE IN SUSPENSE FOR TOO LONG.
SO IF YOU'RE IN SUSPENSE FOR A PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS, THEN YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THAT VOTER REGISTRATION ROLE.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT PRIOR TO ENGAGING OR VOTING, UM, IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION, YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE ACTIVE IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT YOUR REGISTRATION IS IS IN GOOD STANDING.
AND I ACTUALLY JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE VOTER PURGE, BECAUSE WE ARE APPROACHING A LARGE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT COMES OUT, UM, SPECIFICALLY THE ONE ABOUT PEOPLE BEING REMOVED FROM THE VOTER REGISTRATION RULES.
[00:40:01]
A THING CALLED THE VOTER REGISTRATION PURGE THAT PEOPLE REFER TO.AND THAT'S JUST, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE ON THE SUSPENSE LIST FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, THEN YOU ARE REMOVED FROM THAT VOTER REGISTRATION ROLE.
SO THIS IS JUST REALLY REITERATING, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION IS ACTIVE AND CURRENT.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE FUN PART, THE HOW DO YOU VOTE? WHAT, WHAT DIFFERENT WAYS CAN YOU VOTE? UM, SO WE HAVE, I WOULD SAY, I WANNA SAY THREE DIFFERENT METHODS, BUT REALLY IT'S TWO, TWO DIFFERENT METHODS TO VOTE.
UM, YOU COULD EITHER VOTE DURING EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY, UM, EARLY VOTING, YOU HAVE VOTING BY MAIL OR VOTING IN PERSON.
AND I'LL GO INTO DEPTH ABOUT EACH OF THOSE AND WHAT THOSE ENTAIL.
NOW, VOTING BY MAIL TAKES PLACE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, WHICH BEGINS OCTOBER 21ST.
UM, FOR THE NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION.
THIS IS GOING TO, UM, ENTAIL YOU HAVING TO APPLY TO RECEIVE A BALLOT BY MAIL.
THEN YOU'LL RECEIVE A PACKAGE UPON APPROVAL OF YOUR APPLICATION, AND THEN YOU WOULD SEND IN YOUR BALLOT THROUGH THE MAIL.
SO IT, IT PREVENTS YOU FROM HAVING TO VOTE IN PERSON.
UM, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT QUALIFYING FACTORS THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO VOTE BY MAIL.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I'M SORRY, NEXT SLIDE.
I, NOW, IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BY MAIL, YOU HAVE TO MEET EITHER ONE OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.
YOU HAVE TO BE EITHER 65 OR OLDER ON ELECTION DAY, EITHER HAVE A DISABILITY, UM, EXPECTED TO GIVE BIRTH WITHIN THREE WEEKS BEFORE OR AFTER ELECTION DAY, UM, EXPECTED TO BE ABSENT FROM THE COUNTY DURING EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY, OR ARE CONFINED IN, IN JAIL.
OKAY? SO IF YOU MEET ANY OF THOSE CRITERIA, YOU ARE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BY MAIL IN DAL IN DALLAS COUNTY.
NOW, IF YOU ARE 65 YEARS OR OLDER OR HAVE A DISABILITY, YOU WOULD ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR AN ANNUAL APPLICATION TO VOTE BY MAIL, WHICH IS WHERE YOU COULD VOTE USING, UM, THE MAIL BALLOT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO YOU'LL BE ELIGIBLE TO SEND IN YOUR MAIL BALLOT DURING ANY LOCAL ELECTION, FEDERAL ELECTION, STATE ELECTION THAT'S TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THAT YEAR.
AND THEN I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE APPLICATION HERE.
I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN THINK I HAVE IT ON THIS SLIDE, BUT I DO HAVE SOME MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS WITH ME TODAY.
IF ANYONE NEEDS TO COMPLETE ONE, I COULD GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU HELP YOU COMPLETE THAT TODAY.
NOW, WHEN YOU'RE, IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE BY MAIL, UM, AND IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO ASSIST YOU, THEN YOU ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT ASSISTANCE.
THE APPLICATION DOES A VERY GOOD JOB AT DESCRIBING WHAT AN ASSISTANT IS.
UM, DON'T ALLOW THE APPLICATION TO BE DAUNTING BECAUSE IT, IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF VERBIAGE ON THERE, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT.
IT'S JUST INSTRUCTIONS, RIGHT? SO IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO ASSIST YOU, UM, WITH COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION, THEY DO HAVE TO COMPLETE A SECTION WITHIN THAT APPLICATION STATING THAT THEY ARE ASSISTING YOU.
SO THIS IS, UM, PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOU MAY NEED SOMEONE TO ASSIST YOU, UM, IN EITHER RETURNING THE APPLICATION, LIKE DROPPING IT AT THE POST OFFICE OR JUST SIMPLY HELPING YOU COMPLETE THE FORM.
UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO TAKE NOTE OF.
AS WELL AS, UM, WE ALSO HAVE WITNESSES.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE THERE TO WITNESS YOU COMPLETE THE APPLICATION OR MAKE A MARK ON YOUR BEHALF.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, UM, YOU CAN HAVE A WITNESS SIGN ON YOUR BEHALF FOR THAT APPLICATION AND SIMPLY TURN IT IN.
UM, SO YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S EITHER THERE TO ASSIST YOU OR WITNESS OR BOTH.
UM, SO THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
IF YOU NEED THAT ASSISTANCE, YOU ARE WELCOME.
YOU, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE AN ASSISTANT OR WITNESS.
NOW, THE APPLICATION TURNAROUND TIME OR DEADLINE, OR BE VALID BY MAIL, UM, IS OCTOBER 25TH.
SO WE'RE QUICKLY APPROACHING THAT DEADLINE.
IF YOU DO NEED TO COMPLETE A BALLOT BY MAIL APPLICATION, YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THAT INTO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NOW, NOW I WANNA TALK ABOUT VOTING IN PERSON.
UM, SO OF COURSE WE HAVE VOTE CENTERS THROUGHOUT DALLAS COUNTY THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY.
UM, SO WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE IN PERSON, YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE SEVEN ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ID.
UM, AND THIS IS WHAT THIS SLIDE IS JUST
[00:45:01]
ADDRESSING.SO WHEN YOU'RE VOTING IN PERSON, YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE, A TEXAS PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARD, A HANDGUN LICENSE, AN ELECTION IDENTIFICATION CARD, UM, YOUR MILITARY ID CARD, WHETHER THAT'S A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, COMMON ACCESS CARD, OR UNINFORMED SERVICE ID CARD, UM, VETERANS AFFAIR CARD OR DOD CIVILIAN RETIREE CARDS.
SO ANY OF THOSE MILITARY ID CARDS YOU COULD PRESENT.
UM, YOU COULD ALSO PRESENT A CITIZEN CERTIFICATE, UM, AS WELL AS A PASSPORT ID, WHETHER IT'S THE BOOK OR THE CARD.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ID, YOU COULD PRESENT THEM WHEN YOU'RE VOTING IN PERSON.
NOW, WHEN YOU'RE VOTING IN PERSON, UM, LEMME MOVE THIS A LITTLE BIT.
YOU HAVE RIGHTS AS A VOTER, OKAY? SO ON OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE ACCESS TO A SAMPLE BALLOT, WHICH YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND PRINT.
YOU COULD ACTUALLY MARK UP YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT AND BRING IT INTO THE VOTE CENTER WITH YOU AS A REFERENCE, AS A KIND OF LIKE, AS A KEY.
IT HELPS YOUR VOTING PROCESS GO A LITTLE BIT MORE SMOOTHLY.
UM, SO THAT WAY YOU'RE NOT AT THE VOTING MACHINE AND KIND OF THINKING ABOUT WHO YOU'RE WISHING TO VOTE FOR.
ANOTHER THING, UM, TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE VOTING IN PERSON IS THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A PERSON, UM, WITH THE DISABILITY AND THAT ELECTRONIC DEVICE IS THERE TO ASSIST YOU, THEN THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT.
AND THEN ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN VOTING IN PERSON IS THAT YOU CANNOT, UM, ELECTION YEAR OR CAMPAIGN.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WHO'S VOTING IN PERSON'S EXPERIENCE IS AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO REPRESENTING YOUR, THE CANDIDATE WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR, UM, WE, WE DISCOURAGE THAT TYPICALLY IT'S, IT'S NOT ALLOWED, UM, WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OF THE VOTE CENTER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.
NOW, AN IMPORTANT THING, UM, THAT I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS UPCOMING ELECTION, IS THE IDEA OF A POLL WATCHER.
HAS ANYONE HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE? YES.
SO SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, YOU CAN ENCOUNTER A POLL WATCHER.
AND WHEN YOU ARE CHECKING IN AT A VOTE CENTER, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO ASSIST YOU, AND THEY'RE A PERSON OF YOUR CHOICE, WHO'S THERE TO ASSIST YOU, LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER, AN INTERPRETER, UM, A CLOSE FRIEND OR RELATIVE, THAT PERSON IS ABLE TO ASSIST YOU.
UM, AND A POLL WATCHER DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SEEING WHAT YOU'RE SELECTING OR MARKING ON YOUR VOTING MACHINE.
NOW, IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE SOMEONE LIKE A CLERK OR A JUDGE, WHICH ARE THE INDIVIDUALS, UM, ASSIGNED TO THAT VOTE CENTER, UM, THEY ARE DALLAS COUNTY EMPLOYEES AT THAT TI AT THAT POINT OF TIME TO ASSIST YOU, THE POLL WATCHER DOES HAVE ACCESS TO OBSERVE, UM, EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THAT VOTING MACHINE TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE POLL, THE POLL WORKER IS ABIDING BY YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AS A VOTER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW COMES UP A LOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU THERE'S THAT, THERE'S THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN IF YOU'RE HAVING SOMEONE WHO'S WORKING FOR DALLAS COUNTY ESSENTIALLY HELPING YOU OR IF YOU'RE BRINGING SOMEONE A PERSON OF YOUR CHOICE.
SO I DO WANT TO HOUND IT ON THAT.
NOW, I THINK IT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE.
NOW I DO HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO TO SHOW YOU, UM, AND THEN I'LL ALSO REITERATE KIND OF HOW THIS WOULD, THIS PROCESS WILL MAYBE BE CONFIGURED A BIT IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE ASSISTANCE, EXCUSE ME, WHILE VOTING IN PERSON.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND PLAY THAT VIDEO FOR ME.
IF THE AUDIO'S NOT WORKING, I COULD
[00:50:01]
KIND OF NARRATE THE VIDEO, IF THAT'S OKAY.AND I COULD TELL YOU WHERE TO PAUSE.
SO WE'VE ACTUALLY HAVE COMPLETED THIS VIDEO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, UM, MARCH TO THE POLLS, THEY WORK WITH STUDENTS.
UM, SO IT WAS FUN TO CREATE THIS VIDEO, BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT'S GOING OVER, IF YOU COULD PAUSE RIGHT HERE AS A VOTER, UM, WHEN YOU ENTER THE VOTE CENTER, TYPICALLY THERE'S SOMEONE THERE TO GREET YOU AND TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE TO CHECK IN.
UM, SO ONCE YOU MEET THAT GREETER AND THEY TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE, UM, YOU ARE CHECKING IN, YOU WOULD APPROACH A CHECK-IN TABLE, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD PRESENT ONE OF YOUR ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ID.
NOW, AT THAT TIME, IF YOU HAVE AN ASSISTANT OR AN INTERPRETER, WHICH YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING WITH YOU TO THE VOTE CENTER OR ACCOMPANY WITH YOU AT THE VOTE CENTER, THAT ASSISTANT OR INTERPRETER WILL ASSIST YOU WITH CHECKING IN.
UM, AND THEN THEY WILL ALSO SIGN AN OATH PRIOR TO YOU RECEIVING YOUR BALLOT.
IS EVERYONE FOLLOWING ALONG WITH ME SO FAR? OKAY.
SO ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT, AND YOU CAN PLAY THE VIDEO RIGHT HERE, LET ME, YEAH.
SO THIS IS GOING OVER THE ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ID, BUT ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT, YOU THEN HEAD TO A VOTING MACHINE, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NEXT TO ME.
DOES THE CAMERA SHOW THAT? I'M NOT SURE.
I HAVE A VOTING MACHINE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME FOR THOSE, UM, WHO IT'S NOT VISIBLE FOR.
BUT ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT, YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO A VOTING MACHINE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR, YOUR CHOICES.
THAT'S, IT'S OUR BALLOT MARKING DEVICE.
THIS DEVICE, UM, IT IS A DA COMPLIANT.
SO WE HAVE A KEYPAD, UM, TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE, EXCUSE ME, TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE, UM, YOUR CHOICES AND YOUR SELECTIONS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, THIS MACHINE ALSO HAS THE CAPABILITY FOR HEADPHONES, UM, AS WELL AS THE CAPABILITY FOR A SIP AND PUP DEVICE, UM, IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO USES THAT.
SO THIS MACHINE IS REALLY THERE TO ASSIST, UM, MEMBERS OF THE, I'M SORRY, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, AS WELL AS JUST, SORRY, MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE ACCESS TO VOTE, UM, SMOOTHLY AND COMFORTABLY.
I THINK IT'S OKAY WITH THE VIDEO.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BACK.
NOW, IF THIS MACHINE FOR ANY REASON, UM, IF IT DOES NOT PROVIDE THE ACCESS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR VOTE OR TO MARK YOUR BALLOT COMFORTABLY AND SECURELY, THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU COULD HAVE ANOR OR AN INTERPRETER THERE TO ASSIST YOU WITH CAST TO MAKING YOUR VOTE OR MARKING YOUR BALLOT.
UM, AT THAT TIME, ONCE YOUR SELECTIONS ARE MADE, YOU WILL PRINT YOUR BALLOT AND THEN YOU'LL MAKE IT TO THE TABOR WHERE YOU WOULD ACTUALLY DEPOSIT YOUR BALLOT TO BE COUNTED.
AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S REALLY IT.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY VOTED.
NOW, ON ELECTION DAY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OVER 70 OR JUST ABOUT 70 EARLY VOTING, UM, CENTERS.
UM, AS WELL AS ON ELECTION DAY, WE WILL HAVE OVER 440, UM, VOTE CENTERS THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO YOU.
AND YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
NOW, SOMETHING TO, UM, CONSIDER OR TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS THAT IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO NEEDS AN INTERPRETER AT THE VOTE CENTER, UM, WE DO HAVE DEVICES THAT ALLOW, WE DO HAVE DEVICES THAT ALLOW US TO ACCESS A LANGUAGE LINE.
UM, THAT LANGUAGE LINE IS USED TO ACCESS OVER, I CAN'T, I THINK IT'S OVER 40 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES WORLDWIDE.
UM, IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN INTERPRETER THERE WITH YOU, NEXT SLIDE.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST GOING OVER THE VOTING MACHINE.
SO ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE VOTING MACHINE IS YOU COULD ALSO ENLARGE THE TEXT, SHOULD YOU NEED TO, AND YOU COULD ALSO SHOW CONTRAST SHOULD YOU NEED TO.
AND THEN THE BALLOT IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND VIETNAMESE AS WELL.
[00:55:01]
AN ALTERNATIVE TO ACTUALLY GOING INSIDE OF THE VOTE CENTER AND VOTING IS CURBSIDE VOTING.UM, SO CURBSIDE VOTING IS SPECIFICALLY, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ENTER THE VOTING CENTER WITHOUT RISKING THEIR HEALTH, UM, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
SO IF YOU COULD GO, HERE'S A VIDEO THAT'S GOING TO PLAY, BUT I KNOW THE AUDIO'S NOT WORKING.
UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT CURBSIDE VOTING IS, IS WE COME TO YOU, WE BRING EVERYTHING TO YOU, UM, IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR CAR, JUST TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY AND TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOTING EXPERIENCE IS AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING HERE.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S COMFORTABLE WHILE VOTING.
UM, SO WHEN YOU, IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE, UM, USING THE CURBSIDE METHOD, YOU WOULD PULL UP TO A DESIGNATED AREA AT YOUR VOTE CENTER, AND THEN THERE'S A NUMBER THAT YOU WOULD CALL THAT JUDGE WILL THEN HAVE ELECTION CLERKS, OR ELECTION, OR, I'M SORRY, AN ELECTION CLERK, UM, APPROACH YOUR VEHICLE AND THEY WILL BRING YOUR BALLOT OUT TO YOU, BRING THE BALLOT MARKING DEVICE OUT TO YOU, WHICH IS THE VOTING MACHINE.
UM, YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR SELECTION, THEY WOULD PUT YOUR BALLOT INTO A SECRETY ENVELOPE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR, YOUR VOTE REMAINS PRIVATE AND SECRET.
AND THEN THEY WOULD DEPOSIT THAT BALLOT ON YOUR BEHALF WITH INSIDE THE VOTE CENTER.
AND THAT OPTION IS AVAILABLE AT ALL OF OUR VOTE CENTERS AS WELL.
AND THIS IS LIKE MY LITTLE ICEBREAKER HERE IS DO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE, UM, IN TERMS OF EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY, WHAT YOUR PREFERENCE WILL BE FOR THE NOVEMBER 5TH GENERAL AND JOINT ELECTION? EVERYONE KIND OF HAS IT IN MIND.
NOW THIS IS JUST GOING OVER THE DIFFERENT ELECTION TYPES AND TIMELINES.
UM, OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR GENERAL ELECTION THAT TAKES PLACE, UM, NOVEMBER OF EVERY EVEN YEAR.
SO THIS IS A GENERAL ELECTION THAT'S WE'RE APPROACHING HERE IN NOVEMBER.
THEN WE HAVE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL ELECTIONS THAT HAPPEN OH, MAY, YES, MAY OR NOVEMBER OF ODD YEAR.
SO TO MY POINT, ELECTIONS ARE ALWAYS HAPPENING.
SO WE JUST HAD A PRIMARY, UM, YOU HAVE YOUR JOINT ELECTIONS THAT HAPPENED MAY, UM, ANNUALLY.
SO THOSE ARE TYPICALLY WITH OUR LOCAL ENTITIES, ISDS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT COULD BE CALLED AS NEEDED.
SO YOU COULD SKIP THROUGH THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES 'CAUSE I KNOW IT WAS, AND THEN PRIOR TO WRAPPING IT UP AND OPENING THE FLOOR, UM, I JUST WANTED TO END ON HERE.
THIS IS A ILLUSTRATION OF OUR VOTER TURNOUT BY AGE GROUP.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST HIGHLIGHTING HOW DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS ARE VOTING, UM, TO THE 45 TO 64-YEAR-OLD.
UM, DEMOGRAPHIC IS CURRENTLY OUR HIGHEST VOTING DEMOGRAPHIC HERE IN DALLAS COUNTY.
UM, THIS, THIS DATA WAS PULLED FROM JANUARY, 2020 FIRST THROUGH JUNE OF 2024.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST LIKE AN INTERESTING NOTE TO LEAVE ON.
CAN I OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR DO I, UM, YES.
SO MS. DADE, WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO, UH, BRIEF US.
UM, THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD THIS VOTER EDUCATION, UH, DISCUSSION AND, UH, IT REALLY HELPED US GAIN VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO NOT ONLY ACCESSIBLE VOTING METHODS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO HELPED US GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR RIGHTS AS VOTERS IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
UM, I'M GOING TO, I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND THEN I'M GOING TO CALL ON EACH COMMISSIONER FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO MAKE THEIR QUESTIONS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE, UM, THE MAIL-IN VOTING SYSTEM.
SO YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED, UM, AND SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU'D BE ABLE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE ON WHAT THAT ASSISTANCE ENTAILS.
SO FOR THE MAIL-IN VOTER VOTING, DOES THAT PERSON, UM, FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR THAT VOTER AND THEN, UM, TAKES IT TO THE POST OFFICE OR, UM, OR DOES THAT PERSON WHO'S, YOU KNOW, FULLY TRAINED AND CERTIFIED ON THE A DA DO IT AND THEN, UH, THEY, UH, THEY GIVE IT TO THE, THE VOTER TO DO IT THEMSELVES.
SO AN ASSISTANT WHEN COMPLETING THE MAIL
[01:00:01]
BALLOT APPLICATION, THEY WOULD, THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN THE PRESENCE OF THE VOTER.UM, SO IT'S NOT FOR SOMEONE TO COMPLETE ON THE VOTER'S BE BEHALF NOT IN THEIR PRESENCE.
THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE VOTER AND THEY ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT APPLICATION, UM, AS LONG AGAIN, AS LONG AS THE VOTER IS PRESENT.
UM, AND THERE'S A SECTION, I BELIEVE IT'S SECTION SIX ON THAT APPLICATION IN WHICH THE ASSISTANT WILL ACTUALLY LISTS THEIR NAME AS AN ASSISTANT AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE VOTER.
AND THEN THAT ASSISTANT IS THEN ABLE TO, UM, DROP OFF THAT APPLICATION IF THEY NEED TO AT THE POST OFFICE IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RECEIVED BY OUR DEPARTMENT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, MA'AM, IT CERTAINLY DOES.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
I'M NOW GOING TO CALL ON EACH COMMISSIONER, UH, FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER REVY, DISTRICT ONE, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
UM, NEXT IS COMMISSIONER, UH, STARLET RAMIREZ, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POEY, DISTRICT EIGHT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO ASK? YES, MA'AM.
JUST ONE QUESTION FIRST, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WHEN YOU MENTIONED, UM, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE, UH, BE MENTALLY INCAPACITATED AND CANNOT VOTE, WHAT ARE THE MEASURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT THEM FROM ANYONE ELSE USING THEIR INFORMATION AND, AND VOTER FRAUD? SORRY.
SO IN TERMS OF VOTER FRAUD, THAT'S WHAT THAT CHECK-IN STATION IS REALLY THERE FOR.
SO I DON'T WANNA SAY THE MISCONCEPTION, BUT IT'S ALMOST AS A MISCONCEPTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO CHECK IN AND YOU HAVE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT WE'RE READING THE INFORMATION ON YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, BUT THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE IS REALLY THERE.
WE'RE REFERENCING YOUR PICTURE TO MAKING SURE THAT THE ID THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING IS THE PERSON WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE VERIFYING COMES FROM OUR VOTER REGISTRATION, UM, DATABASE, WHICH IS WITHIN THAT CHECKLIST, OR I'M SORRY, THAT CHECK-IN STATION, UM, EPO BOOK IS WHAT IT'S CALLED.
IT'S LIKE A LITTLE TABLET, WHICH CONTAINS ALL THE VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
SO FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MENTALLY INCAPACITATED AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THAT'S WHERE THAT SECURITY IS KIND OF IN PLACE.
WE'RE REFERENCING OUR DATABASE AND WE'RE REFERENCING THE ID THAT'S PROVIDED TO US TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE AS A VOTER.
AND THEN THAT SYSTEM IS ALSO, IF SOMEONE IS CHECKING IN, THAT SYSTEM IS ALSO CONFIRMING THAT THEY'VE CHECKED IN AND THAT THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A BALLOT.
SO PEOPLE ARE NOT ALSO VOTING TWICE UNDERNEATH SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME.
SO THAT'S HOW WE PREVENT VOTER FRAUD.
UM, NEXT IS COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO ASK? I DO.
I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND, UH, OVER THE YEARS WHERE EVERYTHING'S POPPING AROUND OVER THE YEARS, UH, I HAVE NEEDED TO SIT WHEN I VOTE.
UM, WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE STATIONS THAT ALLOW YOU TO SIT ARE EITHER ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE ROOM WHERE EVERYBODY'S WALKING BACK AND FORTH, OR THEY'RE RIGHT BY THE EXITS WHERE YOU BASICALLY, YOU GET NO PRIVACY MORE THAN ONCE.
I HAVE GOTTEN UP AND WE MOVED SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE I HAD TO STAND JUST TO GET PRIVACY, AND IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATIONS WHERE A PERSON CAN SIT TO VOTE ARE PROTECTED.
NO, THAT'S, THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW UNLESS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE LIKE YOU WHO BRINGS THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
SO THOSE A DA, UM, AREAS ARE ACCESSIBLE.
AREAS THAT ARE SET UP IN THE VOTE CENTER.
THERE, THERE IS A, WE DO ADVISE HOW THOSE ARE SET UP.
SO THOSE ARE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE SET UP, UM, WHERE THE VOTING MACHINE IS FACING THE WALL TO PROTECT YOUR VOTE.
UM, SO THAT'S FEEDBACK THAT I COULD TAKE, UM, TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CHECKING THAT.
UM, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE A DA ACCESSIBLE MACHINES ARE CLOSER TO THE ENTRANCE, UM, VERSUS TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT DINNER.
UM, ANOTHER OPTION IS AS WELL, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
CURBSIDE BOATING, UM, IS ALSO A WAY TO, IT'S OF COURSE, IT'S YOUR DECISION, BUT THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER OPTION, UM, THAT WE COULD EXERCISE AS WELL.
BUT I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT FEEDBACK.
[01:05:01]
I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I KNOW WHERE IT WOULD HELP IN SOME INSTANCES, BUT THERE IS ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT IT DOES FACE THE WALL, BUT IT'S THE LAST THING AT THE EXIT HALL, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE BUMPING YOUR CHAIR, WALKING BY, STANDING THERE TO CHAT, ALL KINDS OF THINGS, AND NOBODY STOPS 'EM.SO IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN JUST, IT'S FACING THE WALL.
NO, AND THAT'S, AND SO IS THIS A PARTICULAR VOTE CENTER THAT YOU, THAT'S THE CONVENIENT VOTE CENTER TO YOU, IS THAT CORRECT? OR IS THIS A IT IS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, UM, MS. WHITE IS PROBABLY FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT BOAT CENTER IS, SO FOR NOVEMBER WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF.
AND AS FAR AS, AS FAR AS CURBSIDE, I KNOW I CAN DO THAT.
I'VE VOTED AT EVERY MAJOR ELECTION SINCE I TURNED 21, AND I GO INSIDE TO VOTE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER NANCY ERMAN, DISTRICT 11.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU WISH TO ASK? SHE'S CURRENTLY HERE.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, MA'AM.
I HAVE BEEN USING CURBSIDE VOTING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND I DO COMMEND THE FRE PARK AREA THAT I VOTE IN IN NORTH DALLAS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT DOWN SO PERFECTLY, THEY COME RIGHT TO YOUR CAR.
AND IT CERTAINLY MAKES ME FEEL THAT I AM PART OF MY AMERICAN DUTY.
I, I LOVE HEARING THAT, AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO CARRY THAT FEEDBACK BACK.
A LOT OF OUR JUDGES, THEY ACTUALLY, A LOT OF THEM GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THE CURBSIDE IS, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS A PROCESS WE HAD TO KIND OF WORK OUT
SO A LOT OF THEM GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROCESS IS AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK, MS. NANCY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER IMMERMAN.
AND LASTLY, WE GO TO COMMISSIONER STEVEN HUSHKA FROM DISTRICT 13.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS YOU WISH TO ASK? NO QUESTIONS.
UM, IN THAT CASE THEN, UM, WE SINCERELY WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU ONCE AGAIN, MISS DATE FOR DEVOTING YOUR TIME AND GIVING THIS PRESENTATION TO US.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT TIME, HOPEFULLY LIKEWISE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT PRESENTER ON THE AGENDA.
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE EMPLOYERS THAT INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR WORKFORCE, BUT IT IS ALSO A TIME WHERE WE EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT ISSUES PERTAINING TO EMPLOYMENT AND THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
TODAY WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE THE CHAIR OF EMPLOYABILITY DALLAS, MICHAEL ADA, HE WILL PRESENT ON EMPLOYABILITY AND THEIR UPCOMING CAREER EXPO 2024.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I NOW WELCOME MR. AVA TO THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, KANI AND, AND, UH, COMMISSION, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE, UH, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, IT FEELS, UH, IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING, UH, TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU AND, AND SPEAKING, UH, I, I WAS, I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD, UH, WOULD COME.
UH, THE REASON BEING IS A LOT OF OUR HISTORY AND, AND WHERE WE COME FROM AS A, AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION STARTS HERE, HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND I'M, I'M EXCITED TO, TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND, AND WHAT OUR GOALS ARE AND, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE, THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT, THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY CREATED SUCH A COMMISSION, UH, THAT, UH, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, CAN DO SO MUCH FOR THE, FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS AND FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS.
AND, UH, AGAIN, NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH IS, IS SO CRITICAL.
AND IT'S JUST ONE THAT, THAT THIS, UH, ON THE ONLY MONTH THAT WE REALLY DIG IN DEEP AND, AND REALLY TRY TO, UH, CREATE AWARENESS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, AGAIN, SO, UH, BUT JUST AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION THAT, THAT WAS CREATED BY THE MAYOR, MAYOR JOHNSON
[01:10:01]
AND, AND HIS TEAM.AND, AND JUST TO KNOW THAT, UH, IT, IT, IT ACTUALLY, IT ACTUALLY, UH, UH, TOOK PLACE AND, AND, AND WE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH, WITH OUR GOAL TO, TO, TO CREATE THIS COMMISSION FOR THE, FOR THOSE THAT HERE IN DALLAS.
AND IT ALL STARTED WITH MAYOR JACK WILSON.
UH, WE, THE EMPLOYABILITY, OUR, OUR OUR OUR COM, UH, COMMITTEE STARTED OUT, UH, WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS IN 1982, UH, BY MAYOR JACK WILSON, WHERE HE WANTED TO, TO CONNECT WITH OTHER, DEPART OTHER BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT DALLAS, UH, TO, TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF HIRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND IT ALL STARTED OUT AS JUST A, JUST AN ASK, JUST AN ASK OF, OF, OF BUSINESS LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER, UH, AS A, AS A COLLECTIVE AND WORK TOGETHER TO, TO, UH, TO SERVE AS A RESOURCES, UH, FOR, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WHO, WHO MAY NEED SOME, UH, SUPPORT AND, AND, AND, AND WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND, AND BEING HIRED.
UH, AND SO WE, WE, UH, AGAIN, OUR GOALS WAS, WAS TO PROMOTE THE HIRING OF, OF, OF, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND, AND AS MAYOR JACK WILSON TRANSITIONED OUT AND, AND OTHER MAYORS CAME THROUGH, UM, WE, WE SLOWLY TRANSITIONED OVER FROM THE DALLAS MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
PARDON ME FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO EASILY FOLLOW ALONG, IF YOU COULD PLEASE SAY NEXT SLIDE, THAT WOULD HELP US GREATLY.
SO, UH, AGAIN, JUST TO, JUST TO, UH, FOLLOW ON, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THERE'S A MA A PICTURE OF THE MAYOR HERE THAT THIS WAS THE DAY THAT THE PICTURE, IF YOU LOOK, UH, IF YOU NOTICE THAT THE, THE PICTURE HAS THE, THE MAYOR, UH, OF DALLAS, THE CURRENT MAYOR, UM, WHERE WE, WE, WE CONNECTED.
AND THIS WAS, UH, JUST JUST TO, TO, TO CREATE SOME OUTREACH FOR, FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING AND THOSE THAT, THAT, THAT JUST NEED SOME SUPPORT AND, AND CONNECTING WITH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AT AND T AND, AND LINUX AND, AND, UH, UH, HOME DEPOT AND LOWE'S.
UH, BUT THEY NEEDED A VOICE AND THEY NEEDED SOME, SOME ADVOCACY.
SO, SO THAT'S WHAT THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, PLEASE? WE'RE ON SLIDE THREE.
AND SO, OUR, OUR, UH, COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF, OF 2020 BOARD MEMBERS, AND THESE BOARD MEMBERS ARE HR PROFESSIONALS.
SOME OF THEM SERVE IN, IN, IN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ROLES.
SOME OF US SERVE AS CONSULTANTS AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE, WE LIKE TO DO AS, AS PROFESSIONALS, IT, IT, THESE ARE VOLUNTEER, UH, PROFESSIONALS THAT COME TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH, UH, TO COLLABORATE AND, AND, UH, WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO, UH, SUPPORT THOSE, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE LOOKING TO WORK, UM, AND DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
AND SO WE, WE WORK WITH, UH, BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE PARKLAND HOSPITAL, SOUTH UT SOUTHWESTERN PARKLAND, UH, YOU KNOW, NORTH PARKLAND SOUTH, UH, QUIS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
MANY OF THESE, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE, ARE KEY PLAYERS IN THE, IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, WE WORK WITH THEM TO, TO COME TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH, ONCE A YEAR IN OCTOBER TO CELEBRATE THE NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, UH, COME TOGETHER FOR A CAREER FAIR WHERE, UH, IT'S FREE FOR ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S, UH, YOU COME AND, AND, AND JUST REALLY MEET, UH, DALLAS CITIZENS WHO, WHO WOULD LIKE TO WORK, UH, FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND, UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE, UH, 20 MEMBERS THAT, THAT, AGAIN, ARE ALL VOLUNTEER MEMBERS.
IT'S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND, UH, IT, THIS IS OUR FLAGSHIP EVENT.
IT'S A CAREER EXPO THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, UH, EVERY YEAR.
UH, THE ONLY TIME THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO DO SO SINCE, SINCE THIS STARTED IN 1982, WAS DURING COVID.
THERE WAS A TWO YEAR TIME PERIOD WHERE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO, TO PUT THIS, UH, CAREER FAIR TOGETHER.
UH, WE, WE PUT TOGETHER A SMALL ONE AFTER COVID.
UM, IT WAS A LITTLE SMALL, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
UM, WE'RE HOPING TO CONNECT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AGAIN, SO WE COULD, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, REFURBISH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE, UH, COMMUNICATION AND THE COOPERATION THAT WE HAD BACK IN 1982.
UH, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF DALLAS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED.
AND SO, UH, THIS IS WHY I'M HERE.
UH, AGAIN, UH, WANTED TO GO BACK TO OUR ROOTS, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT ALL STARTED.
AND SO, UH, ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER ONCE A YEAR, UH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, CAN, CAN, CAN JUST, HOPEFULLY IT'LL MULTIPLY AND, AND, UH, WE CAN MAGNIFY, UH, UH, THE NEED FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO, TO REACH OUT AND, UH, SUPPORT THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS A, UH, UH, ONE OF OUR, ONE OF OUR, UH, UH, JOB, JOB CAREER.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, PARTICIPANTS WHO, WHO CAME TO THE CAREER FAIR WAS HIRED ON THE SPOT.
[01:15:01]
CASADA.AND AGAIN, UH, THIS WAS ONE OF, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE FOUND WAS THAT THERE, THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANNA WORK.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANNA BRING ON THAT WANNA HIRE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOYAL, THAT THAT'LL COME TO WORK EVERY DAY, THAT'LL WORK HARD.
AND SO, PD CASA WAS, WAS, WAS ONE OF THESE, UH, PARTICIPANTS WHO WAS HIRED ON THE SPOT THERE AT THE, THE, UH, THE CAREER FAIR.
SO THIS IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE.
UH, IT'S A WIN FOR PD, WIN FOR LOWE'S, AND A WIN FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, IF, IF YOU COULD, COULD YOU PLEASE, UH, PLAY THE VIDEO THAT, THAT I SUBMITTED, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
AND THIS WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A SNAPSHOT OF, OF, OF, UH, OUR MOST RECENT CAREER FAIR THAT WE PUT ON.
ARE WE ABLE TO HEAR THAT? OH, OKAY.
SO I GUESS THERE'S NO AUDIO ON THIS ONE.
ALRIGHT, WELL, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE, UH, THE, THE ONE OF THE, UH, BUSINESS LEADERS, UH, HERE IN DALLAS THAT, THAT, UH, THAT, UH, PARTICIPATED IN.
AND SO HE WANTED TO, TO GO ON THE RECORD ON, ON HOW, UH, EMPLOYABILITY DALLAS, UH, WORKED WITH HIM AND HIS ORGANIZATION TO, TO, UH, FIGURE OUT WAYS TO, UH, UH, REVI REINVIGORATE THEIR, THEIR HIRING PROCESS AND SCREENING PROCESS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
I'M A SENIOR GROUP, HERE WE GO.
ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE IN THIS, UH, WORLD HAVE A DISABILITY THAT CAN CHANGE FOR ANY ONE OF US AT THE BLINK OF A EYE.
I WORK AT BANK OF AMERICA, UH, I'M A SENIOR GROUP OPERATIONS MANAGER THROUGHOUT THE ENTERPRISE, WE HIRE ABOUT 400 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WE ABSOLUTELY USE EMPLOYABILITY AS A WAY TO ATTRACT GOOD TALENT.
EMPLOYABILITY IS LIKE A CO-OP OF BUSINESSES WHO ARE ALL DRIVEN TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
50 MEDIUM TO LARGE EMPLOYERS THROUGHOUT THE DFW MARKET, THEY COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A CAREER FAIR.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY A HIRING EVENT, BUT IT'S ALSO A JOB TRAINING EVENT.
WE DO MOCK INTERVIEWS VIA SERVICE ATTENDEES FROM GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TO PEOPLE APPROACHING THE END OF THEIR CAREER.
IF I COULD SUM UP EMPLOYABILITY IN ONE SINGLE WORD, IT'D BE HOPE.
GOING TO A EXPO WHERE KNOWINGLY BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING TO HIRE PEOPLE LIKE THEM, IT GIVES THEM HOPE THAT THEY CAN HAVE A FUTURE, BE INDEPENDENT BY UTILIZING EMPLOYABILITY, IT'LL CHANGE THE WAY THAT YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR HIRING PROCESS.
YOU WILL NOT ONLY AFFECT THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU HIRE, BUT YOU'LL ALSO AFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTED THEM.
THAT MAKES YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY JUST A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
AND, UM, YES, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THAT, THAT, AGAIN, THAT VIDEO JUST SUMS IT UP, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE, THE, OUR, OUR DALLAS BUSINESS LEADERS THAT, THAT WE WORK WITH.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, COMING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES FOR HIRING, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? AND WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN CONNECT WITH OUR RECRUITERS AND OUR TALENT ACQUISITION TEAMS, AND THEN CONNECTING THEM TO OUR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICES THAT, THAT SERVE IN THOSE SAME BUSINESSES.
I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE TODAY, UH, AND THAT WE LOOK AT DURING THESE CAREER EXPOS IS WORKING, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING WITH OUR BUSINESS LEADERS AND, AND OUR, OUR RECRUITERS DURING THESE EVENTS TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES FOR SCREENING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES, UH, STARTS THERE.
IT STARTS WITH TRAINING, SPECIFICALLY THOSE RECRUITERS THAT ARE ANSWERING THE PHONES AND, AND HAVING THAT HAVE QUESTIONS FROM, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY, UH, ACCESSIBILITY, UH, PARKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT COULD, COULD, UH, HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE HAVING, GETTING TO WORK OR, OR CAN THEY WORK FROM HOME? AND I, WE, WE FOUND THAT, THAT THE, THE PRIMARY BARRIER IS THAT FIRST CONVERSATION WITH, UM, UH, UH, A DALLAS CITIZEN THAT IT, THAT IS DISABLED, BUT WANTS TO WORK AT THEIR ORGANIZATION.
WHAT DOES THAT CONVERSATION LOOK LIKE? SO, COMING TOGETHER AND BRINGING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER AND TALKING ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHAT IS, WHAT IS CAUSING THAT APPLICATION TO STOP HERE? HOW CAN WE GET THAT APPLICATION ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HIRING MANAGER AND SO THEY CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION? AND THAT'S WHERE, AND THAT, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THE, THE, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THOSE, THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE, YOU KNOW, OVER 75% OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS LED TO A, LED TO A JOB.
AND ALL IT TOOK WAS JUST TO GET 'EM TO THAT CONVERSATION TO THE HIRING MANAGER.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, IT STOPS RIGHT THERE AT THE, IN THE QUEUE, IN THE APPLICATION, UH, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST SITTING THERE
[01:20:01]
AND SCREENING, OR THEY'RE SITTING THERE IN, IN THE APPLICATION MODE, AND IT NEVER GETS TO THE HIRING MANAGER.AND SO WE, WE TALK ABOUT, UH, WAYS TO, TO ALLEVIATE THAT AND, AND HOW WE CAN, WE CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN TALKING TO SOMEONE THAT HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND ABOUT WORKING IN AN ORGANIZATION, BUT I HAVE THIS ELEMENT, OR I, I CAN'T DO THIS, BUT I CAN DO THIS.
AND SO HOW CAN WE TARGET THOSE ABILITIES THAT THEY CAN DO? AND SOME OF THOSE, THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL PROVIDE IF WE JUST ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
A LOT OF THESE, A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF, UH, THE, THE CALLERS OR A LOT OF THOSE, UH, INTERESTED IN WORKING IN ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY HAVE THE, THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
THEY JUST NEED TO TALK TO A MANAGER.
THEY JUST NEED TO GET THEIR APPLICATION TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
AND SO, WHAT WE FOUND WAS, AGAIN, OUR EDUCATION SERIES IS CRITICAL.
WE WORK TOGETHER WITH, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEST HIRING PRACTICE, SUCH AS AT AND T OR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.
THEY HAVE AN AMAZING, UH, HIRING AND SCREENING PROCESSES.
AND WE, WE LIKE TO SHARE THEIR PROCESSES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BAYLOR, LIKE UT SOUTHWESTERN, WHERE SOME OF THEIR OUT PRACTICE, SOME OF THEIR SCREENING PROCESS WERE, WERE OUTDATED.
AND SO CONNECTING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO, TO, UH, WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL AND, AND, AND BEING WILLING TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION FOR THE, FOR, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A, THERE'S A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING PEOPLE, UH, AND SCREENING, UM, UH, CANDIDATES THAT, THAT APPLY ONLINE, THAT TAKE THE TIME TO BRING AN APPLICATION TO YOU.
IT, I THINK IT'S A, AGAIN, IT'S OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW THAT AT LEAST, AND GIVE THEM SOME, SOME WAYS TO, UH, IF, IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED, HOW CAN WE GET 'EM QUALIFIED? AND SO THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE, WE, WE TALK ABOUT AND, AND TRY TO ANSWER DURING THESE, UH, EDUCATION SERIES.
AGAIN, AND, AND, UH, CONNECTING AGAIN.
UH, HOW, HOW WE, UH, HOW, HOW, HOW WE CONNECT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AGAIN, IT'S A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A, AS A HR PROFESSIONAL, MYSELF, I WORK AT UT SOUTHWESTERN.
I SERVE AS AN EMPLOYEE RELATIONS CONSULTANT, AND I WORK WITH BUSINESS, UH, YOU KNOW, HIRING MANAGERS ON A DAILY BASIS.
I WORK WITH A RECRUITING TEAM.
AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS REALLY FOSTER A FOSTER SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND, AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS AN ORGANIZATION OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM OR, OR HAVING A PROGRAM WHERE WE, UH, OR HAVING A, HAVING A TEAM GO OUT TO A, A HIRING CAREER FAIR THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THERE HAS TO BE MORE, AND THAT MEANS ENGAGING CIVICALLY WITH, WITH OUR, OUR COMMISSIONERS LIKE YOURSELVES AND WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS, AND TRYING TO SPREAD THE WORD ON, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, STRENGTHEN OUR SOCIAL FABRIC OF, OF THE, THE, OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, MANY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY WORK AND COMMUTE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND SO HAVING THE, THE DALLAS' COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES COLLABORATION, HAVING THEIR SUPPORT, UH, WE BELIEVE CAN FOSTER, UH, PARTNERSHIPS WITH ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SO THEY CAN GET THE WORD OUT THERE AND THEY CAN, UH, UH, FIND WAYS TO STIMULATE THEIR HIRING PROCESSES AND THEIR SCREENING PROCESSES.
UM, AGAIN, UH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, UH, TO ME IS, IS IS GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS AS, AS NOT ONLY AS CITIZENS, BUT AS BUSINESS LEADERS.
UH, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY PERSON THAT APPLIES ONLINE IS ENTITLED TO, TO HAVE THEIR, THEIR APPLICATION REVIEWED, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE QUALIFIED OR NOT.
I THINK IF THEY TOOK THE TIME TO APPLY FOR A POSITION, UH, ALL, ALL, ALL, UH, ALL OF THE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THEM SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO.
AND SO JUST REALLY WANTED TO, TO, TO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UH, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN, UH, UH, PROVIDE FOR, FOR, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO CONNECT WITH COMPANIES.
AND THAT'S THE BIG GAP WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WE CAN, WE, WE HAVE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO DO IT, BUT HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH THOSE THAT NEED A JOB? AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UH, TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT THERE TO HELP US CONNECT WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLING YOU, OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN CALLING YOU SAYING THEY'RE NOT GETTING HIRED.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UH, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ADVOCATES OUT THERE THAT WANNA HELP THEM.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES, AGAIN, WE, WE DON'T GET TO SEE THAT TRENCH LEVEL EMPLOYEE, UH, PERSON THAT NEEDS A JOB.
UM, WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHO NEEDS THE SUPPORT ALSO.
AND AGAIN, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND, AND JUST TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU.
UH, AND, AND HOPEFULLY, UH, AGAIN, WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE CITY OF DALLAS' SUPPORT AND THE MAYOR'S, UH, OFFICE OF SUPPORT, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN, UH, LET THOSE, LET THE DALLAS CITIZEN KNOWS THAT DALLAS CITIZENS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ADVOCATES OUT THERE.
WE, THAT THERE'S, THERE'S RESOURCES OUT HERE THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
[01:25:01]
REACHING OUT TO THEM AND, AND, AND, UH, GETTING THEM TO THEM.UH, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 160 PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT ON THE 8TH OF OCTOBER.
HOPEFULLY, THE COMMISSION OF THE COMMISSION CAN, SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMISSION CAN ACTUALLY BE THERE, UH, TO DISCUSS WHAT, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DO FOR, FOR THEM.
UH, I'M SURE THEY'LL BE VERY INTERESTED.
AND, AND, UH, THOSE THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT, UH, ARE GONNA BE PARTICIPATING, IF YOU CAN COME UP AND ALSO SPEAK DURING THAT TIME JUST TO, UH, JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE A COMMISSION FOR THEM.
UM, AND, UH, YES, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. ELA, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PRESENT TO US ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
I REALLY APPRECIATED HOW YOU HAVE INCORPORATED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND, UM, AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH ARE TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS THAT OFTEN GET IGNORED.
UM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING.
UM, I WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE QUESTIONS STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER GARY V.
UH, COMMISSIONER STARLET RAMIREZ, DISTRICT SIX.
ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A FLYER ABOUT THE JOB FAIR THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY? YES, MA'AM.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION, MR. RAMIREZ.
I, I, I CAN SHARE THAT, UH, WITH, WITH YOU AND THE COMMISSION.
UM, NEXT IS COMMISSIONER CHRISTINA POEY, DISTRICT EIGHT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE REALLY QUICKLY.
I'M READING IT ALTOGETHER FOR TIME MANAGEMENT.
UM, NUMBER ONE, UH, WE HAD THE DATE FOR THE EMPLOYABILITY JOB FAIR, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
NUMBER TWO, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME MAJOR CONGLOMERATE CORPORATIONS, BUT WHAT I DIDN'T SEE WAS, UH, POSSIBLY AN INVITATION TO OPEN UP TO EITHER DALLAS COLLEGE UNC DALLAS, OR EVEN OUR DALLAS ISD SCHOOLS FOR THEIR 18 PLUS STUDENTS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING WITH DISABILITIES TO INVITE THOSE STUDENTS TO BUST THEM IN.
BECAUSE THEN, UH, LAST YEAR, MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER REVY ATTENDED, UM, AND PROVIDED A TABLECLOTH TO THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THESE CORPORATIONS KNOW THAT WE EXIST TO SUPPORT THEM.
AND THEN NUMBER THREE, I DON'T SEE THAT Y'ALL HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD TO POSSIBLY HAVE PARENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, TO HAVE SOME INSIGHT AND INPUT IN REFERENCE TO THOSE SAID POSITIONS AND THESE CORPORATIONS.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UH, TO, TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, THE, THE, UH, JOB FAIR WILL, WILL BEGIN AT 10 O'CLOCK AND WE'LL END AT 2:00 PM AND, UH, WE DID REACH OUT.
UH, THE SECOND QUESTION YOU HAD WAS ABOUT THE, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
UH, WE DID REACH OUT TO, UH, UNT DALLAS.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, THE DALLAS COLLEGES, UH, BUT WE DIDN'T, UH, RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
UH, SO, BUT, UH, I'D, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF, IF, IF THERE'S A WAY THAT YOU COULD ASSIST US IN CONNECTING WITH THEM, I WOULD LOVE TO, TO HAVE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
MAYBE, UH, IF WE HAD YOUR, UH, SUPPORT, MAYBE THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO, TO, TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, BUT WE DID REACH OUT TO THEM IN, UH, ACTUALLY WE REACHED OUT TO THEM IN, IN, IN EARLY JULY AND AUGUST TO SEE IF THERE WAS A, A, A WAY FOR THEM TO ATTEND.
AND SO WE COULD SET UP A ROOM WHERE WE COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE FOCUS JUST ON, ON THAT PARTICULAR GROUP.
UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT SPECIFIC POPULATION, WE WANTED TO DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE, PROVIDE THEM WITH A RESUME, CRITIQUE, ANY TYPE OF RESUME WRITING TOOLS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE, UH, AVAILABLE.
SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP YOU WITH THAT.
AND NOT TO, UM, TAKE AWAY OR SAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN DISMISSED BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE GET HUNDREDS OF EMAILS A DAY.
BUT FOR YOUR CONTACT AT UNT DALLAS WOULD BE MRS. CYNTHIA SUAREZ, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF DISABILITY SERVICES.
AND, UM, DR. HERNANDEZ IS THE NEW PRESIDENT AT, BECAUSE DALLAS COLLEGE HAS SEVEN THE CAMPUSES.
SO, UM, HE WAS PREVIOUSLY AT UNC DALLAS.
I WOULD DEFINITELY BE REACHING OUT TO HIM AND GET YOUR INFORMATION TO CC YOU ON THAT EMAIL.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
THAT, THAT REALLY HELPED A LOT.
HOPEFULLY, UH, WE CAN HAVE YOU.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WHITE, DISTRICT NINE.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU WISH TO ASK? I DO NOT.
AND FINALLY, COMMISSIONER STEVEN HUSHKA, DISTRICT 13.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, UM, WE, OH, YES.
I THINK MS. UH, MS. SUAREZ HAS A QUESTION.
HI, I AM CINDY SUAREZ, AND I'M FROM UNT DALLAS, SO I WAS INTERESTED IN GETTING THE INFORMATION SO I CAN SHARE IT WITH OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
I WOULD LOVE TO, TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
WHO WOULD, I, WOULD I, WOULD I REACH OUT TO YOU? EXCUSE ME.
[01:30:02]
WE KINDLY ASK THAT YOU PLEASE KEEP YOUR VIDEO ON IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OUR MEETING AND STAY.I'D LOVE TO, TO TO CONNECT WITH YOU AFTER THIS, AND I COULD, UH, IF I COULD HAVE YOUR, UH, INFORMATION, I WOULD, I WOULD DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO YOU AND, AND, UH, UH, MAYBE SET UP A TIME TO MEET WITH YOU SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE LOGISTIC YOU LISTED.
DO YOU WANT ME TO GIVE IT TO YOU THROUGH THE CHAT OR HOW YES, THAT'D BE GREAT, PLEASE.
UM, ONCE AGAIN, MR. CODO, WE WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR DEVOTING YOUR TIME AND GIVING, UH, THIS INSIGHTFUL AND ENGAGING PRESENTATION TO US.
AND BEST OF LUCK WITH ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
UH, BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE ADJOURNMENT, WHICH IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
LAST WEEK FROM SEPTEMBER 23RD THROUGH 29, 2024 WAS DEAF AWARENESS WEEK, WHERE WE RECOGNIZED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY TO OUR SOCIETY.
UM, I DO HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING GIVEN THAT COMMISSIONER WHITE HAS LEFT, WHICH, UM, MEANS THAT WE HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS REMAINING.
AND IN ORDER TO HAVE QUORUM, WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST SIX INDIVIDUALS PRESENT.
SO AT THIS TIME, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING BE ADJOURNED.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
UM, SO I WILL REPEAT MY MOTION.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN OUR SPECIAL CALL MEETING AS OF NOW.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NONE.
THE MEETING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORDS, THE TIME THIS MEETING WAS ADJOURNED IS 3:47 PM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THE COMMISSION.