City of Chandler Council Meeting 1/11/24

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good evening and welcome to the January
11th city council meeting
Chandler uh we want to welcome all of
our guests we've got a a short consent
agenda the election of a vice mayor a
briefing from our police and then
unscheduled that that we'll be listening
as long as we need to uh as many that
wants to speak at that time this point
I'd like to caller meeting to order and
clerk please take the role mayor Harkey
here vice mayor Orlando here council
member enenas pres council member Ellis
president council member Stewart here
council member Harris here council
member Poston here we have a quorum
thank you so much we indication will be
led this evening by Reverend Steve Foss
from First Baptist Church and our Pledge
of Allegiance by council member and
Cenas
Reverend would you join me in prayer
please
heavenly father who is able to approach
your throne who can stand before you
those adopted through your grace join me
in approaching you our hands are clean
and our hearts made pure only by the
atoning work of your son upon calvary's
cross we pray for right thinking across
our land we lift before you our mayor
and City officials and in particular
this assembled
Council we are asking that you grant
them wisdom to govern amid the
conflicting interests and issues of our
times a sense of the welfare and true
needs of our people a keen thirst for
justice and rightness confidence in what
is good and fitting that all corruption
would be exposed any duplicity be met
with transparency any liees met with
truth the ability to work together in
harmony even when there is honest
disagreement we pray father for personal
peace in their lives and joy in their
tasks of governing
we pray for the agenda set before them
tonight please give this counsel an
assurance of what would benefit those
who live and work in and around Chandler
that every decision would be in support
of the Sacred efforts of citizens to
safeguard life liberty and the pursuit
of happiness in the name of our Savior
Jesus Christ amen amen thank you please
join me in presiding the Pledge of
Allegiance
I pledge Al to the flag of the United
States of America and to the Republic
for which it stands one nation under God
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all thank you
Reverend thank you council
member Council we uh had opportunity to
look at the consent agenda and uh pull
items for for reports on
Monday uh unless anyone would like any
item pulled to action a motion would be
in
order council member Stewart I'd like to
make a motion to approve the consent
agenda of January 11 2024 regular
meeting items 1 to 21 mayor I like to
Second all right we've got a a motion by
council member Stewart a second by
council member Ellen
any recusals reasons to not vote seeing
none Council please
vote motion carries
unanimously all right thank you Council
our next on our agenda is the election
of a vice mayor and uh I'm going to make
a motion and we'll see where it goes but
just out of respect to my other senior
member on Council I would like to uh I
would like to make a motion that uh
council member Stewart is is uh has
opportunity to serve in this place is
there a second I will second mayor all
right we have a motion and a second
Council uh please
vote motion fails um four to three okay
council is there a motion from the floor
May council member Inus yes I move um to
nominate um council member OD Harris um
to elect him as vice mayor of the city
council with a term beginning January 12
2024 ending January 9th
2025 mayor I would like to second that
motion council member Ellice we have a a
motion and a second for council member
Harris Council please
vote
um
motion um motion passes um six five to
two council member Stuart years will be
as a
no okay thank you congratulations
council member
Parris all
[Applause]
right next on our agenda is a briefing
by our our Chandler Police Department on
teen violence I would like to read a
comment before assistant police chief
Melissa Deandra comes on up and shares a
report with
us so what first got me involved in
Civic leadership was a murder that
happened on the sidewalk right next to
the church where I continue to serve a
mile east of here on
mqueen a 15-year-old wakan boy was
riding his bicycle to work early in the
morning and and he was murdered as part
of a gang
initiation wrong place wrong time this
happened decades ago in the 90s when we
had uh a pretty intensive gang situation
and problem on the east side of our city
this was about the same time and the
same circumstances that led to the of
Henry Selena starting uh an organization
called Ian Henry was a good friend of
mine I went to a council meeting and
said that this was unacceptable in our
community and I was unimpressed by the
seemingly lack of action on behalf of my
city at that time what I did learn was
that the city was active and in due time
arrested those responsible it just
seemed to take so long to me who had
witnessed this murder and was advocating
uh for a family I ended up doing uh the
equivalent of a GoFundMe back then
before social media and you had to open
an account in a bank and get news media
interested to help you and uh raised
enough money to um ship his body back to
where most of his family was back in
Mexico arrests were
made and while today no City including
Chandler is impervious to violence we do
stand lock step with our community
against these egregious acts of violence
against indifference nonchalance and
paity as mayor and Council we condemn
teen violence and have a zero tolerance
policy the fear and tailor and and
Terror being created by this group of
teens or any is unacceptable in our
community incidents of teen violence
require a collective active action to
make it stop and to hold those involved
accountable our police police and City
are in close contact with our community
our neighboring cities and will continue
to be so do so incidents of teen
violence in Chandler will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the wall of the
law and we will say here that not in our
city and it is just as much our
responsibility as schools as police and
uh I am not going to stand before you
nor will these council members and say
oh it happened someplace else because
teen violence concerns us all and
regardless if it happens in a school or
on a street corner this is something
that is unacceptable in each in all of
our
communities resources are committed to
prevent investigate and prosecute any
such crimes in Chandler and if we learn
of new resources uh whether that would
be tonight or in other conversations we
will we will continue to add to our
repertoire of the same we're looking at
at listening events we're certainly in
communication with our neighboring
cities and we believe that working
together as a community with our police
we ensure the safety of our teens and of
our family I encourage each of us and
this will show up later on a screen that
to report teen violence incidents in
Chandler to our Chandler Police
Department posting information on social
media is
is not a substitute for contacting our
police call or text 911 to report
emergencies caller text 48078
24130 to report non-emergency incidents
anonymous tips including images and
video can be submitted online to our
Chandler police anonymous tips can be
shared by calling 480 782
444 as well so with that I'd like to
call up our police chief our acting
police chief give us a report on teen
violence uh in our community and Council
let's let her give a report and any
questions that you might have or
comments that you might make the floor
will be yours Chief good evening mayor
and councel thank you for the
opportunity to be here tonight to speak
to you about teen violence members of
our community have shared concern about
re the recent surge of Youth violence in
the Southeast Valley
the Chandler Police Department
acknowledges those concerns and we stand
committed to ensuring the safety of our
residents and we condemn any form of
violence in response to the heightened
concerns we have diligently reviewed
prior investigations with reported teen
violence in our city while we have not
identified any cases in Chandler
involving teen violence that can be
directly linked to the Gilbert goons we
remain Vigilant and committed to
addressing any matters which compromise
the safety of our community specifically
our youth I want to assure you that any
acts of violence will not be tolerated
and every report made to our department
concerning a criminal offense is treated
with the utmost
seriousness our commitment to safety
extends Beyond chanler as we actively
collaborate with other law enforcement
partners and we will continue to provide
support and resources to Aid in their
ongoing
investigations recently we joined a
working group of East Valley agencies
led by Gilbert PD focused on Gathering
Intelligence on individuals who are
employing gang style tactics to commit
crime furthermore we are a part of the
East Valley Fusion Center which is
another mechanism used to exchange
information and streamline crime
fighting efforts within the East Valley
recognizing the importance of teen
safety I would like to encourage parents
to initiate open conversations with
their teens about safety the risks of
social media and the prompt report rep
in of incidents should they occur the
Chandler Police Department remains
committed to providing proactive
educational initiatives within the
school curriculum our Focus encompasses
topics such as anti-bullying violence
deterrence responsible social media
usage and gang prevention recently
Council approved school resource officer
contracts for the next three years
assigning an officer in all of our
Junior High and high schools throughout
our city
Additionally the Chandler Unified School
District has a dedicated tip line called
speak up for safety available to
students where they can uh call email or
text
information in response to Growing
concerns surrounding teen violence we
have taken additional steps to reinforce
these messages by ensuring our school
resource officers are actively
reemphasizing these critical lessons
during their contacts by adopting a
comprehensive educational strategy we
aim to empower our youth with the
Knowledge and Skills essential for
navigating challenges that they may
encounter but to also feel safe to
report a crime additionally we have
increased our Patrol presence in areas
that are prone to larger gatherings I
assure you the safety of our community
is is of utmost our utmost priority and
any form of violence will not be
tolerated thank you
wow
let me search to my left and we'll work
this way um comments or questions thank
you mayor
um could you tell me what technically
constitutes a gang I've been reading a
lot about that lately and and I know you
had very careful wording thank you very
much for the presentation we really
appreciate this yeah so basically uh in
order to be classified or uh labeled as
a gang it would be three or more persons
that are engaging in some type of
criminal activity to further their
street gain so that's what it could be
anything related to violence um any type
of financial gain anything such as those
matters uh that would would be
constituting it okay thank you and thank
you for the presentation thanks
mayor council member Harris vice mayor
first yes um thank you mayor um just
wanted to make a couple of comments I
think this is befitting as we head into
the MLK weekend and I would not be who I
am if I just didn't say this MLK said
Injustice anywhere is a threat to
Justice everywhere and there was a lot
of Injustice and I know that as a
community we're going to continue to
work through these painful moments where
we can show Unity but it is a collective
effort from everyone it's us starting at
home it's us educating our children it's
us understanding that we can disagree
we're all going to disagree at one point
but being respectful and how we and how
we handle our disagreements is what our
children should know and what we should
teach at our home you know being being
surrounded around character letting them
know when you speaking loud and you're
being nasty towards people that has
that's a reflection on your character
let's make sure that when you leave the
home you are a reflection of of what
we're trying to build around you and at
times parents feel disappointed if their
children does go way work but I just
want to share this if your child do goes
way work just know leave it in God's
hands because you're going to have to
pray and they're going to have to um
they're going to have to come to to a
road in with life and um and I and so
again I'm just praying for the prestent
Lloyd family all the supporters and
remembering what MLK stand for this
weekend and we done this and we've we
can do better and we're going to
continue to do it so again thank you for
everyone that's coming out to support
and those that's going to have words
this is what it's all about and I stand
with you guys and I hope you know that
we stand with you thank you
mayor council member yeah thank you
mayor you know I think I just want to
hear from from my neighbors and what
their thoughts are and and what we can
do uh here in Chandler and and thank you
chief for for stepping up and uh and for
the for the words and we are we
are we feel for Preston's family and U
we we we'll move
forward Council
steart wrong C related no worry thank
you mayor and thank you for those words
mayor I do remember some of those issues
you talked about I mean when Henry came
before us and I can and thank you for
bringing us back because that was a
motivating effort for all of us um you
know uh I said to you earlier some of
you in the audience some of you I worked
with some of you I know for years um
Chandler's um always leaning forward and
we'll continue doing this you know local
government is if you look at all the
levels of government we're the most
trusted government and there's a reason
for that because we do have that bond
with you coming into this audience
telling us how you feel getting the
phone call somebody those 2 o'clock in
the morning but there that's all right
we'll leave after another time but we
get those phone calls and we make sure
we we solve your problems whether it's
Street issue or issue like this but you
know I always say this to my fellow uh
council members throughout the valley at
the state where when nationally is you
know um when one Community is successful
we all successful f one Community hurts
we all hurt and one Community demands
Justice we all want to demand justice so
I just want to share with you tonight
that you know Chandler stands with you
uh we will you've heard some of the
programs we're doing and quite Frank we
just got a briefing just before this
meeting of additional programs that
we're going to be rolling out in our
school system as well as our Public
Safety so um we can't set we can't uh
stop now we got to keep moving forward
and making sure we educate our
individuals out there and are the right
things to do so we're with you and we'll
stand by
you that's my
[Applause]
real thank you mayor Chief thank you so
much for this brief in and I wanted to
bring to your attention also chief that
next month February it's going to be tin
violence month and I have been appointed
by the mayor now for over four years
over at to mag domestic violence board
and currently I have just been appointed
as the chair uh co-chair of that um mag
board the one thing that I know that we
Thrive there to do is to make sure that
we bring awareness as a psych nurse I
wouldn't leave here tonight without
impressing on every single one of you to
not wait to react when these things
happen but rather to be Pro proactively
working on those things not only with
your own children but those other kids
that are in the community as a mother
I'm sitting here tonight and I just
can't
imagine what Preston's parents are going
through I lost my son two and a half
years ago and that's something that not
any parents would like to go
through I'm reaching out to every single
one of you when you leave here tonight
let's not forget about what we have
spoken here
take it with you back to your community
to your
neighborhood you as as a parent when
those children come into your
home open your doors if you see that
they do not have that at home and you
are capable of putting a a word into
them to Enlighten them to help them
become better people please do that
because we are one community and the
village that we talked about that it
takes a village it does take a village
and every single one of us tonight can
say that maybe we could have stopped
this if we had done something
differently or if we had said something
differently and so I'm taking
responsibility for my part as you have
elected me to sit here to be that voice
tonight I want to reconfirm that that I
will do everything in my power sitting
at mag starting with next month having a
proclamation for Te violence that's
going to say that we will not tolerate
it we will educate and we will be that
person who's going to stand in the Gap
and stop it thank you again for being
here tonight thank you
Chief council member andas thank you
mayor um Chief thank you so much for
this update um first off I do want to
send my sincere sympathy to Preston Lord
and his family my condolences to them
secondly I stand with the words of our
mayor and our continued commitment here
in Chandler to keep not only our
residents safe but our neighboring
Community safe and anyone who visits
here in the city of Chand that they are
safe here as well and lastly to you
community members all of you wearing
orange are here being in support today I
thank you so much for your guys's time
for your guys's effort for bringing this
awareness forward it means a lot and it
makes a big difference and lastly I just
want to leave everyone with a very
simple childhood rule that I live by is
if you see something you say something
and that means a lot more today more
than ever and it can make a big
difference so I thank you guys all so
much for being here tonight with us
thank
[Applause]
you Chief unless you have any final
words to say I think we're briefing is
over uh thank you thank
you Council next on our agenda tonight
is unscheduled public appearances which
many if not all people are here for
that uh when we have unscheduled public
appearances because this is not part of
the agenda we can listen to you we can
take notes we can address the city
manager in terms of uh look into this
but we cannot directly have a dialogue
with you because of public meeting law I
have one card that is not related to
teen uh to teen violence the one guy not
wearing orange in here so uh so we're
gonna let him talk first absolutely all
right uh we have Pastor Victor
Hardy I think someone would should slap
a ribbon on that
guy uh as with the rest of you uh once
you come to the the mic uh please state
your name and address for the record you
have up to three minutes to share your
comments the green light will be on for
about two and a half minutes the yellow
is about 30 seconds and then red uh red
means stop just like the L like traffic
so please wrap up your comments if you
have not done so by then Pastor Hardy
thank
you Pastor Victor
Hardy um 2220 East Spruce
try um I'm the pastor of the
Congregational Church of the
Valley there's a movie out right now
about man named Rustin who was the
architect of the march in
Washington really good
film the first scene that you have in
the movie is of an African American
woman sitting at a
counter
waiting for someone to feed
her as she's sitting
there there is
ketchup poured upon her
head that is my Aunt Barbara
she said at a counter
morning just to eat and someone came
over and poured ketchup upon her
head I am angry and I'm mad that I have
to stand here and talk about Dr Martin
Luther King Jr on a c of like vigil and
yet I get people slamming doors in my
face because they don't want to have
anything to do with it or as a black man
they see trouble
coming I'm sorry for Mr Preston but my
anger goes to the community that
understands that they should have done
something before it happened now and we
should have been standing beside our
children we stand here with our people
we stand because of history and that's
the reason why we're
here I get tired of having people tell
me that economic Al I'm not
important I get tired of people telling
me that I'm no longer visible to the
wrecked eye or to our
community it has nothing to do with you
city but it has to do with our
community in this
room I the only African-American here
sitting out
there and there are days that people say
things to me that no one should be able
to say to
anybody
tired I'm
frustrated on the 14th we'll have a
candlelight visual that's why I didn't
take a candle from you whomever tried to
give me one because my light shines from
the beginning of the time that I've been
here in Chandler since the end of time
today that my light shines for each and
every each and every young person who's
ever been here and I know this is the
first time that I've ever showed my
frustration to the city or to anybody
else I understand that this is the first
time that you've ever heard me speak
this way because today is the day that I
tell you that that young man should not
have died but we should have been behind
all of our young people and we should
have stood up for our community all of
us together as
one but we
didn't
I'm
[Applause]
sorry I have one comment card that's
Anonymous although I'll read it um and
if I say it wrong I apologize I'm I'm
here having a little problem just
reading some of the words so I'll put
that on me not you of all the council
members how many of you are concerned
for your and your family's safety from
these Gilbert goons so a
question our first Speaker card and
again uh you have up to three minutes
state your name and address when you
come up is uh Zena I apologize if I
mispronounce your name
PRI
Zena again please state your name and
address for the record is it right here
yes ma okay thanks I'm have my in my
heart here um my name is zanaa
panovski um my address is 3612 East San
Carlos place is excuse me one minute is
the clock running thank you
Dan and um I'd like to say thank you
City council members and mayor heartkey
for allowing me to speak this evening U
my name is Zena panowski um we've been
living here for 13 years I'm a mother
and I am also a teacher so I'm always
trying to teach that kindness up from
the from the young children uh I come
before you this evening for you to be
aware that our community is watching and
the East Valley is
watching this entire state is watching
and your response to you youth violence
in our community has the ability to set
the standards for all the communities
that are
watching I'd like to thank you for your
increased safety patrols and thank you
for communicating your commitment to the
citizens of Chandler to make us safe um
and I also encourage our fellow
community members to take walks in your
neighborhoods as I do every evening uh
keep the Chandler police emergency
number handy at any time um whenever
I've called they always felt comfortable
reporting anything that you might see
it's 480 as they've said before 782
4130 and let us show those that are
watching that Chandler cares we really
care Chandler is a community that does
not tolerate any violence and let us all
cooperate to bring Justice for Preston
Lord and his family those that have been
affected by these crimes and the crimes
that have hurt the people thank you
thank
you the next speaker is Bridget via
Bridget all right we'll go we'll come
back to
her uh all right
Bridget
please state your name and address
you've got three minutes to share your
thoughts Bridget bega 137 East Elliot
Road number 325 Gilbert Arizona 852 9
good evening mayor and Town
Council I am Bridget a mother a mental
health and human trafficking prevention
Advocate change begins with awareness
when does it
stop justice starts with us when each
and every single one of us have the
courage to stop looking away and turning
a blind eye you don't get to look the
other way on this issue an innocent Soul
a child was brutally murdered pressed
and lorded it could have been any one of
our children what if it was your child
what if it was someone you knew together
we must rise for the children when you
say am I a part of the problem when you
face that mirror and start holding
people
accountable I am concerned as suicide
rates have skyrocketed sextortion drug
trafficking drug use including alcohol
Vapes within with weed and Fentanyl on
Elementary and high school campuses and
sexual assault as stated by the County
Attorney based on Superior Courts most
recent stats show that the number of
crimes committed by Miners and weapons
has increased by five times more from
2022 to 2017 that's including all
categories possession murder aggravated
assault I would like to partner and help
connect departments school
districts to nonprofits such as red
light Rebellion that's boots on the
ground with the youth leading prevention
addressing physical emotional spiritual
health and the importance of digital
safety and resilience so we can get a
prevention program implemented at the
schools community and all town
government officials this will be the
next step to eradicate teen violence and
stop allowing the abusers to continue to
perpetuate intentional ition of
emotional distress on the youth and the
community due to senseless acts of
violence adverse childhood experiences
are the lead contributor to senseless
acts of violence and gangstalking
tactics that we're witnessing in the
community and Across the Nation please
remember the children are watching and
your silence is deafening as we were
told to wait for a thorough
investigation the children go to school
feeling unsafe unseen unheard and cannot
even be children while they Wonder as
life goes is on where's the Justice
who's protecting us as they live in
survival mode using coping mechanisms
the children are in communities every
day cross pass with the teens who
continue to get away with assaults and
murder it's more than a hashtag it's a
child's life to the youth those that
reported but were silence you are
courageous I'm sorry for everything
you've endured I pray for healing
strength and protection as God continues
to bring the stories to light please
know we're here for you you are enough
your voice matters we see you we hear
you we stand by you I love you be an
upstander continue to keep the Lord the
Jenkins Stevens the AAS family and all
the youth in your prayers we have no
future if you don't protect the children
we have a duty to protect the innocent
if not that blood is on our hands thank
you for your time I pray over the
partnership so we can grow and build a
safer and stronger Community together
thank
[Applause]
you Cassandra
Irwin
Cassandra please state your name and
address for the
record can you hear me okay yes all
right I'm Cassandra Irwin 9801 West Gold
Dust Drive Queen Creek
85142 mayor and Council thank you for
having us today my name is Cassandra
Irwin from Queen Creek Arizona I'm a
mother of three children who are
students of Chandler Unified School
District District by choice we open
enrolled after reading of CD's
Merit as we know the Chandler School
District's Hub is within City Limits
however Chandler schools are as far
reaching as Gilbert and Queen Creek
children living as far west as auki and
as far east as Santan Valley um attend
Chandler schools the regional reach is
evident which is why it's never been
more important to partner with the city
of Chandler on integrating a convergent
program for cities schools residents and
children to stand unified in behaviors
supporting that of an upstanding
citizen a child's connection to their
parent and Community creates
confidence a confident child is a
thriving student a thriving friend and a
thriving
athlete a thriving student friend and
athlete has a growth mindset and makes
connection with others they're often
magnetic these very children grow up to
be the adults who call our City's home
and then the recycle
repeats my ask is for the city of
Chandler along with the Chandler scho
Unified School District con to consider
spearheading the unified upstander
initiative being first is not new to the
city of
Chandler this initiative will frontload
our community with cons consistent
messaging tools programs literature
focus groups and events within the
schools and within our community the
upstander initiative will have an
actionable plan suitable for each area
of our Collective Community when they
say it takes a village to raise our
children you are that V Village Chandler
your schools are that Village your
Coalition in the East Valley region is a
significant part of that Village be the
leader be the change be the upstander
Chandler thank you for your
consideration this
evening thank
[Applause]
you our next speaker is Patricia Evans
Patricia I'm
sorry welcome and please state your name
and address forur the record good
evening and thank you for giving me an
opportunity my name is Patricia Evans I
live at 4673 East Cherry Hills Drive
chantler Sun grov I'm here to talk about
uh organized gangstalking and I'm been
gang stock been doing this St who was
ever doing I don't know who's doing it
and I'm being El stocked as well and
it's been going on since 2018 it's got
worst where people go in front of my
house with loud noises I've had three of
my LGE plants destroyed and wherever I
go to Macy's or fries they follow me
there taking pictures I've had my uh my
husband's uh car slash tires slash my
car slash and scratched up as far as the
gangstalking that's when five to 10
people follow you everywhere you go and
when I talk to my daughter about it
she's a professor at the University of
Michigan he said the online stock and
been on online forever and I didn't know
to so happened to me me and then I
noticed this start happened to me in
2018 I don't know who put my hand my
name on the list as a suspect terrorist
I can barely walk I'm 75 years old and I
would like to know what is a city of
Chandler and a city of I mean the police
department is doing about organized
gangstalking and I need help because I'm
being harassed every day in air stalking
with helicopters and airplanes if I go
to fin to visit a friend a helicopter
follow me there here everywhere I go if
I go to a doctor my doctor's office
people are follow me everywhere I go and
air stocking as well so i' like to know
what what the police department can do
about
that I don't know if anyone heard about
organized gang stock whether it's five
20 people follow you everywhere you
go it's
online city manager can you please have
police um just get with Miss Evans and
and look at her uh concerns yes sir
thank you and I got some information on
if you'd like to have it could you you
hand that to our city manager then that
would be great than or to Matt
berdick thank you Mrs Evans
oh well this is the young lady that
breaks it down
okay thank
you thank you any questions we can't
engage you okay thank
you our next speaker is
Nikki
canel Nikki
welcome please state your name and
address you have up to three minutes to
share your thoughts and concerns my name
is Nikki Connelly and I'm a Chandler
resident 810 East Cherrywood place I've
been here 12 years um I apologize if
some of this is repetitive but I was at
the Gilbert city council meeting my son
was a victim of a jumping here in
Chandler in um November of November 19th
of 2022 he was at the Chandler Mall with
uh some friends two girls and a boy
and they were walking uh they were
walking towards the movies and a group
of kids kind of started harassing them
they said leave us alone leave us alone
we're going to the movies and it didn't
stop and they realized it started to
escalate and my son screamed at his
friends to run he got punched in the
side of the head and was taken down to
the ground he couldn't run fast enough
they got him by a shirt at that time A
car pulled around it was over by BJ's
bar and grill pulled around a bunch of
kids jumped out and started stomping him
in his head his
back violently he tried to stand up got
kicked in the face got kicked back down
he's a big kid he's a tough kid he's a
football player uh he knew how to defend
himself so he got down on the ground and
um just held his hands and over and his
elbows over his handed neck so they
couldn't get his head so mostly they
were able to get his back in his elbows
and so um it was a traumatic experience
for him somebody on the BJ's patio
called
911 and uh the boys scattered and
somebody screamed over you know over
there and the bo scattered so uh the
police called my husband and I down we
filed a police report at that time um
the police when we were having our
discussion they said to me um this
happens here all the time they jump kids
and they scatter and I was at the time I
was so upset for him and for our
situation I didn't think much of that I
support our Police Department I know
that they have a tough tough job and
it's hard to follow up on all the cases
that they get but there was at that time
not much they could do so they sent us
home with a bruised and battered kid uh
we tried to get some answers at that
time we talked to the police department
several times there was a video and they
um I see my lights here there was a
video they couldn't get it for us we
paid for it we never heard back from
them so we just decided to move on so
just an incidence here in Chandler that
I think is important for everybody to
know about that it just doesn't happen
in some other cities it happens here
thank
you city manager I would certainly love
to know the I I I've heard of this case
but in terms of the the comment that
this is comment or other things I think
Council would like to know a lot more
about that so thank you Council thank
you uh city manager can we look into
like what type of C what type of CCV TV
we have at the uh at the mall and then
if there's other opportunities for us to
partner with the mall to be able to make
sure that's secure area thank you mayor
real
quick yeah do we we have our substation
there too don't
we um mayor members of council we we do
have an officer that is assigned to the
mall and we also have a direct video
connection with the mall through an
established partnership where we can
patch into their camera system okay yeah
let's get some like more information on
what that uh that Duty station is and if
we need to beef that up
thank you our next speaker is Melissa um
sabon
Melissa please state your name and
address and you have three minutes to
share um for the sake of privacy I
that's fine we don't want okay uh my
name is Melissa Santi um good evening um
I lived in Chandler for the past 13
years I am the stepmother of Preston
Lord and if you're not familiar with
Preston he was brutally attacked at a
Halloween party on October 28th of last
year which resulted in his death he
recently celebrated turning 16 years old
when this horrendous act and devastating
loss occurred this tragedy abruptly
altered our lives
forever this has been a nightmare that
we have endured for the past 75 days
without
resolution Preston's death is a
high-profile investigation case Preston
is more than a
headline he is the
son sorry
he was a son a brother and a
friend I read through my tears now um
Preston was an upstanding young
man while no number of words can fully
describe him I will list some of his
attributes to help you get to know who
he was he was a junior at comes High
School although he did live with us in
Chandler um a member of the basketball
and golf team he was very academic and
he received the
2023 president's education award from
the US Secretary of Education
additionally he was a leader of the
Honor Society and involved with student
council Preston was content and
appreciative of anything that was given
or done for him he was loyal respectful
truth trustworthy and responsible he had
empathy for children and was gentle and
kind he stood up for the weaker person
and he knew the difference between right
and wrong he inspired many people to be
better and to do better and now that you
know what an extraordinary person
Preston was let's discuss why I'm here
tonight Preston's death was impacted not
only not only the Chandler Community but
the entire East Valley
at the Halloween party that Preston
attended there was teenagers from Mesa
Queen Creek Santan Valley Gilbert
Chandler and Alis hooki many residents
including myself were concerned about
safety and the presence of teen violence
and bullying in our
community our children are sent to
school to get an education and to
prepare them to be an upstanding and
contributing member of society when
children are
afraid okay that didn't go uh afraid of
their lives this is a grave concern we
should not be afraid in our own
communities the grassroot campaign being
an upstander and not a bystander if you
know something say something was
initiated by Katie mcferson and
supported by the Lord family I want
Chandler and all the schools in Chandler
to be led by this campaign we will
provide kids necessary to begin it will
be a slow process but together we do
better
this campaign consists of promoting and
educating youth on teen violence and
bullying the goal is to decrease the
incidents of these acts both in and out
of the school Arena initiate mandatory
education sessions in school and provide
resources for families and
counselors our goal is to keep our
children safe the devastating loss of
person's life was due to unnecessary
violence our child will never be coming
home
and we need to prevent this from ever
happening
again empowering Our Youth and building
their self-confidence worth and value
will support their Outlook in life and
give them the courage to stand up to
bullying we would love this campaign to
be impressed in honor thank you for
considering this
request
[Applause]
city manager can you make sure we get a
copy of this program thank
you Stephanie
jigan my name is Stephanie jigan and I
would not like to give my address if
that's
okay I'm a longtime Chandler resident
and Mom to three children ranging in age
from 12 to 20 in late December 2022 my
son who was 16 at the time was a victim
of a gang style attack at the SanTan
mall in and out in Gilbert it was around
dinner time on a Thursday night and he
was simply waiting to meet up with a
friend while listening to music outside
his car A large group of boys approached
him and told him to give them money when
he said no one of them said he would
just take his car at that moment my son
turned his back to them to get in his
car and was struck in the skull with
brass
knuckles he immediately felt blood
gushing down his head and back but was
able to get in his car and leave to get
help the ER Doctor Who treated him said
that had the injury been a few inches
lower it could have resulted in cervical
vertebrae damage causing lifelong
paralysis or even death we immediately
filed a police report with Gilbert
Police and once two suspect ects were
identified a couple weeks later of press
charges the arrest was a result of teen
upstanders who witnessed the attack and
shared information the main attacker was
prosecuted and sent us in juvenile court
the other one had his charges dropped
when we learned of the murder of Preston
Lord our hearts sank the circumstances
sound sounded all too familiar could
some of these same boys who never were
brought to Justice in our case have been
involved in this attack I afraid to know
the answer but I do know we were told by
Gilbert Police that our case was not an
isolated incident and they had responded
to several reports of brass knuckle
incidents in the prior month at that in
andout
alone they said the victims had all been
reluctant to press charges we know
police cannot do their jobs without
victim's cooperation and the support of
witnesses brave enough to come forward
with evidence that is
critical since October 30th there has
not been one day that goes goes by that
I do not think of Preston Lord and his
family and how close we came to
experiencing their
heartbreak that is why I'm here speaking
today I have faith that our Chandler
leaders can be part of this solution to
the escalation and teen violence we're
experiencing in the East Valley here are
some actionable items idea actionable
ideas for your
consideration one convene a regional
task force to show that Queen Creek
Gilbert and Chandler are all
collaborating together and making this
top priority I realize Gilbert recently
created a subcommittee on teen violence
but what is truly needed is a broader
Regional approach that incorporates
teens law enforcement mental health
experts parents victims and anyone who
can bring good ideas to the table
without getting bogged down by
governmental red tape no
offense none
ticket we ABS number two we absolutely
have to work with our state lawmakers to
ensure brass knuckles aren't easily
available to purchase online or in Smoke
smoke shops that's a no-brainer as a
supporter of the Second Amendment I can
think of No Good Reason brass knuckles
even exist my son who was very similar
to Preston great great student straight
A student wonderful athlete awesome
human being he wrote to our state
legislators over the summer with this
request and he was met mostly with
silence number three listen what you are
doing tonight is part of the healing
process and I thank you for this
opportunity as concerned victims parents
we are incredibly encouraged by the
support of our community and leaders
like mayor Harkey Chandler city council
and the Chandler Police Department who
have not only expressed empathy to us
but also pledged to find Solutions and
ensure that these Brazen dangerous teen
and adult criminals will be held
accountable for their actions including
taking the life of preton Lord thank
you
Bill
Conley start the clock yet my friend I
gotta blow the nose Whoa man I'm
bad uh can you hear me okay we can
please state your name and address yes
sir Bill Conley Co Ley I live um 600
yards south of the Gilbert Police
Station um my time is short I'm gonna
I'm just going to make it
happen
Pastor I don't know where you
are but my heart goes out sorry my heart
goes out to you all of us feel for you
we'll never know what you feel and
there's nothing that we can say to make
it better but I'll just say this you
have made a huge impact on my life and
you've given me things to think about
and you have reminded me of things and
for that I'm never grateful I'm
sincerely sorry of the pain that you and
your friends and your family go through
it's unacceptable and I know all of us
will do what we can to help
you Melissa wow just
wow wow just wow girl you're impressive
and it wasn't because you gave me
directions and showed me how to get in
this place I didn't know who you were
you you are impressive am I can you guys
hear me okay we can hear you you are
impressive iive and I am blown
away what
else preson
Mom oh my God
I listen my daughter is
16 she is similar to Preston as well she
goes to high
school about two miles north of where
Preston was murdered
in her history
class one of the suspects in the case is
in her
class
today okay nothing like what you're
going through but we're scared today
okay who else we
got okay I I'll remember in a minute I'm
gonna love on you guys if you're
okay man uh you guys are impressive I
cannot believe the difference between
these two City councils I'm not gonna
[Applause]
right hey I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
rail on on gibert city council but I can
tell you that we're pretty darn
jelly man you guys are awesome if I
would have had time we're g to go around
I was going to get Knuckles from you but
after the pastor I just no forget that
I'm almost out of time okay can't
believe it uh
listen can I get three more minutes no
I'm just hey you guys are so impressive
I cannot thank you enough um man we are
all moved and I cannot believe the
difference in two city councils and what
we wouldn't give to have you in our city
thank you for your
[Applause]
time
Lisa
elar
Lisa Lisa if you're comfortable please
state your name and address for the
record and you have three
minutes thank you Lisa aler 2300 Street
appreciate the opportunity to talk
tonight um as a Chandler resident and a
parent of a young adult that attended
Chandler schools I have witnessed the
work in the that the city and the school
district District have put end to the
mental and emotional health of our youth
as well as ensuring their safety I
applaud the efforts that have been made
but with the recent events that have
unfolded it's clear that more needs to
be done Chandler Gilbert and Queen Creek
are separated by invisible boundaries
but this is not their problem it's our
problem the schools businesses and
community members are all intertwined
which is why all three cities need to
partner together to address these acts
of violence
and put a stop to it the victims and
their families deserve justice and our
youth deserve to feel safe if we as a
community sit back and do nothing we
become bystanders I've seen the comments
from the community as videos are shared
stating how can kids Stand By and Watch
or how can they just video this and do
nothing well if the residents the city
officials Educators and courts don't
Hound down conse consquences sending the
message that this type of violence will
not be tolerated then we too are just
bystanders it's proven that this type of
destructive Behavior will only escalate
if not swiftly addressed which has
already been
proven this not only continues to be a
threat to our youth but our community as
well I'm in support of Chandler creating
a team violence subcommittee to partner
with our neighboring cities and
addressing this before we are wrapped up
in the stronghold
of the group or groups committing these
senseless acts of violence we as adults
need to walk the walk we can't expect
our kids to do as we say and not as we
do they're watching all of this unfold
and they're paying attention it's time
to be an upstander and not a bystander
I'm extremely proud to be a Chandler
resident and I believe that Chandler's
participation with our neighboring
cities will begin Paving the way for a
safer Community for all thank you thank
you Lisa
our next speaker is Ben Andress
[Music]
Ben state your name and address and you
have three minutes sir my name is Ben
Andress um I'm a husband and a dad and I
have three kids one of whom my oldest
actually attends Weinberg Academy but
we're residents at
Gilbert uh two boys seven and eight and
I have a baby girl who's nine months old
um fortunately my boys are not yet of
the age where I have to be concerned
about them getting beaten to death by
their peers but within a couple of years
uh they will be and I hope that by that
time we can say that as a community
we've been able to get in front of this
teen violence
issue the thing about the uptake we've
seen in youth violence is that it
doesn't only affect teens it affects all
of us as we've seen here tonight uh it's
affects us in more subtle but very very
real ways I want to share a quick story
about something that happened in my own
neighborhood this past Halloween it's a
different story than the one that we've
all heard and fortunately this is a
story with a better
outcome I live in Morrison Ranch Warner
Groves uh is a neighborhood that's
frequented by the so-called goons um
we've seen them rip through our green
belts and our sidewalks on their
motorbikes but they really haven't
caused too much problem up until this
point on Halloween night though a group
of teens rode into our neighborhood on
their motorbikes and they lit a partial
stick of dynamite and threw it at my
neighbor and his 12-year-old son while
they were
trick-or-treating uh it was a little bit
later on in the evening is about nine
o'clock or so um the explosion was
massive and they both actually sustained
some minor injuries they were okay but
they had some minor burns on their hands
and their
clothing I have a home security video on
my phone in my pocket of this event
taking place I don't know that anyone is
has seen this video because it hasn't
gone public but those I have shown it to
all react the exact same way they say
holy cow that's insane the explosion was
insane in
video the um I'm told that the the
police report was filed with Gilbert
Police Department but then the the case
was closed a week later due to a lack of
evidence the part that really bothers me
though is that this homeowner the one
who owns these cameras did not want the
video getting out because they were
afraid of
retaliation so so fast forward to
Christmas Eve my wife and I want to go
walk our street and look at uh some
lights with our kids we do this luminary
thing on Christmas Eve and we both
hesitate for a moment because we're a
little bit like man should we do this
and we decided that it would be best if
I carried a firearm just in case and
that is why I'm here tonight I'm here
because arming myself so that I can walk
down my own sidewalk is something I
never would have thought could become a
reality in Gilbert Arizona adult
citizens who are afraid to speak up
against these Wayward adolescents is
something I never would have thought I'd
see in Gilbert Arizona and without
intervention this could also become a
reality and Chandler in Mesa Queen Creek
it already is we need to remedy this
issue quickly before it gets worse and
we need to restore restore safety to our
communities I appreciate the opportunity
to speak thank
[Applause]
you our next speaker is
uh Katie mcferson
Katie mayor esteemed council members um
thanks for allowing me to speak tonight
um I speak for a living um but typically
not on emotional topics so um I think
we're here tonight with a unique
opportunity to lead um Chandler has a
unique opportunity because of maybe not
as much emotion and the ability for you
all to have Clarity around this topic um
as will said um the empathy in this room
is palpable it was not palpable on
Tuesday night in
Gilbert um I became aware of the goons
in December of
2022 um when my dear friend Stephanie
jigan son was um legended with
Knuckles um she called me we discussed
it I helped walk her through sort of the
Justice process that I knew which I'm
not an expert on um but it wasn't until
Preston's death that I realized exactly
what had happened um very quickly
because I do social media responsibility
for a living I was able within about
three or four hours to connect the dots
to a massive amount of children um that
mostly reside in Gilbert but that attend
Chandler UniFi schools one of our
schools in Chandler Unified is Ground
Zero for one of the groups that is in
operation we have three major groups in
operation one of them is part of
Chandler Unified School District tonight
we are sitting in a room with three
mothers who are the ultimate
upstanders you've heard from two who
almost lost their sons to senseless
violence and one who
did the night of October 28th my own
child who is a senior went to a party
after the party that Preston attended
that party became out of control because
of the children from the party that
Preston attended then filtered into this
party that was also in Gilbert off of
Higley and Germaine Road Gilbert police
came to that party walked the perimeter
told the student whose parents were not
in town that she was going to get a
noise ordinance and left
a Chandler Unified School District
employee who is the ultimate mom
upstander came and single-handedly
cleared the party herself yet another
mom upstander and from Chandler we stand
at the intersection tonight of Hope and
Community I'm so grateful for your
listening for the victims and as salant
alike we must act I implore all of us to
join hands in this effort and to do so
with love in our hearts and Minds
additionally because I do social media
responsibility for a living one of the
common denominators that I have found
beyond the fact that parents are not
supervising and monitoring social media
is that these boys do not have male role
models in their life some of them do not
have fathers some of them have absent
fathers some of them have fathers that
are incarcerated some of them have
fathers that are working up the
corporate latter and more important to
them is money than their children so as
the men in the room here in front of me
at the Das and behind me and watching
and anywhere in Chandler Gilbert Queen
Creek and across the valley we need you
now more than ever these boys need our
help our victims need our help thank you
so
[Applause]
much our last speaker card is Elizabeth
Ward Harris
Elizabeth please state your name and if
you're comfortable address for the
record um Elizabeth Ward Harris um not
gonna say our address address is
protected so I but I have been the
chanler resident for about 23 years um
good evening mayor vice mayor and
council members thank you um for letting
me allow me to speak um I wasn't going
to but I was just enhance to speak um
first I want to give U prayers to the
Lord
family family or you are in our prayer
which my deepest condolence to you and
your family um sec I want to just bring
an incident that happened to us back in
2020 of August um July of 2020 my
daughter and her friends my my youngest
daughter we have four our youngest um
attends private school in Chandler
Arizona and they were playing basketball
with some of brother friends at um the
Fox Crossing basketball and they were
bullied and caught racial slurs by some
other little young tis because they were
mad upset that the girls beat the boys
at basketball but luckily one of my
daughter's friends had Maz and she Maz
them because they were getting ready to
fight girls so thank goodness she had
Maz which is a sad that a what 14y old
has to carry around mace in the first
place second thing that happened to me
and my husband on our campaign Trail
when he was the last time hitting
hitting the doors before his election on
Facebook live we had some young boys
three young boys on bikes throw eggs and
drinks at us
so before we start talking about the
police and about Community we need to
talk about the parents yeah parents you
need to wake up and raise your children
stop turning a blind eye that's not my
kid that is your kid it is our parents
job as a responsibility take
responsibility and raise our children
and stop being a blind eye to society
that's not my kid amen the first
teaching comes from home yes ma'am and
shame on the parents yes ma'am take
responsibility shame on parents
absolutely it does not start at school
does not start at church responsibility
start at home with the parents and
teaching and disciplin our children I
was once 16 years old I never done that
our children we do not do that stop
seeing what boys do what girls do that's
not what human beings do right and then
we as humans like Dad used to always say
we sit around and we only care about
things when it affects us let's start
caring when it doesn't affect you
because Preston could have been my son
he was your son he was your son he was
your son he was your son my daughter is
your daughter his daughter everyone's
daughter so then start taking
accountability not just because it is
your son but it's when it was one person
affects one person it affects
everyone we as parents need to wake up
and stop making excuses for bad behavior
it is embarrassing what happened to prid
should have never happened what happened
to my daughter should have never
happened what happened to I was told by
um some constituents that when they knew
I was
coming jir Jenkins who went to the same
school as Preston was shot and killed
two weeks within the same time frame at
the same school 3.0 grade point average
barsy athlete and he was shot killed but
his as salant have been captured when we
need to also talk about him as well
because he died at the same school and
shot and
killed we need to not forget that you
guys again we need to start teaching our
parents our kids at home it doesn't
start with the police in the community
it starts at home talking to your kids
having conversation with your
kids in as we come again as we come up
approach m one thing he said Darkness
cannot drive out Darkness
but light can only do
that the time is always right to do the
right things you
guys the Bible also speaks
about proverbs 226 train up a child in a
way he should
go and depart so when he goes home out
into the world he's doing
good discipline your children yes it
starts at home
discipline your children it starts at
home start having convers with your
children ask about their
day ask them how are they doing was they
bully me and my daughter's conversation
when they were little coming up who did
you play with how would you treated
today and my kids went to private school
their whole entire life but let me tell
you we have our fair share of problems
as well so we as a family Queen Creek
chantler Gilbert T need to all get
together and talk about this problem and
parents and talk about resources
resources is not going to get it it is
disciplined single mothers raise great
children single fathers raise great
children it's more to it than just that
it's about not turning a blind eye and
it's about raising your children the
right correct way get them in church get
them in youth group get them in school
get them in sports and be in their life
and be present sometimes money is not
always the right thing to do sometimes I
taken lower pay cuts to make sure I was
present in my kids life making sure I
was at every game every B basketball
every mommy event every daddy event all
those events my husband too as
well it is our problem is our team as
parents to get together and be present
in our children's life to make a
difference God bless everyone in this
room
amazing so that concludes the uh the
speaker cards that were here tonight the
last item on our agenda is just Council
comments and I'll start I want to repeat
the uh information that I gave at the
end of my opening comments so to repeat
and could you please make sure this is
put up is it up there thank you repeat
team violence incidents in Chandler to
the Chandler Police Department posting
information on social media is not a
substitute for contacting police call or
text 911 to report emergencies call or
text 480- 782 4130 to report
non-emergency
incidents Anonymous chips images and
videos can be submitted online to our
Chandler police anonymous tips can also
be shared by calling 48 782
4440 and uh vice mayor Harris can you
come up with a jingle for that for me
the next time I have to share this I got
you I got you he's my jingle man other
current events uh this weekend we have
our Multicultural Festival that will be
coming downtown you are all invited it's
a part of our celebration of unity
events held each January to honor our
community's heritage and diversity and
this exciting annual event is happening
this Saturday January 13th starting at
11:00 am at Dr AJ Chandler Park it'll go
until 6: PM come en jooy cultural
performances kids activities unique
vendors delicious food come talk to
myself or council members this is our
29th annual event and I hope to see you
all
there next on my announcements is we
have a mayor's HOA Roundtable coming up
next week January 17th I'll be hosting
the annual uh mayor's HOA Roundtable
this free event educates connects and
provides resources for HOA members and
you all are invited to join us January
17 from 4: to 5:30 at the Chandler
Innovation Center which is just south
and a little bit east of us here at this
location we're getting
there my next announcement is the
Chandler International Film Festival I'm
excited to announce that our seventh
annual Chandler International Film
Festival kicks off on Friday January
19th and it'll run through January
28th the international Film Festival
will be showcasing over 120 films
submitted from around the world spanning
six continents and 35 countries this
Festival is dedicated to uniting the
community Through film whether you're a
filmmaker or a casual viewer there's
something there for you come join us on
the red carpet on January 19th and check
out the full schedule of events at
Chandler film festival.com I've got one
more airport day
right
Ryan last but not least our Chandler
Municipal Airport is celebrating their
75th anniversary with our community
openhouse airport day on Saturday
January 20th come join aircraft and
helicopter displays flyovers and food
trucks more information can be found at
the chandleraz.gov
and uh Stephanie love to meet you and
your family there for breakfast again
let's go back to hanger fa council
member
inis thank you mayor just a quick
announcement as we head into the MLK
weekend um obviously it's a day off for
many people but it's also a day of
reflection so I just ask you all to just
take some time open up that history book
read up on a story read it up on a movie
or watch a movie that's going to remind
you on how we actually got here fighting
for civil rights um and take that time
to reflect thank you thank you council
member
ellis happy month and I with that I
yield the rest of my time to the vice
mayor as he will be giving us the um
information about what's coming up with
our mare Awards that's coming up thank
you
mayor council member Orlando thank you
mayor um thank you again and
um I heard you loud and clear tonight we
heard you loud and clear took a lot of
notes as other council members have
we're going to huddle with staff and
we'll come up with some good Solutions
and whoever said it
um uh we have led this Valley in a lot
of things Taylor whether it was grai
removal or solar or recycling or
streets infrastructure whatever it was
we have led the this this uh this Valley
and we'll take up your challenge and
we'll figure out what we could do to
work with our neighbors and uh see what
we can do to make this a much better
Community thank you
[Applause]
council member Stewart thank you vice
mayor
um Melissa Stephanie Ben um those of you
that spoke tonight I'm I'm grateful that
you were able to um share that with me
share that with the rest of Mayor and
Council as well um I feel terrible for
what happened um but I will tell you
this been talking with Katie last week
talking with Stephanie over the phone
with the situation that she was in um
people that know me know that I'm kind
of an activator um trying not to talk a
lot um well they may disagree but I try
not to and try to listen um but you know
we're already talking I'm already
talking with some council members and
Gilbert talking with Jeff Brown in Queen
Creek um and and what you talked about
about bringing people together and
creating consor of folks that can talk
about these things and compare notes not
only is going to happen in our Police
Department it's going to happen at the
council level so we'll get Mesa and
Tempe and we'll sit and we'll talk and
we'll Implement some of these things
that you you're bringing to us because
we're all in this together right we're
all a community and so when you bring
these things to us we can we can
activate and we can we can help and
staff can can help us organize that
thing and we can rise up together and we
can do the things that you're asking us
to do and I'm just grateful that you
brought it Forward because um um I think
many people think we we have the answers
up here we don't you have the answers
and we all have the answers together so
thank you for doing that and I won't say
much more about it but I want you to
know some things are moving forward to
bring that together so that we can make
this happen and end this violence in our
community so thank you but you know on
another note we um our last week our
Police Department did announce we had a
record breaking droping crime rates I
know that doesn't I'm trying to be
mindful of where we are today but I
wanted to commend our police chief who
retired today um Sean Dugen he 10 years
ago he came to this community and uh he
implemented a culture of of service and
of uh has made our Community Pride
prideful in in our in our police
department and I certainly am it is a
safe Community we have Bad actors and we
will take care of those but I wanted to
wish Chief Dugen the very best in his
retirement and and if you see him uh do
the same he's a remarkable remarkable
man so um I I'll I'll pass it on to OD
thank you
heard thank you Mark I do have a
question just for uh our fire chief in
the back I've heard that he's GNA start
volunteering with you is that
[Laughter]
correct inside
jum nice thank you so much uh mayor um
first I wanted to shout my wife out
right there that's that dominant voice
that I have my ear she's passionate she
cares um she loves people and you can
see together we make a great team
because we're we are people that just
love people um you know some of these
things doesn't really even matter you
know because when it gets to the heart
of people that's what we're here to do
and and each one of my colleagues here
from the mayor um and each one of you
guys you guys serve with your heart and
I'm proud to serve with you guys because
it's your heart that moves this thing
forward it's your heart that makes you
want to go and knock on the doors and
and even when you get rejections you
keep going and even when you kind of you
know don't get it right the first time
you get back up again you keep doing it
and so I just kind of want to let you
guys know that I appreciate serving with
you guys because whether we agree or
disagree this is hard work it's not hard
work it's heart work and we do this
because we care above everything and so
I just want to tell the mayor and the
council thank you so much um for serving
with me and also I want to also thank
the mayor and Council for allowing me to
represent as the vice mayor this year I
really do appreciate your support and
whatever I can do to make this this
counil better as a vice mayor I'm here
to do that and I'm here to again just
serve um I want to get into my
announcements um and thanks my wife
she's I love you
honey she's the only thing I look at
every day I love her so much and she
always give me the pep talk that's my
soft place to run and Escape too and
she's always created a Oasis for me and
I'm not saying it because I'm just in
love with her I'm saying it because it
is just the truth and I truly truly love
my wife she's the only one that I've
ever loved this much and I love you
honey well thank
you it's okay y'all can clap for my
wife all right um so I wanted to make a
couple of announcements and thank you to
council member Christine Ellis for
yielding some of her time to me to make
the announcements about what's going to
happen this MLK weekend um so on
tomorrow we will have the Dr Martin
Luther King Jr awards that is going to
be Friday January 12 from 4 at 4: to
5:00 pm is going to be right here in the
council chambers so 4 to 5 we're going
to be here at the council chambers we
want you all to come out and support the
winners of this great award and then
after that from 5:00 pm um to 7 P.M
we're going to have an Afterparty at the
um west alley barbecue so it's going to
be free food there so please come after
you come to the Ws go over there uh to
the west alley barbecue from 5: to 7:
it's going to be amazing and then the
after after party
right um from 7 to 10: there's G to be a
live band there as well so we're going
to be having a good time you know
there's you know that's how we do
there's a party then there's an
afterparty then there's an after after
party that's what we doing so my last
announcement will be Monday is January
15th is MLK Day this time allows us to
reflect on Dr King's life and his legacy
his commitment to justice is a Guiding
Light even today as we continue to
strive for equity and equality for all
Dr King has shaped our understanding of
what it means to stand up for injustices
to speak when you seek change and is the
defining civil rights Defender of Our
Generation we would have been he would
have been 94 years old today in his life
if it wasn't tragically cut short the
city of Chandler has many opportunities
to recognize his life and Legacy
throughout this month so tomorrow
evening from 4 to 5 we will be here in
the council chambers where we will
recognize the winners of Dr MLK award
these award these award honors for um
the accomplishments of Chandler area
residents who contribute signic ific L
to creating a compassionate and socially
just Community through their dedication
to human and civil RS and I'm proud to
have brought this award for this award
program forward to Chandler and I'm
excited to celebrate our winners
tomorrow evening thank
you that's
question well this has been an emotional
evening and you know i' I've talked to a
lot of you out in the audience and
Stephanie thanks for talking talking to
me too I'm a mom as well my boys are 22
and I have a 17-year-old in high school
here at um in Chandler and I don't think
I I don't think the right words exist
for what we all feel for you tonight I
just want to say you know we a lot of
folks are parents on the dis um I I
think we
all I I think you felt the empathy I
think we all have that so all I want to
say is just thank you for being here um
I will do everything I can to work with
this Council to work with the city staff
I know all of this council is going to
take this incredibly seriously we're
going to listen to you we if you have
ideas we we were going to take those
seriously I think council member Stewart
said it very well that you know you all
are part of the solution it's it's not
just and and I loved what you said it's
not just your kid it's all of our kids
all of our kids that one kid is our kid
so
that's how we're going to look at this
issue and um and take it very seriously
so I just want to say thank you again
for being here tonight and thank you
[Applause]
mayor city manager nothing tonight mayor
thank you all right that concludes her
meeting thank you again for being here
I'm sorry may I have the last
word I can't do it at home I know it's
against the law don't tack
me man we are so impressed right and
we've decided that we're going to put
forth a
referendum uh to I'm gonna gabble out of
this and then you can have your
conversation sir sir because this is
yeah thank you the floor is
yours