G. Approve and authorize the District Attorney to transfer funds from within the forfeiture account in the amount of $53,000.00 from SR-DASPEC-OPS EQUIPMENT to SR-DACSPEC-OPS EXPENSES-GEN to cover the cost of legal fees brought on from the SB4 lawsuit against the District Attorney. Bill D. Hicks, District Attorney, District Attorney, 915-546-2059

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring June 12, 2024, as "Women Veterans Day" in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. BUT BEFORE I DO SO, I WANT TO READ INTO THE RECORD A LETTER TO THE EDITOR THAT WAS WRITTEN BY MELISSA HARCROW AND PUBLISHED IN THE EL PASO TIMES THIS WEEKEND, AND IT SAID JUNE 12TH, 1948, IS WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, GIVING WOMEN PERMANENT MILITARY STATUS. HOWEVER, WOMEN COULD NOT COMMAND MEN BE PROMOTED ABOVE COLONEL, AND EACH BRANCH COULD NOT HAVE MORE THAN 2% OF WOMEN. AMONG OTHER RESTRICTIONS. OVER TIME, THE ARMED SERVICES FOUGHT AGAINST REMOVING RESTRICTIONS. THE VA FUNDAMENTALLY DID NOT

[00:20:03]

TREAT WOMEN AS VETERANS AND ARGUED AGAINST REFORMING ITS MEDICAL SYSTEM. THE US CENSUS DID NOT ASK WOMEN THEIR VETERAN STATUS UNTIL 1980. THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION AND BEING MADE TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEIR SERVICE DOES NOT MATTER ARE SOME REASONS WHY WOMEN VETERANS FEEL ISOLATED. THIS IS A BARRIER TO LEARNING ABOUT AND USING BENEFITS. SO UNTIL OUR SERVICE IS EQUAL TO THAT OF MEN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ADVOCACY AND THOSE WORDS. AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT HERE IN THIS COUNTY WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE WE HAVE AN INCLUSIVE FAMILY THAT IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING BEING COMMITTED TO GENDER EQUITY. AND THAT'S WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A WOMEN'S COMMISSION AS WELL. AND ONE MORE THING THAT I WANTED TO DO BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION WAS TO THANK ALEXIS MCRAE FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID ON MY BEHALF, ON THE VETERAN, ON THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD, I DON'T SEE HER HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT I REALLY WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE WITH WHICH SHE ADDRESSED HER ROLE AS MY APPOINTEE TO THAT VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND SHE WAS ALSO THE MOST RECENT CHAIR. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM ALL THE LADIES THAT ARE STANDING UP HERE, IT SAYS, WHEREAS WOMEN HAVE FORMERLY BEEN A PART OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARMY NURSES CORPS IN 1901, BUT HAVE INFORMALLY SERVED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. AND WHEREAS WOMEN HAVE SERVED HONORABLY AND WITH VALOR, INCLUDING DISGUISED AS MALE SOLDIERS DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE CIVIL WAR AS NURSES DURING WORLD WAR ONE AND WORLD WAR TWO, AND AS COMBAT HELICOPTER PILOTS IN AFGHANISTAN. AND WHEREAS. IN 1943, CONGRESS INTRODUCED AND PASSED LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS WAC, WHICH PROVIDED FULL MILITARY STATUS TO WOMEN, AND WHEREAS 75 YEARS AGO, ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN SIGNED THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, ALLOWING WOMEN TO SERVE AS REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, AND IN 2017, IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE DESIGNATED JUNE 12TH AS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY AND WHEREAS, WOMEN HAVE PROUDLY SERVED TO SECURE AND PRESERVE LIBERTY WITH INTEGRITY, DEDICATION, AND RESPECT, WOMEN VETERANS EXPERIENCE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN RECEIVING THE HEALTH CARE SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE. AND WHEREAS WOMEN ARE CURRENTLY AND ALWAYS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VETERAN COMMUNITY IN EL PASO COUNTY, IS PROUD OF AND APPRECIATES THE SERVICES AND SACRIFICES OF WOMEN IN UNIFORM.

AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR THERE IS A SERIES OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE WOMEN VETERANS DAY THAT STARTED WITH A TAKE A WALK IN HER BOOTS FIVE K FUN RUN ON JUNE 9TH AND IS FOLLOWED BY A WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT THE OLD GLORIA CEREMONY, SORRY, OLD GLORY MEMORIAL ON JUNE 12, A WOMEN VETERANS LUNCH HOSTED BY SENATOR CESAR BLANCO ON JUNE 14TH, AND AN EP, TX, WV WOMEN VETERANS DAY EVENT ON JUNE 15TH. AND WHEREAS, AS AN EXAMPLE OF WOMEN VETERAN LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY WAS SHOWN BY ALEXIS MCRAE DURING HER TENURE AS THE VAB WOMEN CHAIRWOMAN AND HER EFFORTS SPEARHEADING THE FIRST WOMEN VETERANS LUNCH IN 2022. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT EL PASO COUNTY DESIGNATES JUNE 12TH AS WOMEN VETERANS RECOGNITION DAY TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF WOMEN VETERANS OF EL PASO COUNTY WHO HAVE SERVED BOTH THOSE STILL LIVING AND THOSE WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THIS COUNTRY. SIGNED THIS 10TH DAY OF JUNE, 2020 FOR THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. TONY WELCOME, JUDGE, WE NEED YOUR VOTE. OKAY NOW, TONY, I'M STILL LOCKED OUT OF MY COMPUTER, SO I VOTE I THANK YOU, THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, ANTOINETTE HUNT, YOUR VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER. I'M ALSO A SERGEANT FIRST CLASS, RETIRED UNITED STATES ARMY. I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THIS RESOLUTION, ALEXIS NORMALLY SPEARHEADS THIS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SHE HAS FAMILY BUSINESS THAT SHE HAD TO ATTEND TO. SO I TOLD HER THAT WE DIDN'T MIND TAKING THE REINS. BUT I WOULD BE AMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S DONE FOR US AND HOW SHE'S PIONEERED THIS PROGRAM AND MADE IT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL AVAILABLE IN THERE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THE RUN WE DID YESTERDAY, ALTHOUGH IT WAS WINDY, WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT AND A LOT OF CAMARADERIE. SO WE'RE READY FOR A WEEK OF FUN FILLED EVENTS, THESE WOMEN ARE MOTHERS AND SISTERS AND DAUGHTERS AND WIVES AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WORK IT IS TO SHOOT IN A LIVE FIRE RANGE ALL DAY AND THEN GO HOME AND REALIZE YOU HAVE TO MAKE CUPCAKES FOR A BAKE SALE FOR SCHOOL. SO THEY REALLY ARE THE MASTERS OF TIME MANAGEMENT AND SKILLS. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM ALL HERE. I LIKE THEM ALL TO COME INTRODUCE THEMSELVES IF THEY

[00:25:02]

COULD GO AHEAD. JESSICA GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JESSICA RAMIREZ, BORN IN EL PASO, TEXAS, JOINED THE MILITARY IN 2000 AND SERVED THE LAST 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE. AND I HAVE MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, CHRISTIAN AND JOHN-MICHAEL. LIKE SHE SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF SACRIFICE PUT INTO THIS, AND AS WELL, I WILL BE MISSED IF I DON'T MISS MY SPOUSE IN THE BACK, STANDING IN THE BLUE. HE CAME A LITTLE LATE SO HE'S BACK THERE, BUT, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S HUGE FOR US. AND I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THE EL PASO, TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERAN GROUP. THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DONNA.

AND ONCE A SOLDIER, ALWAYS A SOLDIER, PROUD U.S. ARMY VETERAN . AND, ALL I GOT TO SAY IS, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL VETERAN WOMEN FOR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO KNOW VETERAN WOMEN, AN WE JUST ASK THEM TO COME FORWARD, AND SAY WHO THEY ARE. BE A PART. WE HAVE SOME GREAT ELECTIONS COMING THIS YEAR LIKE THE NEW VETERAN OF THE YEAR. WE WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT IF YOU'RE ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IF YOU'RE NOT CURRENTLY, I INVITE ANYONE THAT YOU KNOW, ANYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY LISTENING TO COME GET INVOLVED BECAUSE WE NEED EACH OTHER AND ALL I CAN SAY IS SOCIAL CONNECTIONS REALLY MAKE A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE YOUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR. I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AS THE VETERAN OF THE YEAR. LOTS OF THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING YOU KEEP YOU'RE STILL IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD AND YOU HAVE TO DO THIS. AND WORKING WITH THE TREATMENT COURT IS VERY SPECIAL TO US. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. DONNA PROUD TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MELISSA HARCROW, 12 YEAR US ARMY VETERAN MELISSA. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING OUT. I'M ALSO THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATOR, WEST TEXAS WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION. SO THIS IS PART OF WHAT I DO IS A LOT OF ADVOCACY, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION AS ONE REASON WHY I WROTE THAT LETTER, BECAUSE RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF WHY DO WE HAVE WOMEN VETERANS DAY. AND MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER IT VERY DIVISIVE. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S ALSO NOT MEANT TO BE A SEPARATE VETERANS DAY. IT'S MEANT TO COMMEMORATE THE DAY THAT WE BECAME PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY. DESPITE SERVING IN UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL CAPACITIES SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I DO ASK EVERYONE TO KEEP US IN MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF REPRESENTATIONS OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. TYPICALLY WE SEE THE MALES REPRESENTED QUITE WELL. WE DON'T SEE WOMEN REPRESENTED AS WELL, AND AS I SAID, THAT'S A REASON FOR FEELING ISOLATED, FEELING LIKE YOU'RE NOT A VETERAN. AND THERE WAS ANOTHER POINT. I HAD TO SAY WITH THAT. OH YES. SO JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE AS WELL, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE ONE WOMAN WHO HAS EVER WON THE MEDAL OF HONOR, NOT ONE EARNED THE MEDAL OF HONOR. AND WE HAVE 25 WOMEN SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE MISSING IN ACTION. THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS MISSING IN ACTION SINCE WORLD WAR TWO. SO WHEN WE THINK OF THE MISSING MAN TABLE, IT'S NOT MISSING MAN, MISSING PERSON, MISSING COMRADE, ETC. THOSE WOMEN HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT CLARIFICATION AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR ANDREA TORNEY. AND I'M A PROUD UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN, JOINED RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

SERVED FOUR YEARS ACTIVE DUTY, FOUR YEARS RESERVE, AND WENT IN RIGHT BEFORE NINE OVER 11. SO A VERY EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR AN 18 YEAR OLD, BUT WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD, PROUD TO SERVE MY COUNTRY AND CONTINUE TO SERVE IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES IN MY COMMUNITY AND REPRESENT FOR FEMALE VETERANS, AND DID JUNIOR ROTC AS WELL FOR THREE YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO, FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE THANKS TO THE GI BILL AND THE SERVICE TO MY COUNTRY.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, TASHA MARTINEZ.

GOOD MORNING. NOT FROM EL PASO, BUT MAKING A LITTLE STAMP FOR OUR FAMILY. I JOINED THE ARMY LATER IN LIFE, BUT IT HAS BROUGHT ME TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS FROM ABROAD, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE. I GOT INTRODUCED TO THEM AND IT'S JUST GREAT. I LOVE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SO INVOLVED AND WE'RE FEMALE, FRIENDLY AND I HOPE TO DO BIG THINGS WITH THEM. THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M RAMONA SHAW, GRAHAM MOORE I'M STILL SERVING STILL SERVING.

I HAVE 23 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH MY ACTIVE DUTY TIME AND MY RESERVE TIME, AND I'M STILL SERVING THIS DAY AT MY UNIT 14 CIVIL AFFAIRS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. I'VE SERVED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND STILL SERVING AND THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR WOMEN VETERANS AND RECOGNIZE THE WOMEN VETERANS, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRY, BUT IN EL PASO. THIS IS VERY SPECIAL DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY WELL DESERVED. THANK

[00:30:05]

YOU. AND I ALSO HAVE FOUR, COMEBACKS. TWO TO IRAQ, TWO TO AFGHANISTAN, 36 MONTHS OF DUTY THAT I SERVED OVERSEAS. THANK GOODNESS. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THIS REALLY SHORT. MY NAME IS BIANCA LANDOWSKI. I SERVED 12 YEARS IN THE ARMY. I RECENTLY GOT OUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND I'M SO PROUD AND GLAD TO BE AROUND OTHER FEMALE VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ME. AND I'M ALSO GLAD THAT WOMEN'S VETERAN'S DAY IS ALSO MY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. OH, NICE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS SISSY BYRD AND I AM NOT A VETERAN, BUT I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN VETERANS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ENDURED SO MUCH AND HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN WITH THEIR PRESENCE RIGHT HERE. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THIS TODAY.

AND PLEASE, IF Y'ALL KNOW ANYBODY, ANY WOMAN THAT'S A VETERAN, GET THEM TO AND BE INVOLVED. LET THEM GO. APPLY FOR THEIR VA BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOT NOT A VETERAN, BUT ONE OF THE STRONGEST ADVOCATES FOR VETERANS. AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

SHE'S SHE'S EVERYWHERE, LIKE EVERYWHERE I SEE HER EVERYWHERE, THANK YOU. BEFORE WE WRAP IT UP, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, MY OFFICE DID A LOT OF WORK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED THE TRANSFORMATION IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT LOBBY, BUT THERE IS A WOMEN VETERANS WALL THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF. OVER 100 PHOTOS OF WOMEN, AND THEY'RE NOT WOMEN SITTING AT DESKS. THEY'RE WOMEN BEHIND RIFLES, AND THEY'RE WOMEN IN TURRETS AND WOMEN WITH HELMETS. WOMEN DEPLOYED, DOING INTERPRETATION WITH THE LOCALS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. SO THEY'RE DOING BIG THINGS. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL NOTICE THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY AMAZING. I'M GOING TO TAKE ALL THE LADIES WHEN WE'RE DONE TO GO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WELL WE THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WE KEEP SAYING THAT THERE'S A PILLARS FOR THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE AS STRONG AS THE WOMEN, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, AT THE BEGINNING, WHEN WE STARTED, PROCLAIMING AND WANTING TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL, IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT HAPPENED IN 2019, AND I WAS VERY EMBARRASSED BECAUSE I WAS AT AT SCOTT, AT THE PARK, AND THERE WAS HUNDREDS OF WOMEN VETERANS. AND I JUST REALIZED THAT I WAS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. AND I'LL ADMIT THAT I HADN'T, IN MY MIND, INCORPORATED THE IMPORTANCE THAT THEY HAVE. AND SO IF YOU COULD SEE THE DESIGN, WE MADE IT UP A LITTLE BIT WITH A DESIGN HAVING THE WOMAN IN THE MIDDLE. AND SO THAT'S VERY SPECIAL. AND, AND I CAN ASK YOU IF I COULD ASK YOU ALSO THAT THIS IDEA OF PEOPLE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT TO HAVE SUCH A MONIKER AS VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YES. OR FRIDAY, I WAS ABLE TO DO THE WELCOMING AND I STARTED OFF BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HERE AT THE VETERANS CAPITAL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND YOU'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NOW CONVEY THAT. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO INTRODUCE, YOU KNOW, MYSELF WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS WELCOME TO THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EVERY OFFICIAL I EVER MEET, WE TALK ABOUT THAT. AND I THINK IT'S VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE ONCE IT GIVES US A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WE JUST CAN'T SAY THAT. AND THEN NOT DO IT, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. AND SO AS WOMEN I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE WOMAN THAT EVER GOT DRAFTED BECAUSE THEY ALL VOLUNTEERED. IMAGINE THAT. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT MEN, RIGHT? THEY VOLUNTEERED SOME DIDN'T VOLUNTEER. THEY GOT DRAFTED. BUT AS FAR AS WOMEN, NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A DRAFT FOR WOMEN. SO EVERY WOMAN THAT JOINED JOINED ON THEIR OWN AS A VOLUNTEER. WHEN I HEARD THAT A LONG TIME AGO, I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'S VERY POWERFUL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT IT TO BE THERE. YOU DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, GET DRAFTED INTO IT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND I HOPE THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT. WE'RE VERY PROUD. I MEAN, SOME OF THE WOMEN HERE TODAY, OH MY GOODNESS. I MEAN, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AND STILL SERVING, YOU KNOW, OUR MILITARY. AND THEY'RE DOING SO AT THIS VERY MOMENT. AND SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION. EVERYBODY ELSE, WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE COMING UP, TONY. UNBELIEVER WILL WORK THAT YOU DO. AND THE CONNECTION THAT YOU HAVE WITH EVERYBODY AND YOUR TEAM AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER STOUT. WELL, VERY WELL SAID. JUDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, FOR, OF COURSE, YOUR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY, BUT YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND JUST SHOWING US HOW WE SHOULD BE. AND, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. I'VE GOT THE RESOLUTION HERE FOR

[00:35:08]

YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE YOU DONE? YES, SIR. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH. COME ON. LET ME. LET ME JUST SAY THAT I AM. AND IT'S JUST OUR VETERANS, SO IT'S JUST PRETTY AMAZING. THE MICROPHONE. OH, I'M SORRY, I JUST. NO, NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY HONORED TO BE WORKING AMONGST THESE BRILLIANT, FEARLESS WOMEN WHO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FELLOW VETERANS AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. YOU WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE THAT YOU DID THEN. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU'RE DOING NOW. AND I'M JUST PROUD TO BE HERE AMONGST YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE VETERANS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YVONNE WHITAKER FROM THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. THE VETERANS. YOU DON'T WANT. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. YOU GUYS RIGHT HERE. HE BLOCKED ME. I WASN'T ALLOWED TO GO ANYWHERE. OH. YOU'RE STOPPED, I GUESS. TONY, TONY. YOU'RE ON SPEAKERS. I'LL SAY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M PHOTOBOMBING. A JUDGE BEFORE THE VETERANS LEAVE. I'D LIKE TO REMIND THEM THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, FOR VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET WITH TONY IF THEY'RE EVER INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'D LOVE THAT. I DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU. JESSICA. YEAH. JUDGE CORONADO.

YEAH. ITEM NUMBER FIVE. BE A PROVEN. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE 12TH, 2024 AS LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ AND FRED SANDOVAL DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS.

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing June 12, 2024, as “Little Joe” Hernandez and Fred Sandoval Day in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-546-2144]

COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THANK YOU. JUDGE, WELL, IT IS MY HONOR TO READ THIS RESOLUTION, FOR, IN HONOR OF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN SUCH AN INSPIRATION NOT ONLY TO, COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS HERE IN EL

[00:40:03]

PASO, BUT LATINO LATINA COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. SO AS I READ THIS, KOREEN CHACON, IF YOU COULD PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE MICROPHONES FOR SOME REMARKS.

WHEREAS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF THE RESIDENTS OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR FAMILY DIGNITY, SOCIAL COHESION, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND OVERALL COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. AND WHEREAS STIGMA ABOUT SEEKING TREATMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUES TO CREATE A BARRIER FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO PURSUE TREATMENT. AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY HAS MADE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH A TOP PRIORITY AS THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM THE TRAUMATIC SHOCK OF THE AUGUST 3RD, 2019 MASSACRE AND THE DEVASTATING SEQUELAE OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC, WHICH BEGAN IN 2020. AND WHEREAS EVENTS THAT ELEVATE THE DISCUSSION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WITHIN AND FOR THE COMMUNITY ARE INVALUABLE FOR ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS TO END THEIR ISOLATION AND SEEK ASSISTANCE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES, AND WHEREAS, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE AND THE FIELD OF STARS CAMPO DE ESTRELLAS, A DIGITAL MUSEUM OF FLAGS THAT HONOR COMMUNITY ORIENTED LEADERSHIP, SEEK TO SHARE INSPIRATION AND EDUCATION AS A MEANS OF STRENGTHENING PUBLIC RESOLVE AND RESILIENCE. AND WHEREAS FIVE TIME GRAMMY WINNER AND 2023 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOW JOSÉ MARIA DE LEON HERNANDEZ, KNOWN AS LITTLE JOE AND FRED SANDOVAL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, WILL BE HOSTED BY THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE AND THE FIELD OF STARS. IN A DISCUSSION, CHARLANDO CON ME GENTE ABOUT LITTLE JOE'S LIFE, CAREER AND EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AT EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON JUNE 12TH, 2024. AND WHEREAS BOTH LITTLE JOE AND FRED SANDOVAL PERSONIFY LOVE FOR HUMANITY, EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR TIRELESS SERVICE TO OTHERS AND DEVOTION TO COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IS AMONG THE NATION'S FOREMOST ADVOCATES FOR LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. AND WHEREAS, THE LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ FLAG SPONSORED BY FORMER EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE ALICIA CHACON, WILL BE UNVEILED AND ADDED TO THE FIELD OF STARS COLLECTION OF INSPIRING STORIES OF SERVICE TO OTHERS. NOW, THEREFORE, MAY IT BE RESOLVED THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THROUGH THIS OFFICIAL RESOLUTION, EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ AND FRED SANDOVAL FOR VISITING OUR CITY AND SHARING THIS VITAL HEALTH CARE DISCUSSION WITH AN AUDIENCE OF FARMWORKERS, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, STUDENTS, PUBLIC EDUCATORS, AND GENERATIONS OF FANS WHO HAVE BEEN WITNESS TO LITTLE JOE'S ASTONISHING 62 YEAR LONG TRAJECTORY AS AN ARTIST, AS A VOICE FOR FAIRNESS, AND AS A TREASURED FRIEND OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 12TH, 2024 AS LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ AND FRED SANDOVAL DAY IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF, THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT HEREBY AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES. THIS 10TH DAY OF JUNE 2024, IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OUT YOU. MOTION CARRIES KOREAN. WELCOME. WELCOME THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE HERE. AND, WHEN I ASKED THE COMMISSIONER, FOR RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS, THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION HERE IN EL PASO, SHE ELEVATED IT, AS SHE DOES, TO DECLARING THE DAY ON TO, EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE THAT THEY'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION HERE. EL PASO CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY COHESION. AND WE DO THAT BY BEING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND DOING THINGS TOGETHER AND BEING INCLUSIVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE FIELD OF STARS, WHICH TELLS THE STORY OF OVER 55, HEROIC CHAMPIONS, MEN AND WOMEN, OF JUSTICE, OF FAIRNESS, OF BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE THE COUNTRY SO GREAT. IS VERY PROUD TO BE THE PARTNER THROUGH WHICH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE EXPRESSES ITS PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY UNTIL IT HAS ITS BUILDING. SO THE FLAGS GO WHEREVER THE COMMUNITY ASKS.

WE'VE BEEN IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. EACH FLAG HAS A QR CODE. SO THIS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY, MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS TO SCAN THAT CODE AND INSTANTLY READ THE BIOGRAPHY OF THAT PERSON. SO THESE ARE THE BIOGRAPHIES OF EL PASOANS THAT ARE NOT FEATURED ANYWHERE, AND PARTICULARLY AS A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE. SO THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY AND HAVING THEIR PLACE FLAGS THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY IN THEIR SUPPORT OF HERITAGE TOURISM AND THEIR VALUING OF HISTORY. YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THE NAMING OF THIS ROOM, IN THE NAMING OF THE COURTHOUSE CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THESE ROOTS THAT WE HAVE BRING US TOGETHER AND REALLY MAKE THE COMMUNITY EXTRAORDINARY. IT'S AN

[00:45:02]

EXTRAORDINARY PLACE. AND THE VISITORS TO THE CONVENTION, LEARN THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN FEEL IT. LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ AND FRED SANDOVAL ARE GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING DISCUSSION, WE WILL BE RECORDING IT AND SHARING IT LATER WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO WEDNESDAY'S GOING TO BE AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY, AND THE COMMISSIONER WILL BE THERE TO PRESENT IT. AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEIR DAY BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH VERY HUMBLE INDIVIDUALS, LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD OF STARS, VERY HUMBLE, VERY GROUNDED AND VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS APPRECIATIVE AND ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT'S BEEN. SO I GIVE YOU MY THANKS AND THE THANKS OF MY FAMILY, THE FIELD OF STARS AND THE MEXICAN MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE. WE STILL HAVE A FEW SEATS LEFT. I WAS GOING TO CHASE THE VETERANS AND SEE IF ANY ANYBODY WANTED TO GO, SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, THE STARS ARE SHINING BRIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, KAREEM. WE THANK YOU. I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND, YOU KNOW, I KEEP SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITY OF IT AND HOW IT'S EVOLVING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW SUBTLE IT IS AND, WELL, NOT ANYMORE. I MEAN, I USED TO SAY IT WAS SUBTLE, BUT I THINK IT'S NOW IN FRONT OF US, AND I THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING IT HEAD ON, LIKE YOU DO, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE AT YOUR MOTHER'S NAMESAKE FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, BUT JUST YOUR ADVOCACY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL DEALING, A LOT OF REPRESSED SITUATIONS. YES. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I THANK COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, FOR THE RESOLUTION. AND I KNOW THAT LITTLE JOAN HAS BEEN PART OF OUR CULTURE AND THE WAY WE SEE THINGS AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE JUST A TREMENDOUS, COMING TOGETHER OF MANY FACETS OF ADDRESSING OUR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. SO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. SURE. LET ME JUST ADD THIS, THIS, LITERACY MOMENT IN SPIRATION ACTUALLY SHIFTS BRAIN CHEMISTRY. SO WHEN YOU SEE THE FIELD OF STARS, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE OR EXPOSED TO STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONS OF FAIRNESS, EITHER THROUGH BEING HEROIC, LIKE THE VETERANS, THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE, OR BRILLIANT OR CREATIVE OR GENEROUS, WE ACTUALLY SHIFT. AND SO IT'S A HEALING EXPERIENCE TO BE INSPIRED. AND SO AND THAT'S NOT ME. THAT IS SCIENCE, NEUROSCIENCE. SO IN IN SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, EVERY TIME THE FLAGS ARE DISPLAYED, WE ARE HELPING CONTINUALLY TO BE HEALING AND REWEAVING THE, THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN US THAT THE TRAUMA CREATED. DISSOCIATION. SO IT'S THAT GENERAL FEELING REWEAVING. AND IT'S BECAUSE WE LEARN EACH OTHER'S STORIES. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. THANK YOU. AND THESE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED. YOU JUST SHIFTED MY NEURONS AS WELL. SO EXCELLENT. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, THANK YOU. AND NO THANK THANK YOU, KAREEM. NOT ONLY FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO ORGANIZE THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT EVENT, BUT ALSO FOR ALL OF YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK WITH THE FIELD OF STARS. I SEE HOW YOU ARE REALLY CHANGING THE LIVES OF SOME OF THESE STUDENTS.

HOW THEY REALLY ARE BEING IMPACTED. AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK DOING THAT AS WELL. AND JUST FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, BEING AN INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

[00:50:05]

GO AHEAD. CESAR. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS. THIS MORNING, FIRST WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. THANK YOU. GOOD. GOOD MORNING. ELIZABETH. JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S NOTIFICATION, PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. EVERYBODY IS BEING TIMED. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING. THIS MONTH, MANY PEOPLE, ARE CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH AS THE END OF THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO CONSCIENTIOUSLY STOOD AGAINST THE BRUTALITY OF SLAVE TRAFFICKING IN OUR NATION. WE'RE TOLD IN GOD'S WORD. JOHN 836 OF THE SON, THEREFORE SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. YOU SHALL BE FREE INDEED, REFERRING TO THE LORD JESUS, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE AS A NATION WATCHED A BLM RIOTS IN OUR CITY. BLACK LIVES MATTER. THE NAME SOUNDS GOOD, BUT DID THE ORGANIZATION LIVE UP TO ITS NAME. LATER ALLEGATIONS SURFACED THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S LEADERS WERE GROSSLY MISMANAGING FUNDS THAT CLENCHED, UPRAISED FISTS IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH BLM AND IN MANY URBAN CONTEXTS, WITH THE GREEN RED BLACK FLAG ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE WHO WOULD IDENTIFY AS PALESTINIANS, WHY THE COMMONALITY? THE SO-CALLED NATION OF ISLAM? LOUIS FARRAKHAN, IS KNOWN FOR HIS SPEWING OF ANTI-SEMITISM, OF HATE SPEECH AGAINST THE JEWS. BY CONTRAST, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT A MAN I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SERVE WITH FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF IN NEW JERSEY, RON SHUMATE. RON SHUMATE BELIEVED THE BLACK LIVES MATTER.

RON CHEW MAY BELIEVE THAT ALL LIVES MATTER. RON KNEW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF BLACK LIVES ARE TAKEN, NOT ON THE STREETS OF OUR NATION, OR THAT THE ABORTION CARE CENTERS OF OUR NATION IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PERSON TO SERVE WITH OUTSIDE THE ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ABORTION CENTER. WHEN RON SHUMATE WAS WITH ME, PEOPLE COULDN'T THROW AT ME TO COME THE REMARKS, YOU DON'T LIVE IN MY WORLD. RON SHUMATE WAS FROM THE INNER CITY. I LOVE TO GIVE OUT HIS NUMBERS SO YOUNG PEOPLE COULD TALK WITH HIM. RON IS BLACK AND HE'S AN OLDER GENTLEMAN, AND THAT OPENED DOORS TO CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE. INSTEAD OF JUMPING ONTO THE COMMON METHODS OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE BANDWAGON, METHODS OF PROTESTING. RON'S DESIRE WAS TO SERVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND TO BE A BEACON OF LIGHT IN THE INNER CITY WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS KIDS. AS HIS KIDS FRIENDS. ONE DAY, RON SHARED HIS TESTIMONY WITH ME AS A YOUNG MAN WHO WOULD BE OUT ALL NIGHT DOING DRUGS. ONE MORNING UPON ARRIVING HOME, HIS MOTHER GREETED HIM, TOLD HIM SHE WAS PRAYING, AND ASKED IF HE WAS READY TO TURN TO JESUS. RON SAID ON THAT MORNING.

HE SHOOK HIS HEAD NO, BUT OUT OF HIS MOUTH CAME THE CRY. YES, YES, HE TOLD ME THAT DAY HE WAS BORN AGAIN. HE WENT THROUGH THE GRUELING PROCESS OF DETOXING FROM DRUGS. HE TOLD ME WHEN HE WENT BACK TO WORK AFTER DETOXING, HE TOLD HIS BOSS HE WAS NOW A CHRISTIAN. HIS BOSS LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. THAT WAS 40 YEARS AGO, RON SAID TO ME. SOME 40 YEARS LATER, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS SET ME FREE AND HE IS A PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THAT GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. AT THE ABORTION CENTER JUNETEENTH. AS WE THINK OF FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY , RON SHUMATE'S TESTIMONY IS A REMINDER OF THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF CHRIST. IN LUKE CHAPTER FOUR, THE LORD SAID, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THEM THAT ARE BRUISED, TO PREACH THE ACCEPTABLE, THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD. THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT IS TRUE FREEDOM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ELIZABETH HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, ELIZABETH. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MR. RON CAMU. AS HE SLIDES, PARDON ME. BETTY. RON. CAMU. ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE? I BELIEVE HE PLANNED TO BE ONLINE, HE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN PERSON. JUST ONE MOMENT. LET ME SEE IF I HAVE ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM HIM.

YEAH. HE WAS GOING TO APPEAR IN PERSON. HE'S NOT ON TEAMS. HE IS NOT ON TEAMS EITHER. BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IF HE ARRIVES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD TWO OTHER SPEAKERS SIGN UP. JUST

[00:55:02]

WANT TO CONFIRM IF THEY, ARE HERE. DAVID BUCHMUELLER. DAVID BUCHMUELLER. NO. AND JULIA ALVAREZ. THAT COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. CESAR. GOING BACK TO THE ITEM PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM FOUR G, WITH THE CORRECTION FROM THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE FROM WITHIN THE FORFEITURE ACCOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $53,500 FROM SPECIAL REVENUE DEA SPEC OPS EQUIPMENT TO SPECIAL REVENUE DA SPEC PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GENERAL TO COVER THE COST OF LEGAL FEES BROUGHT ON FROM THE SB FOUR LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL, BE HEARING COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. AND THEN AS WELL AS OUR DA, AND THEN WE'LL BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONCLUDE THIS COMMISSIONER'S ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. CERTAINLY, AFTER THOSE COMMENTS, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY KEVIN MCCARRY IS ALSO, READY TO GIVE A SUMMARY OF HIS ANALYSIS IN OPEN SESSION. BUT WE'RE ALSO HAPPY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF THAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER LEON. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. MR. HICKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. THIS MORNING. I KNOW THAT YOU AND RENE ARE VERY BUSY AND PLEASE ACCEPT THESE COMMENTS AS NOT DISRESPECTFUL, BUT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE OBSERVED AND FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I. I WILL SAY A FEW WORDS AND I'LL RELINQUISH THE FLOOR TO YOU FOR WHATEVER YOU MAY WANT TO SAY. AND I WANT TO START OFF WITH, YOUR FORFEITURE FUNDS OR CONFISCATED FUNDS ACCOUNT, ALTHOUGH THEY COME IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN, OUR TAX FUNDING COMES AND OTHERS, THEY STILL, ONCE THEY HIT THIS BUILDING, ONCE THEY HIT THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, THEY BECOME TAXPAYER FUNDS. THEY BELONG TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND THEY TRUST IN US TO USE THEM WISELY. AND ETHICALLY AND ON JANUARY 22ND AND AGAIN ON JANUARY 29TH, COMMISSIONERS COURT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FROM MR. HICKS TO AUTHORIZE $100,000 IN IN FUNDING TO BE USED TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REPRESENT HIM IN MATTERS RELATED TO SB FOUR LAWSUIT ON JANUARY 22ND, THE COURT TOOK NO ACTION. JANUARY 29TH, THE COURT VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST AUTHORIZING THE FUNDING. MR. HICKS INDICATED HE NEEDED THE FUNDS BECAUSE HE EXPECTED TO PRESENT A DIFFERENT DEFENSE THAN THE APPROACH BY THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, KEN PAXTON, AND THAT THE COUNSEL OFFERED BY AG PAXTON WOULD NOT MEET HIS EXPECTATIONS AND THAT MR. HICKS WOULD USE HIS PROSTHETIC DISCRETION. THIS THIS THIS IS DISINGENUOUS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT DA HICKS MOVED FORWARD WITH PROSECUTING OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN WHAT HE CALLED A RIOT AND CROSSING THE BORDER, THE FUNDS THAT HE WANTS TO TRANSFER COME FROM THE ASSET FORFEITURE FUND DESIGNATED FOR THE PURCHASE OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT. THIS IS LIKELY INTENTIONAL TO DEFLATE OR DEFLECT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY. HOWEVER, THE ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS ARE COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO. I THINK THIS IS MORE A THE REASON I BROUGHT IT FORWARD IS THIS IS A TRANSPARENCY ISSUE. IN MY OPINION. YOU WENT AROUND THE WISHES OF THE COURT, WHERE YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR DEFENSE PAID FOR BY THE STATE AND YOU REFUSED. YOU AGAIN DECIDED TO PUT THIS EXPENSE ON THE BACKS OF TAXPAYER FUNDING HERE IN EL PASO . AND YOU INDICATED THAT YOU NEED OUTSIDE COUNSEL BECAUSE YOU EXPECT REQUESTS FOR DEPOSITION AND DISCOVERY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD ANY OF THOSE TO THIS DATE, SO DO YOU, MR. HICKS STILL PLAN TO USE THE DISCRETION, AS

[G. Approve and authorize the District Attorney to transfer funds from within the forfeiture account in the amount of $53,000.00 from SR-DASPEC-OPS EQUIPMENT to SR-DACSPEC-OPS EXPENSES-GEN to cover the cost of legal fees brought on from the SB4 lawsuit against the District Attorney. Bill D. Hicks, District Attorney, District Attorney, 915-546-2059]

YOU INDICATED IN YOUR FIRST REQUEST IN JANUARY? SO THE REASON THAT THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK UP IS, THE FUNDING, THE 53,000 THAT YOU ARE TRANSFERRING FROM THE EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT. SEEMS TO ME THAT, IN MY OPINION, COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER USED FOR TRAINING FOR

[01:00:03]