Jan 11, 2024 City Council Meeting 01/11/2024

WE, UH, HAD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE CONSENT AGENDA AND, UH, PULL ITEMS FOR, FOR REPORTS ON MONDAY.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN DECIDING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, REVEREND.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL,

[ Consent Agenda Items listed on the Consent Agenda may be enacted by one motion and one vote. If a discussion is required by members of the governing body, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion and determination will be made if the item will be considered separately. Proposed Motion: Move to approve the Consent Agenda of the January 11, 2024, Regular Meeting, Items 1 - 21.]

UH, UNLESS ANYONE WOULD LIKE ANY ITEM PULLED TO ACTION, A MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER.

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA OF JANUARY 11TH, 2024.

REGULAR MEETING ITEMS. 1, 2, 21.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SECOND.

ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT, UH, A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, UH, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.

ANY RECUSALS, UH, REASONS TO NOT VOTE? SEEING NONE, COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNSEL.

[22. Election of Vice Mayor Move City Council elect a Vice Mayor of the Council with a term beginning January 12, 2024, and ending January 9, 2025.]

OUR NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF A VICE MAYOR, AND, UH, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

BUT JUST OUTTA 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.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND COUNCIL, UH, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION FAILS.

UM, FOUR TO THREE.

ENDING JANUARY 9TH, 2025.

COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? MAYOR MARTINEZ? YES, I'VE MOVED, UM, TO NOMINATE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER OIE HARRIS, UM, TO ELECT HIM AS VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 12TH, 2024.

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS COUNCIL, PLEASE VOTE.

UM,

[00:05:01]

MOTION, UM, MOTION PASSES.

UM, SIX FIVE TO TWO.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, YOURS WILL BE AS A NO.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS A BRIEFING BY OUR, OUR CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT ON TEEN VIOLENCE.

[23. Briefing by Chandler Police Department regarding 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 IT 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, UH, A MILE EAST OF HERE ON THE QUEEN.

A 15-YEAR-OLD OAXACAN BOY WAS RIDING HIS BICYCLE TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND HE WAS MURDERED AS PART OF A GANG INITIATION.

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME.

THIS HAPPENED DECADES AGO IN THE NINETIES 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 SALINAS STARTING, UH, AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ICAN.

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 AT 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 LOCKSTEP WITH OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST THESE EGREGIOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIFFERENCE, NONCHALANCE, AND PASSIVITY.

AS MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE CONDEMN TEEN VIOLENCE AND HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY.

THE FEAR AND TAYLOR, AND, AND TERROR BEING CREATED BY THIS GROUP OF TEENS ARE 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 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'M NOT GONNA 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 NINE ONE ONE TO REPORT EMERGENCIES.

CALL OR TEXT (480) 782-4130 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 4 8 0 7 8 2 4 4 4 0 AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP

[00:10:01]

OUR POLICE CHIEF ACTING POLICE CHIEF.

GIVE US A REPORT ON, UH, TEEN VIOLENCE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNSEL, LET'S LET HER GIVE A REPORT AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE, THE FLOOR WILL BE EARS CHIEF.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TEEN VIOLENCE.

MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE SHARED CONCERN ABOUT RECENT, 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 CHANDLER 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 REPORTING 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, OR 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 A, IS OF UTMOST OUR, OUR UTMOST PRIORITY, AND ANY FORM OF VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

WOW.

LET ME START TO MY LEFT AND WE'LL WORK THIS WAY.

UM, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YEAH, 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.

YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.

LOUD AND YOU'RE BEING NASTY TOWARDS PEOPLE, THAT HAS TO, THAT'S A REFLECTION ON YOUR CHARACTER.

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 GANG.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT COULD BE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANKS, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, OR VICE MAYOR HARRIS.

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 GONNA 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 GONNA DISAGREE AT ONE POINT, BUT BEING RESPECTFUL IN 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 SPEAK

[00:15:01]

LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HOME, IF YOU ARE A REFLECTION OF, OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD AROUND YOU.

AND AT TIMES PARENTS FEEL DISAPPOINTED IF THEIR CHILDREN DOES GO AWAY WORK, BUT I JUST WANNA SHARE THIS.

IF YOUR CHILD DO GOES AWAY WORK, JUST KNOW LEAVING IT IN GOD'S HANDS BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PRAY AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME TO, TO, UH, OD IN WITH LIFE.

AND, UM, AND I, AND SO AGAIN, I'M JUST PRAYING FOR THE PRESTON LLOYD FAMILY, ALL THE SUPPORTERS AND REMEMBERING WHAT MLK STAND FOR THIS WEEKEND.

AND WE'VE DONE THIS AND WE'VE BEEN, WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO IT.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT'S COMING OUT TO SUPPORT AND THOSE THAT'S GONNA 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.

COUNCIL MEMBER .

YOU KNOW, I, 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, AND WE ARE, WE'RE, WE, ARE, WE FEEL FOR PRESTON'S FAMILY AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

COUNCILOR STEWART, UH, .

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, UH, I CAN, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US BACK BECAUSE THAT WAS A, 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 A PHONE CALL.

SOMEBODY WAS TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, BUT THEY'RE, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL LEAVE THAT TO 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 OF THE STATE, AND EVEN WHEN NATIONALLY IS, YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN ONE COMMUNITY'S SUCCESSFUL, WE ARE ALL SUCCESSFUL.

ONE COMMUNITY HURTS, WE ALL HURT, AND ONE COMMUNITY DEMANDS JUSTICE.

WE ALL WANNA 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 FRANKLY, WE JUST GOT A BRIEFING JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING OF ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA 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 GOTTA KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING SURE WE EDUCATE OUR INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE AND OF THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO.

SO WE'RE WITH YOU AND WE, WE'LL STAND BY YOU.

THAT'S MY REALS.

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.

CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BRIEFING.

AND I WANTED TO, UH, BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ALSO, CHIEF THAT NEXT MONTH, FEBRUARY, IT'S GOING TO BE TEEN VIOLENCE MONTH.

AND I HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR NOW FOR OVER FOUR YEARS, OVER AT TOP 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 LIVE HERE TONIGHT WITHOUT IMPRESSING ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO NOT WAIT TO REACT WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN, BUT RATHER TO BE PRE 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

[00:20:01]

AND SO I'M TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY PART AS YOU HAVE ELECTED ME TO SIT HERE, TO BE THAT VOICE TONIGHT.

I WANNA RECONFIRM THAT, THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER.

SITTING AT MAG, STARTING WITH NEXT MONTH, HAVING A PROCLAMATION FOR TEAM VIOLENCE, THAT'S GONNA SAY THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE IT.

WE WILL EDUCATE AND WE WILL BE THAT PERSON WHO'S GONNA STAND IN THE GAP AND STOP IT.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, CHIEF COUNCIL MEMBER.

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 CHANDLER, 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' TIME, FOR YOUR GUYS' EFFORT, FOR BRINGING THIS AWARENESS FORWARD.

IT MEANS A LOT AND IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND LASTLY, I JUST WANNA LEAVE EVERYONE WITH A VERY SIMPLE CHILDHOOD WORLD 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 ALSO SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT WITH US.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY FINAL WORDS TO SAY, I THINK WE'RE BRIEFING IS OVER.

UH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU,

[12. Unscheduled Public Appearances]

COUNSEL.

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.

I'M SORRY FOR MR. PRESTON, BUT MY ANGER GOES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING BEFORE IT HAPPENED NOW, AND WE SHOULDA BEEN STANDING BESIDE OUR CHILDREN.

UH, WE HAVE PASTOR VICTOR HARDY.

I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD SLAP A RIBBON ON THAT GUY.

UH, AS WITH THE REST OF YOU, UH, WHAT 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 STOPS JUST LIKE THE LESS 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 BRUCE DRIVE.

UM, I'M THE PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF THE VALLEY.

THERE'S A MOVIE OUT RIGHT NOW ABOUT A MAN NAMED RUSTIN, WHO WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THE MARCH ON 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 SAT 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.

BOTTON LUTHER KING JR.

OR THE CADILLAC VIGIL.

AND YET I GET PEOPLE SLAMMING DOORS IN MY FACE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

OR AS A BLACK MAN, THEY SEE TROUBLE COMING.

[00:25:01]

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 ECONOMICALLY I'M NOT IMPORTANT.

I GET TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT I'M NO LONGER VISIBLE TO THE RECORD 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'M THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HERE CITY 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 VIGIL.

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 NOTICE IT'S 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 SHOULDA STOOD UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ALL OF US TOGETHER AS ONE, BUT WE DIDN'T.

I'M SORRY.

HEY, CAN I HAVE A HUG? 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 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, ZANIA, I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME.

PKI ZANIA.

AGAIN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

IS IT RIGHT HERE? YES, MA'AM.

OKAY, THANKS.

UM, I HAVE MY, IN MY HEART HERE.

UM, MY NAME IS ZANA PKI.

UM, MY ADDRESS IS 36 12 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 HARTKE FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.

UM, MY NAME IS ZAIN PRUSKI.

UM, WE'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 13 YEARS.

I'M A MOTHER AND I'M 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 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 NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER HANDY AT ANY TIME, UM, WHENEVER I'VE CALLED, THEY'VE ALWAYS FELT COMFORTABLE REPORTING ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT SEE.

IT'S 4 8 0, AS THEY'VE SAID BEFORE, 7 8 2 4 1 3 0.

AND LET US SHOW THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING THAT CHANDLER CARES THAT 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

[00:30:01]

CRIMES AND THE CRIMES THAT HAVE HURT THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S INCLUDING ALL CATEGORIES, POSSESSION, MURDER, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIDGET VIGA.

BRIDGET, SHE'S IN THE LOBBY.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO.

WE'LL COME BACK TO HER.

UH, ALRIGHT.

BRIDGET, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU'VE GOTTEN THREE MINUTES TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

BRIDGET VEGA, 1 37 EAST ELLIOT ROAD NUMBER 3 25, GILBERT, ARIZONA, 8 5 2 9 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, PRESTON LORD, 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 WEEDED 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 MINORS AND WEAPONS HAS INCREASED BY FIVE TIMES MORE FROM 2022 TO 2017.

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 AFFLICTION 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 GANG STALKING 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 ON, WHERE'S THE JUSTICE? WHO'S PROTECTING US AS THEY LIVE IN SURVIVAL MODE USING COPING MECHANISMS. THE CHILDREN ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY.

CROSS PATHS 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 SILENCED.

YOU ARE COURAGEOUS.

I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE HINDERED.

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 THEVES FAMILY AND ALL OF 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.

CASSANDRA IRWIN CASSANDRA, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES.

FOR CITIES, SCHOOLS, RESIDENTS, AND CHILDREN TO STAND UNIFIED IN BEHAVIORS.

I'M CASSANDRA IRWIN, 9 8 0 1 WEST GOLD DUST DRIVE, QUEEN CREEK, 8 5 1 4 2.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

MY NAME'S CASSANDRA IRWIN FROM QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA.

I'M A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN WHO ARE STUDENTS OF CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL 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 ALWA TOKI AND AS FAR EAST AS SANTA 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

[00:35:01]

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 CONNECTIONS 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 SCHOOL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CON TO CONSIDER SPEARHEADING THE UNIFIED UPSTANDER INITIATIVE.

BEING FIRST IS NOT NEW TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

THIS INITIATIVE WILL FRONT LOAD OUR COMMUNITY WITH 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 VI 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.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICIA EVANS.

PATRICIA, I AM SORRY.

WELCOME.

AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

UM, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME OPPORTUNITY.

MY NAME IS PATRICIA EVANS.

I LIVE AT 4 6 7 3 EAST CHERRY HILLS DRIVE, LER SUN GROVES.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ORGANIZED GANG STOCKING.

AND I'VE BEEN GANG STOCKED, BEEN DOING THIS IF WHO WAS EVER DOING IT, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING IT.

AND I'M BEING L STOCKED AS WELL.

AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2018.

IT'S GOTTEN WORSE WHERE, UH, PEOPLE GO IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, UH, WITH LOUD NOISES.

I'VE HAD THREE OF MY LARGE PLANTS DESTROYED.

AND WHEREVER I GO TO MACY'S OR FRY'S, THEY FOLLOW ME.

THEY'RE TAKING PICTURES.

I'VE HAD MY, UH, MY HUSBAND'S, UH, CAR SLASH TIRE SLASH MY CAR SLASH AND SCRATCHED UP AS FAR AS A GANG STOCKING.

THAT'S WHEN FIVE TO 10 PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

AND WHEN I TALKED TO MY DAUGHTER ABOUT IT, SHE'S A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

SHE SAID THE ONLINE STOCKING BEEN ON ONLINE FOREVER.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SO HAPPENED TO ME.

AND THEN I NOTICED THIS SO HAPPENED TO ME IN 2018.

I DON'T KNOW WHO PUT MY HAND, MY NAME ON A LIST AS A SUSPECT TERRORIST, I CAN BARELY WALK.

I'M 75 YEARS OLD AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE CITY OF CHANDLER AND THE CITY OF, I MEAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING ABOUT ORGANIZED GANG STALKING.

AND I NEED HELP 'CAUSE I'M BEING HARASSED EVERY DAY AND AIR STOCKING WITH HELICOPTERS AND AIRPLANES.

IF I GO TO FINISH TO VISIT A FRIEND, HE A HELICOPTER, FOLLOW ME.

THEY'RE HERE EVERYWHERE I GO.

IF I GO TO A DOCTOR'S, MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE, PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING ME EVERYWHERE.

I GO IN 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 TO 20 PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

IT'S ONLINE CITY MANAGER.

CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE POLICE, UM, JUST GET WITH MS. EVANS AND, AND LOOK AT HER, UH, CONCERNS? YES, SIR.

AND I GOT SOME INFORMATION ON IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT.

COULD YOU HAND THAT TO OUR CITY MANAGER THEN? THAT WOULD BE GREAT THING.

OR TO MATT BURDICK.

THANK YOU MRS. EVANS.

OH, WELL THIS IS A YOUNG LADY THAT BREAKS IT DOWN.

IN, UM, NOVEMBER OF NOVEMBER 19TH, 2022.

ANY QUESTIONS? WE CAN'T ENGAGE YOU.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NIKKI CANELLA.

NIKKI, WELCOME.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.

MY NAME IS NIKKI CONNOLLY, AND I'M A CHANDLER RESIDENT, EIGHT 10 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.

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

[00:40:01]

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 HIS 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 HAND AND NECK SO THEY COULDN'T GET HIS HEAD.

SO MOSTLY THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIS BACK AND HIS ELBOWS.

AND SO, UM, IT WAS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR HIM.

SOMEBODY ON THE BJ'S PATIO CALLED 9 1 1.

AND, UH, THE BOYS SCATTERED AND SOMEBODY SCREAMED OVER, YOU KNOW, OVER THERE AND, AND THE BOYS 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, UH, 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 'EM, 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 JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN IN SOME OTHER CITIES.

IT HAPPENS HERE.

CITY MANAGER.

AND I WOULD CERTAINLY LOVE TO KNOW THE, I I I, I'VE HEARD OF THIS CASE, BUT IN TERMS OF THE, THE COMMENT THAT THIS IS COMMON OR OTHER THINGS, I THINK COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT.

SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

UH, CITY MANAGER.

CAN WE LOOK INTO LIKE WHAT TYPE OF C WHAT TYPE OF CCV TV WE HAVE AT THE, UH, AT THE, UH, MALL, AND THEN IF THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THE MALL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SECURE AREA.

DO WE, WE HAVE OUR SUBSTATION THERE TOO, DON'T WE? UM, MAYOR, UH, 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.

WELL, LET'S GET SOME, I GET MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT, UH, THAT DUTY STATION IS AND IF WE NEED TO BEEF THAT UP.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA, UM, SANTE.

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 MISS OUR ADDRESS.

WHO WITNESSED THE ATTACK AND SHARED INFORMATION.

UM, MY NAME IS MELISSA TI.

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'S THE SON.

SORRY.

HE WAS A SON,

[00:45:01]

A BROTHER, AND A FRIEND.

I CAN'T READ FOR 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 COMBS 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 AM 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, SANTA VALLEY, GILBERT, CHANDLER, AND ALWA SUKI.

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 , UH, AFRAID OF THEIR LIVES.

THIS IS A GRAVE CONCERN.

WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

THE GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN BE AN UPSTANDER AND NOT A BYSTANDER.

IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING WAS INITIATED BY KATIE MCPHERSON 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 PRESTON'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 IN PRESIDENT'S.

HONOR.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS REQUEST.

CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU MAKE SURE WE GET A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM? THANK YOU.

STEPHANIE JERNIGAN.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE JERNIGAN AND I WOULD NOT LIKE TO GIVE MY ADDRESS, IF THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S FINE.

I'M A LONGTIME CHANDLER RESIDENT AND MOM TO THREE CHILDREN RANGING IN AGE FROM 12 TO 20 IN LATE DECEMBER TO 2022.

MY SON, WHO WAS 16 AT THE TIME, WAS A VICTIM OF A GANG STYLE ATTACK AT THE SAN TAN MALL IN, IN AND OUT IN GILBERT.

IT WAS AROUND DINNERTIME 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 SUSPECTS WERE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, PRESSED CHARGES.

THE ARREST WAS A RESULT OF TEEN UPSTANDERS

[00:50:01]

THE MAIN ATTACKER WAS PROSECUTED AND SENTENCED IN JUVENILE COURT.

THE OTHER ONE HAD HIS CHARGES DROPPED.

WHEN WE LEARNED OF THE MURDER OF PRESTON, LORD, OUR HEART SINK.

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'M 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 AND OUT ALONE, THEY SAID THE VICTIMS HAD ALL BEEN RELUCTANT TO PRESS CHARGES.

WE KNOW POLICE CANNOT DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT VICTIMS'.

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 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 THE SOLUTION TO THE ESCALATION IN TEEN VIOLENCE WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN THE EAST VALLEY.

HERE ARE SOME ACTIONABLE ITEMS ID 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 A TOP PRIORITY.

I REALIZED 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, .

WE ABSO 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 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 HARTKE 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 MOORE.

IN THE CASE IS IN HER CLASS TODAY.

BILL CONLEY.

MR. CONLEY STATE, I'LL 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, UH, C-O-N-L-E-Y.

I LIVE, UM, 600 YARDS SOUTH OF THE GILBERT POLICE STATION.

UM, MY TIME IS SHORT.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JUST GONNA 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.

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? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

YOU ARE IMPRESSIVE.

AND I AM BLOWN AWAY.

WHAT ELSE? IMPRESSIVE 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.

AND HER HISTORY CLASS, ONE OF THE SUSPECTS

[00:55:01]

NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, BUT WE'RE SCARED TODAY.

WHO ELSE WE GOT? OKAY.

I I'M, I I'LL REMEMBER TONIGHT.

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, RIGHT.

HEY, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA RAIL ON, ON GILBERT CITY COUNCIL, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE PRETTY DARN JELLY MAN.

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.

IF I WOULD'VE HAD TIME, WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND.

I WAS GONNA GET KNUCKLES FROM YOU, BUT AFTER THE PASTORS, I JUST, NO, FORGET THAT.

I'M ALMOST OUTTA TIME.

CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

UH, LISTEN, CAN I GET THREE MORE MINUTES? NO, JUST, 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 TIME.

LISA ELGER.

LISA, THANK YOU.

LISA.

IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

LISA GER, $2,300 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 HAVE PUT INTO 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 BEEN 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 HAND DOWN CONSEQUENCES, 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 TEEN 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.

A DIFFERENT STORY THAN THE ONE THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD.

THANK YOU, LISA.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BEN ANDRES.

BEN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.

MY NAME IS BEN ANDRES.

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 OF 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 AFFECTS US IN MORE SUBTLE BUT VERY REAL WAYS.

I WANNA SHARE A QUICK STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD THIS PAST HALLOWEEN.

IT'S

[01:00:01]

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, UH, 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.

IT WAS 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 IN 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 HAS SEEN THIS VIDEO 'CAUSE 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 FAST FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS EVE, MY WIFE AND I WANNA 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 AS SOMETHING I NEVER WOULD'VE 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'VE THOUGHT I'D SEE IN GILBERT, ARIZONA.

AND WITHOUT INTERVENTION, THIS COULD ALSO BECOME A REALITY IN CHANDLER AND 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.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, KATIE MCPHERSON.

KATIE MAYOR, ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, I SPEAK FOR A LIVING, UM, BUT TYPICALLY NOT AN EMOTIONAL TOPIC.

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 GANS SON WAS, UM, LEGEND WITH BRASS 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 UNIFIED 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 DISTRICTS.

TONIGHT WE'RE 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

[01:05:01]

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 ASSAILANTS ALIKE, WE MUST ACT.

I IMPLORE ALL OF US TO JOIN HANDS IN THIS EFFORT AND TO DO SO WITH LOVE AND 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 AT THE CORPORATE LADDER.

AND MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM IS MONEY THAN THEIR CHILDREN.

SO AS THE MEN IN THE ROOM HERE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE DAIS 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 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, I JUST IS PROTECTED, SO, UM, EITHER, BUT I HAVE BEEN A CHANDLER 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'LL JUST ENHANCE TO SPEAK.

UM, FIRST I WANT TO GIVE, UM, PRAYERS TO THE LORD, FAMILY AND YOUR FAMILY, OR YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYER, WHICH ARE NOT DEEPEST CAN TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

UM, SECOND, I WANNA JUST BRING AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO US BACK IN 20 20TH OF AUGUST.

OF JULY OF 2020.

MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS, MY, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, WE HAVE FOUR.

OUR YOUNGEST, UM, ATTENDS A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN CHANDLER, ARIZONA.

AND THEY WERE PLAYING BASKETBALL WITH MY BROTHER.

FRIENDS AT, UM, THE FOX CROSSING BASKETBALL.

AND THEY WERE BULLIED AND CALLED RACIAL SLURS BY SOME OTHER LITTLE YOUNG KIDS BECAUSE THEY WERE MAD UPSET THAT THE GIRLS BEAT THE BOYS OF BASKETBALL.

BUT LUCKILY, ONE OF MY DAUGHTER'S FRIENDS HAD MACE AND SHE MACED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING READY TO FIGHT GIRLS.

SO THANK GOODNESS SHE HAD MACE, WHICH IS A SAD THAT A WHAT 14-YEAR-OLD HAS TO CARRY AROUND MACE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SECOND THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME AND MY HUSBAND ON OUR CAMPAIGN TRAIL, WHEN IT WAS THE LAST TIME HITTING THE, 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, MAN, PARENTS, YOU NEED TO WAKE UP AND RAISE YOUR CHILDREN.

STOP, TURN 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.

IT DOES NOT START AT SCHOOL.

DID THAT START AT CHURCH RESPONSIBILITIES? START AT HOME WITH THE PARENTS AND TEACHING AND DISCIPLINE 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, OUR 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 THAT START TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT IS YOUR SON, BUT IT'S WHEN IT WAS ONE PERSON.

IT 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 PRESTON? SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

WHAT HAPPENED TO I WAS TOLD BY, UM, SUB CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY KNEW I WAS COMING.

JAMIR JENKINS, WHO WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL AS PRESTON, WAS SHOT AND KILLED TWO WEEKS WITHIN THE SAME TIMEFRAME AT THE SAME SCHOOL, 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE VARSITY ATHLETE.

AND HE WAS SHOT, KILLED.

BUT HIS ASSAILANTS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED.

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

[01:10:01]

THAT YOU GUYS AGAIN, WE NEED TO START TEACHING OUR PARENT, OUR KIDS AT HOME.

IT DOESN'T START WITH THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT STARTS AT HOME TALKING TO YOUR KIDS, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR KIDS.

MLK.

IF WE COME AGAIN AS WE COME UP, APPROACH MLK.

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 PROVERB.

22 6.

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN A WAY HE SHOULD GO IN DEPARTS.

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 CONFERENCE 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 WERE YOU TREATED TODAY? AND MY KIDS WENT TO PRIVATE SCHOOL THEIR WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.

BUT LEMME TELL YOU, WE HAVE OUR FAIR SHARE OF PROBLEMS AS WELL.

SO WE AS A FAMILY, QUEEN CREEK, CHANDLER, GILBERT, , NEED TO ALL GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND PARENTS AND TALK ABOUT RESOURCES.

RESOURCES.

NOT GONNA GET IT.

IT IS DISCIPLINE.

SINGLE MOTHERS RAISED GREAT CHILDREN, SINGLE FATHERS RAISED GREAT CHILDREN.

IT'S MORE TRUTH 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 GROUPS.

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 TAKE LOWER PAY CUTS TO MAKE SURE I WAS PRESENT IN MY KIDS' LIFE, MAKING SURE I WAS AT EVERY GAME, EVERY 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

[ Current Events 1. Mayor's Announcements 2. Council's Announcements 3. City Manager's Announcements]

IS JUST COUNCIL COMMENTS.

AND I'LL START, I WANNA 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 TEEN VIOLENCE INCIDENTS IN CHANDLER TO THE CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

POSTING INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONTACTING POLICE.

CALL OR TEXT NINE ONE ONE TO REPORT EMERGENCIES.

CALL OR TEXT (480) 782-4130 TO REPORT NON-EMERGENCY INCIDENTS.

ANONYMOUS TIPS, IMAGES AND VIDEOS CAN BE SUBMITTED ONLINE TO OUR CHANDLER POLICE.

ANONYMOUS TIPS CAN ALSO BE SHARED BY CALLING 4 8 0 7 8 2 4 4 4 0.

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 6:00 PM COME AND JOIN CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, KIDS ACTIVITIES, UNIQUE VENDORS, DELICIOUS FOOD.

COME TALK TO MYSELF, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THIS IS OUR 29TH ANNUAL EVENT.

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 17TH FROM FOUR TO FIVE 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

[01:15:01]

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@CHANDLERFILMFESTIVAL.COM.

WE'VE GOT ONE MORE AIRPORT DAY, RIGHT, RYAN? YES, SIR.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR CHANDLER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IS CELEBRATING THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY WITH OUR COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE AIRPORT DAY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 20TH.

COME JOIN AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTER DISPLAYS, FLYOVERS AND FOOD TRUCKS.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND@THECHANDLERAZ.GOV.

AND, UH, STEPHANIE, LOVE TO MEET YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THERE FOR BREAKFAST.

AGAIN, LET'S GO BACK TO HANGAR CAFE COUNCIL MEMBER ENCINA.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

JUST A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT AS WE HEAD INTO THE MLK WEEKEND.

UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A DAY OFFER 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 GONNA REMIND YOU ON HOW WE ACTUALLY GOT HERE FIGHTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

UM, AND TAKE THAT TIME TO REFLECT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, HAPPY ALKI MONTH.

AND I, WITH THAT, I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO THE VICE MAYOR AS THE WILL WILL BE GIVING US, UH, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S COMING UP WITH OUR MLK AWARDS, UH, THIS COMING UP.

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 GONNA 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 GRAFFITI OF REMOVAL OR SOLAR OR RECYCLING OR STREETS, INFRASTRUCTURE, WHATEVER IT WAS, WE HAVE LED THE, THIS, THIS, UH, THIS VALLEY.

AND, UH, WE'LL TAKE UP YOUR CHALLENGE AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND, UH, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS A MUCH BETTER COMMUNITY.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION JUST FOR, UH, OUR, OUR FIRE CHIEF IN THE BACK.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.

UM, THOSE OF YOU THAT SPOKE TONIGHT, OR I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO, UM, SHARE THAT WITH ME.

SHARE THAT WITH THE REST OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AS WELL.

UM, I FEEL TERRIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

UM, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS, I'M TALKING WITH KATIE LAST WEEK, TALKING WITH STEPHANIE OVER THE PHONE WITH SITUATION THAT SHE WAS IN.

UM, PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME KNOW THAT I'M KIND OF AN ACTIVATOR.

UM, I TRY 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, AND GILBERT TALKING WITH JEFF BROWN AND QUEEN CREEK.

UM, AND, AND WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND CREATING CONSORTIUM OF FOLKS THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND COMPARE NOTES.

NOT ONLY IS GONNA HAPPEN IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S GONNA 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 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 FORWARD BECAUSE, 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 DEPARTMENTS DID ANNOUNCE WE HAD A RECORD BREAKING DROP IN CRIME RATES.

I KNOW THAT DOESN'T, UH, I'M TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO COMMEND OUR POLICE CHIEF WHO RETIRED TODAY.

UM, SEAN DUGGAN, 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'LL TAKE CARE OF THOSE.

BUT I WANTED TO WISH CHIEF DUGGAN THE VERY BEST IN HIS RETIREMENT.

AND AND IF YOU SEE HIM, UH, DO THE SAME, HE IS A REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE MAN.

SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL PASS IT ON TO OD THANK YOU.

I'VE HEARD, THANK YOU.

MARK.

[01:20:01]

I'VE HEARD THAT HE IS GONNA START VOLUNTEERING WITH, WITH YOU.

IS THAT CORRECT? ? ME PERSONALLY.

UM, FIRST I WANTED TO SHOUT MY WIFE OUT RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S THAT DOMINANT VOICE THAT I HAVE IN MY EAR.

SHE'S PASSIONATE, SHE CARESS.

UH, 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 WANNA 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 HARD WORK.

AND WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE CARE ABOVE EVERYTHING.

AND SO I JUST WANNA 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 COUNCIL BETTER AS A VICE MAYOR, I'M HERE TO DO THAT.

AND I'M HERE TO AGAIN, JUST SERVE.

UM, I WANNA 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 GIMME THE PEP TALK.

THAT'S MY SOFT PLACE TO RUN AND ESCAPE TO.

AND SHE'S ALWAYS CREATED A OASIS FOR ME.

OH MY GOD.

AND I'M NOT SAYING IT 'CAUSE 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 IS OKAY.

Y'ALL CAN CLAP FOR MY WIFE .

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 GONNA HAPPEN THIS MLK WEEKEND.

UM, SO ON TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AWARDS.

THAT IS GONNA BE FRIDAY, JANUARY 12TH FROM FOUR AT FOUR TO 5:00 PM IS GONNA BE RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNCIL OF CHAMBERS.

SO FOUR TO FIVE, WE'RE GONNA BE HERE AT THE COUNCIL OF 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 7:00 PM WE'RE GONNA HAVE A AFTER PARTY AT THE, UM, WEST ALLEY BARBECUE.

SO IT'S GONNA BE FREE FOOD THERE.

SO PLEASE COME AFTER YOU COME TO THE WARS, GO OVER THERE, UH, TO THE WEST ALLEY BARBECUE FROM FIVE TO SEVEN.

IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING.

AND THEN THE AFTER, AFTER PARTY, RIGHT? , UM, FROM SEVEN TO 10, THERE'S GONNA BE A LIVE BAND THERE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW WE DO.

THERE'S A PARTY, THEN THERE'S A AFTER PARTY, AND THERE'S A AFTER AFTER PARTY.

THAT'S WHAT WE DOING.

SO MY LAST ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE, UH, MONDAY IS JANUARY 15TH.

IT'S 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, INEQUALITY 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 FOUR TO FIVE, 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 SIGNIFICANTLY TO CREATING A COMPASSIONATE AND SOCIALLY JUST COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION TO HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

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.

AND I DON'T THINK, I, I DON'T THINK THE RIGHT WORDS EXIST FOR WHAT WE ALL FEEL FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THANKS, .

WELL, THIS HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL EVENING, AND YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF YOU OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND STEPHANIE, THANKS FOR TALKING TO ME TOO.

I'M A MOM AS WELL.

MY BOYS ARE 22, AND I HAVE A 17-YEAR-OLD IN, IN HIGH SCHOOL HERE AT, UM, IN CHANDLER.

[01:25:01]

I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WE, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE PARENTS ON THE DAIS.

UM, I, I THINK WE ALL, I I THINK YOU FELT THE EMPATHY.

I THINK WE ALL HAVE THAT.

SO ALL I WANNA 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 GONNA TAKE THIS INCREDIBLY SERIOUSLY.

WE'RE GONNA LISTEN TO YOU.

WE, IF YOU HAVE IDEAS, WE, WE WERE GONNA 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 GONNA LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND, UM, AND TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.

NOTHING TONIGHT, MAYOR.