February 18, 2025 — Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Manually captioned by City of Boulder staff. All segments attributed to uploader — not individual speaker labels. [MM:SS] timestamps correspond to the YouTube recording.

[0:09] Okay, everybody we are live. This is the February 2025 Hrc. Meeting de Boulder. Tonight. We have a interpretation service for those who would like to listen in to the meeting, or participate in the meeting in English or Spanish. If you can navigate to the bottom of your screen, you should see a globe that says interpretation underneath it click on the globe and select the list. The language that you would like to listen and participate to tonight's meeting in Si puede navegar Al manu en la parte abajo de estu pantaya de bever UN globo mundial esta reunion

[1:25] cool. Jh: Alright! With that I will pass it over to you. Jh, and let me start sharing my screen.

[2:02] Jh: Christian. I didn't hear it. Did you start the recording already? If I may ask. Yes, sir. Jh: Oh, okay, I just wanna make sure. Jh: So so okay. Jh: I am like Rusty. Now, I feel like, I'm sorry. Should we just do the number one Christian. Is that correct? The call of order? It's 6 14. Jh: And today is February 18, th 2025, and what Jh: is that? Is that? That's the whole question. I'm so sorry. That's why I wanted covers to do it. You're you're good. We've called the meeting to order. Jh: Order, yeah. Move right along to number 2. Any agenda adjustments. Jh: Any agenda adjustment at this point, if I may ask

[3:01] Yo tengo una pregunta para la genda. Jh: Can you help me again. Las updates del staff. I will do the staff update tonight. If we have any follow up. That would require Elizabeth or any. During the discussion. That's good. Peso por eso preguntaba. Okay, yes, we have a a couple of items, and I may have sent you an agenda that I saved before I had put those in there. So I apologize for that. No stop being gracias.

[4:04] Jh: Are you gonna do the adjustment, or should I wait. We didn't didn't have an adjustment. Carlos was just asking a clarifying question on the agenda that went out on Friday. Jh: That's funny. Okay. So it doesn't sound like we have any agenda adjustments. So we can move right along to number 3. Approval of meeting minutes. Jh: Okay, the give me a second. We are moving to the approval of the minutes from january Jh: 1, st 2020 21, January 21, st 2025, so. Move, to. Jh: Say, Hi! Jh: Can you see I don't. I can't see myself.

[5:01] El mes deanero. I second that motion. Jh: And I'll say Hi! All in favor. See. Jh: Okay, cool. Jh: Okay. 3rd one is trying to navigate that. And I'm sorry, guys, I apologize. Jh: And at this point we have open comments. Is that correct, Christian? From 6, 15 to 6, 25. We are rolling right along, and yes, you are correct. It would be open comment. However, we do not have any members of the public joining us tonight. Jh: That's even better. Okay? Jh: And Okay. Jh: So okay, any action items? You said none. And that, too, I saw that. And then.

[6:01] Jh: So now it's moving to discussion of and informational items. So looks like. See you difficult dialogues, is there? So myself, Emily? Figure and Christian all attended a trial run of the cu difficult dialogues with Jennifer. Ho! I think I think it went really well, it was nice to have that experience. And yeah, it would be interesting to discuss kind of where we go from. Here. It seemed like there were multiple potential options, including like whether some of us wanted to be trained to facilitate difficult dialogues. Yeah, I wonder if anybody else wants to fill in a little bit more of context of what they're remembering and where we might want to take this discussion.

[7:05] I don't have too much to add. But yeah, I also found the meeting really like informative and very useful. I think that the community could benefit from a discussion like that. There were definitely some comments that we made with adjustments, because, I think everyone kind of felt like the dialogue was being had. You as a separate person with the person that was like the host, but not really with one another. I don't know if we are able to make any changes with that, because it's already kind of a structured method that they have that we just have to follow. But nonetheless, I think it'll be useful. She did talk about how she's unable to probably have host all of all of the events herself. So she was wanting to train us if anybody was open to that, but that I didn't know what the timeline for that looked like. I don't recall.

[8:08] Yeah, I second, what you're saying ficker about the structure seeming a little in my words, a little bit too rigid, and not the way that we were practicing it. It came to light at the end. That we were practicing it pretty like straight. It was Jh, and Carlos. It was like a They called it the interview game, but it was. There were different categories of questions, and a few people answered questions from each category, and the 1st few categories were about people us generally. and why we were at the dialogue, and then the last few were about the difficult dialogue topic. and Jennifer provided some context throughout she participated a little bit.

[9:03] I I really appreciated how it focused very much on the person speaking's perspective, and nobody got like. There was no crosstalk or anything, and not that that I would expect that from our group necessarily, but definitely from groups that have these core tensions. After the dialogue, I think, Erin, to answer your question, I feel like a core question for me is still like, What's what is our goal of this difficult dialogue engagement. I did without knowing what our goal is. I loved the idea of us helping support in whatever way that looked like the fall engagement, and that would be a more general session on, maybe like how to approach difficult conversations. And then also Erin, like you, said to have a few of us trained and maybe we could host a number of dialogues next spring, or some something

[10:11] to that extent. But I will say I am still kind of unclear what our goal is, but I think that's important to decide. If we can. Yeah, I like, I like the intention of like moving towards. It. Seems like we would like to help with dialogues. And I think there's like enough enough coherence around like we want to help with dialogues. Yeah, I don't. I don't feel total clarity on what the ideal next step is, I also feel interested in us like getting trained and being able to do it, and maybe being able to support dialogues. I'm like that could be an interesting thing if a few of us got trained, and that was an option. But yeah, I'm not totally sure. Yeah, I would love to hear from Carlos and jade thoughts on this. And I'd also like to hear from yeah, Christian, since you were also there. If you have any

[11:00] thing. maybe maybe Christian 1st since you were there. Sure, and I think also, let me see, because Jh. Is pretty new to the conversation. Carlos wasn't. I'm able to attend, but has been more involved in the conversation thus far. This came out of, if I'm remembering correctly a public comment that we had from a community member several months ago. Reaching out to the Hrc. And urging some action around addressing tension in the community. The context that the community member at public comment brought this to the Hrc. Was in light of the like ongoing conflict in Israel, in Gaza, between Israel and Palestine.

[12:05] And through some work with Aaron our city manager, Nuria, as well as Center for humanities and arts. With Cu we got hooked up with Dr. Jennifer. Ho! Who facilitates this sort of process, this difficult dialogues process that we have been talking about. Some of the commissioners, myself and Elizabeth attended a sort of pilot run that was off offered by Dr. Ho! And it looked like a facilitated conversation. Oh, we've lost Christian!

[13:01] The kiddo the around on Thursday is there. pero esto escuchando estoydentro SIM grasses. Cool. Yeah, yeah, no, I appreciate it, and totally get that. You had other life things to attend to. But yeah, glad that enough of us were able to go. And I appreciate your yeah interest and willingness to support. With that, I think I I personally think, like getting some of these trainings, and like having that be a thing that we can help with of like supporting dialogues like, I think that's very interesting. So did you have anything else you wanted to say, Christian, since you got boot it off somehow. The Internet over here is going to be in and out. I am learning tonight. This is the second time I got booted out. So if I get booted up, I'm coming back. But

[14:06] keep doing what you're doing. much appreciated and sorry about that. The I think I would just echo what? Emily said, just being super clear on the why, behind, why, we're doing this, and being crystal clear on that as well as what we hope participants who would engage with us if we're going to have commissioners? Be trained in facilitating the dialogue. What would we hope? Somebody who's participating in this walks away from the event with. And so just those 2 kind of things, I would be very supportive of having intentional conversation around and just making sure that we're clear. And this is the right sort of avenue to

[15:01] achieve those goals there. But I agree, Aaron. It is a terrific opportunity, and we sounds like we have a great partner in Dr. Ho! Fantastic Jay, do you have anything you wanna add to the conversation? It's not you with us, jade. Jh: Yes, I'm here. I'm just listening. I was just saying, if you had anything you wanted to add to the conversation. Jh: You know, not really, because I feel like that's been my life here handling hard conversation. Jh: because, it's like how would I put it Jh: last week I was at the kids school, and I'm a volunteer Jh: sometimes the certain things. So I ended up the one because ice wasn't out here putting people on the

[16:04] Jh: bus stops. Jh: so I'm not gonna say, but somebody at the school reached out to me and told me to handle it. So I ended up being the one you know. Jh: doing it, and I don't know. I think nothing. Jh: How would I put it, I think, as an immigrant that's put myself in the middle of most things here. Jh: I think I have, had the enough experience, because I don't know if you know me and my ex-wife. We worked at the Jh: We started pretty much boho! It used to call Boulder homeless overflow, and I was in the middle all the time. Jh: and she ended up leaving it because we were, we couldn't handle it anymore with too much pressure. Jh: Because we had kids. It was a different life. Jh: and then, you know, I want a lot of those I'm not saying the training will not be good for me. I'll be more than happy to participate if I could.

[17:02] Jh: Maybe I will learn something, or maybe they will learn something from me as well. Jh: But I think you know overall what I can say it's a good thing, and Jh: I don't know if it's something I can be part of, I will be more than happy to do it. Jh: Let's put it in 2. Yeah, thanks for thanks for sharing and thanks for sharing your experience. So what's everyone everyone think? Is it? Is there a a step we should take. Now, it sounds like there, we're like interested in exploring the possibilities. Maybe the next step is to express interest in the training and like getting training and getting more details? Or what do you think is needed there, Christian? Or does anybody have any more thoughts around that yet, Emily, you first.st I think if we could get consensus around definitely around getting training, that would be great and maybe ask Jennifer when she needs to know

[18:08] whether we want to be a part of the planning for that bigger dialogue in the fall that they're planning and wanted to see if we wanted to be involved in. And then curious if Christian like, are we allowed to ask city council for their input? Because I would be curious to hear from them or from other stakeholder groups. What might be help they think might be helpful in this situation, because I don't. I don't feel like for me in this conversation. I have enough experience with the city council meetings and the conflict happening there to really be of service. So there are people who are more directly affected. We could talk to to get their input. I think that would be a helpful next step.

[19:01] Yes, I think if I'm remembering correctly from the meeting, April would be when they start to put together. I think, Doctor, who runs on a fiscal year, and so I have April noted as like when they would start planning. For the next round that she mentioned at the pilot meeting the in terms of communication. like with counsel, I think Must be like a bandwidth thing where, when he's talking, it's like this is too much. Yeah. Goodbye! It's right. When you're about to make your point, Christian. Every time. Right when I'm winding up to just when I get any warning for yeah. But in terms of communicating with council, I think. If we had the desire to do that.

[20:08] I could help facilitate that, I would just sort of again point out the sort of catalyst, for I think why, we're having that conversation came up out of Council meetings. I'm not sure the why behind what we're trying to do is necessarily help at council meetings. I think. as Aaron mentioned before, when sort of introing the topic to help members of our community on different sides of a an issue, different sides of a coin to dialogue in a way that is respectful, and productive there. So I think that's my long winded answer to your, to your question, and let me know if you have any. Follow ups on that.

[21:00] No, thank you for that. Rem, the reminder. It's not about making necessarily making the city councils more. I don't know. Run more smoothly. It's to support healing our community and making our community more cohesive and and able to support one another. So that's helpful. That does lead me to wonder. I mean, not that small scale changes. There's nothing wrong with it. And I think a lot of times we need to work in that scale. But I think another potential limit to the way that the the what we did on 3rd on Tuesday was run was that it is so small scale. So if my perspective is like, if we wanted to to make a commitment. it would take quite a lot of these dialogues to really, you know, start engaging with a number of people. in the community versus like the events that I've been to with Jennifer are

[22:05] bigger, like 20 or 30 people at a time. So just weighing those different modalities with impact. I think you make a good point, Emily. Why don't we start with the that event in the fall? That's a lot bigger and kind of see what we can do after that. I mean, it feels like such a long time from now. That's the only thing. I think I'd like I'd like us to see some to take some kind of step in the short term that feels like it's like moving with our intentions doesn't have to be big like, whether it's getting training or something. But like for, personally, I'd like us to to see us take some kind of kind of step before the fall. I don't. I don't totally know what that step should be, though. Do we want to get a temperature check on

[23:02] getting trained, and then see if we agree that we want to be trained. See what Jennifer's availability is, and that could be a next step. Yeah, I think I think that would be good. Like, maybe maybe Christian, you can help support like figuring that out from Jennifer side. And also, if there's anything that's needed from like the city side, to see that as a possibility. But yeah. sounds like sounds like there's interest interest from from all of us. Including probably jh, although I I imagine. Jh: Oh, yes, this is probably. After cause you're jay. When when does your tenure end? It's coming up right. Jh: Oh, 5 years! It's coming up, I think, in May. In May. Okay? So you so you might, you might have time to still get trained with us if you want. Yeah. Jh: Yeah, yeah. Cool, sweet, so do we have 5 thumbs up to interested in training. Definitely, and maybe Christian.

[24:01] Jh, just confirming like, would you like to be included in the training because that would put a re like a that would be important to communicate to Jennifer, to say like, is it possible. Jh: For you, to. Marinas. So April. Jh: Okay. Awesome. April Christian would be the ideal. Yeah, time frame sounds like great. I do just want to. So I am tracking. Follow up items well. Aaron, you mentioned if there's anything needed from the city side. In addition to reaching out to dr. Ho! Can you just clarify what you meant there? So I'm clear on it. Like I I don't. I don't know if the city would have to approve anything. I don't know if like, there's any cost associated. But yeah, just like anything. Anything that needs a yes, from anybody in the city. Just if you can support that. For sure, absolutely.

[25:00] Sweet that covers that one. We've got 2 more discussion items. Cool. Jh. Was the next discussion item, the. Jh: Thank you. Jh: The lab doesn't come back. Human trafficking presentation. Yeah. So ficker was grabbing her laptop. But correct me if I'm wrong, I think the only thing we need to focus on right now is just getting the word out. So, Christian. I had counted on seeing you on Tuesday, so I need to set up a time with you, and now that I am unemployed, I have a lot of time to distribute the flyers so I could take probably 30 flyers or so. Christian and I will just email you or text you to set up a time to pick them up from the office. Are you in the office every day?

[26:06] Typically 2 to 3 times a week. I can make it in according to whatever folks schedules are. So we can coordinate that I think if you need printed flyers, I'm happy to do that. Just send me a text or send me an email with how many you would like, and sometimes that you're available. and folks can just do that directly to me. And I'm happy to either leave them at the front desk for you, or hand them over to you personally. Great. Thank you. I think, Aaron, you mentioned you were going to do some online publicity. Is that something you need any like support or input around or. Just just like Fireflyer Link. I'll just include it in my in my my newsletter.

[27:05] Okay, cool. Vicar or anyone else? Is there anything we want to touch base with like day of like, do we want to plan to get there half an hour early, or something to be there to be with Kara, and if if not, everybody can show up at that time no big deal but day of logistics. Yeah, I think showing up early would only be helpful. We can touch base with Kira. Can you remind me the day it is? Yeah. It is Tuesday, March 18.th Okay. So the evening that we would typically be meeting is this? What is that? The 3rd Tuesday?

[28:00] And then we have the space starting at 5 30 pm. So folks can. I will plan to be over there a little bit before and it is like restricted access. You need a badge to like buzz in, and so I can make sure I'm there a little bit ahead of time if you want to be there as well as watching the doors to let members of the public in thus far, I will say I did get a I was just checking my email. got a update from Kara. We have 4 registrants so far out of a 60 person capacity room. So definitely, want to make sure that we are reaching out to our audiences and out to our community. Yeah, thank you. Carlos. Oh, sorry! Jh: Can I get Steve? Give us, you know, is.

[29:01] Jh: if you only have 4 I can. I can. Jh: As if I we got let me see maybe 7 files. I can. Jh: you know, because I have a group that I meet here once a week at like ozo on like Jh: it's about 25 people to 30, I think I can invite them. And I have another group on South Polar, and that it's a group of women that I work with, so they would be more than happy to participate as well. But I don't know which day works best. So for me, if you can leave it in the front desk. That would be easier. Jh: So if I'm like dropping somebody off downtown or pick up doing some errands for the shop. That would be easier. I can pick it up, pick them up, and then Jh: go from there. Great. Thank you. Jh, Carlos, you said you wanted to say something. Seemo dietreso tenemos la renante simo e me gustaria que invitacione en estar union

[30:15] voya esteable con brenda para que les manion lapso de diaz minutos para hablar soveresto. That's awesome. Yeah, either Carlos, happy to receive the invitation from you directly or through Brenda or Christian. But yeah, I would love. love, the opportunity to come, speak, and yeah, talk with people and Christian, are we? Were we able to secure

[31:02] Spanish interpretation for that meeting? Awesome? Thank you. Spanish interpretation and light refreshments. We will. We'll be there. Great, and if there are 4 participants they will be heavy refreshments. Dinner for all of us. Presumably 4 plus us, unless we are the 4 in which case, yes, it'll be. There'll be plenty to go around. That's true. We'll double the we'll double the participant count. Okay. Amazing. Well, great. It sounds like we still have some outreach to do, which is okay. It's a month away. Still. But plan, is it okay to? Sorry, Emily, is it okay to post it on my Facebook? If. Jh: Take a picture of it. Okay, excellent. Absolutely I will share out as well.

[32:01] Just before I, Emily, I think I feel like you were about to maybe move to a different topic while on the outreach piece as well. I got 2 file formats. One is better for social media, and one is better for printing, and so I'll make sure that you all have. I believe I sent them all out to you guys, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll make sure you get these social media ones because they came in a little bit after, and then I plan on We do have Bvsd the school district support, so they will be helping us with some outreach as well as I'm talking with our my communications colleague, who's embedded in Hhs to see if we can do a press release about the event as well. So hoping both of those can definitely boost attendance as well.

[33:05] Thank you all so much. Jh: Are we moving to the next topic? Jh: Can you hear me. Did we miss that? You can think of? Okay. No, I don't think so. I think everything's good. I I don't think we got the social media format Christian. Because I saw the other one, so that would be great, because I that's kind of how I would share it, too. Can do.

[34:13] Jh: Should we move to the next? Item there, guys, which is the immigrant ticket? Jh: It's immigrant resources. Yes, that is the next one up there. I can share a little bit of this unless JH. Carlos. You want to start off a combo. Personas que que stane que se actualizen con gente que este capacitada para que les de e que tiene algun de lito.

[35:26] See hey hasta donde. Even the main commentad, okay estas personas porque 10 arguna delito que Cavian comitido anteriormente. See in otre cosa de la que scuce de que fort Collins and Brighton.

[36:28] See para para la gente migrante es loquest. Yes, and last meeting, or after last meeting, I shared out a couple

[37:01] resources, a couple of flyers and upcoming events from community organizations in Boulder County that are helping to lead sort of education of anyone interested in learning as well as specifically for are undocumented or immigrant populations. so that folks know what to do if they do find themselves confronted with some of the situations, Carlos, that you're mentioning here. I am continuing to collect information as it comes in. And we'll push that out to you all. As I can. I don't. There has not been a lot of more to share. aside from Boulder County, has a website that is live there updating it with

[38:00] more information specifically for the immigrant community as well as after our last meeting and before this meeting I believe it was january 30.th I want to say Nuria and our city leadership. send out a sort of open letter to the community which I included in your meeting packets that reaffirms boulder's commitment to the community, which means everybody. regardless of immigrant immigration status, regardless of race, creed, etc. Etc. We are here to serve the community. That we are charged with serving so. If you haven't read that, I strongly recommend that you do If you have questions about it, or are interested in connecting with any of the groups that I send information out

[39:06] about. I'm happy to help facilitate that connection as well. Let me go store. He was de mi parte de la we have Laport Bikumar. Latina may was agradesco a la Ciudaden, lo que loyo que que Estadan do item Si entrance decky see policia la pors de migracione ellos no vana participar enesto e step

[40:16] mini most common choke case or oversee acer algo. Same entonces la public en este caso. I'm really glad to hear, Carlos, that there has been proactive sounds like outreach by local law enforcement to reassure folks that they won't be doing

[41:06] won't be acting as immigration officers. That's really good to hear. Jh: I think it's still a good thing, but at the same time I don't think it. Jh: How do I say it's Jh: I don't know what I'm looking for. I don't think it Jh: It lowered the amount of fear. To be honest with you. Those immigrants have, because, Jh: I know a lot of immigrants here, and you know, I got blessed that, you know. At least I have papers here. Jh: and one thing that I think I can tell you that's nice about this community. I'm not speaking for anybody else. I'm gonna speak for myself. Jh: So I was reached by so many like anybody who met me before.

[42:03] Jh: How would I say I got divorced? They know what about legally here. Okay. But anyone that I met after that that's a totally different life for me, because, you know, I had to recreate my life after you get divorced is different, I can tell you. You know a lot of people reach out Jh: just to tell me if I ever need any support. If anything ever happened they will be there. So I think that's a good thing in that community, you know. And Jh: one of the experience I've had here in the past 2 weeks. I'll put it that way. That. It's insane to see the amount of people that's been living here. Jh: And I mean people that's been living here over 20 years Jh: never done anything wrong to the community. Jh: Own businesses own houses, you know. Have, child, that's probably going to college, some of them. Jh: How much they are afraid which I never. You know, I didn't know it was a thing like that, or

[43:04] Jh: you can have kids here all right and own a house Jh: like pay taxes still pay taxes. That's the problem that I that I have and still Jh: be afraid. After 20, you know 20 years that Jh: you can just be, you know, someone can come and knock on your door and say, Well, you're done. Jh: you know. I don't know. I feel like it's still. I don't think I think it's happened so quick, the way happening. People think it was a joke, I think, like people thought, Oh, that's not possible. Jh: And I've had a few meeting, not to the Hrc. But to a lot of immigrants group here. Jh: That Jh: How would I put it that Jh: didn't know or didn't understand like how huge, that is, until. Jh: for example, a friend was arrested and sent back a cousin or somebody that

[44:06] Jh: you know get stopped by, which is like Carol said. Today I was surprised by Jh: somebody that got stopped by the cop that get a simple ticket Jh: for a break light and then boom! They're becoming the target. So I don't know. I feel like it's Jh: I know I do believe in players, players does work. Jh: and I have some friends here that they choose not to drive anymore. They make their kids drive them Jh: because they still have a valid understanding. They still have a valid driver's license, but they still worry like. Jh: if it's them that gets stopped. Jh: anything could happen. But if the case driving them, they still have the right to say, well, you know what I'm a passenger in that vehicle. That's it. Jh: So you know, I just wanted to share that. Thank you. Thank you. Jay H. For sharing that and that.

[45:00] Yeah. Reflecting that the visits or that active outreach has maybe not reached everybody. That's making me curious. If anybody here has ideas on like what gaps are there that, and and maybe maybe reducing fear is not the best thing I don't know. I don't want to live in a community where people are afraid that they will be deported. But I also don't want to live in a community where we're trying to obscure real risk. So I don't know. What do you all think there's a role for Hrc. To play in supporting like accurate information dissemination, or, like any other supportive role we could play. Is the in English Colorado, tiene UN numero no se silo puedas tamping yesando aquien colorado.

[46:29] See. Jh: Which group is it, Carlos? If I may ask. Pardon. Jh: Is that good? Respuesta Rapido de Colorado. The thing one is. Jh: I'll take it. Yeah. Jh: Well, because I know there are a lot of groups. Every group. Let me put it that way. I feel like it's every ethnicity makes their own group

[47:01] Jh: cause they try to communicate, you know, have a network to communicate among themselves to see if it's you know what they can do. Jh: so. She isn't so a million a chat. Jh: Yeah. I'm not sure. Carlos, is there a web page? Do you know I googled it? And this is what came up, but I don't know if they have a web page or not. I see Aclu, Colorado has. Lavordano. Okay. Facebook. Nice. Okay?

[48:05] So Carlos, making sure this number is widely disseminated in our community. So people feel like they have somewhere to access this resource. They know it. It exists in case they want to access it. Great. Esmos estado promobiendo y pues estoy yeah mar la la gente encaso de que tengan alcuna pregun.

[49:08] This is like such a really useful resource. I just opened the link that Emily sent. So thank you, Carlos, for sharing that. Do another. Jh: Anything else about that case. Feels feels good. I appreciate all the all the discussion everyone's presence with. It sounds good to me.

[50:01] Jh: Well. Jh: I can add one thing for you from a business owner here, I can tell you. So far in the past 2 weeks Jh: from what I've seen, it does affect it does affect the community. Jh: And Jh: How would I put it like. Jh: I know, a lot of people take risks. But most places that I order parts from they're using Doordash. Jh: which they charge on me. Jh: And in the past it was not that way. And I don't think there's a solution for that, because I've talked to a few owners of those or managers at those stores. Jh: So the problem with it is is that? It's the Internet of 8 Jh: that's there. So let's say, I am the driver.

[51:02] Jh: and you're an over the counter person. Jh: There is a constant threat to say, Oh, you better be careful with me. I will call ice. Jh: and I feel like Jh: you know, from what we have talked about. It's like these people realize they are powerless. Jh: Just understand just that phrase or sentence, whatever you call it. Jh: saying, Oh, yeah, you can't do anything now. Alcohol ice. It's like, it makes people leave. Jh: and really like a different Jh: situation. And and I can tell you, like it's been. Jh: It's been really hard like delivery that I used to have for like Jh: within 15 min. It's over 2 2 h now. Jh: and it's again. It cost more because they have to Doordash it to me, and they just charge it, you know.

[52:06] Jh: Charge the cost on me because there is no delivery drivers. So let's just Jh: you know it's an experiment. So Jh: we're wrong, and that's been absolutely not wrong. Jh: 5. Jh: Cool. There's anything else. Should we move to the next? Item? There, guys, can you hear me? Yeah, thanks. That's good. Jh: Yeah, I have to read it. My eyes are getting older. I don't know if that's too much too many medicines. So Jh: okay, let me see, I okay. Now, it's Commissioners, updates. Jh: which is right on time, because it says, Yeah.

[53:15] I can provide an update. Unfortunately, it's pretty personal to me. I was a probationary Federal employee up until last Thursday, and I, along with, I believe, the most recent count was 40,000 Coloradans alone, up to 200,000 or 250,000 people nationwide, were laid off without cause. So probationary, just means you're in your 1st year of service, and then it's usually just a box that your boss checks to move you past that status, and this administration is using it as an excuse just to let us go because we have fewer protections.

[54:04] So that has a lot of implications for social services in our State for the unemployment offices, seeing like an overburden of caseloads. I'm sure our workforce centers are going to be overloaded. Our snap benefits Medicaid. and some of those are, as you all probably know, also up for axing by the spending bill that they want to pass. So yeah, just another like human relations. Thing happening. I don't know how many Feds are in Boulder, Colorado. It's like, you know, it was kind of hiked to get down to to Golden, where I worked. But I suspect many people at least know someone serving.

[55:00] So it's I think I share that with you both from the personal perspective of, you know, major life update laid off without cause, without we weren't given any severance. and we have health benefits for another month and then are cut off, but also that it's it's likely to have a lot of ripple effects, because there are every different kind of government service we use. They've now laid off the most. the freshest feds so Feds that were doing anything from aviation traffic control. They laid off at my organization and then tried to rehire our nuclear security people. So it's a big deal, and it's not the last set of firing. So the next phase is reduction in force, which means that each agency has to go through a plan to significantly reduce their workforce. And

[56:13] I don't know anyone who knows someone who works for the Federal Government or has worked for them knows that most of us are working really hard and working multiple jobs. I know folks in the local government oftentimes feel that, too, but I feel I feel mad, and I feel like really pretty, also pretty fearful for what the the ripple effects are going to be on every Government service, we take advantage, or take for granted. Sorry to hear that, Molly. Yeah. thanks for thanks for sharing everything. Yeah, if there's any. Jh: Or can hear that, too, Emily, it's pretty.

[57:01] Yeah, is there any way that we can be of support to you. I mean, if you see any jobs you think I'd be a good fit for. That's great. Jh: Hiring. I'm just joking. I'm not very good with my hands stage. I just waited in line for an hour to ask someone to help me replace my car battery which I was then told was very easy. Jh: You couldn't call me, though I'm sorry. Yeah, I I don't think there is much, Erin. I think I'm I'm grateful to have you all and to I have a lot of support. And there's there's a big cohort of us going out into the workforce, which is in some ways really bad for competition, but nice that there's a lot of solidarity and resource sharing happening. Okay. Yeah. It also means I have more time for Hrc, so you have other tasks for me. I'm up for it. Christian. You canceled the the meeting on the day got fired, and you know, really

[58:16] actual work. No, I'm just kidding. Did not know that was happening. I'm sorry. I didn't. I didn't either. At 9 30 no. Nice, I think, just to reiterate something that I heard earlier. I believe. Jh, you were talking about it. Well, Carlos and jade sort of in regards to the supports that we have for the immigrant community. In Boulder and Boulder County. We have many agencies and many organizations. Sort of like bodies working towards supporting various facets of our community. But jh, specifically, I think you mentioned the

[59:02] maybe more friends, peers, family network that operates outside of those like official bodies. And so I think we are fortunate to have a lot of nonprofits support from our government, local government, etc, but also support amongst community members. As well. We are fortunate to live in a community that is more tight knit than others that I have seen, and so, Emily, I hope that and everybody, for that matter, I hope, able to get the support that you need, and you're looking for through that community. And I'm really sorry and frustrated to hear that that's happen to a number of folks, Emily included. Yeah, thanks. I, yeah, I want to emphasize. I'm definitely sharing it here because it's like really impacting my life right now. And like.

[60:03] do not have any idea, but am scared for how it's going to trickle down to the lives of of everybody, especially people who depend on government systems regularly. I think tax season is going to be interesting. And just a lot of things that people already thought were slow. yeah, we just don't really know, and I don't know Christian like if you and Elizabeth can talk about it, or what. But I you know there was a spending freeze at the start of the Administration, and I don't know how many government grants our city or Hhs. Relies on. But I I think those are all they all can become human rights issues very quickly when, when assistance and support people rely on our cutoff.

[61:00] I am not as well versed in terms of what we receive from Federal funding. I can see at a local level. some of the public benefits that you're mentioning. Snap assistance, medicaid Medicare etc. Those are administered by the county rather than the city, and so I imagine. That may be an area that is very much impacted by. What we're talking about right now. I can say that we're like monitoring the situation, paying close attention for potential impacts. I I personally don't believe the office of human rights receives any federal funding. I would be shocked. I don't believe so. So it hasn't really impacted. at least for the immediate like my little network here.

[62:04] But with anything we don't know quit. Well, the like, full impacts and full effects of these decisions. We're paying attention. We're learning more and more each day. Jh: I don't have a folder. Jh: Oh. Sorry. you know a todo estos unidos porque affectado mucha gente mention haste lo de los incuestos the me enter ado porgente

[63:00] que tambien ancido recortado los los impuestos lo que recivianantes a lo estan precipienta ora YA las candida de son muy muy diferentes eslo que men. I don't. I wish I could offer any any insight. I'm I'm not sure. Did the did their tax bracket change. Your pasado, old. Yeah, I I again, I'm not a tax expert whatsoever. But I seem to remember seeing somewhere that the tax brackets were changing.

[64:08] I was referring a little more towards like processing of refunds and and stuff. But and that's a great point, Carlos, that people can maybe already be seeing at their filing that they're not going to get as much. Is a the connectoresignificativo pero esta, o cupado, camb, and all goodness courses.

[65:21] Jh: No. Jh: Well, I think. It's for me. Jh: Hopefully, Emily, you don't let it kill you because it's just. Jh: I think it's a time we're gonna have all of us to cope with. Jh: because, you know, it's gonna be hard like. I have to tell you that. Jh: I don't think it Jh: brings fear in me personally, because I know I have a good statures here. Everything is good. Jh: But I think what it brings to me brings stress where Jh: most people are worried about you. Something's gonna happen, even though

[66:03] Jh: I have paper. And to add to what Carol said and what happened to you, there is a small community here with it's about 26, or 27 women Jh: where they have kids with disabilities. Jh: and they are the I don't think it's guardian. I don't know the name of it like where they. Jh: because they have to be there full time for the kid. Does that make sense? Jh: And I was in a meeting at a church on South Boulder Road, where they were all it hasn't happened yet. Jh: but they were all worried like if the Government caught funding for them like, because, you know, with a kid, with that kind of problem Jh: where they have to be with somebody 24, 7, Jh: there's no way they would be able to do that. But so far nothing happened yet, but hopefully, you know. Jh: with some good action somebody can stop that hemorrhag, I'll say to make it better, you know.

[67:10] Jh: So. Yeah, thanks for sharing about another group of people who are bracing for impact on the Federal level. Really important to, I've been calling my legislators calling my congresspeople. Couple of them voted for the secretary that I don't know what role the secretaries had in the layoffs, but there were some. There were some appointees sign in our termination letters, so I don't know how many of y'all are politically active. But Making sure the lawmakers are hearing from us, knowing that that we're being impacted. And people we love are being impacted.

[68:16] Jh, are you talking to us? Sorry. I think you're muted. Jh: No, I was asking my son something. Okay, it's okay. Well, we wanted to hear what you were asking him. Well, we move on to the next item in the agenda. Jh, did you give your personal update. Jh: My personal update. Well, I'm healthier now. So I've been bottling

[69:02] Jh: the respiratory issue for a while. And how would I put it. Jh: Gosh! I have been. I've done every task possible from and X-rays MRI, sleep, study. Jh: I didn't. I don't remember the name of it like. And I did respiratory therapy and everything. I am better. And then, I think it was a couple of weeks ago I got the norovirus, which is. Jh: which was horrible. I couldn't even talk Jh: because he was like just got me. Jh: But overall after that I think maybe it was the. The last one. Jh: So yeah, I did everything I even did. How do you call it? Like they thought I had mole in my house. I even did a mole study. We had 9 of it.

[70:01] Jh: cause they couldn't find anything, and that was the issue. Jh: And what else did I do? They made me turn my bed. It's like, I don't know I'm like Jh: it is what it is. I did it all, but I do feel better. Jh: Life is good kids are healthy, and you know I how would I say? Jh: You know I'm praying. God keeps me healthy for a little bit longer, because I don't think I can handle any more sickness. Jh: Okay, before I kind of have a crisis, if that makes sense Jh: so. But you know I'm better and thank you Jh: and thank you, Carlos, for doing all you have done. And I love you guys, and I appreciate it all. So thank you. I'm glad you're feeling better. Jh, that sounds like a lot that you've been dealing with. Yeah. Jh: Yeah, it's been a lot, and you know I'm almost broke. I love laughing, though it's okay. As long as I'm as long as I'm healthy, I'll make it again. So.

[71:13] You know what they say. His wealth. Jh: Sorry I couldn't hear hear you, Emily. What did you say? You know what they say. Health is wealth. Jh: It is well, it is. And I how would I say that Jh: after past 2 months, after 2 and a half months Jh: I do realize it like. There was a time I was driving home. Jh: and I didn't have my inhaler. They give me an inhaler with like something, and I couldn't breathe. Jh: so I just call 9 1 1. They picked me up and left the car there and straight to the er Jh: so I thought I was not gonna even make it so. Jh: But it is, it's better. So Jh: it is. Well, so if you have it, take care of it.

[72:09] Jh: So anything else, guys. Hmm, wow! That was a short meeting. I have a staff update. If we're ready to move into that. Jh: Sure. Before we wrap up I will be the last thing that stands between everybody and dinner. Sorry. I just have a few items to run through February is black History month, and there have been a number of events. Going on in the community. Most of them have actually took place before this meeting. However, there are a couple more opportunities boulder.

[73:00] We have 2 one art gallery. Exhibition, that is, will be open until through this weekend it's up at the Nobo art. The bus stop gallery. It is called the space between us, the black and white of it. And on February 20 second is the closing reception. It's going to be the last day. There, but that is free and open to the public that is all the way way up. Just a little bit past Lee Hill on North Broadway. And I will send this out to you, as I usually do afterwards. As well. The Museum of Boulder has proclaiming Colorado's Black History, the 18 forties to today. This is at the Museum of Boulder. You'll have through September of this year to go see the exhibit.

[74:07] And last, but not least, the Carnegie branch of the library has a Collection of stories, documents from black business owners in Boulder through the years that is supposed to be very, very interesting, and that will be available as well through the end of February in honor of Black History month. So those are 3 opportunities in the community still. and then 2 other just sort of general items I mentioned at the last meeting. There was a City Council study session on homelessness programs. That took place last Thursday, the 13th that is available. If you are interested

[75:02] in checking it out that is available on the City Council's youtube page, you'll see Elizabeth, as well as our department director, Kurt Fernhaber, and a number of department staff who are working on homelessness. Initiatives give a presentation on some year over year, data as well as what the city is and community is doing to address homelessness. And last, but not least, we have interviews as we have talked about. One of our commissioners. Jh, our chair. this term is coming up, and so we have interviews lined up for new commissioners in the next few weeks that will be taking place. And so

[76:02] that is moving along. And I believe the April meeting is when they would be seated. Once selection occurs. so just an update that that is happening. Oh, and one last item as well. Carlos specifically asked for some information on the chronic nuisance ordinance, which I believe you all may have. either heard a presentation on or given, provided some feedback on in 2024, prior to my tenure, or prior to my time here. The chronic nuisance ordinance was approved in August of 2024, and did take effect in September of 2024, and I'll just share the city web page that has more information on it. If you're interested in learning about that. But just to close that loop there

[77:00] was voted in by council and has taken effect. That's what I got for you. Well, good job, everybody! We made it. Look at that 7, 29. We're like right on time. Oh, you're back, jade. Jh: Yes, I'm back. Yeah. I was listening. Jh: Cool. So thanks, Christian. And Jh: let's see, should we take a motion to adjourn. In the meeting. Jh: Yeah. They second, that motion. Jh: Okay. Hi, thank you. Okay. Jh: Good to see you all really good to see you again. Jh: Good to see you, sir. Those, when. Better. Jh. Jh: 0.