[00:00:05]
SO, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR SEVENTH AGENDA MEETING OF THE YEAR TO ORDER.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
WE'LL OPEN UP WITH AN INVOCATION BY JUSTICE MCCOY, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY JUSTICE BLACKWOOD.IF YOU COULD, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? DEARLY, FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY.
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
WE THANKFUL FOR THE GUESTS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE THAT SOME OF US KNOW JOYCE ELLIOTT.
BE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AS WE GO ABOUT THIS MEETING AND GO ABOUT OUR WAYS.
HELP US TO JUST BRING GLORY TO YOU AND KEEP US SAFE ON OUR WAY HOME.
AMEN. I PLEDGE 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 EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR OPENING CALL TO ORDER.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YOU HAVE 14 PRESENT.
14 PRESENT. WE CAN DO THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM FIVE? SO, MOVE. SECOND.A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE APPROVE OUR MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? OUR MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
YOUR MICROPHONES ARE ON, SO IF YOU COULD KEEP YOUR CONVERSATIONS TO A MINIMUM.
AND I WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION UP AND DOWN.
ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[24-1-33 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY TO SUPPORT PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE THE MIDDLE EAST]
WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ON INTO NEW BUSINESS.AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ OUR RESOLUTION 24I33? A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY TO SUPPORT A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
YES, I MOVE THAT. WE SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A RECOMMENDED DUE PASS.
WE TAKE THIS IN THE ORDER A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SEND 24I33 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE RECOMMENDED DUE PASS, AS WE ALWAYS DO. THEN THE INDIVIDUAL INTRODUCING THE ORDINANCE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN.
THIS RESOLUTION, OF COURSE, IS CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE FOR MANY REASONS.
FIRST, THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES LOST.
MANY PEOPLE AND 80,000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WOUNDED.
MOST OF THESE CIVILIANS ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND ELDERLY.
FOOD, MEDICAL CARE AND OTHER NECESSITIES ARE SCARCE, AND THE POPULATION IS FACING FAMINE.
WE MUST END THE SUFFERING THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING.
WE'RE FUNDING THE WAR WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THIS MONEY IS BADLY NEEDED IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS COUNTY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY HOUSING, TO REPAIR OUR STREETS AND OUR ROADS AND MANY OTHER THINGS TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES. I ASK THAT YOU VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND JOIN WITH MORE THAN 100 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE AND A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE CONFLICT. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ASKING FOR A CEASE FIRE.
IT'S NOT GETTING INTO WHO'S RIGHT, WHO'S WRONG, WHO STARTED IT, WHO NEEDS TO FINISH IT? IT'S JUST LET'S JUST STOP THE MADNESS.
I THINK THAT IF IT WERE OUR INDIVIDUAL FAMILY, I THINK FAMILY INVOLVED.
I REALLY BELIEVE WE WOULD REALLY WANT THIS TO TAKE PLACE.
I KNOW THAT WE LOOK TO OUR CITY BOARD FOR LEADERSHIP SOMETIMES.
BECAUSE WE ARE LEADERS AS WELL.
AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS AND FEEL THAT THE CITY BOARD HASN'T ADOPTED A RESOLUTION.
IT HASN'T BEEN PRESENTED TO THE CITY BOARD.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.
THEIR FAMILIES BACK IN, IN OTHER COUNTRIES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.
[00:05:04]
SO I DO ASK FOR A FAVORABLE VOTE.JUSTICE STOWERS. THANK YOU, MR. KEITH. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS ITEM INDEFINITELY.
SO, WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT HOUR.
24I33 BE TABLED INDEFINITELY, AND NOW THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON TABLING PART.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO, ANY DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE ABOUT HAVING IT TABLED? JUSTICE MCMULLEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? YES. OKAY. GO AHEAD.
ARE YOU ASKING FOR SUPPORT OF THAT OR IF, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WANT TO KNOW OUR OPINION OF IT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE SUPPORT IT OR NOT.
IF WE WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST TABLING.
NO, MA'AM. JUST WHY WE SHOULD TABLE IT.
THE MOTION IS THAT IT? WE'RE IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED THAT OR A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO TABLE IT.
THERE'S THE DISCUSSION PART THAT YOU CAN TELL YOU CAN SUPPORT OR NOT.
WHY YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY.
IN RESPONSE TO THE APPROPRIATE MOTION TO TABLE.
AS LONG AS IT'S IN LINE WITH THE MOTION TO TABLE.
YES. IN OTHER WORDS, PRO OR CON AT THIS TIME.
YES. I AS FAR AS TABLING IT WOULD GO FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE SOME CONTROVERSY.
AND I MUST SAY THAT WHATEVER THE CONTROVERSY IS AS TO WHY WE WOULD NOT WANT TO SUPPORT IT AND OR TABLE IT AT THIS POINT IS NOT VERY CLEAR TO ME.
IN OTHER WORDS, MY POINT WOULD BE WHY ON EARTH WOULD WE WANT A TABLE? IT WHY WOULD WE NOT GO FORWARD WITH IT AT THIS POINT? WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE AFRAID OF OR THAT WE WANT TO AVOID? WHY NOT SPEAK UP WELL, IN SUPPORT OR NOT IN SUPPORT ACCORDING TO OUR VOTE? OKAY. AT THIS POINT.
OKAY. HAVE YOU DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? JUSTICE MCMULLEN NO.
OKAY. I DON'T I THINK JUSTICE STOWERS.
YES, SIR. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION ON MY MOTION TO TABLE.
SECOND, TONIGHT YOU DIDN'T SAY SECOND.
SO, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER APPROPRIATE MOTION.
AND SO, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO CALL THE CALL THE ROLL.
MOTION TO QUESTION. YEAH, YEAH.
SO, AMY, EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
OKAY. WE'RE VOTING ON IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
OKAY. HOLD ON. SO A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION IS NON-DEBATABLE.
AND IT IS BASICALLY TO END ALL DISCUSSION.
AND SO IF IT PASSES THEN YOU WOULD IMMEDIATELY VOTE YES OR NO AFTERWARDS TO TABLE OR NOT TABLE.
SO YOU'RE ONLY VOTING ON THE MOTION OF IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
YOU'RE NOT VOTING ON THE TABLING, JUST THE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
SO, EVERYBODY PUT YES TO IMMEDIATELY WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION.
IF THIS IS IF THIS PREVAILS THEN THE DISCUSSION IS OVER.
AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE.
OKAY. SO, AMY, IF YOU'LL GO, GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL.
CALL] SO 12 AYES AND THREE NAYS.
[00:10:03]
SO, NO MORE DEBATE.SO, WE GO BACK TO A MOTION TO TABLE.
THE MOTION TO TABLE WITHOUT DISCUSSION.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
11 AYES. THE ITEM HAS BEEN TABLED INDEFINITELY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO OUR ORDINANCE FOR TONIGHT.
[24-1-34 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 (2024 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS FOR THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT]
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ 24I34 MINUTES, 23OR 47 2024 ANNUAL BUDGET.TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS FOR THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT.
JUSTICE GREEN, MOVE THAT WE SEND IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS SECOND, A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SEND 24I34 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
JUSTICE GREEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE REGULARLY DO.
OKAY. REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTER.
[Public Comment]
A 15 TO 0. 15 TO 0.WE WILL SEND 24I34 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
THAT'S IT. IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION? THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO 13 MINUTES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE? SO MOVED TO ADJOURN.
WE WILL ADJOURN OUR OFFICIAL MEETING.
IS THERE? ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM UP HERE? FROM THE JUSTICES? THERE BEING NONE, WE DO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY COMMENTS.
JUST REMIND, JUST ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE TIMEKEEPER? OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GOT THREE PEOPLE.
WE'LL START WITH ANIKA WHITFIELD, MISS WHITFIELD.
CAN YOU SPEAK UP? YES, I CAN SPEAK VERY.
AND YOUR NAME? TELL US YOUR NAME.
GOOD EVENING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE ARKANSAS, OR EVEN SPECIFICALLY PULASKI COUNTY, WAS CONTINUOUSLY BEING BOMBED, DEVASTATING HOMES, FAITH COMMUNITY BUILDINGS, LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, WATER SUPPLIES, FARM, AGRICULTURAL LAND, BUSINESSES AND HOSPITALS? CAN YOU IMAGINE PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORING CITIES AND TOWNS CALLING FOR THE BOMBING AND DEVASTATION TO END PERMANENTLY BECAUSE OF SYMPATHY, BECAUSE OF EMPATHY AND PRACTICAL AND REAL FEAR OF THESE UNIMAGINABLE TERRORS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND I FORGOT TO ASK, WOULD YOU PASS ONE OF THESE OUT TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS? THERE'S A IT'S TWO PAGES.
AND WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO US IF NOT JUST OUR NEIGHBORS THAT LIVED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO US, BUT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE ON THIS PLANET CALLED EARTH, SPOKE UP IN SOLIDARITY OF APPRECIATION FOR HUMANITARIAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
WHAT GOOD COMES FROM CLOSE TO 35,000 ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, WOMEN, MEN AND ELDERS BEING KILLED BY BOMBS? WHAT PEACE IS BEEN RESOLVED, REDEEMED, RESTORED AS A RESULT OF THE MASS BOMBINGS THAT HAVE DAMAGED OVER 30 370,000 HOUSING UNITS, OVER 79,000 HOMES AND 84% OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAZA ALONE.
WHAT GAINS HAVE COME FROM CONTINUAL DEVASTATION AND DESTRUCTION OF LAND, WATER, ANIMALS AND FOOD AND DEATH OF HUMAN LIFE HERE ON EARTH? WHEN WILL OUR NEIGHBORS UPHOLD JUSTICE, LOVE MERCY, AND WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD AND CALL FOR THE PERMANENT END OF UNCONSCIONABLE HELL ON EARTH
[00:15:07]
THAT WE ARE FEELING AND EXPERIENCING AS RELATIVES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS OF ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ARKANSAS BECAUSE WE NEED NEIGHBORS WHO CARE ABOUT US.
TIME. I DID THAT AT THE QUORUM COURT. YOUR MICROPHONES ARE STILL ON.
I APOLOGIZE, I NEED A MOMENT TO GO AND HAVE THIS PULLED UP.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COURT, MY FELLOW CONSTITUENTS.
MY NAME IS LAUREN LONG, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE OF PULASKI COUNTY, AND I AM SPEAKING TO YOU ALL TONIGHT TO SHARE MY PERSONAL REASONS FOR ORGANIZING FOR SOLIDARITY AND AWARENESS, BOTH WITHIN OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY, TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE, PERMANENT CEASE FIRE.
MY SUPPORT FOR THIS AS A HUMAN BEING, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS COUCHED FIRMLY IN THE BELIEF THAT HUMAN SUFFERING IS HUMAN SUFFERING, AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO YOU IN ORDER FOR IT TO MATTER TO YOU.
AS A CHRISTIAN, I AM INSPIRED PARTICULARLY BY THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY.
IT IS IN CHAPTER 25 OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK THAT WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, TO CLOTHE THE NAKED, SHELTER THE HOMELESS, VISIT THE SICK, VISIT THE IMPRISONED, AND TO BURY THE DEAD.
CURRENTLY 96% OF RESIDENTS OF GAZA ARE FACING CATASTROPHIC FOOD SHORTAGES.
AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE TO DATE HAVE DIED FROM MALNUTRITION AND OR DEHYDRATION.
INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN DECLARED SAFE ZONES ARE FORCED TO RELOCATE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, WITH ONLY THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK THAT THEY HAVE MORE THAN LIKELY FLED THEIR HOMES WEARING ONLY ONCE BEFORE ALREADY.
SOME REPORTS STATE THAT AS MUCH AS 62% OF THE HOUSING UNITS IN GAZA HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AS OF APRIL 2020, FOR AT LEAST 3500 PALESTINIANS ARE BEING HELD IN ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION, WITH A LIMITED OUTSIDE CONTACT EVEN FOR CONTACT WITHIN LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
THIS IS NOT EVEN ALLOWED WITHIN OUR OWN STATE.
OVER 500 HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA, AND ALMOST EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL FACILITY HAS BEEN REDUCED TO MINIMAL OPERATIONS OR IT CEASES TO FUNCTION AT ALL.
WHY CAN WE NOT EXTEND THAT SAME EFFORT AND THOSE SAME RULES TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITHIN CASA? THIS HAS ALSO BEEN A MASS DISABLING EVENT IN WHICH CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF CASUALTIES.
I HAVE SEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH PHOTOS OF MASS GRAVES, OF BODIES WRAPPED, OF CHILDREN IN FUNERAL SHROUDS WITH THE WORDS WOUNDED CHILD, NO SURVIVING FAMILY WRITTEN ON THEM.
I HAVE WATCHED THESE HORRORS PLAY OUT FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS, AND I HAVE WONDERED ONE THING WHAT AM I TO DO AS A CHRISTIAN? AND I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND I ASK MY FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND MY FELLOW BELIEVERS AND THOSE THAT CLAIM THAT THEY CARE FOR HUMANITY, WHAT WILL YOU DO? YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING TO BE HEARD.
WE ARE STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND WE ASK, WHAT WILL YOU DO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I FINAL INDIVIDUAL IS MICHELLE SWOOPE.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. WOW.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MICHELLE SWOPE.
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE PAINSTAKINGLY ORGANIZED INFORMATION, IF THAT IS HELPFUL TO YOU.
WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO CAN SPEAK FROM THE JEWISH PERSPECTIVE AND THE PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAVE INDIGENOUS AMERICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT CAN TELL YOU WHY THEY CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE.
[00:20:05]
I COULD OFFER MY EXPERIENCE AS A NURSE, BUT ONE MEMBER OF OUR GROUP, DOCTOR AHMED YOUSEF, A LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN AND INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST, IS IN GAZA RIGHT NOW.WHEN HE RETURNS HOME, HIS EXPERIENCE WILL BE INVALUABLE.
SO TONIGHT, SINCE OUR TIME IS SHORT, I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU A PERSPECTIVE THAT ONLY I CAN MINE.
I'M A LIFELONG ARKANSAN AND A LIFELONG DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST.
I WAS RAISED IN A TRADITION THAT BELIEVED AMERICA IS THE SHINING CITY ON A HILL, THE NEW ZION, IF YOU WILL, AND THE WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL WAS PART OF THIS BELIEF. YOU SEE, IN MY TRADITION, AMERICA AND ISRAEL ARE CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE EXCEPTIONAL.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, THIS MADE SENSE BECAUSE I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD.
BUT AS I GREW, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS AND I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT CHRISTIAN ZIONISM HAD HIJACKED MY FAITH AND LIED TO ME TO JUSTIFY IMPERIALISM. EVERY TIME THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE NEEDED TO JUSTIFY VIOLENCE, THE SAME KIND OF RHETORIC CAME UP.
I STARTED READING HISTORY BOOKS AND Y'ALL, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A WHILE.
THEY LIED ABOUT WMDS TO GET US TO GO TO IRAQ.
THEY LIED ABOUT 911 TO GET US TO GO INTO AFGHANISTAN.
THEY LIED ABOUT THE GULF OF TONKIN TO GET US INTO VIETNAM.
WHY LIE THOUGH? SIMPLE. IF THEY TOLD US THE TRUTH, WE WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE.
THEY NEED US FOR OUR CAMPAIGNS, AND THEY USE OUR FAITH TO JUSTIFY IT.
THIS KIND OF THINKING GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CRUSADES.
THE CEASEFIRE IS ASKING FOR PEACE FOR ALL.
YEAH, I DO HAVE ONE THAT I RECEIVED VIA EMAIL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO, ON BEHALF OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF ARKANSAS, WE EXPRESS OUR CONCERN OVER AND REQUEST YOUR OPPOSITION TO RESOLUTION 24I33, TO SUPPORT A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE AND PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
FIRST, THE RESOLUTION IS NOT APPROPRIATE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS, AS WE KNOW, ARE UNDER A JURISDICTION OF OUR ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
WE WELCOME TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. MARCY L PAUL, PHD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JEWISH FEDERATION OF ARKANSAS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING ELSE TO CLAIM OUR ATTENTION.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.