Well, it's another beautiful night in Pueblo, Colorado, and I'm calling to order the regular city council meeting.

Today is Monday, August 12th, 2024.

And we're going to start off with our invocation.

David Israel, the president of the United Hebrew Center is going to come up.

Please stand if you want to.

And then we'll do the Pledge of Allegiance right after.

Good evening, uh City Council members, Mayor Graham, and Shalom, peace be with you all and to all the attendees.

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.

Bless and safeguard the city of Pueblo and all of its inhabitants, all of the elected city officials and their appointed officers and counselors who are assembled this evening in these council chambers.

Please accept our prayers this evening with mercy and compassion and instill wisdom, understanding, and discernment to all of our lawmakers gathered here.

Pour out your spirit upon them and make your word known to them.

Lord, help them to be women and men of integrity with an understanding of your principles, that they administer all affairs of the city in justice and equity, that peace and security and happiness and prosperity, right and freedom may forever abide among us.

Guide them in making wise and just choices.

Guard over them with understanding, keeping them safe.

Give us upright, just and fair men and women in our government and law enforcement community to ensure that our beautiful city will be safe and secure, to allow for peace and prosperity for all of our citizens, no matter their backgrounds, ethnicity, social or economic circumstances, age or gender.

Grant wisdom to these officials to create fair and just ways to root out poverty in our city and to find just and lasting solutions to the ever growing plight of the homeless and unhoused persons in our city.

Unite all the inhabitants of our country and city, no matter their faith or origins, into a bond of true brother and sisterhood to banish hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard the ideals and principles of freedom and justice for all.

May our country and city under the Lord's divine providence be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting men and women in peace and freedom, helping to fulfill the vision of the prophets.

And lastly, let us pray for peace around the world as tensions are rising, and may the world's leaders act calmly and responsibly to sustain peace and avoid war and more loss of life.

And let us say Amen.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to God.

Thank you so much, David.

Thank you very much.

Here.

Brett Boston.

Here.

Dennis Flores.

Here.

Roger Gomez.

Here.

Joe Latino.

Here.

Regina Maestri.

Here.

Sarah Martinez.

Here.

I want to welcome back Sarah Martinez.

It's good to have her back.

We're glad to have you.

We're at full strength now.

We're there are no special recognitions.

We now move into public forum.

First up is Jose Ortega.

I'm giving up my spot with speech.

You can get up your spot and we can draw for another spot.

You cannot leave up your spot to a specific person.

Okay.

All right, well, thank you.

All right, thank you.

Thanks for coming.

There we go.

Sorry.

All right.

Thank you, City Council, uh, Mayor Graham and the Pueblo community.

Um, I'm here to talk about the Denver Post article from July 24, 2024.

Uh, that Pueblo weaponizes a contempt of court to inflate jail time for minor crimes.

Denver Post has reported that the Pueblo Municipal Court cited more than more people for contempt of court than all of the major cities in Colorado combined.

Pueblo with the least resources or people with the least resources, homeless people with drug issues are doing months in jail for minor crimes.

65% are people of color.