2026-09-09 - Black and Hispanic Caucus

08:47Good evening. We're just going to give

08:49people a few more minutes to log on

08:51tonight.

10:13Hello everyone.

10:18Hello. We're just giving people a couple

10:20more moments to come on and then we'll

10:21get started. Thank you for being here

10:23tonight.

10:28No problem.

10:34I'll be off camera. Um, Madam Chair, I'm

10:38dragging.

10:43>> No problem.

10:54Madame chair, I'll be off camera. My

10:56hair is messed up.

11:03>> Yeah, I'll be off camera, too. My My

11:05ears are big.

11:08>> I was going to say something else, Gary,

11:09but that's okay. [laughter]

11:19>> Mr. Hogan, how are you, sir?

11:22>> I am fantastic. How are you doing?

11:24>> Good. Good. I'll come back on camera.

11:29>> There's a bunch of Garry's on this call,

11:30huh?

11:31>> I believe so. We'll have to Well,

11:33>> there's three, right? There's three,

11:34right?

11:35>> Yeah. There's There's the Tenny, the

11:36Hogan, and the smart.

11:38>> Yeah.

11:38>> The good, the bad, and the ugly.

11:40>> Well,

11:40>> yeah. Well, we we've gone through that

11:42before, and I'm not gonna we're not

11:44going to identify who's who because u it

11:47never it never it's never it's never

11:50pretty.

11:51>> That is correct. That is very true.

11:53Happy belated birthday, Gary.

11:55>> Yeah, thank you.

11:57>> That's right.

12:00>> I heard about that.

14:52Good evening.

14:56>> Good evening.

14:57>> How y'all [clears throat] doing tonight?

14:58Thank you for being here with us

14:59tonight. Um we're going to call our

15:01caucus meeting to order. We do still

15:03have some people trickling in. Um but

15:06we're going to get started. Um this is

15:09our black and Hispanic caucus meeting

15:11for September and it's September 9th.

15:14We're going to start about 6:10 p.m. and

15:18attendance will be taken and noted. Um,

15:22we don't have a lot of business to

15:24attend to tonight, but what we are going

15:27to speak about is um, we're going to

15:29speak briefly about our gala and follow

15:32up on any questions about it. Um, but we

15:35do have special guests with us here

15:37tonight. Um, and we're going to have

15:40them present and speak to us about some

15:43of the great work that's being done and

15:45that they are doing in our community.

15:48So, we are going to have them introduce

15:51themselves and we're going to welcome

15:54them to just start presenting.

15:57>> Okay. So, Mr. Tenny, you want to go

16:00first?

16:01>> Um, yeah. Gary Tenny, retired from the

16:04fire department, serve as president of

16:05the International Association of Black

16:07Professional Firefighters, a huge

16:09advocate for Cickleell Advocacy and uh

16:13just looking forward to uh continuing to

16:15work with folks. Um just a huge

16:19community person and uh just uh enjoy

16:22making a difference in lives of our our

16:24communities. So, thanks for having us.

16:28>> Okay.

16:29>> And um I'm Gary Smart. I'm the executive

16:32director for Cickle Cell Disease

16:33Association of Connecticut. Um been in

16:36that role for almost a little over a

16:39year now. Um I taken over for the um uh

16:44late Jim Rawlings and uh we are

16:47continuing to do the work that we do and

16:49I will share some information about uh

16:51cickle cell disease and also on some of

16:54the work that we have done so far this

16:56year and what we plan on doing in the in

16:57the coming years.

17:06So, if you'd like, Madame Chair, uh I

17:11can uh share my screen and uh get you

17:13started if that's the way you want to go

17:14about this today.

17:15>> Yes, this is your show.

17:18>> All right. Give me one moment. I'm gonna

17:20cue Mr. Lucas so you can share your

17:23screen.

17:24>> Okay.

17:30Okay,

17:31>> Madame Chair, um Al Lucas made you

17:34co-host, so I believe you can do do

17:38>> Oh, wait. Hold on. Let me go back in

17:39there because I love being co-host now.

17:42[laughter] I can mute everybody. Mute.

17:43Mute. Mute. One moment. Thank you.

18:09Are we good?

18:11Okay. So, as I mentioned, my name is

18:13Gary Smart. I'm the uh executive

18:15director of Cickle Cell Disease

18:16Association of of Connect of America,

18:18Connecticut chapter. Uh we're located on

18:21uh Chapel Street in New Haven. Uh we've

18:23been there for uh probably about nine

18:25years now going on uh eight years going

18:28on nine. uh we are statewide and the uh

18:32and it's a pleasure to be able to

18:33present to all of you on the Black and

18:35Hispanic Caucus. uh we've done a number

18:37of presentations throughout the state

18:39and one of the things that I think we

18:41want to do is give you a little bit of a

18:44uh uh I guess a a small uh snippet of

18:49what we do in terms of what cle cell

18:50disease is and and how uh you know we

18:53integrate what it is and what we do into

18:56a positive experience for those who as

18:58best we can for those that have cle cell

19:00disease who are known as cickle cell

19:02warriors um and their families. So I'll

19:06start the presentation and if you have

19:08any questions going as we go on just uh

19:10uh feel free to you know stop me at any

19:12point. So um cle cell disease is a u

19:17inherited genetic disorder that affects

19:20thousands and when we say thousands it's

19:21not only the u individuals who are

19:23actually with cle cell disease but it's

19:25also their families uh and we're going

19:27to talk a little bit about that as well.

19:29uh and I think it's important for people

19:31to understand the uh impact that it has

19:34not only on the families and uh cle cell

19:36wars but on the community at large.

19:40So our organization

19:42I just got to move this screen a bit. Um

19:45our organization is uh like I said is a

19:48statewide uh community- based

19:49organization for cle cell disease and we

19:52are the only one in Connecticut. Uh

19:54we're a chapter of the cle cell disease

19:56association of America. Uh we were

19:58established in 1985 in Bridgeport,

20:00Connecticut. And at that point we were

20:02the cle cell disease association of

20:04southern Connecticut. Uh just uh

20:06involved with uh New Haven and Fairfield

20:09County. And so I just put here as our

20:11mission so you understand partly what we

20:14do is we embrace prevent prevention

20:16strategies to enhance the quality of

20:17life and well-being of the community

20:19affected by cickle cell disease trait

20:21and related conditions. And we'll talk

20:23about the trait as well. uh we provide

20:25individual uh individuals and family

20:27with critical education and access to

20:29support services and we achieve this

20:31through working with partnerships and

20:33advocacy and and as uh Gary Tenny

20:35mentioned uh he he and the um uh

20:38Firebirds and uh and other um entities

20:41that he's involved with as well as other

20:43community organizations are are partners

20:46uh in this um in this fight for on uh to

20:50stop the cickle cell cycle.

20:54All right. Why is it not advancing?

20:58Let's see.

21:01Hold on.

21:03Okay. All right. So, um our goals and

21:07objectives for uh for 2026 is one

21:10coalition development. Um we uh uh have

21:14all healthcare provider. We want to have

21:16all healthcare providers use cickle cell

21:17disease. uh our organization I should

21:20say as a central point of reference for

21:22those in need of resources and more

21:24importantly uh reduce unintentional harm

21:26to future generations and that's through

21:28uh education and um I'm going to speak

21:30to that a bit because uh it's going to

21:33be something that we would want to lean

21:35on you all about uh with regard to uh

21:38getting information into the school

21:39systems as well. Uh and I've been

21:42working with um uh Dr. Dr. Ed Joiner on

21:44that and he developed a curriculum that

21:46uh that we've been um you know kind of

21:48sharpening up uh and getting ready for

21:50the um uh for parts of the school year

21:53maybe not in the first uh half but maybe

21:56the second half and I've also spoken

21:58with uh individuals in uh uh in East

22:01Hartford and um um Mrs. chef. I don't

22:04know if anybody knows Elizabeth Chef,

22:06but she has a coalition up there and uh

22:08I just had a conversation with them a

22:11couple of months ago and they're

22:12embracing what we're trying to do. The

22:14other thing is that uh generational

22:16health on you know many people talk

22:17about generational wealth and we keep

22:19our focus on generational health as a

22:21cornerstone of our fight to break the

22:23cickle cell cycle. And we mean by that

22:25is that uh one of the things that we we

22:27run into is that a lot of individuals

22:29don't know their trade status. And by

22:31not knowing your trait status, and I'll

22:33talk more about that in a minute, you

22:35you kind of run the risk, especially if

22:37you're a childbearing age, of uh having

22:40a partner who also has the trait and uh

22:42and the odds of having a child with

22:45cickle cell disease.

22:48Uh what we also offer now is uh case

22:50management. We've developed a program

22:52model on case management. We have a uh

22:54licensed clinical social worker who is

22:56uh volunteering his services to provide

22:59um uh opportunities for us to have uh

23:03partners from South uh from Southern

23:05Connecticut State University and other

23:06colleges to come in and do their

23:08internships. And um we work with Yale

23:10New Haven Hospital and their social work

23:12department uh to u to try and um find

23:15those individuals who need services

23:17beyond what uh the traditional services

23:20are that are offered by the hospitals.

23:22uh we also provide educational support

23:26uh and we're and that's what I was

23:27mentioning earlier in uh the

23:29partnerships that we're trying to

23:30develop with the uh academic

23:32institutions to get information about uh

23:35about cickle cell disease and and as we

23:38talk to individuals across the state we

23:40realize that a lot of people know

23:42someone that has had cle cell disease or

23:45know somebody with cle cell disease but

23:46they don't know what the disease is all

23:48about and they don't know the impact

23:49that it has on the individuals uh and

23:51especially in the school system because

23:53there's so many children that lose so

23:55many days in school because of uh cickle

23:57cell crisis and being in the hospital

23:59and having to have um um I uh in uh

24:03infusions and and uh and so on and uh

24:06and it's also uh debilitating in other

24:09ways as well. So, what we're trying to

24:10do is make sure that people uh uh

24:13understand how to get included in uh 504

24:16plans and IEPs uh so that they can uh

24:19have a better shot at getting their

24:21educational uh support that they need

24:24and the time that they need to catch up.

24:26Uh we also are increasing uh trade

24:28testing statewide and we're trying to

24:31work with uh Hartford Healthcare and

24:34some of the FQC's as well. We've had a

24:36strong relationship with um Yale New

24:38Haven Hospital. we are able to provide

24:39free trade testing uh at our facility uh

24:43that's um kind of underwritten by Yale

24:45and Human Hospital. So if somebody

24:47needed a a trade test or wanted to find

24:51out what their trade status is, they

24:53could come to the office and we're also

24:54doing some uh uh field uh trade testing

24:57at a lot of events and we send the labs

25:00over to uh Yale and Haven Hospital and

25:02they provide on we we send this uh the

25:05samples over to Yale Haven Hospital and

25:07they provide the lab service and turn it

25:08around in like 40 in pretty much in 48

25:10hours.

25:12So some facts and background just so uh

25:15you all know a little bit about cickle

25:16cell disease about 100,000 uh US

25:18citizens are living with cickle cell

25:20disease uh in America and primarily um

25:24SS which is just is one of four

25:26categories of cickle cell disease which

25:28is probably the um most severe uh one in

25:32365 African-American babies are born

25:34with cickle cell disease and we've

25:36identified over 800 individuals in

25:38Connecticut with cle cell disease uh

25:40however it's estimated that close to

25:422,000 are unidentified or unknown and

25:44that's why we need to put the database

25:46together that we're trying to u um

25:48collect with other folks and Yale Haven

25:51Hospital provides uh care to over 200

25:53individuals with cickle cell disease and

25:56that's why we uh have a strong form the

25:59bond with them and a stronger bond

26:02through uh a program that we're working

26:04with the department of social services

26:06on that's going to help people to get to

26:09manage and uh navigate the process of

26:12getting uh gene therapy and I'll talk

26:13about gene therapy in a second. Um so

26:16there's approximately 75,000 carriers

26:19those carrying cickle cell trait in

26:22Connecticut and um 600 babies are born

26:25with cickle cell uh with cle cell trait

26:28throughout the state on an annual basis

26:30and um they're doing a lot more testing

26:32than they had in the past on on the uh

26:35trade testing and getting information

26:37out to families uh so that they

26:39understand that what's happened since

26:411995

26:43uh individual everyone all babies born

26:45in United States uh are tested for

26:47cickle cell uh trait and the disease. It

26:50goes into the medical records but

26:52however quite often pediatricians and

26:55families do not share that information

26:57as readily or show as much um interest

27:01in it as they should. Uh and then this

27:04it's just talking about penicellin and

27:05pneumonia vaccines that can help u um

27:10uh reduce the uh the forms of pneumonia.

27:13So, let me see if I can get this to work

27:15for you.

27:31>> While cickle cell disease is the most

27:33common inherited blood disorder, adults

27:36living with this disease still face

27:38hurdles in attaining highquality

27:40continuous care throughout their lives.

27:43cle cell disease affects all racial and

27:45ethnic groups, but black and Hispanic

27:47populations disproportionately

27:49experience challenges with access,

27:52quality, and affordability of care.

27:54Whether it's a newborn receiving a

27:56screening for cickle cell

27:59or an adult who became eligible for

28:01Medicare, we need to understand the

28:04unique health needs of people with

28:05cickle cell to better support them and

28:08help address disparities.

28:10Cickle cell disease causes the body to

28:12produce abnormally shaped red blood

28:14cells which fail to properly deliver

28:16oxygen to body tissues. This shape

28:19change disrupts the normal flow of red

28:22blood cells through the blood vessels

28:24causing excruciating acute and chronic

28:26pain episodes.

28:29Signs and symptoms vary from person to

28:31person and may change over time. Common

28:34complications include pain episodes or

28:36crises, hand foot syndrome, acute chest

28:40syndrome, infection, eye disease, and

28:43stroke. People may need to visit

28:46outpatient or emergency departments.

28:49Like the signs and symptoms, treatment

28:51options differ for each person and can

28:53include blood transfusions, IV therapy,

28:56and pain medications.

28:59Together, we can aim to improve the

29:01quality of care delivered to patients

29:03with cickle cell disease. Visit the CMS

29:06Office of Minority Health website to

29:08learn more about cickle cell disease and

29:11how you can begin to better serve those

29:13with this disease.

29:21So just to give you an idea and that's a

29:23snapshot so that at least you can you

29:25get a better understanding of where we

29:26are with cle cell disease and what uh

29:29the backgrounds are. Now some of the

29:31things that uh the social statistics

29:32that are associated with it is that uh

29:35cickle cell disease can also be found in

29:37Latino and Middle Eastern communities as

29:39well. I met an individual down in New

29:41Jersey who was 100% Italian. um he was

29:46married to an African-American woman and

29:49their child had cickle cell disease and

29:51she had the trait but uh he had the he

29:54had a trait that uh that in um uh

29:58Mediterranean uh environments they it's

30:01a it's called and we call it likethalmia

30:05and it's a uh it's a related trait and

30:07it actually u acts in the same way as a

30:11as a cickle cell trait does and his

30:13child had cle cell disease and he was

30:15not tested because uh he looked white

30:18and uh they did not and doctors did not

30:21uh understand much about cle cell

30:23disease in uh in someone from a

30:25Mediterranean country. Uh so children

30:28with cle cell disease are more likely to

30:29repeat grades than general public they

30:32they're on average they miss maybe about

30:3430 days of school a year because of

30:36cickle cell crisis. uh medications uh

30:40it's mentioned here like hydroxyiora

30:42llutamine u can improve the symptoms and

30:45symptoms but um um have to be taken

30:47indefinitely. Bone marrow transplants

30:50for selected patients uh are an op

30:53option. If it's a matched sibling, you

30:55can actually eradicate uh cickle cell

30:57disease in a in a person uh for good. U

31:00but matched siblings are far and few

31:02between. Uh gene therapies that are out

31:05there right now, Caskevian and Lipenia

31:07are provide some hope, but they are

31:09considered potential potentially

31:11curative or transformative rather than a

31:14definitive cure. So when you hear on the

31:17news that somebody had had gene therapy

31:18and they're cured of cickle cell, then

31:20they're cured of the symptoms, but they

31:22uh but it takes they're still in a

31:24clinical trial. It's going to take about

31:25another 12 years before they they're

31:28considered uh uh completely cured. Uh

31:31and gene therapy is not accessible to

31:33everyone. A patient can spend upwards of

31:3616 months in the hospital if they

31:37qualify. And it's very and it's a it's a

31:40very tedious process. and clinical

31:42trials and treatment can be

31:44prohibitively expensive. Uh anywhere

31:46from one to $3 million per per case.

31:49I'll show you something really quick.

31:51This is a commercial that uh that was

31:53shown uh at one point as well

31:59>> price

32:02and anyone living with cle cell disease.

32:06It's torture.

32:07>> John, let's have you share with the

32:09class.

32:11irritated tasks can be filled with pain.

32:18>> I am one out of every 365

32:20African-Americans who have sick cell

32:22disease. You can't see your pain, but

32:24please believe it.

32:27>> And that's a true statement because a

32:29lot of people misunderstand uh or don't

32:32understand what the pain is that

32:33individuals that have cickle cell

32:35disease go through. And uh that's why

32:37we're uh that's the work that we have in

32:40in front of us. And that is to uh uh do

32:43a lot of education, a lot of awareness

32:45and also to support those that have cle

32:47cell disease.

32:50And this is just to show you that you

32:51know if a father has cle cell trait and

32:53a mother has cle cell trait uh there's a

32:56one in4 chance that a child will have

32:58cle cell disease. Uh, and then you see

33:00the statistics on the right.

33:05And it doesn't mean you're, you know,

33:07your fourth child because I have a a

33:10good friend of mine who has a um

33:13sister-in-law who u she knew she had the

33:16trait but she didn't know that her

33:17boyfriend had the trait and u they had

33:20twin girls and both the girls have cle

33:22cell disease and that's and those are

33:24their only children.

33:28So um most people with cickle cell trait

33:31though do not experience any symptoms

33:32and you know they're considered

33:33asymptomatic. Um rare complications have

33:36been uh reported under extreme

33:38conditions. There have been some reports

33:40of individuals especially uh people that

33:42play football or other extreme sports

33:44having issues with u and having the

33:46trait and having issues and a lot of it

33:48has to do with severe hydration or even

33:50high altitude like being uh you know

33:52like in u Denver or some place like

33:54that. And there's no conclusive evidence

33:57that cickle cell trait alone causes

33:59cickle cell disease symptoms. Uh and

34:02more research is needed. So um having

34:06the trait means that you are a carrier

34:07of the genetic mutation. Uh and everyone

34:10should know what their trait status is.

34:13And this is just some of the areas of

34:15the body that are uh damaged or impaired

34:17because as they say on as uh some some

34:20people have told me and on the blood

34:22side of things you know American Red

34:24Cross they say that you know wherever

34:26wherever blood travels cickle cell uh

34:29travels as well. So that can be in your

34:30eyes and your capillaries and your veins

34:33throughout. And if those if those uh

34:36cells those sickle sickled cells get

34:38stuck in any of those areas, they do uh

34:40create extreme pain and also uh can uh

34:44cause uh damage to your uh uh to your

34:47organs as well as your joints and bones

34:50because remember blood travels through

34:52your bones as well. And if you see there

34:54it says premature death 20 to 30 years

34:56loss of life expectancy. So many many

34:59and most uh individuals that have cickle

35:01cell disease uh live um uh 20 years uh

35:05less life than uh those that do not have

35:08that. And you can see what the health

35:09care cost is associated with that.

35:13Any questions so far.

35:16Okay.

35:20Oh, sorry.

35:24>> Um thank you, Madam Chair. Uh quick

35:26question. How much?

35:29Well, let me rephrase it.

35:32Do medical insurance cover a majority of

35:36the treatments for cle cell patients?

35:41>> Um, let me just get out of this for a

35:43second. Uh, hold on a second. I'll

35:45answer your question. So um so the two

35:49medications that I mentioned Caskevian

35:51and uh Leenia that are by two drug

35:54companies uh Vertex and um uh genetics

35:57they are covered by Medicaid uh and uh

36:01at 100%. Uh especially in the state of

36:04Connecticut uh and so if someone were to

36:07go through uh clinical trials or go

36:10through uh gene therapy here in

36:12Connecticut uh they are covered at 100%.

36:16Um, now that's for the u for the

36:19treatment and all of that, but there are

36:20other uh underlying u you know charges.

36:23I mean if somebody's working then you

36:25know there isn't any way to um pay for

36:28their uh uh time out of work

36:30necessarily. Uh they could go on some of

36:32this the state programs um that allow

36:34for that. And um for the most part

36:37though uh insuranceances are starting to

36:40pay but not uh so much so most people

36:43that are on uh that have cickle cell

36:45disease uh they do have they are uh

36:49covered by state because they're either

36:52on disability or on or they're covered

36:55um by Medicaid.

36:58Does that answer your question?

36:59>> It does. I was just curious because it

37:01seems that families that have less

37:03resources with medication, particularly

37:06these times,

37:07>> would have a hard time keeping up and

37:10being healthy. That's all.

37:12>> Yeah. No. And and Connecticut is one of

37:14the uh one of I think 13 to 14 states

37:16that uh does cover um uh uh gene therapy

37:22uh in total.

37:24>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

37:27>> You have another hand raised.

37:29Alder Rodriguez.

37:33>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Would you say

37:36because you did mention that we there

37:40may be

37:42some races that could have this trait

37:47and we are, you know, we may be missing

37:51um those individuals.

37:55>> That's true. Um so

37:59uh cickle cell disease is mo most

38:01prevalent in the uh uh Latino population

38:04and the African-American population.

38:06also in the Mediterranean, Caribbean um

38:08population as well. And uh like I said

38:11in the Mediterranean there are folks

38:13that have cickle cell have th um

38:16betathalcemia which is a uh uh is a

38:20trait on and a similar trait to to what

38:24you would find here in the United States

38:25with cickle cell disease.

38:28>> So there are a lot of

38:30>> gohead

38:30>> go ahead I'm sorry. Go ahead. So a lot

38:32of so there are yeah there are some

38:33folks and and that and that's why we

38:35tell uh each and everyone who is may be

38:38interested in more about uh finding out

38:39what their trade status uh we we're

38:41willing to u provide on um trade

38:45testing.

38:48>> One more question madam chair.

38:51>> So thank you. So would you it's

38:56I'm gonna say in an OB practice in the

38:59in the clinics um you know Fair Haven

39:01clinics um Yale's clinics and things

39:03like that

39:04>> you know we we we would hope that um I'm

39:10going to say for example if we have a

39:12white female who's married either to a

39:14Latino or a a um African-American that

39:20they would they would automatically do

39:24the testing. Do you think that that

39:26takes place or again this is another

39:29misstep?

39:31>> Uh that's a good question. I mean it's a

39:33good statement to uh to think about. Uh

39:36a lot of it has to do with um the

39:39willingness of someone to want to find

39:41out what their trade status is. Uh I I

39:44I'll tell you be honest, men have a

39:47tendency not to want to know anything

39:48about anything. So, uh, that's a

39:51problem. [laughter]

39:52And, uh, that and so it's just it's the

39:56truth. Uh, so, um, that's a problem. Uh,

40:00because they say, well, you know, I

40:01don't have, especially if they're

40:02asymptomatic, right? Um, you know, they

40:05they and that's it's a selfish, um, um,

40:09u way of thinking. Um, but that's what

40:12people do. Uh, they you would think it's

40:16it's not automatic. It's not automatic.

40:19The the only thing that's automatic now

40:20is that uh when a child is born, they do

40:24the the trait testing and then that's

40:26when sometimes they find out that a

40:29mother or a father have the trait

40:33um which is kind of playing a little bit

40:35of Russian roulette because um if both

40:37of them had the trait and the child's

40:39born and then the child actually for if

40:42they're fortunate enough with both

40:43parents having the trait and coming and

40:45the child's born with just the trait

40:47which is you know a chance of that

40:48happens then then you know they're okay

40:51on that end. But what happens if the

40:53child um has cickle cell disease and

40:55both parents had the trait and no one

40:57ever ever asked or tested them?

41:01So to answer your question um it's

41:04something that someone I would hope uh

41:07uh maybe an obstitrician or

41:10someone who's astute about uh uh cickle

41:13cell disease may ask that question. Do

41:15you want to get trade tested?

41:18And it's only and it's a finger prick

41:19for the most part or like a very small

41:21blood draw. And um you can you'll know

41:24in like 48 hours.

41:29That answer your question.

41:30>> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

41:32>> I have some more, but I'll wait. I have

41:34all [laughter] the

41:34>> Okay. No, no, that's fine. No, I listen.

41:37I don't mind. Um so I'm going to go on.

41:40I just want to tell and then uh I'll

41:41answer any and all questions after. I'm

41:43almost I think we're pretty much done

41:45with this in a few minutes. Uh so bone

41:48marrow transplants and gene therapy uh

41:50bone marrow transplants they uh inside

41:52the bone there's bone marrow uh it

41:55functions like a factory and it creates

41:57the red blood cells for your body uh and

42:00it if the b and cickle cell disease the

42:02bone marrow produces cickle uh shaped

42:04blood cells but during a transplant

42:06doctors take healthy bone marrow from a

42:08compatible donor and the marrow is

42:11transplanted into the patient and then

42:13your body creates uh new bone marrow and

42:15makes red healthy red blood cells.

42:19The body's amazing. Now gene therapy,

42:22this is the process. Uh there's a

42:25collection of uh blood making stem

42:27cells. Uh it's done through

42:30aphareseresis machine, an apheresis

42:32machine. uh the person has to go through

42:35chemotherapy because the all of their um

42:38their immune system gets completely

42:40wiped out. Uh before they're uh before

42:44the stem cells are actually um uh um

42:48replaced. And then uh depending on how

42:51things go, if they were able to um to

42:54produce, you know, create enough um pull

42:57enough um blood cells out of you during

43:00the time that these the red blood the

43:03red blood cells are are taken out for um

43:06uh for I would say um you know genetic

43:11um modification.

43:13uh then they're able to replace place

43:15them back into the individual after

43:17their um their immune system has been um

43:20reduced and uh then you have a

43:23opportunity to have uh uh the uh gene

43:26therapy process uh be successful.

43:30Uh so and if you see to the right it

43:32says 95% free of pain crisis. Now here's

43:36a here's an something to think about. Uh

43:39now somebody is 30 years old, 35 years

43:42old or more uh and they've had cickle

43:44cell disease all their lives and they've

43:46gone through pain crises and they've

43:48gone through various um uh issues uh

43:50where their um their body's been

43:52compromised after they have the gene

43:55therapy even though it may be successful

43:57in the sense of being uh curative and uh

44:00transformative they're still uh the

44:03damage to their body is still um uh

44:06there I mean it doesn't correct it

44:09it doesn't repair those things. So, uh

44:11you know someone will still be um uh

44:15compromised even after that.

44:24So, as I mentioned before, newborn

44:26screening for cle cell disease

44:28uh enables care before babies become

44:31sick. They do that. Penicellin and

44:33pneumonia can uh prevent deadly forms of

44:35pneumonia. Ultrasound to the brain of

44:37the brains can detect on uh children

44:40with uh uh with cickle cell disease or

44:43in in or increased risk for stroke and

44:46um and bone marrow transplants for

44:49selective patients uh whoever suitable

44:51donor is the um is is the most ideal

44:54solution.

44:56So we also know that um blood donors are

45:00important for u individuals who have

45:02cickle cell disease because they go

45:03through multiple uh transfusions over

45:06their lifetime. Uh and I had some slides

45:09for that but I I wanted to I didn't want

45:11to go too far into that with you guys

45:13today. Um but blood blood donors who are

45:15black are uh three times more likely to

45:17match the the blood most commonly needed

45:20by patients with cickle cell disease.

45:21And that goes for the Hispanic

45:23population too.

45:26So what we have in our in place right

45:29now is that we have a social work

45:30program. This is our our flyer on our

45:32our social work program and um you know

45:35we what we do is we assist with housing,

45:38transportation and access to essential

45:39resources. Uh and you can see the list

45:42that goes on on the on the left. Uh

45:44crisis intervention and emotional

45:46support services advocacy and we do have

45:49um support groups starting up uh with uh

45:52Yale New Haven Hospital uh this month.

45:58We also have a tutoring program, a

46:00tutorial program, and it's called the

46:02mind of a warrior. Uh and we uh actually

46:05do free tutoring for students K through

46:0712. It's on uh it's it's a virtual um uh

46:11tutoring program. We have about uh about

46:1415 uh individuals in the program right

46:16now. We just started it last year. Uh

46:19and it it provides academ academic

46:21support uh for students living with

46:23cickle cell disease and it helps them

46:25especially when uh they've been out uh

46:28for you know periods of time and they're

46:30losing uh getting behind in class. uh it

46:33encourages confidence, resilience, and

46:35uh a growth mindset. Uh we've had

46:38reports from individuals who say that

46:39the confidence of their uh uh of their

46:42children has improved because they do

46:44have that uh one-on-one small groupoup

46:46tutoring session. And it's a

46:48collaboration uh with families in the

46:51school system and uh and it's a

46:52mentorship as well. And this was

46:54actually started by a uh young lady uh

46:58who came to us uh from uh uh Simsbury

47:02High School and she started the program

47:04there and uh it's been going on ever

47:07since. So uh and we also work with Yale

47:09University students.

47:13We also have a uh warriors uh leadership

47:16network which is this is for individuals

47:18who uh uh uh cickle cell warriors who

47:22actually are living with cickle cell

47:24disease and we have a whole program and

47:27profile in the uh in this um booklet uh

47:30to help them to develop their leadership

47:32skills and uh self- advocacy uh and also

47:36empower them to become advocates and

47:37ambassadors and change agents. Uh so

47:40we're we're looking to help people uh

47:42kind of mind, body, and and soul and

47:45spirit. So uh we're doing as much as we

47:48can and we and we're always open to um

47:52ideas and uh and um anything that people

47:56may have that they think are missing

47:57that we're missing in terms of getting

47:59into the uh cle cell population.

48:02And as I mentioned earlier, we do free

48:05uh uh cickle cell trait testing. And

48:08this is the information. We have a flyer

48:10out there and all you have to do is scan

48:12the um the QR code and make an

48:14appointment. It's a simple blood test

48:17and uh it's emphasis on and especially

48:20during uh you know people um planning

48:22families and the appointments are easy

48:25and we schedule it with uh uh with a

48:27nurse or phabotamist that we have on on

48:30call.

48:32And this is just a final note and this

48:34is just to say about making a difference

48:36and it says just as a as a as ripples uh

48:39spread out when a single pebble is

48:40dropped into the water the actions of

48:42individuals can have farreaching effects

48:44and this is about you all as well as all

48:46the people that we try to uh uh connect

48:48with and that is that you know anyone

48:51can anyone can make a difference and

48:53we're hoping that you can help us make a

48:54difference with cle cell disease

49:00and that's the end of my present

49:01presentation.

49:06>> Thank you for that presentation. Um, it

49:10was most informative. I can't talk right

49:13now. Um, it was most informative.

49:16Um,

49:18I'm opening it up for questions right

49:20now or comments. Um, Alder Morrison.

49:27>> Hello. Thank you for that information.

49:29And that was um a very informative

49:31um presentation. And so um a lot of

49:35times when people come to this

49:37particular group to the Black and

49:38Hispanic caucus, I always ask, is there

49:42a specific ask? Because a lot of times

49:46people come to our groups and they

49:48provide us with information and they

49:50say, I want your support. That support

49:53can be defined in a million different

49:57ways. And so is there anything specific

50:01>> that you guys are doing that you're

50:03asking this body to support you in do

50:08something with attend? Anything like

50:11that?

50:12>> Uh sure. Uh so

50:14>> can I jump in before you answer? Um

50:16please start. Um I just want to let

50:18everyone know too I asked them to come

50:22this month specifically. I just want to

50:24throw that out there. We did approve a

50:26donation request for them already um at

50:29our previous meeting. I just felt it was

50:32very important with he's going to get

50:34into more Aldor saying answer your

50:37question, but I wanted to just put that

50:38out there in front um because of how

50:41this disease affects our community and

50:43not just our it affects our black and

50:46Latino and more communities. I thought

50:48it was very important especially with

50:50the um activities they have coming up.

50:53So, I thought this was a great time for

50:55them to come present. I just want to

50:57throw that out there right now. Um, and

50:59I also with your question that you are

51:01posing and asking,

51:03>> I I want to figure out how we as a

51:05caucus can have a true partnership with

51:09them. Um, not financially necessarily

51:12because we don't have millions and

51:13thousands to give. But to your question,

51:16Aud Morrison, I just wanted to throw it

51:17all out there. And now I am going to

51:19turn it over back to Mr. Smart.

51:23So I would say that um you know most

51:26important for us is to uh as I mentioned

51:28in the uh the presentation is the

51:30partnerships. You know I think it's

51:32important for us to be able to lean on

51:34you all when necessary to uh to get

51:36certain things done. This month is

51:38actually cickle uh national cickle cell

51:40awareness month and on you know there's

51:42a number of activities that are going on

51:44throughout the state with regard to

51:45cickle cell disease but we do our cickle

51:47cell walk run and bike ride on uh on the

51:50and it's on the 26th uh of this month at

51:54Edgewood Park. Um we every year this is

51:56our 35th year that we're doing the uh

51:58the walk and run. We started it in

51:59Bridgeport and we um moved to New Haven

52:01and and have had it here ever since. uh

52:04that's one of the things that you can uh

52:06uh uh contribute to us in terms of your

52:09uh your presence and uh and your

52:12participation on that end. The other

52:14thing is that uh I mentioned with regard

52:16to uh the school system um and we're

52:19trying to uh make sure that we're able

52:22to have access gain access to the um uh

52:26to the students, administrators and on

52:28um and those in charge to uh educate

52:31them because we have three different uh

52:33levels of u uh educational material with

52:36regard to cle cell disease and the cle

52:38cell 101. your what you saw today was

52:40kind of an overview of of the three of

52:42them. We've we've developed curriculum

52:45for um uh kids between uh uh K5, K12 and

52:51above. uh so that we can actually we

52:54break it down so that they understand

52:55cickle cell disease a little bit more uh

52:58and and can can relate to it because

53:00what's important especially in the

53:02school system is that in we don't want

53:04people to be ostracized or be uh you

53:07know um the biases that uh that happen

53:09because of individuals not being in

53:11class or not being able to participate

53:13in uh in activities because uh they're

53:16going through pain or they're not

53:17feeling well that day. also to for

53:19individuals, for administrators to

53:21identify when someone is not uh feeling

53:23well, not necessarily when they're

53:24having a crisis per se, but just when

53:26they're not feeling well enough to

53:28learn. And that if you saw that

53:30commercial, that was that commercial was

53:31kind of uh you know, apppropo to what

53:34individuals deal with in terms of being

53:36in a classroom and uh and being

53:38preoccupied with their pain versus being

53:41uh you know, being able to learn. So you

53:43know what we're looking for is support

53:45from this organization, this uh uh

53:48collective group of individuals to help

53:50us when we need to uh get into um you

53:53know different you know different pieces

53:56you know of the uh uh of the system to

54:00uh to make uh to make a change and make

54:02a difference and and uh as um as Madam

54:06Chair said we are not necessarily

54:08looking for uh financial backing. I

54:11think we I think what we're looking for

54:13is making sure that as a body of

54:16individuals who are um uh minorities uh

54:20that we do something about a um a

54:23disease that is a minority u uh it's

54:27minority focused disease. So, you know,

54:30I think it's just awareness for uh my my

54:34our goal is to give you uh understanding

54:36awareness of what's going on on it's up

54:38to you how much you effort you want to

54:41put into support that process, right?

54:45Because it's not just a collective um

54:48support, it's individual support. How

54:50can you help us? Do you want to

54:51volunteer? Do you want to uh you know,

54:53do you want to uh find out more about

54:56what we do and and maybe be a part of

54:57that? maybe maybe you want to be on the

54:59board. I don't know, [laughter] you

55:01know, but it's it's something that you

55:03know, we're open to all those

55:04opportunities and you may and whatever

55:07you think um as you as you've learned

55:09about this, anything that you can think

55:11of that may help you to help us. Uh

55:14maybe people that you know, people on

55:16you know that uh maybe you know people

55:18who have money and want to give us

55:19money. Uh you know, it could be any of

55:21those things. But we um we're fortunate

55:25enough and blessed in the sense that we

55:26the building that we're in we don't have

55:28to pay rent but uh and it's uh because

55:31it's uh it's kind of owned by Yale New

55:34Haven Hospital and you know uh we have

55:36this um this lease that's in perpetuity

55:39but uh you know they we also have to

55:41kind of make sure that they they tow the

55:43line too you know because Yale and Haven

55:45Hospital has they're give you an example

55:48our lease says that they're responsible

55:50for uh the outside of the building.

55:53We're responsible for everything on the

55:54inside of the building. If you look at

55:56the building, the building is uh has

55:58some disrepair, you know, and I've been

56:00for a year trying to get them to um to

56:03do what they're supposed to do on the

56:04outside of the building as a uh as a

56:06landlord. So that could be helpful for

56:09me,

56:10>> you know, because it can tighten up the

56:12building, make sure that people are that

56:13are coming in and out of the building

56:14are safe and um and that we uh and we

56:18don't have to worry about, you know,

56:20winter time when you know there's um you

56:22know, squirrels running around in the

56:23third floor attic and on you know and

56:26there's um the eaves on the building

56:28where you know there's leaks that uh

56:29that need to be taken care of and and

56:31stairs that need to be taken care of. So

56:34those are the kind of things that this

56:36group has the power to help us do uh

56:38because we we're trying to do the work

56:41of uh of the folks who have cickle cell

56:43disease not to uh you know to kind of um

56:47you know be carpenters and uh you know

56:50in in uh you know taking care of the

56:52outside of the building. So anything you

56:54can do on that end would be very

56:56helpful.

56:57[clears throat]

57:00>> Okay.

57:01>> Madam Chair knows me very well. So I I

57:04you know I asked if and it wasn't about

57:07financial. It was really about a

57:10specific

57:11>> you know need because usually when

57:13people are here they're coming for

57:15something. But with her saying from the

57:18beginning that she asked that you guys

57:21come to um present um it makes sense

57:25that you know um you know the the your

57:28presentation and the different things

57:30that you just um outlined that specific

57:33people can do. But um as a collective

57:37body, you're not really asking for

57:40anything other than last month you asked

57:42for a financial donation and we provided

57:45that. And so now as individuals, if

57:48there are things that we we find that we

57:51can do now um having a better

57:53understanding, I know I have a better

57:55understanding of the disease, then

57:57that's something that we can reach out

57:59to you guys um individually about. So

58:04thank you for that. Thank you for your

58:05presentation

58:06>> and thank you for the time.

58:09>> Yes,

58:09>> if I may, Madam Chair, I just want to

58:11kind of piggy back.

58:12>> You may, Mr. Tenny.

58:14>> Thank you. Um, just recently, I don't

58:16know if everybody's aware of this, we

58:18just had a huge uh kickoff, a cickle

58:20cell kickoff along with Red Cross and

58:22other entities. Um, and it was held over

58:25at the uh well at the boat house was the

58:28Thursday night's event. We had several

58:30events through I think believe Saturday,

58:32but we partnered with Red Cross and we

58:34had a blood drive and and folks were uh

58:37pretty

58:38sure that we weren't going to succeed

58:40pertaining to folks donating blood.

58:42Well, that didn't happen. We had a great

58:45turnout. Um the venue was a success to

58:48say the least. Um, but saying as to say

58:51that partnerships, you know, we of

58:54course we always, you know, you want

58:55funding to be able to do what you need

58:57to do, but partnering with folks and

58:59letting folks know what's what what

59:01resources are out there, what we can do.

59:04And again, right now, we're we're happy

59:06to say that the firefighters uh we we

59:09launched something many years ago uh

59:11called Ring the Bell for Cickle, and it

59:14started in New Haven, and now it's it's

59:15going on all over the country. Um, well,

59:18New Haven's back. This is something to

59:20talk about. And I can't tell you the

59:22reception we received from community

59:24people that stopped and said, you know

59:26what, my grandmother, my daughter, my

59:28niece had sick cell. This is wonderful.

59:30We've never seen anything like this. Um,

59:33so I say that to say that that one day

59:36or that two day or three days out there

59:39um educating, asking for resources um

59:43and ultimately it saves us a life. Even

59:45if we say but we know that we have saved

59:48many souls and we've helped folks

59:50throughout their journey and uh even in

59:52employment even in scholarships you know

59:54I'm on several scholarship boards and

59:56I've seen folks at a table say oh no

1:00:00they missed 30 days and I and then I

1:00:02would say do you know why they missed 30

1:00:04days because I knew that individual and

1:00:06I said they missed them because of their

1:00:07illness. So we got to kind of rethink

1:00:09when we do make those decisions and um

1:00:12not always uh uh stereotype or just you

1:00:16know just give people a chance and

1:00:18that's what the you know the Michelle

1:00:19House and Cickle cell has done um

1:00:21they've done a phenomenal job of

1:00:23partnering and I see the many folks that

1:00:25are on this screen here. We know a lot

1:00:27of folks in our community and so we have

1:00:29the resources and the the ways to tap

1:00:32into the schools and and the churches

1:00:34and all the other different places that

1:00:35we need to be. But um you know the event

1:00:39going back to the event, the event was

1:00:41phenomenal. And you talk about

1:00:42scholarships um you know folks need they

1:00:46need money. You know our kids the folks

1:00:48coming out of high school that are

1:00:49suffering um scholarship funds. I would

1:00:52love to see more scholarship funds out

1:00:54there. So again, thank you for your

1:00:56time. I just wanted to kind of piggyback

1:00:58and let you know what we're doing. Um,

1:01:01as not just the organization, but just

1:01:04uh across the board, you know, just

1:01:06partnering and making these things

1:01:07happen. Fortunately, we had a young lady

1:01:09named Wendy Tabone from the National

1:01:12Office of Red Cross and she was here for

1:01:14a few days and uh we kicked it off right

1:01:17here in New Haven. So, it's going to

1:01:18again, it's moving all throughout the

1:01:20country and we're looking forward to

1:01:21this partnership. I just left

1:01:23Cincinnati. Red Cross was there. Um we

1:01:26had a convention there. So, you know,

1:01:28it's about making these, you know,

1:01:29forming these relationships and making a

1:01:31difference and saving lives. So, thank

1:01:32you.

1:01:33>> It's all about Yeah. And it's all about

1:01:34supporting and and the thing is that

1:01:36I'll just close by saying everybody has

1:01:37a story. Um, and if you take the time to

1:01:41listen to, you know, how they got to

1:01:43where they are and some of the things,

1:01:44some of the barriers that they had to,

1:01:46you know, uh, get through to get to the

1:01:48other side, it's important for us to,

1:01:51uh, to make sure that we, uh,

1:01:53acknowledge and appreciate the stories

1:01:54that people tell us and and understand

1:01:56that, uh, their struggle, uh, they

1:01:59struggled without us. And if we're with

1:02:00them, uh, we could make their burden a

1:02:02little lighter by uh, helping them uh,

1:02:04uh, you know, going forward.

1:02:08Okay,

1:02:09>> thank you. Um I have one question. The

1:02:11um ring the bell for cle cell in New

1:02:14Haven, did that take place or when is it

1:02:16taking place?

1:02:18>> Um they the boot it's basically a boot

1:02:20drive uh with the firefighters. They're

1:02:22starting it um I do believe next week on

1:02:27you know next I I believe they're going

1:02:29to do it next uh th Friday, Saturday and

1:02:32then the following Friday, Saturday. Um

1:02:35my that's my understanding. I mean, we

1:02:37also do one in Bridgeport, too, and

1:02:38they've already started theirs. Uh, and

1:02:41that raises a lot of money. I mean, uh,

1:02:42I know in Bridgeport on on, uh, every

1:02:45year they raise about $20,000 for us.

1:02:49>> Um, okay. So, we're going to look for a

1:02:50flyer for that. Um, we'll find a flyer

1:02:52for that

1:02:54>> so we can distribute it and put it out.

1:02:56If there is a flyer,

1:02:57>> I'll make one [laughter]

1:02:59>> because we just like to know. the more

1:03:01we can spread the word that we're doing

1:03:03this again in our community.

1:03:05>> Yep.

1:03:05>> The better because I loved when we did

1:03:08that.

1:03:09>> Um

1:03:09>> Okay.

1:03:11>> And I'll harass y'all about that so that

1:03:12we can get the information out to

1:03:14everyone. And that event was phenomenal.

1:03:17Author Hogan was there.

1:03:20>> I stepped through for a few minutes.

1:03:23They It was shine a light. I have my

1:03:25light bulb that I'm going to have next

1:03:27year, too.

1:03:28>> Yeah. And that was

1:03:30>> you gave out red light bulbs for people

1:03:32to um use for that weekend.

1:03:34>> I like you have I like that you have

1:03:36these props, you know.

1:03:37>> I I come prepared.

1:03:39>> Oh, how'd you get a red light bulb? I

1:03:40didn't get a red light bulb.

1:03:41>> They were on the podium and then they

1:03:43announced it to get your light bulb as

1:03:46well.

1:03:46>> I will give you come by the office. I'll

1:03:48give you one.

1:03:49>> So, um Gary and Gary escorted me out by

1:03:52them.

1:03:53>> Yeah. Oh, sure. Yeah. Uh no it's it was

1:03:57a you know that was world that was rep

1:03:59see because on on June 19th June 19th is

1:04:01actually world cickle cell on day it was

1:04:04it was world cickle cell day before it

1:04:05was actually designated as national

1:04:08junth holiday

1:04:10>> and it it was a phenomenal event I will

1:04:12say um for people at the table that were

1:04:16not Latino that were not black they

1:04:19their ears were perked up they were

1:04:20listening they were taking in the

1:04:22information about how it affects

1:04:25other nationalities like it it was a

1:04:28thing and they were really listening and

1:04:30I was like spread the word you know we

1:04:32did have those conversations it was most

1:04:35informative and and I do thank you all

1:04:37for putting that together um and with

1:04:39the panel and the speakers you had and

1:04:41>> it was a nice event it was a nice time

1:04:43it was well worth the money

1:04:46>> and the food was good too

1:04:48>> it actually was very good [laughter]

1:04:50kudos to you all for doing that um many

1:04:53of us have family members that have a

1:04:56cickle cell trait or have cickle cell. I

1:04:59I lost my niece. She was 38 years old

1:05:02and she was one of those kids that was

1:05:04chronic and used to be very ill. Um and

1:05:07it affected her quality of life. She

1:05:09could barely work. Like she was one of

1:05:12those. And I remember in my day I had a

1:05:15classmate. She was a year or so ahead of

1:05:17us and her sister was in my class. We

1:05:19didn't know what was wrong with her at

1:05:20the time cuz they didn't announce it.

1:05:22But once I found out, I was familiar

1:05:24because I had a niece. Not everyone was

1:05:26familiar and she was really sickly. So,

1:05:29she ended up graduating with our class.

1:05:32Um, and it did affect her health. She

1:05:33would use a wheelchair sometimes. She

1:05:35was in pain. And there is a stigma on

1:05:38our communities, especially peach and

1:05:41brown faces. I say brown, all of them.

1:05:45>> When we go to Yale, they think we just

1:05:47dare to get off. They think drug. And I

1:05:50I will say that it is a problem. in our

1:05:52community. They think we're there just

1:05:53seeking narcotics and and that's the

1:05:55problem.

1:05:57>> And the reason why and the reason why

1:05:58that is is because when a child is on,

1:06:01you got to remember uh when you have

1:06:03cickle cell disease, it's from six

1:06:05months on they're treating you with

1:06:07medications and they're treating you

1:06:08with pain medications. By the time that

1:06:10you become an adolescent, you are now on

1:06:13uh you have a high tolerance for uh for

1:06:16pain medications. and they when you go

1:06:17into the uh to the emergency room,

1:06:19you're asking for pain for drugs that

1:06:21are beyond the normal person's asking to

1:06:24in order to control your pain. And so

1:06:26what ends up happening is that they

1:06:28don't treat them well in the emergency

1:06:30room. They end up in the hospital for

1:06:31for 8 to 10 days at a clip on trying to

1:06:35get their pain under control. I used to

1:06:36work at Yale Haven for years, so you

1:06:38know, I've seen it all all the time.

1:06:41>> Definitely. So, so it is something that,

1:06:44you know, we need to figure out how we

1:06:47can partner and work on and spread more

1:06:48awareness, do more blood drives, get

1:06:51people to come donate blood, um partner

1:06:54up with testing for the trade, like

1:06:57something. Um we we do have to look into

1:06:59doing more of that because it does

1:07:01affect our populations um in a not so

1:07:04good way. So, I'm glad that you all have

1:07:07the advocacy programs and stuff

1:07:10>> um and that social work support

1:07:12component because that is very

1:07:13important. Um because some people don't

1:07:15know how to advocate for themselves or

1:07:17their child,

1:07:18>> correct?

1:07:19>> And if you don't do it, who's going to

1:07:21do it?

1:07:22>> And we're trying to seek those folks

1:07:23out. That's why we're trying to create

1:07:25create that database so we can get

1:07:26everybody in one you know in one pool of

1:07:28um uh of you know of information so that

1:07:32we can so we can get information out to

1:07:33them as well as readily as um knowing

1:07:36where they are and uh and trying to help

1:07:38them because a lot of people are just

1:07:40trying to self-medicate or do whatever

1:07:42they can do to uh to survive.

1:07:44>> Yes. and and we thank you for your

1:07:46presentation tonight and this is just um

1:07:49I hope this is just your first stop with

1:07:51us and that we will talk more about the

1:07:54events that's going on. Maybe we can get

1:07:57a team.

1:07:58>> I work every Saturday. I'm going to see

1:07:59if I can get that Saturday off

1:08:02[laughter] cuz I need some steps. So

1:08:04maybe I can't say but maybe we can do a

1:08:08team form a team or something especially

1:08:11since it's not up you know the mountain

1:08:13this year. Oh, no, no, not I. I used to

1:08:15that's when I used to do it. [laughter]

1:08:18>> I've done it before until I started

1:08:20working on Saturdays. However, maybe

1:08:22that's something we can come, you know,

1:08:25or come cheer.

1:08:26>> Listen, we we give you free we give you

1:08:27free lunch.

1:08:30>> So, you know, you will hear more from

1:08:32us, okay, as a caucus and we do

1:08:35appreciate you. Are there any other

1:08:36comments or questions from committee

1:08:38members or caucus members?

1:08:43Well, I just want to thank I want to

1:08:44thank you all. I mean, this was it was

1:08:46an honor and a privilege to be in front

1:08:48of you and uh and like I said, you know,

1:08:50our the only ask that we have is that we

1:08:52want to sustain what we're doing and uh

1:08:55you know, like I said, you know,

1:08:56whatever our relationship with the

1:08:57hospital and making sure that our

1:08:59building is working, you know,

1:09:00functioning properly, we may be leaning

1:09:02back on you to get them to move on some

1:09:05of the things that are important to make

1:09:06sure that our infrastructure is uh

1:09:08intact. Okay.

1:09:11All right. Well, thank you much.

1:09:13>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:09:16>> Thank you.

1:09:17>> Thank you. Appreciate it.

1:09:19>> All right. Bye.

1:09:19>> Bye.

1:09:20>> Bye.

1:09:21>> Thank you. I broke my computer for a

1:09:22second, y'all.

1:09:24>> Bye.

1:09:25>> I appreciate you all. [laughter]

1:09:27>> Goodbye.

1:09:34>> Thank you all um for being here. Um now

1:09:38we're going to move on to some more

1:09:39business.

1:09:41You ready? Um, we're going to move on to

1:09:44our final gala business so that we can

1:09:48get flyers out, get ad sold, and get our

1:09:52um, ticket sales. Most of you, let's

1:09:56see, there were a few people.

1:10:00I have five or six people. Um, there was

1:10:04a text message blast that went out, but

1:10:06I did get six rejects for some reason

1:10:10and I think it's just I don't know if it

1:10:11was my Verizon, but it kicked back to

1:10:14me. Um, we were talking about the final

1:10:18um vote for themes. So, I have one, two,

1:10:21three, four, six at kickback. Um, so

1:10:26I'll get in touch with I think it's

1:10:28Alder Morrison.

1:10:33Yeah. And a few others because I'm only

1:10:35saying your name because you're on the

1:10:36call with us right now, Alder Morrison.

1:10:38It was six of them that kicked back to

1:10:39me and we don't know why it just kept

1:10:41saying message not sent or resend. So I

1:10:46will revisit that with you all. But as

1:10:49far as the gala,

1:10:52it will be on the 2019. Go ahead,

1:10:55>> Madam Chair. Before you move forward,

1:10:58can you verbally tell us what those

1:11:00options?

1:11:02>> Yes, I sure can.

1:11:04>> And I can resend as well. I can email it

1:11:07to you, but I can do it verbally. Give

1:11:09me one moment. I'mma pull it up in the

1:11:11exact way I sent it.

1:11:13>> Okay. Thank you.

1:11:15>> Yes, I'mma do it right now.

1:11:20Yeah, I was fussing. I thought I told

1:11:22Alder Mar she blocked me yesterday. I

1:11:24said, "You got me blocked because we

1:11:27were walking in together at the time,

1:11:28but she doesn't have me blocked." So,

1:11:30and I said, "Well, she wasn't the only

1:11:32one." I don't know if it was a Verizon

1:11:34thing or what's happening to be honest.

1:11:36I'm pulling it up right now.

1:11:41I think I need my glass. Okay, here we

1:11:43go.

1:11:46Okay. Um, tell me when you're ready.

1:11:50So, it was just a request to respond for

1:11:52the um vote for our theme.

1:11:54>> And there are I can put them in the chat

1:11:56if you want me to after I read them.

1:11:58Alder Hogan, you too. You were one.

1:12:00You're on this call. I got you a big dot

1:12:03next to you as well. So, here we go.

1:12:06Number one,

1:12:08ordinary people doing extraordinary

1:12:11things.

1:12:12Two, the 2026 Wonderful Giving Gala.

1:12:18Three, remember the time.

1:12:23Four, not all heroes wear capes.

1:12:27Five, we are the world. And I also

1:12:31included with those selections,

1:12:34um, I'll read it. It says, "This year's

1:12:36honores fit the mold of community

1:12:39community members or organizations that

1:12:40care for our city by giving back,

1:12:42educating, and enriching our residents,

1:12:44bringing services, skills, health

1:12:46equity, information, training, and more.

1:12:49And confirmed honores,

1:12:53um, our director of elderly services,

1:12:55Miss Vil, our state treasur, Mr. Eric

1:12:59Russell. um the Firebird Society of New

1:13:02Haven and IABPF,

1:13:07that's the um International Association

1:13:08of Black and Professional Firefighters.

1:13:10Um they're

1:13:13co-mingled. Um Miss Fallon Thomas of the

1:13:16Yale New Haven Hiring Initiative and

1:13:19Squash Haven.

1:13:22We do have one um special honore we

1:13:25wanted to do that got votes but we're

1:13:28waiting just for that final confirmation

1:13:30we should know by tomorrow and that was

1:13:31Mr. Jaylen Johnson who came to our

1:13:34chambers um and he was given a

1:13:38proclamation

1:13:39um I think you all remember him correct

1:13:44so those are the confirmed

1:13:47>> is that the young man that um saved the

1:13:50person from jumping

1:13:52>> yes

1:13:52>> okay

1:13:53>> so we we just want to await confirmation

1:13:56and

1:13:57I'll know by tomorrow I should know by

1:14:00tomorrow if he's willing willing to

1:14:02receive an award or if we just want to

1:14:04do something um to acknowledge him. I um

1:14:08I'll let you all know by tomorrow.

1:14:11Also, within that same um message, um we

1:14:16did talk about price increases because

1:14:18of the fact that everything went up.

1:14:20Although we still get um we have deals

1:14:23on things, the prices went up on every

1:14:26single thing. So, there was um also a

1:14:30request about going from 100 to $125

1:14:35and we ask that people just confirm and

1:14:38I can resend this

1:14:40um if you prefer to have it writing just

1:14:42let me know. I'll resend it via email.

1:14:45Um,

1:14:46just to let you all know. So, I can

1:14:48resend this to you all tonight.

1:14:52>> And in your resending

1:14:55the you're you're rescending the the

1:14:57choices that you know

1:15:01>> I can do it right now. I'mma copy and

1:15:03paste it

1:15:05>> along with the the theme

1:15:08>> and and I guess those are the two things

1:15:12and you want us to reply to you by close

1:15:16of business tomorrow or

1:15:18>> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IT TONIGHT if you

1:15:19have time and if not by 12:00 tomorrow

1:15:22if you I'll take close of business

1:15:24tomorrow if I have to take close of

1:15:25business to be honest um because most

1:15:27people other than a couple I have to

1:15:29follow up with have voted um that did

1:15:32actually receive the message. So I have

1:15:35another a little book a tally. So yes,

1:15:39I'm going to resend it. Um

1:15:42>> so what did most people um as far as the

1:15:45the theme is concerned, what did most

1:15:48people say?

1:15:49>> So of the people that have voted thus

1:15:51far, one, two, three, five, six, seven,

1:15:55eight, nine,

1:15:5810,

1:16:0011. most people so far like not all

1:16:02heroes wear capes and we have a few

1:16:05people that like um ordinary people

1:16:07doing extraordinary things and we have a

1:16:10we are the world vote as well.

1:16:12>> So at this point because you're what

1:16:15like six weeks out you should go with

1:16:19the to me you should go with the

1:16:21majority of what you have.

1:16:23>> All of those um recommendations are are

1:16:26nice. I do like the one with the capes.

1:16:29I like both of those that you said. So,

1:16:32me personally, I don't need to vote

1:16:34because I agree with what you

1:16:36>> what you have there. And

1:16:40>> um and as far as the

1:16:43>> what was the other piece? Uh um you want

1:16:46>> going from 100 to $125.

1:16:49>> That that's a that's a have to right

1:16:52there. I mean, everyone's everyone's um

1:16:56events of today are 150,

1:17:00>> $200.

1:17:02We are the only one that has been $100

1:17:05for a very long time and we're still in

1:17:09this world of everything has gone up.

1:17:12So, I think that's just like it got to

1:17:15be 125.

1:17:17>> Yeah. Um, so I did and the reason I sent

1:17:20it the way I sent to Aud Morrison, you

1:17:22know, I don't want anybody think I'm

1:17:23making decisions

1:17:26or or the executive board is making

1:17:28decisions willy-nilly. So I I wanted to

1:17:31just make be very clear when I send it

1:17:33out and to get some, you know, feedback.

1:17:36Alder Hogan,

1:17:38>> um, I concur with Alder Morrison. I

1:17:41mean, don't don't wait for me to send

1:17:42you a text. I'm in favor of uh, all

1:17:45heroes don't wear capes. I think that's

1:17:46kind of catchy. It's different. Um, and

1:17:49the 125, if that's what it's going to

1:17:52cost to pay the bills, that that's the

1:17:53cost. Uh,

1:17:54>> okay.

1:17:55>> So, can you have my vote on both of

1:17:57those right now?

1:17:58>> Thank you very much,

1:18:01>> Madam Chair.

1:18:02>> Same here, Madam Chair. I'm agreeing

1:18:04with Alder Mer and Alder Hogan. The

1:18:06majority you have there and the tickets

1:18:09125, I am honestly agreeing with that

1:18:12also at this time. So, you have my vote

1:18:15on that. Thank you, Alder Rodriguez.

1:18:18>> Madam Chair, I couldn't agree more. I

1:18:20think I do like the theme, not all

1:18:21heroes wear capes, but if there's

1:18:23another majority, we can, you know, I

1:18:25will go. This, you know, this commi

1:18:28committee really represents our

1:18:30community. And I think, as I said

1:18:32previously, going the the amount of food

1:18:36and everything, Madam Chair, it for 125,

1:18:40it is still a steal. Um, so I'm voting

1:18:43on raising it because what we do with

1:18:47that funding is we put it back out to

1:18:50communities. So 125 I'm in 100%

1:18:53agreement and thank you for doing all

1:18:54that leg work.

1:18:56>> Thank you. Thank you Morrison. I I you

1:18:59know she's the money lady so she knows.

1:19:04>> Got it. Thank you.

1:19:06>> She's the money lady and she knows from

1:19:07planning.

1:19:10>> Thank you. surprised that it just

1:19:12happened. So,

1:19:14>> I only had one person that questioned

1:19:16the 125 to be honest thus far.

1:19:19>> You always had that.

1:19:21>> Exactly. And I'm like

1:19:23>> I think then for the ones that are here

1:19:27now, we should pose a vote.

1:19:30>> We should pose two votes. won a vote for

1:19:33the increase to 125 and then the second

1:19:36vote for the theme. But you already got

1:19:40the theme. [clears throat]

1:19:41>> But let's start with the first thing

1:19:44about the money.

1:19:46>> All right.

1:19:46>> So,

1:19:47>> Alder Morrison,

1:19:49>> I make a motion that we increase the um

1:19:53the ticket cost for the gala um to $125

1:19:58per ticket.

1:20:00>> Second. Okay.

1:20:01>> All right.

1:20:04Hi. Hello. Thank you for coming. All

1:20:06right. So, we're gonna take a vote on

1:20:07it.

1:20:09>> All in favor of increasing to 125. Say

1:20:13I.

1:20:13>> I.

1:20:14>> I.

1:20:15>> All right. Any opposed?

1:20:18>> Oh, sorry.

1:20:19>> No. Okay. So, the eyes have it and the

1:20:22vote is official for excuse me on $25.

1:20:28>> And secondly,

1:20:30Oh,

1:20:32>> Morrison.

1:20:35>> I make I I um Oh, not a make

1:20:38recommendation. I I'm missing the word,

1:20:42but I propose that we um go with which

1:20:46one? All heroes.

1:20:46>> You like not all heroes wear capes?

1:20:49>> Not all heroes wear capes. Is that the

1:20:51one that you got the most people wanted

1:20:54>> so far? Yes. Yeah.

1:20:55>> Yeah. Not all. So, I I um recommend,

1:20:59suggest uh or propose that we go with

1:21:03the theme all heroes um don't wear capes

1:21:07for the 2026 um gala.

1:21:10>> Second.

1:21:10>> Second.

1:21:11>> All right. All in favor?

1:21:15>> I.

1:21:16>> Any opposed?

1:21:18>> Seeing none, the eyes have it. And we

1:21:20have a theme. Not all heroes wear capes.

1:21:23>> Are we going to get um little um capes?

1:21:26So I was thinking

1:21:29because you know

1:21:32if we pick like remember the time where

1:21:33we are the world of course we would have

1:21:35had to do something like MJish you know

1:21:36this which would have been awesome but I

1:21:40hey I encourage people to wear a cape

1:21:43wear a cape pendant

1:21:45wear a cape hat

1:21:47[laughter]

1:21:49>> put a cape on your

1:21:51>> so would this be

1:21:54see I didn't see it in that way that

1:21:56that would be something that all of us

1:21:59would wear. I saw it as maybe something

1:22:03that we would provide something around a

1:22:06cape

1:22:08>> to each person.

1:22:09>> So, we'll look into something like that.

1:22:11>> Participating, you know, some type

1:22:13something with a cape.

1:22:15>> Let's look into something. I I will

1:22:16start that research um when we get off

1:22:18this call.

1:22:19>> Yeah, Amazon got it. I don't know what

1:22:22it it what it is, but somebody

1:22:24>> Amazon got it. They sure do. I have a

1:22:26cape hanging on my office door here. I

1:22:28can't tell you what it says, but um

1:22:33>> yeah, they Amazon will do it for you and

1:22:35and put the name on it

1:22:38>> cuz even if even if we don't get

1:22:41everybody that we should for the honores

1:22:46this year, we should get we should get

1:22:48each one of them a cake.

1:22:51you know, like a, you know, a button

1:22:53cape. Might be plastic, but it's a cape

1:22:57and it it'll be special to them. And

1:23:01because Amazon does everything you

1:23:04what's that about five capes and then um

1:23:07just have it written on the back um 2026

1:23:12Black Hispanic Caucus Gala um honores

1:23:16something like that.

1:23:17>> Good idea, Alder Morrison. What was you

1:23:19saying?

1:23:21>> Second thought. One of a little uh CR

1:23:24pendant says all here. We present that

1:23:26that with them also at that time.

1:23:29>> So keep that just a c or a button or

1:23:33something say saying that to the pres to

1:23:35the honories.

1:23:37>> Okay.

1:23:39>> Y'all are the bomb.

1:23:42Um,

1:23:44as far we have no other business, but I

1:23:48would like to reach out to you all to

1:23:50see if you have announcements you wish

1:23:51to make or if you have any further

1:23:53business

1:23:56that you want to discuss here tonight.

1:24:01No, I

1:24:04>> Alder Morrison

1:24:06>> um I just stressed that everyone um pay

1:24:10their 120 dues for the year. Um

1:24:16you know over the years things

1:24:19are a little different. So I really

1:24:21don't know

1:24:23>> who has paid and who has not paid. Okay.

1:24:26because everyone

1:24:28gives their money to Al.

1:24:31>> I know I paid.

1:24:33>> I'm happy to be able to say that.

1:24:35>> Yep.

1:24:36>> Um

1:24:37>> I know um paid

1:24:41>> if even if he didn't put it in my hand,

1:24:43I know he paid.

1:24:45>> Now, I don't know about everybody else

1:24:47>> because you know me, I go by my little

1:24:49receipts, but Al handles all of that

1:24:51now. So, we'll get an updated list and

1:24:54and make sure we um

1:24:56>> we'll get you a list too, Aldorson, and

1:25:00we will revisit that. Yes, I agree with

1:25:03you.

1:25:05I

1:25:06>> we will go through that list.

1:25:09And then the other thing that I wanted

1:25:11to mention since we're talking about

1:25:12money is and this this hasn't happened

1:25:16[clears throat]

1:25:17in a while which is great but it's

1:25:20unfortunate when it does. One of our

1:25:23caucus members has um lost a um um

1:25:27immediate family member which is um

1:25:30Alder Murf.

1:25:32>> Yes. Um, and so

1:25:35in doing that, there was, it's been so

1:25:38long, I don't even know the amount of

1:25:40monies that we usually um donate um to

1:25:45the family. Um,

1:25:47>> and I'm going to go get a card. Sorry,

1:25:49Alder Morrison.

1:25:50>> Um, I'm going to go get a card tomorrow,

1:25:54okay?

1:25:54>> So, we can sign it as a caucus.

1:25:57Okay?

1:25:57>> So, I'll make sure I handle that part

1:25:58and we'll figure out what we can do for

1:26:00them.

1:26:02Yeah, because I can't remember and Al

1:26:04might have might remember. I don't know

1:26:08if that was the um the the $300

1:26:13that um that we give. Um I don't I can't

1:26:17quite remember. And this was something

1:26:20that we I believe years ago we wrote in

1:26:23the bylaw. So it doesn't even take a

1:26:24vote. But we we had the one thing that

1:26:28we did do was bring it to that immediate

1:26:31family. Your

1:26:33>> parent child sibling.

1:26:35>> Yeah.

1:26:36>> Yeah. If I recall was 250 uh Oliver

1:26:41>> 200.

1:26:42>> Yes.

1:26:44>> Okay.

1:26:46All right.

1:26:48>> I I'll find out because I don't remember

1:26:50the amount to be honest.

1:26:52Yeah, ask Al. Al Al Al would remember

1:26:57because for some reason all they're

1:26:59saying it seems like it was more.

1:27:02However, I've been I've been in this a

1:27:06long time and one time it we had no

1:27:10limited amount and it just got crazy and

1:27:13then another time we pulled it back a

1:27:15lot. Then another time we had a set

1:27:19amount. So I really I I don't remember

1:27:23but alls I do know we got to provide him

1:27:25with some type of

1:27:26>> definitely

1:27:29weird came up too. That's what my

1:27:31recollection

1:27:35>> madame chair

1:27:37>> Rodriguez.

1:27:38>> Yes. Um did Alder Hamilton as well lose

1:27:41a family member?

1:27:42>> Um her aunt.

1:27:44>> Oh okay. Okay. I wasn't sure. Yes. And

1:27:46and I believe

1:27:47>> and I only had one card um because I did

1:27:49want to um at least sign a card um for

1:27:52older Hamilton last night um and I kind

1:27:54of just left it here by accident. So I'm

1:27:57going to go to the store and I'll get

1:27:58some cards tomorrow.

1:28:00>> Um because my supply dwindled

1:28:03>> and I'll make sure we get them cards.

1:28:05>> Got it. And my second thing is I do

1:28:07believe like Alder Morrison said, Alder

1:28:09Morrison, I do remember it being like

1:28:12$300.

1:28:16right from

1:28:19the

1:28:22>> reason why I'm also thinking $300

1:28:25because it's the same amount as if

1:28:28someone were to get a donation

1:28:31>> and I think that we kind of because at

1:28:33one time like I said we were giving

1:28:35people $500 $600 and the money just was

1:28:39going going and so um as other thing

1:28:44said the 250, but that 250 is not

1:28:48falling in my brain um like usual, but

1:28:53the 300 feels comfortable because if we

1:28:57were giving someone else in a donation

1:29:00that just came off the street that

1:29:02needed something, we would give them

1:29:03300. And we did do a vote on we did have

1:29:08uh someone who lost a family member, but

1:29:09we did it as a donation request because

1:29:11that's how it came through,

1:29:13>> right?

1:29:14>> Um but I'll just double triple check all

1:29:17of it um tonight.

1:29:20>> Thank you. Thank you, Mad.

1:29:22>> Just so we have so we're clear.

1:29:25>> Thank you,

1:29:26>> Alder Hogan. Uh just on a quick on just

1:29:29on a quick research, Amazon will give

1:29:31you 14 capes with the novelty name on it

1:29:35for 35 37.99.

1:29:40>> Thank you for your research.

1:29:43>> I knew Amazon had it.

1:29:45>> Yeah, Amazon got everything and they get

1:29:47it to you in four days.

1:29:51[laughter]

1:29:53>> Alter Hogan, send me that link if you

1:29:55get time. Oh, all I did was uh go to

1:29:58>> Oh, you just put it in. There wasn't a

1:30:00specific one you liked. Okay.

1:30:02>> Novelty tapes and it just popped up.

1:30:04>> No, I'll do some research on online and

1:30:07I'll do some local research as well

1:30:08because we do like to use our local

1:30:10people when we can when it's feasible.

1:30:13So, I'll do um I'll hit it from both

1:30:16angles.

1:30:16>> Okay.

1:30:17>> I appreciate it.

1:30:21So if we have no further business, any

1:30:25other business or comments?

1:30:27>> So So uh a table of 10 now is 11:25 then

1:30:30correct

1:30:32>> for you.

1:30:36>> I'm sorry.

1:30:37>> Ah, we got jokes today. Don't forget I'm

1:30:39a senior. I'm a senior and I'm retired

1:30:41and unemployed. So [laughter]

1:30:44>> you are not Wait, excuse me. Let me get

1:30:47my decor on.

1:30:48>> No, I just want No. so that when I when

1:30:50I book the table, I know what it is

1:30:52because last year it was buy a table of

1:30:5410, get one free or something. I forget

1:30:56how it went. But

1:30:58>> so

1:31:0010

1:31:02times 125

1:31:04is $1,250.

1:31:08>> Perfect.

1:31:10>> W Morrison earlier. That's all.

1:31:13>> So So what now? This is what always

1:31:17throws me off. and it has been throwing

1:31:19me off for 15 years.

1:31:22If I'm selling a table, I want to and

1:31:26I'm selling to my friends. I want to I

1:31:29want to sit with my friends. So why is

1:31:32it I got to sell 10 tickets to get one

1:31:35ticket versus I sell nine tickets and I

1:31:39get one ticket so me and my friends

1:31:41could be together. That never made sense

1:31:44to me

1:31:47because where I'm supposed to sit.

1:31:50>> VIP.

1:31:53>> Madam Chair,

1:31:54>> I'm putting MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN HEAR.

1:31:56>> I'm VIP any and everywhere I go.

1:31:59>> I HAD TO PUT MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN HEAR

1:32:01YOU. SO,

1:32:03>> Madam Chair,

1:32:05>> Madam Chair, that is the problem.

1:32:12That's a problem, Madam Chair. Selling

1:32:1610 to get one, that's 11. That throws

1:32:18the whole

1:32:19>> That throws off the table.

1:32:20>> That throws off.

1:32:21>> So, THAT JUST STARTS YOUR SECOND TABLE

1:32:23TECHNICALLY. HOWEVER,

1:32:25>> HOWEVER, because it's a fundraiser. So,

1:32:28so let's take a poll. Order. Wait,

1:32:31Marissa, can I defer to order Rodriguez?

1:32:33I just want to see if she has something

1:32:34to say that had to do with what you were

1:32:36just saying. Order Rodriguez.

1:32:38Ma madam madam chair I was I was just

1:32:42saying that when we stepped into this I

1:32:44know that this has been a conversation

1:32:46for a long time and we've never been

1:32:49able to figure out because that I

1:32:52believe that was since the dawn of

1:32:54everybody doing the the gala. So this is

1:32:57the perfect time to to discuss it.

1:33:00>> All right. So y'all have a discussion

1:33:02and let's see what we come up with.

1:33:04>> So last year I bought a table of 10. I

1:33:07got the 11th ticket. So, I had I had to

1:33:09give it away because they weren't gonna

1:33:11sit at my table. So, I gave it to Alder

1:33:13Hubard,

1:33:15>> but it didn't make any sense because I

1:33:17bought a table and my table was full.

1:33:19So, the extra ticket was just kind of

1:33:20like, well, what do I do with it?

1:33:24>> And all the years that I was um that I

1:33:27was over this,

1:33:29>> it's always been you buy nine, you get

1:33:31your 10th one free.

1:33:32>> That's what I agree with.

1:33:34>> That has always been

1:33:35>> Excuse me. All right. Point of order,

1:33:36Alder Street.

1:33:37>> No, I'm kidding.

1:33:40>> That that has always been because just

1:33:42like you know um Alder um Hoken just

1:33:45gave a prime example. He got a free

1:33:48ticket book for what? To give it away

1:33:51because he wants to sit with his people.

1:33:53>> Y'all can take a vote on it tonight, but

1:33:55technically it is a fundraiser. So

1:33:59selling that other ticket is a great

1:34:01thing for our cause. I'm just going to

1:34:03be honest with you. This is my thought

1:34:05process on it. It It is not

1:34:07>> Madam Chair, but at the same time, if

1:34:10I'm selling tickets to hang out with my

1:34:12people, I can't sit with my people. I

1:34:16get it.

1:34:17>> We want We want folks to sell as many

1:34:20tickets as possible. However,

1:34:24>> to give me an incentive

1:34:27to sell at least nine,

1:34:30that incentive is I sell nine. and I'm

1:34:33sitting with my friends.

1:34:35>> So y'all Y'ALL CAN CALL Y'ALL CAN CALL A

1:34:37VOTE ON THAT IF y'all want to call a

1:34:38VOTE ON IT. BUT I do want to say

1:34:40something else. Can I throw something

1:34:41else in this mix while we're just having

1:34:42a discussion, please order?

1:34:44>> Sure.

1:34:46>> I would wish to encourage everyone to

1:34:48please try to sell an ad because the ad

1:34:50is what helps us. If you can't do a full

1:34:54page ad, you can ask for a business card

1:34:57ad that every little bit helps a

1:35:01business card. Um, even like when we do

1:35:04our patrons list, all of that is what

1:35:06really adds to our pot because for a lot

1:35:09of this, as you know, Alder Morrison,

1:35:11we're selling tickets to fill the room

1:35:15and your ticket is your meal and your,

1:35:17you know, your entertainment and

1:35:19everything, but the ads is what really

1:35:22help us. So, I do wish to encourage an

1:35:25ad thing. And next year, we're doing an

1:35:27ad contest. We're just going to put it

1:35:29in the atmosphere. Let's put it in the

1:35:30atmosphere now and we'll have a group

1:35:32discussion about it and come up with a

1:35:34great plan or incentive for that. I just

1:35:36want to throw it out there.

1:35:38>> Ads don't eat. You are a thousand%

1:35:42correct. Ads don't eat.

1:35:45>> But I just wanted to put it out there.

1:35:48>> Yeah. Yeah. And we got to try to figure

1:35:50out a way to to get everyone cuz if

1:35:53everyone on the caucus

1:35:55um everyone in the caucus sold one ad,

1:35:59we would have at least 20 ads.

1:36:02>> Exactly. And even if you can't do a full

1:36:05page ad, I don't care IF YOU PUT A

1:36:07business card in there for yourself. It

1:36:09makes a difference. I'm going to do it

1:36:12this year. Um and I have collected like

1:36:15some patrons. It makes a difference. Um,

1:36:20>> madame chair,

1:36:21>> one one moment. Order Rodriguez, we have

1:36:23a hand up. Come on in.

1:36:25>> Are you unmuted,

1:36:27Miss Mag? You're muted. Let me see if I

1:36:30can unmute you.

1:36:32>> No, Madam Chair. Uh, okay.

1:36:37One second. I'm sorry.

1:36:40>> You can't unmute. You only can mute a

1:36:42person in Zoom.

1:36:44>> You know how you're muted. We can't hear

1:36:46you.

1:36:54How did she How did she get her hand

1:36:56down?

1:36:57>> Yeah.

1:37:00>> However,

1:37:05>> however she raised her hand, the all of

1:37:08that mute, stop, all participant, all of

1:37:11that comes up

1:37:13>> at the bottom. There she is.

1:37:15>> Okay, she's unmuted. speak, please. No,

1:37:19>> probably her microphone.

1:37:20>> Turn your volume up on your microphone.

1:37:22Maybe your microphone's in like a

1:37:23earbud. Um or somebody's Bluetooth is

1:37:26picking up.

1:37:28>> Oh, can you put

1:37:30>> Tell her to type it IN THE CHAT.

1:37:32>> YEAH. WHERE'S THE CHAT? IS THE CHAT

1:37:34POPPING UP FOR Y'ALL?

1:37:35>> YEAH.

1:37:41>> And Alder Alder Rodriguez had a question

1:37:44or statement.

1:37:45>> Yes. I'm going to let um

1:37:47>> keep working on your Are you unmuted?

1:37:50Okay. I'm going to have Alder Rodriguez

1:37:52just make her statement until we can

1:37:54hear you. Okay. Thank you, Alder

1:37:56Morrison. Alder Rodriguez.

1:37:58>> Um

1:38:00Madame Chair, I just So, if 30 orders

1:38:03sell tickets,

1:38:05um No, no, no, no, no. Hold on one

1:38:08second. No, no. I'm just trying to

1:38:09figure out I'm just trying to figure

1:38:12out.

1:38:12>> Go. But remember, 30 I DON'T KNOW IF 30

1:38:15ORDERS are going to sell. Even though we

1:38:17allow anyone to buy tickets, OUR CAUCUS

1:38:20MEMBERS USUALLY PUSH those ticket sales

1:38:22even though we have other orders that do

1:38:24sell tickets. Just keep that in mind

1:38:25when you do your calculations. That's

1:38:27all.

1:38:28>> Thank you.

1:38:28>> No, no, no. Thank you so much. You're

1:38:30right. I was calculating 30 orders would

1:38:33sell a table of 10,

1:38:35>> right? But now I'm going to decrease

1:38:38125. I'm gonna be the banker right now.

1:38:40Alder Morrison.

1:38:41It would be 1750 that we wouldn't have

1:38:43in the kitty. But that's okay. I just

1:38:45figured I' I'd count it out. All the

1:38:47Morrison. [laughter]

1:38:49All the Morrison's like, "Uhuh.

1:38:50>> I don't know what you're talking about.

1:38:52I don't understand what you're saying,

1:38:54Alder Rodriguez, but all I know is if I

1:38:58sell tickets, I want one free one."

1:39:03>> Okay.

1:39:05>> Call it to a vote. IF YOU WANT TO CALL

1:39:07IT TO A VOTE, LET'S CALL IT TO A VOTE.

1:39:09This This is a democracy here. This is a

1:39:11caucus. Let's do what we do best. Alder

1:39:14Morrison,

1:39:16I make a um I don't know why I'm missing

1:39:19the word. It's not proposal. It's not

1:39:21recommendation.

1:39:22>> Motion. Yes. I make an a motion that um

1:39:27I want to say

1:39:29into perpetuity, but I'm making a motion

1:39:32that um for alders when um you sell

1:39:37ticket if you sell nine tickets, you get

1:39:40your 10th ticket free

1:39:43for the gala.

1:39:46So that's my motion.

1:39:48>> Before I second that, let me be sure I

1:39:50understand it. for alders only that sell

1:39:54tickets not but that buy a table they

1:39:57get the 10th ticket free or is that for

1:39:59anybody

1:40:01>> just for orders

1:40:03>> I second that motion

1:40:07>> okay so

1:40:08>> all right so we going to call it to a

1:40:10vote y'all want to have a discussion

1:40:12before we vote discussion we had

1:40:14discussion but I'll call for discussion

1:40:16again if you want it seeing none let's

1:40:18let's call a vote all in favor

1:40:21Hi.

1:40:21>> Hi.

1:40:24>> So, we have Alder Hogan, Alder Morrison,

1:40:28Alder Rodriguez, Alder Sing, you said I

1:40:32>> No.

1:40:33>> Okay.

1:40:35>> Alder Streeter.

1:40:36>> Streer. How do you vote?

1:40:38>> He must have walked away.

1:40:40>> No, I'm here. I um

1:40:42>> I I kind of agree. You know, when I sell

1:40:45the tickets though, it's kind of

1:40:47ownorous when you can't set with the

1:40:48people that you had come with you.

1:40:51So um I am I feel if we sell nine we

1:40:54should get the 10th ticket free.

1:40:56>> So how many

1:40:58>> okay there's not discussion. I'll wait

1:41:00until the end. Okay.

1:41:03>> So

1:41:05>> we voted we have um

1:41:07>> Okay. So eyes's we have a few eyes. We

1:41:10have four eyes and we we got two nas.

1:41:15No.

1:41:15>> No I'm a no.

1:41:16>> And I'm a no too. So, the eyes have it.

1:41:19Um,

1:41:22the eyes have it.

1:41:25>> Okay.

1:41:26>> However,

1:41:26>> I gota find

1:41:27>> now I got Now y'all gota sell two

1:41:29tables.

1:41:30>> I This is

1:41:32>> I respect that, but I love the notion

1:41:34that Alder Hogan donate his his 11

1:41:37ticket. You know, it's to some

1:41:39constituents and people that we can

1:41:41encourage. I I I I like that, you know.

1:41:44>> So, I I'll make up for my ticket in ad

1:41:46sales. How about that?

1:41:48>> Yes. I I just encourage we sell more

1:41:50tables. All of us.

1:41:51>> So So if once I sell my ticket, I'll

1:41:54make sure I bring in at least five ads.

1:41:56>> That's what I'm talking about. Alder

1:41:58Hogan. Alder Singh. HE'S CALLING YOU to

1:42:00task. So Alder Singh, I look forward to

1:42:04>> at least minimum I can count the two

1:42:06ads.

1:42:07>> That's what I'm talking about. This is

1:42:09what I love about this caucus and the

1:42:11great work you all do.

1:42:12>> Why can't you get the four older thing?

1:42:14I can get the five. You can't get the

1:42:15foreheads. I I'm working a tree

1:42:19[laughter]

1:42:19>> and this is a recording session. I love

1:42:21this. Yes. Okay. So, now that we have

1:42:25handled that guaranteed

1:42:27>> any other business or discussion at this

1:42:31moment

1:42:32or same

1:42:33>> date, Madam Chair,

1:42:35>> October 29th.

1:42:37>> Thank you.

1:42:39>> And we will I will follow up tomorrow.

1:42:42Um, and like I said, I'm going to get

1:42:44those cards. I'm going to follow up with

1:42:47that last honore and I'm going to um

1:42:51research Alder Morrison's suggestion,

1:42:53Alder Hogan suggestion with the capes

1:42:56and whether it's cape the pendants, all

1:42:58of that. I'm going to have a whole

1:42:59collective done. Um, and so we'll go

1:43:03live and get our ticket sales going and

1:43:05our ad stuff out. Um, Alder Hogan.

1:43:09>> Yeah. Is the is this black tie again?

1:43:12It's black cape.

1:43:16>> Okay, since we're all going to look like

1:43:18>> it's whatever you

1:43:20>> But last year was blacked out. So are we

1:43:22in black again or black tie?

1:43:24>> It's what it look look beautiful. Come

1:43:26look look handsome.

1:43:28>> Okay, that's not hard.

1:43:29>> So you're saying that there's no certain

1:43:31color?

1:43:32>> No.

1:43:33>> Last year was sneakers, right? Was

1:43:35sneakers.

1:43:35>> No, that was

1:43:37last year was blackout.

1:43:39>> Last year was blackout. That's right.

1:43:43>> Getting mad. We were all wet. So,

1:43:46>> it was raining. It

1:43:47>> rained so hard.

1:43:50>> I don't even remember that. So, thank

1:43:55>> Madam Chair. Do we do we uh do any

1:43:57promotion with YBC and our event?

1:44:01>> We used to. So, we can um revisit that

1:44:03as well.

1:44:05>> Thank you.

1:44:07But we're looking for you to go out

1:44:08there and hit those streets, Alderson

1:44:10Singh, with your great personality.

1:44:13You're a star. So, we're looking for you

1:44:16to bring in all those patron and ad

1:44:19cells for us. Audrey Morrison.

1:44:23>> Um, as far as the advertisement, I mean,

1:44:27yes, we will have our flyer, I guess,

1:44:30whenever that's going to come out. Um

1:44:33but this has been going on so much which

1:44:35is great that it kind of sells itself.

1:44:39you can always um reach out to um WIBC

1:44:44um in regards to a public service

1:44:47announcement that is free

1:44:49>> um which usually they'll do during the

1:44:52week of

1:44:54>> but I I guess you would have to kind of

1:44:57measure whether or not if the ticket

1:44:59sales because the ticket sales will

1:45:01start to really kick in um like the the

1:45:04the 1 of October,

1:45:07>> right? And that's when people will start

1:45:10ticket sale, buying tickets and all of

1:45:12that stuff. And so then at that point um

1:45:15can you can just think look to see if

1:45:20you need to do that advertisement.

1:45:24>> Um

1:45:25>> the other there was one other thing I

1:45:28wanted to tell you about. Uh, oh, are we

1:45:32are have we made up with um um with

1:45:36Aello cuz you know we have broke up.

1:45:39>> So we did Breeze last year.

1:45:41>> Um Alder Rodriguez coordinated that. We

1:45:44did Brie and I was thinking about I like

1:45:46the way you phrase that Alder Morrison.

1:45:48>> We did break up.

1:45:50>> I don't know if we made up

1:45:54>> we we will look into

1:45:55>> our value systems. Our value systems

1:45:58were

1:45:58>> That's right. we so

1:46:01>> we we broke up. That's good. I was away

1:46:04last year, so I did.

1:46:05>> Oh, you sure? Lord.

1:46:07>> So, um so yeah, long as we get some

1:46:10flight tickets, I think that is always a

1:46:12great thing. And when um people in the

1:46:14community win and you know,

1:46:18>> I won last year. I'm gonna be honest. I

1:46:21donated my winning to a

1:46:2630 year old.

1:46:28>> So,

1:46:28>> Oh, you Oh, you Oh, you won last year.

1:46:31>> I was so happy I donated it to a 30 year

1:46:34old. That's all I'm going to say.

1:46:37>> Oh,

1:46:38this

1:46:39>> it was they actually gave like 40,000

1:46:42points.

1:46:43>> Um, the way they do it, they do it is

1:46:44you get breeze points

1:46:46>> and it get it has a value on it and it

1:46:48lets you book that way.

1:46:50>> Um,

1:46:51>> so they basically had to just set up

1:46:53their online account and deposit it and

1:46:56it told you how much that flight was

1:46:58worth. It was over $400.

1:47:00>> Mhm.

1:47:00>> So, they were able to do a round trip

1:47:03>> from their destination to wherever.

1:47:06>> Awesome. Awesome.

1:47:07>> And they had a couple points left

1:47:08because they got a good sale, too.

1:47:11>> Oh, okay. All right,

1:47:14>> Madam Chair.

1:47:15>> Rodriguez.

1:47:16>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um to answer uh

1:47:19Alder Morrison's um question, I do not

1:47:22believe that Aello has ever apologized

1:47:26for

1:47:29um utilizing

1:47:32their airlines to deport. So we could

1:47:35check again with Breeze because they

1:47:37have never come to the table to be in

1:47:40our city and and do what they were doing

1:47:43cuz that's not

1:47:46what we ever thought they would do.

1:47:50>> If we're waiting for an apology, we

1:47:52ain't never going to get no tickets. So

1:47:56>> okay,

1:47:56>> I just I just was wondering about the

1:47:59whole flight thing and now that I forgot

1:48:01that Breeze is I haven't utilized them.

1:48:04um yet, but now that they're there, you

1:48:07know, at least we have that um that

1:48:09option.

1:48:10>> Okay,

1:48:11>> that's a that's a good raffle.

1:48:14>> Okay, Madam Chair, I'll work on that. I

1:48:16remember I I'll reach out to the young

1:48:19lady.

1:48:20>> Okay,

1:48:20>> that got us those tickets.

1:48:21>> And then maybe we can get them also to

1:48:23do an ad for Breeze.

1:48:27>> Thank you.

1:48:28>> Thank you, Alder Hogan.

1:48:30>> My last question then I gota leave

1:48:32y'all. Y'all, y'all,

1:48:33>> we're going to wrap it up. I'm sorry.

1:48:35>> Um, can you give me the ad contract so I

1:48:37can at least start sending them out?

1:48:39>> We will. We'll um update it with the um

1:48:41make sure it's updated with this year's

1:48:44date and the um ticket amount. We will

1:48:46do that tonight. You won't get it

1:48:48tonight. I'll be in touch with you

1:48:50tonight.

1:48:50>> No, the sooner I get it. Yes. Two weeks

1:48:53before this event, I'm having my hip

1:48:55done. I'll be at the event. But

1:48:57>> um Oh, I'mma be

1:48:58>> So, we're This is going to be a

1:48:59celebration then. a celebration before

1:49:01the Okay.

1:49:02>> So, but I want to make sure I get the

1:49:03contracts out before the end of the

1:49:05month and then the money comes in the

1:49:07first week of October.

1:49:08>> Thank you. We most certainly will.

1:49:11>> Thank you.

1:49:14>> Any other comments, questions, or

1:49:16business before we wrap this meeting up?

1:49:19Seeing none, I thank you all tonight.

1:49:22Um, thank you for your patience. Thank

1:49:24you for your input. This was one of my

1:49:27favorite meetings to be honest. Um,

1:49:31>> why? Because it was so long.

1:49:34>> No, we got things done.

1:49:35>> Thank you. We got a lot done. I

1:49:37appreciate you all for being here

1:49:38tonight once again.

1:49:40>> Well, I think we get we get something

1:49:41done every meeting, don't we?

1:49:44>> Excuse me.

1:49:45>> We get something done at every meeting,

1:49:46don't we? You saying like this meeting

1:49:48is any different than any other.

1:49:49>> Nope. No. This was a

1:49:51>> This was a a better meeting tonight. I

1:49:54really like We talked about a lot of

1:49:56things. We hit on. We got a lot done

1:49:58tonight actually and I I believe our

1:50:01presenters helped it with the subject

1:50:03matter and us you know giving feedback

1:50:05and just trying to be more involved in

1:50:07the community stuff um and also just

1:50:11tidying up our business. It was a

1:50:13pleasure being with you all tonight and

1:50:15I thank you for being here. A motion is

1:50:17in order. Madam chair

1:50:21second.

1:50:26>> All right.

1:50:28>> All in favor of adjourning.

1:50:30>> I any oppose. We are now adjourned and I

1:50:34will see you at our next meeting and I

1:50:36will update this and send it to you.

1:50:37Thank you.

1:50:38>> Thank you. Bye bye.

1:50:40>> Bye bye.

1:50:41>> Bye.

1:50:56I'mma get in this water.

1:51:01I got this. Don't let nobody take my um

1:51:10>> I got my phone here.

1:51:12>> My key here. Yeah.

1:51:16Right there.

1:51:17Put it right there.

1:51:19Okay.

1:51:26>> Oh, the towels.

1:51:28>> Yeah, I got like three towels.

1:51:42I think we share it all.

1:51:44>> Yeah, if we get in the water.

1:51:50right there.

1:51:53>> You ain't got a brain one. You was them

1:51:55right there.

1:51:58>> That's what they for.

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