Chair Williams thanks staff and gives public testimony instructions

We love it.

I always say I don't know why I don't know Spanish fluently.

I spent most of my formative years learning Spanish, but we're going to figure that out.

Okay.

I also want to thank Priyanka, my chief of staff, Shaki, my senior advisor, Alejandro, the committee's senior legislative counsel, Regina, the committee's senior policy analyst, Carolina, the committee's principal capital analyst,

and a special thank you to a number of city council staffers who have worked very hard to put this together, which is the first, again, city council field hearing in quite a while.

So I want to just call them out.

Johanna, Carl, Megalina, Greg, Michelle.

Raquel and Mark and all the sergeants who are here, thank you so much.

And finally, our sincerest thanks to the amazing team here at the Schaumburg who graciously opened their doors to the city council and made this hearing happen.

Deputy Director Kevin, Mo Patterson, Michael Bowman, Richard, Brandon, Lisa, and this is not in my notes, but I'm gonna give a special shout out to George as well.

I would like to remind everyone from the public who wishes to testify in person today that you must fill out an appearance card, which is located on the desk of the Sergeant at Arms at the back of the room.

Please fill out the slip even if you have already registered to testify in advance.

When you are called, please limit your testimony to two minutes, whether you are testifying in person or on Zoom.

I'm also going to ask my colleagues to limit their questions and comments to five minutes.

As a reminder to all of our witnesses, please state your name prior to your testimony for the record.

We are ready to start with the first panel of representatives from the libraries.

Please say your name for the record when you start your testimony.