REMARKS
Council Member Robert Holden's farewell remarks for Kalman Yeger
1:26:28
·
118 sec
Council Member Robert Holden offers heartfelt remarks about his colleague Kalman Yeger, who is departing the City Council. Holden recounts how Yeger was the first to welcome him to the council and shares anecdotes about Yeger's influence on his decision-making.
- Holden describes Yeger as knowledgeable and helpful, especially in orienting him to council procedures.
- He shares a story about changing his vote based on Yeger's advice, which led to tension with leadership.
- Holden expresses that Yeger's departure will leave a significant void in the council.
Robert Holden
1:26:28
Thank you, majority leader.
1:26:30
And I just wanna wish my colleague, Kalman Yeager, godspeed.
1:26:34
Kalman was the first person the first council member to call me when we got, when I got elected in, 17.
1:26:42
And I didn't know him, he didn't know me, but he called out of the blue.
1:26:46
And and he said, you know, you're kinda like me, but when when you meet, we'll we'll discuss things.
1:26:53
But what I found out that he knew the council because I I got the short orientation in the council.
1:27:00
My my race wasn't certified because it was so close in 17.
1:27:04
So I got the half day orientation.
1:27:07
And I I missed out on a lot of things, but Kalman filled in the blanks on that over the years.
1:27:13
But one thing I remember during the DEM conference, I was speaking about property tax interest.
1:27:19
I thought it was fair.
1:27:20
I said, oh, it's a good good rate, whatever it was, 2%.
1:27:23
And Kalman, of course, jumped in later on after the DEM conference and said, you know, you shouldn't do that.
1:27:29
It should be nothing.
1:27:30
It should be half percent, whatever.
1:27:32
And I changed my vote, or I changed my mind.
1:27:35
Well, that didn't sit well with leadership at that time.
1:27:40
Remember Ramon?
1:27:43
Ramon called me into his office, he was chief of staff to Corey Johnson, and he called me into the office.
1:27:47
He says, you know, you gotta tell me when you're gonna change your vote.
1:27:50
And I said, well, you know, I didn't know I don't know all the the the ins and outs of this, but, he goes, what made you change your vote?
1:27:58
I said, Kalman Yeager.
1:28:00
And somehow, somehow that triggered something.
1:28:03
I don't know what went on before, but he says, if you continue to listen to Kalman Yeager, you'll never get anywhere.
1:28:09
Well, I didn't get anywhere, but I still listen to Kalman, Kalman Yeager, because he is he really is a knowledgeable, council member, and we're gonna miss him.
1:28:19
And I I don't know how that's gonna be an empty chair for a while, but, you're you're the best man.
1:28:24
Really.
1:28:25
Yeah.
1:28:25
You're the truth.
1:28:26
Thanks.
