[Announcer] Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I now call to order the Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 RTD Special Board Meeting.

Please, you are recognized, Director Lewis.

(indistinct crowd chattering) - Anytime I have a no vote, I'd like for you all to know the reason why I'm voting no for this, and I think it's really important that if we're truly advocating for our most marginalized communities, that we start by ensuring that we are banking with folks who value our communities, value our low income communities, and aren't conducting shady business.

More often than not, am I the only one to vote no on something?

We had a conversation recently in RTD where we were talking about security officers on buses and trains, and someone says, "We should get more security officers," to which someone responds and says, "Yeah, we can pilot those things."

Me, like, oh, here we go.

Gotta be the Black girl to say, "So... (Shontel claps) my community feels very much over-policed, and so if you're gonna have that conversation about adding more security officers on buses or rail, I would ask that you don't pilot that in my community and we have a conversation before."

And it gets exhausting always being that person to say that thing all the time.

[Announcer] All votes have been cast and the record reflects that we have 14 directors in favor, one director opposed, that is Director Lewis.

That motion passes and... - If a woman of color asked me if she should run for office, I would absolutely say yes.

We're like, please run -- for those who can't, or don't think they can.