pages: CityCouncil/2020-06-17.pdf, 13
This data as json
body | date | page | text | path |
---|---|---|---|---|
CityCouncil | 2020-06-17 | 13 | *** Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft called a recess to the meeting at 8:23 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 8:40 p.m. *** Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated people need to talk to each other and listen; there have been recent moving demonstrations; outlined emotional comments related to racial prejudice and a conversation with the President of the Alameda Police Officer's Association; expressed support for convening a facilitated forum for Police Officers to hear experiences; stated that she has requested Robbie Williams help in finding youth leaders; noted Regina Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of the East Oakland Youth Development Center and President of the Oakland Police Commission and Reverend Jaqueline Thompson, Senior Pastor, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland helped facilitate the forum; stated the Police Chief and three Officers attended the forum; stated youth members want to be involved and share views; outlined the forum proceedings and youth experiences with Police Officers; stated recurring themes of the forum were related to knowing the community; the concept of community policing is not just being present while in uniform; expressed support for a Police Athletic League; stated youth leaders provided suggestions involving psychological evaluations for Police Officers, ideas of power, attitude and disdain; Councilmembers remain fair in protecting all members of the community; there is a need for mental health screenings during the course of a career, not just initially; APD should offer courses on civil rights and race relations; Officers should show up not just in bad times, but in good times as well; people need to act with intentionality; it is important for Police to know the history of race relations in the community where employed; Police need more training and mental health resources; a lot is asked of Officers and some tasks would be better suited by others; expressed support for looking into the CAHOOTS program and for implicit bias training; stated people are afraid of being in the presence of Officers; everyone experiences facts in different ways; Officers and Councilmembers will always be judged by the worst actions of their peers; outlined comments about the Police Chief from both Ms. Jackson and Ms. Thompson; stated the onus is on Officers to change their behavior and change the perception of Police; none of the Officers encountering Mr. Watkins knew who he was; expressed support for a Youth Advisory Group; stated that she believes in the concept of restorative justice; stated the Officers involved in the arrest of Mr. Watkins are willing to sit down in a facilitated setting with Mr. Watkins to understand the experience; fundamental fairness to everyone is needed. Councilmember Vella stated that she received positive feedback from the forum; noted clarifications are needed for the benefit of the public; stated Councilmembers are sincerely listening to the community; all Councilmembers interact differently; these are difficult conversations; the City has set up a larger set of conversations. Councilmember Vella moved approval of Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft signing onto the Mayor's Pledge by former President Barak Obama with the caveat of the Pledge being less than Council has stated will be completed; Special Meeting Alameda City Council 13 June 17, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-06-17.pdf |