pages: CityCouncil/2020-06-29.pdf, 12
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CityCouncil | 2020-06-29 | 12 | practices; it is about diversity in all areas Citywide; there is also a bigger problem of the community and people weaponizing the Police force; it is a problem when there are people who feel confident and comfortable enough to call the Police and misuse their authority in that way; it is not just about systemic racism, it is about anti-racism, about misuse of different types of governmental, structural or institutional power; the issue is also more than just law enforcement; she would like to make it very clear that she stands by the direction Council unanimously gave to review policing policies; however, the conversation is also about the overall reimagining of services; if the title of the conversation includes law enforcement, then the responses will continue to be about law enforcement; she thinks Council would want to transcend and move beyond that; services need to be provided that are responsive to what people need; it is a disservice to the Officers and the public when armed Officers are sent to respond to a mental health scenario; Alameda can do better and has done better; there are models and Alameda has the ability to shift how services are reimagined; she would also like to focus on the process; she wants to talk about the end goal; she is not married to what the subcommittees would look like; there are five issues which may have some overlap; there are also issues that would require a deep-dive; she thinks having one group focus on the deeper issues may be helpful to inform policy and practices moving forward; there will always be tension when discussing issues of systemic racism, racism, anti- racism or power structures; it is not an either/or conversation and sometimes it is uncomfortable; acknowledging the tension leads to a better conversation and better work product; Council needs to be deliberate and thoughtful and create a safe space for people; create the space and let the people lead; thematically the question is how will Council create safety and security for all people in Alameda; she would like to spend time considering the bigger questions regarding the steering committee, such as who will do the selection, what is the process, what is the commitment being asked of the individuals; Council needs to be thoughtful, inclusive, consider offering a stipend and find a way to include other voices and trying to find individuals who have had unique experiences and can speak from that perspective; she feels very strongly that space needs to be created in the short term to begin working; although she is not married to the number of people on a committee, it will be difficult to have too many people; she does not want to have too few seats that people are not included; it would be perfectly appropriate for the Mayor to be part of the over-arching conversation; a process needs to be created where the people can tell the Council what they want within the finer lines; then, Council can work with staff; having ad hoc Councilmembers involved reminds people of the confines of the City Charter and Council authority; she supports the overall structure of the process laid out by herself and Vice Mayor Knox White, but also tried to hear what her colleagues want included; she would like a process that everyone can stand by and that will get to an end product which will really be transformative. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated her preference would be that all Councilmembers throw out ideas and suggestions for moving forward; she does not want to work from the attachment, which can be sent on to staff to be factored into the mix. Vice Mayor Knox White stated he was taken aback for being called out for talking about ideas to the people Council represents; noted the Police Chief, as well as other Special Meeting Alameda City Council 12 June 29, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-06-29.pdf |