From: Marilyn Schumacher
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; John Knox White; Malia Vella; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re Item 7e on tonights agenda Alameda Police Accountability Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 6:28:31 PM
Attachments: We sent you safe versions of your files.msg Mimecast Attachment Protection was unable to create safe copies of your attachments.
I hope all of you are doing well!
Please accept the Staff's recommendation to accept the local Chapter of the NAACP to hire the Auditor in Option 1.
By doing this we can find the best person to oversee the implementation of the CALEA Accreditation.
Please see the attachments.
Thank you, marilyn schumacher.
1829 Clinton Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
_______
Marilyn Schumacher
Broker Associate
DRE #00904530
510-908-9021 - cell
Results exceeding the challenges*
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October
28,
2022
From:
Kimberly
Briggs
Giuntini
1727
Moreland
Drive
Alameda,
CA
94501
Email:
Mayor
Ashcraft
City
Manager
City
Attorney
City
Council
members
Police
Chief
Nishant
Joshi
Re:
Staff
Report
regarding
Police
Accountability;
Agenda
item
#7-e
for
November
1st
meeting
Dear
Esteemed
Alamedans,
I
am
writing
this
letter
in
support
of
Option
#3
in
staff
report
file
#:
2022-2350.
I
have
reviewed
the
report
in
its
entirety
and
strongly
believe
that
this
option
is
the
most
measured
of
the
options.
First,
to
be
a
trustworthy
process
it
has
to
be
transparent.
The
hiring
of
a
completely
independent,
unbiased
auditor
who
does
NOT
report
to
the
Police
Chief
would
ensure
its
transparency
Instead,
the
auditor
would
report
to
either
the
City
Manager
or
the
City
Attorney
-
both
independent
from
the
police
department.
Moreover,
it
clearly
includes
direct,
and
swift,
accountability.
As
the
CEO
of
the
county,
the
City
Manager
has
the
distinct
authority
to
hold
both
the
Chief
of
Police
and
the
Auditor
accountable.
Frankly,
that
includes
firing
them
if
necessary.
Our
police
department
needs
a
streamlined
process,
rather
than
layered
oversight
which
ultimately
ties
the
hands
of
the
police,
in
order
to
do
the
job
our
community
needs
them
to
do.
We
only
have
to
look
to
the
nightmares
occurring
in
Oakland
and
San
Francisco
to
see
what
damage
their
police
commissions
have
done,
including
well-reported
payouts
at
taxpayers’
expense.
The
City
of
Alameda
does
not
need
that.
In
fact,
it’s
important
to
note
that
APD
has
completed
all
of
the
22 recommendations
from
the
Community-
led
Steering
Committee
from
2021,
except
for
ones
that
require
continuing
compliance
and
therefore
cannot
be
“completed.”
Clear
proof
that
they
are
already
doing
an
excellent
job.
Option
#3
is
the
choice
that
our
City
Council
should
support.
October
31,
2022
Madame
Mayor
and
members
of
the
City
Council,
My
comments
are
directed
towards
the
Police
Accountability
matter
before
the
council
on
November
1,
2022,
and
summarized
in
Staff
Report
2022-2350.
Initially,
I
want
to
thank
City
Staff
for
their
thorough
and
thoughtful
assessment
of
the
options
available
to
the
City
to
insure
Alameda
has
a
comprehensive,
independent,
and
transparent
oversight
plan
for
the
Alameda
Police
Department.
Moreover,
as
staff
has
noted,
in
the
ever-changing
public
safety
arena,
it’s
important
to
have
a
system
in
place
that
is
capable
of
reacting
quickly
to
public
safety
initiatives
and
mandates
without
unnecessary
delays.
We
need
timely
and
thoughtful
oversight
that
allows
the
Alameda
Police
Department
to
implement
the
best
police
practices
and
the
most
current
public
safety
initiatives
while
insuring
that
there
is
procedural
justice
for
everyone
in
our
community.
For
that
reason
I
support
the
Option
3 as
proposed
by
staff
in
its
report
to
the
council
with
one
caveat,
namely
that
the
Independent
Police
Auditor
report
to
both
the
City
Attorney
and
the
City
Manager.
First
,
this
plan
guarantees
transparency
with
the
appointment
of
an
independent
Police
Auditor
as
a
full
time
employee
with
all
the
appropriate
DOJ
clearances
whose
charge
would
be
to
make
timely
recommendations
to
the
Chief
of
Police,
City
Attorney
and
the
City
Manager
on
operations,
policies
and
procedures.
More
importantly,
the
auditor
would
not
be
delayed
in
taking
action
the
way
police
commissions
and
advisory
commissions
are,
with
monthly
meetings’
schedules
that
only
serve
to
delay
outcomes
and
erode
the
public’s
confidence
in
the
Police
Department.
Not
to
mention
delaying
implementation
of
any
reforms
that
might
be
called
for.
One
only
needs
to
look
to
the
San
Francisco
and
Oakland
Police
Commissions
operations
over
the
years
to
get
the
full
flavor
of
how
dysfunctional
and
costly
they
have
been
for
the
taxpayers.
Second
,
Option
3 guarantees
the
Alameda
Police
Department
would
be
meeting
the
highest
professional
standards
as
the
department
would
be
mandated
to
seek
and
maintain
accreditation
from
CALEA,
a
commission
that
has
accredited
law
enforcement
agencies
for
over
50 years
and
is
viewed
as
the
gold
standard
on
professional
standards
and
best
practices
in
public
safety.
Lastly,
and
in
no
small
part,
my
confidence
in
Option
3 is
buoyed
by
the
NAACP’s
evaluation
and
endorsement
of
Option
3 which
confirms
my
analysis
that
option
3 is
the
right
plan
for
all
Alamedans.
Sincerely,
Russell
J.
Giuntini
Alameda
resident
From: Laura Cutrona
To: City Clerk; Manager Manager; [email protected]; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 7-E Police Oversight
Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 4:00:27 PM
Dear City Council,
I implore you to reconsider the options presented, especially staff's recommendation of option 3: police auditor reporting to the City Attorney's office, plus national accreditation from CALEA, as it leaves the community out of the conversation.
After over a year of research and critical thinking by the diverse Subcommittees on Racial Equity and Police Reform, a key recommendation was to intentionally create an "Alameda that is safe, welcoming, and supportive of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to live, work, play and pray" through a community oversight board. Option 3 leaves oversight to the City and CALEA, which is run by police, and does not bring community input to the table.
You have the opportunity to honor the Subcommittees' representative voice and give ongoing voice to the Alameda community. This is desparately needed in a time when we still have community members grieving over events like the murder of Mario Gonzalez in April 2021 at the hands of APD. There is no solution "for" us, without us.
Sincerely,
Laura Cutrona
From: Beth Strachan
To: City Clerk; Manager Manager; [email protected]; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Regarding item 7-E Police Oversight Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 3:47:51 PM
Dear City Council,
Staff's recommended option for police oversight leaves the community on the sidelines.
The report recommends police oversight should be left to full-time professionals. I write to remind you that community voices are not in conflict with fair oversight or the police chief's authority.
As City Council directs staff on this agenda item, I’m asking that you consider what accountability means. I urge Council to act with accountability to your past commitments and votes and continue to respect the work of community members around police oversight. There is no solution “for” us without us!
Thank you,
Beth Strachan
From: Jonathan Tejada
To: City Clerk; Manager Manager; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 7E.
Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 3:36:11 PM
I am writing in support of the staff's recommended approach on agenda item 7-E for the 'Recommendation to Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Police Accountability', option 3. Not only does option 3 have the recommendation of our Alameda Police Chief (Nishant Joshi) but it also bears the support of the NAACP.
I am also writing to express my opposition to the implementation of Option 4: Police Commission and Option 5:
Advisory Commission.
Thanks,
Jon Tejada
Sent from my iPhone
From: Meredith Hoskin
To: City Clerk; Manager Manager; [email protected]; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Regarding item 7-E Police Oversight Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 2:14:35 PM
To Madam Mayor, City Councilmembers, and City Leadership, While I support the staff proposal for a Police Auditor that will report to the City Attorney, I feel strongly that staff and city leaders need to revisit the well-researched recommendations in the final report from the Racial Equity & Police Reform committees for a community police oversight commission.
Other city departments, from Planning to Parks, have a board or commission of community volunteers to provide input on the activities and issues of that department.
I would think that this would be a welcome opportunity for Alameda Police Department to inform and hear more from the public, demonstrate transparency, and build and maintain trust in the community that they serve.
All due respect to our Alameda Police officers, but their work can have dire consequences on members of our community. I urge city staff and leadership to consider more solutions for community oversight, particularly a community police oversight commission comprised of members independent of the police department.
Also, let’s remember that at the request of the city, the volunteers on the committees for Racial Equity & Police Reform spent months researching, reviewing, and evaluating information toward their proposal. I’d hate to see their hard work go unused.
Thank you,
Meredith Hoskin
From: Felsha Zuschlag
To: City Clerk; Manager Manager; [email protected]; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda item 7E for Meeting on 11/1/22 - yes to option 3, "NO" to oversight committee Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 12:33:23 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing in support of the staff's recommended approach on agenda item 7-E for the 'Recommendation to Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Police Accountability', option 3.
Not only does option 3 have the recommendation of our Alameda Police Chief (Nishant Joshi) but it also bears the support of the NAACP.
I am also writing to express my opposition to the implementation of Option 4: Police Commission and Option 5: Advisory Commission. Prior to moving to Alameda, I was a resident of Oakland for 8 years. I witnessed firsthand the deterioration of public safety and our local police force. While I acknowledge the reasons for this deterioration and dysfunction is multifaceted, the police oversight council was an aspect of what contributed to the downfall of public safety. I urge the Alameda City Council to "say no" to a police advisory commission that does not have data that supports its implementation.
Sincerely,
Felsha Zuschlag
Alameda resident
From: Jeff Petersen
To: Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella; Tony Daysog Cc: Lara Weisiger
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Vote "NO" on Citizens Overseeing the Police Department -- Agenda item 7E for Meeting on 11/1 Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 11:01:03 AM
Dear Alameda City Council,
I reviewed the recommendations of the "Subcommittee on Police Department Accountability and Oversight." I know there are many other cities that have established citizen commissions to oversee police departments. I researched this issue and I could not find a single instance of a commission that has led to improved public safety. If you can point me to a citizen police oversight commission that has accomplished the following, I think it would make sense to establish one in Alameda based on their model:
-- a reduction in crime,
-- a reduction in innocent persons being harmed by the police,
-- an increase in police morale and officers wanting to work for that department.
Until you present the public with this information, you would be doing a substantial disservice to the citizens of Alameda by creating a new bureaucracy that will likely decrease police morale.
The last thing Alameda needs is an added layer of bureaucracy on the police department. Alameda has a fantastic police force and an outstanding police chief. My understanding is that Chief Nishant Joshi has been very responsive to community input and pushing for reforms that will benefit the citizens of Alameda. If the police chief is implementing needed reforms, why create a bureaucracy that may result in diminished morale of police officers? We need police officers that are willing to risk their lives when encountering dangerous criminal situations. Adding the bureaucracy of a citizens commissions only adds uncertainty to police officers jobs. We do not need citizen oversight since we have a great police chief who is making needed reforms!
Show the public some actual evidence of a police oversight commission that has improved public safety before you saddle the Alameda Police Department with an unneeded commission!
Sincerely,
Jeff Petersen
Alameda Resident
From: Amanda Cooper
To: City Clerk; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella; John Knox White; Trish Spencer; Manager Manager Cc: Brett Webb
Subject: [EXTERNAL] police oversight, item 7-E on tonight"s agenda Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 10:51:49 AM
Dear Alameda leaders-
In April of 2021 we mourned, alongside many of you, the death of son, brother and caretaker Mario Gonzalez, who died at the hands of our local police. We looked for answers and action, and we promised that we would never let something like this happen in our town again.
Luckily, we had already begun a process of inviting local members of the subcommittees on Police Reform and Racial Equity, who did very impressive work creating recommendations for police accountability to our community. This committee modeled the kind of community expertise needed to do this work well.
Unfortunately their recommendations are being set aside for a "professional" process that puts police in charge of their own oversight and accountability.
Community oversight does not exist without community input. Local commissions and resident boards are a regular part of local government. Why should the police department be treated differently? The stakes of their mistakes are so high--lives have already been lost. They can not be left to police themselves. In fact, when experts reviewed the incidents that inspired this action, and Mr. Gonzalez's death, they explained them away. But you have heard from our community that this does not meet our standards. Harassment and harm to our neighbors is not what Alamedans want. We want care and true safety for all. Local community members are better equipped to represent our values than outside consultants and retired or active police.
These proposals erase our role as the community and supplant us with folks who don't represent us. They morph the mission of the subcommittees on Police Reform and Racial Equity from: "engender an Alameda that is safe, welcoming, and supportive of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to live, work, play and pray" to "an environment where its residents and visitors may live, work, and play free of crime and/or the perception of crime." This shows that this process has already started to disregard and disengage those of us who these policies most affect.
We call on the City Council to follow through on its commitment to community oversight. Any proposal that does not include a community commission is disrespectful to the people harmed by Alameda police and the people who put so much time into these recommendations, and a disservice to our whole community. -Amanda Cooper and Brett Webb
Alameda voters
Amanda Cooper
Senior Partner
LightBox Collaborative
she/her
@MandaCoop
917-930-7552
From: Alexia Arocha-Bergquist
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella; John Knox White; Trish Spencer; Manager Manager Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment for Agenda Item 7-E
Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 8:49:48 AM
Dear Mayor and all,
I am writing regarding Item 7-E and ask that you do not approve all of staff’s recommendations, especially regarding accreditation and oversight. The Police Reform & Racial Equity Steering Committee was created in August of 2020. Their report was approved in March of 2021; there were many complaints for how long the entire process took and how much Council used these delays to your advantage (eg- incessantly waiting to make decisions and to instead, “see what the steering committee recommends”). The Steering Committee’s recommendations came and were clear when it came to oversight.
Recommended oversight included civilian led oversight, not police led. If a community can’t trust the police how can they possibly trust the police to oversee themselves? It’s impossible. The first line of the executive summary reads “[w]ith events of conflict throughout the country, the need to strengthen community policing is of utmost importance” - this itself is problematic; our community needs to be strengthened, and there is no such thing as “community policing” if the community is entirely shut out of the oversight process.
Of course, it has been so long since the steering/subcommittees were created and in that time we have experienced years of a pandemic, political turmoil, and now pending recession, on top of people fighting for their lives just to live without fear.
Please remember the promises you made to the public before, when there were many callers and many writers asking you to do what is right and to protect Alameda’s community, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color who live and/or visit the island.
Please do not continue to take advantage of how much time has passed, and the fatigue that has inevitably set in (not to mention lack of trust in government officials), and please do not approve this recommendation as it stands. The community must be involved if there will be any remote claims of accountability.
Thank you for your time,
Alexia Arocha
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Joyce Boyd
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; John Knox White; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella; Trish Spencer; City Clerk Nishant Joshi
[EXTERNAL] Alameda City Council Meeting 11/1/2022 Item 7e - Recommendation to Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Police Accountability
Monday, October 31, 2022 11:47:09 PM
City Council Members
I urge you to vote
YES for Option 3 (Police Auditor/CALEA Certification). Chief Joshi in his year in office has brought a data driven approach to policing, hired more officers and set a high standard of behavior for those officers. We are lucky to have such an experienced, well respected police chief.
When this topic arose, I educated myself on the options without bias for any alternative. I came to see that a police body does require an outside source of oversight, otherwise the fox is guarding the hen house when complains arise. However, Police Commissions although nice in theory, often work poorly, cost a lot of money, and do not provide improved policing. See this article about accusations of misconduct and corruption on the Oakland Police Commission. https://www.courthousenews.com/fired-oakland-police-chief-files-whistleblower-lawsuit-against- city/. The city staff report nicely lays out what oversight needs to look like:
1. Oversight should have direct access to top decision makers.
2. Oversight must be proficient in relevant technical knowledge and/or possess applicable advanced education/experience.
3. Oversight must be full-time and individuals should be selected through rigorous standards.
4. Oversight must be comprehensive and recommendations must be attainable.
I urge you to vote
No for the Police Commission Alternative. Please note the letter from the NAACP recommending a Police Auditor/Advisor and CALEA Accreditation option. The NAACP is a widely respected organization with experience with what works. We need what works for Alameda.
Thank you for your consideration,
Joyce Boyd
Alameda Resident and Homeowner for 21 years
Board Member United Democrats of Alameda
From: Edward Sing
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fw: Alameda City Council Mtg Nov 1st, Item 7e - Recommendation to Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Police Accountability
Date: Monday, October 31, 2022 2:58:28 PM
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Edward Sing <[email protected]>
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>; John Knox White <[email protected]>; Tony Daysog <[email protected]>; Malia Vella <[email protected]>; Trish Spencer <[email protected]>; Lara Weisiger <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2022 at 02:10:25 PM PDT
Subject: Alameda City Council Mtg Nov 1st, Item 7e - Recommendation to Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Police Accountability
City Council Members -
Implementing a Police Commission concept for oversight would be like taking a sledge hammer to isolated problems. Note that Police Commissions in other Bay area cities with issues far, far greater than the Alameda Police Department, have resulted in polictical issues which have hampered efficient management and leadership of their police departments turning it into a political nightmare. I urge you to vote no for the Police Commission alternative.
I urge you to vote YES for Option 3 (Police Auditor/CALEA Certification). IN his one year in office, Chief Joshi has made significant progress in implementing state of the art tools to ensure police accountability while also ensuring his department's policing efforts are focused on immediate and long term reduction of crime. Our town would benefit most from this common sense alternative which will ensure this department meets or exceeds industry standards and the community's expectations.
Thank you,
Ed Sing
Alameda Resident for 25 years
From: Ashley Gregory
To: City Clerk; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Manager Manager; Tony Daysog; Malia Vella Subject: [EXTERNAL] Regarding item 7-E Police Oversight Date: Monday, October 31, 2022 12:54:39 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing regarding important issues of police oversight. This issue, and where City Council stands on it, is a reflection of the values that councilmembers decide to uphold.
There is no way around it, national accreditation is not a replacement for local accountability. Alameda must commit to independent oversight that involves the community. Period.
I urge the council to act with accountability to their past commitments and votes.
Sincerely,
Ashley Gregory
From: Jennifer Rakowski
To: City Clerk; John Knox White; Manager Manager; Nishant Joshi; Trish Spencer; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella; [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 7-E
Date: Sunday, October 30, 2022 7:47:25 PM
Dear City Council,
Staff's recommended option for police oversight leaves the community on the sidelines.
The report recommends police oversight should be left to full-time professionals. I write to remind you that community voices are not in conflict with fair oversight or the police chief's authority. The existence of a planning commission or library board does not demonstrate a lack of support of the department head. A community commission is a good government measure regarding one of the biggest responsibilities for cities: policing.
Staff is recommending option 3: Police Auditor reporting to the City Attorney's Office plus national accreditation from CALEA. Funding for an auditor has already been approved, the community is just waiting on hiring and placement. (Placement Options 1c or 1d auditor reports directly to Chief of Police or City Council are both non starters) The auditor reporting to the City Attorney or directly to City Manager are the only serious proposals.
The police department does not need city approval to seek accreditation. However, national accreditation is not a replacement for local accountability.
The mission of the City Subcommittees on Racial Equity and Police Reform was to "engender an Alameda that is safe, welcoming, and supportive of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to live, work, play and pray. " This cannot and should not be rewritten to "an environment where its residents and visitors may live, work, and play free of crime and/or the perception of crime."
I call on the City Council to follow through on its commitment to community oversight. Let's not forget that the incidents that brought us to this point did not concern the "professionals," they shocked the consciousness of the community. No solution "for" us without us. Any proposal that does not include real movement toward a community commission is hollow.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Rakowski
Police Department Accountability and Oversight Member
Date:
ꢀ
ꢀ
October 28, 2022
ꢁ
T
o:
ꢀ
ꢀ
Mayor and Alameda City Council Members
ꢁ
Fr
om:
ꢀ
ꢀ
Michael Robles-W
ong
ꢁ
Subject:
ꢀ
Open letter r
egar
ding Council consideration of civilian oversight of APD ꢁ
I spent 20 years in law enfor
cement. Police o
ffi
cers do a job that r
outinely puts their life at risk,
taking actions r
elying on the certainty that they will be tr
eated fairly and backed up by their
department when those actions follow department policy
. This level of
trust
has to be pr
esent
if the community that they pr
otect expects to be able to r
ecruit and r
etain the very best of this
pr
ofession, and to foster an envir
onment wher
e ther
e is no r
eluctance by o
ffi
cers to take the
initiative to pr
otect and serve.
ꢁ
T
rust and distrust
. These ar
e the two central issues at the heart of whether and how the pr
oposed civilian oversight of APD could be appr
oached. The Council could implement some
oversight mechanism that would be sta
ff
ed by community members to addr
ess the
distrust
a
not insignificant part of our community harbors about law enfor cement and APD. The police
have to
trust
a new pr
ocess if this pr
ocess helps the police r
egain the
trust
of the community
.
ꢁ
I was a Reserve Police O
ffi
cer when Berkeley implemented the Police Review Commission (PRC) back in the 1970s. A completely separate investigative and disciplinary pr ocess was
cr
eated because of the community
distrust
of the Police Department to police itself. In part,
this was an attempt to lift the veil of secr
ecy by allowing the community to see for themselves
the actions of the police. Then as now
, civil service employees have the right of due pr
ocess
and of r
epr
esentation. These should not be r
eplaced by the court of public opinion.
ꢁ
O
ffi
cers and their legal r
epr
esentatives per
ceived the PRC as a “kangar
oo court”, and
distrusted
the pr
ocess, disagr
eeing with being exposed to double jeopar
dy
. Most egr
egious
was the City failing to appoint unbiased commissioners who could weigh evidence objectively and make decisions without a pr
esumption of guilt. Wher
e o
ffi
cers and their r
epr
esentatives
trusted
the inter
nal department and exter
nal DA and court pr
ocesses, they completely
distrusted
the pr
ocess and members
of the PRC. Witness O
ffi
cers called befor
e the PRC
r
outinely r
efused either to appear and/or testify
.
ꢁ
I believe that an Alameda version of a similar PRC dir
ected to r
e-investigate the actions of
fr
ont-line sta
ff
, will be similarly doomed to failur
e, especially if the PD is not alr
eady under a
consent decr
ee to comply with r
estructuring/r
eor
ganization. Perhaps the insertion of an
oversight committee should r
eside at the command level of the PD. This is, after all, a lar gely
management pr
oblem if the Council per
ception is that the fr
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From: Lorin Laiacona Salem
To: City Clerk; Manager Manager; [email protected]; Trish Spencer; John Knox White; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 11/1 Item 7-E Police Oversight
Date: Friday, October 28, 2022 11:39:44 AM
Mme. Mayor and Councilmembers,
I’m submitting a public comment for item 7-E regarding police oversight. While I am glad to see this item on a Council meeting agenda, I am dismayed that none of the proposed solutions seem to capture the direction of the subcommittees on Racial Justice and Police Reform. They were very clear in their recommendations back in March of 2021, which were then unanimously adopted by this Council, that there should be civilian-led police oversight that would not include APD or police affiliates of any kind. In order to meaningfully hold police accountable for missteps, bad moves, or violent actions, such as the killing of Mario Gonzalez by APD in 2021, Alameda must commit to independent oversight that involves the community.
Staff is recommending option 3: a Police Auditor reporting to the City Attorney's Office plus national accreditation from CALEA. While I support having the auditor report to the CIty Attorney and see no reason against national accreditation, neither of these are a replacement for civilian accountability.
When Council directs staff on this agenda item, I’m asking that they consider what civilian accountability means. I urge the council to act in accordance with their past commitments and votes and continue to respect the work of community members around police oversight. This means forming and empowering a genuine civilian oversight board. Commissions and boards are a regular part of local government. Why is the police department treated differently? Thank you,
Lorin Salem
Alameda resident
From: Savanna Cheer
To: City Clerk
Cc: Manager Manager; John Knox White; Malia Vella; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment for Item 7-E, Nov 1 CC meeting Date: Friday, October 28, 2022 9:50:22 AM
Hello:
I’m submitting a public comment for item 7-E regarding police oversight. While it was great to finally see this item on a Council meeting agenda, there certainly could have been a more focused approach to the plan forward. Six options, most of which include the police, doesn’t seem to capture the direction of the subcommittees on Racial Justice and Police Reform. They were very clear in their recommendations back in March of 2021 and you unanimously voted to advance many of those recommendations, including police oversight. The volunteer committee members directly outlined that any police oversight gesture from the City should be civilian-led and should not include APD or police affiliates of any kind. I agreed then, and I agree now. The way forward has to be civilian oversight. Otherwise, it isn’t really community oversight, is it? It’s just cops directing the show and being given space to sidestep actual accountability or control steps forward. In order to meaningfully hold police accountable for missteps, bad moves, or violent actions, Alameda must commit to independent oversight that involves the community.
APD is not different from other police departments. Policing is policing in the U.S.
APD officers killing Mario Gonzalez in 2021 and assaulting Mali Watkins in the street in 2020 is example enough that police violence does happen in our community.
Elected officials and community members alike should want to do anything and everything to avoid this violence. Past actions would show that involving the community in making change was important to some of the five City Council people at one point. So much so that, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Malia Vella proposed setting up subcommittees on Police Reform and Racial Equity. If y'all don't follow through completely now, how can you lead with integrity from here on out? I’m asking the City Council to consider what accountability means. I urge council to act with accountability to their past commitments and votes, and continue to respect the work of community members around police oversight. There is no solution “for” us without us!
Thank you,
Savanna Cheer
From: Marilyn Rothman
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: 7e Police Accountability
Date: Friday, October 28, 2022 8:46:52 AM
None of the proposals tonight meet the criteria of police accountability recommended by the citizen committee and accepted by THIS Council a year and a half ago.
Only citizen oversight meets this criteria. Having an auditor and getting accreditation is only a baseline for police oversight.
REAL oversight must be provided by a committee of non-APD citizens from the community, in order to meet the criteria accepted unanimously by Council August 2021.
Marilyn Rothman
Alameda citizen, homeowner
From: Niyi Omotoso
To: City Clerk
Cc: Niyi Omotoso
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public comment for Item 7-E
Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022 6:46:07 PM
Good evening,
I will be unable to attend Tuesday 11/1/22 meeting so sending my written public comment for the record below:
As a concerned citizen of Alameda and in keeping with previous recommendations as we work towards a more socially and racially just city, important that oversight of our police department lie with our community. Very important that our police department be accountable to us as their employers and have an oversight committee full of diverse community members from our city. We want our oversight committee to reflect our city and oversight to reflect our city's values in a way we are continuously heard and direct what we want our police to do.
Greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Omoniyi Omotoso, MD
email: [email protected]