1 Vernice Hankins
From: Angela D. Scott
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2022 5:28 PM
To: Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; councilmtgitems
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 13B - Appointment to one unscheduled vacancy on the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission
Dear Councilmembers. First of all, thank you for your continued commitment to our city. Your sacrifices aren't taken lightly. I am once again writing to weigh in on your decision regarding appointing the next Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commissioner. As you know, our Commission has experienced its share of organizational restructures with what appears to be a series of unscheduled vacancies. At the same time, from a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion lens, it's disheartening to see a lack of representation with respect to the lack of a Black/African-American male on this commission.
Since the departure of George Brown - his lived experiences combined with Civil Rights work has left a void. As a Black/African-American woman whose intersectionality crosses multiple spheres, I am but one voice with lived experiences that cannot fully provide as much insight as my Black/African-American male counterparts. I implore you to take a look at this June 2020 article by the Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/03/10-things-we-know-about-race-and-policing-inthe-u-s/, "10 things we know about race and policing in the U.S." I want to highlight two points. (#1) Majorities of both black and white Americans say black people are treated less fairly than whites in dealing with the police and by the criminal justice system as a whole; and (#2) Black adults are about five times as likely as whites to say they've been unfairly stopped by police because of their race or ethnicity.
If we are truly doing the work of police reform from the space of diversity and inclusion - all voices should be heard - especially the voice of Black/African-American males. It's my understanding that you have at least two applicants that are representative of this particular demographic. Xavier Banister is a business owner, NAACP Santa Monica-Venice Branch member, and longtime Boys and Girls Club volunteer who continues to impart his wisdom to Black males. I have witnessed this firsthand. Craig Ali Walter is also extremely active in the community serving as Treasurer for the NAACP Santa-Monica Venice Branch, member of the Coalition for Police Reform, and member of the Committee for Racial Justice. Both gentlemen continue to sacrifice for this community and also have a wealth of lived experiences here that make them "worthy" of an appointment on the commission.
To clarify, I'm not stating the other applicants are less qualified, I'm specifically looking from the lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Michele Wittig should also be strongly considered. She is an expert in the field of police reform.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warmest,
Angela
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2 Race and policing in America: 10 things
we know - Pew Research Center
1 Majorities of both black and white Americans say black people are treated less fairly than whites in dealing with the police and by the criminal justice system as a whole.
In a 2019 Center survey, 84% of black adults said that, in dealing with police, blacks are generally treated less fairly than whites; 63% of whites said the same.Similarly, 87% of blacks and 61% of whites said the U.S ...
www.pewresearch.org
Angela D. Scott (she/her)
Public Safety Reform & Oversight Commission
santamonica.gov/public-safety-reform-and-oversight-commission Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Item 13.B
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 3:00 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: PSROC nomination
From: Darlene <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 11:17 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: PSROC nomination
EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers:
I write in support of the appointment of Craig Walter and Xavier Banister to fill the vacancy on the PSROC Committee. As one of the groups most negatively impacted by policing, it is important the Committee have a African American male representative. Both are long term members of the Santa Monica Community and will be able to bring their personal experiences and knowledge of the community to the issues which confront public safety in Santa Monica.
Thank you for your consideration.
Darlene
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