1 Vernice Hankins
From: Joanne Berlin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 4:28 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: comments on item 13A of the 6/14/22 city council meeting
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members ,
I am writing to express two concerns I have about the vote to take place on Tues., 6/14, to fill a vacancy on the SM Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission.
The first concern is that there is currently only one Black male on the commission. As a group, they need to have voices on this important and historic commission. To my knowledge, there are two Black men who have applied: Craig A. Walter and Xavier H. Bannister. I hope you will either nominate one of these applicants or, at least, vote for one who is nominated. There is nothing wrong with having two black men on this commission. It would signal to the Committee For Racial Justice that the city council is taking the work of this commission seriously and trying to help it succeed by providing input from a Black male perspective. If this argument is not persuasive to you, I would then ask you to consider another candidate for this position who has years of experience in dealing with police reform issues and would be an active and helpful member to this commission – namely, Michele Wittig. It is important to add another clear voice of reform to this body.
My other related concern is that I noticed Paul Winnemore has submitted an application to become a voting member of the PSROC. My understanding is that the SM Police Officers’ Association was given the opportunity to name who would sit on the commission as a non‐voting member. He was their and Chief Batista’s choice. If he is placed into a voting slot on the commission, would not the POA expect to be able to nominate another non‐voting person to that slot? All of this would raise further questions about whether or not there is a good faith attempt in Santa Monica to have civilian oversight of police.
Again, I urge you to give support to either Craig, Xavier, or Michele tomorrow night.
Joanne Berlin, Coordinator
Committee For Racial Justice
Item 13.A
06/14/22
1 of 1 Item 13.A
06/14/22